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 Over 500 economic, trade deals inked at China-ASEAN Expo Xinhua) 08:43, September 22, 2025 People visit the Vietnam pavilion during the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 20, 2025. The expo opened to the public on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin) NANNING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit concluded Sunday in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with more than 500 economic and trade agreements signed at the event. Wei Zhaohui, secretary-general of CAEXPO Secretariat, told a press briefing Sunday afternoon that this year's expo saw the signing of 155 investment projects, with 74 focused on processing and manufacturing, accounting for 88 percent of total investment. The manufacturing projects cover sectors such as mechanical equipment, petrochemicals and chemical engineering, nonferrous metals, new materials, light industry and textiles, and information technology, according to Wei. The five-day event spanned an exhibition area of 160,000 square meters and attracted 3,260 enterprises from 60 countries. Enterprises from ASEAN countries totaled 627. For the first time, the expo featured a pavilion dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI), showcasing about 1,200 products, including about 20 large language models and 60 intelligent robots. The 23rd CAEXPO is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 17 to 21, 2026, with the Philippines as the country of honor. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) PHOENIX, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosie is officially open in downtown Phoenix, welcoming new residents to a fresh take on city living. Think modern furnished apartments, rooftop views, and some of the best work-from-home spaces you'll find anywhereall wrapped into your rent. Rising 19 stories above the heart of downtown, Rosie offers 370 apartments, with most homes designed as efficient, stylish studios. For anyone tired of moving trucks and furniture shopping, fully furnished options are availablejust bring your suitcase and you're good to go. The Rosie Built for living and working Rosie puts just as much thought into your workspace as it does your living space. The building includes 4,500 sq. ft. of coworking amenities: private offices with smart locks, phone booths for calls, shared tables, and plenty of space to spread out. It's designed for the way people actually work today, whether you're remote full-time, side-hustling, or running your own business. Apartment highlights Floor-to-ceiling windows with city views Stainless steel appliances Quartz countertops Full-size in-unit washer/dryer Gas ranges Walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads Community perks Rooftop pool and hot tub Full fitness center Covered dog run Bike storage and repair station High-speed internet throughout Secure building access and package receiving Downtown energy at your doorstep Rosie's location makes it easy to connect with everything Phoenix has to offer: restaurants, coffee shops, nightlife, art walks, and murals. You'll also be minutes from ASU's downtown campus, major employers, and the light rail. The Yard Gym, a boutique strength and conditioning space, will be opening on the ground floor of Rosie, marking the gym's second location in Arizona. The Yard Gym offers strength ("rig") and conditioning ("turf") classes, along with run club, pilates, yoga and other ancillary programs that cater to all ages and fitness levels. For details or to schedule a tour, visit https://www.liverosie.com or call 480-992-7342. SOURCE The X Company Three children among those killed in Israeli drone strike on Lebanon An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon on Sunday killed five people, including three children, Lebanon's Health Ministry has confirmed. The attack also left two others wounded, including the family's mother. The Israeli military stated its target was a Hezbollah militant who "operated from within a civilian population," acknowledging that civilians were killed and confirming it was reviewing the incident. Israel routinely claims to target Hezbollah militants or infrastructure in the country's southern region. While Hezbollah has only admitted to one cross-border firing since the ceasefire, Israel maintains the militant group is attempting to rebuild its capabilities. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri asserted that four of the deceased the three children and their father held US citizenship. However, the US State Department countered, stating that none of the five appeared to be US citizens. Despite a ceasefire agreement reached in November to conclude Israels months-long conflict with Hezbollah, Israel has continued to conduct almost daily strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon (AFP via Getty Images) "While the situation is fluid, so far, indications are that the five killed were not U.S. citizens. In fact, one had an unused immigrant visa petition in the past," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said. Despite a ceasefire agreement reached in November to conclude Israels months-long conflict with Hezbollah, Israel has continued to conduct almost daily strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon. Lebanese officials have warned that the ongoing strikes risk the country's recent efforts to disarm the group and could destabilize the country. Hezbollah has maintained that it no longer has a military presence south of the Litani River, and has refused to speak of disarmament without Israel stopping its attacks and withdrawing from southern Lebanese territory. President Joseph Aoun, who earlier landed in New York ahead of the United Nations General Assembly, condemned the strike and called on the international community to pressure Israel to stop. Aoun, alongside Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, endorsed an agreement last month that would gradually disarm Hezbollah. The monthslong war between Hezbollah and Israel killed some 4,000 people in Lebanon and displaced residents across southern and eastern Lebanon. Hezbollah officials say the ongoing strikes justify their refusal to give up their arms, and claim that the ceasefire agreement and monitoring mechanism with the United States, France, and United Nations peacekeeping forces is ineffective. Under the Washington-brokered ceasefire, both the militant Hezbollah group and Israel were supposed to withdraw their forces from southern Lebanon and halt strikes against each other. Israeli forces have continue to occupy five Lebanese hilltop points by the border The animals under [Easleys] care were not just animals to him, but beings he formed a connection with, Growler Pines Tiger Preserve said in a statement. Photograph: David Havel/Alamy A tiger fatally mauled its handler at a preserve in Oklahoma, officials at the facility say. Ryan Easley, the operator of the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve near Hugo, Oklahoma, was mauled to death on Saturday in what the site portrayed as an accident with a tiger under his care. Easley who once had conducted business with Joseph Maldonado, better known as Joe Exotic and the star of the true crime television series Tiger King was evidently killed by a tiger he owned at his roadside zoo. Before his death, Easley had reportedly acquired tigers for his ShowMe Tigers business from Joe Exotic and Bhagavan Doc Antle, who was also seen in Tiger King. Easley had shown the tigers around the country in traveling circuses. This tragedy is a painful reminder of both the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world, Growler Pines Tiger Preserve said in a statement on Facebook. Ryan understood those risks not out of recklessness but out of love, statement continued. The animals under his care were not just animals to him, but beings he formed a connection with one rooted in respect, daily care and love. The preserve has canceled all tours and animal encounters in the wake of Easleys death. In her own statement, the senior director of captive wildlife for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), Debbie Metzler, said: Its never safe for humans to interact directly with apex predators, and its never a surprise when a human is attacked by a stressed big cat who has been caged, whipped, and denied everything natural and important to them. Metzler also said she was calling for the remaining wild animal exhibitors who arent dead or in federal prison to get out of the business now and send the animals to accredited sanctuaries where they can finally live in peace. The statement from Metzler was presumably referring to Joe Exotics conviction in 2019 on charges of animal abuse and an unsuccessful murder-for-hire plot aimed at his rival Carole Baskin, an activist and founder of Big Cat Rescue. Exotic is serving a 21-year prison sentence. He put out a statement on Instagram on Sunday complaining that the media had dragged him into the story of Easley one Exotic said he had nothing to do with. This is the crap I am sick of, he wrote, in part. I had nothing to do with this dude other than 18 years ago I let him keep his tigers at my zoo for one winter. Sick of being exploited for headlines. Tom Homan allegedly promised to approve immigration-related government contracts in exchange for the money - Brian Snyder/Reuters Donald Trumps border tsar has been accused of accepting $50,000 (42,365) from an undercover FBI agent as part of a bribery investigation. Tom Homan allegedly promised to approve immigration-related government contracts when he joined the administration in exchange for the money. Kash Patel, the FBI director, closed the investigation into Mr Homan over the summer, Reuters and The New York Times reported, drawing scrutiny from critics. Kash Patel, the FBI director, closed the investigation into Mr Homan over the summer - Win McNamee/Getty Images Defending Mr Homan on Monday, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said he did absolutely nothing wrong. This was another example of the weaponisation of the Biden department of justice against one of President Trumps strongest and most vocal supporters, she said. In the midst of a presidential campaign, you had FBI agents going undercover to try and entrap one of the presidents top allies and supporters. Ms Leavitt added that multiple prosecutors and FBI agents had looked into the case and found zero evidence of illegal activity or criminal wrongdoing. The alleged cash payment to Mr Homan, made in September 2024, allegedly stemmed from a national security investigation that had began the month beforehand and did not involve Mr Homan. In that unrelated probe, the target is said to have repeatedly brought up Mr Homan, saying the former director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was collecting bribes in exchange for future government contracts. During an undercover sting operation, Mr Homan was allegedly caught on audiotape accepting the cash inside a bag from Cava, a Mediterranean restaurant chain, leading to him being investigated for bribery and other crimes. After Mr Trump returned to office in January, Justice Department officials are said to have closed the investigation owing to uncertainty about whether it could be proved that Mr Homan had agreed to any specific act in exchange for the money, sources told The New York Times. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said Mr Homan did absolutely nothing wrong - Will Oliver/Shutterstock The case was allegedly complicated further as Mr Homan was not a public official at the time he is accused of accepting the cash. Emil Bove, who was acting deputy attorney general and is now a federal judge, was briefed on the case in February, according to Reuters, and dismissed it as an example of a deep state operation a term referring to the conspiracy that unelected officials secretly control the government. A statement from Mr Patel and Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, said the probe was a blatantly political investigation and yet another example of how the Biden Department of Justice was using its resources to target president Trumps allies. This matter originated under the previous administration and was subjected to a full review by FBI agents and Justice Department prosecutors. They found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing, the pair said in a statement. The departments resources must remain focused on real threats to the American people, not baseless investigations. As a result, the investigation has been closed. Mr Homan has been the face of the Trump administrations crackdown on immigration, tasked with carrying out what the president has called the largest deportation in American history. He served as an ICE official during the Obama and first Trump administrations before running a consulting business to help companies obtain immigration-related government contracts during Mr Bidens tenure. In the recorded sting operation, Mr Homan is alleged to have claimed he would keep the bribe money in a trust until he had completed his service in the Trump administration, according to Reuters. The White House said that Mr Trumps border tsar has not been involved in awarding any contracts and had been targeted for his outspoken support of the president. Ms Leavitt said: He is a brave public servant who has done a phenomenal job in helping the president shut down the border. A spokesman for Mr Homan pointed to Ms Leavitts comments when approached by the Telegraph. Donald Trump with Robert Kennedy, the health secretary, at the White House on Monday. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters The Trump administration unveiled highly contentious conclusions about the causes of autism, together with a push for research purporting to find a possible cure for the condition on Monday. After months of widely trumpeted investigations spearheaded by the health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump announced that pregnant women should limit their use of acetaminophen, usually branded as Tylenol in the US or paracetamol elsewhere, which he claimed heightens the risk of autism in children when it is used by pregnant women, an assertion hotly contested by scientists internationally and contradicted by studies. Related: Careless and damaging talk about autism Speaking from the White House, flanked by Kennedy, the president said he had waited for 20 years for this meeting and added: Its not that everythings 100% understood or known, but I think weve made a lot of strides. But he declared: Taking Tylenol is not good All pregnant women should talk to their doctors about limiting the use of this medication while pregnant. Later, he reinforced the comment, saying: Dont take Tylenol. Theres no downside. He also spoke about upcoming recommendations that vaccines such as the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) shots should be given in a delayed manner or in smaller doses, despite limited evidence of the impacts. And he spoke about the hepatitis B shot, currently given to newborns as part of national vaccine standards, and possible recommendations to delay the first dose again with limited evidence. Kennedy followed, announcing that the health department and US Food and Drug Administration would work to change the label on acetaminophen risks. Administration officials also unveiled a plan to further investigate how a possible treatment for autism might exists in the shape of leucovorin, a drug currently used for patients with cancer and anemia. Trump, who has frequently voiced his concern over autism, said, along with Kennedy, that the US is suffering from an epidemic, and had flagged the major initiative on Sunday at Charlie Kirks memorial in Arizona. Tomorrow were going to have one of the biggest announcement[s] medically, I think, in the history of our country, he said. I think youre going to find it to be amazing. I think we found an answer to autism. One in 31 children aged eight had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) a condition denoting communication and social difficulties, along with repetitive behaviors in the US in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That compares to about one in 150 in 2000. Kennedy, who previously peddled the theory that the condition is caused by vaccinations, has attributed the rise to environmental toxins. He told Mondays event that the National Institutes of Health had been guilty of focusing almost solely on political safe and entirely fruitless research about autisms causes. He said was committed to investigating the etiology of the autism outbreak. He called autism a complex condition with a multifactorial etiology. One area we are currently examining is vaccines, said Kennedy, who has frequently floated theories that the increase in the conditions prevalence is fueled by vaccinations. However, specialists say the increase is mainly due to increased screening, combined with evolving definitions of the disorder. They have also said the causes are predominantly dictated by genetics. Scientists in the US and UK reacted to the Tylenol link sceptically, with British physicians denouncing it as fearmongering that risked stigmatising parents of children with autism. Alison Singer, president and founder of the Autism Science Foundation, voiced scathing criticism of the administrations approach specifically its assertions on Tylenol, which she called not scientifically based. Any association between Tylenol and autism is based on very limited, conflicting and inconsistent science, and its premature to make this kind of unsubstantiated claim and risk undermining public health, she said. Its misleading to families who deserve clear more factually based information. She also questioned the basis of the White House announcement. Were uncertain as to why this press conference is being held today. To our knowledge, there was no new data that were uncovered, no new studies published, no new presentations were made. There wasnt a scientific conference or a medical conference, Singer said. Speaking on a call organized by Defend America Action, a campaign group, Debra Houry, a former chief medical officer and deputy director at the CDC, told journalists: As of three weeks ago, we hadnt seen evidence that acetaminophen was linked with autism, so its curious to know how quickly that was developed. There are many studies which refute a link, but the most important was a Swedish study of 2.4m births published in 2024 which used actual sibling data and found no relationship between exposure to paracetamol [known in the US as acetaminophen] in utero and subsequent autism, ADHD or intellectual disability, said Dr Monique Botha, associate professor in social and developmental psychology at Durham University The fearmongering will prevent women from accessing the appropriate care during pregnancy. US medical practitioners also cast doubt on the putative link with acetaminophen. Dan Jernigan, another former CDC career scientist and former director of the national center for emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases, criticised Kennedys efforts. We were all asked to be a part of autism studies and to put together [an autism plan], he said. We helped develop some of that. But then over time, what we saw was [Kennedy] having an increasingly top down approach, essentially my way or the highway, with no regard again for the scientific processes. Some researchers have also pleaded caution on hopes for leucovorin, which has been reportedly shown in some tests to trigger marked improvements in the speaking and understanding ability of some people with autism. Irva Hertz-Picciotto, an epidemiologist and autism specialist at the University of California, Davis, told the Washington Post that unrealistic expectations could lead to a loss of trust. I worry that it feels like everything is now tainted that comes out of the current administration, she said. Bruce Mirken, communications co-chair of Defend Public Health, poured cold water on the announcements in advance. While we dont know what he will claim today, we do know that Kennedy has a history of false statements related to autism and that the scientific evidence shows there is no autism epidemic, he said. Additional reporting by Melody Schreiber and agencies This article was amended on 23 September 2025. An earlier version quoted Kennedy as saying autism had an ideology; however, Kennedy said etiology. Wrapped up in blankets every morning and evening while refusing to switch on the heating? You're not alone. (Getty Images) (Stephanie Verhart via Getty Images) Every September, once summer's behind us, the same debate begins in UK homes: Is it time to switch the heating on? Or, can we handle the damp towels and morning chill for a few more weeks? After all, autumn's only just arriving. For some, the first chill in the air is reason enough to turn the thermostat up. Others prefer to hold off as long as possible, to keep energy bills low or simply because it's "not even October". Homes hold warmth differently, and while some of us barely notice the first cold snap, others feel it instantly. But cost is shaping the decision too: New research says more than two million households say they plan to avoid turning on their central heating altogether this winter a 22% rise on last year with one in 20 households with young children also saying the same due to soaring energy prices and rising living costs. So how do you decide when to turn on the heating, and whats the most efficient way to run it once you do? We asked the experts. Many start thinking about switching the heating back on in September. (Getty Images) (d3sign via Getty Images) When is it cold enough to switch on the heating? Perhaps unsurprisingly, most experts don't consider there's a 'right' date to switch the heating back on. According to Energy Savings Direct (ESD): Generally, you should put on the heating when you start to feel cold. This is especially important if anyone in your home is an older person, a baby or someone with a medical condition. Theres also a widely quoted '15C' rule of thumb: Many people decide to heat their homes regularly once outdoor temperatures sit at around 15C or below. ESD notes this typically happens "around October" though an early cold snap can bring that forward. ESDs own community poll found 58% of Brits leave it as late as possible, while 33% had already turned the heating on by mid-September proof we dont all follow the same pattern. Is my heating set at the right temperature? If your controls are set up correctly, the boiler should only heat up when your home needs warmth. UK guidelines say you should aim to keep your room thermostat somewhere between 18C and 21C through autumn and winter. That keeps most homes comfortable without overheating (or overspending). Turning it down just one degree from a higher setting can help with cost, too. According to ESD, turning your thermostat down from 22 to 21 degrees could save you almost 90 a year in Great Britain and 100 in Northern Ireland. If anyone at home is older or living with a medical condition, consider the higher end of that range for safety and comfort. And for babies, the Lullaby Trust's recommended bedroom temperature is 16-20C. Met Office data shows that this time of year can start to get chilly. September 2024 averaged 12.7C and below. So if youre feeling cold already especially with vulnerable people or young children at home it makes sense to put the heating on. The Lullaby Trust recommends a room temperature of 16-20C for babies. (Getty Images) (SolStock via Getty Images) When should I run my heating? ESDs day-to-day pattern is easy to follow and will keep your energy bills down: Set the heating to come on around half an hour before you get up Switch it off about half an hour before bed If the house is empty, turn the heating off. Smart programmers and thermostats make this straightforward. Set a schedule you can adjust during cold snaps, then let the controls do the work. Do I keep it 'on low all day'? If youve got a gas or oil boiler, the myth is that it's cheaper to keep the heating on low all day. But this isn't correct. ESD says if you have a boiler, then keeping your heating on all the time will use more energy and cost you more money. Its more energy efficient and better for your bills to have your boiler come on when you need it. Heat pump households are different. Because heat pumps work best at steady, lower flow temperatures, ESD says you can save money by leaving the heating on all day. If thats you, follow your installers guidance and ESDs heat pump efficiency tips. If you feel cold, then it's time to switch the heating back on, advise the experts. (Getty Images) (Olga Rolenko via Getty Images) A helpful guide to heating Thermostat : Set 1821C for living spaces; higher end for older people or those with medical conditions Programmer : on ~30 minutes before you get up , off ~30 minutes before bed ; off when the house is empty Boilers : Run only when needed ; dont leave on low all day Heat pumps : Steady operation can be more efficient ; follow the installer and ESD advice. Watch the weather: Expect that 15C outdoor marker (or less) around October on average, but switch it on sooner if youre cold or living with someone vulnerable Read more about cold weather: The UK has formally recognised Palestine as an independent state, Keir Starmer has said, in a deeply symbolic announcement that the government hopes will show its commitment to peace in the region and ease domestic political tensions. In a sign of the global concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Canada and Australia also made their own formal declarations recognising Palestine on Sunday ahead of a conference of the UN general assembly in New York. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, immediately condemned the announcement which the UK sees as a lever to push for a lasting settlement to end the illegal occupation of Palestine calling it absurd and a reward for terrorism. However, Starmer insisted that the governments decision was not a reward for Hamas: he said the terrorist groups senior figures would face further UK sanctions in coming weeks, and the group would play no part in a future reformed and elected Palestinian government. All remaining Israeli hostages must be released, Starmer added. Downing Street believes that recognition will help to counter some of the criticism it has faced at home, including from in the cabinet and among Labour MPs, over its response to the Gaza crisis, ahead of what is expected to be a politically fraught annual conference. Related: Palestinian statehood is more than just a mantra In a video message to the nation, Starmer said: The hope of a two-state solution is fading but we cannot let that light go out Today, to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution, I state clearly, as prime minister of this great country, that the UK formally recognises the state of Palestine. In the face of the growing horrors in the Middle East we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution. That means a safe and secure Israel, alongside a viable Palestinian state. At the moment we have neither. In an attempt to deal with criticisms of the announcement from the US and Israel, he said: Lets be frank, Hamas is a brutal terror organisation. Our call for a genuine two-state solution is the exact opposite of their hateful vision. So we are clear, this solution is not a reward for Hamas, because it means Hamas can have no future, no role in government, no role in security. But he concluded: The man-made humanitarian crisis in Gaza reaches new depths. The Israeli governments relentless and increasing bombardment of Gaza, the offensive of recent weeks, the starvation and devastation are utterly intolerable. Tens of thousands have been killed, including thousands as they tried to collect food and water. This death and destruction horrifies all of us. It must end. The UK is to recognise a Palestinian state based provisionally on 1967 borders, before Israel occupied the Gaza Strip and West Bank. It will also pave the way for full diplomatic relations, with the Palestinian head of mission, Husam Zomlot, likely to be upgraded to full ambassadorial status. Zomlot said: It marks an irreversible step towards justice, peace and the correction of historic wrongs, including Britains colonial legacy, the Balfour Declaration and its role in the dispossession of the Palestinian people. Starmer first announced in July that the UK would recognise Palestine by the time of the UN general assembly, which begins next week, unless Israel abided by a ceasefire and committed to a two-state solution. The prime minister spoke to Netanyahu before the announcement. More than 150 countries, including France, which has led the western response, are expected to have recognised Palestine by the end of next week, although some may set conditions. The United States, now in effect opposed to a two-state solution, has rejected the UK move. Australias prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said: Further steps, including the establishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of embassies will be considered as the Palestinian Authority makes further progress on commitments to reform. The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, said: Recognising the state of Palestine, led by the Palestinian Authority, empowers those who seek peaceful coexistence and the end of Hamas. This in no way legitimises terrorism, nor is it any reward for it. The move comes seven decades after the end of the British mandate in Palestine and the formation of the state of Israel, as the death toll from the war on Gaza continues to rise and conditions for the people trapped there become even more desperate. While the announcement is not being portrayed as a punishment of Israel, it is unlikely the step would have been taken if Netanyahu had conducted the military campaign in Gaza with less ferocity and greater regard for international law. Related: Not enough in itself: wary welcome in West Bank over recognition of Palestine Israels foreign ministry said it rejected what it called the one-sided recognition of a Palestinian state by Britain, Canada and Australia, warning that recognition could further destabilise the region. Israel categorically rejects the one-sided declaration of the recognition of a Palestinian state made by the United Kingdom and some other countries, the foreign ministry said in a statement. This declaration does not promote peace, but on the contrary further destabilises the region and undermines the chances of achieving a peaceful solution in the future. A spokesperson for Netanyahu added that the Israeli prime ministers message to nations recognising Palestine was that the people of Israel arent going to commit suicide because of the political needs of European politics. The deputy prime minister, David Lammy, who will represent the UK at the UN gathering, acknowledged that there would be little immediate change from recognition. Its not to say as night follows day, you recognise one day and a Palestinian state appears the next, he told Sky News. Lammy, who was foreign secretary when the recognition timetable was agreed, said much of the idea was wrapped up in hope. Will this feed children? No, it wont, thats down to humanitarian aid. Will this free hostages? That must be down to a ceasefire, he told the BBC. What do we say to the children of a future Palestinian state? Do we say we have to wait for the perfect conditions before we can recognise a Palestinian state? Starmer had come under pressure from Labour MPs, including about third of his cabinet, to recognise Palestine, because of the moral imperative but also amid concerns that the party would lose votes to the left and pro-Gaza independents over the issue. One cabinet minister told the Guardian: Symbols matter. The Labour government has placed itself on the right side of history. Everyone knows that recognition alone wont change the lives of Palestinians, but it is a timely and necessary riposte to an authoritarian Israeli government that has increasingly made Israel a pariah state. There now needs to be a serious effort to kickstart a peace process and change facts on the ground or at least to prevent Israel from killing the two-state solution with further West Bank annexations. Estonia said the UN security council would hold an emergency meeting on Monday over Russian fighter jets violation of the countrys airspace as Donald Trump expressed his displeasure at the incursion and said he would help defend European Union members if Russia intensified hostilities. Nato forces intercepted three Russian MiG-31 fighters on Friday after they entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland, triggering Nato and European complaints of a dangerous new provocation, and a denial from Moscow. And on Sunday, two German Eurofighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian military aircraft above the Baltic Sea, reports Luke Harding. Germanys air force said the Russian Il-20M reconnaissance plane in international airspace had switched off its transponders and ignored requests to make contact. Estonias foreign ministry said the emergency security council meeting was being convened in response to Russias brazen violation of Estonian airspace. Poland said earlier this month that Russian drones had repeatedly violated its airspace in an act of aggression during an attack on Ukraine. Trump on Sunday joined the condemnation of the Estonian airspace violation, vowing to defend Poland and the Baltic states in case of escalation from Russia. Asked if he would help defend EU members if Russia intensified hostilities, the US president told reporters: Yeah, I would. I would. Trump said he had been briefed over the Estonia situation and added: We dont like it. It was a change in tone from his reaction to the Polish airspace incursion, which he said could have been a mistake, prompting Polands foreign affairs minister to say that that wasnt a mistake. Estonia said it was convening Mondays emergency security council meeting for the first time in 34 years of Estonian membership of the UN. Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said the violation was part of a broader pattern of escalation by Russia and that this behaviour requires an international response. Natos North Atlantic council will meet on Tuesday to discuss Russias Estonian violation, two officials told Reuters. Ukraine said Russian strikes in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia overnight into Monday had killed two people and wounded two others, one seriously. Russian forces had dropped at least five bombs on the city, said Ivan Fedorov, the head of the regional military administration. Earlier, a man was killed and residential buildings and infrastructure were damaged by Russian shelling in Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, said the head of the citys military administration, Serhii Horbunov. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had been targeted by more than 1,500 strike drones, over 1,280 guided aerial bombs and 50 missiles of various types over the previous week. Zelenskyy also said on X on Sunday that thousands of foreign components were found in the Russian weaponry and that Ukraine was counting on the 19th EU sanctions package to be truly painful, and on the United States to join the Europeans. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen presented the sanctions package on Friday. US TV host Jimmy Kimmel has had his show reinstated following widespread criticism and claims of government censorship, including from a host of Hollywood stars. Kimmels late-night chat show was taken off air following comments he made last week about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The decision by US network ABC to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its schedules had led to widespread criticism from big names including Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck and Tom Hanks. It was also signed by British stars including Florence Pugh and Alan Cumming. ABC announced on Monday that it will reinstate the show. In a statement to media, it said: We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday. More than 430 film, TV and stage stars as well as comedians, directors and writers had added their names to an open letter from the American Civil Liberties Union, describing the matter as a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation. Regardless of our political affiliation, or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country, the letter had said. We also share the belief that our voices should never be silenced by those in power because if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us. This is the moment to defend free speech across our nation. Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Robert De Niro, Selena Gomez, Tom Hanks, bottom row from left, Nathan Lane, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Florence Pugh, Meryl Streep and Kerry Washington, were among those showing support (AP) Former president Barack Obama had also suggested the issue was precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent. And the Screen Actors GuildAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists (Sag-Aftra) issued a statement saying: The decision to suspend airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! is the type of suppression and retaliation that endangers everyones freedoms. But US President Donald Trump had suggested that if any TV networks only give him bad press maybe their licence should be taken away. In an address to the audience during his show last week, Kimmel had said the Maga gang are desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them. Mr Kirk, who was a prominent political commentator in the US and ally of the president, was shot dead at a Utah Valley University event last week. Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged and could face the death penalty if convicted of killing Mr Kirk. Kimmels contract with The Walt Disney Co-owned network had been set to expire in May 2026. Zarah Sultana has extended an olive branch to party co-leader Jeremy Corbyn - Leon Neal/Getty Images Zarah Sultana has said she is determined to reconcile with Jeremy Corbyn after their new hard-Left party descended into a bitter row. The MP for Coventry South extended an olive branch to her party co-leader on Sunday evening, saying she had nothing but respect for Mr Corbyn like all socialists of my generation. A row erupted in the new movement last week after Ms Sultana launched a membership portal without Mr Corbyns permission and accused her co-founder of running a sexist boys club. The former Labour leader responded by insisting the portal was unauthorised and warning Ms Sultana that she should not be trying to run the new party, which is provisionally known as Your Party. However, Ms Sultana pledged to move forward and repair relations with Mr Corbyn late on Sunday. She said: We find ourselves in a regrettable situation, but my motivation has always been to ensure the collective strength of our movement, put members first and build the genuinely democratic conference and socialist party we so urgently need. I am determined to reconcile and move forward. I am engaged in ongoing discussions with Jeremy, for whom, like all socialists of my generation, I have nothing but respect. Ms Sultana is trying to move forward after her row with Mr Corbyn, saying the stakes are too high for failure to be an option - Leon Neal/Getty Images Ms Sultana also rowed back on threats of legal action after consulting defamation lawyers in relation to statements that had been made about the launch of the membership portal. Confirming Your Party will formally launch in November, she added: Fascism is growling at the door. The stakes are too high for failure to be an option. Both Jeremy and I remain committed to making this project a success and we can all confirm that the conference will go ahead as planned in November. This party does not belong to any one of us it belongs to you. The partys announcement in July was soured by a previous spat between its leaders after Mr Corbyn rebuked Ms Sultana for bringing up the anti-Semitism row that overshadowed his time as Labour leader. The pair also appeared to disagree on the name of the party. Ms Sultana insisted it would not be called Your Party, only for Mr Corbyn to suggest the name remained a possibility, with the decision to be made by supporters. Your Party has six prospective MPs who are expected to represent the bloc in the Commons after its formal launch. As well as Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana, these include Adnan Hussain, Ayoub Khan, Iqbal Mohamed and Shockat Adam, all of whom were elected as independent MPs after running on a pro-Gaza platform at the last general election. Trans women row A further split surfaced earlier this month after Mr Hussain declared that trans women are not biologically women. Ms Sultana declared she would always speak in support of the rights of trans people and insisted bigotry has no place in the new party. In response, Mr Hussain told her to sit down and accused her of student union politics. Despite its chaotic launch, the party could still inflict significant damage to Sir Keir Starmers hopes of re-election at the ballot box next time out. A poll by Ipsos in August found that 20 per cent of voters could see themselves supporting the hard-Left group. Your Party has committed to only a handful of policy positions, all of which significantly outflank Labour on the Left. These include the introduction of heavy wealth taxes on the richest Britons, an end to arms sales to Israel and the nationalisation of major public services. Mr Corbyn was suspended from Labour by Sir Keir in 2020 after claiming the scale of anti-Semitism in the party during his leadership had been overstated. He was subsequently expelled from the party in 2024 when he successfully ran for re-election in Islington North as an independent. Ms Sultana, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the staunchest critics of Sir Keir. First elected as a Labour MP in 2019, she was suspended last year for rebelling over the two-child benefit cap. She quit Labour in July after the proscription of Palestine Action as a terror group by Yvette Cooper, the then Home Secretary. Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, Abdullatif al-Zayani of Bahrain and Abdullah bin Zayed of the UAE at the White House in 2020 after signing the Abraham accords, which normalised relations between Israel and some countries in the Middle East. Photograph: Tom Brenner/Reuters Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to denounce the recognition of a Palestinian state by many of Israels historic allies, but the prime minister may be struggling to decide how to turn rhetoric into a concrete response. His options are perhaps more constrained than he would have his supporters believe. He has variously threatened annexation of occupied Palestinian land and bilateral action against countries that joined the tide of recognition. But laying formal claim to part or all of the West Bank would jeopardise the Abraham accords, the historic agreement that normalised ties with regional powers including the United Arab Emirates. That deal was perhaps the most high-profile foreign policy achievement of Donald Trumps first presidency, cited in nominations for the Nobel peace prize he openly covets, and one of Netanyahus own landmark achievements. The UAE, one of its most important partners, has already said annexation is a red line, and the deals collapse would carry a high risk of alienating Netanyahus single most important supporter. Israel chose a bilateral response to Ireland, Norway and Spain when they recognised a Palestinian state last year, including withdrawing ambassadors. Doing the same thing now, when so many key allies have followed suit, would be far more complicated and could harm Israel far more than its targets, former Israeli diplomats said. It would accelerate Israels trajectory towards the isolated super-Sparta status that Netanyahu celebrated last week and then backed away from after public outrage and economic warnings. Alon Liel, a former diplomat who served as Israels ambassador to South Africa, said: I think its such a difficult dilemma that Netanyahu decided to postpone. There is no way Israel will not respond, and there is no way Israel will respond in a clever way. The cabinet is on the point of discussing which mistakes to make. The Jewish new year holiday, celebrated on Monday and Tuesday, and the upcoming UN general assembly have given Netanyahu a chance to claim breathing space while he considers his options. He is travelling to the US for the meeting and said his response to the UK, France and others would come after meeting Trump. That meeting will take place after the US president meets Arab leaders in New York. Before leaving, Netanyahyu convened a meeting of the Israeli security cabinet to discuss possible responses to recognition, Israeli media reported. In a clear indication of concerns about the risks of annexation, the two strongest advocates of that approach the far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich were not invited. In addition to the future of the Abraham accords which Trump and Joe Biden hoped to expand to include Saudi Arabia many of the Trump family and allies have deep financial ties in the region. But domestic political pressures over a corruption trial and upcoming election may outweigh Netanyahus worries about antagonising Trump, said Alon Pinkas, another former Israeli diplomat. Netanyahu of two or three years ago would not have dared annex anything, said Pinkas, whose former positions include consul general in New York. Netanyahu of September 2025 is unhinged; detached from reality, with an acute case of delusion of grandeur [about the idea he is] redrawing the regional map; afraid of an election; scared of his trial [on corruption charges]. If all of those point to partial annexation, he might actually do something. Related: Israeli politicians react bitterly to international recognitions of Palestinian state Inside Israel, debate has swung confusingly between an insistence that recognition is an irrelevant gesture towards an empty symbol, and fury at the countries that have pressed ahead. Across most of Israels political spectrum, from the far right to the centre-left leader Yair Golan, the move to recognise the Palestinian state has been condemned as a reward for terrorism. But even if a sovereign Palestine is still more an idea than a reality, recognition has profound legal and diplomatic implications. British recognition has a particular diplomatic and historic weight because of the role Britain played in laying the groundwork for the creation of the state of Israel with the Balfour declaration of 1917. Liel said: I see it as more than a bilateral event; it [should be understood in] the historic perspective of the Balfour declaration. Its a kind of correction to the British historic role. 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Ipsos polling suggested 28 per cent of respondents want whoever is appointed as the new Primate of All England to talk less about political topics, with a quarter adding that it is unacceptable for them to talk about immigration and asylum. The next archbishop is expected to be named in the coming weeks, almost a year after Justin Welby resigned over failures in handling a safeguarding scandal. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, who has been the stand-in while the Canterbury role is vacant, recently joined the debate on immigration, accusing Nigel Farage of an isolationist, short-term, knee-jerk response to the Channel crossings crisis. Mr Cottrell said the Reform leader, who has promised mass deportations, was not offering a solution to the big issues driving people to risk the dangerous journeys in small inflatable boats. The poll, for the PA news agency, found less than a fifth (17 per cent) think the new archbishop should speak out more. Some 25 per cent of people say it is unacceptable for the Church of Englands most senior religious leader to speak about immigration and asylum, but almost two in five (37 per cent) said it is an acceptable topic for them to discuss. While no shortlist of candidates has been published, one of those thought to be a favourite for the role is a former refugee who fled Iran with her family as a teenager in the wake of the Iranian revolution in 1980. The Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani, would be first female Archbishop of Canterbury were she to be selected - Charlotte Graham The Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani, who has previously spoken of her own story and how she has a sense of the real trauma that many asylum seekers have experienced, would also make history by becoming the first female Archbishop of Canterbury were she to be selected. Others thought to be in the running include the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Michael Beasley, a former epidemiologist who was a member of the Churchs Covid taskforce during the pandemic. A committee led by Lord Evans of Weardale, a former director-general of the MI5 security service, must reach a two-thirds majority decision on who should be the new archbishop, with a nomination then presented to the Prime Minister who passes it to the King. While technically the King is head of the Church of England, the person holding the role of Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop and is the spiritual leader of the Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion. In a job description published earlier this year by the Diocese of Canterbury, it was stated the person filling the role should be someone willing to be unapologetic about offering a Christian perspective to local, national and international dialogue. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, left, has been the temporary replacement as archbishop following Mr Welbys resignation - Justin Tallis/Getty Images The Ipsos polling for PA found that more than half of people felt it acceptable for someone in the role to speak out about homelessness and poverty, and 40 per cent said it was acceptable to speak out on welfare benefits. Around a third felt a new archbishop should speak out more than their predecessors did to promote charitable causes and about social challenges facing the country. During his time in the role, Mr Welby had been outspoken on issues of poverty, calling for the two-child benefit cap to be scrapped, and had strongly criticised the previous Conservative governments scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, which he warned was leading the nation down a damaging path. Overall, almost three quarters (74 per cent) of people said they do not personally care about who becomes the next Archbishop of Canterbury. Almost two thirds (62 per cent) of Christians not necessarily only those from a Church of England background felt this way. Less than a fifth (18 per cent) of people said they were paying attention to news about the new Archbishop of Canterbury, with issues including the cost of living and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza among the stories the public were following more closely. Ipsos polled 1,100 British people online aged 16 to 75, including 505 people who identified as Christian, between Sept 12 and Sept 15. Sarah Smith, the daughter of former Labour leader John Smith, drew criticism for her report from Charlie Kirks memorial service - Dermot Tatlow/The Telegraph The BBCs North America editor is facing criticism for describing Charlie Kirk as far-Right. Sarah Smith was reporting from Kirks memorial service in Arizona on Sunday, where Donald Trump addressed more than 60,000 people mourning the conservative influencer. In a report broadcast on BBC Ones 10pm bulletin, Smith said: Mr Kirk built a huge and devoted following for his far-Right views and his eagerness to debate with opponents. Liz Truss, the former prime minister, responded on social media: The BBC and Sarah Smith are utterly disgraceful. She should have her White House press pass rescinded. And come 2029 the whole organisation should be defunded. Ms Truss highlighted the comments to Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary. The BBCs online coverage of the memorial service did not use the term far-Right, instead referring to Kirk as a conservative activist with a Right-wing Christian world-view. In her report on Kirks assassination, Smith said: His killing has set off a furious argument about freedom of speech in America. The same people who have come to celebrate Kirks commitment to freedom of expression are threatening to crack down on Left-wing groups and activists. Shallow understanding Referring to Mr Trumps assertion that the memorial would be a time of healing, the editor added: There was no healing when late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel was sacked over comments made about Mr Kirk. ABC, the American broadcasting company, took Mr Kimmels late-night talk show off the air after he accused the Maga gang of trying to score political points from Kirks murder. Ms Truss was one of many social media users to condemn Smiths choice of language. Dr Adrian Hilton, an academic at the University of Buckinghamshire, said: Kirks views would be shared by millions. Its such a shallow understanding of the political Right. Smith, the daughter of John Smith, the late Labour Party leader, was appointed to the North America post in 2021. She was previously the BBCs Scotland editor, and she said she felt relieved to leave the UK after enduring years of misogynistic bile and hatred while covering Scottish politics. The BBC declined to say that Smith was in the wrong, but suggested that they did not condone her choice of language. A spokesperson said: As youll see from our reporting, our standard description of Charlie Kirk is that of Right-wing activist. At Sundays memorial service, Mr Trump hailed Kirk as a giant of his generation. Kirk was heinously murdered by a radicalised, cold-blooded monster for speaking the truth that was in his heart, the president said. He was assassinated because he lived bravely, he lived boldly and he argued brilliantly. Kirk was shot on Sept 10 while he was speaking at Utah Valley University. He was the co-founder of Turning Point USA, and was credited with helping to secure Mr Trumps election victory by galvanising the youth vote. His podcasts and public appearances were provocative and he was stridently opposed to abortion saying that if his 10-year-old daughter were to become pregnant through rape, he would not allow a termination and gun control. He made a number of inflammatory statements about race but insisted that he was not racist. A video grab of the gangs arrest. The group hit at least 11 properties across Surrey and London in just over a month in 2024 - Surrey Police, SWNS A Chilean burglary gang posed as tourists to steal more than 80,000 homes in affluent parts of London and the South East. The group hit at least 11 properties across Surrey and London in just over a month last year and escaped with watches, designer clothes, jewellery and unopened Christmas presents. Surrey Police said the thieves would burgle flats and houses, climbing up to the first or second floors and then forcing entry through windows or doors. Footage from one incident shows four men escaping from a property by climbing over the back fence. Israel Contreras, 22, Eduardo Marquez, 29, Yeico Guzman Fernandez, 25, and Michael Carrasco, 28, have now all been jailed. Police said that although the offences were highly organised and involved a significant degree of planning, the group made many mistakes. Israel Contreras dropped his phone while fleeing over the fence of a home in Hillingdon, giving police their first breakthrough - Surrey Police On Nov 3, 2024 officers were given the first piece of the puzzle when Contreras dropped his phone while fleeing over the fence of a home in Hillingdon. The device contained five screenshots from a mapping app, with pins dropped on residential properties around London. DNA belonging to Contreras was found on a broken angle grinder blade left behind at the scene of a burglary in Esher, connecting the offences in London and Surrey. Contreras was the first of the gang to be detained by police and was arrested while attempting to board a flight from Heathrow Airport to Chile on Dec 5. Eduardo Marquez drove the gangs getaway car and had jewellery in his pockets when arrested by police - Surrey Police He was charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, but officers knew he wasnt acting alone. On Dec 11, the remaining members of the gang were stopped by officers from Surrey Police driving a red Hyundai in Fulham Palace Road, London. Michael Carrasco pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison - Surrey Police Having attempted to reverse and ram their way to freedom, the car was tactically stopped by police and the three occupants detained. The car and their pockets were full of jewellery, designer goods, and tools. Driving the getaway car was Marquez. He was searched and found with jewellery in his pockets from burglaries committed earlier that day. He also had a large crowbar tucked into his waistband, and a torch and screwdriver concealed in his pockets. The passengers were Fernandez and Carrasco. Fernandez had arrived in the UK from Chile at 7am that morning. By 5pm he was in police custody, having immediately met up with the group and gone straight on an offending spree. Yeico Guzman Fernandez was arrested the day he arrived in the UK after meeting up with the gang and going on a crime spree - Surrey Police Over the summer, the defendants were sentenced at Guildford Crown Court after all pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary. Contreras was sentenced to five years and three months. Marquez was sentenced to six years and nine months. Fernandez was sentenced to two years and nine months. Carrasco was sentenced to two years and nine months. One in 10 girls aged 11 to 16 said they do not feel safe at school. Photograph: UK Stock Images Ltd/Alamy Two-thirds of girls and young women have changed their everyday behaviour to try to stay safe, with 31% avoiding taking public transport alone, according to a survey by the Girlguiding charity. The research found that 56% of girls and young women in the UK aged between 11 and 21 said they feel unsafe travelling by themselves, up from 45% in 2022, while almost one-third said they avoided public transport altogether. Girlguidings annual Girls Attitudes survey found that 86% of respondents have avoided going out after dark to stay safe, with girls of colour less likely to step out. Overall, 68% said they changed their everyday behaviour to avoid being sexually harassed, with one in three (32%) altering what they wear. More than a quarter (28%) of the 2,640 respondents said they had avoided places where they used to socialise and one in 10 (12%) changed where they exercise. Girls with disabilities felt particularly unsafe travelling, with only 17% saying they felt secure on public transport, compared with 33% of non-disabled girls. The survey also explored misogyny in schools. More than half of girls aged 11 to 18 (58%) said they had experienced male pupils making toxic comments while 32% reported seeing a teacher or member of staff subjected to sexist or misogynistic abuse. One in 10 girls aged 11 to 16 said they do not feel safe at school, a figure that rises to more than two in 10 for LGBTQ+ girls and three in 10 for disabled girls. One in 10 also said they had intentionally missed school to lower the risk of sexual harassment a figure that doubles for girls with disabilities (21%) and rises to 18% for neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ girls. Among the younger pupils, a third of girls aged seven to 10 (32%) said they had experienced a comment from boys at school that made them feel uncomfortable while, 17% said boys at school regularly comment on the bodies of girls and young women. Girlguiding called on local authorities and schools to publish plans to tackle misogyny in their communities and for politicians in charge of public transport to engage with girls on their fears and make services safer. Amanda Azeez, the acting chief executive of Girlguiding, said: Although a lot of progress has been made in creating an equal world, reading these stark findings makes us realise that in some areas, like the treatment and behaviour that girls face, things sadly havent changed at all. Girls are not being treated equally and are consistently made to feel like theyre not enough. This is not only affecting their mental health but stopping them from being themselves. To ensure girls safety and to tackle this issue, action needs to happen now, starting with listening to and involving girls and young women in how to address this. Girls should be able to rely on decision-makers to keep them safe, as well as their peers for support. The research also highlighted how girls and young women have supported each other, with 70% of 11- to 21-year-olds saying they have stood up for other girls experiencing sexism or misogyny. The Loy Yang coalmine and power plant in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Australia one of the countries intending to increase coalmining. Photograph: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/The Guardian Governments around the world are ramping up coal, gas and oil extraction which will put climate goals beyond reach, new data has shown. Far from reducing reliance on fossil fuels, nations are planning higher levels of fossil fuel production for the coming decades than they did in 2023, the last time comparable data was compiled. This increase goes against the commitments that countries have made at UN climate summits to transition away from fossil fuels and phase down production, particularly of coal. If all of the planned new extraction takes place, the world will produce more than double the quantity of fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with holding global temperature rises to 1.5C above preindustrial levels. Emily Ghosh, a programme director at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) in the US, said: Fossil fuel production should have peaked and started to fall. Every year of delay [to the peak and rapid fall required] significantly increases the pressure [on the climate]. She said an urgent course correction from governments was needed, but the current and planned overproduction of fossil fuels meant the world was burning through its remaining carbon budget the amount that can be emitted without permanently exceeding the 1.5C threshold at a rapid rate. The Production Gap 2025 report, from the SEI, the Climate Analytics thinktank and the International Institute for Sustainable Development, analysed 20 major producers of fossil fuels around the world, including the US, Russia, Saudi Arabia, China, Canada, Brazil, Australia and the UK, together representing about 80% of global fossil fuel production. Only the UK, Australia and Norway plan to reduce production of oil and gas by 2030, compared with 2023 levels. Eleven of the 20 countries surveyed have increased their plans for fossil fuel production since they were last analysed in 2023. Several countries are planning at least to cut coal production, including China, the US, Germany and Indonesia. But India, Russia, Colombia and Australia will ramp up their mining. Demand for fossil fuels is also key countries must pursue renewable energy and use energy more efficiently to obviate the need for new oil, gas and coal production. Neil Grant, of Climate Analytics, said: So far, renewable energy growth has been an addition, alongside fossil fuel demand, and we havent seen peak demand. But given the pace of change in the energy system that could change quite significantly. As transport, heating and other functions become electrified, less primary energy is needed, as electrification is much more efficient. But less demand for fossil fuels could also make them cheaper, spurring a rebound effect. We are in the foothills of an energy transition that is going to reshape fossil fuel demand, said Grant. But many governments are thinking in terms of a world where the energy transition happens very incrementally. Theres a lot of danger, [including that] the voice of the fossil fuel lobby only gets louder and holds us back from this change to a cleaner, better, greener economy. That would lead to climate chaos or significant negative economic impacts. All countries agreed at the Cop26 UN climate meeting in 2021 to phase down coal. The original commitment was to phase out, though without a timeline, but a last-minute intervention by China and India resulted in the weaker language being accepted. At the Cop28 summit in Dubai in 2023, countries agreed to transition away from fossil fuels, though without specifying what this would mean in practice. Derik Broekhoff, the lead author of the report published on Monday, said: In 2023, governments formally acknowledged the need to move away from fossil fuels to mitigate climate change. But as our report makes clear, while many countries have committed to a clean energy transition, many others appear to be stuck using a fossil-fuel-dependent playbook, planning even more production than they were two years ago. The Production Gap 2025 report comes as world leaders prepare to meet the UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, in New York this week on the sidelines of the UN general assembly. Guterres will urge countries to come up with fresh commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions ahead of the Cop30 summit in Brazil this November. Under the 2015 Paris agreement, governments must submit new national plans this year setting out their plans to 2035. But the UNs climate chief, Simon Stiell, has already told the Guardian that the national plans would be inadequate to keep the world within the 1.5C limit. Instead, the UN is hoping that countries will agree ways to strengthen their commitments in future and to bring other forces, such as private sector investment, to bear. On Monday, a separate report from the Industrial Transition Accelerator estimated that of more than 700 low-carbon industrial installations in planning and development around the world, only 15 a year were gaining the finance necessary to go into full production. This represented a $1.6tn (1.2tn) opportunity for investors, the group said. To keep the 1.5C goal in reach, the world needs rapid reductions in coal, oil and gas investments, redirecting those resources towards an energy transition that prioritises equity and justice, said Ghosh. Governments must commit to expand renewables, phase out fossil fuels, manage energy demands and implement community-centred energy transitions. University College London is among the UK institutions where Palestinian students have been awarded scholarships Photograph: Justin Kase zninez/Alamy A group of Palestinian scholars who have been awaiting evacuation from Gaza to take up their places at universities across the UK finally arrived on Monday after a surreal journey from devastation to opportunity. The 34 students, who all have fully funded scholarships, arrived in London and Manchester onboard three flights from Queen Alia international airport in Jordan. A number took onward flights to Northern Ireland and Scotland where they will purse their studies. Their arrival followed months of campaigning by politicians, academics and others on behalf of more than 100 Palestinian students holding offers from UK universities this year. Supporters are hoping others will follow and a permanent pathway will be established to ensure more Palestinian scholars benefit. Related: The Gaza students with scholarships to UK unable to take up their places The education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, welcomed them, saying: The flight time from Amman to England is only around six hours, but this was a journey that was months in the planning and years in the making. These students have lived through the most appalling ordeal. After almost two years of war, many have lost loved ones, and all have had their lives and their education thrown into chaos. Yet despite all the death and destruction theyve witnessed, theyve not given up. Instead, theyve chosen to answer loss with learning, despair with determination, and war with hope. They are an inspiration to us all and I am deeply relieved that theyve arrived in the UK and can now continue their education in safety. Their arrival came shortly after the UK joined Canada and Australia in formally declaring recognition of Palestinian statehood. Commenting after the students arrival, the foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: Our support reflects the UKs commitment to the future of postwar Gaza and its reconstruction, where educating the next generation will play a vital role. The cohort includes recipients of the Chevening scholarship, the governments flagship international programme, which is aimed at leaders of tomorrow and supports them to pursue one-year masters degrees in the UK. Not included in the cohort, however, were two women one bound for Glasgow, the other the Liverpool School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine who declined their initial invitations for evacuation when they were told their young children and spouses would not be permitted to exit the Gaza Strip with them. Just days before the first bus of UK students was due to leave Gaza last week, the two PhD students were informed that while their families were eligible for UK visas, they were not eligible for the evacuation. Put in an impossible situation, according to supporters, they chose to stay. Nora Parr, a University of Birmingham researcher who has been coordinating efforts to support the students, said she was thrilled to finally see the Palestinian scholars being welcomed at university campuses across the UK. They are beginning a new chapter of what has for all been a surreal journey from devastation to opportunity, she said. Of course the logistics and parameters of the new UK scheme for students are still being worked out. We hope that mothers and fathers will not be asked to choose between education and family survival, that post-doctoral scholars will be included and that mechanisms toward a permanent pathway for education in the UK will be established, as a political solution is created for Palestine, allowing these scholars to use what they have learned in the UK to rebuild their communities. Donald Trump has previously said that the ICC has no jurisdiction, no legitimacy and no authority as far as the US is concerned - Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP The United States is considering imposing sanctions against the entire International Criminal Court (ICC) as soon as this week, it has been reported. Washington has already placed targeted sanctions on several prosecutors and judges, but naming the court itself in the sanctions list would be a major escalation. It would put the courts day-to-day operations in jeopardy. Six sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that a decision on such entity sanctions was expected soon. A state department spokesman accused the ICC of asserting what it said was its purported jurisdiction over US and Israeli personnel and said that Washington was going to take further steps, although the spokesman did not say exactly what. Sanctions applied to the court as an entity could affect a number of day-to-day activities, including the courts ability to pay its staff, access to bank accounts and routine office software on its computers. The ICC is reportedly bracing itself for US sanctions - Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters To mitigate the potential damage, ICC staff received salaries this month in advance for the rest of 2025, three sources said. However, this is not the first time the court has paid wages in advance as a precaution in case of sanctions. National security threat Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, has called the court a national security threat that has been an instrument for lawfare against the US and its ally Israel. The court was founded in 2002 under a treaty giving it jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes that were either committed by a citizen of a member state or had taken place on a members territory. In November, the ICC indicted Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and Yoav Gallant, the former Israeli defence minister. They were formally accused last year of alleged war crimes in Gaza, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, along with the crimes against humanity of persecution and intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population. Accusations of anti-Semitism Mr Netanyahu responded furiously by saying the ICC was guilty of an anti-Semitic act designed to deter Israel from defending itself against our enemies who rise up against us to destroy us. He accused the court of a moral bankruptcy which violates the natural right of democracies to defend themselves against murderous terrorism. In November, the ICC indicted Israels ex-defence minister Yoav Gallan (left) and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu - Amos Ben-Gershom/Getty The decision to pursue Mr Netanyahu also led the United States to escalate its campaign against the ICC. During his first term as president, Donald Trump hardened Washingtons position, declaring in 2018 that as far as America is concerned the court had no jurisdiction, no legitimacy and no authority. After Mr Netanyahus indictment, Mr Trump launched a ferocious campaign against the court, imposing US sanctions on Karim Khan along with two deputy prosecutors and six ICC judges, although not, so far, on the institution itself. Golden Retriever Credit: Getty Images Step into any therapy program, and chances are youll meet a Golden Retriever. Hospitals and nursing homes rely on them because they combine patience, trainability, and warmth. These dogs pick up new tasks quickly, yet its their instinct to comfort that makes them extraordinary. People trust Goldens because they never shy away from strangers, and their steady nature helps anyone feel safe and understood. Labrador Retriever Credit: pexels Labs rank among the most versatile therapy dogs. They greet strangers with enthusiasm, focus quickly when given commands, and adjust easily to new environments. In childrens reading programs, their calm nature helps kids build confidence, while in hospitals they bring steady reassurance. What makes them stand out is a combination of friendliness and adaptability, qualities that let them connect with people of all ages and situations. Poodle Credit: Getty Images Few breeds combine brains and charm as seamlessly as the Poodle. Trainers appreciate how quickly they learn, while handlers value their allergy-friendly coats that make them welcome in hospitals. What really makes them shine in therapy work is intelligence and versatility, since they can comfort a bedridden patient one moment and entertain a group of children the next. Beagle Credit: pixabay A Beagle doesnt just walk into a room, they own it. With their cheerful personality and love for attention, they thrive in group settings like schools or therapy workshops. Once trained, Beagles focus surprisingly well and channel their curiosity into playful interaction. Their gift lies in enthusiasm and sociability, all of which encourage people to open up and connect, which makes therapy sessions feel less clinical and more welcoming. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Credit: Getty Images Soft ears, soulful eyes, and a size that fits neatly into any lap: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel checks all the boxes for comfort. Seniors adore them because they stay calm during long visits, and children bond with them quickly thanks to their sweet nature. What defines this breed is empathy and gentleness, making them a favorite for one-on-one therapy where quiet companionship matters most. German Shepherd Credit: Getty Images Think German Shepherds are only suited for police work? Therapy programs prove otherwise. With the right training, they balance attentiveness with tenderness, which not only offers physical support but also emotional. This breed's qualities make them dependable partners, especially for people who need stability. They read subtle cues, whether thats a nervous shift in posture or a sudden change in tone, and adjust to provide steady reassurance. French Bulldog Credit: pexels Therapy visits often call for a dog that can relax in tight spaces, and the French Bulldog fits perfectly. Their easygoing nature keeps them calm in hospitals, while their playful faces brighten the mood without effort. While humor and affection shape their personality, they thrive with people who benefit from quiet companionship in close quarters. Bernese Mountain Dog Credit: Getty Images Picture a large, tri-colored dog gently leaning into someones side, often thats a Bernese Mountain Dog at work. Size, patience, and steadiness define them, turning these dogs into anchors of calm for children in therapy programs or seniors who need the reassuring presence of a gentle giant. Their massive build may look intimidating, yet people quickly discover their sweet nature. Bichon Frise Credit: Getty Images In therapy programs, the Bichon Frise often serves as an instant icebreaker. Their appearance sparks conversation, their personality keeps people engaged, and their easygoing nature allows them to adapt to new settings without fuss. Schools and pediatric hospitals favor them for their lively charm, while allergy-sensitive facilities appreciate their low-shedding coats. The result is a small dog that boasts fun, comfort, and practicality in one fluffy package. Yorkshire Terrier Credit: pixabay Yorkshire Terriers may weigh only a few pounds, but they pull their weight in therapy work. Theyve been trained to press alert buttons, fetch medicine, and stay close during medical routines. Their ingenuity and affection make them surprisingly reliable in high-stakes environments. Beyond their skills, Yorkies thrive in personal connections, providing steady companionship in places where larger dogs simply wouldnt fit. Maltese Credit: Getty Images When long bedside visits call for a calm companion, the Maltese proves its worth. Their size makes them easy to carry, while their temperament keeps them steady in quiet settings. They are perfect for people who cant move easily. With a history as lapdogs, they excel in staying close, offering reassurance not through action but through constant, comforting presence. Shih Tzu Credit: Getty Images Centuries ago, Shih Tzus lived as companion dogs in Chinese palaces, and that role continues in modern therapy work. They manage therapy visits with a calm presence that puts people at ease. They handle noise and activity without getting flustered, making them reliable in busy settings. For those who want a dog that can provide quiet comfort while remaining dependable, the Shih Tzu often becomes an ideal choice. Pomeranian Credit: Getty Images Pomeranians have a way of brightening a room the moment they arrive. Their fluffy coats and sharp expressions tend to draw people in, making it easier to start conversations and ease loneliness. They can settle quietly with a child during reading time or offer playful interaction in a hospital setting. Small in size but big in spirit, these dogs consistently leave people feeling more cheerful after each visit. Cocker Spaniel Credit: Getty Images Walk into a therapy group and a Cocker Spaniel will often be at the center of it, tail wagging and ears flopping. Their affectionate spirit helps them blend seamlessly with both children and seniors. Patience, friendliness, and adaptability make them strong all-rounders, thriving in both one-on-one visits and group activities. They offer comfort through touch and presence, keeping interactions natural rather than forced. Pug Credit: Getty Images Pugs win people over quickly with their expressive faces and natural charm. In therapy sessions, they often make people smile before doing anything at all, which helps ease tension in stressful settings. They enjoy attention and return it with affection, making them dependable companions for those who need emotional support. Since they adapt well to indoor living, Pugs are especially popular in care homes and smaller facilities. Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images One of the best things about ALDIs German origins is that their fall and winter products are unmatched. Trader Joes can keep their pumpkin-everything season because it stands absolutely no chance against the products ALDI rolls out from September through December each year. ALDI essentially brings the best of German Oktoberfest and Christkindlmarkts stateside with their vast selection of seasonal food and drinks. Theyve got everything from pumpkin beer to Spekulatius spiced cookies. And while I never leave the store without at least perusing the specialty aisle for a few new treats to take home, theres only one product that I actively scour shelves for. The second the humidity drops below 80% in Alabama (our version of temperatures dropping and leaves falling), you can find me hitting up my local ALDI with one product in mind: Deutsche Kuche Cheese Egg Spaetzle. Courtesy of ALDI What Is Spaetzle? If youve never had the pleasure of trying spaetzle, youre in for a big-time treat. Spaetzle is a German egg noodle-dumpling hybrid made with flour, eggs, and milk or water. Its often served as a side dish with gravy or stews, but it can also be a main course in dishes like Kasespaetzle (cheese spaetzle). Think of this as a German version of mac and cheese. The best thing about spaetzle is that because its a crossover between a noodle and dumpling, it has a heartier, chewier bite than a traditional noodle and holds whatever sauce or gravy its served in really well. Once fall rolls around, ALDI stocks its shelves with several types of spaetzle. Theres a freezer version that comes in garlic sage or cheese, and theres also a plain dried version thats ready to boil just as you would any pasta. But the kind I always seek out is a pantry staple side that comes in one convenient package with seasoning and easy instructions for preparing and serving. Courtesy of ALDI Why I Love ALDIs Spaetzle ALDIs Deutsche Kuche Cheese Egg Spaetzle is my very favorite fall side dish for a number of reasons. Its creamy, cheesy, warm, and comfortingthe way all my favorite cold-weather foods are. It takes less than 15 minutes to be ready to eat, and the only skill it requires to make is boiling a pot of water. At just $1.99 per pouch, its the perfect budget-friendly side to have on hand for busy weeknights. In spring and summer, Im all about ALDIs Earthly Grains Couscous to pair with grilled meats and fish, but once the temperature drops, ALDIs Cheese Egg Spaetzle is my go-to swap. If youre not a big fan of cheesy sides, this spaetzle also comes in onion and mushroom flavors, which are just as delicious. How To Serve It Like all my favorite ALDI sides, their spaetzle is super versatile. Since this version comes in its own luscious sauce, theres no need to prepare a gravy or stew to go over the top. Its excellent served next to a grilled pork chop or smoked chicken thighs, but for the most authentic German-themed meal, you can pick up just a few other ingredients at ALDI and call it a night. The Deutsche Keuche brand makes a frozen Chicken Schnitzel that pairs perfectly with spaetzle. The breaded chicken patty just needs a few minutes frying in some oil, and its ready to go. Round out your meal with the brands German Style Sauerkraut, and youve got an Oktoberfest-worthy meal in a matter of minutes. It's also great next to a brat, which is great because ALDI sells several versions to sample. And of course, you can always have the cheese version on its own, topped with fried onions just like they do in Germany. Its a complete meal thats reminiscent of our favorite Kraft mac and cheese dinners growing up. Just remember: This is a seasonal product, so you won't see it on shelves year-round. Since ALDI has been known to run out of fan-favorite products, I recommend taking a page out of my playbook and filling your pantry every time you catch these in your local store. My goal is to always to make my stash last until the following fall. Unfortunately, I've yet to succeed. Maybe this year. Read the original article on Southern Living RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) A massive search was conducted Sunday night for several children who escaped a psychiatric hospital in North Carolina, police said. Seven children escaped during a disturbance reported just after 8:05 p.m. at the Holly Hill Hospital South Campus in east Raleigh, according to a Raleigh Police Department news release. Upon arrival, officers learned that seven juveniles escaped the facility on foot, police said in the release. Police gave no immediate details about the disturbance. Holly Hill is for inpatient and outpatient treatment of psychiatric and addictive diseases. PREVIOUS: 6 at WakeMed after 20 girls in brawl at Raleigh psychiatric hospital, police say K-9 teams and drones were used during the search for nearly three hours. By 10:50 p.m., all seven escapees were back in custody, police said. These juveniles were not considered armed or dangerous, and there was no threat to the surrounding community during this incident, police said. The incident followed a large brawl in December 2024 involving more than 20 girls at Holly Hill. That involved people hitting each other with hands and feet but also involved chairs and other items, police said. Six of the girls in 2024 were taken to a local hospital to be checked for possible injuries. The Raleigh Police Department, Wake County Sheriffs Office, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, and the State Capitol Police Department were involved in the search and capture of the children on Sunday night. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. People tend to say "bruh" when something absurd happens. But would you say there's a historical moment that deserves such a description or reaction? Granted, many absurd things have happened throughout history (and we don't need to look back many years to find them). There have been fights between cities because of buckets, people who survived both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki disasters, and a secret army masquerading as a giant wooden horse. Pretty crazy stuff when you think about it, isn't it? One netizen collected all these incredible moments in one place when they asked: "What historical event can accurately be referred to as a 'bruh moment?'" Are you curious to find out, too? Scroll down and see the most interesting answers for yourself! #1 The Australian emu war. Image credits: Benjiniss #2 What happened in Tiananmen Square? Chinese Government: Nothing Bruh. Image credits: anon #3 When 100 russian soldiers who barely survived poison gas attack(and were close to d**ng anyway) charged against 7000 german soldiers in WW1. The russians were so abnormal mutilated by the gas that the germans thought they were attacked by zombies. Spoiler alert: the russians won. Image credits: ezorethyk2 #4 In WW1 when everyone stopped fighting on Christmas and came out of the trenches and drank together in no man's land. Image credits: tori1122 #5 When Teddy Roosevelt was s**t before he was supposed to give a speech. The bullet was slowed down by the folded up 50-page speech, so it did not k**l him. The bullet was inside him and he was bleeding, but he still went on and have the speech, which was 84 minutes long. He started it off with "It takes more than that to k**l a Bull Moose" and showed the crowd the speech with the hole in it. That's a pretty "bruh moment" and humiliating to your would-be assassin. Image credits: -eDgAR- #6 Brexit. Image credits: stefblog #7 The Native Americans being forced out of their homes. Image credits: joy2da #8 When the Germans during WW1 disguised one of their ships as the British's HMS Carmania so they could wreck some ships without being recognised as a German ship. As the German ship went into the open seas, it met the real HMS Carmania which then immediately sank the German's disguise. Bruh. Image credits: prototypeandroid #9 300 Australians trapped in a coastal African city held off 1000s of Italians for months during WW2. Image credits: anon #10 That pirate who had a bounty on him, so he put a bounty on the guy who put it on him, making it a real 'No u' moment. mclv7gaming: Jean Lafitte for anyone interested. Image credits: anon #11 Thomas Fitzpatrick drunkenly stealing a plane on a bet. YoungXanto: Twice! The second time was better though because he was bragging about stealing a plane and landing it in the street in Manhattan and some other drunk was like, "bullsh**!". Rather than argue with this man, he just went right ahead and did it again, right then and there. Anyone insane enough to steal a plane and land it in Manhattan once is also insane enough to do it twice. And most certainly won't stand for having his word questioned by some drunk at a bar. Image credits: scrooplynooples #12 The destruction of Khwarezmia by Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan forged a peace treaty with the Shah of Khwarezmia. After the treaty was signed, the Khan sent a 500-man caravan to officially establish trade ties with the empire. However the governor of the Khwarezmian city of Otrar had the entire caravan arrested, claiming they were conspiring against the empire. The Khan then sent three ambassadors (one Muslim and two Mongols) to the Shah negotiate the release of the caravan. The Shah had the Mongol ambassadors shaved bald and the Muslim ambassador beheaded before sending them back to the Khan. This angered the Khan, who considered ambassadors to be "sacred and inviolable." So he led the Mongols over the Tien Shan mountains and in less than two years the entire Khwarezmian civilization was completely wiped out. As each city in the empire was captured, the defenders were e**cuted, women and children given to Mongol soldiers as slaves, artisans captured and sent back to Mongolia as servants, and the cities sacked. When the city where the Shah had been born surrendered, the Mongols broke the dams on the nearby rivers, causing a flood that literally wiped the city off the map. TL;DR, never break a peace treaty with Genghis Khan. Image credits: Lachwen #13 Both nukes the US dropped on Japan but especially Nagasaki. anonymous: There was a guy who was in Hiroshima for the first b**b and then took a train to work in Nagasaki just in time for the second one. And he survived. Image credits: tokenbisexual #14 The War of the Bucket. There was a long standing tension between rival cities and eventually some thought it would be brilliant to steal a single oak bucket from the center of the city. When the city threatened war unless the bucket was returned, they laughed it off. This caused a war where hundreds d**d. The victors still have the bucket on display in their city. Image credits: Scholar_Erasmus #15 The complete and total overk**l of Grigori Rasputin. anonymous: Overk**l??? if they hadn't thrown him into the river rolled into a rug with his hands restrained (which he got out of (although thats just a theory)) after poisoning him with 5 times the poison to k**l a regular man (which he complained of an upset stomach) and then sh**ting him 4 times. I dont think it was too overkill. seemed to be just right for that legendary man. Image credits: 1136678 #16 When the Scottish people thought to invade England when they were infected by the plague because they were weaker. Then taking it back to their own country, and giving everyone the plague there. Image credits: TheRitualMaster #17 The Winter War. Stalin was paranoid about a potential attack from the Northwest, so he decided to try and take the snowy nation of Finland, and suffered heavy casualties. Finland eventually signed a ceasefire and lost some territory, but the USSR lost roughly 300,000 men, compared to the Finn's 65,000. Image credits: anon #18 When Ronald Reagan was giving a speech in Berlin and a very loud balloon popped. Everyone thought it was a gunshot and he had the nerve to say you missed me. Image credits: hanton44 #19 The Bubonic Plague was a magnitude 10 bruh moment. DankkaM: "Let's go into one building to pray this horrible epidemic stops. And take your family too, because in a church theres always room for people to get infected" Image credits: 13letternames #20 That one time that one army split up to flank the enemy army and ended up attacking itself. ppcsptr: The battle of Karansebes. Image credits: peridyy #21 **This war is the last war of mankind it will end the other wars** and then ww2 happened. Image credits: anon #22 The sinking of the Titanic. ph_uck_yu: This boat is unsinkable. The irony of it sinking on its first trip out is both hilarious and devastating. Image credits: Daylight_The_Furry #23 "Et tu, Bruhte?". Image credits: Saint_Schlonginus #24 When three dudes claimed to be pope and all got excommunicated. Image credits: sexykoi69 #25 Napoleon I coming back to conquer Europe after he already got defeated. Then he immediately got defeated again. Image credits: just-a-basic-human #26 President Garfields d**th. He was shot in an assassination attempt. The bullet didnt hit anything important and he would have lived if not for the infection he got from all the dirty fingers trying to dig the bullet out. I guess soap didnt exist back then. Image credits: givemetoes #27 Pompeii when Vesuvius became active. They had just fixed the earthquake damage on the buildings and were ready to get the plastering teams in. Worse day in the building industry ever. Image credits: SkeletonYeti713 #28 When the nomadic Hungarian tribes arrived to Europe to settle down they had a meeting with the inhabitants of the land of present Hungary where they asked for a gourd of water, some grass and a pile of dirt in exchange of a beautiful white horse, a saddle and a golden reins. The inhabitants accepted the trade and the next day the Hungarian armies proceeded to conquer the lands, because "they agreed to it" by accepting the exchange. Image credits: Marmot300 #29 Chernobyl. I watched the series recently and it was intense. Image credits: kandicrushh #30 When whatshisface returned to Roanoke and found absolutely nothing but a word carved into a tree. Image credits: anon #31 America during the War of 1812 invading Canada and ending up getting the white house burnt down. #32 Archduke Franz Ferdinand survived an assassination attempt but, later that day, his driver took a wrong turn on their way to the hospital to visit wounded citizens from the attack. They drove past another assassin having a snack at an outdoor cafe. Needless to say he did a better job than the first guy. RIP Europe. Edit: Bruh, some of the details are incorrect I.E they made it to the hospital and then were returning home, Princip wasnt eating a sammich, etc. The gist remains the same. Also, I am well aware WW1 would have occurred anyways but this assassination was the spark that lit the tinderbox. Image credits: wontwothreefore #33 There was a kingdom who recently got a new king who was about 17 years old (still a teenager). There was another empire they were fighting on another side of this massive rock. There were two ways to get around the rock: through (there was a ravine but you would get easily ambushed and slaughtered) or around the rock. The kings military advisor advised him to go around the rock because the enemy surely would be ready with arrows to ambush their army. The naive king ignored him and decided to go through the ravine. It turns out that the enemy thought that the king would go around the rock so they also went that way too and they both completely missed each other. EDIT: I am pretty sure that it was Thutmose III who was an Egyptian pharaoh in the battle of Megiddo. Image credits: Lone_Digger123 #34 When Columbus found out he had discovered native Americans, not "Indians", after calling them that for a while. #35 The japanese attacking pearl harbor. The germans must've been like bruh. #36 Italy changing teams in both world wars. Image credits: apo_rod #37 Can't remember the name of the operation (EDIT : Starfish Prime, 1962), but that time the US decided to detonate one of their biggest nukes in the upper stratosphere to see what it would do to the Earth's magnetic field, without even considering just simulating it. They almost tore the whole thing off the planet, and ended up adding a new magnetic layer to the field. They almost killed everything on Earth by doing stupid s**t with their nukes. Bruh. #38 I'm surprised no ones said it but the Falklands war. It's so petty, the UK didn't even know of the invasion until "Argentine sources" told them of it and then it was essentially over as soon as the UK responded. #39 The Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 produced two major bruh moments. The Battle of Isandlwana first: the British enter Zululand with the same arrogance and sureness of their imperial superiority they were renowned for. They camp under the rock formation at Isandlwana. The Zulus light a fire some distance away, and Lord Chelmsford, the commander, takes half of his force to investigate. While hes gone, two patrols go up a mountain and see an army of 10,000 Zulus hiding behind it. They panic, and fire at them. The Zulus let out a cry of USUTHU! and storm the camp using their Horns of the Buffalo tactic. The British are decisively defeated. All of this under a rare Blood Moon. The very next day, one of the horns of the buffalo make their way to the field hospital at Rorkes Drift. They attack. But the British soldiers guarding the place put up a tough resistance. Less than 150 soldiers manage to repel an attack of 4000 Zulu troops - most of it in Close Quarters Combat, where the Zulus have an advantage due to their shields, clubs and assegai spears, with a loss of 17 British and 351 Zulu. By the end of the battle, the Zulus were singing a song and dance to salute their opponents for their well-fought battle. #40 Constantinople fell because a group of byzantine soldiers accidentally left a small door called the kerkoporta open, which allowed a group of 50 ottoman soldiers to gain entry into the city and raise their flag, that caused mass panic in the defenders and made them retreat. All of this subsequently led to the fall of the city and with it, the Byzantine Empire. #41 The Great Depression. #42 The way Alexander the Great d**d. He basically partied too hard and dropped. USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. Imagine this: Your flight's been delayed over and over. But when you ask a lone worker staffing the customer service counter for help, he just shrugs. There's no meal voucher, no compensation not even an apology. Just an indifferent employee telling you to deal with it. Or how about this: You click on an airline website to buy a ticket, and it lists a too-good-to-be-true round-trip fare of $29. But as you go through the booking process, the airline adds checked luggage charges, carry-on luggage fees, convenience charges, taxes, airport fees and fuel surcharges. Suddenly $29 is more like $290. Sound far-fetched? It could be your reality sooner than you think. Check out Elliott Confidential, the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone! The U.S. government just jettisoned a proposed rule that would have required airlines to pay passengers up to $775 for lengthy delays. Now, the airline industry wants to go further much further. In a sweeping letter to the Department of Transportation, airline lobbyists have outlined their deregulatory wish list. It reads like a passenger's nightmare. The airlines aren't just asking for minor tweaks. They want to roll back mandatory refunds for canceled flights, a rule requiring "all-in" pricing, and a requirement that families be seated together at no extra charge. If they get their way, flying could become a one-sided game where airlines hold all the cards. AI is quietly raising your travel costs, here's how you fight back The U.S. airline industry's great deregulation push Before you get too excited, keep this in mind: DOT, which regulates airlines, has promised to enforce all congressional consumer protection laws. (In Washington, Congress usually passes a law and then the DOT creates a rule, which it enforces.) "The Department of Transportation rules that the airline lobbyists oppose include commonsense protections such as refund requirements, restrictions on junk fees, and guaranteed family seating," said Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp. "Fortunately for travelers, these protections are already firmly established, as the Department of Transportation rules closely align with the refund standards Congress passed in 2024." But Congress could easily get behind the airline industry's extreme agenda. The political winds have shifted and consumer protections could get blown away. Currently, U.S. passengers have far fewer rights than their European counterparts. While EU travelers can claim up to $650 for delays over three hours, Americans get nothing for domestic delays, even when airlines are at fault. The protections U.S. air travelers have are modest: Automatic refunds for canceled flights or significant changes (if you choose not to travel). Basic full-fare advertising requirements (airlines must include taxes and fees upfront). Bare-bones accessibility (protections for disabled passengers). Family seating guarantees (though implementation remains murky). But even these minimal safeguards are under assault. Delayed What airlines really want Airline lobbyists have outlined their agenda in detail. It's not just about the compensation rule that was just the opening salvo. Here's the airline industry's likely battle plan: Eliminate automatic refund requirements for flight changes and cancellations. Scrap fee transparency rules that force disclosure of baggage and seat fees upfront. Remove some accessibility protections for passengers with disabilities. End enforcement of family seating requirements. Airlines also want to weaken the regulatory framework by terminating a cooperation agreement with state attorneys general on airline passenger rights and imposing a two-year statute of limitations on DOT enforcement actions. What will they replace it with? Nothing. Airlines want to decide where and when to compensate their passengers, if they do at all. But consumer advocates say that's a bad idea. "Carriers can't be allowed to decide for themselves who and when to compensate," warned Daria Volochniuk, chief operating officer at FlightRefunder. "Clear, universal rules are needed." Airlines claim flying will be a better experience when it's deregulated. The question is, better for whom? Why 2025 is the year of nonrefundable travel (and how to cope) What about Europe? New research suggests American passengers are already getting shortchanged because of lax regulation. U.S. flights were almost three times more likely to have long delays compared to European departures in 2024, according to a recent study by AirHelp. Same-day cancellations were also more common in the States. Pawliszyn, AirHelp's CEO, says strong consumer regulations in Europe have directly led to a 5% reduction in delays. The cost of those protections? Between 60 cents and $1.20 per passenger. Yes, one dollar. U.S. airlines claim European-style compensation would raise fares and hurt competition. But Europe's airline market remains fiercely competitive, with budget carriers thriving under the current compensation system. Top 10 US destinations for fall colors travelers cant miss The end of summer is near, and the transition of seasons brings cooler temperatures, colorful foliage and cozy atmospheres. Every fall, travelers flock to natural landscapes around the country to immerse themselves in the warm, vibrant hues of the leaves changing colors a popular activity known as leaf peeping. "Seasonal activities provide travelers with unique experiences and leaf peeping is a consistent favorite for its beauty and ease nationwide travelers can hop in the car and be within a few hours of stunning vistas," Priceline's consumer travel trends expert Christina Bennett told USA TODAY in a statement. Here are the best domestic destinations to go leaf peeping, according to Priceline. 1. Hudson Valley, New York Just a quick escape from New York City, Hudson Valley is ranked by Priceline as the top destination for leaf peeping in 2025. Travelers can explore numerous parks and preserves to take in the shades of autumn, from Croton Gorge Park to Hudson State Historic Park. What's really at stake If the airlines succeed, they could turn back the clock to the early 2000s. Remember when you needed a calculator to figure out how much your airline ticket would cost? Remember when you had to fight for a refund when your airline canceled your flight the airline always wanted to give you an expiring voucher? Remember when airlines intentionally separated passengers so they would pay extra to sit together, even if it was a family with young children? "If regulations are removed, consumers will face many more surprise charges on travel purchases such as list prices for checked bags and seat assignments, and less protection against refundable purchases," warned attorney Christopher Migliaccio, who frequently handles airline disputes for his clients. Now what? What will actually happen? The U.S. government has shown it's willing to roll back regulations across multiple industries. My prediction: The airlines will get some of what they want, but not everything. The automatic refund rule will likely survive it's popular and has bipartisan support. But fee transparency requirements could disappear, and the European-style compensation rule is dead on arrival. The bigger danger is in Congress. If lawmakers embrace the industry's deregulatory agenda wholesale, passenger rights could vanish faster than chicken entrees on a transcontinental flight. The ultimate question isn't whether airlines will roll back some protections they will. It's how far they'll push before public outrage stops them. "The airline industry is pulling off a heist in broad daylight," said Andy Abramson, a frequent flier and communications consultant from Las Vegas. "We gave these airlines $54 billion in bailouts, and this is how they thank us?" What will airlines think of next? Is it possible they will someday soon be allowed to quote a "zero" fare, then add luggage fees, taxes, fuel surcharges, seat assignments, and "convenience fees"? Or even take your money without operating a flight? Don't laugh. The industry's 93-page wish list suggests they're willing to test just how much passengers will tolerate. As I've learned in my decades of consumer advocacy, when it comes to exploiting passengers, you should never underestimate the airline industry's creativity. Their dream is our nightmare, and it's boarding now at a gate near you. Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Airlines new wish list could strip away key passenger protections BOSTON (AP) Boston Mayor Michelle Wu will run unopposed for in her reelection bid after a challenger didnt garner enough votes to advance to the general election, the city's election department announced Monday. Wu, the citys first Asian and female leader and a frequent target of the Trump administration, is seeking a second four-year term. She was expected to face Josh Kraft, a nonprofit leader and son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, but he dropped out after losing badly to her in the preliminary election earlier this month. Since the top two vote-getters advance, attention turned to third-place finisher Domingos DaRosa. But after a recount of several wards by the citys election board was completed Monday, DaRosa, a community activist who was born in the Cape Verde Islands, did not garner the 3,000 votes needed to qualify to be on the ballot in November. The last time a mayor ran unopposed in Boston was Mayor Thomas Menino in 1997. Wu thanked everyone who voted for her and said in a statement that her focus in the coming weeks would be getting people to come out to vote for her and City Council candidates. Im humbled by the overwhelming support across every neighborhood and every ward to keep going in our work to make Boston a home for everyone," said Wu, who spent much of the year jousting with the federal government over immigration. DaRosa acknowledged he came up short but blamed the lack of visibility and money for the outcome. It's going to teach people what happens in local politics," DaRosa said regarding the fact that voters will have only one choice in November. Our conversation about how to make the city better always gravitates to who has the most money. It's not about who is doing the actual leg work, which I have actually been doing. Erin OBrien, a UMass Boston political science professor, acknowledged that uncontested races dont feel good for democracy," but she said Wu was overwhelmingly chosen by city voters in the preliminary election a dominant showing that suggests she could be mayor as long as she wants. Members of the Trump administration, often led by the president's border czar Tom Homan, have accused Boston of not doing enough to crack down on illegal immigration and threatened a surge in arrests. Boston is commonly known as a sanctuary city, and Wu has repeatedly said she wants it to be a welcoming place for immigrants. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Wu, the city of Boston and its police department over its sanctuary city policies, claiming theyre interfering with immigration enforcement. In response, Wu accused President Donald Trump of attacking cities to hide his administrations failures. On the day of the preliminary election, the Department of Homeland Security put out a statement announcing the arrests of seven people as part of a crackdown in Massachusetts. Kraft, a fellow Democrat and a nonprofit leader, injected millions of his own personal money into his campaign and set records for spending in a Boston mayoral preliminary election. He had also been critical of Trumps attacks and pushed Wu particularly hard on housing, saying she hadnt done enough to increase options and affordability in Boston. During his campaign, DaRosa advocated for affordable housing solutions, improved public safety and youth empowerment. Fox8/YouTube The vacant home the boy allegedly escaped from NEED TO KNOW A Louisiana boy who lives in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans was kidnapped at gunpoint from a bus stop and taken to a vacant home on Sept. 19 The 10-year-old boy then had to strip to his underwear, said his mother, so his captors could take pictures When the kidnappers went to get a camera, the boy allegedly kicked down the door and fled with another young boy being held there A Louisiana boy managed to flee from his captors after allegedly being kidnapped at his bus stop after school last week. It all happened just before 5 p.m. on Sept. 19, when the 10-year-old boy was walking near his home in New Orleans' Algiers neighborhood, a spokesperson for the New Orleans Police Department tells PEOPLE. The boy said that he was suddenly approached by two unknown suspects who pulled out a gun, threw him into a van and drove off to an abandoned house in the neighborhood, according to police. Once inside the house, the boy said that the men had a strange request. "They were going to try to take a photo of me, like I dont know, but when they tried to do that, that was when one of them left," he said in an interview with WVUE. "The other one said, 'Ill be right back.'" According to the boy, there was another boy around the same age as the victim inside the abandoned building and the two agreed that after one of the men left, the boys agreed it would be a good time to flee. "They [the men] locked the door, so they made sure the door was locked, and that was when we tried to kick the door, and I kicked the door, and thats when I had kicked the door down, and I had ran," the boy told WVUE. 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. Video captured the moment the boy managed to escape from the home as his father who had been out searching for the boy saw his son and rushed to his side. Later that day, the boy found that his clothes and backpack were placed across the street from his family's home. The boy's mother said in an interview with WSAZ that the kidnappers had instructed her son to strip down to his underwear and that's all he had on when he fled from the home. No arrests have been made. NOPD Sgt. Barry Fletcher tells PEOPLE that the incident is being investigated as an aggravated kidnapping and asked individuals with any information to contact NOPD Fourth District detectives at 504-658-6040. People can also report information anonymously to Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans by calling 504-822-1111 or by submitting tips online at www.crimestoppersgno.org. Read the original article on People FILE PHOTO: Brazilian lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro sits down with Reuters to discuss his efforts to put U.S. pressure on Brazil to halt the trial of his father, right-wing former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, in Washington, D.C. SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazil's Prosecutor General charged federal lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro with coercion, according to a statement on Monday, in a case linked to the one in which his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, was convicted for plotting a coup. The younger Bolsonaro has "repeatedly sought to subordinate the interests of Brazil and the entire society to his own personal and family agenda," the prosecutor general's office said in the statement. Eduardo Bolsonaro moved to the U.S. earlier this year to seek support from President Donald Trump to stop criminal proceedings against his father, and has claimed credit for pushing the White House to announce 50% tariffs on most Brazilian goods. The lawmaker linked the charge to fresh sanctions imposed by the U.S. on wife of Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over the former president's trial, calling the staff of the Prosecutor General's office "Moraes' lackeys". Eduardo Bolsonaro added that he received news of the "bogus accusation" from the press, and would wait for the legal case to be communicated through official channels before making a formal statement. (Reporting by Luciana Magalhaes; Writing by Isabel Teles; Editing by Gabriel Araujo, Chris Reese and Chizu Nomiyama ) Israel Contreras, 22, was caught after dropping his phone while trying to flee a property (Surrey Police ) A Chilean burglary gang who posed as tourists to steal more than 80,000 worth of goods from homes in Surrey and London have been jailed for a total of 17 years. Between 3 November and 11 December last year, the group carried out at least 11 break-ins in affluent areas. They scaled first and second floors of houses and flats, forcing entry with tools before ransacking properties for watches, designer clothing and jewellery. In one raid in Epsom on 3 December, residents returned to find their Christmas presents unwrapped and discarded in the lounge. On 3 November, thief Israel Contreras, 22, dropped his mobile phone while fleeing a property in Hillingdon. Inside, police found screenshots from a mapping app with pins dropped on homes across London. DNA from Contreras was also recovered from a broken angle grinder blade left behind at a burglary in Esher, linking the series of offences. Contreras was the first to be detained, arrested on 5 December while attempting to board a flight to Chile from Heathrow Airport. He was charged with conspiracy to commit burglary. On 11 December, officers stopped the rest of the gang in a red Hyundai on Fulham Palace Road, west London. The driver, Eduardo Marquez, 29, attempted to reverse and ram his way out but the vehicle was boxed in. Police found jewellery in his pockets taken from burglaries earlier that day, as well as a crowbar tucked into his waistband and other tools concealed in his clothing. Yeico Fernandez, 25, began robbing homes in London just hours after arriving from Chile (Surrey Police) The passengers were identified as Yeico Fernandez, 25, who had landed from Chile that same morning and joined the gang within hours to start robbing houses, and Michael Carrasco, 28. Both were arrested with jewellery and stolen goods in their possession. At Guildford Crown Court, Contreras was sentenced to five years and three months; Marquez to six years and nine months; Fernandez to two years and nine months; and Carrasco also to two years and nine months. Investigating officer Sergeant Ben Deacon said: We know the devastating physical and emotional impact burglary has on victims and the wider community. It gives me great satisfaction that on this occasion, and many others that dont necessarily get reported, that we have been able to deliver some justice to the victims of these crimes. He add: Finally, on the off chance any would-be-burglars are reading this, I want them to understand the following: Contreras thought he had got away with his crimes, but was arrested on his way home at Heathrow, minutes from freedom. Fernandez entered the UK with sole intention of thievery but spent less than 12 hours at large in this country prior to spending years in prison. And Marquez and Carrasco did not see us coming and wont be free for a long time. This group have been on remand in prison since their arrests and will all be subject to deportation once their sentences have been served. Some called for forgiveness and unity Sunday at Charlie Kirks memorial in Arizona. Others called for combat and retribution. But one thing the Republican leaders had in common in their speeches was that the activists assassination should be a turning point, the start of a revival for religious conservatives. Tens of thousands of mourners gathered in State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday afternoon. Leaders in the MAGA movement, of which Kirk, 31, was a central part, attended, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, a number of Cabinet officials and billionaire tech executive Elon Musk. People listen during a worship song before the start of a memorial for Charlie Kirk. (John Locher / AP) Many speakers used their time eulogizing Kirk to also make renewed arguments for American conservatism, with, they argued, Christianity, marriage, having children and open debate at the core. Many speakers invoked the notion of a revival and spoke in expressly religious terms, canonizing Kirk, a co-founder of the organization Turning Point USA, and describing a spiritual war, in the words of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in which Kirk was a fighter. The day that Charlie died, the angels wept, but those tears have been turned into fire in our hearts, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said. And that fire burns with a righteous fury that our enemies cannot comprehend or understand. Most, though, focused on Kirks legacy as an avenue to usher in a way to reintroduce and redefine the political right, perhaps a new wave of MAGA. The evil murderer who took Charlie from us expected us to have a funeral today, and instead, my friends, we have had a revival in celebration of Charlie Kirk, Vance said. Vice President JD Vance gestures on stage at the memorial. (Win McNamee / Getty Images) Hegseth said, Charlie started a political movement but unleashed a spiritual revival. And Trump compared the gathering to an old-time revival. Kirk was assassinated as he spoke at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with aggravated murder and obstruction of justice, among other counts. Galvanizing supporters and enraging critics with his at times inflammatory takes on a host of issues including race, gender and Islam Kirk reached an audience of millions across many platforms as his group grew nationwide to help advance his causes. Leaders focused Sunday on his efforts to convert young people to the conservative cause, his outreach on college campuses, his penchant for holding open debates at such venues which was what he was doing when he was killed and his religious faith. Charlie passionately wanted to reach and save the lost boys of the West, young men who feel like they have no direction, no purpose, no faith and no reason to live, Kirks wife, Erika, said. The men wasting their lives on distractions and the men consumed with resentment, anger and hate, Charlie wanted to help them. He wanted them to have a home with Turning Point USA, and when he went onto campus, he was looking to show them a better path and a better life that was right there for the taking. He wanted to show them that. Kirk added that her husband wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life. Erika Kirk speaks at the memorial service for her husband. (Win McNamee / Getty Images) That young man, I forgive him, she said. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and what Charlie would do. The answer is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love and always love, love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us. In his address, Trump took a different tone. He was a missionary with a noble spirit and a great, great purpose, Trump said. He did not hate his opponents; he wanted the best for them. Thats where I disagree with Charlie. I hate my opponent. And I dont want the best for them. Im sorry. Im sorry, Erika. But now maybe Erika can talk to me and the whole group, and maybe they can convince me that thats not right. But I cant stand my opponent. Trumps speech was more political than those of most who eulogized Kirk. Trump decried radical-left lunatics and discussed upcoming administration policy initiatives, including saying administration would hold announcement its answer to autism on Monday. He tore into Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, suspended ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and major losers who he said welcomed Kirks death. President Donald Trump arrives to speak at the memorial. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP) He also said his administration is probing left-wing activists and groups following Kirks death. The Department of Justice is also investigating networks of radical-left maniacs who fund, organize, fuel and perpetrate political violence, Trump said. And we think we know who many of them are. But law enforcement can only be the beginning of our response to Charlies murder. No side in American politics has a monopoly on disturbed or misguided people, but theres one part of our political community which believes they have a monopoly on truth, goodness and virtue and concludes they have also a monopoly on power, thought and speech, he said. Well, thats not happening anymore. Weve turned that corner very quickly. Tragically, atrocities of this kind and the kind that we saw in Utah, of all places, are the eventual consequence of that kind of thinking. In response to Kirks assassination, Trump and allies have promised to go after left-wing groups that they believe fomented the anger that led to his death. So far, the federal investigation has not found any link between Robinson, the suspect, and left-wing groups, three people familiar with the investigation told NBC News. The Justice Department said in a study last year that the number of far-right attacks in the country continues to outpace all other types of terrorism and domestic violent extremism. The study was recently removed from the departments website, according to 404 Media. Prosecutors have said Robinson targeted Kirk because of his political expression, while his mother told investigators in part that over the last year or so, Robinson had become more political and had started to lean more to the left. People are overcome with emotion watching a Charlie Kirk tribute video at the memorial. (John Locher / AP) Though authorities say the initial evidence indicates Robinson acted alone, speakers on Sunday spread responsibility for Kirks death beyond Robinson. Miller, the deputy White House chief of staff, decried our enemies, who he said are trying to foment hatred against us. You have no idea the dragon you have awakened, Miller added. You have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilization, to save the West, to save this republic, because our children are strong, and our grandchildren will be strong, and our childrens childrens children will be strong. And what will you leave behind? Nothing. Nothing to our enemies. You have nothing to give. You have nothing to offer. You have nothing to share but bitterness. Kirk had long been a close ally of Trumps and a key player in the MAGA movement, but his rise was accelerated by a host of factors: the Covid pandemic, Joe Bidens presidency and the growth of his own podcast, all of which came together since 2020. He also became a more powerful force on the right after he made a more expressly religious turn, NBC News reported last year. After having earlier argued that politics should be advanced through a secular worldview, Kirk began to more closely embrace Christian nationalism, saying on a 2022 episode of his podcast that there is no separation of church and state. In 2021, he co-founded TPUSA Faith. Turning Point USAs fundraising exploded and its mission expanded at that time. A woman prays at the memorial service. (Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images) Kirks religious convictions featured heavily in the speeches Sunday. Vance described Kirk as a hero to the United States of America and a martyr for the Christian faith. Conservative personality Benny Johnson said he is a martyr in the true Christian tradition and asked the gatherers to raise your hand if Charlie Kirk centered you a little closer to Christ. Tucker Carlson, the prominent right-wing commentator and podcast host, described Kirk as a Christian evangelist who was bringing the Gospel to the country and doing the thing that the people in charge hate most, which is calling for them to repent. Hegseth said Kirk realized, like so many of us have, that this is not a political war, its not even a cultural war. Its a spiritual war, faith and family. Others highlighted Kirks college campus debates and what they saw as his open-minded nature toward those who opposed his views. Donald Trump Jr., who was close with Kirk, said he embodied something at the very core of our movement: When people disagree with us, we dont silence them, we dont destroy them, and we certainly dont sink to violence. Charlie delighted in his belief that people could be persuaded, he added. He believed the way to win hearts was with truth, with courage and with conversation. Trump embraces Erika Kirk at the memorial service. (John Locher / AP) Kirks critics had a very different view of him, arguing that his positions alienated large parts of the population and were, at times, toxic and dangerous. Kirk once said Biden should honestly be put in prison and/or given the death penalty for his crimes against America, suggested that every gender-affirming clinic doctor should face a Nuremberg-style trial and called the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. an awful person who said one good thing he actually didnt believe, among other remarks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Kirk understood that we were not created to isolate ourselves from one another, but to engage. The irony in all this is that what our nation needs, one of the many things it needs, he added, is the ability to discuss our differences openly, honestly, peacefully, respectfully. David Paul Morris / Bloomberg via Getty Images file Over 3,300 pounds of Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke sold under Costcos Kirkland Signature brand have been recalled because potential listeria contamination in the green onions used in the product. Western United Fish Co. announced the recall with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration on Saturday after its green onion supplier reported a positive listeria monocytogenes test result on Sept. 17. We are continuing to work with our green onion supplier to determine the root cause, Western United Fish Co. said. No illnesses have been reported. Kirkland Signature brand Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke. (FDA) Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly or those with weakened immune systems, the company said in a news release. It can also lead to serious pregnancy complications. Healthy people may suffer short-term symptoms including high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The affected product was packaged in clear plastic clamshell containers with the Kirkland Signature brand label with a pack date of Sept. 18, 2025, and a sell-by date of Sept. 22, 2025. It was sold at the deli sections of Costco Warehouse stores on Sept. 18 in 33 states: Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Consumers are advised not to eat the product, to dispose of it and to visit their local Costcos for full refunds. Listeria infection is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, with an estimated 1,600 people infected every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In May, at least 10 people were hospitalized in California and Nevada in a listeria outbreak involving ready-to-eat foods produced by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC of San Fernando, California, which issued a voluntary recall at the time. More than 80 products were included in the recall, ranging from snack boxes to sandwiches and pastas. In February, food service company Lyons Magnus recalled a range of nutritional milkshakes after they were linked to 12 deaths and dozens of serious infections. The $150,000 home used to be a bedrock of Wisconsin housing markets, something working families could count on when it was time to buy the American Dream. Its more a nightmare, now. Brown Countys median home price more than doubled in the last decade to $350,000. Average household income has not kept pace, leaving many without the choice for homeownership. Communities across the country have sought creative solutions to this national housing crisis, one of which is coming to the Green Bay area: the community land trust. After months of preparation and initial funding, the housing nonprofit NeighborWorks Green Bay will launch the Green Bay Housing Partnership. The land trust will develop an inventory of homes to sell to generation after generation of modest income families who historically could afford to buy the median home, but cant at todays prices. If you can compete in the conventional market for a home, the land trust isnt for you, said Noel Halvorsen, CEO of NeighborWorks Green Bay. The land trust is for you if your only other option is to be a renter for the rest of your life and never build equity or wealth for yourself. What is a community land trust? The idea behind a land trust might seem odd, but it continues to generate interest with researchers and local governments as home prices keep trending upward. First started in Georgia in the late 1960s, community land trusts buy homes, are donated homes, or let developers build new owner-occupied homes on vacant land that the trust owns and leases out. The trust limits how much owners can resell the homes for, who can buy them, and, in commercial properties, the rent charged. A board of directors representative of the community guides the trusts strategy and action plan. Green Bays land trust will be Wisconsins sixth. The oldest in the state is the Madison Area Community Land Trust formed in 1991. The Coulee Community Land Trust has served La Crosse since 2008. The Door County Housing Partnership and the Milwaukee Community Land Trust were formed in 2019; Door County built five homes through 2024, and Milwaukee's completed five homes in July 2025. Ashland and Bayfield counties have been served since December 2023 by CheqBUILT, and Portage County will also soon have an officially incorporated land trust. It was after a trip to Sister Bay for a meeting with the state's economic development authority about 15 years ago that then-congressional staffer now-Mayor Eric Genrich was introduced to the idea, Genrich told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. He suggested to Halvorsen back then that Green Bay should look at the idea. Halvorsen wasnt immediately convinced. I thought trusts were only necessary for crazy markets, and Brown Countys market wasnt crazy until very recently, Halvorsen said. Construction of Grand Boulevard, as seen from Guns Road, continues on July 8 in Green Bay. Grand Boulevard will be a new street to access land JBS donated for housing development. First site ID'd, but more behind-the-scenes work to do first The Green Bay Housing Partnership remains in the developmental stage. The 16-month groundwork was led by an outside consultant, Jeff Washburne, and an 18-member advisory committee that included key local stakeholders from the business community, nonprofits, and local government. Many could end up on the new trusts board of directors thats yet to be established. The partnership hasn't yet set firm goals because its board will need to get into the nitty-gritty details of how the land trust will operate and where to focus resources. Policies and leases first drafted by the advisory committee will need to be finalized, and the board formed. That will happen after Sept. 23 when the Green Bay Housing Partnership is ceremonially unveiled during a news conference at Green Bay's new workforce neighborhood on JBS-donated land. Its expected that some of the first homes to be put into the trust could be on property in this neighborhood, an idea the mayor has long floated in private, according to Halvorsen. Halvorsen anticipates the trust will announce its first investments or home constructions in early 2026, by which time the board of directors will have been chosen. NeighborWorks is evaluating its inventory of homes to put into the trust. The real work is still ahead of us to pull it off, Halvorsen said. To be clear: This is not a city program. The Green Bay Housing Partnership will operate under the umbrella of NeighborWorks Green Bay, which amended its bylaws to incorporate the land trust. The trust will not receive city funding or staffing, said Will Peters, the citys neighborhood development specialist. Green Bay, however, may donate city-owned properties to the trust, and Peters said the city has been analyzing its inventory for that end. The trust may become established enough to separate and operate independently from the housing nonprofit in the future. A new process for real estate agents, lenders to learn, one that will expand the pool of buyers The land trust will add another layer of complexity for real estate agents, lenders and title companies to understand. But Jennifer Sunstrom, the Realtors Association of Northeast Wisconsins director of public relations, said shell have continuing education materials ready to train agents. It's a new process, but it's a process for which there will be partners and help clarifying things, Sunstrom said. Sunstrom already talks with Green Bay-area real estate agents she visits about the program. She doesnt just focus on what will be different, but shares the additional economic impact it could generate for the Green Bay area industry. She said Washburne told the advisory board 70% to 80% of land trust buyers eventually sell their homes and buy a larger home at market rates. Youre creating a pool of future, potential buyers in the private market that might never have entered that market if not for having this first stepping stone of the land trust, she said. Green Bay Housing Partnership logo Housing Partnership will cover all of Brown County, operate similar to NeighborWorks, Habitat for Humanity Though the city seeded the land trust idea, Halvorsen said the trusts scope will expand to buy and build homes throughout Brown County. Ashwaubenons director of community development Aaron Schuette was one of several non-Green Bay officials, like Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach, who had been contacted in early discussions about the land trust. Though there have been no formal discussions within the village to join, Its something well definitely pay attention to, Schuette said, and if it shows promise, its something wed certainly be interested in contacting the city about. Halvorsen said the housing partnership will secure land donations or purchase property from an array of parties for the land trust, including municipalities, homeowners, businesses, philanthropists. A fundraiser is already underway that has secured $135,000 from three donors toward the $750,000 goal as of Sept. 19. The money raised will help establish the land trust, build its first homes and begin the cycle of affordable home ownership. It will still take millions of dollars and years for the land trust to establish and sustain itself, Halvorsen said. It's expected the Green Bay Housing Partnership will operate very similarly to how NeighborWorks and Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity work with local governments. These agencies identify housing sites, request their donation and apply for local block grant dollars to offset construction costs, keeping the sale price lower. Its day-to-day services for residents, beyond building and buying homes, will focus on buyer education. This includes homebuyer education courses, as well as connecting buyers with a lawyer who can explain the trusts ground lease and how their home purchase will work. Halvorsen acknowledged the land trust was an unfamiliar concept to many, and even industry specialists have trouble explaining the concept without intricate diagrams thus the need for buyer education. How will the Green Bay Housing Partnership work? Here's a homebuyer example Here's a slightly modified example Washburne provided the Redevelopment Authority of how the land trust cycle will work. Joe and Janes family can only afford a $220,000 mortgage, but the homes that fit their needs cost $350,000. The community land trust would pitch in the difference in exchange for a ground lease on the property. After living in the home for 10 years, they decide it's time to move and sell. Market forces have pushed the value of their home up to $450,000, but they can't sell it for that or make a $100,000 profit. They agreed in the land trust contract to list the home for sale for $220,000 plus 2% for every year they live in it, or $44,000 in this case. Ultimately, Joe and Jane can sell the home to another land-trust-qualified buyer for $264,000, starting the cycle over again. This is a simple example. The program will have nuances. For example, buyers who significantly improve their homes added a new bedroom, for example would be eligible to sell the property for more in order to recoup their investment in the property. A tool, not a silver bullet to help fix a 'broken system' Halvorsen has heard feedback implying the trust will prohibit owners from getting as much as they possibly can for their home. But that profit motive, Halvorsen said, was denying the chance to own a home from other families left unable to build generational wealth and resigned to a lifetime of renting. The land trust was characterized by almost everyone with the old idiom another tool in the toolbox against the housing crisis. It will take many different tools, but this is a very valuable one, Sunstrom said. This is a sharp, strategic implement to use. It will be effective once its up and running. Im very excited about the enormous potential. And contrary to other tools, the effects, everyone said, will be generational in the long fight to bring back the affordable starter home. Its a broken system right now, Halvorsen said. I refuse to accept the American Dream is just not open to some people. (This article was updated because an earlier version contained an inaccuracy.) Contact business reporter Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 or jbollier@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JeffBollier. Jesse Lin is a reporter covering the community of Green Bay and its surroundings, as well as politics in northeastern Wisconsin. Contact him at 920-834-4250 or jlin@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay to help residents buy a home through community land trust Joseph Okpako - Getty Images "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Last night, Chappell Roan kicked off her Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things tour in New York to an energetic crowd fit for the celebration it was. The first of four sold out nights at Forest Hills Stadium, the show not only served as the beginning of a busy month to come, but also as a homecoming for Roan, who hadnt performed in the US in nearly a year. Roan is never afraid to lean into a visual theme, and for the opening night, she went all out, transforming the stage into a mystical, magical pirate ship. In honor of the special occasion, she debuted three new looks, each more elaborate than the next. chappell roan performing red wine supernova at visions of damsels & other dangerous things tour forest hills night 1 last night! via jonathansmilovich on tiktok pic.twitter.com/5DMsqRzgua chappell roan daily (@dailyroan) September 21, 2025 Designed by costumier duo Alexander Cole and James Nguyen, the trio of custom pieces were unmistakably inspired by the age of piracy, but with a high fashion twist. In one look, Roan wore a red bustier top with black stripes, gold stars, and an exaggerated zig-zag hem, referencing the classic ripped edges and patterns seen on traditional garb. The piece was finished with a matching choker and paired with knee-high lace-up platform boots. In the second look, the artist changed into another black-and-red corset, this time with a bolero, which tied around the neck like a cape and featured zip-up sleeves left partially undone to reveal mesh gloves. In the final of the three looks, the designersand Roans stylist Genesis Webbdressed the star in an elaborate ensemble centered around a statement coat. The show-stopping piece played with proportion and silhouette, with leg-of-mutton sleeves, a cinched corset waist, and a voluminous skirt. Just like the ones before it, it proved a beacon of detailing, with gold embellishments and lace trim to pull the look together. The three-stop mini tourwhich Roan refers to as a series of pop-up showswill hit her home state of Missouri after New York, before wrapping up in California. You Might Also Like (Reuters) -High-profile Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah was released on Tuesday, his family said, a day after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pardoned him and five other prisoners. Abd el-Fattah, 43, has become Egypt's most prominent political prisoner after spending much of his adult life in and out of detention due to his activism, and a rare symbol of opposition to a far-reaching crackdown under Sisi. His lengthy imprisonment and repeated hunger strikes prompted widespread international pleas for his release. "I can't even describe what I feel," his mother, Laila Soueif, said from her house in Giza as she stood next to her son surrounded by family and friends. "We're happy, of course. But our greatest joy will come when there are no (political) prisoners in Egypt," she added. Laila Soueif and Alaa's sister Sanaa had been waiting outside Wadi al-Natroun prison, some 100 km (62 miles) northwest of Cairo earlier on Monday, hoping he would be freed. Despite campaigns calling for his release, notably during the COP27 climate summit that Egypt hosted in 2022, hopes for his release were only raised when Sisi ordered authorities in September to study his possible pardon. Abd el-Fattah's name had been removed from Egypt's "terrorism" list months earlier. RELEASE WELCOMED BY BRITAIN Abd el-Fattah, who obtained British citizenship through his mother in 2021, comes from a family of well-known activists and intellectuals who have launched several campaigns for his release. His mother met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier this year to lobby for her son. "I strongly welcome the news that Alaa Abd el-Fattah has received a Presidential pardon," British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper said. "I'm grateful to President Sisi for this decision. We look forward to Alaa being able to return to the UK, to be reunited with his family." Egypt's National Council for Human Rights, a state-funded body, also welcomed the decision, saying it signalled a growing emphasis on swift justice. The former blogger had been detained before the Arab Spring uprising that toppled Egypt's autocrat leader Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and during the upheaval that followed. But it was his criticism of crackdowns on dissidents after then-army chief Sisi took power that landed him his lengthiest prison stints by far. In 2014, Abd el-Fattah was sentenced to 15 years in prison for protesting without permission, later reduced to five years. ACCUSED OF SPREADING FAKE NEWS He was released in 2019 but remained on parole and was arrested again later that year, accused of spreading fake news after sharing a social media post about a prisoner's death. He was later sentenced to another five-year term. His mother Soueif intensified her campaign in September 2024, when she was expecting his release due to time spent in pre-trial detention. Prosecutors argued he should remain in custody until January 2027. Soueif staged a lengthy hunger strike in Britain, ending it only after pleas from her family as her health significantly deteriorated. Starmer promised he would do everything he could to secure his release. Abd el-Fattah has also staged multiple hunger strikes in detention, most recently in early September, to protest against his imprisonment and in solidarity with his mother. (Reporting by Cairo Newsroom; Editing by Alex Richardson, Ros Russell, Richard Chang and Lincoln Feast.) The offices of ABC10 in Sacramento. (Google Maps) The man accused of opening fire on the lobby of a Sacramento ABC television station cited the government's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case as a motive and promised several members of the Trump administration would be "next," according to a federal court filing made public Monday. Anibal Hernandez-Santana, 64, is charged with multiple weapons offenses and interfering with a radio or communication station for firing several bullets at the window of ABC10's offices in Sacramento around 1 p.m. on Friday, according to a criminal complaint. Hernandez-Santana was arrested the same day as the shooting. During a search of his car, detectives found a note that read For hiding Epstein & ignoring red flags," according to the complaint filed by prosecutors in the Eastern District of California. The note referenced FBI Director Kash Patel, his second-in-command Dan Bongino and U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi, reading "They're next. C.K. from above." Sacramento Dist. Atty. Thien Ho said he believed the "C.K." portion of the note was a reference to Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who was killed by a sniper in Utah this month. In an interview on Monday, Ho said police also found a book titled "The Cult Of Trump" in Hernandez-Santana's vehicle. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Sacramento said she could not comment beyond what was contained in court documents. Patel said "targeted acts of violence are unacceptable and will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law," in a post on X. Hernandez-Santana was born in Puerto Rico and was not registered as a Republican or Democrat, according to voting records. The Trump administration has faced increasing criticism from both sides of the political spectrum to disclose more information about those who did business with Epstein, the financier charged with trafficking young girls to rich and powerful men before his death by suicide in a federal lockup in 2019. Hernandez-Santana was a retired lobbyist, according to Ho, who said the shooting was clearly "politically motivated." Hernandez-Santana first registered as a lobbyist in 2001. His clients included an environmental justice group, the California Catholic Conference and the California Federation of Teachers, according to state lobbying records. The day of the shooting, Ho said, a protest was scheduled to take place outside ABC10's offices over their parent company's decision to suspend late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over comments he made about the way Republicans have reacted to Kirk's killing. Kimmel's suspension was lifted Monday and he is expected to return to the air Tuesday, Ho said it was clear the TV station was not a "random target." "When it comes to public safety it's not about going right or left, it's about moving forward ... clearly he was motivated by current political events," Ho said. Hernandez-Santana did not have a significant criminal history and was not known to local law enforcement before the incident, according to the prosecutor. Prosecutors said Hernandez-Santana fired four times at the ABC station, once near the building and three additional times at a window in the station's lobby, according to court records. No one was injured, but there were employees inside at the time. In addition to the message invoking members of Trump's Cabinet, Sacramento Police detectives also found a day planner that contained a handwritten note to "Do the Next Scary Thing," on the date of the attack, court records show. In a court filing seeking to deny Hernandez-Santana bail, federal prosecutors said the note referencing Patel, Bongino and Bondi "indicates that he may have been planning additional acts of violence." Ho has also charged Santana-Hernandez with assault with a firearm and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. He was expected to make court appearances in both cases on Monday. It was not immediately clear whether he has an attorney. Santana-Hernandez faces five years in federal prison and an additional 17 years in state prison if convicted as charged, according to Ho. When someone brazenly fires into a news station full of people in the middle of the day, it is not only an attack on innocent employees but also an attack on the news media and our communitys sense of safety, Ho said in a statement. Times staff writer Laura Nelson and researcher Cary Schneider 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, was one of 58 Democrats who voted against a U.S. House resolution on Friday, Sept. 19 honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated earlier this month in Orem, Utah. The resolution, which praised the life and legacy of Kirk, passed the Republican-controlled House with 310 votes. Ninety-five Democrats supported the resolution, 58 voted against it and 38 voted present, effectively abstaining. Another 22 Democrats did not vote on the resolution. Escobar said: (Fridays) resolution honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk memorializes him as someone who espouses truth, including biblical truth. The biblical truth ingrained in me does not promote bigotry or divisiveness that motivates hate, and I have found it deeply troubling to see millions in our country use faith to justify attacks on fellow Americans. I cannot attach my name to this resolution, she added. Escobar added that she has always condemned political violence in every and all forms, and I always will. She cited the Aug. 3, 2019 Walmart massacre in El Paso and the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol in the wake of President Trumps failed re-election bid in 2020. She said that when Kirk was shot and before they knew whether he would survive, Escobar said she offered prayers for him and his family. I will continue to unequivocally condemn Charlie Kirks assassination, but in this moment where dissent is punished and voices of opposition are threatened, I cannot support a resolution that lionizes his words of hate. My own silence or compliance is not an option for me, Escobar said. U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-New Mexico who represents the southern half of the state, was one of the Democrats who voted present. New Mexicos other two members of the U.S. House Reps. Teresa Leger Fernandez and Melanie Stansbury did not vote. Here is Escobars entire statement: My Catholic faith has been central to my personal and political values. I do not wear my faith on my sleeve and rarely reference it, but I do what I can to follow the lesson of Matthew 25:40, Truly I tell you, whatever you did to one of the least of my brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Todays resolution honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk memorializes him as someone who espouses truth, including biblical truth. The biblical truth ingrained in me does not promote bigotry or divisiveness that motivates hate, and I have found it deeply troubling to see millions in our country use faith to justify attacks on fellow Americans. I cannot attach my name to this resolution. I have always condemned political violence in every and all forms, and I always will. When Charlie Kirk was shot last week before we knew whether he would survive I offered prayers for him and his family. Three months ago, and again yesterday, I signed on to resolutions condemning political violence of any kind. My own community on August 3, 2019, was tragically impacted by political, domestic violence, and on January 6, 2021, I was trapped in the House gallery as insurrectionists waving Trump and MAGA flags stormed the Capitol, assaulted police, and screamed Hang Mike Pence. There is no world that exists where I would applaud, celebrate, or condone violence, certainly not as an answer to our differences. I offer my sincerest condolences to Charlie Kirks loved ones and recognize his assassination as the horrific tragedy it is. I did not agree with his characterization of our fellow Americans, people who were not like him, but I supported his right to speak freely and openly, a right guaranteed by the First Amendment. I will continue to unequivocally condemn Charlie Kirks assassination, but in this moment where dissent is punished and voices of opposition are threatened, I cannot support a resolution that lionizes his words of hate. My own silence or compliance is not an option for me. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Ben Fitchett/Urban Cowboy Denver Exterior of the Urban Cowboy Denver hotel houses in the iconic George Schleier Mansion. Urban Cowboy Denver All 16 guest rooms and suites feature bespoke interiors like custom wallpaper and copper clawfoot tubs. The hotels restaurant, Public House, serves handcrafted cocktails and delicious wood-fired pizzas with ingredients sourced from local and regional farmers. Guests can walk to major downtown attractions, such as Union Station and the Denver Art Museum. See at Hotels.com Denver is among my favorite citiesit's hard to go wrong with a thriving culinary scene and stunning natural scenery. So when I found out that cool, Western-inspired hospitality brand Urban Cowboy planned to open an outpost in Denver, I jumped at the opportunity to check it out. It seemed like a perfect match, as the hotel company, known for its locations in Nashville and New York's Catskills, is all about bespoke designs and cozy atmosphere. Housed in a National Register of Historic Places-listed, red-brick mansion that dates back to 1886, the hotel is a glaring departure from the contemporary gray buildings that line Grant Street in the city's Capitol Hill district. Inside, the walls are lined with original burgundy wallpaper and ornate Bavarian woodwork. And the staircase, with its intricate carvings of flowers, gargoyles, and swans all across the balustrade, took my breath away. Ben Fitchett/Urban Cowboy Denver The Parlor fireplace at Urban Cowboy Denver. I was greeted with a glass of sparkling wine and handed my room keys (you know, the silver-plated Skeleton kind you actually have to insert in the lock). Before heading upstairs to unpack, I sat in the intimate Parlor Bar near the living room area, sipping my drink and soaking up the Western Americana-inspired decor. Urban Cowboy Denver, with just 16 rooms, has whimsical charm, maximalist design, and a lovely restaurant and bar in the heart of Denver. Here is my complete review of Urban Cowboy Denver. The Rooms Ben Fitchett/Urban Cowboy Denver Interior of the Watchtower Grand Suite. Ben Fitchett/Urban Cowboy Denver The Honeymoon Suite features custom copper double tubs in the historic 1800s turret. Ben Fitchett/Urban Cowboy Denver The Milk and Honey Superior Suite. The 16-room Urban Cowboy Denver is a small but mighty addition to the citys hotel scene. It offers a variety of room categoriesfrom the standard Pony Suites, which feature queen-size beds with Wright mattresses, to the Honeymoon Suite, the largest in the hotel, with a duo of striking copper tubs looking out over the city. Every guest room boasts a unique character and style, thanks to thoughtful details like the custom wallpaper created by Pittsburgh-based artist Clinton Van Gemert. I stayed in one of the eight Superior Suites, dubbed Milk and Honey, which has an open-floor plan with a small living area, a fireplace, and green trumpet flower wallpaper. I felt right at homethere was plenty of space to spread out and relax. To enhance their experience, rooms are stocked with fun local snacks, bubble bath, and adult products that are available for purchase. Food and Drink Brandon Lopez/Urban Cowboy Denver Interior of the Public House Bar. Brandon Lopez/Urban Cowboy Denver Booths inside the Public House Bar and Restaurant. Public House is Urban Cowboy Denver's hub for food and drinks. As of this spring, it hosts Little Johnny B's, a new dining concept by Denver's Mamas & Papas Hospitality Group, which serves wood-fired pizzas with sourdough crust and shareable plates of warm Castelvetrano olives and burrata cheese offered with house-made focaccia. "We're creating a menu that feels authentically Denverunpretentious yet thoughtfully crafted. Our commitment to sourcing from local and regional producers and farmers allows us to showcase exceptional products, all while maintaining the Italian-inspired culinary traditions that are at the heart of what we do," Lulu Clair, Mamas & Papas Hospitality's co-founder and operations director, tells Travel + Leisure. Activities and Experiences Ben Fitchett/Urban Cowboy Denver Interior of the Parlor Wine Bar. While this hotel doesn't offer any on-site activities, it is the perfect place to sit back and relax. Theres plenty of seating available in the lobby or at Public House. Urban Cowboy Denver also offers indoor and outdoor event spaces that can be rented for special celebrations. The Spa The hotel has no spa. Every room features a deep soaking tub, stocked with bath salts and oils that are available for purchase. Family-friendly Offerings There are no family-friendly offerings available on-site. The hotel has a decidedly adult-only vibe. Accessibility and Sustainability There is one wheelchair-accessible room on the first floor. There is a separate entrance located near the rear of the building, which features a ramp and also serves as the entrance for Public House. The ADA-compliant room is also near that area. Jalyn Robinson/Travel + Leisure Blankets and fire pits on the outdoor patio. Location Urban Cowboy Denver is located in North Capitol Hill and is less than 30 miles from Denver International Airport (DEN). If you rent a car or choose to use a ride-sharing app, you can reach the hotel in less than an hour, depending on traffic. If youre looking to explore the city, the hotel is a short 15-minute walk from the Denver Art Museum, Civic Center Park, and the Colorado State Capitol building. Book Now Urban Cowboy Denver is not affiliated with any loyalty program. Nightly rates at Urban Cowboy Denver start from $205. See at Hotels.com Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure Jason Alan Miller, 48, is facing charges of transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography, an arrest affidavit said. A Tennessee dad who has fostered at least 20 children was busted with child pornography as he got off a cruise with his pregnant wife and eight children, according to authorities. Jason Alan Miller, 48, was arrested at Port Miami on Sept. 13 after being picked for a random secondary screening at the end of a Carnival Cruise to the Cayman Islands. During the search, he willingly gave immigration agents the passcode to his Samsung Galaxy on which they found several photos of suspected child sexual abuse hidden in a folder in the Google Photos app, according to an affidavit obtained by WJHL. Jason Alan Miller, 48, is facing charges of transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography, an arrest affidavit said. Broward Sheriff's Office They included a folder containing 45 photos titled 6yo_rare, according to the court documents. Miller was traveling with his pregnant wife and their eight children, ages 5 through 12 seven of whom were foster children later adopted by the Millers. Miller was returning from a trip to the Cayman Islands when he was arrested on Sept. 13. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The dad who has fostered at least 20 children over the years admitted knowing there was child porn on his phone, which he claimed nobody else had access to, according to the affidavit. He was charged with possession and transportation of child pornography. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison. Michael Tullberg/Getty Busey in 2019. NEED TO KNOW Gary Busey has been sentenced to two years' probation after pleading guilty to criminal sexual contact The charge stems from Busey's 2022 appearance at Monster-Mania, during which three women reported that the actor touched them inappropriately during an autograph signing meet-and-greet The 81-year-old actor is known for his roles in The Buddy Holly Story, Point Break and more Gary Busey has been sentenced to probation, nearly two months after pleading guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual contact. According to the Associated Press and the Cherry Hill Courier-Post, the actor, 81, was sentenced to two years' probation during a virtual court appearance on Thursday, Sept. 18. The charge stems from an incident that took place at a 2022 horror convention in New Jersey. "Mr. Busey is pleased that the case has been resolved and that he can go on with his life without any continuing, daily public adversity," his lawyer, Blair Zwillman, said on Saturday, Sept. 20, per The New York Times. Busey did not speak during the hearing. According to the Courier-Post, the actor's sentence comes after his attorney requested that he receive a fine after he pleaded guilty to the charge in July, citing health problems, including early dementia and mobility issues. Superior Court Judge Gwendolyn Blue cited Busey's prior charges including his probationary terms in 2007 for trespass and disorderly conduct and in 2021 for a hit-and-run as a reason for his probationary sentence, per the New Jersey outlet. Walter McBride/Getty Gary Busey in 2019 The charge stems from Busey's 2022 appearance at Monster-Mania, during which three women reported that the actor touched them inappropriately during an autograph signing meet-and-greet. Following the incident, Busey was arrested at a hotel in Cherry Hill, N.J., and was accused of touching the clothed buttocks of at least two female fans during a photo shoot, the Courier-Post reported. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. A probable cause statement obtained by the outlet also alleged that Busey put his face near a woman's breasts and asked her where she got them, before attempting to unlatch her bra strap." The actor initially denied any wrongdoing, telling TMZ in 2022, "None of that happened." "It was a partner, a camera lady and me, and two girls ... it took less than 10 seconds, and they left. Then they made up a story that I assaulted them sexually, and I did not. Nothing happened, it's all false," he said at the time. He later admitted to the incident, pleading guilty earlier this year on July 31. According to the Times, Busey had faced a maximum sentence of five years probation and a $500 fine. His attorney told the outlet that the shorter probation sentence allows Busey to seek early termination after one year. Busey also faces a civil suit from two women in New York, who are seeking damages as a result of the Monster Mania encounter. The actor was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Buddy Holly in The Buddy Holly Story. He also has appeared in dozens of other films, including Predator 2 and Point Break. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People Getty; Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg via Getty The mayonnaise brand Hellmann's is offering to help a Spanish cafe owner repair his restaurant after an angry customer allegedly started a fire NEED TO KNOW The mayonnaise brand Hellmanns has offered to help a Spanish cafe owner repair his restaurant after a customer allegedly started a fire because he wasnt given mayonnaise The man allegedly used a can of gasoline to light a counter on fire, causing thousands of dollars worth of damages Hellmans Spain said, Let us take care of the repairs and make sure your sandwiches never run out of mayonnaise again The mayonnaise brand Hellmann's is offering to help a Spanish cafe owner repair his restaurant after a customer allegedly started a fire all because he didnt get mayonnaise with his order. According to a statement from Cafeteria Las Postas in Sevilla, a man attacked the restaurant in an incident on Aug. 21, resulting in thousands of dollars worth of damages. This afternoon, we suffered an attack in which a customer who was passing through our cafe asked us for a couple of packets of mayonnaise for his sandwich, the restaurant wrote in Spanish in its Instagram post, alongside security camera footage of the attack. Employees allegedly told the man that that they did not have any mayonnaise. He then left and went to a nearby gas station to buy a container of gasoline. When he returned to the cafe, the man asked for condiments again and after being told that they didn't have any to give him, he doused the counter in fuel and set it ablaze. Imagine the fire that started, Cafe owner Jose Antonio Caballero told El Economista, per Euro Weekly News. There were children in front of him, people spending the afternoon. It was tremendous. Footage shared to the restaurant's social media page showed customers and employees running for cover as the blaze began, just before someone pulls out a fire extinguisher from behind the counter to put it out. Caballero told the outlet that the fire caused damages that would have cost him between 7,000 and 10,000 (or between $8,221 and $11,745). "Fortunately, none of us or our clients, including young children and elderly, have suffered major damage, only material things that are replaceable," the restaurant's statement noted. "Today, we escaped, but a real disaster could have happened." The incident caught the attention of local media and Hellmann's Spain even chimed in, offering in an Instagram post to pay for the damages. "Cafeteria Las Postas: We're sorry we weren't there," the mayo brand wrote on social media. "From now on, you can count on us. Let us take care of the repairs and make sure your sandwiches never run out of mayonnaise again." 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. "Thank you so much @hellmanns_spain!" the restaurant's social media page replied in the comments. "It's a pleasure to receive your help! ." According to Euro Weekly News, bystanders who witnessed the incident quickly stepped in and helped detain the arsonist before police arrived. He sustained several burns, and was later arrested. A Spanish court ordered him held without bail. "Thank you to all the people who have helped us with this situation and for whom it is worth opening the door every day," Cafeteria Las Postas finished its Instagram post. Read the original article on People Sgt. Griffin Payne, U.S. Army | DVIDS (The Center Square) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers continue to arrest and deport war criminals. The latest is a female Liberian war lord and child soldier recruiter. After she moved to the U.S., she married a U.S. citizen, which did not protect her from deportation. Another Liberian who obtained lawful permanent resident status was indicted in Philadelphia for allegedly committing war crimes during the Liberian Civil War, ICE said. Liberian citizen Mayama Sesay, 43, was successfully removed to Liberia, ICE said. Sesay, infamously known as the rebel commander Black Diamond, played a prominent role in recruiting and leading child soldiers during Liberias civil wars. Despite this, she was granted entry into the U.S. in 2014 on a visitors visa. It would take 11 years for federal officials to investigate and remove her from the country. Sesay commanded an all-female group of fighters known as the Womens Artillery Commandos, part of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy [(LURD)], a rebel group formed to oppose former Liberian president Charles Taylor, ICE said. LURD fought for several years until Taylor resigned and went into exile in 2003, ending the Second Liberian Civil War. When Sesay was 22 years old, she recruited and trained child soldiers to fight against Taylors forces, ICE said. During the Liberias second civil war, Sesay gained notoriety for her brutal tactics, including restraining and beating captured soldiers, and deploying mortar bombs to terrorize and kill military personnel and civilians, ICE said. Liberia has designated Sesay as a war criminal. Sesay entered the U.S. on a visitors visa in 2014, married a U.S. citizen, and not soon after applied for permanent residency. During her immigration interview, she denied she was Black Diamond or had any affiliation with LURD, ICE said. However, an investigation by the Department of Homeland Securitys Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center found her claims to be false. An immigration judge determined she lacked credibility and had used and recruited child soldiers and ICE put her in removal proceedings. The judge ordered her removal to Liberia in 2022, which she appealed and lost. Three years later this spring, ICE Atlanta officers took her into custody to process her removal and remove her from the U.S. In another case in Philadelphia, a former Liberian rebel general was sentenced to more than four years in prison for concealing serious human rights violations to fraudulently obtain immigration status in the United States, ICE announced. Laye Sekou Camara, 47, who was living in Mays Landing, New Jersey, entered the U.S. on an immigrant visa after lying on his application by failing to admit he was involved in Liberias civil war, ICE said. He later applied to and obtained lawful permanent resident status in 2010. He did so by falsely stating on immigration forms that he had never participated in extrajudicial killings or other acts of violence; had never been involved with a paramilitary unit, rebel group, or guerilla group; and had never engaged in the recruitment or use of child soldiers, ICE said. As a leader in Liberias civil war, Mr. Camara facilitated atrocities against civilians in his own country including the use of child soldiers, ICE Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Edward Owens said. By concealing his crimes in Liberia, Camara was able to obtain immigration benefits and use those documents to seek employment and a new life in the United States. HSI will not allow the U.S. to become a refuge for human rights violators or for individuals who secure lawful status through deception. DHS HRVWC Center staff work to identify, locate and prosecute human rights abusers in the U.S., including those involved in war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation and using and/or recruiting child soldiers. The Liberian government and rebel groups fighting against it, including LURD, all used child soldiers, the Council on Foreign Relations notes. Taylor recruited children to join his rebel army to overthrow the previous government in the late 1980s, forming a special brigade called the Small Boys Unit, the council notes. Human Rights Watch estimated 5,000 to 15,000 children were used as child soldiers during the Liberian conflict; the International Rescue Commission estimated that child soldiers comprised between 25% to 75% of total fighting forces in Liberia at the time. Since its inception in 2003, DHS HRVWC center has issued more than 79,000 lookouts for suspected human rights violators and prevented nearly 400 people from entering the U.S. Members of the public are encouraged to report potential human rights violators living in the U.S. by contacting ICE at 866-DHS-2-ICE, online or through email, HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov. In this image made from video provided by Nissan Motor Co., Japanese automaker Nissan's test vehicle featuring an automated driving system packed with artificial intelligence moves on a road in Tokyo on September, 2025. (Nissan Motor Co. via AP) TOKYO (AP) Japanese automaker Nissan is developing vehicles with self-driving technology as it works to turn around its struggling auto business. In a recent demonstration of the technology developed by British company Wayve, a Nissan Ariya sedan outfitted with 11 cameras, five radars and a next-generation sensor called LiDAR maneuvered its way through downtown Tokyo, braking for red lights as well as pedestrians and other cars at intersections. It's set to be available in 2027, although Nissan did not give the models or other details. It's an already-crowded field. The self-driving car market is estimated to reach $2 trillion by 2030, according to market researcher IndustryARC, riding on the back of advances in AI, sensor technologies and data processing capabilities. Japans top automaker, Toyota Motor Corp., has a partnership deal with Waymo, another self-driving technology developed by Google. Waymo has also arrived in Japan, in partnership with a cab company, but its still in the testing stage. Other automakers are also working on autonomous driving technology, including Honda Motor Co., General Motors and Mercedes-Benz, as well as companies outside the auto industry like Amazon and its subsidiary Zoox. Nissan's push comes at a time when the overall Japanese auto market is facing serious challenges because of President Donald Trump's tariffs. Nissan especially is struggling. It has slashed jobs and appointed a new chief executive, Ivan Espinosa, to attempt a turnaround. The maker of the March subcompact, Leaf electric cars and Infiniti luxury brand posted losses for the April-June period, following a fiscal year of red ink. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty Jimmy Kimmel on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on October 2, 2023. NEED TO KNOW Jimmy Kimmel Live! is officially returning to air on Tuesday, Sept. 23 Disney's ABC previously pulled host Jimmy Kimmel's show "indefinitely" after comments he made surrounding Charlie Kirk's assassination. The late-night series premiered on ABC in 2003 Jimmy Kimmel Live! isn't over just yet. On Monday, Sept. 22, the Walt Disney Company issued a statement confirming that the show will return on Tuesday, Sept. 23. "Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive," the statement read, referring to comments Jimmy Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk's assassination on Sept. 15. "We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday." Disney/Randy Holmes Jimmy Kimmel on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on January 15, 2025. The Sept. 15 episode broadcast of Kimmel's show saw him discussing world events in his opening monologue, which eventually shifted to discussing Charlie Kirk. The right-wing commentator, who founded Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on Sept. 10 while at a speaking event at Utah Valley University. He was 31. Tyler Robinson was charged with aggravated murder in connection with Kirk's death. "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it," Kimmel said. "In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving." "On Friday, the White House flew the flags at half staff, which got some criticism, but on a human level, you can see how hard the president is taking this," he continued, before a clip played of President Donald Trump partially addressing reporters' questions about how he was coping with former ally Kirk's death before moving on to another matter. Prior to the episode, Kimmel offered his condolences on social media to Kirk's family. "Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human?" he wrote. "On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence." Disney/Randy Holmes; PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Jimmy Kimmel (left) and Charlie Kirk. Two days later, an ABC spokesperson told PEOPLE that Kimmels "comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located. "Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time, and we have made the difficult decision to preempt his show in an effort to let cooler heads prevail as we move toward the resumption of respectful, constructive dialogue." The networks action follows Nexstar Media's own decision to halt airings of Kimmel's show. Nexstar Media is the largest local broadcast and digital media company in the U.S. that owns more than 200 television stations in 116 markets. In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Nexstar Media noted that its "owned and partner television stations affiliated with the ABC Television Network will preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the foreseeable future, beginning with tonights show." The company recently announced plans to acquire rival broadcast company Tegna for $6.2 billion, putting Nexstar in 80% of America's TV-owning households, per a press release. The acquisition requires final approval from the Trump-controlled Federal Communications Commission. FCC Chair Brendan Carr praised Nexstar on Wednesday on pressuring ABC to remove Kimmel, writing on X that "it is important for broadcasters to push back on Disney programming that they determine falls short of community values." Kimmel and Trump had been engaged in a long-standing feud prior to this point, with the political figure even predicting that the former's talk show would be the next axed after the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show. At the time Kimmel's show was suspended, Trump noted on Truth Social that this was "great news for America." Randy Holmes/Disney via Getty; Neil Hall/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Jimmy Kimmel; Donald Trump. Even though Kimmel has been able to resume production on his show, he had previously teased in a February 2024 interview with the Los Angeles Times that the three-year contract he signed in 2022 would possibly be his last. He had been working on the show since 2003. 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 hate to even say it, because everyones laughing at me now each time I think that, and then it turns out to be not the case," he joked at the time. "I still have a little more than two years left on my contract, and that seems pretty good," he added. "That seems like enough. Read the original article on People A kayak tour trailing through a sea of trees in the rainforest can only be experienced once a year. Photography by Cristian Dimitrius This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Beyond the bow of my kayak, the world has turned upside down. Half-submerged tree trunks meet their reflections and branch into twin canopies. Clouds floating above are mirrored below, shading our passage and splitting in our wake. I drop a hand in the water and let it trail beside me, knuckle-deep in sky. Sometimes, the river acts like a mirror, says Rafael Ferraz from his kayak, speaking with a singsong lilt. Hes a nature guide at Cristalino Lodge, a wilderness reserve set on the Cristalino River, which flows for 70 miles through the southern Amazon basin in mid-western Brazil. Its a blackwater river, with a characteristic slow current and inky shade caused by leaching from fallen leaves. On a windless day like this, with nothing but our paddles to ripple the surface, the reflections are so still and clear you may well feel suspended, caught between two realities. The impression is uncanny during the green season, from December to June, when the water rises and spills out onto the shores. It takes up to four months to overflow, and it only stays high for a month or so, says Rafael. In that window, it can reach over 10 feet above ground and some 300 feet into the jungle. These areas are what Brazilians call igapo, a word from the Old Tupi Indigenous language to describe seasonally blackwater-flooded forests. We entered one from the Cristalinos main channel, through a gap in the riverbanks near-impenetrable vegetation. And now, were kayaking over the forest floor, charting a course between trunks that rise straight from the water. A family of white-cheeked spider monkeys small, black, with giveaway tufts framing their faces swing from arm to arm through the canopy, using their prehensile tails as a fifth limb. Theyre endemic to the Cristalino region, having perfectly adapted to life in its branches. Guests who stay at Cristalino Lodge can give back to the community while remaining at the heart of the rainforest. Photography by Eco Cristalino Their habitat is threatened by what environmentalists have dubbed the Arc of Deforestation, a growing belt of plantations and cattle ranches in the south of the Brazilian Amazon. Over the past 50 years, its claimed around 30% of primary forest. This pocket has remained untouched thanks to local efforts: Cristalino Lodge was founded to support the Cristalino Private National Heritage Reserve, 44sq miles of protected land, and Cristalino Ecological Foundation, which conducts research and engages with communities on the importance of conservation. The lodge was designed to showcase the life it helps preserve. Guests might spot capuchin monkeys around the open-air restaurant, or a brocket deer outside their wood-and-glass bungalow. Walk the grounds at night and you might spy tapirs by a clay lick. Head on day hikes, and youll see the rainforest in its primordial glory roots like a ballerinas tutu, bark thats grown spikes, vines tied into impossible knots, defying gravity and reason. The area is especially popular with birdwatchers, home to around 600 catalogued species, about 50% of all avian life in the Amazon. The next morning at 5am, Rafael and I set off for a 165ft watchtower and find it lit by indigo twilight, the canopy cloaked by a blanket of fog. Evaporation from the Cristalino River and perspiration from the trees condense here, Rafael explains; next, itll go west, heating the Andes, then return to Brazil, bringing humidity. We call it flying river, he says. This will probably be rain in Rio in a couple of weeks. From the 165ft watchtower at Cristalino Lodge, visitors can see the flying river in all its glory. Photography by Angela Locatelli Whether it's pale-mandibled aracaris or other airborne wildlife, the Amazon basin is a popular destination for birdwatchers. Photography by SL_Photography, Getty Images We watch the sun rise over primary forest sweeping as far as the eye can see a new morning that feels like the first on Earth. We listen to the call of howler monkeys, like a gust of wind funnelled through a tunnel. We follow the flight of golden-winged parakeets and, using a spotting scope, take in the black ringlets of a curl-crested aracari. This woo-woo? Ringed woodpecker, says Rafael, untangling the soundscape. That dog-like bark? White-throated toucan. And that loud pee-haw screaming pihas, the sentinels of the rainforest. Through all this, the flying river spills in and out of itself, flooding and surrounding us with fog, channelling its course and flowing on like a stream of mist. The phenomenon happens year-round, Rafael tells me, but the green season is the best time to see it. This is what I think of when I think of the Amazon, he says, face blushed by a warming dawn. Its what will linger in my minds eye, too a place where the coming of rain washes clean the world as you know it, pouring the sky into the river, splashing the river in the sky. All thats left is space for wonder, and a new day to inspire it. Published in the October 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only). This is a locator map for Sudan with its capital, Khartoum. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) CAIRO (AP) At least 11 children were killed in a drone strike four days ago that hit a mosque in the besieged city of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, the U.N. childrens agency said Monday. Local aid groups and activists and the Sudanese army accused the paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces of launching the attack during prayers early Friday, killing at least 70 people and leaving many others trapped under the rubble. Initial reports indicated that at least 11 children between the ages of 6 and 15 were killed and many more wounded in the attack, which also damaged nearby homes, said UNICEFs Executive Director Catherine Russell in Mondays statement, calling the attack shocking." The people who were killed were absolutely innocent. They were people seeking shelter, people praying in a mosque. Its an atrocious, unconscionable act, Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Sudan, told The Associated Press. The strike came as the army and the RSF fight increasingly intense battles as part of the countrys ongoing civil war. The war has killed at least 40,000 people, according to the World Health Organization, displaced as many as 12 million others, and pushed many to the brink of famine. Three doctors died in the attack, according to the Preliminary Committee of Sudans Doctors Trade Union and Sudan Doctors Network. They were among 231 medical personnel killed since the war in Sudan broke out, according to Sudan Doctors Network. The latest attack has torn apart families and shattered any sense of safety for children who have already suffered so much, said Russell, adding that the RSF's siege of el-Fasher has trapped children who endure violence and have little access to food, clean water and healthcare while being forced to witness horrors no child should ever see. Antoine Gerard, Sudan Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator with the U.N., told the AP on Monday that they are seeing more attacks on civilians now inside el-Fasher, who are also struggling to seek safety outside the city due to the siege and lack of safe routes. We are quite concerned about targeting civilians, targeting the population and particularly hospital(s), mosque(s) and schools and any other civilian premises, he said. In a statement on Sunday, Sudans neighboring nation, Egypt, condemned the drone strike and said it constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, denouncing the targeting of places of worship and innocent civilians in the conflict. Fighting over the control of el-Fasher and surrounding areas in North Darfur intensified by early April and more than 400 civilians have been killed in RSF attacks in the area since April 10, according to a Friday report by the U.N.'s human rights office. The majority were killed in a major offensive that seized the nearby Zamzam displacement camp. The camp was turned into an RSF military base used to launch assaults on el-Fasher, according to the report. Thousands of children in Darfur are at risk of malnutrition, while others are already acutely malnourished, according to Yett, who said that people in el-Fasher have limited access to food. We know that all of North Darfur is severely affected. We know the disease rates are skyrocketing. We know water and sanitation (are) hard to come by." Yett said, adding that all this combined "means the death of many children who shouldnt have to die, 1862: President Abraham Lincoln reading the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all those enslaved in rebel-held territory would be "thenceforward, and forever, free." Credit - MPI/Getty Images Eight score and three years agoon Sept. 22, 1862President Abraham Lincoln issued a bold executive order, now known as the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, that changed the meaning of the Civil War and bent the arc of American history. In the process, Lincoln also gave todays Americans a perfect template against which to measure our current presidents boldest executive order, which Donald Trump issued on the first day of his second term. That order purports to reinterpret the Constitutions guarantee of birthright citizenship, directing federal officials to withhold citizenship documents such as passports and social security cards from any baby born in the U.S. unless at least one of the newborns parents is a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident. Lower-court judges across the country have strongly opposed this decree, placing it on hold, for now. The Supreme Court will likely rule on the matter sometime soon. A fresh look at Lincolns sweeping edict can help us predict how the justices will likely rule on Trumps sweeping edict, and why. Read more: Birthright Citizenship Has Been Challenged Before Before Lincoln issued his preliminary proclamation, the Unions sole official war aim had been to preserve the Union itself. But Lincoln began to shift that priority, ending his pronouncement with a zinger: Come New Years Day, it read, "all persons held as slaves in rebel territory shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free. Yet even as Lincoln pointed toward a future in which millions of Confederate slaves would soon become free, he also endorsed efforts to colonize persons of African descent, with their consent, upon this continent, or elsewhere. As promised, on New Years Day, 1863, Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation. All persons, he said, held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free. Lincolns final proclamation also featured a thrilling change. All mention of subsidized colonization was gone; in its place was the news that freed men, if of age, could now join the Union Army and Navyand thereby prove to the world their manhood and just claims to full and equal American citizenship. Now that Black men were to fight alongside their white brothers in arms, it no longer made sense to see these former bondsmen as Lincoln had once seen themakin to the Israelite slaves in ancient Egypt, strangers in a strange land, destined for post-liberation emigration to some faraway place. Lincoln now began to envision them as not merely free Americans but also equal Americans, fighting for their native land, the land of their birth. In lawif not yet in fact, as the Union Army had only begun its work of sweeping the South cleansome three million souls who had gone to sleep enslaved the day before would wake up the next day as free men, women, and children. By wars end in early 1865, Lincoln and his allies insisted that America needed to go even further. Not only must all Confederate slaves walk free; so must all enslaved persons in border states that still allowed slavery. Even more sweepingly, slavery itself must end, everywhere, immediately, and forever. This was the platform on which Lincoln won re-election in 1864a re-election made possible by battlefield triumphs due in large part to Black arms-bearing. Lincoln did not live to see the final adoption of the 13th Amendment in 1865, which essentially ended slavery everywhere in the U.S. Nor did he live to see three more constitutional amendmentsthe 14th, 15th, and 19ththat promised not just freedom but full birthright equality to Americas Black citizens, and, later, to Americas women. Read more: How the 14th Amendments Promise of Birthright Citizenship Redefined America Still, it was Lincoln who set the stage for all these amendments. His September proclamation and January refinement precipitated todays constitutional system, a system based fundamentally on the proposition that all Americans are born equal. Over the years, critics of Lincolns actions have raised three big constitutional questions about his two big proclamations. First, a federalism question: Did the central government have power to free slaves in individual states? Yes. The Constitution was designed above all else for common defensea phrase that appeared prominently in the Constitutions Preamble and again in a later key passage. In order to win a warespecially a war that threatened the nations very existencethe federal government enjoyed plenary power to liberate slaves, as nations at war had commonly done long before the Constitution was drafted and ratified. In the Revolutionary War itself, Britains Lord Dunmore had emancipated large numbers of southern slaves as a war measurea fact well-known in both the 1770s and the 1860s. Second, an executive-power question: Could President Lincoln act without a congressional statute expressly authorizing his proclamations in advance? Yes. Lincoln was acting hand in glove with Congress, which was controlled by an anti-slavery party that he himself had co-founded and had led to a smashing electoral victory in 1860. His preliminary proclamation quoted at length key passages of Congresss Second Confiscation Act, which he had signed into law in July 1862. That act had authorized the Union army to liberate a wide swath of enslaved persons who would thereafter be forever free. Though Lincolns proclamations went even further, they vindicated the emancipatory spirit of that congressional act. Also, the policy that Lincoln announced in mid-September would go into effect only in the new year. Congress thus had plenty of time to object, but never did. Instead, Congress continued to fund Lincolns war efforts and to support his general conduct of the war. Lincoln was commander-in-chief of Americas army in a time of an actual and indeed existential war that Congress had expressly, emphatically, and repeatedly blessed in every way. Within broad limits, he thus had both constitutional and statutory authority to wage that war as he saw best. Third, a rights question: could the government deprive masters of their property rights over slaves? Yes. At most, a slaveholder might deserve just compensation for the loss of his slave propertyan issue that could be litigated in court after the fact of immediate emancipation. Just as a government could take a mans land to build a fort and take a mans corn to feed an army, so it could take a mans slaves to win a war. In short, in both proclamations Lincoln was a consummate lawyer who paid exquisite attention to questions of constitutionality and scrupulously honored his oath of office to act under the Constitution, not over or outside it. President Trumps executive order on birthright citizenship stands in dramatic contrast. On the federalism question: Nothing in the Constitution authorizes the federal government to deprive native-born Americans of their birthright citizenship. On the executive-power question: America is not now at war, and the war power expressly claimed by Lincoln in his two proclamations does not apply. Most important of all, on the rights question: The Fourteenth Amendment vests every person born on American soil under the American flag with the right to be a free and equal citizen. This language directly derives from Lincolns and Lincolns allies most important words and deeds, beginning on Sept. 22, 1862. On birthright citizenship, we can thus follow Lincoln, or we can follow Trump. But we cannot follow both, because Trump is trying to undo precisely what Lincoln and his allies did, beginning eight score and three years ago. Akhil Reed Amar teaches constitutional law at Yale and is the author of the newly-published Born Equal: Remaking Americas Constitution, 1840-1920. Correction: The original version of this story misstated the year the 13th amendment was adopted. It was 1865, not 1965. More from TIME Contact us at letters@time.com. Lancaster County Detention Center Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr. NEED TO KNOW Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr. 35, is facing multiple charges after allegedly holding four adults captive in the basement of his South Carolina home Police began investigating Birchfield Jr. back in July, after being notified of an unattended death at the property Birchfield Jr. is accused of using his victims' money for his own gain, while controlling their communication, eating and bathroom habits A 35-year-old man is facing multiple charges after being accused of keeping four adults captive in the basement of his South Carolina home, having only raised suspicions when one of his victims died. On Aug. 1, Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr. was arrested and charged with a lengthy list of crimes, including four counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult, financial fraud, false imprisonment, and domestic violence, per the Lancaster County Detention Center. Suspicions over Birchfield Jr.s behavior began when police learned of an unreported death at his Lancaster home in July, WSOC-TV 9 and Local 12 reported. It has been determined that he had been the sole caregiver to the deceased woman and her husband, but authorities remain unsure how he knew the couple. Investigators looking into the woman's death noted evidence of physical abuse and a lack of adequate medical treatment. Lancaster County Detention Center Donnie Ray Birchfield Jr. Authorities soon discovered other people who they believed were being held against their will at Birchfield Jr.'s home as he controlled their eating, bathroom habits, and communication, according to warrants obtained by WSOC-TV. The deceased woman and her husband were above the age of 18, but, as vulnerable adults, they were unable to take care of themselves, according to Local 12. Two other captives were women who had allegedly been romantically involved with Birchfield Jr., the outlet reported. One of the women is believed to have been at the house since Sept. 2024 and the other since 2015. Birchfield Jr. allegedly made his girlfriend fear for her life by stating that he knew how to dispose of a body from previous experience, according to warrants obtained by WSOC-TV. He is accused of also routinely strangling her during assaults. 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. Police allege that he would use his victims' money to shop at Walmart and pay his debts. This year alone, he allegedly spent $11,800 from the vulnerable couples bank account to pay off credit card loans, per Local 12. Thats a sick individual right there. Hes a sick person to do something like that, neighbor Darryl Evans told WSOC-TV 9. According to the news outlet, authorities are awaiting a pathologist's report before pursuing more charges. Birchfield is being detained without bail at the Lancaster County Detention Center. The South Carolina Attorney Generals Office, Lancaster Police Department and the Lancaster County Detention Center did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on Sept. 22. Read the original article on People Heuler Andrey/AFP via Getty Stock image of police cars in Brazil NEED TO KNOW Police in Brazil confirmed that they arrested a man who was accused of marrying his former stepdaughter and holding her against her will for more than two decades The woman managed to escape and report the crimes on Sept. 16, alleging that she had been physically and psychologically abused for that time Her former stepfather reportedly forced her to have sex with him and other men, and he recorded videos of the rape A Brazilian man was arrested after allegedly marrying his stepdaughter and forcing her to engage in sexual acts with himself and other men over the course of more than 20 years. The Parana Civil Police confirmed the arrest via a press release on Wednesday, Sept. 17, noting that the 51-year-old suspect was apprehended in Araucaria, in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba. Authorities opted out of naming him or his victim in their report. PCPR delegate Eduardo Kruger said that the victim "managed to escape" to report the crime on Tuesday, Sept. 16. Per the report, she slipped away and made it to the police station after telling the suspect that she was going to a medical appointment. Getty Stock image of a police car She alleged that the man began abusing her when she was 7, and that they married after she got pregnant at the age of 16. The victim accused her stepfather of inflicting "physical and psychological abuse" and forcing her to have sex with him and other men while on camera. He was also accused of "restrictions on freedom, monitoring by cameras installed in the residence and control over the victim's cell phone and movements." She reportedly gave birth to multiple children while being held captive by the man. 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 filing the report, she received threats from the attacker via phone and audio messages," Kruger alleged, per the release. The messages were evidence of stalking, which led the police to make an arrest. When they arrived at the home, they reportedly found video evidence of the abuse on surveillance cameras and the man's cell phone. Getty Stock image of police tape He was arrested on charges of rape, false imprisonment and stalking, and is being held in prison for the time being, per authorities. Their report also noted that the victim and her children were "taken to a safe place" so that they could be protected while the investigation continues. PEOPLE reached out to the Parana Civil Police for additional information about the case, but they did not immediately respond. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People Queensland Police Service Crystal Beale NEED TO KNOW A man has been charged with murder following the death of a mom of two in the Brisbane River in Queensland, Australia in February 49-year-old Crystal Beale's body was discovered on Feb 22 and her former husband, Jesse Beale, also 49, has been charged with her alleged murder, according to 7 News and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation In a Sept. 22 press conference, police alleged that there was a "history of domestic violence" between the pair A man has been charged with murder following the death of a mother of two who was found in the Brisbane River in Queensland, Australia, in February. On Monday, Sept. 22, Jesse Beale, believed to be Crystal Beales former husband, was reportedly charged with her murder, according to 7 News and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). PEOPLE previously reported that authorities believed Crystal, 49, met up with a former partner, also 49, after dining with her two children on Feb. 21, per the Brisbane Times. Her body was discovered in the Brisbane River the following morning. In a Sept. 22 press release, the Queensland Police Service confirmed that a 49-year-old man had been charged with Crystals alleged murder. PEOPLE has contacted the Queensland Police Service for further comment, but did not immediately hear back. 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. Detectives have conducted relentless investigations, combing through over a thousand hours of CCTV and conducting multiple appeals for information to find justice for Crystal, the release read. Police will allege the 49-year-old West End man murdered Crystal and moved her body into the Brisbane River where it was later located. Crystal Beale Facebook Crystal Beale Officials said a search warrant was carried out at an Equestrian Drive address in Maudsland [a rural-residential suburb located in the northern hinterland of the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia] at 5.11 a.m. on Sept. 22. A 49-year-old male was arrested at the location and has since been charged with one count each of murder (domestic violence offence) and misconduct with a corpse, the statement continued. It is reprehensible what happened to Crystal. Over the past seven months, detectives have been tirelessly investigating every avenue possible to find answers for her family, Detective Inspector Wayne Francis said in a statement. In an April update, police said that Crystals body was found in the river by a member of the public at 5.40 a.m. on Feb. 22. Queensland Police Service Crystal Beale Operation Xray Saba was established to piece together not only what happened that night, but Crystals life leading up to her alleged murder, the release noted. Police believe she left the family dinner at a Sunnybank restaurant on Feb. 21 at 8.30pm and travelled with a 49-year-old West End man, who was known to her, in a car to West End." She was last seen with the man after departing from the car at 9.30 p.m. on Ryan Street, West End. We were not going to give up until we could provide these answers and get justice for Crystal, per the update. A police spokesperson said in a Sept. 22 press conference that authorities believed the pair had a history of domestic violence." Alamy Pedestrian pathway in Orleigh Park at West End on Brisbane River "There was no current domestic violence order in place at the time, but police will allege that there was a history of domestic violence, which is why that's on the charge," District Detective Inspector Francis said. Of Crystal's children, he added, "But as you can appreciate, they've lost their mother ... through horrible circumstances and no matter what police action or court action occurs subsequently, they can't get their mother back." While the man was set to appear at Brisbane Magistrates on Sept. 22, he was not present when his case was mentioned, according to ABC. Jesse's lawyer, Lewis Huntee requested that the case be adjourned to October, according to the outlet. 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 At least 17 people have died after Super Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest storm of the year, battered Taiwan and the northern Philippines, with the typhoon now pushing west towards its expected landfall in southern China. At least 14 people died in Taiwan and 124 remain missing after a barrier lake burst its banks following torrential rains from the storm, officials said. The lake, formed by landslides in Hualien county after downpours, sent a wall of water crashing into Guangfu township yesterday. Follow our live blog for the latest updates. Streets were emptied in Hong Kong as the storm brought waves taller than lampposts to its promenades, triggering a No 10 signal, the highest level alert. China has evacuated 1.9 million people so far in Guangdong province, local authorities say. The province is an economic powerhouse and home to more than 125 million people. The national weather agency forecast the super typhoon would make landfall between the cities of Yangjiang and Zhanjiang this evening. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 200kmph and gusts of up to 250kmph on Wednesday morning, according to the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Map shows path and arrival time of Super Typhoon Ragasa as it heads towards China (Joint Typhoon Warning Center) Schools, factories and transit services were suspended in about a dozen cities. In Hong Kong, authorities shut schools and public offices throughout Tuesday and Wednesday after warning that hurricane-force winds and storm surges could rival those seen during Super Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. Map shows path and arrival time (in Philippine Standard Time) of super typhoon Ragasa (PAGASA) The Hong Kong airport earlier said it will continue operations but warned passengers to expect "significant disruption" to flights from 6pm on Tuesday until at least Thursday morning. Around 700 flights have been cancelled, while ferries and some key highways are also shutting down, the South China Morning Post reported. Analysis by The Independent of Flightradar24 data shows 86 regional departures to destinations in Asia have been grounded. In addition, more than 30 long-haul departures are grounded, including two overnight flights to London Heathrow on Cathay Pacific and one on British Airways. Passengers look at an information display board showing canceled flights due to the super typhoon Ragasa, at the Hong Kong International Airport (AP) More than 100 flight departures from Hong Kong have been cancelled in just 10 hours, from 2pm to midnight local time on Tuesday afternoon and evening. An estimated 20,000 passengers are affected. The Hong Kong Observatory said weather would deteriorate rapidly with gale to storm-force winds and high swells through Wednesday. A shopper stands near near empty shelves at a supermarket ahead of Typhoon Ragasa in Shenzhen in southern China's Guangdong province (AP) Photos and videos showed empty shelves in supermarkets as residents stockpiled essentials ahead of disruption. Taiwan premier Cho Jung-tai has called for an inquiry into what went wrong with evacuation orders in an eastern county. An overview shows flowing mud and floodwaters after a barrier lake burst and caused parts of the bridge over Mataian Creek be destroyed in Hualien (Taiwan's Central News Agency (CN) In Guangfu, the Taiwanese town where the lake burst killing 14 people, some 5,200 people or nearly 60 per cent of the population had been told to seek shelter either on the upper floors of their homes or to the homes of friends and relatives. Regions across Taiwan have dispatched rescue teams to Hualien, with the military sending 340 troops to help. Debris is piled up in front of seafront restaurant in Tseung Kwan O damaged after Super Typhoon Ragasa hit the district in Hong Kong (AFP via Getty Images) Ragasa was expected to maintain its strength throughout Wednesday as a super storm, before weakening slightly as it makes landfall in southern China, forecasters said. Earlier this week, the storm battered the Phillippines, where at least three people have been killed and thousands displaced in floods and landslides across the northern parts. In northern Luzon, a 74-year-old man died after being trapped in a vehicle buried by mud and rocks in Benguet province, officials said. Two others were killed in Calayan town in Cagayan province, where the storm first made landfall. The disaster agency said more than 17,500 people were forced from their homes, while five others remain missing. Schools, government offices and transport services were suspended across 29 provinces, with ferries and domestic flights cancelled. Super typhoon Ragasa as it develops and nears Hong Kong and mainland China (National Oceanic and Atmospheric) Scientists warn storms in the region are becoming more intense as global temperatures rise, placing millions of people across Asias typhoon belt at increasing risk. Forecasters said Ragasa was moving northwest at 15kmph over very warm waters, an environment primed to fuel further intensification. Ragasa isnt the only storm intensifying in the Pacific Ocean this week. Super Typhoon Neoguri also reached category 4 equivalent strength. Early on Sunday morning, satellite images revealed that both typhoons were very large and undergoing rapid intensification. Carson Downing / Allrecipes The Tater Tot hotdish disappeared fast around the table, like it always does. But as we cleared the plates, my aunt leaned in, eyebrows slightly raised. Did you notice she puts green beans in hers? Thats not Minnesotan for she did it wrong. Its justnot the way we make it. And therein lies the beautyand the bickering. Tater Tot hotdish is Minnesota's unofficial state dish. Its our shared comfort food, our snowstorm staple, and our potluck MVP. Everyones grandma has a special version, and deep down, were all convinced she makes it best. That, dear reader, is the root of our timeless Tater Tot drama: Who makes it right? Corn only, or a full frozen medley? Cheese on top, or not at all? Tots lined in tidy rows, or tossed on by the fistful? If you ever find yourself at a Minnesotan potluck, this guide will help you navigate the friendliest food fight around (and perhaps, discover where your loyalties lie). First Off, What Exactly Is Tater Tot Hotdish? Carson Downing / Food Styling: Shannon Goforth / Prop Styling: Sue Mitchell Before we dig in, lets address the one thing all Minnesotans agree on: Dont call it a casserole. Technically, sureTater Tot hotdish is a type of casserole. But the difference is in the formula. A casserole can contain any number of ingredients. A true hotdish follows a specific blueprint: A protein: usually ground beef A creamy binder: likely from a Campbells can A starch: in this case, crispy Tater Tots Often, canned or frozen vegetables And optional, but beloved by many: gooey, melted cheese Beyond that? Anything goes. As one Redditor put it: Dont overthink itThe beauty of hotdish is its weekday can-dump dinner ease, turning pantry and freezer staples into a hearty one-pan meal. But if you do want to overthink it, belly up and grab a plate. The ingredients that divide a state are coming in hot. The Protein: Is It Still Hotdish Without Hamburger? One thing most Minnesotans wont mess with? Our mainstay meat: ground beef. Its what most of us grew up with and still reach for. (Bonus points if its on salewere practical folks.) That said, some cooks take creative liberties: sausage, chicken, even leftover Thanksgiving turkey. These swaps are usually permissible, especially if they help clear out a packed fridge. Venture too far down the food chain, howeversay, into lentils or tofuand youll trigger a quiet panic among your peers. But dont worry, this is Minnesota. We wouldnt dream of saying anything. Instead, well channel the spirit of this Redditor: You bring a lentil tater tot hotdish to my house and I will politely eat it and tell you that 'it's different' to your face. Still, different doesnt always mean disqualified. When he was a congressman, Governor Tim Walz famously won the Minnesota congressional delegations annual Hotdish-Off competition (yes, its realand yes, were proud) three times using bratwurst and turkey. Cream-of-Something: But What? Next up: the Lutheran binderCampbells condensed cream soups. The first hotdish recipe ever printed (found in the circa-1930 Grace Lutheran Ladies Aid Cookbook) called for tomato soup, but that didnt stick. Cream-based binders quickly took over, cementing their place in Minnesota kitchens and church cookbooks. But which cream reigns supreme? That depends on whom you ask. Team Cream of Mushroom: The traditionalists. They swear by the classic and will proudly (and politely) fight you on it. Team Whatevers-in-the-Pantry: Cream of chicken, celery, mushroomif it binds, it belongs. These folks are fueled by frugality, not tradition. Team I Made This Myself: These high achievers whip up their own sauce with butter, garlic, and just a dash too much ambition. But you didnt hear that from me. And then there are the modifiers: the ones who spice up their binders with sour cream, Worcestershire, and evengaspa sprinkle of smoked paprika. But easy now. As one concerned Redditor warned, Spices hotter than ketchup arent allowed in Minnesota, though, sorry. The Starch: Controversial Thoughts on Tots Ah, the tots: the crunchy crown jewel of the entire dish. They seal in moisture, provide structure, and turn goo into a golden delight. An important note: While you might spot sliced potatoes or noodles in other hotdishes, starch substitutions are prohibited here. Only tots will do! But how to arrange them? Youve got options. Some folks line them up in neat rowssatisfying as snowblowing in ruler-straight rows after a blizzard. Others, true chaos agents, toss them on by the handful. And then there are the engineers, who stand their tots upright for maximum crunch. You do you. But lets be clear: TOTS GO ON TOP. ALWAYS. Mix them inor worse, put them on the bottomand youll be left with a sad, soggy heartbreak. But dont worry, well still eat it. Veggies: Corn? Carrots? Peas? Chaos. Amid all that creamy, starchy goodness, a few nutrients sneak in. And since hotdish is rooted in Great Depression-era practicality, frozen or canned veggies are the gold standard. But which vegetables? Opinions run hot. Many are diehard corn-only fans (my mother included). Others swear by the classic medley of peas, carrots, and corn. The most divisive? Green beans. Some say they ruin the texture. Others insist its not hotdish without them. Lines are drawn. Families divided. But once in a while, someone sees the light. One Redditor lovingly described nudging her husband away from corn-only hotdish toward corn-and-peas, prompting a supportive reply: A grown man with only corn in his hotdish is a heavy burdenyou have the thanks of a grateful state for leading him in the right direction. Cheese: Essential or Culinary Crime? Finally, we arrive at cheese. Folded in or melted on top in the final minutes of baking, its the most controversial ingredient of them all. That is, if you dare include it. Cheese divides family reunions nearly as deeply as Vikings vs. Packers loyalties. Which feels appropriate, since our neighbors to the east have made a religion of it. Some insist the tots already do enough, and cheese is overkill. Others argue it's as essential as saying ope when you bump into someone in a doorway. But let the record show: Cheese triumphs at the highest levels of hotdish politics. Governor Walz used it in all three of his congressional hotdish wins. Senator Amy Klobuchar took top honors with pepperjack, breaking the dairy ceiling and our state's no spice rule in one go. Coincidence? Doubt it. Whatever your position, just know someone at the table disagrees with you. In Conclusion: Everyones Grandma Is Right You might use turkey instead of beef. Add peas. Skip the cheese. You might evengod help usmix the tots in. But if it warms your heart and fills your belly, youre doing just fine. So make it how you like it and share it with your people. Just dont call it a casserole. And if youre ready to try it for yourself, my Uncle Todds take is hard to beat (though I probably shouldnt put that in print). Heres the recipe: Carson Downing / Food Styling: Shannon Goforth / Prop Styling: Sue Mitchell Uncle Todd's Tater Tot Hotdish Servings: 68 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 4550 minutes Total Time: ~1 hour 5 minutes Ingredients butter or cooking spray 1 1/2 lbs (24 ounces) ground beef salt and pepper to taste seasoned salt (Optional) 1 medium yellow or white onion, diced 1 (26-ounce) can family-size cream of mushroom soup 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen corn 1 (8-ounce) bag shredded Cheddar cheese 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen Tater Tots Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x11-inch baking dish. In a large deep frying pan, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Season with salt, pepper, and seasoned salt. Transfer cooked beef to a bowl, leaving a bit of grease in the pan. Add diced onion to the pan with the reserved grease. Saute until caramelized. Stir the cream of mushroom soup into the onions until combined. Add the cooked ground beef back to the pan. Stir in frozen corn and black pepper to taste. Heat on medium until hot but not boiling. Stir in shredded Cheddar cheese until melted and incorporated. Pour the beef mixture into the prepared baking dish. Arrange Tater Tots in neat, even rows over the top(symmetry is non-negotiable). Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until tots are golden brown and crisp. Remove from oven and let rest for a few minutes before serving. Cook's Notes For richer flavor, make your own cream of mushroom soup with diced portobellos, cream, and seasonings. Using high-quality Cheddar and fresh vegetables elevates the dish. May also add additional frozen veggies such as green beans. Most importantly, it's hotdish, not a casserole. Read the original article on Allrecipes Getty NEED TO KNOW Police in England have launched an investigation following the death of a 17-year-old girl who was discovered dead the day after she was reported missing Police have not released her full name but believe it is a teen named Catherine A 55-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder Police in England have launched an investigation following the death of a 17-year-old girl who was discovered deceased the day after being reported missing. The teenager was discovered at an address on Whalley Close in the town of Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester at about 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21, according to a Greater Manchester Police press release. Despite the best efforts of emergency service workers, the girl sadly died at the scene, per the release. Police have not released her full name but believe it is a teen named Catherine, who was reported missing on Saturday, Sept. 20. Her next of kin was notified and officers are supporting them, according to the release. The Greater Manchester Police also announced the arrest of a 55-year-old man, who has yet to be identified, on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody. 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. Police said the teens cause of death remains unclear and detectives are keeping an open mind, according to the release. Firstly, our thoughts are with the family and friends of the young person who has tragically lost their life, who we sadly believe was missing Catherine, Detective Chief Inspector Anna Barker said. Although we have a man in custody, our investigation team is keeping an open mind and are following several lines of enquiry. Read the original article on People Recipe photo: Sara Haas. EatingWell design. Key Points Dijon mustard works as an emulsifier, helping the cheese sauce in mac and cheese stay smooth and creamy. Its tangy flavor balances rich dairy and starch, adding brightness that makes cheesy dishes more flavorful and satisfying. For the best results, whisk mustard in with the milk, taste often and adjust seasonings to your liking. My mother enjoyed cooking and had a nice selection of cookbooks, but she juggled multiple jobs and didnt have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. Often, this meant that shed pop something simple into the oven, disappear to her home office and re-emerge in the kitchen once the timer went off. Sometimes the food wasnt done yet. Sometimes, it was a little extra crispy. Sometimes it was just right. By the time I was a teenager, Id taught myself to follow recipes using her collection of international cookbooks and helped out by making simple meals for our family of five. On mac and cheese night, though, my mom would always be the one stirring up the pot of gooey Mornay sauce, combining flour, butter, warm milk and shredded cheese into a delicious coating for slippery elbow noodles. And she always added one special ingredient to the mix: Dijon mustard. Why Dijon Mustard? There are plenty of ingredients that can lend acidity to dishes, including citrus juices, vinegar, tomato and fermented dairy products, such as yogurt and buttermilk. However, Dijon mustardwhich is made with ground seeds from mustard plants blended with either white wine vinegar or verjus, the juice of unripe grapeshas a culinary property that those others dont: its an emulsifier. Emulsifiers contain molecules that bond to water on one side and fat on the other, which means they can help pull together sauces that otherwise might separate. Culinary emulsifiers include egg yolk and mustard and also items that are more likely to be found in manufacturing plants than in your cupboard, such as lecithin, carrageenan and guar gum. Dijon mustards properties as an emulsifier are what make it such a key pantry ingredient. When Do You Blend It In? Mornay sauce, the French name for a creamy cheese sauce, is made by mixing up rouxa combo of fat and flour thats used for thickening sauces and stewsand adding milk and grated cheese. Because vigorous stirring activates the emulsifying properties of mustard, my mom added it to the sauce along with the milk, which she whisked into the hot flour and butter in a steady stream. Once the sauce was thick and lump-free, shed gently stir in the cheese. How Does It Taste? In addition to its useful chemical properties, Dijon mustard simply tastes wonderful, with a hint of heat from the mustard seed and acidity from the vinegar. Because mac and cheese contains a lot of dairy and starch, these qualities of mustard help brighten the flavor and cut through the richness, making the dish extra mouthwatering. The truth is, I like a little more acidity in my cheese sauce than mom did, so cooks should adjust the amount of mustard used to suit their preferences. Start with a teaspoonful, and keep whisking in mustard until you notice that the flavor has gotten more complex and the tartness is detectable. Remember: youll be adding the cheese after, so youll probably need to make some final flavor adjustments once its melted. What Kind of Cheese Did Mom Use? Although mustard was a constant in my moms macaroni and cheese sauce, shed vary the type of cheese depending on her mood and what we had in the house. Most of the time, extra-sharp Cheddar was her go-to, but shed sometimes use super-melty Alpine-style fromages such as Gruyere or raclette. All of these work well with her secret ingredient. Shed dollop this same sauce on other dishes, including a kielbasa, cabbage and potato combo that we ate regularly. In that case, she didnt toss the ingredients with the sauce but put it on the table for us to spoon over the top. Some Great Dijon Mustard Brands Although Grey Poupon is well known thanks to its memorable commercials, the American version of the mustard isnt the same as the European version and uses additional ingredients. Other brands that can be found throughout the US but are more true to the French style include Maille, Fallot and Pommery. I find that a brand with minimal ingredients works best in mac and cheese. My Take on Moms Mac Like my mom, I always mix Dijon mustard into my macaroni and cheese. For one thing, I love the way it thickens the sauce and binds it. For another, I almost always season food with both salt and acidic ingredients, and for this dish, mustard is my tangy mix-in of choice. In addition to the aforementioned ingredients, I frequently add smoked paprika to my cheese sauces, along with freshly ground white or black pepper. Mom used a restrained hand with the grated cheeseprobably because she was watching the budgetbut I use lots and lots of grated, extra-sharp Cheddar or the same mix of Swiss cheeses that she liked. Ive also made a variation that includes pepper Jack cheese and hot sauce. The Bottom Line To make a creamy, emulsified cheese sauce with great flavor for your mac and cheese, whisk in a couple teaspoons of Dijon mustard when youre adding the milk to the roux and before you stir in the cheese. For the best flavor, find a French mustard brand that has few ingredients. Taste several times as you make the sauce, and add extra mustard, salt and seasonings at the end of cooking to ensure that the mac and cheese is as delicious as can be. Read the original article on EatingWell September 22, 2025: The Chinese government has instructed the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to develop a force system that can achieve strategic political aims short of war. In other words, be so strong and cunning that the PLA can convince an opponent to either comply or surrender to Beijings demands. The PLA now uses the term strategic weishe. According to a recent Marine Corps University publication, the direction to achieve strategic weishe comes from guidance issued during the Chinese Communist Partys 20th Party Congress (2022). Achieving strategic weishe entails fielding high-quality combat forces and linking (or integrating) all domains of warfare (for example, propaganda, media war linked to economic coercion, and, presumably, staging combat forces). Weishe can be translated as deterrence or coercion, depending on context. A National Defense University publication states that the PLA Encyclopedia uses the term weishe zhanlue, which translates as strategy of deterrence. The PLA Encyclopedia also says this about weishe zhanlue: the display of military power, or the threat of use of military power, in order to compel an opponent to submit. According to a U.S. study referenced by Marine Corps University, the goal of strategic weishe is to prevent an adversary from taking a certain action or set of actions (deterring an adversary from taking an action) with the goal of compelling compliance without going to war. Strategic weishe can be applied through a spectrum of intensity. The original study identifies five main modern domains of weishe: nuclear, conventional, space, information, and peoples war. However, winning in those types and domains of warfare has been Beijings intent since the 1970s. Chinese anti-aircraft carrier ballistic missiles are already in the PLAs arsenal. They exist to threaten U.S. aircraft carriers and keep the carrier battle groups in the Eastern Pacific while the PLA invades Taiwan or Taiwan just capitulates? It appears Communist Chinas leaders mean something more than hybrid warfare and keeping U.S. carriers away from the Western Pacific. Achieving strategic weishe will give Beijing the ability to deter, compel, and coerce in every dimension of conflict, including economic dominance. But that isnt a new idea. Thats the DIME concept of integrating the elements of powerdiplomacy, intelligence-information, military, and economic power. Still, several U.S. analysts believe Chinese strategists mean something more than hybrid war and DIME-type coordination. China seeks a very high level of integration of all forms of power using advanced weaponry integrated with advanced communication, detailed and pervasive intelligence gathering, and other cyber technologies. Why not include targeted assassination of key adversary leaders? The Israelis pulled that off against Hezbollahs leadership with the Grim Beeper operation and its elimination of key Iranian military leaders at the beginning of the 12-Day War. Is Israel already employing strategic weishe? New technology, new economic and social conditions. Yet there is something classically Chinese about strategic weishe. The goal is to create a very Sun Tzu situation whereparaphrasing General Sunthe general does not resort to war but achieves his objectives by demonstrating will and capability. Thorough preparation for combat avoids combat because the opponent knows he will be crushed. Here is one translation of the quote: The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. In other words, General Sun argues for victorious preparation. It appears the 20th Party Congress wants the PLA to do just that in the 21st century. (AB) A large screen displays Palestinian and Israeli flags and a dove on the Eiffel Tower. (Christophe Ena/AP) France and Saudi Arabia are convening world leaders at the United Nations in hopes of rallying support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Several countries are expected to join the growing list of nations that recognize a Palestinian state during the summit. Israel and the United States are boycotting the event. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | UK joins Australia and Canada in recognizing Palestinian state despite opposition from US and Israel On Sunday, the United Kingdom formally recognized the state of Palestine, saying the move aims to inject momentum into peace discussions and revive the possibility of a two-state solution. We must channel our efforts, united together in hope, behind the peaceful future that we want to see: the release of the hostages, an end to the violence, an end to the suffering and a shift back towards a two-state solution as the best hope for peace and security for all sides," U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. Israel condemned the decision, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying it will reward terrorists. The U.S. has voiced similar criticism. Britain denies that recognition will benefit Hamas and says no future Palestinian government should include the group. Officials also said the U.K. is considering fresh sanctions against Hamas members. RELATED STORY | Hamas official says group would lay down its weapons if a 2-state solution is implemented Australia, Canada and Portugal have also formally recognized a Palestinian state. Additional countries are expected to announce recognition at the U.N. on Monday. 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. The family of a man who was shot dead at a New Hampshire country club on Saturday has said he "took a bullet for his family" and lost his life protecting his wife and daughter. Robert Steven DeCesare, 59, was fatally shot at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua, 45 minutes northwest of Boston, when former employee Hunter Nadeau, 23, opened fire during a wedding celebration. Evie O'Rourke, of Salem, New Hampshire, told NBC Boston: "He turned around and stood up and took a bullet for his family. And I'm very proud of him." "They saw the guy come in and shoot the manager and another couple of shots, then Rob stood up, turned around the guy was right there," she said. "He went down and they saw his legs under the table and blood... and they had to run for their life." Witnesses described seeing someone hit the suspect with a chair, although it's unclear whether that was DeCesare. Robert DeCesare Jr. (via Facebook) Charlene DeCesare, DeCesare's widow, told the Associated Press in an email: "Our lives are forever changed in one moment that would be senseless except for the belief that Rob was trying to protect me and my daughter, and maybe others there too. In our hearts, hes a hero." DeCesare was having dinner at the club to discuss his daughters forthcoming wedding. Charlene DeCesare said she and her daughter were closest to the shooter when he walked into the room and appeared to target a restaurant employee her husband "got caught in the fire trying to protect us," she said. The daughter's wedding was scheduled for November. Shell be getting married without her dad. He was a great guy, an awesome husband, hard worker, a great son, ORourke told NBC Boston. Police said the attack lasted under a minute before the alleged shooter threatened other guests, left the building and was arrested. Nadeau was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and is expected to be arraigned on Monday. It is not clear whether the suspect has legal representation. The autopsy of DeCesare is also scheduled for Monday. Two other people were shot in the attack and Nadeau will likely face more charges related to the other victims, police said. Police have yet to announce a motive for the shooting nor have they confirmed witness reports that the suspect shouted "Free Palestine" during the attack. On these reports, DeCesare told the AP that people should "beware the speculation and utter nonsense that is being posted about what happened and why" which was "only making it harder for everyone involved, including the police who are trying to do their job." The owner of the Sky Meadow Country Club, Rob Parsons, said in a statement Sunday that DeCesare was a "hero" and said he was profoundly grateful for the courageous acts of patrons and employees who acted to stop further tragedy. "This was the heinous act of a coward who will be held to account for what he did," Parsons said of the alleged perpetrator. Parsons also said that the two people who were shot, one guest and one employee, were recovering. New York State Police (NYSP) New York State Police (NYSP) This story has been updated. A New York State Police trooper was arrested after a series of off-duty crashes in Westchester County, authorities said. The incident happened on Sunday, Sept., 21 just before 5 p.m. in Cortlandt, when troopers responded to a reported hit-and-run crash near Roa Hook Road and Route 9, New York State Police announced on Monday, Sept. 22. According to investigators, a 2021 Toyota SUV hit another car stopped at a red light and left the scene. Witnesses told police the SUV continued south in the wrong lane on Route 9, striking additional vehicles before stopping at a home in Ossining, authorities said. Troopers identified the driver as Trooper Jennifer Alvarez. Police said she showed signs of intoxication and failed field sobriety tests. Alvarez was arrested for driving while intoxicated and taken to State Police Cortlandt for processing. She was issued a ticket to appear in Cortlandt Town Court on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 4 p.m., and released to a third party. No injuries were reported in the crashes. State Police said an internal investigation is underway and appropriate administrative action will be taken "in accordance with Department policy." Editor's Note: This article mistakenly identified Jennifer Alvarez as a New York State Police public information officer and has been updated for accuracy. A different trooper named Jennifer Alvarez was involved in the crash. Drones over Poland. Fighter jets above Estonia. Surveillance planes over the Baltic Sea. To U.S. allies in Europe, the pattern is unmistakable: A deliberate campaign of escalation from the Kremlin, designed to probe NATOs defenses and political resolve. The question hanging over an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday is how exactly the alliance will respond. As NATO struggles to turn alarm into action, officials and analysts urged a more forceful response and warned that hesitation risks emboldening Russian President Vladimir Putin. But questions about U.S. support, escalation risks and what this growing threat means for Ukraine remain unresolved. Estonia, which called for the Security Council meeting after three Russian MiG-31 fighter aircraft entered its airspace for 12 minutes without permission last week, pressed members to address what it described as a blatant, reckless, and flagrant violation of NATO airspace and Russias repeated violations of international law. Russias actions undermine principles vital to the security of all U.N. member states, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Sunday on X. Claims that Russia violated Estonian airspace were "baseless" and "aimed at escalating tensions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday, adding that Russia operated within international regulations. So far, NATOs response has largely been limited to meeting rooms as Moscow's probing exposes a contrast between European leaders urgent calls for action and President Donald Trumps more muted response. A Russian MiG-31 fighter jet that took part in the violation of Estonian airspace. (Swedish Armed Forces / via Reuters) Asked by reporters Sunday whether Washington would come to the defense of Poland and the Baltic states if Russia attacks, Trump said: "Yeah I would." And on Monday Mike Walz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said at Security Council meeting that the events left the impression either Russia wants to escalate or doesnt have full control of its fighter planes and drones. Either scenario, he said, was very disconcerting. The U.S. will defend every inch of NATO territory, he said, adding that he expected Russia to seek ways to de escalate, not risk expansion. At the same meeting, Britains foreign minister, Yvette Cooper, also warned that Russias incursions into NATO territory risked triggering an armed conflict. Your reckless actions risk direct armed confrontation between NATO and Russia. Our alliance is defensive, but be under no illusion: We stand ready to defend NATOs skies and NATOs territory, she said. If we need to confront planes operating in NATO space without permission then we will do so. That drew an immediate rebuke from Moscow, which dismissed Europes concerns as groundless and hysterical. NATO's response to this ratcheting Russian activity amounts to the launch of operation "Eastern Sentry" earlier this month to bolster the defense of Europes eastern flank in response to a series of Russian drone incursions over Poland. After Germany and Sweden scrambled fighter jets Sunday to intercept and track a Russian surveillance plane flying unidentified over the Baltic Sea, one regional leader said Russia was not just testing NATOs response, but was also aiming to reduce support for Ukraine by compelling countries to redirect resources. Calibrating how to respond to Russia was not easy, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said on social media, adding that Russia was doing just enough not to cross a red line. European confidence about backing from Washington has been shaken by Ukraine, where Trump has so far stopped short of imposing his promised punishment of further sanctions on the Kremlin for refusing peace talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he was preparing for an intense week at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, where he hopes to build support for efforts to stop Russias invasion. Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, said in a post on Telegram on Monday that he spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the leadup to an "important meeting" between Zelenskyy and Trump. "We discussed the preparation of security guarantees for Ukraine, as well as the expansion of cooperation in the military, defense, and economic spheres," he wrote in the post. Ukraine has also submitted a request to attend the Security Council meeting and present its position. The aftermath of a Russian missile attack Saturday in Dnipro, Ukraine. (Denys Poliakov / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) But Europe's security will require decisive action, and that will not happen at a Security Council meeting, for the very simple reason that Russia has a veto on the council, said Keir Giles, a senior fellow at Chatham House, a London-based think tank Unable to rely on Trumps shifting position on Russia, Giles told NBC News, the "coalition of the willing" European nations that say they are prepared to underwrite security guarantees for Ukraine must become the coalition of the able and actually doing something. Poland will not hesitate to shoot down objects that violate its airspace and pose a threat, its prime minister said Monday. But, he said, his country would take a more cautious approach when dealing with situations that are less clear-cut, and would need to know it had its allies' support. "You really need to think twice before deciding on actions that could trigger a very acute phase of conflict, Donald Tusk told a news conference. President Donald Trump met with Russian President Putin in Alaska, but his peace push in Ukraine has stalled. (Kevin Lamarque / Reuters) Hesitation, analysts said, risks sending a dangerous signal. Europe and NATO have to show the will to respond forcefully to Russia, said Moritz Brake, a senior fellow at the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies. Russia is trying to gauge whether its possible to single out individual elements of the alliance, he said in a phone interview. A forceful approach, Brake argued, would involve not just intercepting Russian aircraft, but also sending manned fighter jets that could shoot Russian jets down at any minute. As an example, he pointed to 2015, when NATO member Turkey shot down a Russian warplane seconds after it violated the countrys airspace near the Syrian border. Moscow did not retaliate militarily. Russia didnt declare war on Turkey, Brake said. Wavering is much more dangerous than a forceful approach. dogs A South African pastors vision that Jesus will return to Earth this week and bring Christian believers to heaven, also known as the rapture, has sent social media into a frenzy, with many worried about what will happen to their fur babies should the prediction come true. The rapture is upon us, whether you are ready or not, pastor Joshua Mhlakela said in an interview with CettwinzTV. Specifically, the pastor claims Jesus told him in his dream that he will come on Sept. 23 and 24, which happen to be the dates of this years Rosh Hashanah, which is the New Year in Judaism. If youre unfamiliar, the rapture in Christianity is the belief that good Christ-loving folks of Earth both living and dead will ascend to heaven with Jesus Christ. Many people are certain the rapture will take place this week. GrayFrog stock.adobe.com People have taken this belief and run with it on social media, which has started the trend of #RaptureTok. In the hundreds of videos with that tag on TikTok, youll discover everything from rapture tips to people wondering if they can take their dogs with them if theyre the chosen ones. Many pet owners are begging for their fur babies to be protected if this happens. MeganBetteridge stock.adobe.com One womans video with over 200,000 views is making light of it all by referencing another jokesters videos on the topic. Hes a riot, hes making this whole journey so fun. She went on to explain that in one of his videos, he mentions how theres an angel assigned to each person when they get raptured. Hes like, I wonder if our pets get raptured too. He goes, Could you imagine the angel thats assigned the one little Chihuahua? Theyre going up 1,000 miles per hour,' she said, giggling. But the topic of dogs and pets in general being involved in the rapture is one that many are concerned but hopeful about. I ask God all the time to please take my dogs when were raptured, someone wrote in the comment section of that video. I have prayed for my fur babies to be raptured with me, agreed someone else. They replied, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved you and your household. My household includes my fur babies, a hopeful commenter wrote, quoting scripture. While there are plenty of serious videos on the topic, of course, there are many skeptics making light of the situation, dogs aside. One video posted under #RaptureTok showed two people hysterically laughing with overlay text that read: I am so petty I am going to lay out a couple of outfits in my driveway on sept 24th so when my neighbor walks his dog he he will think me and my dog made it to heaven for the rapture and they didnt. Another person amusingly showed how hell act on rapture day, grabbing his dog and motioning his hands for God to take them. Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) presides over a subcommittee hearing hearing about the unprecedented number of nationwide judicial injunctions against the Trump Administration in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on June 03, 2025 in Washington, DC. Credit - Chip Somodevilla2025 Getty Images A small but vocal group of Republicans is openly challenging the Trump Administrations efforts to pressure media companies, denouncing what they see as a threat to press freedom following the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. President Donald Trump celebrated ABCs decision to cancel the late-night show over the hosts comments regarding the fatal shooting of far-right activist Charlie Kirk, calling it Great News for America and deriding Kimmels talent and ratings. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr suggested that ABCs broadcast license could be revoked, raising concerns over potential government overreach into the medias independence and editorial decisions. I think it is unbelievably dangerous for government to put itself in the position of saying, Were going to decide what speech we like and what we dont, and were going to threaten to take you off air if we dont like what youre saying, said Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas on Friday. Read more: From Firing Threats to Epstein Mentions, Heres a Look at the Fraught History Between Trump and Kimmel While stopping short of offering full support to Kimmel, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska joined Cruz in publicly rebuking the FCC, in a rare instance of intra-party pushback. They have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with an obligation to operate in the public interest, Carr told Fox News Wednesday night. We are in the midst of a massive shift in dynamics in the media ecosystem for lots of reasons, again, including the permission structure that President Trumps election has provided, Carr told CNBC Thursday. And I would simply say were not done yet with seeing the consequences of that. Read more: Jimmy Fallon Is Playing It Safe. He Might Be Cooked Anyway The second term of the Trump Administration has been marked by numerous lawsuits against the press, including a recent defamation lawsuit against the New York Times that was dismissed on Friday. This July, CBS cancelled The Late Show with Stephen Colbertsoon after the late night hosts criticized parent company Paramounts $16 million settlement with Trump over a 60 Minutes interview. The settlement coincided with the companys application for a merger between Skydance and Paramount, which had to be approved by the FCC. These Republican members of Congressas well as a member of Trump's Administrationhave spoken out amid the FCC's actions: Sen. Ted Cruz Cruz took to his podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz, to sharply criticize the FCC Chair, comparing the regulators approach to the 1990 mob film Goodfellas. The Senator said that while he was pleased that Kimmel wasat least temporarily removed from airthe government has no place in dictating what the media says. I hate what Jimmy Kimmel said. I am thrilled that he was fired, Cruz said. But let me tell you: If the government gets in the business of saying, We dont like what you, the media, have said. Were going to ban you from the airwaves if you dont say what we like, that will end up bad for conservatives. Going down this road, there will come a time when a Democrat wins again wins the White House they will silence us, he added. They will use this power, and they will use it ruthlessly. And that is dangerous. Sen. Rand Paul In an interview with NBCs Meet the Press, Paul said that Carrs threats were absolutely inappropriate. "Brendan Carr's got no business weighing in on this, but people have to also realize that despicable comments, you have the right to say them, but you don't have the right to employment," Paul added. Still, the Senator pointed to the networks need to make decisions that allow them to continue to sell commercials, sponsorships, and more. You can be fired for not being popular." Rep. Don Bacon Bacon, who is retiring from Congress next year, has also been an outspoken critic of the FCCs recent actions. Bacon characterized ABCs decision to indefinitely cancel Kimmel as a business decision. But, the lawmaker said, the threats made by Carr were a mistake. To threaten [the] media and say youre going to pull their license, thats not what Americas about, Bacon told CNN. We do have freedom of speech, freedom of the press. We should, we should defend that. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard When Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard took the stage at Kirks memorial in Arizona on Sunday, the federal official made a plea for the protection of free speech nationwide, though she did not directly mention the attacks against Kimmel. Free speech is the foundation of our democratic republic. We must protect it at all costs, because without it, well be lost. Charlie knew this. He lived it, Gabbard said. History shows this dark pattern: when ideas cannot withstand scrutinywhether its the ideology of religious or political fanaticstheir defenders turn to intimidation, censorship, and violence. They kill and terrorize their opponents and the truth into silence. Contact us at letters@time.com. As President Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. prepared to announce that they believe the use of acetaminophen the active ingredient in Tylenol by pregnant women may be linked to autism in children, many top medical experts in the field stressed that scientific evidence does not support such a claim. The administration's announcement came after Kennedy said in April that HHS would undertake a "massive testing and research effort" to determine the cause of autism. Kennedy at the time said the plan was to release a comprehensive report in September. However, National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said later that month the findings could take up to a year. Kennedy has in the past made the unfounded claim that autism is a "preventable disease," drawing heavy criticism from many medical experts, who say evidence shows there are multiple factors, including genetics, that play a role. Plans for the announcement were first reported by the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post. What does Tylenol maker Kenvue say about autism? In response to the WSJ report on Sept. 5, Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol whose active ingredient is acetaminophen said: "We have continuously evaluated the science and continue to believe there is no causal link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism. To date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and leading medical organizations agree on the safety of acetaminophen, its use during pregnancy, and the information provided on the label." Kenvue added, "We appreciate the Secretary acknowledging media coverage on the upcoming HHS report is 'nothing more than speculation.'" In another statement on Sept. 21, the company said: "We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers. Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women as needed throughout their entire pregnancy. Without it, women face dangerous choices: suffer through conditions like fever that are potentially harmful to both mom and baby or use riskier alternatives. The facts are that over a decade of rigorous research, endorsed by leading medical professionals and global health regulators, confirms there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism. We stand with the many public health and medical professionals who have reviewed this science and agree. We will continue to explore all options to protect the health interests of American women and children." What do medical experts say? The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said in a statement provided to CBS News that "there is no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between the prudent use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and fetal developmental issues." "Neurodevelopmental disorders, in particular, are multifactorial and very difficult to associate with a singular cause," ACOG said. "Pregnant patients should not be frightened away from the many benefits of acetaminophen, which is safe and one of the few options pregnant people have for pain relief." Dr. Christopher Zahn, ACOG's chief of clinical practice, said, "Pregnant patients should not be frightened away from the many benefits of acetaminophen, which is safe and one of the few options pregnant people have for pain relief." "If you have a high fever during pregnancy, that can cause neurodevelopment issues in the baby, so you don't want to let that fever go untreated," said Dr. Celine Goudner, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News. She said pregnant women should talk with their OB-GYN, especially if they're needing it frequently, and use the lowest effective dose for the shortest time. While some research suggested there could be a possible association between acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders, those studies involved relatively small groups and did not prove a link. Larger and more robust studies have found no connection between acetaminophen and autism. "I spoke this afternoon to a researcher who was part of a major study published just last year that followed 2.5 million children in Sweden over 25 years," CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook said after the WSJ report came out. "He said use of acetaminophen ... was not associated with an increased risk of autism in children." LaPook said he is looking forward to reading the upcoming report pledged by Kennedy, "especially the evidence behind any conclusions and recommendations." Autism has become more prevalent in children born in the U.S. over the past 25 years, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But there is no scientific consensus on the reasons why. Research shows the causes of autism "are complex," Dr. Christine Ladd-Acosta, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the vice director for the Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, told CBS News in an interview. "There have been a few dozen studies looking at Tylenol and whether use during pregnancy is associated with risk of autism in those women's children, and the evidence has been really kind of conflicting," Ladd-Acosta said. "Some studies have shown no association. Some have shown a positive association. Some have shown negative associations. And I think part of that is because it's really hard to tease apart ... whether it's the medication itself that is influencing autism risk in the child, or if it has to do with the condition ... the mother is using the medicine to treat that is the thing that is important in autism risk." Ladd-Acosta noted that the dosage, the length of time that pregnant women take Tylenol, and the "specific condition" they are taking it for are all factors that have been considered when attempting to determine if there is a potential association between the medication and autism. "There have been some associations, but there has been no conclusive evidence I've seen to show that Tylenol itself causes autism definitively," Ladd-Acosta said. Trump blasts U.N. during General Assembly address Trump administration ending food insecurity report Where Zelenskyy and Trump stand after meeting at U.N. General Assembly USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. When older Americans contemplate retirement, and they consider whether to retire in another state, the regional costs of senior care might not cross their minds. Yet, more than 80% of Americans will need long-term care at some point, according to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Long-term care delivers help with everyday activities, like dressing and eating. A recent report from Caring.com, the senior care platform, ranks and rates states on affordability of assisted living, nursing homes and other metrics of long-term care. The costs of senior care vary dramatically from one state to another. Assisted living costs $52,200 a year in South Dakota, on average, but $107,460 in Connecticut. A private nursing-home room costs $85,045 in Texas, $205,130 in Oregon. Long-term care costs can be staggering Wherever you retire, long-term care costs can be staggering. Assisted living cost $5,900 a month in 2024, on average, according to CareScout, a long-term care network. A private room in a nursing home averaged $10,646 a month. Many Americans dont know those costs, and many assume they wont have to pay them. Most Americans wrongly believe Medicare covers long-term care, according to research by Nationwide. I think the first thing theyre surprised about is that Medicare doesnt pay for it, said Doug Robertson, senior director of government affairs at Right at Home, an in-home care provider. The sticker shock is something they dont plan for, and its sudden. Much of the data in the Caring.com report comes from CareScout, which publishes median prices by state for long-term care. Here are a few standouts: The least expensive state for assisted living is South Dakota, with annual costs of $52,200. Mississippi and Alabama rank second and third. Texas has the lowest costs for a private room in a nursing home, $85,045 a year. Missouri and Oklahoma rank second and third. Mississippi is the most affordable state for senior care The Caring.com analysis identifies Mississippi as the most affordable state overall for senior care, followed by Texas and Arkansas. The least affordable states: Hawaii, followed by Connecticut and Rhode Island. Different states definitely have different cost levels, said Susann Crawford, senior vice president of sales at Caring.com. I dont think anybody back in the 50s thought they would be spending $13,000 a month for assisted living, or how to prepare for that. Of course, when it comes to senior care, cost isnt the only quality to consider. AARP published a State Scorecard on long-term care in 2023, rating states not just on affordability but also on access, consumer choice, safety and quality, among other factors. The AARP Scorecard identified the top-tier states as Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Washington state, along with the District of Columbia. None of them rank near the top in the Caring.com report, which considers only affordability. I think quality is a huge aspect here, said Lindsay Theodore, a certified financial planner at T. Rowe Price and coauthor of another recent report on long-term care. Moving to a lower-cost state or a lower-tax state, you have to think about, for the affordability, what are you giving up? she said. Retirement experts urge older Americans to shop around for long-term care. The 10 most affordable states for senior care Here are profiles of the 10 most affordable states for senior care, according to Caring.com: Mississippi. Caring.com awards Mississippi a score of 8.98 out of 10 for affordability. The state has the second-lowest annual cost for assisted living, $55,343, behind South Dakota. Mississippi also ranks second (in a tie with Alabama) for the costs of a full-time home health aide, at $57,200 a year. Texas. Texas earns a score of 8.41 out of 10. The state offers the lowest median cost for a private room in a nursing home, $85,045 a year, half the annual cost of New York or California. Texas also spends generously on Medicaid, $9,637 a year per enrollee. Arkansas. With a score of 8.21, Arkansas offers assisted living at an annual cost of $56,688, and home health aides at $59,488, both relatively affordable. Louisiana. This state earns a score of 8.16. Louisiana has the most affordable home health aides of any state, with a median annual cost of $50,336. And those costs declined in 2024. Alabama. Score: 7.59. Alabama ranks high among states for affordable home health aides, with a median annual cost of $57,200. Assisted living costs average $54,870 a year. Missouri. Score: 7.58. This state ranks second-lowest for the annual cost of a private room in a nursing home, $85,775. Assisted living costs $61,800 a year. Kansas. Score: 7.42. Medicaid spending per enrollee is relatively generous at $10,089 per enrollee. Assisted living costs $71,400 a year. Oklahoma. Score: 6.89. Assisted living costs only $57,870 a year, one of the lowest rates in the nation. A private room in a nursing home averages $91,250, also relatively low. Wyoming. Score: 6.82. Assisted living costs a mere $56,400 a year. Home health aides average $74,360 a year. Georgia. Score: 6.81. Assisted living costs $59,280 a year, and home health aides cost $66,352. The 10 least affordable states for senior care And here are the 10 least affordable states for senior care: Hawaii. A private room in a Hawaii nursing home will run you $196,370. Connecticut. Assisted living in Connecticut costs a median $107,460 a year. Rhode Island. Home health aides in Rhode Island average $96,096 a year. Maine. Assisted living in Maine costs $95,850 a year. Massachusetts. Assisted living costs average $108,696 a year. Oregon. A private nursing-home room in Oregon costs $205,130 a year. California. Assisted living in California costs a median $88,200 a year. Washington. Home health aides in Washington average $96,096 annually. New Hampshire. A private room in a nursing home in this state costs $157,680 a year. Colorado. Home health aides in Colorado average $96,096 a year. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Senior care is more affordable in these states Using DNA and genetic genealogy, investigators have identified remains found in western Oregon nearly 49 years ago as a missing 21-year-old woman last seen at a shopping mall. The remains have been identified as Marion Vinetta Nagle McWhorter, a 21-year-old Native American woman last seen in 1974 at a mall in Tigard. The skeletal remains were found on July 24, 1976, in Wolf Creek; its near Swamp Mountain in Linn County, about 110 miles southeast of where McWhorter was last seen, Oregon State Police said in a news release. Although investigators and later genealogists tried to find out who the remains belonged to, it wasnt until April 2025 that they got a break in the case. Someone uploaded their genetic profile to the Family Tree DNA database, allowing genealogists to look deeper into the unidentified womans family tree. In June, the remains were positively identified as McWhorter. According to Oregon State Police, the Linn County Sheriffs Office is working to find out how she died. USA TODAY has contacted the office for updates. A childhood photo of Marion Vinetta Nagle McWhorter, who was last seen at a Tigard shopping mall in 1974. She was just 21 years old when she went missing. Remains found a few years later in 1976 in Linn County, Oregon were later identified as those of McWhorter. Heres how investigators identified McWhorter, and more on the DNA upload that made her identification possible. Passages 2025: Those weve lost through the year Italian Fashion designer Giorgio Armani poses before the inauguration of his shop in the Diagonal avenue of Barcelona, on September 16, 2003. Giorgio Armani, the famed Italian fashion designer who achieved elegance and timelessness through simplicity, has died. He was 91. Armani "worked until his final days," the Armani Group said in a statement Thursday, Sept. 4, announcing his death. Investigators only had skeletal remains, clothing to go on when working the case Oregon police said it was a moss hunter who found the remains in July 1976. The moss hunter first found a skull with several teeth, and let police know. The hunter then took Linn County Sheriffs Office investigators to the site, where they found: More skeletal remains A clog-style shoe A fraying fringed leather coat A leather belt with Native American-style beadwork Two metal rings A pair of degraded Levis jeans Investigators kept the items as evidence, Oregon State Police said. The skeletal remains were transferred to the Oregon State Medical Examiners Office, where a pathologist and odontologist examined the remains. Because there was a limited number of remains found, the examinations came back undetermined. The odontologist who conducted the dental examination noted several restorations, police said. Biological profile created 34 years later In 2010, 34 years after the remains were found, the Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History completed an anthropology report after examining the remains, Oregon State Police said. A biological profile gave investigators demographic information on the individual, noting that she was likely a white female under 35 years old when she died. Still, she remained unidentified. A National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) profile was created for her, and investigators also ran her DNA through the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which allows federal, state, and local laboratories to electronically compare DNA profiles, to no avail. Over the past two decades, the investigation has included: The creation of a potential forensic rendering of the decedents face based on cranial features. The creation of a clay model featuring different hairstyles and colors she may have worn to create an image people who knew her may recognize her. Grant money that allowed Parabon NanoLabs to create a DNA Snapshot Report, which uses genetic material to determine eye color, hair color, skin tone, and ancestry, predicting that the woman the remains belonged to was of European and Indigenous North American descent, had unfreckled, fair skin, brown eyes, and brown hair. A rendering of a woman whose remains were found on July 24, 1976 in Wolf Creek near Swamp Mountain in Linn County, Oregon. The remains were identified decades later as Marion Vinetta Nagle McWhorter. In April 2025, someone uploaded their genetic profile to the Family Tree DNA database, allowing investigators to look more into the unidentified womans family tree. Forensic scientists followed genetic leads and concluded that McWhorter was likely the unidentified woman. They were then able to connect with her sister, who gave them an oral swab for DNA comparison. In June, genetic evidence confirmed that the remains belonged to Marion Vinetta Nagle McWhorter. Woman said stranger offered her a ride in October 1974 According to her sister Valerie Nagle and police, McWhorter was born on Jan. 7, 1953. Her family told Oregon Live that she was the oldest of five children. She was escaping an abusive relationship when she disappeared, her sister told Oregon Live. In 1974, she hitchhiked from California. She had plans to travel to Seattle and at some point, Alaska, her sister told Oregon Live. On Oct. 26, 1974, she stopped in Tigard, where she used a pay phone to call her aunt near Washington Square Mall. McWhorter wanted to stay at her aunts home in Tigard, but her aunt was too busy to pick her up, Nagle, her sister, told Oregon Live. The last time her aunt spoke to her, McWhorter told her that a man in a white pickup truck offered to give her a ride, Oregon Live reported. She was never heard from again. Her sister wasnt sure if her parents ever filed a missing persons report, but said the family had no idea where to look for her. During her life, McWhorter had two daughters. She put one of the girls up for adoption when she was 16 and left her other daughter with her ex-husband, Oregon Live reported. According to her sister, she may have been going to Alaska to look for work, and their grandfather lived there at the time she disappeared. I always hoped to find her, Nagle told Oregon Live. Missing woman was one of many American Indian women who have disappeared According to McWhorters younger sister, their mother was Alaska Native and a descendant of the Ahtna Athabascan people in the Copper River area in southeastern Alaska. Her sisters name came from one of her aunts who died in 1940 in an Alaskan American Indian boarding school. Research has shown high rates of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, according to Indian Affairs, a department within the U.S. Department of the Interior. Citing a 2016 study by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Indian Affairs reported that more than four in five or 84.3% of American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime. The agency added that 56.1% had experienced sexual violence, and more than 1.5 million American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime. In 2021, the U.S. Attorneys Office in the District of Oregon released a report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) that analyzed numbers of Native American individuals who were reported missing. An analysis found that among the missing or murdered connected to Oregon, there were: 11 missing Indigenous people (six females and five males) 8 murdered Indigenous people (five females and three males) The report noted that a major issue impacting these cases is the lack of consistent and current data. On Oct. 10, 2020, Savannas Act and the Not Invisible Act were signed into law to address rising numbers of missing and murdered Native American women in the United States. According to the report, Savannas Act requires the Offices of the United States Attorneys to report annual MMIP data. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Remains identified as missing woman Marion Vinetta Nagle McWhorter Eamonn M. McCormack - Getty Images A playful provocative stance and an awkward momentthat is how Simone Rocha briefly described her spring/summer 2026 collection in the show notes. The London-based designer, who is known for delicately ornate, transparent dresses and bejeweled adornments, has begun using her runways to examine childhood innocence as of late. If last season utilized nostalgia through herat times literalevocation of the elementary schoolyard tale The Tortoise and the Hare, then this season spotlighted the hopeful, transitory period between youth and young adulthood. In the notes, Rocha also made reference to the essay My Dress Rehearsal: or How Mrs. Clarke Taught Me How to Sew by Maureen Freely. The prose can be found in the photobook Entering the Masquerade: Girls from Eleven to Fourteen. A clunky, mandatory performance in which all girls must participatethat is what Rochas runway faces head-on. The opening look, a flower organza skirt laid over crinolines paired with a sequin bralette slipping off the shoulder, brought to mind the uneasiness of your first school dance, an event where many discover how to express themselves. The tiara and asymmetrical necklacealso seen throughout the collectionadded a sense of dress-up as one dips their proverbial toes into the waters of teendom. Natural insecurities were conveyed through subtle styling choices and gestures: shrugged shoulders, crossed arms clutching silk pillows (actually bags in disguise), disjointed makeup, and messy hairall presented by a youthful cast of models. However wobbly the journey, it wasnt all unsteady. More mature confidence could be found in a chartreuse dress with padded hips or the allover sequin gowns, which floated off the waist, using crinoline to redraw the boundaries of the body. There were also breakthrough moments of Rochas signature ethos. A cotton poplin dress covered in a floral vinyl, a pink quilted set with delicate black bows, and a satin gown with a graphic Icelandic poppy felt truer to the core of the brandthough slightly out of place among the other intentionally awkward ensembles. For now, Rocha seems to be drawing a multiseason narrative threada method she has used before, connecting collections that culminated in her Jean Paul Gaultier couture collaboration. First childhood, then youth; adulthood remains to complete the triptych. You Might Also Like The Philippines and neighboring Asian nations are bracing for Super Typhoon Ragasa, believed to be the years most powerful storm. According to the Associated Press, the Philippines classifies Ragasa as a super typhoon because its sustained winds are 115 miles per hour (mph) or higher. The source noted that, according to the countrys forecasters, Ragasa hit the small island of Panuitan on September 22 with sustained winds of 134 mph. It reportedly hit Panuitan Island on Monday in the mid-afternoon, local time. Several other sources reported that the typhoon hit the Philippines nearby Calayan Island. Super Typhoon Ragasa is also being called Typhoon Nando. PAGASA, the Philippines weather agency, reported that those in Cagayan, Batanes, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur should be warned about a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) within the next 24 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities. President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. confirmed evacuations and the Philippine governments monitoring of the situation on X September 22. A translation of his statement noted that as of the time of his post, heavy rain hadnt started, but there were strong winds. He also shared that the government was working to immediately address the needs of those in evacuation centers. In certain areas such as northern provinces and Manila the Philippines capital classes, government work, flights, fishing, and ferries have been suspended. What Else Is There To Know About Super Typhoon Ragasa? A typhoon is a tropical cyclone the same kind of storm system that is called a hurricane in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific. Ragasa is expected to venture and ravage throughout the South China Sea, reaching Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Guangdong province of southern mainland China. Shenzhen, located in Guangdong, is reportedly evacuating 400,000 people and temporarily suspending flights at its local airport. Additionally, according to the Hong Kong Free Press, Taiwan is anticipating that Ragasa will bring extremely torrential rain to its east side. Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific Airways reportedly expects around 500 flight cancellations due to Ragasa. The post Super Typhoon Ragasa Makes Landfall In The Philippines, Threatens Southeast Asia appeared first on Travel Noire. Gofundme The Figueroa brothers NEED TO KNOW A 19-year-old Arizona teen has been charged with murder after allegedly striking his 17-year-old brother with his car The road rage incident allegedly occurred in a Starbucks parking lot in Yuma on Sept. 13 at about 7:57 p.m. local time The older teen claimed he was trying to strike another man who was attacking his brother, but hit his sibling by mistake An Arizona teen is facing a first-degree murder charge after allegedly hitting his younger brother with his car. The Yuma Police Department and Yuma Fire Department were dispatched to an incident involving a motor vehicle collision in a Starbucks parking lot in Yuma on Sept. 13 at about 7:57 p.m. local time, according to a media release. A 17-year-old male who was later identified as Javier Figueroa was found unresponsive at the scene. He was transported to a nearby medical center, where he was pronounced dead, according to the release. The release stated that an initial investigation found that three individuals were involved in the incident Javier, his 19-year-old brother, Juan Figueroa, and a 36-year-old man whose name has not been publicly released. Booking records from the Yuma County Sheriffs Office (YCSO) state that Juan was booked on charges of first-degree murder, as well as attempted murder, on Sunday, Sept. 14, at 3:34 a.m. local time. He is being held on a bond of $500,000, and no court dates have been announced at this time. Gofundme Javier Figueroa Police said that a road rage incident allegedly developed in the parking lot, which led to a fight between 3 individuals. The fight allegedly resulted in Juan striking his younger brother with his car. The 36-year-old man involved in the incident was questioned by the police and subsequently released, according to the release. A probable cause statement obtained by KYMA stated that the 36-year-old man claimed the brothers tried to attack him with a knife during an altercation, and that he and Javier proceeded to get into a physical fight. The probable cause statement further stated that Juan claimed he was attempting to hit the 36-year-old man with his car to help protect his brother but accidentally hit his sibling instead, per KYMA. PEOPLE reached out to the Yuma police and fire departments for comment on Sunday, Sept. 21, but did not receive immediate responses. Getty Police car lights (stock image) The teens father, Joseph Figueroa, claimed that the other driver was chasing his children and said they called him while the incident was unfolding. I told them to hang up and call 911 because the police station was just down the street, but I guess they didnt make it, he said in a statement to local news outlet Fox 8. 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 grieving father added that his sons were inseparable, noting that Juan had just graduated from high school and Javier was about to turn 18. Im trying to bury one son and bail the other one. I need to know the truth, so I can help him, he said, while adding that he believes there is more to the story. A GoFundMe has been established by a family friend, with funds going directly to funeral expenses, memorial arrangements, and immediate support for Joseph and his family during this devastating time. Read the original article on People Simply Recipes / Getty Images Whether I'm roasting vegetables, pan-frying a piece of fish, or whisking together a salad dressing, nearly everything I cook uses olive oil. That means for meand countless othersa spoiled bottle can abruptly halt cooking plans. Is there a way to tell if your olive oil has gone bad? I recently spoke with Mary Mori, vice president of quality and product at California Olive Ranch, about how to assess whether your bottle has gone bad. "Sensory is key," she says. Is It Time To Toss Your Olive Oil? Scent and taste are essential to identifying whether olive oil is still good. "Rancid oil will smell and taste like crayons, Play-Doh, Band-Aids, or stale nuts," Mori explains. "This is surprisingly much easier for people to recognize than they think." You won't be able to tell the status of your olive oil based on how it looks, Mori warns, noting that it gets its color from the plant's chlorophyll, which is unrelated to taste. She goes on to say that texture is also an unreliable clue. "Some people may describe a rancid oil as 'greasy,' which really means it feels thinner than normal," she explains. "This isn't always easy to pick up and is not always tied to bad oils. Some defective oils won't have this texture." Simply Recipes / Getty Images Ways To Prevent Olive Oil From Spoiling Pay attention to the harvest date. Buy the freshest olive oil possiblecheck the harvest date on the bottle to ensure it's less than 2 years old. "Oils from southern hemisphere countries (Argentina, Chile, Australia) are typically harvested April through July, while oils from the northern hemisphere (California, Italy, Spain) are harvested October through January. Look for fresher harvest oils in the months following those seasons," Mori says. Buy the right size for your needs. "You shouldn't use the same bottle for more than two to three months," Mori cautions. "If you can't finish the amount you purchase in that time frame, buy a smaller container." Choose the correct container: To protect from light damage, opt for oil containers made from dark-colored glass or plastic. Try to avoid exposing the oil to as little oxygen as possible, which means using cork or stoppers, or switching the cap to a pourable spout. Be mindful of heat: "Keep the oil away from direct heat," warns Mori. "Being too close to the stove, where heat radiates often, will slowly degrade the oil." Can't get enough olive oil talk? Read Mori's tips on how to properly store olive oil and learn the difference between extra-virgin olive oil and regular olive oil. Read the original article on Simply Recipes Protesters enter Central Station during clashes with police after the strike march in support of Palestine, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Marco Ottico/Lapresse via AP) ROME (AP) Thousands of protesters and strikers calling for solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza took to the streets in Italy on Monday, with some storming Milans central train station and clashing violently with police. Italys grassroots unions, which represent hundreds of thousands of people ranging from schoolteachers to metalworkers, called for a 24-hour general strike in both public and private sectors, including public transportation, trains, schools and ports. The strike caused disruptions across the country, with long delays for national trains and limited public transport in major cities, including Rome. In Milan, tensions escalated when dozens of protesters dressed in black and armed with batons tried to smash the main entrance of the citys central train station, throwing smoke bombs, bottles and stones at police, who responded with pepper spray. In Bologna, police used water cannons to disperse a crowd of demonstrators who blocked a highway. The transit of goods was slowed or partially blocked by workers sit-ins and rallies in Italys main ports of Genoa and Livorno. More than 20,000 people gathered in front of Romes central station to protest the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Unions and student organizations denounced the inertia of the Italian and EU governments. If we dont block what Israel is doing, if we dont block trade, the distribution of weapons and everything else with Israel, we will not ever achieve anything, said Walter Montagnoli, national secretary of the CUB union, who joined a march in Milan. Premier Giorgia Meloni condemned violent clashes sparked by some protesters as shameful. Violence and destruction have nothing to do with solidarity and won't change a thing in the lives of people in Gaza, she wrote on X. The conservative government headed by Meloni, a close Israeli ally in the EU, has more recently adopted a harsher tone on Israeli policies as domestic pressure mounted over the war. Italy, however, is not among the countries, including France, that will formally recognize a Palestinian state at this weeks U.N. General Assembly. The creation of a Palestinian state in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza has long been seen internationally as the only way to resolve the conflict, which began more than a century before Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza. In the attack, Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. There are still 48 hostages remaining in Gaza, of whom Israel believes 20 are still alive. Israels retaliatory offensive over the past 23 months has killed more than 65,100 people in Gaza, according to Gazas Health Ministry, destroyed vast areas of the strip, displaced around 90% of the population and caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with experts saying Gaza City is experiencing famine. The ministry is under the Hamas-run government. U.N. agencies and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties. It does not say how many of those killed were civilians or combatants. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war A Romanian tourist spent nearly a month in prison after police mistook him for a wanted criminal on the first day of his holiday in Italy, his lawyer said on Friday. "The nightmare is over," Ovidiu A. said as he left Pordenone prison in northern Italy on Thursday, local newspaper Corriere del Veneto reported. "He was finally able to reunite with his family," who had been waiting for him since August 24, the day of his arrest, his lawyer Stefano De Rosa told AFP. Originally from Iasi, Romania, Ovidiu A. had come to spend a few days with his family in Caorle, near Venice. He would soon find out he shares a name with a wanted Romanian criminal, previously sentenced to two years in prison in Italy for aggravated theft. The name, registered at the hotel upon arrival, triggered an alert, and the tourist was arrested by the carabinieri at his first breakfast. His lawyer explained he had struggled to gather evidence proving it was a case of mistaken identity, as the initial trial for aggravated theft dated back to 2014 and the final sentencing to 2020. "The computer systems of the police, prison, court and carabinieri do not communicate with each other. I had to request documentation from each office," he said. According to Corriere del Veneto, the tourist and his family are expected to continue their holiday in Italy for a few more days before returning to Romania. Undated photo of a traditional wooden boat docked in a canal in the city Caorle, coastal town in the Metropolitan City of Venice, Veneto, Northern Italy. / Credit: Marica van der Meer/Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images He "has decided to enjoy at least a few days at the beach , which had been his goal," the newspaper reported. "The damage was enormous, but he faced it with great dignity and calm ," his lawyer told Corriere del Veneto. Webcams in the wild: Windows into nature that "soothe the soul" Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa says he wants to meet with President Trump again "Softly, as I Leave You": Priscilla Presley writes about her life after Elvis Some American tourists abroad have begun trying out a controversial tactic: pretending to be Canadian themselves. By adding maple leaf patches to their bags or clothing, they hope to pass as locals, but the trend is leaving many Canadians less than impressed. The aim is to secure smoother treatment in airports, hostels, and restaurants where anti-American sentiment feels strong. This practice, called flag jacking, has recently resurfaced with renewed visibility. While some Americans believe it makes their journeys easier, the reaction across Canada has been overwhelmingly negative. What Flag Jacking Involves Image via Pexels/Alesia Kozik Flag jacking describes travelers using another nations flag to disguise their identity. For Americans, it often means sewing a Canadian maple leaf patch onto luggage, hats, or jackets to signal that they come from Canada. The idea dates back decades but gained fresh attention during the early 2000s when U.S. foreign policy created resentment abroad. A 2005 episode of The Simpsons even satirized the practice. Today, flag jacking has returned because of renewed political disputes under Trump, combined with travelers anxieties about how they are perceived overseas. The flag becomes a tool for deflection rather than pride. Canadians traditionally used their own flag abroad to avoid being mistaken for Americans. Now, they find themselves irritated that outsiders are treating this same national symbol as a cover story. What once served as a mark of distinction has become an uncomfortable point of contention between neighbors. Canadian Nationalism and Political Context Canadas reaction to flag jacking is shaped by more than just travel etiquette. In recent years, Trump reignited disputes with Canada, such as imposing tariffs and openly ridiculing former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. These statements pushed many Canadians to embrace their national identity with renewed intensity. Political scientists describe this as collective effervescence, when outside threats create stronger emotional unity. Symbols like the flag and anthem gained more prominence as expressions of pride and resistance. Trudeau himself emphasized the divide in a CNN interview and said that Canadians often define themselves by not being American. Within this climate, Americans borrowing the maple leaf feels less like an innocent shortcut and more like a violation of identity. It is seen as arrogance layered on top of a political insult. That context explains why the trend has stirred stronger emotions than in the past. Online Backlash and Public Commentary Image via Getty Images/fizkes Online discussions reflect a wide range of Canadian frustration with the practice. Some describe flag jacking as cultural theft and call it fraudulent and arrogant. While others complain that it risks damaging Canadas hard-earned reputation for politeness and neutrality abroad. Tod Maffin, a Canadian cultural commentator, delivered one of the sharpest critiques. In a viral video, he mocked the idea of Americans cosplaying a Canadian and reminded viewers that Canada is not an invisibility cloak. His barbed humor resonated widely, with more than 100,000 views across platforms. Social media threads echo his point and note that even progressive Americans who claim they did not vote for Trump are still relying on another countrys identity for convenience. On Reddit, Canadians shared personal stories of spotting impostors during backpacking trips and hostels in Europe. The comments underline the widespread irritation at the tactic, even among those who normally take pride in their nations friendly image. People listen as Erika Kirk speaks at a memorial for her late husband conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher) GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) President Donald Trump praised Charlie Kirk as a great American hero and martyr for freedom as he and other prominent conservatives gathered Sunday evening to honor the slain conservative political activist whose work they say they must now advance. The memorial service for Kirk, whom Donald Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, drew tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, other senior administration officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand. Hes a martyr now for Americas freedom, Trump said in his tribute. I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie. And neither now will history. Speakers highlighted Kirks profound faith and his strong belief that young conservatives need to get married, have children and pass on their values to keep building their movement. They also repeatedly told conservative activists, sometimes in forceful tones, that the best way to honor Kirk was doubling down on his mission to move American politics further to the right. For Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees, Vance said. My friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith. Kirks assassination at a Sept. 10 appearance on a Utah college campus has set off a fierce debate about violence, decency and free speech in an era of deep political division. The shooting has stirred fear among some Americans that Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to suppress the voices of his critics and political opponents. Charlie Kirk's wife forgives suspect Those close to Kirk prayed and the floors at the home of the NFLs Arizona Cardinals shook from the bass of Christian rock bands, as the memorial started with the feel of a megachurch service before veering into something more akin to a political rally. Longtime worship leader Chris Tomlin opened the service, and was joined later by other big names in contemporary Christian music, including Brandon Lake and Phil Wickham. Near the end, as Trump took the stage, Lee Greenwood sang a live rendition of the presidents campaign walk-on song, God Bless the U.S.A. People began lining up before dawn to secure a spot inside State Farm Stadium west of Phoenix, where Kirks Turning Point organization is based. Security was tight and speakers delivered their tributes from behind bullet-proof glass. The 63,400-seat stadium quickly filled with people dressed in red, white and blue, as organizers suggested. The mood in the stadium ebbed and flowed throughout a service that stretched more than five hours. Mourners were patient and cordial, even after waiting hours to enter and then an hour or more for food in stadium concession lines. Kirk's widow, Erika, in her own address said in the midst of her grief she was finding comfort that her husband left this world without regrets. She said she forgives the man who is charged with killing him. My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life, said Erika Kirk, who is taking over as Turning Point's leader. She added, I forgive him. Trump, who closed out the service, remarked that Charlie Kirk did not hate his opponents and wanted the best for them," an attribute he found hard to understand. "Thats where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I dont want the best for them," Trump said. "Im sorry, I am sorry Erika." Comments about Kirk have become a Trump administration target Trump has blamed the radical left for Kirks death and threatened to go after liberal organizations and donors or others who he feels are maligning or celebrating Kirk's death. Dozens of people, from journalists to teachers to late show host Jimmy Kimmel, have faced suspensions or lost their jobs as prominent conservative activists and administration officials target comments about Kirk that they deem offensive or celebratory. The retaliation has in turn ignited a debate over the First Amendment. Some speakers at the memorial said Kirk was battling evil and referred to a vague they as the enemy. Others were blunt. You have no idea the dragon you have awakened, you have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilization, to save the West, to save this republic," said White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Kirk was a provocateur who at times made statements that some called racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant and transphobic. That has drawn backlash from conservatives who view the criticism as cherry-picking a few select moments to insult the legacy of someone they see as an inspirational conservative leader. A 22-year-old Utah man, Tyler Robinson, has been charged with killing Kirk and faces the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges. Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but prosecutors say Robinson wrote in a text to his partner following the shooting that he had enough of Kirk's hatred. Kirk's legacy of conservative political influence Turning Point, the group Kirk founded to mobilize young Christian conservatives, became a multimillion-dollar operation under his leadership with enormous reach. The crowd was a testament to the influence he accumulated in conservative America with his ability to mobilize young people. And the service brought together a veritable who's who of the Republican Party, with numerous current and former lawmakers in the crowd. Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and former top adviser to Trump, was spotted sitting with Trump for part of the service. Kirk was a MAGA celebrity with a loyal following that turned out to support or argue with him as he traveled the country for the events like the one at Utah Valley University, where he was shot. Speaker after speaker, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed awe at Kirk's ability to go into what many conservatives saw as the lion's den to make the conservative case: college campuses. Why dont you start somewhere easier, Rubio recalled thinking when he first heard about Kirk years ago. Like, for example, communist Cuba?" ___ Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Tiffany Stanley in Washington, Silvia Stellacci in Rome; Terry Tang, and Jesse Bedayn contributed to this report. The United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on Iran at UN headquarters on September 19, 2025, in New York. Credit - Angela WeissAFP/Getty Images Eighty years ago, the Allied victors of World War II founded the United Nations to prevent future wars and shape the postwar order. They agreed that five powers the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, China, and Francewould play a dominant role within it. These five permanent, veto power-wielding members of the U.N. Security Councilthe P5would be the worlds policemen. As world leaders gather in New York for the annual meetings of the U.N., few would argue that the P5 are fulfilling the ambitions of the organizations founders. The P5 are at odds over the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, nuclear diplomacy with Iran, and crises from Sudan to Myanmar. During the Cold War, the divisions between the major powers were sometimes so intense that the Security Council did not meet for months. But they were also able to use the Security Council as a space to manage conflictssuch as clashes between Israel and the Arabs statesand avoid escalation. The five powers found a new spirit of cooperation at the end of the Cold War. The Security Council backed the 1991 U.S. campaign to drive Iraq out of Kuwait and the U.N. oversaw a wave of peacekeeping operations and sanctions regimes. This level of cooperation has faded since the turn of the century, as the P5 butted heads repeatedly over issues like the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the civil war in Syria. Russias invasion of Ukraine sparked a further, rapid decline in relations. The U.N. still maintains peacekeepers in places like South Sudan and Lebanon, but the Security Council often gridlocks over major crises. In 2024, the disagreements between the P5 resulted in the Security Council ending up passing the least number of resolutions41in any year since 1991. While the U.N. often faces harsh criticisms for its failures to prevent and halt wars, the Security Council ultimately only reflects the realities of geopolitics. In a competitive and multipolar world, it is not surprising that the veto powers are less able to find compromises on crises than in the 1990s. Many U.N. member states find the idea of these five powers having outsized powers at the organizationand in the world at largeanachronistic. Weighty states, such as India and Brazil, want permanent seats of their own on the Security Council. African governments complain that their former colonial masters still try to dictate the continents affairs through the U.N. And Ukrainian diplomats question whether Russia, having taken the Soviet seat in the 1990s, has the legal right to it. There is a case that the P5 mechanism makes sense in a fractured geopolitical environment, despite numerous member states complaining about it. In a period of constant friction, the Security Council is one space in which Chinese, Russian, and American diplomats can engage on a daily basis. Despite their rifts, the permanent members of the Security Council still agree on a wide range of subjects from aid operations to sanctioning jihadists. Donald Trump and the United Nations The idea of the P5 working as a big power steering committee also appears to appeal to the Trump Administration, which has very little affection for the U.N. Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, U.S. diplomats have been telling their P5 counterparts that they want to see the group cooperating better again. This is a shift from the U.S. positions during the Biden Administration, when the U.S., Britain and France limited contacts with Russia over its aggression against Ukraine, and U.S. officials went on a global listening tour to hear other nations proposals on Security Council reform. In Sept. 2024, during the end of the Biden Administration, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced U.S. support for the addition of two permanent seats for African nations on the Security Council, and one seat to be rotated among small island developing states. American diplomats have indicated that President Donald Trump will not be pursuing these reform proposals. The Trump Administrations changes in policies toward the U.N. have had a notable effect on the diplomatic mood in New York. The Russians, who were resentful of Western efforts to freeze them out over Ukraine, have toned down their anti-American rhetoric. Small and mid-sized countries that were energetically pursuing Security Council reform have backed off and are waiting for a clear signal of whatif anythingTrump will say about it. Bolstering the P5 may align with Trumps overall preference to cut diplomatic deals with other major powers, but it has some significant flaws. Not the least of these is that the five powers disagree on almost every first order security question that has come before the Security Council in 2025. It is hardly unusual for the five powers to split over international crises, but the current situation is unusually fluid. The Security Council and the battles over Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran Several conflicts, especially Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran, are splitting the five permanent members dominating the Security Council in different ways. In February, the U.S. shocked France and Britain by tabling a Security Council resolution calling for a quick peace between Russia and Ukraine that made no reference to Kyivs right to territorial integrity. The move, soon after the acrimonious meeting between Trump and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, signaled that the Trump Administration wanted a new relationship with Russia. Since then, the U.S. stance on Ukraine in Security Council debates has fluctuated as the Trump Administration has vacillated between challenging and cajoling Moscow. European diplomats worry that Washington could side with Moscow in future. On the war in Gaza, the U.S. alone continues to block resolutions criticizing Israel. Britain and Franceand the elected members of the Security Councilare demanding an immediate ceasefire. China and Russia had already taken that position. The split between Western permanent members of the Security Council predates President Trumps return to office. France has supported resolutions demanding a ceasefire in Gaza since 2023. Britain initially leaned toward the Biden Administration in defending Israel, but switched to aligning with the French after the Labour government replaced the Conservatives in July 2024. This division will be on display in New York. On Sept. 22, France and Britain are set to confirm that they formally recognize the State of Palestine in a special conference. Canada, Australia, and Belgium will also offer recognition. While this conference will take place outside the Security Council, the symbolism of two of three Western powers among the P5 making this choice gives it great diplomatic resonance. (China and Russia have recognized Palestine for decades). The U.S. has made its displeasure clear by refusing Palestinian officials visas to visit New York. Washington can also use its veto in the Security Council to stop any push to give the Palestinians full U.N. membership. The Iranian case has divided the P5 on more predictable lines. In August, Britain and Francejoined by Germanyinitiated Security Council proceedings to restore the U.N. sanctions on Iran that were suspended as part of the nuclear deal in 2015. All five permanent members of the Security Council had supported the deal. The Trump Administration has backed their efforts. (Hoping to stabilize relations with Iran, the Europeans had objected to President Trumps attempts to restore the sanctions on Iran during his first term.) While endorsing the Iran nuclear deal in 2015, the Security Council had negotiated a complex diplomatic arrangement, which ensures that China and Russia cannot veto proposals to reimpose the U.N. sanctions on Iran. But Russia has been especially critical of the European effort to reimpose sanctions on Iran, arguing that the Europeans failed to implement economic commitments to Iran and lost the right to trigger the return of sanctions. A lack of good options These multiple disagreements mean that a unified P5 is not going to step up to direct global security any time soon. But the P5 mechanism still has a certain residual value. One of the potential strengths of the Security Counciland of the P5 grouping, in particularis that it creates a space where divided powers can agree to disagree on some topics, while keeping up cooperation on others. In tough scenarios, it is a format in which the major powers can spell out their red lines and look for potential off ramps. The very fact that P5 members are able to combine and recombine in different groupings over different crises is a strength. It is a club where diplomats canwhen necessaryform flexible alliances on a case by case basis rather than simply pursue West vs. East competition. Instead of expecting the five powers to find common ground on major crises in the years ahead, it may be more realistic to see the P5 grouping as a space where they can pursue deconfliction. It is a good rule of international diplomacy that new institutions are hard to build, and it is unwise to dismiss old ones out of hand. In a period of high geopolitical risk, there is still a case that having the five veto powers keep up a minimum of cooperation is a global public good. Contact us at letters@time.com. Supreme Court Hears Arguments On Abortion Drug Mifepristone (Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images) A woman allegedly coerced into an abortion asked to intervene in a major lawsuit on Monday challenging the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) decision to roll back safeguards on mifepristone. Rosalie Markezich, whose boyfriend allegedly ordered abortion pills online in her name and pressured her to take them, is stepping into an ongoing legal battle challenging the FDAs decision to allow mail-order abortions. Abortion drugs are illegal in Louisiana, the Friday filing asking the court to allow both Louisiana and Markezich to intervene states. But with the click of a few buttons and in just days, a man easily obtained them through the U.S. Postal Service from a doctor in California and coerced his girlfriend to take them. This is the devastating reality of mail-order abortion drugs. (RELATED: Abortion Coercion Concerns Surrounding Mail-Order Pill Mount With New Reports) Under the Biden administration in 2023, the FDA permanently eliminated an in-person dispensing requirement. The Supreme Court tossed a challenge to the FDAs regulations brought by doctors and pro-life medical associations in 2024, finding they had no standing to sue. Missouri, Kansas and Idaho filed an amended complaint in January. In May, the Department of Justice (DOJ) urged the court to dismiss the renewed effort, arguing it was filed in the wrong venue. Texas and Florida moved to intervene in the case in August. Now, Attorney General Liz Murrill argues the accessibility of abortion pills undermine Louisianas ability to enforce state pro-life laws and pro-abortion states are blocking enforcement actions against individual doctors who send pills across state lines. During much of this case, Louisiana was unaware of specific evidence quantifying the scope of this problem in the State, and so it sought to enforce abortion regulations against individual doctors and activists in other states, the filing states, noting new data shows the problem far outpaces individual enforcement efforts. In January, a Louisiana grand jury indicted Dr. Margaret Daley Carpenter, founder of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, for sending pills to a mother who gave the drugs to her minor daughter, even though the teen did not want an abortion. The state hit a roadblock when Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would not turn Carpenter over to Louisiana under any circumstances. A growing number of states have also started anonymizing abortion drug prescriptionsmaking enforcement at this granular level all but impossible, the filing continued. Some even omit the names of the drug recipients, emboldening abusers who intend to coerce or trick womenand washing away inculpatory evidence. There have been at least four alleged incidents of coerced abortions using the pill this year alone, including cases in Texas, Illinois and Louisiana. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law Wednesday allowing citizens to sue providers who ship abortion pills into the state. Rosalie is bravely representing many women who are victimized by the illegal, immoral, and unethical conduct of these drug dealers, Murrill told the DCNF. It is my hope and prayer that the Trump Administration will revoke these bought and paid for Biden Administration rules which are contributing to these harms for women. During a DCNF investigation in June, five online abortion providers supplied pills for future use without a doctor verifying key medical information, like the stage of pregnancy. Had the FDA required an in-person visit with a doctor before dispensing the drugs, my boyfriend would never been able to obtain the drugs that he made me take, Markezich wrote in a declaration. I also would have told the doctor that I did not want to take them. And I would have told the doctor that I wanted to keep my baby. I do not believe a doctor would have prescribed me the drugs if I told her I did not want them. 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. Once viewed as symbols of prestige, ambition, and success, Chinese international studentsoften known as haigui (, returnees)are finding their return home far harder than expected. After investing heavily in education abroad, many are now being shut out of top-tier public roles back in China. A series of policy shifts, geopolitical tensions, and economic changes have transformed their golden ticket into something far less certain. Closing the Gates to the Public Sector One of the most dramatic shifts is in civil service recruitment. The "selection recruits" () program, which fast-tracks outstanding university graduates into the government leadership pipeline, has become far less accessible to overseas graduates. Provinces like Guangdong have removed nearly 60 overseas universitiesincluding globally renowned onesfrom their list of eligible schools for the 2025 "selected recruits" program. have removed nearly 60 overseas universitiesincluding globally renowned onesfrom their list of eligible schools for the 2025 "selected recruits" program. In Shandong , similar policies have restricted civil service roles to graduates of domestic institutions. , similar policies have restricted civil service roles to graduates of domestic institutions. Authorities are increasingly emphasizing that applicants must have demonstrated political loyaltysuch as CCP membership, leadership roles in domestic student or party organizationsand less emphasis on having studied abroad. Oversupply, Degree Devaluation, and "Watered-Down" Qualifications The wider talent pool in China has expanded enormously: university enrollment and graduation rates have surged, producing an overabundance of domestically educated graduates. Meanwhile, the number of returnees has also risen sharply. This increased competition has diluted the perceived advantage of foreign degrees. Short-term master's programsespecially the popular one-year masters from overseasare increasingly viewed with skepticism and labeled "watered down." Some large firms are reportedly excluding such degrees from their hiring criteria. The Reality of Returning: Mismatch, Pressure, Disillusionment Returning home is often a shock. While foreign education can provide unique skills, a mismatch often exists between what returning students offer and what Chinese employers need. Lack of Relevant Experience: Chinese companies, particularly in a tight job market, prioritize local work experience and internships. Many haigui may lack this crucial on-the-ground experience, making them less attractive to employers. Chinese companies, particularly in a tight job market, prioritize local work experience and internships. Many haigui may lack this crucial on-the-ground experience, making them less attractive to employers. Devalued "Soft Skills": Soft skills highly valued in Western countries, such as a focus on personal narrative and passion, are often less important to Chinese employers. They place a greater emphasis on professional certifications, grades, and a candidate's commitment to the company. Soft skills highly valued in Western countries, such as a focus on personal narrative and passion, are often less important to Chinese employers. They place a greater emphasis on professional certifications, grades, and a candidate's commitment to the company. Salary and Expectation Gap: Many haigui return with high salary expectations, believing their foreign education warrants a premium. However, their salary demands often exceed what employers are willing to pay, especially when they can hire a well-qualified domestic graduate for less. A 2024 report found that the average annual salary for returnees had fallen and some were accepting jobs with very low monthly pay. Geopolitical Underpinnings and Economic Headwinds These changes are not happening in a vacuum. Broader geopolitical tensions (e.g., U.S.China relations), national security concerns, and Broader economic trends contributed to policies and challenges for haigui. Dong Mingzhu , chairwoman of Gree Electric Appliances, publicly declared that her company would "never use overseas returnees ... there are spies among the returnees." She said it is difficult to distinguish who might be spies, so in "conservatism," they prefer to hire from domestic universities. , chairwoman of Gree Electric Appliances, publicly declared that her company would "never use overseas returnees ... there are spies among the returnees." She said it is difficult to distinguish who might be spies, so in "conservatism," they prefer to hire from domestic universities. Economic Slowdown: A general economic slowdown and a sluggish job market, particularly for recent graduates, have exacerbated the issue. High youth unemployment rates in China affect all job seekers, not just those returning from abroad A general economic slowdown and a sluggish job market, particularly for recent graduates, have exacerbated the issue. High youth unemployment rates in China affect all job seekers, not just those returning from abroad Shift from Multinational to Domestic Companies: The Chinese job market is increasingly dominated by fast-evolving domestic companies, particularly in sectors like e-commerce, AI, and fintech. These companies may prefer candidates from top Chinese universities who have a better understanding of the local market and business practices. The need for English language proficiency, once a key advantage for returnees, is also less of a factor due to the rise of AI and an increasingly English-proficient domestic workforce. Between Two Worlds: Caught in the Middle For many students, the return isn't about national service or idealismit's about necessity. Some find that staying abroad didn't yield the career they expected; returning seems like the only viable option. Yet upon return, they are neither fully accepted into the domestic system nor able to operate freely in foreign contexts. This limbo can breed anxiety, disillusionment, and identity conflict. Getty The Gist Zendaya supported her fiance Tom Holland and his brother at the Brothers Trust Gala in London on September 20. Zendaya, who helped host the gala, wore a fall-ready LBD with unusual sculptural shoulders. Zendaya and Holland announced their engagement earlier this year. Zendaya is a seriously supportive fianceealmost as supportive as whatever is holding up the strange sculptural shoulders on her latest dress. The Challengers actress made a rare joint appearance with her fiance Tom Holland in London at the Brothers Trust Gala at Christie's on Saturday, September 20. The Brother's Trust was set up by Holland's parents in 2017 to help raise money for various charities using Holland's fame. The trust is inspired by Holland and his three brothers, Sam, Harry, and Paddy. At the event, Zendaya and Holland served as co-hosts for events that included the Tom Holland Posh Pub Quiz. Lucy Beall / Instagram Zendaya wore a black minidress with sculptural shoulders In photos shared by guests at the event, Zendaya and Tom were pictured mingling with the guests. Laura Whitaker shared a group photo that included the couple, while Lucy Beall shared a photo posing with the actress. In photos from the evening, Zendaya wore a chic black LBD. Perfect for fall, the dress featured a high neck and long sleeves. She wore sheer tights below the dress's short skirt. As for her hair, she went for a deep side part and swept it up in a glamorous gala-ready updo. As for Holland, he sported a black tuxedo and bowtie. Laura Whittaker / Instagram Zendaya rocked a glamorous updo Holland and Zendaya have been together since 2017 after meeting on the set of Spider-Man. Earlier this year, the couple announced their engagement after Zendaya debuted her Jessica McCormack diamond ring at the Golden Globes. A source later told People that the actor had been wanting to propose "for a while now." Earlier this month, the pair made a rare appearance on the set of the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day film. Getty Tom Holland and Zendaya in October 2024 Read the original article on InStyle Getty Stock image of an ambulance. NEED TO KNOW A 64-year-old man almost died after a heart attack caused him to stop breathing and crash his vehicle in Virginia last month The accident took place near the office of a cardiologist, who was able to save his life "It's a miracle," Jeff Geraci said after he recovered from the incident A 64-year-old Virginia man is grateful to be alive after he had a heart attack and crashed near a cardiologist's office. Fortunately, the doctor was there to help save his life. In August, Jeff Geraci felt off after working out at the gym and decided to drive home, CBS affiliate WTVR reported. He was on First Colonial Road in Virginia Beach when he stopped breathing. The confusion when I woke up with things in my arm and people running around, it was like a dream, a muddled dream, and foggy," Geraci told the outlet. "I asked the nurse what happened, and he said, 'You have a heart attack. You crashed your car.' " The financial planner whose family has a history of heart problems crossed multiple lanes of traffic before crashing into a business sign and coming to a stop in a parking lot. Miraculously, he didnt hit another vehicle during the medical incident, according to WTVR. Dr. Deepak Talreja, the chief of cardiology for Sentara Health, was at his office nearby when he heard the collision. I sprint over there, calling 911 on my phone," Talreja told the outlet in a joint interview with Geraci. "When I got to your car, what I saw was the windshield was shattered and your airbags were deployed, and it was hard to see you because you were surrounded by airbags and a shattered windshield. The 64-year-old man wasnt breathing and didnt have a pulse when Talreja arrived, the cardiologist told the outlet. He described the condition as "sudden cardiac death." "What that means is the heart just isn't doing the job, and so it's a form of death," Talreja told WTVR. "But fortunately, we got things restarted very quickly, and so God was watching out." Geraci had suffered a massive heart attack, according to a Facebook post by Sentara Health. The doctor was the first on the scene, delivering CPR for more than [eight] minutes, the organization wrote. If it weren't for Dr. Talreja's quick actions, he would not have survived. Talreja emphasized the importance of quick action while speaking with WTVR. "So if he'd gone eight minutes or so without CPR and without blood flow, then we can probably resuscitate the heart for another 10 minutes or so, but the brain doesn't recover, and so [he] wouldn't be with us today, Talreja said, according to the outlet. The Virginia Beach Police Department, Sentara Health and Geraci did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs requests for comment. 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. Geraci later learned that his widow maker was 90% or more blocked in different sections. He urges others to get their cholesterol checked and plans on taking advantage of his second chance at life, WTVR reported. It's such a testimony of God's greatness, of all the things that had to happen to keep me alive," he told the outlet. "It's a miracle. God was there, and thank God Dr. Talreja was there." Sentara Health also praised the cardiologist. We send Jeff our best wishes for a full, healthy recovery, the health care provider wrote, and express our deepest gratitude to Dr. Talreja, Sentara Cardiology Specialists, and the Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital care teams for their dedication to saving lives every day. Read the original article on People Tomekbudujedomek - Getty Images "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Heres what youll learn when you read this story: Two 7,000-year-old mummies from the Takarkori rock shelter in the Sahara have been found to be from a group with a previously unknown ancestry. DNA analysis of the mummies, which are the remains of female herders from a time when the Sahara was more humid and known as the Green Sahara, did not show the expected Sub-Saharan genes. The Takarkori individuals are most closely related to other North African peoples who diverged from Sub-Saharan populations long before. While the Sahara is now a vast expanse of sand where the fight for survival can be brutal, there was a time (however difficult that is to believe) when it was actually green and flourishing. Between 14,800 and 5,500 years ago, during what is known as the African Humid Period, the desert known for being one of the driest places on Earth actually had enough water to support a way of life. Back then, it was a savannah that early human populations settled in to take advantage of the favorable farming conditions. Among them was a mysterious people who lived in what is now southwestern Libya and should have been genetically Sub-Saharanexcept, upon a modern analysis, their genes didnt reflect that. Led by archaeogeneticist Nada Salem from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, a team of researchers analyzed the genes of two 7,000-year-old naturally preserved mummies of Neolithic female herders from the Takarkori rock shelter. Though genetic material does not preserve well in arid climates, which is why much about ancient human populations in the Sahara remains a mystery, there was enough fragmented DNA to give insights into their past. The majority of Takarkori individuals ancestry stems from a previously unknown North African genetic lineage that diverged from sub-Saharan African lineages around the same time as present-day humans outside Africa and remained isolated throughout most of its existence, they said in a study recently published in Nature. The Takarkori individuals are actually close relatives of 15,000-year-old foragers from Taforalt Cave in Morocco. Both lineages have about the same genetic distance from Sub-Saharan groups that existed during that period, which suggests that there was not much gene flow between Sub-Saharan and Northen Africa at the time. The Taforalt people also have half the Neanderthal genes of non-Africans, while the Takarkori have ten times less. What is strange is that they still have more Neanderthal DNA than other sub-Saharan peoples who were around at the time. While the Takarkori apparently had less contact with Neanderthals than the Taforalt, they must have somehow had more contact than other groups in their region. There are also traces of evidence for admixture with farmers from the Levant. Otherwise, the genes of the Takarkori reveal them to have been mostly isolated. They were genetically close to Northwestern African foragers such as the Taforalt but otherwise distinct from Sub-Saharan populations. This can only mean that there was not much genetic exchange in the Green Sahara during the African Humid Period. It used to be thought that farming practices spread through the region by migrations. Salems team has another explanation. Our findings suggest that pastoralism spread through cultural diffusion into a deeply divergent, isolated North African lineage that had probably been widespread in Northern Africa during the late Pleistocene epoch, they said in the same study. It seems that farming spread through the exchange of practices between cultures rather than admixture resulting from migrations. The Takarkori are thought to have inherited their genes from a hunter-gatherer group that was around during a period before animals were domesticated and farming began. Despite being hunter-gatherers, the ancestors of the Takarkori made advances in the manufacture of pottery, baskets, and tools made of wood and bone. They also stayed in one place for longer periods of time. The reason the Takarkori stayed isolated probably has to do with the diversity of environments in the Green Sahara. These ranged from lakes and wetlands to woodlands to grasslands, savannas and even mountains. Such differences in habitats were barriers to interaction between human populations. Somewhere in the sands of the Sahara and the sands of time, there might be hidden mummies or artifacts waiting to tell us more about what life was like in the desert before it dried out. [galleryCarousel id='9e9354e9-d0c6-426e-ba21-7d41e95744de' mediaId='00d979a1-9d20-4764-95ca-3b2690e0ed69' display='carousel' align='center' size='medium' share='true' expand='' captions='true' suppress-title='false' hasProducts='false'][/galleryCarousel] You Might Also Like Walking around the small college town of Columbia, Missouri, I felt like I would hear the theme song of Gilmore Girls pop up at any second. While it's hotly debated by locals whether the state is part of the Midwest or the South, the overall vibe of this university town feels like a slice of the Northeast. During my three-day trip to Colombia, I quickly came to understand what makes this community so special. The focal point of Columbia is the University of Missouri. Affectionately known as Mizzou, the school has a deep connection with President Thomas Jefferson. Our third president acquired the land on which the University of Missouri was built during the Louisiana Purchase. As a result, you'll find numerous memorials and artworks depicting the president. Aside from that presidential connection, the campus is stunning. In full academic regalia, the columns of magnificent educational buildings make you feel as if you've stumbled on East Coast institutions like Harvard or Princeton. Be sure to visit both the Museum of Anthropology and the Museum of Art. In addition to its collegiate prestige, Columbia is home to a delicious dining scene. What was most impressive to me about the community was just how good the food was. As a Chicagoan, I have high standards for pizza. Let me tell you, the pies from Shakespeares Pizza were something to write home about. I'm also a real sucker for a good, greasy breakfast, and Ernies Cafe and Steak House delivered. I enjoyed breakfast alone at this retro-themed establishment and immediately felt like a local, thanks to the kind and welcoming staff. As with any good college town, the coffee shops were top-tier. I sipped my way through the community but found Shortwave Coffee to be my happy place, particularly for an iced latte. Lakota Coffee Company deserves an honorable mention. Sparkys Homemade Ice Cream is also worth checking out if you're looking for an even sweeter treat. There's a lot to do in this eclectic community. In addition to exploring the university's campus, I recommend taking a trip to the A-Frame. The A-Frame is a beautiful winery that overlooks the Missouri River. Alternatively, for those looking to stay active, spend the afternoon exploring Katy Trail State Park. Keeping with the elevated Gilmore Girl East Coast vibes, the Voco the Tiger Hotel was a beautiful place to rest my head. The hotel's mix of historic architecture with a luxury-boutique feel made a perfect home away from home. On one of my evenings in Colombia, there was an intense lightning storm, and it was beautiful to watch from my large windows in the sky. Whether youre exploring Columbia, Missouri, on a college visit or simply passing through, there's no shortage of unique experiences to try. Maybe youll get a Gilmore Girls vibe, too! Feeling inspired? Try planning your own Missouri trip using Only In Your State's itinerary planner. Cait was hosted by Visit Columbia MO as part of their trip to Columbia, Missouri. All opinions and thoughts expressed in this content are their own. We may earn money from links on this page, but commission does not influence what we write or the products we recommend. AOL upholds a rigorous editorial process to ensure what we publish is fair, accurate and trustworthy. This eco-friendly mattress brand is popular on social media, but is it actually any good? Shopping online has become an increasingly popular way to find a new mattress. As bed-in-a-box businesses have grown, theyve also offered more and more features that help you find the right bed, from white glove setup and delivery to generous trial periods and easy returns. In general, shopping online is one of the easiest and most flexible ways to buy a mattress right now. That being said, it can be a little trickier to find a mattress that isnt only highly rated for comfort, but is also designed with sustainability in mind. We tested the Avocado Green, one of the most popular green mattresses you can find online, to see how well it fills this niche. Avocado Avocado Green Mattress Mattress Type: Innerspring | Firmness: Firm, Medium, or Plush | Trial: One Year | Warranty: 25 Years The Avocado Green is an innerspring mattress constructed with organic materials such as cotton, wool, and a top layer of responsive latex. Our tester, who shares a bed with her spouse, small dog, and young child, appreciated the comfort and temperature regulation of the Avocado Green, but was underwhelmed by its edge support and motion control. But for buyers who prioritize environmental sustainability and general comfort over those issues, the Avocado Green is a well-made and durable bed with firmness levels that can appeal to a variety of sleep styles. Pros Eco-conscious materials Temperature neutral Generous trial period Cons Poor edge support Few stand-out features $2,099 at Avocado Avocado has been in business for about 10 years, guided by its mission to offer non-toxic and organic bedding at an affordable price. The brand is a certified B Corporation, meaning it meets certain standards for making a positive impact as a for-profit business with a broader social mission. According to Avocados website, the brand offsets 100% of its emissions, donates 2% of revenue to nonprofits, and has co-sponsored several bills pertaining to climate change. Thats all wonderful, but at the end of the day, the Avocado Green is a mattress, and its only worth buying if its comfortable to sleep on. Our tester, a 37-year-old woman who sleeps on her side and back, spent nine months finding out if the Avocado Green could deliver both environmental sustainability and sustainable comfort. Avocado Green Key Features Firmness flexibility to suit all sleepers The Avocado Green has one notable thing going for it that a lot of its competitors do not it comes in three levels of firmness. This added flexibility means that sleepers of all positions can choose a firmness that works for them. Generally speaking, side sleepers tend to thrive with softer mattresses that will feel plush around their hips and shoulders. Stomach and back sleepers, meanwhile, often benefit from the consistent support of a firmer surface. Combination sleepers (or couples who are looking for a compromise) often go for medium firmness. Many mattresses only come in one firmness option, but Avocado lets you pick from three: Firm, which is layered with 3 inches of latex; Medium, with 5 inches of latex; or Plush, with 6 inches of latex plus extra mohair, wool, and silk. It's one of the only organic mattresses out there The first thing you should know about the Avocado Green is that its aiming to attract eco-conscious buyers. There are a handful of mattresses on the market that claim to be environmentally friendly, but what this actually means can vary from brand to brand. In the case of the Avocado Green, the eco-friendly label comes with some notable certifications to back it up. Avocado uses organic latex, wool, and cotton, all of which are certified by global standards for organic materials. In addition to being better for the environment, these materials reduce off-gassing the generally harmless but sometimes stinky process of gases getting released from new furniture into the air. It's got strong temperature regulation Innerspring mattresses are often a good choice for temperature control, since they allow more airflow than dense foam. The Avocado Green complements its innersprings with organic wool and latex to promote air circulation and wick away moisture. Our tester was impressed with the temperature regulation. The bed stayed cool, but not excessively cool in other words, it didnt suffer from the issue some cooling mattresses have, where it tilts into sleeping cold. The bed simply didnt retain too much body heat, staying comfortable all night. Setting up the Avocado Green The mattresses arrived in a 2' x 5' box in good condition, with no noticeable cuts or tears. Our tester opted for Avocados white glove delivery option, meaning that a crew came to help her set up the new bed and take away her old one, which costs between $249 and $499 depending on the mattress's weight. Our tester was pleased to find that there was no noticeable off-gassing from the mattress straight out of the box. Even when she put her nose right up to the mattress, she couldnt smell anything chemical or unusual. Avocado Green Policies 1-year sleep trial If youre hesitant to buy a mattress online, its a good idea to look for a generous trial period. A standard mattress trial runs about 100 nights. Avocado, by comparison, offers a full year to get to know your new bed. Although Avocados returns arent free, its one of the longest trial periods in the industry. White Glove delivery Avocado offers an optional white glove delivery service, which can include setup of your new mattress and removal of the old one. Our tester tried out Avocados white glove delivery, and she was glad she did the three-person crew was efficient and polite, getting her new bed set up and the old one hauled away within 30 minutes. The crew even hauled the box up to our testers apartment, so she didnt have to move it herself. Avocados white glove delivery currently costs $249. If youd like your old mattress to be removed as well, you can expect shipping costs to run $279. Return policy Avocado accepts mattress returns starting 30 days after delivery. Sending a mattress back will cost $99, and initial shipping fees (including white glove delivery) are non-refundable. Availability For most people, the easiest way to buy an Avocado mattress is through the Avocado website. If youd prefer to do your shopping in person, you can explore Avocados map of partner stores and showrooms. Most of these brick-and-mortar stores are located near the Avocado headquarters in New Jersey or the Avocado factory in California, but you can find the brand at various stores across the country. 25-year limited warranty Avocado offers different warranties for different mattresses. The Avocado Green comes with a 25-year limited warranty, covering manufacturing defects like cracked foam and unravelled stitching. In the first 10 years, Avocado will replace your mattress free of charge. After that, you can expect to pay a prorated percentage of the replacement fee. Most of the mattresses we test have warranties that run from 10 to 20 years. Avocado wont cover replacements for normal wear and tear or accidents like spills and burns, but neither will its competitors. In general, Avocados warranty coverage is pretty impressive. How we tested the Avocado Green Our tester was a 510 37-year-old woman who primarily sleeps on her side and back. She shares the bed with her spouse, young child, and dog. Over several months, our tester kept notes on her experience sleeping on the Avocado Green, verifying the brands claims about comfort, cooling, durability, and motion control. Overall, our tester was pleased with the Avocado Greens performance and especially pleased with the peace of mind that came with investing in organic, non-toxic bedding. She found that the firmness remained consistent throughout the testing period, without any notable softening or sagging. She was also impressed by the mattresss ability to maintain a neutral temperature, sleeping neither too hot nor too cold. Most importantly of all, our tester found that the Avocado Green was comfortable enough to offer a great nights sleep and reduce aches and pains, both for herself and her husband. Since my husband has slept on it, he hasnt had any neck pain like he had with our old mattress, she reported. Although our tester generally enjoyed sleeping on the Avocado Green, there were a few significant drawbacks. One issue was unimpressive motion control our tester could feel the bed jostling whenever her husband sat down or moved around. "Every night when my husband gets into bed, I glare at him in the dark because it shakes the bed so much," she said. But the biggest issue was the lack of edge support. There is nothing holding you up if you sit on the edge or roll across the bed, our tester shared. Sitting or lying near the edge felt unstable, which could be a concern for buyers who need firm edges to help them stand up in the morning. Not everyone needs a bed with superb edge support. If you sleep towards the center of the bed and dont need much support getting up in the morning, you might not even notice. But if you tend to roll towards the side of the bed, or need to be able to sit on the edge before standing, this mattress might not be the one for you. The mattress itself is pretty comfortable and nicely crafted, our tester concluded. There is nothing stellar to report about the performance of the mattress itself, but it is exactly as described. Final thoughts The Avocado Green isnt the flashiest mattress on the market, but it is exactly what it claims to be a comfortable and well-made bed from a brand committed to environmental responsibility. Ultimately, for our reviewer, it's not one she'd recommend buying if you value edge support and motion transfer. We've got her currently testing the Naturepedic instead, a similar organic mattress with better edge support and motion transfer and highly customizable firmness options. Avocado shines when it comes to easy-to-reach customer support, excellent white glove delivery services, an above-average trial period and warranty, and, of course, sustainability. Ultimately, this is a solid choice for buyers looking for a comfortable mid-range mattress with an emphasis on eco-friendliness and durability. If you need excellent edge support or motion control, look elsewhere. But if your needs are more general (and if sustainability is at the top of your list), this is one to consider. Avocado Avocado Green Mattress Mattress Type: Innerspring | Firmness: Firm, Medium, or Plush | Trial: One Year | Warranty: 25 Years The Avocado Green is an innerspring mattress constructed with organic materials such as cotton, wool, and a top layer of responsive latex. Our tester, who shares a bed with her spouse, small dog, and young child, appreciated the comfort and temperature regulation of the Avocado Green, but was underwhelmed by its edge support and motion control. But for buyers who prioritize environmental sustainability and general comfort over those issues, the Avocado Green is a well-made and durable bed with firmness levels that can appeal to a variety of sleep styles. Pros Eco-conscious materials Temperature neutral Generous trial period Cons Poor edge support Few stand-out features Poor motion isolation $2,099 at Avocado If you have any questions about this piece or you just wanna chat about your favorite products you think we should check out send us an email at shopping.editors@aol.com and we'll write you back! Curious about how we test and choose products at AOL? Heres a quick explanation, from our editors. In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limits. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, acknowledged in its own research that large language models will always produce hallucinations due to fundamental mathematical constraints that cannot be solved through better engineering, marking a significant admission from one of the AI industrys leading companies. The study, published on September 4 and led by OpenAI researchers Adam Tauman Kalai, Edwin Zhang, and Ofir Nachum alongside Georgia Techs Santosh S. Vempala, provided a comprehensive mathematical framework explaining why AI systems must generate plausible but false information even when trained on perfect data. Like students facing hard exam questions, large language models sometimes guess when uncertain, producing plausible yet incorrect statements instead of admitting uncertainty, the researchers wrote in the paper. Such hallucinations persist even in state-of-the-art systems and undermine trust. The admission carried particular weight given OpenAIs position as the creator of ChatGPT, which sparked the current AI boom and convinced millions of users and enterprises to adopt generative AI technology. OpenAIs own models failed basic tests The researchers demonstrated that hallucinations stemmed from statistical properties of language model training rather than implementation flaws. The study established that the generative error rate is at least twice the IIV misclassification rate, where IIV referred to Is-It-Valid and demonstrated mathematical lower bounds that prove AI systems will always make a certain percentage of mistakes, no matter how much the technology improves. Optus has cited a firewall upgrade as the reason why Triple Zero calls made from South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia failed to connect to emergency services last week. The upgrade, which took place around 12:30am on Thursday, resulted in more than 600 emergency calls failing to connect, per ABC News, and four identified deaths as of 21 September, according to Optus. In a statement attributed to the telcos CEO, Stephen Rue, an immediate halt has been placed on network system changes until more information about the situation is understood. After this, Rue said the telco will introduce more monitoring, testing, and compliance and reviews of its change processes. Initial testing and monitoring of the update at the time did not find any issues with calls connecting. However, Rue said there was a technical failure in the system and there were no alarms to alert the telco that emergency calls were not connecting to emergency services. Optus only became aware of the severity of the incident when a customer contacted the telco directly at approximately 1:30pm that day, with another notification sent by South Australia police at 1:50pm. Additionally, Optus technical teams are monitoring Triple Zero call volumes and failure rates on a state-by-state basis 24/7. U.S. universities are disciplining employees over social media posts celebrating or defending Charlie Kirk's assassination, sparking debate over free speech, professionalism and political pressure on campuses. Universities across the United States are moving quickly to discipline employees over social media posts that appeared to celebrate or defend the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot Sept. 10 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. In the aftermath, several faculty and staff members at institutions nationwide drew outrage after posting messages online that critics said mocked his death or justified the attack. Screenshots of the posts spread rapidly, prompting calls from lawmakers and conservative groups for universities to take action. Here are some of the universities that have taken action, and the nature of the posts in question: At the University of Mississippi, Lauren Stokes, an executive assistant to the vice chancellor, was fired after sharing a message that described Kirk as a "reimagined Klan member." Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce said her remarks "run completely counter to our institutional values of civility, fairness and respecting the dignity of each person." At Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, respiratory therapist Stephen Byrom was placed under review after a post suggested Kirk "deserves an unnamed ditch in the middle of nowhere" and called him a "waste of oxygen." The university condemned the post but did not confirm whether he would be terminated. In South Dakota, professor Michael Hook of the School of Fine Arts faced termination proceedings after calling Kirk a "hate-spreading Nazi" in a profanity-laced message. His faculty page has since been removed from the university's website. Middle Tennessee State University dismissed assistant dean Laura Sosh-Lightsy after she wrote, "Looks like ol' Charlie spoke his fate into existence. Hate begets hate. ZERO sympathy." The University of Tennessee began termination proceedings against assistant professor Tamar R. Shirinian, who posted that Kirk was a "disgusting psychopath" and said his children were "better off living in a world without him." At the University of Pennsylvania, climate professor Michael E. Mann mocked Kirk online, at one point referring to him as "the head of Trump's Hitler Youth." Mann later deleted some of his posts and said the language had been inappropriate, but he has not been fired. The disciplinary actions highlight a broader debate about the limits of free speech in academia. While employees have First Amendment protections, universities are weighing whether inflammatory posts violate standards of professionalism and institutional values. Critics argue that political pressure from lawmakers and advocacy groups is influencing decisions, while supporters say institutions have a duty to distance themselves from rhetoric that appears to condone violence. The fallout underscores growing concerns about the normalization of political violence and the tone of online discourse. Universities are expected to continue reviewing similar cases in the weeks ahead, raising questions about where the line will be drawn between private expression and professional accountability. Thats all about funding and good executive buy-in. Everybody wants more with less from an organisation, a company will always demand that but its all a massive balancing act. Thiele believes theres a level of personal account of responsibility that needs to be accounted for in knowing your limits. Know when youre at your breaking point or be able to take advantage of doing things like getting help when you need it, he said. Otherwise, you will break. Executive buy-in and boards Before Thiele joined Interactive as its CISO in 2022, he was the group CISO for Transport NSW. He was accountable for the coordination of cyber security across the agency. His responsibilities were to ensure cyber security controls were uplifted in a consistent and timely manner. I was lucky enough at Transport to have excellent executives who then reported to a board. But there was good buy-in from both, Thiele acknowledged. We were adequately funded I had the ability and the luxury of having somebody that I could depend on for backup. I had a really good director and a cyber leadership team that sat below me that was great. We had a lot of departments that were covering the breadth of Transport, including 30,000 people Thiele said the department had more than 150 cyber security-related employees that would do everything from governance, compliance all the way up to hardcore security operations and network detection. Even with that coverage, we still got hit with commodity issues the stuff below the waterline, he noted. The issues that we had were preventable but everythings preventable with the right controls. What you get, though, is auditors, and especially in the government space, everythings public. The auditor general, who makes audit reports public, theyll come in find things. Thiele explained that these audits will be a combination of looking at whats happened and controls that have gaps in them. At the end of the day, bad guys are always going to win if an organisation is targeted. While their personal accountability is on the line, especially in the public space, cyber professionals have to do the best they can and reinforce that with yourself, said Thiele. Its like any other job; you can be self-critical all you want, but at the end of the day, you break away and go, Its just a job, he said. AI doesnt take the pressure off While the role of AI can mitigate some of the workload, it doesnt help in eliminating the stress cyber professionals feel. Thiele explained that AI like large language models (LLM), can give useful baseline information, but the humans still need to dig deeper themselves. The issues come in when taking agentic AI to the next level and having it automate level one support calls and only escalate for level two, but youve got to be pretty sure that your level one support agent is going to do what it says its going to do, he said. That requires extensive testing and a level of transparency of decision-making criteria. Thats something not really built into LLMs right now, Thiele noted, because they are trained on data funnelled off everything on the internet and is then stuffed into one place. Thats why its biassed, because the internets biassed, and humans are biassed, and humans have political views, and humans can be bad people, said Thiele. Those traits are going to be present in a fake human as well in an LLM. Thats why there still needs to be humans to oversee the training of these LLMs, but that adds more pressure for cyber security leaders. Today's Headlines: Modi calls for India to become self-sufficient while Trump announces a 80,000 tax on H-1B visas used by Indian workers in the US. Lai inaugurates a centre named after Shinzo Abe in Taipei, highlighting the ties between Taiwan and Japan. In Indonesia, newspaper advertisements defend the non-military programmes that Prabowo has entrusted to the army. Armenia joins the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. UN-PALESTINE-ISRAEL The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Portugal officially recognised the Palestinian state yesterday, and six other countries, including France, will do so today at the opening of the UN General Assembly debate on the Franco-Saudi initiative for a two-state solution, which provides for an internationally guaranteed Palestinian administration with Hamas excluded from the government. Israeli leaders reacted harshly: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the birth of a Palestinian state will never happen, while far-right minister Ben Gvir is pushing for the immediate annexation of the West Bank in response to this political act. INDIA In a 19-minute address to the nation on the eve of the entry into force of a number of tax reforms today, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for strengthening swadeshi (national self-sufficiency). Modi emphasised the increased savings capacity that will be offered by the extension of the no tax area on income tax and the reduction in goods and services tax (GST) rates, which he called for to be allocated to the purchase of Made in India products. However, he did not directly mention the heavy trade tariffs imposed by the United States or President Donald Trump's recent decision to introduce a 0,000 fee on H-1B visas, which are most commonly used by highly skilled Indian workers to operate in the US. NORTH KOREA-UNITED STATES North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he has good memories of US President Donald Trump and that Pyongyang is open to talks with Washington, provided the United States renounces its demand for the denuclearisation of the North. Kim's words, delivered in a speech to parliament in Pyongyang, come after Trump, during last month's summit with President Lee Jae Myung, expressed hope of meeting the North Korean leader within the year. The US president will travel to South Korea at the end of October for the APEC summit, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. TAIWAN-JAPAN Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te praised the establishment of a research centre in Taipei named after the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, calling it an important platform for the development of cooperation between Taiwan and Japan. The centre was inaugurated at the College of International Affairs of National Chengchi University (NCCU) in Taipei. We owe the peace we enjoy today in Taiwan, instead of war, to Abe's foresight, Lai said. INDONESIA The Indonesian Ministry of Defence published a full-page advertisement in the country's leading newspaper, explaining and defending the main non-military programmes run by the armed forces, in response to criticism of the growing role of the military under President Prabowo Subianto. Since being elected president last year, Prabowo has increased the number of government posts entrusted to military personnel and involved the armed forces in the implementation of his government programme. ARMENIA Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan announced that Armenia has become a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, a decision that fully corresponds to its ambitious political vision, as confirmed by the Court's secretary, Marcin Czepelak of Poland, with the great significance of making the mechanism for resolving investment disputes effective and developing national projects in the global economy. RUSSIA In October, the new Russian Orthodox messenger Zosima, named in honour of the saint who founded the Solovki Islands monastery, will be presented as a platform for exchanging information on churches in Russia as part of the restoration and construction project Spasi i sokhrani, Save and Preserve, where pages can be created for churches in need of repair, funds can be raised, information can be provided and links to other applications can be shared. by Nirmala Carvalho The nun was accompanying teenagers to a training seminar organised by the Social Services Centre of the Diocese of Jamshedpur. Accused of trafficking and conversions, she was detained for hours at a station until late at night. Once the accusation was proven unfounded, the activity went ahead as planned. But the episode confirms a worrying trend that sees fundamentalists targeting educational activities promoted by Christians in the service of all. Ranchi (AsiaNews) - A Catholic nun, two staff members of the Social Services Centre of the Diocese of Jamshedpur and 19 minors were detained on 19 September at Tatanagar railway station in Jamshedpur, in the Indian state of Jharkhand, by a joint team of local and government railway police. As has unfortunately happened before to groups of girls accompanied by nuns, the arrest followed a complaint by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad - an association of the Hindu nationalist right wing - which claimed that the minors were victims of human trafficking. Members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal claimed that the nun intended to employ the minors in Karandih and convert them to Christianity. Fr Birendra Tete, director of the Centre for Social Services of the Diocese of Jamshedpur, clarified that the minors had been invited to participate in a two-day training programme on adolescent health and skills development at their centre in Sundernagar. Of the 19 children, only a few were Christian because these activities are carried out in the service of all. Complications arose due to the lack of some identity documents and written parental consent. After questioning, the nun, the staff and the minors were released late at night and accompanied to the Centre. The training programme continued as planned and ended on Sunday 21st. Fr Birendra said that the police raised no objections, except for the conversion allegations made by the VHP and Bajrang Dal, and that the diocese intends to respond formally to these allegations. On Friday at 10.30 pm, as soon as I heard about what had happened, I went to the railway station, Fr Alwin, vicar general of the diocese of Jamshedpur, told AsiaNews. "The train normally arrives around 7.30 pm, but that evening it was late. It seems that during the journey someone had already informed the VHP that the nun was bringing some girls with her. So the president of the VHP, together with an organised group, were waiting on the platform. They did not allow the children to get off." We intervened together with representatives of Dalit groups inspired by Dr Ambedkar, the priest continues. They held us there until 2:30 a.m. Then the police arrived, with a female deputy inspector, and we were released with the promise that we would present all the children's documents and a letter signed by their parents. The group had filed a formal complaint for attempted conversion. The following day, the case was referred to the Child Protection Committee, which carried out an inspection. The Dalit groups and even the Sikh community joined together in solidarity, says Fr Alwin. "There is a citizens' forum called the United Forum for Peace and Justice, which intervened in our support. They spoke with the children and the trainers. They expressed regret for what had happened and dissatisfaction with the situation. The children were very upset, adds the vicar general of the diocese, because they were not allowed to move or use the toilets and were kept in the cold on the platform. They even proposed to make them sleep all night in a small room without ventilation. The children clearly explained that they had come to participate in the programme, that they had already been there in the past and knew the institution well, but the VHP continued to ignore them. The programme ran smoothly for two days and yesterday everyone returned to their villages." Syrias interim president is expected to address the 80th United Nations General Assembly. This is a diplomatic coup for Syrias post-Assad leadership. The White House scraps the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 6,000 Syrians in the United States, who now risk arrest and deportation. Damascus (AsiaNews) For the first time since 1967, a Syrian leader will attend the United Nations General Assembly, a significant first after decades of conflict between Washington and Damascus. Interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in New York yesterday to attend the meeting at the UN headquarters, scoring a diplomatic success as well as bolstering his leadership. The leader of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militia, now in power after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, is a former al-Qaeda leader who once had a million bounty on his head. However, in recent months he has received full legitimacy from the White House during a meeting in Riyadh with President Donald Trump; moreover, he has been negotiating recently an agreement with Israel, despite struggling to keep a promise to hold legislative elections, which were recently postponed. The United States lifted most sanctions, following the Saudi-led summit, which effectively brought Syria back into the international fold and ended decades of Western ostracism toward the Assad leadership. This was complemented by the Trump administration's show of support for Sharaa's efforts, so far unsuccessful, to stabilise the country and unify its diverse communities; in fact, deep divisions remain, especially with the Druze, and in the northeast with the Kurds, with frequent outbreaks of sectarian violence. The interim Syrian president is scheduled to deliver his first address to the United Nations General Assembly, which opens its 80th session tomorrow amid a turbulent international climate and a growing risk of global conflict. The last Syrian leader to attend the United Nations General Assembly, was President Noureddin al-Atassi, who ruled before the Assad clan came to power in 1971, holding the country in their grip until they were overthrown last December after a long civil war. Al-Sharaa arrived in New York leading a large Syrian delegation, in what state media called a historic trip. The visit is highly symbolic since it represents the latest milestone in the process of normalising al-Sharaa who set up his government after seizing power in a lightning offensive at the end of more than a decade of fighting in the north. In an interview with CBS's Face the Nation, the Syrian leader stated that President Trump took a big step towards Syria by lifting the sanctions with a quick, courageous and historic decision. The Syrian leader calls for a "safe, stable and unified" country because it is "in the greatest interest of all countries in the world, not just Syria," while also hoping for another meeting with the US president during his stay in the United States. We need to discuss a great many issues and mutual interests between Syria and the USA. We must restore relations in a good and direct way, he said. After arriving in the US, al-Sharaa met with members of the Syrian community, while Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani also raised the country's new flag at the embassy in Washington. Meanwhile, the United States has ended the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syrians, warning Syrians that they now risk arrest and deportation if they do not leave the country within 60 days. The measure adopted on 19 September is part of the White House's policy of detention and deportation, which aims to strip migrants of their legal status in the United States. According to a notice published in the Federal Register, the TPS will be revoked for more than 6,000 Syrians who have benefited from it since 2012. Conditions in Syria no longer prevent their nationals from returning home, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. Syria has been a hotbed of terrorism and extremism for nearly two decades, and it is contrary to our national interest to allow Syrians to remain in our country, she added. The statement notes that Syrians currently living in the United States have about two months to voluntarily leave the country and return home. After the 60 days have expired, any Syrian national admitted under TPS who have (sic) not begun their voluntary removal proceedings will be subject to arrest and deportation, it reads. 22 September 2025 15:46 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more On September 22, the Baku Military Court continued the trial of citizens of the Republic of Armenia, presenting additional documents related to the case, Azernews reports. One document detailed the intense shelling of the villages of Malibeyli and Gushchular in the Shusha region in February 1992 using both small and large arms, as well as heavy equipment. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 12 residents of Malibeyli, three people went missing, four were killed in Gushchular, and nine were taken hostage. Another document concerned the shooting of a Laz bus in the Khojavend region on September 8, 1991. The report stated that Armenians armed with automatic weapons fired on the bus near the Kish village farm, killing seven people on the spot and injuring 27 others. The trial addresses crimes committed during Armenias military aggression, including acts against peace and humanity, war crimes, preparation and conduct of a war of aggression, genocide, violations of the laws of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, forcible seizure and retention of power, and other related offenses. Two pandas at a zoo in central France will return to China in November after the female was diagnosed with kidney failure, the park's director told AFP on Monday. Huan Huan and her partner Yuan Zi arrived at the Beauval Zoo in 2012 as part of China's "panda diplomacy" programme, which sees the black-and-white bears dispatched across the globe as soft-power ambassadors. The two pandas, both 17, had been due to stay in France until January 2027 but they will return to the Chengdu panda sanctuary, said zoo director Rodolphe Delord, adding that the zoo had been in touch with the Chinese authorities. "The female has kidney failure, a chronic disease common in ageing carnivores. We therefore prefer to transport her to China before her condition worsens," he told AFP, adding she still showed a good appetite and normal behaviour. Delord said Huan Huan and Yuan Zi were expected to return to China in November 2025 "so they can live out their retirement in peace". The pair produced three cubs while in France -- the first pandas to do so in the country -- and became star attractions at the Beauval zoo in Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher. The eldest of the offspring, Yuan Meng, left France in 2024, while twins born in 2021 are expected to remain at the Beauval zoo for the time being "to raise visitors' awareness of the need to protect this iconic species", Delord said. The giant panda was downgraded last year from "endangered" to "vulnerable" on the global list of at-risk species. Delord said he hoped to extend the zoo's partnership with China beyond 2027. "And perhaps bring more pandas in the future," he added. The Beauval Zoo welcomed some two million visitors in 2023, generating revenues of around 113 million euros ($133 million). 22 September 2025 13:24 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more In the first half of 2025, Azerbaijans non-oil sector exports rose to $1.8 billion, with strong growth across food products, chemical industry goods, fruits and vegetables, and cotton yarn, reflecting the countrys successful diversification strategy. In 2024 alone, enterprises operating in these zones achieved sales worth 3.3 billion manats, of which over 1 billion manats came from exports. At the macroeconomic level, Azerbaijan recorded real GDP growth of 4.1% in 2024, driven by services, transportation, construction, and communications, underlining the resilience of its economy and the confidence it continues to inspire among investors. Renewable energy is also becoming more than just rhetoric: solar and wind projects, as well as green energy zones in Garabagh and East Zangazur... Access to paid information is limited Find the plan that suits you best. 22 September 2025 17:05 (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. Economic relations between Azerbaijan and African states, though still modest in comparison with other regions, have experienced remarkable growth. In 2024, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Africa reached approximately $782 million, representing a 32 percent increase compared to 2023. This surge highlights a clear upward trend and growing interest on both sides. Azerbaijans exports to Africa have shown especially strong momentum. In 2023, exports amounted to... 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! 22 September 2025 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more On September 22, the First Azerbaijan International Investment Forum opened in Baku under the patronage of President Ilham Aliyev. The event is organized by the Ministry of Economy and the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), in strategic partnership with The European House Ambrosetti (TEHA), and with media and organizational support from Euronews and Sea Breeze. The forum has brought together government officials, business leaders, and international investors. Shahmar Movsumov, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Department for Economic Issues and Innovative Development Policy of the Presidential Administration, read President Aliyevs message to the participants. The forum serves as a unique platform for exploring the investment potential of countries located at the strategic crossroads of East and West, while shaping the future of global trade and sustainable supply chains. Participants will gain valuable insights into new paradigms of global competitiveness, while also building high-level connections, signing strategic agreements, and forging new partnerships. The program features plenary sessions, institutional and panel discussions, thematic dialogues, and an exhibition highlighting Azerbaijans investment opportunities and potential. Over two days, the forum will discuss regional cooperation and investment prospects in energy, transport, industry, agriculture, digital development, healthcare, and real estate. The first days agenda includes plenary sessions and four panels on regional integration, transit opportunities, energy and infrastructure projects, innovation, green energy, real estate, urban development, and sustainable growth. The second day will focus on public-private partnerships, finance, healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, digital health, agriculture, agribusiness, food industry, industrialization, small and medium enterprises, the green transition, and inclusive entrepreneurship. 22 September 2025 10:41 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Azerbaijan is positioning itself not only as a geographic center in the South Caucasus but also as a natural hub for logistics, energy, and other key sectors, Azernews reports, citing Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, as he said at the First Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku on September 22. The minister opened his remarks by highlighting the broader context of the forum: I believe that following the historic agreement signed on August 8with the participation of President Aliyev, Prime Minister Pashinyan, and President Trumpon a preliminary peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the establishment of the Zangezur Corridor (also referred to as TRIP), this forum has gained special significance in the context of fully realizing the economic potential of the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Azerbaijan stands not only as a geographic crossroads but also as a natural hub in logistics, energy, and beyond. My proposal is to evaluate Azerbaijans and the regions value proposition in this context. Jabbarov emphasized that the forum examines the duality between fragmented and growing economies, noting Azerbaijans growing role in regional integration: Economically, Azerbaijan is also part of the Middle East, which explains why we are implementing vision-driven projects that move beyond our strong traditional energy base towards diversification. From a political perspective, regional economic integration is becoming more visible. We often discuss East-West connectivity, which will remain important in the future, but the North-South dimension should not be overlooked. The minister also underlined the states continuing role in stimulating economic activity: The main function of the state is to preserve stability and ensure macroeconomic and financial resilience. The numbers speak for themselves. From the investors perspective, we will increasingly see the development of public-private partnership (PPP) models, with the state not only serving as a stabilizer but also as a promoter. Some of these projects are carried out with friendly countries, while others are implemented on a sovereign basis. One such PPP agreement will be signed right after this session. Turning to external markets, Jabbarov stressed the central role of Europe, particularly Italy, as one of Azerbaijans key trade and economic partners: This is due to the significant role of Azerbaijani oil and gas in European markets. We supply energy not to just one but to 14 countries, 12 of which are in Europe. Beyond the traditional energy sector, there are also extensive opportunities in renewables. On diversification, he added: Our approach is not just to invite local and foreign investors to operate in Azerbaijan but also to share risks. We welcome technology transfers. In this context, growing economic cooperation with Chinese companies reflects a new chapter in Azerbaijans expanding partnerships. Concluding his remarks, the minister thanked participants: My colleagues and I will be available throughout these two days, and I would like to once again express my gratitude to all esteemed guests, ministers, and officials who accepted our invitation to visit Azerbaijan. 22 September 2025 15:29 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more A grand concert dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the great composer Uzeyir Hajibayli, the founder of modern professional music in Azerbaijan, author of the first opera in the East, and composer of the National Anthem of Azerbaijan, has been held at Ganja State Philharmonic Hall, Azernews reports. The event opened with a welcoming speech by the director of the Ganja Philharmonic Hall, composer and People's Artist Aygun Samadzade, who emphasized the significance of the festival and highlighted Uzeyir Hajibayli's key role in the development of Azerbaijani musical culture. The concert featured performances by the Ganja Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra led by People's Artist Rafael Bayramov, the Folk Instruments Orchestra under the artistic direction and conduction of Hayal Gahramanov, and the Goygol State Song and Dance Ensemble (choreographer Senan Javadov). The program included selected works from Uzeyir Hajibayli's rich creative legacy, performed by People's Artist Sevinj Ibrahimova, Honored Artist Kamala Taghizade, Honored Cultural Worker Mehpara Jafarova, and vocalists Elmir Pishnamazzade, Sehri Aliyeva, and Vasif Bayramov. The concert repertoire featured the piece "Jangi," the overture from the opera "Koroglu," musical fragments from the opera "Leyli and Majnun," songs and dances from the operetta "The Cloth Peddler," as well as traditional folk dances. All performances were met with enthusiastic applause from the audience. This musical evening, held as part of the festival, once again demonstrated that Uzeyir Hajibayli's work is a priceless treasure not only of Azerbaijani national music but also of global musical culture. This year, by decree of President Ilham Aliyev, the 140th anniversary of Uzeyir Hajibayli's birth is being celebrated with numerous events. The anniversary is also being marked within the framework of the 17th Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival, which runs from September 18 to 28, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry in more than 10 cities and regions of Azerbaijan, as well as in Uzbekistan, Austria, Germany, Turkiye, and other countries. 22 September 2025 16:25 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more On the initiative of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, the ICESCO Director-General Salim bin Mohammed AlMalik has visited Turkistan, Kazakhstan, where he met with the faculty and students of the Faculty of Theology at the Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Azernews reports. During the meeting, they had an in-depth exchange of ideas on the prospects of cooperation in the fields of science and education, the upbringing of the younger generation in the spirit of religious and moral values, as well as potential joint projects that could be implemented in the future. Later, the guests were introduced to the international exhibition "Divan-i Lughat al-Turk" and its rare exhibits, historical manuscripts, and objects highlighting the cultural construction aspects of the Turks in the 11th century. The exhibition was inaugurated in a ceremonial manner at the Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University through the collaboration of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and the Akimat of the Turkistan Region. At the end of the event, Salim bin Mohammed AlMalik answered the students' questions, praising their interest in science and education, and expressed his confidence that they would play a significant role in the future development of the Turkic-Islamic world. The Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation was established following the decision made at the Astana Summit on September 11, 2015. The Foundation's Secretariat is based in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Foundation's primary goals are to preserve, research, and promote Turkic culture and heritage through funding, support, and various projects. To achieve these objectives, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation plans to allocate funds for the preservation, protection, restoration, and promotion of Turkic culture and heritage. It also aims to assist with scientific and technical challenges related to safeguarding and enhancing Turkic culture. The Foundation supports the education of specialists in the fields of cultural protection, restoration, and promotion, and organizes seminars, workshops, conferences, congresses, field studies, and exhibitions. It also assists in the creation of electronic and print scientific journals and publications, sponsors contests, festivals, and tournaments, and aids in the revival and development of traditional crafts and applied arts in Turkic-speaking regions. Furthermore, the Foundation helps craftsmen, artists, and other creative professionals protect their intellectual property rights. With an expanding network of partnerships within its member states and beyond, the Foundation has successfully signed Memorandums of Understanding with numerous international organizations and national institutions. With its rich cultural legacy, Azerbaijan joined the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) in 1991. Since then, Azerbaijan has actively promoted the preservation of its Islamic cultural heritage. The country successfully collaborates closely with various organizations, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Conference of Parliamentary Union, and the Islamic Conference of Youth Forum. 22 September 2025 10:42 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has addressed the participants of the First Azerbaijan International Investment Forum held in Baku, Azernews reports. "Dear Forum participants, I cordially welcome you to the First Azerbaijan International Investment Forum. I express my confidence that this Forum held in Azerbaijan for the first time, will become an important platform to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, build new partnership ties, discuss leading ideas and projects, and attract new investments to the country. Since gaining its independence, Azerbaijan has been placing a special emphasis on the collaboration with foreign investors, and realizing projects with leading world companies that have a great significance for both our country, and the region. Social and economic reforms implemented in Azerbaijan and its integration into the global economy have opened up wider and favorable opportunities for international businesses in our country. Indeed, this explains the investments in the amount of 344,4 billion USD put in our economy in the span of 2004-2024 with its considerable part or 213,2 billion USD directed into the non-oil sectors. This is a clear showcase of confidence of foreign investors in Azerbaijan, the security and stability environment created in our country. Currently, thousands of businesses with foreign capital are active in Azerbaijan. This is a considerable contribution to shape the competitive and sustainable economy based on modern corporate governance in our country. This confidence we gained, have made foreign companies to reinvest their revenues into the national economy still today. The Azerbaijani economys sits on strong and fundamental bedrock. The Contract of the Century signed on the initiative of National Leader Heydar Aliyev has entered into the history as a model of exemplary collaboration of global scale by laying down strong foundations to develop large transnational projects and logistical hubs running from Asia to Europe in subsequent years. As the territorial integrity of our country was secured, Azerbaijans efforts helped to put the basis for lasting peace, stability and sustainable development in the region. For the time being, Azerbaijan relies already on the economic diplomacy in its foreign policy to build new cooperative ties, and further expand non-oil sectors, and the national tourism potential in particular. Today, the economic growth in Azerbaijan has transformed into a long lasting stable trend. During the period of 2021-2024, non-oil sector rose annually by 6,7% in average while its share in national economy has reached 68%. Non-oil export of last six months, has almost doubled. It explicitly shows an increasing competitiveness of our country. All these achievements are supported by creating modern production infrastructure in the country: currently, we have 9 industrial parks and 4 industrial sites. These clusters register 171 enterprises with 98 of them starting already production outputs. Over 6,9 billion manats are invested into industrial zones with almost 11 thousand jobs created. The private sector share in the economy has reached 81,4% resulting from the application of innovative ideas, public-private partnership mechanisms and implemented reforms. The continuous development of economy has boosted the welfare of population and broadened financial capabilities of the country. The State budget revenues of 2025 have increased by 2,4 times compared to 2017 as the strategic foreign currency reserves have gone up by 1,9 times while the public foreign debt continued its downtrend by 6,5% in relation to GDP turning into one of the lowest indicators on world scale. The favorable geographic location of Azerbaijan makes our country to become a strategic hub of regional economic policy. The transit volume of goods through the Middle Corridor is increasing each year. This indicator is expected to ramp up in next years, in particular, with commissioning of the Zangezur corridor. The modern infrastructure created in the country, including Baku International Trade Sea Port, Alat Free Economic Zone and modern railway network offer all amenities to the investors in terms of direct access to global markets and high transit efficiency. At the same time, special economic zones coupled with modern transportation and digital infrastructure offer ready-to-go platforms for production, logistics, renewable energy, digital services and high value chain agriculture. Our energy policy is playing an important role in fostering international economic positions of Azerbaijan. Currently, Azerbaijan is the strategic energy partner with several countries both in fossil fuel and renewables. In addition to the natural gas, solar and wind energy projects, green energy zone in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, including applied concepts of smart infrastructure, are turning our country into one of leading participants of global energy transition. Thus, Azerbaijan is fostering todays energy security, but building also the green economy of tomorrow. The rule of law in the country, formed political stability and protection of investments are playing the role of fundamental factor for our economic policies and create the confidence environment for investors in long term. Relying on its created infrastructure and legal assurances, Azerbaijan stands ready to support business projects, and advance partnerships that bring technology, investments and experience. At the same time, PPP mechanism help investors to connect to sustainable projects. Our successes gained in the area of fossil fuel, get its completion by digital economy and technological transformations today. Expansion of cloud Technologies, development of digital data infrastructure and incorporation of innovative solutions into main sectors of the economy, broaden the positions of Azerbaijan to play a strategically central role in the areas of high tech and AI in the future. Azerbaijan constantly supports projects offering creative initiatives, and opportunities for business people to run more profitable activities. I believe that our partners benefiting from such advantages presented by Azerbaijan, can greatly contribute to the sustainable development of our country, its technological progress and the prosperity of region as a whole. The First Azerbaijan International Investment Forum held today, marks the onset of a new stage of cooperation and investment attraction. Our main goal is to realize innovative business ideas and broaden favorable business opportunities. I invite you all to bring capital, technology and ideas to Azerbaijan. I am confident that the reflection of your ideas and initiatives in real projects of Azerbaijan, will set a strong basis for successful cooperation and common welfare. I wish every success to the work of Forum and new beneficial partnerships to all participants." 22 September 2025 10:58 (UTC+04:00) The Azerbaijani economy sits on strong and fundamental bedrock, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in his address to the participants of the First Azerbaijan International Investment Forum held in Baku, Azernews reports. The Contract of the Century, signed on the initiative of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, has entered into history as a model of exemplary collaboration of global scale by laying down strong foundations to develop large transnational projects and logistical hubs running from Asia to Europe in subsequent years, the head of state noted. As the territorial integrity of our country was secured, Azerbaijans efforts helped to lay the basis for lasting peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region. For the time being, Azerbaijan already relies on economic diplomacy in its foreign policy to build new cooperative ties and further expand non-oil sectors, with national tourism potential in particular, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized. 22 September 2025 17:12 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more On September 22, the First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijani Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, met with the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus and First Deputy Minister of Defense, Major General Pavel Muraveyko, during a working visit to Belarus, Azernews reports via the Ministry of Defense. During one-on-one and extended meetings, the officials discussed prospects for further expansion and development of military cooperation, as well as regional security issues. The parties also exchanged detailed views on topics of mutual interest, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration between the two countries armed forces. 22 September 2025 16:11 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The European Union has reaffirmed its support for the normalisation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as for advancing regional connectivity in the South Caucasus, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said following her visit to the region, Azernews reports. The EU strongly supports the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation process and stands ready to invest in regional connectivity. By opening trade routes, linking infrastructure, and bringing people closer together, we can transform todays opportunity into lasting peace and shared prosperity. The announcements during my visit put concrete resources behind this vision, turning recent diplomatic progress into tangible results for the whole region, Kos stated. According to the EUs statement, in Baku, Commissioner Kos agreed with Azerbaijani officials to establish a High-Level Economic Working Group aimed at strengthening economic cooperation and driving investments within the framework of the Global Gateway initiative. She also confirmed the EUs continued support for mine-affected areas, noting that through the Team Europe Initiative, the EU and its member states have become the leading donor for humanitarian demining in Azerbaijan, providing up to 23 million. In Yerevan, Kos announced the adoption of the second instalment of the EUs 270 million Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia, which totals 202.5 million. The funding is aimed at bolstering reforms and enhancing socio-economic resilience. Additionally, a High-Level Policy Dialogue was launched to monitor reform progress on strategic priorities under the bilateral agenda. The EU also emphasised its readiness to support Armenias democratic resilience and election integrity in the run-up to the 2026 parliamentary elections. Arab League welcomes Britain, Canada and Australia's recognition of Palestine Xinhua) 08:45, September 22, 2025 CAIRO, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Sunday welcomed the recognition of an independent State of Palestine by Britain, Canada and Australia. In a post on his X account, Aboul-Gheit said the recognition "corrects a historical error that has persisted for years." He added that the move also aligns with the demands of the people in those countries to support the Palestinian right to independence and to live with dignity. "We anticipate more impactful international recognitions soon," he said. Earlier on Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a video statement that Britain "formally recognizes the State of Palestine," calling for a shift back to a two-state solution. A joint statement by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: "Australia recognizes the legitimate and long-held aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also issued a statement on Sunday confirming Canada's recognition of the State of Palestine. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) by Richard Farr Terrified people from ethnic minorities being threatened, rounded up, and beaten by heavily armed men in uniforms or not-quite-uniforms: we have seen these images before. In the US, the theory endlessly parroted to us over the decades has been that the Founders exceptional wisdom meant American institutions would protect us from such uncivilized nastiness. (Such characteristically European nastiness: Jefferson himself put it this way, looking down his nose at the old systems he thought he had transcended.) Well, well. Now that the shiny new system has failed now that Blackshirt Theater is playing in our streets and on our farms and in our parking lots, to entertain the Fuhrer we have to make the best of one small silver lining, which is that you hear the customary smug nonsense about exceptionalism less and less. Americas institutions are not in danger of failing, as they were in 1972 or 2016 for example. Now, under the weight of 2025, they have failed, and the only question is whether they can be rebuilt one day. We are in the midst of existential catastrophe, waking up to the fact that the checks and the balances never were uniquely wise, or uniquely well-protected against failure, and that for now they are part of history. The upper echelons of the chatterati, paid to wear ties and sound sober, will scoff at this. The air of finality is grossly premature, they will say. Weve weathered crises before and maybe the Dems will win the mid-terms and restore democracy. Piffle. Consider Gavin Newsoms current brinksmanship over gerrymandering and bear in mind that this practice, to which we have become inured, is impossible in most actually functioning democracies because independent commissions draw electoral boundaries and interference with that process by political parties is scarcely imaginable and anyway illegal. So back to Texas, where the Party of Lincoln finds that with respect to the assassination of democracy it is in blood / Stepped in so far, that, should we wade no more / Returning were as tedious as go oer. Egged on from the far side of perdition by those masters of dark comedy Abbot and Trumpello, the Texas Republicans have now dismantled the last vestiges of any claim that Texas has a system of government run by, for, or in the interests of its citizens. The whole point of the new redistricting is to circle the wagons so tightly around Biglys Poodles so that they and their owner are safe once and for all from the threat posed by the practice of voting. In California, Governor Newsom has decided to fight fire with fire. Maybe thats the right decision, because there really is no alternative, and maybe it isnt: I offer no judgement. I only note that dismantling any last vestiges of democracy in California too will probably result in a chain reaction from sea to shining sea; if so, regardless of who wins the midterms the resulting salted wasteland will be almost impossible to coax to an honest harvest again. The biggest problem of all being to get the Democratic Party to admit that the status quo ante, which we have no plausible path back to, was already undemocratic in myriad ways. A republic, if you can keep it: Franklin knew better than most of his descendants that it always was a fragile, flawed, Rube Goldberg contraption one easily smashed by, say, a single evil creep with the right skills. Which brings me to the topic of evil creeps with the right skills. Hobbes famously warns us that living without a central state authority can be a bummer, but he was no Pollyanna about living in a badly-managed or corrupt state either. You could be living with a well-meaning incompetent in the wheelhouse not ideal. Or with a klatch of competent or incompetent weasels who want to entrench their control while syphoning off a nest-egg never lovely. Or with a well-meaning competent often worse, because the road to hell etc. etc. But an equally common fate, driving so much of our collective misery in this and all past ages, is getting stuck with the kind of man almost invariably a man who combines great political ability with a truly psychotic, unhinged, unrelated-to-any-other-purpose lust for power and (yet more) wealth. Hobbes loved the old metaphor of a body politic, and it can be useful here to think in terms of that bodys sickening. If you like ornate labels, you might call our current condition kratopathocracy. For some reason I prefer the term Lukashenko. Lukashenko is a complex condition and its etiology is unclear, but poor education, widespread gullibility and a willingness to fear the wrong things are almost always present before other symptoms emerge. A bewildering number of these symptoms mark the first infection, and each alas is easy to dismiss as a minor, temporary ailment. Otherwise healthy patients may suddenly exhibit shriveled Orbans. Calcification of the Erdogan is very common too, or a bloated Xi. The Posterior Isaias and Lesser Kim may emit a foul-smelling pus; as the disease develops, the lungs fill with multiple Sauds and the patient begins to cough up bloody clots of Netanyahu. An eye exam will reveal the onset of acute Mbasogo, often with inoperable Kamenei, and at the same time the entire skin develops a pink Ortega which later turns a surprising black, and erupts in clusters of scaly, suppurating Tatmadaws. Even at this stage some of the worst symptoms may miraculously vanish, like a generalized Assad that wracks the whole skeleton with terrible pain before vanishing. But by then its often too late. The urine turns a milky shade of Putin. The breathing becomes audibly Museveni. For the patient, death is imminent. Alas, the symptoms always survive, mutate, and find a new host. Research indicates that an XY chromosome is almost invariably a factor in the diseases progression but lets head off some potential misunderstanding about this. Scarce one Y-Chrom in ten million has any interest in gaining control of the body politic, much less the ability to do so. Of those few, again only a tiny fraction have the sociopathic form of irrationality that drives them to defend their acquisition of power and money without limit. Its a rare man indeed who combines the necessary factors. But a few rare men are all you need to ruin a world. * Teaching courses on critical thinking, Ive sometimes asked students to brainstorm examples of plain falsehoods that were once generally accepted. Four common suggestions are geocentrism, the reality of magic, disease understood as divine punishment, and disease understood as an imbalance of the bodily humours. Each of these, I try to nudge them into noting, is less a belief in a single fact than a commitment to a general explanatory theory a bad theory, but one the attraction of which is intelligible in the absence of competition. Most will agree that its wrong to dismiss people in the past as stupid for having believed these things. A fifth bad theory, interesting in a different way, is that women are less rational than men. This is not just false and now known to be false. That some still seem to believe it now boggles the mind, but its also different from the other theories in that its also hard to make sense of people genuinely believing it even in the past. Surely its falsehood should have been obvious then too? To confront it and think about it, and still believe it, really did require a special and carefully learned stupidity even among the Greeks, even among the Church Fathers, even among the Victorians. Id say its a plausible candidate for Most Obviously Stupid Generally Accepted Belief of All Time. Theres a lot to consider here, but lets stick with bar fights, murders and wars. What percentage have been the fault of women? One per cent, you say? Ill raise you: one per cent of one percent. And what explanation for this stares us in the face? Sure, you could chip away at the numbers by noting that women, being less powerful socially and politically, have had less opportunity to exercise their lust for domination, cruelty, and both the encouragement and unleashing of irrational but cathartic violence. But the obvious remains obvious, does it not, if only we can raise our eyes from our beer paunches and look at it? Overwhelmingly, the evidence of history and common psychology is that it is men, not women, whose behavior is best explained by their fragility and instability and egomania, their persistent itch to strut and control. Their hormones! And more generally: their inability to rationally control their own emotions. The old calumny by which this is stood on its head can be found everywhere, but its especially sobering to see it at work in philosophy, which of all historys bro-clubs has been the one most keen to profess some special authority in the matter of right reasoning. The excellent Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy could I think be improved with the addition of a full-dress article 20,000 words should cover it on Transparently Irrational Sexism About Women in Male Philosophers. But perhaps that would be overkill: all you really need to do is read a bit of Hegel, who thinks men are Reason and Women are Emotion (I use the word thinks only loosely here), or better yet read Schopenhauers mercifully short essay On Women. No denying that these two mutual despisers are intelligent; all the more impressive then how utterly, catastrophically, cringe-inducingly their intelligence throws in the towel and runs for the exit in the face of their schoolboy ignorance, their inchoate anger, their cartoonish prejudice. (Ive heard Schopenhauer defended on the grounds that he had a bad relationship with his mother. She was either (a) a shrieking harpy out of Hades or else (b) merely a woman exasperated beyond endurance by her exasperating son; delete as preferred. Far from exonerating the son, this only underlines the point that apparently a bit of family drama is enough to drown like a sickly kitten the reasoning power of even the most talented male thinkers. Schopenhauers trajectory shows not that women are weak and irrational but that he needs to buy a mirror.) Leaving enraged little Arthur behind for now, why in general is the Big Lie about women believed? As so often with persistent false beliefs (see under Divine Right, aristocracy, natural slavery, the threat posed by immigrants, and the stupidity of sheep and chickens): not because of the evidence, but because of the convenience. Men say what they say about women because believing it makes them feel superior, important, in control, the need for which is itself a big fat lapel badge advertising emotion-driven irrationality. * Bar fights rank low among our problems, wars not so much. But I want to come back to that great underlying cause of war (and so much else) already mentioned: Lukashenko. And I offer you the following fun after-dinner topic for lively conversation: Who is currently the worst leader in the world? I dont mean most evil exactly. Cruelty tends to go hand in hand with the unrestrained craving for power but isnt identical with it. Not every bad leader is an Idi Amin, who personally beheaded opponents with a machete, or Pinochet, who had them dropped into the sea from airplanes, or Assad, who built industrial-scale torture centers at which the mass graves are only now being uncovered. And most irrational isnt it either, since the problem with our most truly awful men is always that their ungovernable rage to dominate is combined with intelligence and skill in the pursuit. Rather, Im thinking of the question: who is doing the most damage? As a Brit, I can say with confidence that no living person has done my country more damage than Boris Johnson but hes a small potato. Like T1 after 2016, he was contemptible and ridiculous and showed great talent both in duping hoi poloi and in nurturing corruption in his servitors. But like T1 his buffoonery and fecklessness limited the damage. T2 is a different matter entirely. The white heat of his personal vileness is now backed by a dedicated ideological machine, the very machine he claimed to have little knowledge of and nothing to do with. And, though his policies are mostly not his (how could they be, when he couldnt tell Iran from Iraq on a map?) he does have one Big Idea gifted to him by his bestie Vlad the Invader. This is to think of politics in terms of personal fiefdoms, the way Caligula, Alexander, Ivan, Napoleon, Mao and Mugabe did, to name a few. Its this inextricable link between a fairy tale of national or ethnic glorification and the actual project of one mans personal glorification plus that one mans genius for destroying the self-respect and common decency of the people closest to him that drives so much destruction. I was taught to be dismissive of the Great Man view of history. The truth lay in technological change, or the longue duree, or the class struggle; to think it all hinged on a few charismatic leaders was simplistic and naive. But contemplating the worst men we have now, and appreciating how rare, how similar, and how disastrous they are, has made me suspect that the boot might be on the other historiographical foot. At certain points in the modern world after 1789, obviously, and again for example after 1918 and 1945 and 1989, we have been able to indulge the thought that our institutions have at last allowed us to neutralize the threat of such men, and escape their influence. Yet this disease, which seems to consist in nothing more than the existence of a particular type of man, continues to infect us over and over. It makes me wonder: is there some far future in which we might get on with the project of civilization without this constant sickening? A future in which far more of our leaders are women perhaps, and in fuller control of their emotions or in which at any rate Lukashenko, like smallpox, has been eradicated at last? Perhaps we could genetically identify in utero each of those one in half a billion men who are destined to be Bad Boys, and assign them to lifetime jobs in the Sanitation Department on a remote island? Or maybe the CDC cold come up with a vaccine? OK, sorry, I forgot. Not that, not any more. Maybe castration would help? Just brainstorming. 22 September 2025 19:33 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Baku is steering into a greener future. Azernews reports that Azerbaijan has officially launched a project to assemble electric buses domestically, signalling a powerful shift in the countrys public transport landscape. The landmark agreement was signed during the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum, with Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov joining forces with leaders from Improtex Group and MAN Truck & Bus. The collaboration promises to put Azerbaijan on the fast lane toward eco-friendly transportation. The initiative aims to charge up the nations commitment to sustainable mobility while expanding the electric bus fleet across the country. In a move thats both forward-looking and energy-conscious, Azerbaijan is not just driving busesits driving change. With electric buses silently gliding through city streets, the government hopes to prove that progress doesnt have to come with a loud footprint. For citizens, this means cleaner air, quieter streets, and a bus ride thats literally and figuratively charged with innovation. As Azerbaijan invests in its electric mobility infrastructure, the project sends a clear message: the future is electric, and the nation is ready to hit the accelerator. In the coming years, the streets of Baku and other cities may hum with quiet efficiency, showcasing a sustainable vision thats both ambitious and electrifying. 22 September 2025 22:11 (UTC+04:00) President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were welcomed by officials at New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport. On September 22, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived in New York City, United States, on a working visit to participate in the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, 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! 22 September 2025 23:01 (UTC+04:00) On September 22, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met in New York with Bruce Flatt, CEO of Brookfield Asset Management, one of the worlds largest alternative investment management companies, Azernews reports. Bruce Flatt noted that his visit to Azerbaijan in 2023 left a deep impression due to the countrys economic achievements and development processes. He highlighted the increasingly expanding successful cooperation between his company and the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Bruce Flatt congratulated Azerbaijan on the results achieved in Washington regarding the normalization of relations with Armenia, stating that this creates favorable opportunities for deepening economic cooperation in the region. Hailing the successful development of relations between Azerbaijan and Brookfield Asset Management, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that this creates broad opportunities for the long-term strategic development of their cooperation. During the conversation, they shared their views on Azerbaijans potential in the renewable energy sector and the prospects for the country to become a regional energy hub. Brookfield Asset Management, founded in 1899 and headquartered in Canada, is a leading global company in alternative investment management. The company manages investment portfolios in key areas such as infrastructure, real estate, renewable energy, private equity, and credits. Currently, the total value of assets under Brookfields management exceeds $1 trillion. The company is represented in major financial centers worldwide, including New York, London, Sydney, Dubai, Sao Paulo, Mumbai, and Shanghai. 23 September 2025 01:07 (UTC+04:00) On September 22, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Jonathan Gray, President and Chief Operating Officer of Blackstone, in New York. Jonathan Gray underlined that Azerbaijans economic reforms and development processes have created attractive opportunities for international investors. He noted that Blackstone is keen to expand its successful cooperation with Azerbaijan, particularly with the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and highly praised the favorable investment environment established in the country. President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to cooperation with leading global financial institutions, noting that the countrys economic environment, built on principles of stability, transparency, and sustainable development, provides a solid basis for new partnerships. Founded in 1985 in New York, Blackstone is one of the worlds largest alternative investment management companies. Its investment portfolios cover private equity, real estate, credit, infrastructure, data centers, renewable energy, and hedge funds. The company currently manages assets worth over 1 trillion US dollars and operates in 27 cities worldwide, including London, Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore, and Tokyo. 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. Heres how you can generate a side hustle from TikTok or escape the 9-to-5 grind completely In mid-June, while waiting for her Ryanair flight to Italy to take off, Claire Clarkson got her daughter to film her attaching a car phoneholders magnetic suction to the back of a seat on the plane so she could watch downloaded films and TV en route to her holiday destination. Ex-DUP leader and current MP to be witnesses in 12-week Nama trial, jury told as it is sworn in Long list of key crown witnesses read to jury of nine men and three women as huge trial gets under way Frank Cushnahan and Ian Coulter in court on September 22nd 2025 Sam McBride Mon 22 Sep 2025 at 14:47 Peter Robinson and Sammy Wilson will be among a host of high-profile witnesses called in a major corruption trial involving the sale of Namas Northern Ireland loans, a jury was told this morning. A judge was urged today to send two men to prison for a minimum of 20 years without parole for the murder of convicted criminal Malcolm McKeown, to reflect societys revulsion at the scourge of gangland violence. UK Andrew attends christening in first royal event since being stripped of titles The family of a Co Armagh woman who died while receiving cancer treatment in London are urging the Health Minister to reach an all-island agreement that would allow Northern Ireland patients to access a specialist service in the Republic. Jason Manford: Smashing game of padel at @belfastboatclub another one this afternoon and then off to Derry Comedian Jason Manford has left a glowing review after visiting an independent bookstore in Londonderry. The Salford-born star purchased a number of books from Irish authors and signed the LegenDerry Chair at Little Acorns Bookstore. He then left a positive review of the shop before heading to Belfast Boat Club for a game of Padel last week. Jason Manford visited the Little Acorns Bookstore in Derry Manford praised the staff who work in the shop as super friendly and knowledgeable in a Facebook post, which now has over 1,000 likes. Found this lovely independent bookshop in Derry on Saturday, Little Acorns Bookstore, and met its delightful owner, Jenni, he wrote. Super friendly and knowledgeable she pointed me in the right direction for a new book! Id gone in for Stephen King but ended up being convinced to buy some Irish writers: Michael Magee, Seamas OReilly, Darach MacDonald, Brian McGilloway, Liz Nugent, Niamh Donnellan, Ellen Ryan and Nicol Heaney. Manford had been in NI for his A Manford All Seasons tour. Jason Manford signed teh LegenDerry Chair at the bookshop News Catch Up - Monday 22nd September The funnyman is known for presenting a range of BBC and ITV programmes including Comedy Rocks, The One Show, Show Me The Funny, A Question of Sport: Super Saturday, Big Heads and Children in Need. He was also one of four judges on ITVs Starstruck. His latest tour of the UK and Ireland saw him take to the stage at the Armagh City Hotel on Saturday night before he hailed it as a fantastic night describing the venue was a dream. Jason Manford in Armagh Fantastic night in Armagh tonight! Not gonna lie when they told me it was in a function room of a hotel I was slightly dreading it but this was a dream! He posted on social media. Nine-hundred people and I loved them! Real fun folk! Definitely be back next time! Thanks to William Thompson for very funny support. Back in Belfast October 3rd. Down to Swansea, Taunton, Truro, Bath, Bristol and Tunbridge Wells next week. The former Children in Need presenter also met with Holywood-based comedian Shane Todd who is known for his popular Tea With Me podcast in addition to his stand-up. Jason Manford and Shane Todd The A Manford All Seasons tour will see the performer return to NI on October 3 to do a show at the Ulster Hall in Belfast. Embracing the positive review was the bookshop themselves on their own social media. Jason Manford signed teh LegenDerry Chair at the bookshop What an honour to have the wonderfully funny and non-fictional character Jason Manford to be the latest to add his signature to one of the Little Acorns Bookstore LegenDerryChairs - the Writers' Chair! Said a spokesperson. Boasting over 400 scribbles to date between the two old schoolteacher chairs (rescued from a skip) [we are] gonna need more legs! Thanks so much Jason and for stopping, shopping and stealing by - it was a total pleasure to meet you. Hope you all enjoy the books! Also embracing the publicity brought by Manfords visit to their venue was Belfast Boat Club. Jason Manford: Smashing game of padel at @belfastboatclub another one this afternoon and then off to Derry Smashing game of Padel at Belfast Boat Club, another on this afternoon and then off to Derry, write Manford on a social media post. Great to welcome comedian Jason Manford to Belfast Boat Club today [Thursday] for a game of Padel. Good luck with show tonight at The Ulster Hall Belfast, wrote a club spokesperson. President Trump at the state banquet in Windsor Castle last week (Phil Noble/PA) Political leaders should not sell their soul by sipping champagne with Donald Trump amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill has said. Ms ONeill told MLAs that she was very comfortable not attending a state banquet at Windsor Castle last week during the US presidents state visit to the UK. Northern Irelands deputy First Minister, the DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly, did attend last weeks event and has said Ms ONeills boycott of the state banquet was a mistake. DUP MLAs questioned the Sinn Fein First Minister on her absence during ministerial question time at the Assembly on Monday. First Minister Michelle ONeill answered questions about why she did not attend a state banquet for President Trump (Liam McBurney/PA) Ms ONeill previously said she would not attend in response to the US role in Israels war in Gaza. She told MLAs: I very much value our Irish-American links. Indeed, successive American administrations have been very much part of bringing about our peace process. You are referring to a banquet last week which I chose not to attend, and rightly so. I dont see how a benefit was going to be gained from attending a state banquet when the children of Gaza are starved to death. I made my view known on that issue. Ive not blocked the deputy First Minister from attending, she went to the thing and that was her call. Im very comfortable with my decision. When she faced further questioning, Ms ONeill said it was important to send out the message that Northern Ireland is open for business. She said: Thats the continued message we have when we engage with many. I think thats the appropriate approach from us as an Executive Office, but also from the Economy Minister. I noted earlier the level of engagement we have had with all different international investors, with all different people from all different countries in terms of the big players, in terms of investment. But dont sell your soul just in terms of short-termism just to go to banquets and sip champagne while people in Gaza are starving. Ms Little-Pengelly previously told the Northern Ireland Assembly that she would attend the event because that is what leadership is about. Ms ONeill also stayed away from events earlier this year attended by Ms Little-Pengelly in the White House on St Patricks Day in protest at Mr Trumps stance on the conflict in Gaza. A support dog controversially housed at Magilligan Prison has been removed from the facility and placed in temporary care, according to an MLA. The animal in question, called Bailey, has been used to help rehabilitate inmates. The now famous pooch was in block H2 of the jail where some of NIs most violent prisoners, including sex offenders, killers, and animal abusers are kept. But Jon Burrows, a UUP representative for North Antrim, has confirmed that Bailey is now out of prison. "The full circumstances of Bailey leaving prison will have to be examined, but Bailey is out of that environment, is now in a family home, with someone whos trained to look after him, and theres going to be an effort I hope made to try and find Bailey a permanent home to live in, he said. "This has been a disgraceful episode from start to finish. "We now need to ensure he stays out of prison and proper safeguards are introduced for animals brought into the prison estate. Major concerns about the welfare of the comfort dog had been raised after the canine was alleged to have developed a limp. Mr Burrows said that, according to prison officers, Bailey was quivering at night due to various alarms going off and fights going on. The case has drawn public and media attention with Bailey now released following weeks of protests, public concern and political intervention. In a letter to Magilligan Governor David Milling, dated September 18, 2025, Mr Burrows expressed concern over the lack of a clear framework governing animals in prisons and requested a formal site visit. He highlighted three main issues: That Bailey appeared to have no dedicated, primary handler or master, something he described as fundamental for the well-being and effective management of any working dog. That prison officers with responsibility for Bailey had not received formal, specialist dog-handling training. That Bailey did not appear to leave the prison environment after his shift to recuperate in a domestic home, raising serious questions about his long-term welfare and socialisation. Mr Burrows also warned that animal charities feared Baileys situation reflected deeper failings in policy and transparency within the justice system. The Department of Justice has rejected allegations of neglect, insisting Bailey was properly housed and cared for. In a statement, officials said: Bailey is registered with a local veterinary practice and is in good health. Local council officials have recently visited Magilligan and confirmed that Bailey is in excellent condition, appropriately housed and safeguarded. The Sunday World first reported about the concerns for Baileys welfare. A Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) spokesperson said that a recent newspaper article, relying on an unnamed source, made a number of inaccurate and unfounded claims regarding the care of Bailey, the support dog at Magilligan Prison. It is extremely disappointing that others have chosen to repeat these claims without first checking their veracity. Bailey is registered with a local veterinary practice and is in good health. Local council officials have recently visited Magilligan Prison and confirmed that Bailey is in excellent condition, appropriately housed and properly safeguarded. The Prison Service takes its duty of care for animals safety and wellbeing very seriously and has also an established record of working with a range of animal charities to offer a caring home and a purposeful life to many dogs. For many years dogs have played a crucial role in the service, supporting staff in maintaining security and safety at establishments. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content A protest organised by the Causeway Coast Dog Rescue charity outside Magilligan Prison is still set to go ahead on Monday (September 22) between 11am and 2pm. Campaigners are calling for proper policies and guidelines to be set in place for the use of support dogs in prison settings in Northern Ireland. The organisation said that while there is a possibility Bailey has been removed from this location, there is a larger concern about all dogs and animals in NI prisons, without regulation and safeguards. Were calling on EVERY rescue, supporter & animal lover now is the time to show up. Bailey needs us ALL to stand together, the rescue centre posted on its social media channels. This is not just our fight its a fight for every rescue dog. If you say you stand for them, be there. Causeway Coast Dog Rescue also said that Baileys original owners had not been informed that he would be put to work as a comfort dog in a prison, and said he was untrained for this. Bailey. (Credit: Causeway Coast Dog Rescue) News Catch Up - Friday 19th September "Ongoing questions remain, about a government funded project in which Bailey, a dog purchased with cash, was removed from a family home with women and children, despite showing fear of men, and placed full time at Magilligan Prison, a spokesperson stated. "An untrained dog, which has not been prepared as a working dog intended to support male prisoners, including sex offenders, with their mental health needs. NI businesswoman awarded 88K over unfair dismissal by 'gaslighting' boss 'You keep telling me lies...I can't take this anymore" director told MD of Craigavon firm Jim Cullen of JMC Packaging Stephen Gordon Mon 22 Sep 2025 at 07:17 A Northern Ireland businesswoman has been awarded almost 88,000 in compensation for unfair dismissal after accusing her boss of gaslighting her. Some of the people who came together outside Magilligan Prison to voice their concerns about therapy dogs used in prisons. The protes ws organised by Causeway Coast Dog Rescue. Picture Martin McKeown. 22.09.25 Some of the people who came together outside Magilligan Prison to voice their concerns about therapy dogs used in prisons. The protest was organised by Causeway Coast Dog Rescue. Picture Martin McKeown. 22.09.25 A number of protestors gathered outside Magilligan Prison to voice their concerns over the use of therapy dogs and to stand up for Bailey. It comes as the NI Prison Service confirms the three-and-a-half-year-old spaniel at the centre of the row was removed from the facility due to a "callous and calculated threat". The demonstration was organised by animal welfare group, Causeway Coast Dog Rescue, which expressed concerns about the use of untrained canines in the prison. Campaigner Tara Cunningham said: Our priority is about the animal welfare of Bailey and other dogs in our prisons in Northern Ireland. "We have identified that there is no policy framework to support dogs in Northern Ireland, we have not regulation and we have no legislation and our issue is about looking at the long term projects that are being run in our prisons and how we protect our animals. Bailey was controversially housed at the jail before being removed and placed in temporary care. The dog in question has been used to help rehabilitate inmates. Bailey. (Credit: Causeway Coast Dog Rescue) Protest at Magilligan Prison over Bailey the dog being used to rehabilitate inmates The now famous pooch was in block H2 of the jail where some of NIs most violent prisoners, including sex offenders, killers, and animal abusers are kept. In a statement issued to BBC News NI, a Prison Service spokesperson said the perfectly happy and well looked after dog had to be moved after the PSNI made us aware of a callous and calculated external threat to say that Bailey was going to be harmed in an attempt to embarrass the governor." The spokesperson said the welfare of Bailey has and will always be the main priority. "He was safe and cared for when he was living at Magilligan, he is safe and being cared for now," they added. It comes a day after UUP MLA Jon Burrows confirmed that Bailey is now out of prison. Protest organisers decided to go ahead with the demonstration amid speculation the dog had been re-homed. Activists gathered at the facility which is situated near Limavady at 11am and dispersed at around 2am. While there is a possibility Bailey has been removed from this location, there is a larger concern about all dogs and animals in NI prisons, without regulation and safeguards, the group posted beforehand. Stand Up For Bailey... Were calling on every rescue, supporter & animal lover now is the time to show up. Bailey needs us all to stand together. This is not just our fight its a fight for every rescue dog. If you say you stand for them, be there. Even half an hour of your time counts. Please share & show up #GetBaileyOut. Mr Burrows had earlier said the full circumstances of Bailey leaving prison will have to be examined. "But Bailey is out of that environment, is now in a family home, with someone whos trained to look after him, and theres going to be an effort I hope made to try and find Bailey a permanent home to live in, he added. Some of the people who came together outside Magilligan Prison to voice their concerns about therapy dogs used in prisons. The protes ws organised by Causeway Coast Dog Rescue. Picture Martin McKeown. 22.09.25 Major concerns about the welfare of the comfort dog had been raised after the canine was alleged to have developed a limp. Mr Burrows said that, according to prison officers, Bailey was quivering at night due to various alarms going off and fights going on. The case has drawn public and media attention with Bailey now released following weeks of protests, public concern and political intervention. In a letter to Magilligan Governor David Milling, dated September 18, 2025, Mr Burrows expressed concern over the lack of a clear framework governing animals in prisons and requested a formal site visit. He highlighted three main issues: That Bailey appeared to have no dedicated, primary handler or master something he described as fundamental for the well-being and effective management of any working dog. That prison officers with responsibility for Bailey had not received formal, specialist dog-handling training. Magilligan Prison. Picture Martin McKeown. 22.09.25 That Bailey did not appear to leave the prison environment after his shift to recuperate in a domestic home, raising serious questions about his long-term welfare and socialisation. Mr Burrows also warned that animal charities feared Baileys situation reflected deeper failings in policy and transparency within the justice system. The Department of Justice has rejected allegations of neglect, insisting Bailey was properly housed and cared for. In a statement, officials said: Bailey is registered with a local veterinary practice and is in good health. Local council officials have recently visited Magilligan and confirmed that Bailey is in excellent condition, appropriately housed and safeguarded. The Prison Service defended the benefits of dogs providing emotional support in a statement to BBC News NI and criticised media coverage of the issue. "In prison environments dogs can offer support to people with poor mental health and addiction issues, help promote positive changes in behaviour and reduce stress and anxiety," it insisted. "Dogs are utilised in prisons across these islands for this purpose and have been supporting prisoners in Northern Ireland for over 20 years. "The current challenges facing the Prison Service are well documented and this issue and the level of inaccurate and sensationalist reporting surrounding it has unfortunately been an unnecessary distraction." The PSNI declined the opportunity to comment. Irish presidential candidate Catherine Connolly said it was up to Palestinians to decide who governs them (PA) Irish presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said it is not for British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to decide Hamas role in a Palestinian state. The left-wing independent from Galway was asked about comments by the Prime Minister, who said on Sunday that Hamas should have no role in government. Sir Keir made the comments as he announced the UKs recognition of a Palestinian state, ahead of the UN General Assembly this week and alongside other nations including Australia and Canada. Ms Connolly, who has been vocal on the issue of Palestine and has criticised the Irish government for not taking more action against Israel, said that it was up to Palestinians to decide who governs them. I dont think its up to Keir Starmer to make that statement at all, Ms Connolly told BBC Radio Ulster on Monday. I come from Ireland, a history of colonisation, and I would be very wary of telling a sovereign people how to run their country. The Palestinians must decide, in a democratic way, who they want to lead their country. She added: What happened on October 7, Im on record for condemning, but history did not start on October 7. Its important to point that out and to look back on the history and the many, many atrocities committed by the Israeli government through their army. So, I dont think Keir Starmer should have any say about Hamas. Its up to the Palestinian people. What Keir Starmer and other countries should be doing is stopping the genocide, absolutely calling out what it is genocide and using our voices to stop it. Independent Catherine Connolly will formally launch her campaign in Dublin on Monday evening (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms Connolly was also asked if she would describe the attack on people in southern Israel on October 7 2023 as a genocide. I absolutely condemned what happened on October 7 and Ive never, ever had any doubts about that, she said. I would not use the word genocide. Genocide has a very, very specific meaning under international law. She added: What happened on October 7 was wrong, absolutely wrong. I have no hesitation in saying that, but theyre not comparable at all. Ms Connolly who has secured the support of Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, the Greens and People Before Profit will formally launch her campaign in Dublin on Monday evening. Elsewhere in the presidential race, Gareth Sheridan announced the end of his bid to become a candidate after concluding it was mathematically not possible for him to secure sufficient nominations from local authorities. He failed to get the backing from Meath County Council and Offaly County Council on Monday. Gareth Sheridan announced the end of his bid to become a candidate (Niall Carson/PA) Mr Sheridan already had two of the four required nominations through local authorities to formally enter the contest, having previously secured nods from Kerry and Tipperary county councils. Speaking to reporters, Mr Sheridan said: It unfortunately didnt work out this time but no regrets. The 36-year-old millionaire entrepreneur was among several hopefuls who pitched to Meath County Council on Monday morning. Fourteen Meath councillors voted against a proposal to nominate Mr Sheridan, with 13 backing the proposal, five abstaining and eight absentees. The deadline for presidential nominations is midday on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin and Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys formally lodged their papers on Friday. Attention has also been brought on independent candidate Maria Steen, who is claiming the support of 13 members of the Oireachtas behind her nomination campaign. She is due to meet the Independent Ireland party, who had indicated it would be willing to support a like-minded candidate with four votes to get them over the line of the 20 required nominations from TDs and senators. Meanwhile, Mr Gavin announced that he had written to social media giants X, Meta and TikTok as well as media regulator Coimisiun na Mean about several invented and utterly false stories published about him online. In a statement, his campaign said the vicious smears were attempts to damage his presidential bid. It said Meta has confirmed that several posts have been taken down while responses are still awaited from X, TikTok and Coimisiun na Mean. Mr Gavin said: Every person in our country knows the real and growing threat posed by online hate and disinformation. It is one of the forces driving the growing division and conflict in many societies. It is the cause of mental health issues amongst our young people due to online bullying and harassment. He added: I refuse to accept that the price of participating in public life should involve having to put your family and friends through waves of online abuse and malicious smears. This is not the cost of service it is a failure of our digital culture. I will continue to take whatever action is necessary to confront this appalling feature of social media. The King has welcomed the newest addition to the Royal Navys fleet of nuclear-powered submarines On Monday, Charles visited the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, to read the Commissioning Warrant at a formal ceremony to mark HMS Agamemnon entering operational service. Nicknamed Awesome Aggie, the vessel named after the commander of the mythical Ancient Greek forces in the Trojan war weighs 7,400 tonnes and measures 97 metres long, as long as four buses. Agamemnon will protect the UKs strategic nuclear deterrent, aircraft carrier strike groups and critical undersea infrastructure. The vessel can strike land targets up to 1,000 miles away, serve as a launchpad for raids by teams of Royal Marines Commandos, and gather intelligence through state-of-the-art sensors. More tests on site are expected to follow before it leaves the town for trials at sea before going into active service. HMS Agamemnon is the sixth of seven Astute-class Fleet submarines built for the Royal Navy. Mondays ceremony also recognised those who built, staff and support it as Charles spoke with BAE employees involved in its construction as well as the boats serving personnel and their families. Dignitaries attending included Defence Secretary John Healey, Secretary of US Navy John Phelan, US Ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens, BAE Systems chief executive Charles Woodburn and High Commissioner of Australia to the UK, Stephen Smith. The ceremony formally marks the vessels entry into the Royal Navys service (Paul Ellis/PA) Speaking before Charles arrived, Mr Healey told those gathered: This is truly a remarkable manufacturing feat to take a piece of steel and to forge it into one of the most technologically advanced machines anywhere in the world. HMS Agamemnon will help to protect what has been the foundation for 60 years of armed peace, our independent nuclear deterrent. Agamemnon is a name which carries a long, distinguished history of naval service from Trafalgar to Crimea to the Great War. Agamemnon has been in the front line, an enduring symbol of British strength and victory. As the crew of this boat, you now send that proud tradition into the future. Earlier, Mr Healey conducted a steel-cutting ceremony at BAE for King George VI, the fourth and final Dreadnought class submarine. Defence Secretary John Healey (Paul Ellis/PA) The Dreadnought submarines, due to enter service from the early 2030s, are the replacement for the Vanguard-class submarines, which currently deliver the continuous at sea deterrent (CASD) for the Royal Navy. Steve Timms, managing director, BAE Systems Submarines business, said: Its a privilege to host these ceremonies at our shipyard. Cutting steel on the fourth Dreadnought submarine demonstrates the significant progress weve made on the programme whilst the sixth Astute class boat, HMS Agamemnon, joins the long and distinguished list of Barrow-built vessels to be commissioned into the Royal Navy. The enduring partnership between our Barrow shipyard and the Navy dates back to the Victorian age, and our role as the UKs home of submarine design and build is something were incredibly proud of. Charles later visited Barrow Town Hall to bestow royal port status on the town in honour of its 120-year history as the home of UK submarine construction. The King was greeted by cheering crowds before joining civic leaders, sea cadets, schoolchildren and members of the local community. Charles meets members of the public during a visit to Barrow-in-Furness (Chris Jackson/PA) The days celebrations included a performance by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria Alexander Scott said: Today marks a truly historic moment for Barrow. This recognition not only celebrates Barrows proud heritage, but also reinforces its role at the forefront of innovation, industry and community spirit. This honour is a tribute to the dedication of Barrows shipbuilders, port teams and the wider community. I want to thank the people of Barrow for the warmth of their welcome and the pride they have shown. It has been inspiring to see the whole town come together to share in this milestone. The UK will use the UN General Assembly to push for international backing of a framework for peace in the Middle East, following its recognition of a Palestinian state. The question of Palestinian statehood is likely to dominate the gathering of world leaders in New York in the coming days. Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the historic if largely symbolic move on Sunday, saying it was intended to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis. Australia, Canada and Portugal made similar announcements, while France is expected to formally recognise Palestine on Monday at the UN. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she will use the summit to address civilian suffering in war-ravaged Gaza and seek to strengthen the international consensus on our pathway for peace in the Middle East. She will hold bilateral meetings to advance elements of the plan, including transitional governance and security measures to ensure Hamas has no role in the future governance of Gaza, according to the Foreign Office. The UK Government has acknowledged that recognising a Palestinian state would not ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza nor contribute to the freeing of the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 2023. But the UK believes the move is necessary to safeguard the prospect of a lasting two-state solution to the Middle East conflict, with Israel existing alongside a Palestinian state. Yvette Cooper will attend her first UN General Assembly as Foreign Secretary (Jonathan Brady/PA) Several countries are expected to join about 150 others in recognising Palestinian statehood at UN meetings, to revive the waning cause of a two-state solution, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia from Monday. But this will likely prompt a fierce backlash from Israel and its key ally the United States. Writing in The Times, Ms Cooper said the two-state solution has commanded global support for decades. It risks being fatally undermined by continued bloodshed and man-made famine, terrorism and hostage taking, settlement expansion and settler violence, she said. Hamas, a despicable terrorist organisation, continues to hold hostages in atrocious conditions, prolonging the unbearable anguish of the families fighting for their release. Despite the strongest demands from the UK and many others, Benjamin Netanyahus government continues to reject the very idea of two states, and instead escalates a war that has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives and driven a devastating humanitarian crisis. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu branded the UK move absurd and simply a reward for terrorism, while US President Donald Trump said it was rewarding Hamas. Families of hostages held in Gaza called it a betrayal of humanity and a move that rewards Hamas while 48 hostages remain in captivity. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi reportedly hailed the UK, Canada and Australias move as a victory for the justice of our cause. In an effort to counter that criticism, Sir Keir said Hamas was a brutal terror organisation and confirmed plans to ratchet up sanctions on the group. Our call for a genuine two-state solution is the exact opposite of their hateful vision, he said. But with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza escalating and Israel pushing ahead with settlements in the West Bank, Sir Keir said the hope of a two-state solution is fading but we cannot let that light go out. Ms Cooper said: At this moment of intense global instability and conflict, UK diplomacy and leadership has never been more important. Innocent civilians are suffering in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan. Countries worldwide are dealing with high levels of migration including displaced and trafficked people. And climate change is not just a future threat to our survival, but a source of chaos and suffering across every continent today. This week at the UN General Assembly we will be pursuing progress across all those challenges, in particular by strengthening the international consensus on our pathway for peace in the Middle East, and our coalition against Russian aggression in Ukraine. She will represent the UK alongside Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who said his focus would be on ending conflict and shaping AI for the common good. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey criticised Sir Keirs absence at the summit. He said: The Prime Minister should not be missing in action from Britains historic recognition of Palestinian statehood just because hes worried about upsetting Donald Trump. Loyalist activist denies his mums a vigilante after her involvement in controversial street patrols Joel Keys says night walk groups deliver food to the homeless and work with police Joel Keys and his mother Leesa White. John Toner Mon 22 Sep 2025 at 19:45 Loyalist activist Joel Keys has defended his mothers involvement with controversial street patrols in east Belfast. 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. PITTSFIELD When it was time for Kylee Vonberg's twins to go to preschool, she had no hesitation in deciding where to send them. Her first child had a great experience with the Berkshire County Head Start program, and Vonberg wanted her twins to have the same experience. When my 6-year-old graduated and went to kindergarten, the [Head Start] teachers [checked] up on us all the time, Vonberg said. Theyre like, Oh, is she doing good?' ... Its amazing to have that. Vonberg was one of many parents who brought their children to Berkshire County Head Starts 60-year birthday party on Thursday afternoon. The three-hour party was free and featured food and activities for families and community partners. The party was in celebration of the founding of Head Start in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnsons war on poverty to provide education, health and social services to low-income families with children younger than 5. Berkshire County Head Start was established in 1976 and has six sites in Great Barrington, Pittsfield and North Adams, according to its website. This year has been filled with challenges and moments of uncertainty for Head Start, with the potential elimination of funding from President Donald Trumps administration, enrollment challenges and the need for more advocacy, forcing them to adapt. Nonetheless, the agency persists in its mission to help children attain an individualized education plan, ensure families receive mental health services and provide free child care for homeless families. This year has brought its share of challenges, but overall, its been a strong year for our programs and the services we provide, said Brett Random, executive director of Berkshire County Head Start, in an email to The Eagle. Although the federal landscape is shifting and creating uncertainty Our commitment to the children and families of Berkshire County has not wavered. Head Start strives to enhance opportunities for success by inspiring each childs love of learning, partnering with families, advocating for equity, and fostering a connection to the community. The agency offers preschool to the county's youngest residents, with a focus on mental health, nutrition and making sure parents have the support they need. Head Start has 85 employees and serves over 250 children and their families in Berkshire County each year, Random said. Head Start will also host a 60 Years of Bright Beginnings Fundraiser Event on Oct. 11 at Hotel on North. FEDERAL FUNDING IMPACT In April, Random, who is also on the volunteer board of directors for Greylock Federal Credit Union, said that there were concerns about the potential elimination of the Head Start program. The White Houses funding blueprint for fiscal 2026 did not set aside money for the program, USA Today reported in April. Despite the concerns, Random said that Head Start has not experienced any funding cuts at this time. Head Start did experience a freeze in its payment system in February, which made programs very uneasy, she said. It was an extremely stressful period, but the support we received from our partners and fellow programs [was] inspiring and reassuring, she said. In July, congressional investigators found that the Trump administration illegally withheld funds from Head Start, according to the New York Times. The accountability office also found that the administration had reduced the rate of funds disbursed to Head Start grant programs between the time Trump took office and mid-April. Although Trump ultimately backed off his idea to eliminate Head Start when he presented his budget this spring, some Head Start centers reported having difficulties getting federal funds that had already been approved by Congress, the Times wrote. This fiscal year, Berkshire County Head Start received $3,469,915 in federal funds for program operations, according to Random. She said for fiscal 2026, the House Appropriations Subcommittee has recommended flat funding for Head Start, which would mark the third consecutive year of level funding, despite rising costs and increasing needs. Federal funding has remained consistent, Random said, adding that it hasnt increased to keep pace with rising costs of program operations. ENROLLMENT CHALLENGES In recent years, Head Start has seen a shift in enrollment, especially in North County, where it operates three classrooms, Random said. Head Start programs recently received a federal directive stating that undocumented children cant enroll in Head Start, she said, which caused concern for access and enrollment. Excluding children due to immigration status undermines these principles and harms both individual families and the broader community, Random said. On Sept. 11, a federal judge issued a nationwide block on the Trump administrations federal directive that prevented children illegally in the U.S. from enrolling in Head Start, and the policy is now on hold, according to the Associated Press. Our programs already operate on very tight margins, Random said of the federal directive. Decreasing enrollment due to this policy could have serious consequences across the board, including reduced federal funding due to under-enrollment. The change was part of a broader Trump administration effort to exclude people without legal status from accessing social services by making changes to federal eligibility rules, the AP reported. Random is pleased with the nationwide block and said it ensures that no program in the country will be required to immediately verify immigration status as a condition for enrollment. Head Start has eight classrooms in the Pittsfield site, and each classroom has two teachers and an assistant, said Chloe Solomon, education site manager. The classrooms can get up to 18 kids, Solomon said, adding that the age range is 2.9 (2 years 10 months) to 5 years old. Solomon, who has been with the Berkshire County Head Start for three years, said that it has roughly 80 teachers, and about 30 of them are former parents who were involved with Head Start. Getting parents to be teachers is a big focus of Head Start's model, Solomon said, adding, We want to support the comprehensive family system. Head Start is looking at expanding funding sources, which is tied to enrollment, Solomon said. As much outside funding as we can get helps us bring in more families, she said. MORE THAN CHILD CARE For six decades, Head Start has been a lifeline for families and a pillar of community stability by preparing young children for school with high-quality early learning, health screenings and social-emotional support, Random said. It has also empowered parents by offering job training, parenting education, and crucial connections to community resources, and helped families build a foundation of stability and self-sufficiency. This comprehensive support has strengthened not just individual households but the entire community, Random said. In the 2024 school year, the organization helped 27 children attain an individualized education plan, 186 families receive mental health services, 26 homeless families attain free child care, 276 families receive services in the community, such as nutrition education, crisis intervention and housing assistance, according to its website. Vonberg is a Dalton resident but sent her first daughter, now 6, to Head Start, and her twin daughters, 4, currently attend. The connection with the teachers and the students is what makes Head Start special, she said, adding, My kids know every single kid here and all the parents. Vonberg said that when her twins started, they didnt know how to count from one to 10 or their ABCs, but now they're well prepared for their elementary education they even learned some Spanish. The staff is doing great, she said, adding, I love the impact that theyre making on my kids to move on to kindergarten. Random is optimistic about the future of child development programs and said there is growing recognition that early education is essential to long-term success. She said they are looking to continue building on that momentum while preparing for challenges. For 60 years, we have adapted to meet the needs of our community, and we will continue doing so with a focus on opportunity and long-term impact, she said. The future is bright when we invest in our youngest learners. Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter ADAMS Shortly after one Open Meeting Law complaint against the Adams Select Board was dismissed, another one has been filed. The new complaint, filed on Sept. 10 by town resident Catherine Foster, alleges the Select Board violated the Open Meeting Law when she says Chair John Duval appointed Sgt. Donna Malloy as interim chief after the board placed Chief K. Scott Kelley on paid leave for an undisclosed reason early this month. Foster says Duval had no authority to do so. Duval said that he did not appoint Malloy the Select Board did. Foster requested that the board acknowledge her complaint, follow the Open Meeting Law and make sure Select Board members training is up to date. Duval wrote back on Sept. 18. The allegations in your complaint even if true do not constitute a violation of the Open Meeting Law, he wrote. The authority of the Board or individual Board members with respect to employment matters is not subject to enforcement under the Open Meeting Law." The Select Board declined to execute any of Foster's requested actions. Duval said Foster's complaint would be forwarded to the attorney generals office Division of Open Government with a copy of his response. Meanwhile, Assistant Attorney General Carrie Benedon determined that an earlier complaint filed by Foster with the town on Jan. 21 and with the attorney generals office on April 21 did not violate the state's Open Meeting Law. That complaint pertained to a January Select Board executive session to discuss whether to release a lien on 110 Columbia St. In a four-page letter to Michael DOrtenzio Jr. at KP Law, the towns law firm, Benedon wrote that the Jan. 15 session met all the criteria for a closed-door session under the states guidelines. At Wednesday's Select Board meeting, Foster asked Duval if he would release all such correspondence from the attorney general's office based on her Open Meeting Law complaints. Duval agreed. After reviewing Foster's first complaint, the board's response and the notice and minutes for the January executive session, Benedon wrote that the meeting was given proper notice and that Duval "declared that [an] open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the Boards negotiating position. The Massachusetts Open Meeting Law has 10 exemptions, which allow a public body to meet behind closed doors. One of those is to consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property if the chair declares that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body, according to Massachusetts General Laws. Benedon said the attorney generals office has explained that the release of a lien is a permissible reason for holding an executive session. Foster alleged that discussion of releasing a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development forgivable deferred payment loan violated the Open Meeting Law. We disagree, Benedon wrote. [C]ontrary to the complainants assertion that release of the lien is functionally an objective, ministerial act, we understand that there are factors the Board must consider." Among those considerations were the terms of the loan, which required the property owner to use the funds for the intended purpose in this case, facade improvements. If the board had decided the terms hadnt been met, then repayment would have been required and the Select Board would have had to determine the value of the improvements and negotiate the amount of any repayment based on the assessed value. The lien, from Interstate Investment Group, was released on Feb. 24. Most, if not all, of us have found ourselves getting stuck in our heads. Weve probably read Scripture telling us to take our thoughts captive but either dont know how to live this out or feel we lack the inner grit to apply this truth. But what if our ability or lack thereof to fix our minds on truth isnt purely about will power? What if, in fact, there are practical, biblical steps we can take to train our brains to facilitate the life we crave? Mental health professionals suggest this is possible as we learn to recognize thought patterns that hinder our goals, utilizing grounding techniques when anxiety seizes our brains, and expressing our emotions in prayer. As we reflect on Gods goodness, were better able to analyze the validity of our thoughts and replace them with truth. Recognizing Unhelpful Thought Patterns Sometimes were immediately aware of those instances where our minds plunge into anxious or panicked and irrational spirals. We might even sense the Holy Spirits gentle nudge to focus on truth. But our more entrenched thoughts can be harder to detect as weve trained our brains to see them as true and reasonable. In fact, we might have learned our most habitual and self-defeating patterns from caregivers during our developing years. Perhaps our parents modeled a negative perspective that taught us to notice problems and concerns while remaining oblivious to positive encounters. Or, we may experience intense fear due to having learned to expect crises without considering the Lords power, provision, and protection. Making the Unconscious More Conscious It's challenging to change something of which were not cognizant. Ive found that simply deciding to increase my awareness naturally heightens my self-awareness. Reflecting and prayerfully journaling on occasions in which I felt emotionally triggered helps as well. For example, years ago I experienced conflict with a few ministry team members. While my initial reaction demonstrated frustration, my response actually came from fear. As I sought Gods wisdom, the Holy Spirit helped me see how my brain had connected my adult disagreement with wounds experienced in my childhood. As I continued to journal on this, the Lord revealed the faulty beliefs, formed as a kid, that played unchallenged in my head and negatively impacted that ministry-related conversation. Understand, this is rarely a quick process. But the more we engage in mindful self-noticing, the easier this becomes and the more Christ reveals as He leads us to increased peace. Biblical Examples Im intrigued by the contrast Scripture paints between Saul and David, ancient Israels first and second kings, respectively. Both men received their divine call while engaged in mundane activities. Saul encountered Samuel, the prophet who anointed him as the nations ruler, while searching for his fathers donkey. Upon learning that the Lord chose him to occupy the throne, he replied: But Im only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe. Why are you talking like this to me? (1 Sam. 9:21). However, while he indeed was a Benjamite, a tribe Sauls fellow Israelites probably looked down upon based on their behavior during the time of Judges, Sauls family was far from insignificant. This is how Scripture describes them: There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bekorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else (1 Sam. 9:1-2, emphasis added). From a human perspective, Saul seemed a logical choice. But while he wasnt the only person in Scripture to focus on his perceived faults, this unchallenged self-assessment led to a lifetime of insecurity that led to decades of conflict, inner turmoil, and ultimately death. Despite his status as the most powerful man in ancient Israel, he behaved like a terrified and helpless victim to the whims of the people. Did his irrational reactions stem from an inner critic that reiterated the essence of his statement in verse 21: Im insignificant and unworthy for God to use me in this way? David, in contrast, routinely centered his thoughts on Gods invincibility and unchanging character. Upon facing a highly-skilled and heavily armed Philistine warrior terrorizing the Lords people, David declared, we dont see him entertaining self-defeated, fearful thinking. Instead, he told King Saul: The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine (1 Sam. 17:37). To Goliath, the tyrant, he said, You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heavens armies the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut of your head. And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lords battle, and he will give you to us (1 Sam. 17:45-48). In other words, God is with me. Hes greater than you and any threat I face, and He will secure our victory. Based on his prayers in Psalms, he regularly cultivated healthy and holy thought patterns that enabled him to maintain faith in life-threatening situations. Reengaging Your Thinking Brain You may have heard the phrase, He flipped his lid, used to describe someone who acted irrationally, often due to anger or fear. I suspect most, if not all, of us have experienced this personally. We might assume this stems from lack of control, pride, or lack of love. However, neuroscience offers an alternative perspective. The amygdala, sometimes referred to as our brains emotional center, strives to keep us safe by quickly detecting threats. When we encounter something in the present that reminds our brains of past harm, our amygdala signals the alarm, simultaneously shutting down our prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive functioning, emotional regulation, and social cognition. We therefore lose the ability to prioritize and protect relationships in times of fear and crisis. We dont have time to logically process when were about to get hit by an oncoming car or attacked by hornets. The problem comes when our internal alarm gets triggered by a nonthreat. To gain the emotional distance to evaluate such instances logically, we must quiet our distress. Grounding techniques, such as deep breathing, counting, or engaging in movement, can help. The Power of Prayer I once saw a meme that equated worry to praying to oneself. Speaking to an impoverished and desperate crowd filled with people who had ample cause for distress, Jesus asked: Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? (Luke 12:25). In the passage that follows, He discussed some of our core needs, adding that [our] Father knows that [we] need them. This applies to all of the issues that threaten to steal our peace and our sleep. God has promised to watch over our coming and going, remains alert to the deepest issues in our hearts, and promises to work all things for our good. We dont have to fight for survival; we are, at each moment, well-cared for by our victorious, ever-present and always faithful Savior. The One who holds all of history in His hands encourages us to give our concerns to Him. In 1 Peter 5:7, we read: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Philippians 4:6-7 reiterates this invitation while providing a helpful template: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. First, this passage tells us to present all our requests to God. Nothing is too small or too big for our faithful and attentive Lord. Second, were instructed to maintain a grateful heart. That doesnt mean Christ expects us to thank Him for our pain, but if we continue reading through verse 9, we see that, even on our worst days, we have ample reasons for praise: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:8-9). When Im really struggling, my prayers sound like this: Lord, You are true and noble. Everything You do is right and Your love for me is pure. You are lovely and admirable, a God of beauty and life. You are praiseworthy, Lord. Help me to fix my mind not on the problems before me or the anxiety within me, but instead on Your power, promises, and goodness. Notice how, combined, this passage provides helpful steps that, when followed, help decrease our angst and increase our inner tranquility. First, we pray, expressing ourselves fully to the One who promises to hear our every word. Second, we entrust our concerns and ourselves to the One who formed our every cell and always keeps His loving gaze upon us. Then, we intentionally find reasons to give thanks, including praising God for all the ways Hes helped us in the past. And finally, we meditate on the character of our Lord. When we do our part, consistently and repeatedly, Christ does His He fills our souls with His peace. Following these biblical steps also helps to rewire our brains, steadily weakening our fear ruts, often formed over a lifetime of difficulties, while strengthening our faith channels. (To learn more about the science behind our most entrenched thoughts, catch my conversation with Dr. Alan Weissenbacher on the Faith Over Fear podcast.) Analyze Your Thoughts Validity Once we recognize our patterns, calmed any overwhelm that threatens to shut down our prefrontal cortex, express our emotions to Christ and place our concerns in His hands, and strengthen our souls by reflecting on His goodness, were better able to consider our thoughts rationally. When discussing this articles topic, my Faith Over Fear cohost Carol McCracken shared some helpful reflective questions she learned from speaker Jon Acuff during this years Global Leadership Summit. He instructs us to examine with what he terms soundtracks (aka, overthinking) by asking ourselves if the thought is: True Kind Helpful According to John, if we cant answer yes to each of those questions, we need to retire the thought. Other authors suggest we consider whether or not we would say to someone else the things we say to ourselves. If not, then again, we probably need to stop thinking that thought and replace it with something true, admirable, lovely, and worthy of respect (Phil. 4:8-9). This takes practice and perseverance, partially because we probably have to dismantle some deep ruts formed in our brains. But the more we tend to our thought life, the easier this becomes and the greater our peace. To summarize, we all fall into the trap of overthinking on occasion. Sometimes those thoughts are benign and easily discarded. Other times, we might find ourselves completely overwhelmed by all the numerous what-if scenarios playing on repeat in our minds. When that occurs, we can regain clarity and peace by: Recognizing our thought patterns Using grounding techniques to allow for clarity Expressing our unfiltered emotions to the Lord and finding comfort in His presence Casting our concerns onto Him and intentionally reflecting on Gods goodness Analyzing the validity of our thoughts Retiring those soundtracks that dont lead to increased holiness and freedom, and lastly, Repeat, as often as necessary as we allow the Lord to pave the ruts and form new, healthier neural pathways in our brains. Photo credit: Getty Images/Bulat Silvia Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. Shes addressed womens groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. Shes the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou d.com . Shes passionate about helping people experience Christs freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next womens event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube. 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. Actor James Van Der Beek has said he is gutted to be dropping out of a Dawsons Creek reunion event due to two stomach viruses and will be replaced by Hamilton writer and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda. Van Der Beek, 48, who played Dawson Leery in the hit American teen drama series, was due to participate in a charity live reading, Dawsons Creek Class Reunion, on Monday alongside former co-stars including Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson. The event, which is organised in support of the American actor and the charity F Cancer, comes after the star revealed in November that he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. The event will feature a live reading of the series pilot episode with Van Der Beek replaced by Miranda, who is best known for writing and acting in the hit musicals Hamilton and In The Heights. In a post shared on Instagram, Van Der Beek said: This is the evening Id been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January Advertisement So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment. Despite every effort I wont get to be there. I wont get to stand on that stage and thank every soul in the theater for showing up for me, and against cancer, when I needed it most. But I DO have an understudy. A ridiculously overqualified replacement who would have been #1 on my wishlist (had I ever dreamed hed be available). Someone my kids would definitely consider an upgrade over me Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater. So thats convenient. Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda will step in for Van Der Beek (Isabel Infantes/PA) The series, which ran for six seasons from 1998 until 2003, follows a group of friends as they navigate different stages of their adolescence together. He added: The role of Dawson, usually played by James Van Der Beekwill be played by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Cant believe I just got to type that. Everyone please enjoy all the love in that room. Shine some on my family. I will be beaming and receiving from afar in a bed in Austin. And thank you @lin_manuel . You were a hero to my kids before now youre a demigod. The event is directed by Jason Moore and will take place at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City on Monday night. James Van Der Beek thanked Hamilton star Lin-Manuel Miranda for stepping in (Alamy/PA) In November, the Dawsons Creek star said in an interview with US publication People Magazine that he was privately dealing with the diagnosis and taking steps to resolve it. He told People he has also been prioritising time with his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah. Advertisement He acknowledged his diagnosis on an Instagram post to his 1.6 million followers, where he apologised to his loved ones who had learned about his cancer through the press. Bowel cancer can develop in the rectum or colon and is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK. The charity says it is sometimes called colorectal cancer because it affects the large bowel, which includes the colon and rectum, with symptoms including bleeding from the back passage, blood in poo or a change in someones normal bowel habit. Van Der Beek is also known for his roles as a fictional version of himself in Dont Trust The B- In Apartment 23, in CSI: Cyber as FBI agent Elijah Mundo, and as Matt Bromley in the first season of the FX drama Pose. Gareth Sheridans presidential hopes have suffered a setback after he narrowly failed to secure a nomination from Meath County Council. 14 members of the council voted against a proposal to nominate Mr Sheridan, with 13 backing the proposal. There were five abstentions and eight absentees. Mr Sheridan already had two of the four required nominations through local authorities to formally enter the contest, having previously secured nods from Kerry and Tipperary county councils. The 36-year-old millionaire entrepreneur was among several hopefuls pitching to Meath County Council on Monday morning. Independent Catherine Connolly will formally launch her campaign in Dublin on Monday evening (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr Sheridan is next due to seek a nomination from Offaly County Council after lunch, with his campaign also indicating he will be able to pitch to Louth County Council later in the evening. It leaves the hopeful with just a narrow path to entering the race ahead of the nomination window closing at midday on Wednesday, with most local authorities having finalised their processes. Advertisement His campaign has downplayed an administrative glitch behind concerns he had not submitted required documentation to Louth County Council, believing he would still be in a position to seek a last-ditch nod from the local authority. Elsewhere in the race, independent Catherine Connolly who has secured the support of Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, the Greens and People Before Profit will formally launch her campaign in Dublin on Monday evening. Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin and Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys formally lodged their papers on Friday. Attention has also been brought on independent candidate Maria Steen, who is claiming the support of 13 members of the Oireachtas behind her nomination campaign. She is due to meet the Independent Ireland party, who had indicated it would be willing to support a like-minded candidate with four votes to get them over the line of the 20 required nominations from TDs and senators. Here, we have a look at the topics likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come. Is Sinn Fein's Catherine Connolly endorsement really a 'game-changer'? When Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald promised Sinn Fein's decision on the presidential election would be a "game-changer", there was undoubtedly some panic for the Coalition leaders. After Ms McDonald had ruled herself out, TD Pearse Doherty and GAA president Jarlath Burns appeared to be the frontrunners. In the end, they decided to back Ms Connolly. She now has the support of Labour, the Social Democrats, Sinn Fein, People Before Profit and a number of independents. While this is great news for the Galway TD, many have argued it is a bit underwhelming from Sinn Fein. Both Mr Doherty and Mr Burns would have shaken up the race for Aras an Uachtarain, and Mr Burns may well have been the favourite. Advertisement Sources have suggested there is relief within Government that Sinn Fein did not put a candidate forward. Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly (centre) with Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns (left) and Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (right) as she launches her presidential election campaign at The Complex, Smithfield in Dublin. Speaking on the Path to Power podcast, which he co-hosts with Matt Cooper, former agriculture minister Ivan Yates said Sinn Fein backing Ms Connolly would be a "damp squib" (before the announcement was made on Saturday). Mr Yates said: "It'll be one of the biggest anti-climaxes in Irish politics and Mary Lou's career. What a damp squib coming out with that when two months ago they could have got in the queue with the Soc Dems and Labour, I don't see that as a game-changer. "It's a false bluff, it's a damp squib, it's an opt out, an off ramp, that has no credibility in my view." It was clearly a carefully thought out decision, and Ms McDonald and senior Sinn Fein figures may have identified some positives. If Ms Connolly does not perform well in the election, the party can distance themselves from the result. They may also see it as a test of left wing unity as Sinn Fein would be the largest grouping if a coherent left-leaning government coalition ever becomes a realistic possibility. Minister calls on TDs to 'disagree agreeably' As the Dail returns amid recent threats to politicians, a Government minister has said "there is no point in condemning this abuse if we continue to use abusive language". In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, Minister of State Neale Richmond called on his colleagues, both in government and opposition, to find a way to "disagree agreeably" and "tone down the venom" in political debates. Advertisement Addressing the recent campaign of abuse against Tanaiste Simon Harris, Mr Richmond condemned the abuse and said the coordinated nature of it was "extremely worrying". Gardai have sought Interpol assistance as concerns rise over the recent series of threats made against Mr Harris. Callers recently phoned into Garda stations claiming there was a bomb at Mr Harris' family home in Greystones, Co Wicklow. A woman from west Dublin was arrested two weeks ago after allegedly posting a threat to abduct Mr Harris' children. Mr Richmond, who is Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, also said it was the role of politicians to tone down abusive language, particularly when tensions are high in Dail debates. He said the new term provides an opportunity to debate in a more civil manner, and said labels like 'treason' and 'traitor' should not be used. "There is no point in politicians condemning this abuse and these attacks if we ourselves continue to use very abusive language that I would argue is below us. That is something I am really focused on in the coming weeks and months, how can we as politicians lead in terms of changing the tone of the debate? "It is a challenge... I am guilty of it in the past, being a little bit too salty on social media or letting my emotions get to me, where we stray from the political or the policy to the personal." Gareth Sheridan ends presidential campaign Businessman Gareth Sheridan has acknowledged the end of his presidential campaign after he failed to receive the backing of Offaly and Meath county councils. Advertisement While Mr Sheridan has the support of two local authorities - Kerry and Tipperary - he has now run out of options to secure two more. Mr Sheridan is due to address Louth County Council this evening, however its support, along with Kerry and Tipperary county councils, would not be enough to contest the election. He has admitted it is now "mathematically" impossible for him to secure enough support to get on the ballot. Gareth Sheridan (centre), Independent presidential candidate, and his wife Heidi (right), are joined by Cathaoirleach Cllr John Leahy (left), outside Offaly County Council offices in Tullamore. Mr Sheridan, a married father of an almost three-year-old girl, lost out on a nomination from Meath by just one vote. Speaking to reporters at Offaly County Council, he said: We tried to offer something different. I think diversity on the ballot is important and we tried to offer that. Unfortunately it didnt work out this time but, you know, no regrets. Connolly criticises Starmer's Hamas comments Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said it is not for British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to decide Hamas role in a Palestinian state. The left-wing independent from Galway was asked about comments by the prime minister, who said on Sunday that Hamas should have no role in government. Mr Starmer made the comments as he announced the UKs recognition of a Palestinian state, ahead of the UN General Assembly this week and alongside other nations including Australia and Canada. Ms Connolly, who has been vocal on the issue of Palestine and has criticised the Government for not taking more action against Israel, said that it was up to Palestinians to decide who governs them. Advertisement I dont think its up to Keir Starmer to make that statement at all, Ms Connolly told BBC Radio Ulster on Monday. I come from Ireland, a history of colonisation, and I would be very wary of telling a sovereign people how to run their country. The Palestinians must decide, in a democratic way, who they want to lead their country. Maria Steen's bid to make the ballot The presidential election will be a three-horse race between Jim Gavin (Fianna Fail), Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael) and Independent Catherine Connolly unless Maria Steen can secure a place on the ballot. Aontu leader Peadar Toibin is rallying support for Ms Steen and claims she has at least 11 Oireachtas members backing her. Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae has said he will also nominate Ms Steen and Independent TD Gillian Toole has said she will do the same. The candidate is set to meet Independent Ireland members tomorrow to try and secure their backing. Ms Steen needs 20 nominations to get on the ballot. Abroad France has become the latest country to recognise Palestinian statehood, with president Emmanuel Macron making the announcement as the United Nations meets in New York. In the US, all eyes were on a memorial for assassinated political activist Charlie Kirk. US president Donald Trump praised Charlie Kirk as a great American hero and martyr for freedom as he and other prominent conservatives gathered on Sunday evening to honour the slain conservative political activist whose work they say they must now advance. Egyptian authorities on Monday announced the presidential pardon of prominent British activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who has been in prison for almost all of the past 12 years. A statement from the presidents office said that another five prisoners were also pardoned. It was not immediately clear when they will walk free. The British-Egyptian dual nationals lawyer Khaled Ali told the Associated Press on Monday that Mr Abd El-Fattah is expected to be released from Wadi Natron Prison, just north of Cairo, immediately after the states decision is published in the countrys official gazette, which he expects is likely within the next two days. Laila Soueif, Mr Abd El-Fattahs mother, said she was heading to the prison where her son is held. I wont rest until he is out, she said. Alaa Abd El-Fattah in a cage in a Cairo court (AP) Mr Abd El-Fattah was a leading voice in the countrys 2011 Arab Spring uprising and has gone on multiple hunger strikes behind bars. His ordeal became emblematic of the fraying of Egypts democracy. Advertisement He took part in the 2011 uprising that toppled autocratic former president Hosni Mubarak, and later was active in protests against human rights abuses as well as military trials of civilians. He was first sent to prison in 2014 for taking part in an unauthorised protest and allegedly assaulting a police officer. He was released in early 2019. He was arrested again in September 2019 during a security crackdown that followed rare anti-government protests in Egypt, and after more than two years in pre-trial detention an emergency security court sentenced him to five years for spreading false news. Mona Seif takes part in a vigil for her brother (Jordan Pettitt/PA) When his release date came up in September 2024, authorities refused to count the more than two years he spent in pre-trial detention and ordered him held until January 3, 2027. My heart will explode, his sister Mona Seif posted on Facebook, relieved about the news of his pardon. Amr Magdi, senior Middle East and North Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement that while celebrating Mr Abd El-Fattahs pardon, thousands of others remain behind bars because of their public views. Hopefully his release will act as a watershed moment, providing the government with the opportunity to end the wrongful detention of thousands of peaceful critics, the statement said. Advertisement The pardon by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi came after an independent rights group submitted a petition to the presidents office earlier this month. The National Council for Human Rights, acting on behalf of the families of the prisoners, urged Mr el-Sisi to consider Mr Abd El-Fattahs situation and that of the six others on health and humanitarian grounds. Earlier this month Mr el-Sisis office said he had ordered relevant authorities to look into it. Mr Abd El-Fattahs family waged a campaign to pressure the UK to help secure his freedom and take him in. When Egypt failed to release Mr Abd El-Fattah last September, his mother began her own hunger strike in Britain, but became seriously ill and ended the strike in July. An influential blogger, Mr Abd El-Fattah hails from a family of political activists, lawyers and writers. People at an Amnesty International vigil for Alaa Abd El-Fattah (Jordan Pettitt/PA) His late father was one of Egypts most tireless rights lawyers and his sisters are also political activists. His aunt is the award-winning novelist Ahdaf Soueif. Mr Abd El-Fattahs most dramatic hunger strike came in 2022, as Egypt hosted an annual UN climate summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. That strike ended when he lost consciousness and was revived with fluids. The leaders of Britain, France and Germany said they sought Mr Abd El-Fattahs release in private talks with Mr el-Sisi during the climate conference. Still, European countries, which have a growing interest in Egypts gas reserves, and the US, which sees Mr el-Sisi as a key source of stability, were reluctant to openly clash with Egypt. Advertisement The circumstances surrounding the latest appeal for his release were different from previous ones, Mr Ali told The Associated Press earlier this month, in part because of his mothers hunger strike, which added a humane element to the petition. This is really promising, we hope these authorities follow through with urgency and that Alaa will be reunited with us soon, his sister, Sanaa Souief, said on X earlier this month. Mr Ali said earlier this month that a court order had removed his clients name from the governments terrorism list, which would allow him to travel out of the country once he is freed. It was not immediately known if he would leave Egypt, but Mr Ali said that his client has a desire to keep his Egyptian citizenship and live in Egypt. I hope this pardon creates an opportunity to find a serious solution for prolonged pre-trial detentions and sentences against politicians and activists just because they had an opinion, Mr Ali said at the time. World leaders begin convening on Monday at one of the most volatile moments in the United Nations 80-year history. The challenges they face are as dire as ever if not more so unyielding wars in Gaza and Ukraine, escalating changes in the US approach to the world, hungry people everywhere and technologies that are advancing faster than the understanding of how to manage them. The United Nations, which emerged from the rubble of the Second World War on the premise that nations would work together to tackle political, social and financial issues, is in crisis itself. As secretary-general Antonio Guterres said last week: International co-operation is straining under pressures unseen in our lifetimes. Yet the annual high-level gathering at the UN General Assembly will bring presidents, prime ministers and monarchs from about 150 of the 193 UN member nations to UN headquarters in New York. Over the last 80 years, the UN has led the way to some of humanitys greatest triumphs. At a time when the principles of the United Nations are under assault as never before, @antonioguterres urges leaders to move forward with clarity, courage and conviction. pic.twitter.com/oUUcMlsEPn United Nations (@UN) September 22, 2025 The secretary-general says it is an opportunity that cannot be missed, even in the most challenging of moments. We are gathering in turbulent, even uncharted, waters, Mr Guterres said. Advertisement He pointed to, among other spectres, our planet overheating, new technologies racing ahead without guardrails, inequalities widening by the hour. At the opening commemoration of this years 80th anniversary of the United Nations, General Assembly president Annaleena Baerbock said the world is at a crossroads as it was after the Second World War, and courage is needed to show the world that we can be better together. Today, she said, is not about celebrating. Mr Guterres said he will use the more than 150 one-on-one meetings he has with leaders and ministers to urge that they speak to each other, bridge divides, reduce risks and find solutions. The United Nations General Assembly is often called the biggest diplomatic week of the year. It marks a key moment on the global calendar, when world leaders gather at UN Headquarters in New York. Swipe for more key facts about #UNGA. United Nations (@UN) September 22, 2025 He said leaders must make progress, not merely engage in posturing and promises. But UN watchers say that in a deeply polarised world, with no prospects of ceasefires in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, whether the high-level meeting makes any progress remains a big question mark. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, has said that Palestine is going to be the huge elephant in this session of the General Assembly. It will be front and centre on Monday at a high-level meeting co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia on implementing a two-state solution to the nearly eight-decade Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The spotlight will be even brighter because the Trump administration refused to give a US visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to speak at that meeting and the General Assembly. Advertisement On Friday, the General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution enabling Mr Abbas to speak by video, as it did in 2022 for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after Russias invasion. This year Mr Zelensky will be attending in person, and the Security Council is expected to meet on Ukraine on Tuesday. The assembly voted overwhelmingly earlier this month to support a two-state solution and urge Israel to commit to a Palestinian state. Hours before that vote, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that there will be no Palestinian state. US President Donald Trump praised Charlie Kirk as a great American hero and martyr for freedom as he and other prominent conservatives gathered on Sunday evening to honour the slain conservative political activist whose work they say they must now advance. The memorial service for Mr Kirk, whom Mr Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, drew tens of thousands of mourners, including vice president JD Vance, other senior administration officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand. Hes a martyr now for Americas freedom, Mr Trump said in his tribute. I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie. And neither now will history. Speakers highlighted Mr Kirks profound faith and his strong belief that young conservatives need to get married, build families and pass on their values to keep building their movement. President Donald Trump, left, hugs Erika Kirk at the conclusion of a memorial for her husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) They also repeatedly told conservative activists, sometimes in confrontational tones, that the best way to honour Mr Kirk was doubling down on his mission to move American politics further to the right. For Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees, Mr Vance said. Advertisement My friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith. Mr Kirks assassination at a September 10 appearance on a Utah college campus has become a singular moment for the modern-day conservative movement. It has also set off a fierce debate about violence, decency and free speech in an era of deep political division. The shooting has stirred fear among some Americans that Mr Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to suppress the voices of his critics and political opponents. Those close to Mr Kirk prayed and the floors shook from the bass of Christian rock bands as the home of the NFLs Arizona Cardinals took on the feel of a megachurch service. Charlie looked at politics as an on-ramp to Jesus, said the Reverand Rob McCoy, Mr Kirks pastor. People began lining up before dawn to secure a spot inside State Farm Stadium west of Phoenix, where Mr Kirks Turning Point organisation is based. People began lining up before dawn to secure a spot inside State Farm Stadium west of Phoenix (Jae C Hong/AP) Security was tight, similar to the Super Bowl or other high-profile events. The speakers delivered their tributes from behind bulletproof glass. The 63,400-seat stadium quickly filled with people dressed in red, white and blue, as organisers suggested. Advertisement Mr Kirks widow, Erika, in her own address said in the midst of her grief, she was finding comfort that her husband left this world without regrets. She also said she forgives the man who is charged with killing him. My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life, said Erika Kirk, who is taking over as Turning Points leader. She added: I forgive him. Mr Trump has blamed the radical left for Mr Kirks death and threatened to go after liberal organisations and donors or others who he feels are maligning or celebrating Mr Kirks death. Dozens of people, from journalists to teachers to late show host Jimmy Kimmel, have faced suspensions or lost their jobs as prominent conservative activists and administration officials target comments about Mr Kirk that they deem offensive or celebratory. The retaliation has, in turn, ignited a debate over the First Amendment as the Republican administration promises retribution against those who air what are seen as disparaging remarks in the wake of Mr Kirks death. Some speakers at the memorial said Mr Kirk was battling evil and referred often to a vague they as the enemy. Others were blunt. You have no idea the dragon you have awakened, you have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilisation, to save the West, to save this republic, said White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Advertisement Mr Kirk was a provocateur who at times made statements that some called racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant and transphobic. That has drawn backlash from conservatives who view the criticism as cherry-picking a few select moments to insult the legacy of someone they see as an inspirational conservative leader. A 22-year-old Utah man, Tyler Robinson, has been charged with killing Mr Kirk and faces the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges. Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but prosecutors say Robinson wrote in a text to his partner following the shooting that he had enough of Mr Kirks hatred. Vice president JD Vance called Mr Kirk a martyr for the Christian faith (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) Turning Point, the group Mr Kirk founded to mobilise young Christian conservatives, became a multi-million-dollar operation under his leadership with enormous reach. Charlies having some serious heavenly Fomo (fear of missing out) right now, Tyler Bower, Turning Points chief operating officer, said, likening the moment to bringing the Holy Spirit into a Trump rally. The crowd was a testament to the massive influence he accumulated in conservative America with his ability to mobilise young people. Mr Kirk was a Maga celebrity with a loyal following that turned out to support or argue with him as he travelled the country for events like the one at Utah Valley University, where he was shot. Mr Kirk grew the organisation, in large part, through the force of his personality and debating chops. He slayed ignorance, said director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. He cut through lies. He woke peoples minds, inspired peoples hearts and imparted wisdom every day. Advertisement Exclusive BusinessCompaniesMedia & marketing Sky News orders review after guest unleashes anti-Islam rant, wears bacon on-air Calum Jaspan Updated September 22, 2025 12:53pm ,first published September 22, 2025 12:48pm 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 Sky News is reviewing its new Sunday night program Freya Fires Up, hosted by Freya Leach, after removing an interview with a guest who appeared with bacon draped over his shirt and told the host it was to protect him from terrorists, as he made further Islamophobic comments before being cut off. Sky News host Freya Leach with guest Ryan Williams [left] wearing raw rashers of bacon on Sunday night. While the interview on Sunday evening was removed from the full episode uploaded onto Skys online platform, guest Ryan Williams reposted his appearance on Instagram. The post has since been liked 90,000 times. Williams social media accounts feature multiple videos of him wearing bacon across his chest. He asks followers online to donate to his cause of inflicting maximum damage on Islam and keeping Europe Christian at all costs. Leach introduced Williams as a social media sensation and a conservative political strategist. She later made a brief on-air apology for the interview. Advertisement The reason Ive got bacon on my shoulders is because the terrorists are a charming lot, and they threaten to behead me every single day, so a little bit of protection, Williams said appearing to laugh. Related Article Billionaires Rupert Murdoch a surprise guest at UK state banquet for Trump Online, Williams lists his real job as a cellist and trance music producer to his 243,000 Instagram followers. During his Sky appearance, he said the UK faced the threat of Islamic invasion every day, and wrongly said that Britains second-biggest city, Birmingham, has a Muslim majority. According to the 2021 census, 34 per cent of Birmingham residents identify as Christian, while 29.9 per cent identify as Muslim. After Williams made a series of anti-Islam remarks, Leach said: Its important to preface that the majority of Muslims dont support that. We have seen here in Australia at least weve got some great moderate Muslims, but I think its up to them to condemn the elements of the culture or religion that are more extreme. The host then moved on to the other guest on the program, conservative strategist Joey Mannarino. Advertisement Loading Leach later said: Ive just been told we have to apologise for what was just aired, those comments earlier. Williams appearance was pulled from the broadcast. A Sky spokesperson told this masthead the broadcaster apologised unreservedly for the offensive comments made by Williams on Sunday. Leach at a Coalition function on election night this year. The Age These remarks were wholly inappropriate and unacceptable and have no place on our network. The guest responsible should never have appeared, the spokesperson said. Advertisement He was specifically asked for his reaction to the Charlie Kirk assassination and its fallout, but instead used our platform to spread his harmful views. Related Article Media & marketing Is this the worst product launch in Australian media history? We recognise the harm such rhetoric can cause and take full responsibility for this failure in our editorial processes. The spokesperson said Sky has begun an immediate review of Leachs program including its guest booking and vetting procedures to prevent a similar incident occurring again. Jamal Rifi, a GP and Muslim community leader in Sydney, called Williams remarks terrible opinion and awful, disgusting and contradictory comments. Advertisement After Williams rant referenced the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood being Muslim, Rifi said: It shows modern-day British Muslims are contributing to public life by holding public offices and engaging in democratic political activities. Leach, 22, is an online conservative personality and director of youth policy at the right-leaning think tank the Menzies Research Centre. She was given her own Sunday evening opinion program on Sky News last month, and it airs at 6pm. She has been a part of the presenting team of Skys mid-week program The Late Debate, which airs at 10pm from Monday to Thursday, since earlier this year. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. What to stream: (clockwise from top left) NCIS: Tony and Ziva; The House of Guinness; Next Gen Chef; Slow Horses; The Lowdown; and Mutiny in Heaven. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share 1 View all comments This weeks picks are an eccentric crime thriller from the maker of Reservation Dogs, a Succession-style drama about the Irish Guinness family, the return of Slow Horses and a documentary about Nick Caves band The Birthday Party. The Lowdown (Disney+) As played with scarecrow defiance and questionable self-care by Ethan Hawke, The Lowdowns Lee Raybon is a self-styled truthstorian. A freelance writer whose abiding passion is the murky history and ongoing scandals underpinning his hometown of Tulsa, this garrulous southerner sees conspiracies everywhere, talks a great game, and gets periodically punched in the face by disgruntled subjects. Hes a loon, notes his shopfront lawyer, Dan (Macon Blair). The best kind he keeps me entertained. The viewer should feel likewise. Writer and director Sterlin Harjos follow-up to the terrific Reservation Dogs, a bittersweet coming-of-age comedy set on Oklahomas Native American tribal lands, is a crime thriller that refuses to recognise the genres boundaries. It may start with a suspicious suicide, that of old money black sheep Dale Washberg (Tim Blake Nelson), but the narrative has a loosey-goosey vibe and absurd side missions to offset the vengeful white power skinheads and a suspicious widow, Betty Jo Washberg (Jeanne Tripplehorn). Ethan Hawke plays Lee Raybon, a self-styled truthstorian, in The Lowdown. With its nods to The Big Lebowski and Robert Altmans The Long Goodbye, that is a tricky outline to pull off. The eccentricities and the emerging evil have to meaningfully coexist. Thankfully, Harjo does it with ease. He has a natural feel for shapeshifters, whether its a sudden leap in tone or a spectral sidestep in reality when Lee finds a cache of Dales writings the deceased appears next to him to deliver a reading. Given that Lees a stoner, it makes sense: the show gives off a contact high. Minor characters have surprisingly rich lives, often with a twist that upends expectations, and Harjo has a stacked supporting cast that includes Keith David as an admirer of Lees writing, rapper Killer Mike (aka Michael Render) playing a highly unlikely publisher, and Kyle McLachlan as Dales backslapping brother and candidate for state governor, Donald Washberg. Peter Dinklage turns up as Lees chaotic pal Wendell, and he and Hawke turn into a hillbilly punk Abbott and Costello before their regrets catch up with them. Advertisement Hawke isnt a comic actor, but he knows the fractious, farcical energy of true believers. Crucially, The Lowdown doesnt just coast on Lees slapdash charm and dogged mission to figure out how Dales death ties into other nefarious strands. At one pungent Tulsa location after another, it nips at Lees self-belief, looks askance at the price others might pay. You see Lee through the eyes of his 13-year-old daughter, Francis (Ryan Keira Armstrong), whos a natural sleuth and somehow far too involved in her fathers work. Thats an unexpected gambit thankfully this show is full of them. Louis Partridge as Edward Guinness in House of Guinness. House of Guinness (Netflix) Im starting to think Steven Knight could randomly open a British history textbook and turn the period on the page into a full-throated historic drama. Having already created Peaky Blinders and SAS: Rogue Heroes, Knight returns with this thumping 19th century family saga about the Guinness clan of Dublin, whose beer brought them unparalleled wealth and power, plus as schemed by Knight innumerable obstacles and scandals. Welcome to Succession with sabres. Editor's pick Review Is the new Mother and Son already better than the original? Our reviewer says yes It begins with two pitched battles. The first is in the streets of Dublin, where the funeral cortege of patriarch Sir Benjamin Guinness is attacked by Catholic republicans agitating for an end to British rule. The second is the legal chambers where the moguls will is read, managing to frustrate his four adult children: reluctant heir Arthur (Anthony Boyle), sidelined daughter Anne (Emily Fairn), budding beer baron Edward (Louise Partridge) and mournful wastrel Benjamin (Fionn OShea). The overlapping paths the quartet pursue are told with bold strokes; political alliances and arranged marriages require frank exchanges. Rebels and criminals alike are handled by the familys fixer, Sean Rafferty (James Norton, laying it on a little thick), while Kneecaps Gaelic hip-hop soundtrack, riots and punchy graphics make clear 10,000 then is millions now. The House of Guinness has less underclass angst than Knights predecessors, but theres enough pungent detail to make this more than Dublin does Dallas. Advertisement Gary Oldman as Jackson in Slow Horses. Slow Horses (season 5) (Apple TV+) The most reliably entertaining show on television returns. The fifth season of this British spy thriller, which follows the MI5 misfits cursed and commanded by Gary Oldmans Jackson Lamb, doesnt miss a beat, combining twisty momentum and sardonic humour as a terror crisis builds during a London mayoral election. Thats a terrific achievement, but also a finale of sorts. While two more seasons have been commissioned, Slow Horses creator Will Smith is leaving the show, having been essential in bringing Mick Herrons Slough House novels to streaming. Kudos to Smith for finishing on a high. Kelsey, Olivia and Carlton in Next Gen Chef. Next Gen Chef (Netflix) Shot on location at the august headquarters of the CIA thats the Culinary Institute of America Netflixs latest competitive cooking show is solidly constructed and impeccably paced. Hosted by former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, the show is focused on high-end cuisine the lofty goal is to find a chef who defines their generation and the field of primarily American entrants are comparatively young but already have strong resumes. The first episode culls 21 prospects to 12, but the edit thankfully favours professionalism over ego. Fans of this genre will eat well. Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo and Isla Gie in NCIS: Tony & Ziva. Advertisement Former prime minister Scott Morrison has castigated the Albanese government for its involvement in the move for Palestinian statehood and questioned why Anthony Albanese had not been able to meet US president Donald Trump. Sometime diaries are difficult to co-ordinate, but its been a long time now, Morrison said on Sky News. Many other leaders now have had those opportunities, and it really is up to the government to get this landed. Former prime minister Scott Morrison. AP Morrison said the government had done well to secure a series of talks in recent months with Trumps key lieutenants but noted there was no substitute for leaders meetings. Morrison, a defender of the Israeli governments military campaign in Gaza, said international efforts to bestow statehood on Palestine were divorced from the realities on the ground. The suggestion the Palestinian Authority is going to have Hamas hand in all their weapons and stand down is laughable, and if that is the basis on which this great peace will be achieved then you cannot take it seriously, he said. It is a fantasy vote. You cannot have two states when there arent two states. Advertisement NationalWorld politics Opinion Not just a haven for Western refugees; we could be a global power Nick Bryant Journalist and author September 22, 2025 5:00am September 22, 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 233 View all comments The Western refugee is how the Financial Times columnist Janan Ganesh describes rich-world citizens who flee their well-heeled homelands to escape the chaos and uncertainty of this topsy-turvy world. In Australia, I run into them all the time. Compatriots who took flight from Brexit Britain and fear Nigel Farage, its prime architect, might become the next prime minister. French expats fretful that Marine Le Pens protege, Jordan Bardella, could win the 2027 presidential election. Americans alarmed by Donald Trumps authoritarianism. I recognise the type because I am something of a Western refugee. Someone who did not want to continue raising kids in the United States because of the scourge of unchecked gun violence and a politics unhinged. Someone who feared, after the storming of the US Capitol, that political violence would become almost as marked a feature of American life as school shootings. When, seven weeks after the January 6 insurrection, I watched Donald Trump feted at a conservative conference in Florida like a Roman general returning triumphant from the scene of a noble victory, I knew we were witnessing the stirrings of his restoration. Illustration Joe Benke As a study in contrasts, often I tell the story of flying into Sydney one morning from Los Angeles and turning on breakfast television. On the muted screen, a reporter with a perturbed look was outside a school in Adelaide. In America, I would have been watching the aftermath of the latest school shooting (so far in 2025, there have been more than 90). In Adelaide that morning, a burglary in a neighbouring street had prompted a school lockdown. Other examples abound. Here, the economic meltdown caused by the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 was labelled the Global Financial Crisis. Elsewhere, it was called the Great Recession, which again spoke of our happy isolation. Recession-free for almost 30 years, no wonder Australia is so enticing for Western refugees. Not just a lucky country but the Lucky Country. Few new arrivals would know how a shibboleth, taken at face value overseas, started life as the title of a scorching polemic. Advertisement So what now, given how the forces from which Western refugees have been escaping encroach here? In recent weeks, we have seen neo-Nazis on the streets of Melbourne. The killing of two police officers in rural Victoria has shone a spotlight on the little-known sovereign citizens movement. Polling suggests a surge of support for One Nation. Pauline Hanson is not Nigel Farage. For reasons I set out last week which include the safeguard of compulsory voting and the piss-taking streak in the national character the One Nation leader is not viewed as a plausible or putative prime minister. Related Article Opinion Political leadership Will a Farage-style quake rock Australia? First, we must pass the Cyclone Price test Nick Bryant Journalist and author The polling does point, however, to public disaffection with the political status quo, which globally has powered the populist revolt. The decline of the major parties and the rise of the rest have been the overarching political stories of the past 30 years. Here, again, though, is another point of differentiation. In Australia, it has led to the election of more centrists than extremists. Geopolitical shock waves are shaking the ground beneath our feet. With Trump in the White House, Australia cannot be sure if the supposed guarantor of its security remains a reliable ally. Will AUKUS ever deliver? Nobody can say with certainty. Likewise, Australias largest trading partner, China, has become more belligerent and meddlesome. Chinese warships have conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea a form of maritime power projection sure to become more commonplace now the Peoples Navy has more ships than its US counterpart. The atrocities of October 7 and the brutality of Israels response have brought an end to a more closeted time, when the battles of distant and departed lands were not contested on Australian soil. The Iran regime, in another reminder of foreign interference, has sought to exacerbate communal tensions by orchestrating antisemitic attacks. Advertisement Then there is the threat to Australias status as a lifestyle superpower from global warming. The very coastal and waterfront suburbs that lure Western refugees are often endangered shores. By 2050, more than 1.5 million people could live in areas at risk of coastal flooding, according to the National Climate Risk Assessment. There will be more fires as well as floods. In 2020, the year of COVID, the first time I noticed people wearing masks in a major Western city was in Sydney. Rather than the viral contagion, it was air pollution from nearby bushfires that posed the threat to everyday life. It is not as if Australia has only now been rudely awakened from a 25-year slumber to destructive forces battering other countries. The threats from big tech in spreading misinformation, harming our children and profiting from polarisation have been known for decades. The attacks of September 11, coming in the lead-up to the 2001 federal election, had profound consequences here. The 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 88 Australians, shattered any lingering sense that this country was unsusceptible to terrorism. Related Article Perspective Climate policy Heres the good news: weve improved the environment before, and we can do it again Still, the uncertainty of this historical moment and the disruptive forces shaping it are a warning against the complacency of the past quarter-century and a spur for present and future proofing. The Australian democratic model with its inbuilt pressure valves is in reasonable shape, its prime defect being three-year terms. The Australian economic model, if it is to generate the kind of broad-based prosperity necessary for democratic good health, clearly needs renovating. A lesson from the US is that income polarisation begets political polarisation. Making good the promise of the Australian dream, based on affordable home ownership, should become a first-order priority. Australians have agency. Having built a distinctive democratic model in the first half of the 20th century and a robust economic model in the second, there is a long tradition of pragmatic policy innovation from which to draw. With the West in such turmoil, Australia could become a paragon nation: an attractive proposition not just for Western refugees but a genuine global exemplar. Nick Bryant is the author of The Rise and Fall of Australia: How a Great Nation Lost Its Way. Advertisement NationalQueenslandHow To Poison a Planet Magnets put to work to clean up forever chemicals William Davis September 22, 2025 6:40pm 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 6 View all comments Brisbane scientists are developing technology that could be a key to removing toxic forever chemicals from the environment. The system developed at the University of Queensland uses magnetic resins to remove PFAS from sewage, which can then be used as fertiliser or compost without contaminating land or water supplies. PFAS is present everywhere in the water we drink, the air we breathe and the soil we plant, said Dr Cheng Zhang, who developed the technology. Cheng Zhang (back) and Xiao Tan are working to extract forever chemicals from the environment. Theyre highly persistent, they travel everywhere thats why we should care about the issue now. Advertisement Related Article Exclusive How To Poison a Planet Cancer-causing forever chemical found in Brisbane drinking water PFAS chemicals have been mass-produced since the late 1940s and are prized for their water-resistant and heatproof properties. They do not break down in nature, and some variants are known to cause serious health conditions, including cancer and high cholesterol. Last year this masthead revealed secret testing by south-east Queensland water authority Seqwater found high levels of the carcinogenic PFAS variant PFOA used to make non-stick pans and other consumer goods at Brisbane drinking water treatment plants. One university expert described the readings at Mount Crosby as the highest he had seen in Australia. At 36 parts per trillion, it was seven times the level considered safe by the US Environmental Protection Agency, but within the range considered acceptable in Australia. Advertisement Related Article Analysis Queensland government The test results Seqwater tried to keep secret, and how they came out Other testing has uncovered forever chemicals in drinking water in towns across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Norfolk Island, and in Canberras catchments. The technology developed at UQ begins by mixing a magnetic resin sorbent into sewage to absorb PFAS material. Magnets are then used to pull it back out. The resin technology has previously been used to remove PFAS from water, but this is the first time it is being trialled on sewage. Contamination is significant [in sewage], Zhang said. Advertisement In a lab at the University of Queensland, we tested how it performs within the biosolids, and we actually achieved more than 99.9 per cent efficiency. The big challenge in removing PFAS is it uses a high-energy input to burn it, or something else, but not with [our system]. Zhang and a group of commercial partners are planning to trial and roll out the program at treatment plants over the next three years. About 15 people are on the development team, which has been working on PFAS contamination solutions for about a decade. The technology has been patented by the University of Queenslands commercialisation arm, UniQuest. 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 NationalQueenslandSchools The secret behind this Brisbane schools dramatic drop in suspensions Catherine Strohfeldt September 22, 2025 4:23pm 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 1 View all comments At the start of each year, students at Yeronga State High School are asked whats wrong. As part of the schools student voice program now in its fifth year students hold regular summits to work out what could be done better. We wanted to make sure that [for] things that were bubbling up, instead of it turning into a negative thing, we would get on the front foot, middle school head of department Holly Haswell-Smith said. Yeronga State Highs middle school head, Holly Haswell-Smith (left), manages the schools student summits and offshoot programs, which year 11 student Asha Abdelrahman Selat (right) regularly attends. Catherine Strohfeldt Especially in the past five years, global events have really played out at the local level, and we wanted to support students and make sure their voice was heard in a way that was really productive. Advertisement Haswell-Smith said from those first student summits, follow-up meetings could re-evaluate school policy, launch new programs, or see external experts brought in to discuss key topics. Related Article Schools The suburbs where most families choose state schools over private Depending on what the summits about and what part of the student voice is [there], the outcomes are completely different, she said. We had a uniform summit four years ago, and that resulted in us not having rules around hair-dye colours, or whether you can have your hair up or down, unless its to do with health and safety. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the summits helped students gain a sense of pride in the way they shape their school. Advertisement Data from Yeronga State Highs annual reports shows suspensions shot up during and after the pandemic, peaking in 2022, when the rate of combined long and short suspensions was 30 per cent. By 2024, this had dropped to about 11 per cent below the Brisbane state high school average. The Education Department recorded a 45 per cent drop in the number of all suspensions at the school between 2022 and 2024. Advertisement This equated to 129 fewer suspensions, despite enrolments growing by more than 150 students or 20 per cent during the same two-year period. The school recorded one long suspension in 2024 a seven-year low in the number of such suspensions and a 90 per cent decrease from 2022. Annual reports also showed that on average, about 57 per cent of students at Brisbane state high schools felt their opinions were taken seriously by teachers and supporting staff. About 62 per cent of Yeronga State High School students felt their opinions were taken seriously. This rose to about 90 per cent for the Queensland Academy for Creative Industries, which teaches students from year 10 and up, and Milpera State High School, a specialist school for students from linguistically diverse backgrounds who have recently arrived in Australia. Advertisement Related Article Schools How this small school is producing some of Brisbanes happiest kids Providing a platform for young people to speak and develop solutions together is an excellent way to inspire future leaders, Langbroek said. Its great to see students gaining a sense of pride in the way they shape their school. The schools Horizons Womens Hub, now in its third year, was another idea born from the summits. The girls group is open to current and former students, who discuss family expectations, friendships, and challenges such as managing aspects of their identity. Advertisement This year the program won an Australian Education Award. Yeronga year 11 student Asha Abdelrahman Selat said the meetings were a free space that helped strengthen relationships between female students. You can really talk its great to share and know youre not going to be judged, Selat said. Yeronga State High School began its student voice program in 2020 and its womens hub in 2022, with a boys group to be launched in 2026. Catherine Strohfeldt Its a safe space. Its not just saying hi, I know what [the other girls] are going through [and] its great seeing Im not alone. Advertisement She said the meetings also enabled students to maintain contact with the schools alumni. Most of them, theyre doing what they wanted to do [after school] the stuff that theyd talked about, theyre going for it, Selat said. The hub also brings in expert speakers to address students questions on difficult topics such as learning to speak assertively and understanding coercive control. I think its one of those things where if we dont create these spaces for young women, they dont have enough resources to do it for themselves, Haswell-Smith said. Advertisement She said the womens group this year asked the school to create a similar program for male students. They were like, the boys need this information too, and they need to be involved, she said. During initial talks with students and domestic violence advocate Michael Jeh, Haswell-Smith said the school planned to structure the boys group differently, encouraging older students to be role models for their younger peers. 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 NationalVictoriaCrime Give me my stuff back: Disturbing vision captures latest example of Victorias retail violence Cassandra Morgan Updated September 22, 2025 5:41pm ,first published September 22, 2025 4:06pm 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 Yelling in frustration and smashing her feet into the glass facade of a Melbourne boutique, a womans brazen alleged daylight burglary is the latest example of retail violence in a crisis gripping Victoria. The woman was captured on video kicking the locked glass doors of Ji Studio on Elizabeth Street in the CBD about 3pm on Saturday, and using a barrier stand to try to force her way in, yelling, give me my stuff back, c---. Loading After the door gave way, a crowd gathered outside the boutique, watching in shock as the woman pushed through the door, and allegedly gathered cash and clothes inside. The clothes were heaped in her arm as she squeezed her way back out the broken glass door, then yelled into the store a final time before allegedly walking off with the haul. Advertisement Related Article Crime Shefali felt the blade before she saw it: How Victoria became Australias shop theft capital Police are investigating the incident. A spokeswoman said a worker sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the alleged aggravated burglary. Workers initially locked the woman out after she allegedly tried to steal clothes. The offender forced her way back inside armed with a dangerous article before she assaulted a female staff member, a police spokeswoman said. The woman stole money and clothing items before fleeing the store. Advertisement Victoria has become Australias retail theft capital, as workers are also forced to contend with a crisis of abuse, violence and knife crime. Another perspective Opinion Coronavirus pandemic Rude awakening: Retail workers are copping more abuse, but why? Jacqueline Maley Columnist and senior journalist The state accounts for almost 35 per cent of Australias total retail crime incidents, recording 60 per cent more incidents than any other state, according to the Australian Retailers Association. One in 10 incidents involves assault, physical abuse, weapons, burglary, aggression or similar behaviour. Victorian retail union boss Michael Donovan said the incident at the Elizabeth Street boutique showed exactly why his union was demanding the Allan government deliver the tougher penalties it promised. Advertisement The government has vowed to introduce laws by the end of this year to punish criminals who assault retail workers. Waiting for Christmas as the premier has promised is too long. This latest attack shows retail workers and shoppers need proper protection now, said Donovan, Victorian secretary of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association. If it was good enough to bring forward the machete ban, then surely the time for the government to act on its pledges to retail workers is now. Retail unions are also pushing for workplace protection orders that act like apprehended violence orders to protect workers from violent criminals. The [union] will continue to call this out until every worker can feel safe at work and every attack is met with real, concrete consequences, Donovan said. Advertisement Related Article Retail Demolished cakes, skipped scans and the lost lamb act: Inside the brazen world of petty theft at Coles Prahran A state government spokeswoman described Saturdays incident as disturbing and unacceptable, and noted that alongside the new laws being introduced later this year a dedicated worker protection group was considering other measures. No retail workers should have to experience this and [they] deserve to feel safe when they go to work, the government spokeswoman said. Acting Melbourne Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell said Saturdays alleged behaviour has no place on the streets of Melbourne. I am disgusted that people working in and visiting our city have witnessed this aggressive criminal act, Campbell said. Advertisement She added that, in a first for local government, the City of Melbourne is hiring community safety officers who will provide a visible safety presence on the streets of Melbourne and a deterrent to this type of behaviour from November. Organised thieves have repeatedly targeted Melbournes luxury fashion stores with ram-raids in recent months, while the citys CBD is a hot spot for criminal activity. Police urged anyone with further information about the alleged Elizabeth Street burglary to come forward. Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here. Optus revealed earlier this afternoon that it had discovered an additional seven customers who had tried to call triple zero during its Thursday outage. The telco was already aware of 600 customer calls, with three of the cases linked to deaths. The newly revealed failed calls were made between 12.17am and 12.30am. Three customers have since confirmed they are okay, while two cases from South Australia, and two cases from Western Australia, were referred to police after failed attempts to contact them. WA Police has just confirmed that they have been able to contact one of the customers, but are still trying to reach the second. Inquiries are underway in relation to the second referred call, a spokeswoman said. WA Police have already conducted 149 welfare checks as a result of the outage. Advertisement PoliticsFederalInterest rates Bullock blasts banks as she presses to end card surcharges Shane Wright Updated September 22, 2025 4:02pm ,first published September 22, 2025 3:58pm 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 117 View all comments Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock has ridiculed the nations banks and credit card providers, dismissing claims they will cut spending to prevent card fraud in response to plans by the RBA to slash fees paid by shoppers when they use their 60 million credit and debit cards. In some of her strongest ever public comments, Bullock used a parliamentary committee to round on the banks while accusing them of effectively shooting themselves in the foot by trying to protect their profit margins and incentives to high-income customers to continue using credit cards. Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock has rejected dire warnings by commercial banks that plans to restrict how much they can charge shops to use credit and debit cards will force them to cut anti-fraud spending. Alex Ellinghausen Banks and providers such as Visa have vigorously pushed back at a plan by the RBA to ban card surcharges by July next year in a move the bank says would save the nations shoppers about $1.2 billion a year. The RBA is pushing to lower the cap on interchange fees that businesses have to pay payment service providers (including fintechs such as Square) as well as banks that provide terminal technology. Advertisement The biggest losers from the move would be the banks and card providers, who face a $900 million cut in income. In a submission made as part of the RBAs consultation, the NAB warned if interchange fees were capped then it would not be able to cover essential costs of processing transactions, including fraud detection. Related Article Updated Credit cards Snowball effect: RBAs card surcharge ban risks higher prices and job cuts Visa, while supportive of the ban on surcharges, said the plan to cut interchange fees could result in reduced investment in the payments system, with consumers and businesses using these products at a disadvantage with regard to security. But Bullock said the banks arguments made no sense, given they would continue to make money from their payments systems. Reducing fraud detection would actively encourage consumers to go to competitors. Advertisement She said the real argument was around interchange fees and how much money banks and card providers make from these. They do still make money out of this, Bullock said. I think this idea that somehow theyre going to be losing money on this, I really dont understand that argument at all. They provide these services, these cards, and they make their money back through a variety of ways, and curtailing fraud protection to try and save money, ultimately, will not be good for them, and it wont be good for the payment system. I dont think that is something that realistically we would see. Opponents to the RBAs proposals have warned they could encourage providers to reduce incentives such as frequent flyer points on credit cards. Advertisement Bullock said cutting these incentives would be up to the providers, noting those people accumulating frequent flyer points were effectively being subsidised by consumers usually lower income and younger people who used debit cards for their payments. Related Article Analysis Credit cards Albanese, Chalmers and RBA face nasty, brutish fight to save you $60 a year Its funding people who are wealthier, higher incomes to get loyalty points. Who is paying those high prices? Its the consumers that dont use the credit cards, which are younger people, younger people, [those who use] debit cards. Under laws passed this year, companies that fail to reasonably detect or prevent frauds and scams face fines of up to $50 million. Bullock said she believed fraud prevention was a cost that could be covered by interchange fees. Advertisement Labor MP and committee member Jerome Laxale said the Reserve Bank had called out the outrageous and misleading threats of banks and card issuers. The RBA has effectively called bullshit on the banks threats to reduce investment in fraud and scam protection as a result of the governments push to ban surcharges, he said. Scam and fraud prevention are not optional. Id encourage the RBA to call the banks bluff, and ensure that reforms further reduce costs for small businesses and stop unfair surcharges on consumers. But Australian Banking Association (ABA) chief executive Simon Birmingham said it was a fact that the Reserve Banks proposals would reduce one source of revenue that pays for fraud prevention, with consumers forced to fund that work by paying more elsewhere. What the RBA hasnt considered is whether consumers will welcome the alternative of higher up-front fees and shorter interest-free periods, all while most of the remaining interchange fees are siphoned off to foreign multinationals like Apple and Google, he told this masthead. Advertisement The ABA believes there are better ways to ban surcharging and help small businesses, which we urge the RBA to adopt instead. Submissions to the RBA on its proposals closed in August. It plans to complete a final report and reveal a timetable to roll out its changes to the payments system by the end of the year. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement Analysis PoliticsFederalTrump diplomacy So much for cosying up to Trump. Albanese has asserted his independence on day one Matthew Knott September 22, 2025 11:47am 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 New York: By officially recognising Palestinian statehood, Anthony Albanese has done more than send a message to the world about how Australia views the Middle East peace process. He has issued a declaration of independence from the United States and an assertion of Australian sovereignty over its foreign policy. Its a bold move, and a risky one. Albanese is breaking with Trump on a totemic, divisive issue just as he tries to establish a personal relationship with the president and lock in the pairs first meeting. Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses decision to join with the UK and Canada to recognise Palestinian statehood defies the views of the Trump administration. Marija Ercegovac Albanese has begun his first trip to the US since Trumps return to office by dangling a lantern over a point of contention, rather than unity in the US-Australia relationship. The governments decision to recognise Palestine, alongside the United Kingdom and Canada, made a big splash in the US, even leading the website of The New York Times. Accentuating the positives and eliminating the negatives in the bilateral relationship didnt stand a chance. Yet if Albanese felt any discomfort about the awkward timing of the announcement, he showed no sign of it when speaking to reporters at United Nations headquarters on Sunday. Albanese was in Trumps home town, a block away from one of the real estate moguls skyscrapers. Yet cosying up to Trump wasnt on his agenda. Instead, Albanese rejected Trumps view that recognising Palestine is a reward for Hamas, the listed terror group that launched the brutal massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023. And he kiboshed the idea Australia must be in lockstep with the US on every big global issue. Advertisement This is about Australias position and the fact that were a sovereign nation. Australia will make decisions based upon our national interests, Albanese said. He looked relaxed and assured. Pressed on whether the move would damage ties with the US, he replied: Our foreign policy isnt determined in Washington or Beijing or Wellington, for that matter. Our foreign policy is determined around the cabinet table in Canberra. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, at the UN headquarters in New York. Dominic Lorrimer Australia is among the last countries in the world to recognise Palestine, but Albanese spoke about the move as if it were uncontroversial common sense. If you support two states, its not Israel and, you know, something else, and Marrickville, he said, referring to a suburb in his inner-west Sydney electorate. Its Israel and Palestine. Advertisement How could Australia simply sit back and do nothing, he asked, while Israel continues to pummel Gaza with bombs and accelerates settlement building in the occupied West Bank? Furious at Benjamin Netanyahus refusal to end the war or countenance a two-state solution, Albanese believes he has put Australia on the right side of history by recognising Palestine. He views it as moral decision, as much as a political one. Albanese during a television interview at the UN headquarters in New York. Dominic Lorrimer As for whether the disagreement over Palestine was the reason he was finding it so challenging to secure a meeting with Trump, Albanese kept it brief. No is the answer, he insisted. Thats true. Australian officials say that, while Trump certainly disagrees with moves by like-minded countries to recognise Palestine, he is not apoplectic about it. Rather than make it a top-tier diplomatic issue, Trump administration officials have mostly spoken about the topic in sorrow rather than in anger. Advertisement The reason Trump hasnt made time to meet Albanese is not because hes angry about Palestine, but because the evidence suggests he views Australia as something of an afterthought in the geopolitical chess game. Hardly comforting, given how dependent Australia is on the US for its security. Disagreement over Palestine is just one more irritant in a relationship strained by tensions over tariffs, defence spending and climate change action. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer waited to confirm he was recognising Palestine until Trump had finished his state visit to the United Kingdom to ensure his charm offensive wasnt overshadowed by disagreement. Loading Starmer began building a relationship with Trump before last Novembers US presidential election, travelling to meet him during the campaign and calling him to express his best wishes after Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt. The pair have met in the US and UK this year. By contrast, Albanese is waiting for his first Trump meeting. This means there is less trust between the pair, even though they have shared four friendly phone calls. This presents a silver lining for Albanese if Trump doesnt grant him a meeting this week in New York. By the time of their next possible encounter, during summits in Malaysia and South Korea at the end of October, the heat may have gone out of the Palestinian recognition issue as it fades into the distance. Maybe thats why Albanese appeared so relaxed as he stood in front of the East River on Sunday as Trump World Tower loomed over the Manhattan skyline. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement PoliticsFederalPolitical leadership Opinion Think Trump was rough on John Lyons? You never met Bob Hawke on a bad day Neil Mitchell Journalist September 22, 2025 7:35pm September 22, 2025 7:35pm 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 182 View all comments What Donald Trump is doing to mangle free speech and the democratic process in the United States should surprise nobody who is awake in Australia. Its been happening here for decades. Trump is creating an environment where public policy and regulatory governance of media companies can be used as a weapon and perceived critics are dumped, apparently even for telling jokes. US President Donald Trump sprayed ABC journalist John Lyons last week. Bloomberg But what the president is doing in America has at some level long been the habit of Australian state and federal politicians. And few have called them out. Like Trump, Australian politicians have black-banned and publicly berated unfriendly reporters and commentators. They have attempted to have their critics sacked. They have used policies as a weapon of intimidation. Advertisement Theres no question Trumps attack on comedian Jimmy Kimmel and subsequent comments that others will be next threatens free speech and the role of the media in a healthy democracy. But even his attempt to humiliate and intimidate ABC journalist John Lyons during a press conference on the White House lawns evoked memories of at least two Australian prime ministers who could eviscerate a questioner with a sentence. Another perspective Opinion Trump's America Trumps war on free speech wont stop with Jimmy Kimmel or Stephen Colbert Simon Taylor Comedian and author Of the main parties, Labor has the champion haters. In 1986, the Hawke government threw the media into chaos when it changed ownership laws at least in part to silence a critic The Herald, which at the time was part of the HWT group. That change handed a perceived mate, Rupert Murdoch, 70 per cent of newspaper circulation in Australia. I was told that in those heated days, one minister took copies of an editorial I had written as editor of The Herald into cabinet to prove the paper deserved to be dealt with. The perception within Labor at the time was that Murdoch and News Corp would be more friendly. How does that look now? Murdoch is a businessman first and last, and nobodys mate. A few years later on radio, I interviewed one of the Labor men who had been instrumental in that carnage. Seconds before we went to air, he told me to watch myself, saying something like, I fixed you up at The Herald, and Ill do it again here. Later, the same politician called the stations managers and demanded I be sacked over another matter. I wasnt. Advertisement This was far from being a one-off. There was a string of similar encounters I vividly remember, where I was punished by politicians from both sides of politics and refused interviews because they didnt like my line of questioning. Though some names are omitted, believe me, you know them. Bob Hawke put me in the freezer for years when he was PM. He threw defamation writs around freely and was famous for savaging journalists publicly if he objected to their questions. When he did finally relent, and I got the chance to ask him why he had blacklisted me, his reply was: I am not in the business of gazing into your navel. Classic Hawke. Other black bans included those from Paul Keating, Scott Morrison, Julie Bishop, Julia Gillard, Bill Shorten, Daniel Andrews and his entire cabinet. Another prime minister called me to their office to tell me the only way their ban would be lifted were if I behaved myself. It was like a debate with a petulant child. Of course, politicians are entitled to speak with whom they like. But it was a strategy either to avoid a line of questioning or attempt to intimidate a critic. And it was never subtle. Morrison was upset because I questioned the immigration figures in his budget when he was treasurer, and became unavailable. Bishop made a fool of herself during an election campaign by not understanding the superannuation policies, so I was banned. Shorten thought I was too dangerous, even though he had trusted me for years. He banned me for his entire period as leader. Advertisement As premier, Jeff Kennett had a reputation as a super bully, but at least it was upfront, usually in public, and finished with have a nice day. Compared with Andrews, who could hold seminars on political bullying, he was gentle. Editor's pick US politics Trump turns on his attorney-general for failing to prosecute political enemies During his tenure as premier, Andrews was accused of going as far as checking the mobile phones of cabinet members to see who was leaking. His strategy worked, illustrated by how many in the media and Labor didnt manage to discover his failings until after he left. This is not to whinge. There will always be and should always be a combative relationship between the media and politicians. Media owners and journalists must be accountable. For many, it is a tough call to decide who to distrust more: politicians such as Trump, or a media that at times is itself manipulative and dishonest. Advertisement The point is not that commercial and personal pressure is applied; it has always been, and will be again. Governments in particular are huge advertisers. That carries financial power. Politicians on both sides will always try to intimidate or neuter or con the media. In Australia, one politician called an editor and said that if the paper didnt toe the line, they could forget any hope of defamation law reforms. In the US, Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg said that when the Democrats were in power, government officials would frequently ring his people and scream and curse, demanding to have material removed. The swirl of self-righteousness around Donald Trump is well-meaning, but at times naive. What matters now is not only that the president wants to make unfavourable stories about himself illegal, but how proprietors and journalists react to such acts of thuggery. Even in this country. Neil Mitchell is host of the podcast Neil Mitchell Asks Why? He is a former 3AW radio host, and was previously the editor of The Herald and news executive for The Age. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter. Advertisement Updated WorldNorth AmericaForeign relations Trumps Albanese snub raises questions about Rudds clout Michael Koziol and Matthew Knott Updated September 23, 2025 6:23pm ,first published September 23, 2025 4:06am 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 1050 View all comments New York: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been snubbed from Donald Trumps official schedule of meetings in New York, raising concerns about the strength of Australias ties with the United States and ambassador Kevin Rudds level of influence with the White House. Albanese will be left to compete for a handshake with the US president at a reception with more than 100 other world leaders at an event on Wednesday morning (AEST), after again failing to secure a meeting with Trump. Trump also took a dim view of the decision by Australia and others to recognise a Palestinian state, saying through his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, that it was a reward for Hamas and did nothing to bring Israeli hostages home. A meeting with Anthony Albanese is not on Donald Trumps official schedule in New York. Getty Images As a Labor frontbencher argued it was a good thing that Albanese and Trump had not met, the Coalition accused the Trump administration of treating Australia like a piece of dirt. Advertisement Leavitt confirmed Trumps schedule at the United Nations would include bilateral meetings with the UN secretary-general and the presidents of Ukraine, Argentina and the European Commission. Trump will also attend a multilateral meeting with the leaders of an array of Middle Eastern countries, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia. But Australia and Albanese were omitted from the schedule, despite earlier suggestions from both sides that a bilateral meeting was possible on the sidelines of the summit or at the White House. Over the past week, however, the Australian government played down the prospect of a formal one-on-one meeting with Trump. The presidents availability was further reduced when he flew to Arizona on Sunday for the memorial for assassinated activist Charlie Kirk. Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Albanese in New York this week. Dominic Lorrimer Advertisement We will meet when we meet, Albanese told the ABC last week. Theres a range of events occurring as well ... that means that peoples arrangements will be finalised when theyre finalised. He will still have the opportunity to meet the president in person at a reception Trump is hosting on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEST) that Leavitt said would be attended by more than 100 world leaders. Ill be talking with him there, Albanese told Channel Sevens Sunrise program on Monday. After the reception, Trump will fly back to Washington, where he is scheduled to hold a meeting and lunch with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday. Albanese and Australian ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd in Seattle in June. Alex Ellinghausen Advertisement Former Australian ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos said it was disappointing that Albanese and Trump had not been able to arrange a meeting since last Novembers presidential election. Going so long without a person-to-person meeting encourages speculation about what is going on. Its important for the leaders to establish a personal relationship and discuss important matters like trade, co-operation on critical minerals and AUKUS, he said. Former prime minister Scott Morrison - who was feted by Trump at a state dinner in 2019 - said the government had done well to secure talks this year with the presidents key lieutenants, but there was no substitute for leaders meetings. Sometime diaries are difficult to coordinate but its been a long time now, Morrison said on Sky News. Many other leaders now have had those opportunities and it really is up to the government to get this landed. Liberal senator Andrew Bragg said Australia had been treated like a piece of dirt by the Trump administration after Kevin Rudd was appointed ambassador to the US in 2023. Advertisement I think its very embarrassing, Bragg told Nines Today on Tuesday. I think that perhaps sending Mr Rudd was actually not in Australias interests, and also the way that Mr Albanese has conducted his diplomacy, hes also been a disaster. I mean, where were being punished, frankly, and its now very embarrassing. Albanese brushed aside concerns about Rudds past criticisms of Trump when he appointed the former prime minister to the crucial role, arguing Rudd would open doors for Australia in the US capital. Before becoming US ambassador, Rudd described Trump as nuts, called him the most destructive president in history and named him a traitor to the West. Related Article Analysis Trump diplomacy So much for cosying up to Trump. Albanese has asserted his independence on day one Advertisement Michael Shoebridge, who served as Australias senior defence policy official in the Australian embassy in Washington, said the failure to secure a meeting showed that Trump is just not that into us. The fact there has not been a leaders meeting is not good news, and no amount of spin can change that. American power is centralised in the individual of Donald Trump, he said. Shoebridge said the snub raised questions about Rudds access to the White House after the ambassador was forced to delete previous social media posts critical of Trump before taking up the post. Whatever influence Rudd has, it hasnt resulted in a leaders meeting, he said. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said he was sure Albanese and Trump would meet soon, as he argued the US-Australia relationship was in good shape. Advertisement Commenting on the lack of a meeting, Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said, I think we should see this as a good thing. It means that the president, whos been meeting with world leaders to try and reach agreements on trade policy, hes trying to do deals with other nations around tariffs and trade policy. He doesnt need to do that with Australia, he told Sky News. Albanese addressed a conference on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at UN headquarters on Tuesday morning (AEST), a day after Australias recognition of Palestine took formal effect. Related Article Updated Israeli-Palestinian conflict Real hope for a place they call home: Albaneses plea to world leaders on Palestine Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Australias relationship with the US was drifting under Labor and that Albanese got it wrong by recognising a Palestinian state. The Coalition would reverse the move, she has said. Advertisement The White House did not respond to a request for further comment. In June, Albanese was among several world leaders who missed out on a planned meeting with Trump when the US president left the G7 summit in Canada early to deal with an unfolding situation in the Middle East. The pair have spoken by phone four times since Trump was elected in November, including a call this month, but are yet to meet face to face. 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. Advertisement Updated WorldNorth AmericaTrump's America Ill-timed, insensitive: Kimmel back on air after backlash over Charlie Kirk comments Dawn Chmielewski Updated September 23, 2025 10:16am ,first published September 23, 2025 5:56am 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 175 View all comments Los Angeles: Disney will return comedian Jimmy Kimmel to late-night television on Tuesday, six days after his show was threatened with a regulatory probe and suspended over comments he made about conservative activist Charlie Kirks assassination. Disneys move to restore the Jimmy Kimmel Live show to the line-up of its ABC network represents the highest-profile challenge yet from a communications company to an escalating crackdown by US President Donald Trump on his perceived media critics through litigation and warnings of regulatory action. The U-turn came after several prominent conservatives, including US senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican who leads oversight of the Federal Communications Commission, joined Democrats in criticising the head of the FCC for threatening retaliation against ABC. Jimmy Kimmel will have his program reinstated. AP Disney also faced pressure from consumers rallying against Kimmels suspension by cancelling their subscriptions to the Disney+ streaming subscription service. Advertisement Kimmel, who has frequently ridiculed Trump on his show, drew outrage from conservatives for saying that Trumps supporters were desperate to characterise Kirks accused assassin as anything other than one of them and for trying to score political points from his murder. Related Article Updated Trump's America Jimmy Kimmel show pulled by ABC in the US over Charlie Kirk assassination remarks The comments came in the opening monologue of Kimmels broadcast five days after Kirk, an influential Trump ally, author and radio-podcast host, was shot dead while speaking at Utah Valley University. In the wake of threats of investigation, fines and broadcast license revocations from FCC chairman Brendan Carr, and a boycott by many of ABCs affiliate stations, Disney said last Wednesday it was shutting down production of Kimmels program indefinitely. In announcing Kimmels return, Disney said it had initially suspended the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It added that it found Kimmels comments about Kirk ill-timed and thus insensitive, but stopped short of an outright apology. Advertisement Disney CEO Bob Iger, Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden and Kimmel were in talks over the weekend and reached a decision on Monday to return Kimmel to the air, according to two people familiar with the matter. The decision was guided by what was in the entertainment companys best interest, rather than external pressure from station owners or the FCC, the sources said. Related Article Censorship Right out of Goodfellas: Powerful Republican breaks ranks with Trump over Kimmel Kimmel is expected to address the issue when his show returns on Tuesday, according to the sources. A spokeswoman for Kimmel could not immediately be reached for comment. Also left unclear was whether ABCs two biggest affiliate television groups, Nextstar, and Sinclair, would eventually agree to resume carrying the show once it returned to the network. There was no immediate comment from Nextstar, which needs FCC approval for a $US6.2 billion ($9.4 billion) merger with Tegna. Sinclair said it would continue pre-empting Kimmels time slot with news programming while conducting talks with ABC as we evaluate the shows potential return. Andrew Kolvet, a spokesman for Turning Point USA, the organisation founded by Kirk and now headed by his wife, posted on X about Kimmels reinstatement: Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but its their mistake to make. Nexstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice. Advertisement Kimmel has hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC since 2003 and has been a fixture in television and comedy for even longer. He is also well known as a presenter, having hosted the Academy Awards four times. Trump had posted on social media that Kimmels suspension was great news for America. He also called for other late-night hosts to be fired. Loading Kimmel was asked in an interview with Variety this past northern summer if he was worried that the administration would come after comedians. He expressed concern that a crackdown could be on the way. Well, youd have to be naive not to worry a little bit, he said. But that cant change what youre doing. Advertisement Kimmels suspension arrived at a time when Trump and his administration have pursued threats, lawsuits and federal government pressure to try to exert more control over the media industry. Related Article Analysis Talk shows Jimmy Kimmel may have crossed a line, but America has crossed a bigger one Trump has reached settlements with ABC and CBS over their coverage, and has filed defamation lawsuits against The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Republicans in Congress stripped federal funding from NPR and PBS. The FCCs Carr issued a warning prior to Kimmels suspension that criticised the TV hosts remarks about the Kirk assassination. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Carr said. These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead. Advertisement The suspension also happened at a time when the late-night landscape is shifting. CBS recently announced the cancellation of Stephen Colberts show. Kimmels contract with The Walt Disney-owned network had been set to expire in May 2026. Related Article Updated US politics The moment in Charlie Kirks memorial that lifted thousands to their feet Word of the reinstatement came as hundreds of Hollywood and Broadway stars including Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Selena Gomez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep urged Americans to fight to defend and preserve our constitutionally protected rights after Kimmels suspension. More than 430 movie, TV and stage stars, as well as comedians, directors and writers, added their names to an open letter from the American Civil Liberties Union that argues it is a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation. The ABCs The View also weighed in on the controversy after not raising the topic for two episodes after Kimmel was suspended. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg opened the show saying: No one silences us, and she and her fellow hosts condemned Disneys decision. Advertisement Reuters, AP, Bloomberg 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. campus news WNY becomes living lab for students studying climate hazards Students in a UB summer research program hiked the Niagara Gorge to learn about local geology and glaciation. Photo: Jasleen Kaur Local students share[d] their knowledge of Buffalo and Western New York with non-local students to come up with crucial insights on how climate change will affect our region. Sophie Nowicki, Empire Innovation Professor Department of Earth Sciences Scouring maps of Lake Eries ice cover to explain heavy snowfalls. Sifting sediment from a Southern Tier pond for clues about ancient climates. Trekking to Sturgeon Point to study shoreline erosion. This summer, Western New York became the lens through which undergraduates from UB and universities nationwide investigated climate hazards and extreme weather. Over 10 weeks, 15 students worked with UB researchers on projects tackling the complex challenges of global climate change, including those facing the Great Lakes region. I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the students research, especially considering they had just 10 weeks to explore their topics. Its a testament to both their abilities and the exceptional mentoring they received from their advisers, says Sophie Nowicki, Empire Innovation Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences and director of the Center for Geological and Climate Hazards, which hosted the program. The program was supported by the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) and the SUNY Chancellors Summer Research Excellence Fund. NSF funding will support the program for an additional two years. WNY-focused projects A lack of ice coverage on Lake Erie is known to bolster snowstorms, including Buffalos 2022 blizzard, so Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student Camryn Nelson dug into the specifics, including location and thickness of the ice, as well as its progression throughout the snow event. Another project revolved around sediment from Red Pond, a kettle lake in the hamlet of Steamburg formed by retreating glaciers. UB environmental geosciences major Grace Maxson characterized the sediment from before and after the Younger Dryas, a sudden cooling period about 12,000 years ago. Such work could provide insights about the effects of modern climate change. Meanwhile, Baylor University student Emily DeMieri digitized topographic maps from the last century into geographic information system software to find rates of shoreline erosion. She even conducted a small-scale study at Sturgeon Point in the Town of Evans, finding that the marinas blocky shale cliffs had more evidence of erosion than its sloping glacial till. Nine of the participating students who came from universities throughout the U.S. were supported by NSF REU grant, while the SUNY Chancellors Summer Research Excellence Fund supported an additional five students from within the SUNY system. The UB Department of Geography also supported an additional student. It was particularly great to see local students share their knowledge of Buffalo and Western New York with non-local students to come up with crucial insights on how climate change will affect our region, Nowicki says. Students also went to Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve in Blasdell for a private tour. Photo: Joe Tulenko Other projects with global implications Alors que la course a la presidentielle du 12 octobre 2025 sintensifie, le parti et son candidat investi, M. Ateki Seta Caxton, annoncent officiellement leur volonte de se retirer au profit dune candidature unique de lopposition. Une decision presentee comme un sacrifice necessaire pour mettre un terme a 43 ans dun systeme en etat d' effondrement interne . Dans un communique rendu public ce dimanche, le president national du PAL, Sa Majeste Celestin Bedzigui, a fixe les contours de cette manuvre. Le parti declare sa disponibilite a accepter que son candidat s'efface derriere tout autre candidat qui, dans le contexte actuel, presenterait de meilleures chances de vaincre le RDPC . Cette position place le PAL et Ateki Seta Caxton en fers de lance d'une dynamique d'unification que beaucoup appellent de leurs vux, mais qui peine toujours a se concretiser. Un sacrifice pour l'interet general Face au spectacle d'un pays en ruines dans tous les domaines , le PAL estime que le triple defi de rebatir l'Etat, la Nation et l'economie ne peut etre releve que par l'unification des forces politiques . Le parti defend la candidature consensuelle comme le retrait volontaire des autres candidats () au profit du candidat que chacun estime avoir les meilleures chances de mener a la victoire . Une facon de mettre la pression sur les autres pretendants serieux a la succession, en les sommant de privilegier l'interet general par rapport a la satisfaction des pulsions egoistes . Cette annonce intervient alors que la pre-campagne d'Ateki Seta Caxton, marquee par des rassemblements enthousiastes a Bamenda, Buea, Douala ou Monatele, laissait entrevoir une suite prometteuse . Un constat qui, selon le communique, n'a pas suffi a occulter l'imperatif categorique de l'union. Le compte a rebours est lance Des maintenant, M. Ateki Seta Caxton engagera immediatement des conversations avec ceux des candidats legitimes par le Conseil Constitutionnel qui croient en la necessite de la candidature consensuelle . Le PAL promet que dans les prochains jours , et avant le lancement de la campagne officielle, le peuple sera informe du nom du candidat consensuel que leur champion aura choisi de soutenir. Cette decision place la balle dans le camp des autres leaders de l'opposition. Accepteront-ils de jouer le jeu des concessions pour creer une vague capable de submerger le parti au pouvoir depuis 43 ans ? La reponse dans les prochains jours sera decisive pour la suite de la presidentielle camerounaise. Cameroon Presidential Election 2025: Ateki Seta Caxton Withdraws for a Consensus Candidate, a Political Bombshell In a rare and strategic political move, the Party of the Liberal Alliance (PAL) has made a significant announcement. With the presidential election of October 12, 2025, heating up, the party and its nominated candidate, Mr. Ateki Seta Caxton, have officially declared their willingness to step aside in favor of a single opposition candidate. This decision is presented as a necessary sacrifice to "put an end to 43 years of a system" showing undeniable signs of "internal collapse." In a statement released this Sunday, the National President of PAL, His Majesty Celestin Bedzigui, outlined this maneuver. The party declares its "availability to accept that its candidate steps aside for any other candidate who, in the current context, would have a better chance of defeating the CPDM." This position positions PAL and Ateki Seta Caxton as champions of a unification dynamic that many desire but has been difficult to achieve. A Sacrifice for the Common Good Confronted with the "spectacle of a country in ruins in all areas," PAL believes that the triple challenge of rebuilding the State, the Nation, and the economy "can only be met by the unification of political forces." The party advocates for the consensus candidate as "the voluntary withdrawal of other candidates... in favor of the candidate everyone believes has the best chances of leading to victory." This is a way of putting pressure on other serious contenders, urging them to prioritize "the common good over the satisfaction of selfish impulses." This announcement comes as Ateki Seta Caxton's pre-campaign, marked by "enthusiastic" rallies in Bamenda, Buea, Douala, and Monatele, suggested a "promising continuation." However, according to the statement, this was not enough to overshadow the categorical imperative of unity. The Countdown Begins Effective immediately, Mr. Ateki Seta Caxton "will immediately begin conversations with those candidates legitimized by the Constitutional Council who believe in the necessity of a consensus candidate." PAL promises that "in the coming days," and before the official campaign launch, the people will be informed of the name of the consensus candidate their champion has chosen to support. This decision throws the ball into the court of other opposition leaders. Will they agree to make concessions to create a wave capable of overwhelming the party that has been in power for 43 years? The answer in the coming days will be decisive for the Cameroonian presidential election. Presidentielle Cameroun 2025, Ateki Seta Caxton, Parti de l'Alliance Liberale, PAL, candidature consensuelle, opposition camerounaise, election presidentielle, RDPC, consensus, politique Cameroun, Celestin Bedzigui, actualite camerounaise, scrutin 2025, unification opposition Christ Ndiffong (Stagiaire) Uisce Eireann has issued a Boil Water Notice for customers supplied by the Ballinkillen Public Water Supply in Co Carlow. The company says the notice is being issued to 'protect the health of approximately 100 customers due to the presence of E.coli in a regulatory sample'. Customers impacted include those in Ballinkillen and the surrounding areas. All customers on this supply are advised to boil water before use until further notice. Customers can check if their property is included by calling the Uisce Eireanns customer care helpline, which is open 24/7, on 1800 278 278. A map of the area is below and available to view on the supply and service section of the Uisce Eireann website. Drinking water experts from Uisce Eireann are working to rectify the issues and will lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE). Uisce Eireanns operation lead Shane Aylward said the company regretted the inconvenience to impacted customers. Public health is Uisce Eireanns number one priority and we would like to assure customers that the notice has been put in place to protect public health," he said. "We acknowledge the inconvenience caused to homes and businesses and would like to assure customers that we are working to resolve the issue and lift the notice as quickly and as safely possible. Uisce Eireanns drinking water standards, as per EU Drinking Water regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins. Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Eireanns enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the HSE is consulted, and Boil Water Notices are issued to protect public health. In all instances immediate action is taken to address the cause of the issue to enable the lifting of the notice as quickly as it safe to do so, in agreement with the HSE. Updates are available on the Water Supply Updates section of the Uisce Eireann website. Uisce Eireann also has a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. AS THE presidential campaign heats up, one of the three (so far) confirmed candidates, Catherine Connolly, visited Carlow to do a spot of canvassing. Catherine met locals on last Friday, 19 September, in Borris, before being greeted by a large crowd in The Exchange in Carlow town. She then went to visit Carlow College, where a brother of hers had studied years ago, followed by a visit to local art shop Made in Carlow, where she was met by local artists and was presented with some artwork by owner Maurice OReilly. Cllr Adrienne Wallace said: The response from the general public towards Catherine was above expectation. Upon entry into The Exchange, she was met with a round of applause from people. She then spoke with members of the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign alongside a long line of other well-wishers. It was brilliant to see young school students make their way in as well to shake hands with Catherine. She met with members of the migrant community in Carlow, local artists and plenty of Gaeilgeoirs. We then made our way to Carlow College, where eager staff and students chatted to Catherine over a cup of tea. Cllr Wallace added: People Before Profit are happy to endorse Catherine. The term of the next president will extend into the early 2030s. Its very important to have a voice to succeed Michael D Higgins in Aras an Uachtarain who continues to advocate for an equal and inclusive society, and also to highlight the fast-approaching threats from failure to act to prevent climate catastrophe and the constant attempts by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to abandon Irish neutrality. Social Democrats senator Patricia Stephenson is also supporting Ms Connolly. She said: We were delighted to host Catherine in Borris on Friday, including a visit to the Borris farmers market and Plur Bakery in Joyces pub. Its an honour to be campaigning for Catherine Connolly she really represents the best of public life in Ireland. She has spent her entire career campaigning for the most marginalised and those who have been ignored by the state, and thats why Im proud to be nominating her for president. Voting in the presidential election is due to take place on 24 October. Ellen O'Donoghue Almost 9.4 million has been laundered through money mule accounts in the 12 months to June 2025. While the amounts moved through these accounts vary, they typically range between 5,000 and 10,000 per case. A new survey has shown that almost a third of 18-24-year-olds have been approached, or know someone who has been approached, to use their bank account to transfer money. The figures have been released by FraudSMART, the fraud awareness initiative led by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). One in four (27 per cent) of 18-24 year olds admitted that they would be likely to consider using their bank account to transfer money on behalf of someone else. Niamh Davenport, head of financial crime at BPFI, said that young people are being recruited through social media adverts promising easy money. This willingness highlights just how critical it is that we raise awareness of the risk both in terms of serious criminal consequences and the fact that money is often linked to wider financial crime networks that fuel drugs, human trafficking, and other serious offences, she said. An Garda Siochana have warned of serious consequences of money muling, including the risk of a criminal record and prison sentence. Michael Cryan, Detective Superintendent at the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, said that it is vital for young people to realise money muling is far from a victimless crime, and the consequences of taking part are severe. Money mules are recruited by Transnational Criminal Organisations and money mules enhance their capability to commit serious crimes, he said. The money mule is a vital cog in the operations of these Transnational Criminal Organisations. Thats why money muling carries such serious penalties, including the risk of a criminal record and prison sentence. As the college term starts, FraudSMART have launched a campaign warning students to be alert for money mule recruiters, particularly through social media adverts. FraudSMART, with support from AMLE (formerly the Union of Students Ireland or USI), launched the Dont be a mule campaign on Monday. A money mule is someone who receives stolen money or proceeds of crime into their bank account and transfers it into another account, often in return for money or an expensive gift. FraudSMART said they have found that while people of any age are susceptible to becoming a money mule, the majority of money mule bank accounts belong to those aged between 18 and 24 years of age, with some cases involving children as young as 14. The research released today revealed that 47 per cent of 1824-year-olds said they had never heard of the term money mule, and 52 per cent said they did not understand what it means. Awareness of the consequences of money muling is lower among 18-24-year-olds compared to older age groups, the research also revealed, while 26 per cent are unaware that it could help fund other criminal activity. 31 per cent said they are unaware that they would be committing a money laundering offence, 35 per cent do not understand they could face jail time, and 42 per cent are unaware it could affect their ability to obtain international travel or work visas. Three-fifths of parents of teenagers surveyed said they have not discussed the risks of money muling with their children. According to FraudSMART, the top things to look out for to avoid falling victim to money mule recruiters are: Be very cautious of unsolicited emails or approaches promising opportunities to make easy money, particularly on social media. Thoroughly research any work-from-home opportunities and do not get involved unless you are sure the business is legitimate. Be particularly cautious of offers from people or companies overseas seeking local/national representatives or agents to act on their behalf, as it is difficult to verify their legitimacy. Do not accept any job offers that ask you to use your own bank account to transfer money. Never give your bank account details to anyone unless you know and trust them. Never allow your bank account to be used by someone else. Never agree to open a new bank account in your own name to receive payments on behalf of a friend or criminal. If you have been approached to act as a money mule or have been a victim of this type of crime, report it to your local Garda Station and contact your bank. More information, alerts and tips can be found on www.fraudsmart.ie. By Nicole McBride, PA A heartbroken family have called for access to specialist cancer treatments in Northern Ireland after the death of a much-loved mother-of-three. Catherine Sherry, 42, from Armagh, was receiving CAR-T cell therapy at Kings College Hospital in London for lymphoma after being told the treatment was unavailable in Northern Ireland. Despite beating the disease, the family said she was unable to fight the last infection because of extensive travel to receive treatment in London, and she died in May. Ms Sherry was described by her family as a beautiful wife and mother. Anne Garvey, Catherine Sherrys aunt, had a meeting with SDLP MLA Justin McNulty (Liam McBurney/PA) Her aunt Anne Garvey said: She was the light of our life and the apple of our eye. Everybody loved her. She was the eldest grandchild, and she loved music. She also encouraged her three boys to get involved in music. Catherine died in May when she was recovering from having this treatment alone. We dont want other families to have to face this. She added: At the moment, patients have to travel to England or Scotland to have that treatment, face separation from their families, and face the problems of travelling on their health including the possibility of blood clots. Representatives of the family, clinicians and advocacy groups met at Stormont on Monday to discuss if CAR-T cell therapy in Northern Ireland could be accessed in order to avoid family separation and complications. According to Northern Ireland's Department of Health, local access to these services is progressing as part of development plans to enhance and expand the existing specialist haematology services currently available at the Belfast Trust. A Northern Ireland-based CAR-T cell therapy service has been estimated to be established by 2030/31. Ms Garvey said: We know this will happen now but we need faster implementation on this service. We are six years behind what is happening in the rest of the UK and Ireland and its time that we in Northern Ireland had access to the same type of treatment. We deserve equality. We deserve to be served here at home. Whats happening at the moment is not good enough. Deliver the service here as quickly as you can, and in the interim, let us have access to the treatment of Dublin. Alison Coyle also took part in the roundtable discussion at Stormont on Monday. Her husband has undergone CAR-T cell treatment in England after being diagnosed with diffused large B cell lymphoma. She said: As a carer for my husband, I found it very, very stressful, the travelling back and forth. Alison Coyle, patient representative for her husband Stephen Coyle, speaks to the media after a meeting with SDLP MLA Justin McNulty at Parliament Buildings in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) I was there with him for six weeks while he was in hospital and I found it very, very lonely. Whereas, if it was here, or if it was in Dublin, the family could have relieved me in some way. A spokesperson for the NI Department of Health said: The minister (Mike Nesbitt) was very saddened to hear of the death of Mrs Sherry earlier this year, and extends his sincere condolences to her family and friends. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) is a highly complex, intensive treatment that utilises specialist gene therapy for the treatment of some specific cancers. The treatment is developed for each individual patient and enables their own immune system to attack cancer cells. It is used when more conventional cancer treatments are no longer working. Access to this treatment in the UK requires referral from a clinician, which is then considered by a national expert panel who make the decision on whether a patient is suitable to undergo this treatment. Given the very specialist nature of this treatment, it can only be accessed through a number of designated specialist centres in the NHS. Patients from Northern Ireland are referred to these centres following confirmation of their eligibility by an expert panel. The spokesperson added: Proposals to establish local delivery of these services are also progressing in Northern Ireland as part of development plans to enhance and expand the existing specialist haematology services currently available at the Belfast Trust. The Belfast Trust has submitted a business case to the department for a new regional haematology ward, which will provide a range of specialist facilities that will support the delivery of a Northern Ireland- based CAR-T cell therapy service by 2030/31. Department of Health NI officials continue to work closely with colleagues in the Republic of Ireland to help develop cross-border cancer services. Unfortunately, due to service capacity issues in the Republic of Ireland, it is not currently possible to refer those patients eligible for CAR-T cell therapy to these specialist cancer services at this time. James Cox Here, we have a look at the topics likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come. Is Sinn Fein's Catherine Connolly endorsement really a 'game-changer'? When Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald promised Sinn Fein's decision on the presidential election would be a "game-changer", there was undoubtedly some panic for the Coalition leaders. After Ms McDonald had ruled herself out, TD Pearse Doherty and GAA president Jarlath Burns appeared to be the frontrunner. In the end, they decided to back Ms Connolly. She now has the support of Labour, the Social Democrats, Sinn Fein, People Before Profit and a number of independents. While this is great news for the Galway TD, many have argued it is a bit underwhelming from Sinn Fein. Both Mr Doherty and Mr Burns would have shaken up the race for Aras an Uachtarain, and Mr Burns may well have been the favourite. Sources have suggested there is relief within Government that Sinn Fein did not put a candidate forward. Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly (centre) with Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns (left) and Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (right) as she launches her presidential election campaign at The Complex, Smithfield in Dublin. Speaking on the Path to Power podcast, which he co-hosts with Matt Cooper, former agriculture minister Ivan Yates said Sinn Fein backing Ms Connolly would be a "damp squib" (before the announcement was made on Saturday. Mr Yates said: "It'll be one of the biggest anti-climaxes in Irish politics and Mary Lou's career. What a damp squib coming out with that when two months ago they could have got in the queue with the Soc Dems and Labour, I don't see that as a game-changer. "It's a false bluff, it's a damp squib, it's an opt out, an off ramp, that has no credibility in my view." It was clearly a carefully thought out decision, and Ms McDonald and senior Sinn Fein figures may have identified some positives. If Ms Connolly does not perform well in the election, the party can distance themselves from the result. They may also see it as a test of left wing unity as Sinn Fein would be the largest grouping if a coherent left-leaning government coalition ever becomes a realistic possibility. Minister calls on TDs to 'disagree agreeably' As the Dail returns amid recent threats to politicians, a Government minister has said "there is no point in condemning this abuse if we continue to use abusive language". In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, Minister of State Neale Richmond called on his colleagues, both in government and opposition, to find a way to "disagree agreeably" and "tone down the venom" in political debates. Addressing the recent campaign of abuse against Tanaiste Simon Harris, Mr Richmond condemned the abuse and said the coordinated nature of it was "extremely worrying". Gardai have sought Interpol assistance as concerns rise over the recent series of threats made against Mr Harris. Callers recently phoned into Garda stations claiming there was a bomb at Mr Harris' family home in Greystones, Co Wicklow. A woman from west Dublin was arrested two weeks ago after allegedly posting a threat to abduct Mr Harris' children. Mr Richmond, who is Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, also said it was the role of politicians to tone down abusive language, particularly when tensions are high in Dail debates. He said the new term provides an opportunity to debate in a more civil manner, and said labels like 'treason' and 'traitor' should not be used. "There is no point in politicians condemning this abuse and these attacks if we ourselves continue to use very abusive language that I would argue is below us. That is something I am really focused on in the coming weeks and months, how can we as politicians lead in terms of changing the tone of the debate? "It is a challenge... I am guilty of it in the past, being a little bit too salty on social media or letting my emotions get to me, where we stray from the political or the policy to the personal." Gareth Sheridan ends presidential campaign Businessman Gareth Sheridan has acknowledged the end of his presidential campaign after he failed to receive the backing of Offaly and Meath county councils. While Mr Sheridan has the support of two local authorities - Kerry and Tipperary - he has now run out of options to secure two more. Mr Sheridan is due to address Louth County Council this evening, however its support, along with Kerry and Tipperary county councils, would not be enough to contest the election. He has admitted it is now "mathematically" impossible for him to secure enough support to get on the ballot. Gareth Sheridan (centre), Independent presidential candidate, and his wife Heidi (right), are joined by Cathaoirleach Cllr John Leahy (left), outside Offaly County Council offices in Tullamore. Mr Sheridan, a married father of an almost three-year-old girl, lost out on a nomination from Meath by just one vote. Speaking to reporters at Offaly County Council, he said: We tried to offer something different. I think diversity on the ballot is important and we tried to offer that. Unfortunately it didnt work out this time but, you know, no regrets. Connolly criticises Starmer's Hamas comments Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said it is not for British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to decide Hamas role in a Palestinian state. The left-wing independent from Galway was asked about comments by the prime minister, who said on Sunday that Hamas should have no role in government. Mr Starmer made the comments as he announced the UKs recognition of a Palestinian state, ahead of the UN General Assembly this week and alongside other nations including Australia and Canada. Ms Connolly, who has been vocal on the issue of Palestine and has criticised the Government for not taking more action against Israel, said that it was up to Palestinians to decide who governs them. I dont think its up to Keir Starmer to make that statement at all, Ms Connolly told BBC Radio Ulster on Monday. I come from Ireland, a history of colonisation, and I would be very wary of telling a sovereign people how to run their country. The Palestinians must decide, in a democratic way, who they want to lead their country. Maria Steen's bid to make the ballot The presidential election will be a three-horse race between Jim Gavin (Fianna Fail), Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael) and Independent Catherine Connolly unless Maria Steen can secure a place on the ballot. Aontu leader Peadar Toibin is rallying support for Ms Steen and claims she has at least 11 Oireachtas members backing her. Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae has said he will also nominate Ms Steen and Independent TD Gillian Toole has said she will do the same. The candidate is set to meet Independent Ireland members tomorrow to try and secure their backing. Ms Steen needs 20 nominations to get on the ballot. Abroad France has become the latest country to recognise Palestinian statehood, with president Emmanuel Macron making the announcement as the United Nations meets in New York. In the US, all eyes were on a memorial for assassinated political activist Charlie Kirk. US president Donald Trump praised Charlie Kirk as a great American hero and martyr for freedom as he and other prominent conservatives gathered on Sunday evening to honour the slain conservative political activist whose work they say they must now advance. THE price of an average second-hand three-bed semi in Co Carlow rose by 2.75% to 280,000 in the last three months, according to a national survey by Real Estate Alliance. Across the county, the average time taken to reach sale agreed was three weeks, the REA Average House Price Index shows. The survey also showed that 31% of sales in the county were driven by landlords exiting the market. Prices in Carlow town increased by 5% to 310,000, breaking the 300,000 barrier for the first time, with most homes selling in two weeks. The Carlow property market remains buoyant, with strong activity across all sectors, explained Harry Sothern, REA Sothern, Carlow town. A notable trend continues to be landlords exiting the market, and this is expected to accelerate in advance of new legislation due to come into effect in March 2026. This will likely present further challenges for landlords and could place additional pressure on rental supply in the county. Tullow prices were static this quarter, with landlords accounting for 50% of all three-bed homes on the market. Demand for starter homes remains strong, but stock levels are very low, added Matthew Conry of REA Dawson, Tullow. The REA Average House Price Index concentrates on the sale price of Irelands typical stock home, the three-bed semi, giving an accurate picture of the second-hand property market in towns and cities countrywide. The announcement of a nationwide rent pressure zone has triggered a sharp increase in landlords exiting the housing market, the survey showed. The governments announcement last June was followed by an immediate spike in landlord sales in many areas now included in the legislation. The REA survey also found that properties with a BER rating of A commanded an average 17% premium over C-rated stock, reflecting the rising attractiveness of retrofitted homes. Advertisement Crown Cement Plc, one of Bangladeshs top cement producers, has approved the purchase of 1.34ha of land in West Mukterpur, Munshiganj, spending about BDT13.8bn (US$11.7m) including registration, to expand its factory premises. The decision was made by the board in its meeting on 18 September. This acquisition adds to Crown Cements earlier 2023 land purchase of 245 decimals adjacent to its existing planta clear sign of its long-term strategy to secure space for future growth. The company has been gradually enlarging its footprint: in January 2024, it commissioned its sixth grinding unit at Munshiganj, lifting total capacity to 19,040tpd, or around 5.7Mt annually. While demand for cement remains strong, the industry has been under pressure from rising input costs and macroeconomic challenges. Crown Cements recent earnings reflect this: in the July-March period of FY24-25, its earnings per share fell to BDT3.56 compared to BDT5.90 a year earlier. Despite these headwinds, Crown Cement has tried to maintain profitability. It declared a 21 per cent cash dividend for FY23-24, and revenue rose from BDT27.73bn (US$236m) in FY23-24 to BDT31.98bn in FY24-25. Advertisement The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), led by Secretary Cristina Roque, has called for tighter regulations on building materials, particularly cement, to enhance safety in a country constantly exposed to earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural disasters. Roque made the remarks during a tour of Republic Cements plant in Teresa, Rizal, urging that all construction materials meet higher quality and safety benchmarks. The push involves updating existing rules under Department Administrative Order 17-06:2017, which currently mandates certification for Portland and blended hydraulic cements. The DTIs Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) is drafting revisions to cement standards addressing alkali content, testing protocols, post-shipment inspections, and full product testing. There are now 179 cement manufacturers licensed under Philippine National Standards: 95 are Portland cement makers, 81 produce blended hydraulic cement, and three make masonry cement. Local industry players have voiced support, saying stricter standards will restore public confidence and improve infrastructure quality. The move is part of a broader DTI campaign to clamp down on substandard construction materials. Earlier this year, the agency included building materials under the Tatak Pinoy Act, prioritising Filipino-made, quality-certified goods, and stepped up enforcement actions to remove unsafe materials from the market. Here are the new marriage licenses from the County Clerk's office: JAYLEN MARKEITH JOHNSON AUTUM LAKE GREER 524 ALGONQUIN DR 524 ALGONQUIN DR MORRISTOWN, Tennessee 37813 MORRISTOWN, Tennessee 37813 KELLI ALISE WEBBER DILMUS CALVIN CRUSE 736 CARROL DR 736 CARROL DR RINGGOLD, Georgia 30736 RINGGOLD, Georgia 30736 JAMES DEREK KLEIN TATIANA MISAS TITTA 6206 FLAG POINT DR 6206 FLAG POINT DR OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 CHRISTOPHER THOMAS HENDRIX KELSI JANE MELIAH 8202 THORNWOOD DR 8202 THORNWOOD DR HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 NICHOLAS PAUL LEWIS KYRIA NICOLE WHITED 12717 OLD DAYTON PIKE 12717 OLD DAYTON PIKE SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 JONATHAN ROBERT HICKMAN BAILEY GRACE CHRISTOL 74 KAILORS COVE CIR 74 KAILORS COVE CIR RINGGOLD, Georgia 30736 RINGGOLD, Georgia 30736 MEREDITH CLAIRE BROADWAY CHRISTOPHER JAMES LO JACONO 1109 ALTAMONT RD 1109 ALTAMONT RD CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 RACHEL NICHOLE DEFRANCESCO MICHAEL ANTHONY YELL 4520 HIGHWAY 48 200 LAUREN CIR CUMBERLAND FURNACE, Tennessee 37051 CHICKAMAUGA, Georgia 30707 BRYAN CHARLES KIRSCH VERONICA KYUNG-JIN HOFFMAN 1811 CLAYTON DR 1811 CLAYTON DR CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 COLTIN MAHER CALLOWAY ELIZABETH MERLE SNOW 204 SIGNAL VIEW ST 204 SIGNAL VIEW ST CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 STEVEN LOUIS DOUGLAS ROLEN VICTORIA AILEEN LEWIS 9121 MISTY RIDGE DR 9121 MISTY RIDGE DR CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37416 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37416 CHRISTOPHER SCOTT GALLOWAY JESSENIA MAGDALENA MACKENZIE 2828 TUNNEL BLVD 2828 TUNNEL BLVD CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37406 CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE 374062644 CHLOE VICTORIA SPARKMAN ADRIAN DEWAN SMITH 8637 SUMMIT PEAK WAY APT 306 8637 SUMMIT PEAK WAY APT 306 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 EVAN CHRISTOPHER SIMPSON RENA ALEXANDRA RUSSELL 1105 CITYSCAPE VW 1105 CITYSCAPE VW CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37405 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37405 WILLIAM EDMON LUMPKIN JESALYN DANIELLE BENNETT 25033 GARDNER DR 25033 GARDNER DR ALPHARETTA, Georgia 30009 ALPHARETTA, Georgia 30009 MATTHEW GORE RUSSELL SUMMER MADISON BROCK 654 BROADWAY ST 654 BROADWAY ST Venice, California 90291 Venice, California 90291 JOSEPH WILLIAM JOLES NATTAYA DILLON 4703 WILDWOOD DR 4703 WILDWOOD DR HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 DE JOUR HORTON ANYA BUCHANAN 22 STARVIEW LN APT 428 22 STARVIEW LN APT 428 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37419 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37419 RYAN BRUCE RATCLIFF CHLOE TEAL LEWIS 7740 HANCOCK RD 7740 HANCOCK RD CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37416 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37416 JOCELYN RAE RIECHES JESSICA LYNNE ROBERTS 506 ELY RD APT A 506 ELY RD APT A HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 JAIMEE LAUREN COOPER DESIREE CHRISTINA ROBINSON 3610 PICKERING AVE 3610 PICKERING AVE CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 BAILEY SCOTT HANNAH KATHERINE ROSE DETTLOFF 2422 HAVEN CREST DR 528 SHADYCREST LN CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 FRANKLIN, Tennessee 37064 JAMES GRANT RODDY EDUARDO BRAVO GUTIERREZ 288 QUAIL RIDGE DR 288 QUAIL RIDGE DR DAYTON, Tennessee 37321 DAYTON, Tennessee 37321 REANNAH FAITH REMKUS JACKSON DAVIS RENNER 3116 MOSLEY CIR 3116 MOSLEY CIR CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 AUSTIN WESLEY CAMP MICKAYLA ELIZABETH TURNER 3221 PLAZA CIR 3221 PLAZA CIR CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37419 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37419 KAMERON TUCKER COX TORI ROCHELLE FLESNER 5659 JONQUIL LN 5659 JONQUIL LN OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 RYLAND HUNTER PEREZ-SETTLE HEILY MERCEDES LOPEZ MORALEZ 6288 GORSE LN 6288 GORSE LN CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 HANNAH ASHLEE BOYD JAMES HUNTER BRADFORD 10778 LOOP RD 10778 LOOP RD SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 LAUREN BROOKE MCCURDY DUANE CONNOR FERREL 9164 SIR CHARLES CT 707 ROCKY SHADOWS HARRISON, Tennessee 37341 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 GRACE CATHERINE HARMON STEVEN PRAYON PUMEL 200 CRESTVIEW CHURCH RD 200 CRESTVIEW CHURCH RD WARNER ROBINS, Georgia 31088 WARNER ROBINS, Georgia 31088 ANDREW GLADEN FISHER MATTISON GRACE STEELMAN 367 BRODY DR NE 367 BRODY DR NE REsaca, Georgia 30735 REsaca, Georgia 30735 ANTHONY EUGENE POWER ERIKA NOEL MOORE 1332 ELY RD 1332 ELY RD HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HANNAH JEAN SWANTEK KHARI CHAD-O'BRIAN GRAY 4619 ARDMORE DR APT 205 4619 ARDMORE DR APT 205 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 SEAN JARED MANSKE RACHAEL ANN ROSS 212 RIDGE TOP DR 212 RIDGE TOP DR DUNLAP, Tennessee 37327 DUNLAP, Tennessee 37327 GABRIELLE LYNN ROCKWELL YAKOV FRIDMAN 9811 SMITH MORGAN RD 9811 SMITH MORGAN RD SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 BRIAN JOSEPH LUNDQUIST HEATHER RUTH HENLINE 2698 COUNTY RD 900 N 2698 COUNTY RD 900 N HOMER, Illinois 61849 HOMER, Illinois 61849 WILLIAM HUGH KELLY CARISSA LYNN WALKER 7112 TYNER CROSSING DR 4702 TRICIA DR CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374211097 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374162634 GAL TARAN DE ASIAH MONIQUE WORTHINGTON 1504 14TH ST SE APT 1 1504 14TH ST SE APT 1 CLEVELAND, Tennessee 37311 CLEVELAND, Tennessee 37311 KELVIN JOSE LEON SAMANTHA MICHELLE BRANNON 3500 NAVAJO DR 3500 NAVAJO DR CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411 DENNIS LEE HOLCOMB SAMANTHA GRACE BARTLETT 2015 TOMBRAS AVE 2015 TOMBRAS AVE CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374122729 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374122729 BENJAMIN THOMAS EZELL JESSICA FRYE MOORE 1053 HARVEST KNOLL LN 1053 HARVEST KNOLL LN SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 RICHARD ALAN HOMAN DANA ELIZABETH NIELSEN 1604 TRUMAN AVE 1604 TRUMAN AVE CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 BRIAN KEITH EWTON RHYMA WILSON WIDENER 4622 HUNTER TRL 4622 HUNTER TRL CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 HALEY MARIE CARHART ANDREW TAFT PRICE 65 HENRY LEE LN 3919 MEMPHIS DR TUNNEL HILL, Georgia 307557620 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374153809 JULIUS JUNIOR JOHNSON ZSHANEDRIA ROBINSON 3944 CAINE LN APT B 3944 CAINE LN APT B CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 STEPHEN EUGENE MCCUTCHEON CHRISTINA SEIFERT GLIDDEN 6710 HICKORY MANOR CIR 6710 HICKORY MANOR CIR CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 ARIBAH SHOEB BALBALE PHILIP SAL GRAYS 1701 BROAD ST 1701 BROAD ST CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37408 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37408 JILLE ALEXANDRA NATALINO JOEL STEPHEN KONSOWITZ 5235 SHASTA WAY 5235 SHASTA WAY MARIETTA, Georgia 30062 MARIETTA, Georgia 30062 MAKAYLA SHEA MCPHAIL SHAUN KILYN SELF 1414 BRENDA RD 3603 6TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37407 MALLORY LYNN ISHAM ADAIN ROBERT CHAMPION 416 GREENS LAKE CIR 49 VILLAGE DR ROSSVILLE, Georgia 30741 ROSSVILLE, Georgia 307413110 OLIVIA LEIGH LEWIS WALTER YASTRUB 3131 MOUNTAIN CREEK RD APT 2A5 25703 BARNES AVE CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 FORT GORDON, Georgia 30905 VICTORIA GAIL WICKS ROBERT HOGAN WHITMIRE 286 VALLEY OAKS DR 286 VALLEY OAKS DR SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tennessee 37377 SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tennessee 37377 PAOLA NICOLE CALDERON JACOB THOMAS IVORY 1945 WINTERHAWK TRL 1945 WINTERHAWK TRL SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 ROBERT ANTHONY LEE MOORBY MEGAN ELIZABETH OSBONLIGHTER ADKINS 5646 CRESTVIEW DR 5646 CRESTVIEW DR HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 ROBERT EUGENE SANDERS LONNIE RAY MOFFETT 2712 MAC ST NW 2712 MAC ST NW CLEVELAND, Tennessee 37312 CLEVELAND, Tennessee 37312 COURTNEY LEIGHANNE CARROLL CODY MICHAEL SCHMIDT 10329 SOVEREIGN POINTE DR 10329 SOVEREIGN POINTE DR SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 ANNA GRACE GENTILE ELIZABETH ASHLEY PATURALSKI 6619 SATJANON DR 6619 SATJANON DR OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 373637221 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 373637221 EMMA MAIRE MCCLAIN JUSTIN GARRETT PRICE 717 MANSION CIR APT F 717 MANSION CIR APT F CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37405 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37405 ZACHARY JASE WARRINGTON ANNIE MARIE PERONE 1830 YAPHANK RD 1830 YAPHANK RD SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 DANIEL WESLEY CASE SIERRA CHEYENNE MARTIN 130 ROLLING RIDGE DR 130 ROLLING RIDGE DR CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 JACOB AUSTIN GEYER LILLIAN LOUISE MOORE 2002 DUNCAN AVE 2002 DUNCAN AVE CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37404 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37404 DAVID CARLTON LOVELESS PATRICIA ILENE BURCHARD 4518 HIXSON PK APT M8 4518 HIXSON PK APT M8 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 MAGGIE GRACE LUSK CALLUM OAKLEY TURNER 6920 STAR LITE RD 6920 STAR LITE RD HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 TIFFANY ELAINE NORMAN EDUARDO MARTINEZ 4680 JODY LN 6303 LARAMIE CIR CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37416 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 MATTALINA LOUISE KELLER TRACY LEDELL PAYNE 18 OTTAWA TRL 18 OTTAWA TRL FT MITCHELL, Alabama 36856 FT MITCHELL, Alabama 36856 NOE JAYNE SIMMONS KEVIN JACOB MARTIN 6574 E BRAINERD RD APT 1313 6574 E BRAINERD RD APT 1313 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374213732 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374213732 CARMEN LYNN MANIAK ROBERT EDWARD SHAMBLIN 7046 BROOKBANK RD 7046 BROOKBANK RD SUMMERFIELD, North Carolina 27358 SUMMERFIELD, North Carolina 27358 MARIA LEIGH SMITH ZACKERY BRIAN NICHOLS 12916 PIERCE RD 12916 PIERCE RD BIRCHWOOD, Tennessee 37308 BIRCHWOOD, Tennessee 37308 SEBASTIAN RICHARD DE LA HOZ LESLIE CAROL HAYES 804 HURRICANE CREEK RD 804 HURRICANE CREEK RD CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 JACOB BAILEY BASS MEGAN ANN BELL 254 MERILYN DR 254 MERILYN DR RInggold, Georgia 30736 RInggold, Georgia 30736 TYLER RONALD TRATCHEL ASHLEY LAUREN ALVES 837 BENTLEAF DR 52 OVERVIEW CT DALLAS, Georgia 30132 DALLAS, Georgia 30157 ISABELLA THOMPSON LILLY CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL GUTILLO 605 LAYFIELD RD 605 LAYFIELD RD CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 MYLES STEPHEN PENNEY MAGGIE GRACE GADD 8887 LOVELL RD 12225 POSEY HOLLOW RD HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SCHUYLER ELIJAH COLLING LARA BETH HAMILTON 1106 RIDGEWOOD ST 1106 RIDGEWOOD ST ROSSVILLE, Georgia 30741 ROSSVILLE, Georgia 30741 Southern Adventist Universitys School of Religion invites the community to a free lecture presented by Professor Michael G. Hasel, PhD, titled An Egyptian Scarab Seal of Thutmose III at Lachish on Monday, October 6, at 7 p.m. in Lynn Wood Hall Chapel on campus. Hasel teaches Near Eastern studies and archaeology classes and also serves as director of the Institute of Archaeology and Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum at Southern. He has written and edited 10 books and more than 150 articles in peer-reviewed journals, dictionaries, and encyclopedias, and has appeared on documentaries for Anchor Point Films, Hope Channel International, 3ABN, and National Geographic. Working in the Middle East as an archaeologist for 33 years at nearly a dozen sites in Jordan, Cyprus, and Israel, Hasel currently serves as co-director of the Fourth Expedition to Lachish. One of the most important pharaohs of Egypt, Thutmose campaigned into the land of Canaan 17 times, more than any other king, and possibly was still ruler when Moses led the Hebrews out of slavery through the Exodus. In 2016, an Egyptian scarab seal was discovered in Lachish that bore the name of the infamous pharaoh. Hasels lecture will explore the find as well as the history and significance of seals in the Levant on the eastern Mediterranean. For streaming options, visit southern.edu/southernevents or call 423.236.2030. What: Archaeological Lecture with Michael G. Hasel When: Monday, October 6, 7 p.m. Where: Southern Adventist University Lynn Wood Hall Chapel Collegedale, 37315 The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has announced the creation of the Center for Applied Geospatial Data Science (CAGDS), an interdisciplinary research hub housed within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.Building on the legacy of the long-standing Interdisciplinary Geospatial Technology Lab (IGTLab), the center will advance applied geospatial research, education and community partnerships.My own research background as a faculty member was in geospatial data science, image processing and remote sensing, so I recognize what a gem this center is.We have world-class researchers whose work has already been felt across the region, said UTC Chancellor Lori Bruce. In my first weeks on the job, community members repeatedly have shared how the GIS lab helped them move important projects forward with timely, practical solutions. Elevating that work from a lab to a center gives it the recognition it deservesregionally and nationallyand reflects the impact UTC research is having every day.The Center for Applied Geospatial Data Science greatly supports UTCs role as a driver of regional innovation, said UTC Vice Chancellor for Research Reinhold Mann. The center is an important asset for UTC and our stakeholders and collaborators as we address complex challenges that call for geospatial data capture and analytics.Led by GIS Director Charlie Mix and Assistant GIS Director Nyssa Hunt, the CAGDS will expand opportunities for UTC researchers to apply geospatial data science across disciplines while supporting regional partners with data-driven solutions.Geospatial data science leverages the universal language of geography, allowing us to interpret the past, understand the present and plan for a better future, Mr. Mix said. Through CAGDS, we aim to expand opportunities for students, faculty and staff to learn and use in-demand geospatial technology and for our regional partners to harness geospatial information for real-world insights and decision making.For nearly three decades, UTC has been a leader in geospatial information innovation. Since launching its first GIS lab in 1995, faculty and staff have provided expertise in GIS, remote sensing, spatial analysis and cartography.The IGTLab and its students have supported dozens of projects with local, state and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and multidisciplinary campus researchers. Notable efforts have included analyzing Chattanoogas urban tree canopy, developing conservation plans for regional organizations and supporting outdoor recreation initiatives, community prosperity and public health projects.The foundation of our work remains the same: empowering students, supporting research and enhancing community decision-making with accessible tools, Ms. Hunt said. With CAGDS, we are poised to serve in an even greater capacity.The new center will provide campus and community partners with technical workshops, access to cutting-edge GIS software and cloud-based platforms such as ArcGIS Online, data hosting services and paid student positions through GIS Fellows programs. By integrating applied teaching, hands-on training and outreach, the CAGDS reflects UTCs commitment to advancing geospatial technology for both academic and community impact.Geospatial data science is something that can be leveraged by all departments on campus for teaching and research and is a key tool for solving societys greatest challenges, and it is easier than ever to access, Mr. Mix said. The Ig Nobel Prizes, which are awarded annually to research that "first makes people laugh and then makes them think", took place for the 35th time this year. At the ceremony at Boston University, ten prizes were awarded for unusual scientific achievements, ranging from the formation of lumps in pasta sauces to the effect of alcohol on the ability of bats to fly. Biology: Cows with zebra stripes are less likely to be bitten by flies The Ig Nobel Prize in Biology went to a Japanese research team led by Tamoki Kojima, who investigated whether cows with painted zebra stripes are less likely to be bitten by flies. The scientists were actually able to prove that the stripe patterns prevent biting flies from landing on the animals - a simple but effective method of protecting livestock without chemical insecticides. Chemistry: Teflon as a low-calorie stomach filling The chemistry prize was awarded to Rom Naftalovich, Daniel Naftalovich and Frank Greenway, who experimented with whether eating Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene) could be a good way to increase the volume of food and thus the feeling of satiety without increasing the calorie content. The researchers were unable to attend in person, but their acceptance speech was read by proxy by a Nobel laureate. Physics: The science behind lumpy pasta sauce An international team from Italy, Spain, Germany and Austria received the Physics Prize for their discoveries on the physics of pasta sauce. Giacomo Bartolucci and colleagues investigated the phase transition in particular, which can lead to lump formation - a phenomenon that can occur particularly when preparing cacio e pepe and leads to unpleasant eating experiences. The researchers discovered that the addition of starch can prevent this undesirable "mozzarella effect". Nutrition: When lizards choose pizza The nutrition prize went to an international team from Nigeria, Togo, Italy and France. Danielle Dendi, Gabriel Segniagbeto, Roger Meek and Luca Luiselli researched how certain lizard species choose different types of pizza. The study showed that agama lizards living in coastal towns in Togo have a particular preference for discarded pizza and behave in a similar way to Italians - with a particular preference for cheese. Other bizarre awards The literature prize was awarded posthumously to Dr. William B. Bean, who meticulously documented the growth of one of his fingernails for 35 years. The psychology prize was awarded to researchers from Poland, Australia and Canada for their research into what happens when narcissists (or other people) are told that they are intelligent. In the field of pediatrics, the award went to scientists who researched what a breastfeeding baby experiences when the mother eats garlic. The Peace Prize went to a team that proved that alcohol consumption sometimes improves the ability to speak a foreign language - especially in Germans, who can speak Dutch better after a beer. The prize for aviation was awarded to an international group of researchers who investigated whether alcohol consumption impairs the flight and echolocation abilities of bats. The Engineering Design Prize was awarded to Indian researchers for their analysis of how malodorous shoes affect the user experience of a shoe rack. As usual, the ceremony was accompanied by Nobel laureates presenting the awards and included a mini-opera on the theme of "The Plagues of Gastroenterologists" and the traditional paper airplane toss. A special highlight was also the 24/7 lecture format, in which complex topics were first explained in 24 seconds and then summarized in exactly seven words. In January 2020, INDRESMAT was recognized as the Start-up of the Month by the International sustainable chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) for its contribution to Sustainable Chemistry. Since its founding in 2017, this ambitious company has been developing innovative construction and insulation materials based on bio-based polyurethane (PU) plastics, helping to make the building sector more sustainable. As a polymer specialist with two masters degrees, founder Pablo R. Outon identified a gap in the market for bio-based PU in the construction industry a gap INDRESMAT now fills. With its self-developed sRIM-PUR technology, the company creates energy-efficient products that use renewable resources, avoid harmful additives, and promote circularity. Since receiving the ISC3 Start-up of the Month recognition, INDRESMAT has grown from a start-up into an expanding company with sustainable solutions for the construction sector, operating in both Spain and the Netherlands. Driving Forces Behind INDRESMATs Innovation For founder Pablo R. Outon, the key drivers and foundation of the companys innovation strategy are the benefits of Sustainable Chemistry, as outlined in the ISC3 Key Characteristics of Sustainable Chemistry. The use of renewable resources, the Safe-by-Design principle, and the creation of closed-loop material cycles shape the development of all INDRESMAT products. These sustainable innovations contribute to making buildings more energy-efficient and reducing their environmental footprint. More than five years after being named Start-up of the Month, we spoke with INDRESMAT about their progress, milestones, and the impact of support from the ISC3 Start-up Service. What does Sustainable Chemistry mean to you? To us, Sustainable Chemistry is not just an opportunity its a responsibility. It lies at the heart of our strategy to decarbonize the construction sector. That means improving energy efficiency, reducing the environmental footprint across the entire life cycle, and designing materials from the outset to be recyclable, repairable, and reusable. We see ourselves as a driving force for fundamentally improving the thermal performance of buildings and making it more sustainable. Where are you now compared to when you were chosen as Start-up of the Month? A lot has happened since 2020: weve gone from a start-up with no employees to a scale-up with entities in Spain and the Netherlands. Today, our team includes nine employees. Weve secured more than 4.4 million in public funding mainly through the Horizon 2020 (H2020) and Horizon Europe programs and established industrial production capacities. Key milestones include achieving Passivhaus and RC2 certification for our KLIMA-PUR windows and launching the product in Spain and German-speaking markets. How did you benefit from your collaboration with ISC3 and the support of the ISC3 Global Start-up Service? Being named Start-up of the Month and receiving support from the Global Start-up Service gave us visibility at a crucial time. Access to an international network, presentations at the New Plastics Economy Investor Forum and the Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference, and connections with experts helped us align our technological development more closely with sustainability goals and win strategic partners. ISC3s insights also helped us articulate our ideas and goals more clearlyinternally and in communication with partners, investors, and customers. Some of the contacts we made through ISC3 later became part of our European project consortia. What have been the highlights of the projects? The most important highlights have been the successful market launch of our KLIMA-PUR windows including CE marking and PassivHaus certifications and our expansion into new markets. The development of our proprietary sRIM-PUR technology for industrial applications marks another key milestone: it enables energy-efficient, low-emission production of our bio-based BioPUR insulation foams and is central to our growth as a sustainable technology provider for the construction sector. At the annual Ross Reunion, District 11 Tribal Councilor Kendra McGeady, left, helped present gifts to Remember the Removal bike riders Lexi Melton of Vinita and Kalina Campos of Concord, California, right, who is a direct descendant of Principal Chief John Ross. On September 17, 2025, transition meetings in Bar, Montenegro, the European Evangelical Alliance elected Andreas Wenzel of Germany (right) as its new president, succeeding Rev. Dr. Frank Hinkelmann (left), who served for 12 years. | Photo Credit: Facebook/ European Evangelical Alliance The European Evangelical Alliance has appointed Andreas Wenzel of Germany as its new president, taking over from Rev. Frank Hinkelmann, who served for 12 years. The leadership transition was announced at the Alliance's hybrid Members Meeting in Bar, Montenegro, where the EEA Board and staff gathered on site, while Evangelical leaders from across Europe joined virtually. Since 1990, Wenzel has been involved with Word of Life Germany, initially as a youth pastor and later in various executive roles focused on evangelism, discipleship, and training young leaders. In 2012, he joined the leadership team of Word of Life Europe, overseeing the ministry's operations in 18 countries, and became its director in 2023. In addition to his work with Word of Life, Wenzel has held leadership roles on local and national boards of the German Evangelical Alliance and has been a member of the European Evangelical Alliance Board since 2017. EEA co-general secretaries Connie Main Duarte and Jan Wessels expressed their approval of his election, emphasizing his dedication to mission and the Bible. Duarte remarked that Wenzels passion for mission will inspire us all to press forward in faith, while Wessels mentioned that Wenzel would bring fresh energy rooted in Scripture to unite and empower Europes Evangelical family. Founded in 1951, the European Evangelical Alliance represents more than 23 million Evangelicals in 35 countries, working to promote unity, advocate for religious freedom, and engage in public policy on issues affecting the Church. Franklin Graham speaks at the European Congress on Evangelism, hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), from May 27 to May 30 in Berlin, Germany. | Photo Credit: Facebook/ Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Evangelist and Samaritan's Purse CEO Franklin Graham, son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, stated that the assassination of Charlie Kirk reflects an attempt by the Left to silence their adversaries. In a phone interview with The Christian Post, Graham said, I think what the assassin was wanting to do, no question, has backfired. And what the Left is wanting to do is to shut the mouths of anyone whos willing to speak out. Graham expressed optimism that even after his death, Kirk, reportedly assassinated last week in Utah by a young individual with leftist political views, would continue to impact others for Christ. Graham stated, I hope this is going to raise up an army of young people who will take a stand for Jesus Christ, who are not afraid to speak out and not afraid that theyre going to be attacked or accused. We have to take a stand and be open to the truth and not be afraid to speak the truth. While attending the second meeting of the White House Religious Liberty Commission in Washington, D.C., last week, Graham asserted, Theres no question that Christian people of faith are under attack. Graham admitted that society has become increasingly hostile toward Christianity, highlighting how the Left has coined the term Christian nationalism to disparage people of faith. He elaborated, Its another word to try to put you down, and to shut you up and to make you fearful of taking a stand, emphasizing that Christians are nonetheless called to share their faith boldly. He praised Charlie Kirks forthright sharing of the Gospel, referencing a tweet by Kirk made 11 days before his death encouraging his followers to tell someone about Jesus this weekend. Graham told CP, I think Charlies death put a huge spotlight on this truth: that Jesus Christ is Gods Son, suggesting that while the assassin aimed to silence Kirk, the opposite effect is occurring. Graham noted millions of people are talking about the Gospel in the aftermath of Kirks assassination, with reports of increased church attendance dubbed the Charlie effect emerging the weekend after Kirks death. Although Graham is uncertain whether the United States is on the brink of a revival, acknowledging that such movements often take a long period of time, he commended Kirk for his bold witness, particularly to Gen Z. He observed that many young people are starting to question, Whats life all about? Its not a party; theres an emptiness, and I dont have it. Im not fulfilled; Im not satisfied. Graham remarked, I think people are looking now, because drugs and sex and alcohol dont satisfy. Theres an emptiness in young people, and theyre searching. When Charlie said that Jesus Christ was everything to him, that was huge. He is going to be remembered for his faith. A collection of over 1,600-year-old bronze coins found in the Lower Galilee. | Photo Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority/ Emil Aladjem Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and Zefat Academic College have discovered a hoard of 22 bronze coins in Hukok, an ancient settlement in the Lower Galilee, believed to be over 1,600 years old. According to All Israel News, the cache was found hidden in a small crevice within an intricate underground hiding complex, originally created during the Great Revolt (6670 CE) and later modified for use during the Bar-Kochba Revolt (132136 CE). These coins originate from the Gallus Revolt of 351352 CE, marking the last Jewish rebellion against Roman rule. Archaeologist Uri Berger of the IAA and professor Yinon Shivtiel of Zefat Academic College remarked, It seems that the people stashing this hoard carefully planned its hiding place, hoping to return to it when the threatening troubles were over. The coins were discovered in a pit, deliberately dug at the end of a narrow winding tunnel. The discovery includes coins featuring Roman emperors Constantius II and Constans I, rulers in the mid-fourth century CE. Berger and Shivtiel note that this rare find confirms the reuse of Hukok's tunnels, initially constructed centuries earlier, during later crises. The tunnel complex at Hukok is among the most sophisticated in Galilee, featuring narrow passageways, chambers, and escape routes. Despite the tragic outcome of the Gallus Revolt, Hukok later prospered, highlighted by the construction of an impressive synagogue with mosaics, showcasing resilience after centuries of upheaval. Dr. Einat Ambar-Armon, director of the IAAs Community Archaeological Educational Center in the Northern Region, stated, Fortunately, it was the many volunteers excavating the hiding complex who actually uncovered this important treasure, and they enjoyed this great moment of joy and excitement of discovery. The excavation thus became not only an important scientific event but also a significant communal educational experience one that brings the public closer to its heritage and strengthens the sense of belonging and the connection to the past. This week, the discovery will be officially presented at the Between Josephus and Eusebius conference at Kinneret Academic College, with a first scientific publication to follow in the journal Israel Numismatic Research from the Israel Numismatic Society. IAA Director Eli Escusido said, The Israel Antiquities Authority considers the Hukok site, considering all its discoveries, as a flagship project, which will be a magnet for tourists from Israel and the world. The Keren Kayemet LeYisraelJewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), a partner in the project, is currently developing plans to make Hukok accessible to the public. Home News Bible teacher shares how he 'chose Jesus over homosexuality' after contracting HIV When Moody Bible Institute professor and author Christopher Yuan was 9 years old, he began having same-sex attractions after discovering pornographic magazines at a friends house. Following his exposure to pornography, Yuan said he experienced confusion and fear about his attraction to males. In a recent testimony given at the Real Life Ministries megachurch in Idaho on Aug 29, Yuan was joined by his parents and said the familys faith journey was not an easy process and included painful experiences. He shared that over time, their whole family became Christians by accepting and surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ. At 9, those [pornographic] magazines gave me a distorted view of sex, and they soon became my master, Yuan told the audience at the evangelical churchs Post Falls campus. With pornography fueling my desires, I had my first encounter when I was 16 years old. But I kept my [same-sex] feelings hidden through high school, college, even in the Marine Corps Reserve. Since discovering their Christian faith, Yuan co-authored with his mother a 2011 memoir titled Out of a Far Country: A Gay Sons Journey to God, A Broken Mothers Search for Hope, which has sold over 100,000 copies and is available in seven languages. In Yuans grade-school years, he said that he did not fit in with the other boys as a Chinese American in Chicago. I looked different. I acted differently and I had different interests. God gave me the gifts of music sensitivity, he said. Satan cannot take away God-given gifts, but he can twist the perception of them. And from a young age, I was viewed and ridiculed for being effeminate. No longer keeping sexuality a secret After a few years, in his early 20s, Yuan no longer kept his sexuality a secret. On May 15, 1993, he came home from Louisville, Kentucky, after completing his first year in dental school. He made an unexpected announcement to his parents. I am gay, Yuan recalled telling them. During that time, Angela and Leon Yuan, who were college sweethearts that met in 1964, had many unresolved marital issues and were in the early stages of filing for divorce after 28 years of marriage. Leon Yuan was a dentist and Angela Yuan was a stay-at-home mom. The Yuans who considered themselves non-Christian at that time had different reactions to their son coming out as gay. Leon Yuan told the audience that he blamed his wife and accused her of making their son gay. He believed he would find his own happiness if the entire family went their separate ways by splitting up. You would never think that three simple words, I am gay, could cause so much pain, Angela Yuan said. I actually thought I could threaten Christopher with an ultimatum to choose the family or homosexuality, but Christoper already brought into the lie that he couldnt change that he was born gay. In response to his parents' reactions, Christopher Yuan packed his bags and left with indescribable emotions. [It would have probably been] worse than receiving news of Christophers death, the mother recounted. He could have cut me with a knife. It would have hurt less. I was at the end of my rope. As the marriage was seemingly coming to an end and her son leaving the family, Angela Yuan said it felt like her world was coming to an end. I had no more reason to live, so I [was] determined to do the unthinkable. I was going to end my life, she remembered. I thought that death was the only answer to all my problems. 'Opened the eyes of my heart' Even though she did not believe in God, the mother decided to meet with a Christian minister who gave her a pamphlet on homosexuality. Then, she bought a one-way Amtrak ticket to Louisville, where she planned to say her final farewell to her son. On the train, Angela Yuan only brought with her a purse and the pamphlet from the minister. She began to read the pamphlet, which explained the plan of Christian salvation. The document said, All people are sinners, but God loves them despite their sin. While reading the pamphlet, she said, God opened the eyes of my heart. I realized that just as God loves me, in spite of my sin, I could love Christopher in spite of him leaving as a gay man, she said. After she arrived in Louisville, the mother called a number on the back of the pamphlet, which connected her to a Christian woman. For the next six weeks, the woman met with Angela Yuan and guided her in the process of immersing in the Bible. I went to Louisville expecting to end my life, and in reality, I did, she added, noting that her favorite Bible verse is Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. After six weeks, Leon Yuan received a phone call from the woman who discipled his estranged wife. The woman told him that Angela surrendered her life to Christ, and she has been saved. Leon Yuan, however, was not pleased with the news of her newfound faith. I told her, This is not good news. This was my worst nightmare because from now on, Angela has God on her side, Leon Yuan said. But, what I realized is [Angelas] transformation was not a Sunday-only change but in every aspect of her life. What she had was not religion but an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Little did I know, God was also working on me. Shortly after, Leon Yuan decided to attend church with his wife. One of their mutual friends also invited them to a Bible study. And as a result, they said they both grew in their understanding of God's Word. I also surrendered my life to Jesus, the father told the audience. God became the glue that brought my marriage [back] together by drawing both of us to Himself. This was Gods way for preparing us for the difficult years ahead. Although the couple reconciled and became Christians, they still did not have a relationship with their son. At that time, Christopher Yuan, who was pursuing his doctorate level studies, spent most of his leisure time frequenting gay clubs. He also spent time seeking intimacy and happiness through various dating relationships. Although he found some satisfaction from dating, he still encountered feelings of unfulfillment. Eventually, Christopher Yuan began doing drugs to find happiness. To afford his drug habits, he also started selling drugs to friends, classmates and even a professor. To be clear, not all gays and lesbians do drugs, not all gay men are promiscuous, of course. Some are and some are not, but that is part of my story, Christopher Yuan recounted. I actually thought I could live this double life: graduate student by day and promiscuous drug dealer by night. Despite thinking he could continue selling and using drugs while going to school, three months before he was supposed to receive his doctorate, he was expelled from the school. After news of the expulsion reached his parents, they took a flight from Chicago to Louisville. Yuan thought his expulsion would not last because his dentist father was close friends with the school's dean. However, that was not the case. Angry at his parents, who supported the schools decision to expel him, Yuan decided he would move further away from them to Atlanta, Georgia. Christopher Yuan delved further into the drug scene in his new home and became a supplier through other dealers in over a dozen states, he said. 'In my world, I had become God' It was nothing for me to have multiple anonymous sexual encounters each and every day because, according to the world, I had it all: money, fame, drugs and sex, Yuan said. I had exchanged the truth of God for a lie. And I began worshipping and serving the creature, rather than the Creator because, in my world, I had become God. The parents began to pray for their son. It was more than obvious that [Christopher] was totally unreachable and completely hopeless, but my wife and I committed. Not focusing on the hopelessness, but on the promises of God, along with 100 prayer warriors from our church. We all cried out to God for our son Christopher, Leon Yuan recalled. In addition to saying the prayer, Lord do whatever it takes to bring this prodigal son to You, Angela Yuan also fasted every Monday for eight years. She also conducted a 39-day fast. And each morning, she would spend hours in her prayer closet. God answered my prayers by saying wait and be still, she said. One day, 12 federal drug enforcement officers knocked on Christopher Yuans door. They confiscated all his money and drugs, including 9.1 tons of marijuana. With that amount, he could have faced up to 10 years to life in prison. He received six years in a federal detention center in Atlanta. While at the center, he made phone calls to friends but soon realized all the friends he knew had abandoned him. In an act of last resort, Christopher Yuan called his mother fully expecting her to yell at him. However, to his surprise, his mothers reaction to his imprisonment was to ask if he was OK. Following Jesus Christopher Yuan later found a Bible near the garbage in the detention center and he began to read it. Shortly after, he received the shocking news that he is HIV positive. After spending time devastated over the news, Yuan found himself picking up his Bible to read. The more he read, he said, the more the Holy Spirit convicted him of his many idols, including homosexuality. Christopher Yuan said over a gradual process, he eventually found his Christain faith. He said he chose Jesus over homosexuality. I went through every verse, every chapter, every page of Scripture. And a decision had to be made: either abandon God and His word by letting sexual attractions dictate not only who I was but also how I lived or abandon pursuing a monogamous same-sex relationship by freeing myself [and] not allowing my desires to control who I am [by living] as a follower of Jesus Christ, Christopher Yuan concluded. My decision was clear and obvious. I followed Jesus. After finding Christ, Christopher Yuan applied to attend Moody Bible Institute in 2001. He graduated in 2005, receiving a masters degree in biblical exegesis in 2007 and a doctorate of ministry in 2014. Christopher Yuans new identity in Christ compelled him to live in obedience to God despite his same-sex attraction. And his obedience has radically changed life, according to his profile on Moody Bible Institutes website. Yuan is now a sought-after speaker and author who has taught Bible classes at Moody Bible Institute for over a decade. He is also the author of Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by Gods Grand Story. The book was named by Outreach Magazine as the 2020 Book of the Year for Social Issues. Home News Chris Tomlin reflects on leading worship at Charlie Kirk's memorial: 'An awakening is happening' After leading millions, both in person and online, in worship at Charlie Kirks memorial service, Chris Tomlin is sure of one thing: A movement of God is happening, and the Spirit of the Lord is moving. The Grammy Award-winning worship leader, whose songs have become staples in churches worldwide, opened the Sept. 21 service for the slain Turning Point USA founder at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Standing before dignitaries, political leaders and a global press corps, Tomlin began the day by singing one of Kirks favorite hymns: How Great Is Our God. I was so moved, the 53-year-old Texas native told The Christian Post in his first interview since the performance, revealing Kirks wife, Erika, had reached out and asked him to sing at her late husbands memorial service. For Jesus to be proclaimed so boldly throughout this whole day by everyone what an awakening moment in our nation. It feels like a shift; it feels like this real awakening that so many people have been praying for, he said. The scale of the service stunned even a veteran artist like Tomlin, who has performed at sold-out nights at venues like Red Rocks and Bridgestone. Originally scheduled for a church, the memorial quickly shifted to a stadium to accommodate crowds, with more press credential requests than even the Super Bowl. But what marked him most was Erika Kirks declaration of forgiveness toward her husbands killer: "Our Savior said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' That young man I forgive him," she said, drawing a standing ovation. "I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it's what Charlie would do." I think Erikas words of forgiveness were the words heard around the world, Tomlin said. That simple moment of, I forgive you, was more than anybody could say. You can preach all you want, but when you see something like that, when you see the true essence of the Spirit of God in somebody, that can only come from the Spirit of God. That kind of forgiveness can only come from somebody who really walks with God. And for people to see that and witness that what a moment around the world. I think so many people came to faith yesterday, thousands and thousands of people. And I pray its an awakening in this nation. Tomlin said he entered the memorial service in fear and trembling, unsure how to step into the moment but determined like he does at every performance to lead people to God. I said, Lord, Im just going to lead people. I dont really know how to even walk in this moment, but just to lead people to You, he said. I kept thinking about the words that I was singing over our nation, over the world: Above all thrones and dominions, positions and positions, Your name stands above them all. Thinking of all the names that are in that room, thinking of all the powers and positions in that room, that are tuned in, to point people to the name above every name, and right off the start, what a privilege. Thatll be a marking moment for me in my life. The day before the memorial, Tomlin revealed he had an encounter that underscored for him just how wide the ripple effect of Kirks legacy already was. I was in an Uber, and the driver started sharing his story, he said. He just said how he had been in the military, and I could tell hed lived a little harder life. He just began to talk to me and he said, Man, Im getting baptized this Sunday. And I was like, really? And then he said, Yeah. That thing that happened to Charlie, that really woke me up. And Im headed to the memorial in a couple of hours on a plane through the night, and Im just thinking of how many people all over the country that that was happening to. Gods Spirit is moving. Tomlin, who recently launched his tour An Evening of Worship with Chris Tomlin, is gearing up for the release of his new album, The King Is Still the King,which releases Sept. 26 a timing he calls providential. I was actually thinking about that this morning, he said. 'The King is still the King.' What a moment in this nation, in this world, to declare that. Its not just a nice little title; its a declaration of faith. It is a statement of faith to the world, a reminder that we are part of a Kingdom thats so much greater than this Earth. The album cover features two crowns a crown of thorns wrapped around a golden crown. That tells the whole story, Tomlin explained. When Jesus was on this Earth, He wore a crown of thorns a crown of mockery, of shame, of taking on the forgiveness of the world. And yet today, He wears the crown of King of Kings. Just to be reminded of those two crowns tells the whole story. Its the reason that Erika could stand there and say, I forgive you. Because of that crown of thorns, and yet the crown of the King of Kings. The single from the project, How Good It Is, written by Tomlin, Jess Cates and Jordan Mohilowski, has already become the highest debut of Tomlins career. The album features other artists, including Phil Wickham and Aodhan King, and includes covers of classics like You Are My King (Amazing Love) and My Fathers World, along with original worship songs. But according to Tomlin, its one of the albums standout tracks, Help My Unbelief, " that might surprise longtime listeners. It comes from the Gospel of Mark, Tomlin said, recounting the story of a father who brought his sick son to Jesus. And in that, thats the bumper sticker, right? All things are possible for those who believe. But its the dads response next, he says, I do believe, but help my unbelief. Thats right from Gods Word, looking right at Jesus. And who hasnt felt that? Tomlin said he hopes the song meets people in their struggles. Sometimes to have your faith, you've got to sing your faith. And thats all you can do. Sometimes thats all you got, he said. Its not a song of despair, of sorrow; theres a lot of hope in this song. Ultimately, Tomlin sees both Kirks memorial and the music as part of a larger movement, reiterating that there is an awakening moment in our world. I just hope that it continues to point people and remind people that there is a king that reigns above all things. If we put our hope in governments, they will fail. People will fail. But our hope is a greater hope. Thats what Im pointing people to, he said. On the back of the records artwork is Revelation 19, the vision of Christ returning on a white horse, his robe dipped in blood, with the name King of Kings and Lord of Lords written across it. The blood is still the blood, the King is still the King, Tomlin said. Thats our hope. Thats the King Im pointing people to, above all powers and positions, above all thrones, all dominions, as Holy Forever says. Above all that, theres a name that stands above all. Preorder The King Is Still the King here. Home Books Christian Bible teacher with same-sex attraction releases new book on Holy Sexuality, witnessing to LGBT community Bible teacher and author Christopher Yuan says he faced rejection from his non-Christian parents when, in his early 20s, he revealed to them that he was gay, and thus began leading a life of sexually risky behavior, substance abuse, and even drug dealing. After his parents converted to Christianity they welcomed him and eventually, after he was convicted of drug-dealing, he, too, became a follower of Christ. In an interview with The Christian Post earlier this month, Yuan explained that his new book, Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God's Grand Story,grew out of an earlier book he co-wrote with his mother about their faith journeys, titled Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son's Journey to God, A Broken Mother's Search for Hope that was released in 2011. Yuans earlier book introduced a concept he called holy sexuality. I define holy sexuality not heterosexuality, not homosexuality, but holy sexuality as chastity in singleness and faithfulness in marriage, explained Yuan to CP. I just knew that I had to flesh out that concept more. So this new book is really just fleshing out that concept of holy sexuality. The following is an edited transcript of Yuan's Q&A with The Christian Post. CP: At the start of the book, you said that many perspectives on homosexuality begin with the "common intent" of "love." Do you believe people in this debate struggle to accept that those who think differently have good intentions? Yuan: I think they assume everyone, that the people we disagree with have bad intentions. And this applies broadly to not just sexuality or different views of sexuality, but politics, and all of that. I think we need to just assume that this person isnt completely just evil and just out to get people. There are a few people that are like that, but I would argue [many are not]. Its this complete distortion of what is good and what is love. Today, the mantra of the gay community is love is love. At the surface, that seems so of course it is. Love is love. But I would argue not all love is the same. I think a wife beater, a man who beats his wife, would argue that he loved his wife. And, whats even just as sad, is that the wife who gets beat would even argue that her husband loves her. I think even that a father sexually abusing his young daughter would even argue that he loves his daughter. I dont think that we can say that love is love in a sense that all love is the same. We ought to not have a distorted view of love. And people, especially sometimes Christians who say well, we just need to love, what they mean by love is not the biblical understanding of love. Basically, what I think what theyre implying is we basically throw out Gods truth and we just show grace, but thats at the expense of truth. CP: In the book, you stressed the importance of understanding sexuality through the dual ideas of the image of God and the doctrine of sin. What danger is there in not understanding sexuality through those two ideas? Yuan: People who argue and defend biblical sexuality oftentimes forget this important thing. One of the first things is the image of God is such an important concept that we cant even get out of Chapter 1 of the first chapter of the Bible before were introduced with this very important concept. That we all are created in the Image of God. And what that means quite simply is that every person, whether they have accepted Christ or not, whether they are living in sin or not, everyone is created in Gods Image. Which means that we all have value, God loves us as the pinnacle of His creation. And so as believers, we need to remember that about everyone. When we talk about people in the gay community as our enemies, or our opposites, or talking to them in disdain, we forget that they are still Gods Image-bearers. And they are indeed of grace, just as the same grace that we received that we didnt earn and that we need to treat people in that way. Another misunderstanding is misunderstanding the doctrine of sin. We know that with our sinful temptations and our struggle with sin, the main cause of that is original sin, that we all have a sin nature. And one mistake, the second mistake that I want to say that we often make is that many times I hear people who try to find this root causes in our past. or in peoples past. To find out what exactly went wrong in their childhood that caused them to have same-sex attractions. And when they do that, they forget the doctrine of sin. That the main cause, if there is going to be one root cause, it would be our sin nature. When people list what they say are root causes, those arent root causes, but theyre influences. I call them catalysts. Another misunderstanding is this perception that sometimes you hear now, these newer Christians who identify as gay celibate Christians who say, My sexual orientation can be redeemable or sanctifiable, and they also misunderstand this concept of sin nature. Because if same-sex sexual behavior is sin, which it is, then also the desire for that also is sin. Then sexual orientation is basically a pattern of these types of desires and we would then know that those desires stem from our sin nature. And to say that somehow I can bring good out of our sin nature misunderstands that. And lastly, there is this concept that many unbelievers believe, I would say most unbelievers believe this and also some Christians are now beginning to believe this that somehow we are born gay and thats just part of who we are. But again, understanding the image of God and the doctrine of sin helps us to understand sexuality; that is, our sexual orientation is not who we are, its how we are. And who we are is created in Gods image but that image has been distorted, from Genesis 3, by sin. And even though people might say, Well, Im born this way, Im born that way, well, Jesus was so clear in His own words. In John 3 He says: You must be born again. So even though people would say, I am born gay or I am born an alcoholic or whatever you might say, God is so clear in sending His Son who said: You must be born again. CP: At certain points in your book, you critique the claims of Matthew Vines' book, God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships. What would you say is one of the major problems with Vines' work? Yuan: For one, hes really just rehashing some other books that he read, so it isnt anything new. He does make the gay affirming misinterpretations a little bit more readable for the lay audience. But his mistake is simply interpretation. He said he is simply using context, but its the wrong context in many different ways. And more importantly, he ignores reading things canonically, that is when we read First Corinthians 6, we need to read that in light of the rest of the whole Bible, from Genesis all the way to Revelation. For example, reading First Corinthians 6 in light of Leviticus. Because that will help guide us. We use the Bible to help us interpret the Bible. That doesnt mean we ignore context, but we do use the Bibles context. It does have priority over other contexts, because we could use context and use the wrong context. CP: Near the end of your book, you focused on how the Church should and should not witness to LGBT individuals. As you know, recently there was a gathering of LGBT Christians known as the Revoice Conference. What was your opinion of Revoice? Yuan: I do want to commend that Revoice. They do believe that same-sex relationships are sinful. So I commend them in that and they even will defend that and argue against people like Matthew Vines and Justin Lee. Yes, they believe that same-sex sexual relationships are sinful, but then they will broadly say that non-sexual same-sex relationships and even desire is not sinful. And this is where they make a mistake. They dont differentiate between same-sex platonic desires or relationships and same-sex romantic desires and relationships. This is a big mistake that they make, because they think that these romantic types of relationships are OK, they just need to be careful with them so that they dont get hurt, but dont try to be careful with them because its sin. Another thing is that the approach has been kind of a very typical secular approach from not only the gay community, the LGBTQ+ community, but also, what we find in the secular community as well where they have taken the concepts of identity and made it political identity politics or what the world calls intersectionality. In other words, if you a white male, then you no longer have authority and you are ignorant. And only people who have a minority victim status have a voice and only people who are victims really understand the issue and they must have a voice, too; because they now have authority because of that victim status and everyone else who doesnt have that, has no right to speak. And so, Revoice kind of now just repackaged it and puts a veneer of Christianity on it, and makes it seem that everyone who's same-sex attracted and gay are the victims, and the white male Christian and specifically the evangelical church is now the perpetrator. I find that highly problematic. The message is youre the problem and were here to bring the solution, whereas it should be we all are the problem, every one of us, and Christ is the solution. Dunhuang cultural expo seeks to revive the Silk Road spirit 08:51, September 22, 2025 By HU YUMENG, MA JINGNA and WANG QIAN ( China Daily A dance performance in progress during the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo on Sunday in Dunhuang, Gansu province. [Photo provided to CHINA DAILY] Senior officials and international guests attending the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo have called for enhanced cultural exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations against a backdrop of global divisions. The expo, which opened on Sunday, is hosted by the Gansu provincial government. Themed "Strengthening Cultural Exchanges and Promoting Mutual Learning Among Civilizations", the event has brought more than 1,200 delegates from 97 countries and regions and eight international organizations to Dunhuang, the historical oasis city in Gansu province and a key hub on the ancient Silk Road. Tie Ning, vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and president of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, emphasized Dunhuang's historic role as a crossroads of civilizations, in her keynote speech at the event's opening ceremony. "I hope the expo will inject deeper civilizational strength into promoting harmonious coexistence of civilizations and building a community with a shared future for humanity," she said. Qu Xing, deputy director-general of UNESCO, highlighted the enduring relevance of the Silk Road in today's world while addressing the opening ceremony. "In our contemporary world, fractured by the impacts of climate change and conflict, revitalizing the spirit of the Silk Road is particularly crucial. This spirit embodies the flow of ideas, openness to new knowledge and new friends, and the power of mutual respect," Qu said. Aimed at promoting cultural exchanges and cooperation among countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, the event has facilitated BRI co-development, promoted Dunhuang culture and increased the influence of Chinese culture since the first expo was held in 2016. The ancient Silk Road, established over two millennia ago, facilitated trade and cultural exchanges between the East and West. Dunhuang, located at a strategic junction on the route, therefore became a melting pot of diverse cultures. Kyle Dillingham, a violinist from the United States, is performing for the sixth time at the expo this year. He noted that this year, Gansu and the US state of Oklahoma are celebrating the 40th anniversary of sister-state relations. "It is my honor to help strengthen the friendship between Oklahoma and Gansu, as well as between China and the United States," he said. "If not for the Silk Road, many musical instruments that originated in Central Asia would never have reached Europe and America," Dillingham said. "The Silk Road contributed to thousands of years of cultural and intellectual exchanges. To now be actively involved in shaping the future of the modern Silk Road is truly exciting." Paul Craig, from the School of Advanced Technology at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, said that one of the key motivations for focusing on cultural heritage is to encourage the sharing of diverse cultures. "It's fascinating to learn more about Chinese culture here at the expo, especially the different types of traditions and expressions, because people often tend to think of China as rather uniform," he said. The expo, which runs through Monday, features multiple themed exhibitions, including displays on the research achievements of the Dunhuang Academy, international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, intangible cultural heritage and fine arts. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Home News City denies discrimination claim for denying request for Charlie Kirk prayer vigil A Tennessee city is denying allegations that it discriminated against a resident who wanted to hold a prayer vigil for slain conservative political activist Charlie Kirk. Morristown City Administrator Andrew Ellard released a response last Thursday refuting the accusation that city officials had wrongfully rejected a request to hold a vigil for Kirk at a downtown location. At issue was a request from resident Brad Tumey to have a vigil held at Morristowns downtown green space, which was often used for other outdoor gatherings, including a farmers market. According to Ellard, the resident failed to correctly fill out the event application, with his requested date falling at the same time as a farmers market that was already approved for the timeslot. Ellard also noted that while City Ordinance Section 9-204 prohibited political or religious activities at the Farmers Market and Downtown Green, such activities were allowed at other local outdoor public spaces. The city has ample alternative locations for such a public forum. The city is allowed to regulate how, when, and where certain activities occur to ensure public order and safety, wrote Ellard. The city has more than 15 park facilities, one of which is less than 1,000 feet away from the Downtown Green and includes an amphitheater. There are also 2-3 other parks within a mile that would afford ample space for a gathering such as the one Mr. Tumey has requested. Ellard went on to describe the claim that Morristown does not permit religious activities or prayer within public places as completely false, citing examples to the contrary. The City Plaza and City Center rotunda is often used for prayer services. A prayer is said inside the city council chambers prior to the start of every City Council meeting, he continued. The National Day of Prayer is held on the courthouse lawn. In fact, a vigil is scheduled for Wednesday, September 24th at the courthouse to grieve and honor the recent events that have had such an impact on our nation. Last week, Morristown received a complaint letter from the First Liberty Institute (FLI), a conservative legal group, written on behalf of Tumey in response to the vigil event request being denied. FLI Senior Counsel Nathan K. Kellum addressed the letter to Ellard, Mayor Gary Chesney, and City Attorney Lauren Caroll, taking issue with the city ordinance prohibiting religious practices at the downtown space. The citys categorical ban on all religious expression is an unconstitutional restriction on Tumeys right to freedom of speech. Speech on religious topics receives full constitutional shielding, wrote Kellum. The city has no legitimate interest in categorically denying all religious activity, including Tumeys planned prayer vigil, in a downtown park, nor is such a ban narrowly tailored. Kellum also wrote that city officials have no legitimate, much less compelling, interest to justify banishing all religious activity from the downtown green despite permitting other public and private gatherings to occur there. Nor can a categorical ban on all religious activity regardless of the size of the group or the nature of the activity be the least restrictive means for addressing appropriate concerns, Kellum added. the citys blanket ban on all religious activity in its downtown green, including Tumeys request to host a public prayer vigil in honor of Charlie Kirk, violates his First Amendment speech and free exercise rights, as well as state law. Home News Erika Kirk forgives her husband's killer: 'It's what Christ did, what Charlie would do' Erika Kirk, the widow of slain Christian conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, forgave his killer as she delivered an address to tens of thousands of people gathered at a memorial service in his honor. The hours-long event honoring Kirk's life was held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday and was watched by millions worldwide. Speakers eulogizing Kirk's life included President Donald Trump and members of his cabinet, as well as Turning Point USA and TPUSA Faith employees, Kirk's pastor, conservative media influencers, and musical performances by renowned Christian artists. During her emotional speech, Erika Kirk forgave her husbands assassin, Tyler Robinson, who shot the 31-year-old TPUSA founder at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10 during a Q&A session on campus as part of the "America Comeback Tour." After describing how, on the cross, our Savior said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do, she said, That young man, I forgive him, leading to heartfelt applause from the audience. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and is what Charlie would do, she said. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love, is always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us. Erika Kirk also reflected on her late husbands faith as well as her own, which began with her sharing how he talked about his submission to the will of God at TPUSAs AmericaFest two years ago. She highlighted his reference to the Bible verse Isaiah 6:8, which she summarized as proclaiming: Here I am, Lord, send me. She recalled how she spoke with her husband backstage after his speech and urged him to consult with her first before making a statement like that again, warning him, God will take you up on that. And he did with Charlie, she said, referring to her husbands assassination. Eleven days ago, God accepted that total surrender from my husband and then called him to His side. More than anything, Charlie wanted to do not his will, but Gods will. And over these past 11 days, through all the pain, never before have I found as much comfort as I now do in the words of our Lords Prayer, Thy will be done. Erika Kirk also detailed how, when visiting her husband in the hospital after he was fatally shot, she saw on his lips the faintest smile. She described this facial expression as a great mercy from God in this tragedy, adding that she was told Charlie didnt suffer. She then shared another example of how Gods mercy and Gods love had been revealed to her in the 11 days since her husbands assassination. We didnt see violence, we didnt see rioting, we didnt see revolution. Instead, we saw what my husband always prayed he would see in this country: we saw revival. "This past week, we saw people open a Bible for the first time in a decade. We saw people pray for the first time since they were children. We saw people go to a church service for the first time in their entire lives. The greatest cause in Charlies life was trying to revive the American family, she added. When he spoke to young people, he was always eager to tell them about Gods vision for marriage and how if they could just dare to live it out, it would enrich every part of their life in the same way that it enriched ours. Erika Kirk praised her late husbands understanding of Gods role for a Christian husband as a man who leads so that they can serve. She delivered a message to all the men watching around the world, encouraging them to accept Charlies challenge and embrace true manhood. She also called on men to be the spiritual head of your home and reminded them that husbands and their wives are one flesh working together for the glory of God. His love for me drove me to be a better wife, she added. Every day, he honored me, and I prayed that I could be the wife that God needed me to be for my husband. Women, I have a challenge for you too. Be virtuous. Our strength is found in Gods design for our role. We are the guardians. We are the encouragers. Home News ERLC cuts ties with Evangelical Immigration Table, appoints new interim president The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention has appointed a new interim president and has cut ties with the Evangelical Immigration Table. At the ERLC trustees meeting last week, Acting President Miles Mullin explained that leadership had recently opted to form their own immigration reform task force. Mullin, who also serves as ERLC executive vice president and chief of staff, told The Christian Post in emailed statements that for a variety of reasons, our coalition work with EIT has resulted in controversy that has not served EIT, the ERLC, or, most importantly, our Southern Baptist churches well. In recent years, to best serve our churches, we feel we need to take a more independent posture to our immigration-related work, Mullin said, noting that immigration policy has been a priority for the ERLC for more than two decades. Thus, as we leave this particular coalition behind, we resolve to continue to engage immigration and all other issues in the manner our trustees have directed, looking to Scripture, the Baptist Faith & Message, and the actions taken by messengers at annual Convention meetings. The new task force was created in response to a motion at the SBC Annual Meeting in June centered on studying a Biblical stand on immigration, with additional details expected within the coming weeks. It is expected to operate separately from the ERLC's advocacy on immigration policy. Mullin became acting president of the ERLC after the resignation of President Brent Leatherwood in July after four years of leading the SBCs political advocacy arm. In addition to hearing the announcement of the ERLC ending its relationship with the EIT, trustees also unanimously voted to make Gary Hollingsworth interim president effective Oct. 1. ERLC Board of Trustees Chairman Scott Foshie told CP via email that he believes Hollingsworth, a former executive director of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, had tremendous executive, relational and pastoral experience. He is the type of godly, humble leader that can unite Southern Baptists and help us focus on the Great Commission while reminding us to carry it out with the heart of the Great Commandment, said Foshie. There were other interim candidates who, when I inquired, expressed willingness to help the ERLC, and they would have also done a great job. However, as I prayed, sought the Lord, and consulted with our executive committee, I knew that Dr. Hollingsworth was God's clear choice for the role. Foshie also told CP that he was greatly encouraged that Dr. Hollingsworth has expressed his availability and willingness to serve the ERLC as long as we need him during this search. He will be focused on meeting with Southern Baptist churches and pastors to listen to their concerns, ideas and feedback about the ERLC's ministry. He will also deeply connect with local association, state convention and national entity leaders, Foshie added. Gary will also provide encouragement, guidance, and faithful service as the ERLC continues to assist churches and represent Southern Baptists in the public square. Home News Islamist massacres of Christians on the rise in Democratic Republic of Congo Islamist massacres of Christians on the rise in DRC Islamist massacres against Christians in Africa are becoming more and more common, with the latest attack occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At least 64 people were killed on Sept. 8 when militants believed to be from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked Ntoyo village in Saint Joseph of Maguredjipa parish, North Kivu. Despite the name, the ADF is in fact aligned with the Islamic State terrorist group, also known as IS, ISIS and ISIL, billing itself as the local branch of the international Jihadist group. Local sources, speaking to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), said that the attackers set fire to homes and killed their victims with guns and hammers. Many of those killed were attending a wake. Sadly, this is not the first such attack in the DRC. In mid-August a wave of ADF attacks claimed the lives of 52 Christians, also in North Kivu. Some 43 Christians were killed at a prayer vigil in July, and at the beginning of the year, 70 Christians were found beheaded in a Protestant church. Bishop Melchisedech Sikuli Paluko of Butembo-Ben told ACN, To all the families affected by this umpteenth and horrible carnage and to all the faithful of the parish, we express our spiritual closeness. May God, the Master of Life, strengthen us through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, consoler of the afflicted, and lead us beyond the desert of present-day suffering to lasting peace. Bishop Palukos comments about the regularity of anti-Christian massacres echo those of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe from Nigeria, the country which has seen more Christians killed in recent years than any other. Earlier this year Bishop Anagbe told the British House of Lords that parts of the country had become so bad that massacres during Christian festivals like Christmas had become customary. Despite a huge Christian population, Nigeria is ranked by Open Doors as the seventh-worst country for anti-Christian persecution due to the severity of Islamist violence. The DRC is ranked No. 35 on the list, but has risen six places from last year, due to the increase in Islamist violence. This article was originally published on Christian Today Home News Mark Steyn warns 'demonic' trans ideology seeks to replace God: 'It's spiritual war' Conservative political commentator Mark Steyn recently claimed the murder of Charlie Kirk is an example of a gathering spiritual war manifesting in the wake of Christianity weakening as a dominant cultural force. "It's good versus evil that's going on here," Steyn said during his "Clubland Q&A" podcast last week, responding to a listener's question asking whether Kirk's murder was "demonic." Kirk was shot dead on Sept. 10 in Utah by a 22-year-old alleged assassin who reportedly harbored leftist political views and lived with a trans-identifying partner. Steyn suggested that transgender ideology and other left-wing ideologies are filling a post-Christian vacuum in the West, and that transgenderism especially allows adherents to replace traditional Christian faith by becoming their own gods. "When you live in a society where faith is weak, as the entire Western world is, and a society where the Mainline churches are almost all post-Christian to one degree or another, the need for a transcendental meaning to life will become overwhelming for most people, so they look elsewhere," he said. "[Transgenderism] presupposes that you are God," he later continued. "That if you can wake up one morning like [former assistant secretary for health] Rachel Levine, and you're a 63-year-old, lumpy, unprepossessing bloke, and decide you'd like to be a 63-year-old, unprepossessing, lumpy woman, you can do that." Steyn observed how rapidly transgenderism has proliferated from a "niche" fetish to something afflicting many schoolchildren throughout the U.S., a trend he characterized as evil. "The core value, as we're seeing, of this mass transgenderization is evil inflicting permanent damage on school children for a phase they may be going through," he said. Steyn noted that despite their inherent contradictions, both Islam and transgender ideology presently share the common goal of replacing Christianity. He dismissed those who would focus on the "cognitive dissonance" of those on the Left who support both Islam and transgenderism. "It's not about that. It's a bloody war, right? We're not at some think-tank having a panel discussion. It's war." In a Monday column about Kirk's memorial service, which was attended by tens of thousands and focused heavily on the Gospel, Steyn noted that Islam and transgender ideology also share a tactic of silencing those who disagree. He predicted both are headed toward increasing clashes with Christianity in the coming years. "But, absent the 'revival' that was the theme of the Kirk memorial, it is not hard to predict what will happen: The false religions, whether Islam or mass trannification, will increase their tribe although it is not hard to see which one would win a head-to-head showdown," he wrote. Noting the example of Episcopal Bishop of Washington Mariann Edgar Budde, who he called "a tool of Satan" earlier this year for pushing the idea of "transgender children" from the pulpit, Steyn said many churches that have abandoned the faith are aligning with Christianity's opponents. "In the meantime, both will co-opt the 'mainstream' churches as we heard from that tranny fetishist in the forty-seventh president's inaugural service at the National Cathedral and more recently in the reaction to the Tommy Robinson rally from the woeful bishops' bench in the House of Lords: the road to hell is greased by the post-Christian churches." Steyn, who was baptized Roman Catholic before becoming Anglican and ultimately a Baptist, first rose to prominence for his 2006 book, America Alone, about Europe's demographic death spiral. He often served as a regular guest host for the late Rush Limbaugh and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Home News Top 5 moments from Charlie Kirk memorial: 'Missionary with a noble spirit' Tens of thousands packed into the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday to pay their respects to the late conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, whose legacy was marked by his outspoken Christian faith and promotion of the Gospel. Speakers eulogizing Kirk's life included political leaders such as President Donald Trump, White House cabinet officials, Turning Point USA and TPUSA Faith employees and conservative media influencers, as well as musical performances by prominent Christian artists. Kirk's murder on Sept. 10 at the hands of an alleged 22-year-old shooter at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, has prompted an outpouring of grief worldwide, and many who knew Kirk have emphasized that his faith was what was most important to him. Here are five highlights from the hours-long event, which drew the attention of millions from around the globe. Biden Targeted Turning Point USA, Trump Labels Antifa As Terrorists, Kirks Widow Named CEO link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 06:23 06:23 Top headlines for Monday, September 22, 2025 In this episode, we discuss accusations against the Biden administration for allegedly targeting 92 conservative groups, including Turning Point USA, in their investigations of Donald Trump. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has made headlines by formally labeling Antifa as a major terrorist organization. In organizational news, Turning Point USA is set to have new leadership as the widow of its founder, Charlie Kirk, is unanimously elected as the CEO of the conservative advocacy group. 00:11 Biden targeted Charlie Kirk's TPUSA conservative groups 00:59 Trump designates Antifa as 'major terrorist organization' 01:48 Charlie Kirk's widow named new CEO of Turning Point USA 02:33 Congress passes resolutions condemning Charlie Kirk's murder 03:20 Albania appoints chatbot as world's first AI government minister 04:02 Motion to dismiss lawsuit accusing Gateway Church of fraud denied 04:49 Kirk Cameron responds to debate on Israel, deletes clip Home Opinion How should we think about the death penalty? The recent murder of a young Ukrainian woman on a commuter train in Charlotte is more than another tragic headline. It is a grim reminder that evil is not a theory but a terrible reality prowling our cities. When evil takes on flesh and blood, whether in a commuter train car or in the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, society has not only the right but the responsibility to restrain it with the full force of justice. In North Carolina, the death penalty remains on the books, but for nearly two decades it has lain dormant. Legal wrangling, endless appeals, and political timidity in the legislature have rendered it ineffective. Yet the blood of innocents continues to cry out from the ground (Gen. 4:10). And the Word of God still speaks: Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image (Gen. 9:6). This mandate came directly after the universal flood God sent to cleanse the earth of its violence. It was His first command to human government after judging the world, showing that even before the Mosaic Law, capital punishment was universal and binding for all nations. It is not barbarism. It is divine retribution rooted in the sacredness of human life. Critics insist the death penalty does not deter crime. But even if one accepts their statistics and many reputable scholars argue otherwise the execution of a murderer remains the ultimate safeguard: he will never kill again. A society that refuses to carry out such a penalty gambles not only with future victims but with the safety and stability of the entire community. Moreover, the death penalty has a moral dimension that transcends numbers. It declares with clarity what our culture has grown foggy about: human life is so valuable, so sacred, that to take it unlawfully demands the highest price. To forfeit capital punishment is to whisper, however unintentionally, that life is cheap. Dr. William H. Baker, in Worthy of Death, wrote: Retribution is properly a satisfactory or, according to the ancient figure of justice and her scales, a restoration of a disturbed equilibrium. As such, it is a proper, legitimate, and moral concept. In September of 2015, a group of North Carolina conservatives, calling themselves NC Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty, held a press conference urging repeal. A well-known Raleigh lawyer in the group, once a supporter of capital punishment, declared that he could no longer endorse it after prayer and reflection. He said, We do not have the right to take away a persons life if theres any chance that God can redeem them. Mine is a matter of faith. I feel that as a Christian, I cannot support the death penalty anymore I still consider myself a very strong law and order person. Yes, God can redeem the vilest sinner, but redemption in Christ does not eliminate the necessity of a proper punitive measure. On the Cross of Christ, mercy kissed justice: Jesus bore the penalty for our sins, satisfying the demands of Gods righteous order while extending grace to the guilty. If God Himself exacted the ultimate penalty for sin through the death of His beloved Son, why should the state be denied its solemn duty to exact righteous retribution on those who take innocent life? Execution does not block redemption. The thief on the cross found salvation in his final moments (Luke 23:3943), yet the punishment of death remained. Many death-row inmates have turned to Christ precisely because the certainty of death focused their hearts on eternity. Execution may be, and has been, the circumstance that drives the guilty to Christ in repentance and faith. The church is called to proclaim grace and reconciliation. The state is called to wield the sword. Romans 13:4 reminds us civil authorities are, The minister of God[they] beareth not the sword in vain. They are a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. The two roles shouldnt be confused. Sparing a murderer may seem merciful and good, but it is cruel to the victims, their families, and society itself. Proverbs 17:15 warns: He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. Compassion that cancels the penalty owed to victims and their families for the atrocity of murder is not biblical. It is a perversion of righteousness a moral failure masquerading as virtue. A faithful Christian may simultaneously believe that God can save a murderers soul and that the state must exact justice by taking his life. Consider the death of Charlie Kirk, gunned down in an act of ideological hatred. Whatever one thought of his politics, his murder was a direct assault on free speech, faith, and the very principles that undergird our Republic. Worst still, it was a brutal and bloody assault on the image of Almighty God. Would his assassin have acted so brazenly if he knew with certainty that the sword of justice awaited him and would be swift? Perhaps. Perhaps not. But a culture that tolerates murder and doesnt meet it with the proper consequences invites more of the same, leaving society increasingly exposed. The young woman on the Charlotte commuter train and a public figure assassinated for his convictions are not unrelated tragedies. They are warnings loud warnings! A society that shrinks from enforcing the death penalty invites the normalizing of violence and desensitizes itself to evil. When the state refuses this solemn duty, it abandons its divine mandate, leaving the people as prey. North Carolina needs to awaken from its paralysis. America needs to awaken to this universal truth. The death penalty is not a relic of a crueler age it is the sober recognition of a holy God and a fallen world. If we will not enforce it, then let us at least admit the inevitable costs costs that we are paying now: more senseless and gross violence, more victims, more families shattered, more blood demanding recompense. It is time for lawmakers, judges, and citizens alike to remember that mercy to the murderer often becomes cruelty to the innocent. Justice delayed has become justice denied. A state that refuses to wield the sword in righteousness bleeds under the blade of lawlessness. Home Opinion Mormonism is having a (bad) moment When it comes to the countless false religions and isms out there, I dont think you can find one thats more of a head-scratching, how-could-you-fall-for-this belief system than Scientology. With Scientology, youve got a guy whos a science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard who brazenly tells the world hes going to create his own religion. Not shockingly, it resembles something out of a pulp sci/fi novel, with the core teaching being that you and I are actually immortal spiritual alien-like beings called thetans who originally created the universe but are now trapped in it physically and have forgotten who we are. The good news is, through Scientology, we can get clear of our many reincarnations and past experiences (engrams) that are obscuring our true selves, eventually becoming an operating thetan who is completely free. Its only going to cost each of us somewhere in the neighborhood of six figures to make that happen through their training, though. Oy vey. Although Scientology takes the top spot in my list of demonstrably false religions on the planet, Mormonism is right on its heels in my number two spot. And in the same way, Scientology has had a rough go of it in the past 10 or so years, with documentaries like Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath calling attention to the bizarre beliefs and corruption of the church. Mormonism is having a particularly bad moment right now. A recent Wall Street Journal article showcased the fact that Mormonism is facing a 21st century reckoning of sorts, which is being driven by social media and an army of people calling themselves Exmos ex-Mormons. Being somewhat digitally sucker-punched by all the testimonies of those fleeing Mormonism, the Church of Latter-Day Saints is now racing to counter their online narrative and momentum. Ex-Mormons used to be their own secret society, said Alyssa Grenfell in Texas, who started questioning her faith about nine years ago and now has more than 1 million followers across her social-media accounts. To become public about this its like Oh, my God, she went there. Grenfells YouTube video, The Day I Realized I Was in a Cult, has gotten over 2 million views. Grenfell and others like her have poured fuel on the fire of the broad membership crisis Mormonism has been battling for a while. The WSJs article speaks to the fact that, after a long time of expanding its American base by 4% a year, official church rolls are now growing less than 1% annually in the U.S.: The portion of people in the U.S. who identify as Mormon has almost halved from the 1.8% they represented in 2012. Justin Turman, a former member who conducts church attendance surveys, found that approximately only 21% of the 17.5 million official members worldwide are actively involved in the church. In years past, the Mormon church and the internet had managed to somewhat peacefully coexist, although theres plenty of content by Christian apologists and secular skeptics alike who have challenged the validity of Mormonism. But now, #exmo TikTok and Instagrams Reels serve #exmo content to more people than they intended. These short-form videos challenging church doctrine and culture have supercharged the speed with which many young people are deciding to leave the church, according to writer Georgia Wells. Unfortunately, we dont know where the exmos are going. Are they turning agnostic/atheist, exploring other faiths? According to Pew Research, the fastest-growing religion from 2010 to 2020 was Islam, so lets hope theyre not barking up that tree. One thing we do know is that more of us today are living out what Blaise Pascal said: People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive. And when you base your test for worldview validity on feeling and comfort, youll eventually end up miserable, as C. S. Lewis observed: In religion, as in war and everything else, comfort is the one thing you cannot get by looking for it. If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end: if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end, despair. Thats because living a lie always catches up to you. And as well know, avoiding the lies of both bad lifestyle choices and fake religions requires mature, honest, and detailed thinking as the writer of Hebrews says: Solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil (Heb. 5:14). Thankfully, despite what critics say, Christian faith results not from the absence of honest thinking but the presence of more honest thinking. The Bible and its claims have proven time and again that theyre the anvil that has worn out every hammer thats come down on them. There are 17.5 million people still out there who adhere to Mormonism and need the solid food that the Hebrews writer mentions, and thats a lot of souls in jeopardy. Lets pray that all the exmos fleeing Joseph Smiths Mormonism will find the reality of Gods truth and the true Savior whos waiting for them with open arms. And if any of you out there has been told youre a Scientology thetan, youre more than welcome too. Home Opinion What really drives 'assassination culture' In the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, many are asking whether incendiary words are fueling violent deeds. A recent Reuters poll found roughly two in three Americans believe harsh political rhetoric encourages violence. And when U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on a podcast that the Trump administration would target hate speech, the backlash from conservatives was swift; she later clarified that any focus must be on true threats of violence, not the nebulous catch-all of hate speech. But is speech the core problem? Jesus taught, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). Words reveal what is inside; they do not create it. If the heart is diseased, our discourse will be too. Our descent into violence did not begin with profanity-laced accusations on the floor of Congress. It began when our leaders and many others abandoned the founding truth that rights come from God, not government. The Declaration of Independence asserts that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable Rights. That conviction restrains the government from becoming tyrannical and restrains citizens from taking justice into their own hands. When rights are treated as government-issued rather than God-given, they can be revoked when inconvenient and trampled by those willing to intimidate. That rejection rests on a deeper shift: the denial of transcendent truth. The founders called some truths self-evident fixed, enduring, above politics. Today, truth is too often reduced to preference or power. In that vacuum, disagreement is not argued; it is punished. Without a shared standard, the loudest crowd, the angriest rhetoric, or the most ruthless actor prevails. Violence becomes the ultimate argument. Beneath even that lies the loss of God as Creator. If we are not made in His image, human life has no inherent worth. If He is not the Author of life, life can be discarded whenever it is inconvenient or intolerable. Remove God from public life, and the ground under human dignity crumbles; nothing durable remains to resist the slide into total lawlessness. History offers sobering case studies. The blood-soaked revolutions and regimes of the 20th century Soviet communism, Maoism, Nazism were driven by ideologies that denied God, discarded objective truth, and devalued people. Once God was rejected, persons became expendable, and mass violence followed. We are not immune to similar consequences if we persist down this path. That is why this moment calls us back not merely to America's first principles, but to the eternal foundation beneath them. We must recover the conviction that there is a Creator who gives life, endows rights, and establishes truth. From that foundation, we can demand just laws, reject political revenge, and rebuild a culture where freedom and justice flourish. This renewal begins close to home: pastors preaching without fear or favor, parents shaping tender consciences, neighbors refusing to dehumanize opponents, and citizens insisting that every person bears the image of God. So let us pray, speak the truth in love, and stand with courage calling our nation back to the God who alone secures both our liberty and our peace. DC Studio / Adobe Stock Flexible working isnt new to charities. Before the pandemic, the sector embraced options like job-shares, annualised hours and opportunities to work from home all the things weve been hearing about in the media since Covid-19 hit in 2020. These working arrangements were old news for charities it just took a global pandemic for other sectors to catch up. Even back in the 1990s, when my husband and I both worked at charities ourselves, the sector was famous for flexible working a key reason why it attracted so many women. This hasnt changed, as today 70% of CharityJobs candidates are women . The return-to-office backlash While remote working was rarer pre-2020, because many charities didnt have the infrastructure, the pandemic accelerated a rapid digital transformation, creating more remote work possibilities. However, at the same time it became the norm across most other sectors, diluting one of the charity sectors longstanding competitive advantages. Now though, more than five years later, the conversation is coming full circle again. Every day I see headlines about corporate organisations wanting employees back in the office five days a week, despite that not being what workers want. The evidence is clear: the CharityJob Salary Report 2025 revealed that our remote roles get seven times more clicks to apply than our onsite roles. And a recent survey found that 58% of UK workers would refuse a full return to the office. Others showed that two-thirds of UK workers would be prepared to take a pay cut for more flexibility and a shorter working week and 28% would look for a new job if they could no longer work in a hybrid or remote setting. A USP for the sector once again Charities, however, are still embracing the flexible options that employees now view as non-negotiable. The number of fully remote roles posted on CharityJob has been steadily increasing, and they now make up 12% of all our jobs. Hybrid working arrangements, meanwhile, have grown to 50% of roles (and these get four times more clicks to apply than onsite roles). We know of many charities that have actually reduced or completely got rid of their office space since the pandemic, having proved they can work just as efficiently without the overheads. With other sectors pushing back, remote working is becoming a USP for the sector once again. Why remote work works for charities Remote working widens the talent pool, enabling charities to reach the best candidates with no location restrictions. It also supports underrepresented groups, such as carers, or people with disabilities, and generally accommodates different needs and working styles. It can also align with a charitys values. Many of the most passionate and committed charity employees have been directly affected by the cause theyre working for. Depending on what that cause is, this could mean they are more likely to need flexibility for health, caring or lifestyle reasons. Having had a taste of the benefits of remote working during the pandemic, such as improved wellbeing, more free time and better work life balance, remote working is now more desirable than ever for candidates, making it a powerful recruitment lever. Its great for a charitys brand, helping to attract the best talent, even when higher salaries cant be offered, and keeps employees engaged for longer, reducing turnover and associated recruitment costs. The role of trust I also think one of the reasons why remote and flexible working is so successful for charities is that they tend to have high-trust cultures. People come to the sector to make a difference in the world, and are motivated by a lot more than money, meaning they are trusted to be productive, regardless of when and where they work and its common sense that theyll do their best at a time and place that best suits their circumstances. During my 25 years of running CharityJob, Ive seen the sector weather many storms. Charities are few and far between that havent felt the financial strain of recent years. For those that are able to hire, the good news is that there are lots of amazing candidates out there at the moment. However, the rising cost of living and other growing demands on charities are making it harder than ever for them to achieve salary growth for candidates. So, my advice is: if youre struggling to fill a role because you cant compete on salary in these tough times, then the best thing you can do is to offer remote working its your superpower. Civil Society Voices is the place for informed opinion, and debate about the big issues affecting charities today. Were always keen to hear from anyone, working or volunteering at a charity, who has something to say. Find out more about contributing and how to get in touch. is the place for informed opinion, and debate about the big issues affecting charities today. Were always keen to hear from anyone, working or volunteering at a charity, who has something to say. Sign up for the daily CJR newsletter. Since late December, J. Dale Shoemaker, a reporter for the Investigative Post, a nonprofit newsroom based in Buffalo, has filed seventeen Freedom of Information Act requests with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and US Customs and Border Protection to guide his deep dives into federal law enforcement activity, deportation actions, and ICE detention centers in upstate New York. In return, he says, he has gotten only documents that were redacted beyond comprehension, or nothing at all. I have not received a satisfactory response to a single one of them, Shoemaker said. Ryanne Mena, of the Los Angeles Daily News, sent ICE a FOIA request on January 24 for all grievance forms filed by detainees at facilities in Adelanto, California, between 2016 and early 2025. Nearly eight months later, she said, shes received nothing: ICE has failed to provide me with an estimated date of production despite repeated requests. Monica Eng, a reporter for Axios, filed a FOIA request with ICE in February, seeking data she hoped would inform stories about where and why agents were apprehending people in Illinois. At first, she said, ICE officials appeared willing to cooperate. But by March, ICE had denied Engs request in full, citing ongoing law enforcement investigations. Axios filed an administrative appeal with ICE, but hasnt received a response. I have filed a lot of FOIAs, and my requests to the Trump Department of Homeland Security have been some of the least successful and least transparent, Eng said. ICE and CBP have become centerpieces of President Donald Trumps quest to deport millions of undocumented immigrants from US soil through aggressive law enforcement tactics and billions of dollars in new federal funding. But CJR spoke to nearly two dozen reporters, editors, and other people at news organizations and open-records watchdog groups across the country who have filed FOIA requests with the agencies, and who say that ICE and CBP officials routinely deny or ignore those requests. The agencies have never been particularly open with the press, but many reporters believe that their experience is part of an enhanced effort by the Trump administration to conceal immigration agency operations, even in possible violation of federal law. Some also described the agencies press offices as functionally useless, with media officials providing few, if any, answers to even their most basic of inquiries. Chioma Chukwu, the executive director of American Oversight, a nonprofit organization that advocates for public access to government records, said ICE and Border Protection have an abysmal track record of transparency. Of 137 requests her group has filed with ICE and CBP over the course of 2025, there has been a substantive response to just oneand that took almost seven months, Chukwu said. ICE and CBP remain among the slowest and least transparent agencies we deal with, routinely flouting FOIAs requirements and denying the public timely access to information about their operations. This stonewalling comes at a time when ICEand its parent organization, the Department of Homeland Securityhas repeatedly cracked down on journalism about its operations. The department has described the video recording of ICE agents as violence, with a department spokesperson promising to prosecute those who illegally harass ICE agents to the fullest extent of the law. Multiple reporters have been arrested or injured while covering protests or anti-ICE rallies, including Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara, who was detained while covering a rally in Georgia in June, and Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi, who was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet as she reported on an anti-ICE protest in Los Angeles. In early September, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering DHS to stop using nonlethal weapons against journalists. Under the guise of protecting the public, federal agents have endangered large numbers of peaceful protesters, legal observers, and journalistsas well as the public that relies on them to hold their government accountable, the judge wrote. The First Amendment demands better. Some news outlets told CJR they believe that, in ICEs and CBPs handling of their FOIA requests, the agencies are themselves violating federal law by ignoring statutory deadlines or failing to respond altogether. By law, government agencies must determine within twenty business days whether to fulfill or deny a FOIA request and immediately notify the requester of their decision. Agencies may also extend this deadline because of unusual circumstances. If fulfilling a FOIA request requires significant time, agencies are required by law to offer requesters an opportunity to arrange with the agency an alternative time frame for processing the request or a modified request. Requesters have the right to appeal agencies FOIA determinations, and if all else fails, they may sue the government in federal court. Sign up for CJRs daily email Several media organizations have done just that this year, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and The Guardian. Suing is the process at this point because they literally dont respond any other way, said Mick Dumke, investigative editor for Block Club Chicago, a nonprofit news organization that sued ICE in May to obtain federal records about immigration enforcement actions in the Chicago area during Trumps first ten days in office. In Block Clubs case, legal action worked, at least in part: ICE released a list of area detentions and bookings but redacted key information such as detainees names, times of arrest, and the locations where they were being held. Block Club Chicagos lawsuit is ongoing. ICE has long had an official policy to not comply with FOIA, and we have had to file lawsuits to obtain access, said Susan Long, a cofounder of the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University, which has itself filed numerous immigration-related FOIA requests this year. The issue with the Border Patrol is primarily a problem with inadequate staffing, she added. Asked about her organizations success rate in obtaining responsive documents in a reasonable period of time, Long said, Close to zero. In response to a series of written questions, ICE spokesperson Miguel Alvarez said in early September that his agency was working to have some information to you shortly. As of publication, ICE had not provided any information. CBP officials did not respond to repeated phone and email inquiries. The two agencies do post some of what they call essential records and information in online FOIA reading rooms, as well as accountability and transparency or library webpages. In recent days, for example, ICE has released detention facility contract documents and spreadsheets listing details about arrests and deportations. But the spreadsheets lack key information about the people involved, such as their names, birth dates, and case numbersdata that would typically be available in police reports generated by local or state agencies. In CBPs online library, a section for body-worn camera video releases contains only two such videos from 2025. At the nonprofit newsroom CalMatters, reporters Wendy Fry and Sergio Olmos did obtain a spreadsheet of the criminal historiesor, in many cases, the lack thereofof CBP detainees in Kern County, California. I basically annoyed them into giving us the spreadsheet, Fry said. After their story came out, the government went cold: Fry says she hasnt been able to reach FOIA officials by phone since late April, despite many attempts across multiple other FOIA requests. Reporters Doug Livingston of the Marshall Project, Evan Goodenow of the Loudoun Times-Mirror in Virginia, and Nancy Guan at WUSF-FM in Tampa described similar radio silence in respect to their FOIA requests. Some reporters say that in the wake of limited government responses, theyre doubling down on shoe-leather reporting and community engagement to tell immigration stories. Bloomberg News reporter Mike McDonald filed a FOIA request early this year with ICE, seeking records about charter flights used to remove migrants from the United States. The agency denied his request for expedited processing, and I never heard back after that, he said. The story he ultimately wroteAirline at Center of Brazil Fiasco Key to Trumps Deportationsrelied on the airlines public financial filings, rather than documents obtained by FOIA. Jenna McMurtry, of Jackson Hole Community Radio, took another approach: stifled by a frustrating lack of communication from ICE about a local enforcement operation, including no response to a FOIA request, she wrote an article and broadcast a report in March about that very obfuscation. It was greatly appreciated by our audience, McMurtry said. We want to be able to understand who ICE wants when they come to town. (In mid-September, ICE finally produced records responsive to McMurtrys FOIA request, but theyre mostly redacted, she said. Her newsroom is still considering next steps.) But for many, the grind of daily newswork or limited resources makes protracted FOIA fights impractical. I havent followed up. Way too busy with other stuff, said Denver Post reporter John Aguilar, when asked about his February FOIA request seeking information about ICE detainees arrested by the agencys Denver field office. Mark Keierleber, an investigative reporter for The 74, an education-focused digital news site, said, For a small, nonprofit outlet like The 74, filing FOIA lawsuits really isnt in the cards. Sometimes I wish it was. Luke Harold, a reporter for the San Diego Union-Tribune, said he had a productive conversation with one of ICEs FOIA officials in February about amending a request seeking records about tunnels below the US-Mexico border. But, Harold said, he hasnt heard anything since. He filed the same request with Border Protection, which he said hasnt communicated at all save for an automated email receipt of his request. The only aspect of FOIA that has been efficient, for me, is rejection, Harold said. ACE American Insurance Co. is suing to recover $500,000 it paid in ransomware damages for a staffing company, claiming cloud computing and cybersecurity firms contracted by its policyholder should instead be held responsible due to their alleged negligence. The insurer maintains the two technology firms are responsible for certain failures that made it possible for the ransomware attack to occur and for mistakes made after it happened that increased the damage. ACE, a Chubb subsidiary, provided cyber insurance to New Jersey-based CoWorx Staffing Services for its computer network and data in 2024 when CoWorx was the target of the ransomware attack. CoWorx, which operates in all 50 states, hired Massachusetts cloud sourcing firm Congruity to provide virtual machines running Microsoft Windows to run CoWorxs web-applications. Under the contract, Congruity was responsible for providing CoWorx with new virtual machines as needed, as well as for securing the host virtualization servers and network. Congruity was responsible for providing safeguards to secure the operation of the IT systems that contain CoWorx data including remote access controls such as multi-factor authentication (MFA). However, according to ACEs complaint, Congruity never established nor enforced MFA to log into the network. CoWorx was itself responsible for security of the network at the guest virtual machine level. To accomplish this, CoWorx contracted with an Illinois cybersecurity firm, Trustwave, to monitor all Microsoft Windows endpoints, including the guest level machines hosted at Congruitys co-location facility. Trustwave installed detection and response software on the CoWorx server and fed logs and other information to Trustwaves security center which constantly monitored the network. What Happened The complaint sets forth a timeline of what ACE says happened including the alleged failures that it says affected its insured and led to the $500,000 claim. On April 18, 2024, threat actors logged into one of the Microsoft Windows virtual machines on the Congruity infrastructure using a compromised password from a CoWorx user. According to ACE, had Congruity enabled multi-factor authentication (MFA) prior to the threat actors unauthorized access, the server would have required acknowledgement before allowing external access, thwarting the breach from ever occurring. However, since MFA was not in place, the threat actors were able to access the Congruity infrastructure with the compromised password alone. The compromised CoWorx user account did not have administrative access to any Congruity server, either guest or host. Despite this, the threat actors were able to elevate permissions, dump credentials out of memory, and log into the host server. ACE argues that this shows that Congruity set up the server environment incorrectly, as no user should have been able to reach the host network from the guest network. Four days after the initial breach, Trustwaves software detected that a security event had occurred but Trustwave only categorized the alert as moderate rather than high or critical. Accordingly, Trustwave did not alert CoWorx of the breach, which ACE says robbed CoWorx of the opportunity to investigate the incident and backup its files. Five days later, the threat actors encrypted the virtual machines at the host network level and installed ransomware, requiring CoWorx to purchase the decryptor because it did not have backups of the encrypted files. According to the complaint, had Trustwave properly categorized the event as high or critical and alerted CoWorx of the breach, CoWorx would have backed up its compromised files. Negligence and Breach Charges ACE was obligated to pay $500,000 for the covered damages due to the breach and decryption under its cyber policy with CoWorx. The lawsuit charges both Congruity and Trustwave with negligence, gross negligence, breach of contract and breach of implied warranty. Congruity is accused of failing to set up the host and guest networks correctly and failing to enforce MFA, which ACE asserts allowed threat actors to access the guest network with only a compromised CoWorx password, elevate permissions, access the host network and ultimately encrypt CoWorxs data files and install ransomware. Trustwave is accused of failing to properly categorize the unauthorized breach as high or critical and failing to alert CoWorx of the breach in a prompt manner. These alleged failures prohibited CoWorx from backing up its files, potentially nullifying the ransomware installed and mitigating CoWorxs damages, according to the complaint. ACE is seeking $500,000 plus interest, attorneys fees and costs. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for New Jersey. Hong Kong is bracing for widespread damage and disruption from the approaching Super Typhoon Ragasa, which is currently churning off the northern coast of the Philippines with tree-snapping winds. The powerful storm is packing maximum sustained winds of 230 kilometers (143 miles) per hour, according to the Hong Kong Observatory, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale. The Philippines warned of life-threatening conditions. Hong Kongs international airport is facing major disruptions due to the storm, with Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. set to cancel more than 500 flights. Ragasa threatens to be the costliest typhoon to impact the city since Mangkhut in 2018, which led to total economic losses including insurance claims of HK$4.6 billion ($592 million), according to a tally from the weather agency. Schools will be suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday, while the Hong Kong exchange said it will be closely monitoring the typhoon posing a potential test for the citys push to keep markets open during severe weather. More than 10,000 people across the northern Philippines island of Luzon have been evacuated, and government work and classes were suspended in the capital Manila and several dozen provinces as of Monday. Parts of the country will get more than 200 millimeters (8 inches) of rainfall, threatening widespread flooding, damage to roads and infrastructure Once Ragasa passes the Philippines known locally as Nando it will track across the South China Sea and pass to the south of Hong Kong. Gale force winds will start affecting the city on Wednesday, and could reach hurricane force strength offshore, according to the Hong Kong Observatory. On Monday, Hong Kong was experiencing the literal calm before the storm, with blue skies and hot temperatures caused by the downward-moving air on the outer rims of the nearing typhoon. Still, local grid operators have already activated their extreme weather response plans, including pruning trees that could topple over power lines. Upwelling of cooler deep ocean waters and friction from the jagged coastline of southern China will slow the storms winds slightly, but the system is still set to make landfall over Guangdong province on Wednesday as a typhoon, according to the Hong Kong Observatory. The forecaster warned that Ragasa will likely cause significant storm surges as the typhoon approaches the city, with water levels similar to those seen during Mangkhut in 2018, a system that also blew out the windows of office buildings. Hong Kong has already been drenched by consecutive days of rainfall over the weekend after a separate cyclone skirted close to the city. With soils already saturated and drains potentially clogged by debris, theres a heightened risk of landslides and flash flooding when Ragasa hits. Ragasa will be the 11th tropical cyclone to affect the city this year, breaking the record number of storm warning signals issued between January and September since 1946, according to the observatory. The typhoon will likely disrupt a two-day aviation industry conference, scheduled to begin Wednesday, that typically brings thousands of delegates to Hong Kong. Chinas Guangdong province is set to halt rail services on Wednesday, and the cities of Zhuhai and Jiangmen will suspend school and work. Shenzhen is set to evacuate some 400,000 people, according to state media. After skirting Chinas southern coast, the storm is set to make another landfall over Vietnam on Thursday as a severe tropical storm, according to the Hong Kong Observatory. Vietnams meteorological department has warned ships at sea of very strong winds and large waves. Top photo: A Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. aircraft on the tarmac at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, China. Photographer: Lam Yik/Bloomberg. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. A cyberattack that forced airlines to cancel and postpone flights at several major European airports was caused by ransomware that disrupted the software used to process passenger check-ins, according to a European cybersecurity agency. The incident, which began on Friday, targeted a system called MUSE operated by Collins Aerospace. The platform underpins check-in, boarding and baggage systems for airlines worldwide. With kiosks and bag-drop machines offline, airports have been forced to rely on manual processing, slowing passenger flows. The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, or ENISA, confirmed in a statement on Monday that the outage was caused by a third-party ransomware incident. Ransomware is a kind of malicious software that hackers use to lock down a victims computer by encrypting its files. The hackers usually demand payment to unlock affected computers. The attack affected major European transport hubs, including London Heathrow, Berlin Brandenburg Airport and Brussels airports over the weekend, resulting in dozens of canceled flights. Delays in London and Berlin had eased by Monday, but Brussels airport was still facing significant disruption. Collins didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Its parent company, RTX, previously said it was working to regain full functionality to our customers as quickly as possible. Ihsane Lekhli, a spokesperson for Brussels Airport, said that of 277 departing flights scheduled for Monday, 40 had been canceled, while 23 arriving flights were canceled. The airport was asking passengers to check-in online in advance, instead of checking in at the airport, where systems were still down. It is not yet clear when we will be able to switch back to the normal check-in and boarding system, Lekhli added. Disruptions have remained limited compared to Europes total daily air traffic, but the incident highlights the strain on airlines and airports when critical technology suppliers are disrupted, with recovery expected to remain uneven until Collins restores full service. This year has seen a sharp increase in cyber threats against infrastructure and aviation. A June report by Thales SA, a French defense company, showed a 600% year-on-year increase in ransomware attacks in the aviation sector, with dozens of incidents affecting airlines, airports, navigation systems and services. Top photo: Travelers queue at check-in desks after a cyberattack caused an outage, at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, on Sept. 22. Photographer: Yen Duong/Bloomberg. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. 23 Ohio distilleries will be at the festival including Seven Brothers Distilling, High Bank Distillery, Western Reserve Distillers and Noble Cut Distillery. Paris Wolfe DELAWARE, Ohio Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m., Friday, Sept. 26, for the fifth Ohio Craft Whiskey Festival. The event returns to Henmick Farm & Brewery in Delaware, Ohio, from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. The festival will feature a record 23 Ohio distilleries for whiskey enthusiasts to sample. Tickets cost $50 and include eight tastings, with additional tastings available for purchase. Non-drinking companion tickets are $10. Beyond whiskey tastings, the event will feature live music and food trucks to complement the spirits experience. An Ohio Liquor Control Commission bottle shop will allow attendees to purchase their favorite discoveries to take home. Among the participating distilleries are established names such as Cleveland Whiskey, Watershed Distillery and Middle West Spirits, alongside newer operations such as Adventure Spirits Distilling, Black Diamond Distillery and Echo Spirits Distilling Co. The complete lineup includes 451 Spirits, Brain Brew Custom Whiskey, Buckeye Vodka, DoG Distilling Company, Hayner Distilling, High Bank Distillery, Indian Creek Distillery, Iron Vault Distillery, Leather & Oak Spirits, M&O Spirits, Motherwell Distilling Co., Name Brandt Distilling, Noble Cut Distillery, Northern Row Brewery and Distillery, Seven Brothers Distilling Co., Western Reserve Distillers, and Woodstone Creek. The annual festival takes place at Henmick Farm & Brewery, 4380 N. Old State Road, Delaware. The first meeting of Ohio's Joint Committee on Congressional Redistricting took place on Monday, Sept 22, 2025. Anna Staver COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The fight over Ohios congressional map kicked off Monday with the first of two required hearings but only one side showed its hand. Democrats put forward a plan that would split Ohios 15 U.S. House seats nearly down the middle, seven for their party and eight for Republicans. GOP leaders made it clear they dont like that idea, but they offered no map of their own and little hint of what they do want. It is insulting to the people of Ohio that they have not come up with a proposal, said House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn, a Cincinnati Democrat. Clearly, they have opinions because they asked very specific questions. What Republicans did say is that lawmakers wont meet the first constitutional deadline to pass a bipartisan map by Sept. 30. Theres no voting session scheduled in either chamber to consider a redistricting map effectively kicking the job over to the seven-member Ohio Redistricting Commission, which the GOP controls. That doesnt mean were not going to continue to work, talk, listen to Ohioans, work with the Democratic Party, Clermont County Rep. Adam Bird, the committee co-chair, said. We want to work with everyone. Partisan math Democrats want a new Congressional map to reflect Ohios voting patterns in statewide elections, which average 55% Republican and 45% Democrat over the past decade. Republicans disagree with that math. In the relevant time period in which we are to consider partisan races, Republicans have won 22 out of the 23 races, said Stark County Sen. Jane Timken, a Republican who co-chairs the redistricting committee. I question their logic as to why it has to be 5545 when clearly the voters of Ohio have strongly supported Republicans over the last decade. But she and the other GOP member wouldnt say what they thought it should be. Republicans currently hold 10 of Ohios 15 congressional seats. But Sen. Bill DeMora, a Columbus Democrat, said GOP leaders originally drew our current map with hopes of locking in a 123 advantage. He called Mondays meeting a dog and pony show. He suspects Republicans have a map but will wait to reveal it until the Constitution permits them to pass it without Democratic support. State law says the Ohio Redistricting Commission has until Oct .31 to pass a bipartisan map. If they fail, the GOP supermajorities can pass a map with one party support in November. The whole scheme is to keep delaying and delaying and delaying, DeMora said. One state, national stakes The districts Ohio draws this fall will decide more than who represents the state; they will help determine which party controls the U.S. House after the 2026 midterms. Republicans have a razor-thin majority in that chamber, so Ohio gaining two or losing two Democrats could make all the difference. Isaacsohn said that impact is already being felt. He argued Ohios current map gave Republicans the edge they needed to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a massive spending bill he opposed. The only reason it passed is because Ohio has gerrymandered maps, Issacsohn said. If we had fair maps in this state that accurately represented the people of Ohio, that big ugly bill does not pass. Redistricting has become a national flashpoint, with both red and blue states breaking from the once-a-decade tradition to redraw maps. Ohio, however, is required to rework its congressional map because the one passed in 2022 lacked bipartisan support. National Republicans may be watching closely, but Timken and Bird told reporters they havent heard from either President Donald Trump or Vice President JD Vance. They did say to expect a second redistricting hearing sometime next week. U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, an Ohio Republican, has urged all of Ohios 14 public university presidents to establish comprehensive plans to combat campus antisemitism. Sabrina Eaton WASHINGTON, D. C. - U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno has called on all Ohios 14 public universities to establish comprehensive plans to combat campus antisemitism. Jewish Americans are under attack in this country. Moreno declared in a letter to presidents of the universities sent this month. He cited statistics that indicate 2024 saw the highest number of United States antisemitic incidents in almost 50 years. Comparing recent attacks on Jews to episodes during the run-up to World War II in 1939, Morenos wrote that the violence against Jews must stop, and suggests that universities consider adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. The IHRA definition states: Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. The definition includes various examples of contemporary antisemitism, including denial of the Holocaust, stereotypical allegations about Jewish power, and certain criticisms of Israel, though it notes that criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. The IHRA definition, however, has faced criticism from some civil liberties organizations and academic groups. Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have raised concerns that the definition could restrict free speech on campus, particularly regarding criticism of Israeli government policies. Some scholars argue that certain illustrative examples accompanying the definition have been used to conflate legitimate political criticism with antisemitism, potentially chilling academic discourse about Middle East policy. In March, the U.S. Department of Education announced it is investigating 60 universities nationally, including Ohio State and University of Cincinnati, for Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination. In response to the education department announcement, an Ohio State University spokesman told the Lantern student newspaper that the university condemns antisemitism and has no tolerance for acts of hatred or violence. University of Cincinnati released a statement after the announcement that said it doesnt tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment, including that based on shared ancestry such as antisemitism, WOSU reported. Morenos letter called IHRA definition a tool that provides clarity on what constitutes antisemitism and can serve as a tool on campus to help combat hate crimes and foster a safer environment for Jewish students. He requested that university presidents respond within ten business days of receiving the letter, answering two specific questions: What measures do they plan to take or have already taken to address what he termed the unacceptable and disgusting rise in antisemitism? How do they plan to protect students safety while on campus from antisemitism and other religiously motivated crimes? As the senior United States Senator for the state of Ohio, I want to make sure that university leaders are doing all they can to ensure students are free not only to learn on college campuses but also to feel safe while doing so, regardless of their religion, Moreno stated in the letter. One of Flexjet's new Gulfstream G700 aircraft in front of the company's headquarters in Richmond Heights. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio Kenn Ricci was on vacation in Mexico with his youngest son in early 2020 when the magnitude of the COVID pandemic hit him. I said to Austin, I think youre seeing the end of Dads business, said Ricci, a Cleveland native and the chairman of Flexjet, the second-largest provider of private jet services in the United States. Instead, the pandemic did the opposite, jump-starting a period of explosive growth in the private flying industry, which continues today. Flexjet, headquartered at the Cuyahoga County Airport in Richmond Heights, unveiled the newest luxury aircraft in its fleet last week to an enthusiastic crowd of onlookers. The $96 million Gulfstream G700 is an ultra-long range jet, designed to take Flexjets clients (or owners, as theyre called) across the country and around the world in luxury. Our goal is to have our brand, our experience, anywhere in the world, said Andrew Collins, CEO of Flexjet. The company sells fractional ownership in private jets similar to timeshares for condominiums, but for private aircraft instead of real estate. New owner buy-in costs anywhere from $1.5 million to $48 million, depending on the aircraft and the annual hours of flying desired. The average upfront cost is $10 million, according to Ricci, with monthly fees and an hourly flight charge on top of that. For that amount, customers can request their own private aircraft with as little as 10 hours notice. Ricci noted that theres already an ownership waiting list for the companys three new Gulfstream G700s, the largest and most luxurious aircraft in the Flexjet lineup. The planes feature a dedicated bedroom, lie-flat seats, a circadian lighting system to minimize jet lag and a flying range of more than 7,000 miles. The aircraft can seat up to 15, although Ricci said few flyers bring that many passengers on board. Before the pandemic, the company was operating about 200 flights per day. That figure plummeted to eight daily flights during the darkest days in March and April 2020. But it didnt take long for the business to rebound, as well-heeled travelers looked for ways to fly without the hassles or health risks of commercial flight. Today, Flexjet flies approximately 400 flights daily, including about 40 trips every week to Europe. Before the pandemic, members of a group that Ricci called the frugal wealthy could afford private flights but didnt. But when your health is in jeopardy, you have every excuse in the world to fly private, he said. Mike Silvestro, who also serves as Flexjets CEO, said todays customers have gotten younger, like to fly in larger planes and travel farther. The demand for this business gets stronger every year, he said, noting that the average age of a new customer has dropped about 10 years, to the low to mid-50s. The younger generation likes experiences more than things, said Silvestro. Flexjet opened a new headquarters at the Cuyahoga County Airport in 2023. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com Flexjet chairman Kenn Ricci inside the company's newest aircraft, a Gulfstream G700. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com Inside Flexjet's global command center, where every flight is monitored. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com With its newest aircraft, Flexjet is hoping to distinguish itself from its competitors. Its biggest rival, Columbus-based NetJets, is a subsidiary of Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway, with a fleet of nearly 700 aircraft and more than 9,000 employees. Earlier this year, Flexjet announced that an investment group backed by Paris-based luxury giant LVMH was buying a 20% stake in the company. LVMH brands include Louis Vuitton, Moet Hennessy, Tiffany, Givenchy and numerous others. Weve been trying to position ourselves into a luxury brand, said Ricci. With the new G700 planes, Flexjet now owns 330 aircraft, which serve a customer/owner base of about 2,000. The company employs about 5,000 people, including more than 1,500 in Richmond Heights. Those include pilots, cabin attendants, maintenance crew and office staff. The company opened a new 51,000-square-foot, $50 million sleek headquarters building in 2023 on the campus of the Cuyahoga County Airport. Inside the companys Global Command Center, massive digital screens track every Flexjet plane in the air and across the globe. The building was expanded earlier this year, when Flexjet opened a new owner services center, with dedicated staff devoted to resolving every customer request, large and small. And the company is already in the planning stages for another expansion, which will include an auditorium and new offices for human resources staff. Flexjet also has properties throughout the United States and overseas, operating private terminals in Dallas; Naples, Florida; White Plains, New York; Teterboro, New Jersey; Van Nuys, California; and other locations. The company will open its first dedicated terminal in Europe next year in Farnborough, west of London. Ricci, who grew up in South Euclid and is a pilot by training, said hes never considered moving the headquarters out of his hometown. He called the company a 42-year overnight success story. Ricci also credits Flexjets longevity in Cleveland to the fact that the state of Ohio taxes fractional jet purchases at a much lower rate than a typical sales tax. We have been doing this in Cleveland since 1998, said Ricci. We started with three employees. We grew up here. CLEVELAND, Ohio Some much-needed rain has arrived in Northeast Ohio. The National Weather Service predicts an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms Monday, mainly after 2 p.m. Temperatures will reach the upper 70s. The rain will continue overnight, with a 90% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures will be in the low 60s. Extended forecast Showers and thunderstorms will continue Tuesday and temperatures will be in the mid-70s. Mostly cloudy conditions are expected Wednesday with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs again will be in the mid-70s. There is a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday with highs in the mid-70s. It will be partly sunny Friday and temps will stay in the low 70s, but there is a 40% chance of showers. Temperatures will be in the mid-70s over the weekend, with partly sunny skies Saturday and mostly sunny skies Sunday. There is a 30% chance of showers each day. Sunrise / sunset / pollen The Cleveland area will lose two minutes and 45 seconds of daylight Monday. Sunrise: 7:14 a.m. Sunset: 7:23 p.m. Pollen count: 5.0 (medium) Regional radar China's new visa to attract young professionals in science and technology may emerge as a sweet alternative as the US tightens its leash around the H-1B visa with a massive fee of $100,000 per application. The K Visa, launched by the Chinese government in August, comes into effect on October 1. It is expected to be far more flexible compared to the storied H-1B visa that brought some of the best-known tech leaders, like Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, to Silicon Valley in California. K visa applicants need not have an invitation from a Chinese employer. Applications opening in October come as a timely coincidence as the Donald Trump administration's imposing the new price hike on H-1B visas is expected to hit hard, especially Indians, who accounted for over 71% of H-1B approvals in FY24. The Indian government, on its part, raised that the imposition could have severe "humanitarian consequences". S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, who is in the US for the UN General Assembly, is expected to hold talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday (September 22). For China, opening doors to international students has remained a key strategy to boost domestic spending amid a sluggish economy. On September 16, the government in Beijing set out a 19-point plan to drive consumption, the latest in a series introduced over the past two years, in response to slow economic growth in August. The plan placed great emphasis on drawing foreign tourists and students to the country by leveraging Chinese culture and tradition and making life in China easier for foreigners. Also Read: China's new recipe to energise economy looks beyond domestic spending. #WATCH | Gujarat | A ship anchored at Porbandar Subhashnagar Jetty caught fire. The ship, which belongs to Jamnagar-based HRM & Sons, loaded with rice and sugar, caught fire, and three fire brigade vehicles arrived at the scene. The ship was towed to the middle of the sea as the pic.twitter.com/30qIN02cv7 ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2025 A Somalia-bound cargo ship caught fire anchored at the Porbandar Subhashnagar Jetty caught fire on Monday, September 22.The ship loaded with sugar and rice was headed for Bosaso, Somalia, according to news agency ANI. The blaze intensified due to the rice cargo. No casualties have been reported so far.Three fire brigades were deployed to douse the flames and they eventually towed the vessel to the middle of the sea as the fire worsened.The ship reportedly belongs to Jamnagar-based HRM & Sons. India and Morocco on Monday (September 22) inked an agreement to boost military cooperation following talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Moroccan counterpart Abdeltif Loudiyi.The two sides also agreed on a comprehensive roadmap to expand cooperation on countering terrorism, maritime security, cyber defence and peacekeeping operations.Singh is currently on a visit to Morocco.Had a very productive meeting with Moroccos Defence Minister Mr. Abdeltif Loudiyi and we signed an MoU on cooperation in field of defence, he said on X.The MoU will provide for an institutional framework to expand and deepen bilateral defence engagement, including exchanges, training, and industrial linkages, officials said.Indias ties with Morocco are growing remarkably over the years. We discussed ways to deepen collaboration in key areas, including counter-terrorism efforts, maritime security, cyber defence and capacity building, Singh added.The MoU provides for a robust institutional framework to the growing partnership and paves the way for collaboration in defence industry, joint exercises, military training and capacity building.The defence ministry said the discussions between Singh and Loudiyi reflected the shared resolve to further strengthen the longstanding friendship between India and Morocco.To give momentum to these initiatives, Singh announced the opening of a new defence wing at the Embassy of India in Rabat.He also highlighted the maturity of Indias defence industry and its cutting-edge capabilities, including drone and counter-drone technologies, assuring the Moroccan side that Indian companies are well-positioned to meet the requirements of Moroccos defence forces, the ministry said.Both the ministers underscored the importance of enhancing exchanges between armed forces, facilitating training programmes and exploring opportunities for co-development and co-production in the defence sector, it said.They also stressed the need for multilateral cooperation to address global and regional security challenges and welcomed closer coordination in maritime security given the strategic significance of the Indian Ocean and Atlantic corridors, it added in a statement.Singh also extended a formal invitation to Loudiyi to visit India for further discussions on expanding defence cooperation.The meeting marks a significant milestone in the bilateral defence relationship, reflecting the growing convergence of strategic interests between India and Morocco, the ministry said.Singhs visit to Morocco is the first-ever trip to that country by an Indian defence minister.Ties between India and Morocco have gained momentum since King Mohammed VIs meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 in India. At least 30 people, including women and children, were killed in airstrikes carried out by the Pakistan Air Force in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Tirah Valley on Monday, according to multiple reports. Local media said the strikes took place around 2 am, when JF-17 fighter jets dropped eight LS-6 bombs on Matre Dara village, a Pashtun-majority area. In a video statement, Iqbal Afridi, a Member of the National Assembly from the district, alleged that the Pakistani Air Force carried out strikes on Matre Dara village, causing civilian deaths. Neither the provincial authorities nor the federal government had so far issued any statement acknowledging the incident or clarifying the reasons behind the strikes. According to reports, while the military aimed at Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts, all the victims were civilians. Several others were said to be injured, but details on their condition remained unclear. The bombs struck crowded neighbourhoods while families were asleep, leaving residents defenceless. By morning, eyewitnesses said Matre Dara was littered with bodies, with homes flattened and livestock destroyed, according to various reports. The incident comes amid a series of counter-terrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On Sunday, the Pakistan Army said seven TTP militants were killed in Dera Ismail Khan district, while earlier this month 31 militants were reported dead in separate clashes. According to local police data, the province recorded 605 terror incidents between January and August this year, killing at least 138 civilians and 79 police personnel. August alone saw 129 incidents, including the deaths of six Pakistani security personnel. According to PTI reports, terrorist groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen are now shifting bases deeper into the province, using its rugged terrain and proximity to Afghanistan as cover. (With agency inputs) North Koreas Kim Jong Un said there was no reason to avoid talks with the US if Washington stopped insisting his country give up nuclear weapons, but he would never abandon the nuclear arsenal to end sanctions, state media reported on Monday."Personally, I still have fond memories of US President (Donald) Trump, KCNA reported the North Korean leader saying in a speech at the Supreme Peoples Assembly on Sunday. The two leaders met three times during Trumps first presidency.Kims comments come as the new liberal government in Seoul urges Trump to take the lead in reopening dialogue with Kim, six years after all peace talks with Pyongyang collapsed over sanctions and nuclear dismantlement."If the United States drops the absurd obsession with denuclearising us and accepts reality, and wants genuine peaceful coexistence, there is no reason for us not to sit down with the United States," Kim was quoted as saying.It is the first time Kim has mentioned Trump by name since the US presidents inauguration in January, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a North Korea expert with the US-based Stimson Center."This is an overture," she said. "It is Kims invitation to Trump to rethink US policy on denuclearisation, the implication being that if the US drops denuclearisation, he could sit face-to-face with Trump."Kims warm words towards Trump were a contrast with his strident assertion that he will never give up nuclear weapons or engage in dialogue with South Korea, which he has designated a main enemy.It was a matter of survival for North Korea to build nuclear weapons to safeguard its security against grave threats from the United States and South Korea, Kim said, listing a series of regular military drills by the allies that he said had evolved into exercises for nuclear war.South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said in an interview with Reuters that North Korea was building 15 to 20 nuclear bombs a year and any deal that froze that manufacturing would be a useful step towards eventually dismantling the programme altogether."Based on that, we can proceed to medium-term negotiations for nuclear weapons reductions, and in the long run, once mutual trust is restored and North Koreas regime-security concerns are reduced, we can pursue denuclearisation," he said.Kim bluntly rejected any phased plan, saying recent overtures from Washington and Seoul for dialogue were disingenuous because their fundamental intent to weaken the North and destroy his regime remained unchanged, and that Lees phased plan was proof of that."The world already knows full well what the United States does after it makes a country give up its nuclear weapons and disarms," Kim said. "We will never give up our nuclear weapons."Kim said sanctions had been "a learning experience" and made his country stronger and more resilient.North Korea has been under UN sanctions and arms embargoes since its first nuclear test in 2006. But while the sanctions have squeezed funding for military development, Pyongyang has continued to make advances in building nuclear weapons and powerful ballistic missiles."The reality is that the previous approach of sanctions and pressure has not solved the problem; it has worsened it," South Koreas Lee told Reuters.Lee had urged Trump to try and meet Kim when the US president visits South Korea next month for an Asia-Pacific summit, but the Stimson Centers Lee said Kims remarks seemed aimed at blocking the Souths involvement."Perhaps he wants to get ahead of the Lee government and dissuade the Trump administration from cooperating with South Korea by reiterating that South Korea is a separate country and, therefore, cannot be a party to the North Korean nuclear issue," she said.The South Korean president said Pyongyang was refusing to talk to the South and he did not believe North Korea and the United States were having concrete discussions, but he believed the phased approach remained the realistic option."Our main task now is to create the conditions for dialogue," Lee said. A Malaysian man on death row for trafficking heroin is to be executed this week in Singapore, anti-death penalty activists said Monday, renewing calls for a halt to capital punishment in the city-state.If the execution goes through, Datchinamurthy Kataiah, 39, will become the third Malaysian national and the eleventh person to be hanged this year in Singapore.His family received a notice on Sunday that his hanging will take place on Thursday at Singapores Changi prison, according to Kokila Annamalai of the Transformative Collective Justice, which advocates for abolishing the death penalty in Singapore.Datchinamurthy was arrested in 2011 and later convicted of trafficking about 45 grams (1.6 ounces) of heroin into Singapore. He was to be hanged in 2022 but won a last-minute reprieve pending a legal challenge that was dismissed by the court in August.Singapores strict laws mandate the death penalty for anyone caught carrying more than 15 grams of heroin and 500 grams of cannabis. Critics say the law disproportionately targets low-level traffickers and couriers.Speaking at a joint news conference via video link with Amnesty International Malaysia and the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network, Kokila read from a letter from Datchinamurtys sister, Rani, who has flown to Singapore to spend time with him.Her brother is not protesting punishment, Rani said in the letter, but believes the death penalty is "too harsh and extreme for a young mans naive action."The three rights groups and 30 other civil society organisations also issued a joint statement reiterating standing calls to halt executions. They said three other Malaysians and a Singaporean man, who had been on death row for drug offences ranging from 7 years to 10 years, face executions after recently losing their latest appeals.The Cabinet of Singapores Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took office last year, had advised President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to show clemency to a Singaporean man on death row for drug trafficking.The president responded, and the mans sentence was commuted to life in prison the first such clemency since 1998. The three activist groups say it shows change is possible.The groups also urged neighbouring Malaysia the current chair of the regional ASEAN bloc to take steps to protect its disadvantaged citizens who are being exploited by drug syndicates.Malaysia abolished the mandatory death penalty in 2023, replacing capital punishment with prison terms of 30 to 40 years.Amnesty Internationals 2024 global report said Malaysia commuted more than 1,000 death sentences last year.In contrast, Singapore doubled its executions from five in 2023 to nine last year, with six of those carried out over a two-month period, Amnesty said. More than 40 remain on death row in the city-state.Amnesty also said that the Asia-Pacific region continues to hold the highest number of executions in the world, but secrecy and restrictive state practices, such as in China, Vietnam and North Korea, make it impossible to obtain accurate figures. This fall, TV viewers will have a choice of new shows about the people whose job it is to inform them, in writing, about the world. By far the bigger launch is for The Paper, Peacocks spin-off of The Office, which fans have been anticipating for more than a year. In that vision of journalism, the daily newspaper for a fairly large municipality exists to report the news; but that gets a lot less play than its main function as a self-actualization vehicle for a former toilet paper salesman, whos heading a team of inexperienced volunteer contributors. Fortunately, FX is also premiering a show about journalism that seems like it was made by people who think accurately and rigorously reporting the news should be done not by well-meaning idiots, but by people willing to risk a beating or their lives to publish the truth. In an age of rampant misinformation, The Lowdown offers a hero for these times: a righteous loudmouth fuck-up who refuses to quit. The Lowdown, which premieres its first two episodes on FX tomorrow, comes from Reservation Dogs creator Sterlin Harjo, and stars Ethan Hawke as Lee Raybon. Officially a rare books dealer with a secondhand bookstore, Hoot Owl Books, in downtown Tulsa, Lee is also a freelance journalist. We meet him just after his long-form profile on the Washberg family in the Heartland Press has gotten national pickup, partly because Donald Washberg (Kyle MacLachlan) is running to be the Republican governor of Oklahoma, and the election is imminent. Don't Miss And Lee is no snob: He also pitches crime stories to Tulsa Beat, which seems to operate primarily to run local sex workers classified ads. Soon, Lee finds out that his big expose on the Washbergs and his smaller, more sensationalistic piece on havoc wrought by white supremacist skinheads are actually two parts of the same story and not one that gets any easier to unravel after several principal figures end up dead. Harjo has said that the inspiration for Lee Raybon is Lee Roy Chapman, with whom Harjo worked at the now-defunct Heartland Press-esque broadsheet This Land. But the show has plenty of other influences. Its a crime show thats suspicious of cops, like Terriers or Bad Monkey. It revolves around a protagonist who cant stop getting into trouble, like Poker Face or Reacher. Its a Southwest neo-noir, like Better Call Saul or the recently canceled Duster (with which it shares a Keith David performance in common; here David plays Marty, a P.I. working for Washberg). And it revolves in part around the roguish figures who operate in the world of secondhand and antique goods, like Chance and Lovejoy. Advertisement Lee lurches from harassment by city cops who dont want him exposing their shoddy work to an ass-kicking by skinheads in the shabby apartment above his store to chatting with the server at his favorite all-night diner to sending antique dealer Ray (Michael Hitchcock) to get a box of first-edition pulp novels Ray cant buy himself because his reporting has put him at odds with the seller. In the lulls when the viewers just hanging out with Lee, we can be pretty certain hes constantly about to talk himself into another hired goons car trunk, or another seafood poachers shed: What makes Lee the perfect protagonist for a show like this is that hes probably going to make the wrong decision for the right reason. The more people warn him to back off the Washberg story, the more determined he is to figure out how the scraps on his crazy wall fit together. Token attempts at stealth tailing one of the subjects in his Washberg story; borrowing a Fish & Wildlife agents uniform jacket to search a boat are quickly found out (in the latter case because his vintage slacks are identified by a target as Saturday Night Fever pants). Advertisement With his tween daughter Francis (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), Lee tries not to make his life and work seem too glamorous, telling her, I went to jail so you dont have to, but it doesnt take: Francis still begs Lee to let her help with his investigation and, when he refuses, does a little light trespassing on his behalf. The more stable life Francis mother, Lees ex-wife Samantha (Kaniehtiio Horn), is seeking with her new dentist boyfriend Johnny (Rafael Casal) cant compete. Advertisement We can hardly blame Francis for falling under her rakish fathers spell when the viewer cant resist him either. The more Band-Aids Lee accumulates on his face from various subjects violent reprisals, the more we know hes on the right track. The case against the Washbergs isnt especially complex a rich family got that way through immoral, rapacious means, and is now seeking political power along with its financial might and while there are obvious parallels between this story and the Trumps, its also just the story of white Western capitalism. Particularly once we know for sure that Donald doesnt fear law enforcement, its easy to root for Lees muckraking journalism to take down the Washbergs. Its probably the only thing in this world that could. Advertisement The cast is filled out by real Oklahoma natives, including Tim Blake Nelson as Dale, the brother Donald would prefer to forget; Jeanne Tripplehorn as Dales wife, a former rodeo queen; Tracy Letts as a crooked real estate developer; and Josh Fadem as the owner of a record store on the same block as Lees bookstore. But even those who hail from further away feel like they belong. From the first scene between Lee and Dan (Macon Blair), the estate lawyer whose office is next door to Hoot Owl, and whose patience Lee tests with requests to hide things for him, we can project backwards through the years of their acquaintance and the times Dans been grateful that Lees scandalous mess has livened up his life. Deirdra (Siena East) works the desk at Hoot Owl; its clear she knows she can mooch a security job for her ex-con cousin Waylan (Cody Lightning) by leveraging Lees tendency to pay her late. Wendell (Peter Dinklage) shows up to mark a meaningful anniversary in his contentious friendship with Lee. Did you just take a shit in my bathroom? is the first thing Lee says to him. Indeed I did, Wendell replies. The exchange sets a tone for the rest of their day together; a couple of times when Lee cant help laughing at a good joke of Wendells amid their mutual sniping, it feels like it might be Hawkes delight showing through. Advertisement In the first few episodes, Lee is given to call himself a truthstorian; as far as Ive been able to tell, this isnt a Lee Roy Chapman nod but a coinage that originated with the show, and one whose corniness I could certainly do without. Historian is a perfectly good word that already exists, and if Lees assumed objection to it is how biased history can be, just say writer. I also wasnt expecting this show to be one of the many normalizing the r slur (in this case, by having a less respectable character use it), but I guess Hershal Pandyas recent Vulture piece is depressingly accurate and it really is Comedys Safest Slur. Advertisement But The Lowdown does everything I think it set out to do: It made me push up my rewatch of Reservation Dogs; it made me check that my subscription to my local independent news magazine was paid up; and it made me start planning my first-ever trip to Tulsa. Stone claimed that, if he really was censored, we would have heard about it by now Trey Parker and Matt Stone remain insistent that they are much more likely to procrastinate past a crucial deadline than to cave to political pressure let alone cave quietly. Last Wednesday, with the anxiously awaited fifth episode of South Park Season 27 scheduled to air that night, Parker and Stone suddenly announced that they would have to postpone the episode for one week after failing to finish it in time for its usual 10 p.m. ET time slot. Even in a vacuum, this kind of announcement would have been nearly unprecedented. In the previous 26 seasons of the show, South Park had only ever missed one deadline, and that was due to a catastrophic power outage at South Park Studios. And, in those first 26 seasons, Parker and Stone famously only had six days to complete each South Park installment, as opposed to the luxurious two-week production schedule they enjoy today. However, given the greater cultural context surrounding the second-ever South Park deadline extension the murder of right-wing political activist and South Park parody target Charlie Kirk on September 10th placed the show under intense public scrutiny many South Park fans refused to believe that Parker and Stone just-so-happened to drop the ball during the most dangerous political moment of the shows entire existence. Don't Miss Then, late last week, Parker and Stone implored South Park fans to consider that, maybe, the fact that theyve finished over 300 episodes on time with their infamous work ethic is much more unbelievable than the two times they fell short. In a conversation with The Denver Post on Friday, Stone shot down the rumors that the new episode of South Park was pulled, canceled or re-written in response to the death of Kirk and the political blowback that ensued following the shocking murder. No one pulled the episode, no one censored us, and you know wed say so if true, Stone insisted, reminding his fans of how the South Park production process really works. We just didnt get it done. When you always cut it close, sometimes you mess up. Thats the price of being a procrastinator. Advertisement And, while fans initially expressed skepticism about the official story behind the episode delay, Stone's follow-up comments seemed to remind the online South Park community that these are still the exact same guys who openly blamed Paramount's shit show merger when the parent company pushed back the start of Season 27 before releasing a premiere episode that was basically one big middle finger to the media giant. In a viral Reddit thread about Stone's comments, one fan implored South Park conspiracy theorists to consider everything else that Parker and Stone have done in Season 27 without batting an eye at political pushback. They have literally made an episode of A.I. Trump getting naked with his tiny penis talking. Then they had Kristy Noem shooting puppies while her face melted off, the fan wrote of Parker and Stone. These guys have no fucks nor chill. They may not make fun of Kirk himself, but Id wager they are going full in on how people are trying to make political points off it and get people canceled. Advertisement Other users mocked the distrustful skeptics of the South Park fandom, as one commented, Its really been eye opening how many people just took what happened most recently in the news and immediately applied it to the delay. Just because you can think of a connection between two things doesnt mean there is one. Advertisement On Twitter, however, the South Park fandom was less unanimous in accepting Stone's explanation, and even fans who took the delay at face value arent thrilled that South Park would drop the ball at such a critical moment for culture and comedy. You would think only releasing one episode every two weeks and getting 1.5 billion would make them not miss episodes, but here we are, one Twitter user complained. Advertisement Ultimately, the litmus test for the official story behind this all-too-convenient delay will come when the new South Park episode premieres on Wednesday and we see what Parker and Stone have supposedly been working on for three weeks. If Paramount and Skydance still arent calling the shots at South Park, then the show will probably tackle the Kirk controversy head-on as it usually would. But, if Parker and Stone have been compromised by their corporate partners and political pressure, then, well, get ready to return to Tegridy Farms until at least 2029. Were getting a new episode of South Park this week, but only because last weeks scheduled episode was delayed at the last minute, allegedly because Trey Parker and Matt Stone missed their deadline for just the second instance in the shows long history. And this time they didnt have a blackout to blame. Despite Parker and Stones statement, a lot of fans still went full Kevin Costner in the third act of JFK on the announcement, floating a number of conspiracy theories, many of which involved corporate censorship. A lot of people speculated that the show had secretly been completed, but was ultimately killed by Paramount, possibly because the episode was going to comment on the Charlie Kirk assassination in some way. Don't Miss Fears that the company that fired Stephen Colbert earlier this year had silenced Parker and Stone were seemingly only stoked by the news that ABC had indefinitely paused Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the Trump administration threatened to take action against the network. If they were mad about what Kimmel said, presumably the right isnt thrilled with the cartoon that just revealed that Trump is having a butt baby with Satan himself. But despite the escalating fan paranoia, according to Stone, this really was a case of South Parks notoriously hectic schedule biting them in the ass. Advertisement Advertisement In a brief comment to The Denver Post, Stone confirmed that the duos six days to air strategy was responsible for the delay. No one pulled the episode, no one censored us, and you know wed say so if true, Stone stated. We just didnt get it done. When you always cut it close, sometimes you mess up. Thats the price of being a procrastinator. So there you have it, there was no secret plan to sanitize South Parks politics, they missed the airdate for the same reason that you tanked that ninth grade chemistry test: procrastination. While the down-to-the-wire approach allows Parker and Stone to comment on extremely current events, they have previously stated that this is mostly due to sheer procrastination and laziness, and revealing that procrastination is a part of the process. So, even though the timing was especially eyebrow-raising, perhaps its not all that surprising that the show that routinely delays its production for as long as humanly possible finally missed a deadline for non-electrical emergency reasons. Last week, Disney CEO Bob Igers decision to indefinitely suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! in response to public threats from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr sparked a political and PR storm so powerful that there is even some thunder down under. On the same day that Carr called for ABC and its affiliates to take action on Kimmel regarding his comments about President Donald Trumps reaction to the murder of Charlie Kirk, telling the TV giant, We can do this the easy way or the hard way, local TV giants Nexstar and the Sinclair Broadcast Group announced that they would pre-empt Jimmy Kimmel Live! shortly before Iger pulled the plug entirely. This unprecedented move by the federal government to intimidate broadcasters into silencing critics of the President sent shockwaves throughout the American media industry, and a couple of aftershocks have somehow reached the other side of the globe where the Australian Broadcasting Corporation has fielded hundreds of complaints about the importance of free speech and the free press in regards to Jimmy Kimmel. Don't Miss Critically, and despite sharing an acronym with the Disney-owned American channel ABC, the Australian public service broadcaster has no affiliation with Iger, Nexstar or the FCC and has played no part in the silencing of Kimmel on American television but that hasnt stopped ABC (AU) from publishing their favorite angry messages regarding Kimmel's cancellation. While ABC (AU) bears no responsibility for the censorship of Kimmel in the American media, the Australian news outlet is taking the complaints over his ousting seriously, even if they know that their reception of such messages from incensed Americans is obviously an accident. Its not clear if these complaints the ABC is receiving are representative of those the U.S. ABC is receiving, but its clear members of its audience arent happy with the decision, ABC (AU) wrote of the misguided missives. Advertisement ABC (AU) provided select examples of what the hundreds of complainants are saying to the Australian network, including one that read, Does the constitution have no meaning to you? First Amendment is freedom of speech, seems you can use it, but if someone disagrees with your views or shall I call it with the present administration. Oh wait cant forget money. Shame. Australia does not have a Bill of Rights or constitutionally enshrined protections on free speech, but ABC (AU) still supports those institutions in America. Advertisement Free speech!!!! Unfortunately it seems to me you have been bought, and I will not continue to watch your network! wrote another irate complainer, who has likely never once watched a program on ABC (AU). If you continue to silence people who disagree with you then we will be left with fake news only. Why tune in for that?!?! Good bye. Concerningly, however, ABC (AU) has also received a small number of write-ins that commended the channel for its supposed role in taking Kimmel off of American television. Although I never watch ABC (not ever), I appreciate that you had the good sense to boot Kimmel, one American wrote to ABC (AU), accidentally achieving a likely half-truth. But ultimately, even journalists on the other side of the world understand whats at stake when a federal government attempts to disrupt democracy and takes steps to institute state-run media, and they want to help their American friends in their fight for free speech. The ABC (AU) closed the article with the advice, For those wanting to provide feedback about the decision to axe Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the contact form for the U.S. ABC can be found here. The Simpsons has made its fair share of enemies over the past 36 years from the Bush family, to the entire country of Brazil, to the smattering of transportation experts who still blame Homer for ruining the monorail-filled utopia that we could all been living in right now. But one of the shows earliest satirical targets was the nuclear industry, since Springfields local power plant is owned by an evil billionaire and its safety inspector spends his days napping, eating donuts and causing life-threatening catastrophes. Don't Miss Back in 1990, the nuclear industry reportedly had a meltdown over the show. The pro-nuclear U.S. Council for Energy Awareness wrote an open letter to producers complaining about the shows depiction of nuclear power. They specifically took issue with the recently-released Season Two episode Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish, in which Mr. Burns tries to bribe government inspectors with a table full of cash. And, most memorably, it introduced Blinky, the three-eyed fish that was seemingly mutated by the plants nuclear waste. And if they disliked Blinky, they must have really hated that tentacled tree and superpowered squirrel from Season Four. Advertisement Some experts have suggested that The Simpsons has helped shape the publics opinion about nuclear power, a theory that was borne out when Simpsons memes (including Blinky himself) were utilized in an Australian political battle over the construction of seven new nuclear plants. Advertisement Now one of the heads of a controversial new U.K. power station is calling out the long-running animated series. Advertisement Advertisement As reported by The Independent, Sizewell C is a planned major nuclear plant to be built on the coast of Suffolk with a price tag of 20 billion, more than 14 billion of which is coming from taxpayers. But its faced criticism from environmentalists and those that believe the plans are too expensive. In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, the projects joint managing director Julia Pyke tried to put at least some of the blame for the backlash on the residents of Springfield. I definitely think The Simpsons, which I very much enjoy, has done the nuclear industry a big disservice, Pyke claimed, clarifying, I am not Mr Burns. We need to make more effort to talk about nuclear positively in the mainstream, she added, and to help people to feel, rather than bombard them with facts, that it is a safe, clean, green way of making electricity which offers great jobs and opportunities for our future generations. Of course, people have a lot of reasons to oppose the project that have nothing to do with Mr. Burns. Construction will reportedly damage 150 hectares of land which is home to two different nature reserves and thousands of birds, animals and plant species. There are also concerns that it will compromise local water supplies. Advertisement Following Pykes interview, the group Stop Sizewall C countered with a social media post stating: You can't blame The Simpsons for the nuclear industry's huge expense, delays and budget overruns. New Orleans can still blame the show for making us all think of the city as being vomity vile though. At least he knew when to quit Days after President Trump demanded that NBC yank Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers from its late-night slate, hes now setting his sights on David Letterman. More than a decade after The Late Show with David Letterman aired its final episode, the Commander-in-Chief slammed the famed TV host on Friday night, retroactively dunking on Lettermans ratings and his appearance. Whatever happened to the very highly overrated David Letterman, whose ratings were never very good, either, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform before claiming that the host looks like hell. Don't Miss At least he knew when to quit, Trump concluded, capping off his post with an all-caps LOSER!!! Trumps post came hours after Letterman slammed 47s authoritarian criminal administration for its potential role in pushing ABC to indefinitely remove Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the air. We see where this is all going, correct? Its managed media, Letterman said during his Thursday appearance at The Atlantic Festival, describing the Disney-owned networks decision as silly, ridiculous and no good. You cant go around firing somebody because youre fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office, he added. Thats just not how this works. Letterman has yet to respond to Trumps Truth Social tirade. Less than a week after Disney indefinitely suspended the late-night show, Kimmel will be back on TV Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to the ABC schedule effective tomorrow evening, according to a statement released by The Walt Disney Company earlier today. Last Wednesday, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr appeared on a right-wing podcast where he fiercely criticized comments made by Kimmel on the previous Monday night episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! regarding the murder of far-right political activist Charlie Kirk and the Trump administration's response to the violence. Carr urged ABC and the mega-companies that control its local affiliates to take action on Kimmel or else they could face consequences from the FCC, warning them, We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Hours later, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast group, two companies that control most of ABCs local affiliates, condemned Kimmels comments and pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from their schedules. Don't Miss Following the condemnations from Nexstar and Sinclair, Disney CEO Bob Iger moved to indefinitely suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live!, sparking nationwide outrage over what the public perceived to be a grievous attack on the First Amendment and a cowardly capitulation to illegal and unconstitutional pressure by one of the most powerful organizations in the country. Now, Disney is walking back its hasty dismissal of the long-time late-night show, effective almost immediately: After Carr implied that the FCC would pull broadcasting licenses from networks that promote views that werent aligned with the executive branch, Sinclair demanded that Kimmel should make a public apology to the Kirk family and a meaningful personal donation to the late political activists organization, Turning Point USA, in order to return Jimmy Kimmel Live! to Sinclair-owned stations. Sinclair also planned to air a Charlie Kirk tribute special during Kimmels usual time slot last Friday, but backed off of the event as public outcry over Kimmels removal continued to grow, instead adding a re-run of Celebrity Family Feud! to the schedule. Advertisement At the time of writing, its unclear if Sinclair and Nexstar will carry Jimmy Kimmel Live! on their hundreds of local ABC affiliates. Regardless, when Kimmel returns tomorrow night and delivers his first opening monologue post-silencing, the world will be watching. Contact Us Wed Love to Hear from You Have a question about Florida online casinos, sweepstakes platforms, or how to play safely online? Youre in the right place. At Crow River Media, were here to help you make smart, confident, and secure choices about where to play. Our expert reviewers and gaming researchers genuinely enjoy connecting with readers whether youre new to online casinos or looking for the most trusted sweepstakes options in Florida. 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Clear old cookies if you share devices; log out of operator accounts. Update your phone and browser to the latest versions. 10) State-Specific Rules US gambling laws are state-by-state. Before signing up or betting: Check your state gaming commission or lottery for rules, age limits, and approved operators. Understand tax responsibilities on winnings where applicable. Some offers (bonuses, free sweeps coins, odds boosts) are not available in every state. 11) How We Make Money (Affiliate Disclosure) We may earn a commission when you click links on our site and take actions on partner sites. This does not change the price you pay. Our editorial opinions remain independent and aim to highlight safety, clear terms, and responsible play tools. 12) Offer & Third-Party Disclaimers Bonuses, odds, and eligibility are set by third-party operators and can change without notice. Always read the operators official terms and privacy policy. 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BetUS Best for Casino and Sports Betting BetUS bridges casino gaming and sports wagering, standing out among Florida online casinos for its speed and reliability. Players can play slots, join tables, or bet on live sports all from one account. As one of the best online gambling FL options and a leading best online gambling Florida brand, it rivals top titles like Astro Reels at Slots.lv with strong bonuses and consistent updates. Pros: Casino + sports in one place Reliable platform Generous bonuses Cons: Some games restricted by region BetUS gives Florida users an all-in-one gambling experience backed by years of trusted operation. Dive into essential details from our expert reviews, covering user feedback and gaming options. Interested in more online casino options in Florida? Check out this detailed guide on Top Online Casinos for Florida Players for further exploration. How We Chose the Best Florida Online Casinos We carefully check many important things to make sure you have fun and stay safe playing online in Florida. Our team picks online casinos in Florida based on what matters most for a great game experience. Game Variety and Software Quality Casino game variety is essential at top online casinos. A great selection of slots, table games, and live dealer options ensures theres something for every player. Equally important is software quality the best sites partner with leading developers to deliver smooth, reliable, and engaging gameplay. Promotions and Bonus Value Finding casinos with generous promotions and bonuses is a top priority. The best sites offer valuable welcome bonuses, free spins, and rewarding loyalty programs. Clear and fair bonus terms are equally important, ensuring players always get real value from every offer. Mobile Gaming and User Experience Mobile gaming is huge now, so great Mobile Casino Apps are a must. We see how well casinos make their mobile sites or apps work. They need to be easy to use, reliable, and work well on your phone. Good access and stability are what we look for. Payment Speed and Options Quick and easy payments are important. We look for casinos with many safe payment ways, like cryptocurrencies. They should let you deposit and withdraw without a hassle. How fast you get your winnings is also key. We check this so you can get your money fast. Is Online Casino Gaming Legal in Florida? In 2025, online casino gaming in Florida remains limited. The state hasnt legalized real-money casino sites, but sweepstakes casinos operate legally under promotional laws. These platforms let players enjoy casino-style games using virtual currency that can be redeemed for prizes. Currently, Florida residents can only access offshore gambling sites or legal sweepstakes platforms for online play. 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When exploring these best online casinos in Florida, its important to choose reputable, licensed sites for safety and fairness. Each type of Florida Online Casino offers unique benefitswhether youre aiming for real money wins, live dealer action, or casual gameplay. Exploring the variety of best online casinos Florida can help you find the perfect match for your style and maximize your gaming experience across all online casinos in Florida. The Evolution of Online Gambling in Florida As the digital world grows, so does online gambling in the U.S., including Florida. The Evolution of Florida Casinos and Gambling Legislation FL have made sweepstakes casinos popular. These are not like regular online casinos. Under U.S. sweepstakes laws, they legally give out virtual currency as prizes. This setup lets people in Florida play casino games without real money. As the gambling world changes, the variety of games keeps increasing. All of it stays within the law. Year Legislation Impact Type of Platform 2018 Introduction of Sweepstakes Model Sweepstakes Casinos 2021 Expansion of Game Varieties Enhanced Sweepstakes Platforms 2023 Regulatory Enhancements Advanced Security Features These updates mean players have more game choices and safer, legal ways to play. The Gambling Legislation FL keeps changing, shaping how Florida enjoys online gambling. It makes sure they play safely and by the law. Florida Sports Betting Current Options The world of Florida Sports Betting is always changing, offering fans many places and events to bet on. Right now, the Hard Rock Bet is the only legal option for online sports bets. Online sportsbooks play a significant role in Florida, providing access to a wide range of markets such as moneylines, futures, and niche props across various sports. These platforms often integrate with other betting options like horse racing, reflecting the evolving landscape of Floridas gambling laws. Betting on the NFL in FL is very popular due to the states love for football. NFL and college football seasons are peak times for betting. For fans of basketball, NBA Wagering Florida offers exciting chances to bet during the NBA season, including both regular and playoff games. But its not just about football and basketball. Florida folks can also bet on MLB and NHL games, appealing to a wide range of fans. Besides major leagues, horse racing and daily fantasy sports are hit betting choices. They provide diverse gambling options in Florida. For the latest news on Florida sports betting, such as new laws and online sites, keep checking out resources like FloridaBet. Why Betwhale Leads Floridas Online Casino Market Market Leader Betwhale shines as the top Leading Online Casino Florida for a few good reasons. They offer many games, use the latest tech, and really care about their customers. All these points help them stay ahead in a very competitive field. With more than 400 slot games, Betwhale makes sure theres something for everyone. They also have a user-friendly mobile app. This app makes playing on the go easy and fun, which is important for gamers in Florida. Betwhale keeps players coming back with great sign-up bonuses and rewards for logging in. Along with top-notch customer service, these perks make Betwhale a favorite in Floridas online casino world. Advantages of Playing at Online Casinos in Florida Online casinos in Florida offer clear benefits. You can play from home anytime, which is really handy. With a wide range of games, you get an enhanced gaming experience. Floridas online platforms also offer special perks and constantly update to keep things exciting. This is why more Floridians are choosing online casinos: Benefit Details Accessibility Play from anywhere in Florida, anytime without the need to travel. Game Variety Access hundreds of games that traditional casinos cant offer, from slot machines to exclusive online table games. Daily Bonuses Enhance your gameplay with daily bonuses and promotions, a staple among Florida online casinos. Social Elements Engage in competitive play with others, make new friends and even participate in tournaments. Safety Regulated online environments providing secure transactions and fair gameplay, safeguarding your interests. Floridas online casinos have many attractive points. Theyre perfect for both new and experienced gamblers. Youll enjoy privacy, customer support, and games tailored just for you. This makes the online experience much better and a favorite among locals. Customer Experience at Florida Online Casinos A great online casino isnt just about games and bonuses its about how players feel while using the platform. The best Florida online casinos combine intuitive design, responsive support, and reliable performance to create a smooth, enjoyable experience from the first login to the last withdrawal. Clear navigation and well-organized menus help players quickly find their favorite titles, while seamless payment systems ensure hassle-free deposits and fast payouts. Each leading site focuses on convenience, trust, and player satisfaction values that separate premium casinos from average ones. How Florida Casinos Ensure Player Satisfaction Top online gambling sites in Florida consistently improve their services by listening to player feedback and upgrading platform performance. 24/7 Live Chat: Support teams resolve issues instantly and professionally. User-Friendly Interface: Clean design and easy access to key features. Fast Loading Speeds: Optimized servers keep games running smoothly. Personalized Promotions: Tailored bonuses based on player activity. Community Features: Sweepstakes, tournaments, and loyalty challenges keep engagement high. Floridas online casinos continue to prove that player experience is just as important as big bonuses or large game libraries and that attention to detail is what keeps users coming back. Payment Methods for Florida Casino Players Floridas online casino sites offer many convenient ways to fund your play. You can choose from modern or traditional methods, enjoying quick and safe crypto transactions or classic banking optionswhatever suits your style. Online Casinos Florida Cryptocurrency Payments Digital currencies are becoming more popular for deposits and cashouts. They offer top-notch security and quick transaction times. This makes them a top choice for tech-savvy players. Debit and Credit Cards Online Casinos Florida Debit and credit cards are widely used for Florida casino payments. They are known for being reliable and easy to use. They make deposits quick and secure. Online Casinos Florida Online Banking and Transfers Online banking and bank transfers are great for direct transactions. Theyre good for big transactions and trusted because they use your bank to transfer funds. Online Casinos Florida E-Wallets E-wallets like PayPal and Skrill offer extra privacy. You dont need to give your banking info to the casino. Theyre loved by players wanting fast fund access and keeping their finances separate. Online Casinos Florida Responsible Gambling and Support Responsible gambling is essential for a safe and enjoyable experience on the best online gambling sites in Florida. As online gambling in Florida grows, players need access to tools that help them stay in control. Top Florida online gambling sites promote healthy habits so everyone can enjoy casino games and sports betting responsibly. Leading gambling sites in Florida offer strong safety features like deposit and time limits, plus self-exclusion options for taking a break. These tools let players manage their sessions and enjoy the best online gambling sites worry-free. Many Florida casinos online also connect players with organizations like the NCPG and gambling help for confidential help. This focus on support shows a true commitment to responsible play. When choosing where to play, look for clear responsible gaming details. The best Florida online casinos make limits and resources easy to findwhether youre using a 3,000 welcome bonus at Ignition or claiming bonuses and promotions at Cafe Casino, safety always comes first. How to Join a Florida Online Casino Starting your adventure in Floridas online casinos is thrilling. The steps to get going are simple and designed for your ease. This guide will help you from the moment you set up your account to making that exciting first bet. 1. Create an Account Begin by visiting the casinos website and find the registration area. Youll need to enter details like your name, address, email, and birthdate. Its important to be accurate to pass the verification step easily. 2. Deposit Funds After your account is ready, its time to put money in it. You can use credit cards, e-wallets, or bank transfers in Florida casinos. Pick the option you like and follow the instructions to add funds. 3. Activate the Welcome Bonus New players often get a welcome bonus. You can get yours by choosing to receive it when you sign up or by using a special code with your first deposit. 4. Start Playing and Enjoy Now, with your account and funds set, dive into the games. Floridas online casinos offer a wide range, from slots to live dealer games. Jump in, place your bets, and enjoy the excitement of online gambling. What Sets Floridas Top Casinos Apart Floridas online casino industry has grown rapidly, but only a few platforms truly stand out for their innovation and player focus. The leading Florida online casinos share several key qualities that keep users returning from fair play and reliability to sleek mobile experiences. These casinos balance variety, safety, and rewards to create the best gaming environments for both new and experienced players. They also understand that modern gamblers want more than just games they want trust, transparency, and a smooth experience from start to finish. Key Factors That Define Floridas Best Casinos The best Florida casino sites all follow the same core principles security, fairness, and rewarding gameplay designed to give players the most reliable experience possible. Security First: Licensed and encrypted systems protect every transaction. Fair Gameplay: Independent testing ensures true random outcomes in all games. Mobile Optimization: Smooth play on Android and iOS devices with full functionality. Rewarding Bonuses: Consistent promotions, loyalty perks, and fair wagering terms. Fast Banking: Multiple payment options, including crypto and instant withdrawals. Player Support: 24/7 customer service available via live chat or email. In 2025, the best Florida casino sites continue to innovate while maintaining player trust. Their commitment to quality ensures that Floridas online gambling market will remain one of the most exciting and respected in the U.S. Emerging Trends in Florida Online Gambling 2025 Floridas online gambling scene is evolving quickly, shaped by new technologies and changing player preferences. With more players joining every month, Florida online casinos are investing in innovation to create a safer, faster, and more immersive gaming experience. Rise of Mobile-First Casinos Most users now prefer playing on their phones rather than desktops. The best online gambling sites in Florida are optimizing their mobile platforms, ensuring smoother performance, faster load times, and easy access to live dealer games and jackpots anywhere you go. Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Integration Digital currencies are becoming a major payment option in Florida casinos. By using blockchain, casinos ensure transparent transactions and provably fair results. These features help build player trust and make real money online casinos more efficient and secure. AI and Personalization Artificial Intelligence is helping sites offer custom bonuses, personalized game suggestions, and smarter player protection tools. This makes the user experience more engaging while maintaining responsible gambling practices. Social and Competitive Play Online tournaments and leaderboards are turning casino gaming into a community experience. Sweepstakes and prize competitions allow players to interact, compete, and enjoy their favorite games in a fun, social way. Floridas gambling market is clearly on the rise. These trends show that the future of Floridas online casinos will focus on convenience, fairness, and cutting-edge technology creating a dynamic space for both casual players and high-rollers alike. Player Security and Fair Play at Florida Online Casinos Florida players want to know their personal and financial details are always protected. The best Florida online casinos use advanced encryption, verified licensing, and independent auditing to ensure fair play for every spin and wager. Security is not just an add-on its a foundation of every trusted gambling site. Data Protection and Encryption Modern online casino sites in Florida rely on SSL encryption, similar to what banks use, to protect all user transactions. These systems prevent unauthorized access and keep both deposits and withdrawals completely safe. Game Fairness and RNG Testing Each reputable Florida casino site uses Random Number Generators (RNGs) tested by third-party auditors. This ensures every slot spin and card draw is fair and random. Players can gamble confidently knowing outcomes are based on verified algorithms, not manipulated results. Account Safety Tips for Players Its smart to take a few precautions when you gamble online. Always enable two-factor authentication, avoid sharing login details, and play only on verified casino domains. These small steps help maintain your privacy and prevent security breaches. Floridas top gambling platforms combine technology, transparency, and player awareness to deliver a fair, safe, and enjoyable experience for everyone. Conclusion Best Online Casinos for Florida Players in 2025 In 2025, Floridas online casino scene looks very bright. Top Florida casinos are now top spots for gamers. They offer great games and care deeply about their players. Betwhale and Raging Bull shine for their game variety, big bonuses, and focus on player satisfaction. This has made Florida a top place for online betting fans. Thanks to new technology, Floridas online casinos are changing the game. They have something for everyone, no matter what games you like. This means a strong, safe, and fun online casino experience is right at your fingertips in Florida. The future of online casinos in Florida is exciting. Players can enjoy everything from slots to table games. So if youre new or have played a lot, Floridas top casinos are ready for you in 2025 and after. Online Casinos Florida FAQ What are the best gambling sites in Florida for 2025? For 2025, Betwhale tops the list of trusted gambling sites in Florida, offering great payouts and smooth play. Raging Bull and Lucky Red follow closely, with top-tier slot selections and strong customer support. Do real money online casinos operate legally in Florida? At this time, real money online casinos are not officially regulated in the state. However, Florida players can enjoy legal online sweepstakes casinos like Betwhale or DuckyLuck, which offer similar gameplay with virtual currency. Which online gambling sites have the best bonuses and promotions? Betwhale and Lucky Red lead among online gambling sites with generous welcome offers and ongoing bonuses and promotions. These deals include free spins, deposit matches, and VIP rewards that boost player value. Can I play live dealer games or access an online sportsbook in Florida? Yes, several platforms provide live dealer games and limited access to an online sportsbook through social and sweepstakes models. Players can enjoy blackjack, roulette, and sports picks safely on licensed sites. What are the best gambling sites Florida 2025 for casual and experienced players? The best gambling sites Florida 2025 include Betwhale, Raging Bull, and BetUS, each featuring user-friendly layouts and fast withdrawals. They remain favorites for both casual players and serious bettors seeking reliable platforms. Cranberry harvest festival held in Fuyuan, NE China's Heilongjiang Xinhua) 08:55, September 22, 2025 Cranberries are pictured at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) The 4,200 mu (280 hectares) of cranberries at a planting base in the city have entered the harvest season recently. In recent years, Fuyuan has been focused on developing its cranberry industry. It has established a large-scale cranberry planting base and built up a full industrial chain which includes a cranberry research and development center, cold-chain warehouses, and processing workshops. The development of the local cranberry industry has helped improve local farmers' employment and income. Cranberries are pictured at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 21, 2025 shows workers harvesting cranberries using flooding techniques at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Workers harvest cranberries at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) A Russian tourist takes photos at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) A worker harvests cranberries using flooding techniques at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) A flower is pictured at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Workers harvest cranberries using flooding techniques at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 21, 2025 shows workers harvesting cranberries using flooding techniques at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Cranberries are pictured at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Workers harvest cranberries using flooding techniques at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 21, 2025 shows workers harvesting cranberries using flooding techniques at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) Security leader: Michael Lashlee, CSO In 2022 Mastercard launched its Security Conference Initiative to emphasize the importance of secure coding practices. The goal was to teach software developers to create more secure, resilient software by embedding security within the software development lifecycle. Founded by the companys Security Champions, members of the Secure Software Development Lifecycle team, and the Business Security Enablement Guild, the initiative a periodic event engages developers through hands-on experiences such as interactive coding challenges and live attack simulations to enhance their secure coding skills and raise their awareness of secure software development lifecycle principles. Additionally, it fosters collaboration between the software development community and security teams, promotes shared responsibility for security, builds technical expertise, and drives cultural change. The biggest benefit is scaling the culture of security by providing an all-hands-towards-secure-coding interactive learning experience, says Swarali Kulkarni, lead product owner at Mastercard. Kulkarni notes that the conference covers a wide range of topics, from executive briefings and industry insights to workshops and competitive tournaments, creating a well-rounded and impactful experience for everyone involved. The initiative leans on Secure Code Warrior and Cyberange training platforms to deliver a gamified experience, which has both measurable and required minimal time commitments (two days, with three to four hours each day). The platforms support more than 50 programming languages and provide a range of metrics to assess secure coding accuracy, monitor learning hours, track the number of code flaws resolved, and more. To date, there have been five conferences, each attended by more than 400 participants from Mastercards software development community. Each conference is specifically tailored for programs within Mastercard that express interest in participating, Kulkarni says. Penn Medicine modernizes it threat detection program Organization: Penn Medicine Project: Cyber Threat Detection Overhaul Security leader: Julian Mihai, CTO Penn Medicine had installed a top-of-the-line security information and event management (SIEM) solution nearly a decade ago, but the security team recognized a few years ago that the on-premises system could no longer match the speed at which attacks now evolve. Now threats can change by the hour, so detection very quickly is paramount today. That was the driver to rethink and retool our detection technology, says CTO Julian Mihai. Mihai and his team implemented a new cloud-based SIEM solution in 2024, deploying an innovative constellation of MITRE ATT&CK models to guide strategic and tactical direction of the threat detection program. It was a complete redesign, and everything that was legacy was decommissioned, Mihai says. Jesse Whyte, director of cybersecurity defense, says the initiative required changes not only in the technology but in people and processes, too. Security staff had to be trained to adopt a threat intelligence first approach that focused on evolving threats and how to use new threat intelligence for detection. The security team also had to implement the right governance to prevent unnecessarily quarantining a critical system. And they had to ensure the egress pipelines could support the volume of data going to the cloud-based SIEM solution. The biggest challenge was managing spend, [as a] modern SIEM solutions license is based on the amount of data that is ingested. We needed to create a data-ingestion layer that provided opportunities for us to prune data as it entered the data lake, all while increasing the overall consumption and managing the run-rate of the project, Whyte explains. The cloud-native SIEM solution and Penn Medicines modernized security operations have delivered impressive results. The team now works seamlessly with its managed security service provider to ensure 24/7 coverage and it has been freed to work higher in the stack, Whyte says, as AI and automation handle routine incidents and tasks. Critically, the security teams time to detect and time to contain have been drastically slashed, with PennMed reporting improvements of more than 550% for each. Organization: TIAA Project: HUNT (Hyper-Automated Unified Network Threat Hunting) Security leader: Sastry Durvasula, Chief Operating, Information, and Digital Officer Security leaders at TIAA formally review and refresh their priorities every year as part of the companys 3-year-old Cyber 2.0 initiative. In 2024, they decided to focus on enhancing their use of artificial intelligence to counter cyberthreats that were increasingly fueled by AI. The result: a new capability called Hyper-Automated Unified Network Threat Hunting. HUNT reduces the risk of undetected threats using innovative AI and machine learning models with a 60-minute maximum detection time. It is built on existing commercial tools with tailored telemetry collection that consolidates suspicious activity across TIAAs cloud infrastructure. HUNT goes after what Sastry Durvasula, TIAAs chief operating, information, and digital officer, calls sleeper cells those threats that hide in an environment, sending signals back to threat actors and waiting for them to activate an attack. Durvasula, who oversees security, points out how difficult these threats are to detect and how much manual work has traditionally been needed to identify them in an enterprise environment. Durvasula and his team saw AI as key to reducing that manual work and boosting effectiveness and efficiency. With no commercial solution that met TIAAs needs available, TIAA built its own. TIAA teams designed the tool in 2024, building and training the AI/ML models to look for patterns that indicate threats. HUNT, which sits on top of existing tools and uses industry tools, including MITRE ATT&CK framework, notifies an analyst when it detects a threat so the analyst can deactivate the threat. Rolled out in early 2025, HUNT now reduces the time and resources needed to detect and remediate. It significantly strengthens our cyber posture, Durvasula says, adding that he and his team plan to add more automation and intelligence, including generative AI, with the goal of using agentic AI to fully automate threat detection and response. Walmart enlists AI to proactively identify branded phishing sites at scale Organization: Walmart Project: Phishface Security leader: Jerry Geisler, EVP and CISO Identifying true threats from the large volume of signals is a challenge familiar to most security functions. To address this, Walmarts Cyber Intelligence (CI) team created Phishface, a proprietary phishing detection machine learning model trained to identify webpages visually similar to Walmart-branded login pages. The volume and influx of brand-abuse websites that were manually processed by the CI team is what initiated the project, says Jason ODell, vice president of security operations. The CI team built a model that would ingest a feed of domains/websites and identify business-branded websites that could be further fed into detective controls. Once the POC was completed, the CI team transferred Phishface to the SecOps Dev team. The primary function of the project was to reduce the volume of signals for probable threats, aiding analysts in identifying potentially harmful and brand-abusing websites, ODell explains, adding that it has delivered a substantial increase in analyst efficiency and effectiveness. In the past, analysts faced an overwhelming volume of information that was nearly impossible to review in a timely manner. This project rendered that flow of data into a manageable volume, allowing a small team of analysts to efficiently provide timely reviews, he adds. The project reduced the number of items by approximately 98.5% on average, enabling analysts to redirect their efforts to higher-priority strategic activities. It has also achieved a 98% level of accuracy, directly enhancing analyst productivity and resource allocation, says Gavin Clark, group director of security operations, threat detection. Phishface is having a significant impact, ODell says, giving the organization the ability to identify malicious sites quickly, at scale, and feeding that data to other detective controls for near real-time actions. Such a model can analyze web pages rapidly, screen thousands of webpages continuously and adapt to new phishing pages without manual updates. In short, it is shifting detection posture from reactive cleanup to proactive prevention. The Irish government has appointed Niamh Sweeney as a new member of the Data Protection Commission (DPC), the countrys data protection commission, which also has the main responsibility in the EU for monitoring that the big tech giants comply with European data protection laws. The appointment has been met with harsh criticism from Noyb, an organization that in recent years has reported several technology companies that are considered not to take personal privacy seriously. The criticism centers on the fact that Niamh Sweeney has previously been a lobbyist for Meta, a company that has violated EU laws and regulations on several occasions. 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. 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Traveloka has unveiled discounts up to 60 per cent across Bali, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore - but you'll need to act fast. From now until September 24, the popular travel app is running a three-day flash sale, giving Aussie holidaymakers the chance to book luxury hotels at hostel prices. In Bali, deals include the tranquil Alam Kawi Ubud Resort & Spa. Rated 'Exceptional' by 374 reviews, the peaceful resort is just $28 per night in the sale. For a truly luxe holiday, the iconic Discovery Kartika Plaza Bali, a five-star oceanfront resort in Kuta set on 10 hectares with direct beach access, three restaurants, a spa and its own shopping mall. The hotel, rated 8.7 out of 10 by over 2,200 reviews, starts from $134 per night. Enjoy a luxurious private pool room at The Arden Villa Uluwatu from just $138 per night. Dreaming of a Southeast Asian escape? Travel app Traveloka has just launched in Australia and to celebrate, has dropped a flash sale on hotels with rooms for as little as $28 a night Enjoy a luxurious private pool room at The Arden Villa Uluwatu from just $138 per night Those seeking a lively Legian vibe can opt for J4 Hotels Legian, a four-star stay with a rooftop pool, in the heart of Kuta's dining and nightlife strip, for just $46 per night. For something more tranquil, Watermark Hotel & Spa Bali in Jimbaran is a family-friendly four-star property boasting two outdoor pools, Japanese and international restaurants, and a spa. Sale prices start from $135 per night. Thailand is just as tempting, with jaw-dropping discounts available. Bangkok's The Bazaar Hotel, a five-star property perfectly located for shopping holidays, is just $59 a night. For a truly luxe holiday, the iconic Discovery Kartika Plaza Bali, a five-star oceanfront resort in Kuta starts from $134 per night Value-seekers can check into VIC 3 Bangkok, a 3.5-star hotel near Sanam Pao BTS Skytrain station with an outdoor pool and gym that makes city exploring easy, for just $59 per night. For those who want a central stay, the Mandarin Hotel Managed by Centre Point delivers four-star comfort with a lagoon-style pool, spa facilities and a reputation as one of Bangkok's most convenient bases. Rooms booked during the sale period start from $82 per night. Vietnam is also on sale, including the chic Maison De Camille Boutique Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Thailand is just as tempting, with jaw-dropping discounts available on city escapes and beachside resorts With just 22 rooms, rooftop terraces and a serene Binh Thanh district location, this four-star hotel blends intimacy with stylish design. Rooms are priced from $86 per night during the flash sale. Travellers can also opt for the Cochin Zen Hotel, a contemporary four-star stay in District 1 with a rooftop pool, sauna and close proximity to Ben Thanh Market, from $106 per night. Vien Dong Hotel, a long-standing three-star favourite offers simple, comfortable rooms and a fitness centre right in the heart of the action, for $63 a night. Vietnam is also on sale, including the chic Maison De Camille Boutique Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City for just $86 per night The flash sale also extends to Singapore, with central city stays included ideal for anyone wanting to explore the Lion City's hawker culture, shopping and iconic skyline for less. The One Farrer Hotel, a five-star resort rated 'Exceptional' and averaging a nine out of 10 rating from over 1,600 reviews, is priced from $278 per night. Traveloka, founded in Indonesia in 2012, has since expanded to Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines. Cochin Zen Hotel is a contemporary four-star stay in District 1 with a rooftop pool, sauna and close proximity to Ben Thanh Market, from $106 per night With more than 140 million app downloads and nearly 50 million active users each month, it's one of the region's leading travel apps. Traveloka's mission is to make travel smarter, easier and more affordable. Whether it's Bali's beaches, Bangkok's buzz or a boutique retreat in Ho Chi Minh City, these flash sale deals mean you'll pay up to 60 per cent less. But be quick: the sale ends at midnight on September 24. The use of hostages as a weapon of war has been the tactic of tyrants and psychopaths down the ages. Under international law it ranks as both a war crime and a crime against humanity. As a human rights lawyer, Sir Keir Starmer should be the first to denounce this loathsome practice. Instead, he is effectively rewarding it. By recognising an imaginary Palestinian state yesterday, he was playing into the hands of Hamas, the terror group whose primary aim is to wipe Israel off the map. International recognition of Palestine is viewed by its leaders as no more than a first step towards that goal. Sir Keir speaks of a two-state solution. What they want is a one-state solution an Islamic state with no Jews. Hamas began this latest war by massacring nearly 1,200 Israelis and abducting some 250 more. Almost two years on, up to 48 of those hostages remain entombed in tunnels and bunkers under Gaza. With his usual sanctimony Sir Keir says recognising Palestine is a moral duty. But what could be a greater moral duty than securing the release of these starved and brutalised captives from their subterranean dungeons? Keir Starmer recognised a state of Palestine yesterday, speaking of a two-state solution to the conflict with Israel Until they or their bodies are returned there can be no peace and no justice. Sir Keir must surely realise that. Would he have been so keen to make this announcement if the hostages had been British? Yes, he calls for their immediate release but cravenly fails to make it a condition of Palestinian recognition. He also says this future state will be ruled by a reformed Palestinian Authority from which Hamas will be excluded. But who does he think will keep them out? Whats to stop them creating a new group with a different name but similar personnel and ambitions? Meanwhile the other main Palestinian party, Fatah, which currently governs about 40 per cent of the West Bank, has not held legislative elections for two decades and is hopelessly corrupt. Scarcely a solid foundation for statehood. There is also a strong sense of the absurd about recognising a state which doesnt exist. Who will set its boundaries? Will it be forcibly cleansed of all Jews? The suggestion is that it should be based on the territory occupied by Israel following the Six-Day War in 1967, principally Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. But those areas were held for strategic reasons after Israels neighbours tried to obliterate it in the course of two bitter wars. Who can guarantee they will never try again? Furthermore, Gaza has had de facto self-government since Israeli forces pulled out in 2005, but Hamas turned it into a terrorist state dedicated to the destruction of the Jewish state. These are not inherently peaceful people. The truth is that this was not a moral decision by Sir Keir but a cynical political one. He is desperate to appease his partys large Muslim vote, which has been shifting towards pro-Palestinian independents. In doing so, however, he is pandering to the sort of sectarianism which is common in the Middle East and parts of Asia and Africa but is in direct conflict with our liberal democracy. Who knows what genie he may be letting out of the bottle. But perhaps the greatest criticism of this misguided policy change is that it will achieve nothing while alienating one of our most important allies and reducing access to its world-class intelligence services. Everyone wants an end to the appalling suffering in Gaza, but this announcement is not the way to go about it. Sir Keir claims it will revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution. In fact, both are now further away and the lives of the surviving hostages hang by an even more slender thread. Starmers deal with Mauritius over the Chagos Islands was one of the most idiotic in human history. He handed over 35 billion of our money to rent a base on Diego Garcia, for which a previous British government had already paid more than 50 years ago. There was no compulsion under international law to pay the Mauritians a penny. Nonetheless, egged on by his friend and fellow human rights lawyer, Attorney General Lord Hermer, he dug into our pockets and those of our children and grandchildren. What utter, mind-boggling lunacy. Starmer, Hermer and their friend Philippe Sands, KC (who actually acted for the Mauritius government!) believe that in any confrontation between Britain and its former colonies, the former colonies must always be right. We are almost certainly heading for another row which will make the Chagos Islands payout look like small change. This time if Starmer, Hermer and Sands get their way we will be paying huge sums in reparations to a future Palestinian state. Starmer yesterday announced Britains unconditional recognition of such a state. This decision will embolden Hamas terrorists, and dismay the Trump administration. Israel will be apoplectic, and may withhold valuable intelligence it shares with this country. Yet, as Justice Minister and former Foreign Secretary David Lammy conceded yesterday, recognition will do nothing to end the fighting and wont save a single human life in Gaza. For all these reasons, the Governments decision at this moment is profoundly foolish, and just what you would expect of a Prime Minister who is not so much out of his depth as up a creek without a paddle. Sir Keir Starmer officially recognised a Palestine state on Sunday Foreign Secretary David Lammy admitted that recognising a Palestinian state will do nothing to end the fighting Probably the most egregious upshot of Starmers announcement is that it will take us a step closer to shelling out billions or even trillions of pounds to a future Palestinian state for alleged human rights abuses during what is known as the British Mandate. Britain ruled the territory of Palestine from 1917 until 1947, and struggled without success to hold the ring between Arabs and a growing number of Jewish immigrants. Our government proposed a two-state solution and then changed its mind in favour of a single state. Eventually, unable to broker any permanent solution, we left. During the mandate, Britain was intermittently at odds with both Palestinians and Jews. In the late 1930s Arab extremists were responsible for the deaths of about 130 of our servicemen. A similar number were killed later by Jewish terrorists in the dying days of the mandate. It is undeniable that the British authorities acted harshly towards some Palestinian militants in the so-called Arab Revolt between 1936 to 1939, though they had of course been provoked. But not even the most deluded anti-colonialist or ignorant human rights lawyer could justly claim that Britain profited from its mandate. History is now being rewritten to suit an anti-imperialist narrative. President Mahmoud Abbas in charge of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank since 2005 has demanded reparations in accordance with international law from Britain, partly for land lost by Palestinians. Abbas has previously threatened to sue Britain if it doesnt apologise for the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which set out its intention to create a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine as long as the civil and religious rights of Arabs werent prejudiced. One could certainly argue that the British failed to protect the rights of Palestinians. But it is absurd to present the Balfour Declaration as an historical crime that necessitates the kind of compensation Abbas has been demanding at the UN. Note that Mahmoud Abbas is the leader of the prototype state that our hopeless Government is now recognising. It wont be long before hes on the phone to his new partner Starmer, insisting on an apology from HMG for past sins, plus a substantial down payment while lawyers calculate the final required amount. Abbas wont be short of human rights lawyers in this country to help him. A group called Britain Owes Palestine is calling for an apology for alleged war crimes committed during the mandate, and of course for accompanying payments. A week ago, it published a 400-page document drafted by senior human rights barristers detailing incontrovertible evidence of what is described as the UKs unlawful occupation of Palestine and its systematic abuse of the Palestinian people. Ben Emmerson, KC, who is a former UN special rapporteur on human rights and counter terrorism, has spoken of the extent of British responsibility for the terrible suffering in Palestine and of this countrys international obligations to make amends. How much money might be involved? No figure has yet been specified, but according to some legal experts the bill for having ruled Palestine could be as much as 2 trillion, which is getting on for double the entire UK public spending for one year. Theres more. The American Society of International Law and the University of the West Indies claims that Britain owes a staggering 18.8 trillion in compensation for slavery and colonialism throughout the world. It is all preposterous, of course. Do these people seriously maintain that colonialism was a one-way street in which Britain took everything and gave nothing back? What about parliamentary government, the rule of law, the introduction of Christianity, modern medicine and much else? Unfortunately, Labour has encouraged a queue of avaricious petitioners. David Lammy once supported calls for reparations for slavery, while Lord Hermer reportedly helped human rights lawyers a decade ago to prepare a legal case for slavery reparations that Caribbean nations could bring against the UK. Our witless Prime Minister has strayed into another hornets nest. Does he so hate this country and its past that he is eager to crawl on all fours to Abbas, or whoever happens to be leading the nascent Palestinian state, with a huge cheque in his hand? In principle, I support the idea of recognising a Palestinian state, but only when there is something that can be sized up before it is recognised. Is it viable? Will it be peaceful and live in a state of harmony with Israel? Will it be a threat to the West? And, no less important, will it portray itself as the victim of imagined British wickedness, and attempt to bamboozle the Government into giving it billions of pounds we dont have? When the answers to all these questions are the ones we seek, lets go ahead and recognise Palestine as a state. As things stand, we are very far from having the necessary assurances. We dont even know what we are recognising. The Chagos Islands were bad enough. Now our blundering and no doubt historically ignorant Prime Minister has edged us closer to paying much greater sums to a Palestinian state, although our only crime was to try to keep the peace. A man on a mission to try McDonald's from around the world has shared some of the wild and wacky things he's come across during his quest. Daniel Wong, 34, has been filming his journey of eating at the fast-food chain for almost four years - and has tasted some truly unique menu items. The Vancouver-native has documented his endeavor on his YouTube and TikTok accounts, detailing the strangest foods he's eaten from the 20 locations he's visited so far. He told the Daily Mail: 'I used to check the menu and just see if anything is cool, [but] my mission has expanded now and the world must know.' Wong said he has always loved traveling and sees dining at McDonald's a way to 'understand local culture and taste' of the places he visits. 'Also, I think the brand is large, so its something people around the world can connect with,' he added. 'Its hard to compare sushi to pizza, but comparing McDonald's has a golden arch standard.' Wong has come across a variety of menu items in his world tour, from macaroni soup in Hong Kong to curry in the United Arab Emirates. Daniel Wong, 34, has been documenting his journey of eating at McDonald's across the globe for almost four years 'Hong Kong has macaroni soup in a chicken broth with your breakfast sausage and eggs,' he revealed. '[In the United Arab Emirates] they cut up a crispy chicken patty and put it on rice and drizzled a curry sauce. Very strange... for Mcdonald's,' Wong continued. Wong said there have been some dishes he wishes he could bring back to his local chain - revealing the seafood served in some countries is high quality in comparison to their North American counterparts. 'In some Asian countries like Singapore, Korea, and Japan they have the Ebi Filet-O [with] real shrimp inside, its light and not too oily,' he explained. 'I always pick that up when I am in the area.' 'For dessert, the limited menu item in Japan [called] Sankaku Choco Pie is the best,' he raved. 'Its almost impossible to [get] in Japan [because] it shows up intermittently... so if you see it, pick one up for me too.' The worst menu item was closer to home - a McLobster Wong had in Ontario, Canada. 'I like lobster, so it was a shock when it tasted a bit more fishy than I had expected,' he admitted. For anyone wanting to venture overseas for different taste, Wang recommends visiting Hong Kong or Japan. The Vancouver-native, 34, tries a pasta dish in Hong Kong - one of the 20 locations he's visited Wong, seen in Japan, says trying the chain abroad is a way to 'understand local culture' The content creator has documented his endeavor on his YouTube and TikTok accounts 'I will be going to South East Asia again next year, and that area has the most unique menus,' he added. Most recently, Wang visited McDonald's in Poland, where he was pleasantly surprised at the meni. 'I got the cottage cheese cucumber breakfast McMuffin,' he shared, describing it as tasting like 'cream cheese for bodybuilders.' However, it was the coffee that Wang particularly enjoyed. 'They mixed their vanilla shake with coffee and it's the best drink I've had in McDonald's,' he declared. A dark, boiling pit where sinners burn in eternal flames - suffering the same torment they meted out to victims on earth - may sound like a vignette from Dante's Inferno, but this is the scene witnessed by a man who claims he has been to hell. Bryan W. Melvin was 22 years old when he 'died' for four hours and, more than four decades later, he remains convinced that the 'hot, vile and awful-smelling' place he visited was the realm of Satan. Fighting back tears, Bryan, 67, told the Daily Mail how he saw Adolf Hitler being punished in flame-filled ovens, and how he believed he would remain in hell himself permanently to atone for his earthly sins. His testimony will seem incredible to many but Bryan, from Fort Collins, Colorado, a former atheist whose experience led him to become an evangelical Christian, is adamant he was judged by Jesus Christ and sent to perdition after 'dying' from cholera. Bryan was working at a construction site in Tucson, Arizona, when he mistakenly drank polluted water containing 'rust-coloured algae'. 'I found out after I got taken to hospital that I had contracted cholera, along with some type of neurotoxin from the algae, plus a form of dysentery,' Bryan recalled. But he didn't receive this diagnosis until a day later. He was sent home from work and became so unwell that his housemates wanted to take him to hospital - which he refused. Two days later, when his friends organised a trip out of town, Bryan briefly felt better and encouraged them to leave him alone. 'And then after they left,' Bryan continued, 'it all hit me again. I managed to crawl back into the bedroom and on to the bed - and that's when I died.' Bryan W. Melvin, 67, said he died for four hours and went to hell after falling ill with cholera Bryan's supernatural experience began with him emerging from his physical body and 'floating above' it before leaving through the ceiling. Scientists are not entirely sure why some have near-death experiences but it has been suggested they are brought on by physiological changes in the brain, sometimes caused by lack of oxygen. Altered states of consciousness, which may manifest as vivid sensory perceptions such as seeing bright lights and feeling detached from the body, can then occur. Research by Dr Donna Thomas, from the University of Lancashire, showed that most 'will report very blissful experiences' - which is how Bryan's began. 'I took my last breath, I'm floating above my body, then went through the ceiling,' he explained. 'I was more alive than I am now, going through this dark void, heading toward this light. And I was hearing this beautiful music.' Bryan, who said he was a vehement atheist in his youth despite being brought up by Christian parents, added: 'The singing was in a different language but I understood every word.' Bryan, with his late wife Sharon soon after they married in 1988, was an atheist and used to argue with Christians. After his experience, he became an evangelical Bryan said he was presented with snippets of his life. He saw the ways in which God helped and saved him, all the while feeling happy and pain-free. But this idyllic scene would soon be replaced by something much more sinister. 'I did not realise I was heading toward a reckoning and that God's love was getting ready to judge me,' he admitted. Bryan was then shown all his sinful behaviour over the years - which included stealing, backstabbing and openly mocking Christianity. He said he came face-to-face with a being he immediately understood to be Jesus and that he was told he was going to an 'overwhelming' place. He was warned: 'An option for your return is yet to be decided.' Bryan said: 'I was facing judgment and I couldn't get out. I was lifted up next, and the wall of this place of darkness opened up like a scroll. 'I went through it and I found myself in a hideous tunnel. It was like being inside a tornado. It was hot, vile, smelled awful. And I could hear laughter, slurping noises, screams, shrieks.' Bryan said he realised that where he was going was 'not a good place' - but while he expected to see 'devils, pitchforks and flames', what he actually encountered was a 'house on a hill'. People came out of the house to greet him, fooling Bryan into thinking he was not in a hellish place at all, but the atmosphere quickly began to change. He said: 'I found myself surrounded by hideous-looking creatures. There were lizard-looking things, there were all kinds of foul-looking beings. 'This entity walked over to what looked like the horizon and he ripped it open like a veil, and I remember this plainly. Bryan, from Colorado in the US, travels the country talking about his life-changing experience 'The heat came in and hit me, and he stood up and motioned for me to come out of this place. So I stepped out of it and I realised I was in a cube, a square cube, a cell.' He described being inside a circular pit and seeing cells stacked six high. There were red, molten rocks and the stench - sulphur mixed with rotting and decay - was all-consuming. 'People were inside the cells and they were receiving just recompense,' Bryan said, adding that those who were suffering the worst punishments were lower down in the meandering structure. He saw people suffering the precise torments they had meted out in their lifetime. 'It was like the demons were taunting people that were trapped inside these cubes,' Bryan explained. 'They would enact things they did in their life. 'Some of them were being beaten up, but the more mental torture people were going through was worse.' Among those he saw in hell, Bryan said, were Hitler and Reinhard Heydrich, who was one of the architects of the 'final solution' that led to the Holocaust in the 1940s. 'Adolf Hitler, he was in a cell full of fire, burning,' Bryan recalled. 'He was the one burning in the ovens.' At this point, the present-day evangelist had no idea that he was going to emerge from what he has no doubt was hell. 'I had no idea I was going to come out of it,' he said. 'This was my permanent home. I knew I deserved this place. I was totally without hope.' But Bryan's story didn't end there - and it's what happened next that he credits with changing his life and turning him into a Christian who spends much of his life proselytising. Bryan said he feared he would never escape from the place he understood to be hell While he believed he was going to be locked in a cell for eternity, Bryan said that he suddenly felt someone behind him. He identified them as being Jesus on account of the holes in his wrists, which he is convinced were caused by the crucifixion, and said that he was 'rescued'. Visibly emotional, Bryan explained: 'He carried me out of there and I wept like I've never cried before.' Bryan revealed how he experienced some resistance, with some entities trying to deceive him into going back into hell. But Jesus intervened. 'He blew on me and I went backwards, and I went back through the black void, and floated into my body feet first,' he said. Bryan, who believes he was 'dead' between 11:50am and 3:50pm, awoke in Tuscon Hospital in excruciating pain after being found 'ice cold' in his house. 'I recall [the neighbour] saying things like "hang in there",' Bryan said. 'I was bent over in agony with my head banging against the glove box. I found myself floating above the truck and then back into my body and out and back several times.' He recalled doctors saying his 'blood was viscous' and having an oxygen mask placed on his face. Bryan added that he was admitted to the hospital with 'the beginning stages of rigor mortis' and that his skin lacked elasticity and was covered with bluish blotches. He said: 'I had a watch nurse in the room and at intervals [she was] squeezing an IV solution bag with its tube and needle hooked into my arm.' Bryan revealed he still suffers health issues today and has had relapses over the years, which led him to contact the hospital in the mid-1990s for his records. He explained: 'I was told the records were on microfiche and that after ten years were destroyed. He has recounted his experience in a 2005 book titled 'A Land Unknown: Hell's Dominion' 'All I have is what I wrote down about cholera, neurotoxin, some type of dysentery.' Bruce Greyson, one of the worlds leading near-death experience researchers, estimates that only around 11 to 22 per cent of people go through the sensation. Bryan believes the reason he was 'brought back' was 'to warn people' of what is at stake for those who choose to live in sin. After his recovery, and following moments when Bryan descended back into old, destructive behaviours such as drinking too much alcohol or smoking cannabis, he realised that he had to pick a new path. 'I just said, "Lord Jesus, I never want to go back to that awful place",' he recalled. '[I said to God] take me, I'm yours. You know, I owe you my life. 'That's what I said. And it was from that moment, something changed.' Bryan, who in 2005 published A Land Unknown: Hell's Dominion recounting his experience, today travels around the US as an evangelical, speaking at churches and joining prayer meetings. 'People's lives have been shattered by life, they're broken, they're battered, they're bruised, and we help pray and help them walk through that,' he concluded. 'That's what we're supposed to do as Christians.' 'Bully Hunter' Dr. James McGibney has claimed that he would have been able to unmask the mom who catfished her own daughter for years in just a matter of minutes, while also revealing a shocking truth about the ordeal. Kendra Licardi, 44, from Michigan, served more than a year behind bars after she pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking a minor. In shocking scenes that are laid bare in Netflix documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, she sent her teenage daughter, Lauryn, and her then-boyfriend, Owen McKenny, 'hundreds of thousands' of abusive and aggressive messages. Kendra was only caught when cops traced an IP address for the phone number to her. 'Bully Hunter' Dr James, a cyber security expert, has helped hundreds of victims of cybercrime over the years and has made it his mission to help bring online perpetrators to justice. Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail ahead of the release of his own A&E special, Bully Hunter, Dr James weighed in on the case and declared 'it would have taken me 15 minutes' to find the perpetrator. Identifying where law enforcement went wrong, he claimed they didn't take the case seriously. He also argued that parents bullying their children, especially anonymously, is more common than you might expect. 'I don't think they were serious enough about it initially, to be honest,' he said. 'Bully Hunter' Dr. James McGibney has weighed in on the mom who catfished her own daughter Kendra Licardi (pictured) cyberbullied her daughter Lauryn and is the subject of the Netflix documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish 'When it comes to the real world, if you're dealing with a real-world stalker that is showing up to your house on a daily basis, the police are going to get involved and are probably going to arrest that person. 'When it's done online, some police are just not equipped to understand the intricacies of that.' Dr James also said that he has seen many cases of mothers' catfishing their daughters. 'A lot of people are shocked that a mother would do that to her daughter, but I deal with that a lot,' he said. 'I deal with mothers who are not happy with who their daughters are dating so they go after the boyfriend, and they'll make up stuff about the guy and they do that to their kids. 'You'd be shocked how much of a bully a parent can be, not only to their own kids, but to other kids.' Dr James has helped numerous victims of cyberbullying, who have reached out after exhausting official means, such as hiring lawyers and trying to file restraining orders. In his new A&E documentary film, he is contacted by former elementary schoolteacher Rebecca, a cyberbullying victim whose life is turned upside down when nude photos she took almost two decades ago aged 18, resurface. Licardi, 44, from Michigan served more than a year behind bars after she pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking a minor She sent her teenage daughter 'hundreds of thousands' of abusive and aggressive messages Rebecca was forced to quit her job in humiliation after a link to her X-rated photos were sent to her fellow colleagues. His mission: to find the perpetrator and get the images removed. In the documentary, Dr James manages to track down the initial perpetrator who took the photographs and put them online, and a second perpetrator who shared the images on other sites. Dr James was able to uncover their identities by meticulously digging through their digital footprint and using data aggravator sites. He explained: 'So, I always say that everyone has a digital footprint, you just have to find it. Dr James brings cyberbullies to justice and uncovers their identities by digging through their digital footprint and using data aggravator sites Ex-schoolteacher Rebecca seeks Dr James's help to remove X-rated photos from the internet 'I just started to dig, and I knew they would have made just one mistake, somewhere where they would have used a handle that would have something identifying and I would be able to figure out. 'And, sure enough, I was able to go back to one post that was made in 2005 on a very obscure website. Once I found that handle, it was game over.' Dr James hopes that his new film will bring attention to just how brutal online harassment can be and how it can implode so many lives. 'When the system fails victims, I come in and give them that restorative justice that they desperately need and deserve,' he added. Bully Hunter premieres Tuesday, September 23 at 10pm ET/PT on A&E. Carbone is known as one of the most star-studded restaurants in New York City Carbone, a posh Italian American restaurant in New York where dishes come with a hefty price tag, has arrived in London - but restaurant critics have slated the food at the highly anticipated opening as 'inedible' and 'silly'. Founded by chef and restaurateur Mario Carbone, alongside his partners Jeff Zalaznick and Rich Torrisi, Carbone's Mayfair chapter is one of the most highly-anticipated additions to the capital's restaurant scene this year. However, reviews from The Times, The Standard and Infatuation suggest the restaurant, which includes a 98 lasagne among the slew of expensive dishes on its menu, is far more about style than substance. The famed eatery first opened in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood of New York in 2013, and is known for attracting a near-constant stream of celebrities, with its patrons including Justin and Hailey Bieber, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, almost every member of the Kardashian family, Adele, and more. Carbone also appears in the Michelin Guide, which describes it as an 'ever-so-stylish' place to dine with a 'striking interior and smartly dressed servers who work the floor with a bit of flirt and flair'. But while the eatery boasts its reputation as the Big Apple's most sought-after reservation, it seems that diners across the pond may not be as swift to get a booking in. Writing for The Evening Standard, David Ellis describing dishes like the 67 veal marsala as being so 'absent' of flavour that he 'momentarily wondered if Covid was back doing the rounds'. Elsewhere, he had found that the 54 lobster ravioli was 'characterless' while describing the restaurant's famous spicy rigatoni vodka, which will set customers back by 29, as being covered in 'a tomato sauce he thinks he last had with spaghetti hoops'. Carbone has arrived in London, marking its first European outpost, and is bringing New York's glamour and celebrity status to Mayfair One of the defining characteristics of the original Carbone is the service, with many patrons describing it as 'impeccable'. However, this was lacking during David's time there, as he wrote that it was 'patchy', despite the waiter's best efforts. 'In the end you remember youre in a chain, Pizza Express with the lights down,' he added. The Times' Charlotte Ivers had further branded the 46 chicken scarpariello as 'inedible', adding that the dish contained mushrooms of a texture 'so viscerally disgusting that she gagged'. However, while there were dishes that she had been more fond of - such as the 31 Caesar salad, made tableside - she felt the venue was 'not about the food'. 'That should have been clear when Victoria Beckham walked in: this is not a restaurant for people who like eating,' the critic concluded. For The Infatuation, writer Jake Missing also tried the veal marsala, which is described as 'serviceable' - but he had characterised the whole restaurant as 'silly'. 'Should you hone in on the food, Carbone wont insult you, although elements of it will whelm,' he penned. 'The famous spicy rigatoni stands up, while a bowl of salty calamari with butter sauce is virtually inedible. Jeff Zalaznick (left) and Chef Mario Carbone, seen attending the grand opening of Carbone in Mayfair 'The majority of the menu is served on a trolley by the troupe of sing-song staff, and the room feels like Grosvenor Square Grand Prix at times. 'For dinner and a show, head to the West End. For a show with some dinner, go to Carbone.' Customers can expect to easily spend more than 100 per person when dining at the latest opening, which is located just a stone's throw away from luxury hotel Claridge's and right next to yet another luxury hotel, The Chancery Rosewood. In an interview with the FT, co-founder Jeff declared: 'I always said we can't open more than 10 minutes' walk from Claridge's. 'We spend all our time in Mayfair. And a restaurant that serves the kind of food we do at the price point we serve it - more than 100 per person - can only exist here.' 'But finding an incredible spot in Mayfair isn't easy,' he said, adding: 'You can't get better than this.' He also told Tatler that the restaurant's location in the building that used to house the American Embassy held 'such significance to what they do, creating New York-style, Italian-American food'. 'That corner, that block - we couldn't ask for more, it's just a perfect place,' he remarked. The new Italian American restaurant is located just a stone's throw away from luxury hotel Claridge's, in the building that used to house the American Embassy Mario said British produce will be front and centre on Carbone London's menu, and the restaurant is set to even introduce a Sunday lunch But Carbone in London won't just boast all the Italian-American classics it is well-known for. The menu also includes a very British twist: after all, what is more British than a Sunday roast? According to Mario, a Sunday roast is 'what's expected and what people are excited about'. British produce and tastes are also set to be at the heart of Carbone 's London menu, according to the chef. For example, the FT reported a new scallops rosmarino starter that will appear on the menu. The dish, which carries a price tag of 51, was created to showcase diver scallops from Scotland. Carbone is also known for its tiramisu cake, which has been on the menu since the day it opened in 2013. However, Londoners will be offered something different. Mario told the newspaper he plans to replace it with a more traditional custard base. Also available are a 126 New York Strip, 77 Double Lamb Chops and 79 Whole Branzino. On the lighter side, diners may opt for Sicilian beets for 24, Prosciutto and Mozzarella for 29 and a Fettuccine con Funghi - some mushroom pasta - for 27. The restaurant's impeccable service earned it high praise, and this will be no different in London - with the added flair of some table side theatre. Carbone diners can also sample dishes like the 88 Dover sole piccata and flambeed desserts like flamed bananas set on fire right beside their tables, as well as servers known as 'captains' leading each diner through their meals. According to Mario, the Carbone London experience is to be 'a play, not a restaurant', adding: 'Every night, we put on the same performance, wearing the same costumes, telling the same jokes at the same time for a different audience.' The restaurants' interiors were created by designer Ken Fulk, who has long worked with Mario, Rich and Jeff. Upon entering the establishment, customers may be greeted with marble mosaic floors and embroidered cafe curtains for a dark yet luxe feel, accentuated by an oak-and-zinc bar. Lush red damask embrace the walls of the restaurant's inner sanctum, which are from the archives of luxury fabric house Watts 1874, according to Hospitality Design, while guests can be seated on distressed leather chairs with white tablecloths. Artworks from renowned artists including Ai Weiwei, Julian Schnabel, David Salle, Rene Ricard and more adorn the walls of the restaurant, curated by US art dealer Vito Schnabel. Carbone officially opened its doors on September 17. The grand opening was attended by TV personality Vas J Morgan; businessman Simon Reuben, who along with his brother David Reuben is part of the third-richest family in the UK; socialite Cosima Vesey, daughter of the 7th Viscount de Vesci; Charly Sturm, daughter of skincare mogul Dr Barbara Sturm; and Chart Chirathivat, heir to the Central Group that is worth over US$12 billion and owns Selfridges. Zoe is married to a 'devoted' man, yet she feels they have become 'housemates' merely playing the role of husband and wife. Sharing her story with Australian podcast everybody has a secret hosts Ruby Hall, Annabelle Lee and Charlotte White, the 'unhappy' wife said she began to 'crave validation' after feeling 'invisible' in her marriage so she created a new Instagram account under the fake name 'Zoe'. 'I created a fake identity, an alter ego per se... With this account, I created a whole new and totally fake persona,' Zoe explained. 'Everything about Zoe is different to me with one exception - I used photos of myself looking 10 out of 10 to build out the profile. 'Zoe is single, younger and very confident and cheeky... Zoe has a life I've always fantasised about and honestly it didn't feel weird at all until I connected with Pete.' Things between the strangers started with a few casual flirtatious messages - but their conversation escalated quickly. 'We began talking all day, everyday. We opened up about our childhood traumas and fears and the type of music that makes us cry,' Zoe explained. 'It actually got so intense between us one night, I ended up whispering voice notes to him with my face buried in my pillow. My husband Sean was fast asleep next to me.' Zoe, who's living a double life, shared her story with Australian podcast everybody has a secret hosts Ruby Hall (left), Annabelle Lee and Charlotte White (right) When the pair arranged to meet up, Zoe would tell her husband she was going away on work trips or girls' weekend.' '(But) in reality, I was booking flights, shaving my legs in public bathrooms and wearing lingerie under fake names in hotel rooms across state,' she said. 'I was living out my double life with Pete.' Eventually, Zoe said she was secretly 'playing' both men. 'Pete had no idea I was married and my husband had no idea I was off gallivanting with some guy I met through my fake Instagram account,' she explained. 'Trust me, I do feel guilty.' She's been feeling terrible about the affair. 'My husband is so trusting that he doesn't think twice when my phone buzzes and telling me how proud he is on the drive to the airport ahead of my fake work trips,' she said. 'Meanwhile, I'm responding to Pete off Zoe's account. "I can't wait to feel you again".' Zoe said she finally came clean to Pete that Zoe was 'fake'. 'I told him about my marriage and that I had a devoted husband waiting for me at home,' she revealed. 'I expected him to lose his s*** but all he wanted to do was work out what a future could look like for us. 'I know I'm a terrible wife but I mean it when I say this, I never expected to take it this far and fall for Pete. I can't help that he feels like my twin flame in a parallel life. The one I was supposed to end up with if I hadn't met my husband first.' Zoe is married to a 'devoted' man, yet she feels they have become 'housemates' merely playing the role of husband and wife (file image) The wife said she only created the account because she was getting bored, considering her marriage had become a 'routine'. 'Now I play both roles so well it terrifies me but my life is so exciting now,' she said. 'I feel alive again.' But she's been struggling with not being able to see Pete more often as she'd like. 'To say this hasn't affected me emotionally would be a lie. I often cry in the shower at night because I miss a man I don't even technically have a right to miss,' she said. She's aware people will judge her and call her a 'liar' or a 'manipulative' person. 'I won't argue with that,' Zoe said. 'But why does no one talk about how you can love two people at the same time? I am so lost and I don't know what I'm going to do next. 'Whatever happens, someone will get hurt - and it might be me.' The video has been viewed more than 49,000 times - with many suggesting Zoe should file for divorce if she's unhappy with her marriage. 'As soon as she felt the need to make a fake account that was when she needed to file for divorce,' one said. 'I'm sorry but if you truly love your husband, you wouldn't love the second (man). Being cheated on is horrendous as I was four years ago in my marriage. It's maybe exciting for her but it's soul destroying for the other person when they find out,' another shared. 'If she is wanting to be with them both she should have a conversation with her husband and see how that goes,' one suggested. 'So wrong on all levels,' another added. Fashion-forward shoppers are obsessing over a $28 item from Kmart that fans claim to be the 'perfect dupe' of a sell-out $420 designer buy. The budget retailer's Boho Broderie Corset Mini Dress looks nearly identical to American fashion label For Love & Lemons' Zofia style. Both yellow denim midi dresses feature the same pink flower pattern, pleated bust, mini length, thick straps and cinched waist. Despite the significant price difference, the cheaper dress lacks some key features - including For Love & Lemons' signature floaty and ethereal fabric. For Love & Lemons is widely known for its high-quality materials, feminine designs, and offers various product lines including ready-to-wear clothing, lingerie, and swimwear. Aussie fashion blogger, known as Kmart Insider, shared her excitement over the affordable alternative to the high-end dress, which was so popular that it sold out everywhere. 'You'll look cute whether you save or spend,' she said in an Instagram post. Many customers were impressed with the similarities, with some suggesting it's perfect for those who can't afford to fork out hundreds of dollars on designer labels. Fashion-forward shoppers are obsessing over a $28 item from Kmart (left) that fans claim to be the 'perfect dupe' of a sell-out $420 designer buy (right) Many customers were impressed with Kmart's offering, with some suggesting it's perfect for those who can't afford to fork out hundreds of dollars on designer labels Many others were just as impressed by Kmart's expansion into bright, but wearable colours once again. 'Hey look, Kmart using pastel yellow again. Woooow,' one wrote. The new dress comes just a few months after Kmart launched a sell-out dupe shoe range that caused even more of a stir online. The $25 flats from Kmart were flying off the shelves for good reason after shoppers discovered they looked similar to a $575 high-end version. The budget retailer's Buckle Slingback Ballet Flats are still available in two colours red and black - that closely resemble Ganni's range of Feminine Buckle Ballerinas. Both brands' pointed-toe flats have similar features, including metal eyelet detailing, buckle-strap fastenings and low stacked heels. Upon a closer look, Kmart's shoes have a single row of metal eyelet detailing on each strap, while the Danish fashion brand's off-white version has two rows. 'We can't get enough of this $25 Ganni lookalike from Kmart,' Aussie fashion blogger behind Kmart Insider said on Instagram. Earlier this year, a $25 item (left) from Kmart Australia was flying off the shelves after shoppers discovered it looked similar to a $575 designer buy (right) The budget retailer is now selling a pair of Buckle Slingback Ballet Flats (left) that closely resemble Ganni's Feminine Buckle Ballerina flats (right) Bargain hunters have confirmed the cheaper flats are 'so comfy' while others shared that they were 'running' to Kmart to grab a pair. 'The Kmart versions are amazing in these shoes. So good in fact they are selling out everywhere,' one said. 'I tried these on, they were really comfy,' one said. 'So cute,' another added. 'OMG I'm running,' one shared. Meanwhile, many were amazed by the colour options. 'I have the white - find them comfy enough so have purchased the black... I may get the red when it's in my Kmart,' one shared. 'What? They come in black and red as well? I only saw white,' another said. Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones looked absolutely stunning as she graced the red carpet at the 2025 Emmy Awards last weekend. Better yet, she appeared to look younger than ever. Zeta-Jones, 55, stole the show, arriving solo in a figure-hugging, black lace, strapless dress by Yara Shoemaker, which featured a sheer, scalloped neckline and a sequined skirt. She paired the gorgeous gown with strappy black heels and dangling teardrop diamond earrings. Her makeup look included a black smoky eye, a shimmering nude lip and light blush, showing off her glowing facial features. Now, a board-certified plastic surgeon is sharing his opinions on the possible procedures Zeta-Jones could have had done - and it is nothing too drastic. Oregon-based Dr Sean McNally, who has not treated the star, told the Daily Mail it appears she may have had an upper blepharoplasty, which removes excess skin from the eyelids. McNally said: 'Looking at photos from 10 years ago, she had more excess upper eyelid skin. 'While things like CO2 laser resurfacing can help with this, its much more likely she had an upper blepharoplasty, which is very common.' Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, 55, looked absolutely stunning as she graced the red carpet at the 2025 Emmy Awards last weekend Zeta-Jones stole the show, arriving solo in a figure-hugging, black lace, strapless dress by Yara Shoemaker, which featured a sheer, scalloped neckline and a sequined skirt A plastic surgeon exclusively told the Daily Mail about the possible procedures that Zeta-Jones could have had done. Zeta-Jones pictured on set in 1999 The procedure typically heals in about two to four weeks, per Harvard Health, making it an extremely popular choice in Hollywood. However, it does not come cheap. The 'tweakment' can cost nearly $20,000 if a patient opts for both the upper and lower lids. But that may be the only time Zeta-Jones has gone under the knife, if she has at all, the doctor explained. 'I dont see telltale signs of a facelift or brow lift based on those photos.' However, he did see potential signs of some less invasive procedures. 'Her cheeks have more volume than 10 years ago, which isnt what happens over time as we age. This could be due to either fat grafting or filler.' McNally also suggested that Zeta-Jones - known for acting roles in Ocean's Twelve and Chicago - may have also had Botox injected into her face. Botox, or botulinum toxin, is a type of cosmetic injection that relaxes the muscles by blocking nerve signals, per Cleveland Clinic, making them hard to move. The injections are commonly used in order to reduce signs of aging and wrinkles. 'I dont see telltale signs of a facelift or brow lift based on those photos,' Dr McNally told the Daily Mail. Zeta-Jones is seen here in 2003 with husband Michael Douglas McNally suggested Zeta-Jones (pictured at the 2025 Emmy Awards) may have had some Botox injected into her face The plastic surgeon also suspected she may be having Intense Pulsed Light treatment on her face to improve skin tone. Zeta-Jones pictured in 2005 'Her forehead is very smooth for someone of her age. Id be surprised if she hasnt been utilizing Botox to prevent those lines running across the forehead we all get over time. 'She also doesnt have significant banding along her neck, which may be signs of Botox in this area, known as a Nefertiti lift.' The plastic surgeon also suspected that Zeta-Jones may be receiving Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy on her face, a type of laser treatment used to improve skin tone. 'One of the things most of us have to combat as we age is age spots, also known as hyperpigmentation. 'While skin care can help slow this process, her skin pigmentation is even enough - shes likely utilizing IPL or a laser like Erbium to help keep this at bay.' The Daily Mail reached out to representatives of Zeta-Jones for comment, but has not heard back. In the past, Zeta-Jones has not publicly spoken about plastic surgery. But she has shared her favorite makeup and beauty products. In 2020, she shared some of her picks - which included a $195 Mason Pearson hairbrush - with New York Magazine's The Strategist. In 2010, Zeta-Jones told Vogue Australia that some of her favorite products from Elizabeth Arden included its Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant and an eye pencil. Zeta-Jones pictured in 2004 with Douglas In the past, Zeta-Jones (pictured in 2024) has not publicly spoken about plastic surgery, but she has shared her favorite makeup and beauty products While speaking to the outlet, Zeta-Jones shared that her mom had a Mason Pearson. She added that her mother made her brush her hair 100 times each night before bed if she wanted to have long locks, a rule that the actress still obeys. Also on the list was Chanel nail polish in a light pink color, and Lumify brightening eye drops. Zeta-Jones has reportedly been a spokesperson for cosmetics brand Elizabeth Arden since 2002. It is unclear whether she is still in partnership with the brand. In 2010, Zeta-Jones told Vogue Australia that some of her favorite Elizabeth Arden products included the Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant and an eye pencil. 'Beauty comes from within,' she told the outlet at the time, adding that 'a little help from our friends' doesn't hurt. 'I feel most beautiful when Im just around my family, being myself. Im relaxed and I dont have to put on a show or get photographed.' We've all been there: that knot in the stomach, the dry mouth, the heart racing in your chest and sticky, clammy palms. Whether its a job interview, public speaking, or any number of equally nerve-racking experiences, the physical sensations of being anxious can be crippling. These sensations are often what people are describing when they talk about feeling anxious, worried or nervous. Its also what many find the most debilitating. The harder your heart beats, the more you panic, and the more you panic, the harder your heart beats. Stress hormones are released which make these sensations worsen, and so the sorry cycle continues. However, there is a group of medications that can help: beta blockers. These drugs, such as propranolol and atenolol, have been around for decades. Propranolol was developed by the Scottish scientist Sir James Black in 1962 when he worked at ICI. Beta blockers work by blocking the effects of adrenaline. This means a racing heart doesnt beat so hard and blood pressure is lowered They were used to treat high blood pressure and heart arrhythmias and are still prescribed for such conditions today. But doctors soon realised they were also useful for easing anxiety. Over the years, theyve increasingly been prescribed as a safe, non-addictive, non-sedating way to help people suffering from the physical symptoms of anxiety. Beta blockers work by blocking the effects of adrenaline. This means a racing heart doesnt beat so hard and blood pressure is lowered. They also stop other symptoms of anxiety caused by adrenaline the sweating, fast breathing and trembling hands. However, the jury is out on how good beta blockers are for helping anxious people. Some studies suggest they can be very effective, others less conclusive. For helping those with longstanding or severe anxiety, its generally considered beta blockers are less effective compared to antidepressants. Ive found beta blockers are particularly helpful when seeking a temporary respite from anxiety symptoms, or when facing a stress-triggering event. Many people swear by them. At Hollywood events this year, actors Kristen Bell, Rachel Sennott and Natasha Rothwell all mentioned taking beta blockers beforehand. Khloe Kardashian and Robert Downey Jnr have also admitted to taking them in the past. In fact, Ive taken them, and my experience revealed there may be an element of placebo in their effect. A few years ago I was doing a lot of live TV and radio but whenever I walked on set I would get very nervous. My hands would shake and my throat would go dry. A doctor friend recommended propranolol and my GP prescribed it to take when needed. It worked a treat. Id take a small dose an hour or so before my live studio appearances. I felt calm and even enjoyed myself. Taking a small dose became a ritual when I was on my way to any studio. Then the day came, halfway through a live segment, that I realised Id forgotten to take my ritual dose that morning. I had a moment of dread believing the nerves would descend. But it quickly dawned on me that Id already been happily chatting away on air for ten minutes and had felt not a jot of nerves. For me, the medication had been a prop. I never took it again. Ive witnessed the benefit they can have for others, too. Last year, I was chairing an event when one of the speakers was so nervous she froze, unable to get any words out and had to leave the stage. This woman had a fierce intellect and is formidable, yet in front of an audience she crumbled. Later she confessed to me that her heart had been beating so loudly she couldnt hear anything else. She was so shaken by the experience that she was thinking of cancelling all her other planned public speaking for the rest of the year. I suggested she ask her GP to prescribe beta blockers, to take before she went on stage. A few months later, we were at another event and she was like a different woman. On stage, she was smiling, confident and calm; she even managed to crack a few off-the-cuff jokes. Of course, beta blockers target the symptoms of anxiety, not the underlying psychological distress that might be the cause. But theres no doubt that this medication can be a great help for some people. A hard life, but truly well-lived Robert Redford had four children, two boys and two girls, both sons predeceased him, one as a baby and one aged 58 Hollywood legend Robert Redford died last week at the age of 89. Reading his obituary, I was struck by what a difficult life he had. Although he had four children, two boys and two girls, both sons predeceased him, one as a baby and one aged 58. His mother died when she was just 40. He was 18 at the time. He began drinking, which meant he lost his scholarship and was forced to drop out of school. He also contracted polio aged 11 and in his late teens was involved in a serious car accident in which he nearly died. Yet I found reading his life story life-affirming because despite these setbacks, Redford found a way of coping. I often recommend reading obituaries to patients for the very same reason. It sounds morbid, but learning about the incredible hurdles people have overcome and their extraordinary achievements can give you hope and strength. Dr Max prescribes Dr Max suggests taking D3 as it is more easily absorbed than D2 As autumn sets in, Id recommend everyone consider taking a vitamin D supplement. Last week I had my bloods checked by my GP and was told my levels are low. Vitamin D is made in the skin when its exposed to sunlight, and in the autumn and winter lower levels of sunshine mean that around one in six people become deficient. Id recommend taking D3 as it is more easily absorbed than D2. It's the bright green latte that's taken Instagram by storm, but not everyone is on board with the matcha craze. One outspoken cafe owner in Germany has had enough of the trendy drink, and his brutal stance against it has gone viral, racking up more than 880,500 likes on social media. Dritan Alsela, a barista who owns three cafes and even runs his own barista school, is usually known online for his jaw-dropping latte art. But this time it's his hatred of matcha that has made headlines. Declaring war on the green powder, Dritan first launched a cheeky 'anti-matcha campaign' on Instagram, posting slogans like: 'Coffee lovers of all nations, unite against matcha.' As well as his most recent post that reads: 'Respect the beans. Coffee lovers of all nations, unite!' But the coffee purist has since taken his protest offline too, erecting a bold sign outside one of his venues that bluntly warns: 'Matcha drinkers not permitted. This is a coffee establishment. Respect the beans.' Dritan Alsela, a barista who owns three cafes, declared war on the green powder by launching a cheeky 'anti-matcha campaign' on Instagram The unapologetic stance divided followers instantly, with coffee enthusiasts cheering him on while matcha devotees leapt to defend their beloved drink. 'Finally someone said it,' one person applauded. 'Some people drink matcha for health I drink coffee so I can survive the people who drink matcha,' another joked. Others weren't so kind, branding him a coffee snob. 'Coffee snobs will never really beat the allegations will they, lmao,' one critic wrote. 'Matcha is for the fun people, coffee is for the traumatised souls,' another teased. One furious fan even fired back: 'Coffee is grim and nasty. Matcha rules! They're just scared of a far superior drink! May you have the stinkiest coffee breath for being disrespectful!' Meanwhile, some matcha drinkers admitted they actually appreciated the honesty. The unapologetic stance divided followers instantly, with coffee enthusiasts cheering him on while matcha devotees leapt to defend their beloved drink 'Thank you for this notice, because as a matcha drinker I hate asking for a matcha all the time. Saves me the time to come in,' one said. 'As a matcha lover I actually love this because I hate not being able to know beforehand if the store sells matcha or not,' another agreed. Love it or loathe it, Dritan's bold ban proves one thing - the war between coffee and matcha has officially brewed. This comes off the back of celebrity chef Gino D'Acampo also recently shocking coffee lovers around the globe by revealing that cappuccinos should never be consumed after 11am. Surprisingly it has less to do with the caffeine high, and more to do with digestion. The 48-year-old Italian-born TV star, best known for his food-focused shows and cookbooks, recently took to TikTok to explain the unwritten rule of Italian coffee culture - racking up a staggering 2.4 million views in the process. The 48-year-old Italian-born TV star, best known for his food-focused shows and cookbooks, went viral on TikTok after sharing the unspoken rule of Italian coffee culture 'As far as an Italian is concerned there is a time for cappuccino and espresso,' he told his followers. 'An espresso for an Italian is something that you can drink all day long, especially after dinner or after lunch, or after any meal.' The reason, according to Gino, is surprisingly scientific: 'Caffeine makes your blood circulation faster,' he explained. 'So the faster your blood circulates around the body, the better your digestive system will be, and that's why Italians eat espresso after meals.' But when it comes to milk-based coffee, Gino insisted timing is everything, with consumption after 11am a no-go. 'The milk in the cappuccino after a meal goes into your stomach, [and] it will do the opposite of the espresso [to] slow down your digestion system. According to Gino, in Italian culture espresso's are consumed at 'any time' of the day because the caffeine helps speed up digestion. However milk-based coffees straight after a meal can slow it down, so are avoided 'It's the last thing that people should do.' However, some comments from fans show they didn't all agree on Gino's theory about what coffee to consume and when. 'Can't have milk in the coffee after dinner, but a huge Tiramisu? Si! Italians are the best,' one joked. 'I don't follow rules of any country I eat and drink what I want whenever I want,' another argued. 'If I want a cappuccino at 5pm so be it.' 'If that's the reason, I guess no cheesecake, ice cream, dairy-based puddings, after a meal either?' one fan asked. They have a point. The rule comes from a deeply ingrained Italian belief that milk is a substantial breakfast food. While a frothy cappuccino paired with a pastry makes the perfect morning kickstart, consuming milk later in the day is thought to interfere with digestion and leave you feeling heavy or bloated. That's why after breakfast, Italians traditionally switch to lighter, milk-free coffees such as espresso or macchiato. Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma has been brought into the 21st century by a new stage adaptation. The original story, which took place in Regency England, saw the protagonist meddling in her friend's love lives and navigating society balls. British screenwriter and playwright Ava Pickett's contemporary adaptation, which is playing at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, London, has replaced the society balls with sweaty nightclubs and matchmaking with dating apps - and swapped its location from Surrey to Essex. While the main character Emma retains the famous characteristics created by Jane Austen - she is intelligent and funny, but can be snobbish and at times mean - she navigates the world in 2025, and not 1815. A description of the 'irresistible' adaptation on the Rose Theatre's website says this fresh take on Jane Austens classic rom-com 'swaps drawing room duets for dance floor-fillers, taking audiences on a ride of matchmaking and mischief that ignites laughter and warms the heart'. As the first of her family to go to university - Oxford, no less - Emma Woodhouse is home over the Summer. What she hasn't come clean about to her father is that she is home having failed her exams. With her academic career stalling, she is 'ready to do what she does best: sort out everyone elses lives, whether they like it or not'. Writer Ava Pickett (who was approached by the play's director Christopher Haydon to adapt the novel) told the BBC she hadn't previously read Emma. The new adaptation of Emma is penned by writer Ava Pickett and stars Amelia Kenworthy (pictured) in the titular role The 31-year-old, who has already built up an impressively prolific CV and is currently writing a script about Joan of Arc with Oscar-winner Baz Luhrmann, added that once she started reading the classic, she 'really identified with that that feeling of [being] 21'. Ava described it Emmas as being 'so young, but [...] on the cusp of adulthood'. Noting that the protagonist thinks she knows everything about everyone else's lives, including the actions they need to undertake to become happy, the writer said: 'She reminded me so much of me at that age.' The writer, who has also penned television scripts for programmes including the BBC's Ten Pound Poms and Sky's Brassic, revealed why she chose to do a modern adaptation, telling the BBC she spoke to her friends about the novel and how they felt about dating' - and leading her to 'recognise Emmas in [her life]'. Dating in 2025 is widely divergent to its 19th century counterpart, and is largely dependent on the use of dating apps, which Ava called 'addictive', saying that people can end up getting validation from the number of matches and likes they rack up, 'so a lot of your self-worth is coming from a number on your screen'. She added that ghosting, which has become increasingly commonplace in recent years 'can be really, really cruel'. And it's not just women who find the apps 'toxic', said the writer, but young men too. 'They [dating apps] are perpetuating a value system that doesn't value human complexity or awkwardness,' she said. Another significant update in Ava's adaptation is the role of Emma's best friend Harriet. In the new play at the Rose, Harriet plays a larger and more significant role than in Jane Austen's novel. Unlike Emma, who went away to university, Harriet remained in the pair's hometown. The playwright revealed that she 'really loves' writing female friendships, which she described as 'wonderful but brutal and difficult'. In addition, Ava noted, no one is ever that retaining a friendship longterm requires work. She hopes that the contemporary version will appeal to new audiences - more than two centuries after the original was published. It remains relevant, Ava said, because one thing is still largely the same now as it was back in Austen's day - the human condition. Specifically she said that 'jealousy is jealousy', and 'love is love'. In addition, one the most famous quotes from the novel provided the writer with something very significant to explore. The quote, comes from a conversation between Emma and Harriet, when the protagonist tells her best friend: 'You must be the best judge of your own happiness.' Jane Austen's Emma was published in 1815 - the new adaptation (pictured) at the Rose Theatre has been updated to be a contemporary version Ironically, she shares the nugget with Harriet after talking her out of a proposal from farmer Robert Martin - a move motivated by Emma's own snobbery. Ava wanted to examine the quote, saying: 'I really wanted to dig into that a lot. It's something Emma has to learn.' Her contemporary version follows another update - the 90s film Clueless, starring Alicia Silverstone, and set in California, described by Ava as a 'masterpiece'. This year is the 250th anniversary year of Jane Austen's birth, and as well as the Rose's version of Emma, there will be a new screen version of one of the novelist's most famous works. A new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice will be coming to Netflix soon: production started in July this year, though the release date is yet to be announced. Adapted by novelist Dolly Alderton and director Euros Lyn, it stars Emma Corrin. Speaking about the production, Netflix executive Mona Qureshi said: 'We are delighted to be sharing this beloved British classic with our global audience. 'Pride and Prejudice is the ultimate romantic comedy. Dollys fierce intelligence and enormous heart, twinned with her genuine love of the Austen novel, means she is able to bring new insights, whilst celebrating all that the generations of fans hold so dear.' Emma is currently on at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, London, until October 11, 2025. Meghan Markle has been branded 'needy and clingy' by royal fans after joining Prince Harry at a charity concert on Saturday. The Duchess of Sussex, 44, and her husband the Duke, 41, surprised crowds at Kevin Costner's star-studded fundraising event in Santa Barbara, after unexpectedly arriving at the One805LIVE! festival. However, photographs from the outing, where Harry graced the stage to present the Heart of Community Award, raised eyebrows on the internet, thanks to Meghan appearing to grab hold of her husband during his hosting moment. Snaps from the festival showed the Duchess joining the Duke in front of the crowds and holding onto his jacket before affectionately wrapping her arms around him, all while the Prince continued to hold the microphone. The loved-up display ruffled feathers amongst some royal fans, who labelled Meghan's behaviour as 'clingy' and 'too much'. One person wrote on X: 'What is wrong with his woman? She is so needy and clingy,' while another said:'I don't know how Harry stands it! She literally hangs off him all the time.' A third joked: 'She wants to be sure she isn't cut out of the picture...,' while a fourth wrote: 'Always grabbing at him.' Meghan and Harry both appeared in high spirits at the event, which took place at the Yellowstone actor's oceanside estate, and welcomed other celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey. On Saturday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured) took time to chat with first responders and law enforcement officers before taking to the stage to address the crowd The couple's latest outing together comes just weeks after Prince Harry, 41, reunited with his father King Charles for the first time in 18 months for a face-to-face meeting in London. On Saturday, the Duke and Duchess took time to chat with first responders and law enforcement officers before taking to the stage to address the crowd. And while Meghan's affection towards her husband at the charity event didn't sit right with all fans, some were keen to defend the Duchess, with one person writing on X: 'Isn't he like her husband? What do you mean needy?' A second added: 'There isn't nothing wrong with Meghan. Their intimacy and love for each other is clear to see. Nothing needy and clingy about that.' Meghan cut a sophisticated figure in a midnight blue Caroline Herrera collared halterneck dress with tortoiseshell buttons and a waist-cinching sash for the outing on Saturday. The Montecito-based mother-of-two completed her ensemble with a 631 two-tone brown clutch bag from Hunting Season New York, and a pair of 390 suede Ralph Lauren heeled shoes in a matching shade. While Meghan usually wears her long, dark hair parted in the centre with very gentle waves, she opted to switch things up yesterday by moving her parting a little to the side and sporting bigger, more defined curls. She also sported her 5,000 Cartier Love bangle, which she's owned since at least 2017, and her late mother-in-law Princess Diana's 17,800 gold Cartier Tank watch. Meghan cut a sophisticated figure in a midnight blue Caroline Herrera collared halterneck dress with tortoiseshell buttons and a waist-cinching sash for the outing on Saturday Reaction: Meghan was branded 'needy and clingy' by royal fans after joining Prince Harry at a charity concert on Saturday The concert is an 'annual benefit concert, bringing together legendary artists and passionate supporters to raise funds for essential equipment and mental wellness programs for Santa Barbara Countys first responders,' per the official website. Music artists that performed included Trisha Yearwood, Good Charlotte, and The Fray. Oprah Winfrey, who has maintained a close relationship with Meghan and Harry over the years, also attended the event on Saturday. In 2021, the couple sat down for an explosive interview with the TV personality, during which they made allegations against the Royal Family. Earlier this month, Harry spent 50 minutes with King Charles at Clarence House - their first face-to-face meeting in 18 months. And now high-level talks are underway to gradually bring Charles and Harry together in a public show of unity for the first time in at least six years. The last time the pair appeared together at an official engagement was in April 2019 at the 'Our Planet' global premiere in the Natural History Museum in London. Since Harry stepped down from royal duties in 2020, they have only been pictured with other family members at the state funerals of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth. While Meghan's affection towards her husband didn't sit right with all fans, some were keen to defend the Duchess Harry (pictured with Meghan) addressed the crowds at the charity event in Santa Barbara on Saturday An appearance together of the King and Harry would be interpreted as a thawing of their relationship and the acceptance of the Sussexes and their children Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, back into the royal fold. Meanwhile, after his four-day visit to the UK resulted in a reunion with his father, Meghan celebrated the return of her 'beau' Prince Harry by touting her $30 wine on Instagram. The Duchess of Sussex commemorated the Duke's return to Montecito - just in time for his 41st birthday - with a marketing-savvy post on the As Ever social media page. In the Instagram Story, the mother-of-two can be seen pouring two glasses of the latest rendition of her own brand of rose, which still appears to have not sold out online, on an ornately adorned wooden board outside, surrounded by flowers. The sweet personal sentiment, accented by a glossy product snap, was followed by other reshares of fans sampling Meghan's myriad of products, including her jam, marmalade and crepes. It comes after the show was pulled off the air indefinitely by ABC Jimmy Kimmel's cousin has appeared to hint that there is more drama to come after his TV show was pulled off the air indefinitely by ABC last week. Sal Iacono, who is a long-time writer and performer on the program, shed light on how his 57-year-old relative might fare in the wake of the fallout. Speaking on Sunday's episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Iacono, 54, was reluctant to discuss the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live! - out of respect for the staff whose jobs remain at risk - but he did imply that the dust has not yet settled. 'I wish I could say anything,' he said. 'There are a couple bombshells still there. 'I'm feeling good. We're going to be all right. Everything's going to be just fine.' Turning his attention to how Kimmel will cope, Iacono continued: 'He'll be fine, whatever he wants to do. 'Hey listen, he might just want to be a pop-up chef and start making barbecue around the South Bay area. He'll do a great job. 'That's all I have to say right now. I can't really say anything. You and I know too much. It's very emotional.' Jimmy Kimmel's cousin has weighed in after his TV show was pulled off the air indefinitely Sal Iacono (right) is a long-time writer and performer on the show Putting an end to the discussion of the show's future, he then said: 'We both know too much. 'Not only our cousin, but all the people working for the show, and, it's better if we're not talking about this in any way.' The controversy began last Monday night after he addressed Charlie Kirk's assassination in his opening monologue and made comments about suspected assassin Tyler Robinson. 'The MAGA gang are desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,' he said. 'In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.' He then cut to a video of Donald Trump talking to reporters, where he answered a question about how he was handling Kirk's death. When asked how he was holding up, the president responded: 'I think very good,' before directing the reporter's attention to construction on the White House ballroom. 'He's at the fourth stage of grief: construction,' Kimmel joked. Speaking about his cousin's future, Iacono said: 'Hey listen, he might just want to be a pop-up chef and start making barbecue around the South Bay area. He'll do a great job' Kimmel's show was taken off the air after his comments about Charlie Kirk's assassination 'This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.' Two days later, Carr threatened repercussions for Kimmel's comments, and Sinclair and Nexstar pulled programming. ABC and Disney announced they would be suspending the show indefinitely, prompting swift backlash from Hollywood and free speech defenders. Kimmel's late-night colleagues were chief among those defending him, with Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers presenting a united front during their monologues after the news broke. However, conservatives celebrated the suspension, with the president congratulating ABC on Truth Social for suspending Kimmel. 'Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that's possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!' Trump wrote. Doomsday is just around the corner, according to some devout Christians. A South African pastor's vision that Jesus will return to earth on September 23 has sent social media into a frenzy, with many people believing the ancient Biblical event known as 'The Rapture' is coming. The Rapture is considered a kind of rescue, where believers are instantly taken away from Earth to avoid a coming period of intense suffering called the Tribulation. It's a belief held by some Christians called 'eschatology,' which is the study of end-times events. Some social media users, as well as a handful of pastors and rabbis, are convinced the Rapture will begin on September 23, which would mark the Second Coming of Jesus and Judgment Day for non-believers. While the proclamation has been met with heavy skepticism by many, others are ready to be taken and have flooded social media to share tips and tricks to prepare for the supposed end-of-the-world event - as well as signs they are sure it will happen. One woman, Melissa Johnston, took to TikTok with advice for what to do during the predicted event, even including some survival tips for those left behind. Johnson, a mom-of-three, shared a video showing her stockpile of goods for those left behind, including emergency water supplies, canned good and the code for their medicine cabinet. A South African pastor's vision that Jesus will return to earth on September 23 has sent social media into a frenzy, with many people believing 'The Rapture' is coming. Pictured is Ex-evangelist Jubilee Dawn who shared some of the clips on TikTok 'If you're reading this I'm no longer here, but I left this letter because I care deeply about you and your eternal future,' a letter left on the cupboard read. 'No matter what you've done or what's happening around you, it's not too late to turn to him,' she urged, before quoting scripture and signing the note: 'A Raptured Christian.' In other clips, believers are counting down the days until they are united with Jesus - even getting rid of their personal possessions. One Australian man, Tilahun Desalegn, shared a clip of his car being towed away, saying: 'I won't need her beyond September, because I'm going home to where my father in heaven is.' 'Car is gone just like the Brides of Christ will be in September,' Desalegn wrote on the video. Another TikTok user claims she has confirmation the Rapture will be happening, saying God was speaking to her through her young son. 'Feast of trumpets Rapture confirmation my three-year-old son starts speaking in Hebrew and it confirms what the Lord spoke to my daughter days before,' the user captioned her video. 'We're going home,' she said confidently in the clip. 'I already was convinced, but the Lord just keeps giving [confirmations] every single day.' The Rapture is considered a kind of rescue, where believers are instantly taken away from Earth to avoid a coming period of intense suffering called the Tribulation (stock image) 'Almost five days to Rapture time,' believer Denise Charles said in a video shared late last week. 'I'm so excited.' 'My next birthday will be a heavenly one - how exciting is that?' she enthused. Other social media users are reaping the rewards of the supposed Rapture, one user, who works for Uber, said he had customers hand him cash assuming they won't need it anymore. The Uber driver claimed in a TikTok that his Christian customers gave him almost $2,000 after leaving church, telling him they would pray for him before they leave Earth in the Rapture. 'They were emotional,' he noted. 'They got in the car weeping.' They told him they were trying to 'donate their money,' as they weren't going to be around for much longer. He claimed they also told him they were going to 'get together' with other believers to pool their fortunes and give them away. '[They said] "we're gonna give away houses, we're gonna give away cars - we're just giving everything away because we're not gonna be here, we're leaving this Earth,"' he said in disbelief. An ancient Biblical event in which Christians disappear from Earth - known as the Rapture - and those who remain are left to face Doomsday is believed to be just days away. This year, September 23 falls during the Jewish Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah, but some Christians have tied the holiday to the prophecy that Jesus will return to Earth 'with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God.' In July, South African preacher Joshua Mhlakela claimed Jesus spoke to him in a vision, predicting his imminent return. 'The Rapture is upon us, whether you are ready or not. I saw Jesus sitting on his throne, and I could hear him very loud and clear saying, I am coming soon,' Mhlakela said during the interview with CettwinzTV. 'He said to me on the 23 and 24 of September 2025, I will come back to the Earth,' the pastor declared. The prophecy is mentioned in the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, which states that even the faithful who have died will rise from their graves and be taken to heaven by Jesus; however, a date for this event is not given. Will Smith and Jada Pinket Smith's son Jaden Smith had landed an impressive job at a designer fashion label... but the news has sparked a massive nepo baby debate. French luxury brand Christian Louboutin named Jaden as its new Men's Creative Director last week, revealing the star will 'oversee the creation of four collections annually,' with his first set to premiere at Paris Fashion Week in January. But the announcement was met with fierce criticism from some social media users, who claimed Jaden, 27, only got the opportunity because of his famous family. 'Imagine having 15 plus years of experience in fashion design, and then Jaden Smith takes your job...' one fashion designer scathed on TikTok afterwards. His video went viral, gaining more than 5.4 million views, and it launched a fierce argument about nepotism in the comment section. 'Nepotism in fashion is killing creativity and actual creatives, I HATE IT,' one user replied. 'Nepotism is our societal downfall,' agreed someone else. Another person added, 'That's unfair and messed up.' Will Smith and Jada Pinket Smith's son Jaden Smith (seen last year) had landed an impressive job at a massive fashion company... but the news has sparked a massive nepo baby debate Christian Louboutin named Jaden (seen with his dad in 2016) as its new Men's Creative Director last week, revealing he will 'oversee the creation of four collections annually' 'Unfortunately the industry is full of nepo babies,' read a fourth comment. A fifth said, 'The amount people here defending a nepo baby, whose only qualification has ever been being Will Smiths son, is insane to me. 'Performing good at your job and being the best only matters to poor people, however, a nepo baby will get that job over you any day, no matter how good you are.' 'This industry is already one of the toughest to break into, and instead of opening doors for real talent, it feels like 90 percent of opportunities go straight to celebrity kids or famous names,' a different person wrote. 'Moves like this are beyond disrespectful to the people who dedicate their lives to the craft.' Others, however, defended Jaden and brought up his past experience in the fashion industry. 'I'm not saying nepotism isn't a problem, but people who benefit from nepotism can also be talented,' one said. 'Jaden Smith arguably influenced all modern day streetwear. Bro was on that back in 2017 and got called corny,' pointed out someone else. But the announcement was met with fierce criticism from some social media users, who claimed Jaden, 27, only got the opportunity because of his famous family. He's seen last year The actor and musician has been making waves in the fashion industry for years by wearing bold and dramatic looks on the red carpet. He's seen in February 'He has a decade of experience in fashion, been a creative director, LV Ambassador, and has met with Christian personally multiple times and he believes in him so what exactly are you mad at?' asked a different person. 'Sure Nepotism is bad but I'm not even a Jaden fan and even I know he has been active in fashion and managed brands before,' wrote another defender. 'He definitely has the qualifications. It's not like they picked a random talentless person.' Jaden started his career off by acting, landing his first role at age eight in the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness, playing the son of his dad's character. In the years that followed, he starred in The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Karate Kid, After Earth, Netflix's The Get Down, and Life in a Year, amongst others. He's also dabbled in music, releasing three albums over the years and opening up for a slew of big artists on tour including Fall Out Boy, Post Malone, Tyler, the Creator, Justin Bieber, and Kid Cudi. The actor and musician has been making waves in the fashion industry for years by wearing bold and dramatic looks on the red carpet. He launched a successful streetwear brand with his sister, Willow Smith, called MSFTSrep in 2012. Jaden started his career off by acting, landing his first role at age eight in the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness, playing the son of his dad's character Jaden (seen at various fashion events earlier this year) launched a successful streetwear brand with his sister, Willow Smith, called MSFTSrep in 2012 He also made headlines for posing in a womenswear campaign for Louis Vuitton in a skirt in 2016. 'Merging my vision with Christian's comes quite naturally because we see the world in a very similar way,' Jaden, who will be moving to Paris, said in a statement following the news that he was joining Christian Louboutin. 'There's a shared respect for creative freedom, and I think that's why it works. I want to continue the story, honoring the past while shaping the future through my own perspective. 'It isn't just a title - it's a creative home. Christian has given me a place to explore, to learn, and to create freely. His legacy is built on hard work and joy, and I want to carry that forward.' Barack and Michelle Obama have put on a rare show of unity by jetting off on a lavish getaway together - after months of swirling speculation about their marriage. The couple seemed to put the ongoing divorce rumors to rest as they soaked up the sun in Portofino, Italy, aboard their pal Steven Spielberg's $250million superyacht over the weekend. The pair notably arrived separate from one another, however, with photographers catching a solo Michelle, 61, getting onto the luxurious, 357-foot boat via a tender ahead of her husband. She donned some baggy jeans, a matching denim button-down top, with a white tank top underneath, and some brown and silver Birkenstocks. Spielberg, 78, greeted her with his arms open wide before he gave her a warm hug. The two were then seen sitting on the deck of his superyacht, called the Seven Seas, chatting happily together, with a woman who appeared to be his wife, Kate Capshaw, 71. Later on, Barack, 64, appeared somber as he arrived in the picturesque Italian seaside village alongside some security. Michelle Obama arrives on Steven Spielberg's yacht in Portofino, Italy, ahead of her husband Later on, Barack Obama, 64, arrives in the picturesque Italian seaside village with security He was dressed casually in a brown top and white cap. The morning after Barack joined his wife on the yacht, the group enjoyed breakfast on the deck, before they headed ashore to Punta Chiappa for lunch. At one point, Barack - who wore a black polo shirt - was pictured sitting alone staring intently at what appeared to be a tablet or laptop. Their vacation comes days after the former president made a startling marriage confession. During an appearance at the Jefferson Educational Society event in Erie, Pennsylvania, earlier this month, Barack joked that he had spent much of his time since leaving office trying to appease his wife, which he described as 'challenging.' 'I have spent over eight years now trying to dig myself out of a hole with Michelle,' he said. 'And that's been challenging, but I feel like I'm making progress. I'm almost breaking even at the moment.' This marks the first time the couple had been seen together since they sat down for an astonishing joint interview on Michelle's podcast back in July, during which they finally addressed the state of their marriage. Spielberg's $250million superyacht, where the couple were vacationing over the weekend A solo Michelle, 61, boards the luxurious 357-foot boat via a tender She wears baggy jeans, a matching denim button-down top and some brown Birkenstocks Michelle accessorized with a black backpack and dark shades with her hair in a ponytail Spielberg, 78, greeted her with his arms open wide before he gave her a warm hug The two were then seen sitting on the boat, called the Seven Seas, chatting happily together, along with a woman who appeared to be his wife, Kate Capshaw Michelle is all smiles, while her husband appeared somber when he arrived after her At one point Michelle excitedly raises her arms up into the air 'What, you guys like each other?' Michelle's brother and co-host Craig Robinson joked, before Michelle replied: 'Oh yeah, the rumor mill.' 'She took me back!' Barack light-heartedly chimed in, adding: 'It was touch and go for awhile.' The former first lady said it was nice to be in the same room as her husband, sassily telling her brother: 'When we aren't, folks think we're divorced.' Michelle then made an admission about her relationship with her husband of almost 33 years. 'There hasn't been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man,' she said passionately. 'And we've had some really hard times. So we had a lot of fun times, a lot of adventures, and I have become a better person because of the man I'm married to.' Barack admitted he missed a lot of the speculation, and he was largely unaware of what people were saying. Barack, seen here arriving in Italy, is dressed casually in a brown top and white cap Their vacation comes days after the former president made a startling marriage confession. Barack is seen arriving in Italy solo before reuniting with his wife on Spielberg's boat He is alone as a tender takes him to Spielberg's yacht, where his wife is already aboard The morning after Barack joined Michelle and Spielberg on the yacht, the group enjoy breakfast on the deck, before they head ashore to Punta Chiappa for lunch Barack and Michelle sitting opposite Spielberg and Capshaw during the outing At one point, Barack - who wears a black polo shirt - sits alone staring intently at what appeared to be a tablet or laptop The former president sips from a glass as he sits by himself Spielberg lays on a lounge chair scrolling on his phone at one point during the trip 'These are the kinds of things that I just miss, right? So I don't even know this stuff's going on,' he confessed. 'And then somebody will mention it to me and I'm all like, 'what are you talking about?'' The Obamas have been married for almost 33 years and share daughters, Malia, 27, and Sasha, 24. Rumors surrounding the Obamas' relationship began when Michelle skipped several high-profile events, including Donald Trump's inauguration and former president Jimmy Carter's funeral. For months, rumors have been swirling that Barack Obama and Michelle Obama were headed for divorce. After years of standing fiercely by her husband's side, Michelle was noticeably absent from a slew of public events, forcing Barack to attend solo and leaving many to wonder: is the former first couple facing marital woes? Now, the pair has put on a rare show of unity by jetting off on a lavish getaway to Portofino, Italy, where they vacationed on their pal Steven Spielberg's $250 million superyacht. Despite coming separately - a solo Michelle was photographed boarding the vessel ahead of her husband, who arrived hours later looking downcast - a source has told the Daily Mail exclusively that the trip was exactly what they needed. 'They needed this trip more than they thought they did, it [was] a really nice time to be able to lay low and be together,' dished the insider. 'Everyone was in great spirits.' According to the source, the vacation, while it served as a vital bonding moment for Barack and Michelle amidst the constant chatter about their romance, was not all for relaxation. The source claimed that director Spielberg used the getaway to pitch a potential new movie that he wants to make about about the couple. 'Steven talked about the potential of a movie made on the Obamas that Steven would be interested in directing and definitely producing,' the insider continued. For months, rumors have been swirling that Barack Obama and Michelle Obama were headed for divorce Michelle arrived ahead of her husband, Barack, as the two enjoyed a lavish getaway together aboard Steven Spielberg's yacht in Portofino, Italy, over the weekend 'But though that was talked about, that was in no reason for the hangout. They are friends first and have had a very nice time together and treated it like a fun double date for a few days.' In the end, the source insisted that Barack and Michelle are in a 'great place,' and plan to stick together amidst the 's**t show' that's going on in politics right now. 'They are interested in being in the world together rather than apart, because the world they live in outside of everything is a s**t show in their eyes, politically speaking,' they said. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Obamas for comment. Photographers caught a solo Michelle, 61, getting onto Spielberg's luxurious, 357-foot water vessel via a tender ahead of her husband on Friday. She looked fashionable, donning some baggy jeans, a matching denim button-down top, a white tank top underneath, and some brown and white patterned Birkenstock sandals. Spielberg, 78, greeted her with his arms open wide before he gave her a warm hug. The two were then seen sitting outside on his massive boat, called the Seven Seas, chatting happily together, along with a woman who appeared to be his wife, Kate Capshaw. Despite arriving separately, a source has told the Daily Mail exclusively that the trip was exactly what they needed. Barack is seen arriving in Italy The pair has put on a rare show of unity as they vacation on their pal Spielberg's $250 million superyacht 'They needed this trip more than they thought they did, it [was] a really nice time to be able to lay low and be together,' dished the insider. 'Everyone was in great spirits' Later on, Barack, 64, was spotted looking downcast as he arrived in the picturesque Italian seaside village alongside some security; he dressed casually in a brown top and white cap. The morning after Barack joined his wife on the yacht, the group enjoyed breakfast outdoors on the boat's deck, before they headed ashore to Punta Chiappa for lunch. At one point, Barack - who wore a black polo shirt - was pictured sitting alone staring intently at what appeared to be a tablet or laptop. Their vacation comes days after the former president made a startling marriage confession. During an appearance at the Jefferson Educational Society event in Erie, Pennsylvania, earlier this month, Barack joked that he had spent much of his time since leaving office trying to appease his wife, which he described as 'challenging.' 'I have spent over eight years now trying to dig myself out of a hole with Michelle,' he said. 'And that's been challenging, but I feel like I'm making progress. I'm almost breaking even at the moment.' This marks the first time the couple had been seen together since they sat down for an astonishing joint interview on Michelle's podcast back in July, during which they finally addressed the state of their marriage. Acclaimed director Spielberg, 78, greeted her with his arms open wide before he gave her a warm hug The two were then seen sitting outside on his massive boat, called the Seven Seas, chatting happily together, along with a woman who appeared to be his wife, Kate Capshaw Michelle was all smiles, while her husband looked somber when he arrived after her Their vacation comes days after the former president made a startling marriage confession. Barack is seen arriving in Italy solo before reuniting with his wife on Steven's boat 'What, you guys like each other?' Michelle's brother and co-host Craig Robinson joked, before Michelle replied: 'Oh yeah, the rumor mill.' 'She took me back!' Barack light-heartedly chimed in, adding: 'It was touch and go for awhile.' The former first lady said it was nice to be in the same room as her husband, sassily telling her brother: 'When we aren't, folks think we're divorced.' Michelle then made a heartfelt admission about her relationship with her husband of almost 33 years. 'There hasn't been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man,' she said passionately. 'And we've had some really hard times. So we had a lot of fun times, a lot of adventures, and I have become a better person because of the man I'm married to.' Barack was alone as a tender took him to Steven's yacht, where his wife was already aboard The morning after Barack joined his wife on the yacht, the group enjoyed breakfast outdoors on the boat's deck, before they headed ashore to Punta Chiappa for lunch At one point, Barack - who wore a black polo shirt - was pictured sitting alone staring intently at what appeared to be a tablet or laptop The former president sipped from a glass as he sat by himself Barack admitted he missed a lot of the speculation, and he was largely unaware of what people were saying. 'These are the kinds of things that I just miss, right? So I don't even know this stuff's going on,' he confessed. 'And then somebody will mention it to me and I'm all like, 'what are you talking about?'' The Obamas have been married for almost 33 years and share daughters, Malia, 26, and Sasha, 24. Rumors surrounding the Obama's relationship began when Michelle skipped several high-profile events, including Donald Trump's inauguration and former President Jimmy Carter's funeral. The explosion of matcha lattes on Britain's high streets is undeniable, but experts have warned that customers may be paying premium prices for a low-grade product. The bright green iced drinks took over social media this summer as high-street chains like Blank Street, Pret a Manger, Costa Coffee, Starbucks, and more jumped on the trend. Sales of matcha powder have also skyrocketed globally, with the demand largely coming from outside Japan. Between April 2024 and April 2025, sales of matcha products doubled in the UK alone, and global sales are expected to nearly double from 2.2bn in 2023 to 3.9bn by 2028. However, Maria Dawson, managing director at Japanese fine food brand Clearspring, issued a warning to consumers that it is too easy to come across low-quality or even fake versions of matcha on the market because the regulation of the product is poor. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said: 'We've noticed that as matcha becomes more popular, lots of different qualities are appearing on the market,' she exclusively told The Daily Mail. Maria said that if a customer's first matcha experience is with a 'bitter, poor-quality' version of the popular Japanese drink, they might assume that they don't like the beverage at all. 'But when they try a smooth, silky, authentic Japanese matcha...They're usually surprised at how different it tastes and how much they enjoy it,' she added. Matcha has skyrocketed in popularity thanks to matcha lattes taking over social media and the high street - but what are you really getting? (stock image) 'And it's not just true for matcha - the same applies for other authentic Japanese products too. Quality and provenance really can transform the experience.' Maria's comments are backed up by Keiko Uchida, a tea master based in Notting Hill, London. In an interview with The Independent, Keiko said many customers who purchase matcha lattes from high street coffee chains are actually being served green tea powder, which is a much cheaper and lower-quality product. Authentic and high quality matcha tea is made from the finely ground powder of green tea leaves specially grown in shade. Matcha's sharp rise in popularity has also put tremendous pressure on tea growers in Japan, who have also had to contend with heatwaves affecting their crops. The soaring demand combined with smaller crops have resulted in global shortages, which in turn has pushed the price of matcha up for consumers, as well as encouraged the proliferation of fake versions. There are several factors to look out for in order to ensure matcha fans are buying the real deal rather than a low-grade powder, Maria advised. Firstly, she explained that the colour of the matcha is a great indicator of how good the product is. Iced matcha lattes were the drink of the summer, but experts warn that poor quality or fake matcha is rampant (stock image) 'Bright, vibrant green matcha signals that it's made from young, shade-grown leaves rich in chlorophyll,' she explained. 'If the colour appears dull, greyish or olive, it's likely oxidised, which compromises both flavour and freshness.' The texture of high-quality matcha powder is also noticeably fine and silky smooth between the fingers. Maria elaborated: 'A gritty texture suggests poor milling, lower-grade leaf material, or added fillers. Try the stroke test: place a little matcha on white paper and draw a line through it with your thumb. 'Good matcha leaves a smooth, velvety trail. Low-quality matcha will be coarse and uneven.' When buying a new matcha powder, give it a sniff. High-quality matcha has a clean, grassy aroma with a subtle sweetness, the expert said, whereas poor matcha smells 'flat, dusty, or like hay', which are signs of 'degradation, oxidisation or low-grade leaves'. Preparing the drink with good quality matcha powder and in the correct way will result in a rich, creamy froth, a sign of finely ground leaves. However, a thin or watery drink may indicate the matcha quality is lacking. The flavour of the matcha will also give away whether it is the real deal or if it's simply not worth your time. When drinking authentic matcha, Maria advised: 'Expect a naturally sweet, umami-rich flavour with little to no bitterness. 'Harsh or overly bitter matcha often comes from older leaves or poor processing.' Customers who are keen to purchase matcha powder to make their own drinks at home should try to choose organic whenever possible, and to research sources before buying. 'Matcha is made from finely milled whole tea leaves, meaning you consume the entire leaf, unlike tea bags,' Maria said. 'This makes it crucial to avoid harmful synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, which are commonly used by conventional matcha producers because matcha is usually made from young tea leaves. 'Choosing certified organic matcha ensures a cleaner, healthier option for both your body and the planet.' It is also important to know where the matcha has come from to ensure it is genuine, she said. 'Japan is the true home of matcha, with centuries of expertise and tradition. Regions like Uji in Kyoto are especially renowned for producing exceptional ceremonial-grade matcha,' Maria added. Matcha is a delicate product that is sensitive to light, heat, humidity and oxygen - exposure to any of these can cause it to oxidise and lose its freshness, therefore losing freshness and vibrancy. 'To keep it fresher for longer, store it in the fridge as soon as you open the pack,' Maria advised. President Trump is expected to announce a link between taking paracetamol during pregnancy and autism later todayand it's not the first time the over the counter painkiller has been cited as a cause for the neurodevelopment disorder. Paracetamolofficial known as acetaminophen and often sold under the brand name Panadol in the UK and Tylenol in the USis widely used by expectant mothers to treat pain, headaches and fever. Paracetamol is currently recommended by the NHS as the 'first choice' painkiller for expectant mothers, but only for short periods and at the lowest effective dose. Around half of pregnant women in the UK take paracetamol, and in the US the figure rises to around 65 per cent. Health chiefs advise that only certain people such as those with liver or kidney disease or taking epilepsy medication need to exercise extra caution. Dozens of studies have already linked it to higher rates of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But new reports claim that the US leader, 79, will formally make the link after a federal review into what is driving rising rates of autism across the country, an initiative spearheaded by Trump's controversial health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. In August, Harvard scientists warned that pregnant women should only take paracetamol under the advice of their doctors. Dozens of studies have already linked paracetamol, known as acetaminophen in the US, to autism and ADHD US researchers from Mount Sinai and Harvard's School of Public Health analysed more than 100,000 people, and their findings provided the 'strongest evidence so far' of a link. They urged mothers-to-be to use paracetamol sparingly, recommending only 'the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.' However, the team stressed the findings do not prove the drug directly causes neurodevelopmental disordersonly that the association is consistent and worrying enough to demand further investigation. Dr Diddier Prada, assistant professor of population health science at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and co-author of the study, said: 'Our findings show that higher-quality studies are more likely to show a link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and increased risks of autism and ADHD.' He added: 'Given the widespread use of this medication, even a small increase in risk could have major public health implications.' But he stressed that women should not suddenly stop taking it. 'Pregnant women should not stop taking medication without consulting their doctors. Untreated pain or fever can also harm the baby. 'Our study highlights the importance of discussing the safest approach with health care providers and considering non-drug options whenever possible.' Fascinating graphs show how ADHD prescriptions in the UK have risen over time, with the patient demographic shifting from children to adults with women in particular now driving the increase To reach their conclusion, the US researchers reviewed 46 separate studies involving more than 100,000 participants. The team collected detailed data on when paracetamol was takenwhether in the first, second or third trimester, or throughout the whole pregnancyand linked it with mothers' medical records. Writing in the journal Environmental Health, they concluded: 'Ultimately, the obtained scores suggest strong evidence of a likely relationship between prenatal acetaminophen use and increased risk of ADHD in children. 'This includes high-quality studies that provide very strong evidence of an association and studies that provide strong evidence of an association.' They added: 'There was strong evidence of a relationship between prenatal acetaminophen use and increased risk of autism in children.' In 2021, a study using health data from more than 70,000 children in six European countriesincluding the UKwas analysed by a team from the University of Barcelona. Fifty-six per cent of the mothers who had children on the autism spectrum or with ADHD took paracetamol while pregnant, the researchers discovered. Previous studies found that paracetamol can enter the body of the baby and release toxins that have been linked to poorer cognitive performance and behaviour problems in children. However, experts have long urged for caution about the suggested link. Professor Andrew Whitehouse, the Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research at The Kids Research Institute Australia, said that the findings are inconsistent. Speaking today, he said: 'There has been research exploring whether taking acetaminophen (also called paracetamol) during pregnancy could increase the likelihood of the offspring of the pregnancy being diagnosed with autism. 'Some studies have reported small associations, but these findings are not consistent and do not prove that acetaminophen directly causes autism. 'Autism is a complex condition influenced by many genetic and environmental factors. Any small associations in this area need to be weighed against the risk of untreated high fever in pregnancy for the woman and the developing baby.' Autism is not a disease and is present from birth, although it may not be recognised until childhood or even much later in life. It exists on a spectrum: while some people can live independently with little support, others may need full-time care. Meanwhile, NHS figures show more than 230,000 people in England are now prescribed ADHD medication to manage symptoms such as inattention and hyperactivity. There have been dozens of studies into the link between paracetamol and autism Prescription rates jumped by a fifth last year the sharpest annual rise since records began in 2015. The surge has been driven largely by women in their 20s and 30s, though prescriptions for children are also climbing. Experts have voiced concern that some private clinics are over-diagnosing the condition and handing out powerful stimulant drugs too freely. But others argue that far from being over-diagnosed, many adults are only now getting the help they were long denied. ADHD was only formally recognised in the UK as a disorder that persists into adulthood in 2008until then it was seen solely as a childhood problem that children would 'grow out of.' In the US, meanwhile, an estimated 2.3 million children and seven million adults have ASD. Diagnoses have risen sharply over the past two decades, according to shifting statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2000, about 1 in 150 children received an ASD diagnosis; by 2020, that figure had climbed to 1 in 31, a near-quadrupling that reflects both greater awareness and evolving diagnostic criteria. The surge in the US is further illustrated in a 2024 study of 12.2 million Americans' health records, which revealed a 175 percent increase in autism diagnoses over an 11-year period. While some experts attribute the rise to expanded screening and reduced stigma, others argue that biological and environmental factors may also play a role. This debate continues to divide researchers. Health experts have today hit back at 'dangerous' claims that paracetamol raises the risk of autism after President Trump said he had 'found an answer' to the condition. Paracetamolknown as acetaminophen and often sold under the brand name Tylenol in the USis widely used by expectant mothers to treat pain, headaches and fever. Dozens of studies have already linked it to higher rates of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the findings have not often been consistent. But reports today claim the US leader, 79, will formally make the link following a federal review into what is driving rising rates of autism across the country. Medical experts from across the globe have now insisted there is no proven link between the drug and neurodevelopmental disorder, arguing the announcement is merely 'fear mongering' and 'risks stigmatising families'. Dr Monique Botha, an associate professor in social and developmental psychology at Durham University, said: 'There is no robust evidence or convincing studies to suggest there is any causal relationship and any conclusions being drawn to the contrary are often motivated, under-evidenced, and unsupported by the most robust methods to answering this question. 'I am exceptionally confident in saying that no relationship exists. 'Pain relief for pregnant women is woefully lacking and paracetamol is a much safer pain relief option during pregnancy than basically any other alternative and we need to take pain seriously for women including whilst pregnant. President Trump revealed he would be making an announcement about autism during a detour in his speech at Charlie Kirk's memorial service in Arizona on September 21 (pictured) Dozens of studies have already linked it to higher rates of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the findings have not often been consistent 'The fear mongering will prevent women from accessing the appropriate care during pregnancy. 'It also risks stigmatising families who have autistic children as having brought it on themselves. 'It reinvigorates the long pattern of maternal shame and blame we've seen re-emerge repeatedly over the last 70 years, where we try to pay the fault of autism at the mother's door one way or another.' Dr Hannah Kirk, a senior lecturer in developmental psychology at Monash University, added: 'No study has shown that paracetamol causes autism. 'Some studies have reported an association between paracetamol use and autism, while others have not. Importantly, association does not mean causation. 'A recent large-scale study, which analysed data from 2.48 million births, found that when researchers compared siblingsa method to control for genetic and environmental factorsany apparent links between paracetamol and autism disappeared. 'This suggests that other factors such as genetic or underlying maternal health conditions may better explain the findings. 'It's also worth noting that fever itself has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. 'In many cases treating a fever with paracetamol may reduce those risks. 'Pregnant people should continue to follow the advice of their healthcare providers when managing pain and fever.' Professor Stephen Griffin, an infectious disease expert at the University of Leeds, meanwhile said the argument that paracetamol 'causes' autism 'lays the blame firmly at the parent's door. Just unbelievably cruel'. He added: 'It's a complex, polygenic, largely unpredictable syndrome. Fact.' Professor Dimitrios Siassakos, an expert in obstetrics and gynaecology at University College London also argued: 'Undue focus on paracetamol would risk preventing families from using one of the safest medications to use in pregnancy when needed.' President Trump revealed he would be making an announcement about autism during a detour in his speech at Charlie Kirk's memorial service on Sunday. 'I think you're going to find it to be amazing. I think we found an answer to autism,' he added. Trump added that his administration 'won't let it happen anymore.' But reports today claim the President Trump will formally make the link following a federal review into what is driving rising rates of autism across the country. The review was launched by US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, pictured during Charlie Kirk's memorial service in Arizona on September 21 'I think it's going to be one of the most important news conferences I'll ever have, and I look so forward to it,' he said. It comes as US researchers from Mount Sinai and Harvard's School of Public Health, last month, suggested that pregnant women should only take paracetamol on the advice of a doctor amid autism fears. The scientists said their analysis of more than 100,000 people was the most comprehensive yetand provided the 'strongest evidence so far' of a link. They urged mothers-to-be to use paracetamol sparingly, recommending only 'the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.' However, the team stressed the findings do not prove the drug directly causes neurodevelopmental disordersonly that the association is consistent and worrying enough to demand further investigation. Dr Diddier Prada, assistant professor of population health science at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and co-author of the study, said: 'Given the widespread use of this medication, even a small increase in risk could have major public health implications. 'Pregnant women should not stop taking medication without consulting their doctors. Untreated pain or fever can also harm the baby. 'Our study highlights the importance of discussing the safest approach with health care providers and considering non-drug options whenever possible.' Your browser does not support iframes. Paracetamol is currently recommended by the NHS as the 'first choice' painkiller for expectant mothers, but only for short periods and at the lowest effective dose. Around half of pregnant women in the UK take paracetamol, and in the US the figure rises to around 65 per cent. Health chiefs advise that only certain people such as those with liver or kidney disease or taking epilepsy medication need to exercise extra caution. NHS figures show almost 130,000 under-18s in England were waiting for an assessment in December 2024. Experts have described it as an 'invisible crisis', with services repeatedly failing to keep pace with rising demand. Last year, the Children's Commissioner warned that children left languishing for years on waiting lists were effectively being 'robbed' of their childhoods. Autism is not a disease and is present from birth, although it may not be recognised until childhood or even much later in life. It exists on a spectrum: while some people can live independently with little support, others may need full-time care. READ MORE: Tylenol maker responds to link between everyday drug and autism Donald Trump has announced an extraordinary shake-up in the medical advice given to Americans at a press conference about the possible causes of autism. The president said the FDA will immediately notify physicians to warn pregnant women to avoid acetaminophen, sold under the brand name Tylenol, 'unless medically necessary,' such as in cases of 'extremely high fever'. He warned that pregnant women 'have a responsibility' to endure pain instead of taking Tylenol and only take it if they 'can't tough it out' or have an extremely high fever. 'Fight like hell not to take it,' he said, also urging parents not to give it to children. Speaking at a press conference alongside Robert F Kennedy Jr, Trump also criticized America's 'disgraceful' vaccine schedule, despite the link between autism and vaccines being long disproven. It came as the administration unveiled the results of a federal review spearheaded by the health secretary, who earlier this year declared 'autism destroys families'. Trump called the rise of autism in the US 'one of most alarming medical crises in history,' citing a 400 per cent surge over the last several decades. He said: 'You know it's something artificial. 'With Tylenol, don't take it. There's not an alternative to that.' It's thought that the active ingredient in Tylenol, known around the world as paracetamol, may hinder fetal brain development, but research has largely been inconsistent, and major health bodies still recommend it for pregnant women. The maker of the Tylenol earlier pushed back against the Trump administration's claims that the painkiller causes autism, branding it 'dangerous' and insisting its drug remains the safest option for pain and fever relief in pregnant women. Donald Trump has claimed to have 'solved' America's autism 'epidemic,' linking the rise of the condition to Tylenol While widely considered safe during pregnancy, medical guidelines advise consulting a doctor before taking Tylenol (stock image) Your browser does not support iframes. Additionally, Trump praised the CDC's latest move to stop recommending the combined MMR and varicella vaccine and urged Americans to break up the MMR vaccine into three separate shots because mixing them 'could be a problem'. 'I've heard bad things about [the MMR] personally,' Trump said, despite also calling himself a 'big believer in vaccines'. On the flip side, Robert F Kennedy touted an 'exciting' development in autism improvement: the $2.50-per-pill drug leucovorin, which is derived from folic acid. While research on leucovorin is also mixed, doctors specializing in the relationship between the drug and autism told the Daily Mail the administration's focus on it 'gives hopes' to families across the country. Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is a vital nutrient that helps synthesize DNA and replicates and repairs cells throughout the body. Women are already advised to take folic acid during pregnancy to prevent birth defects in the fetal brain and spinal cord, but a growing body of research suggests it could help repair pathways in a child's brain well after birth. Dr Marty Makary, FDA commissioner, also said the agency plans to approve the use of leucovorin for autistic children, and it is expected to be covered by government-subsidized insurance, with Dr Mehmet Oz stating private insurance companies are 'likely to follow'. Trump said: 'It's not that everything is 100 per cent understood or known, but I think we've made a lot of strides. 'We understood a lot more than a lot of people who studied it, we think. 'This is a very important day.' Trump also repeated a long touted myth that there is no autism in the Amish community, which has been disproven. President Trump is pictured alongside Robert F Kennedy Jr and Dr Mehmet Oz on Monday Trump warned that pregnant women should 'fight like hell' not to take Tylenol or give it to their children (stock image) The announcement comes as the Trump administration and Kennedy have made it a top priority to tackle America's rising autism rates, with one in 31 children now estimated to have the condition compared to one in 150 children in 2000. Trump cited that the rate was closer to one in 20,000 decades ago but did not specify. Historical data suggests the president was exaggerating. Experts say the increase is largely due to a loosening of the definition of autism and because doctors have become better at detecting the condition. But others, including RFK Jr, have suggested toxins in the environment, older parents or maternal obesity could be behind the rise. Kennedy said: 'We are continuing to investigate multiplicity of potential causes. 'We will be uncompromising and relentless in our pursuit. Whatever the answer is, we will tell you what we find.' NIH head Dr Jay Bhattacharya also announced his agency would devote an additional $50million to studying the causes of autism. He said: 'The sharp rise of autism deserves an urgent response by the scientific community.' Acetaminophen is widely used by pregnant women, with about 60 per cent taking the drug, to reduce fevers and pain that could harm both mother and baby. Acetaminophen is found in Tylenol and a number of other medications, including over-the-counter cold and flu drugs such as DayQuil and NyQuil and sleep aids such as Excedrin PM. Ten-year-old Meghan Dumesnil (pictured here) was diagnosed with autism as a preschooler after having 'very delayed speech.' She has had 'dramatic' improvements since starting leucovorin Nathaniel Schumann (pictured here), 12, would only speak two to three words at a time before starting leucovorin, and they would only be related to something he wanted Dr Makary said: 'We now have evidence we cannot ignore.' The drug is considered to be among the only safe and doctor-approved pain and fever reliever for use in pregnant women. Major medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, say it is safe for pregnant women to take the drug, although they recommend consulting with a doctor. ACOG said in a statement: 'Todays announcement by HHS is not backed by the full body of scientific evidence and dangerously simplifies the many and complex causes of neurologic challenges in children. It is highly unsettling that our federal health agencies are willing to make an announcement that will affect the health and well-being of millions of people without the backing of reliable data. 'In more than two decades of research on the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that the use of acetaminophen in any trimester of pregnancy causes neurodevelopmental disorders in children.' Dr Monique Botha, a developmental psychologist at Durham University in the UK, said in a statement released by the Science Media Center: 'There is no robust evidence or convincing studies to suggest there is any causal relationship and any conclusions being drawn to the contrary are often motivated, under-evidenced, and unsupported by the most robust methods to answering this question. 'I am exceptionally confident in saying that no relationship exists.' Tylenol is widely used by pregnant women, with estimates suggesting 60 per cent take the drug during their pregnancy to help reduce fevers and pain (stock image) Your browser does not support iframes. Dr Randa Jaafar, a pain management specialist in New York City, told the Daily Mail: 'There are many other factors of maternal use that have higher links with autism like smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy. '[Acetaminophen] can accumulate in the fetal liver and brain - that is what can affect brain development but it has to be taken in high amounts for this to happen by the mother, which would be rare unless a mom is overdosing on Tylenol.' A spokesperson for Kenvue, which produces Tylenol and other popular drugs like Zyrtec and Benadryl, told the Daily Mail in a statement: 'We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers. 'Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women as needed throughout their entire pregnancy. Without it, women face dangerous choices: suffer through conditions like fever that are potentially harmful to both mom and baby or use riskier alternatives. 'The facts are that over a decade of rigorous research, endorsed by leading medical professionals and global health regulators, confirms there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism. 'We stand with the many public health and medical professionals who have reviewed this science and agree. We will continue to explore all options to protect the health interests of American women and children.' Folic acid-derived leucovorin, meanwhile, has seen an increasing body of evidence supporting its effectiveness. Folic acid's naturally occurring form, folate, is found in foods such as leafy green vegetables, beans, and lentils. But research shows up to three in four autistic children don't get enough folate supply to their brain, causing delays in speech and behavioral issues. Dr Richard Frye, a pediatric neurologist at Rossignol Medical Center in Arizona, is one of 50 doctors in the US prescribing leucovorin to autistic children to improve their speech Ryan Baldridge Jr (pictured here), an eight-year-old with autism, was almost completely non-verbal when he started taking leucovorin. Two weeks later, he told his father he loved him Dr Richard Frye, a pediatric neurologist at Rossignol Medical Center in Arizona, told the Daily Mail: 'We find that up to 75 percent of children with autism have a blockage in the ability to get folate into the central nervous system. Folate levels in the central nervous system are restored with leucovorin at prescription doses.' It's believed these children have autoantibodies in their blood - a type of antibody that mistakenly targets and attacks the body's tissues and organs. These autoantibodies are known to block a protein called folate receptor alpha, a protein that transports folic acid from the blood into the brain and placenta. Leucovorin is approved in the US for patients to protect their cells especially blood cells - against the damaging effects of chemotherapy, but doctors can prescribe it 'off label' for other conditions since it has been deemed safe by the FDA. Dr Frye, who has been studying leucovorin for the past 20 years and is one of just 50 doctors nationwide prescribing it to autistic children, estimates the drug helps about 70 per cent of the children who take it. The announcement comes after health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr labeled America's rising autism rates an 'epidemic' and promised answers by September Your browser does not support iframes. Dr Frye told the Daily Mail: 'This is a safe, well-tolerated treatment which can improve lives of many individuals with autism. It is not a cure, but it improves the function of many children substantially.' 'I think this is a major step forward to get many children with autism treated and improve their ability to function. 'It is particularly groundbreaking in the fact that many do not think autism can be treated at its core. This treatment fixes core biological deficits and therefore could be disease modifying. 'Recognition by the administration that there is such a treatment gives hope to many families.' Speaking previously to the Daily Mail, parents working with Dr Frye revealed the 'dramatic' difference leucovorin made in their autistic children. The family of eight-year-old Ryan Baldridge Jr, for example, said their son went from 'basically non-verbal' to speaking full sentences within six weeks. He even was finally able to tell his father that he loved him. And Nathaniel Schumann, 12, went from only being able to say one or two words at a time to finally being able to tell his family about what was bothering him. His mother told this website: 'It is a combination of therapies as well as leucovorin, but when leucovorin was added to the mix, that's when we noticed the change.' Jimmy Kimmel Live! will likely never return to the air after the host was pulled last week for his comments regarding Charlie Kirk, a staffer on the show has revealed. 'I want to think it will. But I can't imagine a scenario in which that happens,' the unnamed employee told journalist Rick Ellis. 'Even if Jimmy was willing to publicly apologize and donate money to whatever ghoulish conservative group that is demanding it.' Kimmel was suspended last week after saying 'the MAGA gang' was attempting to portray the suspect in Charlie Kirk's assassination 'as anything other than one of them.' 'MAGA people will never be happy. It will never be enough,' the staffer said. 'And Disney will look at the situation and decide it's cheaper to buy out the rest of his contract and replace the show with reruns of Modern Family and Judge Judy. 'Somehow, they'll convince themselves the worst is behind them. Until a day or two pass and they find themselves having to defend Whoopi [Goldberg] and the other women of The View. And no one wants to be in that position.' The staffer wasn't surprised that top brass didn't stand up for Kimmel after he was singled out by Federal Communication Commission Chairman Brendan Carr. Jimmy Kimmel Live! will likely stay shelved, a staffer has revealed The staffer predicted that 'Disney will look at the situation and decide it's cheaper to buy out the rest of his contract and replace the show with reruns of Modern Family and Judge Judy' Several ABC affiliates refused to air Kimmel's show after Carr suggested the network could lose its license to broadcast. ABC parent company Disney then made the decision to pull the show entirely. 'I had zero faith that any of the network execs had the slightest bit of stones to stand up for their employees. I mean, yeah, I was surprised it happened that specific day. But you could see it coming,' the staffer continued. 'Every time some MAGA a**hat would spout off about the show, the knot in my stomach just got tighter.' When asked what they thought Kimmel's critics had a point, the staffer said: 'Even if I thought that, I would never say it out loud. I would feel as if I was betraying the show. 'But no, I don't think they had a point. 'The Trump folks are like that crooked cop who wants to pull over a driver and waits until they make some slight mistake. "Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Black Guy, you didn't come to a complete stop and look both ways at that last stop sign." 'That's our show. We were always a running stop away from unemployment.' FCC boss Benden Carr told podcaster Benny Johnson on Wednesday he was considering an investigation into Kimmel Kimmel is seen driving in Los Angeles on Friday On Sunday, Kimmel 's cousin hinted that there is more drama to come. Sal Iacono, who is a longtime writer and performer on the show, said on The Bill Simmons Podcast 'there are a couple bombshells still there.' 'I'm feeling good. We're going to be all right. Everything's going to be just fine, Iacono said'. Turning his attention to how Kimmel will cope, he continued: 'He'll be fine, whatever he wants to do.' President Donald Trump shot down speculation that he and Elon Musk had made up after the the pair were seen chatting at Charlie Kirk's memorial on Sunday. The two men were captured shaking hands while sitting next to each other during the event in Glendale, Arizona, leading to questions about their relationship following a highly publicized falling out. Trump addressed the moment when asked by a reporter about it aboard Air Force One on Sunday. 'Everyone's saying that Charlie brought you and Elon back together. Is that true?' the reporter asked. 'Well, Elon came over and said hello. And, no, it's nothing to do with that,' the president replied. 'I thought it was nice. You know, he came over, we had a little conversation. We had a very good relationship. But it was nice that he came.' Footage of their time together showed Trump spending more time talking with UFC boss Dana White on his left as Musk looked on. Musk had slid into an empty seat next to him moments before, according The New York Times. Donald Trump and Elon Musk were seen sitting next to each other at Charlie Kirk's memorial in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday Trump addressed the moment when asked by a reporter about it aboard Air Force One on Sunday Shorter clips of their interaction showed Trump and Musk appearing to exchange pleasantries, with the two men shaking hands and Trump patting Musk on the knee. The encounter raised eyebrows, given Musk's high-profile exit from the White House in June. The billionaire found himself at odds with the president over his Big Beautiful Bill, which Musk said would balloon the national debt. The administration also pulled back on electric-vehicle mandates that would have benefited Musk's car company, Tesla, immensely. Musk also attacked the president on social media by implying he was in the notorious 'Epstein files' and claimed Trump would have lost the election without him. Musk also threatened to start a new, third political party. Trump, in return, branded him 'crazy.' The two have been at odds since. Footage of their time together showed Trump spending more time talking with UFC boss Dana White on his left as Musk looked on The billionaire Tesla CEO spent more than $290million during Trump's 2024 campaign to get him re-elected. He was subsequently named a special advisor to the president in January, overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk stepped down as head of DOGE in May. A business expert has predicted that Republicans will prop up Tucker Carlson as the party's next presidential candidate. Marketing professor and media personality Scott Galloway, 60, made the stunning claim while discussing the decline of traditional television on the Pivot podcast. His co-host, Kara Swisher, said the former Fox News host 'was absolutely right' for warning that 'civil disobedience' could erupt if the Trump administration used the assassination of Charlie Kirk to attack free speech. 'I think Tucker right now is the most likely nominee for the Republican nomination,' Galloway replied. 'I think he has been very good lately.' He cited Carlson's willingness to defy party lines while making the bold prediction. 'About housing, for young people, he comes across as intellectually honest. He comes across as courageous, not afraid to go against his own party,' Galloway said. His forecast framed Carlson as the more probable pick than the widely accepted frontrunner, Vice President JD Vance. Republicans will prop up Tucker Carlson as the party's next presidential candidate, according to one expert Marketing professor and media personality Scott Galloway, 60, made the stunning claim while discussing the decline of traditional television on the Pivot podcast His forecast framed Carlson as the more probable pick than the widely accepted frontrunner, Vice President JD Vance Donald Trump has floated both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as possible successors since his January reelection. Department of Homeland Security boss Kristi Noem is also seen as a possible 2028 contender. Other names that could potentially appear on primary ballots include Tim Scott, Ted Cruz, Glenn Younkin, and Rand Paul. Carlson, who was fired from Fox News in April 2023, now hosts a successful podcast. He recently earned the ire of some MAGA faithful for openly opposing Trump's strikes in Iran, as well as hosting the Iranian president on his show. He has also spoken out against US support for Israel. At a Turning Point USA event in Tampa this past July, Carlson slammed the Trump administration for what he framed as grandstanding rather than really creating change. 'I don't know, it kind feels like you're feeding me appetizers,' an emotional Carlson had told audience members. 'At some point, I want to look around and see a better country. I want to see a country I recognize.' He appeared at Kirk's memorial service on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona, as did Vance. Jimmy Kimmel could face a mutiny from his crew if he doesn't speak out against Disney for suspending his show. Insiders told the Daily Mail staff expect the late-night host to 'come out swinging' when he returns to air on Tuesday night. The 57-year-old's show was put on hiatus over his comments about conservative leader Charlie Kirk's assassination. Disney announced on Monday the show would return after days of talks with Kimmel, sparking speculation of how he would respond to the scandal. A source has now told the Daily Mail the content of Kimmel's opening monologue is being kept a secret, and it's unclear if he will address the suspension. Staff at the show don't know whether he will apologize, or decide to criticize Disney and ABC's move. But the insider has made clear that there could be consequences if Kimmel doesn't defend himself and fight back against censorship. Jimmy Kimmel could face a mutiny from his crew if he doesn't speak out against Disney for suspending his show The source told the Daily Mail: 'We won't know what he's doing to say to address it, they're going to keep that secret, but I can tell you he's not going to roll over and just take it. 'The last week has made his balls bigger, not smaller. I expect him to come out swinging and I think everyone here does. 'We are depending on him to stand up for what's right. If he doesn't, there will be a mutiny.' Another source told Daily Mail that Kimmel is coming back for his staff, because he didn't want them left in limbo. 'He is coming back for everyone that works for him and out of respect for them, he wanted everyone in his crew not to miss any pay and any more work than they already have missed,' the insider said. 'As much as he wanted to leave ABC and expected not to be coming back at all, he is happy that the people he works with will have some time to figure out their next steps, because what this taught Jimmy was that he might not be leaving ABC now, he will once his contract is up unless they offer him a boatload of money. 'He is mad at them for doing this to him and his team and tomorrow will be must see TV, he is going to give us a glimpse of what he has been dealing with the last few days and we will all know what his plans are for the future. 'He isn't going to take this lying down.' Insiders told the Daily Mail staff expect the late-night host to 'come out swinging' when he returns to air on Tuesday night Kimmel claimed on his show last Monday that 'the MAGA gang' was attempting to portray the suspect in Kirk's assassination 'as anything other than one of them'. The comments sparked outrage, and a warning from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr that ABC and Disney could be punished. Within hours, more than a dozen ABC affiliates told the network and Disney it would not be airing Kimmel's show until the remarks were addressed. Disney and senior ABC execs then made the call to pull Kimmel's show 'indefinitely'. On Monday, Disney announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return on Tuesday night. 'Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,' Disney's statement said. Disney and senior ABC execs then made the call to pull Kimmel's show 'indefinitely' 'It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. 'We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.' No further details were provided. Kimmel's controversial comments occurred on his show last Monday. 'We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it,' he said. 'In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving on Friday. The White House flew the flags at half-staff, which got some criticism, but on a human level, you can see how hard the president is taking this.' Kimmel then played a clip of Trump responding to a question about how he was coping with Kirk's death, before poking fun at the president's mourning process. The two parties had been engaged in talks since, in hopes of finding a way to get the show back on the air. Carr, during his conversation with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, framed an apology 'as a very reasonable, minimal step that can be taken'. Disney co-chairman Dana Walden and chief executive Bob Iger made the call to suspend the host over his on-air comments. Suspect Tyler Robinson, meanwhile, has been charged with capital murder. Prosecutors released a slew of text messages and other evidence that appeared to hint at a motive last week In a text to his transgender partner shortly after the murder, Robinson allegedly said of Kirk: 'I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out.' In another, he discussed how his father 'has been pretty die-hard MAGA' since Trump had been re-elected. Utah Governor Spencer Cox has said the suspect's ideology was very different than his family', and that his motivation was rooted in radicalization. The Daily Mail has gone to Disney and Kimmel for comment. A new $100,000 fee for skilled worker visas introduced by President Donald Trump will weigh on economic growth and put the US at risk of recession, analysts have warned. The White House confirmed over the weekend the US would immediately start charging the levy every time a company makes a request to bring in a skilled worker from another country via the H-1B visa. The move could have a serious impact on the country's all-important technology sector, which heavily relies on importing talent from overseas. And, when combined with Trump's other attempts to wean the US off foreign labour, the President's new H-1B fee could put the brakes on the country's economic output, according to investment bank Berenberg. Berenberg on Monday slashed US growth forecasts for this year from 2 to 1.5 per cent, as economist Atakan Bakiskan decried 'yet another policy mistake' and more 'anti-growth policymaking' from the Trump administration. Trump Gold Card: New H1B visa will introduce $100,000 fee to apply to import skilled foreign labour Bakiskan said: 'Deportation efforts, attempts to strip work permits from existing employees, and a hostile environment for foreign workers have already caused labour force growth in the US to nearly flatline. 'With the new H1B policy, the labour force is more likely to shrink than expand going forward. The future of economic growth now depends almost exclusively on productivity gains. 'However, by making it very expensive for companies to attract foreign talent, and by forcing some international students to leave the country after graduation, the brain drain will weigh heavily on productivity.' He warned that even 1.5 per cent growth 'may soon look optimistic', with 'the erosion of trust in institutions, a loss of human capital, tariffs, chronic uncertainty, and unsustainable fiscal policies' hiking 'the tail risk of a financial crisis in the US'. 'In the long run, they may set a path for an even weaker dollar and higher long-term yields,' he added. 'Can the economy still grow with no job creation? Yes, but at a slower rate and with a higher risk of stagnation or recession.' Britain could CUT visa fees for skilled workers It came as reports suggested the UK is considering abolishing some visa fees for skilled overseas workers. The Financial Times said Prime Minister Keir Starmer is looking at cutting fees for a fast-track visa to settlement in the UK designed to attract top talent in science, engineering, humanities, medicine, digital technology or arts and culture. Britain's global talent visa, introduced by Boris Johnson 2020, costs 766 to apply for, with partners and children paying the same fee. There is also an annual health surcharge fee of 1,035. A total of 3,901 people were granted the visa in the year to June 2023, according to the FT, marking a 73 per cent rise on the previous year. Neil Wilson, UK investor strategist at Saxo Markets, said the new US visa fees could prove 'tricky' for tech and finance companies and weigh on their share prices later today, noting Amazon alone employs 14,000 people on H-1Bs. Victoria Scholar, head of investment at investing platform Interactive Investor, added: 'US futures are pointing to a slightly lower open after fresh all time highs for the S&P 500 and the Dow on Friday. 'Markets await the fallout from Trump's crackdown on immigration by raising the H-1B application fee to $100,000.' Major companies need to prepare better for cyber-attacks, a business professor has warned in the wake of Jaguar Land Rover being paralysed by one this month. David Bailey, professor of Business Economics at the University of Birmingham, told the BBC the cyber attack on JLR should serve as a 'wake-up call' for other businesses. JLR has made no cars this month at any of its plants in Liverpool, Solihull and Wolverhampton, with its production cut by 24,000 as a result of the attack. He said this has already impacted profits by 120million, and has led to 1.7billion in lost revenue. Bailey says the shutdown could be costing JLR 5million per day. The cyber attack, which took place earlier this month, forced JLR to shut down its systems. The firm sent staff home at its Liverpool plant. JLR made no cars this month at any of its plants in Liverpool, Solihull and Wolverhampton, with its production cut by 24,000 according to Bailey While it initially said no data had been stolen, JLR has since said that some customer data may have been affected. 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.' While JLR is large enough survive the cyber attack, Bailey says the Government will have to intervene to save the rest of the supply chain. Bailey says a furlough and emergency loan scheme should be introduced. Jonathan Lee, UK cybersecurity director at Trend Micro, told This is Money: 'The cyber-attack that has disrupted operations at JLR is yet another example of how serious and damaging cyber attacks can be, both for victim organisations themselves as well as their supply chain partners. 'Businesses and MPs are rightly questioning what more can be done to reduce the impact of these attacks on organisations in the UK. 'There's already a body of existing government schemes to improve the UK's cyber resilience, with legislation in the works, but these should be seen as the minimum expected standards as a floor rather than a ceiling.' Six West Midlands MPs have today called for the Department of Business and Trade to provide short term loans to affected suppliers. The Government said in a statement that it is working with JLR to understand the impacts on the supply chain, and to support the restarting of production. Sarah Coombes, Labour MP for West Bromwich, says the Government is considering multiple options but has yet to decide on a response. A spokes,am for JLR said: 'This action complements JLR's wider response, including our focus on our global supply chain, our retail partners, our clients and our people as we continue to work around the clock to restart our global applications in a controlled and safe manner.' Bailey told the BBC: 'We need to start thinking about how to build the resilience of the manufacturing system.' Lee said: 'UK organisations need to take a proactive, continuously evolving approach to keeping themselves secure from threats, modelling how attackers might strike to stay ahead of their adversaries. 'No single step will prevent every attack. 'Ensuring that cybersecurity is treated as an organisational priority is the best approach, with strong governance, robust basics, suitable investment, use of up-to-date technology and a proactive culture of vigilance.' Last week, Heathrow airport and a number of other major European airports faced swathes of flight delays after automatic check-in and boarding software provided by Collins Aerospace was targeted by hackers. Other major UK businesses have suffered cyber attacks in recent months, with M&S and Co-op, crippling the two retailers, with Co-op shelves left bare and M&S IT systems still not fully restored. Hackers stole the data of millions of customers and stuff at the two firms, and M&S says it expects to lose 300million in profits as a result of the attack. JLR isn't expected to resume production until at least Wednesday. Getting a mortgage is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make and comes with a lot of responsibility. For many buyers, appointing a mortgage broker can help them make sense of the market and decide what option best suits their circumstances. A mortgage broker can be particularly useful for buyers with smaller deposits, the self-employed or people who have not been with their current employer for long, who might need some extra help to find the right deal. However, as with any form of adviser, it is important to do your research before appointing a mortgage broker. There are 12 questions you should ask your prospective mortgage broker to determine if they are the right fit for you, and have the most suitable mortgage deal for your needs. Do your prep: Getting a mortgage is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make 1. Which lenders do you work with? A mortgage broker who works with a broad range of lenders can offer you more options. Some only work with a selected 'panel' of banks and building societies, while others cover the whole market. Jonathan Bone, head of mortgages at online mortgage broker Better, said: 'If they work with only a select few, you could be missing out on better deals elsewhere.' Nicholas Mendes, mortgage technical manager at John Charcol, told the Daily Mail: 'The breath of a broker's panel directly determines the options you'll see. 'Whole-of-market access means high street banks, building societies and specialist lenders are all in play. 'That increases the odds of matching unusual income, property type, or credit history to a lender that truly fits.' He added: 'With a restricted or tied proposition, you may never even see a product that would have been better for you.' 2. Are you independent? Brokers who are tied to certain lenders may be limited in their offerings. Bone, said: 'Independent mortgage brokers offer impartial advice because they aren't tied to any specific lender.' 3. Are you regulated? Mortgage brokers should be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in one of two ways. You can check on the FCA's online register to ensure the firm or individual broker you are considering is regulated. 'Mortgage brokers must either be authorised by us or become an appointed representative of another firm that has the relevant permissions', the FCA says on its website. 4. How are you paid and what fees are involved? Clarity on fees and commissions from the outset will help prevent 'nasty surprises' later, Mendes said. He added: 'It also helps you compare brokers on value rather than just headline promises. 'Knowing when fees are due - upfront, on offer, or on completion - lets you manage cash flow during a costly move. Full disclosure on fees reduces the risk that remuneration influences the recommendation you receive.' Bone, of Better, added: 'Some mortgage brokers charge a fee for their service, while others are paid a commission by the lender. 'Ask for a clear breakdown of the costs involved - some brokers may offer free initial consultations but charge a flat fee or percentage later on.' 5. Who will you share my financial details with? Check who the broker plans to share your financial details with if you appoint them. Bone, said: 'If a mortgage broker was recommended by an estate agent, it is important to know if and how they share your financial information. 'You want to ensure that your mortgage broker is working in your best interests and not revealing sensitive details like how much you can afford, which could be used to influence property negotiations. 'It is essential to clarify the broker's policy on confidentiality to protect your financial privacy.' 6. Will you do hard or soft checks on my credit file? It is important to know what sort of credit checks are likely to be carried out on you and when. Mendes said: 'Poorly sequenced hard searches can erode your score right before an underwriter looks at it. Soft searches are less intrusive and can be used to gauge eligibility. 'A careful plan limits footprint while still moving your case forward. This protects approvals and preserves options if you need a plan B.' Options: Porting your mortgage deal means staying with your existing lender when you buy a new home 7. What stress tests will be used to assess affordability? Mortgage lenders test your budget at a higher rate than the one you will pay initially. Knowing the 'stress rate' they use, or a ballpark estimate of what this might be, helps set a realistic price range and avoid failed applications. 'A broker who models this with you upfront saves time and disappointment', Mendes said. 8. What will the true cost of the mortgage be? Headline rates can distract from chunky product fees, valuation and legal costs, and short incentive periods. Asking for the total cash cost over, say, two or five years lets you compare like-for-like. You can also use This is Money's true cost mortgage calculator to run these figures. Mendes said: 'Sometimes a slightly higher rate with minimal fees is cheaper overall than a rock-bottom rate with a big fee. A good broker will lay this out clearly so you can see the pounds-and-pence difference.' 9. Is the mortgage portable? Porting your mortgage deal means staying on your existing mortgage deal when you buy a new home. According to Yorkshire Building Society: 'It can be a good money-saving option especially if you are part way through a deal which carries exit fees and early repayment charges, since you could avoid having to pay. 'It can also save you money if the mortgage rate you are already on is lower than any of your lenders current deals.' Mendes added: 'Porting isnt automatic approval. You must still pass affordability checks, and the new property must meet certain criteria. 'Timelines can be tight, and chain complications can derail a port. You may also need a top-up loan at a different rate, changing the overall cost. Knowing the process and pitfalls upfront can save a deal from falling apart mid-move.' 10. Why is this deal best for me? There are different types of mortgages available and your broker should help you find the best fit for you. Mendes said: 'The right structure should mirror your income pattern, savings habits, and tolerance for rate movement. 'Fixes buy budgeting certainty, which can be invaluable for families or first-time buyers. Trackers can work if you can handle fluctuations and want the potential to benefit if rates fall. Offset mortgages can dramatically cut interest for savers and freelancers who carry cash balances.' You will also need to be clear what, if any, early repayment charges apply and how much you can overpay if you are in a position to do so. 11. What documents will I need to provide? Most mortgage application delays stem from paperwork gaps or inconsistencies. Mendes said: 'Having precise bank statements, payslips or SA302s, identity documents and deposit proof ready speeds things up. 'Clean bank conduct in the run-up to application also helps underwriting. A detailed checklist from your broker can shave days or even weeks off the process.' 12. What happens if the mortgage application is rejected? Mortgage applications do not always go smoothly and it is important to know what your broker will do if things do not go to plan. If your initial mortgage application is declined, your broker should have a plan B. Mendes said: 'Criteria and appetite can shift mid-process, even for strong cases. 'A prepared fallback avoids losing momentum and keeps your move alive. 'Clear fee terms reduce anxiety if you have to switch lender or product. You want a broker who is proactive under pressure, not reactive after a setback.' It is often described as one of life's greatest joys - the profound experience of becoming a parent. But for several men across the UK, it has become irreversibly tainted with inexplicable grief, anger and resentment. A growing number of fathers are being subjected to the betrayal of learning that their 'child' is, in actual fact, not biologically their own. They had been present for the birth and held back tears as they cradled their beloved son or daughter in their arms for the first time. Over a number of years, they emotionally and financially invested in their future. But then, suspicions slowly start to mount about their relation to the child. 'I remember one day I took a photo of my child and they made this facial expression. They didn't look like their mother, and they didn't look like me either. 'I just thought, "Oh my God." It was like a lightbulb moment. I just knew I needed to get a DNA test', emotionally recounts Michael Thompson, 46. The devastating deceit Mr Thompson had fallen victim to is known as paternity fraud - the intentional misidentification of a child's biological father. Michael Thompson (pictured), 46, has fallen victim to a devastating deceit known as paternity fraud - the intentional misidentification of a child's biological father. When his child was nearly two, he took a secret DNA test which revealed that the mother of the child had lied to him Ryan Hampson (pictured), 26, had been overjoyed when his ex-girlfriend revealed she was pregnant - even presenting him with DNA tests to prove it. However, it later transpired that the child (pictured), was not biologically his. In April, she admitted fraud by false representation Ryan's mother, Claire Hampson, of Warrington, Cheshire, said: 'Ryan (pictured with the baby he believed was his child) just wanted to end his life because he discovered that it wasn't actually his child after all. It was horrific, our world completely fell apart' Founder of support network and charity Paternity Fraud UK, Mr Thompson said that he had a relationship with someone 'who I thought was an amazing, really kind and caring woman'. But after relations between the pair began to gradually break down, in 2017 he boarded a one-way flight to Berlin with zero plans to return. Then, the next day his partner, who he said was entirely unaware of his plans to relocate, left him a life-changing phone call: 'I'm pregnant!', she declared with joy. In shock, Mr Thompson boarded a flight back to the UK the next day before returning to the marital home. His child, whom he named, was born in 2018. He described it as the 'happiest day of my life'. Though the pair split six months later, Mr Thompson insisted that they were able to amicably co-parent. But over time, he began to develop suspicions about whether he was truly the child's father. At four or five months, he noticed that the child 'heavily looked like their mother' and that he 'could hardly see much of a resemblance to me at all'. After cutting contact with the child, Mr Thompson (pictured) emotionally recounted having to take pictures off the walls, remove all of the toys, and eventually repaint the nursery. He said: 'It still affects me to this day, I suffer from flashbacks. Its horrendous' Ryan Hampson (pictured) seen arriving at Liverpool Crown Court for the sentencing of his former partner, Beth Fernley, on April 15 2025 Ms Hampson said that the family's ordeal was 'the most horrendous thing I've ever been through', adding that they have forced to 'grieve the loss of a child who is still alive.' Pictured: Ms Hampson and the young child she had been led to believe was her biological granddaughter Then, when the child reached the 15-month-old mark, a friend voiced their fears that the child could have a different father while the two were sharing a drink at a local pub. Ultimately, Mr Thompson finally felt compelled to do a DNA test to 'settle his mind'. Recounting his decision to take the test in secret, he said: I was convinced the email would come back and tell me that I was the father, and then I would just forget about the whole thing and carry on raising him. 'But then it came back that I wasn't the father. My whole world stopped.' While Mr Thompson said that he had expressed his desire to adopt the child, the mother refused and he later made the difficult decision to cut all contact. Mr Thompson emotionally recounts having to take pictures off the walls, slowly remove all the toys, and eventually repaint the nursery. He said: 'I see two-year-old children and I still get choked up now, because that was the age of my child. It still affects me to this day, I suffer from flashbacks. Its horrendous.' In April 2020, Mr Thompson (pictured) felt compelled to do a DNA test. He said: I was convinced the email would come back and tell me that I was the father.' Recounting the moment the results came back, he said: 'My whole world stopped' Ms Hampson (pictured with the child), said: 'If there was more of a deterrent, if there was a harsher punishment, or if people were tested, then people really would think twice about doing it in the first place.' At present, paternity fraud is not a crime in the UK And, what 'hurts me more than anything', Mr Thompson, added, is that the biological father later 'walked away' from the young child, leaving them, he claims, fatherless. He continued: 'The child is the biggest victim in all of this. They won't remember me, but there are other children this happens to that have really built up a relationship with this parent. 'Then there's the extended family - my mother, my father, my brother, my nephew, they've all lost a family member too. 'Its completely damaged my relationships and its made me never want to have children again.' Claire Hampson, 49, has experienced paternity fraud from an entirely different perspective - as a deceived grandmother. In 2019, her 26-year-old son Ryan had rekindled his relationship with ex-girlfriend Beth Fernley. Though the pair had initially split, Fernley sent Ryan, of Warrington, Cheshire, DNA test results that made it appear that there was a 99.9 per cent chance that he was the father of her unborn baby. Reassured by the results, his name was placed on the official birth certificate and for two years he lovingly doted on his precious daughter. Ryan's ex girlfriend, Beth Fernley (pictured) deliberately tricked him into believing that he was the father of her child. Despite the depths of the deceit, Ms Hampson said that Ryan was still 'utterly in love' with the young child and 'couldn't bear not having a relationship with her' Ms Hampson (pictured), who was forced to cut all contact with a young child that she was tricked into believing was her granddaughter, tearfully said: 'We should never have been allowed to bond. We should have known the truth. It was so unbelievably cruel' But in 2021, Ms Hampson said Ryan unexpectedly came to her and 'completely broke down'. Recalling the heartbreaking moment, she tearfully said: 'He basically just wanted to end his life because he discovered that it wasn't actually his child after all. 'It was horrific, our world completely fell apart. He wouldn't acknowledge that the daughter wasn't his even though the company had confirmed that everything was fake. 'My son was broken because he felt like his whole life had been a complete lie. He would never have gotten back with her if he didn't think the child was his.' It was later revealed that Fernley had forged the DNA test results Ryan had received. Then, in an attempt to backtrack on her lies, when the child was a toddler she sent Ryan a fake letter from the DNA company claiming that they had made a mistake. In a state of confusion, Mr Hampson contacted the firm. It was only then that he finally began to realise the inexplicable truth of Fernley's actions. They had zero record of him on their system. It turned out that his beloved daughter was, in actual fact, biologically somebody else's. Despite the depths of the deceit, Ms Hampson said that Ryan was still 'utterly in love' with the young child and 'couldn't bear not having a relationship with her'. Despite the depths of the deceit, Ms Hampson said that Ryan (pictured) was still 'utterly in love' with the young child and 'couldn't bear not having a relationship with her.' Having felt 'pushed out' he eventually made the decision, one year on, to stop all contact with the child In April, Fernley (pictured) admitted fraud by false representation and was sentenced to 13 months in jail, suspended for 18 months. She had to undertake 10 days of rehabilitation activity, 200 hours of unpaid work and pay 300 compensation and a statutory charge But, much to his dismay, Fernley had introduced the young toddler to her biological father. She later informed Ryan that she 'no longer saw him as the father and he would now be referred to as Ryan, rather than Dad'. Having felt 'pushed out', Ryan eventually decided, one year on, to stop all contact with the child. Ms Hampson described it as 'the hardest decision of his life'. In April, at Liverpool Crown Court, Fernley admitted fraud by false representation but avoided jail - she was sentenced to 13 months in jail, suspended for 18 months. Fernley was also ordered to undertake 10 days of rehabilitation activity, 200 hours of unpaid work, alongside to pay compensation of 300 and a statutory charge. Following the verdict, DC Josh Darby, from Cheshire Police, said: 'This isn't just about money, the deceit had real and devastating emotional consequences which are enduring for both the victim and his family. 'For two years the joy, love and bond of a loving father and grandmother was so strong that the impact of the deceit and betrayal was truly profound. 'To go to these lengths for financial gain is cruel and calculating. It has left a family grieving and trying to pick up the pieces, while enduring deep sorrow that what they thought was a joyful reality was in fact a wicked lie.' Ms Hampson said that the family's ordeal was 'the most horrendous thing I've ever been through', adding that they have been forced to 'grieve the loss of a child who is still alive'. She added: 'We were reassured that her biological father had regular contact and so we had to make that decision to let go. Following Fernley's sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court (pictured), DC Josh Darby, from Cheshire Police, said: 'This isn't just about money, the deceit had real and devastating emotional consequences which are enduring for both the victim and his family' Now, both Mr Thompson and Ms Hampson are campaigning for a change in the law - demanding that mothers and fathers be subject to compulsory DNA testing at birth. The pair are set to meet Sarah Hall (pictured), Labour MP for Warrington South, to discuss the issue 'But we should never have been put in that situation, we should never have been allowed to bond. 'We should have known the truth. It was so unbelievably cruel.' Now, both Mr Thompson and Ms Hampson are campaigning for a change in the law - demanding that mothers and fathers be subject to compulsory DNA testing at birth. The pair, alongside several other campaigners, are set to meet Sarah Hall, Labour MP for Warrington South, to discuss the issue. Paternity fraud is not currently considered a crime in England and Wales - but, rather, a civil fraud. Figures for the numbers of men across the UK impacted by paternity fraud vary, with a 2018 study from the University of Warwick placing it at three per cent. However, Ms Hampson, who believes that many male victims will go unacknowledged due to internal stigma and shame, also notes that such statistics fail to account for affected extended family members. Adding that they are hoping for paternity fraud to be viewed as a form of abuse, she continued: 'I'm a big believer in women's rights, but when it comes to paternity fraud - how are men protected? 'If there was more of a deterrent, if there was a harsher punishment, or if people were tested, then they really would think twice about doing it in the first place. 'It should be a form of coercive or controlling behaviour. The ripple effects on a wider family are horrendous.' A Home Office spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'Fraud, and specifically paternity fraud, is a truly terrible crime and those who provide false information on a birth certificate already face a criminal conviction. 'While there are no plans to change the law to make paternity testing prior to a birth registration mandatory, it is already an offence to willingly provide or make false declarations to a registrar about a birth or death.' The coroner working to identify the victims of one of Americas worst serial killers has raised haunting questions about the murderers apparent suicide - and some missing pieces of evidence from the case. Herb Baumeister is thought to have killed around 25 young men during his murderous rampage in Indianapolis in the early 1990s. By day, the married father-of-three masqueraded as a family man and wealthy owner of several local thrift stores. But by night, he would meet young men at gay bars in downtown Indianapolis and lure them back to his 18-acre estate, Fox Hollow Farm, where he killed them, burned their remains and scattered their charred bones around the family property. As cops closed in on him and searched his home in the summer of 1996, Baumeister fled Indianapolis. Days later, he was found dead in a park in Canada on July 4 1996 from what police said was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head - taking his secrets to the grave and leaving several unanswered questions about his horror crimes. A suicide note was left behind, making no mention of his depraved crimes. But, Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison - who is working to identify all the serial killers victims among a staggering 10,000 human remains - has now said he doubts Baumeister took his own life. Instead, Baumeister may have been murdered in order to silence him, Jellison said. I think there's a missing question about the actual suicide itself - and the suicide note, he told the Daily Mail. Shocking questions still linger about what really happened at the Fox Hollow Farm estate Herb Baumeister preyed on young gay and bisexual men at bars in downtown Indianapolis Speaking on stage at CrimeCon in Denver on Saturday, Jellison said theres all sorts of questions about Baumeisters death. Did he take his own life? Or did someone kill him to cover up the bigger picture of the case. Steve Ainsworth, retired Boulder County Sheriff's office detective and cold case investigator, agreed. I think there is a question as to whether he took his own life, he said on stage at CrimeCon. A suicide is very easy to stage. But there are some indicators to look at. I think it definitely has to be looked into. Ainsworth added: In this case, for me, in addition to identifying people, the rest of it is like an oyster. The more you chew it, the bigger it gets. I mean, there's so many aspects to it, and it just goes in all directions. Jellison revealed there are other mysteries still surrounding the Fox Hollow Farm murders. He told the Daily Mail he has learned there is evidence missing from the case - possibly sold by police to case fanatics. I think there's some photos that were released by law enforcement in the original investigation to certain members of the public that never should have been, he said. Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison spoke about the case on stage at CrimeCon 2025 He explained that the current owner of Fox Hollow Farm - a historian on the case - has claimed someone involved in the original 1996 investigation offered to sell him evidence. While unsure if he bought the items, Jellison said he knows the homeowner is in possession of a box including photos from the criminal case and has shared some of them with his team. Jellison and Ainsworth also believe Baumeister must have had an accomplice in the murders. They believe one man alone could not have physically managed to drag dozens of bodies from the pool room in the home - where the victims are said to have been killed - out into the thick woods surrounding the property. How does one man drag them all out into the woods? How does one man kill that many people with no one else? Jellison said. There had to be [an accomplice], Ainsworth added. No doubt about it to what extent we don't know? At the very minimum he's helping to carry them. Its a belief that Eric Pranger, the cousin of victim Allen Livingston, has previously shared with the Daily Mail. The 1996 search of Fox Hollow Farm (pictured) uncovered thousands of human bones Daniel Thomas Halloran was identified this year as the 10th known victim of the man now believed to be one of Americas worst ever serial killers Allen Livingston, 27, and Manuel Resendez, 34, both went missing in 1993. Their remains have since been found on Fox Hollow Farm I pick up bodies for a living [working at a funeral home] and theres no way a man could handle all those bodies by himself, Pranger said. I don't think Baumeister did this alone. I think more people were involved. In an ABC News Studios series, airing earlier this year, Ainsworth said that the man who has long been seen as the hero of the story knows too much to simply have been a victim. The net finally closed in on Baumeister after a man named Mark Goodyear told police he had managed to escape a night in the serial killers lair. But Goodyears story has changed multiple times over the years and witnesses have suggested his possible involvement. In 1997, a man named LeRoy Bray came forward to police to claim he was once at Fox Hollow Farm with Goodyear, Baumeister and some other men. Bray told police he witnessed Baumeister shooting a man dead while Goodyear held the man. Meanwhile, Baumeisters lawyer told investigators days after his suicide that the father-of-three had confided in him about a year earlier that he had got involved with a really bad dude called Mark Goodyear. It is claimed in the ABC show that Goodyear was, at one point, a suspect in the murders. Goodyear denied any involvement in the murders in the series and has never been charged with any crime connected to the Baumeister case. Mark Goodyear (pictured in the ABC News Studios series) has changed his story many times He is still out there, Jellison said Saturday. And Ive been asked many times why he is still out there. But for Jellison, the biggest unanswered question in the case is who are the unnamed victims and how many are still out there. Three decades on, the number of victims and their identities remains unclear. Back in 1996, only eight victims - Johnny Bayer, Jeff Jones, Richard Hamilton Jr., Steven Hale, Allen Broussard, Roger Goodlet, Mike Keirn, Manuel Resendez - were identified. With Baumeister dead, the case was shuttered in 1998 and a staggering 10,000 pieces of charred, burned bones and human remains belonging to his victims sat neglected and unidentified on a shelf. In 2022, Jellison launched an investigation to identify the remaining victims and finally give the families of missing loved ones answers. It is the largest investigation into unidentified human remains in United States history, second only to the World Trade Center. Speaking on stage at CrimeCon, Jellison revealed he faced pushback from the local sheriffs department when he decided to launch his probe. When I reopened the investigation, one of the first things I did was call the sheriffs department to get the case files, he said. They were resistant to give them to me. And then, when we got it, it was redacted. He said: That was red flag number one. Jellison explained: My job is to identify people and they redacted names and addresses anything that would have helped me identify a person was redacted. But he has vowed we will not stop. Herb Baumeister is thought to have killed around 25 young men after luring them back to Fox Hollow Farm (pictured) For 26 years these bones and bone fragments had sat on a shelf, he said. Its important when we talk about the bone and bone fragments these are people, this is someone's son, someones brother, someones father, potentially someones husband. So its become my goal to get these people off the shelf. Since launching the probe, two more victims - Allen Livingston and Daniel Halloran - have been named and their families given answers after so many years. Three more victims have also been found. The three DNA profiles were identified among the remains but they do not match any of the DNA samples submitted by families with missing loved ones. They have now been sent to forensics lab Othram for comparison with profiles in genetic genealogy databases. While they have not got their names back yet, Jellison told the Daily Mail earlier this year he believed it could only be a matter of months. An estimated 25 victims are believed to have been found at Fox Hollow Farm - making Baumeister's reign of terror even worse than the likes of Jeffrey Dahmer. A grieving North Carolina father whose 22-year-old daughter was murdered execution-style is pushing for her alleged killer to receive the death penalty. Logan Federico was visiting her boyfriend at the University of South Carolina in May. Her father, Stephen Federico, told the Daily Mail it was meant to be a weekend of celebration, with graduation festivities underway. Instead, Logan crossed paths with Alexander Dickey, 30, a repeat offender with a rap sheet of 39 arrests, including 25 felonies. Dickey has been sentenced in eight cases involving robbery, drug possession and larceny. In 2023, he was sentenced to five years in prison for burglary, but was released early with his probation set to end in June. Prosecutors say Dickey crept into a fraternity house bedroom in the early hours of May 3, where Logan was asleep beside her boyfriend. Startled awake, she screamed. Dickey allegedly forced her to her knees, naked and begging for help, before shooting her in the chest with a stolen 12-gauge shotgun. Prosecutors say he then fled in a stolen vehicle. He has not entered a plea in the case. Just four months later, another young woman met a similarly brutal fate at the hands of a violent repeat offender. Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, 23, was riding the Charlotte light rail on August 22. Decarlos Brown Jr, 34, suddenly lunged from behind and stabbed her repeatedly in the neck as she texted her boyfriend. Logan Federico (pictured), 22, was shot by a career criminal during a robbery in a South Carolina fraternity house on May 3 Zarutskas death was captured on video and shocked the nation. Similar to Dickey, Brown had a lengthy arrest record, severe mental health issues, and a history of violence. The pair of cases has ignited outrage over why dangerous criminals were free to roam the streets, leaving two young women dead in crimes that could have been prevented had they been locked up. Logan loved Taylor Swift and dreamed of becoming a teacher. Zarutska had fled war-torn Ukraine in search of safety and was training to be a veterinary assistant. Both were just beginning their adult lives. Even more chilling was that no one came to their aid. Logans boyfriend and other fraternity brothers slept just feet away as she was killed. In Charlotte, some train passengers sat frozen or failed to intervene as Zarutska collapsed. Last week, the US Department of Justice announced that Brown will be charged with a federal crime, one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system. The move means the Trump administration can also pursue the death penalty, which the president called for when he weighed in after the tragedy. Federico, meanwhile, says his family has been left in limbo and is still waiting for justice. The father, who works 60 hours a week to provide for his family, has described fighting for justice as a second full-time job. Before Iryna there was Logan Federico, and nobody cares, Federico said, tears streaming down his face. Her murder was preventable. 'The crime that [Brown] committed on the train was rookie compared to what Alexander Dickey did. You won't see much worse than Dickey.' His mission is to expose the systematic dysfunction that would allow a serial criminal with dozens of arrests back on the streets. Iryna Zarutska (pictured), 23, was killed by a serial criminal on August 22 while on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina Dickey was charged with Logan's murder in the days that followed. He was also charged with two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, for which he may face federal charges. Additionally, Dickey was charged with two counts of grand larceny, grand larceny of a motor vehicle, and three counts of financial transaction card theft. He is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center without bail and is awaiting trial, a spokesperson for the Columbia Police Department told the Daily Mail on Thursday. It is unclear why Dickey was not behind bars for previous offenses. Federico alleged that between 2013 and 2015, Dickey's fingerprints were never taken, prompting his release from jail. Additional reasons for the massive systematic failure could have been due to the fingerprints getting botched in the process or a glitch in the system. However, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) claimed the prints were never sent. The Daily Mail reached out to SLED for further information, but has not received a response. Dickey allegedly forced Logan (pictured) to her knees, naked and begging for help, before shooting her in the chest with a stolen 12-gauge shotgun. He then fled in a stolen vehicle Iryna (pictured) had fled war-torn Ukraine in search of safety and was training to be a veterinary assistant Federico hopes President Trump and US Attorney General Pam Bondi can help him put Dickey on death row. 'Our justice system failed both young ladies. They failed my daughter first. Maybe if Logan's murder had gotten national attention, it might have been able to prevent the death of the Ukrainian girl. 'The longest time [Dickey] was in prison was a little more than 600 days, and then he was let go for some reason, but nobody can tell you why this guy was out on the street. Nobody is answering those questions,' he said. The Federico family hired Richard Harpootlian, the same powerhouse attorney who defended convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh in a double murder trial. The Daily Mail reached out to Harpootlian for comment, but has not heard back. Federico is now working to get Dickey federally charged, and says he has been in talks with senior officials in the Department of Justice, including Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. He said he wants to have it handled without Solicitor Bryan Gipson of District 5, Richland County, who he said does not believe in the death penalty. Alexander Dickey (pictured), 30, is accused of shooting Logan Federico, 22, execution style after breaking into the South Carolina rental home where she was staying Decarlos Brown Jr (pictured), 34, stabbed the Ukranian refugee to death on the Charlotte light train. He has a history of violence, and has been arrested. He suffers from mental health problems Zarutska (seated) had just finished working at a local pizzeria when the August 22 unprovoked attack occurred Since Gipson was elected in 2018, he has been criticized for the way he has handled dangerous and violent criminals. Gipson's office declined to comment, telling the Daily Mail it cannot speak on a pending case. Some claim that Gipson is more interested in securing the rights of a murderer, as per the National Police Association (NPA). The NPA is a non-profit organization that 'educates supporters of law enforcement in how to help police departments accomplish their goals.' It also 'advocates Support the Police, and Back the Blue, because Blue Lives Matter,' according to the website. Federico said his legal team plans to use the Hobbs Act - a federal law used in prosecutions when possessions taken by robbery and extortion cross state lines - in their case. Dickey allegedly stole Logan's credit cards and used them outside of South Carolina. Federico said he has spoken to the US Attorney for the District of South Carolina, Bryan Stirling, about his daughter's murder and the alleged killer and career criminal responsible. He described them as 'motivated and eager' to take on the case. 'They know the seriousness of it... He should have been in prison.' He said he is waiting for a decision from Stirling on the death penalty. He also hopes that US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson will also get involved. Though Federico knows this won't bring his daughter back, the case gives him some hope. Stephen Federico (left) said he always warned his daughter (right) about safety, and advised her to keep her head on a swivel Taking a pause, his voice wavered. 'I shouldn't have to work this hard. I should be able to mourn my daughter. And, I haven't yet.' He had a message for other parents, hoping they never have to experience the unbearable pain that he and his family are going through. 'Parents need to be horrified...' He said he always spoke to Logan and his son about safety. 'I would always tell them to keep their heads on a swivel, no matter where they go, and that there are very bad people out there. I wore them out to a point that I was getting on their nerves. 'Logan would specifically say, "Dad, it's not that bad." But I know how bad it is, and she's dead proof of it. 'I'm not just out for Logan. I am out for everyone.' A Tennessee man getting off a cruise was caught with child pornography on his phone simply because he was randomly selected for a secondary search, according to court documents. Jason Alan Miller disembarked from a Carnival Horizon ship, which had visited the Cayman Islands, at PortMiami alongside his pregnant wife and eight children, seven of whom he adopted after fostering them. Customs and Border Protection officers pulled the 48-year-old father out of the security line so they could look through his phone, according to an affidavit written by an agent with Homeland Security Investigations. Miller, who has fostered around 20 children at his home, voluntarily provided the passcode to unlock his Samsung Galaxy and investigators found photos and videos that depicted female children being sexually abused, according to the document, viewed by Daily Mail. It also stated that one folder, containing 45 illicit images, was named '6yo_rare', suggesting the victims were six years old. His children, who were with him at the time of this discovery, ranged in age from five to 12 years old, the affidavit said. In statements to authorities, Miller revealed that no one had access to his phone but him and also admitted he knew there was child porn on his device. Records show he was taken to the Broward County Jail by the US Marshals Service. Later, he was transferred back into federal custody. Jason Alan Miller, 48, had dozens of images and several videos consistent with child pornography, according to a federal affidavit Miller, who had gotten off the Carnival Horizon ship (pictured) with his pregnant wife and eight children at PortMiami, voluntarily handed his phone to officers After being detained at the port, Miller was taken to Broward County Jail by US Marshals before being transferred back into federal custody. PortMiami is pictured above Miller has been charged with possession and transportation of child pornography. If he is convicted of both charges, he faces a maximum of 30 years in prison based on sentencing guidelines. CBP agents routinely search the phones of people re-entering the United States, whether they are citizens or not. Much like Miller, Matthew Kutcher, from Pennsylvania, was traveling through the port of Miami in April after a cruise and was caught with at least ten videos of child pornography on his phone. Court records show Kutcher signed a plea agreement on July 10 that will put him in prison for the next ten years at minimum. CBP has the authority to warrantlessly search electronic devices at US ports of entry, whether that be at airports, seaports or land border crossings. Travelers are not legally required to provide passwords to officers or unlock their devices, but refusing to do so can result in significant delays. In this scenario, border agents may question the noncompliant traveler or confiscate their device for further inspection. CBP officers do not have the power to deny an US citizen entry to the country solely based on them refusing a search. Noncitizens, however, can face broader consequences if they decline a search. As police were closing in, Tyler Robinson's wild text exchange with his trans lover discussing last week's assassination of Charlie Kirk offered a revealing window into his psyche - one that a world-renowned communication and body language expert found to be anything but 'touching.' Dr. Lillian Glass dissected the nuances of every single line of what turned out to be the pair's final text conversation. Through her findings, she told the Daily Mail that Robinson didn't just admit to the pre-meditated killing of a MAGA icon but also exposed himself to be a remorseless coward with serious daddy issues. Prosecutors revealed the texts Tuesday as Robinson made his first appearance in court after being charged with the killing at Utah Valley University in Orem on September 10. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot in the neck and bled out before thousands of spectators who came to see him speak on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem on September 10. Robinson reached out to his live-in lover Lance Twiggs in the aftermath, after he allegedly ditched the murder weapon and left it wrapped in a towel. He spent more time worrying about his father than the police who would soon arrest him. 'He certainly has revealed himself,' Dr. Glass told the Daily Mail. 'He shows he was concerned more about his father's reaction to losing the gun than taking someone's life. His biggest fear is his father's wrath.' The messages also show the young man to be delusional - assuring his partner, 22, that he would be home soon, even as he saw investigators closing in on his grandfather's gun he still hoped to retrieve. Charlie Kirk's alleged killer Tyler Robinson was branded a remorseless coward with deep-rooted daddy issues by a communications expert who analyzed his text exchanges with his trans girlfriend After allegedly ditching the murder weapon wrapped in a towel, Robinson reached out to his live-in lover Lance Twiggs in the aftermath Dr. Lillian Glass picked apart every line of what became the pair's final text exchange, telling Daily Mail that Robinson 'revealed himself' He also comes off as controlling, Dr. Glass observed, pointing out how he ordered Twiggs to delete their messages, keep quiet and get a lawyer. At one point in the conversation, Robinson uses a term of affection calling Twiggs 'my love,' but Dr. Glass took issue with an ABC News reporter's hot take characterization of this as 'very touching.' 'It is not touching,' the doctor told the Daily Mail. 'There's nothing touching about this. It's a throwaway line based on the context. He didn't say 'I love you'. He just killed someone, and the only thing he's worried about is his own behind.' To reach her conclusions, Dr. Glass went through the text exchange line-by-line. It starts with Robinson telling his lover and roommate to 'drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard,' directing him to a note where he allegedly confessed that 'I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it.' 'What??????????????' Twiggs allegedly replies. 'You're joking, right????' Robinson goes on to explain that 'I am still ok my love, but am stuck in orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn't be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still.' He later adds, 'If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence.' At one point Robinson even called Twiggs 'my love,' a term of affection that Dr. Glass slammed as callous since he was focused on his people rather than the man he had just gunned down Dr. Glass said Robinson's grand plan to retrieve the rifle showed he was living in a 'delusion,' convinced he could actually get away with murder Dr. Glass said: 'Robinson's response indicated that he is living in a delusion and actually thinks he is going to get away with what he has just done. He's acting as though it is no big deal, like he's late for dinner, so to speak, and will be home soon.' Robinson continues, 'To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.' Twiggs then asks him why he killed Kirk, and Robinson replies, 'I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out.' Robinson keeps returning to the subject of the rifle. His biggest worry seems to be how his father would react if he didn't return the gun, fitted with a $2,000 scope, to his grandfather. 'How the (expletive) will I explain losing it to my old man.', the shooting suspect worries. He also mentions the bullets he'd allegedly engraved with anti-fascist and pro-trans ideologies, as his partner watched. He texted that he'd have a stroke if that ever got reported on Fox News. Then Robinson appears to realize their texts could be used against him if he got arrested. Dr. Glass also observed that Robinson's biggest fears displayed in the texts revolved around his father Another example of Robinson being concerned about how to explain losing the gun to his father and discussing how he would get out of being suspected of killing Kirk His texts showed he was glued to the news, noting when the feds released a photo of the rifle - but instead of panicking, Robinson fretted over his dad, who 'wants photos of the rifle' 'delete this exchange,' Robinson snaps. He'd apparently been watching the news, later noting that the feds had released a photo of the rifle. But Robinson again worries about his dad, who 'wants photos of the rifle.' 'He's calling me rn, not answering,' he writes. Then Robinson, who seemed at odds with his conservative family, referenced his dad's politics, texting that 'since trump got into office (my dad) has been pretty diehard maga.' He writes that he'd rather turn himself into one of his neighbors, a sheriff's deputy. 'You are all I worry about love,' he states at this point, before admonishing him to stay silent, avoid media and not to talk to police without a lawyer. All of this was particularly fascinating to Dr. Glass, who has testified as an expert witness in many criminal cases. She sees him exhibiting a 'controlling nature' in the ways he communicates with his partner. Dr. Glass also interpreted the things Robinson was saying to Twiggs as him exhibiting a 'controlling nature' in the ways he communicates with his partner Turning Point USA founder Kirk was shot in the neck and bled out in front of thousands of horrified spectators during his speech at Utah Valley University in Orem on September 10 'We are seeing there's a lot of control and that the controlling figure in the relationship is Robinson, who's telling him what to do,' Glass said. 'He also shows a controlling nature in the way he takes charge of the situation, realizing his father would probably turn him in and saying he's going to turn himself in,' she said. 'In essence, it's an appeasing act to his father, whom he fears. His messages are not laden with a lot of hate. They're laden with a lot of fear toward his father.' Some pundits have speculated that the text exchange was somehow contrived to dupe investigators into thinking the partner had nothing to do with the crime. But Dr. Glass shot this down, stating, 'It's too detailed to be contrived.' And she said the text exchange certainly doesn't help Robinson's case. It also leaves Twiggs vulnerable, showing how he purportedly watched his partner inscribing the bullets. 'It's very insightful and certainly, it's not going to help the defense any,' she said. 'He admits to his crime, and he admits to pre-meditated murder. 'He'd been thinking about this for a long time,' Glass continued. And he thinks he's going to get away it until the very end.' She found it particularly disturbing that Robinson shows no apparent regrets for the cold-blooded assassination, which was seen when he appeared dazed as he sat in court virtually from the Utah County Jail in Spanish Fork, Utah on Tuesday She found it particularly disturbing that Robinson shows no apparent regrets for the cold-blooded assassination. 'He pretty much has no remorse,' the doctor said. 'He is very nonchalant about what he did. He is more concerned about losing his grandfather's gun than killing another man.' 'Another takeaway I have is that he does a lot of self-soothing talk,' Glass observed. 'He tries to minimize the situation by reassuring himself, like when he states that the gun has a towel over it and that they haven't found it yet.' During his virtual appearance Tuesday, Robinson looked at the floor and appeared dazed as he sat in court virtually from the Utah County Jail in Spanish Fork, Utah. The prosecution filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. Distraught families of Hamas' victims have condemned Sir Keir Starmer for recognising a Palestinian state while nearly 50 hostages remain in Gaza. Relatives of those killed and captured by the terror group told the PM he has 'sent a signal' that 'mass murder will be excused' or 'even rewarded'. Sir Keir announced the dramatic change in British policy less than two years after the terror group slaughtered 1,200 and kidnapped 251 on October 7, 2023 in the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Hamas continues to gleefully broadcast images of emaciated hostages it still holds in terror tunnels and has repeatedly taunted loved ones with videos of their tortured faces. The extremists refuse to surrender after sparking a war that has left tens of thousands dead and still hold 49 hostages - of which 20 are believed to be alive. Yet on Sunday Sir Keir announced that Britain will recognise a Palestinian state despite Hamas themselves boasting that such a move is 'one of the fruits of October 7'. Ian Brisley, 57, from Bristol, said the move was 'an insult to the memory' of his relatives who were killed and tortured by Hamas. He lost his sister Lianne Sharabi, 48, and nieces Noiya, 16, and Yahel, 13, on October 7. Lianne's husband Eli, 52, was held by Hamas for 500 days while the terror group still holds the body of his brother Yossi, 52. British-born Mandy Damari (right), whose daughter Emily (left) was held by Hamas for 471 days, said Sir Keir Starmer is 'rewarding' the terror group for October 7 Ilay David (above) whose brother Evyatar (seen in the picture) is still being held by Hamas, said 'the UK has chosen to hand Hamas and its accomplices the greatest prize' 'Keir Starmer's decision to recognise a Palestinian state is nothing less than rewarding terrorism,' he said. 'It frees no hostages. It eases no suffering in Gaza. What it does is send a signal: mass murder will be excused even rewarded. 'For me, this is not abstract. I am not Jewish, not Israeli just one of thousands of victims from that day. 'How can you speak of a two-state solution when one side openly declares it will repeat October 7th again and again, if given the chance? 'And if Britain is ready to recognise a state built on such terror, where does it stop? Houthinam? Hezbollahland? Al-Quidistan? ISIS Province? Even a general Jihadistan? Recognition should never be granted to those who glorify murder.' British-born Mandy Damari, 63, met Sir Keir countless times in her campaign to free her daughter Emily who was held by Hamas for 471 days. The 29-year-old had two fingers shot off, was held in cages underground and had to hide the fact she was gay from the homophobic terror group that was voted into power in Gaza in 2005. Yet while Sir Keir gave Israel an ultimatum, saying he would recognise a Palestinian state if they did not take steps to end the war, he put no pressure on Hamas to end the war or set any conditions to reward them with a state. Mandy said: 'Keir Starmer is under a two-state delusion. 'While one of the states is still run by a proscribed terrorist organisation whose very charter is to annihilate Israel from the river to the sea, a two-state solution can never happen. Sir Keir Starmer (above) announced that Britain will recognise a Palestinian state despite Hamas themselves boasting that such a move is 'one of the fruits of October 7' 'But even if he thinks he is right, he is rewarding Hamas for the October 7 barbaric and savage attack on Israel when the hostages are still not back, the war is not over and Hamas are still in power in Gaza.' Hamas released cruel images of them forcing emaciated Evyatar David, 24, to dig his own grave in a tunnel in Gaza after they intentionally starved him. He is still held there today. His brother Ilay David, 28, said: 'Any form of recognition from nations like the UK is a bad idea. The timing is wrong. 'We have to say, 'Until the hostages are home and Hamas de-weaponises we cannot recognise anything'. It is the wrong move right now.' A defining image of October 7 was that of Noa Argamani, 26, being kidnapped into Gaza on a motorbike as she screamed out to her boyfriend, Avinantan Or, 32. While she was freed in a rescue mission, Avinatan remains in captivity. His British-Israeli mother Ditza Or said: 'Mr Starmer, we expect the Prime Minister of England to remain true to timeless values, not short-term self-interests. 'With eternity, we fight against evil and cruelty, on our way to illuminate the world. You have the opportunity to be a partner to the light, or to join the evil. 'The world is watching you, what will you choose?' As Israel started its ground incursion into Gaza City last week Hamas brought living hostages up from the tunnels to use as human shields. Moshe Emilio Lavi, who brother-in-law Omri Mirans, 48, is still held in Gaza, said: 'We need more than words now. 'Irrespective of the Israeli government's policies, while our loved ones are being purposely starved, tortured, and used as human shields, the UK has chosen to hand Hamas and its accomplices the greatest prize an unconditional recognition of statehood.' President Donald Trump unveiled Charlie Kirk's last request before the conservative activist's assassination earlier this month. During a speech honoring his late friend in Glendale, Arizona, Trump claimed that one of Kirk's last requests was for the administration to 'save Chicago.' Kirk was born and raised in the suburbs surrounding Chicago. In recent weeks, Trump has vowed to overrule the Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker by sending National Guard troops into Chicago for a sweeping crack down on crime. 'We owe Charlie a profound and eternal debt of gratitude,' Trump told memorial audience. The president went on to praise Kirk for helping to promote 'freedom and justice' across the nation. 'Charles James Kirk was heinously murdered by a radicalized leftist for speaking the truth that was in his heart,' Trump said. 'He was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice, for God, touched for reason and for common sense. He was assassinated because he lived bravely.' 'He lived boldly and he argued brilliantly without apology. He did what was right for our nation.' President Donald Trump praised Charlie Kirk for urging him to 'save Chicago' shortly before his death Trump condemned the suspected shooter Tyler Robinson as a 'radicalized leftist.' Kirk was Trump's chief advocate among young voters during the 2024 election Trump addressed Charlie's parents and family by adding no 'words can fill the void' left behind after his death. The president, however, noted that 'American loved Charlie Kirk.' The president credited Kirk for uniting the MAGA and MAHA movements by introducing Trump to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump then revealed Kirk introduced him to JD Vance early into Ohio Republican's political career. Kirk, who was assassinated by a gunman on September 10th in Utah Valley, is widely credited for bolstering Trump's support with young voters in the 2024 election. The president described the moment he learned of Kirk's death as a 'surreal experience.' 'The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at every one of us. 'Charlie is bigger than two weeks ago....think about it...he's eternal. I just want to say we love him.' 'He's looking down today and saying, "That's a great crowd."' Since the official event entry time of 8:00 AM, a slew of Christian artists have performed a variety of worship songs. Trump pledged to award Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House Tens of thousands of conservatives and Christians gathered at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, to honor Kirk. Trump ended his speech by inviting Erika Kirk to stand beside him on stage Sounds of Christian worship fill the air at the State Farm Stadium with less than thirty minutes before the official start of the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk who was assented on September 10th. The stadium is packed to the rafters, minus a few sections of seats right next to the stage. Despite the scorching hot temperatures outside of the venue, inside the stadium is air-conditioned and the roof of the stadium is closed. The floor is filled with various conservative political media and VIPS, as well as Turning Point staff and alumni who are seated on white plastic folding chairs. Press is also seated on the floor, with the TV risers situated in the middle of the VIP section. Print press are behind the VIP section. Back in November, Trump won a staggering 43% of the vote among voters aged 1829. Kirk, throughout the election, would go to college campuses to register college conservatives to vote. Upon entering the memorial, Trump was met with cheers from tens of thousands of supporter in the stadium. In a sign of unity for the fallen conservative activist, billionaire Elon Musk joined the president at his booth where the pair shook hands. Following Kirk's death, Trump lowered the White House US flags to half-mast in honor of his friend. Moreover, the president claimed in multiple media interviews that he believed Kirk could have succeeded him as president. Kirk's widow will take over leadership of Turning Point USA as the organization's new CEO The president said Kirk helped to promote 'freedom and justice' across the nation. Trump's speech ended with him inviting Kirk's widow, Erika, to stand beside him on stage. Jetstar has denied its scales are 'dodgy' after numerous complaints from passengers who were slugged with extra charges as they boarded flights. Flyers said they received different weight readings from different sets of scales at Wellington Airport and were forced to pay extra just before boarding. Some passengers reported being within the 7kg carry-on baggage limit, only to find their bags suddenly weighing over the threshold when rechecked at the gate on portable scales. This meant they were hit with a $65 excess baggage fee. Arron Paul, who flew from Wellington to Auckland, weighed his carry-on bag at 5.44kg when he checked in and again in the boarding lounge at 6.18kg. But when he reached the portable scales at the gate, his bag came in at 7.5kg - forcing him to pay a surcharge. 'I asked to speak with the supervisor and the supervisor came out and just handed me an EFTPOS machine,' he said. Lauren Wessels had a similar experience after flying with the same airline. A customer shows the difference in weight for the same luggage Jetstar passengers in New Zealand say the scales are dodgy and they've been forced to pay extra to board flights After twice coming in under the limit, the portable scales at the gate weighed her bag at 7.5kg. 'They said I'd have to pay the $65, and I said, 'No, that's not happening,' she said. Wessels was forced to repack her bags to avoid the fine. 'I didn't lose money, but for me it's a matter of principle. These scales are either out of calibration or there is something wrong with them,' she said. Another couple, Sarah and Cav, said the gate scales showed their luggage was 1.6kg heavier than a set of scales in the main airport building. 'We got it to 6.9kg [in the downstairs terminal] and then up here it was supposedly 8.5kg,' Sarah said. Jetstar told Stuff there was no problem with its scales. 'We employ a contract company that services, maintains and calibrates our baggage scales throughout the country every year,' cabin manager Simon Davey told Stuff. The airline says its scales are working well and are consistent 'We also have a ground team who specifically check the scales every day pre-use to make sure things are working as they should.' Davey said the inconsistencies were due to user error. 'The majority of our customers will be self-weighing, and we can't monitor everyone who is self-weighing,' he said. A Jetstar spokesperson told Daily Mail: 'All of our portable baggage scales across New Zealand are regularly checked, serviced and calibrated in-line with industry standards and guidelines. This work is carried out by independent specialists.' 'Our ground crew also do daily checks before use to make sure our mobile scales are working correctly,' they said. All trade-use scales are governed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and are trade-approved and certified by a technician. 'We can offer a guarantee that our scales are accurate,' Davey assured. Ms Wessels, however, has taken up the matter with the Commerce Commission and also lodged a complaint with MBIE. Earlier this year, a British expat slammed Jetstar's carry-on baggage policy after she was forced to remove 3kg from her luggage prior to takeoff only to then carry the items on board by hand. The traveller was flying from Brisbane to Melbourne when she was asked to weigh her bags. Jetstar staff told her she would be charged $70 since her bags exceeded the 7kg carry-on limit. Instead of paying, she discovered a 'ridiculous' way travellers can get around the fine. As staff looked on, the woman emptied her bags until they were within the weight limit. Once verified as light enough, she was allowed to board. What she found unbelievable, however, was that she was still able to carry her extra items on her person in order to keep her bags under 7kg. 'Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous,' she said on social media. 'Tell me how that makes any sense whatsoever.' Zarah Sultana said she will call off legal action announced as part of a bitter feud at the top of her new hard-left party with Jeremy Corbyn. The MP on Sunday acknowledged people felt 'demoralised' after the row over her push for members to sign up to Your Party, the political outfit she established with Mr Corbyn. Ms Sultana, who had claimed she faced a 'sexist boys' club', said she was 'determined to reconcile' and was in talks with Mr Corbyn. 'For the sake of the party, and as an act of good faith, I will not be pursuing legal proceedings despite the baseless and unsubstantiated allegations against me,' she wrote in a statement posted on X. 'I know many people are feeling demoralised - I share that feeling. We find ourselves in a regrettable situation, but my motivation has always been to ensure the collective strength of our movement, put members first and build the genuinely democratic conference and socialist party we so urgently need. 'I am determined to reconcile and move forward. I am engaged in ongoing discussions with Jeremy, for whom, like all socialists of my generation, I have nothing but respect.' Zarah Sultana said she will call off legal action announced as part of a bitter feud at the top of her new hard-left party with Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn attends a demonstration outside the Downing Street gates in central London on September 9 to oppose the presence of Israeli President Isaac Herzog It comes after a message encouraging supporters of the outfit to sign up was disowned as an 'unauthorised email' by Mr Corbyn On Friday Ms Sultana said she had instructed 'specialist defamation lawyers' after she was 'the subject of a number of false and defamatory statements' about her launch of the membership system. It came after a message encouraging supporters of the outfit to sign up was disowned as an 'unauthorised email' by Mr Corbyn. Ms Sultana said she took the step because she had been 'sidelined' and 'effectively frozen out' by Mr Corbyn and fellow independent MPs Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain, Iqbal Mohammed and Shockat Adam. The Coventry South MP added: 'Unfortunately I have been subjected to what can only be described as a sexist boys' club: I have been treated appallingly and excluded completely.' A former friend has labelled David Sharaz a 'clown' and revealed how their friendship fell apart over his defamatory social media posts about Linda Reynolds. Sharaz, the husband of former political staffer Brittany Higgins, has been ordered to pay the former federal senator over a series of posts he made in 2022 and 2023. WA Supreme Court Justice Paul Tottle last week ordered Sharaz to pay Reynolds $92,000 in damages, plus legal costs that are expected to exceed $500,000. Sharaz is also jointly liable with Higgins to pay $135,000 in damages over a separate post they shared about Reynolds. Gregg Easton, a former radio broadcaster, weighed in on the saga on Friday, branding his former friend Sharaz a self-entitled and delusional 'clown'. Mr Easton and Sharaz were journalism classmates at the University of Canberra in 2011. The pair fell out more than a decade later when Easton claimed he tried to warn his then-friend about some of his posts in the lead-up to Bruce Lehrmann's criminal rape trial in a comment on Sharaz's LinkedIn page. Easton claimed that Sharaz then reported him to his then-boss, which ended with his one-time friend receiving a formal workplace warning over a social media guideline breach. Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz were sued by former senator Linda Reynolds over a series of social media posts Gregg Easton blasted his old university mate Sharaz as a 'clown' in a scathing Facebook post Easton didn't mince his words when he blasted Sharaz and detailed their fallout in a scathing private Facebook post that was obtained by The Australian's Media Diary column. 'This clown was a fellow classmate when I was at university in Canberra, and I foolishly once regarded him as a friend,' Easton wrote. 'That is, until his spiteful reaction after I warned him that some of his social media posts about an ongoing legal case at the time (we all know which one) could be contemptuous and some also defamatory. 'In response, he regarded anyone who didn't agree with him as a supporter for the 'other side' (which I wasn't) and then tried to big-note himself by going after me with my employer at the time. 'It was a slight inconvenience; however, his pathetic reputation was already public.' Easton then weighed in on the court outcome. 'This is karma for the self-entitled and delusional "would-be-if he-could-be" who rarely put in the hard work for anything.' Now semi-retired, Easton declined to comment further on the post, telling The Australian that the post 'spoke for itself'. Gregg Easton branded David Sharaz as a 'self-entitled and delusional 'would-be-if he-could-be'' Higgins was ordered in the same court to pay Reynolds $315,000 in damages plus $26,000 in interest, along with paying 80 per cent of her legal fees, which, combined with her own legal bills, is an estimated $2million bill. Higgins is appealing elements of her costly defamation battle loss to her former boss, adding another chapter to the bitter legal saga. The former political staffer is appealing the damages award and the costs order, according to documents filed in the WA Court of Appeal last week. Ms Higgins is also seeking to challenge the finding that she breached a 2021 deed of settlement between the pair with an Instagram post referring to her being a defamation victim. She previously apologised to Reynolds after the former defence minister emerged victorious from the duo's high-profile five-week defamation trial, which ended in September 2024. Justice Paul Tottle found Ms Higgins' social media posts carried an array of imputations. David Sharaz's decade-long friendship with old uni classmate Gregg Easton ended over his defamatory social media posts about former federal senator Linda Reynolds (left) They included claims that Reynolds engaged in a campaign of harassment against Ms Higgins, mishandled her rape allegation and engaged in questionable conduct during Bruce Lehrmann's aborted criminal trial for rape. She alleges former co-worker Lehrmann raped her in the senator's ministerial suite. A Federal Court judge overseeing a defamation case launched by Lehrmann against Network Ten found Ms Higgins was, on the balance of probabilities, raped by her former co-worker in the office. Lehrmann is appealing that finding and has always denied the rape allegations. A disabled man captured the moment a food delivery robot recklessly cut him off and allegedly 'reversed' into his scooter. Mark Chaney, who has cerebral palsy, was on his way home from a procedure when a Serve Robotics cart crashed into his mobility scooter, which he occasionally uses for long distances. The viral video - which received over 20million views on TikTok and Instagram - shows the robot weaving in front of him. Chaney tried to avoid the service cart, but it stopped and slammed into his scooter. 'I was really frustrated because I was in a lot of pain that day,' Chaney told KTLA, adding that he 'just wanted to get home.' The video showed a distressed Chaney attempting to give the delivery bot room to pass, but it slammed on its brakes, causing the crash. He repeatedly screamed 'seriously' as he zigzagged on the sidewalk to avoid the self-driving robot's jolting impact. Despite the video, Serve Robotics disputed Chaney's claim in an email response, leaving him frustrated. Mark Chaney tried to avoid the robot service cart twice, but it stopped and slammed into his scooter Mark Chaney, who has cerebral palsy, was on his way home from a procedure when a Serve Robotics cart crashed into his mobility scooter The company wrote the robot 'did not drive in reverse at any point' and was operating autonomously, according to KTLA. They added that the robot was simultaneously attempting to adjust it's path as Chaney was. 'Ultimately, as you got closer to the robot, it determined that the safest option was to come to a complete stop.' They compared it to 'two people approaching a doorway and hesitating to pass one another. ' 'Its the challenge of predicting someone elses movements in real time without direct communication,' a Serve representative stated. Chaney felt brushed off by the response, adding that it seemed like the company was blaming him and not taking accountability. Chaney has had multiple negative encounters with delivery robots before. He even stepped into a street, with crutches, to avoid one. The video showed a distressed Chaney attempting to give the delivery bot room to pass, but it slammed on its brakes, causing the crash Despite the video, Serve Robotics disputed Chaney's claim in an email response, leaving him frustrated He said if he were on crutches, he would have fallen, leading to weeks of recovery. Serve also told Chaney they are launching an Accessibility Council to help improve the robot's safety system. Chaney stressed that the company needs to include people with disabilities when designing their system. The Daily Mail reached out to Serve Robotics for comment. Police confiscated a number of guns from the wife of fugitive Dezi Freeman shortly after he allegedly killed two police officers last month. They were not used to shoot dead Senior Constables Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart, but were taken from Freeman's wife, Amalia, who has a licence for them and has not broken any firearms laws. Freeman, 56, has now been on the run for 25 days and had previously been banned by authorities from owning guns. Last year, he protested in the Supreme Court about having his gun licence cancelled and claimed to be the victim of a 'personal vendetta'. Victoria Police declined to tell Daily Mail why the guns were taken away. 'This is an active investigation and Victoria Police will not be commenting,' a police spokesperson said. Amalia Freeman has been interviewed in relation to obstructing police on the day of the fatal incident. 'She may be charged in due course,' Detective Supt Jason Kelly of Crime Command said at the time. Dezi Freeman is an experienced bushman and has been on the run for nearly a month Freeman vanished after allegedly gunning down two officers during a search warrant at his remote Porepunkah property before fleeing into dense bushland. The self-proclaimed sovereign citizen and experienced bushman is thought to have either stashed supplies in advance to survive the harsh terrain or to be getting help from others. Police visited Freeman's property outside Porepunkah in north-east Victoria to carry out a search warrant over historical child sex abuse allegations. He is accused of opening fire as Senior Constable Thompson tried to board a bus where he was living. He also allegedly took service weapons from the officers he shot before disappearing into the wilderness. Freeman reportedly told associates that the charges related to him were due to having 'skinny-dipped' in front of a child. It's understood, however, that the claims against him are more serious and could have resulted in a prison term. Police are also worried about the support for Freeman online. Dezi Freeman and his wife Mali had many guns at their property Never-before-seen photographs obtained by the Daily Mail reveal the secret life of fugitive cop killer Dezi Freeman as he honed his elite survival skills in the wild that have kept him one step ahead of the massive police hunt to find him. (Freeman is pictured handling a lethal tiger snake) One speaker at a recent rally described the suspected cop killer and accused child abuser as a 'good man'. The hunt for Freeman has centred on isolated bushland in the Mount Buffalo region. More than 125 specialist officers have scoured the area around Mount Buffalo but so far have been unable to track him down. Police are relying on high-tech surveillance. One of their main tools is a long-range system that combines a high-resolution telescopic camera with a microwave booster. Several of these units have been set up across the region, using powerful zoom lenses to capture detailed images in the search. New photos show Freeman honing his survival skills in the wild, which have kept him one step ahead of the massive police hunt to find him. The images, taken over decades, show the father-of-three as a bush wildman, often naked or wearing just a loincloth in the rugged outdoors. The photos show him wrangling a snake, holding a cow's skull aloft at the entrance of a mountain cave, scaling trees barefoot, and kayaking rapids before sheltering around a campfire as he delivered a spiritual incantation. Friends say Freeman never packed his car for camping trips but would instead simply disappear into the wilderness to rely only on his wits and bush wisdom, often staying off the grid for weeks on end. Police have visited at least 100 properties, many connected to associates of the fugitive, and have issued stern warnings to anyone found harbouring him. A $1 million reward is in place for anyone able to help police catch Freeman. Roxy Jacenko's husband Oliver Curtis has staged a dramatic comeback after serving jail time, winning backing from US technology giant Nvidia for his AI-driven data company ahead of its planned public listing. Curtis, 40, co-founded Firmus with Tim Rosenfield in 2019, starting with just a $250,000 investment. Now, Nvidia and local investment house Ellerston Capital have backed a $330million funding round, valuing the Singapore-based business at $1.9billion. Firmus is now counted among a handful of private Australian companies valued above $1billion, including Canva, Rokt and Airwallex. Originally launched as a bitcoin mining venture, Firmus pivoted into AI-focused data centres. The company has built a software platform that manages every aspect of a data centre and claims to have developed cooling technology that uses 60 per cent less energy than competitors. With its new capital, Firmus plans to build a massive data centre hub in Tasmania, pitched as an 'AI factory' - to power, train and operate next-generation AI systems with its in-house software and cooling technology. The development is said to attract up to $2.1billion in its first stage and create up to 100 direct jobs. Roxy Jacenko's husband Oliver Curtis has secured the largest equity capital raising deal for his AI-led company, Firmus, in Australia this year Oliver Curtis is pictured leaving Cooma Correctional Centre in June, 2017. 'AI Factories are purpose-built to power, train and inference artificial intelligences,' Mr Curtis told The Mercury. 'With Tasmania's clean energy and our AI Factory platform, we believe this will be the most cost-effective, sustainable AI facility in the world,' Mr Curtis said. 'Project Southgate will form the foundation of Australia's artificial intelligence infrastructure and secure our place as the Asia-Pacific region's AI hub.' AI tools like ChatGPT run on tokens that are currently heavy on energy and emissions. 'Producing these AI tokens in Tasmania will create a new type of green AI token clean and powered by renewables enabling AI to scale sustainably,' Mr Rosenfield said. It marks a remarkable turnaround for Curtis, who was jailed for insider trading in 2016. He was sentenced to two years in prison after conspiring with then-best friend John Hartman to make nearly $1.5 million through illegal trades. Speaking about his time in prison Curtis told the Daily Telegraph: 'It was tough, but you come out a stronger person. It was something that I could not prepare for, something you cannot plan for. 'That is something that I would not wish on anybody. It was an experience, one that I have put behind me.' The conviction saw him banned from managing corporations for several years, effectively ending his early finance career. The $330million investment from US technology giant Nvidia, catapulted Firmus to unicorn status (pictured Firmus co-chief executives Oliver Curtis and Tim Rosenfield) Just a week after Curtis' sentencing, Jacenko, then 37, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She told their children Pixie and Hunter their father was 'doing business in China' while he was behind bars. When he was released in 2017 after serving one year of his sentence, seeing his family again was a defining moment. 'I hugged the kids and gave Roxy a kiss and a cuddle and for us then everything was behind us. They are definitely my number-one priority and will always be my number-one priority. Family is the most important thing in my life and the kids and Rox mean the world to me.' Curtis father is Nick Curtis, a well-known Sydney mining entrepreneur. Residents will be given new powers to block vaping and gambling shops in a town planning shake-up. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will announce a major overhaul of decision-making to give locals more control of the shops on their high streets. It will mean that neighbourhoods can veto 'unwanted' businesses by limiting the number of any particular type of store within a certain area. The move has been prompted by concerns over the proliferation of Turkish barbers and American sweet shops in many towns, many of which are suspected of being fronts for money-laundering operations and employing illegal immigrants. But it comes as fears grow within Labour that run-down town centres are helping drive the surge in support for Reform UK and its message that Britain is broken. Sir Keir is expected to announce the proposals in a speech on Thursday in which he will also commit new funding to 'left behind' areas. He will set out how more responsibility can be devolved to councils, including letting them take control of derelict shops quicker so they can be leased to new businesses. It was reported that new Communities Secretary Steve Reed said: 'The country is not working for far too many people. People and regions are not sharing in Britain's prosperity equally. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (above) will announce a major overhaul of decision-making to give locals more control of the shops on their high streets 'We've got a lot of communities that feel they don't have a voice. They've been ignored, they've been left behind and they're not getting any investment. 'This is about supporting those communities to take back control, restore pride in the places where they're living, and give them the power and resources to make their areas more successful.' But he also accused Reform UK of 'weaponising people's legitimate grievances to try to pull communities apart'. He added: 'Reform wants to put a stick into those divides and make them wider. We will build bridges and heal them. 'The way you do that is by bringing in investment for the whole country, getting economic growth across the whole country, but also giving people in those communities that feel left behind the power they need to change things.' Senator Ted Cruz has launched a blistering attack on President Trump's FCC chairman Brendan Carr. Cruz compared Carr to a mob boss warning that his threats to punish broadcasters over Jimmy Kimmel's controversial remarks about Charlie Kirk's assassination, could lead America down a path as 'dangerous as hell'. In a rare public break with the Trump administration, Cruz used his Verdict podcast to slam Carr's suggestion that the Federal Communications Commission could revoke ABC's license unless the network punished Kimmel, whose show has now been suspended 'indefinitely.' 'He says we can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way,' Cruz said. 'I got to say, that's right out of Goodfellas. That's right out of a mafioso coming into a bar going, "Nice bar you have here. It'd be a shame if something happened to it."' Though Cruz is no fan of Kimmel, whom he accused of lying 'shamelessly' to the American people over Kirk's killing, he called Carr's regulatory threats a dangerous abuse of government power that could one day backfire on conservatives. 'What he said there is dangerous as hell. It might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel, but when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it,' Cruz warned. Carr's incendiary comments came during an interview earlier this week, where he accused Kimmel of 'slandering' the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and suggested that ABC could face consequences if it didn't take action. Carr warned the FCC may review the public interest obligations of ABC and its affiliates. Senator Ted Cruz has launched a blistering attack on President Trump's FCC chairman Brendan Carr In a rare public break with the Trump administration Cruz compared Carr, left, to a mob boss warning that his threats to punish broadcasters over Jimmy Kimmel's controversial remarks about Charlie Kirk's assassination Last week, ABC announced it was pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! 'for the foreseeable future.' Just hours later, ABC announced it was pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! 'for the foreseeable future.' Although the network gave no formal reason, insiders confirmed the decision followed mounting pressure over Kimmel's monologue, which critics say implied Kirk's murder was linked to right-wing extremism - an allegation that has since been disputed by investigators. 'What people don't understand is that broadcasters have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with an obligation to operate in the public interest,' Carr said, 'At the very least, I would like to have an on-air apology from Jimmy Kimmel... to all of those who he slandered,' Carr added. Cruz's rebuke also came with a warning to his own party. He noted how Republicans who cheer Carr's actions today may regret them when Democrats regain the White House. 'There will come a time when a Democrat wins again,' Cruz cautioned. 'They will get rid of everything America that's conservative. They'll get rid of every podcast. They'll get rid of everything. They will silence us.' The senator acknowledged that Kimmel has repeatedly mocked him and that many Republicans were pleased by his suspension, but he said those feelings are beside the point. Kimmel, pictured with a then campaigning Trump on his show in 2016, said he once threatened to walk away from the show if he had to turn down his Trump jokes: 'If you want somebody else to host the show, then that's fine. I'm just not going to do it like that' the liberal TV talker said In the past, Carr once championed free expression, particularly when conservative voices were under threat 'It's fine to say what Jimmy Kimmel said was deplorable. It was disgraceful and he should be off air. But we shouldn't be threatening government power to force him off air. That's a real mistake,' Cruz said. 'If the government gets in the business of saying what the media can and can't say... that will end up bad for conservatives,' he warned. 'It's sort of like conservatives are saying, "Wait, wait. If we have government, we have power. We can ban the media." But let me tell you what will happen going down this road. 'We should not be in this business. We should denounce it,' Cruz urged. In the past Carr once championed free expression, particularly when conservative voices were under threat. As a minority FCC commissioner during the Biden administration, Carr regularly blasted Democrats for allegedly attempting to muzzle right-leaning media outlets. The senator, left, acknowledged that Kimmel has repeatedly mocked him and that many Republicans were pleased by his suspension, but he said those feelings are beside the point But now as chairman under Trump's second term, Carr appears to be wielding that same power in reverse. In a scathing editorial, The Wall Street Journal called Carr's threats a 'misuse of regulatory power' and praised Cruz for having 'the courage to call it out.' 'Most Republicans are afraid of uttering even a syllable of disapproval about the Trump administration,' the Journal wrote. 'So kudos to Ted Cruz for noticing the danger from Brendan Carr's use of regulatory threats to stifle free speech.' While Cruz has drawn a line in the sand over Carr's tactics, not all Republicans are backing away. Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick endorsed Carr's underlying criticism and applauded Kimmel's removal. 'Agree with Senator Cruz. Good riddance to Jimmy Kimmel and his disgusting rhetoric. Ted also raises important concerns about the comments of the FCC chairman,' McCormick posted on X. Trump then added fuel to the fire by defending Carr and blasting the media, telling reporters that negative coverage of his administration is 'really illegal.' 'They'll take a great story and they'll make it bad,' Trump said in the Oval Office. 'See I think it's really illegal, personally.' Trump has filed multiple lawsuits against major news outlets, most recently losing a $15 billion defamation case against The New York Times that was tossed out by a federal judge. Trump also called for two of Kimmel's network rivals, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers to be fired JD Vance, backed the cancellation in harsher terms. 'If you celebrate Charlie Kirk's death, you should not be protected from being fired for being a disgusting person,' Vance said Last week, Trump gloated on Truth Social at Kimmel's suspension describing him as having 'ZERO talent.' 'Great News for America,' Trump wrote. 'ABC finally had the courage to do what had to be done.' 'Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else, and he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk,' Trump later told reporters. 'He was fired for lack of talent.' Meanwhile, his VP, JD Vance, backed the cancellation in harsher terms. 'If you celebrate Charlie Kirk's death, you should not be protected from being fired for being a disgusting person,' Vance told Fox News. 'The First Amendment protects a lot of very ugly speech - but not from consequences.' President Donald Trump used Charlie Kirk's memorial to tease a bombshell autism announcement he plans to make on Monday. Trump was the final speaker at Kirk's emotional send-off at State Farm Stadium in Arizona on Sunday afternoon. One by one, administration officials and Kirk's devastated wife Erika shared heartfelt tributes to the late conservative commentator, who was assassinated on September 10, and shared inspirational messages to the 200,000-strong crowd. When Trump approached the podium to speak, he detoured into uncharted territory with a political message, revealing he planned to make an announcement from the Oval Office on Monday which he believed Kirk would have looked forward to. 'I think you're going to find it to be amazing,' he told the crowd. 'I think we found an answer to autism.' Trump vowed his administration 'won't let it happen anymore.' 'I think it's going to be one of the most important news conferences I'll ever have, and I look so forward to it.' President Donald Trump used Charlie Kirk's memorial to tout a bombshell autism announcement he plans to make on Monday President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with with Charlie Kirk, Founder and Executive Director of Turning Point USA, right, after participating in a panel discussion in Washington in 2018 Earlier on Sunday, reports suggested Trump planned to announce that pregnant women should avoid taking Tylenol unless they have a fever due to the increased risk. The advice comes from a federal review into what is driving rising rates of autism across the US, an initiative spearheaded by health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Officials also plan to to tout a medication called leucovorin as a possible treatment for the neurodevelopmental disorder, according to the Washington Post report. Earlier this year, doctors told the Daily Mail they have seen remarkable results in nonverbal youngsters given the little-known drug, which costs just $2.50 per pill. Leucovorin is derived from folic acid (also known as Vitamin B9), a vital nutrient that help with autism symptoms. Though it is not a cure for autism, it could help improve communication and other behaviors. Autism rates have drastically increased over the past two decades, with one in 150 children having the disorder in 2000 to about one in 31 children having it as of April 2025. While many doctors believe the autism rise if because we're better at detecting it now, RFK Jr has hinted that environmental toxins are to blame leading him to pledge to probe food, pesticides and vaccines. Elsewhere in Trump's memorial speech, he acknowledged America is 'is a nation in grief and a nation in shock, and a nation in mourning.' Vice President JD Vance (left) and Kirk's wife Erike (right) were among the final speakers of the afternoon Acetaminophen - the active ingredient in the common over-the-counter drug and medications across the world - is believed to increase the risk of autism in children of mothers who use it early in pregnancy Trump said Kirk was 'one of the brightest lights of our time and our greatest evangelist for liberty.' ''He's a martyr now for American freedom,' Trump said, echoing several previous speakers. 'None of us will ever forget Charlie Kirk. And neither now will history.' Trump also addressed Kirk's alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, describing him as a 'radicalized, cold-blooded monster. 'He was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice, for God, country, for reason, and for common sense,' Trump said of Kirk. 'The assassin failed in his quest because Charlie's message has not been silenced. It now is bigger and better and stronger than ever before.' Trump's remarks concluded the mammoth celebration of Kirk's life. He invited Erika back on stage and the pair embraced as a rendition of 'America the Beautiful' played. A former university graduate from Melbourne has been charged with murdering a 23-year-old woman in Mullumbimby, in NSW's northern rivers region. Jai Oden-Jenkins moved to the 'hippie' town a few years ago to a unit blockon Poinciana Street. Police were called to his flat at 11.55pm last Friday, following reports of a domestic incident. Neighbours told the Daily Mail they heard loud noises and shouting coming from the building that evening. Officers found a young woman's body inside. Jai Oden-Jenkins (second right) has been charged with the alleged murder of a 23-year-old woman whose body was found in a flat in the Northern Rivers town of Mullumbimby Jai Oden-Jenkins moved from Melbourne, where he attended university, to Mullumbimby which is northwest of Byron Bay and known for its relaxed, counter-culture atmosphere Mullumbimby (pictured) is inland from the popular resort town of Byron Bay One resident on the street said Mr Oden-Jenkins and a young women who may be he alleged victim appeared to be living a 'very different lifestyle'. He declined to comment further because 'it's very raw at the moment'. The woman who was found dead inside is yet to be publicly identified. Mullumbimby, northwest of the resort town of Byron Bay, is known for its hippie sub-culture. Mr Oden-Jenkins, 29, was arrested and taken to Byron Bay Police Station where, following inquiries he was charged with murder (domestic violence). Police established a crime scene and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The accused was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Bail Court via video link on Sunday. A report will be prepared for the coroner. A special forces soldier was left with life-changing injuries after being accidentally shot by a fellow serviceman seven times at point-blank range with live ammunition. The incident happened during a hostage training exercise in which the shooter mistakenly believed he had loaded his weapon with blanks, The Sun reported. Due to national security concerns, the location, as well as the soldiers' names and unit, have not been released - but the accident happened in January 2019. The squaddie responsible for the shooting was handed a six-month suspended jail sentence at Bulford Military Court. Named as Soldier B, he was an experienced soldier who was training with the elite unit for the first time, the judge heard. Indeed, the court was told that his eagerness to impress may have played a role in the mishap since 'he didn't want to be the last person ready' while rapidly reloading his gun in an area with low lighting. The injured party, known as Soldier A, was left with life-altering injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The extent of his injuries were such that he was granted a medical discharge from the Armed Forces - and likely only escaped with his life due to the optional body armour he chose to wear that day. A special forces soldier was left with life-changing injuries after being accidentally shot by a fellow serviceman seven times at point-blank range with live ammunition In his victim statement, read out by Lieutenant Colonel Emma Whiting, Soldier A said: 'There is no doubt, if I hadn't been wearing my body armour, I would have been shot dead.' The Wiltshire-based court martial heard that there had been a litany of safety failures on the day. Those mitigating factors included a cancelled safety briefing that had been scheduled to take place. Additionally, there was very little to visually distinguish between the magazines holding the blanks and those containing the live rounds. The training exercise involved soldiers pairing off into two teams, with Soldier A roleplaying as an enemy and Soldier B part of the team looking to extract the hostage. However, Soldier B said he unexpectedly took up a 'shooting role' since his fellow servicemen had already 'died' as the scenario played out. Disaster struck when Soldier B loaded live ammunition into magazines to be used in the exercise, with Prosecutor Lt Col Whiting telling the court: 'He failed to properly check the magazine matter before inserting it.' As he was posted by the door to a conference room full of pretend 'civilians' held hostage he opened fire on Soldier A - seeing blood explode from his forearm. Soldier B initially believed the screams and blood were details designed to make the simulated scenario feel immersive. Judge England found that he had fired 23 live rounds over the duration of the hostage taking drill, but the last seven were the ones that damaged Soldier A - leaving him with serious wounding to his chest, abdomen, right arm and left forearm. He has since undergone multiple reconstructive surgeries and been left with lifelong scarring. Soldier A said: 'My injuries have changed my life and will continue to have an impact.' The court heard how Soldier B offered an apology to his victim while visiting him in hospital. Soldier B admitted to performing a duty negligently and alongside his suspended sentence was also ordered to pay 5,000 compensation to Soldier A. A woman has detailed how she was forced to use her unresponsive husband's thumbprint to unlock his phone to call emergency services during an Optus outage. Adelaide mum Simone Porcaro was among hundreds of Optus customers impacted during a widespread outage across four states last Thursday. It's understood that a botched firewall update blocked hundreds of calls to triple-0 in South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and NSW. The telco giant was unaware of the catastrophic systemic failure until hours later, which wasn't publicly addressed until late the next day. Ms Porcaro frantically tried to call triple zero six times after her husband Dave collapsed and slipped unconscious due to cellulitis, a serious leg infection. Unable to get through, her quick-thinking seven-year-old daughter Caitlin suggested trying his phone, which was with another telco provider. The young girl and her mum managed to manoeuvre his body to get the phone from underneath him and then used his thumb to unlock the phone to raise the alarm. 'It just makes me angry as I should have been able to call triple zero,' Ms Porcaro told Ten News. Dave Porcaro (left) may not be alive today if it wasn't the for quick thinking of his seven-year-old daughter Caitlin (second left) Simone Porcaro has slammed the lack of compassion shown by her telco provider 'We found the phone tucked underneath him and then we've kind of moved his arm to try and manoeuvre his thumb, so a couple of attempts to get his thumb into the thumbprint so that we can unlock that phone.' Ms Porcaro eventually received a welfare call from Optus the next day and claimed the operator showed little compassion during the 40-second call. She has been a loyal Optus customer for 15 years. 'It was a bit of a scripted call,' Ms Porcaro said. 'They were offering me emergency services over 26 hours later. 'It was just to tick a box. 'Afterwards I was like, 'are you joking?' You're offering me emergency services over 24 hours later. Where was the phone call, like two hours later or something like that?' Daily Mail has contacted Optus for further comment. Hundreds of Optus customers were impacted during a widespread outage across four states last Thursday morning Mr Porcaro is now recovering in hospital, unlike the 68-year-old Adelaide woman who died from a medical episode during the outage. It's understood the woman was at home on her own when she began suffering chest pains. She contacted her husband but his triple-0 call was unable to be connected due to the outage. It's one of three deaths that have so far linked to the catastrophic telco outage. 'On behalf of our family we mourn the loss of our wife/sister, we hope that the authorities are able to investigate the terrible circumstances so other families don't experience a tragedy like this,' a family statement read. 'We are saddened to hear of the loss of the young child and our hearts go out to the family and others that have been impacted by this event.' The two other deaths were in Western Australia. A fourth fatality, of an eight-week-old baby boy in Adelaide's north, was originally linked to the outage. But police now believe the outage is unlikely to have contributed to the infant's death. Optus chief executive Stephen Rue fronted the media for the third time in as many days on Sunday to apologise for the outage, amid growing calls from him to resign. 'We will do an independent review, we will make the facts public, and I can assure you, we will be implementing everything,' he said. There are growing calls for Optus chief executive Stephen Rue (pictured) to step down 'What I can assure you is that actions are and will be taken to ensure that this does not happen in future.' Speaking from New York on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said while there would be an investigation into the incident, he believed Optus' behaviour was 'completely unacceptable'. 'We have made that very clear, he told the ABC. 'There will be a proper investigation by the authorities, and the government has action at its disposal, but the immediate concern will be that investigation. 'Find out the facts, exactly how this happened. 'We will await the proper facts and will take what action is necessary.' When asked if Mr Rue should reconsider his position, Mr Albanese said he'd be surprised if that wasn't already happening. 'But that, of course, is something that, you know, we want to see the investigation take place. What we want is to ensure that something like this shouldn't happen,' he said. 'Optus has obligations as to other communications companies and quite clearly they haven't led up to, they haven't fulfilled the obligations that they have.' A former colleague of 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic was fatally mauled by a big cat at his animal preserve in southeastern Oklahoma. Ryan Easley, the owner of Growler Pines Tiger Preserve, died in an 'accident' with a tiger under his care, according to the preserve. No further details about Easley's death were revealed. The preserve made a Facebook statement in remembrance and said the facility will be closed until further notice. 'This tragedy is a painful reminder of both the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world,' they wrote. The preserve remembered him as a passionate wildlife advocate who had a deep love for animals. Joseph Maldonado, known as Joe Exotic from the mega-hit Netflix series 'Tiger King', acknowledged the caretaker's death in a since-removed social media post, according to The Oklahoman. 'Prayers go out to his family,' Maldonado wrote. 'Ryan took great care of his animals! He loved everyone of those tigers and was an advocate for tigers as well as elephants.' Maldonado was convicted on 19 federal counts including wildlife crimes and the heavily publicized murder-for-hire case against his zoo rival, Carole Baskin. Ryan Easley, a handler at Growler Pines Tiger Preserve in Hugo Oklahoma was killed by a tiger while it was under his care on Saturday September 20, 2025 This photo provided by the Santa Rose County Jail in Milton, Fla., shows Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as 'Joe Exotic' The preserve remembered Easley as a passionate wildlife advocate who had a deep love for animals He is currently serving a 21-year sentence at Fort Worth's Federal Medical Center. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the animal rights group more commonly known as PETA, constantly bashed Easley's preserve. PETA called Easley a 'villain' who allegedly 'hauled' tigers around the country, 'forced them to perform in cruel circuses, and kept them trapped in cages for hours.' They also wrote that the tiger-handler was allegedly caught 'violently whipping tigers during a training session' and that he 'boarded his tigers in cramped cages' at Joe Exotic's roadside zoo. The animal rights group called for 'the remaining roadside zoo exhibitors' to 'get out of the business now and send the animals to accredited sanctuaries where they can finally live in peace.' Maldonado clapped back to PETA's statement on Facebook, writing they 'always lie and drag him into everything.' 'Ryan built a huge compound to keep his tigers in on the backside of my zoo. PETA doesn't know crap,' according to The Oklahoman. Easley leaves behind his daughter, Lily, and wife, Elaine, a GoFundMe page was created to help his family during this tragic time PETA called Easley a 'villain' who allegedly 'hauled' tigers around the country, 'forced them to perform in cruel circuses, and kept them trapped in cages for hours' They also wrote that Easley was allegedly caught 'violently whipping tigers during a training session' Easley owned 25 acres of land in Choctaw County. The Choctaw County Sheriff's office was 'unwilling to make a comment' to The Oklahoman regarding the caretaker's death. Easley leaves behind his wife, Elaine, and his daughter, Lily. A GoFundMe page was created to help Easley's family during this tragic time, with over $15,000 raised out of a $20,000 goal. The page wrote that Easley's dedication and sacrifice were unmatched, and that his love for his family 'shone above all else.' Donald Trump has shared a surprising story about an average Australian who was apparently motivated to attend church for the first time after Charlie Kirk's death. The US President addressed tens of thousands of mourners at a memorial service for the slain conservative commentator in State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday night. His (Kirk's) memory has been honoured in the streets of Berlin, Warsaw, Vienna, Sydney, Madrid, London, Tel Aviv and all over the world. So beautiful to watch,' Trump said. A man as far away as rural Australia texted a pastor Im going to come to church tomorrow for the first time ever. 'The pastor asked: why is that? The man replied: Because of Charlie Kirk. Can you imagine? 'The lesson of Charlie's life is that you should never underestimate what one person can do with a good heart, a righteous cause, a cheerful spirit and the will to fight, fight, fight. You have to fight.' Trump's anecdote was met with rapturous applause. The exact provenance of the Australian pastor story is unclear. However, an Adelaide-based author called Kurt Mahlburg, who writes about culture and Christian faith, claimed that 'god is moving' in the wake of Kirk's killing. The US President was addressing tens of thousands of mourners at a memorial service for the slain conservative commentator in State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona , on Sunday night Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two and controversial conservative commentator, was shot in the neck on 10 September during a rally at Utah Valley University. He died a short time later (Kirk is pictured with his wife, Erica) 'A prominent Australian pastor just messaged me privately to say Charlie Kirk's martyrdom brought a whole bunch of new people to his church this morning,' Mr Mahlburg wrote on X last week. The Daily Mail approached Mr Mahlburg for comment. The memorial had earlier heard from Kirk's widow and the mother of his two children, Erika, who took the remarkable step of forgiving her husband's killer. She said that Charlie 'wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life'. 'I forgive him,' she said as the crowd erupted in applause. 'I forgive him because it's what Christ did. The answer to hate is not hate.' 'The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love, love for our enemies.' Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk also put their differences aside with both men seen chatting in the President's box. The memorial had earlier heard from Kirk's widow and the mother of his two children, Erika (pictured with President Trump), who took the remarkable step of forgiving her husband's killer Both men had a very public spat in June when Musk posted, and then swiftly deleted, a bombshell claim that federal authorities held extra information on Trump in the Jeffrey Epstein files. Trump accused Musk of going 'off the rails' and being a 'train wreck' after the tech tycoon decided to bankroll a new political party. In the wake of Kirk's shooting, security for the memorial was incredibly tight. Speakers delivered their tributes from behind bulletproof glass. The event very clearly cast Kirk as a martyr for the conservative cause. Trump said Kirk was 'one of the brightest lights of our time and 'our greatest evangelist for liberty.' 'Hes a martyr now for American freedom,' Trump said, echoing several previous speakers. 'None of us will ever forget Charlie Kirk. And neither now will history.' Charlie Kirk's devastated widow has revealed the sweet tradition that helped their marriage go from strength to strength. Erika Kirk delivered a heart-wrenching eulogy in front of 200,000 mourners in and around Arizona's State Farm Stadium on Sunday afternoon, publicly forgiving the man accused of assassinating her husband and celebrating his Christian faith. During her speech, she revealed Kirk would ask her how he could be a better husband every week without fail, as part of a romantic ritual they'd formed during their marriage. 'Someone once asked me how Charlie and I thought we kept our marriage so strong when he was busy traveling,' she said. 'Our little secret: It was love notes. Every Saturday, Charlie wrote one for me, and he never missed a Saturday.' Erika said 'in every single one of them, he'd tell me what his highlight was for the week, how grateful he was for me and our babies. 'And always at the end, he would always end it with asking the most beautiful question, 'Please let me know how I can better serve you as a husband''.' The couple shared two children, a three-year-old daughter and a 16-month-old son. Erika Kirk delivered a heartwrenching eulogy in front of 200,000 mourners at Arizona 's State Farm Stadium on Sunday afternoon She and President Donald Trump united on stage for the final, moving moment of the memorial They met at a Bill's Burgers restaurant in New York City in 2018, when Kirk was interviewing Erika for a job. In an adorable video of Kirk retelling their meeting to their daughter, he said he was asking interview questions about 'philosophy, religion, Jesus.' 'And then I realized Mama was beautiful and smart and elegant and Christ-like,' he told the toddler. 'And so, I said, 'Forget this job interview, I want to date you!' I said, 'I have enough friends.' And that's where your journey started.'' Bonding over their shared evangelical Christian faith and traditional, conservative values, Kirk and Erika launched their relationship and got engaged two years later. Kirk was shot dead while debating students at the Utah Valley University college campus. His alleged shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, may have held extreme left-wing views, authorities have said. Kirk 'wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,' Erika said at her husband's memorial on Sunday. 'I forgive him,' she said as the crowd erupted in applause. During her speech, she revealed Kirk would ask her how he could be a better husband every week without fail, as part of a romantic ritual they'd formed during their marriage The couple shared two children, a three-year-old daughter and a 16-month-old son 'I forgive him because it's what Christ did. The answer to hate is not hate.' Erika also revealed she bravely saw her husband's body after his death, despite a warning about his graphic wound. 'I look(ed) directly at my husband's murdered body,' she said. 'I saw the wound that ended his life. I felt everything you would expect to feel. I felt shock. I felt horror and a level of heartache that I didn't even know existed. 'I also saw on his lips the faintest smile it told me Charlie didn't suffer. Even the doctor told me it was something so instant that even if Charlie had been shot in the operating room nothing could have been done. There was no pain.' A woman who has accused a high-profile man of rape says she repeatedly told him and another man 'no' as they assaulted her, a court has been told. The man, who cannot be identified due to a suppression order, and his co-accused Patrick Sinnott faced Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday for the second day of their committal hearing. Both men have pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and intentional sexual touching. They're accused of raping the woman in the early hours of February 5, 2023, after attending a Geelong strip club, southwest of Melbourne. It's alleged the two men left the club with the complainant in her car and the assault happened in a Dan Murphy's car park in the nearby suburb of Belmont. Detective Claire Ronaldson told the court the complainant disclosed how she had said 'no' multiple times throughout the incident. The woman reiterated to police a year later that while her memory was not always clear, she was confident she had rejected anything sexual. CCTV footage showed the woman leaving the strip club with the men about 4.17am and then her car arriving at the Dan Murphy's car park about 4.21am. A woman has accused a high-profile man, and a second man, of rape inside her car at a Dan Murphy's car park (stock image) The alleged rape is not captured on the vision but the woman's vehicle is seen leaving the area about 4.59am. The court was told the woman called her friend about 5.05am after dropping her alleged attackers off at home. She did not arrive back to her own house until 6am, where her other friends were waiting for her. The woman reported to the group that she had been raped but a witness told the court there were suggestions she had lied. The friend on Thursday gave evidence that the alleged victim had agreed to provide sexual services to the men in exchange for money. The court was told after the incident, the woman requested more money but the men declined so she reported the incident as a rape. 'I certainly came to the conclusion that she lied to the police,' the witness said. Det Ronaldson on Friday told the court there had been conflicting information between the woman's initial disclosure and her official police statement. The men faced Geelong Magistrates Court (pictured), with both pleading not guilty to charges of rape and intentional sexual touching She asked the woman to clarify and the woman said she sometimes was confused when drunk but she remembered the men asking to sleep with her for payment. The woman reiterated that she had not been consenting to any sexual acts, the court was told. The alleged victim also told Det Ronaldson it took her 53 minutes, instead of the expected 10 minutes, to arrive back home because she was afraid and driving slowly. Dr Nitin Prakash, who carried out a forensic medical examination of the woman after the alleged rape, told the court she had disclosed being choked during the incident. There were no visible injuries observed and the allegations of choking were not made to the police. The hearing will continue in November, when magistrate Kimberley Swadesir will decide whether there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial in the County Court. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 A teenage girl who took her own life after being bullied for years had shared a social media post about suicide awareness just one day earlier. Clarrissa Nicholson had only recently turned 13 when she took her own life at her home at Mount Low in Townsville, North Queensland, overnight on September 2. Clarrissa's mum Selena Nicholson found her daughter's body the following morning, just before she was due to catch the bus to school. It was only after her death that her family found out the schoolgirl had been the victim of relentless bullying. In a heartbreaking twist, Clarrissa posted a TikTok video raising awareness for National Suicide Month the day before her death. 'One simple question can help save someone's life,' she posted. 'You matter, please stay.' Clarrissa's heartbroken friends and Northern Beaches State High School classmates posted heartfelt comments under the post after they learned of her death. 'I love you Rissa. I sit and count the minutes go by, thinking of every moment we had together. Remember we promised we'd make TikToks some day,' one friend posted. Townsville teenager Clarrissa Nicholson had only recently turned 13 when she sadly took her own life overnight on September 2 Clarrissa's heartbroken friends and Northern Beaches State High School classmates honoured her memory with heartfelt tributes 'I cry realising we'll never get to. 'You always said I was your favourite and you meant the world to me, we had our ups and downs but now that you're gone I can't see the world clearly. I miss you Clarrissa. 'I sob every second reading our chats together. You mean everything I hope you rest better than you did down here on this cruel world.' 'Rest in peace, Rissa,' another wrote. 'When I didn't have many friends you helped me in so many ways, I love you so much Rissa and I couldn't have asked for a better friend.' Family and friends made up more than 200 mourners who paid tribute to Clarrissa during a touching ceremony held on Friday. The service was organised with the help of Clarrissa's grandmother Trish Hamilton who started a GoFundMe to raise money for the funeral, which was held at the Holy Trinity Church in Mundingburra. 'Our beloved Clarrissa's life was tragically taken far too soon,' Ms Hamilton wrote. Clarrissa was farewelled during a service held on Friday 'For the last few years she battled with in-person and online bullying. 'Despite the pain she carried, she always wore a smile and did her best to protect her family from knowing the depth of her struggles. 'Bullying in any form is never okay. It's important to remember that it's okay not to be okay, and to speak up. 'If someone confides in you, please ensure they get the support they need by reaching out for help. 'Clarrissa was a wonderful daughter, granddaughter, sister, and friend. Everyone who had the privilege of knowing her was touched by her kindness and beautiful spirit. 'As a family, the sudden loss of our precious Clarrissa has been an overwhelming emotional journey. 'From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your love and support during this heartbreaking time.' Ms Nicholson said her family struggled to comprehend the sudden loss of their 'vivacious, loving girl'. Clarrissa with her mum Selena Nicholson (left) 'We didn't know [about her inner struggles], she literally always had a smile on her face, she smiled all the time,' Ms Nicholson told Townsville Bulletin. 'They'd call her names, like she got called a 'flounder', 'oh, you look like a flounder', just horrible things like 'no one loves you' kind of things but people loved her. 'We've been told by other people (that) people have said 'her mother doesn't know how bad it was, how bad she was bullied', things like that. Clarrissa, who had an older brother, two younger brothers and younger sister, loved doting on her younger siblings. 'She'd do her little sister's make-up and let her little sister do her make-up,' Ms Nicholson said. The heartbroken mother said her daughter wanted to be a famous social media star, but she also wanted to stay grounded and help people and care for children. 'She wanted to become a midwife because she just loves babies, and she wanted to be a teacher because she likes helping people,' Ms Nicholson said. Clarrissa's death hit the north Queensland Townsville community hard. Clarrissa's death hit the North Queensland Townsville community hard The schoolgirl's family released video of Clarrissa prior to the funeral service, which showed her outwardly bubbly and happy nature. Many of the mourners were able to sign Clarrissa's coffin before her final farewell on Friday. The lines 'Fly high pretty girl, love you' and 'We all miss you pretty girl' followed by a love heart were seen etched on the coffin. LIFELINE AUSTRALIA 13 11 14 BEYOND BLUE 1300 22 46 36 The friend of an Australian pilot killed in a Brazilian plane during a massive drug drop is convinced he was probably the victim of a larger conspiracy. Timothy James Clark, 46, was flying over Coruripe, on the coast of the Alagoas region in Brazil's far north-east, when his plane crashed around 1.30pm on September 14. Clark, the sole occupant of the aircraft, died at the scene, surrounded by Australian snacks and 200kg of SpaceX-branded bricks of cocaine aboard the kit aircraft. But a close friend of Clark has now told Daily Mail she believes he may have unwittingly become caught up in the international drug trade and was set up to fail. 'I'm kind of freaked out by everything - this story didn't just start this week for me,' she told the Daily Mail. 'I'm gutted, I'm shattered, my heart breaks beyond any word in our dictionary. '[But] I'm honouring my agreement to my beloved Timmy, that we had made.' She added: 'He's found himself in a situation he clearly couldn't get out of.' Timothy James Clark (pictured) studied finance at university and trained as a pilot Tim Clark, the sole occupant of the aircraft, died at the scene, surrounded by Australian snacks and 200kg of SpaceX-branded bricks of cocaine on board the kit aircraft Timothy James Clark, 46, was flying over Coruripe, on the coast of the Alagoas region in Brazil's remote north-east, when his plane crashed around 1.30pm on September 14 The former stock market trader, who used the nickname The Broker online, had previously been living in South Africa, 7000km from where his light plane crashed. The Sling 4 kit aircraft had been registered in South Africa in January 2023 and was originally based at Tedderfield Airfield, just south of Johannesburg. Clark - who began flying planes 15 years ago and posted several videos of himself flying in Australia - had also checked into the Tedderfield Airfield on Facebook. By October 2023 though, it was photographed by planespotters at the Coroa do Aviao corporate aerodrome in Igarassu, 400km north of where it later crashed. Additional fuel tanks were found in the wreckage of the aircraft, along with a homemade refuelling system to allow it to fly beyond its standard range. The Daily Mail revealed Clark, from Lilydale in Melbourne's eastern outskirts, was the director and secretary of a number of investment businesses that operated in Australia over the past few decades. His companies included Stock Assist Group Pty Ltd and Gurney Capital Nominees Pty Ltd (which both remain registered with ASIC), TJC Nominees Pty Ltd (cancelled in July), and Bluenergy Asia Pty Ltd and Tick-Tack-Toe Pty Ltd (deregistered in 2021 and 2018 respectively). 'I know the business and things and where he was until he went offline,' his friend revealed, who asked to remain anonymous. 'I knew from March that s*** was off.' A sample of the drugs found onboard the doomed aircraft She alerted authorities when he mysteriously cut off contact but her inquiries with Australian Federal Police and Department of Foreign Affairs turned up nothing. 'I'm the one that started asking everyone, then contacted the official authorities asking for a welfare check,' she said. But Clark's friend of 35 years said she was shocked by the Brazilian police's allegations that he had become embroiled in the drug trade. She said she knew nothing of any criminal links but suspects he may have become involved with shady people in positions of power abroad . 'Tim knew some high-up people and had investments and lots of stuff,' she said. 'Someone needs to be boots on ground in South Africa to go to his home and office and get his stuff - his personal phone and other SIM cards - before someone else clears (it) out. 'But it's probably too late already and they'll have already got everything.' Brazil's State Secretariat of Public Security last week issued a statement denying Clark's plane was shot down by military police after local rumours that they had. His aircraft crashed into a sugarcane field in Coruripe (pictured) with local police saying packages of SpaceX-branded cocaine were found in the wreckage The department stated that no aerial operation was carried out to bring down the aircraft and that its actions were limited to seizing the drugs, recovering the body, and conducting preliminary investigations. Clark's friend claimed she knew the plane well. 'Something isn't right, there was no fire at the crash scene... but it was supposedly loaded with fuel and a self-refuelling system,' she said. 'I know that plane - I knew it when he got it and flew it back with a co-pilot.' It is understood Clark also had access to a larger aircraft which she said would have been far better suited to the task he died doing. There are now calls for Clark's body to be returned home where an independent autopsy can be carried out. Clark's father knew nothing of his son's death when contacted by thDaily Mail days after the tragedy. 'I have got a son called Tim,' he told the Daily Mail, but insisted his son was in South Africa and not Brazil. 'No he's not in Brazil. He's in South Africa ... he does have a pilot's licence but he doesn't fly ... he's got his learner's licence,' he said. A driver's licence indicated the deceased was Tim Clark from Melbourne Mr Clark said he knew 'nothing' of the deadly crash and expected authorities would have already informed him. On Friday, Zambia's Civil Aviation Authority denied the crashed aircraft had been registered in Zambia as previously reported. 'Following a review of our records, the CAA wishes to clarify that the aircraft referred to in the social media reports does not appear on the Zambian Aircraft Register,' it stated. 'The aircraft in question, a Sling 4 non type certified carried the registration ZU-IXM, which is not a Zambian registration mark. Zambias official registration prefix remains 9J as allocated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.' The ZU- prefix on the aircraft refers to homebuilt or experimental aircraft registered in South Africa, like Clark's Sling 4 kit plane. Regular aircraft bear the ZS- prefix. Clark's Victorian driver's licence - which still bears his father's home address - was located among the wreckage and was captured by photographers at the scene. The plane had reportedly been operating in Brazil for at least the last two years, and had been photographed at a Brazilian airfield 400km north of the crash site in 2023, nine months after it was registered in South Africa. Where it was headed on its last flight remains unknown, with no flight details recorded with authorities. The drugs had been branded with Elon Musk's SpaceX logo Testing identified the drugs found onboard as cocaine, which were wrapped in bricks carrying the SpaceX branding of Elon Musk's spacecraft and rocket division. Clark attended a Seventh-day Adventist Church-run school, the now-defunct Lilydale Adventist Academy. He later went on to study finance at La Trobe University before training as a pilot. In 2015, he worked for a company operating small planes to King Island, in Tasmania. Photos posted online show him posing in the cockpit and alongside passengers. Other pictures feature him enjoying holidays with family, and partying with glamorous women at Melbourne bars. It is unclear if he was employed as a pilot for a private company or if he owned the plane that crashed, but it appears to have travelled to Brazil from Africa around the same time as him. Local law enforcement estimated the seizure was worth around nine million Brazilian Real (around AU$2.5million) to the shipment's drug lords. But while it remains unclear where the illicit substances were intended to be sold, 200kg of cocaine would have an estimated street value of $80million in Australia. In Brazil, one gram of cocaine costs $5, about the same as the local price of a packet of cigarettes, while the same amount may fetch between $250 and $400 in Australia, which has among the highest prices for the drug in the world. A man has been charged with murder seven months after the body of a mum who was found in the Brisbane River. Sunshine Coast other-of-two Crystal Beale, 49, was found dead in the water at Yeronga by a rower in the early hours of February 22. Hours earlier, she was captured on CCTV leaving a restaurant in Sunnybank following a family dinner. She got into her ex-partner's car and travelled to West End in the city's inner-south, where she was allegedly dropped off. Police initially deemed Ms Beale's death was not suspicious but launched a homicide investigation weeks later following further investigations and a post-mortem. Operation Xray Saba was established to piece together not only what happened that night but also Ms Beale's life leading up to her death. Police will now allege that she was killed by her ex-partner, who then relocated her body in the river. Following extensive investigations which involved the examination of more than 1000 hours of CCTV, detectives conducted a search warrant at a Maudsland address on Monday morning, where they arrested a West End man, 49. A man has been charged over the death of Crystal Beale (pictured) The police breakthrough comes seven months after Crystal (pictured with her daughter) was found dead in the Brisbane River Footage released by Queensland Police showed the man being arrested by detectives as police dogs scoured the property. Other officers were seen examining a car at the property. The man was charged with one count each of murder (domestic violence offence) and misconduct with a corpse. He did not apply for bail when the case was mentioned in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. He was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on October 20. Ms Beale's children, aged 22 and 15, have struggled to come to terms with her traumatic death. 'Over the past seven months detectives have been tirelessly investigating every avenue possible to find answers for her family,' Detective Inspector Wayne Francis said. 'We were not going to give up until we could provide these answers and get justice for Crystal.' Ms Beale's ex-partner (pictured during his arrest on Monday) was charged with one count of murder and another regarding the misconduct with a corpse The mother-of-two was captured on CCTV leaving a Sunnybank restaurant on the night of her death Ms Beale's daughter has spent months pleading for answers about what happened to her 'beautiful, selfless' mother. 'At first we were assured that her death was non suspicious, this has now taken a horrific turn and I will never be the same again,' Charlie-Rose Wagner wrote in March. 'I urge anyone who knows anything to please contact the police with information. 'Please share everywhere you can. Help me bring my mum to peace.' She described her mother as the most important woman that she'd ever known. 'I would choose you to be my mummy again in every single life,' Ms Wagner wrote. 'You're not here, but I feel your presence all around me. 'I've never loved anyone so much.' If you or someone who know needs confidential support, contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). Charlie Kirk's devastated widow revealed the tender words from Second Lady Usha Vance that brought her comfort in the wake of his assassination. Speaking for the conservative activist's public memorial at State Farm Stadium in Arizona on Sunday, Erika Kirk revealed she turned to Usha for advice on how to cope with such a monumental loss. Vice President JD Vance had transported Kirk's casket, along with Erika and their two young children, on board Air Force Two on September 11 - one day after Kirk was assassinated while debating students at the Utah Valley University college campus. In emotional images, the grief-stricken Erika could be seen stepping off the plane hand in hand with Usha. The widow kept her head low and sunglasses on while the Second Lady guided her. On Sunday, Erika thanked Usha for her stoicism during the tragedy, and the words of advice she offered on the plane. Erika said: '[Usha] told me, you will get through these 15 minutes and the next 15 minutes after that. 'Usha, I don't think you realized it then, but those words were exactly what I needed to hear.' Erika described her friend Usha as a 'precious woman' in the emotional speech. Charlie Kirk 's devastated widow has revealed the tender words from Second Lady Usha Vance which brought her comfort immediately after his assassination There were emotional scenes of grief-stricken Erika stepping off the plane hand in hand with Usha, keeping her head low and sunglasses on as she allowed the Second Lady to guide her 'I held her hand and told her, honestly I do not know how I am going to get through this.' Prior to Erika's heart-wrenching speech, Usha's husband Vice President JD Vance had delivered his own emotional message to the huge crowd. 'For Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees,' Vance said. Vance, who credits Kirk for his political rise through the ranks and the success of the Trump administration, told the gathered crowd that his friend was a 'martyr.' 'We must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith,' he said. 'I have talked more about Jesus Christ the past two weeks than I have my entire time in public office. 'Our whole administration is here, but not just because we love Charlie as a friend, even though we did, but because we know we wouldn't be here without him. Charlie built an organization that reshaped the balance of our politics.' Vance was one of the first politicians to pay tribute to his late friend, and helped to carry his coffin as it was loaded into Air Force Two bound for his home state of Arizona. Speaking at State Farm Stadium in Arizona on Sunday afternoon for 31-year-old Kirk's public memorial, Erika Kirk revealed she turned to Usha for advice on how to cope with such a monumental loss Erika said her marriage with Kirk was the best thing both of them ever did Vance stood front and center as he and members of the National Guard carried Charlie Kirk's coffin to Air Force Two on Thursday Vance and Kirk sparked up a friendship in 2017, long before the Vice President's meteoric rise within MAGA circles. 'Charlie was one of the first people I called when I thought about running for senate in early 2021. I was interested but skeptical there was a pathway,' he revealed in a tribute after Kirk's death. 'We talked through everything, from the strategy to the fundraising to the grassroots of the movement he knew so well. He introduced me to some of the people who would run my campaign and also to Donald Trump Jr. "Like his dad, he's misunderstood. He's extremely smart, and very much on our wavelength." Don took a call from me because Charlie asked him too. 'Long before I ever committed (even in my mind) to running, Charlie had me speak to his donors at a TPUSA event. He walked me around the room and introduced me. He gave me honest feedback on my remarks. He had no reason to do this, no expectation that I'd go anywhere. I was polling, at that point, well below 5 percent. He did it because we were friends, and because he was a good man. 'When I became the VP nominee something Charlie advocated for both in public and private Charlie was there for me.' Erika and Vance spoke on Sunday just before President Donald Trump, who also praised Kirk for helping bolster the Republican cause ahead of the 2024 election. 'The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at every one of us.' Accused assassin, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was arrested two days after Kirk's death and has been charged with capital murder. Vance issued a heart-wrenching tribute to Charlie Kirk after the MAGA firebrand was assassinated on a Utah college campus The couple had two children, a three-year-old daughter and 16-month-old son Vice President JD Vance (left) and President Donald Trump (right) were among the final speakers of the afternoon Prosecutors and the Trump administration are pushing for him to receive the death penalty in a state that uses the firing squad in executions. But even on that topic, Erika Kirk refused to endorse her husband's accused killer's death. Instead, she said she wouldn't want a decision like that on her conscience, and deferred to the government to make the decision. 'He [Charlie] wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,' Erika said, sparking roars from the crowd and a standing ovation. 'That man, that young man, I forgive him,' Erika Kirk said while breaking into tears. A top lawyer who featured in the Underbelly television series and was arrested in January over allegations involving child abuse has been hit with a string of further charges. As a NSW Crown prosecutor, Paul Leask was responsible for helping send some of Australia's worst criminals to jail but has himself now been behind bars for almost eight months. The 59-year-old was nabbed by Australian Federal Police during a raid on a hotel in Sydney's central business district on January 30 after a tip-off from US authorities. Police allege they found a hard drive containing more than 300 files depicting child abuse material and a white crystal substance believed to be a prohibited drug. Leask was originally charged with four offences relating to the possession, access and distribution of child abuse material and another of drug possession and did not apply for bail when he first faced court. He is now charged with 11 counts of using a carriage service to make available child abuse material, five counts of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, two of possessing child abuse data and one of possessing child abuse material. Leask is further facing two charges of drug possession but according to court records, one is set to be withdrawn. The AFP allegedly identified Leask while investigating a report from the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a user uploading child abuse material online. Former Crown prosecutor Paul Anthony Leask (above) was arrested in January over allegations involving child abuse and has now been hit with a string of further charges Paul Leask was played by Michael Dorman in Underbelly:Badness (above), the fifth season of the Nine Network crime franchise 'AFP investigators allegedly linked the Sydney man to the illegal online activity,' the AFP said in a statement at the time. 'They executed a search warrant at the man's hotel room on 30 January, 2025, allegedly finding more than 300 files of child abuse material on electronic devices. The devices will be subject to further forensic examination. 'Investigators also found a clip-seal bag containing a substance suspected to be methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.' Leask, who is now retired and is understood to live in Bali, was one of NSW's leading Crown prosecutors. He helped jail crime boss Anthony 'Rooster' Perish who was sentenced to 24 years in prison in 2012 over the 2001 murder of drug dealer Terry Falconer. Falconer's body had been chopped up and concealed in six packages before being dumped in the Hastings River on the NSW mid-north coast. Perish's crimes were dramatised in Underbelly: Badness, the fifth season of the franchise which screened on the Nine Network. Jonathan LaPaglia played Perish, Leask was portrayed by Michael Dorman and Matt Nable was homicide detective Gary Jubelin. Leask helped jail killer Anthony 'Rooster' Perish, whose crimes were dramatised in Underbelly:Badness In a newspaper profile piece on Sydney's top lawyers published in 2013, Leask was described as making a habit of pursuing murder charges instead of accepting pleas to manslaughter. 'He's high energy and extremely thorough to the point of being obsessive,' one colleague said. Leask prosecuted Tarek Abdallah, who was jailed for at least 20 years in 2012 over the underworld shooting murder of Neil Todorovski two years earlier. In 2015, he also helped convict maths tutor Quy Huy Hoang who used his position to sexually abuse five children between 2007 and 2014. Leask left the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in May last year, having been on leave since April 2023. Leask is next due to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday. A mother whose son mysteriously died in Bali fought back tears as she recalled the harrowing moment she learned his body had been flown back without his heart. Chantal Haddow suffered every parent's worst nightmare after learning that her son Byron Haddow, 23, was found dead in a plunge pool at a private villa on the Indonesian island in May. His body was taken to the BIMC private hospital before it was transported to the Bali Funeral Home to prepare it for repatriation to Brisbane. Suspecting foul play, the repatriation process was delayed when Mr Haddow's parents requested a forensic autopsy and stated in emails that 'we want his entire body sent home'. The family's grief was exacerbated when Mr Haddow's body was returned to Australia weeks later with his heart missing. The organ had been taken out without the family's knowledge or consent, a decision they have since slammed as inhumane. The Queensland Coroner's Office made the horrifying discovery while conducting an autopsy on Mr Haddow's body. 'They just rang us to ask if we were aware that his heart was retained over in Bali,' his mother Chantal told Nine News. Sunshine Coast FIFO worker Byron Haddow died while holidaying in Bali Byron's mum Chantal (pictured with her son) was told by the Queensland coroner's office that her son's body was returned to Australia without his heart 'Just when I thought I couldn't feel any more heartbroken, it was another kick in the guts.' Mr Haddow's heart was eventually repatriated, which cost his parents an additional $700. 'When it did come back, it was literally two days before his funeral, so there wasn't an opportunity to put a hold on it,' his mother added. Forensic anthropologist and criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett explained to Nine News that all organs are removed from the body during a forensic autopsy to be weighed and dissected and then, as 'standard practice', returned to the body. Four months on, the Haddocks' desperate quest for answers continues. The initial autopsy in Bali revealed that Mr Haddock likely died from a lethal combination of alcohol intoxication and an antidepressant called Duloxetine. But Ms Haddock fears her son's death was more sinister. Her 178cm-tall son supposedly drowned in a 150cm-deep pool. Chantal Haddow described the news from the Coroner's Office as 'a kick in the guts' Byron's family believe that foul play was involved in his tragic death 'When the police came here to deliver the news, he just said that he was found in the pool,' Ms Haddock recalled. 'Call it mother's instinct, but I wasn't having a bar of it. 'I feel like there was foul play and that something has happened to him prior to him being in the pool.' The results of the local autopsy report are still pending. A separate Australian Federal Police investigation into Mr Haddow's death is also ongoing. 'It is a long and dragged-out process,' Ms Haddow said. She's still struggling with the loss of her 'generous, kind-hearted and hard-working' son. 'He was just so full of life,' she added. Indonesian forensic medicine specialist Dr Nola Margaret Gunawan told news.com.au that she was unable to conclude whether Mr Haddow's death was an accident, suicide or homicide. She received the autopsy request on May 30, but the operation was delayed by four days. Byron was enjoying a well-earned break in Bali when tragedy struck. Pictured is the last photo he posted on social media two days before his death This was due to Mr Haddow's body needing to thaw out after being frozen at the funeral home. Dr Gunawan received a second request from Bali's provincial police for a forensic autopsy to be performed during those four days, and the autopsy was carried out in accordance with Indonesian law. Forensic autopsies seek to identify the cause and manner of death for legal proceedings in suspicious, violent or unexplained cases. During these kinds of autopsies, it is common for doctors to remove vital organs like the heart or brain for further study. Dr Gunawan said pathologists are required to prioritise forensic autopsies. She said that she did not see the Haddows' email requesting their son's 'entire body' be sent home before she conducted the autopsy. Even if she had seen the email, she would still have removed his organs. 'For a clinical autopsy, consent is required from the next of kin to retain organs. But for a forensic autopsy, according to the Indonesian Criminal Procedure Code, consent is not required,' Dr Gunawan explained. 'We cannot do a partial autopsy.' President Donald Trump apologized to Charlie Kirk's wife Erika for refusing to join her call to forgive the man who assassinated her husband in cold blood. Trump delivered a fiery 45-minute eulogy to the late conservative activist, 31, who was fatally shot on September 10 while debating students at the Utah Valley University college campus. In Trump's speech - delivered to a crowd of 60,000 inside State Farm Stadium in Arizona and millions more tuning in virtually - Trump revealed the key component of Kirk's message that he disagreed with. 'He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them,' Trump said of Kirk. 'That's where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I don't want the best for them. 'I'm sorry. I am sorry, Erika, but now Erika can talk to me, and the whole group, and maybe they can convince me that that's not right, but I can't stand my opponent.' Moments before Trump's admission, Erika had stunned the crowd by publicly offering forgiveness to her husband's killer. 'He [Charlie] wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,' Erika said, sparking roars from the crowd and a standing ovation. President Donald Trump hugs an emotional Erika Kirk after inviting her on stage at the end of his speech. Trump delivered a touching 45-minute eulogy to the late conservative activist, 31, who was shot dead on September 10 while debating students at the Utah Valley University college campus Erika sensationally revealed she had forgiven her husband's killer President Donald Trump apologized to Charlie Kirk's wife Erika for failing to see eye-to-eye on her decision to forgive his accused killer 'That man, that young man, I forgive him.' With tears streaming across her face, she praised Americans for turning towards the church for the first time in decades following her husband's death and sensationally revealed her husband 'was ready to die.' 'Even though Charlie died too early, he was ready to die,' Erika said. 'Charlie died with incomplete work, but not unfinished business.' 'There was nothing that was too hard or too painful or nothing that he just felt like he didn't want to do.' She shared a memory with Kirk from two years earlier, in which she was stunned to hear him quote Bible verse Isaiah 6:8: 'Here I am, Lord. Send me.' 'After Charlie finished, I met him backstage and I spoke to him I said, Charlie, baby, please talk to me next time before you say that statement,' she revealed. 'Because when you say something like that, there is so much power in that verse God will take you up on that, and He did.' Spectators were in tears throughout her speech as she remembered the father of her two children, their marriage and his legacy. Trump said he was a confidante he could often turn to before major events or policy announcements Erika Kirk spoke through tears and had the crowd of mourners on their feet with her poignant speech In another devastating portion of her moving speech, she described the moment she saw her husband's dead body. Erika tearfully said that she experienced a 'level of heartbreak she didn't even knew existed.' 'I felt shock, I felt horror,' she told the audience. 'But even in death I could see the man that I love,' she added. 'Even if Charlie had been shot in the operating room, nothing could have been done.' The audience broke out in to massive applause after Erika said Charlie joined his savior, Jesus Christ, in paradise. Erika also gave thanks to Second Lady Usha Vance for comforting her in the moments following Kirk's murder. Vice President JD Vance had transported Kirk's casket, along with Erika and their two young children, on board Air Force Two on September 11 - one day after Kirk was assassinated. In emotional images, the grief-stricken Erika could be seen stepping off the plane hand in hand with Usha. The widow kept her head low and sunglasses on while the Second Lady guided her. Erika spoke of the loving relationship she and Kirk shared, revealing several key details about their marriage The State Farm Stadium reached capacity hours before the start of the memorial service '[Usha] told me, you will get through these 15 minutes and the next 15 minutes after that,' she recalled. 'Usha, I don't think you realized it then, but those words were exactly what I needed to hear.' Elsewhere in her speech, she revealed that throughout their marriage Charlie would write her love notes with the question: 'How can I better serve you as a husband?' 'I was Charlie's confidant,' Erika said. 'My marriage with Charlie was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I know it was the best for him as well. He wanted everyone to experience that joy.' Erika went on to claim Charlie wanted to save 'the lost boys of the west' by encouraging them all to experience marriage and build a family. 'When he spoke to young people, he was always eager to tell them about God's vision for marriage,' she added. 'And how, if they could just dare to live it out, it would enrich every part of their life, just as it enriched ours.' The new Turning Point USA CEO was met with a standing ovation, with shouts of 'we love you' upon entering the State Farm Stadium. More than 200,000 mourners lined up before the sun rose to try to get into the arena, the home to the NFL's Arizona Cardinals. Elsewhere in her speech, she revealed that throughout their marriage Charlie would write her love notes with the question: 'How can I better serve you as a husband?' Robinson, 22, was arrested two days after he allegedly opened fire during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University Your browser does not support iframes. But thousands were turned away as both the stadium and the overflow venue next door reached capacity hours before the start. Trump, Vice President JD Vance and members of the cabinet joined Erika to give emotional farewells to Kirk, while condemning his killer and the divisive rhetoric which many blame for the tragedy. Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested two days after the assassination and has been charged with capital murder. Prosecutors and the Trump administration are pushing for him to receive the death penalty in a state that uses the firing squad in executions. But in an interview with The New York Times published hours before the memorial, Erika said she wants no part in the decision making process for the fate of her husband's killer. 'I've had people ask, "Do you feel anger toward this man? Like, do you want to seek the death penalty?" I'll be honest. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this,' Erika said. 'I do not want that man's blood on my ledger. Because when I get to heaven, and Jesus is like: "Uh, eye for an eye? Is that how we do it?" And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie?' Trump also credited the late firebrand for introducing him to Vice President J.D. Vance and for being an integral part of the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) Vice President JD Vance paid tribute to his close friend Charlie Kirk during his moving tribute Kirk was recognized as a fearless Christian and conservative by the high powered speakers at his public memorial on Sunday. Trump said he was a confidante he could often turn to before major events or policy announcements. He also credited Kirk for introducing him to Vice President J.D. Vance and for being an integral part of the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement. 'Charles James Kirk was heinously murdered by a radicalized leftist for speaking the truth that was in his heart,' the president said. 'He was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice, for God, touched for reason and for common sense. He was assassinated because he lived bravely. 'He lived boldly, and he argued brilliantly without apology. He did what was right for our nation. 'Charlie's murder was not just an attack on one man or one movement, it was an attack on our entire nation.' Vance, who credits Kirk for his political rise through the ranks and the success of the Trump administration, told the gathered crowd that his friend was a 'martyr.' 'We must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith,' he said. 'I have talked more about Jesus Christ the past two weeks than I have my entire time in public office. 'Our whole administration is here, but not just because we love Charlie as a friend, even though we did, but because we know we wouldn't be here without him. Charlie built an organization that reshaped the balance of our politics.' Brand new Sky News host Freya Leach has been forced to apologise after a guest wore bacon on his shirt for a 'bit of protection' from terrorists and went on a wild anti-Islamic rant. Leach's new program Freya Fires Up is now under review after she invited controversial right-wing influencer Ryan Williams on as a guest on Sunday night. Williams, who was introduced by Leach as a 'social media sensation' and conservative political strategist, wore bacon over his shoulders during the program, which was never published to online platforms. 'The reason Ive got bacon on my shoulders is because the terrorists are a charming lot, and they threaten to behead me every single day, so a little bit of protection,' Williams said on Sunday night's Freya Fires Up program. It's understood Williams had been invited on the show to comment on Charlie Kirk's assassination. Williams was asked one question about Kirk and the fallout from his murder but didn't give a response. Instead, the right-wing agitator with more than 243,000 Instagram followers used the program to air his anti-Islamic viewpoint. Williams ranted that the 'UK faced the threat of Islamic invasion every day' and claimed Britains second-biggest city, Birmingham, has a Muslim majority. A Sky News Australia spokesperson told Daily Mail an 'immediate review' of Leach's show was instigated after Williams' (left) appearance Young Sky News host Freya Leach has been forced to apologise after a guest who wore bacon on his shirt for a 'bit of protection' from terrorists went on a wild anti-Islamic rant. Leach responded to Williams' rant, saying it was up to Muslims to condemn those with alleged extremist views. 'Its important to preface that the majority of Muslims dont support that,' Leach told her viewers. 'We have seen here in Australia at least weve got some great moderate Muslims, but I think its up to them to condemn the elements of the culture or religion that are more extreme.' Leach then interviewed conservative strategist Joey Mannarino, who was also a guest on the show, before being forced to apologise for Williams' tirade. 'Ive just been told we have to apologise for what was just aired, those comments earlier,' she said. Williams appearance was pulled from the broadcast but the vocal right-wing preacher posted his appearance on his own Instagram page, which has been liked more than 116,000 times. A Sky News Australia spokesperson told Daily Mail an 'immediate review' of Leach's show was instigated. 'Sky News Australia apologises unreservedly for the deeply offensive comments made by a guest during a live broadcast on Sunday evening,' the spokesperson said. Williams claims he wears bacon to be 'protected' from terrorists 'These remarks were wholly inappropriate and unacceptable and have no place on our network. The guest responsible should never have appeared. 'He was specifically asked for his reaction to the Charlie Kirk assassination and its fallout but instead used our platform to spread his harmful views. 'We took immediate action during the live broadcast to cut off the guest, and our host promptly apologised to viewers. The content was not republished on any of our platforms. 'We recognise the harm such rhetoric can cause and take full responsibility for this failure in our editorial processes. 'We have begun an immediate review of the program, including our guest booking and vetting procedures, to prevent this type of incident from occurring again.' Williams' Instagram account is riddled with anti-Islamic posts and he regularly appears draped in bacon. Williams, who lists his job as cellist and trance producer, asks his social media disciples to donate to his cause of inflicting 'maximum damage on Islam' and keeping 'Europe Christian at all costs'. Leach, 22, was handed her own Sunday show little more than a month ago and also hosts Sky's Late Debate show through the week. READ MORE: Trendy Sydney restaurant is evacuated during busy dinner rush Two people have been rushed to hospital after multiple people were treated following a chemical incident in Brisbane. Emergency services rushed to the corner of Mary and George streets, in Brisbane's CBD, at about 11.20am on Monday following reports of a chemical incident. Authorities were told a strong chemical smell was emerging from a vent inside the building. The chemical smell triggered a partial evacuation of workers within the building after it was deemed unsafe. Paramedics treated four people at the scene for nausea and light-headedness. Two people were taken to St Andrew's Hospital and are in a stable condition. Meanwhile, four fire crews remained at the scene for chemical testing, which was completed at about 2.45pm. A fire department spokesperson confirmed the chemical involved in the incident was nothing of concern. One of the world's most well-known cereal brands has been fined over half a million dollars after two workers suffered severe fractures in a workplace accident. Kellogg's Australia, which manufactures cereals such as Corn Flakes, Coco Pops and Crunchy Nut from its factory in Banksmeadow next to Sydney Airport, was last week fined $510,000 in the Industrial Court of NSW after pleading guilty to health and safety failings during an incident two years ago. Bassam Ghosn and Hojin Lee were at the Kellogg's plant on March 3, 2023 to repair a damaged bracket above a roller door to a loading dock. Both men were employees of Chess, which had carried out engineering works for Kellog's Australia for 40 years without incident. But they were working on an elevated platform when a fork lift truck driver reversed into it, causing the platform to topple to the ground. Both Mr Ghosn and Mr Lee were hurled out of the platform and fell four metres to the floor. The two men suffered gruesome injuries. Mr Ghosn shattered his pelvis and broke his back, spending around 12 weeks in hospital. Justice Jane Paingakulam observed that, in his victim impact statement, Mr Ghosn 'powerfully articulated the life-changing effect of the accident upon him physically, emotionally, mentally and financially and the impact of those effects on his confidence, his relationships and his sense of purpose'. Kellogg's Australia manufactures cereals such as Corn Flakes, Coco Pops and Crunchy Nut from its factory in Banksmeadow next to Sydney airport (pictured) Meanwhile, Mr Lee fractured his left hand and was unable to work for four months. It emerged that the forklift truck driver had been told by security at the site that the loading dock was empty, according to a judgment published by the Industrial Court of NSW. There were also no barriers or signage around the men who were working on the elevated platform. A risk assessment for working at height also appeared to have been signed by both men; however, they both said that the signatures were not their own. 'Kellogg is not aware of how Mr Ghosn and Mr Lee's apparent signatures were found on the (risk assessment)', the judgment noted. They both also denied signing work permits, which were signed with signatures purporting to be theirs. The court found that Kellogg's had safety systems in place but did not adhere to them on the day. 'The predominant failure giving rise to this offence was Kellogg's lack of compliance with its well-documented safety systems,' Justice Paingakulam found. The court ultimately found that Kellogg's had safety systems in place but did not adhere to them on the day (stock image) 'The potential consequences of the risk materialising included death. There was more than one worker exposed to the risk. 'The serious injuries suffered by Mr Ghosn and Mr Lee were a manifestation of the risk.' Justice Paingakulam found that objective seriousness of the offence fell within the 'mid-range' and fined Kellogg's $680,000 of a maximum possible offence of $1.9million. It was reduced by 25 per cent to $510,000 due to Kellogg's early guilty plea. Justice Paingakulam observed that Kellogg's had ten previous workplace convictions. However, she found that the company was otherwise of 'good character' because the last of these offences occurred 25 years ago. 'The steps which it took after the incident including extensive training of staff and implementation of safety equipment around the loading area demonstrate this,' Justice Paingakulam noted. Glen Wojcinski, Kellogg's supply chain director for Australia and New Zealand, told the court the company did not take the health and safety failings lightly. 'Mr Wojcinski, on behalf of Kellogg, acknowledged and expressed sincere regret for the incident and its impact on Mr Ghosn, Mr Lee and their families and friends,' the court finding stated. 'He also acknowledged and expressed regret for the impact of the incident on any workers at the site.' Mr Wojcinski insisted that senior management at the company held extensive meetings following the incident and were 'committed to ensuring an incident like this does not reoccur'. 'Mr Wojcinski stated that, following the incident, he visited and spoke to Mr Ghosn at the hospital and enquired of both Mr Ghosn and Mr Lee's wellbeing over several weeks,' the judgment stated. 'He also states that he was kept up to date on their ongoing wellbeing and recovery.' NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said there was 'zero-tolerance for putting worker safety at risk'. 'SafeWork NSW is in the procees of establishing a new advisory council which aims to ensure that it hears and considers the diverse perspectives of workers, industry, experts, unions and injured workers,' Ms Cotsis added. 'Every worker has the right to go to work and return home safely to their loved ones at the end of the day.' SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer added: 'Being hit by moving plant or vehicles or injured when working with fixed machinery are preventable hazards we see across our State and across all industries. 'Having an awareness and assessment of the risks, along with implementation of safe systems of work, is key to reducing the number of incidents related to moving plant.' A spokesperson for Kellogg's said that 'the safety and wellbeing of our employees is our main priority'. 'The business has provided ongoing support to the impacted contractors and their families and has fully cooperated with SafeWork NSW throughout their investigation,' they added. 'Kellanova has undertaken a comprehensive review of the incident and implemented safety measures, training, and education to ensure incidents are prevented in the future.' A young mother whose five-week-old baby boy was killed in a horror car crash had pulled over to feed her newborn when their vehicle was struck by a ute. Divine Caneo, 24, was parked on the northbound side of the M1, near the Smith Street ramp in Gaven, on the Gold Coast, when a grey Toyota Hilux ploughed into her Jeep Cherokee at 2.50am on Sunday. Her newborn son, Jack Riordan, was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital but died shortly after arrival. Ms Caneo was taken to the same hospital in a serious condition. The Daily Mail understands Jack was the only child of Ms Caneo and her partner, Callum Riordan. On Monday, the new mother penned a social media tribute to her baby son whose life was tragically cut short. 'You will always be in our hearts my love,' she said. 'Fly high my little man.' Divine Caneo, 24, and her son Jack Riordan were involved in a horror car crash on Sunday Little Jack had only just turned one month old on Wednesday, September 17 Ms Caneo had been out to drop off her partner, Callum Riordan, off at the hospital prior to the crash Ms Caneo's social media accounts are filled with pictures documenting her life as a new mother as she doted on her little boy. Just days before the crash, Ms Caneo shared a photo of Jack next to cupcakes forming the shape of a number 1 to mark his first month of life, alongside the caption 'Uno'. Responding to the post, a relative gushed that it looked like the little boy was already smiling. A family friend said Ms Caneo had pulled over on the side of the road on Sunday morning with her hazard lights on because she needed to tend to her newborn son. 'She needed to stop to feed her newborn baby,' the friend said. A staff member at Gold Coast University Hospital added that little Jack was 'screaming' to be fed and that Ms Caneo had been out during the early hours of that morning as she needed to drop her partner at the hospital. The driver of the Toyota, a 51-year-old Loganlea man, sustained minor injuries in the crash. Investigations into the cause of the accident continue. The parents of troubled OnlyFans star Paris Ow-Yang have once again listed their French-style mansion, this time for a cheaper price after unsuccessful attempts to offload it. Dr Michael Ow-Yang, a neurosurgeon and spine specialist, and his wife Amanda have put their Bowral weekender, the Chateau Blondel, up for sale. The home was previously listed for $12million but now the property, 117km southwest of Sydney, has a guided valuation of between $9million and $9.9million, after having been on and off the market since 2022. The four bedroom, three bathroom home on Centennial Road, has been listed through Sotheby's International. 'This breathtaking residence, named after renowned 18th-century architect Jacques-Francoise Blondel, rises elegantly from its elevated rural setting, evoking the timeless beauty of the French countryside,' its listing reads. 'Designed with both family living and grand entertaining in mind, this near 1000-square-meter home, built in 2000, is a masterpiece of architectural craftsmanship. 'From the dozens of imported chandeliers to the gleaming granite and marble floors, every inch of the home exudes sophistication and charm. 'The opulent French-style kitchen and the grand baroque dining room, complete with a five-meter table, are perfect for hosting unforgettable gatherings.' The parents of troubled OnlyFans star Paris Ow-Yang (pictured) are selling their French-style mansion, south of Sydney The Ow-Yang couple are seeking between $9million and $9.9million for their Bowral weekender (pictured) after it previously having been on the market for $12million The property built in 2000 (pictured) boasts four bedrooms and three bathrooms More than five hectares of property is protected by 300-year-old cast iron carriage gates. The Ow-Yangs bought the mansion in 2014 for $3.5million. Paris, 19, made headlines for her own property portfolio earlier this year after she snapped up six renovated apartments in eastern Sydney in April. All were leased for $810-$1,275 per week, which could provide a total of $6,195 in rental income, per week. That building contained 14 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and six car spaces, with the upper apartments boasting ocean and district views across Coogee and surrounds. Paris seemingly confirmed her ownership of the building in a snappy response to The Daily Telegraph, which had earlier reported on a recent video of her riding in a car without a seatbelt. 'I have an over 15 million dollar property portfolio. While you're busy writing about me not wearing a seatbelt, I'm buying 7.5 million properties. 7.5 million baby,' she wrote. The influencer is currently serving a two-year Community Corrections Order, was caught on video appearing to flout basic road rules during a joyride through Sydney in March. The Bowral home (pictured) was described as a 'masterpiece of architectural craftsmanship' in its listing Paris (pictured) has repeatedly been embroiled legal troubles including a drink driving offence In footage posted to social media, Paris was seen perched in the passenger seat of a luxury two-seater convertible, smiling alongside two other young women as the car cruised down the street. While the driver was clearly buckled up, no seatbelt was visible across Paris' body. Adding fuel to the fire, the short video was cheekily captioned: 'Illegal Tuesday.' It was the latest in a string of public incidents and legal dramas involving the Bondi-based social media sensation. Paris, a former private school student who attended the prestigious $33,000-a-year Frensham School, has faced mounting scrutiny over her brushes with the law, including a domestic violence rampage and an AVO involving her own family. Back in October 2023, Paris was charged with high-range drink driving after slamming her $50,000 black Mercedes into another vehicle in the affluent suburb of Point Piper. She was slapped with a nine-month driving ban, forced to install an alcohol interlock device in her car for two years, and handed a two-year Community Corrections Order. But that wasn't the end of her troubles. The OnlyFans influencer made headlines for her purchase of a block of units (pictured) in Coogee earlier this year In December last year, the OnlyFans starlet made headlines yet again after she was charged with assault and stalking following a domestic violence incident involving her own mother, Amanda Ow-Yang, at the family's Double Bay apartment. Court documents revealed the teenage millionaire arrived at her mother's home drunk, hurling abuse, calling her a 's**t' and threatening to kill herself before trashing the property and embedding two kitchen knives into the floor. Paris pleaded guilty to assault, stalking and property damage, with a magistrate ordering her to abstain from alcohol for 15 months and comply with mental health treatment. A two-year apprehended violence order was also imposed to protect her family. Paris' legal team have long argued her erratic behaviour stems from ongoing mental health struggles, which she's battled since her parents' messy split when she was just 13. Her solicitor, Michael Bowe, has previously told courts the teen's highly publicised meltdown last year was the result of binge drinking, heartbreak following the breakdown of a relationship with Sydney nightclub identity Julian Tobias, and ongoing online abuse. The court heard she was left 'spiralling out of control' and unable to cope with her newfound fame. Czech president Petr Pavel has warned that NATO must be ready to respond firmly to Russian airspace violations, even if that means shooting down their planes. Mr Pavel said the organisation should act decisively to stop any breach of allied skies and make clear there are consequences for crossing the line. He said: 'Russia will realise very quickly that they have made a mistake and crossed the acceptable boundaries. Unfortunately, this is teetering on the edge of conflict, but giving in to evil is simply not an option.' It comes as the UN's Security Council will meet on Monday for emergency talks after Vladimir Putin's fighter jets flew into NATO-member Estonia's airspace, raising fears of World War Three. Estonia announced on Sunday that the emergency session had been called 'in response to Russia's brazen violation of Estonian airspace.' Officials in Tallinn said it is the first time in 34 years of UN membership that the country, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, has formally requested such a meeting. Set to begin at 15:00 BST, it will discuss what Estonia calls the 'blatant, reckless, and flagrant violation of NATO airspace'. The incursion took place on Friday when three Russian MiG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland. NATO confirmed that Italian F-35 jets on air defence duty in the Baltics were scrambled, supported by Swedish and Finnish aircraft, to intercept the Russians and warn them off. Moscow denied the allegation. The incident sparked immediate concern in NATO capitals and Brussels, with both the alliance and the European Union calling it a reckless act of provocation. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal condemned the move and said: 'Such a violation is completely unacceptable. NATO's response to any provocation must be united and strong. 'We consider it essential to consult with our allies to ensure shared situational awareness and to agree on our next joint steps.' A Russian MIG-31 fighter is seen flying above the Baltic Sea after violating Estonian airspace Ukraine has also requested to attend the meeting on Monday. The country's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X: 'For the first time in 34 years, Estonia has requested an emergency UNSC meeting. 'This shows the unprecedented scale of threats posed by aggressive Russia to the stability of Europe. Western powers have repeatedly warned that Moscow is playing with fire by pushing into NATO skies, since the alliance's mutual defence pact obliges all members to act if one is attacked. The violation came just weeks after fellow NATO member Poland said Russian drones had crossed into its airspace during missile strikes on Ukraine. Warsaw branded that episode an 'act of aggression' with experts warning that it could have triggered a direct clash between NATO and Russia. The drones struck an elderly couple's home and demolished its roof. If the couple had died, it could have potentially spiralled into World War Three. US President Donald Trump added his voice to the outcry on Sunday. Asked whether America would back Poland and the Baltic states if the crisis worsens, he replied: 'Yeah, I would. I would.' He confirmed he had been briefed on the Estonian incursion and added bluntly: 'We don't like it.' His words were far tougher than his reaction earlier this month to the Polish drone incident, when he had played down the risk by suggesting it 'could have been a mistake.' Trump's stance on Vladimir Putin has long been scrutinised, with critics accusing him of being too close to the Russian leader. But as the war in Ukraine drags into its fourth year, his tone has hardened. Just weeks before the Estonia violation, Russia flew drones into Poland. One struck an elderly couple's home Putin has been condemned by Western leaders for provoking NATO countries Turkey's 2015 shootdown of Russian jet The last time a NATO member shot down a Russian jet was in November 2015. Turkey downed a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 near the SyriaTurkey border after the warplane briefly entered Turkish airspace and ignored repeated radio warnings. The Turkish military said two F-16 fighters fired on the Su-24 and the plane crashed inside Syria. Turkey released a flight-path graphic and said the jet had been warned several times before it was engaged. Both crewmen ejected. The navigator, Konstantin Murahtin, was rescued. The pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov, was hit and killed by ground fire as he descended in his parachute. A Russian marine who later took part in the rescue was also killed. The shootdown triggered a major diplomatic crisis. Moscow condemned the action, recalled its ambassador, and imposed sanctions and travel restrictions on Turkey. In further escalations, Russia deployed missiles off the Syrian coast and other strategic locations, while Turkey responded by sending the KORAL land-based electronic support system along its border with Syria. Relations only began to thaw many months later when leaders from both countries moved toward rapprochement. Advertisement Speaking in Britain last Thursday at the close of his state visit, Trump admitted Putin had 'really let me down' by refusing to end the bloodshed despite American pushes for peace. Estonia's foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, said Russia's actions are part of a deliberate pattern. He said: 'This violation is part of a broader pattern of escalation by Russia, both regionally and globally. This behaviour requires an international response.' Tsahkna said that Russia had already entered Estonian airspace four times this year alone. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Swedish and German forces said Swedish JAS 39 Gripens and German Eurofighters were deployed over the South Baltic Sea to observe a Russian IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying in international airspace without a flight plan. German authorities also said the aircraft refused to make contact. After the violation, a former RAF commander asked NATO to be specific about the 'red line' when it comes to airspace incursions. Air Marshal Greg Bagwell wrote on social media: 'NATO has to be united now, with a clear and unequivocal statement about what will not be tolerated. 'Right now we don't know where our red lines are, why should we expect Russia to? And if that red line is crossed then the response must be decisive and ruthless.' The UK's defence secretary also issued a chilling warning to Russia. He said: 'Our Typhoons are fully equipped to take out Russian drones that enter Nato airspace. And we will not hesitate to act...' North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says he has 'fond memories' of US President Donald Trump and is open to future talks with the United States - if he can keep his nukes. Kim met Trump three times for high-profile summits during Trump's first term, before talks collapsed in Hanoi in 2019 over what concessions Pyongyang was prepared to make on its nuclear arsenal. The US demand that Kim give up his banned weapons has long been a sticking point between the two countries, with Pyongyang under successive rafts of UN sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs. 'If the United States discards its delusional obsession with denuclearisation and, based on recognising reality, truly wishes for peaceful coexistence with us, then there is no reason we cannot meet it,' Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. 'I still personally hold fond memories of the current US president, Trump,' Kim added, in a wide-ranging speech to the country's rubber-stamp parliament. Since the failed 2019 summit, North Korea has repeatedly said it will never give up its nuclear weapons and declared itself an 'irreversible' nuclear state. Kim reiterated that denuclearisation was not an option. 'The world already knows well what the United States does after it forces a country to give up its nuclear arms and disarm,' he said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (pictured) says he has 'fond memories' of US President Donald Trump and is open to future talks with the United States US President Donald Trump (R) holds a meeting with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un during the second US-North Korea summit at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi on February 28, 2019 'We will never give up our nuclear weapons.' Kim said that sanctions had only helped the North in 'growing stronger, building endurance and resistance that cannot be crushed by any pressure'. Kim also added that he had 'no reason to sit down with South Korea', even as Seoul's new President Lee Jae-myung has sought to ease tensions with the North. 'We make it clear that we will not deal with them in any form,' he said. North Korea has in recent years declared the South its principal enemy and blown up rail links and roads connecting the two countries. 'The lengthy and detailed justifications reflect equal parts confidence and desperation,' Yang Moo-jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP. 'While outwardly aimed at foreign powers, the speech carried a strong domestic message, seeking to pre-empt instability,' Yang said. Kim has been emboldened by the war in Ukraine, according to analysts, securing critical support from Russia after sending thousands of North Korean troops to fight alongside Moscow. North Korea has become one of Russia's main allies since Moscow invaded Ukraine three-and-a-half years ago, sending thousands of soldiers and container loads of weapons to help the Kremlin push Ukrainian forces out of western Russia, following Kyiv's shock incursion last year. Moscow and Pyongyang signed a mutual defence pact last year when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the reclusive state. Seoul has repeatedly warned that Russia is stepping up support for Pyongyang, including the potential transfer of sensitive Russian military technology. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, supervises a test firing of a new multiple rocket launch system at an undisclosed place in North Korea on May 10, 2024 Trump is expected to visit South Korea next month, when the country hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) in its southern city of Gyeongju. 'The timing of the remarks, just ahead of Trump's trip to South Korea for the APEC summit, appears calculated,' said Lim Eul-chul at South Korea's Kyungnam University. 'It hinted at the possibility of a surprise summit, while also playing to Trump's well-known yearning for a Nobel Prize.' Rachel Reeves today insisted expanding Gatwick airport can 'kickstart' the economy - even though the second runway might not operate until 2029. The Chancellor has hailed the scheme getting the go-ahead from the government, saying it means 'thousands more jobs and billions more in investment'. Ms Reeves is desperate to find a way of encouraging growth as she faces a yawning black hole in the finances at the Budget in November. However, sources are only mooting 2029 as a target for the first flights taking off from the new full runway at the Sussex hub. It is expected to take until the late 2030s to achieve the full benefits in terms of extra passengers. London Gatwick Airport (pictured) is set for a new 2.2billion second runway after the plan was given the go-ahead by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander Chancellor Rachel Reeves has hailed the scheme getting the go-ahead from the government, saying it means 'thousands more jobs and billions more in investment' Ms Reeves said ministers were backing 'the builders, not the blockers'. 'This Government promised to kickstart the economy and we are,' she said. 'A second runway at Gatwick means thousands of more jobs and billions more in investment for the economy.' She said: 'By slashing red tape and transforming the planning system to get Britain building again we are investing in this country's renewal and building an economy that works for working people.' Visiting the airport today, Ms Reeves said the backing was 'in addition to our commitments to a third runway at Heathrow, small modular reactors and a new nuclear power station in Suffolk, backing energy projects and transport projects right around the country'. 'This extra runway at Gatwick will mean that people going on holiday will have a greater choice of destinations, it will mean lower costs for a family holiday,' she said. 'And it will also mean more good jobs paying decent wages through this injection of cash into our economy. 'We said as a Government we will back the builders and not the blockers, and that is exactly what we are doing with this announcement.' The privately financed project will see the West Sussex airport will move its emergency runway 13 yards north, enabling it to be used for departures of narrow-bodied planes such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s. Such changes will enable it to be used for about 100,000 more flights a year. In 2024 Gatwick handled around 265,000 flights in total. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander formally backed the scheme last night, with the government saying it was a a 'no-brainer'. The Cabinet minister is satisfied with adjustments made, covering issues such as noise mitigation and the proportion of passengers who would travel to and from the airport by public transport. The Planning Inspectorate initially rejected the airport's application and earlier this year recommended Ms Alexander should approve the project if the changes were made. Gatwick says its plans will create 1billion per year in economic benefits, and generate an additional 14,000 jobs. A Government source said: 'The Transport Secretary has cleared Gatwick expansion for take-off. 'With capacity constraints holding back business, trade and tourism, this is a no-brainer for growth. 'This Government has taken unprecedented steps to get this done, navigating a needlessly complex planning system, which our reforms will simplify in future. 'It is possible that planes could be taking off from a new full runway at Gatwick before the next general election. 'Any airport expansion must be delivered in line with our legally binding climate change commitments and meet strict environmental requirements.' Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander formally backed the scheme last night, with the government saying it was a a 'no-brainer' Gatwick is not the only southeastern travel looking to increase its capacity. On August 1 - one day after the government's official deadline - Heathrow Airport submitted plans for a third runway, with CEO Thomas Woldbye calling the need for expansion 'urgent'. The same month the travel hub handled more than eight million monthly passengers for the first time in its history. Heathrow also reported its busiest ever day on August 1, with around 270,000 people passing through the airport. Jubilant Palestinians raised the flag at the new 'embassy' in London today after the UK announced it will recognise the state's existence. Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian head of mission in the UK who is set to become the ambassador, hailed the bolstered status at a ceremony on Monday morning. He was watched by Labour MPs and Government ministers, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting - who only narrowly beat a pro-Gaza independent at the general election, as well as Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. Veteran independent MP Jeremy Corbyn and SNP leader John Swinney also attended, as did Dr Wajid Akhter, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, millionaire Labour donor Dale Vince, and former Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve. The British government is facing mounting fury over the decision to recognise Palestine, with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper pleading with Israel not to respond by settling more territory. The US has joined the backlash at the 'performative' move, which has been condemned as a 'reward' for Hamas terrorism. Critics also accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of a desperate effort to avoid being outflanked by pro-Palestine left-wingers. The largely symbolic step has been coordinated with Canada, Australia and Portugal, and France is expected to follow suit later. Ms Cooper, who is attending UN meetings in New York, said the UK had to act to keep hopes of a 'two-state solution' alive. But after an incensed Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to speed up settlement of the West Bank, the Foreign Secretary said: 'We have been clear, and I have been clear to the Israeli foreign minister, we have been clear to the Israeli government, that they must not do that.' Jubilant Palestinians raised the flag at the new 'embassy' in London today after the UK announced it will recognise the state's existence Husam Zomlot, who is set to become the ambassador, hailed the bolstered status at a ceremony this morning Mr Zomlot held up a plaque reading 'Embassy of the State of Palestine' to cheers from a crowd Mr Streeting said he was 'proud' to have attended the ceremony alongside other senior Labour figures Yvette Cooper, who is attending UN meetings in New York, said the UK had to act to keep hopes of a 'two-state solution' alive The ceremony was watched by ministers including Wes Streeting (right) - who only narrowly beat a pro-Gaza independent at the general election - as well as left-winger Jeremy Corbyn (left) Your browser does not support iframes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured this month, accusing the UK of rewarding Hamas with an 'enormous prize' Ms Cooper told the BBC: 'We have been clear that this decision that we are taking is about the best way to respect the security for Israel as well as the security for Palestinians. 'It's about protecting peace and justice and crucially security for the Middle East and we will continue to work with everyone across the region in order to be able to do that.' Speaking at the flag raising ceremony in front of the Palestine Mission in Hammersmith on Monday, Mr Zomlot hailed a 'historic moment'. 'The UK government has finally taken the long overdue step of recognising the state of Palestine,' he said. 'Palestine exists, it has always existed and it always will.' He added: 'This moment stands as a defiant act of truth, a refusal to let genocide be the final word, a refusal to accept that occupation is permanent, a refusal to be erased, and a refusal to be dehumanised.' Mr Zomlot also held up a plaque reading 'Embassy of the State of Palestine' to cheers from a crowd. The UK will use the UN General Assembly to push for international backing of a framework for peace in the Middle East, following its recognition of a Palestinian state. Ms Cooper will seek to strengthen 'the international consensus on our pathway for peace in the Middle East'. She will hold meetings to advance elements of the plan, including transitional governance and security measures to ensure Hamas has no role in the future governance of Gaza, according to the Foreign Office. The UK Government has acknowledged that recognising a Palestinian state would not ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza nor contribute to the freeing of the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 2023. Your browser does not support iframes. Mr Netanyahu branded the UK move 'absurd' and 'simply a reward for terrorism'. 'For years, I have prevented the creation of this terror state despite enormous pressure both domestically and internationally. We have done so with determination and political wisdom,' he said. Using the Biblical name for the West Bank, Mr Netanyahu said: 'We have doubled Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria and we will continue on this path.' US President Donald Trump said recognition of Palestine was 'rewarding Hamas'. A US State Department official said: 'Our focus remains on serious diplomacy, not performative gestures. Our priorities are clear: the release of the hostages, the security of Israel, and peace and prosperity for the entire region that is only possible free from Hamas.' Families of hostages held in Gaza called it a 'betrayal of humanity and a move that rewards Hamas while 48 hostages remain in captivity'. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi reportedly hailed the move as a victory for 'the justice of our cause'. Hamas claimed victory after Keir Starmer awarded a 'prize for terrorism' by recognising a future state of Palestine In an effort to counter that criticism, Sir Keir said Hamas was a 'brutal terror organisation' and confirmed plans to ratchet up sanctions on the group. Middle East minister Hamish Falconer this morning rejected the suggestion that recognition of Palestine was motivated by internal Labour politics. Labour candidates have faced opposition from pro-Palestine rivals, who claimed several scalps at the general election and ate into majorities elsewhere. The Tories have opposed the move, but Mr Falconer insisted there was cross-party support. Mr Falconer told Sky News: 'There was concern right across the Chamber, from Conservatives the Father of the House (Sir Edward Leigh) is a Conservative with whom I don't agree on very much, but even he has called for recognition of the Palestinian state. 'It's a Liberal Democrat demand. It's a demand of the nationalists and of course, many, many Labour MPs care about this too. 'This is not just an issue contained in my party.' Mr Falconer, who later attended the ceremony at the Palestine Mission in London, acknowledged the decision to recognise Palestine would make little immediate difference. He told BBC Breakfast: 'Recognition will not mean that humanitarian aid comes in tomorrow. 'It will not mean that hostages are released tomorrow. But it does set out an important framework for bringing this conflict to an end, getting a ceasefire in Gaza.' Chancellor Rachel Reeves said recognising Palestine as a state is a step towards a two-state solution that 'anybody who believes in peace must believe in'. Speaking at Gatwick Airport, Ms Reeves said: 'This country has long believed that there needs to be a two-state solution in the Middle East: a safe and secure Israel, alongside a viable and a peaceful Palestinian state. 'Everybody who has seen over the last two years, since Hamas took those hostages killed those innocent people in Israel, have seen the scenes unfolding both in Israel and in Gaza and can't help but be moved by those. 'This action, alongside Canada and Australia, to recognise a Palestinian state is another step towards that two-state solution that anybody who believes in peace must believe in.' Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy will represent the UK at the UN General Assembly, along with Ms Cooper and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey criticised Sir Keir's absence at the summit. He said: 'The Prime Minister should not be missing in action from Britain's historic recognition of Palestinian statehood just because he's worried about upsetting Donald Trump.' Keir Starmer is considering abolishing visa fees for top global science and business talent in a bid to woo the world's best to Britain. No10 and the Treasury are reportedly looking at whether to cut the cost of coming to the UK for top scientists, academics and digital experts as they seek ways to stimulate economic growth. Despite being aimed at a small group of top talent, the idea of making it easier for people to come to Britain may prove controversial as the government seeks to bring net immigration down to manageable levels. It comes as It comes as Donald Trump makes it harder for top-level foreign workers to enter the United States. The Trump administration said on Friday it would ask companies to pay $100,000 per year for new H-1B worker visas. The change could deal a big blow to the technology sector that relies heavily on skilled workers from India and China. The UK was already considering changes before the Trump announcement, but one official told the Financial Times it had 'put wind in the sales' of the plan. 'We're talking about the sort of people who have attended the world's top five universities or have won prestigious prizes. We're kicking around the idea of cutting costs to zero,' they added. No10 and the Treasury are reportedly looking at whether to cut the cost of coming to the UK for top scientists, academics and digital experts as they seek ways to stimulate economic growth. It comes as It comes as Donald Trump makes it harder for top-level foreign workers to enter the United States. The move is being led by the government's global talent taskforce, co-chaired by Science, research and Innovation Minister Lord Vallance. 'This isn't about diluting our determination to bring down net migration but it's about getting the brightest and best into Britain.' The move is being led by the government's global talent taskforce, co-chaired by Science, research and Innovation Minister Lord Vallance. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Our global talent routes attract and retain high-skilled talent, particularly in science, research and technology, to maintain the UK's status as a leading international hub for emerging talent and innovation.' Since taking office in January, Trump has kicked off a wide-ranging immigration crackdown in the US, including moves to limit some forms of legal immigration. The step to reshape the H-1B visa program represents his administration's most high-profile effort yet to rework temporary employment visas. Critics of the H-1B program, including many US technology workers, argue that it allows firms to suppress wages and sideline Americans who could do the jobs. Supporters, including Tesla and X owner, and former Trump ally Elon Musk, say it brings in highly skilled workers essential to filling talent gaps and keeping firms competitive. Musk, himself a naturalized US citizen born in South Africa, has held an H-1B visa. At the same time, Nigel Farage has said Reform UK would end the right of migrants to apply for permanent residency in the UK after five years, and force those who already have settled status to reapply for a new stricter visa. The Reform UK leader wants to abolish indefinite leave to remain (ILR), for which migrants can currently apply after five years, and force them to renew their visa every five years. Applicants would have to meet certain criteria, including a higher salary threshold and better standard of English. They would have to have lived in the UK for seven years, up from five, and there would be tighter restrictions on bringing spouses and children to the UK. The new visa would also prevent any access to benefits under the plans set out by Zia Yusuf. Shamima Begum has been seen for the first time in years looking 'pale and thin' - as she stormed out of an interview. The ISIS bride, who concealed her face behind a mask, refused to answer questions during the brief sit-down at the grim al-Hol camp in Syria. Nigel Farage recently said he had become 'more thoughtful' about whether the UK should let Begum return - after the Trump administration suggested it would have to. When an interviewer put these comments to Begum, she replied: 'No comment.' Asked if she thought America's intervention could open the door for her to go back to Britain, she gave the same answer, before turning on the reporter. 'If you guys don't have anything to tell us we don't have anything to say,' she raged, before leaving in a huff. Begum, now 26, was born and raised in Bethnal Green, east London, before travelling to Syria to join ISIS in 2015. She later became a child bride to Dutch Islamic convert Yago Riedijk, with whom she had three children - who all died as infants. Home Secretary Sajid Javid stripped her of British citizenship in 2019, prompting her to launch a long legal and PR campaign in her bid to have the decision reversed. Appearing 'pale and thin', the ISIS bride refused to answer questions during the brief sit-down at the grim al-Hol camp in Syria Begum became a child bride to Dutch Islamic convert Yago Riedijk, with whom she had three children - who all died as infants Begum gave her latest interview to a reporter from the Daily Express, who described her as looking 'pale and thin'. It was the first she had given to camera since a controversial BBC podcast in 2023. Mr Farage made his comments about Begum days after a leading Trump ally called for Britain to repatriate its most notorious jihadi bride. Sebastian Gorka said that any nation that wishes to be seen as a 'serious ally' of the US should commit to the international fight against the extremist group by taking back citizens currently in the north east of Syria. Speaking to ITV News at Reform's South East England conference in January, Mr Farage said that 'it's very difficult for us to think we should take back people, Shamima Begum and others' and 'instinctively, it's not something I want to do'. When asked whether he thought the UK should consider such a move, he said: 'I've never wanted to. I've instinctively never wanted to. 'But I'm now thoughtful. I'm thoughtful. I don't classify her as an ISIS, an all-out ISIS killer.' Mr Farage said that he believes her to be 'a lesser part of the equation'. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said that a Conservative government with her as leader 'will never take back' Ms Begum. She added: 'Citizenship means committing to a country and wanting its success. It's not an international travel document for crime tourism.' David Lammy, the former Labour Foreign Secretary, said Ms Begum 'will not be coming back to the UK'. Speaking to Good Morning Britain earlier this year, he said: 'It's gone right through the courts. She's not a UK national. We will not be bringing her back to the UK. We're really clear about that.' 'We will act in our security interests. And many of those in those camps are dangerous, are radicals.' In an interview with The Times, Mr Gorka said: 'Any nation which wishes to be seen to be a serious ally and friend of the most powerful nation in the world should act in a fashion that reflects that serious commitment' when asked if the UK should be forced to accept Isis members back. 'That is doubly so for the UK which has a very special place in President Trump's heart and we would all wish to see the 'special relationship' fully re-established.' Tens of thousands of captured members of the terror group are currently being held by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a group allied with the West, in huge camps. Since ISIS was defeated in 2019, the US has been piling on the pressure for its partners to repatriate their citizens, many of whom have been detained for years. Most European countries, including Spain and France, have also repatriated their citizens so that they can be met with justice. The former East London schoolgirl was stripped of her British citizenship in February 2019 They have expressed worries about the squalid conditions and that not returning them hinders worldwide attempts to fight terrorism. The American Justice Department has argued it is their 'moral responsibility' to bring the prisoners home and try them there. But Britain has so far taken a hard line on the matter and has refused most repatriation requests- with the most notorious being the Begum case. The Court of Appeal threw out Begum's challenge over the removal of her British citizenship last year - although her lawyers have vowed to 'keep fighting'. One of her lawyers, Gareth Peirce, claimed her 'indefinite arbitrary detention' ran contrary to international law. 'She and others, other women and children, are in what is not a refugee camp but a prison camp, and that is conceded by the United Kingdom, which has stated to the UN that it agrees that Geneva Convention articles apply,' she said. 'Unlawful as that is, there is no exit. There is no way that she can escape from unlawful imprisonment.' Ms Peirce later said that conditions in the al-Hol camp where Ms Begum remains had worsened. The Red Cross has described the camp as 'grim' and 'extremely volatile'. But Sir James Eadie KC, for the Home Office, argued Begum was a threat to national security. He told judges: 'The fact that someone is radicalised, and may have been manipulated, is not inconsistent with the assessment that they pose a national security risk.' Rural councils have been branded 'absurd' after banning countryside activities like petting ponies and nighttime fishing - with flouters risking fines of up to 1,000. Councils across the country have come under fire for using Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) to restrict 'wholesome' nature activities by claiming to protect the environment and limit anti-social behaviour. But campaigners say the orders are being misused as a way to criminalise behaviour that is inconvenient rather than harmful. An enjoyable day out of feeding and petting of ponies, horses, mules or donkeys could land you with a 1,000 fine after it was introduced by New Forest district council in 2023. Meanwhile in Elmbridge, Surrey, fishing enthusiasts are prohibited from angling overnight between the hours of 7pm and 7am. And those who wish to go metal detecting in Lincolnshire must now apply for a permit. Josie Appleton, director of civil liberties group Manifesto Club, said the strict limitations on outdoor activities could put young people and school groups in danger of being criminalised. 'These orders are often introduced with little consultation, and the result is a countryside increasingly littered not only with signs but with criminal offences some of them absurd on their face. Petting ponies and nighttime fishing are just some of the traditional countryside comforts which could cost you 1,000 as they have been hit with an 'absurd' ban. Pictured, ponies in New Forest, Hampshire Meanwhile in Elmbridge, Surrey, fishing enthusiasts are prohibited from angling overnight between the hours of 7pm and 7am. Pictured: Elmbridge Meadow 'What we're seeing is a creeping culture of control, where normal, often wholesome activities are redefined as offences,' she told The Guardian. Wild swimming has also been under attack in certain parts of the UK. Officials in Abbots Pool, Somerset have said anyone caught individual swimming, including wading could be prosecuted with a punishment of a 75 fine. And in North Lincolnshire swimming outside a club context has been banned as campaigners say councils have failed to provide legitimate reasons for imposing the restriction. Imogen Radford, from the Outdoor Swimming Society, said: 'The PSPO legislation states that there has to be an actual problem affecting local people before it can be enacted. The idea that wild swimming is anti-social blows my mind.' While in Dorset, Worthing, Sefton in Merseyside, and parts of the Lake District, anyone found wild camping or sleeping on a beach will be criminalised by the councils' PSPOs. Critics say the influx of PSPOs are an attempt to govern the public by 'controlling harmless behaviour'. The named councils were all contacted for comment. Worthing Borough Council said: 'We use public space protection orders to deal with specific issues that negatively affect the quality of life of members of our community. 'Since 2016 there has been a public space protection order in place to tackle unauthorised camping on a section of green open space in Worthing known as Goring Greensward. 'We believe it has been successful as a deterrent so earlier this year we consulted our residents again about the camping order at Goring and they supported keeping it in place.' A North Somerset Council spokesperson said: 'Abbots Pool is a valued wildlife spot used by thousands of people who visit for its tranquillity, being with nature, valuing the wildlife and enhancing well-being. 'One individual swimming does not cause harm. But, it isn't just one person it can be hundreds. So, this number of people swimming, using the area as a toilet and littering does harm the site and other users' enjoyment. 'We politely asked people to stop swimming before, but unfortunately this didn't work. A stronger mechanism is now required in order to protect the area.' Two Ryanair cabin crew members have been injured after the Majorca-bound plane they were on was hit by severe turbulence. The plane, travelling from Vitoria in northern Spain to Majorca on Sunday afternoon, was hit by turbulence as it prepared to land in Palma as storms were lashing the holiday island. Local media reported that attendants were carrying out safety checks when the plane suddenly jolted. This threw one member of staff against the ceiling, while another was hit by the service trolley. The 180 people onboard the plane were badly shaken by the turbulence. Upon landing in Majorca, an ambulance was dispatched to look after the injured crew. The Daily Mail has contacted Ryanair for comment. It comes just months after nine people were injured after a Ryanair flight was hit by severe turbulence on a Berlin to Milan flight. Crew and passengers were left in tears and the plane forced to make an emergency landing when the jet encountered thunderstorms over southern Germany, with reports that people were thrown from their seats into the cabin ceiling as the plane was buffeted. Two Ryanair cabin crew members were injured after the Majorca-bound plane they were on was hit by severe turbulence (File image) At the time, one terrified passenger recounted to German outlet BILD: 'I've never been scared before - but at that moment, I thought the plane was going to break apart or roll over!' Several passengers are reported to have been out of their seats when the plane was struck by the turbulence, with a mother and baby said to have been on the toilet when the plane was shaken. A mother earlier footage showed terrified passengers screaming as severe turbulence, a hail storm and a bird strike struck a flight over India. The flight bound for Srinagar departing from the capital, New Delhi, was subjected to extreme weather conditions on Wednesday. Videos taken from inside the cabin show the moment panic spread, with people heard screaming as flashes of lightning illuminate the inside of the plane. In March, five passengers were injured by extreme turbulence that forced a United Express flight to make an emergency landing in Texas. And in November, extreme turbulence threw people into the cabin ceiling when it hit a passenger jet flying from Stockholm to Miami, forcing the plane to turn around and head back to Europe. Pictures shared online by one passenger show medics and emergency responders on board In November, extreme turbulence threw people into the cabin ceiling when it hit a passenger jet flying from Stockholm to Miami (pictured) The Scandinavian Airlines flight, which was supposed to take over nine hours, was almost at its destination when it had to make a U-turn and head all the way back. After experiencing the turbulence over Greenland, the packed aircraft returned to a base in Copenhagen to undergo checks over concerns about technical issues. A passenger on the flight, who was travelling with his wife, posted footage showing screaming passengers as the plane was rattled by the turbulence. A woman sitting in his row is then flung upwards. 'Look at her feet touching the [ceiling]!' he wrote. 'I thought we were going to [die]'. Zarah Sultana is attempting to heal the huge rift that opened up between her and Jeremy Corbyn amid their chaotic efforts to set up a new Left-wing party. The Coventry South MP, who quit Labour in order to help forge a new movement with Mr Corbyn, has said she will call off legal action she announced last week. She added she was now 'determined to reconcile' and was in talks with Mr Corbyn, the ex-Labour leader for whom she has 'nothing but respect'. The bitter feud at the top of Ms Sultana and Mr Corbyn's outfit, known for now as Your Party, followed a furious row over Ms Sultana's push to sign up members. Mr Corbyn lashed out at an 'authorised email' sent to supporters and urged anyone who had paid up to 55 for membership to cancel their direct debits. But Ms Sultana insisted it was a 'safe, secure, legitimate portal' as she continued to urge supporters to 'sign up now'. She issued an explosive statement hitting out at a 'sexist boys' club' within Your Party and claimed she had been 'frozen out'. Zarah Sultana is attempting to heal the huge rift that opened up between her and Jeremy Corbyn amid their chaotic efforts to set up a new Left-wing party The bitter feud at the top of Ms Sultana and Mr Corbyn's outfit, known for now as Your Party, followed a furious row over Ms Sultana's push to sign up members In a statement on Sunday evening, Ms Sultana said she will no longer be pursuing legal proceedings 'despite the baseless and unsubstantiated allegations against me' As the row continued, Ms Sultana on Friday night said she had been subject to 'baseless attacks' and revealed she had instructed specialist defamation lawyers. But, in a further statement on Sunday evening, Ms Sultana said she will no longer be pursuing legal proceedings 'despite the baseless and unsubstantiated allegations against me'. She added: 'I am determined to reconcile and move forward. I am engaged in ongoing discussions with Jeremy, for whom, like all socialists of my generation, I have nothing but respect. 'We will find a way to continue in a unified way centring the grassroots of our movement. I am certain this is possible - indeed, it must be. 'Fascism is growling at the door. The stakes are too high for failure to be an option. Both Jeremy and I remain committed to making this project a success.' Ms Sultana also acknowledged that 'many people are feeling demoralised'. She continued: 'We find ourselves in a regrettable situation, but my motivation has always been to ensure the collective strength of our movement, put members first and build the genuinely democratic conference and socialist party we so urgently need.' Another former Labour MP has partly blamed the 'embarrassing meltdown' within Your Party for her decision to join the Greens, rather than work towards a Labour and Green alliance. Thelma Walker, who was an MP from 2017 to 2019, told The London Economic: 'The embarrassing meltdown of Your Party has shown neither Zarah Sultana or Jeremy Corbyn are fit to lead a party following their very public spat.' Two girls under 16 were allegedly raped by men on a migrant boat as it sailed to Europe. Maritime Rescue intercepted a total of 29 migrants on Friday afternoon. The migrants, all of them of sub-Saharan origin, were making the journey to Europe when their boat was detected about 43 miles south of Formentera. The girls were taken to the Can Misses Hospital in Ibiza, where they are undergoing treatment as well as tests. Their statements were taken by authorities on Saturday. They arrived in Ibiza last Friday on a boat, say they both suffered sexual assault by two men they were travelling with. While their ages have not been confirmed, police say they are minors, therefore under the age of 16. In the hospital, the corresponding protocol for cases of sexual violence was activated, which mobilised a team of seven agents of the security forces, in addition to the gynaecologist on duty, according to the newspaper Periodico de Ibiza. Police are keeping the investigation open to clarify the facts. It is expected that in the next few hours, more official information will be provided. The horrific details have emerged just days after it was revealed that at least 50 sub-Saharan Africans were abused and thrown overboard to die by witch doctors. Others were beaten and tortured during journeys if they dared to complain about the terrible conditions they had to endure during the dangerous sea crossing in tiny boats. The girls' alleged ordeal came as they sailed to Europe on a migrant boat. Picture is for illustrative purposes and not of the same boat involved in the incident This year, a total of 126 boats with 2,094 migrants have arrived in Ibiza and Formentera. Of these, 108 boats and 1,829 people arrived in Formentera, while the rest, 18 boats and 265 migrants, arrived in Ibiza in these almost nine months of 2025. At the end of 2024, a young woman of Algerian origin reported to the Civil Guard that during the journey to Formentera, she had been raped by the skipper of the boat. Shortly after, a judge ordered that the alleged aggressor and another occupant of the boat should be held in detention without bail. One was accused of raping the young minor, while the other was accused of an alleged crime of omission of the duty to help. The migrant crisis has worsened in the Balearics - the island's government is now refusing to take in young illegal immigrants. The archipelago, which includes Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, says it cannot cope with its own problems, such as housing for locals, and is swamped by the migrant crisis. The Balearics have been ordered by Spain to make provision for up to 400 young migrants and to give them a new life, helping them with jobs and homes. But the Balearic government is rebelling against the Spanish government's directive and will refuse to take in the first two young migrants who are currently in a holding camp in the Canaries. The Balearic Islands will try to stop the arrival of the first two immigrant minors from the Canary Islands. The central government told Balearic leaders this week about its proposal to transfer the first two immigrant minors from the Canary Islands in application of decree 2/2025 and successive regulations. However, the Balearic Government has announced its intention to stop this measure. At a press conference after the meeting of the Governing Council, the first vice-president and spokesman for the regional executive, Antoni Costa, said their objections will be presented within the ten days established. Europe is still struggling with an influx of migrants arriving on small boats. Picture is for illustrative purposes and not of the same boat involved in the incident If these do not succeed and Madrid rejects the arguments of the Balearic Islands, it will go to court. 'We will spare no effort,' he stressed. Mr Costa said the directive comes at the worst possible time, when an increase in the arrival of immigrants is expected. He said: 'It is incomprehensible and unacceptable that, seeing the situation that is coming to us, we are abandoned by the Government of Spain. Not only abandoned, it insists on sending us more minors. It is an unprecedented situation.' The Balearic vice-president said that in the last week alone, 18 immigrant minors have arrived in the Balearic Islands and acknowledged that the island councils are in 'absolute collapse'. 'I don't know where they will be welcomed, but we will do our best to receive them with dignity,' he said. The spokesman for the Government also criticised the scant information received from the central executive, limited to communicating the proposal for the transfer of two minors without providing further details. 'We don't know anything. This is the way of acting of the Government and its delegate in the Balearic Islands,' he said. 'We will use all the legal channels in our hands to defend the interests of the Balearic Islands and highlight the dramatic situation we are suffering.' Secretary of State for Children, Ruben Perez, has accepted the request of the Minister of Families, Social Welfare and Dependency Care, Sandra Fernandez to hold a meeting on October 6. The objective will be to address the situation of saturation that the reception system is experiencing in the archipelago. The Balearic Islands have been assigned an ordinary capacity of 406 minors, a figure that the Government considers disproportionate. According to the regional executive, the rule lacks a clear justification for the criteria applied, generating an 'opaque and arbitrary' result that benefits some communities to the detriment of others and violates the constitutional principle of inter-territorial solidarity. Mr Costa said: 'We have more than 700 minors in care, ten times more than the places provided by the island service and 300 more than the ordinary capacity that the Government unilaterally set for us. We need help, we cannot be abandoned as is happening, it is a national shame.' Nigel Farage today vowed to block foreign nationals from receiving benefits and force hundreds of thousands of migrants with 'settled status' out of the UK. The Reform leader condemned legal permanent settlement for foreign nationals as a 'scam', warning it is a 'timebomb' that could bankrupt the country. Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) allows those who have lived here for more than five years to receive benefits and apply for citizenship. Reform estimates 3.8million migrants who arrived after the pandemic will be eligible for ILR between 2026 and 2030. Mr Farage suggested ending the status will save 234billion in the coming decades. Instead, individuals will have to reapply regularly for visas proving they are paying their own way and have good English. Speaking at a press conference in Westminster this morning, Mr Farage said people needed to focus on legal migration as well as illegal migration - such as Channel boat arrivals. 'Under a Reform government welfare will be for UK citizens only. Not foreign nationals,' he said. But Mr Farage admitted the rule would not apply to around six million EU nationals living in the UK with settled status after Brexit. And he dodged questions on what would happen to up to 430,000 non-EU nationals thought to have settled status currently. Critics have questioned the implications for the NHS of deporting migrants on lower salaries, who often work in the health sector. Reform has not decided what the minimum salary would be for visas. It is unclear what would happen to those with settled status who have British children, or to pensioners who no longer work. The Centre for Policy Studies think-tank - which originally made the 234billion estimate for benefits costs from ILR - has since withdrawn it. Mr Farage openly conceded the task of sifting through millions of re-applications would be huge. 'We're not for a minute pretending that going back through the backlog would be an easy thing to do,' he said. Nigel Farage is vowing to force hundreds of thousands of migrants out of the UK by scrapping 'settled' status rules Your browser does not support iframes. Under Mr Farage's plan, no new ILR awards would be made and migrants already allowed to live here under ILR so-called settled status would have it rescinded. Mr Farage proposes that migrants living here would instead have to apply for a five-year renewable visa with stricter criteria, such as proving they can speak English and can earn a high salary, and would face restrictions on how many dependants could join them. Those rejected would lose state benefits and be expected to leave voluntarily or face removal under the party's tough plan for tackling illegal migration, known as Operation Restoring Justice. Reform's policy document states that the changes 'will be done on a staggered and orderly basis to allow businesses to train British workers to replace them'. Reform said it is giving notice that 'the era of cheap foreign labour is over'. The qualifying period for citizenship which is currently one year after being granted 'settled status' would also be extended to seven years to prevent it being given 'cheaply'. Mr Farage said: 'The Tories and Labour have turned the UK into a foodbank for the world.' He told the press conference: 'Far too many that have come don't work, have never worked and never will work. 'The ability to bring dependents of all kinds, and when you realise that most that come are very low skilled, and on very low wages, you start to get a very very different picture. In fact, you start to get a massive benefits bill.' Pointing to the surge in legal immigration after Brexit, Mr Farage said: 'This is not what Brexit voters wanted, and it's certainly not what any Conservative voter wanted from 2010 onwards. 'Where at an election, after an election, after an election, they were promised that net migration would come down to tens of thousands a year, and we learn it was up to in the worst year a million.' Reform's policy chief Zia Yusuf said there would be a specific 'skill shortage' class of visa, but it would be subject to an annual cap. Employers would also have to pay a levy on workers that would go towards training Brits to do the job in future. Mr Yusuf acknowledged that nearly six million EU nationals with settled status in the UK would not be subject Reform's plan or restrictions on benefits. The party would instead try to renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement terms on claiming benefits. Mr Farage also confirmed that there would be no move to review and withdraw UK citizenship decisions. 'If you've been granted UK citizenship you have been granted UK citizenship, to be absolutely clear, there should be no confusion over that,' he said. 'We would not retrospectively change that, because you become a legal citizen of this country. We would never, ever suggest otherwise.' Mr Farage said workers could expect a pay rise if it went ahead under a Reform government, because it would reduce the supply of workers. He said: 'I do repeat the point that mass, unskilled migration has driven in many, many cases, the minimum wage to become the maximum wage. Under our proposals, would pay go up, yes it would go up a bit, and I think that's a good thing, not a bad thing. Would our proposals help train British people for jobs? It would.' The party's head of policy, Zia Yusuf, said: 'If we're serious about saying we're going to cut net immigration to zero, we're going to embark on deporting people who are here illegally, we are going to stop the abuse of our welfare system, yes there will be some businesses who do have to pay more for that labour.' The announcements drew an angry response from London mayor Sadiq Khan. 'Thousands of Londoners have indefinite leave to remain,' he said. 'They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city. 'Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.' Dr Ben Brindle of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford said: 'Under Reform's proposals, migrants living in the UK would either be on temporary visas, such as work visas, or would be British citizens. 'Around 430,000 held indefinite leave to remain at the end of 2024. Removing this status, which has been considered secure under successive governments, would be exceptionally unusual. 'To acquire ILR, most migrants will have had multiple immigration applications accepted by the government and will have been given the right to permanent status. 'While some have been in the UK for 5 to 10 years, others will have lived in the UK for decades, and may have British children who have only ever lived in the UK. It is difficult to find any precedent for such a change in a high-income democracy. 'Assuming the policy applies to all newly arriving migrants and not just those on work visas, the largest impacts would likely be on refugees and the family members of British citizens, who are less likely to meet economic or language requirements. 'Those who don't meet the stringent citizenship criteria would either face long periods with temporary status or may lose it entirely and be liable for removal. 'This would almost certainly result in lower public spending on benefits, but would also lead to increased poverty among certain groups, who would remain in the UK but with less secure status.' Downing Street said Reform had no interest in tackling the issues facing the country but just sought to 'foster division'. The Prime Minister's press secretary said: 'Every week Nigel Farage sets out unrealistic, unworkable and unfunded plans. 'You've hear the Prime Minister talk about the politics of grievance that Reform thrives on. 'They don't want to tackle the issues facing the country, they want to foster division.' She said Sir Keir believes the country is at a crossroads between 'national renewal' and 'the path of division and decline which Reform wants to put the country on'. On a visit to Gatwick Airport this morning, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'I want to bring down illegal migration. This Government is bringing down migration. We have sent a record number of people who have no right to be in our country home. 'We're reducing the use of hotels for asylum seekers and we've made an agreement with France to send people back who come over on small boats. 'Those are all steps towards our ambitions to get a grip of this situation that we inherited. 'It is a difficult challenge, I think everybody can see that, but simple gimmicks like those put forward by Reform that have no basis in reality and where the numbers just fall apart that's not the way to tackle a very serious issue, and this Labour Government are getting on and doing that.' In a statement today, the CPS today: 'As part of announcing a package of policies on Indefinite Leave to Remain, Reform UK have alluded to research published by the Centre for Policy Studies in February of this year. The announcements drew an angry response from London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan 'Part of the research calculated a ballpark figure for the financial cost of the hundreds of thousands of migrants who will soon be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). 'After the CPS' report was published, the Office for Budget Responsibility revised their definitions of some of the fiscal data contained within our report, meaning that the overall cost estimates should no longer be used. 'The CPS has been in communication with the OBR and other experts for clarity and will be publishing an updated estimate in due course. 'The changes do not impact our analysis of the visa data or projections for the numbers likely to gain ILR on different visa routes.' This is the moment armed cops burst into a condominium to arrest a stepfather accused of keeping his stepdaughter imprisoned as a sex slave for 22 years and selling her to other men as well. The 29-year-old woman, who has not been named, fled to police in Araucaria, a city in the southern Brazilian state of Parana, on Tuesday, September 16. She had told the 51-year-old suspect, also not named, she needed to take her three children to a health clinic, but instead went directly to a Civil Police station. Police chief Eduardo Kruger said she had been abused since the age of seven, and at 15 became pregnant by the man after he separated from her mother and forced her into a relationship. Investigators said she had three children with him and was also forced to have sex with other men, with the assaults reportedly recorded on video. The victim said: 'He forced me to pretend that I wanted it, but the men knew I was being forced there. I lost count. There were more than 30. These episodes happened every two months, every three months.' The shocking case evokes the horror that Austrian monster Josef Fritzl inflicted on his daughter for 24 years, imprisoning and raping her over and over again and forcing her to give birth to seven incestuous children. This is the moment armed cops burst into a condominium to arrest a stepfather accused of keeping his stepdaughter imprisoned as a sex slave for 22 years Police chief Eduardo Kruger said she had been abused since the age of seven, and at 15 became pregnant by the man after he separated from her mother In Brazil this week, police said the suspect monitored his alleged victim's every move with surveillance cameras installed throughout the house and rarely allowed her to leave. The woman said of her ordeal: 'I was scared, very scared, I still am. He said a lot of things to me. He threatened me. He said that if I wasn't his, I wouldn't be anyone else's. He said that our separation would only mean death.' While she was giving her statement, he called her more than 30 times and sent over 15 audio messages, some containing threats. He reportedly said: 'Go home, otherwise you're going to have serious problems with me. What's going on? Talk to me, otherwise I'm coming after you.' When police stormed the home, they seized cameras and videos of the abuse stored on his mobile phone before arresting him. He is being held in preventive detention while under investigation for seven crimes, including rape, deprivation of liberty, threats, and psychological violence. If convicted, the combined sentences could exceed 100 years in prison. The victim and her children have been placed in a safe location while protective measures are considered. The shocking case evokes the horror that Austrian monster Josef Fritzl (pictured in 2009) inflicted on his daughter for 24 years, imprisoning and raping her over and over again and forcing her to give birth to seven incestuous children Fritzl's name became synonymous with unimaginable cruelty in 2008, when it emerged he had locked his daughter Elisabeth in a hidden dungeon beneath his home in Amstetten, Lower Austria, from the age of 18. Over nearly a quarter of a century, he repeatedly raped her, fathering seven children -one of whom died in infancy, with prosecutors arguing he was partly responsible for the death through neglect. Fritzl was eventually convicted of murder, rape, incest, slavery and severe coercion - becoming the only person in Austrian history ever convicted of slavery. A teenager who committed Britain's first carjacking murder in Britain is free after being deported to Jamaica. Dwaine Williams - also known as Kasim Williams - was 18 when he stabbed to death Tim Robinson for his 20,000 Audi. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years in October 202 after admitting the murder. His trial heard that Mr Robinson's 'act of chivalry' in giving girlfriend Jemma Joyce a lift home so she did not have to take a cab cost him his life. He had just parked his car outside her home in Battersea, southwest London, when Williams and another youth approached his girlfriend. Mr Robinson was stabbed seconds later by Williams. Recorder of London Judge Michael Hyam told Williams at the Old Bailey: 'It was the needless waste of a life which was full of promise. He was a man you did not know who had done you no harm but whose car you wanted. 'You had evidently gone out with the express purpose of stealing someone's car by force. You armed yourself with a knife and when you tried to get the car keys you pulled out the knife and stabbed him no less than seven times. Dwaine Williams, 18 at the time, committed the first carjacking in Briton and was jailed for life for the murder of Tim Robinson in 2002. He has been deported to Jamaica and freed 'He was unarmed and taken entirely by surprise by your brutal and unprompted attack. There was no shadow of an excuse for it and the punishment is mandatory,' said the judge. Williams was born in Jamaica but brought up in Brixton by his mother. The government can deport foreign nationals if they have been sentenced to prison for at least 12 months. Williams was deported to Jamaica in February 2017 after serving his minimum term. Jamaica is under no obligation to keep him locked up and it is understood he was released. Williams, now 41, is banned from re-entering the UK under deportation regulations. His family remains in the UK. Mr Robinson, an estate agent junior partner, died three days after being stabbed seven times, once through the heart, in January 2002. Williams, of Brixton, south London, admitted murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The case was the first known carjacking killing in the UK. After the hearing, the victim's father said: 'Tim was a much loved, very entertaining, very enjoyable person whose life was suddenly ended so needlessly.' The prosecution accepted a plea of not guilty to murder from a second man, Aaron Jones, 17, also of Brixton, who was present at the scene. His trial heard that Tim's (pictured) 'act of chivalry' in giving girlfriend Jemma Joyce a lift home so she did not have to take a cab cost him his life He admitted conspiring to rob drivers of their vehicles on the day and admitted a string of carjackings during 2001 and 2002. Williams showed no emotion as he was sentenced. Moments before, his counsel, Nigel Lithman QC, had told the court his client felt remorse. 'He knows the only way he can begin to say sorry is by his guilty plea. He did not set out to kill. 'When he confronted Mr Robinson, there are indications there was a short struggle before he made the mistake that instead of fleeing the scene he used the knife. 'He recognises he has destroyed lives.' Mr Lithman read a short note from Williams to the court. It stated: 'I would like the court and Tim Robinson's family to know that I am truly sorry for what happened. 'I hope that at some point they will be able to forgive me for what I have done. I accept I was entirely to blame. 'I did not set out to kill anyone. I hope that by pleading guilty I can save everyone from reliving the unfortunate event.' Pictured left to right: Older sister Helen, brother Tim in the middle and little sister Alex Mr Lithman said Williams had previously been dealt with by magistrates in youth courts for offences that only warranted probation or community service. 'Now he faces a life sentence. He is terrified of that prospect. However wicked this case is, he is still a young, unsophisticated and immature man. 'He is also also horrified about the harm he has inflicted on others - Mr Robinson, Jemma Joyce and their families, his own mother and finally himself.' Williams was of low to normal intelligence. His problems dated back to school when he found himself out of his academic depth at a good Roman Catholic school in south London and played truant, the court was told. He had lacked a father figure bringing him up. But his mother said Williams behaviour at home was quite different from when he was at school. He was not aggressive with her or his siblings and was the peacemaker in the family. He was not a bully or lied or deceived there. Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York have been spotted for the first time since new revelations about her contact with late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson were seen travelling by Range Rover departing from Royal Lodge at Windsor Castle in Berkshire this morning. While Andrew, at the steering wheel, looked anxious, his former wife with whom he remains close appeared intent on avoiding being photographed. Their emergence outdoors today follows the Mail on Sunday's expose of how 'Fergie' wrote to Epstein to apologise for disavowing him in a public statement following his conviction for child sexual abuse offences. It has also emerged that the Duke and Duchess could be banned from taking part in private Royal Family occasions on the orders of his elder brother King Charles. In the newly revealed correspondence, Sarah issued a grovelling apology to Epstein for publicly disassociating herself from 'her supreme friend' when it emerged he had bailed her out financially. And she insisted she had only done so to save her career as a children's author. The bombshell email shows Sarah wrote to the convicted sex offender to 'humbly apologise' in 2011 just weeks after telling the press she had cut all ties with him. Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is seen driving from Royal Lodge at Windsor on the morning of Monday 22 September 2025 Sarah, Duchess of York, is glimpsed in the back of a Range Rover as she is driven from Royal Lodge at Windsor on Monday 22 September 2025 In an earlier interview that year, she described her involvement with Epstein, who had served time for soliciting prostitution from a minor, as a 'gigantic error of judgment'. A spokesperson for Sarah has now said the email was sent to counter an aggressive threat Epstein had made to sue her for defamation. As the ex-wife of a non-working royal, the King has no power to control what the Duchess of York says and does, either publicly or privately. But the revelations once again shine an uncomfortable spotlight on the Yorks' proximity to the Royal Family. The Duke of York has already been forced to relinquish all his public duties and offices as a result of his association with Epstein and is barred from attending official royal events. But both the late Queen and her son, King Charles, have had their hands tied in preventing him from attending private family occasions, not least because the Duke has always denied any wrongdoing. In recent years the Duke and, now, his ex-wife, have even appeared with the Royal Family on their annual walk to church at Sandringham on Christmas Day, as well as Windsor Castle at Easter. And there was shock last week when they both appeared front and centre alongside senior royals at Westminster Cathedral at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent. Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York attend the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral on September 16 2025 A bombshell email obtained by The Mail on Sunday revealed how the Duchess of York lied when she pledged to cut ties with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein One source has told the Daily Mail that the King has tried 'every avenue available to him' to ring-fence his brother. This includes cutting off all his private funding, withdrawing his security and trying to persuade him to downsize from Royal Lodge, his 30-room mansion at Windsor, by offering him alternative accommodation - such as Harry and Meghan's former home, Frogmore Cottage. Earlier this month it emerged that US investigators could have access to a damaging 'cache' of emails written by the Duke to Epstein, that could prove even more 'explosive' than those pertaining to his ex-wife. Some insiders believe Charles will now have no option but to explore ways to prevent his brother attending family events in a private capacity too - or at least if does, do so in a less conspicuous manner, through the back door. A source said, 'It is about the last sanction he may be able to take' - while pointing out there was a 'real fear' there might be more of this to come. The bombshell email obtained by the Mail on Sunday revealed how the Duchess of York cynically lied when she pledged to cut ties with Epstein. Just weeks after publicly disowning the vile billionaire, Sarah wrote him a gushing private message dubbing him a 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend' and admitted she only distanced herself from him to save her own reputation. The Duchess 'humbly apologised' to the convicted sex offender for letting him down and said she had been told to speak out if she wanted to save her career as a children's author. The King could be forced to ban the Yorks from private family occasions over their latest scandal involving convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) She wrote: 'Sometimes the heart speaks better than the words. You have my heart. With lots of love, dear Jeffrey.' The Duchess adopted a similarly appreciative tone in her email of April 26 2011, apologising for disowning him while also trying to reassure him that she had never described him as a paedophile. She told him she had been instructed to give the interview to protect 'my career as a children's book author and children's philanthropist' adding that she was 'broken' because 'I saw all my children's work disappearing'. Pleading with the child abuser, she added: 'I know you feel hellaciously let down by me from what you were either told or read and I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that.' She sent the grovelling message 'from the truth of my heart', less than two months after telling journalists: 'I will never have anything to do with [Epstein] again.' Those comments came on March 7 2011, amid mounting pressure over the links she and ex-husband Prince Andrew had to the paedophile and the 15,000 bailout he gave her. In an interview in the London Evening Standard with its then editor, Geordie Greig, she said that accepting Epstein's money was 'a gigantic error of judgment... I am just so contrite I cannot say'. Another email obtained by this newspaper, which the Duchess sent on January 22, 2011 is addressed to 'my dear, dear friend Jeffrey' and appears to thank him for his recent help with the huge debts she had racked up after years of lavish spending. She wrote: 'How can I thank you enough? You are a friend indeed and I will one day give it to you back. But I can not have the words to thank you now.' A friend of the duchess has said she had 'acted on advice' when sending the grovelling email in an attempt to appease Epstein, adding: 'Epstein aggressively threatened to sue her. He was a nasty, unpleasant and very threatening man. 'She acted on the advice she was given [in writing the emails] to try and get him to drop the threat, which he subsequently did. 'She stands by what she said many years ago. She deeply regrets any association with him and abhors paedophilia. She has worked for many years to support vulnerable young people.' A spokesperson for the Duchess said: 'The Duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims. 'Like many people, she was taken in by his lies. As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia. She does not resile from anything she said then. 'This email was sent in the context of advice the Duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats.' Best known for her Budgie the Helicopter, Little Red and Helping Hand series, Sarah Ferguson has published more than 50 children and young adult books. The beleaguered couple attended the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, earlier this month In November, she is due to publish Kindness Along The Way, the second book in her new series of Flora & Fen picture books. She announced the first book of the series last year with a post on Instagram in which she appeared to be standing on the balcony of a luxury Alpine chalet or hotel. Royal biographer Andrew Lownie has suggested the latest revelations could lead to publishers and charities severing their ties with the Duchess. Andrew has long been tarnished by his associations with Epstein, especially the notorious 2001 photograph of him with his arm around 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, who accused the billionaire of trafficking her. Sarah Ferguson is believed to have first met Epstein in the 1990s having been introduced by American British businesswoman Lynn Forester de Rothschild, the widow of banking tycoon Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, once one of Britain's richest men. In a testimony published last month, Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite jailed for 20 years for sex trafficking, described the Duchess as a 'frenemy' who lusted after Epstein. Maxwell said of the Duchess: 'She had a thing for him... and I thought that Sarah was trying to put the moves on Jeffrey.' Epstein accuser Ms Giuffre died by suicide, aged 41, at her farm home near Perth in Australia. Prince Andrew was pictured smiling while standing with his left arm around the waist of the late Virginia Roberts, formerly named Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell She had previously told how Epstein and Maxwell kept her as a sex slave while flying her around the world and offering her to their powerful associates 'like a platter of fruit'. She alleged they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17 and was three times sexually assaulted by him - a claim which Prince Andrew has denied. The prince reached an out-of-court settlement with her in 2022. Andrew has denied her allegations and said he could not recall ever meeting her. A photograph has been widely shared of them together in a London townhouse, his arm around her bare midriff, and was included in Ms Giuffre's lawsuit against him. Epstein killed himself in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving dozens of teenage girls and young women, some as young as 14. An award-winning farmer who was jailed for conning HMRC out of 1.8million has now been ordered to repay a huge sum of what he swindled. Jack Stilwell, who once featured on BBC Countryfile after crowdfunding to pay for his farm, was jailed for two and a half years after attempting to rip off HMRC by submitting fraudulent VAT claims. The 34-year-old, from Hampshire, had risen to international prominence in the farming world with his pioneering business model, even being crowned Young Farmer of the Year in 2015. But the disgraced farmer faced accusations by HMRC of 'refusing to play by the rules', carrying out his fraudulent offences across three of his agricultural businesses, which took place between November 2021 and July 2022. At a sentencing hearing in April, Stilwell, from Rowlands Castle, Hampshire, admitted three counts of furnishing false returns of VAT. But a judge has only ordered him to pay back just nine per cent of the money, coming to 149,205. Judge James Newton-Price said that 18 months would be appropriate for Stilwell to pay, however his defence barrister, Akhtar Ahmad, said that he only needed three. At the sentencing hearing in April, HMRC, which prosecuted Stilwell, said it carried out a probe following his offences. Jack Stilwell, 34, from Hampshire, was jailed for conning HMRC out of 1.8million and has now been ordered to repay a huge sum of what he swindled The 34-year-old was previously awarded Young Farmer of the Year (pictured at ceremony) and appeared on BBC Countryfile It was said at the time that Stilwell's first offence included 20 false VAT statements on behalf of Roundstone Beef Ltd, totalling 1,278,277.13. The second conviction involved a single false VAT statement submitted in July 2022 for Greenwell Farms Ltd in which he claimed 37,621. The third charge related to eight false statements submitted on behalf of Greenwell Holdings Ltd, amounting to 568,345.66. It comes after the farming prodigy set up his own beef farming business using money from the public via an industry-first crowdfunding campaign. In his final year of study at Harper Adams University in 2015 when he was just 23 he set up a crowdfunder to raise 4,000 to buy beef cattle and rent land. His business flourished and grew to include over 200 Hereford and Aberdeen Angus cattle, split across a number of farms. A judge has only ordered him to pay back just nine per cent of the money, coming to 149,205 It was a campaign that 'caught the attention of the agricultural press and farmers across the world', the university proudly declared on its website. A spokesperson for HMRC said: 'Tax fraud is not a victimless crime. 'The tax we all pay helps to fund the public services we rely on. The majority pay the tax that is due, but a determined minority refuse to play by the rules. 'We are determined to create a level playing field to allow honest businesses to thrive and we encourage anyone with information about tax fraud or money laundering to report it online.' A parent has accused a secondary school of 'brainwashing' after he learned 14-year-old students were told to read a book that 'blames them for their white skin'. James Farquharson claims students were being fed 'partisan political views' after the novel, The Hate U Give, was added to the Year 10 reading list at Budmouth Academy in Weymouth, Dorset. The 53-year-old said the book was making some students feel guilty about being white and left his daughter 'embarrassed and uncomfortable' after was told to read it out loud. He has also accused the school of double standards as it has a zero-tolerance stance on swearing yet the book is littered with four letter expletives, including the F-word repeated 89 times. The US novel, which has since been removed from the school's reading list, follows an African-American girl who speaks out after witnessing a white police officer shoot her childhood friend. Mr Farquharson said he has also questioned the appropriateness of another book that was being read out aloud by children aged 12. He said the book, called Pigeon English, explores sexual themes including female masturbation and is so 'creepy' it raised safeguarding concerns for the children reading it. The books are part of the Drop Everything and Reach (DEAR) initiative which aims to get people to read for a short period everyday. James Farquharson claims students are being 'brainwashed' after the novel, The Hate U Give, was added to the Year 10 reading list at Budmouth Academy in Weymouth, Dorset Mr Farquharson has now written to the headteacher at Budmouth Academy seeking an urgent review of the titles on the school's reading list. He said it is not about banning books but about giving students access to books that are appropriate for their age. He said: 'I found out about this last week when my 14-year-old daughter said she and her peers were having to read (The Hate U Give) out aloud. 'She felt embarrassed and uncomfortable about it. 'I looked through it and read the first 150 pages and thought "really?". 'It is full of bad language, it normalises sex and drugs, and is centred on identity politics, namely race, which blames her for her white skin. 'It is divisive and is centred on issues of blackness and whiteness. 'The school shouldn't be addressing political issues with students unless they are going to balance it with the counter-arguments. 'It is neo-Marxism being slipped into our children's minds, not by outright political lectures but via fiction. 'It is being incubated in their minds that there are goodies and baddies who in this case are the white kids.' Addressing the book Pigeon English, which his Year 8 daughter is reading, he said: 'It contains themes and language that one would hope 12-year-old kids wouldn't be taught in school. 'A 12-year-old reading out passages about female masturbation is a massive safeguarding red flag.' Mr Farquharson, a media and communications manager, said other parents at the school have also raised concerns and complaints about the reading material. Parent Vicki Burgoyne posted: 'Why are we making our future generations read such tripe? 'We need to educate and broaden their minds not shrink them with street slang and brain dead literature to shock them. 'Why are we trying to shock kids by giving them such things to think about. It's really sad. No wonder child mental health, self harm and suicide is at an all time high if this is what's filling there heads.' Mr Farquharson has now written to the headteacher at Budmouth Academy seeking an urgent review of the titles on the school's reading list The Hate U Give is a critically-acclaimed coming-of-age novel by American author Angie Thomas. It addresses racism and stereotypes surrounding black youths and the protection of white communities. But not everyone is against it being taught in schools. One parent posted on social media: 'This has been part of the school curriculum for a number of years now. 'Rather than being offended by it (which is understandable) some consideration also needs to be given to what its trying to challenge and how it wants to provoke thought processes. 'This is nothing new in this line of literature. 'If taught correctly this book is a powerful tool to provoke deeper analysis and understanding of the issues that arise in pop culture today.' A spokesperson for Budmouth Academy told the Daily Mail: 'Following a review of our Year 10 reading list, we have taken the decision to remove The Hate U Give. 'We acknowledge that the novel raises important themes and is promoted as appropriate for readers that are aged 14+. 'However, after careful consideration, we have decided that there are alternative texts that raise similar themes which are better suited to our students in Year 10. 'A second book, Pigeon English, is under review but is likely to remain on the curriculum, as it is a prescribed text for GCSE English Literature by the exam boards.' For more than 100 years, it has been among the treasures on display at Windsor Castle. The bust depicting Prince Albert - the tragic consort of Queen Victoria - was long believed to have been the work of a celebrated expert sculptor. But now, experts have discovered it was made by Albert and Victoria's daughter to commemorate her father after his untimely death aged just 42 in 1861. The remarkable likeness was crafted in stone by their eldest child Princess Victoria, unearthed correspondence reveals. The younger Victoria wrote to her mother from Berlin: 'It is a work which completely engrosses me I feel very nervous I hope you will like it. How I wish you were here to give advice!' Replying, the Queen said, 'I like it extremely,' adding only that the nose was a touch too thick. The Princess and her husband, the Crown Prince of Prussia, went on to give the sculpture to the Queen for Christmas in 1864. It then went on display in Windsor Castle's St George's Hall, where it remains. A bust of Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert on display at Windsor Castle. Experts have discovered it was the work of the couple's eldest daughter Princess Victoria was 21 when her father died from typhus It was thought to have been crafted by sculptor Robert William Sievier. But, during research, art historian Jonathan Marsden, who is the former director of the Royal Collection, determined the bust - which depicted Albert aged 23 - could not have been by Sievier. He then found the reference to the bust when he examined archival correspondence between Queen Victoria and her daughter. Mr Marsden made the discovery while doing research for the first comprehensive catalogue of sculpture in the Royal Collection. Queen Victoria was left bereft by Albert's death from typhoid fever. She famously wore black for the rest of her life and made only a handful of public appearances. Like her mother, Princess Victoria was very close to her father. They shared a love for learning and the arts, with sculpture being a particular mutual passion. Along with her sisters Princesses Alice and Louise, the Crown Princess took lessons in sculpting, and, perhaps fearing someone else would not do her 'dear Papa' justice, she created the posthumous bust with her tutor, Hugo Hagen. The bust discovery is among a number of revelations and new research published for the first time in the new catalogue, which has been 30 years in the making. The bust is on display inside St George's Hall at Windsor Castle Albert and Victoria in 1854 - the couple married in 1840 Queen Victoria had a particular fondness for using sculpture to preserve the memory of growing children or lost loved ones. A bust of the young Prince Albert by Emil Wolff given by the Prince to his fiancee on their engagement in 1839 was kept by Queen Victoria next to her desk in her sitting room at Buckingham Palace for 60 years. However, in recent times its identity had been forgotten, and it was described as an 'unknown man'. Victoria also commissioned the successful female sculptor Mary Thornycroft to portray her growing family, even hiring her as a sculpting tutor for another of her daughters, Princess Louise, who became a notable sculptor in her own right. Thornycroft's work for the Queen was all the more impressive given she had seven children of her own between 1841 and 1853 and was still working on a bust of Princess Alice two days before giving birth to her own daughter. Art historian Jonathan Marsden, who is the former director of the Royal Collection, said: 'Sculpture can easily fade into the background, yet closer examination can reveal works of art of quality and significance with their own stories to tell. 'By sharing our discoveries, both through the catalogue and online, we hope visitors to the palaces will have a renewed appreciation of these beautiful works of art and pieces of history. 'For researchers and specialists, the catalogue represents an important new body of evidence, the foundation for future scholarship.' Princess Victoria, the first of nine children Queen Victoria and Albert had together, died in August 1901, just seven months after her mother. The catalogue, titled European Sculpture in the Collection of His Majesty The King, is published tomorrow by Modern Art Press in association with the Royal Collection Trust. The prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann terrified nightclub- goers as he indulged in a boozy night out just 48 hours after he was released from a German jail. Women screamed in horror when 49-year-old Christian Brueckner was spotted boldly spending the evening at the venue, with many instantly recognising the face of the high-profile convicted sex offender. Brueckner was released after serving six years of a seven-year sentence at Sehnde prison for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman at her home in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2005. The German national was ordered to wear an electronic ankle tag for the next five years, though this would not work were he to leave the country. He has never been charged with any crime in relation to the high-profile disappearance of McCann, who went missing when she was three years old in Praia da Luz in 2007. But German prosecutors have repeatedly insisted they believe Brueckner is responsible for the kidnapping and murder, citing evidence including mobile phone data that suggests he may have been in the area when she vanished. Brueckner denies any involvement, and German authorities have still not gathered enough evidence to bring any formal charges against him since they announced him as their prime suspect in 2020. In June this year, German investigators carried out a fresh search between where the McCanns had been staying and addresses associated with Brueckner, but the efforts yielded no major results. Brueckner was released from prison after raping a 72-year-old American tourist in 2005 in Praia da Luz, the same Portuguese seaside resort where Madeleine McCann went missing two years later Madeleine McCann (pictured) went missing on May 3, 2007 at the age of just three. She has never been found. German criminal Christian Brueckner has been named by German prosecutors as their chief suspect in her disappearance Another search carried out about 30 miles (48km) from Praia da Luz near the Barragem do Arade reservoir in October last year led to no breakthroughs. Per the terms of his release, Brueckner's passport has been cancelled, he must declare a place of residence, and cannot leave without permission. 'This is an attempt by prosecutors to keep him in a kind of investigative detention where they have access to him at all times,' Der Spiegel quoted lawyer Philipp Marquort as saying. In statement to the Daily Mail, prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters confirmed that Brueckner will wear an electronic ankle monitor for the next five years as part of his probationary supervision. 'He will also be assigned a probation officer, with whom he must maintain contact at least once a month,' he said. 'Furthermore, Christian B. must notify the court in advance of any change of residence or place of stay and obtain its approval. 'If he violates these conditions, he faces a fine or imprisonment of up to three years.' Brueckner's legal team, however, insists that he has 'served his time and can come and go as he pleases'. Brueckner was covered as he left the Sehnde prison in the car Christian Brueckner, when he was arrested for drug trafficking in Italy in 2018 Days before his release, prosecutors warned that Brueckner remained dangerous and was likely to 'relapse'. 'He is not only our number open suspect he is our only suspect there is no one else,' prosecutor Wolters said. 'We have evidence which speaks for itself, and which points to him being responsible for the disappearance and death of Madeleine McCann. 'We have evidence against him but it's just not strong enough to bring a case and so that's why we haven't charged him yet we hope we can at some stage.' He added: 'You have to expect him to commit further crimes.' The family of Brueckner's rape victim in the United States, Diana Menkes, also fears he is still a danger to the public. Mrs Menkes died three years ago and her family in Pasadena, California, who agreed for her to be named, also expressed shock and disappointment at his impending release. Her nephew, Michael Foulger, told the Daily Mail: 'It feels to us that he is still a danger to the public and should be closely monitored especially if he is connected to the Madeleine McCann case.' Police officers searching countryside close to Praia da Luz, Portugal on Thursday June 5, 2025 Between 2000 and 2017, Brueckner spent a significant amount of time at the Praia da Luz area, as per photos and videos which show him in the region. By 2020, Brueckner's criminal record had as many as 20 entries. He was first found guilty of sexually abusing children when he was still a teenager and is also a convicted drug trader. In October 2024, he was cleared of three charges of aggravated rape and two of sexual abuse of children committed between 2000 and 2017 in a German court. McCann disappeared from her bedroom in May 2007 during a family holiday in the resort of Praia da Luz while her parents were dining with friends nearby. Her fate remains a mystery and no body has ever been found, but German police said in June 2020 that McCann was assumed dead and that Brueckner was likely responsible for it. October's verdict had no legal bearing on the McCann case but was a setback to prosecutors seeking to charge Brueckner. Ahead of his release, he refused to be interviewed by the Metropolitan Police. DCI Mark Cranwell, a senior investigating officer, said: 'For a number of years we have worked closely with our policing colleagues in Germany and Portugal to investigate the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and support Madeleine's family to understand what happened on the evening of May 3, 2007. 'We are aware of the pending release from prison of a 49-year-old German man who has been the primary suspect in the German federal investigation into Madeleine's disappearance. 'We can confirm that this individual remains a suspect in the Metropolitan Police's own investigation. 'We have requested an interview with this German suspect but, for legal reasons, this can only be done via an International Letter of Request which has been submitted. 'It was subsequently refused by the suspect. In the absence of an interview, we will nevertheless continue to pursue any viable lines of enquiry.' Ministers approved more than 100,000 in extra funding for Scotland Yard in April to assist the investigation into the disappearance of McCann. Funding for Operation Grange has totalled more than 13.2 million since 2011. After being released from Sehnde on September 17, Brueckner stopped for a burger and a hot drink at a McDonalds, Bild revealed. He stopped for a cigarette and stood to eat, lingering some fifteen minutes before leaving, the German newspaper said. A farmer who kept more than 450 animals in squalor has been jailed following one of the largest cases ever seen by the RSPCA. Inspectors from the animal charity found hundreds of animals, including dogs, horses, farm, exotic animals and small pets living in 'appalling' conditions at Lee Hayes' farm. The RSPCA said almost all of the animals had not received veterinary care and several had to be put to sleep to end their suffering following the raid at the farm in Nottinghamshire in November 2023. Hayes, 52, has now been jailed for 12 months and handed a lifetime animal ban after pleading guilty to 25 offences under the Animal Welfare Act at Mansfield Magistrates Court earlier this month. Hayes' girlfriend, Tammy Heath, 33, pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences relating to failing to meet the needs of dogs Tia and Flicker who were found in filthy pens and was handed a 13-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and banned from keeping dogs for five years. Jailing Hayes, district Judge Grace Leong said said his 'deliberate and sustained' neglect of hundreds of animals was 'harrowing'. She said he had 'wantonly neglected hundreds of animals of a wide range of species'. Horses at Lee Hayes' farm in Nottinghamshire. Inspectors also found lame and emaciated cows. A filthy pen at the farm showing empty tins of cat food. Three cats were locked in a filthy stable and five kittens with cat flu were in the back of a pick-up truck. Some of the 66 guinea pigs who were rescued were living in filthy enclosures and had suffered from wounds from fighting each other after being mixed inappropriately and not neutered Hayes had claimed circumstances at Croftfield Farm in Dawgates Lane, Skegby, near Sutton-in-Ashfield had 'all got a little out of hand', but the judge said he had ignored advice to make welfare improvements, including that from staff of the Donkey Sanctuary who had visited the farm in 2016, and the RSPCA. The district judge told Hayes: 'All the animals were still living in abhorrent conditions and severely neglected, which included unsanitary, overcrowded accommodation; dogs living in faeces and urine; goats with overgrown hooves, equines with thrush; and cats with fleas and flu. 'You lack insight in the care of animals and you present a high risk of offending again as far as the welfare of animals is concerned.' The RSPCA said it was one of the largest cases it has ever dealt with. It was helped by more than 100 staff from seven other charities; The Donkey Sanctuary, Redwings, World Horse Welfare, Bransby Horses, British Horse Society, Dogs Trust and Beauties' Legacy. The large-scale rescue, codenamed Operation Teal, saw the seizure of 455 animals of 19 different species, including around 70 horses and donkeys, more than 50 dogs and puppies and 170 guinea pigs. RSPCA inspectors found many animals living in filthy hutches, sheds, outbuildings and barns, as well as two fields. A dog tethered in a filthy cage at the farm in Nottinghamshire. There were also lame and emaciated cows, underweight birds and hens without water packed into small enclosures and 24 goats seized due to overgrown feet and disease. Donkeys and horses were suffering from rotting feet. Some were underweight and others had not received any treatment for parasites and proper dental care. Mice, pigmy squirrels and hamsters were kept in overcrowded cages inside the farm house Ferrets and rabbits were found living in filthy, maggot-strewn cages and enclosures; The officers also found a cocker spaniel, who later needed hernia surgery and puppies caked in faeces and with urine burns. The rescuers found five dogs tethered to outdoor kennels without any bedding and there were over 40 dogs living in kennels in a darkened barn Ferrets, rabbits and small rodents were also rescued along with cats, poultry, exotics, birds, reptiles and one llama. The judge granted the RSPCA's application for costs of 664,650 against Hayes and said the charity can seek recompense at the High Court. She made a collection order for the recovery of 2,000 costs against Heath. The case came to light after the founder of missing dogs' charity Beauties' Legacy, Lisa Dean, visited the farm in 2023 to investigate claims about a stolen dog and Nottinghamshire Police raised concerns about the conditions. The court heard PC Jack Grace was overcome by a foul smell as he entered a barn 'housing many dogs who were whining and some who were eating their own faeces'. He reported Hayes to the RSPCA. RSPCA prosecutor Phil Brown said a warrant was served on November 1, 2023 when RSPCA Inspector Laura Baker and her team arrived and found many animals living in filthy hutches, sheds, outbuildings and barns, as well as two fields. Among the most severely neglected animals was an elderly German Shepherd dog, tethered to a small kennel and struggling to walk. Hayes admitted the dog had not seen a vet and he 'expected it to die that winter'. The officers also found a cocker spaniel, who later needed hernia surgery and puppies caked in faeces and with urine burns. Donkeys and horses were suffering from rotting feet. Some were underweight and others had not received any treatment for parasites and proper dental care. Over half of the 59 horses seized were of poor body condition, with one donkey being so lame that she was put to sleep to end her suffering, the court was told. The floors of barns and enclosures were deep in faeces and stinking, mouldy forage. Most of the mares had mixed with stallions and were falling pregnant, adding to the growing numbers. Equine vet Suzanne Green said: 'The severely overgrown hooves of the horses should have been seen by a vet and farrier and many of the donkeys and horses were underweight. 'There was an extensive failure to provide basic preventative health care.' The rescuers found five dogs tethered to outdoor kennels without any bedding and there were over 40 dogs living in kennels in a darkened barn. Three cats were locked in a filthy stable and five kittens with cat flu were in the back of a pick-up truck. Five kittens with cat flu were found in the back of a pick-up truck at the farm Ferrets (pictured) and rabbits were found living in filthy, maggot-strewn cages and enclosures; mice, pigmy squirrels and hamsters were kept in overcrowded cages inside the farm house and a Congo grey parrot was so stressed it pulled out half his feathers An underweight horse found at Lee Hayes' farm in Nottinghamshire The German shepherd tethered to a kennel was suffering from arthritis and the kindest thing to do was to put her to sleep. The court heard Hayes had collected all kinds of animals at his farm. There were underweight birds and ducklings whose bodies and feet were stained with faeces; ferrets and rabbits were found living in filthy, maggot-strewn cages and enclosures; mice, pigmy squirrels and hamsters were kept in overcrowded cages inside the farm house and a Congo grey parrot was so stressed it pulled out half his feathers, the RSPCA said. Vet Deborah Wragg. said: 'Baby mice were being trampled on by adult mice, while two pygmy squirrels needed urgent vet care and an elderly hamster was so unwell he was put to sleep immediately'. There were also lame and emaciated cows, underweight birds and hens without water packed into small enclosures and 24 goats seized due to overgrown feet and disease. The bird cages and a walk-in aviary were filthy and dead birds were found piled up in one small hutch. In a vivarium infested with fruit flies were three underweight tortoises who needed emergency medical attention as they were so unwell, while Java sparrows, a finch and canaries were left in a heavily soiled cage. Of the 107 birds that were being kept on the farm, only 12 had access to clean water. Some of the 66 guinea pigs who were rescued were living in filthy enclosures and had suffered from wounds from fighting each other after being mixed inappropriately and not neutered. Hayes signed over a large number of the animals to the RSPCA, but the charity needed to obtain a court order to remove the farmer's stock of equines and farm animals. In mitigation for Hayes, John Wilford, said poor weather had worsened conditions. 'Over a period of time he became overwhelmed by the situation. All the animals he acquired came from people that knew he would take them on. 'He did not have the ability to say 'no' and he should have accepted help as he did realise a number of animals the RSPCA rescued needed treatment.' RSPCA Inspector Baker, who led the operation, said afterwards: 'The conditions we found all these animals living in were absolutely appalling. 'The smell of manure hit as soon as you walked through the gate and the sheer volume of animals in dire circumstances was quite overwhelming. 'There was a very lame cow tied up in one of the barns that was the most broken animal I had ever seen. 'There was also a lamb whose leg was swinging and the smell of infection from her was the worst thing ever - she'd been attacked by a dog and just left to suffer. 'There were few signs any kind of animal husbandry had taken place. Many of the dogs for example were suffering from easily treatable conditions and the lack of veterinary care demonstrated the total disregard the defendant took to the animals' welfare.' Ferrets, rabbits and small rodents were also rescued along with cats, poultry, exotics, birds, reptiles and one llama. Some of the donkeys pictured after they were rescued by the The Donkey Sanctuary Hannah Bryer, Head of Welfare GB at The Donkey Sanctuary, said: 'This case is another sad reminder of the suffering donkeys and other animals endure when they are not given the care they need. 'We have offered sanctuary to those donkeys who are unable to be rehomed in the community, while helping the others to find loving and long-term homes.' Redwings Horse Sanctuary vet and Head of Welfare and Behaviour Nic de Brauwere said: 'It was a very challenging two days working with nervous and unhandled ponies and donkeys that were trapped in horrible living conditions. 'Being able to help them by supporting vet assessments and getting the equines onto the many horseboxes, knowing they were heading to a much brighter future, was very rewarding. 'One of the ponies I worked with will be finding his forever home with us here at Redwings.' Firebrand Democrat Jasmine Crockett slammed her white colleagues on the left for voting to honor Charlie Kirk in a Congressional resolution. The Texas Congresswoman condemned Kirk on the day of his memorial service on Sunday, slamming him for spouting a 'rhetoric that specifically targeted people of color'. Crockett was one of 58 Democrats who voted against the resolution honoring the late Conservative activist. During an appearance opposite CNN's Dana Bash, Crockett said that seeing only two Caucasian colleagues vote with her 'hurts my heart.' 'For the most part, the only people who voted "No" were people of color because the rhetoric that Charlie Kirk continuously put out there was rhetoric that specifically targeted people of color,' Crockett continued. She went on to say that it's 'unfortunate' that her fellow colleagues 'could not see how harmful his rhetoric was, specifically to us'. Crockett also said that just a month before he died, Kirk was 'talking negatively' about her on his podcast. 'So if there was anyway that I was going to honor somebody who decided that they were just going to negatively talk about me and proclaim that I was somehow involved in the great white replacement, yeah I'm not honoring that kind of stuff, especially as a civil rights attorney and understanding how I got to congress.' Firebrand Democrat Jasmine Crockett slammed her white colleagues on the left for not voting against a Congressional resolution honoring Charlie Kirk just hours before his memorial service Crockett criticized Kirk on the day of his memorial service for spouting a 'rhetoric that specifically targeted people of color' She continued: 'Knowing that there were people that died, people that were willing to die that worked to make sure that voices like mine could exist in this place.' Crockett made the remarks hours before Kirk's memorial service was held in the 60,000-seater State Farm Stadium in Arizona. Speakers at the event included Kirk's widow Erika, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, as well as a long list of leading MAGA figures. Trump delivered an eyebrow-raising 45-minute speech where he walked back remarks made by Erika Kirk about 'forgiving' Kirk's alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, 22. He said that while Kirk 'did not hate his opponents' and 'wanted the best for them', that was 'where I disagreed with Charlie.' 'I hate my opponent, and I don't want the best for them,' Trump said. 'I'm sorry. I am sorry, Erika, but now Erika can talk to me, and the whole group, and maybe they can convince me that that's not right, but I can't stand my opponent.' President Trump delivered an eyebrow-raising 45-minute speech at the memorial on Sunday, where he walked back remarks made by Erika Kirk about 'forgiving' Kirk's killer Just before her husband's service, Erika revealed how she feels about his alleged killer being executed. Robinson, 22, was arrested two days after Kirk was fatally shot in the neck while on the first stop of Turning Point USA's 'American Comeback Tour'. Erika, former Miss Arizona, said she did not want to be the one to decide his fate and wanted the government to decide what happens to Robinson. 'I've had people ask, "Do you feel anger toward this man? Like, do you want to seek the death penalty?" Ill be honest. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this,' Erika, 36, told The New York Times. She went on to say she does not want anything to do with the decision because it could create unwanted guilt, especially when it comes to her Christian faith. 'I do not want that mans blood on my ledger. Because when I get to heaven, and Jesus is like: "Uh, eye for an eye? Is that how we do it?" And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie?' Erika continued. Speaking for the first time since her emotional speech just two days after her partner died, Erika revealed the exact moment she heard he'd been shot. She had planned on traveling with him from Arizona to Utah that day, but she had to be with her mother who was undergoing medical treatment, Erika said. Erika Kirk, who shared two young children with the late conservative star, revealed she almost traveled with him from Arizona to Utah the day he died, but she had to be with her mother who was undergoing medical treatment Around 11.23am local time, she got a frantic call from Michael McCoy, her husband's assistant, stating 'He's been shot!' Erika hopped in one of Kirk's chartered planes but it was too late as he was pronounced dead while she was in the air. 'I'm looking at the clouds and the mountains. It was such a gorgeous day, and I was thinking: This is exactly what he last saw,' she recalled. Once she arrived at the hospital, Erika met with a sheriff who gave her the option to see Charlie's body - something he advised against her doing because of the severe damage the bullet did to his neck. Nonetheless, she insisted she see her husband one last time. She recalled telling the sheriff, 'With all due respect, I want to see what they did to my husband.' Once his deceased body was in front of her, Erika said she knew 'he'd died happy'. 'His eyes were semi-open. And he had this knowing, Mona Lisa-like half-smile. Like hed died happy. Like Jesus rescued him. The bullet came, he blinked, and he was in heaven,' she said, adding that she kissed him - something that she didn't do before he left the house that morning. A gang of Chilean 'burglary tourists' who travelled to the UK to steal 80,000 worth of luxury items from homes in affluent neighbourhoods have been jailed. The group of burglars targeted at least 11 properties across Surrey and London from November 3 to December 11 last year, thieving watches, clothes, jewellery and even unopened Christmas gifts. To gain entry into the luxury properties during their month-long thieving spree, the crooks would often climb up to the first or second floors before forcing entry through windows or doors, Surrey Police said. Video footage of one particular burglary captured the four thieves - Israel Contreras, Eduardo Marquez, Yeico Guzman Fernandez and Michael Carrasco, fleeing from a home by jumping out of a window and clambering over the back fence. Fernandez had even travelled over from the UK from Chile with the 'sole intention of thievery' and embarked on an 'offending spree' with the group as soon as he landed, Surrey Police Investigating officer, Sergeant Ben Deacon, said. But a number of blunders eventually saw the criminals captured by police, with the four men later receiving a combined total of 17 years in prison for their callous crimes. On November 3, Contreras accidentally dropped his phone while climbing over the fence of a home in Hillingdon. When officers seized the device, they discovered five screenshots from a mapping app, with pins dropped on several residential properties across London. A Chilean gang who travelled to the UK and posed as tourists to steal more than 80,000 worth of luxury items from affluent homes have been jailed. Israel Contreras (pictured) was caught after his DNA was found on a broken angle grinder blade left at the scene of a burglary in Esher Yeico Guzman Fernandez (pictured) had only been in the UK for a number of hours before he met up with the burglary gang to embark on an 'offending spree'. Surrey Police Investigating officer, Sergeant Ben Deacon, said that he had 'entered the UK with sole intention of thievery' Video footage of one particular incident (pictured) captured the four thieves fleeing from a home by jumping out of a window and clambering over the back fence. Sergeant Deacon said that their arrests brought him 'great satisfaction' Pieces of Contreras' DNA on a broken angle grinder blade were also left behind at the scene of a burglary in Esher, allowing police to establish a connection between the offences in London and Surrey. While he had hoped to board a flight to Chile on December 5, Contreras' plan was foiled after officers arrested him at London's Heathrow Airport. He was later charged with conspiracy to commit burglary. The remaining members of the gang were captured just days later. On December 11, officers halted the thieves while they travelled in a red Hyundai on Fulham Palace Road, London. Despite attempting to reverse and ram their way to freedom, the car was strategically stopped by police who discovered that the vehicle contained items of jewellery, designer goods and tools. Marquez, the driver of the getaway car, had filled his pockets with jewellery and watches from burglaries committed earlier that day. A large crowbar had been tucked into his waistband, with a torch and screwdriver also concealed in his pockets. Fernandez and Carrasco were also found in the vehicle. Fernandez, who had arrived into the UK from Chile at 7am that morning, had immediately met up with the group in order to embark on their next robbery. Over the summer, the four thieves were sentenced at Guildford Crown Court, with Contreras, 22, receiving a five year and three month sentence and Marquez, 29, sentenced to six years and nine months. On December 11, officers stopped the thieves while travelling in a red Hyundai on Fulham Palace Road in London. Eduardo Marquez (pictured), the driver of the getaway car, had filled his pockets with jewellery and watches from burglaries committed earlier that day At Guildford Crown Court, Contreras, 22, received a a five year and three month sentence and Marquez, 29, was sentenced to six years and nine months. Both Michael Carrasco (pictured), 28, and Fernandez, 25, received two years and nine months behind bars respectively Both Carrasco, 28, and Fernandez, 25, will spend two years and nine months behind bars respectively. Sergeant Deacon said that the arrests brought him 'great satisfaction', adding: 'We have been able to deliver some justice to the victims of these crimes'. He added that Contreras 'thought he got away with his crimes' and that 'Marquez and Carrasco did not see us coming and won't be free for a long time'. Sergeant Deacon also thanked both the victims and witnesses for their 'patience and support' with the investigation and urged any members of the public who become victims of these awful crimes to both record and report it. He said: 'Many of the burglaries solved as part of this investigation had looked like they would go unsolved, but the dedication of my colleagues and perseverance of the victims enabled us to get this result. 'Equally, this investigation involved many officers and staff from multiple teams, disciplines and forces thank you all for your hard, diligent work.' The gang, who have been on remand in prison since their arrests, are set to face deportation once their prison sentences have been served. Is Washington really willing to be the lonely outlier on the Palestinian issue?: Global Times editorial Global Times) 08:58, September 22, 2025 Longing for peace. Illustration: Liu Rui/Global Times On Sunday local time, Australia, Canada and the UK announced their recognition of Palestinian statehood. Reports show that France, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Malta, and San Marino also plan to recognize the State of Palestine at a high-level conference of the UN General Assembly on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution on September 22 or the previous day. This will further expand the ranks of UN member states - already more than two-thirds - that recognize a Palestinian state. An overwhelming majority view within the international community has already taken shape. This new "wave of recognition" comes precisely from the US' traditional allies who had consistently obstructed this process. On September 18, at the 10,000th meeting of the UN Security Council, the US once again exercised its veto to block a draft resolution demanding Gaza ceasefire. 14 out of the Council's 15 members voted in favor. The lopsided 14-to-1 vote is striking. In fact, US positions now run counter to the prevailing views of the international community, while even its European allies are recalibrating their stance - making the rift between the US and Europe over the Palestinian question increasingly evident. For a long time, Western countries have tended to criticize Palestine while sympathizing with Israel. However, with the outbreak of the latest round of conflict between Israel and Palestine - especially the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza - public attention within European countries toward the Palestinian question has risen markedly, and calls for recognizing the State of Palestine have grown steadily louder. Over the past two years, sympathy for Palestine in the West has gradually evolved into large-scale social movements and public opinion campaigns, with waves of protests, demonstrations, and rallies in support of the Palestinians erupting one after another. Traditionally, the international community believed that the Israel-Palestine conflict could be resolved through dialogue under the mediation of the US or other third parties, addressing sensitive issues such as the final status of Jerusalem, the allocation of land in the West Bank, the relationship between Gaza and the West Bank, the resettlement of Palestinian refugees, and the distribution of water resources to promote peace. Yet in recent years, the very foundations of peace have been steadily eroded, and the US has done little to seriously promote Israel-Palestine negotiations over the past decade. Meanwhile, Israel has continued to expand settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, enacting domestic legislation to entrench its occupation and control over disputed areas, thereby further constraining the living space of Palestinians. Rebuilding a vision for peace and re-establishing the political principle of a "two-state solution" have become essential preconditions for any peaceful settlement of the Israel-Palestine issue. The recent push by some Western countries to recognize Palestinian statehood is precisely a reflection of this logic in practice. "How many more innocent lives must be lost before a ceasefire can be achieved in Gaza? How many more tragedies will it take before humanitarian aid can flow unimpeded?" The soul-stirring questions posed by China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, reflect the harsh reality of the Gaza Strip. Since the outbreak of the latest round of Israel-Palestine conflict, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 65,000 Palestinians, leading to famine in the region and forcing more than two million residents to flee their homes. Israel's regional policies have become increasingly hardline, showing little compromise even when faced with third-party mediation, which has resulted in repeated obstacles to ceasefire negotiations. On other pressing issues, Israel has also taken a multi-pronged approach, launching military operations not only in Syria and Lebanon but also directly targeting Iran in the Gulf region, and even recently attacking targets within Qatar. This aggressive stance has raised deep concerns within the international community about the potential for the situation in the Middle East to spiral out of control. Rather than achieving "greater security," these actions have left Israel "more isolated." The US continues to unilaterally uphold Israel's diplomatic, political, and military interests. Israel may still insist on a hardline regional and foreign policy based on its own strategic and national interests. Western countries face obstacles in forming a true consensus on acknowledging Palestinian statehood. However, in the long run, a shift in the Western attitudes represents an increasingly clear stance by the international community on the Israel-Palestine issue. This shift will not only drive policy adjustments within international organizations and multilateral mechanisms but will also further solidify the political principles of the "two-state solution," providing a more solid legal foundation and international public opinion support for the recognition of a Palestinian state. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, giving this session of the General Assembly extraordinary significance. The high-level meeting of the General Assembly on September 22 will provide an important platform for the international community to once again build consensus. As a crucial third party in the Israel-Palestine issue, the actions of the US severely hinder the realization of international calls for justice and the prompt achievement of a ceasefire. The strong consensus reached by the international community fully reflects that the "two-state solution" is not an option but a necessity; it is not a future possibility but a present reality. Relevant countries should reevaluate its Middle East policy, fulfill its international responsibilities, and make the right decisions that are accountable to life and history. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The Duchess of York has been dropped by seven charities including the Teenage Cancer Trust and British Heart Foundation after new revelations about her contact with late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Children's charity Julia's House today said it would be 'inappropriate' to stay involved with Sarah Ferguson after her emailed apology to Epstein emerged - and other organisations have swiftly followed suit. The announcements flooded in as both the Duke and Duchess of York were spotted for the first time since the latest scandal was revealed by the Mail on Sunday. The expose uncovered how 'Fergie' wrote to Epstein to apologise for disavowing him in a public statement following his conviction for child sexual abuse offences. The founders of the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation announced they are severing ties with Sarah, who was previously one of their patrons - while fellow charity Prevent Breast Cancer announced a similar move. The Children's Literacy Charity has also asked her to step down as patron, calling any continued role 'inappropriate' after what it described as 'the recent information' which came to light about the Duchess of York and Epstein. And the Teenage Cancer Trust this afternoon revealed the Duchess was no longer a patron of the charity which she has long backed since it opened its first unit in 1990, and to whom she introduced her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, who remain as patrons. Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York attend the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, 2025 Sarah, Duchess of York, is glimpsed in the back of a Range Rover as she is driven from Royal Lodge at Windsor on Monday September 22, 2025 Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is seen driving from Royal Lodge at Windsor on the morning of Monday September 22, 2025 The British Heart Foundation, one of the UK's largest charities, has since confirmed they have also dropped the royal as an ambassador, adding: 'We are grateful for the Duchess' support for our work and thank her for her past efforts to help us save and improve lives by funding pioneering research into cardiovascular disease.' This evening, the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals removed all mention of the Duchess from its 'wonderful ambassadors' page. The charity had previously featured a photo of 'our amazing Royal Patron' posing with a dog. It has since confirmed the royal has been dropped. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were seen travelling by Range Rover leaving Royal Lodge at Windsor Castle in Berkshire this morning. In the newly published correspondence, Sarah issued a grovelling apology to Epstein for publicly disassociating herself from 'her supreme friend' when it emerged he had bailed her out financially - and she insisted she had only done so to save her career as a children's author. Julia's House said in a statement today: 'Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of York's correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia's House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity. 'We have advised the Duchess of York of this decision and thank her for her past support.' The Duchess' visits to the Julia's House Children's Hospice in Devizes, Wiltshire, included one in October 2018 - of which she shared photos on Instagram. Writing on the social media site then, Fergie described the hospice as a 'sanctuary of harmony and joy' and praised the staff who support families and children with life limiting conditions. She no longer appears on the Julia's House website, nor the Teenage Cancer Trust which until this afternoon was still saying of her online: 'The Duchess has been Patron of Teenage Cancer Trust since we opened our first unit in 1990 at the Middlesex Hospital in London. 'Since then, she has opened most of our new units, including our Glasgow unit in 2016, our units in Southampton and Edinburgh in 2013, and Great North Children's Hospital with Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice in 2010. 'The Duchess is well recognised as a passionate advocate for wellness and education worldwide. She has also written a number of books including a 12 book series called 'Helping Hands' with Lloyds pharmacy and a four book children's series about the adventures of Little Red. 'The Duchess was a Producer on the film The Young Victoria, released in the UK in March 2009 and fronted the HELLO! Magazine Christmas Appeal which shone a light on the incredible work of Teenage Cancer Trust's nurses, youth support teams and hospital units.' How the British Heart Foundation's website looked, until today when the Duchess was dumped Prince Andrew was seen today taking a ride in Windsor Great Park in Berkshire Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, founders of the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, the UK's food allergy charity, said this afternoon: 'We were disturbed to read of Sarah, Duchess of York's, correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein. 'Sarah Ferguson has not been actively involved with the charity for some years. She was a patron but, in the light of the recent revelations, we have taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue to be associated with the charity. We would like to thank her for her kindness and support in the past.' The charity's founding couple set it up in honour of their 15-year-old daughter Natasha who was on a dream trip to Nice with her best friend and her father when she suffered a severe reaction to sesame seeds baked into an artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette she bought at Heathrow. Following her tragic death in 2016, Natasha's family successfully lobbied for 'Natasha's Law', which makes allergy information a requirement for food made on site. The charity asked the Duchess to become a patron when it was founded in 2019. In another setback for Sarah on Monday afternoon, a spokesperson for Prevent Breast Cancer said: 'The Duchess of York is no longer a patron of Prevent Breast Cancer. We have advised her of this decision and thank her for her past support.' And this evening a spokesperson for Teenage Cancer Trust told the Daily Mail: 'We have made the decision to end our relationship with the Duchess of York, and as of today she is no longer a patron of Teenage Cancer Trust. We have communicated this decision to the Duchess. 'We would like to thank the Duchess of York for her support.' The National Foundation for Retired Service Animals said tonight: 'Following recent press reports the trustees of the NFRSA have mutually agreed with the Duchess of York that she will step back from her position as patron with immediate effect. The NFRSA is deeply grateful to the duchess for her support and the kindness she has shown towards the charity.' Yesterday, the Daily Mail's royal editor Rebecca English revealed the Duke and Duchess could be banned from taking part in private Royal Family occasions on the orders of his elder brother King Charles. The bombshell leaked email shows Sarah wrote to the convicted sex offender to 'humbly apologise' in 2011 just weeks after telling the press she had cut all ties with him. In an earlier interview that year, she described her involvement with Epstein, who had served time for soliciting prostitution from a minor, as a 'gigantic error of judgment'. A spokesperson for Sarah has now said the email was sent to counter an aggressive threat Epstein had made to sue her for defamation. The Duke of York has already been forced to relinquish all his public duties and offices as a result of his association with Epstein and is barred from attending official royal events. But both the late Queen and her son, King Charles, have had their hands tied in preventing him from attending private family occasions, not least because the Duke has always denied any wrongdoing. The Duke and Duchess of York are tipped to be banned from private Royal Family occasions by order of King Charles (pictured visiting Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria today) Sarah Ferguson's scandals: A timeline Since marrying into the Royal Family in 1986, Sarah Ferguson has never been far away from scandal and negative headlines. March 1992: Sarah and Prince Andrew separate. August 1992: Newspaper photos emerge of Sarah having her toes sucked by financial adviser John Bryan. 1995: Duchess of York backs project launched by bankrupt businessman Clive Garrad to open nursing home named after her; he is later jailed for fraud. January 1996: Fergie's debts are reported to have hit 3million. It is also revealed that Queen Elizabeth II had paid her daughter-in-law's debts on 'several' occasions. May 1996: Sarah's divorce from Prince Andrew is finalised. October 1996: Fergie drops a High Court action aimed at banning a book by one-time confidante Allan Starkie. 1997: Fergie becomes the first royal to endorse a product on television when she advertises Ocean Spray cranberry drink. 1997: The Duchess meets top golfer Tiger Woods. Biographer Andrew Lownie claims she then confided to broadcaster Piers Morgan that she was 'in love' with Woods, but 'he doesn't know it yet' 2008: Sarah joins ex-husband Andrew in living at Royal Lodge. 2008: Fergie appears on TV programme The Duchess in Hull, where she is seen advising a family of six how to live more healthily on a budget of 80 a week. April 2010: It emerges Fergie is being sued by Mayfair solicitors Davenport Lyons for 200,000 for work they did turning her children's books into a TV series and to create a protect a trademark she planned to use. May 2010: In a sting by the now-defunct News of the World, Sarah is filmed selling access to Prince Andrew for 500,000. March 2011: Revelations that Sarah accepted 15,000 from paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein to help pay off her debts first emerge. 2011: Sarah storms out of interview with 60 Minutes Australia host Michael Usher. January 2012: Turkish court presses charges against the Duchess of York for secretly filming in an orphanage for ITV documentary. 2014: Andrew and Sarah buy ski chalet in Swiss resort of Verbier, but fail to pay the seller the full amount until 2021. December 2015: Fergie is spotted selling hair straighteners on shopping channel QVC. She boasts they are available in 'royal purple'. 2023 onwards: Andrew and Fergie come under mounting pressure to leave Royal Lodge and downsize to a smaller property September 20, 2025: Bombshell email reveals Fergie lied when she pledged to cut ties with Jeffrey Epstein. September 22, 2025: The Duchess is dropped as patron of multiple charities in response to the revelations about her lies over her relationship with Epstein. Advertisement In recent years the Duke and, now, his ex-wife, have even appeared with the Royal Family on their annual walk to church at Sandringham on Christmas Day, as well as Windsor Castle at Easter. And there was shock last week when they both appeared front and centre alongside senior royals at Westminster Cathedral at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent. One source has told the Daily Mail that the King has tried 'every avenue available to him' to ring-fence his brother. This includes cutting off all his private funding, withdrawing his security and trying to persuade him to downsize from Royal Lodge, his 30-room mansion at Windsor, by offering him alternative accommodation - such as Harry and Meghan's former home, Frogmore Cottage. Earlier this month it emerged that US investigators could have access to a damaging 'cache' of emails written by the Duke to Epstein, that could prove even more 'explosive' than those pertaining to his ex-wife. Some insiders believe Charles will now have no option but to explore ways to prevent his brother attending family events in a private capacity too - or at least if does, do so in a less conspicuous manner, through the back door. A source said, 'It is about the last sanction he may be able to take' - while pointing out there was a 'real fear' there might be more of this to come. The bombshell email obtained by the Mail on Sunday revealed how the Duchess of York cynically lied when she pledged to cut ties with Epstein. Just weeks after publicly disowning the vile billionaire, Sarah wrote him a gushing private message dubbing him a 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend' and admitted she only distanced herself from him to save her own reputation. The Duchess 'humbly apologised' to the convicted sex offender for letting him down and said she had been told to speak out if she wanted to save her career as a children's author. She wrote: 'Sometimes the heart speaks better than the words. You have my heart. With lots of love, dear Jeffrey.' The Duchess adopted a similarly appreciative tone in her email of April 26 2011, apologising for disowning him while also trying to reassure him that she had never described him as a paedophile. She told him she had been instructed to give the interview to protect 'my career as a children's book author and children's philanthropist' adding that she was 'broken' because 'I saw all my children's work disappearing'. Pleading with the child abuser, she added: 'I know you feel hellaciously let down by me from what you were either told or read and I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that.' She sent the grovelling message 'from the truth of my heart', less than two months after telling journalists: 'I will never have anything to do with [Epstein] again.' Those comments came on March 7 2011, amid mounting pressure over the links she and ex-husband Prince Andrew had to the paedophile and the 15,000 bailout he gave her. In an interview in the London Evening Standard with its then editor, Geordie Greig, she said that accepting Epstein's money was 'a gigantic error of judgment... I am just so contrite I cannot say'. Another email obtained by this newspaper, which the Duchess sent on January 22, 2011 is addressed to 'my dear, dear friend Jeffrey' and appears to thank him for his recent help with the huge debts she had racked up after years of lavish spending. She wrote: 'How can I thank you enough? You are a friend indeed and I will one day give it to you back. But I can not have the words to thank you now.' A friend of the Duchess has said she had 'acted on advice' when sending the grovelling email in an attempt to appease Epstein, adding: 'Epstein aggressively threatened to sue her. He was a nasty, unpleasant and very threatening man. Convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) was found dead in his jail cell in August 2019 'She acted on the advice she was given [in writing the emails] to try and get him to drop the threat, which he subsequently did. 'She stands by what she said many years ago. She deeply regrets any association with him and abhors paedophilia. She has worked for many years to support vulnerable young people.' A spokesperson for the Duchess said: 'The Duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims. 'Like many people, she was taken in by his lies. As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia. She does not resile from anything she said then. 'This email was sent in the context of advice the Duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats.' Best known for her Budgie the Helicopter, Little Red and Helping Hand series, Sarah Ferguson has published more than 50 children and young adult books. In November, she is due to publish Kindness Along The Way, the second book in her new series of Flora & Fen picture books. She announced the first book of the series last year with a post on Instagram in which she appeared to be standing on the balcony of a luxury Alpine chalet or hotel. Royal biographer Andrew Lownie has suggested the latest revelations could lead to publishers and charities severing their ties with the Duchess. Andrew has long been tarnished by his associations with Epstein, especially the notorious 2001 photograph of him with his arm around 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, who accused the billionaire of trafficking her. Sarah Ferguson is believed to have first met Epstein in the 1990s having been introduced by American British businesswoman Lynn Forester de Rothschild, the widow of banking tycoon Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, once one of Britain's richest men. In a testimony published last month, Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite jailed for 20 years for sex trafficking, described the Duchess as a 'frenemy' who lusted after Epstein. Maxwell said of the Duchess: 'She had a thing for him... and I thought that Sarah was trying to put the moves on Jeffrey.' Epstein accuser Ms Giuffre died by suicide, aged 41, at her farm home near Perth in Australia. She had previously told how Epstein and Maxwell kept her as a sex slave while flying her around the world and offering her to their powerful associates 'like a platter of fruit'. She alleged they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17 and was three times sexually assaulted by him - a claim which Prince Andrew has denied. The prince reached an out-of-court settlement with her in 2022. Andrew has denied her allegations and said he could not recall ever meeting her. A photograph has been widely shared of them together in a London townhouse, his arm around her bare midriff, and was included in Ms Giuffre's lawsuit against him. Epstein killed himself in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving dozens of teenage girls and young women, some as young as 14. A stricken family has been awarded $205million after their six-year-old daughter plunged ten stories to her death on a theme park ride. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Colorado was found liable for the enormous payout by a jury on Friday, after the September 2021 death of Wongel Estifanos. The little girl was visiting Glenwood Caverns with her family and rode the Haunted Mine Drop - but her seatbelt was not buckled or checked by staff. Estifanos was tossed from the ride - which sees passengers sit in a row and suddenly drop at high speed - shortly after it began and died of her injuries. It was later discovered Estifanos was sitting on top of a seatbelt buckled by a previous rider. A warning went off, but a Glenwood Caverns worker ignored it and reset the alarm before starting Estifanos's final ride. Her parents, Dagne and Rahel, successfully sued Glenwood Caverns for the wrongful death of their daughter, with jurors agreeing the little girl had been killed by the park's negligence. Glenwood Caverns says it may have to shut down if it is forced to pay out the full amount ordered by jurors, putting hundreds of jobs at risk. Six-year-old Wongel Estifanos died after not being strapped adequately into a ride at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park The Estifanos family was awarded $205million after winning a lawsuit over the tragic death Spokesman Kimberly Marcum told The Denver Post: 'While the jury allocated significant fault on the other defendant, Soaring Eagle, Inc., the size of the total jury verdict award puts the existence of Glenwood Caverns at serious risk.' Marcum added that the hundreds of jobs the Glenwood Caverns provides to locals would be lost and further explained that the engineer of the ride, Soaring Eagle, was at fault. She said: 'Soaring Eagle manufactured the Haunted Mine Drop with a defective restraint system that caused this heartbreaking accident. Soaring Eagle certified to Glenwood Caverns that the ride met all applicable standards, but that was not true.' After the incident, the park worked with independent architects to prevent further accidents, Marcum told the outlet. Attorney Dan Caplis represented the family and issued a statement on Saturday morning: 'Wongel's parents are deeply grateful to the jury for following the evidence to a just verdict, and for recognizing the dignity and importance of their daughter Wongel.' 'Wongel's parents are grateful to the court for ensuring a fair trial for both sides, and to the entire courthouse staff for the very humane and professional way they operate.' Prosecutors did not pursue criminal charges; the family filed for a wrongful death case instead A state probe found that the operators ignored a safety alarm and started the ride anyway The Haunted Mine Drop has now been revamped as the Crystal Tower, which opened in 2022, featuring an entirely new theme that takes guests on a ride through a crystal-filled cave Prosecutors did not pursue criminal charges against Glenwood Caverns because of fears they'd have struggled to prove manslaughter. The Estifanos filed for a wrongful death case instead, and the case was transferred from Denver to the Garfield County District Court, according to the outlet. The Haunted Mine Drop was closed following the little girl's death. Passengers would sit together on a bench-like seat, where a staff member was supposed to strap them in before the ride began and the lights went dark. A ghost-like creature would send the riders down the shaft in complete darkness as they free-fall from virtually out of nowhere. The ride ended with lanterns glowing on the walls as the ride returns to its original starting point, before an operator helps riders exit the attraction. The Haunted Mine Drop has now been revamped as the Crystal Tower, which opened in 2023, featuring an entirely new theme that takes guests on a ride through a crystal-filled cave. It now features a cage around the area where the guests sit. The park advertises it as a completely new attraction, without mentioning the old ride. A Kentucky man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the horrific rape of his six-month-old daughter. Mykill Puckett, 26, pleaded guilty to raping the infant in Webster County after he was arrested in August 2023, the local attorney general's office announced late last week. The child was initially treated in the emergency room of a hospital in Madisonville but had to be flown to Norton's Children's Hospital in Louisville some 150 miles away. 'Every day, Kentuckys law enforcement and prosecutors stare into the darkness and see some of the worst conduct imaginable,' Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said. Puckett will not be eligible for probation and has a ten-year protective order to keep him away from the child, prosecutors said. 'The abuse in this case was simply horrific,' said prosecutor Zac Greenwell, the Commonwealth's Attorney for the 5th Judicial Circuit. 'Law enforcement and prosecutors responded with the full weight of Kentucky's justice system.' Puckett will be subject to five years of supervised release after getting out of prison, and he will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Mykill Puckett, 26, pleaded guilty to a series of charges related to raping his infant daughter Puckett's partner, Holly Jo Jones, was also arrested in August 2023 The child was initially treated in the emergency room of a hospital in Madisonville but had to be flown to Norton's Children's Hospital in Louisville (pictured) some 150 miles away Puckett was arrested alongside his wife, Holly Jo Jones, on August 10, 2023. The investigation into the couple began on August 7, when Kentucky State Police received a complaint from staff at Baptist Health Madisonville about a six-month-old who had injuries consistent with abuse and assault. Police arrested the couple three days later on felony charges of first-degree assault and first-degree criminal abuse of a child under 12. Two months later, Puckett was hit with three more felony charges of first-degree rape of a child under 12 years of age, incest with a child under 12 years of age, and first-degree wanton endangerment. He pleaded guilty to all of the charges earlier this month. A grand jury in April 2024 declined to indict Jones. Child abuse rates in Kentucky are the fourth highest among US states, according to data from a 'Child Maltreatment' report by the US Department of Health & Human Services Childrens Bureau. The report examined statistics from the state in 2023 and found the rate of child maltreatment victims in Kentucky was 14.2 per 1,000 children. That means 14 out of every 1,000 children in Kentucky experienced some form of abuse or neglect during 2023. The child maltreatment victim rate in the state is almost twice the national average, which is 7.4 per 1,000. Babies under the age of one accounted for the highest rate of victims in Kentucky. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pardoned high-profile Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah after six years in prison and repeated hunger strikes that prompted international pleas for his release. Abd el-Fattah, 43, became Egypt's most prominent political prisoner after spending much of his adult life in and out of detention due to his activism, and a rare symbol of opposition to a far-reaching crackdown under Sisi. Despite many local and international campaigns calling for his release, most notably during the COP27 climate summit that Egypt hosted in 2022, that possibility only became tangible when Sisi ordered the relevant authorities in September to study his possible pardon. Abd el-Fattah's name had been removed from Egypt's 'terrorism' list months earlier. Abd el-Fattah, who obtained British citizenship through his mother in 2021, comes from a family of well-known activists and intellectuals who have launched multiple campaigns to plead for his release. His mother, Laila Soueif, met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier this year to lobby for her son. Earlier this year, el-Fattah said he was considering giving up his British citizenship. He said: 'I've said from the start that if they can't or don't want to or don't care to argue about a consular visit then one can't look to them for a release, because it means they basically don't recognise me as citizen and they endorse the local authority not recognising me as a human being. 'So probably the next step is to give up both nationalities and live without either (optimistic, of course, since this assumes life in some future stage).' Egypt 's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pardoned high-profile Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah (pictured) after a lengthy imprisonment and repeated hunger strikes The former blogger and former developer had been detained both before the Arab Spring uprising that toppled Egypt's veteran autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and during the upheaval that followed. But it was his criticism of crackdowns on dissidents after then-army chief Sisi took power that landed him his lengthiest prison stints by far. In 2014, Abd el-Fattah was sentenced for protesting without permission to 15 years in prison, later reduced to five years. He was released in 2019, but remained on parole and was arrested again later that year, accused of spreading fake news after sharing a social media post about a prisoner's death. He was later sentenced to another five-year term. His mother Soueif's campaign was prompted by her son's continued detention in September last year, when she was expecting his release due to time spent in pre-trial detention. Prosecutors argued he should remain in custody until January 2027. Soueif staged a lengthy hunger strike in Britain, ending it only after pleas from her family as her health significantly deteriorated. Starmer promised he would do everything he could to secure his release. Abd el-Fattah has also staged multiple hunger strikes in detention to protest against his imprisonment and in solidarity with his mother, most recently in early September. Poland's prime minister says his nation will not hesitate to shoot down objects that violate its airspace and pose a threat. Estonia said three Russian fighter jets violated its airspace on Friday, adding to a sense among NATO leaders that Moscow is testing the alliance's readiness and resolve, with some urging a firm response. The United Nations Security Council is due to meet on Monday to discuss the incident. Russia said on Monday the claim its jets violated Estonian airspace was false and designed to stir up tension. The alleged incursion over Estonia came after more than 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace on the night of September 9-10. Poland also said on Friday two Russian fighter jets violated the safety zone of the Petrobaltic drilling platform in the Baltic Sea. 'We will take the decision to shoot down flying objects when they violate our territory and fly over Poland - there is absolutely no discussion about that,' Donald Tusk told a news conference, adding that Poland will take a more cautious approach to situations that are less clear-cut. 'When we're dealing with situations that aren't entirely clear, such as the recent flight of Russian fighter jets over the Petrobaltic platform - but without any violation, because these aren't our territorial waters - you really need to think twice before deciding on actions that could trigger a very acute phase of conflict,' he added. Tusk said that he would also need to be certain that Poland would not be alone if a conflict started to escalate. 'I also need to be absolutely certain... that all allies will treat this in exactly the same way as we do,' he said. A Russian MIG-31 fighter is seen flying above the Baltic Sea after violating Estonian airspace Estonia said three Russian fighter jets violated its airspace on Friday, adding to a sense among NATO leaders that Moscow is testing the alliance's readiness and resolve It comes after Czech president Petr Pavel warned that NATO must be ready to respond firmly to Russian airspace violations, even if that means shooting down their planes. Mr Pavel said the organisation should act decisively to stop any breach of allied skies and make clear there are consequences for crossing the line. He said: 'Russia will realise very quickly that they have made a mistake and crossed the acceptable boundaries. Unfortunately, this is teetering on the edge of conflict, but giving in to evil is simply not an option.' It comes as the UN's Security Council will meet on Monday for emergency talks after Vladimir Putin's fighter jets flew into NATO-member Estonia's airspace, raising fears of World War Three. Estonia announced on Sunday that the emergency session had been called 'in response to Russia's brazen violation of Estonian airspace.' Officials in Tallinn said it is the first time in 34 years of UN membership that the country, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, has formally requested such a meeting. Set to begin at 15:00 BST, it will discuss what Estonia calls the 'blatant, reckless, and flagrant violation of NATO airspace'. The incursion took place on Friday when three Russian MiG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland. NATO confirmed that Italian F-35 jets on air defence duty in the Baltics were scrambled, supported by Swedish and Finnish aircraft, to intercept the Russians and warn them off. Moscow denied the allegation. The incident sparked immediate concern in NATO capitals and Brussels, with both the alliance and the European Union calling it a reckless act of provocation. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal condemned the move and said: 'Such a violation is completely unacceptable. NATO's response to any provocation must be united and strong. 'We consider it essential to consult with our allies to ensure shared situational awareness and to agree on our next joint steps.' Ukraine has also requested to attend the meeting on Monday. The country's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X: 'For the first time in 34 years, Estonia has requested an emergency UNSC meeting. 'This shows the unprecedented scale of threats posed by aggressive Russia to the stability of Europe. Western powers have repeatedly warned that Moscow is playing with fire by pushing into NATO skies, since the alliance's mutual defence pact obliges all members to act if one is attacked. The violation came just weeks after fellow NATO member Poland said Russian drones had crossed into its airspace during missile strikes on Ukraine. Warsaw branded that episode an 'act of aggression' with experts warning that it could have triggered a direct clash between NATO and Russia. The drones struck an elderly couple's home and demolished its roof. If the couple had died, it could have potentially spiralled into World War Three. Just weeks before the Estonia violation, Russia flew drones into Poland. One struck an elderly couple's home Putin has been condemned by Western leaders for provoking NATO countries US President Donald Trump added his voice to the outcry on Sunday. Asked whether America would back Poland and the Baltic states if the crisis worsens, he replied: 'Yeah, I would. I would.' Turkey's 2015 shootdown of Russian jet The last time a NATO member shot down a Russian jet was in November 2015. Turkey downed a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 near the SyriaTurkey border after the warplane briefly entered Turkish airspace and ignored repeated radio warnings. The Turkish military said two F-16 fighters fired on the Su-24 and the plane crashed inside Syria. Turkey released a flight-path graphic and said the jet had been warned several times before it was engaged. Both crewmen ejected. The navigator, Konstantin Murahtin, was rescued. The pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov, was hit and killed by ground fire as he descended in his parachute. A Russian marine who later took part in the rescue was also killed. The shootdown triggered a major diplomatic crisis. Moscow condemned the action, recalled its ambassador, and imposed sanctions and travel restrictions on Turkey. In further escalations, Russia deployed missiles off the Syrian coast and other strategic locations, while Turkey responded by sending the KORAL land-based electronic support system along its border with Syria. Relations only began to thaw many months later when leaders from both countries moved toward rapprochement. Advertisement He confirmed he had been briefed on the Estonian incursion and added bluntly: 'We don't like it.' His words were far tougher than his reaction earlier this month to the Polish drone incident, when he had played down the risk by suggesting it 'could have been a mistake.' Trump's stance on Vladimir Putin has long been scrutinised, with critics accusing him of being too close to the Russian leader. But as the war in Ukraine drags into its fourth year, his tone has hardened. Speaking in Britain last Thursday at the close of his state visit, Trump admitted Putin had 'really let me down' by refusing to end the bloodshed despite American pushes for peace. Estonia's foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, said Russia's actions are part of a deliberate pattern. He said: 'This violation is part of a broader pattern of escalation by Russia, both regionally and globally. This behaviour requires an international response.' Tsahkna said that Russia had already entered Estonian airspace four times this year alone. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Swedish and German forces said Swedish JAS 39 Gripens and German Eurofighters were deployed over the South Baltic Sea to observe a Russian IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying in international airspace without a flight plan. German authorities also said the aircraft refused to make contact. After the violation, a former RAF commander asked NATO to be specific about the 'red line' when it comes to airspace incursions. Air Marshal Greg Bagwell wrote on social media: 'NATO has to be united now, with a clear and unequivocal statement about what will not be tolerated. 'Right now we don't know where our red lines are, why should we expect Russia to? And if that red line is crossed then the response must be decisive and ruthless.' The UK's defence secretary also issued a chilling warning to Russia. He said: 'Our Typhoons are fully equipped to take out Russian drones that enter Nato airspace. And we will not hesitate to act...' Officials in Arkansas have launched an investigation into a whites-only enclave in the Ozark Mountains, amid mounting fears that a dozen homeschooled children there are being indoctrinated with neo-Nazi ideology instead of learning basic skills. The so-called Return to the Land (RTTL) development is tucked away on a 160-acre compound near Ravenden, Arkansas. Its leaders are Eric Orwoll, a far-right YouTuber and former porn performer, and Peter Csere, an extremist activist once accused of stabbing and nearly killing a man in Ecuador. The group bars people of color, Muslims, Jews and others from its land. Campaigners and education activists say children in this isolated compound are in grave danger of being brainwashed and need to be rescued. Tess Ulrey, executive director of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE) nonprofit, said Arkansas law leaves the RTTL youngsters highly vulnerable. 'In a radically insular group like RTTL, the educational environment may uphold white supremacy ideology, promote speculative and fictionalized sciences, encourage harmful and unhealthy practices, and easily deny children access to the tools to form their own beliefs, or hear from a different viewpoint,' Ulrey told the Daily Mail. 'We believe that kind of homeschooling is a violation of children's rights, and harms their ability to thrive in a diverse and connected world.' Though RTTL has not disclosed what its children are studying, outsiders have been rattled by evidence of extremist influence. During a recent media visit, Hitler's notorious manifesto Mein Kampf was spotted on Orwoll's office bookshelf. The compound's radical nature has fueled fears the children are being spoon-fed supremacist dogma. Roughly a dozen children are being homeschooled at the RTTL compound, but little is known about what they learn In the past, investigators across the US have exposed illicit homeschooling materials that glorify Hitler's Third Reich, demean Martin Luther King Jr., and openly claim black people are less smart than whites. They even uncovered lesson plans for baking a 'Fuhrer cake' on Hitler's birthday from an Ohio-based group in 2023. Orwoll has previously defended RTTL as a legitimate social experiment. 'It's important to our members to raise their children around whites people they feel comfortable around,' he told the Daily Mail earlier this year. He insists the enclave, also branded 'Community1' and 'The Settlement,' is legal, and does not flout America's civil rights laws because it is a private, members-only club, and so can limit who may join. The self-described 'white identitarian' sees RTTL as the beginning of a much larger movement. He bills the compound as the first of many nationwide that doesn't flout fair housing laws while rejecting all applicants of color, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and those who identify as LGBTQ. Critics say the case highlights just how permissive Arkansas's homeschooling laws are. Parents must simply notify their local school district of their intent to homeschool. They are not required to have a diploma, teaching experience, or submit curricula for review, says Ulrey. 'There is no legislation in place to continue oversight of education, safety of the homeschooled children or opportunity access,' she says. That legal blind spot, she adds, denies children in the enclave the chance to receive a balanced education. State lawmakers should back a draft law that supports the 'rights of children to access an open future', she said. Others say the problem goes beyond Arkansas. At least 38 other US states have similarly weak oversight of homeschooling. Kieryn Darkwater, a political campaigner who writes about growing up in 'cult and cult-like environments' during the 1990s, told the Daily Mail that RTTL represents a grim repeat of that pattern. Orwoll, the president of Return to the Land, sparked with his whites-only community near Ravenden, Arkansas Orwoll has posted the community's progress on his social media platforms - including YouTube. It bars people of color, Muslims, Jews and anyone else organizers deemed to be LGBTQ-leaning or a militant atheist Orwoll has made headlines lately for 'Community1' aplot of land that Return to the Land owns near the Ozark Mountains where applicants must prove their white European heritage in order to live there Ravenden (population 423), the closest town to Orwoll's land, is near the Missouri border, 140 miles north of Arkansas's state capital, Little Rock 'The families indoctrinating their children with white supremacist ideology, such as those who live in racist communes like RTTL, are not providing education and have chosen to actively harm their kids' chances of success in adulthood,' said Darkwater. Investigations elsewhere suggest what RTTL's homeschooling may look like. In 2023, researchers uncovered the 'Dissident Homeschool', an Ohio-based network that distributed racist, antisemitic and homophobic materials to far-right families nationwide. The logo for Orwoll's organization Return to the Land which is overseeing the development of the community. The group sells memberships rather than land in hopes of skirting the federal Fair Housing Act which prohibits housing discrimination Through the encrypted app Telegram, parents received Nazi-infused lesson plans: handwriting exercises quoting Adolf Hitler, distorted accounts smearing Martin Luther King Jr., and even family activities like baking a 'Fuhrer cake' on Hitler's birthday, decorated with swastikas, a Vice investigation showed. Critics fear RTTL could be doing the same cloaking indoctrination in the language of 'parental freedom'. The pasts of RTTL's leaders add to the unease. Orwoll once made money performing in livestreamed sex videos with his then-wife Caitlyn, who now lives at RTTL with their four children. He now denounces pornography, presenting himself as a Christian traditionalist. Csere, meanwhile, was arrested in Ecuador over the stabbing of a miner an incident he claims was self-defense and which remains under investigation. He has also been accused of stealing tens of thousands from a vegan eco-village, allegations he denies. Both men have openly promoted white supremacist views. Orwoll appeared as a guest at a gathering led by extremist firebrand Nick Fuentes, while Csere has downplayed the Holocaust online. In July 2025, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin launched an investigation into RTTL, citing possible violations of civil rights and fair housing laws. Griffin's spokesman told the Daily Mail that the probe is 'continuing'. Neither Orwoll, Csere, nor the Arkansas Department of Education responded to our requests for comment. RTTL is home to about 40 men, women and children, living in cabins connected by gravel roads. The co-founder of Return to the Land, Peter Csere, 36, has been living on the property for two years in a cabin he built there for his family Orwoll says he relishes the chance to defend his community in court and that he has already cleared its legality with his lawyers The 'Dissident Homeschool' network outed in 2023 taught handwriting through Adolf Hitler quotes Most of the homes on the compound were built by the residents. Some already have solar panels, generators and water systems The rise of communities like Orwoll's comes amid President Donald Trump's anti-DEI policies and the revisionist ideology of the MAGA movement Applicants undergo an interview, background check, and must prove white European heritage by filling out a questionnaire and sharing family photographs. The settlement is remote half an hour to the nearest grocery store, and miles from Arkansas's state capital. Orwoll recently acknowledged in another interview that about a dozen children are being homeschooled on the site. He said it was up to 'parents to educate their kids how they want.' But with Mein Kampf on the shelf and an openly racist ethos at the community's core, campaigners say that freedom is being abused at the expense of vulnerable children. For Ulrey, the case underlines the urgent need for reform. 'We believe that kind of homeschooling is a violation of children's rights, and harms their ability to thrive in a diverse and connected world,' she said. She says Arkansas lawmakers must act before more children are harmed. For now, the children of RTTL remain out of reach growing up behind closed gates in a whites-only enclave, homeschooled by parents who openly embrace racist ideology. And as campaigners warn, unless the law changes, the next generation raised in the Arkansas woods may emerge not educated, but radicalized. A woman has been publicly whipped with a cane in Indonesia's Aceh province today after being found guilty of adultery under strict Sharia law. She was one of nine people brought before the Banda Aceh Syar'iyah Court, where judges handed down punishments ranging from 10 to 100 lashes for various offences. Photographs released today show the woman kneeling as a masked executioner, a member of the Sharia police known as an Algojo, strikes her repeatedly with a rattan cane. Armed officers stood guard while a crowd gathered to watch. Other images captured two men grimacing as they were flogged for their own convictions. Aceh is the only province in Indonesia that enforces Sharia law, a system granted under a special autonomy agreement following a peace deal in 2005 after decades of conflict. The province adopted the Islamic Criminal Code Bylaw in 2014 and began full enforcement in 2015. Under these rules, acts such as adultery, premarital sex, same-sex relations, gambling and drinking alcohol are criminalised and can result in public caning. Last month, two men accused of same-sex relations were caned in public after being caught together in a toilet and reported to police. Onlookers observe as a woman is flogged in Aceh province, Indonesia for adultery on September 22 She was one of nine people brought before the Banda Aceh Syar'iyah Court, where judges handed down punishments ranging from 10 to 100 lashes They were initially sentenced to 80 lashes, later reduced by four to reflect time spent in custody. In February, two men aged 18 and 24 were caned for having sex. One collapsed and had to be carried away after receiving his final lash. The public nature of these punishments is intended to shame as well as inflict pain. Canings are often staged outside mosques or in community squares, with crowds watching and photographing the event. Human rights groups say the humiliation adds to the cruelty and causes lasting psychological damage. Since the Qanun Jinayat came into force, hundreds of people have been flogged in Aceh each year. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly condemned the practice, saying it breaches Indonesia's constitution and violates the country's obligations under international law. Amnesty said in a statement: 'Caning contravenes Indonesia's Constitution and is in clear violation of international human rights law and standards. A man seen in agony as the Algojo whips him with a cane 'It constitutes a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and can amount to torture in violation of the UN Convention against Torture and other international covenants, to which Indonesia is a State Party.' Local officials have defended the practice as a deterrent and as part of the province's identity, while critics warn it has negatively impacted Indonesia's human rights reputation and inflicted lasting trauma on those who endure it. Last week's cyber attack on Heathrow that caused travel chaos across Europe could have been carried out by a hostile state, an expert has warned. Britain's busiest airport, along with others in Brussels and Berlin were crippled on Saturday after hackers targeted Collins Aerospace, a tech firm that provides services for several airlines at multiple airports across the world. The attack shut down their check-in and boarding systems, forcing staff to manually process passengers which caused hundreds of flight delays and cancellations. On Monday morning, Heathrow said work was continuing to 'resolve and recover' from the 'outage' in the system. Terror law watchdog Jonathan Hall KC said it was possible state-sponsored hackers could be behind the attack on Collins Aerospace. Mr Hall, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said attributing the attack would not be easy. Asked if a state like Russia could have been responsible for the attack, he told Times Radio 'anything is possible'. He said: 'Yes, it's possible that this is carried out directly by a state, but it's equally possible to be carried out by a private entity that is, sort of, allowed to operate and does it for a combination of public and private reasons.' Last week's cyber attack on Heathrow that caused travel chaos across Europe could have been carried out by a hostile state, an expert has warned (Pictured: Travel chaos at Heathrow on Saturday) That meant attacks were 'deniable' for states, even if hackers were based there. He said: 'There are some very capable private entities, let's say, in Russia or China, who won't necessarily be being directed by Russia or China. 'So it's not as if a member of the GRU (the Russian military intelligence agency) is necessarily going into a company and saying that 'you've got the capability of knocking out some UK infrastructure, please go and do it now'. 'It's also possible, in this ecosystem that exists in some of these countries, that a company, an entity, carries out a hack and simply does it for patriotic reasons, or does it because they want to curry favour, or maybe there's some sort of informal relationship with them. 'So although we think, understandably, about states deciding to do things it is also possible for very, very powerful and sophisticated private entities to do things as well.' In a statement on Monday morning, Heathrow said: 'Work continues to resolve and recover from an outage of a Collins Aerospace airline system that impacted check-in. 'We apologise to those who have faced delays, but by working together with airlines, the vast majority of flights have continued to operate.' Passengers should check their flight status before travelling to the airport and arrive no earlier than three hours before long-haul flights and two hours for short-haul. Brussels Airport said it was expecting disruption to continue today with delays and cancellations. The European Union's cybersecurity agency Enisa confirmed on Monday that the disruption was caused by a 'third party' cyber attack, but gave no further details. It was reported that law enforcement bodies are investigating. Passengers queue in line at Brussels airport on Sunday where dozens of flights were canceled following a cyberattack affecting multiple airports in Europe Shares in London-listed airline companies were lower on Monday morning as a result. British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), which has primary bases at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, saw shares slide by 1.3 per cent in early trading. Elsewhere, budget rivals EasyJet and Wizz Air saw their shares drop by 1.3 per cent and 1.5 per cent respectively. This latest cyber attack comes after others in the summer on UK retailers including M&S, Co-Op and Harrods. M&S halted orders on its website and saw empty shelves after being targeted by hackers over the Easter weekend. The retailer - which has 64,000 staff and 565 stores - said online sales and profits in its fashion, home and beauty business were 'heavily impacted'. In May, Harrods found itself fighting off a cyber attack after they 'experienced attempts to gain unauthorised access to some of our systems'. Customers who were in the luxury west London department store at the time claimed they were unable to make purchases at the time. Meanwhile, Co-Op stores across the country were left with empty shelves following a devastating cyber attack which stole personal data from 20million customers. The supermarket said sustained malicious attempts by hackers to access their systems had prompted it to shut down its delivery systems. Other similar attacks were then made on luxury jewellery firm Cartier, The North Face, Dior, Adidas and Victoria's Secret. A fifteen-year-old boy was shot dead by police outside a McDonald's in the Netherlands on Sunday after allegedly stealing a 'fatbike' at gunpoint. The suspect, named only as Jerryson, attempted to flee the scene with a firearm after being told to stop several times, a Rotterdam-Rijnmond police spokesperson said. The incident occurred in front of 'many young customers' near the exit of the branch in Capelle aan den IJssel, near Rotterdam, Dutch outlet De Telegraaf reported. Police claimed Jerryson had held up the owner of the off-road bicycle at around 4.30pm before fleeing to the McDonald's and 'brandishing his weapon again'. Witnesses told De Telegraaf the teenager jumped a fence pursued by police, before three shots were fired. Video circulating online purports to show a police officer firing at least three shots on the patio outside of a McDonald's. Emergency personnel tried to revive the suspect, but were unsuccessful in their efforts. A trauma helicopter was dispatched to the scene after the shooting. 'A firearm was found at the scene. Whether it was a genuine firearm remains to be determined through further investigation,' the police said. 'We saw blood everywhere,' two young witnesses said, as reported by Le Parisien. 'The police tried to apply pressure to the wounds, but he didn't survive.' Police subsequently arrested a 15-year-old boy from Rotterdam and a 15-year-old from Gouda in connection to the robbery. Footage circulating online purported to show the moment of the shooting on Sunday Medics tried to save the boy, who died at the scene. Two others were later arrested Joost Manusama, mayor of the village, said the shooting was 'terrible and sad' and 'a great loss for the deceased boy's relatives'. The teenager's foster mother, 59, is known locally as 'Mother Teresa' for her work helping the disadvantaged in her neighbourhood, Dutch media reports. Sources told De Telegraaf that Jerryson had been placed with a woman from Curacao in the Korte Akkeren neighborhood of Gouda. The National Criminal Investigation Department took over the investigation from local police. Investigations are underway at the scene of the robbery and the restaurant. Manusama urged patience until the investigation is finished. The McDonald's will remain closed until the probe is complete. 'This is a great loss for the relatives of the deceased boy. I also realise that this incident has had a deep impact on all the bystanders who witnessed it. This can be particularly shocking and frightening for children,' the mayor added. Only one person was killed in a standoff with police in the Netherlands last year, according to NOS, citing police figures. Police drew their weapons 1,700 times and fired targeted shots just 13 times. A black writer for the hit TV series The Bear says he was detained by police because an elderly white 'Karen' didn't like the way he was sitting on a train. Alex O'Keefe posted a video of himself being pulled off an MTA train bound for Connecticut and placed in handcuffs on Thursday at a station in the Bronx, NYC. The award-winning screenwriter shared a clip on Instagram showing him being approached by MTA police after the woman 'complained' to the conductor about his posture. O'Keefe was accused of 'occupying two seats' with his feet, an MTA spokesperson told the Daily Mail. Footage showed the writer was 'observed with both legs stretched across an adjacent seat,' they added. Video shows the unidentified woman, wearing a blue face mask and bright yellow glasses on her head, watching as officers slapped handcuffs on O'Keefe's wrists. The 31-year-old, who also worked as a speechwriter for Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, continuously called the woman out in the video, pointing at her as cops escorted him off the train. 'This white woman didn't like the way I was sitting on the train, so you call the police, you call the police to arrest the one black dude on the train,' O'Keefe said as he looked directly at the woman while officers pulled him out of his seat. 'I haven't done anything illegal,' he repeatedly said as a female officer is heard telling him, 'Let's go.' Alex O'Keefe, a writer for the hit series The Bear, said he was detained by MTA Police on Thursday after he 'refused' to fix his sitting position that an elderly white 'Karen' complained about. (Pictured: O'Keefe surrounded by four officers after being pulled of the train) The unidentified woman, dressed in a brown coat, multicolored scarf, blue facemask and bright yellow glasses on her head, watched on as O'Keefe was dragged off the train But when police got on board, O'Keefe 'refused' to exit, the MTA spokesperson said. 'The train was en route from Grand Central Terminal to New Haven, when a conductor reported a passenger occupying two seats had refused to remove his feet from one of the seats,' they added, noting that bodycam and on-board footage showed O'Keefe 'with both legs stretched across an adjacent seat.' When officers got to the scene, the writer 'refused police direction to exit,' the spokesperson continued. In his Instagram video, O'Keefe asked what he was being detained for, as a male officer told him: 'You're being disorderly,' to which he replied: 'I was sitting on a train!' O'Keefe also claimed that before police arrived, 'the old Karen's friend said, "You're not the minority anymore".' 'They pulled me off the train and arrested me without even talking to the Karen who reported the one black person on the train,' he wrote in the caption. 'On the platform, the police detained me and interrogated me.' An image, also posted by O'Keefe, showed him facing a cement wall while four officers surrounded him. His hands were seen behind his back, and according to the writer, 'Only black folks stayed nearby and recorded the arrest.' 'When I demanded a lawyer and reminded them they didnt even take a statement from the woman who complained they eventually released me,' he wrote. 'This country is growing more psycho by the day. What will you do about it?' O'Keefe was issued a summons for disorderly conduct, a violation, the MTA said. In the clip, O'Keefe was heard repeatedly asking officers why he was being deatined, as one told him: 'You're being disorderly' O'Keefe also said in the caption of his post that before police arrived 'the old Karen's friend said 'You're not the minority anymore.' (Pictured: An elderly white man watching the dramatic scene) The Daily Mail has contacted O'Keefe for comment. The now-viral video has enraged many online, as users quickly took to O'Keefe's post and defended him. 'Sue the train company and police for violating your rights,' one wrote. Another said: 'I'm sorry this happened to you ! This is beyond humiliating and awful. I hope you find justice and make noise!!' Several people also tagged the New York City MTA and MTA Metro North Instagram pages, directly asking them what they were going to do about the alleged incident. '@mta how will you ensure Black riders are safe from racism on your trains????,' a user commented. Along with writing for the hit FX series, O'Keefe (pictured in March 2023) also worked as a speechwriter for Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Ed Markey O'Keefe is a member of the Writers Guild of America who took part in the 2023 strike to stand up for conditions he and others and his profession were facing. At the time, he told the BBC that he often worked on the FX show, starring Jeremy Allen White, from his 'tiny' Brooklyn apartment. He would even go to the public library when the electricity went out at his home. 'We are finding ourselves unable to survive in places like New York City and Los Angeles, where [when] we need to be in writers' rooms,' he told the outlet. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez epically trolled President Donald Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, over revelations that he was the subject of a bribery probe. 'Who's the illegal now @RealTomHoman?' she smarted on X Saturday afternoon. Homan has been the face of Trump's mass deportation policy during the president's second term - something the New York progressive has been robustly against. AOC shared an MSNBC piece that said Homan was the target of an FBI undercover operation last year, after the subject of a separate investigation accused Homan of soliciting payments in exchange for promises of contracts should Trump win reelection. In an undercover sting, the FBI recorded Homan accepting $50,000 in cash after indicating that he could help the agents win government contracts should a Trump 2.0 administration come to fruition. The FBI agents pretended to be business executives, and on September 20, 2024 hidden cameras recorded Homan accepting the money in cash at a designated meeting spot in Texas. While Homan was appearing alongside Trump on the campaign trail, he wasn't a public official at the time. Sources told MSNBC that DOJ and FBI officials decided to wait to see if Homan delivered on the promises he made to the undercover agents once he joined the government again. MSNBC reported that border czar Tom Homan (left) had been the target of an FBI undercover bribery investigation last year, to which Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responded: 'Who's the illegal now?' The U.S. Attorney's office in the Western District of Texas worked with the FBI and the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, according to an internal Justice Department summary reviewed by MSNBC. The probe looked into the 'Border Czar and former Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan and others based on evidence of payment from FBI undercover agents in exchange for facilitating future contracts related to border enforcement,' the document read. The president named Homan 'border czar' on November 11, 2024, just six days after he won the election. Homan is technically a White House official, meaning the job did not require Senate confirmation or an FBI background check. The case stalled after Trump was sworn in and MAGA-aligned officials filled the top of the FBI and Justice Department. It's unclear what official justification was given for shutting down the probe, but a Trump Justice Department appointee called it a 'deep state' investigation in early 2025, sources told MSNBC. Other Trump officials suggested they believed the case to be politically motivated. 'This matter originated under the previous administration and was subjected to a full review by FBI agents and Justice Department prosecutors. They found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing. The Department's resources must remain focused on real threats to the American people, not baseless investigations. As a result, the investigation has been closed,' FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told MSNBC in a statement. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez trolled President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan this weekend, pointing her followers to an MSNBC story that said Homan had been under criminal investigation for accepting money for future government contracts White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson told the left-leaning network that the probe was a 'blatantly political investigation.' She said it 'found no evidence of illegal activity' and said it was another example of how 'the Biden Department of Justice was using its resources to target President Trump's allies rather than investigate real criminals and the millions of illegal aliens who flooded our country.' 'Tom Homan has not been involved with any contract award decisions. He is a career law enforcement officer and lifelong public servant who is doing a phenomenal job on behalf of President Trump and the country,' she added on behalf of Homan. Neither the White House nor Ocasio-Cortez's office responded to the Daily Mail's request for additional comment. A woman has been ambushed and mauled to death by a brown bear as she picked berries, with rescuers only finding her boots and chewed-up bucket at the scene. Lyudmila Komarova managed to escape and raised the alarm on Russia's largest island, Sakhalin. When rescuers reached the scene they found only Lyudmila's boots, her bucket for berries and the tragic woman's backpack. Among the search party was the 63-year-old woman's son. The friend Natalya Borisovna said she was the first to see the bear, and had shouted at the beast: 'Go away.' The bear - a female with a cub nearby - then savagely attacked Komarova. 'Then there was just silence,' said Natalya. 'Slowly, I made my way to Laguri village.' When rescuers reached the scene they found only victim Lyudmila Komarova's (pictured) belongings Her chewed up boots were found on the ground A major search had to be aborted overnight because the mother and cub remained close to the 'prey'. 'The animals were only 35 metres [115ft] away, making it too dangerous to proceed,' reported news outlet Tvokha news outlet. The search resumed on Monday. The rescuers fired shots to scare the animals but the mother bear kept returning to the pensioner's mauled body. They were forced to destroy the mother bear because it threatened to attack the rescuers - and the cub was wounded in the firefight. The woman's son was among the rescuers who retrieved the mauled corpse. It comes just weeks after a Russian tourist was left fighting for her life after she was dragged from her tent and mauled by a wild bear. Natalya K, 43, was sleeping while on an adventure tour in Kamchatka in eastern Russia when the beast climbed into her tent and attacked her. The bear - a female with a cub nearby - savagely attacked Komarova (File image) The bucket she used to pick berries was also found nearby The tourist suffered 'deep wounds' after the bear tore her scalp and sank its teeth into her back. Her screams alerted other campers who eventually scared the brown bear away. A medic treated the woman at the scene of the attack before she was rushed to hospital for immediate surgery. Natalya, from the Russian city Saratov, was also injected with vaccines against rabies and tetanus. An actor died of a sudden heart attack during his birthday trip to Las Vegas after restaurant staff allegedly failed to perform CPR and even stopped a woman from trying to save him. Michael Heslin, 30, collapsed at Javier's restaurant at the ARIA Hotel on the Strip in June while celebrating with husband Scotty Dynamo, real name Nicolas Wilson, and friends. Heslin, who appeared in the series Lioness, which also features Zoe Saldana, and TV movie The Holiday Proposal Plan, had been planning to start a family before he passed away. Now, his husband has filed a wrongful death lawsuit accusing the restaurant of allowing an 'avoidable tragedy' through multiple 'failures' to provide lifesaving aid. The claim, brought on September 18, says staff did nothing as Heslin 'exhibited obvious signs of a medical emergency' and instead 'forcefully interfered' with a diner who attempted CPR. But the employees did not take any action despite Heslin 'exhibiting obvious signs of a medical emergency,' according to the lawsuit. Though the restaurant had an AED on hand, it was allegedly never retrieved, and Heslins friends say they were 'forcefully removed' from the building as the horror unfolded. The lawsuit alleges five counts of wrongful death; loss of consortium; negligence; negligent hiring, retention, training and supervision; and gross negligence, per the Las Vegas Review Journal. Movie star Michael Heslin died on a birthday trip to Las Vegas when he suffered a sudden heart attack as restaurant staff allegedly failed to perform CPR Heslin passed away on July 2 last year as he celebrated his 30th birthday at Javier's restaurant at the ARIA Hotel on the Vegas Strip (pictured) It is alleged that after the restaurant staff prevented the other patron from helping Heslin, his friends were 'threatened with arrest' for trying to step in to provide lifesaving efforts. When Heslin's friends tried to record the incident, employees 'demanded' their videos be deleted, according to the lawsuit. The filing is seeking damages in excess of $30,000, funeral expenses, and punitive damages because Heslin's death was 'a direct and proximate result of defendants' acts and omissions', it is claimed. Heslin's husband said in an Instagram post following the actor's death that his passing came as a complete shock, saying that he was 'young, in perfect health, and the doctors have no explanation for what happened.' 'Michael was brilliant, selfless, talented, and a real-life guardian angel,' Dynamo wrote. 'He was the first person everyone would call to share good news with, and he was the perfect person to call if they needed a shoulder to lean on or the best advice. 'He truly was the sweetest, most caring, and loving man on earth, and he brought out the absolute best in everyone who had the pleasure to cross paths with him.' Heslin's husband Scotty Dynamo (pictured together) said the couple were planning on starting a family together The actor had appeared in the Zoe Saldana-starring series Lioness and made-for-TV movie The Holiday Proposal Plan (pictured) The young actor was described as 'brilliant, selfless, talented, and a real-life guardian angel' Dynamo said that Heslin 'single-handedly carried me through multiple rounds of cancer' and said that meeting him 'was the best thing to ever happen to me.' He said that just one week before Heslin's death, they were 'in the early stages of starting a family and would regularly share our favorite baby names for our future kids.' 'You always told me that you felt like you were meant to be a dad, and I couldn't agree more. You would be the world's most perfect father. If I ever become a dad, I am going to name my son after you and hope that I manage to raise him to become at least half the man you are.' He added that Heslin was an organ donor, and had 'given the gift of life to four different families' following his passing. The Daily Mail has contacted MGM Resorts International, which operates Aria, for comment. This is the horrifying moment Hamas militants executed three Palestinians accused of being 'Israeli collaborators' in the streets of Gaza as a crowd shouts 'Allahu Akbar'. Footage posted on Hamas-linked Telegram accounts showed multiple armed and masked gunmen standing over three blindfolded Palestinians, kneeling on the floor with their arms tied behind their backs. A crowd can be heard chanting 'Allahu Akbar' as hundreds gathered to witness and film the public execution in a town square. Speaking to the spectators, one of the gunmen described the blindfolded men as 'collaborators who betrayed their homeland and extended a hand to the occupation to kill their people'. The three Palestinians were shot in the head and upper body with automatic rifles. There are reports that handwritten notes in Arabic were placed on the deceased bodies by Hamas. According to reports, one of these sheets read: 'Your betrayal will not pass without punishment. A harsh punishment awaits.' Israeli outlet Ynet reported on another sheet left on one of the bodies, which bore the printed message: 'Sword mercenaries - it is time to cut off your heads.' Footage posted on Hamas-linked Telegram account showed multiple armed and masked gunmen standing over three blindfolded Palestinians A crowd can be heard chanting 'Allahu Akbar' as hundreds gathered to witness and film the public execution in a town square Speaking to the spectators, one of the gunmen describes the blindfolded men as 'collaborators who betrayed their homeland and extended a hand to the occupation to kill their people' Two other terrorist groups, Islamic Jihad and the Mujahideen Brigades, participated in the execution, according to Hamas. It comes after the UK, Australia and Canada announced their recognition of a Palestinian state on Sunday. In a video statement on X, Sir Keir Starmer said: 'In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution.' In July, Sir Keir promised that he would recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel took 'substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution'. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the UK's move as 'an absurd prize for terrorism'. 'I have a clear message to leaders who are recognising a Palestinian state after the horrendous October 7 massacre - you are rewarding terror with an enormous prize. 'And I have another message for you - it's not going to happen. There will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan river.' He added that Israel will give its response to 'the latest attempt to force upon us a terror state in the heart of our land' when he returns from the UN's annual General Assembly in New York. On Sunday, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reported that 71 people were killed and 304 injured in Israeli attacks in the past 24 hours Israel was accused of committing genocide against Palestinians by the United Nations as thousands of Gazan families fled Gaza City to escape a relentless aerial assault The UN cited the death toll, which includes tens of thousands of women and children, the collapse in sanitary and healthcare systems, and a famine declared in August by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Other European countries including France, Portugal and Belgium are due to recognise Palestinian statehood at the summit this week. Israel was accused of committing genocide against Palestinians by the United Nations as thousands of Gazan families fled Gaza City to escape a relentless aerial assault. At least 64,964 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since the war began, according to the Hamas-run heath ministry, after the Hamas-led attack on Israel killed 1,200 people and saw another 251 taken hostage. The UN cited the death toll, which includes tens of thousands of women and children, the collapse in sanitary and healthcare systems, and a famine declared in August by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). Nine out of ten homes have been destroyed and the vast majority of the three million population have been forced to flee. Israel denounced the UN's findings as 'distorted and false'. The Jewish state has consistently denied that there is a starvation crisis in Gaza and has accused Hamas of looting aid. On Sunday, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reported that 71 people were killed and 304 injured in Israeli attacks in the past 24 hours. A police sergeant paused for just six seconds before he entered the scene of the Southport attacks armed only with a baton to confront the killer, an inquiry today. Sgt Greg Gillespie was warned by a member of the public who had come to the children's aid 'You need a f***** gun mate, that's doing nothing' before he went inside. It had taken the officer ten minutes to arrive at the Hart Space dance studio after being told there was 'a boy with a knife who had stabbed numerous persons and that there were numerous casualties'. Alice Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Stancombe, seven, were killed at the Taylor Swift-themed class on July 29 last year by Axel Rudakubana, who was later jailed for a minimum of 52 years. He had begun amassing weapons and ingredients for making the deadly poison ricin two years earlier, the inquiry into the attack heard today. Directed to go to the scene, Sgt Gillespie overtook a fast response paramedic as he arrived at 11.56am. He parked on Hart Street where footage from his bodyworn camera showed he was flagged down by a number of parents who had come to collect their children and did not know if they had escaped. Det Chief Inspector Jason Pye, the senior investigating officer, told the inquiry: 'He gets out of his car. He notices a child to the left hand side. Police and forensic teams on Hart Street, Southport following the stabbing last summer Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were all murdered in the atrocity on July 29, 2024 (Left to right) Hero officers PC Luke Holden, PCSO Tim Parry and Sgt Greg Gillespie, who all faced down Southport knife attacker Axel Rudakubana during his killing spree and were later honoured for their bravery 'He assumes that that child is not breathing because the two members of the public are standing over her. 'He notified them that was a fast paramedic behind, and he told them to wave down the first paramedic.' Window cleaner Joel Verite had carried the child, referred to as C1, from outside the building after she was dragged back into the centre by Rudakubana, then 17. He used his t-shirt to stem her bleeding and she survived the attack. Mr Verite asked the police officer to follow him through to the car park. They stopped at the entrance to the Hart Space while Sgt Gillespie updated his control room on the radio, saying: 'We are going in to detain him.' 'He goes to take his baton out and his protective equipment and Joel stops him,' DCI Pye told the inquiry. 'At that point Sgt Gillespie says, "Why? What has he got?" Axel Rudakubana outside the Hart Space dance studio, in Southport, before he launched his attack which killed three young girls A knife identical to the one used in the attack carried out by Rudakubana at The Hart Space, in Southport, last July 'And that's the first time he says he's got a knife. 'He's warned by Joel not to go in because he's got the knife and he would need more than a baton.' The inquiry heard the exact words were: 'You need a f****** gun mate, that's doing nothing.' Sgt Gillespie asked over the radio for an officer equipped with a Taser to join him, just as PC Luke Holden and PCSO Timothy Parry arrived. DCI Pye told the inquiry: 'Greg asked, is he ready to go in? And with, very, very little delay, they enter.' Leaving Mr Parry to guard the door, the two men entered the Hart Space at 11.57am, six seconds after the other two officers arrived, the inquiry was told. Nicholas Moss KC, counsel to the inquiry, said: 'There was no significant pause there at all to formulate some sort of complex plan. They go in very quickly.' Firearms officers had been called to the scene but the two officers did not wait for them, the inquiry was told. A court drawn image of Axel Rudakubana on December 18, 2024 When they got inside, they found Rudakubana on the landing and shouted at him to drop the knife, which he did, before they pushed him to the ground and arrested him, helped by PCSO Parry. A minicab driver called Gary Poland had taken Rudakubana to the Hart Space but drove away without calling police, the inquiry was told. Children were seen in the rear dashcam leaving the building and running alongside the taxi and 'you can hear the children screaming' DCI Pye said. Mr Poland looked in the rear-view mirror but still drove off, he added. The driver did not call the police until 12.36pm, 50 minutes after the attack when he told them: 'The lad whose done everything, I've picked him up. 'I'm just a bit shook up my heart's going like I don't know what.' He told the call handler where he had picked him up and added: 'He just seemed very very odd, like he had it planned. 'I was just about to drive off and then I heard screaming, proper screaming and there was young people coming down the steps and that's when I've shot off.' Mr Moss asked: 'Would you have expected a member of the public, acting responsibly, to have called 999 as soon as they got to a place of safety, when it was safe to make that call?' DCI Pye replied: 'I would like to think morally that a call would have been made. 'There was enough evidence that he knew what was happening. You would expect a call to come in.' The inquiry was told that the killer had accessed a document called 'Kamikaze death poetry' in the minutes before he set off to launch his attack. Rudakabana had cleared his browsing history but when it was recovered there was nothing relevant found. However, he had also used a tablet device to download a number of pdf documents. He could not have read them all in the time he had but the inquiry was given a list of the titles. They included an excerpt from 'Kamikaze death poetry' and others which showed an interest in historic revolts and rebellions. Today the inquiry also heard details of how Rudakubana ordered scales, alcohol, filter paper, a conical flask, measuring cup and safety goggles via Amazon from January 2022. Then 15, the future mass killer also bought 150 castor beans and a pestle and mortar. He used the items to grind down the beans and produce the highly toxic poison ricin, following instructions he had downloaded from the internet in a document called the Al-Qaeda Manual. Axel Rudakubana had enough raw materials to kill almost 13,000 people by the time police uncovered his home laboratory and a lunch-box in which he was refining ricin A pestle and mortar still bore the marks of his deadly mission The killer appeared to have been sleeping in the living room of the messy Merseyside home Rudakubana used his own bank card to purchase the items but had them sent to a next-door neighbour in his father's name and to a pick-up point at a local Co-op. They were found in a box in his bedroom after the attack. The inquiry was told that the castor beans could produce five lethal doses by ingestion or between 2,547 or 12,690 by inhalation with further purification. In March 2022 he ordered a traditional Mongolian bow and arrows from Top Archery on Amazon which were found inside a black hold-all in his room. He also ordered brown glass beer bottles with swing stoppers from Amazon and a 5-litre plastic jerrycan. These were to be delivered to Al Rad - said to be his father Alphonse - at the family home in Banks, near Southport. They were found in the living room with matches taped to a number of the bottles in preparation for making into Molotov cocktails. It comes after the inquiry was last week told that Rudakubana's parents knew he was illegally ordering knives online before the 'repugnant' attack. Delivery boxes littered the Merseyside home the killer shared with his parents A grisly array of hunting arrows was recovered from the teenager's armoury Today it heard that on July 22 last year, a week before the attack, Rudakubana - then aged 17 - tried to get his father to buy petrol for him, even though he did not have a car or a driving licence. In May 2022, Rudakubana made inquiries about buying crossbows from a company called Tactical Archery, asking what kind of packaging it would come in and how they would verify that he was over 18. Rudakubana - referred to throughout the inquiry as AR - also ordered three machetes, two of which were apparently intercepted by his parents. 'Despite the fact these items should not be sold to under 18s, AR managed to order and have delivered to his home address, no less than three,' Mr Moss said. The first was a 22inch 'Bushcraft Survival' machete with a sharpening stone, for which Rudakubana used the driving licence of a woman called Alice born in 1992. It was delivered by the DPD to Rudakubana's father and found on top of a wardrobe in the parents' bedroom in its original packaging. A second 'Black Panther' machete was ordered on October 4, 2023 from Knife Warehouse, based in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. It was found unopened and still in its original grey packaging in a police secure storage unit after Rudakubana pleaded guilty and was sentenced. 'On one view' it may have been intercepted by Rudakubana's parents because it was unopened, Mr Moss said. This time, Rudakubana had used another genuine driving licence in the name of an older man called Samuel from Uxbridge and delivered by Royal Mail. A third machete was delivered on October 14, 2023, again using the driving licence of 'Samuel.' Mr Moss said: 'This does seem to have got into AR's hands because it was found with the bow and arrows in a black holdall by the bunkbeds in his room. 'He twice unsuccessfully tried to get his hands on a machete and the third time succeeded because it was not delivered by age verification.' The inquiry, at Liverpool Town Hall, is investigating why several agencies, including the police, the courts, the NHS and social services, who all had contact with Rudakubana, failed to identify the risk he posed. They will also investigate whether the attack could or should have been prevented. Rudakubana was under the care of mental health services for several years before the atrocity but was formally discharged just six days before carrying it out, the court heard. The inquiry continues. MAGA shepherd Steve Bannon used his platform at Charlie Kirk's memorial service in Arizona on Sunday to claim that teachers in America are 'terrorists.' Once one of Donald Trump's closest advisors, Bannon said that at least one-third of teachers from kindergarten through college are trying to turn young people into left-wing 'radicals.' Ever since Kirk was assassinated on September 10, MAGA figures have been vocal about the rise in the 'terrorist threat' coming from the progressive and liberal side of the political aisle. President Donald Trump is currently preparing an executive order that would declare Antifa a domestic terrorist organization. The action, he says, would also target speech seen as 'hate speech' that incites violence. Critics claim the Trump administration is using Kirk's murder and calling it terrorism in order to go after political opponents. During Real America's Voice broadcast from Kirk's massive service in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday, Bannon's co-host Gina Loudon was celebrating the conservative icon promoting people getting married young and having 'lots of children.' She noted that his old-school ideas are 'not popular on college campuses' today. But Bannon pushed back claiming: 'Well, I actually think they are popular.' Steve Bannon said during a broadcast from Charlie Kirk's memorial service on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 that 33 percent of teachers are 'terrorists' Hundreds of thousands came out to Glendale, Arizona to attend Kirk's memorial service at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 'Look, from kindergarten all the way up, they are essentially, you know a third of the teachers are terrorists that are trying to form them,' he insisted. The father-of-three adult children says that young people are now seeking out Kirk's doctrine as a counter to the 'radical' way teachers and public school systems are 'forming' them. Bannon added: 'Particularly young men who have been told, 'You're bad, you're everything evil, you've gotta change, we have to change you, we have to give you drugs.' 'That's what I think underneath about the family, about marrying early, about having lots of kids, and about being a good dad, I think that that is right below the surface,' he said. Bannon, former executive chairman of Breitbart News, served during the first seven months of Trump's first administration as chief strategist. Since 2019 he has hosted the War Room podcast and is still considered an authority on all things MAGA and right-wing. After Kirk was politically murdered allegedly by a gunman with a transgender partner, Bannon declared the country at war. 'Charlie Kirk is a casualty of war. We are at war in this country,' he said in the wake of the tragedy. Other Trump allies have also used fiery rhetoric to claim Democrats are causing a divide in the country that has led to an increase in political violence against the right. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said the Trump administration would 'destroy' what he called left-wing 'terrorist networks.' Kirk was assassinated on the Utah Valley University campus on Sept. 10, 2025. He was known for his group Turning Point USA, which focused on reaching students and getting them involved in the political process and conservative movement Vice President JD Vance, who was close with Kirk and hosted his podcast last week, echoed the sentiment. Hundreds of thousands of people came out to attend Kirk's memorial service at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday. Trump made remarks, as did Vance, Miller, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., DNI Tulsi Gabbard, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and conservative media voice Tucker Carlson. Kirk's widow Erika Kirk, who shares two young children with the deceased, made an emotional speech where she said she forgives the alleged shooter 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. Erika says he is the type of person that her husband was trying to reach with his youth-focused organization. Monday morning, sparrows wossname. Farouk from Maidstone calls Nick Ferrari on LBC Radio to rant about Israels war of self-defence in Gaza. Duvet over the head job, obviously. But given that Ferrari is the best thing on the wireless this side of Ken Bruce, I cock an alert-ish ear, albeit one getting a bit mutton. Young Nicholas is his usual polite self. Agree to disagree but disagree to part, etc. (Copyright, the great Graham Gouldman: The Things We Do For Love.) Then again, who gives a monkeys what Farouk from Maidstone thinks about the Hamas hellhole in Gaza? For what its worth, my version of From the river to the sea involves Israels borders extending to northern end of the Piccadilly Line, all being well. What else would you expect from a founder member of Spurs Against The Nazis, back in 1981? So you wont be surprised at my disgust over Surkeirs pathetic, politically expedient recognition of a Hamas/Palestinian state, the moment The Donald had headed home on Air Force One. Sir Keir Starmer gives a statement on the Government recognising Palestine. Why the hell is the PM of Great Britain showboating about a war which has nothing to do with us, asks Richard Littlejohn Rubbish piles up on the streets of strike-ravaged Birmingham. When Littlejohn did Ferrari-style phone-ins on LBC, the calls were about parking and bin collections, not Gaza Starmer is an absolute disgrace, a complete and utter lawyer, as I believe someone once described him. Modesty forbids. (How do you end up a Gooner from Guildford, when everyone else in Surrey supports Man United?) Beside the point, actually. Why the hell is the Prime Minister of Great Britain showboating about a war which has nothing to do with us? Yeah, OK, he needs to placate his far-Left lunatics on the back (and front) benches. But, seriously? His missus is Jewish, for Chrissakes. Which brings us back to Farouk from Maidstone. Be fair, were not talking Darling Buds Of May here. When I first knew of Nick Ferrari, his dad, Dan, ran a news agency called Ferrari of Dartford, just down the road from Maidstone. Great man, great agency, great journalist. Anyway, Ive never heard of Farouk from Maidstone, or Farouk from Dartford, or wherever. The Palestinian flag flies in Hammersmith, West London. Richard's version of From the river to the sea involves Israels borders extending to northern end of the Piccadilly Line These days, though, Farouk is par for the course. Nothing personal, guv, but this is one step beyond. Kent used to be Farage Country. These days its Farouk Country. Now before the usual suspects start bouncing up and down, yelling their boilerplate bollo about RAY-CISM, let me make it Waterford crystal this has got nothing to do with race or religion or anything else. But back in the days (not back in the day) when I did Ferrari-style phone-ins on LBC, the calls from Farouk, and anyone else, were about Kent councils cock-ups, not the Gaza Strip. Parking, bin collections, stuff like that. This occurred to me on Friday night when I was getting outside of haddock, chips and mushy peas in Londons best chippie, Chippers, in Cockfosters, opposite the Tube station. There was a poster on a lamp-post, announcing the introduction of a 20mph speed limit across the borough safer streets, something like that... In other words lots of lovely fines all round. My daughter said her next-door neighbour, a lady of a certain age, had just been banned from driving for doing 27mph in a street which was 30mph until last week. Were in Nero and fiddles territory here. No one in Chippers was talking about Gaza. Not even Farouk from Friern Barnet. The country is going to hell in a handcart and our leaders are, er, indulging themselves over Gaza instead of concentrating on what matters back home. And now, on line one, its Farouk from Maidstone... British jets are ready to 'confront' Russian planes violating NATO airspace, the Foreign Secretary told the UN on Monday as she accused Moscow of risking 'direct armed confrontation'. Yvette Cooper condemned recent Russian incursions into NATO airspace as she addressed the UN Security Council for the first time as Foreign Secretary. 'They are a deliberate attempt to undermine the territorial integrity of sovereign nations and European security,' she said. 'They risk miscalculation. They open the door to direct armed confrontation between NATO and Russia.' On Friday, three Russian jets entered Estonian airspace without permission, remaining there for 12 minutes and being intercepted by Italian aircraft operating as part of NATO's Eastern Sentry mission. The incursion followed similar incidents in Poland and Romania in which Russian drones were intercepted or shot down over NATO territory. Ms Cooper's comments came after Poland's prime minister said his nation would not hesitate to shoot down objects that violate its airspace and pose a threat. Donald Tusk had warned previously that his country was the closest to 'open conflict' it had been since the Second World War, while the EU's high representative on foreign affairs warned Russia was 'testing the West's resolve'. In response to the drone incursion over Poland, the UK announced that RAF Typhoon jets would also take part in Eastern Sentry, a joint operation to bolster NATO's defences in the east. The first mission over Poland went ahead on Friday. Speaking at the UN on Monday, Ms Cooper said: 'Our alliance is defensive, but be under no illusion, we stand ready to take all steps necessary to defend NATO's skies and NATO's territory. 'We are vigilant. We are resolute. And if we need to confront planes that are operating in NATO airspace without permission, then we will do so.' A Russian MIG-31 fighter is seen flying above the Baltic Sea after violating Estonian airspace Yvette Cooper speaks during a Security Council meeting at United Nations Headquarters The comments to the UN came after Estonia claimed that three Russian fighter jets had violated its airspace on Friday, a perceived escalation from the drones landing in Poland and Romania in recent weeks. Russia said on Monday the claim its jets violated Estonian airspace was false and designed to stir up tension. It also said it had not deliberately targeted objects in Polish territory after Warsaw observed 19-23 drones entering its airspace on September 9. Poland's Tusk told a news conference on Monday that his country would begin shooting down flying objects entering their territory, despite warnings from Putin's allies. 'We will take the decision to shoot down flying objects when they violate our territory and fly over Poland - there is absolutely no discussion about that,' Tusk said. 'When we're dealing with situations that aren't entirely clear, such as the recent flight of Russian fighter jets over the Petrobaltic platform - but without any violation, because these aren't our territorial waters - you really need to think twice before deciding on actions that could trigger a very acute phase of conflict,' he added. Poland said on Friday two Russian fighter jets violated the safety zone of the Petrobaltic drilling platform in the Baltic Sea. Tusk added that Poland will take a more cautious approach to situations that are less clear-cut. He said that he would also need to be certain that Poland would not be alone if a conflict started to escalate. 'I also need to be absolutely certain... that all allies will treat this in exactly the same way as we do,' he said. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and former president of Russia, said last week that any attempts to introduce a no-fly zone over Ukraine and the ability for NATO countries to shoot down Russian UAVs, would 'mean only one thing - a war between NATO and Russia'. NATO members have warned Russia could be trying to test their readiness for a larger conflict. The incursions coincided with Russia's joint Zapad drills with Belarus, which in 2021 saw a massive build-up troops ultimately used to support the invasion of Ukraine just months later. Estonia said three Russian fighter jets violated its airspace on Friday, adding to a sense among NATO leaders that Moscow is testing the alliance's readiness and resolve Czech president Petr Pavel warned on Saturday that NATO must be ready to respond firmly to Russian airspace violations, even if that means shooting down their planes. Mr Pavel said the organisation should act decisively to stop any breach of allied skies and make clear there are consequences for crossing the line. He said: 'Russia will realise very quickly that they have made a mistake and crossed the acceptable boundaries. Unfortunately, this is teetering on the edge of conflict, but giving in to evil is simply not an option.' It comes as the UN's Security Council will meet on Monday for emergency talks after Vladimir Putin's fighter jets flew into NATO-member Estonia's airspace, raising fears of World War Three. Estonia announced on Sunday that the emergency session had been called 'in response to Russia's brazen violation of Estonian airspace.' Officials in Tallinn said it is the first time in 34 years of UN membership that the country, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, has formally requested such a meeting. Set to begin at 15:00 BST, it will discuss what Estonia calls the 'blatant, reckless, and flagrant violation of NATO airspace'. The incursion took place on Friday when three Russian MiG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland. NATO confirmed that Italian F-35 jets on air defence duty in the Baltics were scrambled, supported by Swedish and Finnish aircraft, to intercept the Russians and warn them off. Moscow denied the allegation. The incident sparked immediate concern in NATO capitals and Brussels, with both the alliance and the European Union calling it a reckless act of provocation. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal condemned the move and said: 'Such a violation is completely unacceptable. NATO's response to any provocation must be united and strong. 'We consider it essential to consult with our allies to ensure shared situational awareness and to agree on our next joint steps.' Ukraine has also requested to attend the meeting on Monday. The country's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X: 'For the first time in 34 years, Estonia has requested an emergency UNSC meeting. 'This shows the unprecedented scale of threats posed by aggressive Russia to the stability of Europe. Western powers have repeatedly warned that Moscow is playing with fire by pushing into NATO skies, since the alliance's mutual defence pact obliges all members to act if one is attacked. The violation came just weeks after fellow NATO member Poland said Russian drones had crossed into its airspace during missile strikes on Ukraine. Warsaw branded that episode an 'act of aggression' with experts warning that it could have triggered a direct clash between NATO and Russia. The drones struck an elderly couple's home and demolished its roof. If the couple had died, it could have potentially spiralled into World War Three. Just weeks before the Estonia violation, Russia flew drones into Poland. One struck an elderly couple's home Putin has been condemned by Western leaders for provoking NATO countries US President Donald Trump added his voice to the outcry on Sunday. Asked whether America would back Poland and the Baltic states if the crisis worsens, he replied: 'Yeah, I would. I would.' Turkey's 2015 shootdown of Russian jet The last time a NATO member shot down a Russian jet was in November 2015. Turkey downed a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 near the SyriaTurkey border after the warplane briefly entered Turkish airspace and ignored repeated radio warnings. The Turkish military said two F-16 fighters fired on the Su-24 and the plane crashed inside Syria. Turkey released a flight-path graphic and said the jet had been warned several times before it was engaged. Both crewmen ejected. The navigator, Konstantin Murahtin, was rescued. The pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov, was hit and killed by ground fire as he descended in his parachute. A Russian marine who later took part in the rescue was also killed. The shootdown triggered a major diplomatic crisis. Moscow condemned the action, recalled its ambassador, and imposed sanctions and travel restrictions on Turkey. In further escalations, Russia deployed missiles off the Syrian coast and other strategic locations, while Turkey responded by sending the KORAL land-based electronic support system along its border with Syria. Relations only began to thaw many months later when leaders from both countries moved toward rapprochement. Advertisement He confirmed he had been briefed on the Estonian incursion and added bluntly: 'We don't like it.' His words were far tougher than his reaction earlier this month to the Polish drone incident, when he had played down the risk by suggesting it 'could have been a mistake.' Trump's stance on Vladimir Putin has long been scrutinised, with critics accusing him of being too close to the Russian leader. But as the war in Ukraine drags into its fourth year, his tone has hardened. Speaking in Britain last Thursday at the close of his state visit, Trump admitted Putin had 'really let me down' by refusing to end the bloodshed despite American pushes for peace. Estonia's foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, said Russia's actions are part of a deliberate pattern. He said: 'This violation is part of a broader pattern of escalation by Russia, both regionally and globally. This behaviour requires an international response.' Tsahkna said that Russia had already entered Estonian airspace four times this year alone. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Swedish and German forces said Swedish JAS 39 Gripens and German Eurofighters were deployed over the South Baltic Sea to observe a Russian IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying in international airspace without a flight plan. German authorities also said the aircraft refused to make contact. After the violation, a former RAF commander asked NATO to be specific about the 'red line' when it comes to airspace incursions. Air Marshal Greg Bagwell wrote on social media: 'NATO has to be united now, with a clear and unequivocal statement about what will not be tolerated. 'Right now we don't know where our red lines are, why should we expect Russia to? And if that red line is crossed then the response must be decisive and ruthless.' The UK's defence secretary also issued a chilling warning to Russia. He said: 'Our Typhoons are fully equipped to take out Russian drones that enter Nato airspace. And we will not hesitate to act...' People on social media are bizarrely accusing Erika Kirk of making the 'devil horn' symbol with her hand during her husband's memorial service in Arizona on Sunday. Charlie Kirk's grieving widow made a hand gesture, which means 'I love you' in sign language, while on stage beside President Donald Trump at his memorial. After making a speech in tribute to her late husband, Kirk, 36, who is a devout Christian, raised her arm with her index and pinky fingers raised. Some people online have made the vile claim that this was a 'satanic hand symbol' intended to evoke devil horns in unhinged social media posts which have gone viral. Fans of Erika Kirk hit back against the slew of hate against the mother-of-two by pointing out that her gesture also means 'I love you' in sign language. 'PSA: Erika Kirk's hand sign at the end was sign language for I love you. Not a satanic hand sign. Dear lord... please give me strength on this app,' one exasperated X user wrote. 'It's sign language for 'love you',' another person agreed. 'Ignorance is exactly why people commit violence. LEARN THINGS! Don't spew evil where none exists.' The flood of posts defending the former Miss Arizona came after several people parroted the deranged 'devil hand' claims. People on social media are bizarrely accusing Erika Kirk of making the 'devil horn' symbol with her hand during her husband's funeral in Arizona on Sunday. The gesture, as pictured above, means 'I love you' in sign language, as fans of Erika Kirk pointed out while defending her Erika Kirk delivered powerful remarks on her husband's life and legacy, while astonishingly forgiving his alleged assassin Tyler Robinson. (Pictured: Charlie and Erika Kirk) At the memorial, Erika Kirk forgave her husband's alleged killer, Tyler Robinson (pictured) 'I caught this hand sign from Ericka Kirk which is a Devil/Owl sign people use in dark meetings and rock-on concerts,' one man mused on X. 'Why would she make this hand signal as a professing Christian and being knowledgeable of these things?' 'What is happening? Erika Kirk throwing up a satanic hand symbol to end off Charlie's funeral?!?!' another wrote. 'I hope she doesn't realize what she's doing, but this is definitely suspicious!' Referring to Kirk standing next to the president at the moment she made the signal, a third man said: 'Sorry, I love Trump and Charlie Kirk, and I don't want to spoil the party. 'But why did Erika wait until she was standing with the most famous man alive, in front of the whole world, at the most significant moment of her life, to throw up the devil-horned gesture?' The devil hand gesture, which is also associated with the 'rock on' motion seen at rock concerts, involves the index and pinky fingers being raised, while the other fingers and thumb are tucked in. Some people have claimed that Erika Kirk made a 'satanic hand symbol' intended to evoke devil horns in unhinged social media posts which have gone viral, while others defended her Meanwhile, the sign for 'I love you' in sign language is the same but with the thumb also raised, as in the motion made by Erika Kirk. Her symbol came after she delivered powerful remarks on her husband's life and legacy, while astonishingly forgiving his alleged assassin Tyler Robinson. The 31-year-old MAGA influencer 'wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,' Erika Kirk said at her husband's memorial. Referring to Robinson, she added: 'I forgive him,' as the crowd erupted in applause. 'I forgive him because it's what Christ did. The answer to hate is not hate.' Earlier at the service, Trump and Elon Musk put their differences aside a week after the conservative activist was shot and killed at the University of Utah campus. The former rivals were seen chatting in Trump's box before the president gave Musk a friendly pat on the back - moments before the Tesla tycoon stood up and walked out. Their complicated history boiled over in June 2025, when the pair clashed in a fiery exchange on X. The 31-year-old MAGA firebrand 'wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,' Erika Kirk said at her husband's memorial. (Pictured: Erika Kirk at the funeral service) Musk had posted, and then swiftly deleted, a bombshell claim that federal authorities held extra information on Trump in the Jeffrey Epstein files, even going so far as to suggest the president should be impeached. The president led mourners at the memorial of Charlie Kirk, addressing tens of thousands gathered inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Trump was joined on stage by Vice President JD Vance and senior members of his Cabinet, with security around the stadium described as 'extraordinarily tight.' An American sexpert was deported from from a tropical paradise after Muslim lawmakers accused her of conducting Kama Sutra demonstrations. Intimacy expert Jennelle Raynette Gordon was detained by immigration officers in Jakarta, Indonesia on September 16 while she was with her 10-year-old son. Officers grabbed her following reports of her sexual classes going on in a villa at Seminyak in southern Bali, which is part of Indonesia. She was deported from the country two days later, according to The Sun. The mother planned a paid 'Intimacy mastery Retreat' which violated her stay permit, it is claimed. The officers also alleged that they had found sex toys at Gordon's villa, despite the devices being forbidden in Indonesia. Gordon's class was charging nearly $7,000 for the five-day course that included lessons on the Kama Sutra, according to the outlet. This is an ancient Hindu teaching focusing on sexuality and emotional fulfillment, but is most commonly known as an illustrated book of different sexual positions Jennelle Raynette Gordon, 44, was detained by immigration officers in Jakarta, Indonesia on September 16 while she was with her 10-year-old son Officers took her following reports of her sexual business going on in a villa at Seminyak in southern Bali and she was deported two days later Gordon has denied the claims made against her and insisted she was only in Indonesia on vacation. The 44-year-old told the Daily Mail she had fallen victim to a 'witch hunt'. Gordon explained that she wasn't in Indonesia to teach a class to begin with - she said she was celebrating her birthday on September 9, and it was her business partner's book release. She repeatedly claimed that no business was conducted in the country, that any money she received was used to host the event. The expert said that there were only eight people, including her and her partner, staying at the villa and that it was a completely spiritual gathering. The single mother said she was outraged to be arrested after pumping cash into the local economy by hiring the villa - then performers and a priest to put on a party. Gordon said she didn't make any profit from the event. The mother planned a paid 'Intimacy mastery Retreat' which violated her stay permit according to authorities Gordon claims she was the victim of a witch hunt and denies teaching Kama Sutra classes She said her deportation began in a strange manner. She said she was catching flight from Bali to Jakarta. Then from Jakarta to Taiwan and finally to LAX in the US but she was stopped before she got on any flights. Gordon recalled being approached by three men at the Bali Airport and around 5:30am who requested an interview. She was then taken to an immigration center where a large woman in full Muslim garb came in and began demanding her passport, and attempted to go through her things, and said the woman pushed her multiple times. She demanded a supervisor, but no one came. When she initially tried to call the embassy, she said the officers wouldn't let her, so she decided to walk out. When she did so, she and her son were separated. Gordon explained that she wasn't in Indonesia to teach a class to begin with; she said she was celebrating her birthday on September 9 Gordon told the Daily Mail about why she believes this really happened: 'This was a witch hunt' Authorities noted that they found sex toys at Gordon's villa, which is forbidden in the country She said a gate closed between the two and trapped her son until she agreed to cooperate. Gordon got back with her 10-year-old and finally got on the phone with the embassy, but after 20 minutes, she said four women dragged her off the phone. The immigration office took their passports for two days as they waited to fly back to the US. She explained that officers kept telling her to delete any footage she took while at the office, and that on their way back to the airport, the officers now all had uniforms and were in police marked cars. Reform UK has vowed to axe the right of migrants to qualify for permanent settlement in Britain after five years if it wins the next election. The status, known as indefinite leave to remain (ILR), allows people who have lived here for more than five years to apply for British citizenship and claim benefits. Nigel Farage, the party's leader, said the change would apply both to new applicants and those who already have been granted the status - raising the possibility they could then be deported. Mr Farage suggested ending the status will save 234billion that would be paid out in benefits for them and their dependants in the coming decades. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused Reform of copying Conservative ideas and called the policy 'half-baked and unworkable'. He said: 'They lift our policies but strip away the detail that makes them enforceable. Mass low-skill migration carries real fiscal costs - in housing, welfare, and public services - which is why Britain needs a system that rewards contribution and stops abuse.' Here are the key questions answered - Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader, said the change would apply both to new applicants and those who already have been granted the status - raising the possibility they could then be deported. What is indefinite leave to remain (ILR)? ILR is an immigration status that gives migrants the right to live, study and work in the UK without time restrictions. It allows holders to use the NHS without paying the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and claim benefits. Most people need to have ILR for at least 12 months before applying for British citizenship. Who is eligible for the status? Under the present system, migrants can apply for ILR after living legally in the UK for five years. This reduces to two or three years for those with tier 1 visas, which were handed to entrepreneurs. Those with Innovator Founder or Global Talent visas - which replaced tier 1 visas, may have to wait three years. Refugees can apply for IRL five years after their grant of refugee status. Your browser does not support iframes. How many people have it? Oxford University's Migration Observatory estimate that roughly 430,000 non-EU citizens were granted an initial visa from 2005 onwards and now hold ILR but not citizenship, although some may have emigrated. There will be others who arrived before this period, however. So overall, the number of non-EU citizens with ILR is likely to be in the hundreds of thousands. While there have been over 4million grants of settled status to EU citizens, the Migration Observatory says it lacks good data on how many are still in the UK or have become citizens Reform estimates 3.8million migrants who arrived after the pandemic will be eligible for ILR between 2026 and 2030. What is Reform proposing? Mr Farage wants to abolish indefinite leave to remain and force them to renew their visa every five years. Applicants would have to meet certain criteria, including a higher salary threshold and better standard of English. Reform were unable to give a specific figure for a salary cap today, but said it would do so down the line. Who could be affected? Under Nigel Farage's plan, no new ILR awards would be made and migrants already allowed to live here under ILR would have it rescinded. Dr Ben Brindle, Researcher at the Migration Observatory, predicted that the groups that will feel the largest impact would be refugees and the family members of British citizens, who are less likely to meet economic or language requirements. Mr Farage has said the rule would not apply to around six million EU nationals living in the UK with settled status after Brexit. Your browser does not support iframes. What are critics saying? Critics have questioned the implications for the NHS of deporting migrants on lower salaries, who often work in the health sector. Reform has not decided what the minimum salary would be for visas. It is unclear what would happen to individuals with settled status who have British children, or to pensioners who no longer work. Ashley Stothard, an immigration lawyer at Freeths, called the plan 'outrageous'. 'It undermines the rights of lawful migrants who have contributed to the UK socially, economically, and culturally,' she said. The Centre for Policy Studies think-tank originally made the 234billion estimate for benefits costs from axing ILR but has since withdrawn it. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the figures show Reform's plans 'have no basis in reality'. The Tories branded the proposals 'half-baked and unworkable'. London mayor Sadiq Khan said: 'Thousands of Londoners have indefinite leave to remain. They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues... threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.' A Democratic-run citys bold experiment handing out free cash to residents is coming to an end and stirring debate about guaranteed income in America. For the past two years officials in Boulder, Colorado, have been paying 200 low-income households $500 a month, no strings attached, under a pilot program. Funded with $3 million in federal COVID relief money, the Elevate Boulder scheme was billed as a way to help families cover basic needs. Recipients say it changed their lives. One woman said she could finally walk into a grocery store and buy everything she needed without agonizing over what to put back. A mother was able to cover braces for her child, unexpected vet bills, and healthier food. Andy Masterpiece, another resident who was a part of the program, said the extra money allowed him to finally pursue his dream to be a musician and buy a guitar. Critics say such programs could discourage people from seeking employment or reduce incentives to work more hours. A pilot program, Elevate Boulder, will come to an end in December. For the last two years it has given low-income residents $500 a month to help pay for basic needs The final report of the Colorado project is set to end in December, but Elevate Boulder hopes they can bring it back in 2027 if they receive enough donations from the community to do so. Despite the free cash - that didn't have any use restrictions or require receipts - participants still found some costs too high to cover, including health insurance and childcare. One local, who wished to remain anonymous, told the outlet how the extra money helped her buy everything she needed at the food store - something they usually struggle with. 'The first thing that I purchased with the gift was really just going to the grocery store and picking everything that I needed without having to decide. And it's not like I was buying lobster tails, honey,' they told CBS News. 'I was just, you know, I could get, you know, the Greek yogurt and the cottage cheese.' Several participants shared what the project has done for them to a crowd at the Dairy Arts Center on Sunday Similar programs were launched during the pandemic to help the less fortunate get by. More than 20 cities in the US launched the programs then, with participants being given up to $1,000 a month for about a year that they spent about a quarter of on food and six percent on leisure and travel, Bloomberg reported. In Elevate Boulder, some people were able to pay for unexpected pet bills, braces for their child and the chance to grow healthier food. They shared with the rest of the community how the money has helped them during an event at the Dairy Arts Center on Sunday. 'There's financial support, there's food support, there's community support, and so I just feel like very like, I'm meant to be here, and this is one of the things that helps me, makes my dreams come true,' Masterpiece explained. Although the unique project has allowed a lot of people to be able to afford basic needs and follow their dreams, Elizabeth Crow, who helps run the program, said there's still room for improvement. 'We have some participants who've established savings for the first time in their lives. They now have a retirement account,' Crow, the Deputy Director of Housing and Human Services, stated. Andy Masterpiece, another resident who was a part of the program, said the extra money allowed him to finally pursue his dream to be a musician and made him feel seen by his community She added that the program has really highlighted just how much it costs to live in the state. 'There are people who shared that they have not had as dramatic savings or been able to get ahead as much as they want. That's really a statement about how much it costs to live here and have your basic needs met,' Crow added. Participants are still very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the program. '[Crow] knows that maybe I was struggling just a little bit, and you can apply for the program,' one said. 'That gesture to me is saying, you know, we want you to be here. You're part of our community.' This is not the only blue state that has decided to reward its low-income residents, as Los Angeles hosted something similar. A number of Democratic cities, including New York, Chicago, San Francisco and others have been launching pilot programs to create guaranteed income for the low-income community. Elizabeth Crow, who helps run the program, said there's still room for improvement. The group hopes to host another project in 2027 if they receive enough donations to do so Many of the programs were launched during the pandemic to help the less fortunate get by. In Los Angeles, participating locals were awarded a $150 monthly travel stipend to spend on trips, including going to Disneyland. The first phase of the city's Mobility Wallet Pilot Program officially kicked off in May 2023 and concluded in April 2024 - offering 1,000 qualified people a prepaid debit card to pay for an array of transportation services. But now that the first round of the project has ended, financial stress has once again burdened the community, UCLA researchers found. 'The financial burden of transportation [is] a challenging one to cut out of my budget. I can try to reduce it as much as possible, but reducing cost means I have to pay in my time. I think the financial support is probably what I miss the most,' one participant of the study said. Ed Davey today dropped a major hint that he is prepared to prop up Labour after the next election to keep Reform out of power. The Liberal Democrat leader vowed he 'will' go into government, hopefully leading 'huge numbers' of his party's MPs, in an interview at its annual conference. Speaking in Bournemouth he said he believes there is a moral duty to keep Nigel Farage's party, which is ahead in the polls, out of government. He also claimed his party could win 'way more' than 100 seats at the next election and 'there is no ceiling on our ambitions'. Speaking separately to Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live he said: 'I would go into government, right? Let me say that.' Pushed on whether he was talking about a coalition with Labour he added: 'Listen, I will go into the government, hopefully, with huge numbers of Liberal Democrat MPs. 'And the best way to get that is not being hubristic, not being boastful.' Sir Ed was much clearer when asked about a pact with Reform by Sky News. 'That is not going to happen ... no one would expect me to do that and I don't want to do it, and we won't do it,' he said. The Liberal Democrat leader vowed he 'will' go into government, hopefully leading 'huge numbers' of his party's MPs, in an interview at its annual conference. Speaking in Bournemouth he said he believes there is a moral duty to keep Nigel Farage's party, which is ahead in the polls, out of government. However, any decision to form a pact with Labour is likely to lead to some internal consternation. Any decision to form a pact with Labour is likely to lead to some internal consternation within the Liberal Democrats, whose activists still sing a rude song about Tony Blair at conference. It took the party 15 years and a collapse in the Tory vote to recover from entering the 2010 coalition under Nick Clegg. Asked to take part in a straw poll on the question during a Q&A with Sir Ed on Sunday, only a fraction of those in the audience put their hand up to say they would approve of a Lib-Lab pact. Mr Davey told the BBC's Today programme this morning that voters at the next election will face a choice between 'a change to Trump's America with Reform' or change based on 'true British values' with the Liberal Democrats. Calum Miller, the Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman, did not rule out a coalition but told reporters: 'Voters in my constituency voted for me as a Liberal Democrat and clearly voted for my party and not the Labour party. 'At the next election I will be making the case to them as to why they should be returning me to Parliament.' He is seen by many as a quintessential English character immortalised by Colin Firth on the screen. But actor Jack Lowden, who grew up in the Borders, has revealed he tried to convince the makers of the new version of Pride and Prejudice to let him play Mr Darcy as a Scotsman. The Slow Horses star had wanted to use his own accent in the role of the romantic hero from Jane Austens novel in the upcoming Netflix adaptation. Lowden, 35, said he thought the move could have been possible because the book does not specify the characters accent or appearance. But the production team refused. In an interview with Hunger magazine, Lowden said: Honestly, with every single role Im lucky enough to be given, my first question is, Can I play him Scottish? That hasnt happened yet. Believe me, I tried. Hopefully one day. But, in terms of playing Mr Darcy, whats been really fascinating is learning how much the character comes from the nineties version with Colin Firth. Jack Lowden seen filming a scene on the Derbyshire Dows for Pride and Prejudice Lowden with wife Saoirse Ronan at the 2025 BAFTA awards ceremony The original Jane Austen version is quite ambiguous actually. And thats a question I asked them - Is that okay? And they said, Yeah, its never really mentioned, so it doesnt matter. Maybe on certain days when Im not really concentrating, maybe my accent will come out Scottish. Lowden studied acting at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. The new dad is currently filming the six-part Pride and Prejudice series which also stars Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet. Lowden also said he wants to move behind the camera as a director and producer rather than take on more acting jobs. Last year he produced the Orkney-based drama The Outrun, which starred his wife Saoirse Ronan in the lead role. He said: Its all I want to do, really, move into that side of things - specifically directing. That experience with The Outrun really was a massive eye-opening moment to me. Its the most alive and useful Ive felt in any of my work. An asylum seeker who was shot and killed after he stabbed six people at a hotel made threats 24 hours before the incident, a court heard yesterday. Badreddin Abdalla Adam Bosh, 28, attacked his victims at the Park Inn in Glasgow on June 26 2020. Police officers had attempted to use non lethal weapons to disarm Bosh during the incident before he was shot. Three asylum seekers, two hotel workers and a police officer David Whyte - who had responded to the emergency call - were injured by Sudanese-born Bosh during the attack. During a preliminary hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court in preparation for a full Fatal Accident Inquiry, Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar referred Police Scotland Federations advocate Shelagh McCall KC to transcripts which she had read before yesterdays hearing. She asked: There were threats of stabbing 24 hours prior to the incident? Miss McCall replied: Yes. The advocate stated that a report from witness Amanda Trimble that will refer to which systems were in place and which risk assessments should have been done. Badreddin Abdalla Adam Bosh was shot and killed in 2020 after attacking six people with a knife Forensic officers investigating the scene where Badreddin Abdalla Adam Bosh was shot Advocate depute Alan Cameron KC told the hearing that a list of 700 witness statements and other documents have been lodged which included a draft joint agreement of evidence. Mr Cameron also told the hearing that he anticipated four to five weeks for the evidential hearings'. Mark Stewart KC, representing the next of kin, told the court that he is waiting on an expert report from a firearms expert. Work on the report is expected to commence in October with the Sheriff Principal requesting a working deadline of early December. Bosh, a Sudanese national, was one of hundreds of refugees moved from flats to hotels at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a move that raised concerns about the mental health of often vulnerable individuals. The hearing had earlier heard that Bosh had came to the UK after first arriving in Ireland. A previous hearing heard police officers were unaware the hotel housed asylum seekers at the time of the incident. Another preliminary hearing was set for December for a list of witnesses which will be cross examined at the inquiry. A Fatal Accident Inquiry is a public examination of the circumstances of a death in the public interest before a Sheriff which does not apportion blame or fault. A two-year-old boy has died after a 'choking incident' at the private village nursery he was attending. Paramedics were called to the nursery in the grounds of Parbold Douglas C of E Academy in Lancashire on Friday and he was rushed to hospital. But medics were tragically unable to save him and he was pronounced dead just hours later. Police today said there were no suspicious circumstances and a file would be passed to the local coroner. The nursery - praised by Ofsted inspectors for providing a 'nurturing, home-from-home environment' - caters for children aged between one and five. It is located at Parbold Douglas C of E Academy, near Wigan, but is privately run. Police have only said that the child had 'become unresponsive', but today locals said they understood he collapsed after a 'choking incident'. In a statement today, Lancashire Police said: 'We were called to Lancaster Lane, Parbold, at 2.43pm on September 19 following reports a child had become unresponsive at school. Paramedics were called to the nursery in the grounds of Parbold Douglas C of E Academy in Lancashire on Friday after a boy became 'unresponsive' 'The child was taken to hospital where despite the best efforts of medical personnel, he tragically died. 'Our thoughts are with the boys loved ones at this extremely distressing time. 'His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed onto HM Coroner in due course. 'The childs family have asked for their privacy to be respected.' In a statement the nursery said: 'It is with a heavy heart that we share that a tragic incident occurred at Parbold Douglas Nursery on Friday 19th September. 'We are distraught to share that a special, much-loved two-year-old child has died. 'We as a nursery and a wider-school family are devastated. 'Our main thoughts and prayers are with the childs family and all those impacted by this extremely distressing loss.' An Albanian migrant who was found dead on the Bibby Stockholm was 'distraught' after being 'tricked' into going onto the barge, an inquest has been told. Leonard Farruku, 27, was found unresponsive in a shower cubicle on board the asylum seeker vessel at Portland Port, Dorset, on December 12, 2023. An inquest in Bournemouth was told that a post-mortem examination found the migrant died from compression to the neck and suspension by ligature. His sisters Marsida Keci and Jola Dushku questioned how their brother, who they said struggled with his mental health following the death of their parents, was allowed to be moved to the Bibby Stockholm from the Esplanade Hotel in Paignton, Devon. Mr Farruku demonstrated aggressive behaviour at this establishment as early as July 2023, the inquest previously heard. Ashley Rangasamy provided support for Mr Farruku and more than 100 other asylum seekers at the Esplanade, and told the inquest he had seen him violent in the hotel lobby when he turned over a table. The community builder for Torbay Community Trust said that Mr Farruku had two modes, 'either fine or very angry', and he had suggested that the migrant could attend voluntary talking groups. He had also been offered formal mental health support, but declined this as well. Leonard Farruku, pictured, an Albanian migrant who was found dead on the Bibby Stockholm, was 'distraught' after being 'tricked' into going onto the barge, an inquest has been told He was found unresponsive in a shower cubicle on board the asylum seeker vessel at Portland Port, Dorset, on December 12, 2023 (Stock Photo) Concerns had been raised about Mr Farruku by a volunteer, after he heard he was moving to the Bibby Stockholm on October 31, 2023, according to Mr Rangasamy. He said they had told him 'his mood had changed and he was very adamant he wasn't going and was very distraught about the idea'. On the day Mr Farruku was due to be transferred, Mr Rangasamy visited the Esplanade after hearing that the migrant had 'point blank' refused to move. 'When I got there, Farruku was in the car and leaving and the staff were stood on the steps, and I said: "I thought he wasn't going?"' he told the inquest. Mr Rangasamy said he was told that Abhijith Jayaseelan, hotel supervisor at the Esplanade, had informed Mr Farruku he was not going to the Bibby Stockholm and said he was going to Swindon instead. He added: 'They tricked him.' Mr Rangasamy said he raised the issue with Torbay Council, and also kept in contact with others transferred to the Bibby Stockholm who were concerned after Mr Farruku's behaviour had 'significantly changed' and reported that he was having 'outbursts'. He said he tried to find contact details for the management of the barge to raise these issues but had been unable to find a phone number or email. Mr Farruku pictured with his sisters Marsida Keci and Jola Dushku. They questioned how their brother was allowed to be moved to the barge from the Esplanade Hotel in Paignton, Devon An inquest in Bournemouth was told that a post-mortem examination found the migrant died from compression to the neck and suspension by ligature (pictured: Mr Farruku with Ms Keci) Mr Rangasamy added he had not mentioned the concerns to other organisations, such as Dorset Council or Migrant Help. He said he asked one of the Bibby Stockholm's residents to raise his condition with staff on the barge but he was 'just dismissed'. Mr Rangasamy admitted he should have pursued the matter further, but added: 'I just didn't know what to do.' The inquest continues. An adviser to Attorney General Lord Hermer has warned Labours official definition of Islamophobia could deter police from investigating Muslim offenders. Free speech could also be restricted by the introduction of a non-statutory definition of Islamophobia, according to barrister Tom Cross KC, a member of a panel that acts for the Attorney General in complex cases. A legal opinion by Mr Cross, commissioned by the Free Speech Union, said it was reasonable to suppose such a definition would be relied on in objecting to the use of powers by the police and security services to investigate persons who happen to be Muslim for criminal offences. It could include offences of the most serious violent or sexual nature, he added. The KCs legal opinion went on to say that an official Islamophobia definition could be used to rewrite harassment and hate crime laws. It risks diluting current legislation which allows those accused of making offensive comments to argue their remarks were reasonable, he suggested. An adviser to Attorney General Lord Hermer - pictured - has warned that Labour's move to introduce a non-statutory definition of Islamophobia could hamper police investigations and free speech Labour has set up a working group headed by Dominic Grieve, the Tory former attorney general, to devise a definition in a what it says is a move to combat anti-Muslim abuse. It was instigated by Angela Rayner, the former deputy prime minister, but has now been taken over by Communities Secretary Steve Reed. The new definition is being drawn up by a working group led for Labour by former Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve It is so far unclear how he will proceed with the project. Mr Cross is a member of the Attorney Generals A panel of Crown Counsel, which represents government departments in complex cases. A Labour source dismissed the concerns as the type of complete nonsense youd expect from an activist lawyer. But Lord Young, director of the Free Speech Union, said: I dont think its at all fanciful to think that if the Government rolls out an official, state-approved definition of Islamophobia it will make the police and the security services more hesitant about investigating Muslims suspected of criminal offences. It will further entrench two-tierism in the criminal justice system. He claimed definition could also create a blasphemy law by the backdoor. In June the Policy Exchange think-tank said Labours working group should be immediately suspended. An official definition of Islamophobia would almost certainly turbocharge cancel culture, it warned in a report. After a review earlier this year by Whitehall troubleshooter Baroness Casey found public bodies covered up evidence about Asian grooming gangs for fear of appearing racist, Policy Exchange said Labours measures would have made exposing the grooming scandal even harder and slower than it already was. Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Kevin Hollinrake, said in July that Labours working group which is almost entirely comprised of Muslims would lead to a predetermined and biased conclusion. A government spokesman said: This is nothing but speculation. We would not accept any definition of anti-Muslim hatred which stops criminals being investigated and arrested. Our priority is to tackle crime and defend freedom of speech. end Candace Owens has said she will make French First Lady Brigitte Macron submit to a medical exam as part of their ongoing lawsuit. The right-wing influencer told the Daily Mail she is escalating their legal feud by demanding that Macron, 72, undergoes a 'third-party examination'. 'We're going to demand Brigitte sit down for an exam with an independent doctor. We're coming for her medical records,' Owens said on Monday. French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife launched a defamation lawsuit against Owens through a Delaware court after she claimed that the First Lady was born male. In her latest statement to the Daily Mail, Owens said: 'This isn't France, where Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron get to do whatever they want. This is America. 'You don't get to skip discovery just because you're a foreign world leader angry about a podcaster's First Amendment rights. 'The court-mandated discovery process does not allow Brigitte to just "submit" evidence. 'The American court system isn't some kangaroo court where leaders can just say whatever they want. Conservative commentator Candace Owens has said she will make French First Lady Brigitte Macron submit to a medical exam as part of their ongoing lawsuit French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte (pictured) launched a defamation lawsuit against Owens after she claimed that the First Lady was born male 'Evidence must be independently verified. During the discovery process, Brigitte will need to submit herself to a third-party medical examination.' Tom Clare, who is representing the Macrons in the case, said Owens's claims have been a 'distraction' for the French president and 'very upsetting' to the First Lady. The defamation lawsuit is still in the early stages, and the parties are yet to face off in the court room. A source familiar with the case said that if the case moves to discovery, Owens, 36, will subpoena Macron's medical records. If the case moves forward beyond that point, she will demand that Macron sits down with an independent doctor who will verify her sex at birth. It comes after the Macrons said they were planning to present photographic evidence to a US court to prove that she is a woman. Their lawyer, Tom Clare, told the BBC's Fame Under Fire podcast that his clients were willing to demonstrate 'generically and specifically' that the allegations were false. President Macron and Brigitte have found the claims aired by Owens 'extremely upsetting' He said there would be 'expert testimony that will come out that will be scientific in nature', without revealing specifics. Asked whether the Macrons would be sharing photographs of the First Lady pregnant and raising her children, he said they would be presented in court where there are rules and standards, the BBC reported. The Macrons, he said, have found the claims aired by Owens 'extremely upsetting'. 'It is incredibly upsetting to think that you have to go and subject yourself, to put this type of proof forward,' he said. Clare said that it would be a process Macron 'will have to subject herself to in a very public way', but said she was willing in order to 'do what it takes to set the record straight'. He acknowledged that the claims had been a 'distraction' to the French president, adding: 'I don't want to suggest that it somehow has thrown him off his game'. 'He's not immune from that because he's the president of a country,' he said. The couple launched their defamation suit in July, accusing the influencer of propagating 'outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions' that fueled a lie-filled 'campaign of global humiliation' and 'relentless bullying'. Lawyers for Owens have moved to dismiss the claim. Rachida Dati, Brigitte and French journalist Stephane Bern visit to the riding hall at Pontlevoy Abbey, in Pontlevoy, France, last week Owens, who has millions of followers on social media, has publicly repeated the claims on her channels. The allegation originated online and found an audience through French bloggers Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey in a 2021 YouTube video. Owens took to social media in March last year to announce she was 'waging her entire professional reputation' on the theory that the French first lady was born Jean-Michel Trogneux - the actual name of her older brother - before transitioning aged 30. The conspiracy theory alleges that Brigitte did not give birth to any of her three children, and that her first husband, a 69-year-old retired banker said to have died a recluse in 2020, never existed. The claims stem from an article published in September 2021 by French far-right magazine Faits et Documents (Facts & Documents), which initially went unnoticed. Those allegations were seized upon after far-right blogger and Faits et Documents contributor Natacha Rey, and clairvoyant Amandine Roy, raised them in a YouTube interview that went viral. The Macrons won their initial defamation case against Roy and Rey in 2024, but the ruling was overturned on appeal this year on freedom of expression grounds. The Macrons are also appealing that decision. Right-wing influencer Owens (pictured) told the Daily Mail she is escalating their legal feud by demanding that Macron, 72, undergoes a 'third-party examination' Owens said she based her allegations on what she called a 'thorough investigation' by French blogger Natacha Rey. The Macrons in turn filed a 218-page lawsuit in Delaware on July 23, seeking an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages. The couple said in a statement at the time: 'Because Ms Owens systematically reaffirmed these falsehoods in response to each of our attorneys' repeated requests for a retraction, we ultimately concluded that referring the matter to a court of law was the only remaining avenue for remedy. 'Ms Owens's campaign of defamation was plainly designed to harass and cause pain to us and our families and to garner attention and notoriety. We gave her every opportunity to back away from these claims, but she refused. 'It is our earnest hope that this lawsuit will set the record straight and end this campaign of defamation once and for all.' A statement shared with the Daily Mail said Owens had 'promoted a preposterous narrative about the Macrons, including incendiary and verifiably false accusations of identity theft, incest, violent crimes, and mind control'. The outgoing head of MI6 has ruled himself out for the role of Britains next ambassador to America, the Mail can reveal. Sir Richard Moore was tipped as a favourite to take on the role after Peter Mandelson was sacked by Sir Keir Starmer over his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. But the spymaster, whose five-year tenure as the Director-General of the Secret Intelligence Service comes to an end this week, is not interested in the role, sources have revealed. Sir Richard had been considered a frontrunner due to his years of experience at MI6, the Foreign Office and as a former ambassador. Sir Richard Moore, Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service speaking at the British Consulate General in Istanbul He first joined MI6 in 1987, later serving as British Ambassador to Turkey and Director General for Political Affairs in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office before returning to the Secret Intelligence Service as C in 2020. It is understood that Sir Richard has yet to be formally approached by anyone in the Foreign Office about the job, but privately he has made it clear that he does not wish to take up the opportunity. One source said: People familiar with the situation say he is not looking to do it. Lord Mandelson was sensationally sacked days before President Trumps state visit to the UK last week after it emerged that he was in email contact with convicted child sex offender Epstein as late as 2008. Former US ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson The leaked emails show that the former New Labour minister even suggested Epsteins conviction for soliciting a child for prostitution was wrongful and should be challenged. Downing Street later said the Prime Minister was not aware of the emails when appointing Lord Mandelson as ambassador. Sir Richard, 62, made no mention of what he will do after leaving MI6 during his farewell speech in Istanbul on Friday. His speech focused on Vladimir Putin, who he said was stringing us along on Ukraine as the Russian leader has no interest in seeking an end to the war. He said: After almost four decades in public service, I am now hanging up my cloak, returning my imaginary dagger to its scabbard and handing over my famous green pen. Interim ambassador James Roscoe Running MI6 has been the privilege of my life. Sir Richard added that he wanted some time to take stock and reflect after five very busy years at the helm of the UKs foreign intelligence service, saying: As I step into the next chapter, I have the chance to pause, to take stock and to reflect on what an extraordinary personal journey it has been. It was George Smiley, John le Carres legendary spymaster, who said: There are moments which are made up of too much stuff for them to be lived at the time they occur. I look forward to reflecting back on all that stuff. Since Lord Mandelsons dismissal, James Roscoe, who was head of mission at the embassy in Washington, has been appointed as interim ambassador. Mr Roscoe, a former British ambassador to the UN General Assembly, is himself believed to be in the running to become the next ambassador. Other names that have been suggested for what is arguably Britains most important diplomatic position are David Miliband, the former Labour foreign secretary, former Cabinet Secretary Lord Mark Sedwill and even ex-Tory chancellor George Osborne. A Rochdale grooming gang victim who suffered 'significant' sexual abuse took her own life after being removed from hospital, a coroner has concluded. Charlotte Tetley, 33, saw her mental health spiral after she was taken off an inpatient bed list on June 25 last year, assistant coroner for Cheshire, Sarah Murphy, ruled. The decision was made before an attempted mental health review by a specialist practitioner later the same day. She killed herself just months later, on September 24, by sitting on train tracks in the town of Macclesfield, Cheshire, until she was hit. The young woman had a 'complex longstanding mental health history', the now-concluded inquest at Cheshire Coroner's Court in Warrington heard this month. It came after she was targeted by the child sex trafficking ring in nearby Rochdale, which subjected her to 'significant sexual abuse'. She had been under the Macclesfield Community Mental Health Team since July 2023 when she moved from Rochdale after her abuser returned to the area. Ms Tetley had been diagnosed with an emotional unstable personality disorder and, previously, post-traumatic stress disorder. Charlotte Tetley (pictured), 33, saw her mental health spiral after she was taken off an inpatient bed list on June 25 last year, assistant coroner for Cheshire, Sarah Murphy, said She was also earlier diagnosed with substance misuse, causing behavioural and mood disorder, using drugs as a coping mechanism. Concerned for her own safety, with thoughts of jumping in front of a train, she went to A&E at Macclesfield Hospital on June 18 last year. But six days of daily reviews later, doctors decided she did not need a mental health inpatient bed - even though she herself felt it was the only way she could get better. The next day, Ms Tetley, who was homeless, was discharged before an attempted review by a mental health specialist. She later engaged with the community mental health team and community drug services and called her family expressing dismay about the situation. But just months later, on September 18 last year, she was removed from the railway tracks by British Transport Police and taken back to A&E at Macclesfield Hospital. Ms Tetley had reported feeling suicidal to the workers who had found her - but she left the hospital before being reviewed by the mental health liaison team. Hospital staff called police to report her as a 'high-risk' missing person - but they were told she did not meet the criteria for a search. The clinicians had asked to speak with a police supervisor after the young woman suddenly left their care. But they were informed, her inquest heard: 'As Ms Tetley had not voiced [the] intention to end her life, it could not be known that this was her intention when she left the department.' Ms Murphy said: 'The police maintained that nobody would be deployed and suggested that a response vehicle should go out. 'The ambulance service was duly contacted... but the clinical lead was informed that, as the whereabouts of Ms Tetley was unknown, they would not deploy anyone.' On the morning of her death, on September 24, she spoke with her mental health key worker and expressed longstanding suicidal ideation without immediate intent. She also attended the office of the community drug and alcohol team and was noted to be tearful and in low mood - before she was fatally struck later that day. The young woman had also been set to appear at a court hearing that day, which she did not attend. The coroner has now issued a prevention of future deaths report to try to stop similar instances from re-occurring. The coroner has now issued a prevention of future deaths report. Pictured: File photo of Cheshire Coroner's Court Ms Murphy wrote: 'During the course of the investigation my inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern. 'In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.' She highlighted in particular: 'I am concerned that there is a risk that patients are removed from the inpatient bed list before an appropriate review that day, by a mental health professional.' It also noted: 'At the time of her death, she was prescribed medication, but her concordance was sporadic and influenced by whether she had accommodation. 'She had taken multiple previous overdoses with intent to end life.' The report, sent on September 14, gives the chief executive of Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust until November 9 - a total of 56 days - to respond. Ms Tetley was named as a victim of the Rochdale grooming gang for the first time by the coroner during the inquest. The sickening child abuse ring saw girls as young as 12 groomed with free booze and drugs before being gang-raped. Many were expected to have sex 'whenever and wherever' the defendants and other men wanted in filthy flats, cars, car parks, alleyways and disused warehouses. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details. BBC's North America editor has sparked fury after calling Charlie Kirk 'far-right' during the political activist's funeral. The late conservative activist, 31, was fatally shot on September 10 while debating students at the Utah Valley University college campus. As part of a TV package of Kirk's memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday, Sarah Smith said: 'Mr Kirk built a huge and devoted following for his far-right views and his eagerness to debate with opponents.' This sparked outrage on social media as users hit out at the news channel's coverage, calling it 'shameful' and questioning 'what definition of far-right @BBCsarahsmith is using here'. In an earlier article on the BBC News website, Smith had co-written an article covering the memorial service where Kirk was referred to as 'conservative', but not 'far-right'. Taking to X, political commentator Nicholas Lissack called out the BBC while sharing a clip of Smith's broadcast. In a post, he wrote: 'The BBC has once again revealed its true colours. North America Editor Sarah Smith, daughter of ex-Labour leader John Smith, has shamelessly smeared Charlie Kirk as far-right while covering his funeral. 'The BBC is pure leftist propaganda. End the licence fee.' BBC North America editor Sarah Smith called Charlie Kirk 'far-right' during coverage of the conservative activist's funeral The State Farm Stadium in Arizona reached capacity hours before the start of the memorial service on Sunday Trump said Kirk was a confidante he could often turn to before major events or policy announcements Daily Mail has approached BBC for comment. Kirk's memorial service was held at the Arizona stadium on Sunday which saw tens of thousands of mourners gathered to pay their respects. More than 200,000 people lined up before the sun rose to try to get into the arena, the home to the NFL's Arizona Cardinals. But thousands were turned away as both the stadium and the overflow venue next door reached capacity hours before the start. US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and members of the cabinet joined Kirk's wife Erika to give emotional farewells to the MAGA star, while condemning his killer and the divisive rhetoric which many blame for the tragedy. Erika had stunned the crowd by publicly offering forgiveness to her husband's alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, 22. 'He [Charlie] wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,' Erika said, sparking roars from the crowd and a standing ovation. 'That man, that young man, I forgive him.' With tears streaming across her face, she praised Americans for turning towards the church for the first time in decades following her husband's death and sensationally revealed her husband 'was ready to die'. But during his fiery 45-minute eulogy to the late activist, Trump apologised to Erika for refusing to join her call to forgive the man who assassinated her husband in cold blood. 'He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them,' Trump said of Kirk. 'That's where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I don't want the best for them. 'I'm sorry. I am sorry, Erika, but now Erika can talk to me, and the whole group, and maybe they can convince me that that's not right, but I can't stand my opponent.' Erika also gave thanks to Second Lady Usha Vance for comforting her in the moments following Kirk's murder. Vice President JD Vance had transported Kirk's casket, along with Erika and their two young children, on board Air Force Two on September 11 - one day after Kirk was assassinated. In emotional images, the grief-stricken Erika could be seen stepping off the plane hand in hand with Usha. The widow kept her head low and sunglasses on while the Second Lady guided her. '[Usha] told me, you will get through these 15 minutes and the next 15 minutes after that,' she recalled. 'Usha, I don't think you realised it then, but those words were exactly what I needed to hear.' Erika went on to claim Charlie wanted to save 'the lost boys of the West' by encouraging them all to experience marriage and build a family. 'When he spoke to young people, he was always eager to tell them about God's vision for marriage,' she added. 'And how, if they could just dare to live it out, it would enrich every part of their life, just as it enriched ours.' The new Turning Point USA CEO was met with a standing ovation, with shouts of 'we love you' upon entering the State Farm Stadium. Tyler Robinson was arrested two days after the assassination and has been charged with capital murder. Prosecutors and the Trump administration are pushing for him to receive the death penalty in a state that uses the firing squad in executions. But in an interview with The New York Times published hours before the memorial, Erika said she wants no part in the decision-making process for the fate of her husband's killer. 'I've had people ask, "Do you feel anger toward this man? Like, do you want to seek the death penalty?" I'll be honest. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this,' Erika said. Kirk was recognised as a fearless Christian and conservative by the high-powered speakers at his public memorial on Sunday. Trump said he was a confidante he could often turn to before major events or policy announcements. Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested two days after he allegedly opened fire during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University He also credited Kirk for introducing him to Vice President J.D. Vance and for being an integral part of the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement. 'Charles James Kirk was heinously murdered by a radicalised leftist for speaking the truth that was in his heart,' the president said. 'He was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice, for God, touched for reason and for common sense. He was assassinated because he lived bravely. 'He lived boldly, and he argued brilliantly without apology. He did what was right for our nation. 'Charlie's murder was not just an attack on one man or one movement, it was an attack on our entire nation.' Vance, who credits Kirk for his political rise through the ranks and the success of the Trump administration, told the gathered crowd that his friend was a 'martyr.' 'We must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith,' he said. 'I have talked more about Jesus Christ the past two weeks than I have my entire time in public office. 'Our whole administration is here, but not just because we love Charlie as a friend, even though we did, but because we know we wouldn't be here without him. Charlie built an organization that reshaped the balance of our politics.' An oligarch who allegedly masterminded a money laundering scheme that flooded Europe and the USA with billions in Russian money has appeared in court. Former Moldovan MP Veaceslav Platon, 52, is accused of being involved in an enterprise which saw vast sums of criminal cash pass through the country's banking system with the help of corrupt judges. Platon is wanted in his home country on charges of corruption, money laundering and 'putting into circulation of counterfeit money or securities'. Beneficiaries of the funds believed to be at least 16billion but reportedly as high as 65billion have allegedly invested the laundered money in businesses and high-end property in London and other cities in wealthy nations, as well as splashing out on luxury goods. He was first arrested in Ukraine in 2016, before being extradited to Moldova just a month later in a jet used by the country's former president. There he was given a 25-year prison sentence after two behind-closed-doors trials, before being controversially acquitted and released. Platon then arrived in the UK in July 2021 and immediately applied for political asylum after claiming he experienced ill treatment in Moldovan prisons. He was re-arrested in the cells at Westminster Magistrates' Court in June this year after a fresh arrest warrant was issued by District Judge Daniel Sternberg on the extradition request by Moldova. Veaceslav Platon, pictured, an oligarch who allegedly masterminded a money laundering scheme that flooded Europe and the USA with billions in Russian money, has appeared in court The former Moldovan MP is accused of being involved in a scheme which saw vast sums of criminal cash through the country's banking system with the help of corrupt judges The oligarch is now on bail living in a multimillion-pound apartment in Canary Wharf. Platon appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday, speaking only to confirm his personal details, assisted by a Russian interpreter. He appeared in court with his cousin Marina Marohina, 35, who is accused of 'being a bank manager with Moldinconbank...and [conspiring] with others to defraud the bank of approximately $279.000'. James Stansfield, representing Platon, said: 'Mr Platon stands accused of being involved in money laundering to the scale of 22billion allegedly linked to the Russian federation. 'He is a high-profile political individual in Moldova. To put that in context, he has previously been extradited from Ukraine to Moldova. When the government changed in Moldova, he was released and the charges were squashed against him. 'We say these are renewed politically motivated charges. We don't accept the offences are extradition offences. 'His assets have either been seized by the Moldovan authorities or have been frozen. He was able to raise some money for representation. 'When he was released from custody, he has negotiated a loan for legal fees, and now his solicitors have established a payment plan with those funds. Platon was arrested in Ukraine in 2016. He was then extradited to Moldova in a jet used by the country's former president just a month later 'Because of the history of torture, we are also looking at a medical expert to substantiate any evidence of scarring.' Hannah Hinton, defending Marohina, said: 'There was evidence from three experts. We had a discussion where one of the experts has already filed a report. 'We are in agreement to adjourn to get more evidence and to wait for the Moldovan government to respond. 'The government has had nearly seven months with these reports, provided by the experts, and I found it surprising that there has not yet been a response. There's plenty of other evidence that needs to be obtained.' District Judge John Law said: 'There are a number of reasons why this hearing should be vacated, even though I am reluctant to do so.' The pair were released on conditional bail ahead of their full extradition hearing, expected to take place in April or May next year. Platon said to be one of the wealthiest people in Moldova with business interests in sugar and banking, as well as investments in atomic energy in Ukraine - was an MP in his home country from 2009-10. He is also reportedly wanted in Russia, where he has citizenship, for illegally withdrawing hundreds of millions of pounds of funds. In 2023, a Moscow court convicted him in his absence for these offences and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Violent pro-Palestine protests have spread across Europe as world leaders gathered at the UN to debate a two-state solution. Protests erupted in Italy on Monday as thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators dressed in black and armed with batons tried to smash the main entrance of the city's central train station, throwing smoke bombs, bottles and stones at riot cops, who responded with pepper spray and tear gas. More than 10 people were arrested in Milan and around 60 police officers suffered bruising or more serious injuries, Italy's ANSA news agency reported. The violence comes as France and Saudi Arabia convened dozens of world leaders in New York to rally support for a two-state solution. French President Emmanuel Macron officially recognised the state of Palestine during his speech, following the UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal, who also made the same move over the weekend. 'We want two states living side by side in peace and security to become a reality,' Macron said. Recognising a Palestinian state 'is in the interest' of peace and is 'a defeat for Hamas', he added. 'However, currently Israel is further extending its military operation in Gaza with the stated objective of destroying Hamas, but there are hundreds of thousands of people who have been displaced, injured, famished, traumatised. 'We're so convinced that this recognition is the only solution that will allow for Israel to live in peace, France has never wavered, standing by Israel's side even when its security was at stake, including when there were Iranian strikes,' he said. Protesters clash with anti-riot police at Milano Centrale train station on the sidelines of a nationwide strike organized by the Unione Sindacale di Base French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a high-profile meeting at the United Nations aimed at galvanizing support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at UN headquarters Israel's seat is empty as French President Emmanuel Macron (out of frame) speaks during a United Nations Summit on Palestinians at UN headquarters during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 22, 2025 'This recognition of the state of Palestine is a defeat for Hamas.' However, dozens of seats where the Israeli and US delegation were meant to sit were left empty after both boycotted the summit on the two-state solution. Donald Trump is set to speak at the UN General Assembly tomorrow but the US remains vehemently opposed to the recognition of statehood and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed 'there will be no Palestinian state.' Macron explained that the 'top priority' is to ensure the release of 48 hostages and put an end to military operations throughout the territory of Gaza. 'I commend the efforts undertaken by Qatar, Egypt and the US to achieve this,' he said. 'I ask Israel to do nothing more that would thwart these.' The French president also paid tribute to the 51 French nationals killed on October 7, 2023 and all other victims of the Hamas-led attacks. He went on to plead for peace 'on behalf of our friendship with Israel (and) the Palestinian people'. 'We must save all lives, because for two years now, it is the humanity of others that has been denied,' he says, stressing that 'all lives are of equal value', he said. Antonio Guterres, the secretary general of the United Nations also acknowledged the Palestinian delegation and noted his disappointment that they were denied the opportunity to be fully represented after the US revoked their visas. 'The situation is intolerable and it is deteriorating by the hour,' he said. 'We are here today to help navigate the only way out of this nightmare, a two-state solution where two independent sovereign democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace and security.' He went on to say that without two states, there will be no peace in the Middle East and warns that 'radicalism' will spread around the world. And Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas added: 'We call for a permanent ceasefire, we need to ensure humanitarian access through the United Nations and UNRWA. I know we need to guarantee the release of hostages, all hostages and prisoners. 'I address the Israeli people saying, our future and yours banks on peace, enough violence and war. Our generation deserves to enjoy freedom and security. 'Let the people in our region live in durable peace and good neighbourliness,' he said. Monday's strike in Italy caused disruptions across the country, with long delays for national trains and limited public transport in major cities, including Rome. Italy's grassroots unions, which represent hundreds of thousands of people ranging from schoolteachers to metalworkers, called for a 24-hour general strike in both public and private sectors, including public transportation, trains, schools and ports. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the scenes in Milan, Italy's financial capital and co-host of the Winter Olympics next February. '(This was) violence and destruction that have nothing to do with solidarity and will not change the lives of people in Gaza by a fraction, but will have concrete consequences for Italian citizens who will end up suffering and paying for the damage caused by these hooligans,' she said on X. In Bologna, police used water cannons to disperse a crowd of demonstrators who blocked a highway. Protesters clash with policemen during the nationwide strike with the slogan 'Let's Block Everything' in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and call for a halt to arms shipments to Israel, in Milan, Italy, 22 September 2025 USB union has organized a 24-hour national general strike across all sectors to demand that the government immediately break off relations with the State of Israel, in solidarity with the Palestinian people and the Global Sumud Flotilla More than 10 people were arrested in Milan and around 60 police officers suffered bruising or more serious injuries Protesters burn an Israeli flag during a protest as part of the nationwide strike with the slogan 'Let's Block Everything' in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza Unions and student organisations denounced 'the inertia of the Italian and EU governments' Protesters assist a person during clashes at Milan's Central Station amid the nationwide strike with the slogan 'Let's Block Everything' in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza Your browser does not support iframes. The transit of goods was slowed or partially blocked by workers' sit-ins and rallies in Italy's main ports of Genoa and Livorno. The dockworkers say they are seeking to prevent Italy from being used as a staging post for the transfer of arms and other supplies to Israel used in its war against Hamas in Gaza. More than 20,000 people gathered in front of Rome's central station to protest the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Tens of thousands also gathered in Rome's central square at midday, marching near the main station and Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, where Pope Francis is buried, chanting for an end to 'genocide in Gaza.' Unions and student organizations denounced 'the inertia of the Italian and EU governments.' 'If we don't block what Israel is doing, if we don't block trade, the distribution of weapons and everything else with Israel, we will not ever achieve anything,' said Walter Montagnoli, national secretary of the CUB union, who joined a march in Milan. In the southern city of Naples, there were skirmishes with police as protesters forced their way into the main railway station. Some of them briefly got on to the tracks, causing delays to services. In Genoa, in northwest Italy, protesters among a crowd of several hundred people waved the Palestinian flag during early morning gatherings around the port. Further down the coast in the Tuscan city of Livorno, an entrance to the port was blocked by protesting workers. A similar protest also took place in Trieste, in the northeast. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini played down the impact of the protests on the rail network, praising those who had gone to work. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the scenes in Milan, Italy's financial capital and co-host of the Winter Olympics next February Protesters clash with anti-riot police at Milano Centrale train station, on the sidelines of a nationwide strike organized by the Unione Sindacale di Base Protesters try to break the windows at the entrance of a shopping area at Milano Centrale train station during clashes Protesters enter Central Station during clashes with police after the strike march in support of Palestine Around 70 Italian cities are participating in the general strike, with demonstrations calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, urging the government to sever all relations with the State of Israel, and reaffirming support for the Global Sumud Flotilla, the naval fleet committed to delivering aid to the Palestinian people Protesters and policemen clash at Milan's Central Station during a protest as part of the nationwide strike with the slogan 'Let's Block Everything' Your browser does not support iframes. 'Today's strike is causing the cancellation of only a limited number of trains. The political mobilisation of far-left trade unionists cannot harm millions of workers,' he said. Italy's conservative government headed by Meloni, a close Israeli ally in the EU, has more recently adopted a harsher tone on Israeli policies as domestic pressure mounted over the war. Italy, however, is not among the countries, including France, that will formally recognise a Palestinian state at this week's UN General Assembly. The creation of a Palestinian state in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza has long been seen internationally as the only way to resolve the conflict, which began more than a century before Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza. In the attack, Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. There are still 48 hostages remaining in Gaza, of whom Israel believes 20 are still alive. Israel's retaliatory offensive over the past 23 months has killed more than 65,100 people in Gaza, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, destroyed vast areas of the strip, displaced around 90 per cent of the population and caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with experts saying Gaza City is experiencing famine. The ministry is under the Hamas-run government. U.N. agencies and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties. It does not say how many of those killed were civilians or combatants. Police have launched a probe after a St George's Cross was painted on a giant goose mascot in a move which was branded 'a step too far'. Two-metre tall Goosey the Goose, the centrepiece of Nottingham's annual Goose Fair, was daubed with red paint in what seemed to be the latest protest in 'Operation Raise the Colours', which has seen St George's Crosses and Union Flags appear across the UK. The vandalism to the statue, which stands on the Mansfield Road roundabout, is believed to have taken place at around 9.30pm on September 3. Officers have trawled through CCTV footage, and conducted other inquiries, in a bid to find the person who painted the symbol on the goose, which is made of fibreglass and timber and weighs approximately a quarter of a tonne. Police Constable Lindsey Webster, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'Goosey is an iconic mascot for the fair and we want to find whoever is responsible for vandalising the statue. 'We believe a number of vehicles will have passed the area around this time and so would urge anyone with a dashcam to review their footage for anything which could assist. Likewise, anyone who witnessed anything suspicious should get in touch. 'We know a number of buses travelled past the roundabout as well so if you were a passenger and spotted anything please contact officers.' A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council said: 'Goosey has been an iconic figure in the city for many years, a staple of the annual calendar in Nottingham. Police have launched a probe after a St George's Cross was painted on a giant goose mascot in a move which was branded 'a step too far' Two-metre tall Goosey the Goose, the centrepiece of Nottingham's annual Goose Fair, was daubed with red paint 'Whilst the council has made its position in relation to the St George's flag clear, painting this on Goosey is a step too far. 'As the council announced last week, Nottingham has the largest St George's flag in the country which we fly with pride on days of national celebration. 'However, we cannot condone the misuse of the flag, or vandalism, and will remove flags where there is reason to do so, where they are causing an obstruction or other safety issue or if offensive language has been used.' It comes after a historic white horse landmark was altered to feature the St George's Cross as 'Operation Raise the Colours' continued across the UK. The famous Westbury White Horse, which has been carved into a Wiltshire hillside for 350 years, had two lengths of red fabric pinned to it. English Heritage, which owns the land, said it would remove the ribbon as soon as possible, but Wiltshire Police confirmed the force was not investigating the incident. 'Operation Flying the Colours', as it has become known, was born out of recent protests at asylum hotels and the display of Palestinian flags in Birmingham in an apparent show of solidarity with Gaza. But it has divided opinion between those who see it as a boon to national pride and those who say it has been tainted by emboldened elements of the far-right. The famous Westbury White Horse in Wiltshire, pictured, was altered to feature the St George's Cross as 'Operation Raise the Colours' continued across the UK Advocates have draped Union and St George's flags in town centres and - despite pleas from councils not to - inscribed road signs, roundabouts and road markings with the St George's Cross. Some local councils, such as Tower Hamlets and Birmingham, took down banners from council-owned infrastructure such as lampposts, citing health and safety. Many Conservatives have opposed those who say the flags should come down. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick was among those to go out and hang up flags, while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch wrote in the Mail that the flags were being flown as 'symbols of unity, nationhood and optimism'. She added: 'We Conservatives know there is nothing extreme about pride in our country, whatever our background. There is nothing racist about flying the flag of your nation.' However, the campaign to raise flags has also been seized upon by the far right, with the likes of Tommy Robinson expressing support.. Operation Raise the Colours was co-founded by Andrew Currien, also known as Andy Saxon, an ally of Robinson - whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - who has alleged links to the English Defence League and Britain First. The campaign has also accepted a donation of flags from Britain First, which has denied repeated accusations that it is a far right and fascist organisation. St George's and Union flags have been raised in towns across England in recent weeks (pictured: flags flown in Sheerness this month) However, Sir Keir Starmer's spokesperson has insisted that the Prime Minister 'absolutely' supports those hanging up English flags. 'I think the PM has always talked about his pride of being British, the patriotism he feels,' they said. 'I think he's talked about that previously not least recently in relation to the Lionesses' successful campaign in the Euros. Patriotism will always be an important thing to him.' The Prime Minister was also derided after he said in a statement that he 'proudly' had a flag hung up at home. He told BBC Radio 5 Live: 'I'm very encouraging of flags. I think they're patriotic and I think they're a great symbol of our nation. 'I don't think they should be devalued and belittled. I think sometimes when they're used purely for divisive purposes, actually it devalues the flag. 'I don't want to see that. I'm proud of our flag.' Last week Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: '[We have] had enough of being called far-right simply because we believe in tough border controls and our national identity. 'We have had enough of gutless leaders who put the will of foreign courts above our national interest.' A former New York cop-turned-murderer was accused by Jeffrey Epstein of trying to strangle him in his cell just 18 days before the disgraced financier was found dead. Newly unearthed documents reveal Epstein told prison staff that his cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, 57, attacked him on the night of July 23, 2019 less than three weeks before his apparent suicide. Epstein was discovered at 1.27am lying on the floor of his Metropolitan Correctional Center cell with an orange noose around his neck, unable to answer officers' questions. After being stretchered to another floor, he told staff he had been assaulted by Tartaglione, a former cop serving life for a quadruple murder that had already questioned him in their cell over his connections to powerful people, it is claimed. In a newly released transcript of former Attorney General Bill Barr's closed-door testimony to the House Oversight Committee, Barr admitted he knew of the incident but insisted it was a suicide attempt, arguing it reflected Epstein's 'state of mind' before his death. But according to a a memo written by corrections officers at the jail obtained by CBS News, those who spoke with Epstein after the incident cast doubt on that version of events. The report says Epstein not only blamed his cellmate for the attack but had earlier warned staff that Tartaglione had threatened him. Inmates who spoke with Epstein before and after the incident also reportedly questioned the idea his injuries were self-inflicted. Nicholas Tartaglione, 57, a former New York cop-turned-murderer, was accused by Jeffrey Epstein of trying to strangle him in his cell just 18 days before the disgraced financier was found dead Epstein allegedly said that Tartaglione tried to kill him three weeks before his death, and corrections officers said he was insistent that he wouldn't try to kill himself because he was 'too much of a coward' The documents show Epstein reportedly told corrections officers he was not suicidal at the time, and raise further questions over the security precautions around the notorious pedophile before his much-scrutinized death. Tartaglione, a hulking former bodybuilder, had been a police officer in Westchester, New York, but became a drug dealer and was convicted over the 2016 kidnappings and murders of four men. He denied Epstein's allegations that he tried to kill the pedophile in their shared cell at the time and insisted that he had tried to save his life. A corrections officer source told CBS News that when officers entered Epstein's cell on the night of July 23, Tartaglione was screaming: 'I did nothing, I banged on my door to get him out of my cell.' In the days before the alleged attack, Epstein had expressed concern about his cellmate, and told the jailhouse source that Tartaglione had threatened him because of his odious charges of child sex trafficking. The financier had also told jail officers that he believed the former cop was trying 'to extort money from him and stated that if he didn't pay him that he would beat him up', the memo read. Epstein said that he had not been comfortable reporting the threats because he was told that even if he did so, his child sex trafficking charges would mean that 'the officers would not report it.' A noose Epstein allegedly made out of bedsheets is seen in his jail cell on the night he died Tartaglione, a hulking former bodybuilder, had been a police officer in Westchester, New York, but became a drug dealer and was convicted over the 2016 kidnappings and murders of four men On the evening of the alleged attack in July 2019, Epstein reportedly told a different corrections officer that Tartaglione had found a copy of the New York Daily News, and flew into a rage when he saw a story about Epstein's crimes. Tartaglione was said to have pointed out the article's description of Epstein's wealth and connections to powerful people, before Epstein crumpled up the newspaper and threw it out. Hours later, Epstein recalled to officers that he woke up around 1am for a drink of water, and the next thing he remembered was waking up in his cell with corrections officers rushing into the room around half an hour later. According to the newly released memo, officers said that Tartaglione told them he had given Epstein the bottom bunk in their cell 'because he was old', and he had moved his own mattress to the floor. On the night of the incident, Tartaglione said he felt something hit his legs and asked: 'Jeff, what are you doing?' Tartaglione said he then turned on the light and found the pedophile sitting slumped on the floor, 'leaning to the side with his eyes opened' and fabric around his neck. Epstein (seen in 2005) 'denied feeling hopeless' and was discussing 'positive future plans and reasons to live for' before his much-scrutinized death in August 2019, newly revealed corrections' officer memos have revealed Tartaglione said he then yelled for jail staff, according to the documents. He also revealed in a recent podcast interview with House Inhabit that Epstein had even offered him money to kill him, but he refused. Epstein would later walk back his claim that Tartaglione attacked him, and later asked to be put back in the same cell with the former cop. The financier also insisted at the time that he would never have tried to kill himself, according to a 2023 report by the Department of Justice inspector general. Epstein's insistence that he was not suicidal meant he was placed on suicide watch for less than a day following the July 23 incident, and he was switched to a lesser psychological observation status. 'He denied feeling hopeless. He is reporting positive future plans and reasons to live for,' one officer wrote in a report on August 1 - nine days before Epstein was found dead in his cell. He had also described himself to one prison source as 'too much of a coward' to kill himself, according to the report. Epstein was subsequently given a new cellmate, named Efrain Reyes, but Reyes remained in the cell for only nine days before he was transferred out on August 10, 2019. That night, with no cellmate, Epstein was once again found unresponsive in his cell, but this time he was dead. German police said they are probing a possible 'political motive' after train cables were cut, with the country on high alert for sabotage from Russia. Authorities revealed Monday that the cables between Cologne and Dusseldorf had been cut: 'We discovered at around 01:15am that several cables had been cut in a cable shaft in the Rheindorf area of Leverkusen,' a Cologne police spokesman said. There was considerable disruption to services in the region, Cologne police added, saying that 'a political motive cannot be excluded at this time'. The incident occurred in the densely populated part of western Germany and caused chaos for commuters in the region on Monday morning. Officers specialised in politically motivated crime are investigating and 'preliminary leads have been identified', police said. It comes after thousands of air passengers faced chaos on Friday after hundreds of flights were delayed at Heathrow as a suspected cyber attack crippled its electronic check-in and boarding facilities. The same strike left Brussels airport paralysed, with half of all flights being cancelled. There were also disruptions at Berlin, Dublin and Cork and there were warnings the turmoil could continue for days. German authorities revealed Monday that the cables between Cologne and Dusseldorf had been cut (file photo) As the National Cyber Security Centre the public-facing arm of GCHQ launched an investigation, experts blamed groups linked to Russia. They pointed out the attack came hours after Russian jets breached NATO airspace by entering Estonia's skies and flying over its sovereign territory for 12 minutes. One former British military intelligence officer warned the cyber attack which has crippled Heathrow and other European airports, has 'all the hallmarks' of being Russian-related. And at the beginning of the month, Russian GPS jamming was suspected of sabotaging the European Commission chief Ursula von de Leyen's jet while it was heading to Bulgaria. The plane carrying the EU chief was forced to land at Plovdiv using only paper maps, when a surprise interference attack suddenly disabled the GPS navigation system. The incident was likely the result of a 'blatant' Russian sabotage operation, the Bulgarian authorities told the European Commission at the time. GPS 'jamming' or 'spoofing', which disrupts access to the satellite-based navigation system, is a tactic Russia has previously used to wreak havoc with civilian life. The technique has historically been employed by military and intelligence services to protect sensitive locations. 'We can indeed confirm that there was GPS jamming, but the plane landed safely in Bulgaria,' European Commission spokeswoman Arianna Podesta said. 'We have received information from the Bulgarian authorities that they suspect that this was due to blatant interference by Russia.' 'The whole airport area GPS went dark,' an official brief on the incident told the Financial Times. The pilot was forced to circle the airport for an hour before finally making the decision to land the jet manually - using only analogue maps when electronic navigational aids were disabled. 'It was undeniable interference,' they added. Earlier this month, tens of thousands of people were also left without power in the capital Berlin after a fire hit electricity cables in what police labelled a suspected arson attack. In that case, too, police said they were investigating a possible political motive after an unnamed anarchist group posted online that it had set the blaze. Last month, three fires hit parts of the German rail network, with a far-left group calling itself the 'Angry Birds Kommando' saying it was behind at least one of them. Germany has been the second-biggest supplier of aid to Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, and has accused Moscow of increasing efforts at 'hybrid warfare'. Last week a report co-authored by the domestic intelligence agency found that the costs to German businesses from cyberattacks and sabotage, mainly from Russia and China, topped 289 billion euros ($342 billion) over the past 12 months. German authorities recently launched a campaign warning against Russian efforts to recruit 'disposable agents' via social media to carry out acts of espionage and sabotage. Emergency gas workers rushed to a small seaside town amid fears of a gas leak - only to find the pong was actually coming from a batch of the world's smelliest fruit. Residents in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, were sent into panic today after they got a whiff of a 'strong gassy smell' on the high street. A charity shop reported the stench and Cadent gas company quickly sent an engineer to their aid, who began investigating the suspected fault. Such leaks can be highly dangerous or even fatal, by causing fires or gas poisoning - so the town naturally descended into chaos when they smelt something fishy. After finding nothing in the charity shop or the body care outlet next door, the worker tried the greengrocer on the clothing store's other side. And it was in Strongs Fruit and Veg where the cause of the stench was eventually discovered. The scent had been emanating from a few small boxes of durian fruit, a distinctive large yellow crop from southeast Asia, with a thorny shell and creamy flesh. It is known for the highly unusual strong odour it gives off - which some experience as sweet and enjoyable, while others find it overwhelming and unpleasant. Emergency gas workers rushed to a small seaside town amid fears of a gas leak - only to find the pong was actually coming from a batch of the world's smelliest fruit (pictured) Residents in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, were sent into panic today after they got a whiff of a 'strong gassy smell' on the high street - and it was in Strongs Fruit and Veg (pictured, the owner Andrew Simpkins) where the cause of the stench was found The scent had been emanating from a few small boxes of durian fruit (pictured) Some parts of Asia have even gone as far as to ban people from bringing the fruit in hotels or on public transport because its smell is so powerful. Shop assistant Wai Peng Cheng, 51, and his partner Candy Pooi Kuan Lam, 46, recently discovered durian fruit on a holiday to Malaysia this month. They suggested to the shop owner Andrew Simpkins, 61, that he stock the unique delicacy and he agreed, taking the first delivery on September 16. Mr Cheng, who was on duty during the engineer's visit, said the worker did not believe him at first when he told him the produce was the pungent perpetrator. 'It was only when I took him outside and gave one to him that he realised. We all just started laughing. It was hilarious,' he explained. Mr Simpkins said some police officers had even been called to the suspected leak: 'I knew it smelled bad but I didnt think it would bring the gas board out.' But despite the malodorous incident, he said the new stock - on sale for 22 per 500g - had been highly popular among shoppers. 'I tried some for the first time - I was sceptical at first but it has a pleasant aftertaste,' he said. Shop assistant Wai Peng Cheng, 51, and his partner Candy Pooi Kuan Lam, 46, recently discovered durian fruit on a holiday to Malaysia this month. They suggested to the shop owner Andrew Simpkins (pictured), 61, that he stock the unique delicacy and he agreed Phil Hendrick, head of operational delivery at Cadent's northwest branch, confirmed no gas leak was detected in any of the three shops. And he said it is quite common that suspected leaks, upon investigation, are thankfully found to be something quite different. Other previous culprits behind a gassy scent include factory discharges, aviation fuel and dockside work - but none quite so unexpected as a stinky fruit. But Mr Hendrick emphasised: 'If you ever smell gas, calling it in is always the right thing to do, every time. Don't take chances. 'Act immediately and ring the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999, day or night. 'Our engineers carry sensitive equipment that can detect even the smallest traces of gas. 'Whether it turns out to be gas, or just a smelly fruit, it's always better to be safe than sorry.' Cadent operates this emergency service for four of the UK's eight gas distribution network areas. A man accused of holding his stepdaughter captive for 22 years and fathering three of her children has denied multiple charges - including chilling claims he forced her to have sex with other men. 'The abuser denied all the accusations. During questioning at the police station, he said it was all lies and that he lives for his family,' the police chief in the Brazilian town where the case is unfolding told local media. The 51-year-old suspect has been in custody since last week, after the 29-year-old victim escaped and told authorities she had been abused by him since she was seven. Investigators say she endured decades of sexual violence, including being coerced into sex with strangers and watched constantly on surveillance cameras inside the home. The woman reportedly managed to break free by telling her alleged abuser she needed to visit a health clinic but instead went straight to police. The unnamed victim told officers she had noticed 'strange behavior from him toward her daughters,' reported O Popular. Details on the behavior has not been revealed, however, she feared he would do the same thing to her daughters as he had done to her. Her testimony prompted police to raid a condominium in Araucaria, where dramatic footage showed armed officers storming the property and arresting the suspect. Dramatic footage showed officers storming the property where the stepfather was arrested. This is the moment armed cops burst into a condominium to arrest a stepfather accused of keeping his stepdaughter imprisoned as a sex slave for 22 years Police chief Eduardo Kruger said she had been abused since the age of seven, and at 15 became pregnant by the man after he separated from her mother Police Chief Eduardo Kruger told reporters the victim became pregnant at 16 and was forced to 'marry' the man after he separated from her mother. Investigators said she had three children with him and was also forced to have sex with other men, with the assaults reportedly recorded on video. 'He forced me to pretend that I wanted it, but the men knew I was being forced there. I lost count. There were more than 30. These episodes happened every two months, every three months,' the victim said. The shocking case evokes the horror that Austrian monster Josef Fritzl inflicted on his daughter for 24 years, imprisoning and raping her over and over again and forcing her to give birth to seven incestuous children. In Brazil this week, police said the suspect monitored his alleged victim's every move with surveillance cameras installed throughout the house and rarely allowed her to leave. 'I was scared, very scared, I still am. He said a lot of things to me. He threatened me. He said that if I wasn't his, I wouldn't be anyone else's. He said that our separation would only mean death,' the woman told police. While she was giving her statement, he called her more than 30 times and sent over 15 audio messages, some containing threats. He reportedly said: 'Go home, otherwise you're going to have serious problems with me. What's going on? Talk to me, otherwise I'm coming after you.' The shocking case evokes the horror that Austrian monster Josef Fritzl (pictured in 2009) inflicted on his daughter for 24 years, imprisoning and raping her over and over again and forcing her to give birth to seven incestuous children When police stormed the home, they seized cameras and videos of the abuse stored on his mobile phone before arresting him. He is being held in preventive detention while under investigation for seven crimes, including rape, deprivation of liberty, threats, and psychological violence. If convicted, the combined sentences could exceed 100 years in prison. The victim and her children have been placed in a safe location while protective measures are considered. Fritzl's name became synonymous with unimaginable cruelty in 2008, when it emerged he had locked his daughter Elisabeth in a hidden dungeon beneath his home in Amstetten, Lower Austria, from the age of 18. Over nearly a quarter of a century, he repeatedly raped her, fathering seven children -one of whom died in infancy, with prosecutors arguing he was partly responsible for the death through neglect. Fritzl was eventually convicted of murder, rape, incest, slavery and severe coercion - becoming the only person in Austrian history ever convicted of slavery. A Texas mother has been arrested after she told police her two children died in a hot car, but authorities have found 'inconsistencies' in her story. Tiona Islar, the mother of six-year-old Sevani Stevenson and three-year-old Miyani Islar, told police she last saw her children alive in her San Antonio area home around 10am on Saturday. Islar said she fell asleep and found the children in her car around 3pm before bringing them inside, according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar. The mother added that the siblings must have made their way outside and somehow gotten into the car. She called police around 3:25pm and a deputy arrived who tried to perform CPR on both children at the same time. The attempts to save them were unsuccessful and the siblings were pronounced dead at the scene, Salazar said. 'There just are some inconsistencies with the story we're being given,' the sheriff noted. 'I'm not confident enough to give you all that that's definitively what happened,' he added. Islar, 28, was arrested on felony charges of injury to a child. The sheriff said she has been 'mostly' cooperative and that he hopes conversations with her will be able to shed more light on what happened. Tiona Islar told police she last saw her children alive in her home at 10am before finding them in her car around 3pm Islar told police that her children must have made their way out of the home and into the car while she was asleep Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said there were 'inconsistencies' in the mother's story Salazar also mentioned that the family previously had an encounter with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office and Child Protective Services. A sheriff's spokesperson said the investigation is still underway and authorities are awaiting the cause of death from the medical examiner. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office is asking for anyone with information about the case, including video from the area, to contact them. Salazar advised anyone who comes across a child in a locked car on a hot day to try to open the doors. If the doors are locked, he said to break a window and 'do whatever you have to do to get that kid out of there.' At least 1,159 children have died in hot cars in the US since 1990, according to Kids and Car Safety, with at least 28 deaths this year. On average, 37 children under the age of 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle Nearly every state has experienced at least one hot car death since 1998, but Texas is the state with the highest total number in the country at 155, according to NSC Injury Facts. President Donald Trump on Monday encouraged parents to delay giving babies the Hepatitis B vaccine because the disease is 'sexually transmitted.' 'There's no reason to give a baby that's almost just born Hepatitis B, so I would say wait 'til the baby is 12-years-old and formed and take Hepatitis B,' Trump said in the Roosevelt Room, flanked by his top medical advisers. 'And I think if you do those things it's going to be whole different - it's going to be a revolution in a positive sense in the country,' the president said. Trump held a press conference aimed at urging pregnant woman against taking acetaminophen while pregnant. He said it could lead to autism and ADHD. The president also said that the vaccine schedule should be spaced out for babies instead of having multiple administered at the same time or even combined into the same shot. The latest comes as Trump's Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to overhaul the medical system in the U.S. in the name of his Make America Healthy Again Movement. Trump brushed off a question from a reporter who pointed out that Hepatitis B isn't just a sexually transmitted disease and that it can be contracted by using needles or from open wounds. 'I think it's absolutely appropriate. I think they should wait until they're 12 years old,' Trump answered, moving on to the next question. President Donald Trump (center) gave advice on vaccines and talked about links between autism and Tylenol at a Roosevelt Room event on Monday surrounded by (from left) Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Makary, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz and Dr. Dorothy Fink Trump's gathering in the Roosevelt Room was to announce that there is a link between a surge in childhood autism rates and women taking acetaminophen during pregnancy. The most known brand name of acetaminophen is Tylenol. And Trump told parents not to give their newborn babies the popular pain reliever and fever reducer. RFK Jr. and Trump were joined on Monday by Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz, United States Commissioner of Food and Drugs Marty Makary, Director of the National Institutes of Health Jay Bhattacharya, Heidi Overton of the MAGA-friendly America First Policy Institute and Acting Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Dorothy Fink. RFK Jr. has made it his mission to get to the bottom of why autism rates in the U.S. have exploded in recent decades and previewed he would make a big revelation about his agency's findings in September. Trump admitted that he was a bit more hasty when it came to announcing the link than his medical advisers specifically, Secretary Kennedy. 'I hope I didn't ruin his day' Trump said as he turned the microphone over to RFK Jr., who was less vocal about advising women against taking Tylenol when pregnant. At the press conference, Trump raised his voice and repeatedly instructed women: 'Don't take Tylenol! Don't do it.' Cautiously, Kennedy claimed that his HHS will be doing more research and making additional announcements as it relates to autism in the more than three remaining years of the administration. 'We expect this to be the first of many announcements over the coming years... on underlying causes of autism and potential paths for reversal,' the HHS secretary said. 'One area we are closely examining is vaccines,' RFK Jr. added. Copenhagen Airport was left paralysed for four hours on Monday night, causing chaos for passengers as planes were stopped from taking off or landing. All traffic was halted after unidentified drones were 'spotted nearby' at around 8.26pm local time. The airport reopened at around 12.30am on Tuesday but delays and cancellations were expected to continue. Between two and three 'large' drones were sighted in the area, Copenhagen police spokesperson Henrik Stormer said, and the airport revealed the drones remained present in the area for several hours afterwards. At least 35 flights were diverted to other sites, including Malmo and Gothenburg, Sweden, and Billund, Aalborg, and Aarhus, Denmark. Later in the evening, Oslo Airport in Norway was also forced to close and divert its planes after drones were spotted in the vicinity. Two people were also arrested in the Norwegian capital after drones were seen at a military site. At a press conference in Copenhagen, Jakob Hansen, deputy police inspector at the Copenhagen Police, said they are working with the Danish Armed Forces on the incident, saying that 'measures will be taken'. The police could not say where the drones came from, but said they disappeared on their own and have not been seen since. He said the police 'do not know at this time' whether the drones were Russian. Deputy Inspector Hansen confirmed that police would work closely with Norwegian police after a number of drones were seen in Oslo. Police officers seen at Copenhagen Airport after all flights were diverted due to drone sightings He said he understood people's fears about the drones in Danish airspace. He added: 'I can understand that the security situation, as it is, makes people think about many things. If people have become afraid, then I can understand that. 'The police cannot yet say anything about where the drones came from, nor can they say where they subsequently flew.' However, Hansen said there was no indications that the drones have posed a danger to Danes. Police said they were not concerned about the possibility of the drones attacking and said passengers who were in planes were not in danger. They said they will host a further press conference at 7am local time. During the closure, one plane was allowed to make an emergency landing at Copenhagen Airport as it did not have enough fuel to divert. Earlier in the evening duty officer Anette Ostenfeldt warned that the drones were still 'flying back and forth, coming and going', several hours after the closure. She could not say if the drones were military or civilian devices. 'But they are bigger than what you as a private individual can buy,' Ostenfeldt said. An airport spokesperson told local news outlet BT that the drone sighting was 'unusual'. Police said that between two and three 'large' drones had been sighted in the area She said: 'It's procedure that you can neither take off nor land, and you still can't. The police are investigating the matter, until they have more information, the airspace is closed. 'We hope that passengers can soon depart safely and land safely.' They also reportedly called in extra staff for several positions. Passenger Mikael Belstrup told the news channel he was on a flight from Amsterdam to Copenhagen which was diverted to Billund. He said: 'We were told that Copenhagen Airport was closed due to drones and that the staff didn't know anything. We are still in the plane and they are refueling it so we have the opportunity to come back if or when the airport opens.' Another passenger told local media that they boarded a plane to Paris for a school trip. She said: 'The atmosphere is quite tense, and no one really knows what is going on. 'What makes it unsafe to sit here is that we can see that there are so many police surrounding us and so many blue lights.' Many flights to and from Copenhagen have been severely delayed or cancelled Another eyewitness said they saw blue flashes from the runways, three police cars and around eight officers. One flyer who had been traveling from Krakow, questioned whether there was a possibility the drone was meant to be in Polish airspace. 'It was really uncomfortable. Really uncomfortable. When you think about everything that's happened in the last few weeks,' he told BT. Later, at around 9:00pm local time, a similar alert occurred in Oslo, Norway, after drones were spotted over the Akershus Fortress, a military site. Norwegian police said they detained two Singaporean citizens in connection with the incident. Norwegian police detained the two foreign nationals who were operating a drone over Akershus Fortress, which houses the headquarters of the Norwegian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense, according to the Norwegian state broadcaster NRK. Drones were then spotted near Oslo airport, forcing it to close and divert all of its flights to other destinations. Norwegian police said they had not been able to locate the drone or its owner. They added that there is no basis to say that it is related to drones at Copenhagen Airport. Copenhagen Airport was previously closed in January for almost two hours following a drone sighting. A man described as 'shirtless, talking to himself and being loud' is now facing prison time for pointing a laser pointer at Marine One, the presidential helicopter, while President Donald Trump was on board. The Justice Department on Monday charged Jacob Samuel Winkler with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. A member of the Secret Service Uniformed Bicycle Division was assigned to secure a flight path for Marine One on Saturday ahead of Trump's departure to Mount Vernon. The officer was patrolling 17th Street N.W. and Constitution Avenue, an intersection south of the White House, when he noticed Winkler walking toward him from 16th Street N.W., an affidavit said. The Secret Service officer shone a flashlight at Winkler, who in turn shone the red laser pointer at his face. Winkler is then accused of directing the laser pointer at Marine One, which had just lifted off from the White House's South Lawn. That action, according to the testimony, was a 'danger to Marine One and everyone on-board.' Winkler's 'conduct posed a risk of flash blindness and pilot disorientation, especially during low-level flight near other helicopters,' the affidavit said, noting the nearby flight paths of U.S. Park Police and U.S. Marine Corps helicopters and the Washington Monument. Marine One carrying President Donald Trump lifts off from the South Lawn on Saturday. A man faces prison time for pointing a laser pointer at Marine One while Trump was on board and could face as much as five years behind bars 'This placed Marine One at risk of an airborne collision,' the court document said. Washington, D.C., was already reeling earlier this year when a Black Hawk flew into an American Airlines commercial plane that was landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. Winkler was quickly detained and handcuffed. He started saying things like 'I should apologize to Donald Trump' and 'I apologize to Donald Trump,' several times. The defendant said he was unaware that he couldn't point a laser pointer at a helicopter and said he often pointed a laser pointer at 'all kinds of things, such as stop signs.' Investigators found the laser pointer and a three-inch fixed-blade knife on Winkler when he was searched. It's unclear if Marine One's pilots were able to see the laser pointer. No other details about Winkler were included in the affidavit. President Donald Trump addresses reporters outside the White House on Saturday before boarding Marine One to take a trip to Mount Vernon. Moments later, Jacob Samuel Winkler is accused of aiming a laser pointer at the presidential helicopter The incident comes after Marine One made an emergency landing Thursday after Trump departed Chequers, the British version of Camp David, after a meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer as part of his historic second state visit. Marine One landed at Lutton Airport 'out of an abundance of caution' due to a 'minor hydraulic issue,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. The president and First Lady Melania Trump boarded the support helicopter and then safely landed at London's Stansted airport, joining the waiting staff and press to board Air Force One home. Trump has complained about the age of the current Air Force One, with the Department of Defense accepting a gift from the Qataris to be retrofitted into a new Air Force One that the Republican president wants to use for the remainder of his term. Anthony Albanese has received applause as he delivered Australia's vision for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict at the United Nations General Assembly, despite backlash from the US White House. The Prime Minister addressed the world leaders in New York on Tuesday morning (AEST), a day after Australia's formal recognition of Palestine as a state. Australia has joined Britain, Canada and Portugal in formally recognising a Palestinian state, with more countries including France set to follow suit. Albanese received a hearty round of applause from world leaders after announcing that Australia had formally recognised the state of Palestine. He declared that Hamas can have 'no role in Palestine's future' and renewed calls for the group to return hostages immediately and with dignity. 'We must choose a different path. We must break this cycle of violence and build something better,' Albanese told world leaders. 'We have been clear: the terrorist organisation Hamas can have no role in Palestine's future. 'Our recognition was predicated on commitments from the Palestinian Authority, reaffirming Israel's right to exist in peace and security, that Hamas turn over its weapons to Palestinian security forces and never control Gaza again.' Anthony Albanese has addressed world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly Before his address, Albanese was seen in discussions with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres 'And the PA (Palestinian Authority) must demilitarise, hold democratic elections, and undertake wholesale reform to governance, finance and education. Albanese said the Arab League added strength to the commitment towards a two-state solution. 'Their demand for Hamas to surrender its weapons and end its rule in Gaza has helped create this historic opportunity - a chance to deliver self-determination for Palestine in a way that permanently disarms Hamas and drives them from the region once and for all, recognising the aspirations of the Palestinian people is about more than a seat, a voice and a vote in the councils of the world,' Albanese continued. 'It is about real hope for a place to call home.' Albanese also urged the Israeli government to 'accept its share of responsibility' for the 'humanitarian catastrophe' in Gaza, where tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and denied vital aid. 'This comes alongside the continued illegal expansion of settlements on the West Bank and an increase in settler violence, threats to annex parts of Palestine and permanently displace the Palestinian people,' he said. Albanese also expressed his hopes for a better future for children in Gaza. 'That future depends on recognition being followed by reconstruction and reform, a credible, cooperative peace plan supporting recovery in Gaza and security for Israel, establishing governance and excluding Hamas on the day after and every day after that,' he said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese caught up with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney at the United Nations General Assembly Anthony Albanese was joined by Foreign Minister Penny Wong at the UN General Assembly 'This is the next step we must take, and we must take it together.' Albanese's address came shortly after the White House slammed recognition of a Palestinian state as 'more talk and not enough action from some of our allies'. The Australian PM has since sat down with French president Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the UN conference, where the Middle East conflict was high on the agenda. Albanese has again failed to secure a face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt detailed Trump's tightly packed 24-hour schedule in New York, which makes no mention of the Australian Prime Minister. Anthony Albanese has failed to secure a meeting with Donald Trump during his visit to New York for the UN General Assembly. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt detailed Trump's tightly packed 24-hour schedule in the city, which makes no mention of the Australian Prime Minister. Instead, Trump will hold talks with the UN Secretary-General and the leaders of Ukraine, Argentina and the European Union, before joining a major multilateral session with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkiye, Pakistan, Egypt, the UAE, and Jordan. Albanese is now left hoping for at least a handshake with Trump at a reception for world leaders on Wednesday night, to be hosted by the president and First Lady Melania Trump. 'I'll be talking with him there,' Albanese told Channel Seven this week. The snub comes after Trump lashed out at Australia for voting to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN. 'The President has been very clear: he disagrees with this decision,' Leavitt said. 'He feels it does nothing to release the hostages, which is the primary goal right now in Gaza. Anthony Albanese has failed to secure a meeting with US President Donald Trump (pictured) during his visit to New York 'Frankly, he believes it rewards Hamas. He sees these decisions as more talk and not enough action from some of our friends and allies.' The prime minister's office is yet to respond, but cabinet minister Amanda Rishworth skirted the issue saying Australia has a 'very close diplomatic relationship' with the US. 'He's had a number of phone calls with the president and ... as he's described them they've been warm, they've been good conversations,' she told Nine. But Liberal senator Andrew Bragg was more direct, saying 'Australia has been treated like a piece of dirt by this administration' under Labor. 'Perhaps sending (Kevin Rudd to the US as ambassador) was actually not in Australia's interests, and also the way that Mr Albanese has conducted his diplomacy, he's also been a disaster,' he said. 'We're being punished, frankly, and it's now very embarrassing.' The snub comes after Trump lashed out at Anthony Albanese (pictured) for voting to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN Rudd has a long history of outspoken criticism of Trump, and there are suggestions the President personally dislikes him. Rudd previously called Trump a 'traitor to the West', a 'village idiot' and described him as the 'most destructive president in history'. In response, Trump said that Rudd was 'nasty' and that he would not last long in the role if he returned to the White House. Albanese and Trump were due to sit down on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada in June, before the President cut his trip short and flew back to Washington to manage the Middle East war. Despite not meeting in person, the pair have had four phone calls since Trump was re-elected as President in January. Early in September, Albanese described their latest call as 'warm and constructive'. Trump was also asked about the call and said of Albanese: 'He's a good man'. But last week, tensions flared when journalist John Lyons, from Australia's national broadcaster the ABC, pressed Trump at a press conference about his business dealings while in office. Trump accused him of 'harming Australia' with the line of questioning. Trump addressed the reporter as 'John' before he answered: 'Well, I'm really not, my kids are running the businesses'. He then asked: 'Where are you from?' 'I'm from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, with the Four Corners program,' Lyons answered. Trump's demeanor appeared to shift: 'In my opinion, you are hurting Australia very much right now and they want to get along with me. 'You know, your leader is coming over to see me very soon. I'm going to tell him about you, you set a very bad tone.' Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Australia had a 'long shopping list of issues' that needed to be discussed with Mr Trump, including tariffs on Australian goods and the $368 billion nuclear-submarine deal under the three-nation AUKUS partnership. 'We need the meeting,' she told Nine's Today program on Tuesday. 'We need it to be calm, we need it to be considered, and we need our prime minister to be there, standing up for our national interest.' British workers would see their wages rise under Reform's plan to end firms' decades-long reliance on cheap foreign labour, Nigel Farage vowed yesterday. Under his 'very bold' plan to restrict legal migration, the party leader said if he becomes Prime Minister foreign nationals will no longer be able to come over for low-paid jobs leaving locals 'priced out'. He also outlined proposals to cut benefits for all migrants with settled status. In order to claim benefits they would need to have British citizenship. Mr Farage said a Reform government would force UK firms in sectors reliant on overseas staff to apply for new Acute Skills Shortage Visas and pay a levy to train Britons to do the jobs in future. The proposals form part of Mr Farage's plan to stop some 800,000 recent arrivals from settling by scrapping the immigration status of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which allows people who've worked in Britain for more than five years to stay and claim benefits. He said savings to the taxpayer would be more than his party's estimate of 230billion in the coming decades, despite critics saying the figure was unreliable and the think-tank that came up with it saying it should no longer be used. Mr Farage and key ally Zia Yusuf set themselves on a collision course with Brussels by pledging to stop European citizens who have settled here claiming benefits, though added little detail as to how they'd make that happen. They faced an angry response from trade union leaders and opposition parties who warned that their plans would split families and cost vital sectors, such as the NHS, thousands of workers. British workers would see their wages rise under Reform's plan to end firms' decades-long reliance on cheap foreign labour, Nigel Farage (pictured) vowed yesterday Challenged at a press conference today whether telling people here legally to leave clashed with the British sense of fair play, Mr Farage replied that he was talking about 'fair play' for British people. Mr Farage vowed: 'This is the end of endless cheap foreign labour, and an attempt to get young British people trained up to do the right jobs for the right pay.' Asked if British workers would do these jobs, particularly with many on sickness benefits, Mr Farage said: 'One thing that will encourage people to work, of course, is the fact that we're saying that average wages under these plans will go up.' Reform's plan, which follows its separate policy to deport 600,000 foreign criminals and Channel migrants over five years, was praised by some campaign groups. Migration Watch chairman Alp Mehmet said: 'Immigration is now the sole driver of our massive and rapid population growth. 'It simply must be checked if serious tensions are to be averted.' William Yarwood, media campaign manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'The size and scope of our welfare system and universal healthcare system has made Britain a magnet for those looking to live a life funded by taxpayers.' But Rachel Harrison, National Secretary of the GMB union, said public service such as the NHS were reliant on migrant workers and without them 'our care and health sectors would collapse'. The proposals form part of Mr Farage's plan to stop some 800,000 recent arrivals from settling by scrapping the immigration status of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Pictured: File photo General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing Nicola Ranger said: 'Threatening to sack thousands of migrant nursing staff is abhorrent beyond words.' Dr Ben Brindle, researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said: 'Around 430,000 held indefinite leave to remain at the end of 2024. 'Removing this status, which has been considered secure under successive governments, would be exceptionally unusual.' Matthew Wills, partner at law firm Laura Devine Immigration, added: 'Rescinding the status of migrants who have entirely legitimately secured an indefinite UK immigration status fundamentally undermines the rule of law.' Reform predicted that some 800,000 people who arrived under the last Tory government will become eligible for ILR by the end of the decade and that half of them will never work yet they will all have 'full access to our bloated welfare state for life'. It said that rescinding existing awards of ILR would save 234billion. But the Centre for Policy Studies think-tank, which calculated the 'ballpark' figure, said it shouldn't be used as the Office for Budget Responsibility changed the definitions on which it was based. Reform also clarified that it would not scrap the 'settled status' given to four million EU citizens after Brexit, although it would seek to stop them claiming benefits. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey warned that Reform's plan risked a Windrush-style scandal. He told GB News: 'He has not realised that lots of these people have made their lives here, contributing to businesses, to the health service.' Labour party chairman Anna Turley said: 'Their policy was in pieces before their press conference even started when they relied on discredited numbers.' Sir Keir Starmer was deemed a 'hypocrite' for wishing the Jewish community 'peace, health and sweetness' in the New Year, just 24 hours after recognising a Palestinian state. The Prime Minister was eviscerated for the 'tone deaf' social media post to mark Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, while Hamas celebrated following his announcement on Sunday. Outraged Israelis and Britons slammed him for 'hypocrisy' after 'rewarding the terrorists', with one woman writing: 'It would have been kinder to say nothing.' Another, Heidi Bachram, whose husband's relatives were killed by Hamas on October 7, shared an image of emaciated hostage Evyatar David, who is one of 48 still held in Gaza. She wrote: 'This New Year will not be sweet while hostages languish in Hamas tunnels. The British Government just rewarded their captors and made this holiday bitter indeed.' It came as Sir Keir was ridiculed for penning a sanctimonious op-ed in an Israeli newspaper on the first day of the holy festival, titled 'Why I recognised a Palestinian state'. In it he lectured families in the Jewish state on how 'this is a moment to change direction back towards peace', and promised those coming under near daily rocket attacks from Iranian proxies that the UK 'and partners' would 'ensure' the Palestinian state would be no threat. Former Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz said Sir Keir had a 'detachment from reality'. Sir Keir Starmer was deemed a 'hypocrite' for wishing the Jewish community 'peace, health and sweetness' in the New Year Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Benny Gantz (pictured) said Sir Keir had a 'detachment from reality' Jewish pilgrims during the celebration of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) on September 22, 2025 in Uman, Ukraine He asked: 'Will Britain send 'boots on the ground' to fight the terror emboldened by your statements?' Meanwhile, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the recognition and vowed to respond after returning from the UN this week. Sir Keir had said the move would 'revive the hope of peace' in the Middle East and insisted Hamas would play 'no role' in any Palestinian government. But his diplomacy was unravelling on Monday as Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper pleaded with Israel not to respond by expanding settlements in the West Bank. It came as France last night followed the UK, Canada and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state. French president Emmanuel Macron addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying: 'We are convinced this is the only way for Israel to achieve peace. 'This recognition is a defeat for Hamas, just like for all those who want the destruction of the State of Israel.' The Tories claimed Sir Keir was trying to appease his base on the Left which is pressuring him to go further by declaring a genocide in Gaza and ending arms sales to Israel. Sharren Haskel, Israel's deputy minister of foreign affairs, told the Mail: 'This domestic political decision masquerading as foreign policy is entirely about virtue-signaling to Muslim audiences and left-wing activists, at the expense of truth and morality.' Security expert Andrew Fox, a former major in the Parachute Regiment, told the Mail the move could have profound implications for Britain's defences. We rely heavily on intelligence sharing and military know-how from Israel which supplies key components in vital equipment including our Typhoon fighter jets. 'We are at a point where Israel is starting to see us as an unreliable partner,' he said. 'Israel is justified to start returning fire.' Guy C, former intelligence officer in Israel, told the Mail: 'The Israeli Prime Minister, of course, can order the head of the Mossad to stop working with the UK intelligence, I would like to think this wouldn't happen because it would be a catastrophe if it did. 'I just hope politics and diplomacy will stay separate.' Ilay David, whose emaciated brother Evyatar is being intentionally starved by Hamas in Gaza said now was not the time to declare a Palestinian state as 48 captives remain. 'The Western world right now, democracies all around the world, should unite and put all the leverage on Hamas, because they are the true enemy of society. Right now.' On his families torment, he added: 'The pain is most unspeakable, the emotions are so brutal. 'My brother is being literally tortured. To understand that he's suffering this, and I have no idea for how long, that's one of the toughest things I've ever experienced. 'It's unimaginable pain to see my parents in that situation. It's unbearable, and I wish that no one - no-one - would ever have to feel those things as my family is enduring right now.' The Australian government is seeking urgent advice after the Trump administration made unproven claims that pregnant women's use of paracetamol such as Panadol or Tylenol could be linked to autism in children. The President said the US Food and Drug Administration will immediately notify American physicians to warn pregnant women to avoid paracetamol, 'unless medically necessary,' such as in cases of 'extremely high fever'. He warned that pregnant women 'have a responsibility' to endure pain instead of taking Tylenol - the American brand name for the drug - and only take it if they 'can't tough it out' or have an extremely high fever. 'Taking Tylenol is not good. It's not good Don't take Tylenol,' Trump said. 'Just don't take it unless it's absolutely necessary.... Fight like hell not to take it.' Trump acknowledged that his advice did not align with the FDA's current guidance but was based on 'what I feel'. It is thought that the active ingredient in Tylenol, known around the world as paracetamol, may impact foetal brain development. However, research has largely been inconsistent, and major health bodies, including those in Australia, still recommend its use for pregnant women. The president said the FDA will immediately notify physicians to warn pregnant women to avoid paracetamol, 'unless medically necessary' Donald Trump has claimed to have 'solved' America's autism 'epidemic,' linking the rise of the condition to paracetamol It has been reported that Health Minister Mark Butler has called for urgent advice following the Trump announcement. However, Australia's medicine regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has reiterated that paracetamol is safe and confirmed it remains in pregnancy category A, meaning it is considered safe for use by pregnant women. 'The use of medications in pregnancy is subject to clinical, scientific and toxicological evaluation at the time of registration of a medicine in Australia,' the TGA said in a statement. 'The TGA has no current active safety investigations for paracetamol and autism, or paracetamol and neurodevelopmental disorders more broadly.' Danielle McMullen, the President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), told ABC Radio National on Tuesday: 'There are no studies showing that paracetamol use in pregnancy causes autism. 'There have been some studies showing what we call an association between paracetamol use and autism in children, but there's also been really large studies showing that there's no association. 'And it's important to remember that association doesn't mean cause. 'It could be that there's a whole range of things that happened during pregnancies, and one of those was that the pregnant mother took paracetamol, but it also could be that she had a fever or there were genetic factors. 'In fact, in autism, it's most likely that autism is linked with genetic factors as its primary driver, but we really don't know the full cause of autism.' The announcement comes after the Trump administration and health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, made it a top priority to tackle America's rising autism rates, with one in 31 children now estimated to have the condition compared to one in 150 children in 2000. It has been reported that Health Minister Mark Butler has called for urgent advice following the Trump announcement Trump warned that pregnant women should 'fight like hell' not to take Paracetamol or give it to their children (stock image) Trump cited that the rate was closer to one in 20,000 decades ago but did not specify how he reached that figure. Historical data suggests the president was exaggerating. Experts say the increase is largely due to a loosening of the definition of autism and because doctors have become better at detecting the condition. But others, including RFK Jr, have suggested toxins in the environment, older parents or maternal obesity could be behind the rise. Kennedy added: 'We are continuing to investigate multiplicity of potential causes. 'We will be uncompromising and relentless in our pursuit. Whatever the answer is, we will tell you what we find.' Paracetamol manufacturers earlier pushed back against the Trump administration's claims that the painkiller causes autism, branding it 'dangerous' and insisting their drug remains the safest option for pain and fever relief in pregnant women. Additionally, Trump praised the CDC's latest move to stop recommending the combined MMR and varicella vaccine and urged Americans to break up the MMR vaccine into three separate shots because mixing them 'could be a problem'. 'We want no mercury in the vaccine. We want no aluminium in the vaccine. The MMR I think should be taken separately. 'This is based on what I feel. The mumps, measles, the all three should be taken separately. It seems to be that when you mix them, there could be a problem.' It's no secret that Queen Camilla has had a hard time shaking off the cartoon villain image which had been created for her. There were genuine moments which showed her in a bad light, such as her extra-marital affair with King Charles, as well as a string of rumours such as her stockpiling cigarettes and having a gin habit. But behind many of the cruel nicknames were two young boys who were grieving the loss of their mother - and feared a fairytale evil stepmother. Prince Harry and Prince William were just 12 and 15 years old when their mother, Princess Diana died. Harry's tell-all memoir Spare made some shocking accusations against the Royal Family, including Camilla's role in his father's life. He wrote: 'I had complex feelings about gaining a stepparent who, I believed, had recently sacrificed me on her personal PR altar. 'In a funny way, I even wanted Camilla to be happy. Maybe she'd be less dangerous if she was happy?' He further elaborated during an interview with CBS, claiming members of the Firm were 'getting into bed with the devil' to earn positive media coverage. Pictured: Charles and Camilla on the steps of St. George's Chapel in Windsor following the church blessing of their civil wedding ceremony in April 2005 Harry and William - pictured at Charles and Camilla's wedding - were just 12 and 15 years old when their mother died Harry is pictured with his beloved mother, Princess Diana, who died on August 31, 1997 Harry said: 'That made her dangerous because of the connections that she was forging with the British press. 'There was open willingness on both sides to trade information. 'And with a family built on hierarchy, and with her on the way to becoming queen consort, there was going to be people or bodies left in the street.' A year after Diana passed in 1997, Charles and Camilla appeared publicly as a couple. But their relationship had been bubbling under the surface for many years prior and the two divorced their partners after a flurry of scandal, including the 'Tampongate' recordings. Tom Quinn wrote in his book, Yes Ma'am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, that as teenagers, Harry and William had a slew of nicknames for Camilla, including Lady Macbeth, Cruella de Vil and the Witch of the West. One of Harry's servants spoke about the prince's 'out of proportion anger' as Quinn wrote: 'When most people think of Harry they perhaps think of that sad-looking boy following his mother's coffin after her death in 1997. 'Many of Harry's problems do stem from that disaster in his early life, but people forget he is also his father's son. 'Harry was probably one of the most muddled of all the royals of his generation.' Harry's tell-all memoir Spare made some shocking accusations against the Royal Family, including Camilla's role in his father's life The Daily Mail front page on July 9 1998. The main story refers to the time William met Camilla for the first time in June 1998 It appears time may not be the greatest healer as Harry's resentment towards Camilla does not seem to have mellowed. In his bombshell book Harry claimed that he and William 'begged' their father not to marry Camilla. Charles had tried to win over his sons before asking the public to accept Camilla, the book claims. Harry then says meeting the future Queen Consort for the first time was like enduring an 'injection'. But award-winning journalist and author Robert Jobson has since questioned Harry's claims, saying the Duke of Sussex's description of Camilla as a 'wicked stepmother' seems 'weird' considering he was a grown man at the time, not a child. Charles and Camilla married in April 2005 when Harry was nearly 21. But Harry has regularly showed himself to be an unreliable narrator. He admitted to suffering from a 'spotty memory' when writing his memoir but insisted his version of events has 'just as much truth' as 'so-called objective facts'. His retelling of his emotions before Charles and Camilla's wedding appears to conflict with quotes he gave to the press shortly after the nuptials. 'She's always been very close to me and William She's not the wicked stepmother,' he said at the time, according to People. 'She's a wonderful woman and she's made our father very, very happy, which is the most important thing.' Three months after the book's publication an aide told The Sunday Times of Camilla's response to Harry's claims, saying: 'It was not stamping of feet or gnashing of teeth it was much more of an eye-roll response.' Camilla's close friend Fiona Shelburne, Lady Lansdowne also told the newspaper: 'Of course it bothers her, of course it hurts. 'But she doesn't let it get to her. Her philosophy is always, "Don't make a thing of it and it will settle down least said, soonest mended." ' Harry's retelling of his emotions before Charles and Camilla's wedding appears to conflict with quotes he gave to the press shortly after the nuptials As recently as 2023 MailOnline reported Queen Camilla had no relationship with the Sussexes. According to Omid Scobie's book Endgame, while the queen has 'great sympathy' for what Meghan went through, a royal source told the author that she has 'no respect for the way they handled themselves'. The book points out that while Camilla is a rock for Charles, while William and Harry accepted that, it took some time for them to develop any kind of relationship. But like the public (which, the book says, 'finally...tolerated, then later accepted' the Duchess of Cornwall) William has become closer to his stepmother. In fact, according to author Omid Scobie: 'In the early days it would have been unimaginable to think that one day William and Kate would meet Charles and Camilla for laugh-filled lunches but the two couples have grown increasingly closer over the years, especially since the Sussexes' departure.' Harry's relationship with both William and Charles have been notoriously strained. Last week it was reported that Harry promised his father he could be trusted to stay quiet about their private discussions before they met for the first time in more than 18 months. The Duke of Sussex spent 54 minutes having a cup of tea with King Charles at Clarence House in London yesterday as part of 'rebuilding their father-and-son relationship'. When they met in February 2024 after the monarch was diagnosed with cancer, Harry's audience was limited to just over 15 minutes. A royal source has said that Harry is determined to 'reset' his relationship with his family, and the British people, after years of turmoil caused by Megxit - starting first with his father. 'This is an important first step towards rebuilding their father-and-son relationship', a royal insider told the Daily Mail today. 'He has told his father he won't be giving any interviews about it and his team have been instructed not to brief journalists about what was said. 'There's a long way to go before Harry can earn his family's trust but he's given some assurances.' William did not attend the Clarence House meeting but will have been aware it was going to take place, it is understood. The Prince and Princess of Wales were out at royal events all week - and on one occasion were only three miles away from Harry but chose not to meet. 'William would have known that this was going to happen. It's not clear how happy he is about it but, you know, sooner or later most families reach some sort of accommodation after a family rift', a source told the Daily Mail. The King 'desperately misses' his son Prince Harry and is 'tiring' of William's 'self-righteous intractability' in the feud dividing their family, a royal biographer has claimed. Highly-respected author Tina Brown, who was friends with the late Princess Diana, said Charles 'wants to re-embrace Harry' but only if 'he can keep his mouth shut'. Ms Brown claimed the King's 54-minute chat with Harry at Clarence House in London during his UK visit on September 10 was 'the fulfilment of paternal longing'. But she warned William remains 'enraged' by his 'treacherous' brother's trip to Britain and his attempts to 'upstage' him by holding engagements at the same time. It came as royal sources told the Daily Mail that Prince Harry will never be allowed to return as a 'half-in, half out' working royal - and claims he could 'take some of the load off' his brother, Prince William, are 'wide of the mark'. Insiders reacted angrily on Sunday night to briefings by sources apparently close to the Duke of Sussex that his recent meeting with King Charles, at the end of what his team believes was a hugely successful charity trip to the UK, signalled a 'thawing of their relationship' and the 'acceptance' of his family 'back into the royal fold'. Former Vanity Fair editor Ms Brown has said that the positive reception to Harry's charity events would have angered the Prince of Wales after his sibling 'trashed his family'. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the One805LIVE! 2025 concert in California on Saturday as debate rages in the UK about the implications of Harry's reconciliation with his father Harry, Charles and William at the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London in February 2014 She also picked up on how Harry said during an interview while visiting Ukraine after the UK that his 'conscience is clear' after speaking out against other royals. The author said this 'suggests to his haters the futility of expecting Harry Hotspur to play the old royal game', when the King wants Harry to stop speaking out. Ms Brown, author of The Palace Papers, wrote in the New York Times: 'It's no secret that Charles desperately misses his prodigal son who, in earlier days, was always the fun, ebullient scamp compared with the haughtier, more Hanoverian William. 'It's understandably enraging for William to see his treacherous younger brother, who spent the last five years trashing his family on TV and promoting a back-stabbing, best-selling book, bounding around the British charity circuit, doing a well-received side-dash to Ukraine and upstaging the photo ops of William's own diligent engagements. 'But Charles, I am told, is tiring of his elder son's self-righteous intractability in the family feud, and wants to re-embrace Harry - if only he can keep his mouth shut.' Insiders reacted angrily on Sunday night to briefings by sources apparently close to the Duke of Sussex that his recent meeting with King Charles, at the end of what his team believes was a hugely successful charity trip to the UK, signalled a 'thawing of their relationship' and the 'acceptance' of his family 'back into the royal fold'. The same sources also suggest it could even be the start of a new working model for the ex-royal. He now apparently plans to return to Britain 'four or five times year' for 'public events', both for his own charitable initiatives and, potentially, in support of the Royal Family. Referring to the briefings, however, a royal insider told the Daily Mail: 'Whoever is behind them seems to have mistaken a brief tea and a slice of cake for the Treaty of Versailles.' It is also clear there are fears that some in 'Team Harry' may be using this month's 'baby step' forwards in the broken relationship between father and son to, perhaps sinisterly, drive a wedge between the King and his elder son and heir. They have repeated unsubstantiated claims that 'tensions' are brewing between the King and Prince William over the apparent lightness of his workload. One royal insider said: 'These syrupy briefings from supposed Sussex sources are precisely why The King and Royal family are so hesitant to embark on any road to rapprochement. If the intention is to encourage a rebuilding of trust and relationships, they serve the precise opposite effect'. Tina Brown's comments come a week after another provocative intervention in the family feud that has raised fresh questions over William's work ethic, a claim also denied by a royal source. Royal author and ex-Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown, who was friends with the late Princess Diana In a post on Substack, she claimed that the cancer-stricken King was frustrated by William's 'underwhelming' approach to royal duties. Ms Brown contrasted Harry's 'buoyant' series of photo opportunities in the UK and Ukraine with William and his wife Kate's appearances at a handful of 'groaningly square' charity functions. The Duke spent four days in the UK on a solo trip from September 8, before making a surprise trip to Ukraine. Speaking to The Guardian during the visit to Kyiv, Harry described his autobiography Spare, published in 2023, as a 'series of corrections to stories already out there'. The 41-year-old said he would like to spend more time in Britain and that the past week had 'definitely brought that closer'. Harry added: 'I know that (speaking out) annoys some people and it goes against the narrative. The book? It was a series of corrections to stories already out there. One point of view had been put out and it needed to be corrected. 'I don't believe that I aired my dirty laundry in public. It was a difficult message, but I did it in the best way possible. My conscience is clear.' Harry joined Charles for a private tea on the afternoon of September 10, spending 54 minutes with his father at Clarence House after not seeing him face to face for 19 months. Before that meeting, Harry had last seen the King in February last year when he made a transatlantic dash from his Californian home to the UK to speak with Charles following his cancer diagnosis. Harry, who stepped down from the working monarchy in 2020, has levelled a barrage of accusations at the King, his stepmother Queen Camilla, William and Kate in his Oprah interview, Netflix documentary, interviews and his autobiography Spare since moving to the US. Harry previously claimed Charles was jealous of Meghan and Kate, did not hug him when he told him his mother Diana had died, and said he believed the King was 'never made' for single parenthood, but 'to be fair, he tried'. Charles, according to Harry, pleaded with his sons during a tense meeting in 2021 after Prince Philip's funeral: 'Please, boys. Don't make my final years a misery.' Senior aides to the King and Harry were pictured together by The Mail On Sunday in London this July in what was reported to be an initial step towards opening channels of communication between the two households. When news broke at the weekend of the Duchess of York's secret ongoing association with the financier Jeffrey Epstein even after he'd been convicted of paedophilia, Fergie's many children's charities had to think fast. How could they possibly carry on an association with a woman who, as the Mail on Sunday revealed, had described Epstein as 'my dear, dear friend Jeffrey' in emails sent at a time when she was in full knowledge of his child sex offences and subsequent imprisonment. The children's hospice Julia's House was the first to realise that any further relationship with a woman who had so clearly misled everyone about the true extent of her relationship with the toxic Epstein was untenable. Saying that any further involvement with the Duchess would be 'inappropriate', it dropped her as its patron. Within hours, six other charities had followed suit, including the Teenage Cancer Trust. But perhaps the most telling move from Fergie's point of view was the decision by The Children's Literacy Charity to ask her to step down as patron. Where does this decision leave the bosses at New Frontier Publishing, who have just announced the November release date of her latest book, Kindness Along The Way, a work aimed at young children? Quite apart from what impact going ahead with publication might have on their brand, how can they now, in all conscience, release a book written by an author exposed as being a confidante of a convicted sex offender? After all, Fergie even admits in her grovellingly apologetic emails to Epstein that she only distanced herself from him 'to save her own reputation and her career as a children's author'. No charity executive could possibly read Fergie's emails and not come to the conclusion that she is now completely beyond the pale. Far from living up to her vow to 'have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again', she resumed contact with him within weeks via a series of gushing emails. Seven charities have cut ties with Fergie after her emails to Jeffrey Epstein were uncovered by the Mail on Sunday In one email, she described the convicted paedophile as 'my dear, dear friend Jeffrey' She not only referred to him as my 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend', but added in the language of a lovestruck schoolgirl 'Sometimes the heart speaks better than the words. You have my heart. With lots of love, dear Jeffrey'. It doesn't take someone with a master's degree in crisis management to realise that the emails sound the death knell for Fergie's credibility insofar as she had any left. Outside palace doors in the real world if any patron or CEO of a charity maintained an intimate level of contact with such a sinister and poisonous individual, they would be given their marching orders so fast their feet wouldn't touch the ground. Now Fergie's craven duplicity has been revealed for all the world to see, her reputation is trashed for ever. Such is the impossibility of her position she might even be forced to sack herself. How can she possibly remain as patron of Sarah's Trust, the charity she established in 2020 with a mission to support 'vulnerable families and children'. In the decades since she married Prince Andrew in 1986, Fergie has committed many legendary missteps but in first befriending a man such as Epstein and then secretly carrying on their friendship when she knew exactly what sort of monster he was is surely the most egregious of them all and one from which she must not be allowed to recover. The sad thing is that her actions do not just damage her reputation but the reputation of the institution of the monarchy itself. In indulging this reckless loose cannon and her worthless ex-husband for so many decades, King Charles and the rest of the Royal Family have tacitly accepted their outrageous excesses. In indulging this reckless loose cannon and her worthless ex-husband for so many decades, King Charles and the rest of the Royal Family have tacitly accepted their outrageous excesses, writes Amanda Platell What Charles doesn't get is that every time he is pictured with the Yorks his reputation and that of the monarchy is diminished, writes Amanda Platell Not so the irascible but perceptive Prince Philip who, according to Andrew Lownie the author of a brilliantly revealing biography of Prince Andrew that was recently serialised in the Daily Mail questioned Fergie's motives for marrying Andrew from the start. In Philip's view, she was a dim-witted 'girl on the make'. If only Charles had shown even a smidgen of his father's insight. Instead of side-lining his greedy, scandal-riven brother Andrew in the wake of Epstein's conviction on sex charges, the forgiving Charles all too often too kind for his own good allowed him and his wife to attend and be photographed at family occasions. Not only were they welcomed back into the fold to the extent that they were included in the traditional walks to church at Christmas and Easter but, only last week, given front row seats at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent, where they proceeded to embarrass William and others. What Charles doesn't get is that every time he is pictured with the Yorks his reputation and that of the monarchy is diminished. They have come to represent everything the general public has come to resent: unearned, inherited privilege coupled with a lust for excess. The King should be less worried about breaching ancient royal protocol by banning Andrew and Fergie from 'family' events and more concerned with the feelings of his subjects. At a time when polls are showing that support for the monarchy not only among the young but even among devout loyalists is sinking fast it is vital that he looks to the consequences his behaviour is having on his own credibility. Instead of wringing his hands and indulging his worthless parasite of a brother and his serially disgraced ex-wife, Charles should be focusing on the future of the monarchy. It is no exaggeration to say that, in the medium to long term, the very survival of the Windsors as a royal house could be at risk. In the circumstances, no right-minded person even a staunch monarchist like myself will tolerate anything less than the complete removal of the Yorks from public life in perpetuity. Yes, the British monarchy has survived more than 1,000 years, but does Charles not realise that we live in a world of #MeToo cancel culture, and that the Yorks' association with a paedophile is the most damaging scandal to hit them in many years. Fergie may have been uncharitably christened the 'Duchess of Pork' due to her ongoing problems with her weight but now the expression relates to her legendary greed and taste for opulent living. From the very beginning she has been a blue-blood leech sucking the Royal Family dry. Now she is dragging them into a scandal which, in this woke world, I fear the monarchy may never fully recover from unless action is taken now. The King must rue the day, three months ago, when he gave the duchess a very public display of endorsement at Ascot's royal enclosure, almost genuflecting as he kissed the Duchess of York's hand. It's a picture that may well come back to haunt him. Retirement isn't always palm trees and pickleball. From New Mexico to New York, seniors are quietly packing up and leaving towns once thought to be their 'forever homes.' Rising costs and safety concerns are sending retirees packing - even from places that promised peace, community and affordable living. And a new analysis shows where they are fleeing fastest. And while some might assume states like California and New York are 'obvious candidates' for population decline, Heather Taylor, senior personal finance writer at GOBankingRates said this new data paints a bigger picture. 'These shifts are happening across a wide range of states,' Taylor said told the Daily Mail. 'In fact, several states traditionally viewed as affordable retirement destinations appear prominently in the rankings.' She mentioned New Mexico and Florida - often considered a retirement haven - as two states with a surprising number of towns on the decline for retirees. According to Taylor, these population shifts 'reflect a nationwide trend influenced by a mix of economic and lifestyle factors.' Certainly, retirees need to be mindful of their economic position when choosing a location to settle down in. Most get their income from Social Security, personal savings and investments (like 401(k)s, IRAs and brokerage accounts) or employer-provided pension plans. Retirees are packing up and fleeing some cities across the US in droves Your browser does not support iframes. With a median income of $54,710 for Americans 65 and older - or an inflated $83,950 when top earners are counted - retirees need to pick their spots carefully if they want comfort, community and a manageable cost of living in their later years. Researchers from GOBankingRates analyzed towns where at least 20 percent of residents are 65 or older and the total population is at least 5,000. They then ranked each town by the five-year change in its retiree population. At the top of the list is Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. (Yes, thats the real name.) Once a draw for its slow pace, outdoor activities and low cost of living, the town - renamed from Hot Springs in 1950 - has seen a 25 percent drop in residents aged 65 and older over the past five years. North Hills, New York, a Long Island suburb known for independent and assisted living, is not faring much better. Sky-high home prices - a median of $2.6million - and steep property taxes have pushed retirees elsewhere, resulting in a 23.5 percent decline. Third on the list is Oak Brook, Illinois, which has seen a 22.8 percent decrease over the last five years. Oak Brook is an affluent suburb located 15 miles west of downtown Chicago. Retirees are leaving in droves, perhaps due to the high property taxes and overall cost of living in both the state and the town specifically. High taxes can quickly drain a fixed retirement income. 'The median sale price in Oak Brook is around $860,000, which is more than double the US median,' a representative from local realtor group the Sarah Leonard Team told the Daily Mail. 'While the tax rate there is actually relatively low, the property value keeps the taxes higher than most retirees or fixed income individuals could afford.' Fort Myers (pictured) offers an attractive lifestyle for those entering retirement with warm weather, outdoor activities, and a retiree-friendly environment East Cleveland, Ohio, (pictured) saw a 21.1 percent decline in its retiree population Retirees consider comfort, community and access to healthcare when picking a spot to settle down The realtor explained that while residents can enjoy upscale amenities and access to high-end shopping and dining, these are not qualities that entice 'most retirees.' Even Floridas Fort Myers Beach, usually a retirement paradise, is not immune. It was next on the list with a decline of 21.2 percent. Like many Florida cities, Fort Myers offers an attractive lifestyle of warm weather, outdoor activities and a retiree-friendly environment. But rising HOA fees and insurance costs in the state prone to natural disasters are a significant concern, especially for those on a fixed income. Additionally, as Americans flocked to Florida after the pandemic, housing prices jumped more than in most other areas. East Cleveland, Ohio, rounds out the top five, losing 21.1 percent of its retiree population amid high crime rates, increases in poverty and decaying properties. These factors make the area unpopular with retirees, who would likely rather opt for safer, more stable environments. So while the trends are certainly shifting for those looking to relocate in retirement, there appears to be a lot more to consider than just the weather. It's almost time to get your coats out, pour yourself a large pumpkin spice latte, and start picking your conkers. That's because autumn officially begins tonight! The autumn equinox takes place at 19:20 BST Monday marking the point when the sun appears to shine directly over the equator. This annual astronomical milestone officially heralds the arrival of autumn along with gradually colder temperatures for the Northern Hemisphere. And it means daytime and nighttime are nearly equal lengths all around the world. After tonight, as we get further into autumn, daytime will gradually keep getting shorter until the arrival of winter. 'In the Northern hemisphere, the September equinox marks the start of a period bringing us later sunrises and earlier sunsets,' NASA explains. 'We will also feel cooler days with chillier winds, and dry, falling leaves.' It's almost time to get your coats out, pour yourself a large pumpkin spice and start picking your conkers . That's because autumn officially begins tonight It's well known that Earth is tilted on its axis, which is why we have seasons. As our planet orbits the sun, the sun illuminates either the northern or southern hemisphere more, depending on where the Earth is along its orbit. However, at two points in the year the sun will illuminate the northern and southern hemispheres equally. These are known as the equinoxes, and in the Northern Hemisphere they happen in March (the official start of spring) and September (the official start of autumn). Anna Ross, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, explains: 'Earth takes one year (or 365andaquarter days) to orbit once around the sun and it is tilted over slightly on its axis. 'So for half of the year, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted slightly towards the sun, meaning we have longer daylight hours and hotter temperatures. 'For the other half of the year, we are tilted slightly further away from the sun so we have longer nights and colder weather. It's this tilt that gives us our seasons. 'There are two points in the year where the Earth's tilt is at its most extreme relative to the sun.' NASA graphic explains the difference between the solstice and the equinox. The solstices take place in June and December; the equinoxes take place in March and September Occurring twice per year, equinox is when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator, and day and night are of equal length. Pictured, spring equinox in 2024 Solstices and equinoxes for 2025 Spring equinox March 20, 09:01 GMT Summer solstice June 21, 03:42 BST Autumn equinox September 22, 19:20 BST Winter solstice December 21, 15:03 GMT Source: Royal Museums Greenwich Advertisement Of course, when the Northern Hemisphere enters autumn, the Southern Hemisphere enters the other equinox (spring). So in Australia for example, temperatures will now start to get warmer and flowers will start to blossom. For the Northern Hemisphere, tonight's equinox kicks of the countdown to the winter solstice the shortest day of the year and the start of winter on December 21. Solstices which are essentially the opposite of the equinoxes occur when the planet's geographical pole in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere is most greatly inclined towards the Sun. 'There are two points in the year where the Earth's tilt is at its most extreme relative to the sun,' said Ross. 'These days are known as the solstices. 'On these dates, depending on which hemisphere you live in, you will either experience midsummer with the longest day of the year or midwinter with the longest night. 'In between both of these extremes, we get our spring and autumn months, with the exact midpoints being the equinoxes.' If you think that autumn already started on September 1, a meteorologist would agree with you, although an astronomer probably wouldn't. The astronomical definition of when seasons start and end are based on the Earth's tilted orbit in relation to the sun. But meteorologists use another definition where the Northern Hemisphere's spring, summer, autumn and winter always begin on the first day of March, June, September and December, respectively. This alternative definition, rigidly defined by the months of the year, makes it easier for meteorologists and climatologists to compare seasonal and monthly statistics. The Met Office explains: 'These seasons are split to coincide with our Gregorian calendar, making it easier for meteorological observing and forecasting to compare seasonal and monthly statistics.' The 'astronomical' definition is more readily accepted, however, because it has more of a physical, scientific basis. Although it may seem like a distant memory, summer 2024 was Earth's warmest on record. In Europe, temperatures were 1.54C (2.7F) above the 1991-2020 long term average triggering dangerously hot conditions for residents. Now, scientists reveal exactly how many people died due to the heat, which can trigger conditions such as heat exhaustion and heart failure. In the UK, there were 573 heat-related deaths in summer 2024, according to the experts at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). But this figure is small compared with Italy, which had more heat-related deaths in summer last year than any other European country. The worrying findings, based on data from 539 million people across 32 European countries, suggest the problem of lethal heat in Europe is growing. The experts warn that Europe is the 'fastest warming continent' in the world. Here, temperatures are rising at around twice the global average rate, causing wildfires, droughts and, extreme weather events and deaths. This map shows heat-related deaths in the summer of 2024 - with Italy and other Mediterranean regions bearing the brunt Although it may seem like a distant memory, summer 2024 was Earth's warmest on record. Pictured, people in deckchairs, Green Park, London, August 12, 2024 According to the findings, there were 62,775 heat-related deaths in Europe during the summer of 2024, a period stretching June 1 and September 30. These mortality figures are 23.6 per cent higher than the 50,800 deaths estimated for the summer of 2023. But they're also 8.1 per cent lower than the nearly 67,900 deaths estimated for the summer of 2022. In summer 2024, Italy suffered the most deaths due to the heat 19,038 thanks to factors such as its Mediterranean climate and ageing population. No other country in Europe had anywhere near as many heat-related deaths in the summer of 2024, the team found. 'Italy has a very vulnerable population to heat,' first study author Tomas Janos at ISGlobal told the Daily Mail. 'Vulnerability to heat is usually predetermined by several factors such as socioeconomic status, health status of population, presence of comorbidities, housing. 'However, probably the most important one, also for Italy, is age; Italy has the oldest population in the EU.' No other country in Europe had anywhere near as many heat-related deaths in the summer of 2024 as Italy. Pictured, a man tries to keep cool in Milan, July 16, 2024 Pictured, Rome's Trevi fountain is crowded with tourists during a period of extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 36C/96F, June 22, 2024 Countries with the most heat-related deaths in summer 2024 Italy - 19,038 Spain - 6,743 Germany - 6,282 Greece - 5,980 Romania - 4,943 Bulgaria - 3,414 Serbia - 2,515 France - 2,451 Poland - 1,780 Hungary - 1,443 Croatia - 1,255 Austria - 1,055 Portugal - 938 Bosnia & Herz - 909 UK - 573 Advertisement After Italy, the nation with the most heat-related deaths in the period was Spain with 6,743, followed by Germany (6,282), Greece (5,980), Romania (4,943) and Bulgaria (3,414). Also rounding out the top 10 were Serbia (2,515), France (2,451), Poland (1,780) and Hungary (1,443). When compared with other countries around Europe, the UK's contribution to the overall total 573 deaths is smaller but not insignificant. The UK is still at risk of heat-related deaths due to factors such as a large and vulnerable population and inadequate infrastructure. Unsurprisingly, some of the countries with the fewest deaths that summer are further north with milder climates Sweden (30) and Norway (18). Others countries on the list have smaller populations, including Estonia (85 deaths last summer), Latvia (71) and Luxembourg (15). In their new paper, published in Nature Medicine, the scientists warn that Europe is the continent that is warming most quickly, at twice the global average. Within Europe, the Mediterranean basin and south-eastern regions have emerged over the last few years as major 'climate change hotspots'. Italy and Spain are the European countries with the highest number of heat-related deaths. Pictured, Bogatell beach in Barcelona amid a heatwave, July 31, 2024 Globally, summer 2024 was the hottest on record, according to new data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) Italy also had the highest heat-related mortality in the summers of 2023 and 2022, with an estimated 13,800 and 18,800 deaths, respectively. In the case of Spain, estimated deaths in 2024 were almost half those for 2022, due to lower summer temperatures than in the previous two years. Researchers also found the number of heat-related deaths was higher among women and older people during the three summers studied (2022, 2023 and 2024). Specifically, it is estimated that in the summer of 2024, the number of heat-related deaths among women was 46.7 per cent higher than among men. In people over 75, the estimated mortality rate was 323 per cent higher than in all other age groups. Overall, the team stress that the more than 181,000 heat-related deaths in Europe during the three summers studied are a warning sign going forward. 'The magnitude of these figures highlights the need to strengthen adaptation strategies, including the development and implementation of a new generation of continent-wide, impact-based heat-health early warning systems,' said Joan Ballester Claramunt, principal investigator of the European Research Council (ERC). Fears are mounting that an ancient Biblical event where countless Christians disappear from Earth is just hours away. Believers on social media platforms like TikTok have reached the point of hysteria over this prophecy, expressing their excitement for the end of days and even offering tips on how to handle being lifted into the sky to meet their maker. The phenomenon, dubbed RaptureTok, has exploded in recent weeks after faith leaders started pushing the idea that the Rapture will begin on September 23, marking the Second Coming of Jesus and Judgment Day for non-believers. Although the Bible never set a date for this event, and Christians have been actively discouraged from attempting to set dates for the Rapture throughout history, many have claimed the signs are there on Tuesday. 'What are we going to see whenever the sky literally opens up and then we go up? I don't know, but I can't wait to find,' one believer said in a YouTube video on Sunday. Others have been claiming they've had visions or experienced strange coincidences involving the number 923 in their daily routine. Some RaptureTok videos have received tens of thousands of views, including one where a man kept repeatedly saying 'Jesus is coming' next to the caption 'these are the last days'. It has been watched more than 488,000 times. Even respected pastors and rabbis have pointed out other signs that the Rapture could be nearing, including its aligning with the Jewish Feast of Trumpets and certain star constellations converging, which some interpret as fulfilling biblical prophecies. Pastor Joshua Mhlakela, a South African preacher, claimed that the Biblical event known as the Rapture will begin tomorrow (stock Image) Believers that the Rapture will come on September 23 have pointed to the twelfth chapter in the Book of Revelation and astrological signs connecting them Despite the Rapture becoming a viral sensation this month, many faith leaders and biblical scholars have continued to caution against an apocalyptic surprise tomorrow. The prophecy mentioned in the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, states that even the faithful who have died will rise from their graves and be taken to heaven by Jesus. Vladimir Savchuk, a pastor, author, and YouTube preacher, further debunked the September 23 claims, adding that scripture says the son of perdition must be revealed first, referring to a figure often interpreted as the Antichrist. '2 Thessalonians 2:3, it says clearly Jesus is not returning until Antichrist is revealed, and that has not happened yet,' Savchuk said in a video for his 2.19million subscribers. 'So, if someone sets the date, they are directly contradicting Jesus's word,' he added. Jonathan Cahn, a messianic rabbi who combines Jewish heritage and practices with the belief that Jesus is the Messiah, explained why people are likely misinterpreting a link between Revelation 12 and a specific alignment of stars in Virgo and Leo. Revelation 12 is a chapter in the Book of Revelation, describing apocalyptic visions, including a woman clothed with the sun, a dragon, and a child, often interpreted as symbolizing Israel, Satan and the Messiah. Cahn argued on YouTube that the 2017 alignment of the Virgo constellation (symbolizing the woman, interpreted as Israel) and Leo (linked to 12 stars acting as a crown) didn't trigger the Rapture eight years ago and lacks support for predicting one in 2025. During the Rapture, Jesus shall return to Earth to bring the faithful with him to heaven, leaving the rest of humanity to face the Tribulation (stock image) 'What I see is a problem, an alignment that doesn't really seem to mean much,' Cahn said of the astrological claims surrounding September 23. 'It's been said by those supporting this argument that this alignment almost never occurs. Well, astronomers have said that it has occurred several times in the last thousand years and nothing happened that we know of,' the rabbi added. The September 23 prophecy gained worldwide attention after Pastor Joshua Mhlakela, a South African preacher, claimed Jesus appeared to him in a divine vision and said he would return during the Feast of Trumpets. Some have been so convinced by his prophecy that they have posted online about selling their homes, giving away their belongings, and wrapping up all of their affairs before Tuesday. However, many Christians have remained steadfast that humans won't know when the Rapture begins and have been taught to avoid seeking out the date of this biblical event. Speaking to the Daily Mail, members of Grace Church in New Jersey explained how scripture points to specific world events, which have yet to come, rather than exact dates and times when discussing the Rapture. These include the formation of a 'united one world government,' a new temple being constructed in Jerusalem and the creation of a religious system interconnected with a monetary system that follows a so-called 'world leader'. Clear and startling images of what appears to be a UFO were captured over Los Angeles, sparking fresh debate about what's flying over America's biggest cities. A pair of Los Angeles residents were on their balcony when they spotted a black, V-shaped craft covered in lights moving slowly over the city on August 28. The sighting went on for roughly 25 minutes, with the UFO flying south until the witnesses eventually lost sight of it around 11:38pm local time (2:38am ET). The pair was able to capture both pictures and clear videos with a cellphone camera, zooming in to see nine white lights along the UFO's hull. UFO researcher and filmmaker Mark Christopher Lee told the Daily Mail he believes the craft was not an alien spaceship, adding it was likely an unmanned drone testing out new technology for the US government or some other world power. However, Lee made one stunning claim based on his analysis of this sighting and several famous UFO incidents throughout the UK, suggesting that the US military has created technology many would think was still only science fiction in 2025. 'I'm convinced that a lot of famous UFO incidents are basically highly advanced terrestrial technology that is 30 to 40 years ahead of what we think they have,' Lee explained. Regardless of where the craft came from, it's the latest report of a strange V-shaped craft, or chevron, flying over the US in recent months. Two people in Los Angeles revealed video of a supposed UFO flying over Los Angeles on August 28 The UFO was seen having a V shape with nine lights along its body This UFO report was submitted to the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) on August 30, a volunteer-operated nonprofit group that's been collecting UFO reports since 1974. The latest sighting was the 34th chevron spotted throughout the country in 2025. According to NUFORC, there have been several reports this year which specifically mention seeing a V-shaped wedge or triangle with multiple lights along its surface flying over the US. 'It stayed in the same area for about 2530 minutes for the first time I saw it,' the witness in LA said in their report. 'It moved around a little bit but didn't go too far. At the end it just flew off in the south direction until I couldn't see it anymore,' they added. The boomerang-shaped object also appeared to have a small body at its center, making it look similar to a F-117 stealth fighter. However, that plane, built by the US Air Force, never had large lights on the outside of the craft. 'It's definitely not flares and is in my opinion a structured craft, most likely a top secret drone,' Lee declared. According to the National UFO Reporting Center, there have been multiple V-shaped UFO sightings throughout the US in 2025 Lee noted that he thought the witness's video was genuine, adding that the poor quality coming from the cellphone at that time of night rules out the use of AI and CGI special effects. NUFORC added a one-word note as a possible explanation for the sighting, writing 'Ultralight?' An ultralight refers to a type of small, lightweight aircraft, often just a motorized hang glider or powered parachute, that's popular among recreational flyers. These are super basic machines, having a minimal frame, no heavy engine, and being generally quiet and slow-moving. Los Angeles has a storied history with UFO sightings, going all the way back to the infamous 'Battle of Los Angeles' in 1942 when the US military shot at what they thought were could have been alien ships invading the West Coast. Lee also noted the claims that Catalina Island, just off the California coast, could be the location of a secret underwater alien base. Lee thinks LA isn't actually an alien hotspot, but a hotbed of activity by super-advanced human technology being launched from nearby facilities such as Vandenberg Space Force Base, Edwards Air Force Base, and the infamous Area 51. Feeling the sand beneath your toes doesn't quite go to plan on 'popcorn beach', a stretch of coast in the Canary Islands where the grains are...sizeable. Playa del Bajo de la Burra sits on the north coast of Fuerteventura and has become a tourist attraction purely for the very unique texture of what beach-goers feel underfoot. The natural phenomenon has seen time and erosion create a unique knobbly sand that looks remarkably similar to what you'd find behind the snack counter at the cinema. The small nugget-like formations cover the entire beach, which means 'beach of the donkey's underbelly' in Spanish, and are known scientifically as rhodoliths. Made from calcareous algae and white sand, they've been growing underwater for millennia, with waves and the sun's rays casting them into their small, white, bulbous form. They're also intermingled with the black sand and volcanic rocks that the Canary Islands, off Africa's west coast - a four-hour flight from the UK - are famous for. The beach is close to the town of Corralejo in the municipality of La Oliva, with other beaches along the same stretch of coast on the Canary Island also having the same sand. Playa del Bajo de la Burra has become more known for its surreal coral-like sands, a hit with TikTokers, than it has for swimming - with the choppy Atlantic waters often dangerous for bathing. Pieces of white broken corals on the beach at Playa del Bajo de la Burra do a very good impression of a handful of popcorn The wild beach has become a tourist attraction thanks to its unique rhodolith formations, which have been moulded by time and weather And there are no sun loungers either; Popcorn Beach is very much a wild spectacle to be admired while on a hike or cycle of the rugged coast. Behind Tenerife, Fuerteventura is the second largest of Spain's Canary Islands, which sit in the Atlantic ocean, a mere 100km off Africa's north-west coast. It's also the oldest Canary Island, with its terrain formed by volcanic activity up to 30 million years ago. The island's reliable winter weather - around 21 degrees in December - comes from the fact the island is closer to Africa than to Spain. In recent decades, Fuerteventura has been used as a filming location for some big-budget movies thanks to its otherworldly landscapes, which are arid, rocky and mountainous. Ridley Scott's Exodus: Gods And Kings, starring Christian Bale, as well as Brad Pitt in Marion Cotillard's Second World War drama Allied, where the island doubled as North Africa. On the coast, watersports fans take advantage of the island's strong winds and rolling Atlantic waves; while nature lovers come to spot barbary falcons, Egyptian vultures and chipmunks. As new digital border control system rules comes into force next month, British tourists are being warned to prepare for longer waits and 'additional obstacles' at the airport. The entry/exit system (EES) is set to begin on October 12 for arrivals into the European Union, which will require non-EU passport holders and those crossing Schengen borders to provide biometric data and fingerprints. The European Union website insists the new system will make border checks 'more modern and efficient,' but one air travel expert has highlighted potential issues the ESS could cause. Oliver Ranson from Airline Revenue Economics, explained that in the usual circumstances, 'people don't have to queue for too long'. But he added: 'The problem is, when things do start to go wrong and when new systems like the entry and exit system are introduced, unexpected niggles can make the overall arrivals process very gnarly very quickly.' However, a 'superpower' document held by millions across the UK could help travellers bypass queues at the EU border. According to The Independent's travel expert Simon Calder, Britons who hold an Irish passport should present the document when travelling to European countries. He said: 'If you have the wisdom and fortune to have an Irish passport, use that at all times. It has a superpower no other document has: unfettered access to both the UK and the European Union, with no need to get an online permit in advance.' A 'superpower' document held by millions across the UK could help travellers bypass queues at the EU border To be eligible for an Irish passport, individuals must first obtain Irish citizenship through birth, descent, or naturalisation, and then apply online using the Passport Online service. However, if you or one of your parents were born in Ireland before 2005, you can apply for an Irish passport without needing to apply for citizenship. But if you or one of your parents were born on the island on or after 1 January 2005, your right to citizenship depends on your parents' citizenship at the time of birth and residency history before the birth. Those with Irish grandparents who were born on the island can apply for Irish citizenship by decent. Citizenship can also be acquired through naturalisation, which requires you meeting certain criteria, such as having lived legally in Ireland for five years or having a spouse/civil partner who is an Irish citizen. For those applying for citizenship online, you will be asked to submit the required supporting documents and your passport photo by post to the Passport Service in Dublin. The Passport Service will then process your application and send your passport to you directly, according to the Irish Immigration Service. The Irish government's Passport Service did indeed issue a record-breaking 1,080,000 Irish passports in 2022, surpassing the previous high of 935,000 in 2019. According to The Independent 's travel expert Simon Calder, Britons who hold an Irish passport should present the document when travelling to European countries Speaking about passport holders from other EU countries, Calder said: 'For all other EU passports, register with the European document outbound (and show it when you arrive). Coming back, register the British document (and show it when you arrive).' Meanwhile, holidaymakers jetting off this summer should be aware of some simple issues with their passports that could prevent them from flying. Chris Harrington, managing director at transfer company Hoppa, shared his advice for those going away this summer. The travel expert emphasised the importance of making sure your passport isn't too damaged. Europe's best 'second city' has been revealed - and you can head there if you're seeking cheap pints and well-priced meals. A second city is what is ranked as the next most important or large city after a country's capital. While many travellers are lured in by big-name cities such as Paris, Rome or Berlin, often second cities have just as much to offer - and for better prices. And it's Novi Sad in Serbia that is the continent's best second city to visit, thanks to its high-quality restaurants and attractions at affordable prices. A new study found Europes best second cities by comparing the tourist experience in the most populated city in each country to its second most populated city. The research assessed how each city performed in five categories: accommodation, food, shopping, culture and local attractions, and accessibility (including the destinations and number of airlines served at the nearest major airport). In each category, multiple factors, such as quality, quantity, and price, were considered. The study from Radical Storage crowned Novi Sad with the winning title, citing various reasons. Novi Sad in Serbia is the continent's best second city to visit, thanks to its high-quality restaurants and attractions at affordable prices The study crowned Novi Sad with the winning title, citing various reasons The pretty old town boasts colourful street art, a 17th-century fortress, and even a 700-metre-long beach. The hotspot has some impressive credentials: it was the European Youth Capital of 2019, and became a Unesco Creative City in 2023. Alongside this, a majority of attractions (62.6 per cent) and eateries (67.1 per cent) are rated four-star and above, despite the fact that prices are more affordable than the study average. A main meal per person in an inexpensive restaurant here will cost you just 7.27 (8.39), whereas the average study cost is 11.79 (13.61). The price of beer is low, too - at an average cost of 250 Serbian dinar (1.86), according to Wise. Following closely behind is Barcelona, ranked as the best destination for culture and local attractions. Other cities near the top of the list include Gyumri in Armenia, Cluj-Napoca in Romania and Banja Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Gyumri, the research found that a hotel room here costs 22 (25.40), 75.93 (87.64) below the study average. The pretty old town in Novi Sad boasts colourful street art, a 17th-century fortress, and even a 700-metre-long beach The top 10 second cities in Europe Rank City 1 Novi Sad, Serbia 2 Barcelona, Spain 3 Gyumri, Armenia 4 Cluj-Napoca, Romania 5 Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina 6 Kutaisi, Georgia 7 Kaunas, Lithuania 8 Brno, Czechia 9 Porto, Portugal 10 Graz, Austria A main meal for one person costs around 7.22 / (8.32), 4.57 (5.29) below the study average, allowing for plenty to spend at the few but highly rated shopping locations. For those on the lookout for an affordable history packed location, entrance fees averaged at 1.50 (1.73) in Gyumri. Some of the top things to do include a visit to Abovian Street (preserved from the 19th century) and Sev Bed (an abandoned Russian-imperial fortress). Another sight is the museum of National Architecture and Urban Life, which has recreated scenes from Armenias history. Gatwick airport has been given the go-ahead to open a second runway - set to cost an impressive 2.2billion. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander gave the nod of approval to the plans for the privately financed project. The new runway could potentially mean travellers can fly to a whole host of new destinations. The project will see the West Sussex airport will move its emergency runway 13 yards north, so it can be used for departures of narrow-bodied planes such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s. Such changes will enable it to be used for about 100,000 more flights a year. Gatwick has more flights using its single runway than any other airport - with annual traffic of more than 40 million passengers per year. In 2024 Gatwick handled around 265,000 flights in total. The controversial project will see the Sussex airport increase its capacity greatly. The aviation hub has a second standby runway already and by moving it further north and making improvements across the airfield, Gatwick can press it into service for departing holiday flights. Gatwick airport has been given the go-ahead to open a second runway - set to cost an impressive 2.2billion The additional runway would be used only for departures for narrow-bodied aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family as used by British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air. You can currently fly to more than 225 destinations direct from London Gatwick. Airbus A320 planes can fly to nearby European destinations as well as long-haul transatlantic routes, and Boeing 737 planes have flexibility to fly around the world. This means even more holiday destinations could be opened up. For example, current direct flights from London to Amman, Jordan are available from Heathrow but not Gatwick. Other cities Gatwick doesn't currently directly fly to are Graz in Austria, Sofia in Bulgaria and Brno-Turany in Czechia. Similarly, Perugia in Italy is a gorgeous holiday destinations that you can't fly to directly from Gatwick right now - only from Stansted. The new runway could see this change. Places in Armenia are also hard to reach right now by direct flight - such as Yerevan, its capital, which is known for its history and vibrant culture. Gatwick's plans could add to the list of destinations you can reach directly from the hub. Gatwick has more flights using its single runway than any other airport with annual traffic of more than 40 million passengers per year Capacity at the airport will rise from the current average of 767 arrivals and departures each day to as many as 1,066 an increase of 40 per cent, according to the Independent. Currently, people travelling to or from London and southeast England do not get the choice they deserve of airlines and destinations, and pay higher fares due to the constraints on the number of flights. For example, Europes biggest budget airline, Ryanair, has only a tiny operation at Gatwick because of the lack of attractive slots; it could expand rapidly with more capacity. The expectation is that the new hub would be ready by 2030, but Ms Alexander says it could be before the next election which means by the summer of 2029. Queueing is up there with our favourite national pastimes here in the UK. Indeed, 57 per cent of us believe were more patient than other nations, according to one survey by Practice Plus Group. But the one time where queueing is more stressful that it's worth is at the airport - especially if you're stuck waiting for hours when you've got a flight to catch. Big UK airports such as Manchester Airport and the big London hubs can see holidaymakers stuck in long queues while awaiting their departure. But there's one tiny UK airport that could be a better alternative - and it offers flights to holiday hotspots without the queues. Bournemouth Airport has flights to popular European destinations such as Spain, Greece, and Portugal and is known for being a quieter terminal. It saw fewer than 700,000 passengers pass through its terminals in 2022. This makes it a much quieter option compared to, for instance, London's bustling hubs. Bournemouth Airport offers flights to popular European destinations such as Spain, Greece, and Portugal and is known for being a quieter terminal You can even catch flights to North Africa, North America, and the Caribbean from Bournemouth. Bournemouth Airport is a two-hour drive from London, accessible via the M3. Alternatively, you can take a train from London's Waterloo, which will get you to Bournemouth Station in just under two hours from the capital. Bournemouth Airport serves on average more than 950,000 passengers a year with flights to 34 destinations across Europe and North Africa. Many of these journeys are operated by airlines such as TUI and Ryanair. Popular destinations you can reach from Bournemouth Airport include Fuerteventura, Ibiza and Malaga. You can also travel from the hub to Geneva, Edinburgh and Corfu. The hub has hit headlines recently with the announcement of strikes. Bournemouth Airport saw fewer than 700,000 passengers pass through its terminals in 2022 Bournemouth Airport is set to be hit by four days of strikes this autumn. Around 80 workers, who are members of Unite the Union, will go on strike later this month and in October after a new pay offer was rejected. Walkouts will take place on September 30, October 1, October 16 and October 17. Bournemouth Airport, which put the number of strikers at around 70, said roughly 15 per cent of its 450 workforce would be striking. The Big Brother house has long been a place where unlikely bonds are formed, and for some, without the temptations of the outside world, close friendships can quickly turn passionate. This has never been more apparant than in recent years, with ITV's reboot of the reality favourite dominated by unlikely romances, leading to complaints from some fans that it was turning another ITV stalwart - Love Island. Ahead of the new series, hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best have hit back at these concerns, telling Daily Mail that the house is built for its inhabitants to find common ground, and in some cases, this can naturally lead to a closer connection than they expected. The new series of Big Brother will kick off on Sunday, September 28, with this run extended to seven weeks of tasks, twists and drama. ITV's first series of Big Brother in 2023 saw winner Jordan Sangha go onto date housemate Henry Southan, while last year Nathan King and Rosie Williams enjoyed a whirlwind romance. And earlier this year, in a twist no fan could have predicted, Love Island star Chris Hughes and Dance Moms' JoJo Siwa fell in love on the celebrity version, and they've been documenting their relationship on social media ever since. As Big Brother fans prepare for its return, hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best have addressed comparisons to ITV rival Love Island, after the house sparked a string of unlikely romances Earlier this year, in a twist no fan could have predicted, Love Island star Chris Hughes and Dance Moms' JoJo Siwa fell in love on the celebrity version Asked why the BB house has become such an unlikely place to find love, Will insisted all of the relationships have been 'unplanned,' before he and AJ joked it's the 'trauma-bonding' that brings housemates closer together. Referencing Chris and JoJo's romance, he said: 'That is so unplanned, and because ITV have a very successful, very well-known show playing, around people in a house dating, and I don't think they are in any, they're not desperate to have a love story. 'That's not really it. Honestly, they've come out nowhere. Some of them have really come of nowhere, and I was even thought that they were gonna go nowhere. And it turns out they have gone somewhere.' Noting how Chris and JoJo recently attended a pal's wedding together, he added: 'They'll be going to their own flipping wedding in a minute, I wouldn't be surprised.' AJ added: 'I don't know what it is so far, I just think, I guess the world is in a place where a lot of people are focusing on everyone's differences, and I think the Big Brother house is also a space for people to focus on their similarities and through seeing each other's similarities, and what they've got in common, they've just gone ''do you know what? I actually love you!'' 'I think it's always incredibly well cast, right? People are put together because they know that that combination of people is going to create something,' Will said. 'You don't know what it is, but when you put people that have been carefully chosen into such an extreme environment, there's going to be extreme reactions. And I guess it makes sense that every now and again, that reaction is romantic.' Sadly not all Big Brother romances have lasted, with Jordan and Henry splitting in April after 16 months together, while in February, Nathan and Rosie parted ways after just three months of dating. ITV's first series of Big Brother in 2023 saw winner Jordan Sangha go on to date housemate Henry Southan for 16 months Last year, Nathan King and Rosie Williams enjoyed a whirlwind romance after meeting in the BB house, but they split in February after three months together The new series of Big Brother also comes in the year it marks its 25th Anniversary, and after the house was rocked by a string of twists last year, AJ and Will hinted the ever-present oracle will be more 'mischevious' than ever. This year's celebrity version also featured even more tensions between housemates, with big-money signing Mickey Rourke axed from the show after facing backlash for homophobic comments to JoJo, and a tense clash with Chris. The Big Brother house is no stranger to fiery rows and debate, and ahead of this extended seven-week run, AJ and Will said they can find moments of conflict in the house 'anxiety-inducing.' Last year was no different, with winner Ali Bromley embraced by viewers for openly expressing views, even if it ruffled feathers among her housemates. AJ said: 'I'm always interested in dynamic conversations, dynamic conversations are interesting because at the end of arguments, at the end of any discussion, there's a resolution, hopefully. 'And so it doesn't matter what it takes to get to that resolution, there's always tse friction before you come together, in a positive way. And I think that is what makes life in general, beautiful.' Will added: 'I like the fact that you get something, you get light and shade, you get funny bits, you get dramatic bits. That is what makes Big Brother so special. I do find conflict anxiety inducing and I tend to watch that from behind my hands.' 'The rough bits make you appreciate everything that's smoother,' AJ added. Big Brother fans are no stranger to making their feelings known which it comes to their favourite - and least favourite - housemates, and given they're typically plucked from obscurity, AJ and Will admitted they do approach the civilian run differently. AJ said: 'I think we're just a bit more mindful that these people have never been in the public eye before. The Big Brother house is no stranger to fiery rows and debate, and ahead of this extended seven-week run, AJ and Will said they can find conflict in the house 'anxiety-inducing' Last year's Big Brother saw forensic psychologist Ali Bromley crowned series champion. The new series is set to kick off on September 28 'I think that's the only thing, it's kind of like they've never actually stepped foot on camera. 'We're learning about them for the first time, there's literally no preconception on these people, whatsoever. And so that is considered maybe? But I think, for me, I'm just like... let the fun begin!' Will added: 'I mean youre right, its that thing of no preconceived ideas. We're getting to know these people completely from scratch. 'But then the thing is, once the series starts, whether it's celebs or civilians, once the format begins to take over and Big Brother starts doing his thing, the fireworks are gonna be there regardless of who is in the house!' Big Brother returns on Sunday 28th September at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX. Married At First Sight UK returned to screens with fireworks on its very first episode - as one groom left his fellow contestants fuming after making a string of 'sexist' remarks within minutes of arriving at the hen party. Davide Anica, a content creator and former cabin crew member, had joined the line-up hoping to mend his broken heart. Born in Portugal but raised in Paris, the 30-year-old is searching for a husband who matches his romantic streak and shares his love of cats. But instead of winning friends, he quickly sparked outrage with his views on household chores. When one bride joked she was hoping for a partner who would 'take the bins out', Davide interrupted. 'Wait, wait I have a good tip for that,' he said. 'So there are pink jobs and there are blue jobs. Blue jobs are boys' jobs. In my last relationship I had to do laundry, I had to do dishes. I was doing all the girls' jobs.' Married At First Sight UK groom Davide (pictured) left his co-stars seething with his 'sexist' comments on household chores just minutes into a hen party Davide Anica, a content creator and former cabin crew member, had joined the line-up hoping to mend his broken heart But instead of winning friends, he quickly sparked outrage with his views on household chores The comments were met with a stony silence before Grace, a 31-year-old midwife, challenged him. 'Why are those considered girls' jobs? I don't want to do them either,' she shot back. Speaking privately to camera afterwards, Grace added that Davide's suggestion that women should take on 'women's jobs' was 'bull***'. Back at the table, several brides pointed out that chores should be divided equally, with Grace stressing that responsibilities should be 50-50. Davide nodded, eventually conceding: 'It doesn't have to be pink and blue.' But the moment had already made waves beyond the party. Fans took to social media in droves to vent their dismay. 'Who's gonna do the blue jobs and who's gonna do the pink jobs?' one viewer mocked. Another quipped: 'Pink and blue jobs? Oh dear.' 'Whoa whoa whoa, did that guy effectively say women should stay in the kitchen?' asked one stunned fan. 'Like dude, maybe that is why you are single,' another wrote. It comes after MAFS UK viewers were left horrified by groom Dean's 'cringe-worthy' rap to new wife Sarah at the altar during Sunday's show. It comes as MAFS UK viewers were left horrified by groom Dean's 'cringe-worthy' rap to new wife Sarah at the altar during Sunday's show Sarah, who was already disappointed by her 'hopeless romantic' match, claiming she preferred bad boys, was left cringing along with fans after the impromptu rap The Channel 4 experiment, which sees hopefuls tie the knot with strangers after being paired by experts, saw its first coupling getting off to a rocky start as the new series kicked off with a bumper 110-minute episode. Sarah, who was already disappointed by her 'hopeless romantic' match, claiming she preferred bad boys covered in tattoos, was left cringing along with viewers after the impromptu performance. Dean sang: 'When I saw you in that dress today, you did more than take my breath away. All my fears alleviate, I know we're gonna be okay. I know we'll have hard times it's true, but I'll never ever give up on you'. 'You and me, plain to see, to the end of time, hopefully. Everybody sing with me. When I say wed, you say D.' Following the awkward rap, fans rushed to X and while some begged him to stop, others said if they were the bride they'd have done a 'runner'. This is horrendous oh please stop Dean': ' Noo this is sooo cringe from Dean': 'No I'm sorry, Dean is really sweet but that rap was too much I would have died:' 'I beg his friends/family have told him not to sing/rap while on the honeymoon?!'. 'Dean may be a lovely guy but I think I would have done a runner at the rap': 'Anyone getting Honey G vibes from Dean's rap?': 'Ok what was with the rap': 'I mean, Dean's rap was mad cringe, but at least he was having fun and it made me smile lol'. An Antiques Roadshow guest was left visibly shaken after learning the extraordinary value of her late partner's long-lost book - and uncovering its sinister secrets. The BBC favourite travelled to Stephen's House in Finchley for its latest instalment, where expert Fuchsia Voremberg met a mother and son who had brought along a leather-bound tome with a remarkable past. Fuchsia was immediately captivated. 'So it's a warm day here in London,' she told them, 'but as you pulled this beautiful 18th Century log book out of your bag, I felt the shiver of a sea breeze run over me.' Asked about its origins, the woman explained: 'It was found in the attic of my partner's house near London. 'We brought it down to North Devon when he retired and the book got mislaid and we couldn't find it in the house. Sadly, he passed away last year, and after a further search, we found this book.' Her son added: 'He was really interested in the book and it was sad he didn't have the opportunity to do it. So we just wanted to make sure that we found out more about it.' An Antiques Roadshow guest was left visibly shaken after learning the extraordinary value of her late partner's long-lost book - and uncovering its sinister secrets The BBC favourite travelled to Stephen's House in Finchley for its latest instalment, where expert Fuchsia Voremberg met a mother and son who had brought along a leather-bound tome Fuchsia revealed that what they had uncovered was no ordinary heirloom, but an 18th Century maritime journal belonging to a vessel named the Triton - a ship that once sailed under the mighty East India Company. 'A log book records, essentially, the weather, any particular instances that happen on the ship, and gives you a kind of general sense of the daily happenings of a ship of this nature,' she explained. 'At this point in time, towards the end of the 18th Century, we're in what we now know as the Age of Revolution. 'There is so much activity and movement that as these ships move through the waters of the South Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the China Sea, they're constantly coming into contact with other vessels with whom they are at war. 'But one of the things that I think it's important to remember is the experience of a sailor on board a ship like this. I think it was a really, really hard life.' Delving into the journal's contents, Fuchsia read aloud a striking entry from 1793. It described how a sailor named Samuel Adams was punished for 'drunkenness and making a disturbance on the orlop deck'. But the book also revealed a far darker moment. She said: 'There's a darker chapter where a man 'committed his body to the deep and performed divine service'. So it was a really risky business.' Fuchsia revealed that what they had uncovered was no ordinary heirloom, but an 18th Century maritime journal belonging to a vessel named the Triton The guest was wide-eyed in shock after the expert revealed the book could fetch up to 2,000 at auction Yet there was also artistry hidden in its pages. At the very end, Fuchsia revealed, the log contained 'a series of rather beautifully delicate coastal views'. 'This is Prince of Wales Island, which is currently known as Penang in Malaysia,' she pointed out. 'Down here, we have a view of Fort Cornwallis and you can see these ships just so delicately depicted all the way along the coastline with the little trees behind them.' The woman's son then asked whether the book had been penned on board. Fuchsia replied: 'That's a very good question. 'It probably would have been written on the ship, which is quite an amazing thing to consider if you're using a quill pen and being buffeted around by the oceans. 'It's such a beautiful thing, I'm really grateful for you bringing it along,' the specialist said warmly. 'I think if this was to come up at auction, I would expect it to fetch a price in the region of 2,000.' The valuation left the pair momentarily speechless, before they gasped: 'Wow. That's amazing.' The elderly woman swayed slightly as the reality of the news sank in. 'Do you know what you're going to do with it now?' Fuchsia asked. Her reply was filled with sentiment. 'My late partner would have liked it to go somewhere where people would see it,' she said. The expert agreed that was 'a really nice idea'. Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and to stream on iPlayer. Janet Street-Porter offered some very direct words of advice for Thomas Skinner's wife during a fiery discussion on Loose Women, following revelations about the reality star's infidelity. The 78-year-old broadcaster joined co-stars Ruth Langsford, Kelly Brook and Jane Moore on Monday's ITV panel, where conversation turned to The Apprentice star's recent admission that he had cheated on his wife, Sinead, mere weeks after their wedding in May 2022. Thomas, 34, who shares three young children with Sinead, confessed to a 'two-week fling' which he described as a 'moment of madness' that almost 'ruined his life'. However, his so-called 'secret mistress', Amy-Lucy O'Rourke, suggested their affair actually lasted three months, insisting he told her he was in love with her and unhappy in his marriage. Messages between the pair were said to have begun on May 13 2022 - just eight days before Thomas tied the knot. Kelly Brook reflected on the fallout of the scandal, telling viewers of Thomas's Strictly Come Dancing appearance: 'This is the trouble with these big Saturday night shows, the minute you sign onto it your life is there to be judged or picked at.' Janet Street-Porter offered some very direct words of advice for Thomas Skinner 's wife during a fiery discussion on Loose Women after revelations about the reality star's infidelity Thomas, 34, who shares three young children with Sinead (pictured together), confessed to a 'two-week fling' which he described as a 'moment of madness' that almost 'ruined his life' However, his so-called 'secret mistress', Amy-Lucy O'Rourke, pictured right, suggested their affair actually lasted three months Jane Moore also gave a measured take, admitting her views on infidelity had softened over the years. 'There are clips of me when I was much younger going 'if anybody cheated, that would be it,' but you change and you evolve. 'And if you do have young children you're not just pulling the rug out from under your marriage but you're pulling the rug out from under your children's relationship with their father. If he's very sorry and he's agreed not to do it again then' The panel then turned their attention to Janet, noting she had been unusually quiet. Jane quipped: 'Janet has never been cheated on because' To which Janet cut in with frankness: 'I'm a cheater! She continued: 'I find the whole subject quite comical actually. I try to imagine what it feels like to be cheated on, and I imagine it's humiliating and horrible, I am quite sure. 'But if your husband is a larger than life character and he [Thomas] most definitely is, maybe you can swallow it up and trade it off that: yes you've been humiliated but you're living with someone who is larger than life and very entertaining so what's the alternative?' Her remarks prompted Ruth Langsford to respond pointedly: 'Maybe find someone who's just as entertaining but doesn't cheat.' Thomas and Sinead share three children together [Pictured: The family of five days after Thomas had admitted to cheating on his wife with an Essex beautician] Thomas Skinner's communications with his mistress (pictured together) started to become eye-wateringly explicit as they began to tell one another how in love they were The Daily Mail's Katie Hind revealed that Thomas Skinner's communications with his mistress started to become eye-wateringly explicit as they began to tell one another how in love they were. During their relationship, Thomas would refer to Amy-Lucy as 'the duchess' and would tell her that she is 'beautiful'. Thomas and Amy-Lucy would also go to the West End of London together in July and he would go to Waitrose to buy the ingredients to make a chilli con carne for her. He also helped Amy-Lucy, who is a single mother to her young son from a previous relationship, with her car which he even picked up from the garage for her after taking it for some work there. 'He also told me that he was relaxed with me and that he had never been like that with anyone before. 'He invited me on a work trip to Belfast and would tell me that I was his.' Loose Women airs weekdays on ITV1 from 12:30pm and is available to stream on ITVX. Harry Potter fans have shared their outrage after it was revealed that HBO are auditioning females to play Lord Voldemort in the upcoming 'woke' rebrand. The highly-anticipated series, which is set to hit the streaming service in 2027, has already started filming. Fans already know that Dominic McLaughlin, 11, will play protagonist Harry, Alastair Stout will be Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton, 11, has taken on the role of Hermione Granger. The likes of John Lithgow, 79, will play Albus Dumbledore, while Janet McTeer, 64, will be Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu, 35, as Severus Snape and Nick Frost, 53, as Hagrid. Many are desperate to know who has landed the character as Lord Voldemort - who was originally played by Ralph Fiennes, 62, in the franchise between 2005 and 2011. According to DanielRPK, HBO are looking at both male and female stars to potentially star in the TV series as the iconic character. Harry Potter fans have shared their outrage after it was revealed that HBO are auditioning females to play Lord Voldemort in the upcoming 'woke' rebrand The highly anticipated series, which is set to hit the streaming service in 2027, has already started filming Their official X account wrote: 'Theyre auditioning both men and women for Voldemort so its possible we could see a female Voldemort in the Harry Potter series!' However, this hasn't gone down very well with Harry Potter fans. One wrote on Instagram: 'If that happens that series is dead before it even starts no one is watching that woke ba.' 'Another woke take on a chr pls JK sue them for all they are worth for ruining the franchise.' 'Of course they are [laughing emoji].' 'Give me strength.' 'Lord! The clue is in the name ffs.' Nonetheless, others have shared their excitement at the prospect. Many are desperate to know who has landed the character as Lord Voldemort - who was originally played by Ralph Fiennes , 62, in the franchise between 2005 and 2011 'Hahaha love to see it. I can only imagine the tears and outrage.' Another said on X: 'Don't mind.' 'That's fine. I'm sure they can find a look that encompasses a true villain in Lady Voldemort.' Ralph, who has also starred in Schindler's List, Maid in Manhattan, The Duchess and A Bigger Splash, isn't the only actor that took on the role of Voldemort in the film. He starred in the fourth instalment all the way to the last in 2011. But Richard Bremmer played the spirit of the evil character in 2001. Christian Coulson, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin and Frank Dillane played younger versions of Tom Riddle in the franchise. Harry Potter hit our screens in November 2001 after author J.K Rowling released seven books. Many rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts on the matter - and it's divided opinion The names include: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It comes after earlier this month that the TV series confirmed the return of one of the original film stars - with the iconic actor set to reprise his role. British actor Warwick Davis will be returning to the hotly anticipated new series as Professor Filius Flitwick - the passionate, if uptight, teacher of Charms. The announcement was made to mark Back to Hogwarts, the annual September 1 celebration where fans around the globe honour the beloved return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry Potter will air on HBO. A who's who of Hollywood quickly rallied to his side after ABC unceremoniously dumped him from his late night show for vile comments about Charlie Kirk. But one of Jimmy Kimmel's best friends of over a decade has remained mysteriously silent, despite calls for her to weigh in. Jennifer Aniston, who regularly hangs out with the TV host and even invites him to her Thanksgiving parties, hasn't uttered a word on his axing. Now, insiders have revealed she's being urged to remain quiet - no matter how hard it is for her. The source said the Friends star is '100 percent in his corner', but her team has warned her speaking out will invoke a huge backlash. Kimmel was ditched by ABC after suggesting Kirk's assassin was MAGA and arguing Republicans were trying to weaponize the attack to garner more support. It provoked outrage on the Right and the chair of the FCC threatened and investigation into the network. Last week executives pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off air 'indefinitely', which saw fury from the Left and celebrities claiming it was due to government interference. Jennifer Aniston, 56, 'desperately wants' to defend Jimmy Kimmel, 57, but her team is 'concerned it could hurt her career,' a source told the Daily Mail The actress and the late-night host have been friends for over a decade But throughout the bluster, one voice remained silent, with Aniston neither posting anything nor taking to the airwaves to criticize the decision. A source told the Daily Mail this week: 'Jen and Jimmy have been very close friends for years. 'She desperately wants to come out in support of him being pulled off the air over his comments because she's one hundred percent in his corner. 'However, her reps are advising her this is one time she should stay out of the conversation.' They continued: 'Her representatives are strongly advising her to restrain herself about Kimmel publicly for fear of the backlash.' Still, it's a 'very hard decision' for the actress to make as she's 'not a person who holds back' and often 'speaks her mind,' the source said. In 2019, Aniston cooked homemade enchiladas for Kimmel during her Friendsgiving celebration as part of an inside joke between the pair Aniston and Kimmel, 57, have a friendship that spans over a decade. The pair first crossed paths in 2012, when Kimmel and his wife, Molly McNearney, invited actor Justin Theroux to their home in Los Angeles. McNearney, who married Kimmel in 2013 and served as head writer on Jimmy Kimmel Live! from 2008 to 2023, explained in an essay for InStyle that Aniston was dating Theroux at the time. 'At first I was a bit star-struck that Rachel Green was standing near my bananas,' McNearney recalled. 'But my nerves faded as soon as she hugged me, pulled a lime off our tree for her vodka rocks, and dissected The Bachelor.' 'She was immediately warm, like an old friend. She's magnetic like that. No boundaries, no b*******, and a lot of laughing,' she wrote. Three years later, Kimmel would officiate Aniston and Theroux's wedding in 2015, though they divorced in 2018. The couple are frequent guests at Aniston's annual Friendsgiving, which is typically held in November before the Thanksgiving holiday. In 2019, Aniston hosted a star-studded Friendsgiving that included her Friends co-star Courteney Cox, pal Jason Bateman, and of course Kimmel on the guest list. Aniston labeled the dish 'Jimmy's f**king enchiladas,' in a post seen on her Instagram She also poked fun at Kimmel during the festivities by cooking homemade enchiladas for the late night host. When Aniston appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! prior to the gathering, he complained that they should eat Mexican food on Friendsgiving to save the traditional Thanksgiving food for the actual holiday. As such, Aniston cooked and labeled the dish 'Jimmy's f**king enchiladas' for the 2019 celebration, sharing a video of his reaction to her Instagram. The trio have also gone on multiple international excursions together, as Aniston traveled with the married couple to Tahiti in March 2018 to celebrate McNearney's birthday. She also attended the writer's 40th birthday party that same month, where she posed for photos with McNearney, Tobey Maguire's ex-wife Jen Meyer, and Bateman's wife Amanda Anka in a photo booth. Most recently, Aniston shared a 'summertime photo dump' on Instagram in September 2023 that featured photos of herself with Kimmel, McNearney, Bateman and Aanka all posing together on a beach. Aniston shared a video of Kimmel's reaction to the enchiladas Despite their close friendship, the insider explained that Aniston has refrained from publicly defending Kimmel after his show was suspended indefinitely because her team is 'concerned it could hurt her career.' What's more, the fourth season of her Apple TV+ series The Morning Show premiered on September 17, as Aniston hit the red carpet last week for the show's premiere party in New York City. Leading up to the 2024 presidential election, Aniston made a political statement calling out Vice President JD Vance for his controversial 'childless cat ladies' comment. The actress reposted the infamous clip of Vance's interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson in 2021, as the Ohio senator claimed the US was run by 'a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too.' Aniston, writing to her 44.6 million followers, shared on Instagram: 'I truly can't believe that this is coming from a potential VP of the United States. 'All I can say is Mr Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day,' she continued. In her message, the actress also hinted at her own struggles to conceive a child through in-vitro fertilization and hit out at Vance's opposition towards the Democrat-led Right to IVF Act. 'I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option,' she added, 'Because you are trying to take that away from her, too.' Aniston often shares snaps of her group vacations with Jimmy Kimmel and his wife Molly McNearney, along with Jason Bateman and his wife Amanda Anka The trio posed together on vacation in an Instagram snap shared by Aniston in September 2023 Aniston was pictured spending time with Kimmel, Bateman and their wives She also spoke out against President Donald Trump in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic, as she encouraged her followers to vote for President Joe Biden and shared photos of herself dropping off her mail-in ballot. 'Our current President has decided that racism is a non-issue. He has repeatedly and publicly ignored science... too many people have died,' she wrote, adding: 'Vote for equal human rights, for love, and for decency.' The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Aniston for comment. Kimmel has kept a low-profile since Wednesday, when ABC announced it was suspending his late-night show 'indefinitely' following his controversial remarks about the man accused of shooting conservative commentator Kirk. Kimmel has kept a low-profile since Wednesday, when ABC announced Jimmy Kimmel Live! was suspended 'indefinitely' following his on-air comments about Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin Kimmel had claimed that Tyler Robinson, 22, was a conservative, despite investigators saying that Robinson held far-left ideologies and was dating his transgender roommate. While Aniston has yet to speak out following Kimmel's cancellation, their fellow close friend Jason Bateman was asked about his response to the news during an appearance on NBC's Today show with Craig Melvin. 'Well, it's troubling to say the least,' the actor said on Thursday. 'And we all have to really take a moment and figure how we feel about this type of thing. 'Especially, people doing what you do,' he added. 'I'm sure there's going to be some sort of collective move to respond to this, but I'm not smart enough or powerful enough to be the one to do it. 'But I imagine there's plenty of conversations going on to do something, because you just can't stand by and let stuff like that go on.' Melvin then probed, 'Stuff like?' to which Bateman responded: 'Well, Jimmy getting his show pulled for freedom of speech.' Georgia Toffolo has revealed the 'relentless' reality behind her acne battle aged 30 as she shared a candid clip to Instagram on Monday. The former Made In Chelsea star has suffered from spots and scarring since she was a teenager and has said that it has always been her 'biggest struggle'. Now she has revealed that the 'ups and downs' of her skin quality have been 'relentless' over the last six months. Georgia shared a montage of her flare-ups and confessed that her skin troubles have a direct impact on how she feels about herself. She said: 'I want to be honest with you all. My skin has always been my biggest struggle. Looking back through my skin diary from the past few months, the ups and downs are relentless. 'Some days it feels all-consuming and I never thought that at thirty I'd still be battling acne. But what I have learnt is that progress doesn't mean perfect. Georgia Toffolo has revealed the 'relentless' reality behind her acne battle aged 30 as she shared a candid clip to Instagram on Monday Georgia pictured at the 2023 BAFTA Television Awards at The Royal Festival Hall 'It's about showing myself kindness even on the really tough days, as you can see. If you've ever felt the same, I'd love you to share your story in the comments.' Georgia has been open with her fans about her skin battle over the years, and in May, she confessed that the flare-ups had really knocked her confidence. She shared a make-up-free selfie to Instagram to show her 'real skin' without the concealer of makeup. Georgia previously told the Daily Mail that her stint on I'm a Celebrity was the start of her 'weird little journey' in embracing her natural skin, as makeup is not allowed in the jungle. The star, who went on to win the show, said: 'I was really nervous about doing that. 'And it was so weird. I thought that my skin would have been a lot better, but it wasn't. 'Over the years I've figured out that, actually, all of the tests that I've had, everything I've tried skin flare-ups, very connected to stress levels.' She previously said she didn't feel totally herself on the show without her 'war paint'. The former Made In Chelsea star has suffered from spots and scarring since she was a teenager and has said that it has always been her 'biggest struggle' Now she has revealed that the 'ups and downs' of her skin quality have been 'relentless' over the last six months Georgia shared a montage of her flare-ups and confessed that her skin troubles have a direct impact on how she feels about herself She said: 'My skin was something that made me feel less than confident, really. I had a bit of light trolling when I came out of the jungle.' However, the star said that by discussing her skin publicly since then, she has been able to overcome some of her insecurities. She added: 'But I did this amazing feature on This Morning and it was really simple: I just took off my makeup. 'I was so worried about what people would say about my acne. But I just carried on. I looked down the barrel of the camera. 'I said some of the nasty things that I've read across socials, and it had such an impact.' The NHS reports that the majority of people stop experiencing acne in their 20s, but in three percent of the population, it can persist over the age of 35. Cardi B candidly opened up about childbirth while promoting her new album on The Breakfast Club last week. The Bronx native was in her hometown on Friday, where she was a guest on the New York City radio show. 'My second baby, [he's] too big he broke me,' Cardi, 32, said about delivering her four-year-old son Wave while discussing how she plans to stay in shape while touring amid her fourth pregnancy. Referring to her firstborn, seven-year-old daughter Kulture, she added, 'The first one, I had to stitch.' Bewildered co-host Loren Lorosa then asked, 'Stitch what?' before Cardi answered, 'The cat,' in reference to her vagina. She went on to say that her vagina 'ripped' when she gave birth. Cardi, born Belcalis Almanzar, explained that 'now things are just a little different and Im more experienced' after having three kids. Cardi B candidly opened up about childbirth while promoting her new album on The Breakfast Club last week 'My second baby, he's too big - he broke me,' Cardi, 32, said about delivering her four-year-old son Wave while discussing how she plans to stay in shape while touring amid her fourth pregnancy And the rapper said that after having her youngest child just one year ago, she expects the birth of her fourth child to come with ease. The Bodak Yellow hitmaker shared that she worked out up until the final weeks of her third pregnancy, resulting in a quick recovery after welcoming her daughter. She stated, 'Like, the third one was so easy, so Im expecting this one to be as easy as well, in the name of the Lord. Thats why Im like, "I just did it last year. I can do it [again]."' Cardi shares Kulture, Wave, and one-year-old Blossom with her estranged husband Offset, 33. 'This is my fourth rodeo,' she said in anticipation of her fourth child and first with boyfriend Stefon Diggs, 31. Cardi confirmed her baby news on Wednesday following months of rumors. 'Im excited, Im happy, I feel like Im in a good space,' the WAP rapper said to Gayle King on CBS Mornings. In regards to the speculation that swirled for weeks ahead of her announcement, she said, 'I felt like: "Can I just say it on my own time?" Im not hiding.' Cardi called her son Wave a 'momma's boy' on Sunday in an Instagram Stories post In addition to Wave, the music artist shares daughters Kulture (L), seven, and Blossom (R) with estranged husband Offset, 33 Cardi has been busy promoting her sophomore album Am I the Drama? Additionally, the former Love & Hip-Hop personality revealed her due date is before her Little Miss Drama tour begins in February. She insisted in a recent Instagram video: 'After this album run, its straight to exercising, its straight to dance classes. When the baby [comes] out, my body will be loose and straight rehearsals with all my dancers. I'm not playin'. 'I owe this to myself and I owe this to my fans that have been waiting for such a long time. I know we don't live for the fans but I owe this to y'all.' She emphasized, 'I owe this album to y'all, I owe this tour to y'all, and it has to be the best of the best.' Cardi's sophomore album Am I the Drama?, released on September 19, is the follow-up to 2018's Grammy-winning album Invasion of Privacy. Tom Holland was reportedly rushed to hospital after a stunt on the Spider-Man: Brand New Day set went horribly wrong on Friday. The British actor, 29, allegedly cracked his head after suffering a fall on set at Leavesden Studios in Watford. Filming of the 150million Marvel movie, which is the star's fourth Spider-Man film, was suspended as the actor was taken to hospital by ambulance and treated for a concussion. Filming is now believed to be on hold for several weeks while Tom recovers. Tom's dad Dominic attended a charity dinner in Mayfair on Sunday, confirming that his son would be away from filming 'for a while'. The actor was also in attendance at the event posing for photos with his co-star and partner Zendaya, 28. Tom Holland was reportedly rushed to hospital after a stunt on the Spider-Man: Brand New Day set went horribly wrong on Friday (pictured in 2023) The British actor allegedly cracked his head after suffering a fall on set at Leavesden Studios in Watford (pictured on set last month) However, it has been reported that Tom left early after feeling unwell. The Daily Mail have contacted Tom Holland, Leavesden Studios, Sony Pictures and East of England Ambulance Service representatives for comment. An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman told The Sun: 'We were called at 10.30am on Friday to attend to a patient who had sustained an injury at Leavesden Studios in Watford. 'An ambulance was sent to the scene, and the patient was transported to hospital for further care.' Earlier this year it was revealed that Spider-Man 4 had been pushed back to July 31, 2026, however this may now change again due to the incident. Tom currently has an incredibly busy schedule as he and fiancee Zendaya are also starring in The Odyssey, Christopher Nolans adaptation of Homers epic. Last month, the star was supported by Zendaya as he filmed Spider-Man at Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey. The couple feature in the film together after striking up a romance on his first feature-length film as the hero, Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016. Filming of the 150million Marvel movie, which is the star's fourth Spider-Man, was suspended as the star was taken to hospital by ambulance and treated for a concussion (pictured 2019) Tom's dad Dominic attended a charity dinner in Mayfair on Sunday, confirming that his son would be away from filming 'for a while' (pictured: Tom and dad Dominic in 2018) Zendaya, 28, watched Tom shoot new scenes at Aunt Mays grave for the upcoming Marvel movie. The smitten pair will share the screen for the fourth time, after previously playing love interests in three Spider-Man movies. He was seen filming for the first time in Glasgow earlier this summer, transforming the city into New York City for the sequel. While the final casting of the latest instalment in the Spider-Man franchise has not been confirmed, Tom is believed to be starring alongside Stranger Things star Sadie Sink, 23. Zendaya plays Peter Parkers girlfriend MJ. It comes after Tom left fans divided after he unveiled a first glimpse of his updated costume for the upcoming sequel Spider-Man: Brand New Day. He appeared in a short clip uploaded to the movie's Instagram and X accounts. The star was seen standing front of a large doorway that began to open up with his back initially towards the camera. Tom then turned around and as the room became brighter, fans were able to see his new Spider-Man suit. As instrumental music played in the background, he paused and questioned, 'We ready?' before bringing his gaze back to directly look at the camera. The reel concluded as he ran off, with the movie's title appearing on the screen. Earlier this year it was revealed that Spider-Man 4 had been pushed back to hit cinemas on July 31, 2026, however this may now change again due to the incident Not long after the video was shared, social media users flocked over to Reddit to share their thoughts on the latest costume. The suit contained colors of both red and blue, while a black spider emblem was embroidered on his chest. Tom's suit has altered over the course of the three previous films he has starred in for the franchise including Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Before the actor took on the role of the iconic superhero, others have also portrayed the character in the past such as Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. 'FINALLY This suit is what it should have been all along,' one penned, and another typed, 'looks good i just feel the spider is a little low on the chest.' A Reddit user also shared, 'Just don't CGI over it now, or if you have to do it minimally. It looks great, the little wrinkles and bunching make it feel so much better.' Kylie Jenner posted a rare family photo with her two children as she gave fans a glimpse into her daily life. The 28-year-old beauty mogul - who recently enjoyed a girls night out with sister Kendall Jenner and BFF Hailey Bieber - uploaded an assortment of Instagram snaps on Sunday alongside the caption, 'i luv my life.' The TV personality is mom to daughter Stormi, seven, and son Aire, three - whom she shares with ex Travis Scott. In one of the images, Jenner could be seen flashing a cheerful smile while embracing her kids. Stormi could be dressed in a school uniform while the reality star also held her son in her arms for the adorable picture. Jenner's children appeared in other snaps in the Instagram carousel, such as Aire cozying up with a blanket inside a vehicle. Kylie Jenner, 28, posted a rare family photo with her two children as she gave fans a glimpse into her daily life In one of the images, Jenner could be seen flashing a cheerful smile while embracing her kids During a recent interview with WWD's Beauty Inc. earlier this month, Jenner opened up about her dreams for her eldest child. 'It's my dream that my daughter will want to take over Kylie Cosmetics,' the media personality expressed. The beauty brand was officially launched a decade earlier in 2015 - and has since become a multi-million dollar industry. 'I would love for this to be a legacy brand, and I'm working hard every day to set up that future.' She posed up a storm for the cover of the WWD special edition and donned a black, double-breasted suit which was paired with a white blouse and striped tie. Jenner completed the chic look by slipping into a pair of black pumps and allowed her dark locks to flow down past her shoulders in elegant waves. In regards to celebrating the 10-year anniversary of her beauty brand, the star stated, 'I've been very emotional about it.' She continued, 'I found my old phone from 2016 and there are these photos of me at 17, 18 years old, sitting on the factory floor creating my first eye shadow palette.' Jenner's children appeared in other snaps in the Instagram carousel, such as Aire cozying up with a blanket inside a vehicle. 'It's my dream that my daughter will want to take over Kylie Cosmetics,' the media personality expressed In regards to celebrating the 10-year anniversary of her beauty brand, the star stated, 'I've been very emotional about it' Jenner's latest Instagram carousel also included a number of other images, such as sultry selfies Jenner added, 'I didn't think that far into the future when I was creating the brand - I wasn't thinking about 10 years later - so it is pretty surreal to be here.' She further branched out with other business ventures, such as launching her clothing brand Khy in 2023. 'Each brand is about creating something that feels personal to me and connects with people in an authentic way. 'It always starts with, "would I wear this, use this, drink this? Does it feel like me?" - that's the consistency and storytelling across every category,' Jenner explained to the outlet. Jenner's latest Instagram carousel also included a number of other images, such as sultry selfies. The reality star could be seen gazing up at the camera wearing a cropped white tank top as well as a pair of low-waisted leather pants. Her hair cascaded down past her shoulders in voluminous waves while a pink blush was added to her cheekbones for a radiant glow. A nude-colored matte tint was worn on her lips for a final touch. The TV personality further flaunted her figure in another selfie as she turned her back towards a mirror while sporting fitted denim jeans and a white tank top. The TV personality further flaunted her figure in another selfie as she turned her back towards a mirror while sporting fitted denim jeans and a white tank top Jenner flaunted her toned midriff in a cropped black top as well as a pair of fitted black leggings and stylish shoes The beauty mogul has also been spending time with her close pals, such as Anastasia 'Stassie' Karanikolaou The pair could be seen sporting fashionable ensembles as they paused to take a few memorable selfies together while hanging out Jenner also took a photo of a billboard as she starred in a recent Miu Miu campaign that was on the side of a building Jenner flaunted her toned midriff in a cropped black top as well as a pair of fitted black leggings and stylish shoes. The beauty mogul has also been spending time with her close pals, such as Anastasia 'Stassie' Karanikolaou. The pair could be seen sporting fashionable ensembles as they paused to take a few memorable selfies together while hanging out. Jenner also took a photo of a billboard as she starred in a recent Miu Miu campaign that was on the side of a building. The mom-of-two snapped a quick photo as she took a seat inside a luxurious private jet. A screen in the background also read 'KylieAir' The star uploaded an assortment of Instagram snaps on Sunday alongside the caption, 'i luv my life The mom-of-two snapped a quick photo as she took a seat inside a luxurious private jet. A screen in the background also read 'KylieAir.' Earlier this week, Jenner was seen catching up with her older sister Kendall Jenner and BFF Hailey Bieber as they grabbed dinner together. The trio stopped by celebrity hotspot Sushi Park in West Hollywood and were also spotted leaving the eatery. At one point, both Jenner and Bieber held big smiles on their faces as they saw their own billboards nearby. Leonardo DiCaprio joined his co-stars as they attended the screening for their upcoming film One Battle After Another in New York City on Sunday. The 50-year-old actor dressed to impress in a gray, double-breasted blazer featuring glossy black buttons that matched his shiny leather dress shoes. He wore a white button-down with contrasting buttons and accessorized his suit with a simple lapel pin. His attendance at the screening comes on the heels of him joining his co-stars in Mexico City amid their promo tour as the film is backed to scoop Best Picture at the Oscars after sweeping five-star reviews. At the special screening event, the Oscar-winning star was joined by several of his castmates including Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn and Regina Hall. For the special occasion, Taylor, 34, turned heads as she went braless underneath a plunging, plaid jumpsuit that showcased her sternum tattoo. Leonardo DiCaprio joined his co-stars as they attended the screening for their upcoming film One Battle After Another in New York City on Sunday She draped a matching, floor-length coat over her shoulders and also wore a tie as a scarf for her glamorous outfit at the event. With her hair in a chic pixie cut, she rocked full glam as she smoldered with cat-eye makeup and a glossy, mauve lip combo. Sean Penn, their co-star in the movie, also attended the special screening at The Film Society of Lincoln Center in the Walter Reade Theatre. He put on a casual display in a black T-shirt, a khaki green bomber jacket, blue jeans and white sneakers. For the special screening, Benicio del Toro looked dapper in a classic black suit and tie as he joined his co-stars in the critically acclaimed film. Regina Hall turned heads in an all-black outfit mixing faux leather and lace for an edgy-chic look. She wore a trench coat-inspired dress with a waterfall skirt to show off her toned legs in black pumps. The screening event comes after their movie, One Battle After Another, was greeted with five-star reviews across the board and even deemed 'the defining film of a generation.' For the special occasion, Teyana Taylor turned heads as she went braless underneath a plunging, plaid jumpsuit that showcased her sternum tattoo She draped a matching, floor-length coat over her shoulders and also wore a tie as a scarf for her glamorous outfit at the event. With her hair in a chic pixie cut, she rocked full glam as she smoldered with cat-eye makeup and a glossy, mauve lip combo Sean Penn, their co-star in the movie, also attended the special screening at The Film Society of Lincoln Center in the Walter Reade Theatre. He put on a casual display in a black T-shirt, a khaki green bomber jacket, blue jeans and white sneakers The Paul Thomas Anderson-directed film is an action-thriller based loosely on Thomas Pynchon's 1990 novel Vineland. One Battle After Another sees Leo playing Bob Ferguson, a disheveled and distraught revolutionary who lives in a state of stoned paranoia off-grid with his daughter Willa, whom he shares with Teyana Taylor's character Perfidia. The film follows Bob as he reconnects with a group of allies on a mission to track down his daughter, with Benicio Del Toro playing his sensei, guiding him through a life without fear. The high-stakes thriller and black comedy also sees Sean Penn starring as Bob's evil nemesis, Col Steven J Lockjaw, and Regina Hall playing revolutionary Deandra. Bookmaker Coral currently has One Battle After Another at 4-5 to win the Best Picture at the Oscars 2026, following strong reviews. Leo is also odds-on at 1-2 to win the gong for the Best Actor at the Ceremony in 2026. Corals John Hill said: 'After glowing reviews, One Battle After Another has been heavily backed to win the Best Picture at next year's Oscars. It is now odds-on in our betting for the award. 'Leonardo DiCaprio is the star name in One Battle After Another, and he is odds-on to win the Best Actor gong for the second time in his career.' For the special screening, Benicio del Toro looked dapper in a classic black suit and tie as he joined his co-stars in the critically acclaimed film Regina Hall turned heads in an all-black outfit mixing faux leather and lace for an edgy-chic look. She wore a trench coat-inspired dress with a waterfall skirt to show off her toned legs in black pumps The screening event comes after their movie, One Battle After Another, was greeted with five-star reviews across the board and even deemed 'the defining film of a generation' Winning praise from the top, Steven Spielberg gushed: 'What an insane movie, oh my God. There is more action in the first hour of this than every other film you've ever directed put together. Everything, it is really incredible... 'This is such a concoction of things that are so bizarre and at the same time so relevant, that I think have become increasingly more relevant than perhaps even when you finished the screenplay and assembled your cast and crew and began production.' In a five star rating from The Daily Mail, Brian Viner writes: 'DiCaprio's is not even the most eye-catching performance in Paul Thomas Andersons irresistibly funny, thunderously exhilarating film. 'Sean Penn pinches every scene he's in as an unhinged army officer, driven first by lust and later by loathing, whose downfall, when it comes, is one of the most startling things you will see in the cinema this year. 'Anderson has already made one of the best pictures of the 21st century, in 2007s There Will be Blood. This one, loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchons novel Vineland, is comparably fine.' He added: 'He knows he's made something special, indeed the next time we hear him might be when he holds aloft an Academy Award.' An Australian media personality claims she was told to button up her cardigan by Qantas staff in the airline's Brisbane lounge because her outfit was apparently too revealing. Nikki Osborne, 44, said the recent incident left her feeling humiliated and degraded - particularly as it happened in front of a male colleague, in her hometown. Nikki was dressed in tailored white shorts, a pink bodysuit and a knitted white cardigan for her work trip to the Whitsundays, when she was confronted by a lounge employee. 'A staff member hurried up to me, grabbed me by the arm and said: 'Firstly, I'm a long-time fan of yours, but I'll need you to button your cardigan up to cover yourself to protect the other cultures in the lounge,' Osborne wrote in her QWeekend column. 'All I saw in the lounge were a few FIFO workers and a mum! I was suddenly shaken with a combination of shock, embarrassment, humiliation, anger and frustration. It was actually hard to process that I'd been made to feel like a tart in my hometown.' The comedian, who is also a mother, said the incident made a deep impact on her because she has always made a point of dressing well and being taken seriously in her profession. Nikki Osborne has lifted the lid on the embarrassing moment she claims she was told to button up her cardigan by Qantas staff in the airline's Brisbane lounge. (Pictured) The Nova 106.9 Brisbane breakfast presenter, 44, said the shocking encounter left her feeling humiliated and degraded - particularly as it happened in front of a male colleague in her hometown 'To have a woman suggest that my choice of dress is inappropriate really hit hard,' she admitted. Osborne added that her cleavage had been covered by her cardigan but it still wasn't enough for staff. 'Do I have cleavage? Yes. Had I covered the top of it? Yes. Was that enough? Apparently not!' After she spoke about the incident on her breakfast radio show, Osborne said she was stunned by the press coverage and the online backlash. She was most infuriated by the suggestion made by some commentators that she should be kept out of the lounge. 'I read the comments and so many people, without hesitation or any knowledge of what I was wearing, were lumping on about keeping trash out of the lounge. I'm trash now? How did this happen?!' she wrote. Osborne insisted she wasn't launching a 'Qantas beat-up' and said the airline later reached out with assurances the incident wouldn't happen again. But she admitted the follow-up phone call left her feeling even more scrutinised after staff allegedly went through her outfit item-by-item. Despite the ordeal, the radio star said her faith in the airline was restored when a flight attendant later greeted her warmly by her comic persona 'Bush Barbie' and treated her with respect throughout her journey. Nikki recalled dressing in tailored white shorts, a pink bodysuit and a knitted white cardigan for her work trip to the Whitsundays when she was suddenly confronted by a lounge employee 'That air steward salvaged my week,' she said. Osborne concluded that while she'll continue flying with Qantas, she'll think twice about what she wears in the lounge. 'I'll continue to choose what is appropriate clothing to wear and steer clear of the high moral ground of the Lounge.' Qantas's website says the airline declines entry to its lounge if 'some items of clothing are too casual or inappropriate'. Among the banned list are thongs, bare feet, head-to-toe gym wear, beachwear (such as boardshorts), sleepwear (such as Ugg boots), clothing with offensive images or slogans and revealing, unclean or torn clothing. 'These guidelines are intended to create an environment everyone can enjoy, so please be mindful of your choice of clothing and footwear when visiting Qantas Clubs and Business Lounges in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney,' the website said. The Daily Mail approached Qantas for comment previously. Krissy Marsh shocked onlookers at a raunchy eastern suburbs party, strutting in G-string lingerie that left fans wondering: Is this fearless confidence, or a midlife fashion crisis? The Real Housewives of Sydney star, 53, turned heads as she slipped into a daring G-string lingerie look to attend a 'Rebel Romantic' themed event alongside her close friend and co-star Matty Samaei. Mother-of-three Krissy turned heads in the raunchy ensemble, which featured a figure-hugging corset, G-string detailing and a dramatic diamante headpiece that could rival a Mardi Gras costume. She finished the look with bold red lipstick and flowing brunette curls. But while Krissy clearly felt fabulous, not everyone was impressed. Critics were quick to slam the racy outfit, accusing the property developer of trying to dress like a teenager. Krissy Marsh shocked onlookers at a raunchy eastern suburbs party, strutting in G-string lingerie that left fans wondering: Is this fearless confidence, or a midlife fashion crisis? The Real Housewives of Sydney star, 53, turned heads as she slipped into a daring G-string lingerie look to attend a 'Rebel Romantic' themed event One follower bluntly wrote: 'Omg you're notttt 16.' Another echoed the sentiment, saying: 'Not sure about that one. Know you can, not sure about everyone knowing you can. I mean that in the nicest possible way honestly xx.' However, others praised the reality TV star for her confidence and sense of humour. 'Wow that is amazing, unexpected, fun and daring all at the same time have a fab evening,' one fan gushed. Another added: 'Omg Krissy! You're hilarious.' Matty Samaei (pictured) appeared more covered up in a strappy, busty black corset paired with a ruffled skirt and thigh-high boots Critics were quick to slam the racy outfit, accusing the property developer of trying to dress like a teenager The clip quickly divided fans, with some applauding Krissy for proving age is no barrier to glamour while others insisted she had taken things a little too far. The news comes just days after it was revealed that the popular housewife will be starring on Channel 10's reboot of The Traitors. Daily Mail can reveal that the upcoming third series will also feature a bevy of familiar faces from Married At First Sight and other household names. It will also get a new host following the departure of former host Rodger Corser earlier this year to Nine, where he now hosts The Floor. Blake Lively remembered her late Gossip Girl costar Michelle Trachtenberg as part of a series of previously-unseen images she posted to social media Sunday. Lively, 38, shared a series of 20 shots from her time on The CW teen drama, in which she starred as lead character Serena van der Woodsen. Trachtenberg, who died at the age of 39 earlier this year due to complications from diabetes mellitus, played the role of Georgina Sparks on the series for 28 episodes. In the shot in question, Trachtenberg was wearing a black shirt with a necklace, while Lively was wearing a maroon shirt. Both wore their hair down and parted while on the set of the teen drama, which also starred Penn Badgley, 38; Leighton Meester, 39; Ed Westwick, 38, and Chace Crawford, 40. The show ran for 121 episodes spread over six seasons, elevating the Hollywood careers of cast members including Lively, Meester, Badgley, Crawford and Westwick. Blake Lively, 38,remembered her late Gossip Girl costar Michelle Trachtenberg as part of a series of previously-unseen images she posted to social media Sunday. Trachtenberg, who died at the age of 39 earlier this year due to complications from diabetes mellitus, played the role of Georgina Sparks on the series for 28 episodes. Pictured in 2008 In the wake of Trachtenberg's passing this past February, Lively took to social media to say kind words about her late colleague and the upbeat energy she carried through life. 'She was electricity,' Lively said on Instagram Stories. 'You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed.' Lively said that 'everything [Trachtenberg] did, she did 200%.' Lively painted a portrait of a good friend, supportive colleague and brave soul in the memorial she penned for Trachtenberg. 'She laughed the fullest at someone's joke,' Lively said, 'she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes.' Lively said Trachtenberg 'was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself.' Trachtenberg's cause of death was confirmed this past April by the New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner, an classified as 'natural;' Trachtenberg's relatives had past cited religion as a reason why they did not want the results of her autopsy made public. Lively, who is wed to actor Ryan Reynolds, said that 'the world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle,' concluding, 'May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.' In the wake of Trachtenberg's passing this past February, Lively took to social media to say kind words about her late colleague and the upbeat energy she carried through life Trachtenberg and Lively pictured in NYC in 2009 at the CFDA Fashion Awards Trachtenberg pictured at the 15 Years of Siriano Party in November of 2023 in LA Lively and Justin Baldoni pictured in their 2024 film It Ends with Us The throwback marked a lighthearted turn as Lively remains in a bitter courtroom clash with Justin Baldoni, stemming from their experience filming the 2024 romantic drama It Ends with Us. In December 2024, the actress sued Justin for allegedly sexually harassing her on set, claims he denied before he and Wayfarer Studios fired back with a defamation suit against Blake, her publicist Leslie Sloane and husband Ryan Reynolds. Baldoni also sued The New York Times, filing a $250 million lawsuit against the publication over its bombshell tell-all on Lively's sexual harassment claims against her former co-star on December 31, 2024. The New York Times denied the allegations. On June 9, however, it was learned that a judge dismissed Baldoni's lawsuit in a major setback for the actor's hopes for a blockbuster win over the wealthy actress. Prince Harry recalled 'losing it' over his excitement while visiting Disney World with his late mother Princess Diana and older brother Prince William. The Duke Of Sussex, 41, opened up about the memory as he appeared alongside his wife Meghan Markle in a 20/20 special called The Happiest Story On Earth: 70 Years Of Disneyland which aired on Sunday. The couple - who tied the knot in 2018 - recently enjoyed a Disneyland trip with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, back in June. When he was eight-years-old, Harry joined his mother and brother on a trip to Disney World in Florida in 1993. 'I remember it very, very well. I remember losing it as a kid with all the characters. Like, losing it,' he shared. Meghan chimed in to share that the amusement park was 'more accessible' to her due to being born and raised in the Southern California area, but it was 'still the biggest treat in the world.' Prince Harry recalled 'losing it' over his excitement while visiting Disney World with his late mother Princess Diana and older brother Prince William When he was eight-years-old, Harry joined his mother and brother on a trip to Disney World in Florida in 1993 (seen above bottom right, William bottom left, and Diana top left) The Suits alum also remembered visiting Disneyland for grad night when she was in high school. 'I don't even know why they let us do that,' she said, with her husband jokingly adding, 'That sounds like a lot of fun. Can you do that in your forties?' Harry then talked about their recent trip to Disneyland earlier this year to celebrate their daughter Lilibet's fourth birthday. 'They're like, "This is amazing!" the father-of-two recalled of his children's response before entering the main park. 'Like, "Guys, this isn't even the front of it. Prepare yourself. You're about to be blown away."' Harry further expressed on the 20/20 interview, 'To see the kids throw themselves into these experiences when they have no idea what they're walking into - it was amazing. And it brings out the kid in you again.' Back in June, Meghan uploaded an Instagram post that included special moments from their visit to the Happiest Place on Earth. She shared a video montage from the two-day Disneyland vacation as the family had a blast on numerous rides and indulged in yummy treats. 'I remember it very, very well. I remember losing it as a kid with all the characters. Like, losing it,' he shared; seen on Saturday in Santa Barbara 'They're like, "This is amazing!" the father-of-two recalled of his children's response before entering the main park One snippet showed both Lilibet and their son Archie, six, having the chance to meet Disney princess Elsa from Frozen. Meghan and Harry's kids also had fun on some rides at the amusement park such as Dumbo the Flying Elephant and the Cars ride. The couple were spotted having a blast of their own as they sat at the front while on Space Mountain together. One short reel included in the post was taken as the family-of-four excitedly explored Disneyland and also visited the Star Wars troopers. Harry flashed a cheerful smile as he turned towards the camera while sitting next to Lillibet on another ride. The birthday girl also received a Little Mermaid-themed cake that was covered in hues of blue sugary frosting while 'Happy Birthday Lili' was written in pink icing. In the caption, Meghan had penned to her followers: 'Thank you @disneyland for giving our family two days of pure joy!' Earlier this week, both Harry and Meghan appeared in a trailer for the 20/20 special - with other stars also featured in the episode including Jamie Lee Curtis, Neil Patrick Harris and Jon Favreau. The couple were spotted having a blast of their own as they sat at the front while on Space Mountain together The birthday girl also received a Little Mermaid-themed cake that was covered in hues of blue sugary frosting while 'Happy Birthday Lili' was written in pink icing Harry and Meghan's appearance on the 20/20 special comes just one day after the pair made a surprise joint appearance at Kevin Costner's starry charity event in Santa Barbara on Saturday. The Suits alum joined her husband at the One805LIVE! concert which took place at the Yellowstone actor's oceanside estate - with other celebrities in attendance such as Oprah Winfrey. It also came just weeks after Harry reunited with his father King Charles for the first time in 18 months for a face-to-face meeting in London. Meghan donned a sleeveless, dark navy dress as well as a pair of stylish pumps for the outdoor event - which helps raise funds for local fire, police and sheriff departments. Harry was stylishly casual in a black button up which was paired with a pair of black trousers and a blazer on top. The two were seen arriving to the venue and began to mingle with other guests at the charity concert. Harry and Meghan's appearance on the 20/20 special comes just one day after the pair made a surprise joint appearance at Kevin Costner's starry charity event in Santa Barbara on Saturday (seen above) It also came just weeks after Harry reunited with his father King Charles for the first time in 18 months for a face-to-face meeting in London; Charles seen earlier this month in London The actress flashed a cheerful smile and at one point, shared a friendly embrace with one of the other attendees. The couple also took time to talk with first responders and law enforcement who were also at the event over the weekend. Harry and Meghan then took to the stage to address the crowd and cozied up together as the Duke of Sussex said a few words. And earlier this month, he also rung in his 41st birthday on September 15 - with his wife sharing a sweet Instagram tribute to celebrate the 'birthday boy.' She'd already claimed a sizeable share of the spotlight while attending a star-studded Vogue event in central London, but the night was still young as Julia Fox arrived at Chiltern Firehouse on Sunday. The American actress rounded off her night at the popular Marylebone venue after letting her hair down at Italian eaterie Carbone, where British Vogue were hosting a celebratory London Fashion Week party. No stranger to provocation, Fox, 35, inevitably caught the eye in a plunging leather corset dress that fully exposed her cleavage while making her way inside the Firehouse. The unconventional outfit courted further attention by revealing her bottom, visible beneath its lace detailing as she greeted onlookers outside the venue. Fox appeared to be enjoying a brief visit to the English capital and its latest run of catwalk presentations after publicly criticising her ex-husband Peter Artemiev, with whom she raises four-year old son Valentino. In a recent TikTok post, the model claimed she was excluded from her son's baptism by his family and only learned of the ceremony after it had taken place. She'd already claimed a sizeable share of the spotlight while attending a Vogue event in central London, but the night was still young as Julia Fox arrived at Chiltern Firehouse on Sunday 'I crashed out today and like I'm just not used to getting upset like that anymore so it actually really affects my nervous system,' she told followers. 'I went to my son's school for his school performance, his dad was there, he came late as usual. 'And then I had to like help load some stuff in my car, so we were walking to my car, and he points to this church, and he goes, "Oh, this is where Valentina was baptized."' She added: 'I was like, "What?" And he goes, "Yeah, this is where he was baptized." And I was like, "Well why wasn't I invited?" And he was like, "You were invited, you just didn't want to come." 'And I was like, "Okay. First of all, don't tell me what I was and was not invited to. Like, absolutely not. If I was invited to something like that, I would go. I would remember. '"And if I wasn't invited, I would still have a picture or something. Like no one told me anything about this." He was like, "Yes we did, you didn't want to come, you said you didn't care." 'And I was like, "Bro!" Like it took me back to being in that relationship, of being gaslighted over and over and over until then I freak out and then do something and then he calls me abusive, but it's reactive abuse, and then that's what happens when you're being mentally and emotionally, and psychologically and physically abused.' Fox claims she contacted her former mother-in-law, who told her the church only allowed 'Russian Orthodox' people to come and that she did not believe Julia would 'care' to come. Fox arrived at the Firehouse after attending a British Vogue fashion week party at Italian restaurant Carbone in London's Mayfair (pictured) Fox appeared to be enjoying a brief visit to the English capital after publicly criticising her ex-husband Peter Artemiev, with whom she raises four-year old son Valentino (pictured in 2021) She said: 'Anyway, so he was like, "yeah, you were invited, you were invited," and I was like, "Okay word." So I called his mom. And I went off on her. And I said, "Why the hell was I not invited to this?" 'And she was like, "Well, the priest said that it was like a Russian Orthodox thing, and only Russian Orthodox people could come." And it's like, "Wow, now I see where this man gets it from." 'Don't gaslight me. That is a bulls**t excuse, I am this child's mother. You are not his mother. And she was like, "Okay, I just thought you wouldn't care,"' 'And I was like, "Listen lady, your son doesn't care. I care, very much, and you just robbed me of an experience." And then she was like, "What are you going to do, punish me now, are you not going to let me see Valentino?" 'And it's like, dude, I don't operate like that. Like, my son loves you, cause he doesn't know any better, so I'm not going to do that to him. But now I know... now I've actually always known, but now I have the confirmation of how you people operate and you're all trash. 'Girls, please, please, from the bottom of my heart. Who you have a child with will dictate the rest of your life. Do not have a child with a loser.' Bikini-clad Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has shared some rare snaps with fiance Jason Statham and their children during a family trip to Greece. The former Victoria's Secret model, 38, shared a picture of herself wearing a Rat And Boa leopard print bikini top as she spent some well-deserved time off with her brood. And she has documented bits of their idyllic getaway on Instagram - sharing an unusual peek into her private family life. The blonde bombshell, of course, shared a sultry bikini snap amongst her photo dump on social media among lots of other pictures of her high-fashion looks. She gave a smouldering stare at the camera, covering up with a large pair of aviator sunglasses. Mother-of-two Rosie stripped back the make up, wearing only lipgloss as she basked in the Antiparos heat. Bikini-clad Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has shared some rare snaps with her fiance Jason Statham and their children during a family trip to Greece The former Victoria's Secret model spent some well-deserved time off with her brood as summer comes to a close (pictured with Jason and daughter Isabella) Other photos showed her daughter, three, exploring tourist shops on the island, as well as splashing around in a huge pool which connected to their massive villa. She also posted some snaps of her son, Jack, eight, enjoying a walk through the town. Rosie looked every-inch the doting mother as another photo saw her cradling Isabella in her arms. The pair stood by the sea, with Rosie's hair blowing in a perfect style, mimicking a runway. Reminiscing on the warmer months, she penned: 'Still summer somewhere.' She was met with comments from locals who welcomed her to sunny Greece. Rosie looked every-inch the doting mum as another photo saw her cradling Isabella in her arms while wearing a stunning black mini dress Reminiscing on the warmer months, she penned: 'Still summer somewhere' while posing in a plunging white gown Other photos showed her daughter, three, exploring tourist shops on the island, as well as splashing around in a huge pool which connected to their massive villa Her daughter enjoyed a litlte bit of shopping with her in the tourist spots She also posted some snaps of her son Jack, eight, enjoying a walk through the town The family recently enjoyed a holiday in the southern coast of Italy for her brother Toby's wedding to his partner Noa this July The family recently enjoyed a holiday in the southern coast of Italy for her brother Toby's wedding to his partner Noa this July. They were staying at the five-star hotel Villa Treville, which boasts stunning views of the Amalfi Coast. Rooms start at 3,416 per night, making it a luxury stay suitable for the stars. The low-key couple, who live in Los Angeles, first began dating in 2009 after meeting at a party in London and experiencing what Rosie called 'instant chemistry'. They became engaged in 2016, with the mode revealing they had taken their relationship to the next level when she flashed her impressive diamond ring at the Golden Globes. Speaking about their plans to marry after Jack was born, Rosie said: 'I think the time will come. It's also not a huge priority for us.' It's unknown whether Rosie is still on holiday or if she has returned to their cosy family home in the UK Speaking about their plans to marry after Jack was born, Rosie said: 'I think the time will come. It's also not a huge priority for us' Rosie received a pretty picture from her rarely-seen children Isabella, three, could be seen enjoying the massive pool in their stunning Greek villa They appeared to be having fun on paddleboards in the ocean as they made the most of the trip She has also addressed the couple's 20-year age gap, saying: 'His knowledge and strength are really inspiring and attractive, and that can come with a man who's had a bit of time.' The model, who grew up in Devon, recently revealed why she returned to the UK in 2020 and explained that it was always 'the plan' to raise her children in the UK. The couple joined forces earlier this month as they promoted their second collaboration for Falconeri. They made their debut for the fashion brand in March this year. Proving that team work makes the dream work, the pair have joined forces once more in a series of head turning snaps shared on Instagram on Tuesday. Maura Higgins looked red hot in a sizzling red latex dress on Instagram, but it's her ex Pete Wicks who has been grabbing headlines. Love Island Games presenter Maura, 34, is currently in the Fiji Islands for another stint of the ITV2 spin-off series, which began last week. Starting things off with a bang, Maura slipped into a red latex maxi dress for the special occasion, leaving her followers open-mouthed. But while she's sunning herself abroad, Pete was kissing Strictly pro dancer Jowita Przystal onstage at the O2, who he was linked to around the time he was dating Maura. What's more, the handsome chap was also spotted kissing a mystery blonde just days before seemingly confirming his romance with Jowita. Love Island Games presenter Maura Higgins, 34, is back in the Fiji Islands for another stint of the ITV2 spin-off series, which began last week Starting things off with a bang, Maura slipped into a red latex maxi dress for the special occasion, leaving her followers open-mouthed Maura's ex, Pete Wicks passionately kissed Jowita Przystal onstage at London's O2 Arena on Friday evening Sources close to the couple confirmed the pair are now officially dating, having grown close while performing together on Strictly Come Dancing in 2024, around the time he was dating Maura But Maura appears to be unfazed by it all. She split from Pete in February claiming she had found messages from other women in his phone. And sharing those racy new images of her look, she wrote on social media: 'Tight fit but I'm flexible.' Maura was met with comments from the likes of best pal Molly-Mae, who shared: 'WOWWWWW.' Former Love Island pal Leah Taylor added: 'Are you even real omggggg.' And a fan commented: 'I can't even imagine being this hot like what!' Last week, Maura's journey to the Fiji Islands was thwarted when her Apple AirTag - a device used to track belongings - alerted her to the absence of her luggage. Having landed at LAX Airport, Maura, who previously acted as the show's social media ambassador, revealed she had been informed that her bag arrived at the carousel but was not present - indicating the luggage was stolen. Maura, who shot to fame on the UK version in 2019, initially gave a swanky glimpse into her journey, posting an image from the plane featuring her Hermes Birkin, a Louis Vuitton vanity case and diary and her Chanel sunglasses with a glass of wine. Yet things took a turn for the worse, when she began documenting her panic and admitted she was suffering from anxiety due to the gaffe as she was due to start working as soon as she landed in the South Pacific. Maura was met with comments from the likes of best pal Molly-Mae, who shared: 'WOWWWWW' Maura looked bronzed as she gave a smouldering stare to the camera, wearing full glam Former Love Island pal Leah Taylor added: 'Are you even real omggggg' Maura and Pete attended the BAFTA Television Awards back in May 12, when they were dating. but sadly split in February Maura's work trip was thrown into chaos on Monday, as she alleged her luggage had been stolen at LAX airport as she headed to Fiji to present Love Island Games' sister show As well as the image of her luxury goods, she shared a selfie showing her with a face mask alongside the caption: 'Here's me for the next 25 hours. Hair mask, bio collaged hair mask, oil all over body' - prior to her worries beginning. Following her selfies, Maura then shared an image of her lost luggage alert. Alongside the screenshot of her AirTag alert, Maura penned: 'Oh brilliant. Now I have to sit on this flight riddled with anxiety until I land in LAX.' After landing in LAX, she then revealed her bag had apparently landed in the States -but had been stolen from the carousel. Speaking to the camera, she said: 'So everyone in my DMs is like don't worry the airtag normally does that its probably on the flight. No, it's not... 'Actually they're telling me that it was on the conveyor belt so it looks like it's been stolen. Stolen! Stolen! I have work when I land. I have work'. She penned a caption on top of the video reading: 'Why would they give me more anxiety by telling me someone has took it!! Everyone has left the conveyor belt and I'm just here like... I'M JUST A GIRL that needs her hair extensions and fake tan.' It was revealed last month that Maura had landed the job on the Peacock show, which has run for four series A series insider told The Sun: 'The first series of Love Island Games didn't have an Aftersun sister show as it was pre-recorded and aired at a later date, but this time around for season 2 it will air in real time like the regular show does... 'As a result, bosses have commissioned an Aftersun series to run as a companion show and it will be fronted by Maura Higgins, who hosts Aftersun for the regular Love Island USA... 'Maura was thrilled to be asked to do it, as Games is a totally separate show so there was no guarantee she would be offered it. 'When bosses approached her, she was over the moon because it proves how happy they are with her and she is seen as a key fixture in the Love Island family.' The source went on: 'Her stateside career is going from strength to strength and comes off the back of her doing Traitors US. Maura would love to spend more time doing work in the US and it feels like this is the next step to that.' Brendan Gleeson has won universal praise for delivering a 'pitch perfect' performance in a new West End revival of Conor McPherson's well travelled play, The Weir. The Irish star plays nostalgic car mechanic and garage owner Jack, one of five characters whose hazy reminiscences intertwine over drinks in a County Leitrim pub. For those in the know, it's familiar ground; this latest revival at London's Harold Pinter Theatre is its thirteenth since opening to a significantly smaller audience at Royal Court Theatre in 1997. But for all its history, The Weir marks something of a first for the veteran Gleeson, who at 70 and long-established as one of Ireland's pre-eminent acting talents, breaks his West End duck in this new production. And he would be forgiven for wondering what took him so long after winning consistently positive reviews for his first stage appearance in more than a decade. Of Gleeson's stage presence, the Daily Mail's Patrick Marmion writes: 'He's a rural colossus of yore, white shirt barely encompassing his girth, inside a subsiding black suit that was once an Irish standard. Brendan Gleeson has won universal praise for delivering a 'pitch perfect' performance in a new West End revival of Conor McPherson's well travelled play, The Weir The Irish star plays nostalgic car mechanic and garage owner Jack in this latest revival at Harold Pinter Theatre, one of five characters whose hazy reminiscences intertwine over drinks in a County Leitrim pub 'Although his diction sometimes drifts into inaudibility, Gleeson is a natural for the enchanting poetry of McPherson's Blarney, which hypnotises the audience with its murky mood and lilting rhythms.' According to London Theatre's Holly O'Mahoney, Gleeson, who last took to the stage a decade ago at Dublin's Olympia Theatre, 'leads a pitch-perfect, five-strong ensemble in delivering this naturalistic play which invites the audience in on an evening at a cosy pub (designed by Rae Smith) in rural Ireland. 'Gleesons Jack is a tricky part to land: hes a character who must sardonically laugh along with his fellow drinkers' playful jibes that hes ugly and cantankerous, while somehow showing us hes the most decent of the bunch. 'In Gleesons performance, Jack exudes remarkable poise and dignity as a man soldiering on in the face of a life lived with some regrets.' Elsewhere, The Telegraph's Dominic Cavendish offered an unequivocally glowing assessment of Gleeson's West End debut ina five star review. He writes: 'If you love the Irish actor Brendan Gleeson because of anything or indeed everything he has been in (from Braveheart past Harry Potter to In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin), then do hasten to the see him make his West End debut at the age of 70. 'Hes the craggy-faced poster-boy for Conor McPhersons spellbinding, atmospheric revival at the Harold Pinter Theatre of The Weir (1997), the Dublin playwrights early masterpiece of laughter, grief and supernatural anecdotage in a rural Sligo bar. 'If youve not registered Gleeson before, youll leave after 100 minutes persuaded youve seen one of the greats in action.' For all its history, The Weir marks something of a first for the veteran Gleeson, who at 70 makes his West End debut in this new production The cast also includes Kate Phillips (pictured), Owen McDonnell, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor and Sean McGinley GLEESON'S WEST END DEBUT: WHAT THE CRITICS THINK 'Gleeson is a natural for the enchanting poetry of McPherson's Blarney' - Daily Mail 'The headline star is Brendan Gleeson but The Weir is an ensemble: its characters are on different frequencies yet see each other for who they are' - The Guardian 'Garlanded Irish film actor Brendan Gleeson is the splashiest piece of casting here, and his performance is a standout' - The Independent 'Gleeson leads a pitch-perfect, five-strong ensemble in delivering this naturalistic play which invites the audience in on an evening at a cosy pub in rural Ireland' - London Theatre 'If you love the Irish actor Brendan Gleeson because of anything or indeed everything he has been in (from Braveheart past Harry Potter to In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin), then do hasten to the see him make his West End debut at the age of 70' - The Telegraph Advertisement Praising a cast that also includes Kate Phillips, Owen McDonnell, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor and Sean McGinley, The Guardian's Chris Wiegand writes: 'The headline star is Brendan Gleeson but The Weir is an ensemble: its characters are on different frequencies yet see each other for who they are.' Wiegand offers additional praise for Gleeson's ability to inhabit a character originally written for someone notably younger. He adds: 'With knotted brow, Gleesons Jack first unsteadily threads together a bit of local folklore but also gives the aching closer, a Krapp-like remembrance of romance unseized in youth that has dogged him daily since. 'Its heightened by Gleesons age (he is 70, the character is written as in his 50s) and by coming at the end of a performance rich with quips (That fellad peel a banana in his pocket) and perplexed grimaces (starting with a lovely bit of physical comedy with a bar tap).' Also commenting on Gleeson's age, Jeremy Malies of Plays International writes: 'Directing his own play for the first time, McPherson benefits from the monumental (and much hyped in pre-publicity) presence of Brendan Gleeson as Jack. 'He is 20 years older than the part as written but you see why McPherson and the producers wanted him.' In a four star review, The Independent's Alice Saville offers another enthusiastic assessment of Gleeson's debut. 'Garlanded Irish film actor Brendan Gleeson is the splashiest piece of casting here, and his performance is a standout,' she writes. 'Hes got a compelling kind of worn-out gravity as schlubby mechanic Jack, who puts on his best suit to welcome the new girl in town, then tells spine-tingling tales with a master storytellers assured confidence. 'But the whole cast does justice to this naturalistic setting, bringing carefully observed humorous touches to its insular little booze-soaked world.' The Weir launched at London's Harold Pinter Theatre on September 12 and will run until December (pictured: Owen McDonnell) Gleeson previously admitted his film schedule had prevented him accepting regular stage work before returning for The Weir ten years after he last performed in front of a live audience Sarah Crompton of WhatsOnStage adds: 'It is both naturalistic and numinous, an astonishing achievement when the playwright premiered it in 1997 at the age of 25, and just as wondrous today, with a fine new cast headed by Brendan Gleeson as the mechanic Jack, one of the regulars in a bar in rural Ireland.' Gleeson previously admitted his relentless film and TV schedule had prevented him accepting regular stage work before returning for The Weir some ten years after he last performed in front of a live audience in Edna Walsh's The Walworth Farce. He told The Times: 'I love film. I did theatre and then I started getting [film] parts. Braveheart was a big thing for me. Michael Collins. 'Theatre is hard and it has to be worth it. This is a long stint: we go through to December. Its fascinating, but its kind of exhausting. 'So nothing kept me away except the older I get the better [film] parts seem to be coming in.' Strictly's Thomas Skinner and wife Sinead put on a united front amid his affair scandal as they hosted a viewing party to watch his dance floor debut on Saturday. The Apprentice star, 34, admitted to cheating on his wife, with whom he shares three young children, just weeks after their wedding in May 2022. Claiming the 'two week fling' was a 'moment of madness' that saw him almost 'ruin his life.' However 'secret mistress' Amy-Lucy O'Rourke suggested in an interview with the Daily Mail that their secret relationship lasted three months, during which time he said he was in love with her and unhappy with Sinead. Taking to his Instagram Stories Thomas shared snaps as the couple were joined by family and friends to watch his pre-recorded appearance on the BBC show which saw him paired with Welsh pro Amy Dowden, 35. The TV personality beamed as he wrapped his arms around five-year-old son Henry in a huge crowd, and captioned the post: 'Lovely night with lovely people!'. Sinead was also all smiles alongside her female friends just days after breaking her silence on the scandal. Strictly's Thomas Skinner and wife Sinead put on a united front amid his affair scandal as they hosted a viewing party to watch his dance floor debut on Saturday The Apprentice star, 34, admitted to cheating on his wife (centre) with whom he shares three young children, just weeks after their wedding in May 2022. Taking to his Instagram Stories Thomas shared snaps as the couple were joined by family and friends to watch him as he was paired with Welsh pro Amy Dowden, 35 A friend of Sinead reportedly revealed how the star's wife is really feeling as they confessed she is finding it 'difficult'. 'This has of course all been upsetting for Sinead. The attention has been difficult for her as it brings it all back but she is resilient and her family is strong, her marriage is strong,' they told The Sun on Sunday. They added: 'And, as she says, she knew about this more than three years ago and they dealt with the aftermath together back then. This is old news to her, she forgave him then. 'What people probably dont realise is that Sinead is an incredibly strong woman. Tom has described her as his rock and it is so true, she is.' Daily Mail has contacted Thomas's representatives for comment. It comes after pro Amy insisted she was loving every minute of her new partnership with under-fire Thomas. The Welsh ballroom professional has returned to the BBC show on a full time basis after injury curtailed her original return in 2024, for which she was paired with JLS star JB Gill. And Amy now back to full health after being diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer in May 2023, claims her new dance partner's sense of humour has helped ease her back into the show's rigorous training programme. Sinead was also all smiles alongside her female friends just days after breaking her silence on the scandal 'secret mistress' Amy-Lucy O'Rourke suggested in an interview with the Daily Mail that their secret relationship lasted three months , during which time he said he was in love with her A friend of Sinead reportedly revealed how the star's wife is really feeling as they confessed she is finding it 'difficult' (Sinead and Thomas pictured together) Sharing a photo of herself alongside Thomas she wrote: 'The news is out! @iamtomskinner and I are excited and working hard rrrrrready for the first live show next Saturday! 'Tom is working so hard and is loving learning to dance ( more than he ever imagined). We are laughing lots too! 'Honestly Tom its been so lovely getting to know the really lovely, bubbly, full of life you this week. Thanks for a great week and so looking forward to our strictly journey ahead! Lets do this.' Taking to his own Instagram platform, Thomas shared similar sentiments alongside a behind-the-scenes video of himself and Amy in the rehearsal studio. He wrote: 'Let me introduce you to an absolute legend, me parter for Strictly Come Dancing. The lovely @amy_dowden - We aint stopped laughing since we met, and she is teaching me the moves which youll see at the end of the video. 'Honoured to be doing Strictly and Ill be posting lots of behind the scenes videos. Honestly never fort I would love dancing as much as I am! Enjoy.' [sic] The Essex based businessman rounded off the clip with a somewhat shaky attempt at twirling Amy, who was among the first people to comment on his latest post. Amy insists she's loving every minute of her new partnership with Thomas after he was announced as her celebrity partner 'Yes partner. Had the best week! Youve work hard, weve laughed, and fun and you are looking after me too as am I you! Lets do this partner,' she wrote. Despite their apparent bond, fans have expressed dismay over the unlikely pairing given her long awaited return to the show following a series of health setbacks. Commenting on social media, one disappointed viewer wrote: 'You deserved better.' A second added: 'I am gutted she's got him on her first year back.' While a third posted: 'You look amazing Amy. Great to see you back. So sorry you got the short straw with him though.' Thomas has faced enormous public scrutiny since confirming his involvement in the show after storming out of a Strictly press event in September. And BBC News presenter Peter Levy admits he too is disappointed with the decision to pair him with Amy for this year's series. A mystery blonde bombshell turned heads at the Brownlow Medal count in Melbourne on Monday night. Attending the glitzy event on the arm of AFL Hall of Famer Des Tuddenham, she outshone the younger WAGs as she flashed her underwear in a risque, see-through dress during AFL's night of nights at the Crown Casino. The bejewelled frock left little to the imagination as it hugged her curves, showing off her ample cleavage and tattooed arms. Des' date paired the sparkling ensemble with strappy silver heels and a glittering purse. She wore her blonde hair in soft waves and chose a smokey eye with bronzed cheeks to complement the glamorous evening. Meanwhile, the Collingwood legend, 82, looked dapper in a tuxedo, wearing a giant smile on his face as he posed with his arm around the woman. Younger mystery date of AFL Hall of Famer Des Tuddenham, 82, gave the WAGs a run for their money at the Brownlow Medal count on Monday night as she flashed her underwear in completely see-through gown Also making waves on the Brownlow red carpet was AFL megastar Bailey Smith, who arrived wearing a very trendy accessory - but it wasn't his rumoured love interest Tammy Hembrow. The Geelong Cats midfielder attended the awards ceremony wearing a pair of cool 'speed dealer' style sunglasses. Bailey suited up for the occasion with an all-black ensemble, wearing a tuxedo and bow-tie. He had his signature blonde locks in a messy style across his shoulders and a giant smile on his face as he posed alongside the AFL's Chief Executive Officer Andrew Dillon. Notably absent was Tammy, who was nowhere to be seen despite weeks of rumours that she would be attending the AFL's night of nights on the arm of the footy star. It's a big night for Bailey, who is in the running for the most coveted award of the evening thanks to the immediate impact he made in his first season at Kardinia Park. His mix of explosive pace, contested work, and a string of late-season best-on-ground performances has many predicting he could nab the Brownlow Medal. This years Brownlow predictor models have tipped another tight finish, with Collingwoods Nick Daicos leading most simulations after a season built on sheer consistency. Also making waves on the Brownlow red carpet was AFL megastar Bailey Smith (pictured), who arrived wearing a very trendy accessory - but it wasn't his rumoured love interest Tammy Hembrow Notably absent was Tammy (pictured), who was nowhere to be seen despite weeks of rumours that she would be attending the AFL's night of nights on the arm of the footy star The Magpies superstar was prolific with disposals, regularly surpassing 30 touches, while also delivering match-winning bursts that kept him in the spotlight even when Collingwood struggled. Gold Coasts Noah Anderson has emerged as a genuine star, dominating in the Suns midfield and finishing among the league leaders for clearances and contested possessions. His ability to control the tempo of games has made him one of the umpires most noticeable players. Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson enjoyed a career-best year, balancing leadership with clutch performances that swung matches. While his disposal average dipped slightly, his All-Australian honours and big fourth-quarter efforts make him a serious threat to become the Crows second Brownlow Medallist. Rounding out the contenders is Fremantles Caleb Serong, whose consistency in contested ball and ability to set the tone at stoppages powered the Dockers into September. With another All-Australian blazer to his name, Serongs mix of grit and polish gives him every chance of polling strongly. Noel Gallagher has confessed his love for younger brother Liam after drawing a line under their decades long feud and reuniting for a blockbuster world tour. The Oasis legends are close to finalising a lucrative 41-date stadium tour that will earn them an estimated 50 million each, with further shows rumoured to be taking place in Knebworth next year. And Noel, 58, admits the bitter backstage brawl that led to the abrupt dissolution of Oasis in 2009 is now a thing of the past as he re-establishes his once fractured relationship with his brother. Discussing their bond in extracts from forthcoming book Oasis: Trying to Find A Way Out of Nowhere, he said: 'Liam's become more mad. He's totally f**kin' mental. He lives in this weird bizarre, bizarre concept. 'I love the geezer, and I don't say that just because he's my brother. He makes me laugh. He's so surreal.' Currently enjoying a two week break after completing the north American leg of their Live '25 tour, Oasis will return to the stage for two shows at Wembley Stadium from September 27. Noel Gallagher has confessed his love for younger brother Liam after drawing a line under their decades long feud and reuniting for a blockbuster world tour The Oasis legends are close to finalising a lucrative 41-date stadium tour that will earn them an estimated 50 million each The reunited Brit Pop pioneers will then travel to South Korea, Hong Kong and Australia before moving on to South America and five final shows, culminating in Sao Paulo on November 23. The demand for tickets has prompted speculation that Oasis will return to Knebworth next year for a 30th anniversary celebration of their legendary 1996 shows, at the time the biggest outdoor gigs in UK history. More than 250,000 people gathered across two nights at the Hertfordshire venue to see Oasis perform at the height of their fame, but Noel admits they treated it like any other performance. He said: 'Before we went on for one of the biggest gigs of all time, there was no kind of band huddle. I had a cig. Liam had a beer. 'Someone came in and said "Right, that's it." We just walked on stage and did it and then came off stage. There was no "Right, everybody out. We need to pray."' The forthcoming book contains never before seen pictures of the Gallagher brothers over the years, captured by photographer Jill Furmanovsky and edited by Noel. Reflecting on the band's early years, Noel recalled his first meeting with Jill, while the band were still performing to small crowds across the United Kingdom. Comparing the 72-year-old to his own mother Peggy, he said: 'We loved Jill from the moment she rolled up at the Corn Exchange in Cambridge in 1994. Noel discusses their bond in extracts from forthcoming book Oasis: Trying to Find A Way Out of Nowhere, featuring images captured by photographer Jill Furmanovsky (pictured) Noel admits the bitter backstage brawl that led to the abrupt dissolution of Oasis in 2009 is now a thing of the past as he re-establishes his once fractured relationship with his brother 'I met her on a stairwell backstage. She kind of reminded me of a dinner lady - and that's not an insult. It's a compliment because my mother was a dinner lady. 'During the gig, I'm kinda rocking out and there in the pit is the dinner lady with a professional camera.' He added: 'At the time she was working on a book of her photography called The Moment and I saw an early draft of it. The first photo in it was a picture of Paul McCartney outside his house taken by Jill as a schoolgirl. 'She was looking to end the book with a contemporary band that was on its way up. We were just blowing up at that point, so we were perfect. 'After that initial shoot she appeared at everything we did. To us, and again this is not an insult at all, she looked like all our mums. She's kind of the same size as my mum.' Oasis: Trying to Find A Way Out of Nowhere is available to buy from September 23. Lauren Goold has shown off her baby bump at the 2025 Brownlow after announcing she's pregnant with her first child. The wife of West Coast Eagles captain Liam Duggan was a vision on Monday evening as she attended the AFL's night of nights alongside her husband of nearly a year. The blonde beauty wore a one-shouldered, lilac dress that elegantly draped across her body in a timeless, Grecian style. The gorgeous gown by TOJHA hugged her curves and dramatically fell to the floor, accentuating her growing belly. The mum-to-be's blonde locks hung across her shoulders in waves, while her makeup and jewellery were kept simple and subtle. AFL star Liam looked dapper in a black tuxedo and bowtie, gleaming next to his pregnant wife, who cradled her bump. Lauren Goold (left) has shown off her baby bump at the 2025 Brownlow alongside her husband Liam Duggan (right) The black and white post showed Liam and Lauren in a photo booth wearing big smiles as Liam caressed Lauren's pregnant belly and learned in for a kiss The couple announced their pregnancy via Instagram on Sunday. The black and white post showed Liam and Lauren in a photo booth wearing big smiles as Liam caressed Lauren's pregnant belly and leaned in for a kiss. The couple weren't the only ones to debut a bump at the 2025 Brownlow. Sydney Swans captain Callum Mills and his wife Tiffany subtly revealed they were expecting their first child at the glitzy event. Tiffany was positively glowing as she debuted her pregnant belly in a pale blue silk dress with lace trim by Viktoria and Woods. In a nod to 1950s glamour, the mum-to-be layered a chiffon cape across her shoulders which elegantly trailed behind her. Working with stylist Victoria Burns, Tiffany hoped to spotlight her pregnancy with the figure-hugging ensemble. 'We really wanted to accentuate the bump and have it feel really sleek and elegant,' she told the Sydney Morning Herald. The couple weren't the only ones to debut a bump at the 2025 Brownlow. Sydney Swans captain Callum Mills and his wife Tiffany subtly revealed they were expecting their first child at the glitzy event. Both pictured She slicked her raven locks back in a half-up, half-down 'do' to reveal a bronzy makeup look, complete with a smokey eye and neutral lip. Callum also opted for a classic look, wearing a black tuxedo and bowtie for AFL's night of nights. In the pictures, the couple wore giant smiles on their faces as they let the world know about their growing family. One snap sweetly showed Tiffany caressing her belly while her partner fixed the train of her dress. Matt Rowell was announced as the 2025 Brownlow Medallist on Monday night at Crowne Casino. He is only the second Gold Coast player to be crowned the AFL's best and fairest, after Gary Ablett Jr. Rowell beat both Nick Daicos and Bailey Smith to the award, picking up a huge haul of 39 votes. Abbey Clancy joked she wanted to 'die' after a very embarrassing encounter which took place when she was nine months pregnant. The Britain's Next Top Model star, 39, shares daughters Sophia and Liberty and sons Johnny and Jack with her husband Peter Crouch, 44. Speaking on her podcast, The Therapy Crouch, the model explained she was heavily pregnant when she had an awkward interaction with another mother in a chemist. She said: 'I had a terrible incident in a chemist once when I was nine months pregnant and had a hold of a six-month old baby. 'There was a lady at the till with a baby and what I thought was a pregnant tummy. I said to her, "God, you're as nutty as me". Abbey Clancy, 39, revealed she wanted to 'die' while recalling a very embarrassing encounter when she was nine months pregnant in a chemist She said: 'There was a lady at the till with a baby and what I thought was a pregnant tummy,,,' '....A baby was kicking off and I went, 'Oh God, we've got it all to come haven't we?' She went on spilling the beans: 'She said "I'm not pregnant, this is my baby weight from this baby" and I just wanted to die. I was like, "I am so sorry, I am so sorry" The Britain's Next Top Model star, 39, shares daughters Sophia and Liberty and sons Johnny and Jack with her long-time husband Peter Crouch, 44 (pictured altogether) 'The baby was kicking off and I went, "Oh God, we've got it all to come haven't we?" 'She said 'I'm not pregnant, this is my baby weight from this baby' and I just wanted to die. I was like, 'I am so sorry, I am so sorry'. 'She went, 'Don't worry about it', and thought it was funny but I was heartbroken. It's not good, never, ever do that'.' Meanwhile Peter said that he never congratulates someone unless they explicitly mention they're pregnant. He said: 'I genuinely don't ever say congratulations, even if I know someone is blatantly eight months pregnant. 'I still don't say it. I would never even... I just wouldn't mention it, and if they say something like, 'I've only got a month to go', then you go, 'Congratulations by the way'. I would never say congratulations, ever, because you never know.' Abbey and Peter have been an item since 2006 and eventually tied the knot in 2011. Just recently, the lovebirds proved they're still madly in love by sharing a passionate kiss during a recent Oasis concert. Meanwhile Peter said: 'I genuinely don't ever say congratulations, even if I know someone is blatantly eight months pregnant. 'I still don't say it' The couple, who tied the knot in 2011, didn't seem to care who was around to to see as they locked lips during the gig in Dublin earlier last month. Abbey and ex Liverpool striker Peter were joined by their teenage daughter Sophia as they cosied up to each other in snaps shared to Abbey's Instagram. They attended the concert on August 16, with Abbey just posting some behind-the-scenes now. Abbey posted a slew of snaps that showcased her fun time at the concert with her loved ones. She appeared completely besotted by Peter as they were snogging while she leaned back in his arms. The mum-of-four held onto his bucket hat as they posed for the loved-up snap, showing followers that the spark is still very much alive after 20 years of being together. Meanwhile, 14-year-old Sophia - who is her mum's twin - was seen in other photos, as she cuddled into her cool parents. Abbey wore a slim-fitted black bodysuit and jeans with a pair of heels and sunglasses, looking like a fashionable WAG. Just recently, the lovebirds proved they're still madly in love by sharing a passionate kiss during a recent Oasis concert The model and ex Liverpool striker were joined by their teenage daughter Sophia (pictured) as they cosied up to each other in snaps shared to Abbey's Instagram Sophia wore a similar outfit, which consisted of jeans, a crop top and cream Varsity jacket, with a pair of trainers. Dad Peter opted for black jeans, a matching top and a shirt, which he paired with his Adidas bucket hat. The band are currently on their world reunion tour, Oasis Live '25 and fans across the globe have turned out in their masses to watch them perform. The Crouches decided to watch the band perform in Ireland, with Abbey reminiscing on how good of a time it was. Abbey captioned her dump: '@oasis we had a blast love you guys.' Another video showed Peter singing as behind the camera Abbey could be heard shouting to her husband: 'You're fit, you're fit' before he pulled his bucket hat over his eyes pretending to be shy. When Zara McDermott travelled to Thailand earlier this year, her mission was to make an even-handed documentary exploring the country's 'two conflicting sides' the idyllic beaches and the seedy underbelly of drugs and cheap sex. What the Strictly star, 28, didn't expect was the storm that has erupted since the release of her three-part BBC series. In it, Zara visits Bangkok and Pattaya, interviews sex workers and brands Thailand 'Benidorm on steroids: cheap, cheerful, full of women'. Locals have accused the show of being 'repulsive' and 'misleading', while contributors claim it was 'full of lies' and that 'scenes were staged'. Others warn the programme could have 'devastating consequences' for the country's vital tourism industry. Yet a TV insider has told the Daily Mail the responsibility lies with the BBC, not Zara. 'It is not Zara's fight to have,' the source said. 'Given how much Zara does to raise awareness about difficult topics for young women, I'm sure she would be pretty upset to find herself in the middle of tensions between contributors and the BBC.' Since leaving ITV dating show Love Island in 2018, Zara has worked to reinvent herself from bikini-clad influencer into serious filmmaker. In the past six years she has fronted acclaimed documentaries about women's issues such as revenge porn, rape culture and the violent death of teenager Gaia Pope-Sutherland. She has also spoken up about her own personal battles, such as when she competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023 and was partnered with Graziano Di Prima, revealing that 'distressing incidents' had occurred in the training room and video footage showed Di Prima kicking Zara during rehearsals. In Thailand, Zara sought to give a platform to sex workers who are exploited by tourists 'soliciting sex for as little as 23'. But critics say she focused only on negatives and now her project has been plunged into chaos as several contributors publicly allege they were misled. The most serious claims come from two British YouTubers based in Thailand who say the BBC concealed the film's true premise. Zara McDermott's three-part BBC series, Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise, has attracted criticism from Thai locals and expats British YouTuber Mac TV, who lives in Thailand, appears in the show and has said he was misled by BBC producers who concealed the true agenda of the documentary One, who goes by 'Mac TV' online, says he was approached to show Zara around the city of Pattaya, where he has lived for two years. Expecting to discuss life as an expat content creator, he now says he was 'tricked' and that the finished programme was cut to fit the showmakers' agenda. Since broadcast, Mac has launched a blistering campaign against the Beeb. His videos, which have since racked up 1.5 million views, accuse producers of scripting questions for Zara and even chopping up his voice to make him say things he never uttered. Recounting the saga from his home in Thailand, he said: 'I will expose the truth behind what really happened and tell you guys about all the lies that were told. 'I had a call with the BBC about eight months ago. They told me the documentary was about content creators in Thailand and why so many people are coming here. Let's be honest, it's not about that at all, so that's the first lie.' He alleges that he sent producers a list of topics he wanted to avoid talking about. According to Mac, when the cameras were rolling they asked about them anyway. He said: 'They [producers] ignored all of my requests and kept throwing all the questions at me I'd asked them not to. 'Well it was the producers, throwing the questions at Zara... there was not one question from Zara that did not come from that producer's mouth. Everything was scripted. 'She hasn't got any opinion on what to say, she gets told what to say about everything.' Expat Dave, known as ThaiTok online, said he thought the show was going to be about the positive aspects of Thai culture and wouldn't have taken part had he known how life in Thailand was going to be portrayed Zara has tried to move on from her Love Island identity and has presented a number of documentaries since leaving the reality show in 2018 In the documentary, viewers watch Mac and Zara walking down a bustling street crawling with suspected sex workers, before in a dramatic turn of events they are asked to stop filming and leave by suspicious-looking police officers. But the YouTube star alleged this was yet another fiction cooked up by producers and the scene was 'staged and faked' and the 'producers actually asked us to walk halfway back up the street so they could get the money shot'. His attention then turned to Zara who he said he 'felt sorry for' because 'she's just a puppet for this company getting paid to push these woke narratives'. He added: 'She's just getting pulled in 15 different directions, she's getting told what to say, she doesn't have her own mouth, it's all filtered through the producers.' The BBC has hit back, with a spokesman telling the Daily Mail: 'We refute any suggestion that this contributor was misrepresented and that any sequences were fabricated. 'He was fully briefed before participating, fully consented and understood the nature of his contribution and the series as a whole.' In response to allegations Zara was 'fed' questions, the spokesman said: 'Zara McDermott has co-developed and fronted multiple documentaries for BBC Three over the past five years, often tackling challenging and timely subjects relevant to her audience. She is supported during filming by an experienced production team.' The Daily Mail has also seen the official briefing which made clear Zara was in Thailand to uncover both 'light and shade'. But now others have chimed in with their experiences behind the scenes. Mike Yu, 29, a former London film producer who now makes videos about luxury living in Bangkok, says he too was deceived. After leaving a 900-a-month job in the UK, he now claims to earn 10,000 a month in Thailand. When the BBC filmed him showing Zara around a plush hotel, he believed he was contributing to a positive feature. Sitting in his bedroom last week, Mike told his followers: 'I want to clear things up with the recent documentary on Thailand with the BBC. 'When they interviewed me, they just asked all the good things about Thailand and how my life has changed.' 'Annoyed, upset and sad,' he accused producers of 'trying hard to find the bad part of Thailand' and failing to speak to locals. 'Everything was strange,' he said. 'I want to say, don't believe the BBC, all of it was rubbish.' Another expat, Kent-born Dave - known online as ThaiTok - shared a similar experience. He told fans he always posts positive videos celebrating Thai food, culture and people, and had he known the documentary was going to be called The Dark Side of Paradise, he never would have taken part. He said: 'In my interviews, I talked about the amazing food, culture and opportunity and most importantly how amazing the Thai people are. 'None of which were included. I can fully understand how the other people that took part in this documentary may feel like their conversations have been manipulated.' On TikTok and other social media platforms, hundreds of thousands have joined the pile-on - not just against the BBC, but against Zara herself, who is dating One Direction star Louis Tomlinson. One British man living in Thailand sneered: 'The BBC basically paid one of those Love Island girls, who doesn't know left from right, to come here and talk a load of rubbish.' Another wrote: 'Zara McDermott the travel reporter? No, she's famous for Love Island. The BBC are a joke.' For Zara, who has painstakingly tried to shake off her reality TV past, the controversy threatens to undo years of hard work. Kylie Jenner was showing boyfriend Timothee Chalamet what he is missing as she flashed the flesh in pale-toned swimwear for a new Kylie Cosmetics campaign shared to Instagram on Monday. The reality TV star is releasing three new sweet-scented body sprays that are available on her website. The 28-year-old billionaire wrote in her Instagram caption, 'Dessert in a mist. Coming 9.23! Sweet eclair, vanilla dew, caramel cloud.' One photo showed off her shape as she wore a cut-out one-piece ivory swimsuit with kitten heels and her hair slicked back. Jenner was also seen on a workout ball as she held on to a bottle of her body spray. It has been over 36 days since she has been spied with her boyfriend Chalamet in Budapest. Kylie Jenner was showing boyfriend Timothee Chalamet what he is missing as she flashed the flesh in pale-toned swimwear for a new Kylie Cosmetics campaign shared to Instagram on Monday It has been over 36 days since she has been spied with her beau Timothee on August 18 Jenner and Chalamet were spotted in Budapest in late August where he is currently filming Dune: Part Three. This comes just days after the Daily Mail reported that the beauty 'secretly jets off to see him when she can.' The image was shared by employees at a coffee shop that were star struck by the Hollywood power couple. 'Today Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet just walked in to our coffeeshop at Buda we were so in confusion, we could barley concentrate, but i think you can see on our face,' wrote the woman behind the Instagram page Budapest Baristas. 'Thank god everyone look at them not us. They were super nice and kind thank you for coming @kyliejenner @tchalamet .' Timothee pulled his white T-shirt over his head to hide his current haircut for Dune 3 while adding a brown Brentwood Country Mart cap and black Oakley sunglasses (the Masseter model) as he held up a peace sign. A gold bangle bracelet hung from his wrist. Jenner looked sporty in a white tank top as she wore her thick raven hair down. She had on light makeup with a mauve-toned lip. The employees of the coffee shop looked young as they smiled for the camera. The reality TV star is releasing three new sweet-scented body sprays that are available on her website The 28-year-old billionaire wrote in her Instagram caption, 'Dessert in a mist. Coming 9.23! Sweet eclair, vanilla dew, caramel cloud' On July 19, Chalamet's Dune: Part Three costar Zendaya was seen at the same coffee shop. Before the late August sighting, Jenner and Chalamet were last spotted together on July 5, in St Tropez, France for a yacht vacation. Their time apart had fans wondering if they had split up, but the Daily Mail pointed out on August 15 that his work had taken him overseas while Jenner stayed home in Hidden Hills, California but went to visit when she could. The Daily Mail explained that Chalamet has been filming his next project, Dune: Part Three, in Hungary. The thespian plays the character Paul Atreides in the third installment of the Dune franchise. This comes after Jenner said she wants her daughter to take over Kylie Cosmetics one day. The star - who has Stormi, seven, and Aire, three, with ex-partner Travis Scott - will celebrate 10 years of her beauty brand in November and hopes the company will still be around for decades to come. She told WWD: 'After 10 years, I'm just still so excited to create. It's my dream that my daughter will want to take over Kylie Cosmetics I would love for this to be a legacy brand, and I'm working hard every day to set up that future.' Her mom, Kris Jenner, added: 'Building an Estee Lauder, or any one of those beauty companies that has been around for a gazillion years that's what Kylie's working toward.' One photo showed off her shape as she wore a pink bra top and shorts with kitten heels as she reclined on a pale pink ball The Kardashians star feels very 'emotional' about the impending anniversary of Kylie Cosmetics. She said: 'I've been very emotional about it. 'I found my old phone from 2016 and there are these photos of me at 17, 18 years old, sitting on the factory floor creating my first eye shadow palette. I didn't think that far into the future when I was creating the brand I wasn't thinking about 10 years later so it is pretty surreal to be here.' Kylie believes her consumers have grown up with her and she is keen for her brand to evolve in the same way. She said: 'When I launched Kylie Cosmetics, the brand thrived on urgency and exclusivity it was a different time, there weren't many celebrity beauty brands people were just excited to see something new This comes after Jenner said she wants her daughter to take over Kylie Cosmetics one day. The star - who has Stormi, seven, and Aire, three, with ex-partner Travis Scott - will celebrate 10 years of her beauty brand in November 'Now, they're looking for products that fit into their everyday routines, and I wanted to evolve Kylie Cosmetics into that everyday beauty brand. 'I feel like my audience has grown up with me. We've been moving away from a full-face beat and those ultra-perfected looks to more natural, effortless beauty. It definitely pushes me to create products that reflect where we are in our lives.' Kylie has a range of other brands, including her Khy fashion label and vodka soda line Sprinter, but Kylie Cosmetics will always be her 'number-one baby out of all [her] brands'. She added: 'Each brand is about creating something that feels personal to me and connects with people in an authentic way. It always starts with, 'would I wear this, use this, drink this? Does it feel like me?' that's the consistency and storytelling across every category.' Kanye 'Ye' West has filed to dismiss a federal sexual assault lawsuit from America's Next Top Model alum Jenn An, and he accused her of attempting to 'punish his creative process and censor his art.' It comes 10 months after the 40-year-old plaintiff sued the 48-year-old rapper-designer and Universal Music Group for violating New York's Gender Motivated Violence Act by allegedly jamming his fingers down her throat and choking her until she 'temporarily blacked out.' Jenn claimed Ye's alleged assault occurred as she served background acting duties for English synth-pop duo La Roux's music video for In for the Kill, which took place at the historic Hotel Chelsea in Manhattan back in 2010. West did not end up appearing in the US-themed second music video, but he was featured on a remix of the Grammy-nominated single by frontwoman Elly Jackson and producer Ben Langmaid. A woman resembling An appeared in one doorway shot of the video, but she claimed she was dressed in 'very revealing lingerie' for the shoot, which was precisely why the 24-time Grammy winner 'chose her' out of a lineup of models. The self-described feminist alleged Ye strangled her with both hands, smothered her face with his hands, and rammed several fingers in and out of her throat simulating 'forced oral sex' for a full minute. Kanye 'Ye' West has filed to dismiss a federal sexual assault lawsuit from America's Next Top Model alum Jenn An, and he accused her of attempting to 'punish his creative process and censor his art' West then allegedly screamed: 'This is art. This is f***ing art. I am like Picasso.' Jenn also claimed to overhear Elly Jackson telling a friend that she'd seen some 'upsetting, unsettling' behavior during the 'classy yet sleazy' shoot directed by LEGS. 'Like many thousands of stage performances and motion pictures before it, [the In for the Kill video] included physical touching between the actors (here, West and An),' the Bomb rapper's attorney argued on Monday. 'At no point during the production did she object to her role, express a lack of consent to participate, nor attempt to leave the performance, nor does she claim such in her [lawsuit].' Ye's lawyer continued: 'To permit such claims to proceed would mean that every actor, director, and artist involved in provocative film, theatre, or music video productions whether depicting violence, sexuality, or both could face retroactive criminalization and personal liability whenever a performer later regrets or reimagines their participation.' Jenn has requested a trial by jury for punitive damages, legal fees, as well as 'damages for mental, emotional and physical injury, distress, pain and suffering and injury to reputation.' It comes 10 months after the 40-year-old plaintiff sued the 48-year-old rapper-designer and Universal Music Group for violating New York's Gender Motivated Violence Act by allegedly jamming his fingers down her throat and choking her until she 'temporarily blacked out' (pictured in 2018) Jenn claimed Ye's alleged assault occurred as she served background acting duties for English synth-pop duo La Roux's music video for In for the Kill, which took place at the historic Hotel Chelsea in Manhattan back in 2010 (2010 stock shot) West did not end up appearing in the US-themed second music video, but he was featured on a remix of the Grammy-nominated single by frontwoman Elly Jackson (R) and producer Ben Langmaid A woman resembling An appeared in one doorway shot of the video, but she claimed she was dressed in 'very revealing lingerie' for the shoot, which was precisely why the 24-time Grammy winner 'chose her' out of a lineup of models The self-described feminist alleged Ye strangled her with both hands, smothered her face with his hands, and rammed several fingers in and out of her throat simulating 'forced oral sex' for a full minute (pictured February 2) Jenn also claimed to overhear Elly Jackson (M) telling a friend that she'd seen some 'upsetting, unsettling' behavior during the 'classy yet sleazy' shoot directed by LEGS (R) The Bomb rapper's attorney argued on Monday: 'Like many thousands of stage performances and motion pictures before it, [the In for the Kill video] included physical touching between the actors (here, West and An)' (pictured in 2019) Ye's lawyer continued: 'At no point during the production did she object to her role, express a lack of consent to participate, nor attempt to leave the performance, nor does she claim such in her [lawsuit]' (pictured in 2010) He added: 'To permit such claims to proceed would mean that every actor, director, and artist involved in provocative film, theatre, or music video productions whether depicting violence, sexuality, or both could face retroactive criminalization and personal liability whenever a performer later regrets or reimagines their participation' Jenn has requested a trial by jury for punitive damages, legal fees, as well as 'damages for mental, emotional and physical injury, distress, pain and suffering and injury to reputation' An first found fame, at age 23, when she came in fourth place during the 13th season of America's Next Top Model, which aired in 2009 on The CW West - who still averages 60.3M monthly listeners on Spotify - will release his 11th studio album Bully this Friday The Heil Hitler hip-hop star is next scheduled to perform live on November 29 in Sao Paulo, Brazil An first found fame, at age 23, when she came in fourth place during the 13th season of America's Next Top Model, which aired in 2009 on The CW. The Win or Lose actress also appeared in episodes of Hulu rom-com series The Mindy Project, CBS police procedural Criminal Minds, and ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. West - who still averages 60.3M monthly listeners on Spotify - will release his 11th studio album Bully this Friday. The Heil Hitler hip-hop star is next scheduled to perform live on November 29 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Fiona Phillips' husband Martin Frizell has shared John Stapleton's touching gesture to his wife on her final day hosting GMTV, after his death on Sunday. John, who also presented Newsnight and Panorama in a remarkable TV career which spanned nearly five decades, passed away aged 79 following a battle with Parkinson's disease. Martin took to Instagram to share a clip of John alongside his fellow ITV presenters dressed as The Osmonds while serenading Fiona, now 64, with her favourite song Love Me for a Reason on her last day presenting GMTV back in 2008. John along with Ben Shephard, Andrew Castle, Penny Smith, Richard Arnold donned wigs and 70s suits while Kate Garraway, dressed as Marie Osmond. Martin captioned the clip: 'Heres the proof that Stapes was a good sport with a great sense of humour. On the day Fiona left GMTV her fellow presenters surprised her with her fave Osmonds song, Kate, Richard, Andrew, Ben, John and Penny. Before adding: 'He was a hard news man but I smile every time I think of John'. Fiona, who hosted the ITV breakfast show for 15-years, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2022 at the age of just 61. Fiona Phillips' husband Martin Frizell has shared John Stapleton's touching gesture to his wife on her final day hosting GMTV, after his death on Sunday John, who also presented Newsnight and Panorama, passed away aged 79 on Sunday following a battle with Parkinson's disease (pictured with Fiona in 2012) In her candid new memoir, which was published earlier this year, Fiona's husband Martin, 66, shared how the couple struggled in the years leading up to her diagnosis. Speaking about the difficult period that began around 2015, Martin recalled: 'Nothing I could say seemed to help. He continued: 'And I guess like in any relationship, the whole thing spirals. Because I felt she was being moody and critical of everything I said and did, I shut down too. 'We were barely talking and while we were still in the same house we were living quite separate lives. Martin admitted he never suspected the early signs of Alzheimer's, saying: 'I didnt think for one moment that it was the menopause or, perish the thought, Alzheimers. John's agent, Jackie Gill, confirmed his passing on Sunday and shared a statement that read: 'John had Parkinson's disease which was complicated by pneumonia. 'His son Nick and daughter-in-law Lisa have been constantly at his side and John died peacefully in hospital this morning.' Martin shared a snap of John with Fiona and Kate Garraway and penned: 'What fun we had. Such sad news to hear that Stapes, as we called him, has passed away. He was a colleague and friend and a constant presence for a large part of my career, we covered stories together in Kosovo and Iraq, laughed and lunched - a lot'. John (R) can seen alongside his fellow ITV broadcasters dressed as The Osmonds while serenading Fiona with her favourite song Love Me for a Reason (pictured with Ben Shephard) John along with Ben Shephard, Andrew Castle, Penny Smith, Richard Arnold donned wigs and 70s suits while Kate Garraway, dressed as Marie Osmond Martin captioned the clip: 'Heres the proof that Stapes was a good sport with a great sense of humour. On the day Fiona left GMTV her fellow presenters surprised her' 'Like me John came up through the ranks of newspaper journalism before entering broadcasting and never lost that thirst for digging out a story. He was one of the greats of his generation and we will miss him - even the ribbing from him when Chelsea lost to City, which was quite often!'. John's former colleague Kate took to Instagram to share an old picture of the duo presenting GMTV. Alongside the post, she penned: Absolutely devastated to hear of the passing of my dear friend and journalistic hero John Stapleston.' 'Rock solid broadcaster and the ultimate gentleman. His experience stretched back to when he was a cub reporter on the Yorkshire Post. 'On his first day alone in the office, he took a call from the police to say that they were starting to dredge the moors looking for what they feared were the bodies of murdered children. He found himself less than an hour later at the scene of one of our nation's most horrific crimes. Fiona, who hosted the ITV breakfast show 15-years, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2022 at the age of just 61 (pictured with husband Martin in 2016) 'Others will pay testimony to his incredible career better than I, and I hope they do but all I can say is he was most generous co partner, always lifting who was along side him up , never crushing or ramming that he knew better ( which he did!) down their throat, never taking over and always always fair , truthful and honourable. Huge fun too - no one told a story down the pub better than John. 'We will not see his like again . Thinking of his son Nick and all who knew and loved him' GMB star Susanna Reid also took to X, formerly known as Twitter to pay her respects to the 'broadcasting legend'. She penned: 'So so sad to hear of John Stapleton's death. He was a legend in broadcasting, the consummate pro and always good-humoured and gracious to work with. A huge part of GMB's story and television history. Sending love to John's family.' Emily Blunt exuded elegance in a shimmering nude gown as she attended the premiere of The Smashing Machine in Berlin on Monday. The Devil Wears Prada star, 42, was the epitome of elegance in the shimmery David Koma garment, which featured a black strappy bust, while stopping for striking snaps at Zoo Palast. The Sicario actress - who plays Dawn Staples in the upcoming movie - put on a show-stopping display, beaming to onlookers as she graced the red carpet. The British beauty slicked her brown tresses into a classy up-do and and accessorised with a dazzling pendant necklace and matching jewellery. She joined her co-star and leading actor Dwayne Johnson - also known as The Rock - as the pair looked in very jovial spirits at the event Meanwhile the actor, 53, cut a dapper look in a checked blazer jacket and stylish shades. Emily Blunt, 42, looked nothing short than ethereal in a nude gown as she attended the premiere of The Smashing Machine in Berlin on Monday The Devil Wears Prada star was the epitome of elegance in the shimmery David Koma garment, which featured a black strappy bust The biopic follows the life of former amateur wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr, played by Dwayne, alongside Emily as Kerr's then-wife Dawn Staples an Arizona-based recovering alcoholic who wed Mark in Las Vegas. The Smashing Machine gave The Rock who is known for his many action roles, the opportunity to stretch himself. In this project, he is nearly unrecognisable as mixed martial arts and UFC champion Mark Kerr. The comedy star and former wrestler lost about 60 pounds used prosthetics and a wig to look more like the 56-year-old former college wrestler turned MMA champ. In the drama, Dwayne not only portrays Kerr's actions in the ring, but deals with the athlete's struggle with substance abuse. 'This transformation was something I was really hungry to do,' he told The Hollywood Reporter last month. 'I had been very fortunate to have the career that I've had over the years and to make the films that I've made, but there was just a voice inside of me, a little voice that said, 'Well, what if I could do more I want to do more and what does that look like?'' At a press conference after the screening, the actor had high praise for the man he portrayed on screen. The Sicario actress - who plays Dawn Staples in the upcoming movie - put on a show-stopping display, beaming to onlookers as she graced the star-studded red carpet The British beauty slicked her brown tresses into a classy up-do and and accessorised with a dazzling pendant necklace and matching jewellery The Good Morning America ensured to capture everyone's attention as she stopped for striking snaps at Zoo Palast She joined her co-star and leading actor Dwayne Johnson - also known as The Rock - as the pair looked in very jovial spirits at the event Meanwhile the actor, 53, cut a dapper look in a checked blazer jacket and stylish shades The Smashing Machine, which will be released on October 3, is based on John Hyams' 2002 HBO documentary of the same name, which also captured Kerr's substance abuse 'Mark was the greatest fighter in the world at one point, but this film is not even really about fighting it's a love story,' he explained, becoming emotional. 'It's a love story about Mark and Dawn (Staples, played by Emily Blunt) in this relationship, and it's a love story about Mark and the love that he had for the thing that he did his struggle with trying to deliver [in the ring], his challenges and his overcoming.' 'As you know, Mark OD'd twice,' he told reporters, 'and he's lucky to be alive and that's part of why this story is so special.' In June, Dwayne appeared on the Dr. Mark Hyman Show explaining that he had turned to the functional medicine physician for help with a gut related problem. 'You said, very succinctly, 'I'm not going to treat your symptoms. I'm going to go deeper than that and treat the root cause of what's going on,'' the actor said of their first meeting, 'And I said, 'I love that.'' Tests showed that multiple rounds of antibiotics he had taken in the past had damaged the lining of his intestines. 'We basically rehabbed your gut,' Hyman said, explaining the health regimen. 'Gave you probiotics and plant compounds - pomegranate, green tea, cranberry - to help rebuild it, 'adding 'And we made you this amazing gut health shake with 10-plus ingredients personalized for you.' Reese Witherspoon 'grieved' her eldest children when they left home for college. The 49-year-old actress was full of tears when her daughter Ava, 26, and her son Deacon, 21 - who she shares with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe - went away to study. Reese made the admission on the latest episode of the New York Times' The Interview podcast, and told host Lulu Garcia-Navarro: 'I grieved their going to college, and I cried in their rooms. 'One year, one of them didn't come home for Christmas, and I sat in their bed and just cried.' The Morning Show star said she felt a 'loss' because the kids were not around. Reese - who is also mom to her 12-year-old son, Tennessee, whom she has with her 55-year-old ex-husband Jim Toth - explained: 'It's a loss because you do everything for them. Reese Witherspoon 'grieved' her eldest children when they left home for college The 49-year-old actress was full of tears when her daughter Ava, 26, and her son Deacon, 21 - who she shares with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe - went away to study. She also has son Tennessee with ex Jim Toth 'You take the food out of your mouth, the coat off your back. You don't sleep. 'You don't sleep because you're either taking care of their physical needs when they're little. Or when they're older, you're just so worried all the time that they're gonna get in a car accident or they're gonna come home or there's gonna be drugs involved.' But the Legally Blonde star accepted the fact that her children have to grow up. Reese added: 'You just have every worry the parents have, you know? And then one day, it's kind of like, if you've done your job, you did the right things, they go. 'It makes me teary right now. It's just really hard. But you know you did the right things.' Elsewhere in the podcast, Reese also shared that Ava and Deacon have become 'incredible friends' to her since they moved out of the family home. The Big Little Lies actress explained: 'Ava will call me and just be like a great friend, Deacon calls me all the time, we hang out in New York, and he'll tell me about cool restaurants, and I'll be like, "Great. Can you get a reservation?" Cause he can get better reservations than I can now! 'But it's awesome to have your kids become adults.' Reese made the admission on the latest episode of the New York Times ' The Interview podcast, and told host Lulu Garcia-Navarro: 'I grieved their going to college, and I cried in their rooms'; seen in 2024 'One year, one of them didn't come home for Christmas , and I sat in their bed and just cried,' she added This comes after she said she parents her youngest child differently from her elder children. The Wild actress takes a calmer approach to being a mom to son Tennessee because her daughter Ava and her son Deacon, 'wore me out.' Reese made the admission on the latest episode of the New York Times' The Interview podcast. She said these days she is 'exhausted, wrung out and tired.' 'And whenever I lose my cool, I turn to my youngest and I go, "You got to call your brother and sister. They wore me out. I'm so tired. Like eat the cookie, go to bed late, just do it. But like, think about how it's going to make you feel."' She added, 'I've been parenting for 25 years.' Elsewhere in the podcast episode - titled How Reese Witherspoon Figured Out Who She Really Is - the star revealed the guidance she gave to Ava as she follows in her mom's footsteps in becoming a Hollywood star. The Morning Show star said she felt a 'loss' because the kids were not around. Reese explained: 'It's a loss because you do everything for them.' Seen in January Jennifer Aniston and Witherspoon attend The Morning Show season 4 New York premiere on September 9 Speaking about her eldest child - who made her acting debut in the ABC medical drama Doctor Odyssey earlier this year - Reese said: 'Well, it's interesting because last year, she turned 25. 'And when I was 25, she was a year and a half old, and I'd just done Legally Blonde. And I was about to start Sweet Home Alabama. 'We are just living very different life existences, realities. And I'm so proud of her for not being anything but herself. Not trying to emulate me or be me. 'You know what I'm saying? Not trying to approximate my career or... Ava's just cool. She's just always been cool. Some people are just boring cool. She was just boring cool. 'But part of the challenge of being a mother of a 26-year-old woman is learning to back away, learning she doesn't need me in the same ways, and that's okay. And soothing my heart when I feel, like, rejected a little bit. 'But it's not a rejection. It's actually her people in my life remind me the alternative would be worse - if she was just so needy, needy, needy. She's not needy like that. I'm just really proud of who she's become as an individual.' A mild tremor with epicentre in Chhatak, Sylhet, shook Dhaka and several other parts of Bangladesh on Sunday afternoon, media reports said. A magnitude 4.0 tremor was recorded at 1219 pm with the epicentre at about 185 kms north-east of Dhaka, Dhaka Tribune newspaper said, quoting Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Rubaiyat Kabir, acting officer at BMDs Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, told Prothom Alo that the magnitude 4 was a minor earthquake with the epicentre in Chhatak, Sylhet. The newspaper also quoted earthquake expert Syed Humayun Akhter who said the epicentre of Sundays quake lies in the Dauki Fault region. Bangladesh has two seismic sources, one in the north and another in the east. The northern source is the Dauki Fault, which is a highly vulnerable zone for Bangladesh. So even though todays earthquake was minor, it is a warning signal, Akhter, a former professor of geology at Dhaka. Two adults and six children were buried alive and three injured when the roof of an academy came crashing down in Punjab province of Pakistan, an official said on Sunday. The incident took place in Hafizabad city, some 120 kms from northwest of Lahore, on Saturday evening. Two teachers and nine students were present in a classroom of the academy when its roof collapsed, according to the Punjab Emergency Department Rescue 1122. They were trapped under the rubble. The rescue teams recovered four students alive and shifted them to a hospital, where one of them succumbed to his injuries, Rescue 1122 said in a statement. How ongoing PLA Air Force open-day event visualizes combat capability? Xinhua) 09:06, September 22, 2025 Aircraft of the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force perform during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Tang Chengzhuo) CHANGCHUN, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 aviation open-day of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force, along with the Changchun Air Show, has impressed attendees in Changchun, northeast China. The event began on Friday and will continue for five days, offering free admission to the public. Since its inception in 2011, the event has become a key platform to showcase the PLA Air Force's latest development achievements. Featuring the display of over 100 types of active-duty Air Force aircraft, ground equipment and retired classic assets, as well as thrilling aerial performances, this year's event has showcased the combat capability of the PLA Air Force in a visualized way. REAL-COMBAT MANEUVER Military expert Zhang Xuefeng believes the maneuvers showcased in the aerial performances at this year's open-day event are more closely aligned with real combat scenarios. He took the serpentine maneuver performed by YU-20A, China's domestically developed large aerial tanker, as an example. At an altitude of 200 meters, the aircraft banked at 40 degrees to the horizon and executed continuous turns left and right in an S-shaped flight path. "This combat-relevant move is designed to effectively evade enemy ground fire," Zhang said. In addition to the serpentine maneuver, the YU-20A tanker displayed a series of challenging maneuvers during the aerial performances on Friday, including rapid dives and fly-bys, and steep turns. The full set of maneuvers not only demonstrated the aircraft's performance but also reflected the combat-oriented training achievements of frontline units, said YU-20A pilot Li Xiao. The aerial performances have also demonstrated the outstanding maneuverability of aircraft for real combat scenarios. For example, J-10 fighter jets executed a low-speed level flight at just 200 km per hour with a maximum angle of attack, showcasing their ability to penetrate complex terrain and the pilots' exceptional mastery of the aircraft's limits. "The extreme maneuvers are a full demonstration of the aircraft's performance," said Zhang Li, a member of an aerobatics team from the Aviation University of Air Force and also a flight instructor at the university. INTEGRATED COMBAT CAPABILITY The aerial performances showcased the formation of different types of aircraft, illustrating their synergy in combat scenarios for the audience. During the performances, a KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft flew in formation with four J-20 stealth fighter jets, simulating an "early-warning command and stealth strike" scenario and showcasing the PLA Air Force's advances in coordinating offensive and defensive operations. A YU-20A tanker flew in pre-refueling formation with two J-16 fighters, demonstrating how a single tanker can conduct simultaneous dual-point refueling. "The combined display of different aircraft models essentially brought routine combat-oriented training to the air show," said J-16 pilot Wu Haoran. The performance demonstrated the Air Force's ability to extend operational range through aerial refueling, as well as its capabilities in long-range deployment, extended strike, and strategic projection. CLOSE DETAIL LOOK The J-20, China's domestically developed stealth fighter, has appeared in a static exhibition for the first time at the open-day event, apart from in-flight appearances, allowing the audience to get a close look at the aircraft's details. Zhang, the military expert, believes that the exhibition has reflected the PLA Air Force's growing confidence and openness. "The stealth fighters are no longer mysterious to the public as people can engage closely with these strategic assets," he said. Also notable is the J-6 unmanned aircraft. Converted from the J-6 platform, it can serve as both an attack drone and a target drone for pilots, surface-to-air missiles controllers, and radar operators training. "It is this forward-looking approach to modification and innovation that keeps our equipment evolving," Zhang said. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) It seems that attacking Israel, and putting little Jewish babies into ovens whilst still alive worked wonders for Hamas who are now designated as a legitimate state by Labours Britain, Australia and Canada. The atrocities, the hostages were not enough, Hamas successfully utilised the misery of the Palestinian people as a form of ransom as well, successfully igniting the wrath of the bleeding heart rent-a-Marxists who protested in prominent sight in Western countries. Shanah Tovah Keir Starmer also receives congratulations on keeping his job as a failed Labour leader by appeasing the far-left Marxist agitators in his party who demanded that Hamas is recognised as a functioning terrorist state. By appeasing terrorism one legitimises terrorism, and in the eyes of the Marxists, this is perfectly valid. Heres the second half of Asher Moskowitzs video testimony. pic.twitter.com/o5ely6hORu Ben Sales (@BenjaminSales) November 1, 2023 Let us have more terrorism, anarchy and destruction in the world now. This is a great day for terrorist groups like Hamas, Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Remember that using the suffering of the people is the best way to get things done, to plaster the videos constantly on televised media, social media etc. This is where the Israelis fell down, they had dignity in not blatantly plastering the images of their people being slaughtered on the October 7 Hamas attacks constantly on the media, thus they did not garner any sympathy from anyone. Hamas, on the other hand, employed the Marxists of the West to constantly televise and protest about the Israeli response to the Hamas attacks. If Israel had a dedicated news station like Al Jazeera and the BBC to constantly churn out images of atrocities against Jews, things would have been different. Hamas successfully won the hearts and minds of the far-left West, and this was enough for Australia, Canada and the UK, who are now currently run by far-left Marxists, to capitulate to terrorism. Hamas is the winner here. Their consistency in media saturation won the fight. We must rejoice and embrace a new age of terror, where terrorist organisations can gain legitimate recognition for their terrorist actions. Let us hope for more terror in the world thanks to Britain, Australia and Canada. Terrorism works it really does, and if you commit more terror and continue doing it, you too as a terrorist can be recognised as a legitimate nation state in your own right. Well done Hamas. Let us now hope for more global terrorism because this is proof that terrorism actually works. SDLP Justice Spokesperson, Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone, has warned that there cannot be a further delay on justice for the family of murdered GAA official Sean Brown because of any new legacy mechanisms. The SDLP Mid Ulster MLA was speaking after the joint announcement by the British and Irish Governments of a new framework of proposals to replace the UKs controversial 2023 Legacy Act. Mr McGlone said: The reform the UKs controversial Legacy Act is long overdue. It was imposed by a Conservative Government in London without the consent of the Assembly and was opposed by the Irish Government. The SDLP recognises that the new agreement between the Irish and British Governments is some progress. However, the proof of the pudding will be the eating, and we will wait until we see the final form of the legislation. But many victims, survivors and their families have already waited too long for truth and justice. There cannot be further delays introduced as a result of any new legacy mechanisms. The family of Sean Brown have been waiting for justice for nearly 30 years, and the British Government are still refusing to grant a public inquiry into his murder despite being directed to do so by the High Court in Belfast last year. The Brown family should not be asked to wait for more legislation to be put in place. The British Government should accept the verdict of the Appeal Court in April this year and grant a public inquiry into Sean Brown's murder as a matter of priority. 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. Derry City and Strabane District Council has announced the launch of the third round of its successful HeART of the Sperrins programme, a creative arts initiative aimed at supporting older people living in rural communities across the district. The programme, which began in August 2025, builds on two previous rounds of activity and continues to respond to findings from the 2021 North West Audience Research. That research highlighted that individuals over 60 remain significantly underrepresented in arts and cultural engagement. HeART of the Sperrins is part of the Arts & Older People Programme, jointly funded by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency, and Derry City and Strabane District Council. The initiative seeks to promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in older people, while ensuring their voices and experiences are represented through the arts. This latest round will deliver high-quality creative workshops in rural settingsincluding day care centres and older peoples groupswith a particular focus on those who are isolated, living with disabilities, or otherwise underserved by mainstream arts provision. Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairi McHugh, welcomed the return of the programme saying: HeART of the Sperrins is a fantastic example of how arts and culture can be used to build stronger, more inclusive communities. This programme brings creativity and connection directly into the heart of our rural areas, where access to such opportunities can often be limited. Its about improving wellbeing, reducing isolation, and giving our older citizens a chance to be seen, heard, and valued. Im proud that our Council continues to support this meaningful work, and I look forward to seeing the incredible results once again. Lorraine Calderwood, Arts Development Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: Thanks to funding from the National Lottery and the Public Health Agency, were delighted to support Derry City and Strabane District Council in this third round of the HeART of the Sperrins project. Research has proven that taking part in arts activities can raise self-esteem, confidence and motivation, as well helping to relieve stress. The arts have a vital role to play in helping our older people find their voice, bring people together and promote positive physical and mental health. The programme was shaped by feedback from local community networks, care homes, and service providers, who saw first-hand the impact of previous sessions. The challenges faced by older residentsincluding loneliness, declining health, and limited access to serviceswere further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Arts-based engagement has since proven to be a powerful tool in addressing these issues. Working in partnership with Councils Museum Services and the Local Community Growth Partnership areas, the initiative will also help build lasting connections and provide training opportunities to sustain engagement beyond the funded sessions. A diverse range of creative activities will be offered over six participatory sessions in each setting, including: Music Therapy, Willow Sculpture, Visual Arts and Crafts, Felting and Quilting, Wood Carving, Glass Lantern Painting, Reminiscence and Storytelling and Historical Artefacts and Museum Tours. These activities have been selected in consultation with healthcare providers to ensure they are age-appropriate, inclusive, and engaging. For further information about HeART of the Sperrins or to find out how to get involved, please contact artsandculture@derrystrabane.com Limavady Grammar School students and staff are stepping up to give more people with blood cancer a second chance at life, partnering with blood cancer charity DKMS for a big stem cell donor drive this weekend. For patients with blood cancer or other blood disorders, a stem cell transplant from a matching donor can be life-saving and may be their only opportunity for a second chance. Most patients dont have a match in their family, and just 7% of the eligible population in the UK are signed up to the register. The school is organising a stem cell donor drive as part of the DKMS Big Cheekender, which is taking place across the UK this weekend. To mark the end of Blood Cancer Awareness Month, events are happening over the country, getting people to come forward and do a cheek swab so that they can be added to the stem cell donor register. The school will hold a drive for staff and students on Friday, before welcoming in the wider public to visit the school and complete a cheek swab from 10am-4pm on Saturday 27 September. One patient who found himself in urgent need of a stem cell transplant was Limavady Grammar student, Caden Moore. Cadens mum, Mrs Sabrina Moore, is also a PE teacher at the school. When you hear your child's survival could depend on a stranger, your whole world just stops. Caden was diagnosed in August 2017, and we were told he needed a stem cell transplant. His dad and I immediately offered to be donors, but we couldn't. His medical team began a worldwide search of the donor register, and also tested his brother and sister, who were only 10 and 12 at the time, said Mrs Moore. The wait was unbearable. We were told not to get our hopes up, as the odds of a family match were low. But then we got the call: Caden's big brother was a full match. The relief was overwhelming. We were one of the lucky ones. This experience completely changed our view of donors. Before, the need for donors was an abstract concept; now, it's personal. It taught us that the person who can save a life might be closer than you think. Every single person on that registry is a potential miracle for a family like ours - and that selfless act from a donor is truly a gift of life. ABOVE: Caden receiving treatment in hospital. For patients with blood cancer or blood disorders, a stem cell transplant from a matching donor may be their only chance of survival. Right now, only 6 in 10 patients find the matching donor they desperately need, and there are around 2,000 people in the UK waiting to find their donor. During Cadens illness, the community at Limavady Grammar school rallied around, with many older students joining the register to see if they were a match for him or someone else on the register. One of those students was eventually matched to a complete stranger and came forward to donate, giving them a second chance at life. Mrs Moore continued: When I heard that Jenny had been told she was a match for someone in need, I became extremely emotional. It brought me right back to that moment in our own family when we were told, Weve found a match. To know that one of our own pupils had signed up to the register and was now going to be a lifesaver was overwhelming. DKMS spokesperson, Bronagh Hughes, added: The staff and students of Limavady Grammar School are absolutely amazing. Its great to see such a strong community, which, when touched by blood cancer and disorders, has decided to come together to support more patients who are still waiting for their match. Every new person who joins the register is a potential lifesaver, so please come down to the school on Saturday to get signed up. It only takes a few minutes, and some simple cheek swabs. Limavady Grammar is teaming up with DKMS to call on the wider community to come down on Saturday and join the register. Mrs Moore concluded: I want everyone to understand how easy this process is. A few minutes of your time today could mean a lifetime for someone else - a chance to grow up, create memories, have a family, and grow old with the people they love. It's also easy to think that something like this will never come to your door, but unfortunately, that's not the case. We were that family. I was that person. You'll be surprised at how straightforward it is. Your choice to sign up could be the miracle a family like mine is waiting for. Above: Caden and his big brother Ben who turned to be a full match. Anyone aged 17-55 and in general good health can sign up with a few simple mouth swabs. If you cant attend the event, you can order your swab kit online, visit dkms.org.uk. Things you didnt know about blood cancer: A man has appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court charged with making threats to kill, abusive use of an electronic network and assault causing actual bodily harm. William Crerar Craig (40) of Market Street in Belfast was initially arrested on September 6 after police were called to the scene of an assault in a hotel in Portrush. The injured party was said to be bleeding due to a head injury and Craig, his former partner, was identified as a suspect. Craig was said to have jumped the injured party and punched and kicked him, a claim that was supported by a witness and CCTV. At the time bail was granted on conditions including no contact with the injured party and he was not to enter Derry City. The court then heard on September 21, Craig was again arrested after the same injured party reported that he had been receiving messages threatening to kill him and slit his throat. It was said that the two had met up for an overnight stay in a hotel. Bail was agreed by police on the same conditions as before with the addition of a curfew. READ NEXT: Man remanded in custody at Derry Magistrates Court after police car rammed and officers injured He will appear again on October 16. Political leaders should not sell their soul by sipping champagne with Donald Trump amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill has said. Ms ONeill told MLAs that she was very comfortable not attending a state banquet at Windsor Castle last week during the US presidents state visit to the UK. Northern Irelands deputy First Minister, the DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly, did attend last weeks event and has said Ms ONeills boycott of the state banquet was a mistake. DUP MLAs questioned the Sinn Fein First Minister on her absence during ministerial question time at the Assembly on Monday. Ms ONeill previously said she would not attend in response to the US role in Israels war in Gaza. She told MLAs: I very much value our Irish-American links. Indeed, successive American administrations have been very much part of bringing about our peace process. You are referring to a banquet last week which I chose not to attend, and rightly so. I dont see how a benefit was going to be gained from attending a state banquet when the children of Gaza are starved to death. I made my view known on that issue. Ive not blocked the deputy First Minister from attending, she went to the thing and that was her call. Im very comfortable with my decision. When she faced further questioning, Ms ONeill said it was important to send out the message that Northern Ireland is open for business. She said: Thats the continued message we have when we engage with many. I think thats the appropriate approach from us as an Executive Office, but also from the Economy Minister. I noted earlier the level of engagement we have had with all different international investors, with all different people from all different countries in terms of the big players, in terms of investment. But dont sell your soul just in terms of short-termism just to go to banquets and sip champagne while people in Gaza are starving. Ms Little-Pengelly previously told the Northern Ireland Assembly that she would attend the event because that is what leadership is about. Ms ONeill also stayed away from events earlier this year attended by Ms Little-Pengelly in the White House on St Patricks Day in protest at Mr Trumps stance on the conflict in Gaza. A heartbroken family have called for access to specialist cancer treatments in Northern Ireland after the death of a much-loved mother-of-three. Catherine Sherry, 42, from Armagh, was receiving CAR-T cell therapy at Kings College Hospital in London for lymphoma after being told the treatment was unavailable in Northern Ireland. Despite beating the disease, the family said she was unable to fight the last infection because of extensive travel to receive treatment in London and she died in May. Ms Sherry was described by her family as a beautiful wife and mother. Her aunt Anne Garvey said: She was the light of our life and the apple of our eye. Everybody loved her. She was the eldest grandchild, and she loved music. She also encouraged her three boys to get involved in music. Catherine died in May when she was recovering from having this treatment alone. We dont want other families to have to face this. She added: At the moment, patients have to travel to England or Scotland to have that treatment, face separation from their families, and face the problems of travelling on their health including the possibility of blood clots. Representatives of the family, clinicians and advocacy groups met at Stormont on Monday to discuss if CAR-T cell therapy in Northern Ireland could be accessed in order to avoid family separation and complications. According to the Department of Health, local access to these services is progressing as part of development plans to enhance and expand the existing specialist haematology services currently available at the Belfast Trust. A Northern Ireland-based CAR-T cell therapy service has been estimated to be established by 2030/31. Ms Garvey said: We know this will happen now but we need faster implementation on this service. We are six years behind what is happening in the rest of the UK and Ireland and its time that we in Northern Ireland had access to the same type of treatment. We deserve equality. We deserve to be served here at home. Whats happening at the moment is not good enough. Deliver the service here as quickly as you can, and in the interim, let us have access to the treatment of Dublin. Alison Coyle also took part in the roundtable discussion at Stormont on Monday. Her husband has undergone CAR-T cell treatment in England after being diagnosed with diffused large B cell lymphoma. She said: As a carer for my husband, I found it very, very stressful, the travelling back and forth. I was there with him for six weeks while he was in hospital and I found it very, very lonely. Whereas, if it was here, or if it was in Dublin, the family could have relieved me in some way. A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: The minister (Mike Nesbitt) was very saddened to hear of the death of Mrs Sherry earlier this year, and extends his sincere condolences to her family and friends. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) is a highly complex, intensive treatment that utilises specialist gene therapy for the treatment of some specific cancers. The treatment is developed for each individual patient and enables their own immune system to attack cancer cells. It is used when more conventional cancer treatments are no longer working. Access to this treatment in the UK requires referral from a clinician, which is then considered by a national expert panel who make the decision on whether a patient is suitable to undergo this treatment. Given the very specialist nature of this treatment, it can only be accessed through a number of designated specialist centres in the NHS. Patients from Northern Ireland are referred to these centres following confirmation of their eligibility by an expert panel. The spokesperson added: Proposals to establish local delivery of these services are also progressing in Northern Ireland as part of development plans to enhance and expand the existing specialist haematology services currently available at the Belfast Trust. The Belfast Trust has submitted a business case to the department for a new regional haematology ward, which will provide a range of specialist facilities that will support the delivery of a Northern Ireland- based CAR-T cell therapy service by 2030/31. Department of Health NI officials continue to work closely with colleagues in the Republic of Ireland to help develop cross-border cancer services. Unfortunately, due to service capacity issues in the Republic of Ireland, it is not currently possible to refer those patients eligible for CAR-T cell therapy to these specialist cancer services at this time. 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. Latest Keynote Agenda Unveiled for the Fourth GMIF2025 Innovation Summit The Fourth GMIF2025 Innovation Summit (Global Memory Innovation Forum), co-hosted by Shenzhen Memory Industry Association and School of Integrated Circuits at Peking University, is scheduled to be held on September 25, 2025 in Renaissance Shenzhen Bay Hotel. GMIF2025, themed "AI Applications, Innovation Empowered", will bring together leading enterprises, technology experts, and industry leaders across the global memory industry chain to explore the evolution of storage technologies and emerging opportunities in the AI era. The Fourth GMIF2025 Innovation Summit is scheduled to be held on September 25, 2025. Credit:GMIF The summit will feature executives and experts from School of Integrated Circuits at Peking University, Samsung Semiconductor, Sandisk, Solidigm, Silicon Motion, Maxio Technology, Intel, MediaTek, BIWIN Storage, InnoGrit, Arm, China Greatwall, Montage Technology, iFlytek, OKN Technology, GreaTech Substrates, and more than 19 other top global companies and universities. The keynotes will cover topics ranging from storage and memory technology roadmaps and market strategies to AI application practices and ecosystem collaboration, empowering innovation across AI scenarios from cloud to edge. GMIF2025 Innovation Summit Keynote Agenda - Part 1. Credit:GMIF GMIF2025 Innovation Summit Keynote Agenda - Part 2. Credit:GMIF GMIF2025 Innovation Summit Keynote Agenda - Part 3. Credit:GMIF In the exhibition zone, over 27 exhibitors will present more than 200 innovations, spanning the entire storage ecosystem-including leading IDMs, controller vendors, solution providers, packaging and testing companies, platform providers, and AI terminal enterprises. Attendees will experience immersive interactions, gain first-hand insights into the latest industry trends, and witness the evolving global storage ecosystem landscape. Register now by clicking the link to secure your GMIF2025 pass and join global storage industry leaders in shaping the future of AI-driven innovation! For more information about GMIF, please visit. The County Museum, Dundalk will host two very different but linked talks on 1920s Ireland next week. On Tuesday 30th September, Dr. Samuel Beckton will launch his new book 'The Unbroken Covenant: Could Ulster Unionists have controlled a nine-county Northen Ireland 1920-1945?'. Whilst history deals with the facts of the past this book examines the what-if of Irish history asking the question what would have happened if the entire province of Ulster had been partitioned? In doing so a variety of 'what if' scenarios are presented and examined including if Ulster Unionists could have controlled a nine-county Northern Ireland, what would the knock-on effects have been on the border counties. The book also looks at whether Border County Unionists could have returned representatives to Stormont and how a nine-county Northern Ireland might have influenced the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. The following evening, Wednesday October 1st, Dr. Gareth Prendergast will give a lecture on his new book, Clear Hold Build: How the Free State won the Irish Civil War. In Mr Prendergasts own words: What was achieved by the Free State during the Irish Civil War was remarkable. Within a period of less than a year they raised and equipped a standing National Army of nearly 60,000 soldiers, defeating an insurgency by the anti-Treaty elements of the IRA. Using the counterinsurgency framework of Clear-Hold-Build and concentrating on the Civil War actions of the National Army in Munster. I will explain how the Free State managed to attain this remarkable achievement. Read Next: Median house price in Dundalk was 330k in July Mr Prendergast is a serving Colonel in the Irish Defence Forces and has completed seven tours of duty, including the Middle East, the Balkans and Mali. Both events will commence at 7 p.m. with light refreshments being served. Admission to is free but prior booking is advised. For more information contact the County Museum at 042 9392 999. The case of Dundalk man John McNeela, who was denied a Defence Forces pension following the death of his son Michael died while on UN duty, was raised again with Tanaiste and Minister for Defence, Simon Harris, by Louth TD Ruairi O Murchu during the Dails first week back after summer recess. Before the summer break, Minister Harris had committed to exploring new legislation so that Mr McNeela could continue to receive the small pension payment given by the State to his late wife following the 1989 death in Lebanon of his son. The case was first raised earlier this year by the Sinn Fein TD who brought it directly to Minister Harris again on Thursday. Deputy O Murchu said: Regarding the Army pensions case involving John McNeela, whose son Michael made the ultimate sacrifice in Lebanon while peacekeeping, we all know that the allowance paid to John's wife when she died was not transferred to him. The Tanaiste promised to update the legislation. Is there a possibility of finding an administrative solution? Could we have a timeline on that? It is right that we do right by the memory and families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in peacekeeping. Minister Harris said he had the honour of meeting Mr McNeela during the National Day of Commemoration in July. Minister Harris said: We are committed to rectifying this in primary legislation and I spoke to my Secretary General in recent days about this. It will need to be changed through primary legislation. I am not sure there is an administrative solution but I have asked for the quickest bill into which to insert this amendment. If it can be a vehicle other than a defence bill, I am open to that. We are engaging with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Social Protection. I will try to come back to the Deputy with a timeline in the next couple of weeks as to how we can move this forward. It does not necessarily have to wait for defence legislation. Other legislation could move more quickly. On the issue of whether the pension could be retrospective, Minister Harris said he would check with the Attorney General on that issue. Labours Finance spokesperson and Louth TD Ged Nash has challenged the government to publish the data supporting their plans to spend up to 632 million in a full year on a VAT cut for the hospitality sector. Deputy Nash said: Good, honest policy making is based on evidence and facts. Government says it is working on an analysis on business closures in the hospitality sector and it says it wont publish the data until it is satisfied it is accurate. It also says it is working with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) on a new accessible portal on liquidations and business formation. Conveniently, we are told that wont be ready until November, when government will be out the gap on the Budget. The endless foot dragging points to the Departments data not supporting the thin case made by Fine Gael, especially. This data is not complicated. Deputy Nash said that there is a responsibility for it to be published before a major decision to transfer hundreds of millions of taxpayers money to one sector is made. He continued: If government Ministers are confident they can stand over their case and justify their position on a move to a 9% VAT rate, let the public see the information and we can decide for ourselves. The Budget process is already as clear as mud, as IFAC, the Parliamentary Budget Office and others have said. Its time for transparency, honest use of our money and fiscal and social responsibility. The truth is when you decide to spend 632million in a full year on tax relief for one sector over another, the trade-off means others lose out. These are political choices. "This leaves less space for tax relief for working people in the October Budget, and given a straight choice between spending this kind of cash to support the bottom line of McDonalds and Supermacs, or getting a start on making child poverty history, I know which side Labour is on. Read Next: Large fall in number of homes granted planning in Louth Fine Gael and Fianna Fail dont know the meaning of the word temporary, and if this is brought in, the final cost at the end of this governments term could be close to a cool 3billion. Our motion in the Dail on Wednesday will put it up to Sinn Fein and the Social Democrats too both of whom have expressed support for forms of VAT cuts for business and in a red-hot economy. Small cafe and restaurant owners should not be duped into thinking a VAT cut is a panacea. The longer this thinking pervades, the less likely we are to see real action from government on the systematic problems facing small business on energy, access to affordable finance, training and staff retention, rates and other key issues facing a sector that is of enormous value to cities, towns and villages in every corner of Ireland. 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. 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He was taken in by Cobh Rescue Horses, which is where Samantha and her mother Lilian Gash, from Roberts Cove, first met him. We wanted to get involved with rescue horses, helping out in any way we could, explains Lilian. So we visited Cobh Rescue Horses, where we met Kelly Mellerick, who was working there at the time. She was showing us around when we saw Charlie in the field and felt the connection straight away. Samantha was only about six at the time, but she bonded with him instantly, so we adopted him. I was very young when I met Charlie, but I feel like we just clicked from the start, says Samantha, who is now a fifth-year student at Colaiste Muire Realt na Mara Crosshaven. When we brought him home initially, I used to brush him, but as I got older I gradually started taking more care of him. Samantha had been riding since the age of four when she started doing lessons at Follyfoot Riding Farm in Riverstick. She then joined South Union Pony Club, so it was inevitable she would eventually ride Charlie. Samantha with the horse soon after her family adopted him. He was only a year old when we brought him home, so we couldnt do any major work with him at the start, but we did put in the ground work, explains Lilian. With rescues, there has to be a very deep bond and connection. They have to trust. We brought him to the beach and to the local shows, where we introduced him to all the noise bit by bit. So we broke him in gently. We put the saddle on him, learning ourselves along with way. He was cheeky at the start, but he grew out of it! Initially I did a bit of work with him. Im not a trainer myself, but I did some cross-country with him. Then, when Samantha was ready for him, she got up on him and brought him on - but slowly. You have to take your time with rescues. You could get an expensive horse that would be very good, very fast, but with a rescue, its different. Charlie is as good as any horse or pony now. The horse has been competing for a number of years through Pony Club, but its safe to say that 2025 has been his biggest one to date. He reached a career high after qualifying for the Working Hunter classes at the Dublin Horse Show in the RDS in August. And right after that, he travelled to Scotland to take part in the Scone Palace International Horse Trials. This came about when Samantha applied to take part in the Tiggys Trust Rider Development Programme - a foundation that was set up in memory of Tiggy Hancock, a young rider who died in 2021 at just 15 years of age. I knew some people who had taken part in it last year, and then I saw some social media posts about the 2025 one, so I decided to apply for it, explains Samantha. I didnt know if I would be accepted, so I was delighted when I was. It was the first time Charlie went abroad. Getting to the RDS was a big deal, and then going to Scotland was an even bigger one. Meanwhile, back at home Charlie is a member of a household thats no stranger to all kinds of animals. As well as working as a care assistant at Kinsale Community Hospital, Lilian is a qualified farm manager and has been running her Kitty Cove Boarding Cattery business for the past 20 years. Shes also reared Shauna the sheep, who has become known for her festive visits to the elderly at Christmas. The retired ewe gets dressed up every year to accompany Lilian to the hospital and other day centres and nursing homes. As well as Shauna, theres a rescue goat from My Lovely Horse Rescue, and a cat and dog from Munster Lost and Found. Charlie was our first rescue animal, and after we adopted him I got more involved in rescuing, she says. For instance, I help to rehabilitate horses to get them ready for rehoming. To get to know more about how rescuing works, you have to get involved with the organisations. They all do amazing work, but Cobh Rescue Horses, My Lovely Horse Rescue and Munster Lost and Found are the three I do most with. Cobh Rescue Horses couldnt be prouder of Charlie and his achieve-ments. When he first came to us, he was just a young, backward pony, full of worms and with very little experience of the world, says Tara Murphy from the centre. But thanks to the love, patience and dedication of Samantha and her family, Charlies life has been completely transformed and he has grown into a superstar. Hes excelling in his career, but most importantly, hes giving his family endless fun, joy, and memories. Charlie is the perfect example of what rescue ponies can achieve when given a chance. Samantha is equally proud of him. Hes come so far, she says. I never thought he would compete at these levels, so he has exceeded all expectations. Every rescue pony deserves a chance. Theres nothing wrong with them, they just havent been treated well in the past. All they need is to be given an opportunity to shine. And, despite his huge success, fame hasnt gone to Charlies head, she adds. Not at all - his personality hasnt changed one bit. Hes still the same sweetheart. Fifty years of friendship, team building, fun camping trips, cook-outs, and honing essential skills... all were celebrated by the 49th Ballincollig Scout Group at an event on Friday. The success of the group since it was founded in 1975 was evident by the number of past and present scouts in attendance. Scout leader Bryan Crowley is still pals with the people he met as a humble beaver many moons ago. I am involved with Scouts all my life, says Bryan, from Cobh. I joined Ballincollig scouts when I moved here in 2017. Now I am a Scout leader. I have had a great time in Scouts, and I remain best friends with the people I met through Scouts to this day! When I became a dad, my own kids joined up. Jack, 14, and Peader, 11, were cubs before they became Scouts. Colm Monaghan, Fr Ronan Sheehan, Tom Butler, Jerry Buttimer, Fr Alan OLeary, Eoin Callanan, Chief Scout, and Mike ODriscoll, Scout leader, at the event. Pictures: Denis Boyle The baby of the family - Nora May, aged eight - is still a cub. It is great that girls can join Scouts, says Bryan. A broader organisation opened up its programme to include girls, youth and adult, in 2012. The bonds made through Scouts are never broken. Having life-long friends from Scouts seems to be a life-long trend, says Bryan, who met some of those life-long friends at Fridays 50th anniversary celebrations at the Talbot Hotel in Ballincollig. Scouting teaches children how to adapt to new environments. It encourages them to learn more about their surroundings and peers. It helps build stronger connections with people, especially when thrown into completely new situations that require quick thinking on their feet. New skills are discovered and learnt. Problem-solving becomes second nature. Scouts is social, interactive and sporty, says Bryan. It can be an addition or an alternative to playing GAA. It is all about enjoying the great outdoors. Hiking and camping appeal to all kids, says Bryan. The best experience can be the summer camps hosted by scouts. For many young teens it can be the first time they are away from home. Is that a shock to some people? For many it can be a shock, says Bryan. Ive seen the youngsters coming back after 10- or 12-days camping and they come back different. Different how? They are now able to stand on their own two feet, says Bryan. Lasting friendships are made in Scouts. During the big outings, bonding happens naturally, says Bryan. When the children sign up, they remain loyal. Scouting fosters patriotism and loyalty. The weekly scouting meeting in the hall is our bread and butter, says Bryan. The meetings are the essence of the Scouts, where they understand what being part of the organisation is all about; making their community a better place through small actions that make a difference. As a Girl Guide in my youth I tell Bryan I used to do an elderly ladys shopping on Saturdays who was a neighbour. Some of us did bob a job duties for other older people. Sometimes we didnt claim the bob but a chocolate bar instead! Byran laughs. Community and connection is what its all about. Ballincollig Scouts helped make up the fabric of the town for the last 50 years. Bryan is part of the fabric of Ballincollig. I am a blow-in! But Ive always seen the community spirit here. Scouting is not just about learning and developing people. Scouting is about having fun, problem-solving, and learning vital skills, says Bryan. Looking back over the years, weve had great craic! How many members is in Ballincollig Scouts? We have 30 leaders and 100 youth members ranging in age from 6 to 18 and 19. The youngsters learn and acquire great skills. The Scouts are pro-active. We get involved in the St Patricks Day parade every year and in Tidy Towns, says Bryan. We ran a Christmas bazaar every year before covid. Our flag day is in January. We pop up at different times. The Ballincollig Scouts meet people and interact with people from all over the country. Scouting Ireland hosts lots of national events all over Ireland, says Bryan. These events give the youngsters a chance to interact with others apart from the familiar people at school or college. They are all in it together. They are thrown together and thats good for them, says Bryan. You often find real connections are made and they continue between other scouts from other clubs. There are no barriers in Scouts. Having no barriers is very healthy and very good, says Bryan. Scouting activities give people the opportunity to measure up, doing skills like lighting a fire or climbing a wall or erecting a tent. The technical skills Scouts achieve include reading maps and reading a compass. Pioneering involves new ideas or new methods. Leaders emerge. New leaders are again our bread and butter, says Bryan. Thats where a lot of parents come in and get involved. They really enjoy the social aspect of Ballincollig Scouts. Parents can learn new skills too. They can! says Bryan laughing. The parents are often surprised when showing skills to the Scouts. They say, I thought I knew nothing, but here I am teaching them the basics! Bryan says the single biggest Scout message is self-sufficiency. All the scouts become well able, he says. Do they become willing? Thats a good question! says Bryan laughing. To be fair, they are more than willing. Crowd control is important. We split the beavers into three groups of six. They do the same activity with the same leader. It works well. The Scouts are proud of their status. They love getting the activity badges as they progress, says Bryan. Activity badges allow them to learn new things and demonstrate new skills. Jennifer Wong is an active participant in Ballincollig Scouts now for seven years. Why did she join up? I wanted to give back to the community, says Jennifer. And I work well with kids. How did she find being involved in Scouts? Once you join, there is no going back! says Jennifer. My two kids, Jayden, age 18, and Jasper, age 11, are scouts. They are as enthusiastic as their mother. Jerry Buttimer TD and deputy lord mayor Terry Coleman at the 50th anniversary celebration I sign up for everything and so do they! Jennifer enjoyed new experiences with the scouts. I never camped in my life before joining Scouts, says Jennifer. I love it! Hiking has now become my main hobby! Joining Scouts has been a life-changing experience for me. It brought her out of her comfort zone. Being a Scout, you come out of the safety of your box to discover new things, and a whole new world, says Jennifer, who lives near Blarney. Her sons discovered new friends as well as new adventures. Jayden and Jasper have met other young people here through Scouts, and in the UK. They have a whole new circle outside of school. What do the boys like best about being scouts? No homework! Ballincollig Scout Hall, Station Road, Ballincollig Cork. Facebook: 49th Ballincollig Scouts. Cork saw an increase in homes granted planning permission in the second quarter of this year compared to the first, despite a decline nationally, new CSO data shows. A total of 1,198 homes were granted permission in Cork in the fourth, fifth, and sixth months of 2025 across housing types including as part of a housing scheme, one-off houses and apartment units. This is a 25% increase from the 959 units granted permission in the first three months of the year, with the figures representing a 30% rise in Cork city and an 18% increase in the county. In Cork City, 716 housing units were granted permission in the second quarter of this year; 359 multi-development or scheme houses, five one-off houses, and 352 apartments. This marks a slight increase from the first quarter of the year, where 122 scheme houses, 14 one-off houses, and 415 apartments were granted permission, a total of 551 units. In Cork county, 482 units in total were granted permission; 281 scheme houses, 112 one-off houses, and 89 apartments in April, May and June this year. Cork county saw 408 units in total granted permission in the previous quarter of the year; 227 scheme houses, 126 one off houses and 55 apartment units. The Cork figures increasing goes against the national trend in Ireland in total, 7,447 units were granted permission in Q2 of this year; 3,565 scheme houses, 1,157 one-off houses and 2,725 apartments. In Q1 of this year, there were 8,177 units granted permission in total; 3,707 scheme houses, 1,230 one-off houses and 3,240 apartments across the whole country. The figures for April, May, and June 2025 mark a 9% decrease compared to the first three months of the year. The latest figures bring the number of homes granted planning permission in Cork this year to 2,157, meaning that nearly 14% of the 15,624 homes granted permission across Ireland were in Cork. Calls have been made for the accelerated delivery of Corks elective-only hospital as more than 71,500 people were on hospital waiting lists across the county at the end of last month. This is according to figures published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) on Friday. The data shows that, as of August 28, there were 71,537 outpatients waiting for a first-time appointment in Cork across Cork University Hospital (CUH), Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), Mercy University Hospital, South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH), Mallow General Hospital and Bantry General Hospital. Of the 71,537 people waiting for a first-time appointment, 24,632 were waiting at CUH; 2,368 were waiting at CUMH; 5,787 were waiting at Mercy University Hospital; 33,058 were waiting at SIVUH; 4,681 were waiting at Mallow General Hospital; and 1,011 were waiting at Bantry General Hospital. Among the 71,537 outpatients awaiting treatment, of which 8,345 were children, approximately 21% (15,570) were waiting for between six and twelve months, including 1,686 children. The two hospitals with the highest number of outpatients waiting between six and 12 months were SIVUH with 7,503 people and CUH with 5,122 people. Waiting lists with the highest number of outpatients awaiting a first-time appointment included neurosurgery, cardiology, urology, vascular surgery and plastic surgery. Speaking to The Echo, Social Democrats Cork South Central TD, Padraig Rice, who is the party's spokesperson on health, said that the Government must accelerate delivery of the elective-only hospital for Cork. We need to take the majority of outpatient treatments, outpatient diagnostics, day cases and minor operations out of our acute hospitals and into a new standalone elective-only hospital, said Mr Rice. This would have a major impact on the continuously unacceptable wait times and take the pressure off our overburdened hospitals. Originally, four elective-only hospitals were to be delivered in Cork, Galway and Dublin by 2027/28 but construction hasnt even begun. The latest estimate from the Minister for Health is that Cork and Galway will be operational by 2030, but given [the Governments] track record with hospital construction, that seems like wishful thinking. At the end of last month in CUH, there were 5,553 people waiting for a neurosurgery appointment; 2,501 waiting for a cardiology appointment; 2,297 waiting for a urology appointment; 1,352 waiting for a vascular surgery appointment; and 1,231 waiting for a plastic surgery appointment. At Mercy University Hospital, there were 728 people waiting for a cardiology appointment; 907 waiting for a urology appointment; and 470 waiting for a vascular surgery appointment. At SIVUH there were 2,850 waiting for a plastic surgery appointment; at Mallow General Hospital there were 716 people waiting for a cardiology appointment, and 181 waiting for a urology appointment; and at Bantry General Hospital, there were 37 waiting for a cardiology appointment. Sinn Fein Cork South Central TD, Donnchadh O Laoghaire, said that the waiting lists are dreadful but unfortunately not surprising. People are waiting far too long for appointments in Cork, often in situations that are very uncertain, worrying, or severely uncomfortable, said Mr O Laoghaire. Its clear we need particular interventions in areas such as neurology and cardiology. Long health waiting lists, coupled with high numbers of patients waiting in emergency departments for beds, are a product of bad policies and a lack of political leadership. To properly and sustainably tackle waiting lists, the recruitment embargo should be lifted as we need a more flexible approach to recruitment. The government should fund the 1,500 rapid build beds that are needed, he added. These are crucial to reducing waiting lists at pace and with ambition. The health service needs a multi-annual plan to sustainably reduce waiting lists and to work tirelessly to increase capacity, retain and train more workers, and build a national health service that can see and treat patients in a timely fashion. Air and rail links between Cork and Belfast are among the key priorities of a new agenda launched in Cork by Chambers of Commerce across the island of Ireland. Cork Chamber has joined Dublin Chamber, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry to launch the Tri-Region Partnership Agenda, a shared roadmap for strengthening economic connectivity, investment and innovation. The launch, which brought together business leaders, academics, key regional stakeholders and policymakers, was part of a two day series of engagements and discussions focused on unlocking opportunity through collaboration. The partnership sets out a purpose: to enhance all-island business connectivity and regional economic collaboration through coordinated advocacy, strategic investment shared economic ambition and tangible actions. Its newly launched agenda focuses on delivering higher-speed rail links between Cork, Dublin and Belfast, restoring direct air connectivity between Cork and Belfast, securing long-term port investment to support trade and offshore renewable development, building all-island innovation clusters in sectors such as life sciences, fintech and clean energy and strengthening tourism links and a shared modern brand for the island. Cork TD and minister of state Jerry Buttimer welcomed the launch, stating: Government is committed to balanced regional development, ensuring opportunity and growth is shared across the island. Higher-speed rail, offshore renewables, education and skills are national priorities, and partnerships like this add real momentum. Restoring connectivity, whether through aviation or advanced public transport, strengthens Irelands position as a place to invest, visit, and live. Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber, said: Cork is playing a central role in shaping Irelands economic future. We have many strengths in our region, and partnerships and collaboration enhance all of our opportunities. The Tri-Region agenda launch shows the ambition for growth across our regions. We face similar challenges and with joined up thinking and planning, our governments can unlock a more connected and prosperous island for all. Resurfacing of the N22 Carrigrohane/Straight Road is likely to proceed in 2026, the council have confirmed, as a councillor says the current road is in a terrible condition. Sinn Fein councillor for the area, Joe Lynch, had tabled a motion proposing that the council makes a request of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to provide funding to the Council to be able to undertake resurfacing works for the N22 from Leemount junction at Carrigrohane to Grassland Agro. The council told him: Late last year, the Infrastructure Development Directorate submitted a funding request to TII, accompanied by a Pavement Asset Repair and Renewal (PARR) report for the resurfacing of the N22, from Leemount Cross to Grassland Agro. The PARR report was accepted by TII and the pavement is now on the list for replacement. The work is likely to proceed in 2026 subject to funding consent from TII. Mr Lynch told The Echo: The road surface is in a terrible condition, and has been for a number of years now. I have been in regular contact with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and with Cork City Council management on the matter for over a year, urging them to fund resurfacing works on what is one of the main arterial routes into Cork City. I am pleased to report that - in response to a recent motion of mine on the matter - that the Council have now stated that works are likely to proceed next year. While there is no guarantee of funding coming from TII, this is a welcome step in the right direction and I will be keeping the pressure on both TII and the Council over the coming months to ensure that works are carried out here as quickly as possible. A Ballincollig woman has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Cork public, following a fundraising campaign that was set up for her family who lost their home and all belongings in a recent house fire. Abbey Moore lost her childhood home in Ballincollig back in August. Eight people were living there at the time. This included Abbey and her partner, her sister Katie and her partner and two children Aoibhe, four, and Rian, one, and Abbeys parents Cait and Martin. Friends of Ms Moore, Louise Aherne and Laura Hogan, set up a GoFundMe page as part of the fundraising effort to support the Moore family. The fundraiser, which to date has raised over 27,800 in donations, aims to help to cover the familys immediate needs and urgent costs as they come to terms with the devastating loss of their home and belongings. Speaking to The Echo, Ms Moore said that she and her family have been overwhelmed by the response of the public in Cork in the form of donations and goodwill. We are still trying to wrap our heads around it, said Ms Moore. It has just been amazing. I think we have gone from traumatised to just heart-warmed with all of the kindness from everyone, she said. It actually just makes me emotional every time. Fianna Fail Cork city councillor Colm Kelleher said he has been working with the Moore family in the aftermath of the fire. It is an absolutely diabolical situation that the family have found themselves in, said Mr Kelleher. I have been working with the family since the morning after the fire. They are a very well-known and very well-respected family in the community. We constantly pick up newspapers and turn on TVs, and we are inundated with bad stories from around the world. This is obviously a horror story. But it will hopefully have a very happy ending, Mr Kelleher added. For further information and to make a donation, visit: https://tinyurl.com/5fseh93k. Minister of state Michael Moynihan has said he will engage with a group of East Cork parents of children with additional needs on their call for a Youghal special school. Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide raised the need for increased special education provision in Youghal with Mr Moynihan, explaining that he has been working with a parents campaign group in Youghal called Bridging the Gap. He explained: Youghal has just one secondary school, Pobalscoil na Trionoide, which has somewhere between 1,100 and 1,200 students. At present, 22 children from the Youghal catchment travel to St Johns Special School in Dungarvan, County Waterford. For some children as young as five, their day starts with a bus leaving at 7.10am and they may not arrive at the school until almost 9am, after multiple stops. He added that in the 2023-24 school year, 15.7m was spent in Cork by the State on taxis for children for journeys out of area. John Phillips, one of the parents in the Bridging the Gap campaign group, explained that the one secondary school is a feeder school for 15 national schools but only has four special classes. This year they have places for 192 mainstream students and one student in the ASD classes. I know of someone who tried to keep their son back in an autism classroom in sixth class in the hopes something would come up. "If you think getting mainstream secondary places are bad, special places are like the poor relation. Their proposal to open a new special school at second level in Youghal would take pressure off the schools in Dungarvan and Carrigtwohill, and reduce the taxi spend, he said, adding: It is our childs right to be educated in appropriate settings in the community. Mr Moynihan said that he met with the group in March of this year and acknowledged: We need to increase the capacity. We have challenges in relation to post-primary education. "Bridging the Gap in Youghal provided a very serious and coherent proposal to us. After October 1, when we will understand the need that is within the entire country, we will be making decisions on where the next number of special schools will be opened. We will be engaging with the group and we will be looking at the area but we have to understand the need as well. Cork city has secured Purple Flag accreditation for the tenth year running, in recognition of maintaining standards of excellence in the evening and night time economy. Similar to the Blue Flag accreditation for beaches, the Purple Flag aims to raise standards and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between 5pm and 5am. The Purple Flag recognises towns and cities that provide night time environments that are safe, vibrant, diverse and enjoyable for residents and visitors. The Leave The Light On campaign and the introduction of the Coffee House Lates scheme both were key successes in Cork getting Purple Flag accreditation and were part of Cork City Councils ongoing Night Time Economy Strategy. A partnership between the city council and the Cork Business Association, the Leave The Light On campaign ran from mid-October 2024 to mid-January 2025. This encouraged city centre businesses to leave their lights on until midnight or 1am during the winter to help contribute to a safer night time environment. The Coffee House Lates scheme, which was launched last November to facilitate the growing demand for alcohol-free evening activities in the city, encouraged independent coffee shops to extend their trading hours and host events such as coffee tastings, live music, comedy, art and dancing. The continuation of the Cork city Night Time Economy (NTE) advisor role until September 2026, along with other projects such as hosting a concert on the roof of a public car park, further reflected the citys commitment to creative ideas and vibrant nightlife. Cork City Council night time economy advisor Fiona Collins said there is a strong desire to consistently improve the citys evening and night-time offering. The Purple Flag accreditation is another indicator in the citys journey to becoming a truly 24-hour destination. It allows us to set a standard with other night time cities. The businesses together with key stakeholders such as Cork City Council, An Garda Siochana, Cork Chamber and Cork Business Association continue to work hard to ensure that it remains a city comparable with the best across Europe and the world. With Cork projects among those to benefit, minister for further and higher education, research, innovation and science James Lawless has said that 847,820 in funding will be available to support 36 projects taking place nationwide as part of Science Week 2025. Now into its 30th year, Science Week is coordinated by Research Ireland and celebrates science in our everyday lives. Running from November 9-16 the Marina Market will host Science Week exhibitions and events, including events which have been allocated funding. SpaceFest 2025, a celebration of the art and science of space which brings exhibitions, performances, tours and workshops to Cork city, has been awarded funding of 50,000. This year sees the central SpaceFest exhibition relocating to the Marina Market from November 815. Elsewhere, Science at the Marina has been awarded 10,000 in funding. A one-day free public event celebrating STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), this collaborative initiative brings together leading Research Ireland Centres (APC Microbiome Ireland and VistaMilk), Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority of Ireland and University College Cork. Another Cork event, Otter Spotters: A Citizen Science Roadshow, also has been awarded 10,000 in funding. This proposal focuses on Irelands native otter as a gateway to encourage broader conversations about ecology, biodiversity conservation and public participation in scientific research. The roadshow brings citizen science to individuals across Cork city during Science Week. Being awarded a total of 9,855, Light Laboratory: Optical Science past, present, future is a citizen science event in Cork bringing STEM and Theatre together. As part of this, there will be an in person event where optical science principles of the past will be demonstrated with dramatic effect at The Granary Theatre. Meanwhile, among the festival highlights for Science Week 2025, the creative theatre company Macnas is making its Cork premiere at Marina Market on November 9. Macnas will bring drummers, stilt walkers and puppets to Cork city to tell a powerful story about biodiversity loss. Visit: https://www.scienceweek.ie/ The HSE South West branch, along with community health teams, are inviting parents across Cork and Kerry to attend their free RSV immunisation clinics. The clinics, now open until the first week of October, are available to parents of babies born between March 1 and August 31, to shield their infants against severe RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) infection before the winter season. The HSE has said that the RSV immunisation is a highly effective and safe method of protecting vulnerable infants from severe illness, significantly reducing the risk of hospitalisation and admission to intensive care units. Clinics are available in community health centres, GP practices, and pharmacies across Cork and Kerry, with appointment availability extended to cater for capacity. While clinics were initially scheduled to conclude at the end of this month, services will now continue through to the first week of October, ensuring greater access for those who need it. Parents of babies born between September 1 and February 28 2026, will be offered the immunisation before being discharged from hospital. The RSV immunisation programme aims to protect vulnerable infants during their first winter months and safeguard vital paediatric services by reducing preventable admissions. Nirsevimab, which is the name of the vaccine, begins working immediately and provides up to 150 days of protection against RSV. Dr Anne Sheahan, regional director of population and public health at HSE South West, said that immunisation against RSV is the best way to protect your baby during their most vulnerable early months. Clinics across Cork and Kerry are ready to welcome families and deliver this vital protection, said Dr Sheahan. Gabrielle OKeeffe, who is the head of health, wellbeing and strategy at HSE South West, said by limiting preventable RSV admissions, this programme will also help safeguard essential hospital paediatric services during the busiest winter months. New parents often worry about where they can safely immunise small babies without long waits or travel, said Ms OKeeffe. Having local clinics right across Cork and Kerry means that babies can be immunised quickly, and parents then know that their little one is protected. Parents of eligible babies can book a community clinic appointment online by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/9p2cdxfv. Cork county councillors have voted not to nominate a candidate in the presidential election following a very close vote in county hall this afternoon. Fine Gael councillors voted against nominating a candidate, as did Sinn Fein, but the vote came to 32 councillors in favour of nominating a candidate, including Fianna Fail, Social Democrats, Labour, Independent Ireland and Independents, and 19 voting not to nominate anyone. Maria Steen was nominated by independent councillor Alan Coleman, and seconded by Danny Collins, who said: She comes across very well, she came across well last year in the debates for the family and care referendum. Fianna Fails Gillian Coughlan nominated William P Allen, saying hes a county man, and I think it would be remiss of us not to have a Cork County nomination. Hes a tradesman and I think it would be an honour to have a tradesperson in the Aras. Cork city independent councillor Kieran McCarthy was nominated by Fianna Fails Audrey Buckley and seconded by her party college Michael Looney, who highlighted that he has known Mr McCarthy for many years and worked well with him in the past. It went to a vote, in which 26 councillors voted none of the above, 11 voted for Maria Steen, four voted for William P Allen and nine voted for Kieran McCarthy, including several members of Fianna Fail and Labour. If two more councillors had voted for a candidate, Mr Allen would have been eliminated and it would have gone to a second vote between Ms Steen and Mr McCarthy, however, the none of the above won out in the end. Independent councillor Peter ODonoghue, who had voted for Ms Steen, called the result a disgrace, yelled out Where is democracy? There is no democracy after the vote. Speaking to The Echo after the meeting, Mr McCarthy said: Fair play to Cork County Council for hosting the meeting. It was quite a rigorous process, they asked tough questions so they were clearly taking this seriously. "The majority of candidates wanted to see someone nominated, but it probably got a little bit political after that where various parties have their own candidate theyre supporting. To the people who nominated and seconded and voted for me, thank you very much for your belief. A book of evidence was served today on a 33-year-old man on a single charge of sexually assaulting another man in Cork over four years ago. The charge brought by Detective Garda Eimear Brennan states that on July 31 2021 at an address in Cork city he did sexually assault a named male. On the application of Sergeant John Kelleher, Judge John King sent the case forward from Cork District Court to the next sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court commencing on October 28. Judge King first gave the defendant the alibi notice whereby the state must be informed of any witnesses who may be called if such a defence is going to be used. There is a prohibition on identifying any of the parties to the case because of the nature of the charge. The defendant was remanded on continuing bail on conditions that include having no contact, direct or indirect, with the complainant or any witnesses in the case and providing gardai with a phone number at which he is contactable at all times. No details were given at Cork District Court of any of the allegations in this case which gave rise to the sexual assault charge being brought against the defendant. The accused was represented by solicitor Dennis Healy and free legal aid was extended for a barrister to represent the accused at the circuit court A teenager loaded up his bag with bottles of whiskey telling a security man he could not stop him, and he later pushed the member of staff and punched him in the face before leaving with the stolen drink. Sergeant John Kelleher outlined the background to the incident, which occurred at Marks & Spencer, Merchants Quay, Cork, at 2.30pm on April 29. The teenager entered the shop and became confrontational towards staff. Security staff then went to assist. It is alleged that the man stated that he was going to steal items from the shop, and that the security staff couldn't stop him. Security staff contacted the gardai and the defendant proceeded to fill his bag with a number of bottles of whiskey from the shelf. The security guard tried to stop him but he was forcefully pushed back. The male then went to walk out of the shop, again the security guard tried to prevent him from leaving. The male punched the security man in the face knocking him to the floor. The male left, passing all points of payment, leaving the shop with the goods valued at 246. CCTV was viewed and the male was identified as Patrick Costin. There were no injuries sustained by the security staff member who did not require medical attention at the time. No property was recovered. Probation report Judge John King said: The probation report makes for very interesting reading. I know he had a hard life and bad addiction issues. Killian McCarthy solicitor said: It is a crossroads in his life at such a young age. His sister is supportive of him as far as she can be. Very obvious from the probation report that he has not been dealt a great hand in life. He is anxious to put himself on the right path. "This has been his first time in custody and it was a massive wake-up call. He has been in custody for almost a month as he could not ask anyone to raise 100 bail money for him. He is fully aware of the dangers of what drugs will do to a person. He shows a level of insight. The solicitor said the 18-year-old hoped to be able to live with a relative if released. Judge King said he would adjourn finalising of the case until September 26 for confirmation that the particular relative would accommodate him. Offences As well as pleading guilty to charges of assault and theft at Marks and Spencer he admitted other offences, including kicking a wing mirror off a car, shoplifting in Cork city, and failing to show up in court for his cases. Patrick Costin of no fixed address, has been living recently with Cork Simon Community. On April 20 at Centra on St. Patricks Street, he stole 21 worth of beer On June 21 at Tesco, Paul Street, he stole a vodka, totalling 76. On July 12 he stole two bottles of vodka valued 77 at Marks and Spencer. One week later at The Offie, Douglas Street, Cork, he stole cider valued 19. Then last month on August 24 he smashed the wing mirror off a womans car on Patrick St. And he twice failed to appear in court for his cases. Judge King said in relation to September 26: I am not looking for cash on surety, just someone to keep an eye on him, allow him to turn his life around by dealing with addiction, entering vocational training, and to be supervised by probation service. But he has to be willing. Cork County Council is inviting members of the public to put forward suggestions for lands that are suitable for zoning for residential use. The call comes following the publication of the Ministerial Guidelines on Revised National Planning Framework (NPF) Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements by Government, which set out a requirement for increased annual housing growth by the local authority. The guidelines, published yesterday, also called for an additional provision mechanism to support the zoning of additional lands in areas where it can be justified. In response to these new guidelines, Cork County Council is now inviting the public, landowners, and homebuilders, to put forward suggestions for lands that are suitable for zoning for residential use, including greenfield and brownfield/infill/regeneration sites. Objectives All lands put forward must meet the objectives of the guidelines in terms of contributing to the acceleration of housing delivery over the next 10 years. The Mayor of the County of Cork, councillor Mary Linehan Foley said it is critically important that Cork County Council ensures we have sufficient land zoned to deliver on the housing and population targets set out in the NPF and the recently published Section 28 Guidelines. Cork County Council chief executive, Moira Murrell, said it was important to ensure Cork County is an "even more attractive place to live, work, and do business." Picture: Jim Coughlan. Moira Murrell, chief executive of Cork County Council, backed the call saying that it is important to ensure Cork county is an even more attractive place to live, work, and do business. I strongly encourage landowners, homebuilders, and the public to get involved in the process by making submissions that identify lands with the potential to accelerate housing delivery over the next decade, said Ms Murrell. Submissions Submissions for lands suitable for being zoned for residential use, capable of contributing to the acceleration of housing delivery are hereby invited from interested parties from 9am on Monday September 22 to 12 midnight, Monday October 20, inclusive. Submissions can be made either online via the council website at: https://www.corkcoco.ie/en or by letter to: Senior Planner, Planning Policy Unit, Cork County Council, Floor 13, County Hall, Cork, marked Proposals Requested in Response to New Section 28 Ministerial Guidelines on NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements. For more, contact Cork County Council at (021) 4217642 or email: planningpolicyunit@corkcoco.ie. Shoplifting is a massive problem for retailers. Call it what you like, shoplifting, retail theft... its stealing, plain and simple. It has been an issue forever, but despite the use of CCTV, security systems and door staff, it seems to be worse today than it was 40 years ago. And more costly too. One of my first jobs as a young garda back in 1980s Dublin was dealing with a shoplifter in Stillorgan Shopping Centre. She was a young teacher who took a few small items she didnt even need, which confused me at the time. I later learned that this wasnt uncommon, and it was often a cry for help. Another lady, who was very wealthy in her own right, and was also married to a senior bank worker, was caught stealing a chicken from her local supermarket. She was hardly in desperate need of food so there was clearly something else going on there too. In both of these cases, the property was returned to the store, so nobody was out of pocket, and their cases were dealt with sympathetically. The women were unlikely to become prolific thieves, and it was anticipated they would resolve whatever issues were at the root of their uncharacteristic behaviour. On the other hand, there are people with addiction problems who treat shoplifting as a source of income. They steal on a daily basis to feed their habit and often use violence when confronted. Threatening or assaulting retail workers has grown to such an extent that some retailers may even prefer to let thieves walk out of the store unchallenged to protect the staff from harm. Prolific thieves are a serious problem because they are a constant thorn in the side. They dont go away. They are regularly prosecuted, fined, jailed or whatever, but they often return to thieving. They may receive some sympathy because of their addictions, but at the end of the day, retailers are losing financially because of their activity. An even bigger scourge to retailers is the organised gangs of shoplifters. Professional thieves who make a business out of stealing. They often hunt in packs and have all the tricks of the trade. They often use distraction tactics to focus the attention of staff in one direction while theft is taking place somewhere else. They can be extremely well organised and often use special containers to secrete the stolen goods and to avoid detection systems. Retailers, security personnel, and even police officers need to be certain of their ground before challenging these thieves because getting it wrong could cost the retailer dearly. The Echo reported recently that a Cork city shopkeeper called for changes to the legal system to better tackle repeat offenders, as a survey revealed that 36% of Irish small to medium enterprises were affected by crime in the past 12 months, with the figure as high as 100% for convenience stores. ISMEs Business Crime Survey 2025 found that of Irish businesses which experienced crime, 68% were targeted more than once, and that 34% of SMEs spend over 5,000 annually on crime prevention. One store owner in Cork city told The Echo that he spends 40,000 per year on security. Retailers have to incur security costs and cover the costs of losses, while were dealing with rising costs for electricity, products, wages, just like everybody else, he said. A total of 67% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with Garda response times, and 76% of retailers said they had experienced financial losses, with 36% reporting losses exceeding 10,000 in a year. They seem to be facing the same issue across the water. The Times UK had a story about a shopkeeper who was using social media and posters to fight back against the thieves who targeted his family-run store. He decided that the police werent helping, so he took to shaming the shoplifters himself. He had seen an increase in theft and after growing frustrated with reporting shoplifters to the police only to see no action taken, he resorted to the tactic of shame. The shopkeeper printed a screenshot of a customer pocketing an energy drink and posted it on his shop window with the message Im a thief and I love Red Bull. However, he soon received a visit from a community support police officer who advised him to remove the poster as it could be deemed a violation of data protection laws. That reminded me of a case back in the noughties when a store owner in Cork put photos of persistent shoplifters in the front window of the shop which were clearly visible from the street. We were instructed to call to the store to advise the owner that they were letting themselves open to prosecution. Fed-up shopkeepers will tell you its not worth their time calling gardai anymore. If officers are thin on the ground and the prisons are already full to overflowing, then what are retailers supposed to do? If there is no deterrent, shoplifters will keep returning. The Irish Examiner reported that when examined through a national lens, the statistics for Cork city centre are notably high, with the total numbers of crimes reported to gardai in Anglesea Street 800% above the national average for garda stations. They received 1,309 reports of thefts and related offences among the 3,328 crimes recorded last year. So, maybe its time to have more concern for our retailers and less for the shoplifters. I think persistent offenders should be named and shamed. Their photographs should be posted in public and shared among other retailers, so everyone knows who they are. Alternatively, adopt the Singapore system where a shoplifter in that part of the world could face a seven-year jail term plus a fine. That might work, but prison space could be an issue. Yvonne Coughlan has many strings to her bow. She is an award-winning writer and director, the Chairperson of Dance Cork Firkin Crane, the founder of Inclusive Dance Cork, a lecturer, and the founder of RSVP, Red Sandstone Varied Productions - a performance arts group based in Cork that works in theatre and film. Coughlan, who comes from Kinsale, is about to embark on a new project, Two Films, One Vision, which will see two short films made in tandem. One of the films, Regret, has a traditional script and has already won several awards for Best Unproduced Script on the festival circuit. Coughlan says Regrets central theme is forgiveness, and the idea for the film came from a real-life loss. It came out of a conversation between me and my director of photography, Maurice Supple. We both lost a parent, and we were talking about how we were lucky that we got to say some of the things we needed to say, but sometimes people arent so lucky as to be able to do that. Regret is that story of someone not getting there in the end, of not saying what they needed to. Coughlan explains how the second film takes a less orthodox approach than Regret. The second film - Forgiveness In Fragments - comes from an experimental process. My format and process for auditions isnt giving people the script to learn or asking them to come in with a prepared piece. I ask them to improvise based on the character and based on the situation. You get a truer picture of what theyre capable of without putting lines in the way. I explain as clearly as I can who the character is and what the relationship is to the other character. Coughlan often conducts group auditions, inviting multiple people to participate in a collaborative exercise. This approach allows the actors to fully engage with the scenario she presents. As a result, Coughlan can observe the complete range of each actors abilities. When we work this way, we can really see what theyre capable of as an actor, in terms of their imagination and their ability to fulfil the role. When actors leave my auditions, they always say that theyre really happy they had the experience of auditioning in this way. Often, actors leave an audition disappointed, whereas with my technique, no-one is left feeling rejected. They can clearly see what I am looking for, and why they might not have been suitable at this time. The director notes that this method of audition also leads to some interesting developments. When people improvise and respond to the information theyre given, its amazing what you get out of people, said Coughlan. Its incredible to see what theyre willing to do, to see the stories that could develop from them. Youre giving the actor a lot more autonomy than they normally would, because theyre usually restricted to the script that they receive. You get to see the whole person rather than this part of them performing how a script dictates. Coughlan says actors do need the parameters of a script as a starting point, which led to the idea of a second short film. We realised we could do two films in tandem. On the one hand, actors will audition for Regret, and we will cast the roles in Regret based on the auditions. However, we will also inform everyone that theres a secondary film, which will also be a short. When we see something in people or in their reaction to each other, or the way they work together, or just something that sparks an interest in the team, we will pull eight of the actors out to be the cast of the second film, Forgiveness In Fragments, which will be a series of vignettes linked by theme. Inclusivity is vital to Coughlan and the team involved in the two productions, and they are open to actors of all abilities auditioning. We dont just make films, were building ecosystems of creativity for performers, producers, and communities to have a voice, she said. This particular experiment, is not going to specify who can apply, its going to be decided by who does turn up, and we very specifically have an inclusivity producer on board, Rhona Coughlan, who is the Artistic Director of Inclusive Dance Cork. Coughlan says inclusivity must be embedded from the start of any project. Its not something we think about afterwards, or we think about when we meet someone who needs some support, but the conversation is already part of our journey, so that means were ready and available for anyone to join us. Two Films, One Vision has a predominantly female-led team behind it, including Lorena Chierchini, a graduate of UCCs BA Film and Screen Media and Indra Roelants, the films executive producer. Coughlan was raised by a strong businesswoman who taught her that she could take charge of any project. However, she experienced a different reality when she entered the film industry. Its only through the years that Ive really seen that film is predominantly male, and while Ive worked with incredible men, I am someone who really sees the benefit of having a full female-led team, she said. I lean into true stories that are about emotion, stories about lived experience, and have a greater ability to hold that space for artistry and humanity. While I have met the men who can do that, theyre not the majority, and for this project, it is essential to have womens voices heard. James Cox Here, we have a look at the topics likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come. Is Sinn Fein's Catherine Connolly endorsement really a 'game-changer'? When Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald promised Sinn Fein's decision on the presidential election would be a "game-changer", there was undoubtedly some panic for the Coalition leaders. After Ms McDonald had ruled herself out, TD Pearse Doherty and GAA president Jarlath Burns appeared to be the frontrunner. In the end, they decided to back Ms Connolly. She now has the support of Labour, the Social Democrats, Sinn Fein, People Before Profit and a number of independents. While this is great news for the Galway TD, many have argued it is a bit underwhelming from Sinn Fein. Both Mr Doherty and Mr Burns would have shaken up the race for Aras an Uachtarain, and Mr Burns may well have been the favourite. Sources have suggested there is relief within Government that Sinn Fein did not put a candidate forward. Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly (centre) with Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns (left) and Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (right) as she launches her presidential election campaign at The Complex, Smithfield in Dublin. Speaking on the Path to Power podcast, which he co-hosts with Matt Cooper, former agriculture minister Ivan Yates said Sinn Fein backing Ms Connolly would be a "damp squib" (before the announcement was made on Saturday. Mr Yates said: "It'll be one of the biggest anti-climaxes in Irish politics and Mary Lou's career. What a damp squib coming out with that when two months ago they could have got in the queue with the Soc Dems and Labour, I don't see that as a game-changer. "It's a false bluff, it's a damp squib, it's an opt out, an off ramp, that has no credibility in my view." It was clearly a carefully thought out decision, and Ms McDonald and senior Sinn Fein figures may have identified some positives. If Ms Connolly does not perform well in the election, the party can distance themselves from the result. They may also see it as a test of left wing unity as Sinn Fein would be the largest grouping if a coherent left-leaning government coalition ever becomes a realistic possibility. Minister calls on TDs to 'disagree agreeably' As the Dail returns amid recent threats to politicians, a Government minister has said "there is no point in condemning this abuse if we continue to use abusive language". In an i nterview with BreakingNews.ie, Minister of State Neale Richmond called on his colleagues, both in government and opposition, to find a way to "disagree agreeably" and "tone down the venom" in political debates. Addressing the recent campaign of abuse against Tanaiste Simon Harris, Mr Richmond condemned the abuse and said the coordinated nature of it was "extremely worrying". Gardai have sought Interpol assistance as concerns rise over the recent series of threats made against Mr Harris. Callers recently phoned into Garda stations claiming there was a bomb at Mr Harris' family home in Greystones, Co Wicklow. A woman from west Dublin was arrested two weeks ago after allegedly posting a threat to abduct Mr Harris' children. Mr Richmond, who is Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, also said it was the role of politicians to tone down abusive language, particularly when tensions are high in Dail debates. He said the new term provides an opportunity to debate in a more civil manner, and said labels like 'treason' and 'traitor' should not be used. "There is no point in politicians condemning this abuse and these attacks if we ourselves continue to use very abusive language that I would argue is below us. That is something I am really focused on in the coming weeks and months, how can we as politicians lead in terms of changing the tone of the debate? "It is a challenge... I am guilty of it in the past, being a little bit too salty on social media or letting my emotions get to me, where we stray from the political or the policy to the personal." Gareth Sheridan ends presidential campaign Businessman Gareth Sheridan has acknowledged the end of his presidential campaign after he failed to receive the backing of Offaly and Meath county councils. While Mr Sheridan has the support of two local authorities - Kerry and Tipperary - he has now run out of options to secure two more. Mr Sheridan is due to address Louth County Council this evening, however its support, along with Kerry and Tipperary county councils, would not be enough to contest the election. He has admitted it is now "mathematically" impossible for him to secure enough support to get on the ballot. Gareth Sheridan (centre), Independent presidential candidate, and his wife Heidi (right), are joined by Cathaoirleach Cllr John Leahy (left), outside Offaly County Council offices in Tullamore. Mr Sheridan, a married father of an almost three-year-old girl, lost out on a nomination from Meath by just one vote. Speaking to reporters at Offaly County Council, he said: We tried to offer something different. I think diversity on the ballot is important and we tried to offer that. Unfortunately it didnt work out this time but, you know, no regrets. Connolly criticises Starmer's Hamas comments Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said it is not for British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to decide Hamas role in a Palestinian state. The left-wing independent from Galway was asked about comments by the prime minister, who said on Sunday that Hamas should have no role in government. Mr Starmer made the comments as he announced the UKs recognition of a Palestinian state, ahead of the UN General Assembly this week and alongside other nations including Australia and Canada. Ms Connolly, who has been vocal on the issue of Palestine and has criticised the Government for not taking more action against Israel, said that it was up to Palestinians to decide who governs them. I dont think its up to Keir Starmer to make that statement at all, Ms Connolly told BBC Radio Ulster on Monday. I come from Ireland, a history of colonisation, and I would be very wary of telling a sovereign people how to run their country. The Palestinians must decide, in a democratic way, who they want to lead their country. Maria Steen's bid to make the ballot The presidential election will be a three-horse race between Jim Gavin (Fianna Fail), Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael) and Independent Catherine Connolly unless Maria Steen can secure a place on the ballot. Aontu leader Peadar Toibin is rallying support for Ms Steen and claims she has at least 11 Oireachtas members backing her. Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae has said he will also nominate Ms Steen and Independent TD Gillian Toole has said she will do the same. The candidate is set to meet Independent Ireland members tomorrow to try and secure their backing. Ms Steen needs 20 nominations to get on the ballot. Abroad France has become the latest country to recognise Palestinian statehood, with president Emmanuel Macron making the announcement as the United Nations meets in New York. In the US, all eyes were on a memorial for assassinated political activist Charlie Kirk. US president Donald Trump praised Charlie Kirk as a great American hero and martyr for freedom as he and other prominent conservatives gathered on Sunday evening to honour the slain conservative political activist whose work they say they must now advance. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today A few snow showers scattered about the area this morning, otherwise a good deal of clouds. High 9F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.. Tonight Cloudy. Low 7F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. A man has been arrested following the death of a 34-year-old farm worker in Pembrokeshire, reportedly after a telehandler incident. Dyfed-Powys Police said he was injured while working at a farm in Llangwm on 12 September. He was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries. Police confirmed that a 60-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligent manslaughter in connection with the incident. He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue. A 64-year-old man was also interviewed voluntarily. In a statement, a Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: The 34-year-old man was injured while working at a property in the Llangwm area of Pembrokeshire. "He was taken to hospital but, sadly, he later passed away. His family have been advised and are being supported by officers. The force added: A 60-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligent manslaughter. He has been released under investigation pending further police actions. "A 64-year-old man was also voluntary interviewed in connection with the incident. The tragedy comes against a wider backdrop of safety concerns in the sector. Farming remains one of the most dangerous industries in Britain. According to the Health and Safety Executive, 28 people lost their lives in agriculture across the UK in the past year, making up a disproportionate share of workplace fatalities. The death follows other recent farming tragedies, including the death of a Suffolk farmer earlier this month in a tragic machinery incident on a Woodbridge farm. Future leaders of Britains food and farming sector are being sought by McDonalds, with applications now open for its 2026/27 Progressive Young Farmers scheme. The initiative offers a year-long industry placement to full-time undergraduates in the UK and Ireland who are keen to pursue careers in agriculture, food production, or the supply chain. Successful candidates will gain hands-on experience across the entire McDonalds supply network, from the farm gate to the restaurant counter, while also learning how the wider business operates. Participants will be mentored by both a host farmer and a supplier, enabling them to specialise in sectors such as beef, pork, chicken, dairy, potatoes or eggs. Alongside technical expertise, the programme places emphasis on building vital business skills. Suppliers involved include industry names such as Pilgrims Europe, Kerry, Dawn Meats, Cranswick, McCain, Arla and OSI. Over 80 students have already completed the scheme, many of whom are now working in the agri-food sector. Ellie Wotherspoon, agriculture manager at McDonalds UK and Ireland, described the programme as providing invaluable experience and exposure to every stage of the McDonalds supply chain. She added that it gives young people a unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by those in the industry and is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for undergraduates passionate about farming, food and sustainability. Former participant Harry Morley, part of the 2024/25 intake, reflected on the impact of the placement. By exposing participants to a wide variety of people and sectors in agriculture, the PYF programme gives candidates a well-versed insight into the industry, he said. Morley explained that he not only developed new skills but also gained confidence to not be afraid to try something new, an approach he believes will serve him well in his career. The scheme is designed with flexibility in mind, allowing young farmers to shape their placement in line with their personal development goals. They are expected to spend time working on farms, in processing facilities and on specific projects, all with the aim of improving technical efficiency within the supply chain. With a strong focus on sustainability and innovation, the programme highlights regenerative agriculture, efficient production methods and the balance between commercial and environmental priorities. Applications are now open, with further details available on McDonalds Food and Farming Careers page. From succession worries to mental wellbeing, no topic was off limits as farmers gathered in Nottinghamshire for the second NFU Shed Talks LIVE an evening of candid conversation and practical insight into farming's challenges. The event, held on 18 September at a local farm, was chaired by NFU President Tom Bradshaw and focused on resilience in its many forms from business strategy and succession planning to mental health and adapting to change. Attendees heard directly from farming families who spoke openly about life on the land across generations. Richard and Bizza Walters from Warwickshire, alongside Nottinghamshire farmers Chris and Oliver Collingham, shared personal experiences of navigating succession, balancing tradition with innovation and keeping businesses viable in a changing industry. The keynote session featured Hannah Jackson better known as the Red Shepherdess who discussed her unconventional journey into farming. Coming from a non-agricultural background, she spoke about the lessons she has learned on mental wellbeing, confidence and the importance of supportive networks. What Ive learned since I first stepped into farming is that resilience is not just about pushing through its about being honest, asking for help and surrounding yourself with the people who truly understand, she said. Jackson added that Shed Talks highlighted how powerful it is when farmers open up, share their stories and realise theyre not alone. The evening concluded with the Community Cafe, where attendees were able to meet NFU policy experts, ask questions and strengthen peer-to-peer connections. Confidence levels among British farmers have been hit hard in recent years, with rising input costs, volatile markets and policy uncertainty leaving many questioning the future viability of their businesses. That backdrop made the Shed Talks event especially timely, offering both solidarity and practical ideas to help farmers plan ahead. Speaking afterwards, Tom Bradshaw stressed the importance of resilience across the sector. We know that farmer confidence is at an all-time low, and concerns around succession and the family farm tax are adding further strain. But events like Shed Talks show the strength of our community, he said. Bradshaw emphasised that when farmers come together to discuss everything from managing mental health to embracing innovation, they build the confidence to invest in the future. He also highlighted farmings vital role in food security, reminding the audience that we are an island of more than 70 million people and British farming has a vital role to play. Jackson closed with a reminder that resilience and wellbeing go hand in hand. With all the pressures facing farmers, awareness of the importance of good mental health and how we must take care of ourselves and each other is not optional it is part of what keeps us going, she said. Westminster is set to hear a radical new agenda for UK farming aiming to increase food production by 30% while halving agricultures environmental footprint by 2050. Policymakers, scientists and industry leaders will gather in November for the 30:50:50 Agri-Science Summit, hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture (APPGSTA). The event, chaired by former UK Science Minister George Freeman MP, marks the conclusion of a 10-month inquiry into how science and innovation can reshape the future of British farming. The APPGSTA says the government must adopt a bold new strategy to boost food output. Its 30:50:50 vision calls for domestic production to rise by 30% by 2050 while cutting farmings environmental footprint by half. MPs argue that Britain is well-placed to meet these targets thanks to good soils, a temperate climate, a professional farming sector and a world-class agri-science base. But they also warn of rising dependence on imports, with wheat now at its highest level in 30 years and the UK on course to produce just 15% of its vegetable oil requirements this year down from around 40% a decade ago. At the centre of the 3 November summit will be the groups final report, based on evidence from more than 100 organisations and individuals. It follows the launch of the 30:50:50 agenda earlier this year, which set out an ambitious vision for growth in food production alongside major cuts in farmings environmental footprint. The framework has been praised for offering a simple, long-term structure for future farming policy, attracting strong industry engagement and positive media coverage. In recent months, the APPG has gathered evidence from farmers, researchers and agri-science leaders across the UK. Key challenges identified include slowing productivity growth, the loss of farmland, reliance on imports and regulatory systems that are seen as over-precautionary and under-resourced. Witnesses also raised concerns that the UKs world-class research base is not being translated into practical farm-level productivity gains. George Freeman said the urgency of food security and sustainability required clear, long-term objectives to help farmers produce more from less. He argued that Britains natural advantages, from good soils to a strong farming sector, gave it the tools to lead in sustainable production. But he cautioned that UK agriculture today lacks clarity and consistency about its purpose. Current policies, he said, incentivise land being taken out of production, support lower-yielding practices and allow large-scale solar farms on productive land. "Our over-precautionary and under-resourced regulatory processes are stifling access to farming innovations which are readily available to producers elsewhere," he said. "And while our agricultural scientists remain global leaders in academic terms, their research is no longer translating into domestic productivity growth at the practical farm level. "Our dependence on imports in some sectors, including fresh produce, vegetable oil and protein crops, is at record highs. As government prepares its new farming roadmap, food strategy and land use framework, Freeman said the 30:50:50 agenda offered a coherent, outcomes-focused approach to reshaping food, agricultural and land use policies. When Surekha Yadav leaves the drivers cabin one last time on the 30th September, she will be closing a chapter that has inspired generations. She was recognised as Asias first woman train driver, and has spent over three and a half decades on the tracks, steering suburban locals to prestigious trains like the Rajdhani and the Vande Bharat. Her retirement marks the end of an era, but her journey continues to serve as an inspiration to many.surekhas entry into the world of railways was almost accidental. With a diploma in electrical engineering she had no plans to join the sector. She appeared for the railway exams with curiosity more than intent. That curiosity soon turned into a career that not only shaped her life but also reshaped how India viewed women in such demanding roles.In her long career, she had endured long working hours, unpredictable challenges, and the intense responsibility of manoeuvring locomotives that carried thousands of lives every day. Yet, she embraced the difficulties of the job with resilience. From the early days of working with basic engines to the latest modern locomotives, her career has also shows how India's railway sector has evolved over these years.Her farewell earlier this month at Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus was not just a formal send-off. It became a celebration of this history maker. Colleagues, family, and friends gathered with music, dance, and emotion, honouring the woman who broke stereotypes and carved a space for others to follow. For many of her peers, she was more than a colleague, she proved that gender was never a limitation when it came to skills.Today, as women train drivers become a familiar sight on Indian tracks, it is impossible to forget that it all began with Surekha. For Indian Railways and for the country at large, she leaves behind more than just memories. If you have ever travelled on a train helmed by Surekha, you have been part of a historic journey that laid the tracks for others to follow with confidence. We Are China Rice harvest season arrives in SW China's Yunnan People's Daily Online) 09:07, September 22, 2025 Photo shows rice fields in Babao town, Guangnan county, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo/Xiong Pingxiang) The rice harvest season has arrived in Babao town, Guangnan county, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Babao rice is one of Yunnan's six famous rice varieties. With over 1,000 years of cultivation history, it was once presented as tribute to the imperial court during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The town's favorable climate and geography support this premium rice variety, providing local Zhuang people with stable income. In 2025, Babao town cultivated 45,000 mu (3,000 hectares) of this rice variety involving 132 village groups and 15,109 farming households. The town expects to produce 22,790 tonnes of Babao rice this year, worth more than 82 million yuan ($11.5 million). The thriving rice industry has increased farmers' incomes and attracted tourists eager to experience agricultural lifestyles and enjoy the pastoral landscape. This visitor influx has boosted the rural economy, creating a model integrating agriculture with tourism to drive rural revitalization. A harvester operates in rice fields in Babao town, Guangnan county, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo/Xiong Pingxiang) Harvesters operate in rice fields in Babao town, Guangnan county, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo/Xiong Pingxiang) Harvesters operate in rice fields in Babao town, Guangnan county, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo/Xiong Pingxiang) Harvesters operate in rice fields in Babao town, Guangnan county, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo/Xiong Pingxiang) A farmer works in rice fields in Babao town, Guangnan county, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo/Xiong Pingxiang) Photo shows rice fields in Babao town, Guangnan county, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo/Xiong Pingxiang) Photo shows rice fields in Babao town, Guangnan county, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo/Xiong Pingxiang) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release Chemicals SubCategory Select Sub-Category Actor and dancer Raghav Juyal, who plays Parvaiz in the recently released web series The Ba***ds of Bollywood, has become the talking point on social media due to a viral clip. In the series, Parvaiz is depicted as a devoted fan of Emraan Hashmi, and in a memorable scene, he performs the hit track Kaho Na Kaho from Emraan's 2004 film Murder. Fans were particularly pleased as Raghav sang not only the Hindi verses but also the iconic Arabic portion of the song. The scene has been widely shared on social media, with fans praising Raghav for his comic timing and commitment to the role. The clip has quickly gone viral, making Parvaiz one of the most talked-about characters in the show. During a conversation with News18, Raghav shared his thoughts on all the praise he has been getting. He expressed that he was deeply touched by the response and conveyed his gratitude that the scene resonated so strongly with viewers. He said, Bahut accha response mila. Expect kiya tha maine bhi aur Aryan ne bhi ke aisa hoga. I really worked hard on myself and created something new. Bahut maza aaya mujhe. Emraan sir aaye aur woh scene hua, main rone bhi lag gaya scene mein! Aur woh bante bante ban gaya aisa scene, bahut hee dil se kiya maine. Agar main comedy karne ki koshish karta toh ajeeb ho jaati, lekin dil se maine aansoo nikale aur woh gaana gaya. Maine specially Arabic version gaya, I thought usse funny lagega (I got a really good response. Aryan and I both expected it would turn out this way. I really worked hard on myself and created something new. I enjoyed it a lot. When Emraan sir came and that scene happened, I actually started crying in the scene! And while doing it, the scene just shaped up like that ,I did it straight from the heart. If I had tried to do comedy, it would have felt awkward, but I genuinely shed tears and sang that song. I specifically sang the Arabic version because I thought it would come across as funny). On his interactions with Aryan Khan outside of work, Raghav mentioned that their pairing is quite ghatak. He said, Aryan aur mera dono ka dimaag thoda khurafaati hai. Dono ka dimaag mil jaata toh kuch aur hi ban jaata screen par. So we have a great camaraderie. Main aur Aryan jab milte the scene set par toh saari public jaan jaati thi kuch hone wala hai. Mera aur Aryan ka combination bahut ghatak hai! (Aryan and I both have a bit of a mischievous mind. If our minds came together, something entirely different would happen on screen. So, we have a great camaraderie. Whenever Aryan and I met on set, everyone around knew that something was about to happen. My combination with Aryan is lethal). Given the viral moment, it seems safe to say that Raghav Juyal's performance as Parvaiz is quickly becoming one of the most memorable characters in The Ba***ds of Bollywood. Also Read: Disha Patani to Star Opposite Emraan Hashmi in Awarapan 2 Tom Holland suffered an injury on the sets of his upcoming film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, while shooting for some action scenes. The incident occurred while filming at Leavesden Studios in Watford, Hertfordshire and the actor was immediately rushed to a hospital. He was diagnosed with a concussion. A woman, believed to be the stunt double, was also hospitalised. It is being reported that Tom will not be returning to filming immediately. However, the good news is that the actor's absence is not expected to significantly delay the process and is unlikely to impact the release date. The producers are expected to have a meeting to discuss the delays and the schedule. As per a source quoted by Deadline, Tom Holland will take a break from filming out of precaution, but is expected to return in a few days. Meanwhile, filming had officially begun on August 1 in Glasgow's Bothwell Street. The set decorations were designed to resemble classic New York City streets, complete with yellow taxis, fire trucks, and exciting chase sequences. The decision to film in actual locations, a contrast to the extensive use of green screen technology in previous films, suggests a more authentic and raw approach to filmmaking. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is expected to offer a street-level narrative and a new chapter within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Zendaya will reprise her role as MJ, with new cast members including Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal as Punisher, and Mark Ruffalo as Hulk. The film is currently slated for release on July 31, 2026. Kantara Chapter 1 trailer promises to celebrate folklore, faith, and cinematic excellence Mythic storytelling Rishab Shetty returns to his role as fierce Naga Sadhu, a warrior-mystic who bridges the gap between mortals and the divine Rishabh Shetty looks classic The trailer of one of the most anticipated films is finally out! Going by the striking visuals, the Rishab Shetty-starrer is sure to promise thrills and a great cinematic experience. While Prabhas released the Telugu version of the trailer, Hrithik Roshan, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Sivakarthikeyan released it Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil respectively.What captured instantly in the three-minute trailer were the dramatic visuals and mythic storytelling. The trailer opens with a young Shiva, left puzzled by the mysterious disappearance of his father during a Daiva Kola/Bhuta Kola ritual in a forest. More characters from the past are introduced while bringing up the good vs evil theme. And then the narrative moves on to the heroic exploits of Shivas ancestors, who fought oppression and tyranny. The trailer is a blend of nature, folklore and divine elements. The film clearly reflects an anecdote revolving around magic and tradition. The mysterious characters and their deep emotions draw the audience into the story. The trailer is a total departure when it comes to divine elements from what we have seen in Kantara. But we believe the filmmakers have kept a few surprises in the film and saved the best for the last.Rishabh Shetty showcases his strength as an actor and director. Perhaps, no one could have pulled off the dual role with such intensity and command. He looks classic. Gulshan Devaiah is seen as a ruthless prince while Rukmini Vasanth plays a princess whose romance with Shivas forebear disrupts a carefully maintained hierarchy. All in all, the film promises to celebrate folklore, faith, and cinematic excellence. The rustic action adventure delves deeper into the folklore and legends that made the original film a cultural phenomenon. Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 is scheduled for a worldwide release on October 2. Pawan Kalyan plays a gangster in OG Technical snag delays trailer Pawan Kalyan at the OG event OG trailer leaked online Fans of Pawan Kalyan were a disappointed lot! While they were glad to see him in his character Ojhas Gambheera (OG) costumes at the OG concert in Hyderabad on Sunday, they were livid after the filmmakers havent released the trailer on social media. Even while Pawan kept asking director Sujeeth on stage to unveil the trailer, his efforts went in vain.OG trailer was supposed to be released at 10 AM on Sunday morning. Just when everyone was waiting for the trailer to explode, a couple of hours before, filmmakers announced that it would be released during the OG concert later in the day. But at the event, the filmmakers could only manage to screen the trailer and that too on Pawans insistence. Work on a few specific effect shots in Digital Intermediary (DI) in the films postproduction work caused the delay in trailer release. Pawan admittedly said, There is still a DI issue with the trailer it seems, but I said its ok my fans can understand and imagine the essence of it even though the trailer doesnt have any DI. I am forcing the makers to play the trailer here for you.With just three days for release, fans have expressed huge disappointment over the entire trailer delay episode. Whats shocking to see is theres no clarity over the trailer release even on Monday morning. What was slated to be a straightforward release spiralled into a controversy and further tested the patience of Pawan Kalyan fans. Angry fans took to social media and expressed their anguish and trolled the filmmakers for the way they handled the issue. Meanwhile, some miscreants have put up OG trailer on social media. Soon filmmakers appealed to everyone to delete the trailer, and that they are on the cusp of releasing the original one. Pawan Kalyan dressed in an all-black ensemble at the OG concert I forgot that I am Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan heaps praise on director Sujeeth at the OG concert Pawan Kalyan sings on stage The OG Concert (aka pre-release event) held in Hyderabad on Sunday night was a glitzy affair! Fans of Pawan Kalyan flocked in large numbers to get a glimpse of their favourite actor. What drew everyones attention was Pawans attire at the event. The actor dressed in his character (Ojhas Gambheera) in the film, and surprised everyone. Its the first time that he came to a filmy event in such a style.Pawan Kalyan attended the event in an all-black ensemble, with the costumes signifying his character in They Call Him OG. Fans went berserk when they saw Pawan in such an attire, and his gesture was certainly one of biggest surprises of the night. I never attended any event in my film costumes, but I did it for the first time only for my fans, said Pawan. Director Sujeeth pulled me into the world of OG so much that I forgot that I am Deputy Chief Minister and wielded the sword here at the event, Pawan joked, adding that he was impressed with Sujeeths style of filmmaking. The way he narrates the story may be short but he executes it effectively. The stylized action sequences is proof enough. Working for the film gave me the kind of high I experienced during Khushi (2001).Music composer Thaman and his team lit up the crowd with a spectacular live performance. But the biggest highlight of the evening came when Pawan Kalyan himself sang, Washi Yo Washi track live on stage, much to the fans thrill. Washi Yo Washi is actually a Japanese haiku. I dont know Japanese, but I learned the language for this song, shared the actor. Emraan Hashmi, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Shriya Reddy, Arjun Das and DVV Danayya also attended the event. They Call Him OG is set for a release on September 25, 2025. SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / September 21, 2025 / Ongoing flight operations of the new YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft helped General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., set a new company record this week, pushing past a total of 9 million flight hours. YFQ-42A GA-ASI has been tracking total flight hours across its fleet of unmanned aerial systems since the company's inception 33 years ago. Its line of UAS includes iconic aircraft such as the Predator, Reaper, Gray Eagle, Avenger, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian "What an amazing moment," said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. "Having spent so much time supporting the U.S. military and its allies around the world with our other aircraft, it seems fitting that flight testing our new unmanned fighter jet for the U.S. Air Force was what helped bring us past this milestone as we look ahead to a program that will change air dominance again." YFQ-42A's ongoing flights are only part of GA-ASI's unmanned operations. At any point in time, as many as 50 GA-ASI aircraft are in flight supporting global security for U.S. and allied users worldwide. GA-ASI's aircraft have been a mainstay for the United States, allies and partners since the first flight of what was then called the RQ-1 Predator on July 3, 1994. The U.S. Air Force changed the designation to MQ-1 Predator in 2002. Other aircraft, including the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-9A Reaper, and MQ-20 Avenger, followed as GA-ASI drove forward the capabilities and employment of uncrewed aircraft. More recently, GA-ASI has begun deliveries of its new MQ-9B SkyGuardians and SeaGuardians. MQ-9B is the world's most advanced Remotely Piloted Aircraft System, delivering exceptionally long endurance and range - with automatic takeoff and landing under pole-to-pole satellite-only control - and will be able to operate in unsegregated airspace using the GA-ASI-developed Detect and Avoid system. GA-ASI has made deliveries to the U.K.'s Royal Air Force (Protector) and the Belgian Air Force, and are fulfilling orders from Canada, Denmark, Poland, Japan, Taiwan, India, and the U.S. Air Force in support of the Special Operations Command. MQ-9B has also supported various U.S. Navy exercises, including Northern Edge, Integrated Battle Problem, and Group Sail. Meanwhile the company has been supporting the development of new aircraft and concepts of operation for the future of airpower. GA-ASI built and flies the XQ-67A Off Board Sensing Station - its second uncrewed combat jet - for the U.S. Air Force Research Lab. Just last month, GA-ASI announced the start of flight testing for its third, the new YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft. The new unmanned fighter jet has been designed and developed by GA-ASI and is built for rapid production, in large quantities, at an affordable price. About GA-ASI General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is the world's foremost builder of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Logging more than 9 million flight hours, the Predator line of UAS has flown for over 30 years and includes MQ-9A Reaper, MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-20 Avenger, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian. The company is dedicated to providing long-endurance, multi-mission solutions that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike. For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com. Avenger, EagleEye, Gray Eagle, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries. # # # Contact Information GA-ASI Media Relations asi-mediarelations@ga-asi.com (858) 524-8101 SOURCE: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/aerospace-and-defense/ga-asi-line-of-uas-passes-9-million-flight-hours-1076207 Interview with Dariusz Goszczynski, President of the Board of the National Poultry Council -Chamber of Commerce (KRD-IG) in Poland SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the European Union co-financed information and promotion campaign "European poultry - From our farms to your tables", consumers and business partners in South Korea have the opportunity to learn more about the defining qualities of poultry meat and products from the European Union: safety, high quality, a strong commitment to animal welfare, and sustainable production. In the following interview, Dariusz Goszczynski, President of the Board of the National Poultry Council - Chamber of Commerce (KRD-IG) in Poland, explains why European poultry is highly regarded worldwide and what prospects for cooperation are opening up in the South Korean market. What makes European poultry stand out from global competition? The key factors are competitiveness and efficiency. The European poultry sector, including Poland, is based on modern technologies that not only improve efficiency but, above all, guarantee high quality. This gives us a clear advantage in international markets. It is worth noting that EU poultry - including Polish poultry - is highly regarded and has become a recognizable brand, associated worldwide with safety and excellence. Koreans value food quality and safety. How does the European poultry production system meet these expectations? Europe has developed one of the most stringent control systems in the world. Producers operate under certifications such as HACCP, GMP/GHP, IFS Food/BRC, and ISO 22000, all of which guarantee a high level of food safety. This provides consumers with confidence that the product arriving on their table is both safe and produced in line with high standards. What standards of animal welfare and sustainable production are applied in Europe? Across the European Union, including Poland, continuous veterinary supervision is mandatory, ensuring full compliance with EU and international requirements. In addition, poultry producers invest in modern laboratories and monitoring systems that allow for precise testing and rapid detection of potential risks. This commitment distinguishes us from global competitors and responds to growing consumer expectations regarding food safety, animal welfare, and sustainable production. European poultry is gaining recognition in international markets, including South Korea. What, in your opinion, drives this popularity? The most important factor is trust. Consumers and business partners value the fact that EU poultry undergoes multi-level quality control. This builds a strong reputation for European production worldwide. South Korea is no exception - consumers here place particular emphasis on food safety, and we are fully prepared to meet those expectations. What are the prospects for cooperation between European exporters and partners in South Korea? We look forward to the full market opening of the South Korean market and to building effective trade partnerships. We are confident that, thanks to mutual trust and high production standards, European poultry will continue to attract a growing audience in South Korea. The European poultry industry, including Poland, is ready to meet these expectations. More information: www.eupoultry.eu www.eupoultry.eu Media inquiries: pressoffice@eupoultry.eu Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2776508/President_of_the_Board_of_the_National_Poultry_Council.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2736266/5517810/EUPOULTRY_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/european-poultry--quality-and-trust-for-consumers-in-south-korea-302562399.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 22, 2025) - Silver One Resources Inc. (TSXV: SVE) (OTCQX: SLVRF) (FSE: BRK1) ("Silver One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the initiation of ground Induced Polarization (IP) and Magnetotelluric (MT) geophysical surveys on its 100% owned Phoenix Silver project in Arizona. Both IP and MT are effective electrical geophysical methods useful to detect subsurface metallic minerals, especially disseminated sulfides and structures potentially associated with mineralization. The survey is being conducted by Zonge International, Inc. and is designed to test porphyry copper targets on the southern portion of Phoenix Silver and to guide future drilling. The field work is expected to be completed in November with final interpretative report to follow. These copper targets are strategically located along the north-eastern extension of the prolific Miami-Inspiration copper belt. This belt hosts significant deposits and mines such as Rio Tinto-BHP's Resolution deposit to the southwest. Freeport McMoran's Miami and Copper City complexes and BHP's more recent porphyry copper discovery (Ocelot) are on the northeast part of the belt. Miami-Copper City and Ocelot are 4 km and 3 km to the southwest of Phoenix Silver respectively (See news releases of February 20, 2025, July 14, 2025, and Figure 1). Figure 1: Phoenix Silver location map showing copper belts of the Miami-Globe porphyry copper district, the location of major mines including the Miami-Inspiration mining complex, and BHP's porphyry copper discovery area. Blue contours are northeast-oriented regional magnetic (MVI - contour interval 0.0002 SI) anomalies which form a spatially coincident signature of the mineral belts of the Miami-Globe copper district. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4730/267325_e856d92fd45548f5_001full.jpg The survey is being conducted over the southern portion of Phoenix Silver where a ZTEM airborne electromagnetic survey (see news release of July 14, 2025, and Figure 2) outlined two priority geophysical anomalies that are coincidental with hydrothermal alteration and anomalous select rock samples collected from veins, breccia and alteration zones. The select rock samples returned copper and silver values up to 7.7% copper and 1,240 g/t silver (see Company news release of June 6, 2024). The IP survey is designed to give better definition to potential mineralized targets at depth. Silver Exploration Activities at Phoenix Silver The company continues to advance its silver exploration activities, with a particular focus on the 417 area and the northeast-trending train of silver nuggets (Nuggets North target) located in the northern part of the Phoenix Silver property (See Figure 2). A detailed gravity survey is planned over the 417 area, which was drilled in 2024. This survey will potentially aid in targeting zones of significant native or sulphide silver mineralization (see Company's news release of February 24, 2025) and assist in prioritizing future drill targets. At the Nuggets North area, the Company plans to conduct geological mapping, surface sampling, and trenching, subject to permitting by the U.S. Forest Service. Silver One may also conduct detailed gravity over the Nuggets North area if the survey is successful at 417. Figure 2: Copper targets on 2D ZTEM resistivity inversion 600 m depth map. The IP program consists of 70 line-km in 13 parallel lines (average line spacing 750 m) oriented northwest, distributed over the Defiance and QR targets, and extending to the eastern boundary of the property. The blue dashed lines represent the northeast oriented lineaments which are part of the northeast extension of the Globe-Miami-Inspiration porphyry belt. Coloured dots represent copper values of selected rock samples. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4730/267325_e856d92fd45548f5_002full.jpg Candelaria Project Update The Company continues to advance its Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for its Candelaria Project. The study is being led by Kappes Cassiday & Associates, in collaboration with Independent Mining Consultants, Inc. (IMC), and Paterson & Cooke. The completion of the PEA is anticipated by year-end 2025. Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Robert M. Cann, P. Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and an independent consultant to the Company. About Silver One Silver One is focused on the exploration and development of quality silver projects. The Company holds a 100% interest in its flagship project, the past-producing Candelaria Mine located in Nevada. Potential reprocessing of silver from the historic leach pads at Candelaria provides an opportunity for possible near-term production. Additional opportunities lie in previously identified high-grade silver intercepts down-dip and potentially increasing the substantive silver mineralization along-strike from the two past-producing open pits. The Company owns 636 lode claims and five patented claims on its Cherokee project located in Lincoln County, Nevada, host to multiple silver-copper-gold vein systems, traced to date for over 11 km along-strike. Silver One also owns a 100% interest in the Silver Phoenix Project. The Silver Phoenix Project is a very high-grade native silver prospect that lies within the "Arizona Silver Belt", immediately adjacent to the prolific copper producing area of Globe, Arizona. Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Silver One cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Silver One's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Silver One's limited operating history, ability to obtain sufficient financing to carry out its exploration and development objectives on its mineral properties, obtaining the necessary permits to carry out its activities and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Silver One undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/267325 SOURCE: Silver One Resources Inc. Lockton Re, a leading global reinsurance broker, is the first reinsurance broker in the industry to adopt Exposure Manager (XM), CyberCube's newly launched product, revolutionizing the way (re)insurance companies assess risk and evaluate the health of cyber portfolios. The development partnership has provided valuable insights into the deployment of this new software. CyberCube, the global leader in cyber risk analytics, announced the launch of XM earlier this month, giving the (re)insurance ecosystem a powerful new way to assess the risk quality of their cyber portfolios with greater clarity and confidence. (Re)insurance companies have long understood how to manage complex portfolios, and XM enhances that expertise by translating granular, single-risk metrics into strategic, portfolio-level insights. By moving toward a quantitative approach to cyber risk quality, XM equips reinsurers to underwrite with greater confidence, insurers to audit and assess their portfolio strategy, and reinsurance brokers to better inform and advise all parties in a transaction, helping to drive a more sustainable cyber market. Lockton Re's adoption of XM underscores the broker's commitment to delivering data-informed insights and sustainable solutions for its clients. As XM presents a unifying view of client portfolios, Lockton Re will be able to efficiently benchmark, advise, and position its clients in the appropriate light, facilitating reinsurance transactions and strategic advisory. "We're excited to be working with CyberCube on the Exposure Manager platform," said Oli Brew, head of Lockton Re's Cyber Centre of Excellence. "XM allows us to dive deeper into the cyber hygiene of client portfolios, identify blind spots, and bring a level of analytical rigor that the cyber market has long needed. Portfolio steering is significantly enhanced by the use of XM." John Anderson, Senior Principal Product Manager at CyberCube, added: "XM was built with and for industry leaders like Lockton Re, who are pushing for clarity and control in an increasingly complex cyber risk landscape. We're thrilled to support Lockton Re as it leads the market toward a more transparent, data-centric future in cyber risk and exposure management." More information about XM can be found at https://www.cybcube.com/exposure-manager. About CyberCube CyberCube is the leading provider of software-as-a-service cyber risk analytics to quantify cyber risk in financial terms. Driven by data and informed by insight, we have harnessed the power of artificial intelligence to supplement our multi-disciplinary team. Our clients rely on our solutions to make informed decisions about managing and transferring cyber risks. We unpack complex cyber threats into clear, actionable strategies, translating cyber risk into financial impact on businesses, markets, and society as a whole. The CyberCube platform was established in 2015 within Symantec and now operates as a standalone company. Our models are built on an unparalleled ecosystem of data and validated by extensive model calibration, internally and externally. CyberCube is the leader in cyber risk quantification for the insurance industry, serving over 100 insurance institutions globally. The company's investors include Forgepoint Capital, HSCM Bermuda and Morgan Stanley Tactical Value. About Lockton Re Lockton Re, the reinsurance business of Lockton, helps businesses understand, mitigate, and capitalize on risk. With over 500 colleagues in 23 locations globally, the business is continuing to grow, pushing the reinsurance industry forward with smarter solutions that leverage new technologies-delivered by people empowered to do what's right for clients. Find out more: https://www.locktonre.com LinkedIn Vimeo Lockton Re SAGE is Lockton Re's propriety analytics tool and has been awarded two US Patents, please click here for further details: Sage Patents Lockton View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250922288578/en/ Contacts: For media enquiries, please contact: CyberCube: Yvette Essen, Head of Communications Market Engagement, yvettee@cybcube.com, +44 (0)7956 877 206 For further information, please contact: Isabella Gaster Global Head of Marketing, Lockton Re Direct Tel: +44 (0)7795 400981 Email: Isabella.Gaster@Lockton.com New kit enables rapid, accurate titre measurement across broad range of IgG subclasses and species on Amperia platform Abselion, a pioneering life sciences technology company focused on simplifying biomolecule quantification, today announced the launch of its Protein G Total Antibody Quantification Kit. The new kit is designed for use with the company's Amperia benchtop platform and complements the existing Protein A-based format, enabling researchers to quantify a broader range of antibody isotypes and species using the same protocol-guided, user-friendly workflow and highly sensitive electrochemical readout. Abselion's extended antibody quantification offering reflects continued investment in expanding the capabilities of its flexible Amperia platform to help streamline decision-making and optimise bioprocess workflows for scientists working across diverse antibody discovery and development settings. Abselion's Amperia benchtop platform is a simple-to-use solution for rapid and accurate automated quantification of a range of biomolecules, without optics or fluidics. The Protein G Total Antibody Quantification Kit is supplied in a ready-to-use format, including Protein G-coated sensor strips, assay plates, detection reagents, and assay buffers. The kit is suitable for use with purified or partially purified antibody samples in research and process development settings. Combined with Amperia's intuitive software and step-by-step guidance, it allows researchers to generate reliable antibody titre data without the need for complex setup or specialised training. The assay uses sensor strips pre-coated with Protein G, enabling direct capture of antibodies from a sample. After incubation, a labelled detection molecule binds to any remaining unoccupied Fc-binding sites on the sensor. The assay takes place directly on the sensor tip, where the bound analyte triggers an electrical signal, which is read instantaneously by Amperia. As antibody concentration increases, fewer sites are available for detection, resulting in a lower signal. This inverse occupancy format produces a signal that is inversely proportional to antibody concentration. Current quantitative methods, such as bio-layer interferometry and surface plasmon resonance, are often limited to centralised analytical laboratories due to their cost and complexity of operation. This can lead to analytical delays and requirements for sample storage. Abselion'sAmperia system offers a robust, cost-effective, automated alternative for efficient, accurate antibody titre measurement. By introducing a Protein G-based option, users working with humanised antibodies, rodent IgGs, or engineered variants can now run reliable titre measurements without the need for revalidating or redesigning their assay setup. Dr Ruizhi Wang, CEO and Founder, Abselion, said: "Antibody-based research and development often involves a wide variety of formats, subclasses, and species. Having the flexibility to choose the most appropriate assay without adjusting workflows can simplify decision-making and improve efficiency. This launch reflects Abselion's commitment to evolving its platform in response to real-world research needs. Expanding our antibody quantification offering with Protein G allows us to better support scientists working with a broader range of antibody formats, and reflects our ongoing focus on making practical, application-driven tools more accessible. For further information about Abselion's Protein G Total Antibody Quantification Kit, please visit: https://www.abselion.com/assay-kits or download the application note "Supporting Antibody Quantification in Biologic Development". Meet the Abselion team at Festival of Biologics from 30 Sep-02 Oct in Basel, Switzerland (Booth 240) and ELRIG Drug Discovery 2025 from 21-22 Oct in Liverpool, UK (Booth H06) to learn more. Please contact Codon Communications for high-resolution images. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250922705116/en/ Contacts: Codon Communications Dr Michelle Ricketts Tel: +44 7789 053885 Email: michelle.ricketts@codoncommunications.com Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 22, 2025) - F4 Uranium Corp. (TSXV:FFU) (OTCQB: FFUCF) (the "Company" or "F4") is pleased to announce it has identified three new conductive trends on the Wales Lake West Property (see Figure 1) from the 1,031 km of airborne VTEMTMPlus surveying completed at its Wales Lake Project, and deeper interpretation of the data is in progress. The project is in the western Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan and located approximately 20 km southwest of Paladin's Triple R uranium deposit, and 28 km southwest of Nexgen Energy's Arrow deposit. It lies southwest of multiple conductive corridors, including the Dirkson as well as the Saloon Trend, host to both Nexgen Energy's PCE uranium occurrence and Paladin Energy's recently discovered Saloon East (see Figure 1). Sam Hartmann P.Geo, President and COO, commented: "Now with complete airborne VTEM coverage over the entire project we can continue our exploration process; selecting areas of enhanced conductivity in favorable areas, ground truthing them with ground EM and then drill testing. This process has already led to the intersection of graphitic structures during our summer drill program (see news release August 5, 2025), and we look forward to repeating this on the southern portion of the Wales West Property where we see several trends of interest." Figure 1. Updated VTEM coverage at Wales Lake Project 2025 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10832/267303_0c76b3e3e4f2e9be_002full.jpg About the Wales Lake Project: F4 Uranium's 40,113-hectare Wales Lake Project consists of the Wales Lake East and Wales Lake West properties, both 100% owned, permitted and drill ready with strong airborne and ground conductor targets. Significantly underexplored with only two historic drillholes, the Wales Lake Project is located just outside of the Southwestern Athabasca Basin within 25km of Paladin's Triple R and Nexgen Energy's Arrow deposits. A series of recent discoveries including F3 Uranium's JR and Tetra Zones, Nexgen Energy's PCE occurrence, and Paladin Energy's Saloon area further highlight the uranium discovery potential near the Southwestern Athabasca Basin. Wales Lake is accessed by Provincial Highway 955, which transects the property. Qualified Person: The scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and approved on behalf of the company by Sam Hartmann, P.Geo., President & COO of F4 Uranium Corp, a Qualified Person. Mr. Hartmann has reviewed and approved the data disclosed. This news release also refers to neighboring properties in which F4 Uranium has no interest, and the Qualified Person has been unable to verify the information from those properties. Mineralization on those neighboring properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Wales Lake Project. For additional information on the Wales Lake Project, please refer to the reports titled "Technical Report for the Wales Lake West Property, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada" dated February 3, 2025 and "Technical Report for the Wales Lake East Property, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada" dated May 12, 2025, both available at www.sedarplus.ca, and prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. About F4 Uranium Corp.: F4 Uranium is a Canadian uranium exploration company focused on the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan, and the latest uranium explorer following a lineage of discovery success lead by the same team. The project portfolio includes 17 wholly owned properties totaling roughly 157,000 ha, many of which are near uranium deposits including Paladin's Triple R, Nexgen Energy's Arrow and IsoEnergy's Hurricane projects. The assets were spun out of F3 Uranium in 2024, where the technical and management team made their third, and more recently fourth uranium discoveries at Patterson Lake North and Broach Lake. F4's core focus will be split between the west and east sides of the Athabasca Basin as the company is establishing itself as an explorer and project generator providing shareholders renewed exposure at an early stage. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Ray Ashley" Raymond Ashley, CEO F4 Uranium Corp. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the suitability of the Properties for mining exploration, future payments, issuance of shares and work commitment funds, entry into of a definitive option agreement respecting the Properties, are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange have not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept 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/267303 SOURCE: F4 Uranium Corp. HSINCHU, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Semiconductors are Taiwan's key industry, with measurement standards serving as the "common language" for industrial development and advanced manufacturing. Following the establishment of ITRI's UK Office in May and its partnership with the Catapult Network, Taiwan-UK relations deepened further with a cooperation agreement between ITRI and the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL). The agreement will enable joint research, personnel exchanges, and co-development of emerging technologies in semiconductor measurement standards, aiming to secure Taiwan-UK leadership in international standards while reducing industry costs and enhancing competitiveness. ITRI President Edwin Liu emphasized that the UK's leadership in fundamental science, green economy, and digital transformation complements Taiwan's strengths in semiconductors, ICT, and applied technology commercialization. "Building on existing collaborations with Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult (CSA Catapult) and Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (ORE Catapult) in compound semiconductors and energy, the new partnership with NPL will advance pre-standardization research in semiconductors, advanced materials, and key measurement technologies," he said. "The collaboration will promote global measurement standard consistency through technical exchanges, inter-laboratory comparisons, standard setting, and personnel training, connecting Taiwan-UK research resources to help industries jointly explore global markets." Deputy Director-General June-Chieh Lai of the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, noted that ITRI operates Taiwan's National Measurement Laboratory (NML), which maintains the nation's highest measurement standards. These services underpin a testing market valued at over NT$20 billion annually. Over the years, ITRI and NPL have collaborated closely to harmonize their national quality systems with international standards. Looking ahead, this renewed partnership is set to drive fresh momentum in industrial innovation. Lai indicated that both NML and NPL are signatories to the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement, which allows calibrations performed in one country to be recognized globally. This framework helps industries reduce duplicate testing costs for exports, lower technical trade barriers, and enhance product competitiveness in international markets. The ITRI-NPL collaboration in semiconductors, AI, and advanced materials will accelerate standardization in emerging industries and the commercialization of new semiconductor technologies, strengthening Taiwan's leading position in the global high-tech supply chain. NPL is a world-class metrology and applied physics research institution that maintains the UK's national measurement standards and is deeply involved in establishing international metrology systems. It has achieved many important international results, including the development of the world's ultra-high-precision atomic clocks, the establishment of international nanoscale measurement standards, and its designation as an international benchmark in climate monitoring and medical imaging metrology, thereby playing a key role in the development of the global metrology field. UK National Technology Adviser Dave Smith stated that the semiconductor industry is at the core of global progress, and Taiwan and the UK already have a solid foundation of scientific research cooperation. This collaboration in semiconductor metrology will enable both sides to leverage their respective advantages to become key developers of international semiconductor measurement standards, establishing a successful model of cross-border cooperation and jointly shaping the future of global technology. From driving next-generation AI systems to achieving flexible supply chains and secure communications, Taiwan has a complete semiconductor supply chain and the most advanced technology. At the same time, the UK focuses on research and development, design, and intellectual property rights. The UK government also announced its Modern Industrial Strategy in June 2025, designating semiconductors as one of the nation's priority "frontier technologies" with high potential for economic growth. The strategy outlines a comprehensive approach to accelerating industrial development while addressing global challenges such as talent shortages and supply chain resilience. About ITRI Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is one of the world's leading technology R&D institutions aiming to innovate a better future for society. Founded in 1973, ITRI has played a vital role in transforming Taiwan's industries from labor-intensive into innovation-driven. To address market needs and global trends, it has launched its 2035 Technology Strategy and Roadmap that focuses on innovation development in Smart Living, Quality Health, Sustainable Environment, and Resilient Society. Over the years, ITRI has been dedicated to incubating startups and spinoffs, including well-known names such as UMC and TSMC. In addition to its headquarters in Taiwan, ITRI has branch offices in the U.S., Germany, the UK, Japan, and Thailand in an effort to extend its R&D scope and promote international cooperation across the globe. For more information, please visit https://www.itri.org/eng. Media Contact Annie Wu Office of Marketing Communications, ITRI +886-3-591-8406 aiyunwu@itri.org.tw Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2778289/Photo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1716891/ITRI_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/itri-and-the-uks-national-physical-laboratory-partner-on-semiconductor-standards-302562755.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / September 22, 2025 / On August 25, 2025, six employees from Monroe Drilling Operations, LLC were injured while plugging an orphan well in Independence Township, Washington County, Ohio. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), natural gas and crude oil unexpectedly surfaced, ignited, and caused an explosion. Fire crews from Reno Volunteer Fire Department and six surrounding departments responded to the blaze deep within Wayne National Forest. Reaching the remote site required off-road vehicles and portable pumps to transport water. Although the fire was contained within an hour, plugging equipment and surrounding trees were damaged. Fortunately, there was no broader public risk. The injured workers were transported to hospitals, with four airlifted to specialized facilities. ODNR's Emergency Operations and Response team continues investigating. Local fire chief Jon Bradford noted that while orphan wells are common in the region, this was the first explosion his team had encountered. He stressed the need for additional training, equipment, and funding to better prepare emergency responders as Ohio accelerates its well plugging program. Environmental advocates echoed these concerns. Jesse Velazquez of the Ohio Environmental Council called the incident "a sobering reminder" of the risks posed by the tens of thousands of uncapped wells across the state. The Hazards of Plugging Orphan Wells Plugging orphan wells is essential to reduce methane emissions, protecting groundwater, and preventing surface spills. But the process carries significant risks, especially when well records are incomplete, or infrastructure is degraded. Common hazards include: Unexpected gas releases - Pressurized methane or volatile hydrocarbons can escape during plugging, creating fire and explosion risks. Hydrocarbon migration - Crude oil and brine may leak into surrounding soils or aquifers if barriers fail. Remote access challenges - Isolated sites can delay emergency response and limit firefighting or medical support. Aging infrastructure - Many orphan wells date back decades, with deteriorated casing and cement that complicate sealing efforts. Best Practices for Safer Plugging Operations As federal and state orphan well programs expand, operators and regulators are advancing safety through: Comprehensive site assessments with gas monitoring and subsurface evaluations prior to mobilizing plugging equipment. Emergency preparedness planning, including joint drills with local fire departments. Monitoring technologies to detect gas migration or abnormal pressures early. Specialized training for plugging crews and first responders on well control and hazardous materials handling. Investments in equipment such as portable water supplies, PPE, and air monitoring equipment. Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Preparedness Beyond technical hazards, robust HSE systems are essential for protecting workers and communities. Key elements include: Work Permits - A Permit to Work (PTW) System ensures risks are reviewed and controls in place before any task begins. Job Safety Analysis (JSA) - Breaking down tasks to identify hazards and establish safe procedures, updated daily. Hazard Identification (HazID) - Ongoing hazard spotting by supervisors and crews. Stop Work Authority (SWA) - Empowering workers to halt operations immediately if unsafe conditions arise. Management Support - Leadership commitment to safety resourcing, training, and digital systems that make processes efficient and effective. A Permit to Work System in particular enhances accountability by requiring safety review before planning or execution. This structured approach helps prevent incidents like the Wayne National Forest explosion. How Antea Group Supports Safer Well Site Operations At Antea Group, we partner with operators and regulators to bring real-time oversight, risk management, and documentation discipline to orphan well plugging projects. Our current scope includes: Health and Safety Oversight - Continuous air monitoring for Lower Explosive Limit (%LEL methane-calibrated), oxygen (O2), total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and carbon monoxide (CO) within work zones. Perimeter monitoring is conducted regularly, with additional hourly checks when sensitive receptors (e.g., schools, businesses) are nearby. Environmental Oversight - Ensuring compliance with best management practices, including silt fence maintenance, orderly sites, and proper waste containerization to ensure corrective measures are in place in an unsuspected release occurs. Work Scope Documentation - Recording daily activities such as depths achieved, casing pulled, cement volumes used, and plug intervals set, ensuring accountability, quality, and regulatory compliance. By combining technical expertise, real-time monitoring, and structured documentation, Antea Group helps clients manage the complex health, safety, and environmental risks associated with plugging orphan wells. Our approach reduces uncertainty, builds trust with regulators and communities, and most importantly, helps protect the workers and environments where this critical work takes place. If your organization is navigating orphan well plugging or other high-risk field operations, Antea Group can help ensure the work is done safely, responsibly, and with confidence. Reach out to our team today! View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Antea Group on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Antea Group Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/antea-group Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Antea Group View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/the-hidden-dangers-of-plugging-orphan-wells-lessons-from-ohio-1076611 ISSAQUAH (dpa-AFX) - Western United Fish Co., dba Annasea Foods Group, is recalling around 3,300 pounds of Kirkland Signature Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke sold at Costco stores due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The recall was initiated after the company was notified by its green onion supplier of a positive Listeria monocytogenes test in the green onions, which were used exclusively in the Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke on September 17. The Washington State -based ompany is working with the supplier to determine the root cause. The recalled Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke involves item number 17193. The recalled product is packed in a clear plastic clamshell container and has a brand label with the Pack Date of September 18 and Sell By Date of September 22. The product was sold at the deli section of Costco Warehouse stores in around 33 states. These include Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause severe and potentially fatal infections in young children, elderly individuals, and those with compromised immune systems. In healthy individuals, infection may result in temporary symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, muscle stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Among pregnant women, Listeria infection can lead to serious complications. However, there were no illnesses reported to date. The company urged consumers not to consume the affected product, to dispose of it immediately, and to visit their local Costco for a full refund. In recent recalls, New Jersey-based LLK Trading Inc. in mid-July recalled 200-gram packages of Needle Mushrooms due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. In early July, Kraft Heinz Foods Co. called back around 367,812 pounds of fully cooked turkey bacon products, citing potential adulteration with Listeria monocytogenes. For More Such Health News, visit rttnews.com 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. Social commerce company is setting new trends to mark its 40th anniversary and the anniversary of its perfume range Choosing a favourite perfume is a highly personal decision for many people. Because a fragrance is more than just a scent. It expresses your style, your attitude to life and stirs up emotions in yourself and in the people around you. Since its foundation in 1985, LR Health Beauty has been aware of the importance and potential of a successful fragrance range. This is because one of the key advantages of direct sales is the personal advice provided to customers by independent LR sales partners. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250922789464/en/ LR sets new standards in the fragrance sector with the launch of two new fragrance collections "LR has continuously developed the fragrance portfolio based on direct feedback from our sales partners, our wealth of experience and the latest scientific findings. To mark the 40th anniversary of LR, we have now added the crowning glory to this segment," says Jorg Korfer, CEO of the LR Group. Scientifically proven effect: 18 fragrances for 18 different moods LR's new fragrance line LR MOOD INFUSION, comprises eleven women's and seven men's fragrances, and harnesses the power of mood technology to intensify emotions and enhance personal moods. "Fragrance mood technology is a patented neuroscientific study that proves that Mood Infusion activates neural markers and specifically influences emotions," states Dr Christian Role, Vice President Research, Development Quality at LR. Each EDP in this collection has a unique effect from refreshing and calming to stimulating. "During the development phase we placed great emphasis on improving the formulas to reflect the fragrances of our previous top-selling perfumes," says Role, highlighting that LR has taken the preferences of its loyal regular customers into account. In addition to an intense fragrance experience, the packaging of the new line also impresses with its modern design featuring individual colours, a magnetic cap and, last but not least, a high-quality spray head for excellent fragrance diffusion. Highest quality and intensity combined in an ultimate luxury line Glamour, prestige, strength and sensuality are embodied in the four fragrances of the LR ICONIC ELIXIRS collection. The two women's and two men's fragrances envelop the senses like liquid gold which give the wearer a fabulous glow. Carefully selected ingredients such as Egyptian jasmine and Brazilian tonka bean guarantee the unique intensity of these exquisite high-end perfumes. "Our LR ICONIC ELIXIRS line unleashes the magic of extremely rare and valuable essences. For example, 800 kilograms of Egyptian jasmine flowers one of the most precious flowers in the world are required to produce 1 kilogram of extract. The result: an expressive and long-lasting fragrance experience with a very special charisma that goes beyond the ordinary," says Role. The luxurious packaging rounds off the sumptuous presentation of the four fragrances and perfectly suits the taste of true connoisseurs. "I am delighted with the reorientation of our fragrance segment. The simplification of the range provides greater clarity, and the improved quality significantly enhances product performance, as clearly demonstrated by an initial pre-test with selected sales partners," states Korfer. Both collections are "Made in Germany" and were developed in collaboration with renowned fragrance houses. LR Group Under the motto "More quality for your life", the LR Group headquartered in the town of Ahlen/Westphalia (Germany) successfully produces and distributes various high-quality nutritional supplements and cosmetic products in 32 countries through its independent LR sales partners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250922789464/en/ Contacts: PR contact: LR Global Holding GmbH Almut Kellermeyer Head of Corporate Communication Kruppstrae 55 59227 Ahlen Germany Phone: +49 (0) 2382 7658-106 email: A.Kellermeyer@LRworld.com San Francisco, California--(Newsfile Corp. - September 22, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites, and digital marketing campaigns, has shared insights on the growing trend of superminimalism combined with dark mode in web design. This fusion is reshaping how brands deliver digital experiences in 2025. Superminimalism and Dark Mode Fusion in Web Aesthetics - Insights from Digital Silk To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10732/267373_dac092da54d039f5_001full.jpg Superminimalism emphasizes stripped-down design with extreme simplicity, while dark mode reduces screen glare, saves device energy, and enhances modern aesthetics. According to Designmodo, minimalistic design principles are gaining ground as users seek cleaner interfaces. Meanwhile, Forbes highlights that dark mode adoption has become a standard expectation across devices and platforms, especially among younger audiences. Key Features of Superminimalism + Dark Mode Digital Silk's insights highlight several elements brands are implementing: Ultra-Simple Interfaces : Streamlined navigation with reduced clutter : Streamlined navigation with reduced clutter Monochrome Palettes : Relying on high-contrast visuals for accessibility and clarity : Relying on high-contrast visuals for accessibility and clarity Energy Efficiency : Dark mode interfaces that may lower device energy consumption : Dark mode interfaces that may lower device energy consumption Focus on Content : Prioritizing readability and function over decorative design : Prioritizing readability and function over decorative design Consistency Across Platforms: Ensuring unified experiences on web and mobile Market Context Dark mode is now built into major platforms, with Apple's Human Interface Guidelines documenting Dark Mode as a systemwide appearance that supports comfortable viewing in low-light environments (Apple Developer). Google has also shown that dark themes can reduce display power consumption on OLED devices at high brightness, which may encourage continued adoption in modern interfaces (Business Insider, The Verge). Leadership Perspective "Superminimalism paired with dark mode demonstrates how simplicity and functionality can coexist with style," said Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO of Digital Silk. "Our insights reflect how these design choices are shaping the way companies build user experiences in 2025." About Digital Silk Digital Silk is an award-winning Web Design Company 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/267373 SOURCE: Digital Silk WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Molson Coors Beverage Co. (TAP), on Monday, announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Gavin Hattersley will step down, and it has unanimously appointed Chief Strategy Officer Rahul Goyal as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1. Goyal will also join the company's Board of Directors. President and CEO Gavin Hattersley will step down and remain in an advisory role until the end of 2025 to support the transition. Rahul Goyal has more than 24 years of experience and has previously worked with Molson Coors. In the pre-market trading, 0.06% lesser at $46.54 on the New York Stock Exchange. 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. 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. NEW YORK, NY AND WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / September 22, 2025 / Two of the litigation finance industry's most respected professionals, Rebecca Berrebi and Ted Farrell, have officially announced their strategic partnership and the formation of Litigation Finance Advisors (LFA) - an independent, full-service advisory firm dedicated exclusively to litigation finance. With nearly two decades of combined experience working in the industry and advising plaintiffs, law firms, investors, and funds, LFA offers tailored, conflict-free solutions across the full litigation finance lifecycle. The firm's mission is simple: Litigation Finance, Done Right. "We saw the need for a truly independent, strategic advisory partner that understands litigation funding from every angle," said co-founder Rebecca Berrebi. "Ted and I built LFA to deliver clarity, structure, and real value in an often opaque and complex market." Rebecca Berrebi, a Chambers and Partners and Lawdragon-ranked broker and the former founder of Avenue 33, brings deep experience in corporate finance, M&A, and cross-border litigation funding. She has advised on nine-figure transactions, led corporate affairs at a global fund manager, and guided high-profile clients through intricate finance strategies. Ted Farrell, a former Managing Director at Vannin Capital and experienced litigator, has helped structure litigation finance deals across antitrust, IP, commercial, and mass tort cases. Recognized by Chambers & Partners as a top litigation finance broker, Ted is also the host of the All Things Litigation Funding podcast. "Rebecca and I share a commitment to independence, transparency, and impact," added Ted Farrell. "LFA isn't just about placing capital-it's about helping clients make informed decisions and unlock the full value of their claims or investments." LFA's services include: Litigation finance advisory for law firms, plaintiffs, and corporations Insurance-backed litigation funding solutions Strategic guidance for investors and funders Secondary market transactions and exit strategy support Portfolio monetization and structured deal execution What Sets LFA Apart Independent & Fee-Based : No conflicts of interest, ever. LFA operates on a fee-only basis to ensure its advice is always client-centered. All-Sides Perspective : Deep experience working with and within law firms, litigation funds, and private equity and credit groups. Strategic & Structured : A defined, five-step methodology ensures every deal is vetted, competitive, and aligned with client goals. Industry Recognition: Both partners are consistently ranked among the top advisors in the litigation finance space. Visit the newly launched website at www.litfinadvisors.com to explore LFA's services, listen to the All Things Litigation Funding podcast, or schedule a complimentary 15-minute strategy session. Media Contact: Litigation Finance Advisors info@litfinadvisors.com www.litfinadvisors.com Offices in New York & Washington, DC About Litigation Finance Advisors Litigation Finance Advisors (LFA) provides independent, strategic advisory services for litigation finance transactions. Founded by industry leaders Rebecca Berrebi and Ted Farrell, LFA helps law firms, plaintiffs, and investors structure, negotiate, and execute optimized litigation funding solutions with clarity, market intelligence, and unwavering independence. SOURCE: Litigation Finance Advisors View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/rebecca-berrebi-and-ted-farrell-join-forces-to-launch-litigation-fin-1076762 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil is little changed on Monday amid geopolitical tensions in Europe and the Middle East along with lingering oversupply concerns. WTI Crude Oil for October delivery was last seen trading up by $0.05 (or 0.08%) at $62.73 per barrel. Following years of production cuts to support the oil market, the OPEC+ alliance changed their policy this April to gradually increase output. Continuing the policy, eight OPEC+ member nations agreed on September 7 to boost production by 137,000 barrels per day beginning in October. Some member countries have been stressing for more output quotas. In a related development, Kuwait's production capacity stands at 3.2 million barrels per day. Iraq is slated to resume oil exports from the Kurdish region to a pipeline to Turkey. This was earlier halted for around two years due to disputes in payment. Analysts say this resumption of crude exports could add at least 230,000 bpd of fresh oil supplies to global markets. The International Energy Agency projected the global consumption to grow by 740,000 bpd this year and by an additional 700,000 bpd next year. In contrast, OPEC projected demand to grow by 1.3 million bpd in 2025 with an additional 1.4 million bpd in 2026. In Europe, Russian military jets violated Estonia's airspace for 12 minutes on Friday and hovered in the neutral airspace over the Baltic Sea. This follows a similar violation earlier in Poland. The unified European Union is planning a solid defense against Russian incursions. On Friday, the EU unveiled its 19th sanctions package against Russia, including a ban on Liquefied Natural Gas imports and restrictions on 118 additional shadow vessels. US President Donald Trump had called for the EU to impose sanctions against countries buying oil from Russia and asked the NATO nations to stop buying Russian oil, as he believes this would force Russia to come to the negotiating table. In this context, Trump even pointed out that he had imposed a 'penalty tariff' of 25% on India - a major oil purchaser of Russia - despite India and the US sharing smooth bilateral ties. Tensions caused by the attacks on Doha, Qatar by Israeli Defense Forces on September 9 targeting Hamas leaders still simmer. Qatar has reportedly asked for an apology from Israel for inadvertently killing a Qatari officer. However, brushing aside the warning, Israel warned of more such attacks if Hamas leaders are not expelled from Qatar. The mediatory efforts that Qatar undertook to secure peace between Israel and Palestine is now in jeopardy. China is continuing to stockpile crude and thereby soaking some of the excess supply. According to the latest EIA data, US net crude imports fell steeply by 3.1 million bpd to just 415,000 bpd, the lowest on record since 2001, as exports surged to 5.3 million bpd, near a two-year high. The conflicts in Europe and the Middle East have provided support to oil prices, which has been offset by oversupply worries. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX 2025 AFX News WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - New research suggests that even mild depression symptoms below the threshold of a clinical diagnosis can subtly alter facial expressions in ways detectable by both people and artificial intelligence. The study, published in Scientific Reports by researchers at Waseda University in Japan, highlights how AI-driven analysis of short videos could provide an early-warning tool for depression. The team recruited 64 Japanese university students, dividing them into two groups: those with minimal symptoms and those with 'subthreshold depression,' or mild symptoms. Each student recorded a brief self-introduction video. A separate group of 63 peers then rated the clips on traits such as friendliness, naturalness, and likeability. Students with mild depression symptoms consistently scored lower on all positive traits, though they were not perceived as more stiff, fake, or nervous than their healthier peers-suggesting muted positive expressivity rather than overt negativity. To complement human perception, the researchers used OpenFace 2.0, an open-source AI tool, to track facial muscle movements. The analysis revealed distinct patterns in the subthreshold group, including heightened use of the inner brow raiser, lip stretcher, and jaw drop micro-expressions often linked to tension or discomfort. These movements correlated with higher depression scores, indicating measurable, nonverbal cues of early psychological distress. The findings are limited by the use of self-report questionnaires and a culturally specific sample, but they open new possibilities for early detection. Lead author Eriko Sugimori said the approach could be adapted for schools, workplaces, or digital health platforms. 'Our study provides a non-invasive AI-based tool for early detection of depression, enabling timely intervention and care,' she noted. 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. Los Angeles, California--(Newsfile Corp. - September 22, 2025) - California Nanotechnologies Corp. (TSXV: CNO) (OTCID: CANOF) ("Cal Nano" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will be presenting at the Planet MicroCap Showcase: TORONTO 2025 in partnership with MicroCapClub on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM ET (6:00 AM PT) at the Arcadian Loft in Downtown Toronto. The CEO of Cal Nano, Mr. Eric Eyerman, will be hosting the presentation and answering questions at the conclusion. To access the live presentation, please use the following information: Planet MicroCap Showcase: TORONTO 2025 in partnership with MicroCapClub Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Time: 9:00 AM (Toronto, ON Local Time EST) Webcast: https://event.summitcast.com/view/34SFNFBix4cZpKNiohrXeh/Mkrz4Ce8f9hZbiS5ZxEXqK If you would like to book 1x1 investor meetings with Cal Nano, and to attend the Planet MicroCap Showcase: TORONTO 2025 in partnership with MicroCapClub, please make sure you are registered here: REGISTER. 1x1 meetings will be scheduled and conducted in person at the conference venue: Arcadian Loft in Downtown Toronto, ON. The Planet MicroCap Showcase: TORONTO 2025 in partnership with MicroCapClub website is available here: HOME PAGE. If you can't make the live presentation, all company presentations "webcasts" will be available directly on the conference event platform on this link under the tab "Agenda": AGENDA. About California Nanotechnologies Corp. At Cal Nano, we envision a world in which our advanced technologies are used to help make the most innovative products on this planet and beyond. With our unique expertise in processing metallurgic powders into parts, global leaders trust us to help push the boundaries of applied material science. Headquartered in Greater Los Angeles, California, Cal Nano hosts advanced processing and testing machinery and capabilities across two manufacturing facilities for materials research and production needs. Our customers range from Fortune 500 companies to startups with programs spanning aerospace, renewable energy, defense, and semiconductors. Reader Advisory Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/267468 SOURCE: California Nanotechnologies Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 22, 2025) - Tana Resources Corp. (CSE: TANA) ("TANA" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Caffary to its board of directors, effective immediately. Mr. Caffary brings over 35 years of experience in driving business growth and operational transformation across a range of industries, including service, industrial manufacturing, and media. He began his career as an apprentice in the print industry and went on to establish and grow his own media company into one of the largest in British Columbia. Throughout his career, Mr. Caffary has demonstrated strong leadership in sales development, operational efficiency, and brand strategy across both product and service-based businesses. His industry background includes wine production, heavy equipment manufacturing, and other high-capital sectors. He is recognized for his ability to develop scalable growth strategies, particularly in underperforming or saturated markets. Vartan Korajian, President and CEO of TANA, commented, "We are very pleased to welcome Mark to the board. His extensive entrepreneurial and operational background, combined with a deep understanding of strategic growth execution, will be invaluable as we advance TANA's corporate and project objectives." "Vartan Korajian" President and CEO Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release." Forward-Looking Statements: Forward Looking Statements: The information in this news release contains forward looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry and to policies linked to pandemics, social and environmental related matters. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding future exploration programs, operation plans, geological interpretations, mineral tenure issues and mineral recovery processes. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Tana Resources disclaims any obligations 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 applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/267469 SOURCE: Tana Resources Corp. Dobriyal, who collaborated with Bhardwaj once again in the 2006 Omkara, has revealed in an interview how the late Irrfan Khan once abused Puri and Shah during the shooting of a scene and what happened next Vishal Bhardwajs first tryst with William Shakespeare happened when he made the 2003 Maqbool, one of his finest till date. It had the unforgettable ensemble of Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Pankaj Kapur, Deepak Dobriyal, Naseeruddin Shah, and Om Puri. Dobriyal, who collaborated with Bhardwaj once again in the 2006 Omkara, has revealed in an interview how the late Irrfan Khan once abused Puri and Shah during the shooting of a scene and what happened next. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The actor revealed, There was a scene where Kaka (Piyush Mishra) gets killed, and his body is brought to Irrfan bhais house. He added, As Irrfan bhai starts mourning, someone asks Om Puri saab where he found the body. And he says, In the backyard of the haveli. But the way he pronounced haveli made everyone laugh. The scene had to be cut. When Irrfan Khan lost his cool Dobriyal revealed, You could see it was bothering Irrfan bhai. He was in character, fully present. But no one had the courage to say anything to Om ji or Naseer saab, they are legends. In the middle of a take, Irrfan bhai just exploded. He abused, right there during the shot. Then immediately, he apologised and said, Sorry, I thought abusing would help me act." Naseeruddin Shah says he once had a discussion about the definition of originality with Javed Akhtar when he told the screenwriter that his 1975 classic Sholay was a copy of Charlie Chaplin and Hollywood filmmaker Clint Eastwoods works. Sholay, which Akhtar co-wrote with former writing partner Salim Khan, is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential Indian films of all time. I remember Javed Akhtar had once said to me, Something can be called original when you cant find its source. I was talking to him about Sholay, and I said, You have copied every scene, you didnt leave any of Charlie Chaplins films, besides Clint Eastwood is felt in every frame. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Netflix The Ba***ds Of Bollywood series has been receiving rave reviews from critics and the audiences and many scenes are going viral on social media. But one particular scene has landed the makers in trouble Netflixs The Ba***ds Of Bollywood marked the directorial debut of Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan Khan that streamed on the OTT platform from September 18. Its a show that shows the dazzling and daunting world of Bollywood. It has a barrage of cameos, including a scene featuring Ranbir Kapoor towards the end of the show. The series has been receiving rave reviews from critics and the audiences and many scenes are going viral on social media. But one particular scene has landed the makers in trouble. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Ba\*\*\*ds Of Bollywood lands in trouble The one scene where the Animal actor can be seen vaping (smoking an electronic cigarette) has been used without any disclaimer, and it has caught the eye of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The makers or anybody from the show is yet to address the controversy. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo issues statement Kanoongo was quoted saying, The Ba***ds of Bollywood on the Netflix OTT platform. In one episode of this series, actor Ranbir Kapoor is smoking an e-cigarette. Heres the video: #WATCH | Delhi: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo says, "We received a complaint from an organisation called the Legal Rights Observatory. The complainant stated that there is a series called "The Ba***ds of Bollywood" on the Netflix OTT platform. In https://t.co/o1L7BKfk4r pic.twitter.com/WPViAaLTk4 ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2025 He added, The complainant alleges that through this, he is influencing young people, especially our new generation, to smoke e-cigarettes We examined this complaint and found that in India, under the E-Cigarette Prohibition Act, no person shall promote e-cigarettes. Notice issued to the Commissioner of Police against Aryan Khans show Priyank added in his statement, We have issued a notice to the Commissioner of Mumbai Police. We have asked him to file an FIR under the appropriate sections and take legal action against this actor, this production company, and this OTT platform. More about Aryan Khans show STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Aryan Khan, making his much-anticipated directorial debut with The Ba***ds of Bollywood on Netflix, has been receiving widespread acclaim for his vision, humour, and creative acumen. Behind the scenes videos from the set capture him in action - guiding scenes, interacting with the cast, and bringing his focus and flair to every moment. In under 24 hours, the series found itself on the #1 spot on Netflix India, quickly showcasing how Aryan Khans vision has found instant resonance with audiences and sparked conversations across the country. The shows cast and industry insiders alike have praised his fresh perspective, originality, and the enthusiasm he brings to the project. A flood of appreciation is seen with fans showering their love on him for carrying forward the baton of his fathers legacy, him understanding the Indian OTT audience, becoming a pop culture moment and thanking Aryan for giving pure masala for fans! Sanjana Sanghi, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India Youth Champion, shared a post on Instagram and wrote- Couldnt have thought of a better way to kick off this #UNGA season. The annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) season in New York has once again commenced with a strong Indian presence, as actor-advocates Sanjana Sanghi and Dia Mirza took the global stage for high-level engagements, solidifying their roles as influential changemakers far beyond the silver screen. Sanjana Sanghi, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India Youth Champion, shared a post on Instagram and wrote- Couldnt have thought of a better way to kick off this #UNGA season than the most precious conversations with my forever inspiration @diamirzaofficial STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With endless hope in our hearts, fire in our belly, and belief in the goodness of the world to come together for the better - here we go." Dia Mirza wrote- At the Annual Meeting of the UN Secretary-Generals Advocates for the Sustainable Development Goals during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, we are reminded why we must never give up on HOPE. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The combined presence of Sanjana Sanghi and Dia Mirza at this years UNGA-related events sends a powerful message, showcasing Indian talent not merely as entertainers, but as formidable global citizens dedicated to shaping a sustainable and equitable future for all. A flier on Air India Express flight IX-1086 from Bengaluru to Varanasi tried to open the cockpit door, creating a security scare. The airline says the man approached the cockpit by mistake, thinking it was the lavatory. The airline can reportedly put him on the no-fly list Air India Express passenger could reportedly be placed on a no-fly list as a precaution .Representational image. Reuters/File Photo An Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Varanasi ended in a security scare on Monday, when a passenger tried to open the cockpit door after the aircraft had landed. According to the airline, the man approached the cockpit once the plane was on the ground and attempted to get inside. The cabin crew stopped him immediately. He was later questioned by officials following the incident, an Air India Express spokesperson confirmed on Monday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what exactly led to the scare, and what are the rules around cockpit access? Heres what we know Why did the passenger attempt to enter cockpit? The Air India Express flight IX-1086 had taken off from Bengaluru just after 8 am and landed in Varanasi around 10:30 am. Once the aircraft was on the ground, a passenger walked up to the cockpit door and tried to open it, according to sources quoted by NDTV. Officials later clarified that the man had made a mistakehe thought the cockpit door was the entrance to the lavatory. A passenger on the Air India Express flight IX-1086 from Bengaluru to Varanasi tried to enter the cockpit. He reportedly was looking for the lavatory. Image for Representation. Pixabay The passenger, who was travelling with eight others, was handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) along with the group. Only one of them had actually tried to open the cockpit door. After questioning, the airline confirmed that the man was a first-time flyer who posed no security threat to the aircraft. Importantly, he did not attempt to enter any password or force his way inside. Cockpit doors are always secured with a password system known only to the captain and crew. If it werent for this security feature, the passenger might have been able to step inside by mistake. Sources added that the passenger has now been handed over to the police and could be placed on a no-fly list as a precaution. Incidents like this are not entirely new. In June 2024, a 25-year-old man was arrested after attempting to open the cockpit door of an Air India Express flight from Kozhikode to Bahrain, which forced the plane to make an emergency landing in Mumbai. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In that case, the passenger also allegedly assaulted cabin crew, highlighting the potential risks of cockpit security breaches. Also read: Are Indian men the worst flyers? They take secret photos, make creepy comments on planes Rules to enter an airplanes cockpit The cockpit is the heart of an aircraft, and access to it is tightly controlled. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), only certain people are allowed inside: -Operating pilots and cabin crew -Officials from aviation and meteorology departments: This includes the DGCA, India Meteorological Department, or Ministry of Civil Aviation, but only during inspections or official duties and with prior permission. -Employees of the airline: Off-duty pilots, cabin crew, maintenance staff, or other officials can enter, but only if the captain allows it and their presence is essential for operations. -Representatives from the aircraft manufacturer: They can be allowed in for monitoring in-flight operations or equipment checks, again with the captains permission. -Other individuals authorised by the DGCA: Any exceptions are strictly controlled and documented. These rules were laid out in a 2019 DGCA circular, which also added that anyone entering the cockpit must undergo pre-flight and post-flight breathalyser tests to ensure they are not under the influence of alcohol. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also read: IndiGo passenger tries to enter cockpit to charge mobile phone, thrown out of aircraft What did the airline say about the incident? Air India Express did not go into the full details of the incident but reassured that its safety protocols were never compromised. We are aware of media reports regarding an incident on one of our flights to Varanasi, where a passenger approached the cockpit entry area while looking for the lavatory. We reaffirm that robust safety and security protocols are in place and were not compromised. The matter was reported to the relevant authorities on landing and is currently under investigation, the statement said. With input from agencies MumbaiAhmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor will launch its first bullet train stretch between Surat and Bilimora by 2027, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Saturday. The train, which will run at a speed of up to 320 km/h, will slash travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to just over two hours and will link major towns and cities on the way. The bullet trains will work on the Japanese Shinkansens technology The first phase of the MumbaiAhmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor project is expected to launch on the Surat-Bilimora section in 2027, followed by Thane in 2028, and reach the Bandra Kurla Complex in 2029. Image for Representation. PTI Indias first bullet train is finally moving closer to becoming a reality. The MumbaiAhmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR) is set to launch its first operational stretch between Surat and Bilimora by 2027, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced. The announcement on Saturday came alongside news of a major milestone: the completion of a 5 km tunnel between Ghansoli and Shilphata. The team used the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) and successfully connected the Savali shaft with the Shilphata tunnel portal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The minister further assured that the work on the remaining sections is moving at a fast pace and will be completed in the coming years. Heres a closer look at this historic bullet train project and what it means for India. About Indias bullet train project Indias first bullet train is taking shape on the MumbaiAhmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, a 508-km route connecting two of the countrys key economic cities. The project is being developed with support from Japan under the Shinkansen technology transfer program, with at least 10 E10 next-generation bullet trains to be introduced. Once operational, the train will run at speeds of up to 320 km/h, slashing travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to just over two hours, a dramatic improvement over the current six to seven hours by road or conventional train. The corridor will feature a 21-km underground section between the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Shilphata, including a 7-km stretch beneath Thane Creek. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has emphasised that the bullet train is not just about speed. It is expected to stimulate economic growth along the route, linking 12 towns and cities into a single thriving economic corridor. Honble MR Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw reviewed the breakthrough of the Tunnel between Ghansoli and Shilphata (4.881 km) in Maharashtra, marking a major achievement for the Mumbai - Ahmedabad #BulletTrain corridor. pic.twitter.com/fDCVOQIN8a Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) September 20, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The bullet train brought a sea change in the economy of areas between Osaka and Tokyo after the first bullet train was introduced in Japan, and the same kind of economic development will be seen along the MumbaiAhmedabad route, Vaishnaw was quoted as saying in The New Indian Express report. He added, This project will unite Anand, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Vapi, and Mumbai into a single economic corridor, creating unified markets and accelerating industrial growth along the route. The first phase of the project is expected to launch on the Surat-Bilimora section in 2027, followed by Thane in 2028, and reach the Bandra Kurla Complex in 2029. The tunnel will be a single-tube structure with a 13.1-metre diameter, designed to accommodate dual rail tracks for up and down bullet trains. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Features of Indias bullet train Indias bullet train promises a modern, comfortable travel experience. Onboard, passengers will enjoy plush seating, high-quality restrooms, and digital platforms for seamless ticketing. The stations along the corridor are being designed to international standards, combining functionality, sustainability, and comfort. Passengers can expect calming colour schemes, spacious waiting areas, lounges, kiosks, and clear signage to help navigate easily. The MumbaiAhmedabad High-Speed Rail route will link 12 towns and cities into a single thriving economic corridor. Image for Representation. AFP To make longer journeys more comfortable, special attention has been paid to restrooms, seating, and accessibility. Stations will also include nurseries for children and luggage lockers, making day trips convenient for all travellers. What will be the ticket fare? Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has assured that fares will be affordable and aligned with the aspirations of the middle class. According to reports, a full journey from Mumbai to Ahmedabad on the bullet train is expected to cost between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000, depending on seat class and AC options. Shorter trips, like BKC to Thane, are likely to cost less. What is the progress so far? The MumbaiAhmedabad corridor has already achieved several major milestones. The NATM (New Austrian Tunnelling Method) portion of tunnelling is complete, with the remaining 16 km set to be executed using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). Construction work has also progressed significantly: 321 km of viaducts and 398 km of pier construction have been completed. Engineers have completed 17 river bridges, nine steel bridges, and installed over four lakh noise barriers along a 206 km stretch. Track bed work for the same 206 km has been finished, alongside more than 2,000 overhead equipment (OHE) masts installed over 48 km of viaduct. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, loco pilots and maintenance staff are undergoing hands-on training in Japan. Vaishnaw said, Loco pilots are being trained on advanced simulators to uphold the highest standards of safety and efficiency. With input from agencies Panic and confusion gripped Indians after US President Donald Trump announced an increase in the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 (around Rs 88 lakh). Before the White House clarified that the fee applies only to new applicants, uncertainty forced many Indians to cut short family events and long-planned trips. Weddings were called off, and plans for Diwali and Durga Puja were cancelled as people struggled to make sense of the sudden change Many Indian H-1B holders cancelled their trips to India for Durga Puja and Diwali. AI-Generated/Representational Image US President Donald Trumps move to raise the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 (about Rs 88 lakh) has led to panic and confusion among Indians. The order, followed by a few Big Tech firms asking employees overseas to return within a day, sent many Indians rushing to airports, missing family events and long-planned trips. Notably, the $100,000 fee applies only to new applicants registering from September 21 onwards. Existing H-1B holders, including those currently abroad, are exempt and do not have to pay the charges when renewing visas or re-entering the country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With the US introducing the move, the American dream might remain a dream for many Indians, who are the largest beneficiaries of H-1B visas. In this explainer, we look at how the order has affected Indians and the massive information technology sector. Lets take a look: Wedding called off, mother in tears Many Indian H-1B holders left family events and long-planned trips midway after uncertainty spread following the announcement. What created further confusion was the delay in the White Houses clarification that current H-1B holders would not be impacted. Until that statement came, panic and chaos gripped Indians. US government data shows that India was the top recipient of H-1B visas last year. Reuters/File Photo A Reddit user, Saramuch, shared her struggles and those of acquaintances holding H-1B visas while stuck outside the US, saying they were left in confusion after tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft told staff through emails to return before September 21. And for those who lack compassion, shame on you. You didnt have to see my mum crying because she was about to see me for the first time in a few months, that we were about to spend a week together for the first time in a few years! she wrote. Its unfair. We didnt deserve it. The emotional toll has been immense, with families separated and important occasions missed, the post read. Travel plans in ruins The timing of the decision also clashed with the Durga Puja break and came just weeks ahead of Diwali, a period when many Indian tech professionals usually fly home to celebrate with their families. Many visa holders told PTI that the main feeling among them and their families was one of crazy sense of panic and worry. People had plans to travel to India for Diwali. Theyre all in a flux and not sure what to do. Families book tickets for Diwali, for the December holiday season well in advance. This is the time when most people travel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is the time when people actually want to leave and be with family during the holiday season. Now this has happened. Does that mean that I cannot travel this year? Thats another sense of oh my god, they said. Airlines hike fares, Indians step off flight The rush to return before the deadline caused airfares to soar. Within hours, one-way tickets from Delhi to New York rose from about Rs 37,000 to nearly Rs 70,000-80,000, while some last-minute tickets touched $4,500. Non-stop flights from Delhi or Mumbai to New York take around 15 to 16 hours. Since India is about 10 hours ahead of Eastern Time, even travellers leaving on the morning of September 20 (IST) would have landed after the US deadline. This was before the White House later clarified that current H-1B visa holders would not be affected. Meanwhile, reports emerged of several Indian passengers disembarking mid-journey at US airports as news of the hike spread. For instance, an Emirates flight faced hours of delay at San Francisco International Airport when many Indians requested to leave the aircraft. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD An international flight packed with Indians (coming for Durga Puja) from the Bay Area had completed boarding and was due to leave SFO Airport when the news about H-1B visa new rules broke out. Indians aboard panicked, pleaded to get off the plane, one user posted on X. An Emirates flight at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) was delayed nearly three hours after many passengers, mostly Indian H-1B visa holders, chose to disembark. The disruption stemmed from reports of a new $100,000 fee for U.S. companies sponsoring H-1B employees. pic.twitter.com/cDe4eCrpLg Laszlo Varga (@LaszloRealtor) September 21, 2025 Another user said that within 20 minutes of the deadline announcement, around 10 to 15 passengers stepped off. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is a travel ban! Even if a person has a valid H-1B visa stamped on their passport, if they are travelling, or are on vacation, you cannot enter the US unless they have proof of the USD 1,00,000 payment. No one knows what the process is, what the fine print is. Theres absolute panic, a person told PTI. People who are standing in boarding lines at airports, people who are leaving for their own wedding tomorrow, things like that. They are cancelling because they dont know what to do, another person said. How Indias IT industry will be impacted Following the announcement, Indias $283 billion IT industry may have to rethink its long-standing model of sending skilled staff to US projects. VIDEO | Hyderabad: On US President Donald Trump imposing a USD 100,000 fee per year on H-1B visas, Visa consultant Dilip Kumar Nooney says, "US' H-1B visa fee hike will drastically impact Indian IT companies." (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/N3KMvwVbqo Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 20, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The sector draws about 57 per cent of its total revenue from the US and has depended heavily on American work visa schemes and outsourcing in software and business services. US government data shows that India was the top recipient of H-1B visas last year, with 71 per cent of the approvals. With inputs from agencies As calls to recognise Palestine gain momentum, France and Saudi Arabia are likely to push the long-standing two-state solution forward at this years United Nations General Assembly. However, these efforts face strong opposition from the United States and Israel, who say the move will reward Hamas and will make it harder to reach a deal to halt the war and return the remaining hostages The United States and Israel say the international push for a Palestinian state rewards Hamas and makes it harder to reach a deal to halt the war and return the remaining hostages. File image Efforts to push for a Palestinian state are gaining momentum, even as the war in Gaza intensifies. Recently, Britain, Canada, and Australia joined nearly 150 nations that already recognise a Palestinian state, with France expected to follow suit at this years United Nations General Assembly. France and Saudi Arabia are likely to push the long-standing two-state solution forward. It outlines a roadmap for eventual Palestinian statehood in the territories Israel captured during the 1967 war. Several Western countries are also moving to formally recognise a Palestinian state even before it is officially established. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, these efforts face strong opposition. The United States has blocked Palestinian officials from attending the General Assembly, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a staunch opponent of Palestinian statehood, has warned of unilateral steps, including potential annexation of parts of the West Bank. With tensions running high, the Palestinian dream of independence faces enormous hurdles. Heres a closer look at the situation. Prospects have never been dimmer The creation of a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza has long been seen internationally as the only way to resolve the conflict, which began more than a century before Hamas October 7, 2023, attack sparked the ongoing war in Gaza. Proponents say this would allow Israel to exist as a democracy with a Jewish majority. The alternative, they say, is the status quo in which Jewish Israelis have full rights and Palestinians live under varying degrees of Israeli control, something major rights groups say amounts to apartheid. Israel must understand that the one state solution, with the subjugation of the Palestinian people without rights that is absolutely intolerable, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week. Without a two-state solution, there will be no peace in the Middle East. Frances Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot chairs a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the Israel and Palestinian conflict at UN Headquarters in New York City, US, April 29, 2025. Representational Image/Reuters Peace talks launched in the early 1990s repeatedly faltered amid violence and the expansion of Israeli settlements aimed at preventing a Palestinian state. No substantive negotiations have been held since Netanyahu returned to office in 2009. Israel annexed east Jerusalem, considers it part of its capital, and has long encouraged the growth of Jewish settlements in and around Palestinian neighbourhoods. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The occupied West Bank is home to over 500,000 settlers with Israeli citizenship and some 3 million Palestinians who live under Israeli military rule, with the Palestinian Authority exercising limited autonomy in scattered enclaves. In Gaza, Israels retaliatory offensive has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, displaced some 90 per cent of the population of 2 million, left much of the territory uninhabitable and pushed some areas into famine. A new offensive threatens to empty and flatten the largest Palestinian city. Netanyahus government and most of Israels political class were opposed to Palestinian statehood even before the war. The Trump administration has shown no interest in reviving peace talks, instead calling for the relocation of much of Gazas population to other countries, a plan Israel has eagerly adopted even as critics say it would amount to ethnic cleansing. Also read: Drawing a line in the sand: Growing momentum for Palestinian statehood may backfire on peace efforts STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The French-Saudi plan Perhaps hoping this is a darkest-before-dawn moment, France and Saudi Arabia have advanced a phased plan to end the conflict by establishing a demilitarised state governed by the Palestinian Authority with international assistance. The plan calls for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, the return of all hostages and a complete Israeli withdrawal. Hamas would hand power to a politically independent committee under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority something it has already agreed to and lay down its arms, which it has not. France and Saudi Arabia have advanced a phased plan that would involve Hamas handing power to a politically independent committee under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority something it has already agreed to and lay down its arms, which it has not. AP File The international community would help the Palestinian Authority rebuild Gaza and govern the territories, possibly with the help of foreign peacekeepers. Regional peace and integration, likely including Saudi normalisation of ties with Israel, would follow. The 193-member world body approved a nonbinding resolution endorsing the so-called New York Declaration earlier this month. American and Israeli opposition The United States and Israel say the international push for a Palestinian state rewards Hamas and makes it harder to reach a deal to halt the war and return the remaining hostages. The Gaza ceasefire talks broke down again when Israel carried out a September 9 strike targeting Hamas negotiators in Qatar, one of the main mediators. The US had walked away from the talks in July, blaming Hamas, and Israel unilaterally ended an earlier ceasefire in March. Israel also says that creating a Palestinian state would allow Hamas to carry out another October 7-style attack on an even wider scale. Hamas leaders have at times indicated they would accept a state on the 1967 lines, but the group remains formally committed to Israels destruction. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Netanyahu portrays international recognition of Palestinian statehood as an attack on Israel. During a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week, Netanyahu said it is clear that if unilateral actions are taken against us, it simply invites unilateral actions on our part. Netanyahu portrays international recognition of Palestinian statehood as an attack on Israel. File image/AP Netanyahu and his far-right coalition partners have long wanted to annex large parts of the West Bank, which would make it virtually impossible to establish a viable Palestinian state. The US has not taken a public position on the issue, but in an interview with Fox News, Rubio linked this conversation about annexation to the issue of statehood recognition. The United Arab Emirates has called annexation a red line, without saying what effect it might have on the 2020 Abraham Accords, in which the country normalised ties with Israel. There are other obstacles The French-Saudi plan sidesteps the most divisive issues in the conflict: final borders, the fate of the settlements, the return of Palestinian refugees from past wars, security arrangements, the status of Jerusalem and recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. It also relies heavily on the Palestinian Authority, the current leadership of which is despised by many Palestinians who view them as corrupt and autocratic. Israel says they are not fully committed to peace and accuses the Palestinian Authority of incitement despite recent reforms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The plan calls for Palestinian elections to be held within a year, but President Mahmoud Abbas has delayed previous votes when it looked like his party would lose, blaming Israeli restrictions. Hamas, which won the last national elections in 2006, would be excluded unless it gives up its weapons and recognises Israel. All of which means the plan is likely to end up on the mound of past Mideast accords, parameters and road maps, leaving Israel in full control of the land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, ruling millions of Palestinians who are denied basic rights. With inputs from AP At least 30 people, including women and children, have been killed after the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) dropped LS-6 bombs on a village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The incident occurred around 2 am in the Pashtun-majority Matre Dara village, located in the Tirah Valley. But what do we know about the LS-6 precision-guided glide bombs? According to reports, Pakistans JF-17 jets dropped several LS-6 bombs on the village, obliterating a large part of it. Image courtesy: MilborneOne At least 30 people, including women and children, have been killed after the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) dropped LS-6 bombs on a village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The incident occurred around 2 am in the Pashtun-majority Matre Dara village, located in the Tirah Valley. Gruesome images of the air strike have gone viral on social media. Authorities said the air force was targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists. According to reports, Pakistans JF-17 jets a joint project between Beijing and Islamabad dropped several LS-6 bombs on the village, obliterating a large part of it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The region in recent days has witnessed several operations by authorities against terrorist groups. However, all the victims here were civilians. The toll is expected to rise and rescue operations are ongoing. But what do we know about the LS-6 precision-guided glide bombs? Lets take a closer look. What we know The LS-6 (LeiShi) is a Chinese-built glide bomb. The LS is a designation for a family of precision-guided munitions (PGM) named Thunder Stone Precision Guided Bombs. These bombs were developed by Luoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development Centre (EOTDC) a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). They can also be referred to as the Thunder Stone Gliding Guided Bomb, or LS GGB. They operate via an Inertial Navigation System (INS) with GPS or laser guidance, using Chinas BeiDou satellite navigation system. The system comprises two modules the guidance module and the gliding module. The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force reportedly began conducting a series of tests of the LS-6 on the Shenyang J-8B in 2006. It was first unveiled to the public at the 6th Zhuhai Airshow held in November of that year. How it works It is a guidance/wing kit that allows conventional free-fall bombs known as dumb bombs to be converted into precision weapons. This allows them to attack fixed targets on the ground. It is designed to attach to four bomb sizes 500 kilos, 550 kilos, 100 kilos and 50 kilos. The LS-6 (LeiShi) is a Chinese-built glide bomb. The LS is a designation for a family of precision-guided munitions (PGM) named Thunder Stone Precision Guided Bombs. Image courtesy: MilborneOne It also comes with a pair of foldable wings and cruciform tail surfaces made up of composite material and aluminium alloys to increase range and allow in-flight guidance/steering. T his improves the bombs precision and allows aircraft to hit targets from further and higher away. The smaller variants can be carried in the internal weapons bays of fighters like the Chengdu J-20. Range and accuracy Its range depends on the altitude and speed of the aircraft. It is said to have a range of 40 kilometres when released from a height of 8,000 metres and a range of 60 kilometres when released from a height of around 1,000 kilometres. The ordnance, around 15 metres from a target, hits a speed of Mach 1 (1,234 kmph). Reports about its accuracy vary from under 15 metres to terminal accuracy depending on the variant, including those with laser terminal guidance or electro-optical / scene-matching seekers. There are additional versions reportedly under development, including those with an imaging infrared targeting system, which is based on the seekers of air-to-air missiles developed by EOTDC. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD All models in the family of this weapon are built to Chinese military standard meaning they can easily be deployed on any western platforms. The LS-6 is essentially a relatively low-cost way to turn dumb bombs into precision guided munitions; it decreases the risk aircraft face from air defences and gives the air force flexible warhead options for different target sets. With inputs from agencies Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is known as the worlds most dangerous place, and on Monday (September 22), it proved to be true. Pakistans air force launched eight LS-6 precision-guided glide bombs on villages in the Tirah Valley in the northwestern region, killing 30 people all of them civilians. Local reports state that the strikes were targeting the Pakistan Taliban, which has several hideouts there Local media said the Air Force was targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in the area. However, all those killed were civilians. Image Courtesy: X It has been labelled as the most dangerous place in the world and Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lives up to its reputation. On Monday (September 22), the Pakistani Air Force launched strikes at the arid mountain region in northwestern Pakistan, killing 30 people, including women and children. But why is it that Pakistans authorities launched air strikes against its own people? The answer lies in the history of the region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We explain. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan air strikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa In the wee hours of Monday, Pakistan air force launched air strikes, dropping bombs on its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. According to local media reports, eight LS-6 bombs were dropped from JF-17 fighter jets on the Pashtun-majority Matre Dara village around 2 am. For the unaware, the LS-6 bombs are Chinese-made precision-guided munitions. They are similar in roles to the American Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kit but with longer ranges. The air strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people, including women and children with local reports adding that several others have also been injured, but their situation remains unclear. Shortly after the strikes, disturbing pictures and videos emerged on social media, showing bodies lying around. Rescue teams were engaged in searching for bodies under rubble in Tirah Valley, raising fears of the death count rising further. KP, a hot bed for militancy As per local reports, the strikes on Monday came as Pakistans air force was targeting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in the area. In fact, in recent times, the Pakistani forces have stepped up military operations in the area. On Sunday, the army announced that seven TTP terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Dera Ismail Khan district. This comes as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region is known to be a hot bed of militancy with Pakistani authorities stating that it is the base for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistan Taliban. Earlier, an official report released recently by the provincial police department reveals that Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has witnessed 605 terror-related incidents until August this year. And in this 605 incidents, 138 civilians have been killed and 352 have been injured. The report further added that as many as 79 police personnel have been killed, while 130 sustained injuries in these incidents. In August alone, the province reported 129 terror attacks that claimed the lives of 17 civilians and 13 police personnel, leaving 51 civilians and 46 policemen injured. Meanwhile, 351 suspects were named in terrorism incidents, 32 were gunned down, and five were arrested in August. The most recent terror attack in this area occurred in June. At least 13 Pakistani soldiers were killed and dozens wounded when terrorists took aim at a military convoy. Security officials said the coordinated attack occurred when a suicide bomber detonated explosives near a bomb disposal unit vehicle from the 22nd Frontier Force Regiment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a military convoy, said a local government official in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Later, a faction of the TTP claimed responsibility for it. Pakistani investigators collect evidence at the site of the attack on the army-run school in Peshawar in 2014. File image/AFP The worst terror attack in the region dates back to 2014 when they targeted the Army Public School (APS) in KPs Peshawar, killing more than 130 students. And how did this region become a base for terrorists belonging to the TTP and the Islamic State? The New York Times explains that the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 turned the region into a staging ground for Islamic fighters backed by the United States, Arab nations and Pakistan who were battling Moscows forces. After the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, the region descended into lawlessness, becoming a hub for fugitives, criminal networks, smugglers of arms and drugs, and kidnappers demanding ransom. It then became a terrorist stronghold following the 9/11 attacks, as US military operations in Afghanistan pushed Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorists into Pakistans tribal areas. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sectarian violence persists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Another reason that makes the northwestern region of the country dangerous is the sectarian violence that continues there. For instance, over 100 people have died in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Kurram district in a span of 10 days last November as a result of sectarian violence. Kurram is the only district in Pakistan where Shia make up the majority of the population, in contrast to the rest of the country, where Sunnis are the majority. Waves of violence have been unfolding since July, when tensions between Shia and Sunni tribes flared over a land dispute. Shiite Muslim prepare a placard during a protest condemning sectarian clashes in Pakistans Kurram district, which borders Afghanistan, in Islamabad last December. File image/AFP Political marginalisation hurts Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Experts note that the existing political conditions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa make it conducive for militancy and terrorism. The federal government in Pakistan and its powerful military, which has an oversized role in domestic and foreign affairs, have also eroded democratic norms and institutions in the region. Amnesty International in June even noted that the recurrent drone strikes in the region signal an disregard for civilian life in Pakistan. Pakistani authorities have failed to take action to protect the lives and property of civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who continue to pay the price of an escalating number of drone strikes in the province, said Isabelle Lassee, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Echoing similar sentiments, Syed Irfan Ashraf, a university lecturer in the northwestern city of Peshawar, said Pakistans military has tried to enforce an authoritarian governance model in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This governance model is taking a huge toll now, he was quoted as telling RFERL.org. With inputs from agencies TikToks future in the US may soon be decided as President Donald Trump confirmed plans for American investors, including Lachlan Murdoch, Larry Ellison, and Michael Dell, to take control of its US operations. The deal would shift TikToks data storage, ownership, and algorithm oversight to the US China and US flags are seen near a TikTok logo in this illustration picture taken July 16, 2020. File Image/Reuters The fate of TikTok in the United States appears to finally be moving towards a climax, one that involves some of the most influential figures in corporate America. US President Donald Trump announced that a group of high-profile US investors including Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, and Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell are lined up to take stakes in a proposed deal that would keep the popular short-video platform running in the country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD TikTok, which has over 170 million active users in the US, has been at the centre of intense scrutiny in Washington over concerns that its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, could be compelled to share sensitive user data with Beijing. Under a 2024 law passed during the Biden administration, ByteDance was required to sell TikToks US assets by January 2025, or the app would face a nationwide shutdown. However, Trump has delayed enforcement of the law several times as negotiations have continued. The latest pause extends until mid-December 2025, with the White House now indicating another 120-day extension, potentially pushing the final deadline into April 2026. What we know about TikTok US new ownership structure According to a senior White House official, the proposed agreement would create a new US-based company to manage TikToks American operations. Under this structure, American investors would hold a majority stake, while ByteDance would retain less than 20 per cent ownership. The new entity would be governed by a seven-member board, with six members appointed by the US side and one selected by ByteDance. The board would be composed of individuals with strong credentials in national security and cybersecurity, ensuring that the app is insulated from any foreign influence. This move directly addresses longstanding US concerns about how TikToks data is stored and used. As part of the deal, all American user data would be stored exclusively on US-based cloud infrastructure operated by Oracle, one of the companies poised to invest in the venture. Oracles involvement is seen as critical because of its role in providing secure data storage and oversight. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The White House official highlighted that the TikTok recommendation algorithm the engine behind the apps popular For You feed would also be brought under strict US control. TikToks content-recommendation algorithm will be retrained from the ground up - reviewed and analysed under US supervision with U.S. data that will not be shared outside of the United States, Reuters quoted the official. While the algorithm itself may be licensed from ByteDance, US authorities would have oversight to ensure it cannot be used by foreign actors to manipulate what American users see on the platform. Whos involved: Murdochs, Ellison, and Dell Trump confirmed that Lachlan Murdoch, Larry Ellison, and Michael Dell would be part of the American investment group taking control of TikToks US operations. Lachlan Murdoch, who recently secured long-term control over his familys media empire, will participate through Fox Corporation, according to sources familiar with the matter. The investment will not come from Murdoch personally, nor from News Corp, which owns media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post. Rupert Murdoch, the 94-year-old patriarch of the Murdoch family, could also have a role in the deal, though details remain unclear. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump praised the group of investors during an interview with Fox News The Sunday Briefing, calling them American patriots and expressing confidence in their ability to oversee TikToks US operations. I think theyre going to do a really good job, Trump said, highlighting the platforms role in helping him connect with younger voters during the 2024 presidential election, where he has credited TikTok as a key tool for his campaign outreach. Larry Ellison has long been associated with TikToks potential transition due to Oracles earlier negotiations with ByteDance during the Trump administrations first term. As a major Republican donor and influential tech executive, Ellisons participation provides both political and technical support to the proposed structure. Michael Dells involvement adds further weight, though Dell has not yet made public comments about his role. His company, Dell Technologies, is a major player in the US technology infrastructure sector. How the US is planning to protect TikTok from Beijing The restructuring plan includes several layers of protection designed to ensure that TikTok cannot be used as a tool for foreign espionage or influence campaigns. These measures respond to persistent allegations that ByteDance, as a Chinese company, could be compelled by Beijing to hand over sensitive data about US users or to alter TikToks content in ways that favour Chinese interests. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A general view of the offices of TikTok in Culver City, California, US, April 2, 2025. File Image/Reuters The most significant safeguard is the complete localisation of American user data, which would now be stored on secure cloud servers operated by Oracle. Additionally, the decision to retrain and operate the algorithm domestically ensures that the mechanisms determining what videos go viral remain fully under US jurisdiction. This has been a key sticking point for lawmakers, some of whom have warned that control of the algorithm could be used to subtly shape public opinion in the United States. ByteDances current investors including Susquehanna International Group, General Atlantic, and KKR will remain minority stakeholders in the new company but with sharply limited influence. The White House confirmed that ByteDances total ownership would be capped at under 20 per cent. Trump hinted at additional measures, including the possibility of the U.S. government taking a fee for brokering the deal, though this component hasnt been fully negotiated. The Wall Street Journal has reported that such a fee could be worth several billion dollars. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How politicians reacted to the move While the proposed deal represents a breakthrough in US-China negotiations, it faces scepticism in Congress. Some lawmakers are concerned that the arrangement might not meet the legal requirement for a full divestiture, as mandated by the 2024 law. Democratic Representative Frank Pallone voiced opposition, warning against the risk of lingering Chinese influence over TikTok. The devil will be in the details, Pallone said. We cannot allow China continued access to massive amounts of Americans personal data, and we cannot allow Trump to hand TikTok over to his tech bro buddies and turn it into a Maga mouthpiece. Period. Congress is expected to closely scrutinise the final structure of the deal, particularly the question of whether ByteDances minority stake gives it any meaningful control over TikToks inner workings. Trump himself has amassed 15 million followers on his personal TikTok account and has credited the app with helping him secure re-election in 2024. The White House even launched its official TikTok account last month, signalling the administrations recognition of the platforms reach. How US-China negotiations are faring Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping recently held a two-hour phone call, their first direct conversation in three months. During the call, the two leaders discussed a range of topics, including TikTok, the Russia-Ukraine war, and efforts to curb the flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump later told reporters that Xi had approved the TikTok deal, though he noted that a formal signing ceremony might still be necessary. The TikTok deal is well on its way, Trump said from the Oval Office. The two leaders agreed to meet face-to-face in South Korea at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which begins on October 31, 2025, in Gyeongju. Trump also announced plans to visit China early next year, with Xi expected to make a reciprocal visit to the US at a later date. However, Beijings official statement was more cautious. It pointed out Chinas desire for non-discriminatory treatment of its companies but stopped short of explicitly confirming that a final agreement had been reached. ByteDance, meanwhile, issued its own statement thanking both leaders for their attention to the matter and pledging to continue serving US users while complying with Chinese legal requirements. Recently, a bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers visited Beijing for the first time since 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent diplomatic rifts had effectively frozen such exchanges for years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The delegation, led by Democratic Representative Adam Smith, met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss a range of issues, including trade tensions, technology disputes, and military matters. Li described the visit as an opportunity to break the ice after years of strained ties. Smith acknowledged the need for more frequent and open dialogue. We need more of those types of exchanges, and we are hoping, to your words, that this will break the ice and we will begin to have more of these types of exchanges, he told Li. This visit comes at a time when the two countries remain at odds over semiconductor export restrictions, and Chinese activities in the South China Sea and Taiwan. What next? The Trump administrations approach to TikTok is part of a broader pattern of direct intervention in private-sector matters. Recently, the US government took a 10 per cent stake in Intel Corporation and approved a deal allowing Nvidia to sell certain AI chips to China in exchange for receiving 15 per cent of the revenue from those sales. Trump has defended these actions as necessary to safeguard American interests and strengthen national security. Critics, however, argue that such moves mark a sharp departure from traditional US free-market policies and could undermine the countrys economic competitiveness in the long term. With inputs from agencies Tom Homan, US President Donald Trumps border czar, was caught on FBI video in 2024 allegedly accepting a $50,000 (Rs 44.10 lakh) cash bribe in exchange for promises to help secure future immigration-related contracts. The probe began under President Joe Biden but was shut down after Trumps return to power Tom Homan, US President Donald Trumps border czar, speaks to the media outside the White House in Washington, US, September 9, 2025. File Image/Reuters An investigation into Tom Homan, the White House border czar under United States President Donald Trump, has come to light. Homan, who now oversees the administrations sweeping immigration enforcement strategy, was recorded by the FBI in 2024 allegedly taking a $50,000 cash payment during a covert operation. The probe, which began during the final months of US President Joe Bidens administration, was centred on allegations that Homan promised to direct lucrative border enforcement contracts to private companies in exchange for bribes if Trump won a second term. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, once Trump returned to power in January this year, the investigation was gradually stalled and eventually terminated, raising serious questions about political interference. How did the FBI sting operation go? The origins of the case trace back to mid-2024, when federal investigators in western Texas were pursuing a separate national security matter. During that probe, an individual under investigation repeatedly brought up Homans name, claiming he was requesting financial kickbacks from companies hoping to benefit from future immigration enforcement contracts. According to internal Justice Department case summaries reviewed by MSNBC, FBI agents posing as contractors were introduced to Homan through a mutual business contact. Over the course of several weeks, the undercover agents communicated and met with this intermediary and Homan himself. In these discussions, Homan allegedly indicated he could help them secure high-value government contracts once Trump returned to the White House. The operation culminated on September 20, 2024. At a prearranged location in Texas, equipped with hidden cameras, agents recorded Homan accepting a bag containing $50,000 in cash. The meeting and exchange were captured in detail and formed the core of the evidence in the bribery investigation, according to sources familiar with the case and internal records. Homan reportedly told the undercover operatives that he would hold onto the money in a trust until after his return to public office. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the time, he was not an official government employee and was instead running his private consulting firm, Homeland Strategic Consulting, which advertised its ability to assist companies in navigating the federal contracting system. The firms website highlighted its close relationships with key federal departments, stating, We have a proven track record of opening doors and bringing successful relationships to our clients, resulting in tens of millions of dollars of federal contracts to private companies. What did FBI do after the bribe? Once the payment was made and recorded, FBI officials and Justice Department prosecutors began considering how to proceed. Several federal officials involved in the probe believed that the recorded exchange and Homans statements provided a strong basis for charging him with conspiracy to commit bribery. However, legal experts noted a complication. Homan was not a government official at the time of the payment, and Trump had not yet returned to office. This created ambiguity over whether the federal bribery statute directly applied to the transaction. Prosecutors therefore explored a range of potential charges, including conspiracy, bribery, and two forms of fraud, according to documents reviewed by MSNBC. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Some attorneys concluded that the most prudent course of action would be to continue monitoring Homan after he assumed his expected government role. If he reaffirmed his promise or took steps to deliver on the alleged deal while serving in an official capacity, prosecutors believed they could then move forward with a much clearer case of federal bribery. How did Homan rise through Trumps circle? Homan had been closely associated with Trump for years. A veteran of federal border enforcement, Homan had previously led Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as acting director during Trumps first administration. His tenure was marked by aggressive enforcement policies, including the controversial zero-tolerance initiative that led to the separation of thousands of migrant children from their families. Due to widespread criticism, Homans nomination to permanently lead ICE faltered in the Senate, and he retired in April 2018. After leaving government, he established Homeland Strategic Consulting while also becoming a Fox News contributor and aligning himself with right-leaning organisations such as the Heritage Foundation. During Trumps 2023-2024 campaign, Homan was a prominent surrogate, appearing at rallies and events to champion Trumps hardline immigration policies. In July 2024, speaking at the National Conservatism Conference, Homan declared, Trump comes back in January, Ill be on his heels coming back, and I will run the biggest deportation operation this countrys ever seen. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On November 11, 2024, Trump formally announced that Homan would serve as his border czar in a White House advisory position. Unlike the role of ICE director, this position did not require Senate confirmation or a detailed FBI background check, allowing Homan to assume his duties immediately after Trumps inauguration. How did Trump & Co. have react? As news of the investigation began to emerge, the White House and Justice Department officials loyal to Trump dismissed the allegations and insisted that the probe was politically motivated. FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a joint statement saying, This matter originated under the previous administration and was subjected to a full review by FBI agents and Justice Department prosecutors. They found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing. The Departments resources must remain focused on real threats to the American people, not baseless investigations. As a result, the investigation has been closed. White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson also defended Homan forcefully, calling the probe a politically driven attack by Biden-era officials. She said, This blatantly political investigation, which found no evidence of illegal activity, is yet another example of how the Biden Department of Justice was using its resources to target President Trumps allies rather than investigate real criminals and the millions of illegal aliens who flooded our country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Jackson further stated, Tom Homan has not been involved with any contract award decisions. He is a career law enforcement officer and lifelong public servant who is doing a phenomenal job on behalf of President Trump and the country. The White House maintained that Homan had taken steps to prevent any conflict of interest by shutting down his consulting firm after Trumps victory and recusing himself from any discussions or decisions related to federal contracts. How did the investigation cease? The Public Integrity Section, a specialized unit tasked with prosecuting corruption cases involving public officials, joined the case in late November 2024. However, tensions rose soon after Trumps return to office. In early 2025, Emil Bove, then acting deputy attorney general, was briefed on the case. According to sources familiar with those discussions, Bove expressed strong opposition to continuing the investigation, referring to it as an example of a so-called deep state operation. At the same time, Bove clashed with senior prosecutors over a separate corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. When Bove ordered that case dismissed, multiple career prosecutors resigned in protest. Some of those prosecutors had also been supervising the Homan probe, further weakening the team pursuing the case. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD By February this year, investigative work on Homan had largely ceased. Although some agents and prosecutors wanted to maintain surveillance to see if Homan acted on his alleged promises, top officials declined to authorise additional steps. Can Homan be charged? Legal specialists consulted by MSNBC explained the unusual legal challenges posed by Homans situation. Under federal bribery laws, an individual can be charged only if they are a public official at the time of the offence. However, it is still a crime for anyone to solicit money to improperly influence government contracts, even if they are not yet in office. This meant that while Homan could not immediately face a standard bribery charge for accepting the payment in September 2024, prosecutors had the option of pursuing other charges such as conspiracy or fraud. If Homan later reaffirmed his promise or took action after becoming border czar, that could have provided the missing link for a direct bribery prosecution. Several Justice Department attorneys believed the initial evidence was strong enough to warrant continued monitoring and potentially a formal indictment later. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD By mid-2025, the investigation was officially shut down. Despite the formal closure of the case, numerous questions remain. The exact rationale for shutting down the investigation has not been made public, and documents detailing internal deliberations have not been released. With inputs from agencies While the focus of Donald Trumps new $100,000 fee for every new H-1B visa, is on tech firms like Amazon and Microsoft, the rule could devastate hospitals, universities, and research institutions that depend on foreign-trained doctors, nurses, and STEM talent to fill critical staffing gaps A Boeing 737-823 operated by American Airlines takes off from the Reagan National Airport as US flags flutter in Washington, US, November 23, 2024. File Image/Reuters United States President Donald Trump introducing a $100,000 fee for every new H-1B visa application is largely being viewed through the lens of its impact on the technology industry, but experts are also warning that it could have serious consequences for US hospitals, universities and small businesses, particularly those that depend on foreign professionals to fill essential positions. The rule, which came into effect on Sunday, applies only to new H-1B visa applicants and not to those seeking renewals or currently holding valid visas. The White House clarified that the fee will be one-time and not annual. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to officials, the fee will first apply in the 2026 H-1B application cycle, giving organisations some time to prepare for the dramatic increase in costs. How H-1B visas are a pipeline of skilled talent in the US The H-1B visa programme has long been the primary pathway for US employers to hire foreign workers with specialised skills, particularly in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, as well as healthcare and life sciences. Each year, thousands of professionals from around the world apply for H-1B visas to work in the United States, filling roles where domestic supply of talent falls short. According to government data, India remains the dominant source of H-1B workers, accounting for 71 per cent of approved beneficiaries last year, with China in second place at 11.7 per cent. This shows the deep dependence of US industries on Indian talent. In sectors like technology, Indian professionals are especially prominent, often deployed by major firms to handle high-value, onshore client projects. However, the importance of H-1B workers extends far beyond tech. International medical graduates (IMGs), many of whom enter the US healthcare system through H-1B visas, are a vital part of the countrys healthcare infrastructure. Likewise, universities and research institutions rely heavily on foreign talent for teaching and research positions. How this will affect the US healthcare sector The US is already grappling with a growing shortage of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Many hospitals, especially those in rural and underserved urban areas, rely heavily on foreign-trained workers to fill critical roles. A 2024 analysis by the Migration Policy Institute and US Bureau of Labor Statistics found that one in five immigrant doctors in the US is of Indian origin. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In total, 176,000 Indian healthcare professionals account for 7 per cent of the countrys immigrant healthcare workforce, making India a key contributor to staffing hospitals and clinics. India is also the second-largest source of nurses, behind only the Philippines. The scale of reliance is evident in residency programmes, which serve as the entry point for many international medical graduates. In 2024 alone, nearly 5,000 Indian doctors applied for residency positions in the US, which are crucial for gaining clinical experience and meeting licensing requirements. Each year, more than 10,000 residency spots are filled by doctors on H-1B visas. According to India Today, these positions are typically low-paying, with salaries ranging between $55,000 and $70,000 annually. The introduction of a $100,000 fee per visa application could make it financially impossible for hospitals to recruit international residents, many of which already operate on narrow margins. Without foreign-trained physicians, rural and inner-city hospitals could face staffing crises. In 2023 alone, 8,200 H-1B visas were approved for roles in general medicine and surgical hospitals, highlighting just how integral these professionals are to the US healthcare system. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The potential fallout is stark: a long-standing projection estimates that by 2034, the US could face a shortage of 124,000 doctors. This new visa rule could accelerate that timeline, leaving vulnerable communities without adequate medical care. How this has put universities & research programmes at risk Universities and non-profit research organisations rely on foreign talent to advance scientific and academic work. Historically, many such institutions have been exempt from paying H-1B visa fees, but the future of these exemptions remains unclear under the new rule. According to Mint, data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) FY24 report illustrates the scale of these exemptions: 23,560 applications were exempt because they were filed by institutions of higher education. 19,000 applications were exempt because the employer was a non-profit or affiliated with a university. 6,598 applications were exempt for non-profit research or government organizations. Over 10,000 applications were exempt because the employer was involved in clinical training. If these exemptions are removed, universities could struggle to recruit international professors, researchers, and graduate students, while research programmes in areas such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and public health may face disruptions. India has emerged as a global hub for life sciences research and support services, with 23 of the worlds top 50 life sciences companies operating Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in India, according to a report by EY India. These centers handle over 60 per cent of critical functions like finance, HR, supply chain, and IT, as well as high-level mandates such as regulatory affairs and commercial strategy. Each year, India produces 2 million STEM graduates and over 110,000 medical graduates, forming a vast talent pool for research-driven industries. How this will impact the tech industry The tech sector has historically been the largest consumer of H-1B visas, with companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta among the top petitioners. Data from the first half of 2025 shows Amazon and its cloud computing arm AWS securing over 12,000 H-1B approvals, while Microsoft and Meta each received more than 5,000 approvals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While larger firms with deep resources may absorb the costs, smaller tech companies and start-ups are expected to be hit hardest. Indian IT services companies, which send thousands of professionals to the US each year, are also grappling with the implications of this shift. According to Nasscom, Indias premier IT industry body, the sector has been actively reducing its dependence on H-1B visas by expanding local hiring and investing in domestic upskilling programmes. The industry is spending more than $1 billion on local upskilling and hiring in the U.S., and the number of local hires has increased tremendously, Nasscom said in a statement. Despite these efforts, the stakes remain high. Indias IT industry is valued at $283 billion, with approximately 57 per cent of its revenue derived from US-based projects. Even though the fee will not apply to renewals or existing visa holders, analysts warn that a $100,000 charge for new visas is prohibitively expensive, especially for companies reliant on rotating staff between onshore and offshore locations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies US President Donald Trump will meet key Arab and Muslim leaders on Tuesday, during the UN General Assembly in New York, to discuss the Gaza war and regional security. With Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and others attending, the talks come amid recent calls for an Islamic Nato-like defence pact Displaced Palestinians, fleeing northern Gaza due to an Israeli military operation, move southward after Israeli forces ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the south, in the central Gaza Strip, September 16, 2025. File Image/Reuters As the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) begins in New York, a high-profile meeting is being organised by United States President Donald Trump. Scheduled for Tuesday, the session is set to bring together a select group of Arab and Muslim leaders for critical talks on regional security and the ongoing Gaza war, reported Axios. The gathering will take place behind closed doors on the sidelines of the UNGA. Invitations have been sent to leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, reportedly along with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose participation has been officially confirmed by Islamabad. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a statement by Pakistans Foreign Office, Islamabad said that Sharif will attend a meeting of select Islamic leaders with US President Trump to exchange views on issues pertaining to regional and international peace and security. The meeting will come just six days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to Washington for direct talks with Trump on September 29. Gaza war to be at the centre of talks Over the past two years, the Gaza conflict has escalated dramatically. According to reports, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, while infrastructure across the territory has been severely damaged or destroyed. The humanitarian crisis has drawn widespread international condemnation and has strained relations between Israel and several of its Arab neighbours. Amid growing pressure, several Western countries, including Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, recently announced their recognition of a Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected these moves outright, stating on Sunday that such recognition will not happen. Against this backdrop, Trump has been seeking ways to mediate an end to the fighting while also maintaining Washingtons long-standing alliance with Israel. The upcoming meeting is intended to create a forum where Arab and Muslim leaders can discuss a coordinated post-war plan for Gaza. According to officials familiar with the planning, Washington wants these countries to take an active role in stabilising Gaza once hostilities cease, including possibly contributing troops to a multinational force that would replace Israeli forces on the ground. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Arab leaders, on the other hand, are expected to use the meeting to urge Trump to pressure Israel to halt its military operations and to abandon any plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. The stakes are especially high for the UAE, which has warned that Israeli annexation could unravel the Abraham Accords, the landmark diplomatic agreements brokered during Trumps first term that normalised relations between Israel and several Arab nations. Tensions over recent Israeli strike on Qatar Complicating the situation further is the Israeli airstrike on Doha, Qatar, on September 9, which targeted Hamas leaders based there. This marked the first-ever Israeli attack on the territory of a Gulf nation, setting off alarm bells across the region. The strike prompted Qatar to immediately call an emergency joint summit of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on September 15. More than 40 countries participated, with high-level attendance from across the Muslim world. Among those present were Egypts President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and several other regional leaders. The summit began with strong condemnation of Israels actions, framing the attack on Doha as a direct violation of Qatars sovereignty. Qatar has long been a close ally of the United States and hosts the largest US military airbase in West Asia, making the strike particularly sensitive. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The joint communique issued at the end of the summit focused primarily on condemning Israeli actions in Gaza. It urged all states to take all possible legal and effective measures to prevent Israel from continuing its actions against the Palestinian people. While the communique did not explicitly mention the idea of a collective defence pact, several leaders used their speeches to call for stronger security cooperation, including the possibility of forming a Nato-style alliance for the Muslim world. The push for an Islamic Nato At the Doha summit, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi proposed reviving a collective defence arrangement similar to Nato, in which an attack on one Arab or Islamic nation would be treated as an attack on all member states. El-Sisi suggested that his country was prepared to deploy 20,000 troops immediately to form the backbone of such a force, encouraging others to contribute as well. Iran supported the concept but pushed for a more explicitly religious alliance under the banner of an Islamic Nato, while Egypt and several Arab countries preferred a more regional Arab framework. The discussions marked the most serious consideration of a collective defence pact among Muslim-majority nations in recent years. For Pakistan, this development is of particular significance. Experts believe that Pakistans powerful Army Chief Asim Munir envisions his country taking a leadership role in such an alliance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan is the only Muslim-majority country with nuclear weapons, which positions it uniquely within the Muslim worlds security architecture. The idea of an Islamic Nato has been under discussion for years but gained new momentum after the Doha strike. Leaders at the summit debated how to pool military and strategic resources to protect their nations from external threats. Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defence pact raises questions Pakistan and Saudi Arabia announced a bilateral defence pact days before the upcoming UNGA meeting. The agreement stipulates that any attack on one country will be considered an attack on both, echoing the collective defence principle at the heart of Nato. This pact is seen by analysts as a possible first step toward a broader Arab-Islamic defence coalition. The timing of the agreement has led some to link it directly to the ongoing discussions about an Islamic Nato, though neither government has confirmed this explicitly. Pakistans inclusion in Tuesdays meeting, alongside major Gulf powers, is being viewed as a sign of Islamabads improving ties with Washington. Relations between the US and Pakistan had been strained in recent years but have warmed since May, when Trump claimed to successfully brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following a dangerous escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Separate Gulf leaders meeting with Trump In addition to the main session with select Islamic leaders, Trump is also expected to hold a separate meeting later the same day with leaders from the Persian Gulf region. This gathering will include representatives from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Sources indicate that the primary topic will be Gulf countries concerns over the Israeli strike on Doha. These nations are seeking assurances from Washington that similar attacks will not occur again. They are also likely to raise broader security concerns, including the risk of further escalation if Israel continues its aggressive military strategy. Despite Trumps efforts to engage with Arab and Muslim leaders, there remains deep frustration across the region regarding Washingtons perceived support for Israels military actions. Many Gulf states believe that the US has not done enough to restrain Israel or to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. After the Doha strike, Trump met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in New York to discuss the incident. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later stated publicly that the United States would not alter its fundamental relationship with Israel, a message that disappointed many Arab leaders. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As a result, Tuesdays meeting represents an opportunity for these nations to press Trump directly on their concerns and to seek a clearer US position on future Israeli actions. With inputs from agencies Zhang Zhan, a Chinese citizen journalist, was sentenced to another four years in prison for picking quarrels and provoking trouble. Zhan exposed the early Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan, posting videos that criticised the governments management of the virus. She was subsequently arrested and has spent four years behind bars until now On Friday, the Shanghai Pudong New Area Peoples Court convicted Zhang Zhan again for picking quarrels and provoking trouble, a catch-all term used to target government critics. File image/Reuters Zhang Zhan once put everything on the line to show the world the reality of Wuhan at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak. Now, after completing a four-year prison term for her reporting, the Chinese citizen journalist has again been handed another four-year sentence. On Friday, the Shanghai Pudong New Area Peoples Court convicted her again for picking quarrels and provoking trouble, a catch-all term used to target government critics. Speaking to the Guardian, Antoine Bernard, director of advocacy and assistance at Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a press freedom group, described Zhangs trial as not only prosecution, its persecution. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So who exactly is Zhang Zhan? What did she do to face such punishment? And why does her case matter today? Heres a closer look. Who is Zhang Zhan? Zhang Zhan, 42, is a former lawyer from Shaanxi province who transitioned into independent journalism to document the realities of the Covid-19 outbreak. She is now one of Chinas most outspoken citizen journalists. According to a biography published by her supporters last year, Zhang converted to Christianity in 2015, and it was around this time that she began speaking out on human rights issues. Her activism soon drew the attention of authorities. In 2019, she was arrested in Shanghai after staging a protest in support of Hong Kong. Zhang wrote articles, posted comments, and even held placards backing the pro-democracy movement. A pro-democracy activist holds placards with a picture of Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan outside the Chinese central governments liaison office in Hong Kong on December 28, 2020. AP For this, she was detained, and according to the human rights organisation Front Line Defenders, forced to undergo psychiatric examinations while in custody. What did Zhang Zhan do? In February 2020, Zhang left her home in Shanghai and travelled to Wuhan, then the epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak. She wanted to show the world what was really happening inside hospitals and on the citys streets. Despite repeated warnings and threats from the authorities, she kept livestreaming and writing essays about what she saw. Her videos, which have been watched more than 100,000 times, offered a rare and unfiltered glimpse into the early days of Chinas strict zero-Covid policy. She openly criticised officials for curbing peoples freedoms under the banner of pandemic controls. This screenshot, taken from an undated video on December 28, 2020, shows former lawyer and Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, in China. File image/ AP By May 2020, Zhang was arrested and later sentenced to four years in prison. While behind bars, she went on several hunger strikes to protest her conviction and treatment. According to court documents seen by Reuters, police restrained her hands and force-fed her through a tube, her lawyers revealed at the time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Her courage did not go unnoticed. In 2021, she was awarded the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Press Freedom Award for courage. When Zhang was finally released in May 2024, she kept a low profile. Supporters believe she was under heavy police watch, a common fate for Chinese dissidents. Just a few months later, in August 2024, she was detained again and formally arrested in November. Prosecutors accused her of posting on X and YouTube in ways that seriously damaged the countrys image. Why Zhang Zhans case matters China currently holds the worlds largest number of jailed journalists, at least 124 media workers are behind bars. In the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index, the country ranks 178 out of 180. Her former lawyer, Ren, wrote on X that the new charges stemmed from Zhangs online comments on overseas platforms, insisting she had committed no crime. Authorities, however, have never publicly explained what specific activities she was accused of. Press freedom groups say this is part of a pattern. This is the second time Zhang Zhan has faced trial on baseless charges that amount to nothing more than a blatant act of persecution for her journalism work, said Beh Lih Yi, Asia-Pacific director at the Committee to Protect Journalists. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Others argue Zhang deserves recognition, not punishment. She should be celebrated globally as an information hero, not trapped in brutal prison conditions, said Aleksandra Bielakowska, RSFs Asia-Pacific advocacy manager. Human rights advocates are now urging the international community to step up pressure on Beijing for her release, warning that her ordeal and persecution must end. With input from agencies Big tech firms such as Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and Meta were left scrambling in the aftermath of US President Donald Trumps announcement about a $100,000 fee (Rs 88 lakh) on H-1B visas. But what do we know about the L-1 visa? What are its requirements? How does it compare to the H-1B visa? The L-1 is a non-immigrant visa that allows multinational firms to temporarily transfer an employee from another country to the United States. Representational image US President Donald Trumps announcement that America would be imposing a $100,000 fee (Rs 88 lakh) on new H-1B visa applications left many shocked. Big tech firms such as Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and Meta were left scrambling, with many companies advising their employees to return to America immediately. The White House later announced that the fee must be paid by new applicants only. This came after confusion reigned in the aftermath of the announcement by Howard Lutnick, which left many thinking this was a yearly fee and that those holding H-1B visas would be charged $100,000 (Rs 88 lakh) to re-enter the country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US officials also tried to tamp down on the panic, saying H-1B holders dont need to rush back before Sunday or pay the $100,000 fee. However, some are now wondering if the L-1 visa will become the new H-1B visa for tech giants. Google, Microsoft, Amazon and other US big tech firms have been sourcing foreign workers through L-1 visas for years now. Over the past three years, big tech firms have been hiring at IITs for India-based roles first, and then taking the best and brightest to the United States. But what do we know about the L-1 visa? What are its requirements? How does it compare to the H-1B visa? L-1 visa and requirements The L-1 is another non-immigrant visa. It allows multinational firms to temporarily transfer an employee from another country to the United States thus making it an intracompany transfer visa. There are two types of L-1 visas: L-1A visa for managers and executives transferring to the United States or going there to set up an office L-1B visa for specialised employees, who have essential specialist skills or knowledge. However, to apply for this visa both the company and the employee must meet certain specific requirements. First, the employee must have worked for the company for at least one year continuously within a three-year period before filing the application. In both instances, the employer must file Form I-129 on behalf of the employee and pay the accompanying fees. Any time spent working in the United States will not count towards the 12-month period. Under the L-1A visa, the person must also be going to the US to work as a manager or executive. The L-1A visa allows employees to stay in the US for up to seven years. The US office must be a subsidiary, branch, affiliate, or parent company of the foreign employer. The organisation can be a corporation, charity, a non-profit or a religious group. The employer must be doing business in a foreign country as well as in the US. Simply having an office does not qualify one to apply for an L-1 visa. Under the L-1A visa, the person must also be going to the US to work as a manager or executive. Reuters Under the L-1B visa, specialised knowledge refers to advanced knowledge or expertise in the companys products, processes, technology, or other areas. The L-1B visa allows employees to stay in the US for up to five years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Advantages and disadvantages However, in both instances, the employees duration of stay could be reduced if they have previously worked in the US under the H visa. Unlike the H-1B, which is capped at 85,000 visas per year, there is no cap on the number of visas that can be issued in this category. Also, unlike the H-1B, the worker does not need to meet a certain educational requirement to qualify. L-1 visa holders can also become eligible to apply for the Green Card permanent residency in the United States. Employers in this category can also submit one application for multiple employees. The L-1 visa also allows spouses to apply to work in the United States. However, this visa category is far more closely scrutinised than its counterparts. Those assessing the visa require precise and detailed reasons as to why a worker in the US cannot do the same job, and why the individual applying has been assigned the task. The L-1 visa can take anywhere between four to six months to be approved, or even longer. US President Donald Trump displays a signed executive order in the Oval Office at the White House. Reuters For the employee, there are some downsides too. For example, you cannot change employers under the L-1 visa if you want to remain in America. The specialised knowledge may also be difficult to prove. While the L-1 costs less than a tenth of an H-1B at just $7,000 ( Rs 6.17 lakh) on average, the accompanying legal and compliance costs could take that number as high as $70,000 (Rs 61.74 lakh) over the entire period. After that, the company and employee will have to either apply for a change of status or leave. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What do experts say? Experts are also wondering if the White House will target the L-1 visa next. Historically, whenever H-1B fees were increased, the L-1 was also targeted, particularly because both categories are heavily used by global IT and outsourcing firms, Ankit Mehra, CEO of GyanDhan, told Economic Times. Scrutiny of L-1 visas has already been stringent, especially for specialised-knowledge petitions, where the definition is applied very narrowly. If more companies start shifting to L-1 as a workaround to rising H-1B costs, we expect US authorities to tighten their review further. That could mean more paperwork, higher rejection rates, and greater compliance checks. Some say this is a self-inflicted wound by the Trump administration. Ankita Singh, founder of Sarvaank Associates, added, Far from protecting American jobs, this move looks like a self-inflicted wound on US innovation. It risks choking the flow of essential talent to startups, driving companies to move jobs offshore, and handing countries like India an unexpected blessing in disguise. With inputs from agencies The US government is reportedly preparing to link the use of Tylenol during pregnancy with autism in children. Tylenol, the brand name for acetaminophen and known as paracetamol in many countries, is a common pain reliever used in the US, including by expectant mothers. The suggestion of a possible link to autism has led to growing doubts and concern For many years, Tylenol has been considered safe for relieving pain and reducing fever. Reuters/File Photo The Donald Trump administration is reportedly expected to link the use of Tylenol during pregnancy to autism in children. I think we found an answer to autism, Trump told the crowd in Arizona at the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead earlier this month. Tylenol has long been seen as a safe option for treating pain and fever. But the possible link to autism has raised fresh doubts and worries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, what steps is the US administration considering? Can using Tylenol during pregnancy really lead to autism in children? Lets take a look: What did Donald Trump say? During his speech at Charlie Kirks memorial service on Sunday, Trump said he would speak from the Oval Office on Monday about autism. I think youre going to find it to be amazing, he told the audience. I think we found an answer to autism. He did not share details of what he planned to announce but said his administration wont let it happen anymore. At Charlie Kirks funeral, Trump announced the biggest medical breakthrough in U.S. history and claimed they found an answer to autism. Bro, its a funeral This wasnt a eulogy. It was a campaign teaser. Even in death, its still all about him. pic.twitter.com/YamqWweEUd Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) September 21, 2025 I think its going to be one of the most important news conferences Ill ever have, and I look so forward to it, he added, stating that he believed Kirk would have looked forward to it as well. What is Tylenol? What is its use? Tylenol is the brand name for acetaminophen, a common pain reliever that is widely used in the US, including by pregnant women. It is called paracetamol in other parts of the world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For many years, Tylenol has been considered safe for relieving pain and reducing fever, even during pregnancy, when most medicines are discouraged. Doctors sometimes advise its use during pregnancy, as untreated pain or fever can cause health problems of their own. Tylenol is displayed for sale behind a locked anti-theft barrier at a pharmacy in Washington, DC. Reuters/File Photo According to the Washington Post, health officials now plan to caution women against taking the drug early in pregnancy unless they are running a fever. The report also said Trump officials are likely to announce plans to study whether leucovorin, a drug, could possibly help treat autism. What is autism? According to the Cleveland Clinic, autism is a difference in how a childs brain functions, leading them to socialise and behave in ways that may be different from others. Early signs can include reduced eye contact, limited body language and repetitive movements or speech. While autism can be diagnosed at any age, the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) calls it a developmental disorder because symptoms usually show up within the first two years of life. Why is Tylenol being linked to autism? Recent reports suggest the US government is examining a possible connection between Tylenol use in pregnancy and autism, sparking fresh concerns. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr was preparing to announce that taking Tylenol while pregnant could be tied to autism spectrum disorder. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Some research has suggested a link, while other studies have found no evidence. Fact check: Is there a link? A few studies indicate that using the drug during pregnancy might raise the risk of autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. However, a large study involving more than 2 million children in Sweden, published last year, found no such connection. Previously, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) stated there is no solid evidence that careful use of acetaminophen during pregnancy harms development in the womb. The US government is examining a possible connection between Tylenol use in pregnancy and autism. Reuters/File Photo After the Wall Street Journal reported on Robert F Kennedy Jrs plans, leading maternal and prenatal health groups reaffirmed their support for using acetaminophen when needed during pregnancy. Both ACOG and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine said acetaminophen remains a safe option for managing pain and fever when taken in moderation. Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, said in a statement: We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday wrote an open letter to citizens, lauding the recently launched GST Bachat Utsav as a major relief for households and a boost to economic activity Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday wrote an open letter to citizens, lauding the recently launched GST Bachat Utsav as a major relief for households and a boost to economic activity. This festive season, let's celebrate the 'GST Bachat Utsav'! Lower GST rates mean more savings for every household and greater ease for businesses. pic.twitter.com/QOUGWXrC3d Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the nation celebrates the beginning of Navaratri, I extend heartfelt wishes to you and your families. May this festival bring good health, happiness and prosperity to everyone. This year, the festive season brings an added reason to rejoice. From September 22nd, the Next Generation GST reforms have begun to make their presence felt, marking the start of a GST Bachat Utsav or GST Savings Festival across the country, PM Modi wrote. These reforms will boost savings and directly benefit every section of society, be it farmers, women, youth, poor, middle class, traders or MSMEs. They will encourage greater growth and investments and accelerate the progress of every state and region, he added. The open letter comes after the rollout of the next-generation GST reforms, which came into effect on Monday, officially launching what he described as the GST Bachat Utsav. The GST 2.0 overhaul aims to simplify the tax system and significantly reduce the financial burden on households, businesses, and farmers, providing timely relief ahead of the festive season. In his letter, PM Modi emphasised that the most important feature of the new GST framework is the shift to a two-rate structure of 5% and 18%, replacing the earlier four-slab system. Under this simplified model, a wide range of daily essentials including food items, medicines, soaps, toothpaste, and insurance are now either tax-exempt or placed in the lowest 5% slab. Goods previously taxed at 12% have mostly moved to the 5% category, further increasing savings for consumers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD PM Modi also noted the rise of an aspirational neo-middle class, stating that in recent years, 25 crore people have moved out of poverty, and these reforms are designed to empower them economically. If we combine the income tax cuts and the Next Generation GST reforms, they add up to savings of nearly Rs 2.5 lakh crore for the people. Your household expenses will reduce and it will be easier to fulfill aspirations such as building a home, purchasing a vehicle, purchasing appliances, eating out or planning a family vacation, PM Modi said. Our nations GST journey, which began in 2017, was a turning point in freeing our citizens and businesses from the web of multiple taxes. GST united the nation economically. One Nation, One Tax brought uniformity and relief. The GST Council, with the active participation of both Centre and States, took many pro-people decisions. Now, these new reforms take us further, simplifying the system, reducing rates and putting more savings in the hands of the people, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He also reiterated the Centres vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, emphasising that achieving this goal requires a firm commitment to self-reliance. The latest GST reforms, he said, strengthen Indias local manufacturing base and are a crucial step toward building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. PM Modi also urged citizens to actively support and choose Made-in-India products, underlining their role in driving national growth. I appeal to our shopkeepers and traders to sell products that are Made in India. Let us proudly say - what we buy is Swadeshi. Let us proudly say - what we sell is Swadeshi. I also urge state governments to encourage industry, manufacturing and improvement of the investment climate. Once again, I wish you and your families a joyous Navaratri and a season full of happiness and savings through the GST Savings Festival, PM Modi added. On Sunday, the prime minister addressed the nation on the eve of the new GST rates roll-out from the first day of Navratri, lauding it as the GST Bachat Utsav for shoppers as prices of a wide array of items have gone down. With inputs from agencies India is reportedly working on a plan to develop bodyguard satellites and advanced tracking systems to protect its spacecraft India is said to be working on a plan to strengthen its ability to protect satellites from potential attacks following a close encounter in orbit that highlighted growing risks to its national security. A Bloomberg report cited an incident from mid-2024 when a satellite from a neighbouring country passed within one kilometre of one belonging to the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro). Firstpost has not independently verified the report. The Indian satellite was orbiting at an altitude of 500 to 600 kilometres, an increasingly congested band of space that is also home to communications constellations such as Elon Musks Starlink. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The sources indicated that although no collision took place, the unusually close approach may have been intentional, perhaps a display of capability by the other nation. The proximity was considered especially alarming because the Indian satellite involved was carrying out activities with potential military applications including mapping and monitoring of ground-based objects. What is Indias bodyguard satellite plan? In response to these developments, the Indian government is reportedly formulating a programme to create bodyguard satellites capable of identifying and neutralising threats to Indias spacecraft. The initiative forms part of a broader national effort to expand the countrys orbital security resources. Bloomberg reported that officials are pursuing a Rs 270-billion ($3 billion) plan to deploy around 50 surveillance satellites with the first expected to be launched next year. The government is said to be engaging with private startups to explore technical solutions including the possible use of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) satellites. Such systems could provide quicker detection of threats in orbit, giving technicians on the ground sufficient time to instruct spacecraft to manoeuvre and avoid danger. The vision is to integrate these orbital assets with ground-based radars and telescopes to form a more comprehensive protective network. Why is India focussing on space security? The episode has renewed attention to growing challenges in space operations, particularly when there is a growing trend of militarisation of space by rival nations. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has exposed the vulnerability of satellite communications on a few occasions. Many countries have taken those reports seriously and aim to put in place their respective plans to safeguard their space assets. In Indias case, the growing cooperation between Pakistan and China warrants preparedness for such eventualities. The report of India planning to develop bodyguard satellites come against this backdrop. Figures from N2Y0.com show that Pakistan operates just eight satellites, compared with Indias fleet of over 100, while China commands a vast and rapidly expanding constellation of more than 930 spacecraft. Observers have noted that Chinas Peoples Liberation Army has become increasingly active in developing advanced space capabilities. In June 2024, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit cautioned during a New Delhi seminar that Chinas satellite programme was advancing both in scale and sophistication adding to regional strategic concerns. Officials in the United States have expressed similar warnings about Chinas ambitions in space. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What India learnt from Op Sindoor? Isros importance as a national security asset was hioghlighted earlier in the year when India faced heightened tensions with Pakistan. During the military conflict with Pakistan in May , more than 400 scientists reportedly worked continuously to ensure the smooth functioning of Earth observation and communication satellites. Isro chairman V Narayanan later confirmed the agencys round-the-clock role during that period. At the same time, China was reported to have assisted Pakistan by helping it adjust satellite coverage, according to a defence ministry research group. This episode illustrated how space-based assets are increasingly integrated into modern conflicts supporting intelligence, surveillance and communication functions. It also highlighted the risks India faces from not only direct adversaries but also third-party involvement in regional hostilities. Experts have pointed out that India currently lacks the capability for continuous, round-the-clock in-orbit tracking. Sudheer Kumar N, a former Isro director who now works as an independent consultant, noted that while such infrastructure does not yet exist, several startups are already developing solutions. The success of these efforts could eventually enable India to maintain constant awareness of its orbital environment. While discussions about protective satellite systems remain in early stages, the governments direction indicates a recognition that space is an increasingly contested domain. The creation of bodyguard satellites, alongside investments in LiDAR technology and ground-based surveillance could position India to better defend its orbital assets at a time when near misses and shows of strength are no longer rare occurrences. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Indias debacle in 1962 following Chinese aggression had emboldened Pakistan. Ayub Khan proclaimed that India is a holy cow that wont bite, implying that Indian leadership would avoid confrontation even if provokedonly to have his myth shattered A picture taken on September 11, 1965, in New Delhi shows Indians cheering on top of a Pakistani tank seized during an operation during the Indo-Pakistani War. AFP/File Photo Barely two months after Indias partition in August 1947, Pakistan launched Operation Gulmarg on October 22, in a bid to annex the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), employing tribals duly supported by the regular army personnel. Sensing imminent collapse, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the instrument of accession four days later on October 26, legally ceding J&K to India. The very next day, Indian troops were airlifted to Srinagar to defend the state against the Pakistani aggression. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The escalation of conflict led to the full-fledged war, referred to as the First Kashmir War (1947-48). It was characterised by a series of battles fought in the rugged high-altitude terrain, amidst formidable logistics challenges. The war ended with the UN calling for a ceasefire on January 6, 1949. While India was able to gain control of around two-thirds of J&K, Pakistan did manage to occupy almost one-third, ie, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). However, the growing Islamic zeal, Delhis pacifist policies and the India-China war of 1962 made Pakistani leadership believe that India had been weakened due to its internal diversity and lacked the national will to wage a decisive war. Field Marshal Ayub Khan, who had seized power in a military coup in 1958, strongly embodied this perception. Pakistan joined the US-led military alliances, namely the South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) and Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO), which enabled it to acquire modern weapons from the US, including F-86 Sabre jets, F-104 Starfighters, M-48 Patton tanks, artillery guns and an assortment of sophisticated infantry weapons. The Pakistani military even received training in the US and Britain. All these gave Pakistani leadership a sense of superiority and readiness to go to war with India. As aforesaid, Indias debacle in 1962 in the wake of Chinese aggression further emboldened Pakistan. Ayub Khan assumed that the Indian militarys preparedness was low. He had proclaimed that India is a holy cow that wont bite, implying that Indian leadership would avoid confrontation even if provoked. Equally misplaced was his infamous statement about Indian soldiers when he said, The Hindu Army has no stomach for a fight and can be silenced with a few shots. Ayub was now convinced that Kashmir, an unfinished agenda of the partition, could be wrested by employing military force. Operations J&K and Western Front Accordingly, the Pakistan Army planned two operations to translate Ayubs grand design into reality. Operation Desert Hawk was launched towards April 1965 in the Rann of Kutch as a probe to test Indias response. A few months later, in August, Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar, a covert infiltration operation employing thousands of armed personnel composed of Pakistan Army Special Service Group (SSG) soldiers, Mujahids (Muslim Warriors) and Razakars (Volunteer Guerillas), disguised as locals. Pakistans design was soon unravelled. Far from sparking an uprising, the people of J&K united to defeat Pakistans misadventure. The Indian Army fought fierce battles resulting in the collapse of Operation Gibraltar, which proved to be a total disaster. Lal Bahadur Shastri, who had taken over as prime minister just a year earlier in June 1964 as a sequel to Pandit Nehrus death, responded decisively. His directions were not only to push back the intruders but also to take the fight across the Cease Fire Line (CFL). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Crossing the CFL on August 15, the Indian Army went on to capture key peaks overlooking the Srinagar-Leh Highway and Kishanganga Bulge and made significant progress in the Uri-Poonch areas. Strategically important Hajipir Pass, 8 km deep into PoK, was captured on August 28, thus blocking major routes of infiltration. Pakistan had never expected such an audacious response. Infuriated at the loss of Hajipir, Ayub Khan launched Operation Grand Slam on October 1, a large-scale armoured offensive with technologically superior tanks in the Chamb-Jaurian Sector. The aim was to capture Akhnur and cut off Jammu. Pakistani forces were able to make gains as the Indian Army was caught unprepared and suffered heavy losses. However, India was able to blunt the attack by employing the air force. Operation Grand Slam failed as the Pakistan Army could not capture Akhnur. To relieve pressure on Akhnur and make the Pakistani Army recoil, it was imperative to open up the theatre of operations. Accordingly, during the cabinet meeting chaired by Shastri Ji on September 3, a bold plan was made to destroy Pakistans war-waging potential and capture territory across the International Border (IB), though it was to be returned subsequently. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On September 6, the Indian Army commenced an advance along three axes, ie, Wagha-Dograi, Khem Karan-Kasur and Khalra-Burki, catching Pakistan off guard. In the Kasur Sector, in the Battle of Asal Uttar (8-10 September), the Indian Army blunted a major Pakistani offensive led by its 1st Armoured Division towards Khem Karan, the objective being Amritsar. During this battle 97 Pakistani tanks were destroyed against 10 lost by India. Khem Karan earned the moniker of Patton Nagar. Simultaneously, in the Battle of Burki (6-10 September), the town was captured on September 11 (by the 4 SIKH Battalion). On September 21, Dograi on the outskirts of Lahore was captured for the second time (by 3 JAT). India launched another major offensive on September 9 towards Sialkot. The first major engagement took place at Phillora two days later. The Battle of Chawinda (September 14-19) witnessed the largest tank battle since the Battle of Kursk during World War II. Here Indias 1 Corps was pitched against Pakistans 1 Corps. The battle ultimately ended in a stalemate. Pakistan lost over 200 tanks against Indias losses of only 29. The air power was used extensively by both sides, resulting in intense air engagements. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Rajasthan sector also got activated towards September 8. Munabao, a strategic hamlet around 250 km from Jodhpur, was the scene of a major battle. It fell into Pakistans hands on September 10 and could not be recaptured by India. Aerial Warfare and Naval Operations The war witnessed aerial combat between the two air forces. While the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was largely of American origin and equipped with superior aircraft, the Indian Air Force (IAF) flew an assortment of British and Soviet aeroplanes. Indias diminutive Gnat jet took a heavy toll on Pakistani Sabres and earned the nickname of Sabre Slayer. The IAF claimed to have downed 73 PAF aircraft and put its own losses at 59. Pakistan did launch a few covert operations to target Indian airfields, specifically Halwara, Pathankot and Adampur, by paradropping SSG commandos. This operation turned out to be an utter fiasco, as most were killed by the Indian security forces and civilians. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The naval operations did not play a significant role but for the bombardment of the Indian Navys radar station at Dwarka by the Pakistani naval flotilla. The Indian Navy launched operations against Karachi but was restrained, as India had no intention to enlarge the scope of conflict beyond the ground operations. Ceasefire and Tashkent Declaration On September 20, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously passed a resolution demanding an unconditional ceasefire from both the nations within 48 hours. While India accepted it immediately, Pakistan did so three days later with some theatrics. The role of the UN to mandate a ceasefire and the Soviet Union as a mediator was duly highlighted. In Retrospect The 1965 Indo-Pakistani War was the first full-scale conflict between the two nations. Lasting over three weeks, it witnessed fierce battles on the land, in the air and engagements at sea. The war ended without a decisive victory for either side. India captured around 1,800 square km of the enemys territory in Punjab, Sindh and J&K, as against Pakistan managing to seize around 550 square km in the Chamb-Jaurian sector. The Indian Armed Forces inflicted heavier losses on Pakistan in terms of humans, equipment and material. India definitely gained strategic advantage as Pakistan failed to wrest Kashmir through infiltration and subsequent offensive. Although initially caught off guard, India quickly mobilised and not only blunted the Pakistani offensive but also went on to launch a major counteroffensive. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The 1965 War had far-reaching consequences, beyond the gains/losses in terms of territory, men and material. It demolished the myth of Indias inaction and military weakness, proving Pakistani leadershipspecifically Ayub Khanswrong. Indias ability to repulse Pakistani aggression restored the confidence of its armed forces, which had suffered post-1962 setbacks. For India, the war became a reference point in its strategic thinking and reinforced the doctrine of decisive retaliation in the event of cross-border provocations. In respect to Pakistan, its military lost credibility and was forced to reassess assumptions about Indias passivity. Prime Minister Shastris calm demeanour vindicated that determined politico-military leadership coupled with national resolve and unity could successfully withstand external aggression. All said, the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War proved to be a decisive turning point in South Asias strategic history. The author is a war veteran and has served as Defence Attache in China and North Korea. He is currently Professor of Strategic-IR & Management Studies. 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 Despite the rift in the West, Palestine may remainan idea, not a statelost in an 80-year-old political quagmire, no matter how loud the voices of the world grow Despite increasing recognition, Palestines full statehood remains unlikely without significant geopolitical change. Representational image: Reuters In a historic resolution on September 19, the UN General Assemblywith 145 votes in favor, five against, and six abstentionsapproved Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbass address at the annual gathering of world leaders in New York on Thursday, September 25. He will speak via video link, as the US has denied him a visa. Also, on Sunday, September 21, four major allies of USUnited Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal gave recognition to independent State of Palestine to be followed by France on Monday, September 22. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Brief History: The IsraelPalestine conflict, rooted in the late 19th-century rise of Zionism and Arab nationalism, worsened under the British Mandate (19171948). The Balfour Declaration of 1917, which proposed the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine, fuelled Jewish immigration and triggered civil unrest, revolts, and clashes throughout the 1920s to 1940s. The situation deteriorated after the UK abruptly withdrew and referred the issue to the UN in 1947. UN Partition Plan, 1947 On November 29, 1947, through Resolution 181 (II), the UN General Assembly ended the British Mandate and proposed partitioning Palestine into two independent statesone Jewish and one Arabalong with an internationally administered Jerusalem. The plan gave: 56 per cent of the land to the Jewish state (they had 7 per cent then), 43 per cent to the Arab state, 0.67 per cent (Jerusalem) under international administration. The plan was accepted by the Jewish leadership but rejected by the Arabs as unfair. On May 14, 1948, the Jewish community declared an independent stateIsraeljust before the end of British rule. Israel was recognised by the UN the following year. The UN Partition Plan gave birth to the two-state theory. The Two-State Theory The two-state theory proposes the creation of two sovereign nationsIsrael for Jews and Palestine for Palestinian Arabscoexisting side by side. Though still theoretical, it is now a de facto internationally endorsed framework for resolving the conflict. It emphasises self-determination, territorial sovereignty, political recognition, and a long-term path to peace. Between 1948 and 2025, there have been seven wars and multiple peace efforts, but the solution remains elusive. The 1948 War The day after Israel declared independence, it was attacked by five Arab nationsEgypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. The ten-month war ended in 1949 with a series of UN-brokered armistice agreements, establishing a ceasefire line known as the Green Line. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At wars end, Israel controlled 78 per cent of Palestine, 22 per cent more than allocated under the UN Partition Plan. The war became known as: War of Independence in Israel, and Nakba (Catastrophe) for Palestiniansover 15,000 killed and more than 800,000 displaced. Post-war: Gaza Strip came under Egypts control, West Bank and East Jerusalem were annexed by Jordan. However, key issuesPalestinian refugees and Arab claimsremained unresolved, setting the stage for future conflicts. The 1967 War (Six-Day War) Fearing an imminent attack by Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against Egypts air force. The war irrevocably altered Middle East boundaries and had monumental consequences for Palestinians. Israel annexed: Sinai Peninsula and Gaza from Egypt, Golan Heights from Syria, East Jerusalem and the West Bank from Jordan. The dream of a Palestinian state became even more distant. Israel later formally amalgamated the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, and made the West Bank a de facto part of Israel. It is now actively seeking to re-annex the entire Gaza Strip, despite the International Court of Justice viewing these areas as occupied Palestinian territories. Other Wars Beyond the 1948 and 1967 wars, more conflicts have reshaped borders and deepened hostilities. Heres a brief overview: 1956 Suez Crisis Israel, UK, France vs Egypt: Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal. Israel briefly invaded Sinai, later withdrew under global pressure. 1973 Yom Kippur War Israel vs Egypt and Syria: Surprise Arab attack; Israel repelled invasion. Led to Egypt-Israel peace treaty (Camp David Accords). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 1982 Lebanon War Israel vs PLO, Lebanon, Syria, Hezbollah: Israel expelled PLO from Lebanon and occupied southern Lebanon until 2000. 2006 Second Lebanon War Israel vs Hezbollah: Triggered by abduction of Israeli soldiers; widespread destruction in Lebanon; no clear victory. 2023present IsraelHamas War Israel vs Hamas (Gaza) and related groups including Hezbollah with Iranian backing: Massive humanitarian crisis in Gaza, tens of thousands dead, growing regional instability. The Recognition On Monday, September 22, 2025, a summit convened by France and Saudi Arabia, just ahead of the UN General Assembly, will see many countries formally recognize the independent State of Palestine: France, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra, San Marino. The UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognised the State of Palestine on Sunday, a day ahead of the summit. Germany and New Zealand will attend in support but wont sign the declaration. This marks a tectonic shift, as these are among the staunchest US allies. At Striking Distance Since the PLOs official declaration of Palestinian statehood on November 15, 1988, over 151 countries have recognised Palestine. On Monday, this number will rise beyond 157just shy of the 165 that recognise Israel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This includes: NATO countries, 14 G20 members, Four of the five UN Security Council permanent members. Deep Frustration The wave of recognitions by US allies reflects deep frustration over Israels ongoing war in Gaza, which has: Killed more than 65,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, Injured over 150,000, Left 2 million in extreme hunger and deprivation. Allies hope these recognitions pressure Israel to: End the war in Gaza, Halt new settlements in the occupied West Bank, Recommit to a genuine peace process. The Resolution These events follow the September 12, 2025, UN General Assembly resolution dubbed the New York Declaration, sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia. It passed with: 142 in favour, 10 against, 10 abstaining. It reaffirmed support for the two-state solution and endorsed a Palestinian state. A Gift to Hamas? The US and Israel vehemently opposed the New York Declaration and its endorsement of a two-state solution. US Mission Counsellor Morgan Ortagus stated: Make no mistake, this resolution is a gift to Hamas. It Is Our Land One day before the resolution passed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared there would be no Palestinian state. On Sunday, September 21, 2025, the day the UK , Canada, Australia and Portugal recognised Palestine, the Israeli Prime Minister called the move absurd. Sole Outlier The recent developments leave the US as the only major country refusing to recognize the State of Palestine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It was also the only major power to vote against the recent UN resolution endorsing the two-state solution. Further, the US has repeatedly used its veto powerover half a dozen times in two yearsto: Block resolutions endorsing the two-state framework, Prevent Palestines full UN membership, Shield Israel from international censure. Situation on the Ground Lets now examine conditions in the three core regions of a potential Palestinian state: East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. East Jerusalem: Captured by Israel in the 1967 war and later declared its undivided capital. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. The West Bank: Home to 3 million Palestinians, this areapart of the Occupied Palestinian Territoriesis under partial control of the Palestinian Authority, while 700,000 Israeli settlers live in about 160 settlements. Israel now plans to double this settler population. The Gaza Strip: Now in its third year of brutal war with Israel. Over 65,000 dead, widespread famine, and near-total devastation. On November 18, the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire14 of 15 members supported it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Will Palestine Ever Become a State? Despite growing international recognition, the existential question remains: Will Palestine ever become a state? The answer: Maybe, maybe not. It depends on geopolitical shifts. But first: What defines a state? Statehood: The Montevideo Criteria Under the 1933 Montevideo Convention, a state must have: A defined territory A permanent population A functioning government The capacity to enter into relations with other states Is Palestine a State? Lets assess: Defined Territory: The borders are disputed. Recognised basis include: 1947 UN Partition Plan, 1949 Green Line (pre-1967), and Post-1967 occupation boundaries. Most nations recognise the pre-1967 borders, but Israel has annexed or controls most of these territories. Permanent Population: Pre-war population of 7.4 million in Gaza, West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Global Palestinian population: ~15.2 million. Government: The Palestinian Authority (PA) governs parts of the West Bank. Hamas controls Gaza. Foreign Relations: The PLO declared independence in 1988. Palestine is recognized by 151 countries (soon 157) and is a member of Unesco, International Criminal Court, and International Court of Justice. Conclusion: A True State Unlikely Despite growing recognition, will Palestine truly become a state? As of now: Unlikelyunless major changes occur. Israel says no. Trump agrees. The US blocks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Unless the tide turns dramatically, Palestine may remainan idea, not a statelost in an 80-year-old political quagmire, no matter how loud the voices of the world grow. The author is a multi-disciplinary thought leader with Action Bias and an India based impact consultant. He is a keen watcher of changing national and international scenarios. He works as President Advisory Services of Consulting Company BARSYL. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. To think of an Islamic Nato with Pakistan at its helm because it is a nuclear state is a wishful thing and a sleepwalk into disaster The air raid carried out by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on the Hamas leadership in the Legtaifiya district of Doha on September 9, 2025, makes the Arab world jittery. Qatars nervousness is not a surprise, but the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries joining the chorus to express solidarity means something. The stirrings in the Arab world have already begun. The indications of a new confederacy are perceptible apart from the condemnation, rhetoric, and statements. The anti-Israel axis is not a new phenomenon in the Arab world. Such confederacies were stitched in the past to demonstrate Arab world unity. The past may repeat, but it will do so differently. But to repeat it in the manner in which it was in the past is less likely. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Arab world has undergone significant changes over the past two decades. Priorities have changed. Interests vary. Besides geopolitical contradictions, there are deep divides along ideological and religious lines. To establish uniformity is difficult. It is also difficult to assess how much is driven by optics and how much by genuine collaboration. The line between optics and urgency is blurred and complex. Saudi-Pakistan Strange Bonhomie Meanwhile, a new development has emerged: a joint statement from Riyadh, the outcome of a meeting between Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The usual diplomatic niceties between the two countries around Islamic solidarity and bonds of brotherhood, historical ties, strategic and defence cooperation, etc, are fine and invite no serious attention. What is more concerning is the joint statement, which mentions, Any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both. This is a loaded statement with layered implications. The Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is a paradox. Moreover, structuring the Cold War Nato-style defence model is an anomaly in the contemporary world order. The proposition of Islamic Nato, which stands on the ideas of Islam and Pakistans nuclear assets, may enhance Pakistans diplomatic heft. Beyond that, it does not seem to achieve anything else. It does not require any extra logic to understand this. However, Pakistan is a failed state. It cannot manage its home turf properly. To think of an Islamic Nato with Pakistan at its helm because it is a nuclear state is a wishful thing and a sleepwalk into disaster. Hope good sense will soon prevail in Riyadh, and it will do the course correction. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wider Implications India will not take the above statement lightly. India cannot misread this statement. Pakistan is Indias arch adversary. Pakistan, as a terror state, requires no confirmation. It is a terror nest and a terror-exporting agency. Saudi Arabia-Pakistan bonhomie will not be ignored by India. The question remains: if India repeats the likes of Operation Sindoor in the future as a response to Pakistans misadventure, will Saudi Arabia misconstrue it as an aggression against it? If Saudi Arabia practises this kind of parallelism in the future, it will severely affect the India-Saudi relationship. India is the fourth-largest economy and is projected to become the third-largest in the near future. Its leadership role in the Global South is irrefutable. The India-Saudi Arabia relationship has increased significantly over the past decade. Interdependence is impressive and cannot be easily decoupled. Saudi Arabia cannot throw India lock, stock, and barrel, shift to Pakistans side, and antagonise India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Therefore, observing how much sincerity or seriousness this statement involves is important. Be that as it may, India will definitely observe closely the Saudi-Pakistan move. It will prepare its diplomatic counter-move if it goes beyond the scope of optics. India cannot take Pakistan lightly at any cost. It will intensify its observation of emerging developments in West Asia. Saudi-Pakistan Melodrama The joint statement appears more optics and showcases the bonds of brotherhood through the Sunni Islamic link or commonality. This statement is akin to a mere platitude because the meeting achieved nothing except making this provocative statement. It was tactically crafted to send a message or start a media battle. Beyond that, it means nothing and achieves nothing. The centrepiece of this meeting was to make a provocative statement. The purpose of this meeting was achieved by doing that. To read too much into it is to give serious thought to Pakistans travesty. Saudi Arabia found someone who was least effective in passing a statement to show solidarity with Qatar and the Arab world. Pakistan is easily available to get anything and everything done through it. Saudi Arabia chose the least consequential partner to get its message delivered. It didnt find any other country in the Arab world to make an impactful statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Except for India, no other country will give any credence to this statement, and least of all is Israel. For Israel, it is just a statement, the likes of which are made day in and day out against it. Riyadh seems to be playing a tactical game of making a statement without appearing confrontational. It knows Pakistans camaraderie with the US. The entire drama of statement-making may have received tacit support from the US. This assumption does not sound far-fetched. Islamabad is not in a condition to decouple from the USs sphere of influence. The melodrama seems to have been done under the USs tutelage or with shadow consent. Saudi Arabia has its own quota of conflict with the Houthis. The Hamas-Houthi-Hezbollah confederacy to destabilise West Asia does not benefit the aspirational Saudi Arabia and its Vision 2030. The aftermath of Israels attack on Doha saw the joint session of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation seek coordination from the member states to unite against Israel. The Saudi-Pakistan defence ties may be an extension of a shadow unity against Israel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nuclear Gimmick There is no doubt that Islamabad possesses nuclear assets. It is the only Islamic country to have a nuclear warhead. It does not mean that Pakistan can use and distribute it as per its whims and fancies. To expect that it will share the nuclear assets with the Islamic countries and bring Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries under the nuclear umbrella and guarantee protection is a fanciful thought. Irans misadventure in the domain of nuclear asset acquisition has paid it a heavy price. Pakistan is no doubt a rogue state. Misadventurism is its DNA, but to resort to nuclear diplomacy because it has one is counterintuitive and a Faustian pact. Saudi Arabia commits itself to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. It is a signatory to the treaty. It cannot acquire one. It may fund Islamabad to enhance the scope of its nuclear facility. This is easier said than done. Irans tango with it has paid a heavy price. Riyadh may not go along that path. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Possibility of Islamic Alliance Can an Islamic alliance be possible in the aftermath of Israels attack on Doha? It seems impossible. Memory of this unity in the past has not given anything dramatically different. Anti-Israel animus united the Arab world in the past but could not achieve anything significant. But today, West Asia is different, and stitching unity among a motley group of countries around the anti-Israel cause does not look possible. It is possible to make a joint statement and condemn Israel, but to put boots on the ground collectively does not seem viable. The Arab world is not uniform. Islamic countries are not homogeneous. Shia-Sunni sectarian conflict is not an easy schism to settle down. Geopolitics is complex in West Asia. Hamas-Houthi-Hezbollah comradery has inflicted instability in the region. Hezbollah has ensured Lebanons downfall. The Houthis antagonism against Saudi Arabia does not seem to be ending anytime soon. West Asia self-injures itself through internecine warfare. Can Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Qatar and other Arab countries come together to act in unison to destabilise Israel? It is impossible to imagine such a grand convergence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Jajati K Pattnaik is an associate professor at the Centre for West Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Chandan K Panda is an assistant professor at Rajiv Gandhi University (a central university), Itanagar. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Americans argue that while the Balochistan Liberation Army is a dangerous terrorist organisation, it does not meet the necessary criteria for inclusion on the particular UN list The BLA is the largest Baloch militant group and has been fighting an insurgency against the Pakistani government for decades, seeking independence for Balochistan. (Representational image/Reuters) In August 2025, the US government designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade suicide wing as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs). The designation was announced on August 11 by the Department of State, and a notice was published in the Federal Register on August 12. As an FTO, providing material support, such as funds or weapons, to the BLA or Majeed Brigade is a federal crime in the US. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Just over a month later, on September 19, 2025, the US opposed a Pakistan-China proposal to blacklist the BLA at the United Nations. The US acted in concert with the UK and France in placing a technical hold on the proposal. Pakistans Permanent Representative to the UN had argued before the committee that the BLA and Majeed Brigade were operating from alleged training camps in Afghanistan and were responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. On this basis, Islamabad and Beijing sought to place the groups on the 1267 sanctions list, which imposes stringent measures such as asset freezes, travel bans and an arms embargo on entities linked to al-Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or their affiliates. However, three permanent members of the Security Council, the US, the UK and France, stated that Pakistan and China had yet to provide sufficient proof linking the BLA or the Majeed Brigade to global terrorist networks. They placed a technical hold on the proposal, citing insufficient evidence to link the BLA to al-Qaeda or ISIL, which is a requirement for designation under the 1267 sanctions list. This development is widely seen as a diplomatic setback for both Pakistan and China. For years, the two countries have lobbied international forums to secure recognition of Baloch resistance groups as terrorist organisations but have so far failed to win consensus at the UN level. US officials argued that while the BLA is a dangerous terrorist organisation, it does not meet the necessary criteria for inclusion on this particular UN list. The US action at the UN is perhaps a strategic move related to some complex geopolitical factors. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Firstly, by blocking the UN blacklisting, the US has sent a subtle message that it will not assist China in protecting its assets and interests in the region. The BLA targets Chinese investments in Pakistans Balochistan province, particularly projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Secondly, the US hold on the UN listing could also be a nuanced message to Pakistan. While the US recognises Pakistans security concerns by designating the BLA and the Majeed Brigade as FTOs, it is also signalling that it will not fully align with Pakistans interests at the UN, especially when partnered with China. China, which has invested heavily in the CPEC and infrastructure projects in Gwadar, has been a particular target of attacks by Baloch pro-independence groups. Beijing had hoped that UN approval would bolster international backing for tougher measures against the Baloch resistance movement. The committees decision, however, has placed those efforts on hold. Decades-long Baloch Nationalist Movement STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistans Balochistan province has seen a surge in deadly attacks, fuelled by demands for independence and control over local resources. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for these deadly attacks. Who are these rebels, and what is the conflict all about? The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is the most well-known Baloch separatist group. Other separatist groups include Lashkar-e-Balochistan and the Balochistan Liberation Front. These separatist groups argue that the local population does not receive a fair share of the profits from the resources of the province, and that as a result poverty is rife there. The BLA traces its ideological roots to the decades-long Baloch nationalist movement, which seeks greater autonomyand in many cases, complete independencefor the Baloch people. The movement began in the 1940s, following Balochistans controversial accession to Pakistan in 1948. Calls for autonomy intensified over the years, often erupting into violent uprisings. The BLA formally surfaced in the early 2000s as a distinct insurgent faction advocating for a sovereign Baloch state. It claims to be fighting against what it calls exploitation of Balochistans natural resources and political marginalisation by Islamabad. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Baloch are a Sunni Muslim ethnic group who live on both sides of the Iran-Pakistan border and also in parts of southern Afghanistan. For decades, efforts for autonomy or independence have been met with violent suppression on both sides of the Iran-Pakistan border. In Pakistan, such efforts are viewed as attempts to fragment the nation, while in Iran, the situation is further complicated by the Baloch being a Sunni Muslim minority in a predominantly Shiite country. Balochistan is the most sparsely populated province of Pakistan. Although it occupies 44 per cent of the land area, its population is just 7 per cent of Pakistans population. Balochistan is rich in mineral resources. Coal, sulphur, chromite, iron ore, barite, marble, quartzite, and limestone are all abundant in the province. Balochistan has significant oil and natural gas reserves and also considerable quantities of copper and gold. Baloch separatism is deep-rooted in history. Balochistan consisted of four princely states under the British RajKalat, Makran, Las Bela and Kharan. In 1947, the Khan of Kalat, the ruler of the largest of these princely states, chose independence, which was an option given to all the 535 princely states of British India. The other Balochi chiefs also expressed their preference for a separate identity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, Pakistan sent in its army, which forced the Khan of Kalat to give up his independence. The Khan signed the instrument of accession on March 27, 1948, over seven months after the formation of Pakistan. Even after the accession of Kalat to Pakistan, Baloch separatism has continued to rear its menacing head from time to time. Major conflicts between Baloch separatists and the Pakistan army have taken place regularly. BLAs Attacks Against China The BLA is the largest Baloch militant group and has been fighting an insurgency against the Pakistani government for decades, seeking independence for Balochistan. It is now allied with the Pakistan Taliban, and both target the Pakistan security forces. Chinese cooperation with the Pakistan government is seen by the BLA as a threat to their cause. The region of Balochistan is a major focus of the CPEC. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) opposes the Chinese investments in the province, saying they do not benefit the local people. The influx of Chinese nationals for developing the CPEC has caused conflicts with the Balochistan Liberation Army and other separatist groups, which perceive China as a joint oppressor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Balochistan Liberation Army has severely criticised China for ignoring its warnings not to enter into deals and agreements with Pakistan regarding Balochistan. They also accuse Beijing of exploiting their resources and land and fear that the influx of Chinese investments and workers might further marginalise the Baloch people. A large number of Chinese are working in Gwadar, the port in the restive Balochistan province which is being linked to Chinas Xinjiang province as part of the $65 billion CPEC. Attacks by the militants from the BLA and also from the Pakistan Taliban targeting Chinese nationals had occurred earlier too, but they increased sharply since 2018 after construction work on the CPEC projects picked up steam. Chinese nationals have been the victims of terror attacks more commonly in Pakistan than in any other country. In November 2018, the Chinese consulate in Karachi was attacked by the militants of BLA. Two police officers were killed in the attack. In 2020, the Balochistan Liberation Army also took responsibility for attacks on the Pakistan Stock Exchange in 2020, calling it an attack against Chinese exploitative plans in Balochistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In July 2021, a bus carrying Chinese engineers was hit by another bus which was carrying explosives, killing 13 people, including 9 Chinese engineers. In August 2021, a suicide bomber from the BLA targeted a vehicle carrying Chinese nationals in Gwadar. Two children were killed. In April 2022, a female suicide bomber killed three Chinese teachers in Karachi. The BLA claimed to have carried out this attack through its first female suicide bomber. In August 2023, a convoy of vehicles carrying Chinese engineers working on the Beijing-financed Gwadar Port in Pakistan was attacked by the militants of the Balochistan Liberation Army. In March 2024, five Chinese engineers and a Pakistani national were killed in an attack near the Dasu hydropower project in Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In August 2024 the BLA launched coordinated attacks in Balochistan, killing over 70 people, including targeted attacks on Chinese interests like the port of Gwadar. In October 2024, two Chinese nationals were killed in a suicide bombing near Karachis airport. The BLA claimed responsibility for the attack. The BLA has said it is conducting attacks to get Chinese-backed projects out of the province and to establish an independent Baloch government. Pakistan is conducting a military crackdown on the Balochistan Liberation Army. A large number of Balochi guerrilla fighters and civilians have been killed in the operations conducted by the Pakistan army. Thousands of Balochis have also disappeared after they were abducted by Pakistani security forces. The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, a non-profit organisation representing family members of those who disappeared in Balochistan, says approximately 7,000 cases have been registered with them since 2004. The crackdown continues to generate controversy, with human rights organisations raising concerns about alleged abuses, including arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances. Pakistan denies these allegations, but the conflict shows no sign of ending, despite the militarys repeated claims of having quelled the insurgency. The Pakistani government has accused India of bankrolling the Free Balochistan advertisement campaign in Europe and the US. Pakistan also alleged that India is supporting the BLA. What Pakistan must realise is that unnecessary finger-pointing at India is not the answer and that long-term peace is not possible without meeting the legitimate aspirations and demands of the people of Balochistan. The writer is a retired Indian diplomat and had previously served as Ambassador in Kuwait and Morocco and as Consul General in New York. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Tens of thousands of people, including US President Donald Trump, attended the memorial service of rightwing activist Charlie Kirk in Arizona on Sunday. Tens of thousands of people, including US President Donald Trump, attended the memorial service of rightwing activist Charlie Kirk in Arizona on Sunday. Kirk was shot dead earlier this month while he was addressing a rally at a university in Utah, sparking outrage among supporters of the Make America Great Movement. The event took place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, which has a capacity of more than 63,000 people. Organisers mentioned that additional space was arranged nearby to accommodate overflow crowds who were there to mourn the loss of one of Trumps strongest allies. Apart from the president, the service was also attended by Vice President JD Vance and several other Republicans, who addressed the gathering. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While addressing the massive crowd mourning the loss of Kirk, Trump went on to call the Turning Point USA founder an American martyr. Hes a martyr now for Americas freedom, Trump said. I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie. And neither now will history. Meanwhile, Kirks wife Erika, who also spoke at the service, said that she forgave Kirks shooter. It is pertinent to note that after a 33-hour-long manhunt, a man named Tyler Robinson is suspected of killing Kirk. Trump government mourns Kirks loss While the service was ongoing, the US Department of Homeland Security described the funeral as an event of the highest national significance, a designation usually reserved for occasions such as the Super Bowl. The body made it clear that tight security measures were in place due to Trumps attendance and the political tension surrounding Kirks killing. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller also released a statement, paying tribute to Kirk. You thought you could kill Charlie Kirk? You have made him immortal, he said. You have no idea the dragon you have awakened. You have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilisation; to save the West; to save this republic," Miller furthered. In his address, Trump called Kirks killing an assault on all conservatives. The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at all of us. That bullet was aimed at every one of us, Trump said. Interestingly, he was among the only speakers at the event who made any direct reference to Kirks suspected killer and called for radicalised, cold-blooded monster. Other speakers at the event, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defence Peter Hegseth, delivered their tributes from behind bulletproof glass. Charlie joined a long line of courageous men and women who were martyred for what they believed, said Donald Trump Jr, the presidents son, who had a close relationship with Kirk. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Over the years, Kirk has been a polarising figure, who even called for the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and whips against immigrants at the US-Mexico border. He also suggested Islam is a danger to American society, and claimed there was no factual data to back up global warming. In a bid to attract top talent to the United Kingdom at a time when US President Donald Trump is pursuing an anti-immigrant agenda, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is working on policies to bring to the countrys worlds best scientists, academics, and digital experts. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is looking forward to turn Americas loss into a victory for the United Kingdom. As President Donald Trump is pushing immigrant workers out of the United States and discouraging foreigners employment as part of his anti-immigrant agenda, Starmer is working on policies to attract best scientists, academics, and digital experts to the United Kingdom from across the world, according to The Financial Times. The efforts are being steered by Starmers global talent task force that is working on a number of proposals, which is chaired by chaired by Varun Chandra, Starmers business adviser, and science minister Lord Patrick Vallance, according to a newspaper. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In recent months, as Trump has presided over a crackdown on immigrants and far-right extremism has surged in the United States, scientists and academics have consistently left the United States for other countries like Canada and China. Observers have flagged that Trumps anti-immigrant agenda has been a self-goal. But Trumps self-goal is opportunity for others One of the options that Starmers taskforce is discussing is abolishing visa charges for top-level professionals, according to FT. Were talking about the sort of people who have attended the worlds top five universities or have won prestigious prizes. Were kicking around the idea of cutting costs to zero, an official told the newspaper. Such a decision would be in sharp contrast to Trumps decision to increase to $100,000 the application fee for an H-1B visa, which technology companies use to bring specialised foreign workers to the United States. While such a proposal has been in the works for a while, Trumps decision put wind in the sails of those wanting to reform the UKs high-end visa system to boost growth ahead of the November 26 Budget, a person told the newspaper. One official described the current visa system as a bureaucratic nightmare and said the new process in the works is not about diluting the standards but its about getting the brightest and best into Britain. There is unity across government on this. In sharp contrast to zero-free proposals under consideration, the UKs global talent visa introduced in 2020 currently costs 766 ($1,032) to apply for with partners and children paying the same fee. They usually need to pay an additional health surcharge of 1,035 ($1,396) per person. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Duchess of York has been removed as patron of a childrens charity after leaked emails appeared to show her apologising to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein for distancing herself from him, according to a report The Duchess of York has been removed as patron of a childrens charity after leaked emails appeared to show her apologising to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein for distancing herself from him. According to an Independent report, Julias House confirmed the decision on Monday, following the emergence of a 2011 email in which Sarah Ferguson reportedly referred to Epstein as a steadfast, generous and supreme friend. The message, dated April 26, 2011, came just weeks after she had publicly declared she would never have anything to do with Epstein again, added the report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of Yorks correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julias House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity. We have advised the Duchess of York of this decision and thank her for her past support, The Independent quoted the hospice, in the Dorset and Wiltshire area, as saying in a statement. A leaked email, first reported by The Sun on Sunday and Daily Mail, shows the Duchess of York humbly apologised to Epstein for linking him to paedophilia, while praising his strength and generosity. However, her spokesperson claims the email was sent solely to appease Epstein, who had allegedly threatened to sue her for defamation over media comments. Earlier, in a March 2011 interview with the Evening Standard, Sarah Ferguson admitted accepting 15,000 from Epstein and publicly apologised for her ties to the disgraced financier, who died in prison in 2019. I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say, the duchess told the newspaper. Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Just over a month after publicly distancing herself from Epstein, the Duchess of York reportedly sent a personal email to the convicted paedophile from her private account, apologising and expressing emotional turmoil over cutting ties with him. According to reports, the email read: I know you feel hellaciously let down by me. And I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that. You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family. I am apologising to you today for not replying to your email or reaching out to you. I was bedridden with fear. I was paralysed. I was advised, in no uncertain terms, to have nothing to do with you and to not speak or email you. And if I did I would cause more problems to you, the duke and myself. I was broken and lost. So please understand. I didnt want to hurt Andrew one more time. I was in overriding fear. I am sorry. Her spokesperson said the duchess was taken in by his lies and only sent the email to avoid legal threats from Epstein, who had allegedly warned her of a potential defamation suit, reported The Independent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims. Like many people, she was taken in by his lies. As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia. She does not resile from anything she said then. This email was sent in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats. Epstein died in August 2019 in a New York jail while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide. The duchesss removal as patron of Julias House childrens charity comes amid broader fallout linked to Epsteins network. Earlier this month, former UK ambassador to the US, Lord Peter Mandelson, was dismissed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after emails surfaced showing Mandelson expressing support for Epstein. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mandelson had reportedly encouraged Epstein to fight for early release and told him I think the world of you a day before Epstein began his 2008 sentence for soliciting a minor. More revelations this year also renewed scrutiny on the Duke of York. Emails submitted to a London court showed that Prince Andrew and Epstein were still in contact as late as February 2011, despite Andrews earlier claims to have severed ties. In one message, the duke reportedly wrote: Keep in close touch and well play some more soon. Andrews continued association with Epstein led to his withdrawal from public duties, and in January 2022, he was stripped of all royal patronages. With inputs from agencies Amid the brewing tensions in Eastern Europe, reports are emerging that the United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the Russian incursion into Estonias airspace This September 19, 2025 Hand Out image released by the Swedish Airforce shows a Russian MIG-31 fighter jet flying above the Baltic sea after violating Estonian air space. AFP Amid the brewing tensions in Eastern Europe, reports are emerging that the United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the Russian incursion into Estonias airspace. The news was confirmed by the officials of both the Baltic nations and the UN on Sunday. According to CNN, the emergency meeting of the body was requested by Estonia after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission on Friday. The Estonian authorities said the Russian jets remained in the countrys airspace for 12 minutes before it was intercepted by Nato. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While calling for the emergency meeting, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in a post on X that Russias actions undermine principles vital to the security of all UN member states. When such actions are committed by a permanent member of the Security Council, they must be addressed by that very body, Tsahkna wrote in a post on Sunday. Russia continues to deny the incursion According to the Estonian Foreign Ministry, the UNSC is expected to discuss what the European nations have been describing as a blatant, reckless, and flagrant violation of NATO airspace and Russias repeated violations of international law. Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry has denied that its jets entered the Estonian airspace, insisting the flights were conducted in strict accordance with international rules. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary general, said the emergency meeting is scheduled for 10 am EST on Monday. Apart from this, Ukraine has also submitted a request to attend the Security Council meeting and present its position. According to CNN, the Ukrainian request was directed to the Republic of Korea, which holds the rotating presidency of the council. For the first time in 34 years, Estonia has requested an emergency UNSC meeting, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X. This shows the unprecedented scale of threats posed by aggressive Russia to the stability of Europe. Shortly after the Russian incursion, Estonia requested Nato Article 4 consultations. The mechanism allows any member to formally bring an issue to the attention of the alliances principal political decision-making body. A meeting in this regard is due to take place this week. It is pertinent to note that Estonia is the second Nato member to have requested Article 4 consultations in recent days. The request came just days after Poland called for the enforcement of the Article last week after several Russian drones and fighter jets entered its airspace. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the midst of this, Swedish and German forces on Sunday reported that their fighter jets were scrambled over the South Baltic Sea to identify and monitor a Russian IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying in international airspace without a flight plan or radio contact. US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk met for the first time since their public fall-out at rightwing activist Charlie Kirks memorial service in Arizona. US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk met for the first time since their public fall-out at rightwing activist Charlie Kirk's memorial service in Arizona. On Sunday, top Republicans, conservatives and thousands of rightwing supporters gathered in Glendale, Arizona, to pay homage to Kirk. The 31-year-old staunch ally of Trump was assassinated on September 10 while he was addressing a rally at a university in Utah. Before Trump took the stage to address the crowd, Musk approached the president and sat next to him. The two were seen shaking hands and chatting for a while. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Musk eventually shared the picture of the two on X, formerly known as Twitter, with the caption For Charlie. What made the meeting significant was that it was the first time Trump and Musk came face-to-face since June, when they had a public feud over Trumps controversial Big Beautiful Bill. The infamous feud While Trumps controversial bill was moving through Congress, Musk was trashing it, stating that the legislation would add to the US debt and end tax incentives for electric vehicles and solar energy modules, which Tesla sells. By June, the displeasure between the two was so intense that it reached a tipping point. The feud escalated in public and especially online when Musk suggested that Trump should be impeached. He took credit for Trumps election victory and said his tariffs would cause a recession later this year. The Tesla CEO also alleged that Trump was in Jeffrey Epsteins files and said he would take his SpaceX rockets, which the federal government increasingly relies on, out of service. In response, Trump threatened to turn Musks own Department of Government Efficiency on the tech billionaires companies and look into any subsidies they received. While Musk attempted to de-escalate the situation, Trump suggested that their relationship was over. In an interview with NBC News, when the president was asked if he had any desire to mend his relationship with Musk, Trump simply replied No. And when pressed if he thinks his relationship with Musk is over, Trump said, I would assume so, yeah. Trump at that time made it clear that he had no intention of speaking to Musk anytime soon, saying: Im too busy doing other things, and accused Musk of disrespecting the presidency. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Interestingly, it was Kirk who predicted earlier this year that Musk and Trump would eventually reconcile, saying, theyre much stronger together. Meanwhile, at the Sunday service, Kirks wife, Erika, delivered a message of forgiveness, saying she even forgives the shooter who killed her husband. Trump, in his speech, praised Erikas noble spirit but admitted he couldnt be the same. I hate my opponents and I dont want the best for them, Trump said. Im sorry. I am sorry, Erika, but now Erika can talk to me and the whole group, and maybe they can convince me that thats not right, but I cant stand my opponent. While Bangladeshs Interim Chief Muhammad Yunus continues to delay elections, financial experts raise alarm about the deplorable state of the countrys economy. Heres why Over a year after the ousting of Bangladeshs former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, economic troubles for Dhaka are far from over. According to the assessment released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the countrys economy is facing one of its most severe crises in recent history. The ADB assessment noted that all three pillars of Bangladeshs economy, the banking sector, non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), and the stock market, are mired in instability despite the Muhammad Yunus-led governments efforts to bring things back to normal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The country has been trapped in a vicious cycle of defaulted loans, weak regulation, political influence, corruption, and the dominance of junk companies. All these aspects have left the economy in a precarious state, leading to uncertainty about the future as the country braces for elections next year. Heres a look at the current status of the three pillars of the Bangladeshi economy: 1 Banking sector stuck in a default trap Financial experts noted that years of lax policies, political interference, and corruption have left the Bangladeshi banking sector burdened by defaulted loans, The Dhaka Tribune reported. According to the estimates shared by the Bangladesh Bank, these defaulted loans have amounted to 6 lakh crore Taka by the end of June this year. Apart from this, another 3.18 lakh crore Taka is hidden in default, which the apex bank believes is currently in the process of being disclosed. This includes Tk 1.78 lakh crore stuck in money loan courts, Tk 80,000 crore written off, and Tk 60,000 crore under court stay orders, according to the Bangladesh Bank. There was widespread looting in the name of loans during the previous government. Despite having the ability, many influential businessmen did not repay loans. That is why the new draft proposes to remove this definition," a Bangladesh Bank official told The Dhaka Tribune, when asked about the Yunus governments new law proposed removing the definition of wilful defaulter in the draft of the new Banking Company Act 2023. In light of this, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur pledged to ensure greater transparency. From now on, no information will be kept secret. All defaulted loans will be made public, and strict recovery efforts will be carried out, he said. ADB raises alarm While Bangladesh tries to get itself together, the Asian Development Banks (ADB) recent report suggests that Bangladesh now has the highest volume of defaulted loans in Asia. As per the body, in 2024, 20.2 per cent of the countrys total disbursed loans defaulted, which was 28 per cent higher than the previous year. In the report, the ADB went on to describe Bangladesh as having the weakest banking system in Asia. The stricter the rules, the more the number of defaulted loans increases. Without bold reforms like India, this crisis will not end," former World Bank chief economist Dr Zahid Hussain said after the report was released. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In light of the concerning report, the Bangladesh Bank decided to merge five Islamic banksFirst Security, Social Islami, Global Islami, Union, and Exim Bankinto a new state-owned entity, tentatively named United Islami Bank. The default loan rates of these banks range from 48 to 98 per cent. This initiative is in the interest of protecting depositors, said the Bangladesh Bank Governor at the time of the merger. There is nothing to panic about. The government will take all responsibility," he added. 2 Non-banking sector faces the ripple effect According to The Dhaka Tribune, the instability in the banking sector has also spilled over into non-bank financial institutions (NBFI) as well. What is more concerning is the fact that the situation in this sector is even more alarming. According to Bangladesh Bank, defaulted loans of 20 troubled NBFIs total Tk 21,462 crore, representing 83 per cent of their loan portfolios. To mitigate this challenge, the countrys central bank has recommended the liquidation of nine of these institutions. The experts argue that the sector has almost gone bankrupt, with many unable to repay depositors, further eroding public confidence, The Dhaka Tribune reported. According to the Bangladesh Bank, as of December 2024, the total debt of these 20 institutions was Tk 25,808 crore, but collateral stood at only Tk 6,899 crore, which was just 26 per cent of the total debt. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Central bank officials have been warning that unless swift action is taken to protect depositors, the sector could collapse entirely. 3. The stock market is in a bad position When it comes to the third pillar of the economy, Bangladeshs stock market has been under prolonged stress. According to The Dhaka Tribune, over the past 16 years, the market has shrunk by about 38 per cent. As per the report, investors in the country have lost capital at an average rate of 3 per cent annually. According to the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), shares of 98 out of 397 listed companies are now trading below the face value of Tk 10. More than half of these are priced under Tk 5. The fact that the price of such a large number of shares has fallen below face value proves that the performance of these companies is not good. As a result, investors are leaning towards a few strong companies, Kazi Monirul Islam, CEO of Shanta Asset Management, told The Dhaka Tribune. So many junk shares in the stock market are discouraging foreign and institutional investors. Weak companies need to be closed or merged quickly, and new strong companies must be brought into the market," Saiful Islam, president of the DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh, explained. While the Yunus administration is trying to bring in reforms, experts are still concerned about what the future holds for Bangladesh. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is becoming increasingly clear that US President Donald Trump has made key concessions on major issues of trade, technology, and Taiwan, in negotiations with China to claim a symbolic victory on a relatively minor issue of TikTok. US President Donald Trump meets China's President Xi Jinping at the start of their bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 29, 2019. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) In ongoing of US-China negotiations, it is becoming increasingly clear that US President Donald Trump has made major concessions on important issues of trade, technology, and Taiwan, in exchange for a symbolic victory on a relatively minor issue of TikTok. Apparently, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has extracted real gains. Trump on Friday said that he and Xi had approved a deal for the sale of TikToks US operations to a US-controlled entity. He pitched it as a great deal. The fact that TikTok featured in broader US-China trade negotiations in Spain suggests the centrality that Trump accorded to the issue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For Xi, however, TikTok was a low-value bargaining chip that he used to extract major concessions from Trump. Around the same time that Trump was praising the TikTok deal, the news emerged that Trump had cancelled military aid to Taiwan worth over $400 million. His other actions in the Indo-Pacific, ranging from disregarding Aukus to diluting commitment to allies like Japan and South Korea, have also been music to Xis ear. ALSO READ: Is Trump on a mission to make China great again? For China, TikTok is an an expendable concession and gains in any deal now far outweighs costs, according to Dimitar Gueorguiev, the Director of Chinese Studies at Syracuse University. Chinese officials have let the issue fester for years, holding it in reserve as a problem they could one day solve to defuse pressure from Washington. A deal now costs Beijing less than when negotiations started, while still yielding the maximum optics of compromise, Gueorguiev told The New York Times. Trump settles with token win, Xi gets real victory In recent months, Trump has relaxed tech export control rules regarding China, relaxed Chinas access to American AI tech, cancelled military aid to Chinas rivals, downgraded alliances and partnerships that contain China in the Indo-Pacific, and rolled down tariffs. In exchange to such massive concessions, Trump has got a minor gain in the form of TikTok deal that fades in comparison to gains that China secured. China appears to have used its near-monopoly over rare earths supply to bring Trump to his knees. While Trump waged the trade war with bravado, ramping up tariffs to 145 per cent, he soon de-escalated as China blocked the supply of rare earths and critical minerals that are needed in almost every item of modern life, ranging from fighter planes, missiles, radars, to cars, smartphones, televisions, and fridges. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moreover, Trump has also given Trump an optical victory. Weeks after Xi hosted biggest non-Western leaders at the SCO Summit where he pitched China as the new world power that has replaced the United States that he pitched as a power getting irrelevant by the day he would meet Trump in a summit in South Korea. As Trump will go to Xis neighbourhood to pay respect to him in exchange for a social media platforms deal that has negligible value to the Chinese leader, the optics will be clear for the world to see the President of the United States is making concessions on fundamental positions of his country and flying across the world to pay respects to the Chinese leader in exchange for a handshake deal involving a social media platform. For the world, it will be clear who won. Jaishankar will meet US Secretary of State Rubio on Monday in Washington, in their first talks since the US imposed a steep 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods over New Delhis purchase of Russian oil. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, The meet with Jaishankar was Rubio's first as secretary of state. Image Courtesy: @DrSJaishankar/X In a first since Washington imposed steep 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhis purchase of Russian oil, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday (Sept 22) in Washington. According to the US State Departments public schedule, the two will hold talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Third meeting this year This will be Jaishankar and Rubios third face-to-face meeting in 2025. The two first met in January during the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting in Washington, just days after Rubio took office, and again in July at a second Quad gathering. Goyal in US for Trade talks in the backdrop The meeting coincides with ongoing IndiaUS trade negotiations in Washington, where Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is leading the Indian side. Talks resumed after President Donald Trump struck a more conciliatory tone, saying his team was continuing efforts to resolve barriers with New Delhi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Earlier this month, Trump expressed optimism about concluding a trade agreement with India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded that the discussions would help unlock the limitless potential of the IndiaUS partnership. Five rounds of negotiations have already taken place, with the sixth originally scheduled for late August pushed back. Key issues in play While the agenda of the JaishankarRubio talks has not been disclosed, the timing is notable. It comes days after Trump signed a proclamation imposing a new annual USD 100,000 application fee for H-1B visas a move expected to hit Indian workers hardest, as they make up the majority of recipients. Busy UNGA session This years UNGA coincides with several high-level events, including commemorations for the UNs 80th anniversary, a Climate Ambition Summit convened by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and a meeting marking 30 years since the Beijing Declaration on womens rights. Jaishankar arrived in New York on Sunday to begin his UNGA week, starting with bilateral talks with Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa P Lazaro. Jaishankar on Monday met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York for bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly session, with both leaders agreeing on the importance of sustained engagement to advance progress on key priority areas. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York for bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly session, with both leaders agreeing on the importance of sustained engagement to advance progress on key priority areas. #WATCH | New York: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session. pic.twitter.com/BPoTm5Udfi ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Taking to X, Jaishankar wrote, Good to meet @SecRubio this morning in New York. Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas. We will remain in touch. Good to meet @SecRubio this morning in New York. Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas. We will remain in touch. pic.twitter.com/q31vCxaWel Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 22, 2025 The meeting at Lotte New York Palace marks the first face-to-face interaction between them since President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on India for its purchases of Russian oil, raising the total tariffs on India to 50%. Their last encounter was in July in Washington DC during the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting. This meeting coincides with India and the US holding talks aimed at reaching an early trade agreement. On Monday, a delegation led by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will meet with US officials in the city. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The delegation plans to take forward the discussions with a view to achieving early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement, PTI quoted the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as saying in a statement. The statement added that during the last visit of officials from the office of the US Trade Representative to India on September 16, positive discussions were held on various aspects of the trade deal, and it was decided to intensify efforts in this regard. Jaishankar, who arrived in New York on Sunday for the high-level UNGA week, will hold a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the session and will deliver the national statement at the General Debate on September 27 from the iconic green UNGA podium. With inputs from agencies Khalistani terrorist Inderjit Singh Gosal, a close aide of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has been arrested in Canada on multiple firearms-related charges, in what officials describe as the first major outcome of renewed IndiaCanada security cooperation. Khalistani terrorist Inderjit Singh Gosal, a close aide of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has been arrested in Canada. Gosal, who became a key organiser for US-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) after the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was arrested in Ottawa on multiple firearms-related charges. According to a report from News18, Officials are calling it the first visible outcome of a reset in IndiaCanada security cooperation. The move marks a sharp shift from Canadas earlier permissive approach to separatist groups operating under the cover of free speech. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to intelligence sources cited in the report, the arrest followed sustained pressure from New Delhi, led by NSA Ajit Doval. Indian agencies had shared detailed dossiers with Ottawa, including financial trails and evidence linking Gosal to Pannun. These inputs, sources said, pushed Canadian authorities to act against extremist sleeper cells. This is Gosals second arrest in less than a year. In November 2023, he was held over a violent incident at a Hindu temple in the Greater Toronto Area, where he allegedly attacked Hindu-Canadian worshippers, but was later released on conditions. Officials said Gosal has been a principal organiser of the Khalistan referendum in Canada. Considered Pannuns right-hand man, he also served as his personal security officer. The breakthrough is linked to a recent meeting in New Delhi between NSA Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin. Intelligence sources called it a hard reset in ties that had been strained since the fallout of Hardeep Singh Nijjars killing in 2023. Both countries also exchanged new ambassadors recently, signalling a push to move beyond the diplomatic standoff. Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen from Punjab, was declared an individual terrorist by Indias Ministry of Home Affairs in July 2020, a year after his outfit SFJ was banned. Authorities have registered over 100 cases against Pannun and the SFJ, around 60 of them in Punjab alone. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed his British counterpart after the United Kingdom formally recognised the Palestinian state. Netanyahu went on to call the move an absurd reward for terrorism Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed his British counterpart after the United Kingdom formally recognised the Palestinian state. The Israeli premier said on Sunday that the recognition of the Palestinian state by European nations is an absurd prize for terrorism. To fight both in the UN and in all the other fronts against the slanderous propaganda aimed at us, and against the calls to create a Palestinian state that will endanger our existence and constitute an absurd prize for terrorism," Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Israels Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to condemn Starmers latest announcement. In the post, Saar insisted that the UK recognising Palestine as a state was nothing but a reward for jihadist Hamas. Hamas leaders themselves openly admit: this recognition is a direct outcome, the fruit for the October 7 massacre. Dont let Jihadist ideology dictate your policy, the post read. Israeli officials have been making all sorts of arguments in recent weeks as they sought to counter the growing momentum in the UK, France, Canada, Portugal and others towards recognition. Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Netanyahu, with the latest announcements by the European nations, Hamas could now say to the Palestinians that without its 2023 attack, which killed about 1,200 Israelis, the recognition of Palestine by the UK and others would not have happened. Reward for Hamas In his statement, Amidror argued that the move is now being seen as a reward for Hamas. It will be understood as a reward to them, and Starmer has lost any leverage that he had and [a Palestinian state] is not going to happen anyway, said Amidror, an analyst at the conservative Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and the Jewish Institute for National Security of America in Washington. Israel is determined to destroy the terrorist organisation that is called Hamas. Some of our friends around the world have decided that Hamas should survive and Israel should leave the Gaza Strip, taking our hostages There is a gap here that cannot be bridged with nice words," he added. Despite all these arguments pushed by the Israeli government, successive opinion polls in the country have shown strong demand for a negotiated end to the conflict in Gaza. Support for Netanyahu and his coalition government, which is seen as the most right-wing in Israels history, has declined significantly since the Israeli militarys extensive operation in Gaza. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Families of hostages are not happy with Europe Meanwhile, coalition groups representing the families of hostages said on Sunday that they condemned various nations unconditional recognition of a Palestinian state while turning a blind eye to the fact that 48 hostages remain in Hamas captivity following the October 7th massacre. The leader of Israels opposition Democratic Party, Yair Golan, said that the recognition by the UK was a grave political failure by Netanyahu and his far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich. This is a direct result of Netanyahus political recklessness: refusal to end the war and the dangerous choice of occupation and annexation, Golan said. The issue of a demilitarised Palestinian state can and should be part of a broad regional arrangement led by Israel that guarantees our security interests. The UKs move also drew criticism from Israels far-right. Both Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right national security minister, went on to call for wholesale annexation of the occupied West Bank. The days when Britain and other countries would determine our future are over The only response to this anti-Israeli move is sovereignty over the historic homeland of the Jewish people in Judea and Samaria, and permanently removing the folly of a Palestinian state from the agenda, Smotrich said on X. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he was open to future talks with the United States if Washington drops its demand that the country give up its nuclear weapons, state media said Monday US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during a meeting at the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, in Panmunjom, South Korea, June 30, 2019. File image/ Reuters North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he was open to future talks with the United States if Washington drops its demand that the country give up its nuclear weapons, state media said Monday. Kim also said he had fond memories of US President Donald Trump, who he met three times for high-profile summits during Trumps first term, before talks collapsed in Hanoi in 2019 over what concessions Pyongyang was prepared to make. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If the United States discards its delusional obsession with denuclearisation and, based on recognising reality, truly wishes for peaceful coexistence with us, then there is no reason we cannot meet it, Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. The demand that Kim give up his nuclear arsenal has long been a sticking point between the two countries, with Pyongyang under successive rafts of UN sanctions over its banned weapons programmes. Kim said that sanctions had only helped the North in growing stronger, building endurance and resistance that cannot be crushed by any pressure. I still personally hold fond memories of the current US president, Trump, Kim added, in a wide-ranging speech to the countrys rubber-stamp parliament. Since the failed 2019 summit, North Korea has repeatedly said it will never give up its nuclear weapons and declared itself an irreversible nuclear state. Kim reiterated that denuclearisation was not an option. The world already knows well what the United States does after it forces a country to give up its nuclear arms and disarm, he said. We will never give up our nuclear weapons. Kim also said that he had no reason to sit down with South Korea, even as Seouls new President Lee Jae-myung has sought to ease tensions with the North. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We make it clear that we will not deal with them in any form, he said. Russia ties North Korea has in recent years declared the South its principal enemy and blown up rail links and roads that connect the two countries. Analysts say that the North Korean leader has been emboldened by the war in Ukraine, securing critical support from Russia after sending thousands of North Korean troops to fight alongside Moscow. North Korea has become one of Russias main allies since Moscow invaded Ukraine three-and-a-half years ago, sending thousands of soldiers and container loads of weapons to help the Kremlin push Ukrainian forces out of western Russia, following Kyivs shock incursion last year. Moscow and Pyongyang signed a mutual defence pact last year when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the reclusive state. Seoul has repeatedly warned that Russia is stepping up support for Pyongyang, including the potential transfer of sensitive Russian military technology. Trump is expected to visit South Korea next month, when the country hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) in its southern city of Gyeongju. Kim, who visited Russias Far East in 2023, rarely leaves North Korea. But he travelled to Beijing this month on an armoured train. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He stood beside Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a massive parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japans World War II surrender. At least 30 civilians were killed in Pakistani Air Force airstrikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, according to multiple reports. Pakistani fighter jets dropped eight LS-6 bombs on Matre Dara village in the Tirah Valley, killing civilians. At least 30 people, including women and children, were killed in airstrikes by the Pakistani Air Force in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday (Sept 22), according to multiple reports. The attack took place around 2 am, when Pakistani fighter jets dropped eight LS-6 bombs on Matre Dara village in the Tirah Valley. Local media said many more people were injured, though their condition remains unclear. How many people were killed in the Pakistan airstrike? At least 30 people as the explosions flattened much of the village. Disturbing images from the site showed bodies, including those of children, lying in the open as rescue teams searched through the rubble for survivors and victims, raising fears the death toll could climb. Why did Pakistan bomb Khyber Pakhtunkhwa? Sources said to News18 that the strike was carried out to target Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. Local sources and survivors said the bombs hit crowded neighbourhoods while families were asleep, leaving people at their most vulnerable. By morning, eyewitnesses described Matre Dara as littered with bodies, with homes reduced to rubble and livestock destroyed. Questions over intent According to a report, analysts noted that the use of LS-6 precision glide bombs showed the strike was intentional rather than accidental. They argued it amounted to a violation of international humanitarian law and raised fresh concerns about Pakistans military operations in the tribal belt. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pattern of civilian casualties Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has long faced counter-terrorism operations, many of which have led to civilian deaths. In June, Amnesty International warned that repeated drone strikes in the province showed a shocking disregard for civilian life. Pakistani authorities have failed to protect civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who continue to pay the price of escalating drone strikes. Last Fridays drone strike, which killed a child, is part of a disturbing rise in attacks since March, said Isabelle Lassee, Amnestys Deputy Regional Director for South Asia. Spike in terror incidents Police data shows the province recorded 605 terror incidents between January and August this year, killing at least 138 civilians and 79 police personnel. August alone saw 129 incidents, including the deaths of six Pakistan Army and paramilitary Federal Constabulary troops. Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir is becoming a regular feature in the countrys foreign policy, which is otherwise a domain of the Shehbaz Sharif government. Ironically, it is Sharif who is ceding diplomatic turf to Munir, but why? Who is governing Pakistan its elected government or its politicians in uniform? The recent engagements of Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir in the countrys diplomacy are not lost on Pakistan observers, who see these events as a carefully orchestrated display, stamping the authority of its military on the civilian government. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who heads the elected government, has been seen positioning Pakistans military leadership at the forefront of global engagements. Munir accompanying Sharif at recent and likely to follow the new routine in the upcoming foreign visits indicates a deliberate effort to elevate the military bosss political stature on the international stage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Observers suggest these appearances are far from mere ceremonial gestures. Rather, they signal a deeper recalibration of Pakistans internal governance, highlighting the increasing dominance of the military over civilian authority. This trend reflects Sharifs apparent inability to withstand mounting pressure from Pakistans politically ambitious military leadership, effectively limiting the influence of the civilian government while legitimising the militarys active role in shaping both national and foreign policy. Who represents Pakistan Sharif or Munir? Sharifs diplomatic tour, which began on September 17, covered Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States. According to senior government sources cited by News18, the trip aimed to strengthen bilateral relations, attract investment and engage in high-level security consultations. Munir accompanied the prime minister throughout this tour, attending parallel meetings that focussed on defence cooperation, counterterrorism and regional security. Munirs presence in these engagements was unprecedented in recent Pakistani political history, as military leaders rarely accompany civilian officials on such extensive international tours. In Riyadh, Sharif and Munir were reported to have met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, finalising a defence cooperation framework that reportedly treats an attack on either nation as an attack on both. This agreement also highlighted Munirs role in international security dialogues Pakistan is engaging in. It is a domain traditionally dominated by civilian policymakers, except when Pakistan military directly took over the government. Why is Munir going to the UNGA with Sharif? Sharifs schedule in the United States from September 22 to 26 included participation in the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. According to reports, the Foreign Office confirmed that Sharif would attend a meeting of select Muslim leaders with US President Donald Trump, aimed at exchanging views on regional and international peace and security. Munirs inclusion in this delegation was particularly notable, as it highlighted his integration into discussions of global strategic importance, a role rarely accorded to military leaders outside Pakistan. Is Munir sourcing validation from Trump ties? The upcoming meetings in New York come months after Trump hosted Munir at the White House in June this year, marking the first time a US president engaged directly with the head of Pakistans army. This private luncheon reportedly focussed on regional security issues, including the India-Pakistan conflict. Pakistan used the meeting to claim that there is an unusual level of trust and access granted to Pakistans military leadership. Analysts have interpreted this engagement as a signal that Munirs influence extends beyond military strategy into shaping Pakistans political narrative on the global stage. The fact that Munir was later seen attending high-profile summits and bilateral discussions alongside Sharif reinforces the perception that his role is increasingly political. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What Munirs China visit showed? Munirs international exposure has also extended to China, where he accompanied Sharif during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin in early September. Reports indicate that Munir met Chinese President Xi Jinping alongside Sharif, in discussions that focussed on bilateral cooperation, defence moderniaation and regional stability. While previous army chiefs had visited China primarily for defence-related matters, Munirs participation in diplomatic discussions alongside the prime minister suggested a blending of military and political authority. This pattern positions Munir as a bridge between Pakistans strategic and political spheres, giving him greater control over Pakistan government domestically, and also in diplomacy. Why is Army chief Munir getting so involved in Pakistans diplomacy? By accompanying Sharif to high-profile summits and bilateral meetings, Munirs visibility in international forums is reshaping perceptions of Pakistans governance as a country that lets its military dictate the elected government. The regular appearance of Munir alongside Sharif in diplomatic settings conveys a message that Pakistans foreign policy is decided and dominated by the military, not the civilian government. Sharifs inclusion of Munir in these foreign visits also carries domestic political implications. In speeches addressing overseas Pakistanis and international audiences, Sharif has repeatedly emphasised the role of military leadership in governments functioning something other elected governments across the world do not favour or encourage. Amid the tariff tensions between India and the United States, Indias Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Washington, DC, on Monday. Heres what to expect from the trip Amid the tariff tensions between India and the United States, Indias Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Washington, DC, on Monday. During the trip, Goyal would aim to get a mutually beneficial trade deal and ease tensions over the 50 per cent tariffs imposed on Indian goods due to New Delhis purchase of Russian oil. The delegation plans to take forward the discussions with a view to achieving early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement, Indias Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement late Saturday. Goyal last visited the US back in May this year, when he met his American counterpart, Howard Lutnick. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There have been signs of tensions simmering down after US President Donald Trump recently called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday. In the latest statement, the Ministry of Commerce noted that Goyals trip to the US is a follow-up to the American delegations visit to India on September 16, 2025. Positive discussions were held on various aspects of the trade deal, and it was decided to intensify efforts in this regard, the commerce ministry said about the outcome of the last visit. Can we expect a positive outcome from the visit? Despite tensions, Trump has constantly maintained that Prime Minister Modi continues to be his good friend, a sentiment reciprocated by the Indian PM. Hours after claiming that the United States has "lost" India to China and Russia, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he and PM Modi will always remain friends despite tensions. When asked whom he held responsible for losing India to China, as he claimed in an earlier post on Friday, the US President replied, I dont think we have. Ive been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil, as you know, from Russia. And I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India. 50 per cent tariff, very high tariff. Despite criticisms, Trump admitted that he continues to have a personal relationship with Prime Minister Modi. I get along very well with Modi, as you know. Hes great. He was here a couple of months ago, Trump said. The American leader went on to call PM Modi a great prime minister, reaffirming a very special relationship between India and the US. When asked by reporters whether he was ready to reset relations with India, Trump replied, I always will. Ill always be friends with (PM) Modi. Hes a great Prime Minister. Ill always be friends, but I just dont like what he is doing at this particular moment. But India and the United States have a very special relationship. There is nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At that time, Trump also expressed optimism over the trade negotiations between the two nations. They are going great. Other countries are doing great. We are doing great with all of them, he concluded. Things are complicated However, things are still not hunky dory between the two nations. Goyals visit to the US came amid Trumps relentless pressure on Europe to increase sanctions on both India and China, the biggest buyers of Russian oil. Apart from this, Trump has recently ordered to slap a $100,000 application fee for the H-1B visas, raising concerns among the Indian workforce operating in the United States. In response to this, the Indian government said the move will likely have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. Earlier this year, the US and India maintained that the bilateral agreement between the two nations would be finalised by the fall this year. However, negotiations halted after both sides hardened their positions and Trump began putting pressure on New Delhi over its ties with Moscow. One of the major points of contention between the two nations is the fact that Washington is seeking greater access to Indias dairy and farm sectors, which New Delhi is reluctant to open up. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies. After weeks of brutal fighting, Ukraines modest gain in Sumy disrupts Russias narrative of unstoppable advances but comes at a devastating human and tactical cost In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Services on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, rescue workers put out a fire of a house destroyed by a Russian strike in Sumy region, Ukraine. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) Ukraine has claimed a modest but symbolically significant gain in the northeastern Sumy region, pushing back against Russias narrative of relentless advances along the front. According to a New York Times report, citing independent battlefield monitors, the reclaimed village of Kindrativka no larger than a few streets is one of only two Ukrainian recaptures in the region this summer. The success follows nearly a month of intense combat and comes as Ukrainian forces edge closer to other Russian-held settlements near the border. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For infantryman Knyaz, who spent 22 days dug into a foxhole near the village, every attempt to move forward felt like a potential one-way mission. Constant mortar shelling. Drones flying overhead, NYT quoted him as saying, speaking under his call sign per military protocol. Running and hiding under trees. Digging into the tree lines. Sleeping there. Living there. The Sumy counterattack offers a rare reversal in a conflict where Moscow has largely dictated the pace of battlefield shifts. Since May, Russian forces have captured between 170 and 215 square miles of territory each month, according to the report, citing DeepState, a group that tracks frontline changes. Ukrainian commanders acknowledge they remain heavily outgunned and outnumbered, but see localized breakthroughs like this one as critical for undermining Russias momentum and morale. Ukraines limited advance in the Sumy region is more than a tactical win it pushes back against Moscows message that its forces are advancing unchecked and that Kyiv should accept a land-for-peace deal. According to the report, citing analysts, Russian troops, once pressing toward the regional capital, are now being pulled from Sumy to reinforce offensives elsewhere, including Donetsk. Russias Sumy operation has failed, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday, citing significant losses and troop redeployments. Kyivs advance relied on familiar tactics: relentless drone strikes, small-unit infantry raids, and elite airborne units. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ukrainian commanders say this not only stalled Russian momentum but also weakened Moscows bargaining position. Why should we swap territories if we can get them back? NYT quoted Maksym Skrypchenko of the Transatlantic Dialogue Center in Kyiv, as saying. Russia has floated trading captured areas of Sumy for land in Donetsk a proposal reportedly backed by US President Donald Trump. But any land swap now looks less tenable as Ukraine regains ground. Still, the cost is high. Villages like Kindrativka, retaken in July, are reduced to rubble by Russian guided bombs. Even in dugouts with reinforced layers when a guided bomb hits, its devastating, Lieutenant Colonel Ihor of Ukraines 80th Air Assault Brigade told NYT. Its psychologically exhausting, he added. Despite localised success, Ukrainian forces remain outgunned. Lieutenant Anvar of the 225th Assault Regiment, once part of Ukraines brief offensive into Russias Kursk region, now fights to hold ground inside Sumy. His unit uses the same tactics Russia employed against them: isolate supply lines with drone strikes, then advance once the enemy is weakened. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On the battlefield, large mechanised assaults have given way to slow, stealthy movement. Infantry now operate in pairs, moving a few dozen yards at a time and digging in quickly to avoid detection by drones. Supplies often arrive by drone airdrop due to the lack of safe roads. The enemy sees every move and reacts instantly, said Lieutenant Colonel Ihor. In Kindrativka, soldiers from the 225th described the battle as brutal and draining. The fear actually comes back when you rotate out, said Sergeant Palma. Silence means somethings wrong it means the Russians might be crawling toward you. Even deep foxholes are no guarantee of safety, as drone operators grow more precise. Nearby, a drone operator from Ukraines 95th Air Assault Brigade practiced flying through narrow hoops, honing skills critical for frontline survival. Its not about speed, but control, said Lieutenant Andrii. Ukrainian commanders say Russias recent troop pullback from Sumy could open opportunities. New Russian units arriving in the region are reportedly less trained and poorly equipped. But Russia still holds one major advantage: powerful guided bombs that flatten trenches and bunkers alike. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For Ukrainians like Nataliya Biletchenko, the liberation of Kindrativka is bittersweet. Her colleague, a native of the village, celebrated its recapture even though her home no longer exists. She was happy, NYT quoted Biletchenko as saying. Still, shes without a home. Without anything. With inputs from agencies Demand for corrugated packaging the cardboard boxes used to ship goods from groceries to electronics has slumped to its weakest level since 2016, sparking concerns about US consumer spending, says a report. Demand for corrugated packaging and cardboard box used to ship everything from food to appliances has slumped to its weakest level since 2016, raising concerns about the strength of US consumer spending, According to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Box shipments per capita are now more than 20 per cent below their 1999 peak. Experts caution that while cardboard demand is not a perfect economic indicator, it usually tracks wider retail and manufacturing trends since boxes are vital for almost all shipped goods. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mills shutting down, worst scenario since 2009 recession International Paper, the nations largest box maker, will shut two mills in Georgia by the end of September, cutting nearly 9 per cent of US containerboard capacity in less than a year. That is roughly double the capacity lost during the 2009 recession. Closures of such scale are unprecedented, analyst Adam Josephson told the Journal. The decline is being driven by weakening consumer spending, corporate caution triggered by tariffs, pulp mill closures and a cooling housing market that has reduced demand for moving boxes. Box shipments had soared during the pandemic as online shopping exploded, but demand has since fallen back sharply. International Paper, which once forecast modest growth this year, now expects a 2 per cent decline. Prices stay high despite slump Even as demand falls, producers have continued raising prices to offset costs. Linerboard, the most common grade, now sells for about $945 a ton, compared with $725 in 2019. Buyers have resisted some increases, but industry consolidation with International Paper, Packaging Corp. of America and WestRock among the biggest players has helped maintain pricing power. E-commerce shifts strategy According t o the report, Amazon and other online retailers are also reducing cardboard use by shifting to lightweight mailers and right-sized packaging, compounding the industrys downturn. Industry restructures International Paper insists its Georgia closures are part of a broader restructuring, not just a response to weaker demand. The Savannah mill alone required nearly $300 million in upkeep. Instead, the company is investing $250 million to convert a plant in Selma, Alabama, to produce lightweight containerboard. Other producers are planning new capacity in Louisiana and Arkansas. Outlook remains uncertain Despite declining demand, Wall Street analysts expect the capacity cuts to support higher prices into 2026. Still, industry insiders warn that continued weakness in box demand could be an ominous sign for the US economy. Britains Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper on Monday warned that Russias incursions into Nato territory could provoke an armed conflict, a statement that prompted a swift rebuke from Moscow, which dismissed the concerns as unfounded and hysterical A still photo published by Swedish armed forces that it says shows a Russian mig-31 fighter jet that took part in the violation of Estonian airspace. Swedens military says the image was taken over the Baltic sea after the Russian aircraft left Estonian airspace, still photo released on September 19, 2025. Reuters File Britains Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper on Monday warned that Russias incursions into Nato territory could provoke an armed conflict, a statement that prompted a swift rebuke from Moscow, which dismissed the concerns as unfounded and hysterical. Your reckless actions risk direct armed confrontation between Nato and Russia. Our alliance is defensive but be under no illusion we stand ready to defend Natos skies and Natos territory, Reuters quoted Cooper as saying at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If we need to confront planes operating in Nato space without permission then we will do so, she added. Estonia on Friday said that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated its airspace, remaining for 12 minutes before being forced to withdraw. Western officials described the incursion as a deliberate move to test Natos readiness and resolve. In response, the United Nations Security Council convened on Monday to address the matter, with Nato consultations scheduled for Tuesday. The incident follows another breach just over a week earlier, when more than 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, prompting Nato aircraft to intercept and shoot some of them down. Coopers warning was echoed by several Western ministers at the Security Council, who argued that the repeated violations could not be dismissed as accidental. Russias deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmytry Polyanskiy, said there was no evidence backing their claims and accused European powers of levying baseless accusations. We wont be partaking in this theater of the absurd, Reuters quoted him as saying. When you decide that you want to engage in a serious discussion about European security, about the fate of our common continent, about how to make this continent prosperous and secure for everybody, well be ready, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies Top Democratic leaders lashed out at the US President Donald Trumps administration after the American leader asked the Department of Justice to charge his enemies Top Democratic leaders lashed out at the US President Donald Trumps administration after the American leader asked the Department of Justice to charge his enemies. The Democrats on Sunday warned that Trumps drive to go after his political opponents is putting America on a path to becoming a dictatorship and a banana republic. After the late-night show, 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' was cancelled over the hosts remarks on Charlie Kirks death, Trump unleashed a public demand for the Justice Department to take action against perceived enemies. Critics have been describing Trumps recently aggressive behaviour as authoritarian. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump is turning the Justice Department into an instrument that goes after his enemies, whether theyre guilty or not is the path to a dictatorship, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told CNN. Thats what dictatorships do, he added. Meanwhile, Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy suggested that the United States was turning into a banana republic. The president of the United States is now employing the full power of the federal government, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), the Department of Justice, to punish, lock up, take down off the air all of his political enemies, Murphy said on ABC. This is one of the most dangerous moments America has ever faced. We are quickly turning into a banana republic, he added. Trumps latest orders to Pam In a social media post, addressing US Attorney General Pam Bondi as Pam, Trump fumed over the lack of legal action against California Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both Democrats. It is pertinent to note that both Smith and James are among a handful of people who have been accused by a close Trump ally, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, of falsifying documents on mortgage applications. We cant delay any longer, its killing our reputation and credibility, Trump said. On Friday, the president sacked a federal prosecutor who was overseeing the probe into James, after the attorney reportedly insisted there was insufficient evidence to charge her with mortgage fraud. Erik Siebert, US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, told staff of his resignation via an email on Friday, which was obtained by The New York Times. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I fired him, and there is a GREAT CASE, and many lawyers, and legal pundits, say so, Trump said Saturday, apparently referencing the probe into James. A day before the post, when asked by a reporter about the case, Trump said, I am not following it very closely. It looks to me like shes very guilty of something, but I really dont know. After Trump left the White House in 2021, it was James who brought a major civil fraud case against him, alleging he and his company had unlawfully inflated his wealth and manipulated the value of properties to obtain favourable bank loans or insurance terms. A state judge then ordered Trump to pay US$464 million in that suit, but a higher court later removed the financial penalty while upholding the underlying judgment. With inputs from AFP. The United States on Monday criticised Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal after they recognised a Palestinian state, calling the move performative and emphasising its focus on Israels security and the release of hostages. President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive for a news conference in the East Room of the White House, on Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. AP File In its first response to a wave of countries recognising a Palestinian state, the United States on Monday took aim at its allies decision, including Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal. A US State Department official, speaking to news agency AFP on condition of anonymity, described the recognitions as performative. Focus on serious diplomacy, not performative gestures Our focus remains on serious diplomacy, not performative gestures. Our priorities are clear: the release of the hostages, the security of Israel, and peace and prosperity for the entire region that is only possible free from Hamas, the spokesperson said. The US has stressed Israels security and the release of hostages as central to its Middle East policy. On Thursday, it vetoed a unilateral UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza that did not condemn Hamas or link the ceasefire to the release of hostages. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Netanyahu vows no Palestinian state west of Jordan Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would wait until after his visit to the US to respond to Britain, Canada, and Australias recognition. Its not going to happen. There will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River, he said, arguing the recognitions were rewarding terror with an enormous prize following the October 7 attacks. He added that any decision on applying sovereignty in the West Bank would depend on President Donald Trump. Wave of recognitions by key US allies Earlier on Sunday, Canada, Britain, Australia, and Portugal announced recognition of a Palestinian state. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the Israeli government is systematically working to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, citing the October 7 Hamas attacks, accelerated settlement construction, rising violence against Palestinians, the E1 building plan, Knesset annexation votes, and Israels role in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including restricting access to food and supplies. Australia said its recognition acknowledges the legitimate, long-standing aspirations of the Palestinian people for a state of their own. The Proclamation allows for potential exemptions, which can include physicians and medical residents, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement A US flag, a passport, mock US dollars and US H-1B Visa application forms are seen in this illustration taken, on Sunday. Reuters The White House on Monday indicated that doctors may be exempt from the Trump administrations newly introduced $100,000 fee on high-skilled H-1B visa applications. In a statement to Bloomberg News, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said, The Proclamation allows for potential exemptions, which can include physicians and medical residents. The proposed visa fee had raised concerns among medical professionals, who warned that it could severely limit the flow of international medical graduates entering the United States. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The $100,000 fee for H-1B visas risks shutting off the pipeline of highly trained physicians that patients depend on, especially in rural and underserved communities, Bloomberg had quoted American Medical Association President Bobby Mukkamala, a Michigan head and neck surgeon, as saying. President Donald Trump last week signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, a significant policy shift that could transform US immigration. The administration argues that the fee will ensure only extraordinarily skilled individuals are granted entry, while discouraging companies from hiring foreign workers to replace American employees. Describing the move as a necessary correction, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that previous employment-based visa policies allowed individuals earning below-average wages, often reliant on government assistance. He added that the new policy will eliminate the bottom quartile of applicants and is expected to generate over $100 billion in revenue for the US Treasury. President Trump said that these funds would help reduce the national debt and lower taxes. Why this matters for Indian professionals For India, the decision lands like a thunderclap. Approximately 71% of H-1B visa holders are Indian, most of whom work in the technology sector. Companies such as Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant, and Tata Consultancy Services have long depended on the programme to deploy Indian engineers and developers on US projects. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With visas valid for three years and renewable up to six, the new $100,000 fee could make it prohibitively expensive for firms to retain Indian professionals, especially given the decades-long wait many face for Green Cards. The impact goes beyond individual careers. Indias $250-billion IT services industry has thrived on sending talent abroad, particularly to the US. If companies hesitate to pay the new annual fee per employee, opportunities for Indian professionals could shrink significantly, potentially eroding Indias competitive advantage in the global tech market. The US technology sector, a major user of H-1B visas, now faces considerable uncertainty. While Trump insists that big tech loves the idea, investors responded nervously. Reuters reported that shares of IT services companies, including US-listed Indian firms, dropped between 2% and 5% after the announcement. Critics argue the measure discourages talent mobility and stifles innovation, while supporters claim it will prevent wage suppression and push companies to invest in training American graduates instead. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Information technology (IT) firms in particular have prominently manipulated the H-1B system, significantly harming American workers in computer-related fields, said a White House memo on the issue. With inputs from agencies Russian President Putin on Monday proposed a one-year extension of the New START treaty the last remaining arms control agreement between the US and Russia as both sides remain at odds over geopolitical issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday proposed a one-year extension of the New START treaty the last remaining arms control agreement between the US and Russia as both sides remain at odds over broader security and geopolitical issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine. The offer, directed at US President Donald Trump, comes ahead of the treatys expiration on February 5, 2026, and aims to prevent a lapse in limits on strategic nuclear weapons while future terms are negotiated. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Under the current New START agreement, both countries are limited to 1,550 deployed strategic warheads each. Without an extension or a new agreement, both nuclear powers could soon exceed those caps, escalating global security risks, reported Reuters. Putin announced the proposal during a meeting of Russias Security Council, calling it a step toward global non-proliferation and a potential platform for renewed dialogue with Washington. Russia is prepared to continue adhering to the central numerical limits under the New START Treaty for one year after February 5, 2026, Reuters quoted Putin as saying. Subsequently, based on an analysis of the situation, we will make a decision on whether to maintain these voluntary, self-imposed restrictions. This measure will only be viable if the United States acts in a similar manner, and does not take steps that undermine or violate the existing balance of deterrence capabilities. The Kremlins proposal comes amid mounting pressure on Putin from Trump to end the war in Ukraine. Moscow, however, continues to frame the conflict as part of broader East-West security tensions. At the same time, Kyiv is pushing the Trump administration to tighten sanctions on Moscow. The US has yet to respond to the extension offer. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The proposal marks a notable shift in Moscows stance, which had previously maintained that any arms control discussions with Washington would only occur once broader diplomatic ties strained by the war in Ukraine were improved. As of now, the US has not issued an official response to Putins offer. Ongoing tensions over Ukraine have prevented the two nuclear superpowers from beginning formal negotiations to renew or revise the New START treaty. While President Trump has expressed interest in a new trilateral arms control agreement that includes China, Beijing has firmly rejected participation in such talks. Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, told Reuters that Putins proposal is a positive and welcome move. He urged the US to respond constructively, saying that both Trump and Putin have the opportunity to help reduce the most immediate existential security threat facing the world. Putin also warned that Russia would closely monitor US nuclear and missile defence activities, particularly any moves to strengthen missile shields or deploy interceptors in space, which he said could undermine efforts to preserve strategic stability. The practical implementation of such destabilising actions could nullify our efforts to maintain the status quo in the field of START, said Putin. We will respond accordingly. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Konstantin Kosachyov, a senior Russian senator, said Putin was sending a message to the US that he was ready to enter talks on a new arms control treaty. I hope that this signal will be heard and correctly interpreted, Kosachyov said on Telegram. With inputs from agencies Nokia has extended its brand licensing agreement with HMD Global, allowing the latter to continue selling Nokia-branded feature phones for approximately another two-three years beyond its initial 2026 expiry. The decision provides operational continuity for both companies and underscores the enduring relevance of feature phones in key global markets. Since 2016, HMD Global has been the exclusive licensee for the Nokia brand in mobile devices, a partnership that has seen the revival of classic models and the introduction of new feature phones and smartphones. The extension of the agreement, while not officially commented on by either company, has been widely reported by sources familiar with the matter. This move is particularly significant for markets like India and China, where feature phones continue to be a substantial segment of the mobile landscape. India, in particular, remains the worlds largest feature phone market. According to market data from IDC, HMD Global commands a dominant position in Indias feature phone segment, with a market share of over 22% by volume and nearly 31% by value in 2024. The extension of the deal will allow HMD to maintain its strong presence and capitalize on this demand. China secures figure skating pairs berth for 2026 Winter Olympics Xinhua) 09:22, September 22, 2025 BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese pair skaters Zhang Jiaxuan and Huang Yihang finished first in the figure skating pairs at the ISU Figure Skating Olympic Qualifier here on Saturday to clinch a berth for China in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The top three pairs in the event were awarded Winter Olympic berths. As Zhang and Huang ranked first in the short program on Friday, they maintained their momentum in the free skating and remained top of the rankings with a total score of 191.52 points. Zhang, 18, expressed his excitement after finishing the show, saying, "We made our utmost efforts in training, and it was an honor for us to skate on this international stage and win the berth." "We had some mistakes in the free skating and fluctuated a little bit, but basically, we performed steadily despite some pressure at home," said Huang, 23. "China has a great tradition in pairs, so we are confident that our team can attain new heights in the future." Armenia's Karina Akopova and Nikita Rakhmanin and Japan's Yuna Nagaoka and Sumitada Moriguchi seized the other two Olympic berths in pairs, after scoring 186.84 points and 178.66 points, respectively. French pair Camille Kovalev and Pavel Kovalev, who ranked second in the short program, fell short in the free skating and missed the Winter Olympics with fourth place in the final rankings. The ISU Figure Skating Olympic qualifier took place at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing from Friday to Sunday. Skaters competed for 17 2026 Winter Olympic berths, with five in the men's singles and the women's singles respectively, three in the pairs, and four in the ice dance. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) Nathan graduated with his journalism degree from Auburn University in 2017. After growing up in the flatlands of rural Alabama with his parents and older sister, Nathan enjoys Western Colorado's natural resources and recreational opportunities. He currently covers education and business for The Daily Sentinel. The city of Grand Junction has finished the construction of underground work for its Crosby Avenue project and is preparing for the next phase of construction of the upgraded road and pedestrian trail. Grand Junction Public Works Director Trent Prall said the city has been looking to reconstruct Crosby Avenue, which goes from Main Street, along the railroad tracks to the Rimrock Marketplace, for nearly 20 years. The street really needed to be reconstructed anyway, Prall said. We had originally planned this project for construction back in about 2006. Then due to budget constraints it was postponed and it was always three years out. A $1 million Revitalizing Main Street grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation to construct a pedestrian trail along Crosby helped get the project near the top of the citys priority list. Prall said the pedestrian infrastructure will help residents at two new large apartment complexes travel between Main Street and the businesses in the Rimrock Marketplace, like Walmart. (It will) provide great access there for people going from Main Street out to all the services there with Walmart and Sprouts and Lowes and so forth, as well as you know the people at the Rail Yard going the opposite direction to downtown, Prall said. Currently the city is finalizing the last pieces it needs with CDOT before putting the project out to bid. Were getting the final bits and pieces of rights away and easements that we need to be able to build that infrastructure approved by CDOT, Prall said. Were anticipating having that here in the next three to four weeks and then have the clearance for us to be able to advertise for bids to complete the rest of that project. Construction is expected to start early next year, which, in addition to the pedestrian trail, will include reconstruction of the street itself. The original street there was only about 22 feet of asphalt, which made for a very narrow corridor, Prall said. It did have a large berm, if you will, on the left side. It had a raised irrigation ditch that was in there that caused some sight distance issues both at Gunnison and Baserock streets. That irrigation ditch has been put underground already, Prall said. Construction of the street and trail, which includes pedestrian level lighting, will likely take around five months and will have similar impacts to drivers as the utility work it completed this year. (We will) most likely will need to shut down the street so our contractor can work more efficiently and get that project constructed in a timely manner, Prall said. NATO Allies and Partners strengthen cooperation on classified information exchange NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 19 Sep. 2025 Security experts from across the Alliance and its partners gathered in Bratislava this week (17-19 September 2025) for a meeting of the NATO Security Committee, bringing together representatives from over 60 countries, as well as international organisations. The three-day event was co-organised by the NATO Office of Security within the Joint Intelligence and Security Division, and the National Security Authority of the Slovak Republic. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation and strengthening practices to ensure the secure exchange of classified information between NATO and its partners. Participants shared experiences, addressed common challenges, and identified opportunities to reinforce the security frameworks that support information sharing. Chaired by Galen J. Nace, Director of the NATO Office of Security and Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Security, the NATO Security Committee acts as the North Atlantic Council's main advisory body on security matters. "Partnerships make the Alliance stronger," said Mr Nace. "We are committed to working with our partners to promote the best security practices to protect our people, information, systems and facilities. This meeting allowed us to deepen our cooperation and reinforce the frameworks that enable secure and timely information exchange in support of NATO's and our partners' shared objectives." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New dark web portal launched to recruit spies to support UK security Press release Outgoing Chief of MI6, Sir Richard Moore, announces new platform - Silent Courier - will make it easier for MI6 to recruit agents online From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Secret Intelligence Service and The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP Published 19 September 2025 MI6's dark web portal will help recruit new spies by offering secure route to contact the UK. Instructions on how to access new portal - Silent Courier - revealed as the UK targets agents in Russia and around the world. Announcement backed by the largest investment in defence since the Cold War, ensuring that Britain and our allies are safe. A new dark web portal to recruit spies for the UK has been launched today [19 September], as the UK steps up its commitment to national security. Harnessing the anonymity of the dark web for the first time, MI6's new secure messaging platform - Silent Courier - enables anyone, anywhere in the world with access to sensitive information relating to terrorism or hostile intelligence activity to securely contact the UK and offer their services. Instructions on how to access the portal will be publicly available on MI6's verified YouTube channel as the UK reaches out to potential new agents in Russia and around the world. MI6 advises individuals accessing its portal to use trustworthy VPNs and devices not linked to themselves, to mitigate risks which exist in some countries. National security is the foundation of the Government's Plan for Change. That's why the UK has announced a generational uplift in defence spending, so that our intelligence community can continue to defend our way of life, keep working people safe and compete with our adversaries. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: National security is the first duty of any government and the bedrock of the Prime Minister's Plan for Change. As the world changes, and the threats we're facing multiply, we must ensure the UK is always one step ahead of our adversaries. Our world class intelligence agencies are at the coalface of this challenge, working behind the scenes to keep British people safe. Now we're bolstering their efforts with cutting-edge tech so MI6 can recruit new spies for the UK - in Russia and around the world. The announcement will be made by the outgoing Chief of MI6, Sir Richard Moore, in Istanbul where he will say that the platform will make it easier for MI6 to recruit agents online. As MI6 establishes its official presence on the dark web to reach new recruits and tackle hostile actors seeking to undermine UK security, Sir Richard will say that the UK's intelligence services are "critical to calibrating risk and informing decisions" in navigating threats from hostile actors - making platforms like these even more important in keeping our country safe. On Silent Courier he will say: "Today we're asking those with sensitive information on global instability, international terrorism or hostile state intelligence activity to contact MI6 securely online. "Our virtual door is open to you." Close cooperation between the UK and US on intelligence is at the heart of the special relationship and our shared security - which is vital to deliver the Government's Plan for Change. MI6's portal builds on a similar approach taken by the US' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The CIA published videos on social media channels to target potential Russian spies in 2023. Following the US President's historic second State Visit to the UK this week, the UK and US continue to strengthen their defence and security relationship in an increasingly uncertain world. Last week, a new partnership with Google Cloud means the UK and US can communicate securely, so the UK and our closest ally can outmatch hostile actors who seek to cause chaos for working people by disrupting their everyday lives, including trying to steal sensitive information and launching targeted cyber campaigns NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint press conference by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus G. Grynkewich NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 12 Sep. 2025 (As delivered) NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte Good afternoon. And thank you, General Grynkewich, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, for joining me here in Brussels today. In the early hours of Wednesday, September 10th, numerous Russian drones violated Polish airspace. NATO's air defences were activated, and successfully ensured the defence of NATO territory. While this was the largest concentration of violations of NATO airspace that we have seen, what happened on Wednesday was not an isolated incident. Russia's recklessness in the air along our eastern flank is increasing in frequency. We have seen drones violate our airspace in Romania, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Whether intentional or not, it is dangerous. And unacceptable. At a meeting of the North Atlantic Council on Wednesday morning, Allies discussed the situation in light of Poland's request for Article 4 consultations. Allies expressed full solidarity with Poland and denounced Russia's reckless behaviour. NATO's core task is to deter aggression and defend every member of this Alliance against whatever threats we face. Safeguarding our eastern flank is of utmost importance. This is why we have forward land forces deployed in eight countries. With contributions from every Ally supporting these contingents. And plans in place to scale up our presence if and when required. We have air defences - ground, sea, and air-based systems. Here, too, with contributions from Allies across Europe and North America working together every day. To ensure that we are prepared and ready to defend every inch of Allied territory. We stood up Baltic Sentry at the beginning of this year, to help safeguard critical infrastructure from reckless behaviour in the Baltic Sea. And today, General Grynkewich and I are here to announce that NATO is launching "Eastern Sentry" - to bolster our posture even further along our eastern flank. This military activity will commence in the coming days and will involve a range of assets from Allies including Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Germany, and others. In addition to more traditional military capabilities, this effort will also feature elements designed to address the particular challenges associated with the use of drones. "Eastern Sentry" will add flexibility and strength to our posture. And make clear that, as a defensive Alliance, we are always ready to defend. I am confident in the strength and ability of this Alliance - not least because of the excellent leadership of our top brass. So let me pass the floor to General Grynkewich to provide a bit more detail about how we are reinforcing our posture through "Eastern Sentry". General, you have the floor. Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus Grynkewich Thank you, Secretary General. It's great to be here by your side in Brussels for this important announcement. One that will strengthen our defences. Integrated and layered air defences, both air and ground-based, will be key as we move forward. This was on top of everyone's mind in the Baltic states, where I just returned from a short while ago. My conversations with leaders in Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia focused on NATO's response to the reckless and dangerous act that occurred in Poland earlier this week. I am incredibly proud of our response. It was decisive and it was effective. And it speaks to the capability and professionalism of 32 Allies working together. As the Secretary General just mentioned, this decisiveness will continue with Eastern Sentry. Although the immediacy of our focus is on Poland, this situation transcends the borders of one nation. What affects one Ally affects us all. This is an issue that impacts all of the Alliance, and we will treat it as such. Eastern Sentry will be flexible and agile, delivering even more focused deterrence and defence exactly when and where needed. It will include additional enhanced capabilities. It will integrate air and ground-based defences. And it will increase information sharing amongst nations. Foremost, it will even further strengthen our posture to shield and protect the Alliance. Allies stand in solidarity with Poland and are committed to this endeavour. We have already seen announcements on the deployment of forces from France, Germany, Denmark and the United Kingdom. And we expect others soon. As part of Eastern Sentry, we will also work with Allied Command Transformation, as we did in Baltic Sentry, to rapidly experiment and field new technologies such as counter-drone sensors and weapons. Poland and citizens from across the Alliance should be assured by our rapid response earlier this week and our significant announcement here today. NATO will continue to defend every inch of its territory. NATO Secretary General Thank you, General Grynkewich. I am grateful to you and your team for the quick and decisive work you have done over the last days - and indeed every day of the year to keep our people safe. Indeed, I am also grateful to our Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Admiral Pierre Vandier. He is playing a key role on how we innovate and adapt our technology and tactics to address whatever new and novel challenges we may face, including from drones. NATO is a defensive Alliance. And it is our job to ensure that we are doing all that is necessary to deter and defend. The reckless behaviour we have seen from Russia is deeply dangerous. Our assessment of the incidents on Wednesday is ongoing. And whether or not Russia's actions were deliberate, Russia violated NATO airspace. Therefore, we must - as NATO - make clear our resolve and our ability to defend our territory. And that is what Eastern Sentry is designed to do. It will bolster our posture. Add flexibility to our approach. And ensure the safety and security of our eastern flank. Thank you so much. NATO Spokesperson Allison Hart Alright, we have time for several questions. We'll start in the centre, second row, Associated Press. Lorne Cook, AP Lorne Cook from Associated Press, a question for both of you. The risks being you're sending more resources to the eastern flank, and the risks being competition now between what Ukraine needs and what the Allies are requiring themselves. Isn't it time to start allowing Allies on the east to actually start firing at missiles and drones that are in western Ukraine when they're coming toward the border? In fact, isn't it time just to integrate entirely with Ukraine, because you're facing the same enemy anyway? Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus Grynkewich Sir, thank you for the question. What I would say is Eastern Sentry is focused on the defence of Alliance territory, and as of right now, I see no conflict between the support that individual nations are providing to Ukraine and what they are offering to contribute to this effort. NATO Spokesperson All right. Agence France-Presse. Max Delany, AFP Thank you very much. One question for the Secretary General and one for SACEUR, please. Max Delany, AFP. Secretary General, NATO crossed a Rubicon the other day by shooting down Russian aircraft over Allied territory for the first time. Is NATO now closer to war with Russia than it's ever been? And to SACEUR. You've said repeatedly that this was a successful operation by NATO to shoot down these drones, but it turns out, but it seems that you only shot down a handful of the drones, which was a far lower rate than Ukraine achieves. Was this really a success, and is it sustainable to keep on shooting down drones with multi-million dollar aircraft and expensive equipment? Thank you. NATO Secretary General To your first question. What this shows is that we will defend every inch of NATO territory, every inch of Allied territory, all 32 Allies, and whatever the intent was behind this, yes or no, and whether that was a mistake or not, we are still looking into that. It was reckless, it was unacceptable. These are Russian drones, and it is extremely serious what happened last Wednesday. So obviously you would, we would not be sitting here like this, if then NATO would not immediately come into action and defend every inch of Allied territory. This is exactly what we have done. And in the end, it's up to Russia how far they will take this. We will defend ourselves. We are in defensive Alliance, not an offensive Alliance. We will defend this beautiful 32 Alliance, established in 1949 and will make sure that our one billion people stay safe and stay free. SACEUR Sir, for the part of the question that you directed to me, I do think it was a highly successful operation, intercepting the drones that we did with the Dutch F 35 and the other assets that contributed to that. As successful as we are, we always learn something in the debrief, as we would say, in the fighter business. And so we are always looking for ways to enhance, to learn from the smallest tactical error to how we're approaching certain problems. And in my judgment, the scale of the incursion the other day was obviously larger than previous incursions that we've had. So bringing additional resources to bear on this problem will help to solve that. So that's why we're starting this operation the way we are. I'll also highlight the comment I made about working with Allied Command Transformation and Admiral Vandier, that is an effort to ensure that we get lower cost weapons that we can use to defend ourselves, to make this a sustainable operation over time and as SACEUR, one of my responsibilities is to make sure that we don't just defend today, but that we're set up to defend tomorrow. The last comment I'll make is when there's a fighter pilot that's in the air, or someone on the ground who's defending the Alliance. I don't want them thinking about how much their weapons cost. I want them defending our citizens. NATO Spokesperson We'll move to this side of the room, third row, Reuters. Andrew Gray, Reuters Thank you. Andrew Gray from Reuters, question for the Secretary General. Do you consider the response from the United States, particularly from the President, sufficient so far, when he said, "What's with Russia violating Poland's airspace with drones? Here we go." And have you spoken to President Trump about this? If so, what was the content of the message? If not, why have you not spoken to him? And for the Supreme Allied Commander. Can you tell us whether any US military assets were involved in the response to this incident? And if not, why not? And can you also give us more details of this new activity, the size, the scale of the operation? Thank you. NATO Secretary General To your first question, I think the American reaction was very clear by the American president, also by the Ambassador here. It's absolutely clear that we all stand together on this. America's commitment to NATO is ironclad in every sense. There's no doubt. So, I was very happy with the American reaction. And I'm not disclosing every phone call, every discussion I have, but you have seen in the press reported a phone call by the Polish president to Donald Trump, the American president. I spoke also with the Polish president. I think that was a very good phone call, clearly building also on the excellent relationship the two have been building last week during the visit of the new Polish president to the White House. So I'm absolutely satisfied on that front. SACEUR As far as US military assets. I'm right here, and I'm involved. And the United States commitment to the integrated military structure of the Alliance remains. For kinetic assets, the other day, there were not any. This is a function of the rotation of forces that we have to our different missions around the Alliance, though, and simply a matter of scheduling, more than anything else. As we look forward to your question on more details on the size and scope, Eastern Sentry, as I envision it, is going to cover the entire eastern flank of the Alliance, from the High North to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, anywhere that we might see a threat from the Russians. And modeling on Baltic Sentry, which is a highly successful operation in the Baltic Sea, we have been able, through our presence and through adapting the level of forces that we have at any particular time based on how we assess the threat picture, to prevent any attacks on undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea since we started that operation. The same logic of this vigilance activity will apply, in that across the eastern flank we'll constantly adjust and change our posture in a manner that keeps the adversary off guard, but also responds to specific threats as we see them emerging. NATO Spokesperson Fourth row centre. Thomas Gutschker, Frankfurter Zeitung Thanks for the question. Thomas Gutschker, with Frankfurter Zeitung. I have two questions. The first one for the immediate future. When will this new operation be up and running? Baltic Sentry was just a matter of days. Is that the time frame you're considering? And then, in the longer-term picture, the president of the European Commission this week suggested - or proposed - a drone wall as an answer to the new threat, to be possibly financed from the common EU budget. I'm just wondering what your thoughts are about this idea. It's something that comes from the Baltic States. Is that the right way to go to better protect the eastern flank? And I leave it up to you who wants to answer. SACEUR Yeah, so, a couple of comments. I have issued the order tonight for Eastern Sentry to begin.The order went out as this press conference began. And so, operations are being brought together immediately, underneath my authorities as SACEUR. Now, it will take some time for us to bring everything together with the new contributions that have been coming in, and we'll continue to work on this and refine the design of the operation moving forward, but it begins immediately. I'll just make one comment on the drone wall, Secretary General. NATO Secretary General Please. SACEUR This is very in line with some of our thoughts of fortifying our eastern flank from a land and air domain perspective. And just coming back from the Baltics, a number of States are making investments in technologies, learning lessons from Ukraine about what kind of sensors and what kind of weapons, kinetic and non-kinetic, might be effective. And so, integrating those sorts of defences into our daily deterrence activities and into our regional plans is absolutely going to be something that we want to do moving forward. NATO Secretary General Now, and then to your question about Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, I think she had an excellent State of the Union. There was a lot of defence in there, and a lot of - also how the EU can help here and contribute to the overall effort. And this is exactly what we have been doing since October, since I came into office. And of course, we are close personal friends, and the EU and NATO are extremely closely working together on all of this, where we all agree that NATO is about the standard setting, about the capability targets, the defence plans, and the EU is about all the soft power, because you cannot fight with plans. You have to - you need to have the weapons, the defence industrial base and all that. And there we need the European Union. Also, of course, there's a question of money. Your question is also referring to that part. And of course, when it comes to money, there's national money, but everything the EU can help is great. And where the EU can bring together initiatives to, for example, when it comes to drones and developing the industry, that is all extremely helpful, and absolutely in line with how I - and I think also the President of the European Commission - see the division of labour. And here we can learn so much from, of course, Ukraine itself. They have a well-established defence industrial base. They have a lot of experience now with drone interceptors. We have JATEC, the Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centrein Poland, which is joint NATO and Ukraine, where we take lessons. And as we both said, Admiral Pierre Vandier and his team in Norfolk, of course, working day in day out, on making sure that we apply the latest insights, technologies in how we build our posture. NATO Spokesperson Okay, we'll come to the second row in the center. Please. Teri Schultz, Deutsche Welle Hi. Thank you. Teri Schultz with Deutsche Welle Today. The Alliance has long been asking for enhanced - or Allies, I should say, have long been asking for enhanced air defence, even before the war with Ukraine, but certainly since Russia's full-scale invasion. So, do you feel at all that now you're having to play catch up? That these are things that could have and should have been done earlier, and now it's simply been thrown into such sharp focus? And with the danger intensifying every day from Russia, is this not too little, but a bit late? SACEUR Yeah, I would refer to the performance that we had the other night during the incursion in Poland, and that we were well postured. The authorities that the North Atlantic Council had provided to SACEUR had been further delegated. And air crew were able to act decisively on a meaningful tactical timeline to eliminate much of the threat that was heading into Poland. So, I don't think we're playing catch up. I think we were postured fairly well for that event. Now, having said that, we're always learning, and that's part of the reason that we're moving forward with this enhanced vigilance activity to bring additional capabilities together. Given the scale of that incursion being something that we hadn't seen to this point. We had seen a few drones here and there, a smaller number, very well postured. If it had just been that, we would have gotten them all. But clearly with the number that came across the border, it's time to take a fresh look at this. And we're always learning. NATO is a learning organisation. Allied Command Operations is a learning command, and we're going to do everything we can as we learn those lessons to incorporate them rapidly and ensure we're defending every inch of the Alliance. NATO Spokesperson All right. Now we will go to Bloomberg here in the second row. Andrea Palasciano, Bloomberg Thank you very much. Secretary General, I have a question for you first. Presumably you have more information now about the question of intent than you had two days ago. So even though I understand like, you were still assessing, what more do you know today than you knew two days ago? And also, more of a philosophical question, perhaps, on intent. How do you exactly define intent? Do you mean the intent for these drones to have been in Polish airspace in the first place, or once they are in Polish airspace, what they were intending to do there? And SACEUR, I also have a question for you. I struggle to understand what exactly is new in this new Sentry programme, beyond assets that have already been announced and that are now being integrated. So, if you could tell us exactly what the new assets are going to be, thank you so much. NATO Secretary General Well, on your first question, obviously, day by day, we get more insights. I won't share them with you, but I think that at the moment when we would have a full conclusion and we could share it with others, we could do so. And even then, I'm not sure of because it all depends, of course, on what we find. The only thing I can tell you - because I think whatever I tell you has to be the truth, and the truth is that at this moment, we are still assessing. And at the same time, I think the question is relevant, 'who was behind this'? But at the same time, it's not that relevant, because whatever yes or no, it was deliberate. It was anyway reckless. It was a bunch of Russian drones, even if they were not intent to go into Poland, if that will be the outcome of this. Or even, and of course, if it was the intent, that's even more serious. But in both cases, it is reckless. It is unacceptable. It is the Russians taking a risk. We have seen this before in the Baltic countries. We have seen this before in Romania. And this is simply unacceptable, and that is why it is so important that on top of what we do already, which is the overall posture of NATO, plus the forward land forces we have on the eastern flank, that the Supreme Allied Commander has decided to launch this initiative to make sure that we defend the eastern flank even better, with more flexibility. SACEUR So, a really good question. So, we saw President Macron's announcement of providing the Rafale fighters. We have Danish F-16s that have been offered, a frigate has been offered, some ground-based air defence capabilities have been offered. But I would ask that we don't focus on those specific items. The key to this is an entirely new defence design. So, the previous way that we orchestrated ourselves on the eastern flank is we had individual air policing actions in different locations, and we had individual ground-based air defences in several locations as well. And then, of course, we're working with nations on a case-by-case basis, as we see threats. This is going to be a comprehensive and integrated approach, and with additional resources, we'll be able to plug gaps in the line, we'll be able to concentrate forces where we need to, to defend at a moment of a particular threat. And we'll have much better communication across the entire eastern flank, so that it's truly an integrated approach to this defence. Thank you. NATO Spokesperson Okay, we have time for a few more. We'll go to the fourth row in the centre. Guldener Sonomut, NTV Turkey It's Gul from NTV Turkey. Just a little follow up to my colleagues, from Bloomberg's question with regard to the intent. We don't know yet the intent, but there were some, no divisions, but different approaches from member states with regard to support we have to give to Ukraine or to defend ourselves. So, do you think that this Russian aggression unites against, again the member states? That we should give the necessary help to Ukraine, and that we should defend ourselves? And my question to SACEUR is that, if Russia aggression increases, do you need to come back again to North Atlantic Council to have a mandate, or is the operation given now, gives you enough room so that if the aggressions increase, you can increase your ways and means? Thank you NATO Secretary General On your first question, as I said, we are assessing it. And again, the answer to the question is, of course, of relevance, but anyway, it is unacceptable what happened. And anyway, it is the Russians behind it, because these drones came out of Russia. So, the question is, then, was it deliberate or not? And of course, that's relevant, but only to the limited extent, because in the end, whatever they did, it is reckless, it is unacceptable, and we cannot accept Russian drones entering European, EU, NATO airspace, Allied airspace. That is absolutely impossible. And that is why we need to defend ourselves against it. On your second question, it is and, and, and, this is exactly what also the Supreme Allied Commander said before. One, we have our plans in place, and we can, as we speak, if any attack would take place on NATO territory, we can defend ourselves. And then, of course, we have the Coalition of the Willing working on, if there will be a peace deal in Ukraine, let's pray it will be there as soon as possible. That we are able collectively to put in place the necessary security guarantees for Ukraine. We can do that. And what General Grynkewich today announced we can also do, without spreading our resources too thin. SACEUR Now, thank you. And I'll just add to what the Secretary General said, as Supreme Allied Commander Europe. I'm incredibly grateful for the NAC, for the authorities that have been delegated under the defence and deterrence family of plans that we have, including here during our peacetime period. And what this allows me to do on behalf of the Alliance is to rapidly respond to these events. I'm very careful to execute those authorities with discretion and judgment. Again, but very thankful to the NAC for allowing us to do this, allowing me to have the authority. Again, it enables a rapid response. I think that's important in this day and age when things move so very quickly, and we'll continue to move quickly to respond to this. NATO Spokesperson Okay, we'll go to the third row, the man with the tie. Rikhard Husu, Finnish Broadcasting Company Thanks for taking the question. Rikhard Husu, Finnish Broadcasting Company, this is for both the Secretary General and the Supreme Commander, if I may. The threat of airspace violations and drone attacks is obviously a shared concern for all allies. But would you say that countries with a longer border to Russia are more exposed in this regard, and could they expect some specific or enhanced help from NATO to tackle this situation? Thank you. NATO Secretary General Of course, the problem is, this is about the eastern flank, because here is a direct threat to the eastern flank from, for example, drones or whatever, could threaten our Allies on the eastern flank. But more generally speaking, you know, I don't like that whole eastern flank thinking, because it gives the impression that if I live in Madrid or in London, I am safer than when I live in Tallinn. And it is not true. Because these latest Russian missiles, when they will be launched, they come down with five times the speed of sound, and they will take five or 10 minutes longer to reach Madrid or London than they take to reach Tallinn or Vilnius. So, in that sense, let's agree that within this Alliance of 32 countries, we all live on the eastern flank. Why is this Eastern Sentry so important? Because this concentrates on this very specific issue, which is airspace violations and making sure and whatever other threat is there, that we can better and with more flexibility, defend ourselves in that part of NATO territory. SACEUR I guess I would just add for commentary, I have a fairly robust portfolio at the operational level of war, of dealing with drone attacks from my time in the Middle East. Including large drone attacks from Iran toward Israel back in April of 2023 - I'm sorry - 2024. The range that those drones can fly and the paths that they can take, we are all vulnerable to them. So, the eastern flank provides a first line of defence for this. And if those drones get through that first line of defence, they can be paired with the ballistic missiles or other capabilities that hold the entire Alliance at risk. So, I do think while it is an Eastern Sentry line that we're working to defend, it is on behalf of the entire Alliance that this is going forward. NATO Spokesperson Okay, that's all we have time for today. Thank you so much for joining us. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Radev: Addressing the Deficit of Critical Capabilities Requires Overcoming the Deep Fragmentation in European Defence Science and Defence President of the Republic of Bulgaria 17 September 2025 | 13:11 Against the backdrop of the dynamic security environment, addressing the deficit of critical capabilities requires overcoming the deep fragmentation in European defence science and defence and broad cooperation between European countries. This was stated by President Rumen Radev today at a forum where modern technologies in the field of defence and security were presented. The event is organised by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Bulgaria and provides an opportunity for Bulgarian and Czech institutions and companies in the defence sector to establish contacts and discuss the prospects for potential partnerships and exchange of experience. The head of state pointed out that Bulgaria and the Czech Republic are connected by friendship and deep historical ties and are developing constructive relations in a number of areas. The Czech Republic is among Bulgaria's leading trade and economic partners, with trade constantly growing, and Czech investments in Bulgaria covering more and more areas of the economy. Therefore, Rumen Radev emphasised, all conditions are in place to continue successful cooperation in the field of the defence industry. The geopolitical context and security environment pushes us irreversibly to work together, the head of state said in his speech. According to the president, the security architecture is crumbling before our eyes, the war in Ukraine is intensifying and expanding its spatial scope, and against the backdrop of this global geopolitical dynamic, the United States is quite naturally focusing its attention on the Pacific Ocean. The way to guarantee peace and security in Europe is to take much greater responsibility for our own security and to develop such defence capabilities that can counter any potential threat, the president said. This also means investing much more in the development of modern defence capabilities. Not only to replenish the reserves of conventional means, but also to develop new technologies, Rumen Radev pointed out. The President also noted that the Czech Republic's defence industry is well known worldwide. The Bulgarian defence industry, for its part, has long-standing rich traditions and a secure presence in international markets, added Rumen Radev and stressed that our country is among the European leaders in the production of ammunition and light weaponry. Our companies are successfully expanding their portfolio with the development of new technologies - drones, anti-drone systems, optics, electronic warfare systems, protection systems and other innovative production. Therefore, according to the President, today's forum gives us the opportunity to look beyond trade, to focus our attention on the opportunities to design, develop and produce together, thereby contributing to the growth of Europe's defence capabilities, as well as to enter the markets of third countries much more successfully together. The head of state also pointed out that our country is implementing a profound modernisation program in the Bulgarian Army and highlighted the prospects for cooperation with the Czech industry in the process of increasing Bulgarian defence capabilities. He also noted the successful cooperation between the Bulgarian and Czech sides in maintaining the L-39 Albatross combat training aircraft, which are used to train pilots in our Air Force, as well as the opportunities for it to be deepened. To the participants in the event, Rumen Radev also highlighted the investment advantages that our country provides, including a strategic geographical location, a highly qualified workforce, low operating costs, state support for the rapid establishment and development of successful production, and low corporate tax. Among the participants in the forum were the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Bulgaria, Miroslav Toman, representatives of the Ministries of Defence of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, as well as representatives of companies in the field of defence and security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aboul Gheit warns of grave consequences of Israel's offensive on Gaza City, welcomes UN report confirming Israel's act of genocide League of Arab States Date: 17/09/2025 Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, warned of the grave consequences of the Israeli occupation's expanded ground offensive on Gaza City. He stressed that the assault constitutes a new and extremely dangerous chapter in the genocide Israel has been waging in Gaza for two years. He condemned, in the strongest terms, the occupation's clear attempts to force the Palestinian people in Gaza to abandon their homeland under the threat of death or starvation, implementing a displacement scenario rejected by Arab and international powers and in violation of international law and all humanitarian norms. Gamal Roshdy, the official spokesman for the Secretary-General, quoted Mr. Aboul Gheit as saying that the military operation in Gaza City demonstrates boundless recklessness on the part of the occupation and represents a shameful breach of international humanitarian law, given that the overwhelming majority of Gaza's population are civilians, including women and children. Mr. Aboul Gheit further condemned the international community's failure to restrain Israeli arrogance and to end this regional violence, stressing that the world will bear a heavy price for its inaction and for granting free rein to occupation leaders who have become completely corrupted and consumed with shedding Palestinian blood, or with forcing Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip after rendering it uninhabitable. In this context, the spokesman welcomed the findings of the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, which concluded that Israel has indeed committed genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza, directly implicating the occupying state's prime minister, president, and former chief of staff. Roshdy affirmed that these findings must compel the international community to assume its responsibilities in prosecuting the war criminals responsible for genocide, and in working by all possible means to halt the genocide now being perpetrated in full view of the world in Gaza City. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Colombia: First convictions for crimes committed during internal conflict are a milestone for accountability - Turk Press releases Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 17 September 2025 GENEVA -- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said on Wednesday that the first convictions handed down by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP), the transitional justice tribunal established by the Colombia 2016 Peace Agreement, are a "crucial milestone on the path to accountability". "After decades of atrocity upon atrocity, these convictions represent a fundamental step in the fight against impunity in Colombia and in fulfilling the rights of victims to truth and justice," said Turk. The SJP, or Jurisdiccion Especial para la Paz, is the judicial component of the 2016 Peace Accord signed between the Colombian State and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP). In its first ruling, the SJP convicted seven members of the FARC-EP leadership to the maximum possible punishment for war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to over 20,000 kidnappings and other serious crimes, such as torture, sexual violence, and enforced disappearances. The SJP allowed defendants the option to either deny their crimes or acknowledge them. The seven defendants decided to take the latter route. This "recognition route" means that instead of serving custodial sentences in prison, they face restrictions on their movement. Throughout the process, the perpetrators had to contribute actively to the restorative justice process, contributing to truth-seeking beyond the acknowledgement of harm. Furthermore, those convicted are mandated to participate in restorative activities, such as humanitarian demining, assisting in the search for missing persons, and contributing to memorialization projects. All these activities need proper organization and sufficient funding to be carried out effectively. "It is now up to the Government to take action so the legal, budgetary, security, and administrative conditions are in place to ensure that the ensuing penalties are effectively enforced and that accountability is fully embedded in the system," said the UN Human Rights Chief. A further judgement addressing serious human rights violations, "murders and enforced disappearances of civilians by state agents, falsely presented as casualties resulting from combat," is expected to be issued soon. The UN Human Rights Office supported the creation of the SJP and has provided technical assistance for its investigations, ensuring that the protection, rights, and strong participation of victims and witnesses remained at the centre of its work, as requested in the peace agreement. While hailing these convictions, the High Commissioner cautioned that not only is the country continuing to be affected by armed conflicts, but that human rights violations are on the rise. These include, among many others, the killing of human rights defenders and the recruitment of children by non-state armed groups. Turk also stressed that current human rights violations are disproportionately affecting indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, and women. "Implementing peace accords is rarely a smooth or straightforward process; it often requires years of dedicated effort. These convictions highlight the progress made, but also the importance of continuing to prioritize the implementation of the 2016 Peace Accord to prevent further violations and suffering," said Turk. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN experts condemn Israel's strikes in Qatar and attacks on peace-making Press releases Special Procedures 17 September 2025 GENEVA -- UN experts* today condemned Israel's military strike in Qatar on 9 September 2025 which killed five members of the negotiation team of Hamas and a member of the Qatari security forces. "This attack violates the human right to life, the UN Charter prohibition on excessive use of force, and Qatar's sovereignty," the experts said. "It also undermines efforts in Qatar to mediate a peaceful end to the conflict, ensure access of humanitarian relief into Gaza, and secure the release of hostages and all other individuals who have been arbitrarily detained." The strike was widely condemned by the international community as a huge setback to efforts to resolve the conflict and end the assault on Gaza and its population. "Killing members of the other party's negotiating team also violates the most basic ground rules of peace-making, which requires good faith dialogue between adversaries, not deceptive assassination attempts," the experts said. "We recognise Qatar's steadfast commitment and constructive diplomacy." The experts expressed concern that the strike followed an alarming pattern of Israeli attacks in multiple countries that are not justified under the international law on self-defence, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law. "We urge all States with information about such incidents to investigate them and bring the perpetrators to justice," they said. "We are also deeply concerned by two apparent drone attacks on 8 and 9 September on two vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla in port in Tunis. Incendiary devices dropped by air ignited fires, which were extinguished," they said. "We recall the responsibility of the international community to ensure that international crimes are investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted wherever there are reasonable grounds to believe such crimes have been committed." "Preserving the integrity of negotiation and mediation channels is crucial for fostering trust that parties need to engage in meaningful dialogue," the experts said. The experts underlined that at this critical moment, the international community must push for a ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate delivery of aid and the release of arbitrarily detained persons. "The people in Gaza have endured immense suffering and irreparable harm with hundreds of thousands killed and injured - the entire territory devastated," they said. * The experts: George Katrougalos, Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order Ben Saul , Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism , Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 Morris Tidball-Binz , Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions , Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Mr. Bernard Duhaime, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence Surya Deva, Special Rapporteur on the right to development Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR. Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address OIC General Secretariat Welcomes the Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Genocide in Gaza and Calls for an End to this Genocide and Accountability for Those Responsible Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 17-09-2025 The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) welcomes the report issued by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which confirmed that Israel, the occupying power, committed the crime of genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The OIC General Secretariat calls on the international community to take immediate action to end this genocide and hold those responsible accountable. The OIC General Secretariat also condemns the escalation of crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces, particularly the launch of a ground invasion of Gaza City, along with the continued starvation, abuse, destruction, and forced displacement of its population. The OIC General Secretariat deems this to be an extension of the crime of genocide, and warns that the continuation of these crimes will lead to serious and catastrophic repercussions for the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation reiterates its call on the UN Security Council to take decisive action to impose an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, end the Israeli policy of starvation and blockade, ensure the entry of humanitarian aid into all parts of the Gaza Strip, take the necessary measures to prevent the crime of genocide, and implement the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2024 in this regard. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NMC slams China's use of water cannons vs. BFAR vessel Philippine News Agency By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz September 17, 2025, 7:47 pm MANILA -- The National Maritime Council (NMC) condemned the water cannon attacks by China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels against a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel near the Bajo de Masinloc on Tuesday. In a statement on Wednesday, the NMC said the BFAR vessel BRP Datu Gumbay Piang (MMOV 3014) was carrying out a lawful and routine humanitarian mission when it was subjected to dangerous maneuvers and water attacks. The attack was carried out by two CCG vessels - CCG 5201 and CCG 21562 - and one CMM vessel (CMM 00001). "These illegal and hostile actions by the Chinese vessels caused structural and electrical damage to BRP Datu Gumbay Piang and injury to one of the Filipino crew members," it said. Despite the damage, the BFAR vessel was able to maneuver to safety and continue its humanitarian mission dubbed "Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda" to deliver fuel, food, and water supplies to Filipino fisherfolk. In addition, the NMC criticized the live-fire exercise announced by People's Liberation Army (PLA) - Navy warship 525 in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc on the same morning, which caused fear among Filipino fisherfolk in the area. "The provocative and dangerous actions of China's vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which placed lives and vessels at risk, clearly violate the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, and relevant international maritime safety regulations," it said. It called on China to "cease its illegal, provocative and dangerous activities in the WPS" and instead help create an environment conducive to "diplomacy, dialogue, and constructive approaches." "The Philippines remains steadfast in continuing its lawful and routine operations in its maritime zones in the WPS, in the exercise of its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, consistent with international law," the NMC said. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH Navy sees more defense cooperation with UK counterpart Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno September 17, 2025, 4:17 pm MANILA -- The Philippine Navy (PN) on Wednesday said it is looking into having defense and maritime cooperation with its counterpart in the United Kingdom (UK), whose Royal Navy is considered one of the best in the world. PN public affairs office chief Captain Benjo Negranza said this was discussed when Lord Vernon Coaker, UK's Minister of State for Defense, paid a courtesy call on PN chief Vice Adm. Jose Ambrosio Ezpeleta at the PN headquarters in Manila on Tuesday. "Discussions also explored avenues for future defense and maritime cooperation, including strengthening partnerships, conducting joint activities, enhancing operational readiness, and pursuing opportunities for defense capability development," Negranza said in a statement. He said the meeting emphasized the shared commitment of Manila and London to regional security and maritime stability, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. The two officials also discussed the importance of preserving freedom of navigation and upholding international law, Negranza said. "We stand firmly with you with respect to freedom of navigation," the PN statement quoted Coaker as saying during the meeting. Coaker's visit coincided with the port visit of Royal Navy's guided-missile frigate HMS Richmond (F-239), which highlighted the active cooperation and shared maritime engagements between the two navies. Negranza said the parties reaffirmed mutual respect, friendship, and the shared goal of promoting peace, security, and a rules-based maritime order in the region. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address AFP sees stronger defense ties with French counterparts Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno September 17, 2025, 1:13 pm MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday said it is seeing stronger defense relations with its French counterparts in the coming years. This was highlighted during the meeting between AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and Brig. Gen. Patrick Vaglio, Head of Division at the Joint Headquarters International Staff of the French Armed Forces, during the latter's courtesy visit in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday. "[Vaglio's] visit forms part of the ongoing Philippines-France Joint Defense Cooperation Committee initiatives aimed at strengthening bilateral military relations and enhancing defense cooperation between the two nations," the AFP said in a news release. The AFP said the two military officials discussed areas of mutual interest and explored opportunities to deepen collaboration in defense and security matters. "The courtesy visit underscores the commitment of both armed forces to maintaining a strong partnership and promoting regional peace and stability," the AFP said. Also on Tuesday, Vaglio paid a courtesy call on Philippine Air Force (PAF) vice commander Maj. Gen. Aristotle Gonzalez at the PAF headquarters in Villamor Airbase, Pasay City. "The visit highlighted discussions on strengthening bilateral relations and exploring potential avenues for future cooperation between the PAF and the French Armed Forces," PAF said in a separate statement. "This engagement reflects the shared commitment of both nations to advancing defense cooperation." (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK visiting forces pact seen as clear support for PH sea claim Philippine News Agency By Darryl John Esguerra September 17, 2025, 11:04 am MANILA -- The Philippines on Wednesday welcomed the United Kingdom's (UK) intention to forge a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with Manila, calling it a clear show of support for the country's position in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. confirmed London's offer in a letter from the British defense minister, which he described as "a very welcome development." "It will be the second European country that we will be negotiating a SOVFA (Status of Visiting Forces Agreement) with," Teodoro told reporters in Malacanang. "Underlying that SOVFA is the full support (of UK), not only for the UNCLOS, for international law, but full support the arbitral award," he added, referring to the 2016 arbitral ruling that upheld the Philippines' claim in the WPS and invalidated China's expansive claim in the South China Sea. "That is the clearest expression that a country might have to support our claim in the West Philippine Sea," Teodoro said. If pursued, the UK would be the second European nation to establish such a framework with the Philippines, following France, which initiated talks on a similar pact earlier this year. The Defense chief said the next step is for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to authorize negotiations. The UK is also keen on joining multilateral maritime exercises in the region. "They're very interested, of course, in multilateral maritime exercises. We can learn a lot with the way how they operate," he added. A SOVFA is a type of defense treaty that lays down the legal framework for the presence of foreign troops in the Philippines during joint exercises, training, or other activities. It defines issues such as entry and exit, jurisdiction over visiting forces, taxation, and criminal liability. The Philippines already has a long-standing Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States, which allows American troops to rotate into the country for exercises and humanitarian missions. Manila also has similar treaties with Australia and Japan, while negotiations are also ongoing with New Zealand and Canada. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the denial of education to adolescent girls in Afghanistan for 4 years UNICEF Statement 17 September 2025 NEW YORK, 17 September 2025 "It has been four years since adolescent girls in Afghanistan were barred from attending school beyond grade 6. By the end of 2025, more than 2.2 million adolescent girls will have been excluded from education. "With more than 2 million Afghans returned from neighboring countries this year, the number of girls unable to attend school will rise further. "In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan, which claimed the lives of 1,172 children, the critical role of educated and well-trained female health and social workers has never been clearer. These women are essential to humanitarian response efforts, particularly in a society where strict gender segregation limits the ability of male workers to respond to the needs of women and households. If these professions, and so many more, are to be sustained, girls must be educated. "While millions of children around the world return to classrooms for the new academic year this month, Afghanistan's girls are denied this fundamental right. It is one of the defining injustices of our time. "This ban is a profound threat to the country's long-term stability and progress. No nation can thrive when half its population is left behind. If Afghanistan is to move forward, it needs the full participation of men and women to drive a more resilient workforce, boost economic development, and meet the needs of a growing nation. "Afghanistan's girls are losing more than academic lessons; they are being deprived of social contact, personal growth, the chance to shape their futures and fulfill their potential. "I am especially concerned about the millions of girls who are confined to their homes, and the impact of that isolation. My UNICEF colleagues are documenting increasing mental health issues, early marriage, and high birth rates. All of this is avoidable. "UNICEF urgently calls on the de facto authorities to lift this devastating ban and allow every girl in Afghanistan to attend schoolfrom primary to secondary and beyond." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Afghanistan, Ukraine UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Occupied Palestinian Territory Thousands of people flee south as Gaza city offensive intensifies OCHA reports that over the past month, bombardments on Gaza city have intensified, while air strikes, bombardment and shelling have continued across the Gaza Strip. OCHA continues to call for the immediate protection of civilians. Issuing displacement orders does not absolve parties to a conflict from their responsibilities to protect civilians in the conduct of their hostilities. The Ministry of Health reports that the Rantissi Children's Hospital in Gaza city was damaged after being struck multiple times overnight. There were 80 patients at the facility, including 12 children and babies in intensive care. Half of the patients and their caregivers were forced to flee, under fire, in search of safety. Meanwhile, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) warns that Israel's offensive in Gaza is forcing women to give birth in the streets, without hospitals, doctors or clean water. UNFPA says that 23,000 women are going without care, and about 15 babies are being born each week with no medical help. Humanitarian partners report that since the collapse of the ceasefire in March, 80 medical points and primary healthcare centres providing sexual and reproductive health outpatient services have been affected, with 65 out of service. The Palestine Telecommunications Company reported a complete Internet outage across Gaza city and the north today. This is preventing people and humanitarians from receiving critical information. Today, the Israeli army once again ordered people to leave Gaza city - within the next 48 hours - and move south along a temporary passageway on the Salah ad Din road. Thousands of people continue to flee, amid active hostilities. Roads are congested, people are hungry, and children are traumatized. Between Monday and yesterday, partners monitoring the movement of people in Gaza recorded nearly 40,000 displacements to the south. Since mid-August - and as of yesterday - some 200,000 movements have been recorded, with many women, children and older people walking for hours. Partners have set up three support points in areas receiving displaced people in southern Gaza to assist separated, orphaned and injured children. They report that heavy bombardment in Gaza city is further fueling people's distress, especially among children. In the Rimal area, for example, ongoing hostilities are preventing people - mainly those with disabilities - from reaching support centres. Assistive devices - such as wheelchairs and crutches - are mostly unavailable. Yesterday, two humanitarian movements to collect food cargo from the crossings into Gaza were either cancelled or denied. Other missions were facilitated but faced impediments on the ground. The Zikim crossing remains closed for a fifth consecutive day. Afghanistan Humanitarians reach over 100,000 people with food aid after earthquakes In the wake of the recent devastating earthquakes that struck eastern Afghanistan, OCHA reports that some 103,000 people have been reached with food aid, with more vulnerable groups receiving specialized nutrition support. More than 27,000 people have been provided with drinking water, and over 3,400 families have gotten emergency shelter materials. Aid workers have carried out joint humanitarian assessments in nearly a third of the more than 400 villages affected by the earthquakes. They report that in the areas they have reached so far, over 6,300 homes have been destroyed, with nearly 2,200 others damaged. Thousands of families in these villages are sheltering out in the open, exposed to the elements, with most having lost their household belongings, including blankets and clothes. OCHA reports that the earthquakes have also taken a heavy toll on water and sanitation infrastructure, with more than 130 water sources reportedly damaged or destroyed in the areas where humanitarians have carried out assessments. Given severe shortages of essential hygiene and sanitation items, humanitarian partners are deeply concerned about the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks, including cholera, which is already endemic in the region. OCHA stresses that additional support for response efforts is urgently needed*, as outlined in the dedicated response plan launched last week. As the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said earlier this week, female humanitarian workers are absolutely indispensable to the response - and it is intolerable that they are coming under pressure and facing further challenges as they carry out their critical work. *Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Afghanistan with urgent support. Ukraine Drone strike injures aid workers in Kherson region OCHA reports that two humanitarian workers were injured and a humanitarian vehicle damaged in a drone strike in Ukraine's Kherson region on 15 September. This latest attack underscores a worrying trend: Between January and August, at least seven aid workers were killed and 44 were injured across Ukraine, with the Kherson region bearing the highest toll. The Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, condemned the attack, stressing that aid workers must never be a target and must be able to carry out their missions safely. Meanwhile, humanitarian partners reached Novovorontsovska, a rural settlement in the Kherson region, with an inter-agency convoy on 15 September. The community - which has been heavily affected by hostilities and the Kakhovka Dam destruction in 2023 - received water, medical items, hygiene kits and other essential relief items for the 4,000 residents. The operation was part of ongoing efforts to ensure civilians in hard-hit areas continue to receive the assistance they urgently need. From January to August, humanitarian partners assisted nearly 180,000 people in the region of Kherson, including with food, water and healthcare support. Over that period, 23 convoys provided critical aid to 22,000 residents, despite ongoing insecurity. Humanitarian needs remain pressing as hostilities continue. Between yesterday and today, authorities reported more than 60 civilian casualties across the country. The regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson were most affected. Casualties were also reported in the regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Kropyvnytskyi. Homes, schools, health facilities and energy infrastructure were damaged, leaving thousands without electricity and disrupting railway traffic in central Ukraine. Posted on 17 September 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Coast Guard awards contract for reconstruction of Pier 1 at Coast Guard Yard United States Coast Guard Press Release | Sept. 17, 2025 WASHINGTON -- The Coast Guard awarded a contract valued at nearly $11 million to Ocean Construction Services Inc. on Sept. 9 for comprehensive modifications to Pier 1 at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland. The scope of work includes lengthening of the pier, construction of new fenders and robust fender boards, removal of deteriorating timber curbs that line the current pier, installation of upgraded shore ties and pier electrical capacity, and strengthening the existing pier's horizontal load-bearing strength to support the future Coast Guard cutter fleet. "For more than a century, the Coast Guard Yard has provided critical maintenance and repair services to the Coast Guard's surface fleet, and this contract will deliver the improvements necessary to continue that long record of success, including the future sustainment of the Offshore Patrol Cutter class," said Rear Adm. Michael E. Campbell, director of systems integration and chief acquisition officer of the Coast Guard. "Additionally, this work lays the groundwork for future improvements at the Coast Guard Yard - supported through the truly historic investments of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act - to fully transform the facility to meet the needs of the Coast Guard's modern surface fleet." The Coast Guard Yard is the service's only organic shipbuilding and repair facility. It is the Coast Guard's largest, most modern industrial plant. The Coast Guard Yard is responsible for construction, repairs and renovation of vessels and various aids to navigation, and for the manufacturing of miscellaneous Coast Guard equipment. Reconstruction of Pier 1 is critical to maintain the Coast Guard's organic capabilities to perform depot-level maintenance for the fleet and to prepare for post-delivery activities as new cutters are delivered. The work awarded is a critical enabler of the larger Coast Guard Yard modernization initiative, which will leverage the historic investments made available under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to support future sustainment and maintenance of the Coast Guard fleet. The Coast Guard Yard modernization project will be the largest infrastructure project in Coast Guard Yard's history, and Pier 1 improvements will ensure continuity of operations at the Yard while future construction work proceeds. Reconstruction of Pier 1 is expected to be substantially completed in 2027. As part of the Force Design 2028 initiative, the Coast Guard established the new Program Executive Office (PEO) Shore under the Systems Integration Directorate to implement a fully integrated, systems-based approach to asset lifecycle management. The PEO provides comprehensive oversight, planning and execution of shore infrastructure and facilities projects through the capabilities of the Shore Infrastructure Logistics Center, the Facilities Design and Construction Center and six civil engineering units that provide program management and execution capabilities at the regional level. Civil Engineering Unit Cleveland serves all Coast Guard entities in the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions, which include over 132 facilities, 368 aid to navigation towers and lighthouses, 4,970 small aid to navigation structures and over 8 million square feet of buildings valued at over $3.9 billion. 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 Poland - Javelin Missile Systems NEWS | Sept. 18, 2025 Media/Public Contact: T_Outreach_PM@state.gov Transmittal No. 25-62 WASHINGTON, September 18, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Poland of Javelin Missile Systems and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $780 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of Poland has requested to buy two thousand five hundred six (2,506) FGM-148F Javelin missiles and two hundred fifty-three (253) Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units. The following non-MDE items will be included: missile simulation rounds; battery coolant units; tool kits; spares support; training; U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance; transportation; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $780 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political and economic stability in Europe. The proposed sale will improve Poland's capability to meet current and future threats by upgrading its existing legacy Command Launch Units and increasing its defense inventory, thereby reinforcing its capability to protect Polish sovereign territory and improving its ability to meet NATO requirements. Poland will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractors will be RTX Corporation, located in Arlington, VA; and Lockheed Martin, located in Tucson, AZ. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Poland. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded. All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Political-Military Affairs Outreach, at T_Outreach_PM@state.gov. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defence investment: Council authorises negotiations with UK and Canada on their participation in SAFE European Council / Council of the European Union Council of the EU Press release 18 September 2025 10:55 The Council adopted today a decision authorising the opening of negotiations with the UK and with Canada, respectively, on their participation in the 150 billion SAFE defence loan instrument. Negotiations will be conducted by the Commission and will centre in particular on the conditions under which British and Canadian companies and products may be involved in procurements under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) funding instrument. In response to the current geopolitical situation and urgent need for massive investments in defence equipment, the EU will provide through SAFE up to 150 billion that will be disbursed to interested member states upon demand, and on the basis of national plans. The disbursements will take the form of competitively priced long-maturity loans, to be repaid by the beneficiary member states. Involvement of third countries SAFE also allows participation of third countries. Acceding countries, candidate countries, potential candidates and countries that have signed a Security and Defence Partnerships with the EU, such as the United Kingdom and Canada, can join common procurements. Ukraine and EEA-EFTA countries will be treated on the same terms as member states. Not only will they be able to join common procurements, but their industries will also be treated on the same terms as that of the member states. The negotiations with the UK and Canada will aim at defining the terms under which that access can also be extended to UK and Canadian companies and products. Next steps The European Commission may now start negotiations on behalf of the EU, based on the mandate set by the Council. The Commission will conduct those negotiations in continuous coordination and permanent dialogue with the Council. Once the agreements are signed, they will be subject to consent by the European Parliament. Background SAFE is the first pillar of the European Commission's ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, which aims to leverage up to 800 billion in defence spending. SAFE was proposed by the Commission following the push from the European Council to decisively ramp up Europe's defence readiness within the next five years. The other pillars of the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 are: boosting national defence funding by activating the Stability and Growth Pact's national escape clause; making EU instruments such as the cohesion funds more flexible to allow greater defence investment; complementing public funding with contributions from the European Investment Bank; and mobilising private capital. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by Foreign Minister Eide: Israel must immediately end its unlawful occupation of Palestine Government of Norway News story | Date: 18/09/2025 One year ago today, the UN General Assembly decided that Israel must end its occupation of Palestine no later than 18 September 2025. Norway and 123 other countries voted in favour of the resolution. The decision was based on the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2024, which concluded that Israel's occupation of Palestine is unlawful and must cease. The ICJ is the world's highest court. All UN member states are parties to the ICJ. Today, 18 September 2025, we see that the situation in Palestine is worse than ever. The government is being economically strangled. Violence is escalating. New illegal settlements are displacing Palestinians from their land and livelihoods. In addition to the deteriorating situation in the West Bank, the war in Gaza is more intense than at any point since it began nearly two years ago. Israel shows no intention of ending the occupation, as required by the UN resolution and the ICJ. We continue to work for a political process towards a two-state solution. In May last year, Norway recognised Palestine as a state, together with Spain, Ireland and Slovenia. That recognition marked the starting point for strengthened international momentum for the two-state solution and a series of further announced recognitions. Norway, together with Saudi Arabia and the EU, leads the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, in which more than 100 countries now take part. Throughout the past year, the Alliance has worked to identify measures that will make the Palestinian state a reality. It is critically important to strengthen the Palestinian government and institutions, at a time when Israeli actions are making it increasingly difficult to operate. The Palestinian government is facing its most severe financial situation ever. Without revenues, the Palestinians cannot run hospitals, schools, the judiciary and the police. Norway is a strong and leading supporter in the efforts to strengthen the Palestinian government and institutions. We must avoid developments that would make a future political solution impossible. Next week, the UN General Assembly will convene in New York. The conflict between Israel and Palestine, and the urgent need to end the war in Gaza, will be among the key topics on the agenda. Norway, together with Saudi Arabia and the EU, will host a meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, and will also chair the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) for Palestine. Prime Minister Stre will participate in a summit hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, where several leading Western countries are expected to announce their recognition of Palestine as a state. An increasing number of countries are realising that Israel can no longer hold a veto over the fate of a people and a territory it occupies unlawfully. We will not abandon the goal of a political process towards a two-state solution. Norway therefore reiterates its demand that Israel immediately ends its unlawful occupation of Palestine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MFA statement on situation in Gaza Strip Republic of Poland 18.09.2025 Poland is concerned by the IDF expanding their ground operation in the Gaza Strip, a move which has no sufficient military grounds and which causes unacceptable humanitarian consequences for the enclave's civilian population. We reiterate our call on Israel to ensure full protection of civilians and immediately increase deliveries of humanitarian aid. At the same time, it is with the deepest concern that we note the conclusions of a report published on 16 September by the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, according to which Israel has committed genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and bears responsibility for it. Poland is taking part in the current work within the EU to take the appropriate economic and political steps to address the situation. We continue to call for the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and for a permanent ceasefire. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin-September 18, 2025 Israel Defense Forces September 18, 2025 18.09.25 IDF Earlier today, during an operational activity in the Rafah area carried out by the Dekel Battalion of the 261st Brigade combat team / Officers' Training School, an officer and three of the battalion's soldiers fell: Maj. Omri Chai Ben-Moshe; Lt. Ron Arieli; Lt. Eitan Avner Ben-Itzhak; and Lt. Eran Shelem, of blessed memory. We embrace the families and share in their grief at this difficult time. In the incident, one soldier was seriously wounded and two additional soldiers were moderately wounded. I would like to send wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded. The soldiers of the 261st Brigade have been fighting bravely throughout the war. These are painful moments for all of us. The unit was hit as a result of an explosive device detonation during an offensive activity in the Al-Junaynah area in Rafah. IDF troops are operating in the Al-Junaynah neighborhood and are dismantling terrorist infrastructure. Underground terrorist infrastructure remains in the area that has not yet been neutralized. The troops are operating to dismantle them. This afternoon, in the Central Command arena, a terrorist arrived at the Allenby Crossing and began firing upon arrival at the crossing. The terrorist came from the Jordanian side of the crossing in a truck carrying humanitarian aid. The terrorist opened fire prior to inspection of the vehicle. As a result of the shooting there are two fatalities. We mourn their deaths and embrace their families at this time. Over the past 24 hours, our soldiers, in both mandatory service and reserves, expanded combat in Gaza City as part of Operation Gideon's Chariots II. I want to remind you: the goal of this operation is the return of the hostages and the dismantling of Hamas' rule. The IDF led by the Southern Command, continue to advance toward the center of Gaza City. The units under the 98th Division are advancing in the western part of the city; the units under the 162nd Division are deepening their activity; and the 36th Division is expected to join the ground operation in the coming days. Units under the 99th Division continue operations in the northern Strip, and units under the 143rd Division (the Gaza Division) are operating in defense and offense in southern Gaza. Our units continue to strike terrorist infrastructure and Hamas operatives above and below ground. Since the start of the second phase of Operation Gideon's Chariots II, we have already struck more than 1,200 terrorist targets. Alongside the fighting, and despite Hamas' attempts to violently obstruct civilian evacuations, the IDF continues to enable humanitarian assistance and population evacuation for their protection from Gaza City. The movement southward is being carried out via two main routes, which can be seen on the screen now: the coastal route and an additional evacuation corridor we opened near the Salah al-Din route. To date, we estimate that more than 450,000 of the city's residents have moved southward. We remain in a multi-front defense operation and continue to strike and defend at all times in multiple arenas, near and far. This week we struck the Port of Hodeidah in Yemen, which constitutes a strategic asset for the Houthi terrorist regime. In addition, just a short time ago Air Force aircraft struck terrorist targets in southern Lebanon. The IDF will act wherever required, will eliminate every threat to the State of Israel, and will prevent attempts to rebuild terrorist infrastructure, in Lebanon, in Yemen, and elsewhere. IDF soldiers, and reservists alike, have been fighting across seven arenas for almost two years. Mandatory service soldiers and reservists alike, continue to mobilize round after round because the mission is not yet complete. I want to address the soldiers and their families from here: we salute you. You and your families stand up time after time with dedication despite the difficulties. This week I met the "Schwarzer" team from the 11th Brigade before their entry into another combat rotation in the Gaza Strip. The team lost soldiers and family members from within the team, comrades who fell in battle. They embody the Israeli spirit; they are the spirit of victory leading our soldiers in battle; the people of Israel owe them so much. This evening the 48 hostages are at the forefront of our thoughts, the living and fallen, who are being held in Hamas' tunnels. IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip and the IDF as a whole, continue to do everything to bring them home. Their return is a moral and ethical duty. We will not stop, we will not relent, and we will spare no effort until all our hostages are returned. Thank you very much. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with Right Honourable Mrs. Sushila Karki, Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Nepal, today. India - Ministry of External Affairs September 18, 2025 2. Prime Minister congratulated Prime Minister Karki on her appointment and conveyed best wishes on behalf of the Government and people of India. 3. Prime Minister extended heartfelt condolences for the tragic loss of life during the recent protests in Nepal. 4. Prime Minister conveyed India's readiness to continue working closely to further strengthen the special ties between the two countries and India's full support to Nepal in its efforts towards restoring peace and stability, and for the progress of the people of Nepal. 5. Prime Minister Karki thanked Prime Minister for India's firm support to Nepal and reciprocated Prime Minister's desire to further strengthen ties between the two countries. 6. Prime Minister also extended felicitations on the occasion of the upcoming National Day of Nepal. 7. The leaders agreed to remain in touch. New Delhi September 18, 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Restrictions will continue in Latvian airspace near the eastern border with Belarus and Russia Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Defence 09/18/2025 - 11:10 In Latvia Information prepared by Media Relations Section Continuing restrictions in Latvia's airspace zone on the eastern border with Belarus and Russia, from Thursday, September 18, to October 8, the airspace will be closed during the hours of darkness from 20.00 to 07.00 (8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m). "Restrictions in Latvian airspace near the Russian and Belarusian borders enable the National Armed Forces to fully control the restricted airspace and intensively test acoustic airspace surveillance systems, conduct drone and anti-drone simulations, and deploy and train mobile combat units. After assessing the risks, a decision has been made to continue the restrictions only during the hours of darkness, when the risk of threat is greatest," explains Minister of Defence Andris Spruds. It has already been reported that from September 11 to September 18, Latvia's airspace zone along the eastern border with Belarus and Russia was closed. According to the assessment of the National Armed Forces, there is no immediate military threat to Latvia. However, during the comprehensive national defence exercise "Namejs 2025", the National Armed Forces remain on high alert. To reduce the drone threat, National Armed Forces air defence units are permanently on duty in the eastern border area to shoot down aggressor-state drones if necessary. The NATO Air Policing mission has also been reinforced, and new acoustic airspace monitoring systems are being introduced. Over the past year, amendments have been made to legislation which, in cooperation with "Latvijas gaisa satiksme", allow rapid closure of airspace in threatened areas. Additional changes have also been introduced to strengthen flight control in Latvia's eastern airspace. During the comprehensive national defence exercise "Namejs 2025", the Minister of Defence has instructed the National Armed Forces to enhance readiness to ensure strengthened monitoring of Latvia's air, information, and cyber domains, as well as to carry out the notification of all National Guard members in order to determine their readiness to report to their units and perform combat tasks. The National Armed Forces' comprehensive national defence exercise "Namejs 2025" is taking place from September 2 to October 8 throughout Latvia. Soldiers and National Guard members from all National Armed Forces' units are participating, including national defence service soldiers, reserve soldiers, and allied armed forces personnel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address League Secretary-General receives King of Spain, lauds Madrid's principled position on Palestinian cause League of Arab States Date: 18/09/2025 Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, received His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain today at the General Secretariat headquarters in Cairo, as part of an official visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt. The discussions focused primarily on the situation in the Gaza Strip, Spain's principled and courageous positions on the Palestinian cause, the imperative of implementing the two-state solution, and the urgent need to halt the war of extermination being waged by the occupation forces against Gaza. Gamal Roshdy, the Secretary-General's official spokesperson, stated that Mr. Aboul Gheit expressed the League's deep appreciation for Spain's steadfast humanitarian and moral stance in supporting the Palestinian cause and defending the two-state solution. He commended Madrid's continuous efforts to stop the aggression against Gaza, as well as its provision of urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians through an increased contribution to the UNRWA budget. For his part, His Majesty the King of Spain reiterated his country's commitment to humanitarian principles and human rights, stressing the importance of ending the suffering of civilians in Gaza, ensuring unhindered access for humanitarian aid, and supporting international efforts to achieve a ceasefire. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Secretary-General reaffirmed that the League will continue to work towards implementing the two-state solution, establishing a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, and ending the war of extermination, the horrors of which have surpassed all description. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Vice-Minister Plepyte met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Updated 2025-09-18 On 17 September, during a working visit to Brussels, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Audra Plepyte, met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska. On 17 September, during a working visit to Brussels, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Audra Plepyte, met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska. The Vice-Minister underlined the importance of consistent support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia to end its aggression, as well as the need to implement NATO's core commitments and strengthen the Alliance's deterrence and defence, especially in the field of air defence. The Vice-Minister thanked R. Sekerinska for the leadership shown by the NATO Secretary General in announcing on 12 September Eastern Sentry, a new enhanced NATO military mission aimed at deterring airspace violations. According to A. Plepyte, the Alliance's response to airspace violations in Poland and other countries of the Eastern Flank must be resolute and send a strong message to Russia that the Alliance will defend every centimeter of its territory. She also welcomed the rapid activation of NATO's Eastern Sentry mission. According to the Vice-Minister, the successful increased patrolling under the Baltic Sentry initiative, launched in January 2025, has already demonstrated NATO's swift response to the threats posed by the shadow fleet. NATO's Deputy Secretary General thanked Lithuania as an exemplary ally for its strong and consistent stance in implementing its commitment to increase defence spending, supporting Ukraine, rallying allies, and hosting the German Brigade in Lithuania. The Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs A. Plepyte was paying a working visit to Brussels on 16 and 17 September, where she met with European Union and NATO officials. The agenda of the meetings included priority items on the security policy agenda, such as defence funding, measures to tighten NATO and EU air defence, enhancing NATO's Eastern Flank defence with drones, and countering hybrid threats. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Danish-led Arctic Light 2025 strengthens Allied readiness in High North NATO Allied Air Command Sep 18 2025 RAMSTEIN, Germany -- The Danish Armed Forces launched Exercise Arctic Light 2025, 9 September, bringing together over 550 personnel from Denmark and NATO Allies for high-intensity training in and around Greenland. Running until 19 September, the exercise underscores NATO's commitment to collective defence and Arctic security. Arctic Light features naval, land, air and special forces components, with Denmark contributing the frigate HDMS Niels Juel, F-16 fighter aircraft, helicopters, transport aircraft and Home Guard units. France has deployed a naval vessel, a Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, and mountain infantry equipped with drones; while Sweden, Norway and Germany are providing personnel, observers, and logistical support. Allied forces are training in live-fire drills, special operations, sea-rescue exercises and cold-weather operations to enhance interoperability in demanding Arctic conditions. Operating in Greenland poses unique challenges. Danish F-16s are conducting sorties from Kangerlussuaq and Pituffik Space Base, with air refuelling provided by a French MRTT aircraft, demonstrating Allied flexibility over vast distances. These operations provide invaluable experience in flying advanced fighter aircraft under typical Arctic conditions. A key component of Arctic Light has been civil-military cooperation. The exercise includes large-scale search and rescue drills off Greenland's coast, testing coordination between military forces and Greenlandic authorities. These efforts are designed to improve preparedness for crises in the North Atlantic and Arctic region, where climate change and increased activity present new risks. By training across air, land, sea and civil domains, Arctic Light 2025 reinforces NATO's defensive posture and Denmark's role as a frontline Ally in the High North. Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Secretary General visits Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 18 Sep. 2025 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte travelled to Volkel Air Base, Netherlands, on Thursday (18 September 2025), home to two Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35 squadrons. Volkel air base also hosts the U.S. Air Force 703rd Munitions Support Squadron. Air support and air defence are the primary tasks of the aircraft based at Volkel. F-35s from Volkel, along with those from Leeuwarden air base, are often on stand-by for 'Quick Reaction Alert' duties, to monitor and intercept aircraft that do not identify themselves, a task which is coordinated with NATO Allies Belgium and Luxembourg for the 'BENELUX' countries. The Secretary General met with Dutch and U.S. personnel, including pilots and support crews. "It is great to be here at Volkel, and to meet the dedicated men and women helping to keep our skies safe and our Alliance strong," Mr Rutte said. He was joined by Major General Johan van Deventer, Commander of Netherlands Joint Force Command, and Marcel van Egmond, Commander of the Netherlands Air Combat Command. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Senior Officials from NATO Allies meet in Berlin to discuss strengthening resilience, protecting citizens and supporting NATO forces NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 16 Sep. 2025 - 18 Sep. 2025 Last updated: 18 Sep. 2025 Germany and Poland hosted the second informal meeting of NATO's Senior National Officials for Resilience in Berlin (16-18 September 2025). The meeting involved a scenario-based discussion, enabling Allies to share their national progress, experiences and best practices when preparing for complex, multi-domain crises. The scenario explored the cascading effects of disruptions across essential services, challenging Allies' ability simultaneously to protect the Alliance's 1 billion citizens, and support NATO forces. A broad range of issues critical to further strengthening resilience, including civil preparedness and capabilities, critical infrastructure, regional and cross-border interdependencies and public-private cooperation were discussed. During the event, Director Julien Kita of NATO's Defence Enablement and Resilience Directorate highlighted that: "The resilience community is stepping up to deliver on the historic commitments made by Allies at the summits in Vilnius, Washington and The Hague, to match the scale and requirements of NATO's deterrence and defence." This informal meeting took place in the context of Allies' recent decisions during the Washington Summit to strengthen national resilience by ensuring civilian readiness to support national and collective defence planning and the commitment taken at the summit in The Hague to invest 1,5% of GDP in defence and security related expenditures. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH files protest vs. Chinese water cannon attack in Bajo de Masinloc Philippine News Agency By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora September 18, 2025, 5:42 pm MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) lodged a diplomatic protest against China over its latest water cannon attack on a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel that injured a Filipino crew member near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) on Sept. 16. DFA said the protest was filed on Thursday. Several countries have expressed solidarity with Manila and aired concern over the latest Chinese move in the area READ. US condemns Chinese water cannoning that injured Filipino in BdM Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya said Japan is "gravely concerned" by the latest incident and affirms its opposition to "any actions which increase tensions." Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman, for his part, said Ottawa "strongly opposes" such actions and called on parties to adhere to international law. "Canada strongly opposes China's aggressive actions in the South China Sea and calls on parties to respect UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the 2016 Arbitral Award. We are concerned by China's dangerous use of water cannons at the Scarborough Shoal that injured a civilian BFAR officer supporting Filipino fishers," he said. The British Embassy in Manila warned that such conduct "risks miscalculation, endangers lives at sea, and undermines regional stability." "We urge all parties to uphold international law including UNCLOS, and to respect freedom of navigation. Dialogue and restraint are essential to avoid further tensions," it said. Echoing similar concern were New Zealand, the European Union, Australia, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. On Tuesday night, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said the US condemns China's latest conduct and commended the BFAR personnel for asserting the country's rights over the area in a professional manner. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese forces 'under pressure' to block PH vessels in BdM - Ano Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno September 18, 2025, 5:31 pm MANILA -- Chinese maritime forces are "under pressure" to prevent Philippine vessels from entering Bajo de Masinloc (BdM) following the collision of its two ships in the area last month, National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Ano said Thursday. In an interview in Makati City, Ano said the incident, which reportedly resulted in the death of two Chinese personnel, "brought a lot of shame" to the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG). "I think they are actually under pressure to prevent our vessels from coming into the shoal because they have a lot of explaining to do back home in Beijing," he said. On Aug. 11, two Chinese vessels collided while chasing a Philippine Coast Guard vessel that was part of a group performing routine humanitarian operations for Filipino fisherfolk in Bajo de Masinloc. China has not yet confirmed the fatalities, he said. "The Chinese are not confirming it, but what we heard from reports, at least two were confirmed dead and, I think, there's still one missing," he said. "It's up (to) the Chinese authorities to confirm the exact number of their casualties." The incident, however, had the Chinese government questioning the capability and competence of the CCG and the PLAN, Ano said. "They (CCG and PLAN) are reeling still from that embarrassment, and so they're trying to do things that would prevent at all costs our vessels to come into the shoal," he said, adding that such move by China will not deter the Philippines from maintaining its presence in Bajo de Masinloc, which is also called Scarborough Shoal. "We will be there. That's the order of the President (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.). We will not back down. We will continue to be there," he said. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Senate panel revives deliberations on Revised Coast Guard law Philippine News Agency By Wilnard Bacelonia September 18, 2025, 4:03 pm MANILA -- The Senate Committee on Public Services on Thursday reopened discussions on the proposed Revised Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) law. Senator Raffy Tulfo, committee chairperson, moved to adopt the records and proceedings on the measure from the previous Congress. He said this would save time and resources since the bill had already been extensively deliberated and approved on third and final reading in the Senate during the 19th Congress, although its counterpart at the House of Representatives failed to hurdle the same stage. "In the interest of conserving valuable government time and resources, I move that all records and proceedings related to the measure on the Revised Philippine Coast Guard Law from the 19th Congress be adopted and made part of the official records of the Committee on Public Services for the 20th Congress, without prejudice to further inputs and refinement," Tulfo said. With no objection from members, the motion was adopted and the panel proceeded to tackle Senate Bill Nos. 147, 359, 438, 910, and 1142, all seeking to strengthen the mandate and capacity of the PCG. The bills aim to align the PCG's ranks, positions, and benefits with those of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, while increasing manpower to three personnel per kilometer of coastline from the current ratio of one. It also seeks to expand the Coast Guard's authority in ensuring maritime safety, security, environmental protection, and territorial defense. Amid escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea, the PCG's role includes safeguarding Filipino fisherfolk, deterring illegal fishing and smuggling, and responding to maritime emergencies. Lawmakers underscored the urgency of equipping the service to carry out its mandate more effectively. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Teodoro: 'Strong defense backbone' needed to earn int'l respect Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno September 18, 2025, 1:21 pm MANILA -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday highlighted the need for a "strong defense backbone" in order for a country to earn international respect. A DND statement late Wednesday said Teodoro gave this message during the September General Membership Meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) in Makati City. "Philippine resilience per se on a national defense basis is essential. No country in the world is taken seriously at face value, no matter how diplomatic you want to be, without a strong defense backbone," Teodoro told the attendees. "Strong deterrent backbone for that matter," he added. "The smaller the country, the stronger the deterrence." Teodoro said the growing number of visiting forces agreements (VFAs) the Philippines has with other countries is "the highest expression of support for the Arbitral Award," referring to the landmark 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration favoring the Philippines' case against China in connection with the West Philippine Sea issue. The Philippines presently has three existing VFAs with the United States, Australia and Japan, with four more underway with New Zealand, Canada, France and the United Kingdom. The DND said the AmCham meeting, with the theme "Safeguarding the Philippines in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape," provided a venue for an open dialogue between the defense sector and the business community on advancing a secure, stable, and rules-based environment for development. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Outcome of Korea-Palestine Foreign Ministers' Telephone Conversation (September 18) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea 2025-09-18 1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun held a telephone conversation with Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Varsen Aghabekian Shahin on September 18, during which the two sides exchanged views on Korea-Palestine relations and regional affairs in the Middle East. This call also served as a courtesy exchange marking Minister Cho's inauguration. 2. Minister Aghabekian congratulated Minister Cho on his assumption of office and proposed maintaining close communication to deepen bilateral cooperation. Minister Cho likewise congratulated Minister Aghabekian on her appointment and suggested continuing to expand bilateral cooperation. 3. Minister Cho expressed his serious concern that the already grave humanitarian situation could be further exacerbated by the recently intensified military offensive in Gaza, and called for an immediate ceasefire and improvements in the humanitarian conditions. In addition, Minister Cho mentioned that the Korean government has been providing humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the situation in Gaza and reaffirmed Korea's commitment to continued participation in efforts by the international community to resolve the crisis. 4. Meanwhile, Minister Cho reiterated Korea's consistent support for the two-state solution and expressed his concerns over all actions undermining the two-state solution including the settlement construction. Minister Aghabekian appreciated Korea's support and assistance. 5. The two ministers concurred to continue discussions on bilateral and regional issues on various occasions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Robert Golob meets with President of the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate Nasser Abu Baker Republic of Slovenia - Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia 18. 9. 2025 Prime Minister Robert Golob met with Nasser Abu Baker, the President of the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate, to discuss the situation in Palestine, with a focus on the war in Gaza. They spoke about the dire situation facing Palestinian journalists, who have suffered some of the highest casualties of any armed conflict in history during the war in Gaza. The killing of Palestinian journalists and their families is seen as Israel's deliberate attempts to suppress any reporting on the situation in Gaza. Prime Minister Golob expressed strong support for the work of Palestinian journalists, reaffirming that the Slovenian Government will keep doing everything in its power to support the Palestinian people. Also in attendance were Alenka Potocnik, President of the Slovenian Union of Journalists, Maja Sever, President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and Helena Milinkovic, President of the Union of Journalists at Radiotelevision Slovenia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The UK voted for this resolution to demand urgent action to address the horrendous humanitarian situation in Gaza, bring the hostages home and end the conflict: UK explanation of vote at the UN Security Council Speech UK explanation of vote delivered by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, following the UN Security Council vote on the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Dame Barbara Woodward DCMG OBE Published 18 September 2025 Location: United Nations, New York Delivered on: 18 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, following the UN Security Council The UK voted in favour of this resolution today to demand urgent action to address the appalling humanitarian situation in Gaza, to bring the hostages home and end the conflict which has raged for almost two years. Since Hamas' atrocities of October 7, hostages have been held in unimaginable conditions in Gaza. This Council has been consistent in its demand for the release of the hostages in each of its four resolutions, and today's text underlined this demand again. The images of emaciated hostages held in brutal conditions speaks to the brutality of Hamas. They need to allow the ICRC to see the hostages and care for their needs. We reiterate our condemnation of Hamas and its terrorist ideology. Hamas must have no role in the future of Gaza. Last week, the UN General Assembly delivered a resounding message in support of this, with 142 countries voting to condemn Hamas' attacks, and to demand they disarm and end their rule in Gaza. We need a ceasefire more than ever. And yet Israel's reckless expansion of its military operation takes us further away from a deal which could bring the hostages home and end the suffering in Gaza. We are witnessing an entirely man-made famine in Gaza, and images of starving Palestinians killed, while desperately seeking scraps of food for their families. And this week, Israel struck Gaza City children's hospital. Newborn babies in incubators and children on dialysis should not be under bombardment. We urge Israel's government to end the bloodshed, which has already cost the lives of 65,000 Palestinians and to immediately lift its restrictions on the entry of aid and allow the UN and humanitarian agencies to save lives. The UK thanks the E10 for drafting and consulting on today's resolution. We regret the Council was unable to reach consensus on today's resolution, but we remain committed to the vision of this text. We will continue to do all we can to end this conflict, bring the hostages home and work with our partners on a pathway to peace, to achieve a secure Israel alongside an independent Palestinian State. 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 18 September 2025 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General. ** Guest Good afternoon. My guest will, shortly, be David Nanopoulos of the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA), and he is the head of the Treaty Section, and he will give you the traditional OLA briefing on the annual Treaty Event. This year's theme is Eighty Years of Multilateral Treaty Making at the United Nations. The event will be held during high-level week. ** Syria This morning, you saw that our Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, briefed the Security Council on the latest developments in that country. He said that the Syrian interim authorities and the Syrian people are attempting a transition in the face of numerous challenges. Mr. Pedersen warned that if these challenges are mishandled, the consequences could be dire. He called on the international community to support Syria and to stand against foreign intervention. For his part, Tom Fletcher, our Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said that more than 70 per cent of the population in Syria needs some form of humanitarian assistance, while 7 million people are internally displaced, and more than 4 million are refugees in neighbouring countries. And he, of course, called on donors to give and to give generously to our various programmes. The humanitarian appeal for Syria for this year is only 18 per cent funded, which means that we can only reach a fraction of those that we need to reach. ** Occupied Palestinian Territory Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that the last remaining lifelines for civilians in Gaza City are collapsing amid intensified military operations there. In just five days, 11 UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) premises serving as emergency shelters for about 11,000 people in Gaza city have been damaged after taking direct hits or indirect hits. Our partners tracking the movement of people in Gaza report that the number of displacements within the Strip is rising fast, now exceeding more than 1 million people since the ceasefire collapsed in mid-March. Some 200,000 displacements have been recorded from northern to southern Gaza over the past month alone, including 56,000 since Sunday, and that was as of yesterday. OCHA is alarmed by increasing reports of displaced families sleeping on the streets or in makeshift tents and struggling to survive. Despite heavy restrictions, we and our partners are doing everything possible to reach people across Gaza with life-saving support. OCHA's latest reporting on the response, which was published yesterday, said that in the first half of September, our teams collected over 12,500 metric tons of wheat flour, food parcels and bulk supplies from the Israeli-controlled crossings. Every day, they served nearly 560,000 meals through 116 kitchens and provided 10,000 loaves of bread to those moving to the south. To address malnutrition, our teams have continued to screen children and enrol them for treatment. UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) dispatched over 200,000 packs of nutrient-rich baby food to partners; that's enough to support over 63,000 infants and young children for two weeks. They also dispatched 10,000 boxes of high-energy biscuits, enough to assist more than 10,000 acutely malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women for one month. On the health front, our teams collected nearly 900 pallets of essential medical supplies from the crossings and is delivering them to health facilities. They dispatched 120 ICU (intensive care unit) and emergency beds and four anaesthesia machines to Al Aqsa hospital, which is in Deir al Balah. To mitigate catastrophic water shortages amid ongoing restrictions and hostilities, they supported desalination and trucked water across all parts of Gaza. They also scaled up solid waste collection and the safe disposal of 1,300 cubic metres of trash daily. And they distributed 1,000 hygiene kits, 1,500 cleaning kits, and another 1,500 water storage kits. But we need to be clear that the aid that is currently reaching people is still far short of what is actually needed. Opportunities to support starving people are being systematically blocked, according to our humanitarian colleagues. Every week, new restrictions are imposed. For example, Zikim crossing, which is the only one that goes directly from Israel to the north, where famine, as you know, has been confirmed, has been shut since the weekend. Israeli authorities have also classified some food items, such as peanut butter, as "luxuries" that are not being allowed in, leaving large amounts of already procured aid stuck outside Gaza. On top of this, inspection rules vary by route, creating unpredictability and needless delays. And inside Gaza, humanitarian movements are also being blocked. Just yesterday, three of 14 coordinated movements were denied including two intended to bring food to the north. Once more, I want to emphasize that we need a ceasefire, we need hundreds of trucks every day, safe and open routes, we need an end to bureaucratic delays, we need restoration of power and water and more meaningful commercial imports. We need the release of all the hostages that are still being held in Gaza by Hamas and other groups immediately and unconditionally and we need arbitrarily detained Palestinians freed from Israeli detention centres. ** Pakistan Turning to Pakistan, our colleagues at OCHA [Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] tell us that humanitarian needs persist following this year's monsoon floods. Since the end of June, nearly 7 million people have been affected in the country. Nearly 3 million people have been evacuated, with 150,000 people sheltering in 1,580 evacuation centres set up by various authorities. We and our humanitarian partners continue to support the Government-led response. To date, UNICEF has provided more than two metric tons of essential medicine to the north in the capital of Punjab's province, Lahore, and over two metric tons to the south, in the city of Multan. These medicines are being distributed to local health clinics. UNICEF has also provided nutrition supplies and safe drinking water, relocated school materials and established temporary learning centres. WFP [World Food Programme], for its part, is delivering food, nutrition services, cash assistance and logistics support across Punjab and Sindh. As people begin to return to their homes, additional funding is needed to provide assistance and rehabilitate basic infrastructure. We have already released $5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund, with an additional $1.5 million channelled to local NGOs (non-governmental organizations) from the Asia Pacific Humanitarian Fund. ** Haiti Another humanitarian update on the grim situation in Haiti, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that last week's deadly attack in the commune of Cabaret, in the West [department], forced thousands of people to flee their homes. You will recall the Secretary-General's statement over the weekend, in which he strongly condemned the reported killing of at least 40 people, including women, children and the elderly in that attack. According to the IOM [International Organization for Migration], the attacks drove more than 4,700 people from their homes. More than two thirds of them sought refuge in the nearby commune of Arcahaie. While the majority of the displaced are being hosted by families, 23 per cent of them have taken shelter in four schools. These attacks underscore once again the worsening security and humanitarian situation in Haiti. These attacks also come less than a month before the start of the new school year, further deepening the education crisis as several schools already under strain are being used as displacement sites, which is of course disrupting the lives of both students and teachers. Forced displacements, destruction and attacks against people are driving up humanitarian needs, compounding existing crises in health, nutrition and education. OCHA is coordinating the response to ensure that assistance reaches the most vulnerable, despite extremely challenging conditions. Just to remind you, the humanitarian response in Haiti remains severely underfunded, with only [13] per cent of the $908 million needed in the bank. ** Water The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) today released a report showing that the water cycle has become increasingly erratic and extreme, swinging between deluge and drought. The report says that only about one third of the global river basins had "normal" conditions in 2024. The rest were either above or below normal the sixth consecutive year of clear imbalance. According to the report, 2024 was the third straight year with widespread glacier loss across all regions. WMO also noted that the Amazon Basin and other parts of South America, as well as Southern Africa were gripped by drought in 2024. The report is online. ** Equal Pay Day What day is today? It is International Equal Pay Day. Equal pay for work of equal value for women and men everywhere is not only a fundamental matter of labour and human rights, but also a matter of social justice and economic resilience. ** Questions and Answers Spokesman : Speaking of resilience, I don't know about economic, but resilience. Mr. Bays? Question : Yes. There was a protest by UN staff today in Geneva. Almost a thousand of them are part of the UN for Gaza movement. What is the Secretary-General's reaction to that, and why did he not give permission when UN staff in New York asked again to make a protest here? And is it anything to do with the fact that the UN for Gaza tell me that there has been pressure on the UN coming from both Israel and the US? Surely, UN staff, given that many of their colleagues have died in Gaza, should be allowed free expression. Spokesman : Look. I think it is right for all of us, and I think the Secretary-General has also expressed his outrage and solidarity with our colleagues who have been killed in Gaza, and that's a fact. There are rules and regulations for staff to engage in activities outside of their normal activities, which sometimes need to be applied. I think all of us as international civil servants have obligations to respect the staff rules, respect for impartiality. We work for the people of Gaza, just like we work for the people of Myanmar and the people of Sudan and Haiti through our work that we do every day. Question : Surely, they were respecting the rules if they were asking for permission. Why was the permission not granted? And is it based on pressure from Israel and the US? Spokesman : Listen, I don't have the details of this particular incident you're saying, but what I'm saying is that the Secretary-General and the Secretariat will apply staff rules across the board. Correspondent : I have another question later. Spokesman : I reserve you the right. Equal questions for you, Linda. Question : Thank you, Steph. Apropos of Gaza, I was wondering what is the status of UNRWA these days in terms of its funding of how many staff are working, are they receiving salaries? Spokesman : I mean, the funding continues to be a challenge, and UNRWA continues to operate its mandate, whether it's in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, facing great challenges, as well as Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Question : But everyone's working? Spokesman : People are working. Yes. Yep. Yes, Evelyn? Question : Could you explain again why peanut butter is banned? Spokesman : I think that's a question you have to ask the Israelis. I told you the response we were given is that it was considered a "luxury item". Question : It's considered what? Spokesman : A luxury item. Yeah. That's what they told us. Okay. Iftikhar, and then Alex. Question : Thank you, Steph. Regarding the floods in Pakistan, has any estimate been given by our UN teams about the extent of damage caused by the floods? And also has a flash appeal been issued in this connection? Spokesman : I don't understand the question. I don't have the details of the damage. I didn't understand the question. Question : No. I said, yeah, is there has any flash appeal been issued? Spokesman : Yeah. I don't know if a flash appeal has been issued. I know we've released funds through the Central Emergency [Response] Fund, but I will check the rest for you. Correspondent : Thank you. Spokesman : Okay. No further oh, Alex. Sorry. Question : All right. Thanks, Steph. It looks like the Security Council will vote on snapback tomorrow. Any expectations? Any comments? Spokesman : I think you will have to ask the presidency of the Council for any expectations. I've only seen the press reports. Mr. Bays. Correspondent : I can't actually watch the Security Council while attending your briefing. Spokesman : I know. Question : But Mr. Pedersen, the Special Envoy, is speaking to the Council again. There are suggestions he is about to resign. Can you confirm that to us? What would the Secretary General, if that's the case, like to say about Mr. Pedersen's tenure of the job? Spokesman : I will let Mr. Pedersen speak before we make any comment, but I think you know the high regard in which the Secretary-General holds Mr. Pedersen. Question : What is the UN planning for its mission in Syria? Should the mission still be based in Geneva, or should the mission now be an integrated mission inside Syria? [cross talk] Spokesman : I think there are different options being looked at. Obviously, the mission will have to change, given the mission situation on the ground has changed completely. All right. Don't go away. We will leave you with our Correspondent : He has apparently announced his resignation. Spokesman : Just now? Question : Would you like to now pay tribute to this? Spokesman : I will have to trust you, James. Question : No. But would you like to pay, would you like to put in a different tense your answer. Geir Pedersen has resigned. What is the Secretary-General's reaction? Spokesman : He has indeed informed the Security Council of his decision to step down for personal matters after six and a half years of service. Just as a Special Envoy for Syria, Mr. Pedersen has had a long association with the United Nations, served in different roles. The Secretary-General accepted his request to step down. I think Mr. Pedersen has emphasized that he's deeply indebted to and profoundly grateful to the Syrian people, who demonstrated extraordinary courage and humanity throughout those years. We don't have a final date for him to leave office, but I know he is personally committed to working until the last day. And just on a personal note, he's someone I've worked with for a long, long time, and I've enjoyed all my dealings with him as a great diplomat. Question : Can I have one last it's my frivolous question of the day as a visitor here now? And as a visitor, I noticed the Security Council stakeout has a new backdrop. And several people have remarked to me it's not actually the right UN blue. Spokesman : Welcome back, James. All right. We'll leave you with David Nanopoulos. I can't say we've missed you, but welcome back. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council: US votes against resolution on Gaza ceasefire 18 September 2025 - The United States once again vetoed a UN resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, following a vote in the Security Council on Thursday. The negative vote was cast as the 15-member Council held its 10,000th meeting against the backdrop of famine spreading in the besieged enclave and an ongoing Israeli offensive to take full control of Gaza City. The resolution also demanded the release of all hostages held by Hamas and for Israel to lift all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid and ensure that it is safely distributed to the population - in particular by UN agencies and partners. 'No surprise': US representative The US is one of five permanent Council members who possess the right to veto. Speaking prior to the vote, representative Morgan Ortagus stated that Washington's opposition to the resolution "will come as no surprise" as it fails to condemn Hamas or recognize Israel's right to defend itself. The text also "wrongly legitimizes the false narratives benefiting Hamas, which have sadly found currency in this Council," she said. "This resolution also refuses to acknowledge and seeks to return to a failed system that has allowed Hamas to enrich and strengthen itself at the expense of civilians in need." 'Clear message' sent The draft was put forward by the Council's 10 non-permanent members: Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia. "Even though this resolution was not adopted today at this 10,000th meeting of the Council, 14 members of this Council have sent a clear message," said Danish Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen. "We want to see an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the urgent lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid. We will continue to work for this for however many Council meetings it may take." The Gaza war erupted on 7 October 2023 after Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups attacked Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, with 48 still in captivity. The Security Council first met on the crisis the following day, behind closed doors. Since then, the US has vetoed four other resolutions calling for a ceasefire, most recently in June. More than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since hostilities began, according to the Gaza health authorities. A landmark occasion South Korea holds the rotating Security Council presidency for the month of September. At the outset of the meeting, representative Sangjin Kim noted that the 10,000 number was both "large and significant, like the challenges that remain before us on this Council's agenda." He said that "137 Member States have worked on the Council, often in concert", over this period. "Let us bear this in mind as we continue to strive to fulfill the Security Council's vital mandate." Maintaining peace and security The Security Council is one of the six main organs of the UN, alongside the General Assembly, the Secretariat, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Trusteeship Council, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and takes action through resolutions and decisions. It also establishes peacekeeping missions and can enact sanctions. The five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States - have the right to veto any resolution and all have exercised this power at some time. Permanent members were granted the right to veto because of their key roles in the establishment of the UN 80 years ago, with Russia taking over the seat held by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1990. The 10 non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly, which comprises all 193 UN Member States, and serve for two-years periods. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza City lifelines collapsing, UN aid agency warns 18 September 2025 - The last remaining lifelines for civilians in Gaza City are collapsing as Israel ramps up military operations, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Thursday. The warning comes as the head of UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA renewed his call for foreign journalists to be allowed into the Gaza Strip to counter the "information war", which includes denial that famine has taken root and is spreading. On Gaza City, OCHA reported that in just five days, 11 UNRWA premises serving as emergency shelters for about 11,000 people there have been damaged after taking direct or indirect hits. Displacement on the rise More than one million people across the Strip have been displaced since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed in mid-March, the agency said. Numbers are rising fast, with some 200,000 displacements recorded from northern to southern Gaza over the past month alone, including 56,000 since Sunday. Despite heavy restrictions, the UN and partners are doing everything possible to reach people across the devastated enclave with life-saving support. Hot meals and malnutrition treatment Humanitarians collected over 12,500 metric tonnes of wheat flour, food parcels and bulk supplies from the Israeli-controlled crossings during the first half of this month. They also served nearly 560,000 meals daily through 116 kitchens and provided 10,000 loaves of bread to people moving to the south. Teams have continued to screen children for malnutrition and enrol them for treatment. UN children's agency UNICEF dispatched over 200,000 packs of nutrient-rich baby food to aid partners, enough to support over 63,000 infants and young children for two weeks. Furthermore, UNICEF provided 10,000 boxes of high-energy biscuits, enough to assist more than 10,000 acutely malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women for a month. Healthcare supplies To address the healthcare crisis, nearly 900 pallets of essential medical supplies were collected from crossings between Gaza and Israel and are being delivered to health facilities. Teams also dispatched 120 intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency beds, as well as four anaesthesia machines, to Al Aqsa hospital in Deir Al-Balah. Humanitarians have also supported desalination efforts and trucked water across all parts of the Gaza Strip. This is in addition to scaling up solid waste collection and the safe disposal of some 1,300 cubic metres of trash daily and distributing items such as 1,000 hygiene kits. Support for the starving, 'systematically blocked' OCHA again repeated its message that the aid currently reaching people falls far short of the immense needs. "Opportunities to support starving people are being systematically blocked. Every week, new restrictions are imposed," the agency said. For example, Zikim crossing - the only one that goes directly from Israel to the north, where famine has been confirmed - has been shut since the weekend. "Israeli authorities have also classified some food items, such as peanut butter, as 'luxuries' not allowed in, leaving large amounts of already-procured aid stuck outside Gaza. On top of this, inspection rules vary by route, creating unpredictability and needless delays." Humanitarian movements inside Gaza are also being blocked. On Wednesday, Israel denied three of 14 confirmed movements, two of which were to bring food to the north. Media and disinformation 'battleground' Also on Thursday, UNRWA Commissioner-General Phillipe Lazzarini issued a fresh call for international media to be allowed into the Gaza Strip which "has been the battleground of a fierce and rampant information war." Posting on X, he said "dis-information continues to be used as a tool to distract from the atrocities in the war-torn enclave." He said UNRWA was the first target, followed by other UN agencies, the media and health institutions, while "the recent denial of famine in Gaza as well as of the conclusions of the UN commission of inquiry released this week are the latest examples." The aim is to both undermine assessments and analysis by experts and promote narratives denying atrocities and dehumanizing Palestinians. "Meanwhile, the heroic work of Palestinian journalists continues against all odds as the Israeli military operations expand," he said. "It's time to let international journalists into Gaza to support their Palestinian colleagues before their voices are also silenced. Time to report independently on events." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan: UN relief chief welcomes progress towards three-month truce 18 September 2025 - The UN relief chief Tom Fletcher has highlighted recent diplomatic progress made towards a three-month pause to the brutal fighting in Sudan between rival militaries. "Welcome progress from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the US towards urgently needed 3-month humanitarian truce in Sudan," Mr. Fletcher wrote on social media. "We stand ready to deliver," he added. "Safe, unhindered access is key." The joint statement made by the four countries comes amid Sudan's spiralling crisis of violence, hunger and environmental disaster. After two years of conflict between military government forces and their rival RSF militia, thousands of civilians have been killed, while millions have been displaced. The joint statement, which Mr. Fletcher shared on X, called for a three-month truce "to enable the swift entry of humanitarian aid to all parts of Sudan, to lead immediately to a permanent ceasefire," and to be followed by a nine-month transition process towards a civilian government. The call for a pause to the fighting was one of the five principles laid out in the statement. The remaining principles included an end to external military support, the facilitation by all parties of humanitarian access, territorial integrity, and agreement that there is no military solution to the conflict. Additionally, the countries highlighted in the statement their commitment "to restoring peace and ending the suffering of the Sudanese people," and their readiness to work with African and Arab states, as well as the UN and international partners. 'Safe access is urgent' UN entities including the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, and the World Food Programme (WFP) continue to monitor the conflict and provide humanitarian assistance to Sudan. WFP chief Cindy McCain also welcomed the joint statement in a post on X earlier this week saying that "safe access is urgent," and that "this call must become reality on the ground." In the country's capital Khartoum last week, OCHA reported that local authorities made progress in restoring basic services and improving security, but over 800,000 people who returned to the city in recent months require critical support to rebuild their lives. Over 30 million people in a population of just under 47 million in Sudan are currently in need, according to OCHA. The agency delivers life-saving aid to around 20 million of the most vulnerable. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Haiti, Pakistan UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Occupied Palestinian Territory Last lifelines for Gaza city civilians collapsing amid intensified military operations OCHA warns that the last remaining lifelines for civilians in Gaza city are collapsing amid intensified military operations there, which are causing more casualties, mass displacement, destruction of facilities essential for people's survival, and tighter restrictions on humanitarian work. In just five days, 11 UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) premises serving as emergency shelters for about 11,000 people in Gaza city have been damaged after taking direct or indirect hits. Partners tracking the movement of people in Gaza report that the number of displacements within the Strip is rising fast, now exceeding 1 million since the ceasefire collapsed in mid-March. Some 200,000 displacements have been recorded from northern to southern Gaza over the past month alone - including 56,000 since Sunday, as of yesterday. OCHA is alarmed by increasing reports of displaced families sleeping on the streets or in makeshift tents and struggling to survive. Despite heavy restrictions, the UN and its partners are doing everything possible to reach people across Gaza with life-saving support. OCHA's latest reporting on the response provides updates on what humanitarians have been able to deliver in the first half of September: To tackle famine and food insecurity, humanitarian teams collected over 12,500 metric tons of wheat flour, food parcels and bulk supplies from the Israeli-controlled crossings. Every day, they served nearly 560,000 meals through 116 kitchens and provided 10,000 loaves of bread to those moving to the south. To address malnutrition, the UN and its partners have continued to screen children and enrol them for treatment. UNICEF dispatched over 200,000 packs of nutrient-rich baby food to partners, enough to support over 63,000 infants and young children for two weeks. They also dispatched 10,000 boxes of high-energy biscuits, enough to assist more than 10,000 acutely malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women for one month. On the health front, teams collected nearly 900 pallets of essential medical supplies from the crossings and are delivering them to health facilities. They also dispatched 120 ICU and emergency beds and four anesthesia machines to Al Aqsa hospital in Deir al Balah; brought in over 500 wheelchairs; distributed contraceptive pills and reproductive health kits; reopened the Japanese Health Centre in Khan Younis; trained local staff; supported surgical, emergency and non-communicable disease services through the deployment of emergency medical teams; and evacuated 30 critical patients abroad. To mitigate catastrophic water shortages amid ongoing restrictions and hostilities, the UN and its humanitarian partners supported desalination and trucked water across all parts of Gaza. They also scaled up solid waste collection and the safe disposal of nearly 1,300 cubic metres of trash daily. Meanwhile, they distributed 1,000 hygiene kits, 1,500 cleaning kits, and another 1,500 water storage kits. To provide some protection support to people, teams assessed explosive hazards risks and conducted over 700 sessions to educate more than 20,000 people on the related risks. They also provided case management for survivors of gender-based violence and 900 at-risk children, as well as legal aid services for over 500 women, psychological first aid for over 200 women and girls, and structured psychosocial support for nearly 600 women and girls. These are only a few examples, but to be very clear: The aid reaching people falls far short of what they need - and the cost is measured in lives. OCHA warns that opportunities to support starving people are being systematically blocked. Every week, new restrictions are imposed. For example, Zikim - the only crossing directly into the north, where famine has been confirmed - has been shut since the weekend. Israeli authorities have also classified some food items, such as peanut butter, as "luxuries" not allowed in, leaving large amounts of already-procured aid stuck outside Gaza. On top of this, inspection rules vary by route, creating unpredictability and needless delays. Inside Gaza, humanitarian movements are also being blocked. Just yesterday, three of 14 coordinated movements were denied - including two intended to bring food to the north. Two other missions faced obstacles that meant they could only be partially completed or prevented them from being carried out at all. This meant wasted time and human resources, missed opportunities to reach people in need, and aid workers being needlessly exposed to risks. OCHA stresses once again how important it is for the UN and its partners to be able to resume large-scale, community-based humanitarian response. What is needed is a ceasefire, hundreds of trucks a day, safe and open routes, an end to bureaucratic delays, restoration of power and water, and more meaningful commercial imports. Arbitrarily detained Palestinians must be freed. The hostages must be released - immediately and unconditionally. Syria UN Relief Chief urges Security Council to back Syrian-led recovery with urgent investment The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, told the Security Council today that the upcoming High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly will be a critical moment for Syria, which remains one of the largest humanitarian emergencies globally. More than 70 per cent of the population still needs some form of humanitarian aid, over 9 million are acutely food insecure, and some 7 million are internally displaced - with more than 4 million refugees in neighbouring countries. Yet despite severe funding restrictions - and thanks to collaborative efforts - Fletcher said that the UN and its partners are getting critical aid to an average of nearly 3.5 million people across Syria each month - a 25 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. "Despite this progress, I warn again we risk missing a rare opportunity for the people of Syria," the Under-Secretary-General added. "Our humanitarian appeal this year is only 18 per cent funded, meaning we can reach just a fraction of those in need." Fletcher appealed for more funding for the response, sustained engagement to preserve stability and prevent renewed violence, and efforts to enable a Syrian-led recovery by translating pledges into concrete investment. Haiti Deadly attack in West department displaced over 4,700 people OCHA reports that last week's deadly attack in the commune of Cabaret, in Haiti's West department, forced thousands of people to flee their homes. In a statement on Saturday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the reported killing of at least 40 people, including women, children and older people. The International Organization for Migration reports that the attacks drove more than 4,700 people from their homes. Over two thirds of them sought safety in the nearby commune of Arcahaie. While the majority of the displaced are being hosted by families, 23 per cent have taken shelter in four schools. These attacks underscore the worsening security and humanitarian situation in Haiti. They also come less than a month before the start of the new school year - further deepening the education crisis, as several schools already under strain are now being used as displacement sites, disrupting the lives of both students and teachers. Forced displacements, destruction and attacks against people are driving up humanitarian needs, compounding existing crises in health, nutrition and education. OCHA is coordinating the response to ensure that life-saving assistance reaches the most vulnerable, despite extremely challenging conditions. The humanitarian response in Haiti remains severely underfunded*, with less than 13 per cent of the US$908 million needed for this year received to date. *Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Haiti with urgent support. Pakistan UN and partners support response to devastating floods OCHA reports that humanitarian needs persist following this year's monsoon floods in Pakistan. Since the end of June, nearly 7 million people have been impacted in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Sindh. Nearly 3 million people have been evacuated, with 150,000 people sheltering in 1,580 evacuation centres set up by provincial authorities. The UN and its humanitarian partners continue to support the Government-led response. To date, UNICEF has provided more than 2 tons of essential medicine to the north in the capital of Punjab's province, Lahore, and over 2 tons to the south, in the city of Multan. These medicines are being distributed across districts to support health centres. UNICEF has also provided nutrition supplies and safe drinking water, relocated school materials, and established temporary learning centres. The World Food Programme is delivering food, nutrition services, cash assistance and logistics support across Punjab and Sindh. As people begin to return to their homes, additional funding is needed to provide assistance and rehabilitate basic infrastructure. The UN has already released $5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, with an additional $1.5 million channeled to local NGOs from the Asia Pacific Humanitarian Fund. OCHA notes that Pakistan ranks among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, with scorching heatwaves. Posted on 18 September 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council Fails to Adopt Resolution on Gaza Ceasefire Meetings Coverage Security Council 10,000th Meeting (PM) SC/16174 18 September 2025 In its 10,000th meeting, the Security Council today failed to adopt a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and for Israel to immediately and unconditionally lift all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave, as the United States vetoed the measure despite affirmative votes by the other 14 members of the 15-nation organ. Introducing the draft, the representative of Denmark also spoke for the other nine elected members of the Council, who "represent every region of the world" as well as "the will and the expectations of the members of the General Assembly by whom we were elected". She noted that famine in Gaza has been "confirmed", with desperate mothers "forced to boil leaves to feed their children", people killed as they try to get food to survive and a generation at risk of being lost. She cited a "humanitarian and human failure that has compelled us to act today" on a text resulting from weeks of consultations its sole intent being to ease suffering and "contribute to the end of this abhorrent war". However, the United States' representative warned that the resolution was deeply flawed, as it demanded a ceasefire that would leave Hamas in power and allow it to regroup. "[United States] President [Donald] Trump will never accept this," she said, rejecting what she called a "false equivalence" between Israel's right to defend itself and Hamas's campaign of terror. Gaza's humanitarian suffering, she emphasized, is the result of Hamas's actions, not Israel's. That State works daily to deliver aid, which must reach civilians who need it rather than sustain Hamas. She concluded by demanding that Hamas release all hostages and surrender immediately. United States Vetoes Text, Other Council Members Express Frustration and Concern Then, by a vote of 14 in favour to 1 against (United States), with no abstentions, the draft resolution was not adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent Council member. Had it been, the text would have seen the Council demand an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza; the immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups; and Israel's immediate, unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip. "Forgive us," said Algeria's delegate after the vote. "Forgive us," he continued, addressing the people of Palestine, "because this Council could not save your children more than 18,000 of them have been killed by Israel". "Forgive us," he repeated, noting that more than 12,000 women, more than 4,000 elderly, more than 1,400 doctors and nurses, more than 250 journalists and more than 500 aid workers "have been killed by Israel". Famine now spreads in Gaza, he added, and the Council "could not even act to denounce it" as "Israel is shielded" not by international law, but by the bias of the international system. Stressing that "history will not weigh our speeches, it will weigh our deeds", he stated that "we will not give up". "Shame on helplessness," he said, adding: "Shame in the face of genocide unfolding before open eyes." "Ten thousand times, the world has looked into this Chamber for leadership, conscience and hope," said Somalia's delegate; today, however, "we have failed to adopt a resolution safeguarding the basic rights of the Gaza people". He underscored that "this is not just a procedural lapse but a profound moral failure", reflecting an unspoken and dangerous logic that "the suffering of some is more tolerable than the suffering of others and that the lives of certain people matter less". He warned: "The moment we measure the worth of human life by nationality, ethnicity or circumstances, we lose the very foundation upon which this institution was built." Calling it a "dark moment in this Chamber", Pakistan's representative echoed regret over the organ's "failure" and pointed out that the Council was prevented from acting by the exercise of the veto and "that is where the apology must lie". In moments of such grave human suffering, preventing the Council from fulfilling its mandate "risks being seen as enabling the continuation of that suffering". He stressed that, against this grim setting, today's failure sends the dangerous message that 2 million people "are expendable". Further, he noted that "the safety of hostages is being compromised" alongside hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Other delegations including those of Guyana and China also rejected today's veto, with the latter stating that the United States was "abusing" that power. Noting that today marks the seventh time the United States has exercised it on this issue, the Russian Federation's delegate stressed that "there will be no breakthrough" so long as Washington, D.C., "does not change the lens through which it regards the crisis in Gaza". He urged that country to acknowledge that its "declared quiet diplomacy on the ground" is being "undermined not by the sensible voices of the international community", but by the concrete actions of its Israeli ally. Speakers Highlight International Obligations Sierra Leone's delegate, for his part,affirmed that the duty to prevent genocide is binding on all, and that failure to act would make the Council complicit in one of the gravest crimes known to humanity. He recalled that the International Court of Justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro found that failure to act breached this obligation. A State cannot lawfully provide aid or assistance to perpetrators if it knows that genocide is being, or about to be, committed. "Let us be clear unlike Pontius Pilate, we cannot wash our hands of this responsibility," he stressed. Many speakers including the representatives of Greece, Slovenia and Denmark echoed warnings of a calamitous situation on the brink. The representative of the Republic of Korea, Council President for September, spoke in his national capacity to underscore that "civilians in Gaza, as well as hostages and their families, have suffered too much and far too long". He therefore urged the finalization of a deal to secure an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages, leading to a permanent end to the war. "We do not believe that today's unsuccessful effort is meaningless," he said. Meanwhile, Panama's delegate pointed out that resolution 2735 (2024) had already outlined "a three-step plan of cessation of hostilities, release of hostages, withdrawal of forces and reconstruction of Gaza" a plan both Israel and Hamas later accepted in a January 2025 ceasefire. While reiterating a condemnation of the terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023, and that Hamas must be disarmed and excluded from governance, France's representative called on Israel to abide by its international obligations and lift all hindrances for aid to enter Gaza. "We need a ceasefire more than ever," underscored the United Kingdom's representative. "And yet," she continued, "Israel's reckless expansion of its military operation takes us further away from a deal which could bring the hostages home and end the suffering in Gaza." Urging Israel to "end the bloodshed" "newborn babies in incubators and children on dialysis should not be under bombardment" she expressed regret over the Council's inability to reach consensus on today's resolution. Nevertheless, she said that her country remains "committed to the vision of this text". Palestine Stresses Result Undermines Council's Credibility, Israel Says Draft Rewards Hamas For his part, the observer for the State of Palestine stressed that today's draft was a "genuine effort for the Council to speak with one voice"; yet, its failure comes "at a great cost for its credibility and authority". Further, he said that it proves, "when it comes to atrocity crimes, the use of the veto should simply not be allowed". While the veto "prevented this Council from taking action at a time when it is most needed", he added that "this is not the end". Noting that world leaders will soon gather to mark the UN's eightieth anniversary, he stressed that regardless of modality for participation "Palestine will be there; it will be the biggest elephant in New York City." Adding that "Gaza is the ultimate test", he noted that millions of Palestinians have "paid the price of our failure to stop the killing machine launched against them". He concluded: "We cannot fail them any longer." Responding, Israel's delegate commended the United States for "showing leadership and moral conviction by vetoing this biased resolution", adding: "What we see here is not diplomacy, it is theatre." By endorsing a draft resolution that "dares to imply Israel is starving the people of Gaza, you echo the propaganda of Hamas", he said. Noting that crossings to Gaza are open and aid is moving into the Strip, he said that 226 trucks entered Gaza on 17 September alone and underscored that "starvation is not and has never been Israel's policy". For its part, Israel is fighting terror and Hamas "the ones actually starving hostages", he said. "Make no mistake Hamas waits in the wings, the only beneficiary of this stage drama," he added, citing today's draft resolution which failed to label them a terrorist organization, condemn the 7 October 2023 massacre or demand their disarmament and an end to their rule in Gaza as "a reward for their barbarism and murder". And, pushing back on several references to the findings of "the so-called [Independent International] Commission of Inquiry [on the Occupied Palestinian Territory]" which recently determined that genocide is being committed in Gaza the United States' representative called them "a slanderous report that lacks any credibility" and presents "lies and distortions to the benefit of Hamas". Condemning the Human Rights Council's "moral bankruptcy" the reason her Government ended its participation therein she said: "It is long overdue that the [Commission] be eliminated and that its anti-Semitic witch-hunt be put to an end." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Coast Guard Cutter Spencer returns home to Portsmouth, Virginia after 83-day maritime border security patrol in the Caribbean Sea, Windward Passage United States Coast Guard Press Release | Sept. 18, 2025 PORTSMOUTH, Va. -- The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Spencer (WMEC 905) returned to their home port in Portsmouth, Wednesday, concluding an 83-day maritime border security patrol in the Caribbean Sea and Windward Passage. Spencer's crew deployed in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry while underway in the Coast Guard Southeast District area of responsibility. Crew members worked with interagency and international partners, conducting maritime safety and security operations to deter unlawful migration and protect America's maritime borders. While on patrol, Spencer watchstanders detected a dangerously overloaded and unlit vessel at night off the coast of Haiti. Spencer's crew launched the cutter's small boat to assess the situation. Recognizing an immediate risk to life, the boarding team provided life jackets and began transferring people to the cutter, safely embarking 191 aliens aboard Spencer. Crew members provided medical screening, food, water and shelter while conducting accountability procedures. All aliens were later repatriated to Haiti in accordance with U.S. law and policy. To read more about the interdiction and repatriation, please visit: Coast Guard repatriates 191 aliens to Haiti > United States Coast Guard News > Press Releases "Spencer's efforts over the last 83 days ensured the security of our nation's Southeastern border and maritime approaches," said Cmdr. Justin Strock, commanding officer of Spencer. "This crew, in coordination with our federal and international partners, reinforced the Coast Guard's ability to prevent and deter illegal migration by sea. I am proud of this crew for their determination, dedication and teamwork throughout our patrol." OVS is the 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. Spencer is a 270-foot, Famous-class medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth. Its missions include search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, marine environmental protection and homeland security operations. The cutter falls under the command of U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, which is based in Portsmouth. For information on how to join the U.S. Coast Guard, visit GoCoastGuard.com to learn about active duty, reserve, officer and enlisted opportunities. Information on how to apply to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy can be found here. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Federation aircraft violated Estonian airspace Republic of Estonia - Defence Forces 19. September 2025, 18:50 On friday, the morning of September 19, three Russian fighter jets MIG-31 entered Estonian airspace in the Vaindloo Island area without permission, and remained there for approximately 12 minutes. The fighter jets did not have flight plans, and their transponders were switched off. At the time of the airspace violation, the fighter jets did not have two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic control. The incident was responded to by Italian Air Force fighter jets F-35, participating in the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission, that are currently stationed in Amari Airbase. The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the charge d'affaires of the Russian Federation in Estonia to deliver a diplomatic note concerning the violation of Estonia's airspace. This was the fourth violation of Estonian airspace by a Russian Federation aircraft this year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Tsahkna: Foreign Ministry summons Russia's charge d'affaires over another violation of Estonia's airspace Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 19.09.2025 | 17:05 Today, 19 September, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the charge d'affaires of the Russian Federation in Estonia to lodge a protest and deliver a note concerning the violation of Estonia's airspace that occurred on 19 September. The incursion took place over the Gulf of Finland, where three Russian Federation MIG-31 fighter aircraft entered Estonian airspace without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutes. "Russia has already violated Estonia's airspace four times this year, which in itself is unacceptable. But today's incursion, involving three fighter aircraft entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen," said Foreign Minister Tsahkna. "Russia's increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure." The Estonian Defence Forces also reported the violation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide on Russia's Violation of Estonian Airspace Government of Norway News story | Date: 19/09/2025 'Russia's violation of Estonian airspace is grave and unacceptable,' says Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide. 'Norway stands in full solidarity with Estonia. We are in close contact with our NATO ally, and support their call for Article 4 consultations,' the minister emphasizes. 'We expect Russia to immediately explain itself and refrain from further provocations,' Barth Eide concludes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Operation Sea Guardian: NATO ships make port call in Tunisia NATO Allied Maritime Command Sep 19 2025 MEDITERRANEAN SEA -- The Romanian ship ROS Regina Maria (F222), assigned to NATO's Operation Sea Guardian (OSG) maritime task group, visited Tunis, Tunisia, for a port visit from 16-17 September while deployed in the western Mediterranean Sea. The OSG task group, led by Romanian Navy Captain George-Victor Durea aboard the flagship ROS Regina Maria and Croatia's HRV Vukovar, are currently deployed to the western Mediterranean to enhance regional maritime security and strengthen partnerships. The Tunisian port visit presented vital partnership-building opportunities, reinforcing NATO's commitment to peace, stability, and freedom of navigation in the region. Tunisia has been a valued partner of the Alliance for nearly 30 years through the Mediterranean Dialogue. "Our visit presented an opportunity to foster good relations with nations that we have partnered with for years that are vitally important to keeping the region safe," said Captain Durea. While alongside in Tunis, Captain Durea and the Commanding Officer of the Regina Maria, Captain Mitel-Laurentiu Alexandru, were hosted by Tunisian Navy Commodore Ketib Khouja, the commanding officer of the La Goulette Naval Base. The ship's crew experienced Tunisian culture and hosted a VIP luncheon on board the flagship. The crew of ROS Regina Maria also took the opportunity in Tunis to bring on supplies and refuel their ship before heading back to sea. Operation Sea Guardian plays a vital role in safeguarding the Mediterranean Sea by enhancing maritime situational awareness throughout the region to ensure free and open seaways. Through continuous vigilance and surveillance, OSG strengthens the understanding of maritime activities, ensuring a safer environment for commercial trade and transit. Exercises and port visits in the maritime with Partner nations strengthen operational effectiveness and improve interoperability between participating forces, fostering a more coordinated and responsive approach to maritime security challenges. OSG task groups operate under the command and control of NATO's Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), which serves as the central hub for sharing maritime security within the Alliance. As a standing Maritime Security Operation, OSG is dedicated to deterring and countering terrorism while mitigating threats to maritime security in the Mediterranean. Furthermore, OSG carries out focused patrols in designated areas during specific periods throughout the year, reinforcing its commitment to regional stability and security. Story by Public Affairs Office at MARCOM NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address National Press Club Statement on Pentagon Restrictions That Threaten Independent Reporting National Press Club PRESS RELEASE September 19, 2025 WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- National Press Club President Mike Balsamo today released the following statement on the Pentagon's new pledge requirement for reporters: "The Pentagon is now demanding that journalists sign a pledge not to obtain or report any information even if unclassified unless it has been expressly authorized by the government. This is a direct assault on independent journalism at the very place where independent scrutiny matters most: the U.S. military. For generations, Pentagon reporters have provided the public with vital information about how wars are fought, how defense dollars are spent, and how decisions are made that put American lives at risk. That work has only been possible because reporters could seek out facts without needing government permission. If the news about our military must first be approved by the government, then the public is no longer getting independent reporting. It is getting only what officials want them to see. That should alarm every American. Independent reporting on the military is essential to democracy. It is what allows citizens to hold leaders accountable and ensures that decisions of war and peace are made in the light of day. This pledge undermines that principle, and the National Press Club calls on the Pentagon to rescind it immediately. This crackdown also comes at a time when the nation is witnessing a devastating hollowing out of defense trade publications, just as rigorous, independent coverage of military and national security issues has never been more essential." About the National Press Club Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. Based in Washington, D.C., the Club has nearly 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization. It hosts newsmakers from around the globe, champions press freedom worldwide through through its Press Freedom Center and serves as a hub for journalistic excellence and advocacy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Back onto the blue as HMNZS Taupo begins three-month 'Bravos' New Zealand Defence Force It's that time of year when Warfare Officer trainees move from the simulator ashore to time at sea, coming to grips with watchkeeping duties aboard a real vessel. 19 September, 2025 For the trainees, it's the moment when months of theory and simulator training come together, as HMNZS Taupo departs Auckland Harbour and passes Alpha Buoy into the Hauraki Gulf. This week Taupo set sail in company with HMNZS Canterbury which was embarking for a Commanding Officer 'Sea Week' under its new CO, Commander Wayne Andrew. While on board Taupo, the Junior Officers will be conducting the sea phase of their Officer of the Watch Basic course (OOW(B)) or 'Bravos'. The ship will be at sea for the next 50 days, with alternating cohorts of trainees undergoing 16 days at sea. A benefit of sailing in company with Canterbury is that the trainees are exposed to Officer of the Watch manoeuvres, where they take turns to manoeuvre Taupo to different positions around Canterbury at close quarters, in a set time, increasing and decreasing speed and angle. An understanding of these manoeuvres and the physics associated with them is particularly useful later in their careers when they will have to drive larger warships at high speed in close proximity to other ships. Throughout their time on board, the students will consolidate their training in coastal navigation, pilotage of harbours and passes, involving precision navigation in the vicinity of hazards. At all times, the trainees must be ready at a moment's notice to respond to an emergency - an engineering alarm, or a shout of 'man overboard' if someone throws 'Oscar' - a mannequin - over the side. Taupo's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Toby Mara, says the Officer of the Watch carries significant responsibility, entrusted with the safety of the vessel and its crew. "Moving from the Bridge Simulator to a real ship can be a bit of a shock," he says. "Suddenly you can feel the engines vibrating, the wind and rain outside, and the natural movement of the ship. It takes a minute to get used to, all the while they're trying to implement the lessons they've been learning over the past few months at the Navigation School. It can be an oversaturation of the senses at times which results in a big learning curve." The time away will include port visits - with the associated pilotage and berthing learnings - to Opua, Whangarei, Wellington and Nelson. The time with the trainees and Taupo's own Commanding Officer Sea Week in December will conclude a busy year for Taupo, with nearly 100 days at sea. Taupo's tasks have included being the Duty Search and Rescue Ship at several points throughout the year, conducting Sea Training for Naval Activities, Boarding Operations in support of Ministry for Primary Industries, and now the OOW(B) Course. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Seasprite helicopter transported for duty in Asia New Zealand Defence Force A Seasprite maritime helicopter and its associated equipment and ammunition is on its way to Singapore thanks to the transport capabilities of the Royal Australian Air Force. 19 September, 2025 The SH-2G(I) Seasprite Helicopter from No. 6 Squadron, was this week loaded aboard a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III at RNZAF Base Auckland. The helicopter will connect with Maritime Sustainment Vessel HMNZS Aotearoa which has been undergoing maintenance in Singapore since April. Aotearoa is set to take part in Exercise Bersama Lima, a Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) tactical level military exercise being hosted in Malaysia. The FPDA is a multilateral defence pact established in 1971 between Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The ship and its embarked helicopter will also contribute to the monitoring of United Nations Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea. While Royal New Zealand Air Force NH-90s have been transported by C-17As before, this is a first for this variant of Seasprite. No. 6 Squadron maintainers prepared the helicopter for transport, folding in and securing the rotors, while Air Movements packaged the freight and assessed the weights. Flight Sergeant Sam Collis, Air Movements Section Coordinator at Base Auckland, says the total weight was nearly 21 tonnes, around 45,000 pounds. Air Movements can weigh the helicopter using portable vehicle scales. "The helicopter weighed in at 4,971kg. The rest was freight." That included the 'Mantis', the aircraft tug needed to pull a helicopter within a ship's hangar and on the flight deck. Aotearoa undertook the same operation last year, refuelling international navy vessels in support of the Seventh Fleet and conducting monitoring to detect and deter sanctions evasions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan crisis deepens amid rising civilian casualties, growing ethnic violence and grim humanitarian situation - UN report Press releases Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 19 September 2025 GENEVA -- The conflict-driven crisis in Sudan intensified in the first half of the year, a report by the UN Human Rights Office shows, citing a significant rise in civilian killings, including summary executions, amid growing ethnic violence and a worsening humanitarian situation. Between 1 January and 30 June, UN Human Rights documented the deaths of at least 3,384 civilians in the context of the conflict, mostly in Darfur, followed by Kordofan and Khartoum. This represents nearly 80 per cent of all civilian casualties (4,238) documented during the whole of 2024. The real toll of casualties is likely to be significantly higher. Seventy per cent of casualties (2,398) occurred during the conduct of hostilities, as the parties continued to launch attacks in densely populated areas, using artillery shelling, airstrikes and drones. Several major offensives and mass casualty incidents were particularly deadly. In April, an offensive by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on El Fasher and other areas in North Darfur resulted in at least 527 deaths, including over 270 in Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps for displaced people. In March, airstrikes by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Tora market in North Darfur killed at least 350 civilians, including 13 members of one family. The report also documents the unlawful killing of at least 990 civilians outside the conduct of hostilities, including through summary executions. Between February and April, the number of such killings tripled, due in large part to a surge in summary executions, primarily in Khartoum, after SAF and allied fighters recaptured territory previously controlled by the RSF in late March, and campaigns of apparent reprisals against alleged "collaborators" ensued. One witness who observed SAF search operations in civilian neighbourhoods in East Nile, Khartoum between March and April, said that he saw children as young as 14 or 15 years of age, accused of being RSF members, summarily killed. RSF also carried out summary executions in Khartoum, as SAF and allied fighters closed in on their positions. On 27 April, video footage obtained by UN Human Rights shows the summary execution by RSF fighters of at least 30 males in civilian dress, including some who appeared to be children, in Al Salha, Omdurman, after they were accused of affiliation with SAF. The report also points to "recurring patterns of conflict-related sexual violence, used as a weapon of war as part of wider attacks involving other violations". Attacks directed against civilians and wilful killings are serious violations of international humanitarian law and of the right to life under international human rights law. "Sudan's conflict is a forgotten one, and I hope that my Office's report puts the spotlight on this disastrous situation where atrocity crimes, including war crimes, are being committed," UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said. The conflict has led to the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with 24.6 million people facing acute food insecurity amid rising risk of famine, 19 million lacking access to safe water and sanitation, and a continuing cholera outbreak. Yet, in this dire context, the report documents continued attacks on civilian objects and infrastructure, including health facilities, markets, energy infrastructure, water sources and humanitarian convoys. At least 30 humanitarian and health workers have been killed in the six-month period covered by the report, including in targeted attacks. Other documented trends identified in the report include widespread arbitrary detention, often targeting individuals accused of collaborating with the opposing side, and involving ethnic profiling. Civil society figures, including local humanitarian volunteers, have also been subjected to arbitrary detention, restrictions and attacks. At least seven journalists and media workers were reportedly killed in the first half of 2025. "This violence, in all of its vile forms, must end. Impunity continues to drive cycles of violations and abuses. To stop this, accountability is critical to hold those responsible to account," the High Commissioner said. In light of numerous incidents involving hate speech and incitement to violence, Turk warned, "the increasing ethnicisation of the conflict, which builds on longstanding discrimination and inequalities, poses grave risks for longer-term stability and social cohesion within the country". "States must collectively face up to the grim reality of what has now evolved into a wider - and alarming - protection crisis and use their influence to end this conflict. Many more lives will be lost without urgent action to protect civilians and without the rapid and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid." To read the full report, click here: https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/human-rights-situation-sudan-1-january-30-june-2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippines Highlights Strong Commitment to Protect Marine Environment, Rejects China's Unlawful "Nature Reserve" Claim Over Bajo De Masinloc at 13th Expanded Asean Maritime Forum Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs PORT DICKSON 19 September 2025 -- The Philippines reiterated its strong commitment to marine environmental protection and sustainability at the 13th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) on 11 September 2025, underscoring the importance of upholding international law in addressing pressing maritime and environmental challenges. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Marshall Louis Alferez, who led the Philippine delegation, highlighted the Philippines' proactive initiatives to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, reduce plastic pollution, strengthen laws and ocean-focused institutional mechanisms, and enhance ocean literacy at the grassroots level. He reaffirmed the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the legal framework governing all ocean activities, and emphasized the importance of complying with the final and binding 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award and respecting the 2024 ITLOS Advisory Opinion on Case No 31. He also highlighted the Philippines' support for the entry into force and effective implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, which would apply to the pockets of high seas in the South China Sea. Moreover, Assistant Secretary Alferez strongly rejected China's unilateral declaration of a so-called "Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve" in Bajo de Masinloc and reaffirmed the shoal as an integral part of Philippine territory over which the country exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction. He underscored the Philippines' exclusive authority to establish environmental protection areas over its territory and relevant maritime zones. Assistant Secretary Alferez pointedly stressed that China's actions, taken in the guise of environmental conservation and protection efforts, blatantly disregard international law and further complicate the situation at sea. He also made clear that China's actions undermine the traditional fishing rights of Filipino fisherfolk in Bajo de Masinloc, which was already affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award. Finally, Assistant Secretary Alferez called on all ASEAN Member States and Dialogue Partners to strengthen marine environmental cooperation grounded in adherence to international law, multilateralism, ASEAN Centrality, and inclusivity. The Philippines commits to working with ASEAN and external partners in advancing marine conservation and sustainability, guided by science-based policymaking and shared goals under SDG 14 and the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. As an expansion of the ASEAN Maritime Forum, the EAMF brings together government officials, scholars, and experts from ASEAN Member States, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, US, Turkiye and the UK to advance peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region's maritime domain. END NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Says US Seeks To 'Get Back' Bagram Base Amid Taliban Rule By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi September 19, 2025 President Donald Trump said the United States is attempting to get Bagram Airfield back from Afghanistan's Taliban rulers, citing the extremist group's need for US help and the facility's proximity to China's nuclear assets. "We're trying to get it back, by the way, that could be a little breaking news," Trump said on September 18 during a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London. "We're trying to get it back because they [Taliban rulers] need things from us," he said without being specific. "But one of the reasons we want that base is, as you know, it's an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons. So a lot of things are happening," Trump added. Trump in May also lamented the loss of the sprawling base some 40 kilometers outside of Kabul, saying at the time that it was "occupied" by China. Neither Trump nor US officials said what was meant by the possibility to "get it back" or if any negotiations had taken place. The Taliban did not immediately comment on Trump's remarks. The Taliban rulers, beset by unrest, natural disasters, poverty, and terrorist attacks, have attempted to improve ties to the global community, although Russia is the only country to so far establish diplomatic relations. Western nations have said the country must first improve its human rights record, especially in regard to treatment of women and girls. Bagram was once the largest US military base in Afghanistan, but it was handed over in July 2021 to the previous Afghan government -- weeks before the chaotic withdrawal of US troops and the eventual takeover of the country by the Taliban. The base, built by the Soviets in the 1950s, saw more than 100,000 US troops pass through its compound during the peak of the US military's involvement in the country. The Soviets withdrew in 1989, opening the floodgates to a civil war that killed tens of thousands of civilians and eventually brought to the Taliban, who overran Kabul in 1996, to power for the first time. The US administration during Trump's first term announced the eventual withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. But it was during the administration of President Joe Biden that the pullout actually took place, with ensuing chaos and the death of at least 13 US troops marking the end of America's 20-year presence in the country following the earlier removal of the Taliban. "We were going to leave Afghanistan, but we were going to leave it with strength and dignity," Trump said. "We were going to keep Bagram, the big air base -- one of the biggest air bases in the world -- we gave it to them for nothing." With reporting by Reuters and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bagram-airbase- afghanistan-trump-taliban/33534222.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 Does Trump Want Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base Returned To US Control? By Reid Standish September 19, 2025 Summary US President Donald Trump has expressed interest in reclaiming Bagram air base in Afghanistan -- abandoned during the 2021 withdrawal -- citing its strategic location close to Chinese nuclear sites. Trump revealed potential negotiations with the Taliban over the base, marking the first public acknowledgment of such talks. Bagram, a key US military hub during the 20-year occupation of Afghanistan, holds geopolitical significance due to its location near China and historical importance. US President Donald Trump said that he wants Bagram air base in Afghanistan returned to US control, in a move that could reignite American involvement in the country and the strategic asset that was lost during the chaotic Western withdrawal four years ago. Speaking alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on September 18, Trump suggested that his administration was negotiating with the Taliban for US forces to once again occupy the base outside of Kabul, which was abandoned in 2021 shortly before the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan. He also said that the base's strategic location close to nuclear sites in China, which shares a short 92-kilometer border with Afghanistan, made it particularly valuable. "We're trying to get it back because they need things from us. We want that base back," Trump said during the joint press conference in Britain. "But one of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it's an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons." Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan Bagram Air Base is a major military airfield approximately 40 km north of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. Originally built by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, it served as the primary hub for US and NATO operations in Afghanistan from 2001 until the withdrawal of US forces in August 2021. Trump didn't elaborate on what the Taliban might need from the United States and it is unclear whether he was referring to an actual plan to retake ownership of Bagram or which exact Chinese facilities he was mentioning. But his comments were the first public acknowledgment that negotiations to reclaim the base and other American military assets that fell into the hands of the Taliban might be underway. The Wall Street Journal, citing people with knowledge of the matter, on September 19 reported that US administration officials are in discussions with the Taliban concerning the matter. The report said US officials and the Taliban have discussed allowing the US military to use Bagram as a "launch point" for counterterrorism missions. Why Is Bagram Air Base Important? Bagram, which is about 40 kilometers north of Kabul and was built by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, was the largest US base in Afghanistan and served as the central command during its 20-year occupation of the country. During his September 18 press conference, Trump said that Bagram was one of the largest air bases in the world, with one of the biggest runways constructed of heavy concrete and steel. The airfield has a 3.6-kilometer runway capable of serving bombers and large cargo aircraft. Trump had reached an agreement to withdraw from Afghanistan near the end of his first term, but then-US president Joe Biden took over the plans in 2021. Trump has repeatedly criticized his predecessor's handling of the military pullout, which saw the United States leave behind thousands of weapons and other pieces of military equipment and a sprawling embassy compound that sits vacant in the center of Kabul. Why Is Trump Focused On China's Nuclear Weapons? Trump's argument that Bagram is an important regional foothold because of its proximity to China is not new. The US president claimed during his election campaign that Bagram was under the control of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) and during the first cabinet meeting of his second term, he said that in his Afghanistan withdrawal plan, "we were going to keep Bagram not because of Afghanistan but because of China because it's exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles. At the time, he claimed that Bagram was "now under China's influence." The Taliban denied the claims and China has no known military footprint at Bagram. But his comments about Chinese nuclear facilities appear to be referring to the long-standing Lop Nur nuclear test range, some 2,000 kilometers across the border in the northwestern Xinjiang region. The facility was where China tested its first nuclear bomb nearly 60 years ago and satellite images appear to show an expansion of new buildings and roads around the area since 2017. The site is not known to be where nuclear weapons are manufactured, with Chinese production believed to be concentrated in the center of the country. This comes as China has been rapidly expanding its nuclear forces in recent years, which has set off some alarm bells at the Pentagon, which said that the PLA had expanded its nuclear stockpile to 600 warheads by mid-2024, a 20 percent annual increase. Can Trump Gain Control Of Bagram From The Taliban? Trump did not specify in his recent comments what exactly he envisioned for Bagram, but his remarks come amid increased engagement between the Taliban and US envoys. Washington has kept a minimal level of public engagement with Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, restricting it to hostage negotiations. Afghanistan has remained largely isolated on the global stage and its economy is struggling to attract foreign support and private investments. But in a rare visit last week, Adam Boehler, the Trump administration's special envoy for hostage response, met with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul. Taliban officials also rejected Trump's suggestion that the United States might regain control of Bagram, but they left open the possibility of talks to improve ties. "Without the US having any military presence in Afghanistan, both Afghanistan and the US need to engage with each other, and they can have political and economic relations based on mutual respect and shared interests," Zakir Jalaly, a Taliban foreign ministry official, said on social media. "Afghans have never accepted the military presence of anyone throughout history," Jalaly added. "But for other kinds of engagement, all paths remain open for them." Other Taliban officials struck a more defiant tone in their public comments. Muhajer Farahi, a Taliban deputy minister, posted part of a poem on X: "Those who once smashed their heads against the rocks with us, their minds have still not found peace." He ended his post with "Bagram, Afghanistan." The State Department and the White House have not provided public comment about Bagram, while Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement provided to reporters that the Department of War "routinely reviews how the Department would respond to a variety of contingencies across the globe" and that "we are always ready to execute any mission at the President's direction." The Taliban rulers, beset by unrest, natural disasters, poverty, and terrorist attacks, have attempted to improve ties to the global community, although Russia is the only country to so far establish diplomatic relations. Western nations have said the country must first improve its human rights record, especially in regard to treatment of women and girls. Bagram was once the largest US military base in Afghanistan, but it was handed over in July 2021 to the previous Afghan government -- weeks before the chaotic withdrawal of US troops and the eventual takeover of the country by the Taliban. The base, built by the Soviets in the 1950s, saw more than 100,000 US troops pass through its compound during the peak of the US military's involvement in the country. The Soviets withdrew in 1989, opening the floodgates to a civil war that killed tens of thousands of civilians and eventually brought to the Taliban, who overran Kabul in 1996, to power for the first time. The US administration during Trump's first term announced the eventual withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. But it was during the administration of President Joe Biden that the pullout actually took place, with ensuing chaos and the death of at least 13 US troops marking the end of America's 20-year presence in the country following the earlier removal of the Taliban. "We were going to leave Afghanistan, but we were going to leave it with strength and dignity," Trump said. "We were going to keep Bagram, the big air base -- one of the biggest air bases in the world -- we gave it to them for nothing." With reporting by Reuters and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bagram-airbase- afghanistan-trump-taliban/33534222.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 Estonia Seeks To Invoke NATO Article 4, As EU Plans New Round Of Russian Sanctions By Ray Furlong and Rikard Jozwiak September 19, 2025 Summary Estonia reported three Russian MiG-31 jets violating its airspace for 12 minutes on September 19, which the country's foreign minister called "unprecedentedly brazen." Baltic nation requested consultations under NATO's Article 4 following incursion of the Russian warplanes. Poland also requested such a move on September 10. The EU sanctions also target Moscow's "shadow fleet" and aim to restrict Russian access to technologies and financial systems. Estonia said that three Russian MiG-31 fighter aircraft entered its airspace, hours after the European Commission proposed a 19th package of sanctions on Moscow over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Foreign Ministry in Tallinn said the jets remained in Estonian airspace for 12 minutes on September 19, and the Baltic nation said it would ask for an Article 4 meeting of the NATO charter. "Russia has already violated Estonia's airspace four times this year, which in itself is unacceptable. But today's incursion, involving three fighter aircraft entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen," said Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. Estonia is a member of NATO and the European Union. NATO said its jets had intercepted the Russian aircraft. Estonian news reports said that the Russian jets did not fly with transponders turned on, and had not responded to radio communications with air traffic controllers. Italian F-16s accompanied the Russian jets, as did Swedish Gripen JAS-39 jets. Estonia later said it had requested an Article 4 meeting following the intrusion. Article 4, which is brings a mandatory convocation of members, is short of the more serious Article 5. The incident follows recent incursions by Russian drones in Poland and Romania, which are also NATO and European Union members. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also invoked Article 4 following Russian violation of its airspace by some 19 drones earlier on September 10. Article 4 had been invoked just seven times previously. New EU Sanctions Earlier on September 19, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned the drone incursions while announcing proposals for the EU's latest sanctions package. "Again and again, President [Vladimir] Putin has escalated, and in response, Europe is increasing its pressure," she said. Von der Leyen said the main emphasis was on hitting Russia's fossil fuel revenues, which drive its war in Ukraine. Brussels is seeking a complete ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the beginning of 2027, bringing forward previous plans to phase them out by the end of that year. The plans, which need to be approved unanimously by member states, also envisage blacklisting a further 118 vessels in Russia's "shadow fleet," used to circumvent restrictions on oil exports. "It's time to turn off the tap," von der Leyen said, noting that 560 ships in the shadow fleet were now sanctioned. She also announced a full transaction ban on Russian energy giants Rosneft and Gazprom-Neft, scrapping exemptions they had to earlier sanctions. In Washington, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill to raise sanctions on the Russian energy sector, specifically targeting the shadow fleet. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee said in a statement that the bill "will vastly expand US sanctions authorities to target a collection of older, reflagged oil tankers that Russia uses to circumvent existing US sanctions on Russian oil and energy revenues." Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, told RFE/RL that "I think this is just part of the continuing drumbeats from Congress of wanting to put more pressure on Russia." "President [Donald] Trump isn't in the same place as much as the Republican leadership in Congress. There is a growing feeling amongst Republicans that Trump needs to be harder on Putin," Coffey added. Pressure From Trump The moves come as the EU has come under pressure from Trump to squeeze Russia tighter as a condition for Washington to take punitive measures such as sanctions or tariff hikes aimed at forcing Putin to come to the negotiating table. In particular, Trump has called for European countries to stop Russian oil imports. Only Hungary and Slovakia do so. Neither has voiced any willingness to stop, but existing EU plans foresee an EU-wide ban on oil imports from Moscow by 2027. This would be achieved using internal market rules, meaning the decision could not be vetoed. The proposals outlined on September 19 require unanimity. Previous sanctions packages have undergone numerous amendments as Hungary, which has close ties to Russia, has sought to water them down. "Our sanctions bite," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a statement also released on September 19. "They have a visible impact on Russia's public finances and economic growth. The European Union must reinforce these efforts collectively with its partners until peace is achieved." Kallas also responded to the Russian incursion into Estonian airspace, calling it an "extremely dangerous provocation." Other key items in the new proposals are a full transaction ban on Russian banks and financial institutions, including those operating in third countries, a ban on investments in Russian Special Economic Zones linked to the war, and further measures on Chinese actors supporting Russia's military industry. "These new sanctions will also squeeze Russia's access to technologies including AI and geospatial data, as well as critical resources that feed weapons production. This includes those received from foreign suppliers including China and India," Kallas said. For the first time, the EU would also sanction platforms and include a prohibition on transactions in cryptocurrencies. There was, however, no move to ban Russian tourist visas in the EU, which had been discussed ahead of the announcement. Separately, Britain also announced further sanctions on September 19, hitting two shadow fleet oil tankers and two Georgian businessmen over their support for Russia's aggression in Ukraine. "The UK will continue to ratchet up economic pressure alongside our allies until Putin stops the bloodshed," an official statement said. Putin 'Stringing Us Along' Hours before the EU package was announced, the outgoing head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, or MI6 as it is more commonly known, said Russia had no desire for peace in Ukraine. Richard Moore, who steps down at the end of September, was speaking at the UK Consulate in Istanbul. He said there was "absolutely no evidence" Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to genuinely negotiate, and that the Kremlin's engagement in talks so far was simply "stringing us along" while it continued its war of aggression in Ukraine. "The issue has, and has always been, sovereignty. Putin denies Ukraine's sovereignty and its very existence as a country and a nation," he warned. With reporting by RFE/RL's Todd Prince in Washington Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-russia-sanctions-19th- package-lng-ukraine-war-leyen/33534943.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 UN backs Abbas video address after US visa refusal 19 September 2025 - The UN General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution allowing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address next week's high-level debate by pre-recorded video after the United States refused to issue visas for Palestine's delegation. The resolution was passed with 145 in favour, five against (Israel, Nauru, Palau, Paraguay, and the United States) and six abstentions (Albania, Fiji, Hungary, North Macedonia, Panama, and Papua New Guinea). It sets out procedures for the delivery of pre-recorded statements, authorising President Abbas to submit his address via video in the General Assembly Hall, introduced by one of Palestine's New York-based representatives. The measure also allows for statements via a live link or pre-recorded video to the high-level conference taking place on the two-State solution, and other high-level meetings. The arrangements apply only to the current 80th session. In another action, the 193-member Assembly adopted without a vote a Saudi Arabian-proposed decision allowing the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, to deliver a statement by video or pre-recorded message at the high-level conference on 22 September 2025. The US Department of State announced on 29 August that it was denying and revoking visas from members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority on national security grounds, stating that they had failed to comply with past commitments, and "for undermining the prospects for peace." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli air strikes in south Lebanon violate UN resolution 19 September 2025 - The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Friday called on the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to refrain from further strikes and fully withdraw from Lebanese territory after Israeli strikes endangered peacekeepers and civilians overnight. The strikes come amid an ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza and continued violations of Security Council resolution 1701 by both Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants. The latest cessation of hostilities agreement between the two sides was signed last November. Since its inception, UNIFIL has played an important role in advancing peace and security in southern Lebanon. The mission's 'blue helmets' are mandated to assist the parties to the conflict in their implementation of resolution 1701, which brought an end to hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in 2006. Call for de-escalation "We, once again, urge the parties to refrain from any activities that may jeopardise the cessation of hostilities and we remain committed to supporting the parties to implement Security Council resolution 1701," UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a press briefing on Friday. In its statement on Friday UNIFIL said the Israeli strikes "put the fragile stability that has been built since November of last year at risk" and that they "undermine civilians' confidence that a non-violent solution" is possible. Last November, the UN had welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached between the two parties. The statement reiterated that UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army are working to restore stability to the south and along the 120km "Blue Line" between south Lebanon and northern Israel. 'UN peacekeepers and civilians in danger' According to the statement, peacekeepers stationed in Deir Kifa, near Burj Qalawieh in the south moved to shelters for safety follow Thursday night's strikes. "The strikes put the lives of Lebanese soldiers, UN peacekeepers, and civilians in danger." "We call on the Israel Defense Forces to refrain from any further strikes and to fully withdraw from Lebanese territory," UNIFIL wrote. "We further call on all sides to avoid further violations or escalatory actions." The mission stressed that "continued escalation puts the hard-fought progress the parties have made to restore stability at risk." UN peacekeepers continue to observe IDF activities in the mission's area of operation, Mr. Dujarric told reporters at the regular noon briefing on Friday. They found a land mine and other unexploded devices, while separately, a UNIFIL patrol found an unguarded weapon cache and reported it to the Lebanese Armed Forces, he said. UNIFIL was established in 1978 to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. Since the adoption of resolution 1701, UNIFIL also monitors the cessation of hostilities and extends assistance to help ensure humanitarian access, among other responsibilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNICEF aid trucks robbed at gunpoint in Gaza City 19 September 2025 - Humanitarian aid in Gaza must be protected, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday, following the theft of therapeutic food critical for saving thousands of young lives from malnutrition as famine spreads. The appeal comes a day after "armed individuals" robbed four UNICEF trucks carrying desperately needed Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF). The incident occurred outside its compound in Gaza City, where an Israeli military offensive is escalating. Nearly 3,000 children impacted "The individuals commandeered the drivers at gun point and diverted the RUTF before releasing the drivers and trucks," the agency said in a statement. "This theft has denied at least 2,700 severely and acutely malnourished children of life-saving RUTF - vital supplies at a time when famine has been declared in the north of Gaza and the ongoing military operation is creating further displacement and adding to the devastating impact on children." UNICEF urged all in Gaza to respect and protect humanitarian aid and uphold international humanitarian law. "Children are bearing the heaviest burden," the statement said. "Ultimately, a sustainable ceasefire is essential to create an environment where such incidents no longer occur, and aid can reach those who need it most - safely, quickly, and effectively." Looting remains a critical obstacle to humanitarian aid delivery in the Gaza Strip, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during his media briefing from Headquarters in New York. He said UNICEF was forced to cancel a mission to the Kerem Shalom border crossing to pick up supplies for the third consecutive day "due to the high risk of looting on the route that was cleared by the Israeli authorities for us to use. Families fleeing south As the offensive in Gaza City intensifies, the influx of people fleeing to the south is putting even more stress on already overstretched services. "People are arriving deep into the night, many of them walking for long hours without food, without water and without shelter," he said. "The coastal Al Rashid Road remains extremely congested as vehicles, donkey carts, tuk-tuks and people on foot make their way south amid the escalating attacks." Furthermore, despite Israel's announcement allowing use of Salah Ad Din Road, "partners report that the road is impassable for travel by vehicles, as the route requires repairs." Moreover, Israeli authorities announced on Friday that the 48-hour window to use the road is now closed, meaning Al Rashid is the only route available for civilians who want to leave the north. Needs are high Meanwhile, the UN and partners continue their response efforts in the face of the extremely challenging circumstances and ongoing insecurity. On Thursday, an interagency mission led by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) carried out an assessment in multiple areas of Khan Younis where displaced people have recently arrived. "The assessment noted high levels of need among the displaced families, especially for shelter, for food, for water, for medical care and for every essential part of survival," said Mr. Dujarric. Deadly crossing attack In related developments, he said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the deadly attack on Thursday at the King Hussein Bridge, the Allenby crossing between Jordan and the West Bank. Two Israelis were killed by a Jordanian driver of an aid truck that was headed into Gaza. The Secretary-General underscored the imperative of safeguarding the humanitarian and impartial nature of relief efforts. He also called on all parties "to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, including through all available crossing and routes." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Occupied Palestinian Territory Gaza: hostilities take heavy toll on civilians OCHA reports that ongoing strikes and ground operations continue to exact a heavy toll on battered and exhausted civilians in the Gaza Strip. As the offensive on Gaza city intensifies, the influx of newly displaced people arriving in the south is putting even more stress on already overstretched services, as space in southern Gaza continues to shrink due to overcrowding. Humanitarians on the ground report that people are arriving deep into the night, many of them walking for long hours without food, water or shelter. The coastal Al Rashid road remains extremely congested as vehicles, donkey carts, tuk-tuks and people on foot make their way south amid escalating attacks. Despite the announcement by the Israeli authorities to allow Salah Ad Din road to be used by people fleeing south, partners report that the road is impassable for travel by vehicle, as the route requires repairs. Today, Israeli authorities also announced that the 48-hour window to use the road is now closed, making Al Rashid the only passage available for civilians to leave the north. The UN and its partners continue to respond wherever and whenever possible, despite extremely challenging circumstances and ongoing insecurity. Yesterday, an OCHA-led interagency mission carried out an assessment in multiple areas of Khan Younis where people displaced from the north have recently arrived. The assessment noted high levels of need among the displaced families, especially for shelter, food, water and medical care. OCHA reiterates that the volumes of supplies entering Gaza remain below the threshold necessary to address people's deepening needs. Furthermore, humanitarians require conditions on the ground to enable them to reach the most vulnerable people with assistance safely, rapidly and consistently. The looting of supplies remains a critical obstacle preventing the UN and its partners from being able to deliver aid at scale, including by using community-based mechanisms. In a statement today, UNICEF reported that yesterday, four trucks full of ready-to-use therapeutic food were stolen at gunpoint in Gaza city. The stolen supplies would have helped at least 2,700 severely and acutely malnourished children with life-saving support - at a time when famine has been confirmed in Gaza governorate and the ongoing military operation is creating further displacement, compounding the devastating impact on children. UNICEF underscored that a lasting ceasefire is necessary to create an environment where such incidents no longer occur, and aid can reach those who need it most - safely, quickly and effectively. Today, UNICEF was also forced to cancel the agency's mission to Kerem Shalom to pick up supplies for the third day in a row due to the high risk of looting on the route provided by Israeli authorities. Access impediments and delays persist, adding to the challenges faced by humanitarians delivering aid to people in desperate need. Zikim crossing - the only direct access to the north - remains closed. Furthermore, since last Thursday, attempts to coordinate water trucking in the north have been denied, and access to the water pipeline that runs from Israel into Gaza remains blocked, further limiting available water sources. Today, a mission to deliver fuel to Gaza city had to be aborted, as the convoy waited over five hours for an approval and a green light to move. As thousands of people continue to flee south on Al Rashid road, the congestion that builds later in the day makes it impossible for the UN and its partners to reach Gaza city safely. OCHA reiterates that humanitarians must have safe, rapid and unimpeded access, including to and within northern Gaza, to reach people in need. Those who are fleeing must be allowed to do so safely, and they must be allowed to return once the situation allows, if they wish. West Bank: Israeli forces install more movement obstacles OCHA warns that Israeli forces are installing more movement obstacles between Palestinian towns and villages in the West Bank. In the first two weeks of September alone, 27 new closures were added, including iron gates, earth mounds and concrete blocks. This comes on top of nearly 850 physical closures that OCHA mapped back in February - checkpoints, road gates, earth walls, trenches, earth mounds and roadblocks - all located inside the West Bank. This is in addition to the 442-mile Barrier, most of which is also built inside the West Bank. Of the 27 new closures, seven earth mounds were installed across six villages in the Biddu Barrier enclave in Jerusalem governorate, following last Monday's fatal shooting attack in East Jerusalem. OCHA says these obstacles restrict Palestinian movement and access to livelihoods, healthcare, education and other essential services - or at least have the potential to do so whenever they are closed. Just yesterday, following the shooting incident at Allenby bridge, Israeli forces tightened restrictions across Jericho governorate using the existing array of checkpoints and roadblocks. OCHA notes that these measures entrench territorial and social fragmentation and worsen humanitarian conditions, including by disrupting access to key routes such as Road 60, which connects the northern and southern West Bank. Sudan Humanitarian Coordinator urges investigation into El Fasher mosque attack The Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Denise Brown, expressed grave alarm over an attack today that struck a mosque near the Abu Shouk camp in El Fasher, the besieged capital of Sudan's North Darfur State - killing dozens of civilians who were worshipping there. In a statement, Brown sent condolences to the affected families and stressed that international humanitarian law demands the protection of mosques and the civilians worshipping in them - noting that intentional direct attacks against buildings dedicated to religion constitute a war crime. She called for today's attack - which was reportedly carried out by the Rapid Support Forces - to be investigated and for the perpetrators to be held accountable. Brown said the ongoing siege of El Fasher has created a severe humanitarian crisis, cutting off food, medicine and other life-saving supplies. She called for humanitarian access to be facilitated so that personnel and supplies can reach those in need and recalled the Secretary-General's appeal for an immediate ceasefire in and around El Fasher. South Sudan UN and partners respond to widespread floods OCHA reports that the UN and its partners continue to deliver life-saving aid following widespread flooding across South Sudan, despite limited funding* and access. According to local sources, nearly 380,000 people have now been impacted by the floods, the majority in Jonglei and Unity states. Meanwhile, 135,000 people have been displaced and are seeking safety on higher ground. The UN and its partners are distributing food, while partners working in nutrition have reached more than 1,300 children under the age of 5 through a supplementary feeding programme. UNICEF has prepositioned nutrition supplies to treat malnourished children. Partners working in health have delivered medical supplies to support routine and emergency services, and partners have also repaired boreholes and constructed dykes. OCHA warns that despite these efforts, significant gaps and challenges persist, including limited funding and shortages in critical supplies. Flooding has cut off communities and rendered roads impassable, particularly in the states of Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei. OCHA is also sounding the alarm over health risks linked to the floods, including rising cases of malaria and cholera. *Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in South Sudan with urgent support. Haiti Flooding impacts hundreds of families in North-West department OCHA says that flooding in Haiti's North-West department is affecting hundreds of families. According to the authorities, heavy rains on 16 and 17 September triggered a sudden overflow of the Trois-Rivieres river, inundating several neighbourhoods in the communes of Port-de-Paix and Bassin-Bleu. Initial figures indicate that 460 families have been affected, and 550 houses have been flooded. Several fishermen are also reported to be missing. Businesses, houses, crops, livestock and fishing activities have been affected. The Trois-Rivieres bridge sustained heavy damage, and roads connecting Port-de-Paix to other communes in the department are impassable. Haitian Civil Protection teams, supported by local volunteers, have been deployed to conduct rapid assessments, raise awareness and disseminate early warning messages. OCHA, in close collaboration with the Civil Protection and humanitarian partners, is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating efforts to ensure that urgent needs are identified and addressed in a timely manner. Priority needs identified include evacuation and clearing of blocked roads; sanitation kits and non-food items, such as hygiene kits, kitchen sets, tarpaulins, blankets, mattresses and mosquito nets; fuel for generators; and logistical support for volunteers. Authorities warn that without urgent action, the situation could worsen as the peak of the hurricane season continues. Posted on 19 September 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Stop the atrocities in Darfur: Civilians must be protected, Statement by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Denise Brown UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Port Sudan, 19 September 2025) I am gravely alarmed by an attack today that struck a mosque near the Abu Shouk camp in the Daraja Oula neighbourhood in El Fasher, North Darfur State, and claimed the lives of dozens of civilians who were worshipping there. International humanitarian law demands the protection of mosques and the civilians worshipping in them. It is also a war crime to intentionally direct attacks against buildings dedicated to religion. This attack, reportedly carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), must be investigated and the perpetrators held accountable. I send condolences to all the affected families and express solidarity with them and all the people affected by the ongoing conflict. Constant care must be taken to spare civilians and civilian objects - homes, hospitals, schools, mosques - throughout military operations. The ongoing siege of El Fasher has already created a severe humanitarian crisis, cutting off food, medicine and other life-saving supplies. Humanitarian access of personnel and supplies must be facilitated in order to reach all those in need. The UN Secretary-General has already called for an immediate ceasefire in and around El Fasher. *** For more information, please contact: Dan Teng'o, dan.tengo@un.org; +249 91 253 2791 Posted on 19 September 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Air Force experiments with AI, boosts battle management speed, accuracy Published Sept. 19, 2025 By Deb Henley, 505th Command and Control Wing Public Affairs 805th Combat Training Squadron, also known as the Shadow Operations Center-Nellis LAS VEGAS (AFNS) -- The Air Force wrapped up the second Decision Advantage Sprint for Human-Machine Teaming, known as DASH 2, a fast-paced experiment exploring how artificial intelligence can help operators make faster, smarter decisions in complex battlespaces. DASH 2 took place at the Shadow Operations Center-Nellis' unclassified location in downtown Las Vegas and was led by the Advanced Battle Management System Cross-Functional Team.The effort was conducted in partnership with the Air Force Research Lab's 711th Human Performance Wing, the Integrated Capabilities Command and the 805th Combat Training Squadron, also known as the ShOC-N. "DASH 2 proved human-machine teaming is no longer theoretical," said Col. Jonathan Zall, ABMS Capability Integration chief. "By fusing operator judgment with AI speed, the Air Force is shaping the future of decision advantage in joint and coalition operations." AI Speeds Decision Advantage Initial results showed that machines produced recommendations in less than ten seconds and generated 30 times more options than human-only teams. Two vendors each produced more than 6,000 solutions for roughly 20 problems in just one hour. The software's accuracy was on par with human performance, despite only two weeks of development. In one case, a single algorithm adjustment would have raised recommendation validity from 70 percent to more than 90 percent. "This level of output gives commanders options to execute multiple kill chains simultaneously and we're excited about our next experiment to generate the courses of action with the machines to help illuminate risk, opportunity gain/loss, material gain/loss, among others," said Col. John Ohlund, ABMS CFT director. Inside DASH 2 The DASH series is part of the Air Force's campaign to modernize command and control and gain decision advantage through human-machine teaming. Each sprint refines a specific decision function and informs future Department of the Air Force C2 development. The series also supports the Pentagon's Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control initiative. "Human-machine teaming is critical to accelerating the speed and quality of decisions across the joint force, and DASH 2 provides the insights we need to make that a reality," Zall said. Human-Machine Teaming in Action Seven teams participated in DASH 2, including six industry teams and one ShOC-N innovation team. Their challenge was to design AI-enabled microservices capable of assisting operators with the "match effectors" function, which determines the best available weapon system to destroy an identified target. Developers observed battle management crews operating without machine assistance, then iteratively designed and tested tools to augment human decision-making. Final demonstrations compared human-only performance against human-machine performance, measuring speed, quantity and quality. "Being part of DASH 2 showed us how human-machine teaming can enhance performance without losing operator judgment," said Capt. Steven Mohan III, 726th Air Control Squadron chief of standards and evaluations. Industry and Air Force Collaboration Evaluation focused on whether these tools helped operators make more effective decisions, not just process more data. DASH 2 also reaffirmed the value of co-development with both industry and Air Force developers. Companies retained intellectual property rights while the Air Force gained insight into integration and functional requirements for future C2 software. "At the ShOC-N, our mission is to put new capabilities into operators' hands and test them under conditions that resemble real-world battle management," said Lt. Col. Shawn Finney, 805th CTS/ShOC-N commander. "DASH 2 demonstrated how the battle lab enables rigorous testing while maintaining operational fidelity, bridging the gap between concept and capability." Early Results and Lessons Learned The 711th HPW collected data on operator performance, workload and teaming dynamics. Findings confirmed that AI can accelerate decision-making while keeping humans at the center of the process. "Collaboration with AFRL, the ABMS program office and industry allowed us to rapidly experiment, refine requirements and accelerate the path from concept to capability delivery," Ohlund said. Shaping the Future of C2 The DASH series is a key step in modernizing Air Force command and control. By combining human judgment with AI, the service is preparing operators to make faster, more informed decisions in future contested environments. "DASH 2 proved human-machine teaming is no longer theoretical," Zall said. "By fusing operator judgment with AI speed, the Air Force is shaping the future of decision advantage in joint and coalition operations." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Coast Guard Cutter Alert returns to Florida following 58-day patrol United States Coast Guard Press Release | Sept. 19, 2025 CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Alert (WMEC 630) returned to their home port in Cape Canaveral, Friday, following a 58-day Windward Passage patrol. Alert's crew deployed to the Coast Guard Southeast District area of responsibility. While in transit to the Windward Passage, the crew responded to an activated emergency position indicating radio beacon in the vicinity of the Old Bahama Channel and came to the aid of U.S. fishing vessel Calico Jack. The vessel experienced a major engine causality. Alert's crew escorted the Calico Jack to Great Inagua, Bahamas, where they were able to make repairs. While operating in the Windward Passage, the crew carried out transits of the Canal de la Tortue, Haiti, maintaining a continuous presence in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry to protect the safety of life at sea while preventing unlawful maritime entry to the United States and its territories. "The integrity of our maritime borders is vital to national security," said Cmdr. Mario Gil, commanding officer of Alert. "I am proud of our crew's leadership, professionalism and teamwork throughout this demanding patrol. Their dedicated commitment to deterrence of illegal maritime migration saved lives from dangerous ventures at sea while safeguarding our nation's borders." While in support of Operation Pacific Viper, Alert's crew conducted 10 transfers of illicit contraband and detainees in under two weeks. These transfers were carried out with Coast Guard cutters Mohawk, Spencer, Vigilant, Diligence, Joseph Tezanos, as well as the USS Minneapolis Saint Paul and the Royal Netherlands Navy Holland-class offshore patrol vessel HNLMS Friesland (P842). The transfer involved the movement of over 12 tons of contraband via small boat operations. These transfers culminated in the largest ship-to-ship drug transfer in Coast Guard history with Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753) prior to their drug offload in Port Everglades. In addition, Alert hosted the Turks and Caicos Islands Minister of Public Safety, members of the TCI Police and the TCI Regiment for tours while on a port call. Alert's crew assisted members from the TCI Department of Disaster Management & Emergencies with a beach cleanup where they removed trash and unwanted materials that had washed up during Tropical Storm Erin. Alert is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Cape Canaveral under U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command. The cutter's primary missions are counter-narcotics operations, migrant interdictions, living marine resources protection and search and rescue in support of U.S. Coast Guard operations throughout the western hemisphere. To learn more about the OVS mission, watch these videos: Watch Coast Guard drug interdiction in action here: How the Coast Guard Seizes 45,000 lbs of Cocaine at Sea - YouTube $2.2 Billion Seized in Drug Interdictions The Southeast District is responsible for Coast Guard activities throughout a 1.7 million square mile area including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, as well as 34 foreign nations and territories. Visit GoCoastGuard.com to learn about active duty and reserve, officer and enlisted opportunities in the U.S. Coast Guard. Information on how to apply to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy can be found here. For breaking news, find press releases and contact information for our regional public affairs offices here: U.S. Coast Guard News by Region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Tsahkna in Stockholm: Russia's growing provocations demand strong pressure in response Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 20.09.2025 | 13:15 Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said yesterday, 19 September, during a meeting in Stockholm with his Swedish counterpart Maria Malmer Stenergard, that Russia's brazen violation of Estonia's airspace demonstrates how Moscow is increasingly testing boundaries, and it underlines the need to collectively intensify pressure on Russia. "The history, economy and security of Estonia and Sweden are closely intertwined, and our cooperation forms the foundation for both Estonians' and Swedes' prosperity, as well as for securing the freedom and safety of our countries," Tsahkna said at the meeting with the Swedish foreign minister. "Today's incursion into Estonian airspace by Russian fighter jets, along with nearly 20 Russian drones entering Polish territory last week, is a disturbing reminder that the threat from Russia extends far beyond Ukraine," Tsahkna said, adding that both political and economic pressure on Russia must be stepped up in response to its actions. "The European Commission today presented proposals for the 19th sanctions package, and I expect the package to be adopted swiftly. We must also move forward with using Russia's frozen assets for the benefit of Ukraine and decide on the imposition of customs duties," Tsahkna stated. The meeting also covered continued military, political and economic support for Ukraine, including assistance for Ukraine and Moldova on the path towards EU membership. The foreign ministers also discussed strengthening economic relations between Estonia and Sweden and cooperation within the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) format. As part of the visit, Tsahkna also discussed current foreign and security policy issues with Peter Hultqvist, Chairman of the Defence Committee of the Swedish Parliament, and Mattias Karlsson, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and laid a wreath at the memorial to the victims of the MS Estonia ferry disaster. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wang Yi: The International Community Should Adhere to "Three Imperatives" on the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict People's Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs Updated: September 20, 2025 21:34 On September 19, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi expounded China's views on the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict during his talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Beijing. Wang Yi said, having dragged on for two years, the conflict has caused an unprecedented humanitarian disaster and breached the bottom line of human conscience. China is deeply concerned and expresses deep regret. Israel insists on advancing its plan to take over Gaza City, launches airstrikes targeted at Hamas members who are planning peace talks in Qatar, and at the same time accelerates its encroachment on the territory of the West Bank. These actions seriously violate the norms of international law. They are not only of no benefit to building their own security, but also put the two-State solution at risk and directly undermine the stability of the Middle East region. Force cannot bring peace, and violence cannot lead to security. Historical experience has repeatedly proven that security should be shared, and no country can build its own security on the insecurity of other countries. Israel has the right to establish a state, and so does Palestine. There should be no double standards on this. It has been nearly 80 years since the founding of Israel, yet the Palestinian people still have no place to settle. This situation is unsustainable. The lives of the Israeli people and the Arab people are equally precious, and neither should be deemed as superior to the other. Both deserve respect and need care. Violence in response to violence will only create and accumulate new hatred. Wang Yi stressed that in the face of the current emergency situation, the international community should unite. First, it is imperative to promote a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza with the greatest sense of urgency to alleviate the current humanitarian disaster. Countries that have a special influence on Israel should take on their responsibilities earnestly, and the United Nations Security Council and humanitarian agencies should also fulfill their duties. Second, it is imperative to truly implement the principle of "Palestinians governing Palestine". Gaza and the West Bank are both inalienable territories of Palestine. Any post-war governance and reconstruction arrangements should respect the will of the Palestinian people and safeguard the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation. Third, it is imperative to firmly uphold the two-State solution, pool greater international consensus and form a more unified stance. On the basis of recognizing the State of Palestine, Wang Yi called for supporting Palestine's full membership in the United Nations, and seeking feasible paths to advance the two-State solution, while rejecting any unilateral actions that erode the foundation of the two-State solution. Wang Yi said, China has always firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights. China will remain committed to a ceasefire and end of war in Gaza, and promote an early, comprehensive, just and lasting resolution of the Palestinian question based on relevant United Nations resolutions and the two-State solution. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Serbia Stages Massive Military Parade Amid Opposition Criticism By RFE/RL's Balkan Service September 20, 2025 BELGRADE -- Tanks, jeeps, and soldiers paraded through the Serbian capital under bright sunshine on September 20, in a massive military spectacle that some opposition figures criticized as a politicization of the armed forces. Overhead, Russian-made MiG-29s roared across the skies alongside French-produced Rafale jets, underlining Serbia's geopolitical balancing act as a country that seeks close ties with both Russia and the West. President Aleksandar Vucic described the parade as "a source of pride for Serbia." It included some 10,000 personnel and 2,600 pieces of military equipment. Elsewhere in the city, several hundred people staged a protest. The event came amid months of nationwide protests following the fatal collapse of part of a railway station building in the northern city of Novi Sad in November. Protesters have demanded early elections and a crackdown on corruption. In a statement student demonstrators stated that "the current government has, over the past 13 years, actively undermined the integrity, reputation, independence, and apolitical nature of our army." Police prevented the protestors getting near the parade. It was a mostly peaceful gathering, with minor scuffles before the crowd dispersed. The government said the parade was to mark a national holiday -- the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom, and the National Flag. "This is Serbia's survival and victory, a Serbia that wants peace and prosperity, and knows how to preserve its dignity, territory, and future," Vucic wrote on Instagram shortly after the parade ended. Vucic has said Serbia must rearm. "Everyone is arming to the teeth. The region is also arming, and it is our duty not to fall behind," he said in 2024. That year, Serbia spend some $2.2 billion on defense, some 2.6 percent of gross domestic product. Prior to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Serbia largely relied on Russian weaponry. The purchase of Rafale fighter jets -- agreed upon during a visit to Serbia by French President Emmanuel Macron in August 2024 -- was seen by some experts as a strategic pivot by Serbia toward the West in defense matters. But Vucic has continued to cultivate his multi-vector approach to foreign and defense policy, cultivating ties with both Moscow and China. Along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he was in China earlier this month for celebrations marking the end of World War II that also included a massive military parade in Beijing. Serbia also uses Chinese military equipment, such as CH-92A combat drones. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-military-parade-vucic- criticism-opposition/33535694.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 Russia's Latest Airspace Violation Raises Alarms With NATO, Allies By RFE/RL September 20, 2025 Summary NATO condemned Russia for violating Estonia's airspace, marking the third recent intrusion by Russian air assets. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal called the violation "malice" and requested NATO invoke Article 4 for mandatory discussions. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and EU officials labeled Russia's actions as provocations requiring strong responses. NATO allies condemned Russia's violation of Estonia's airspace -- the third provocative intrusion by Kremlin air assets in recent days -- with the Western military alliance setting a meeting of its North Atlantic Council to discuss the deepening crisis. "I've just spoken with the Estonian PM Kristen Michal about the Russian airspace violation today," NATO chief Mark Rutte said on social media on September 19. "NATO's response...was quick and decisive," he added, referring to the deployment of alliance jets after the small Baltic nation reported that three Russian MiG-31 fighter aircraft entered its airspace. Colonel Martin O'Donnell, spokesman for NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, said that "NATO quickly responded under Eastern Sentry, scrambling Italian F025 fighter jets based in Estonia." "Sweden and Finland also scrambled their quick-reaction aircraft," O'Donnell said. Russia's Defense Ministry later denied its aircraft had violated Estonian airspace, saying the planes were on a "scheduled flight...in strict compliance with international airspace regulations." No Flight Plans, Transponders 'Switched Off' The Estonian military said the jets remained in national airspace for 12 minutes in the Vaindloo Island area without permission. "The fighter jets did not have flight plans, and their transponders were switched off," the military said. "At the time of the airspace violation, the fighter jets did not have two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic control." Michal said his government had requested the invoking of NATO's Article 4, which sets a mandatory meeting of alliance members but is short of the more serious Article 5. Article 4 states that "the parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened." Estonia's Foreign Ministry also summoned Russia's charge d'affaires to "lodge a protest and deliver a note of concern" over the incident. "I would say that NATO's air defense worked -- the planes left, forced the Russian planes to leave. But to be in Estonian airspace for such a long time is, of course, at least malice, if not a planned operation," Michal said. In response, NATO said it would conduct a meeting of its North Atlantic Council -- the principal political decision-making body within NATO -- early next week to discuss Russia's actions, although a date was not announced. US President Donald Trump told reporters he would soon be briefed on the reported Russian airspace violation. "I don't love it...I don't like when that happens. It could be big trouble, but I'll let you know later," he said. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called Russia's action an "extremely dangerous provocation." The incident follows recent incursions by Russian drones in Poland and Romania which -- like Estonia -- are members of NATO and the European Union. Russia had launched the drones toward Ukraine as part of its full-scale invasion of that country. Jim Townsend, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for a New American Strategy and a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy, described the incident as a "big incursion" taking into account Estonia's size and the length of the flight. "It is very serious stuff," he told RFE/RL. He said NATO may need to double the number of aircraft allocated to the Baltic Air Policing mission as pilots can get worn out if they are on high alert for long periods of time. NATO set up the Baltic Air Policing mission in 2004 to patrol the skies over Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia when the three nations joined Western military alliance. The mission generally consists of four fighter aircraft as well as pilots and support staff from one NATO member and are stationed either in Lithuania or Estonia on a four-month rotational basis. He also said NATO needs also to accelerate development of drone-countering technology to protect Eastern member states from potential attack. Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, told RFE/RL that "I do expect them [Russian airspace violations] to continue until there's some sort of forceful act -- until NATO makes the conditions...to the point where any risk that Russia might have to incur by doing these incursions isn't worth it." "I think this is just part of the broader strategy by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to defy Trump and at the same time make division inside the alliance more noticeable," Coffee said. NATO on September 12 announced an effort to bolster defenses in its so-called eastern flank, launching an "activity," dubbed Eastern Sentry, that would deploy additional military hardware from Britain, Denmark, France, and Germany to deter potential Russian aggression. Zelenskyy Calls Airspace Violation 'Outrageous' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia for intensifying tensions after the jets violated Estonian airspace, calling the action "outrageous" and "destabilizing." "These are not accidents. This is a systematic Russian campaign directed against Europe, against NATO, against the West. And it requires a systemic response," Zelensky wrote on social media. "Strong action must be taken," he added. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned the earlier drone incursions while announcing proposals for the EU's latest sanctions package. "Again and again, President Putin has escalated, and in response, Europe is increasing its pressure," she said. Todd Prince in Washington contributed to this report Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/estonia-airspace-violation- russia-putin-warplaces-nato/33535180.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 SEACAT 2025 concludes, reinforcing maritime security efforts among allies and partners in Southeast Asia Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet NEWS | Sept. 20, 2025 By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval SINGAPORE -- The 24th annual Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise concluded on Sep. 19, 2025, following 14 days of collaboration among 11 Indo-Pacific allies and partners during sea phase, focused on the shared maritime security challenges of the region. SEACAT is a multilateral exercise designed to strengthen cooperation among Southeast Asian countries and provide mutual support toward a common goal of addressing crises, contingencies, and illegal activities in the maritime domain with standardized tactics, techniques, and procedures. Shore-phase occurred from Aug. 5-8. "SEACAT brings together navies and maritime agencies across the Indo-Pacific to improve regional security," said Cmdr. Jimmy Harmon, officer-in-charge of future operations assigned to Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 (COMLOG WESTPAC/CTF-73). "From an operations standpoint, it's a chance to rehearse our coordination, improve interoperability, and strengthen trust among partners. We're working through scenarios that mirror real-world challenges." During the SEACAT sea phase, participating nations tracked and intercepted a simulated vessel sailing through Southeast Asian waters. This at-sea training tests the partners' ability to coordinate across borders, cueing maritime patrol aircraft and sharing operational pictures between national operation centers. By exercising these complex scenarios in real time, SEACAT participants enhanced their collective capacity to detect, deter, and counter illicit maritime activity in accordance with international law. This year's SEACAT also involved an operation center seminar that featured presentations, live question and answer sessions, and panel discussions, led by Lt. Cmdr. Alex Falten, senior intelligence officer assigned to COMLOG WESTPAC/CTF-73, with representatives from all participating nations, as well as international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and academia. "We focus on illicit maritime activities such as smuggling, illegal fishing, and piracy. These are real concerns for many of our partners," said Falten. "The intelligence cell collects, analyzes, and disseminates information across borders in a way that's timely and actionable. We also examine how to integrate open-source tools with national systems." Additionally, Falten was in charge of simulating so-called "dark" vessels transiting throughout Southeast Asian waters that participating agencies and navies were challenged to locate, track and report during the sea phase of SEACAT 25. Participants utilized the same open source maritime situational awareness software, known as SeaVision, to locate and track Falten's vessels in order to test the integrity and fluidity of their information-sharing practices with each other. SEACAT 2025 saw the return of SeaVision, a training workshop meant to introduce or refamiliarize participating naval forces to the web-based maritime situational awareness platform. SeaVision is a low-cost visualization and management tool that has the ability to quickly add and correlate multiple data sources, making it the ideal apparatus to employ in such a vast and diverse maritime region. "Exercises like SEACAT build the relationships and readiness that allow us to act quickly and effectively in response to maritime activity in the region," said Capt. Axel Steiner, chief of staff for COMLOG WESTPAC/CTF-73. "SEACAT is intended to foster confidence in multinational coordination and interoperability, and also serve as a forum to address shared maritime security concerns. Our objective is to design each iteration of the exercise to stay relevant to the concerns of our allies and partners in Southeast Asia." SEACAT demonstrates shared commitment to maritime partnership, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific. 12 nations participated in SEACAT 2025, including Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Singapore and the United States. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. *This article has been edited to correct the number of participating nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on Central African Republic United Nations Secretary-General New York 20 September 2025 Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the tragic incident on 16 September in which four United Nations peacekeepers from the Republic of Congo, serving with the Formed Police Unit of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), lost their lives, while one remains missing. Two others were injured when their armoured personnel carrier fell into the Ombella- M'poko river while driving from Bangui to Bambari following routine resupply. The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers, as well as to the Government and people of the Republic of Congo, and wishes the speedy recovery of the injured. He expresses his solidarity with MINUSCA during this difficult time and his gratitude to the authorities and people of the Central African Republic as well as to divers from Cameroon for joining MINUSCA in the recovery operation. The Secretary-General pays tribute to the dedication of UN peacekeepers who continue to serve in the most challenging environments and reaffirms his unwavering appreciation for the commitment and sacrifice of the men and women who serve with MINUSCA in the cause of peace in the Central African Republic. **** NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on Sudan United Nations Secretary-General New York 20 September 2025 Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General The Secretary-General is gravely alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating situation in El Fasher in Sudan's North Darfur State, warning of growing risks to civilians trapped in the area. With El Fasher having been under a tightening siege by the Rapid Support Forces for more than 500 days, attacks affecting civilians have further intensified in recent weeks, with the majority of the residents of the Abu Shouk displacement camp reportedly having been forced to flee due to relentless shelling and raids. The Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Denise Brown, has expressed alarm at an attack yesterday, which hit a mosque in the area and reportedly killed dozens of civilians worshipping there. The situation in Abu Shouk and other displacement camps near El Fasher has deteriorated dramatically since the IPC identified famine conditions in the area last year. With fighters advancing deeper into El Fasher, there is a rising risk of ethnically motivated violence. The Secretary-General reiterates his demand for an immediate cessation of hostilities in El Fasher, as well as for the respect and protection of civilians and for the facilitation of safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access pursuant to the obligations of the parties under international humanitarian law. Safe passage must be assured for any civilians seeking to leave the area voluntarily. Civilians continue to bear the brunt of this devastating conflict. The fighting must stop now. The Secretary-General urges the parties to swiftly engage in genuine dialogue towards an immediate cessation of hostilities, and to de-escalate violence including in El Fasher. The parties must return to the negotiating table and find a sustainable solution to the conflict. With Heads of State gathering in New York next week, the Secretary-General once again calls for a concerted international action in support of the people of Sudan. The Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, working with all partners, stands ready to support genuine efforts to end the conflict and establish the inclusive political process that the people of Sudan demand. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Security Council to Convene Emergency Meeting Following Violation of Estonian Airspace Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 21.09.2025 | 12:26 On September 22, at 10:00 AM New York time (5:00 PM Estonian time), the United Nations Security Council will convene an emergency meeting in response to Russia's brazen violation of Estonian airspace last Friday. This marks the first time in Estonia's 34 years of UN membership that the country has formally requested an emergency meeting of the Security Council. "On September 19, three armed Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace for 12 minutesviolating Estonia's territorial integrity and breaching the UN Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force," said Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. "By openly violating our airspace, Russia is undermining principles that are essential to the security of all UN member states. It is therefore crucial that such actionsespecially when committed by a permanent member of the Security Councilare addressed within this very body." Minister Tsahkna emphasized that this airspace violation is part of a wider pattern of Russian behavior intended to test the resolve of Europe and NATO. "Just days earlier, 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, and a Russian attack drone remained in Romanian airspace for an hour. These are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader pattern of escalation by Russia, both regionally and globally. This behavior requires an international response." "Russia's conduct is incompatible with the responsibilities of a permanent member of the UN Security Council. And such actions would be unacceptable from any UN member state," the Foreign Minister added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary General Vseviov: In the future, Russia must consider the possibility that fighter jets violating airspace will be shot down Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 21.09.2025 | 11:31 Secretary General Vseviov: In the future, Russia must consider the possibility that fighter jets violating airspace will be shot down "What happened this past Fridaywhen three Russian fighter jets violated Estonian and therefore NATO airspaceis a serious breach which cannot be dismissed as a technical error. Estonia treats this as a direct challenge to NATO's collective security, and that's why we are invoking NATO Article 4. The message must be clear: if violations like this happen again, we are ready to respondincluding, if necessary, by shooting down intruding aircraft. This is not just about Estonia's borderit is NATO's border, and it will be defended. Russia may have denied the incursion, but this cannot be interpreted as anything close to normal. This was not a brief crossingit was a deliberate, extended violation. Twelve minutes in our airspace might not mean much to citizens of larger nations, but in Estonia, that is just seconds from our capital. The proximity and duration matter. At no point during or after those twelve minutes was the situation out of control. NATO procedures worked. Allied jets shadowed the intruders and guided them out. The response was swift, coordinated, and entirely appropriate. But we must keep in mind that this is not an isolated event. Only days ago, Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace, prompting NATO Article 4 consultations and the launch of Operation Eastern Sentrya clear signal intended to deter further aggression. That signal, it seems, did not have the desired effect. Whether this was an error or a provocation, the fact remains: Russian jets entered our skies. Estonia will take the necessary steps to ensure this never happens again. Russia must understand clearly and unambiguously that it cannot violate our airspace. That message must be received at every level, from high command to the last pilot. We believed we had made this clear. As of Friday, it was not clear enough. That is why Estonia is now calling for Article 4 consultationsto strengthen deterrence collectively through NATO. The alliance's solidarity with Estonia is unwavering. Our allies are prepared to discuss, plan, and implement the additional measures needed to ensure our security. Russia's behavior has been described by many Western leaders as recklessand that is precisely what it is. This cannot continue. The next time, consequences could escalate, and yes, the downing of intruding aircraft is a possibility. The capability exists. The will to defend our airspace exists. NATO's purpose is not aggression. It is to draw clear lineslines that cannot be crossed without consequence. If previous actions have failed to deliver that message, then our response must be recalibrated. The capacity to defend Estonia is not in question. What's needed now is clarityso that there is no doubt, and no next time." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chairman Mast Statement on Australia, Canada, U.K. Recognizing 'State of Palestine' U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs September 21, 2025 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast issued the following statement in response to Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom formally recognizing a "State of Palestine." "Recognition of a 'State of Palestine' is empty virtue signaling that only rewards the Hamas butchers and rapists." ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel categorically rejects the one-sided declaration of the recognition of a Palestinian state Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs This move goes against all logic of negotiation and reaching a compromise between two sides, and it will push the desired peace further away. Type: Press Releases Topic: Foreign Policy, Terrorism Publish Date: 21.09.2025 (MFA Spokesperson Announcement) In response to the statement of the U.K. and some other countries regarding the recognition of a Palestinian state: Israel categorically rejects the one-sided declaration of the recognition of a Palestinian state made by the United Kingdom and some other countries. This declaration does not promote peace, but on the contrary - further destabilizes the region and undermines the chances of achieving a peaceful solution in the future. Called by Hamas leaders "the fruits of the October 7 massacre", the declaration not only rewards the biggest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust by a terror organization that is calling and acting for the annihilation of Israel, but also solidifies the support Hamas enjoys. It is destructive to separate statehood - one of the final status issues - from peace. This move goes against all logic of negotiation and reaching a compromise between two sides, and it will push the desired peace further away. Moreover, The Palestinian Authority did not meet any of its requirements and obligations; it did not stop neither the incitement, nor the pay-for-slay policy, nor did it take the required measures to combat terrorism - as demonstrated recently with the discovery of rockets and missiles near Ramallah last week. The Palestinian Authority is part of the problem and not part of the solution. This is also the reason why the United States imposed sanctions on the Palestinian Authority and prevented its senior officials from entering its territory. In any case, Israel will not accept any detached and imaginary text that attempts to force it to accept indefensible borders. Political gestures aimed at a domestic voting audience only harm the Middle East and are not helpful. Instead, if the countries that signed this declaration truly wish to stabilize the region, they should focus on pressuring Hamas to release the hostages and to disarm immediately. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latvia expresses a categorical protest to Russia over the violation of Estonia's airspace Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 21.09.2025 Today, on 21 September 2025, in solidarity with Estonia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia summoned the Charge d'Affaires of the Russian Embassy in Latvia to deliver them a note and lodge a categorical protest concerning incursion by the Russian fighter aircraft into the airspace of Estonia on 19 September. On 19 September, three MIG-31 military aircraft of the Russian Air Force entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland in the vicinity of Vaindloo Island without warning and permission, and remained there for a nearly 12 minutes. The aircraft did not have a flight plan, they flew with their transponders turned off, and did not maintain radio communication with Estonian air traffic control during the incursion. Russia's irresponsible behaviour is in a gross violation of the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation. Not only does it pose a serious threat to civil aviation, but also provokes an escalation of the situation. In the diplomatic note, the Latvian side also reiterates a demand that Russia end its war of aggression against Ukraine, withdraw its occupational forces from the entire internationally recognized Ukrainian territory, and compensate for all losses suffered by Ukraine as a result of the Russian aggression. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aboul Gheit welcomes recognition of Palestinian State by Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal League of Arab States Date: 21/09/2025 Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, welcomed the recognition of the Palestinian State by Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal, describing these recognitions as "historic" and stressing that they open a serious path towards a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution. Gamal Roshdy, the Secretary-General's Spokesperson, explained that this latest wave of recognitions, along with those announced last year by Spain, Ireland, and Norway, constitutes tangible diplomatic momentum towards the realisation of a Palestinian State. He noted that more than 152 countries have now recognised Palestine and that additional recognitions are expected in the context of the high-level international conference to resolve the Palestinian cause through peaceful means and implement the two-state solution, scheduled to be held in New York on 22 September with broad international participation under Saudi-French co-chairmanship. The Spokesperson quoted Mr. Aboul Gheit as stressing that the British recognition of Palestine is particularly significant, given the United Kingdom's role in the establishment of Israel after World War I, and represents a correction of historical errors that have caused decades of suffering for the Palestinian people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Threatens Afghanistan If Bagram Air Base Not Handed Back To US By RFE/RL September 21, 2025 Summary US President Donald Trump threatened Afghanistan with consequences if Bagram Airfield is not returned to US control. Trump emphasized the base's strategic location near China as a key reason for regaining control. The Taliban, facing internal and external challenges, rejected the demand but expressed an openness to improving ties with the US. US President Donald Trump threatened Afghanistan with unspecified "bad things" if it doesn't turn Bagram Airfield back to the United States, an action previously rejected by the country's Taliban rulers. Afghan Taliban officials pushed back, saying a deal was "not possible," and called on the United States to abide by prior agreements to not interfere in Afghan matters. Trump's September 20 remarks were the second time in two days that he has signaled Washington's intent to regain control of the sprawling base north of Kabul, which the US controlled until its abrupt pullout in 2021. Trump has cited the base's proximity to China as a major reason for regaining US control of the facility, which was originally built by the Soviet Union in the 1950s. "If Afghanistan doesn't give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN," Trump said on September 20 in a social media post, writing in all caps letter. Speaking later to reporters at the White House, he echoed the threat, though did not specify what might happen. "We're talking now to Afghanistan, and we want it back and we want it back soon, right away. And if they don't do it -- if they don't do it, you're going to find out what I'm gonna do," he told reporters. Speaking to Afghan media on September 21, Fasihuddin Fitrat, chief of staff of the Taliban Defense Ministry, said "some people" want to take back the base through a "political deal." He did not specify whom he was speaking about. "A deal over even an inch of Afghanistan's soil is not possible. We don't need it," he was quoted as saying. In a post to X, a Taliban government spokesman called on Washington to abide by the 2020 Doha Accords, which paved the way for the 2021 pull-out of US forces. "The United States pledged that 'it will not use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan, nor interfere in its internal affairs'," the spokesman, Hamdullah Fitrat, said. "Therefore, it is necessary that they remain faithful to their commitments." The Taliban rulers, beset by natural disasters, unrest, poverty, and terrorist attacks, have attempted to improve ties with the global community, although Russia is the only country to so far establish diplomatic relations. Western nations have said the Taliban must first improve its human rights record, especially in regard to the treatment of women and girls. In comments two days earlier in London, Trump suggested Afghanistan's Taliban's rulers were negotiating with Washington on unspecified matters. "We're trying to get it back because they [Taliban rulers] need things from us," Trump said at a news conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. "But one of the reasons we want that base is, as you know, it's an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons. So a lot of things are happening," he said. Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan Bagram Air Base is a major military airfield approximately 40 km north of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. Originally built by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, it served as the primary hub for US and NATO operations in Afghanistan from 2001 until the withdrawal of US forces in August 2021. The Wall Street Journal, citing people with knowledge of the matter, said US officials and the Taliban had discussed allowing the US military to use Bagram as a "launch point" for counterterrorism missions. Experts have said that even if Taliban leaders did allow a US presence at Bagram, the base would need to be defended against threats from the Al-Qaeda and Islamic State terror groups still operating in Afghanistan. Bagram, about 40 kilometers north of Kabul, was built by the USSR in the 1950s but vastly improved and expanded by the US military. It was the largest US base in Afghanistan and served as the central command during its 20-year occupation of the country. The base was handed over in July 2021 to the previous Afghan government -- weeks before the chaotic withdrawal of US troops and the eventual takeover of the country by the Taliban. Washington has kept a minimal level of public engagement with Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, restricting it to hostage negotiations. Afghanistan has remained largely isolated on the global stage and its economy is struggling to attract foreign support and private investments. Taliban officials rejected Trump's suggestion that the United States might regain control of Bagram, but they left open the possibility of talks to improve ties. "Without the US having any military presence in Afghanistan, both Afghanistan and the US need to engage with each other, and they can have political and economic relations based on mutual respect and shared interests," Zakir Jalaly, a Taliban foreign ministry official, said on social media. With reporting by Reuters NOTE: This article has been amended to clarify that Donald Trump is the current US president Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bagram-airbase-afghan- taliban-trump-kabul/33535781.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 UK formally recognises Palestinian State Press release The UK has formally recognised Palestine to protect the viability of a two-state solution and create a path towards lasting peace for the Israeli and Palestinian people. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP Published 21 September 2025 government acts to protect the prospect of a two-state solution as the appalling situation in Gaza worsens, Israel continues its illegal settlement expansions in the West Bank and Hamas continues to hold the hostages Prime Minister makes clear that Hamas will have no role in the future of Palestine and reiterates his call for them to release the hostages immediately and unconditionally historic step taken alongside close allies Canada and Australia, as part of wider international effort to support a pathway to peace and protect the equal rights of both Israeli and Palestinian peoples The UK has formally recognised Palestine to protect the viability of a two-state solution and create a path towards lasting peace for the Israeli and Palestinian people. The historic decision, announced alongside Canada and Australia, comes as the situation on the ground in Gaza continues to worsen, Israel continues to expand its illegal settlements in the West Bank, and Hamas continues to hold the hostages. In July, the Prime Minister pledged to act if the situation did not change and firmly believes that the UK has a moral responsibility to do everything it can to support a peaceful future for Israel and Palestine - the prospect of which is slipping further away. A two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state led by a reformed Palestinian Authority, is the only path to a lasting peace for the Israeli and Palestinian people - free from the horrendous violence and suffering of the last two years. Recognising Palestine is a historic decision, firmly grounded in the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination, which the government committed to as part of its manifesto. In a statement this afternoon, the Prime Minister was clear this decision is not about Hamas. They are a brutal terrorist organisation that wants to see Israel destroyed. Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace with recognised borders is the exact opposite of their hateful vision. The government's demands on them have not changed. It must release all hostages, agree to an immediate ceasefire, accept it will have no role in governing Gaza, and commit to disarmament. The UK is also expected to take further action to sanction senior figures in the Hamas leadership in the coming weeks and keep doing everything possible to bring the hostages home. Our support for Israel's and the security of its people remains steadfast. But the Israeli government must also change course - halting their offensive in Gaza, letting the desperately needed humanitarian aid in, and stopping their illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: Today's historic decision, taken alongside some of our closest allies, to recognise a Palestinian State, reflects our unwavering commitment to a two-state solution and affirms the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. Recognition is an important step to preserve the prospect of a two-state solution, at a time when it is now under unprecedented threat. Two states is the only way to safeguard long term peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. We are clear that Hamas can have no role in Palestine's future - they are a barbaric terrorist organisation who oppose the very idea of two states. They must release the hostages and relinquish any hold on Gaza. But Hamas are not the Palestinian people. Recognition is only one part of what must be a stronger and wider push for peace. We need to end the conflict in Gaza, secure the release of all hostages and get humanitarian aid to all those who desperately need it. That requires not just an immediate ceasefire, but a plan for a durable peace, which will be a key to my diplomatic drive at the UN this week. Having recognised the State of Israel in 1950, the government believes it can no longer credibly continue to support the two-state solution without recognising both States. The decision does not remove the demands the government has made of the Palestinian Authority to conduct extensive reform. President Abbas has committed to this reform, including organising new elections within a year of a ceasefire. The UK will continue to provide technical and financial support to the PA as it delivers these reforms and builds the State of Palestine, including through the work of UK Envoy for Palestinian Authority Governance Sir Michael Barber, who is enhancing the PA's delivery and governance capabilities. The government has been clear that recognition is not enough to change the situation on the ground on its own. That's why the decision comes as part of coordinated international efforts to build consensus around a Framework for Peace, which addresses governance, security, humanitarian access, and ceasefire monitoring in Gaza, and the foundations of a two-state solution. The UK will continue working closely with its allies to advance this plan, which recognition forms part of as the first, most urgent step towards lasting peace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM statement on the recognition of Palestine: 21 September 2025 Speech Keir Starmer's statement on the Middle East. From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Published 21 September 2025 Delivered on: 21 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East We are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a Two State Solution. That means a safe and secure Israel Alongside a viable Palestinian State - At the moment, we have neither. Ordinary people - Israeli and Palestinian Deserve to live in peace - To try to rebuild their lives Free from violence and suffering. That's what the British people desperately want to see. Yet, almost two years after the barbaric attacks of 7 October Hostages are still held by the terrorists of Hamas. Recent images show the hostages suffering and emaciated. Hamas refuse even to release all the bodies of the dead. I have met British families of the hostages. I see the torture they endure each and every day Pain that strikes deep in people's hearts across Israel and here in the UK. The hostages must be released immediately And we will keep fighting to bring them home. Let's be frank - Hamas is a brutal terror organisation. Our call for a genuine Two State Solution Is the exact opposite of their hateful vision. So we are clear - This solution is not a reward for Hamas Because it means Hamas can have no future. No role in government. No role in security. We have already proscribed and sanctioned Hamas And we will go further - I have directed work to sanction other Hamas figures in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the man-made humanitarian crisis in Gaza reaches new depths. The Israeli government's relentless and increasing Bombardment of Gaza The offensive of recent weeks The starvation and devastation Are utterly intolerable. Tens of thousands have been killed - Including thousands as they tried to collect food and water. This death and destruction horrifies us all. It must end. We have now evacuated the first group of sick and injured children to the UK To be treated by the NHS. And we continue to increase our humanitarian support. But still, nowhere near enough aid is getting through. We call again on the Israeli government To lift the unacceptable restrictions at the border Stop these cruel tactics And let the aid surge in. *** With the actions of Hamas The Israeli government escalating the conflict And settlement building being accelerated in the West Bank The hope of a Two State Solution is fading. But we cannot let that light go out. That's why we are building consensus with leaders in the region and beyond Around our Framework for Peace. This is a practical plan to bring people together - Behind a common vision and a series of steps Including the reform of the Palestinian Authority That take us from a ceasefire in Gaza To negotiations on a Two State Solution. We will keep driving this forward. As part of this effort I set out in July the terms on which we would act - In line with our Manifesto - To recognise Palestinian statehood. That moment has now arrived. So today - To revive the hope of peace and a Two State Solution I state clearly, as Prime Minister of this great country That the United Kingdom Formally recognises the State of Palestine. We recognised the State of Israel more than 75 years ago as a homeland for the Jewish people. Today we join over 150 countries who recognise a Palestinian State too - A pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people That there can be a better future. I know the strength of feeling that this conflict provokes. We have seen it on our streets In our schools In conversations with friends and family. It has created division. Some have used it to stoke hatred and fear. But that solves nothing. Not only must we reject hate We must redouble our efforts to combat hatred, in all its forms. We must channel our efforts United together in hope Behind the peaceful future that we want to see: The release of the hostages An end to the violence An end to the suffering And a shift back towards a Two State Solution As the best hope for peace and security for all sides. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN chief sounds alarm over worsening crisis in Sudan's El Fasher By Vibhu Mishra 21 September 2025 - The UN Secretary-General on Saturday voiced grave alarm at the rapidly deteriorating situation in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, warning of mounting risks to civilians trapped in the besieged city. El Fasher has been under a tightening siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for more than 500 days, with attacks against civilians intensifying in recent weeks. The majority of residents in the nearby Abu Shouk displacement camp have reportedly fled following relentless shelling and raids. "The fighting must stop now," Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement issued by his spokesperson. He reiterated his call for "an immediate cessation of hostilities in El Fasher, as well as for the respect and protection of civilians and for the facilitation of safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access." The UN chief also stressed that safe passage must be assured for civilians wishing to leave voluntarily. Mosque attack The Secretary-General's warning followed an attack on a mosque in El Fasher on Friday that reportedly killed dozens of civilians during morning prayers. UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan Denise Brown said she was "gravely alarmed" by the strike, stressing that international humanitarian law demands the protection of religious sites and those worshipping in them. "It is also a war crime to intentionally direct attacks against buildings dedicated to religion. This attack, reportedly carried out by the RSF, must be investigated and the perpetrators held accountable," she said in a separate statement. Humanitarian emergency Conditions in El Fasher and its surrounding camps have worsened dramatically since famine was identified in the area last year. The risk of ethnically motivated violence is also rising as fighters advance deeper into the city. Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which has raged since April 2023 and claimed thousands of lives and forced millions more from their homes. Call for global action Mr. Guterres urged both sides to swiftly engage in dialogue to halt hostilities and return to negotiations for a sustainable political solution. tHe also called for "concerted international action in support of the people of Sudan" as world leaders gather in New York next week for the UN General Assembly. The Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, "stands ready to support genuine efforts to end the conflict and establish the inclusive political process that the people of Sudan demand," the statement said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Boosts Eastern Flank Defenses After Russian Drone Incursion By Rikard Jozwiak September 22, 2025 Two days after an unprecedented drone incursion by Russia on Polish territory on September 10, NATO unveiled its response -- Operation Eastern Sentry. The mission kicked off immediately on September 12 but will be fleshed out further in the coming weeks. The whole idea according to the military alliance is to strengthen its posture, connectivity and flexibility along its entire eastern flank. While the focus right now is on Russia drones and geographically on Poland, it is multidomain -- meaning land, sea, and air forces are involved -- and is meant to plug gaps from the North Sea to the Black Sea. It was made clear, however, that it will only be in NATO territory, meaning that there are no plans to enter western Ukraine to protect the skies. While Kyiv would very much welcome such a move, and there is an argument for targeting Russian drones much earlier, many NATO allies are fearful that this could bring them closer to a direct conflict with the Kremlin. Integrated System The key goal now is to move toward an integrated system. Previously, individual NATO allies conducted air policing in different locations, with NATO providing supplementary support on a case-by-case basis, depending on the threat assessment. The idea now is to have more resources linked to each other across the entire eastern flank -- be it missiles or anti-drone technology. It is inspired by a similar operation, Baltic Sentry, which was launched earlier this year as a response to a number of alleged undersea sabotage activities by Moscow in the Baltic Sea. NATO officials RFE/RL has been in touch with on condition of anonymity view that operation as a success, pointing out that there haven't been any recent attempts to sever cables or other infrastructure in the region. And while it will be trickier to prevent all drones from getting into NATO territory, the thinking here is that a beefed-up presence will make "Russia think twice before testing again." Allies Step Up Eight countries have already joined Eastern Sentry and placed assets at the disposal of NATO's supreme allied commander (SACEUR) Alexus Grynkewich. More are expected to follow suit. France was the first to come forward -- with three Rafale fighter jets, which are to be stationed in Poland, as well as an Airbus A400M military transport aircraft. Britain will have some of its Typhoon jets fly defense missions in Polish skies, and Germany has moved four of its Eurofighters closer to its eastern neighbor, ready to conduct sorties at any moment. Italy has also signaled that it is providing jets, as is Denmark. Additionally, Copenhagen has deployed a military ship in the eastern Baltic Sea. Spain and Sweden will also contribute, while the Czech Republic is actually placing some special forces troops in Poland and sending three helicopters as well. Two things stand out here. First, the lack of any new American assets being provided to Eastern Sentry so far. When asked about this at a press briefing, Grynkewich half-joked that "as far as US military assets [are concerned]I'm right here, and I'm involved" before adding that "the United States commitment to the integrated military structure of the Alliance remains." US President Donald Trump, when asked by reporters on September 21 if he would help defend Poland and nearby Baltic states if Moscow continues to escalate, said: "Yeah, I would. I would." The fact is that the United States has more than 10,000 troops stationed in Poland and that number could even increase. While there are widespread reports about Washington redeploying military personnel from Europe to Asian theatres, NATO officials who spoke to RFE/RL were adamant that they have been given no indication that troop numbers will be reduced on the eastern flank anytime soon. Cost Concerns The second issue is that the commitment to Eastern Sentry has so far been very focused on expensive fighter jets and other costly equipment. And this was one of the criticisms of the Polish and NATO response to the September 10 incursion -- that multimillion-dollar fighter jets were used for protection against cheap drones. While some European officials admit that Warsaw wants "a show of force," others acknowledge that this isn't economically sustainable in the long run. Or as one senior NATO official put it: "We, of course, recognize that the best way to defeat drones is not with a very expensive missile fired from a very, very expensive plane." So, Eastern Sentry is very much a sort of sudden measure until a potential "drone wall" can become a reality and complement what is already out there. NATO will be central to building such a system, and with the EU signaling readiness to fund it, the project looks likely to happen, but it is two to three years away in the best-case scenario. In the meantime, the military alliance is looking at Latvia's pioneering work with acoustic sensors that detect drones faster, as well as new munitions that allow aircraft to use cheaper weapons -- both of which could happen rather quickly. Mobile fire teams are another model NATO could adapt from Ukraine's experience. Kyiv has been using these small, fast-moving units armed with machine guns or man-portable air-defense systems with increasing success on the battlefield. As Grynkewich put it when pressed by the media after unveiling Eastern Sentry: "It's time to take a fresh look at this. And we're always learning. NATO is a learning organization." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-eastern- sentry-russia-drones-poland/33536306.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 - 20 September 2025 - Day 1305 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 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, 125 combat clashes have taken place since the beginning of this day. Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively give an offence to the Russianenemy's attempts to advance deep into Ukrainian territory. Russian invaders launched one combined missile strike, using 37 missiles, 34 aviation strikes, while dropping 54 controlled bombs. In addition, 2536 kamikaze drones were recruited to impress and carried out 3387 shelling of positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. Five combat clashes with Russian invaders took place in the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursky directions. The Russianenemy launched four air strikes, dropped five controlled bombs, carried out 115 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, one of which was from reactive systems of assault-fire. Today, Russian troops attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders seven times in the South Slobozhansky direction in the areas of Vovchansk, Krasnoy Pershogo and towards Bochkovoy. The three Russian attacks are ongoing so far. In the direction of Kupians komu, Russian forces committed two offensive actions in the direction of Peace. In the Lyman direction, the Defense Forces have already repelled 13 Russian assaults in the areas of the settlements of Grekivka, Novomikhailivka, Shandrigolove, towards the settlement of Novoselivka; seven more clashes are still ongoing. In the sivers komu direction, the Russian enemy three times attacked in the direction of dronivka. All Russian attacks have been repelled. In the Kramatorsky direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled three Russian assaults near the settlement of Chasiv Yar. In the Torets komu direction today, there were 22 encounters. The Russian enemy stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Ivanopil, Scherbynivka, Pleshiyivka, Stepanivka, Rusynogo Yaru, Poltavka, Sofiyivka; three attacks are still ongoing. In the Pokrovsky direction since the beginning of this day, Russian forces 33 times attacked the positions in the areas of settlements Volodymyrivka, Nikanorivka, Rodinske, Chervonyi Liman, Novoekonomicne, Kotline, Udaachne, Molodetske, Dachne and towards settlements Cozatske and Novopavlivka. One confrontation is ongoing so far. Today in this direction, according to preliminary data, zkozeno 178 occupants, 118 of which - irrevocably. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed one cannon, 12 unmanned aircraft, three units of automobile equipment; two unmanned aircraft control points and one Russian artillery system were also damaged. In the Novopavlovsk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 17 Russian attacks in the areas of settlements Filiya, Andriyivka-Klevtsove, Sichneve, Maliivka, Komyshuvakha, Novoivanivka and towards settlements Berezove and Novovasilivsk. Two more clashes are underway. In the direction of Gulyajpils komu, Russian forces four times attacked the positions of the Defense Forces in the area of the settlement of Olgivsk. The Russian aggressor caused an aviation strike on the settlement of Bilogir. In the orihivs komu direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled one Russian attack towards novoandriyivka. In the Pridniprovsky direction, the Russian enemy launched an air strike on the settlement of Kozatske, made two unsuccessful attempts to approach the positions of Ukrainian units towards the Antonivsky Bridge. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that last night, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a massive strike by long-range air and ground-based high-precision weapons as well as with unmanned aerial vehicles against enterprises of the Ukrainian defence industry developing the Sapsan operational-tactical missile systems, production sites of multi-purpose strike and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles, robotic systems, counter-UAVs, and loitering munitions. The goal of the strike has been achieved. All the assigned targets have been engaged. The Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on formations of a heavy mechanised brigade, three mechanised brigades, a jaeger brigade, a motorised infantry brigade, and an assault regiment of the AFU near Alekseyevka, Mogritsa, Sadki, Sennoye, and Khrapovshchina (Sumy region). In Kharkov direction, units of the an infantry brigade of the AFU and a territorial defence brigade have been hit near Volchansk and Tikhoye (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 215 troops, a tank, an armoured fighting vehicle, 12 motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns including three manufactured by NATO countries. The Zapad Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation. Russian units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade, an assault brigade, an airmobile brigade, an air assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and national guard brigade near Borovskaya Andreyevka, Kupyansk, Novonikolayevka, Novoplatonovka, Senkovo (Kharkov region), Derilovo, Shandrigolovo, and Yampol (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses amounted to more than 240 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles including two U.S.-made HMMWV armoured vehicles, and 16 pickup trucks. Six electronic warfare stations and five ammunition depots were neutralised. The Yug Group of Forces' units took more advantageous lines and positions. The Russian Armed Forces hit three mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade, an assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a marine brigade, and a territorial defence brigade near Konstantinovka, Pereyezdnoye, Platonovka, Pleshcheyevka, Seversk, and Fedorovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy lost up to 245 troops, an armoured fighting vehicle, 12 motor vehicles, and a field artillery gun. One electronic warfare station and two ammunition depots were neutralised. The Tsentr Group's units improved the tactical situation. Russian formations inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of two heavy mechanised brigades, two mechanised brigades, a jaeger brigade, an air assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, two marine brigades, two territorial defence brigades, and a national guard brigade near Artyomovka, Dimitrov, Krasnoarmeysk, Krasnoy Liman, Krivorozhye, Nikolaypolye, Rodinskoye, Udachnoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Ivanovka, and Filiya in Dnepropetrovsk region. The enemy lost up to 480 troops, a tank, five armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and a U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system. The Vostok Group of Forces continued to advance to the depths of the enemy's defence and liberated Berezovoye (Dnepropetrovsk region). Russian elements engaged two mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and two territorial defence brigades near Verbovoye, Gavrilovka, Kalinovskoye, and Podgavrilovka (Dnepropetrovsk region). The AFU losses amounted to more than 270 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, and an electronic warfare station. The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the two coastal defence brigades, a mountain assault brigade of the AFU, and a territorial defence brigade near Malye Shcherbaki, Stepnogorsk (Zaporozhye region), Dneprovskoye, and Tyaginka (Kherson region). The AFU lost up to 40 troops and four motor vehicles. Two electronic warfare stations and two ammunition depots were neutralised. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces inflicted damage on ammunition depots, launch sites of long-range UAVs as well as temporary deployment areas of the Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 151 areas. Air defence systems shot down 383 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost 667 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 85,418 unmanned aerial vehicles, 628 anti-aircraft missile systems, 25,188 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,592 MLRS combat vehicles, 29,749 field artillery guns and mortars, and 42,244 special military vehicles. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Sanctions Powerful Faction of the Terrorist Sinaloa Cartel U.S. Department of the Treasury September 18, 2025 Under Secretary Hurley Visits Border and Sanctions Top Sinaloa Cartel Faction WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Sinaloa Cartel faction Los Mayos, along with the leader of the faction's armed wing. These sanctions follow Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley's visit to the U.S.-Mexico border. OFAC also designated five individuals and 15 companies in connection with one of Los Mayos' regional networks operating just south of the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as the leader of a separate Sinaloa Cartel-affiliated gang engaged in fentanyl production. "The Sinaloa Cartel is a foreign terrorist organization that continues to traffic narcotics, launder its proceeds, and corrupt local officials," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley. "Today's action, taken in coordination with our law enforcement partners, demonstrates Treasury's dedication to President Trump's priority of stopping the threats across our borders." THE CARTEL CONTROLS A KEY ARTERY ON THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER The Los Mayos faction is responsible for producing and trafficking of fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine from northwest Mexico into the United States. In Rosarito, Baja California, Los Mayos is involved in kidnapping, extortion, money laundering, and local government corruption. Due to its proximity to the U.S. border, Rosarito and the surrounding areas form a key artery for Sinaloa Cartel's drug trafficking operations. The Sinaloa Cartel is a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) that is responsible for a significant portion of illicit fentanyl trafficked to the United States that ultimately poisons Americans. In addition to trafficking deadly drugs, the Sinaloa Cartel has profited from smuggling migrants across the southern border. This action was coordinated with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) San Diego Field Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) San Diego Field Office, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California. Today's action is pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059, which targets the international proliferation of illicit drugs and their means of production, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, which targets terrorists and their supporters. THE EVOLUTION OF THE SINALOA CARTEL The Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most powerful in Mexico, represents a major threat to the United States. For decades, the Sinaloa Cartel has trafficked cocaine and methamphetamineand more recently, fentanylinto the United States. On December 15, 2021, OFAC designated the Sinaloa Cartel pursuant to E.O. 14059. On February 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of State designated the Sinaloa Cartel as an FTO and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). Since the arrests of founder Joaquin Guzman Loera ("El Chapo") and co-founder Ismael Zambada Garcia ("El Mayo"), the Sinaloa Cartel has undergone foundational changes that created two dominant factions vying for power and influence across its controlled territories. On June 9, 2025, OFAC designated Sinaloa Cartel's Los Chapitos faction, led by the sons of El Chapo, pursuant to E.O. 14059 and E.O. 13224, as amended. THE LOS MAYOS FACTION OF THE SINALOA CARTEL Composed of persons aligned with El Mayo, the Los Mayos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel rivals the Los Chapitos faction. Los Mayos maintains a strong presence in the Mexican states of Baja California, Sonora, and Zacatecas. Through various alliances, Los Mayos has trafficked illicit fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, and cocaine, which are smuggled into the United States. Turf wars between Los Mayos and Los Chapitos have resulted in the deaths of over a thousand people in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. At the forefront of Los Mayos' battles with Los Chapitos is Juan Jose Ponce Felix (a.k.a.Jesus Alexandro Sanchez Felix, commonly known as "El Ruso"). El Ruso is the founder and leader of the primary armed wing of Los Mayos, which controls drug trafficking routes in Baja California. In a 2015 indictment, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California identified El Ruso as a leader of a fleet of soldiers who engaged in acts of kidnapping, hostage taking, torture, and murder, in furtherance of Sinaloa Cartel interests in Culiacan, Mexico. As a long-term Sinaloa Cartel senior member, El Ruso's current dominance in Baja California has strengthened Los Mayos' drug trafficking operations into the United States. The Department of State announced on September 16, 2025 a reward under the Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP), offering up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of El Ruso. The Los Mayos faction is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14059 and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Sinaloa Cartel. Additionally, Juan Jose Ponce Felix is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14059 and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Sinaloa Cartel. BOARDWALK EMPIRE: THE PLAYAS DE ROSARITO NETWORK Los Mayos controls large swaths of territory in northern Baja California under the leadership of previously designated cartel leaders, Alfonso Arzate Garcia and Rene Arzate Garcia (Rene Arzate), also known as the Arzate brothers. One of the towns controlled by Rene Arzate is Rosarito, a beachside community approximately 15 miles south of the California portion of the U.S.-Mexico border. Due to its proximity to the U.S. border, Rosarito and the surrounding areas are part of a critical corridor for the Sinaloa Cartel to smuggle drugs into the United States. Rene Arzate maintains command of Rosarito through several associates, including Mario Alberto Herrera Sanchez (Mario Herrera)and Karlo Omar Herrera Sanchez (Karlo Herrera). The Herrera brothers work with Jesus Gonzalez Lomeli (Gonzalez), a Rosarito-based business magnate and high-ranking financial operator for the Sinaloa Cartel, to help carry out the cartel's operations in the area. Gonzalez owns several bars and restaurants in Rosarito, including the Bombay Beach Club, Coco Beach Club, and Mariscos El Caiman, as well as other restaurants, night clubs, and resorts throughout Mexico. Gonzalez has used his businesses to launder millions of dollars of illicit proceeds from drug trafficking on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel for the Arzate brothers as well as for other high-level cartel figures, including El Ruso. Former Mayor of Rosarito Brown (left) with Sinaloa Cartel political operative Arcega (right). Source: Facebook. The Arzate brothers have also used Gonzalez's political influence and another Sinaloa Cartel-affiliated political operative, Candelario Arcega Aguirre (Arcega), to corrupt and exert control over the municipal government of Rosarito, specifically the former Mayor of Rosarito, Hilda Araceli Brown Figueredo (Brown). Arcega maintains a close personal relationship with Brown and, because of their relationship, was able to control parts of the municipal government and appoint his allies to high-level positions within Rosarito's government. During Brown's term as Mayor of Rosarito, Gonzalez and Arcega served as intermediaries between Brown and the Los Mayos-aligned Arzate brothers. Working together, Gonzalez, Arcega, and Brown collected extortion payments for the Arzates, assisted in managing the Arzate brothers' operations, and ensured protection for the Arzates' criminal activities by the Department of Public Security in Rosarito. Mario Herrera, Karlo Herrera, Gonzalez, Arcega, and Brown are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14059, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Sinaloa Cartel. In addition to designating the key individuals aligned with Los Mayos in the Playas de Rosarito network, OFAC also targeted 14 businesses owned by Gonzalez: JR Alimentos Del Mar, S. De R.L. De C.V.; Grupo JRCP, S. De R.L.; Sabor Tapatio, S. De R.L. De C.V.; Gotoco Alimentos Procesados S. De R.L. De C.V.; Grupo Hotelero JJJ, S.A. De C.V.; Complejo Turistico JJJ, S.A. De C.V.; Operadora De Espectaculos, Alimentos Y Bebidas J&R S.A. De C.V.; Alimentos Y Diversion Insurgentes, S. De R.L. De C.V.; Sunset Servicios Gastronomicos S. De R.L. De C.V.; JJ Gonver S. De R.L. De C.V.; Operadora De Alimentos Con Origenes De Mexico, S. De R.L. De C.V.; Veintiuno Mexicali, S. De R.L. De C.V.; Coco Beach Bar, S. De R.L. De C.V.;and, Cavally Antro & Bar. These businesses are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14059, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Gonzalez. OFAC also targeted a transportation company owned by Arcega: Transporte Urbano Y Suburbano Del V Municipio S.A. De C.V. This company is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14059, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Arcega. "LOS RUGRATS": VIOLENT SINALOA GANG IN LAGUNA COLORADA Based in Laguna Colorada, Sinaloa, Mexico, Carlos Alberto Paez Pereda (Paez) or "Carlitos" is the leader of a violent Sinaloa Cartel gang known as "Los Rugrats." Paez is a producer of fentanyl and one of the major narcotics traffickers in Culiacan, Sinaloa. Paez is known to have murdered and attempted assassinations of rival cartel figures on orders from Rene Arzate. Paez is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14059, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Sinaloa Cartel. SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons. Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions involving the persons designated today may risk the imposition of secondary sanctions on participating foreign financial institutions. OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on opening or maintaining, in the United States, a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducts or facilitates any significant transaction on behalf of a person who is designated pursuant to the relevant authority. The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, or to submit a request, please refer to OFAC's guidance on Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List. Click here for more information on the persons designated today. To view a chart on the individuals and entities designated today, click here. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Coast Guard seizes 75,000 pounds of cocaine through Operation Pacific Viper, averages over 1,800 pounds interdicted per day United States Coast Guard w Press Release | Sept. 18, 2025 WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday it has seized more than 75,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean since launching Operation Pacific Viper in early August, averaging over 1,800 pounds interdicted daily. These drug seizures, and the apprehension of 59 individuals suspected of narco-trafficking, were the result of more than 20 interdictions since Aug. 8. Through Operation Pacific Viper, the Coast Guard is accelerating counter-drug operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, where significant transport of illicit narcotics continues from South America. In coordination with international and interagency partners, the Coast Guard is surging additional assetscutters, aircraft and tactical teamsto interdict, seize and disrupt transshipments of cocaine and other bulk illicit drugs. Operation Pacific Viper continues the Coast Guard's efforts to protect the Homeland, counter narco-terrorism and disrupt Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Transnational Criminal Organizations and cartels seeking to produce and traffic illicit drugs into the United States. "The Coast Guard's maritime fighting force is relentless in our ongoing operations to counter narco-terrorism," said Rear Adm. Jeffrey Novak, deputy commander Pacific Area. "Our latest milestone through Operation Pacific Viper - over 75,000 pounds of cocaine seized - underscores our commitment to dismantling Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Transnational Criminal Organizations engaged in narco-trafficking. The Coast Guard is bringing every authority and every capability at our disposal to disrupt cartels and criminal organizations, stop the flow of deadly drugs into the U.S., and secure U.S. borders and maritime approaches. While we continue our crucial work to defend America, I could not be prouder of the men and women of the Coast Guard in celebrating this milestone." Detecting and interdicting narco-terrorism on the high seas involves significant interagency and international coordination. U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force-South, based in Key West, Florida, detects and monitors both 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. Interdictions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean are performed by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Coast Guard's Southwest District, headquartered in Alameda, California. The Coast Guard is the United States' lead federal agency for maritime drug interdiction. We are part of the Department of Homeland Security team protecting our nation and are at all times a military service and part of the joint force defending it. For more information about the Coast Guard, visit www.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 Three Members of MS-13 Convicted of Two Murders and Multiple Attempted Murders Friday, September 19, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs CORRECTION: an earlier version incorrectly mentioned drug trafficking offenses Today, a federal jury in Maryland convicted three men, Wilson Arturo Constanza-Galdomez, also known as Humilde and Marco Saravia, 26, of El Salvador, Edis Omar Valenzuela-Rodriguez, also known as Little Felon, 24, of Honduras, and Jonathan Pesquera-Puerto, also known as Truney, 24, of Honduras; for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving murders, attempted murders, as well as murder in aid of racketeering. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants were members and associates of La Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, a transnational criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from Central America, with members operating in the State of Maryland, including in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, and throughout the United States. In Maryland and elsewhere, MS-13 members are organized in "cliques," smaller groups that operate in a specific city or region. The defendants, as members and associates of MS-13, were required to commit acts of violence to increase their status and rank within the gang. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as "chavalas," whenever possible. In Baltimore City and Baltimore County, MS-13 maintained a rivalry with the 18th Street Gang, among others. "Over the course of a few short months, these defendants - seeking to be promoted within the ranks of the designated foreign terrorist organization MS-13 - spread fear through the streets of Baltimore by committing brutal and heinous acts, including the murder of two young women," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Today's verdict demonstrates the Department of Justice's unwavering commitment to prosecuting MS-13 members to the fullest extent of the law in order to eradicate the transnational street gang, obtain a measure of justice for their victims, and restore the safety and security of our communities." "The MS-13 gang continues to show a total disregard for human life," said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. "These defendants' commitment to carrying out multiple vicious attacks and murders, including the killing a 16-year-old girl, is unconscionable. Members of this ruthless, international gang thrive on murdering and terrorizing others, and in this case, did so to advance their standing within this lawless organization. We, along with our law-enforcement partners, are committed to relentlessly pursuing and prosecuting those who commit these despicable crimes and dismantling the violent criminal organizations that terrorize our communities." "The defendants convicted today engaged in excessive and brutal violence as members of MS-13, a transnational criminal organization that routinely shows contempt for the rule of law," said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division. "We are proud of the work that has taken these individuals off the streets so that they can no longer harm the community of the greater Baltimore area, and we will continue our nationwide efforts in thwarting MS-13." Constanza-Galdomez and Pesquera-Puerto were members or associates of the Carlington Locos Salvatrucha (CALS) clique, and Valenzuela-Rodriguez was a member of the Huntington Criminales Locos Salvatrucha (HCLS) clique. From June 2019 through at least October 2021, the defendants participated in the racketeering activities of MS-13, including two murders, four attempted murders, and witness tampering. On April 25, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other members and associates of MS-13 conspired to assault a man whom they suspected was a rival gang member. That same day, they allegedly assaulted the victim in Baltimore by striking him with machetes multiple times, causing injuries to the victim's face and arm. On May 29, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, Pesquera-Puerto, and other members and associates of MS-13 lured Gabriela Gonzalez-Ardon, a 16-year-old girl whom they suspected of associating with rival gang members, to an area near Loch Raven Reservoir in Cockeysville, Maryland. There the defendants and other members and associates of MS-13 struck her with a machete and stabbed her multiple times, murdering her. After the murder, members and associates of MS-13 reported the murder to MS-13 leadership to get credit for participating in the murder and to increase their status within MS-13. On June 5, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other MS-13 members and associates lured Michelle Tenezaca, whom they suspected was a rival gang member that cooperated with law enforcement, to an area near the CSX Bayview Train Yard in Baltimore, Maryland. There the gang stabbed her 143 times, killing her and leaving her body near the train tracks. After the murder, members and associates of MS-13 reported the murder to MS-13 leadership to get credit for participating in the murder and to increase their status within MS-13. Photograph of MS-13 graffiti near the CSX Bayview Train Yard in Baltimore, Maryland In June 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other members and associates of MS-13, conspired to murder a man who had disputes with the gang. Therefore, on June 6, 2020, Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other MS-13 members and associates confronted the man and his girlfriend, the sister of one of the homicide victims, at a library in Baltimore, Maryland. Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other members and associates of MS-13 then ordered younger members of the gang to take the woman to an area near the train tracks where Michelle Tenezaca was killed. The younger members of the gang then stabbed the woman over 70 times. Constanza-Galdomez, Valenzuela-Rodriguez, and other members and associates of MS-13 then forced the male, at knifepoint to go to Dundalk, Maryland to murder him. The defendants then attempted to murder the man by stabbing him multiple times with knives. Both victims survived the attacks. Constanza-Galdomez was convicted of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison. Valenzuela-Rodriguez was convicted of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison. Pesquera-Puerto was convicted of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and one count of murder in aid of racketeering. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes made the announcement, and also thank Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan J. Bates and Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger for their offices' assistance in the case. The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Baltimore City Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Grace Bowen and Chrisopher Taylor of the Criminal Division's Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Wallner for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. The FBI and HSI both have nationwide tiplines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE. Topics: Operation Take Back America Project Safe Neighborhoods Components: Criminal Division Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) USAO - Maryland Press Release Number: 25-975 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Australia and US conduct bilateral operations in South China Sea Issued by Defence Media 18 September 2025 Royal Australian Navy Anzac Class frigate HMAS Ballarat conducted a routine transit through the South China Sea in accordance with international law, with support from a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The transit was conducted with the United States Navy's Arleigh Burke Class destroyer USS Dewey on September 15 and 16. HMAS Ballarat is undertaking a Regional Presence Deployment throughout the Indo-Pacific. These deployments play a vital role in Australia's security and prosperity by protecting our interests, preserving a rules-based international order, enhancing cooperation and relationships with partners and allies, and developing capability and interoperability. Quotes attributable to Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO CSC RAN: "Australia has a long history of operating in the South China Sea both unilaterally as well as in conjunction with allies and partners. "Operating alongside regional partners enhances interoperability and readiness to respond to shared security challenges." Quotes attributable to Commanding Officer HMAS Ballarat, Commander Dean Uren: "This activity was a component of a planned routine deployment for Ballarat to the region. "This activity is an important demonstration of the resolve that Australia has to supporting an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where international law is respected." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Australian officer to serve as Deputy Commander, United Nations Command in the Republic of Korea Issued by Defence Media 19 September 2025 Major General Scott Winter has been selected to serve as the next Deputy Commander of the United Nations Command (UNC) in the Republic of Korea (ROK) from January 2026. The appointment of Major General Winter, made by Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston, AC, RAN, demonstrates Australia's commitment to supporting regional security, and is consistent with our close engagement with the ROK and Northeast Asia. "I would like to congratulate Major General Winter on his appointment. Australia is pleased to make this contribution to the UNC's strategic leadership, reflecting our steadfast commitment to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula," Admiral Johnston said. "This appointment will further enable Australia to work closely with the ROK, the United States and other regional partners to pursue our shared values and security interests for regional peace and stability." Major General Winter has a distinguished record of service, having held key command and operational appointments, including as the Joint Task Force Commander for the 2019 North Queensland Floods, as well as deployments to Timor Leste, Iraq and Afghanistan. He has also served in liaison roles working with the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Netherlands' Department of Defence. Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral Johnston, will promote Major General Winter to the rank of lieutenant general, prior to him taking up the appointment. This is the second time an Australian officer will serve as Deputy Commander of the UNC. Vice Admiral (Rt'd) Stuart Mayer, RAN, served in the role from July 2019 to December 2021. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Australia supports regional security through Exercise Bersama Lima Issued by Defence Media 19 September 2025 Australia has joined partners from the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FDPA) in support of the only multilateral security arrangement of its kind in Southeast Asia with the launch of Exercise Bersama Lima 2025. Over the next fortnight, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom, will exercise sea, air and ground forces in high-end warfighting serials focused on the defence of Malaysia and Singapore. Around 400 ADF personnel, F-35A Lightning II aircraft and Anzac Class frigate HMAS Ballarat will train alongside FDPA partners, including a Carrier Strike Group from the United Kingdom Bersama Lima 2025 will also feature humanitarian and disaster relief scenarios as well as sport and engagement activities designed to strengthen people-to-people links and enhance interoperability. ADF Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, AO, CSC, RAN said Australia remained committed to the FPDA and regional security. "The FPDA remains an indispensable anchor for regional security. "For over 50 years, Australia has conducted warfighting exercises with our partners from the FDPA. "Exercise Bersama Lima is an example of the FPDA working together to achieve a peaceful, stable and prosperous region. "The 2024 National Defence Strategy reaffirms our ongoing investment in the FPDA and its importance for regional security." The FDPA were signed by Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom in 1971 and is Australia's longest-standing regional security mechanism. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Australia and Brunei strengthen defence ties By Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior 19 September 2025 For the first time since 2018, the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Brunei Navy have completed Exercise Penguin, a bilateral maritime security activity aimed at building interoperability and strengthening partnerships. HMAS Ballarat and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft worked with Royal Brunei Navy patrol vessel KDB Darulaman, Ijtihad-class fast patrol boat KDB Berkat, and a team from the Naval Surface Action Group during the exercise, which ran from September 9-14. Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy First Admiral Sahibul Bahari bin Haji Zainal Abidin said the exercise continued to build maritime security and cooperation between the two countries. "Australia and Brunei Darussalam's long-standing defence relationship dates back to World War 2, and is underpinned by strong people-to-people links and a shared interest in a stable, secure and prosperous region," First Admiral Sahibul Bahari said. Commanding Officer Ballarat Commander Dean Uren welcomed the opportunity to visit Brunei Darussalam. "Exercise Penguin is more than a training activity - it is a symbol of the deep friendship and enduring partnership between our two nations, and our two navies," Commander Uren said. "The bonds forged through activities like these not only sharpen our ability to operate together today, but also anchor a partnership that will endure and grow stronger for generations to come." Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond said both defence forces are committed to boosting cooperation under the Australia-Brunei Darussalam Comprehensive Partnership and accompanying Plan of Action. "This year is the 19th iteration of Exercise Penguin, further reinforcing the depth and growing collaboration between our defence forces," Vice Admiral Hammond said. "Australia highly values our maritime security relationship with Brunei and together I am confident we will continue to collectively meet any challenges or threats to regional peace and security." Exercise Penguin concluded on September 14 after a number of sea and air surface warfare training exercises off the coast of Brunei Darussalam. Ballarat will now sail to Malaysia for Exercise Bersama Lima and further engagements as part of its regional presence deployment before returning home in December. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Critical capability boosted by Hawkei By Gabriella Sudano 19 September 2025 Defence's Land Systems Division handed over the final Australian Army Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicle - Light (PMV-L) to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), during an official ceremony at RAAF Base Amberley, Brisbane on August 28. The PMV-L platform is unique, having been designed and developed in Australia for the Australian Defence Force. To observe the milestone, Project Director of LAND 121 Phase 4 - Hawkei Nick Clarke handed over the vehicle to Squadron Leader Dominic Haynes from 2 Security Forces Squadron. In his speech, Mr Clarke acknowledged the efforts of the thousands of Defence staff who contributed to the project. "Today marks a significant milestone in the delivery of the Hawkei capability for RAAF, CASG [Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group], Thales and Army, and should be recognised. The project [team] has been working diligently with RAAF over a number of years so it's really pleasing to finally deliver on our commitment to RAAF and see the results of these efforts," Mr Clarke said. The delivery completed the allocation of this critical capability to various units across the Air Force, including the security forces squadrons. In total, 59 vehicles have been delivered to Air Force units. Squadron Leader Haynes said the Hawkei provided 2 Security Forces Squadron with increased flexibility and capability to rapidly respond to incidents across airbases. "Having the ability to tailor our force element's mobility options to both the task and the threat enhances our ability to provide a more flexible set of response options across the airbase, and across multiple locations," Squadron Leader Haynes said. "The Hawkei is an excellent capability to supplement other protected and non-protected mobility options, as well as to enhance networked communications." Thales representative Rhys Cruttenden, whose company manufactures the Hawkei in Bendigo, Victoria, attended the occasion. The Hawkei's domestic production has had a positive impact on Australian industries, with 22 small Australian businesses supporting the vehicle's design, development and production. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Human Rights Council 60: UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with Group of Independent Experts on Belarus Speech UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with Group of Independent Experts on Belarus. Delivered by the UK's Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Eleanor Sanders Published 19 September 2025 Location: Geneva Delivered on: 19 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) While we welcome the recent release of some political prisoners in Belarus, we remain gravely concerned. As the Group of Experts has highlighted, the regime continues to violate human rights on a systematic scale through arbitrary arrests, widespread repression, and the silencing of dissent. Dissidents, civil society activists, journalists, human rights defenders and lawyers are still being prosecuted under the false pretext of combating extremism and terrorism. Despite these recent releases, around 1,100 political prisoners remain behind bars. As we have heard already today, many are held in isolation. Many suffer mistreatment. And many are denied even basic medical care. In response, the United Kingdom has sanctioned over 200 individuals and 12 entities for their role in these abuses and for Belarus's continued support of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. We will not waver in our support for Belarusian civil society and human rights defenders. To the representatives of Belarus, we say: release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally. Prioritise those with health conditions, disabilities, the elderly, and parents separated from their children. Ensure their rehabilitation. And guarantee fair and humane treatment for all detainees. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Brazil: press remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas at the joint press conference European External Action Service (EEAS) 19.09.2025 Brasilia, 19 September 2025 EEAS Press Team Check against delivery! Thank you, Minister Vieira, for these kind words. It is my great pleasure to be here in Brasilia for my first visit to Latin America as High Representative of the European Union. We had very good discussions, and we will continue with those discussions. It is clear that a strategic partnership between the European Union and Brazil is broader and stronger than ever. It ranges from human rights to cyber issues, to disarmament, digital transition and energy. We also had our first ever security and defence dialogue, earlier this month. We are determined to deepen this engagement and broaden the cooperation, including on internal security and the fight against the organised crime. Climate Action and environmental protection are also high on our Agenda. These are global issues where Brazil and the European Union can make a real difference working together. Our cooperation is reinforced by the momentum we have with the EU- Mercosur agreement. With tariffs and protectionism on the rise, Brazil and the European Union choose a different path: to trade more and invest more. European companies account for nearly 40% of the investment stocks in Brazil, ahead of the United States and far ahead of China. The EU-Mercosur agreement will give our relationship an even bigger boost. Together, we are creating the world's largest free trade area. I want to thank Brazil's leadership in bringing negotiations to this point after so many years of effort. I am also delighted to share that we will be launching an EU-Brazil future Affairs Forum on digital and technology, next year. We will also organize the second edition of the EU-Brazil Investment Forum in early 2026. And before we go to the UN General Assembly, let me recall that the European Union stands firm for international law and the United Nations Charter. Sovereignty and territorial integrity are not negotiable. Brazil has been a steadfast advocate for democracy, international law, multilateralism and a rules-based international order. These core values we are sharing with Brazil make us more than close partners, they make us partners of choice. Minister Vieira, thank you again for your hospitality, and I look forward to seeing you also in the coming days in New York. Thank you very much. Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-277406 Q&A Q. [in portuguese] You had as a central topic, one of them, the negotiations on the EU-Mercosur. There is still a lot of optimism, but no one seems to be in conditions to ensure that it will be signed in December. I would like to know what are the main issues, if you can identify them, that won't allow the signature in December? We already have demonstrations called by French farmers next week. Mercosur does not seem too convinced on the agricultural safeguard that the European Union is still studying. What is the last obstacle that you would be able to identify? I will just add that the European Commission has sent the proposals to the Council, like the Minister said. And of course, we are 27 countries and 27 democracies, which means that, in 27 democracies, you have different groups - that is the discussion that is all about. But you know, these are discussions in the Council, and we hope that there is a result. Q. [in portuguese] I could not ask about the preparation for the UN General Assembly, since the Brazilian government was subject to restrictions from the US government, which are mainly on the Minister of Health. I would like to know, from Minister Mauro Vieira, how did the government assess this decision? And are you considering doing? If there will be any sort of appeal to the US government, so that there is an exception for Minister Padilha or if you are considering raising the topic to the committee of relations with the hosting country? And even ask for an arbitration from the Secretary General? And I would also like to know, from Representative Kallas, what is the position of the European Union on this type of restriction, which affects not only Brazil but also the delegation of Palestine? If the EU and the countries represented at the UN support future arbitration? How will you position yourselves in the committee that discusses these issues. Thank you. Yes, when the decision was taken regarding the Palestinian Authority representatives, then the European Union made a statement of 27 countries [which says] that access to the international organisation should be allowed. Q. [in portuguese] Madam, you have commented earlier about Russia's incursion today in Estonia. You have called it a 'very dangerous provocation'. What will be the response from the European Union beyond the packages of sanctions, like the one that was proposed today, and assuming that such incidents will continue, what are you expecting from countries that are closer to Russia, which is the case of Brazil, and which can also be affect by such sanctions? It is clear that Russia is testing how far they can go. We had very intensive discussions about the international situation and also regarding Russia's actions, really. And, of course, our plea is also to the countries that have a closer relationship with Russia is to really call them on stopping this. Of course, on our side, we see that we must show no weakness, because weakness is something that that invites Russia to do more, and they are increasingly more dangerous, not only to Ukraine, but also to all the countries around Russia. And therefore, our answer is to have more pressure so that also Russia would want peace and come to the negotiation table to discuss this and restrain itself. Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-277407 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's defense minister pledges greater efforts to safeguard world peace at Beijing Xiangshan Forum Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China Source Xinhuanet EditorLi Weichao 2025-09-18 15:01:52 BEIJING, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Thursday pledged greater efforts to safeguard world peace at the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum. "In a time full of challenges, cooperation is the best choice," Dong said at the forum. He said that the Chinese military is willing to work with all parties to uphold security with concrete actions, enhance military mutual trust, step up multilateral coordination, and promote high-quality and efficient cooperation while improving related mechanisms, so as to make greater contributions to safeguarding world peace and building a community with a shared future for humanity. Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Dong emphasized the need to uphold a correct view on World War II, safeguard historical justice, and foster the widest possible consensus. The Chinese military stands ready to work with all parties to defend sovereign equality, uphold the post-war international order, bolster multilateralism, protect common interests, and jointly advance reforms to improve the global governance system, he said. Under the theme "Upholding International Order and Promoting Peaceful Development," the forum pools together more than 1,800 official representatives, scholars and observers from over 100 countries, regions and international organizations. It runs from Sept. 17 to 19. The forum features four plenary sessions and eight parallel sessions. It also includes high-level dialogues, seminars for young military officers and scholars, and closed-door academic seminars, as well as interviews, special briefings, exhibitions, and visiting activities to enhance mutual learning between China and the rest of the world. During the forum, participants focus on issues such as working together to uphold the victorious outcome of the World Anti-Fascist War and the post-war international order, as well as exploring effective ways to resolve conflicts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's defense minister calls for strong support for global governance Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China Source Xinhuanet EditorChen Zhuo 2025-09-18 09:39:00 BEIJING, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- China's Minister of National Defense Dong Jun on Wednesday called for efforts to provide strong support for global governance, and to work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity. Dong made the remarks during separate meetings with the defense chiefs of Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Namibia, Rwanda and Senegal, all of whom are in Beijing to attend the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum. Extending a warm welcome to the defense chiefs, Dong said that this year's forum is of historical significance and practical importance. The Chinese military is ready to carry forward its long-standing friendships with all parties, enhance strategic communication, engage in higher-level security cooperation, and work collaboratively to respond to risks and challenges, he said. During the meetings, the foreign defense ministers all expressed their willingness to strengthen military cooperation with China. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on September 18, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 18, 2025 18:05 AFP: Almost 200 people in northern Zambia affected by a major toxic spill at a copper mine have filed an US$ 80 billion lawsuit against two Chinese-linked firms, Sino Metals Leach and NFC Africa Mining. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this? Lin Jian: It's learned that in the wake of the incident, the companies concerned actively stepped up to their responsibilities, voluntarily cooperated with the Zambian government in handling the incident, and compensated affected local residents. On August 7, the Zambian government held a press briefing to provide a detailed progress report on the handling of the incident. They gave recognition to the effort made by the Chinese companies. You may refer to the press briefing if you're interested. We have and will continue to request Chinese companies overseas to abide by local laws and regulations in their operation, pay special attention to their corporate responsibilities and strictly protect the environment. In that context, we also support Chinese companies in defending their lawful rights and interests in accordance with the law. CCTV: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at a recent press conference that China's global initiatives are totally compatible with the UN Charter. He also said that in these initiatives, "there is a full respect to multilateralism...full support of the UN as the central piece of multilateral institutions and a strong commitment in relation to international cooperation and the peaceful resolution of conflicts." What's China's comment? Lin Jian: We appreciate the statement by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. China firmly upholds the UN's core position in the international system, practices true multilateralism, and always works as a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order and a provider of public goods. President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative to focus on solving unbalanced and inadequate development and promote sustainable development across the world; the Global Security Initiative that advocates dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance, and win-win rather than zero-sum, to tackle various risks and challenges; and the Global Civilization Initiative to enhance people-to-people bonds and inclusiveness and mutual learning among civilizations. Not long ago, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative at the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus" meeting, in which he outlined the core tenets of "adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating the people-centered approach and focusing on taking real actions." That provides the fundamental guidance, method and path to follow for building a more just and equitable global governance system. President Xi Jinping once again explained the profound meaning of the Global Governance Initiative at the subsequent Virtual BRICS Summit. It has been well received in the international community, and many countries and international organizations have expressed welcome and support for the Initiative. The four global initiatives are consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. They are different in focus but mutually reinforcing. They will, from different angles, bring more positive energy to the world of interwoven changes and turbulence and provide stronger impetus to human development and progress. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the UN. As a founding member of the UN and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China will continue to deepen cooperation with the UN, advance the implementation of the four global initiatives, and join hands with the international community to uphold world peace and promote development and prosperity. AFP: Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang said he was disappointed by a Financial Times report that China's internet regulator had instructed companies including Alibaba and ByteDance to terminate orders for Nvidia's RTX Pro 6000D chips. Can the Foreign Ministry comment on this and also confirm the FT report? Lin Jian: I'd refer you to competent authorities for anything specific. We oppose taking discriminatory measures against certain countries on trade and tech issues. China is willing to maintain dialogue and cooperation with the world to keep the global industrial and supply chains stable. CRI: Last week, the Economist and the New York Times wrote that the U.S. has adopted an aggressive policy of pressuring Latin American countries this year, claiming to push out China's "exploitative practices" in an effort to safeguard regional security and stability. The U.S. coerced regional countries to limit or even cut ties with China but it offers little in return. The U.S. sanctions, tariffs and its use of military muscle are pushing the region closer to China. What's your comment? Lin Jian: The commentary yet again shows that coercion and pressuring as well as bullying only serve to push countries away and will increasingly not work. China and Latin America are good friends and good partners for equality, mutual benefit and common development. Openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation are the hallmark of China-LAC cooperation. A closer partnership is the choice of the Chinese and Latin American peoples and serves the common interest of both sides. Latin America is no one's backyard and has the right to independently choose development path and cooperation partners. China welcomes countries around the world developing friendly and cooperative ties with Latin American countries based on equality and respect. We urge the U.S. to stop forcing them to choose sides, stop interfering in their domestic affairs and do more to contribute to their development and prosperity, instead of meddling and sowing discord. No attempt to disrupt China's friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with Latin America will ever succeed. AFP: The U.S. disinformation watchdog NewsGuard reported that state media from countries including China are exploiting conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination to advance thousands of false claims aimed at undermining the U.S. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this? Lin Jian: I have already made clear China's position. China condemns all illegal violent behaviors. We are also firmly opposed to some institutions and people in the U.S. directing the issue at China and firmly opposed to spreading disinformation to smear and tarnish China. AFP: U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader are expected to hold a call. Can the Foreign Ministry give us any additional details about the call and your expectations? Lin Jian: I have no information to offer. Reuters: "Evil Unbound," the Chinese film about Unit 731, is opening in theaters in China today and also in other countries in the coming days. What is the main takeaway for foreign governments as China rolls out one World War II film after another this year? Is there a special message for Japan? Lin Jian: The purpose of China's major commemorative events 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 is to remember history, honor fallen heroes, cherish peace and create a better future. Films on this topic are made to remind people what can be learned from that part of history and the absolute importance of defending peace. China is an open, inclusive and safe country. We welcome people from all countries including Japan to travel, study, do business and live in China, and will continue to protect the safety of all foreigners in China. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's defense minister calls for more just, equitable global security governance system Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China Source Xinhuanet EditorChen Zhuo 2025-09-19 09:37:18 BEIJING, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with all parties to promote the building of a more just and equitable global security governance system, Minister of National Defense Dong Jun said on Thursday. He made the remarks during separate meetings with Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang, Uruguayan Defense Minister Sandra Lazo, and Somalian Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi. All of the three foreign defense ministers are in Beijing to attend the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum running from Sept. 17 to 19. The world is entering a new period of turbulence and transformation, with rising calls, especially from the Global South, for peace, development and cooperation, Dong said. China is willing to work with all parties to strengthen strategic mutual trust, deepen defense and security cooperation, firmly remain a force for peace, stability and progress in the world, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global security governance system. During these meetings, the foreign defense ministers congratulated the successful convening of the forum and commended China for its important role in promoting dialogue and exchanges, enhancing friendship and mutual trust, and building consensus. Phan Van Giang said the Vietnamese side is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in areas such as personnel exchanges, joint exercises and training and border defense exchanges, while advancing the solid and in-depth development of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future. Lazo said the Uruguayan side is willing to draw on China's successful experience in various fields, and further deepen cooperation with China in defense and security, and international peacekeeping, among other areas. Stressing Somalia's adherence to the one-China principle, Fiqi said the country is willing to strengthen practical cooperation with China in defense and security, and continuously enhance the ability of the two militaries to address common challenges. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Speaks with U.S. President Donald J. Trump on the Phone Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 19, 2025 23:42 On the evening of September 19, 2025, President Xi Jinping spoke with U.S. President Donald J. Trump on the phone. The two presidents had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the current state of China-U.S. relations and other issues of mutual interest, and provided strategic guidance for the steady development of China-U.S. relations going forward. The conversation was pragmatic, positive and constructive. President Xi pointed out that China and the United States were allies who fought shoulder to shoulder during WWII. Recently, China solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and invited the families of American Flying Tigers to watch the parade on the Tian'anmen Rostrum. The Chinese people will not forget the valuable support from the U.S. and other anti-fascist Allied nations for China's War of Resistance. Honoring fallen heroes and remembering history is essential for cherishing peace and creating a better future. President Xi stressed the vital importance of China-U.S. relations. China and the United States are fully capable of helping each other succeed and prospering together for the good of the two countries and the whole world. For that vision to materialize, both sides need to work hard and in the same direction, so as to realize mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. The recent consultation between Chinese and U.S. officials reflected the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit. They can continue to properly handle the outstanding issues in bilateral relations and strive for win-win outcomes. The U.S. side should refrain from imposing unilateral trade restrictions so as not to disrupt the outcomes of multiple rounds of consultation between the two sides. China's position on the TikTok issue is clear: The Chinese government respects the wishes of the company in question, and would be happy to see productive commercial negotiations in keeping with market rules lead to a solution that complies with China's laws and regulations and takes into account the interests of both sides. The U.S. side needs to provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese investors. President Trump said that China's recent parade was phenomenal and beautiful. The U.S.-China relationship is the most important bilateral relationship. The two countries working together can get many great things done that are good for peace and stability of the world. The U.S. would like to have a long-term, big and great relationship with China. The U.S. will work with China on the economy and trade, and support their teams in reaching a proper deal on TikTok through consultation. The U.S. will also work with China for world peace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on September 19, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 19, 2025 19:38 Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will attend the general debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York from September 22 to 26. While in New York, Premier Li will also attend events held by China, including the high-level meeting on the Global Development Initiative, and meet with UN Secretary-General and leaders of relevant countries. Xinhua News Agency: To follow up on your announcement that Premier Li Qiang will attend the general debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, can you share China's expectation for the trip? Lin Jian: This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. The world is witnessing rapid change at an unprecedented pace with a widening deficit in global governance. The international community hopes to see the authority and role of the UN maintained and strengthened. The UNGA general debate provides an important opportunity for gathering together the global community to form political consensus, enhance solidarity and tackle challenges. China firmly supports the UN in playing a central role in global affairs. Earlier this month, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative, presenting China's solution for strengthening and improving global governance. Premier Li Qiang, in the upcoming multilateral and bilateral events, will elaborate on how China views the current international landscape, major global issues and the work of the UN, and share in detail China's domestic and foreign policies as well as the Global Governance Initiative and other important visions and proposals. Through this trip, China hopes to join all parties in renewing the founding mission of the UN to reaffirm the commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, revitalize the UN's authority and vitality in the new era and enable the organization to play an even bigger role in safeguarding world peace, promoting development and building a community with a shared future for humanity. Anadolu Agency: U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration wants to take back Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, "not because of Afghanistan but because of China, because it's exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles." What is China's comment? Do you think this U.S. approach of seeing Afghanistan as a military outpost against China makes this country once more the scene of the great power rivalry, "the grand chessboard" as they used to call? Lin Jian: China respects Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Afghanistan's future should rest in the hands of the Afghan people. Let me stress that stirring up tension and confrontation in the region will not be supported. We hope all parties will play a constructive role for regional peace and stability. Sputnik: According to Politico, a cargo ship will depart from Ningbo port on September 20 to test a new shipping route via the Northern Sea Route. What role can the Northern Sea Route play for China? How will China and Russia cooperate in this area? Lin Jian: As an important stakeholder in Arctic affairs, China always follows the basic principles of respect, cooperation, mutual benefit and sustainability in engaging in Arctic affairs and enhancing cooperation with various parties, and is committed to promoting peace, stability and sustainable development of the Arctic. In recent years, the Arctic shipping routes have increasingly come under the spotlight in the international community and have the potential to become the important routes in international trade. China stands ready to work with Russia and other Arctic states as well as interested countries to strengthen international cooperation on the building and operation of basic infrastructure in the Arctic shipping routes and jointly advance the development and exploration of the routes and protect the environment there. China News Service: The 2025 Conference of Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang) and the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum were held on September 17 and 18. Senior official from the Foreign Ministry attended both events. Can you share more details? Lin Jian: The 2025 Conference of Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang) was held in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province on September 17. On the morning of September 18, the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum held the Opening Ceremony and the First Plenary Session. Both forums provide important platforms for advancing cooperation on implementing the Global Security Initiative and cooperation on global governance. At the forums, the Chinese side shared the main content and distinctive features of the Global Governance Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping, and the outcomes of China's effort to implement the Global Security Initiative over the past three years. China called on the international community to build a global public security community, jointly reform and improve global security governance, and build a more just, equitable, inclusive, united, practical, effective, coordinated and orderly global security governance system. Participating guests spoke highly of the value and relevance of the Global Governance Initiative and the implementation outcomes of the Global Security Initiative. China will continue working with the rest of the international community to jointly act on the four global initiatives, reform and improve global governance, and build a community with a shared future for humanity. Anadolu Agency: Chinese leader will speak to U.S. counterpart. What are the expectations from this high-level talk? What kind of results do you expect? Lin Jian: I have nothing to read out. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Does U.S. army return to Afghanistan realistic? Xinhua) 09:59, September 22, 2025 KABUL, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump recently said that Washington is "trying to take back" Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. However, Afghan officials swiftly rejected the idea, saying there will be no negotiation on this matter. The remark has drawn wide international attention and prompted speculation about whether the United States intends to deploy troops to Afghanistan again. Analysts say that re-establishing a full U.S. military presence -- especially at Bagram -- would be extraordinarily difficult and is not currently feasible. AFGHANISTAN EXCLUDES U.S. MILITARY RETURN The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that the United States might be discussing with the Afghan government a limited U.S. counter-terrorism presence at the Bagram airbase. Zakir Jalaly, political director of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Afghans have never accepted foreign troops on their territory and that any dialogue with Washington must exclude a U.S. military return. Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Afghan defense minister, told Al Jazeera on Thursday that during the Doha peace talks before the U.S. withdrawal, American negotiators asked for a base in Afghanistan. "Our answer was, if you don't leave and want bases, we are ready to fight you for another 20 years," he said. CURRENT STATUS OF BAGRAM AIRBASE About 50 km north of Kabul, the Bagram airbase was the hub of U.S. and NATO operations during two decades of war. With two runways over 3 km long, the base was capable of handling fighter jets, bombers and heavy transports. The Taliban regained the base in August 2021, after U.S.-led forces abruptly left overnight. Wang Erfeng, associate researcher of Lanzhou University's Afghanistan Studies Center, said Trump's remark reflects his intention to bolster his own tough-on-foreign-policy image to energize domestic supporters, while criticizing what he sees as former President Joe Biden's rushed and flawed withdrawal from Afghanistan. DOUBTS OVER RETAKING BAGRAM Trump said it "could be a little breaking news" that "we're trying to get it (Bagram) back," speaking to reporters at an event in Britain. Media reports quoted several U.S. officials saying that regaining Bagram would amount to a new occupation of Afghanistan, requiring tens of thousands of troops, costly repairs and a complex supply chain to an isolated inland site. Afghan political analyst Idris Mohammadi Zazi argued that Washington, after losing the war, has launched a new "information offensive" to undermine Afghanistan's political and economic systems. In his view, Trump's statement of reclaiming the airbase is a political show and propaganda, not a workable military plan. "The Afghan government and people do not accept even an inch of Afghan land for foreign military presence," Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said in July. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (September 19, 2025) India - Ministry of External Affairs September 19, 2025 Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon friends, let's open the session. I open the floor for questions from your side. Aditya Raj Kaul, NDTV: Sir, Aditya Raj Kaul from NDTV. I want to begin by asking you about the recent meeting between the chief negotiators of US and India on the trade talks. Has there been a decision made on the sixth round of talks? What are the discussions right now to finalize the trade deal? And the second question, sir, on the recent videos from Pakistan coming in, of Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba from Muridke and Bahawalpur. What does this convey? The Operation SINDOOR success or Pakistan again mushrooming terror groups against India? Madhurendra, News Nation: Sir, Madurendra, main News Nation se. Jis tarah se Pakistan ne Saudi ki Suraksha ki guarantee li hai aur dono deshon ke beech jo hai strategic relations establish hue hain, Bharat is sambandh ko kis najariye se dekhta hai? Agar in dono ke pact ko India ne read kiya ho to uske baad aapka bayan kya hoga? [Approximate Translation:Question in Hindi] Sir, Madurendra from News Nation. The way Pakistan has taken a security guarantee from Saudi Arabia, and the strategic relations that have been established between the two countries how does India view this relationship? If India has read this pact between the two, what would be your statement after that? Sidhant Sibal, WION: Hi sir, Sidhant from WION. Sir, there are assessments that the terror camps which were destroyed under India's Operation SINDOOR are now being rebuilt and they are being moved to certain other provinces including KPK. So, what is India's assessment? In fact, we know that there is a rally that happened on 15th of this month where a terrorist was trying to recruit more people. So, what is your view on that? Niraj Kumar, News18 India: Sir, Niraj hoon News18 India se. America ne Chabhar bandargaah par jo faisla liya hai, usse Bharat Iran ki pariyojana pe kya asar padne ki ashanka hai? [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, this is Niraj from News18 India. With America having imposed sanctions on the Chabahar port, what concerns does India have regarding the impact on its project with Iran? Krishna Mohan Sharma, Bharat Express: Sir, Krishna Mohan Sharma, Bharat express se. Mera sawal hai ki Saudi aur Pakistan mein jo abhi defense deal hua hai to kya ye Saudi nuclear proliferation deal mein hamare partner hai ya abhi us pe baat honi baki hai sir? [Approximate Translation:Question in Hindi] Sir, Krishna Mohan Sharma from Bharat Express. My question is, regarding the recent defense deal between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Does this make Saudi a partner in the nuclear proliferation deal with us, or is that matter under discussion, sir? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So let me first turn to Aditya. Your question regarding the trade talks. All of you here are aware that we did have a delegation from the United States led by the Assistant USTR Brendan Lynch. He had meetings with senior officials in the Ministry of Commerce. That was on 16th of September, to take forward the ongoing negotiations for a trade deal with the United States. These discussions have been positive and forward looking covering various aspects of the trade deal, and it was also decided between the two sides to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement. On your second question regarding the video that you talked about. Aditya, you know, on terrorism matters we are very clear. The world is aware of the nexus between the terrorists and the Pakistani state and military. Such statements make it even more glaring. So, this is how we look at the visuals that you talked about. Madhu, Saudi Arabia ko leke. Dekhiye, Saudi Arabia ke sath hamari ek samarik sajhedari hai, strategic partnership hai, bahu ayami hai aur hal hi ke dino mein is pe kafi mazbuti bhi aayi hai. Hamara yah ummid hai ki hamari jo samarik sajhedari hai Saudi Arabia ke sath wo apasi hiton aur sanvedansheeltao ko dhyan mein rakhte hue rakha jayega, is partnership ke antargat, is saajhedari ke antargat. Uske alava aapne dekha hoga ki hum logon ne jo bayan jari ki hai, ek vaktavya nikala tha hum logon ne, is Saudi Arabia aur Pakistan ke beech mein jo mutual defense pact hua, uske baad. To us pe bhi main aapka dhyan akarshit karna chahunga. [Approximate Translation:Answer in Hindi] Madhu, regarding Saudi Arabia as you know, we have a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia. It is multi-dimensional, and in recent times it has strengthened considerably. Our expectation is that our strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia will be pursued keeping in mind mutual interests and sensitivities, within the framework of this partnership. Apart from that, you must have seen the statement we issued after the mutual defense pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and I would like to draw your attention to that as well. India and Saudi Arabia, we have a wide ranging strategic partnership which has deepened in the last several years considerably. We expect that this strategic partnership will keep in mind mutual interest and sensitivities. Sidhant, on terrorism, you know our point. You know very well that we all have to fight cross-border terrorism and terrorism. In each and every document that comes out of a multilateral arena, whether it is BRICS or SCO or anywhere else, you see the kind of support that is there to fight international terrorism. And in fact, there is reference to fighting cross-border terrorism as well. So, we call upon the world that we have to strengthen and intensify our efforts to deal with terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Niraj, Chabahar pe jo Ameriki vaktvya aaya hai jismein ki unhhone jo purane waiver diye the usko unhhone revoke kiya hai. Hum log isko abhi iski study kar rahe hain, isko examine kar rahe hain, ki kis prakar se hamare upar iska prabhav padega, Bharat ke upar kaise prabhav padega. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Niraj, regarding the U.S. statement on Chabahar, in which they have revoked the earlier waiver that was given. We are currently studying and examining this, to assess what kind of impact it will have on us, and how it will affect India. See, you would have seen the press statement which was issued by the US side yesterday on revocation of sanctions waiver that applies to Chabahar port. We are presently examining the implications that this revocation has for India. Krishan Mohan aapka sawal bhi Saudi Arabia ke upar tha, dekhiye main ne bataya ki jaise ki hamare aur Saudi Arabia ke beech mein ek samarik saajhedari hai aur hum chahte hain aur yah hamara ummid hai ki yah samarik saajhedari dono deshon ke jo apasi hith hai aur apasi sanvedansheelta hai unko sath mein leke aage badhegi. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Krishan Mohan, your question was also about Saudi Arabia. As I mentioned, India and Saudi Arabia share a strategic partnership, and it is our hope and expectation that this strategic partnership will continue to advance, taking into account the mutual interests and sensitivities of both countries. Huma Siddiqui, The Financial Express: Sir, there are reports related to Saudi and Pakistan defense pact that UAE and Qatar are also planning to join this pact. So is India talking to those two countries? And my second question is that: is India hosting Taliban leadership later this month? Yeshi Seli, Business India: This is Yeshi Seli from Business India. President Trump in the UK had mentioned that the US is considering going back to establishing Bagram base in Bagram in Afghanistan and the Taliban has naturally objected. Does India have anything to say on that considering the fact that we are also now having trade ties, reestablishing our association with China. And, the US wants to do this to counter China. Alex Travelli, The New York Times: Alex Travelli, The New York Times. I was wondering, there was a phone call yesterday before Nepal's National Day. India expressed its full support for Nepali people in this political transition, and any other support that may be forthcoming. I wonder if we could say what kind of help India is prepared to give to Nepal during this transition period. Agni Roy, ABP: Sir, this is Agni from ABP. My question is, is there any possibility of in-person meeting between US President and Indian Prime Minister during the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Malaysia? Thank you. Samira Hussain, BBC News: Samira Hussain with BBC News. I'm wondering given there's been a somewhat softening of the language between the Prime Minister and with President Trump they enjoyed some warm birthday greetings. Is it possible that he's going to the Prime Minister will reconsider going to the UN General Assembly next week? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. So first Huma, your question regarding whether we're having conversation with UAE or not or with Qatar or not. Recently, we had a telecon between the Emir of Qatar and the Prime Minister, you would have seen that readout. We also have regular consultations with UAE, the Minister of State for Foreign Relations, she was here and our Foreign Secretary met and discussed all that encompasses India-UAE ties and very expansive ties, let me tell you. So these conversations continue to happen, and for more details, I would like to refer you to the Press Releases that we issued. On Afghanistan, our engagement with Afghan authorities. Like we have said before, our engagement with Afghan authorities continue, and if and when we have an update in that regard, we'll surely share with you. Yeshi, your question regarding Bagram base. Look, this is an issue between United States and a third party, so it's a question which will be best answered by the spokesperson of either of the two countries. On, Alex, your question regarding Nepal. You would have seen, when the new interim government happened in Nepal, we issued a statement. We welcomed the new interim government. Post that, we had a tele-conversation between our Prime Minister and Prime Minister Karki, where we have reiterated and reaffirmed our steadfast support to Nepal, that we'll ensure all support in terms of establishing peace and stability. We are, as a development partner, as a fellow democracy, and as a close neighbor, we have extended all support to Nepal, so that there is early restoration of peace and stability in the country. And, it is a relationship where we'll be working together for the progress and prosperity of the peoples of the two countries. Nepal ke jo gatividhiyan abhi hui, jo waha par virodh pradarshan hua, aur uske baad waha nayi sarkar aayi hai, us par hum logon ne ek vyaktavya jari kiya hai, aur shayad aapne us vyaktavya ko dekha bhi hoga. Humne waha par jo nayi antarim sarkar bani hai, uska hum logon ne swagat kiya hai. Aur swagat ke baad, aur is vyaktavya ke baad, kal ki baat hai, mere khayal se, pradhan mantri ki pradhan mantri Karki se baat hui. Aur ye baat-chit bade garamjoshi ka bhara tha. Aur us dauran humne ye reaffirm kiya hai ki Bharat, Nepal ko jo waha par shanti aur sthirta lane mein jo bhi madad hoga, usko support karta hai. Aur ek padosi ke nate, ek loktantrik desh hone ke nate, aur sath hi sath jo itne arse lamba hamara development partnership chala hai Nepal ke sath, jo partner hum hai Nepal ke, iske nate Bharat Nepal ki aur waha ke logon ke liye aur hamare desh ke logon ke liye, dono deshon ke logon ke bhalai ke liye kam karta rahega. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] On the recent developments in Nepal, the protests and the subsequent formation of a new government, we have already issued a statement. Which many of you might have already seen. We have welcomed the formation of the new interim government in Nepal. Following that, yesterday, Prime Minister had a warm and cordial conversation with Prime Minister Karki. During the discussion, the Prime Minister reaffirmed India's support for Nepal in its efforts towards restoring peace and stability. As a close neighbor, a fellow democracy, and a longstanding development partner, India remains committed to working with the Government and people of Nepal for the mutual benefit of our two countries and our peoples. Agni, your question. Look, these are meetings, that you're talking about, which are to happen sometime We still are some distance away from those conferences, etc. We will surely keep you updated of our participation, and what that entails in terms of engagement between leaders. We will keep you informed at the appropriate time. On Samira, again your question regarding our participation on UNGA etc. Let's wait for our Press Release, where we will announce our participation in these events. As far as India-US relationship is concerned, let me tell you that we remain committed to take this very special partnership the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership that we have with the United States forward, and to newer heights. Neeraj Kumar Dubey, Prabha Sakshi: Sir, namaskar main Neeraj Kumar Dubey, Prabha Sakshi se. Sir, America mein ek Bhartiya engineer ko police ne goli mar di, jisse unki maut ho gayi hai. Uske parivar ka kehna hai ki MEA se sampark kiya hai taki body vagaira laayi ja sake. Aur us vyakti ne apne aakhri social media post mein nasliye bhedbhav ka bhi ek zikr kiya hai America mein, jinki maut hui hai. Toh us par kya pratikriya hai, sir? [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, namaskar. I am Neeraj Kumar Dubey from Prabha Sakshi. Sir, in America an Indian engineer was shot and killed by the police. His family says they have contacted the MEA to arrange for the return of the body, etc. In his final social media post he also mentioned racial discrimination in America. What is the reaction to this, sir? Pranay Upadhyay, Aaj Tak / India Today: Sir, Pranay Upadhyay, Aaj Tak / India Today se. Aapne hal hi mein Pakistan ke videsh mantri Ishaq Dar ka ek interview dekha hoga, jisme unhone kaha ki America ki taraf se ceasefire ke sath-sath ye prastav bhi diya gaya tha ki kisi teesre desh ke andar baat-cheet hogi, aur uske liye baad mein Bharat tayar nahi hua. Kya aap bata sakte hain ki kya is tarike ki koi baat-cheet hui thi America ke sath mein bhi, ki kisi teesri jagah ke upar baat-cheet ki sambhavna hai Pakistan ke sath? Aur dusra sawal hai ki Canada ke andar Bharatiya uchayog ko lekar jo threat diye gaye hain, sath hi reports bhi aayi hain ki Bharat ke NSA ki taraf se baat-cheet hui hai Canada ke NSA se. To kya ise aap confirm kar sakte hain? Kya baat-cheet hui hai, aur Bharat ne kya apne concerns uthaye hain Canada ke sath, mission ki security ko lekar? [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, Pranay Upadhyay from Aaj Tak/India Today. You must have recently seen an interview of Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, in which he said that along with the ceasefire, the U.S. had also proposed that there could be talks in a third country, but India was not ready for that. Could you clarify whether any such discussions took place with the U.S., regarding the possibility of talks at a third location with Pakistan? And my second question is regarding the threats reported against the Indian High Commission in Canada, along with reports that India's NSA has held talks with Canada's NSA. Can you whether these talks took place, and whether India raised its concerns regarding the security of its Mission in Canada? Ileana, TASS News Agency: Good afternoon. Ileana from TASS News Agency. My first question is on the recent announcements, the recent words by UN Chief Antonio Guterres who supported the reforms of UN Security Council, and he also supported the proposals to limit veto powers. So, what is your stance on these? What do you think about these proposals? And secondly if you allow me please. Indian troops, Indian military contingent participated in the drills Zapad 2025. But, there were some kind of criticism from the West on the participation of Indian troops in these drills. So, what can you say about that? Thank you very much. Nivedita, ABP Live: Nivedita from ABP Live. European Commission official Kaja Kallas said that India's participation with Russia in the military exercises, and the Russian purchase of oil could be a hurdle in the India-EU FTA talks. Could you comment on that please? Suhasini Haidar, The Hindu: Suhasini Haidar, from The Hindu. I wanted to ask, you know, seven years ago India agreed to zero out its purchase of Iranian oil due to threats from the US. Now that the US is threatening India with sanctions over Chabahar, would India consider shutting down its operations through Chabahar port? And just to follow up on Pranay's question on the talks between the NSAs of India and Canada, was the trial ongoing over the killing of Nijjar discussed, and what is the latest on that? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So, Neeraj, pehle aapka sawal. Ek hadsa hua hai California mein. Ek goli chali, jisme ek Hindustani nagrik hatyaat hue. Is mamle mein hum waha ke jo local authorities hain, sarkar hai, unse baat-cheet kar rahe hain. Hamari janakari ke hisaab se is par investigation, jaanch-padtal chal rahi hai. Aur aapne shayad dekha hoga ki waha ke police department ne bhi ek video jari kiya hai, jisme unhone bayan diya hai ki usme kya-kya andar issues the. Aur jis vyakti ki hatyaat hui, uske parivar se bhi hum log sampark mein jude hue hain. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] So, Neeraj, regarding your question an incident has occurred in California. A gunshot was fired, resulting in the death of an Indian citizen. In this matter, we are in communication with the local authorities and the government there. To our knowledge, an investigation is ongoing. You may have seen that the police department there has also released a video explaining the issues involved. We are also in contact with the family of the deceased. See, there has been an incident in California. We are in touch with the family. We also understand that investigation is underway by local authorities. You would have also seen that the local police department, they have put out a video and a statement giving details of the circumstances. We are also in touch with the family and we will render all possible assistance in this matter. Pranay, aapne jo sawal pucha. Dekhiyejaha tak third party ki baat hai, iske baare mein hum logon ne bada spasht roop se pehle bhi kaha hai aur aaj bhi kahenge ki jo dvipakshiya mudde hain Bharat aur Pakistan ke beech mein, isme third party ka koi role nahi hai. Toh usko phir se main ek baar rekhankit karna chahta hoon aur spasht kar dena chahta hoonthere is absolutely no role for third party mediation in India-Pakistan issues. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Pranay, regarding your question as far as the idea of a third party is concerned, we have clearly stated this before, and I will say it again today: on bilateral issues between India and Pakistan, there is no role for a third party. So I want to reiterate and make it absolutely clear there is absolutely no role for third-party mediation in India-Pakistan issues. On Canadayes, you know it is the responsibility of the Canadian government, or the host government, wherever we are, wherever we have diplomatic establishments, to provide security. As and when there is a concern, we do take it up with the concerned side, in this case Canada, to ensure that there is adequate security of our diplomatic premises. On Suhasini's question, yes, the NSA of Canada held talks with our National Security Advisor. I think it happened yesterday, 18th. This is part of the regular bilateral security consultations that happened between the two countries. It was also an opportunity and occasion for them to follow up on the discussions that happened between Prime Minister and Prime Minister Carney in Kananaskis, on the sidelines of G7 in Alberta, Canada. Ileana, on UNSC reforms, see, this is a process which has been going on and a lot of conversations are happening. We ourselves, we are having this conversation in several forums, including in the G4 format. So, these conversations and you know our position on UN Security Council reform, where we are, we have articulated it a number of times. On the troops, on the military exercises, as regards our participation, as regards the objective of our participation on this Zapad exercise in Russia, I would say that please look at the Press Release that was issued by Ministry of Defense, I think on 9th September, that gives exact the details of participation, as to also the objectives behind it. I would also, at the same time, like to point out that several other countries, including NATO countries, such as United States, Turkey, and Hungary have also participated in this exercise as observers. Nivedita, see, on military exercise, I told you, this is our position, we have military exercises, defense engagement with several countries. On our oil purchases, we have made our position very clear. You know what is the rationale behind it, what is the broad approach that we have taken on this particular issue. As far as India-EU relationship is concerned, you know, recently they had issued a document. When the conversation happened between the President of European Commission and our Prime Minister, this particular issue also came up for discussion. Both India and the EU, as you know, we have a strategic partnership. We had this tele-conversation between President of European Commission and Prime Minister on 17th, where our Prime Minister conveyed appreciation for the new strategic EU-India agenda that has been opted by the EU. As the world's largest democratic forces, the two leaders, they also welcomed efforts towards further strengthening the India-EU strategic partnership for mutual prosperity, as well as for jointly addressing global issues, fostering stability, and promoting a rules-based order. The two sides are also presently engaged in negotiations for a balanced, ambitious, and mutually beneficial FTA and concluding a security and defense partnership as well. Suhasini, on Chabahar, I have told you, we have seen this press statement which has come. We are looking at, and studying / examining its implications. On the NSA talks, I informed you where we are on that particular matter. Kallol Bhattacherjee, The Hindu: Kallol Bhattacherjee, from The Hindu. You explained your position on Nepal, but you have not spoken about the election. They have pledged to hold election in March. So, any comment on that? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: You would have seen, after the conversation with the Prime Minister, as also earlier, we issued a statement. And, we also gave a readout to you on the Prime Minister's conversations. We have said that India is ready to continue working closely to further strengthen special ties between the two countries, and full support to Nepal. I underline, full support to Nepal, in its efforts towards restoring peace and stability, and for the progress of the people of Nepal. So, that is where I leave it. But we look forward to strengthening our ties with Nepal for peace and stability in that country. Yeshi Seli, Business India: This is regarding Myanmar. Former councilor Aung San Suu Kyi is very unwell. Her son has been requesting the government to get external doctors. Has he or has anyone approached India to intervene to help because she is in very bad health? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: I don't have information on this account. So, I will come back to you. But, I am hearing for the first time from you. We will come back to you. Sandra, DW: Thank you, Sandra from DW. Question regarding baby Ariha Shah stuck in Germany's foster system. When the German Foreign Minister was here at the beginning of the month, Mr. Jaishankar said that substantial progress has been made. Is there any update to be shared? What is the status? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Last time we had told you that there has been progress in the matter. This is a matter to which we attach a lot of importance. It was discussed when our Foreign Minister visited Germany. As also, it was part of the discussion when your Foreign Minister visited India. The Embassy has been in touch with the foster parents of the child to see how best we can support her cultural upbringing. We have had several visits. We have also facilitated visit of the parents. Also, her visit to places of cultural importance and cultural exposure. We have had some progress in the matter as well. I shall update you on this matter with more details later. With that, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for your attention. New Delhi September 19, 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address English rendering of PM's address to the Nation India - Press Information Bureau Prime Minister's Office Posted On: 21 SEP 2025 6:09PM by PIB Delhi My dear countrymen, Namaskar! Navratri, the festival of worshipping Shakti, is beginning tomorrow. Best wishes to all of you! From the first day of Navratri, the country is taking another important and major step towards the Self-Reliant India campaign. Tomorrow, with sunrise on September 22nd, the first day of Navratri, the Next Generation GST reforms will come into effect. In a way, a GST savings festival is going to begin in the country from tomorrow. This GST Savings Festival will increase your savings, and you'll be able to purchase the things you want more easily. The poor, middle class people, neo middle class, youth, farmers, women, shopkeepers, businessmen, entrepreneurs of our country, everyone will benefit a lot from this savings festival. This means everyone will have something sweet to eat during this festive season, and every family in the country will be blessed. I extend my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to crores of families of the country for the Next Generation GST reforms and this savings festival. These reforms will accelerate India's growth story, make doing business easier, make investment more attractive, and make every state an equal partner in the race for development. Friends, When India took the step towards GST reform in the year 2017, it marked the beginning of changing a shift in history and the creation of a new one. For decades, the people of our country, all of you, the businessmen of the country, were entangled in the maze of various taxes. Octroi, entry tax, sales tax, excise, VAT, service tax, there were dozens of such taxes in our country. If goods had to be sent from one city to another, one had to cross so many checkpoints, fill so many forms, there were so many obstacles, and everywhere, there were different tax rules. I remember, when the country entrusted me with the responsibility of the post of Prime Minister in 2014, then in that initial phase, an interesting example was published in a foreign newspaper, in which the difficulties of a company were mentioned. That company had said that, if it had to send its goods from Bangalore to Hyderabad, which was 570 kilometers away, then it was so difficult that they thought, and they said that they would prefer the company to first send its goods from Bangalore to Europe, and then send the same goods from Europe to Hyderabad. Friends, This was the situation back then, due to the complexities of taxes and tolls. And I am just reminding you of an old example, when lakhs of such companies, lakhs of countrymen, used to face problems every day due to the maze of different types of taxes. The cost that arose during the transportation of goods from one city to another was also borne by the poor and was recovered from customers like you. Friends, It was very important to get the country out of this situation. Therefore, when you gave us the opportunity in 2014, we made GST our priority in the public interest and in the national interest. We discussed with every stakeholder, we resolved every doubt of every state, found a solution to every question; by taking all the states along, such a big tax reform of independent India became possible. It was the result of the efforts of the Centre and the states that the country became free from the web of dozens of taxes, and a uniform system was created for the entire country. The dream of One Nation-One Tax came true. Friends, Reform is a continuous process. As times change and the country's needs evolve, next-generation reforms become equally necessary. Therefore, keeping in mind the current needs and future dreams of the country, these new GST reforms are being implemented. In the new format, there will now be only five percent and eighteen percent tax slabs. This means that most everyday items will become more affordable. Food items, medicines, soap, brushes, toothpaste, health and life insurancemany such goods and serviceswill either be tax-free or will only attract a five percent tax. Of the goods which were earlier taxed at 12 percent, 99 percent, i.e., nearly 100 percent, have now come under the purview of 5 percent tax. Friends, In the last 11 years, 25 crore people in the country have defeated poverty, conquered it, and by emerging from poverty, a huge group of 25 crore people is playing a significant role in the country today as the neo-middle class. This neo middle class has its own aspirations, its own dreams. This year, the government gave them a gift by making income up to Rs.12 lakh tax-free. And it's natural that when there is income tax relief for the income of Rs 12 lakh, it brings about a huge change in the lives of the middle class. It becomes so easy and convenient. And now it is the turn of the poor, the turn of the neo middle class. Now, the poor, the neo-middle class, and the middle class are getting a double bonanza. Due to reduction in GST, it will now be easier for the citizens of the country to fulfill their dreams. Be it building a house, buying a TV, a refrigerator, or buying a scooter, bike, or a car, you'll have to spend less on all of these. Travelling will also become cheaper for you, as GST has been reduced on rooms in most hotels. By the way, friends, I am pleased that shopkeeper brother-sisters are also very enthusiastic about the GST reform. They are very busy in passing on the GST reduction to the customers. Signboards displaying the before and now prices are being put up in many places. Friends, The mantra ' :', with which we are moving forward, is clearly reflected in the Next Generation GST Reform. If we add the exemption in income tax and exemption in GST, then the decisions taken in one year will save more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore for the people of the country. And that is why I am saying, this is a savings festival. Friends, To achieve the goal of developed India, we will have to follow the path of self-reliance. And a huge responsibility of making India self-reliant also lies on our MSMEs, that is, our small, medium and cottage industries. Whatever is needed by the people of the country, whatever we can make in the country itself, we should make it in the country itself. Friends, With the reduction in GST rates and simplification of rules and procedures, our MSMEs, our small-scale industries and cottage industries will benefit a lot. Their sales will increase and they will have to pay less tax, which means they will also get double benefit. Therefore, today I have great expectations from all of you, be it MSMEs, small industries, micro industries or cottage industries. You also know that when India was at the peak of prosperity, the main basis of India's economy was our MSMEs, our small and cottage industries. India's manufacturing, the quality of goods produced in India, used to be superior. We have to get that pride back. Whatever our small industries produce should be the best in the world by every standard, the best of the best. Whatever we manufacture should surpass all the parameters of being the best in the world with pride and prestige. We must work towards improving the quality of our products, enhance India's recognition in the world, and increase India's pride. Friends, Just as the country's independence was strengthened by the mantra of Swadeshi, similarly the country's prosperity will also be strengthened by the mantra of Swadeshi. Today, knowingly or unknowingly, many foreign things have become a part of our daily lives, and we are not even aware of it. We do not even know whether the comb in our pocket is foreign or Indian. We will have to get rid of these also. We should buy goods that are Made in India, in which the hard work of our youth, the sweat of our sons and daughters are involved. We have to make every home a symbol of Swadeshi. Every shop has to be decorated with Swadeshi. Say with pride that this is Swadeshi, say with pride, I buy Swadeshi, I also sell Swadeshi goods, this should become the attitude of every Indian. When this happens, India will develop rapidly. Today, I also urge all state governments to accelerate manufacturing in their states with this campaign of self-reliant India, this campaign of Swadeshi, and to join with full energy and enthusiasm. Enhance the environment for investment. When the Centre and states move forward together, the dream of a self-reliant India will be fulfilled. Every state in India will develop, and India will develop. With this sentiment, I conclude my speech by once again extending my best wishes for this savings festival. Once again, I wish you all a very happy Navratri and the GST savings festival. Thank you very much! **** MJPS/VJ/SS (Release ID: 2169274) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address INDIAN NAVY STRENGTHENS TIES WITH MOZAMBIQUE NAVY DURING PORT CALL OF FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON AT MAPUTO India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 21 SEP 2025 6:58PM by PIB Delhi In a demonstration of enduring maritime friendship, the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS) comprising INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Sujata, and ICGS Sarathi concluded its four-day port visit to Maputo, Mozambique from 16-19 Sep 2025. During the deployment, 1TS engaged in a series of joint training to enhance operational interoperability with the Mozambique Navy. Activities included Joint Diving Operations, Firefighting, VBSS Ops and Bridge Machinery Control integration drills. Cross-training visit of Indian Navy trainees to Marine Commando School at Katembe, Sargent School at Boane, and the Army Practising School at Manhica fostered mutual understanding and cooperation. Sea riders of the Mozambique Navy embarked onboard 1TS ships for joint EEZ surveillance. Capt Tijo K Joseph, Senior Officer of 1TS, along with Commanding Officers of visiting ships, paid courtesy calls to Rear Admiral Eugenio Dias Da Silva Muatuca, Chief of the Mozambique Navy; Maj Gen Ezequiel Muianga, Inspector of FADM; Col Candido Jose Tirano, Commandant of Maputo Air Force Base. These high-level interactions underscored the growing defence cooperation between the two nations. Community outreach formed a vital component of the deployment. More than 1,000 school children toured the ships, gaining insights into operational capabilities of the Indian Navy. A medical camp was set up at Naval Headquarters Mozambique and local hospital at Maputo. More than 100 patients were provided medical care and an awareness campaign on prevention of critical disease, emergency response and first aid was conducted. Joint Yoga sessions and a friendly futsal match further strengthened camaraderie between the two Navies. As 1TS sets sail for Mombasa, the visit leaves behind strengthened bilateral ties and a renewed commitment to peace, stability, and shared prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region. The port call reinforces India's maritime partnership with African nations based on the broader maritime vision of MAHASAGAR. _____________________________ VM/SPS 195/25 (Release ID: 2169283) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Security Council rejects bid to continue Iran sanctions relief By Vibhu Mishra 19 September 2025 - A proposal to continue sanctions relief for Iran under the 2015 nuclear deal was rejected in the UN Security Council on Friday in a vote that revealed deep divisions over the so-called "snapback" process. The text, tabled by the Council president - the Republic of Korea - received only four votes in favour, from Russia, China, Algeria, and Pakistan, failing to secure the nine required for adoption. Denmark, France, Greece, Panama, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, the United Kingdom, and the United States voted against. Guyana and the Republic of Korea abstained. Had it been adopted, the resolution would have terminated UN sanctions imposed on Iran prior to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (or JCPOA), thereby preserving the sanctions relief provided to Tehran under the deal. Terms of the 'snapback' Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA in July 2015, set out the process by which UN sanctions would be lifted, while establishing a mechanism to reimpose them in case of "significant non-performance" by any of its participants - China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, the US, the European Union (EU) and Iran. Under paragraph 11, if one of the signatories notifies the Council of a significant breach, the Council president must, within 30 days, put a draft resolution to the vote for sanctions relief to continue. If the draft is not adopted, the previous UN sanctions are automatically reimposed meaning that unless the Council explicitly votes to keep sanctions relief in place, previous UN sanctions are automatically restored. Heated discussions At the start of Friday's meeting, Russia raised a point of order, rejecting the European claim to trigger the snapback mechanism. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said that there were no legal, political or procedural reasons to allow the "snapback" mechanism or to vote on the draft resolution, and accused France, Germany and UK of acting outside both resolution 2231 and the JCPOA. He said the three had failed to follow the dispute settlement mechanism and instead imposed unilateral sanctions against Iran, which he described as "illegal". "Attempts on the part of the European countries to present the situation as though they have the right to activate the punitive provisions of prior resolutions, while themselves failing to fulfil their own obligationscannot hold water," Ambassador Nebenzia said. China also urged caution. Ambassador FU Cong said "major discrepancies" existed between Council members over the snapback and warned that a rushed vote could "exacerbate State confrontation", complicating efforts to resolve the issue diplomatically. UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward countered, stating that the E3 (the European participants of the JCPOA) decision to invoke snapback was "entirely legal, justified, wide and consistent with the requirements of resolution 2231." She cited the 28 August 2025 notification submitted by France, Germany and the UK: "All that is required to trigger snapback isa notification by a JCPOA participant state of an issue that it believes constitutes significant non-performance of commitments under the JCPOA," she said. France spoke before the vote, citing Iran's escalating nuclear programme and its reduced cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont said Iran had accumulated enriched uranium stockpiles far higher than the limit set by the agreement and restricted IAEA access to key facilities. He called the snapback mechanism necessary to preserve international peace and security, and the integrity of the global non-proliferation regime. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council Fails to Adopt Resolution that Would Continue Iran Sanctions Relief Meetings Coverage Security Council 10,001st Meeting SC/16175 19 September 2025 The Security Council today failed to adopt a draft resolution that would have continued United Nations sanctions relief as contemplated by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, after France, Germany and the United Kingdom triggered the process to reimpose sanctions often referred to as a "snapback" process by asserting Tehran's significant non-performance of its Plan commitments. Raising a point of order before the vote, the representative of the Russian Federation said that there were "no legal or political or procedural reasons" to invoke the snapback mechanism under resolution 2231 (2015). Stating that the United Kingdom, France and Germany are "chronic violators" of both that resolution and the Plan, he called the process "a clumsy performance aimed at creating a fake parallel reality". Those countries, he stressed, are neglecting diplomacy, instead preferring "the language of blackmail and intimidation". Echoing this concern, the representative of China warned that "hastily pushing for a vote on the draft resolution might exacerbate confrontation", pointing to "major discrepancies concerning the invocation of the snapback mechanism among all parties within the Council". The representative of the United Kingdom rejected those concerns, stressing that the decision of France, Germany and her country to trigger the snapback mechanism is entirely legal, justified and consistent with the requirements of resolution 2231 (2015). "A notification by a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action participant State of an issue that the Plan's participant believes constitutes significant non-performance of commitments" is all that is required to trigger this process, she said. For his part, France's representative said that since 2019 Iran has chosen to stop implementing its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and has escalated its nuclear programme. As documented by successive reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Tehran has exceeded all limits established by the Plan. Iran has also imposed restrictions on the Agency's verification mechanisms, resulting in lost continuity of knowledge regarding huge aspects of its nuclear programme. "It's clear that the escalation is continuing," he stressed, which threatens regional stability, international peace and security and the integrity of the international non-proliferation regime. Stressing that the Council "would not be assuming its responsibility" if it was to remove the Iranian nuclear issue from its agenda, he said: "So we have to continue with the snapback procedure." He added, however, that "our hand remains outstretched to find a negotiated solution". Then, by a vote of 4 in favour (Algeria, China, Pakistan, Russian Federation) to 9 against with 2 abstentions (Guyana, Republic of Korea) the draft resolution was not adopted as it failed to obtain the required number of votes. Had it been, the text would have seen the Council decide that certain sanctions contained in relevant resolutions would remain terminated. Sanctions Will Be Reimposed without Further Council Action "The practical effect of this vote is that absent any further action by the Council the pre-2015 UN sanctions on Iran are reimposed, following the end of the 30-day snapback period on September 27," said the representative of the United States. However, she added that "our vote on this resolution does not impede the possibility of real diplomacy, despite any statements to the contrary". Emphasizing that the sanctions to be reimposed are "not arbitrary" but, rather, "narrowly scoped" to address the threat posed by Iran's nuclear, missile and conventional arms programmes she said that their return "does not preclude later removal through diplomacy". Similarly, the representative of the United Kingdom underscored her country's commitment to finding a diplomatic solution. "We are ready for further engagements diplomatically in the next week and beyond to seek to resolve differences," she said, noting that her country had offered Iran a chance to extend resolution 2231 (2015) if it resumed cooperation with the IAEA, addressed concerns over its uranium stockpile and re-engaged seriously in negotiations. "Iran has so far failed to take these steps," she noted with regret, warning that adoption would have "permanently terminated six Council resolutions on Iran's nuclear programme removing this important issue from the Council's agenda." With the overarching objective being to "ensure that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon", the representative of Denmark said that her delegation voted no on the text. Denmark supports the snapback process as a consequence of Iran's non-compliance, while remaining "fully committed to a diplomatic solution", she said, urging Tehran to return to the negotiating table in good faith. Slovenia's delegate also called on Iran to return to the negotiating table, restore full cooperation with IAEA and recommit to pursuing its nuclear programme solely for peaceful purposes. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was "rightly seen as a landmark multilateral achievement", he said. However, since 2018, the deal has "struggled for credibility" amid years of non-compliance, while the agreement's prospects were further diminished with the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025. He added that his delegation voted against today's text to "send a clear and deliberate message a reset is urgently needed". Some Members Blame United States, Many Urge Diplomacy Yet, China's delegate said that the "current difficult situation" concerning the Iranian nuclear issue "stems from the United States' unilateral withdrawal from, and undermining the proper implementation of, the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]". He emphasized that the United States' policy of "maximum pressure" deprived Iran of the economic dividends provided for under the Plan and "left Iran with no choice but to scale back its compliance with the agreement". Noting that his country's' delegation voted in favour of the resolution as Beijing supports the termination of the Council's sanctions on Iran he warned that the attempt to activate snapback sanctions "may even bring about catastrophic consequences that are impossible to foresee and forfeit years of diplomatic efforts in one stroke". Also pointing to the actions of the United States as a trigger for this crisis, the representative of the Russian Federation noted that his delegation rejected attempts by European States to trigger the snapback process. Further, he clarified that his delegation supported the sole operative paragraph of the resolution preserving the lifting of UN sanctions on Iran. Pointing to a draft resolution that will be put forward by his country and China, which will propose a technical extension of resolution 2231 (2015) for six months, he urged "all reasonable Council members to support this" when it is put to a vote. Voicing support for the technical extension of resolution 2231 (2015) to create space for political engagement, Pakistan's delegate stressed: "The region cannot afford further tensions." His country voted in favour of today's resolution, he said, stressing that all issues concerning Iran's nuclear programme must be resolved by peaceful means. Adding to that, the representative of Algeria welcomed the recent agreement signed between Iran and IAEA as a positive step towards resuming cooperation and honouring commitments, stressing that "there is no military solution". He urged the Council to remain focused on the maintenance of international peace of security, noting that implementing additional restrictions "would be counterproductive" and risk escalation. Many speakers including the representatives of Guyana, Panama and Somalia echoed the need to find a diplomatic solution, with the representative of Sierra Leone stating: "The priority now is to use the available period to restore compliance and reduce risk." Welcoming Iran's recent steps as a positive statement of intent, the representative of Greece underscored that these steps need to be followed by tangible commitments. "This vote does not mark the end of the road," she said, calling for redoubled efforts to resolve this issue diplomatically. The representative of the Republic of Korea, Council President for September, spoke in his national capacity to note that today's vote was held pursuant to the terms of resolution 2231 (2015). While "today's outcome is not the best future" that the resolution envisioned, he observed that "nothing is over yet". Rather, now is "precisely the time for intense diplomacy to achieve a peaceful and diplomatic solution of the Iranian nuclear issue", he stressed adding that his delegation abstained from voting to encourage further diplomacy. 'Door for Diplomacy Is Not Closed', Says Iran Iran's representative, for his part, thanked Algeria, China, Pakistan and the Russian Federation for their votes today, stating that they "rejected the politics of coercion and upheld the principles of diplomacy, justice and law". He also commended Guyana for its "courage in resisting pressure". These votes, he added, send a clear message: "Conflict must be resolved through dialogue, not through the blunt instruments of pressure and intimidation." Iran's position has been "clear and consistent", he stressed: "Resolution 2231 (2015) must be implemented exactly as agreed; its timelines are not suggestions they are binding commitments, painstakingly negotiated and unanimously endorsed by this Council." "Any attempt by the E3 [France, Germany, United Kingdom] to reimpose sanctions already terminated is not only baseless, but a direct assault on international law and the credibility of the Security Council itself," he underscored. He further rejected claims that Iran's nuclear programme threatens peace and security, calling them "a fabrication" and affirming that "Iran has not breached the [Plan], the [Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons] or its safeguard obligations". "Our nuclear programme remains entirely peaceful," he added. He concluded: "The door for diplomacy is not closed, but it will be Iran not the adversaries who decides with whom, and on what basis, to engage." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Herzog meets with Prime Minister Rabuka of Fiji Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs President Herzog welcomed Prime Minister Rabuka and thanked him you on behalf of the nation of Israel for opening the Fijian Embassy in Jerusalem. Type: News Topic: Foreign Policy Publish Date: 18.09.2025 (Communicated by the President's Spokesperson) President Isaac Herzog today (Thursday, 18 September 2025), at the President's Residence, met with the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji who was visiting Jerusalem for the opening of his nation's embassy, along with several senior ministers in his government. During the meeting, the President spoke of the breaking news of the attack on Israelis at the Allenby Crossing. President Herzog welcomed the Prime Minister and said: "I want to thank you on behalf of the nation of Israel for opening the Embassy in Jerusalem yesterday, it's a big step. Bless you." He said, "This is not an easy day. We have just heard that Israeli citizens were shot at the bridge with Jordan because terrorists want to derail our relations with Jordan. We send our heartfelt condolences to the families, and we hope things will be better, and especially we want to see the hostages back." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu's remarks at the opening of the government meeting Israel - Prime Minister's Office Type: Media Statements Government: The 37th Government Publish Date: 21.09.2025 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the opening of the government meeting: "Our victories in Lebanon against Hezbollah have opened a window for the possibility of peace with our neighbors in the North. We are holding talks with the Syrians, and there is some progress, but that vision is yet for an appointed time" The Prime Minister's full remarks : "Fellow ministers, I would like to open by wishing, on your behalf, a good year and Chag Sameach to the whole House of Israel. I wish to convey to you personally, on my behalf and on behalf of my wife Sara, my wishes for a good and prosperous year to your family members. A year of unity for the State of Israel, and a year of victory for the State of Israel. We are approaching the eve of Rosh HaShana. In the past year we have made great and historic achievements. First and foremost, the historic achievement of ensuring the continued existence of the State of Israel and thus, the continued existence of the Jewish people. For twelve days, we were physically in a very deep pit, but Operation Rising Lion has put us at the summit. There is no overstatement in this. Most importantly, we have pushed from over our head the threat of Iran's nuclear bombs that were aimed for our destruction, and the threat of tens of thousands of ballistic missiles that Iran was planning to manufacture within a few years. In addition, we have hit every part of Iran's axis, in Lebanon, in Syria, in Yemen, in Gaza, and also in Iran itself. We are continuing, with great momentum, the battle for the final defeat of Hamas and the return of all our hostages. We send strength to our heroic soldiers, as without their sacrifice, determination and devotion to their mission, we wouldn't have made the great achievements that we've made. At the conclusion of the Rosh Hashana holiday I will depart for the UN General Assembly, and immediately after that will meet with our friend, President Trump. At the UN, I will present the truth. It is the truth of Israel but it is also the objective truth of our just struggle against the forces of evil. I will also present our vision for true peace, peace that grows out from power. Our victories in Lebanon against Hezbollah have opened a window for a possibility that couldn't have even been imagined prior to our latest operations and activity, and that is the possibility of peace with our neighbors to the North. We are holding talks with the Syrians, and there is some progress, but that vision is yet for an appointed time. In any case, these discussions, as well as the talks with Lebanon, wouldn't have been possible without our decisive victories in the Northern front and also on other fronts. We will have to fight both in the UN and in all the other fronts against the slanderous propaganda aimed at us, and against the calls to create a Palestinian state that will endanger our existence and constitute an absurd prize for terrorism. The international community will hear from us on this matter in the following days. After the General Assembly, I will meet my friend President Trump. This will be my fourth meeting with him since the beginning of his second presidency, surpassing any other leader in the world. And we have much to discuss. Fellow ministers, Following the heavy blows that we have dealt to our enemies, we have been able to return most of the residents of the North and the South to their homes. The government will approve several important decisions today: First of all, the multi-year government plan for the rehabilitation and development of the communities in the North, and advancing the business activity in the area. These decisions are in addition to the steps already taken and the many billions invested, and I wish to thank Minister Elkin and the Finance Minister and his team for their dedicated and important work. The Education Minister as well, and others. In addition, we will approve today a decision to establish a special national council for artificial intelligence. This council will be established within the Prime Minister's Office, following the recommendations of the Nagel commission. I have much appreciation for the important work done on this matter by Jacob Nagel and his team, and also for the work of the Finance Minister and his team which made it possible to establish the council. The role of this council will be to accelerate the artificial intelligence research and turn Israel into one of the world's leading countries in the field, just as we have done in cyber and other fields. This is the key to preserving our superiority in economy, security, and I add, also in awareness. We are facing complex struggles in these fields, and we have a relative advantage that this council is meant to develop, together with the work being done in the security apparatus. Again, I would like to wish you all a good year, and for us to do fruitful work to ensure the eternity of Israel nothing less". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wang Yi Holds Talks with ROK Foreign Minister Cho Hyun Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: September 17, 2025 22:50 On September 17, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Cho Hyun in Beijing. Wang Yi welcomed Foreign Minister Cho Hyun's first visit to China, noting that since President Lee Jae-myung took office, the two heads of state have had a phone conversation and reached important common understandings on advancing the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level. Both sides should uphold the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations, remain committed to the direction of good-neighborliness and friendship, stick to the goal of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and be true strategic cooperative partners. Wang Yi emphasized that China and the ROK are neighbors that cannot be moved away. As an ancient Chinese saying goes, "All living things may grow side by side without harming one another, and different roads may run in parallel without interfering with one another." The development history of bilateral relations shows that good-neighborliness and friendship, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and focusing on cooperation are the right choices. Noting that China's policy towards the ROK remains stable and consistent, Wang Yi expressed the hope that both sides will treat each other with sincerity, strengthen mutual trust, deepen cooperation, achieve win-win results, and properly handle sensitive issues. China and the ROK are both beneficiaries of economic globalization. In the current situation where unilateralism and bullying acts are rampant, the two countries should jointly oppose trade protectionism and uphold the international free trade system. Recently, an ROK Coast Guard officer gave his life in the line of duty to save a Chinese national. China expresses condolences for his unfortunate passing and extends sympathies to his family. In June this year, a driver in China's Zhangjiajie gave his life after guarding the safety of more than 10 ROK passengers, which also drew appreciation and remembrance in the ROK society. There are many such touching stories between China and the ROK, which are worth discovering and promoting to continuously enhance the friendship between the peoples of both countries. Wang Yi stated that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. At this special historical juncture, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative, offering China's solution and contributing China's wisdom to strengthening and improving global governance. China is ready to work with the international community, including the ROK, to remember history and honor the fallen heroes, safeguard the outcomes of the victory in World War II, uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, and make the international order more just and equitable. Cho Hyun extended congratulations on the complete success of 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, and highly praised China's significant contributions to the victory of World War II. Cho Hyun stated that the ROK attaches great importance to its relations with China. President Lee Jae-myung had a successful phone conversation with President Xi Jinping, reaffirming the importance of ROK-China relations and outlining plans for future development. The ROK values the momentum of improvement in bilateral relations and is willing to work with China to implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state, and take the opportunity of hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju to further enhance high-level interactions, deepen exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, culture and other fields, and accelerate negotiations on the ROK-China and ROK-China-Japan free trade agreements. The ROK respects the one-China position and looks forward to strengthening bilateral and multilateral communication and coordination with China to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. The two sides agreed to coordinate with and support each other in successfully hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Meetings in the current and coming years. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Outcome of ROK-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting (September 17) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea 2025-09-17 1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun had a bilateral meeting and working dinner with Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, China, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm (180 minutes) on Wednesday, September 17. The two Ministers exchanged views on issues of interest to both sides, including ROK-China relations and the Korean Peninsula issue. 2. Minister Cho said that today's meeting, being the first ROK-China Foreign Ministers' meeting since the launch of the new government, is meaningful for the development of bilateral relations. He said that on the occasion of the Gyeongju APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, the two sides should work together to ensure that the development of ROK-China relations leads to deliverables that substantially contribute to the livelihoods of the peoples of the two countries. Minister Wang said that he welcomes Minister Cho's visit to China, and that furthering ROK-China relations on the occasion of both countries' hosting of APEC this year and next year carries significance for China as well. 3. Minister Cho said that it is the position of our government that, while firmly developing the ROK-U.S. alliance, we will also promote the mature development of the "ROK-China Strategic Cooperative Partnership" based on national interest and practicality. He said that efforts should continue to strengthen the public support base for the development of ROK-China relations, such as enhancing mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries and promoting friendly sentiment. Minister Wang underscored that China will continue to maintain the stability and continuity of its friendly policy toward Korea, and said that the two sides should continue to work together to further develop the "ROK-China Strategic Cooperative Partnership" to a higher level. 4. Minister Cho noted that, as the structure of economic cooperation between Korea and China is shifting from a vertical division of labor to horizontal cooperation, the model of economic cooperation between the two countries should also evolve in line with the trends of the times. He added that the two countries should continue communication and cooperation at all levels so that the mutually beneficial cooperative relationship between Korea and China can continue to contribute to the livelihoods of their peoples. The two Ministers also agreed to continue regional cooperation by utilizing the ROK-China-Japan cooperation mechanism. 5. In addition, Minister Cho stressed that matters of interest to the other side, including the West Sea issue, should be respected, and requested China's particular cooperation to ensure the safety of Korean nationals in China and protect their rights and interests. 6. Meanwhile, Minister Cho said that our government is pursuing substantive progress toward realizing denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and cooperation, and urged China to make efforts to bring North Korea back to dialogue. Minister Wang stated that China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and suggested maintaining communication on this matter. 7. Minister Cho invited Minister Wang to visit Korea before the Gyeongju APEC, and Minister Wang reciprocated the invitation by saying he looks forward to meeting Minister Cho in Korea soon. 8. Minister Wang, on behalf of the Chinese government, expressed its deepest condolences for the noble sacrifice of Sergeant Lee Jae-seok, who lost his life in the line of duty while rescuing a Chinese national. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Government expands sanction on the import and purchase of natural gas Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18.09.2025 | 12:49 Today, 17 September, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna submitted a proposal to the government, seeking to extend the existing sanction prohibiting the import and purchase of natural gas from Russia. According to Tsahkna, the aim of the extension is to impose a complete import ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG). "At present, it is permitted to purchase and import liquefied natural gas from Russia provided it is not used within the distribution network," he explained. "Once the amendment enters into force, the import ban will also cover liquefied natural gas imported outside the distribution network." The foreign minister underlined that Russia has not changed its ambitions, instead continuing its aggression in Ukraine and undermining global security. "We will continue to raise the cost of aggression for Russia and seek ways to cut the revenues that fuel its war machine," he said. "Considering Belarus's support for Russia's actions, similar bans will also apply to Belarus." Imports of LNG of Russian origin have also been restricted by Finland, Latvia and Lithuania through various mechanisms, either by border closures or by bans established by law. In parallel, the RePowerEU process has been launched, which calls for ending natural gas and oil imports from the aggressor state. Estonia had already decided in April 2022 to stop using Russian gas. As import volumes are small, the restriction will not have a significant impact on Estonia's economy or business environment. The government approved the extension of the sanction. The ban will enter into force on 1 January 2026, providing market participants with sufficient time to familiarise themselves with the changes and reorganise their operations accordingly. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Visit to Motovilikha Plants On Gunsmith's Day, Vladimir Putin visited the Motovilikha Plants defence enterprise in Perm and congratulated its workers on their professional day. September 19, 2025 16:50 Perm The President is accompanied by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Presidential Aide Alexei Dyumin, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Perm Territory Governor Dmitry Makhonin. Explanations were provided by Tekhnodinamika CEO Igor Nasenkov and Director of Special Design Bureau Yevgeny Arkhipov. Vladimir Putin toured the exhibition of advanced weapons and military equipment. Specifically, he was shown the Derivatsiya-PVO air defence artillery system, designed to engage air targets, and the TOS-2 flamethrower system, which is already being used in the special military operation zone. The President was also shown blueprints for new plant, UEC-Perm Engines, and was informed on the development of critical technologies for aircraft engine manufacturing and the high-thrust engine design programme. Vladimir Putin also had a brief conversation with Motovilikha Plants workers and congratulated them on their professional day. Motovilikha Plants is the oldest operating enterprise in the Western Urals and a core enterprise in Perm, founded in 1736. Today, it is the only full-cycle artillery production facility in the country. Motovilikha Plants' modern military capabilities include the production of advanced barrel artillery and multiple launch rocket systems. * * * Conversation with workers of Motovilikha Plants President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon. Today you celebrate Gunsmith's Day. Please accept my greetings and best wishes. I want to thank you for your work. You know, we tend to think of the defence industry in the same way as we think of doctors: when we fall ill, we turn to doctors; and when hard times come, our first thought is of the defence industry, which we have always been proud of, and with good reason. I hope that your enterprise has also left the hard times behind. You can probably see this yourselves: the situation here, in these production facilities, is very different from what it was a while ago. Now everything has been restored, and everything is working. I hope and believe that the events related to the special military operation will eventually pass but demand for a modern, capable Armed Forces will not diminish. On the contrary, we will carry on developing the Armed Forces to make them modern, compacted, and powerful. And without your efforts, without the defence industry, this would be impossible. Therefore, I would like to thank you for what has already been done. I hope that together we will continue to strengthen the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, ensuring the country's independence and sovereignty. Without your work, this cannot be done. I wish you every success. Thank you very much, and happy Gunsmith's Day. Remark: Thank you! Remark: Mr President, next year our enterprise will celebrate its 290th anniversary. We would be honoured to welcome you as our guest, to see our achievements in this period. We would be delighted to see you. Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much. Your enterprise is truly unique. For almost 300 years, full-cycle artillery systems production has been ongoing here, probably one of the very few in our country, perhaps the only one of its kind. It has a remarkable history. I will do my best to attend. I have no doubt that during this period - a short time, in comparison with your long history - much will be achieved. For certain weapons and products, as you know, our production has grown not by a few percent, but several times over: two, three, ten, fifteen, and for some items, almost thirtyfold. Thirtyfold - just within the space of eighteen months to two years. Quality has also improved: the equipment is modern and in demand. I am confident that many more positive results await your enterprise this year as well. I wish you every success. Remark: We would also like to thank you for taking our company out of bankruptcy, and we extend our thanks to the Ministry of Industry as well. We are very happy that we are now working successfully and developing. On behalf of the entire team thank you. Vladimir Putin: You are welcome. Let me stand with you [to pose for a photo together]. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dmitry Kozak, Longtime Putin Confidant Who Reportedly Opposed Ukraine War, Resigns By Mike Eckel September 18, 2025 Summary Dmitry Kozak, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, has resigned from his role in the Kremlin, according to spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Kozak, who reportedly opposed the Ukraine war, had been a key figure in the Kremlin since Putin's early political career in the 1990s. His departure is rare among senior officials and signals that any dissent regarding the Ukraine is not welcome in the Putin administration. Dmitry Kozak -- a longtime confidant and close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin who reportedly opposed the Ukraine war in its early days -- has resigned from the government, the Kremlin said. Kozak, 66, who served as deputy head of the Kremlin's powerful Presidential Administration, opted to leave on his accord, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on September 18. The announcement followed days of speculation about Kozak, who is one of Putin's longest serving aides, dating back to the Russian leader's early days in politics in the St. Petersburg mayor's office in the 1990s. Departures of senior administration or cabinet officials under Putin are rare. Several Russian news reports said Kozak had been offered a position as the top official for the northwest federal district of Russia, but had declined it. Peskov made no mention of that. Gravel-voiced and often well-coiffed, the Ukrainian-born Kozak rode Putin's coattails into the Kremlin when Putin became president in 2000, and served in multiple high-level roles over the years, including as deputy prime minister for nearly 12 years. He served as the Kremlin's point man organizing the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, which Kremlin saw as a sign of Russia's rightful return to the world stage. After Moscow seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014, and later annexed it, he was sanctioned by the United States and other Western governments. In 2020, Kozak joined the Presidential Administration, which plays a powerful role within the Kremlin. He was also well known as a frequent interlocutor with Western ambassadors and envoys. Some analysts see Kozak's departure as the latest signal that any question about support for the war against Ukraine is unwelcome. In the months leading up to, and in the days immediately after, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022, there were reports of quiet opposition or dissent among some of Putin's close advisers, about the choice to invade. In the days following the invasion, Kozak, who had been appointed the Kremlin lead on the Ukraine issue, privately told Putin he was opposed to it, according to The New York Times. Kozak also reported reportedly worked out the framework for a peace agreement with Ukraine that would have resolved several of the Kremlin's priority demands, according to Reuters. But Putin rejected the plan. Kozak's departure is notable not only because of his longevity as a Putin insider - Putin is known to prize loyalty above all else -- but also because of the relative lack of personnel leaving the Kremlin or the government, either because of opposition to the war or other reasons. Other top officials known to have voiced opposition to the war include Central Bank Chairwoman Elvira Nabiullina, who reportedly submitted her resignation to Putin, but Putin declined to grant it. The top general overseeing the war, General Valery Gerasimov, remains in his position - as chief of the general staff - despite the widespread view that the early months of the Ukraine invasion were a disaster for the Russian armed forces. He turned 70 last week, well past the normal age for retirement for officers. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kozak-resigns-putin-kremlin- ukraine/33533883.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 Putin Marks Another Break From International Norms As Russia Exits Anti-Torture Pact By RFE/RL September 18, 2025 Russia's State Duma has passed a bill to withdraw from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture, formally ending an international commitment to maintain human rights that has in any case almost completely ceased to have any effect in the country. The move was proposed by President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, marking another symbolic step by Moscow away from international norms. Although Russia has been a member of the convention since 1997, civil rights activists have always complained that torture and degrading treatment are widespread in Russian police stations and detention centers. Formally, the convention allowed international monitors access to Russian prisons, but this effectively stopped following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "In practice, tearing up this agreement will have no consequences," Yevgeny Smirnov, a lawyer with Department One, a human rights group, told RFE/RL's Current Time in August when the move was first discussed. "Russia has already stopped implementing anything connected with [the convention]in fact, no conventions that Russia has signed in previous decades are actually working," he added. Russia says that the Council of Europe has blocked its participation in Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and thus Moscow is unable to fully participate in the work of this monitoring mechanism. Russia joined the Council of Europe in February 1996, but was suspended by the organization in February 2022, after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Later it was expelled, although Moscow said it was withdrawing from the council. The 1987 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture is a treaty of the Council of Europe. The council said that despite Russia's suspension, it remains a "party to the relevant Council of Europe conventions." Ukrainian prisoners of war who have been released in exchanges have also reported torture in Russia. "They have none of the guaranteed rights which Russian law (formally) provides for. They are not allowed to see human rights activists, observer missions, lawyers, or relatives. The convention wasn't being observed and will continue to not be observed for these people," said Smirnov. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-withdraws- antitorture-convention/33533784.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 Russia's violations of sovereign airspace are part of a clear and sustained pattern of behaviour: UK statement to the OSCE Speech Ambassador Holland sets out a clear pattern of behaviour from Russia that appears designed to undermine efforts to deliver peace in Ukraine, including intensified bombardment of Ukrainian cities and violations of Polish and Romanian airspace. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Neil Holland Published 18 September 2025 Location: Vienna Delivered on: 18 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Thank you, Madam Chair. At last week's meeting of this Council, we discussed the violation of Polish and NATO airspace by Russian military drones. Most of us condemned this provocative move and underlined our solidarity with Poland - and with Ukraine, whose people have been suffering from relentless Russian bombardments for three and a half years. Over the weekend, Russia again violated NATO airspace when a Russian drone entered Romanian territory. These were, at the very least, reckless actions by Russia. They underline President Putin's disregard for peace and the threat that Russia - and its illegal war in Ukraine - poses to European and international security. These incidents cannot be seen in isolation. They form part of a clear and sustained pattern of Russian behaviour. Since the Alaska summit between President Trump and President Putin on 15 August, Russia has unleashed on Ukrainian cities four of the largest aerial bombardments of the war to date - on one occasion, launching over 800 missiles and drones in a single night. Recent strikes have directly hit the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers and badly damaged the British Council and EU delegation buildings in Kyiv. And now an unprecedented - and repeated - violation of NATO airspace. These actions do not move us closer to peace; they appear designed to undermine negotiations. As US colleagues rightly said at the UN on 12 September, these actions "show immense disrespect for good-faith US efforts to bring an end to this conflict." Madam Chair, the UK stands in full solidarity with Poland, Romania and Ukraine. As my Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said last week ahead of her visit to Kyiv, "The UK will not stand idly by as Putin continues his barbaric invasion of Ukraine. The security of NATO and Ukraine are crucial to the UK's security." Last week the UK also announced another large sanctions package targeting Russia's oil revenues and military machine, including 70 ships from its shadow fleet. We will continue to act with our international partners to increase the economic pressure on Russia. We are now more than 1,300 days into Russia's so-called "Special Military Operation" that was supposed to last three days. Tens of thousands of innocent civilians have been killed and injured. There have been more than one million military casualties. Reconstruction costs have reached the hundreds of billions of US Dollars. We urge Russia to end this illegal war, to cease the reckless provocations, facilitate humanitarian access and engage in meaningful negotiations. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK condemns Russian violations of NATO airspace and confirms support for Poland, Romania and Ukraine: UK Statement to the OSCE Speech Ambassador Neil Holland condemns Russian airspace violations as reckless, provocative and dangerous, regardless of intent. Russia should not underestimate Allied resolve. The UK demands that Russia provides a full and factual explanation of their incursion, to show commitment to de-escalation. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Neil Holland Published 18 September 2025 Location: Vienna Delivered on: 18 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Thank you, Mr Chair. This Forum was mandated by our Ministers to reduce risk and maintain politico-military dialogue, even in crisis. The OSCE possesses an extensive acquis and a robust toolkit to support this mission. But for these mechanisms to be effective, they require genuine political will, transparency, and an honest commitment to the foundational principles of the Helsinki Final Act. Russia's recent airspace violations are deeply concerning. On 9-10 September, at least 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace. This is not an isolated incident. In Romania on 13 September, a drone flew 10km into national territory for nearly 50 minutes. On 7 September, Estonia reported a Russian Mi-8 helicopter violating its airspace over the Baltic Sea. In Latvia, almost exactly a year ago, a Russian drone crashed near Rezekne, having entered from Belarus. In response to the understandable outrage at these airspace violations Russia has said merely that accusations are 'groundless' and that no attacks on targets in Poland were planned. What does this mean? Open-source imagery of these incursions confirms the UK's own assessment: these were Russian drones. So what is groundless about objecting to these violations of numerous core principles? And what should we take from an assurance that no targeting was planned? If unplanned and accidental, they suggest Russia is deploying systems it cannot control. If deliberate, they are obviously provocative and dangerous. Either way, Russia breached sovereign and NATO airspace. Whether intentional or not, Russian incursions into NATO airspace are deeply concerning, and reckless. If Russia is serious about this forum it will recognise that this is the place to explain itself in the interests of stability. Denials and attempts to the diminish the seriousness of this incident are unacceptable. Mr Chair, on 10 September, the UK and NATO Allies expressed full solidarity with Poland. Russia's dangerous actions only serve to strengthen NATO unity and resolve. Just as we stand with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, we also stand with our Polish NATO allies. The UK is fully committed to playing its part in Op EASTERN SENTRY, increasing our military presence with Typhoon fighter jets to help deter Russian aggression and, where needed, defend NATO's airspace. Russia claims to take its commitments to risk reduction seriously. If this is true, then we invite Russia to provide more information to dispel concerns. If this recent incursion was unintentional, what steps is Russia taking to prevent recurrence? And if it was in fact deliberate, what is Russia's intent? The UK remains committed to managing risk, but dialogue in support of this must be grounded in respect for sovereignty, transparency, and the principles we all agreed to uphold. Thank you, Mr Chair. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by High Representative / Vice-President Kallas on the 19th package of sanctions against Russia European Commission Statement Sep 19, 2025 Brussels Today we proposed to Member States the 19th package of sanctions against Russia. In it, we target key sectors sustaining Russia's war effort. Our sanctions bite. They have a visible impact on Russia's public finances and economic growth. The European Union must reinforce these efforts collectively with its partners until peace is achieved. Any source of income for the Kremlin to continue its aggression is a target. Today we propose a full transaction ban on Russian banks and financial institutions, including those operating in third countries. We also propose adding large economic operators involved in the circumvention of sanctions, revenue generation and support for the Russian military industry, as well as the Russian credit card system and fast payments system. We are also proposing a ban on investments in Russian Special Economic Zones linked to the war. And we propose further measures on Chinese actors supporting Russia's military industry. Russia's primary source of income to finance its illegal war is still energy exports. So we propose: a full prohibition of Russian LNG imports by January 2027 lifting remaining exemptions on Rosneft and Gazprom Neft and expanding sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet and its enablers, including 118 new vessels. These new sanctions will also squeeze Russia's access to technologies including AI and geospatial data, as well as critical resources that feed weapons production. This includes those received from foreign suppliers including China and India. On top of waging war in Ukraine, Russian forces continue to tear Ukrainian children from their families and deport them to re-education camps. Today we propose sanctions on individuals involved in the abduction and indoctrination of Ukrainian children. We are also making it easier in the future to adopt sanctions on individuals and organisations involved in these abhorrent acts. Europe wants peace for Ukraine. But despite weeks of diplomatic efforts, Russia only intensifies its aggression and is now breaching the European Union's own borders. Depriving Moscow of the means to wage war is essential to end this war and protect the security of our continent. Russia's aggression cannot continue unchecked. Our message is clear: We will intensify pressure on Russia with increasingly hard-hitting sanctions, coupled with military support for Ukraine, until Russia accepts a genuine, just and lasting peace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission During a working visit to the Perm Territory, Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation at the Motovilikha Plants. September 19, 2025 20:00 Perm President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues. We are holding a Military-Industrial Commission meeting to discuss several issues. The first one concerns the appointment of general designers for the development of weapons, military, and special-purpose equipment, and heads of priority technological areas. Another issue concerns progress of drafting a new State Armament Programme and providing it with resources, and progress of drafting a new State Programme for the Defence-Industrial Complex, and providing it with resources. I would like to begin by saying that today marks Gunsmith Day in Russia. I would like to congratulate all employees of the legendary Ural-based Motovilikha Plants, where we are now, on the occasion of this holiday, and congratulate all former and current employees of our country's defence industry on their professional holiday. Russia - we often mention it, but today we can say so with confidence, since we are aware of the way our defence industry operates - takes pride in the achievements of the defence industry designers, engineers, managers, and workers who create dependable and effective weapons and equipment, contribute to strengthening the defence capability and security of our Motherland, and maintain the balance of power around the world. Importantly, young specialists working in the defence industry cherish and multiply the traditions of their predecessors. Over the past years, the output of highly sought-after weapons and equipment that is used to address the needs of the special military operations has increased exponentially, and their performance specifications have significantly improved based on knowledge from their use in combat. I would like to specifically note that, in addition to defence enterprises, the "people's defence industry," that is, small and medium-sized enterprises, small and medium businesses, and high-tech companies, is participating in creating and improving weapons and equipment. I would like to thank Russian gunsmiths for their honest and responsible work and wish you and your families good health and continued success. We have just reviewed the production facilities of Motovilikha Plants, including modern developments in barrel and rocket artillery, various unmanned systems, and other models of weapons and military equipment. Continuing the theme of aircraft engine manufacturing discussed at the recent meeting in Samara, the management of United Engine Corporation reported and demonstrated ongoing bench tests of advanced engine prototypes. The entire range of products presented today by Perm-based enterprises and their partners represents a significant contribution not only to defence capability but also to strengthening our country's industrial and scientific potential. This year, we have held a series of meetings to examine priorities and parameters for developing Army and Navy weapons systems. Today, we will continue this work and discuss in detail progress in drafting the State Armament Programme for 2027-2036, as well as the State Programme for Developing the Defence Industry. Particular attention will be paid to resource allocation. I would like to reiterate that currently, during the special military operation, defence industry capacities are operating at maximum load. At the same time, we must plan more clearly and for the long term the production of civilian and dual-purpose goods at defence enterprises. Moreover, prior to the start of the special military operation, strong momentum had been achieved in diversifying the defence industry, creating an extensive basis - a substantial, solid foundation. This must also be taken into account when formulating new state programmes. Today, we will approve candidates, as I mentioned earlier, to be vested with the authority of lead designers and heads of priority technological directions for developing weapons and military equipment. These are specialists with extensive professional and executive expertise. I am confident that all tasks they face will be implemented promptly and with excellent results and quality. <> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's Defense Universities Help Russia Offset Sanctions And Export Controls, New Research Shows By Reid Standish September 19, 2025 Summary Chinese defense-linked universities have significantly increased research partnerships with Russian institutions since 2019, according to findings by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). These collaborations provide Moscow access to strategic technologies cut off by Western sanctions, while aiding China's advancements in aerospace research. Key partnerships include Beihang University and the Moscow Aviation Institute, focusing on aircraft engine development, and Xi'an Technological University with the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University on advanced weapons systems. New research shared with RFE/RL shows that leading Chinese universities linked to the country's defense sector have significantly increased their research partnerships with Russian institutions, providing Moscow with access to new technology and expertise that can help counteract Western sanctions applied since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The preliminary findings compiled by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) think tank and cross-referenced by RFE/RL show that all 68 Chinese universities officially described as parts of the country's defense system or supervised by a defense agency have "deepened or dramatically deepened" their research ties with Russia since 2019. This growing collaboration could give Moscow enhanced access to strategic technologies with military applications where China is a global powerhouse, while granting Beijing access to research and development in key sectors like aircraft engine production where Russia remains advanced, the research project's lead author said. "These are all universities tied to defense or the critical and dual-use technology ecosystem in China," Bethany Allen, the head of China investigations at ASPI, told RFE/RL. "This could indirectly aid Russia's war in Ukraine by providing access to innovations and know-how that help offset Western sanctions and export controls." Beijing and Moscow's deepening cooperation through higher education marks another strategic area where their ties have expanded under Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which have grown even deeper since February 2022 when the two men declared a "no limits" partnership ahead of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While cooperation between Chinese and Russian institutions existed before then and is not limited to sectors with defense applications, research cooperation in this area has accelerated against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, with ASPI's preliminary data pointing to growing research partnerships concentrated around aeronautics and drone technology between both countries' leading research bodies. This comes as Western governments aim to limit academic collaboration with both countries and cut them off from access to strategic research. "Russia finds itself cut off from Western scientific research to some extent after the invasion of Ukraine and Chinese research institutes are also facing new restrictions, particularly from the United States," Allen said. "Against that pressure, they've decided it makes sense to cross-pollinate." A Focus On Drones and Advanced Engines The research is part of an ongoing project launched in September by ASPI that tracks links between China's civilian universities and the country's military and security agencies, and the think tank shared its early findings about links between Chinese and Russian institutions with RFE/RL from the yet-to-be-finalized report. China has prioritized building links between its civilian universities and the country's military and security agencies. The country has historically trained its defense scientists through a group of seven leading universities known as the "Seven Sons of National Defense," but China's ecosystem has grown in recent years with an additional 61 universities now officially described as parts of its defense network or supervised by the State Administration of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense, China's defense industry agency. It is universities from this pool that are partnering with Russian research institutions. One notable partnership identified by ASPI is between the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) and Beihang University, which established a joint Master's program in 2017. Beihang's Aero-Engine Research Institute says that the program's goal is to help the aircraft engine sector in China enter a "critical stage of transformation" from "testing and imitating research and development" to "independent development." This collaboration comes with clear benefits for both parties and dual-use applications, from the battlefield in Ukraine to monopolies over future critical technologies. Beihang is one of the "Seven Sons" and is ranked as China's top university for aerospace research, with a particular focus on drone production, drone swarming technology, and advanced aircraft engine research. The United States is currently considered the world leader in advanced aircraft engine research, but China has clear aspirations to claim top spot. China is now responsible for a large portion of leading research in the field and has founded a number of new institutes focused on their advancement. MAI is one of Russia's top aerospace institutes and has spearheaded advanced research on aircraft engines. As Russian arms sales to Beijing have decreased in recent years due China's increasing military self-sufficiency, aircraft engines have remained a steady import, even throughout the war in Ukraine. "China has struggled to produce the most advanced aircraft engines, so this is an area where Russia can help," Allen said. Notable Examples Of China-Russia Research Programs Xi'an Technological University is another "Seven Sons" university that forged new partnerships with Russia. The school focuses on research for advanced weapons systems in conjunction with several Chinese weapons companies and set up a joint training program in 2023 with the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, which has some of Russia's most advanced hydro-aerodynamics labs as well as close ties with Russia's military-industrial complex. The Russian university is heavily involved in the Kremlin's war effort and its leadership has publicly supported the invasion of Ukraine. Its Special Technology Center is currently under US and EU sanctions and it developed the Orlan-10 UAV, one of the main drones used in Russian strikes on Ukraine's critical infrastructure. Another key center for China-Russia research is the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), one of China's most important military research universities, which was sanctioned by the US government in 2020 for its alleged role in procuring items for Beijing's military. While the institute has been home to exchanges and joint research between China and Russia for more than a century, it has expanded its connection with Russian universities in recent years. HIT and the Bauman Moscow State Technical University created the Association of Sino-Russian Technical Universities in 2011 and since then it has expanded into a joint institute that houses 59 undergraduate students who study in both Russia and China. HIT is also training more than 1,500 Chinese and Russian students at a new science education center created with St Petersburg State University. The Chinese university also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology and the Russian Academy of Engineering in 2024, among a long list of growing agreements with Russian institutes. Those deep links led Putin to visit HIT in 2024 as part of a state visit to China where he said the institution was "inseparably connected with Russia." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-russia-xi-putin- military-university-drone-aircraft-engine/33533979.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 Congress Wants To Label Russia A Terrorism Sponsor. Will It Happen? By Todd Prince September 19, 2025 Summary The US Senate is advancing a bipartisan bill to label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism over the transfer of Ukrainian children during the war. The designation would impose further restrictions on Russia, though its economic impact may be limited due to existing sanctions. The bill reflects growing US frustration with Russia's actions, including drone incursions into NATO airspace and ongoing attacks on Ukraine. WASHINGTON -- The US Senate has fast-tracked a bipartisan bill to label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism if it fails to return thousands of Ukrainian children it has "kidnapped, deported, or forcibly removed" during its war against Ukraine. It is the second time lawmakers have proposed such a bill since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Only four countries -- Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Cuba -- are currently designated by Washington as state sponsors of terrorism, a label that carries financial consequences as well as symbolic significance. The bill comes as US lawmakers grow increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has stepped up air attacks on Ukraine in recent months and, many in the West say, has refused to negotiate a peace deal in good faith. Russia earlier this month launched drones that crossed into Polish airspace and Polish forces shot several of them down, the first NATO engagement with Russian weapons since the war began. What Does The Bill Do? If adopted, the Designating the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act would require the US secretary of state to submit a report to Congress within 60 days certifying that children "who were kidnapped, deported, or forcibly removed from Ukrainian territory," including Russian-occupied areas, have been safely reunited with families or guardians and that their full reintegration into Ukrainian society is underway. Kyiv estimates that more than 19,500 Ukrainian children are being held by Russia. If the secretary of state is unable to certify their return, they "shall immediately designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism." What's The Potential Impact? Designation as a state sponsor of terrorism would make it "very difficult for [anyone] to do any above-board business with Russia," Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, one of four sponsors of the bill, said when they introduced the legislation on September 11. But the United States has already imposed sweeping penalties on Moscow, including restrictions on exports of US technology to Russia and thousands of sanctions on key Russian industries, companies and individuals. This means that while adoption of the bill would make it harder to lift sanctions -- something US President Donald Trump has made clear he would like to do if a peace deal is reached -- it would likely only inflict minor damage on Russia's economy unless Trump were to impose secondary sanctions as an additional instrument to blunt the Kremlin's capacity to fight the war. Secondary sanctions penalize foreign countries, companies, and individuals for violating US sanctions, in this case, doing business with Russia. China has played a key role in helping Russia subvert US sanctions: It continues to supply Russia with banned technology and other dual-use goods and it also buys Russian natural resource exports, providing fuel for Russia's war economy. Trump could seek to sanction Chinese companies under the Terrorism Sponsors legislation, but that could undermine one of the main goals of his administration -- securing a trade deal with Beijing. Trump may meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in October to seek to conclude a deal. Moreover, Trump doesn't need this legislation to impose secondary sanctions on those who trade with Russia -- the US president can do that without Congressional approval. Nonetheless, moving ahead with the bill could serve as a signal to Putin that pressure is mounting. "If anything this would be sending a message to the Russians that this is a bipartisan priority," Rachel Ziemba, a sanctions expert at the Center for a New American Security, a think-tank in Washington, told RFE/RL. Why Now? US lawmakers sympathetic to Kyiv have long voiced outrage at the transfer of Ukrainian children living in Moscow-controlled territory to Russia, accusing the Kremlin of trying to destroy Ukrainian identity. The "abduction" of children is "part of Putin's effort to erase Ukraine from the face of the Earth," said Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a co-sponsor of the bill. The International Criminal Court in the Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023 over the "unlawful transfer" of children from occupied parts of Ukraine to Russia, a war crime. The reason for the bill now -- more than 43 months into the full-scale war -- is a growing concern in Congress as Trump's efforts to broker an end to the conflict run up against Russia's refusal to agree to a cease-fire or make concessions. Russia has regularly rained hundreds of drones and missiles down on Ukraine in overnight attacks, often killing and wounding civilians, while pressing forward on the front lines. The incursion into Polish airspace on September 10 was widely seen as a test of NATO's resolve, and another provocative move came on September 19. "They are doing this now because the war is escalating rather than de-escalating. People in Congress and the administration are getting more concerned and upset about Russia," Ziemba said of the bill's backers. Will It Pass? Strong bipartisan support means the bill could pass easily if it's brought to a vote. But that doesn't mean it's destined to become law. Its fate is linked to a question that has persisted since Trump took office for his second term in January: Will he impose additional sanctions on Russia as part of his effort to end its war against Ukraine? Trump, too, has expressed increasing frustration with Putin's recalcitrance, and he has repeatedly said he might hit Moscow with new sanctions. but other than increasing tariffs on Indian imports over its purchases of Russian oil, he has refrained from doing so over the nine months of his term. At times, he has voiced concern that imposing new sanctions would hamper his efforts to bring Putin to the table. While the bill puts an additional weapon to wield against Russia in the US arsenal, it's unclear whether lawmakers will bring it to a vote unless they know Trump feels it's time to lower the boom. "If there was a serious effort to pass it, I don't have any doubts it could be a veto-proof majority if Republicans are willing to defy the president," John Herbst, an analyst at the Atlantic Council think tank who was the US ambassador to Ukraine from 2003 to 2006, told RFE/RL. Lawmakers can override the president's veto on a bill by mustering a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress, but there's no sign Republican leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives have an appetite for such showdown. A bill to impose tough new sanctions against Russia was submitted in the spring and co-sponsored by more than 80 of the 100 US Senators, a display of overwhelming bipartisan backing, has not been brought to a vote. "Nothing's happened because they're all waiting for Trump to give a go-ahead," Herbst said. If the bill is passed and signed by Trump, the power of its punch will depend in part on whether and to what extent he imposes secondary sanctions on countries and companies helping Russia, analysts said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-terror-sponsor-ukraine-us-sanctions/33535012.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks at a meeting of the Business Council under the Foreign Minister, Moscow, September 19, 2025 19 September 2025 12:36 1499-19-09-2025 Colleagues, I am delighted to welcome you at a regular meeting of the Business Council under the Foreign Minister. We regularly meet in this format to discuss international issues of interest for Russian businesses and assess the possibility of promoting the interests of Russian companies in foreign markets, including with due regard for the instruments available to our foreign policy service. Providing diplomatic support to our businesses is a key priority set out in the Concept of the Foreign Policy of Russia approved by President Vladimir Putin in 2023. Today we will discuss issues related to strengthening practical cooperation in Central Asia. Before we get down to our agenda, I would like to say a few words about the issues we regard as most important. First of all, Russia remains a leading trade and economic partner for Central Asian states. Our aggregate trade with them exceeds $45 billion a year. There are about 24,000 companies with Russian capital working in Central Asia. We are implementing joint projects, increasing the share of settlements in national currencies and improving the transport and logistics infrastructure. Three is strong interest in Central Asian states for attracting Russian companies to stimulate local business activity. This is also strengthening economic integration in keeping with agreements reached at the level of presidents and heads of government. We see that our partners are interested in increasing Russian participation in infrastructure projects. A vital element of this is the use of resources of the Eurasian Development Bank and the relevant programmes of the Eurasian Economic Commission. We take into account the fact that a substantial part of the Central Asian countries' material and technical base was created during the Soviet period, when we lived and developed within the framework of a single state. It was a long time ago. That infrastructure has been in operation for a long time, often longer than industry standards allow. In this context, it is logical that the region badly needs modern Russian technologies and equipment. What I mean is that we must become competitive in that market, which is attracting the growing attention of investors from other regions, namely Western and Asian ones. The issue of quality and the ability of promoting one's achievements are becoming especially important here. I would like to mention a number of stories and living examples of successful cooperation, such as the development of the eastern section of the North-South International Transport Corridor and Rosatom's participation in the shaping of a regional nuclear cluster. Russian companies can also report significant achievements in mineral resource development, the construction of industrial and energy facilities, and the provision of digital services. Energy, logistics, the mining and processing industries, as well as digital transition are the most promising spheres in terms of return on investment and the practical progress of these industries in Central Asian countries. The production and processing of critical raw materials, and the creation and implementation of AI technologies is playing a special role in light of current trends, the number of which is increasing in the global economy, science and technology, which we can see in the actions of other countries. In conclusion of my address, I would like to emphasise that we are meeting on the eve of the second Russia-Central Asia summit scheduled for October. It is to be held in Dushanbe in conjunction with the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The heads of five Central Asian states and Russia plan to discuss the entire range of cooperation issues, including trade, the economy, investments, industry, science and technology. I am confident that the decisions and recommendations we will coordinate and, hopefully, approve today will be instrumental in the context of preparations for the upcoming summit meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We encourage the Syrian government to continue to prioritise women's meaningful participation in the political transition and ensure a representative and inclusive political process: UK statement at the UN Security Council Speech Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Dame Barbara Woodward DCMG OBE Published 18 September 2025 Location: United Nations, New York Delivered on: 18 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) The Syrian government has made progress in seeking to foster genuine national reconciliation and in laying the foundations for state institutions that work for, and represent all of Syria. This includes recent steps towards holding indirect elections for the People's Assembly and the efforts of the Supreme Electoral Committee to consult across Syria and guarantee at least 20% of electors are female. We encourage the Government to continue to prioritise women's meaningful participation in the political transition, and to use this opportunity to take further steps to ensure a representative and inclusive political process. We also encourage further concrete progress in the negotiations between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian Government to build towards a unified and more secure Syria. We reiterate our call on Israel to refrain from actions that risk destabilising Syria and to respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The UK welcomes ongoing engagement between Syria and Israel. Dialogue and diplomacy, not military action, will help achieve a more peaceful future for both countries and for the region. We acknowledge the progress made on aid access in Suwayda which USG Feltcher described for us, but call on all parties to focus on a solution for peace. 180,000 people remain displaced in southern Syria, with significant humanitarian needs. We urge prioritising the restoration of critical infrastructure, such as water and electricity, as soon as possible. Likewise, as the new school year starts, we urge the government to assist those displaced to return home so that children can continue their schooling at this critical moment. We welcome the efforts of Syria, Jordan and the United States in developing a roadmap to address the crisis in Suwayda and stabilise Southern Syria. Next week will see the historic visit of President Al Shara'a to the United Nations, where we look forward to hearing more details on his vision for a secure and prosperous Syria that delivers for the rights and needs of all Syrians. We reiterate the importance of this Council taking the necessary measures to bolster Syria's economy, including reforming UN sanctions. The UN can also play a crucial role in supporting Syria's transition, and in this regard, we look forward to hearing from the Secretary General on his recommendations for the UN's future role and footprint in Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fragile progress in Syria, at risk from exclusion and foreign interference, UN warns By Vibhu Mishra 18 September 2025 - Syria's tentative steps towards recovery could quickly unravel without inclusive politics, sustained aid and respect for national sovereignty, top UN officials cautioned the Security Council on Thursday. They warned that foreign military action, political exclusion and dwindling resources threaten to undo fragile gains. UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen - who announced that he will be stepping down from his role during the meeting - told ambassadors that interim authorities in Damascus have inherited "not just the ruins of shattered buildings, but the deeper wreckage of a battered social fabric, decayed institutions and a hollowed-out economy." He stressed that the success of Syria's transition will depend on political stability, inclusivity and international support at a scale commensurate with the country's needs. "The international community must support Syria and robustly stand against foreign intervention," he said. "But equally: the success of the transition will above all rest on the State acting as a State for all, not just in word but also in deed." Call to bar interlopers Mr. Pedersen urged respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity amid ongoing external military action, including further reported Israeli strikes this month. Any security concerns, he said, must be addressed through diplomacy, warning that mishandling them could leave Syria "indefinitely gridlocked, unable to heal or rebuild - and at worst, slipping into fresh waves of strife and external intervention." He pointed to the Druze-minority region of Sweida - where a ceasefire following brutal clashes has largely held since July - and welcomed a roadmap agreed last week by Syria, Jordan and the United States to address accountability, humanitarian access and reconciliation. But he cautioned that fears within the Druze community must be addressed through dialogue and confidence-building. He also highlighted reports of abuses in Damascus neighbourhoods and calls for accountability in Sweida - and along the coast following sectarian violence there. "The Syrian public needs to see that abuses are both acknowledged and addressed in accordance with international standards," he said. Humanitarian emergency continues Speaking alongside Mr. Pedersen, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher described Syria as "one of the largest humanitarian emergencies globally." More than 70 per cent of the population requires some form of aid, nine million are acutely food insecure seven million remain displaced inside the country and four million refugees abroad. Despite these figures, he highlighted signs of progress. Thanks to more practical engagement with the interim authorities, aid is now reaching communities inaccessible a year ago. "Movements that last year would have required lengthy navigation of frontlines are happening routinely," Mr. Fletcher said, citing food assistance for one million people each month and subsidized bread for two million more. Nearly 900,000 refugees and 1.9 million internally displaced people have returned to their communities since December, though many face destroyed housing, lack of jobs and insecurity. Funding gaps remain Funding gaps however threaten these gains, with the UN's humanitarian appeal for Syria only 18 per cent funded. The shortfall has forced closures of hospitals, safe spaces for women and community centres. "Just when organizations are seeking to expand their operations and have the opportunity to work more efficiently, they are instead forced to cut programmes, reduce support, lose staff," Mr. Fletcher warned. 'Unity is within reach' Both officials warned that Syria's fragile moment of progress could easily unravel. "If this central challenge is mishandled, the consequences could be dire," Mr. Pedersen cautioned. "But if met with genuine negotiation and bold compromise, unity is within reach and success against the odds is possible." Mr. Fletcher echoed that message, urging Member States to "preserve stability, fund the humanitarian response and enable Syrian-led recovery." "This time next year," he added, "I want to report that we are substantially scaling down our emergency humanitarian operations in Syria - not because funding cuts have forced our hand, but because the international community has made the necessary investments in Syria's future." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Relief Chief urges Security Council to back Syrian-led recovery with urgent investment UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria by Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator New York, 18 September 2025 As delivered Thank you, Mr. President. As ever, Special Envoy Pedersen has set out - compellingly - the political stakes and the case for success against the odds. A warm welcome to the new Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic. Your appointment comes at a critical time for Syria. As I told this Council last month, the international community has been resolute about the need to sustain momentum in support of recovery and hope for the people of Syria. The General Assembly High-Level Week, including this historic visit, will be a critical moment. In advance, I propose to take a step back and reflect on where we are on humanitarian effort, what actions the UN and its humanitarian partners have been taking, and what we need from you to do more. Despite the profound changes underway in Syria, and the opportunities that these have generated, Syria remains by any metric one of the largest humanitarian emergencies globally. More than 70 per cent of the population still needs some form of humanitarian aid. More than 9 million people are acutely food insecure. Some 7 million people are displaced internally, more than 4 million are refugees in neighbouring countries. But, let me share three positives: Firstly, thanks to a more collaborative, practical engagement that we have with the authorities, in Damascus and beyond, we can now get aid where it's needed within the country much more easily than under the former regime. Movements that last year would have required lengthy, onerous navigation of front lines are now happening routinely. With the consent of the Syrian interim authorities, aid dispatched from Turkiye supports activities throughout the country. There are some communities in Syria that have started to receive UN support for the first time in years. Secondly, we have adapted our structures to the new context. Over six months, we shifted to a much more efficient coordination model based in Damascus, under the leadership of our Humanitarian Coordinator, with sub-national hubs. Thirdly, the easing of unilateral sanctions is removing hurdles to the reconstruction work, and that will bring down humanitarian needs further. More carveouts, including for more development activities, will be welcome. Through these efforts and despite severe reductions in funding - the UN and our partners are getting critical humanitarian assistance to nearly 3.5 million people across Syria, on average, every month. This represents a 25 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. We are getting life-saving help to displaced people and other vulnerable communities. This includes food aid for 1 million people and subsidized bread for 2 million more each month; medical procedures for 2 million each month; support for the public health surveillance system; and a national immunization programme that reached over 1.7 million children under the age of 5. We are also providing basic support like water trucking, shelter and healthcare to people, largely women and children, in displacement camps in the north, including Al-Hol and Al-Roj. We are prioritizing emergency response as needed. Following the escalation in violence in the South, we have now delivered assistance to over 430,000 people per month in As-Sweida, Dar'a and Rural Damascus. We continue delivering aid to As-Sweida through convoys organized with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. While we are still navigating a tense security environment there, our deliveries and staff movements have become more regular over the past month, now using the re-opened highway from Damascus. In fact, our team are on the ground there today, and we are now reaching most of our target population in the south. I join the Special Envoy in welcoming the roadmap agreement announced this week by Syria, Jordan and the United States. Our team in Damascus will continue to coordinate with authorities on sustaining and expanding the flow of aid. I hope this also lays the groundwork for further stabilization that facilitates full resumption of commercial routes to As-Sweida and, very importantly, functioning markets. These corridors are essential to maintain the flow of goods, stabilize markets, and reduce the reliance on humanitarian aid. At the same time, we are also working alongside authorities to prioritize more sustainable interventions, throughout the country, that strengthen institutional capacities. WHO, UNICEF and partners are helping to rehabilitate hospitals and health centres throughout the country, supporting the transition to the Syrian interim authorities. UNICEF and partners are rehabilitating water stations, wells and sewer networks to ensure reliable access to clean and safe water. WFP, FAO and partners are working with national authorities to strengthen social safety nets, support the rehabilitation of critical irrigation infrastructure and of the bread value chain to ensure the continuous production of fresh bread. And, as I mentioned when I briefed this Council from Damascus in December, Syria's women continue to have a vital, indispensable role in delivering humanitarian assistance and in supporting Syria's recovery - I look forward to hear more on this theme from the next briefer. Mr. President, Despite this progress, I warn again we risk missing a rare opportunity for the people of Syria. Our humanitarian appeal this year is only 18 per cent funded, meaning we can reach just a fraction of those in need. Just when organizations are seeking to expand their operations and have the opportunity to work more efficiently, they are instead forced to cut programmes, reduce support, lose staff. Hospitals, community centres, and safe spaces for women and girls have been closed as a consequence of funding cuts - exacerbating protection risks, including of more early marriage and gender-based violence. And while announcements of investment agreements are encouraging, tangible and targeted development projects are still slow to materialize. This real but fragile opportunity that we have is especially stark when we consider the millions of Syrians who have been uprooted by years of conflict. Since December, over 900,000 refugees and some 1.9 million people displaced internally have returned to their home areas. We are working with them to help them meet basic needs, rebuild damaged homes, and build livelihoods, clear munitions. As one example: In June and July, 305 people with urgent medical needs voluntarily departed Al-Hol camp for Ar-Raqqa, Aleppo and Homs governorates. Several UN agencies supported the organization of the movement and assistance upon arrival, including dignity kits for women and girls, solar lights and other household items, and ready-to-eat meals. But without more funding, these efforts will fall short, threatening the sustainability of these returns. The shift from the warmer summer months to the biting cold of winter adds to the urgency. According to UNHCR, about 18 per cent of Syrian refugees in the region plan to return to Syria within the next year. That is a major increase from this time last year, but it is fewer than earlier in the year. Among the key barriers cited by those surveyed are lack of housing, access to livelihoods and employment, and security concerns. We need to make those priorities. Mr. President, Our Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Damascus, Mr. Adam Abdelmoula, concluded his term last week. In his parting remarks, he recognized the difficulties that still lie ahead, but emphasized his optimism, grounded in the strength and resilience of the Syrian people. This will require our collective, active, sustained support. This time next year, I want to report that we are substantially scaling down our emergency humanitarian operations in Syria. Not because funding cuts have forced our hand, but because the international community has made the necessary investments in Syria's future and in Syrian leadership. So let me conclude by reiterating my key asks to help us get to that point: First, preserve stability. Only sustained engagement to prevent renewed violence can create conditions for genuine recovery. Second, fund the humanitarian response. Help us capitalize on access to surge more support in the coming months to save more lives and help more Syrian return home. Third, enable Syrian-led recovery. Translate pledges into concrete investment and expand support for large-scale recovery, reconstruction and development programmes, creating livelihoods, rebuilding homes and restoring essential services. And ultimately, restoring hope for Syrians. But also, as we prepare for one of the most consequential UN High-Level Weeks in a generation, for all of us who believe that diplomacy has not lost its value and its vigour. Thank you, Mr. President. Posted on 18 September 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria Needs Global Support to Address 'Massive Legacy of War, Autocracy', Special Envoy Tells Security Council, as He Announces Resignation Meetings Coverage Security Council 9999th Meeting (AM) SC/16173 18 September 2025 Syrian authorities must prioritize genuine political reforms and build a Government that serves all Syrians, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, as he called on the international community to provide sanctions relief, support domestic reforms and halt foreign interventions to ensure the country's successful transition. "The interim authorities in Damascus are grappling with a massive legacy of war and autocracy," underscored Geir O. Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, urging "material assistance on a scale commensurate with its needs". He stated that the country's new interim authorities have inherited not just a war-torn landscape, but also a fractured society and a crippled economy. Political stability is also needed, he underscored, noting that Syria is currently without a legislature. He urged the establishment of a credible interim legislative body and called for the upcoming indirect parliamentary elections to follow "realistic timelines" and to be transparent and inclusive. Turning to the security situation, he said that while a ceasefire in Sweida "has largely held", tensions remain. A committee aligned with Sheikh Hikmet al-Hijri rejected the 16 September joint statement by the United States, Jordan and Syria, which provided for a road map, calling instead for "self-administration or secession". Any solution must safeguard Syria's sovereignty and unity while addressing the "legitimate and understandable fears" of the Druze community, he emphasized. "The international community must support Syria and robustly stand against foreign intervention," he underscored. Citing an Israeli strike that killed Syrian soldiers, he said Israel's further intervention this month is "unacceptable and must stop". He also appealed to Member States to engage more in the repatriation of their nationals from the Al-Hol camp. Moreover, the success of the transition will above all rest on "the State acting as a State for all not just in word but also in deed", he stressed. Human rights abuses must be addressed and accountability ensured, he said, welcoming Syria's invitation for the UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate recent events. Urging the forging of a genuine Syrian consensus, he said all Syrians must be enabled to voice their views, including their fears and political dissent, and to find genuine representation in the political transition. If this central challenge is mishandled, Syria may find itself "at worst, slipping into fresh waves of strife and external intervention", he warned. He later announced his intention to step down as Special Envoy for Syria, after more than six and a half years, voicing hope that the Syrian people's "new dawn [] becomes a bright day". Syria Remains among Worst Humanitarian Emergencies "Despite the profound changes under way in Syria, it remains one of the largest humanitarian emergencies globally, with more than 70 per cent of the population requiring aid," said Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. Some 9 million people are acutely food insecure and 7 million still internally displaced. However, aid deliveries have improved, reaching communities "for the first time in years". This progress, he said, is due to a more collaborative engagement with the authorities in Damascus and beyond, and the easing of unilateral sanctions, which is "removing hurdles". He noted the UN's wide-ranging support, including the delivery of food aid for 1 million people and subsided bread for 1 million more people each month; medical procedures for 2 million each month; and a national immunization programme that reached over 1.7 million children under age five. Still, this year's humanitarian appeal is "only 18 per cent funded", forcing closures of hospitals, community centres and safe spaces for women and girls. And while returns have begun since December, over 860,000 refugees and some 1.9 million internally displaced have returned to their home areas the sustainability of these returns is threatened, he added. He urged the Council to preserve stability, fund the humanitarian response and help capitalize on access to surge more support in the coming months. It is important to translate pledges into concrete investment and expand support for large-scale recovery, reconstruction, and development programmes, he said. Ultimately, the goal is to shift from emergency aid to rebuilding lives. Civil Society Representative: 'When Women Rise, Society Rises' Also briefing the Council was Majd Chourbaji, Syrian entrepreneur, director of a non-governmental organization and civic activist promoting peaceful dialogue. She noted that while Syria is free from the tyranny of the previous regime, anxiety remains, especially with "nearly 200,000 forcibly disappeared and 14,000,000 refugees, more than half of them internally displaced persons". The Syrian cause "will not be settled until justice is achieved", she emphasized. Syria stands "at a delicate juncture", where "any failure could undo the enormous sacrifices made by our people", she underscored. The success of the political transition must be based on citizenship rights without discrimination. As a native of Darayya "the cradle of the Syrian revolution" she recalled her experience as a tortured detainee who led a hunger strike resulting in the release of 83 detainees. "This experience has taught me that human strength is not measured by the ability to scream or retaliate", but "to stand firm, uphold justice and show mercy", she stated. Highlighting her mission to empower Syrian women intellectually, economically and politically, she emphasized that "when women rise, society as a whole rises". Recalling the old regime's legacy of corruption and favouritism, she called on the Council to prevent any attempts to destabilize Syria. She also urged her Government to ensure that the political transition process is inclusive "and that women and all religious and ethnic components of the Syrian society can participate". While Syria is now "free from tyranny", the country is "at historic crossroads let's share the responsibility", she stressed. In the ensuing debate, speakers welcomed progress in Syria, while echoing briefers' calls for an inclusive political process and international support for the country's recovery. The United States representative stressed that Syria's future success requires its leaders to ensure that "every Syrian has a voice" in governance, protect all citizens regardless of ethnicity or religion, and maintain "zero tolerance for abuses". Urging support for Syria's stabilization and reconstruction, she noted that her country is removing barriers previously imposed by its sanctions. The easing of licensing requirements in August, for example, have accelerated the rebuilding of critical infrastructure, including telecommunications and sanitation, she said. Panama's representative underscored the need for transparent and inclusive parliamentary elections, which should be held "when the circumstances are appropriate". Noting the minimal political participation of women, he urged all parties to implement concrete measures to ensure that voices of women can be heard and empowered. "The lasting stability of Syria will only be possible if women can participate equitably and safely in public life," he underscored. "We expect the political transition to include all Syrians, Muslims, Christians, Druze, Kurds and importantly women", echoed the representative of Greece later in the meeting. Delegations also voiced concern about the security situation in the country and echoed calls to respect Syria's sovereignty. Algeria's representative, who spoke also for Guyana, Sierra Leone and Somalia, called for a nationwide ceasefire and stressed that "arms must be under the exclusive authority of the Syrian State". He warned that continued confrontation could lead to a resurgence of terrorism, particularly Da'esh. On that note, Turkiye's delegate called for national security to be ensured through a unified military under a single, central-authority-led chain of command. China's representative, stressing that "Syria cannot afford another breakout of massive violence", emphasized the urgency of resolutely combating terrorism in all its forms. Joining the representatives of France and Pakistan who voiced concern about foreign terrorist fighters operating in Syria, he said the country should take necessary measures to combat all Council-listed terrorist organizations leaving no room for shielding and condoning terrorism or exploiting it for political purposes. Caution against Using Syria as Geopolitical Battleground "We are fundamentally opposed to the use of Syrian territory as a battleground for geopolitical rivalry and the settling of scores among States," underscored the Russian Federation's delegate. He called out Israel for taking full advantage of the turbulent power transition, occupying vast areas in the south since December 2024, carrying out regular strikes on its territory, and openly interfering in its internal affairs. Israeli forces must immediately withdrawal from the occupied territories and a return to compliance with the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement in the Golan Heights, he stressed. Similarly, Iraq's representative, on behalf of the Arab Group, condemned Israel's repeated attacks on Syrian territory. He rejected "any pretexts to justify these aggressive policies", and urged the Council to enforce relevant resolutions, including the withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan. Iran's representative added that unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria for years "gravely hinder recovery, obstruct reconstruction and exacerbate the suffering of the Syrian people" and "must be lifted in their entirety without condition". The United Kingdom's delegate welcomed ongoing engagement between Syria and Israel, noting that "dialogue and diplomacy, not military action, will help achieve a more peaceful future for both countries and the region". However, the representative of the Republic of Korea, Council President for the month, who spoke in his national capacity, pointed out that "while the security talks between Syria and Israel have given the international community a glimmer of hope", Israeli Defense Forces airstrike and ground incursions in recent days "give little optimism for a better tomorrow". Meanwhile, Slovenia's delegate welcomed the road map between Syria, Jordan, and the United States aimed at resolving the crisis and called on all actors to refrain from any actions that could escalate conflict and prolong the military action. He also emphasized that equal protection from the State, accountability and transitional justice must be central to national efforts a point also echoed by other delegations, including France. Syria Moving towards Reconstruction For his part, Syria's representative emphasized that Damascus' ongoing "good faith" initiatives culminated in the adoption of a road map to address the situation in Suweida and guarantee stability in southern Syria. Yesterday, he sent a letter requesting that this road map be adopted as an official Security Council document. Calling it a "a historic precedent", he said the first item of the road map calls on the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria to investigate the latest events and hold accountable all perpetrators of violations. The road map also aims to build trust, strengthen national reconciliation, guarantee the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and restore basic services. Condemning Israel's repeated attacks, he called on the Council to take immediate action to prevent their recurrence and compel that country to withdraw its forces from Syrian territory and end its occupation of the Syrian Golan. Noting that Damascus is continuing efforts to hold elections tailored to the specific challenges of the post-conflict period to fill the legislative gap, he stated: "Syria today is moving forward towards recovery and reconstruction, overcoming one phase after another." While Syria is a completely different country now than it was before 8 December, said Denmark's delegate, "much remains to be done". She expressed hope that President Al-Sharaa's participation in the General Assembly next week will mark the beginning of a new and stronger relationship between Syria and the UN, supporting a new framework for the Organization's presence in the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM's remarks at State Visit press conference: 18 September 2025 Speech Prime Minister Keir Starmer's remarks at the State Visit press conference at Chequers. From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Published 18 September 2025 Location: Chequers Delivered on: 18 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Mr President - it's a pleasure to welcome you to Chequers. This historic second state visit - Is a moment to celebrate the unique bond between our two countries. But today we've gone far beyond that - We have renewed the special relationship for a new era. The United Kingdom and the United States stand together today As first partners on defence First partners in trade - with the groundbreaking deal we struck in May And now - with the new agreement that we have just signed this afternoon - We are confirming our status As first partners in science and technology Ready to define this century together - Just as we did the last. This Tech Partnership has the power to change lives It's our chance to ensure that technologies like AI, quantum and others amplify human potential Solve problems, Cure diseases, Make us richer and freer Strengthen the cause of democracy, not tyranny. This is the territory on which the future will be won. So this partnership today is a signal - Of our determination to win this race, together - And to ensure it brings real benefits In jobs In growth In lower bills - To put more hard-earned cash in people's pockets at the end of each month. That's what we're determined to deliver. And we're bringing businesses with us. We have just come from a fantastic meeting with business leaders where we set out this vision. They have responded with new deals and investment breaking every record that we have. 250 billion flowing both ways across the Atlantic That is a record Expected to create over 15,000 jobs here in the United Kingdom - High-skilled jobs In cutting-edge sectors Where people can build careers for the long term Changing lives in communities up and down our country. And look - While we shape this bond for a new era - The fundamentals have not changed. Security remains the cornerstone of this special relationship. We have the deepest, most advanced defence relationship in the world. Our warriors train together and they fight together Our industries build together - Everything from fast jets, To the new AUKUS-class submarines. So now, as we drive up defence spending - We are going to sweep away the barriers to working together on new defence technologies - So that we stay ahead of our adversaries. We are united in defence and security - yes, absolutely - But we're also united in the pursuit of peace. We are working together To end the humanitarian catastrophe in the Middle East Get the aid in Free the hostages And ultimately bring Israel and the region Back towards a comprehensive plan Which can deliver peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. We are also working together to end the killing in Ukraine. In recent days Putin has shown his true face Mounting the biggest attacks since the invasion began With yet more bloodshed Yet more innocents killed And unprecedented violations of NATO airspace. These are not the actions of someone who wants peace. So we have discussed today how we can build our defences further Support Ukraine And decisively increase the pressure on Putin To get him to agree a peace deal that will last. President Trump, you have led the way here. And we will continue to stand and work together For security and for peace. Mr President - Next year we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. We've come on quite a journey together since 1776. But it is no exaggeration To say that the partnership our two nations have built Has shaped the world. From the beaches of Normandy To the founding of NATO To the creation of technologies that have revolutionised our lives Time and time again It is British and American men and women side by side Changing the path of history And turning it towards our values Towards freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. In Britain we take huge pride in that. And let's be clear - This relationship is not just about history. It's about the future. It's about the benefits it delivers now and for decades to come To make our people safer and better off. We have shown today that we are delivering those benefits Improving people's lives So we will go into that anniversary year More optimistic than ever And more confident than ever About our two great nations and what they can achieve, side by side. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Jobs boost as UK set to build military aircraft for United States for first time in over fifty years Press release More than 150 jobs to be created in Birmingham by new contract to deliver advanced surveillance aircraft for US Air Force, with a further 190 jobs supported across the UK From: Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon John Healey MP Published 18 September 2025 More than 150 jobs to be created in Birmingham by new contract to deliver advanced surveillance aircraft for US Air Force, with a further 190 jobs supported across the UK Contract delivers an additional over 36M to UK economy and cements world-leading status of Britain's defence industry which will help build military aircraft in the UK for the United States for the first time in over fifty years Builds on UK-US special relationship, deepening defence industrial ties and boosting national security while making defence an engine for growth For the first time in over fifty years, Britain will help build military aircraft under contract for the US Air Force. A new contract between the UK and Boeing will create more than 150 new jobs in Birmingham and secures a further 190 jobs across the UK. It will see two existing Boeing 737 passenger aircraft significantly overhauled and upgraded to create two highly advanced prototype early-warning surveillance aircraft. The contract delivers an additional over 36M to the UK economy. The UK has already ordered three state-of-the-art Boeing E-7 Wedgetail early-warning aircraft, which will form a vital cornerstone of the UK's national defence by using radar and sensors to detect incoming hostile aircraft, missiles, or drones, from more than 300 miles away. Wedgetail is scheduled to enter service with the Royal Air Force in 2026. Currently, the E-7 Wedgetail programme supports 190 highly skilled jobs in Britain, with 130 of those based in Birmingham. As Boeing expands its production line, the new 150 jobs in the UK will modify two prototype E-7A Wedgetail aircraft using the airframe from new commercial aircraft which will be the first E-7A models received by the US. The announcement comes after the launch of the Defence Industrial Strategy last week, which set out 250 million of new funding for new defence growth deals across the UK, and 182m to fund a new skills package to be delivered by five new defence technical excellence colleges to train and upskill thousands of workers. Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said: The relationship between the UK and US has never been stronger, and this new deal with Boeing creates and supports hundreds of jobs across the UK - making defence an engine for growth and strengthening our collective security. This deal is a vote of confidence in Britain's world-leading defence industry and delivers on the commitments set out in our Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy, making us secure at home and strong abroad. The deal benefits both UK and US national security by strengthening the special relationship, while developing the fleet of surveillance aircraft both nations will share in the future - building skills among the workforce while ensuring military operations are more coordinated as a result of using the same systems. More than 40 UK-based suppliers are involved in the UK E-7 programme, including the construction of two new engineering facilities at RAF Lossiemouth, built with local Scottish suppliers. US companies also stand to benefit from the deal, with several major defence firms building individual parts to contribute to the global E-7 supply chain. Hundreds of American workers and engineers across the US will then continue to support the aircraft when it is delivered for final assembly and check out. The Royal Air Force's own fleet of E-7 Wedgetail aircraft are currently being fitted out at the modification facility in Birmingham ahead of delivery of the first aircraft in 2026. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New strategic partnership to unlock billions and boost military AI and innovation Press release The UK will be at the leading edge of defence innovation as the government signs a new partnership with Palantir to unlock billions in investment and deliver on the Government's Plan for Change. From: Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon John Healey MP Published 18 September 2025 New strategic partnership with Palantir to unlock up to 1.5bn investment into the UK to deliver new jobs, growth and national security. Palantir announces plans to make the UK its European HQ for defence and create up to 350 new high-skilled jobs, cementing the UK as a state-of-the-art defence technology hub. Palantir and UK military to develop AI-powered capabilities already tested in Ukraine to speed up decision making, military planning and targeting. It will see Palantir invest up to 1.5bn to help make the UK a defence innovation leader and create up to 350 new jobs, making defence an engine for growth. The new partnership, signed today (18 September) by Defence Secretary John Healey, will help the UK military develop the latest digital tools and harness AI technology to accelerate decision making, improve targeting and keep the British people safe from evolving threats. Palantir has also announced plans for London to become the base for Palantir's European defence business, establishing Britain as a hub for defence technology innovation across Europe. The arrangement will also support the growth of British Defence Tech companies across the supply chain, with Palantir helping to mentor and develop UK companies. This will include helping British defence start-ups and SMEs to expand into US markets, including an offering on a pro bono basis. Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: This partnership is a major vote of confidence in UK leadership in defence, data and AI technology and as an ideal location for companies to invest and expand. By harnessing the power of AI, we will boost the effectiveness of our Armed Forces, ensuring they have the tools they need to keep the British people safe. The work will unlock billions of pounds of investment into UK innovation, creating hundreds of skilled UK jobs and making defence the leading edge of innovation in NATO. Palantir and the UK military will work together to transform lethality on the battlefield, supporting the development of data and AI-powered capabilities across data analysis, intelligence, decision support and targeting systems. This will see the government delivering on a key theme of the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy: to make the UK the leading edge of innovation in NATO. Some of these new capabilities will support development of what is known as the 'kill chain', whereby military planners fuse a wide range of information and data sources from open source and military platforms to provide military commanders with faster options for attacking an enemy target. This would form an element of the Digital Targeting Web, announced in the Strategic Defence Review, which will have a large and diverse supplier ecosystem. Cutting-edge data and AI tech, which is already being proven on the battlefield in Ukraine, speeds up this planning by fusing together sensitive information to rapidly produce a plan to target and attack the enemy. The partnership will identify opportunities with UK Defence which could be worth up to 750 million over the next five years, showing that the UK is in a strong position to be a digital, data and AI world leader. Today's announcement builds on the world-leading Tech Prosperity Deal signed by President Trump of the United States and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Palantir CEO Alex Karp said: This partnership reflects our deep commitment to the UK. It will see up to 750m invested in the most advanced AI-enabled defence technology, honed on the battlefield in Ukraine and used extensively by the US and NATO. It will reinforce the UK's position as a major military force protecting the West from our adversaries. And it will underline the UK's status as our largest presence outside of the US. Building on its existing UK workforce of around 1,000, Palantir has committed to hiring up to 200 new UK staff and up to 150 jobs in the broader UK defence technology sector to deliver Ministry of Defence programmes. This investment in UK talent will strengthen Britain's expertise in cutting-edge defence technologies and support many more well-paid, skilled employment opportunities across the UK that contribute to economic growth - key pillars of the Defence Industrial Strategy, published last week. Palantir will provide technical support for software deployment within UK Defence and develop capabilities that will allow UK-developed software to deploy into US and international markets. As part of this, Palantir will mentor UK small and medium enterprises and other AI businesses to develop innovative products and solutions. The company will also continue to support Defence in the implementation of the Defence Digital and Data Strategy, helping transform MOD into a truly data-centric organisation where every soldier, analyst, and commander can seamlessly access and exploit data. It will ensure data remains sovereign, freely available across MOD to be exploited wherever it is needed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK fighter jets begin NATO air defence missions to bolster European security Press release Royal Air Force Typhoon patrolled the skies over Poland as part of NATO's Eastern Sentry mission From: Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon John Healey MP Published 20 September 2025 Royal Air Force Typhoons have flown their first NATO air defence sortie over Poland as part of NATO's Eastern Sentry, strengthening the Alliance's defences on its eastern flank following a reckless Russian drone incursion. Two British fighter jets took off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Friday night, supported by an RAF Voyager aircraft, to patrol Polish skies and deter and defend against aerial threats from Russia, including drones. They returned safely to the UK early Saturday morning. This first operational mission follows the reckless and dangerous incursion by Russian drones into Polish sovereign airspace - the most significant violation of NATO airspace by President Putin to date since his illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine - and further breaches of NATO airspace by Russian jets and a drone over the past week. On Monday, the Defence Secretary visited RAF Brize Norton, home of the Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft, to announce the UK's contribution. He met with some of the RAF personnel who are among more than 400 personnel set to directly support these missions. The UK operation comes as the UK marks the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain this weekend, with the UK and Poland sharing a poignant history. Just as during the Battle of Britain, when Polish pilots came to the aid of the UK forming one of the largest and most successful foreign contingents in the RAF, the UK is now standing side by side with the UK's Polish allies in the face of Russian aggression. The UK commitment follows last week's North Atlantic Council meeting where Allies expressed full solidarity with Poland after it requested consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty. Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said: RAF Typhoons have now flown their first air defence mission over Poland, sending a clear signal: NATO airspace will be defended. I'm proud of the outstanding British pilots and air crew who took part in this successful operation to defend our Allies from reckless Russian aggression. This weekend, as we honour the heroism of the Battle of Britain generation, it is especially poignant that RAF pilots and crew are once again standing shoulder to shoulder with Poland in defence of our shared security - making us secure at home and strong abroad. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, said: Our partnership with NATO has never been stronger. This sortie marks the RAF's first operational mission on Eastern Sentry, reinforcing the UK's steadfast commitment to NATO and its allies. RAF Typhoons, supported by Voyager air-air refuelling aircraft, joined allies along the eastern flank to bolster NATO's defence and deterrence. We remain agile, integrated, and ready to project airpower at range. This new era of threat - exemplified by Russia's intensifying airspace violations - requires a new era for Defence, and the government is delivering the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, to 2.6% of GDP by April 2027. The UK's national security , the foundation of the government's Plan for Change, starts with an unwavering commitment to NATO and Euro-Atlantic security. The UK's commitment to NATO is unshakeable. British Armed Forces continue to play a leading role in the Alliance, from the Army's continuing presence in Estonia as part of NATO's Forward Land Forces, to the RAF's enduring air policing missions in Europe. Over the past 18 months, the RAF has deployed Typhoons to both Poland and Romania to protect NATO airspace. Typhoons are equipped with advanced sensors and infrared-guided ASRAAM missiles (Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles), making them ideally suited to detecting, monitoring and intercepting potential aerial threats. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Register of Damage for Ukraine announces launch of claims categories concerning the forcible transfer or deportation of children and adults Council of Europe Register of Damage for Ukraine The Hague 18 September 2025 The Register of Damage for Ukraine has officially launched a new claims categories: A2.8 & A.2.9 - Forcible Transfer or Deportation of Children and Adults. These categories are designated for individuals - both children and adults - who were forcibly transferred within Ukraine or deported outside of Ukraine, caused by the Russian Federation's internationally wrongful acts. Category A2.8 Forcible Transfer or Deportation of Children is for claims in relation to forcible transfer of children in Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, included temporary occupied territories, or deportation outside of Ukraine, in particular to the Russian Federation or third countries, on or after 24 February 2022. A child is an individual who at the time of the event in question was below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority was attained earlier. Category A2.9 Forcible Transfer or Deportation of Adults is for claims related to individuals, who also were forcibly transferred within Ukraine or deported outside of Ukraine, caused by the Russian Federation's internationally wrongful acts on or after 24 February 2022. Claims in categories A2.8 and A2.9 relate to the fact of the forcible transfer or the deportation of children and adults. To submit a laim, an individual needs to provide all information and submit any available evidence of forcible transfer or deportation in support of their laims. Some information will be drawn from various existing electronic sources. One Claim may be submitted by or on behalf of each forcibly transferred or deported person. At present, claims on behalf of minor children may be submitted by their parents, provided parenthood has been confirmed through the Civil Status Register. Claims on behalf of persons under guardianship may subsequently be submitted through the Centres for Provision of Administrative Services in accordance with the Rules on the Use of Representatives. The Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the situation of children of Ukraine, Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir, said: "The decision by the Register of Damage for Ukraine to launch the new claims category on the forcible transfer or deportation of children, is a recognition of the pain, the trauma, and the rights of the youngest victims of this war. As Special Envoy, I will do everything in my power to strengthen the protection of Ukrainian children and close co-operation with the Register of Damage is central to that effort and to my mandate. There will be no justice unless the plight of the Ukrainian people, including those most vulnerable, the children, is effectively addressed. And without the prospect of justice, any promise of rebuilding Ukraine will be empty. The new claims category is another step towards bringing the Russian Federation to account for the crimes they have committed against Ukraine and its people, towards sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine." How to Submit Claims Claims to the Register can be submitted via the Diia web portal. Diia is a mobile application and portal created by the Government of Ukraine that provides easy, convenient, and secure online access to digital documents and public services for people and businesses in Ukraine. The launch of Categories A2.8 and A.2.9 represent another step in recording the damage and losses caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pipeline Dreams: Russian Forces Pull Off A Subterranean Ambush. For A Third Time. By Mike Eckel September 18, 2025 Summary Russian forces have used underground pipelines for ambushes against Ukrainian troops, with notable operations in Avdiyivka (2024), Sudzha (2025), and more recently Kupyansk. In the Kupyansk operation, Russian troops reportedly traveled 13 kilometers under the Oskil River using carts and scooters, though Ukrainian forces claim to have thwarted the attempt. Ukrainian officials have confirmed Russian pipeline offensives, but said it was hard to defend against such tactics due to the vast extent of the Soviet-era underground network. The first time was in Avdiyivka in January 2024, when Russian troops used a partially flooded water outflow tunnel to creep into a quiet, wooded district in the Ukrainian-controlled city, helping pave the way for the city's capture weeks later. The second was in early March 2025 in Sudzha, in Russia's Kursk region. Ukrainian forces, who had invaded the region seven months earlier, were surprised by another group of Russian soldiers who crept through an unused underground gas pipeline. Ukrainian forces pulled out of Kursk weeks later. Now it appears that Russian forces have pulled off a third pipeline ambush, just north of Kupyansk, a Kharkiv region city where Ukrainian forces have been under increasing pressure. The operation, which appears to have culminated last week, involved an unknown number of Russian soldiers using carts and electric-powered scooters to secretly move as many 13 kilometers under the Oskil River. Ukraine controls the western banks of the south-flowing river and has relied on it in part for its defense of Kupyansk and the Kharkiv region. It's unclear how successful the operation was; Ukrainian officials denied initial reports, but then appeared to downplay the consequences, saying the effort had been thwarted, the pipeline destroyed and flooded, and an unknown number of soldiers taken prisoners. Still, open-source battlefield trackers including Deep State, which has ties to the Ukrainian military, show noticeable Russian advances north of Kupyansk, home to a key junction for rail lines that stretch west into the Kharkiv region. As of September 17, Russian troops had purportedly advanced up to Kupyansk's northern outskirts, and possibly into the city's limits. If nothing else, however, it highlights both the ingenuity, or recklessness, of Russian commanders, and growing experience in undertaking risky operations. Excavation Under Fire Much of the pipeline network that spreads throughout Ukraine was built in the Soviet era, and Ukrainian experts said it was likely that Russian military engineers have detailed maps and schematics of the system. According to Deep State, which first highlighted the operation late last week, Russians units entered the local, unused pipeline network in the village of Lyman Pershiy, which is about 20 kilometers northwest of Kupyansk, on the opposite, eastern bank of the Oskil River. Units built low-slung wheeled carts and used electric scooters to move through the pipes, an assertion backed up in part by multiple videos published on Russian-linked Telegram channels. Moving under the Oskil, at a depth up to 2 meters, units took about four days to reach Radkivka, on Kupyansk's northern outskirts. Food caches were set up along the way as well. "It is a pity that the experiences of Avdiyivka and Sudzha were not taken into account," Deep State said in a commentary accompanying its findings. "But once again, we want to believe that this "pipe" will finally serve as a lesson" for Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian military officials responded by partially confirming the subterranean operation, also claiming that only a few Russian soldiers managed to emerge from the pipeline and take up forward positions, and that most had either been killed or captured. "The exit from the pipeline that the enemy tried to use to move personnel into Kupyansk is under the control of Ukrainian defenders. The pipeline does not lead directly into the city," the General Staff said in a statement on September 12. In one video that was released to a prominent Ukrainian war blogger, a man identified as a Russian prisoner of war said officers sent soldiers into the pipeline in groups of 10; men who balked were tied up and beaten, the man said. He said he crawled, and used carts and scooters, to travel around 13 kilometers. About 70 Russians had made it through the pipeline when they were confronted by Ukrainian troops, the soldier said. Commanders ordered the surrounded Russian troops to blow themselves up. The video could not be independent verified. Yuriy Fedorenko, a unit commander with Ukraine's 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment, said that Russian troops managed to poke holes in several places in the pipelines, particularly in wooded areas, which afforded them cover to emerge and scatter undetected by Ukrainian drones. Ukrainian forces had destroyed one or more branches of the pipelines, making it impassible, Fedorenko told Donbas Realities, a program of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. "There was a strike near the Oskil River," he said. "As a result, the pipeline is now impassable." Fedorenko said it was difficult to defend against the Russian pipeline attacks because of how extensive the underground network is, and how difficult it is to get tractors or backhoes to key locations, to dig up or block the pipelines. Several Ukrainian reports said the pipeline in question near Kupyansk may have been partially blocked or destroyed in the past, but Russian sappers or soldiers managed to clear the route. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-pipeline- ambush-kupyansk/33534090.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 release on Russia's appeal to the International Court of Justice over ICAO's ruling on the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 18 September 2025 20:36 1496-18-09-2025 On September 18, 2025, acting in accordance with Article 84 of the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), the Russian Federation appealed the decision of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which has put the blame for the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 on Russia. ICAO's first ever attempt to settle a dispute between the signatories of the Chicago Convention on its merits has failed. This was to be expected in a situation when the key points of the ruling were tailored to the prearranged decision, when the council accepted the position of one side and disregarded or distorted the arguments of the other side, violating its own procedure and adopting the decision for time-serving political reasons. Contrary to the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2166, the ICAO Council did not consider it necessary to carry out a comprehensive, thorough and independent international investigation of the crash, instead taking at faith value the highly questionable conclusions of the technical and criminal investigation carried out under the auspices of an interested party, the Netherlands, and on the basis of adulterated facts that were mostly provided by another interested party, Ukraine. Therefore, Russia is appealing the ICAO Council's decision on all grounds, including on grounds of jurisdiction, applicable law, factual findings, and fatal procedural violations. The fact of the appeal in no way amounts to Russia's legitimisation or recognition of the ICAO Council's actions in this case, which Russia previously declared to be void. We hope that the International Court of Justice will take an entirely impartial stance on this high-profile case. More than 11 years have passed since the tragedy of Flight MH17, but it appears that the path towards truth could take even longer. The ICAO Council's decision has been appealed and consequently has not come into effect. This will be a huge disappointment for The Hague and Canberra, which have already demanded compensation from Russia based on the result of the ICAO Council's pseudo-legal actions, and have likely prepared to slander Russia at the 42nd Session of the ICAO Assembly, which will begin in Montreal on September 23. Russia will continue to pursue the truth in accordance with its obligations under the UN Charter and applicable norms of international law. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mariana Betsa held phone talks with Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 18 September 2025 16:51 On September 18, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa held phone talks with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment of Sri Lanka Arun Hemachandra. The parties discussed cooperation within international organizations and paid special attention to the events of the High-Level Week of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. The interlocutors agreed to further strengthen the partnership and develop mutually beneficial cooperation between Ukraine and Sri Lanka. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Denys Shmyhal and Poland's Minister of National Defence honour the fallen for Ukraine Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 18 September, 2025, 12:20 PM EEST The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Poland, Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, arrived in Kyiv on an official visit. Ukraine's Minister of Defence, Denys Shmyhal, together with his Polish counterpart, participated in a ceremony to honour the memory of those who gave their lives for Ukraine. In particular, the defence ministers laid flowers at the Wall of Remembrance on Mykhailivska Square in the heart of Ukraine's capital. "Eternal memory to the defenders who gave their lives in the struggle for our independence and freedom," stated Denys Shmyhal. As part of the visit, the Minister of National Defence of Poland will meet with a delegation of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. The agenda of the meeting includes the development of military cooperation and continued support for Ukraine in the face of russian aggression. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine and Poland establish a Joint Working Group on Unmanned Aerial Systems Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 18 September, 2025, 2:34 PM EEST Today in Kyiv, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Poland, Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, signed a Memorandum on the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Unmanned Aerial Systems. "We are advancing our security cooperation to a new level in response to russian terror, which poses a threat to Ukraine and other European countries. Joint training programs will form a central component of this working group," emphasised Denys Shmyhal. The role of the Joint Working Group will be to: promote the exchange of operational expertise and practical experience in the UAV domain; develop and test methods for the employment of UAS and counter-UAS measures, and integrate innovative technologies; strengthen interoperability between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Poland and ensure compatibility with NATO standards. In addition, the Ministers signed a Joint Declaration aimed at reinforcing security and defence cooperation. In this document, the parties agreed to deepen cooperation in key areas, including, in particular, SAFE and PURL initiatives. Denys Shmyhal and his Polish counterpart also signed a letter addressed to the Defence Ministers of NATO member states. In this letter, they called on the allies to assign experts to the Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre (JATEC) and to actively participate in its projects. "I extend my sincere gratitude to Poland and personally to Mr Kosiniak-Kamysz for their support. Together, we are reinforcing the security of our nations and the whole European continent," said Denys Shmyhal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Denys Shmyhal and Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz agreed on new joint projects in defence sector Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 18 September, 2025, 3:10 PM EEST In Kyiv, Ukraine's Defence Minister, Denys Shmyhal, met with Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz. "Ukraine possesses unique combat experience, well-trained service members, and modern technologies that are altering the course of the war. We stand ready to share this experience, including with our Polish partners. Today, we reached an agreement on several important steps with Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz," stated Denys Shmyhal. In particular, Ukraine and Poland will strengthen cooperation between their defence industries and in the area of air defence. The parties stand ready to advance joint projects involving aerial, maritime, and ground-based drones, as well as robotic systems. At the same time, Ukraine is prepared to share its experience and train Polish military personnel and engineers in implementing defence systems across various domains, particularly in the airspace domain. "We are establishing a Joint Task Force on Unmanned Aerial Systems. Another priority is ballistic missiles and artificial intelligence," noted the Minister of Defence of Ukraine. In addition, Poland stands ready to implement joint projects with Ukraine within the framework of the SAFE program, under which it has received 43.7 billion. According to Denys Shmyhal, this mechanism should become one of the key instruments for joint defence programs. The countries are also intensifying their efforts within the Ramstein-format Capability Coalitions to address both the immediate requirements of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and their long-term modernisation. "We all understand that russia remains the greatest threat not only to Ukraine but to the whole of Europe. That is why it is so important to act together and to respond decisively to threats," the Minister of Defence of Ukraine emphasised. He thanked Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz for his visit to Kyiv. "We express our gratitude to the Polish people and government for their unwavering support and assistance. Ukrainian warriors feel this support on the battlefield, and it saves lives every day," emphasised Denys Shmyhal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President of Ukraine and Amir of the State of Qatar Discussed Efforts to Return Ukrainian Children Abducted by Russia President of Ukraine 18 September 2025 - 19:45 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The Head of State thanked him for Qatar's assistance in returning Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. The President noted that Ukraine values solidarity and sincere concern for our children. Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Qatar to participate in the summit that Ukraine, together with Canada, is organizing in New York. The event will be dedicated to Ukrainian children and the efforts to bring them back. The Head of State emphasized that it is important for Ukraine that Qatar be represented. In addition, the leaders discussed the agenda of the UN General Assembly, coordinated their upcoming contacts, and agreed to stay in touch. The President thanked the State of Qatar for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and assured of Ukraine's reciprocal support. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Met with Warriors of the 79th Separate Air Assault Brigade Engaged in the Defense of Myrnohrad and the Dobropillia Counteroffensive President of Ukraine 18 September 2025 - 17:16 At the command post of the 79th Tavriyska Separate Air Assault Brigade, which is taking part in the defense of Myrnohrad and the Dobropillia counteroffensive operation, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the warriors of the brigade. The Head of State received a report from Brigade Commander Eduard Kolodii and spoke with the battalion commanders. The President and the military discussed the implementation of decisions on allocating additional funds for each battalion engaged in combat. Special attention was given to providing all the necessary components for repairing Western equipment and to methods of protecting armored vehicles from Russian drones. In addition, the discussion addressed the implementation of the President's instruction to minimize the time between nominating warriors for awards and their actual presentation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Commanders of the 82nd Bukovynska Separate Air Assault Brigade Discussed the Situation Within the Brigade's Area of Responsibility and the Brigade's Needs President of Ukraine 18 September 2025 - 16:43 At the command post of the 82nd Bukovynska Separate Air Assault Brigade, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a report from Acting Brigade Commander Yehor Nozdriakov on the situation within the brigade's area of responsibility. The Head of State discussed with the commanders the brigade's needs, as well as changes in approaches to contract service, possible new formats, and additional conditions. Special attention was given to implementing the decision on a simplified procedure for combat brigades to purchase pickup trucks, which was approved at the meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff last month. In addition, the discussion focused on protecting warriors on the frontline from drones, in particular special ammunition and portable electronic warfare systems. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Met with Commanders of the Air Assault Forces Units in the Donetsk Region President of Ukraine 18 September 2025 - 16:00 At the command post of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donetsk region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a report from Commander of the Air Assault Forces Oleh Apostol and spoke with unit commanders. The Commander of the Air Assault Forces reported to the Head of State on the active defense of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, as well as further steps aimed at changing the operational situation. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also discussed with the commanders the training of servicemembers, the manning of the Air Assault Forces and assault units, and the specifics of mission execution, in particular in coordination with unmanned systems units. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We Are Now Conducting One of Our Counteroffensive Operations in the Donetsk Direction - Address by the President President of Ukraine 18 September 2025 - 15:43 I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians! Today, I'm in the Donetsk region - Kramatorsk, Slovyansk, our combat brigades - communicating with our warriors. I presented state awards, specifically for their achievements in battle, to the finest of our warriors, those who have excelled most in recent weeks. We are now conducting one of our counteroffensive operations in the Donetsk direction - and our guys are performing brilliantly - in the Pokrovsk and Dobropillia areas. The fighting is intense, but we have inflicted significant losses on the Russians. In effect, our forces are depriving the occupiers of the ability to carry out the full-scale offensive in this direction that they had long planned and relied on. Their first attempt was in the Sumy region; now it's here - Ukrainian units are delivering results for Ukraine. I thank everyone involved. The operation continues as we planned. This is an important success for Ukraine. I thank the Airborne Forces, assault regiments and battalions, all our infantry, intelligence, and artillery personnel, and National Guard units. I thank everyone who is ensuring the unmanned systems component. Today, Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi delivered the first report on the outcomes. Since the start of the operation, our warriors have already liberated 160 square kilometers, and over 170 square kilometers have been cleared of the occupiers. We have significantly replenished our "exchange fund" - we already have almost 100 Russian prisoners, with more to come. Seven settlements in this direction have already been liberated, and nine more cleared of Russian presence. Any group of occupiers attempting to enter this area is being destroyed by our guys. Russian losses just since the start of this counteroffensive - in the Pokrovsk area alone, in these past weeks - are already more than 2,500, of which over 1,300 Russians have been killed. Ukraine is rightfully defending its positions and its land. And this is a heroic defense. I am proud of our warriors. I am proud of our people. In this war, Ukraine finds protection against every Russian treachery. We are thwarting every Russian plan - plans to destroy our state. Our defense is always active. And we have proven that Ukrainians can achieve the necessary results, achieve them even when many around the world expect results from Russia. It is important that our partners act with dignity - just as our people deserve to be supported. Russia must be forced into peace. And Ukraine can do this - if our army has sufficient strength and sufficient long-range capabilities. And, of course, the world can do this together with us - through strong sanctions against Russia and strong pressure, as strong as our people are. I want to thank everyone who is fighting for Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry delivers a note to the Russian Embassy over promoting studies in Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 19.09.2025 | 12:39 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has delivered a note to the Russian Embassy concerning an announcement published on the embassy's website and social media about study opportunities in Russia and in the Ukrainian territories illegally occupied or annexed by Russia. "We reminded the Russian Embassy in the note that Estonia has a restriction in force which prohibits organising the participation of young people from Estonia in events taking place in Russia or Belarus that are linked to or supportive of the national authorities in those states. The same ban applies to events held in the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia. It is also forbidden to knowingly facilitate participation in such events," Foreign Minister Tsahkna said. In the announcements published on the embassy's website and social media about study opportunities in Russia and in Crimea, illegally occupied by Russia, the Russian Embassy is listed as the contact. This constitutes the embassy's direct assistance in enabling young people to study in Russia and in the occupied or annexed Ukrainian territories. "Such posts may encourage Estonian citizens to breach sanctions and thereby risk possible penalties," Tsahkna added. According to Kristi Raudmae, Head of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education and Research, studying in Russia or in the territories occupied by Russia carries very significant risks. "We strongly advise against it. Russia's participation in the Bologna higher education system has been suspended, which means that diplomas issued there have highly questionable international value. Such qualifications may not be recognised in Estonia or elsewhere in Europe, hindering further study or employment outside Russia. Russia is not currently a safe or reliable study destination." On 19 December 2024, the Government of the Republic of Estonia imposed a restriction under the International Sanctions Act prohibiting the organisation of participation in events for Estonian citizens under the age of 21, or for those with a residence permit or right of residence in Estonia, if such events take place in Russia or Belarus and are linked to or supportive of the authorities of these states. The same prohibition applies to events in the Ukrainian territories illegally occupied or annexed by Russia. It is also prohibited to knowingly and directly facilitate participation in such events. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IAEA General Conference adopted a Resolution demanding the immediate de-occupation of Zaporizhzhia NPP Ukraine Government Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, posted 19 September 2025 08:59 The 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency adopted the resolution "Nuclear Safety, Nuclear Security and Safeguards in Ukraine." The document, supported by 62 member states, calls on the russian federation to immediately de-occupy and demilitarize the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and return it under the full control of the Ukrainian authorities. The resolution, initiated by Ukraine and its international partners, became another signal from the global community about the inadmissibility of russia's actions, which endanger nuclear safety across the entire continent. "We are grateful to every country that supported this important document. 62 votes in favor represent a clear position of the civilized world: nuclear terrorism is unacceptable, and the Zaporizhzhia NPP, occupied by russia, must be immediately returned under Ukraine's control," said the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, Svitlana Grynchuk. "We will continue to work with the IAEA and our partners to ensure the implementation of every provision of this decision." The resolution contains a direct call for the immediate withdrawal of all unauthorized military and other personnel from the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The document reaffirms that the Zaporizhzhia NPP and all nuclear facilities in Ukraine must operate under the full sovereign control of the competent Ukrainian authorities. The resolution also reaffirmed the mandate and continuous work of the IAEA mission at the Zaporizhzhia NPP - despite russia's constant attempts to undermine its activities. The presence of Agency experts ensures that every incident, every risk, and every attack will be recorded and brought to the international level. At the same time, the resolution recalled russian strikes on the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and the damage to the New Safe Confinement, which create risks for international nuclear safety. The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine views this resolution as a step towards restoring nuclear safety. Ukraine insists on strengthening international pressure on russia to ensure the full and unconditional implementation of all IAEA resolutions and the return of the Zaporizhzhia NPP under Ukraine's control. It should be recalled that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe, has been under russian occupation since March 4, 2022. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Comment by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the IAEA General Conference Resolution on Nuclear Safety in Ukraine Ukraine Government Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, posted 19 September 2025 07:52 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomes the adoption at the 69th session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency of the resolution "Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine." The decision was taken by an absolute majority: 62 votes in favor, 7 against, and 46 abstentions. For the third consecutive year, the IAEA General Conference has adopted a resolution that unequivocally reaffirms: the international community does not and will not recognize Russia's attempts to legitimize the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The document stresses that ZNPP remains a Ukrainian facility and must operate exclusively under the control of the competent authorities of Ukraine. The resolution also emphasizes the necessity of restoring Ukraine's full sovereign control over the plant and the withdrawal of Russian military and other unauthorized personnel from the site. This is a prerequisite for the full application of IAEA safeguards and for upholding nuclear and radiation safety principles. In light of Russia's systematic attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the IAEA mission at ZNPP and to restrict its access, the adopted resolution has particular significance. It reaffirms the mission's mandate and continuous presence, which ensures systematic international monitoring, enables timely reporting of incidents, risk assessment, and prevents the concealment of damage or unsafe operation of the plant. The resolution also records the attack on the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, including damage to the New Safe Confinement. This clearly demonstrates that Russia's aggression against Ukrainian nuclear facilities poses direct threats to international nuclear safety. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine underscores that the Russian Federation must comply with the requirements of this resolution and previous decisions of the IAEA governing bodies, immediately cease unlawful actions against Ukrainian nuclear facilities, and withdraw its forces from the territory of ZNPP. Ukraine will continue its cooperation with the IAEA to ensure full implementation of the adopted decisions and calls upon the Agency's Member States to step up political and practical support to assist Ukraine during the winter period and to contribute to the safe operation of all Ukrainian nuclear facilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question about the complicity of Drone Coalition countries in attacks on Russian civilian facilities and peaceful population 19 September 2025 10:27 1497-19-09-2025 Question: According to numerous recent media reports, Russian ambassadors were summoned to the foreign ministries of several European countries over an incident allegedly involving drones violating Polish airspace. How would you comment on this? Maria Zakharova: With regard to the recent demarches by a number of European capitals over the alleged violation of Polish airspace by Russian UAVs on September 10, I would like to say the following. The pattern is always the same. The facts are still unclear, no proper investigation has been conducted, no credible evidence has been gathered - but the culprit has already been named. And, as always, it is the Russian Federation. This time, too, the accusations against Russia of provocation attempts and deliberate escalation are completely unfounded. No concrete evidence has been presented to back up claims of malicious intent. The haste with which responsibility was pinned on Russia, and the categorical refusal by the Polish authorities to engage in consultations proposed by the Russian Defence Ministry, speak volumes about the collective West's complete lack of interest in establishing the truth about the incident. Naturally, explanations and facts provided by the Russian Defence Ministry have been ignored. What we see is yet another element of a large-scale information campaign aimed at demonising Russia, drumming up further support for the Kiev regime, and sabotaging efforts towards a political settlement of the conflict around Ukraine. Meanwhile, members of the so-called Drone Coalition supplying UAVs to Ukraine - some 20 countries - would do well to face the undeniable facts of daily crimes committed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine whose drones, which deliberately target civilian facilities and the peaceful population in Russian regions with drone strikes. Against this backdrop, the moralising and demarches by these states over alleged Russian violations of international law are hypocritical and inappropriate. Just in the summer of 2025 and the beginning of September, 132 people in Russia, including children, became victims of Ukrainian drone attacks carried out with systems supplied by members of the Drone Coalition. Of these, 16 were killed and 116 wounded. The militants of the neo-Nazi Kiev regime are effectively hunting defenceless civilians around the clock with drones, deliberately targeting children, women, and the elderly. Strikes are knowingly directed against residential buildings, medical and social facilities, schools and shops. In the Kherson Region alone, 27 out of 55 ambulances were hit and destroyed by UAVs. By supplying drones to the Kiev regime, the authorities of these countries are becoming accomplices to the crimes committed by today's Banderites and bear full responsibility for them. We will continue to keep the public regularly informed about the strikes carried out by the Kiev regime, including with the use of UAVs, against Russian territory and its civilian population. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK sanctions Georgia-linked supporters of Putin's illegal war in Ukraine Press release The UK has announced new sanctions targeting Georgia-linked supporters of Putin's illegal war in Ukraine. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Stephen Doughty MP Published 19 September 2025 Latest UK sanctions target Georgia's hidden supporters of Russia. Move tightens pressure on Russia's international support network. Sanctions come amid increasing Russian influence in Georgia. The UK has announced new sanctions targeting Georgia-linked supporters of Putin's illegal war in Ukraine. As Russia's war footing weakens, the Kremlin is increasingly looking to proxies in third countries to support its war and propaganda operations, including in Georgia. Two oil tankers have been sanctioned for transporting Russian oil to the Georgian port of Batumi, as part of the 'shadow fleet'- a collection of decrepit and dangerous vessels used by the Kremlin in a desperate attempt to cling onto their energy revenues, the number one source of funding for the illegal war in Ukraine. These ships will now be barred from entering UK ports and will be refused access to the UK Ship Register. Georgian politician and media mogul Levan Vasadze is targeted for using his platforms to pump out pro-Russian disinformation. Businessman, Otar Partskhaladze, who has extensive links to Russia and to the highest levels of the Georgian Dream party is also sanctioned. The UK has unleashed over 2800 sanctions against Russia, eroding Putin's energy revenues, exposing the Kremlin's malicious behaviour across the world, and supporting Ukraine in pursuit of a just and lasting peace. The UK will continue to ratchet up economic pressure alongside our allies until Putin stops the bloodshed. Alongside this pressure on Russia, the UK's support for Ukraine is ironclad. With the Foreign Secretary visiting Kyiv to announce 142 million of new funding for energy infrastructure to boost Ukraine's resilience, the UK leading the Coalition of the Willing alongside France, and the signing of the 100-year partnership - the UK will stand by Ukraine's side for as long as it takes. Minister of State Stephen Doughty said: "Putin's war machine relies on an international web to spread lies and fund this network. "We're cutting off another lifeline by targeting and deterring those in Georgia who provide support for Putin's illegal war in Ukraine. "The Kremlin must be in no doubt: the UK will continue to expose the shadowy networks propping up Putin." New designations also include businesses Aeza International, involved in destabilising Ukraine by providing internet services to Russian disinformation campaigns; and HeliCo Group, which operates in Russia's transport industry. Every step towards peace in Ukraine is a step towards security in the UK - a foundation of this Government's Plan for Change. The action follows the UK downgrading its ties with Georgia in 2024. The move was in response to the ruling party, Georgian Dream, enforcing Kremlin-inspired laws, cracking down on civil society, and imprisoning opposition politicians. Background A full list of the UK sanctions can be found here. In April 2025, the UK sanctioned four high-ranking Georgian officials for their role in allowing serious human rights violations against Georgian protestors. Also in April 2025, the UK announced the designation of two Georgian judges for corruption under the Global Anti-Corruption Regime. In December 2024, the UK sanctioned five senior individuals responsible for violent attacks against journalists and peaceful protestors in Georgia, in coordinated action with the United States. A specified ship is prohibited from being provided with access to or having its master or pilot cause it to enter a port in the UK, may have its registration on the UK Ship Register terminated, and a master or pilot of a specified ship may be given a port barring direction, a detention direction, and a port entry direction or a movement direction. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sergiy Boyev discussed with German company FFG the possibilities of repairing more armored vehicles in Ukraine Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 19 September, 2025, 10:59 AM EEST Sergiy Boyev, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, met with Dennis Burjes, Executive Director of the German company Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG), to discuss the company's capabilities. As a priority, the parties updated the status of the joint project on armored vehicle repairs in Ukraine, reviewing progress reports, discussing next steps, and identifying issues that need to be resolved. Dennis Burjes briefed Sergiy Boyev on the scope of Leopard tank repair and overhaul. According to FFG's Executive Director, a repair hub has been established in Ukraine and is ready to expand repair capacity. He emphasized that the company has sufficient spare parts, personnel, and funding to do so. "Ukraine is committed to ensuring that equipment returns to the battlefield more quickly so that it can help our service members accomplish their missions," emphasized Sergiy Boyev. The parties also discussed replacing destroyed equipment with new assets to expedite the resupply of the Defence Forces of Ukraine. Additionally, FFG representatives briefed the Ukrainian side on new weapon systems, particularly those with the potential to enhance Ukraine's counter-drone capabilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Denys Shmyhal: Already 25 foreign defense companies are localizing production in Ukraine Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 19 September, 2025, 9:25 AM EEST Ukraine is actively advancing cooperation with foreign companies. As of now, 25 foreign companies including major global defense industry players are at various stages of localizing their production in Ukraine. In a commentary for Politico, Ukraine's Minister of Defence Denys Shmyhal noted that each manufacturer is working in close coordination with the Ukrainian government. "We offer our partners various models of cooperation, including the 'Danish model' and the 'Build with Ukraine / Build in Ukraine' initiative. The priority is that the main share of companies' production be directed to the needs of the Ukrainian military," the Minister of Defence underlined. To minimize risks for investors and enhance the attractiveness of joint ventures in Ukraine, the government is setting up Defence City a special legal framework for the development of the country's defense industry. It provides for tax incentives, streamlined customs procedures, a mechanism for relocating production to safer regions, expanded state financial support, and opportunities for export and integration into global supply chains. "We call on foreign companies to invest in Ukraine and set up their production here. Today, it is in Ukraine that cutting-edge weapons capable of shaping the battlefield are being developed. That is why investing in Ukraine's defense industry is the best investment in the security of Europe as a whole," Denys Shmyhal concluded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President Signed a Decree Establishing the Office of the Military Ombudsman and Appointed Olha Reshetylova (Kobylynska) as the Military Ombudsman President of Ukraine 19 September 2025 - 20:10 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree establishing the Office of the Military Ombudsman and appointed the first Military Ombudsman, Olha Reshetylova (Kobylynska), who previously served as the Presidential Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Military Personnel and Their Families. "I thank the members of parliament for passing my bill on the Military Ombudsman. This is about the real protection of our warriors' rights. The law has already been signed and published. Today, I signed a decree to put it into effect - a decree establishing the Office of the Military Ombudsman," the President noted. The Head of State also approved the regulations on the Office of the Military Ombudsman. It will serve as a permanent advisory body under the President of Ukraine, ensuring civilian oversight of the protection of rights for all personnel in the Defense Forces including current servicemembers, members of volunteer formations of territorial communities, reservists during training, participants in the resistance movement in temporarily occupied territories, as well as law enforcement personnel involved in direct combat during martial law. The Military Ombudsman will address problematic issues related to military service and review complaints, may initiate inspections, and work on solutions. The Ombudsman will report annually to the President and the Verkhovna Rada. "Ahead of us is the launch of this institution and its systemic work. It is important that this is felt at every level of Ukraine's Defense Forces - we are taking measures to strengthen our army, and we are also taking measures to strengthen the warriors in our army," Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President and Lithuania's Foreign Minister Discussed Regional Security and Potential Threats from Russia and Belarus President of Ukraine 19 September 2025 - 19:52 President and Lithuania's Foreign Minister Discussed Regional Security and Potential Threats from Russia and Belarus President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Kestutis Budrys, who is visiting Ukraine for the fifth time in this role. "We never tire of repeating that we are grateful to your nation for being with us from the very beginning of Russian aggression and from the first days of the full-scale war. You stood with us before as well, and we are confident that after this war is over, the Ukrainian and Lithuanian peoples will rebuild Ukraine together," the Head of State emphasized. During the meeting, the parties discussed in detail regional security and potential common threats from Russia and Belarus, particularly, in the context of the recent Russian drone incursion into Poland. The President noted that Ukraine is ready to share its experience in countering Russian missiles and drones with partners. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kestutis Budrys also focused on the need to strengthen sanctions policy. Ukraine and Lithuania share the same understanding: sanctions must be enforced against both Russia and Belarus as long as the aggression continues. The Head of State thanked Lithuania for supporting all initiatives aimed at strengthening Ukraine. In particular, he noted Lithuania's participation in the PURL initiative, which enables the procurement of scarce weapons in the United States, as well as its involvement in the SAFE instrument. The two sides also paid special attention to opportunities for joint defense production and Lithuania's potential participation in guaranteeing security for Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also thanked Lithuania for opening the office of the Central Project Management Agency of Lithuania in Ukraine, which will coordinate projects on reconstruction, demining, education, and rehabilitation of the wounded. Special emphasis was also placed on supporting Ukraine on its path toward membership in the European Union. In particular, the parties discussed the importance of jointly and simultaneously opening the first negotiating cluster for Ukraine and Moldova. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kestutis Budrys also discussed preparations for the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Ukraine and Lithuania will work together to ensure that the issue of Russian aggression is properly represented on the agenda. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Russians Have Suffered Heavy Losses, and Our State's Exchange Fund Has Been Significantly Replenished - Address by the President President of Ukraine 19 September 2025 - 19:30 I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians! A lot happened today. There were military reports, including from the Commander-in-Chief. Our counteroffensive operation in the Donetsk region - Pokrovsk and Dobropillia sectors - continues. For the Russians, it was one of the most important axes of their offensive, but they failed to mount a full-scale offensive there - our army is destroying their forces. The Russians have suffered heavy losses, and our state's exchange fund has been significantly replenished - every day adds new Russian prisoners of war. I want to thank all our units involved: the 79th and 82nd Air Assault Brigades, our assault units - the 1st, 33rd, 225th, and 425th Assault Regiments, and the 14th National Guard Brigade. Thank you, warriors! In Kupyansk and the surrounding areas, we are defending our positions - I thank all the brigades. Also, there will be our new deep strikes in retaliation to Russia's actions. I held a Staff meeting today. The main topic was on the production of our weapons. We have a clear understanding of volumes - what our army needs till the end of the year, as well as what it will need next year, and what we need to have in stock to continue our defense and to maintain our sufficient strength. Of course, this includes sufficient funding for weapons production here in Ukraine, and co-production together with our partners, and deliveries to Ukraine of what our partners manufacture. Starting this year, we will cover the deficit in financing weapons production, in particular, through controlled exports of certain types of our weapons. Via such controlled exports, we will increase the production of drones for the front line. We will have the funding. We can produce certain types of weapons - modern weapons - in much larger quantities than we can self-finance, and we already have certain types of weapons in much larger quantities than we actually need today in Ukraine. For example, naval drones that the world counts on and that we have in surplus, as well as anti-tank weapons and some other types. This means the first priority is the front - supplying our brigades. The second priority is our Ukrainian arsenals. And only the third priority is this kind of controlled export. Within two weeks, a concept for three new export platforms will be presented. One platform will be for export and partnership with the United States, another platform will be for our European partners, and a third one - for other global partners who are also interested in Ukrainian weapons and who have supported Ukraine in certain ways. It is vital that they also assist us so that we can support them in return. Currently, it is the Ukrainians, it is the Ukrainian companies and the Ukrainian army that have one of the strongest experiences in modern warfare - and this is largely about cutting-edge weapons and advanced technologies. Ukraine will not engage in "gun charity" - helping those who don't care about Ukraine. We are ready to work with those who have truly supported us and our independence. Naturally, there must also be reliable export control - so that Russians and their accomplices do not gain access to Ukrainian technology or our weapons. Our Ukrainian companies, particularly arms manufacturers, have raised this issue repeatedly. There is significant global interest in joint projects with Ukraine for weapons production. There is also a clear demand for our weapons. Accordingly, it is due to controlled exports that we can accumulate funds to produce more of what our army truly needs. And one more thing that strengthens our army. I thank the parliamentarians for passing my bill on the Military Ombudsman. This is about real protection of our warriors' rights. The law has already been signed and published. And today, I signed a decree to put the law into effect - a decree establishing the Office of the Military Ombudsman. The regulations for this institution have also been approved, and I will appoint Olha Reshetylova - a person well-known to our warriors - as Ukraine's first Military Ombudsman. Ahead of us is the launch of this institution and its systemic work. It is important that this is felt at every level of Ukraine's Defense Forces - we are taking measures to strengthen our army, and we are also taking measures to strengthen the warriors in our army. I thank everyone who is helping! I thank all those who are working for our Ukraine and all those who are fighting for our state. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Launches Mass Attack On Ukraine As NATO Jets Scramble By Ray Furlong and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service September 20, 2025 Polish and other NATO jets scrambled on September 20 as Russia launched another massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine. The wave of overnight strikes came shortly after NATO countries voiced outrage at a Russian incursion into Estonian airspace the previous day, as well as recent Russian drone incursions into Poland and Romania. "Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness," Poland's military Operational Command said in a post on X. The operation, which lasted around 90 minutes, underlined the heightened state of alert in NATO countries following the Russian incursions. Later on September 20, Estonia's Defense Ministry released a map showing the flight path of three Russian MiG-31 fighter aircraft the previous day. "The violation took place over the Gulf of Finland," it said, adding that the Russian jets flew parallel to the state border from east to west, entering Estonian airspace to a depth of less than 10 kilometers. Moscow has denied the violations, and also denied that its drones entered Polish airspace intentionally in the previous incident. Amid the ongoing diplomatic fallout, the Russian attacks on Ukraine included 579 drones, 32 cruise missiles, and 8 ballistic missiles, Ukraine's air force reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said three people were killed and dozens injured. "The enemy's target was our infrastructure, residential areas, and civilian enterprises. In Dnipro, a direct hit of a rocket with cluster munitions on a high-rise building was recorded," he said. Zelenskyy repeated calls made following the September 9 drone incursions for NATO to work with Ukraine on joint air defenses. "For a reliable shield we must act together," he said. NATO on September 12 said it had launched a new "activity," dubbed Eastern Sentry, that would deploy additional military hardware from Britain, Denmark, France, and Germany to countries on its eastern flank. But the alliance has resisted calls for an air umbrella within Ukraine. The head of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Serhiy Lysak, said there were 26 victims in the eastern city of Dnipro. "Fourteen are in the hospital, the rest will recover at home. A 55-year-old man is in serious condition. He has burns on 70 percent of his body. Doctors are fighting for his life," he said. The Ukrainian Air Force said air defenses had intercepted the vast majority of incoming fire, highlighting the use of US-made F-16 jets against Russian cruise missiles. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said the country's air defenses had shot down 149 Ukrainian drones overnight, in a variety of locations including the Rostov, Saratov, Bryansk, and Samara regions, and over Russian-occupied Crimea. A source in Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that a number of oil pumping stations were put out of action. Ukraine's military said it had struck oil facilities in both the Saratov and Samara regions, near Kazakhstan. The head of the Samara region, Vyacheslav Fyedorishchev, said four people were killed in a Ukrainian attack. The head of the Saratov region, Roman Busargin, wrote on Telegram that windows were blown out of two housing blocks and one woman was hospitalized. While Russia regularly targets civilian infrastructure including housing, hospitals, and schools, Ukraine has waged a targeted campaign against Russia's oil refineries, reportedly taking out nearly a fifth of Russia's capacity. Battlefield claims by either side could not be independently confirmed. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-jets-scramble-mass-russian- attack-ukraine/33535590.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 Ukraine Imposed Sanctions on Officials of the Occupation Authorities in Crimea, Propagandists, and Pro-Russian Figures from Moldova President of Ukraine 20 September 2025 - 18:51 Ukraine has imposed sanctions on officials, businesspeople, and those involved in human rights violations in temporarily occupied Crimea, as well as on propagandists and pro-Russian figures from Moldova. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed three decrees to enact the decisions of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. In particular, sanctions were applied against six propagandists, including Oleksandr Rodzhers, who publicly denied the existence of Ukraine, called for changes to Ukraine's territorial borders, spread anti-Ukrainian publications, and justified Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine; and Russian public figure Ekaterina Mizulina, a vocal supporter of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine also imposed sanctions on 11 civil and political figures from Moldova who promote pro-Russian narratives and justify Russia's aggression. Among them are Vasile Bolea, who popularizes Russian foreign policy in the media, and Dmitrii Konstantinov, chairman of the People's Assembly of Gagauzia, who openly repeats Russian propaganda narratives. This decision sends an important signal of support to the people of Moldova on their path toward European integration. The third sanctions decision targets 66 individuals and 13 legal entities, including officials of the occupation authorities in temporarily occupied Crimea, members of the Russian Federation's judiciary involved in human rights violations in Crimea, persons associated with spreading Russian propaganda, and organizations engaged in supporting the Russian military. This list specifically includes Valentina Lavrik, the so-called Minister of Education, Science, and Youth of temporarily occupied Crimea, who implements Russian educational standards and militarizes the learning process, as well as judges Vasilii Zlotnikov and Denis Izotenko, who issued repressive verdicts against Crimean residents. These measures are coordinated with the policies of international partners and are aimed at blocking Russian resources, protecting human rights in the occupied territories, and countering Russian propaganda. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Says Russia Hits Firefighters With 'Double-Tap' Strike By RFE/RL September 21, 2025 Russian forces targeted Ukrainian emergency responders with a deadly "double-tap" attack, Ukrainian officials said, wounding two responders in the northern region of Chernihiv. The overnight attack on September 21 was the second time in a week that Russian forces hit firefighters in the region who were responding to an earlier missile or drone attack, said Vyacheslav Chaus, the regional military administrator. Overnight, Russia launched nearly six dozen drones at 16 locations across Ukraine, military officials said, one of the smallest barrages in weeks. In the northern Sumy region, bordering Russia, a Russian drone slammed into a warehouse, sparking a massive blaze, officials said. In recent months, Russia's drone-and-missile attacks on Ukraine have included hundreds of projectiles, often overwhelming Ukrainian defenses. In his overnight address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the United States to impose "strong" measures against Russia amid surging tensions among NATO's easternmost members. Zelenskyy also repeated his stance that he is ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who so far has rejected a summit on neutral ground. Trump, who has long expressed admiration for Putin, has voiced frustration with the Kremlin leader's refusal to accept a cease-fire and his rejection of direct talks with Zelenskyy. "He's really let me down," Trump said during a visit to London on September 18. Washington and European allies have already imposed financial measures on Moscow following its February 2022 full-scale invasion with a view to crippling the Russian economy, but Kyiv and its supporters are seeking more action. The overnight strikes came shortly after NATO countries voiced outrage at a Russian incursion into Estonian airspace on September 19, as well as recent Russian drone incursions into Poland and Romania. NATO must respond forcefully to Russian violations -- including potentially by shooting down Russian jets, Czech President Petr Pavel said. Estonia on September 18 said three Russian warplanes encroached into its airspace and lingered for 12 minutes, prompting other NATO members to scramble their jets. The Kremlin has denied the incident, saying the jets were over international waters. Estonia said it had requested Article 4 consultations of the alliance. The United Nations Security Council will meet on September 22 at Estonia's request to discuss the Russian incursion, which the Baltic country's Foreign Ministry described as "part of a broader Russian campaign to test the resolve of Europe and NATO." For its part, Ukraine has conducted a weeks-long drone campaign, that has targeted Russian oil infrastructure, which has helped drive up the price of gasoline nationwide. In the Belgorod border region, one woman was killed when a Ukrainian shell hit a house, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, said in a post on Telegram. Russia's military said at least 65 Ukrainian drones were launched at Russia targets overnight on September 20-21. Ukraine's military intelligence unit claimed it had destroyed at least three Mi-8 helicopters parked on a base in Crimea, the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula that Russia has occupied for more than a decade. There was no immediate confirmation of the attack. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drones- attacks-nato-response-chernihiv/33536204.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 Zelenskyy Calls For 'Strong' US Measures Against Russia As Tensions Rise With NATO By RFE/RL September 21, 2025 Summary Ukrainian President Zelenskyy urged the US to impose stronger measures on Russia following the EU's move to finalize its 19th sanctions package. Russia launched massive drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, prompting NATO jets to scramble and escalating tensions in Eastern Europe. Estonia requested NATO consultations after Russian warplanes violated its airspace, while the alliance condemned recent incursions into Poland and Romania and set a meeting of its North Atlantic Council. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Washington to impose "strong" measures against Russia amid surging tensions among NATO's easternmost members. Zelenskyy also said he expects to meet with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next week, although Washington has not yet confirmed a face-to-face session. "This week has brought us closer to finalizing the 19th [EU] sanctions package against Russian aggression; we expect its approval soon. Russia's energy resources are being restricted," Zelenskyy said September 20. "We expect [US] sanctions if there is no meeting between the leaders or, for example, no cease-fire," Zelenskyy added. Zelenskyy also repeated his stance that he is ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who so far has rejected a summit on neutral ground. Trump, who has long expressed admiration for Putin, has voiced frustration with the Kremlin leader's refusal to accept a cease-fire and his rejection of direct talks with Zelenskyy. Trump said he was "very disappointed" with Putin following the recent series of intensified attacks on Ukrainian cites. That has led him to suggest new sanctions or tariffs against Russia, although no action has been taken. "He's really let me down," Trump said during a visit to London on September 18. Washington and European allies have already imposed financial measures on Moscow following its February 2022 full-scale invasion with a view to crippling the Russian economy, but Kyiv and its supporters are seeking more action. Zelenskyy's latest comments come amid activity on both diplomatic and military fronts, inside Ukraine and Russia as well as in the skies above NATO nations bordering the two warring countries. Polish and other NATO jets scrambled as Russia launched another massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine that killed at least three civilians. The operation, which lasted around 90 minutes, underlined the heightened state of alert in NATO countries following the Russian incursions. The wave of overnight strikes came shortly after NATO countries voiced outrage at a Russian incursion into Estonian airspace the previous day, as well as recent Russian drone incursions into Poland and Romania. NATO must respond forcefully to Russian violations -- including potentially by shooting down Russian jets, Czech President Petr Pavel said. "Russia will realize very quickly that they have made a mistake and crossed the acceptable boundaries. Unfortunately, this is teetering on the edge of conflict, but giving in to evil is simply not an option," Pavel was quoted by the Czech News Agency as saying. Estonia on September 18 said three Russian warplanes encroached into its airspace and lingered for 12 minutes, prompting other NATO members to scramble their jets. The Kremlin has denied the incident, saying the jets were over international waters. Estonia said it had requested Article 4 consultations of the alliance's North Atlantic Council, likely to be held next week. Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, also kept up the pressure on the Kremlin, targeting war-related industries deep inside Russia, mainly energy-producing facilities. The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 149 Ukrainian drones overnight on September 19-20, in a variety of locations including the Rostov, Saratov, Bryansk, and Samara regions, and over Russia-occupied Crimea. An official in Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that a number of oil-pumping stations were put out of action. While Russia regularly targets civilian infrastructure including housing, hospitals, and schools, Ukraine has waged a targeted campaign against Russia's oil refineries -- often deep inside the country -- reportedly taking out nearly a fifth of Russia's capacity. Meanwhile, the EU unveiled a fresh package of sanctions designed to hit Russia's economy and cutoff the Kremlin's means of financing its war. While announcing the proposed sanctions, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that "again and again, Putin has escalated, and in response, Europe is increasing its pressure." Von der Leyen said the main emphasis was on hitting Russia's fossil fuel revenues, which drive its war in Ukraine. In Washington, a bipartisan group of senators also introduced a bill to raise sanctions on the Russian energy sector, specifically targeting the shadow fleet. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Reuters, AFP, and The New York Times Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-ukraine-russia- sanctions-nato-eu-washington/33535779.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 It Is Vital That This Week Strengthen the World's Resolve for Robust Action - Address by the President President of Ukraine 21 September 2025 - 21:01 I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians! We are now preparing for a very intense week - a week of diplomacy. We can accomplish a lot if our partners hear us and support proposals that truly bring the end of the war closer. It will be the week of the UN General Assembly - with various events and meetings. The schedule already includes nearly two dozen meetings with leaders from different countries, from all parts of the world - with everyone who has long supported Ukraine and those who are among our new partners. The first meetings are already tomorrow. We are also planning a meeting with the President of the United States this week. There will be an important event on the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia - a truly global summit on this issue. It is vital that this week strengthen the world's resolve for robust action - for without strength, peace will not prevail. The European Union has already agreed in principle on the 19th package of sanctions against Russia, and we expect its swift adoption. In recent weeks, other countries - from Japan and Australia to the United Kingdom - have also imposed sanctions. Pressure on Russia's oil fleet, on Russia's energy trade. Pressure on all of Russia's sanction-evasion schemes - including through cryptocurrency. I thank Europe for this pressure. I am confident: there must be a step from the United States. Putin must believe that the United States does care, and that strong action will follow. I want to thank both the United States and all our partners for the effectiveness of the PURL initiative - our new initiative that enables the purchase of American weapons using funds from NATO partners. This includes missiles for Patriot systems, for HIMARS, and other weaponry - all very effective. In October, we expect to provide additional funding for this initiative. We also have our first proposals for partners regarding the export of Ukrainian weapons - modern ones; this will be a controlled export of our weapons, including naval drones. The security of sea routes is an integral part of overall security, and it depends on many nations. Ukraine is offering all its reliable partners our technologies that have already helped us in the Black Sea. We look forward to robust contracts. We are also preparing new long-term steps for Ukraine's financial stability - and this concerns, first and foremost, Russian assets. Russian assets must work more for defending against Russian aggression and for rebuilding our country. We will discuss this with our partners as well. Today, there were already several reports from Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi: the border areas, the front, and our counteroffensive operation in the area of Dobropillia and Pokrovsk. I want to thank all our warriors, I want to thank every unit for their results and for the truly strong defense of our state and our independence. Next week must further strengthen both our diplomatic positions and our army - this is essential. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Residents Hold On As Kostyantynivka Faces Relentless Russian Strikes By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Yevhenia Rusetska September 22, 2025 Summary Kostyantynivka residents under threat on three sides by Russian forces Thousands remain in the city but scrape by without steady water, gas, or electricity connections Russians drones stalk civilians, making road access to the city in the Donetsk hazardous KOSTYANTYNIVKA, Ukraine -- Ukrainians in the city of Kostyantynivka, near the eastern front line in Russia's war on Ukraine, are in constant danger. Russian forces in the Donetsk region are trying to advance from several directions, probing for weak spots in defenses; the Kremlin wants to cut off Ukrainian forces' access to supply routes, which make this city a prime target. Despite constant shelling and disruptions to the water, gas, and electricity supply, an estimated 8,500 locals are hanging on -- down from a prewar population of more than 65,000 -- but many are clearly rattled. "Is this the press f***ing coming here again?" asks one local woman when approached by a correspondent for RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. "Get the f*** out of here." The woman yells back over her shoulder that when Russian drones see journalists there's invariably an attack. As if on cue, a stalker drone is heard overhead and the residents and RFE/RL team scramble for cover. "People are restless in Kostyantynivka," says RFE/RL correspondent Yevhenia Rusetska. "Artillery is currently hitting the city. The situation is difficult. It's one of the most complicated areas on the front line in the Donetsk region." k, some 60 kilometers away, Ukraine has been focusing on turning back the incursion, with only partial and grinding success. The front lines have shifted several times since then. Daily Aerial Attacks Meanwhile, Kostyantynivka, a key link in keeping Ukrainian forces supplied, has come under daily aerial attacks by Russian artillery and drones. Kostyantynivka has been badly battered, with whole neighborhoods reduced to rubble -- but some residents are still determined to hold out, despite the unrelenting presence of the lethal overhead drones that stalk civilians. "When there's a quiet moment, we run to the shop," says one woman as she hurries along a deserted street, bearing bags of supplies. "When there are strikes, we run back home so we don't find ourselves under a drone." Currently, even accessing Kostyantynivka comes with a serious risk of drone attacks, despite long corridors of netting that have been set up along the main road in and out of the city. The improvised drone defense has helped many to continue getting to and from Kostyantynivka, but the nets don't stop every attack drone -- some drivers, both civilian and military, never make it through. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kostyantynivka-ukraine- frontline-life-drones-russian-attacks/33535714.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 NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE: TROX) between February 12, 2025 and July 30, 2025, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important November 3, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Tronox common stock 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 Tronox class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=44403 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than November 3, 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, defendants throughout the Class Period provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Tronoxs ability to forecast the demand for its pigment and zircon products or otherwise the true state of its commercial division, despite making lofty long-term projections, Tronoxs forecasting processes fell short as sales continued to decline and costs increased, ultimately, derailing Tronoxs revenue projections. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Tronox class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=44403 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. 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 TAIZHOU, Jiangsu, Sept. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Most recently, the Phase III pivotal clinical trial results of Fazamorexant, a first-class innovative anti-insomnia drug independently developed by Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group,were globally unveiled for the first time at the World Sleep Congress 2025 combined with the annual meeting of the Asian Society of Sleep Medicine (ASSM 2025). The announcement has garnered widespread attention within the international sleep medicine community. This groundbreaking achievement marks a significant milestone in the global development of innovative treatments for sleep disorders. The World Sleep Congress, held in Singapore this year, is the highest-level academic event in the field of sleep medicine gathering top international experts and scholars. The release of the trial results of Fazamorexant marks an important breakthrough made by China in original new drugs, with increasing influence in the global academic stage. At the Orexin/Hypocretin System: Clinical Use, a special session co-chaired by Professor Han Fang, former Secretary-General of the World Association of Sleep Medicine and former President of the ASSM from Peking University Peoples Hospital, and Professor Seung-Chul Hong, President of the Korean Society of Sleep Research, a study report was given by Dr. Zhu Wenjun, a postdoctoral fellow at Peking University Peoples Hospital, providing a detailed interpretation of the Phase III clinical data of Fazamorexant, the dual orexin receptor antagonist. According to reports, this study is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial, with a total of 1,034 adult patients with insomnia being administered the trial drug, aiming to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Fazamorexant. The results show that Fazamorexant, as an dual orexin receptor antagonist (DORA), demonstrates rapid efficacy and a favorable safety profile in adult patients with insomnia. It is particularly worth noting that Fazamorexant exhibits exceptional performance in key sleep indicators. In terms of improved sleep efficiency, shortened period of falling asleep, and decreased nighttime awakening are significantly greater compared to the publicly available clinical data of other DORAs, the trial of Fazamorexant provides more significant data (Note: these comparisons are based on different clinical trial conditions and should not be directly referenced for clinical use). Additionally, the drug demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile, with no observed rebound insomnia or withdrawal symptoms following discontinuation. As pointed out by Professor Han Fang, as a fast-acting and short-half-life DORA, Fazamorexant can not only meets the treatment needs of patients with difficulty falling asleep but also maintains sleep without affecting their daytime activities. For people who have difficulty maintaining sleep at night, a new strategy of twice nightly dosing could even be explored, providing a new path for individualized and precise treatment, which was widely recognized by the scholars at the conference. Following the conference, Professor Emmanuel Mignot, Academician of the United States National Academy of Sciences and Director of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences at Stanford University, expressed his interest in Fazamorexant and possible cooperation in further trials. A representative from Yangtze River Pharmaceutical stated that the company has officially submitted the new drug application (NDA) for Fazamorexant to the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). With the debut release of the phase III trial results on the international stage, the company is looking forward to an accelerated review and registration to kick off the industrialization process, so as to provide a safer, more effective and innovative option for global insomnia patients as soon as possible. Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group Yang wen info@yangzijiang.com https://en.yangzijiang.com/ 0086 4009881999 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f2a961ce-54a7-4d8a-8977-6347539a3b90 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0541948d-44e9-44be-b53a-842214bd311f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8f68d7ba-548f-4fdd-b57e-2494c1bd7c0a Credit: Maarten van den Heuvel // San Francisco, United States. MADRID, Sept. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following the success of two editions of Desafia New York in 2024, SOSA is proud to announce the launch of Desafia San Francisco , in partnership with ICEX and Red.es, a strategic program designed to support high growth Spanish startups as they enter the U.S. market through the San Francisco Bay Area. Building on the Desafia initiatives proven internationalization model, this program will bring 810 Spanish startups to the heart of Silicon Valley to engage with investors, validate their solutions in the market, and accelerate their expansion across the U.S. tech ecosystem. Participating companies will begin with a launch event in Madrid in October, followed by an online bootcamp series of individual and group sessions, preparing them for a two week in market immersion in San Francisco, hosted by SOSA and its local partners. The program will include tailored workshops, one-on-one mentoring with U.S. market experts, and high value introductions to investors and corporate leaders. During the San Francisco immersion, founders will gain practical insights on how to lead a U.S. market expansion, refine their go-to-market strategy, meet with local investors, and present their companies to a curated audience at a Demo Day event. Building on the success of Desafia New York, were thrilled to strengthen our partnership with ICEX and Red.es through the launch of Desafia San Francisco, expanding our startup acceleration programs to the West Coast, said Uzi Scheffer, CEO of SOSA. This new chapter in the Desafia series opens the door for Spanish startups to tap into the worlds largest tech and venture capital ecosystem, providing a clear pathway for U.S. market expansion. San Francisco provides significant access to capital, which has contributed to the development of more than 215 unicorns in the Silicon Valley region. The Bay Area hosts thousands of institutional funds, angel networks, and corporate venture capital firms, making it a common entry point for international startups pursuing U.S. expansion. The Desafia San Francisco program reinforces the Spanish government's commitment to internationalization and innovation through entrepreneurship. It also aligns with SOSAs mission of bridging global startups with the worlds leading tech ecosystems. For more information about the program, please visit: https://sanfrancisco.desafia.gob.es/ ICEX ICEX is a public business-oriented organization aimed at promoting the prosperity of the Spanish economy through internationalization. Its goals include enhancing the competitiveness of Spanish companies and their ecosystems in international markets; promoting Spain's image, its productive sectors, and companies abroad; attracting, promoting, and supporting foreign investments in Spain; and providing training in these areas. Its international network and close collaboration with chambers of commerce and sectoral associations are key to positioning Spain as a reference in global markets. ICEX also promotes the international scalability of the technological and innovative entrepreneurship ecosystem through market intelligence activities, institutional support, and the promotion of our companies: startups, scaleups, investment funds, corporations, accelerators, incubators, etc. This is approached from a dual perspective of business development and investment attraction, as well as the creation of partnerships within the ecosystem. https://www.icex.es/ Red.es Red.es is the public corporate entity attached to the Ministry of Digital Transformation and The Civil Service. Red.es develops programs to boost the digital economy, innovation and entrepreneurship, in addition to offering training for young people and professionals and support for SMEs and startups through the promotion of efficient and intensive use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). https://www.red.es/es SOSA SOSA is a global open innovation company that connects governments, corporations, and tech companies through a range of accelerator and market entry programs. From two day bootcamps to six month accelerators, SOSA delivers tailored initiatives that help companies navigate new markets and scale internationally. With offices in New York, Sao Paulo, and Tel Aviv, and partnerships across Europe, Asia, and North America, SOSA supports the global exchange of innovation. For more information, visit sosa.co For inquiries about Desafia San Francisco, please contact: Elan Fox, Senior Program Manager, elan.f@sosa.co A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/be99625d-e3f1-4128-a304-98ea06a3fe16 VIENNA, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) announced the approval of more than US$1 billion in new development financing during the 193rd meeting of its Governing Board and throughout the third quarter of 2025. In a landmark move to further strengthen its development mandate, the institution also successfully issued its first-ever Euro-denominated benchmark bond, raising 500 million on international capital markets. OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: The new approvals, alongside our inaugural Euro benchmark bond, are a clear demonstration of our commitment to delivering more for our partner countries. We are deepening our support for resilience, inclusive growth and climate action, while laying the groundwork for long-term opportunities. As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2026, these twin milestones highlight our ability to innovate, grow and drive transformational impact for decades to come. The recently approved operations will support transformative projects across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, spanning health, education, clean energy, water and sanitation, sustainable livelihoods and resilient infrastructure: Public Sector Operations El Salvador : US$70 million to co-finance Surf City Program Phase II, upgrading roads, expanding sanitation for 70,000 people and improving climate resilience in La Libertads tourism zone. : US$70 million to co-finance Surf City Program Phase II, upgrading roads, expanding sanitation for 70,000 people and improving climate resilience in La Libertads tourism zone. Eswatini : US$50 million policy-based loan to support fiscal reforms, strengthen competitiveness and build climate resilience. : US$50 million policy-based loan to support fiscal reforms, strengthen competitiveness and build climate resilience. Fiji : US$30 million for the Pacific Healthy Islands Transformation Project, modernizing health services in Pacific SIDS with digital integration and workforce training. : US$30 million for the Pacific Healthy Islands Transformation Project, modernizing health services in Pacific SIDS with digital integration and workforce training. Kyrgyz Republic : US$30 million policy-based loan for the First Sustainable & Inclusive Growth Program, advancing energy reform, social services and business competitiveness. : US$30 million policy-based loan for the First Sustainable & Inclusive Growth Program, advancing energy reform, social services and business competitiveness. Lesotho : US$40 million for the Integrated Transport, Trade & Logistics Project, rehabilitating roads, bridges and airport facilities to boost trade and safety. : US$40 million for the Integrated Transport, Trade & Logistics Project, rehabilitating roads, bridges and airport facilities to boost trade and safety. Malawi : US$27 million for the Jenda Water Supply & Sanitation Project, providing safe water and improved waste management in a key agricultural hub. : US$27 million for the Jenda Water Supply & Sanitation Project, providing safe water and improved waste management in a key agricultural hub. Morocco : 100 million policy-based loan to support Economic Governance & Climate Resilience, enhancing efficiency in water and energy management while expanding private sector participation. : 100 million policy-based loan to support Economic Governance & Climate Resilience, enhancing efficiency in water and energy management while expanding private sector participation. Papua New Guinea : US$50 million for the Learning Enhancement & Access Project, improving early education for 375,000 students and training 9,000 teachers. : US$50 million for the Learning Enhancement & Access Project, improving early education for 375,000 students and training 9,000 teachers. Saint Lucia : US$20 million to upgrade the Sir Julian R. Hunte Highway, reducing travel times and improving safety for nearly 95,000 residents. : US$20 million to upgrade the Sir Julian R. Hunte Highway, reducing travel times and improving safety for nearly 95,000 residents. South Africa : US$150 million policy-based loan for Infrastructure Modernization advancing transport and energy reforms for a low-carbon transition. : US$150 million policy-based loan for Infrastructure Modernization advancing transport and energy reforms for a low-carbon transition. Turkiye : 150 million for the Kars-Igdr-Aralk-Dilucu (KIAD) Railway Project, constructing a 224 km electrified line to strengthen Eurasian trade connectivity. : 150 million for the Kars-Igdr-Aralk-Dilucu (KIAD) Railway Project, constructing a 224 km electrified line to strengthen Eurasian trade connectivity. Uganda: US$30 million for Local Economic Growth Support Phase II, enhancing agriculture, rural infrastructure and financial inclusion for 3.5 million people. Private Sector Operations & Trade Finance: Bangladesh : US$30 million to expand trade finance for MSMEs and agribusiness. : US$30 million to expand trade finance for MSMEs and agribusiness. Cote dIvoire : 40 million for a 372 MW combined-cycle power plant, expanding energy security and capacity. : 40 million for a 372 MW combined-cycle power plant, expanding energy security and capacity. Egypt : US$40 million for a 1,000 MW solar-plus-storage facility in Aswan, one of Africas largest clean energy plants. : US$40 million for a 1,000 MW solar-plus-storage facility in Aswan, one of Africas largest clean energy plants. Jordan : US$25 million subordinated loan to expand MSME and climate lending. : US$25 million subordinated loan to expand MSME and climate lending. Oman : US$50 million for a large-scale industrial facility producing renewable energy inputs, supporting diversification. : US$50 million for a large-scale industrial facility producing renewable energy inputs, supporting diversification. Paraguay : US$25 million A-loan as part of an up-to US$50 million OPEC Fund-led syndicated facility to expand SME financing, with focus on women-led enterprises and agriculture. : US$25 million A-loan as part of an up-to US$50 million OPEC Fund-led syndicated facility to expand SME financing, with focus on women-led enterprises and agriculture. Regional Africa: US$75 million to support cocoa trade finance in Cote dIvoire and Ghana, improving traceability and boosting farmer livelihoods. Strengthening the OPEC Funds financial base The successful 500 million Euro benchmark bond marks a milestone in the OPEC Funds funding strategy, broadening its investor base and reinforcing its position as a credible and innovative development finance institution. The proceeds of the bond will be used to finance and refinance projects aligned with the OPEC Funds development mandate, with a strong focus on sustainability and long-term impact. About the OPEC Fund The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people in low- and middle-income countries around the world. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$30 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and S&P Global Ratings. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f548d946-c8e5-4427-9bd8-fdd7b4d62cea PARIS, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trace One, a global leader in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and compliance solutions, announced today that Severine Tourpin will serve as its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Christophe Vanackere. The transition has been seamless, maintaining full support for our customers. Severine takes the helm at a pivotal moment. With over 25 years in PLM, SaaS, and product software, she has successfully led fast-growing SaaS businesses serving diverse and global customer bases and driving international expansion at scale. Having held executive leadership roles at Trace One in the past, she brings experience and comprehensive knowledge of the organization. Her return ensures continuity and momentum as the company accelerates its global strategy, guided by our mission of empowering brands to accelerate their digital transformation, deliver products of exceptional quality, and create meaningful impact for customers and communities. Under her leadership and with the support of Main Capital who invested in Trace One earlier in 2025, the company will reinforce its focus on delivering increased value to customers, enhancing innovation, and scaling internationally. Severine Tourpin, CEO of Trace One, said: Im honored to lead Trace One as we begin this next chapter. My focus will be on offering more value to our customers, improving the user experience for our community of more than 9,000 brands, and continuing our international expansion alongside our talented teams. About Trace One Trace One is a premier SaaS provider of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and compliance solutions, specializing in the food & beverage, cosmetics, personal care, and chemical industries. With over 30 years of expertise, we empower more than 9,000 brand owners worldwide to innovate, collaborate, and bring products to market faster while ensuring the highest standards of quality, compliance, and sustainability. Trusted by industry leaders, Trace One combines cutting-edge technology with unmatched expertise to help businesses navigate complexity, accelerate growth, and shape a sustainable future. To know more about Trace One visit www.traceone.com. About Main Capital Partners Main Capital Partners is a leading software investor in the Benelux, DACH, France, the Nordics, and the United States with approximately EUR 6.5 billion in Assets under Management. Main has over 20 years of experience in strengthening software companies and works closely with the management teams in its portfolio as a strategic partner to achieve profitable growth and larger outstanding software groups. As a leading software investor managing private equity funds active in Northwestern Europe and North America, Main has 90 employees operating out of its offices in The Hague, Dusseldorf, Stockholm, Antwerp, Paris, and an affiliated office in Boston. Main maintains an active portfolio of over 55 software companies. The underlying portfolio employs over 12,000 employees. Contact: Saida Alt saida.ait@traceone.com Press release Lyon, September 22, 2025 AFL acknowledges the downgrade to A+ (stable outlook) of its long-term rating by Fitch Ratings Following the decision by Fitch Ratings to downgrade the French government's long-term rating from AA- (negative outlook) to A+ (stable outlook), AFL, the bank for local authorities, announces that its own long-term rating assigned by Fitch Ratings has been revised from AA- (negative outlook) to A+ (stable outlook) on September 18, 2025. Its short-term rating remains unchanged at F1+, stable outlook. AFL credit rating on 22 September 2025 Rating/Rating agency Fitch Ratings Standard & Poor's Long term A+, stable outlook AA- Outlook stable Negative Short-term rating F1+, stable outlook A-1+ This change stems directly from the methodology applied by Fitch Ratings, which links the sovereign rating to that of AFL, given its business model - limited to financing French local authorities - and the guarantee mechanism covering the senior debt issued by the bank. This decision does not reflect a deterioration in the credit institution's own financial situation, which remains solid. AFL retains: a robust business model; high liquidity; prudent financial policies. The bank remains fully committed to pursuing its strategic objectives and maintaining the confidence of French local authorities and investors. Impacts of the rating change Debt issued by AFL remains classified as HQLA1 as specified by the ACPR, pursuant to Article 10(1)(e)(ii) of the LCR Delegated Regulation. Excerpt from the ACPR notice: AFL issues may be considered high-quality liquid assets of level 1 (HQAL1) under Article 10(1)(e)(ii) of the LCR Delegated Regulation, provided that the share of loans granted by AFL to eligible RGLA is permanently greater than 90% of total outstanding loans. As of June 30, 2025, this ratio has been verified. Given the AFL's status as a credit institution, the weighting of AFL debt securities issues for the calculation of risk-weighted assets under the standard approach, excluding member guarantees, is referred to in Article 120 of the CRR Regulation. Following the upgrade of the AFL's rating to CQS 2, the weighting is 30%. Excerpt from Article 120(1) of the CRR: Exposures to institutions for which a credit assessment by a nominated ECAI is available shall be assigned a risk weight in accordance with Table 1 which corresponds to the credit assessment of the ECAI in accordance with Article 136. Table 1 Credit quality step 1 2 3 4 5 6 Risk weighting 20% 30% 50% 100% 100% 150% About AFL The Companys mission is to embody a responsible finance to strengthen the local worlds empowerment so as to better deliver the present and future needs of its inhabitants. By creating our bank, the first one that we own and manage, we, French local authorities, have decided to act to deepen decentralization. Our bank, Agence France Locale (AFL), is not a financial institution similar to any other. Created by and for local authorities, it aims to strengthen our freedom, our ability to develop projects and our responsibility as local public actors. Its culture of prudence spares us from the dangers of complexity and its governance from downward slides of conflicts of interest. The main objective is to provide local world with an access to cost-efficient resources, under total transparency. The principles of solidarity and equity drive us. We are convinced that together we go further. We decided that our institution would be agile, addressing all types of local authorities, from the largest regions to the smallest municipalities. We see profit as a means to maximize public spending, not as an end goal. Through AFL, we support a local world committed to take up social, economic, and environmental challenges. AFL strengthens our empowerment: to carry out projects in our territories, today and tomorrow, to the benefits of the inhabitants. We are proud to have a bank whose development is like us, even more responsible and sustainable. We are Agence France Locale. Attachment FORM 8.5 (EPT/RI) PUBLIC DEALING DISCLOSURE BY AN EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER WITH RECOGNISED INTERMEDIARY STATUS DEALING IN A CLIENT-SERVING CAPACITY Rule 8.5 of the Takeover Code (the Code) 1. KEY INFORMATION (a) Name of exempt principal trader: Investec Bank plc (b) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree Treatt plc (c) Name of the party to the offer with which exempt principal trader is connected: Investec is Joint financial adviser, Rule 3 adviser and corporate broker to Treatt plc. (d) Date dealing undertaken: 19th September 2025 (e) In addition to the company in 1(b) above, is the exempt principal trader making disclosures in respect of any other party to this offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state N/A N/A 2. DEALINGS BY THE EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(b), copy table 2(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in. The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated. (a) Purchases and sales Class of relevant security Purchases/ sales Total number of securities Highest price per unit paid/received Lowest price per unit paid/received Ordinary shares Purchases 19,007 275 270 Ordinary shares Sales 3,742 274.25 274.25 (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options) (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A (ii) Exercise Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities) Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable) N/A N/A N/A N/A 3. OTHER INFORMATION (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state none None (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state none None Date of disclosure: 22nd September 2025 Contact name: Abhishek Gawde Telephone number: +91-9923757332 Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service. The Panels Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Codes dealing disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129. Dublin, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "U.S. Smart Home and Security Tracker 2025 - August Market Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Smart Home and Security Tracker provides market intelligence on the competitive US Smart Home and Security landscape by sizing and forecasting the overlapping markets and providing an analysis of key industry trends, market shifts, and player announcements on an ongoing basis. Market Trends & Competitor News The monthly report covers announcements from major industry players and highlights the potential impact it will have on the market. It helps competing brands understand how the actions of different companies may impact their own bottom-line. It includes insight on the activity of major tech giants in the smart home space, Amazon, Google, Apple, and Samsung It includes insight on the activity of and the major smart security providers and platforms ADT, Alarm.com, Comcast, Brinks, Vivint, SimpliSafe, and others. The Smart Home and Security Market Tracker helps companies stay informed with Market Sizing and Quarterly Updates focused on the smart home market. Key Topics Covered: AI Revolutionizing Smart Home and Security: The Consumer View Consumer Adoption: Smart Home Device Owners Lead Use Cases: Safety, Security, and Management Willingness to Pay: AI as a Service Layer Consumer Perceptions: Optimism and Concern Implications: Building Trust and Differentiation Industry News & Competitor Moves Amazon Pulls Sengled Alexa Skill After Numerous Outages Parks Perspectives: Amazon Takes Action to For User Experience and Reputation Black Hat Demo Exposes Gemini AI Vulnerability in Google Home Controls Parks Perspectives: AI Vulnerabilities Point Towards Need for Tighter Security Sonos Voice Control to Add Philips Hue Integration in 2025 Parks Perspectives: Smart Speakers Important for Future of Smart Home Control Adaptive Insurance Uses Ting's Grid Data to Automate Power Outage Claims Parks Perspectives: Whisker Lab's Partnership with Adaptive Enhances its Position Duke Energy Expands Energy Efficiency Incentives and Demand Response Programs in South Carolina Parks Perspectives: Incentives Induce DR Participation for Grid Constraints CSA Releases v1.4.2 of the Matter Standard for Smart Homes Parks Perspectives: v1.4.2 Furthers Supports the Growth of Matter for Consumers Latch Rebrands as DOOR, Expanding from Smart Access to Smart Home Parks Perspectives: Solving for Supply-Side Fragmentation & Renter Expectations Summary of Market News Companies Featured Adaptive Insurance ADT Alarm.com Amazon Apple Brinks Comcast CSA (Connectivity Standards Alliance) Duke Energy Google Latch (rebranded as DOOR) Philips Hue Samsung Sengled SimpliSafe Sonos Ting (part of Whisker Labs' Ting service) Vivint Whisker Labs For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qnelaa 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. Helio Diagnostics: A European CDMO dedicated to In Vitro Diagnostics Helio Diagnostics is backed by a team with 25+ years of experience in the development and manufacturing of complex diagnostic devices. Marseille, France September 22, 2025 Helio Diagnostics, a European leader in end-to-end Contract Development and Manufacturing (CDMO) services for In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD), was founded by seasoned entrepreneurs. Under the leadership of CEO Stephane Debono, the company is supported by a Board of Directors bringing together Corinne Danan, Philippe Dhamelincourt, Vincent Fert, and Fabienne Hermitte. Our goal is to become a reference European CDMO in IVD outsourcing, making innovation operational said Stephane Debono, CEO. The diagnostic industry is expanding rapidly, and clients need partners who combine technical depth with operational agility. With our experience and pure focus on IVD, Helio Diagnostics is ideally positioned to become a trusted partner to the worlds leading diagnostic companies. Trusted by Industry Leaders Helio Diagnostics has already established long-term partnerships with global diagnostic companies: Helio Diagnostics provides reliable manufacturing and technical support for our Ipsogen RUO and IVD products a partner we trust for long-term collaboration. Their team has ensured seamless technology transfer and lifecycle management for some of our IVD-R product registrations. With their ongoing technical support, customer focus, agility and flexibility, they are a partner of choice." - Thierry Bernard, CEO at QIAGEN. Veracyte has selected Helio Diagnostics to maintain continuity of supply for our Prosigna IVD nCounter test. Having worked with this team before, we are confident that Helio Diagnostics is a partner we can count on to serve our customers outside the US. Marc Stapley, Veracytes CEO. A Strategic Market Opportunity The $13 billion global IVD outsourcing market is growing at 7.5% annually but remains fragmented, with few specialized end-to-end CDMOs. Helio Diagnostics was created to fill this gap: a dedicated European partner focused solely on In Vitro Diagnostics. With a seasoned team and seamless plug-and-play integration, Helio Diagnostics delivers flexible, customized solutions already trusted by leading diagnostic companies. From concept to commercialization, Helio Diagnostics covers the full IVD lifecycle with a 360 perspective: Feasibility & development - assay design, development studies and pilot production Performance Verification, Analytical and Clinical Validation Industrialization and Tech Transfer - scale-up, process verification and validation Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs - ISO 13485 and 21 CFR Part 820 compliance, CE - marking, FDA and global submissions Manufacturing & Logistics - kit production, cold chain management and worldwide shipping Lifecycle Management - post launch monitoring, real-time stability studies and continuous improvement Helio Diagnostics combines flexibility, integration, and operational excellence to support diagnostic innovators from concept to market across multiple fields: oncology, infectious diseases, and more. Our team leverages decades of combined expertise to help partners overcome technical, regulatory, and operational challenges with agility, accelerating time to market while delivering reliable, compliant solutions at scale. At Helio Diagnostics, our mission is to be the trusted European partner for diagnostics companies looking to accelerate innovation, scale efficiently and succeed globally. *** About Helio Diagnostics Helio Diagnostics is a European CDMO dedicated to In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) helping companies bring tests from concept to market with speed, compliance, and reliability. With 25+ years of proven manufacturing expertise in Marseille, Helio Diagnostics team combines technical depth, regulatory know-how, and operational excellence to support diagnostic innovators worldwide with: Development & Validation Regulatory support Scalable manufacturing Global logistics Lifecycle management The mission: make innovation operational with customized and flexible solutions. Helio Diagnostics already serves a global client base and maintains trusted partnerships with leading diagnostic companies worldwide. Contacts Stephane Debono, President and CEO stephane.debono@heliodiag.com Marie Puvieux, press officer, ATCG Partners +33 6 10 54 36 72 heliodiag@atcg-partners.com Attachment FutureChina Global Forum 2025 convened leaders from more than 25 countries, with Sponsor Vocalbeats.AI championing a future where artificial intelligence strengthens human connection. SINGAPORE, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Singapore AI innovation company Vocalbeats.AI is pleased to announce it was a Sponsor of FutureChina Global Forum 2025 . The sponsorship highlighted the companys mission to strengthen human communication and cross-cultural understanding through advanced artificial intelligence, while contributing to one of Asias most prestigious forums along with other major sponsors such as Temasek and Sembcorp. Now in its 16th year, the FutureChina Global Forum, organized by Business China , was themed The World in Flux: Challenges and Opportunities. It took place on 19 September 2025, at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore and convened renowned speakers from more than 25 countries, including senior government officials, academics, business leaders, and innovators. Vocalbeats.AI is committed to transforming the way people live, work, and connect using digital applications, driving new levels of efficiency and creativity through artificial intelligence, said Marco Lai Jinnan, CEO of Vocalbeats.AI. By supporting the FutureChina Global Forum, we are proud to contribute to the global conversation on how AI can not only bridge cultures and strengthen human connections, but also empower innovation and create opportunities that transform everyday life." The 2025 Forum featured a full roster of keynote speeches, fireside chats, and sector deep-dives about important topics such as geopolitics, ASEANChina economic ties, and Chinas evolving policies and technological transformation, including AI. The evening culminated in the Business China Awards, honouring exceptional contributions to SingaporeChina relations. Vocalbeats.AIs vision of accessible communication technology aligns closely with the Forums World in Flux message of strengthening dialogue between China and the rest of the world. To that end, Vocalbeats.AI was proud to sponsor the Forum and foster collaboration on a global scale. A few highlights from the FutureChina Global Forum included a fireside chat with Singapore's former Senior Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan; a keynote conversation with global investor Ray Dalio; and panel discussions on subjects ranging from regional economic cooperation and the optimization of AI for market use. Launched in November 2007 by Founding Patron and Singapores Founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Business China aims to nurture a core pool of Singaporean bilingual and bicultural talents and enterprises that engage deeply in economic opportunities with China. About Vocalbeats.AI Vocalbeats.AI is a leading AI company founded in Singapore that is dedicated to creating intelligent, user-friendly products that enrich everyday life for a global audience. The companys growing portfolio of AI-powered applicationsspanning productivity, wellness, and moreis embraced by an expanding user base worldwide. Beyond developing applications, the Singapore company is also redefining how people interact with AI. With a global team of engineers, designers and researchers, Vocalbeats.AI pushes the boundaries of voice and AI technology, empowering people everywhere to work smarter, connect more deeply, and live better. Visible gold to the naked eye VG-NE heat map of all holes reported to date 2021 2025 (see below). An accompanying infographic is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a12f8b1-aa01-49b0-85d4-7fdb8b347dbf Since drilling started in 2021, many holes have returned impressive metal factors with 9 holes delivering greater than 200 grams*meters (g*m) and up to 1346 g*m, 11 holes greater than 150 g*m, 25 holes greater than 100 g*m, 32 holes greater than 75 g*m and 63 holes greater than 50 g*m have been drilled on the Surebet Discovery that remains wide open. Drill hole GD-25-365 intersected 8.45 g/t Au over 7.13 meters, within 5.13 g/t Au over 12.00 meters, including 17.20 g/t Au over 3.35 meters. From an interval containing multiple occurrences of visible gold (VG-NE) within a zone of strong quartz-sulphide veining hosted in the andesite unit belonging to the Bonanza Zone that remains wide open. The intercept is approximately true width, and these assays reflect gold only (AuEq value in the interval will be adjusted accordingly once Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn are received). An accompanying infographic is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e4d6ed8f-9e7d-486f-9d8c-0f06fa3fb8ed GD-25-365 is currently modeled in the NW extension of the Bonanza Zone that also corresponds to previously announced holes GD-22-96, GD-24-245, GD-24-263 and GD-24-273 that respectively assayed 4.92 g/t Au over 3.7 meters, 4.14 g/t Au over 8 meters, 8.37 g/t Au over 6 meters, and 4.62 g/t Au over 8.9 meters (see cross section, plan view and 3D vein wire frame below). An accompanying infographic is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/587eccbd-9e95-42ce-a6e9-3e4e08b4914a An accompanying infographic is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/39bbdd5a-ffb8-46f8-9485-2bdcba8e105c An accompanying infographic is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ef17364c-0093-475f-9462-64ae46e93c67 Drill hole GD-25-360 intersected 6.47 g/t Au over 4.00 meters, within 2.66 g/t Au over 11.10 meters, part of a quart-sulphide breccia corresponding to the Bonanza Zone that remains wide open. The intercept is approximately true width, and these assays reflect gold only (AuEq value in the interval will be adjusted accordingly once Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn are received). An accompanying infographic is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d363cc83-9f8e-4eba-b1af-60f2a143cdc9 Drill hole GD-25-358 intersected two separate intervals that both correspond to the Bonanza Zone which remains wide open. The first 6.09 g/t Au over 5.00 meters, including 10.13 g/t Au over 3.00 meters, containing VG-NE associated with semi-massive to massive sulphides. The second interval assayed 6.33 g/t Au over 4.10 meters, within 3.90 g/t Au over 7.00 meters and within a larger interval of 2.33 g/t Au over 12.00 meters, where VG-NE occurs in close association with bismuth within quartz-chlorite veins. The intercept is approximately true width, and these assays reflect gold only (AuEq value in the interval will be adjusted accordingly once Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn are received). Drill hole GD-25-359 intersected 6.38 g/t Au over 3.00 meters, within 5.09 g/t Au over 3.97 meters from a zone of strong quartz-sulphide stockwork and breccia, with multiple occurrences of VG-NE corresponding to the Surebet Zone, that remains wide open. The intercept is approximately true width, and these assays reflect gold only (AuEq value in the interval will be adjusted accordingly once Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn are received). An accompanying infographic is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38cd7b02-6577-4ca0-8896-3248203ed0f5 Drill hole GD-25-354 intersected 6.96 g/t Au over 3.43 meters, within 3.95 g/t Au over 6.58 meters. Where multiple VG-NE particles were in andesite-hosted quartz veins associated with semi-massive to massive sulphides, from the Bonanza Zone, that remains wide open. The intercept is approximately true width, and these assays reflect gold only (AuEq value in the interval will be adjusted accordingly once Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn are received). Drill hole GD-25-350 intersected 5.01 g/t Au over 3.30 meters, from a zone of stockwork and breccia containing VG-NE as well as semi-massive to massive sulphides. Corresponding to the Goldzilla Zone that remains wide open hosted within the sandstone unit. The intercept is approximately true width, and these assays reflect gold only (AuEq value in the interval will be adjusted accordingly once Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn are received). High-grade gold has been identified in three distinct rock packages discovered to date on Surebet. This includes the gently dipping gold-rich stacked quartz-sulphide breccias/stockwork veins; the gold-rich intermediate to felsic Eocene-aged Reduced Intrusive Related Gold (RIRG) dykes; and the recently discovered broad gold-rich zones of calc-silicate altered breccia. All of which contain substantial amounts of VG-NE (from fine-grained to coarse-grained gold) and remain wide open for expansion. This confirms the presence of a Motherlode magmatic source at depth, a causative intrusion responsible for the extensive 1.8 km 2 high-grade gold system at Surebet. The fully funded 2025 systematic drilling campaign has a goal of up to 60,000 meters using 9 drill rigs. The campaign is aimed at expanding the full geometry of the Surebet Discovery laterally and to depth. 100% of the drilling was focused on the Surebet Discovery, where the Company designed a detailed drill plan that consisted of: Testing for the Motherlode Magmatic intrusive gold source; Testing an additional 13 Eocene-aged dykes observed on the surface that had never been drill tested for RIRG mineralization; Infill drilling with the goal of increasing pierce points density in all known stacked veins with a particular focus on the highest-grade areas from the Bonanza Zone and Surebet Zone intersection domain; Testing zones where the RIRG dykes and gently dipping veins crosscut which are being called Goldilocks Zones as they are key locations where there are two styles of gold mineralization enriching the zones; and Expanding the known mineralized veins/zones laterally and to depth where they currently remain open. Drilling at the Surebet Discovery has hit VG-NE in three distinct rock packages (quartz-sulphide breccias/stock work, RIRG Eocene-aged dykes and calc-silicate altered breccia) showing the untapped discovery potential at this remarkable high-grade gold system that remains open. 100% of the drill holes completed to date on Surebet have intersected substantial quartz-sulphide mineralization and 79% of drill holes completed thus far in 2025 contain VG-NE. This clearly demonstrates the continuity and predictability of this expansive gold-rich system. The Surebet Discovery has widespread drill holes representing more than 400 pierce points over an area of 1.8 km2 or greater than half the size of Central Park, New York City, returning high metal factors showing it has the potential to be one of the most important high-grade gold discoveries in the Golden Triangle since the Eskay Creek discovery. TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Goliath Resources Limited (TSX-V: GOT) (OTCQB: GOTRF) (FSE: B4IF) (the Company or Goliath) is pleased to announce additional assay results from its 2025 drill program where drill hole GD-25-365 intersected 8.45 g/t Au over 7.13 meters, within 5.13 g/t Au over 12.00 meters, including 17.20 g/t Au over 3.35 meters at the Surebet Discovery on its 100% controlled Golddigger Property (the Property), Golden Triangle, British Columbia. 100% of the drill holes completed to date on Surebet have intersected substantial quartz-sulphide mineralization as well as 78% of the 2025 drill holes contain visible VG-NE that clearly demonstrates the exceptional discovery potential remaining on the property. The intercepts reported are approximately true width and reflect gold only assays (AuEq values will be adjusted accordingly once Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn are received). Mr. Roger Rosmus, Founder & CEO of Goliath states: Evidence that we have made one of the most important grassroots high-grade gold discoveries in the Golden Triangle (since the spectacular Eskay Creek discovery) is building with each new drill hole. We often hear the saying in mining Grade is King, when in reality it is truly grade and continuity that is king. I would point to our heat map image showing the widespread VG-NE, over an astounding area (over half the area size of Central Park, New York City and roughly 3 x Empire State Buildings tall) clearly shows remarkable continuity. Which leads to predictability, that has been established since very early in our success at the Surebet discovery. Our geological team has done a wonderful job at targeting the high-grade gold zones and finding new ones in each successive drill campaign. The fact that, to date, we have found VG-NE in three distinct rock packages is indicative of a multi-phased system that was long-lived and powerful. Suggesting a very large magmatic causative source is lurking not far below or laterally to our various high-grade gold zones, is readily apparent. A picture tells a story, and what we can see is a Big Mountain with widespread VG-NE over a large area, that remains open and contains high-grade gold over mineable widths. Ultimately, we feel that the Surebet high-grade gold system is evolving into a significant discovery with the potential to become a future mine one day. Description Of Reported Drill Holes The recent assay results returned several high-grade gold intercepts over mineable widths, confirming the exceptional continuity and predictability of the gold mineralization at Surebet: Drill hole GD-25-365 intersected 8.45 g/t Au over 7.13 meters, within 5.13 g/t Au over 12.00 meters, including 17.20 g/t Au over 3.35 meters, from an interval containing multiple occurrences of VG-NE within a zone of strong quartz-sulphide veining hosted in the andesite unit belonging to the Bonanza Zone that remains wide open. Drill hole GD-25-360 returned 6.47 g/t Au over 4.00 meters, within 2.66 g/t Au over 11.10 meters, including part of a quart-sulphide breccia. Further drilling in the Bonanza Zone continues to demonstrate continuity. Drill hole GD-25-358 intersected two separate gold intervals, both corresponding to the Bonanza Zone. The first being 10.13 g/t Au over 3.00 meters, within 6.09 g/t Au over 5.00 meters from an interval containing VG-NE associated with semi-massive to massive sulphides. The second interval assayed 3.90 g/t Au over 7.00 meters, including 6.33 g/t Au over 4.10 meters, within 2.33 g/t Au over 12.00 meters. Drill hole GD-25-354 returned 6.96 g/t Au over 3.43 meters, within 3.95 g/t Au over 6.58 meters from the Bonanza Zone where multiple VG-NE particles were observed in andesite-hosted quartz veins, associated with semi-massive to massive sulphides. Drill hole GD-25-359 intersected 6.38 g/t Au over 3.00 meters, within 5.09 g/t Au over 3.97 meters, from a zone of strong quartz-sulphide stockwork and breccia with multiple occurrences of VG-NE Success also extended to other targets, including the Surebet Zone which remains wide open, where. Drill hole GD-25-350 intersected 5.01 g/t Au over 3.30 meters from a zone of stockwork and breccia containing VG-NE as well as semi-massive to massive sulphides from the Goldzilla Zone which remains wide open. All intercepts are approximately true width, and these assays reflect gold only (AuEq value in the interval will be adjusted accordingly once Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn are received). The exceptional gold grades, coupled with VG-NE within substantial quartz-sulphide veins, stockworks, and breccias, which are mineralized with sphalerite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite, highlight the excellent potential for further resource expansion. Table 1: Assay highlights from 2025 drill holes reported in this news release. Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) GD-25-350 Interval 316.00 319.30 3.30 5.01 GD-25-354 Interval 528.57 535.15 6.58 3.95 Including 528.57 532.00 3.43 6.96 GD-25-358 Interval 434.00 439.00 5.00 6.09 Including 435.00 438.00 3.00 10.13 Interval 384.00 396.00 12.00 2.33 Including 385.00 392.00 7.00 3.90 Including 387.90 392.00 4.10 6.33 GD-25-359 Interval 174.00 177.97 3.97 5.09 Including 174.00 177.00 3.00 6.38 GD-25-360 Interval 99.90 111.00 11.10 2.66 Including 106.00 110.00 4.00 6.47 GD-25-365 Interval 483.00 495.00 12.00 5.13 Including 487.02 494.15 7.13 8.45 Including 489.95 493.30 3.35 17.20 High-grade gold mineralization has been confirmed in three distinct rock packages at the Surebet Discovery, which include: gently-dipping gold-rich mineralized stacked quartz-sulphide breccias/stock work veins; gold-rich intermediate to felsic Eocene-aged RIRG dykes that crosscut the veins; and the broad zones of calc-silicate altered breccia. All three rock packages contain substantial amounts of VG-NE (from fine-grained to coarse-grained gold) and remain wide open. Which strongly indicates the presence of a Motherlode magmatic causative source at depth responsible for the widespread high-grade gold mineralization at the Surebet Discovery. Table 2: Collar information for drill holes reported in this news release. Hole ID CRS Northing (m) Easting (m) Elevation (m) Azimuth (deg) Dip (deg) Length (m) GD-25-350 NAD83 / UTM zone 9N 6163117 457185 1702 180 77 849 GD-25-354 NAD83 / UTM zone 9N 6162856 457326 1582 185 72 739 GD-25-358 NAD83 / UTM zone 9N 6162734 457228 1481 219 76 651 GD-25-359 NAD83 / UTM zone 9N 6163255 457414 1733 65 47 276 GD-25-360 NAD83 / UTM zone 9N 6162507 457817 1144 120 65 507 GD-25-365 NAD83 / UTM zone 9N 6162958 457041 1604 97 86 702 The 2025 drill campaign has a goal of up to 60,000 meters of systematic drilling with 9 drill rigs. The campaign is aimed at expanding the full geometry of the Surebet discovery laterally and to depth. 100% of the drilling was focused on the Surebet Discovery, where the Company designed a detailed drill plan that consisted of: testing for the Motherlode Magmatic intrusive gold source; testing an additional 13 Eocene-aged dykes observed on the surface that had never been drill tested for RIRG mineralization; infill drilling with the goal of increasing pierce points density in all known stacked veins with a particular focus on the highest-grade areas from the Bonanza Zone and Surebet Zone intersection domain; testing zones where the RIRG dykes and gently dipping veins crosscut which are being called Goldilocks Zones as they are key locations where there are two styles of gold mineralization enriching the zones; and expanding the known mineralized veins laterally and to depth where they currently remain open. Surebet Discovery Highlights 82 out of 104 holes (or 79%) drilled thus far in 2025 contain VG-NE and a 100% of drill holes have intersected substantial quartz-sulphide mineralization. 60 out of 64 holes (or 94%) drilled in 2024 contain VG-NE up to 11.5 mm (7/16 inches) in size, all of which returned high-grade gold. The best hole drilled to date is GD-24-260 previously reported from the Bonanza Zone assayed 34.52 g/t AuEq (34.47 Au and 3.96 Ag) over 39.00 meters, including 132.93 g/t AuEq (132.78 Au and 12.98 Ag) over 10.00 meters, and 166.04 g/t AuEq (165.84 Au and 16.07 Ag) over 8.00 meters delivering a 1346 gram*meter hole (see news release dated January 13, 2025). The best hole drilled to date from the RIRG Eocene-aged dykes is GD-22-58 that assayed 12.03 g/t AuEq (11.84 g/t Au and 15.61 g/t Ag) over 10.00 meters including 19.91 g/t AuEq (19.62 g/t Au and 25.61 g/t Ag) over 6.00 meters, including 23.82 g/t AuEq (23.47 g/t Au and 30.54 g/t Ag) over 5.00 meters, plus a second separate interval down hole of 8.59 g/t AuEq (8.35 g/t Au and 20.74 g/t Ag) over 5.00 meters (see news release dated March 13, 2025). The best hole drilled to date from the third distinct rock package consisting of calc-silicate altered breccia is drill hole GD-25-337, which intersected 10.60 g/t Au over 22.82 meters, including 15.19 g/t Au over 15.71 meters, including two separate intervals consisting of 37.28 g/t Au or 1.20 oz/t Au over 3.36 meters and 36.11 or 1.16 oz/t Au over 3.08 meters. The intercept is approximately true width, and these assays reflect gold only (AuEq value in the interval will be adjusted accordingly once Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn are received). Multiple gently-dipping gold-mineralized stacked veins have been identified every year on the Surebet high-grade gold discovery. Recent discoveries include RIRG Eocene-aged dykes, Goldilocks Zones where the veins and vertical RIRG dykes crosscut (which are characterized by having high-grade gold in two temperature regimes) and recently discovered high-grade gold in a third distinct rock package. Which continuously increase the potential tonnage and gold content of the high-grade gold system at the Surebet discovery. A total of 12 stacked gently dipping high-grade gold veins extend for 1.2 kilometers at the Surebet discovery, have been enhanced by four high-grade RIRG Eocene-aged dykes that are up to 25 meters wide and exposed along strike at surface for up to 1,500 meters have been discovered and modelled to date (see news release dated June 23, 2025). The footprint of the mineralization discovered to date at Surebet is 1.8 km 2 , greater then half the size of Central Park in New York City and remains open in all directions. , greater then half the size of Central Park in New York City and remains open in all directions. Thanks to the mountainous topography, mineralization in the veins is exposed on the surface for 2.1 km of strike (1.0 km on the south slope and 1.1 km on the north slope) with a vertical relief of 700 meters. A study completed by the Colorado School of Mines confirms a new interpretation of the ore forming process of high-grade gold mineralization at Surebet and outlines a common magmatic source for the high-grade gold system, now in three distinct rock packages. Which gives the Surebet discovery tremendous untapped discovery potential to increase tonnage and gold content in the various known rock package. Until this study, researchers and explorers in the Golden Triangle had not recognized the high-grade gold discovery potential in the Eocene- aged RIRG dykes (see news release March 13, 2025), which is showing the potential that these discoveries could be a geological breakthrough in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. Goliath has drilled a total of 92,000 meters with over 400 pierce points on the Golddigger property between 2021 and 2024, which culminated in the updated geologic model used for this years drill planning. The Surebet Discovery has predictable continuity and very good metallurgy with gold recoveries of 92.2% from gravity and flotation at a 327-micrometer crush including 48.8% free gold recovery from gravity alone (no cyanide required to recover the gold). The metallurgy completed to date shows a benign rock composition without deleterious elements (see news release March 1, 2023). Based on positive grassroots exploration and drill results in recent years, Goliath significantly increased its land package from 66,608 hectares to 91,518 hectares (226,146 acres) and now controls 56 kilometers of key terrain of the Red Line geologic trend providing for additional upside discovery potential. The Golddigger Property is located on tidewater with a barge route to Prince Rupert (190 km south) and close to infrastructure including the town of Kitsault adjacent to a permitted mine site on private property. About Golddigger Property The Golddigger Property is 100% controlled and covers an area of 91,518 hectares in a highly prospective geological setting of the Eskay Rift, within 3 kilometers of the Red Line in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. This area, in close proximity to the Red Line, has hosted some of Canadas greatest gold mines including Eskay Creek, Premier and Snip. Other significant and well-known deposits in the Golden Triangle include Brucejack, Copper Canyon, Galore Creek, Granduc, KSM, Red Chris, and Schaft Creek. Goliath controls 56 kilometers of the Red Line which is a geologic contact between Triassic age Stuhini rocks and Jurassic age Hazelton rocks used as key markers when exploring for gold-copper-silver mineralization. The Surebet discovery has predictable continuity and excellent metallurgy with gold recoveries from gravity and flotation at a 327-micrometer crush of 92.2% including 48.8% free gold from gravity alone (no cyanide required to recover the gold). The metallurgy completed to date shows no deleterious elements are present (see news release dated March 1, 2023). The Property is in an excellent location in close proximity to the communities of Alice Arm and Kitsault where there is a permitted mill site on private property. It is situated on tide water with direct barge access to Prince Rupert (190 kilometers via the Observatory inlet/Portland inlet). The town of Kitsault is accessible by road (190 kilometers from Terrace, 300 kilometers from Prince Rupert) and has a barge landing, dock, and infrastructure capable of housing at least 300 people, including high-tension power. Additional infrastructure in the area includes the Dolly Varden Silver Mine Road (only 7 kilometers to the East of the Surebet discovery) with direct road access to Alice Arm barge landing (18 kilometers to the south of the Surebet discovery) and high-tension power (25 kilometers to the east of Surebet discovery). The city of Terrace (population 16,000) provides access to railway, major highways, and airport with supplies (food, fuel, lumber, etc.), while the town of Prince Rupert (population 12,000) is located on the West Coast of British Columbia and houses an international container seaport also with direct access to railway and an airport. About CASERM (Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining) Goliath Resources is a paying member and active supporter of the Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM), which is one of the worlds largest research centers in the mining sector. CASERM is a collaborative research venture between Colorado School of Mines and Virginia Tech that is supported by a consortium of mining and exploration companies, analytical instrumentation and software companies, and federal agencies aiming to transform the way geoscience data is acquired and used across the mining value chain. The center forms part of the I-UCRC program of the National Science Foundation. Research focuses on the integration of diverse geoscience data to improve decision making across the mine life cycle, beginning with the exploration for subsurface resources continuing through mine operation as well as closure and environmental remediation. Over the past three years, Goliath Resources membership in CASERM has allowed a high level of research to be performed on the Surebet Discovery. Qualified Person Rein Turna P. Geo is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, for Goliath Resource Limited projects, and supervised the preparation of, and has reviewed and approved, the technical information in this release. Mr. Turna is an Independent Director of the Company. About Goliath Resources Limited Goliath Resources is an explorer of precious metals projects in the highly prospective Golden Triangle of Northwestern British Columbia. All of its projects are in high quality geological settings and geopolitical safe jurisdictions amenable to mining in Canada. Goliath is a member and active supporter of CASERM which is an organization that represents a collaborative venture between Colorado School of Mines and Virginia Tech. Goliaths key strategic cornerstone shareholders include Crescat Capital, a Global Commodity Group (Singapore), McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX), Waratah Capital Advisors, Mr. Rob McEwen, Mr. Eric Sprott and Mr. Larry Childress. For more information please contact: Goliath Resources Limited Mr. Roger Rosmus Founder and CEO Tel: +1.416.488.2887 roger@goliathresources.com www.goliathresourcesltd.com Disclaimer The reader is cautioned that grab samples are spot samples which are typically, but not exclusively, constrained to mineralization. Grab samples are selective in nature and collected to determine the presence or absence of mineralization and are not intended to be representative of the material sampled. Oriented HQ-diameter or NQ-diameter diamond drill core from the drill campaign is placed in core boxes by the drill crew contracted by the Company. Core boxes are transported by helicopter to the staging area and then transported by truck to the core shack. The core is then re-orientated, meterage blocks are checked, meter marks are labelled, Recovery and RQD measurements taken, and primary bedding and secondary structural features including veins, dykes, cleavage, and shears are noted and measured. The core is then described and transcribed in MX DepositTM. Drill holes were planned using Leapfrog GeoTM and QGISTM software and data from the 2017-2024 exploration campaigns. Drill core containing quartz breccia, stockwork, veining and/or sulphide(s), or notable alteration is sampled in lengths of 0.5 to 1.5 meters. Core samples are cut lengthwise in half: one-half remains in the box and the other half is inserted in a clean plastic bag with a sample tag. The bagged samples are then weighed and secured with a zip tie. Certified reference materials (CRMs), blanks and duplicates are added in the sample stream at a rate of 10%. To ensure analytical anonymity, CRM identification labels are removed prior to submission to the laboratory. Additional out-of-sequence blanks are introduced immediately following core samples that contain VG-NE or high-grade sulphide mineralization. Grab, channels, chip and talus samples were collected by foot with helicopter assistance. Prospective areas included, but were not limited to, proximity to MINFile locations, placer creek occurrences, regional soil anomalies, and potential gossans based on high-resolution satellite imagery. The rock grab and chip samples were extracted using a rock hammer, or hammer and chisel to expose fresh surfaces and to liberate a sample of anywhere between 0.5 to 5.0 kilograms. All sample sites were flagged with biodegradable flagging tape and marked with the sample number. All sample sites were recorded using hand-held GPS units (accuracy 3-10 meters) and sample ID, easting, northing, elevation, type of sample (outcrop, subcrop, float, talus, chip, grab, etc.) and a description of the rock were recorded on all-weather paper. Samples are then inserted in a clean plastic bag with a sample tag for transport and shipping to the geochemistry lab. QA/QC samples including blanks, certified reference materials, and duplicate samples are inserted regularly into the sample sequence at a rate of 10%. All samples are transported in rice bags sealed with numbered security tags. The rice bags are transported from the core shacks to the MSALABS facilities in Terrace, BC. MSALABS is certified with both AC89-IAS and ISO/IEC Standard 17025:2017. The core samples undergo preparation via drying, crushing to ~70% of the material passing a 2 mm sieve and riffle splitting. The sample splits are weighed and transferred into three plastic jars, each containing between 300 g and 500 g of crushed sample material. A 250 g split is pulverized to ensure at least 85% of the material passes through a 75 m sieve. The crushed samples are transported to the MSALABS PhotonAssayTM facility in Prince George, where gold concentrations are quantified via photon assay analysis (method CPA-Au1). Samples that result in gold concentrations 5 ppm are analyzed to extinction. Photon assay uses high-energy X-rays (photons) to excite atomic nuclei within the jarred samples, inducing the emission of secondary gamma rays, which are measured to quantify gold concentrations. The assays from all jars are combined on a weight-averaged basis. Multielement analyses are carried at the MSALABS facilities in Surrey, BC, where 250 g of pulverized splits are analyzed via ICF6xx and IMS-230 methods. The IMS-230 method uses 4-acid digestion (a combination of hydrochloric, nitric, perchloric and hydrofluoric acids) followed by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry to quantify concentrations of 48 elements. Samples with over-limit results for Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn undergo ore-grade analysis via the ICF-6xx method (where xx denotes the target metal). This method employs 4-acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry. Widths are reported in drill core lengths and the true widths are estimated to be 80-90% and Gold Equivalent (AuEq) metal values are calculated using: Au 2797.16 USD/oz, Ag 31.28 USD/oz, Cu 4.25 USD/lbs, Pb 1955.58 USD/ton and Zn 2750.50 USD/ton on January 31st, 2025. There is potential for economic recovery of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc from these occurrences based on other mining and exploration projects in the same Golden Triangle Mining Camp where Goliaths project is located such as the Homestake Ridge Gold Project (Auryn Resources Technical Report, Updated Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Homestake Ridge Gold Project, prepared by Minefill Services Inc. Bothell, Washington, dated May 29, 2020). Here, AuEq values were calculated using 3-year running averages for metal price, and included provisions for metallurgical recoveries, treatment charges, refining costs, and transportation. Recoveries for Gold were 85.5%, Silver at 74.6%, Copper at 74.6% and Lead at 45.3%. It will be assumed that Zinc can be recovered with the Copper at the same recovery rate of 74.6%. The quoted reference of metallurgical recoveries is not from Goliaths Golddigger Project, Surebet Zone mineralization, and there is no guarantee that such recoveries will ever be achieved, unless detailed metallurgical work such as in a Feasibility Study can be eventually completed on the Golddigger Project. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), nor the OTCQB Venture Market accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Goliaths current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the ability of the Company to complete financings and its ability to build value for its shareholders as it develops its mining properties. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to Goliath. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the proposed transactions will occur, or that if the proposed transactions do occur, will be completed on the terms described above. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and Goliath is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. This announcement does not constitute an offer, invitation, or recommendation to subscribe for or purchase any securities and neither this announcement nor anything contained in it shall form the basis of any contract or commitment. In particular, this announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer would be illegal. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be 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 or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S 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. CALGARY, Alberta, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Diamond Group Limited (Black Diamond, or the Company) (TSX: BDI), a leading provider of space rentals and workforce accommodation solutions, today announced it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement (the Share Purchase Agreement) to acquire (the Acquisition) all of the issued and outstanding shares (the Purchased Shares) of Royal Camp Services Ltd. (Royal) for $165 million, subject to adjustment (the Purchase Price). Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Share Purchase Agreement, the Purchase Price is payable in cash or, at the option of the vendors of the Purchased Shares, a combination of cash and up to an aggregate of 4,000,000 common shares in the capital of Black Diamond (the Consideration Shares), at a deemed price of $12.08 per Consideration Share based on the 10-day volume weighted average price of Black Diamonds common shares as of the date of the Share Purchase Agreement. The cash portion of the Purchase Price will be drawn from the Companys asset-based credit facility (the Facility). Closing of the Acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of certain regulatory approvals, including but not limited to clearance under the Competition Act (Canada). Black Diamond anticipates completing the Acquisition prior to the end of 2025. The Acquisition is expected to be highly accretive to Black Diamond with valuation based on the mid-point of a three-year Adjusted EBITDA range for Royal of $31 to $41 million, excluding anticipated synergies. Management estimates that the fair market value of tangible net assets to be acquired in the Acquisition are approximately equivalent to the Purchase Price. On combination, Black Diamond anticipates that the Acquisition will create a premier integrated workforce accommodations and catering business with nearly 12,000 rooms of capacity across Canada. The combined Canadian workforce accommodations business of Black Diamond and Royal will have over 600 employees, of which approximately 250 are Indigenous. Black Diamond and Royals businesses are highly complementary, both in terms of service offering, end markets and geographies served. This combination enables the Company to provide enhanced value, while delivering quality assets and full turnkey services to both Black Diamonds and Royals customers. We are excited to bring together the strengths of the Black Diamond and Royal platforms especially as Canada focuses its efforts on expediting major nation building projects, which is expected to drive increased activity for workforce accommodation services, said Trevor Haynes Chairman & CEO. We look forward to welcoming all members of the Royal team and working together to serve our customers and partners through shared values and a commitment to provide unparalleled quality and service. Conference Call Black Diamond will host a conference call and webcast to discuss this announcement at 11:00 a.m. MT (1:00 p.m. ET) on September 22, 2025. To access the conference call by telephone, dial toll free 1-833-821-2994. International callers should use 1-647-846-2491. Please connect approximately 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the call and ask to join the Black Diamond Group conference call. To access the call via webcast, please log into the webcast link 10 minutes before the start time at: https://www.gowebcasting.com/14361 Following the conference call, a replay will be available in the Investor Centre section of the Companys website at www.blackdiamondgroup.com, under Presentations & Events. About Black Diamond Black Diamond is a specialty rentals and industrial services company with two operating business units, MSS and WFS, operating in Canada, the United States, and Australia. MSS through its principal brands, BOXX Modular, CLM, MPA Systems, and Schiavi, owns a large rental fleet of modular buildings of various types and sizes. Its network of local branches rent, sell, service, and provide ancillary products and services to a diverse customer base in the construction, industrial, education, financial, and government sectors. WFS owns a large rental fleet of modular accommodation assets of various types. Its regional operating terminals rent, sell, service, and provide ancillary products and services including turnkey operated camps to a wide array of customers in the resource, infrastructure, construction, disaster recovery, and education sectors. In addition, WFS includes LodgeLink, which operates a digital marketplace for business-to-business crew accommodation, travel, and logistics in North America and Australia. The LodgeLink proprietary digital platform enables customers to efficiently find, book, and manage their crew travel and accommodation needs through a rapidly growing network of hotels, remote lodges, and travel partners. Learn more at www.blackdiamondgroup.com About Royal Camp Since 1991, Royal Camp has been Western Canadas premier remote accommodation and catering solution. It offers its customers modern structures, turnkey solutions, world-class catering and unsurpassed amenities. Summit Camps, a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Camp, delivers integrated camp services in very remote regions, often with complex logistics, primarily in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. Further, Royal Camps partnership with Primco Dene of the Cold Lake First Nations, jointly operates numerous camps in the Cold Lake and Christina Lake areas under the name Primco Dene Royal Camp Services LP. This successful relationship has grown over 20 continuous years of commitment and cooperation by both partners. Learn more at www.royalcamp.com For investor inquiries, please contact Emma Covenden at 403-718-5062 or investor@blackdiamondgroup.com. To sign up for news alerts please go to www.blackdiamondgroup.com/investor-centre/news-alerts-subscription/. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All information, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including such things as future business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, expansion and growth of the Company's businesses, operations, plans and other such matters are forward-looking information. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "plan", "continue", "anticipate", "might", "expect", "project", "intend", "may", "will", "shall", "should", "could", "would", "predict", "predict", "forecast", "pursue", "potential", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information. This 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 such forward-looking information. Examples of such forward-looking information include information pertaining to, without limitation, statements with respect to: the anticipated timing and closing of the Acquisition; the anticipated benefits of the Acquisition, including the impact of the Acquisition on the Company's operations, financial condition, cash flows and overall strategy; the consideration for the Purchase Price; the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals to effect the Acquisition; timely receipt of governmental approvals, licenses, and permits (and renewals thereof); access to necessary financing; the impact of general economic conditions; industry conditions; other statements relating to the financial and business prospects of the Company; information as to the Company's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance; and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include, among others: the satisfaction of all conditions to closing the Acquisition and the timing thereof; the Purchase Price of the Acquisition, subject to post-closing adjustments and the issuance of Consideration Shares; the successful completion of the Acquisition and the Company's ability to obtain the anticipated benefits therefrom; the accuracy of historical and forward-looking operational and financial information and estimates provided by Royal; the Company's ability to integrate the business of Royal into the Company's workforce accommodations operations; the accuracy of financial and operational projections of the Company following completion of the Acquisition; the satisfaction of the conditions to closing of the Acquisition, including receipt in a timely manner of regulatory and other required approvals and clearances, including the approvals of the Canadian Competition Bureau and the Toronto Stock Exchange; statements or information concerning the future financial or operating performance of the Company and its business or operations; requirements for additional capital; general business and economic conditions; delays in obtaining, or the inability to obtain, third-party contracts, equipment, supplies and governmental or other approvals; changes in law; labour disputes; changes in business and economic conditions; the Company's ability to attract new customers; availability of equipment; failure of counterparties to perform on contracts; industry competition; availability of qualified personnel and management; timely and cost effective access to sufficient capital from internal and external sources; political conditions; dependence on suppliers; stock market volatility; other factors beyond the Company's control; and those factors included herein and elsewhere in the Company's public disclosure. The risks outlined above should not be construed as exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect Black Diamond's operations and financial results are included in Black Diamond's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other reports on file with the Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities which can be accessed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual developments or events could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated. These include, among others, the factors described or referred to elsewhere herein, and include unanticipated and/or unusual events. Many of such factors are beyond the Company's ability to predict or control. The forward-looking information included in this press release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements. Readers of this press release are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information due to its inherent uncertainty. 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 otherwise, unless required under applicable laws. This forward-looking information should not be relied upon as representing management's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Non-GAAP Financial Measures In this news release, the following specified financial measures and ratios have been disclosed: Adjusted EBITDA. This non-GAAP financial measure does not have any standardized meaning prescribed under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities. Adjusted EBITDA refers to consolidated earnings before finance costs, tax expense, depreciation and amortization, accretion, foreign exchange, share-based compensation, non-controlling interests, write-down of property and equipment, impairment, gain on disposal of assets and non-recurring costs. NANJING, China, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Nanjing Niushou Mountain Cultural Tourism Area today unveils the Global Naming Campaign for the Ten Sceneries of Niushou Mountain, inviting netizens worldwide to propose names for the area's top ten landscapes. Guided by a modern perspective, it aims to rediscover this Nanjing mountain renowned for its natural beauty and profound history, establishing it as a new window for the world to understand Nanjing. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. VR Virtual Tour around Niushou Mountain : https://xnly.niushoushan.net/nss.html?language=english Located on the north-south axis of Nanjing, a core city in the Yangtze River Delta, Niushou Mountain (literally "Ox Head Mountain") gets its name from twin peaks resembling ox horns. Known since ancient times as "Spring Niushou" and featuring three of the "Forty-Eight Sceneries of Ancient Jinling," the mountain hosts historical relics such as the Southern Tang Dynasty Tombs and Hongjue Temple Pagoda. In 2015, through ecological restoration and cultural reconstruction, the area transformed from an abandoned quarry into a cultural landmark blending tradition and modernity. Structures like the Buddha's Summit Palace and Twin Pagodas have become popular attractions, with CNN naming it one of "China's New Landmarks." Naming Requirements 1. Focus on scenic resources, presented as four-character phrases or antithetical structures, balancing cultural heritage and broad appeal. 2. Draw inspiration from Zen philosophy, ancient texts, natural features, etc. (e.g., reviving ancient names, adapting poetry, integrating Zen concepts). 3. Submissions must include a recommended name** and a naming rationale (within 300 words). Submission Details Deadline: Mid-October 2025 Email to: nssxcxxb@126.com (first-come-first-served for identical submissions) Awards A jury of experts in philosophy, history, and art will select: - 10 x "Best Naming Awards" (Niushou Mountain annual adult pass + cultural creative gift package) - 30 x "Best Creativity Awards" - 60 x "Best Participation Awards" This cross-border cultural dialogue invites global talents to etch contemporary meanings into the Ten Sceneries of Niushou Mountain, carrying the stories of this Jinling holy land to the world. Source: Nanjing Niushou Mountain Cultural Tourism Area CLEVELAND, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HairSmart made a powerful debut at the American Hair Loss Council Conference, fusing regenerative Ayurveda with FDA-cleared laser technology and earning the vote of 400+ hair restoration providers as their new go-to educator and brand. The annual conference, a cornerstone for hair loss replacement companies, was buzzing with the latest advancements in the field of Hair Loss Recovery. Positioned as the only all-natural, ayurvedic alternative, among a conference room full of surgical and pharmaceutical-based solutions, HairSmart stood apart with its integrative, root-cause approach to hair loss, blending modern science with centuries-old Ayurvedic wisdom. Paving the way in the path of total body health was Prerna Khemka, the CEO and founder of HairSmart, whose educational session on regenerative health care was of interest to the attendees. The feedback continuously noted that the appealing and much needed fresh perspective that HairSmart brings to a field often dominated by quick-fix interventions or surgical choices. Hair loss treatment has long been about surgery or pharmaceuticals or hair prosthesis, said Prerna Khemka. But patients today, especially women, younger men, and those seeking holistic options, want safe, sustainable solutions that address the root causes of hair loss and poor overall health. Our mission is to make regenerative Ayurveda clinically relevant and accessible, and the response from providers has been overwhelming. The Feedback from the American Hair Loss Council shared in the same sentiment, and Prerna's reframe of the ever-increasing conversation was the buzz of the show. It's clear that the messages about HairSmart's Hair Loss Solutions packed a punch due to its simplicity and clarity... 1.) The Three-Step System Framework: a.) Restore scalp balance. b.) Rebuild internal resilience. c.) Revive and re-energize dormant follicles. 2.) An integrative health approach goes beyond quick fixes: It pairs lifestyle + nutrition + scalp health with high-powered, non-invasive treatments. 3.) The beauty market is experiencing a massive demand for alternative hair loss care, which positions HairSmart to be a leader in today's current consumer; therefore, it's perfect timing to join forces with a product company like HairSmart. 4.) Female hair loss is surging, and more men want drug-free alternatives to finasteride/minoxidil. 5.) HairSmart provides an elegant, all-natural, and comprehensive protocol to extend care beyond surgery or Rx-only models to consumers, opening up more possibilities and revenue for your trichology clinic, salon/spa/barbershop business, or medical practice. HairSmarts recognition as both a brand and educator at the Hair Loss Council Conference signals a growing demand among providers for holistic, root-cause solutions. HairSmart has firmly positioned itself as a thought-leader in the evolving landscape of hair loss solutions and didnt just show up; it reframed the conversation around healing hair instead of merely masking loss, and positioned providers to meet the rising demand for holistic, tech-enabled care. If you missed Prerna Khemkas class on regenerative Ayurveda for hair restoration or want to learn how to bring HairSmart solutions into your practice, visit https://salon-scalp-renaissance.lovable.app/ to access resources and partnership details. Media Contact: Manish Gupta Chief Marketing Officer, HairSmart Inc. Email: manishg@myhairsmart.com Phone: +91 8802821783 TIANJIN, China, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On September 18, 2025, the China-Singapore Green Development Forum was held in the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City located in north China's port city Tianjin. Themed "China and Singapore build the cornerstone of green development, deepen cooperation on the construction of new cities," the forum brought together over 300 participants from governments, industry associations, research institutions, and enterprises to explore pathways for green and low-carbon development. The China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City stands as a major intergovernmental cooperation project between China and Singapore. On August 3, 2024, the State Council approved the implementation plan for building the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City into a national green development demonstration zone (20242035), marking a new milestone for the area's high-quality development over the next decade. Wang Guoliang, director of the Eco-City's administrative committee, noted that the region is committed to upgrading itself into an enhanced version of a national green development demonstration zone. Coordinating the deep integration of a green and low-carbon economy with urban construction, the region leverages 6 key pillars -- including green and low-carbon industrial development and green and low-carbon energy transition -- and 247 targeted implementation measures to drive the integrated leap forward of its "five core dimensions": industry, ecology, intelligence, openness, and vitality. In the first half of this year, its regional GDP grew by 11.2%. Several significant cooperation outcomes were reached between China and Singapore during the forum. The international demonstration center (Singapore) of the national technology innovation center for green and low-carbon building was officially inaugurated, while the international alliance for green and low-carbon building technology cooperation and the China-Singapore alliance for culture, tourism and education cooperation were launched in tandem. Source: The China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Administrative Committee Dublin, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Pharmaceutical Robots Market Opportunity, Growth Drivers, Industry Trend Analysis, and Forecast 2025-2034" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Pharmaceutical Robots Market was valued at USD 198.9 million in 2024 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.2% to reach USD 490.1 million by 2034. This robust growth is being fueled by increasing automation across pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, heightened investments in R&D, and the expanding use of collaborative robotics within drug production facilities. Pharmaceutical robots are being utilized across a broad range of functions, including drug testing, cleanroom applications, and production workflows. The rising adoption of collaborative robotic systems is primarily driven by the need for enhanced workplace safety, solutions to address labor shortages, and efficiency in sterile compounding and other complex pharmaceutical processes. At the same time, significant advancements in next-generation therapies and increasing R&D investments are prompting pharmaceutical companies to accelerate the automation of their operations. This is fostering demand for robotics systems that offer scalability, safety, and consistent precision. Industry innovation combined with government support is laying the foundation for widespread adoption of pharmaceutical robots, further advancing the automation trend within the sector. In 2024, the traditional robots segment held a 75.6% share, driven by their unmatched accuracy, speed, and effectiveness in high-end manufacturing environments. Among these, articulated robotic systems are widely deployed due to their versatility in operations such as material handling and packaging. Their flexible payload capacities and efficiency make them suitable for diverse pharmaceutical applications. Leading industry players are actively working to expand the application scope of these robots to serve pharmaceutical manufacturing needs. The picking and packaging application segment held a 45.7% share in 2024. The demand for robotic systems in packaging functions continues to grow as pharma manufacturers seek compact, space-saving solutions that can streamline operations. These systems also improve efficiency by optimizing workspace utilization. Companies are partnering with automation solution providers to develop customized systems that align with evolving pharmaceutical production demands. The focus remains on speeding up packaging workflows and enhancing operational output across production facilities. United States Pharmaceutical Robots Market was valued at USD 113.5 million in 2024. The presence of major pharmaceutical players such as Pfizer, AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson, and Bristol Myers Squibb plays a crucial role in fueling this growth. U.S.-based firms are also investing in modernizing their supply chains through robotics and digital transformation to improve transparency and operational efficiency while minimizing costs. This focus on efficiency is boosting the demand for robotic systems across pharmaceutical production lines nationwide. Key Market Participants In The Pharmaceutical Robots Market Include Fanuc, Omron Automation, Epson, Universal Robots, Staubli, Abb, Mitsubishi Electric, Denso Wave, Yaskawa, Kawasaki Robotics, And Kuka. Top companies in the pharmaceutical robots market are prioritizing automation advancements and smart manufacturing integration to solidify their market foothold. They are investing in R&D to develop collaborative robots with enhanced safety features and precision, tailored to pharmaceutical-specific requirements. Companies are expanding their product portfolios to support cleanroom standards and sterile environments. Strategic partnerships with pharma manufacturers enable co-development of customized solutions for packaging, material handling, and drug formulation. Vendors are also leveraging AI and machine learning to create intelligent robotic systems capable of adapting to complex processes. In addition, global expansion and after-sales service networks are being strengthened to ensure customer support and long-term reliability. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 140 Forecast Period 2024 - 2034 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $198.9 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2034 $490.1 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.2% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope 1.1 Market scope and definition 1.2 Research design 1.2.1 Research approach 1.2.2 Data collection methods 1.3 Data mining sources 1.3.1 Global 1.3.2 Regional/Country 1.4 Base estimates and calculations 1.4.1 Base year calculation 1.4.2 Key trends for market estimation 1.5 Primary research and validation 1.5.1 Primary sources 1.6 Forecast model 1.7 Research assumptions and limitations Chapter 2 Executive Summary 2.1 Industry 360 degree synopsis 2.2 Key market trends 2.2.1 Regional trends 2.2.2 Product type trends 2.2.3 Application trends 2.2.4 Payload trends 2.2.5 End use trends 2.3 CXO perspectives: Strategic imperatives 2.3.1 Key decision points for industry executives 2.3.2 Critical success factors for market players 2.4 Future outlook and strategic recommendations Chapter 3 Industry Insights 3.1 Industry ecosystem analysis 3.2 Industry impact forces 3.2.1 Growth drivers 3.2.1.1 Growing demand for automation in pharmaceutical manufacturing 3.2.1.2 Increasing pharmaceutical research and development investments and production volumes 3.2.1.3 Technological advancements in robotic systems 3.2.1.4 Surging adoption of collaborative robots in pharma manufacturing facilities 3.2.2 Industry pitfalls and challenges 3.2.2.1 High initial investment and maintenance 3.2.2.2 Lack of skilled personnel to work in automated units 3.2.3 Market opportunities 3.2.3.1 Integration of AI and machine learning in robotics 3.2.3.2 Expansion in emerging markets 3.3 Growth potential analysis 3.4 Regulatory landscape 3.4.1 North America 3.4.2 Europe 3.5 Technological advancements 3.5.1 Current technological trends 3.5.2 Emerging technologies 3.6 Value chain analysis 3.7 Pharmaceutical robots market in terms of Volume (Units), 2021-2034 3.7.1 Global 3.7.2 North America 3.7.3 Europe 3.7.4 Asia-Pacific 3.7.5 Latin America 3.7.6 MEA 3.8 Pricing analysis, 2024 3.9 Market evolution and historical context 3.10 Porter's analysis 3.11 PESTEL analysis 3.12 Future market trends 3.13 Gap analysis Chapter 4 Competitive Landscape, 2024 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Company market share analysis 4.2.1 Global 4.2.2 North America 4.2.3 Europe 4.2.4 Asia-Pacific 4.2.5 Latin America 4.2.6 MEA 4.3 Company matrix analysis 4.4 Competitive analysis of major market players 4.5 Competitive positioning matrix 4.6 Key developments 4.6.1 Mergers and acquisitions 4.6.2 Partnerships and collaborations 4.6.3 New product launches 4.6.4 Expansion plans Chapter 5 Market Estimates and Forecast, by Product Type, 2021-2034 ($ Mn) 5.1 Key trends 5.2 Traditional robots 5.2.1 Articulated robots 5.2.2 SCARA robots 5.2.3 Delta/Parallel robots 5.2.4 Cartesian robots 5.2.5 Dual-arm robots 5.3 Collaborative robots Chapter 6 Market Estimates and Forecast, by Application, 2021-2034 ($ Mn) 6.1 Key trends 6.2 Picking and packaging 6.3 Pharmaceutical drugs inspection 6.4 Laboratory applications 6.5 Other applications Chapter 7 Market Estimates and Forecast, by Payload, 2021-2034 ($ Mn) 7.1 Key trends 7.2 Low (Upto 5 kg) 7.3 Medium (6-15 kg) 7.4 High (more than 15 kg) Chapter 8 Market Estimates and Forecast, by End Use, 2021-2034 ($ Mn) 8.1 Key trends 8.2 Pharmaceutical companies 8.3 Research laboratories 8.4 Other end use Chapter 9 Market Estimates and Forecast, by Region, 2021-2034 ($ Mn) 9.1 Key trends 9.2 North America 9.2.1 U.S. 9.2.2 Canada 9.3 Europe 9.3.1 Germany 9.3.2 UK 9.3.3 France 9.3.4 Spain 9.3.5 Italy 9.3.6 Netherlands 9.4 Asia-Pacific 9.4.1 China 9.4.2 Japan 9.4.3 India 9.4.4 Australia 9.4.5 South Korea 9.5 Latin America 9.5.1 Brazil 9.5.2 Mexico 9.5.3 Argentina 9.6 Middle East and Africa 9.6.1 South Africa 9.6.2 Saudi Arabia 9.6.3 UAE Chapter 10 Company Profiles ABB Denso Wave Epson Fanuc Kawasaki Robotics Kuka Mitsubishi Electric Omron Automation Staubli Universal Robots Yaskawa For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5uqooj 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 NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE: BRBR) for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in BellRing, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit. Why is BellRing Being Investigated? BellRing Brands operates in the convenient nutrition category. The Companys primary brands include Premier Protein and Dymatize, which offer ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes and powders. During the relevant period, the Company stated that Premier Protein hit an all-time high in household penetration and that demand remains strong. The Company also stated that its growth was strong in all channels, driven by distribution expansion, accelerating velocities and incremental promotional activity. In truth, the Companys sales growth during the relevant period may have been driven by temporary trade inventory loading at several key retailers, not sustainable end-consumer demand. The Stock Declines as the Truth Is Revealed On May 5, 2025, after market hours, BellRing revealed that starting in Q2 2023, several key retailers lowered their weeks of supply on hand, which would create a headwind to Q3 2025 growth. The Company also announced it was expanding promotions to boost sales and offset [] third quarter reductions in retailer trade inventory levels. On this news, the price of BellRing stock fell $13.96 per share, or more than 18%, from $77.34 per share on May 5, 2025, to $63.38 per share on May 6, 2025. Then, on August 4, 2025, after market hours, BellRing announced disappointing quarterly consumption of Premier Protein RTD Shakes, which had been expected to outpace shipments by a wider margin given previously announced retailer destocking, but instead came more in line with shipments. On this news, the price of BellRing Brands stock fell $17.46 per share, or nearly 33%, from $53.64 per share on August 4, 2025, to $36.18 per share on August 5, 2025. Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit. What Can You Do? If you invested in BellRing you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212.789.3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named Elite Trial Lawyers by the National Law Journal, among the top 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers by Lawdragon, Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com. https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE: JHX) for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in James Hardie, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit. Why Is James Hardie being Investigated? James Hardie is a producer and marketer of high-performance fiber cement and fiber gypsum building solutions. The largest application for the Companys fiber cement building products in the United Stated and Canada is in external siding for the residential building industry. During the relevant period, James Hardie stated that its fast[]-growing customers was one of the key aspects of its competitive positioning. The Company also stated that its North American business results clearly demonstrate the inherent strength of the Companys unique value proposition and the underlying momentum in our strategy. In truth, it appears the Companys North American sales during the relevant period may have been driven by temporary inventory loading by channel partners, not sustainable customer demand. The Stock Declines as the Truth Is Revealed On August 19, 2025, after market hours, James Hardie reported its fiscal Q1 2026 financial results. During the accompanying earnings call, the Company revealed that North American net sales declined 12% during the quarter, driven by lower volumes as customers made efforts to return to more normal inventory levels[.] The Company also revealed that significant inventory destocking among channel partners in North America was expected to continue to impact sales for the next several quarters. On this news, the price of James Hardie stock fell $9.79 per share, or more than 34%, from $28.43 per share on August 19, 2025, to $18.64 per share on August 20, 2025. Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit. What Can You Do? If you invested in James Hardie you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212.789.3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named Elite Trial Lawyers by the National Law Journal, among the top 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers by Lawdragon, Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com. https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into The J.M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM) for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in J.M. Smucker, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/the-jm-smucker-company-class-action-lawsuit. Why Is J.M. Smucker being Investigated? J.M. Smucker manufactures and markets branded food and beverage products. In November 2023, the company completed an acquisition of Hostess Brands, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of sweet baked goods brands. The company stated that the Hostess acquisition was highly complementary and that underlying trends in snacking and specifically sweet snacking still bode well for the category. In truth, it appears the companys Sweet Baked Snacks segment, which includes Hostess, significantly deteriorated in the face of declining trends in sweet snacking. The Stock Declines as the Truth Is Revealed On June 10, 2025, J.M. Smucker reported its Q4 2025 financial results and announced that it recognized a $867 million impairment charge related to the goodwill of its Sweet Baked Snacks segment and a $113 million impairment charge related to the Hostess brand trademark driven by the continued underperformance of the Sweet Baked Snacks segment. On this news, the price of J.M. Smucker stock fell $17.44 per share, or more than 18%, from $111.85 per share on June 9, 2025, to $94.41 per share on June 10, 2025. Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/the-jm-smucker-company-class-action-lawsuit. What Can You Do? If you invested in J.M. Smucker you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/the-jm-smucker-company-class-action-lawsuit Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212.789.3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named Elite Trial Lawyers by the National Law Journal, among the top 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers by Lawdragon, Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com. https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/the-jm-smucker-company-class-action-lawsuit Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. MONACO, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Shamrock V (36.11m), the first J-Class and the only one built of wood, was awarded by the SEA Index, at the end of the 17th Monaco Classic Week-La Belle Classe. Launched in 1930 for Sir Thomas Lipton, who was attempting his fifth challenge for the Americas Cup, this legendary boat has achieved the maximum 5-Star rating of the SEA Index, the first environmental-impact assessment system for boats over 24 metres. The distinction was presented to her owner, Yacht Club de Monaco member Hugh Morrison, in the presence of the Sovereign, YCM General Secretary Bernard dAlessandri, and Catherine Chabaud, President of the Yacht Club de France. Launched 2020 by Yacht Club de Monaco and Credit Suisse (a UBS Group brand), the SEA Index is now established as the benchmark for measuring and reducing the environmental footprint of superyachts. Certificated by Lloyds Register, it is based on the globally recognised International Maritime Organization methodology. In addition to its flagship CO2 emissions measuring programme, the SEA Index includes other analyses such as fuel cells and emission calculations based on the type of fuel chosen, in collaboration with RINA. Assessment of atmospheric emissions with AtmoSud and underwater noise pollution with Bureau Veritas are being developed to complete the SEA Index tool box. Around a hundred yachts over 24 metres have already been certified. The tool, that is now adopted in some 20 marinas in the Mediterranean as well as in the Seychelles (Port Victoria and Eden Marina), opens the door to exclusive benefits. These include discounts on mooring fees and insurance, priority berths in partner marinas and discounts on sustainability training for crews. In essence, the presentation to Shamrock V represents the coming together at the Yacht Club de Monaco of a page of yachting history and the future of more sustainable practices. For more information: Press Office LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d2977ca3-75a8-4680-a7a9-b0aad6f53a6a Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States. TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- White Gold Corp. (TSX.V: WGO, OTCQX: WHGOF, FRA: 29W) (the Company or White Gold) is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement with Clarus Securities Inc. (Clarus or the Lead Agent) who will act on behalf of the Company, together with a syndicate of agents (collectively, with the Lead Agent, the Agents), on a best efforts agency basis, in connection with a brokered private placement (the Offering) of premium flow-through units (each a Premium Flow-Through Unit), at a price of $1.17 per Premium Flow-Through Unit, flow-through common shares (each a Flow-Through Share), at a price of $1.00 per Flow-Through Share, and units of the Company (each a Unit, and together with the Premium Flow-Through Units and the Flow-Through Shares, the Offered Securities) at a price of $0.85 per Unit. Each Unit shall 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 warrant, a Warrant). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $1.15 for a period of 24 months following the closing date of the Offering. Each Premium Flow-Through Unit shall consist of one Flow-Through Share and one-half of one Warrant. The Flow-Through Shares to be issued pursuant to the Offering will be issued as flow-through shares with respect to Canadian exploration expenses within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada). The Agents will have an option (the Agents Option), exercisable in whole or in part up to 48 hours prior to the Closing Date (as defined herein), to offer for sale up to any combination of additional Offered Securities (at the respective offering prices) to raise up to an additional $3,000,000 in gross proceeds. Pursuant to an existing investor rights agreement between the Company and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (TSX: AEM, NYSE: AEM) (Agnico), Agnico has the right to participate in the Offering in order to maintain its pro rata interest in the Company, and have indicated to the Company that they intend to maintain their approximate 19.8% interest in the Company on a partially diluted basis. White Gold owns a portfolio of 15,364 quartz claims across 21 properties covering 305,102 hectares (3,051 km2) representing approximately 40% of Yukons emerging White Gold District. The Companys flagship White Gold project hosts four near-surface gold deposits which collectively contain an estimated 1,732,300 ounces of gold in Indicated Resources (35.2 million tonnes grading 1.53 g/t Au) and 1,265,900 ounces of gold in Inferred Resources (32.2 million tonnes grading 1.22 g/t Au) (see Company news release dated August 21, 2025)(1) with significant expansion potential on the resource itself and in the immediately surrounding area. Regional exploration work has also produced several other new discoveries and prospective targets on the Companys claim packages, some of which border sizable gold & copper projects including the Coffee project owned by Newmont Corporation, which Newmont has entered into an agreement to sell to Fuerte Metals Corporation, with Measured and Indicated Resources of 80 Mt grading 1.15 g/t Au for 3.0 million ounces of gold (2)(3), and Western Copper and Gold Corporations Casino project which has Measured and Indicated Resources of 2,490.7 Mt grading 0.18 g/t Au, 0.14% Cu for 14.8 million ounces of gold and 7.6 billion pounds of copper, and Inferred Resources of 1.4 Mt grading 0.14 g/t Au, 0.14% Cu for 6.3 million ounces of gold and 3.1 billion pounds of copper(3)(4). We are very appreciative of the interest and support from new and existing shareholders for our exploration activities to advance our White Gold Project which has grown into a leading large scale high-grade open pittable gold deposit in a tier-one jurisdiction in Canada. We look forward to further increasing the scale of the project as we concurrently advance it to a PEA to demonstrate its economic potential. Our exploration activities will also continue focus on unlocking additional value across our extensive land package targeting gold and critical mineral opportunities in the prolific and under explored White Gold District, which has recently drawn additional interest along with other areas of the Yukon, stated David DOnofrio, Chief Executive Officer. The gross proceeds from the sale of the Premium Flow-Through Units and the Flow-Through Shares will be used by the Company to incur exploration expenditures on its properties in the White Gold District of the Yukon Territory (the Qualifying Expenditures) prior to December 31, 2026. The Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced to subscribers of Premium Flow-Through Units and Flow-Through Shares for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. The gross proceeds from the sale of the Units are expected to be used for general corporate expenses. This proposed Offering is subject to receipt of all required regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV). The Offered Securities to be issued under the Offering will be offered pursuant to applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable securities laws. Closing of the Offering is anticipated to occur on or about October 9, 2025, or such other date as may be agreed to by the Company and Clarus (the Closing Date). Participation by Agnico and any other insiders of the Company (collectively, the Insiders), in the Offering will be considered a related party transaction pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61- 101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). The Company will be exempt from the requirements to obtain a formal valuation or minority shareholder approval in connection with the Insiders participation in the Offering in reliance of sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. A material change report will be filed in connection with the participation of Insiders in the Offering less than 21 days in advance of the closing of the Offering, which the Company deemed reasonable in the circumstances so as to be able to avail itself of potential financing opportunities and complete the Offering in an expeditious manner. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. About White Gold Corp. The Company owns a portfolio of 15,364 quartz claims across 21 properties covering 305,102 hectares (3,051 km2) representing approximately 40% of the Yukons emerging White Gold District. The Companys flagship White Gold project hosts four near-surface gold deposits which collectively contain an estimated 1,732,300 ounces of gold in Indicated Resources and 1,265,900 ounces of gold in Inferred Resources (see Company news release dated August 21, 2025)(1). Regional exploration work has also produced several other new discoveries and prospective targets on the Companys claim packages which border sizable gold discoveries including the Coffee project with Measured and Indicated Resources of 80.0 Mt grading 1.15 g/t Au for 2.96 million ounces of gold, and Inferred Resources of 21.2 Mt grading 1.17 g/t Au for 0.80 million ounces gold (2)(3), and Western Copper and Gold Corporations Casino project which has Measured and Indicated Resources of 2,490.7 Mt grading 0.18 g/t Au, 0.14% Cu for 14.8 million ounces of gold and 7.6 billion pounds of copper, and Inferred Resources of 1.4 Mt grading 0.14 g/t Au, 0.14% Cu for 6.3 million ounces of gold and 3.1 billion pounds of copper(3)(4). For more information visit www.whitegoldcorp.ca. (1) See news release of the Company dated August 21, 2025. (2) See news release of Fuerte Metals Corporation dated September 15, 2025. (3) The QP has been unable to verify the information. The information is not necessarily indicative to the mineralization on the properties that are subject of the disclosure. (4) See Western Copper and Gold Corporation technical report titled Casino project, Form 43-101F1 Technical Report Feasibility Study, Yukon Canada, Effective Date June 13, 2022, Issue Date August 8, 2022, NI 43-101 Compliant Technical Report prepared by Daniel Roth, PE, P.Eng., Mike Hester, F Aus IMM, John M. Marek, P.E., Laurie M. Tahija, MMSA-QP, Carl Schulze, P.Geo., Daniel Friedman, P.Eng., Scott Weston, P.Geo., available on SEDAR+. (5) All numbers are rounded. Overall numbers may not be exact due to rounding. Qualified Person Steven Walsh, P.Geo. and Senior Exploration Geologist for the Company is a qualified person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (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 involves discussions with respect to 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", proposed, "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. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, the Offering, the proposed use of proceeds from the Offering, Agnicos participation in the Offering, the timing and ability of the Company to receive necessary approvals; the Companys objectives, goals and exploration activities conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Companys properties; future growth potential of the Company, including whether any proposed exploration programs at any of the Companys properties will be successful; exploration results; and future exploration plans and costs and financing availability. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as 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 materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: the expected benefits to the Company relating to the exploration conducted and proposed to be conducted at the White Gold properties; the receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals for the Offering; failure to identify any additional mineral resources or significant mineralization; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on the Companys properties; business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining and mineral exploration; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); the unlikelihood that properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated; soil sampling results being preliminary in nature and are not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit; title to properties; and those factors described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's annual managements discussion and analysis for the 12 months ended December 31, 2025 available on SEDAR+. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as 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 information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law. 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 news release. For Further Information, Please Contact: Contact Information: David DOnofrio Chief Executive Officer White Gold Corp. (647) 930-1880 ir@whitegoldcorp.ca ATLANTA, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blaze Pizza, the nations leading fast-casual, build-your-own pizza brand, will celebrate the grand opening of its newest location in Linden, New Jersey on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Located at 820 West Edgar Road, Legacy Square, Suite 820-A, the new restaurant brings bold flavors and a fast-fired experience to the heart of Union County. To mark the grand opening, Blaze Pizza will host a Free Pizza Day at the new Linden restaurant on September 30. Every guest who visits the restaurant that day will receive a free 11 build-your-own or Signature Pizza, no purchase necessary (valid for in-store orders only; not available online or via third-party delivery, and crust upgrades are available for a minimal fee). Also, the first 50 guests in line will receive one free pizza per month for a year. Derek Armstead of Linden will be on hand for a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3:30 p.m. And, all guests can also play Blaze Plinko for a chance to win prizes, including Blaze Pizza merchandise and Free Pizza for a Year. Additionally, as part of a community giveback initiative, 20 percent of sales on October 1 will be donated to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway. Operated by GSP Group, a passionate team of entrepreneurs including Ashish Shah, Premanand Gupta, and Taral Patel, the Linden location is the second Blaze Pizza under their leadership. GSP Group is committed to introducing dynamic, community-focused concepts to the region, with a track record that includes Wingstop and Paris Baguette restaurants. We chose Blaze Pizza because its a brand that truly empowers the guest, said Premanand Gupta, franchise owner and spokesperson for GSP Group. The combination of speed, quality, and full personalization and the ability for guests to choose from a wide range of fresh toppings, sauces, and cheeses makes it a pizza experience unlike any other. The restaurant will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. offering Blazes signature build-your-own pizza experience. Guests can choose from more than 40 fresh toppings, house-made doughs, and sauces, with pizzas cooked to perfection in just 180 seconds. The new Linden location is part of GSP Groups ongoing effort to grow in high-potential, community-centric neighborhoods, with plans underway to open additional locations in affluent areas across New Jersey. For a full list of Blaze Pizza locations and to browse the menu, visit blazepizza.com or download the Blaze Pizza mobile app. About Blaze Pizza Founded in 2011, Blaze Pizza is the nation's leading fast-casual pizza franchise concept with almost 300 restaurants across 38 states and three countries. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Blaze Pizza is committed to delivering a one-of-a-kind customer experience and unparalleled high-quality products. Known for its savory artisanal pizzas and customizable made-to-order menu, Blaze leads the industry in menu innovation and product excellence. The rapidly growing franchise has received numerous accolades including Entrepreneur's Franchise 500, as well as #1 spots on Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers and Shakers and Franchise Times' Fast and Serious list. Visit blazepizza.com for additional information and stay connected on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn @BlazePizza. Media Contact Blythe Beaubien PR for Blaze Pizza blythe@fikacollective.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9f364f2e-1ec3-4798-818d-db1d007aed94 DENVER, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 247marketnews.com , a pioneer in digital media dedicated to the swift distribution of financial market news and information, today issued a market update highlighting the emerging opportunity in eco luxury spider silk apparel as Kraig Biocraft Laboratories (OTCQB: KBLB), the undisputed global leader in the development and commercialization of spider silk, prepares to deliver initial fabric and fiber samples to three previously announced apparel and textile producers. The first of these deliveries is an internationally renowned high-end luxury fashion marking a critical milestone for Kraig Labs, positioning the Company at the forefront of a new sustainable fashion category powered by performance-driven, biodegradable fibers. With Kraig Labs almost ready to resume its commercial recombinant spider silk production, this release considers the theoretical market opportunity for this super fiber. It appears that one of the Companys goals is to be first to market with an eco-luxury textile that pairs sustainability with exceptional performance. Eco Luxury Apparel: A Natural Fit for Spider Silk The global fashion industry is undergoing a seismic shift toward sustainability and next-generation materials. Spider silk, known for its unmatched tensile strength, light weight, and eco-friendly biodegradability, is increasingly being viewed as a potential keystone material in the growing sustainable luxury space. As the Companys genetically engineered spider silk prepares to enter brand partner evaluations, the addressable market is gaining clarity: According to industry projections, the synthetic spider silk market could reach $7 billion by 2030. If just 2030% of that market is captured by apparel applications, that segment could be worth $1.4$2.1 billion annually. By 2035, as manufacturing scales and production costs decline, that number could rise to $23+ billion annually. Even within the much larger $250330 billion global luxury apparel market, modest penetration, just 0.51%, by spider silk-enhanced fashion lines could represent $1.253.3 billion in annual revenue potential. Kraigs Commercial Trajectory: From Pilot to Partnerships Following its successful pilot production runs and refinement of its Dragon Silk materials, Kraig Labs is now on the verge of delivering its first spider silk samples to three as-yet-unnamed companies. These upcoming planned deliveries, announced earlier this year, represent a strategic alignment with eco-conscious and high-performance fashion brands that have signaled interest in sustainable textile innovation. The Companys current focus remains on: Scaling Production: Ongoing optimization at its production facilities in Southeast Asia. Ongoing optimization at its production facilities in Southeast Asia. Cost Control: Engineering efficiencies to meet target production costs that enable premium yet competitive pricing. Engineering efficiencies to meet target production costs that enable premium yet competitive pricing. Material Readiness: Finishing and processing that meet the standards of luxury apparel buyers. The worlds top fashion brands are actively seeking advanced materials that align with their sustainability pledges and deliver performance. Kraig is positioning to meet that demand with a proprietary fiber unlike anything else on the market. Market Levers: The Path to Broader Adoption While early adoption of spider silk will likely remain in blended fabrics and niche luxury applications, the long-term success of the category, and Kraigs leadership within it, will hinge on key factors: Manufacturing Cost & Scale Regulatory Approvals for Apparel Use Performance Relative to Bio-Based Alternatives Consumer Education and Brand Partnerships Sustainability Certification and Transparency Kraig Labs is proactively addressing each of these levers, aiming to secure its position as the first-mover in a textile category with transformative potential. Please click here to read the full Kraig Labs analyst report on 247marketnews.com. About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of spider silk-based fiber technologies. Through its proprietary silkworm-based genetic engineering platform, Kraig Labs produces high-performance, cost-effective, and scalable spider silk materials for use in defense, performance apparel, technical textiles, and medical applications. For more information, please visit: www.kraiglabs.com Contact sales@247marketnews.com for Analyst Report coverage and other investor/public relations services. About 24/7 Market News 24/7 Market News (247) is a leading market news platform for public companies. As a pioneer in digital media, 247 is dedicated to the swift distribution of financial market news and information. 247 takes great pride in creating innovative public relations campaigns that help clients reach the target audience. PAID EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE: This is a paid editorial communication intended for informational purposes only. 247 is a third-party media provider and has been compensated by one or more featured companies for providing ongoing KBLB market outreach and other services.. This press release may include technical analysis and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Trading stocks involves risks, and readers should consult with their financial advisor before making investment decisions. Please review 247s Full Disclaimer https://www.247marketnews.com/disclaimer/ . Please go to https://247marketnews.com/kblb-disclosure/ for further KBLB and 247marketnews.com disclosure information. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such statements include statements regarding the Company's ability to grow its business and other statements that are not historical facts, including statements which may be accompanied by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including without limitation, the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, general economic conditions, and other risk factors detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update such forward-looking statements except in accordance with applicable law. Worth, IL , Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A groundbreaking SEO framework designed specifically for small and mid-sized businesses launches today, following extensive analysis of over 1,000 successful websites. The AKA SEO wireframe introduces a simplified approach to building online authority through a structured three-layer content system that has already demonstrated remarkable results for early adopters. AKA SEO Wireframe Framework The AKA SEO Wireframe emerges as a response to the growing challenge small businesses face when competing against enterprise-level SEO budgets. This innovative system, developed by digital marketing strategist Rabih Rizk, transforms complex SEO concepts into an actionable blueprint that businesses can implement immediately. At its core, the what is AKA SEO wireframe organizes content creation into three distinct layers: Authority pages that serve as comprehensive pillar content, Knowledge pages that provide supporting depth, and Answer pages that directly address specific user queries. This structured approach has yielded impressive results, with case studies showing traffic increases of up to 340% for local HVAC companies and 425% growth for pest control businesses within just eight months. "The data from analyzing over 1,000 successful websites revealed a clear pattern in how search engines evaluate topical authority," explains Rizk. "By distilling these insights into a practical framework, we've created a system that reduces SEO planning time by 80% while maintaining the high standards necessary for search success." The Authority Knowledge Answers framework has demonstrated particular effectiveness in competitive local markets. Early implementation data shows that 85% of target keywords reached page one of search results for B2B SaaS companies utilizing the system, marking a significant advancement in SEO strategy accessibility. The framework's launch coincides with its upcoming presentation at the SEOST Digital Marketing Conference 2025, where industry experts will explore how the AKA wireframe democratizes advanced SEO techniques. The system's methodology breaks down complex authority-building processes into manageable components that businesses can execute without extensive technical expertise. AKA SEO Wireframe Framework Implementation of the framework follows a systematic approach, with businesses first identifying their core authority topics, then developing supporting knowledge content, and finally creating targeted answer pages that address specific customer questions. This structured method ensures consistent content development while building comprehensive topical authority. Small business owners utilizing the framework report substantial improvements in their online visibility. The system's efficiency in reducing planning time allows companies to focus more resources on content creation and customer engagement, rather than complex SEO strategy development. Looking ahead, the Rabih Rizk AKA framework development team plans to release additional tools and resources to support businesses implementing the system. These upcoming developments include automated content planning tools and integration with popular content management systems. Visit https://rabihrizk.com/ to learn more about implementing the AKA SEO Wireframe and access detailed case studies demonstrating its effectiveness across various industries. About AKA SEO Wireframe Framework: The AKA SEO Wireframe Framework represents a revolutionary approach to search engine optimization, developed through extensive research and real-world implementation. Founded on the principle that small businesses deserve access to enterprise-level SEO strategies, the framework provides a structured methodology for building lasting online authority. Based in Worth, Illinois, the company maintains a strong focus on empowering local businesses with practical, results-driven SEO solutions. The framework's success across diverse industries demonstrates its versatility and effectiveness in modern digital marketing. ### Media Contact: AKA SEO Wireframe Framework 11410 S Harlem Ave, Worth, IL 60482 312 646 0885 rabihrizk.com contact@rabihrizk.com Attachment PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berger Montague PC is investigating potential securities fraud claims on behalf of investors of Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE: SOC) (Sable or the Company) following the filing of a securities class action lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Sable securities between May 19, 2025 through June 3, 2025 (the Class Period), as well as on or traceable to the Companys May 2025 secondary offering. Investor Deadline: Investors who purchased or acquired Sable securities during the Class Period may, no later than September 26, 2025, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. To learn your rights, CLICK HERE . Sable, headquartered in Houston, is an offshore oil and gas operations company. The lawsuit alleges that throughout the Class Period, the Company made false and misleading statements regarding its operations. Specifically, the suit alleges that the Company misrepresented that it had restarted oil production off the coast of California when it had not. As a result of these misrepresentations, investors suffered significant losses. If you are a Sable 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, 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 MONTREAL, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Velan Inc. (TSX: VLN) announced today that, on Thursday, October 9, 2025, it will release its financial results for the second quarter ended August 31, 2025. The company will hold an analyst call on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. (EDT) to discuss the results. To instantly join the conference call by phone, please use the following link to easily register close to the call start time. After registering, the system will call you instantly and connect you into the conference call automatically: https://emportal.ink/3HMQyiC. Alternatively, you may dial in the conference call by calling 1-800-990-4777 and you will be connected to the call by an Operator. You may also stream the call by Webcast by following: https://app.webinar.net/RyqYbqklXrN. The webcast replay will be available at the same URL within 2 hours of the end of the call. A replay of the call will be available within 2 hours of the end of the call until October 17, 2025, by calling 1-289-819-1450 or 1-888-660-6345 and entering the replay code 06670. The material that will be referenced during the conference call will be made available shortly before the event on the companys website under the Investor Relations section: (https://www.velan.com/en/company/investor_relations). For further information please contact: Rishi Sharma, Chief Financial Officer Tel: (438) 817-4430 or Martin Goulet, M.Sc., CFA MBC Capital Markets Advisors Tel.: (514) 731-0000, ext. 229 Burlingame, CA, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Coherent Market Insights, the Small UAV Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 7.44 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach US$ 16.06 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6% from 2025 to 2032. The small UAV market is experiencing strong growth, fueled by rising adoption across commercial sectors including agriculture, insurance, security, and surveillance. Additionally, the growing popularity of mini drones for recreational use among households is further contributing to the markets expansion. Request Sample Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/6836 Global Small UAV Market Key Takeaways Global demand for small UAVs is likely to increase at a CAGR of 11.6% from 2025 to 2032. Rotary-wing UAVs are projected to remain the top-selling type, accounting for nearly three-fifths of the global small UAV market revenue in 2025. Based on take-off weight, 5 to 25kg category is set to dominate the industry, capturing 45.5% of the global small UAV market share in 2025. Military is expected to remain the most lucrative application for small UAVs, accounting for 53.3% of the global market revenue by 2025. North America, with an estimated share of 37.9% in 2025, is projected to retain its dominance during the forecast period. Asia Pacific, spearheaded by China, is poised to emerge as a hotbed for small UAV companies during the assessment period. Expanding Military Applications Spurring Small UAV Market Growth Coherent Market Insights latest small UAV market analysis outlines major factors driving market growth. Rising adoption of small UAVs in military applications is one such prominent growth driver. Small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being increasingly used in military applications like surveillance, reconnaissance, border patrol, and combat missions. These expanding military applications are expected to fuel demand for small UAVs during the forecast period. Increasing deployment of small UAVs in military applications is mostly attributed to their agility, cost-efficiency, and operational efficiency. They are becoming ideal for military applications like surveillance and border patrolling due to their ability to access remote locations. Nations like Iran, China, Russia, and the United States are significantly increasing their investments in small UAV development and deployment. This rising spending and focus on advanced aerial technologies will likely foster growth of the small UAV market. Immediate Delivery Available | Buy This Premium Research Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/6836 Security and Safety Concerns Restraining Small UAV Market Growth The global small UAV market outlook looks bright owing to expanding military and commercial applications. However, rising safety and security concerns pose a barrier to widespread market expansion. Small UAVs with cameras and sensors raise concerns about unauthorized surveillance and data breaches. This might limit their acceptance, especially in public or sensitive areas, dampening small UAV market demand. In addition, there has been an increase in the use of small UAVs for illegal activities like smuggling and contraband delivery. This is prompting governments to impose restrictions or even ban use of drones in sensitive areas. These challenges may slow down growth of the small UAV market. Expanding Industrial and Commercial Sectors Creating Growth Opportunities Small drones are becoming popular in both modern businesses and industries. In agriculture, they help with precise farming tasks like checking crop health, managing irrigation, and spraying pesticides. Similarly, small UAVs are employed for mapping, surveying, and inspection tasks in construction, mining, and oil & gas sectors. This is due to their ability to improve efficiency and safety as well as reduce overall costs. Small UAVs are also being used in logistics, especially for last-mile delivery. Companies like Amazon and Zipline, for instance, are exploring drone delivery services. These expanding applications are expected to create lucrative growth opportunities for small UAV manufacturers during the forthcoming period. Impact of AI on the Small UAV Market Artificial Intelligence (AI) is undoubtedly becoming a powerful tool in the small unmanned aerial vehicle market. It is enhancing autonomy, efficiency, and versatility of small UAVs. AI-powered algorithms have the tendency to reduce the need for human intervention. They enable advanced functions such as real-time data processing, as well as object detection, predictive maintenance, and autonomous navigation. Usage of AI in small UAVs is expanding their applications across industries like defense, agriculture, logistics, and surveillance. This will help the small UAV market grow faster in the coming years. Emerging Small UAV Market Trends Rising need for safe and cost-effective drone technology is a key growth-shaping trend in the small UAV market. Small UAVs offer lower operational and maintenance costs. This makes them ideal for tasks that traditionally required planes or helicopters. There is a rising trend of integrating AI, LiDAR, ML, and autonomous navigation in small UAVs. These advanced technologies are significantly enhancing their capabilities, leading to expanded applications. Miniaturization trend is revolutionizing small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Shrinking component sizes is enabling manufacturers to develop micro and nano UAVs for applications such as indoor inspections and military surveillance. Development of these compact, tactical drones will likely boost the small UAV market value in the coming years. The growing use of swarm technology is likely to boost the small drone industry. Swarm technology lets many drones work together as a team, making them more efficient, coordinated, and adaptable. This is especially helpful for tasks like search-and-rescue missions and military operations. Request For Customization: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/6836 Analysts View The global small UAV industry is expected to record robust growth, owing to rising geopolitical tensions, increasing defense spending, growing demand for cost-effective UAVs, advancements in drone technology, and expanding usage of UAVs across commercial and industrial sectors, said a senior CMI analyst. Current Events and Their Impact on the Small UAV Market Event Description and Impact Ukraines Use of AI-Enabled Drone Swarms Description: In September 2025, Ukraine became the first country to use AI-powered drone swarms in battle on a regular basis Impact: This trend will likely drive increased demand for advanced autonomous swarm-capable UAV systems globally. Middle East Regional Conflicts Description: Israel-Gaza tensions are increasing surveillance needs. Impact: This boosts demand for border security and monitoring small UAV systems. Artificial Intelligence Integration and Edge Computing Advances Description: Breakthroughs in AI chip miniaturization are enabling smarter onboard processing for UAVs. Impact: This is expected to accelerate adoption of autonomous small UAVs across both defense and commercial sectors. Competitor Insights Key companies listed in the small UAV market research report: Northrop Grumman DJI Bayer Tech Lockheed Martin Corporation Parrot Drone SAS AeroVironment, Inc. Israel Aerospace Industry Ltd. Teledyne FLIR LLC BAE Systems Textron Inc. AIRBUS Yuneec PowerVision Inc. Elbit Systems Ltd. Guangzhou Walkera Technology Co Ltd Yuneec Teledyne Technologies Incorporated Turkish Aerospace Industries Autel Robotics Key Developments In June 2025, GGA-ASI introduced PELE, a new semi self-driving drone for international customers. PELE is built to operate effectively in tough and hard-to-reach areas. In June 2025, Parrot Drones SAS introduced Anafi UKR, its latest sovereign micro-UAV range, at the Paris Air Show. These small UAVs are designed for public safety, defense, and government operations. Detailed Segmentation: By Type Fixed Wing Rotary Wing Hybrid By Take-off Weight Less than 5kg 5 to 25kg Above 25 to 150kg By Application Military Commercial Government & Law By Regional North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Related Reports: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market Size, Share & Trend Analysis Report for 2025-2032 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle Market Size, Share, Trends & Opportunities for 2025-2032 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Drones Market Analysis & Forecast for 2025-2032 Our Trusted Partners: Worldwide Market Reports, Coherent MI, Stratagem Market Insights Get Recent News: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/news Dublin, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Poland Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Polish cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including cards, cash, credit transfers, direct debits and cheques during the review-period (2021-25e). The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2025e-29f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes. The report brings together the analyst's research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers detailed regulatory policies and recent changes in regulatory structure. Key Highlights Global Payments is the leading acquirer in the Polish merchant acquiring market. In August 2022, Global Payments announced acquisition of EVO Payments; a transaction that was completed in March 2023. The company provides a diverse selection of POS terminals, including mobile POS systems. Furthermore, it offers Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) services which allows merchants to accept payments from international card holders in over 36 different currencies. The Polish mobile wallet landscape is led by BLIK; a homegrown solution integrated into over 20 major banks in the country. It allows users to make both in-store and online payments. In Q1 2025, BLIK users completed a total of 665 million transactions (including ecommerce, POS, ATM, and P2P)-up from 28% in comparison to the previous year. As of December 2024, BLIK has nearly 18.5 million users in Poland. ?To capitalize on this, BLIK introduced the deferred payment option BLIK Pay Later, initially available for Millennium and Velo Bank customers. However, in June and July 2025, this service was expanded to Alior Bank and Bank Polski bank customers. As of June 2025, the pay later service is available at over 20,000 online stores.? Poland is among the advanced contactless payment markets in the world, with the majority of consumers embracing this payment method. In June 2025, the Polish fintech company Autopay introduced HandGo, a palm-authentication shopping solution, which made Poland the first European country piloting palm vein biometric transactions. This solution enables consumers to pay with nothing more than the palm of their hand-eliminating the need for smartphones, cards or wearable devices. Users need to register their palm vein pattern via the Autopay app and link it to a payment card. At the checkout, instead of swiping a card or tapping a phone, the user just places their hand over a special scanner for making payments. Scope Card market size in terms of number of cards, value and volume of transactions in Poland along with detailed card segmentation of debit, credit and charge cards available in the country. Market sizing and analysis of major payment instruments including cards, cash, credit transfers, direct debits and cheques. Payment market trends and growth for both historical and forecast period. Competitor analysis with detailed insights into leading card issuers and schemes. Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards. A detailed snapshot of country's key alternative payment brands. Reasons to Buy Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to the Poland cards and payments industry and each market within it. Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in the Poland cards and payments industry. Assess the competitive dynamics in the Poland cards and payments industry. Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Poland. Gain insights into key regulations governing the Poland cards and payments industry. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Market Overview 3. Payment Instruments 4. Card-Based Payments 5. Merchant Acquiring 6. Ecommerce Payments 7. In-Store Payments 8. Buy Now Pay Later 9. Mobile Payments 10. P2P Payments 11. Bill Payments 12. Alternative Payments 13. Payment Innovation 14. Job Analysis 15. Payment Infrastructure and Regulation 16. Appendix Companies Featured Narodowy Bank Polski Mastercard Empik PayEye BLIK PKO Poczta Polska Visa Google Pay Bank Pekao Santander Millennium Bank Credit Agricole Express Elixir BlueCash Bank Pocztowy Aion Bank Citi Handlowy Citibank H&M Multikino Douglas Bank Millennium BNP Paribas American Express Pluxee EVO Fiserv Elavon Kaufland Wolt VeloBank PayPal Klarna PayPo Parcela Ja Twisto Santander Bank Polska Alior BillBird Carrefour Ruch Zabaka Rachuneo Przelewy24 paysafecard Click to Pay Empik Autopay ING PepPay For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pj1qpc 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. Ketchikan, Alaska, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cape Fox Lodge is excited to announce that the new tram is officially open and available for Cape Fox Lodge guests, visitors to Ketchikan, and the Ketchikan community! Cape Fox Lodge has devoted resources and time to ensure that the new, modernized tram, a pivotal attraction for tourists, is ready for service. On June 18, 2025, the tram was certified by Alaska State Inspectors as ready for operational use. A few months later, on September 12, 2025, the community came together for a festive grand opening ceremony. The evant drew an impressive crowd, including the mayors of Saxman, Ketchikan, and the Ketchikan Borough, who joined residents in celebrating this exciting addition. The tram has become a staple of Cape Fox Lodge since it was originally installed and first became operational on March 1, 1991, six months after the official opening of Cape Fox Lodge. The tram is a much-used mode of transportation for guests and visitors of the Lodge to access the many other shops and sights in Ketchikan. It sits between Historic Creek Street and Cape Fox Lodge. This has been a longstanding project for Cape Fox Lodge, which replaced the tram cab and mechanical equipment and renovated the tram landings, including adding a new tram stop at Eagles Nest restaurant. We would like to thank all the maintenance team and staff who have devoted their time and energy to helping us install the new tram. Chris Luchtefeld, CFC CEO, stated, The Cape Fox Tram is a symbol of Cape Fox Lodge and the Ketchikan Tourism Industry. Its traverse up the side of the hill to Cape Fox Lodge is seen by all visitors to the community. We are very excited to see the tram cruising up and down the hill and servicing Cape Fox Lodge, the Heen Kahidi restaurant, and Eagles Nest restaurant. If you have further questions regarding Cape Fox Lodge or the tram project, email Heather Kaiser, Cape Fox Corporation PR and Communications Manager, at hkaiser@capefoxss.com. About Cape Fox Corporation Cape Fox Corporation (CFC) was formed as part of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971. Cape Fox Corporation is the Alaska Native Corporation for the village of Saxman. Today, Cape Fox Corporation is comprised of a family of businesses divided between two distinct groups: The Federal Contracting Group and The Commercial (Tourism) Group. Collectively, CFC and its subsidiaries specialize in tourism, information technology and cybersecurity; professional services; health care services; marketing; training services; and logistical services. Visit Cape Fox Corporation to learn more. Attachments Dublin, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Advanced Connectivity" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. 5G-Advanced sets the stage for the 6G revolution The global connectivity landscape is rapidly evolving as 5G-Advanced gains momentum and the foundations for 6G solidify. Building on the speed and capacity of 5G, 5G-Advanced brings AI-native operations, sector-specific private networks, and energy-efficient IoT capabilities, enabling real-time automation, immersive media, and mission-critical communications across industries. In manufacturing, Nokia and Siemens are deploying private 5G-A networks to power autonomous mobile robots and flexible production lines. In automotive, Qualcomm and Bosch are enabling ultra-reliable connectivity for autonomous vehicles. LiveU is transforming media production with AI-driven live event broadcasting, while Schneider Electric and ABB are using private 5G for secure, real-time monitoring of critical energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, the race toward 6G is accelerating. What began as early research alliances between Samsung, MIT, and Vodafone has evolved into live prototypes, AI-native infrastructure, and advanced orchestration systems, with commercial specifications targeted for 2027/28. Innovators such as Ericsson, Huawei, and Nokia are driving advances in gallium nitride, D-band radio, and Open RAN, while OdineLabs is pushing AI-based orchestration for next-gen networks. Patent activity remains robust, shifting toward AI-assisted protocols, semantic communications, and sustainable architectures, while talent demand is concentrating on edge computing, NB-IoT, and 6G R&D. The Innovation Radar: Advanced Connectivity report explores how this next era of connectivity will not only enhance network performance but also become the backbone for intelligent, cross-sector digital transformation. Key Highlights Momentum in 5G-Advanced Deployment: Adoption of 5G-Advanced is accelerating across manufacturing, automotive, media, and energy, delivering AI-native operations, sector-specific private networks, and energy-efficient IoT for real-time automation and mission-critical communications. Technologies Powering Next-Gen Connectivity: The report examines how AI, edge computing, massive IoT, network slicing, mmWave, advanced antenna systems, gallium nitride (GaN) components, D-band radio, and Open RAN are driving ultra-reliable low-latency communications and sustainable network designs. Transition Path to 6G: Analysis of the global shift from research to live 6G prototypes, with commercial specifications targeted for 2027/28. Covers advances in AI-assisted protocols, semantic communications, and AI-native orchestration to support ultra-high-capacity, intelligent networks. Spotlight on Industry Leaders and Innovators: Profiles of Nokia, Siemens, Qualcomm, Bosch, LiveU, Ericsson, Huawei, and OdineLabs, showcasing solutions such as autonomous mobile robot connectivity, automotive URLLC, AI-driven broadcasting, and AI-based orchestration. Strategic Sector Use Cases: Real-world examples highlight applications in smart manufacturing, autonomous vehicles, live media production, and critical energy infrastructure monitoring, demonstrating measurable operational and reliability gains. Shifting Market and Talent Landscape: Insights into rising patent activity in AI-assisted networking, growing demand for expertise in edge computing, NB-IoT, and 6G R&D, and the competitive dynamics shaping global connectivity leadership. Scope This report offers a detailed examination of the evolving landscape of Advanced Connectivity, focusing on how 5G-Advanced innovations are laying the groundwork for the 6G era. It explores the integration of AI-native operations, sector-specific private networks, and energy-efficient IoT to enable real-time automation, immersive media, and mission-critical communications across industries. Key areas of innovation covered include AI-powered network orchestration, ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC), gallium nitride (GaN) components, D-band radio, and Open RAN architectures. The report also analyzes the role of private 5G-A networks in powering autonomous systems, secure infrastructure monitoring, and next-generation media production, as well as the transition toward AI-assisted protocols, semantic communications, and sustainable network architectures. Core technologies examined in the report are artificial intelligence (AI), edge computing, massive IoT, network slicing, millimeter wave (mmWave) connectivity, and advanced antenna systems. Notable innovators and use cases include Nokia and Siemens' private 5G-A networks for smart manufacturing, Qualcomm and Bosch's automotive connectivity for autonomous vehicles, LiveU's AI-driven live broadcasting, and OdineLabs' AI-based orchestration for next-gen networks. The report further outlines market trends and innovation trajectories, such as the commercialization timelines for 6G (targeted for 2027/28), the shift toward AI-native infrastructure, and talent demand in areas like NB-IoT and 6G R&D. It showcases how recent advancements are shaping solution categories including private networks, industrial automation, intelligent media, autonomous mobility, and critical infrastructure monitoring. Through this strategic lens, the report equips stakeholders with critical insights to harness Advanced Connectivity as the backbone for intelligent, cross-sector digital transformation. Reasons to Buy As industries race toward intelligent, hyper-connected operations, Advanced Connectivity is emerging as a core enabler of automation, immersive experiences, and mission-critical communications. From manufacturing to mobility and energy to media, organizations are adopting 5G-Advanced today while preparing for the transformative leap to 6G. This Advanced Connectivity Strategic Intelligence report from the analyst provides a comprehensive view of the 5G-A and 6G innovation landscape, offering the clarity and foresight needed to navigate this rapidly advancing domain. Strategic Insights Understand how 5G-Advanced builds on 5G to deliver AI-native operations, sector-specific private networks, and energy-efficient IoT, while setting the stage for 6G's AI-driven orchestration and ultra-high-capacity networks. Learn how these capabilities are enabling cross-sector digital transformation. Technology Analysis Explore the core technologies powering next-gen connectivity, including AI, edge computing, massive IoT, network slicing, mmWave, advanced antenna systems, gallium nitride (GaN) components, D-band radio, and Open RAN. See how they enable real-time automation, ultra-reliable low-latency communications, and sustainable network design. Innovation Landscape Discover how leading innovators like Nokia, Siemens, Qualcomm, Bosch, LiveU, and OdineLabs are redefining connectivity with solutions ranging from autonomous mobile robot networks to AI-powered orchestration for critical infrastructure and media. Market Dynamics Gain insight into key trends such as the acceleration of 6G R&D, commercialization timelines targeted for 2027/28, AI-assisted protocols, semantic communications, and the shift toward AI-native infrastructure. Understand the drivers fueling investment and adoption across sectors. Sector-Specific Applications Learn how Advanced Connectivity is being deployed in manufacturing, automotive, media, and energy-enabling autonomous mobility, AI-driven broadcasting, flexible production lines, and secure critical infrastructure monitoring. Real-world examples illustrate measurable impact. Competitive Intelligence Stay informed about the strategies of established leaders and emerging disruptors in the connectivity space. See how different players are positioning themselves through technology leadership, partnerships, and standardization efforts. Strategic Recommendations Use the insights in this report to shape forward-looking connectivity strategies, identify opportunities for cross-sector deployment, and build a resilient roadmap from 5G-Advanced adoption to 6G readiness. With connectivity now a foundational driver of industrial, commercial, and societal transformation, this report offers the intelligence you need to harness Advanced Connectivity for competitive advantage and long-term growth. Companies Featured Agibot Airtel Airbus Apple Arteris AT&T ATIS Antwork Betacom Bosch BT Group Canoga Perkins China Mobile China Telecom China Unicom Deutsche Telekom DroidUp Du EITC Elisa Ericsson Eutelesat Group Finwave GREE HFR Mobile Hrvatski Telekom Huawei Hyundai Intel InterDigital JLR Keysight Kratos LF Networking LG Innotek LiveU M1 Magenta Mastec Mavenir Medien Gruppe Mediatek MLGW Nokia Nvidia OdineLabs Pegatron Petronas Qualcomm Ribbon Communications Rohde & Schwarz Samsung Siemens Sierra Wireless Singtel Skyworks Telit Telekom Malaysia Telefonica Tlibot T-Mobile Unikie Verizon Vodafone ZTE For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/br4oy2 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. HOUSTON, TX, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lendr.fi , the first DeFi platform to offer liquid-staked real-world-asset (RWA) tokens, today announced the launch of its Testnet. This latest release represents a major milestone in Lendr.fis roadmap to democratize access to the multi-trillion-dollar RWA tokenization market with global liquidity, enhanced yield, and enterprise-grade security. Previous versions of Lendr.fi allowed users to borrow against crypto through over-collateralized loans, exposing them to liquidation risk. With the latest release, that model is replaced, offering easier, more capital-efficient access to RWAs, with no loans or liquidations. Users can now swap directly into USDL and stake into LsRWA vaults. Earlier versions also enforced geo-blocks only at the website/UI level. With the new release, wallets pass a one-time KYC, enabling compliant use of RWA tokens anywhere, with institution-ready architecture, support for multiple jurisdictions, and a clear path to U.S. roll-out. Lendr.fi harnesses advanced blockchain infrastructure to convert traditional Web2 assets, including ETFs, real estate, and commodities, into fully transparent, on-chain tokens. For the first time, investors anywhere can hold fully collateralized RWA tokens in a self-custodied wallet with built-in, market-neutral yield while maintaining 100 percent directional exposure to the underlying asset. Around-the-clock access, global liquidity, and seamless DeFi integrations open the door to even higher yields, all while maintaining rigorous security and audit standards. (Returns may vary with market conditions.) The Testnet launch coincides with the upcoming TGE for $RWAL, Lendr.fis native governance and utility token, designed to align incentives and strengthen protocol security. The $RWAL TGE will provide early participants with access to the governance layer of Lendr.fis ecosystem and a share in its future growth. The TGE is set for September 23rd 2025, across major launchpads SeaFi, KingdomStarter, Spores Network and BSCS. With our Testnet, weve simplified the user experience, removed liquidation risk, and delivered a compliance framework that institutions can trust, all while preserving DeFis core advantages, said Nathaji Metivier, CEO of Lendr.fi. Its a pivotal step toward making tokenized RWAs accessible and beneficial to everyone. Explore the future of liquidstaked realworld assets at www.lendr.fi . About Lendr.fi Lendr.fi is revolutionizing the financial landscape with its next-generation digital lending platform and the worlds first liquid-staked RWA tokens. By harnessing advanced blockchain technology and innovative real-world asset tokenization methods, Lendr.fi unlocks liquidity in traditionally illiquid markets such as real estate, commodities, and intellectual property. Our secure, transparent, and efficient solutions seamlessly integrate traditional and decentralized finance, empowering investors and institutions to access capital and manage assets with unprecedented ease. While our technology offers the potential for enhanced yield performance, all forward-looking statements are subject to market risks and uncertainties, and no guarantees are made regarding future results. Committed to bridging the gap between traditional finance and the digital future, Lendr.fi is setting a new standard for digital lending and financial inclusion in the modern economy. Media contact: lendrfi@transformgroup.com Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. INFORMATION REGARDING EXECUTED TRANSACTIONS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF A SHARE BUY-BACK PROGRAM Regulated Information Paris, 22 September 2025 (In accordance with article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 on Market Abuse Regulation and article 3(3) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 through regulatory technical standards concerning the conditions applicable to buy-back programs and stabilization measures) As announced on Thursday 31 July 2025, Societe Generale started on Monday 4 August 2025 a EUR 1 billion ordinary share buy-back program for the purpose of shares cancellation. Societe Generale received all necessary authorizations from supervisory authorities. These buy-backs are carried out in compliance with the conditions, notably regarding the maximum price, set forth by the General Meeting of 22 May 2024 and presented in the description released on 17 May 2024, as well as in accordance with the Market Abuse Regulation. They are performed on the trading platforms on which Societe Generale shares are listed for trading or are traded, including the regulated market of Euronext Paris. As of 19 September 2025, Societe Generale has completed 71.8% of its share buy-back program, representing 1.7%* of its share capital. Issuer name: Societe Generale - LEI O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 Reference of the financial instrument: ISIN FR0000130809 Period: From 15 to 19 September 2025 Purchases performed by Societe Generale during the period: None * Ratio between the number of shares repurchased and the 785,180,327 shares comprising the current share capital. Press contacts: Jean-Baptiste Froville_+33 1 58 98 68 00_ jean-baptiste.froville@socgen.com Fanny Rouby_+33 1 57 29 11 12_ fanny.rouby@socgen.com Societe Generale Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with around 119,000 employees serving more than 26 million clients in 62 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective - to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders. The Group runs three complementary sets of businesses, embedding ESG offerings for all its clients: French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance , with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank. , with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank. Global Banking and Investor Solutions , a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG. , a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG. Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services, comprising well-established universal banks (in Czech Republic, Romania and several African countries), Ayvens (the new ALD I LeasePlan brand), a global player in sustainable mobility, as well as specialized financing activities. Committed to building together with its clients a better and sustainable future, Societe Generale aims to be a leading partner in the environmental transition and sustainability overall. The Group is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe). In case of doubt regarding the authenticity of this press release, please go to the end of the Group News page on societegenerale.com website where official Press Releases sent by Societe Generale can be certified using blockchain technology. A link will allow you to check the documents legitimacy directly on the web page. For more information, you can follow us on Twitter/X @societegenerale or visit our website societegenerale.com. Attachment LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP reminds investors of the upcoming September 26, 2025 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the class action filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Lockheed Martin Corporation (Lockheed Martin or the Company) (NYSE: LMT) securities between January 23, 2024 and July 21, 2025, inclusive (the Class Period). IF YOU SUFFERED A LOSS ON YOUR LOCKHEED MARTIN INVESTMENTS, CLICK HERE TO INQUIRE ABOUT POTENTIALLY PURSUING CLAIMS TO RECOVER YOUR LOSS UNDER THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS. What Happened? On October 22, 2024, before the market opened, Lockheed Martin announced it was forced to recognize losses of $80 million on a classified program at the Companys Aeronautics business segment due to higher than anticipated costs to achieve program objectives. The Company also announced it had recognized a reach-forward loss in its Rotary and Mission Systems segment as a result of additional quantity ordering risk identified on fixed-price options. On this news, the Companys share price fell $37.63 or 6.12% to close at $576.98 on October 22, 2024, on unusually heavy trading volume. Then, on January 28, 2025, before the market opened, Lockheed Martin announced it was forced to record pre-tax losses of $1.7 billion associated with classified programs at its Aeronautics and Missiles and Fire Control business. The Company explained as a result of performance trends and in contemplation of near-term program milestones, it had performed a comprehensive review of the program requirements, technical complexities, schedule, and risks based on which it recognized $555 million of losses in its Aeronautics program. The Company further reported additional losses of approximately $1.3 billion in its Missiles and Fire Control business due to, among other things, the future requirements of the program, discussions with the customer and suppliers. As a result, the Companys net earnings in 2024 were $5.3 billion, or $22.31 per share, compared to $6.9 billion, or $27.55 per share, in 2023. On this news, the Companys share price fell $46.24 or 9.2% to close at $457.45 on January 28, 2025 on unusually heavy trading volume. Then, on July 22, 2025, before the market opened, Lockheed Martin disclosed it was forced to record an additional $1.6 billion in pre-tax losses on classified programs, including $950 million in losses related to its Aeronautics Classified program due to design, integration, and test challenges, as well as other performance issues. The Company also recorded $570 million in losses on its Canadian Maritime Helicopter Program due in part to providing additional mission capabilities, enhanced logistical support, fleet life extension, and revised expectations regarding flight hours. The Company further recorded a $95 million charge related to its Turkish Utility Helicopter Program due to the current status of the program. As a result, the Company reported sharply lower net earnings of $342 million, or $1.46 per share, including $1.6 billion of program losses and $169 million of other charges. On this news, the Companys share price fell $49.79 or 10.8%, to close at $410.74 on July 22, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume. What Is The Lawsuit About? The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Lockheed Martin lacked effective internal controls regarding its purportedly risk adjusted contracts including the reporting of its risk adjusted profit booking rate; (2) that Lockheed Martin lacked effective procedures to perform reasonably accurate comprehensive reviews of program requirements, technical complexities, schedule, and risks; (3) that Lockheed Martin overstated its ability to deliver on its contract commitments in terms of cost, quality and schedule; (4) that, as a result, the Company was reasonably likely to report significant losses; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants positive statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Lockheed Martin securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than September 26, 2025 to request appointment as lead plaintiff in this putative class action lawsuit. Contact Us To Participate or Learn More: If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact us: Charles Linehan, Esq., Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles California 90067 Email: shareholders@glancylaw.com Telephone: 310-201-9150, Toll-Free: 888-773-9224 Visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. If you inquire by email, please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Contact Us: Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100 Los Angeles, CA 90067 Charles Linehan Email: shareholders@glancylaw.com Telephone: 310-201-9150 Toll-Free: 888-773-9224 Visit our website at: www.glancylaw.com. MIDDLETOWN, Conn., Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- During Septembers PCOS Awareness Month, Fairhaven Health is drawing attention to the role targeted nutrition can play in supporting women affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) while reinforcing its broader mission of supporting every stage of womens health from menstruation to post-menopause, with the launch of two new additions to its product portfolio: PQQ+ Myo + D-Chiro Inositol and Multi-Symptom PMS Relief . PCOS affects up to 20% of reproductive-aged women , making it one of the most prevalent endocrine disorders. However, the condition remains widely misunderstood with symptoms that extend beyond fertility challenges to include insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes risk, cardiovascular complications, and mental health concerns, including anxiousness. PCOS is far more than a fertility concern. Its a complex metabolic and cellular condition that impacts womens health on many levels, said Meagan Purdy , naturopathic doctor, brand manager and educator at Blueroot Health, the parent company of Fairhaven Health. To truly support women, we must expand our focus beyond reproduction and provide options that address the wide range of symptoms they experience every day. Adding to the Fairhaven Health flagship fertility and inositol lines, PQQ+ Myo + D-Chiro Inositol is designed to address common drivers of PCOS such as insulin resistance, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction,* which are all factors that influence cycle regularity, ovulation and hormone balance. Both formulas provide a modern solution for those who need more support than with a standalone Myo-Inositol or Myo + D-Chiro Inositol formula. Inositols, specifically myo- and D-chiro inositol in a 40:1 ratio, have been studied for their ability to promote ovulation and restore menstrual regularity in women with PCOS within two cycles. The newest Fairhaven Health formula builds on this foundation by combining myo + D-chiro inositol with antioxidants such as PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone), CoQ10 and alpha lipoic acid, which help preserve egg quality and reduce oxidative stress in reproductive tissues. Together, these ingredients not only support fertility but also address the broader challenges women with PCOS often face.* PCOS frequently overlaps with premenstrual concerns, complicating how women experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Because PCOS disrupts ovulation, some women may have absent PMS symptoms, while others experience intensified mood swings, bloating or metabolic changes. Research suggests that women with PCOS may also face a higher risk of premenstrual disorders including premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Fairhaven Healths new Multi-Symptom PMS Relief formula, is designed to support improvement in the most common symptoms of PMS, including cramps, bloating, and mood swings, with a once-daily supplement.* Many women dont realize that PMS and PCOS interact in ways that change the symptom picture, said Purdy. Were committed to helping women and their providers distinguish between the two health concerns, and providing more effective support strategies. Fairhaven Healths hormone-free, clinically-supported solutions are trusted by health care practitioners who rely on evidence-based approaches to support womens health across every stage of life and are available at www.fairhavenhealth.com or through health care providers. About Fairhaven Health Fairhaven Health is a trusted leader in womens health, offering clean, hormone-free, science-backed nutritional solutions recommended by health care practitioners worldwide. From menstruation to menopause and beyond, Fairhaven Health empowers women with the knowledge, inspiration, and nutritional support needed to take charge of their health with confidence. Learn more at https://www.fairhavenhealth.com . About Blueroot Health Blueroot Health is a consumer health company with a diverse portfolio of brands that fuel lasting happiness and health for people and the planet. The companys industry-leading brands including Vital Nutrients , Bariatric Fusion , and Fairhaven Health offer a suite of clean, innovative, and clinically relevant nutritional supplements that work. The portfolio includes specialized solutions for womens health, metabolic health and weight management, and a full range of clinically relevant, specialized formulas and single ingredients trusted by health care practitioners, patients and consumers worldwide. Blueroot Health is committed to making a lasting, positive impact on the communities it serves, without leaving a negative footprint on the planet. Learn more at: https://blueroothealth.co . *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9e4d329f-cd3a-4969-8aa9-618c54c0f448 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1a8b7038-103d-4910-9350-cd60092d2b81 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/482db33a-d661-4005-9d80-fde45f833231 Edinburg, TX, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Driscoll Childrens Hospital Rio Grande Valley will launch the regions first pediatric residency program in 2026. The residency program was recently approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), marking a major milestone in the realization of the program. The residency program will welcome its inaugural class in July of next year, creating new opportunities for medical education while directly addressing the regions physician workforce needs. This effort is central to Driscolls goal of recruiting and retaining physicians who are invested in our local communities. This is an amazing day for Driscoll, said Eric Hamon, Driscoll Health System President and CEO. Almost 70 years ago, Driscoll created its first residency program in Corpus Christi. Today, even more doctors will be able to call South Texas home. This program is about creating a sustainable future for childrens healthcare in the Valley, said Matt Wolthoff, President of Driscoll Childrens Hospital Rio Grande Valley. Soon, students can complete their pediatric residency in the Valley. This residency program is designed to meet the needs of the Valley, said Mary Huckabee, M.D., Driscolls Director of Medical Education. Our goal is to train future pediatricians who not only receive excellent medical education but also build strong ties to this community. When physicians train here, they are much more likely to stay here and that means more children in the Valley will have access to the care they deserve. Accreditation for the residency program was sought as quickly as possible; eligibility required Driscoll Childrens Hospital Rio Grande Valley to be open for at least one year before the program could be approved. Driscoll Childrens Hospital Rio Grande Valley opened in May 2024, becoming the regions first freestanding, designated childrens hospital. The residency program is now accepting applications for its inaugural class in July 2026. Physicians who train with Driscoll will gain comprehensive pediatric education, hands-on experience with a diverse patient population, strong mentorship from experienced faculty, and benefits designed to support both professional growth and personal well-being. Program highlights: Competitive salary and comprehensive health benefits, plus wellness support, meal allowances, and access to resources like scrubs, white coats, and a medical library. Paid time off, CME/research funding, and professional development opportunities, including retreats and leadership training. Community retention incentives to encourage graduates to stay and practice in South Texas, helping strengthen pediatric care across the Valley. ### About Driscoll: Driscoll is the premier healthcare provider for children in South Texas. We are a nonprofit healthcare system that has served communities in the Lone Star State since 1953. Today, Driscoll is the fastest-growing healthcare system in the region, offering care at the regions only two freestanding designated childrens hospitals: Driscoll Childrens Hospital in Corpus Christi and Driscoll Children's Hospital Rio Grande Valley, and at specialty centers and clinics across South Texas. Our nonprofit community-based health plan, Driscoll Health Plan, offers Texas families access to local physicians and other lifesaving benefits. Attachment New York City, NY, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Introduction What is Fundspire Axivon Fundspire Axivon is an AI-powered trading pla tform designed to integrate automation, security, and compliance into one unified environment. At its foundation, it uses algorithmic models to analyze global financial markets in real time, producing trading signals that reflect current volatility, liquidity conditions, and pricing patterns. This allows for precise execution of trades across multiple asset classes, ensuring that operations are both fast and transparent. The platform is structured as a multi-asset hub, granting access to forex, commodities, indices, and digital assets through a single dashboard. This reduces fragmentation for traders and allows consolidated oversight of positions, risk exposure, and market trends. Unlike fragmented solutions where participants may require multiple accounts, Fundspire Axivon offers a seamless gateway to diverse financial instruments . From a compliance perspective, Fundspire Axivon integrates strong encryption protocols, Know Your Customer (KYC) standards, and anti-fraud systems. The security framework is modeled around international financial regulations, making it suitable for use in multiple jurisdictions. These measures position it as more than a trading tool it functions as a regulated, secure infrastructure for digital trading. Technologically, the platform leverages artificial intelligence and adaptive learning to update its strategies as market conditions shift. This means that the AI grows more responsive over time, aligning with evolving trends and reducing latency between data analysis and execution. In 2025, where speed and accuracy dominate online markets, Fundspire Axivons AI-driven foundation sets it apart as a forward-looking solution designed to withstand both market turbulence and the growing demand for security in digital finance. Visit the Official Fundspire Axivon Website Now Fundspire Axivon Features Fundspire Axivon integrates a carefully designed feature set built to support scalability, speed, and compliance. Each element is constructed to align with the demands of modern trading ecosystems while maintaining strong data integrity. At the core of its architecture is the AI-driven trading engine, which processes vast volumes of market data from global exchanges. It applies machine learning algorithms to identify patterns and execute trades at optimal points. This minimizes latency and ensures orders are placed with precision, which is particularly important in high-volatility markets. Another prominent feature is automation of order execution. By removing reliance on manual input, trades are executed instantly once signals are triggered, helping to prevent delays that could otherwise reduce profitability. Alongside automation, risk management controls are embedded to safeguard accounts. Features such as automatic stop-loss orders, margin tracking, and exposure alerts are designed to keep activity within predefined thresholds. The platform also emphasizes multi-asset support, covering forex, commodities, indices, and digital currencies. Consolidating these markets into one platform allows for holistic portfolio management and reduced operational complexity. Fundspire Axivon also provides a customizable trading interface. Dashboards can be adapted to display preferred indicators, live charts, and analytics. Real-time data streaming ensures participants remain updated without lag. Lastly, compliance and transparency measures are an inherent part of the system. Integrated KYC verification, encrypted transactions, and adherence to international financial standards provide an added layer of trust. Together, these features establish Fundspire Axivon as a fully equipped environment where AI-driven execution, automation, and compliance converge to support efficient trading in 2025. Join Fundspire Axivon Now Visit Official Website Now Fundspire Axivon Security Measures, and Factual Performance Data Security is at the foundation of Fundspire Axivons infrastructure. The platform employs multiple layers of defense to safeguard user accounts, funds, and sensitive information. End-to-end encryption is applied across all data transmissions, ensuring that personal and financial details are not exposed to unauthorized access. This is reinforced by multi-factor authentication (MFA), requiring verification beyond standard credentials for account logins. The platform also integrates firewall protections and intrusion detection systems (IDS), continuously monitoring for unusual activity or unauthorized attempts. In addition, cold storage protocols are used for digital assets, isolating them from online vulnerabilities. By limiting exposure of stored funds, Fundspire Axivon reduces the risk of cyber-attacks. On the compliance front, Fundspire Axivon aligns with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) regulations, embedding these into its verification and monitoring processes. This ensures adherence to global financial security benchmarks. In terms of factual performance data, Fundspire Axivon has been engineered to deliver low-latency trade execution measured in milliseconds. Its infrastructure is built on high-speed servers with redundancy systems, ensuring uptime consistency and minimal service interruptions. Internal benchmarks highlight execution speeds designed to keep pace with the rapid fluctuations of global markets. Moreover, the AI-driven models undergo continuous recalibration based on real-time market data, allowing for consistent alignment with volatility and liquidity levels. Combined, these security protocols and performance metrics make Fundspire Axivon a platform structured around resilience, reliability, and regulatory adherence crucial pillars for sustainable operation in todays digital financial landscape. Register on the Fundspire Axivon trading application Fundspire Axivon Account Setup Process Step by Step Fundspire Axivon has streamlined its onboarding process to ensure accessibility while maintaining strong compliance standards. The registration and activation sequence follows structured steps designed for both speed and security. Step 1 Registration Visit the official Fundspire Axivon website . . Click on Sign Up and provide basic information including full name, email address, and contact number. Step 2 Account Verification Complete Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements by uploading a government-issued ID and proof of address. Verification is typically confirmed within a short time frame, ensuring compliance with international AML and CTF laws. Step 3 Minimum Deposit Requirement After verification, proceed to funding. The platform requires a minimum deposit of USD 250 (or equivalent local currency) to activate live trading features. (or equivalent local currency) to activate live trading features. Deposits can be made via secure payment methods such as credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and select e-wallets. Step 4 Platform Customization Once funded, users can configure dashboard preferences, risk controls, and asset focus. Step 5 Demo or Live Trading Before entering live markets, participants may opt to test strategies via the demo account. Transitioning to live mode is seamless and can be activated from the main dashboard. This structured setup ensures participants meet compliance obligations, establish secure account access, and begin trading with a verified and funded profile. Explore Fundspire Axivons cutting-edge AI platform Visit the Official Website Now How Does Fundspire Axivon Work? Fundspire Axivon operates on a layered system of artificial intelligence, algorithmic execution, and compliance frameworks. At its core, the platforms AI engine collects and processes market data in real time, analyzing price movements, liquidity levels, and volatility indices. Machine learning models interpret this data to generate predictive trading signals. Once signals are identified, automated execution protocols activate trades according to pre-configured risk parameters. This removes manual delays and ensures that trades are placed with precision. The automation framework is adjustable, allowing participants to define exposure levels, stop-loss conditions, and maximum trade volumes. The platform also integrates multi-asset compatibility, meaning the same AI-driven processes can be applied to forex, commodities, indices, and digital currencies. This expands flexibility without requiring multiple separate accounts. From a security standpoint, every transaction is encrypted, and trade activity is logged transparently. The systems performance infrastructure ensures low-latency execution speeds and high server uptime, minimizing downtime even during peak market hours. In short, Fundspire Axivon works as a closed-loop trading environment where AI-driven analytics, automation, and compliance intersect. Its continuous recalibration ensures that strategies adapt dynamically, offering an operational framework that responds in real time to the fluid nature of financial markets. VISIT THE OFFICIAL Fundspire Axivon WEBSITE HERE From Beginner to Pro: Guided Onboarding, 24/7 Support, and Intuitive Design Fundspire Axivon is designed to serve both first-time traders and experienced market participants through a combination of structured onboarding, ongoing assistance, and interface adaptability. The onboarding process includes guided account setup tools that walk participants through registration, verification, and deposit steps in a clear sequence. Tutorials and platform guides are available to familiarize users with dashboard navigation, risk controls, and trade execution. This ensures that even those new to online trading can acclimate quickly. To support users around the clock, Fundspire Axivon maintains 24/7 multilingual support channels. Assistance is available through live chat, email, and dedicated ticket systems, ensuring that questions related to technical issues, verification, or transactions are addressed promptly. The platforms interface is built with intuitive design principles. Dashboards can be customized to display preferred trading indicators, charts, or portfolio data. This adaptability allows beginners to keep their view simple while advanced traders can enable more complex analytical tools. In essence, Fundspire Axivon provides a scalable environment where guided onboarding meets constant support and a user-centric design. This ensures a smooth transition from initial registration to advanced trading activities without unnecessary barriers. Why Choose Fundspire Axivon? Canada Consumer Report Released Here Regulated, Transparent, and Secure: Why Fundspire Axivon Earns Trust in 2025 In 2025, regulatory compliance and transparency are non-negotiable requirements for digital trading platforms. Fundspire Axivon incorporates these principles directly into its architecture. The platform adheres to Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols as part of its onboarding process. This ensures that all accounts are properly verified, reducing the risk of fraudulent activity. Ongoing monitoring systems are also in place to flag irregular transactions. Security is enforced through advanced encryption protocols, firewall systems, and real-time monitoring tools. Combined with cold storage for digital assets and multi-factor authentication, these measures create a secure operating environment. Transparency is built into the platforms execution model. Trades are processed at market rates without hidden fees, and reporting dashboards allow participants to track transaction histories with accuracy. Performance benchmarks, including execution speed and server uptime, are openly documented, reinforcing accountability. By embedding regulatory compliance, robust security, and clear transparency into its infrastructure, Fundspire Axivon establishes itself as a trustworthy digital platform aligned with global financial standards in 2025. Open Your Fundspire Axivon Account for Free Now Fundspire Axivon Cost, Minimum Deposit, and Profit Fundspire Axivon structures its cost framework to ensure accessibility while maintaining compliance. The minimum deposit requirement is USD 250, which activates the trading account and provides access to both live and demo functionalities. This baseline ensures adequate funding for initial positions across supported assets. Transaction costs are transparent. The platform avoids hidden charges and incorporates its operational fees within standard spreads or predefined commissions, depending on the asset traded. Clear reporting allows participants to track costs associated with each transaction. Regarding profit potential, Fundspire Axivon does not guarantee outcomes, but its infrastructure is designed to maximize execution efficiency. The AI-driven system identifies signals quickly and executes trades at optimal points, thereby reducing slippage that can erode profit margins. Combined with real-time risk management controls, the environment is structured to sustain long-term account growth potential. Overall, the cost and deposit requirements are aligned with industry norms, while the profit structure relies on efficient execution, automation, and transparent reporting rather than speculative claims. Countries Where Fundspire Axivon Is Legal Fundspire Axivon has structured its compliance model to align with global financial standards, allowing it to operate in a wide range of jurisdictions. In 2025, the platform is accessible in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and parts of Africa, where regulatory frameworks permit AI-driven trading systems. The platform adheres to local KYC and AML regulations, tailoring its onboarding and verification requirements to jurisdictional standards. For example, users in the European Union are verified under GDPR-compliant systems, while regions in Asia and Latin America follow locally recognized financial laws. Fundspire Axivon is restricted in certain countries where trading regulations are highly prohibitive. These include jurisdictions that ban algorithmic trading platforms or where financial authorities impose blanket restrictions on foreign trading systems. The platform clearly outlines its supported regions during the registration process to avoid cross-border compliance conflicts. By aligning operations with regional regulations and tailoring its verification systems, Fundspire Axivon ensures lawful participation across diverse global markets. Why Choose Fundspire Axivon? Switzerland Consumer Report Released Here Fundspire Axivon Supported Assets Fundspire Axivon is a multi-asset platform engineered to support a broad spectrum of financial instruments. This allows for portfolio diversification without reliance on multiple providers. Forex The platform offers access to major, minor, and exotic currency pairs. The AI trading engine adapts to the volatility of currency markets, ensuring rapid execution. Commodities Precious metals, energy resources, and agricultural products are integrated into the system. Automated order execution ensures fast reaction to global commodity price fluctuations. Indices Global stock indices are supported, giving exposure to broad market movements without requiring individual equity positions. Digital Assets Fundspire Axivon also integrates cryptocurrency trading, with cold storage protocols applied for enhanced security. By consolidating these asset classes, the platform provides a unified environment where participants can manage cross-market positions effectively. Trade Smarter with Fundspire Axivons Real-Time AI Signals Portugal Report Inside Hidden Risks of Fundspire Axivon What Every Investor Should Know While Fundspire Axivon integrates AI precision, automation, and robust compliance protocols, no digital trading platform can fully eliminate risks. A comprehensive understanding of these risks is essential to ensure realistic expectations and responsible market participation. One primary consideration is market volatility. Even with AI-driven predictive models, global financial markets are inherently unpredictable. Price swings in forex, commodities, indices, and digital assets can occur within seconds, sometimes diverging from algorithmic projections. The platform is engineered to react quickly, but volatility remains a factor every participant must acknowledge. Another element is liquidity constraints. In heavily traded instruments, execution is typically seamless. However, in thinly traded assets or during periods of reduced liquidity, slippage can occur despite Fundspire Axivons low-latency infrastructure. This means trades may be executed at slightly different levels than expected. There are also technological risks. While redundancy systems and high-uptime servers are in place, potential disruptions from internet outages, cyber-attacks, or hardware malfunctions cannot be entirely removed. Fundspire Axivon mitigates these with monitoring tools, encryption layers, and cold storage for digital assets, but technology always carries residual exposure. Finally, regulatory risks must be considered. Financial markets are subject to evolving legislation. Jurisdictions may impose restrictions or require new compliance obligations that affect accessibility. Fundspire Axivon operates transparently within legal boundaries, but regulations are dynamic and can influence trading availability in certain countries. By outlining these risks openly, Fundspire Axivon demonstrates its commitment to transparency. It acknowledges that while its framework is designed for security, automation, and speed, trading remains inherently subject to volatility, liquidity pressures, regulatory adjustments, and technological challenges. This balanced disclosure provides clarity for investors entering digital markets in 2025. Fundspire Axivon - Final Verdict Fundspire Axivon represents a structured approach to AI-powered trading in 2025 , built on a foundation of automation, transparency, and compliance. It is not positioned as a speculative shortcut, but as a platform engineered with precision tools and regulated safeguards that reflect the realities of global market activity. The systems AI-driven trading engine is capable of analyzing vast amounts of data in real time, offering predictive insights and executing orders with low latency. This infrastructure supports multi-asset functionality, including forex, commodities, indices, and digital currencies, allowing participants to engage across markets through one integrated hub. Fundspire Axivons risk management architecture is a defining element. Stop-loss functions, exposure alerts, and margin monitoring are built directly into the platform, reducing the possibility of uncontrolled losses. Alongside these tools, its security framework employs encryption, cold storage, and multi-factor authentication to safeguard both accounts and funds. Compliance is central to its operation. From KYC verification during onboarding to ongoing AML checks, Fundspire Axivon maintains alignment with international regulatory standards. Transparency is reinforced by clear reporting dashboards that record every transaction, execution speed, and operational cost without hidden structures. While the system emphasizes automation and efficiency, Fundspire Axivon also recognizes the inherent risks of trading, such as volatility and regulatory shifts. By disclosing these factors within its framework, the platform establishes a foundation of trust and accountability. In conclusion, Fundspire Axivon is presented as a forward-looking trading environment where advanced technology, regulatory adherence, and transparent processes converge. It is positioned not as a promise of guaranteed results, but as a secure, adaptive, and AI-driven infrastructure designed for responsible digital trading in 2025. Visit Here to Register on the Fundspire Axivon - Select Your Country Here!!! Contact:- Fundspire Axivon 485 Bd de la Gappe, Gatineau, QC J8T 5T9, Canada Phone Support: Fundspire Axivon Canada: +1 (437) 920-9751 Trading Assistance: +1 (437) 169-3417 Email: support@fundspireaxivon.com Website: https://fundspireaxivon.com/ General Disclaimer: The content provided in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. Readers are advised to consult a certified financial advisor, licensed loan officer, or legal professional before making any financial decisions. The information presented may not apply to every individual circumstance and is not intended to substitute professional judgment or regulatory guidance. The information provided on this website does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or any other sort of advice and you should not treat any of the website's content as such. We does not recommend that any cryptocurrency should be bought, sold, or held by you. Do conduct your own due diligence and consult your financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Trading Disclaimer: Trading cryptocurrencies carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to trade cryptocurrency you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with cryptocurrency trading, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor. ICO's, IEO's, STO's and any other form of offering will not guarantee a return on your investment. HIGH RISK WARNING: Dealing or Trading FX, CFDs and Cryptocurrencies is highly speculative, carries a level of non-negligible risk and may not be suitable for all investors. You may lose some or all of your invested capital, therefore you should not speculate with capital that you cannot afford to lose. Please refer to the risk disclosure below. Fundspire Axivon does not gain or lose profits based on your activity and operates as a services company. Fundspire Axivon is not a financial services firm and is not eligible of providing financial advice. Therefore, Fundspire Axivon shall not be liable for any losses occurred via or in relation to this informational website. SITE RISK DISCLOSURE: Fundspire Axivon does not accept any liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information contained within this website; this includes education material, price quotes and charts, and analysis. Please be aware of and seek professional advice for the risks associated with trading the financial markets; never invest more money than you can risk losing. The risks involved in FX, CFDs and Cryptocurrencies may not be suitable for all investors. Fundspire Axivon doesn''t retain responsibility for any trading losses you might face as a result of using or inferring from the data hosted on this site. LEGAL RESTRICTIONS: Without limiting the above mentioned provisions, you understand that laws regarding financial activities vary throughout the world, and it is your responsibility to make sure you properly comply with any law, regulation or guideline in your country of residence regarding the use of the Site. To avoid any doubt, the ability to access our Site does not necessarily mean that our Services and/or your activities through the Site are legal under the laws, regulations or directives relevant to your country of residence. It is against the law to solicit US individuals to buy and sell commodity options, even if they are called "prediction" contracts, unless they are listed for trading and traded on a CFTC-registered exchange unless legally exempt. The Financial Conduct Authority has issued a policy statement PS20/10, which prohibits the sale, promotion, and distribution of CFD on Crypto assets. It prohibits the dissemination of marketing materials relating to distribution of CFDs and other financial products based on Cryptocurrencies that addressed to Canada/ Switzerland residents. The provision of trading services involving any MiFID II financial instruments is prohibited in the EU, unless when authorized/licensed by the applicable authorities and/or regulator(s). Please note that we may receive advertising fees for users opted to open an account with our partner advertisers via advertisers websites. We have placed cookies on your computer to help improve your experience when visiting this website. You can change cookie settings on your computer at any time. Use of this website indicates your acceptance of this website. Please be advised that the names depicted on our website, including but not limited to Fundspire Axivon, are strictly for marketing and illustrative purposes. These names do not represent or imply the existence of specific entities, service providers, or any real-life individuals. Furthermore, the pictures and/or videos presented on our website are purely promotional in nature and feature professional actors. These actors are not actual users, clients, or traders, and their depictions should not be interpreted as endorsements or representations of real-life experiences. All content is intended solely for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as factual or as forming any legally binding relationship RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH FUTURES TRADING Futures transactions involve high risk. The amount of the initial margin is low compared to the value of the futures contract, so that transactions are "leveraged" or "geared". A relatively small market movement has a proportionately larger impact on the funds that you have deposited or have to pay: this can work both for you and against you. You may experience the total loss of the initial margin funds as well as any additional funds deposited in the system. If the market develops in a way that is contrary to your position or if margins are increased, you may be asked to pay significant additional funds at short notice to maintain your position. In this case it may also happen that your broker account is in the red and you thus have to make payments beyond the initial investment. RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTRONIC TRADING Before you begin carrying out transactions with an electronic system, you should carefully review the rules and provisions of the stock exchange offering the system, or of the financial instruments listed that you intend to trade, as well as your broker's conditions. Online trading has inherent risks due to system responses/reaction times and access times that may vary due to market conditions, system performance and other factors, and on which you have no influence. You should be aware of these additional risks in electronic trading before you carry out investment transactions. Accuracy Disclaimer: All information included in this article is presented in good faith and believed to be accurate at the time of writing. However, no representations or warranties are made regarding the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information presented. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader's own risk. The publisher does not accept responsibility for typographical errors, outdated information, or changes to products, terms, or policies after publication. Regulatory and Jurisdictional Disclaimer: Lending laws vary by jurisdiction, and not all services described in this article may be available in every state or region. It is the responsibility of the reader to understand and comply with local laws and regulations. The platforms mentioned are independently operated and are not controlled or endorsed by the publisher. Third-Party Liability Waiver: The publisher, its writers, editors, affiliates, and syndication partners shall not be held liable for any direct or indirect loss, damages, or legal claims arising from the use of this content or from reliance on any third-party services, platforms, or products mentioned herein. All loan agreements, terms, and disputes are strictly between the borrower and the lender or service provider. Syndication Partner Use: This content may be republished or syndicated by authorized partners under existing licensing or distribution arrangements. All syndication partners are free from liability regarding the editorial stance, financial suggestions, or any user outcome resulting from the reading or application of this content. Attachment Boston, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the latest study from BCC Research, the Global Data Center Market is expected to grow from $418.2 billion in 2025 to $691.6 billion by the end of 2030, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.6% during the forecast period of 2025 to 2030. This report offers a detailed analysis of the data center market, segmented by infrastructure, model, type, tier level, and end user. It includes regional insights across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa, with focused coverage of countries such as the U.S., Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Germany, the U.K., France, Italy, Brazil, and Chile, where data center opportunities are expanding. Presented in a clear and accessible format, the report uses tables and figures to illustrate historical trends, current conditions, and future projections. This report is particularly relevant today due to surging global demand driven by AI, digital transformation, cloud adoption, and data localization laws. The expansion of 5G and edge computing is also accelerating the need for distributed data centers, especially for low-latency applications like autonomous vehicles and IoT, prompting significant regional investments. The factors driving the markets growth include: Digital Transformation and Explosive Data Growth: As businesses increasingly adopt cloud computing, IoT, and big data analytics, the volume of digital data is growing exponentially. This surge is driving demand for scalable and efficient data centers that can store, process, and manage vast amounts of information in real time. Emergence and Expansion of AI, Machine Learning, and 5G Networks: AI and machine learning (ML) require high-performance computing, while 5G enables faster data transmission and supports more connected devices. Together, they are pushing the need for advanced data centers with low-latency capabilities and powerful infrastructure to handle complex workloads. Government Initiatives and Regulatory Support: Governments worldwide are promoting digital infrastructure through incentives, funding, and supportive policies. Regulations around data privacy and sustainability are also encouraging the development of secure, energy-efficient data centers, especially in emerging markets. Request a sample copy of the global market for data centers report. Report Synopsis Report Metric Details Base year considered 2024 Forecast period considered 2025-2030 Base year market size $389 billion Market size forecast $691.6 billion Growth rate CAGR of 10.6% for the forecast period of 2025-2030 Segments covered Infrastructure, Model, Type, Tier Level, End Use, Country, and Region Regions covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and South America Countries covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., France, Germany, Italy, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Brazil, Chile, the Middle East and Africa Market drivers Digital transformation and explosive data growth. Emergence and expansion of AI, machine learning, and 5G networks Government initiatives and regulatory support Interesting facts: In 2024, the IT and telecom industry held the largest share for data centers due to the rapid increase in data consumption, cloud computing, and 5G deployment in the industry. Additionally, rising demand for low-latency services and edge computing in the IT and telecom industry is further driving data center expansion. The U.S. accounts for the largest share in the global data center market. Its share is Driven by its position as a global technology hub with major investments from hyperscale cloud providers and tech giants in data centers, requiring massive data processing and storage capacities. For example, in 2024, Amazon Web Services (AWS) entered into three agreements with Energy Northwest, X-Energy, and Dominion Virginia, to facilitate the deployment of over 600MW of power across facilities in Washington and Virginia. The report addresses the following questions: What are the market's projected size and growth rate? The global data center market was valued at $389 billion in 2024 and will reach $691.6 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 10.6%. Which factors are driving the growth of the market? Digital transformation and explosive data growth. Emergence and expansion of AI, machine learning, and 5G networks Government initiatives and regulatory support Which market segments are covered in the report? The data center market is segmented based on infrastructure, model, type, tier level, end-user, and region. Which data center type will be dominant through 2030? Colocation data centers will dominate the market through 2030. Which region has the largest market share? North America holds the largest share of the global market. Related reports: Industry 4.0 Technologies: Global Market Through 2030: This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global Industry 4.0 technologies market, segmented by technology, end-user industry, and region. It covers key technologies such as big data, cloud computing, IIoT, robotics, AR/VR, and cybersecurity, focusing on their role in Industry 4.0. The report offers market forecasts, highlights major trends and challenges, and examines the competitive landscape. It also explores emerging technologies, patent activity, and profiles leading companies shaping the future of Industry 4.0. Quantum Computing: Technologies and Global Markets to 2030: This report reviews the global quantum computing market, analyzing trends, challenges, and opportunities across segments such as offerings, deployment modes, technologies, applications, and end-user industries. It provides insights into regional markets, regulatory developments, and ESG factors influencing the industry. The report also explores patent activity, emerging technologies, and the competitive landscape, concluding with profiles of key companies and their market strategies. Purchase a copy of the report direct from BCC Research. For further information on any of these reports or to make a purchase, contact info@bccresearch.com. About BCC Research BCC Research market research reports provide objective, unbiased measurement and assessment of market opportunities. Our experienced industry analysts' goal is to help you make informed business decisions free of noise and hype. For media inquiries, email press@bccresearch.com or visit our media page for access to our market research library. Any data and analysis extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying BCC Research LLC as the source and publisher. Santa Clara, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Santa Clara, California - September 22, 2025 - Interview Kickstart, a technical interview preparation platform, announced the expansion of its training program to include specialized tracks for in-demand engineering roles. Company launches specialized tracks for emerging tech roles as demand for skilled engineers reaches record highs. The new offerings address the growing skills gap in technology sectors experiencing rapid growth, according to industry employment data. The platform has added specialized preparation tracks for Data Engineering, Machine Learning Engineering, and Site Reliability Engineering positions. These additions respond to recent hiring trends showing increased demand for specialized technical roles at major technology companies. To learn more about the course, visit: https://interviewkickstart.com/courses/software-engineering-course "We're seeing unprecedented demand for engineers with specialized skills in emerging technology areas," said Sarah Chen, Director of Curriculum Development at Interview Kickstart. "Our new tracks address specific technical competencies that companies are actively seeking but struggling to find in the candidate pool." The expanded curriculum includes domain-specific technical challenges that mirror real interview scenarios at leading technology firms. Each track incorporates hands-on practice sessions designed to simulate the structured interview formats used by major employers in the technology sector. Interview Kickstart's platform combines live instruction with recorded materials, allowing participants to access content according to their schedules. The company reports that participants have secured positions at companies including Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Netflix following completion of their programs. The new specializations join existing tracks in areas such as Software Engineering, Front-end Development, and Data Science. Each program includes mentorship from practicing engineers who provide individualized feedback during mock interview sessions. Recent industry reports indicate that technical hiring has intensified as companies compete for qualified candidates in specialized engineering roles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects continued growth in software development and related technical positions through 2032. For international professionals, Interview Kickstart provides guidance on visa processes and requirements for working in the United States technology sector. This support addresses additional challenges faced by candidates seeking technical roles across international borders. The platform also offers professional development resources, including resume optimization workshops and LinkedIn profile enhancement sessions. These components aim to strengthen candidates' overall presentation in the competitive technology job market. Founded in 2014, Interview Kickstart serves software engineers and technology professionals preparing for technical interviews at leading companies. The platform has expanded its offerings as technical hiring practices have evolved in the technology industry. For more information about the new specialized tracks, visit the company's website at https://interviewkickstart.com. About Interview Kickstart https://youtu.be/OSc2CDwxvA8?si=FeRFSqem8UQNzRQ6 Interview Kickstart provides technical interview preparation and career advancement resources for software engineers and technology professionals. The platform offers specialized courses, mentorship programs, and practice resources designed to help candidates navigate technical hiring processes at leading technology companies. ### For more information about Interview Kickstart, contact the company here: Interview Kickstart Burhanuddin Pithawala +1 (209) 899-1463 aiml@interviewkickstart.com 4701 Patrick Henry Dr Bldg 25, Santa Clara, CA 95054, United States Washington, DC, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Civil Liberties Alliance has filed a petition for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to rehear en banc the Newman v. Moore lawsuit challenging the ongoing illegal suspension of Federal Circuit Judge Pauline Newman. A D.C. Circuit panel dismissed NCLAs lawsuit against the suspension on jurisdictional grounds, based on its interpretation of the D.C. Circuits 2001 ruling in McBryde v. Committee to Review Circuit Council Conduct & Disability Orders of the U.S. Judicial Conference; however, the panel opined that McBryde was probably wrongly decided and all but invited a petition for rehearing en banc. Representing Judge Newman, NCLA asks the en banc Court to overrule McBryde, reach the merits of her case, and speedily end the interminable inquiry that has functionally removed a sitting Article III judge from office. As the panel realized, the McBryde Court wrongly found that the Disability Act prevents any courts from hearing constitutional arguments challenging Judicial Council suspension orders and other disciplinary actions against judges. The panel wrote that the 2001 decision misapplied the Disability Act to deny courts jurisdiction over cases like this one, relied on a potentially strained reading of the relevant legislative history, and raise[d] constitutional concerns in itself. McBryde cannot be reconciled with other D.C. Circuit decisions, standing alone to indefensibly stop the Court from considering the strong case in favor of restoring Judge Newman to the bench. Judge Newmans indefinite, complete suspension is unprecedented in American judicial history. It violates her right to due process of law because her colleagues are serving as prosecutors, witnesses, and judges in her case. Without due process, the Judicial Council of the Federal Circuit, led by Chief Judge Moore, indefinitely removed Judge Newman from hearing new cases in March 2023 before ever beginning any formal investigation into her fitness for office, violating the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act the Council purported to apply. The Judicial Council suspended her for a year in September 2023 and has since issued two more one-year suspensions. Her suspension now exceeds in length even sanctions imposed on judges who committed very serious misconduct. Suspending an Article III judge from all judicial functions of her office is unconstitutional. To the extent that the Disability Acts provision permitting administrative suspensions is constitutional at all, it only authorizes a time-limited suspension with definite end-date. Throughout the investigation and suspension campaign, the Judicial Council changed its rationale (from disability to non-cooperation) and even altered the allegations it leveled, with an apparent predetermined aim of keeping Judge Newman off the bench. But preventing her from serving in her constitutionally appointed role poses a dire threat to judicial independence and infringes the separation of powers. NCLA released the following statements: NCLA is glad the panel signaled the need for en banc review in this case, and we trust that the full court will grant that review. It would be a travesty of justice to never have an Article III court reach the merits of Judge Newmans highly meritorious case. Mark Chenoweth, President, NCLA We are taking the D.C. Circuit panel up on its virtual invitation to review the case en banc. Judge Newman has been kept from her duties for more than 2 years unconstitutionally, and it should end. John Vecchione, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA The D.C. Circuit should grant Judge Newman an en banc hearing, decide her case on the merits, and restore her to her rightful place on the bench as a life-tenured Article III judge. Andrew Morris, Senior Litigation Counsel, 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. ### TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ford government is privatizing our public hospitals in a move that is costing patients thousands of dollars and taking away from our local public hospital services. Everyones help is needed to pressure them to stop it. That is the message brought by Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, a network of patient advocates and public interest groups representing three quarters of a million Ontarians and more than 500 organizations concerned about protecting and improving public health care. She went on to warn, the threat is very real: When they privatized thousands of cataract surgeries, Doug Ford did a pre-emptive round of media promising that people would never pay with their credit card, only their OHIP card . He swore our health services would remain 100% covered . That is untrue. Patients are now routinely charged thousands of dollars in private for-profit eye surgery clinics. Instead of stopping it, the Ford government is actually expanding its privatization. In response, protests across Ontario are planned as follows: Greater Toronto Area Toronto Wednesday, Sept 24 from 4:30 pm to 6 pm human chain on Hospital Row (University Ave, south of College St.) Contact: greatertorontohc@gmail.com Mississauga Saturday, Sept 27 at 11:15 am to 1:30 pm Cawthra Rd & QEW overpass Contact: Ken Cole mississaugahc@gmail.com 416-524-8335 Oshawa Monday, Sept 29 at 1 pm Alexandra Park near Oshawa Hospital Contact: Lance koach_14@yahoo.com 905-431-0823 or president20226364@hotmail.com London & area London Thursday, Sept 25 at 11 am Wellington Rd overpass at Highway 401 Contact: Peter Bergmanis pbergmanis@rogers.com 519-860-4403 St. Thomas Saturday, Oct 4 at 10 am Talbot & Manitoba St, CASO Station area Contact: Peter Bergmanis pbergmanis@rogers.com 519-860-4403 Hamilton & area Hamilton Friday, Sept 26 at 3:30 pm Office of MPP Monica Ciroello, 1030 Upper James Street Contact: Janina Lebon janinalebon44@gmail.com 905-545-5514 West/Southwest Ontario Kitchener Saturday, Oct 4 at 11 am Sportsworld, 4285 King St E. on the public sidewalk near the Tim Hortons & the new CTV offices Contact: Jim Stewart waterlooregionhealthcoalition@gmail.com 519-588-5841 Kincardine Saturday, Sept 27 from 11 am to 1 pm Kincardine Davidson Park Contact: Brenda Scott greybrucehc@gmail.com 519-375-5812 Owen Sound Saturday, Sept 27 from 11 am to 1 pm Owen Sound Municipal Office, 808 2nd Ave E. Contact: Brenda Scott greybrucehc@gmail.com 519-375-5812 Oxford County - one rally per week for the next month as follows: Contact for all: Bryan Smith at bryasmit@oxford.net 226-228-8309 Tillsonburg Friday, Sept 26 at 3 pm Highway 19 & Bridge St. Embro Friday, Oct 3 at 3 pm Embro Rd at Highlander Tavistock Friday, Oct 10 at 3 pm Post Office, 5 Woodstock St. S. Woodstock Friday, Oct 17 at 3 pm Huron St. & Dundas St. Ingersoll Friday, Oct 24 at 3 pm King & Thames Norwich Friday, Oct 31 at 3 pm Main St & Oxford Rd 59 Sarnia Saturday, Sept 27 from 11 am to 1 pm London Rd. & Murphy Rd. Contact: June Weiss junebug111@hotmail.com Windsor Saturday, Sept 27 at 11 am Ouellette Ave & Tecumseh Rd. Contact: Patrick Hannon windsorhealthcoalition@gmail.com 519-796-0410 Eastern Ontario Kingston Monday, 29 Sept from 4 pm to 5 pm Bath Rd & Princess St. (also known as the traffic circle) Contact: Joan Jardin kingstonhealthcoalition@gmail.com 613-305-2716 Last spring, the Coalition made a formal complaint to the Ford government with details and proof of payment from 50 patients who had been charged illegally and unethically in private clinics. The Ford government has not required the reimbursement of the patients, nor stopped the clinics. In fact, there is no apparent progress on the investigation. Some examples of recent patient experiences: An 80-year old woman was told she had to make a down payment of $1,500 followed by almost $11,000 for her eye surgery in Ottawa. A 71-year old man had to come out of retirement to work to pay for his cataract surgery. An 85-year old widow, whose eyesight was failing, was charged almost $7,000 for her eye surgery. She had to take out a loan that she is struggling to pay back. The Coalition warns that the Ford government plans to expand their hospital privatization to orthopedic surgeries hips, knees, shoulders -- as well as MRIs, CTs and other diagnostics and surgeries: The hardship caused by these user charges in the private clinics is exactly what the Canada Health Act and Ontarios Public Medicare laws were set up to prohibit, said Ms. Mehra. We have held press conferences with patients who have been extra-billed, written letters, asked for meetings with the Minister and Premier. They know this is happening but unless public pressure gets strong enough, they are not only failing to stop it, they are going to expand it. There is an alternative. All across Ontario local hospitals have operating rooms that are closed the majority of the time because they dont have the funds to staff up and run them. Instead of funding them, Ford is shifting more than a billion dollars a year to private clinics and for-profit staffing corporations. Privatization is not about improving wait times and health care, the Coalition notes. It is about giving government contracts to for-profit interests. For more information: Natalie Mehra, executive director (416) 230-6402 (cell). OAKVILLE, Ontario, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Media are invited to attend MADD Canadas 2025-2026 National School Program launch with a special screening at M.E. LaZerte High School in Edmonton. The School Program, nationally sponsored by KAG Canada and delivered to thousands of students across Canada each year, highlights the dangers of impaired driving and empowers youth to make safe and sober choices. Road crashes are a leading cause of death among Canadian youth, with alcohol, cannabis and/or other drugs involved in more than half of those crashes. To address this serious issue, MADD Canada and KAG Canada are bringing sober driving lessons to students through MADD Canadas School Program. Media are invited to attend the special screening and speak with special guests, students and staff. Date: September 24, 2025 at 9 A.M. Location: M.E. LaZerte High School, 6804 - 144 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5C 3C7 Guests: Dawn Regan, MADD Canada Chief Operating Officer KAG Canada Representatives This years 60-minute presentations include five English and four French dramatic short films that illustrate the risks and consequences of impaired driving. Schools can select the presentation format that works best for them traditional assembly, classroom, or virtual. Following the presentation, each school will receive an Educators Guide and a School Kit with additional scenarios to help teachers continue the sober driving conversation with students throughout the school year. For more information on MADD Canadas School Program, check out: maddyouth.ca/school-program/. For more information or to RSVP for the event, contact: Dawn Regan, MADD Canada Chief Operating Officer, 1-800-665-6233 ext. 223 or dregan@madd.ca Arielle Nkongmeneck, MADD Canada Communications Manager, 1-800-665-6233, ext. 240 or ankongmeneck@madd.ca TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United Steelworkers union (USW) is mourning the loss of former USW International President Leo W. Gerard, a hardrock miners son who over a 50-year career became one of the worlds most influential labour and social justice champions. Gerard, who served as USW International President from 2001 to 2019, died on Sunday, Sept. 21, in his hometown of Sudbury, Ont. He was 78. Leo was a visionary leader, determined and fearless in taking on corporations and lawmakers alike, said Marty Warren, USW National Director for Canada. Leo spent his career building power for workers so that everyone could have safer jobs, better pay, respect, retirement security and fairness. As a proud Canadian, he never wavered from his values, and his lifes work will live on for generations, Warren said. The son of a hardrock miner and union organizer in Sudbury, Gerard was a teenager when he followed in his fathers footsteps and went to work at nickel mining giant Inco Ltd. He soon made his mark within his union at Inco Steelworkers Local 6500, beginning a meteoric rise up the USW leadership ladder. After reaching the position of chief steward of his 7,000-member local union, Gerard was hired as a USW staff representative in 1977. He went on to become the unions Ontario Director, Canadian National Director and then International Secretary-Treasurer, leading to his installation as International President in 2001. Leading North Americas largest industrial union, with 1.2 million members continent-wide at its height, Gerard had a profound impact on workplace health and safety, gender equality, labour rights, decent pay, pensions, global solidarity, fair trade and social justice. He sought to grow the union through organizing new workers, orchestrating mergers with other labor organizations, and building strategic alliances with allies across North America and around the world. In 2023, Gerard received his countrys highest civilian honour Companion of the Order of Canada. The highest of the three levels of the Order of Canada, it is awarded for outstanding achievement and merit of the highest degree, especially in service to Canada or to humanity at large. Gerard was the second Canadian to reach the Steelworkers unions top job, following his mentor Lynn Williams, who served as USW International President from 1983 to 1994 and who was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2005. Leo Gerard knew that real strength for workers came through unity, said Scott Lunny, USW Director for Western Canada, who credited Gerards leadership in the USWs mergers with the Canadian chapter of the International Woodworkers of America and later the Telecommunications Workers Union. These decisions transformed our unions presence and power in Western Canada. Leos vision built lasting strength for generations of workers and he will be deeply missed, but his legacy will always live on in the work that we do as Steelworkers, Lunny said. Leo Gerards life was dedicated to advancing the cause of labour. He believed deeply in the power of unions to transform lives, said Kevon Stewart, Director of USW District 6, representing Ontario and Atlantic Canada. For decades, Leo reminded us that the labour movement must always rise to meet the moment and our union is stronger today because of his vision and courage. Rest in power, Brother Leo. Your fight lives on in all of us, Stewart said. Today we bid farewell to a giant. Leo Gerard understood the francophone identity and reality of the Steelworkers union in Quebec, which he integrated into his leadership of our great North American union. He always made it a point of honour to practise his French whenever he was in Quebec, said Nicolas Lapierre, the USWs Quebec Director. He was a powerful speaker who could galvanize activists with his passionate and inspiring oratory. Thank you for everything, Leo! We will continue to lead the fight, following the example you set, Lapierre said. 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 unions 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. Contact: Shannon Devine, USW Communications, 416-938-4402, sdevine@usw.ca HEINEKEN to acquire FIFCOs beverage and retail businesses, strengthening its presence across Central America Landmark acquisition accelerates growth with leading beverage portfolio and retail assets in Costa Rica, full ownership of HEINEKEN Panama, and expanded regional footprint HEINEKEN has entered into binding agreements with its long-term partner FIFCO to acquire the remaining 75% of Distribuidora La Florida, as well as FIFCO stakes in certain other businesses. The transaction will strengthen HEINEKENs position across attractive Central American growth markets which have large and expanding profit pools. HEINEKEN gains ownership of a multi-category portfolio, including Costa Ricas iconic century-old national beer Imperial and a major soft drink business with own brands and PepsiCo bottling licence. Expanded regional presence with full ownership of HEINEKEN Panama, an equal partnership in Nicaraguas leading beer and beyond beer business, and a diversified food and beverage operation in Guatemala. Total cash consideration paid for the equity stakes acquired by HEINEKEN will be approximately US$3.2 billion, implying an acquisition multiple of 11.6x EV/EBITDA based on 2024 results. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to operating margin and EPS (beia). The transaction is subject to FIFCO shareholder and regulatory approvals. The deal has been approved unanimously by the board of directors of FIFCO, which includes representatives of FIFCOs key shareholders. Completion is expected in H1 2026. Amsterdam, 22 September 2025 HEINEKEN N.V. (HEINEKEN) today announced it has signed a binding agreement to acquire the multi-category beverage portfolio and proximity retail business of the Florida Ice and Farm Company S.A. (FIFCO). This transaction builds on a long-standing partnership that began in 1986 and was strengthened in 2002 with the acquisition of a 25% stake in FIFCO's beverages business in Costa Rica, Distribuidora La Florida. The deal further advances HEINEKENs EverGreen strategy, driving premiumisation, innovation, and growth across high-potential markets. Costa Rica will become one of HEINEKEN's top 5 operating companies by operating profit, expanding its presence with a diverse portfolio of beverage brands - including the iconic Imperial beer - and a well-established retail network. The transaction also includes Panama, where HEINEKEN will acquire the remaining 25% of HEINEKEN Panama, securing full ownership of the countrys fastest-growing brewer. In addition, it further strengthens HEINEKENs regional presence through an equal partnership in Nicaraguas market-leading beer and beyond beer company, as well as ownership of diversified food and beverage operations in Guatemala. Upon completion, HEINEKEN will acquire the following FIFCO interests: 75% stake in Distribuidora La Florida, covering its beverages, food, and retail division - which includes more than 300 proximity retail outlets in Costa Rica (Musmanni & Musi) - and overall operations, extending into El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras; FIFCO is exploring strategic alternatives for FIFCO USA. 75% stake in Nicaragua Brewing Holding, which holds a 49.85% indirect stake in Compania Cervecera de Nicaragua, Nicaraguas leading beverage company. 25% minority interest in HEINEKEN Panama. 100% stake in FIFCOs beyond beer business in Mexico. Following completion, HEINEKEN and/or its affiliates will hold 100% ownership of Distribuidora La Florida, HEINEKEN Panama and FIFCO Mexico, and 49.85% of Compania Cervecera de Nicaragua. (See illustrative shareholding structure attached). HEINEKEN Chairman of the Executive Board and Chief Executive Officer, Dolf van den Brink: Today marks a transformative milestone for HEINEKEN as we join forces with FIFCO to unlock new growth opportunities. By integrating FIFCOs iconic brands, deep market expertise, and exemplary sustainability credentials, we are accelerating our EverGreen strategy and entering new profit pools across Central America. This partnership is grounded in decades of shared values and trust, providing a robust foundation for long-term value creation. I am excited to welcome FIFCO's talented team, and am confident that our shared strengths - HEINEKENs global best practices and FIFCOs unmatched local knowhow - will drive excellence and deliver exceptional growth for our employees, customers, and stakeholders throughout the region. FIFCO Chairman of the Board, Wilhelm Steinvorth: This agreement honours FIFCOs legacy and brings complementary strengths that expand the organisations capabilities, operational reach, and future potential. FIFCO and HEINEKEN have shared a successful long-term partnership, built on strategic alignment, shared values, and a deep commitment to sustainability. Today, we are proud to take this step forward with an admired company that respects our cultural identity and offers a global platform for our iconic brands - like Imperial - to thrive and evolve. Strategic rationale The transaction builds on HEINEKEN's current exposure to attractive Central American growth markets which enjoy large and growing profit pools. Distribuidora La Florida and Compania Cervecera de Nicaragua are both strategically positioned as market-leading multi-category beverage businesses with strong margins, rivalling global best-in-class benchmarks. Costa Rica benefits from stable macro fundamentals, including a strong currency, growing population, and approximately 3% real GDP per capita growth. The beverage categories (beer, beyond beer, soft drinks) are among the largest and fastest-growing consumer categories in Central America, with the acquired portfolio expected to deliver solid volume growth. Consolidating the multi-category beverage leader in Costa Rica: Well-established market leadership in beer (approximately 2.0 million hl), supported by iconic local and international brands, and an unparalleled route-to-consumer model. Leading pan-regional beyond beer portfolio (approximately 0.5 million hl) across multiple brands with leading brand power. Second largest soft drinks player (approximately 2.5 million hl), producing its own brands, such as Tropical, and being the bottling licensee for PepsiCo. The transaction will strengthen HEINEKEN's existing relationship with PepsiCo. Well-positioned adjacent businesses including wines and spirits distribution, staple foods, and a retail business with more than 300 proximity outlets. HEINEKEN gains full ownership of HEINEKEN Panama, one of the leading brewers growing approximately 20% CAGR (20192024) with year-over-year market share gains. Expansion of HEINEKENs footprint in Central America: Compania Cervecera de Nicaragua holds a leading beer and beyond beer portfolio with a fully integrated water and soft drinks operations, and a retail business with more than 250 proximity outlets. A food and soft drinks platform in Guatemala, and a portfolio of fast-growing beyond beer brands in Mexico. Under HEINEKENs ownership, the Costa Rica business is expected to unlock revenue and cost synergies through the application of HEINEKEN's best practices across commercial execution, logistics and brewery operations. Financial impact for HEINEKEN Total cash consideration paid for the equity stakes acquired by HEINEKEN will be approximately US$3.2 billion implying an acquisition multiple of 11.6x EV/EBITDA based on 2024 results. Distribuidora La Florida, which was previously accounted for as investment in associate with results reported under share of net profit/loss from associates, will be consolidated. 2024 results reported under local accounting policies amount to: Net Revenue of US$1,132m, EBITDA of US$334m and Operating Profit of US$278m (excluding FIFCO USA). The 49.85% ownership stake in Compania Cervecera de Nicaragua will be accounted for as investment in associates and joint ventures and the results will be treated as share of profit/loss of associates and joint ventures. The acquisition of the 25% minority interest in HEINEKEN Panama will reduce HEINEKEN's non-controlling interest in HEINEKEN Panama to zero. Run-rate cost savings of approximately US$50 million are anticipated through the application of HEINEKENs proven best practices. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to operating margin and EPS (beia). Post-transaction, HEINEKENs Net Debt is expected to increase by 3.2 billion and HEINEKEN's pro-forma Net Debt / EBITDA (beia) ratio is expected to increase modestly. HEINEKEN remains committed to return to its long-term target of below 2.5x. HEINEKEN will continue to make progress on the previously announced share buy-back programme of 1.5 billion which is not affected by the proposed transaction. Driving sustainable economic development across Central America In line with its EverGreen strategy, HEINEKEN is deeply committed to driving long-term, sustainable growth across its operations. Through its Brew a Better World programme, it has set ambitious goals to deliver positive environmental and social impact. Recognising the strong complementarities with FIFCOs programme and its embedded ESG strategy (FIFCO Sostenibilidad Expansiva), HEINEKEN will continue to invest in sustainable economic development and promoting responsible consumption throughout the region. Next steps Completion of the transaction between HEINEKEN and FIFCO is subject to customary regulatory approvals and the approval by the general shareholders meeting of FIFCO, which will take place in October 2025. The transaction is expected to be completed in H1 2026. The deal has been approved unanimously by the board of directors of FIFCO, which includes representatives of FIFCO's key shareholders. Further announcements will be made as and when appropriate. HEINEKEN and FIFCO will work closely together towards the completion of the transaction, ensuring a smooth integration, with a joint focus on continuity for employees, customers, and partners. Webcast details HEINEKEN will host an analyst and investor conference call in relation to the transaction tomorrow, Tuesday 23 September, at 14:00 CET/13:00 GMT. The call will be audio cast live via the companys website: www.theheinekencompany.com. An audio replay service will also be made available after the conference call at the above web address. Analysts and investors can dial-in using the following telephone numbers: United Kingdom (Local): 020 3936 2999 Netherlands (Local): 085 888 7233 United States (Local): 1 646 664 1960 For the full list of dial-in numbers, please refer to the following link: Global Dial-In Numbers Participation password for all countries: 838081 UBS AG, London Branch acted as financial adviser and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (USA) and Consortium Legal (Costa Rica) acted as legal counsel to HEINEKEN in connection with the transaction. About HEINEKEN HEINEKEN is the world's pioneering beer company. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium and non-alcoholic beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken brand, the Group has a portfolio of more than 340 international, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. With HEINEKENs over 85,000 employees, we brew the joy of true togetherness to inspire a better world. Our dream is to shape the future of beer and beyond to win the hearts of consumers. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost management. Through "Brew a Better World", sustainability is embedded in the business. HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. We operate breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Most recent information is available on our Company's website and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram. About FIFCO FIFCO is a Costa Rican company with over 117 years of trajectory in the beverage, food, retail, and hospitality sectors. With operations across Costa Rica, Central America, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the United States, FIFCO manages 5 production plants and 13 distribution centers, and exports to more than 10 countries worldwide. Its dynamic portfolio includes iconic brands such as Imperial, Pilsen, Bavaria, Adan y Eva, and Tropical, and it proudly partners with global leaders like PepsiCo, Diageo, Concha y Toro and Marriott. FIFCO is recognised for its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence, and leads the region with a world-class ESG model being water positive, carbon positive, and zero waste. Media gallery: http://www.theheinekencompany.com/newsroom/media-gallery/ Media Contacts Christiaan Prins Director of Global Communications Marlie Paauw Global Media Lead E-mail: pressoffice@heineken.com Tel: +31-20-5239355 Investor enquiries Tristan van Strien Global Director of Investor Relations Lennart Scholtus Investor Relations Manager E-mail: investors@heineken.com Tel: +31-20-5239590 FIFCO Communications Office Diego Villagra Press Executive E-mail: dvillagra@cckcentroamerica.com Tel.: +506 8311-4993 Market Abuse Regulation This press release may contain price-sensitive information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. Disclaimer: This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations and assumptions with regard to the financial position and results of HEINEKENs activities, anticipated developments and other factors. All statements other than statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include, but are not limited to, statements and information in HEINEKENs non-financial reporting, such as HEINEKENs emission reduction and other climate change related matters (including actions, potential impacts and risks associated therewith). These forward-looking statements are identified by use of terms and phrases such as aim, ambition, anticipate, believe, could, estimate, expect, goals, intend, may, milestones, objectives, outlook, plan, probably, project, risks, schedule, seek, should, target, will and similar terms and phrases. These forward-looking statements, while based on management's current expectations and assumptions, are not guarantees of future performance since they are subject to numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may change over time, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forwardlooking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond HEINEKENs ability to control or estimate precisely, such as but not limited to future market and economic conditions, the behaviour of other market participants, changes in consumer preferences, the ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and achieve anticipated synergies, costs of raw materials and other goods and services, interest-rate and exchange-rate fluctuations, changes in tax rates, changes in law, environmental and physical risks, change in pension costs, the actions of government regulators and weather conditions. These and other risk factors are detailed in HEINEKENs publicly filed annual reports. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only of the date of this press release. HEINEKEN assumes no duty to and does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Market share estimates contained in this press release are based on external sources, such as specialised research institutes, in combination with management estimates. HEINEKEN undertakes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such external sources. Attachments TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX: SSF.UN) Brompton Funds Limited (Brompton), the manager of Symphony Floating Rate Senior Loan Fund (the Fund) announced today that the distribution reinvestment plan (DRIP) of the Fund will be terminated effective October 23, 2025. As a result, the DRIP will not be available for any record dates occurring after October 23, 2025. Alternative reinvestment options may be available through your investment advisor. Please contact them directly. About Brompton Funds Founded in 2000, Brompton is an experienced investment fund manager with income and growth focused investment solutions including exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) traded investment funds. For further information, please contact your investment advisor, call Bromptons investor relations line at 416-642-6000 (toll-free at 1-866-642-6001), email info@bromptongroup.com or visit our website at www.bromptongroup.com. You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell units of the investment fund on the TSX or other alternative Canadian trading system (an exchange). If the units are purchased or sold on an exchange, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying units of the investment fund and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them. There are ongoing fees and expenses associated with owning units of an investment fund. An investment fund must prepare disclosure documents that contain key information about the Fund. You can find more detailed information about the Fund in the public filings available at www.sedarplus.ca. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. The amount of distributions may fluctuate from month to month and there can be no assurance that the Fund will make any distribution in any particular month. Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to matters disclosed in this document and to other matters identified in public filings relating to the Fund to the future outlook of the Fund and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the future financial performance of the Fund. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as may, will, should, expect, plan, anticipate, believe, intend, estimate, predict, potential, continue or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. China willing to strengthen manufacturing cooperation with all parties, senior political advisor Xinhua) 10:02, September 22, 2025 HEFEI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese political advisor Wang Yong on Saturday said China is willing to strengthen cooperation with all parties in key areas such as manufacturing. Wang, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention held in east China's Anhui Province. Over the past few years, China, along with all relevant parties, has adhered to the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, leveraging the platform of the convention to deepen practical cooperation and provide strong support for the development of global manufacturing sector, Wang said. In the face of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, China is willing to work with all parties to strengthen cooperation in key areas such as manufacturing; break down barriers in various areas such as technology, talent and data; make breakthroughs in critical core technologies; and achieve green and low-carbon development, Wang added. Under the theme of "Intelligent Manufacturing for a Better Future," the convention runs from Sept. 20 to 23 in Hefei, capital city of Anhui Province, and is attended by more than 1,000 guests from over 40 countries and regions. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) San Diego, CA, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Presearch.com , the decentralized, community-driven meta-search engine that prioritizes user privacy and does not track users or sell data to advertisers, today announced it has become the first search engine to complete a full transition from Web2 to Web3, delivering what the industry long considered technically unfeasible: a fully decentralized, self-custodial search engine where users search to earn and control their digital assets while staking and participating in Presearchs vast Web3 ecosystem. In a digital landscape increasingly dominated by AI-generated content, declining click-through rates, and invasive data practices, Presearch 3.0 delivers a timely solution: returning privacy, ownership, and economic empowerment to users in an era of algorithmic slop and centralized control. Unlike platforms that merely layer token mechanics onto centralized systems, Presearch has engineered a search engine natively for Web3. Presearch 3.0 represents a complete infrastructure and design overhaul, purpose-built to operate on decentralized rails with real-time, gas-efficient, self-custodial transactions across millions of searches. These represent the three key staking mechanisms in Presearchs Blockchain ecosystem. Users who operate nodes earn PRE tokens relative to the global search volume, reliability score and their node stake qty. These nodes provide server capacity to the Presearch network (as a hybrid proof-of-work system), remove personally identifiable information from search requests, and perform search operations returning the results in milliseconds to the end-user. Keyword ads (similar to Google Adwords) are created by advertisers who wish to reach the Presearch user base. The platform utilizes an auction-like model to determine which ads show up at the bottom of the search result page by default. Whichever advertiser stakes the most PRE to a given keyword has their ad displayed. Search Staking Enhancement: Earnings increase per search when users stake PRE tokens. The more you stake, the more you earn per search. Presearch has solved the core technical challenges of Web3: sovereignty, transparency, and decentralization, and successfully brought them to market. With self-custodial reward systems, scalable user experiences, and a fully decentralized infrastructure, Presearch has addressed each of the following critical components: Real-time reward calculations across millions of user queries Seamless wallet integration without compromising user experience Gas-efficient Base Layer 2 microtransactions Enterprise-grade security, with completed audits and penetration testing Other search platforms have attempted limited rollouts of Web3 features but remain constrained by centralized infrastructure and narrow chain support. In contrast, Presearch now offers full self-custody of PRE tokens while earning and/or staking. No custodial bottlenecks, no KYC requirements, and sub-penny transaction costs on a globally accessible platform. The launch of Presearch 3.0 brings a new leadership team and technical vision focused on building a truly sovereign search experience. The updated platform includes: A modern, Web3-native B2C search experience Agentic AI tools and enterprise integration capabilities Support for creator-first ecosystems and underserved content domains A redesigned search stack tailored for the decentralized internet This evolution goes beyond UI upgrades. Presearch now operates on a hybrid Proof-of-Work model with over 40,000 community-operated nodes powering the search network. These nodes perform real computational work and are rewarded based on search volume processed, PRE tokens staked, reliability scores, and geographic distributionbringing true decentralization to both infrastructure and incentives. In addition to reengineering its platform for Web3, Presearch is also building the first independent web index optimized for Frontier Intelligence, the kind of high-integrity, human-created content ignored or de-ranked by traditional engines and inaccessible to commercial AI. This next-generation indexing system is already crawling and organizing content in stealth, with a focus on: Creator-first and login-gated platforms (e.g., Substack, OnlyFans) Independent journalism and alternative health domains Shadow-banned or suppressed information sources Environmental impact data and underreported reports Verified human-generated content, filtered from AI spam This indexing approach gives Presearch a unique edge in a world flooded with low-quality AI content and algorithmically limited visibility. It also sets the stage for a new wave of AI tools and agents that rely on high-integrity information. Most online platforms today operate in the Web2 paradigmcentralized companies collect user data, monetize attention, and control access. In contrast, Web3 platforms operate on public blockchains, use crypto wallets for login and identity, and return ownership and control to users. In the Web3 model users log in with crypto wallets, not usernames and passwords. Digital assets remain under user control and platforms cannot revoke access. Additionally, interactions happen directly onchain, allowing value transfer without intermediaries. Lastly, participation is often incentivized, creating new economic models. Presearch is now fully aligned with this vision. Its new infrastructure supports seamless integration with DeFi, dApps, and AI agents, offering anonymous access and global availability. With Presearch 3.0, the search engine becomes more than a utility, but rather a gateway to the Web3 ecosystem. Users no longer need to trust a platform to manage their data or rewards. They own it outright. The launch also positions Presearch for rapid growth as friction points that have historically slowed Web3 adoption, like custodial delays, regional restrictions, and identity barriers, are removed entirely. For users, creators, developers, and enterprise partners, Presearch 3.0 represents a fundamentally new way to access, organize, and reward information. Its search reimagined for the decentralized era. To learn more about Presearch 3.0 visit presearch.com and watch their latest announcement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UyTDTJ-1Gg . About Presearch Presearch is the worlds first decentralized search engine powered by a network of over 40,000 community-run nodes. With over 390,00 users globally and serving over 10 Million searches per month, Presearch provides a privacy-first, user-owned search experience that rewards participation and protects freedom of access. Presearch is building the future of Frontier Intelligence and redefining the role of search in the Web3 world. FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At Fayetteville State University, students dont just keep up with technology. They set it in motion. While machines handle the code, Broncos dream bigger, turning bold ideas into real breakthroughs. In these classrooms and labs, the next generation of tech leaders is learning to outsmart the algorithms and shape what comes next. The Intelligent Systems Laboratory transforms ideas into innovations. As a part of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the Lloyd College of Health, Science, and Technology, the lab drives hands-on research in artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity. It also connects Broncos with opportunities typically reserved for advanced research by collaborating with universities, government agencies, and industry leaders. Even though were primarily an undergraduate institution, its rare for both our undergraduate and graduate students to have this kind of hands-on research access, said Sambit Bhattacharya, Ph.D., professor of computer science and director of the Intelligent Systems Laboratory. "I created this lab specifically to give all my students the advanced research opportunities typically reserved for major research universities. I don't want them to simply learn about technology; I want them to actively create it, innovate with it, and graduate with the practical experience and confidence to make an immediate impact in their careers." That vision has driven ISLs growth. Since its launch in 2017, ISL has steadily expanded its capacity, building the infrastructure that attracts major federal investments and positioning Fayetteville State University to compete on a national stage. In 2023, NASA awarded the university $1.3 million for AI and data science research, while the Office of Naval Research provided nearly $600,000 to develop a certificate curriculum in AI for national security. That momentum now extends to ISLs role in broader defense research partnerships. Earlier this year, Bhattacharya secured a funded collaborator role for the third consecutive year with North Carolina State Universitys Laboratory for Analytic Sciences, contributing to a year-long research project funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. In this collaboration, ISL students assist Bhattacharya and LAS staff with research that addresses national security challenges, gaining exposure to problems with real-world consequences. From Campus to the Field That same preparation delivered significant results this summer when ISL students showcased their skills in internships across leading research institutions. At NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, seniors Sokhna Amar and Rajil Vebe Sajila joined mission teams developing generative AI tools for early space exploration and atmospheric analysis. Their work directly ties into NASAs vision for deep-space exploration. Working on projects like applying generative AI to mission formulation was a remarkable experience, said Amar. It not only built my technical skills but also strengthened my excitement about pursuing a research career and graduate studies in the future. That same spirit carried to projects closer to home. Paul Rodriguez, a junior computer science major, applied his ISL experience with the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, designing advanced tools to sharpen the accuracy of optical character recognition models used in real-world military operations. And the preparation proved just as valuable after graduation. For Santino Sini, who earned his degree in May, ISL became a launchpad to a career at Northrop Grumman, where he now works as an aerospace and algorithm software engineer. My ISL work, and internship opportunities were the biggest reason I qualified and secured the job, he said. Other ISL students also making their mark include: Anita Amofah, senior, computer science - MedPro Group in Indiana, IT modernization and cybersecurity shadowing. Javon Floyd, senior, computer science - North Carolina Turnpike Authority, integrating AI into tolling systems and strengthening cybersecurity. Morgan Singleton, senior, computer science - UNC Health, contributing to biomedical engineering and capital planning, with her role extended into fall 2025. Waylon Robinson, junior, computer science with a cybersecurity minor - The Tulsa Initiative, automating loan applications and creating financial tools for entrepreneurs. For Bhattacharya, internships are where everything comes together. He has watched students return from these experiences not just with sharper technical skills, but with confidence, initiative, and a sense of purpose that lifts the entire lab. "You watch them return transformedtackling ambitious projects and inspiring their classmates," he said. "That's how you measure success. When students become leaders who push boundaries and raise expectations, they elevate the entire academic community." That drive to push limits isnt confined to todays students. Its an open invitation to the next wave of innovators to step in, take their shot, and shape what comes next. Ready to Launch Your Journey? To get started, visit the Intelligent Systems Laboratory website at Fayetteville State or email Bhattacharya at sbhattac@uncfsu.edu to learn more about applying, internship opportunities, or upcoming projects. The next breakthrough could have your name on it. About Fayetteville State University Founded in 1867, Fayetteville State University is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System and the second-oldest public institution of higher education in the state. FSU is a historically black university offering degrees at the baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral levels. With over 7,600 students, Fayetteville State University is among the most diverse institutions in the nation. To learn more about Fayetteville State University, visit www.uncfsu.edu. Attachment Washington, D.C., Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Buck Sexton describes in a recent exclusive interview how the White House could be preparing a sweeping push into Artificial Superintelligence . The initiative, he says, is designed to fuel both economic growth and military dominance. This is going to be truly unprecedented. I believe Trump is getting ready to issue a package of new AI Executive Orders setting our economy on a 40-year bull run. From Chatbots to Superintelligence Sexton draws a sharp line between todays consumer tools and the far more powerful technology being unleashed. This isnt ChatGPT, or any other kind of AI youve ever seen or heard about. This is Artificial Superintelligence or ASI. He warns that ASI wont just streamline office work it will transform warfighting and national defense. Artificial Superintelligence Could Be The Key To America Building The First Fully Autonomous AI Powered Military. Reversing Bidens Mistake According to Sexton, America nearly fell behind permanently because of the wrong policies. Biden had a real chance to put America far ahead in the Artificial Superintelligence race years ago but to be blunt he blew it. Screwed it up royally by issuing one of the worst Executive Orders in American history. That changed immediately when Trump returned to office. The only good news about it is on literally day one of his new term Trump ripped Bidens Executive Order 14110 to shreds and launched his own new one. It instantly removed the shackles from Americas AI tech geniuses and gave the U.S. the greenlight. Chinas Expanding Arsenal Sexton repeatedly emphasizes the scale of Chinas buildup. China has the capacity to build hundreds of thousands of these AI-powered drones. The consequences, he warns, would be irreversible. If China gets it first they stay first forever. No one else will ever catch up. The Golden Dome Perhaps the boldest component of Manhattan II could be a defense system unlike anything the world has seen before. One of the boldest pieces of that plan is what Trump insiders are calling The Golden Dome. Its a first of its kind missile defense shield thatll be built 300 miles into the sky over the U.S. using Artificial Superintelligence. Sexton explains it would be capable of stopping and instantly vaporizing hypersonic missiles, nuclear payloads, and drone swarms. Americas Last Chance For Sexton, the stakes could not be higher. This new AI race is our last chance to reclaim it. To put America back in the lead. To build our future, not give it away or beg for it. He insists that decisions made in the coming months will determine whether the U.S. reclaims its leadership or surrenders it forever. About Buck Sexton Buck Sexton is a former CIA counter-terrorism officer who personally debriefed President George W. Bush during the Iraq War. He was also hand-picked to replace the late great Rush Limbaugh as the co-host of Americas highest-rated radio program with over 15 million followers. Washington, DC, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UNCF (United Negro College Fund) today announced that it has received a landmark gift of $70 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott that will be used to support its bold $1 billion capital campaign. The $70 million gift will be invested in the UNCF Members Pooled Endowment Fund, an initiative designed to strengthen the long-term financial health of all 37 private UNCF member HBCUs. This extraordinary gift is a powerful vote of confidence in HBCUs and in the work of UNCF, said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. It provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our member institutions to build permanent assets that will support students and campuses for decades to come. Launched in 2021, UNCFs $1 billion Capital Campaign is a major philanthropic effort designed to elevate the organizations reach and effectiveness and to provide HBCUs with the resources they need to succeed in their critical work. This ambitious, comprehensive vision consists of mutually reinforcing pillars of transformation that, together, create a virtuous cycle of social mobility in underrepresented communities, increase the impact of HBCUs, draw more funding and students to these institutions, and enrich the tapestry of our country. With this latest gift, UNCF is now significantly closer to its goal of raising $370 million specifically for the pooled endowment, a critical component of the broader $1 billion campaign. Each of UNCFs 37 private member HBCUs will receive a $5 million stake from this initiative. UNCF will then work with each institution to raise an additional $5 million in matching funds, creating a $10 million stake per institution. These pooled funds will be managed in perpetuity and will make annual distributions at a 4% payout rate, providing long-term financial stability for the campuses and their students. The impact will be substantial: the median endowment of UNCF member schools would rise from $15.9 million to $25.9 milliona 63% increase. This $10 million stake per school is a consequential addition when compared to the stark gap between HBCU and non-HBCU endowments, where HBCUs trail by at least 70%. Dr. Marc A. Barnes, senior vice president for the capital campaign, will work closely with the member institutions as they launch their matching campaigns to fully leverage this transformational gift. This gift allows us to demonstrate the power of collective investment in our institutions, said Milton H. Jones, Jr., chair of the UNCF Board. At the same time, we must finish the work of this campaign. We still need to raise $100 million in scholarship endowments, $80 million to increase UNCFs operating endowment, and $100 million to advance technology across our membership. Together, these efforts will build the permanent capacity our institutions need to thrive. Today is an historic day for UNCF and our member institutions, added Dr. George T. French, Jr., Clark Atlanta University President and Chair of UNCFs Institutional Members. The pooled endowment fund is a bold idea whose time has come. Todays gift means that our institutions will see a transformative impact on their endowments, resources that are desperately needed. HBCU endowments are significantly smaller than those of predominately white institutions (PWIs), so this infusion of permanent capital will be game-changing for our schools and our students. This gift also builds on Scotts previous generosity to UNCF: in 2020, she contributed $10 million to bolster the UNCF emergency reserve fund. Todays $70 million contribution is seven times that investment, bringing her total giving to UNCF to $80 million. We are deeply grateful for MacKenzie Scotts continued support. By entrusting UNCF to decide how best to use these funds, she affirms that HBCUs merit investment at this scale and her generosity will strengthen our member institutions and provide pathways to success for tomorrows changemakers, stated Dr. Lomax. ### 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 awards more than 11,000 scholarships totaling more than $62 million. The scholarships support students attending more than 600 US-based colleges and universities 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. Sydney, Sept. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pacific Green, a global battery energy storage company, has secured planning permit from the Victorian Government for its second Australian grid-scale battery energy park located in Portland, Victoria, Australia. The Portland Energy Park, providing up to 1GW of firming capacity, will be developed in phases over the next 36 months. Once constructed, it will become Australias largest battery energy park. Located in regional Victoria, in one of the States core industrial hubs, the energy park will significantly boost energy storage capacity, enhance Victorias energy stability and support the states transition to net-zero emissions. Once operational, the energy park will enable the avoidance of 66,900 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. Pacific Green undertook a comprehensive program of technical, environmental and operational assessments to support the planning and approvals process, ensuring the project minimises potential impacts and fully complies with, or exceeds, all statutory requirements. This was complemented by an extensive program of community and stakeholder engagement, including consultation with local First Peoples representatives, whose cultural heritage insights played a key role in shaping the final design of the energy park. Following the successful development of 1GWh of battery energy storage at Limestone Coast, South Australia, Portland Energy Park represents the next step in Pacific Greens ambition to develop its pipeline of over 7 GWh of battery energy parks across the National Electricity Market. Strategically positioned within the industrial zoned area on Madeira Packet Road, the Portland Energy Park is in close proximity to the Portland Aluminium Smelter and the Portland Water Treatment Plant, enabling the asset to provide energy security to strategic businesses and augment existing electrical infrastructure positioned nearby. Hon. Sonya Kilkenny, Minister for Planning commented: Our fast-tracked pathway has unlocked more than $6 billion worth of investment into renewable energy projects helping provide cheaper and cleaner energy to hundreds of thousands of Victorian households. Hon. Lily DAmbrosio, Minister for Energy and Resources commented: This battery will soak up cheap renewable power during the day and deliver it when demand peaks powering 345,000 homes and slashing energy bills across the state. Scott Poulter, Chairman and Group CEO Pacific Green commented: We are pleased that our second Australian asset has secured the support needed to move forward. Drawing on our global expertise in developing energy parks across the UK, Europe and Australia, the Portland project will play a major role in decarbonising Australias energy system. Its scale underlines our ambition to become a leading developer in the market and to accelerate the nations transition to renewables through a multi-gigawatt platform Joel Alexander, Managing Director Pacific Green Energy Storage Australia commented: We are thrilled to reach todays milestone as it represents a significant achievement for Pacific Green. Once operational, Portland will stand as Australias largest grid-scale battery, driving Victorias energy transition forward. At a regional level, we extend our thanks to local First Nations representatives, the community and stakeholders for their engagement, and we look forward to sharing further updates on supply chain opportunities as the project progresses. About Pacific Green Pacific Green is a global energy storage and environmental technology company, on a mission to advance the transition to sustainable energy solutions. The business is focused on rapidly building a significant global portfolio of utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS), with a large pipeline of energy storage capacity currently in development, construction or operation. Pacific Greens team brings together extensive technology, project development and project finance expertise having commercialised numerous pioneering technologies and steered major international energy and infrastructure projects successfully through financing and development. This in-house expertise is complemented by strategic relationships cultivated with trusted partners at all levels of the global environmental supply chain providing access to the very best technology and manufacturing capabilities on offer, alongside internationally respected financial institutions and project partners. For more information, visit Pacific Greens website: www.pacificgreen.com NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of National Grid plc (NYSE: NGG) resulting from allegations that National Grid plc may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased National Grid securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=41344 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On July 2, 2025, Reuters published an article entitled Preventable National Grid failures led to Heathrow fire, findings say. The article stated that a fire that shut Londons Heathrow airport in March, stranding thousands of people, was caused by the UK power grids failure to maintain an electricity substation, an official report said on Wednesday, prompting the energy watchdog to open a probe. Further, the article stated that the United Kingdoms Energy minister, Ed Miliband, had called the report deeply concerning, after it concluded that the issue which caused the fire was identified seven years ago but went unaddressed by power grid operator National Grid[.] On this news, National Grids American Depositary Shares (ADSs) fell 5%, on July 2, 2024. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. At the time Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com Fairfax, VA, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- APEK Corporation (d/b/a Voice2Me), a leading provider of AI agentic workflows and multi-agent orchestration platforms for regulated industries, today announced its strategic expansion into federal, state, and local government markets through selective partnership agreements. This expansion introduces purpose-built AI agentic workflows that elevate platform functionality beyond traditional voice intelligence to comprehensive multi-agent collaboration for government digital transformation. APEK Corp's platform specializes in design and deployment of AI agentic workflows purpose-built for local and state government services, including citizen engagement, compliance reporting, and service desk automation. The announcement comes as federal technology spending on artificial intelligence could more than double by 2030, reaching $10-20 billion annually, with agentic AI and multi-agent systems representing the fastest-growing segment. "Government agencies require more than voice automation - they need intelligent agentic workflows that can orchestrate multiple AI capabilities simultaneously," said Eva Karnaukh, CEO of APEK Corporation. "Our multi-agent orchestration combines voice AI, chatbots, digital agents, and vision AI to handle complex workflows, triage citizen requests, and enable real-time decision-making while maintaining enterprise-grade compliance." Advanced AI Agent Development for Government Operations APEK Corp's adoption of proven open-source frameworks such as LangGraph and Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) delivers transparent, vendor-neutral, and scalable AI orchestration for public sector agencies. This architecture enables multi-agent collaboration that extends far beyond voice intelligence to include comprehensive AI agent development capabilities. The platform's voice AI and multimodal capabilities integrate speech recognition, natural language understanding (NLU), text-to-speech, voice-to-voice, and contextual reasoning, empowering inclusive, 24/7 virtual assistants for government hotlines and online portals. The company's "Service 24x7" product delivers native ServiceNow integration, automatically capturing agentic workflow data, conversation transcripts, and outcomes directly within ServiceNow tables for complete audit trails. Key agentic workflow capabilities include: Multi-Agent Orchestration: Coordinated AI agents handling citizen inquiries across voice, chat, and digital channels simultaneously Intelligent Workflow Automation: Purpose-built agentic processes for compliance reporting, service desk operations, and citizen engagement Enterprise Platform Integration: Seamless connectivity with ServiceNow, Salesforce, Amazon Connect, and Microsoft Teams to streamline incident management, ticketing, and citizen communications Cloud-Agnostic Deployment: Support for AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, Google Cloud, and Kubernetes clusters, meeting FedRAMP, FISMA, and state data residency requirements Security and Privacy by Design for Government Workloads The platform implements security and privacy by design with end-to-end encryption, PII masking, comprehensive audit trails, and EU AI Act risk classification compliance for sensitive government workloads. This architecture addresses government requirements for data protection while enabling sophisticated agentic workflows across multiple communication channels. APEK Corp's human-in-the-loop governance and oversight ensures explainability, accountability, and trustworthy AI decisions in public sector operations. "Our agentic workflows transform how government agencies operate by orchestrating multiple AI capabilities while maintaining strict compliance and human oversight," said Karnaukh. Rapid Deployment and Open-Source Innovation The platform enables rapid proof-of-concept delivery and accelerated time-to-value, allowing government agencies to pilot, validate, and scale AI agentic workflows with minimal operational risk. APEK Corp's no-code interface and pre-built agentic workflow templates enable government users to implement comprehensive AI agent solutions within days rather than months. The company's commitment to open-source innovation and knowledge-sharing empowers local IT teams and developers to extend, customize, and co-create AI-powered citizen services. This approach leverages community-driven agentic workflow development while maintaining security and compliance standards essential for government operations. Market Leadership in Regulated Industries The company's track record includes achieving 80% automation rates and 60% operational cost reductions through advanced agentic workflows while maintaining regulatory compliance across multiple frameworks. The platform's multi-language support across 40+ languages combined with sophisticated agentic workflows addresses diverse citizen communication needs while maintaining consistent service quality. This comprehensive approach to AI agent development positions APEK Corp as a leader in next-generation government technology solutions. About APEK Corporation Founded in Fairfax, Virginia, APEK Corporation (d/b/a Voice2Me) delivers enterprise-grade AI agentic workflows and multi-agent orchestration platforms for regulated industries. With over 20 years of enterprise technology experience and 40+ successful AI implementation projects, the company specializes in comprehensive AI agent development that extends beyond voice intelligence to deliver measurable business outcomes. APEK Corporation maintains strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI, ensuring access to leading AI technologies while providing the security, compliance, and rapid deployment capabilities essential for government agentic workflow applications. LONDON, September 22, 2025 - Ecora (LSE/TSX:ECOR)(OTCQX:ECRAF) a critical minerals focused royalty company, notes the press release issued today by Rainbow Rare Earths Limited ("Rainbow") announcing further successful results from the ongoing test work for the Phalaborwa rare earths project in South Africa. Ecora holds a 0.85% Gross Revenue Royalty on the Phalaborwa project. The full announcement from Rainbow can be viewed here: https://tools.eurolandir.com/tools/Pressreleases/GetPressRelease/?ID=7806447&lang=en-GB&companycode=uk-rbw&v=r2022 For further information Ecora Resources PLC +44 (0) 20 3435 7400 Geoff Callow - Head of Investor Relations Website: www.ecora-resources.com FTI Consulting Sara Powell / Ben Brewerton / Nick Hennis +44(0) 20 3727 1000 ecoraresources@fticonsulting.com 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: Ecora Resources PLC View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Vancouver, September 22, 2025 - Homerun Resources Inc. (TSXV: HMR) (OTCQB: HMRFF) ("Homerun" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the status of its previously announced $6,000,000 proposed financing with a single institutional investor (the "Offering"). Since announcing the Offering, the Company and the institutional investor have been engaged in an ongoing financing review process with the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") regarding the structure and documentation of the transaction. Over the past several months, the Company has held detailed discussions with the TSXV to address the unique elements of the Offering, as it is the first of its kind on the TSXV. The Company believes that it is nearing the conclusion of this review and expects to receive TSXV approval for the Offering structure in the near term. A further news release will be issued upon receipt of conditional approval from the TSXV and with additional details regarding the closing process. Brian Leeners, CEO of Homerun Resources stated, "This is a first of its kind financing on the TSXV. Approval of this innovative financing structure positions Homerun as the pioneer of new capital solutions on the TSXV and facilitates future growth and enhanced shareholder value. The level of interest for both our current financings from sophisticated professional investors further validates our business strategy and enables Homerun to accelerate Company development and achieve major operational and asset milestones and ties in with our announced plan to pursue a listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange." The Company also reports, that further to its September 8, 2025 news release, the Company has several large subscribers for its $3 million, $1.00 unit private placement that have requested that the closing of the $6,000,000 institutional financing be a precedent and so the Company has requested and received approval from the TSXV to extend the closing of that financing to October 6, 2025. Both financings are anticipated to close fully subscribed near-term, subject to TSXV approval. About Homerun (www.homerunresources.com) Homerun (TSXV: HMR) is a vertically integrated materials leader revolutionizing green energy solutions through advanced silica technologies. As an emerging force outside of China for high-purity quartz (HPQ) silica innovation, the Company controls the full industrial vertical from raw material extraction to cutting-edge solar, battery and energy storage solutions. Our dual-engine vertical integration strategy combines: Homerun Advanced Materials Utilizing Homerun's robust supply of high purity silica sand and quartz silica materials to facilitate domestic and international sales of processed silica through the development of a 120,000 tpy processing plant. Pioneering zero-waste thermoelectric purification and advanced materials processing technologies with University of California - Davis. Homerun Energy Solutions Building Latin America's first dedicated high-efficiency, 365,000 tpy solar glass manufacturing facility and pioneering new solar technologies based on years of experience as an industry leader in developing photovoltaic technologies with a specialization in perovskite photovoltaics. European leader in the marketing, distribution and sales of alternative energy solutions into the commercial and industrial segments (B2B). Commercializing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Energy Management and Control System Solutions (hardware and software) for energy capture, energy storage and efficient energy use. Partnering with U.S. Dept. of Energy/NREL on the development of the Enduring long-duration energy storage system utilizing the Company's high-purity silica sand for industrial heat and electricity arbitrage and complementary silica purification. With multiple profit centers built within the vertical strategy and all gaining economic advantage utilizing the Company's HPQ silica, across, solar, battery and energy storage solutions, Homerun is positioned to capitalize on high-growth global energy transition markets. The 3-phase development plan has achieved all key milestones in a timely manner, including government partnerships, scalable logistical market access, and breakthrough IP in advanced materials processing and energy solutions. Homerun maintains an uncompromising commitment to ESG principles, deploying the cleanest and most sustainable production technologies across all operations while benefiting the people in the communities where the Company operates. As we advance revenue generation and vertical integration in 2025, the Company continues to deliver shareholder value through strategic execution within the unstoppable global energy transition. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Homerun Resources Inc. "Brian Leeners" FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/267361 Renforth Resources Inc. (CSE: RFR) (OTC: RFHRF) (FSE: 9RR) ("Renforth" or the "Company"), is pleased to advise shareholders that Renforth will have a booth at the Munich Mining Conference, October 3rd and 4th, and presenting to conference attendees on October 4th at 10am local time. The conference has 109 companies attending and more than 1,000 individual investors registered to attend. If you are in attendance, please stop by booth #11 and say hello. Renforth's recent efforts have been directed towards advancing our maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Victoria mineralized system where we are working to declare a maiden nickel polymetallic resource over the ~2.5km of strike we have drilled within the ~20km long Victoria structure. As previously stated, the release of this estimate is anticipated in the fall. In addition, we have obtained new detailed geophysical data covering an area just east of our Beaupre discovery on our Malartic Metals Package property, as well as a portion of our Parbec gold deposit, covering the northwestern part of the property. This data covers nearly half of the Cadillac Break within the property, and importantly, the Pontiac sediments to the south of the Break, which incorporate the Diorite splay and our permitted stripping location. Renforth obtained this data as we allowed our neighbor to fly over our ground, simplifying their survey work, in exchange for the information at no cost. This new data is being integrated into our project data and evaluated. The technical contents of this press release have been reviewed and approved by Francis Newton P.Geo OGQ, a "qualified person" pursuant to the requirements set out in NI 43-101. Follow Renforth on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram! No securities regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and information under applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may," "will," "plan," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend" and similar words referring to future events and results. Such statements and information are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, the risks of obtaining necessary approvals, licenses and permits and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in the Company's securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and the reader is cautioned against placing undue reliance thereon. Forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is provided, and the Company assumes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law. Company Contact: Renforth Resources Inc. Nicole Brewster President and Chief Executive Officer 416-818-1393 Nicole@RenforthResources.com #Unit 1B - 955 Brock Road, Pickering ON L1W 2X9 Mineros S.A. (TSX:MSA, MINEROS:CB) ("Mineros" or the "Company"), a leading gold producer in Latin America, is pleased to announce it has completed the acquisition of the remaining 80% interest in the La Pepa Project from Pan American Silver Corp. ("Pan American") for approximately US$40 million. Mineros now holds 100% ownership of this advanced gold exploration project. The La Pepa Project is a significant, exploration-stage asset with a substantial estimated Mineral Resource base, located in the Maricunga Gold Belt of the Atacama Region, Chile, approximately 800 km north of Santiago and 110 km east of Copiapo, at 4,200 metres above sea level in the Andes Mountains. The completion of this transaction terminates the joint venture between Mineros and Pan American and gives Mineros full control over the project's development path. "Securing 100% of the La Pepa Project is a transformative step which adds a second organic growth project in addition to our Porvenir Project in Nicaragua. This will anchor our future as we mature into a mid-tier gold producer," stated David Londono, President and CEO of Mineros. "This asset delivers a major gold resource and solidifies our strategic presence in the world-class mining jurisdiction of Chile." ABOUT MINEROS S.A. Mineros is a Latin American gold mining company headquartered in Medellin, Colombia. The Company has a diversified asset base, with mines in Colombia and Nicaragua and a pipeline of development and exploration projects throughout the region including the La Pepa Project in Chile. The board of directors and management of Mineros have extensive experience in mining, corporate development, finance and sustainability. Mineros has a long track record of maximizing shareholder value and delivering solid annual dividends. For almost 50 years Mineros has operated with a focus on safety and sustainability at all its operations. Mineros' common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "MSA", and on the Colombia Stock Exchange under the symbol "MINEROS". This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States or elsewhere. Election of Directors - Electoral Quotient System The Company has been granted an exemption from the individual voting and majority voting requirements applicable to listed issuers under Toronto Stock Exchange policies, on grounds that compliance with such requirements would constitute a breach of Colombian laws and regulations which require the directors to be elected on the basis of a slate of nominees proposed for election pursuant to an electoral quotient system. For further information, please see the Company's most recent annual information form, available on the Company's website at https://www.mineros.com.co/ and from SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking information includes statements that use forward looking terminology such as "may", "could", "would", "will", "should", "intend", "target", "plan", "expect", "budget", "estimate", "forecast", "schedule", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential", "view" or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward looking information includes, without limitation, statements with respect to the La Pepa Project; estimates of Mineral Resources; exploration plans; and mining techniques that may be suitable for the La Pepa Project. Forward looking information is based upon estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this news release. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, the assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, social, economic, political, regulatory, competitive and other risks and uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that could cause actual actions, events, conditions, results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those projected in the forward-looking information. Many assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. For further information of these and other risk factors, please see the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's annual information form dated March 31, 2025, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. The Company cautions that the foregoing lists of important assumptions and factors are not exhaustive. Other events or circumstances could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated or projected and expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking information contained herein. 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as and to the extent required by applicable securities laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250922733086/en/ Contact For further information, please contact: Ann Wilkinson Vice President, Investor Relations +1 (647) 496-3011 Ann.Wilkinson@Mineros.com.co Juan Obando Director, Investor Relations (+57) 574 266 5757 Juan.Obando@mineros.com.co TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2025 - Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH; OTCQB: LTHCF; FSE: H3N) ("Lithium Ionic" or the "Company") announces a non-brokered private placement financing of 14,285,714 units (the "Units") at $0.70 per Unit for gross proceeds of $10,000,000 (the "Offering"). The Offering is backed by Martin Rowley, a recognized leader in the lithium industry and a proven builder of multi-billion-dollar mining companies, members of RTEK International DMCC ("RTEK"), an experienced team of lithium veterans recognized for successfully designing and developing projects worldwide, as well as key strategic shareholders. This support provides a strong endorsement of Lithium Ionic's growth strategy as it advances towards becoming a near-term lithium producer in Brazil's "Lithium Valley." Mr. Rowley brings more than four decades of experience financing and building global mining companies. He co-founded First Quantum Minerals, helping transform it into one of the world's leading copper producers, and later served as Chairman of Galaxy Resources, Orocobre Ltd., and Allkem Ltd., where he played an integral role in shaping some of the most prominent names in the lithium industry. His career has been defined by guiding companies from early-stage development into globally significant producers, with a proven track record of creating value and supporting the successful transition of projects into long-life operations. He is currently non-executive chair and director of Forsys Metals, a Toronto Stock Exchange-listed company in the uranium sector. RTEK, which has been engaged as strategic advisors to Lithium Ionic since April 2025, is led by an internationally recognized team of lithium veterans with more than 80 years of combined experience across geology, metallurgy, process design, mine development, marketing, and corporate development. The group's leadership includes Brian Talbot, Nicholas Rowley, Noel O'Brien, and Rodrigo Roso, who have advanced multiple successful lithium projects worldwide, including Sigma Lithium's Grota do Cirilo Project in Brazil. Their direct participation in the Offering further validates the quality of the Bandeira Project and their confidence in its potential to become one of Brazil's next high-impact lithium operations. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.90 per Common Share for a period of 24 months following the completion of the Offering. Securities issued under the Offering are expected to carry a hold period of 4 months and one day from the date of issue as may be required under applicable securities laws. The Company plans to use the aggregate net proceeds of the Offering for exploration and development of its Brazilian properties and general corporate purposes. The Offering is scheduled to close on or about September 29, 2025, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). The securities being offered have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities in the United States. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Lithium Ionic Corp. Blake Hylands Chief Executive Officer, Director About Lithium Ionic Corp. Lithium Ionic is a Canadian mining company exploring and developing its lithium properties in Brazil. Its flagship Itinga and Salinas projects cover 14,668 hectares in the northeastern part of Minas Gerais state, a mining-friendly jurisdiction that is quickly emerging as a world-class hard-rock lithium district. The Itinga Project is situated in the same region as CBL's Cachoeira lithium mine, which has produced lithium for +30 years, as well as Sigma Lithium Corp.'s Grota do Cirilo project, which hosts the largest hard-rock lithium deposit in the Americas. Investor and Media Inquiries: +1 647.316.2500 info@lithiumionic.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the prospectivity and development of the Company's mineral properties, the Offering, the use of proceeds of the Offering and the Company's future plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. 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. Information and links in this press release relating to other mineral resource companies are from their sources believed to be reliable, but that have not been independently verified by the Company. 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 press release. Vancouver, September 22, 2025 - Tana Resources Corp. (CSE: TANA) ("TANA" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Caffary to its board of directors, effective immediately. Mr. Caffary brings over 35 years of experience in driving business growth and operational transformation across a range of industries, including service, industrial manufacturing, and media. He began his career as an apprentice in the print industry and went on to establish and grow his own media company into one of the largest in British Columbia. Throughout his career, Mr. Caffary has demonstrated strong leadership in sales development, operational efficiency, and brand strategy across both product and service-based businesses. His industry background includes wine production, heavy equipment manufacturing, and other high-capital sectors. He is recognized for his ability to develop scalable growth strategies, particularly in underperforming or saturated markets. Vartan Korajian, President and CEO of TANA, commented, "We are very pleased to welcome Mark to the board. His extensive entrepreneurial and operational background, combined with a deep understanding of strategic growth execution, will be invaluable as we advance TANA's corporate and project objectives." "Vartan Korajian" President and CEO Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release." Forward-Looking Statements: Forward Looking Statements: The information in this news release contains forward looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry and to policies linked to pandemics, social and environmental related matters. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding future exploration programs, operation plans, geological interpretations, mineral tenure issues and mineral recovery processes. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Tana Resources disclaims any obligations 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 applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/267469 Dark tunnel now ending for Red Bull says Verstappen Max Verstappen says Red Bull's momentum is definitely returning after securing back-to-back poles at Monza and Baku. Max Verstappen, Azerbaijan GP 2025 Red Bull We learned quite a lot in Monza, and we're carrying that forward, the four-time world champion told Dutch reporters after qualifying. The car is simply more stable, and you can attack the corners with a bit more confidence. You can fine-tune the setup more during the weekend, and then you also have much better reference points in qualifying. Verstappen said the RB21's low-downforce form is promising, but warned the next tests will come at circuits like Singapore. Here, we're still running with very little downforce. So we'll have to wait and see how it goes in Singapore and a few other circuits, where you run with more downforce. For now, he said, the main positive is consistency. It's just positive that I've been feeling pretty good all weekend, said the Dutchman. We don't have to make so many radical changes to the car anymore. That also makes it a bit more pleasant to work with. Verstappen, 27, also praised the atmosphere since Laurent Mekies took over from Christian Horner. "We've had some really great moments together. When you go through difficult times, it's not nice. Now that things are going well again, it's extra nice that you got through those bad times with everyone. The atmosphere is really good, and that's important. It also gives more confidence, and that's important. Then people can see the light at the end of the tunnel, Verstappen said. Asked what he personally did to foster that confidence, the pole-sitter first grinned: Driving laps. He then elaborated: We've had a lot of discussions about how we can adjust things and how we can test things. We've done well. Comparing the situation to earlier struggles in 2020, he added: "That was very different. It's different now with the budget cap. Ultimately, you always have difficult moments. Of course, you sometimes think 'will this ever work out?' On the other hand, there's no point in continuing to think that way. You have to think of solutions, talk to people, and exchange ideas. And for Dr Helmut Marko, Verstappen remains the key ingredient for Red Bull. Max is incredibly valuable, especially in these conditions, he told Sport1 after the incident-strewn and wet and dry qualifying. With him, you can see how, even in the premier class of motorsport, among the best of the best, the wheat is separated from the chaff. (GMM) Verstappen hits out at Pirelli's Baku tyre choice Max Verstappen has blasted Pirelli's choice of the C6 soft for Baku, insisting the compound is "slower from the start of the lap" and "just an inferior tyre". Max Verstappen, Azerbaijan GP 2025 Red Bull That soft tyre is slower from the start of the lap, the four-time world champion said after securing pole on Saturday. It's just an inferior tyre. I'd like to talk to Pirelli sometime, so they can leave that one at home. The Red Bull driver pointed out this isn't just a Baku issue - the softest compound also flopped in Monaco, Imola, Montreal - street circuits and low-wear tracks where it should excel. That tyre didn't really work anywhere, he said, so it's better to leave it at home. Pirelli brought the softest trio for Baku, with C6 returning as soft after being used at Imola, Monaco and Montreal. The move was intended to increase strategy variety beyond a one-stop race on a circuit that traditionally causes low tyre degradation. Still, Verstappen said the soft tyre gives absolutely no references, which undermines setup work and complicates qualifying and race simulations. We don't have to make so many radical changes to the car anymore, he said of the improving 2025 Red Bull, but with that tyre, it's difficult. He added: "It's better to force a two-stop race than to bring a tyre that's no better. It's better to force drivers to use all compounds than to have a tyre that's no faster. They say that tyre is faster, but it isn't. (GMM) MediaTek has announced its newest flagship chipset, the Dimensity 9500. The company claims it sets a new standard in on-device AI, gaming, and power efficiency. The Dimensity 9500 uses the new generation Arm CPU cores with an 'All Big Core' design. It uses a single Arm C1-Ultra core clocked at 4.21GHz, three C1-Premium cores, and four C1-Pro cores for an octa-core design. MediaTek claims this chip has 32% higher single-core and 17% higher multi-core performance than the Dimensity 9400, and the ultra core achieves up to 55% lower power consumption at peak performance. The 9500 is also said to be up to 30% more efficient while multitasking. There is also Armv9.3 support with new SME2 instructions for faster AI perception performance, and ML efficiency. The Dimensity 9500 also has a new 4-channel UFS 4.1 storage support, which claims 100% faster sequential data speeds. The Dimensity 9500 features the new Arm G1-Ultra GPU, which MediaTek claims provides up to 33% higher peak performance and 42% improved power efficiency. It has twice the ray tracing units and promises up to 112% faster ray tracing performance. It has support for up to 120fps ray traced gaming with interpolation. There's also support for Vulkan's ray tracing pipeline as well as UnrealEngine 5's MegaLights and Nanite features. The Dimensity 9500 has MediaTek's ninth-generation NPU 990 with Generative AI Engine 2.0 that claims double the compute power of its predecessor, and introduces BitNet 1.58-bit large model processing with up to 33% reduced power consumption. With double the integer and floating-point computing capabilities, users can expect 100% faster 3 billion parameter LLM output, 128K token long processing, and 4K image generation, with a reduced power consumption of 56% at peak performance. The new Super Efficient NPU features the first of its kind integrated compute-in-memory architecture for reducing power consumption and enabling AI models to run continuously. Dimensity 9500 infographic The new MediaTek Imagiq 1190 ISP in the Dimensity 9500 supports RAW-domain pre-processing of up to 200MP capture with 30fps continuous focus tracking, and new portrait engine with 4K 60fps portrait video. It also supports the latest MiraVision Adaptive Display feature. Finally, the Dimensity 9500 has 10% lower power consumption in 5G and 20% lower in Wi-Fi scenarios, while 5CC carrier aggregation boosts bandwidth by 15%. AI positioning and network selection technologies offer 20% higher accuracy, as well as 50% lower network latency thanks to AI congestion prediction. The MediaTek Dimensity 9500 will compete against the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 on flagship devices. You can expect to see this chip on the upcoming Oppo Find X9 Pro and the Vivo X300 later this year. Source These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Guam remains excluded from the expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, RECA, after the latest proposal earlier this month to revive it as an amendment to the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act failed. RECA is a 1990 statute that provides an apology and monetary compensation for individuals that contracted certain cancers and diseases from radiation exposure but Guam continues to be excluded from the program. Despite this, Guam nonprofit Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors, PARS, led by president Robert Celestial said it will continue to demand for rights and justice. Congress is not listening to us, Celestial said during Saturdays presentation on the RECA program, held at the Guam Museum. Guam survivors of the fallout from nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific and elected local officials have been seeking compensation, through inclusion in the RECA. Celestial said although the avenue to go before Congress is still there, Guam would compete against other states intending to join the program, such as Missouri, Idaho, Colorado, and Montana, should it seek a redress of the bill in court. Its sad that we could go there with the evidence to prove it and still get kicked out, Celestial said. Doesnt make any sense. Im praying that the governor, the legislature, and the delegate can work together and go before Congress and say this is not right. This is not right the way youre treating the people of Guam. During the Sept. 20 presentation, Celestial spoke about the history of radiation exposure and sickness on Guam as a result of 66 nuclear weapons detonated in the Marshall Islands from 1946 to 1963. The case for Guam was initially made in 2004 but 21 years later, Guam is still not part of the RECA. The most recent expansion of the RECA program was approved in July, but when this last expansion bill was introduced, they took Guam out, and then it got passed in the House, Celestial said. Celestial is not only the president of PARS but also a survivor of the nuclear exposure. He was a member of the post-cleanup crew tasked with transferring irradiated soil from 1977 to 1980 at Enewetak Atoll following the detonation of dozens of nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands. He and his team, the rest of whom have passed away, were given no protective gear and all suffered from serious ailments due to radiation exposure. Celestial himself has suffered from bone disease, kidney disease, and heart disease. Sen. Therese Terlaje, who attended Saturdays presentation along with Speaker Frank Blas Jr. and Sens. Chris Barnett and Telo Taitague, said Guams leaders and the island community should all push for the Department of War to resolve both its new impacts on Guam as well as address its past cumulative impacts. The rest of us can also help to push that whenever we have those discussions with the Department of War, Terlaje said. We should ask our government leaders to include this when they calculate impacts of certain actions [and] calculate cumulative impacts, the new impact on top of old impacts. We should keep arguing that we have cumulative impacts still unresolved, not just new ones from new activity but old ones from these old activities. Eligibility for compensation Eligibility for the RECA program has five categories: onsite participants, downwinders, uranium ore transporters, uranium millers, and uranium miners. The National Academy of Science concluded that the people of Guam are downwinders, those who were present on Guam from 1946 to 1962 and have been diagnosed with one of the cancers associated with radiation exposure. Residents of Guam therefore qualify to be included in the RECA by the recommendation of NAS scientists. The nuclear fallout was carried 1,200 miles south to Guam as fine dust particles, and the lingering contaminants continue to place Guam residents at high risk for serious illnesses. Furthermore, the U.S. Navy had full knowledge of these results, yet they did not warn or attempt to help the people of Guam when their vessels were stationed and decontaminated in Hagat and Santa Rita-Sumai, Celestial said. The information was declassified under the Human Radiation Experiments Advisory Committee in 1944, but information relative to Guam was not revealed until the 1990s, at which point Celestial said he sought out Lt. Bert Schreiber, retired Navy, whose sworn affidavit noted Guams radiation exposure due to the nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands. The Senate Judiciary Committee wanted to kick out Guam, Celestial said. We dont have the senator that was able to keep going in, and our congressman at that time was not watching what was going on, and thats why we were excluded. The evidence Celestial and his team presented to Congress proved multiple points and cases of exposure in Guam; however, they were repeatedly turned away, and many of their attempts to expand the coverage to residents affected by the fallout but were not part of the 1944 to 1963 window failed, Celestial said. The committee concluded that the available evidence does not show that the general population of Guam was subjected to unwarranted radiation exposure resulting from the decontamination of Navy vessels in Guams port, Celestial said. What this basically says is that I didnt have the evidence to show that people from Agat, or Santa Rita, or anywhere there were contaminated. Its all over the trees Yigo resident Gloria Atoigue was especially interested in how RECA compensation could include people who worked in exposed premises, such as Naval Magazine Guam in Hagat, after the bills specified time period but still developed sickness. Its all over the trees, Atoigue said. [Once] youre there already, youre exposed regardless. It doesnt matter, [because] the germs and chemicals are there, [and] dont tell me the military sprayed everything. Youre exposed once youre within the premises, so why just that time period? Many factors contributed to Guams exclusion; however, Celestial believes Guams political status, which hinders its ability to have a standing and involvement in Congress, was a main factor. The solution is we need a senator [or] congressman that votes, Celestial said. Whats preventing us from getting those two? If its a political status, then lets change it. All I hear is talk, talk, talk. Action is even better than talking. If they change our political status, if thats what its going to take to get us recognized in Congress, then I think we need to do that. Audits from the Office of Public Accountability identified about $42 million in financial impacts for the government of Guam in 2022 and 2023 alone, an audit status update from the office shows. OPA is tasked with identifying waste, fraud and abuse in government. The latest OPA report states that of about 83 recommendations made in 18 audit reports issued in 2022 and 2023, about 28 remain open. Of the $42 million in financial impacts: $12.8 million were unrealized government revenues that could have been collected, but werent. $19.4 million were questioned costs that were unsupported, unallowable, or otherwise improper. $9.7 million were impacts from high costs or expenditures related to COVID-19, back wages to reinstated Port Authority of Guam employees, and business privilege tax exemptions, among others. Of the $42 million in financial impacts, a full $40.9 million worth of impacts were identified in 2023 reports. The $42 million identified in the 18 reports included the following: $22.5 million in total financial impact resulting from issues with business privilege tax collections, questionable exemptions without sufficient documentation, and lapses in internal controls in relation to BPT on military construction projects. $15.7 million in questioned costs stemming from the use of the government of Guam COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Facilities Utilization Analysis. $2 million in questioned costs pertaining to the procurement of consultant services for a new hospital development by the Guam Economic Development Authority. $640,000 in questioned costs from Guam Department of Educations overtime payments to ineligible employees. $503,000 in total financial impact from lack of documentation leading to the potential overpayment of four reinstated Port employees. $427,000 in total financial impact resulting from overpayments and documentary deficiencies in Coronavirus Relief Fund Expenditures by GEDA. $114,000 in questioned costs pertaining to the management of the Host Community Benefit Fund. $101,000 in total financial impact from Guam Power Authority and Guam Waterworks Authoritys credit card use. $35,000 in total financial impact from the Guam Visitors Bureaus credit card use. According to the report, all three recommendations for the COVID-19 quarantine facilities audit and one recommendation from the GEDA hospital development consultant audit remain open. Open recommendations either are started but incomplete, or have had no action plan or response issued to OPA as of March 2025, according to the report. Our audit reports from...2022 to...2023 identified several internal control issues such as ineffective billing and collection systems, loss of government revenues, deficient control procedures over non-appropriated funds, and lack of monitoring and oversight over government programs, i.e., non-productive and special payroll payments and procurement procedures, and made recommendations to correct these deficiencies, according to the OPA report. According to OPA, the office identified financial impacts totaling just over $1 billion in a total of 206 different reports issued between 2001 and 2021. GovGuam agencies are periodically sent reminders and follow up letters about recommendations made in audits, the report states. It recommends that management recognize the importance and benefits of effective checks and balances, have a more proactive approach to audits, and that elected officials encourage implementation through effective oversight. Sen. Will Parkinson's second community town hall on Guam's political status future is set for 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Mongmong-Toto-Maite Community Center. The Sept. 24 town hall will provide residents the opportunity to discuss Resolution 29-38 which, if adopted, would express the Legislature's support for a full examination of statehood or enhanced autonomous status for Guam. "Guam has been an unincorporated territory of the United States since 1898, yet we remain without the full political rights and representation enjoyed by our fellow U.S. citizens," Parkinson said in a statement. As the Indo-Pacific becomes the central stage for global competition, it is more important than ever that the people of Guam define our political future. We cannot allow decisions about our destiny to be made without us. This is about securing equality, strengthening our economic footing, and ensuring our children inherit a Guam where their voices truly count. The first town hall was on Sept. 10 in Yigo, where residents shared views on independence, statehood and free association options, along with the idea of reunification with the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Parkinson, in a release, said the conversation on Guams status is not only a local issue but a strategic and geopolitical one. "The world is watching the Pacific. Guam sits at the center of U.S. defense strategy in the region, yet our people remain on the margins of American democracy," he said. "We deserve the rights, respect, and resources that come with full political equality." The senator encouraged broad participation from the community, noting that the town hall is designed to give residents the chance to voice their hopes, concerns, and ideas. "This is your opportunity to be heard, Parkinson added. "The path forward must be shaped by the people of Guam, not imposed upon us. I invite everyone to join this important conversation and help guide the course of our islands future." For decades, the Guam Memorial Hospital has been described as being in a failed state. Year after year, weve heard the same debates: Do we need a new building? Do we need new management? Do we need more federal intervention? The truth is, while those conversations matter, they do not address the root cause of Guams health care crisis. When I served in the Guam Legislature, I studied this issue thoroughly. Yes, our facility needed modernization. Yes, stronger management was essential. I even proposed entering into a public-private partnership, PPP. But beyond the walls of GMH, the deeper problem has always been the lack of primary care access and preventive services for our people. The uninsured gap Here is the reality: Thousands of working-class families on Guam live without health insurance. Many earn just a few dollars above the Medicaid or MIP poverty thresholds, excluding them from public coverage. At the same time, they cannot afford the private health insurance plans offered by their employers, if their employers even offer coverage at all. The result? A large portion of our population is forced to gamble that they will never need care. But we all know the day comes when every person needs to see a doctor. For too many of our residents, that first visit happens in the emergency room, for illnesses that could have been prevented or managed earlier through primary care. This is not just inefficient; it is dangerous. And it is expensive. A tale of two realities Just last week, at a medical town hall in Dededo, panelists reminded the public of the importance of staying consistent with medications, follow-ups, and preventive visits. They are right: for those fortunate enough to have Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance, making a quarterly doctors visit and staying on medication can be realistic. But what about the thousands of men, women, and children on Guam who dont have that luxury? The line cooks, hotel housekeepers, bartenders, waitresses, retail clerks, real estate agents, small business owners, the backbone of our island economy, who earn pennies over the Medicaid threshold, or who are offered partial health coverage at work but cannot afford their share of the premiums? For them, remembering to take blood pressure medication or scheduling a three-month follow-up is not just a matter of health education, its a matter of survival economics. When you cannot afford the first doctors visit, you dont get a prescription. When you dont have insurance, you dont get preventive labs, cancer screenings, or prenatal care. The system we have today is leaving these families behind. The real solution: Universal coverage Thats why the best investment our leaders can make is not just in bricks, mortar, or management contracts. It is in ensuring that every man, woman, and child on this island has basic health insurance coverage. Imagine the ripple effect: Thousands of residents would finally have access to annual checkups, preventive care, and wellness services. Expectant mothers would receive the prenatal care they need, helping us finally reverse Guams heartbreaking status as the highest in the nation for infant mortality. Our people would gain access to life-saving cancer screenings, an especially urgent need given Guams high rates of preventable cancers. Families would be empowered to take responsibility for their health instead of waiting until crisis forces them into an emergency room visit. With a stable, insured patient base, Guam could finally attract and retain the medical professionals and specialties we desperately lack. Not a new idea, a delayed one These are not new ideas. When I chaired the GMH Task Force, my office issued a comprehensive report in 2017 recommending expanded health coverage, a new facility, and a PPP pathway. Some of these recommendations were codified into law: In 2017, I authored Bill 132-34, enacted as Public Law 34-59, to begin expanding access to health insurance coverage. In 2016, I authored Bill 277-33, enacted as Public Law 33-143, which authorized the PPP process for GMH and initiated a request for information from qualified operators to transition GMH into a PPP model. This resulted in the issuance of a request for interest, RFI, by the Guam Economic Development Authority, and the subsequent report made clear that there was serious interest from reputable health care operators in pursuing this model for Guam. Yet in 2025, we find ourselves still circling the same debates, with too little collective progress toward systemic change. Filling the gaps, but its not enough Nonprofit providers like the Todu Guam Foundation cannot sit back and watch this crisis worsen. While we receive limited grant funding for very specific purposes, such as cancer screening and prevention programs, our health and wellness center does not receive government funding to support its day-to-day operations. Still, we work daily to fill the gaps: providing uninsured residents their first doctor visits, offering immunizations, and ensuring mothers receive urgent prenatal care. But these efforts alone cannot solve a systemic problem. With greater support, whether through expanded insurance coverage, government investment, or sustainable partnerships, our ability to serve would multiply. Imagine how many more families could be reached, how many more preventable illnesses could be caught early, and how many lives could be transformed if the system itself worked to close these gaps instead of leaving them to charity. A call to action This shift is not impossible, it is urgent. Guam needs a true managed-care Medicaid and MIP program, paired with a mandate for universal basic health coverage. We already spend millions of dollars each year on sick care. Redirecting and restructuring those resources into preventive coverage would transform our system from one that perpetuates the crisis into one that builds long-term health. The evidence is clear: when people have access to primary and preventive care, including cancer screenings, emergency room visits decline, costs go down, outcomes improve, and communities grow healthier. That is the future Guam deserves. Solving this will require government leadership working collaboratively, but also the continued commitment of nonprofits, health care providers, the private sector, and the community. Only together can we build a health care system that works for everyone on Guam, not just the fortunate few. PS: I have no intention of seeking elected office. I raise this only with the hope and prayer that our leaders will consider this perspective in shaping solutions for our island. Haiti - FAdH : Deep gratitude to Mexico (words from the Minister) As part of the military cooperation agreement signed between Haiti and Mexico, 143 Haitian soldiers (128 men and 15 women) successfully completed their basic military training at the Regional Individual Combat Training Center, located in San Miguel de Los Jagueyes, north of Mexico City. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45812-haiti-flash-a-first-contingent-of-fad-h-soldiers-has-completed-its-training-in-mexico-video.html The Ministry of Defense expressed its deep gratitude to the Mexican government for its unwavering support and concrete commitment to strengthening Haitian military capabilities. Based on the principles of solidarity, mutual respect, and cooperation, this collaboration represents an essential pillar in the reconstruction efforts of the Haitian Armed Forces. "We thank our partner, Mexico, for demonstrating to the world that it is truly a good friend of Haiti. I lack the words to express my feelings and deep gratitude to Mexico for everything it has done for us in the fight against the scourge of banditry [] That's what friends are for. Thank you very much," declared Jean-Michel Moise, Minister of Defense. "An impeccable soldier is a well-organized, competent, disciplined, and ready-to-act soldier who embodies professionalism in their appearance, equipment, and performance. This mindset requires constant personal and professional maintenance and involves maintaining a well-ordered life in order to effectively meet demands and contribute positively to the team [...] [...] The soldier is always present and ready to intervene. The Army's core values reflect the importance placed on the mindset of readiness and on readiness itself, which involves training, discipline, and commitment to accomplishing the mission. A soldier never abandons a mission. [...] [...] Obedience to orders is fundamental to military discipline, organization, and mission success. The army requires its members to obey all legitimate orders. Refusal to obey a legitimate order carries serious consequences." "I sincerely hope that all Haitians understand what the great country of Mexico is doing for us right now by agreeing to train 700 FAdH recruits to end the insecurity crisis we have been facing for too long. This is very important to me personally," he concluded. Class by class, we will build our armed forces. A more powerful, more patriotic, more disciplined, more lethal, more advanced army, proud soldiers, ready to defend our homeland and our people [...]" HL/ S / HaitiLibre Haiti - Diaspora : Tribute to Jean-Jacques Dessalines at the Haitian Consulate in Montreal On September 19, 2025, the Consulate of Haiti in Montreal, under the leadership of Consul General Anes Lubin, held a ceremony to mark the 267th anniversary of the birth of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Founding Father of the Haitian Nation, born on September 20, 1758, in Grande-Riviere-du-Nord. This celebration was attended by Anthony Dessources, Ambassador of Haiti to Canada, as well as numerous political figures, academics, community members, and members of the diaspora. In an atmosphere of reverence and national pride, Ambassador Denis delivered a lecture entitled "Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Architect of Haitian Independence, or a Shattered Hope." He highlighted the unique destiny of Dessalines, an emblematic figure of freedom, who led the troops of the Indigenous Army to victory against the Napoleonic army, before proclaiming, on January 1st, 1804, the independence of Haiti, the first free Black State in the modern world. Emperor under the name of Jacques I, Dessalines undertook to build a sovereign and equitable society before being assassinated on October 17, 1806, in Pont-Rouge (north of Port-au-Prince). This tragedy brought an premature end to an ambitious national project and left deep fractures in our collective history. His legacy extends far beyond Haiti. He inspired liberation struggles across the Americas, notably that of Simon Bolivar, who found invaluable support in his fight in Haiti. Ambassador Denis launched a call for national revival : "If Dessalines returned today, he would weep tears of blood at the fate reserved for his legacy. It is up to us to find the path to unity, justice, and dignity." See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45821-haiti-history-267th-anniversary-of-the-birth-of-jean-jacques-dessalines.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : Minister Jean Jean will bring the voice of Haitian women to global decision-making spaces Pedrica Saint Jean, Minister for the Status of Women, is part of the official delegation representing Haiti at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45825-haiti-news-zapping.html In view of the commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of Beijing+30, Minister Saint Jean, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, will officially represent Haiti in New York, discussing priorities related to the 2030 Agenda, in which the United Nations proposes to Member States a set of objectives to be achieved by 2030, in line with the Beijing Platform for Action, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the recommendations of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69). The Minister will bring the voice of Haitian women to global decision-making forums, highlighting national progress in gender equality. She will participate in strategic meetings to strengthen partnerships and mobilize support for the advancement of women. Through this mission, Haiti will reaffirm its commitment to an inclusive future, where every woman and girl can fully exercise their rights. HL/ HaitiLibre The debate surrounding the use of Palantir software in police work is dividing politicians, authorities, and civil society. While some federal states such as Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Wurttemberg are backing the US solution, others are vehemently calling for independent alternatives. Lower Saxony's Interior Minister Daniela Behrens recently put it in a nutshell: Palantir is "unmanageable" and therefore not an option. In an interview with heise online, legal scholar Dr. Jonas Botta also warns of far-reaching constitutional and data protection problems with the use of Palantir software. "The state should be able to penetrate the system technically and in terms of content even if business secrets are involved. This is the only way it can monitor whether fundamental rights are being observed. But this is precisely the problem with Palantir", said Botta. Strict legal foundations, independent monitoring and seriously examined European offers are required. Continue after ad In fact, resolutions by the Federal Council, applications by the federal states, and the position of data protection officers have documented a clear interest in alternatives for years. However, while the police unions consider Palantir to be "without alternative", German providers are increasingly emerging from the shadows with solutions that aim to impress in terms of functionality, data sovereignty and legal compliance. Critics therefore accuse the German government of deliberately ignoring alternatives. Support for Palantir comes from the CDU/CSU, for example. Former Federal Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt recently told Stern magazine: "I don't have any reservations about software just because it comes from Palantir. What matters to me is that we can solve crimes and prevent further ones. This software is already doing a good job in some federal states. The state interior ministers confirm this to me." Political front lines At least seven federal states including Lower Saxony, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Rhineland-Palatinate have actively spoken out against the use of Palantir. On the other side is primarily Bavaria, which uses Palantir's software as a "cross-procedural research and analysis platform" (VeRA) and promotes its nationwide use. At the end of July, the Society for Civil Liberties lodged a constitutional complaint against "systematic police data analysis in Bavaria", which allows the police to carry out "data mining". There are contradictions at federal level: the Ministry of the Interior is looking into wider use, but emphasizes that the market has hardly been systematically explored to date. Critics therefore accuse the federal government of deliberately ignoring alternatives. The selection of German analytics platforms such as NasA, Bardioc, One Data and Yoonite is largely determined by two key requirements: digital sovereignty and compliance with the requirements of the Federal Constitutional Court (BVerfG). The BVerfG ruling of 2023 sets strict fundamental rights standards for police data analysis. Tenders and product development must take these principles into account. Digital sovereignty as a selection criterion Continue after ad Digital sovereignty means that open standards, transparency, and the ability to audit source code allow a system change if necessary and strengthen the independence of the police and administration. The complete development and control lies with German or European providers this avoids functionalities or backdoors forced from outside. German products store all data exclusively in Germany or the EU, thus avoiding access by foreign authorities and legislators such as the US CLOUD Act. Read also German government: Germany is dependent on US companies in technology sectors The nationwide use of Palantir has not been legally clarified in Germany, and calls for alternatives are growing. Several providers are advertising digitally sovereign alternatives to the US software. Bardioc The Bardioc platform from Almato AG, which belongs to Datagroup, sees itself as a semantic database for applications, similar to Palantir. According to the manufacturer, it is highly scalable up to 100 petabytes , "neartime-capable" and has its own ontology. Together with partners such as Disy Informationssysteme GmbH from Karlsruhe, Bardioc offers specialized applications for security authorities through to map-based analyses and reports. According to Bardioc, a reasoning engine enables complex reasoning and AI-supported knowledge processes. Authorities should thus be able to develop customized applications that can be used without in-depth IT training. Bardioc can provide the semantic database for applications, while Disy provides specialist applications, analysis tools and location intelligence based on semantic data "that are already in use at numerous security authorities". Police officers, for example, can use dedicated "specific applications" that "can be used for a very specific purpose [...] and can be operated without any training or programming knowledge", says a company spokesperson when asked by heise online. According to the company, various customers are currently using "the Bardioc platform in Germany and abroad" with different use cases. "In addition to previous successful projects in the government environment", the company is also working for a federal ministry and with other authorities, for example in Baden-Wurttemberg. In response to criticism that Palantir alternatives are not ready for use, the company explains: "Palantir was strategically developed and financed by US security authorities over decades". Investments in Palantir alternatives have not yet been made for various reasons. "However, there are successfully established and very competitive pieces of Palantir technology in Germany as well," said the spokesperson. One Data One Data is also presenting itself as a serious Palantir alternative. According to the company, talks have already taken place with the Federal Ministry of the Interior. According to founder Andreas Bohm, the platform was designed in such a way that different sources can be connected from police IT systems to specialist applications and registers. "In contrast to monolithic platforms, we rely on open standards, interfaces (APIs) and modular integration," promises Bohm. Authorities retain full data sovereignty at all times and can dock on flexibly for federal or cross-state collaboration thanks to interoperability. A "Spark Engine" is used for "high-performance data analysis". This enables One Data to process and analyze millions of data records in near real time, which would be comparable to the capabilities of Palantir. The company works closely with its customers to ensure a good user experience. According to Bohm, thanks to self-developed components such as "Link AI", it is possible to reliably merge data sets that are difficult to combine. "With integrated machine learning processes, we enable pattern recognition across a large amount of data in a high-performance manner, which makes it possible to quickly recognize correlations," promises Bohm. One Data is developed and operated entirely in Germany, enables on-premise installations and, according to One Data, meets the highest data protection and security standards. NasA The "NasA" project, National Sovereign Analytics Platform, developed by the consortium around Secunet, demonstrated the fundamental feasibility of a German analytics platform, but was not pursued further due to a lack of start-up funding. Secunet CTO Kai Martius emphasizes that German solutions score particularly well in terms of transparency, data sovereignty and compliance. Especially considering constitutional requirements such as the ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court from 2023 , a European solution is more realistic and more secure in the long term. Aspects such as "data security, sovereign technology, practical operation, a truly secure access service, an audit-proof log-in, strict data separation, workflow management and a sovereign operating platform" are important. Secunet is therefore confident that it can develop a solid alternative to the US offer in consortia of German companies. Initial talks on resuming the project are underway, as interest has recently increased once again. As long as there are no "clear commitments" from politicians, the industry's willingness to invest is low. "And on the other hand, the supposed lack of suitable sovereign solutions then drives politicians towards US solutions. This vicious circle must be broken," demands Martius. What is needed are "at least purchase guarantees as in the defense industry, as this is also a niche market". Secunet is ready to get involved again "and is currently holding initial talks with potential partners". Also asked about the criticism of Palantir alternatives, Martius says: "Not everything that US companies offer is required or even permitted in this country. Conversely, there are also points where German providers are ahead just think of transparency, data sovereignty and compliance". According to Martius, the situation is comparable to that in the cloud environment. While US-based market players have economies of scale on their side, European providers are focusing on the sovereignty and security of their offerings. Yoonite Yoonite from FSZ GmbH in Metzingen can be implemented in state police forces within a few months, says the manufacturer. The software brings together structured and unstructured data in a standardized information network and allows flexible extensions via a "MetaModel". According to FSZ GmbH, unstructured data such as emails, documents, social media posts, images, videos, audio files, scans, PDFs and presentations are stored as objects in object classes such as Document, Chat, Image and others. "These object classes can establish relationships with all other object classes and are therefore an integral part of the entire information network and are ultimately no different from structured data," says a spokesperson for the company. As objects, their properties, and relationships can be adapted and extended at any time, any new data sources can be connected quickly. According to the company, "forms, overviews, diagrams, dependency/relationship graphs, representations in geographical maps, reports" and the like can be implemented "in the shortest possible time and optimized for the respective technical requirements". Information processing and data transformation (schematic diagram) (Image: FSZ GmbH) According to Yoonite, special emphasis is placed on transparency (complete historization of every data change) and data sovereignty. Accordingly, FSZ GmbH promises that all customers retain full control, including over operations. There is already interest from police authorities in individual federal states. There are contacts with state police forces, but concrete pilot projects depend on political decisions and tenders. However, it should be noted that the "specific requirements, also regarding the legal framework, have not yet been defined, and it is therefore premature to look at specific products". It will therefore only be possible for all alternatives to move forward once clear legal requirements have been established. 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. Plans for the first OpenAI hardware products are taking shape, and with them the search for suitable personnel and suppliers. There are already defectors from both categories. According to the news portal The Information, one of the products that OpenAI has discussed manufacturing with suppliers resembles a smart speaker without a display. OpenAI has also considered developing glasses, a digital dictation device, and a wearable pin, and plans to launch the first devices in late 2026 or early 2027. Continue after ad Luxshare, a Chinese manufacturer of electrical components, has already secured a contract to assemble at least one OpenAI device, according to sources at The Information. Luxshare also builds iPhones and AirPods. OpenAI has also approached Goertek, which builds AirPods, HomePods, and Apple Watches on behalf of Apple. Goertek could supply OpenAI with components such as speaker modules in the future. Reaching out to Apple employees But OpenAI needs to secure not only suppliers, but also important expertise on the job market to make the leap into the hardware market. This is already happening. To track job changes from Apple staff to OpenAI, The Information portal analyzed LinkedIn profiles and spoke to people from the Apple environment. According to the report, more than two dozen Apple employees who formerly worked in consumer hardware were hired this year. Last year, the figure was around 10 employees, and in 2023 "virtually none," according to The Information. These new employees include hardware engineers and designers who were responsible for user interfaces, wearables, cameras, and audio technology at Apple, among other things. For many Apple employees, a move to OpenAI is financially attractive. In the past, the company has offered Apple employees stock packages worth over a million euros, according to The Information. But there is another reason: many Apple employees in the relevant areas are said to be increasingly frustrated by excessive bureaucracy at their current employer. Apple also produced the founders of io Products, a start-up that OpenAI bought in May: Jony Ive and Tang Tan had previously worked at Apple for decades, and Tang is now OpenAI's Chief Hardware Officer. Many former colleagues see a move to OpenAI as an opportunity to work with their old colleagues again. Ive most recently served as Apple's head of design. He is considered one of the most influential product designers in tech history. Continue after ad (nen) Don't miss any news follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication. The operation, titled Protective Fence 25, will run until Friday. It includes 30 Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighters, Swedish JAS 39 Gripen jets, Hawk jet trainers, helicopters from the Finnish Army, and Hercules transport planes from both Sweden and Denmark. The Finnish Air Force began its largest air exercise of the autumn on Monday, deploying 50 aircraft and 1,200 military personnel across the country in coordination with Swedish and Danish forces. Flights are concentrated over a wide area stretching from Rovaniemi to Vaasa and including the skies above Kajaani, Kuopio and Jyvaskyla. In addition, cross-border operations extend into Swedish airspace over the Gulf of Bothnia. Aircraft are also operating from airfields in Oulu, Vaasa, and Kokkola-Pietarsaari, as well as from Kallax airbase in Lulea, Sweden. Colonel Vesa Mantyla, who leads the exercise, said the objective is to strengthen national air defence readiness and the Finnish Air Forces ability to conduct large-scale aerial operations from dispersed locations. The scenario reflects Finlands current wartime operating doctrine, focusing on high tempo and flexible responses under pressure. The drills include both low-level flight and supersonic operations. Supersonic flights will take place above 10,000 metres and are confined to areas over land. The Air Force has warned of increased aircraft noise and possible sightings of flares or chaff released by aircraft self-protection systems. These countermeasures may produce bright flashes in the sky or interfere with weather radar systems. All flight activity is scheduled to end each evening by 23:00 local time. The Finnish Meteorological Institute has also issued guidance on recognising false radar reflections caused by chaff, which consists of small strips of metal used to confuse enemy radar. The Finnish Defence Forces have described the exercise as a routine but essential part of peacetime training, ensuring joint operational capability with NATO partners. Units from Sweden and Denmark are participating under the broader framework of regional defence cooperation. Air defence and electronic warfare units from the Finnish Army are also supporting the drill. Their involvement includes testing joint command structures and integrating multi-branch capabilities in scenarios involving simulated enemy air attacks. Residents in affected areas have been advised that temporary increases in air traffic, noise, and unusual light phenomena are expected throughout the week. HT The building belongs to the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY), which has faced serious financial problems. The unions business operations are managed by its subsidiary, Ylva. In recent months, Ylva sold its Lyyra city block in Hakaniemi to a Swedish property investment company. Several Finland-Swedish foundations are considering the purchase of the Old Student House in central Helsinki, according to Hufvudstadsbladet . The Old Student House, known locally as Vanha ylioppilastalo, is located near the Helsinki Railway Station. Built in 1870, it has served as a key venue for university events and student activities. Concerns have grown among cultural and educational circles that the building could fall into foreign ownership and be repurposed away from student and cultural uses. According to HBL, Finland-Swedish foundations including Tre Smeder, Svenska kulturfonden, and Svenska litteratursallskapet are involved in ongoing discussions. These groups reportedly want to ensure that the buildings current use continues, especially for student-related activities. The foundations are opposed to the building being converted by what they described as a foreign property fund. Unofficial information shared with HBL indicates the possibility of establishing a new foundation that would pool resources from multiple Finland-Swedish actors. This entity would then jointly own the building along with the City of Helsinki and the Finnish state. The foundations named in the article have not officially confirmed any of the reported plans. Ralf Asplund, chair of the Helsingestiftelsen foundation, did acknowledge informal discussions on the matter. He told HBL that Helsingestiftelsen had been part of preliminary talks about acquiring the Old Student House. Asplund noted, however, that justifying such an investment would be difficult, as the foundations core operations are focused in the city of Vantaa, not Helsinki. Petra Pulli, chair of HYY, declined to comment on any potential property sales. No formal statements have been made by the City of Helsinki or state representatives concerning their involvement in a possible joint ownership structure. HT France joins the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Andorra, San Marino, and Malta in a coordinated move to endorse Palestinian statehood. These recognitions follow years of stalling within the Western bloc and come amid widespread international concern over Israels ongoing war in Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron has formally recognised the State of Palestine during a joint conference with Saudi Arabia at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. More than 147 of the UNs 193 member states now recognise Palestine. The United States, Israel, Germany, and Italy remain opposed. In a televised interview ahead of the announcement, Macron said that recognition was the only way to provide a political solution to a situation which has to stop. Speaking to CBS, he added that the decision was part of a broader three-phase proposal that includes a ceasefire and the release of hostages, followed by negotiations on a two-state framework. He said Israels continued military action in Gaza had failed to eliminate Hamas, stating that around 25,000 Hamas fighters existed at the beginning of the war and that Israeli forces had killed approximately half, yet the group had since recruited an equal number. Simply killing as many Hamas members as possible cannot be the only solution, he said. The move has drawn harsh criticism from Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by stating that recognition of a Palestinian state was a huge reward to terrorism. In a video message, he repeated that there will be no Palestinian state, and vowed to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The Israeli government continues to reject a two-state framework, insisting that any final settlement must come through direct negotiations. Netanyahu also stated that Israel would respond to these diplomatic moves after his visit to the UN this week. France has not announced plans to establish an embassy in Palestine, with Macron stating that no diplomatic mission would be opened until all Israeli hostages are released by Hamas. At the same UN event, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas appeared via video link. He called the coordinated recognitions a necessary step to restore a pathway to peace, and reiterated support for a demilitarised Palestinian state under the Palestinian Authority. The United States has strongly criticised the recognitions. A State Department spokesperson described them as performative and not conducive to real progress. Former President Donald Trump, who is currently campaigning for re-election, also rejected the recognitions and continues to support Israels actions in Gaza. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Frances move reckless. In response, Macron said such criticism was excessive, and added that Frances aim was to contribute to a comprehensive peace plan. On the ground, Israeli military activity in Gaza continues. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports over 65,000 deaths since October 2023. Hospitals say at least 50 people were killed on Sunday alone, mostly in Gaza City. The Israeli army has ordered evacuations of several hospitals, including the Jordanian Hospital in Tal al-Hawa, which currently houses over 300 patients. Gaza residents report extensive destruction, with entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble and limited access to food or medical supplies. The United Nations has declared a famine in the enclave, citing systematic obstruction of aid. In the occupied West Bank, settler violence has continued. Villagers in Al-Mughayyir report daily attacks, destruction of olive groves, and military raids. Recognition of statehood has not resulted in any decrease in violence in the area. In Europe, public demonstrations have intensified. Pro-Palestinian protests took place across Italy, including strikes and blockades of ports in Genoa and Livorno. Unions have demanded sanctions against Israel. In Rome, hundreds of high school students marched with Palestinian flags, chanting for an end to the war. In Paris, projections of both Palestinian and Israeli flags lit up the Eiffel Tower on Sunday evening. Some mayors defied government orders by flying the Palestinian flag on public buildings. Other Western nations responded cautiously. Germany reiterated its position that Palestinian recognition must come at the end of a negotiated process. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin remained committed to a two-state solution, but would not take unilateral steps. In Denmark, Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen signalled a potential policy shift. Speaking from New York, he said Israels actions in Gaza and its rejection of a two-state solution had pushed the timeline for negotiations into the distant future. He added that Denmark would now consider recognition on its own terms, placing the decision in Palestinian hands. The Palestinian diplomatic mission in London held a ceremony following the UKs announcement. Ambassador Husam Zomlot said the decision was long overdue and an acknowledgement that Palestine has always been a land with a people. In Gaza, displaced residents said that symbolic gestures were not enough. Recognition is important and positive, but it will be meaningless without stopping the fighting, said one resident, speaking to international media. Despite the recognitions, the war in Gaza shows no sign of ending. Israeli forces have reinforced positions along all fronts during the Jewish New Year, amid fears of further attacks. Aid agencies report worsening humanitarian conditions. The summit in New York was jointly hosted by Macron and Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who addressed the conference remotely. The event comes ahead of the opening session of the UN General Assembly, where more countries are expected to issue statements regarding Palestinian statehood. Full UN membership for Palestine remains blocked by the United States, which holds veto power at the Security Council. Recognition by France marks a departure from previous Western alignment and signals growing division among global powers. At present, more than 145 countries recognise Palestine, including China and Russia. With France now added to that list, the United States stands increasingly isolated within the permanent members of the Security Council. HT The incident took place early on Saturday when the man, armed with two knives, attacked a female receptionist at a residential building. Surveillance footage showed him brandishing the weapons before grabbing the woman by the neck and stabbing her. She sustained serious injuries. A 47-year-old Finnish man has been arrested in Cambodia after stabbing two people in the capital Phnom Penh, according to local media reports. The confrontation began after the receptionist refused to lend the man money to pay for a tuk-tuk ride. When security guards tried to intervene, the man allegedly attacked them as well. Video recordings appeared to show him striking another man who then held his head in pain. Local reports say the suspect also attempted to assault guards who tried to stop him. Military police, alerted through emergency calls, arrived equipped with helmets and shields before detaining him. He was taken to the criminal investigation unit for further questioning. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs told Iltalehti it was aware of reports in international media but declined to comment on an individual case. The first reports of the attack were published by Iltalehti in Finland. HT 'Iryna's Law' targets 'woke, weak-on-crime policies,' GOP leaders say Republican leaders of the N.C. Legislature on Sunday rolled out a package of criminal justice reforms that they say will outlaw "woke, weak-on-crime policies (that) contributed to the senseless murder of Iryna Zarutska on Aug. 22 in Charlotte." Related Stories "Iryna should still be alive. She should be thriving and enjoying time with her family and friends," Senate Leader Phil Berger said. "We cannot let North Carolina be held hostage by woke, weak-on-crime policies and court officials who prioritize criminals over justice for victims. We are also taking steps to revive the death penalty for those who commit the most heinous crimes." "North Carolinians deserve to live in safe communities without fear of violent criminals being cycled in and out of the justice system," House Speaker Destin Hall said. "This legislation eliminates dangerous cashless bail policies, holds magistrates accountable, sets a new standard requiring judicial officials to order mental health evaluations and, when necessary, involuntary commitment. We will simply not tolerate policies that allow violent offenders back onto our streets to commit more crimes and jeopardize public safety." The new version of House Bill 307, "Iryna's Law," eliminates cashless bail for certain offenses. Additionally, the bill removes some of the magistrate or judge's discretion, ensuring that it will be more difficult for violent and repeat offenders to get out of jail in the future. The bill creates a new category of "violent offenses" for which the judge or magistrate must impose certain conditions for pretrial release, including GPS monitoring. For first-time violent offenders, the only options are secured bond or house arrest with electronic monitoring. For second or subsequent offenses, the only option for release is secured bond and house arrest with electronic monitoring. As for repeat offenders, this bill requires judicial officials to impose a secured bond or house arrest with electronic monitoring on any defendant who has been convicted of three or more offenses in the last 10 years, regardless of whether those offenses are considered violent. The bill also addresses the mental health crisis currently affecting our criminal justice system by creating a new protocol under which judicial officials will be required to order mental health evaluations. If a defendant is charged with a violent offense and has been involuntarily committed in the last three years, or if a defendant is charged with any offense and the judicial official has cause to believe the defendant is a danger to himself or others, the judicial official must order that the defendant be evaluated for involuntary commitment. If, after the evaluation, the examiner determines the defendant needs to be committed, they must initiate commitment proceedings. The bill also makes several changes to remove judicially imposed roadblocks that have prevented the death penalty from being carried out in North Carolina for nearly two decades. Instead of letting death penalty appeals sit indefinitely, they must now be heard within two years of filing, and continuances will not be granted unless the judge finds extenuating circumstances. The bill requires any appeal or motion that was filed more than 24 months ago to be heard within the next year. Any hearings related to a death penalty case would be required to be held in the county where the offender was convicted. The bill would also add committing a capital felony while the victim was using public transportation as an aggravating factor for seeking the death penalty. This ensures that prosecutors can pursue, and the courts can impose, the death penalty without question for similar crimes like the one that took Iryna's life. Additionally, the bill would: Clarify that a judicial official must review and consider the defendants criminal history before setting conditions of pretrialrelease. Require a judicial official to make written findings of fact explaining the reason why the official determined the conditions of release in each case. Specify that a judge or magistrate's failure to make these required findings is grounds for removal. Allow the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or the Chief District Court Judge to initiate suspension proceedings for magistrates. Require the Collaboratory to study the intersection of mental health and the justice system in North Carolina for both adults and juveniles, as well as the availability of house arrest as a condition of pretrial release, and alternative methods of execution aside from those already authorized in North Carolina. The Senate anticipates hearing the new version of House Bill 307 on Monday. PLANS for a permanent Traveller site near Nettlebed have been opposed by residents concerned it will urbanise the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. James Evans has applied to South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, for retrospective permission to move one static and one touring caravan on to an acre of land next to Digberry Farm. The application includes plans to install a septic tank, a 150kg metal storage box for e-bikes and car parking spaces. A new site access and hardstanding were installed ahead of the application being submitted. Mr Evans had an appeal on a previous attempt to convert the use of the land from agricultural to equestrian dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate in May for failing to conserve or enhance the national landscape. He now wants to convert part of the land to a Traveller site which he said would serve the public interest in addressing a shortage of permanent and settled sites for Travellers in the UK. Mr Evans said: By providing a Gypsy and Traveller family a permanent base from which to travel, they will ultimately travel far less over the year and this will deliver a wider reduction in private car travel and deliver a bigger sustainability benefit overall. About 20 residents, the Chiltern Society and CPRE Oxfordshire have objected, saying the development would be harmful to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Jonathan Perry, of Park Corner, said: The introduction of caravans, hardstanding and associated paraphernalia has an urbanising effect, fundamentally damaging the scenic beauty of the landscape. Andrew Wiggins, of Huntercombe End, said the new access installed into Digberry Lane would accentuate an already fraught thoroughfare. He said: Digberry Lane is known locally as suicide alley due to the number of near-miss accidents between vehicles and also between vehicles and walkers, cyclists and horses. This new access accentuates this issue. The committee of South Oxfordshire CPRE said: This application proposes a significant urbanising development over a wider area than that which was previously refused. The district council will make a final decision by October 16. THE River & Rowing Museum in Henley will close for the last time on Sunday. For its final weekend, entry will be free for visitors as part of the nationwide Heritage Open Days event. It will be hosting a number of activities, including colouring-in sessions, a gallery trail and Members of the Henley Archaeological and Historical Group will be available in the Henley Gallery all weekend to answer questions on the towns history. At the time of announcing its closure, the museum had a staff of 44, although most of these worked on a part time basis, and many will be made redundant. The museums foundation trust made the decision to shut down the operation in July, following a consultation with its staff in May. This was due to unsustainable costs, which included a 1m loss in the previous financial. Its trustees decided that it was no longer financially viable to remain open. A yard sale to sell off the buildings office and cafe furniture and equipment, and unsold shop stock, will be held next Friday and Saturday. This will not include any items from the museums collections. There are strict regulations on how these items are dealt with and it will be the job of the few remaining museum employees will be to find new homes for them. The museums trustees say they are already exploring options for new users and possibly new owners for the building. They also hope that there might be opportunities for the foundation to support a new, much smaller, museum in Henley in the future. From October 2025 the museum will move into a mothballed state, to reduce the level of financial losses while the trustees and team work to find new homes for the collection. The museum held a closing celebration for its patrons and supporters yesterday (Thursday) evening. David Worthington, who chairs the trustees, described the closure as a very sad occasion. He said: It has affected museum employees, most of whom will be leaving at the end of September the impact is considerable, many employees and volunteers have had long standing associations with the museum. A more positive reflection, the museum has brought a huge amount of enjoyment and education in its 27 years. It has been visited by more than two million people, hosted well excess of 100,000 school children and many regular family visitors are second and even third generation Wind in the Willows fans. In addition to the museums employees, which he described as hugely loyal, Mr Worthington said that the town also owed a huge debt of gratitude to its original founders which include the Arbib family and Sir Martyn Arbib, founder of Perpetual. He said: That gratitude should also be extended to the hundreds of patrons, supporters, volunteers and trustees who have given freely of many hours of their time and money in support of the museum. Mention must be made of Henley Town Council, which has consistently supported the museum whether as councillors or serving museum trustees. It will only be with the town councils continued support that a successful future may be formed from closure. Mr Worthington said that the trustees will continue to deliver hands-on workshops to school groups and informal learning activities to families. It has created a new initiative, Flowing Forward to deliver river workshops, which will include hands-on experiments, object handling and a guided river walk. The museum foundation also intends to continue its work with Rivertime Boat Trust, a charity which provides accessible boat trips. The joint initiative launched by HRH Princess Anne during her visit to the museum 2023 provides opportunities for pupils with special educational needs to find out more about the river. For its final weekend, the museum will open from 10am to 4pm. INTERNATIONALLY renowned viola player Lawrence Power is focusing on a theme of travel and adventure, with the theme Across Mountains and Valleys for the next West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival at Hambleden. Lawrence, 48, who lives in London, founded the festival in 2011 at the Church of St Lawrence in West Wycombe, and for the last two years, it has been held at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Hambleden. Its our 15th anniversary, were back in Hambleden which is such a gorgeous venue and its been lovely performing there, says Lawrence. Its just such an opportunity to hear these incredible players who might come to London to play with the big orchestras once a year. To hear them there in that setting, its really an opportunity. Were very lucky that theyre going to be joining us with some amazing music, all this music looking back to homeland and nostalgia, all these things, travel and adventure, music linked to that really. The series of concerts include Rediscovered Places today (Friday) at 1pm, with music by Bacewicz, Rachmaninov, Ades, Vaughan Williams and Brahms, Night Music, tonight at 7.30pm, with pieces by Boccherini, Shostakovich, Biber and Dvorak, Grand Ballet, tomorrow at 11am, with music by Westhof, Marais, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky, and Chamber Lab tomorrow at 8pm, which will feature music by Haydn, Bartok, Ades, Hummel, Boccherini Buxtehude, Matteis, Ridout and Biber. The music for the final night will be performed by Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang, as well as violinists Charlotte Spruit, Annabelle Meare, violists Lawrence and Timothy Ridout, cellists Nicolas Altstaedt and John Myerscough, and lutist Sergio Bucheli, with a musical experiment. Ive always wanted to do this with the festival in some way, says Lawrence, and this year I thought it would be really interesting to have almost like a lucky dip group of pieces that the audience can choose from really, pieces that we havent rehearsed. Its kind of a jam session, for want of a better word. A lot of these musicians havent been able to meet until these days, so it will be nice just to play some music for the audience in a slightly more relaxed way, which is quite a unique way to hear these musicians performing. Essentially its just a celebration of all this music that is linked to national roots, from Vaughan Williams to Rachmaninov to Bartok to all of these great European composers. There are some very exciting musicians flying in from all over the world so I think its a lovely opportunity for people to experience that. We were just so touched that Hambleden welcomed us so warmly really and its a beautiful church. l West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival at Hambleden takes place at the Church of St Mary in Hambleden today (Friday) and tomorrow, Saturday, September 20. For more information, visit westwycombe.org.uk China medical assistance teams serve 6.7 mln Moroccan patients in 50 yrs Xinhua) 10:05, September 22, 2025 SHANGHAI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese medical assistance teams have provided medical services to 6.7 million Moroccan patients since 1975, according to an event marking the 50th anniversary of China dispatching medical teams to Morocco, held Saturday in Shanghai. In September 1975, at the invitation of Morocco, the Chinese government started sending medical teams to work in the country. Over the past five decades, China has dispatched a total of 2,025 medical workers in 197 batches to Morocco. Chinese teams donated medical equipment to local recipient hospitals, supported the establishment of standardized diagnosis and treatment procedures, and conducted training on technologies, thereby contributing to the enhancement of accessibility and sustainability of Moroccan medical services. Li Juan, an official with the National Health Commission, said China is willing to deepen health cooperation and exchanges between the two countries. At the event site, a ceremony was held for the departure of the 198th batch of Chinese medical team aiding Morocco. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) China's Hebei Province promotes tourism ties with Switzerland in Geneva 10:08, September 22, 2025 By Wang Qibing ( Xinhua GENEVA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tourism professionals from north China's Hebei Province and Switzerland gathered in Geneva on Friday to explore new opportunities for cooperation, highlighting Hebei as a promising destination for Swiss travelers. The meeting, held at the Warwick Geneva Building near the city's central railway station, featured Chinese representatives inviting their Swiss counterparts to discover Hebei, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and diverse tourism resources. "Hebei boasts a long history, unique geographical advantages, and abundant tourism resources," said Zhao Bing, director of the Hebei Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism. With seven airports and three ports, Hebei offers connections to more than 70 countries and regions, she noted. Geneva now operates two direct flights to China, one to Shanghai and the other to Beijing. In November 2024, China introduced a 30-day visa-free entry policy for Swiss citizens holding ordinary passports. The policy covers business, tourism, family visits, transit, and exchange activities for stays of up to 30 days. Tourism professionals agreed that the direct flights, combined with the visa-free arrangement, have significantly facilitated travel between the two countries. Swiss participants expressed keen interest in Hebei's tourism potential. Zhao Lei, Asia manager of Geneva Tourism, encouraged her peers to visit Hebei. Jacqueline Roeschli, director of Fiesta Travel in Geneva, said she was considering organizing a tour to China specifically for female travelers, citing the convenience of direct flights and the visa-free policy. Philippe Nyoundou, from Villeneuve Travel Agency in Switzerland's Vaud region, said the event inspired him to start planning a trip. "The 30-day visa-free policy makes me feel I can leave at any time. I plan to travel to China next month," he told Xinhua. Tourism cooperation between Hebei and Switzerland has been expanding in recent years. At the 2023 International Ice and Snow Tourism Development Conference in Zhangjiakou, Hebei -- one of the venues for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics -- tourism authorities from Hebei and Switzerland, together with 19 other organizations, jointly launched the "World Ice and Snow Tourism Destination Alliance." The initiative aims to develop high-quality winter tourism products while promoting green and low-carbon growth. "Hebei's tourism sector is eager to learn from Switzerland's successful practices and welcomes Swiss travel agencies to work with their counterparts in Hebei for mutual benefit," Zhao Bing said. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) The UN Security Council will vote Friday on whether to reimpose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, the Council's rotating presidency said, after Britain, France and Germany triggered the vote. The three European countries, signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action intended to stop Tehran obtaining nuclear weapons, allege that Iran has broken its promises under that 2015 treaty. Diplomatic sources expect that the resolution will not have the nine positive votes needed to uphold the status quo -- in which sanctions remain lifted -- and as such the punishment will be reimposed. French President Emmanuel Macron said he expected international sanctions against Iran to be reinstated by the end of the month, in an excerpt from an Israeli television interview broadcast Thursday. In a letter to the UN in mid-August, the "European Three" slammed Iran as having breached several JCPOA commitments, including building up a uranium stock to more than 40 times the levek permitted under the deal. The hard-won 2015 deal has been left in tatters ever since the United States, during Donald Trump's first presidency, walked away from it in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran. Western powers and Israel have long accused Tehran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, a claim Iran denies. Following the US withdrawal, Tehran gradually broke away from its commitments under the agreement and began stepping up its nuclear activities, with tensions high since the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June. The war also derailed Tehran's nuclear negotiations with the United States and prompted Iran to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, with inspectors of the Vienna-based UN body leaving the country shortly afterwards. During his previous term, Trump attempted to trigger the so-called "snapback clause" to reimpose sanctions in 2020, but failed due to his country's unilateral withdrawal two years earlier. While European powers have for years launched repeated efforts to revive the 2015 deal through negotiations and said they "have unambiguous legal grounds" to trigger the clause, Iran does not share their view. Iran has threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the snapback is triggered. The Chinese city of Shenzhen began preparing to evacuate 400,000 people while residents of the northern Philippines sought shelter from gale-force winds Monday as Super Typhoon Ragasa continued on a collision course with southern China. The typhoon made landfall on the Philippines' Calayan Island, part of the sparsely populated Babuyan chain, at 3:00 pm (0700 GMT), according to the Philippine weather service. As of 5:00 pm (0900 GMT), maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometres per hour (134 mph) were reported at the storm's centre, with gusts reaching as high as 295 kph, the national weather service said. "I woke up because of the strong wind. It was hitting the windows, and it sounded like a machine that was switched on," said Tirso Tugagao, a resident of Aparri, a coastal town in northern Cagayan province. On Calayan Island, at the storm's centre, information officer Herbert Singun told AFP chunks of a school roof had been ripped off and landed on an evacuation centre about 30 metres (yards) away, leading to one minor injury. "Can you see those coconut trees swaying in the distance?" he asked over video chat. "There were eight of them before. Now only four are still standing. That goes to show how strong this typhoon is." Just over 10,000 Filipinos were evacuated across the country, with schools and government offices closed Monday in the Manila region and across 29 other provinces. A much larger operation will take place in China's Shenzhen, where authorities said late Sunday they planned to move hundreds of thousands of people from coastal and low-lying regions. Multiple other cities in Guangdong province announced classes and work would be cancelled, and public transportation suspended because of the typhoon. Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific said it expected to cancel more than 500 flights as Ragasa threatened the financial hub. A spokeswoman for the airline said passenger flights in and out of Hong Kong International Airport would be halted from 6:00 pm Tuesday, "resuming during daytime hours on Thursday". In Taiwan, the state weather service predicted a chance of "extremely torrential rain" in the country's east. "Its storm radius is quite large, about 320 (kilometres). Although the typhoon's centre is still some distance away, its wide, strong wind field and outer circulation are already affecting parts of Taiwan." James Wu, a local fire department officer, told AFP that evacuations were ongoing in mountainous areas near Pingtung. "What worries us more is that the damage could be similar to what happened during Typhoon Koinu two years ago," he added, describing a storm that saw utility poles collapse and sheet-metal roofs sent flying into the air. Philippine government weather specialist John Grender Almario said Sunday that "severe flooding and landslides" could be expected in the northern areas of the main island Luzon. The threat of flooding from Ragasa comes just a day after thousands of Filipinos took to the streets to protest a growing corruption scandal involving flood control projects that were shabbily constructed or never completed. Scientists warn that storms are becoming more powerful as the world warms due to the effects of human-driven climate change. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Brittain Resorts & Hotels, a leading hospitality management company with a growing portfolio of award-winning properties throughout the Southeast, today announced the addition of a senior leader to its executive team. This appointments underscores the company's continued growth trajectory and its commitment to investing in world-class leadership that drives operational excellence, strengthens team culture, and elevates the guest experience. Glenn Holman has been appointed senior director of accounting and finance, overseeing financial operations across Brittain Resorts & Hotels' expanding portfolio. With more than 30 years of hospitality finance experience, including senior roles at Wyndham International, Performance Hospitality and FirstManagement Partners, Holman has led complex brand transitions, pre-openings and property conversions. He is recognized for aligning financial strategy with company growth, ensuring operational efficiency and investor confidence. Mandarin Oriental Lutetia, Paris is delighted to announce the appointment of Julien Bardet as General Manager, effective 15 September 2025. A native of Cannes, Julien Bardet developed a passion for hospitality and the art of service at an early age. He holds a Master's degree in Economic Sciences and Business Management from the University of Nice and began his career at Hotel Martinez in Cannes, before joining Le Meridien Nice where he took on his first leadership roles in Sales and Marketing. Eager to broaden his horizons internationally, he went on to build his career in some of the world's most prestigious establishments. He moved to Asia as Director of Sales & Marketing at The Laguna, Luxury Collection, followed by The St. Regis Bali. In 2015, he joined The St. Regis New York as Hotel Manager, before continuing his journey at The St. Regis Bal Harbour in Miami. Three years later, he was appointed General Manager of The West Hollywood Edition. In 2020, Julien Bardet returned to Paris as General Manager of Shangri-La Paris, at the height of the pandemic. With vision and leadership, he turned this time of uncertainty into an opportunity for strategic repositioning. Under his leadership, the property enhanced its reputation and earned prestigious international recognition. As he assumes leadership of Mandarin Oriental Lutetia, Julien Bardet arrives at a landmark moment: the hotel's 115th anniversary, as the only Palace hotel on Paris's Left Bank. This December, the hotel will celebrate its anniversary, signalling the beginning of a new chapter in its storied history. The evening will honour the legendary spirit of Lutetia while embracing Mandarin Oriental's craftsmanship and values of excellence, now guided by the leadership of Julien Bardet. True to the spirit of Saint-Germain-des-Pres and the hotel's storied heritage, he is dedicated to elevating the Palace's international standing by blending ultra-luxury with French excellence and a deep connection to its Left Bank setting. Bain Capital, a leading global private investment firm, today announced its investment into Les Hotels de Paris (part of Machefert Group), a distinguished owner and operator of boutique French hotels. This transaction represents a significant step forward in Bain Capitals strategic growth in the European hospitality sector. Les Hotels de Paris, advised by Wingate Investment Bank, owns a portfolio of 18 prime hotels, with 17 centrally located in Paris and one in St Tropez and demonstrates Bain Capitals commitment to investing in high-quality, strategically positioned real estate within Europes fragmented hospitality sector. This transaction significantly enhances Bain Capitals presence in France and highlights the teams expertise in delivering complex real estate capital solutions. Bain Capital will leverage its extensive expertise and resources to drive operational excellence and unlock value throughout Hotels de Paris portfolio. White & Case served as legal advisor, PwC served as financial and tax advisor, HPM served as technical advisor, CBRE served as commercial advisor to Bain Capital. About Bain Capital Founded in 1984, Bain Capital is one of the world's leading private investment firms. We are committed to creating lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses, and the communities in which we live. As a private partnership, we lead with conviction and a culture of collaboration, advantages that enable us to innovate investment approaches, unlock opportunities, and create exceptional outcomes. Our global platform invests across five focus areas: Private Equity, Growth & Venture, Capital Solutions, Credit & Capital Markets, and Real Assets. In these focus areas, we bring deep sector expertise and wide-ranging capabilities. We have 24 offices on four continents, more than 1,850 employees, and approximately $185 billion in assets under management. To learn more, visit www.baincapital.com. In November, Simone Puorto, Head of Emerging Trends & Strategic Innovation at Hospitality Net, will speak at BTO 2025 in Florence, alongside Romy Abbrederis and Alessio Re. His talk, titled Zero-Click, Zero-Friction: Rethinking Hospitality from Discovery to Operations?, will explore the future of hospitality in an age of radical digital transformation. On this occasion, BTO has published an interview in Italian, which we are pleased to share here in its English version. Read original here and book your seat here. Your speech at BTO is titled Zero Click, Zero Friction: Rethinking Hospitality. What do you mean? We are living through a radical transformation in which the experience of the traveller and the work of the hotel operator intertwine within a system that nevertheless remains burdensome and full of friction. Searching for a hotel is complicated, managing one is even more so, and yet we continue to operate within an apparatus built on old, layered logics. From the guest's perspective, the era of the ten blue links on Google is already a relic of the past. More than sixty-five percent of searches today do not even lead to a click because the answer is already embedded within generative artificial intelligence systems. This means that a hotels visibility no longer depends on ranking in an SEO chart as it did ten or twenty years ago, but on its capacity to exist within the narratives that language models produce. To continue discussing search engines, disintermediation, or off-seasoning as if we were still in 2005 is to attempt to solve a novel problem with tools from the past. Generative search will render SEO as we know it obsolete. The classic funnel will vanish with the arrival of a zero-click web. AI agents will become do engines rather than search engines. Conversational reporting will replace dashboards and business intelligence, and we will no longer consult graphs; instead, we will address questions directly to the data. Digital workers, hybrids between the biological and the artificial, will become a tangible presence. In a synthetic world, time spent with a human being will become a luxury, a paradigm I call humans-as-luxury (more here). Complexity affects not only visibility but also daily operations. Many hotels still operate with closed systems, technologies that do not communicate, and outdated procedures that slow down every process and turn any integration into an obstacle. The real question then becomes this: What would happen if we rethought the entire flow from scratch, including both those who travel and those who work in hotels? If hospitality were to become more fluid, lighter, and at the same time smarter, capable of freeing time and energy? Paradoxically, that very technological fluidity might restore a more human dimension. But let us keep a little suspense about the final answer for the stage. You were among the early adopters of AI models in the Italian hospitality sector, both as a consultant and board advisor, and as a founder of startups. What have you learned? I have learned that every innovation always contains a paradox. In the case of artificial intelligence, the paradox is that precisely at the moment everyone obsessively names it, it actually ceases to matter. Soon it will be everywhere, and precisely for that reason, we will stop talking about it. Want an analogy? You do not need to know how the IP protocol works to have a website, nor do you need to master the architecture of the web to navigate it. The web has become an overthought, a natural, almost invisible presence. The same fate awaits AI. Five years ago, it took millions to build what can now be achieved at a marginal cost of practically nothing. Competitive advantage is no longer in ownership or in building from scratch, but in the speed with which one reassembles modules already available, in the flexibility with which one changes course, and in the ability to never fall in love with ones own hunches. For this reason, I do not think that in five years' time we will still be speaking of vertical AI companies in travel. I envision instead a landscape composed of modular ecosystems, agents, the Model Context Protocol, and APIs that act as neurons in a distributed network, generating experiences and services in a natural and almost invisible way. I would not be surprised if, by 2030, revenue management systems had disappeared altogether, replaced by an agnostic agent from OpenAI or Google connected to the ARI layer, capable of orchestrating property management systems, channel managers, and booking engines without anyone referring to it as AI anymore. Already today, we see dozens of solutions that present themselves as specific to hospitality, but the trajectory is clear: artificial intelligence will become a transversal, neutral layer, integrable everywhere, just as the web did. There is no web for hotels, and there will be no AI for hotels. Everything will be plug-and-play, and the true competitive advantage will no longer lie in the software itself, but in the hotels capacity to orchestrate that ecosystem with lightweight, scalable architectures that are ready to evolve. You speak of more human hospitality precisely at a time when automation and artificial intelligence are on the rise. How do you reconcile this apparent contradiction? The contradiction exists only in perception. Automation does not subtract humanity; it subtracts friction. A reception desk that must reconfirm every reservation manually is not more human because it is occupied with bureaucratic tasks; it is simply less free. Returning time to people means returning the raw material of hospitality. Humanity is not measured by the quantity of prefabricated smiles we distribute but by the quality of attention we can offer when it truly matters. The paradox is that the more we delegate the impersonal to machines, the rarer and more precious personal interaction becomes. The notion that technology and humanity are opposites is a conditioned reflex, a trap of binary thought rooted in Western cultural habits. In nature, nothing is truly dual. Wittgenstein reminds us that the limits of our language are the limits of our world, and if we continue to think in terms of rigid oppositions, we will see conflict even where only continuity exists. The word itself is fracture. The distinctions between human and machine, between thought and action, between reality and simulation dissolve. It is not AI that becomes human; it is we who render ourselves imitable. We reduce language to emojis, entrust memory to the cloud, and simplify ourselves until we become cloneable. What remains irreducibly human is not intelligence, but existential anguish the awareness of finitude. At work, we will see polarization, with one side embracing total automation and the other embracing hyper-human roles. In the end, AI will fade as a distinct entity and become the invisible backdrop of our lives, just as the internet is today. In recent years, you have served as a board advisor to several tech companies. From your privileged vantage point, which mistakes do you see repeated most often by startups moving into hospitality tech? The most frequent mistake is to confuse technology with the solution, forgetting that technology is a means, not an end in itself. Many startups are obsessed with the feature, focusing on what their product does, and rarely ask why anyone would need it. The second mistake is extreme verticalization, building a micro tool that solves a detail without asking how it will fit into an ecosystem already saturated with interfaces, property management systems, revenue management systems, customer relationship tools, and so forth. Hotels do not need another isolated software; they need coherence, integrated flows, and radical simplification. Finally, I often observe a cultural deficit; many new players discuss hotel technology without having ever worked a single day in a hotel. Technology without hospitality experience becomes a simulacrum. To the MBA students I teach, who will be the travel tech CEOs of tomorrow, I reiterate that they are preparing for jobs that do not yet exist. One must not fall in love with what, but with the why. What will change a hundred times without asking permission? Actual competence is cultivating a view without walls, one that is capable of relinquishing fixed opinions. That is where possibilities open. If I could teach just that, my work would be accomplished. For those who are unfamiliar with Simone Puorto, we asked him to introduce himself. Do you remember that interview between David Lynch and Harry Dean Stanton? Lynch asks him, How would you describe yourself? Stanton answers, like nothing. There is no self. That sentence suits me. I do not believe my identity is so important; what matters is that through a series of coincidences, I often find myself immersed in unpredictable contexts and surrounded by extraordinary people, like the entire BTO team. For this reason, more than a protagonist, I feel like an antenna that intercepts and amplifies possibilities. If you prefer the LinkedIn-friendly version, I'd like to describe myself as a technophilosopher. For over twenty five years I have worked at the intersection of travel and technology, I have written five books and hundreds of articles many as a ghostwriter or under pseudonyms, I collaborate with Hospitality Net as Head of Emerging Trends and Strategic Innovation which is a grand title to say that I try to understand what will happen next year, and I support tech companies as a board advisor and consultant, from BWG Strategy in New York to RobosizeME, Sleap.io, E23 and a dozen other entities ranging from property management systems to revenue management systems and automation and AI startups that I cannot name because of NDAs. In the past I was general manager of a small group of boutique hotels in Rome and I worked in a large American web agency, but about ten years ago I left corporate life to create my own projects, Travel Singularity my boutique consultancy, Rebyu the AI startup for review management, and Elegia the creative studio that explores the links between AI human centered design and hospitality. What else? A few years ago, I organised the first sector event held entirely in the metaverse, which for me was more an exercise in imagination. But my story does not begin in a hotel; it starts with philosophy. As a young man, I wanted to teach it; I was obsessed with Gunther Anders and the idea of human obsolescence, and I reflected on what it means to be human in a world dominated by technology. To pay for my studies, I sought work that would leave me with mental space, and I chose to work the night shift as a porter, with few people and long, quiet hours to study. It seemed perfect, but in the late 1990s, hotels were still working with paper and pen; some still do. To avoid going mad, I created a rudimentary proto property management system that simplified reservations and check-ins. It worked so well that the owner promoted me to the day shift, which felt almost like a punishment, less Nietzsche and more complaints, but it was also the unexpected beginning of my career. I was twenty. At twenty-five, I was already leading a MICE team of thirty people. At thirty, I was general manager of a small group of boutique hotels that I had co-founded and named Dharma, inspired by the series Lost, which I have always loved for its metaphysical echoes and for my own spiritual confession as a Buddhist. In time, I realised that my inclination was less for daily operations and more for recognising patterns, connecting distant worlds, and reading the subtexts of technology and society, and so here I am. Over the last ten years, I have also significantly increased my presence in academia, and I give guest lectures in several MBA and executive programmes from EHL in Lausanne to ESSEC, from Glion to the Italian LUISS, including IULM Roma Tre, the University of Parma, SHMS, the 24 Ore Business School, and many others. There, I have always delivered the same message: the point is not to fall in love with tools but to understand the deep patterns that move them. This is why I have given myself the nickname digital bodhisattva, an ironic and at the same time serious way of saying that my trajectory has always been the same, starting from philosophy, passing through sleepless nights at reception, arriving at artificial intelligence, and continuing to ask what remains in all this that is irreducibly human. Simone Puorto Hospitality Net NEW YORK, NY Air travel remains one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonizeyet its essential for global business. And for companies committed to sustainability, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is one of the few viable solutions available to reduce their air travel-related emissions. Corporate travel managers are increasingly driving demand for SAF, however, large-scale adoption has yet to gain momentum. To address this gap, the GBTA Foundation, the cause-led arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), today announced the launch of SAF Corporate Connect, the first comprehensive learning and collaboration hub designed specifically to help the corporate travel industry community. The hub equips travel managers and sustainability leaders with the knowledge and tools to understand, evaluate and integrate SAF into their programs. Developed with the support of the GBTA Sustainability Partners and unveiled during Climate Week NYC, SAF Corporate Connect aims to break down barriers to SAF adoption by offering: Guidance for corporate travel buyers on SAF purchasing options and integration strategies Timely market intelligence and up-to-date information on SAF developments A collaborative forum for peer exchange, knowledge sharing and industry engagement Carbon emitted during the production of SAF from raw materials to distribution can be up to 80% less than conventional jet fuel. When integrated as part of a broader decarbonization strategy that includes influencing travel decisions, monitoring and setting emissions reduction goals, and engaging travel supply chains, SAF can help companies achieve credible travel emissions reductions. And with airlines projecting SAF as a cornerstone of their decarbonization strategies by 2050, the $1.57 trillion global business travel sector holds significant influence in accelerating adoption. Successfully implementing SAF at scale is a shared investment across the industry. When it comes to the complex world of SAF, corporate travel managers need practical tools to build strong business cases and engage internal stakeholders. SAF Corporate Connect will help companies and industry professionals understand the SAF market, engage suppliers, and communicate progress with credibility. Delphine Millot, Senior Vice President, Advocacy and Sustainability, GBTA, and Managing Director at the GBTA Foundation Millot also noted GBTAs ongoing advocacy for clearer reporting standards around SAF purchased via book-and-claim models, and emphasized the initiatives role in amplifying the voice of corporate travel buyers on SAF-related challenges. Recent GBTA research highlights the need for greater awareness and support: In the Foundations 2024 Sustainability Acceleration Challenge, only 12% of 241 participating companies reported purchasing SAF certificates. In other GBTA studies, travel global managers cite limited budgets, lack of awareness or understanding, and perceived complexity of the purchasing process as key barriers. By featuring companies with established SAF strategies, SAF Corporate Connect aims to inspire others to chart their own path forward. Alice Ashpitel, Head of Sustainability at Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, said, Collaboration is essential. By sharing knowledge and experiences, organizations can accelerate their SAF journeys together. Too many businesses hold back due to uncertainty but starting small is not only possible, its one of the most powerful ways to build confidence, test solutions and scale impact over time. How will SAF Corporate Connect support organizations looking to reduce emissions from corporate travel programs? The SAF Playbook for Corporate Travel : A first-of-its-kind, step-by-step guide for corporate travel managers, procurement teams, and sustainability professionals to confidently integrate SAF into their company strategies. Explore the playbook and other resources here. : A first-of-its-kind, step-by-step guide for corporate travel managers, procurement teams, and sustainability professionals to confidently integrate SAF into their company strategies. Explore the playbook and other resources here. Practical Tools & Peer-driven Insights : Access webinars, case studies and interact with travel buyers, SAF suppliers, and industry experts. Join the upcoming webinar SAF Playbook: Lessons from Corporate Sustainability and Travel Teams on Wednesday, October 29th, at 10:00am EST. Register here. : Access webinars, case studies and interact with travel buyers, SAF suppliers, and industry experts. Join the upcoming webinar SAF Playbook: Lessons from Corporate Sustainability and Travel Teams on Wednesday, October 29th, at 10:00am EST. Register here. Community Connection: A global forum for corporates to connect with peers, suppliers, and SAF experts to share experiences and foster collaboration. During Climate Week NYC, the GBTA Foundation along with industry partners will host a reception, Business Travel at Climate Week NYC: Connections for Action, to advance dialogue on the future of sustainable business travel. GBTA leaders will also join SAF experts and practitioners in events throughout the week. About GBTA The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world's premiere business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area and serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 8,000+ members represent and advocate for the $1.48 trillion global travel business and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information visit gbta.org. About the GBTA Foundation The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of the Global Business Travel Association, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTA's global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy. For more information visit gbtafoundation.org. Debbie Iannaci GBTA Global Communications, PR & Research +1 305 301 7057 GBTA San Diegos City Council has voted to raise the minimum wage for many hospitality workers to $25 per hour, a sector-specific ordinance that will be phased in over several years and affects large hotels, event venues and major attractions. The unanimous vote marks a significant regulatory change for hotels operating in one of Californias largest tourism markets. The ordinance applies to employees at hotels with 150 or more rooms and to staff at large event centers, amusement parks and comparable tourism venues. The increase will be phased in beginning in 2026, with event center roles starting higher initially and hotel and amusement-park roles beginning at a lower stepculminating in a $25/hour floor by July 1, 2030. Business groups and some operators warned the increase could materially raise payroll costs and spur changes in staffing models, automation, and pricing. The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and local business representatives publicly urged caution during the debate, issuing analyses and statements about potential economic impacts. Advocates framed the ordinance as addressing San Diegos cost-of-living realities: MITs living-wage estimates and local analyses were cited during council debate to show many hospitality roles fall short of local living expenses. Labor groups and worker advocates said the policy will reduce reliance on public assistance and improve retention in high-turnover departments such as housekeeping and food & beverage. Cost modelling: Operators should update labor forecasts and profit-and-loss scenarios now to understand the phased impacts on departmental margins. Operators should update labor forecasts and profit-and-loss scenarios now to understand the phased impacts on departmental margins. Staffing strategy: Higher base pay can reduce turnover, but it may require recalibrating overtime, scheduling, and tip/benefit structures. Higher base pay can reduce turnover, but it may require recalibrating overtime, scheduling, and tip/benefit structures. Revenue management: Evaluate whether rate positioning, group concessions and ancillary revenue can help offset higher payrolls without eroding competitiveness. Evaluate whether rate positioning, group concessions and ancillary revenue can help offset higher payrolls without eroding competitiveness. Procurement & automation: Staggered implementation allows for time to pilot productivity gains, but automation choices should be weighed against the guest experience and brand positioning. The San Diego hospitality minimum-wage ordinance represents a material, multi-year change for local hoteliers. With a phased rollout to 2030, the measure provides time to adapt operationallybut not to defer planning. Forward-looking operators will begin scenario planning immediately, engaging labor partners and finance teams to protect service standards while maintaining sustainable margins. Rendering of the Sofitel Genoa Waterfront Hotel - Image Credit Accor Accor has announced the signing of Sofitel Genoa Waterfront, a hotel set to open in 2027 on Genoa's waterfront. The project is a collaboration with AG Group, an Italian tourism operator. The hotel will feature 120 guestrooms, including 20 suites, and will be designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The Sofitel Genoa Waterfront will include amenities such as an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby lounge bar, a pool bar, a spa, a gym, a swimming pool, and two meeting rooms. The location will benefit from improved rail connectivity, which is expected to link Genoa to Milan in 53 minutes by 2026, providing access to Portofino and the Cinque Terre. The project involves investors and developers Orion and CDS Holding SpA, as part of the Waterfront di Levante development. This marks an expansion of Sofitel's presence in Italy, following the success of Sofitel Roma Villa Borghese. The Genoa location is part of Sofitel's growth strategy in Southern Europe. AG Group, which operates a portfolio of high-end properties, has partnered with Accor on this project. The Genova Waterfront redevelopment involved consultancy from Fortvny, a hotel advisory firm, to identify AG Group as the operator. Sofitel Genoa Waterfront will be the first international luxury hotel in the city, entering a market currently dominated by independent operators. Knights Inn Corpus Christi North - Image Credit HVS HVS Brokerage & Advisory, as the sole and exclusive advisory firm to ownership, presents the opportunity to acquire the 29-key Knights Inn Corpus Christi North, a limited-service hotel asset in Corpus Christi, Texas. This limited-service hotel is available for sale as a significant investment opportunity, thanks to its strategic location and consistent financial performance. Strategic Location and Economic Drivers The Knights Inn Corpus Christi North benefits from its proximity to the Port of Corpus Christi, a critical hub for the oil and gas industry in the U.S. Additionally, the hotel is near major corporate and leisure attractions, including the USS Lexington Aircraft Carrier Museum, Texas State Aquarium, and several major refineries such as Flint Hills Resources and Valero. These locations contribute to a steady demand from both business travelers and tourists. The hotel's location, just a block from North Beach, adds to its appeal for leisure visitors. Financial Overview and Pricing The property is priced at $58,620 per room, which is below the typical replacement cost for similar hotel properties, making it an attractive investment. The hotel has shown strong historical financial performance with an average annual room revenue of approximately $633,000 over the past decade. This robust revenue stream has been maintained despite economic challenges, including those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional Property Features The Knights Inn also includes a three-bedroom, three-bathroom managers apartment, which could be beneficial for an owner-operator. This feature adds value to the property by providing potential for personal use or additional rental income. In summary, the Knights Inn Corpus Christi North presents a compelling investment opportunity due to its strategic location, strong historical revenue, and pricing below replacement cost. The propertys proximity to major economic drivers and leisure destinations, along with additional amenities like the on-site living quarters, makes it an attractive option for potential investors. Inquire at HVS. Ghost Tours at Ventfort Hall LENOX, Mass. Join Robert Oakes, author of "Ghosts of the Berkshires," who will lead tours through the rooms and halls of the historic estate sharing tales of its alleged hauntings. The tour will take place at 7 pm on Friday, Sept. 26. This is not an active investigation. Admission is $30 and minimum age to attend is age 12. Reservations are strongly recommended as tickets are limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. For reservations visit https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call 413-637-3206. Note that all tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Payment is required to make a reservation for an event. Robert Oakes is an author, teacher, storyteller, and performing songwriter. He has written three books, "The Ghostly Tales of the Berkshires" (2023), "Ghosts of Northwestern New Jersey" (2022), and "Ghosts of the Berkshires" (2020), all published by Arcadia Publishing. Since 2010, Robert has led ghost storytelling experiences at historic locations in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, including Ventfort Hall and Edith Wharton's The Mount. He has also given talks and readings and led a writing workshop at Arrowhead, home of Herman Melville. He has appeared on Syfy's Ghost Hunters, Jeff Belanger's New England Legends series on PBS, and The Apple Seed show on BYUradio and has been featured in The Boston Globe, The Berkshire Eagle, and numerous other media outlets. Norman Rockwell Museum and staff accept the award for 'Putting the Berkshires on the Map' at the 12th annual Trendsetters awards held at Tanglewood. Donna and Jim Schaefer with Zion Lutheran Church accept the Nonprofit Collaborator Award. Michael Hitchcock accepts the Breaking the Mold Award for Roots and Dreams and Mustard Seeds. Driving Visitor Engagement Award was given to the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. The award for Advancing the Berkshire Economy went to Electro Magnetic Applications and accepted by Robert Smith and Nicholas Monteferrante. Brett Random, director of Berkshire County Head Start, was this year's Under 40 Change-Maker. PreviousNext 1Berkshire Celebrates the Berkshires and the Trendsetters Kristy Edmunds of Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts is the Visionary of the Year. LENOX, Mass. 1Berkshire celebrated this year's movers and shakers at the 12th annual Celebrate the Berkshires on Thursday night. The event at the Linde Center at Tanglewood honored individuals, businesses and organizations that support the Berkshires. "What truly energizes this event is seeing the excitement it generates amongst the people, initiatives, businesses and organizations doing some of the most dynamic work here in our region," said Jonathan Butler, president and CEO of 1Berkshire. "The Trendsetter awards are our opportunity to shine a light on that work, and we're thrilled to have this year's group of finalists here to celebrate with us," One of the main awardees for "Putting the Berkshires on the Map" was Stockbridge's Norman Rockwell Museum Executive Director Laurie Norton Moffatt, who will be retiring next year after four decades at the museum, spoke about her time there and growing up in the county. "Know how much we appreciate our Berkshire roots and our community, the place that has welcomed and healed Norman Rockwell during his years of need when he first moved to the Berkshires, and the place that nurtured and raised me, the place that welcomes so many to the Berkshires, a place with a wealth of nature, culture, organizations and citizens putting good work into the community and around the world," she said. "We thank you for this honor. It is an honor for Norman Rockwell Museum to follow a long tradition of artists, inventors, organizations, volunteers and devoted citizens who put the Berkshires on the map in the best sense of place, a place where people can become their best selves, have access to the cultural and natural amenities that support a whole child, support a young person, inspire an artist, welcome an immigrant to achieve their potential and give back to the world, representing Norman Rockwell Museum across the commonwealth, throughout the nation and around the globe, has been the privilege of a lifetime." Other awards of the night were presented to six other categories: Driving Visitor Engagement, the Under 40 Change-Maker, Nonprofit Collaborator, Visionary of the Year, "Breaking the Mold," and Advancing Our Economy. The Under 40 Change-Maker was awarded to Brett Random, who as executive director of Berkshire County Head Start expanded its programs that include local urgent issues. "I feel truly honored and humbled. I mean, I've always just had such great passion for the work that I do," she said. "So to be recognized, it's kind of like, oh, like people are recognizing me for this, but it feels so natural, and I just feel like I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I really feel like I'm working in my purpose." The Driving Visitor Engagement Award was given to the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center of Great Barrington. "So honored to receive this recognition for the opening of our new space and all that we do to bring people to the region. And it was really fun to be here tonight and celebrate with all of the nominees and winners," said Executive Director Janis Martinson. The Nonprofit Collaborator Award was given to Zion Lutheran Church, which is building nine supportive housing units and a resource center within the church. "We're very pleased, surprised. You know, we didn't think that a Lutheran church, even doing what we're doing, would get this kind of recognition, and it's helpful, but we're just getting started too. We're just finishing construction, so now we have to see that it runs smoothly," said Jim Schaefer, a project team member. The award for Breaking the Mold was given to Roots and Dream and Mustard Seeds, whose officials were surprised with the honor. "I'm just surprised, because, in reality, the radical stuff we're attempting to do, I didn't ever expect any more traditional development firm to not even care about us, but even know about us," said Executive Director Michael Hitchcock. "It's just seemed like a weird match up to me, but when I was researching, they make you accept their word and write a little essay about why what you're doing okay. And as I'm researching their development goals, I actually saw some surprising overlaps. And I saw that they are trying to do it, some gentle grasping towards the worker, the common person. So it's nice." The award for Advancing the Berkshire Economy went to Electro Magnetic Applications. Inc. "It's pretty good. It's nice to see that we're recognized. Earlier this year, our company also won a Silver Award from MassEcon [for contributions to the state's economy]. And so it's nice to see that we are continuing to help the economy in this area and in Massachusetts as well," said Robert Smith, a lab technician. And the award for Visionary of the Year was awarded to Kristy Edmunds with Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. Edmunds has partnered the museum with the city of North Adams in creating a blueprint for reconfiguring and developing the area between the downtown and the museum. Officials and representatives from Lenox and Stockbridge attend the forum on plans for improving pedestrian and cycling access around Tanglewood. Jeff Maxtutis, project manager, and Anna Sangree, transportation planner review the transportation study at Town Hall. Full plans can be found in the presentation here PreviousNext BRPC Presents Pedestrian, Bike Study in Lenox Residents of Hawthorne Street ask questions about the plans. LENOX, Mass. The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission is studying pedestrian and bicycle access opportunities around popular cultural institutions in town. BRPC and members of Beta Group Inc. presented draft recommendations last week from the Lenox-Stockbridge Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Study, which would create a multimodal system around West Street, Interlaken Road, Hawthorne Road and Street, and Old Stockbridge Road. This includes sidewalks, stone-dust paths, crosswalks, and a shared-use path across about six miles in total. BRPC has been working with stakeholders and the technical consultant on this effort since April, and the final report is expected to be finalized within a couple of weeks. Project Manager Jeff Maxtutis of Beta Group presented a visual of current walking and biking conditions to a group at Lenox Town Hall. "There's not a lot," he said, displaying a map that shows one existing sidewalk running down West Street and a small portion of Old Stockbridge Road to Hawthorne Street. "... And aside from that, you're either walking in the road or on the side of the road, in the grass, or biking in the street, so that's part of the issue that we're having. That some people can do that, some people are fine biking in the road, but it's not for everyone." Recommendations aim to improve connections and address existing gaps for pedestrian and bike access. The design will also make transportation safer and, hopefully, more fun for people not driving while recognizing the area as a "cultural hub." Maxtutis emphasized that this is a preliminary feasibility study based on available information, site visits, and discussions with the towns, and does not include details such as land surveys, drainage and utilities, and grading. "It's just based on 'Is it feasible?' and most cases it is feasible, but there's flexibility in the details, which is not part of our feasibility study," he said. In a press release for the event, BRPC wrote, "No decisions have been made or will be made regarding any projects at this time; this study works to illustrate potential projects and their costs for future consideration by the respective towns." Reconstructing West Street's sidewalk and extending the sidewalk on Interlaken Road from West Street to Hawthorne Road A stone-dust path in Gould Meadows A shared-use path and sidewalk along Hawthorne Road A stone-dust path on Hawthorne Street Walking Connections west of Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio Reconstructing Old Stockbridge Road's sidewalk and extending it from Hawthorne Street south to Elm Court Sangree noted that there are nice paths in Gould Meadows, but they are not accessible. A 10-foot, stone-dust path is proposed for about 1,800 feet along the property. "And there's no opportunity to bike, really, along this stretch of roadway," she added. "So the idea is to kind of create an accessible path where people can walk, people can roll, and people can also bike on it." Maxtutis said they want to be sensitive to the environmental area, and the stone dust path has less impact. This material is the byproduct of crushed stone and is used for patios, driveways, and walkways. A Hawthorne Street resident was concerned about losing character to the area and privacy from the road. "I've looked at plenty of plans, including these, and I recognize that the details are what really matter, and often when the details start to be implemented, people are surprised," she said. "So my concern is with how this plays out? And I would favor looking at both calming, narrowing roads to slow that traffic down, and lighter surfaces, less gray infrastructure, addressing the heat island effect. These are the priorities I would value as a resident, as opposed to who looks to me like, ultimately adding more gray infrastructure, asphalt." Sangree explained that the natural beauty of the area is a priority, and the facilities aim to increase people's experience outdoors. "We want to make sure that we're within the character, and we're not changing the character of the neighborhood, but we're allowing people to enjoy these beautiful resources," she said. Because this is a feasibility study, the planners haven't set a cost for the whole of the improvements or a timeline. Recommendations will be presented in phases, recognizing that the whole project wouldn't be done at once. 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's internet watchdog has launched a two-month nationwide campaign to suppress online content deemed to promote violent or hostile sentiment, with even pessimistic commentary on the slowing economy falling under its purview. The initiative follows recent disciplinary actions against major platforms, including the short-video app Kuaishou, microblogging site Weibo, and Instagram-like Xiaohongshu, over various content violations. Concerns regarding negative public sentiment have intensified this year amid China's economic struggles and persistent youth joblessness. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) announced it would conduct extensive inspections of trending topics, content recommendations, and comment sections across social media. Problematic content specifically targeted includes posts inciting fan group clashes, those teaching or selling doxxing techniques, fabricated information, economic rumours, distorted incident narratives, and "sensational conspiracy theories." Posts that hype up pessimism and negativity with claims like "hard work is useless" or "studying is useless", and those that "exaggerate isolated negative cases and push negative outlooks on life" will also come under scrutiny, the regulator said. The campaign follows recent disciplinary actions against major platforms including short-video app Kuaishou1024, microblogging site Weibo 9898 and Instagram-like Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, over content violations ( Getty Images ) China enforces strict rules on online content. While Western platforms also regulate user behaviour, China's control is far more extensive, motivated by concerns that strong sentiment fanned by heated online discussions could unsettle society in the real world. The announcement came a day after police in Beijing said they had taken "compulsory measures" against three individuals accused of spreading rumours about the death of well-known actor Yu Menglong, 37, who had starred in popular Chinese TV dramas. The police said Yu "fell to his death after drinking", but the individuals fabricated information and spliced together fake videos to attract attention, "seriously disrupting public order." 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 Chinese whistleblower jailed for documenting the early phases of the Covid-19 outbreak from Wuhan was reportedly sentenced to four more years in prison. Zhang Zhan, 42, was sentenced on Friday on a charge of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" in China, according to press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The same charge led to her December 2020 imprisonment after she posted first-hand accounts from the central city of Wuhan on the early spread of the coronavirus. Zhang, a lawyer-turned-citizen journalist, travelled to Wuhan in February 2020 to document the Chinese governments efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus at the start of what was to become a global pandemic. She posted firsthand accounts on social media from crowded hospitals and empty streets that projected a more serious situation than the government acknowledged. She also reported how the authorities were trying to censor criticism of its response to the viral outbreak on social media. Her lawyer at the time, Ren Quanniu, said Zhang believed she was "being persecuted for exercising her freedom of speech". She went on hunger strike the month after that arrest, prompting police to strap her hands and force-feed her with a tube, her lawyers said at the time. Zhang was released in May 2024 and detained again three months later, eventually being formally arrested and placed in Shanghai's Pudong Detention Center, RSF said. Aleksandra Bielakowska, the RSF Asia-Pacific advocacy manager, said: "She should be celebrated globally as an 'information hero', not trapped in brutal prison conditions. "Her ordeal and persecution must end. It is more urgent than ever for the international diplomatic community to pressure Beijing for her immediate release." Friday's sentencing followed Zhang's reporting on China's human rights abuses, RSF said. Her former lawyer posted on X that the new charges were based on Zhang's comment on overseas websites and she should not be deemed guilty. Her supporters were reportedly turned away at her trial on Friday. Peng Yonghe, the lawyer who volunteered to testify in her defence and called her a true patriot, was placed under police control. "Diplomats were barred from her trial, with all details concealed. Her persecution must end," added Ms Bielakowska. "This is the second time Zhang Zhan has faced trial on baseless charges that amount to nothing more than a blatant act of persecution for her journalism work," said Beh Lih Yi, Asia-Pacific director for the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. "Chinese authorities must put an end to the arbitrary detention of Zhang, drop all charges, and free her immediately." China has the world's largest prison for journalists, with at least 124 media workers behind bars, RSF said. The nation ranked 178th out of 180 countries and territories in the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index. The EU deplored Friday's verdict against Zhan and called for her "immediate and unconditional release", spokesperson Anitta Hipper said. The bloc urged "China to uphold freedom of expression and guarantee due process. We also call on China to provide reliable information about her health condition". A week before Zhang's latest sentencing, China's top lawmakers passed a bill to accelerate public health emergency responses by allowing people to report emergencies, bypassing the government's usual hierarchical structure. Another citizen journalist, Chen Qiushi, disappeared while filming in Wuhan in February 2020. He resurfaced on a friends YouTube live in September 2021 and said he had suffered from depression but didnt provide any details about his disappearance. The Independent has reached out to Chinas Justice Ministry for comment. 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 Kim Jong Un said he was open to talks with U.S. president Donald Trump on the condition that Washington drops its demand for denuclearisation of the reclusive east Asian country. The North Korean leader was addressing the country's rubber-stamp parliament on Sunday, when he said there was no reason for the sides not to hold talks if Washington abandons its "obsession with denuclearisation, state media KCNA reported. "Personally, I still have fond memories of US president [Donald] Trump," Mr Kim said, publicly naming the US president for the first time since he was elected to the Oval Office in January. "If the United States drops the absurd obsession with denuclearising us and accepts reality, and wants genuine peaceful coexistence, there is no reason for us not to sit down with the United States," Mr Kim added. Mr Kim's comments come as the new liberal government in South Korea urged Mr Trump to take the lead in reopening dialogue with the North Korean dictator, six years after all peace talks with Pyongyang collapsed in Hanoi in 2019 over sanctions and nuclear dismantlement. The two leaders met three times during Mr Trump's first presidency. Mr Kim's warm words towards Mr Trump were a contrast with his strident assertion that he will never give up nuclear weapons or engage in dialogue with South Korea, which he has designated a main enemy. Pyongyang declared itself a nuclear power in 2022. South Korea's president, Lee Jae Myung, told Reuters that the North was building 15 to 20 nuclear bombs a year. He added that any deal between Mr Kim and Mr Trump that froze manufacturing would be a useful step towards eventually dismantling the programme altogether. "Based on that, we can proceed to medium-term negotiations for nuclear weapons reductions, and in the long run, once mutual trust is restored and North Korea's regime-security concerns are reduced, we can pursue denuclearisation," he said. Mr Lee told the BBC that he thought it possible that Mr Kim and Mr Trump could come back together, given they "seem to have a degree of mutual trust". This could benefit South Korea and contribute to global peace and security, the South Korean leader said. However, Mr Kim has bluntly rejected any phased plan, saying recent overtures from Washington and Seoul for dialogue were disingenuous because their fundamental intent to weaken the North and destroy his regime remained unchanged, and that Mr Lee's phased plan was proof of that. "The world already knows full well what the United States does after it makes a country give up its nuclear weapons and disarms," Mr Kim said. "We will never give up our nuclear weapons." North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions and arms embargoes since its first nuclear test in 2006. But while the sanctions have squeezed funding for military development, Pyongyang has continued to make advances in building nuclear weapons and powerful ballistic missiles. "The reality is that the previous approach of sanctions and pressure has not solved the problem; it has worsened it," Mr Lee added. Earlier this month, Chinese president Xi Jinping hosted Mr Kim alongside Russias Vladimir Putin during Beijings largest military parade, which marked the 80th anniversary of World War Two. Unlike in past meetings, China did not publicly mention the North's nuclear weapons. Mr Lee said the deepening relationship between Beijing, Moscow and Pyongyang, has put South Korea in "a very difficult situation". "Seeing China, Russia and North Korea become so close is clearly not desirable for us," he said. The North Korean leader claimed that he had "no reason to sit down with South Korea", even as Mr Lee has sought to ease tensions with the North since his election to office. "We make it clear that we will not deal with them in any form," Mr Kim 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 India's Supreme Court has asked the federal government to respond to a plea seeking an independent investigation into the Air India plane crash that killed 280 people in June. A London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by Air India crashed less than two minutes after take off from the Ahmedabad airport on 12 June. The aircraft lost power, veered off course, and struck a medical college building near the runway, killing all 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground. India's top court on Monday was responding to a public interest litigation filed by a non-profit, Safety Matters Foundation, marking its first examination of the probe being carried out by Indian authorities into the incident. "The investigation necessarily involves a critical examination of DGCA's [Directorate General of Civil Aviation] own regulatory actions and possible lapses," the plea said. Lawyers for the organisation questioned the inclusion of officials from the aviation safety regulator on the probe panel, saying it created a "conflict of interest". A preliminary investigation report released earlier by the Indian government showed pilot confusion in the cockpit shortly before the crash after the plane's fuel engine switches had almost simultaneously flipped from run to cutoff just after takeoff. open image in gallery An investigation team inspects the wreckage of Air India flight 171 a day after it crashed in a residential area near the airport, in Ahmedabad on June 13, 2025 ( AFP via Getty Images ) The report appeared to exonerate Boeing and engine maker GE Aerospace, but some family groups have criticised investigators and the press for being too focused on the pilots' actions. "Three of the members are the serving officers of the DGCA, which creates a very serious conflict of interest," Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners, told the judges. The two-judge bench observed that it was "irresponsible" to blame pilots Sumeet Sabharwal and Clive Kunder based on a preliminary inquiry report. "If tomorrow someone irresponsibly says pilot A or B was at fault, the family will suffer... What happens if the final inquiry report later finds no fault?" the court asked, noting the importance of maintaining confidentiality until the inquiry is complete. Mr Bhushan told the court that after the "government officially released the report, and everyone went around saying it was pilot error". "These were very experienced pilots, yet the story suggested that the pilot was suicidal and had switched the fuel switch." That was unfortunate, said Justice Surya Kant. He added that reports suggesting that one of the pilots was suicidal a "very irresponsible" kind of reporting. "Unfortunately, sometimes when such a tragedy happens, the benefit is taken by rival aircraft companies," the bench added. The court said it will review the demand for a "fair, impartial, and independent, and expeditious" investigation and it has asked the government to respond. Pushkaraj Sabharwal, the father of Sumeet Sabharwal, the captain of the doomed flight, has demanded a fresh investigation, saying preliminary findings unjustly damaged his sons reputation. open image in gallery Sumeet Sabharwal (R) and Clive Kunder were the pilots of the doomed Air India flight ( Supplied ) Mr Sabharwal has written to the Indian civil aviation ministry demanding a formal inquiry under sections of the Aircraft Investigation of Accidents and Incidents Rules, 2017. This rule allows the government to order an independent probe even while Indias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau investigation is ongoing. Mr Sabharwal, 91, said selective leaks from the preliminary report wrongly suggested his son was depressed and could have crashed the aircraft deliberately. Such speculation was deficient, diversionary and discrepant and violated his sons fundamental right to reputation under Indias constitution, the Indian Express reported. He rejected claims that the late pilots divorce 15 years earlier or his mothers death three years ago had affected his mental health. Meanwhile, families of four victims of the plane crash have filed a separate case in the US against Boeing and Honeywell, which made the switches. The lawsuit alleged that a defective fuel control switch led to the disaster. The lawsuit filed in the Delaware Superior Court states that the Boeing aircrafts fuel switches could inadvertently have been flipped to cut-off because of their design. It argues that by placing the switches behind the thrust levers, Boeing effectively guaranteed that normal cockpit activity could result in inadvertent fuel cut-off. Boeing earlier told The Independent: Consistent with US law and the UN International Civil Aviation Organization protocol known as Annex 13, we will refer you to the AAIB and the preliminary report for any additional information. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An elderly British couple who were held by the Taliban for seven months without charge have spoken at length about their detention for the first time, describing a bewildering period in which they were never told what theyd done wrong and feared being executed. Peter, 80, and Barbie Reynolds, 76, were pictured smiling and waving as they disembarked a plane in Doha on Friday, and have thanked the British and Qatari governments for their work to secure their release. In a detailed series of responses provided to The Independent on Monday, the couple criticised their ill treatment and the lies told by the Taliban during their detention, suggesting they know they are leaving behind their home in the war-torn country for ever. They say it is a mystery why the Taliban has chosen to release them now, adding that government officials have told them no deal was made to secure their freedom. The couple married in 1970 in Kabul and have lived in Afghanistan for the past 18 years, running education and training programmes for women and girls. They believed their work for the Afghan people, combined with their age, would make them unlikely targets for the Taliban, and did not flee when the group came to power in August 2021. The couple were arrested on 1 February this year along with their American friend Faye Hall, who had rented a plane to travel with them, according to employees of their organisation, Rebuild. An Afghan translator working with them was also arrested. open image in gallery British couple Peter and Barbie Reynolds rest after disembarking from a plane in Doha, Qatar, last week following their release ( Reuters ) Initially, the Taliban said that the flight on which the Reynolds and their friends were travelling did not coordinate with the local government, and confirmed that they had been sent to a prison facility in Kabul. Later, they claimed the couple had violated Afghan law, but did not specify how exactly. The couple describe a litany of health issues they suffered from during their detention, and said they were treated like criminals and chained to murderers. They were never charged or even told what crimes they were supposed to have committed, and still do not know to this day. We had done nothing wrong, and we were initially told we were being detained for a few minutes only as guests of the government. However, when I was taken to court, I had my ankles and hands cuffed together with murderers and rapists, Mr Reynolds said. He said the couple had been held in 10 different prisons since their arrest in February. We were treated with respect most of the time, but we felt a huge powerlessness, he said. On being asked about their worst moment during their detention, Mr Reynolds said: The worst moment was being led away and being separated as a couple after 55 years of marriage to my best friend. Ms Reynolds said the moment they were separated was also the worst part of the ordeal for her, describing seeing my 80-year-old husband struggling to get into the back of a police truck with his hands and ankles chained. open image in gallery Peter Reynolds walks with his daughter Sarah Entwistle after disembarking from a plane in Doha, Qatar, last week ( Reuters ) We were never told why we were arrested or still being held, said Mr Reynolds, adding that the couple had repeatedly asked to sit down and discuss the situation with the Taliban but were never given that opportunity. After their arrest in February, the couple said, they lived amongst and talked with hundreds of prisoners of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan for three and a half months. But for the next 120 days they were lodged in solitary confinement, cut off from the rest of the world. When [our] release didnt happen, we had to deal with the thought that we would never be released, or that we were even being held until we were executed, Mr Reynolds said. Their children had previously told The Independent about their fears that Mr Reynolds would die in prison if he did not get his medication, which was being denied by the Taliban. We both encountered health issues during the seven and a half months, including severe anaemia, a possible stroke or silent heart attack, and blood and heart circulation problems, Mr Reynolds said. Ms Reynolds added: We ate very oily, salty prison food in our respective cells for the first three and a half months. Then we were removed from Pul-e-Charki prison and were held in a basement cell for two months before moving to a room above ground. open image in gallery Peter and Barbie Reynolds disembark after landing at the airport in Doha ( AFP via Getty ) For their last two months in prison, the two said they were actually treated as guests ... with good food and kindness. But the two are bewildered as to why any of this happened and are very happy that this ordeal is over. It is a mystery how or why we have been released. We were told by the Qatari and British governments that there was no deal that had been made, Mr Reynolds said. We have a lot to process; we are leaving behind quality people, our home, and all our possessions, he said, adding that he is looking forward to hugging his family again. The couple said they would now listen to their childrens narrative of how they experienced this traumatic time and processed all that has unfolded in the last eight months. And confirming the impact on their lives and work of their unexplained detention, the couple suggested that they would probably never return to Afghanistan which means leaving their longtime home and friends behind for ever. We are confident in the many wonderful Afghans we know to bring about a positive future for their country without us, the couple 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 Malaysian man convicted of heroin trafficking is scheduled for execution this week in Singapore, prompting renewed calls from anti-death penalty activists for a halt to capital punishment in the city-state. Datchinamurthy Kataiah, 39, faces hanging on Thursday, which would make him the third Malaysian national and the eleventh person executed in Singapore this year. His family received notice on Sunday of the Thursday hanging at Changi prison, according to Kokila Annamalai of Transformative Collective Justice, an anti-death penalty advocacy group. Datchinamurthy was arrested in 2011 and later convicted of trafficking about 45 grams (1.6 ounces) of heroin into Singapore. He was to be hanged in 2022 but won a last-minute reprieve pending a legal challenge that was dismissed by the court in August. Singapores strict laws mandate the death penalty for anyone caught carrying more than 15 grams of heroin and 500 grams of cannabis. Critics say the law disproportionately targets low-level traffickers and couriers. Speaking at a joint news conference via video link with Amnesty International Malaysia and the Anti-Depath Penalty Asia Network, Kokila read from a letter from Datchinamurtys sister, Rani, who has flown to Singapore to spend time with him. Her brother is not protesting punishment, Rani said in the letter, but believes the death penalty is too harsh and extreme for a young mans naive action. The three rights groups and 30 other civil society organizations also issued a joint statement reiterating standing calls to halt executions. They said three other Malaysians and a Singaporean man, who had been on death row for drug offenses ranging from 7 years to 10 years, face executions after recently losing their latest appeals. The Cabinet of Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took office last year, had advised President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to show clemency to a Singaporean man on death row for drug trafficking. The president responded and the man's sentence was last month commuted to life in prison the first such clemency since 1998. The three activist groups say it shows change is possible. The groups also urged neighboring Malaysia the current chair of the regional ASEAN bloc to take steps to protect its disadvantaged citizens who are being exploited by drug syndicates. Malaysia abolished the mandatory death penalty in 2023, replacing capital punishment with prison terms of 30 to 40 years. Amnesty International's 2024 global report said Malaysia commuted more than 1,000 death sentences last year. In contrast, Singapore doubled its executions from five in 2023 to nine last year, with six of those carried out over a two-month period, Amnesty said. More than 40 remain on death row in the city-state. Amnesty also said that the Asia-Pacific region continues to hold the highest number of executions in the world, but secrecy and restrictive state practices such as in China, Vietnam and North Korea make it impossible to obtain accurate figures. 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 Terrorism remains a persistent threat to nations around the world. Indeed, the Global Terrorism Index, an annual chronicle of terrorism trends, found in its latest report that the number of countries that experienced attacks rose to 66 in 2024 the most since 2018. The rise of lone-wolf attacks made up 93% of fatal attacks across Western nations. An alarming rise in far-right violent extremism has triggered some of this violence; meanwhile, ongoing conflicts fueled by the Islamic State group have sparked concern of again inspiring would-be terrorists around the world. While their ideologies may differ, one thing all terrorists have in common is that they were radicalized. And this raises an important question: Can a person who once embraced terrorism and violence truly change? open image in gallery The rise of lone-wolf attacks made up 93 per cent of fatal attacks across Western nations ( PA ) As a researcher who studies soft power and ideological violence, I set out to answer that question by asking 24 Indonesian former terrorists and holding focus group discussions with ex-jihadists. These men and women were all convicted of crimes related to violent acts across Indonesia. Fifteen of them were connected with the Southeast Asian terrorism network Jemaah Islamiyah, nine were members of Islamic State-related groups, and one had links to both. All have since been released from prison, having served sentences ranging from 11 months to 15 years. They have walked away from radical ideologies and violence, choosing instead to rebuild and reconcile. In conversations I had with them in person and via video and phone calls, they provided 69 recommendations on how terrorists can be deradicalized. I boiled this down to six critical ideas about what it takes for someone to truly change. 1. Hard power is not enough Governments have long relied on security crackdowns, intelligence operations and harsh prison sentences to fight terrorism. These methods may be important, but they often miss the root causes. In many cases, prison only deepens radical beliefs or helps militants form new networks. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the now deceased Islamic State groups founder, for example, is thought to have become more radical during his time at Camp Bucca, a U.S. detention facility. open image in gallery Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi ( Department of Defense ) Some of the men and women I spoke to mentioned how they saw some convicts become more radicalized under the influence of other extremists. As such, locking up someone in the same facility as someone with similar or even more hard-line views may not help them deradicalize. Soft power approaches ones that aim not just to lock away extremists but to help them walk away from extremism altogether can be more effective. 2. Caseworkers are unsung heroes I found that in Indonesias model, caseworkers who work with convicted terrorists are game changers. They work as government-connected personnel who closely engage with terrorists while still in prisons and, more importantly, continue after their release. Caseworkers main responsibility is to prepare ex-militants for a normal life after their release. They are more than just parole officers or prison staff; they act as mentors, helpers and counselors. About the author Bernard Loesi is a PhD Candidate in International Studies at the University of Washington. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article. One major challenge former terrorists encounter is economic survival. Eight respondents admitted financial hardship as their biggest concern after release. This problem was seen as most challenging for those who did not have connections, required skills, relevant work experience and proper educational backgrounds. Even if they had relevant talents and skills, their status as former terrorist detainees made it difficult to secure permanent jobs. This is an important phase, because if they cannot secure (jobs), they will likely return to violence, one former terrorist told me. The men and women I spoke with also acknowledged the importance of family support, psychological care, theological reflection and quality education for their children as important factors. Caseworkers are crucial in addressing these concerns by helping design tailored interventions built on personalized assessments of each individuals challenges and aspirations. 3. Trust is everything More than half of the former terrorists I spoke with said that developing bonds and trust with their caseworkers provided a turning point. The six months before and after release are especially crucial to prepare them for the reintegration process. If that transition fails, released terrorist convicts are prone to rejoining their old jihadist groups. One former militant connected to Jemaah Islamiyah recounted how a member of his previous group reached out to him after his release: They kept calling and preaching to me until both of my ears hurt. I finally blocked his number. Building connections between caseworkers and terrorist convicts is an important catalyst for inmates to replace previous extremist networks. Caseworkers and their networks can become new social groups for former terrorists, replacing jihadist networks trying to re-recruit them. 4. Community matters Deradicalization isnt just personal its communal. As such, it isnt just the individual militants who need to be part of the process so too does the community they are being released into. I felt moved when the community accepted me for who I was. Thats when I knew I had to change. I would never want to hurt them, one female would-be suicide bomber told me. After years behind bars, most former terrorist inmates return to society unsure how to secure their most basic needs, such as securing health coverage, a drivers license or identification documents. Caseworkers can guide them to get those essentials, but its not the paperwork that brings healing. It is human acceptance that often makes the deepest impact. Here, too, caseworkers can help by convincing the former terrorists communities that they are no longer a threat. 5. Turning terrorists into change-makers Deradicalized individuals have a unique power. They understand militant logic and can speak credibly to those still in extremist circles. As a result, they can gain trust and can leverage their past to persuade other fellow terrorists to renounce violence in a way that many government-led intervention efforts cannot. All 24 former militants I interviewed expressed a willingness to help others leave terrorism behind. Wed never mind helping the government to talk to other terrorists and induce them to quit terrorism. They trust us more than they trust the government, one former militant explained. Many of those I spoke with have become peer counselors, outreach workers and community ambassadors. 6. Clean governance matters, too Another insight I discovered in my interviews was that corruption fuels extremism. Many former terrorists said that when government institutions feel rigged or unjust, radical ideologies that promise purity and fairness become more attractive. I had to bribe city officials to run my business here. An Islamic State group recruiter then convinced me to live in Syria because I was told they have clean bureaucrats, one released terrorist, who never had a criminal record before, told me. Almost 17% of the respondents suggested that accountable public service, uncorrupt Indonesian bureaucracy and a stronger rule of law can ease the deradicalization process. The bottom line So, can violent extremists be deradicalized? My research offers a hopeful yes, but with an important caveat: Effective deradicalization is more likely to happen when caseworkers can facilitate interventions that strengthen the former terrorists economic and social resilience during and after their incarceration. These journeys are not easy or quick, but they happen. Transformation is possible not through coercion, but through compassion, opportunity and community support. 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 At least 17 people have died after Super Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest storm of the year, battered Taiwan and the northern Philippines, with the typhoon now pushing west towards its expected landfall in southern China. At least 14 people died in Taiwan and 124 remain missing after a barrier lake burst its banks following torrential rains from the storm, officials said. The lake, formed by landslides in Hualien county after downpours, sent a wall of water crashing into Guangfu township yesterday. Follow our live blog for the latest updates. Streets were emptied in Hong Kong as the storm brought waves taller than lampposts to its promenades, triggering a No 10 signal, the highest level alert. China has evacuated 1.9 million people so far in Guangdong province, local authorities say. The province is an economic powerhouse and home to more than 125 million people. The national weather agency forecast the super typhoon would make landfall between the cities of Yangjiang and Zhanjiang this evening. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 200kmph and gusts of up to 250kmph on Wednesday morning, according to the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center. open image in gallery Map shows path and arrival time of Super Typhoon Ragasa as it heads towards China ( Joint Typhoon Warning Center ) Schools, factories and transit services were suspended in about a dozen cities. In Hong Kong, authorities shut schools and public offices throughout Tuesday and Wednesday after warning that hurricane-force winds and storm surges could rival those seen during Super Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. open image in gallery Map shows path and arrival time (in Philippine Standard Time) of super typhoon Ragasa ( PAGASA ) The Hong Kong airport earlier said it will continue operations but warned passengers to expect "significant disruption" to flights from 6pm on Tuesday until at least Thursday morning. Around 700 flights have been cancelled, while ferries and some key highways are also shutting down, the South China Morning Post reported. Analysis by The Independent of Flightradar24 data shows 86 regional departures to destinations in Asia have been grounded. In addition, more than 30 long-haul departures are grounded, including two overnight flights to London Heathrow on Cathay Pacific and one on British Airways. open image in gallery Passengers look at an information display board showing canceled flights due to the super typhoon Ragasa, at the Hong Kong International Airport ( AP ) More than 100 flight departures from Hong Kong have been cancelled in just 10 hours, from 2pm to midnight local time on Tuesday afternoon and evening. An estimated 20,000 passengers are affected. The Hong Kong Observatory said weather would deteriorate rapidly with gale to storm-force winds and high swells through Wednesday. open image in gallery A shopper stands near near empty shelves at a supermarket ahead of Typhoon Ragasa in Shenzhen in southern China's Guangdong province ( AP ) Photos and videos showed empty shelves in supermarkets as residents stockpiled essentials ahead of disruption. Taiwan premier Cho Jung-tai has called for an inquiry into what went wrong with evacuation orders in an eastern county. open image in gallery An overview shows flowing mud and floodwaters after a barrier lake burst and caused parts of the bridge over Mataian Creek be destroyed in Hualien ( Taiwan's Central News Agency (CN ) In Guangfu, the Taiwanese town where the lake burst killing 14 people, some 5,200 people or nearly 60 per cent of the population had been told to seek shelter either on the upper floors of their homes or to the homes of friends and relatives. Regions across Taiwan have dispatched rescue teams to Hualien, with the military sending 340 troops to help. open image in gallery Debris is piled up in front of seafront restaurant in Tseung Kwan O damaged after Super Typhoon Ragasa hit the district in Hong Kong ( AFP via Getty Images ) Ragasa was expected to maintain its strength throughout Wednesday as a super storm, before weakening slightly as it makes landfall in southern China, forecasters said. Earlier this week, the storm battered the Phillippines, where at least three people have been killed and thousands displaced in floods and landslides across the northern parts. In northern Luzon, a 74-year-old man died after being trapped in a vehicle buried by mud and rocks in Benguet province, officials said. Two others were killed in Calayan town in Cagayan province, where the storm first made landfall. The disaster agency said more than 17,500 people were forced from their homes, while five others remain missing. Schools, government offices and transport services were suspended across 29 provinces, with ferries and domestic flights cancelled. open image in gallery Super typhoon Ragasa as it develops and nears Hong Kong and mainland China ( National Oceanic and Atmospheric ) Scientists warn storms in the region are becoming more intense as global temperatures rise, placing millions of people across Asias typhoon belt at increasing risk. Forecasters said Ragasa was moving northwest at 15kmph over very warm waters, an environment primed to fuel further intensification. Ragasa isnt the only storm intensifying in the Pacific Ocean this week. Super Typhoon Neoguri also reached category 4 equivalent strength. Early on Sunday morning, satellite images revealed that both typhoons were very large and undergoing rapid intensification. 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 and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. announced a link between autism and the use of the pain reliever acetaminophen during pregnancy on Monday. They told pregnant women not to take the drug, which is commonly known by the brand name Tylenol, or give it to their babies, and repeated numerous conspiracy theories about autism. Dont take Tylenol, the president said at a press conference at the White House, claiming that there is no downside. But, following the remarks, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists warned that pain and fever can be harmful when left untreated during pregnancy. The conditions people use acetaminophen to treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks and can create severe morbidity and mortality for the pregnant person and the fetus, the group said in a statement. open image in gallery President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. announced a link between autism and use of the pain reliever acetaminophen during pregnancy on Monday. ( AFP via Getty Images ) Ahead of the announcement, Trump said he believed the drug was a very big factor in causing autism and also expressed concern about shots given to children, saying they get these massive vaccines like youd give to a horse. Kennedy, who has long spread vaccine misinformation and pushed a discredited theory that routine childhood vaccines were the cause of autism, said theyd continue to look into their role and that the department would encourage clinicians to prescribe the lowest effective dose of acetaminophen. However, decades of research have shown no direct connection between autism and acetaminophen. Advising pregnant women not to take Tylenol is simply highly irresponsible, Dr. Helen Tager-Flusberg, professor emerita at Boston University and head of the Coalition of Autism Scientists, told The Independent. "I would say this is the concern of the entire autism community. Scientists, individuals with autism, parents who have an autistic child, were all concerned that here's a major announcement with significant implications that is simply not tied to the reality of the scientific evidence itself. What happened during RFK Jrs announcement? The Department of Health and Human Services linked taking acetaminophen during pregnancy to children developing autism. Officials recommended that acetaminophen only be used to tackle high fever in pregnant women, a move that was first reported by The Washington Post. They said that the Food and Drug Administration would issue a physicians notice about the risk of acetaminophen during pregnancy and begin the process to initiate a safety label change. Taking Tylenol is not good, Trump said. Ill say it. Its not good. For this reason [the FDA] are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary. In response, Kenvue Inc., the American company that makes Tylenol, said that over a decade of rigorous research confirmed there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism. HHS also advised that people take the cancer and anemia drug leucovorin to address symptoms of autism. Leucovorin is typically prescribed to counteract the side effects of certain medications and to treat vitamin B12 deficiency. How much research has been done on autism and acetaminophen - and what does it say? A Harvard and Mount Sinai review, published in August, found that using acetaminophen may be linked to an increased risk of autism and ADHD. It reviewed results from 46 past studies, including data from over 100,000 participants. Our findings show that higher-quality studies are more likely to show a link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and increased risks of autism and ADHD, Dr. Diddier Prada, an assistant professor at Mount Sinai, said. However, the authors cautioned that their review does not show that acetaminophen directly causes neuro-developmental disorders and did not recommend stopping its use altogether. open image in gallery Kennedy, who has long spread vaccine misinformation, has previously pushed a discredited theory that routine childhood vaccines were the cause of autism. After becoming HHS secretary, he pledged to determine the causes of autism by September, calling it an epidemic. ( Getty ) A 2024 study from Drexel University found no link between acetaminophen and autism following the drugs use in pregnancy when looking at data from 2.4 million children over the past 25 years. Dr. Brian Lee, who was part of the Drexel research team, said that the causal effect on autism and ADHD, specifically, is not present-- meaning the drug has not been found to cause autism. He added: The weight of evidence for air pollution and autism is certainly a lot stronger than for acetaminophen and autism but I dont see anyone in the administration rushing out to say we should limit air pollution. Lee also told The Independent that he would not recommend leucovorin as a treatment for autism yet, and that more research needs to be done to recommend the drug. We need large-scale, randomized, controlled trials, which will be impossible to do because this is something that you can buy on Amazon, Tager-Flusberg added. Why are there more cases of autism spectrum disorder now? Autism cases have been rising in the U.S. for decades, increasing from one in 150 children in the early 2000s to one in 31 today, according to federal health officials. Experts say this is because more children are being diagnosed with the disorder. In the 1990s, only the children with the most profound symptoms were considered to have autism. Now, more than five million Americans are autistic, including 1.5 million children. A single cause of autism has not been determined, but genetics, environmental factors, and a mothers health during pregnancy are all believed to play a role, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Is it safe for pregnant women to use Tylenol during pregnancy? open image in gallery Doctors say Tylenol remains the safest drug to take during pregnancy for fever and pain ( Getty Images/iStock ) Experts told The Independent that it is. Used by more than half of pregnant women worldwide, Tylenol is the safest known drug to take during pregnancy for problems like fever and pain, doctors agree. Leaving fever and pain untreated has been linked to preterm birth and miscarriage. Because we know that women take Tylenol because they have a fever or an infection, and those we do know contribute some risk during the early months of pregnancy, Tager-Flusberg, professor emerita at Boston University, said. And what about Trumps claim about children getting massive vaccines like youd give to a horse? Dr. Jake Scott, an infectious diseases specialist at Stanford Medicine, called the presidents claims about vaccines completely wrong. When he compares vaccinating a baby to 'shooting up a horse,' he fundamentally misunderstands how vaccines work, said Scott. Scott and Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, explained that vaccine doses are designed to fit the bodies of their patients, with children receiving much smaller doses than adults. Offit said the president isn't always right about the science." Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Buried deep in Greenlands ice sheet lies a puzzling chemical signature that has sparked intense scientific debate. A sharp spike in platinum concentrations, discovered in an ice core (a cylinder of ice drilled out of ice sheets and glaciers) and dated to around 12,800 years ago, has provided support for a hypothesis that the Earth was struck by an exotic meteorite or comet at that time. Our new research offers a much more mundane explanation: this mystery platinum signature may have originated from a volcanic fissure eruption in Iceland, not space. The timing matters. The platinum spike occurs near the beginning of our planets last great cold period, the Younger Dryas Event. This lasted from about 12,870 to 11,700 years ago and saw temperatures plummet across the northern hemisphere. open image in gallery Researchers suggest the icy phase in Earths climatic history was caused either by a large volcanic eruption in Germany or by the eruption of an unknown volcano ( AFP/Getty ) This happened just as the planet had actually been warming up from the last ice age. Understanding what triggered this cold snap could help us understand how Earths climate may change in the future. We propose that this icy phase in Earths climatic history was in fact caused either by a large volcanic eruption in Germany or by the eruption of an unknown volcano. A climate mystery Ice cores show that during the millennium-long Younger Dryas Event, temperatures across Greenland dropped to more than 15C colder than they are today. Europe returned to near glacial conditions, with tundra replacing forests that had begun to flourish. Low-latitude rainbelts shifted to the south. The traditionally accepted explanation involves a massive release of freshwater from melting North American ice sheets. This freshwater pulse disrupted the ocean circulation, affecting temperatures. However, other researchers have proposed that the event was triggered by a comet or asteroid impact over North America. In 2013, researchers analysing ice cores drilled as part of the Greenland Ice Sheet Project (GISP2) discovered platinum concentrations that were well above normal levels. The ratio of platinum to a radioactive element called iridium was also unusual because space rocks usually have high levels of iridium, while the ice core spike does not. The ice core signature was very different from anything seen in known meteorites or volcanic rocks. The authors of the space impact paper suggested that perhaps the unusual ice chemistry reflected the impact of an unusual asteroid made up of iron. open image in gallery Some scientists argue that a space impact could have triggered the Younger Dryas ( Getty/iStock ) A subsequent paper proposed that the ice chemistry could reflect the German Laacher See volcanic eruption, which had an unusual geochemistry and occurred around that time. To test this idea, we collected and analysed 17 samples of volcanic pumice from deposits left behind by the Laacher See eruption. We measured platinum, iridium, and other trace elements to create a chemical fingerprint of the eruption. Our results were clear: the Laacher See pumices contain virtually no platinum, with concentrations below or barely at detection limits. Even though some platinum may have escaped to the atmosphere before being trapped in the rock, the eruption was clearly not the source of Greenlands platinum spike. Additionally, when we examined the timing carefully, using updated ice core chronologies, we found the platinum spike actually occurred about 45 years after the Younger Dryas began too late to have triggered the cooling. This result was arrived at independently but was consistent with previous research finding the same thing. Importantly, the elevated platinum concentrations lasted for 14 years, suggesting a prolonged event rather than an instantaneous asteroid or comet impact. About the author James Baldini is a Professor in Earth Sciences at Durham University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article. We compared the ice cores chemical signature with various other geological samples and found the closest match was with volcanic gas condensates (the products formed when gases released from a volcano cool from a gas to a liquid or solid state), particularly from submarinevolcanoes. Icelands volcanoes can produce fissure eruptions lasting years or even decades, matching the 14-year duration of the platinum spike. During the melting phase that preceded the Younger Dryas, Icelands volcanic activity increased dramatically as melting ice sheets reduced pressure on the Earths crust. Crucially, submarine or subglacial eruptions interact with water in ways that could explain the unusual chemistry. Seawater can strip away sulphur compounds while concentrating other elements like platinum in volcanic gases. These platinum-rich gases could then travel to Greenland and be deposited on the ice sheet, explaining the odd geochemistry. Recent research on historical Icelandic eruptions supports this mechanism. The 8th-century Katla eruption produced a 12-year spike in heavy metals like bismuth and thallium in Greenland ice cores. The 10th-century Eldgja eruption resulted in a cadmium spike within glacial ice. Although platinum was not measured in those studies, these examples show Icelandic volcanoes regularly deliver heavy metals to the Greenland ice sheet. A smoking gun? Because of the chronological mismatch, whatever mechanism was responsible for the platinum spike didnt trigger the Younger Dryas. Our research does, however, highlight previous results showing a massive volcanic sulphate spike in multiple ice cores coinciding precisely with the onset of cooling 12,870 years ago. This eruption, whether from the Laacher See eruption or an unknown volcano, injected enough sulphur into the atmosphere to rival the largest eruptions in recorded history. Volcanic eruptions can trigger cooling by releasing sulphur into the stratosphere, reflecting incoming sunlight and potentially setting off a cascade of positive feedbacks, including sea ice expansion, changed wind patterns and disruption of ocean currents, though future research needs to explore this further. The substantial volcanic forcing around the Younger Dryas onset a time when the climate was already sitting between a glacial and an interglacial (the periods between cold snaps) may have provided the nudge that tipped Earths climate back into a cold state. It is important to note that our research focused on the platinum spike and did not consider other evidence, such as spherules (spherical fragments of melted rock) and black mats (mysterious dark layers in soil), for an extraterrestrial impact. That said, based on our analysis of the new results and existing data, a large northern hemispheric volcanic eruption seems to be the most straightforward explanation for the Younger Dryas Event. Understanding past climate triggers is vital for anticipating what lies ahead. Although the chance of a large meteorite impact or volcanic eruption in any given year is low, such events are virtually certain to occur eventually. Knowing how Earths climate responded in the past is therefore crucial for preparing for the consequences of the next major event. 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 Many Brits enjoy a curry served with a heap of fluffy white basmati rice, its delicate aroma balancing the heat of the dish. But few stop to think about the grains long journey. From the paddy fields of India and Pakistan, through regional markets and rice mills, then matured for a year in silos before being shipped in bulk to the UK. It then passes through one of the countrys 16 processing sites before reaching supermarket shelves. The UK imports around 250,000 tonnes of basmati rice every year making it one of the worlds biggest markets. This summer, consumers got a glimpse of what happens when that supply chain goes wrong. Four people were arrested in late July after investigators found substandard rice being passed off as a well-known basmati brand. The National Food Crime Unit uncovered the fraud when tests showed the wrong type of rice inside premium-brand packets. The operation began in Leicester, where police arrested a man suspected of repackaging ordinary rice into counterfeit basmati bags. Three more arrests followed in London. Basmati is a prestigious grain, prized for its nutty flavour and popcorn-like aroma. Alongside jasmine from Thailand and Italys arborio, it sits at the top of the speciality rice market. When shoppers buy a packet of basmati, they expect quality. If it falls short, they may feel cheated and think twice about buying that brand again. To prevent this, the UK operates strict rules under the basmati code of practice. The code sets out which varieties can legally be called basmati, how they may be blended and what level of non-basmati grain is tolerated. open image in gallery Basmati sits at the top of the speciality rice market, alongside arborio (pictured) ( Getty/iStock ) There must not be more than 7% of another rice variety in a packet. Its a figure reduced from 20% two decades ago, but which cannot be lowered further because of the realities of handling multiple varieties in large mills. This code was agreed by the Rice Association and the British Retail Association, and it applies across Europe. When exporters in India and Pakistan develop new basmati varieties, samples are sent to the Rice Association in London for approval. An important tool in enforcing these rules is DNA testing. Every grain carries a genetic fingerprint that can confirm whether it belongs to one of the approved basmati varieties. Public analyst laboratories regularly test shipments entering the UK and EU. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has previously run annual surveys of basmati products bought at random from retailers. The current DNA test for basmati authentication was developed through collaboration between my colleagues and me at Bangor University, the FSA and public analysts. About the author Katherine Steele is a Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Crop Production at Bangor University. This article was first published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article We profiled hundreds of rice varieties and continue to refine the markers used to identify basmati. Before the method was approved, our team ran blind tests of results from known spiked mixtures of grains across different laboratories to ensure reliable results. An age-old problem with modern costs Food fraud is nothing new. For centuries, unscrupulous traders have substituted cheaper goods or mislabelled products. While swapping rice is less harmful than adulterating food with toxic substances, it still matters. Consumers resent being duped, brands suffer reputational damage and companies that play by the rules lose out. The stakes are high because the UK rice industry is worth close to 1 billion a year. There are points of vulnerability every time the grains get passed from one trader to the next. We cant assume it all happens overseas. Economic pressures may be making the problem worse. As the UK experiences sluggish economic growth, opportunities for food crime may be increasing. Counterfeiting is easier to identify using DNA testing than when known mixtures of varieties are introduced further up the food chain. It is probable that some of the less well-known brands of rice sold in the UK may contain varieties that are not listed in the basmati code of practice. These could easily slip through the DNA test because complex mixtures can be made to contain all the right molecular signatures. Even so, food sold in the UK is among the most closely regulated in the world because of the work done by the FSA. Their National Food Crime unit leads the fight against food crime as exemplified by the recent case of the counterfeit basmati, but consumers must be vigilant because there are still fraudsters about. This can include being wary of poorly printed packaging labels, misspellings, broken seals and unusual pricing. Because if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. 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 Scotland Yard has launched a review of the vetting of hundreds of new recruits amid fears crucial background checks may have been bungled. The countrys biggest police force is said to be urgently re-vetting over 300 people hired between 2016 and 2023 after it identified potential errors in the recruitment process. Police recruits must be carefully vetted to ensure they are suitable for police work, including an assessment of any criminal background or connections, any outstanding debt which could leave them vulnerable to corruption and other background checks. However, it is feared hundreds were wrongly hired with substandard or no vetting carried out, including many during the Conservative governments so-called uplift recruitment drive, The Guardian reports. open image in gallery The alleged recruitment predates the tenure of Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley ( PA ) The Met is now carrying out an internal review into vetting and hiring practices between 2016 and April 2023, the force has confirmed. In a statement, the Met said: The Met is undertaking a review of historic vetting and hiring practices. This is part of ongoing wider work to raise professional standards across the organisation and improve trust and confidence with the public. The alleged recruitment failings are said to predate the tenure of the current Met Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, who took over from Dame Cressida Dick in 2022. The force has been dogged by a string of scandals in recent years, including the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met officer Wayne Couzens, who used his warrant card to abduct her. The force was branded institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic in a damning review by Baroness Louise Casey in 2023, commissioned in the wake of the shocking crime. An interim report from her in 2022, focused on the Mets discipline and complaints system, warned officers suspected of serious crimes including sexual assault, domestic abuse and corruption had been allowed to stay in police ranks. open image in gallery Elish Angiolini called for a major overhaul of police vetting last year ( PA ) A separate damning inquiry last year called for a radical overhaul of police vetting and recruitment, after finding there was nothing to stop another Wayne Couzens from operating in plain sight. The report, by Lady Elish Angiolini, found police missed eight chances to stop the sexual predator after people reported incidents of indecent exposure between 2008 and 2021. Police chiefs were granted new powers to automatically dismiss rogue officers who fail to pass vetting in April this year. The powers came after Sir Mark warned the force had been left in a hopeless position when another officer who was subject to multiple unproven allegations, including rape won a legal challenge over his removal from the force. Police forces rapidly hired new staff between 2020 and 2023 in a recruitment drive known as the uplift programme under the Conservative government, who had cut 20,000 officers since 2010. 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 Police have slammed claims they are investigating a child for viewing a social media post as completely false. Footage circulating online caused outcry after it purported to show two officers from West Midlands Police attempting to seize a childs phone over a social media post they viewed. But in a statement issued on Sunday, the force said the clips were heavily edited and misleading. West Midlands Police said they were investigating a malicious communications offence after a complaint from a member of the public that a fake social media account had been created to send indecent messages of an incredibly serious nature. They added the viral footage had been taken during an interaction with the mother of a 13-year-old suspect during a visit to her home. open image in gallery Police said they had full bodyworn footage of the visit ( PA Archive ) We are aware of reports that we are investigating a child for viewing a social media post. This is completely incorrect, they said in the statement. We are investigating after a complaint from a member of the public that a fake social media account had been created in their name and had been used to send indecent messages. The offence being investigated is one of malicious communications - sending indecent or grossly offensive communication to cause distress or anxiety. The messages are of an incredibly serious nature and have caused serious concern for the victim. Officers made a number of attempts to speak to a suspect, a teenage girl, at her home address in Walsall earlier this month as part of the investigation. They said officers had spoken to the girls mother at her home on September 13 and explained they needed to speak to her daughter and recover her mobile phone as part of the investigation. The following day, the girl attended a police station for a voluntary interview, and the investigation continues, the statement added. We are aware of a brief and heavily edited video clip showing part of the 13 September visit. The clip is misleading, and we have reviewed a 10-minute body worn video recording showing the full exchange. China's westernmost railway station links hinterland to wide world Xinhua) 10:24, September 22, 2025 Passengers wait to board a train at Akto Railway Station in Akto County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Jia Zhao) URUMQI, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- For tourists, Akto County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has many attractions, such as snow-crowned peaks, glacier-blue lakes and candy-sweet apricots. Beyond these famous Xinjiang drawcards, there is also a lesser-known landmark located on the desert edge -- a small railway station that marks the westernmost point of China's vast national rail network. Akto Railway Station is situated in the south-by-southwest of Xinjiang, approximately 4,000 km from Beijing and over 1,500 km from Urumqi, the regional capital. This railway line has remained non-electrified since its launch in 2011, with train operations continuing to rely on diesel-powered locomotives. It carries the daily Train No. 7557 -- which runs from Urumqi to the less-developed Hotan Prefecture, linking 32 stations. While most bullet trains in China travel at speeds exceeding 250 km per hour, this train averages less than 80 km per hour. Despite its remote location, modest infrastructure and unhurried pace, this station plays a key role in serving hundreds of thousands of passengers in multi-ethnic southern Xinjiang -- connecting them to wider opportunities and communities. Fourteen years ago, when Akto Railway Station was opened in the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, it sparked excitement across the region. At that time, train services in Urumqi had been running for nearly five decades, but many people in this remote county had never seen a train before. They came specifically to the station just to witness the legendary "iron beast" with their own eyes. Li Jianxiang, the station's second stationmaster, recalled that in those early years, whenever a train arrived, children and adults would gather and press their faces to the waiting room windows, with wide eyes watching the train rolling in. Li still remembers how he wiped the window glass many times a day to clear away handprints. Back then, the station was the tallest building in the county -- and soon became a popular spot for local couples when taking wedding photos. Aliya Abdurehim, 29, said she once left her small handprints on the waiting room window 14 years ago while spotting trains. After university graduation in Kashgar, a large city in southern Xinjiang, she returned to Akto and became a ticket seller at the station. "I felt so proud and thrilled," Aliya recalled. "As a child, I used to think only big cities had trains. So I felt like my hometown was growing into a big city, too." Later, she took the train to study in Kashgar. "When I saw folks carrying their luggage, heading to other cities or outside Xinjiang to strive for a better life, and others returning home to embrace their families, I felt that this station was a window connecting my hometown with the wider world," Aliya said. She never imagined that many years later, she would become one of the people responsible for safeguarding this "window." Aliya has met many first-time travelers unfamiliar with ticket machines, train schedules and boarding processes -- some locals even arrived a day early! Also, farmers and herders in Akto once traveled by donkey carts. They thought it was natural to wait until everyone had arrived before setting off, and found it incredible that the train could not wait just a little longer for those still on their way. "The hardest part of the job is helping locals living in the hinterland get to know the rules of taking a train in modern society," Aliya said. Assisting passengers in getting on and off the train is a daily routine for the 10 staff members at the railway station. But occasionally, there are some special arrivals, making the quiet station suddenly lively. Unlike big city high-speed trains that restrict strong odors, the slow train in Xinjiang has since 2021 provided passengers with a unique feast of smells -- as farmers living along the railway selling local specialties such as fruits, flowers, yogurt and kebabs are allowed to move between carriages, thereby creating a pathway out of poverty for locals. Some refer to the train service as a "mobile bazaar," with the word bazaar meaning market in Uygur. Apart from purchasing fresh homegrown specialties, passengers aboard the service can also enjoy spontaneous performances from song-and-dance-loving Xinjiang people. Every time the "mobile bazaar" passes through, it is a busy occasion for the Akto station. All staff work together in advance of such bazaar visits, making thoughtful arrangements for boarding and drop-off. Before boarding the train, these fresh local specialties and performers wearing ethnic costumes always fill the station with tempting aromas, bright colors and joyful laughter. In recent years, the number of passengers traveling by train from the Akto station has increased significantly. Currently, the peak flow reaches an average of two to three hundred travelers per day. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Seven decades ago, there were no railways in Xinjiang. The Lanzhou-Xinjiang railway was completed in December 1962. Since then, Xinjiang's railways have grown significantly -- crossing mountains, passing through deserts and across plateaus, thereby enhancing connectivity in this region. Today, Xinjiang's rail network spans over 9,200 km -- while passenger traffic had surpassed 50 million rides in 2024. Tourism in Xinjiang has flourished in recent years, and the train journey has transformed from a simple mode of transport into a must-experience attraction for visitors. At Akto station's waiting room today, travelers speak a variety of dialects. Notably, during the busy tourist season, trains are nearly full on every trip. "The Akto station has only one platform. It is small and quiet, far from the rush of big-city terminals. You can feel a peaceful warmth here. Stand on the platform, and you can watch the train roll in to the rhythmic clank-clank of steel wheels. Time seems to slow, drawing you into the quiet charm that only such a small station can offer," a visitor commented on the online travel platform Ctrip. "The station staff, kind and attentive, give travelers a sense of security and belonging," this visitor added. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) 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 self-styled "African tribe" is defying an eviction notice from the local council, remaining camped in woodland in the Scottish Borders. The group, known as the "Kingdom of Kubala," was ordered to vacate the land on the outskirts of Jedburgh by midday on Monday, following legal action initiated by Scottish Borders Council. The group had previously occupied private land nearby but simply relocated to council property when sheriff officers were dispatched. The "tribe," which maintains a sizeable presence on social media, comprises leader Kofi Offeh, 36, who proclaims himself King Atehene, his wife Jean Gasho, 43, known as Queen Nandi, and "handmaiden" Kaura Taylor, who goes by Asnat. On Monday afternoon, they were observed around a campfire, singing, with tents and other camping equipment still on site, indicating no intention of departing. The "handmaiden" informed reporters that the "king" would not engage with the media unless "gifts were brought to him." open image in gallery The self-styled African tribe has previously been evicted from privately-owned land in the Scottish Borders ( PA ) It is understood that the council will shortly seek an order from a sheriff to remove the trio now that the deadline has passed. On Tuesday last week, sheriff officers carried out the eviction from their previous campsite, though they simply set up a new camp on the other side of a small fence. They had been camping near Jedburgh for the past few weeks and have ignored previous ultimatums to leave. Last week, Scott Hamilton, the Conservative deputy leader of Scottish Borders Council, said that nobody is above the law and no matter how long this takes you can be guaranteed we will not cease. He said the group had repeatedly failed to engage with the council and legal proceedings which would enable an eviction had begun. open image in gallery It is understood the council will shortly seek an order from a sheriff to remove the trio now that the deadline has passed ( PA ) The three members of the self-proclaimed kingdom have previously said they are reclaiming land that was stolen from their ancestors 400 years ago. In a post on Facebook on Friday, they said: The Kingdom of Kubala can never be destroyed. Scottish Borders Council has been approached for further comment. 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 British sales boss who was found to be working remotely in Egypt was unfairly dismissed by his employer, an employment tribunal has ruled. As UK field sales manager at Foodhub, Tanveer Shah was required to spend at least four days a week in the field, a tribunal heard. But Mr Shah was found working remotely from Egypt, where he had family, for what evidence presented to the tribunal suggested was several weeks although the exact amount of time remains uncertain. He was fired by the CEO later that year, which the tribunal judge ruled as an unfair dismissal with fundamental flaws in its investigation. Mr Shah was awarded 61,419 in compensation. Tanveer Shah was UK field sales manager at Foodhub ( Google Maps ) The sacking came after a discovery was made by Mr Shahs boss that he was not filing as many expenses as his colleagues, despite his more senior position requiring extra travel across the country. Ardian Mula, the CEO of the food delivery app business, called Mr Shah in for a review meeting in early 2022 and raised concerns about him not spending enough time in the field. Previously, Mr Shah was a high performer and was even promoted several times from his old role as field sales executive to UK field sales manager. During this discussion, a decision was made to extend his trial period in his newly promoted role. During this period, Simon Farmer was appointed as Mr Shahs new line manager, and he discovered that he had been out of the country outside of a time of authorised annual leave. Mr Shah claimed that at the end of 2021, he was in Egypt for a holiday but then contracted Covid, which prohibited his travel back to the UK. Employment Judge David Maxwell said Mr Shah was unable to say whether he had been in Egypt for days, a week or several weeks at the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022. He remarked: Given [his bosses] would have expected him to be in the UK carrying out his duties, it was a surprising gap in [his] memory. At the time, the company also saw a policy change which required employees to purchase a car using a granted financial allowance rather than using a company-issued vehicle. By February, Mr Shahs line manager discovered that his employee had still not purchased a car. This led to concerns that he was not fulfilling his responsibilities to be in the field and so they gave him an ultimatum of two weeks to purchase a car. Later that year, in August, after Mr Shah had eventually bought a car, Mr Mula invited Mr Shah in for a catch-up to confront him on his lack of expenses and remote working, suspecting he hadnt been fulfilling his work duties. He accused him of illegitimately taking a salary by not doing his job. According to the tribunal, Mr Mula was so angry that he dismissed the claimant on the spot. After the meeting, Mr Mula spoke to an HR representative who advised him that he should have followed the correct process because his dismissal would inevitably be found unfair by an employment tribunal. Mr Shah, who was said to have a record of unblemished good service, subsequently sued for unfair dismissal and this claim was upheld by the trial. Overall, the judge ruled that there were fundamental flaws in the investigation into Mr Shah's conduct and said a business partner had recognised the initial dismissal by Mr Mula would almost certainly be found by a Tribunal as unfair and set about organising a process that would appear fair, but would achieve the same result. 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 Seven charities have dropped the Duchess of York as patron after leaked emails appeared to show her apologising to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein for disowning him. Childrens hospice Julias House announced the move on Monday, followed by food allergy charity The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Prevent Breast Cancer, the Teenage Cancer Trust and the British Heart Foundation. Both the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA) and The Childrens Literacy Charity have also reportedly dropped Sarah Ferguson, according to the BBC. Their decisions came after it emerged that Ms Ferguson had called Epstein a steadfast, generous and supreme friend, according to a leaked email dated 26 April 2011 just weeks after she told reporters she would never have anything to do with the convicted sex offender again. A spokesperson for the duchess previously said she had sent the email only in an attempt to assuage Epstein and his threats, claiming he had threatened to sue her for defamation for her comments in the media. open image in gallery A spokesperson for the duchess said she had sent the email in an attempt to assuage Epstein and his threats ( Getty ) Julias House said in a statement issued to The Independent: Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of Yorks correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julias House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity. We have advised the Duchess of York of this decision and thank her for her past support. The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, which was launched after teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died from a severe allergic reaction to eating a baguette, had asked the duchess to become a patron when it was founded in 2019. In a statement, founders Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse said: We were disturbed to read of Sarah, Duchess of Yorks, correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein. Sarah Ferguson has not been actively involved with the charity for some years. She was a patron, but in the light of the recent revelations, we have taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue to be associated with the charity. We would like to thank her for her kindness and support in the past. open image in gallery Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide while awaiting trial in 2019 ( PA ) Prevent Breast Cancer said in a statement: The Duchess of York is no longer a patron of Prevent Breast Cancer. We have advised her of this decision and thank her for her past support. The Teenage Cancer Trust also announced it had dropped the Duchess of York as a patron, a spokesperson said. "We have made the decision to end our relationship with the Duchess of York, and as of today she is no longer a patron of Teenage Cancer Trust. We have communicated this decision to the duchess, they said. "We would like to thank the Duchess of York for her support." A spokesperson for the British Heart Foundation said: Sarah, Duchess of York, is no longer serving as an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation. We are grateful for the duchesss support for our work and thank her for her past efforts to help us save and improve lives by funding pioneering research into cardiovascular disease. The Childrens Literacy Trust issued a statement which read: Given the recent information which has come to light about the Duchess of York and Jeffrey Epstein, the Childrens Literacy Charity has asked the Duchess of York to step down from her role as patron. We are grateful for the Duchess of Yorks support for childrens literacy over the years but now feel it would be inappropriate for her to continue as patron of the charity. The leaked email, first reported by The Sun on Sunday and the Daily Mail, reportedly showed that the duchess had humbly apologised to Epstein for linking him to paedophilia in the media, before lathering him with praise about his strength and generosity. open image in gallery Former UK ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, was sacked by Keir Starmer after correspondence emerged showing the Labour grandee expressing support for Epstein ( PA ) The duchess gave an interview to the Evening Standard on 7 March 2011 in which she apologised for accepting 15,000 from Epstein. She went on to issue what appeared at the time to be a heartfelt apology for her association with the disgraced financier, who died in prison eight years later in 2019. I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say, the duchess told the newspaper. Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again. Little over a month later, reports suggest the duchess sent an email from her private account to the convicted paedophile, apologising and telling him she had felt broken and lost after being told not to associate with him. The email is reported to have read: I know you feel hellaciously let down by me. And I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that. You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family. I am apologising to you today for not replying to your email or reaching out to you. I was bedridden with fear. I was paralysed. I was advised, in no uncertain terms, to have nothing to do with you and to not speak or email you. And if I did I would cause more problems to you, the duke and myself. I was broken and lost. So please understand. I didnt want to hurt Andrew one more time. I was in overriding fear. I am sorry. The duchesss spokesperson has said she was taken in by his lies and sent the email only to avoid the threat of defamation. They said: The duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims. Like many people, she was taken in by his lies. As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia. She does not resile from anything she said then. This email was sent in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats. Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide. The charities removal of Ms Ferguson from her position comes just days after former UK ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, was sacked by prime minister Sir Keir Starmer on 11 September, after correspondence emerged showing the Labour grandee expressing support for Epstein. 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 Jay Slaters mother has revealed he sent a final social media message to a friend shortly before he fell to his death in a remote ravine in Tenerife. The 19-year-olds Snapchat message was only sent after his mother Debbie Duncan managed to log in to his account after finally retrieving his iPhone. In a new documentary with Channel 4, she recalled it was received by his friend Bradley Geoghegan who was left unnerved by the message. She said: When we signed into Jays Snapchat there was an unsent message from Jay to Brad. So the message was obviously just flying around and then the message sent to Brad, which obviously gave Brad a fright. open image in gallery His mother Debbie Duncan discovered the Snapchat message after logging in to his account ( Supplied ) He messaged me straight away Are you on Jays phone?. I said Yeah, weve just signed into his Snapchat. He said Ive just got a message thats just come through from Jay. The last message he sent. He said Listen, Im not going to make it. Its kind of like he knew he just wasnt going to make it. The teenager from Lancashire had travelled to the Spanish holiday island last June to attend the New Rave Generation festival with two friends. open image in gallery His body was found near the village of Masca ( PA ) During the early hours of 17 June, he left the Papagayo nightclub having met two older men from east London, and travelled 30 miles with them to their Airbnb in the remote Masca region. A 6.22am, he posted his Snapchat location to his friends, before sending a final clip from outside their Airbnb at 7.21am. In other messages, he sent a video saying he just took a 12k rolly referring to a stolen Rolex, and claimed to have grabbed two knives in case it all kicks off. However, the coroner ruled these were not relevant and were likely to be an example of Jay showing off. According to his smartwatch, he began walking from the Airbnb at 8am, turning right into the mountains. He called his friend Bradley a few minutes later to tell him he was attempting to walk home. open image in gallery Jay spoke to his friend Lucy Law to tell her his phone was on 1 per cent and that he was lost ( Lucy Mae Law/Instagram ) At 8.32am, he called his friend Lucy Law to say he needed water and was frightened, and that he had cut his leg on a cactus. A final 22-second call took place at 8.50am, in which he told Lucy that his phone was on 1 per cent, he was lost, and all he could see was the mountains. Recalling the moment she was informed her son was missing, Ms Duncan told The Times that she was called by Lucy at around 3.30pm and that her legs turned to jelly. As a family, they decided to immediately fly to Tenerife, with Ms Duncan receiving an anonymous message on WhatsApp reading: Ill give you one warning. Your son wont be coming back. He owes me enough fking G money. Over the following weeks, his disappearance turned into a social-media-fuelled conspiracy, with the family bombarded with pranks, cruel messages, and allegations that Jay was still alive and being tortured. They also received criticism for a GoFundMe which raised money for the search efforts and eventually for Jays funeral, with Ms Duncan stating: They dehumanised my child and if there is one thing he deserved it was the best. It was the last thing we ever did for him. I am not ashamed of using that money for his funeral. open image in gallery Mourners at the funeral of Jay Slater at Accrington Cemetery last year ( PA ) His body was discovered on 15 July above a dry stream bed, with a coroner ruling that he had fallen 65-80ft and fatally fractured his skull and pelvis. For his mother, the inquest provided closure as it was ruled his death was caused accidentally by a fall. I think he saw the sea and went into the ravine heading for that. He could see the sea from the balcony of his hotel. Maybe he thought he could walk around back to his hotel? Nobody else was involved in his death, no. Thats what I think, she said. The Disappearance of Jay Slater airs next Sunday at 9pm on Channel 4 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 Prince Harry will not be able to have a half-in, half-out role within the royal family should he wish to return to the UK more often, according to reports. During his visit to the UK to perform charity work earlier this month, the Duke of Sussex met with his father King Charles for the first time in 19 months. He spent around 55 minutes at Clarence House having a private tea with the monarch, whose relationship with his younger son has been strained since Harrys departure as a working royal in 2020. However, any suggestion that the prince could return in a more formal capacity has been rejected by palace sources. The King has been absolutely clear in upholding his late mothers decision that there can be no half-in, half-out public role for members of the family, a royal source told The Times. open image in gallery Prince Harry arrives at Clarence House to meet his father ( AFP/Getty ) It is understood that Harry is not seeking such an arrangement, and is happy with his life in California with his wife Meghan and their two children Archie and Lilibet. A spokesperson for Harry told The Times: The duke has made it clear that the focus has to be on his dad. Beyond that, and on any other issues as it relates to his family, we wont be commenting. During an interview with the BBC in May, after he lost his High Court appeal to have his security reinstated, the prince said he would love to reconcile with his family. open image in gallery The Duke of Sussex pictured during a visit to a community recording studio in Nottingham earlier this month ( Getty ) He said: I dont know how much longer my father has. He wont speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile. He last saw the King during a brief visit in February 2024, after the 76-year-old announced his cancer diagnosis. The Mail on Sunday has now reported that Buckingham Palace and the Sussex staff are tentatively discussing a thawing of relations between the pair, which could see them appearing jointly at a public event. This could include the King potentially appearing at the Invictus Games in Birmingham in 2027. open image in gallery Harry also travelled to Ukraine to boost the morale of injured service personnel ( Reuters ) During his recent four-day trip to the UK, Harry attended the WellChild Awards, of which he is a patron, and made a 1.1m personal donation to Children in Need during an event in Nottingham. He then flew to Ukraine where his Invictus Games Foundation is helping the recovery and rehabilitation of thousands of veterans who have suffered life-changing injuries during the war. In an interview with The Guardian, whose journalists accompanied him on the trip, he was unrepentant when asked about his previous criticism of the monarchy. He said: I dont believe that I aired my dirty laundry in public. It was a difficult message, but I did it in the best way possible. My conscience is clear. After announcing that he and his wife were stepping down as working royals, the couple went on to give an interview to Oprah Winfrey and release a Netflix documentary, and he also published a tell-all memoir, Spare, which contained a number of damaging allegations about the royal family. 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 A research manager who moved from Brazil to the UK has said Nigel Farages plan to abolish indefinite leave to remain (ILR) would make it impossible to plan a future in this country. Brener Seixas, who works in London, pays taxes through his above-average salary while volunteering for a housing association cooperative in Lewisham. He also runs a Brazilian film festival, which takes place next month. Despite having lived in the UK for four years, the 34-year-old, who is preparing to apply for ILR status in March, said Reform UKs radical policy on immigrants had left him feeling insecure about his future. At a press conference on Monday morning, Mr Farage announced officially that his party, which is ahead of Labour in some opinion polls, would abolish ILR and force non-EU migrants to renew their visa every five years. Under the crackdown, which Mr Farage claimed would save 234bn through welfare and housing, applicants would have to meet certain criteria, including a higher salary threshold and a better standard of English. Those with UK citizenship status would not be affected. However, the plan has been met with an outcry from charities, campaigners and politicians, as well as those who would be affected, including Mr Seixas. Follow updated reaction to Reforms migration plans - click here for our live blog open image in gallery Brener Seixas arrived in the UK from Brazil and now works as a research manager ( Brener Seixas ) He told The Independent: The proposals to scrap ILR, and force people like me to reapply repeatedly for the right to stay, dont just change the rules on paper they make me feel like a guest who can be asked to leave at any time, no matter how much Ive invested in this country. Mr Seixas first arrived in the UK from his home city, Belo Horizonte, in 2019, after being picked from 75,000 applicants for a scholarship to study for a masters degree in sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. After graduating, he went back to Brazil and got a job with his London-based employer, before returning to the UK after the Covid pandemic in 2021 with limited leave to remain (LLR) status. After four years under LLR, he can apply for ILR next year. As well as working in London, Mr Seixas volunteers at the Sanford Housing Co-op, and is behind a film festival in the capital next month. He said: [Reforms plan] creates constant insecurity. I studied here, found work, and followed every rule yet the idea that ILR could be revoked, or visas [will have to be] endlessly renewed, makes it impossible to plan normal things like travelling, having housing security, starting a family, or caring for relatives. My employer depends on international talent to deliver projects, but penalising companies for hiring from abroad only creates churn, lost productivity, and higher costs. He added: Treating us as disposable undermines social cohesion, and sends a message that we dont belong. We are neighbours, colleagues, and family. I am not a stranger; Im part of the UKs everyday story. Mr Farages plan comes despite net migration having fallen by half last year, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Some 431,000 migrants arrived during 2024, compared with 860,000 the year before. Of these migrants, 86 per cent came to the UK from non-EU countries, with the highest number coming from India, followed by Pakistan. open image in gallery Nigel Farage says Reforms plan for migration would save the UK economy 234bn ( PA ) Also concerned about Reforms plan are those who already have ILR. They would have their status ripped up and would need to apply for LLR every five years. Nish, who did not want to give her surname, was awarded ILR this year, after 10 years during which she had to apply for LLR four times, spending thousands of pounds each time plus solicitors fees. The 33-year-old arrived in the UK from Mauritius as a victim of human trafficking. She is now married and has a daughter, and works as a youth organiser at migrant and refugee support group Praxis. You almost never feel safe, just because there is always something else to worry about, she told The Independent. This all makes you feel very unstable. But this is my life, this is where I am. It is very unsettling; Im worried for my and my familys future. Migrants Rights Network has accused Reform of adding fuel to the fire by announcing its policy on migrants following this summers far-right demonstrations over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers. A spokesperson said: Its quickly becoming the norm for politicians to try to outdo each other on anti-migrant rhetoric and policies. Reforms announcement is an attempt to bait the government into implementing even harsher immigration policies. We urge both the government and other political parties to push back and centre unity instead of division. 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 Tens of thousands of people who have legally settled in Britain could be at risk of deportation under plans by Reform UK to scrap the main route towards British citizenship a policy that was immediately dismissed as an unworkable stunt based on dodgy maths. Nigel Farage said the current option of indefinite leave to remain open to those who have lived and worked in Britain for five years has betrayed democracy and vowed to abolish it. The plans were condemned by migration charities and think tanks, as well as the care industry, which warned of crippling labour shortages. Doubt was also cast over Mr Farages claim that savings from the policy would be considerably larger than the 230bn once suggested by the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), despite the think tank having since said its figure should no longer be used. And despite the Reform leaders claims the proposals would cut Britains welfare bill, it has emerged that EU citizens would be exempted from plans to ban all migrants from receiving benefits. This means only 2.7 per cent of universal credit claimants would be affected by Reforms clampdown. open image in gallery Nigel Farage makes his bold announcement at a press conference in London on Monday ( PA ) Josephine Whitaker-Yilmaz, head of advocacy at charity Praxis, warned the proposals would tank our already-struggling economy, by disrupting the lives of millions of people whove been living and working legally in the UK for many years. Ben Brindle, a researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, questioned Mr Farages statement that half of those who have migrated to the UK are not working. And Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, said: Threatening to revoke the settled status of millions who already have indefinite leave is morally wrong, beyond the legal and practical chaos it would cause it undermines the very idea of belonging in this country. Mr Farage told reporters his plans would target the Boris-wave the wave of legal immigrants who arrived under post-Brexit rules created by Boris Johnson. Half the Boris-wave migrants do not work, and never will, he said. At least 800,000 of them will shortly qualify for indefinite leave to remain, which gives them lifetime access to our welfare state. This is a scam on the British people perpetrated by the Tory party. Reform will avert this crisis. But Mr Brindle said: It does seem from the existing patchy data that more than half are working. As for the will never work part of it, Im not sure what the basis of any prediction about the future would be. Generally we see that employment rates go up over time for the groups who do worse in the labour market, such as family members. Asked if the plans would also target those from Hong Kong and Ukraine, who came to Britain under government schemes, a visibly irritated Mr Farage responded: 800,000 people are due to qualify for indefinite leave to remain over the course of the next few years. This press conference is to say none of them will get it. Thank you. In a policy document, Reform said the 230bn savings figure would be achieved by taking decisive action on immigration and welfare. But the CPS, which first came up with the figure, said overall cost estimates should no longer be used after the Office for Budget Responsibility revised their definitions of some of the fiscal data contained within our report. Asked to address the CPS statement, Mr Farage said: The 230bn figure, as Zia [Yusuf, head of policy] has just said, that is without a doubt too low. It underestimates things, I suspect many more than 800,000 actually will apply for indefinite leave to remain, plus its quite tough to get all the figures. And if you go back to those who have already been granted indefinite leave to remain, without doubt the number is considerably bigger. Ms Whitaker-Yilmaz said: As is becoming the norm with Reform, these proposals are nothing but an unworkable stunt based on dodgy maths. But lets be clear what this boils down to: Reform do not want foreigners here. Indefinite leave to remain is crucial: it enables people to put down roots in their communities and fulfil their potential, and brings them a step closer to gaining British citizenship. Meanwhile, Nadra Ahmed, executive chair of the National Care Association, said Reform do not understand the value of social care. More worryingly they seem out of step with their own councillors, she told The Independent, referring to Linden Kemkaran, leader of Reform-run Kent council, who wrote to the Home Office criticising government plans to tighten visas for health and care workers. open image in gallery Nigel Farage and Zia Yusuf at a press conference in London on Monday ( Getty ) Labour Party chair Anna Turley added: "Farage is unable to say how many families his policy would break up, what the cost to businesses would be, what would happen to pensioners and how long it would take to implement basic questions that any serious political party would know the answers to before making an announcement like this. And Nicola Ranger, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said the plans are abhorrent beyond words, adding: These are people who have come to the UK to care for patients and become part of our communities. They deserve so much better than this. She continued: It shows neither compassion nor an understanding of the fundamental role our brilliant migrant nursing staff play in health and care. Without them, services would simply cease to function. 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 Working people are being asked to change their habits to combat the climate crisis, while the government is targeting hundreds of thousands of new flights a year with Gatwick and Heathrow expansions, Zack Polanski has said. The new leader of the Green Party dubbed the decision to approve a second runway at Gatwick Airport deeply irresponsible, telling The Independent that Labour is pretending to care about reducing emissions. In places like London, were rightly asking people to change their habits around the way they drive, but were still subsidising aviation fuel. And I think people will see the contradictions, he said. open image in gallery Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, criticised the decision to approve a second runway at Gatwick Airport ( PA ) I think also, its always important to point out that its only 15 per cent of people who take 70 per cent of the flights. So the whole argument about economic growth, when actually the people leaving the country outnumber the people coming in three to one, so actually you can make a legitimate argument thats actually taking wealth out of the country. It comes after the chancellor said Gatwick airports 2.2bn second runway plan could create thousands of jobs and help kickstart the economy. In the privately financed project, the West Sussex airport will move its emergency runway 12 metres north, enabling it to be used for departures of narrow-bodied planes such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s. This will enable it to be used for about 100,000 more flights a year. It comes just months after the governments backing of a third runway at Heathrow airport in its bid to grow the economy drew criticism from environmental groups and opposition politicians. Speaking on a visit to the airport on Monday, Ms Reeves said: This extra runway at Gatwick will mean that people going on holiday will have a greater choice of destinations, it will mean lower costs for a family holiday. And it will also mean more good jobs paying decent wages through this injection of cash into our economy. We said as a government we will back the builders and not the blockers, and that is exactly what we are doing with this announcement. The chancellor said she is satisfied with the adjustments made, covering issues such as noise mitigation and the proportion of passengers who would travel to and from the airport by public transport. It comes after the Planning Inspectorate initially rejected the airports application and earlier this year recommended transport secretary Heidi Alexander should approve the project if the changes were made. New commitments include a legally binding target for the proportion of passengers who travel to Gatwick by public transport, rather than the airports management setting its own targets. Residents affected by more noise will be able to ask Gatwick to cover the costs for triple-glazed windows. Mr Polanski, who was elected as the new leader of the Greens last month, called for a frequent flyer levy, which would see people who are racking up air miles paying more than those who are taking one flight a year. If someone is taking one flight a year to go on a family holiday thats still absolutely supported, and if anything, could be cheaper under a frequent flyer system. But people who are just flying constantly and racking up those air miles that are polluting the planet should be paying a lot more, he said. Mr Polanski added: The aviation industry is... getting bigger and bigger, and so at some point, politicians need to be honest and talk about the fact that we do need to reduce the amount that were flying. open image in gallery The chancellor has said Gatwicks second runway means thousands more jobs and an economic boost ( PA ) Im meeting people constantly who have said that theyre sick of the fact that Labour havent stuck to any of their promises, and this is not what they voted for, he added. A government source said the Gatwick expansion must be delivered in line with climate change commitments and meet strict environmental requirements. Local campaigners opposed to expansion are concerned about the impact on surface transport, noise, housing provision and wastewater treatment, but the airport insists it has conducted full and thorough assessments of those issues. Meanwhile, Cagne, an umbrella aviation community and environment group for Sussex, Surrey and Kent, said it stands ready to serve a judicial review funded by residents and environmental bodies. The group said: We know this government cares little for the environmental impact aviation is having on our planet and Gatwicks neighbours, but not to demand that Gatwick pays for the infrastructure, the on-site wastewater treatment plant, and noise impact is unlawful in our book. 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-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been released from prison in Egypt after spending more than a decade behind bars, following a presidential pardon issued by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Mr Abd el-Fattahs mother, Laila Soueif also a British citizen has campaigned tirelessly for his release, and earlier this year nearly died on a hunger strike that lasted for more than 280 days, according to medics. I cant even describe what I feel, Ms Soueif said as she stood next to her son. The 43-year-old writer and father had become one of Egypts most prominent political prisoners, having spent most of his adult life in jail on what human rights groups said were trumped-up charges. While behind bars, he missed the birth of his son, Khaled, and also the death of his father Ahmed Seif al-Islam, who was a prominent human rights lawyer. Mr Abd el-Fattah was finally released at 1am on Tuesday local time, calling his family after he had been driven to Cairo from Wadi el-Natrun prison, just south of the capital. Were happy, of course. But our greatest joy will come when there are no [political] prisoners in Egypt, Ms Soueif said. Social media posts showed Mr Abd el-Fattah, wearing a yellow T-shirt, embracing his mother. His younger sister, Sanaa Seif, who was waiting outside the prison for him all evening, later wrote on Facebook: Alaa is home. He called me from our neighbours number while we were at the prison waiting. Were on our way back to him. Later, his other sister Mona shared photos of the family in an emotional embrace at their flat in Cairo, writing: An exceptionally kind day. Alaa is free. The world is full of nightmares, injustice, violence, and many things that break the heart... but we can take a breath and give happiness a chance to fill our hearts... and keep going, she wrote. News of Mr Abd el-Fattahs release came after it was confirmed that President Sisi had granted him a full pardon. The president, who was formerly Egypts military chief, has ruled the country with an iron grip since coming to power following a military coup in 2013. British foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said earlier that she strongly welcomed the news that Mr Abd el-Fattah had been pardoned, adding: Im grateful to President Sisi for this decision. We look forward to Alaa being able to return to the UK and reunite with his family. Amir Magdi, senior Middle East and North Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, welcomed Mr Abd el-Fattahs long overdue release but cautioned that there are thousands of other political prisoners still behind bars. Though we celebrate his pardon, thousands of people like Alaa are still languishing in Egyptian jails simply for exercising their right to freedom of speech, he said. Abd el-Fattahs mother, Laila Soueif also a British citizen has campaigned tirelessly for his release ( PA ) Hopefully his release will act as a watershed moment, and provide an opportunity for Sisis government to end the wrongful detention of thousands of peaceful critics. Mr Abd el-Fattah comes from a well-known family of activists, writers, and intellectuals, who have campaigned tirelessly for human rights for decades. They have also spearheaded gruelling years of advocacy for his release, with his mother enacting lengthy hunger strikes, camping outside 10 Downing Street, and eventually meeting British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier this year to lobby on her sons behalf. During the course of her recent 287-day hunger strike, which ended in July, Ms Soueif was hospitalised at St Thomas Hospital in London. She came close to death on two occasions, in late February and again in June. Mr Abd el-Fattah has also staged multiple hunger strikes while in detention, most recently in early September, to protest against his imprisonment and in solidarity with his mother. A former blogger, Mr Abd el-Fattah became one of the most recognisable faces of the 2011 Arab spring uprising, which led to the ousting of longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak. He had already been detained before the uprising and was repeatedly arrested in the turbulent years that followed. However, it was his outspoken criticism of the crackdown on dissent after the then General Sisi violently seized power that led to his longest prison sentences. In 2014, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for protesting without permission later reduced to five years. He was released in 2019 but remained on parole. Later that year, he was arrested again and accused of spreading false news after sharing a social media post about a prisoners death. He was sentenced to another five-year term. After he finished his full term in 2024, his mother intensified her campaign. However, prosecutors decided to discount the year he had spent in pre-trial detention and insisted he should remain in custody until January 2027. Despite numerous international campaigns calling for his release particularly during the Cop27 climate summit, which was hosted by Egypt in 2022 the outlook appeared bleak. John Casson, a former British ambassador to Egypt, had called for Mr Abd el-Fattahs release, and Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Richard Ratcliffe spoke out in support of his family. Numerous celebrities have supported the campaign, and a ruling from the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) declared Mr Abd el-Fattahs imprisonment unlawful and called for his release. The only chink of hope on the horizon emerged in September, when President Sisi ordered officials to examine the possibility of a pardon. It followed the removal earlier this year of Mr Abd el-Fattahs name from Egypts terrorism list, which paved the way for his release. 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 As a girl growing up on a tea farm in the Aberdare Hills of Kenyas central highlands, Nancy Githaiga would regularly wake up to the sight of elephants trampling through the neat, knee-high green bushes of her fathers crop. We would run out with a tin, which would have some fire inside so that it smoked, and bang the tin until the elephants ran away, she says, gesturing across the misty green valley of the farm, which the now-55-year-old has since inherited. The girls were not really supposed to take part, but I would sneak out and join them. The areas elephants, buffalo and hyenas have long been banished behind the electric fence of the Aberdare National Park, a tourist hotspot which is just a ten minute drive away. Instead, farmers like Nancy are facing up to the far larger environmental threat of the climate crisis, which in recent years has been devastating the regions crop. An estimated 100 million cups of tea are drunk in the UK every day and of those, around fifty per cent are supplied by Kenyan tea farms. Most tea from Kenya comes from smallholder farms like Nancys, which usually measure less than one hectare, rather than the large tea estates of India or Sri Lanka, which are perhaps better known. When The Independent visited Nancys farm recently joining the Fairtrade Foundation on a recent fact-finding mission unseasonably cold temperatures had slowed the growth of Nancys tea bushes, meaning that they were only being plucked four or five days per week, rather than the typical six. Rain patterns have also become much more chaotic, with drought drying out bushes at certain times of year, while intense storms and devastating landslides come at others. Last year the landslides damaged six homes, buried livestock, and took out the electricity for quite some time - though thankfully nobody was hurt, says Nancy. This climate problem is really major for us. I believe that if things continue the way they are, the very existence of tea farming in this area will be threatened. open image in gallery Nancy Githaiga ( Vincent Owino/Fairtrade Africa ) open image in gallery Visiting the Gatunguru tea processing factory at night, the machinery lay quiet due to the unusually low volume of tea crop that was being produced ( Nick Ferris ) The impacts of climate-driven extreme weather are a constant preoccupation to Nancy, both in her role working on her own farm, and in her position as manager of the Gatunguru Tea Factory, which is a cooperative of more than 8,000 local tea farmers, which is centred around a processing plant. Visiting the tea processing factory itself in the middle of the day, The Independent witnessed a tight operation of trucks laden with plucked green tea delivering their load, which then undergoes a multi-day process of drying, cutting and fermenting - turning it from green to gold to brown to near-black - before it is packed in sacks ready for shipping. But upon returning at night, the machinery lay quiet, with musty, tea-infused air the only reminder of the days activity. This is another indication of climate change: normally we have a 24 hour operation says Nancy. It is a worrying sign that weak yields of the last year are set to continue, after tea production at Gatanguru declined by 25 per cent last year, from 24 million tonnes of tea in 2023/4 to 17 million tonnes of tea in 2024/5. Calamity of climate change Nancy is one of more than 600,000 smallholder tea farmers in Kenya, who collectively have millions more in dependents. The tea industry is something of a cornerstone in Kenyas economy, with the number of hectares farmed continuing to grow year-on-year, and the crop representing by far the countrys most valuable export. But all across the country, farmers are reporting climate concerns. For Edmund Biwott, a tea farmer in the West of the country, climate change has brought a disastrous new weather phenomenon in the form of hailstones, which form after warm air from Lake Victoria meets cool air in the highlands. The hailstones appear at the start of the rainy season, tearing through the tea leaves of his crop, and making them unsellable to his tea factory, which is called Momul. Ten years ago, we had never seen hailstones, but now this calamity of climate change is impacting us drastically, says Edmund, who has 11 people depending on him, including six children. I have asked the factory for some compensation, because we are depending on this for a living, we have nothing else. The hailstones have forced Edmund to prune his bushes after just one year, instead of the typical four, which results in them being unable to produce sellable leaves for around three months, further compounding his problems. Last year, the 4,098kg of tea he produced was around 30 per cent below the 5,794kg he produced the previous year. At times of lower production, the laws of economics would normally hold that the market should compensate producers with higher prices. But chronic oversupply of tea in the overall Kenyan market means that this has not been the case: Particularly rapid growth in larger tea estates has resulted in overall tea production increasing by as much as 3.5 per cent annually over the past 15 years, despite global demand increasing by less than 1 per cent. open image in gallery Edmund Biwott told The Independent how hailstorms have been ruining his tea crop - something that never happened ten years ago ( Vincent Owino/Fairtrade Africa ) open image in gallery Edmund has asked the Momul Tea Factory for compensation due to his lost crop ( Vincent Owino/Fairtrade Africa ) Government policy around tea has also not helped a significant number of farmers, according to Bernard Njoroge, senior programme officer Fairtrade Africa. In 2021, a law was introduced banning farms from participating in direct sales to buyers, and instead mandating them to sell via auction in the coastal city of Mombasa, which is a process that typically leads to much lower prices for farmers. The policy has since been revoked but many of the buyers who preferred direct sales had already switched to buying from neighbouring countries. All of this has had a major impact on tea farmers around Momul, with some farms in the area forced to sell tea below the price of production in recent months. The last few months have been very difficult, and I have been forced to take out a loan to pay for school fees, which I have not been able to pay back, says Edmund. It makes me very sad its embarrassing, and the worry drains my energy. A recent survey of Kenyan tea growers found that only one in five said that they were earning enough to support their families with all that they need while research from the UN has found that the price of tea in real terms has been declining by 2 per cent per year since 2011. For their part, the UKs major tea brands maintain that dealing with the twin problems of climate change and poverty wages is a major priority for them. A spokesperson for Taylors of Harrogate - which owns the UKs top selling brand, Yorkshire Tea - told The Independent that the company was committed to working with our suppliers and others to mitigate risks and support adaptation to the growing challenges, while a spokesperson for Tata Consumer Products - which owns Tetley - said that the company was working with farmers to train them in sustainable practices like soil management, rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation. According to their suppliers lists, both Yorkshire Tea and Tetley source tea from Gatanguru and Momul tea factories. Gareth Mead, sustainability officer at Lipton, which owns PG Tips, said that while the impacts of climate change can be devastating for individual farmers, the key problem facing the market in Kenya is chronic overproduction, which has left the price of tea at around 2 or 3p per teabag. "We believe helping farmers to focus on quality instead of quantity will improve the price they can achieve while also improving the cuppa so tea lovers will value it too, he said. This in turn will support the improvements we all want to see." Training allowed me to increase yields Elsewhere in Kenyas highlands, Luke Wahome and his wife Irene farm a stunningly green strip of steep valleyside, which is carpeted down to a river with winding tea bushes. Part of the 7,000-farmer-strong Iriaini Tea Factory near Nyeri, it lies not far from the Treetops Hotel, where a young Princess Elizabeth found out she had become Queen in 1952. But the beauty of the spot belies the poverty conditions that the combination of climate change and chronic low prices is forcing tea farmers into. The living income for Kenyan tea farmers is estimated to be around 50,000 shillings (280) per month - but Luke is only able to earn 56,000 shillings per year from his tea, forcing him to live in extremely modest conditions. He tells the Independent how he has struggled to pay back debts from multiple lenders, continually repeating that his income is not enough, not enough. The one saving grace for Luke in recent years has been the tea he has been able to sell as Fairtrade through Iriaini, which is a Fairtrade-certified factory. That certification means that farmers must uphold certain standards around labour and environmental practices - and in return they receive training towards better farming practice, as well as an additional Premium payment in every Fairtrade tea sale, which Iriaini clubs together and spends on the community. The practices that I learnt through training has allowed me to increase my yield from 400kg per year to 1,200kg per year, he says. Before Fairtrade came, he was earning just 20,000 shillings per year - the improved practices, including around tillage and fertilisation, mean that he has more than doubled his income. open image in gallery Luke Wahome is currently only able to earn 56,000 shillings (320) per year from tea farming ( Vincent Owino/Fairtrade Africa ) open image in gallery At times Luke has struggled to afford to meet the needs of his family ( Nick Ferris ) Down the road from Luke and Irene is Martha Mukundi, a mother of two, who is also grateful for the support she has received from Fairtrade. For her, the key benefit has been support in diversifying her operation, which means that even if the tea crop is weak, she will still earn a good income. As well as 5,200 bushes of tea, she now has 62 avocado trees, passion fruit trees, and a dairy cow, all of which now collectively contribute a similar amount to her income as the tea. Fairtrade introduced us to avocado and passion fruit farming, as well as dairy farming, she says. The increased drought we experience has unfortunately affected my avocado farming some years - but overall Fairtrade has had a positive effect. The reason Fairtrade is so impactful, according to Fairtrade UKs CEO Eleanor Harrison, is because although there might be some costs involved in auditing Fairtrade operations on the farmer side, the extra income farmers receive via the Fairtrade Premium offers a far better economic benefit. Other well-known accreditation schemes actually represent a net financial cost for farming cooperatives due to the costs of implementation, with the Kenyan government suspending the Rainforest Alliance in the country at the end of May due to the reported costs that it was imposing on smallholders. At the time, the Alliance said that it was working with the Kenyan Department of Agriculture to gain clarity and to work towards a joint resolution quickly. But four months later, the accreditation has yet to be reinstated. open image in gallery Martha Mukundi is grateful to Fairtrade for introducing avocado farming to Iriaini. The avocados help protect her income when the tea crop is weak ( Vincent Owino/Fairtrade Africa ) The impact of Fairtrade is held back, however, by the fact that after 30 years of the movement, a significant number of tea brands are not signed up. The Co-op, M&S, Clipper, and Waitrose are among the most high profile brands who have. Global cut-through is even weaker, with even just these few UK brands representing more than half of the global Fairtrade tea market. At Iriaini, less than one per cent of tea sold last year was actually sold as Fairtrade - despite the fact that 100 per cent of the tea produced qualifies as Fairtrade. Tetley and other brands have also sourced tea from Iriaini, according to their suppliers lists. A spokesperson for Tetley-owner Tata Consumer Products said that it viewed certification as a baseline in our commitment to sustainable and ethical sourcing, adding that it does have some Fairtrade-accredited smaller tea brands in its porfolio. Gareth Mead, from PG Tips owner Lipton, said that the company admire[s] Fairtrades ambition, but he raises concerns about there being sufficient quantities of Fairtrade tea to meet the needs of PG Tips, adding that he has had conversations with Fairtrade about how sufficient volumes of tea can be grown to their requirements. Fairtrades Eleanor Harrison has little time for any suggestion that certain brands could be ill-suited to the certification. If they want to be Fairtrade, then it is very much possible, she says. When you go to these Fairtrade farms, you see the impact. [Companies] can play an incredible role lifting millions of tea growers out of poverty. At a time where cost of living pressures continue to affect millions of people, it could be argued that a movement like Fairtrade could struggle to cut through. But Harrison points to recent polling carried out by Kantar for Fairtrade which suggests that 75 per cent of British consumers think its important that tea brands provide clear information about prices paid to producers. Data also shows that Fairtrade coffee sales increased 5 per cent last year, while sales of Fairtrade juice, sugar, and wine all also grew. There are currently some two million farmers around the world benefitting from Fairtrade - and the movement has most recently been buoyed by Sainsburys deciding this summer to certify its own-brand tea as Fairtrade. Ruth Cranston, director of sustainability at Sainsburys, told The Independent that the shift should deliver an additional 1,000,000 annually in Fairtrade Premium to farmers, while also reassuring customers that the supermarket is delivering meaningful benefits to tea-growing communities. But even in the UK, a country with a culture steeped in tea that has numerous organisations pushing ethical consumption, only 10 per cent of sales of tea are Fairtrade. For famers squeezed by the climate crisis and poverty, though, even that can make a difference. 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 writer on the hit FX show The Bear has claimed that he was arrested on a train after an old white lady complained about how he was sitting. Alex OKeefe, also a speechwriter for prominent Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, has claimed that police were targeting the one Black man on board. According to OKeefe, he was on a Metropolitan Transportation Authority train bound for Connecticut when the unnamed woman told him to correct his sitting position. OKeefe says that she reported him to the trains conductor after he refused. After that, the conductor called the MTA Police Department. In a video posted to OKeefes Instagram account, the screenwriter can be heard saying that he has not done anything illegal as police remove him from his seat. Alex OKeefe, shown right, was arrested after a white lady allegedly complained about how he was sitting ( Instagram ) In his posts caption, OKeefe alleged that a friend of the woman told him that he was not the minority anymore while they waited for police officers to arrive. The caption continued: They pulled me off the train and arrested me without even talking to the Karen who reported the one black person on the train. On the platform, the police detained me and interrogated me. Only black folks stayed nearby and recorded the arrest. When I demanded a lawyer and reminded them they didnt even take a statement from the woman who complained, they eventually released me. This country is growing more psycho by the day. What will you do about it? The video of the arrest has since gone viral, dividing opinions on social media. One clip posted to TikTok has been reposted over 160,000 times. One Instagram user commented, People need to stand up for others. I would have!! Another wrote, Dont the police QUESTION the lady about her complaint?!?! OKeefe became widely known for contributing to FXs The Bear series, which has won awards, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. The show follows a Chicago chef, played by Jeremy Allen White, who returns to his home city to run his late brothers restaurant. He is also known for writing speeches for prominent members of the Democratic Party, including Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Ed Markey. Both senators are known for being on the progressive wing of their party, with Senator Markey being the Senate author for the Green New Deal. OKeefe is also associated with the Green New Deal, having served as its Campaign Director. Both OKeefe and the MTA have been approached for comment by The Independent. 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 Authorities in the Dominican Republic said they have confiscated some of the cocaine transported by a speedboat that was destroyed by the U.S. Navy. It comes as the Trump administration carries out a controversial anti-narcotics mission in the southern Caribbean. In a press conference, the Dominican Republic's National Directorate for Drug Control said it recovered 377 packages of cocaine from the boat which was allegedly carrying 1,000 kilograms of the drug. Officials said the boat was destroyed about 80 nautical miles south of Isla Beata, a small island that belongs to the Dominican Republic. They said the Dominican's Republic Navy worked in conjunction with U.S. authorities to locate the speedboat which was allegedly trying to dock in the Dominican Republic and use the nation as a "bridge" to transport cocaine to the United States. A map of Isla Beata: "This is the first time in history that the United States and the Dominican Republic carry out a joint operation against narco terrorism in the Caribbean," the directorate said in a statement. In August, the U.S. sent eight warships and a submarine to the southern Caribbean, in what the Trump administration has said was a mission to fight drug trafficking. The White House says the flotilla has destroyed three speedboats carrying drugs so far in separate strikes that have killed more than a dozen people aboard the vessels. President Donald Trump said U.S. forces launched a strike against a vessel (pictured) allegedly carrying narcotics in the U.S. Southern Command Area. The strike killed three, Trump said ( President Donald Trump/Truth Social ) Human rights groups have said the strikes on the boats amount to extra judicial killings, and on Friday two Democratic senators introduced a resolution in Congress that seeks to block the administration from carrying out further strikes. The Trump administration says at least two of the boats that have been sunk left from Venezuela, whose president is often described by White House officials as a drug trafficker and leader of a gang known as the Cartel of the Suns. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro denies the charges and has described the U.S naval build up in the Caribbean as an attack on his country. 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 Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, captivated investors in July with an update on the company's robotaxi ambitions. Following a limited trial in Austin, Texas, Tesla intends to swiftly roll out its driverless cabs to new markets, including the San Francisco Bay Area, where it was reportedly "getting the regulatory permission to launch." Mr Musk had previously indicated on X that deployment in the region was anticipated "probably in a month or two." The reality of Teslas San Francisco plans did not include driverless taxis at all. open image in gallery Elon Musk last gave an updates to his company Teslas robotaxi ambitions in July ( AFP/Getty ) The automaker had not applied for the needed permits, a process that can take years of testing under state oversight. Instead, it planned pre-arranged trips in human-driven vehicles only for riders who received an invitation. And it would do this under a permit that is typically used for limousines and does not allow on-demand ride-hailing, according to state officials. News of Teslas robotaxi plans surprised and alarmed regulators, according to emails among California and federal officials and a Tesla public-policy staffer, which Reuters obtained through a public-records request. After a media report that Tesla would deploy Bay Area robotaxis in late July, a senior state transportation official asked the Tesla employee whether the company would clear up the public confusion. The staffer did not directly respond, saying only that Tesla does not answer media inquiries and that customers would receive information when available. The following month, Musk posted on X that the Tesla Robotaxi service area is already larger than any competitors in Austin and the Bay Area. Musk and Tesla did not respond to requests for comment on this story. A spokesperson for the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates autonomous ride-hailing, said Tesla is required to "properly and accurately" describe its service and ensure its communications "provide a clear distinction" between its human-driven operations in California and autonomous ride-hailing it offers elsewhere. Teslas still-unproven robotaxis underpin its $1 trillion-plus stock-market value and the eye-popping compensation package Teslas board of directors has proposed for Musk, which offers him potentially hundreds of billions of dollars in company stock tied to performance targets. Musk has promised the imminent arrival of robotaxis every year for a decade. So far, however, the EV maker has launched only the small-scale Austin test, with a limited number of riders and human safety monitors in the front-passenger seat. On the July earnings call, Musk said Tesla had made "demonstrable progress" on autonomous driving "that a lot of naysayers said we would not achieve." "We've done what we said we were going to do," he said. "Doesn't mean we're always on time, but we get it done. And our naysayers are sitting there with egg on their face." open image in gallery Musk is aiming to launch the service in San Francisco - a move which alarmed regulators in the city ( Getty/iStock ) Now Musks promises are getting bigger as the billionaire CEO faces a November shareholder vote on his compensation and increased pressure to deliver robotaxis as Teslas electric-vehicle business declines. Musk told investors in July that robotaxis would expand at a hyper-exponential rate, serving half the population of the U.S. by year-end. Meanwhile, as with the Bay Area episode, Musk and Tesla are increasingly using robotaxi to mean something less than a fully driverless cab. A September 13 post on the Tesla X account conflated the term with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) driver-assistance feature offered to customers, which requires an attentive human driver. $99/mo to have your own supervised Robotaxi, the post read, quoting the FSD subscription price. Matthew Wansley, a professor at New Yorks Cardozo School of Law who specializes in autonomous vehicles, said Musks Bay-Area claims show how Tesla wants all the benefits of marketing robotaxis and self-driving to customers and investors but none of the regulatory burden or legal risk of making the same claims to the government. They dont want to tell regulators they have an automated-driving system, he said, because then they become subject to a lot more regulations in a lot of states. Tesla started its Austin service in June but has not opened it to the general public. It has started switching the passenger-seat safety monitors into the drivers seat on rides that include highways, Tesla said on X. Musk has said Tesla plans near-term expansions in Florida, Nevada and Arizona, which like Texas have few regulatory barriers to self-driving vehicles. Tesla secured a certificate this month to test autonomous cars in Nevada, according to state officials, who did not answer questions about whether Tesla has submitted paperwork to operate robotaxis. Tesla on Friday received permission from Arizona to test autonomous vehicles with a safety driver but is still awaiting approval to test and operate without drivers. Florida does not require specific operating permits. Dan Crowley, portfolio manager at Nightview Capital, a Tesla investor, said it does not matter if Tesla hits every one of Musks notoriously optimistic timelines as long as it ultimately delivers a transformational product. Still, he said, investors could eventually lose patience. If were at the same place in two years, he said, I wouldn't be ecstatic. open image in gallery A Tesla robotaxi drives in central Austin, Texas during a test run earlier in 2025 ( Reuters ) Regulators caught off-guard News of Teslas Bay Area robotaxi plans unsettled regulators at the California State Transportation Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), according to the emails exchanged on July 25, which were seen by Reuters. Did your team meet with Tesla and discuss this weekend rollout? wrote Kareem Habib, a NHTSA investigator, to California officials. A state staffer responded that Tesla did not have the required permits. Emily Warren, a state deputy transportation secretary, emailed the Tesla public-policy staffer and top officials at two other state agencies overseeing autonomous vehicles, citing concern over public misconceptions about Teslas Bay Area plans. Tesla policy employee Noelani Derrickson said in an email reply that the company had informed the California Public Utilities Commission that it planned rides for Tesla employees family and friends in non-autonomous vehicles. Warren pressed Derrickson on how information about a robotaxi service had reached the public and suggested it might have stemmed from a misinterpretation of recent Tesla statements to staff and the public. Warren asked: Do you have plans to publicly clarify the nature of Teslas expanding Bay Area operations to dispel the confusion? Teslas Derrickson did not directly answer but said: As a general policy, Tesla does not respond to press inquiries, adding that customers would receive information about Teslas ride-hailing operations when they become available. Derrickson did not respond to requests for comment. 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 Genetically modified mice may soon be able to keep residents of a Massachusetts beach town from becoming infected with Lyme disease, an ailment already impacting 15 percent of the population, according to a report. Scientists on Nantucket, a small island off the coast of Cape Cod, are targeting wild mice, the main host of Lyme bacteria, to try and prevent further outbreaks of the disease. The researchers hope that by genetically engineering the mice to be immune to Lyme and then releasing them on Nantucket the population of mice capable of spreading the disease on the island will shrink, CBS News 60 Minutes reported. Lyme, a bacterial infection caused by being bitten by an infected tick, can cause a wide range of symptoms, including fever, rash, facial paralysis, irregular heartbeats and arthritis. Nantuckets tick problem began in the 1920s, when two female deer were brought to the island to give a lone buck company. Because ticks feed on deer, the population only grew as more deer were born on the island. Genetically modified mice may be able to save a Massachusetts beach town from Lyme disease, which 15 percent of its population has already come into contact with, according to a report. Matters only got worse in the 1950s when half the island was placed into conservation, creating an untamed landscape perfect for Lyme to rapidly spread. While deer spread the disease, white-footed mice are the main host of the bacteria, according to the report. "We have a problem with tick-borne disease because we engineered the environment to maximize the number of ticks and maximize the number of mice that are the best hosts of Lyme disease," Kevin Esvelt, a genetic engineering pioneer and associate professor at MIT, told CBS. "It came back and bit us, literally." Esvelt, who runs Mice Against Ticks at his MIT lab, and researcher Joanna Buchthal have researched for the past nine years whether they can genetically modify the mice to prevent Lyme disease, according to the report. Their efforts, which include adding a gene for an antibody to the mouse through an injection, will create mice that are born immune to Lyme. Their proposed plan would release thousands of engineered mice onto Nantucket, starting in the winter when the native mouse population is low. Since the new, immune population of mice wouldnt spread Lyme to ticks, the researchers believe that as the immune population of mice grows, cases of Lyme disease will decline. The scientists have presented their findings to Nantucket locals at a series of town halls; however, the initiative still needs their approval before it can move forward. If federal and state regulators agree, they will be able to trial release the engineered mice on a small field on a private island before bringing them to Nantucket. Lyme can be treated with antibiotics, but it can cause serious health implications if left untreated. In those cases, the infection can spread to the heart, joints and nervous system. Lyme disease is rarely fatal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease affects nearly 500,000 people in the U.S. each year, according to the CDC. 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 parents of a 5-year-old Michigan boy who was killed in an explosion inside a hyperbaric chamber are suing the manufacturer and others for $100 million over the boys death. The attorney for the family of Thomas Cooper described hyperbaric oxygen chambers, like the one the little boy died in, as death chambers, in a lawsuit filed Monday in Oakland County Circuit Court in Michigan, according to the Detroit Free Press. "These machines are a problem," lawyer James Harrington said during a Monday press conference. "The people operating them are a problem. And we saw what these problems can result in. They've resulted in the death of young, beautiful Thomas." On January 31, Cooper was taken to the Oxford Center in Troy by his parents to undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat his ADHD and sleep apnea when the machine exploded, killing him. The lawsuit, which calls the chambers coffins waiting to ignite, seeks more than $100 million in damages. "The industry knows that these machines can turn into literally a firebomb in an instant," Harrington said. "But yet, there isn't even one sticker. There isn't even one warning that's provided. People need to be warned." Thomas Cooper, five, was killed while he was receiving treatments inside a hyperbaric chamber that exploded at The Oxford Center in Troy, Michigan, on January 31. ( Fieger Law ) Hyperbaric chambers are pressurized, tube-like devices that provide patients with pure oxygen to help them heal more quickly from certain injuries or illnesses. The lawsuit acknowledges that the Food and Drug Administration has approved hyperbaric oxygen treatment for 13 conditions, such as carbon monoxide poisoning. However, due to the machines being filled with 100 percent oxygen and being under pressure, they are exceptionally combustible. The machines were not approved to be used as therapy for the boys conditions. In addition to the hyperbaric chambers manufacturer, Sechrist Industries, seven defendants were named in the lawsuit. Four of the defendants were arrested and charged in connection with the chamber explosion in March. They include the medical facilitys CEO, Tamela Peterson, primary management assistant Gary Marken, and safety manager Jeffrey Mosteller, who have all been charged with second-degree murder. Meanwhile, hyperbaric chamber operator Aleta Moffitt was charged with involuntary manslaughter and putting false information on medical records. All four have pleaded not guilty. The other defendants named in the lawsuit include Oxford Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Center, Oxford Kids Foundation and Office Venture Troy, LLC. Harrington, the familys lawyer, said greed is the driving force behind the way the machines are manufactured, and called on the industry to make necessary improvements. Allocate some of the billions of dollars that you make towards safety," Harrington said. "And don't keep an eye solely on shareholders, boards of directors and profits and bottom line. Make sure that they're being used for that and not ... experiment projects on young children in American families." The boys mom, Juana Annie Cooper, was seriously burned when she tried to get her son out of the fiery chamber, her lawyer said, noting that while the physical wounds had healed, the emotional toll remains. This will forever change you, Harrington said. Theres nothing we can do to bring him back. Theres no justice that can ever be considered perfect justice, because perfect justice would be we win the case, and Thomas is playing in the backyard. 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 robotics technician at Teslas troubled Fremont, California, manufacturing plant is suing the Elon Musk-owned automaker for $51 million after he says an out-of-control robot suddenly struck him without warning, leaving the 50-year-old employee grievously injured and struggling to pay astronomical medical bills. Peter Hinterdobler was helping an engineer disassemble the robot, which had been moved from its usual position on the Model 3 production line, according to a civil complaint obtained by The Independent. While the engineer attempted to remove the motor at the base of the robot in order to access its internal dress pack, the robot's arm suddenly and without warning released with great force, the complaint states. The release involved both the robotic arm's own power and the force of an approximately 8,000-pound counterbalance weight. The arm slammed into Hinterdobler with substantial force, causing him to be thrown to the floor and to lose consciousness, among other injuries, according to the complaint. To date, Hinterdoblers injuries stemming from the harrowing July 22, 2023 incident have cost him $1 million in medical expenses, with at least another $6 million to come, according to a statement of damages attached to the complaint. In all, he is seeking $20 million for pain, suffering, and inconvenience, $10 million for emotional distress, $1 million for loss of earnings thus far, plus $8 million for loss of future earning capacity, as well as $5 million for past and future loss of household services. Hinterdoblers attorney told The Independent that the figures are subject to change. Tesla and robotics firm FANUC are named as defendants in the suit, which was initially filed in California state court last month and moved to Oakland federal court on August 19. Neither responded Monday to The Independents requests for comment. In 2021, a Tesla engineer at the carmakers Austin, Texas, Gigafactory was reportedly attacked by a robot that dug its claws into his back and arm, pinning the employee against a wall. The worker managed to escape the robots clutches when a coworker hit the emergency stop button, but fell down a chute meant for scrap metal, leaving a trail of blood behind him, one witness told regulators. The first serious robot-related industrial accident in the United States occurred in 1979, when a worker at a Ford plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, died after being hit in the head by a robotic arm. Since then, as robots become more commonplace in manufacturing, injuries and deaths have risen steadily, according to a 2024 study. Data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration shows dozens of severe injuries linked to industrial robots, under headings such as: Employee Is Killed When Crushed By Spot Welding Robot, Employee Incurs Concussion When Struck In Head By Robot, Worker Sustains Fractured Hip When Struck By Robot, and, Employee Killed When Robot Pinned His Neck. FANUC has been sued previously over gruesome allegations involving its robots. In 2015, a maintenance engineer at a Michigan car parts factory was killed when a FANUC robot unexpectedly trapped her and crushed her skull. open image in gallery Peter Hinterdobler worked at Tesla's gargantuan plant in Fremont, California, which other employees claim is a hotbed of drugs, guns and sexual assault. After allegedly being knocked unconscious by a robotic arm, Hinterdobler says he has racked up $1 million in medical bills and counting ( Getty Images ) Hinterdoblers complaint contends the robot had been placed in an area not designated for such equipment, and that Tesla subsequently implemented new rigging and safety protocols specifically related to the robot involved in [Hinterdoblers] injury. At the same time, Hinterdobler alleges Tesla has denied him access to video footage of the incident, despite repeated demands. Teslas Model Y, Model S, Model 3 and Model X lines are manufactured at the companys 22,000-person Fremont factory, where Hinterdobler worked. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Tesla in 2023 over allegations of unbridled racism at its Fremont plant. This spring, Tesla settled a lawsuit brought by a Black employee at the Fremont facility who accused a manager of greeting her by saying, Welcome to the plantation, and, Welcome to the slave house. A lawsuit filed last month by the former head of security at the Fremont facility laid out a slew of bombshell allegations, including sexual assaults aboard company shuttle buses, cocaine use onsite, physical brawls breaking out between employees and prevalent bigotry including widespread use of the N-word. open image in gallery Tesla's Model 3 midsize sedan is made at the Fremont, California, factory where Hinterdobler says he was grievously injured by a malfunctioning robotic arm ( AFP via Getty Images ) According to Hinterdoblers complaint, Tesla owed [him] a duty to use reasonable care in the ownership, operation, maintenance, supervision, training, inspection, repair, alteration, development, design, manufacture, warning and use of the FANUC robot that allegedly injured him. This duty included but was not limited to compliance with industry standards, safety standards, statutes, ordinances, and regulations designed to promote workplace safety and prevent injuries of the type suffered by [Hinterdobler], the complaint states. Additionally, Hinterdoblers complaint says Tesla is responsible for failing to ensure that the robot was safely de-energized, secured, and stable before allowing [Hinterdobler] to assist with the disassembly process. It claims FANUC is liable for negligently designing the robot in question, failing to properly instruct users about safe operation, and further alleges the robot failed in a dangerous and unexpected manner. Hinterdobler is asking for general, punitive, and exemplary damages, plus special damages for lost earnings, medical expenses, and loss of earning capacity, as well as attorneys fees and court costs, to be determined by a jury. Tesla and FANUC have not yet filed formal answers to Hinterdoblers allegations. 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 big cat trainer who once worked with infamous zoo-keeper Joe Exotic has been mauled to death by a tiger at a wildlife park in Oklahoma. Ryan Easley, the operator of Growler Pines Tiger Preserve, was killed in what the organization has described as an accident involving a tiger under his care on 20 September. The preserve did not disclose further details about the incident. Still, according to reports, Easley was performing an educational demonstration with a tiger hes trained since he was a cub when the animal apparently turned on him. In a Facebook post, the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve described Easley as a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation. His love for animals, especially big cats, was evident in every aspect of his life, the post said. His courage, compassion and unwavering commitment to wildlife will never be forgotten. open image in gallery In a Facebook post, the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve described Easley as a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation (Stock image/Knowsley Safari/PA) ( PA Media ) The organization added, This tragedy is a painful reminder of both the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world. Ryan understood those risks not out of recklessness but out of love. The animals under his care were not just animals to him, but beings he formed a connection with one rooted in respect, daily care and love. In a statement following Easleys death, animal rights campaign group PETA described Growler Pines Tiger Preserve as a roadside zoo, and claimed Easley had previously been caught violently whipping tigers during a training session. Easley had acquired tigers from Joe Exotic and fellow Tiger King villain Bhagavan Doc Antle for his business, ShowMe Tigers, and for years had hauled them around the country, forced them to perform in cruel circuses and kept them trapped in cages for hours when they werent performing, the statement said. PETAs senior director of captive wildlife, Debbie Metzler, said: Its never safe for humans to interact directly with apex predators, and its never a surprise when a human is attacked by a stressed big cat who has been caged, whipped, and denied everything natural and important to them. open image in gallery Joe Exotic in Netflix hit show Tiger King ( Netflix US/AFP via Getty Images ) PETA is calling for the remaining wild animal exhibitors who arent dead or in federal prison to get out of the business now and send the animals to accredited sanctuaries where they can finally live in peace. Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado, was the subject of the hit Netflix show Tiger King and is serving a 21-year sentence at Fort Worth's Federal Medical Center following his conviction in the now notorious murder-for-hire case that formed the subject of the show. Writing in response to PETAs statement, Maldonado wrote in now-deleted posts on Facebook and Instagram that PeTa [sic] doesn't know crap. "Ryan took great care of his animals! He loved everyone [sic] of those tigers and was an advocate for tigers as well as elephants." The Growler Pines Tiger Preserve, in its statement said: We ask for privacy and compassion for his family during this incredibly difficult time. The organization added: At this time all tours and encounters will be cancelled until further notice. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Jimmy Kimmels late-night show will return to ABC Tuesday evening following a nearly week-long suspension over the hosts comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel made controversial implications about the identity of Tyler Robinson, the suspected gunman behind the killing of the conservative activist, during the September 14 episode, resulting in ABC suspending his show indefinitely. Disney, the parent company of ABC, acknowledged the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in a Monday statement, saying: Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday. Its not yet clear if Nexstar Media Group, the largest owner of television stations across the country, will air Kimmels show upon its return. open image in gallery Disney said after thoughtful conversations with Jimmy it reached the decision to return the show ( AFP via Getty ) The company put out a statement after Kimmels comments, which, along with pressure from Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr, prompted ABC to pull the late-night show entirely. Nexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets, the statement said. Sinclair Broadcast Group and its partners also stopped airing Kimmels show in 30 markets last week, citing problematic comments regarding the murder of Charlie Kirk. Following Disneys programming announcement Monday, Sinclair made clear it will continue not to air Kimmels show. Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the shows potential return, Sinclair wrote on X (Twitter). Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Kimmel has not yet addressed his suspension or subsequent return to airwaves. His comments from the September 14 episode four days after Kirk, 31, was shot and killed while speaking at a Turning Point USA event on the Utah Valley University campus landed him in hot water. We had some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it, Kimmel said. He also used the subject to mock Donald Trump, who rejoiced at the news of Kimmels show getting pulled. open image in gallery Protests emerged in response to Kimmels shows suspension, including outside his studio ( AP ) The host was set to address his comments during Wednesdays episode, which was pulled by ABC just hours before showtime. Fellow comedian Seth Meyers called Kimmels anticipated return to late-night TV great news during the taping of his NBC show Monday. Kimmels suspension has sparked a massive debate over free speech, with celebrities, politicians, and several current and former late-night talk show hosts voicing their outrage. Among them was former President Barack Obama, who responded with a chilling warning. After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesnt like, he wrote on X. This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it. Speaking at The Atlantic Festival 2025 in New York, former late-night host David Letterman said: We see where this is all going, correct? Its managed media. And its no good. Its silly. Its ridiculous. And you cant go around firing somebody because youre fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office. Thats just not how this works. The institution of the president of the United States ought to be bigger than a guy doing a talk show, he added, noting that Kimmels removal was predicted by our president right after Stephen Colbert got walked off, so youre telling me this isnt premeditated at some level? Wanda Sykes, who was scheduled to appear on Wednesdays episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! before the taping was suspended, shared a video on Instagram criticizing Trump. Lets see. He didnt end the Ukraine war or solve Gaza within his first week. But he did end freedom of speech within his first year. Hey, for those of you who pray, nows the time to do it. Love you, Jimmy. CNNs Jake Tapper called the shows suspension the most direct infringement by the government on free speech that Ive seen in my lifetime in a Monday night interview with Meyers. Comedian Jon Stewart congratulated those who pushed back against Disney for suspending Kimmels show, which included calls to boycott its various companies. That campaign that you all launched, pretending that you were gonna cancel Hulu while secretly racing through four seasons of Only Murders in the Building, that really worked, Stewart told his audience on Monday nights episode of The Daily Show. As the days passed with no resolution from ABC or Kimmel, the backlash against the network continued to mount. Protests erupted outside of Kimmels Hollywood studio, with Disney actors turning to social media, urging followers to cancel their Disney+ subscriptions and boycott the company entirely. By Monday afternoon hours before Kimmels return to air was announced over 400 celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston and Meryl Streep had signed an open letter denouncing ABCs decision to take the late-night host off the air. We the people must never accept government threats to our freedom of speech. Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists and companies with retaliation for their speech strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country, the letter began, per the ACLU website. Jimmy Kimmel Live! is set to return Tuesday at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC. 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 Comedian John Oliver and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz found themselves in rare agreement over the weekend as both men attacked Americas media giants for caving in to a Goodfellas-style pressure campaign from Donald Trumps administration over the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel. ABCs Jimmy Kimmel Live! was taken off air indefinitely last week after the host criticized the MAGA movements response to the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk by saying its members were desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it. Trump himself gloated over Kimmels removal, but the stars fellow chat show hosts, as well as politicians, free speech advocates, and other celebrities, have leapt to his defense. open image in gallery John Oliver and Ted Cruz rarely find themselves on the same side of an argument but are united in their condemnation of the treatment of Jimmy Kimmel ( Getty ) On Sunday, Oliver used his own HBO show, Last Week Tonight, to accuse Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr of pressuring ABC into acting against a long-time critic of the president. The sequence of events here could not be clearer, because it was all done in plain view. Carr leaned on broadcasters to take down Kimmel, Oliver said. They did that, sometimes even directly citing Carr while doing so, and then Carr celebrated with a fun GIF. That sure seems like a pretty clear case of the government pressuring companies to censor speech. And its not like Trump is even trying to hide it. Likening Carrs actions to those of a gangster from Martin Scorseses 1990 mafia epic, the comic continued by quoting him directly: We could do this the easy way or the hard way. As threats go, that is pretty clear. Its like if someone threw a brick through your window with a message that said, Shut up or else, then followed it up with more clarifying bricks saying, By or else, we mean we will hurt you physically, then, This is the mafia by the way, followed by, You know, like in Goodfellas. Oliver subsequently turned his fury on Bob Iger, CEO of ABCs parent company Disney. He said: History is also going to remember the cowards who definitely knew better but still let things happen, whether it was for money, convenience, or just comfort. I know this is something of a tough sell, and it can be a bit of anathema to risk-averse business leaders. But I will say this. If weve learnt nothing else from this administrations second term so far and I dont think we have its that giving the bully your lunch money doesnt make him go away. It just makes him come back hungrier each time. They are never going to stop. On Friday, Cruz also addressed the scandal on the latest episode of his podcast and likewise likened Carrs words to those of a movie mobster. open image in gallery Kimmel has been a long-standing enemy of Donald Trump for years, routinely mocking the president in the opening monologue of his chat show ( AFP/Getty ) He says, We can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way, the senator commented. Thats right out of Goodfellas. Thats right, out of a mafioso coming into a bar, going, Nice bar you have here. Itd be a shame if something happened to it. Playing audio of the FCC chairs comments, Cruz commented: What he said there is dangerous as hell I think it is unbelievably dangerous for government to put itself in the position of saying were going to decide what speech we like and what we dont, and were going to threaten to take you off the air if we dont like what you're saying. He went on to warn that a future Democratic president could retaliate in kind against their own media critics: They will silence us. They will use this power, and they will use it ruthlessly. It might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel, but when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it. Along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Cruz is one of the highest-profile Republicans to have spoken out on Kimmels behalf so far and was attacked for doing so after he reposted praise for his stance from British comedy legend John Cleese on X. I had believed Ted Cruz would be an ideal SCOTUS Justice. Im not so sure now, one commentator griped in the replies. You stabbed us all in [the] back. Its weak and ineffective, a second person told the senator. Perhaps most damningly of all, another commenter called Cruz a Common Sense Millennial and told him, Man, you suck. 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 Steve Bannon, Donald Trumps former chief strategist, has rekindled his vendetta against Elon Musk, saying he should be deported, after the president was seen shaking hands with the tech entrepreneur at Charlie Kirks memorial. Bannon, 71, said he wants to toss out Musk and send him back to South Africa the country of his birth adding that Musk's living in the U.S. was totally illegal. Bannons incendiary statements, made on his War Room podcast, came shortly after Trump signed a new executive order requiring all U.S. companies to pay a $100,000 annual fee for every foreign employee hired through an H-1B visa. The visas are designed to bring highly skilled foreign workers to the U.S. for jobs that are deemed difficult to fill, particularly in the tech sector. Musk and Bannon have repeatedly clashed over U.S. visa policy, with Musk defending the H-1B program and once declaring he was ready to go to war on this issue. Musk himself has benefited from the system: he first entered the U.S. on a J-1 academic visa, which he says later transitioned to an H-1B. His companies remain reliant on the program Tesla alone hired 724 workers on H-1B visas in 2023, though SpaceX has used markedly less. open image in gallery Steve Bannon renewed his calls for Elon Musk to be deported to South Africa ( Getty Images ) Bannon has compared using the visas to slavery, calling them indentured servitude, and also said they prevent Americans from accessing jobs. Screw you, dude! he said on the podcast. You're a foreigner that is taking advantage of foreign labor at the detriment of American citizens. At the Kirk funeral, Trump was seen reuniting with Musk, just months after a public falling out following Musks departure from his White House role running the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE. The men were seen on camera shaking hands on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale during speeches remembering the Turning Point USA founder. During the memorial, the official White House Rapid Response 47 account shared footage of the men chatting as Musk joined the president in the stadium. The account appeared to celebrate their reunion, captioning the post with a love-heart and handshake emoji. open image in gallery Donald Trump and Elon Musk are pictured in the White House at an event in 2017 along with Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist ( AFP via Getty Images ) After leaving the White House, the pairs relationship had rapidly deteriorated, with Musk describing Trumps budget bill, known as the Big Beautiful Bill as a disgusting abomination, which he said would increase the budget deficit by $2.5 trillion. Musk and Trump continued to trade blows until the Tesla CEO claimed the president appeared in the Epstein files. Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files, Musk wrote. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT! Tensions seemed to cool shortly after. On 11 June, Musk expressed regret over his posts about the president, while Trump responded by saying he held no hard feelings toward the tech billionaire. In June this year, Bannon urged the Trump administration to launch a special counsel investigation into Musk including looking at Musks immigration history and alleged drug use and said Musk should be deported. Musk responded by calling Bannon a fat, drunken slob who should be in prison for committing crimes. Close This is based on how I feel: Donald Trump goes on conspiracy-based vaccine rant 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 has claimed a link between common over-the-counter painkillers and autism, contradicting major medical groups and following on from Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jrs vow to find a cause for the condition. Taking Tylenol is not good, Trump said at the White House Monday. Ill say it. Its not good. For this reason [the FDA] are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary. Leading experts have long found acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, to be safe but have advised expectant mothers to consult with their physicians before use as is the case with any drug during pregnancy. A U.S. government-funded study, the largest to date on the subject, found that fetal exposure to acetaminophen carried no increased risk of a later autism diagnosis, running against Trumps claim. Autism diagnoses have risen over the last two decades, largely due to an increased awareness and an expanding definition of the condition, according to scientists. Kennedy, a conspiracy theorist and vaccine skeptic, has pushed a discredited theory that routine childhood vaccinations are responsible for the spike. 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 Some administration officials reportedly believed that a public message posted by President Donald Trump on social media demanding the prosecution of his political opponents was actually intended to be a private text message to Attorney General Pam Bondi. On Saturday night, Trump posted on Truth Social, addressing Pam presumably the attorney general with a complaint that former FBI Director James Comey, Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, and New York Attorney General Letitia James hadnt been prosecuted yet. The message Trump posted began:"Pam: I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, essentially, 'same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam 'Shifty' Schiff, Leticia??? They're all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done.' In the now-deleted message, Trump also complained that he had accidentally elevated a woke RINO to U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia referencing Erik Siebert and pushed Bondi to appoint his former personal lawyer, Lindsey Halligan, to the role instead. Immediately after the message was posted publicly, social media users speculated that it was meant to be a private text. Politicos senior legal affairs correspondent Kyle Cheney noted that the post that looks a lot like a DM, and even Trump ally Laura Loomer admitted that the post appears to be a text message. open image in gallery President Donald Trumps Truth Social post demanding Attorney General Pam Bondi prosecute his political enemies was reportedly a shock to his senior officials ( REUTERS ) They werent the only ones. According to Rolling Stone, three sources close to the administration, as well as several senior officials at the Department of Justice and the White House, told the outlet they were surprised to see the message Saturday. The officials told Rolling Stone that the message resembled how Trump typically texts, which they noted is similar to how he writes on Truth Social. Yeah, he texts like that, one Trump adviser told the magazine. Its a lot like what the president writes online. The Independent has asked the White House for comment on the post. The messages appeared to be evidence of a sitting American president directly calling for the prosecution of his political enemies, said political commentator Mehdi Hasan. Here is the president openly insisting his DOJ prosecute his political opponents, elected Democrats, for unspecific alleged crimes, he wrote. If this isnt authoritarianism and weaponization of government then I dont know what is. Schiff, who was named in Trumps post, called the message an example of political retaliation. Theres no hiding the political retaliation and weaponization, Schiff wrote. Its all out in the open. open image in gallery Senator Adam Schiff said Donald Trumps Truth Social post calling for Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute him was political retaliation and weaponization. ( Getty Images ) His 2016 rival, Hillary Clinton, likened Trumps post to Richard Nixon tweeting publicly about the Watergate scandal. Imagine if Richard Nixon had just tweeted out the Watergate scandal rather than putting it on secret tapes, Clinton wrote on Sunday morning. Thats what this is. Trump fired Comey in 2017, reportedly over his handling of the Clinton email investigation, though the dismissal came days after Comey confirmed the FBI was investigating potential Russian interference in his 2016 presidential campaign. Schiff was a leading voice in calling for an investigation into Trumps 2016 campaign, and pushed for his first impeachment. He also played a key role in the January 6 committee following the Capitol riot. James campaigned on investigating Trump and sued the Trump Organization, claiming it had inflated the value of its assets and misrepresented property values by hundreds of millions of dollars. About an hour after posting the message demanding that Bondi act, Trump posted a second message lavishing praise on the attorney general. Pam Bondi is doing a GREAT job as Attorney General of the United States, he wrote. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt issued a statement to NBC News, insisting that Trump was happy with Bondis performance. President Trump appreciates all Attorney General Bondi is doing to Make America Safe Again. The President wants justice and accountability for the many corrupt criminals and politicians who weaponized our justice system against him and his millions of patriotic supporters, she said. On Saturday night, after posting the message, Trump spoke to reporters about it. We have to act fast, he said. If theyre not guilty, thats fine. If they are guilty or if they should be charged, they should be charged. And we have to do it now. 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 made clear on Saturday evening that he is frustrated with his attorney general over her hesitance to bring politically-motivated criminal cases against a list of the presidents enemies, something the White House has been working to engineer on flimsy pretenses for months. The president issued a Truth Social post on Saturday addressed to Pam Bondi, the U.S. attorney general, stating that hed reviewed numerous reports from the Department of Justice apparently stating that no progress was being made on launching the prosecutions after criminal referrals were sent to Bondis team by William Pulte, an official at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. In the post, which began Pam: I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, essentially, same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done, Trump assumes the guilt of Sen. Adam Schiff and others like Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook, and demands that Bondi begin criminal prosecutions without delay. The post finishes with Trump declaring, [w]e cant delay any longer, its killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!! Hillary Clinton, his 2016 opponent, responded in a statement Sunday morning: Imagine if Richard Nixon had just tweeted out the Watergate scandal rather than putting it on secret tapes. Thats what this is. Donald Trump ordered Pam Bondi on Saturday to begin criminal prosecutions of Adam Schiff and other Democrats ( REUTERS ) Trumps comments refer to a campaign of mortgage fraud allegations the president has lobbed, with the help of two top deputies, against a slew of Democratic officials. The targets include Schiff, Cook, former FBI Director James Comey, and others. Leading the charge to raise those allegations is William Pulte, Trumps appointee at the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Together with a specially-appointed U.S. attorney, Ed Martin, the pair are working directly under the president to identify and target Democrats and others with criminal referrals to the Justice Department. Even with Martins status as a special prosecutor, however, the agency under Bondi has not brought any charges against any of the presidents targets. Those targeted have all strenuously denied the accusations. Trumps frustration with the issue comes as the U.S. Attorney for Eastern Virginia resigned on Friday rather than participate in Trumps scheme, forcing the president to nominate another former aide to fill the spot. Lindsey Halligan, an inexperienced litigator who has never prosecuted a state or federal case, is the presidents pick for the job as the White House pressures that office to launch an investigation into New York states attorney general on similar charges. She is extremely intelligent, fearless and, working with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, has the strength and determination to be absolutely OUTSTANDING in this new and very important role, Trump wrote in a separate Truth Social post announcing Halligans appointment on Friday. Even if the president is successful in breaking down the Department of Justices supposed political independence theres no certainty that any prosecutions launched against Schiff or any of Trumps other targets would result in convictions. Grand juries in the District of Columbia have declined to bring felony charges against protesters and other targets of Trumps DoJ in several cases, including one prominent instance where a man was seen on video hurling a sandwich at a member of federal law enforcement. Administration officials told The Independent that Todd Blanche, a former top prosecutor in the Southern District of New York who represented President Trump in multiple criminal cases during his time out of office, has complained to top administration figures about Martin bypassing the departments existing infrastructure while going beyond simply looking at whether his targets committed mortgage fraud by probing possible criminal tax violations. Blanche is understood to have offered Martin access to staff and resources to aid him, because the failure to obtain indictments against James, Schiff or Cook would cause further embarrassment for the department. Trump interacts with many valued voices across his Administration and receives regular updates from Bondi and Blanche, White House deputy spokesperson Abigail Jackson told The Independent. He also relies on the many other strong relationships he has, like with Ed Martin, to get input and discuss ideas on a variety of issues, Jackson added. 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 White House on Monday strenuously denied that Trump administration border czar Tom Homan took an alleged $50,000 bribe he was reportedly caught on tape accepting from undercover FBI agents as part of an anti-corruption investigation last year. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about the allegations against Homan, who according to The New York Times was handed the stack of cash concealed in a takeout bag from the Cava fast casual chain by the FBI agents during a meeting in September of last year. The Times reported that the DOJ under Trump shut down the investigation. MSNBC reported separately that the alleged handoff was recorded on multiple hidden cameras. But Leavitt flatly denied Homan had done any of it. Mr. Homan never took the $50,000 that you're referring to, so you should get your facts straight, she said. Homan, who spent three decades in federal service with the U.S. Border Patrol and served as acting Immigrations and Customs Enforcement director during President Donald Trumps first term, had met with the agents, who posed as would-be federal contractors, on multiple occasions after they were reportedly tipped off about him allegedly soliciting payments in exchange for future help awarding federal contracts in a future second Trump administration. Tom Homan reportedly accepted $50,000 in cash from FBI agents posing as would-be federal contractors. He and the White House deny it ever happened ( Getty Images ) According to MSNBC, the probe was conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Attorneys office for the Western District of Texas with the aid of the FBI and the Justice Departments Public Integrity Section. An MSNBC spokesperson told The Independent the network stands by its reporting. After the alleged videotaped meeting, investigators and prosecutors reportedly planned to see if Homan would follow through on his promise to steer contacts to the fictitious company that had paid him the alleged bribe once he became Trumps second-term border czar, thereby violating federal law against accepting money in exchange for arranging federal contracts. But since the start of the second Trump administration, Justice Department officials slow-walked and later deep-sixed the investigation. It was reportedly closed in the last few weeks after FBI Director Kash Patel asked agents for a status updated, effectively shielding Homan from any consequences for the allegedly criminal behavior. Leavitt characterized the anti-corruption investigation that had ensnared her colleague as another example of the weaponization of the Biden Department of Justice against one of President Trump's strongest and most vocal supporters. She also implied that the probe had been improper because Homan had been expected to serve in a future second Trump administration. In the midst of a presidential campaign, you had FBI agents going undercover to try and entrap one of the President's top allies and supporters, someone who they knew very well would be taking a government position months later, she said . Leavitt added that Homan did absolutely nothing wrong and said different prosecutors and FBI agents from the ones whod videotaped him accepting the illicit cash had found zero evidence of a legal action. illegal activity or criminal wrongdoing. The White House and the President stand by Tom Holman, 100%, because he did absolutely nothing wrong and he is a brave public servant who has done a phenomenal job in helping the president shut down the border, she 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 The widow of Charlie Kirk forgave her husbands killer in front of tens of thousands of people at his public memorial service, before President Donald Trump declared his hate for his opponents in a contrasting, politically-charged speech. Trump was the headline speaker Sunday at Kirks public memorial service at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and his speech immediately followed Erika Kirks powerful tribute. The 36-year-old often choked back tears as she spoke, and looked overcome with emotion whenever the crowd applauded and responded to her heartfelt words. Before Trump took to the stage, the widow recalled going to see her husbands body in the hospital where he died, as she said she forgave the shooter who killed him at the Utah Valley University campus on September 10. My husband, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life, she began. That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it is what Charlie would do. open image in gallery President Donald Trump embraces Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, after speaking at the public memorial service ( AFP via Getty ) open image in gallery President Donald Trump said he hates his political opponents after Erika Kirk forgave her husbands killer in an emotional tribute ( AFP via Getty ) open image in gallery An emotional Erika Kirk broke down after her speech, in which she said she forgave her husbands killer ( Getty ) The answer to hate is not hate, the widow added, in stark contrast to the presidents words. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love, love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us. Erika Kirk claimed that her husbands death had not prompted revolution but had instead sparked revival in the U.S. We didnt see rioting. We didnt see revolution, she said. Instead, we saw what my husband always prayed he would see in this country. We saw revival. When it was Trumps turn to round off the lengthy ceremony, the president apologized in jest to Charlie Kirk and his widow for disagreeing with them when it comes to dealing with political foes. He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them, Trump said of Kirk. Thats where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents, and I dont want the best for them. Im sorry, Trump added. I am sorry, Erika. Charlies angry... hes angry at me, Trump added. During the presidents tribute to Charlie Kirk, he also segued into claiming that his administration has found an answer to autism, and went off on tangents about his trade tariffs. open image in gallery Erika Kirk preached a different message than that of the president during her husbands memorial ( AFP via Getty ) open image in gallery Stephen Miller delivered fiery remarks in which he lashed out at our enemies ( Reuters ) It was Charlie who helped unite MAGA. And you know what MAHA is, thats right: Make America Healthy Again, Trump said, before touting a White House press conference scheduled for Monday. I think youre going to find it to be amazing. I think we found an answer to autism. How about that: autism? Trump said. Tomorrow, were going to be talking in the Oval Office in the White House about autism, how it happens. So we wont let it happen anymore. After the presidents speech concluded, he shared a brief embrace with Erika Kirk on stage. Trumps family, members of his cabinet, GOP lawmakers and Elon Musk were among the tens of thousands of supporters who turned out to honor Charlie Kirk. White House officials, prominent MAGA figures and Kirks colleagues from Turning Point USA gave tributes to the murdered CEO in the lengthy ceremony, described by one speaker as the Holy Spirit in a Trump rally. Vice President JD Vance said that Kirk was a martyr for the Christian faith. For Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America, and defending the truth, than it is to die on our knees, Vance said. My friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. open image in gallery Many in attendance were praying and crying before the service had even begun ( Reuters ) open image in gallery National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said Charlie Kirk had stood up to schools that silence debate ( AP ) open image in gallery People pray and sing at Kirks memorial ( Getty ) Some of Trumps most senior officials, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and her deputy Stephen Miller, spoke at the memorial. Millers speech focused on the need to prevail over the forces of wickedness and evil, with Trumps deputy Chief of Staff also hitting out at our enemies. You have no idea the dragon you have awakened, you have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilization, to save the West, to save this republic, Miller said. And to those trying to incite violence against us, those trying to foment hatred against us, what do you have? You have nothing. You are nothing. You are wickedness. You are jealousy, you are envy, you are hatred. Secretary of State Marco Rubio railed against the threat of Marxism on college campuses, while National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said Kirk had stood up to schools that silence debate. Speaking in Washington, D.C. before he departed for Arizona, Trump said that 10 years ago, colleges were dangerous for conservatives and now theyre hot. Charlie Kirk was assassinated on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem on September 10 in front of a crowd of horrified students. He was shot in the neck by a single bullet. He did a tremendous job, and he had a hold on youth because they loved him, Trump said. If you go back 10 years, those colleges were dangerous places for conservatives, and now theyre hot. Theyre very hot, just like this country is hot. A sea of people dressed in red, white and blue descended on the stadium in the early hours of Sunday, waiting in line well before dawn to ensure they secured a spot inside the arena, which has a capacity of more than 63,000. open image in gallery Emotional mourners were seen in the crowd ( Reuters ) open image in gallery A packed State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona ( AFP via Getty ) Pictures inside the stadium showed people in the crowd praying and crying before the service had even begun. Security for the event was high, with the Department of Homeland Security affording it the same level reserved for Super Bowls. Kirks accused killer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Utah, was formally charged with murder last week as prosecutors announced they intend to seek the death penalty. Trump has previously blamed the radical left for Kirks death, and threatened to go after liberal organizations and donors, or others, who he feels are maligning or celebrating the right-wing figures death. Federal investigators have found no evidence linking Robinson to left-wing groups, despite claims by Trump and his administration, three sources told NBC News. The trio of insiders are reportedly familiar with the investigation into the case, which, as of now, appears to revolve around Robinson, 22, acting alone. Every indication so far is that this was one guy who did one really bad thing because he found Kirks ideology personally offensive, one person said. Robinsons mother told investigators that he had recently become more politically active and leaned left. 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 Less than three months after President Donald Trump complained that Americans have too many non-working holidays, the White House says he would not oppose adding one more in honor of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Asked whether the president would support legislation to establish a 12th federal holiday to the calendar to commemorate Kirk, who was shot and killed earlier this month by an assassin in Utah, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt replied: I'm sure he wouldn't oppose such a thing. Last week, the Senate adopted a resolution calling October 14 of this year the day that wouldve been Kirks 32nd birthday a National Day of Remembrance for the late Turning Point USA founder. The House also adopted a resolution honoring Kirk as well, but neither action establishes a holiday in his memory. Some 96 Democrats either voted against the measure or abstained by voting present. Creating a federal holiday on which the government closes for the duration, leading many businesses to follow suit, requires passage of a bill in both chambers and a signature from the president. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt fields questions from reporters in first briefing since Charlie Kirks assassination. ( Reuters ) Congress last created a federal holiday in June 2021, when then-president Joe Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a portmanteau of June 19th the 11th federal holiday on the calendar. The annual celebration marks the day that Major General Gordon Grainger ordered enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas following the end of the American Civil War, freeing the last African-Americans in the U.S. who had been kept as slaves. During his first term, Trump signed a yearly proclamation marking Juneteenth and pledged to support the legislation that was eventually signed by Biden when he ran for re-election in the 2020 presidential race. But after returning to office this year, he took to Truth Social on Juneteenth to denounce the same holiday hed once supported as a candidate four years earlier. He wrote: Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. The workers dont want it either! Soon well end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, he added. 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 and Elon Musk were reunited at Charlie Kirks memorial service in Arizona following their bitter split a few months ago. The men were seen on camera shaking hands on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale during speeches remembering the Turning Point USA founder. After months of being Trumps first buddy, the worlds richest man made a dramatic exit from the White House at the end of May after a feud ignited between him and the president. At Kirks memorial, the official White House Rapid Response 47 account shared footage of the men chatting as Musk joined the president in the stadium. The account appeared to celebrate their reunion, captioning the post with a love-heart and handshake emoji. However, when asked about the meeting by reporters on Air Force One, the president did not seem very moved. Well, Elon came over and said hello. And, no, its nothing to do with that. It was I thought it was nice. And he came over. Had a little conversation. We had a very good relationship. But it was nicer that he came, Trump said. open image in gallery Donald Trump and Elon Musk pictured speaking at a memorial for Charlie Kirk in Glendale, Arizona ( Turning Point USA ) open image in gallery Musk spent several months this year leading the so-called Department of Government Efficiencys efforts to slash government spending ( AP ) Musk spent several months this year leading the Department of Government Efficiencys efforts to slash government spending. Under his leadership, Doge laid off hundreds of thousands of federal employees, hollowed out several agencies and terminated thousands of government contracts and grants. Toward the end of Musks time in government, cracks began to show between the tech mogul and the president. Trump officially marked the end of Musks 130 days as a special government employee at an Oval Office press conference, where the Tesla CEO appeared with a black eye. The president praised Musk for his work through Doge and hailed him for having led what he called the most sweeping and consequential government reform program in generations. Elon gave an incredible service. Theres nobody like him, and he had to go through the slings and the arrows, which is a shame, because he's an incredible patriot. The good news is that 90% of the country knows that, and they appreciate it, and they really appreciate what he did, he said. Trump then presented Musk with a trinket that dated back to the 47th presidents prior term as the 45th President of the United States: A Key to the White House. open image in gallery Trump officially marked the end of Musks 130 days as a special government employee at an Oval Office press conference, where the Tesla CEO appeared with a black eye ( Getty Images ) After the send off, Musk went public with his opposition to Trumps signature legislation, the One, Big Beautiful Bill, which the billionaire claimed would increase the budget deficit by $2.5 trillion. Im sorry, but I just cant stand it anymore, Musk wrote of Trumps bill on June 3. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Musk and Trump continued to spar until June 5, when the former Doge leader claimed the president appeared in the Epstein files. Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files, Musk wrote. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT! Tensions appeared to ease soon afterward. Musk expressed regret on June 11 for the posts he made about the president, while Trump revealed he had no hard feelings toward Musk. Soon after the bill was signed, the tech mogul announced that he would be forming the new America Party. When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy, he wrote on X. Trump called the idea ridiculous. The president also threatened to take a look at deporting Musk to South Africa, where he was born and raised for several years. 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 If you haven't heard of the Armenian-Cambodian conflict, that's okay, because neither has anyone else other than President Donald Trump, who claims to have ended the supposedly brewing clash. During the American Cornerstone Institute's Founders' Dinner at the Mount Vernon estate in Virginia Saturday, Trump again rattled off his peacemaking resume, the latest push in his desire to win a Nobel Peace Prize. One of the wars he mentioned ending was a conflict between "Cambodia and Armenia." The president did not elaborate on what allegedly set leaders in capitals Phnom Penh and Yerevan which are 4,150 miles apart against each other, but he assured the crowd that war "was just starting, and it was a bad one." There has been no conflict between Armenia and Cambodia. The 79-year-old president appears to have mixed up Armenia's tensions with Azerbaijan, and border violence between Cambodia and Thailand. open image in gallery U.S. President Donald Trump says he stopped war between Cambodia and Armenia, which are 4000 miles apart during a speech on Saturday at the American Cornerstone Institute's Fourth Annual Founders Dinner ( REUTERS ) To Trump's credit, his administration did help smooth over the latter conflict. In July, clashes at the CambodiaThailand border left 43 people dead and more than 300,000 displaced over a five-day period. Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim began making calls and mediated on the conflict. The nations agreed to a ceasefire on July 28. In August, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet joined with Pakistan and Israel to nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize. He credited the U.S. president with using "visionary and innovative diplomacy" to help defuse the border crisis. It's possible that Armenia was simply on the president's mind when he made the slip-up during the dinner speech. Just before his gaffe, he had been discussing the very real conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region of Azerbaijan that is populated by ethnic Armenians. In August, the leaders of both nations met in the Oval Office and signed an agreement to end the conflict over the region. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shook hands during the meeting. Trump called the event "historic" at the time. open image in gallery Trump, center, shakes hands with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, right, and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev during a trilateral signing ceremony at the White House on August 8 ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) His Saturday night dinner stumble isn't the first time Trump has mixed up which countries he's allegedly helped out of conflict. During a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer last week, Trump again bungled his brag, claiming that the U.S. "settled" a conflict between Azerbaijan which he struggled to pronounce and Albania. The same week on Fox News, he made the mistake again, and repeated it a third time while discussing his diplomatic victories on a conservative radio show. Trump who recently oversaw the renaming of the Defense Department to the Department of War has made clear he wants a Nobel Peace Prize, and has been frequently citing his diplomatic successes. In June, after he bombed nuclear facilities in Iran, Trump complained on Truth Social that I wont get a Nobel Peace Prize for this, before giving a list of negotiations brokered by his administration. In February, during an Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump complained that they will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize. Its too bad. I deserve it, but they will never give it to me, Trump said. In October, while he was on the campaign trail, he complained that former President Barack Obama received a Nobel Peace Prize during the first year of his presidency. If I were named Obama, I would have had the Nobel Prize given to me in 10 seconds, he told the Detroit Economic Club at the time. 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 and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared Monday that theyve found a link between autism and acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, despite scant evidence of a link. Speaking from the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Trump said women should not take acetaminophen during the entire pregnancy. With Tylenol, dont take it! Dont take it, Trump insisted. All pregnant women should talk to their doctors for more information about limiting the use of this medication while pregnant. And I want to say it right now, and you know the way I look at it, don't take it, Trump said. Don't take it. There's no downside in not taking it. He said the Food and Drug Administration would begin notifying doctors that the use of acetaminophen can be associated with an increased risk of autism, but did not immediately provide any medical evidence for the FDA's new recommendation. open image in gallery Trump uses the platform of the presidency to promote unproven ties between Tylenol, vaccines and autism without new evidence ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Trump and Kennedy, both of whom also repeated some debunked and other unfounded links between vaccines and autism, which affects 1 in 31 children in the U.S., according to CDC statistics. RFK had earlier promised he would reveal what has caused the autism epidemic by September. So taking Tylenol is not good, all right, I'll say it it's not good for this reason, Trump said. They are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary. Throughout his announcement, Trump repeated numerous conspiracy theories about autism, including debunked claims about mercury in vaccines and the idea that certain populations like the Amish do not develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Tylenol is the most commonly used pain reliever and many women use acetaminophen, Tylenols scientific name, for fever or pain. Trump struggled to pronounce the name of the drug during the announcement. Still, Trump was adamant. Ideally, you dont take it all, but if you have to, if you cant tough it out, if theres a problem, youre going to end up doing it, Trump said of pregnant women, noting that mothers should only take the lowest possible dose in the worst-case health scenarios. 'Fight like hell not to take it,' Trump said, and also urged parents not to give it to children. Most experts say that the link between autism and Tylenol use during pregnancy is minimal at best. A major study in Sweden of more than 2 million children released last year found that Acetaminophen use during pregnancy was not associated with childrens risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in sibling control analyses. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also pushed back and said that use of Tylenol is safe during pregnancy. Todays announcement by HHS is not backed by the full body of scientific evidence and dangerously simplifies the many and complex causes of neurologic challenges in children, Steven J. Fleischman, the president of ACOG, said in a statement. It is highly unsettling that our federal health agencies are willing to make an announcement that will affect the health and well-being of millions of people without the backing of reliable data. Kenvue, the parent company of Tylenol, pushed back on Trumps claims, saying in a statement to Axios acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women as needed throughout their entire pregnancy. We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism, the statement said. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers. open image in gallery Trump linked autism to acetaminophen use during pregnancy, despite decades of evidence its safe ( Alamy/PA ) But the president repeatedly recommended that women not take Tylenol. That's, for instance, in cases of extremely high fever that you feel you can't tough it out, you can't do it, I guess there's that, Trump said. But if you can't tough it out, if you can't do it, that's what you're gonna have to do. You'll take a Tylenol, but it'll be very sparingly. During his announcement, Trump also rehashed the idea that vaccines play a role in autism, despite repeated studies that have shown no such correlation. The author of the original study, Andrew Wakefield, would eventually lose his medical license and the study would be retracted by The Lancet in 2010. And they pump so much stuff into those beautiful little babies, it's a disgrace, he said. Furthermore, Trump said that We want no mercury in the vaccine even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there is no evidence of mercury in vaccines causing adverse harm and vaccine manufacturers have either significantly reduced or eliminated the use of thimerosal, a type of mercury in vaccines. Colin Killick, the executive director for the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, criticized the efforts by the Trump administration in an interview before the announcement. And the other thing, of course, is even if we knew that there was a statistical correlation between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and autism, it wouldn't necessarily follow that that meant that the acetaminophen was causing the autism, Killick told The Independent. In addition to the announcement around acetaminophen, the administration said that the Food and Drug Administration would establish leucovorin, a type of folic acid, as the first recognized therapeutic for children with folate deficiencies and certain types of autism spectrums. But Helen Tager Flusberg, professor emerita at Boston University and head of the Coalition of Autism Scientists, told The Independent it was way too premature to recommend that autistic children take leucovorin. They have different, each of these studies use different endpoints, so we don't actually know what it contributes to, she said. We need large-scale, randomized, controlled trials, which will be impossible to do because this is something that you can buy on Amazon. So it would be impossible to actually do this kind of trial now. The CDC reported earlier this year that the number of children between the ages of 4 and 8 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder increased to 1 in 31 up from 1 in 150 in the year 2000, a rise also fueled by expansion of the way autism is defined and diagnosed. In addition, it found that the number of boys was much narrower, at 1 in 21 and as narrow as 1 in 12.5 for boys in California. I was told that's in California, where they have a, for some reason, a more severe problem, he said. But that is also largely attributed to the fact that California has one of the best screening processes and detection rates for autism. And boys have long been diagnosed at a higher rate than girls while girls are often overlooked into adulthood. In the same token, Trump talked about various groups who supposedly have no rates of autism. I mean, there's a rumor, and I don't know if it's so or not, that Cuba, they don't have Tylenol because they don't have the money to fight Tylenol, and they have virtually no autism, he said. Cuba has rougly 690 children with ASD for every 100,000 children. 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 confirmed on Sunday that the U.S. was close to reaching a deal with China over the purchase of TikTok and added that Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch would likely be part of the purchase of the wildly-popular social media app. Trump has spent months delaying enforcement of a law banning TikTok that Congress passed in 2024 and Joe Biden signed into law. During that time, his administration has sought to engineer a U.S. buyer for the platform while the president has largely given away his motivation: hes credited the site and its users for boosting his presidential ambitions during the 2024 campaign. On Sunday, he sat down for an interview with Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy, for the inaugural episode of the latters show The Sunday Briefing. In the interview with Doocy, Trump quipped that a man named Lachlan would probably be involved in the sale, adding that the Fox Corporation CEOs father would also be involved. Theyre very well known people, Trump said of the apps prospective buyers. Larry Ellison [of Oracle] is one of them. Hes involved, hes a great guy. Michael Dell is involved. I hate to tell you this, but a man named Lachlan is involved. You know who Lachlan is? Its a very unusual name, Lachlan Murdoch. Doocy shot back in response that at Fox, Lachlan was known as Mr. Murdoch. Donald Trump claimed that the U.S. was 'close' to inking a deal for an American company to buy TikTok ( X/Fox News ) Trump went on: Rupert is probably gonna be in the group. I think theyre going to be in the group. Couple of others, really great people, very prominent people. A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Independent on Sunday that the Murdochs were involved in conversations with the White House on the issue. Upon taking office in April, the president issued an executive order directing the Justice Department to pause enforcement of the TikTok ban until April. His administration has subsequently extended that reprieve for ByteDance, and did so again last week. Many lawmakers on Capitol Hill have argued that the app poses a national security threat for a variety of reasons. Lawmakers are uncomfortable with ByteDances alleged connections to the Chinese Communist Party and laws in China they say will require the company to hand over Americans personal information or other data to Chinese officials if asked. Still others have expressed distrust in the apps algorithm, either due to the spread of misinformation or political messages that clash with official U.S. policy including content critical of Israels siege of Gaza. In January, Trump boasted that his actions had saved the app for its millions of American users, many of whom were unhappy with news of the ban. The president also said at the time that were going to make a lot of money with the deal, presumably referring to American buyers. The apps owners, meanwhile, thanked the Republican president with a message sent to all U.S-based users. My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress, Trump then posted in April on Truth Social, after signing the extension. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a press conference this past week that Trump and Chinas Xi Jinping would speak Friday to possibly finalize the deal. He did not disclose the terms of the deal, saying that it is between two private parties, but added that "the commercial terms have been agreed upon. Trump did not indicate that the deal was finalized on Sunday, and also refused to disclose the cost of the purchase: A tremendous amount of money...oh, Id rather have them [say]. Past reporting has indicated that Trumps imposition of reciprocal tariffs on China caused the deal to stall, meaning that a deal with ByteDance could herald a larger trade agreement with China as well. While the original law banning TikTok passed with voted from both parties, progressives in particular have fumed that a failure to deal with the issue before the end of the Biden presidency set Trump up for another political and possibly financial windfall. Trump himself signed an order to ban the app in his first term, but backed down after a legal challenge. Reacting to a post from Pod Save America host Dan Pfeiffer assuming that the eventual American board members of TikTok would likely be pulled from a list of pro-Trump billionaire donors, Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida tweeted on Saturday: Im not an I told you so kind of guy. But yall remember that stupid TikTok ban? I voted No on that one. 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 offered some thoughts on childhood vaccines on Sunday, expressing disapproval over the dosages given to babies and likening the treatment to vets medicating horses. Returning to the White House after speaking at Charlie Kirks memorial service in Arizona, Trump stood for questions on Air Force One about his planned announcement on autism on Monday, with a journalist asking him whether he intended to link the condition to vaccines, contrary to the scientific consensus. Vaccines are very interesting, the president answered. They can be great, but when you put the wrong stuff in them, you know And, you know, children get these massive vaccines like youd give to a horse like youd give to a horse. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One after attending a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday September 21 2025 ( AP ) And Ive said for a long time, I mean, this is no secret spread them out over five years. Get five shots, small ones. Did you ever see what they give? I mean, for a little baby to be injected with that much fluid, even beyond the actual ingredients, they have sometimes 80 different vaccines in them. Its crazy. You know thats a common sense thing too Its like youre shooting up a horse. You have a little body, a little baby, and youre pumping this big thing. Its a horrible thing. So Ive always felt that. But well be having a big discussion about autism tomorrow, he continued. Trump famously invited worldwide ridicule during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when he suggested that household bleach might have a role to play in the fightback against the respiratory disease. The president and Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr are expected to claim on Monday that the consumption of Tylenol by pregnant women has been linked to autism and should be recommended only in cases in which the expectant mother is suffering from a high fever. The Food and Drug Administration, many medical organizations, and Tylenols manufacturer, Kenvue, maintain that the drug is safe for pregnant people to take as directed, but advise that users consult medical professionals. Trump trailed his upcoming press conference at Kirks memorial, tailing off from his tribute to the murdered Turning Point USA founder to promise an amazing announcement, adding: I think we found an answer to autism. Kennedy, an outspoken vaccine skeptic, has pledged to end the epidemic of autism and establish its root causes. However, even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has acknowledged that the rise in case numbers over the last 25 years is due to improved screening for the condition, leading to more people being diagnosed with it who might not have been previously. 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 Lawyers for The Wall Street Journal blasted Donald Trumps defamation lawsuit against the publishers and journalists who uncovered his alleged birthday letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which the president claims does not exist. A letter allegedly signed by Trump which features a sexually suggestive drawing and a birthday wish that says may every day be another wonderful secret was first published by the newspaper and then shared with members of Congress by the Epstein estate. Trump has repeatedly denied writing the letter and denied that a signature on the document is his. The presidents $10 billion defamation lawsuit claims that no authentic letter or drawing exists, and on his Truth Social account, he called WSJs story a false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS article in the useless rag that is. The presidents lawsuit does not include a single plausible allegation that any of the defendants which include right-wing media mogul Rupert Murdoch and the newspapers parent companies knowingly published false statements about him, lawyers wrote Monday. The Article is true, lawyers wrote, and the evidence is publicly available for anyone to see. open image in gallery Lawyers for Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal blasted Donald Trumps defamation lawsuit over the publication of an alleged birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein as an an affront to the First Amendment ( REUTERS ) This case calls out for dismissal, they wrote, calling Trumps lawsuit an affront to the First Amendment and an attempt to silence a newspaper for publishing speech that was subsequently proven true by documents released by Congress to the American public. By its very nature, this meritless lawsuit threatens to chill the speech of those who dare to publish content that the president does not like, according to Mondays filing. The president has denied ever writing such a greeting to Epstein or even drawing pictures of women, though the allegations arrived as his administration sought to dismiss the so-called Epstein files as a Democratic hoax after his Department of Justice claimed there was no basis to release any more documents surrounding the case. open image in gallery Trump allegedly wrote a letter with a sexually suggestive drawing to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on his 50th birthday, which the president claims does not exist ( Getty ) The Justice Departments attempt to draw the investigation to a close has renewed scrutiny into the presidents relationship with Epstein, who was accused of sexually abusing dozens of minors before he was found dead in his jail cell in 2019. The president has repeatedly threatened media outlets, publishers and journalists with legal action, and he routinely suggests he can revoke broadcast licenses for networks over their antagonistic coverage. Last week, a federal judge lambasted the presidents legal team in a scathing order dismissing the presidents $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times, which the judge called decidedly improper and impermissible. Lawyers for the WSJ have asked a judge to similarly dismiss Trumps lawsuit against the newspaper. There is nothing defamatory about a person sending a bawdy note to a friend, and the article cannot damage plaintiffs reputation as a matter of law. Plaintiff acknowledged his friendship with Epstein, lawyers wrote Monday. WSJs article also included Trumps denial and is consistent both with his general reputation and the actual letter released by the House Oversight Committee, according to the newspapers legal team. Trump also cannot allege that the article damaged his reputation because of the letters bawdy contents, because he has a well-documented reputation for bawdiness based on his past statements about women, lawyers wrote, pointing to his well-publicized comments on the so-called Access Hollywood tape, among other statements. Any allegation that President Trump wrote a bawdy birthday note is thus consistent with his public reputation which he has himself acknowledged for using locker room talk and does not plausibly state any harm, they wrote. The Independent has requested comment from the White House. Mondays motion to dismiss the lawsuit follows lengthy two-day congressional hearings with FBI Director Kash Patel, whose leadership has come under fire in the wake of the bureaus decision that no further disclosure in the Epstein case would be appropriate or warranted. At one point, however, Patel tentatively agreed to investigate Epsteins estate but only to defend the Trump administrations claim that a signature on a birthday card the president allegedly wrote to Epstein was fake. After Patel evaded a series of questions about the case from Democratic lawmakers last week, Rep. Jared Moskowitz asked the FBI director whether he would instead investigate the Epstein estate for, in the administrations view, putting out a fake document with the presidents signature linking him to the worlds largest pedophile ring. On what basis? Patel asked. On what basis? Moskowitz responded. They literally put out a fake document, according to the president, with a fake signature. Its a forgery of the president of the United States signature. Thats the basis. Sure, Patel said. Ill do it. 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 Every year, the United Nations General Assembly gathers for high-level talks, and high-minded proclamations full of sound and fury, signifying... not very much. As the British delegation arrived in New York, there was a desperate attempt to save the international talking shop from being drowned out by the national self-interest of America at this years gathering. On her arrival, Yvette Cooper, the new UK foreign secretary, laid out Britains principles for the future. At this moment of intense global instability and conflict, UK diplomacy and leadership has never been more important. Innocent civilians are suffering in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, she said. Donald Trump doesnt care. Hes signalled that he has no interest in Sudan. He supports Israel on Gaza, and seemingly Vladimir Putin on Ukraine. When it comes to UN votes, Trump has consistently sided with Israel and Russia against his Western allies. open image in gallery US president Donald Trump speaks to reporters on board Air Force One after attending a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday ( AP ) Countries worldwide are dealing with high levels of migration, including displaced and trafficked people, she went on. Trump agrees and is using the fear of immigrants as a lever to intimidate people on the streets of America. And climate change is not just a future threat to our survival, but a source of chaos and suffering across every continent today, said the UKs foreign secretary. Shes absolutely right. But Trump has abandoned every aspect of the Paris climate agreement, and is pursuing drill, baby, drill with unbound enthusiasm, advocating the expansion of fossil-fuel use worldwide. He is leaving the world open to the startling reality that, as the US abandons the UN, China (one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council) can shape it on the cheap. This year, the US has withdrawn from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). And cut funding to most others. US funding has been slashed from $1.5bn (1.1bn) to $300m (222m) a year. The UN, meanwhile, is facing a $500m shortfall in 2026, with at least 3,000 staff expected to lose their jobs. open image in gallery British foreign secretary Yvette Cooper speaks at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council at the United Nations on Monday ( Getty ) China has continued to increase its financial contributions to the UN. As of 2025, China has pledged to give $500m to the World Health Organisation (WHO) over five years, and is the second-largest contributor to the UNs regular budget, contributing more than 15 per cent. While the US is determined to unravel the fabric of multilateralism, China is equally focused on establishing long-term global alliances, and is facing no serious rival in doing so. It has bound itself tightly into the affairs and economies of the African continent as the biggest investor in infrastructure. North Korea and Russia were each given a place of honour at a recent parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The signs are that, while the US stands back from the world, China is happy to embrace all comers. There are indications, however, that the UK and the European Union may be trying to build an alternative Western bloc of influence, along with Canada and Australia, to offset the influence of China and the loss of American money (and leadership) in the UN. Nato, which includes EU members along with Canada, has already been shaken by Trumps lack of enthusiasm for the multinational alliance, and because he has shown greater support for its biggest threat, Putin, than he has for his own allies. Encouraged by the White House, these allies are now heading towards spending 3.5 per cent, rising to perhaps even 5 per cent, of their GDP on defence. That increase, ironically, reduces US influence within the alliance, where European militaries are hastening their efforts to grow independent of the American military machine. The same waning of US power is visible in the UN. open image in gallery Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un attend a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on 3 September ( KCNA via KNS ) In the latest developments, the UK, Australia, and Canada have all recognised the Palestinian state over the vocal objections of the Trump administration, which sees the move as a reward for Hamass campaigns against the existence of Israel. The UK has done so, the Foreign Office said, as part of its efforts to build an international consensus being galvanised by Saudi Arabia and France around efforts to revive the two-state solution. The hope is to see Israel and the Palestinians the latter led by the new state but not the proscribed Hamas group return to talks that would lead to the end of Israels occupation of the West Bank, and peace for Gaza. Over the coming week, the UN plenary sessions will no doubt be used by Trump to advance his claims to have earned several nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize for his (unsuccessful) attempts to bring peace to seven conflicts, by his count. Sergei Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, will try to slap away efforts by Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday to call for UN support in condemning Russia and demanding a ceasefire. Trumps administration is unlikely to make good on threats to increase sanctions against the Kremlin, and may even duck offering outright support to Kyiv. China will take an authoritative stand and cement itself as the keystone in the most multilateral institution of them all while hiding its designs on Taiwan. The French and the Saudis, along with the Arab League, will work hard for Palestine, and all bar the US delegation will anxiously talk of renewing their commitment to cooling the climate. Britain, though, wont get top billing, or even be taken too seriously. Because the prime minister of the United Kingdom is not bothering to help to preserve multilateralism. He hasnt turned up. 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 After two sisters in Arkansas were arrested for allegedly vandalizing a Charlie Kirk memorial, they are now trying to pay for legal fees through a GoFundMe campaign. Kerri Melissa Rollo, 23, and Kaylee Heather Rollo, 22, were arrested for allegedly vandalizing a memorial set up at the Benton County Courthouse to honor the conservative youth activist, 31, who was shot dead September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. Both women were charged with first-degree criminal mischief, and Kaylee Rollo was also charged with obstruction of governmental operations, according to the Benton County Sheriff's Office last Wednesday. In a photo shared by the sheriff's office, one of the women can be seen standing amid a collection of candles, giving a middle finger to the camera. The photo appears to be a still image taken from a video that circulated on social media, showing the women ripping up signs and kicking over candles at the memorial, according to ABC 40/29. Sheriff [Shawn] Holloway takes acts of vandalism, particularly those directed toward community memorials, very seriously, the sheriff's office said in a statement. open image in gallery Kaylee Rollo, left, and her sister Kerri Rollo, were arrested in Bentonville, Arkansas after they allegedly vandalized a memorial to Charlie Kirk on the steps of the Benton County Courthouse ( Benton County Jail ) Benton County Justice of the Peace Joseph Bollinger explained the countys position with regard to the women's First Amendment rights. Everyone has a right to be able to express their freedom of expression. But what the issue is, is when you trample on someones memorialthe human act of grieving, Bollinger said in a statement to the broadcaster. Youre not just trampling on their freedom of expression; youre trampling on the memory of a person. Youre trampling on our Benton County values. Neither offending a countys values nor disrespecting the memory of a deceased person typically constitutes speech outside the protections of the First Amendment. On their GoFundMe page titled FIGHT AGAINST F4CISM the sisters said they were being doxxed online, and Kaylee, who appears to have written the pages message, said her sister Kerri was fired. After the recent events [of] Charlie Kirks death, my sibling and I are being doxxed online and my sibling was fired from their job. This is a direct violation of their First Amendment rights and unconstitutional. This is unfortunate, but anything helps, the GoFundMe message reads. Please help my sibling while they look for another job and stand against the tyranny that is creeping into the country. open image in gallery A woman identified by Benton County Sheriff's Deputies as Kerri Rollo makes an offensive gesture while allegedly vandalizing a memorial to Charlie Kirk in Bentonville, Arkansas. Her sister, identified by police as Kaylee Rollo, is also pictured. Both women were arrested and charged with criminal mischief ( Benton County Sheriff's Office ) The sister organizing the campaign provided an update, saying that she and her sister had been ARRESTED FOR THIS PROTEST and that WE HAVE BEEN THREATENED, DOXXED, HARASSED, AND FIRED. The sisters said the money raised would go toward legal counsel and court fees. As of Monday morning, they had raised $5,800. On Friday, a judge set Kerris bond at $15,000 and Kaylees bond at $7,500. Kerri requested a public defender, while Kaylee has retained her own attorney. Kirks alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested after his parents turned him in to police. The shooting, as well as Robinsons history and motive, are still under investigation. A memorial event for Kirk was held in Glendale, Arizona, over the weekend. His widow, Erika, spoke during the event, as did President Donald Trump and a host of MAGA loyalists. 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 Protesters against Israel's Gaza offensive clashed with police in Milan and other Italian cities on Monday, as tens of thousands marched in Rome and dockworkers blocked ports in solidarity with Palestinians. Police in riot gear fired tear gas to try to disperse protesters at the central station in Milan, a Reuters witness reported. The protesters, some dressed in black and others waving the Palestinian flag, used a pole to smash a window at the station and hurled a chair at police during the clashes. More than 10 people were arrested in Milan and around 60 police officers suffered bruising or more serious injuries, Italy's ANSA news agency reported. The protests were part of a nationwide strike called by trade unions against the mass killings of Palestinians in Gaza. Meloni condemns violence and destrcution At the port in Venice, police deployed water cannon to help break up demonstrations. Workers also staged protests at ports in the cities of Genoa, Livorno and Trieste. The dockworkers say they are seeking to prevent Italy from being used as a staging post for the transfer of arms and other supplies to Israel used in its war against Hamas in Gaza. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the scenes in Milan, Italy's financial capital and co-host of the Winter Olympics next February. "(This was) violence and destruction that have nothing to do with solidarity and will not change the lives of people in Gaza by a fraction, but will have concrete consequences for Italian citizens who will end up suffering and paying for the damage caused by these hooligans," she said on X. Meloni's right-wing government is a traditional supporter of Israel within Europe, and has ruled out following other Western nations by recognising a Palestinian state. A protester stands next to a slogan reading "Free Palestine" during a demonstration that is part of a nationwide "Let's Block Everything" protest in solidarity with Gaza ( Reuters ) Protestors Halt Traffic Protesters halted traffic on a motorway close to the city of Bologna before being dispersed by water cannon, while in Rome tens of thousands rallied outside the main train station before a march that blocked a major ring road. In the southern city of Naples, there were skirmishes with police as crowds forced their way into the main railway station. Some of them briefly got on to the tracks, causing delays to services. Demonstrations were held in cities up and down Italy, schools were closed and the strikes affected some public transport. In the northwestern city of Genoa, protesters among a crowd of several hundred people waved the Palestinian flag during gatherings around the port. "The Palestinian people continue to give us yet another lesson in dignity and resistance," said Ricky, a protester in Genoa from a grassroots labour group called the Autonomous Port Workers' Collective. "We learn from them and try to do our part," 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 France has become the fifth country in two days to officially recognise the state of Palestine. The move came during a United Nations conference chaired by France and Saudi Arabia aimed at generating new support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. French president Emmanuel Macron made the announcement in the UN General Assembly hall; he received loud applause from the more than 140 leaders in attendance. The Palestinian delegation, including its UN ambassador, Riyad Mansour, could be seen standing and applauding as the declaration was made. open image in gallery France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a United Nations summit on Palestinians at UN headquarters in New York on Monday ( AFP via Getty ) Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, was also seen applauding on a live-camera view after the US government banned him and dozens of other Palestinian officials from attending the UN gathering in person. Mr Abbas later addressed the meeting. True to the historic commitment of my country to the Middle East, to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, this is why I declare that today, France recognises the state of Palestine, Mr Macron said. The meeting and expanded recognition of Palestinian statehood are expected to have little if any actual impact on the ground, where Israel is waging another major offensive in the Gaza Strip and expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognised the state of Palestine on Sunday, and the Palestinians expect a total of 10 countries to do so in the coming days. Around three-fourths of the 193-member United Nations recognise Palestine, but major Western nations had until recently declined to, saying one could only come about through negotiations with Israel. open image in gallery Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour greets Emmanuel Macron as they arrive for a United Nations Summit on Palestinians at UN headquarters ( AFP via Getty ) The creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem territories seized by Israel in the 1967 six-day war is widely seen internationally as the only way to resolve the conflict, which began more than a century before Hamass 7 October attack ignited the war in Gaza nearly two years ago. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus government opposed Palestinian statehood even before the war and now says such a move would reward Hamas, the militant group that still controls parts of Gaza. He has hinted Israel might take unilateral steps in response, including annexing parts of the West Bank, which would put a viable Palestinian state even further out of reach. A UN official brushed off such threats, saying efforts to bring about a two-state solution should continue regardless of Israels actions. I think we have to be determined in achieving the goal that we want to achieve, and we cannot be distracted by threats and intimidation, said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. Mr Netanyahu is under pressure from his far-right coalition to move ahead with annexation, but the United Arab Emirates the driving force behind the 2020 Abraham Accords, in which the UAE and three other Arab states forged ties with Israel has called it a red line, without saying how it could affect the two countries now close ties. The Israeli PM said he would decide on Israels response to the Palestinian statehood push after meeting with president Donald Trump at the White House next week, their fourth meeting since Mr Trump returned to office. The Israeli leader is set to address world leaders at the UN on Friday. The Trump administration is also opposed to growing recognition of a Palestinian state and blames it for the derailment of ceasefire talks with Hamas. Mr Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, walked away from the talks in July, and earlier this month an Israeli strike targeted Hamas negotiators in Qatar, a key mediator. More to follow... 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 Russias incursion into Estonian airspace was condemned as reckless and provocative by senior world leaders on Monday as the UN Security Council gathered in New York for an emergency meeting. The urgent session was called after multiple incursions by Moscow into European airspace, including the entry of Russian fighter jets over Estonia for 12 minutes on Friday. Representatives slammed Russia for choosing escalation and provocation in what they deemed a threat to global peace and security. Moscow strongly refuted the allegations, claiming they had been portrayed as an enemy with no facts or evidence and that Europe was letting its imagination run wild in relation to the threat from Russia. But foreign secretary Yvette Cooper warned Russia that its incursions into Nato territory risked a direct armed conflict and that the alliance would be ready to confront warplanes entering Nato airspace. open image in gallery A Russian MiG-31 fighter jet that allegedly took part in the violation of Estonian airspace ( Swedish Armed forces ) Your reckless actions risk direct armed confrontation between Nato and Russia, she told the meeting. Our alliance is defensive but be under no illusion we stand ready to defend Natos skies and Natos territory. Her comments were backed by US representative Michael Waltz, who said the country would defend every inch of Nato territory. But Russias representative to the UN Security Council, Dmitry Polyanskiy, used his statement to accuse European leaders of Russophobia and of levying baseless accusations. We wont be partaking in this theatre of the absurd, he said. When you decide that you want to engage in a serious discussion about European security, about the fate of our common continent, about how to make this continent prosperous and secure for everybody, well be ready. Just hours before the meeting, Putin offered US president Donald Trump an extension to a nuclear deal limiting the arsenals of both countries. Their current agreement, which caps the number of deployed warheads at 1,550 on each side, is due to expire on 5 February. The proposed extension of one year would give Washington and Moscow more time to negotiate next steps, and comes as Mr Trump told reporters he would defend Poland if Russia attacks. open image in gallery The United Nations Security Council gathered on Monday afternoon ( AP ) In a televised statement, the Russian president said the termination of the 2010 New START nuclear pact would be destabilising and could fuel the proliferation of nuclear weapons. To avoid provoking a further strategic arms race and to ensure an acceptable level of predictability and restraint, we believe it is justified to try to maintain the status quo established by the New START Treaty during the current, rather turbulent period, he said. Therefore, Russia is prepared to keep adhering to the central quantitative limitations of the New START Treaty for one year after 5 February 2026." He urged the US to follow suit, adding the measure would only be viable if the US agreed to act in a similar manner. Washington has not yet commented on the proposal, but when asked in July about the looming expiration of the New START, Mr Trump noted that is a big problem for the world, when you take off nuclear restrictions. open image in gallery Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of his Security Council on Monday ( Sputnik ) Mondays meeting marks the second gathering of the UN Security Council in as many weeks after a similar meeting was called following the incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace. Speaking at the session, EU chief Kaja Kallas said the multiple violations of European airspaces could not be considered an accident: Instead, we see a pattern. Russia is testing European borders, probing our resolve, and undermining the security of the whole of Europe. It comes as world leaders gather in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The war in Ukraine, among conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, is expected to be a major topic of discussion at the summit. 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 Amidst a battlefield saturated with deadly Russian drones, Ukrainian soldiers are increasingly deploying agile, remote-controlled armoured vehicles to undertake critical tasks and safeguard personnel from hazardous operations. The Ukrainian army is particularly keen to utilise these "robots on wheels," which resemble miniature tanks, as it grapples with a soldier shortage in a conflict now spanning over three and a half years. These versatile machines are capable of ferrying essential supplies, clearing dangerous mines, and evacuating both the wounded and the deceased. It cannot fully replace people, said the commander of a platoon of the 20th Lyubart Brigade who goes by the call sign Miami and spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military rules. I would put it this way: A person can go in there, but for a human its (sometimes) far too dangerous. The robotic vehicles are mostly made by Ukrainian companies and range in cost from about $1,000 to as much as $64,000, depending on their size and capabilities. While they have become vital to Ukrainian troops along the 1,000 kilometer (620 mile) front line, such vehicles are not new to warfare. The German army used a remote-controlled miniature tank tethered by a wire -- called the Goliath in World War II. In recent decades, the U.S., Israel, Britain and China have developed modern versions used for combat engineering and other battlefield roles, according to Ben Barry, a fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. But Ukraine's extensive deployment of these vehicles is noteworthy and could lead to advances, Barry said. The Russian army also uses remote-controlled vehicles. open image in gallery A Ukrainian serviceman known by the call sign Miami works on robotic military equipment near the front line in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Babenko) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Miami joined the army on the first day of Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022. He served as an infantryman and later a drone operator before his latest assignment. His path reflects how the war itself has evolved. "I couldnt even imagine that I would become a (drone) pilot, he said. But war is progress, and we cannot stand aside. The robotic vehicles his team deploys are armored and mounted on either wheels or tracks. Painted in military colors, they crawl slowly over rubble or dirt roads, easily navigating terrain that would be difficult or too dangerous -- for soldiers. They arrive in one condition, and we improve them, Miami said. We adapt the controls to work better (in the face of Russia's) electronic warfare so the connection doesnt cut off." Miamis 10-man team is just starting to incorporate the machines into their missions, mostly using them to deliver food and ammunition to soldiers near the front. Just like remote-controlled, or first-person view, drones, the use of these vehicles will only grow, said a soldier in Miamis unit who goes by the call sign Akim and spoke on condition of anonymity. When FPV drones first appeared, they werent popular, but those who pioneered them, (now) show (the best) results, said Akim. open image in gallery Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) during a visit to frontline positions near Robotyne village, Zaporizhzhia region, southeastern Ukraine ( EPA ) Before sending a remote-controlled vehicle forward, Akim flies a drone along the planned route to check for obstacles or mines. Operating from a cramped basement near Kostiantynivka, less than 10 kilometers from the front, Akim can hear the muffled thuds of aerial bombs, the sharp cracks of artillery and the buzzing of drones. Kostiantynivka, once home to 67,000 people, is a largely deserted city on a shrinking patch of Ukrainian-held territory just west of Bakhmut. It is nearly encircled on three sides by Russian forces. Apartment blocks are scarred by strikes, smoke still rises from recent bombings, and the roads leading toward nearby Pokrovsk are littered with burned-out cars. The aerial drone allows Akim to scout the city and routes without risking his life. Every time a drone or a robot does something, it means one of our fighters doesnt have to, Akim said. On top of that, the machine doesnt get tired. It can carry as much as needed. Akim works in tandem with another soldier operating the robotic vehicle with a joystick. The vehicle has no camera; instead, Akims drone feed provides its eyes. On one recent mission, the team loaded it with 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of supplies ammunition, fuel, water and food and sent it several kilometers to drone operators closer to the front. The machine moved forward at about six kilometers per hour, delivered its cargo into a well-hidden position in the forest, and returned to base. open image in gallery In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Services on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, rescuers work on a site of a residential house damaged by a Russian strike on Dnipro, Ukraine. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) Because robotic vehicles move more slowly than cars or trucks, and usually across open ground, they are an easy target and this is one factor slowing their adoption. Thats why we havent evacuated many wounded (on these vehicles)," said Miami. "Some refuse to leave because its dangerous. There are also cost considerations, with the vehicles his platoon uses averaging roughly 400,000 hryvnias ($9,700). Thats not too expensive, but when three or four get destroyed in a week, the total adds up, Miami said. To make them less vulnerable, Miami and his soldiers have tried welding grill-like cages onto the machines or attaching metallic rollers in front to detect mines. The war provides real-time feedback that is incorporated into newer models being built. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Israeli government figures have called for a takeover of the West Bank after several countries, including the UK, Canada, Malta, and Australia, formally recognised the state of Palestine. On Sunday, Sir Keir Starmer joined a growing number of Western leaders in announcing recognition, prompted by intensifying humanitarian crises in Gaza. It is expected to be top of the agenda at the UN General Assembly summit this week, with the UN voting to allow Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to address the gathering. However, Israels hard-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, said he would call for the immediate annexation of the West Bank in response to the move. The recognition by Britain, Canada, and Australia of a Palestinian state, as a reward for the Nukhba murderers, demands immediate countermeasures, he wrote in a statement on X/Twitter. open image in gallery Itamar Ben Gvir has called for the immediate annexation of the West Bank ( Reuters ) The countermeasures should include, he said: The immediate application of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria [the biblical terms for the West Bank region] and the complete crushing of the Palestinian terror authority. It is my intention to submit a proposal for the application of sovereignty to the upcoming government meeting. The move would represent the de facto annexation of land seized in the 1967 six-day war. Israels hard-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich backed the proposal, saying it was the only answer to the escalating tensions, which have spilt over into surrounding regions. open image in gallery Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has said the only response to Palestinian recognition is sovereignty over the homeland of the Jewish people in Judea and Samaria ( AP ) The days when Britain and other countries determined our future are over, he wrote on X/Twitter. The mandate has ended, and the only response to the anti-Israeli move is sovereignty over the homeland of the Jewish people in Judea and Samaria, and the removal of the foolish idea of a Palestinian state from the agenda forever. Addressing Benjamin Netanyahu, he said: Mr prime minister, this is the time and it is in your hands. Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has warned Israel not to retaliate, saying that the symbolic recognition of a Palestinian state is about protecting peace and justice and crucially, security for the Middle East. The easy thing to do would be to just walk away and to say well it is all just too hard, she told the BBC. We just think that is wrong when weve seen such devastation, such suffering. Just as we recognise Israel, the state of Israel ... so we must also recognise the rights for the Palestinians to a state of their own as well. open image in gallery Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper says the move is to help instil security for the Middle East ( PA ) The United Arab Emirates, which normalised ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020, said the move would undermine the agreement. That is why we came on record saying that annexation is a red line for my government because it strikes at the very heart of what the Abraham Accords were meant to achieve, Lana Nusseibeh, minister of state at the UAE foreign affairs ministry, said on Monday (22 September). Mayor of Jenin, Mohammed Jarrar, told the BBC: This Israeli government wants to annex the West Bank and in preparation for that, it wants to prevent any [armed] opposition to its plan. Over 40 per cent of the city is currently under Israeli military control. Netanyahu has called the move to recognise a Palestinian state a huge reward to terrorism and promised to continue with Israels plan to expand Jewish settlements in the region. Malta was the latest to announce it would recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly summit, the Prime Ministers Office said in a statement on Monday (22 September). At the weekend, Sir Keir said: In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution. That means a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state at the moment, we have neither. Ordinary people, Israeli and Palestinian, deserve to live in peace, to try to rebuild their lives free from violence and suffering. Thats what the British people desperately want to see. 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 This weekend, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal all recognised the state of Palestine. France, Malta, and four other states are expected to formally recognise a Palestinian state today. It is a watershed moment, albeit painfully overdue for Palestinians who particularly feel this about the UK. Over 100 years ago, the then-British foreign secretary penned the Balfour Declaration announcing British support for the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, with no mention of the Palestinians, triggering decades of conflict, bloodshed, and erasure. Fast forward to Sunday, Keir Starmer said the UK was pushing ahead with the recognition of Palestine to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution. He has called it a pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future. open image in gallery Keir Starmer hopes recognition will revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution ( Lauren Hurley/No 10 Downing Street ) The very future of the region the chances of reaching a two-state conclusion is being discussed at a UN summit convened by France and Saudi Arabia in New York. But all these moves have been met with blistering fury by Israel. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the UK and others of rewarding terror with an enormous prize. In response, he declared, there will be no Palestinian state, and vowed to continue on this path of expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law. He signed off the message warning the world to stand by for further Israeli response. Members of his cabinet have been even more explicit. Israels defence, finance, national security, culture and economy ministers have all called for the annexation of the occupied West Bank as an appropriate response to the slew of recognitions. Meanwhile, Israels widely condemned offensive on Gaza City continues, and Israeli officials have said it will not stop. Extreme-right Israeli ministers have vowed the total destruction of the besieged enclave and the forcible transfer of its 2 million-strong population. open image in gallery Husam Zomlot, the UKs ambassador of the state of Palestine, speaks during the flag-raising ceremony to mark the recognition on Monday ( Getty ) The situation is so grave that last week a UN commission of enquiry concluded that Israel has committed and is committing genocide in Gaza (a claim which Israel vehemently denies). And so there is a deep concern among Palestinians right now that it wont be enough for countries like the UK, which are allies and arms suppliers of Israel, to recognise Palestine without taking other concrete steps to deter Israels military and territorial ambitions. They worry that Israel will proceed with impunity and further violate international law. They fear that the way everything is unfolding, there wont be anything left of Palestine to recognise. Dr Sara Husseini, director of the British Palestinian Committee, spelt it out: if the UK doesnt follow it up with concrete action like sanctions and arms embargoes, Israel will continue to obliterate Gaza and the West Bank, advance annexation and pursue mass expulsions. Right now, there is speculation in Israel that the response Netanyahu has promised online will likely be partial annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank. Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel seized the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza an occupation which the International Court of Justice has deemed illegal and is in defiance of the Palestinian right to self-determination. open image in gallery Map showing the West Bank and Gaza Strip ( Google Maps ) And so over the last five years, Israel has expanded settlements to such an extent that the West Bank is now home to over 500,000 Israeli settlers and around 3 million Palestinians, who live under Israeli military rule, with the Palestinian Authority exercising limited autonomy in scattered enclaves. Within Israel, few think Netanyahu is likely to pursue full annexation, primarily because there are fears it would threaten the future of the Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates. It is a landmark diplomatic and trade agreement, signed in 2020 between Israel and some Gulf states, that has been central to Israels political ambitions in the region, and Israel hopes other nations will eventually join. However, the covert warning in Netanyahus recent social media post may point to partial annexation of areas such as the Jordan Valley, where Palestinian communities have faced displacement via settlements and military exclusion zones. One source told Israeli newspaper Haaretz that Netanyahu is also considering changing the status of an area which makes up about 22 per cent of the West Bank and is currently under joint Palestinian and Israeli security control. They speculate that the land known as Area B could be placed under full Israeli military and civil authority, which would be devastating for the population there. In the wake of the Palestinian statehood recognition, Netanyahus approval of the E1 settlement expansion plan to build over 3,400 housing units in the West Bank is underway, first conceived in the 1990s but never fully executed until now. Rights groups and the Palestinian leadership have repeatedly warned that it would be yet a further blow to a viable Palestinian state, splitting the West Bank in half and preventing development around key Palestinian cities such as Ramallah. The real concern right now is that, without concrete action, recognising the statehood of Palestine will ultimately be pointless, as there wont be anything left to be a state. 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 newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line (DCL) fleet, Disney Destiny, departed the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany at the weekend for Fort Lauderdale in Florida, ahead of its maiden sailing in November. Themed around heroes and villains, the ship features Spider-Man on the stern and a superhero Minnie on the bow. But much of the work that went into its construction may never actually be seen by passengers. The Independent went behind the scenes with DCL designers known as Imagineers to discover how they build the much-loved vessels. Planning and concept Most of the imagery you see on Disneys ships are years in the making. Walt Disney Imagineers have been dreaming up plans for the current Wish class ships since 2017. The first, Disney Wish, was launched in 2022, which was followed by Disney Treasure in 2024 and Disney Destiny, which will be launched later this year. open image in gallery The design of Disney Destiny's Grand Hall, which will feature a Black Panther statue ( Disney Cruise Line ) A fourth, unnamed, Wish class ship is also currently in development at the Meyer Werft shipyard. Claire Weiss, senior creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering, says: We really wanted each ship to have a unique signature identity. That was something a little bit new for us creatively. Our classic ships were beautiful and had very strong visual language. We thought we would experiment a little. open image in gallery Imagineer Claire Weiss has revealed how Disney designs its cruise ships ( Claire Weiss ) Read more: Behind the scenes at the float-out of Disney Destiny It all starts with a theme. Claire says: We initially just had motifs things like enchantment or adventure. We talk about the words and the emotions at the beginning and how they fit together. If they feel different, they're going to look different. They're going to tell different stories. It was this process that resulted in Destinys 17-foot tall Spider Man, plus the bronze statue of the Black Panther in its Grand Hall. The ship also features a Doctor Strange-themed bar, while guests will be entertained with a Hercules theatre show. Hidden elements for superfans include Mickey Mouse designs in the carpet, plus patterns from the Black Panther suit in the railings. Claire says: Everything we do has narrative significance. We want the guests to see and enjoy it, but it also gives us a lens through which to make creative decisions. We feel as if we're being true to the story. The planning stage alone can take up to two years. Initial preparations include the creation of sketches and 3D images, followed by negotiations with the shipyard to determine how realistic the plans are. Once the designs are confirmed, building contracts are agreed. The building stage Disney Cruise Line is using the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany to build its Wish class ships, where more than 2,000 people can work on construction each day. The start of the process is marked with a steel-cutting ceremony, where the first piece of the ship is created. There is also a keel-laying that involves placing a coin under the bottom of the ship for good luck. open image in gallery The steel cutting is a landmark moment that marks the start of the building of a new cruise ship ( Disney Cruise Line ) Some parts, such as the AquaMouse water coaster, are lifted onto the ship in parts and built on deck. Other sections are constructed in a nearby facility. Rather than being built on the ship, the cabins are pre-fabricated, with every aspect of the room including the televisions, headboard art, mattresses and sofas already installed. The production line completes one cabin every 25 minutes. Philip Gennotte, a senior project manager executive at the company, explains: We want the staterooms to be as good as they can be from a quality point of view, so it makes sense to design them in a way that it can be repetitive. open image in gallery Philip Gennotte (left) at the keel laying for Disney Destiny in 2024 ( Meyer Werft ) The process is not the same as building a theme park for one crucial reason: cruise ships move. Philip says: About 60 megawatts of power is created inside the ship. You could power a small city with that. The power might be metropolis-level, but so too is the ships capacity bustling with passengers and crew. In addition to the public areas, those that work on the ship also need spaces to live and rest. Crew-only facilities include a barber, a buffet and bar that guests never get to see. open image in gallery Disney Destiny in-construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard ( Disney Cruise Line ) Philip says: These are all the bubbles that all need to be integrated into the ship. Designed, integrated, planned, procured, sourced, built, then commissioned. That's the complexity that we're dealing with. Construction can take two years before the ship is ready for its final stages. Float-out to flag exchange A cruise ship first touches water in a float-out ceremony, seen as a major development milestone. The ship is usually pulled by a tugboat in a process that takes two hours. After the float-out, the ship then goes through a conveyance, which involves stress-testing it under bridges and on riverbeds. If it passes, then its through to sea trials. open image in gallery A tugboat pulls Disney Destiny out from the Meyer Werft dry dock for its float-out ceremony ( Disney Cruise Line ) Philip says: We want to see the speed she can reach, is she quiet? Does she move properly? There are seven days of sea drills, where crew live on board to test everything out. The ship is then returned to the dockyard for the final decorative touches ahead of an official handover. Philip adds: Its like buying a car we sign papers and take ownership. The handover is marked with a flag exchange, where the German flag of Meyer Weft will be swapped for DCLs and the flag of the Bahamas, where the ship is registered. Philip says: Once the ship is in our hands, we will sail across the Atlantic to prepare for our first voyages from Fort Lauderdale. We will use that crossing for training, making sure everything from the crew to the performance areas are ready for guests. We dont want anyone on board until it is perfect. 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 Transport enthusiasts will be able to visit Barcelonas ghost stations this autumn. Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) announced that for the first time in history visitors will be allowed into the unused Correos and Gaudi metro stations. As part of its centenary celebrations, TMB has opened eight different spaces that are usually closed to the public for free in September, October, and November. The first ghost station to open will be Gaudi, which was built in 1968 but never put into service. Guided tours of the platform will allow visitors to hear about 100 years of the transport networks history. The second, Correos station, was in operation from 1934 to 1972. Correos does not have an access point from the street. This means that visitors must walk along the tracks to reach the site when the metro is not running. open image in gallery The ghost stations are hidden platforms that are not used by Barcelonas metro ( TMB ) Alongside the ghost stations, other heritage sites in the metro system will be available to visit, including the old Urquinaona spiral staircase and the Santa Eulalia workshop, the oldest on the metro, which opened in 1922. The ZAL, another workshop where the systems that allow the metro to operate are found, will also be open, as well as the Mercat Nou electrical substation, a Renaissance-inspired building featuring traditional and modern Catalan art. Visitors will also be able to experience what it is like to be a metro train driver at the control centres driving simulator room. Xavier Flores, CEO of TMB, said: We are celebrating 100 years of the metro with its protagonists: the metro professionals, who make the service possible every day, and the citizens of Barcelona. open image in gallery Visitors will be able to learn about the history of TMB on guided tours ( TMB ) For this reason, we want to open the most emblematic spaces of the metro network both for those who work there and for users. TMB is offering 5,033 free tickets to these heritage sites, with registration for these places available on its website. The first visits to the spaces began on 13 September, but the ghost stations will be available for visits on several days in October and November. Read more: Ive lived in Barcelona and I think these are the citys best hotels 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 By 7.30pm last Friday night, I was racing through the foothills of the Pyrenees at 294kmph, according to the display in the Ave train. The setting sun prised its way through the storm clouds to cast dramatic shadows across the valley. Corrugated ridges of hills on either side sometimes decorated with fast-spinning wind farms funnelled the high-speed railway and accompanying autopista northwest to Lleida, the capital of the Catalan Pyrenees. At the start of the day, I had no intention of being on this particular train. But due to a snarl-up that had begun at Gatwick airport 12 hours earlier, I was trying to catch up with the fragments of an itinerary frustrated by a last-minute flight cancellation. And trying to ignore the nagging reality that this was actually my fault. The mid-morning Vueling flight from Gatwick to Barcelona was the key to an adventure in the mountains. But less than two hours before departure, I learnt it was cancelled. Short-notice flight cancellations are exhausting, especially if time pressure is involved. As each new piece of information comes in, you reprogramme like a satnav belonging to an errant driver. Weve rebooked you tomorrow afternoon, the helpful ground handlers said. That did not accord with my plans, nor with air passengers rights rules. The airline finally found seats on a later flight the same day, also from Gatwick. As long as I reached Barcelona in time for the last possible train, that would work. Murphys law piled on the jeopardy. Everyone sat on the replacement flight for half an hour before departure, waiting for a slot. The plane was assigned a remote stand on arrival in Barcelona, which meant waiting for everyone to board buses and then hanging around even longer while the owner of a handbag left on the plane was traced. The Brexit queue was huge. The line for taxis even longer. But Uber was fast in tracking down a driver named Ali, who threaded through the rush-hour traffic and deposited me at Barcelona Sants station 10 minutes before the last possible express departed for the foothills. As I subsided into my extremely expensive seat (distress purchases on Spanish trains are painfully expensive), the day already felt as though it had been going on for, well, days. It would take five more hours of travelling by rail and bus before I arrived at my final destination: the mountain village of Esterri. Even by the generous standards of Spanish dining, it was way too late for dinner. The breakfast buffet the next morning was seriously dented as I piled on the carbs for a three-day trek. In such circumstances, you want someone to blame. Vueling triggered the problem, and in the next Plane Talk, I will be digging into the way that airlines handle cancellations. But the real moral of the story is to build in a meaningful buffer. That means a spare day that you intend to spend pleasurably, but which can be sacrificed if disruption descends. I could have planned extra time in Barcelona, checking out the latest culture and cuisine. Flight cancelled? No problem, I will head for Brighton instead and enjoy a night at the Gatwick Hilton at the airlines expense. The same applies coming home: anticipate travel disarray and you can benefit rather than despair about plans turned to dust. My colleague, global travel editor Annabel Grossman, demonstrated this beautifully last year: I hopped off an SAS plane from Kiruna to Stockholm to find that my BA flight back to London had been cancelled last minute. I got a text saying I had a flight booked in 24 hours. Found a representative who sorted me an airport hotel and gave me a dinner voucher. Went for a swim, had some food. Then up early the next morning and had a lovely day strolling around Stockholm, saved and submitted all my receipts, including meals and the transport into the city. Then flew home. Basically, a free city break in one of the most expensive cities in the world. This week, a Tui flight from Montego Bay to Manchester arrived 60 hours late, due to an air rage incident that diverted the plane to Nassau, coupled with a technical problem. Many of the 340 passengers stranded in the Bahamas found the whole episode upsetting. But I hope that at least a few of the passengers made the most of their extra time in a desirable destination. Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about travel for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key travel issue and what it means for you. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid tribute to American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated earlier this month, at political rally in Rome on Sunday. Meloni said Kirks death has caused so much outrage around the world in part because he respected the opinions of others. She added: Charlie Kirk was frightening because he was good at demonstrating how unreasonable some of the arguments that they want to force on us really are. He was dangerous because he dismantled the narrative imposed by the mainstream with logic, because he gave a voice to the majority of people who think exactly like him and who ended up feeling wrong. 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 Watch live as a public memorial service and funeral for Charlie Kirk takes place in Phoenix on Sunday (21 September). The 31-year-old was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking with students at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with aggravated murder and other crimes related to the shooting. The services for the close ally of President Donald Trump will be held in Arizona on Sunday amid tight security. Many members of the Trump administration will be at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix, home to Kirk's organization, Turning Point USA. In addition to the president, other speakers and attendees are expected to include Vice President JD Vance; Marco Rubio, Secretary of State; Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense; Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence; Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff; and Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff. Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, who has taken on leadership of Turning Point USA, is also set to address attendees. The Traitors Ireland episode 10: bromance, mean girls and the most brutal banishment yet Competitors took to the Hill of Slane to choose the least trustworthy among their number, but even oracle Oyin was off the mark Even host Siobhan McSweeney noted the 'giddiness' of the two traitors Chrissie Russell Mon 22 Sep 2025 at 10:54 Warning: Contains spoilers for The Traitors Ireland episode three from the beginning Fifth and sixth class pupils to learn about sexual orientation in new curriculum published today The time dedicated to PE and SPHE has also been doubled Minister for Education, Helen McEntee. Keith Kelly Mon 22 Sep 2025 at 11:46 Primary school students will be taught the different sexual orientations as part of a new curriculum being unveiled today. From Asian hornets to mink, coypu and shrews that need taming: Irelands battle against invasive species laid bare Native red squirrels outnumbered by grey cousins, while Japanese knotweed and Asian clams are playing havoc with our ecosystems as biodiversity challenges persist Ireland's invasive species and the threat to our biodiversity Ralph Riegel Mon 22 Sep 2025 at 06:30 The discovery of two nests of Asian hornets dominated headlines across Ireland last month. Brian ODriscoll delighted to catch up with Michaela Morley as pair reunite to raise funds for kidney patients Michaela Morley was six years old when Ireland rugby star Brian ODriscoll cheered her on as she threw a ball into the Heineken Cup at Temple Street. Almost 15 years later, the pair have reunited to help raise 250,000 towards the renovation of the Irish Kidney Associations Support Centre for families Michaela Morley catches up with former rugby player Brian O'Driscoll at Irish Kidney Associations (IKA) National Kidney Support Centre Laura Lynott Mon 22 Sep 2025 at 14:31 Fourteen years after a six-year-old little girl on kidney dialysis met Ireland rugby star Brian ODriscoll, the pair have reunited to help the Irish Kidney Association (IKA). John Conlon wants Budget 2026 to offer renters a pathway to home-ownership A teacher had to leave the career he loved for a higher-paid job so he could afford to rent in the capital. Athlone man John Conlon (30) holds a first-class masters degree in education a sector that is struggling to hold on to teachers. But he has moved into the field of recruitment to help him meet the cost of accommodation in Dublin. Tanya Sweeney: When I moved to London in 1997 it swallowed me whole and spat me out for todays Irish twentysomethings its so much easier Aras watch: Malicious smears targeting Jim Gavin appear to be first signs of outside far-right interference in an Irish election Fianna Fail presidential candidate has said he will fight the waves of online abuse Jim Gavin is Fianna Fail's candidate for the presidential election. Photo: Collins Mary Regan Mon 22 Sep 2025 at 20:28 Dirty tricks in presidential campaigns are nothing new. In fact, they have been an integral and influential part of campaigns here. Id have to think about it Catherine Connolly responds to question on whether she would employ convicted rapist in Aras Separately, motocross competitor dies when his motorcycle spun out of control Three people died in separate accidents on Irish roads over the weekend as fatalities this year are now almost equal to the number of deaths over the same period in 2024. Ukrainian families who moved into a 40m modular-homes complex in Co Tipperary said they are living in fear because of a campaign of harassment, intimidation and violent attacks. Charlie Kirks widow wants to leave death penalty decision to government Evanagelical Christian says she believes husbands death to be part of Gods plan A man listens during a worship song before the start of a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Photo: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin Rhian Lubin and Jonathan J Cooper UK Independent Mon 22 Sep 2025 at 06:30 Charlie Kirks widow has said she wants to let the US government decide whether her husbands accused killer will receive the death penalty, saying she does not want his blood on her ledger. A Chinese journalist jailed for four years after reporting on the outbreak of Covid in Wuhan has been sentenced to a further four years behind bars. Zhang Zhan, 42, has been charged with picking quarrels and causing trouble, the same accusation that led to her imprisonment in December 2020 during the early months of the viruss outbreak, according to the international press freedom group RSF. SF has bottled it, leaving Catherine Connolly as the accidental unified left candidate in the presidential race There goes the last faint hope for a bit of craic. Pearse Doherty entering the presidential election would have livened it all up. The Sinn Fein frontman could have feasted on the raw meat on offer in the live debates. Alas, the lion wont be let loose in the cage with the antelopes. Growing up in 1960s Belfast, Mark Lenaghan quickly became acquainted with disorder and violence. At a young age, he and his family were forced out of their home by Protestant gangs, while he also witnessed the shooting of one of his schoolteachers. Theres many people [that] experienced a lot of pain and didnt choose to get involved in violence, he said in a 2012 interview. I chose to get involved. I chose to fight back. And so, Mark Lenaghan began a 15-year stint in the IRA that included a position in an active-service unit designed to seek out and kill policemen and British soldiers on the streets of Belfast. For Lenaghan, emotion or hesitation didnt come into it this was a job to be done, and to be carried out professionally. Following his arrest in 1982, Lenaghan was sent to the notorious Maze Prison where, to his own surprise, he found religion and turned his back on the IRA, eventually becoming a well-respected deacon in the Catholic Church. Lenaghan died earlier this month at the age of 65, and his funeral in Co Down last week attracted a large turnout and plenty of tributes, though his violent past came as a shock to some of his parishioners. On this episode of The Indo Daily, Tabitha Monahan is joined by Belfast-based Sunday World journalist Hugh Jordan, to hear of a truly remarkable dual life story. Cork citys broken public lights will take a year and a half to fix at the rate the ESB is getting through them, a meeting of Cork City Council has heard. Figures revealed at the meeting show that 155 street and estate lights are currently not working in the city while the local authority waits for ESB Networks to repair or replace them. During the first eight months of this year the company responsible for managing the countrys electricity networks fixed just 62 faulty public lights in Cork city, averaging out at around eight lights a month. At that rate it would take more than a year and a half to clear the current backlog. The figures were given in response to a question by Cllr Shane OCallaghan. Cork City Council Director of Services Noel Murtagh said the problem lies with ESB Networks, not the local authority. It's a bottleneck that's created by the ESB and the resources available to us. The public lighting network is ours, but the power supply to it is the ESB's. And that's where the bottleneck is currently at the moment, Mr Murtagh said. Mr Murtagh said that increased assistance by ESB Networks technicians would reduce the number of faulty public lighting lanterns across the city. He said it would also reduce the lead time in energizing new public lighting pillars, which currently stands at two months. Cllr OCallaghan described the current repair rate as ridiculous. He told the Irish Independent he has received a lot of complaints about faulty lights. I've had people from estates who are months without lights, which is often quite dangerous, particularly coming into the dark times. Ive followed up with the city council and the response is we're doing all we can but unfortunately were waiting on the ESB to call out. That's just not good enough in a 21st century city. The level of efficiency in the ESB obviously needs to go up. The Fine Gael councillor for the citys South Central Ward called for either ESB Networks to assign more technicians to Cork or else an amendment be made to the current regulations to allow Cork City Council to do the work itself. Something has to be done. This is not going away, he said. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. The application to build the 9-hectare solar farm at Farrangalway, Mellifontstown, around 3 km north of the town of Kinsale, was made by Integer Energy Ltd, which said the 6 MW facility would provide enough energy to power over 2,000 homes. The councils planning department ruled that the proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area and would not be prejudicial to public health and therefore would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. Two objections were received, citing flood risks, loss of productive farmland and visual amenity, and the cumulative effect of solar farms in the area. It has been a mixed period for the success of solar farm applications in county Cork as local opposition continues to grow. Earlier this month the local authority refused permission for a 179-hectare solar farm application at Ballysallagh in East Cork that attracted hundreds of objections. In its refusal Cork County Council cited the potential for impacts on archaeological and cultural heritage, the prospect of the facility being a visually incongruous and overbearing feature on the rural landscape, and inadequate demonstration that the site wouldnt lead to a net increase in water discharge rates or runoff volume. In July the council also refused planning permission for a 100 MW solar farm extending across fourteen townlands in the Lee Valley, citing archaeological concerns. Aglish Solar Farm Limited had proposed to put solar panels on six parcels of land around the southern bank of the river Lee, about 25 km west of Cork city. Meanwhile locals in North Cork have appealed to An Coimisiun Pleanala against the councils decision to grant conditional planning permission for a battery storage facility with a 35-year operational lifespan at Curraduff, Newmarket. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. RNLI Galway have praised Galway Bay Sailing Club after their recent donation of 2,000 to help continue to fund the lifeboat station. In a heartfelt statement on social media, the RNLI said the donation would be going towards funding for the station, the crew kit and training for volunteers. The RNLI shared a grateful statement saying: Many thanks to Galway Bay Sailing Club for the very generous donation and for the visit! We are very grateful for the fantastic support from the maritime community in Galway to help fund the lifeboat station, crew kit and training which makes it possible for us to save lives at sea. Tributes have poured in following the death of beloved Galway teacher Paula Allen, who passed away on Saturday, September 20. A beloved English teacher at Yeats College in Galway city, Ms Allen has been remembered as an inspiration by her former students, with others paying tribute to her involvement in helping to organise the Galway Film Fleadh. Paula Allen of Tuairin, Bealadangan, Galway passed away peacefully on September 20 surrounded by her loving family at University Hospital Galway. She will be missed by her daughter Emma, grandchildren Dylan and Abbie, sisters Laurie, Miriam and Norma and bothers Raymond, David and Jonathan, as well as her extended family and friends and colleagues at Galway Film Fleadh and Yeats College. The school, based on College Road, Galway city, shared the news of her passing with immense sadness and disbelief, remembering the former teacher as the heart of Yeats College and a loyal friend who shared a wisdom, and kindness to all who knew her. Paula was a gifted teacher. She weaved her magic in the classroom daily. Paula's students truly loved and deeply appreciated all the extraordinary lengths she made to help them. She touched the lives of countless students and colleagues with her passion, kindness, and unwavering support. Paula's passing is a profound loss for our entire school community. To Paula, we will always remember you with love and gratitude, and your spirit will always remain a part of our school community. Suaimhneas siorai da hanam dilis. Codladh samh Paula. A condolence left on Ms Allens death notice by her former students says she was an amazing woman, teacher and above all, friend. Her joy brought many classes to life, whether it being the dreaded poetry or acting out the battle scenes in Macbeth, Paula always made every class memorable and exciting. On a deeper level Paula really cared and put a lot of effort into us as students, she was an amazing adult to have in the presence of children, an inspiration. She would always make time for you, whether it was in class or just in the hallway with a question, she would always take the time and made sure you learnt it. Theres no shadow of a doubt she was an amazing teacher but what drew her apart from other teachers in other schools was her commitment and how much she cared for each student individually. She was an amazing woman, and she will be heavenly missed. Another student said: Paula was one of the most powerful and truly kind people I have ever met. She showed me my full potential and has undoubtedly left her mark. Ms Allen was also remembered for her involvement in helping with the organisation of the Galway Film Fleadh, with a former colleague at the festival adding: All the years we were on the phone with the Film Fleadh, if there was one person that could organise things it was you. Ms Allen will repose at lonad, adjacent to Lettermore Church from 5pm until 7pm on Wednesday, September 24. A celebration Mass of Paulas life will take place on Thursday, September 25 at 11am at Lettermore Church, followed by cremation at Shannon Crematorium. A special meeting is being held in the council chamber in County Hall this afternoon during which the council will decide whether they will nominate a presidential candidate Kilkenny County Councillors are in for a long afternoon of presidential pitches as 15 presidential hopefuls are due to present to Kilkenny County Council later today to make their plea for a nomination to become the next President of Ireland. The 15 presidential hopefuls will present their pitches to Kilkenny councillors at a special meeting which is being held in the council chamber in County Hall at 3.30pm today, Monday, September 22. The three confirmed presidential candidates who have already been nominated by parties are Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin. Meanwhile, across the country other presidential hopefuls are continuing to pitch to local authorities in order to gain that much sought after nomination. These hopefuls must be nominated by at least four local authorities in order to be included in the running to replace Michael D Higgins. In Kilkenny City today, 15 of these hopefuls will try to win the support of Kilkenny councillors. Regardless of the number of candidates presenting at the special meeting, the council can endorse only one. High profile businessman Gareth Sheridan is not due to appear in Kilkenny. However, another high profile contender, Maria Steen, will pitch to Kilkenny councillors online this afternoon. Maria has already secured a number of nominations from the Oireachtas and looks set to close in on the 20 Oireachtas nominations needed to stand in the presidential election. Maria Steen The 15 presidential hopefuls pitching to Kilkenny County Council this afternoon are: Walter Ryan Purcell Lorna McCormack Dolores Cahill Keith McGrory Anthony Corrigan Nick Delehanty Catherine Morrissey Aodhan OhArrachtain Diarmaid Mulcahy Maria Steen Gerben Uunk Charlotte Keenan Charlie Keddy Conor OBrien Seana Kerr Dr Cora Stack was due to present today, but has since cancelled. Each candidate has been allocated ten minutes each before the council chamber with five minutes to address elected members and five minutes for questions by the elected members. The presidential election takes place on Friday, October 24. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has rejected claims that Mayo University Hospital is understaffed, arguing it is 'imbalanced' instead. Her comments come after reports of a patient waiting over 13 hours in an ambulance and calls from local TD Paul Lawless for 30 additional nurses under a Safe Staffing Framework In August, one man waited for over 13 hours in an ambulance outside Mayo University Hospital (MUH) before being admitted. Throughout the month, MUH was repeatedly at capacity. Three weeks ago, management warned of exceptionally long Emergency Department (ED) waiting times as patient presentations peaked at 165 in a single day. Elective surgeries were subsequently postponed due to pressures on site and lack of beds in the ED, with reports of only five nurses rostered on certain days to manage the entire department. In response to reports of severe pressure in the ED, Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill made an unscheduled visit to MUH in August. Last week, Mayo TD Paul Lawless raised the hospital's problems with the Minister in the Dail, saying the issue was understaffing. He urged her to implement a Safe Staffing Framework at MUH, which could provide 30 additional nurses. Minister Carroll MacNeill, however, rejected the claim of understaffing. She noted that MUH has had a 30pc increase in staff over five years. She said the problem is that MUH is imbalanced, not understaffed. "In relation to staffing, MUH has had a 30pc increase over the last five years. When I saw some of these figures, I did a sample of nine model-three hospitals, and Mayo Hospital has the second-highest rate of staffing, "Mayo Hospital is not understaffed; what Mayo Hospital is, is imbalanced," she said. Model three hospitals provide elective and general surgeries, and they admit undifferentiated medical and surgical patients. There are 17 across Ireland. During her visit to MUH, Minister Carroll MacNeill said there were 47 patients in the ED at that time. Of those, 20 had been admitted for beds, but no discharges were being carried out. The Minister pointed to weekend discharge practices, saying there is not sufficient work being done to discharge patients over the weekend. She told the Dail that on one weekend, 16 patients were discharged on Saturday, just one on Sunday, but then 47 were discharged the following Monday. "There's not a single person in this room that can explain that, except that there is an imbalance in staffing," she said. During her visit, she found the ED "absolutely overwhelmed," and stated there is a serious patient safety issue, with 47 patients in the department, while "the rest of the hospital was completely empty, there were practically no diagnostics going on, there weren't even people in the diagnostics area." Calling it a "whole hospital responsibility," she announced plans to write to Mayo TDs and councillors to outline the issues surrounding staffing and patient flow. The Minister stated that the hospital is not understaffed overall; however, the ED is experiencing shortages due to unbalanced staffing across other areas, suggesting a problem with hospital management. "Let's stick to the facts here," she added. "It is not understaffed; it needs to be balanced." In response to the exchange in the Dail, Deputy Lawless has demanded an immediate review of management failings at MUH. Our nurses and doctors cannot keep shouldering the consequences of mismanagement He welcomed the Minister's openness in working towards a resolution, and acknowledged the time she had taken to look into the ongoing issues at MUH, but added, "Let us be frank - it should never have taken this long, "While reports were shuffled from desk to desk, patients suffered, frontline staff soldiered on, and local management refused to face the truth. That neglect is indefensible." Deputy Lawless is calling for a review that must hold the management accountable. "Mayo needs management that will take responsibility for these failures. If they will not, they must be shown the door. Our nurses and doctors cannot keep shouldering the consequences of mismanagement." He added: "The time for excuses has passed. This review must deliver immediate reform - seven-day rostering, the Safe Staffing Framework, and above all, accountability." This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Tributes paid to former ESRI economist and The Mayo News columnist Dr John Bradley Former ESRI economist Dr John Bradley will be laid to rest in Mayo. A native of Portobello, County Dublin, Dr Bradley lived in Murrisk, near Croagh Patrick, for several years before his sudden passing last week. He was in his late 70s. He was an advocate for the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor between Athenry and Sligo, authoring two reports on the subject. Dr Bradley also wrote extensively about the west of Ireland in his column in The Mayo News, the last of which featured in last Tuesdays edition of the paper. The column, titled Notes From The Western Periphery, saw him nominated for Columnist of The Year at the Local Ireland Media Awards in 2022. He contributed over 120 columns to the paper. Michael Duffy, Editor of The Mayo News, said the staff at the newspaper were saddened to hear of Dr Bradleys passing. I was very shocked to hear of Johns sudden passing when we received a phone call to the office this morning from one of John's good friends, Brendan Duffy of Westport Mens Shed. Johns final column appeared in The Mayo News just last Tuesday and in total he contributed over 120 columns since he first started writing for the paper back in early 2021. Johns columns were all about holding the government and other statutory bodies to account and questioning why many services provided on the western seaboard are of a lesser standard than those on the east coast. Mr Duffy described Dr Bradley as great company and his wealth of knowledge across a broad spectrum of topics was quite remarkable. Since his retirement from the ERSI, John has immersed himself in the life of Murrisk and Mayo. He continued to offer advice to many on a professional basis and contributed greatly to life in Murrisk and in Westport, where he was a valued member of the local Mens Shed Group. Everyone in The Mayo News would like to express our sympathy to John's wife Mary, their extended family and John's many friends in both Mayo and Dublin. May he rest in peace. After working at the Central Bank of Ireland, Dr Bradley joined the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) as research professor, where he worked from 1981 to 2006. He also worked as a consultant with the European Commission, European Parliament, OECD, and World Bank. His consultant worked focused heavily on development and EU cohesion policy. Dr Bradley also worked on policy modelling in Turkey, the Western Balkans, South Africa and Ethiopia. West On Track, a group advocating for the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor also expressed their sympathy at Dr Bradleys passing. To those who knew him well, John was a warm and gregarious companion who made many friends in the Westport area, they stated. An avid reader, he frequented local bookshops and literary events and, together with his wife Mary, was a regular attendee at musical events throughout the county. John was also a keen sailor and was a regular visitor to the various islands off the coast of Galway and Mayo. Perhaps more than any other cause he espoused, his contribution to the expansion and development of railway infrastructure for the west of Ireland, and particularly the Western Rail Corridor, will stand as a lasting monument to his endeavours. He will be reposing at Corrigan & Sons Funeral Home, 5 Lower Camden Street, Dublin (Eircode D02DF22) today (Monday September 22) from 5pm until 7pm. His requiem Mass will be celebrated in Mayo at 11.30am on Wednesday (September 24) in St Marys Church, Westport with the funeral proceeding to Murrisk Abbey Cemetery. Dr John Bradleys Funeral Mass can be viewed live or listened to on radio at 104.8FM (Westport Radio). Predeceased by his brother Dermot and sisters Nuala and Maeve, he is survived by his wife Mary, sisters-in-law Connie, Bernie and Kay, by their partners Eduardo, Michael and Roisin, brother-in-law David, his niece Alexandra, nephews Mark, Jack and Sam. Attempt to propose Gareth Sheridan fails No candidate was chosen by Sligo County Council to contest the Presidential election No candidate has been nominated by Sligo Council to contest the upcoming Presidential election. When councillors gathered in County Hall this morning to hear from those who hoped to have their name included on the ballot paper on October 24 only one showed up. A total of 19 prospective candidates had written to the local authority seeking their nomination but only one person, Sligo native Gearoid Duffy, ended up addressing the elected members. Mr Duffy, 61, was allocated five minutes to make his address during which he said he has worked for 36 years as a public servant. Originally from Gurteen but now living in Cork, Mr Duffy said he would like to make Ireland a reference point for those who seek peace by peaceful means. Mr Duffy said he has respect for all involved in politics and was an advocate for human rights while also speaking about the housing crisis in Ireland. Upon concluding his address, Mr Duffy was afforded a round of applause by councillors. After an adjournment, Cllr Michael Clarke sought to nominate Gareth Sheridan as the Councils candidate. In reply, Cathaoirleach Donal Gilroy remarked, My clear understanding is we nominate from those who presented before us. Sinead Flynn, Senior Executive Officer, Sligo County Council said it would be disingenuous to allow nominations for people who had not made representations saying it would be moving the goalposts. Of the 19 who written letters and sought to address the Councillors, Joseph Chikelue Obi, Keith McGrory and Conor OBrien had indicated their intention to address the meeting along with Mr Duffy. Apologies were sent from Nick Delahanty and Cora Stack who were unable to attend the meeting while there was no response from Gerben Uunk. Others who had written to Sligo County Council expressing an interest in seeking a nomination were: William P. Allen, Matilda Bryson, Peter Casey, Donncha McGabhann, Lorna McCormack, Sarah Louise Mulligan, Searlait Ni Chianain, Billy OConnell, Dominic Plant, Walter Ryan Purcell, Gareth Sheridan and Barry Wheely-Row. Cathaoirleach Donal Gilroy brought the meeting to a close saying, Sligo County Council is not proceeding to formally nominate a candidate. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Spanish Ambassador Maria Teresa Lizaranzu Perinat at Streedagh beach where crosses were erected to remember the many Spanish sailors who were killed in the ship wreck. Captain of the Spanish Navys OPV Carnota makes a presentation of Seamus Connolly for local schoolchildren Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Donal Gilroy with the Spanish Ambassador Maria Teresa Lizaranzu Perinat and Prannie Rhatigan of the Grange and Armada Development Association with members of the Spanish Navy. Eddie OGorman with the Spanish Ambassador Maria Teresa Lizaranzu Perinat at the photo exhibition of the Armada at City Hall, Sligo. Pic: Charlie Brady The annual Remembering the Armada took place last weekend with large crowds in attendance across a number events in County Sligo. Many participants had travelled to Sligo from Spain for the Armada commemoration. Now in its 15th year, the weekend comprised a Spanish Armada conference, a concert with the Spanish Naval Band, a photo exhibition highlighting the Armada discovery at Streedagh and many other events. The centrepiece of the weekend was the Remembrance Parade from Streedagh Beach to the Armada monument in which Spanish and Irish walked together to remember the many Spanish Armada sailors and soldiers who died at Streedagh in 1588, when three Armada ships sank there. The photos capture some of the 16 events that were organised by the local voluntary team Spanish Armada Ireland. The hugely popular fundraising event, Swim in Pink is coming to Rosses Point for the first time. Organised by the National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI) the event has been a remarkable success nationwide since its launch in 2020. Taking place on Sunday, October 12th at 11am, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the event at the second beach in Rosses Point encourages participants to dip, swim, or splash in support of vital breast cancer research. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Ireland, with 1 in 7 women expected to develop the disease and over 3,587 new cases diagnosed each year. Collins McNicholas has partnered with NBCRI as its chosen charity and knows the reality of breast cancer first-hand. Aideen Cummins and Catherine Brennan, both based in the Sligo office, were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025 and 2021 respectively. They have bravely agreed to support the event to help raise awareness and encourage others to talk openly about their experiences. It's great that we are bringing the Swim in Pink to Sligo, and with it, hopefully more awareness, Aideen said. This is more than just a swim. Its a moment to create a real difference. I'm looking forward to seeing the sea of pink on the beach, added Catherine. Come along and show your support in any way that you feel comfortable. Whether youre a seasoned swimmer, just dipping a toe, or there to cheer on a friend, every single person helps us get closer to a future without breast cancer. To participate in the swim register for 25 on the link below and participants will receive a free Swim in Pink swim cap. Alternatively, a donation can be made via the same link: https://swiminpink.ie/fundraiser/CollinsMcNicholasSwiminPink All proceeds will go to supporting the vital breast cancer research funded by NBCRI. Councillors heard IDA has no interest in New Ross The long-running saga that is the advance factory in Butlersland, New Ross shows no signs of coming to a conclusion with Wexford County Council (WCC) now being urged to sever all ties with the IDA (Industrial Development Agency). Following news that a deal with a potential investor for the site had stalled last year, local councillors requested a meeting with the IDA to discuss how to move the progress forward. However, in the wake of comments made by Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke, in which he said the IDA was reluctant to invest in Co Wexford because of ongoing trading tensions with the the US, New Ross councillor Michael Sheehan has suggested progressing without external supports. The IDA has no interest in New Ross, it has had no major visits here, he said at the September meeting of the New Ross Municipal District. And now the minister is blaming Donald Trump for the lack of investment. We could develop that site into a business park similar to the one in Ardcavan outside Wexford town. Just for perspective, Enniscorthy has a building, sponsored by the IDA, which is now going for planning. That was approved in the same year as the site in Butlersland, which gives you an idea of where we are in terms of priorities. Councillor Bridin Murphy was similarly dismissive of the suggestion that trade issues with the US were preventing development on the site. When did the IDA last visit the site? she asked. I would have concerns about its interest in it. I appreciate there are issues with the US at the minute but there are other markets the IDA could be targeting. District manager Alan Fitzhenry confirmed he would contact director of services Liz Hore with the councillors concerns. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Concerns regarding water supply in a part of Co Wexford which has been beset by outages in the past have been addressed by Fine Gael councillor Robbie Staples. While recent upgrades have improved water supply in the Castlebridge, Curracloe, and Screen area, some residents continue to experience outages with many reporting issues during the recent Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in neighbouring Wexford town. Such are the legacy issues in the area that a recent application to develop 35 new houses in the area has been appealed to the national planning authority, An Coimisiun Pleanala. In their appeal, the appellants cited the water infrastructure and how the arrival of 35 new households would place further strain on the system. Will adding a further 35 houses with the potential for a further phase add to the problem? they asked. There have been numerous occasions in the past and particularly in recent times, that current residents have been without any water supply with no prior notice or warnings. This has become a reality for current residents on an alarmingly regular basis. These are genuine concerns as at increasingly frequent times, current residents cannot use the shower, dishwasher or washing machine due to the lack of water pressure." Accepting that issues remain with the areas water supply, Cllr Staples said the situation in Castlebridge had improved in recent years but that additional works were required to meet the demand for housing and population growth. Noting that much of Irelands wastewater infrastructure was developed in the mid-to-late 20th century and that many systems are now outdated and under strain, Cllr Staples said delays in upgrading critical infrastructure have led to vulnerabilities in water supply and treatment. Many private group water schemes in rural areas have historically failed to meet EU standards, especially for microbiological safety, he continued. And smaller communities often lack the funding or scale to support modern treatment facilities. In addition, decades of insufficient funding and fragmented management have left the system outdated. For example, in 2015 Ireland was losing an estimated 800 million litres of water per day to leaks. With Uisce Eireann currently upgrading treatment plants across Co Wexford, Cllr Staples has urged it to allocate resources to the most critical areas first, including parts of the county which have experienced frequent outages in the past. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Hollywood actress Rosie ODonnell attended a family fun day with her daughter in a Wicklow school over the weekend, where the emphasis was on an afternoon of fun, laughter, and community spirit. The comedian, who moved to Ireland in March and is a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump, took to Instagram after the event in Greystones Community National School, on Sunday, September 21, where she shared a photo of herself and her 12-year-old daughter, Clay, with the caption off to a school festival. The legal breath alcohol limit for driving in Ireland is 22 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath. A nurse with 17 years of service was disqualified from driving after she crashed into a lamppost, while almost five times over the legal alcohol limit, following a personal crisis. Liliana Bortos, of 135 Charlesland Court, Co. Wicklow, pleaded guilty at Bray District Court to a charge of driving or attempting to drive a vehicle while exceeding the legal alcohol limit (breath). The court heard the incident occurred on December 2, 2024, when Ms Bortos drove her Toyota into a lamppost. Ms Bortoss documents were in order. She admitted at the scene that she was under the influence of alcohol. She failed a breath test with a reading of 108mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, nearly five times the legal limit. Michael OConnor, solicitor for Ms Bortos, told the court that his client is a Romanian national who has been a nurse at St Jamess Hospital in Dublin for over 17 years. He said the defendant had been in a relationship for 11 years, which ended on the day of the incident when her partner broke up with her via a letter. The court was told that Ms Bortoss former partner had borrowed over 45,000 and spent it "on various motorcycles and vehicles", leaving her in severe debt. It was further explained that Ms Bortos had just finished a 12-hour shift when she received the news. She drank some wine and forgot to eat. The incident occurred when she left to get food. Mr OConnor told the court that his client is a very decent woman, adding that she knows she did the wrong thing and was drinking to help soften the blow. Judge David Kennedy noted that the alcohol reading was extremely high but opted to keep the fine low due to her financial situation. He disqualified her from driving for three years and imposed a 150 fine, giving her five months to pay. Outgoing President Stephen Delaney hands over the chain of office to new Wicklow Town and District Chamber President Anna Thornton at their AGM held in March. Wicklow Town and District Chamber of Commerce has opened entries for its 2025 Business Awards, giving local businesses the chance to showcase their successes and celebrate the strength of the countys commercial community. The awards recognise excellence across a wide range of sectors, including retail, hospitality, digital innovation, sustainability, start-ups, professional services and community impact. A special recognition award will also be presented on the night. Entries are free and open until October 17, with winners announced at a gala awards ceremony on Saturday, November 8, at 7pm in the Parkview Hotel, Newtownmountkennedy. Chamber representatives say the event has become a highlight of the local business calendar. Theres a real appetite for businesses to come together and celebrate their achievements, a spokesperson said. Our local business community is incredibly strong, and they deserve their moment in the spotlight. The awards night will also reflect on the Chambers work over the past year and share plans for 2025, including the return of the hugely popular Taste of Wicklow festival, which will take place in the newly completed Abbey Grounds. To submit a nomination, visit wicklowchamber.com. All entries will be reviewed by an independent judging panel. Swimmer had gotten into difficulty in the sea at Greystones Members of the Greystones/Wicklow Coast Guard Unit successfully rescued a swimmer who had got into difficulty in the sea at Greystones on Saturday evening, in what were described as challenging conditions. Barry Guilfoyle, Officer in Charge, said that just after 8pm, on Saturday, September 20, following reports that a swimmer had got into trouble in the waters at Greystones, the pagers activated for Greystones/Wicklow Coast Guard Unit to respond. "We were tasked by the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre Dublin to a swimmer in difficulty off Greystones after a member of the public called 999/112, he said. The waves were too high and the casualty was too far out for throw bags so the shore teams encouraged the casualty to 'Float to Live'. "With challenging weather and sea conditions, our Coast Guard D-Class inshore rescue boat launched and retrieved the casualty and brought them ashore for assessment by NAS Paramedics and our local 'critical' charity doctor. The casualty required hospital observation as he had taken on some water but was otherwise okay. This successful rescue was the result of early identification of someone in difficulty, a phone call to the Coast Guard been made, and the rapid response of our volunteers, Mr Guilfoyle continued. Following the incident, the Greystones/Wicklow Coast Guard Unit has made an appeal to members of the public to be vigilant. If you see someone you think may be in trouble on the sea, our beaches, rivers, lakes, cliffs, headlands, cliff walkways or inland waterways, dial 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard. Your call could save a life. he said. Two River City stars are to work on a film about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on care homes, which will feature actors living with dementia. Joyce Falconer, who plays Roisin in the Scottish soap, and David McGowan, who stars as Tommy Chalmers, will take on roles in The F Ward, which is being directed by Bafta-winning filmmaker Ian Bustard. The film has been conceived by Ron Coleman, who has vascular dementia, and is being developed by a group of people also living with a diagnosis of dementia. Mr Coleman and Mr Bustard are working with a group of so-called dementia activists dubbed the Demented Poets, who each have the illness, to tell the story of the impact of the pandemic on those living in care homes. Mr Bustard, whose family are living with his fathers diagnosis of dementia, said: Ron has introduced me to a world of dementia activists around Scotland, who are really turning the dementia diagnosis on its head. Theyre showing that a dementia diagnosis isnt always what you think it is, and that theres still a lot of life left in them yet. Ive met people with dementia who have staged and taken part in a dementia conference, where the only people allowed to speak are those with a dementia diagnosis. Its remarkable what these people will do and say when other people arent speaking for them. Work on the film is currently in its early stages, with the River City actors in the process of taking part in development workshops with the cast. Screenwriter Simon McCallum, from Dundee, is working on the script with Mr Coleman, who is also from the city. Production of The F Ward is set to begin after a double-bill featuring a play by Mr Coleman and a documentary by Mr Bustard which will feature at this years Dementia Arts Festival in Stirling from September 25-27. Ron Coleman, who conceived the idea for the film, is living with dementia (Ian Bustard/PA) Mr Coleman, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2022, said he hopes the F Ward helps people learn from what happened during the pandemic. He said: I want people to remember what happened. Thousands of people died, it wasnt 20 or 30 people. It hit nearly every family, and every family knew someone who died of Covid in a care home, thats where we got to. Its where the highest group of people who died from Covid came from in Scotland. I worry that if another Covid happens tomorrow, we arent going to be ready because it feels like we have already forgotten the lessons of Covid-19. Having a diagnosis of dementia, that makes this a personal thing. For a lot of people it is a very personal thing, people who had to say goodbye to a loved one through windows or on tablets. It feels like it has been lost from our collective memory already. The F Ward is about saying, Okay, this happened lets make sure it doesnt happen again. The double-bill, featuring Mr Colemans play Caught In This Moment Of Time and Mr Bustards documentary The Demented Poets, will be shown at the Dementia Arts Festival on September 26. They will then be toured, with screenings and audience Q&As at 11 venues around the country under the Demented Cinema banner, with more information available at http://www.undergroundcinemaclub.org. Mr Bustard, who is based in Angus, won a Bafta for his documentary Marty Goes To Hollywood in 2015 and his other films include BBC documentary The Falkirk Cowboys. Mr Coleman worked as a mental health trainer for 30 years. Since his dementia diagnosis, he has formed the Deepness Media company and has become a writer, poet and actor who uses his writing and performance to challenge perceptions around dementia. He said: People think dementia is about memory, but thats not the case for everyones dementia. For me, vascular dementia means I have problems with things like numbers and order. But ask me to write a piece of poetry and Ill be right in there. Its not as unforgiving as things like Alzheimers can be, and a lot of people dont realise. LATEST | France joins other Western nations in recognising Palestinian state at UN World Summit Britain, Canada, France among those recognising a state Israel, US call it harmful and a publicity stunt Israel weighing possible West Bank annexation, officials say French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a high-profile meeting at the United Nations (Angelina Katsanis/AP) John Irish and Michelle Nichols Reuters Mon 22 Sep 2025 at 22:03 France recognized a Palestinian state at a world summit in New York on Monday, nearly two years into the war in Gaza, joining Britain, Canada and other Western allies who made the same historic move on Sunday and were rebuked by Israel. Students from St. Peters NS Drogheda pictured with Adas Rakauskas, who received a Christmas shoebox as a child and is recreating the gesture for other children affected by poverty, three decades on (Andres Poveda/Mediaconsult/PA) Tom Fletcher has written a book in support of BBC Children In Need (Aaron Chown/PA) McFly singer and childrens author Tom Fletcher has written a book in support of BBC Children In Need that celebrates 40 years of Pudsey Bear. Pudsey And The Thread Of Hope follows a young boy called Jai who, while grieving his father, embarks on a journey of healing with Pudsey, meeting other children who are connected by a golden thread of kindness. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu claims move is reward for terrorism The UK, Canada and Australia all recognised a Palestinian state yesterday, in a move borne out of frustration over the Gaza war and intended to promote a two-state solution, prompting a furious response from Israel. The decision by three major Western nations, which have been traditional allies of Israel, aligned them with about 140 other countries also backing Palestinians aspiration to forge an independent homeland from the Israeli-occupied territories. Donald Trump calls Charlie Kirk an American hero at memorial as he says he hates his opponents Presidents views at odds with those of widow and slain activist Trump calls Charlie Kirk a 'great American hero' and 'martyr' for freedom Rhian Lubin UK Independent Mon 22 Sep 2025 at 08:36 President Donald Trump has said that he hates his political opponents moments after Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, forgave her husbands killer in an emotional tribute at his memorial. The 10 candidates, pictured from left at Nasas Johnson Space Centre in Houston are Ben Bailey, Cameron Jones, Katherine Spies, Anna Menon, Erin Overcash, Adam Fuhrmann, Dr Lauren Edgar, Yuri Kubo, Rebecca Lawler and Dr Imelda Muller. For the first time there are more women than men in an incoming astronaut class. Photo: Nasa Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region. Indias Corporate Data Management Scheme MCA to Open Third Party Bidding on September 30 The Indian government will soon invite third-party bids under the Corporate Data Management Scheme (CDMS), an initiative launched in FY 201516 to upgrade the MCA21 system into a comprehensive data warehouse and analytics platform. The scheme engages independent agencies to provide portal support and ensure compliance and data security for companies registered in India. At the core of CDMS is the Corporate Data Management (CDM) portal, a centralized platform that offers structured access to corporate data for market intelligence, business analytics, and real-time reporting. The Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) will open third-party bidding on September 30, 2025, as part of the evaluation process for the Corporate Data Management Scheme, or CDMS. The scheme was introduced to upgrade the MCA21 transactional system into a comprehensive data warehouse and analytics platform. Its primary objective is to enhance transparency and improve accessibility to Indias corporate database. What is the corporate data management scheme (CDMS)? All companies incorporated in India are required to electronically file their incorporation documents, compliance records, approvals, and annual statutory returns through the MCA21 system, a single-window platform for corporate compliance and transparency. Over time, this has created a vast digital repository of corporate information. To harness this data, the CDMS was launched, with the CDM portal serving as its central platform to provide structured access to Indias corporate sector data. It offers policymakers, regulators, researchers, and the public reliable financial and non-financial corporate data. The initiative is closely aligned with Indias National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP), 2012 and strengthens governance by enabling: Data mining and business intelligence tools for in-depth analysis; Real-time analytics and customized reporting to support evidence-based decision-making; and Collaboration across government agencies, corporations, and research institutions for more informed policies and business strategies. ALSO READ: Choosing the Right Business Entity in India: Pvt Ltd, LLP, or OPC? Third-party bidding process for CDM portal The selection of vendors for managing MCAs CDM portal generally follows a structured government procurement process. This is typically carried out through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform, where interested service providers respond to a formal Request for Proposal (RFP). The process involves multiple stages, including bid submission, technical and financial evaluation, and contract finalization, while also addressing critical issues such as data security, compliance, and vendor risk management. General steps in the bidding process The procuring agency, such as the MCA, releases an RFP document outlining the scope of work, which may include data analytics, portal development, and system maintenance. The document specifies technical and financial requirements, submission procedures, and evaluation criteria. A pre-bid phase allows potential bidders to raise queries regarding the RFP. Clarifications are usually addressed in a pre-bid meeting to ensure transparency and uniform understanding. Eligibility criteria under the bidding process Under the CDM scheme, bidders must meet defined eligibility standards, such as valid government registrations (Permanent Account Number, Goods and Services Tax) and a clean compliance record. Submissions typically include two components: a technical proposal and a financial proposal, each filed separately. Technical bidding process Eligibility Criteria under Technical Bidding Criteria Requirements Documents required Registration Must be a registered entity (private/public limited company, partnership firm, society, autonomous body, or institution) Certificate of registration, PAN, GST Experience Minimum 5 years experience in IT or data management project evaluations Completion certificates/work orders Restrictions No consortiums, joint ventures, or individual applications allowed Self-declaration Compliance Not blacklisted or debarred; no pending litigation with government departments Self-certification (Annexure-1) Track record Evaluated at least 3 central/state schemes/projects in last 5 years; Startups: 2 schemesINR 250 million (US$2.8 million) Work orders/certificates, DPIIT recognition (for startups) Resources At least 20 employees; evaluators: B.Tech/B.E/MBA/Masters in Statistics/Economics/Mathematics; researchers: Bachelors in relevant fields Team portfolios Expertise Proven experience in data governance, analytics, and BI solutions Project completion certificates Presence At least one office in Delhi Address proof, PAN & GST Financial bidding process As part of the bidding process, bidders are required to submit a bid security/earnest money deposit (EMD) of INR 50,000 (US$566.41). The EMD may be furnished through insurance surety bonds, demand drafts, fixed deposit receipts, bankers checks, or bank guarantees (including e-bank guarantees) issued by a scheduled commercial bank. The instrument must be drawn in favor of the pay and accounts office (PAO) of MCA and remain valid for at least 45 days beyond the final bid validity period. Key considerations Data security and risk controls: Vendors must establish strong safeguards to protect sensitive corporate data and address third-party risk exposures. Service level agreements (SLAs): Contracts clearly outline performance expectations, with penalties for non-compliance or service failures. Regulatory and legal compliance: Service providers must comply with applicable data protection laws, IT regulations, and other statutory frameworks. Ongoing vendor management: The procuring agency must monitor vendor performance, security posture, and compliance throughout the contract lifecycle. Third-party evaluation Periodic evaluation has been a core feature of the CDM. The last third-party evaluation was carried out in 2020. For the current cycle (202122 to 202526), aligned with the 15th Finance Commission period, the Data Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) of NITI Aayog has been given charge to conduct a comprehensive review of the schemes performance. The bidding process on September 30, 2025, is a step toward independent assessment of how effectively CDM has improved data transparency, policy support, and governance. Budgetary utilization and other challenges under the CDMS In the Union Budget of FY 202526, the central government allocated INR 115.61 billion (US$1.3 billion) to the MCA. Of this, INR 110 million (US$1.24 million) has been specifically earmarked for the CDM scheme. Despite this higher allocation, a Parliamentary Committee has raised concerns about persistent underutilization of funds. In previous years, large portions of the MCAs budget were surrendered due to limited spending capacityan issue that risks undermining the effective rollout of initiatives like CDM. Beyond financial utilization, the scheme has also struggled with a shortage and retention of skilled professionals. Since its launch, remuneration for technical and functional experts has not been revised, making it difficult to retain specialists in data science, analytics, and IT. This talent gap has constrained implementation capacity and slowed the schemes progress. Acknowledging the challenge, the MCA has proposed a revision of the pay structure for technical professionals. If approved, this measure is expected to ease manpower shortages, strengthen institutional capacity, and improve the delivery of the schemes objectives. Outlook The CDM scheme has the potential to become the backbone of Indias corporate data ecosystemsupporting evidence-based policymaking, boosting investor confidence, and fostering a more transparent corporate environment. However, its success will depend on: Timely completion of third-party evaluations; Strengthened budgetary utilization mechanisms; and Ensuring competitive remuneration to attract and retain talent. As the MCA prepares for a fresh round of independent evaluation, stakeholders across government, business, and academia will be closely watching how the CDM Scheme evolves into a more robust, efficient, and transparent data-driven governance tool. (US$1 = INR 88.27) A statewide bike rally under Mission Shakti 5 was organized in Uttar Pradesh this weekend with the participation of more than 18,000 women police officers and personnel. The initiative aimed at reinforcing womens safety, dignity, and self-confidence across all districts of the state. The campaign, conducted under the guidance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saw women police personnel riding through the streets of towns and cities on Sunday morning. Carrying the slogan Suraksha Aur Samman, Nari Ka Adhikar (Security and Respect, Womens Right), the rallies attracted public attention in many areas where residents responded with applause and flower showers. During the event at Lok Bhavan, the Chief Minister inaugurated Mission Shakti Centers at 1,663 police stations across Uttar Pradesh. A booklet titled Sashakt Nari, Samridh Pradesh was also released, containing details of helplines and support systems for womens safety. Authorities were further instructed to ensure enhanced security measures during the upcoming festive season, including Navratri. Director General of Police Rajiv Krishna noted that the rallies reflected a wider social commitment to safeguarding women. According to police officials, participation from senior officers, public representatives, and local communities added further weight to the campaigns message. The rallies also drew a strong digital presence. Photos and videos shared by police units quickly gained traction online, pushing the official hashtag #MissionShakti5 into the top five trends on social media platform X. Between 4 pm and 6:30 pm on September 21, the hashtag generated more than 23,000 posts, reaching nearly 28 million users and amassing close to 384 million impressions. Observers highlighted that while the rallies underscored the role of law enforcement, the larger message emphasized collective responsibility. The initiative positioned womens safety not just as a matter of governance but as a societal duty requiring active participation from communities. ( Image credit : Donald Trump comforting Erika Kirk | Credit: X/@lamps_apple ) Erika Kirk's 'devil horn' hand gesture sparked conspiracy theories ( Image credit : Social media users debate on the symbolic hand gesture of Erika Kirk | Credit: X | @honormen ) Sorry, I love Trump and Charlie Kirk, and I don't want to spoil the party, but why did Erika wait until she was standing with the most famous man alive, in front of the whole world, at the most significant moment of her life, to throw up the devil-horned gesture? pic.twitter.com/qYhIRB2FAR Gregory Morgan (@honormen) September 22, 2025 Social media users debate the symbolic hand gesture of Erika Kirk ( Image credit : Social media users debate the symbolic hand gesture of Erika Kirk | Credit: X | @honormen ) What does the hand gesture mean? HT At conservative activist Charlie Kirk's memorial in Arizona, which was attended by President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, the audience was surprised when he was seen making an enigmatic hand gesture while sitting next to the President. Musk was spotted making a quadrangle shape with his hands, which quickly fuelled online speculation. This gesture is often associated with the steeple, pyramid hand, Merkle diamond, or so-called triangle of power, as per ToI. The action sparked a wave of conspiracy theories, with some users interpreting it as a secret symbol or an Illuminati sign. On the other hand, Kirk's wife, Erika Kirk, was also noticed making a devil's horn gesture while standing next to Donald Trump. The hand sign also sparked satanic ritual theories. Let's find out what it means.The moment Erika Kirk's hand gesture surfaced on social media, it was quickly picked up by netizens online, who pointed out that Erika appeared to flash the devil-horn hand gesture while standing next to President Donald Trump at the memorial.Some online critics also questioned the timing and intent of the move, asking why Erika would wait until she was beside 'the most famous man alive'. "Sorry, I love Trump and Charlie Kirk, and I don't want to spoil the party, but why did Erika wait until she was standing with the most famous man alive, in front of the whole world, at the most significant moment of her life, to throw up the devil-horned gesture?" an X (formerly called Twitter) post read.While another post on Reddit said, "Erika Kirk throws up a Satanic hand gesture with her master." Following this, the gesture has now fuelled an intense debate, with some dismissing it as harmless or coincidental, while others view it as deliberate and symbolic.As soon as these posts surfaced on the internet, they quickly grabbed the attention of netizens. One X user said, "My concern was, she had already been mouthing 'I love you earlier, so it wouldnt be necessary to do the ILY sign language gesture also. The timing of it, at the end with Trump, was VERY odd. She could have just pointed to CK banner and mouthed I love you."While another said, "It's not horns ....it means "I love you" morons....."Another asked the same on Reddit, "Isn't that the hand gesture for i love you?" "Yes, this is how my family waves goodbye to each other. Ill tell them we need to stop because peoplell think were satanic," one replied.According to, although the exact meaning of the gesture remains unclear, the 'rock on' sign is typically made by curling the fingers with the thumb tucked in, whereas the 'Love You' (or ILY) sign uses the same finger formation but with the thumb extended.According to Italian Jewellery Company, the "devil horns" gesture isnt inherently linked to Satanism; its meaning changes depending on culture and context. In Italian tradition, its used to ward off the evil eye, in Buddhism and yoga, it symbolises health and strength, and in music, it shows support for rock and metal genres. ( Image credit : Donald Trump comforting Erika Kirk | Credit: X/@lamps_apple ) Donald Trump's dance at Kirk Memorial sparks mixed reactions amid emotional tributes ToI Trump's dance moves spark outrage online and face social media backlash ( Image credit : Trump's dance moves spark outrage online | Credit: X | @rt ) What did Donald Trump say in his speech at Charlie Kirk's memorial? ( Image credit : Trump honours Charlie Kirk as Erika forgives his killer at emotional memorial | Credit: X/@KaiTrumpJr ) BBC At Charlie Kirk's emotional memorial service, where thousands gathered to honour the late conservative activist, who was brutally shot at Utah Valley University (UVU) earlier this month, a surprising moment drew mixed reactions online. The memorial was attended by President Donald Trump, tech billionaire Elon Musk and more. At one moment, the 79-year-old president was seen briefly dancing beside Kirk's wife, Erika, during the singing of America the Beautiful, which caused a stir online. However, his little dance move did make the teary-eyed Erika smile for a bit, but the act did not sit well with the netizens, who have been backlashing at Trump since then. Let's find out more.According to, while the two swayed gently and mouthed lyrics together, bringing a rare smile to Erika's tear-streaked face, the gesture was met with criticism from some who found it inappropriate during the solemn occasion.The ceremony, marked by heartfelt tributes from Vice President JD Vance and top members of the administration, highlighted Charlie Kirks enduring impact on a generation of young conservatives. Leading the memorial, Donald Trump praised the 31-year-old activist as a pivotal figure in securing his 2024 election victory.As soon as a brief video of Donald Trump dancing beside Charlie Kirk's wife surfaced on social media, it quickly went viral and captured the attention of netizens. One user on X (formerly called Twitter) wrote, "If Joker had a face ."While another wrote, "He made a complete idiot of himself, as usual, and showed a complete lack of empathy or solemnity or even a good sense for how to capitalise on the very sincere energy of this event. I think even the basic MAGA types there found him tedious (if they were honest with themselves).""When a humorous man shows humour in this situation, which mean he very sad," one added."This is so eerie..her husband just got KILLED," one said. "What a joke this country is!"While writing on Reddit, "We have the dumbest president ever." "I would have some sympathy for her, but she is cashing in on her tragedy. "Someday shell have to explain that to her kids," another said.At the memorial service in Arizona attended by tens of thousands, US President Donald Trump honoured conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calling him a 'great American hero' and 'martyr'.According to the, as the keynote speaker at the crowded event on Sunday, Trump was joined by senior administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, who commended Kirks political impact following his tragic death on September 10.Additionally, Trump told the audience at State Farm Stadium near Phoenix that Kirk was "assassinated because he lived bravely and boldly and argued brilliantly." NOW: A 4.6-magnitude earthquake struck the San Francisco region, according to the USGS. pic.twitter.com/PGmDMDQg4j American Press (@americanspress) September 22, 2025 Tremors felt widely across Bay Area At 2:56 AM an earthquake registering 4.6 occurred in the Bay Area, near Berkeley, CA. Currently, there are no reports of damage or injuries in San Francisco. Officials will continue to evaluate infrastructure and update if this changes. Here are a few safety tips to pic.twitter.com/xN8A9NEYOH SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) September 22, 2025 Checking earthquake twitter because just felt the longest, shakiest earthquake in SF in a long time. Melissa (@itsmwong) September 22, 2025 Geological details and fault line ABC7 Historical context and awareness Wow that was a strong 4.6 magnitude earthquake in Berkeley felt in San Francisco and across the Bay Area. Hope everyone is safe. pic.twitter.com/yd2U6moD8y Deedy (@deedydas) September 22, 2025 A magnitude 4.3 earthquake jolted the San Francisco Bay Area shortly before 3 a.m. on Monday. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the epicenter near Berkeley, close to the University of California campus. Residents across the region described sharp shaking, with some reporting that their homes trembled strongly.The temblor occurred at a shallow depth of approximately 7.8 kilometres (4.8 miles), which amplified the sensation for those nearby. While there were no immediate reports of injuries or major property damage, the quake caused alarm across multiple cities in the Bay Area.The Shake Alert system was activated during the event, sending notifications to residents and alerting authorities. Many people took to social media to describe their experiences. X users reported strong jolts that woke them from sleep and rattled household items.Pretty big earthquake just now at 2:56am. Felt a strong jolt here in San Francisco. Did you feel it? one resident asked on X. Another added, Very hard shaking and loud. I thought it would have been bigger, but I am a mile from the epicenter. Reports came in from Vallejo and surrounding areas, showing that the tremors were widely felt throughout the Bay Area.According toMeteorologist Drew Tuma, the earthquake likely occurred along the Hayward Fault line, a known seismic zone running through Berkeley. California Memorial Stadium is situated directly above this fault, which adds to the concern for local residents.While initially reported as magnitude 4.6, the USGS later revised the earthquakes strength to 4.3. No preliminary damage assessments suggest that infrastructure or public safety was significantly impacted. Authorities continue to monitor the region for aftershocks and potential risks.A preliminary, smaller quake of magnitude 2.4 was recorded near Petrolia in California earlier that morning at around 12:50 a.m., indicating ongoing seismic activity. Residents are reminded to follow earthquake preparedness measures, including securing heavy objects and maintaining emergency supplies.The earthquake underscores the importance of early alert systems like Shake Alert and public awareness, particularly in regions near active faults. Scientists and local authorities emphasize vigilance even in moderate tremors.The Berkeley earthquake jolted the Bay Area early Monday, activating alerts and alarming residents, but caused no major damage. Authorities continue monitoring, emphasizing preparedness for potential aftershocks. Trump hails Kirk as martyr ( Image credit : Charlie Kirks memorial featured Donald Trump calling him a martyr | Credit: X/joni_askola ) Widow Erika Kirk calls for forgiveness ( Image credit : A memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk was held at State Farm Stadium | Credit: X/300mirrors ) Other tributes and comparisons ( Image credit : Charles James Kirk was an American right-wing political activist | Credit: X/MagaTimes24 ) A memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk was held at State Farm Stadium in Arizona, drawing thousands of attendees, including President Donald Trump. Speakers paid tribute to Kirk with religious and patriotic themes, while highlighting his influence on American politics and youth activism.Donald Trump, addressing a crowd of about 70,000, called Charlie Kirk a martyr and greatest evangelist for American liberty. Reflecting on Kirks life and faith, Trump emphasized the need to bring religion back to the country.On that terrible day, September 10th, 2025, our greatest evangelist for American liberty became immortal, Trump said. He also criticized commentators and influencers, stating, I hate my opponent and I dont want the best for them, highlighting the ongoing political divisions.Kirks widow, Erika Kirk, who is now taking over as CEO of Turning Point USA, delivered a contrasting message of forgiveness. She urged mercy for her husbands alleged killer, stating, I forgive him because it was what Christ did. And its what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate.Erika also outlined plans to continue her husbands work: Chapters will grow. Thousands of new ones will be created. Turning Point USA Faith will add thousands of new pastors and congregations, she said, signaling the organizations future direction.Rebecca Dunn, an early donor, recalled supporting Kirk after he raised $25,000 in two days as a 20-year-old. She described him as feeling like a son and noted that contributions eventually reached millions.Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna compared Kirk to George Washington, John F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., citing his role in shaping her political career through Turning Point USA.Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson likened Kirk to Jesus, reflecting on his Christian faith and leadership. Far-right influencer Jack Posobiec drew parallels between Kirk and Moses, while Trump adviser Stephen Miller declared Kirks legacy immortal and pledged to save the West.The memorial highlighted the wide-ranging influence Kirk had on politics and youth activism, with speakers emphasizing faith, leadership, and legacy. While supporters honored him as a transformative figure, critics continue to debate his positions on race, religion, and gender. Early support for a young activist REBECCA & BILL DUNN: FULL CIRCLE WITH CHARLIE KIRK In Charlie we met a freedom fighter - thank you Charlie Kirk. Rebecca and her late husband, Bill Dunn, were one of the very first donors to Turning Point USA. At a time when Charlie Kirk was just beginning, the Dunns put https://t.co/2dpw6gGmpnpic.twitter.com/ojmTZ9599O Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 21, 2025 A bond beyond donations Rebecca Dunn was one of the first who believed in Charlie Kirks mission. He was supposed to speak at her husbands memorial, instead shes speaking at his. pic.twitter.com/0H9iTP3wXg Turning Point Action (@TPAction_) September 21, 2025 Memories shared at the memorial Your honorable Lady Rebecca Dunn,thank youThank you for letting me see the remainning spirit of nobility, I cherish Mr. Bill Dunn lived cowboy ethics of courage, integrity, and self-reliance. This public history of Charlie Kirk has restored my faith in America. pic.twitter.com/62734fxNii Embarrassing Truth (@WilsonFu) September 22, 2025 Shaping turning point USAs growth Rebecca Dunn, a philanthropist and political activist, was the first donor to Charlie Kirks Turning Point USA. At Kirks memorial, she reflected on their relationship, recalling how her financial backing and personal faith in him helped lay the foundation for the conservative youth movement.Rebecca and her husband Bill Dunn, a Florida couple, were among the earliest benefactors of Turning Point USA when Kirk was just 19. Their first donation allowed him to rent office space and hire staff. Dunn explained that her initial decision to fund Kirk came after he met a challenge she set raising $25,000 in two days at just 20 years old.Rebecca Dunn described Kirk as like a son, sharing how she and Bill provided a series of challenge grants that eventually grew into millions of dollars. These contributions went far beyond finance, as she saw his rise as a personal mission. His vision inspired us, and his resolve reassured us that our support was building something bigger than ourselves, she said at the memorial.The memorial for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Arizona gathered nearly 70,000 people, including U.S. President Donald Trump, family, and allies. Dunns tribute stood out, not just for its emotion but for its detailed account of how early donations shaped Kirks career. She also shared a personal story Kirk had once promised to attend her late husband Bills memorial, but instead, she now found herself mourning him. Calling the moment heartbreaking and full circle, Dunn reflected on the unpredictable turns of life.Rebecca Dunns comments underscored how Turning Point USA grew out of both Kirks determination and donor confidence. Her challenge grants turned into millions of dollars, fueling the organizations expansion into one of the most influential conservative youth platforms in the U.S. Dunns role demonstrated the impact that major donors can have in shaping political movements.As the organization now prepares for its future under Erika Kirk, Dunns tribute served as a reminder that its beginnings were rooted in trust, personal conviction, and the support of early benefactors like herself. White paper details great achievements in Xinjiang 10:52, September 22, 2025 By MO JINGXI ( China Daily The Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is now at the best period of development in its history, featuring unprecedented economic and social progress, marked improvements in people's well-being and a stronger sense of gain, happiness and security among residents, according to a white paper issued on Friday. Titled "Communist Party of China Guidelines for Governing Xinjiang in the New Era: Practice and Achievements", the white paper was unveiled at a news conference held by the Information Office of the State Council in Beijing. Consisting of a preface, main body and conclusion, the 21,000-word document expounds on the rich content of the CPC's guidelines for governing Xinjiang in the new era and showcases the great achievements Xinjiang has made in reform, development and stability, among other areas. "We have been committed to bringing greater prosperity to the region and ensuring that the fruits of development are more effectively translated into benefits for people's well-being," said Erkin Tuniyaz, chairman of the regional government. Since 2012, Xinjiang's GDP has grown by an average of 7.04 percent annually, surpassing 2 trillion yuan ($280 billion) in 2024, which he said had provided strong fiscal support for delivering on livelihood-related initiatives. According to the white paper, Xinjiang has seen comprehensive improvements in infrastructure, with the operating mileage of railways and the highway network totaling 9,202 kilometers and 230,000 km, respectively, as of 2024, and the number of civil air routes reached 595, of which 25 are international routes. Erkin Tuniyaz said that people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang cherish the current prosperity and are determined to safeguard social stability. "Whoever that tries to sabotage such a happy life will meet with firm opposition from all the people in Xinjiang," he said. Speaking at the news conference, Chen Weijun, the autonomous region's executive vice-chairman, dismissed United States' accusations of "forced labor" in Xinjiang as groundless, saying that workers of all ethnic groups there choose their jobs voluntarily in pursuit of a better life, and their labor rights are fully protected. "Over the past few years, the US has imposed sanctions on Xinjiang enterprises and individuals under the pretext of 'human rights', when in fact it is engaging in political manipulation and economic coercion," Chen said, accusing Washington of "forcing unemployment" in Xinjiang. But the official noted that Xinjiang's advantages remain strong in the long term as the region stands at the forefront of China's westward opening-up, backed by the domestic market of 1.4 billion people and connected to international markets across Asia, Europe and Africa. According to Chen, Xinjiang's distinctive industries have grown rapidly, and "Made in Xinjiang" products are now exported to more than 220 countries and regions, winning global consumer recognition. "US sanctions cannot stop Xinjiang's steps toward development or prevent industries and enterprises from growing stronger," Chen said. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Zhang Zheng, who participated in drafting two chapters of the white paper, described the document as a timely message conveyed to the rest of the world as "it presents the tremendous changes and remarkable achievements Xinjiang has made in recent years with detailed examples and precise data". "It will enable the international community to gain a more genuine, comprehensive and multidimensional understanding of Xinjiang's overall development," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) ( Image credit : Sudha Murthy | Credit: X/@PrajwalBusta ) How the scam call occurred Bengaluru | Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murthy has filed an FIR in Cyber Crime Police PS against an unknown person. According to FIR, an unknown person called her on her mobile phone on 5th September and claimed to be an employee of the Telecommunications department. He told her that ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2025 Threats and legal action Who is Sudha Murthy? ( Image credit : Sudha Murthy | Credit: Instagram/@ smtsudhamurty ) Context: cyber scams and aadhaar ( Image credit : Truecaller can make such calls appear legitimate. | Credit: Instagram/@truecaller.india ) Rajya Sabha MP, author, and philanthropist Sudha Murthy became the target of a cyber scam, prompting Bengaluru Cyber Crime Police to register an FIR on September 20. The complaint states that an unknown caller attempted to extract sensitive personal information from Murthy by impersonating a government telecom official.The incident took place on September 5 when Murthy, wife of Infosys founder N. R. Narayana Murthy, received a call from an unknown number. On the Truecaller app, the number appeared as Telecom Department.The caller, claiming to be an employee of Indias Ministry of Telecommunications, told Murthy that her mobile number, registered in January 2020, had not been linked to her Aadhaar. She was also falsely accused of distributing obscene videos through her number.The caller warned that her mobile services would be disconnected by 12 noon if she did not comply, attempting to pressure Murthy into providing personal details.Murthy refused to share sensitive information. The caller then became abusive and issued threats. Following this, a formal complaint was filed on her behalf by one Ganapathy.The FIR was lodged under Sections 66(C), 66(D), and 84(C) of the Information Technology Act, and the Bengaluru Cyber Crime Police confirmed that an investigation is underway. Sudha Murthy has requested strict legal action against the caller for attempting to fraudulently obtain her personal information and using threatening language.Born in 1950, Sudha Murthy is an acclaimed Indian author, social worker, and philanthropist. She has been the Chairperson of the Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys Technologies, and is widely recognised for her contributions to education, healthcare, rural development, and womens empowerment.Murthy has authored numerous books in English and Kannada, including novels, travelogues, and childrens literature. Her writing is praised for its simplicity and impact, while her social initiatives have earned her respect both in India and abroad.She was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu on March 8, 2024, highlighting her ongoing role in public service.The case sheds a light on the persistent issue of cyber scams in India, particularly those exploiting Aadhaar-linked services. Scammers often impersonate government officials to extract personal information, while apps like Truecaller can make such calls appear legitimate.Authorities across the country continue to emphasize the importance of vigilance and stronger safeguards to prevent even high-profile individuals from being targeted by such fraudulent schemes. ( Image credit : Sara, Duchess of York and Prince Andrew's ex-wife | Credit: X | @typocatCAv2 ) Duchess of York's spokesperson responds to Epstein email allegations UK Express. ( Image credit : Duchess of York's spokesperson responds to Epstein email allegations | Credit: X | @KeepingKen ) Im absolutely disgusted but not surprised by these revelations about #fergie and the #yorks and #epstein. Fergie is a two-faced groveller with no compassion for the victims. Shame on her. Dear @RoyalFamily dont ever have them paraded at gatherings again https://t.co/onFguJ8lL3 Sharon (@sentientvoices) September 22, 2025 Prince Andrew's link with Epstein and more ( Image credit : Prince Andrew's link with Epstein and more | Credit: X | @carbazotic ) In response to reports that Sara Ferguson, Duchess of York and Prince Andrew's ex-wife, sent an apology email to Jeffrey Epstein soon after his release from jail on child sexual assault charges, her spokesperson has issued a statement now. The Duchess had earlier promised never to contact Epstein again after admitting in a March 2011 interview that she regretted accepting 15,000 (Rs 1,700,000) from him, who was closely connected to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew. Let's find out what she said.According to her spokesperson, the Duchess was deceived by Epstein and sent the email solely to protect herself. The spokesman emphasised that the Duchess has long expressed regret over her association with Epstein and has always prioritised the victims, reports theUpon learning the full extent of the allegations, she severed all contact and publicly condemned him. The Duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims. Like many people, she was taken in by his lies," the spokesperson said.Although she was previously connected to Epstein, the duchesss spokesperson stated that she was deceived by his lies and publicly denounced him once she became aware of the allegations against him. Following this, Epstein threatened to sue her for defamation due to her statements linking him to paedophilia. The Duchess stands firmly by everything she said at the time. Moreover, the email was sent in the context of advice the Duchess was offered to try to assuage Epstein and his threats.Prince Andrew, the Duchesss former husband, was also involved in controversy due to his connection with Epstein. Allegations that he sexually abused a woman whom Epstein had introduced to him were resolved through an out-of-court settlement.As a result, Prince Andrew withdrew from public duties and relinquished his military roles and charitable patronages. What really happened on the set of Spider-Man: Brand New Day The Suns The Sun ( Image credit : Tom Holland | Credit: Sony Pictures ) Tom and Zendayas first appearance after scary set injury People ( Image credit : Tom and Zendaya | Credit: Instagram/@Laura Hope Whitaker ) Spider-Man: Brand New Day Filming for Spider-Man: Brand New Day began in Glasgow in early August. The movie is slated for release next year, on July 31. Sony recently released a video showing Holland on set in his new Spider-Man suit, marking his first appearance as Spidey since 2021s Spider-Man: No Way Home . ( Image credit : Tom Holland filming for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. | Credit: X/@UnBoxPHD ) The movie promises a mix of familiar faces and exciting newcomers. Alongside Tom and Zendaya, Jacob Batalon returns, and new additions include Liza Colon-Zayas, Tramell Tillman, and Sadie Sink. Mark Ruffalo will reprise his role as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Jon Bernthal returns as the Punisher, and Michael Mando returns as the Scorpion. Spider-Man star Tom Holland suffered a mild concussion on the set of his upcoming superhero movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day on Friday, September 19. The accident happened during a stunt at Leavesden Studios in Watford, England. While the incident startled everyone, the good news is that Tom is expected to return to filming in a few days.According toreport, an ambulance was called to Leavesden Studios at 10:30 am on Friday after Tom reportedly hit his head during a stunt gone wrong. An ambulance was sent to the scene, and the patient was transported to hospital for further care, a spokesman toldFortunately, no one else on set was injured. Sony Pictures, producing the film alongside Marvel Studios, held a meeting on Monday, September 22, to plan how filming will continue safely. Reports say another meeting was scheduled to adjust the filming schedule following the accident.While Tom was filming, his co-star Zendaya wasnt on set. He suffered a mild concussion but recovered quickly. Over the weekend, Tom and Zendaya attended a charity event hosted by his family foundation, The Brothers Trust. At the event, held at Christies auction house on Saturday, September 20, Tom also acted as the quizmaster, according toThe duo was joined by Toms father, Dominic, and his brothers Harry, Sam, and Paddy Holland. This appearance reassured fans that Tom was feeling better and recovering quickly. Pictures of counter-protesters surface from outside Charlie Kirk's memorial ceremony ( Image credit : Pictures of counter-protesters surface from outside Charlie Kirk | Credit: X | @MrAndyNgo ) The protester in the hijab at the Charlie Kirk memorial in Glendale, Ariz. is Trantifa-Antifa member Britney Erica Austin, previously Eric Austin, and now goes by Sumayyah Dawud. He regularly goes to Antifa direct actions with a rifle. Ive reported on him a lot. He is extremely pic.twitter.com/XtpprFejwM Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) September 21, 2025 Woman was spotted waving a Palestinian flag outside the venue Tiny amount of counter-protesters outside of the memorial service for Charlie Kirk here in AZ. Less than 10 people, including one woman waving a Palestine flag. Nobody is paying them any attention apart from a few USA chants in their faces. Stadium at capacity, gates now closed. pic.twitter.com/E4OmjA9bka Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) September 21, 2025 Who is Britney Erica Austin? AZ Free News, ( Image credit : Britney Erica Austin | Credit: X | @MrAndyNgo ) Transgender Antifa activist released after Phoenix shooting, cites 'Self-Defence' AZ Free News. At the emotional memorial service for late conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Glendale, Arizona, which drew a massive crowd, including President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, on Sunday, September 21, 2025. On the other hand, social media users share multiple pictures of a small group of counter-protesters, who appeared outside the venue. Among the protesters, one woman was seen waving a Palestine flag. As per some users, she is Britney Erica Austin, a known transgender Antifa-affiliated activist. Noticing Austin in the pictures, netizens are curious to know who Britney Erica Austin is. Let's find out.Amid the ongoing emotionally charged memorial of the late conservative activist, pictures have surfaced showing a small group of counter-protesters outside the packed service for Charlie Kirk.Taking to X (formerly called Twitter), a user shared a couple of pictures of counter-protesters, with a caption that read, "Tiny amount of counter-protesters outside of the memorial service for Charlie Kirk here in AZ. Less than 10 people, including one woman waving a Palestine flag. Nobody is paying them any attention apart from a few USA chants in their faces. Stadium at capacity, gates now closed."Despite their presence, the overwhelming crowd, filling the stadium to capacity, largely ignored the protesters, aside from a few USA chants directed their way. The gates were eventually closed once the venue hit full capacity, underscoring the stark contrast between the massive turnout honouring Kirk and the minimal protest activity outside.As per various posts, the protester in the hijab was seen outside the Charlie Kirk memorial and has been identified as Britney Erica Austin, formerly known as Eric Austin, who now goes by Sumayyah Dawud.According to reports and prior documentation, Dawud is a well-known figure within Antifa circles and is often seen at direct actions armed with a rifle.According toResist the Mainstream shared that Sumayyah Dawud, formerly known as Britney Erica Austin and originally Eric Austin, has a documented background in far-left extremism and has expressed support for radical Islamic views, as per journalist Andy Ngo.While some social media posts attributed to Dawud praise armed activism, asserting that radical individuals involved in high-risk direct actions or confrontations with what they label as fascists or white supremacists should be equipped with weapons.Back in 2024, the transgender Muslim Antifa protester who was involved in a shooting incident in Phoenix was released without charges, reportedly claiming the act was in self-defence, reportsAccording to reporting by The Post Millennials Senior Editor Andy Ngo, a 'pro-Palestinian' protester fatally shot 51-year-old Paul Franco on July 4th in Phoenix, Arizona, following a confrontation involving Franco, his girlfriend Stephanie Renteria, and a group of protesters Atlanta-based Verdict Still Out sends a collection that's as rebellious as it is patriotic down the runway at Philly Fashion Week. Read more Philly Fashion Week culminated the yearlong celebration of its 20th birthday last weekend with a series of pop-up runway shows in Center Citys former Strawbridge & Clothier building. The city showed up and showed out, said Kerry Scott, cofounder of Philly Fashion Week. Its been such a journey and we are so excited about it. Advertisement More than 40 student and professional designers from the city and beyond lit up the runways. Some of the collections, like Atlanta-based brand Verdict Still Outs leather and American flag motif, were as rebellious as they were patriotic. Others, like Philly-based accessory designer Love Cilis were plush and dramatic, while those like that of Reco Chapple, menswear designer and alum of Bravos short-lived reality televisions The Fashion Show, were chic. Scott and Kevin Parker produced their first Philly Fashion Week a weekend of outdoor shows at City Halls plaza back in 2006, because they wanted to make fashion accessible to everyday Philadelphians. The entrepreneurial duo shifted from the glitz of fashion to the business of fashion and now runs one of the countrys most respected regional fashion weeks. Fern Mallis, credited with uniting American designers under the Bryant Park tents and shaping the modern version of New York Fashion Week, is a regular attendee and a champion of Philly Fashion Week. She was in the audience for Saturday nights show. Last year, Scott and Parker opened Maison Philly Fashion Week, a boutique in the Fashion District, where shoppers can buy pieces featured on the Philly Fashion Week runway. Whats next for Philly Fashion Week? We just want to keep growing, said Parker, who, along with Scott, were feted by the local fashion industry for their success. Parker and Scott also received citations from City Council. We want to keep growing and changing and helping people see that New York is not the only place where fashion lives and thrives, Parker said. Philly is an important leader in the fashion industry, too. A 2006 limited edition artists book by Julie Chen is among the archival materials from the University of the Arts acquired by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Read more The University of the Arts is now history, literally. A vast and varied cache of historic archival materials from the bankrupt and shuttered university and its predecessor institutions has been acquired by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, HSP announced Monday. Advertisement How vast, how varied? The collection includes student portfolios, exhibition catalogs from the universitys galleries, graduate theses, one-of-a-kind books, artwork, rare photographs, architectural renderings, and more. HSP doesnt know exactly how many individual documents have come over from UArts Broad Street buildings to HSP at 13th and Locust Streets, but the material takes up 870 linear feet. We have no idea how many records, but from our experience something like 870 linear feet could hold close to a million records, said HSP librarian and CEO David R. Brigham. Its a huge collection that spans a century and a half. That makes it HSPs single-largest collection. The materials are still being processed, but are available for public consumption, Brigham said. Were getting requests to use it already. One of the developers [of a former UArts building] is asking for architectural records. Harvard University Museums has already borrowed our work for an exhibit that opens this fall. No money changed hands in the transaction, Brigham said, though it will cost HSP an estimated $500,000 to catalog, conserve, and digitize materials. An initial $50,000 grant toward the effort has already been committed. The collection may grow; the society expects to hear from faculty, alumni, and others who might have materials that they would like to donate. That the University of the Arts archives would survive was not a given. The school closed abruptly in June, 2024, citing a cash position that had steadily weakened and significant, unanticipated expenses. It filed for bankruptcy the following September. A court order this past March authorized the bankruptcy trustee in the case to abandon, and/or destroy, recycle and/or dispose of any records that the trustee determines are not necessary to the administration of the estates or are cost-prohibitive to store. But HSP officials had already become concerned about the fate of the materials and raised their hand as a potential steward, and the court order also included an option for the trustee to send them to HSP. The societys collections committee reviewed the potential acquisition in August, and the board approved the move on Sept. 8. (A separate court order in December approved the transfer of student transcripts to Moore College of Art and Design.) The UArts records at HSP go back to 1876 and encompass institutions that, over the years, merged into what became the University of the Arts: the Philadelphia Musical Academy, Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, Philadelphia Dance Academy and the Philadelphia College of Art (previously the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Art). A recent visit to the archive was a walk through the history of the school and the arts in Philadelphia generally. Edna Andrade, a Philadelphia proponent of the Op Art movement that used optical effects and illusions, is represented with a sketch of a mural for a Free Library of Philadelphia branch. Modern dance pioneer Nadia Chilkovsky Nahumck appears in a large photograph, and the archive holds the charter of the Philadelphia Dance Academy, which she founded. A handmade book by Julie Chen has the user spinning a wheel that, depending on the position, reveals a different booklet in a drawer that opens. Musical notation can be seen peeking through the cutout of a box holding the papers of composer Donald Chittum. Looking over posters and other items carefully cushioned in protective archival padding in a large flat file, Brigham said the University of the Arts had kept the materials in good condition. They were caring lovingly for their own history. But the question still remained, Where will it go, how will it survive? Its a big undertaking, obviously. It will keep us busy for a long time. Its a responsibility, but we know how to do it. Highlights from the University of the Arts collection will be on view Nov. 8, from noon to 4 p.m., during an afternoon of UArt-related events at HSP, 1300 Locust St., hsp.org. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrives at the Hanwha Shipyard in Philadelphia for a christening ceremony on Aug. 26. Later that day, he announced a $150 million investment. Nine days later, ICE agents arrested hundreds of Korean engineers and technicians helping Hyundai and LG build a battery factory in Georgia. Read more Alex N. Wong, a former senior adviser on national security to President Donald Trump, will lead defense, shipbuilding, and aerospace strategy for Hanwha, a South Korea-based multinational industrial group that last month announced it would invest $5 billion to expand its Philadelphia shipyard as part of a larger commitment by Korean industries to modernize U.S. factories. The move comes four weeks after Republic of Korea President Lee Jae Myung met with Trump and visited the South Philly shipyard to pledge extensive Korean investments. A week after that visit, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents sparked outrage in South Korea by arresting hundreds of engineers and technicians helping to build a Hyundai and LG battery factory in Georgia. Advertisement That raid fed concerns of potential raids on Korean contractors in Philadelphia and other cities where Korean companies have committed to expand production. Lee said the arrests of skilled technical workers were very confusing and left Korean contractors wondering whether they should go at all to the United States. He urged the U.S. to normalize investment-related visa practices. In hiring Wong as its global chief strategy officer, Hanwha stressed his ties to the U.S. military industrial establishment and its allies. With deep experience at the highest levels of international security and alliance building, Alex Wong will strengthen Hanwhas engagement with our partners in the United States, Europe, and beyond, fostering deeper cooperation and delivering meaningful capabilities, said Hanwha group vice chairman Dong Kwan Kim, whose grandfather founded the firm and whose father serves as chief executive. Hanwha is a vital company at such a pivotal time for the global defense and shipbuilding industries, Wong said in a statement. As a manufacturer supplying naval and aerospace equipment, Hanwha intends to bolster the security, prosperity, and industrial resilience of the United States, Europe, and countries across the world. After the Sept. 4 raid, Trump released a statement that acknowledged the need for foreign expertise: When foreign companies who are building extremely complex products, machines, and various other things come into the United States with massive investments, I want them to bring their people of expertise for a period of time to teach and train our people. For example, shipbuilding, where we used to build a ship a day, and now, we barely build a ship a year. The Hanwha Philly Shipyard, one of several commercial shipyards that makes vessels for the domestic Jones Act trade, builds a ship on average every eight months. Hanwha wants to increase that to more than 10 a year after adding a dry dock, cranes and other heavy equipment, and new buildings. I dont want to frighten or disincentivize investment in America, Trump said in the statement. We will learn from them and do even better than them at their own game in the not-too-distant future! Investing in Philly The Georgia arrests brought a strong negative reaction within South Korea and dismayed observers who have sought to marry Korean capital and industrial expertise to the Trump administrations goal of revitalizing shipbuilding and other heavy industry as the U.S. competes with China. Hanwhas vision is to accelerate the growth of a skilled American workforce for Philly Shipyard by bringing in world-class expertise from Korea, the company said in a statement. The U.S. visa system enables such workforce cooperation and training, and Hanwha is committed to full compliance with the U.S. immigration system. We want new ships to be built in Philadelphia, said David Oh, a former City Council member who now chairs the Asian American Business Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. When you set up new technologies, you need people who have done them before to get them started. Everyone knows you cant operate it without those specific technicians. Oh called the Georgia arrests damaging to an important partnership. If it was a mistake, you expect someones head to roll. But he also compared disruptive moves by the president to kuzushi, the judo concept of throwing others off balance to gain advantage. There are concerns about the investment in Philadelphia, given what happened in Georgia, said Lauren Swartz, president and chief executive of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. There are companies putting out warnings to their employees. That could cause a slowness in plans to increase production. A lot of work is being done quietly to preserve the enthusiasm and Hanwhas presence in Philadelphia, Swartz added. Consultations and a systematic approach with our partners in Korea, often is best. Swartz said the Trump administrations immigration, trade, and investment policies appear not to have been closely coordinated. We saw this huge enthusiasm over hundreds of billions of dollars in Korean investment. Then the raid. Those ideas are in conflict, she said. Throw the tariffs in as well. We have to import a lot of steel and aluminum and machinery, and that is hitting communities and our economy in ways that I dont think have been truly understood by the American people. Who is Alex Wong? Wong served as principal deputy national security adviser in the second Trump administration from January to May. He left the security council along with his boss, national security adviser Mike Waltz, after Waltz said he accidentally included a magazine writer in council messages about bombing Yemen. Waltz was confirmed by the U.S. Senate last week as Trumps ambassador to the United Nations. In Washington last winter and spring, Wongs job included coordinating policy on defense, international, and intelligence issues. He was chairman of the bipartisan U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Wong previously worked in the State Department, serving as deputy special representative for North Korea and as deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. He was a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute think tank. Diversity strengthens the insurance industry, according to the National African American Insurance Association, which is bringing its largest-ever conference to Philadelphia this week, backed by large companies that support the group amid the national conversation over race and hiring. NAAIA will hold a sold-out national conference for 1,200 members on Tuesday through Thursday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Its the biggest attendance in its 28-year history, says Omari Aarons-Martin, chief executive since earlier this year. The organizations membership has more than tripled, to 3,300, since 2021. Advertisement The Black insurance pros will hear from more than 80 speakers and panelists on topics including underwriting, sales, leadership, and tech professionals. Speakers include Christopher J. Swift, CEO of insurance and investments giant The Hartford, and John Q. Doyle, CEO of Marsh McLennan, the largest U.S. insurance agency, along with professionals from across the industry. The group is meeting in the wake of President Donald Trumps orders to suppress diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility policies and the cancellation of diversity offices and hiring mandates in federal agencies and as some big corporations have scrubbed their diversity goals. Aarons-Martin, a former Liberty Mutual and Macys manager and African Methodist Episcopal minister who has headed NAAIA since 2018, talked about the groups goals, practices, and evolution with The Inquirer. Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and brevity. Why is NAAIA coming to Philly? We actually started here in 1997. We were a state organization in Ohio. We had been studying the long-term impact of redlining on quotes and rates. We were invited to American College in Bryn Mawr [now King of Prussia] to an event celebrating Lang Dixon, an African American businessman and insurance broker. One of the articles about that event described us as a national association. We decided we were ready; we went national. I headed the Boston chapter before I joined the national staff [as executive director in 2022]. Some of the big Philadelphia insurance [employers] are our sponsors. Chubb is a Level One partner. Philadelphia Insurance Co. Lincoln Financial, where a portion of the former Liberty Mutual benefits people have moved. And Aon, they are everywhere, and other national companies. We have 90 financial sponsors in all. How is your organization affected by the Trump administrations pushback on diversity? When we look at the history of what we lately call diversity, equity, and inclusion, we see it has had many names. I imagine it will have many more. It has never been popular. But the work is the same work, and it is important to African American professionals and to people who run the companies. Two studies NAAIA produced with Marsh McClennan, are posted on our website: "The Journey of African American Insurance Professionals" from 2018 and Next Steps on the Journey," 2023. They both have data about barriers to entry for Blacks and African Americans, primarily being the lack of access, lack of knowledge, lack of mentorship, and sponsorship. The same are barriers to retention and promotion. In the post-George Floyd wake, there was a lot of activity, but we didnt see more people moving into senior manager/executive manager positions beyond the pay bands of $100,000 to $150,000 per year. A lot of people are still treading water in those same spaces. We know the work takes time to see its full effects. We imagine in the next study we will see more forward movement and projections. How are insurers reacting to the current climate? Its early. We have seen some efforts from this administration designed to create fear and a sense of chaos. That makes them uneasy. They get with their lawyers. I am encouraged. A number of our partners have said, We are still very committed to this journey; you dont have to worry about funding from us. Retention hasnt changed. I am particularly encouraged by partners who say, We have government contracts and we have to make this work. Some of them do have to ask some questions, with answers we all know: Is NAAIA an inclusive organization? For the 28 years of our existence, its always been, Yes. A white man, anyone, can join and can be in leadership. Im a Star Trek fan. Captain Kirk used to say, Risk is our business. As insurance professionals, we are risk averse by nature, but we make really smart bets. And now our partners have been affirming that we are a smart bet. Insurance is a diverse business with many sectors. Who is the core of your membership? A wonderful thing about NAAIA is we have people from every group associated with insurance. A majority are from property and casualty personal lines, specialty lines, reinsurance. A significant number are underwriters, brokers, independent life agents, and other agents. We also have significant populations of employee benefits, legal, and human-resources, and diversity professionals. IT is a growing specialty. Our core is professional development, all kinds. How did you grow so quickly these past few years? Two things: word of mouth from our members and increase in partnership support. And, in the post-George Floyd era, we were invited into more rooms. How do you help members directly? Our network creates the opportunity to create deep relationships and promote your brand as an employer. Every year companies bring senior leaders, and they look at our people 1,200, this year and they see us and say, Hmm, my talent acquisition people tell me its hard to find these people, but here are 1,200 of them. Im giving out all my business cards. When they come together from across the industry, they bridge the gap between their current level of knowledge and the level they need to move forward in their career. We bridge the gap in terms of mentors and sponsors they may or may not have. A people manager will sit next to a function manager. Our number-one value proposition is the network of people in the rooms where we gather. We have 33 chapters across the United States. I have been really encouraged by the number of peer associations across the industry including identity organizations like the National Black MBA Association, National Society of Black Engineers, Association of Professional Insurance Women, and groups such as the Risk Management Association that have all linked in, making intentional efforts to be inclusive of African Americans. Nurturing the careers and networks of our members and encouraging them to show up better and more authentically at all levels and places. Who are some of your prominent members? Our national board chair is Ricky Jones, president of Travelers Metro region. In a 40-year career, he has won a lot of awards. He very freely shares and openly nurtures. George Woods, immediate past chair of U.S. Broker Sales at Swiss Re, is another example. Look at our national board and our speakers for this conference. They are consummate mentors, sponsors, leaders. We are fortunate in our leadership. Do you lobby for legislation? No, we are a 501(c)6 organization. Our advocacy is through telling our story. Are other advocacy groups having a tougher time? Some organizations promoted themselves as a DEI organization. Weve been clear since we started in 1997: Our primary offering is professional development. None of the executive orders discourage people from learning on the job or building their own network. Thats what NAAIA provides at our core. Narrow Way Farm where Abigail Tuttle O'Keeffe made headlines when the Bucks County SPCA recovered over 100 sick and malnourished animals from her Newtown farm. Read more A Bucks County woman will face numerous animal neglect and cruelty charges after being extradited back to the United States from Belize, where she fled last year. She had left scores of sick and malnourished animals in squalid conditions on her 36-acre farm. Advertisement Abigail Tuttle OKeeffe, former owner of Narrow Way Farm in Newtown, was transported back to the country last week, the U.S. Marshals Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force announced Monday. In April, authorities in Belize arrested OKeeffe on firearms possession charges, and after that case was resolved, the U.S. Marshals Service escorted her to Philadelphia before handing her over to Bucks County authorities Friday. OKeeffe is being charged with nearly 150 counts in her case, which humane officers have called one of the worst examples of animal abuse in county history. Among the charges are two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, 21 misdemeanor counts of animal neglect, and more than 100 summary offense counts of animal neglect, according to court records. This was an exceptional case in terms of the number of animals, severity of their suffering, and the interagency cooperation required to bring Ms. OKeeffe back to the United States to face charges and gain justice for the animals, Nikki Thompson, chief Humane Society police officer at Bucks County SPCA, said in a statement. OKeeffes case goes back to August last year, when a team of animal welfare workers and local police officers served a search warrant on her farm property, resulting in the rescue of more than 100 pigs, goats, and sheep many of which were found to have infections, parasites, and other medical issues. Prior to the investigation, a farm manager had told the Bucks County SPCA that a sheep had been found dead. During the investigation, a severely malnourished goat died as officials searched the property, and another had to be euthanized after weeks of intensive care, according to an affidavit of probable cause for OKeeffes arrest. Volunteers who spoke with The Inquirer in August said that OKeeffe, who has a degree in developmental psychology, had no farming experience and ran the facility in a chaotic way, often recruiting local residents to perform basic tasks. One local farm owner later told The Inquirer that OKeeffe was not a real active farmer, and indicated she was largely absent from day-to-day farmwork. She had all of these disciples, volunteers who followed her like a cult, said Ken Heintz last year. Heintz is the owner of the nearby Windy Meadow dairy farm. Farm staffers reportedly told investigators they had shared their concerns about the welfare of animals there, and were instructed to treat parasites with over-the-counter dewormers rather than bring in proper veterinary care, an affidavit indicates. Animals were also allegedly fed a cheap milling byproduct with little nutritional value, worsening their conditions. Following the investigation, a number of animals from the farm were adopted into new homes, while others remained under the care of the county SPCA. Authorities filed charges against OKeeffe in January, and at the time were not certain whether she was in the country. In social media postings last July, she indicated that she was moving to Belize, and investigators believed she did not plan to return. Belizean authorities, meanwhile, arrested OKeeffe in Benque Viejo on April 25 for possession of a firearm. The U.S. Marshals Service was later notified she was in custody, and agreed to return her to the United States. The service then coordinated her deportation with the Bucks County District Attorneys Office, and escorted her from Belmopan, Belize, to Philadelphia last week. While the U.S. Marshals Service remains steadfast in its mission to capture violent fugitives, after learning of the heinous animal cruelty allegations against Ms. OKeeffe, we were please to assist the Bucks County D.A.s Office in facilitating her extradition from Belize, said Eric Gartner, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. OKeeffe is currently being held in the Bucks County Correctional Facility in lieu of $500,000 bail, and a pretrial hearing in her case is slated for early October, according to court records. Philadelphia school safety officers will all get bulletproof vests and 3% raises in a contract the 350-member union unanimously ratified over the weekend. Read more Philadelphias school security officers have unanimously approved a contract that will give them 3% raises, a bonus, and bulletproof vests. The deal, ratified by the School Police Association of Philadelphia on Saturday, is retroactive to Sept. 1, and also includes $1,000 bonuses for all, and $500 bonuses for those who participate in a student mentoring program. Advertisement It also gives school safety officers parental leave five paid weeks for the first time. READ MORE: Philly school police officers say they need better pay and training and new uniforms to keep kids safe School police raises and parental leave mirror terms of the recently settled contract for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, the districts largest union. Beginning school police officers will now be paid $35,562 annually; those at the top of the pay scale will make $56,742. Pay was a key sticking point. Bernadette Ambrose-Smith, the unions president, said many officers have to take second jobs to make ends meet. The new contract notched some wins, Ambrose-Smith said, including the bulletproof vests, which the contract guarantees will be available to officers by August. Now, only patrol officers have the vests and safety concerns have rattled school security, especially after a district patrol officer was shot on duty this summer. Ambrose-Smith said she told her members the contract was hard won. I said, We fought really hard to make sure you are taken care of so we can protect the children, our buildings, and our staff, Ambrose-Smith said. The contract requires the district to provide an office or appropriate space for school officers in each building, and ups their uniform allowance. Once ratified by the school board a step expected at the board meeting scheduled for Thursday the contract will be in force, expiring Aug. 31, 2028. Ali A. Houshmand, president of Rowan University, speaks to students and staff at a kickoff event on campus for a $240 million fundraising campaign. The university has been in the quiet phase of the campaign for four years and hopes to conclude the fundraising next summer. Read more Rowan University on Friday announced the public phase of its $240 million fundraising campaign with the goals of supporting student scholarships, research, and further development of its West campus. The school launched the quiet phase of the campaign four years ago, shortly after the previous campaign for $120 million, which was the first in Rowans history, had ended. Advertisement The New Jersey state university, said president Ali A. Houshmand, already has collected $210 million toward the goal. Big gifts include: $85 million from Virtua Health and $30 million from Gerry and Melanie Shreiber for the new veterinary school, which opened this fall. READ MORE: Rowan University projects more growth as it touts its multibillion-dollar economic impact on the state While Rowan needs only $30 million more to reach its goal, most campaigns tend to exceed their target. The end date for the campaign is June. Thirty million is not a small amount of money, Houshmand said. We have to work hard at it. The campaign comes as Rowan continues to grow, having approximately doubled its enrollment over the last 12 years. Total enrollment exceeded 24,200 in 2024-25, the university said. While final numbers arent available for this fall, the university estimates its enrollment will be up thats even though Rowan has had a drop of 250 in international students. Some other colleges also have reported drops in international students following delays in visa processing and travel bans instituted by President Donald Trumps administration. READ MORE: Colleges are bracing for a drop in international enrollment as students face confusion and fear. I feel like Im trapped. They were supposed to come and they couldnt secure their visas, Houshmand said of Rowans international students who didnt make it to campus. Rowan said the campaign funds will be used to improve the student experience through scholarships, wellness initiatives, and career programming. READ MORE: La Salle University saw a 40% jump in first-year students, as schools across the region see enrollments trending up I would like to create a campus where people can send their children, their loved ones, where they can number one get a good education ...a place where they are absolutely safe, and ...a place where they can express their views, Houshmand said. Houshmand brought up the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University earlier this month. I dont want the terrible thing that happened at Utah Valley, the murder of Mr. Kirk ...to ever happen anywhere, he said. It is very, very sad that it happened, especially on a campus. A campus is a place where people send their loved ones and entrust them to us to take care of them. READ MORE: Rowan University makes changes in response to Trump administrations DEI policies Research and innovation, particularly at the intersection of medicine, engineering, and sciences, will get funding, he said. And, on the West campus, the university is continuing plans for a wellness village on 220 acres, near Inspira Healths Mullica Hill campus. That would likely take a decade and feature different types of housing and therapeutic activity. He also envisions a manufacturing hub and a new nursing school and potentially a new home for Rowans school of osteopathic medicine. Over the next 10 years, youre looking at least a couple of billion dollars more of development in this area, he said. Philadelphia Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. (center), shown with school board president Reginald Streater and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker in this January file photo, is getting a contract extension. Read more Tony B. Watlington Sr. has said he wants to stay in Philadelphia long-term and the school board is poised to pave the way for him to do just that. It will consider a contract extension for the superintendent at its meeting Sept. 25. Advertisement Watlington, who is now paid $367,710 annually, will get a 3% raise on July 1, and his subsequent raises will match whatever is negotiated by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. His current contract expires in 2027 and had a one-year renewal option; the new pact will keep him Philadelphia through 2030. The school board signaled its intent on Monday when it added a resolution to the agenda for its Thursday action meeting. The move comes at a crucial time for the school system, with Watlington helping to close two of three union contracts that expired Aug. 31, and ahead of the release of a long-awaited and likely to be contested facilities master plan that will mean the district will surely close schools, the superintendent has said. It also happens amid both short- and long-term financial challenges: a monthslong delay in the passage of a state budget, and a looming structural deficit. Extending Dr. Watlingtons contract ensures that the focus stays on students, not on uncertainty, school board president Reginald L. Streater said in an interview Monday. If Watlington, who is now 55, works until the end of his contract, hell have spent eight years leading the district. Thats an eon for a big-city school district, approaching the tenure of Watlingtons predecessor William R. Hite Jr., and getting him close to the tenure of Constance E. Clayton, the revered leader who befriended Watlington before her death, and for whom Watlington and the school board renamed district headquarters. When Watlington came to Philadelphia in 2022, he was a career educator who had never worked outside of North Carolina, and who had just one year of experience as a superintendent under his belt. Now, hes got national cachet, a fact that is not lost on the school board or Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, who alluded to Watlingtons reputation at a June news conference. Dr. Watlington, you are on the radar now, Parker said of the school leader who first came to the city in 2022. When she speaks to mayors of other large cities, theyre talking to me about my school superintendent our school superintendent, and how wonderful he is. I say, Yes he is, but hes not going anywhere. The Watlington administrations accomplishments On Watlingtons watch, the district has posted steady progress in most areas. Its graduation rate is up and dropout rate is down, and student and teacher attendance is improving. Reading and math scores are generally up as well, though they lag most other big cities scores just 22% of Philadelphia students meet state standards in math, and 34% in reading. The district showed faster recovery from the pandemic than its peers, though, doing better than any other large, poor urban district in the U.S. in research compiled by Harvard and Stanford Universities. Watlington earlier this year was named Superintentendent of the Year by District Administration Leadership Institute, a national organization. The board wants to say, Now is the time to affirm what hes doing, and its not just because we like him, Streater said. Its because we have quantitative data, qualitative data, and empirical data to support that decision. Though the district is spending $300 million of its reserves this year to avoid staff and program cuts, Watlington and his administration have gotten high marks for their financial stewardship of Pennsylvanias largest school system, with about 200,000 students in traditional public and charter schools. Philadelphias school system got a credit-rating boost recently, and Watlington often stresses his focus on being good stewards of public dollars. When Watlington came to the district, he had no experience working in a system that had to both coexist and negotiate contracts with unionized workforces. Philadelphia has five separate unions three of which had contracts that expired last month. He scored a big win with an early Philadelphia Federation of Teachers contract, reached on the eve of the first day of school. Arthur Steinberg, the PFT president, has been involved in contract negotiations for years. His members were prepared to strike, authorizing a work stoppage if he deemed it necessary, but Watlington courtly and polite, with his Southern accent and often-repeated talking points about the importance of teachers and his desire for Philadelphia to be the fastest-improving large urban district in the U.S. was a changemaker in negotiations, Steinberg said. This was really the most involved that the superintendent has been in it, and that made a big difference, Steinberg said. I really do not believe that we would have gotten this done if he hadnt kind of stuck his nose in there. This weekend, Philadelphias school police union also ratified their contract, leaving just one pact the school principals unions unsettled. A key point for a contract renewal Watlingtons stock is generally high at the moment, but hes about to enter tough waters. The district, which unlike every other school system in Pennsylvania, cannot raise its own revenue, stands at a crossroads. The superintendent must soon make recommendations to the school board about which of the districts 300 buildings should be closed, co-located, rebuilt or repurposed decisions that will surely stir community ire at the superintendent who proposes them and the board that makes the final call. The school system also faces a looming deficit caused by costs salary, benefits, utilities, charter-school payments that are growing faster than city and state revenues. And though the district dipped into its fund balance to avoid layoffs and slashing programs this school year, it will need additional revenue from the state and city next year, or will be unable to spare big classroom cuts. Earlier this month, the school board also had to borrow $1.5 billion just to pay its bills, a function of Harrisburg lawmakers inability to pass a state budget. The school system is paying $30 million in borrowing costs, money it cant recoup. Watlington, Streater said, is ready for the challenges ahead. I think he really embraced the city and I think he loves the city as well, said Streater. And I think the fact that it appears hes willing to go for round two in whats about to be a heavyweight fight with a lot of challenges on the horizon, I think that speaks a lot to his character. A sign posted by the Pa. Senate at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg on Aug. 26, 2025, reminds visitors of the states multi-billion dollar structural deficit. Read more HARRISBURG Despite the contentious issue of mass transit funding being off the table, top Pennsylvania legislative leaders are still unable to agree on the most basic question when it comes to state budget negotiations: how much money they should spend. The states cooling financial outlook plus federal uncertainty and required increases to Medicaid spending has leaders still at odds and growing increasingly frustrated over how much state money they should budget for the new fiscal year, which began more than 2 months ago and has left state payments to essential services in limbo. Advertisement Whats more: The amount lawmakers ultimately approve for this years budget will determine if Pennsylvania needs to raise taxes, cut spending, or create new revenue streams next year, as the state is set to spend more than it brings in during this budget cycle and every following year without new income. If leaders agreed to fund Gov. Josh Shapiros budget proposal at his requested $51.5 billion total spending number, the state would spend more than $5 billion than it is projected to bring in for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The spending divide The issue of agreeing on the total spending number is a critical part of getting closer to a final budget deal. Once leaders agree on how much they will spend for the year, they usually work backward to fill in how they plan to allocate the states revenue, as well as any policy changes they wish to approve as part of a final deal. According to top leaders in the secretive negotiations, there are other sticking points that remain besides the overall spending number. But the disagreement over that fundamental piece of the state budget in September, as the impasse persists, reflects the schism within Pennsylvanias divided legislature that Shapiro recently described as diametrically opposed. Shapiro presented a $51.5 billion budget proposal in February, which suggested the creation of several new revenue streams such as legalizing recreational-use cannabis and taxing so-called skill games as well as tapping into the states emergency Rainy Day Fund to cover any overages. However, as the budget stalemate has dragged on, Shapiro and House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D., Montgomery) have continued to decrease their spending proposals at the closed-door negotiations and publicly, from a House-approved $50.6 billion spending plan passed in July to a $49.9 billion proposal sent to GOP leaders by Shapiro last month. But top Senate GOP leaders say the reductions are still not enough. We are getting to the point where, if we dont start taking steps to mitigate the structural deficit were going to have significant issues in a few years, Sen. Joe Pittman (R., Indiana), the Senate majority leader, said in an interview Friday. Top Senate Republicans remain concerned that the state is facing a long-term deficit and maintain that if they do not approach spending conservatively this year and protect the states $7.7 billion Rainy Day Fund, tax increases or spending cuts will be required as soon as next fiscal year. Democrats, more broadly, have expressed interest in tapping into the states multibillion-dollar Rainy Day Fund, arguing that the state should not sit on funds that could be invested in Pennsylvanians. Plus, within the GOP, there are internal political dynamics at play: At least two state senators have said they will not support a state budget that goes much higher than last years total spending number of $47.6 billion, and Pittman has acknowledged that, no matter what, he likely will not have all 27 GOP members of the 50-person Senate to vote in support of a final budget deal. Pittman maintains that agreeing upon the total spending number is only one part of this equation in negotiating a final budget deal, and that it remains one of several major sticking points in the slow-moving negotiations. For months, Shapiro has publicly said top lawmakers were close to an agreement in their closed-door talks. However, at a news conference Thursday, he seemed increasingly impatient with the Senate GOP, noting that the Senate had only bothered to come to work 29 days since he unveiled his budget proposal in early February. A spokesperson for Bradford echoed similar frustrations with the Senate GOP. What the Senate of Pennsylvania needs to do now is figure out how they can find 26 votes for a package that can pass in the Senate and also pass in the House, Shapiro added. At some point, they gotta show up to work. Their one job Pennsylvania lawmakers are tasked by the state constitution to approve a balanced state budget and send it to the governors desk for approval by July 1, the start of the new fiscal year. Until a state budget is approved by the General Assembly and signed by the governor, the state cannot release funds to schools, counties, and other state-subsidized services that residents rely on. The Philadelphia School District borrowed $1.5 billion earlier this month, largely due to the late state budget. The district estimated it will spend $30 million in interest and fees to take out the loan while lawmakers finalize a state budget. Counties across the state are also considering similar financing options or tax increases in absence of state payments. Their one job is to put a budget on my desk, Shapiro said at the news conference Thursday in Allentown. Pittman, in response, said Shapiro was welcome to take potshots all he wants. But the reality is, its his job, too, Pittman added. We can always evaluate each others approach to our work. Hes welcome to have his opinion on how weve approached our work in the Senate. I certainly have my opinion on how hes approached his work as governor, but I choose not to exercise my opinion on that in a public setting. Potential revenue streams Shapiro proposed a number of additional revenue sources as part of his budget address earlier this year, but none have come to fruition. Top Senate GOP leaders have rejected suggestions such as legalizing and taxing recreational marijuana. And lawmakers have so far been unable to agree on how to regulate skill games, the slot-machine look-alikes that have proliferated around the state in gas stations and bars. However, Pittman said Friday that the removal of mass transit from the negotiation table, and the suggestion of using skill games revenue to fund it, has relieved a lot of the dialogue over how Pennsylvania could tax and regulate the machines. Leaders previously viewed skill games revenue as a potential long-term source for mass transit funding. I do think that could, in fact, be a source to address in part the structural deficit concerns we see in future budgets, Pittman said. As of Shapiros February budget address, Pennsylvania also expected to spend an additional $53.1 billion in federal funds, making up approximately 40% of all state funding. But those estimates were made before President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act was approved by Congress. The Shapiro administration has estimated that cuts in the bill will reduce access for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians to Medicaid and food assistance programs, because the state cannot backfill the future federal cuts. READ MORE: The big, beautiful bill is poised to cut Medicaid. Heres whats at stake for five Philly-area families. A national outlier Pennsylvania is the only state nationwide with a late budget, as of Sept. 4, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers. Forty-seven states have budgets enacted for the new fiscal year. Michigan, which also has a divided legislature and a Democratic governor, has yet to finalize a state budget for its fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. North Carolina approved a six-month budget earlier this summer. Pennsylvania spends less per resident than its Democratic-led neighbors, but more than its GOP-led ones, according to an Inquirer analysis. States across the country projected slowing revenue for the 2025-26 year as the remaining federal COVID-19 relief programs run out, according to a NASBO report reviewing all of the nations enacted state budgets. Most states maintained or increased their Rainy Day Funds, which is a priority for Pennsylvania Senate Republicans, Pittman said. But the late budget is not a surprise, nor is it something new, Pittman said. Pennsylvania has missed its July 1 budget deadline during Shapiros first two state budgets, and leaders often blow past the deadline with little consequence. In 2015, under Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and a GOP-controlled General Assembly, the budget impasse lasted nine months. Its reflective of how purple of a state we are, Pittman said. As the cyber market matures, its increasingly evident that fighting off cyberattacks is going to be an ongoing team effort. Brokers, carriers, cybersecurity organizations, and insureds all play a role, from security to training to assessing adequate coverage. According to the latest Cyber Insurance Outlook report from Arctic Wolf, the risk of cyberattack has become part of daily operational concern for many organizations. Yet growing awareness of how organizations can protect themselves from attacks and loss still poses a challenge to the insurance industry. Seventy percent of insurance professionals responding to this most recent survey (77% of brokers and 63% of carriers) expect the number of new cyber claims to increase, mainly because of steadily growing threat activity. The Cyber Coverage Gap One figure the Arctic Wolf report highlights is the discrepancy between cyber coverage figures provided by brokers and those supplied by businesses. While brokers estimate 47% of organizations have the coverage they need, 65% of responding organizations claim they are covered in the event of a cyberattack. The report hypothesizes that businesses are unaware of the extent of their coverage or what specifically is needed. This 20% gap could represent an opportunity for brokers to reassess clients needs and make recommendations for additional protection and mitigation. Insurers may also initially reject clients for cyber coverage because they have inadequate security controls in place (26%), lack financial stability (21%), or cant supply the insurer with enough information (21%). While brokers are most likely to reject a client because of financial instability (23%), carriers are more likely to ding potential insureds for missing security protocols (32%). Cautious Cyber Claimants In the past year, 12% of clients with cyber insurance made claims, with ransomware accounting for 18% of those claims. Other common claims included data breaches, theft of funds, and phishing incidents, including business email compromise. However, clients who make claims may find that their rate increases because of a claim (66%) or that they face increased scrutiny during the renewal process (56%). Seven percent reported that they were asked to implement additional controls as a condition of renewal, which could include additional training, upgraded security, or other measures. Insureds may also have claims rejected because they fall outside the terms of their policy (25% of rejections), their coverage was less than the total claim (19%), the incident fell below the clients self-insured retention (18%), the incident failed to disclose risk on the clients application (17%), or the incident was deemed gross negligence. Fear of higher rates and cancellation drives some insureds to ignore issues that dont seem to pose a significant financial, security, or worst case scenario threat, the report said. And prices are increasing, with 53% of insurers saying they have seen an overall increase in cyber insurance rates in the last 12 months. Proactive Protections North America is considered the global leader in the cyber insurance market. Insurance brokers in North America are more likely to offer both cyber risk control tools and services (73%) compared to the global market (68%). North American brokers are also more likely to have a designated cyber practice (49%) than global counterparts (43%). However, only 45% of organizations in the North American region have the necessary cyber coverage compared to higher rates in some European countries. Regulatory requirements in places like the U.K. and Ireland incentivize organizations to mitigate cyber risk, with cyber insurance serving as a part of those strategies. Globally, cyber insurers are proactive with their clients to mitigate damage and loss, with 71% of insurance brokers partnering with cybersecurity providers to better serve clients, while 94% offer ongoing assistance or support to clients. The majority (69%) also offer in-house cyber risk control tools and services, with 45% charging separately for these services. Another 25% of insurers refer clients to certain cyber risk vendors, with about half of those (12%) negotiating pre-arranged discounts or terms with the vendors. Topics Trends Cyber The manager of the cargo ship that caused the collapse of Baltimores Key Bridge in March 2024 should be denied the protections of a federal maritime law it seeks to invoke because it is not the owner of the ship, the state of Maryland says. The state attorney general and attorneys for wrongful death claimants have asked a federal court to dismiss the petition by Synergy Marine for the benefits of the Limitation of Liability Act because, they argue, the law applies only to actual owners of vessels. Grace Ocean Private Limited was and is the owner of the cargo ship Dali, while Synergy was the manager and thus not eligible under the law, the lawyers maintain. The legal filing seeks dismissal of Synergys petition only; it does not address Grace Oceans petition for protection under the act to limit its liability. According to the filing, Synergy was not an owner because there was never a complete transfer of possession, command, and navigation of the vessel by owner Grace Ocean to Synergy, and those are the characteristics that distinguish an owner. The filing contends that Synergy was not responsible for the vessels navigation, did not employ the crew, was subject to daily oversight by the owner, has no financial responsibility for the vessels operation, has no financial exposure for claims and does not provide insurance for the vessel. Synergy Marine played a key role in the disaster that unfolded at the Francis Scott Key Bridge, but its role was not that of an owner, the filing states. Therefore, Synergy Marine lacks standing under the Limitation Act and its petition for limitation should be dismissed, the filing advises the court. The Limitation of Liability Act in some cases limits the liability of ship owners if they were not aware that the vessel causing the loss was in unseaworthy condition. The act covers personal injury losses such as deaths and collisions, as well as losses of property, goods, or merchandise. Grace Ocean and Synergy have claimed that the collapse of the bridge was not due to any fault, neglect, or want of care on their part or on the part of the vessel or any parties for whose acts they may be responsible. Grace Ocean and Synergy maintain that they shouldnt be held liable for any loss or damage from the disaster. But if they are held liable, their liability should be limited under the maritime law to no more than the value of the ship and its cargo after the crash, or $43.7 million. Before the crash, the value of the ship was about $90 million. While at this point the plaintiffs are only asking the court to dismiss the bid by Synergy to invoke the limit on liability, they want the court to hold both Grace Ocean and Synergy fully accountable for alleged negligence, mismanagement, and incompetence. The state and other claimants maintain that the disaster was preventable. They believe that the ships owner and operator failed to correct power failures prior to leaving its berth and neglected to report them to the pilots before departing the port. In addition, the. ships electrical equipment failed because management intentionally circumvented critical safety features, according to the states complaint. The state has also alleged that the companies failed to properly train the crew to handle this type of emergency. In the early morning hours of March 26, the Dali crashed into the bridge, causing its catastrophic collapse, the death of six men, and injuries to others. The wreckage from the bridge fell into the Patapsco River, blocked access to most of the Port of Baltimore, and caused disruptions and other significant harms to the state and its residents that will be felt for decades to come, the state has claimed. Topics Liability Maryland No guns for Elmo, Spider-Man or anyone else in New Yorks Times Square and dont try sneaking them into the subway, either. That is the decision last Friday from a federal appeals court effectively upholding a New York state law that bars firearms in sensitive locations, including the tourist mecca known as the crossroads of the world, the New York City subway system and commuter trains. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court judges 2023 ruling that let the state law remain in effect after several gun owners filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of some restrictions. An appeals court ruling last year has allowed other parts of the law to remain in effect. The plaintiffs, Jason and Brianna Frey and William Sappe, had sought a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of provisions in the law, known as the Concealed Carry Improvement Act, that have allowed authorities to declare Times Square a Gun Free Zone, ban open carry and require a special permit to carry guns in New York City. U.S. District Judge Nelson Stephen Roman rejected that request, leading to the appeal decided Friday. A three-judge 2nd Circuit panel ruled that the challenged restrictions fall within the countrys historical tradition of gun regulations and, thus, does not violate the Second Amendment right to bear arms. The plaintiffs, they concluded, are unlikely to succeed on the merits of their arguments. Times Square gun ban consistent with history, judges say Banning guns in Times Square, a swath of midtown Manhattan that is often teeming with sightseers and costumed movie and cartoon characters posing for pictures, is similarly consistent with history dating back to medieval England of prohibiting firearms in quintessentially crowded places, the judges wrote in a unanimous opinion. The same holds for the subway and the Metro-North commuter rail service, which connects the city with northern suburbs and Connecticut. There is perhaps no public place more quintessentially crowded than Times Square, the judge said, describing the brightly lit, billboard-lined area as our modern-day, electrified, supersized equivalent of fairs, markets, and town squares of old. Despite that, Judges Robert D. Sack, Reena Raggi and Joseph F. Bianco noted that they were not determining the ultimate constitutionality of the challenged provisions. They returned the case to Romans court for further proceedings. Sack was appointed to the appeals court by President Bill Clinton, a Democrat; Raggi was appointed by President George W. Bush, a Republican; and Bianco was appointed by President Donald Trump, a Republican. The Second Circuit decision is disappointing, but not unexpected considering its palpable disdain for the Second Amendment, said Amy Bellantoni, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office defended the law in court, said in a statement: New Yorkers deserve to feel safe on public transportation and everywhere in our state, and todays decision affirms that right. Common-sense gun laws save lives, keep guns out of sensitive community spaces, and help address the gun violence crisis, said James, a Democrat. New York has some of the strongest common-sense gun laws in the nation, and my office will continue to defend them and protect New Yorkers. Ruling is the latest one upholding New York law Fridays decision is the latest court ruling allowing the Concealed Carry Improvement Act to remain in place, and it echoed rulings that have echoed similar restrictions in other places. The New York law was signed in 2022 as the states answer to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that some of its previous gun regulations were unconstitutional. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, and state lawmakers rewrote the regulations after the high court struck down the states longstanding requirement that people demonstrate an unusual threat to their safety to qualify for a license to carry handguns outside the home. Last year, the 2nd Circuit upheld other parts of the law, including requirements that concealed carry permit applicants demonstrate good moral character, disclose the names of household and family members, submit to an in-person interview, provide character references and undergo 16 hours of training. In that ruling, the appeals court also upheld provisions banning the concealed carry of firearms in certain sensitive places and allowing private property owners to post signs prohibiting guns on their property. Federal appeals courts around the country have ruled similarly in other states, including Hawaii and Virginia, and on Sept. 10, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld New Jerseys ban on guns in sensitive places like schools and public gatherings. Those judges also cited a historical tradition of gun regulation, writing that for certain discrete locations the presence of guns was historically regulated as jeopardizing the peace or posing a physical danger to others. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics New York New Jersey has enacted new requirements around testing and disclosure of lead in public water systems. The new law (A2929/S1034) requires landlords to report information about the known or potential presence of lead in drinking water to tenants of residential units and deters landlords from obstructing the replacement of lead pipes. It also requires public water systems to conduct lead water tests at the request of occupants at no charge. The law allows tenants to terminate their lease at no charge or penalty if the landlord denies access to a lead service line for replacement at the property. The state health, community affairs, and environmental protection departments are required to inform consumers about health risks associated with lead in drinking water and ways to minimize exposure. The state will also prepare a model disclosure statement. The measure builds upon existing legislation requiring public community water systems to replace all lead service lines in their distribution systems by 2031. Over the past four years, New Jersey has replaced 22,007 lead service lines. The state has a total of 135,547 lead service lines and 872,942 service lines of unknown materials. While the federal government banned the use of lead in service lines and other plumbing in 1986, removing the material is an ongoing challenge. In many circumstances, the ownership of service lines is split between property owners and water systems, creating difficulties with cost sharing and coordination that can slow progress, according to officials. The law requires a public water system to perform up to one test per year for lead upon request by a customer or nonpaying consumer at no charge. If a test exceeds the lead action level, a customer or consumer may request a test every 60 days for the presence of lead until two consecutive tests fall at or below the lead action level. There is no safe level of lead, and we know that lead exposure disproportionately affects communities living in older housing. That makes this laws tenant protections essential for advancing health equity in our state, said Acting Health Commissioner Jeff Brown. By ensuring renters have access to critical information about lead risks in their homes and creating meaningful recourse when landlords fall short, this law empowers New Jerseyans to protect their familys health. Topics New Jersey Chinas giant electric vehicle insurance market is flailing. Losses are piling up, as companies risk models havent kept up with changes in vehicle economics and driver behaviors. The country now has tens of millions of electric cars on its roads, and sales are rising at a rapid clip. Chinese insurers have found that new energy vehicle owners which tend to be younger on average are about twice as likely as owners of gasoline-powered cars to file claims. The repair costs are also significantly higher. But despite EV drivers paying anywhere from 20% higher to double the premiums for traditional cars, Chinas auto insurers have been nursing losses from covering new energy vehicles for at least three years. The industry lost 5.7 billion yuan ($802 million) from underwriting NEV policies in 2024, according to data compiled by the China Association of Actuaries, and is on track to lose money again this year. The companies experience mirrors what insurers in other parts of the world are starting to grapple with, and the Chinese firms difficulty turning a profit in the worlds largest and most developed EV market shows the difficulty of pricing risk accurately. In China, some insurers are trying to discern which car owners are using their vehicles to provide ride-hailing services which increases their likelihood of getting into accidents and whether some models are riskier than others. EVs accelerate faster than gasoline-powered cars, and their batteries that are usually located under the floor can be easily damaged if drivers go too fast over bumps. Their complicated battery systems also can comprise as much as a third of a cars value, and have expensive or niche parts that arent widely available. Some ride-hailing drivers have categorized their vehicles as residential when applying for insurance to pay lower premiums, presenting a challenge for insurers. Historical data on car types and driving habits also becomes quickly outdated when new vehicle models are constantly being rolled out. The upshot is that insurers have not really managed to fully differentiate between different brands, different models, and different loss patterns, to find a way to make a profit, said Qin Lu, head of North Asia at insurance broker Aon Plc. Its a very challenging area, added Lu, who predicts that many insurance companies wont be able to turn things around for at least another three years. With EVs now overtaking gasoline cars in sales volume, a solution needs to be found, he said. We are just right now in the middle of it. The industry as a whole is trying to find its way to make it work. Insurance companies in China collected 141 billion yuan in premiums from covering electric vehicles last year, according to the actuaries association. Expectations are for them to reach 500 billion yuan by 2030 and to make up more than a third of the auto insurance market then, according to research from Bocom International Holdings Co. EV insurance pricing is still in a trial-and-error phase, said Wenwen Chen, an analyst at S&P Global Ratings, even as their premiums are set to be the future growth engine for auto insurers. Higher Premiums Nicole Wu, a 38-year-old who works for a media firm in Hangzhou, said she bought an imported Tesla Model 3 in 2019 and had several accidents afterward that required significant repairs. In one case, she said her insurer paid more than 70,000 yuan for the cars damage, in part because the vehicle could only be fixed at a Tesla Inc. body shop. Over the years, her insurance premium increased fourfold to almost 30,000 yuan annually. Its just horrifying! she said. Wu decided to opt for a plan that was about a fifth of the cost and provided mandatory liability insurance for traffic accidents with minimal third-party coverage. But then it really made me anxious when I drove the car, she recounted. Wu said she ended up selling her Tesla last year and buying a cheaper electric car from Nio Inc. She now pays about 7,000 yuan for insurance from a company recommended by Nio, whose after-sales service can handle repairs. In China, the average EV insurance premium is about 4,487 yuan a year, according to data compiled by Aon. Thats about a quarter of what EV owners pay in the US on average. New energy vehicles in China also cost significantly less than in America; their average price was 158,900 yuan in August, about 80% the price of hybrids and 90% that of fuel cars, according to Autohome Research Institute, an industry analysis provider. Over the past year, some Chinese insurers have hiked premiums or backed away from selling EV policies, leaving vehicle owners struggling to find affordable coverage. So far, there has been no discernible impact from costlier EV premiums on overall electric vehicle sales. To address the issue, Chinese authorities in January launched a platform called Easy to Insure to connect EV owners with insurers. It has so far helped insure more than 500,000 vehicles, with total coverage of about 494.8 billion yuan. The platform doesnt guarantee that users get the lowest premiums, but ensures applicants are not rejected, said Zhang Lei, chief executive officer of Cheche Group Inc., an insure-tech company that developed it. Auto insurers cant freely price policies in China. The authorities set base premiums depending on factors including vehicle type and usage. Companies can adjust those premiums up or down within a specific band, based on drivers risk profiles. In January, Chinese authorities released a broad set of guidelines, telling companies to lower the costs of replacement parts and repairs for new energy vehicles, and promote cross-industry data sharing and cooperation. Insurers also cannot refuse customers or deny them compulsory traffic insurance, they said. Big Three There are over 60 auto insurance companies in China, and the three largest players together have at least a 65% share of the market, according to Aon. Some carmakers are also eyeing the market. Xiaomi Corp., BNP Paribas SA and Volkswagen AG have teamed up to form a new property and casualty insurer while Tesla, which sells about a third of its cars to customers in China, registered an insurance brokerage last year. BYD Co. also operates its own insurance company in the country. The insurance industry had an average combined ratio of 107% for new energy vehicles in 2024, versus 109% in 2023, according to official data. A combined ratio over 100% reflects an underwriting loss it means companies are paying out more in claims and expenses than they are collecting in premiums. Many smaller insurers in China have struggled to profit even from traditional auto insurance, because they lack scale and pricing power. Ping An Property & Casualty, a unit of Ping An Insurance Group Co., one of the countrys biggest insurers, said its EV business produced underwriting profits in 2024 and the first half of this year. It said its developed technology that helps distinguish ride-hailing drivers from other car owners, and it has been researching the economics of repair and working with automakers to identify accident scenarios to improve vehicle design. Ping Ans biggest rivals, PICC Property & Casualty Co. and China Pacific Insurance Group Co., recently reported that their combined ratios from insuring commercial EVs were above 100%, while their underwriting of EV policies for private and household use was profitable. Profit is important, but insurance companies also have social responsibilities to fulfill, said Paul Low, CEO at the Asian Institute of Insurance. Chinas national agenda is to push for EVs and affordability is important. Top photograph: Cyclists and vehicles travel along a road in Beijing on Sept. 2, 2025; photo credit: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg Related: Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Carriers Auto Profit Loss China This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Lockton Re and Marsh McLennan. A summary of these new hires follows here. Lockton Re Taps Le Flufy From Gallagher Re as Global Head of Cyber Lockton Re, the reinsurance business of independent insurance broker Lockton, has appointed Ed Le Flufy in a new role as global head of Cyber. He will be based in Lockton Res London office working with clients and colleagues across the globe. Le Flufy is currently a leading cyber broking executive at Gallagher Re, having joined Capsicum Res nascent cyber business in 2018. Previous to that he held reinsurance broking roles at BMS Re for eight years. He is expected to join the business once he has completed his obligations to his current employer. Cyber as a class of business is very much in growth mode and we expect that trajectory to continue for some time making this an increasingly important class of business for Lockton Re and our clients, commented Nick Durant, North America CEO, Lockton Re. The business is thrilled to welcome Ed in this new global role with his terrific market reputation for strong client advocacy and deep specialist cyber broking expertise and experience. We all look forward to working with Ed as we continue our investment in this important class, Durant added. *** Marsh McLennan Promotes McGowan as Chief Commercial Officer, Intl Marsh McLennan, the New York-based professional services firm, announced the appointment of Renee McGowan as chief commercial officer, International. Effective October 1, 2025, McGowan will report to Flavio Piccolomini, CEO, Marsh McLennan, International, and Hans van Heukelum, global chief commercial officer, Marsh McLennan. McGowan will continue to serve as CEO of Marsh McLennan India, Middle East, and Africa (IMEA) until early 2026, when she will relocate to Europe. In her new role, McGowan will lead the strategic development and execution of Marsh McLennans commercial strategy across the International business, which encompasses Asia, Europe, IMEA, Latin America and the Caribbean, Pacific, and the UK. She will focus on strengthening and expanding client relationships across Marsh McLennans four businesses Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer, and Oliver Wyman as well as fostering innovative and tailored client solutions in diverse markets across the six regions. McGowan joined Marsh McLennan in 2001 as an international employee benefit consultant with Mercer in London. Over the course her career, McGowan has held a series of senior leadership positions in key growth markets for Mercer, including Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, and the United Arab Emirates. She was appointed to her current role as CEO, Marsh McLennan, IMEA in 2023 and has overall responsibility for growth and innovation for greater client impact in the region. Topics Cyber Commercial Lines A.J. Gallagher In the soft dirt of an indoor horseback riding ring last month, a group of farmers got ready to test drive a new piece of equipment: an electric tractor. As they took turns climbing in some surprised by its quick acceleration they gave real-time feedback to the Michigan State University researchers who have been developing it for over two years. The farmers remarked on the motors quiet whir. Most were intrigued, or at least open to the idea. Some were concerned that the battery on the underside of the carriage would mean a lower clearance over the field, while others worried that it would simply be too expensive. What we hope to do when we retire is we want to get everything electric on the farm. The tractor is the last electric implement to get, said Don Dunklee, one of the farmers to provide feedback. He runs a small organic vegetable farm thats relied on wind and solar for decades. The market is fairly new, but some researchers and entrepreneurs think electric tractors will be ideal for small farmers who care about sustainability and want to market their products that way. The small cherry-red, open-cab machine is well-suited for tasks like weeding fields of specialty crops like carrots or asparagus, or squeezing between the tight rows of orchard trees. Farmers with solar panels can avoid the cost of diesel. Agriculture is among the largest sources of climate-warming emissions worldwide. Though tractors are a small culprit, experts believe an environmentally friendly machine would still attract buyers interested in sustainability. Theres reduced emissions, but before you get there, you have to be solving for other problems, including noise, ease of use and cost, said Derek Muller, business manager for battery electric systems at John Deere. There are downsides electric tractors are aimed at filling a niche, not overturning the status quo. And while battery technology has come a long way, they cant last all day or match the massive horsepower of a diesel engine that sets giant tractors cruising through the sprawling grain and soybean operations of the Midwest. Why few companies offer electric tractor options, and who wants them In addition to battery limitations, there are other structural obstacles. Most farmers do not have fast electric chargers, nor do they have solar panels to supply those chargers with free electricity diesel would need to be much more expensive for the economics to turn sharply in favor of electric. But companies are starting to see an opportunity. For John Deere, it is not the only solution, Muller said. Its not going to be where we lead our efforts. Its going to be one of many options. The company has built a small utility electric tractor prototype. It joins a limited set of offerings from other companies like Monarch Tractor, which started in 2019 with the aim to help farmers, who have traditionally struggled with razor-thin profits, save money, work sustainably and more efficiently. Ajit Srivastava, an agricultural engineer and Michigan State professor who hosted the farmer feedback session, wants to help smallholder farmers across the world. Such farmers grow about a third of the worlds food but many do it with only hand tools. He started trying to emulate a pair of oxen made of off-the-shelf parts, so anyone could build it themselves. If we were to mechanize all the smallholder farmers in the world, there isnt enough diesel out there to power them. So we have to find some other source, Srivastava said. Its still a work in progress. Rain had postponed the feedback session, originally planned for the spring, because the tractor hadnt been waterproofed yet. It also doesnt have enough power for some jobs like tilling. But farmers generally like what Srivastava had developed. He hopes it could eventually be sold for roughly $30,000, substantially cheaper than some of the competition. The steering is really responsive. It just seems to run really smooth, said Dunklee, adding, however, that it might not do everything he needs on a farm yet. Probably the biggest thing would be its relatively quiet. Muller said theyre seeing demand for electric tractors from Europe, where farming policies are sometimes more progressive. And theres also a market at universities in other countries where researchers are studying agriculture, said Brendan Dowdle, chief business officer of Bonsai Robotics, which sells modular, automated electric farm robots that can work together to mimic some tasks ordinarily done by a tractor. One possible customer is the so-called gentleman farmer who has a small operation of specialty crops or vegetables and farms for fun, not necessarily to make a living. They want to be self-sustaining, said Patrick Woolcock, an associate engineering professor and agriculture expert at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Plus, without harmful diesel emissions, they can work in greenhouses and, with fewer parts, theres hope repairs wont be as complicated, at least once a readily available supply is established. Could electric tractors be more compatible with automation? Some entrepreneurs see electric tractors as a step on the path to automation fewer workers, more efficiency and less cost. Engineers are now designing machines that will drive themselves and power precise weeders and planters. For example, Monarch Tractor CEO Praveen Penmetsa noted that if a self-guided tractor gets stuck and has to notify the farmer, electric power has clear benefits. A diesel tractor would sit there idling, but an electric one doesnt waste fuel while waiting. Srivastava also said hes just trying to make peoples lives easier looking backward all day to make sure a plow is operating properly is grueling. So, a self-driving tractor would let farmers pay more attention to ensuring harvesting is happening properly, or the weeder isnt accidentally digging up crops. Not that we want to take the operator off the tractor, the operator would be there, but they can focus on how well the operation is going rather than making sure the tractor is in the rows, he said. Still, some arent so sure electric has such a big advantage when it comes to automation. Tim Bucher, CEO of Agtonomy, a company focused on bringing autonomy software to farm vehicles, was all-in on electric a few years ago. But the technology has gotten so good that now his customers can pick and choose the energy source for their tractor and see similar results, he said. And with government electric vehicle subsidies disappearing, theres less incentive for most farmers to go that route. On his own farm, though, he opts for electric, and he says hes seen economic returns. And from an environmental perspective, it also just makes me feel better, he said. ___ Phillis reported from Washington and Walling reported from Chicago. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Agribusiness A federal judge on Friday threw out U.S. President Donald Trumps $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the New York Times over its content, calling it a decidedly improper and impermissible effort to attack his adversaries. U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday said Trumps complaint against the Times, four reporters and the publisher Penguin Random House was too long and burdensome, and violated a federal civil procedure rule by omitting a short and plain statement of why Trump should win. He faulted the Republican president for instead packing the 85-page complaint with unnecessary attacks against critics, statements lauding his successes and singular brilliance, and even a defense of his late father Fred Trump. A complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invectivenot a protected platform to rage against an adversary, the Tampa, Florida-based judge wrote. A complaint is not a megaphone for public relations or a podium for a passionate oration at a political rally. Merryday, an appointee of Republican former President George H.W. Bush, gave Trump 28 days to file an amended complaint in a professional and dignified manner of no more than 40 pages. TRUMP PLANS TO FOLLOW JUDGES DIRECTIONS A spokesman for Trumps legal team said in a statement: President Trump will continue to hold the Fake News accountable through this powerhouse lawsuit against the New York Times, its reporters, and Penguin Random House, in accordance with the judges direction on logistics. A Times spokesperson said: We welcome the judges quick ruling, which recognized that the complaint was a political document rather than a serious legal filing. Penguin Random House said it applauded the dismissal, citing the judges description of the complaint as improper and impermissible. Trump has turned to the courts as part of his campaign to rein in reporting and commentary he considers unfair to him. He sued over three articles and a book by two of the Times reporters. He accused the defendants of defaming him prior to the 2024 presidential election in order to sabotage his campaign and disparage his reputation as a successful businessman. COMPLAINT WENT TOO FAR PLEADING TRUMPS CLAIM Fridays order is an unusual rebuke by a federal judge to a sitting president over decorum in the judicial process. In his four-page order, Merryday said plaintiffs like Trump are supposed to fairly, precisely, directly, soberly, and economically tell defendants in complaints why they are being sued. Trumps complaint said the defendants baselessly hate President Trump in a deranged way, and that their actions represent a new journalistic low for the hopelessly compromised and tarnished Gray Lady,' a nickname for the Times. It also contended that the Times itself was deranged for endorsing Democrat Kamala Harris for president. Although lawyers receive a modicum of expressive latitude in pleading the claim of a client, Merryday wrote, the complaint in this action extends far beyond the outer bound of that latitude. One of Trumps lawyers also represents the president in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch and the Wall Street Journal, over an article about a birthday greeting sent to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. Two of Trumps other lawyers helped him obtain a $16 million settlement in July with CBS News parent Paramount Global over the editing of an interview with Harris on 60 Minutes. Topics Lawsuits Legislation New York Starbucks workers in three states took legal action against the coffee giant Wednesday, saying it violated the law when it changed its dress code but refused to reimburse employees who had to buy new clothes. The employees, who are backed by the union organizing Starbucks workers, filed class-action lawsuits in state court in Illinois and Colorado. Workers also filed complaints with Californias Labor and Workforce Development Agency. If the agency decides not to seek penalties against Starbucks, the workers intend to file a class-action lawsuit in California, according to the complaints. Starbucks didnt comment directly on the lawsuits Wednesday, but the company said it simplified its dress code to deliver a more consistent experience to customers and give its employees clearer guidance. As part of this change, and to ensure out partners were prepared, partners received two shirts at no cost, the company said Wednesday. Starbucks refers to its employees as partners. Starbucks new dress code went into effect on May 12. It requires all workers in North America to wear a solid black shirt with short or long sleeves under their green aprons. Shirts may or may not have collars, but they must cover the midriff and armpits. Employees must wear khaki, black or blue denim bottoms without patterns or frayed hems or solid black dresses that are not more than 4 inches above the knee. The dress code also requires workers to wear black, gray, dark blue, brown, tan or white shoes made from a waterproof material. Socks and hosiery must be subdued, the company said. The dress code prohibits employees from having face tattoos or more than one facial piercing. Tongue piercings and theatrical makeup are also prohibited. Starbucks said in April that the new dress code would make employees green aprons stand out and create a sense of familiarity for customers. It comes as the company is trying to reestablish a warmer, more welcoming experience in its stores. Before the new dress code went into effect, Starbucks had a relatively lax policy. In 2016, it began allowing employees to wear patterned shirts in a wider variety of colors to give them more opportunities for self-expression. The old dress code was also loosely enforced, according to the Colorado lawsuit. But under the new dress code, employees who dont comply arent allowed to start their shifts. Brooke Allen, a full-time student who also works at a Starbucks in Davis, California, said she was told by a manager in July that the Crocs she was wearing didnt meet the new standards and she would have to wear different shoes if she wanted to work the following day. Allen had to go to three stores to find a compliant pair that cost her $60.09. Allen has spent an additional $86.95 on clothes for work, including black shirts and jeans. I think its extremely tone deaf on the companys part to expect their employees to completely redesign their wardrobe without any compensation, Allen said. A lot of us are already living paycheck to paycheck. Allen said she misses the old dress code, which allowed her to express herself with colorful shirts and three facial piercings. It looks sad now that everyone is wearing black, she said. The lawsuits and complaints filed Wednesday allege that Starbucks dress code violates state laws that require companies to reimburse workers for expenses that primarily benefit the employer. Colorado law also prohibits employers from imposing expenses on workers without their written consent, according to that lawsuit. The plaintiffs seek damages on behalf of all Starbucks workers in those states, whether or not their stores are unionized. Multiple plaintiffs, like Allen, said they requested reimbursement from Starbucks to conform to the dress code but were denied. Gilbert Cruz, an employee in Aurora, Illinois, requested $10 for the cost of removing a nose piercing. Worker-led lawsuits in state courts are a shift in tactics in the multi-year effort to unionize Starbucks stores. Starbucks Workers United, the labor group that has unionized 640 of Starbucks 10,000 company-owned U.S. stores, has filed hundreds of unfair labor practice charges against Starbucks with the National Labor Relations Board. The union filed an charge over the dress code in April but it is not a party in the current lawsuits. But the boards ability to hear cases has been curtailed under President Donald Trump. Trump fired an NLRB member in the spring, leaving the board without the quorum it needs to decide cases. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Veteran benefits consultant Terry Cox has joined Alliant Insurance Services as senior vice president within its employee benefits group. Based in Austin, Texas, Cox will serve a national client base, bringing more than three decades of experience as a provider, payer, and consultant in the health and benefits industry. Throughout his career, Cox has worked with organizations across a range of industries and sizes to control costs, improve workforce health, and enhance employee engagement. His expertise spans benefits strategy, business development, account oversight, and long-term relationship management with HR, finance, and executive leaders. He is experienced in designing new and innovative approaches that generate bottom-line savings while supporting organizational goals. Prior to joining Alliant, Cox was Senior Principal and Sales Consultant with a global employee benefits consulting firm. He holds a masters degree in clinical psychology from Abilene Christian University and is licensed in Life, Accident, and Health with the Texas Department of Insurance. He has served as a board member for the Central Texas Compensation and Benefits Association. Topics Alliant Employee Benefits Hundreds of flights in and out of Dallas were delayed or canceled Friday as telecommunications equipment issues disrupted one of the nations busiest airports, federal officials said The Federal Aviation Administration said it was slowing flights at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport because of a reported local telephone company equipment issue. The same problems were also impacting Dallas Love Field, according to the agency, which said the issue did not involve FAA equipment. According to FlightAware, as of late Friday afternoon, nearly 700 flights in and out of DFW Airport were delayed while about 200 canceled. About 160 flights were delayed in and out of Love Field while one flight was canceled. A spokesperson for Love Field said they were in constant communication with partners including the FAA as they work to manage the situation and minimize disruptions. DFW Airport said on the social platform X that the FAA was managing the air traffic delays in the area. As of late Friday afternoon, departures from Love Field were delayed by an average of about 30 minutes, according to the FAA website. At DFW Airport, a ground stop was in place for American Airlines and flights on other airlines were being delayed by over an hour. All flights were stopped at both airports for more than an hour. American Airlines said on X that the FAA had reported an issue involving the telecommunications provider for the air traffic control facility that oversees the airspace in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The FAA said the problems in Dallas werent linked to the aging equipment that air traffic controllers rely on or the nationwide shortage of controllers that both combined to disrupt flights at Newark Liberty International Airport earlier this year. The federal government is now working to overhaul the technology after Congress approved $12.5 billion and hire thousands more controllers but both efforts will likely take years to complete. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Aviation Aerospace In one of the grimmest, longest-running and most-litigated episodes of alleged child sexual abuse at a private school, the key question in a case now before the Georgia Court of Appeals is whether insurers recent policies barred coverage for incidents that happened as much as 50 years ago. At oral arguments last week, appellate court Judge Sarah Doyle zeroed in on it: I cant believe, in a million years, that these insurance companies thought in 2020 that they were insuring something from 1970 or whatever, the judge said. The question is: Did they inadvertently do so because the language of their policy wasnt clear enough to make it say that. The high-profile litigation stems from a settlement and consent judgment between 20 former students and the 120-year-old Darlington School in Rome, Georgia, reached in 2024. A Floyd County Superior Court Judge ordered the boarding schools five insurance carriers to pay the settlement amount, with Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Co. responsible for $232 million of that. Philadelphia, Zurich American, Continental Casualty, and North River Insurance appealed the decision, arguing that commercial liability and molestation policies written in the 2000s cannot be expected to indemnify or defend the school against decades-old abuse charges, even if victims came didnt file suit until 2017. The current appeal was deemed so important to the insurance industry that the American Property Casualty Insurance Association filed an amicus curiae brief in support of Philadelphias position. Failing to enforce the policies fundamental temporal requirement bodily injury during the policy period and thus expanding these general liability policies to cover claims when no physical injury occurred in the policy term, would significantly impact not just the parties to this case, but also the insurance system as a whole, attorneys Parker Lavin and Laura Foggan wrote in the amicus brief. Enforcing an insurance contracts limitation of coverage to a discrete and finite policy period is critical to the insurance bargain. Regardless of the appeals courts decision, a big takeaway for insurers may be the importance of clarifying policy language to avoid even the hint of ambiguity. Despite multiple court rulings through the years across the country, policy wording has remained a thorn in insurers sides. Ambiguity and its consequences, in fact, have been the driving forces behind policy changes for generations, said Charles Nyce, professor of risk management and insurance at Florida State University. As terms change and understanding changes, policy language needs to keep up, and it doesnt always do so, he said. A search of Google Scholar shows that the ambiguity issue may be on the rise. The number of federal appellate court decisions citing ambiguous insurance policies has tripled in the last 30 years. The overall number of federal insurance-related lawsuits has dropped only slightly in the last few years, while injury lawsuits and business liability litigation has increased in recent years, LexisNexis Lex Machina reported this month. Coverage disputes are expensive for both sides, leading to litigation battles and costs that are passed on to policyholders, Daniel Schwarcz wrote in the Brigham Young University Law Review in a 2021 study. But despite that, some insurers are slow to change policy language, even after being penalized by court rulings. They sometimes appear to be content with established wording and forms, approved by the Insurance Services Office, rather than risk new drafts that could introduce new questions, Schwarcz wrote. And its not just insurance contracts, but contracts of all types that are now vulnerable to poor or misplaced wording in an age of easy cut-and-paste and artificial intelligence drafting of documents, other reports have suggested. In briefs to the court and in oral arguments, the insurers for Darlington School argued that their policy exclusions were clear enough. Most of the policies covered only claims of bodily injury, injuries that incurred during the policy period, as well as accompanying mental anguish. The trial court judge erred in finding that the injuries have continued and that they were aggravated by the schools recent acknowledgement of the alleged crimes, the carriers lawyers have contended. Under PIICs (Philadelphias) CGL policies, bodily injury only includes mental anguish that results from bodily injury, sickness or disease,' that occurs during the policy period, Philadelphias attorneys wrote in their brief to the appeals court. Likewise, the Zurich policies note that bodily injury includes mental anguish resulting from injury. There must be a predicate, Philadelphias appeals lawyer Laurie Webb Daniel told the appellate judges. Mental distress cannot be the predicate and the result at the same time. The schools and vicitms lawyers said that the policies could be interpreted to mean that the mental stress is part and parcel of a bodily injury, and sexual abuse is an injury. The insurance policies did not add an extra sentence that may have made it crystal clear, perhaps something like: Coverage does not extend to claims of mental anguish that present after the policy period. A lawyer for the lead plaintiff-victim said at oral arguments last week that the mental anguish is the same as bodily injury, and the policies should be read that way. The insurers do not want to acknowledge that mental anguish is itself a defined form of bodily injury, that if it occurs during the policy period, triggers coverage, attorney Frank Lowrey told the appellate judges. They dont want to be stuck with their policy language, Lowrey added. But we dont save insurers from their bargains in Georgia. The insurance carriers have offered other compelling defenses in the case, including the argument that the claims are barred by Georgias statute of repose. They also said that policy exclusions bar coverage when fraud is involved and that Darlington School engaged in fraud by hiding the alleged abuse by a longtime teacher for decades. The insurers contended that the school and victims acted in bad faith and colluded by coming up with an unusual assignment of benefits: The school would pay $6 million to the victims then assign the insurance contracts to the victims in exchange for releases of liability. The appeals court may make a decision later this year or early next. Oral arguments can be seen here. Topics Carriers Georgia K-12 A North Carolina judge has ordered $50 million be paid to the family of a Charlotte TV station meteorologist who was killed in a helicopter crash three years ago after finding the companies that owned and operated the aircraft liable in his widows wrongful death lawsuit. Following an evidentiary hearing earlier in the week, state Superior Court Judge Forrest Bridges issued a judgment order Thursday directing insurers for the Total Traffic & Weather Network, iHeartCommunications, and iHeartMedia to make the payment within the next two months. WBTV meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag died in November 2022 after the Robinson R44 helicopter crashed along a Charlotte-area interstate. The flights purpose was to provide Myers video training over a simulated news scene, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Jillian Myers initially sued the companies and a maintenance facility in March 2023 for the death of her 41-year-old husband, with whom they had four children. The maintenance facility was later removed as a defendant. A National Transportation Safety Board report last year determined the probable cause of the crash was inadequate inspections, resulting in an eventual loosening of hardware and subsequent loss of helicopter control. A post-crash examination of the flight controls showed hardware that should have been connected to a part on the main rotor was disconnected and the connecting hardware was missing, the final NTSB report says. Thursdays order from Bridges said the plaintiffs experts confirmed and expanded upon the NTSB finding that the crash was was due to operational and maintenance errors committed by the remaining defendants. The judgment entered for Jillian Myers was actually $126.3 million against the defendants a $105 million total agreed upon by attorneys on both sides of the case and that Bridges found was a fair and reasonable settlement valuation along with accrued interest. But by agreement the defendants primary insurers will pay $50 million. Jillian Myers now will be able to seek the rest of the amount against the companies excess or umbrella insurance carriers, her attorney Gary C. Robb said on Friday. Those carriers recently told the defendants they were declining their additional layers of coverage for the wrongful death claims, Thursday order says. Total Traffic & Weather Network and iHeartCommunications are subsidiaries of iHeartMedia. Wendy Goldberg, an iHeartMedia spokesperson, declined to comment on Friday. Myers was raised in North Carolina and worked in the city of Raleigh, and in Texas and Virginia before returning to the Charlotte area where he grew up, WBTV said at the time of his death. This settlement does not bring back the man we lost, but it does represent a formal acknowledgment of the profound impact his death has had on our family, Jillian Myers said in a news release. Tayag, a pilot for more than 20 years, worked for the Total Traffic & Weather Network. Police praised him for avoiding a crash on Interstate 77, thus saving the lives of drivers. Robb said Friday that Myers family had hoped the lawsuit would prompt improved operations and maintenance of helicopters used by television and weather operations, and ultimately save lives. That is already happening, he said. We believe the industry got the message, he said in an interview. Top photo: A Robinson R44 helicopter similar to the one that crashed in 2022. (Adobe Stock image) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Carriers Legislation North Carolina Emergency workers who responded to Universal Orlando Resorts newest park for a man who had become unresponsive on a roller coaster originally were told he had lacerations. But when they got to the ride, he wasnt breathing and eventually died, according to radio traffic and a report released Friday by the sheriffs office. Orange County, Florida, firefighters and Universal emergency workers tried to revive Kevin Rodriguez Zavala on a platform next to the Stardust Racers roller coaster Wednesday, but the 32-year-old man was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital, according to an incident report from the Orange County Sheriffs Office. Zavalas longtime girlfriend, who was with him, told deputies that he had a preexisting spinal condition he used a wheelchair and was taking medication, the report said. After performing an autopsy, Joshua Stephany, the medical examiner for the Orlando area, ruled the cause of death as multiple blunt impact injuries and said the manner of death was an accident. The statement from Stephany on Thursday did not mention any details about the injuries, including where on the body they were found. Zavalas family in an online post described him Friday as one of a kind. Zavala lived in Kissimmee, Florida, a suburb of Orlando. Despite the restrictions and obstacles he encountered throughout his life, Kevin met them all with grace, strength, and an unwavering spirit., his family said He overcame so much, and he did so with quiet resilience and humility. The Stardust Racers roller coaster opened to the public in May with the debut of the Epic Universe park. The ride is described on the resorts website as a breathtaking, dual-launch coaster reaching incredible speeds up to 62 mph (100 kph). Stardust Racers was among the rides at Epic Universe which were designed to accommodate people transferring from wheelchairs to the ride vehicle, according to a Universal Orlando Resort safety guide. The guide also said that riders of Stardust Racers were required to pass through metal detectors to make sure they had no loose items in their pockets that could fly out, and that people with prosthetic limbs needed to remove them before riding. A Universal Orlando Resorts spokesperson has said the resort is cooperating with investigators at the Orange County Sheriffs Office. Maria Fernandez, who said she was on the roller coaster at the same time as Zavala, told Orlando television station WKMG that he appeared to be slumped over and bleeding when the ride stopped. Floridas largest theme parks are exempt from state safety inspections, unlike smaller venues and fairs. Instead, the largest theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal conduct their own inspections and have their own protocols. But they must report to the state any injury or death. The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, however, said Friday that it had sent an investigator to Epic Universe. Universal has been extremely cooperative and has complied with all required notifications, Aaron Keller, the departments communications director, said in an email. Photo: A roller coaster at Universal Studios in Orlando, from April 2025. (Adobe Stock) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A former Riverside megachurch pastor has been accused of sexually abusing and trafficking children for years at a shelter he ran in Bucharest, according to lawsuits filed by two Romanian men in U.S. District Court in California. The complaints, filed last week by 33-year-old Marian Barbu and 40-year-old Mihai-Constantin Petcu, said former Harvest Christian Fellowship pastor and missionary Paul Havsgaard severely abused them and dozens of other children at the shelter over eight years. The lawsuits also name the churchs founder and senior pastor, Greg Laurie, a well-known evangelist and author, as well as other senior church leaders, saying they failed to prevent abuse. The lawsuits accuse Havsgaard of luring struggling street kids with fast food and the promise of shelter and education. The men are hurt, angry and still suffering from PTSD and social difficulties, said Jef McAllister, a London-based lawyer with the law firm representing Barbu and Petcu. The Associated Press generally does not name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Barbu and Petcu have done. The church provided no contact for Havsgaard, and The Associated Press was unable to reach him through emails and phone numbers found via online searches. Harvest Christian Fellowship said in a statement that the allegations in the lawsuit were shocking but that Havsgaard should be the target, not the church or its famed founding pastor. This misplaced lawsuit wrongly targets Harvest Riverside and our pastor as a form of financial extortion, the statement said. It does not seek the truth nor does it seek to stop the purported wrongdoer. The complaints allege negligence on the churchs part, accusing Laurie and other senior church leaders of failing to supervise Havsgaard despite repeated red flags and reports from donors, visitors and others that they suspected sexual abuse and saw poor living conditions at the shelter. The lawsuit said Laurie not only kept Havsgaard in Romania with minimal oversight, but that the church also deposited $17,000 each month to Havsgaards personal bank account. Havsgaard also returned to California, bringing some of the children he was accused of abusing, to raise money for Harvest citing his work rehabilitating street children in Romania, the lawsuit said. The church said it did fund Havsgaards initiative for a period of time, as they have supported numerous missionaries around the world, but most of what is in the lawsuits about our church is absolutely and entirely false; some of it is plainly slanderous. The church said it has tried to engage with the plaintiffs and reported their allegations to law enforcement, but the men and their lawyer have refused to cooperate with U.S. authorities. Barbu said in his complaint that life at the shelter was like a torture chamber inside a prison and that Havsgaard would show up regularly in the bathroom while boys were showering or undressed, stare at them or masturbate in their presence. Both plaintiffs have also accused Havsgaard of pimping out older boys for sex work via video chat or at bathhouses and taking a cut of their earnings. The complaints detail sexual assault, inappropriate touching and abuse where children were made to kneel on walnut shells or were tied to their beds or radiators. According to the lawsuit, Havsgaard told the children while abusing them: I know what God wants; what I want, God wants. McAllister said that in the coming weeks he expects to file lawsuits involving at least 20 others who say they were abused at the shelter. Some of them are still illiterate even though they lived in these homes where they were supposed to get an education, he said. They have issues with trust. They look after each other. Most of them are living in poverty and are looking for financial help and vindication, McAllister said. Theyve had a hard slog, he said. They would really like to get some sense that theyve been heard and that the injustices theyve suffered are recognized. Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits California California will not backfill a $7,500 federal tax credit for buyers of electric vehicles that is set to expire this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Friday, reversing an earlier pledge to restart the states own EV subsidies. We cant make up for federal vandalism of those tax credits, Newsom said during a press conference in San Francisco. The state will support expanding EV infrastructure, but not the direct subsidies that we cannot make up for, the Democrat said. President Donald Trump campaigned on rolling back many of former President Joe Bidens EV-friendly policies. Congress followed through in the major tax-and-spending bill, which placed a Sept. 30 expiration on the tax credit, ending years of federal support for EV buyers. Newsoms declaration all but dashes near-term hope among EV makers such as Rivian Automotive Inc., Hyundai Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG that the countrys largest auto market would fill that void. Those automakers and others had urged the governor and state leaders to create a $5,000 EV incentive. Newsom last year vowed that California would step in if the Trump administration followed through with campaign threats to eliminate the federal $7,500 EV tax credit. But the governors plan hit difficulties as California faced a budget deficit. Newsom on Friday also took aim at Detroits mainstream automakers, saying General Motors Co. and Mary Barra, its chief executive officer, sold us out. Newsoms comments on Barra come after Congress voted earlier this year to block Californias ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles set to take effect in 2035. The governor argued that GM led the effort to stop that rule, which the state said in 2020 would have cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 35%. GM declined to comment. The governors office said California could still revive an EV credit some time next year, as state leaders look to allocate hundreds of millions of dollars from a carbon-trading program that boosts environmental programs. Californias previous EV tax credit program ended in 2023, leaving it currently outside of a group of 17 states that currently offer some form of EV purchase tax credit, according to an August report from the nonprofit Tax Foundation. Still, California accounted for about 27% of all EV sales in the country, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which lobbies for most major automakers. That market heft positioned the state as the best alternative for EV incentives. Renewing the incentive also has support from the California Air Resources Board, which joined five other state agencies in August to recommend that the state backfill the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs with whatever resources are available. Top photo: Tesla electric vehicles at a recharging station in Albany, California, on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics California Cork property developer Michael OFlynn has said the growing deficit of homes is yet to be addressed by the Government, with the current problem in housing spiralling out of control. Speaking on the Irish Examiners ieBusiness Podcast, available every Monday, the CEO and chairman of the OFlynn Group said he did not feel enough was being done to solve growing deficits in housing, adding that the Government was going nowhere. This month, the Central Bank slashed housing completion estimates for 2026 and 2027. Completions are forecast to stand at 32,500 for this year, 36,000 in 2026, and 40,000 in 2027. In its last economic bulletin in June, the Central Bank had projected 37,500 for 2026 and 41,500 for 2027. The Government is targeting 300,000 new homes by 2030, meaning around 50,000 houses must be built each year, which experts say is now increasingly out of reach. Mr OFlynn, who was a member of the Governments Housing Commission, which published a 256-page report last year highlighting the systemic failings in the housing market, said housing deliveries need to be double what they currently are. The report, published in May 2024, suggested an underlying housing deficit in Ireland of up to 256,000 homes. However, Mr OFlynn said the realistic deficit is even higher. He told the Irish Examiner: It was probably 300,000 before the ink dried on the report. That deficit is not being addressed at all, in my opinion. He added that only 50% of Government targets were being delivered. We should be at 60,000 units plus, but were down at the 30,000s, plus or minus," Mr O'Flynn said. "We have a problem that is spiralling out of control. "Unfortunately, we have spent a number of years facing up to these targets. We know we are not going to meet them, and thus need an emergency approach. In a wide-ranging podcast interview, Mr OFlynn also called out the Governments Housing Activation Office, a new unit within the Department of Housing launched in April this year, which seeks to identify barriers and actions required to speed up the delivery of housing. Recounting the report, the developer noted: "One of our main recommendations was a housing delivery oversight executive. It was hard debated, it was hard fought for. "Then the Government decided to launch the Housing Activation Office. If were activating something, that means its already there. We deliberately called it a housing delivery oversight executive because it is not there. "There is nothing to activate. Do we even need an office within an office? I would say no. "It was never the intention of the Housing Commission to put it in. Im going to use this moment to say there are many artists I love, and that I know you love, that have hundreds of millions of followers. And theyre saying nothing in this moment. Thats our own Nicola Coughlan, speaking her undimmable truth to 12,500 people at the historic Together For Palestine fundraiser in Londons Wembley Arena. Musician Brian Eno, 77, has spent the past year putting this event together. Everyone is here artists, musicians, superstars from the Arab world, Hollywood royalty, UN speakers, heroic journalists and medics from Palestine who have seen so many of their colleagues murdered, the 88-year-old Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos, and ooh ah Eric Cantona. There are four hours to get 150 people on and off the stage, and the timings are calculated to the nearest second. In terms of logistics, its a slippery Jenga tower of moving parts that manages to come together perfectly like an effortlessly gliding swan, propelled behind the scenes by mad paddling. Even the seasoned professionals who put on gigantic live shows for a living are impressed. My job Im volunteering backstage is part of the team collecting people from the industrial entrance around the back of the arena, funnelling them through airport-level security, and bringing them into the vast concrete concourse that has been hastily converted into a series of holding lounges before they go onstage. Its a long, hectic day of sound checks and running around and trying not to get Jamie XX mixed up with James Blake, or scream Oh my God, its Felicia! into Guy Pearces face. People used to glamour, luxury and privacy mill about together in a vast concrete hangar, popping into pop-up changing rooms and pop-up hair and make-up pods, having dinner from a local Palestinian restaurant delivered in paper bags. Gaza Cola instead of Coca Cola. Nobody is getting paid there are no fancy riders, no champagne, no special treatment, no egos, no demands. Everyone black, white and brown is wearing the green and red of Palestine. Keffiyehs are the must-have accessory of the evening Paloma Faith wears several of them fashioned into a frock. Katherine Hamnett and Bella Freud have done the merch. Im not used to being in a concrete hangar full of celebs, with an earpiece and walkie-talkie my usual workplace is a garden shed with wifi. But because there are so many famous faces all together, they kind of cancel each other out, like stars absorbing each others light; after 10 straight hours of running around, I have developed a kind of celeb-blindness, like snow-blindness, except for faces. Last week I was at the cinema watching Benedict Cumberbatch in The Roses now Im pointing him to the portaloo, before finding a plug socket for UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, or a sofa for the gorgeous Ruth Negga just off a flight from Los Angeles. Musical heroes like Paul Weller affably wander about. Palestinian dancers performing with Damon Albarn do an impromptu rehearsal by the bins. And thats why everyone is here to see Palestinians dance and sing. Doesnt everyone deserve to dance and sing, without fear of being starved and murdered? Thats what this is all about, and even in genocide-complicit states like the UK, the cultural tide is turning. Politics follows culture, and this fundraiser for Palestine is part of that shift away from being gaslit, misled, and lied to by the Kafkaesque propaganda of genocide. As journalist Mehdi Hasan tells the audience in his powerful speech, You cant bomb the truth away. Some 15 years since her debut, Simone Rocha showcased her brilliant evolution with an anniversary show during London Fashion Week on Sunday. The Irish designer hosted her spring/summer 2026 runway show at Mansion House in the citys financial district. Ms Rocha continued to explore hallmarks of girlhood, such as stealing from your mothers wardrobe, the first debutante ball, and the natural progression to womanhood. Simone Rocha 'continued to explore hallmarks of girlhood, such as stealing from your mothers wardrobe, the first debutante ball...' in her London Fashion Week show on Sunday. Picture: Eamonn M McCormack/Getty The opening gambit was a sequinned bra and a crinoline skirt layered with diaphanous organza florals, suggesting the romance and awkwardness of growing up and dressing up for the first time. Backstage, Ms Rocha characterised the models as disgruntled debutantes". She said: I was thinking about the idea of when you have to be performative and how you have to be on display. There was an interplay between good and bad taste in the contrast between sharp colours like chartreuse, lime green, and scarlet, and through combinations like khaki car coats with sequinned shorts. With reference to prerequisite debutante gifts like flowers and corsages, she sheathed quilted, floral-printed down coats in vinyl raincoats. Without it becoming ironically elegant, she underpinned the collection with sporty elements like Harrington jackets, rugby shirts, crystal-embellished ribbed underpants and an oversized red cagoule to balance ethereal organza and shimmering sequins. Bel Powley and Fiona Shaw arriving for Simone Rocha's London Fashion Week show. Ms Rocha's ardent front-row fans included her parents John and Odette and Fontaines DCs Grian Chatten. Picture: Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty She elevated tailoring with an ivory cutaway tailcoat, embellished with crystals, over a tailored trouser and hoop skirt. I feel like were very exposed. Were always on show. Theres very little private time to be able to digest your work. "When it comes to designing a collection, you want to put your best foot forward, Ms Rocha said. Her ardent supporters including Cork actor Fiona Shaw, Fontaines DCs Grian Chatten, and her parents John and Odette lined the front row. A model walks the runway at the Simone Rocha show on Sunday during London Fashion Week. Picture: Eamonn M McCormack/Getty Ms Rocha is regarded as one of Londons leading designers for her portrayal of femininity on the runway. She juxtaposes masculine and feminine elements, clashing ethereal tulle and smocking with fabrics like faux leather and denim. The tension between polished and undone is relatable and compelling. Accessories, like beaded drop earrings, pearl clutch bags and an ongoing footwear collaboration with Crocs, have charmed customers, become shorthand for her brand identity and a boon for business. They now account for 40% of her business, according to Vogue Business. Nearly two decades in business, the Irish designer counts four flagship stores in London, New York, and Taipei, over 190 wholesale stockists globally and 70 employees across. The finale of Simone Rocha's London Fashion Week show at the city's Mansion House on Sunday. Picture: Eamonn M McCormack/Getty Last year, she released a monograph chronicling her first decade through photography and interviews with her close collaborators and heroes like former president of Ireland Mary Robinson. More than a brand, Ms Rocha is building a legacy. Irish style at LFW Were on a coming-of-age journey with the brand, said Daniel Kearns, the Irish creative director of Kent & Curwen, a British brand celebrating its centenary in 2026, backstage at Sundays show. Looking at the transcendental feeling of summers lazing in London green spaces, Mr Kearnss sunny disposition was energising. Orlagh McCloskey and Henrietta Rix marked a decade of their Rixo label at London Fashion Week. File picture: Silvia Olsen He iterated on Kent & Curwens preppy heritage through sporty trapeze mini dresses, tailored jackets with floral appliques, with stripes and checks, bold pops of red and cobalt enlivened his crisp white colour palette. He guided the brand into the next century with subtle twists on tailoring: backwards collars and shirting with cinching drawstring details. On Friday, Rixo duo Orlagh McCloskey and Henrietta Rix marked a decade of their label, beloved for its vintage-inspired occasion dresses, with a disco-themed presentation. Paul Costelloe's collection Elsewhere, Paul Costelloe, who turned 80 in June, evoked the bouffants of Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and Palm Springs in his collection with flouncy mini dresses, matching twinsets and cropped knitwear in sherbet shades. Irish designer Paul Costelloe, who turned 80 in June, with models on the runway at the Waldorf Hotel during London Fashion Week. Picture: Lucy North/PA JW Anderson eschewed the runway: he hosted an intimate dinner at The Ritz and previewed his recently refurbished store in Soho to align with the labels rebrand as a lifestyle proposition, ranging from fashion to furniture and Nicholas Mosse and Wedgwood ceramics. London Fashion Week commenced on Thursday evening. The fashion industry is worth nearly 68bn to the UK economy every year. Despite rising operational costs, tariffs from Brexit, and a wider luxury downturn, the city was awash with unfettered creativity. London's lifeblood Bootstrapped young talents are still the citys lifeblood. Following in the footsteps of Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Vivienne Westwood, Londons designers are concerned with identity and ideas. Aaron Esh preoccupied himself with the dichotomy of how young people dress today: a dialogue between sleaze and sophistication. There was dashing Harris tweed tailoring (including a beautiful half zip) and suede field jackets, beautifully crafted by a Savile Row tailor, alongside slinky bias-cut dresses and faded skinny jeans. Paul Costelloe evoked the bouffants of Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and Palm Springs in his show at the Waldorf Hotel during London Fashion Week. In contrast, Pauline Dujancourts transportive knitwear, whorls of tulle and feathers, are otherworldly but no less delightful. They speak to creativity and craftsmanship that algorithms could never replicate. The spring/summer 2026 edition of London Fashion Week concludes with a blockbuster Burberry billing on Monday evening in the private garden of the Prince and Princess of Wales at Kensington Palace. Use of a semi-synthetic form of cannabis has become widespread in Ireland in a relatively short timeframe, according to research. Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) was legally available in Ireland mostly through vape shops despite the strong concerns of medical experts, until the Government eventually banned its sale last July. A study, described as the first European analysis of HHC use in the population, said it was possible the delay in controlling HHC in Ireland had contributed to its popularity. HHC is a semi-synthetic cannabinoid, where the chemical is sprayed onto cannabis, typically low-grade quality. Data from 2,314 Irish people Research by the Health Research Board, the HSE, and the School of Public Health at University College Cork examined data from 2,314 Irish people who took part in the 2024 European web survey of drugs. Of these respondents: 36% reported lifetime use (at least once in their life); 33.5% reported use in the last year; 18% said they had used HHC in the last month. The study, published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, said high street stores were reported as the main source of HHC (62%), with a further 16% buying it from an online store. Vapes were the most common method of taking HHC (85%), followed by edibles in the form of candies and gummies (34%). The primary motive for first using HHC was its easy availability in stores (61.5 %), followed by a sense of safety in buying from a store (46.1%), and friends using HHC (36.1 %), the study said. Consequently, it is possible that the delay in controlling HHC in Ireland has contributed to its popularity. Importantly, as HHC could be freely and legally purchased in Ireland until very recently, there may have been a perception among users in our sample that it is safer than cannabis or synthetic cannabinoids that were controlled by legislation. This is of concern as, in addition to the unknown short- and long-term effects of HHC, the [European Union Drugs Agency] has noted that HHC products may contain harmful contaminants from production. It said the most common reasons for using HHC were to get high or for fun (62.9 %) and to reduce stress or relax (51.9 %). It said respondents reported using HHC to treat a number of physical and mental ailments: 27.3% used it to manage depression or anxiety; 18.2% used HHC to reduce pain or inflammation; 5.6% used it to manage cannabis withdrawal symptoms. Respondents reported frequent usage, with almost a third using it 1-10 days and another third using it 11-50 days. Nine out of 10 people reported negative effects, with almost a quarter reporting two harms. The most frequent was anxiety or panic reactions (15%), followed by feeling faint of dizzy (13%) and dissociation or depersonalisation (12%). Hallucinations or psychosis was reported by 4% of respondents. The study said: HHC has become increasingly available in Europe and the results presented in this study suggest that, in a relatively short period of time, HHC use has become widespread in Ireland. The authors said the HHC situation mirrored that for New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), which were widely available in head shops before The Psychoactive Substances Act 2010. However, the authors said that, despite the existence of this legislation, HHC remained legal long after its psychoactive properties were confirmed. It said that, ultimately, HHC was controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act, rather than the 2000 act. Ireland may need to review drug laws It suggested a review of drug laws may be required to ensure it is fit for purpose. This may enable Ireland to more swiftly response to the rapidly evolving drug market, the study said. The authors said it was not possible to conclude that the sample in the research they examined could be generalised to the population of HHC users in Ireland. The research was conducted by Deirdre Mongan and Brian Galvin, attached to the HRB, Eamon Keenan and Nicki Killeen of the HSE, Sean Millar of the HRB and UCC, and Joao Matias of the EU Drugs Agency. Concerns regarding HHC were documented, including extensively in the Irish Examiner as far back as November 2023, when four teenagers from a school in Cork became ill and were hospitalised after vaping, with analysis identifying HHC. In February 2024, psychiatrists and doctors from the University of Galway and Mercy University Hospital Cork said HHC was "readily available" online and in retail vape shops. The research said the drug should be included as a "psychoactive substance" under the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010. In May 2024, the HSE clinical lead on addiction, Eamon Keenan told the Irish Examiner that around 20% of young people presenting to adolescent addiction services in recent months were associated with HHC. Prof Keenan said he was building a case for the Department of Health to include HHC in existing drug laws and have its sale banned. In August 2024, Forensic Science Ireland highlighted the presence of HHC among, what it said was, a Wild West of synthetic and semi-synthetic cannabinoids. The College of Psychiatrists repeatedly raised concerns about the substance. In May of this year, an Irish Examiner investigation highlighted the ease with which people, including children, could buy products containing HHC. A Cork man who stole alcohol from a hotel close to where he lives was found passed out behind the bar with an empty whiskey bottle beside him, the district court has heard. Court presenter Sergeant Eimear OConnell told Bandon District Court that Brian OSullivan, aged 39 of Rathnaroughy, Innishannon, Co Cork, was charged with two counts of burglary in relation to two separate incidents that occurred at the Innishannon House Hotel in January and May of 2025. The court heard that on January 22, 2025, the hotel manager reported a break-in to gardai. A ground floor window adjacent to the bar had been smashed and whiskey and vodka had been stolen from the bar. An empty bottle of whiskey and a half-empty bottle of vodka were later found in a nearby boiler house. A DNA sample taken from the vodka bottle was matched to Brian OSullivan. The damage to the window was estimated at 500, while the stolen alcohol was worth 50. The court also heard that on May 11, 2025, OSullivan was discovered in a dishevelled state lying unconscious on the ground behind the bar at the hotel. Beside him was an empty bottle of whiskey valued at 30. When OSullivan was arrested he was described as being highly intoxicated. The court was told that OSullivan had 29 previous convictions. Defence solicitor Killian McCarthy said his client had brought 600 to court in compensation for the hotel. He said his clients life had been blighted by alcohol as he approached his 40s with his first conviction being relatively recent in 2018. He said OSullivans previous convictions were all alcohol related and he had been in residential treatment. Mr McCarthy added that OSullivan who lives with his parents had pleaded guilty and made full admissions, had been alcohol-free since May and was engaging with treatment services. He added that OSullivan had taken up work and was also taking a course in coding and the routine of work had improved his outlook. Judge Joanne Carroll said there was evidence that OSullivan had turned his life around and was also engaging with treatment services. She said in the circumstances doing the best I can she would impose an 80-hour community service order in lieu of three months in prison for the January incident. The second charge was taken into consideration. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme The Tanaiste has accused social media companies of being able to clamp down on abusive behaviour and threats, but choosing not to. Simon Harris has been subject to a number of threats over the last few months, culminating two weeks ago in multiple bomb threats against his home and a threat to kidnap his children. Speaking in New York on Sunday, Mr Harris said it was his belief that social media companies could do more to stop abuse, but did not. Asked if he supported calls for new legislation, Mr Harris said that things like threats of violence and kidnapping were illegal and did not necessarily need new laws. He said Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy, who last week opened the Dail's new session with a call for an end to online abuse, "makes some interesting and valid points", particularly about the conduct of social media companies. "We have age verification in relation to social media. But do we really? I mean, we live in a country with a digital agent consent of 16. Does anybody really believe that people much younger than 16 aren't on social media? "Is it acceptable that you can set up an Instagram account Simon12345, and start sending abusive material to people, and then have to go to the district court, and then have to have an order to try and find out who's behind that anonymous account, and then the company might have up to seven days to give the gardai the information? "So I think there's an interesting conversation to be had around online safety." 'Laws need to be enforced' Mr Harris said both he and Taoiseach Micheal Martin are due to meet with media regulator Coimisiun na Mean soon to discuss the issue. "I have an open mind on this, but I do think there's existing laws that need to be enforced. And I think the Ceann Comhairle has started or reignited an interesting conversation. "I've used the term wild west [about social media]. Social media is good, I use it and it's not going to go away. Take all of that as read. But we can't have one set of laws that happen here and it's a completely different universe online. It just can't work like that. "The annoying thing here, though, annoying is too weak a word; if anybody was to have the solutions to these challenges, it's tech companies, and they're just choosing not to do it. They're just making a conscious decision. There's absolutely no reason that tech companies, who are experts in AI and the likes, wouldn't be using technological solutions to keep in the first instance, our kids safe online, and secondly, to ensure that the general space online is a safer space. "So isn't it kind of appalling that we're in this space, having another conversation about what law might we need to pass?" The Tanaiste has hit out at the holding of a UN conference on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, which will go ahead without representatives from the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas had hoped to attend a meeting this week, called for by France and Saudi Arabia and aimed at advancing a two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the United States revoked his visa last month. The UN told Mr Abbas he can address its annual meeting of world leaders by video. It comes as France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia on Sunday recognised a Palestinian state. Speaking in New York on Sunday, Mr Harris said it was "outrageous" that the conference would not have Mr Abbas or his government represented. "I think it is absolutely outrageous that [the United Nations General Assembly High-Level International Conference] is taking place, that there is a specific high-level conference on a two-state solution, and the Palestinian Authority aren't allowed to attend. "I think it is an extraordinarily dangerous precedent that the president of the Palestinian Authority, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, and the government of the Palestinian Authority have been blocked from attending the UN. That is a concern in relation to what's happening in the here and now regarding Palestine. "But it's also a dangerous precedent now, if people can decide who can and can't come to the United Nations." Mr Harris said he hoped to use this UN High-Level Week to see if there is now a majority of European Union states willing to back sanctions laid out by the bloc last week. The EU has laid out its toughest plan yet to pressure Israel to end its war in Gaza as Palestinians fled from Israeli tanks, drones and troops pushing deeper into the coastal enclave ravaged by 23 months of war. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged the 27 member nations to increase tariffs on some Israeli goods and impose sanctions on Israeli settlers, and two members of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus cabinet national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich. She also proposed sanctioning 10 Hamas leaders. Mr Harris said he believed that the EU's preferential trading treatment of Israel represents a "considerable flex" which European countries could use to urge Israel to end its war. Mr Harris said that while he wanted to see US president Donald Trump use his office to move Mr Netanyahu on the issue of Gaza, it was lazy to believe that nothing could be done without the US. In 2021, with the country still in the grip of the pandemic, a group of parents in Cork was desperately trying to highlight how their children had nowhere to go to school. As they turned 12, a sizeable group of students with a dual diagnosis of autism and an intellectual disability due to move on to senior schools had been left in limbo. The limited number of special schools already open were over-subscribed, and waiting lists were closed. Some parents sought legal advice after being offered home tuition by the Department of Education in lieu of a school place. The last resort measure was, and is, of little use to students with complex and varied needs, for whom the routine and structure provided by school is crucial. Running out of options, some parents turned to the media to highlight their childs case in the hopes of prompting action. All politics is local, and any public representative worth their salt knows that battles are won and lost at home. With that in mind, Taoiseach Micheal Martin himself a teacher and former education minister would likely have taken a keen interest in a shortage of school places right on his doorstep. It would have been impossible to ignore it when his own GAA club, Nemo Rangers, posted online its support for a family whose teenage son had been left without a school place for a second year in a row. Three days later, a new special school in Carrigaline was announced specifically to provide for the needs of children with autism and a mild or moderate general learning disability between the ages of four to 18. The school, Carrigaline Community Special School (CCSS), was to be opened by Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) the first flagship special school under its patronage. Cork ETB has been the only patron to open new special schools in Cork over the last five years. In 2021, it opened CCSS. In 2022, it established Rochestown Community Special School. In 2023, it opened East Cork Community Special School. This September, it opened North Cork Community Special School albeit in temporary accommodation, because its site in Carrignavar was not ready in time for the new school term. Each of these special schools was sanctioned by the Department of Education, and they were opened quickly to provide school places for students. Like all children, these students have the constitutional right to an appropriate education. That right extends further than simply getting a child in the door of a classroom and their name onto the roll book. Now entering its fifth year, parents at Carrigaline Community Special School have raised serious concerns with the Irish Examiner about the school. These concerns include high staff turnover, which at times has led to class closures, and the impact on students. There is also little to no access to the therapies and services necessary to access an education. Parents say these issues combined have created an environment that is causing high levels of anxiety and dysregulation among the schools students, resulting in students becoming distressed or lashing out. Parents at CCSS say the increased anxiety among the schools students has led to more referrals to Camhs, as well as increased school refusals. Rather than addressing the core issues behind these behaviours, they say the approach instead has been punitive, resulting in an out of control suspension rate. 17 suspensions in three years Freedom of Information requests, submitted by parents and shared with the Irish Examiner, confirm that Carrigaline Community Special School issued 17 official suspensions between 2021 and 2024. The school currently has 45 students. The last official suspension at CCSS happened in 2024. There hasnt been an official suspension at the school since parents raised concerns. The FOI documents also show Rochestown Community Special School has issued 14 official suspensions since it opened in 2022 and June of this year. Rochestown Community Special School in Cork has a similar suspension rate to its sister school in Carrigaline, issuing 14 suspensions between April 2023 and June this year. File picture: RCSS There have also been two official student suspensions in East Cork Community Special School recorded between December 2024 to June. Niamh OGrady, whose child attends Carrigaline Community Special School, said: I can tell you now that most of these children [in the school] would not understand the concept of suspension. All it does is cause stress and upset to parents. The suspensions are frozen at CCSS. We dont know when or if they will start again. Last December, a group of Carrigaline Community Special School parents wrote a signed letter to the Inspectorate of Schools. They warned that the school was in a state of crisis, and they asked for immediate intervention from it and the Department of Education. There have also been regular attempts to highlight concerns directly with the Taoiseachs office and with the minister of state for special education, Michael Moynihan. 'We have tried everything' We have tried everything, and we have waited for positive responses for everything, Ms OGrady said. We have written to the Inspectorate, to the board of management, Cork ETB, and weve engaged with the politicians. The fact is that time is marching on. Our children cant wait anymore. We want the staff supported, she added. "Im not criticising the staff. They go above and beyond, but the staff need support. We want the staff to feel more confident so its a happier place." Early this year, two parents met individually with the schools board of management and representatives of Cork ETB to discuss their concerns. They came away from these meetings feeling as if they had been treated in a way as to sit them down and shut them up, and labelled as adversarial for trying to highlight issues affecting their childrens education. Almost all of the parents who spoke to the Irish Examiner for this article asked to remain anonymous, fearing repercussions for their children. They say the high turnover of staff is directly affecting the students at Carrigaline Community Special School. It is understood at least six staff members have left the school this year alone. One former staff member told the Irish Examiner that CCSS is a very difficult environment to work in. They said: There are limited resources in the school, and requests to get resources are too often ignored or belittled. Staff are told there is no money available. Management has been dismissive of staff concerns, the former staff member said, adding that too little is being done to rectify the situation. The rate of staff and sub turnover is unlike any other special school in Cork. In 2022, parents at Carrigaline Community Special School found out children attending the school had been delisted from accessing respite and therapies by two traditional service providers, Cope and the Brothers of Charity. As an educational patron rather than a traditional disability services provider, Cork ETB has no direct access to either overnight respite services or respite beds. The school also does not have full-time therapists such as speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, or behavioural therapists working on-site. Last year, the school was included as one of several in Cork to pilot enhanced in-school therapy supports. The therapists on the pilot scheme come from a local childrens disability network team (CDNT), which is funded by the HSE. They provide 15 hours per week of speech and language therapy, along with occupational therapy. In a best-case scenario, this would allow each therapist an average of 20 minutes a week to work with each of the schools 45 students. A behavioural therapist also attends a weekly consultation and advice session with the school, but does not work directly with students. One parent said: "We desperately need an on-site, full-time behavioural support in the school directly working with the students and their families. "The lack of therapy support has massively impacted our children. The teams are overburdened and understaffed, they added. We need a private provider to have a contract with the Department of Education to serve the [Cork ETB] schools, and to be paid under a grant scheme. However, a proposal previously brought to the Cork ETB that would have allowed for private therapists to work in the school under a service-level agreement, similar to ones in other special schools, was rejected by the Cork ETB. Cork ETB did not provide a direct response when asked by the Irish Examiner why this was rejected. Parents speak out Where would the children be now if they had gotten that help? one parent asked. Parents of children attending Carrigaline Community Special School told Irish Examiner Education Correspondent Jess Casey of their concerns. Picture: Getty/iStockphoto Each of the parents who spoke to the Irish Examiner highlighted the need for urgent action. Weve gone too long, and our children have gone too long, without proper support. We cant get those years back." One parent said they are concerned about the chopping and changing due to high staff turnover and the impact of this on students. They need consistency and routine, and theres no planning for things. The parent also raised concerns about the closures of classes due to staffing issues. There have been cases where there hasnt been enough staff, so theyve done a hybrid kind of thing, where one child is in Thursday but out on Friday and vice versa. To me, its not good enough. "At the end of the day, you wouldnt go into mainstream and say: Half the class come in. There would be murder. You dont do things like that. They added it would be impossible to hold down a full-time job with a child attending Carrigaline Community Special School, as parents are called to pick their children up so regularly. Their child is now totally dysregulated throughout the school day. "The environment is just wrong. All the behaviours we have in school, it wasnt happening at home. "Being told there isnt enough staff so you cant send your child in today thats not on. It wouldnt be acceptable in a mainstream school, so why should we have to take it? Each of the parents spoke about wanting to move their children from the school. One of the parents said: There is nowhere else. "We had no school place for a few years. I know obviously places are limited but... "If I had the choice in the morning, I would change, even though change is massive for my child. You really feel like you are stuck. You want the best for your child. Its such a big part of their life and your life. The parent spoke highly of their childs teacher, adding they have absolutely no complaints about the teachers or SNAs. The teachers need help. They need specialised guidance from an occupational or a speech therapist. Every child is so different. All of those therapies would really benefit those classes, but they are just not being given. A third parent said their child has completely regressed. The high staff turnover has been detrimental. "My child has gone from someone who loves school to someone with real regression. "We had zero choice. This is not a school we would have sent our child to. There is no clearly-defined curriculum. There is no evidence whatsoever of any type of educational guidance from Cork ETB. They seem to have thrown all these children in with a one-system-fits-all approach. Its not fair on the children who have huge needs and on those who have milder needs. They are just being missed out, because the teachers and the staff have to prioritise those with the greater needs. To be honest, its more like a childminding service. The parent also added that, in the past, there has been poor communication about transitions such as a new teacher. You have children starting who need to have a routine, and who need to be given information in advance. "We would find out the night before school starts every single year who was going to be their teacher, if they even had a teacher, and that would be after plaguing the management to get answers. Its just not good enough. The anxiety that leads to is horrendous. There are no opportunities for students to get workplace experience as there would be in other special schools, the parent added. Theres no simple things like there would be in other special schools such as woodwork, drama, dance, art. Its not providing the educational or the social skills that should be happening under the patronage it has, which is really unfair. "Its like our children are being used as an absolute scapegoat. "They are getting no education, and I cant see how their future is going to develop or improve. If anything, its regressing. Being categorised as autistic means their child has fewer chances and fewer choices, the parent added. That goes against everything this country is meant to be about. 'Completely ridiculous' As the family support services manager with the Shine Centre for Autism in Carrigaline, Kieran Kennedy helps families navigate their childs rights to education, entitlements, and services. The registered charity, which is based in Carrigaline, was set up by parents more than two decades ago to support autistic children and their families. Family support services manager with the Shine Centre for Autism in Carrigaline, Kieran Kennedy. Picture: ShineIreland.com Mr Kennedy confirmed to the Irish Examiner that he is aware of issues flagged by parents about Carrigaline Community Special School, particularly the exceptionally high suspension rate. Its completely out of the norm. Its miles bigger than anywhere else. "Its just completely ridiculous. There are a lot of children in that school who are suffering. I think the biggest problem they have is the lack of health supports going into that school. "Its horrendous. You can give people a certain amount of time, but two years? Three years? I mean, come on. "Kids are leaving the school, and they have had no services. If they really want to solve the problem, it would be solved. He added: If you have problems in that school, in general, people with sensory issues, behavioural issues, social anxiety issues they all need to be addressed. If you dont address them, they just fester within the school system and start causing problems and, hey presto, you have a suspension rate that is out of control. For parent Niamh OGrady, time is of the essence. We have tried everything, and we have waited for positive responses for everything, she said. We have written to the Inspectorate, to the board of management, Cork ETB, and weve engaged with the politicians. "The fact is that time is marching on. Our children cant wait anymore. Cork ETB engaging intensively In response to queries from the Irish Examiner on the issues raised, Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) said it is aware of the matters raised and has engaged intensively with parents around their concerns. In a statement, Cork ETB said: The care and welfare of our students and their educational progress is always the number one priority for Cork ETB and for our special schools. We deeply appreciate the trust that parents place in us by enrolling their children in our special schools. We adopt a child-centred approach that prioritises our school values of excellence in education, care, equality, community, and respect. Cork ETB is the patron and management body of 31 schools, including community national schools, community special schools, and post-primary schools, with a total enrolment of 15,336 students, it said. Since 2021, Cork ETB has opened four special schools in Cork with an anticipated total enrolment of 160 children by the end of 2025. In developing our schools, we work closely in partnership with the relevant statutory agencies, including the Department of Education and Youth, the National Council for Special Education, the National Educational Psychological Service, the HSE, and the Inspectorate, as well as the National Parents Council, the statement added. The ETB continues to grow and develop its special schools to meet the needs of its students and enhance its provision, it said. Our schools benefit from considerable specialist expertise and skills, both internally and through the support of other State agencies, to support both students and staff across a range of areas. In particular, Cork ETB is part of a national pilot programme to develop in-school disability therapies. [It] is working closely with the relevant agencies to ensure its success. Our schools engage with parents regularly, both in their daily interactions and through our boards of management and parents councils. Cork ETB, through our schools, is engaged with the National Parents Council to support and further develop the role of parents in our schools. Cork ETB values our school staff, and we recognise the very important work that they do. We have a range of supports available to staff in our schools to ensure they are appropriately upskilled and supported in their work. Cork ETB looks forward to continuing to develop our special schools and to ensuring that our students receive an excellent education in a caring and supportive environment. Department is supporting resolution efforts The Department of Education and Youth said it has actively engaged with parents and the school to address concerns raised. Minister Michael Moynihan, along with department officials, has met with parent groups and the school in question to support resolution efforts, it said. The departments Inspectorate has also conducted several visits to Carrigaline Community Special School since its opening in 2021, including four advisory visits in 2024/25. There are now 17 special schools in Cork. Of these, 75% are operated by patrons other than Cork ETB. These 13 special schools provide education and support to over 1,000 children and young people with complex special educational needs. The department has provided substantial investment and tailored supports to ensure these schools are equipped to meet the needs of their communities, it said. As part of Education 2025, minister Helen McEntee and minister Michael Moynihan have announced the creation of a new education therapy service, which will support special schools from the 2025/26 school year. Separately, there are six special schools in Cork accessing the HSE-led in-school therapy pilot programme that includes Carrigaline Community Special School. The department said it has published guidelines on managing behaviours of concern and crisis situations in schools, developed through extensive consultation and trialled in special schools. These guidelines prioritise prevention, uphold childrens rights, and require schools to report incidents involving restraint to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The department will continue to monitor implementation and update the guidelines as needed. The NCSE continues to provide support to both schools and families and remains available to assist. Families seeking further support can contact the NCSE, it said. Ms McEntee and Mr Moynihan have committed to establishing a new education therapy service that will see therapists working directly in special schools from the 2025/26 school year, supporting children with a wide range of needs. Separately, six special schools in Cork including Carrigaline Community Special School are accessing the HSE-led in-school therapy pilot programme. The department said it has published Understanding Behaviours of Concern and Responding to Crisis Situations in Schools, a comprehensive set of guidelines developed in response to the need for clearer support for schools in managing challenging behaviours and crisis situations. Grounded in a childrens rights perspective, the guidelines promote core values, including child wellbeing, respect, collaboration, whole-school approaches, safety, and legal compliance, it said. A planning application has been lodged with Cork City Council seeking the go-ahead to amalgamate a number of upstairs units of the Merchant's Quay Shopping Centre to create a large new restaurant space. Dublin firm Yolo Party Ltd, headed by Ho Wing, has lodged the plans stating the space will be used for the provision of a 'Wing's World Cuisine' restaurant. The company already runs such an outlet on Dublin's Wolfe Tone Street, described as a casual dining buffet with a variety of cooking stations preparing meals from around the world. US President Donald Trump and prominent members of his Make America Great Again movement have been paying tribute to assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The memorial service for Mr Kirk, whom Mr Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, drew tens of thousands of mourners, including vice president JD Vance, other senior administration officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand. Speakers highlighted Mr Kirks profound faith and his strong belief that young conservatives need to get married, build families and pass on their values to keep building their movement. Those close to Mr Kirk prayed and the floors shook from the bass of Christian rock bands as the home of the NFLs Arizona Cardinals took on the feel of a megachurch service. People wait in line before a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk (Jae C Hong/AP) Charlie looked at politics as an on-ramp to Jesus, said the Rev Rob McCoy, Mr Kirks pastor. Mr Kirks assassination on September 10 during an appearance at a Utah college campus has become a singular moment for the modern-day conservative movement. It also has set off a fierce debate about violence, decency and free speech in an era of deep political division. The shooting has stirred fear among some Americans that Mr Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to suppress the voices of his critics and political opponents. People began lining up before dawn to secure a spot inside State Farm Stadium, west of Phoenix, where Mr Kirks Turning Point organisation is based. Security was tight, similar to the Super Bowl or other high-profile events. The 63,400-seat stadium quickly filled with people dressed in red, white and blue, as organisers suggested. I think that this is going to change things, and I think he made such a difference, said Crystal Herman, who travelled from Branson, Missouri. He deserves us to be here. President Donald Trump waves at supporters during a memorial for Charlie Kirk (Ross D Franklin/AP) Photos of Mr Kirk at work or with his wife, Erika, were on easels throughout the concession areas of the main concourse level. Some people posed for photos next to them. Were going to celebrate the life of a great man today, Mr Trump told reporters before heading to Arizona. Mr Trump has blamed the radical left for Mr Kirks death and threatened to go after liberal organisations and donors or others whom he feels are maligning or celebrating Mr Kirks death. Dozens of people, from journalists to teachers to late show host Jimmy Kimmel, have faced suspensions or lost their jobs as prominent conservative activists and administration officials target comments about Mr Kirk that they deem offensive or celebratory. The retaliation has in turn ignited a debate over the First Amendment as the Republican administration promises retribution against those who air what are seen as disparaging remarks in the wake of Mr Kirks death. Some speakers at the memorial framed Mr Kirk as a martyr in a battle against evil and referred often to a vague they as the enemy. A few took a confrontational tone. Passengers at Heathrow could face another day of disruption after a cyber attack affected several major European airports. In the UK, terror law watchdog Jonathan Hall KC said it was possible state-sponsored hackers could be behind the attack on Collins Aerospace, which operates check-in and boarding systems. On Monday morning Heathrow said work was continuing to resolve and recover from the outage in the system. Mr Hall, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said attributing the attack would not be easy. Asked if a state like Russia could have been responsible for the attack, he told Times Radio anything is possible. He said: Yes, its possible that this is carried out directly by a state, but its equally possible to be carried out by a private entity that is, sort of, allowed to operate and does it for a combination of public and private reasons. That meant attacks were deniable for states, even if hackers were based there. He said: There are some very capable private entities, lets say, in Russia or China, who wont necessarily be being directed by Russia or China. So its not as if a member of the GRU (the Russian military intelligence agency) is necessarily going into a company and saying that youve got the capability of knocking out some UK infrastructure, please go and do it now. Its also possible, in this ecosystem that exists in some of these countries, that a company, an entity, carries out a hack and simply does it for patriotic reasons, or does it because they want to curry favour, or maybe theres some sort of informal relationship with them. The incident caused misery for many travellers (Maja Smiejkowska/PA) So although we think, understandably, about states deciding to do things it is also possible for very, very powerful and sophisticated private entities to do things as well. The attack caused disruption at Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin over the weekend. In a statement on Monday morning, Heathrow said: Work continues to resolve and recover from an outage of a Collins Aerospace airline system that impacted check-in. We apologise to those who have faced delays, but by working together with airlines, the vast majority of flights have continued to operate. Passengers should check their flight status before travelling to the airport and arrive no earlier than three hours before long-haul flights and two hours for short-haul. Brussels Airport said it was expecting disruption to continue on Monday with delays and cancellations. Dua Lipa has reportedly fired her agent after he signed a letter to prevent Kneecap to perform at Glastonbury because of their pro-Palestine activism. The pop star has reportedly fired her agent, David Levy, after he signed a letter calling for Kneecap to be removed from the festivals line-up in July. Several artists and professionals in the music industry had signed the letter, which was sent to Glastonbury festival founder Michael Eavis. Among those who signed the letter was Mr Levy, Dua Lipas agent from the WME talent agency. A source in the music industry told The Mail on Sunday that Dua Lipa fired Mr Levy because her pro-Palestine stance doesnt align with his views. She views him as being a supporter of Israels war in Gaza, and the terrible treatment of the Palestinians and that was made very clear through the letter that he signed and sent to Michael Eavis, the source told The Mail. The Irish Examiner has contacted the WME agency for comment. A criminal investigation into the performance of the Belfast rap trio at Glastonbury Festival was dropped by the British police. Avon and Somerset Police said it will be taking no further action on the grounds that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence. The investigation had been announced in June after video footage and audio recordings from Kneecap were reviewed at the Somerset festival. The trio commented at the time on social media: We played a historic set at Glastonbury. Whole area closed an hour before due to crowds. A celebration of love and solidarity. A sea of good people at the worlds most famous festival. Egyptian authorities on Monday announced the presidential pardon of prominent British activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, according to his lawyer Khaled Ali and an announcement by Egypts state TV. British-Egyptian dual national Mr El-Fattah, who has been in prison for six years, was a leading voice in the countrys 2011 Arab Spring uprising. A charity has severed ties with Sarah Ferguson after it was disclosed she sent a message to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein describing him as a supreme friend. A spokesman for Britain's Prince Andrew's wife previously said she apologised to Epstein in April 2011 for associating him with paedophilia in the media because he threatened to sue her. On Monday, childrens hospice Julias House said the correspondence made it inappropriate for her to continue as a patron. Following the information shared this weekend on Ms Ferguson's correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia's House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity The charitys statement read: Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of Yorks correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julias House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity. We have advised the Duchess of York of this decision and thank her for her past support. The Sun newspaper reported that the duchess humbly apologised to Epstein for linking him to paedophilia in the media, describing him as steadfast and generous. Her spokesman said it was sent in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats. The email stemmed from an interview with the Evening Standard on March 7, 2011, in which she apologised for accepting 15,000 from the sex offender. During the interview, she told the newspaper: I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say. Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again. A little over a month later, the duchess sent a message to Epstein, in which she said: I know you feel hellaciously let down by me. And I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that. You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family. It continued: I was advised in no uncertain terms, to have nothing to do with you and to not speak or email you. And if I did I would cause more problems to you, the Duke and myself. I was broken and lost. So please understand. I didnt want to hurt Andrew one more time. I was in over-riding fear. I am sorry. Ms Ferguson's spokesman previously said she had spoken of her regret about her association with Epstein and does not resile from condemning him publicly. He added that Epstein had threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia. Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, in the US, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide. Egyptian authorities on Monday announced the presidential pardon of prominent British activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who has been in prison for almost all of the past 12 years. A statement from the presidents office said that another five prisoners were also pardoned. It was not immediately clear when they will walk free. The British-Egyptian dual nationals lawyer Khaled Ali told the Associated Press on Monday that Mr Abd El-Fattah is expected to be released from Wadi Natron Prison, just north of Cairo, immediately after the states decision is published in the countrys official gazette, which he expects is likely within the next two days. Laila Soueif, Mr Abd El-Fattahs mother, said she was heading to the prison where her son is held. I wont rest until he is out, she said. Alaa Abd El-Fattah in a cage in a Cairo court (AP) Mr Abd El-Fattah was a leading voice in the countrys 2011 Arab Spring uprising and has gone on multiple hunger strikes behind bars. His ordeal became emblematic of the fraying of Egypts democracy. He took part in the 2011 uprising that toppled autocratic former president Hosni Mubarak, and later was active in protests against human rights abuses as well as military trials of civilians. He was first sent to prison in 2014 for taking part in an unauthorised protest and allegedly assaulting a police officer. He was released in early 2019. He was arrested again in September 2019 during a security crackdown that followed rare anti-government protests in Egypt, and after more than two years in pre-trial detention an emergency security court sentenced him to five years for spreading false news. Mona Seif takes part in a vigil for her brother (Jordan Pettitt/PA) When his release date came up in September 2024, authorities refused to count the more than two years he spent in pre-trial detention and ordered him held until January 3, 2027. My heart will explode, his sister Mona Seif posted on Facebook, relieved about the news of his pardon. The pardon by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi came after an independent rights group submitted a petition to the presidents office earlier this month. The National Council for Human Rights, acting on behalf of the families of the prisoners, urged Mr el-Sisi to consider Mr Abd El-Fattahs situation and that of the six others on health and humanitarian grounds. Earlier this month Mr el-Sisis office said he had ordered relevant authorities to look into it. Mr Abd El-Fattahs family waged a campaign to pressure the UK to help secure his freedom and take him in. When Egypt failed to release Mr Abd El-Fattah last September, his mother began her own hunger strike in Britain, but became seriously ill and ended the strike in July. An influential blogger, Mr Abd El-Fattah hails from a family of political activists, lawyers and writers. People at an Amnesty International vigil for Alaa Abd El-Fattah (Jordan Pettitt/PA) His late father was one of Egypts most tireless rights lawyers and his sisters are also political activists. His aunt is the award-winning novelist Ahdaf Soueif. Mr Abd El-Fattahs most dramatic hunger strike came in 2022, as Egypt hosted an annual UN climate summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. That strike ended when he lost consciousness and was revived with fluids. The leaders of Britain, France and Germany said they sought Mr Abd El-Fattahs release in private talks with Mr el-Sisi during the climate conference. Still, European countries, which have a growing interest in Egypts gas reserves, and the US, which sees Mr el-Sisi as a key source of stability, were reluctant to openly clash with Egypt. The circumstances surrounding the latest appeal for his release were different from previous ones, Mr Ali told The Associated Press earlier this month, in part because of his mothers hunger strike, which added a humane element to the petition. This is really promising, we hope these authorities follow through with urgency and that Alaa will be reunited with us soon, his sister, Sanaa Souief, said on X earlier this month. Mr Ali said earlier this month that a court order had removed his clients name from the governments terrorism list, which would allow him to travel out of the country once he is freed. It was not immediately known if he would leave Egypt, but Mr Ali said that his client has a desire to keep his Egyptian citizenship and live in Egypt. I hope this pardon creates an opportunity to find a serious solution for prolonged pre-trial detentions and sentences against politicians and activists just because they had an opinion, Mr Ali said at the time. Four men were injured as members of the public and security staff intervened to stop a suspected knifeman in London's Leicester Square. Emergency services were called to the scene in central London just after 1am on Sunday after reports of a man with a knife threatening members of the public. Videos on social media appear to show members of the public and security staff intervening and pinning someone to the ground. Four men, aged in their 20s and 30s, suffered injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing, the Metropolitan Police said. A 50-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon, affray and possession of a Class B drug, the force added. He has since been detained under the Mental Health Act. Former Met Police DCI David McKelvey, who is the chief executive of private firm My Local Bobby, said four of his security staff, who are paid for locally, were on the scene very quickly. He said: None of our staff were injured. The bobbies on duty were called, ran over to the scene, arrived very, very quickly, detained the suspect and called police. He added: Two of the bobbies who were there had received a commendation from the police the day before in relation to a stabbing. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: We were called at 01:08hrs on Sunday, September 21 to Leicester Square, Westminster to reports of a man with a knife threatening members of the public. Officers attended and found four men, aged in their 20s and 30s, with injuries. They are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing. A 50-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon, affray and possession of a Class B drug. He has since been detained under the Mental Health Act. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or online, quoting CAD 445/21SEP. Or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: We were called at 1.14am on Sunday, September 21, to reports of an incident in Leicester Square, Westminster. We sent resources, including ambulance crews, clinicians in response cars, a clinical team manager and an incident response officer. We treated five people and took two of them to hospital. Two of them were discharged at the scene. France has recognised Palestinian statehood at the start of a high-profile meeting at the United Nations aimed at galvanising support for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict. More nations are expected to follow, in defiance of Israel and the United States. French President Emmanuel Macrons announcement in the UN General Assembly hall received loud applause from the more than 140 leaders in attendance. The Palestinian delegation, including its UN ambassador, Riyad Mansour, could be seen standing and applauding as the declaration was made. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, was seen applauding on a live-camera view after the US government banned him from attending the UN gathering in person. True to the historic commitment of my country to the Middle East, to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, this is why I declare that today, France recognises the state of Palestine, Mr Macron said. The meeting and expanded recognition of Palestinian statehood are expected to have little if any actual impact on the ground, where Israel is waging another major offensive in the Gaza Strip and expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank. Mr Macron announced recognition of the state of Palestine at the start of the meeting, at which several world leaders were expected to speak. The UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognised the state of Palestine on Sunday, and the Palestinians expect a total of 10 countries to do so in the coming days. Around three-quarters of the 193 members of the United Nations recognise Palestine, but major Western nations had until recently declined to, saying one could only come about through negotiations with Israel. Palestinians have welcomed the moves towards recognition, hoping they might someday lead to independence. The creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem territories seized by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war is widely seen internationally as the only way to resolve the conflict, which began more than a century before Hamass October 7 attack that ignited the war in Gaza nearly two years ago. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government opposed Palestinian statehood even before the war and now says such a move would reward Hamas, the militant group that still controls parts of Gaza. He has hinted Israel might take unilateral steps in response, including annexing parts of the West Bank, which would put a viable Palestinian state even further out of reach. A UN official brushed off such threats, saying efforts to bring about a two-state solution should continue regardless of Israels actions. I think we have to be determined in achieving the goal that we want to achieve, and we cannot be distracted by threats and intimidation, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Mr Netanyahu is under pressure from his far-right coalition to move ahead with annexation, but the United Arab Emirates the driving force behind the 2020 Abraham Accords, in which the UAE and three other Arab states forged ties with Israel has called it a red line, without saying how it could affect the two countries now close ties. Mr Netanyahu said he would decide on Israels response to the Palestinian statehood push after meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House next week, their fourth meeting since Mr Trump returned to office. The Israeli leader is set to address world leaders at the UN on Friday. The Trump administration is also opposed to growing recognition of a Palestinian state and blames it for the derailment of ceasefire talks with Hamas. Mr Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, walked away from the talks in July, and earlier this month an Israeli strike targeted Hamas negotiators in Qatar, a key mediator. Mr Abbass internationally recognised Palestinian Authority is led by rivals of Hamas and administers parts of the West Bank. It recognises Israel, co-operates with it on security matters, and is committed to a two-state solution. France and Saudi Arabia have advanced a phased plan in which a reformed Palestinian Authority would eventually govern the West Bank and Gaza with international assistance. It was overwhelmingly supported by the General Assembly on September 12 by a vote of 142-10. Twelve members abstained. Hamas, which won the last Palestinian national elections in 2006, has at times hinted it might accept a state on the 1967 lines but remains formally committed to a Palestinian state in all of the territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, including Israel. 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 remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. ( Middle East Monitor ) While the genocide and destruction in Gaza have reached unprecedented levels, Israel now appears to be moving towards its next bold step a West Bank version of the Gaza endgame scenario. Tension is mounting regionally and globally over a possible imminent Israeli declaration to annex the occupied West Bank. If it happens, the move would mark a major turning point in the timeline of the Arab-Israeli conflict over the land of Palestine. There are serious and real concerns that Israel may, in the coming days, announce the annexation of the West Bank. The annexation of the West Bank to Israel is a central part of the political project of two main parties allied with Likud in this extremist government led by Netanyahu, said Qadura Fares, the former Palestinian minister and member of the Legislative Council, in a phone conversation from Ramallah in the West Bank. At the same time, we are witnessing a historic shift as Western nations long supportive of Israel begin to take a different stance, recognising the State of Palestine one after another. These strong Western voices are also warning Israel, in real time, against any unilateral annexation of the West Bank in response to this global wave of recognition. This government in Israel has two options now on the table. It can either respond diplomatically to each of the countries recognising Palestine, or it can declare the annexation of the West Bank as a collective punishment against those nations, Ambassador Alon Liel, retired senior Israeli diplomat, told me in a short conversation. For many Israelis, this is seen as the moment to change realities on the ground taking advantage of Western recognition of Palestine as a pretext to move deeper into the West Bank. While everything they have done in Gaza so far has been approved by the Trump administration, they foresee that this golden era in Washington will not return anytime soon. With the unprecedented support President Trump is granting Israel, taking full sovereignty of the land is exactly what the Israeli far right needs now. As Jason Shvili wrote in the far-right Israeli newspaper Israel HaYom: No other US administration, Democrat or Republican, has been more receptive to the idea of Israel extending its sovereignty to Judea and Samaria, so annexation must happen as soon as possible. Retired Israeli ambassador and senior diplomat Alon Liel agrees that the chances are high the USA will back Israel in such a step. But he adds: The real fear inside the government now is the threat annexation may pose to the Abraham Accords. The achievement of the Accords and relations with the UAE and Bahrain are attributed to PM Netanyahu. Taking over the West Bank may threaten the future of these agreements. These accords are seen as Netanyahus biggest diplomatic achievement. Annexing the West Bank has long been a central vision for the future of the Jewish state according to the Israeli agenda, but timing is critical. As we see day by day on the ground in Gaza, Israel has pushed much of Gazas population southward, concentrating residents into a narrow strip of land and effectively emptying large areas of Palestinians. These actions appear aimed at displacement, potentially forcing Gazas Palestinians to leave for Egypt as part of a broader strategy for a Greater Israel, another vision repeatedly mentioned in the narrative of several ministers in the coalition currently running Israel and leading the ongoing war we are witnessing right now. Bringing the West Bank formally under Israeli sovereignty would therefore complete the picture unifying the lands of historic Palestine under the authority of the self-styled Jewish state The annexation of the West Bank is linked to other plan in the Israeli agenda, linked to the displacement of the Palestinians, the transfer of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Jerusalem into Jordan said former Palestinian minister and member of the Legislative Council, Qadura Fares This harms the Jordanian sovereignty, a decisive stance must be taken by all Arab countries to respond to Israel, Mr. Fares added. Israeli opposition, represented by Yair Lapid, the leader of the Yesh Atid party, expressed its disapproval of the possible move to annex the West Bank. Lapids concern was not a fundamental objection to the idea of annexation itself, but rather the timing and the heavy diplomatic cost. What are they trying to do? Further damage our international relations? All well get out of this is more serious international backlash for something that has no viability, Lapid said earlier this month. He described calls for taking over the West Bank as another provocation toward a world that is already turning its back on us. Image of Palestinian West Bank by oktay karatasoglu from Pixabay Former ambassador Alon Liel believes the opinion of the other segment of Israeli society is completely different. The religious part of the population in Israel does not care about the world if we lose the support of the world or not, they see the world as antisemitic anyhow. Israel is sharply divided, Liel said. Former Palestinian minister Qadura Fares emphasized that the West Bank is occupied and will remain so regardless of any possible annexation order. Palestinians therefore have the right to resist the occupation, and any annexation would be illegal, adding yet another entry to a long list of Israeli actions deemed violations under international law. Both the measures Israel is taking in Gaza pushing the population outward and crushing resistance and its actions in the West Bank, from the destruction of refugee camps like Nour Shams and Jenin to expanding illegal settlements and cutting the regions geographical integrity, follow a single prescription. They make a Palestinian state on the land occupied in 1967 impossible. They kill all chances of a two-state solution and pave the way for uprooting the Palestinian people entirely, leaving the land to the Jewish state. Israel is seizing what it sees as the best use of the remaining three years of the current US administration. In this window, the impossible becomes possible a season unlikely to return under any future administration. But the true end of eight-decade Palestinian struggle will take far longer than these three years. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment. Via Middle East Monitor Revised. Quatrain 16 in the first edition of Edward FitzGeralds translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam underlines that life is fleeting for everyone, even the rich and powerful, and even for monarchs. FitzGerald was an entrepreneurial Radical in Victorian terms, who disliked the aristocracy and favored the republican form of government for newly established nation-states in Europe such as Italy. Singling out kings as a demonstration case of how time holds still for no one may have been a way of subtly expressing this republicanism. XVI. Think, in this batterd Caravanserai Whose Doorways are alternate Night and Day, How Sultan after Sultan with his Pomp Abode his Hour or two, and went his way. The original was identified by A.J. Arberry as no. 98 in the Calcutta manuscript that Edward Cowell sent back to FitzGerald in 1857. It can now be found here. My literal translation in iambic heptameter would go this way: This ancient caravanserai whose nickname is the world provides a dappled refuge for each morning and each eve. It is a banquet that left a hundred Jamshids behind. It is a palace where a hundred Bahrams took their rest. - Order Juan Coles contemporary poetic translation of the Rubaiyat from Bloomsbury (IB Tauris) or Barnes and Noble. or for $16 at Amazon Kindle The word for caravanserai here in the original is ribat, which is discussed by J. Chabbi in The Encyclopedia of Islam. In the early centuries of Islam it referred to a military garrison where troops were stationed. However, because it was secure, trading caravans began stopping off at such places, staying the night on their way to their destination. So the word came to have the connotation of inn or caravanserai. In the 1100s and 1200s some ribats began being used as Sufi centers, which established them as a separate space than the mosque, and under the control of spiritual adepts rather than legalistic clergy. The Turkish word khaneqah was also used for such mystical places of retreat. Here, FitzGerald made a note that the word means caravanserai, and that is certainly correct. For the poets, a caravan is a symbol of impermanence, since it stays on the move. The great mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi wrote, as well Many a caravan you must forsake until you one day reach the dwelling-place. For Rumi, a pious Sufi, the dwelling-place or permanent abode is union with the divine, whereas in this world of gross matter we just stop off at temporary inns along the spiritual path. We find a similar trope in Baba Afzal Kashani, The worlds a caravanserai and were its guests; so dont imagine well stay long. In both these worlds its only God that stays The rest are but All on it are fleeting. The last quotation in this quatrain is from the Quran, 55:26, meaning all on the surface of the earth are impermanent. It illustrates that the emphasis on the ephemerality of all things found both in mystical and secular Persian poetry has roots in the Muslim scripture. Scripture and the pious drew a different lesson from it than did the secular-minded, though. For the latter, the lesson was that one may as well enjoy the good things of life, since it wont last long, and they doubted there is an afterlife. Baba Afzal Kashani (d. c. 1213 or 1214) was a spiritual philosopher and an acknowledged master of the Persian quatrain. The great William Chittick writes of him, various passages in his prose works point to the spiritual benefits the traveler (salek)a favorite Sufi termwill gain by studying; e.g., He will find his own self, which is the treasury of the realities of all things and the leaven (maya) of infinite existence (Mosannafat, p. 149; cf. pp. 321, 724). Baba Afzal alludes in several places to the knowledge he has acquired through purifying his own soul; e.g., God gave him familiarity with the radiance of His own Being, making him into a mirror that reflected the whole of the universe (ibid., p. 83; cf. p. 259). In a letter he mentions spending sixty years in the worlds darkness and discovering the water of life, which is intellect (aql, kerad). Since my tongue has tasted intellects sweetness and savor, I have taken up residence at its wellspring (ibid., pp. 698-99). In this quatrain of Khayyam, unlike in the very next stanza, FitzGerald did not name Jamshid and Bahram V as kings, using the vague How Sultan after Sultan with his Pomp . . . But they are referred to in the Persian quatrain on which he based 1:16. The Metropolitan Museum gives us a glimpse of Bahrams later career as a hero of fable, telling us about a royal illustration of one of his adventures: Shah Shangul asked Bahram to rid the world of a monstrous rhinowolf, which tore the hearts from lions and the skin from leopards. Bahram strung up his bow and sped toward the rhinowolf, pouring a mighty hail of arrows onto the beast. In this painting, the image of the rhinowolf breaks through the rulings of the painting into the margins, lending the composition dynamism and suggesting the extension of the setting beyond the confines of the page. When the bombing of Gaza will finally cease, the U.S. administration will push the post-genocide opportunity for property development. In this quest, Tony Blair is the public face; Jared Kushner, the commissioner; and the Trump White House, the architect. New York (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) The jackals are back! In early September, Jared Kushner, President Trumps son-in-law and the scion of another Big Apple real estate tycoon, began working with U.S. administration, eager to plan for post-genocide Gaza. After two years of destruction of Gaza and genocide of Palestinians, it was time for economic development or at least property development. Converting military victories to political victories Kushner had served as Trumps go-between in the Abraham Accords that seeks to normalize the relations among Israel and Arab states. Mediated by the United States, the Accords are a set of deals between Israel, Gulf States (UAE, Bahrain) and Arab states (Morocco, Sudan). But to Netanyahu, these accords were the first step in ejecting Palestine from the Middle East talks. The goal has been to bring Saudi Arabia under the umbrella. Yet, Israels genocidal atrocities in Gaza and violent pogroms in the West Bank have effectively undermined the plan. Riyadh has little incentive to inflame regional destabilization, which would penalize Saudi Vision 2030, the huge modernization and diversification program. Talking in a recent No Priors podcast, hosted by his AI biz pals Elad Gil and Sarah Guo, Kushner stated that Hamas in Gaza is basically destroyed. They have an opportunity to convert those military victories into political victories. If youre able to find a satisfactory resolution you can get to a place where full normalization with Saudi and Israel. No Priors Ep. 131 | With Jared Kushner Please enable JavaScript play-sharp-fill Embed Copy and paste this HTML code into your webpage to embed. No Priors Ep. 131 | With Jared Kushner But Kushner is neither the first nor the last in this macabre effort to cash on the decimation of Gaza and the genocide of the Gazans. Israeli quest of Gazas forcible cleansing Barely a week after October 7, Israels intelligence ministry, which oversees policies related to the intelligence organizations Mossad and Shin Bet, prepared a secret memorandum on Gaza. Headed by Gila Gamliel, a veteran of Netanyahus Likud Party, the ministry sought to persuade the U.S. and other countries to support Israels goals. The memo recommended the forcible transfer of Gazas 2.3 million residents to Egypts Sinai as the preferred course of action. It encouraged Israels government to lead a public campaign in the West to promote the expulsion of Gazas population as a humanitarian necessity. The challenge was to enlist Washington to exert pressure on Egypt, along with other countries in Europe and the Middle East, to absorb the Gazans. Unsurprisingly, the memo sparked a global firestorm over ethnic cleansing. Yet, Gamliels ministry was advised by an Israeli thinktank to cash on the operation. The Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy saw ethnic cleansing as a commercial opportunity and presented the plan as well-aligned with the economic and geopolitical interests of the State of Israel, Egypt, the USA and Saudi Arabia. In reality, all of these countries oppose vocally such plans. So, Netanyahus cabinet developed Plan B. The Gaza 2035 Plan In February 2024, outraged by Israels mass atrocities in Gaza, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority developed a joint political vision for rehabilitating the Gaza Strip and establishing a Palestinian state after the Israel-Hamas war. To preempt such schemes, PM Netanyahus office presented its own vision of Gaza 2035. It highlighted the Strips role in the historical Baghdad-Egypt trade routes and Yemen-Europe trade routes. It proposed to reintegrate Gaza into the regional economy under Israeli terms. The Gaza 2035 Plan Gaza today Ruins of Beit Lahia, in the Gaza Strip, destroyed by Israeli bombardments, February 23, 2025, Jaber Jehad Badwan, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. H/t Wikimedia. During the first year of the humanitarian aid phase, Israel would create safe areas free of Hamas control. Gazans would run humanitarian aid, but under the supervision of a coalition of Arab states. An Arab coalition would create a multilateral Gaza Rehabilitation Authority (GRA), to oversee the reconstruction and the Strips finances. The GRA would not include members of Hamas or the Palestinian Authority (PA), which would be reformed. The key to the plan was huge infrastructure investment, which Israel delegated to the Arab countries. But Israels carrots did little to instigate Arab interest or U.S. blessings. Hard-sell of the century During a press conference with PM Netanyahu in February 2024, President Trump said the United States will take over the Gaza Strip. Gaza, Trump suggested, could become a Riviera of the Middle East. The US will take over the Gaza Strip ABC: Trump: The US will take over the Gaza Strip Please enable JavaScript play-sharp-fill Embed Copy and paste this HTML code into your webpage to embed. Trump: 'The US will take over the Gaza Strip' Crafted largely by Kushner and unveiled in 2020, the Trump plan envisioned Israel annexing all of its settlements in the West Bank while granting the Palestinians a pathway to a semi-contiguous state on the remaining territory. The aim was to eject Palestinians from any serious discussion on their future. Dreaming of the Nobel peace prize, Trump envisioned a deal of the century that would bring a lasting peace to Israel/Palestine. It was a hard-sell of the century. In turn, Kushner had a direct economic stake in the outcome of the Gaza War. After his time at the White House, Trumps son-in-law set up a $3 billion private equity fund to invest in Israeli companies, including $2 billion raised from Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund. Kushners Affinity Partners private equity fund had chosen two Israeli companies to invest in. By early 2025, he was building a Middle East business empire from Israel to the Gulf states. Gaza reconstruction plan faces backlash over relocation clause FRANCE 24 English Please enable JavaScript play-sharp-fill Embed Copy and paste this HTML code into your webpage to embed. Gaza reconstruction plan faces backlash over relocation clause FRANCE 24 English And so, Kushner was back into dealmaking advising Trump and his special envoy Steven Witkoff to once again sidestep Palestinian leadership. And even though the Netanyahu cabinet chose to bomb Qatar, blessed Israels ongoing annexation of the West Bank and began a lethal ground invasion of the already-destroyed Gaza City, Kushner still against all cold realities sees Saudi-Israeli normalization as the light at the end of the tunnel. The Man With A Plan Touted by US neoconservatives and far-right, Kushners West Wing memoir was as truthful as its marketing: a fast-paced and surprisingly candid account of an earnest businessman with no political ambitions Smotrich: After demolition, real estate bonanza in Gaza When Trump stated in February that the US would take over Gaza, Bezalel Smotrich read every line with a smile. The political leader of Israels Messianic far-right was executing a biblical decisive plan of ethnic cleansing in Gaza, which he was incorporating into Israel. In July, Smotrich claimed his vision had President Trumps backing. Speaking at a Knesset conference called The Gaza Riviera from vision to reality, he joined other participants with plans for rebuilding Jewish presence in Gaza. The Strip, he said, would become an inseparable part of the State of Israel. In an August interview, Smotrich announced he was working to reestablish the former Israeli settlements of Ganim and Kadim in the northern West Bank, both of which were evacuated during Israels disengagement from Gaza in 2005. Speaking at a real estate conference in Tel Aviv last week, Smotrich said Gaza was a potential real estate bonanza and that he was in talks with the United States on how to divide up the coastal enclave after the war. The demolition, the first stage in the citys renewal, we have already done. Now we need to build, he said adding: There is a business plan, put together by the most professional people here, that is on President Trumps desk. Smotrich on Gazas real estate bonanza Al Jazeera: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said theres a business plan to turn Gaza into a real estate bonanza, adding he is discussing with the Trump administration how to share the proceeds. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said theres a business plan to turn Gaza into a real estate bonanza, adding he is discussing with the Trump administration how to share the proceeds. pic.twitter.com/DHOhw3rcMe Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 17, 2025 Officially, the White House treated Smotrich like a rotten fish, with a tactful distance. In practice, the Trump administration cultivated similar plans, strongly promoted by its key financiers. But Kushner knew that Trump needed a more credible figure. Hence, the return of Tony Blair. U.S. ideas, Kushners commission, Blairs face In the past two decades, Tony Blair, the former British PM, and his Tony Blair Institute for Global Change have shrewdly portrayed cashing on international conflicts as efforts of driving real change. Not long after October 7, 2023, Blair began efforts to craft a plan for the day after. Yet, Israels bombing of and genocide in Gaza lasted far longer than anticipated. Moreover, Blairs plan needed Trumps support. Yet, Blair plan is effectively Kushners design: Trumps son-in-law commissioned the ex-British PM. Kushner needed an internationally acceptable face to sell the schemes he had originally introduced. In this task, he had Trumps blessing. Mugged by realities, the White House understands it needs the support of all key actors for its blueprint in Gaza. For a while, Blair has been rallying international stakeholders to form at transitional authority to govern the Strip before it gets handed over to the Palestinian Authority (PA). Blairs proposal envisions the establishment of the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA) along with a series of subordinate structures, preferably by a UN Security Council resolution. GITA is reminiscent of Netanyahus Gaza Rehabilitation Authority in the Gaza 2035 Plan. With his signature broad smile, Blair has portrayed his plan as something that is not premised on forcible population displacement. All other schemes including that by Netanyahus right-hand Ron Dermer, the highly controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and the Boston Consulting Group have collapsed. And Smotrichs transfer ploys will never gain international support. Yet, the ultimate objective of the Trump administration is to get Johnny on board (Trumps moniker to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman). In view of this White House, the Palestinians can only have a marginal role. Thats why Blairs proposal downgrades Palestinian participation, even that of the Palestinian Authority (PA), in the name of reforms. But as always, Blair has a knack of expressing negative objectives in seemingly positive, optimistic rhetoric. This discrepancy between U.S. ultimate goals and its diplomatic rhetoric was again highlighted during the weekend. What the White House wants, really In August, Charles Kushner, the U.S. ambassador to France and the father of Jared Kushner, wrote in a Wall Street Journal letter to French President Macron that public gestures toward recognition of a Palestinian state embolden extremists, fuel violence, and endanger Jewish life in France. The Plan, Digital, ChatGPT, 2025. As several U.S. allies the UK, Canada and Australia now recognize the state of Palestine, Macron called Kushners criticism of France unacceptable for diplomat. Preparing for the French recognition declaration, Macron stated that recognizing the Palestinian state today is the only way to provide a political solution to a situation which has to stop. Whats at play here is two decades of gross diplomatic failure of the West regarding Gaza. In the 2006 democratic election, the Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza gave a clear majority to Hamas, as opposed to the Palestinian Authority. Following Hamass takeover of Gaza from Fatah, Israel and the U.S. imposed a ground, air, and maritime blockade, and announced only humanitarian supplies would be allowed into the Strip. Thats when Israel first blockaded Gaza in a deliberate attempt to push the areas economy to the brink of collapse, according to a U.S. diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks. It was these ruthless decisions that set the stage to Israels genocidal atrocities in Gaza in 2023, several waves of weaponized famines in the Strip and to the complicity of the U.S. and the EU in the massacres. Blairs plan seeks to sustain this status quo in the post-genocide Gaza. Setting the rhetoric aside, it is commissioned by Jared Kushner to serve his ends. And those ends are the objectives of the Trump administration. It is the big picture the Abraham Accords between Israel and the Gulf/Arab states that the White House is after. The problem is that, after two years of mass butchery in Gaza, such Accords are no longer viable. China, ASEAN pledge to strengthen AI cooperation 11:02, September 22, 2025 By LIU JIANQIAO and SHI RUIPENG ( China Daily A visitor shakes hands with a humanoid robot during the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Wednesday. HU QIUSI/XINHUA China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are committed to deepening cooperation in artificial intelligence and advancing common prosperity across the region, officials said. They spoke at the 2025 China-ASEAN Ministerial Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence held on Thursday in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, during the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo. The event was co-hosted by China's National Development and Reform Commission and the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, which was attended by officials from both China and ASEAN countries. During the meeting, the China-ASEAN Countries Artificial Intelligence Application Cooperation Center was inaugurated to strengthen the foundation for AI development and offer open-source services. Participants also proposed the launch of a China-ASEAN "AI +"action, the establishment of a China-ASEAN ministerial cooperation mechanism on AI, and released a series of key cooperation outcomes. Wang Changlin, deputy head of the NDRC, said that China-ASEAN cooperation in AI carries tremendous potential, with both sides expected to advance AI technology as a driving force for regional economic growth, improved livelihoods, and the building of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future. As the trade volume between China and ASEAN countries has been growing in recent years, "abundant data resources and diverse application scenarios have created favorable conditions for AI to empower economic and social development," he said. This year's expo focuses on AI empowerment and innovation, and the roundtable aligns with ASEAN countries' key objective of strengthening international cooperation in AI, further building consensus, and accelerating practical collaboration between China and ASEAN, Wang said. According to the World Trade Report 2025 released by the World Trade Organization on Wednesday, AI could boost global trade by 34 to 37 percent and raise global GDP by 12 to 13 percent by 2040, under scenarios where the digital infrastructure gap is narrowed and supportive policies are enacted. Parulian George Andreas Silalahi, deputy chief of mission of the embassy of Indonesia in China, said that China and ASEAN countries share great opportunities in AI collaborations to support regional economic growth. "Taking into account China as a leading player in AI development and innovation, and ASEAN as the fertile ground for AI development and innovation, as it continues to emerge as the key driver for the region's digital and AI transformation," he said. He said the Indonesian government has launched its National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence 2020-45, which outlines the focus and priorities in AI development, including the health sector, bureaucratic reform, education, smart city development, and food security. "To realize this vision, Indonesia must also tackle pressing challenges, including the need to develop robust digital and AI infrastructure that demands adequate funding and investment, as well as the growing requirement for a skilled workforce in the digital and AI sectors," he added. "Therefore, cooperation among ASEAN members and China is the key to addressing those challenges," the Indonesian official said. Similar views were shared by Low Yen Ling, senior minister of state for Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth of Singapore. She said that cooperation between China and ASEAN will help boost AI empowerment in this region. By leveraging the institutional strengths of the China-ASEAN Expo, China's expertise in AI-driven digital economic transformation can be translated into tangible cooperative projects. Sok Puthyvuth, secretary of state of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications of Cambodia, said that China's expertise in AI presents valuable opportunities for ASEAN countries to accelerate progress. "Cambodia has placed digital transformation at the heart of its national development agenda, and we are now entering a new phase by integrating artificial intelligence into our digital transformation journey," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) South Sudan's opposition leader and former vice-president Riek Machar appeared in court on Monday after being charged with crimes against humanity and treason, state media showed. A fragile power-sharing deal between President Salva Kiir and his long-time rival, Riek Machar, has been unravelling for months, threatening to return the young nation to a civil war that left 400,000 dead in the 2010s. Machar was this month charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity and stripped of his position as first vice-president in the unity government, having already spent months under house arrest. He was accused of ordering an ethnic militia's attack on a military base in March that the government said killed more than 250 soldiers. Machar's faction denies the charges and says they are part of Kiir's efforts to sideline the opposition and consolidate power. "His Excellency Dr Riek Machar should not be tried by this incompetent court, which lacks jurisdiction," his lawyer told the court on Monday, as Machar appeared for the first hearing in the case alongside several other defendants. - Failed transition - South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but was quickly plunged into a devastating conflict between Kiir and Machar between 2013 and 2018. Attempts by the international community to keep the peace process alive and ensure a democratic transition have largely failed. Elections due to take place in December 2024 were again postponed to 2026 and the two sides have not merged their armed forces. The United Nations last week issued a report accusing the government of stealing billions of dollars in oil money since independence and providing almost nothing for essential services like health and education. Machar's supporters say the charges against him show the power-sharing agreement is dead and have called for an armed mobilisation to bring about "regime change". Edmund Yakani, a well-known civil society leader in Juba, told AFP earlier this month that charges against Machar were expected but their severity was "shocking". Charging him with crimes against humanity was "politically motivated", he said, and "legally... not justifiable" since it does not exist in South Sudan's laws. The charges relate to an attack in March on a military base in Upper Nile State, one of Machar's strongholds, by a loose band of fighters from his ethnic Nuer community known as the White Army. Machar's faction denies he ordered the attack. With Machar "being forced to appear before a kangaroo court and imposing charges against him, (it) is a clear indication that the SPLM-IG has chosen instability over peace," a spokesman told AFP last week. South Sudan's Riek Machar is a veteran rebel who has survived years of bush warfare, assassination attempts and exile and now faces charges of treason and crimes against humanity. Until this month, Machar was South Sudan's first vice-president under a fragile power-sharing agreement designed to stop the country slipping back into civil war. But the perennial number two of South Sudanese politics was stripped of his place in the unity government and faces years in prison over his alleged role in an attack on government forces earlier this year. Machar's supporters accuse the government of President Salva Kiir of cooking up the charges to sideline him and consolidate power. Such tensions are nothing new to Machar. Analysts say his charming gap-toothed smile and easy-going manner mask a deep capacity for anger, and involvement in some of the most horrific moments during the fight for independence from Sudan and a subsequent civil war. Born in 1953 in the oil-producing state of Unity, Machar was the son of a chief in the Nuer community, a cattle-keeping people who are the country's second-biggest ethnic group after the Dinka. He never underwent the traditional forehead-scarring that is a rite of passage for Nuer boys coming of age, and was sent to school instead of cattle camps, earning an engineering degree in Khartoum and a doctorate from Britain's University of Bradford. He returned home when civil war erupted between Sudan's north and south in 1983, becoming a leader for his fellow Nuer within the rebel army, that had been dominated by Dinka forces. - Tribe against tribe - Machar grew frustrated with rebel commander John Garang and staged a failed 1991 coup against him and other commanders, including now-president Salva Kiir who would become his long-time rival. As the rebel army split along ethnic lines, Machar was accused of ordering a massacre in the Dinka-dominated town of Bor in 1991, considered one of the worst atrocities of the war. "Riek Machar is a butcher, a torturer," a Western diplomat in Juba told AFP on condition of anonymity, and he has been "a stone in South Sudan's shoe", preventing it from progressing. The attack in Bor sparked a cycle of violence between the two ethnic groups that has persisted despite their similar culture and widespread inter-marriage. Machar formed a breakaway rebel faction and even signed a deal with his former enemies in Khartoum for a while before rejoining the insurgents in 2002. A peace deal was signed in 2005 that would eventually lead to South Sudan's independence in 2011, with Machar becoming vice-president under Kiir. Their rivalry reignited in 2013 when Machar announced he would run for president in South Sudan's first election, only to find himself removed from the government by Kiir. The dispute triggered a five-year civil war between the two, characterised by ethnic massacres reminiscent of the 1990s. - Fragile peace - "Dr Riek is not an angel. He has been the fundamental problem of South Sudan just like President Salva Kiir, but this is a country that has unhealed wounds in every community," said Wani Michael, a former youth leader now in exile. After several failed peace attempts, a power-sharing agreement was forged in 2018 which saw Machar return as vice-president under Kiir. But the relationship remained strained and the democratic transition process has failed, with elections repeatedly postponed and the leaders' respective armies never merged. After a Nuer militia attacked an army base in Upper Nile State in March 2025, Machar was placed under house arrest and dozens of his allies arrested. Machar now faces trial on charges of treason and crimes against humanity. Michael, the ex-youth leader, foresees more bloodshed. "Many supporters of Riek now will go to the bush," he told AFP. "He's a political institution. He has a very big following... They will fight." This sentence doesnt erase the suffering, but it is an act of recognition. It is the voice that tells Colombian society and the world that what happened was unjustifiable and inhumane. It not only marks the closing of a judicial chapter, but opens a new page for memory, justice and peace in our nation." This is how Justice Camilo Suarez prefaced the first of two guilty verdicts handed down last week by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), the special tribunal derived from Colombia's 2016 peace agreement. On September 16, the judicial arm of the transitional justice model convicted seven former leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who were part of its leadership, for more than 20,000 kidnappings. Two days later, in a thoughtful symmetry, it did the same with 12 former military officials who took part in 135 extrajudicial executions, known to Colombians by the euphemism of 'false positives', in the Caribbean region. These are landmark decisions for several reasons. The 19 convicted have admitted their responsibility for these crimes in moving public hearings and have apologized to their victims both publicly and privately. In that process Colombians saw Rodrigo Londono or 'Timochenko', the last commander-in-chief of FARC, say "I felt disgust at our actions" and Colonel Heber Hernan Gomez Naranjo lamented "the cursed fruits of a dark alliance" with paramilitaries. Both former rebels and military were convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the most internationally reproached legal qualifications. This makes them the most tangible achievement so far for Colombia's innovative transitional formula, which privileges the satisfaction of victims' rights over prison sentences. While their announcement allayed many concerns that incubated during the long wait, they still leave crucial questions open, including under what conditions they will be held and whether that fulfils the restrictive component that sanctions should have. The long-term legitimacy of these decisions among Colombians and whether the Colombian model will continue to be a reference and a possible route to close conflicts in the world may hinge on the answer to these concerns. "The enormous gravity of the crimes judged" In its two rulings, the JEPs highest section validated the findings that the teams led by justices Julieta Lemaitre and Oscar Parra laid down in their detailed 2021 indictments. It underscored that the FARC kidnapped thousands of people seeking economic ransom, pressuring a swap for imprisoned guerrillas and reaffirming their social and territorial control, while inflicting degrading treatment on them during captivity and causing enormous suffering to their families. It also reiterated that the military killed defenceless and vulnerable civilians first local inhabitants and then persons from other cities tricked with false job offers to falsely pass them off as rebels killed in combat in a bid to pad their achievements. These convictions were the missing piece of Colombia's innovative transitional formula, which focuses on investigating, prosecuting and sanctioning those most responsible for the most serious and representative crimes. It does so through a two-track system and sanctions that combine two types of purposes: punishment and redress. Perpetrators who acknowledge their responsibility, provide truth and redress their victims can opt for a more lenient 5-to-8-year sanction of effective restriction of liberty in a non-prison setting, while those who choose not to do so face longer and prison sentences. For the former FARC leadership, the JEP imposed this sanctions higher threshold: 8 years during which they must work on projects to repair the damage they caused. It decided so by virtue of "the enormous gravity of the crimes judged and the high position of leadership, command and control that those sanctioned had in the armed organization, which increased their guilt and, consequently, their responsibility". The military received sentences ranging from five-and-a-half to eight years, given that some of them had already been in prison. The inexplicable delay The first result of the adversarial track should be known in October. After a year and fourteen hearings, another section of the same tribunal will decide whether Colonel Hernan Mejia, who was charged in the same Caribbean false positives sub-case but chose not to admit his role and go instead to an adversarial trial, is sentenced to up to 20 years in prison or is acquitted. The historic rulings came seven years after the JEP opened its doors, a timeframe that is perhaps not long compared to the pace of the International Criminal Court (ICC) or UN tribunals such as those of Rwanda or the former Yugoslavia. But it is nonetheless difficult to understand for a tribunal that has already indicted 251 people and that, in the kidnapping and false positive cases, had filed its first indictments four and a half years ago. In fact, the time between the moment these group indictments became final (what the JEP calls 'resolutions of conclusions') and the convictions was longer than the time it took the teams of the Acknowledgment Chamber to investigate and build the cases. A paradox given that the advantages of the Colombian model were, following the advice of former international prosecutor Louise Arbour, to encourage perpetrators owning up and unravel patterns of macro-criminality rather than choosing a case-by-case approach, in order to shorten the procedure and achieve judicial truths that touch more victims. A relative of a victim of extrajudicial execution during the conflict in Colombia: On September 18, 12 members of the Colombian army were convicted for the false positives scandal. Photo: Alejandro Martinez / AFP Projects to repair the damage caused The JEP detailed, for the first time, how the restorative component of its sanctions will work. The seven former FARC leaders and the twelve convicted military officials, will "instead of remaining inactive behind bars, (...) work actively in the reconstruction of social fabric and the reparation of damages". They will do so in projects consulted with victims and related to their crimes, which the tribunal calls "the heart of the special sanction. Former FARC members will be required to search for people who are still missing, educate on landmine risk, work on environmental restoration and support memory initiatives, including installing tiles honouring kidnapping victims, similar to the golden cobblestones in German cities that commemorate those killed during the Holocaust. The military will do so in community infrastructure, memory programs and productive projects with its victims, including indigenous people of the Wiwa and Kankuamo peoples, and Afro-descendants of the Kusuto MaGende Community Council. In the JEPs words, the idea is to "work directly and sustainably on victims redress", instead of "suffering a passive custodial sentence". In both cases, the JEP allowed a discount in the time of the sanction. The former rebels were allowed to deduct from their reparations obligations the time they spent in similar restorative actions prior to their conviction. Applying a formula of one day deducted for every two days in these initiatives, the JEP authorized most of them to deduct seven months and one of them, Jaime Parra the 'Doctor', eleven. Some military personnel received shorter restorative sanctions because they have been detained in the ordinary justice system. For all those sanctioned, these benefits are conditional on them participating in restorative projects, continuing to provide truth and not committing further crimes what the peace agreement calls the 'conditionality regime'. Its sanctions, says the JEP, seek "not to benefit perpetrators with reduced sentences, but to optimize the rights of victims in a transitional context different from that of classic retributive justice". Although the JEP has complained about the difficulties in financing these projects and coordinating with the government to implement them, more so during a year Colombia lost millions of dollars in international aid, it decided to create them from scratch instead of appealing to collective reparation measures resulting from the peace deal or the 2011 Victims Bill that are already in place. These include victims return and collective reparation plans, as well as the Development Programs with a Territorial Approach (PDET) that were designed with 300,000 victims and inhabitants of the municipalities historically hardest hit by war. "There are scores of reasons for this to be the option: they are in the regions where the conflict had the greatest impact, they are already the result of having asked the communities and victims, and they were the fruit of a huge state investment in time and resources. All three have already proven routes," says Emilio Archila, a former peace deal implementation advisor who led its planning for four years. How far can convicts move around? Where the greatest doubts lie is in the retributive component of the sanction, which the peace deal called 'effective restriction of liberty'. It is an ambiguous term that sought to differentiate it from ordinary prison while fulfilling the Colombian state's obligation, under international and national law, to apply effective sanctions for atrocious crimes. The two sentences stipulate that the convicts will see a "restriction of their rights and freedoms". They will be monitored by a three-pronged committee: the JEPs executive secretariat will do the day-to-day work, the tribunal section that handed down the sentences will do judicial follow-up, and the UN special mission in Colombia will be the guarantor. This monitoring will be done through in site visits and with a "non-invasive (PDA type) electronic device", with geo-referencing and geo-fencing functions to alert if they leave a certain perimeter. In the words of chairman Alejandro Ramelli, "this is not a formality: these are sanctions monitored by the JEP and the international community, as well as by the communities where these sentences are carried out". Although the rulings repeatedly state that they comply with international standards, this scheme leaves important concerns. The sentence against the FARC speaks of an "authorized perimeter," but at no point does it detail what it will be. This contradicts the peace agreement and the JEP procedural law, which ordered it to "concretely establish the territorial spaces where those sanctioned will be located during the time periods of execution and compliance with the sanctions of the transitional justice system, which will have a maximum size equivalent to that of the Transitory Zones of Normalization" in which they laid down their weapons. The size of those areas was between 5 and 15 hectares. On the other hand, the ruling against the military provides more details about this restriction, mentioning the extension of the disarmament zones and explaining that "they will be located in the municipality closest to the place where the restorative project will take place" and that "they wont be able to change their city or municipality of residence without this Jurisdictions knowledge and prior authorization". In case they do not have a residence, they may abide by the same conditions in a military unit. The lack of clarity on restriction, especially of the ex-FARC, means that there is a risk that the JEP might not comply with its obligation that the "sentences imposed (...) will precisely state the content of the sanction, place of execution of the sanction, as well as the conditions and effects of the sanctions for crimes not liable for an amnesty". It is also unclear whether this difference complies with the procedural laws determination that the criminal treatment for FARC and State agents must be "equitable, balanced and simultaneous". In addition, none of the rulings makes it clear whether the surveillance devices are bracelets worn on the body or beepers that they carry, only that "they must be used permanently until the end of their sanction". The JEPs executive secretariat assuming the brunt of the monitoring work, it is also not clear what will happen when the tribunals closure date comes in 2034 (especially with all the pending sentences). Seven former FARC leaders sentenced to eight years of non-custodial punishment during a hearing in June 2022, where they admitted responsibility for more than 20,000 kidnappings. Photo: Juan Pablo Pino / AFP Participation in politics allowed One right that the JEP decided not to limit is that of political participation, a debate that has accompanied it since former guerrillas began to reach elected office. In the end, it decided that sanctions are compatible with the exercise of public functions, with two rules: political activity cannot be used to voice "negationism or revictimising speeches" and, in case of a tension between both, the sanction will take precedence. However, in the absence of a clear perimeter, its not possible to establish where political activities that are compatible with the sanction may take place. Given that the tribunal weighed political participation against the special sanctions in general and not against the particular sanctions it handed down in this case, how an incompatibility will be defined is still up in the air, as well as whether these are related to physical places or work schedules for restorative projects. In the short term, this decision benefits ex-FARC Julian Gallo and Pablo Catatumbo Torres, now senators for the Comunes party by virtue of the political participation provisions of the peace agreement that gave them ten seats in Congress for two legislative periods (which end next July), as well as two other former guerrilla leaders, Pedro Baracutao and Jairo Cala, who are also legislators and are charged in other cases. In the long term, it allows them all to run for elected office in the 2026 elections. The legacy of the Colombian model How this effective restriction of freedom ends up looking for the 19 convicted may well be decisive on how the sanctions imposed on the former FARC and military are received in the long term by victims and Colombian society. It faces a daunting task. Two surveys, conducted by political scientists Sandra Botero and Juan Carlos Rodriguez Raga five years apart, asked more than 1,500 Colombians about a hypothetical person guilty of homicide who received house arrest and worked in humanitarian demining. In both scenarios, a greater number of respondents valued a punitive approach of a prison sentence more highly than a lighter but redress-oriented sanction. Outside the country there have been warnings too. Karim Khan, the (now suspended) ICC prosecutor, stated in the 'cooperation agreement' with which he closed his preliminary investigation into Colombia in 2021 that he could reverse his decision if there were "any significant change in circumstances". Among the scenarios it warned about is "the enforcement of effective and proportionate penal sanctions of a retributive and restorative nature". To add another complexity, with eight months to go before the next presidential elections, transitional justice sanctions could once again become a wedge issue. Former President Alvaro Uribe, recently convicted in the first instance for bribing witnesses, reactivated his attacks against the JEP, accusing it of forcing military to "admit crimes not committed" and proposing for them a review in the ordinary justice system with sentences of up to five years. It may depend on the answers given by the special tribunal to these questions that, as justice Ana Manuela Ochoa a Kankuama like many false positives victims said before symbolically storing the second ruling in an indigenous rucksack, "the transitional and prospective justice implemented by the JEP not only serves to respond to the past, but also as a starting point to promote reforms and guarantee non-recurrence of violence". Political persecution in Venezuela is on the rise, a UN-backed fact-finding mission reported Monday, calling on the international community to take swift action. "More than a year after the presidential elections of July 28, 2024, we have observed an intensification of state repression, growing persecution against voices critical of the government, and entrenched impunity," the mission's chair, Marta Valinas, said at a press conference. "Given the subordination of the judicial system to the government's repressive police... victims have no choice but to turn to the international community to seek justice," added Patricia Tappata Valdez, another member of the mission. In September 2019, the UN extended its monitoring of the situation in Venezuela after the UN Human Rights Council created the independent fact-finding mission. The mission, which does not represent the UN, documented at least 200 arrests between January and late August 2025. "In the first half of September... at least 14 more people were arrested," Valinas said. The unrest following the contested 2024 presidential elections, won by Nicolas Maduro despite accusations of fraud from the opposition, resulted in 28 deaths and 2,400 arrests. Approximately 2,000 people have since been released, according to official figures. "Evidence obtained by the Fact-Finding Mission... confirms that the crime of persecution on political grounds continues to be committed in Venezuela, with no national authority demonstrating the will to prevent, prosecute, or punish the serious human rights violations," these serious human rights violations, noted Valinas. For several years, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating alleged crimes against humanity committed by the Venezuelan government during a storm of nationwide protests in 2017, during which more than 100 people were killed. "It (the ICC investigation) has taken, in our view, too long. The documentation is there. Documentation is available. We do respect, of course, their procedures, their independence, but we believe victims can't wait," stated Francisco Cox Vial, another member of the mission. In January, Argentina filed a complaint with the ICC against Venezuela for the "forced disappearance and arbitrary detention" of an Argentine police officer, Nahuel Gallo, who was detained under accusations of "terrorism". The military-led west African nations of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger on Monday announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), branding it a "neo-colonial" imperialist tool. The juntas which took over in Bamako, Ouagadougou and Niamey after coups between 2020 and 2023 have since allied themselves in a confederation called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and distanced themselves from the West, notably from former colonial ruler France. The court, based in The Hague, was "an instrument of neo-colonialist repression in the hands of imperialism," the three countries said in a joint statement. "The ICC has proven itself incapable of handling and prosecuting proven war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, and crimes of aggression," they said. The three states also said they wanted to create "indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice". A state's withdrawal only takes effect one year after the official submission of the case to the UN general secretariat. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have notably drawn closer to countries such as Russia, whose President Vladimir Putin has been the subject of an ICC arrest warrant since March 2023 over the war in Ukraine. The West African countries are facing deadly violence from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, but their armies are also accused of crimes against civilians. Founded in 2002, the International Criminal Court's mission is to prosecute the perpetrators of the most serious crimes, such as war crimes, when countries lack the will or capacity to do so themselves. Business stock plays a central role in shaping the growth and market value of a company. For entrepreneurs and investors, stock represents both an opportunity and a responsibility. When a business issues shares, it creates a platform for raising capital, expanding operations, and increasing visibility in the financial markets. At the same time, stock performance influences how investors, consumers, and competitors perceive the company. Understanding how stock impacts business growth and overall valuation is essential for long-term success. Whether you are an entrepreneur managing a private firm or a public company exploring expansion, stock management is more than just a financial toolit is a strategy that defines reputation, stability, and growth potential. Stock as a Source of Capital One of the biggest benefits of stock is its ability to raise funds. Businesses can issue shares to investors in exchange for capital without incurring debt. This funding can be used to expand production, invest in research, or enter new markets. Unlike loans, stock financing does not burden companies with interest payments, allowing them to focus resources on innovation and operations. However, issuing stock also dilutes ownership. Entrepreneurs must carefully weigh the advantages of capital infusion against the responsibility of sharing control with investors. Companies that manage this balance effectively often experience rapid growth while maintaining investor confidence. Market Value and Investor Perception Stock prices directly affect a companys market value. A higher stock price signals investor confidence, financial stability, and long-term potential. Conversely, a declining stock price can raise concerns about leadership, profitability, or competitiveness. Investors closely watch performance indicators like earnings reports, dividends, and industry trends. A company with consistent stock growth is more likely to attract additional investment, thereby raising its market capitalisation. Market value not only reflects financial health but also influences how a brand is viewed in the broader economy. Business Expansion Through Stock When businesses expand into new regions or sectors, stock often plays a major role in financing these initiatives. Public offerings such as Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) provide companies with the resources to scale rapidly. Even established corporations rely on stock to fund acquisitions, develop advanced technologies, or strengthen their global presence. Modern investors now analyse both traditional and digital opportunities. Platforms like Crypto30xpro provide insights that bridge conventional stock markets with innovative financial tools, helping entrepreneurs and investors make informed decisions about growth and expansion. Stock Performance and Employee Motivation Stock also impacts employees through stock options and equity programs. Many companies offer shares as part of compensation packages, aligning employee interests with organisational growth. When the company performs well, employees benefit directly, which boosts loyalty and motivation. This creates a culture where everyone, from management to staff, contributes to raising stock value and market strength. Risks and Volatility of Stock Despite its advantages, stock markets are influenced by economic conditions, political shifts, and investor sentiment. Market volatility can cause fluctuations that may not always reflect the true performance of a business. Entrepreneurs must prepare for these ups and downs by maintaining financial discipline, building investor trust, and diversifying growth strategies. Effective communication with shareholders is also essential. Businesses that keep investors informed through transparent reporting and consistent updates often withstand volatility better than those that remain silent during uncertain times. Stock Analysis and Strategic Decisions Analysing stock trends provides valuable data for decision-making. Businesses can use this information to determine the best times for expansion, reinvestment, or restructuring. Monitoring stock movement also helps companies understand their competitive standing in the market. Entrepreneurs looking for reliable financial updates can benefit from platforms offering stock insights that combine data-driven analysis with practical strategies. Such resources guide decision-making and highlight opportunities to maximise growth while minimising risk. Conclusion Stock is more than a financial instrument; it is a reflection of a companys strength, reputation, and potential for future growth. By issuing shares, attracting investors, and maintaining healthy stock performance, businesses can raise capital, expand into new markets, and increase market value. However, stock also comes with responsibilities, balancing ownership, handling volatility, and ensuring transparency. Entrepreneurs who combine solid legal and financial knowledge with modern tools like Crypto30xpro and specialised stock insights can harness the power of stock to drive growth, sustain market confidence, and secure long-term success. Sunday, September 21, 2025 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has fired back at President William Ruto over his controversial remarks suggesting opposition leaders have no brains. Speaking during the launch of the Mombasa Commuter Rail Service on September 17th, Ruto urged Kenyans to ignore opposition voices, accusing them of lacking ideas, policies and intelligence. I want to ask Kenyans to ignore the naysayers and negativity they have no plan, no policy, no agenda, not even any brains, Ruto said. In a fiery response on September 20th in Machakos County, Gachagua said the opposition lacks the kind of brains Ruto values. Its true, the kind of brains hes looking for, we dont have. The brains for stealing and looting everything in Kenya, we dont have, he said. Gachagua also condemned what he described as Rutos attempt to brand opposition leaders as fools for refusing to support alleged state violence against Gen Z protesters. The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader further accused Ruto of disrespecting the Ukambani community following the dismissal of Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) Managing Director, John Mativo. Gachagua criticized Rutos swift visit to Machakos after the sacking, calling it a show of contempt. It is very disrespectful to sack a competent leader from Ukambani and replace him with his tribesmen, Gachagua said. Mativo was replaced by Kipkemoi Kibias on September 19th. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, September 21, 2025 - In a rare moment of pulpit defiance, a Catholic Priest boldly confronted Kapseret MP, Oscar Sudi, during the burial of his aunt, Pauline Chelimo Kipkore, in Uasin Gishu County on Saturday, September 20th. What began as a solemn farewell turned into a tense exchange between the clergy and the politician. The clash unfolded when Father Chrispinus attempted to uphold the sanctity of the church program by discouraging political speeches at the funeral. Sudi, visibly agitated, took the microphone and urged the priest to respect mourners wishes. I have suffered with this aunt, and we want to honour her, he said, adding that if the priest was unwilling to proceed, other clergy could take over. But Father Chrispinus stood his ground. During his sermon, he rebuked Sudi and fellow politicians for arrogance and impunity. Even if you own choppers, kaburi ni tajiri, he said, reminding the MP that death levels all status and that the churchs order must be respected. Watch the video This was Father Chrispinus having a field day with Oscar Sudi at the burial of his aunt. He took two minutes reminding the Kapseret thug that even if he owns choppers, kaburi ni tajiri. Bwana hit the button. The violence I subscribed for. Finyaa yeye!#RutoMustGo #DrainTheSwamp pic.twitter.com/F0StREL6Bq I am Chege (@_James041) September 21, 2025 Sunday, September 21, 2025 - The Ukrainian Government has confirmed its willingness to engage in dialogue with President William Rutos administration over the possible repatriation of Evans Kibet, a Kenyan national captured while allegedly fighting for Russian forces in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. According to BBC News Africa, Kyiv stated that Kibet remains classified as a prisoner of war under the Geneva Convention and will continue to be held unless a Ukrainian court rules otherwise. The Government also revealed that several other foreign nationals, including citizens from Kenya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Egypt, Togo, Cuba, and Sri Lanka, are currently detained after being captured during combat. Kibet, a 36-year-old long-distance runner, claims he was tricked into joining the Russian military. He had traveled to Russia for a race, but after his two-week trip ended, his passport and phone were confiscated. In a video released by Ukrainian forces, Kibet said he unknowingly signed documents written in Russian and was later sent to the battlefield after a week of basic training. He escaped during transit to his first combat assignment and surrendered to Ukrainian troops after two days in the forest. Kibet has pleaded not to be returned to Russia, fearing for his life. His family in Kenya is calling for urgent Government intervention. Evans is humble and a pillar of our family, said his younger brother. The Kenyan DAILY POST 1 of 1 GST - : PM khaskhabar.com: , 22 2025 10:33 AM By Cillian Sherlock, PA Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said it is not for British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to decide Hamas role in a Palestinian state. The left-wing independent from Galway was asked about comments by the prime minister, who said on Sunday that Hamas should have no role in government. Mr Starmer made the comments as he announced the UKs recognition of a Palestinian state, ahead of the UN General Assembly this week and alongside other nations including Australia and Canada. Ms Connolly, who has been vocal on the issue of Palestine and has criticised the Government for not taking more action against Israel, said that it was up to Palestinians to decide who governs them. I would be very wary of telling a sovereign people how to run their country Catherine Connolly I dont think its up to Keir Starmer to make that statement at all, Ms Connolly told BBC Radio Ulster on Monday. I come from Ireland, a history of colonisation, and I would be very wary of telling a sovereign people how to run their country. The Palestinians must decide, in a democratic way, who they want to lead their country. She added: What happened on October 7, Im on record for condemning, but history did not start on October 7. Its important to point that out and to look back on the history and the many, many atrocities committed by the Israeli government through their army. So, I dont think Keir Starmer should have any say about Hamas. Its up to the Palestinian people. What Keir Starmer and other countries should be doing is stopping the genocide, absolutely calling out what it is genocide and using our voices to stop it. Independent Catherine Connolly will formally launch her campaign in Dublin on Monday evening (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms Connolly was also asked if she would describe the attack on people in southern Israel on October 7th, 2023 as a genocide. I absolutely condemned what happened on October 7 and Ive never, ever had any doubts about that, she said. I would not use the word genocide. Genocide has a very, very specific meaning under international law. She added: What happened on October 7 was wrong, absolutely wrong. I have no hesitation in saying that, but theyre not comparable at all. Ms Connolly who has secured the support of Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, the Greens and People Before Profit will formally launch her campaign in Dublin on Monday evening. Elsewhere in the presidential race, Gareth Sheridan announced the end of his bid to become a candidate after concluding it was mathematically not possible for him to secure sufficient nominations from local authorities. He failed to get the backing from Meath County Council and Offaly County Council on Monday. Gareth Sheridan announced the end of his bid to become a candidate (Niall Carson/PA) Mr Sheridan already had two of the four required nominations through local authorities to formally enter the contest, having previously secured nods from Kerry and Tipperary county councils. Speaking to reporters, Mr Sheridan said: It unfortunately didnt work out this time but no regrets. The 36-year-old millionaire entrepreneur was among several hopefuls who pitched to Meath County Council on Monday morning. Fourteen Meath councillors voted against a proposal to nominate Mr Sheridan, with 13 backing the proposal, five abstaining and eight absentees. The deadline for presidential nominations is midday on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin and Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys formally lodged their papers on Friday. Attention has also been brought on independent candidate Maria Steen, who is claiming the support of 13 members of the Oireachtas behind her nomination campaign. She is due to meet the Independent Ireland party, who had indicated it would be willing to support a like-minded candidate with four votes to get them over the line of the 20 required nominations from TDs and senators. I refuse to accept that the price of participating in public life should involve having to put your family and friends through waves of online abuse Jim Gavin Meanwhile, Mr Gavin announced that he had written to social media giants X, Meta and TikTok as well as media regulator Coimisiun na Mean about several invented and utterly false stories published about him online. In a statement, his campaign said the vicious smears were attempts to damage his presidential bid. It said Meta has confirmed that several posts have been taken down while responses are still awaited from X, TikTok and Coimisiun na Mean. Mr Gavin said: Every person in our country knows the real and growing threat posed by online hate and disinformation. It is one of the forces driving the growing division and conflict in many societies. It is the cause of mental health issues amongst our young people due to online bullying and harassment. He added: I refuse to accept that the price of participating in public life should involve having to put your family and friends through waves of online abuse and malicious smears. This is not the cost of service it is a failure of our digital culture. I will continue to take whatever action is necessary to confront this appalling feature of social media. By Jonathan McCambridge, PA Political leaders should not sell their soul by sipping champagne with Donald Trump amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle ONeill has said. Ms ONeill told MLAs that she was very comfortable not attending a state banquet at Windsor Castle last week during the US presidents state visit to the UK. Northern Irelands deputy First Minister, the DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly, did attend last weeks event and has said Ms ONeills boycott of the state banquet was a mistake. DUP MLAs questioned the Sinn Fein First Minister on her absence during ministerial question time at the Assembly on Monday. First Minister Michelle ONeill answered questions about why she did not attend a state banquet for President Trump (Liam McBurney/PA) Ms ONeill previously said she would not attend in response to the US role in Israels war in Gaza. She told MLAs: I very much value our Irish-American links. Indeed, successive American administrations have been very much part of bringing about our peace process. You are referring to a banquet last week, which I chose not to attend, and rightly so. I dont see how a benefit was going to be gained from attending a state banquet when the children of Gaza are starved to death. I made my view known on that issue. Ive not blocked the deputy First Minister from attending; she went to the thing, and that was her call. Im very comfortable with my decision. When she faced further questioning, Ms ONeill said it was important to send out the message that Northern Ireland is open for business. But don't sell your soul just in terms of short-termism just to go to banquets and sip champagne while people in Gaza are starving Michelle O'Neill She said, Thats the continued message we have when we engage with many. I think thats the appropriate approach from us as an Executive Office, but also from the Economy Minister. I noted earlier the level of engagement we have had with all different international investors, with all different people from all different countries in terms of the big players, in terms of investment. But dont sell your soul just in terms of short-termism just to go to banquets and sip champagne while people in Gaza are starving. Ms Little-Pengelly previously told the Northern Ireland Assembly that she would attend the event because that is what leadership is about. Ms ONeill also stayed away from events earlier this year attended by Ms Little-Pengelly in the White House on St Patricks Day in protest at Mr Trumps stance on the conflict in Gaza. James Cox Businessman Gareth Sheridan has acknowledged the end of his presidential campaign after he failed to receive the backing of Offaly and Meath county councils. While Mr Sheridan has the support of two local authorities - Kerry and Tipperary - he has now run out of options to secure two more. Mr Sheridan is due to address Louth County Council this evening, however its support, along with Kerry and Tipperary county councils, would not be enough to contest the election. He has admitted it is now "mathematically" impossible for him to secure enough support to get on the ballot. Mr Sheridan, a married father of an almost three-year-old girl, lost out on a nomination from Meath by just one vote. Speaking to reporters at Offaly County Council, he said: We tried to offer something different. I think diversity on the ballot is important and we tried to offer that. Unfortunately it didnt work out this time but, you know, no regrets. He added: The outcome wasnt what we wanted, obviously devastated that we didnt get the four nominations it wouldve been great but wouldnt change anything during the process. It was hard work but I think we made a little bit of a splash anyway. Reflecting on his campaign, Mr Sheridan called the process to secure a nomination through local authorities tricky when they are controlled by the larger political parties. He said he had great respect for all the councillors but added: This time around, it wasnt to be. Mr Sheridan, a self-described multimillionaire pharma tycoon had lived in the US for more than 10 years before returning to Ireland earlier this year ahead of his campaign. He had said he would leave his company, Nutribrand, had he had been elected. Noting that he no longer had a route to secure sufficient nominations, he said: Mathematically, thats it for now me but thats fine. We gave it our best shot, we got two nominations which is really encouraging. We had a pathway and unfortunately the pathway and the plan didnt work out. Mr Sheridan wished the candidates who will be on the ballot the best, adding he will be following the election closely. Asked about his future plans, he said he did not need to be in a political position to advocate or fight for issues such as the housing crisis. It is something that I will definitely dive into and tackle head on probably from a different perspective this time around obviously. But these are issues that Im passionate about as a person, as a proud Irishman. If I cant do it from Aras, Ill have do it from somewhere and Ill have to work out where that is over the next couple of weeks but its not going away. He said he was trying to push younger people to get involved in politics and was hopeful that he could count his last few weeks as a success in that regard. Were trying to invite young people into the conversation. If we start that narrative through this process I think thats a good thing and Ill be proud of that. But again, well see how we go from this point. But I wouldnt change a thing, it was eye-opening, it was great to meet so many new people, earn the support and trust of so many people and highlight issues. Pressed on whether it would be his last time running for office again, Mr Sheridan said: Well see. - Additional reporting from Press Association A MAN who pretended he was going to the toilet when found trespassing in an Athy shop was sentenced to ten months in prison his third custodial sentence of the calendar year. Patrick Stokes (44) currently with an address c/o Peter McVerry Trust, Eyre Street, Newbridge, but previously with addresses in Castledermot and Carlow, was appearing at Athy District Court from custody, where he pleaded guilty to burglary and trespass at a premises on Leinster Street, Athy on 18 July 2024. When his case was called, there was a moment of confusion as to where he was, but this was very quickly cleared up by Judge Desmond Zaidan, who has been dealing with Mr Stokes for years. Hes right there! said the judge, pointing in at the dock. Everybody knows Paddy! Hes right there! Inspector Jason Crotty for the state outlined the offences before the court for the judge. This was a shop with a residence in the back, and when he was discovered, he pretended he was going to the toilet, the inspector said. It was alleged that Mr Stokes took a purse, a ring worth 600 and a chain necklace worth 300. Whats Paddys condition? Is it drugs? asked the judge. We got the purse straightaway, said the arresting garda. What happened with the ring and the chain? asked the judge. Most likely they went to feed his addiction, conceded Mr Stokess solicitor Seamus Boyle. If I took a ring and a chain off you, you wouldnt be happy, noted the judge, before conceding: In your credit, every time the law catches up on you, you put your hands up. Hes finished with the drugs, said Mr Boyle, hes not able to do this anymore. When the inspector revealed that Mr Stokes had 135 previous convictions, Judge Zaidan sentenced him to a further ten months in prison. He had last been sentenced to ten months in March, and also appeared from custody on that occasion as he was then serving a six-month sentence for a previous offence. He was released from his March sentence only on 4 August. ONE of two men allegedly involved in the armed robbery of two Kildare convenience stores was remanded in custody for a fortnight at Naas District Court recently. Sergeant James Kearney, prosecuting, told the court how Darragh Gaynor (37), with an address on the Navan Road in Cabra, Dublin 7, was allegedly one of two men armed with knives who went into the McCabes Gala Store in Kilmeague on 8 August and took 390 in cash, and 80 worth of scratch cards. The next night it was Londis on the Main Street in Prosperous, where they took 500, he said. They fled in the same car a black Passat as the night before and were seen on CCTV. A search was carried out, and clothing was seized matching that seen on the CCTV, added the sergeant. Sgt Kearney explained to Judge Desmond Zaidan that Mr Gaynor, who was appearing from custody, had been there since his arrest on 29 August. The judge accepted this and, without any application for bail, remanded Mr Gaynor into custody for the maximum fortnight. A SPLIT-second decision determines the lives of one Jewish family in the chaos of Nazi-run Europe thats the premise of the latest novel from Kildare author Raphael Ryan. Set in Germany and eastern Europe during World War II, The night has darkness on its side relives how that decision impacts on the Stern household and three lives. When the Gestapo arrives to deport the last remaining Jewish family on her street, Edith Stern manages to evade detection and goes on the run when her mother pushes her out the door just as the family is about to be deported into the killing fields of eastern Poland. Its too dangerous to remain on the streets and on the run, so Edith must rely on the help of kind-hearted Germans and anti-Nazi sympathisers to remain beyond the reach of state security. Relying on the comfort of strangers to protect her from the ever-present danger of being captured, she needs their sympathy to hide in plain sight. Newbridge author Raphael Ryan Her fiance Joseph and his family, the Krombergs, have already been deported to occupied eastern Poland. Their letters to each other are all theyve got to keep their love alive. But the harsh regime of those killing grounds gradually takes its toll. Their correspondence begins to dry up as Joseph and his family suffer at the hands of the sadistic local police chief and his ghetto regime that shows no mercy to all who pass through on their way to the death camps further east. In a landscape where memory is precious, this brutal regime threatens total annihilation. However, the wife of army transport driver, Hans Gerlach, has some sympathy for those Jewish families that have been deported. When she asks her husband to take a package of some relief supplies to the Kromberg family on one of his trips out east, she unwittingly puts his life at risk. His journey into the eastern territories, made all the more dangerous by the presence of an SS officer on a special mission quite close to the front, must run many risks as he negotiates the harsh landscape of death in eastern Poland. The fate of the Krombergs, the luck of Edith Stern, and the safe return of Hans Gerlach to the Reich will be determined by factors outside their control. This is not the first historical work by the Kildare-based author. Ryan has previously written Traps for troubadours, a historical novel, and On the banks of the Liffey, a two-volume history of Newbridge College. The night has darkness on its side is published by Roseberry Publishing and is available from Amazon (paperback and Kindle) and in local bookshops. Tirlan will pay a total of 46.08 cent per litre (cpl) (including VAT) for August creamery milk supplies at 3.6% butterfat and 3.3% protein. The August milk price consists of the following: Base milk price of 45.58 cpl (including VAT), a reduction of 2.5 cpl from July; of 45.58 cpl (including VAT), a reduction of 2.5 cpl from July; Sustainability Action Payment of 0.5 cpl (including VAT) to all qualifying suppliers. TAP HERE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS The base price and Sustainability Action Payment will be adjusted to reflect the actual constituents of milk delivered by suppliers. The actual average price paid by Tirlan for August creamery milk, based on delivered constituents will be 54.1 cpl (including VAT). Tirlan Chairperson John Murphy said: The Board recognises that many of our farmers will be disappointed by this months reduction in milk price. However, it is necessary to align our farm gate price with current market returns. The primary reason for this adjustment is the sudden and sharp decline over recent weeks in international market prices for key dairy products, particularly butter and cheese. This downturn has been driven by a rebound in global milk supply. After a period of constraint, volumes and constituents began to recover in the second quarter of this year and have continued to rise. Increased production across major dairy-exporting regions has been supported by favourable weather conditions, a strong milk-to-feed price ratio, and minimal impact from animal diseases. The Board will continue to monitor market developments on a monthly basis. Local Green Party representative and Deputy Mayor of Kilkenny City, Cllr Maria Dollard has expressed 'regret' at any offence caused by the posting of a video on social media with former lead vocalist of the punk rock band The Sex Pistols John Lydon. Mr Lydon cared for his wife Nora during her battle with Alzheimer's Disease until her passing in 2023 and during a recent show at the Watergate Theatre shared many stories from that period as well as other parts of his life both on and off the stage. However, some of the rock star's political views have made him a divisive figure with some locals believing Cllr Dollard placing the mayoral chain around Mr Lydon and posing for a picture inappropriate. READ NEXT: Kilkenny gardai seize car in broad daylight despite driver pleas for mercy "It has been pointed out to me since the concert earlier this week that John Lydon has expressed some strong held political views; views that I (nor, I'd doubt most of the Kilkenny audience) would share," the Green Party councillor said. "I wasn't aware of this until a friend pointed it out to me. In that regard, I regret if what was a bit of fun after a show of someone who I liked for their music and their story of caring for their loved one with Alzheimers disease, has caused any offence. "I have fought for social justice all my life. I can say too that at no point during the gig did John Lydon say anything that would cause me concern; the talk was about his life and career," Cllr Dollard continued. "I'm grateful to my friend for pointing it out to me that he has expressed views that I would fundamentally disagree with," she concluded. FOR MORE KILKENNY CITY NEWS, CLICK HERE A motorcyclist has died following an incident at a motocross event in Mount Vernon on Sunday afternoon. Gardai and paramedics from the National Ambulance Service attended the scene on the outskirts of Cork City around 1:30pm. The man, who is aged in his 40s was pronounced deceased at the scene. A post-mortem examination will be carried out at Cork University Hospital. A Garda investigation is now underway surrounding the incident and the Coroner has been informed with an inquest to be held in due course. READ MORE: ALERT: Popular brand of Irish snacks recalled amid 'do not eat' warning It marks the fourth fatality in Cork in just a matter of days as a pedestrian was killed following a collision on Saturday night and a further two people lost their lives in separate incidents on Thursday. A pedestrian in his 40s was fatally injured following a collision with a car which occurred on the M8 Motorway northbound at Carrigane, Mitchelstown on Saturday night. A man in his 40s was also killed following a collision involving a heavy goods vehicle in Ballycotton around 3:30pm on Thursday evening. Only just hours later, a young woman aged in her 20s was pronounced deceased at the scene after her bike collided with a truck in Cork city around 6pm on Thursday evening. Marking a month since her passing in August, colleagues of Ann Doyle in the HSE Dublin and South-East have been paying tribute to her memory. Ann was a much-valued member of the Home Support Team, dedicated to serving the South Kilkenny area. READ NEXT: Kilkenny gardai seize car in broad daylight despite driver pleas for mercy Geraldine Sutton, Head of Service for Older Persons with the HSE, said Anns contribution over nearly two decades was deeply appreciated. "Ann Doyle was highly respected over the 18 years she spent working as a Health Care Assistant," she said. "Ann was an integral part of our Home Support Services team in the Rosbercon and Inistioge areas of South Kilkenny. READ NEXT: Men of two Kilkenny families face violent disorder trial "Ann will be fondly remembered by fellow employees of the HSE and by the many families that Ann interacted with through her excellent work. "Ann will be very sadly missed by her colleagues and clients and the thoughts of our Home Support Team are with Anns partner Seamus, her extended family and many friends." FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE " " Take a closer look: Those aren't leaves. HannaTor / Shutterstock Migratory monarchs undertake one of the longest insect migrations in the world. Eastern monarchs travel from southern Canada and the northeast United States all the way to central Mexico, where they cluster in mountain forests at high elevations. These monarch overwintering sites provide the cool, moist climate monarchs need to survive the winter. Advertisement Western monarchs, meanwhile, migrate to coastal Californiaespecially southern Californiato find their own overwintering habitat. These two populations are separated by the Rocky Mountains, and each faces unique environmental threats. In early March, as weather warms, the overwintering monarchs begin their spring migration northward. They reach breeding grounds in the central United States, where they lay their eggs and die. Their offspring continue the journey, completing the cycle by the following spring. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Kim Jong Un said he was open to talks with U.S. president Donald Trump on the condition that Washington drops its demand for denuclearisation of the reclusive east Asian country. The North Korean leader was addressing the country's rubber-stamp parliament on Sunday, when he said there was no reason for the sides not to hold talks if Washington abandons its "obsession with denuclearisation, state media KCNA reported. "Personally, I still have fond memories of US president [Donald] Trump," Mr Kim said, publicly naming the US president for the first time since he was elected to the Oval Office in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If the United States drops the absurd obsession with denuclearising us and accepts reality, and wants genuine peaceful coexistence, there is no reason for us not to sit down with the United States," Mr Kim added. Mr Kim's comments come as the new liberal government in South Korea urged Mr Trump to take the lead in reopening dialogue with the North Korean dictator, six years after all peace talks with Pyongyang collapsed in Hanoi in 2019 over sanctions and nuclear dismantlement. The two leaders met three times during Mr Trump's first presidency. Mr Kim's warm words towards Mr Trump were a contrast with his strident assertion that he will never give up nuclear weapons or engage in dialogue with South Korea, which he has designated a main enemy. Pyongyang declared itself a nuclear power in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Korea's president, Lee Jae Myung, told Reuters that the North was building 15 to 20 nuclear bombs a year. He added that any deal between Mr Kim and Mr Trump that froze manufacturing would be a useful step towards eventually dismantling the programme altogether. "Based on that, we can proceed to medium-term negotiations for nuclear weapons reductions, and in the long run, once mutual trust is restored and North Korea's regime-security concerns are reduced, we can pursue denuclearisation," he said. Mr Lee told the BBC that he thought it possible that Mr Kim and Mr Trump could come back together, given they "seem to have a degree of mutual trust". This could benefit South Korea and contribute to global peace and security, the South Korean leader said. However, Mr Kim has bluntly rejected any phased plan, saying recent overtures from Washington and Seoul for dialogue were disingenuous because their fundamental intent to weaken the North and destroy his regime remained unchanged, and that Mr Lee's phased plan was proof of that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The world already knows full well what the United States does after it makes a country give up its nuclear weapons and disarms," Mr Kim said. "We will never give up our nuclear weapons." North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions and arms embargoes since its first nuclear test in 2006. But while the sanctions have squeezed funding for military development, Pyongyang has continued to make advances in building nuclear weapons and powerful ballistic missiles. "The reality is that the previous approach of sanctions and pressure has not solved the problem; it has worsened it," Mr Lee added. Earlier this month, Chinese president Xi Jinping hosted Mr Kim alongside Russias Vladimir Putin during Beijings largest military parade, which marked the 80th anniversary of World War Two. Unlike in past meetings, China did not publicly mention the North's nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Lee said the deepening relationship between Beijing, Moscow and Pyongyang, has put South Korea in "a very difficult situation". "Seeing China, Russia and North Korea become so close is clearly not desirable for us," he said. The North Korean leader claimed that he had "no reason to sit down with South Korea", even as Mr Lee has sought to ease tensions with the North since his election to office. "We make it clear that we will not deal with them in any form," Mr Kim added. Ken Foxe Ryanairs former deputy CEO told the HSE there seemed to be no urgency in efforts to cut spending and that the government needed to be told certain savings targets would not be met. In January, Michael Cawley, a member of the HSE board, put forward 14 ideas he believed would save cash for the health service in 2025. However, by April, he told the HSE CEO Bernard Gloster that progress had been too slow and that a reduction in spending including in cutting administrative costs was neither achievable nor realistic. Mr Cawley said he appreciated the health service had made efforts to contain costs, but that much more remains to be done. His list of recommendations for suggested savings included technology solutions for home care, reducing the amount of spending some management could authorise, and high IT maintenance charges. He also raised over-prescribing and excess supply of certain medications, as well as the possibility that private companies could use equipment and operating theatres in public hospitals during evenings and weekends. Mr Cawley said eight of his fourteen suggestions had not been addressed and asked for closer monitoring of savings on travel, subsistence, postage costs, and training. He said that while attending a recent audit meeting, it also became clear that initiatives from the finance department of the HSE were not going to deliver predicted savings. He wrote: If this attitude and approach don't change, I propose that we inform the department that we are abandoning this objective as it makes no sense to continue with the pretence that we are serious about it. In response, the HSE CEO Bernard Gloster said he thought he was clear about which of the fourteen suggestions were doable for now. I thought we had bottomed this out for now, he wrote, saying he apologised if there was any misunderstanding. Mr Gloster said: I have made some of the hardest and immediate decisions made by any measure against my predecessors. [I] have more to do, but I can only go as fast and as safe as the system around me, which I think many accept is variable in its management capacity. On whether to notify the Department of Health that certain savings were unlikely to be met, Mr Gloster said he shared concerns over achievability. However, he said 2025 was a daunting year for the health services and that some of the changes would be slow to bite and yield results. Mr Gloster wrote: I share frustration at [the] time and pace of some change. I have told department and indeed government at last Cabinet Committee that while pay control is established [for the] first time ever and we held ground on recent dispute, that I am concerned about non-pay. Not sure if that equates to abandoning the measures but again happy for [the] board to reflect a view as it is a significant issue. In response, Mr Cawley said that a shift in the commitment, energy, and imagination was needed from key members of the HSEs senior leadership team. He wrote: I have acknowledged the steps you have already taken in relation to cost reduction but unfortunately even if 100% effective their impact will fall significantly short of the target set and what I believe is achievable. Asked about the records, a HSE spokeswoman said: It is the role of board members to analyse and question the work of an executive team, and the HSE executive team welcomes this. THE plight of 132 people who will lose their jobs next year at the Leprino Foods cheese factory in Portlaoise was highlighted in the Dail by local TD Brian Stanley, who described the record of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland in Laois as awful. The shock news that the factory at the J17 National Enterprise Park in Togher would close was announced last month, with production set to move to Northern Ireland and Wales. The plant will be wound down on a phased basis and staff will receive bonuses to stay, until it finally shuts down in mid-2026. Speaking in Dail Eireann on Wednesday, Deputy Stanley said Laois has only 154 jobs in IDA-backed companies, the lowest number in Ireland. IDA Ireland made only two visits to Laois in the past 12 months, compared to 20 visits in Westmeath. The Independent TD said: It is very disappointing. A question has to be asked about why Laois is being ignored time and again. Minister of State Emer Higgins replied that enterprise minister Peter Burke extended his sympathies to the workers and their families. She said that both his department and the Department of Social Protection would support the company and its employees in any way they can. Minister Higgins said: The IDA acquired 18.46ha of land adjacent to the business and technology park in October 2022 and an additional 4.25ha last year. That land is currently available for promotion on the business and technology park in Portlaoise and is almost 30ha at this point. IDA Ireland continues to assist Enterprise Ireland companies with their property requirements as they set up and scale. Meanwhile, Portlaoise councillors expressed confidence that jobs at the 130m Leprino mozzarella plant, which opened only four years ago, can be replaced. At the September meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District Council, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said she was hopeful that a replacement would be found for the state-of-the-art facility. She said: The impact it has on people working there and on their families is very serious. The council chief executive and management are trying everything possible to get a replacement industry. As representatives, we will do everything we can to support them. The IDA or Enterprise Ireland will have to help. Cathaoirleach Cllr John Joe Fennelly said he spoke to council chief executive Michael Rainey regarding council and Enterprise Ireland efforts to secure a replacement industry and he was hopeful there would be a successful outcome. Cllr Paddy Buggy said: It was a huge disappointment for the town and for workers with mortgages and bills to pay, but I am fairly confident that something else can come in, because it's an excellent facility, an excellent site and an excellent location. Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said: It is a huge blow. I was talking to young families who only recently got mortgages and we have to do everything we can to find a replacement. I hope to see somebody going into that factory. The cheese plant was a joint venture between Glanbia plc and the US-owned Leprino Foods, the worlds largest maker of cheese for pizza toppings, who paid 925,000 to Laois Co Council for the five-acre serviced site. Opened in 2021, the Portlaoise factory was part of a long-running joint venture between Glanbia and Leprino, but Glanbia sold its share in the plant to the US company in 2023. Chinese films winning over young audiences: Russia's culture minister Xinhua) 11:03, September 22, 2025 St. Petersburg, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese films are gaining traction among young Russians, Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova said in a recent interview with Xinhua. Lyubimova said a growing number of young people in Russia have become fans of Chinese cinema. "They attend Chinese Film Weeks with great enthusiasm. We try to hold these events not only in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also in Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod and other cities," she noted. The minister said Chinese films have been more widely presented in Russia in recent years. For example, the Chinese historical film "Dead To Rights" had a successful premiere in the country in September. She added that interest is expanding beyond historical dramas to other genres such as romantic comedies. Lyubimova also highlighted the value of joint film production between the two countries. The co-produced spy thriller film Red Silk, released in China earlier this month, was one such project. "Signing agreements on co-productions is very important because it allows us to work together and showcase our joint film achievements," she said, adding that Russia and China also cooperate in international film festivals and major award events, which further strengthen bilateral cultural ties. Designating the years 2024 and 2025 as the China-Russia Years of Culture, the two countries have rolled out a range of exchange activities to tap the potential of bilateral cooperation. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) A battle over New York City's future is being waged not only at the ballot box but in boardrooms and donor circles. Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, who has surged to the front of the mayoral race on promises to freeze rents and tax millionaires, is facing a coordinated pushback from some of the city's wealthiest power brokers. Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman and other billionaires have pledged 'hundreds of millions of dollars' to back rival Andrew Cuomo, but despite the money flowing into the race, polls show Mamdani still holding a strong lead. Billionaires Mobilise Against Mamdani As per the New York Times, some of the city's wealthiest gathered to confer with Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani's opposing candidate. The group gathered to discuss how he can win, with the city's most prominent developer pleading for a united front. Among people who attended was billionaire Bill Ackman, a hedge fund manager with a net worth of $10bn. He called for Eric Adams, the incumbent mayor, to drop out of the race to clear Cuomo's path to victory. Ackman, along with New York's one-percenters, claimed that Mamdani's tax proposal would cause the rich to flee the city. Ackman promises to invest huge amounts in blocking Mamdani from power. I awoke this morning gravely concerned about New York City. I thought What has NYC become that an avowed socialist who has supported defunding the police, whose solution to lowering food prices is city-owned supermarkets, who doesnt understand that freezing rents will only Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) June 26, 2025 'There are hundreds of millions of dollars of capital available to back a competitor to Mamdani that can be put together overnight,' he said in June via X. How Much Support is Cuomo Getting From the Rich? An analysis revealed that real estate donors have spent $6m trying to get Cuomo to come out ahead. Meanwhile, The New York Times said that $250,000 came solely from a Boston-based construction company aiming to expand into New York. There's also Michael Bloomberg, who spent $8.3 million to support Cuomo over the summer. In addition, Ron Lauder donated $750,000 to back Cuomo just this month. In August, John B. Hess, who heads the Hess corporation, gave his second $500,000 donation to Cuomo's run. The reports of the donations were all gathered into an analysis on Zohran's opposition by The Guardian. How is Mamdani Still Leading? Despite high-profile individuals backing Cuomo's efforts, Mamdani still holds a commanding lead. A Marist poll found him winning 45% of the vote, with Cuomo at 24%, while others had the remaining ballots. This explains why Cuomo's supporters are reeling and are asking for the other two candidates to drop out of the race. They're aiming to consolidate the different donors and voters, with US President Trump reportedly weighing in as well. Trump's advisors have enticed Adams with a job offer should he step down from the election. Given the circumstances, Sumathy Kumar, NYS Tenant Bloc managing director, has weighed in. Kumar said that 'it's just not working' because tenants want a rent freeze and the ability to stay in New York City. In addition, Ana Maria Archila, co-state director for the New York Working Families Party, said that Zohran 'tapped into a broadly shared sentiment that something has to change'. She said that his proposal of concrete solutions is why people are supporting his campaign. As such, 'power brokers and billionaires are frustrated, and scared, because their demands are not the centre piece of Zohran's agenda'. Originally published on IBTimes UK Beijing (Gasgoo)- On Sept. 19, Chery Jetour's Zongheng luxury off-roader sub-brand officially launched global pre-sales for its flagship hybrid off-road SUV, the G700. The model is offered in four trims priced between 349,900 yuan and 429,900 yuan. Photo credit: Jetour The G700 combines off-road performance, premium features, and advanced intelligence. It is powered by the Kunpeng Super Hybrid CDM-O system, delivering 665 kW of combined output and 1,135 Nm torque, enabling 0100 km/h acceleration in 4.6 secondscomparable to V8 luxury performance SUVs. With IP68-certified waterproofing of core components, 320 mm ground clearance, and a 970 mm wading depth, the G700 is designed for demanding terrains. Photo credit: Jetour Its Zongheng Yuntai chassis features double-wishbone front and rear suspension, CDC dampers, air suspension, and R-EPS steering, balancing commuting comfort with rugged off-road capability. The interior adopts a "Zongheng Inspiration" cockpit with a four-screen layout, luxury seats with cloud-sensing support, and a 18-speaker Lexicon audio system with master-level tuning. Photo credit: Jetour On intelligence, the G700 comes equipped with Huawei's Qiankun ADS 4 driver assistance suite, integrating one LiDAR, three 4D millimeter-wave radars, eleven high-resolution cameras, twelve ultrasonic sensors, and twenty-seven sensors for comprehensive perception. Additional features include satellite communications, onboard oxygen supply, AED kits, mosquito-repellent fragrance, and hidden insect screens to support extreme environments such as plateaus and deserts. Twin brothers Marc and Joey Kubushefski renovated the new Third Street location of Paranormal Pizza after fire damage closed their original shop in February 2023. Courtesy photo A beloved pizza shop that closed over two years ago due to extensive fire damage now is reopening in its new digs on Bethlehems South Side. Paranormal Pizza has plans to open sometime next month at 125 E. Third St. Its moving into space next to King Wing. The eatery is known for its plant-based pizzas with bold flavors and a touch of unknown. Think made-from-scratch sourdough crusts paired with red sauce and vegan mozzarella before being topped seitan pepperoni, seitan sausage or fresh veggies. Theres the Mulder for those who enjoy a classic plain pie with red sauce and cashew mozzarella. Others with more adventurous palates might try the Lone Gunmen, with olive oil, garlic, cashew mozzarella, oregano, crushed red pepper, chickn, broccoli and spicy agave; the Gibson Praise, with red sauce, cashew mozzarella, soy bacon, onions and mushrooms; and the Smoking Man, with a garlic knot crust, red sauce and cashew mozzarella. All pies are named after characters from the science fiction television series, the X-Files. The menu also includes Detroit-style and classic thin-crust pies, as well as calzones, burgers with impossible patties, seitan wings and cheese sticks. Theres a large variety of gluten-free selections, as well as weekly specials. Pie prices range $18 to $30, according to the business online menu. The original pizzeria in February 2023 closed indefinitely at 554 N. New St. in the city. The two-alarm blaze swept through the building just prior to Super Bowl Sunday 2023. There were no reported injuries and all occupants of the pizzeria and its upstairs apartment tenants escaped the building safely, fire officials had said. Co-owners and twin brothers, Marc Kubushefski of Emmaus and Joey Kubushefski of Allentown, launched the original pizza shop in March 2022 less than a year prior to the fire. The venture was born during the March 2020 shutdown when Marc Kubushefski began posting photos of his vegan pizzas on Instagram. He quickly developed a following and the twins decided to open a brick-and-mortar location to meet a growing demand. Garlic parm vegan wings, which will soon be offered at Paranormal Pizza in South Bethlehem. Twin brothers Marc and Joey Kubushefski renovated the new Third Street location of Paranormal Pizza after fire damage closed their original shop in February 2023. Courtesy photo After the damage, the pair launched a food truck at area festivals and events to serve up some fried foods and meatless sandwiches. The truck couldnt offer pizza because it lacked an oven. The twins continued serving up pies at popular pop-up locations. Some included Yergey Brewing in Emmaus, Sherman Street Beer Company in Allentown and Bonn Place Brewing Co. in Bethlehem. The owners couldnt return to the existing space due to issues that couldnt be ironed out with the landlord in terms of the space and original lease, Marc Kubushefski told lehighvalleylive.com Monday. The pair have since renovated the new space with upgraded flooring, lighting, new pizza ovens and other kitchen equipment. Theres seating for 30 people. The paranormal vibe that patrons are accustomed to will also return. Owners are installing a dark, Gothic-like aesthetic, with black walls and church pews for seating, as well as framed UFO photos. Tentative hours for Paranormal Pizza upon opening will be from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday. The familiar restaurateur brings her popular soul food menu to the Salisbury Township shopping destination, complete with some expanded offerings. A regional mobile truck already known for its made-from-scratch soul food has quietly opened a brick-and-mortar space at South Mall. S&D SOULicious Cuisine is moving into the space that was previously occupied by Gertrude Hawk, near Ohana WonderTown Playground. The eatery is named after the initials of owner Shayvonne Terry-Riveras four children: Shayden, Dylan, Shaylynn and Dennis. Terry-Rivera of Macungie launched a soft opening of the new eatery on Aug. 29. Shes planning a grand opening on Sept. 27. The 1,243-square-foot site is expected to be an expansion of what fans of S&D SOULiciouss food truck already know: good food with a welcoming, homey vibe, Terry-Rivera said. The truck since 2022 has been a fixture at area events, festivals and private parties. Terry-Rivera told lehighvalleylive.com last week she chose South Mall because the shopping destination felt welcoming and supportive. It was always my dream to have my own restaurant, she said. The shopping center sits at 3300 Lehigh St., in Salisbury Township. Macungie entrepreneur Shayvonne Terry-Rivera is bringing her popular soul food menu to South Mall, including fried chicken, ribs, pasta-stuffed Cornish hen, and rib eye steaks. Courtesy photo Soul food Terry-Rivera always enjoyed serving up comfort food geared toward warming the soul. As a child, family members could find her beside her grandmother, mother or aunt learning how to master skills and passed-down family recipes. She learned to prepare such family favorites as mac n cheese, collard greens and fried cabbage. By the time she was a teenager, Terry-Rivera began working for a New York-based McDonalds restaurant. Her initial goal was to open her own franchise someday of the fast-food giant. Terry-Rivera later earned a bachelors degree in business management to give her a boost, but then realized shed rather craft her own selections than be forced to serve what chain restaurants typically offer. I thought, Why would I open a McDonalds when I could have my own restaurant, with my own menu?, she said. It wasnt until Terry-Rivera was stuck indoors during the March 2020 shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic that she seriously set the plan in motion. A year later, she became a familiar face in the community, serving up signature fried chicken, ribs and other barbecue-inspired fare at pop-up events. The food truck followed, with the brick-and-mortar restaurant becoming the next step on the journey, Terry-Rivera said. Opening a restaurant was a major step in my culinary goals because that was the biggest goal that I set for myself, she said. At the South Mall eatery, guests will be treated to similar fare that are already food truck fan favorites, along with a few new selections. Think southern fried chicken tenders and wings; baked chicken; shrimp and fried ribs. Entrees will be paired up with such sides as baked macaroni and cheese, collard greens and steak fries. Some of the newer items added to the mix include pasta-stuffed Cornish hen and rib eye steaks. The most popular dish on the food trucks menu is the rasta pasta, which Terry-Rivera believes will also be a hit at the South Mall locations. She describes it as sweet and spicy pasta with a little bit of a kick. Everything, she said, will continue to be made from scratch. Prices typically range from $5 to $28 an entree. The South Mall eatery has seating for 16 people. The space has since been renovated with upgraded flooring, new lighting and kitchen equipment. Hours of S&D SOULicious Cuisine are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last call at 4:30 p.m.) on Sunday; and noon to 8 p.m. (last call is 7:30 p.m.) Monday to Saturday. There are future plans for events, such as poetry slams and open-mic nights, which could also expand hours. New Jersey-based Burlington, formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, plans to open sometime in fall 2025 at South Mall in Salisbury Township. LightRocket via Getty Images Coming soon S&D SOULicious Cuisine is joining two other major additions on tap to open this year at South Mall. New Jersey-based Burlington, formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, and Giant Food Stores plan to fill a pair of large vacancies left by two of the malls former anchors. Burlington sometime this fall plans to open in a portion of the former Stein Mart location. Stein Mart shuttered for good after its bankruptcy filing in 2020. Giant Food Stores is under construction on the property that previously occupied The Bon-Ton space. Bon-Ton closed for good in 2018 and its building was razed for the new supermarket. James Balliet of the James Balliet Property Group, the leasing agent for South Mall, told lehighvalleylive.com Giant Food Stores is expected to be completed by late 2025 or early 2026. The new 68,000-square-foot store with outside fuel stations is expected to open shortly after construction is completed. South Mall roughly has an estimated 50 tenant spaces, both interior and exterior. There are several empty storefronts available for leasing, according to the malls site map by The James Balliet Property Group. Balliet, however, doesnt expect any vacancies to last too long. We will be making multiple tenant announcements in the upcoming months, he said. Whos In: Aside from the recent and new additions, other current tenants at the South Mall and its exterior shopping center include: 123 Sweetsss kiosk; A-1 Hibachi; Amazon Locker; Attic Mice 2; Back to the Arcade; Bank of America; Bath & Body Works; Blick Art Materials; C & I Minerals; Caring Hearts; Dinos Pizza-teria; Dragonknight Gaming & Collectibles; EcoATM; Eric J. Loch Jewelers; Eyebrow Threading; Good Wine & Spirits; Games & More; Holiday Hair; Just For U Salon; Mattress Firm; Mavis Discount Tire; Ohana Wondertown Playground; Oriental Therapy; Petco; Popptees; Ross Dress for Less; Signature Day Spa; Spirit Halloween (pop-up store); Staples; Starbucks; SuperSets Gym; T-Mobile (Sprint); The Robins Nest Handmade Soap; and Yoccos. The Easton Public Market at 325 Northampton St. in Easton. An upcoming event in Easton will be very cheesy. Literally. Centre Square Cheese, one of Easton Public Markets newest vendors, will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25 at the 325 Northampton St. market. According to a Facebook event, the ceremony will feature free samples of fancy grilled cheeses. Centre Square Cheese officially opened for business on May 2. The market vendor specializes in all things cheese, which are gourmet and artisanal, according to its website. It also sells gourmet olive oil, spreads, jams, honey, charcuterie boards and more. Centre Square Cheese also offers Japanese culinary knives and a variety of cookbooks. Easton resident Ron Rittenhouse owns Centre Square Cheese, along with his wife Jennifer. According to the website, Rittenhouse has over 20 years of experience as a professional chef with a passion for curated cheese and meat. Rittenhouse expressed on the website the couples love for Easton and the community. Weve called Easton home for a decade, watching the city flourish year after year, he said on the site. We are committed to the success of Easton. Centre Square Cheese operates on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Newly elected Northampton County Commissioner Kelly Keegan is sworn in at a ceremony Jan. 2, 2024, in the county courthouse. Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.com contributor A demonstration is planned in support of Easton Area High School nurse Kelly Keegan at the school board meeting next week. Keegan is under fire for comments she allegedly made on Facebook concerning the death of conservative youth organizer Charlie Kirk. She allegedly called him a monster and said his wife and children are better off without him. The comments arent live on social media, but screenshots have been shared by Keegans outraged detractors. They say she crossed the line by insinuating that Kirk deserved to die and suggesting she condones murder. They want Keegan fired as a school nurse. An online petition calling for her termination had 260 signatures Monday morning. Critics also want her to resign her seat on Northampton County Council. Nazareth area LGBTQ+ organizer April Gabriel-Ferretti says Keegan was exercising her right to free speech when she commented on Kirk. She is calling on supporters to bring Im with Kelly signs to the school board meeting at on Tuesday at Sept. 30. The district has moved the meeting from the education center to Easton Area Middle School, which has a larger seating capacity. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. at the school at 1010 Echo Trail in Forks Township. A demonstration is planned for Sept. 30 at Easton Area Middle School. Courtesy of April Gabriel-Ferretti The school district posted some meeting guidelines on its website: No bags or purses will be permitted. You must be an Easton resident to be permitted to make a public comment. Public comment on non-agenda items will be held at the end of the meeting, the district notice says. School District Superintendent Tracy Piazza said the district is reviewing whether to take appropriate action against an employee who made insensitive comments on social media. The controversy started brewing a few days after Kirks assassination on Sept. 10. Comments on both sides of the issue have been swirling for the past two weeks on social media. Anti-Keegan demonstrators gathered Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Northampton County Courthouse in anticipation of the first council meeting since Keegan made the comments. Keegan attended the meeting by phone, according to a published report in the Morning Call. Several members of the community weighed in on the appropriateness of Keegan remaining on council, the report said. Council President Lori Vargo Heffner said making inflammatory comments on social media does not meet the threshold for an ouster from council, the report said. The AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailer, delivered on Sept. 10, is designed to provide temporary shelter for at least 65 pets during the first 72 hours after a disaster declaration. Photo courtesy of AKC Pet Disaster Relief Lehigh County Emergency Management Agency has received a new resource to help pets during disasters, thanks to a donation from AKC Reunite and the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. The AKC Pet Disaster Relief trailer, delivered on Sept. 10, is designed to provide temporary shelter for at least 65 pets during the first 72 hours after a disaster declaration. It represents the 119th such trailer donated nationwide by AKC Reunite, the largest non-profit pet identification and recovery service provider in the United States. This area, which is prone to flooding and winter storms, will now have the equipment they need to help their neighbors and their pets during an emergency, said Tom Sharp, president and CEO of AKC Reunite. The trailer comes equipped with essential animal care items including crates, carriers, microchips, a universal microchip scanner, bowls, collars, leashes, fans, lighting, a generator, and cleaning supplies. These resources can be used at co-location shelters where people evacuate with their pets or as emergency shelters for displaced animals. Lehigh County Emergency Services is extremely appreciative to AKC Reunite and the Kennel Club of Philadelphia for graciously donating the disaster pet relief trailer to the County, said Tanya Hook, director of Lehigh County Office of Emergency Management. This extremely generous donation provides the Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team with additional resources and increases our communities capacity to care for beloved pets during emergencies. The Kennel Club of Philadelphia, which made the donation possible, has supported similar efforts across the region. Generative AI was used to organize information for this story, based on data provided by AKC Reunite. It was reviewed and edited by lehighvalleylive.com staff. GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) President Donald Trump praised Charlie Kirk as a great American hero and martyr for freedom as he and other prominent conservatives gathered Sunday evening to honor the slain conservative political activist whose work they say they must now advance. The memorial service for Kirk, whom Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, drew tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, other senior administration officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand. Hes a martyr now for Americas freedom, Trump said in his tribute. I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie. And neither now will history. Speakers highlighted Kirks profound faith and his strong belief that young conservatives need to get married, build families and pass on their values to keep building their movement. They also repeatedly told conservative activists, sometimes in confrontational tones, that the best way to honor Kirk was doubling down on his mission to move American politics further to the right. For Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees, Vance said. My friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith. Kirks assassination at a Sept. 10 appearance on a Utah college campus has become a singular moment for the modern-day conservative movement. It also has set off a fierce debate about violence, decency and free speech in an era of deep political division. The shooting has stirred fear among some Americans that Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to suppress the voices of his critics and political opponents. High security and a full stadium Those close to Kirk prayed and the floors shook from the bass of Christian rock bands as the home of the NFLs Arizona Cardinals took on the feel of a megachurch service. Charlie looked at politics as an on-ramp to Jesus, said the Rev. Rob McCoy, Kirks pastor. People began lining up before dawn to secure a spot inside State Farm Stadium west of Phoenix, where Kirks Turning Point organization is based. Security was tight, similar to the Super Bowl or other high-profile event. The speakers delivered their tributes from behind bullet-proof glass. The 63,400-seat stadium quickly filled with people dressed in red, white and blue, as organizers suggested. Kirks widow, Erika, in her own address said in the midst of her grief she was finding comfort that her husband left this world without regrets. She also said she forgives the man who is charged with killing him. My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life, said Erika Kirk, who is taking over as Turning Points leader. She added, I forgive him. Comments about Kirk have become a Trump administration target Trump has blamed the radical left for Kirks death and threatened to go after liberal organizations and donors or others who he feels are maligning or celebrating Kirks death. Dozens of people, from journalists to teachers to late show host Jimmy Kimmel, have faced suspensions or lost their jobs as prominent conservative activists and administration officials target comments about Kirk that they deem offensive or celebratory. The retaliation has in turn ignited a debate over the First Amendment as the Republican administration promises retribution against those who air what are seen as disparaging remarks in the wake of Kirks death. Some speakers at the memorial said Kirk was battling evil and referred often to a vague they as the enemy. Others were blunt. You have no idea the dragon you have awakened, you have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilization, to save the West, to save this republic, said White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Kirk was a provocateur who at times made statements that some called racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant and transphobic. That has drawn backlash from conservatives who view the criticism as cherry-picking a few select moments to insult the legacy of someone they see as an inspirational conservative leader. A 22-year-old Utah man, Tyler Robinson, has been charged with killing Kirk and faces the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges. Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but prosecutors say Robinson wrote in a text to his partner following the shooting that he had enough of Kirks hatred. Kirks legacy of conservative political influence Turning Point, the group Kirk founded to mobilize young Christian conservatives, became a multimillion-dollar operation under his leadership with enormous reach. Charlies having some serious heavenly FOMO right now, Tyler Bower, Turning Points chief operating officer, said, likening the moment to bringing the Holy Spirit into a Trump rally. The crowd was a testament to the massive influence he accumulated in conservative America with his ability to mobilize young people. Kirk was a MAGA celebrity with a loyal following that turned out to support or argue with him as he traveled the country for the events like the one at Utah Valley University, where he was shot. Kirk grew the organization, in large part, through the force of his personality and debating chops. He slayed ignorance, said Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. He cut through lies. He woke peoples minds, inspired peoples hearts and imparted wisdom every day. Speaker after speaker, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed their awe at Kirks ability to go into what many conservatives saw as the lions den to make the conservative case: college campuses. Why dont you start somewhere easier, Rubio joked when he first heard about Kirk years ago. Like, for example, communist Cuba? ___ By Jonathan J. Cooper, Eugene Garcia, Aamer Madhani and Meg Kinnard Associated Press Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Tiffany Stanley in Washington, Silvia Stellacci in Rome; Terry Tang, Meg Kinnard and Jesse Bedayn contributed to this report. The 10-year-old victim told investigators his stepfather brandished a handgun during an altercation and fired at least one shot through the front door of the Chestnuthill Township home, state police said. A Monroe County man is facing assault charges after shooting his 10-year-old stepson during a dispute at a Chestnuthill Township home, state police said. Aside from the three counts of aggravated assault, 34-year-old Darius Oshan James, of the 100 block of Caddo Terrace in Albrightsville, also is charged with felony child endangerment; two counts misdemeanor reckless endangerment; and misdemeanor simple assault. Court records indicate James turned himself in to authorities prior to being arraigned Friday before District Judge Phillip R. Riley. The judge denied bail and James was taken to the Monroe County jail. Clarks Summit-based attorney Patrick M. Rogan, who represents James, couldnt immediately be reached for comment Monday morning. However, Rogan in court records advised James to surrender the firearm used in the incident to Pennsylvania State Police in Fern Ridge. State police on Thursday were called to the home in the 300 block of Orchard Drive following a 911 hangup call. While en route, officers learned a young boy was taken to St. Lukes Hospital-Pocono by his father before being airlifted to St. Lukes University Hospital in Fountain Hill, state police said. The boys father and James allegedly were involved in an altercation at the home immediately before the shooting occurred. In an interview at the hospital, the boy told investigators he hugged his father when James brandished a Glock 19 handgun and fired at least one shot, according to the affidavit of probable cause. The court record lays out evidence and witness testimony against a defendant. The boy was shot in the arm, and his father was grazed in the head, court records state. James then allegedly fled the scene in an unknown direction. Investigators found a single bullet hole through the front door of the home and blood on the exterior floor panel, according to court records. James is due back in court for a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 2 before District Judge Colleen Mancuso. A judge will then determine if theres sufficient evidence to send the case toward trial at the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On Sept. 19, Geespace, Geely's commercial aerospace subsidiary, announced the launch of its global headquarters project in Hangzhou and signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Zhejiang Jinkong Investment Management, Hangzhou Capital, and Hangzhou High-Tech Venture Capital. Signing ceremony; photo credit: Geespace Under the agreement, the parties will collaborate on investment and industrial development to build a leading hub for satellite communications. Geespace has secured 2 billion yuan from the Zhejiang New Energy Vehicle Industry Fund, earmarked for headquarters construction and global business expansion of the Geely Future Mobility Constellation. Geespace has nearly completed the first phase of the constellation's deployment. With the addition of trial satellites, 64 satellites will be in orbit, providing real-time communications coverage for any point on Earth except the poles. Within latitudes 60 north and south, the constellation will achieve dual-layer coverage, offering up to 340 million communications per day for around 20 million users. Upon full deployment of the planned 72 satellites, coverage will expand to three to four overlapping layers, enhancing capacity and service reliability. The constellation supports multiple communication formats, including text, voice, and images, with single-channel capacity of 1,900 bytes. Geespace has built full-stack R&D capabilities across space, ground, and application segments, ranging from constellation system design and satellite mass production to communication chips and terminal modules. Its services are already expanding in the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Latin America, with partnerships in over 20 countries. The Saturday evening accident at Riverton and Deer Run roads in Upper Mount Bethel Township remains under investigation by Pennsylvania State Police. Photo courtesy Pennsylvania State Police | For lehighvalleylive.com A Bangor, Pennsylvania woman was killed in a two-vehicle wreck Saturday in the Slate Belt, state police said. Pennsylvania State Police in Belfast said the accident happened shortly after 7 p.m. at Riverton Road and Deer Run Road in Upper Mount Bethel Township. A 36-year-old Phillipsburg, New Jersey man was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu west on Deer Run Road as a 61-year-old man Bangor was heading north along Riverton Road in a 2022 Volkswagen Taos, police said. The Chevrolet driver struck the Volkswagen on the passenger side. Both vehicles came to final rest on the northwest corner of the intersection, according to state police. Beverly M. Schirripa, 63, of Bangor, a passenger in the Volkswagen, was pronounced dead at the scene. Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek didnt immediately return a request for more information Sunday. The Volkswagen driver suffered serious injuries and was taken for treatment to St. Lukes Hospital-Mount Pocono. The Chevrolet driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to St. Lukes Hospital-Anderson for treatment. Conditions were not immediately available Sunday. The driver of the Chevrolet was not wearing a seat-belt at the time of the accident, while the driver and passenger of the Volkswagen were wearing seat-belts, state police said. Saturdays collision remains under investigation by Pennsylvania State Police in Belfast. If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. As someone with sensitive, rosacea-ridden skin, Im very picky about the products I use. Im also very picky when it comes to new products, so when I find something that works, I dont tend to stray. One product thats been an essential of mine for four years now is Embryolisses Lait-Creme Fluid+ Face & Body Cream, and right now you can get your hands on it at a discounted price. Embryolisse Lait-Creme Fluid+ Face & Body Cream $36 Now $33 Pick up this multi-use moisturizer on sale today. $33 at Amazon Now, those familiar with Embryolisse likely know of the beloved French pharmacy brand thanks to its iconic Lait-Creme Concentre. However, these two creams are not the same. While the Lait-Creme Fluid+ Face & Body Cream features many of the same core soothing and hydrating ingredients (aloe, shea butter, soy protein and beeswax), it features a much lighter formula than the Concentre. You might be wondering, if my skin is dry, wouldnt the richer formula be better? On the contrary, I find that my skin responds much better to this formulation than the original because its a bit lighter and thus easier to absorb. At over 13 oz, this bottle lasts forever. Sarah M. Vazquez This cream also performs the same six multi-use functions as the original, serving as a face moisturizer, body moisturizer, makeup primer, aftershave, after sun care cream and a gentle makeup remover. On the very few occasions that I have strayed from this moisturizer, Ive always regretted it. With this moisturizer, I never have to worry about breakouts, rosacea flare-ups or my face looking greasy. Plus, Ive yet to try a makeup primer that can top this pick. The Lait-Creme Fluid+ Face & Body Cream also comes with a ton of product, so while the $33 price point may be a bit alarming at first, its important to note it comes with 13 oz of moisturizer in the bottle for comparison, most other facial moisturizers at the same price point come with about 3 oz. So, whether youre looking for a new moisturizer your sensitive skin can tolerate or want to up your hydration game as we head into the cold, dry months of fall, I think youll find this pick to be worth both your time and money. Plus, who can say no to a great deal? More moisturizer deals The brother of Imelda Keenan, the Laois woman who is missing now for over three decades, says the family is hurt and angry at a new update from An Garda Siochana. Imelda from Mountmellick went missing in Waterford in January 3 1994, and despite searches and a Garda investigation, has never been found. Her family who have campaigned publicly for information since she vanished up to the present day, met Gardai on Saturday, September 11, to hear if they had decided whether to upgrade it to a murder investigation, giving the case more investigative resources. The Gardai have now told them it will remain as a missing persons case. Gerry Keenan says the family are "very very angry" describing the news as "like someone stuck a knife in our hearts". He spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. "In October, a review team told us they would fine comb through all the information from the time she went missing to the present date. We gave them plenty of time. We felt that it was another step on the ladder and they would look at it with fresh eyes. It's coming up on 32 years now, that's a lifetime on its own. We've done everything in our power. It all seems to be in vain at the stroke of a pen. We are very disappointed with the information we were told in Waterford Garda Station. "They sat with us and within the first five minutes we knew it was not news we wanted to hear. They told us straight, that without sufficient evidence, Imelda's case would still be classed as a missing person. When I left the station with the family, we are all in our 50s and 60s now, we did nothing only cry. It was like someone stuck a knife in our hearts. I don't think I've cried so much in years. It was the biggest shock I've got in a long time. I've since shut myself away from everyone who knows about the case. Gerry Keenan holding a photo of his sister Imelda. "We are very very angry with the outcome. Through the years they had told us without any body it would stay as a missing case. But then Jo Jo Dollard's case was upgraded to a murder investigation without a body either. Annie McCarrick's mother never put foot in Ireland, made a call to Dublin and at the stroke of a pen that case was upgraded to murder, with no body. "The Keenans have been left behind, Irish people who work here and pay taxes. The system has completely let us down. Are they not interested? Is the case too old? The guards we met in Waterford, the old stock is all gone, Imelda's case is still there. They say it's still high profile, but that's not good enough. We are hurt. It looks to us as if the case is closed, we are very angry. I want to let the people of Laois, Offaly and Waterford know that her case is still unsolved," Gerry Keenan said. An Garda Siochana told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the case remains open. "On the 11th of September 2025, following a full and in-depth review of the case, Senior Management at Waterford Garda Station and the Peer Review Team met with members of the Keenan Family to discuss the outcome of the review. The family were informed, that the case remains open and under investigation. It was outlined in our meeting that the investigation had been subjected to a full and rigorous review and that following that review the case remains designated as a missing person case at this time. "An Garda Siochana in Waterford continues to actively investigate the case of Imelda Keenan who was reported missing on the 3rd of January 1994. Waterford Gardai have conducted extensive enquiries into the case of Imelda Keenan and continue to appeal for any person who has information in relation to the disappearance of Imelda Keenan to come forward," they say. The Gardai outline their recent actions on the investigation. "In October 2024, the investigation team in Waterford Garda Station along with colleagues from the Cold Case review team met with the Keenan family to discuss with them a review of the case that was to be undertaken in conjunction with the Serious Incident Peer Review Team. "Following that meeting a number of press appeals were conducted, including Crimecall and on social media, appealing for anyone with information to come forward. As a result a number of additional lines of enquiry were commenced and explored. "An Garda Siochana issued a renewed appeal on the 31st anniversary of the disappearance of Imelda Keenan. Gardai also highlighted the ongoing investigation on Crimecall in December 2024," they said. They believe Imelda Keenan is dead. "In his Crimecall appeal in December 2024, Superintendent Gavin Hegarty outlined that it is believed that Imelda Keenan is deceased, and that it was the hope of An Garda Siochana that they would be able to bring closure on the case for the Keenan family and establish what happened to Imelda. That remains the goal and we continue to appeal to anyone who has information to contact An Garda Siochana. Read also: New book captures memories of growing up in Mountmellick "An Garda Siochana continues to appeal to any person with information on the disappearance of Imelda Keenan, who has not previously spoken with the investigation team, or who may have spoken but not provided all of the information that they possess for any particular reason, or who may, with the passage of time, now be in a position to provide information to An Garda Siochana to contact the investigation team at Waterford Garda Station, the Garda Confidential Line or any Garda Station." A Compulsory Purchase Order relating to one well-known County Kildare site has been confirmed by Kildare County Council (KCC). The acquisition was made official by KCC at the most recent Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting, which was heard on Wednesday, September 17 last. At this meeting, Social Democrats councillor Chris Pender asked KCC to provide an update on the Compulsory Purchase Order in relation to O'Modhrain Hall in Newbridge. He also asked KCC to "advise if any delays or issues have arisen". Previously, the site, which remains derelict on Cutlery Road, was sold in 2017 to a developer by the trustees. READ NEXT: Average house price in this Kildare town is now nearly 500k - survey Cllr Pender himself also urged KCC to secure the site back in October of 2023. In response, KCC said via the report it presented at the meeting: "The Compulsory Acquisition of O Modhrain Hall, Newbridge is now complete. "The vesting date for the property title to transfer to Kildare County Council was September 3 last." KCC added that its Town Regeneration Team are currently awaiting confirmation of title transfer from Tailte Eireann, which is a state agency in Ireland which is responsible for property registrations / valuations, as well as national mapping services. READ NEXT: Kildare County Council warns motorists to expect significant delays on this road today A Senator based in County Kildare has welcomed the commencement of the Fuel Allowance payment, which will benefit 14,366 households in Kildare. The new scheme, which will commence today (September 22), aims to support 410,000 households to heat their homes. The scheme applies to single people over 66 years of age who have means under 524 a week, or couples over the age of 66 with a combined means of under 1,048. Speaking on the commencement of the scheme, Fianna Fail Senator Fiona O'Loughlin said: "The Fuel Allowance scheme is an essential measure for many households throughout the country. "I am delighted that this scheme will now benefit more households than ever before, with 14,366 of those households in my own constituency." READ NEXT: Calls for direct transport connections from Kildare to Dublin Airport She also said that while the Fuel Allowance will be paid for 28 weeks, households have a choice of how it will be paid, through a weekly rate of 33, or, if they prefer, by way of two instalment payments of 462. The Newbridge-based politician further said: "I am delighted that Minister [Dara] Calleary has extended the Fuel Allowance to people over the age of 66, and they do not need to be receiving a Social Welfare payment to qualify. "The qualification of those receiving Carers Allowance is critical also, subject to a means test; this means the Fuel Allowance is helping those who need it most. "The introduction of Fuel Allowance has been a huge success and has given households a helping hand for the last few years. "The cost of heating your home is challenging, and we want to give households a helping hand." She concluded by saying: "In Fianna Fail, we are committed to helping more households stay warm and supported this winter." Anyone who is interested in applying for the allowance online can do so by clicking here. In addition, further information on the payment is available here. Earlier this month, Senator O'Loughlin made headlines when she welcomed the announcement that children aged between five and eight years of age would be eligible for free travel on all Transport for Ireland (TFI) services. Fianna Fail Senator Fiona O'Loughlin. File photograph READ NEXT: UPDATE: Purchase of well-known site confirmed by Kildare County Council Ryan Tubridy hasnt been idle on his trip back to Ireland, but hes proved that a simple act of kindness can go a long way. Since popping the question to psychologist and former Rose of Tralee Dr Clare Kambamettu in June, the ex Late Late Show host has been enjoying life in their engagement bubble. While countless well wishers have reached out to the couple, one heartfelt message in particular struck a special chord with Ryan. The broadcaster told followers on Instagram that he had received a homemade card from Francis and Kathleen, a couple living in a Galway nursing home. They used to watch me on the TV and the radio when I was on and decided to send a card to congratulate myself and Clare on our engagement, he explained. The card was so thoughtful and beautifully put together with the warmest words of love and support that ended with an invitation to visit them at the nursing home they are both residents of, so we decided to call in unannounced. Read More: What is the Mpox virus as HSE confirms cluster of more serious strain detected in Ireland Tubridy teased the visit in advance, telling his Instagram followers: They dont know it yet but were going to go in and see them and say hello. Its kind of exciting because theyre good folks. Reflecting afterwards, he said: If I couldve bottled the reaction, the vibe and the joy, I would have. Two nicer people you couldnt meet and the staff, all amazing. We had tea, biscuits and the chats. New friends were made and off we went. The surprise meet up is the latest glimpse into Tubridys life since announcing his engagement earlier this summer, showing that even amid his hectic schedule and travel between Ireland and London, he still makes time for small gestures that mean a lot. A driver was intercepted when they failed to stop for gardai in Carlow Town at the weekend. The driver was arrested for the possession of counterfeit currency, driving under the influence of cannabis, criminal damage, possession of drugs, driving without a licence and dangerous driving. In a post on social media, gardai say the car did not have insurance, tax or a valid NCT. The incident happened in the town centre shortly before midnight on Saturday. The Gardai have also stated that the motorist had previously been disqualified from driving. The vehicle was seized following the detection and investigations are ongoing. Read More: ALERT: Popular brand of Irish snacks recalled amid 'do not eat' warning Responding to the gardai post on social media, one online commenter stated: Wow they are a driving disaster. Literally everything they could do to break the law they did, well done catching them. Another netizen called the offending driver an absolute clown. The arrested motorist is due to appear before Carlow District Court to face charges in relation to the incident. Gardai are appealing for witnesses of the event to contact Carlow Garda Station with any information that they may have regarding the incident. The number for Carlow Garda Siochana is 0599136620. Presidential election hopeful Gareth Sheridan has slammed the government parties for blocking local authority nominations. The independent candidate has received two of the four local authority nominations required to secure a place on the presidential ballot. His most recent nomination came from Tipperary County Council, where Fine Gael councillor Mary Hanna Hourigan controversially went against party orders in choosing to vote in favour of nominating Sheridan. Having announced the candidacy of Heather Humphreys, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris instructed party councillors not to nominate a candidate through the local authority route. Although Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin didnt announce a similar diktat, many Fianna Fail councillors are choosing to follow their Fine Gael counterparts in refusing to nominate any other candidates. READ NEXT: Gardai seek assistance in finding missing girl (13) amid concern for her well-being However, Mr Sheridan believes that this policy of blocking local authority nominations is not good for democracy. He stated: The unprecedented level of interference by government parties in the presidential election nomination process is undermining the office of the Presidency and compromising the integrity of the electoral process. The current scenario of a three-horse race, with two of the runners from the Government stable, is far from satisfactory, stifles robust and respectful debate and undermines the authority of the eventual outcome. The Fianna Fail and Fine Gael tactics of directly interfering and covertly influencing the local authority nomination route, usurping the Constitutional mandate of councillors under Article 12.2.2. runs the grave risk of tarnishing the Presidency. Mr Sheridan concluded by saying that the people of Ireland should have a full spectrum of candidates to choose from come election day. The independent candidate is due to speak at meetings of Meath County Council, Louth County Council and Offaly County Council later today. There is some uncertainty over his Louth appearance, due to his failure to provide the required documents on time. However, Mr Sheridans team has maintained that the issue should be resolved in time for the meeting. The 12th Adaptation Film Festival, held from September 18 to 21 across The Glens Arts Centre in Manorhamilton and The Model Cinema in Sligo, marked a milestone for the region with five feature films and seven shorts made locally in the past year. Festival coordinator Johnny Gogan said the scale of production would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. If you said that to me five years ago, Id say no way, he said. In addition to that, seven new short films were released here in the last year and most of them are adaptations. Its a big step for us, and the more you involve the people who are making the work in it, the more exciting it is. This years expanded programme also welcomed Oscar-winning director Neil Jordan back to his native Sligo for screenings and a public interview. Having Neil here was really fitting, Gogan said. He has a strong connection with Sligo because he was born here, and his perspective was so strong because he just published his memoir last year. His responses were quick, diverse, illuminating, and truthful. For Gogan, the growth of the festival mirrors the growth of filmmaking in Ireland itself. We make far more films in Ireland now than when I started, he says. Its a proper, world-standard industry not just Hollywood productions coming here, but Irish filmmakers and TV series makers too. Ive a couple of films going out on Disney in the autumn, and others on Netflix. The opportunities are huge. The festival has always been about more than just screenings its about building connections. The festival is a good shop window for the work thats happening here, says Gogan. Leitrim is a fantastic backdrop, but above all, its the talent thats here: the writers, the cinematographers, the designers and sound designers. Thats a big part of what were about. Among the new shorts screened was The Blow-In, co-written and performed by actor-director Monica McCarthy. The comedy, based loosely on her own familys story, was made on a shoestring budget with a crew of first-time filmmakers. Everything just came together beautifully, McCarthy said. This weekend was the first time anyone saw it, and now were hoping it will make its way onto the festival circuit. For McCarthy, the inspiration came from her mothers obsession with genealogy during the pandemic. Its largely based on a true story, she explained. My mom got buried in her ancestry research, and I came back to Ireland with her. I ended up falling in love with the next-door neighbour myselfso the story is, you could say, true to life. The Blow-In tells the story of an American tourist who gets more than she bargained for after arriving in Leitrim. Directed by McCarthy, written by Roisin Mulligan and produced by Mariia Levko, the short was developed as part of a project by The Glens Arts Centre and Leitrim Development Company. It is one of six shorts produced in the SLR region this year, showcasing the strength of local talent and storytelling. READ NEXT: Leitrim house prices climb over five percent as demand outpaces supply A proposal to back Maria Steen was defeated today during a meeting of Leitrim County Council. Following presentations made by thirteen presidential hopefuls last week, Cllr Mary Bohan, Cllr Irene Guckian-Rabbitte, and Cllr Justin Warnock put forward a motion to nominate Maria Steen as a candidate for the Election for the Office of President of Ireland. Maria Steen is a barrister, described as a conservative campaigner, and a member of the Catholic advocacy group the Iona Institute. She represented the Iona Institute during debates in advance of previous referenda held in Ireland, including the 2015 vote on marriage equality and the 2018 vote to repeal the eighth amendment, campaigning for a no vote in both cases. On her decision to propose Steens nomination, Cllr Bohan said, Ive listened to Maria Steen on a number of debates, she understands the role of president. Referring to Steens presentation to Leitrim County Council last week, she added, When she talked, she was very clear of the role and even more so clear on the limitations of the role, which wasnt the case for many of the other candidates. Cllr Bohan further argued that it would be remiss to deny the public an opportunity to vote for Steen. At the end of the day its the public who are going to decide and I dont want to take any part in denying people that opportunity, she said. Councillors Justin Warnock and Irene Guckian-Rabbitte seconded her proposal. READ NEXT: Hope for change: Campaign grows for MS support worker to aid over 300 people in Leitrim and Sligo Cllr Roisin Kenny spoke against backing Steen, saying her decision came after much consideration. She argued that Steens ties with the Iona Institute and her very conservative views were reminiscent of a time when the Catholic Church had a strong hold over Ireland. I do believe our nation has moved towards a more inclusive and diverse country. The president should be someone who represents all of our people, Cllr Kenny said. She added that councillors of Leitrim County Council represent everyone regardless of gender, religion, race, or sexual orientation, and the president should do the same. For that reason I cannot in good conscience support Maria Steen, she said, confirming her full support for Catherine Connolly. Cllr Eddie Mitchell agreed with Kennys position, saying Steen was established through the Iona Institute and that there should be a clear separation between church and state. Cllr Bohan refuted these comments, stating, Its got to the stage where we accept all religions and none but it seems to me that if you have anything to do with the church youre nearly treated like a criminal. She added that diversity is respected in Leitrim and always has been. READ NEXT: Thirteen presidential hopefuls pitch for nomination at Leitrim County Council A vote was then taken, with seven councillors in favour of backing Steen, nine against, one abstention, and one absence. Those who voted in favour were Cllr Bohan, Cllr Paddy Farrell, Cllr James Gilmartin, Cllr Guckian-Rabbitte, Cllr Sean McGowan, Cllr Paddy ORourke, and Cllr Warnock. Those who voted against were Cllr Brendan Barry, Cllr Padraig Fallon, Cllr Cormac Flynn, Cllr Kenny, Cllr Enda McGloin, Cllr Mitchell, Cllr Gary Prior, Cllr Maeve Reynolds, and Cllr Ita Reynolds-Flynn. Cllr Felim Gurn abstained, and Cllr Enda Stenson was absent. Responding to the defeat, Cllr Bohan said she was very disappointed and that we certainly didnt see democracy in action in this chamber today. It is extremely disappointing that we couldn't have the foresight just to put a candidate on the ballot paper and let the people decide, she added. Weve denied the public that opportunity and it looks like well just have party candidates. READ NEXT: Five features and seven shorts filmed in Leitrim over the past year According to data compiled by the Gasgoo Automotive Research Institute, from January to July 2025 BYD's passenger vehicle exports continued to grow steadily, with the top 10 destinations covering key markets in South America, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Brazil and Mexico remained the leading markets in South America; Belgium and the UK served as major distribution and consumption hubs in Europe; Indonesia and the Philippines in Southeast Asia showed strong growth potential for new energy vehicles (NEVs); and the UAE ranked among the top 10 for the first time. BYD's export footprint became increasingly diversified, advancing both its battery electric passenger vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles (PHEVs) in parallel. The company expanded simultaneously across major emerging and mature markets worldwide, underscoring its solid position and strong growth momentum in the global NEV market. Here are the top 10 destination countries by BYD passenger vehicle exports from January to July, with detailed data: Brazil: 29,461 battery electric passenger vehicles and 51,575 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 81,036 units. Mexico: 31,350 battery electric passenger vehicles and 42,829 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 74,179 units. Belgium: 39,382 battery electric passenger vehicles and 32,932 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 72,314 units. UK: 22,738 battery electric passenger vehicles and 19,209 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 41,947 units. Turkey: 13,166 battery electric passenger vehicles and 16,951 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 30,117 units. Indonesia: 29,773 battery electric passenger vehicles. Australia: 18,547 battery electric passenger vehicles and 7,140 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 25,687 units. Spain: 10,680 battery electric passenger vehicles and 9,358 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 20,038 units. Philippines: 3,768 battery electric passenger vehicles and 11,849 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 15,617 units. UAE: 6,000 battery electric passenger vehicles and 7,042 plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles, totaling 13,042 units. From January to July 2025, Brazil and Mexico ranked as BYD's top two export destinations for passenger vehicles, together accounting for more than 150,000 units. BYD exported 81,036 units to Brazil (29,461 BEVs and 51,575 PHEVs). Since 2024, Brazil has gradually reinstated import tariffs on NEVs and mandated an annual increase in July. As a result, BYD exported only 3,132 units to Brazil in July 2025, down more than 50% from 6,847 units in June, underscoring the immediate impact of policy changes on shipment volumes. Mexico followed closely, overtaking Belgium which ranked second in the first halfwith a total of 74,179 units exported (31,350 BEVs and 42,829 PHEVs). The strong performance in these two countries made South America an increasingly important growth hub for BYD's overseas markets. In Europe, BYD also delivered a strong export performance. Belgium ranked third with 72,314 units, leveraging its hub position in automotive logistics and distribution, with a large share of vehicles subsequently redistributed to key markets such as Germany and France. The UK and Spain imported 41,947 and 20,038 units respectively, with a relatively balanced mix of BEVs and PHEVS, indicating broad consumer acceptance of both technology pathways in these markets. Southeast Asia had become one of the fastest-growing regional markets for China's NEV exports. As local governments rolled out incentive policies, improved charging infrastructure, and promoted greener mobility, Chinese automakers such as BYD accelerated their market and production deployment in the region. From January to July 2025, BYD exported 29,773 BEVs to Indonesia, ranking sixth among BYD's export destinations. During the same period, it exported a total of 15,617 passenger vehicles to the Philippinesincluding 3,768 BEVs and 11,849 PHEVsranking ninth, with PHEVs making up the majority of its export structure. Despite its long-term reliance on oil, the UAE actively promoted green mobility and supporting infrastructure under its "2050 Energy Strategy." With an import volume of 13,042 vehicles, it entered BYD's top 10 passenger vehicle export destinations for the first time in 2025, surpassing Israel and emerging as a significant new growth market in the region. Overall, from January to July 2025, BYD's cumulative exports to its top 10 markets exceeded 400,000 units, covering Latin America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Middle East, demonstrating a "multi-pronged growth" pattern. Policy support, geographic advantages, and local industrial infrastructure served as the main driving factors behind this performance. Gareth Sheridan said he has no regrets after his campaign for nomination to run for president came to an end. The 36-year-old millionaire businessman thanked everyone who supported him in the process after failing to secure nominations from county councils which were crucial to his path to enter the campaign. Having already secured nods from Kerry and Tipperary county councils, he needed just two more local authorities to nominate him to formally enter the race. However, major setbacks at Meath and Offaly county councils meant his campaign was mathematically over. Mr Sheridan, a married father of an almost three-year-old girl, lost out on a nomination from Meath by just one vote. Speaking to reporters at Offaly County Council, he said: We tried to offer something different. I think diversity on the ballot is important and we tried to offer that. Unfortunately it didnt work out this time but, you know, no regrets. He added: The outcome wasnt what we wanted, obviously devastated that we didnt get the four nominations it wouldve been great but wouldnt change anything during the process. It was hard work but I think we made a little bit of a splash anyway. Reflecting on his campaign, Mr Sheridan called the process to secure a nomination through local authorities tricky when they are controlled by the larger political parties. He said he had great respect for all the councillors but added: This time around, it wasnt to be. Mr Sheridan, a self-described multimillionaire pharma tycoon had lived in the US for more than 10 years before returning to Ireland earlier this year ahead of his campaign. He had said he would leave his company, Nutribrand, had he had been elected. Noting that he no longer had a route to secure sufficient nominations, he said: Mathematically, thats it for now me but thats fine. We gave it our best shot, we got two nominations which is really encouraging. We had a pathway and unfortunately the pathway and the plan didnt work out. Mr Sheridan wished the candidates who will be on the ballot the best, adding he will be following the election closely. Asked about his future plans, he said he did not need to be in a political position to advocate or fight for issues such as the housing crisis. It is something that I will definitely dive into and tackle head on probably from a different perspective this time around obviously. But these are issues that Im passionate about as a person, as a proud Irishman. If I cant do it from Aras, Ill have do it from somewhere and Ill have to work out where that is over the next couple of weeks but its not going away. He said he was trying to push younger people to get involved in politics and was hopeful that he could count his last few weeks as a success in that regard. Were trying to invite young people into the conversation. If we start that narrative through this process I think thats a good thing and Ill be proud of that. But again, well see how we go from this point. But I wouldnt change a thing, it was eye-opening, it was great to meet so many new people, earn the support and trust of so many people and highlight issues. Pressed on whether it would be his last time running for office again, Mr Sheridan said: Well see. A well-attended public meeting took place on Friday, September 19 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sligo to highlight the urgent need for a community support worker for people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Sligo and Leitrim. Currently, Sligo and Leitrim are the only counties in Ireland without access to such a service. MS Ireland, the national MS organisation, is campaigning to change this, alongside the more than 300 people in the region living with MS. The meeting featured harrowing and powerful testimonies from people with MS, as well as information from MS Ireland on the vital role of community support workers. The MS Ireland Leitrim branch was also in attendance. Local politicians including Martin Kenny TD, Frank Feighan TD, Senator Nessa Cosgrove, and councillors Brendan Barry, Gary Prior, Paddy ORourke, and Paddy Farrell attended the meeting in support. MS Ireland is seeking 72,997.56 to fund one full-time community support worker for Sligo and Leitrim. Chief Executive of MS Ireland, Ava Battles, said the organisations mission is to enable and empower people affected by MS to live the life of their choice, to the fullest potential. READ NEXT: Leitrim house prices climb over five percent as demand outpaces supply Addressing the absence of a community support worker in the region, Ms Battles said: Whats happening here in Sligo and Leitrim is not appropriate. The reality is we have 19 community workers throughout Ireland, and Sligo and Leitrim is the only place where we do not have the community work service. Aoife Lambe, National Services Manager for MS Ireland, outlined the essential work community support workers provide. The person responds to the person with MS, provides information support on issues such as psychological support, social welfare, medical care applications, employment and education, she explained. Their role also includes connecting people with other healthcare professionals and services, as well as facilitating networking, peer support, and educational programmes. Among those who spoke was Louise Power, who lives with MS in Mayo, where she has access to a community support worker. She described how the service transformed her life. In recent times, I've accepted my diagnosis, I cant change it but I can do everything in my power to advocate for those with MS which is why Im here today. Please, if there's one thing you can do for us today, is support our business case and grant us the funding we desperately, desperately need for those living in Sligo and Leitrim, she said. Another testimony came from Linda Barry McManus of Sligo, who recalled accessing services in Donegal after being diagnosed more than 25 years ago. Because I was able to use some community workers services in Donegal when I was first diagnosed, I know the value of those supports, especially when newly diagnosed, she said. READ NEXT: Leitrim club fans cheering on their heroes in Ballinamore, Gortletteragh & Pairc Sean MacDiarmada I also know the heartbreak of seeing those services available all over Ireland but not in Sligo. It is painful that just because of where I live, I cannot access them. I really hope we can get approval at last in the new budget. Leitrim man Mark Early also spoke about the impact such a service would have. In the 24 counties across this country, people with MS have access to vital supports such as emotional counseling, physiotherapy, employment advice and more but not here; not in Sligo and not in Leitrim. People with MS in Sligo and Leitrim deserve the same support as every other county in Ireland, nothing more and nothing less. The message from people living with MS was clear: the situation is intolerable, particularly as the north west has the highest incidence of MS in the country yet remains neglected. Frank Feighan TD for Sligo-Leitrim said he had spoken with the Minister about the need for the post and offered his absolute support, adding, I hope we will have a successful result in the coming weeks and months. Martin Kenny TD also pledged support, saying, Its a tiny amount of money thats needed to provide an absolute essential service. Its not just the people who are dealing with it now, its the future, theres going to be more people and they will all need this service. He added that pressure will be put on the Minister by other Oireachtas members to deliver this. READ NEXT: SRCC on the importance of support services for survivors in rural areas like Leitrim Cllr Paddy ORourke described the situation as inexplicable and inexcusable, noting that from his discussions with Oireachtas members, there does seem to be some light at the end of the tunnel. The meeting closed with a shared hope that funding will finally be secured, ensuring that people with MS in Sligo and Leitrim have the same access to support services as those in other parts of the country, a small ask for something that would bring a profound change to the lives of hundreds in the two counties. MS Ireland Leitrim Branch with Martin Kenny TD, Cllr Gary Prior and Cllr Brendan Barry Beijing (Gasgoo)- On Sept. 19, Chinese silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor supplier Inventchip announced the completion of its Series C financing round, raising more than 1 billion yuan. The company has already completed industrial and commercial registration updates. Photo credit: Inventchip The round was led by the National Manufacturing Transformation and Upgrading Fund, with participation from CICC Capital, Beijing Green Energy and Low-Carbon Industry Fund, SDIC IC Fund, Goldstone Investment, and others. Proceeds will be used for SiC production capacity expansion, product R&D, and market promotion. Founded in 2017, Inventchip operates under an IDM model covering design, manufacturing, and sales of SiC power devices, while also offering driver and control chips. The company has mass-produced three generations of SiC MOSFETs with performance at advanced industry levels. Its products are widely applied in EV onboard chargers (OBC), DC-DC converters, e-drive systems, air-conditioning compressors, photovoltaics, energy storage, charging piles, and industrial power supplies. In 2024, Inventchip's cumulative deliveries include over 16 million SiC MOSFET units, 18 million SiC Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs), and nearly 60 million driver IC units. The company has also entered the EV main drive inverter market, winning projects from several automakers and suppliers. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On Sept. 19, autonomous driving company WeRide announced that its autonomous shuttle (Robobus) has been granted Belgium's first federal Level 4 autonomous driving test license. With this milestone, WeRide becomes the only global tech company holding autonomous driving licenses in seven countries: Belgium, China, France, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the U.S. Photo credit: WeRide The license was signed by Jean-Luc Crucke, Belgium's Minister of Mobility, Climate and Ecological Transition, during an autonomous mobility summit this week. It authorizes Robobus to operate on an 8-km public road loop between Leuven and Heverlee, with nine stops along the route. The project is being carried out in collaboration with Flemish public transport operator De Lijn, the Leuven government, and mobility consultancy Espaces-Mobilites. Following a comprehensive safety assessment by Belgium's Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport, the license was issued for pilot testing. Pending final approval from Flemish authorities, WeRide plans to launch the trial within weeks, initially with a safety operator onboard. After the test phase, De Lijn aims to begin pilot operations between mid-November 2025 and late January 2026. This would mark Belgium's first commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles in mixed-traffic environments. Passengers will be able to purchase tickets via digital platforms, SMS, or subscription services. Longer-term, the project is expected to transition to regular operation. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On Sept. 20, Chinese autonomous driving company Pony.ai announced its official entry into Singapore through a partnership with ComfortDelGro Corporation, the country's largest transport services provider. The two companies will deploy autonomous vehicles and related mobility services to support daily travel for local residents. Photo credit: Pony.ai The first phase will launch in Punggol, a residential area in northeast Singapore, pending regulatory approval. This marks Pony.ai's second major collaboration with ComfortDelGro, following their March 2025 deployment of autonomous ride-hailing services in Guangzhou, which has provided both firms with technical, operational, and service experience. The initiative aligns with Singapore's transportation strategy to integrate autonomous driving into the public mobility system. Authorities aim to use driverless technology to supplement existing taxi, ride-hailing, and metro services, while addressing driver shortages, particularly during nighttime hours. In June, Singapore's Ministry of Transport announced plans to introduce autonomous vehicles in public housing estates by the end of 2025, with Punggol designated as the pilot zone. The rollout is expected to strengthen public transport connectivity and advance sustainable urban development. ArcelorMittal Liberia executives welcome six senators to the companys concession area in Yekepa, Nimba County a visit that has raised a major red flag about transparency in light of upcoming negotiations to renew the companys mineral development agreement. A CHRISTMAS extravaganza is being planned for Limerick, featuring a unique parade which will see the festive lights being turned on street-by-street. It may still be 94 days until December 25, but council is already planning for a huge event in the city to mark the start of yuletide. Some 18,000 people are projected to line the city streets on Saturday, November 22. And while Mayor John Moran has admitted there is unlikely to be a physical flicking of the switch to light up OConnell Street, as is traditional, the parade will contain similar elements. READ MORE: Transforming a kids bedroom into a teen sanctuary with Pat McDonnell Paints! When you do a static lighting-up ceremony, the security risk is much higher. Remember last year, we had a parade around the Georgian area. The idea is they are hoping to combine that, so as it moves through the city, we will light the city as we walk through the streets. Its a new kind of idea, Mayor Moran told Limerick Live. He believes larger crowds will attend a procession, as more people will want to line the route. He acknowledged that last Christmas people were less than happy with what was on offer in Limerick. So this year, we have had a sub-committee of the councillors in the city who have been working with the team to come up with good ideas like this parade. They have been involved from the beginning in terms of planning what is going to happen. Thats really helpful as they will know what is happening, said the mayor. This, he added, is really positive for me. A council spokesperson said of the event: In short, it's a magical illuminated seasonal procession to celebrate the arrival of Christmas in Limerick incorporating the switching on of the Christmas lights. This approach is a more inclusive switch-on event - a greater opportunity for everyone to enjoy it. There will be a designated area for persons with sensory needs at the start of the procession. Separately, the directly elected mayor is hoping to re-open The Limerick Athenaeum, also known as the Theatre Royal at Cecil Street, for the first time since 1998. He hopes a pop-up, pet-friendly cinema can go in there. Imagine how cool it would be to take your favourite dog to see a Christmas film at an old cinema where The Cranberries used to play, he enthused. Limerick City and County Council has advertised the fact the procession will take place in mid-November. Its anticipated the Light Up Limerick Procession will take place between 7.30pm and 8.30pm. A full schedule of road closures will issue prior to it. People interested in exploring the plans in further detail, and have their say, can do so by visiting the councils planning department at County Hall in Dooradoyle. MS IRELAND welcomed members of the community, supporters, and local stakeholders to its upcoming Limerick Hub for a preview event. The event, hosted on the site of the new building at Springfield, Singland Road, offered guests a glimpse into the ambitious plans. Visitors were invited to walk through the site, view architectural drawings, and engage with MS Ireland staff and volunteers. The event served as both an information session and a call for support, with attendees encouraged to play a role in shaping what will become a transformative facility for the Mid-West region. We were delighted to welcome so many members of the community to our future Limerick Hub, said Ava Battles, CEO. READ MORE: Permission to be sought for lodges at five-star Limerick resort in readiness for Ryder Cup 2027 Though the building is still in its early stages, this event was about sharing the dream, and showing people the incredible potential it holds. The centre will feature Limericks first fully accessible gym for people with MS and similar neurological conditions, alongside dedicated spaces for education, peer support, and community programmes. Service user Aoife Potter-Cogan said: It's so important to have this centralised space... all of us know somebody who has some sort of neurological condition who could benefit from this. The new facility aims to address long-standing gaps in accessible, community-based neurological services. The organisation is seeking financial support, partnerships, and local input to help bring the project to full realisation. Gareth Sheridans presidential hopes have suffered a setback after he narrowly failed to secure a nomination from Meath County Council. Fourteen members of the council voted against a proposal to nominate Mr Sheridan, with 13 backing the proposal. There were five abstentions and eight absentees. Mr Sheridan already had two of the four required nominations through local authorities to formally enter the contest, having previously secured nods from Kerry and Tipperary county councils. The 36-year-old millionaire entrepreneur was among several hopefuls pitching to Meath County Council on Monday morning. Mr Sheridan is next due to seek a nomination from Offaly County Council after lunch, with his campaign also indicating he will be able to pitch to Louth County Council later in the evening. It leaves the hopeful with just a narrow path to entering the race ahead of the nomination window closing at midday on Wednesday, with most local authorities having finalised their processes. His campaign has downplayed an administrative glitch behind concerns he had not submitted required documentation to Louth County Council, believing he would still be in a position to seek a last-ditch nod from the local authority. Elsewhere in the race, independent Catherine Connolly who has secured the support of Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, the Greens and People Before Profit will formally launch her campaign in Dublin on Monday evening. Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin and Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys formally lodged their papers on Friday. Attention has also been brought on independent candidate Maria Steen, who is claiming the support of 13 members of the Oireachtas behind her nomination campaign. She is due to meet the Independent Ireland party, who had indicated it would be willing to support a like-minded candidate with four votes to get them over the line of the 20 required nominations from TDs and senators. Meanwhile, Mr Gavin announced that he had written to social media giants X, Meta and TikTok as well as media regulator Coimisiun na Mean about several invented and utterly false stories published about him online. In a statement, his campaign said the vicious smears were attempts to damage his presidential bid. It said Meta has confirmed that several posts have been taken down while responses are still awaited from X, TikTok and Coimisiun na Mean. Mr Gavin said: Every person in our country knows the real and growing threat posed by online hate and disinformation. It is one of the forces driving the growing division and conflict in many societies. It is the cause of mental health issues amongst our young people due to online bullying and harassment. He added: I refuse to accept that the price of participating in public life should involve having to put your family and friends through waves of online abuse and malicious smears. This is not the cost of service it is a failure of our digital culture. I will continue to take whatever action is necessary to confront this appalling feature of social media. BALLYHOURA Walking Festival, Irelands longest-running walking festival is returning for its 29th year this autumn, with a diverse programme catering to all abilities. For the fifth consecutive year, the walking festival will join forces with the Joyce Brothers Music Festival, to create a unique weekend that blends the joy of outdoor exploration with the rich traditions of Irish music, song, and dance. The music festival celebrates the legacy of PW and Robert Dwyer Joyce, natives of Glenosheen, whose collections of Irish music, songs, and stories are still treasured today. A spokesperson for the annual festival said: The music festivals lively programme of concerts, sessions, workshops, and heritage walks perfectly complements the walking trails, adding a rich cultural dimension to the weekend. Many of the walks are led by members of the Ballyhoura Bears Walking Club, whose knowledge of the areas heritage, wildlife, and folklore ensures every step is steeped in local insight. READ MORE: New role for former RTE Mid-West correspondent in Limerick From challenging hikes such as the Sunrise to Sunset Ballyhoura Challenge, which covers over 42km of rugged trails, to the light-hearted and joyful Whistling Walk - there are events for all abilities. The musical heartbeat of the weekend will kick off with the Gala Opening Night in the Old Chapel Rooms on Thursday, October 2 at 7.30pm setting the tone for days filled with traditional concerts, toe-tapping sessions, and engaging workshops. A spokesperson said that festival-goers can expect to hear the best of Irish traditional music spilling from pubs, halls, and street corners. Alongside the strolls and the songs taking place across the festival weekend, Kilfinane Community Council will host an Intercultural Food Fair from 1.30-3.30pm on the Saturday. The festivals will take place from Thursday, October 2, to Sunday, October 5, with a wide array of events hosted each day. Tickets to the events can be purchased on Eventbrite, with many being free to attend. As the United Kingdom received President Donald Trump for his second state visit, a week characterized by pageantry and protests, one development went largely overlooked: the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two allies to advance the development of quantum computing. Under the pact, which also made mention of artificial intelligence and nuclear energy, the governments agreed to work together to realize true quantum advantage," or get to the point in which quantum computers broadly outperform classical machines. Propositions include the creation of a Quantum Industry Exchange Program," and a joint benchmarking taskforce to create industry-wide standards for quantum computing. Its worth nothing that an MoU is nothing more than a non-binding agreement. However, it builds on both countries efforts to legitimize quantum, which is often seen as the next frontier in technology. Just this past week, IonQ and Rigetti Computing, two of the best-known quantum pure plays in the U.S., announced separate deals with the federal government. IonQ plans to partner with the Department of Energy to deploy quantum technology in space, while Rigetti was awarded $5.8 million to build quantum networking and sensing technology over the next three years. (Barrons first reported on this contract at the end of August). Every bit of federal involvement in the R&D area helps all of us in the ecosystem," Rigetti CEO Subodh Kulkarni told Barrons, referencing the quantum industry at large. The race is on, and its great to see the U.S. government step up with projects like this." In July, the European Commission put forward a strategy to position Europe as a global leader in quantum by 2030. The U.S. has its own programs such as the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative under the Department of Defense. A report published by McKinsey earlier this year showed that Japan was outpacing its allies in terms of quantum investment. At the time, the Japanese government had pledged a total of $7.4 billion to develop the technology. The next largest contributor was the U.K. at just $3.5 billion. Motivations are the same across the board. The U.S., the U.K., and other countries are fighting to be the first to develop commercially viable quantum and snap up their share of the global market. Thats not to mention the security issues associated with the advent of such powerful systems. Barrons previously reported how quantum computing could disrupt the blockchain technology underlying Bitcoin, the worlds biggest cryptocurrency, cracking the encryption that has protected data for decades. Theres even more at risk. Matt Kinsella, CEO of Infleqtion, asserted that quantum networking could play a vital role in a conflict, saying GPS, or global positioning systems, would be the first thing thats going to go" in a hot war. Quantums potential role in national security might explain why the DoD has taken such an interest over the past few years. Rigetti, for one, has active contracts dating back to 2023, which largely center on chip fabrication. Quantum may be nascent, but the growing federal involvement shows it has caught the eye of more than just speculative investors looking to buy into the next it" technology. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the partnership at a press conference Thursday, going so far as to say quantum could change lives. Its our chance to ensure that technologies like AI, quantum and others amplify human potential solve problems, cure diseases, make us richer and freer," Starmer continued. The use cases may sound vague, but scientists have been exploring applications in everything from science to supply chain optimization to banking. The technology continues to develop. Companies have been looking for ways to build bigger machines while cutting down on errors. Major players, from privately held Quantinuum to industry giant International Business Machines, expect t0 have fault-tolerant machines by the end of the decade. It will be years before investors know whether quantum is the transformative technology theyve been promised, though there are signs that indicate it just might be. (Bloomberg) -- Real estate developer Globe Trade Centre SA is trying to renegotiate the repayment terms on its forint bonds after a financial scandal rocked the Hungarian central bank, which indirectly controls the company. Warsaw-based GTC is seeking bondholder consent to extend grace periods for repayment contingent on the companys credit grade, according to a letter published late Friday. Thats necessary to avoid having to repay the forint bonds early following credit downgrades. Holders of GTCs 2030 and 2031 forint bonds have until 2 p.m. CET on Monday to vote on the request. Fitch Ratings downgraded GTCs debt to B from BB in July, citing refinancing risks tied to a 500 million ($589 million) note maturing in 2026. Scope Ratings cut GTC in August to B- from B . Both ratings carry a negative outlook. The Hungarian state audit office earlier this year exposed lax financial oversight, the covering up of losses and decisions rife with conflict of interest at the central banks foundation, which was set up under former Governor Gyorgy Matolcsy. The new management under Governor Mihaly Varga, which took over in March, pressed charges on suspected fraud and misappropriation at the foundation following a comprehensive review of its activities. GTCs management was overhauled earlier this month, which included the replacement of the companys chief financial officer. GTCs euro-denominated bonds due in June 2026 are indicated at 91.8 cents on the euro, down almost two cents since Sept. 11, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. GTCs share price fell 1% to 3.98 zloty in Warsaw. The stock has more than halved since Optima Befektetesi Zrt., which manages the Hungarian central bank foundations assets, paid a premium to buy a majority stake in the commercial real estate developer in 2020. The state audit office estimated the unrealized loss at hundreds of millions of dollars. GTCs bondholder vote concerns its 2030 and 2031 forint notes, which were issued under the Hungarian central banks credit-for-growth program in 2020. The central bank itself purchased the majority of the bonds. GTC and Optima didnt immediately reply to emailed questions seeking comment about the bond repayment plans. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com A simmering ownership dispute between Hikal Ltds co-promoter families, the Kalyanis and the Hiremaths, has now become a test of boardroom governance, with proxy advisory firms divided over the reappointment of Amit Kalyani, son of Bharat Forge chairman Baba Kalyani, as a non-executive non-independent director. The matter will be taken up at the pharmaceutical and chemicals manufacturers 37th annual general meeting (AGM) on Tuesday. As per section 152 of the Companies Act, Amit Kalyani retires by rotation at the AGM and being eligible, he has offered himself for a re-appointment. In fact, the board of directors of the company has recommended Kalyani as director of the company. Kalyani Investment Co. Ltd (KIL), a holding company of the Kalyani group, has moved to defend Amit Kalyanis reappointment as a non-executive non-independent director on Hikals board, pushing back against concerns flagged by proxy advisory firm Institutional Investor Advisory Services (IiAS) even as rival proxy firm Stakeholders Empowerment Services (SES) has supported the move. An IiAS report dated 11 September had opposed the resolution, while KIL clarified in an exchange filing on Monday that Amit Kalyani, vice-chairman and joint managing director of Bharat Forge, was not a signatory to the family arrangement that is at the centre of a promoter group dispute. Also Read | Inside the 1,300 cr spat between billionaire Baba Kalyani and his sister The said dispute pertains to seeking specific performance of a purported family arrangement of 1994 between two promoter groups. Amit Kalyani is not a signatory or a party to such purported family arrangement. He has been made a party to the dispute solely in his capacity as chairman of Kalyani Investment Co. Ltd and BF Investment Ltd, and director of Hikal, the filing stated. At the heart of the dispute is a family feud. On one side is Baba Kalyani and on the other is his sister Sugandha Hiremath and her husband Jaidev Hiremath, founder and executive chairman of Hikal. In March last year, Sugandha and Jaidev Hiremath filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against Baba Kalyani, demanding enforcement of a family arrangement that required him to transfer his stake in Hikal to the Hiremaths. At the time, Hikal clarified in a stock exchange filing that the suit did not involve any monetary claims against the company, and therefore, it did not anticipate any financial impact in terms of compensation, penalties, or related costs. The matter is pending before the high court. On the Amit Kalyani reappointment issue, in its report published on 11 September, IiAS noted that Hikal's promoters, the Hiremaths and Kalyanis, are currently involved in a dispute regarding the companys ownership. Also Read | Bharat Forge's Kalyani group threatens to sue Hiremaths We expect the promoters to relinquish their board positions, resolve the ownership dispute and then seek (re)appointments to the board again, so as to not impact on the overall functioning and decision-making of the company and to shield the larger shareholder interest from a prolonged promoter dispute. We do not support the resolution IiAS said in its 11 September report, opposing the reappointment. It further said that no relief had been sought against Kalyani in the case, no orders had been passed, and no hearing date had been listed on the court portal. KIL said the reappointment is backed by its 31.36% shareholding in Hikal and is meant to represent the interest of over 26,000 shareholders. It urged IiAS to reconsider its stance, calling the proxy advisors recommendation based on its own interpretation of a dispute that has seen no material developments. KIL also highlighted inconsistencies in IiASs position, noting that in its September 2023 report, the proxy firm had supported Amit Kalyanis reappointment despite the same dispute being sub-judice at the time. There has been no change in the status of the shareholding dispute since then, the filing said. All board decisions are taken in a professional manner and the continuation of Mr. Amit Kalyani as non-executive non-independent director of Hikal cannot be said to impact the overall board functioning and decision-making as mentioned in the IiAS report, KIL added. In contrast, proxy advisory firm and stakeholder SES has recommended voting in favour of Amit Kalyanis reappointment, stating that it found no significant concerns with respect to his profile, time commitments, or attendance. Bengaluru and Mumbai: An independent director at Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, has urged Tata International Ltd (TIL) to adopt a more focused business strategy and deliver consistent profitability, according to two executives aware of the matter. The director, Harish Manwani, a veteran of global fast-moving consumer goods giant Unilever, shared his views with Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Truststhe promoter of Tata Sonsduring a board meeting of the latter last week. The meeting was also attended by Tata Sons chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran and other board members. At the meeting, Manwani pressed Noel Tata to clarify the strategic purpose of Tata International, highlighting the need for clearly defined objectives, according to the executives cited above who spoke on the condition of anonymity. He suggested that the privately held trading and distribution arm of the Tata Group risks remaining an entity with a loosely organized mix of activities that relies on short-term transactional opportunities. Manwani questioned TILs strategic purpose and suggested focusing on trading to avoid remaining unfocused and transactional," the first executive said. He emphasised the necessity for a robust strategy to drive recurring profits." Also Read | Tata Tech CEO banks on AI in $1 billion revenue chase Notably, Tata International, which primarily trades iron ore, coal and agricultural goods, including oilseeds and pulses, has been in losses for the past two fiscal years. Manwanis observations came following Tata Sons decision in a board meeting last September to invest 1,000 crore in Tata International, along with a commitment to provide additional funding. At that meeting, Noel Tata revealed plans to bring in external partners to infuse additional capital and intent to invest $100 million in two joint ventures with Mitsubishi Corp. and Mercuria, as reported by Mint in its edition dated 14 September. In the meeting earlier this month, Noel Tata acknowledged the strategic challenge for Tata International, explaining to the board the factors behind the company's losses. He noted that Tata International needs a total of 3,000 crore, but is currently seeking only 1,000 crore in new capital. Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata also serves as the chairman of the seven-member board of Tata International, which includes managing director Rajeev Singhal, Tata Steel chief executive officer (CEO) T.V. Narendran, and Tata Chemicals CEO R. Mukundan. Noel also serves as chair of Trent Ltd, Voltas Ltd and Tata Investment Corp. Ltd. An email sent to Tata Sons seeking a comment on the discussions went unanswered. Also Read | How a Noel Tata plan for Tata Sons fizzled The first executive cited earlier attributed Tata Internationals 477 crore loss last year to trading remaining a low-margin business and forex losses. Some of the other reasons cited by Noel Tata were the cancellation of an exploration licence in Madagascar and the restructuring undertaken by the company. Tata International ended FY25 with revenue of 31,868 crore, with trading generating 84% ( 26,251 crore) of the revenue, and distribution and manufacturing accounting for 9% and 7%, respectively. Tata International last reported a profit of 100.23 crore in the year ended March 2023, followed by a loss of 213 crore in 2024 and a loss of 477 crore last year. Tata Sons, the primary holding company for the conglomerate, has invested about 780 crore to increase its stake to 66.85% in Tata International. Since 2020, the company's turnover has doubled; however, both profitability and net worth remain a challenge, with the company needing a repair both on the balance sheet and on the operating side", according to the second executive cited earlier. Also Read | Noel Tata talks up Trents grocery business as its next big Star Additionally, Tata Group companies, such as Tata Chemicals and Tata Steel, have their own divisions exporting their products, which can sometimes compete with the trading subsidiary of the Tatas. Tata Internationals annual report points to the fact that India contributed 37% of the business, while Asia accounted for 48%, Africa 7%, and the remaining 8% coming from the rest of the world. The second executive emphasised that, as a trading company, Tata International should be profitable, particularly considering that other group companies have export divisions. (Bloomberg) -- One of South Africas newest banks is planning to almost double the number of customers and boost its lending book as it seeks to lift profit to 3 billion rand ($173 million) by 2029. Six-year-old Discovery Bank, a unit of insurer Discovery Ltd., broke even in the second half of its fiscal year that ended June 30, a year earlier than expected. For the full year, the lender shrank its loss to 68 million rand and plans to leverage its existing 1.2 million clients and the 1,000 new customers it nets daily to power earnings over the next four years. Its the fastest-growing bank in South Africa today, Discovery Bank Chief Executive Officer Hylton Kallner said in an interview, adding that the company is working toward having 2 million clients by 2029. The lender unveiled a raft of new products this year including revolving credit facilities and grew its personal and home-loan businesses, which boosted loans by 39% in the year to June. Kallner is targeting a further increase in lending and plans to raise the ratio of loans to deposits to as much as 70% by 2029 from about 39%. Our advances are less than half of our deposits, which gives us a lot of runway to grow the advances book within our current funding plan, he said. We do expect to see advances continuing to outpace deposits in the short to medium term. The lender plans to roll out a new artificial-intelligence tool that will boost its private-banking capability and incorporate the ability to access services through channels like Meta Platforms Inc.s messaging tool WhatsApp. The market is competitive and to continue at this pace, we are going to have to continue innovating, Kallner said. Thats the only way that we can see growth continuing on that trajectory. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com US-based big tech company Google is set to face a federal court trial in Alexandria, Virginia, starting from Monday, 22 September, over allegations of using its monopolistic power in the digital advertising business, news agency AP reported. This trial is Google's second legal citation after an earlier case this month, when the company was under scrutiny by the US Justice Department over an alleged illegal monopoly in the online search system. However, the case turned out to be in favour of the tech company after a trial. US District Court of Virginia Judge Leonie M. Brinkema will hear the arguments in the recent case and then eventually rule on how to fix Google's monopoly over some online advertising technology. The US Justice Department, along with Google, will spend the next two weeks in the court, presenting their arguments and evidence in a remedy trial, which will seek to give a verdict on how to restore fair market conditions in the technology industry. According to the agency report, Judge Brinkema has not fixed a timetable for making that decision; however, it is unlikely to be made before the end of 2025 due to the additional legal briefs and courtroom arguments that are expected to extend into November 2025. Also Read | Google ruling shows antitrust tools struggle to keep up with tech markets What does Justice Department want? According to a New York Times report, the US Justice Department seeks to force Google to sell its technology, which the company uses to connect buyers and sellers of advertisement space, among other potential actions. The report also highlighted that Google has instead proposed changing its ad auction bidding system in ways that are likely to benefit publishers using the platform. The US Justice Department aims to break up the company's business in the most effective and quickest way to undercut a monopoly that has been reportedly stifling competition and innovation for years. What is the case against Google? The case filed by the US Justice Department in 2023 alleged that Google has spent the last 17 years trying to boost its dominant digital advertising business. Over the years, the business has generated $305 billion in revenue, which Google ad services has contributed to its parent company Alphabet's accounts. According to the agency report, Google's digital advertising sales provide the lifeblood that keeps thousands of websites alive. Google reiterated that, irrespective of the Judge's ruling, the company will appeal its earlier decision labelling the ad network as a monopoly. However, the news report suggests that the appeal cannot be filed until the end of the remedy trial. Earlier this month, US District Court of Columbia Judge Amit P. Mehta, in a monopoly allegations case against Google, ruled that the company could essentially continue operating as is, but they have to share its search results with rivals and restrict payments that ensure its search engine gets prime placement in web browsers and on smartphones. The top lawmakers on the House China committee called on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to investigate Chinese electronics and phone accessory manufacturer Anker Innovations Technology Co. for what they called unfair pricing and possible illegal evasion of US tariffs. The Chinese consumer tech company deploys unlawful methods to avoid US tariffs, including misclassifying product codes and illegally routing products through Southeast Asian countries to duck payment of trade levies, the lawmakers said, according to a letter seen by Bloomberg News. The House Select Committee on China sent the letter to Lutnick on Friday, per its date and signature. In their letter, Republican Chairman John Moolenaar and Democratic Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, urged Lutnick to direct the Commerce Department to probe the companys practices. The lawmakers also said that Anker received at least $12 million in subsidies from the Chinese Communist Party in 2023, allowing it to gain unfair access to the US market. Anker said in an emailed message that it has initiated an internal review procedure and will hire a US adviser to assist in checking facts and evaluating relevant compliance issues. We will provide further explanations to relevant authorities and the public at an appropriate time after completing necessary verification, it added. The company has built a loyal following among US electronics consumers with budget-priced chargers and power banks. Apple Inc sells Anker products at its stores, certifying many of them as meeting its performance standards. Led by a former Google engineer, the company went public in China in 2020 and is now pursuing a Hong Kong initial offering. Anker did not respond to an emailed request for comment over the weekend. The letter highlights the need to protect American brands and innovators from both unfair Chinese competition and the inherent dangers and hazards of cheaply made, potentially compromised products, echoing some of Lutnicks own public comments that accuse US trading partners of dumping dirt cheap goods in the US. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) India and Brazil seek to strengthen their partnership in the agriculture sector with the launch of a programme that aims to promote technological innovation and exchanges of best practices. According to an official statement on Monday, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has launched a second edition of the BrazilIndia Cross-Incubation Programme in Agritech (Maitri 2.0) here. The event was graced by M L Jat, Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR), and Kenneth Nobrega, Ambassador of Brazil to India, along with senior officials and representatives from leading Brazilian research and innovation institutions. The ICAR DG noted that the programme is a two-way learning platform for co-creation between Indian and Brazilian innovators. "Bringing together innovators, startups, and institutions from both countries, the programme will help build resilient food systems and empower farmers. Maitri 2.0 aims to strengthen incubator linkages, exchange best practices, promote co-incubation, and open new opportunities in sustainable agriculture, digital technologies, and value-chain development," the statement said. In his remarks, Jat highlighted about the 77-year-old partnership between India and Brazil and emphasised their shared role in global platforms like BRICS and G20, and the recent ICAREMBRAPA pact as a milestone for collaborations across the agri-food value chain. He mentioned about ICAR's transformation from having 74 patents in 1996 to over 1,800 annually, supported by incubation centres and over 5,000 licensing agreements. Nobrega underlined the strategic importance of creating synergies between the agritech ecosystems of India and Brazil. NEW DELHIFor General Motors, getting out of India has been an odyssey spanning years. The American automaker stopped selling cars in the country in 2017 and said in 2020 it was closing its last factory in the South Asian nation. But it wasnt until last year that GM extricated itselffor the most partfrom India. Its saga is a reminder to American companies of how difficult it remains to do business there. The retreat from India was part of a strategy to shrink the companys global presence and focus on profitable markets, analysts said. GM ran into headaches almost immediately. In 2021, around 1,100 employees at one of the companys factories countered what GM had thought was a generous severance package with a flurry of lawsuits alleging labor and pay violations. The company also faced tax disputes and the knock-on effects of a geopolitical falling out between India and China. Labor laws required GM to pay its factory workers about a years salary after firing them, in addition to any severance package the company offered. A court also ruled the company had to keep paying the workers half their salaries till the disputes were resolved, though GM appealed that decision and won. We didnt expect that it would go so bad from the start," said Prajot Gaonkar, former head of employee relations at GM in India. It was crazy, very crazy." Global companies looking to build factories in India appreciate the countrys vast workforce and its potential as a consumer market, but they are often deterred by bureaucracy. The obstacles arent just about setting up a businesswhere officials have recently tried to smooth the pathbut also about closing one down if it doesnt pan out. Regulations make layoffs difficult, politicians are often loath to see investors leave and courts can issue wildly contrary rulings even when the facts are similar. Exit barriers are a key reason for Indias underdeveloped manufacturing sector," said Shoumitro Chatterjee, co-author of a new paper on Indian manufacturing and an assistant professor of international economics at Johns Hopkins University. It acts as an entry cost and deters potential companies." View Full Image Setting Up a Business in India Is Hard. Leaving Is Even Harder. As India faces fresh economic pressure from U.S. tariffs of 50%, some say it is more pressing than ever for it to fix roadblocks that hamper its economic potential. In India, it takes an average of 4.3 years to fully close a factory, according to government data cited in the paper Chatterjee co-wrote. That is compared with one year in Singapore, 15 months in Germany and one to two years in the U.K. GMs exit from the Indian market was part of a strategic decision at that time to scale back money-losing international operations to invest in electric vehicles, analysts said. The company had lost over $1 billion over two decades of operating in the country, according to legal filings. The sale of one plant, in the western Indian state of Gujarat, went off relatively smoothly in 2017 because the company offered to transfer workers to its other factory in Pune, in neighboring Maharashtra state, according to former executives. The process of unloading the second plant dragged on for four years. GM first attempted to sell the Pune factory to Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors. That fell apart after New Delhi refused to grant permission following a deadly border conflict with China in June 2020 that soured relations between the two countries. GM shut down production in December of that year and applied for permission to close that factory. The state labor ministerpromptly rejected the request, declaring that the company could absorb its losses and stage a comeback. The office of the Maharashtra labor commissioner said in a statement that the law required the state government to refer the dispute to an industrial tribunal once workers raised allegations that GM was trying to skirt labor protections in the process of closing the factory. The state is committed to fostering a business-friendly environment for domestic and foreign investors, said the office, adding that following established law for difficult processes like plant closures is part of a predictable investment climate. The employee union declined to negotiate, executives said, instead filing petition after petition with the courts. Gaonkar, who handled employee relations at GM in India, said the hostility was especially shocking because the company had a good working relationship with its employees for decades and offered a generous severance package including 110 days of salary for every year of service. Instead, the union demanded that GM either reopen the factory and rehire all the workers, guarantee a new owner would provide them all with jobs, or offer a severancepackage that paid out full-time salaries and medical benefits until retirement age, Gaonkar said. The labor disputes scared away several interested buyers who didnt want to inherit any problems, executives said. To allay fears, GM tried to get every single worker to sign an agreement waiving their right to sue in exchange for compensation. That plan failed. The labor situation was definitely damaging," Gaonkar said. A lot of companies decided that we cannot and we dont want to face this." The Industrial Tribunal in Pune finally ruled in 2023 that GM had the right to close down. The union appealed the decision to the Bombay High Court, and several members went on a highly publicized hunger strike along with politicians from the opposition party. The Bombay High Court upheld the industrial tribunals decision six months later. Having taken the decision to wind down operations in India, GM worked with all relevant authorities to ensure necessary approvals were granted," said GM spokesman George Svigos. The union finally came to the negotiating table and agreed to withdraw all its lawsuits in exchange for the severance package that GM had offered right from the start, executives said. Sandeep Bhegade, former union president for the GM factory in Pune, said the automaker had always treated its workers well. But the union fought the closure because its members doubted they could easily find another well-paying factory job. The workers had counted on the good salaries to buy homes and send their children to private school. Now most of us are doing work like driving rickshaws and taxis," he said. South Korean automaker Hyundai, which makes cars in India both for domestic sales and for export, announced shortly after the court decision that it had purchased GMs factory. The Maharashtra government said GMs case should not be viewed as a cautionary tale about regulatory hurdles," and said the length of time it took to close the GM factory wasnt due simply to labor rules. A lot of time was lost, it said, because of geopolitical issues that led to the collapse of the planned sale to Great Wall Motors. For over two years, the fate of the plant was tied to a commercial transaction that was stalled at the national and international level," said the office of the state labor commissioner. The whole calculus can change if the local government backs a companys departure, experts said. When Ford said in 2021 that it was shutting down its two plants in India, conglomerate Tata purchased its factory in Gujarat, a transaction that was relatively smooth because the Indian company agreed to take on all the workers. In the city of Chennai, in southern Tamil Nadu state, workers filed several petitions to try to stop the closure of the Ford factory there. Arun Roy, Tamil Nadus industry secretary, said the state government came out in support of Ford in the courts, granted it permission to close and allowed the company to remove some machinery from the factory. Theres nothing to be gained in bitter partings," he added. After all, theyve invested here, theyve created jobs here." Easing the path for departing companies also preserves goodwill for any future deals, Roy said. Ford retained ownership of its Chennai plant, Roy said, to keep a foothold in India. In a statement, Ford said that India remains an important region for us." The automaker announced plans last year to restart manufacturing for export at its factory in Chennai. The city is also home to a Ford business and tech center employing over 11,000 people, who provide support in areas like software engineering and financial analysis. Economists see higher rates of factory closures as evidence of a dynamic business environment where less efficient companies are forced out. Indias numbers tell a different story. The costs of closing in India are so high that only 3% of factories there shutter every year, one of the lowest rates in the world, according to the paper Chatterjee co-wrote. In contrast, over 17% of factories in Vietnam and nearly 10% in China close every year. The figure for U.S. factories is 9%. According to the papers analysis of government data, about 20% of manufacturing companies in India cling on, absorbing capital without producing anythingin effect, zombie firms. Write to Shan Li at shan.li@wsj.com New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) India's smartphone exports to its largest market, the US, fell 58 per cent from USD 2.29 billion in May to USD 964.8 million in August, think tank GTRI said on Monday. It said that the development is alarming and counter-intuitive as there are no tariffs on smartphones. "This demands urgent investigation to uncover the real reasons that are driving the fall," the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said. Smartphone exports, India's largest export to the US, plunged 58 per cent from USD 2.29 billion in May 2025 to USD 964.8 million in August, it said, adding the fall was steady month by month. It was USD 2 billion in June and USD 1.52 billion in July. In FY2025, the US remained India's top smartphone market with USD 10.6 billion imports (44 per cent of India's global exports of USD 24.1 billion), followed by the EU at USD 7.1 billion (29.5 per cent). It added that tariff-free products, which account for 28.5 per cent of India's August exports, posted the sharpest contraction of 41.9 per cent, falling from USD 3.37 billion in May to USD 1.96 billion in August. Pharmaceuticals also weakened, with exports dropping 13.3 per cent, from USD 745 million in May to USD 646.6 million in August. GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said that exports of Indian goods which are facing high tariffs in the US are also recording fall in exports. Jewellery exports fell 9.1 per cent to USD 228.2 million in August, it said, adding diamond-studded gold jewellery and cut and polished diamonds too recorded a negative growth. Seafood shipments plunged 43.8 per cent, from USD 289.7 million in May to USD 162.7 million in August. Textile, garment, and made-up exports to the US fell 9.3 per cent, sliding from USD 943.7 million in May 2025 to USD 855.5 million in August 2025, it added. Similarly chemical exports dipped 15.9 per cent to USD 451.9 million between May and August 2025. "August data only partly reflects the impact of higher tariffs -- India paid 10 per cent tariffs until August 6, 25 per cent until August 27, and 50 per cent only after August 28. September will be the first full month where ...the declines in textiles, gems and jewellery, shrimp, chemicals, and solar panels could deepen further," Srivastava said. He said that India's exports to the US have fallen for a third straight month -- a predictable outcome of steep tariffs. Nvidia will invest $100 billion in OpenAI to support the development of new data centers and other infrastructure needed to power the next generation of AI models from the ChatGPT maker. The two companies have signed a letter of intent to deploy at least 10 gigawatts of Nvidia systems for training and running the next generation of OpenAI models. The two companies, in a joint statement, said that the first phase of the project will come online in the second half of 2026 using the power of Nvidia's Vera Rubin platform. This investment and infrastructure partnership mark the next leap forwarddeploying 10 gigawatts to power the next era of intelligence. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in a press release by the company. Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, while reacting to the deal, said, Everything starts with compute, Compute infrastructure will be the basis for the economy of the future, and we will utilize what were building with NVIDIA to both create new AI breakthroughs and empower people and businesses with them at scale. he added. OpenAI and Nvidia partnership: OpenAI says it will work with Nvidia as a preferred strategic compute and networking partner for its AI factory growth plans. The ChatGPT maker also added that this partnership complements the work already done in the Stargate project. Notably, Nvidia had conducted a $6.6 billion funding round in OpenAI in October last year. The latest $100 billion funding round could lead to possible antitrust scrutiny by the US Justice department. Meanwhile, OpenAI signed a non-binding agreement with Microsoft last month which allows the AI startup to move forward with its plans to restructure into a for-profit entity. The deal ensures that Microsoft would continue to have access to OpenAI's AI models despite the ChatGPT maker diversifying its cloud and infrastructure partners. Mumbai/New Delhi: Azim Qureshis story is hardly unique. It is the story of millions of people who run small and mid-sized businesses across India. Qureshi, 54, runs a kirana store in Delhi, an operation that requires moving his stock on time everyday, across multiple tranches. Until a few years ago, he relied on a chaotic network of local fleet operators, with varying degrees of success and frustration. Sometimes they showed up, sometimes they didnt. Halfway through a delivery, theyd call saying the vehicle broke down, or suddenly, hike the price," he said. One day, help arrived on a smartphone, brought to him by his 24-year-old son. He introduced the senior Qureshi to Porter, a company now known for intra-city logisticsessentially the short-haul movement of goods within city limits. My son books goods on the Porter app, for supplies from the mandi to my shop, and sometimes even from my shop to customers," the kirana owner said. It can still be chaotic, but most of the time, it works." Then there is Anil Sharma, co-founder of Newtreo, a food and beverage brand with yearly sales of 16 crore a year. For a long time, he found himself trapped in a frustrating cycle of two-day lead times to deliver his ready-to-eat productsenergy drinks, non-alcoholic beer, fruit juices among othersto customers. Using Porter brought that lead time down to two hours. We end up using Porter at least three-four times everyday. We dont mind paying a higher costwhen compared to a local player, there is also far more transparency in pricing," Sharma said, adding that at times, unorganised transporters hike price by as much as two-fold without any explanation. Newtreo also uses Delhivery, a larger logistics company, for bigger consignments across different cities. While Porter is really good for intra-city and smaller shipments, Delhivery is more apt for larger orders," Sharma said. In 2014, Uttam Digga, Pranav Goel and Vikas Choudhary, the three founders of Porter, saw the chaos, mistrust, and inefficiency Qureshi and Sharma described. They set out to organize logistics for small businesses by aggregating mini-trucks, inspired by Ubers ride-hailing model. View Full Image From left to right: Vikas Choudhary, Uttam Digga and Pranav Goel, founders of Porter. The intra-city logistics market has always been a tough nut to crack. Orders are small, margins thin, and fuel costs unforgiving. Not to mention the stiff competition from a web of informal fleet operators. But Porters bet on an asset-lite model that caters to small businesses eventually paid offthe company was able to turn what looked like a messy, fragmented market into a system that could generate predictability, revenue, and profit. In 2024-25, the companys revenue surged nearly 57% to 4,342 crore; it posted its first ever profit of 55 crore, from a loss of 96 crore a year earlier. Indias intra-city parcel delivery market, in 2024-25, was estimated at $600800 million by Redseer, a research firm. Porter leads the pack, well ahead of Rapido, Borzo, Uber, Uncle Delivery and others, with commissions typically at 1416%, said Mrigank Gutgutia, partner at the firm. That is not all. The companys good run includes one of the largest fund raises this year $200 millionfrom prominent investors including Kedaara Capital and Wellington Management. The round, which pegged the companys valuation at around $1.2 billion, is yet to close. The capital raise is likely to touch $300 million, with new investors expected to join the cap table, multiple people familiar with the matter told Mint. We spoke to nearly a dozen stakeholders, including lawyers, consultants, logistics experts, investors and founder Pranav Goel to understand how the company cracked this difficult market. Their accounts reveal a story of sharp pivots, structural headwinds, and a high stakes balancing act between growth and profitability. That act would continue to shape the companys trajectory, going ahead. The unlikely gamble Porter was not always in the business of short-haul logistics. Like we mentioned earlier, the Bengaluru-based company began as a mini-truck aggregation service, first, by catering to deliveries within cities and then foraying into inter-city operations. While we were new to intra-city, we were ambitious," said founder Goel. We thought we should also solve for inter-city and larger enterprises within the first year of business. We started multiple businesses which were very different from each other." View Full Image Porter began as a mini-truck aggregation service. Doing too many things too early proved costly. Inter-city and intra-city logistics run on different mechanics. In the first business, operators work with larger shipments, higher margins and the luxury of planning routes a day in advance. Intra-city, on the other hand, is about immediacycustomers expect a vehicle in 515 minutesoften for an order worth barely 500. Margins are razor-thin, and efficiency depends on real-time allocation. At the peak of Indias e-commerce boom, Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal were pumping volumes and capital into logistics. Soon, the inter-city segment overheated. Inefficiencies and cash burn made the model unsustainable, quickly cooling investor enthusiasm. Porter, competing with deep-pocketed rivals such as Mahindras SmartShift, was burning way too much capital. The founders pulled back. The company chose to tighten their belt and took some hard calls to dramatically bring down coststhey shut the inter-city vertical and remained laser focused on their core area," Sasha Mirchandani, founder and managing partner at Kae Capital, the earliest investor in Porter, said. The startup, next, figured out a sweet spot. The primary issue was severe underutilization. A vehicle, which could do four-five trips a day, was only doing a single trip back then. So, there was a big matchmaking problem between truckers and businesses," Goel recalled. There was a big matchmaking problem between truckers and businesses. Pranav Goel Inefficiencies ran the deepest when it came to small businesses. They deliberately focused on small and medium businesses while competitors chased larger enterprise accounts or individual customers," an industry executive said, asking not to be named. They have built their model on sheer density." Porters density model essentially refers to better asset/fleet utilization by providing the right vehicle at the right price, through faster order matching using its tech platform. The right vehicle could be a bike for a parcel delivery, and small trucks, or even three-wheelers, for heavier loads. Goel recalled that his team spent months largely on the streets, visiting wholesale markets and interacting with small business clusters. We would explain how their transportation needs could be done through us. We helped them understand how we could be more reliable; help in bringing down their logistics cost," he said. We replicated the same process with truck drivers and vehicle operators, assuring them of better vehicle utilization." Porters density model refers to better asset/fleet utilization by providing the right vehicle at the right price, through faster order matching using its tech platform. Those early efforts worked. Porter says it now works with about two million small and medium businesses every month. An investor Mint spoke to, who didnt want to be identified, said that Porters near-monopoly in intra-city logistics is built on sticky small and medium enterprise clients, loyal truckers, and an asset-lite model. Supply and demand have become fairly concentrated for them. As the marketplace matured, the unit economics also began to show positively," the person said. The 2018 moment A pivotal moment came in February 2018. The Mahindra Group was scouting for opportunities to invest in the shared mobility sector. It zeroed in on Porterat that time, it had over 10,000 vehicles on its platform and had executed 15,00,000 deliveries in the previous three years, according to a press statement. Mahindra announced that SmartShift, its on-demand logistics service, would merge with Porter. The auto-to-software conglomerate also invested 65 crore in the two entities. More than cash, the deal gave the young startup both validation and muscle in a still-fragile market. It unlocked Mahindras fleet, a wider customer base, and hard lessons from the ground. Logistics is different and complex in every country and being backed by the Mahindra gave them a stronger understanding of the arena. A pure-play financial investor wouldnt have been able to provide that," said a person involved in the transaction who didnt want to be identified. Mahindra, according to data from Tracxn, went on to increase its bets on Porter in subsequent years. Since that deal, Porters investor roster also expanded to include Tiger Global Management, Vitruvian Partners and Elev8 Venture Partners. The reshuffle By mid-2023, Porter felt confident enough to revisit inter-city logistics again, with a courier service offering door-to-door delivery. The company took on rivals such as Delhivery and Ekart head-on. In 2023, Porter also reshuffled leadership. Uttam Digga became CEO while Goel moved to an executive vice chairman role. Some market watchers said the move reflected the need for sharper execution, as the company was preparing for bigger strategic bets. Uttams strategy and competency in driving growth, taking risk and operational rigour is unmatched," Goel said, adding that the transition was based on the companys ambitions and target for the next decade. In 2023, Porter reshuffled its leadership. Uttam Digga became CEO while Goel moved to an executive vice chairman role. Some market watchers said the move reflected the need for sharper execution, as the company was preparing for bigger strategic bets. The transition also coincided with the company taking its foot off the growth accelerator to focus on profitability. Between 2020-21 and 2022-23, losses nearly tripled to 175 crore even as revenue grew over fivefold to 1,789 crore, according to data from Tracxn. Investors saw the red ink not as weakness, but intent. The period of widening losses was a function of increased competitive intensity post the pandemic. Porter wanted to focus on growth and ride the online boom. Once they were comfortable with their top line, they made an internal call to bring down losses," said another investor, requesting anonymity. The logistics industry, overall, has also seen a reset companies such as Delhivery, Rapido, Shadowfax and Shiprocket have turned profitable or have cut losses. This is largely a function of investors backing firms that can rein in burn, Mrigank Gutgutia of Redseer noted. Apart from inter-city logistics, Porter is now planting the seeds for further diversification. It is building out newer revenue streams like packers and movers services (which contributes to 5% of overall revenue), among others. In parallel, the company wants to expand beyond Indiait has already started operating in the Middle East and other countries in the Indian subcontinent. A GST squeeze? Despite its successes, Porter faces a fresh challenge: The new goods and services tax (GST) regime. Earlier this month, the Indian government announced rationalisation of indirect taxes, with most products and services falling into two slabs5% and 18%. But this has created ambiguity for Porter, as its services could be taxed at 18%, up from 5% earlier. View Full Image Traditional road transporters fall under the 5% GST bracket. The GST Council has brought local delivery services via e-commerce operators under the 18% slab, with platforms liable to pay tax under reverse charge if delivery partners are unregistered, explained Ankit Jain, partner at Ved Jain and Associates, a law firm.This applies to standalone delivery apps like Porter, Uber Delivery or Rapidos courier services, not to goods platforms such as Amazon or Flipkart where delivery is incidental to the sale of goods," Jain added. Meanwhile, the biggest cost for logistics firms, fuel, is kept outside the GST net. So, logistics firms cant claim credit on it. This could create a cascading tax burden that inflates last-mile logistics costs. Every rupee spent on fuel is a sunk cost, pushing up operating expenses," said Kulraj Ashpnani, partner at Dhruva Advisors, a tax advisory firm. However, Porter argues it is a digital Goods Transport Agency (GTA), while an offline GTA is simply a traditional road transporter that issues a consignment note and falls under the 5% GST bracket. We classify ourselves as a digital GTA. The new GST rule seems to be for delivery services meant for convenience of end consumers, unlike Porter, which serves the core goods transportation need for MSMEs," Goel said. From a first-principles perspective, I dont think the governments intent is to tax digital GTAs differently from traditional offline GTAsthat would create a major disparity. A high digital tax would push MSMEs back to offline channels, which may not be the intent," he added. Nevertheless, Digital GTA isnt a formal GST categoryits an industry shorthand for tech-led platforms. Goel added that the company is evaluating the impact on its business and hoped that the government will come up with clarifications soon. Much of this extra tax will either get baked into what the customer pays or chip away at what the delivery partner earns," said Satish Meena, co-founder of Datum Intelligence, a research firm. Platforms themselves cant really absorb it right nowtheyre chasing profitability while pouring capital into growth and new bets." Porter, which has navigated many tricky scenarios in the past, and built its unicorn business on the promise of bringing order to mess, now has a new chaos to cut through. Mumbai: UK-based Tide has raised over $120 million in a funding round led by TPG, valuing the fintech company at $1.5 billion. Tide, which counts India as its fastest-growing market, was previously valued at around $650 million in 2021, according to data from market intelligence platform Tracxn. Apart from TPGs The Rise Funds, Tides existing investor Apax Digital Funds also invested in its latest fundraising round, the company said in a statement on 22 September. The $120 million fundraise included existing shareholders in Tide selling some of their stake to other investors. Tide added that it will use the funds to accelerate its international expansion, product development, and invest in agentic artificial intelligenceAI capable of taking actions without human intervention. Securing this investment from TPG is a major milestone for Tide and a strong endorsement of our growth as the leading global business management platform serving 1.6m members worldwide, Oliver Prill, chief executive of Tide, said in the statement. TPG partner Yemi Lalude will join Tides board as part of the investment. In May, Tide secured a 100 million in securitisation debt from Fasanara Capital to expand its short-term cash flow management products in the UK, according to media reports. Before that, the company raised $100 million in equity in July 2021, taking its total equity fundraise to $180 million from investors including TriplePoint Capital, State Bank of India, Apax Digital Funds, Augmentum Fintech, and Creandum. Also Read | Why banks are letting fintechs launch your credit card Founded in 2017, Tide offers digital-first business accounts and integrated administrative solutions such as invoicing, expense management, accounting, payments, and credit products. The company employs more than 2,500 people globally. Tide launched its operations in India in late 2022 and has more than 800,000 small and medium enterprise clients in the country. This strategic investment marks a pivotal moment for Tide in India. It strengthens our ability to scale rapidly and reinforces Indias role as a key driver of our global growth, said Gurjodhpal Singh, CEO of Tide India. Tide has a 14% share of the UK market with nearly 800,000 SME members. In December, the company launched in Germany, and in September this year, it opened its operations in France. Morgan Stanley was Tides exclusive financial advisor and placement agent for its latest fundraise, while Torch Partners advised TPG. The recent tightening of H-1B visa rules by the US marks a departure from traditional trade conflicts, opening a chapter where serviceslong thought to be less vulnerable than goodsare now on the frontline. For India, this development is more than an immigration issue; it is set to reshape strategic alignments in Asia. Interestingly, Beijing last month introduced a K visa policy under which all foreign nationals, including those without a confirmed job, can enter China. For India, this open door policy has created an unusual point of convergence with China at a time of heightened geopolitical competition. Mint explains. Why the USs H-1B visa is crucial for India The US recently revised its H-1B visa framework, tightening eligibility norms, increasing the fee to $100,000 from about $1,000, and imposing additional scrutiny on firms that rely heavily on outsourcing. These changes make it harder for foreign professionalsparticularly from India, which accounts for nearly 71% of all H-1B approvalsto enter and work in the US. According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) report released on 29 April, 427,084 H-1B visa petitions were filed in 2023-24, up from 386,559 in FY23. Of these, 35% were for initial employment, and 65% for continued employment. USCIS approved 399,395 petitions in FY24, a 3% increase from 386,318 approvals in the previous fiscal year. Breaking it down further, 141,205 petitions were approved for initial employmentthe highest in the previous four fiscal yearswhile 258,190 petitions were approved for continuing employment, marking a decline from previous years. Among all approved petitions, 71% were for beneficiaries born in India, followed by China at about 12%. For thousands of young Indian engineers, the H-1B visa represents a critical pathway to global careers, enabling them to work in leading tech firms, gain international exposure, and contribute to Indias $283-billion information technology (IT) services sector, which derives around 57% of its total revenue from the US market. Why is this significant in a trade war context? Trade wars have historically centered on tariffs, quotas, and physical goods. The Trump-era tariffs on steel, aluminium, and Chinese electronics, or the highest-ever 50% tariff on Indian goods effective from 27 August, are examples. However, by tightening H-1B visa rules, the US has effectively placed a trade barrier on servicessomething rarely seen at this scale. For the first time, the services economy, which accounted for over 55% of Indias GDP in FY24 according to the Economic Survey 2024-25, is directly affected. Its exports grew by 13.6% to $387.5 billion in FY25. Restrictions on skilled mobility directly threaten this revenue stream by limiting Indian professionals ability to work abroad. Reduced access to key markets could slow growth, constrain project delivery, and impact Indias foreign exchange earnings, while also prompting global tech firms to reconsider where they deploy talent to serve international clients. Also Read | India explores easier rules to bolster Chinese investments How does China fit into this picture? As the US tightens entry for skilled professionals, Beijing on 7 August announced a K visa policy, effective 1 October. Under this scheme, all foreign nationalsincluding those without a confirmed jobcan apply for the visa and enter China, which opens a more flexible pathway for global talent. India and China have a shared interest in countering US restrictions that directly affect their services and technology sectors, potentially creating opportunities for talent mobility and regional collaboration. What does Chinas K visa mean for Indias IT sector? Chinas newly announced K visa could create a new avenue for Indian IT services companies to diversify beyond the US. Indian IT firms may explore deploying employees in China to tap into East Asias expanding digital economy. Global tech giants may also reassess regional strategies, considering relocation or expansion of talent bases to more employee-friendly markets. While Chinas K visa offers a potential workaround to US restrictions, political and security risks remain a key consideration for companies seeking alternative hubs. What are the risks involved? Chinas high operational costs, regulatory hurdles, and political risks make full relocation unlikely. Firms may instead adopt a hybrid approach, keeping US operations while establishing smaller hubs in China to tap into new talent and markets without jeopardizing revenues. While Chinas K visa opens opportunities for talent mobility, full-scale relocation of IT operations from the US is financially risky," said Dattesh Parulekar, assistant professor of International Relations at Goa University. Indian IT firms are more likely to explore hybrid modelsmaintaining the US client base while gradually expanding presence in China and other Asia-Pacific marketsto mitigate H-1B restrictions while balancing costs and revenue potential," he added. What are the geopolitical implications? For India, the US remains a critical partner, but the visa squeeze highlights vulnerabilities in overdependence on one market. Chinas counter-policy, while not without its own risks, signals an attempt to woo global talent and position itself as a services hub in contrast to Washingtons protectionist turn. The shift also brings services into the same strategic battleground as semiconductors, energy, and supply chainssectors already entangled in the US-China rivalry. What lies ahead? India will need to recalibrate its strategy. Diversification of markets, strengthening ties with the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), and exploring collaborations with China in non-sensitive sectors could soften the blow. At the same time, the H-1B episode may push New Delhi to accelerate domestic reforms, improve ease of doing business for global firms, and invest in local talent creation. New GST Rates Highlights: The Goods and Service Tax (GST) on at least 375 items are getting slashed from today, September 22, making them cheaper and more affordable in a boost to India's middle class as well as 1.4 billion people of the nation. The move was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman earlier this month after the meeting of the GST Council. The new rates, that come into effect on Sept. 22, will tax most items at either 5% or 18% rate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the GST rate cuts, calling it a festive bonanza as Navratri begins on the same day. GST Rate Cut: What's getting cheaper? India overhauled the complex GST regime by cutting taxes on most items of everyday use, premiums on insurance policies and vehicles. Companies operating in the space of FMCG products have issued revised price lists with new MRPs on their products, including soaps, shampoo, baby diapers, toothpaste, razors, and after-shave lotions. Food products like namkeen and bhujia to sweets, coffee, tea, butter, ghee, ice-cream, chocolates, etc are also getting cheaper. Cars and bikes including from companies like Maruti Suzuki will get more affordable in a festive boost to Indians. Products such as soaps, shampoos, bicycles, and packaged foods will now attract a 5 per cent GST rate, down from the earlier 12 or 18 per cent. Household appliances, including air-conditioners, televisions above 32 inches, and dishwashers, will see rates reduced from 28 per cent to 18 per cent. Stay tuned with Livemint for latest updates on GST reforms Indian taxpayers will experience a shift in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure, as the revamped GST 2.0 comes into force. The new system simplifies the tax regime with just two primary slabs- 5% and 18%, covering the majority of goods and services. Ultra-luxury items will now be taxed at 40%, while tobacco and related products will remain under the 28% slab plus cess. Speaking on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the reforms as a major milestone for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, emphasising that it will accelerate India's economic growth. He urged citizens to support swadeshi (indigenous) products, linking them to national prosperity. A GST bachat utsav (savings festival) will begin tomorrow. You'll be able to buy the things you like more easily, PM Modi said, adding that the changes would benefit the poor, middle class, youth, farmers, women, traders, and shopkeepers alike. Will clothes get cheaper or expensive from today after GST 2.0? The new GST rates, first announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman earlier this month, reduce the tax slabs to two broad rates - 5% and 18%. While most items under GST have seen rate cuts, some limited items will now also be dearer with higher tax rates. Clothes priced above 2,500 will now attract a higher GST rate of 18% compared to 12% before. How much GST on electric appliances? Under the updated GST system, several high-value electronic appliances that were previously taxed at 28% have now been moved to the 18% bracket. Items such as televisions, refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines are now eligible for this lower rate, potentially reducing overall household expenses and making appliances more accessible, particularly for middle-class consumers. What is the GST rate for air conditioners and dishwashers? Air conditioners and dishwashers, which were earlier taxed at 28%, will now fall under the 18% GST slab. According to industry estimates, this change could result in average savings of 1,500 to 2,500 per unit, depending on the model and brand. The price drop is expected to boost sales, especially with the festive season approachinga time when demand for home appliances traditionally spikes. What is the GST on smartphones and laptops? In contrast, smartphones and laptops will see no change in pricing under the new GST system. The government has decided to maintain the existing 18% GST rate for both categories. As a result, consumers should not expect price cuts for mobile phones or laptops in the near term, as no tax relief has been announced for these items. The introduction of the new two-slab GST structure marks the most significant tax rationalisation since the Goods and Services Tax was first implemented in July 2017, which initially featured four slabs: 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%. This simplified framework will make the tax system more efficient, transparent, and consumer-friendly. Under the updated system, only two main slabs, 5% and 18%, will apply to most goods and services. Ultra-luxury items and sin goods remain in higher tax brackets. Policymakers say this simplified framework will make the tax system more efficient, transparent, and consumer-friendly, staying true to the original GST vision of promoting affordability and broader consumption. A GST bachat utsav (savings festival) will begin tomorrow. You'll be able to buy the things you like more easily. The timing of the reform is also politically significant. Just weeks earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised a Diwali gift in the form of GST reforms during his Independence Day speech. The GST Councils decision now fulfils that pledge, setting the stage for a consumption-driven economic boost as the festive season kicks off. (With inputs from agencies) The new goods and services tax (GST) reforms are set to strengthen hospitality, transport and cultural sectors in India, according to the Centre. In a release on September 22, as the GST revision comes into effect, the Ministry of Social Welfare said that reduced tax on hotel stays and buses is a strategic move that will make travel more affordable and accessible, encourage investment, and foster job creation. How does govt expect GST to impact tourism? The government has announced significant GST rationalisation measures aimed at making Indias tourism sector more affordable, enhancing public transport use, and supporting artisans and cultural industries, the release said. It added that these reductions will strengthen the domestic tourism ecosystem, promote cultural heritage, and encourage investment in related sectors. Notably, from 2021 to 2024, foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India showed a significant increase from 15.27 lakh in 2021 to 99.52 lakh in 2024, indicating a robust recovery and growth in tourism post-pandemic, as per data from the Ministry of Tourism. This surge reflects a strong revival in international travel and heightened interest in India as a tourist destination during this period. Greater affordability in travel and accommodation will expand domestic and foreign tourist inflows, the release added. Also Read | SC slams Air India crash report as irresponsible; seeks response of Centre GST reduction on hotel rooms under 7,500 per day The Centre has reduced GST applicable on hotel rooms costing less than 7,500/day from 12 per cent (with input credit tax) to 5 per cent (without ITC). It expects the move will: Make hotel stays more affordable for middle-class and budget travellers. Make India more attractive for foreign tourists by aligning Indias hospitality tax structure with international tourism destinations. Boost weekend travel, pilgrimage circuits, heritage tourism, and eco-tourism. Encourage investment in new mid-segment hotels, homestays, and guesthouses, creating jobs and improving infrastructure. GST reduction on buses seating over 10 people Further, the Centre has also reduced GST on buses with a seating capacity of more than 10 people, from 28 per cent to 18 per cent. This reduces the upfront cost of buses and minibuses, and makes them more accessible for fleet operators, schools, corporates, tour providers, and state transport undertakings. It expects the move will: New Delhi: Indias core infrastructure industries grew at their fastest pace in more than a year, with output rising 6.3% in August compared with a year earlier, provisional data from the commerce ministry showed on Monday. The uptick marked the quickest pace in 13 months, buoyed by strong gains in coal, fertilizers, and refinery products. The eight core sectorscoal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement, and electricitytogether make up over two-fifths of the countrys industrial output. Growth had slowed to 3.7% in July, while August last year saw a contraction of 1.5%. Two industries, crude oil and natural gas, continued to post declines, though the scale of contraction eased compared to July. Crude oil output slipped 1.2% and natural gas fell 2.2%. In July, both had shrunk at a sharper pace. Coal production, by contrast, surged 11.4% in August after a steep contraction of 12.3% in the previous month. Fertilizer output rose 4.6%, while refinery products rebounded with 3% growth after a contraction in July. Steel output expanded 14.2%, down from 16.6% a month earlier, while cement and electricity production registered more modest gains of 6.1% and 3.1%, respectively. Despite the rebound in August, broader industrial activity has shown signs of strain. Industrial output grew just 2.3% in April-July, less than half the pace recorded a year earlier, according to provisional data from the statistics ministry. The official industrial production figures for August will be published later this month. Private surveys suggest a brighter picture for manufacturing. The HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index, compiled by S&P Global, climbed to 59.3 in Augustthe highest reading in 17 monthsdriven by stronger output, new orders, and job creation. A score above 50 indicates expansion. Economists cautioned that the August improvement in core sectors was flattered by a low base. The uptick was particularly driven by coal, which witnessed an expansion of 11.4% in the month, following a double-digit contraction in July 2025. Overall, five of the eight sectors, barring steel, cement, and electricity, saw an improvement in their YoY growth performance in August 2025 vis-a-vis July 2025, said Aditi Nayar, chief economist at rating agency Icra. Icra expects the IIP (Index of Industrial Production) growth to print at 4.5-5.5% in August 2025, particularly aided by a turnaround in the performance of mining output, which has seen a contraction in every month during April-July 2025, she added. The core sector growth for August is encouraging, said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at Bank of Baroda. Driven mainly by high growth in steel followed by cement it is indicative of heightened activity in the infra space. Except crude oil and gas, all other segments registered positive growth which looks likely to be sustained, he said. Basmati exporters are looking at other states to make up for the crop lost to floods in Punjab and Haryana , the largest producers of long-grain rice in India, as millers expect higher overseas demand this year. Also Read | The thorny side of Indias newly won rice crown "The floods in Punjab and Haryana have caused some immediate logistical and crop-related challenges, besides impact on lives in the region," said Amit Goel, founder & group managing director, KNAM Group, a basmati exporter. Although the quantum of crop loss is difficult to ascertain at the moment, exporters have started drawing up plans to increase procurement from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to meet the shortfall." Punjab and Haryana account for around 75% of the country's total long-grain rice output. According to estimates by All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA), India is expected to export 6.5 million tonnes (mt) of basmati rice in the current fiscal year, rising from 6.06 mt worth $5.94 billion shipped out in 2024-25, according to AIREA. "Preliminary estimates suggest that the quantum of damage in Punjab is around 10-15%, which can be compensated by Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, which are reporting good yield," said Satish Goel, president, AIREA. The final survey is likely to be completed by the first week of October. Queries emailed to the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) regarding the crop damage and export prospects for the current fiscal year remained unanswered. The exports, however, face a challenge from US tariffs on Indian merchandise goods, including farm products. Exporters expect some diversion of shipments from the US to core markets like the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, according to Goel. "Besides newer markets, including African nations, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, are being explored for diversification to offset US tariff impact. These markets collectively are likely to absorb bulk of Indias basmati exports." Also Read | Why India should not divert its food security rice stocks to ethanol In April-August 2025, basmati rice exports grew nearly 15% year-on-year to 3.1 mt by volume and 16% to $1.74 by value, reflecting strong demand despite tariff challenges, according to data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics. Value growth was slightly higher than volume growth due to favourable pricing in major importing regions, except the US where tariffs hit prices. Prices have risen 10-14% domestically as well due to supply concerns. "The new crop has started coming in mandis of the state. Currently, the price is hovering around 3,200 per quintal compared to 2,800-2900 per quintal last year," said Sushil Jain, president, Haryana Rice Exporters Association. Punjab is the leading basmati producer in the country with a total area under cultivation of around 7.6 lakh hectares this year, compared with 10.04 lakh hectares last year, according to the first survey conducted by AIREA. It is followed by Haryana (9.35 lakh hectares) and Western Uttar Pradesh (7.63 lakh hectares). The total area under basmati in Madhya Pradesh is 6.55 lakh hectares, while in Rajasthan it is 2.03 lakh hectares. The total area under basmati is 34.44 lakh hectares in the current year as per the first crop survey as compared to 37.28 lakh hectares last year. However, the impacted area on account of floods is yet to be assessed," said Dharmesh Verma, remote sensing expert, Anvik Value Chain. The organization conducts satellite image-based and field surveys on behalf of AIREA. Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], September 22 (ANI): With the festive spirit in the air, the city of Kolkata is once again draped with colours, lights, devotion and an unmatched energy. As Kolkata is already buzzing with anticipation for Durga Puja, dazzling and intricately designed pandals also appear ready to turn it even grander. One such pandal has been presented by the South Kolkata Palli Sangha, located in the city's Ashok Nagar neighbourhood in Tollygunge. Marking their 76th year of celebrations, the South Kolkata Palli Sangha has created an extraordinary theme - "Bangla, Amar Maa ar Bhasha" (Bengal is my Mother's Language), celebrating the Bengali language. The decorations feature paintings depicting Bengali letters and words. Adding to this uniqueness, the idols of Goddess Durga's children have been given symbolic embodiments. While Goddess Lakshmi is depicted holding the Barn Parichay--a popular childhood book that introduces the Bengali alphabet, Lord Kartik and Lord Ganesha hold black slates, symbolising education and knowledge. Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, beautifully complements this theme. On the other hand, the pandal also pays tribute to Bengali luminaries such as Saroj Chandra Chatterjee, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Swami Vivekananda, and Rabindranath Tagore, with cutouts and portraits displayed alongside Bengali words and scripts. It offers a social message, portraying Bengal as a mother and symbolising unity, pride, and resistance. Speaking about the theme, the organisers say that Bengal is a land where people who speak many languages coexist harmoniously. Meanwhile, the pandal is made from 'Shalpata' - a traditional leaf from West Bengal, and it took three months to complete. From another corner of Tollygunge, the Santi Pally Puja Committee Durga Pandal was also inaugurated by actor Neelam Kothari Soni. Average office attendance has barely budged in the U.S. even though in-office mandates are rising. Big companies from Microsoft to Paramount and NBCUniversal are ordering workers to show up to the office more often. If only their staffs would heed the call. Even as corporate bosses cut back on remote work and ratchet up in-office mandates, average office attendance has barely budged across U.S. workplaces. Companies are struggling to enforce mandates, and many managers tasked with herding folks into the office would rather not be there either. Other executives have made their peace with hybrid work, especially amid cooling consumer confidence and an unpredictable trade war. Theres a lot more pressing things for companies to be worrying about right now," said Beth Steinberg, a longtime tech-industry human-resources executive. As for whether bosses are cracking down on no-shows? I havent heard of many consequences for that, especially if somebodys a high-performer." The New York Times is among the latest companies to step up office-attendance requirements, telling opinion and newsroom staffers on Wednesday to come in at least four days a week by November, up from three. Microsoft wants three days starting in February for many Pacific Northwest employees. Some ultimatums are blunter. At Paramount, staffers in New York and Los Angeles had until this week to commit to five days a week starting in Januaryor else take a buyout. NBCUniversal, which will require four days next year, gave staff a similar choice. Those unable to comply should contact human resources about a voluntary exit assistance package," NBCUniversal told employees. They join other big names dialing back remote work this year, including Amazon, Dell and JPMorgan. Overall, companies are requiring 12% more time in-office than in early 2024, according to data on policies for 9,000 employers from workplace think tank Work Forward. Yet Americans still work from home about a quarter of the timemuch like in 2023, said Nicholas Bloom, a Stanford economist who has helped run a monthly survey of 10,000 Americans on the topic since 2020. Unenthusiastic bosses dont help. They might shield top performers to keep them from leaving. And nearly half of senior managers said they would take a pay cut to work from home, according to a survey this summer of 1,500 salaried U.S. employees, including 500 human-resources professionals, from BambooHR. Then there are the logistical snags. Amazon.com ran short on desks, parking and videoconferencing rooms after ordering hundreds of thousands of workers to the office full time. The company backpedaled in Houston, New York and elsewhere, at least temporarily. Dell encountered similar problems. Since the beginning of the year, the overwhelming majority of our employees have returned to the office full time and had dedicated workspaces," said an Amazon spokeswoman. Some employers are trying to bring workers together without alienating or uprooting them. Axon, which makes Taser stun guns, is asking new hires to spend Tuesday through Friday in the office starting next month. But current employees can largely keep their existing hybrid or remote schedules. I dont think its fair to tell those people who are hired and say, Hey, you live in North Dakota and, like, now you have to move somewhere else with your family to come work in an office, " said Josh Isner, Axons president. But with 12% annual attrition, he added, the companys 4,000-strong workforce will eventually be largely in-person. Its a little bit of the long game here," he said. Were having a lot of success, and we dont want to lose good people." In-office mandates prompt some people to quit, and many suspect that is by design. Tighter requirements sometimes precede or follow layoff announcements, including at Amazon, AT&T and Dell, said Brian Elliott, a former Google and Slack executive who runs Work Forward. In its August economic update, the Federal Reserve observed that some employers were reducing head counts through attritionencouraged, at times, by return-to-office policies." It is a cheap way to reduce head count, theres no disguising that," said Stanfords Bloom. The problem is, you dont get to choose who leaves." Most companies also dont put in the effort to catch shirkers by matching up badge swipes, Wi-Fi connections, time-off schedules and other data, Bloom added, citing conversations with dozens of human-resources chiefs. That makes it hard to distinguish rule-breakers from those out sick or traveling for work, so many HR departments dig deeper only if workers miss at least half of their required days. Office attendance isnt uniform. In New York City, where banks such as JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs have pushed workers to be back full time, subway traffic is at its highest levels since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the New York governors office. Likewise, city foot traffic exceeded 2019 levels for the first time in July, according to cellphone data from Placer.ai. Nationally, office visits in August were down by about a third from 2019, the firm found. Return-to-office ultimatums at big companies get the most attention, but most smaller companies continue to allow at least some remote work as a matter of routine, Work Forwards data show. Employers pushing higher attendance can expect more scofflaws. Those requiring one day a week get near-perfect compliance, but companies mandating three or more days see compliance fall below 75%, commercial real-estate services and investment firm CBRE found in a survey. That is up from less than two-thirds a year ago. Write to Theo Francis at theo.francis@wsj.com The Trump administration says the new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas it announced Friday will help American workers. Economists agree that it could indeed benefit some U.S. workers. But they worry that for the bulk of workers it could do just the opposite. H-1B visas cause innovation, they cause entrepreneurship, they cause more R&D investment," said George Mason University economist Michael Clemens. They cause higher productivity in the whole U.S. economy, which generates job opportunities and higher earnings for native workers across the skill spectrum." Clemens and other economists cite a body of research suggesting that the program has benefited U.S. workers, and the U.S. economy, far more than it has hurt. The H-1B program, created by Congress in 1990, is the main pathway to the U.S. for highly skilled foreign workers. It has long generated controversy, with critics contending that it gives jobs to foreigners at the expense of native workers. Workers born in India accounted for nearly three-quarters of these visas in 2023, a Pew Research Center analysis found. China-born workers were a distant second, accounting for a bit more than one in 10 visas. A large number of the H-1B visas issued to workers at for-profit companies are in science, technology, engineering and mathematicsthe so-called STEM professions. Many go into computer-related jobs at some of the largest U.S. tech companies: Pew found that in 2023 Amazon.com had by far the most H-1B approvals of any company. Universities and nonprofits also use the H-1B program to hire foreign-born professors and other workers. The H-1B visa additionally helps attract foreign STEM students to American universities, since it gives them a pathway to living and working in the U.S. after graduation. The tech industry has shed thousands of employees in recent years, and critics of the H-1B system say it has benefited foreign workers at the expense of domestic tech workers. The turmoil comes at a time when advances in artificial intelligence have upended the landscape for tech workers. The new $100,000 fee is meant to revamp a system the Trump administration says has been exploited by tech companies. Currently, applicants for the H-1B visa must pay a small fee to enter into a lottery system, and the winners of that lottery pay a larger fee alongside their applications for vetting. Under the new system, the administration argues, only the best high-skilled workers will be worth the price, leaving more opportunities for U.S. based labor. Were having people come in, people that in many cases are very successful or whatever, as opposed to walking over the borders," Trump said in the Oval Office Friday. A slice of native-born workers, such as some computer programmers, would likely benefit from the reduction in new workers on H-1B visas the fee would spark. The typical H-1B visa employee working for the typical for-profit company thats hired them is doing work for whom otherwise available workers exist," said Notre Dame economist Kirk Doran. Their employment prospects could improve as companies scrambled to fill positions, and their wages could rise. But other workers could be hurt. A 2015 paper by economists Giovanni Peri, Kevin Shih and Chad Sparber found influxes of foreign-born workers boosted wages for native-born workers. And a 2023 paper by economist Britta Glennon found that when H-1B immigration is restricted, U.S. multinationals tend to shift work to other countries. The new fee could do lasting damage, according to Rutgers University economist Jennifer Hunt. This misguided measure could shut down the H-1B program entirely," she said. And if that happens, itll have a very detrimental effect on the economy as a whole." Overall, Hunt said H-1B workers dont substitute for U.S. workers, but complement them instead, helping them do their jobs and making them more productive. In its announcement Friday, the White House cited 2017 research by economists John Bound, Gaurav Khanna and Nicolas Morales showing that the influx of foreigners entering the U.S. high-skill workforce over the 1990s dampened the wages of native-born computer scientists. The announcement didnt include the economists other findings, such as that other information-technology workers see wage benefits, and that U.S. workers and consumers more broadly benefit from the innovation and efficiency created by immigrant-driven software production. When we consider the broader picture, U.S.-born workers as a whole experience net benefits," Khanna said in an email. Over time, the U.S. labor market would likely be able to adjust to the sharp reduction in H-1B visas potentially caused by the $100,000 fee, said Notre Dames Doran. The problem is that a sudden implementation could cause big dislocations, triggering large numbers of vacancies at companies that relied on H-1B workers. Even if there are enough native-born workers to fill those positions, they might not immediately live where the jobs are. Trauma happens in labor markets when a large shock occurs and theres not enough time to adjust for it," he said. Write to Justin Lahart at Justin.Lahart@wsj.com Bank holiday today: While not a pan-India holiday, all public and private banks in Jaipur, Rajasthan will be closed today, on September 22 (Monday), on account of Navratra Sthapna. Jaipur city will celebrate Navratra Sthapna, which marks the beginning of Navratri celebrations among Hindus. Notably, banks across India, including the State Bank of India (SBI), remain closed during holidays mandated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). These holidays also comprise the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, and all Sundays in the month. Thus, in this week, banks will also remain shut on September 23 in Jammu and Srinagar, and during the weekend on September 27 and 28 (fourth Saturday and Sunday), in accordance of RBI rules. Full bank holiday schedule September 2025 September 18 (Thursday) All private and public banks will be closed in Jammu and Srinagar in observance of the Unitarian Anniversary Day which is kept in honor of the founding of the Unitarian Church in 1887. September 22 (Monday) All banks will be shut in Jaipur as the city will celebrate Navratra Sthapna, marking the beginning of Navratri celebrations among Hindus. September 23 (Tuesday) All public and private banks across will remain shut in Jammu and Srinagar in celebrations of the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji, the last ruling monarch of Jammu & Kashmir. September 29 (Monday) It is a RBI mandated bank holiday for Agartala, Kolkata and Guwahati in observance of Maha Saptami, which is the seventh day of the Durga Puja festival, celebrated in the Hindu month of Ashwin. September 30 (Tuesday) Multiple cities, including Agartala, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Imphal, Jaipur, Kolkata, Patna and Ranchi will observe banks closure due to Maha Ashtami/Durga Ashtami, the eighth day of the Hindu festival of Durga Puja and Navratri. Sunday holidays Across India on September 7, 14, 21, 28. Saturday holidays Pan-India on September 13, 27. What to do in emergencies when banks are closed? You can continue to use online or mobile banking services even on national holidays unless notified to users for technical or other reasons. For cash emergencies, ATMs are open for withdrawals, app and UPI function as usual. New Delhi: The cut and polished diamonds (CPDs) sector, once a bright spot in Indias export basket, is now under pressure with CareEdge Ratings projecting a 17-20% decline in exports to around $11 billion in FY26. The industry, which saw a 17.5% drop in exports to $13.3 billion in FY25, faces multiple headwinds including weak global demand, high US tariffs, and increasing competition from lab-grown diamonds (LGDs). According to CareEdge, India accounts for more than 90% of the worlds polished diamonds by volume, leaving buyers with few alternatives. The recent US tariffs of up to 50% risk increasing prices for the end consumer and dampening demand in a key market, which alone accounts for more than 40% of global polished diamond consumption. Also Read | Why Chinas exports have stayed resilient in the face of US tariffs Tariffs increasing to 50% in key diamond-consuming nations are expected to exacerbate demand sluggishness," said Akhil Goyal, director, CareEdge Ratings. Competition from LGDs, coupled with limited offsetting potential from markets like India and China, keeps the outlook negative." Vipul Shah, managing director & CEO of Asian Star Company, a diamond and jewellery manufacturer and exporter, said, The 50% tariff imposed by the US makes Indian jewellery far less competitive for American buyers. This could result in demand contraction, order cancellations, and potential job losses across cutting and polishing units. In light of this, the sector will likely intensify its call for GST relief and policy support to remain viable in global markets." Export-led sector The report highlighted that while India has emerged as the worlds second-largest diamond jewellery market, accounting for about 10% of global demand, domestic growth is unlikely to fully offset falling exports. Rising gold prices and the increasing adoption of LGDs are expected to keep local consumption growth moderate. The sector relies heavily on exports, with around 80% of revenue coming from overseas shipments and the US alone representing nearly 37% of Indias CPD exports in FY25. In FY18, Indias gems and jewellery exports stood at $41.54 billion, accounting for about 13.8% of the countrys total goods exports of $300.67 billion. But by FY25, the sectors exports had fallen to $29.80 billion, representing just 6.9% of total goods exports of $433.56 billion. Of the $29.80 billion of exports, $9.94 billion (about 33%) were to the US marginally up from $9.91 billion in FY24. In response to the tariff, Indian diamantaires have adopted cautious strategies, maintaining lean inventory levels, optimising costs, and reducing reliance on borrowings. Upstream, miners have curtailed production and deferred supply to avoid oversupply, while midstream players are increasingly relying on owned sources to protect liquidity. New vistas In its report, CareEdge noted that some players were exploring new markets, particularly in Europe and domestically, while also lobbying for government support and incentives. Some are also considering relocating their processing units to lower-tariff jurisdictions if the current trade environment persists. Mint reported on 16 September that to mitigate the impact of high tariffs imposed by the US, several Indian companies in the gems & jewellery, specialty chemicals and textile sectors were turning their gaze overseas, looking to set up manufacturing, repackaging or bottling units, or explore joint ventures. Companies were also looking at stepping up exports to other places such as Vietnam, the UK and the Middle East to reduce their dependence on the US, India's largest export partner, the report said. India shipped $86.5 billion worth of goods to the US in 2024-25, or 20% of its total merchandise exports of $433.56 billion. On the credit front, CareEdge rated CPD and LGD entities with a combined income of around 48,000 crore and total debt of 11,900 crore. Around 85% of these entities were investment-grade, supported by low leverage (0.4 to 0.6 debt-to-equity ratio) and healthy interest coverage ratios of 3 to 3.5. Ujjwal Patel, director at CareEdge Ratings, said, Low leverage and controlled inventory levels provide a cushion to financial risk even in stressed conditions. However, high US tariffs are likely to put pressure on scale, margins, and credit metrics." Minor relief Meanwhile, the government has raised duty drawback rates on certain jewellery and precious metals to provide relief to exporters. According to a notification issued by the department of revenue on 25 August: the duty drawback rate on silver jewellery and articles of silver has been increased from 335.50 to 466.76 per 10 grams; 335.50 to 466.76 per 10 grams; the rate on gold jewellery and articles of gold has been raised from 4,468.10 to 5,234.00 per 10 grams; 4,468.10 to 5,234.00 per 10 grams; the relief on platinum jewellery and articles of platinum has been revised upwards from 4,468.10 to 5,234.00 per 10 grams. A duty drawback scheme is a programme that refunds or remits duties, taxes, or fees paid on imported goods when those goods or products made from them are subsequently exported. It essentially allows exporters to recover a portion of their costs on raw materials or components, making their final products more competitive in the global market. The US imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods effective 27 August. The steep tariffs are set to hit labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather, agricultural products, and gems and jewellery the hardest. New Delhi: In a rare move, the government is likely to allow renewable energy developers to relinquish stalled projects without invoking bank guarantees, provided power purchase agreements have not been signed, two people aware of the matter said. Until now, such surrender of projects was not allowed. And in case developers sought to abandon such projects, the government forfeited their bank guarantees. If the move is implemented, there might be a cut-off date for such projects which would be given the exemption. "Ways are being considered to resolve the issue of unsigned power purchase agreements (PPAs). Government may bring in some relaxation for these projects and allow them to surrender the projects bagged earlier and the bank guarantees (BGs) would be refunded," said the first of the two persons cited earlier, both of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity. Typically, a successful bidder for a renewable energy project needs to submit performance bank guarantees to the tendering agency, in this case renewable energy implementing agencies (REIAs) like Solar Energy Corp of India (Seci), NTPC, NHPC and SJVN, and the bidder gets a letter of award (LoA). The performance bank guarantee may vary as per project capacity. In some of the recent Seci tenders, bank guarantees varied between 22 lakh per megawatt (MW) and 39 lakh per MW. Renewable power developers sign PPAs with the REIAs, which are also the procurers of power. These agencies then sign power sale agreements (PSAs) with distribution companies to take the electricity to industry and homes. Currently, power sale agreements and power purchase agreements remain unsigned for around 30GW of renewable energy capacity - mostly standard solar projects. The figure had reached a high of 55GW in November last year. Mint first reported in September last year that around 30GW of projects are stuck because of unsigned PPAs and PSAs. Delays in transmission connectivity, falling renewable energy tariffs of new projects, which make power from older projects unattractive for distribution companies, are some of the reasons for backlog of unsigned agreements and stalled projects. As reported by Mint earlier, the government is urging states to sign agreements and adopt uniform tariffs. Further, stricter enforcement of renewable purchase obligations (RPOs) and the prospect of penalties may force states to ink more PPAs for renewable energy projects. The Centre wants states to sign PPAs as it would also help them in meeting renewable power obligations, which, if not complied with, will attract penalties for discoms. Renewable power obligation or renewable consumption obligation (RCO) is a mechanism under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022 by which the designated consumers, largely state distribution companies, are obliged to consume a certain percentage of electricity from eligible non-fossil sources. This is expressed as a percentage of their total consumption of electricity. Also Read | Indias clean energy boom lures Brookfield into platform play Already, the pace of new bids has slowed amid the pile of legacy renewable projects which are yet to find buyers. "In case successful bidders are allowed to relinquish their projects, the government would then see how that project can be remodelled, maybe with battery storage or turn it into a hybrid project with wind and batteries to make the power more reliable and attract buyers," said Vikram V, vice-president & co-group head, corporate ratings, Icra Ltd. Most of the projects for which sale and purchase agreements have not been signed are standard solar projects, which come with concerns of intermittency and grid stability. In view of grid stability concerns, the government is now promoting more and more projects integrated with battery energy storage systems. Queries sent to the ministry of new and renewable energy remained unanswered till press time. A renewable energy developer said on the condition of anonymity said that the move, if implemented, is likely to bring in some relief to developers as they would look at more of firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE) and hybrid projects. FDRE projects are renewable energy projects integrated with battery energy storage systems, which provide stable and reliable power supply. The delay in signing PPAs comes at a time when the Centre has set a target for installing 50GW of green power every year till 2027-28. On 15 August last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India's ambitious goal to achieve 500GW of non-fossil-based energy capacity by 2030. Speaking at the Mint Sustainability Summit on 3 September, Union minister for new and renewable energy Pralhad Joshi said that India has surpassed Japan to become the third-largest solar power generator globally. He exuded confidence that the country is on track to achieving its ambitious 500GW non-fossil power capacity target by 2030. It currently stands at 295.89GW, including 8.78GW of nuclear power capacity. Also Read | Govt eyes sub-target for renewable energy under priority sector lending In the six months through 30 June, India added 22GW of solar and wind power capacity, and, according to Joshi, the annual addition may reach 39-43GW by December-end. On the issue of unsigned PSAs and PPA, the minister had said: "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." 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. Joshi also said that the government has asked the renewable energy implementing agencies to aggregate demand from discoms and other consumers before inviting tenders, which would make the projects more attractive and bankable. New Delhi: India's policy for making and adopting electric vehicles (EVs) is packed with incentives for manufacturers and consumers. Yet, the government's scheme to attract foreign automakers to make EVs in India with a massive import duty cut on completely built-up cars has seen zero takers. One reason for this is the high bank guarantee criteria in the scheme. Original equipment automakers are required to pay a bank guarantee of at least 4,150 crore, or equal to the amount of import duty foregone. Though bank guarantees are a crucial public policy tool, this condition has turned into a speed bump too steep to cross. Mint explains how bank guarantees nudge stakeholders in India's ambitious EV drive. Also Read | Which EV battery technologies have manufacturers chosen for India? What exactly is a bank guarantee? Take two parties, A and B, who want to enter into an agreement. A is not sure if B can deliver on the targets, so A asks for a bank guarantee from B to protect its own interests. In a bank guarantee, B deposits a sum of money into a bank, which is then invoked if B does not meet the agreed-upon criteria. There are different types of bank guarantees. For instance, a performance bank guarantee is invoked when a party fails to deliver the agreed-upon items. It covers delays in delivery, or any other hindrance that might have kept the party from completing deliverables. Similarly, a financial bank guarantee is invoked when one of the parties fails to repay loans or any other financial obligations. While bank guarantees are used for various purposes across sectors, the broad structure remains the same. Also Read | GST cuts make petrol bikes cheaperbut EV stocks are soaring anyway How are bank guarantees used in Indias EV policy? The governments scheme to promote the manufacturing of Indian passenger cars aims to invite foreign EV makers to make electric cars in India using local supply chains. EV makers that invest at least 4,150 crore in a new factory or a new manufacturing line for EVs will get to import as many as 8,000 electric cars every year for five years at an import duty of 15%, a sharp cut from the 70-110% levy. To be clear, the scheme applies only to companies with group revenue of upwards of 10,000 crore and fixed asset investments of over 3,000 crore. However, EV makers also have to create a bank guarantee worth 4,150 crore (the minimum investment requirement under the scheme) or equivalent to the amount of import duty foregone for the company throughout the scheme's tenure, whichever is higher. This bank guarantee will be forfeited if the company does not meet the targets of the scheme. These targets include a 25% localization in three years, and 50% in five years, as well as a localized product rollout within three years of starting operations. The scheme has not seen traction as of date. It was first announced in March 2024, and its rules and guidelines were notified in June this year. To date, no company has invested in India under the scheme. While bank guarantees were put in place to ensure that fly-by-night operators do not reap benefits, the scheme has seen lacklustre performance to date, despite a handful of foreign automakers starting operations in India. For instance, Vietnamese EV maker VinFast opened a new manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu, but has not been a part of the scheme. "High bank guarantees are one of the key criteria to ensure that serious players participate and there is a high chance of interested entities actually investing in manufacturing EVs in India," said Sharif Qamar, associate director of transport and mobility at The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri). Also Read | Why Indias EV battery plans are stuck on China time Should we do away with bank guarantees as a tool? No. Bank guarantees have also nudged stakeholders in the right direction, inside Indias EV policy. Take the countrys electric bus ecosystem, where bank guarantees play a crucial part in reducing trust deficit. In India, buses are procured by governments or public transport authorities, and may be operated by a third party. In October 2024, the government implemented the PM-eBus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism (PSM), creating bank guarantees to ensure timely payments to bus operators and manufacturers by public transport authorities. To be clear, the public transport authority which wants to procure electric buses has to get a direct debit mandate (DDM) certificate from the Reserve Bank of India after creating a payment security mechanism. This acts as a safety net for bus makers and operators, who have complained of unpaid dues in the past. The countrys largest e-bus tender for 10,900 units was floated by Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) under the governments marquee PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (e-DRIVE) scheme. The number of manufacturers and operators of e-buses has also increased, with both veteran automakers and new-age companies investing in zero-emission public transportation. Bank guarantees form a crucial part of public policy, and have played a key role in the countrys policy on electric vehicles. The government has planned to spend 10,900 crore on demand-side incentives for consumers to buy EVs till FY28, as well as a 25,938-crore production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for EVs and other zero-emission vehicles till FY29. While the scheme to attract foreign EV makers has seen no progress, homegrown EV makers have invested about 29,500 crore into the sector under the PLI scheme for EVs, and created more than 45,000 new jobs, union heavy industries and steel minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had said recently. Indias third largest drugmaker is headed for a management shuffle. Nearly a decade since he took on the position, Ciplas managing director and global chief executive officer Umang Vohra, 54, is preparing to move out of the role by the end of this fiscal year, according to multiple people aware of the development. Achin Gupta, currently Ciplas global chief operating officer, is likely to succeed him, the people said, requesting anonymity. Achin Gupta was brought in to head the India business and has been groomed for the last few years. Gupta is expected to take over Vohra's role within a years time, likely by March 2026," said an industry executive aware of the development. Two other industry executives also confirmed the development. Multiple queries sent to Cipla, Umang Vohra, and Achin Gupta on Saturday remained unanswered until the time of publishing. Also Read | Cipla sees weight-loss drugs as the biggest opportunity in India End of tenure Vohra is expected to step down from his role as the companys MD and global CEO at the end of March 2026, when his tenure ends, according to sources. The top executive had been re-appointed for a period of five years in March 2021. Ciplas shuffle comes at a time when rival Sun Pharma is undergoing a long-term, structured succession planning, with professionals at the helm, even as the next generation is being groomed to take over. Vohra was re-appointed as a director by the board of the Mumbai-headquartered firm at their annual general meeting this year. It is yet not known whether he will stay on at the company in a non-operational capacity. Vohras decade at Cipla Vohra joined Cipla in October 2015 as global CFO after more than 13 years at Dr Reddys Laboratories. Between January and August 2016, he was Ciplas global COO before being elevated to MD and global CEO, a role he has held since. He was brought on board during a period of leadership flux. In 2015, heir-apparent Kamil Hamiednephew of Cipla doyen Dr Y.K. Hamiedstepped down as chief strategy officer to pursue personal interests, even as the company underwent a top management reshuffle under then CEO Subhanu Saxena. In July 2024, Vohra told The Hindu BusinessLine that Cipla had completely professionalised" in the last decade. Last year, Ciplas promoter family saw a shuffle as well, amid rumours of a potential stake sale. In September 2024, Kamil Hamied re-entered the scene after nine years, joining the board as a non-executive director. At the same time, his father, M.K. Hamied (85), announced his departure, citing health and age. His daughter Samina Hamied also stepped down as Ciplas executive vice-chairperson on 31 March 2024 citing personal and family commitments". In a letter to the board, M.K. Hamied wrote I am pleased to see that Kamil Hamied will be joining the board as a non-executive director to maintain continuity while representing the promoter family". The potential successor Achin Gupta, whose previous stint was at Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, joined Cipla in 2021 as CEO of its One India business. In February this year, Gupta was elevated to Global COO. Gupta has led the successful growth and transformation of the companys One India business with double digit revenue growth and profitability outperforming the Indian pharmaceutical market, according to a company filing announcing his elevation this year. This has been driven by deepening presence in chronic therapies, expansion into Tier 2-6 geographies, establishing category leadership in Wellness brands & building a future-fit trade generics business with direct customer reach," it stated, adding that Gupta had also driven strategic partnerships with MNCs, positioning Cipla as a preferred partner for in-licensing deals. Resilient business strategy In Q1FY26, Cipla faced price erosion in its US generics portfolio but offset this through new launches such as cancer drug Abraxane. The management has guided for US revenues of $1 billion by FY27, even as its blockbuster cancer drug Revlimid faces a steep fall in exclusivity next year. Analysts remain optimistic about Ciplas resilience in the US market. We expect Cipla to maintain its existing US sales run-rate. This will be aided by several high value niche launches in the US like gAbraxane, Nilotininb, gAdvair. Further, Ciplas strong net cash position of over $1.5 billion provides flexibility to pursue strategic M&A opportunities," PL Capital analysts said in a 27 July note. They have been very disciplined with their capital allocation. They are choosing acquisitions in segments where they have an opportunity to leverage their strengths for a scale up, while they are carving partnerships in areas where they foresee meaningful risks. Even from a manufacturing capacity investment, they have built a fair mix of outsourcing, which ensures resilience in volatile times," said Vishal Manchanda, pharma analyst and senior vice president of institutional research at Systematix Group. While there is overall pricing pressure in the US generics market, Ciplas US business is going to be more durable, and they could do relatively better, given their respiratory pipeline that is going to pan out over the next two years. Respiratory products are more durable, in the sense that if you get an approval, the product will contribute meaningfully to the business for five to six years," Manchanda added. Back home, Cipla has also stepped up its focus on the India business. India is definitely something that they are focusing more on. They know that is where they need to strengthen their presence because the growth is here," said Manchanda. In Q1FY26, new launches and key therapies supported Ciplas India growth. Respiratory and anti-infectives segment impacted growth in Rx (prescription) segment however Cipla continued to outperform market," analysts at PL Capital noted. Also Read | Its Goliath vs David as pharma giants take on skincare brands and influencers Market standing Cipla has a market capitalisation of 1.27 trillion, making it the third largest pharma company in India by market cap after Sun Pharma and Divi's Laboratories. In the first quarter of this fiscal year, Cipla's consolidated revenue increased 4% year-on-year to 6,957 crore, missing Bloomberg estimates. Its profit after tax beat estimates at 1,298 crore, up 10% year-on-year. The company reported an Ebitda of 1,778 crore, up 4% on-year, with its Ebitda margin remaining steady on-year at 25.6%. Ebitda stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation. Cipla shares closed 2.14% at 1,542.00 each on NSE on Monday, while the Nifty 50 was down 0.06%. A cryptocurrency with close ties to the world's largest digital-asset exchange, Binance Holdings, gained to reach an all-time high amid growing speculation that its co-founder Changpeng Zhao will be granted a US presidential pardon, which grants legal forgiveness to individuals convicted of federal crimes. The BNB token, the fifth-largest by market value, surged over the weekend to reach $1,083 on Sunday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Later on Monday, the crypto retreated alongside its rivals, Bitcoin and Ether, in a broad market selloff. What is driving the surge? Zhao, who stepped down as Binance CEO in 2023, served a four-month prison sentence in 2024 as part of a $4.3 billion settlement with US authorities. He publicly stated on a podcast in May that he was seeking a pardon from US President Donald Trump. This statement fuelled intense speculation, with online betting platform Polymarket showing the odds of a pardon reaching a high of 64% on September 13 before settling at 50%. Regulatory developments in the US which might benefit Binance were one factor that helped lift BNB to a record, Patrick Horsman, co-founder of Build and Build Corp told Bloomberg. Rumors of CZs (Changpeng Zhao) possible pardon fuel further speculation, he said. Why is the pardon important to Binance? Zhao's pardon will significantly impact Binance. The crypto-exchange already has business ties with Trump as it helped in developing a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial Inc, which is one of Trumps family ventures, Bloomberg News reported previously. Recently, senator Elizabeth Warren pressed the US Justice Department on whether Binance is adhering to its 2023 settlement agreement with federal prosecutors over money-laundering and sanctions violations. The company may soon close a potential deal with the US Justice Department that would allow it to shed an external compliance monitor. There is currently around $560 million worth of BNB token held by listed accumulators, comprising 0.4% of the total supply, according to CoinMarketCap data. All about BNB token and Zhao's net worth The BNB token, formerly known as Binance Coin, was created by the crypto exchange in 2017 through an initial coin offering. Around 80 million tokens, now valued at around $83 billion, were allocated to the companys founding team, which included Zhao. The money raised through that ICO was used to launch the Binance exchange. Also Read | Binance wrote code for Donald Trump's crypto token before founder sought pardon The initial public offering for Ganesh Consumer Products Ltd, a prominent entity in the packaged food sector in eastern India, is set to take place from September 22 to 24. Ganesh Consumer IPO price band has been established at 306 to 322 per share. Prior to the public subscription launch, Ganesh Consumer Products IPO has secured over 122 crore from anchor investors. Notable institutions that joined the anchor round include Subhkam Ventures, Bengal Finance and Investment, Saint Capital Fund, BNP Paribas Financial Markets, Citigroup Global Markets Mauritius, and Rajasthan Global Securities, as stated in a circular posted on the BSE's website. Prominent investor Ashish Kacholia, participated in the anchor round. Founded in 1936, the company provides 42 different products, encompassing staples, spices, ethnic snacks, and new food categories. As of September 30, 2024, it boasts a distribution network that spans over 70,000 retail stores, modern trade establishments, and e-commerce platforms. It has seven manufacturing plants located in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana. Ganesh Consumer Products IPO GMP today Ganesh Consumer IPO GMP today is 10. This indicates Ganesh Consumer share price were trading at a premium of 10 in the grey market on Monday, 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 Ganesh Consumer share price was indicated at 332 apiece, which is 3.11% higher than the IPO price of 322. According to the grey market activities observed over the last nine sessions, the current GMP ( 10) indicates a downward trend. The lowest reported GMP is 0.00, whereas the highest is 25, as per expert analysis. 'Grey market premium' indicates investors' readiness to pay more than the issue price. Ganesh Consumer IPO review As per the Anand Rathi Research Team, at the upper price band, the company is priced at 36.7 times FY25 price-to-earnings ratio, resulting in a post-issue market capitalization of 13,012 million. Their strategy focuses on bolstering B2C operations, broadening presence in current markets, and fostering growth in new territories, primarily concentrating on West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and Assam. Additionally, the company intends to improve brand visibility throughout urban, semi-urban, and rural areas of East India through enhanced marketing and advertising efforts. Considering these elements, the IPO seems fully valued and is recommended as a SUBSCRIBE LONG TERM. Ganesh Consumer IPO subscription status Ganesh Consumer IPO subscription status was 41% on day 2. The retail portion was subscribed 43%, and NII portion has been booked 23%, Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) portion received 51% bids. The employee portion has been booked 1.06 times. The company has received bids for 36,76,780 shares against 89,12,228 shares on offer, at 17:00 IST, according to data on BSE. Ganesh Consumer IPO details Ganesh Consumer Products IPO includes a fresh equity issue valued at up to 130 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of 86.58 lakh shares, priced at 279 crore at the highest range, being sold by promoter and investor shareholders. From the proceeds of the fresh equity issue, 60 crore will be allocated for debt repayment; 45 crore will be used to establish a roasted gram flour and gram flour manufacturing facility in Darjeeling, along with funds for general corporate needs. Dam Capital Advisors Ltd. serves as the book-running lead manager, and MUFG Intime India Pvt. Ltd. acts as the registrar for this offering. IT stocks crashed on Monday, September 22, after US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that will raise the fee for H1-B visas to a whopping $100,000 annually, marking the latest move by his administration to crack down on immigration. Nifty IT fell over 3.5 per cent in intraday trade today, as against a half a per cent decline in the benchmark Nifty. All Nifty IT constituents were trading in the red on Monday. Tech Mahindra share price was the top loser, down 5.8 per cent, followed by Mphasis and Persistent Systems, which fell over 5 per cent each. Meanwhile, TCS share price, Wipro share price, HCL Tech share price and Infosys share price, along with Coforge and LTIMindtree share prices, shed between 3-5 per cent each and Oracle Financial Services lost 1.4 per cent. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order raising the H-1B visa application fee from USD 1,000 to USD 100,000 per applicant a 100x increase that applies to new applications. MOSL, in a recent note, stated that while the programs structure remains unchanged, the first significant impact will likely be seen in FY27 petitions, as FY26 applications are already locked in. The steep increase is expected to influence decisions around on-site staffing and visa filings for Indian IT companies. Implications of H-1B visa hike for Indian IT sector MOSL highlighted that Indian IT vendors have reduced their dependence on H-1B visas over the last decade, driven by US localisation and increased local hiring. Currently, only about 20 per cent of employees are on-site, of which 2030 per cent hold H-1B visas, translating to roughly 35 per cent of a typical vendors active workforce. MOSL emphasised that this limited exposure provides some buffer against the new fee structure. According to MOSL, Big Tech companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta account for a larger share of fresh H-1B applications than Indian IT firms. Indian IT vendors, with their built-in localisation and subcontracting models, are relatively well-positioned to adjust. MOSL believes Indian IT companies are likely to reduce new filings, relying instead on offshore delivery and local recruitment. While this may reduce on-site revenue, MOSL noted that offshore work is more profitable, and operating margins could improve even as top-line growth moderates. The order is also expected to face legal challenges in US courts, which could modify its impact. Meanwhile, brokerage JM Financial said that in a scenario of increased local hiring without offsets, it estimates that the margin impact could be 15-50bps. In a more likely scenario of higher offshoring, the above impact could be completely negated. Financially, therefore, this is neutral, in our view, it added. Top IT stocks to buy MOSL said IT sector valuations remain reasonable, but a sector-wide re-rating will depend on a new technology cycle and earnings upgrades. For large-cap exposure, MOSL prefers HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra, highlighting TechMs transformation under new leadership and improving execution in BFSI. HCL Tech is valued for its diversified, resilient portfolio. Among mid-caps, MOSL continues to favour Coforge and Hexaware, citing their strong performance in cost-focused market conditions. The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open lower on Monday, following the new H-1B visa fees hike by the US President Donald Trump, and worries over its impact on the Indian IT companies. The trends on Gift Nifty also indicate a negative start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 25,320 level, a discount of nearly 91 points from the Nifty futures previous close. On Friday, the equity market indices ended lower on profit booking, with the benchmark Nifty 50 closing below 25,400 level. The Sensex dropped 387.73 points, or 0.47%, to close at 82,626.23, while the Nifty 50 settled 96.55 points, or 0.38%, lower at 25,327.05. We are of the view that the short-term market outlook remains bullish, but due to temporary overbought conditions, range-bound activity may occur in the near future. Hence, buying on dips and selling on rallies would be the ideal strategy for traders, said Amol Athawale, VP Technical Research, Kotak Securities. Heres what to expect from Sensex, Nifty 50, and Bank Nifty today: Sensex Prediction Sensex has formed a bullish candle on weekly charts, and is holding an uptrend continuation formation on daily charts, which is largely positive. On the technical front, the support zone between 82,300 - 82,200 will be crucial to watch. A sustained hold above this range will be essential to maintain the bullish structure. On the upside, the resistance zone of 83,100 - 83,200 will act as a key hurdle. A decisive breakout above 83,200 could pave the way for a fresh round of upside momentum, potentially propelling Sensex toward 84,000, followed by 84,600 level in the short term, said Sudeep Shah, Head - Technical Research and Derivatives at SBI Securities. According to Mayank Jain, Market Analyst, Share.Market, the immediate resistance for Sensex is placed in the 83,000 to 83,200 zone, and a decisive breakout above this level could propel the index towards the 83,500 mark. On the downside, crucial support is seen in the 82,400 to 82,500 range, and a breach of this support could see the index testing the 82,000 level. Nifty 50 Prediction Nifty 50 formed a double-bottom pattern on the daily timeframe, demonstrating resilience and sustainability above key support levels, reinforcing the prevailing bullish sentiment. For the week, Nifty 50 gained 0.85%, forming a cup and handle pattern on the weekly chart. A reasonable negative candle was formed on the daily chart on Friday, after the formation of the Hanging man type candle pattern of Thursday. Technically, this market action indicates a formation of short-term top reversal pattern. A larger degree bullish pattern like higher tops and bottoms is intact on the daily chart and further weakness from here could form a new higher bottom of the pattern. Nifty on the weekly chart formed a long bull candle this week which is for the third consecutive session, said Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities. According to him, the near-term uptrend of Nifty 50 remains intact, and further consolidation or minor dip could be a buying opportunity by next week. Immediate support is placed at 25,150 and a sustainable move above 25,500 could pull Nifty 50 towards the next hurdle of 25,700 levels. Mayank Jain said that the technical setup of the Nifty 50 remains positive, as it is trading above its key 20, 50, and 200-day moving averages. The immediate resistance for the Nifty 50 is seen in the 25,500 to 25,600 range. A sustained move above this pocket could open the door for a rally towards 25,750. On the flip side, near-term support is pegged at 25,250 to 25,300. If the index slips below this, the next significant support level to watch for would be around 25,000 to 25,100, said Jain. Bank Nifty Prediction Bank Nifty index declined 268.60 points, or 0.48%, to close at 55,458.85 on Friday, forming a hanging man candle on the daily chart. For the week, the index rallied 1.19%, forming a bullish candle on the weekly chart, suggesting mixed signals. Bank Nifty index slipped below the 100-SMA placed at 55,700, indicating hesitation near the falling trendline. However, the index holds comfortably above the 9-EMA and the 20-EMA, reflecting strength in the short-term setup. The 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level at 55,250 followed by 55,000 serves as an important short-term support, said Om Mehra, Technical Research Analyst, SAMCO Securities. Also Read | Buy or sell: Vaishali Parekh recommends three intraday stocks to buy today The RSI has eased to 57 after approaching overbought territory, while the MACD remains positively skewed. The index is also hovering close to the upper Bollinger band, which will act as an immediate resistance in the sessions ahead, he added. The primary trend remains bullish, and a minor pullback would be considered healthy after the successive rise. Unless Nifty Bank closes below 55,800 decisively, the index is likely to consolidate, said Mehra. Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP Technical and Derivative Research, Asit C. Mehta Investment Interrmediates Ltd. noted that the Bank Nifty will face resistance near the 56,000 56,160 zone, where major hurdles are placed, and immediate support is seen near 55,070, where the 34-DEMA is placed, followed by 54,500. Thus, traders are advised to follow a buy-near-support and sell-near-resistance approach in Bank Nifty, said Yedve. Indian equities ended lower on Friday, snapping a three-day winning streak as profit-booking at higher levels weighed on FMCG, IT, and banking stocks. The Nifty 50 slipped 96.55 points, or 0.38%, to close at 25,327.05, while the Sensex fell 387.73 points, or 0.47%, to 82,626.23. The Nifty Bank also lost 268.60 points, or 0.48%, to 55,458.85. Despite mid-session buying that pared early losses, selling pressure resurfaced in the latter half, leaving the broader market flat with midcap and smallcap indices little changed. MarketSmith India's best stock recommendations for the day: Buy: V2 Retail Ltd (current price: 1,874) Why its recommended: Strong revenue growth, improvement in profitability, aggressive expansion plans, strong margins & unit economics improving Key metrics: P/E: 79.71, 52-week high: 2,097, volume: 15.19 crore Technical analysis: Reclaimed its 100-DMA on above average volume Risk factors: Execution risk on expansion, execution risk on expansion, margin pressure, intense competition, supply chain & inventory risk Buy: 1,8551,910 Target price: 2,150 in two to three months Stop loss: 1,740 Buy: Tbo Tek Ltd (current price: 1,631) Why its recommended: Strong revenue & GTV growth with margin leverage, geographic expansion & platform innovation Key metrics: P/E: 81.11; 52-week high: 2,000; volume: 246.62 crore Technical analysis: tight range breakout Risk factors: Dependence on hotels & ancillaries and airline inventory exposure, competitive landscape & external risks Buy at: 1,6101,640 Target price: 1,940 in two to three months Stop loss: 1,490 Top 3 stock recommendations by Ankush Bajaj for 22 September: Buy: Redington Ltd Current Price: 299.75 Why its recommended: Redington has shown a steady uptrend with bullish momentum building up. The daily RSI is sustaining in positive territory, reflecting strong underlying demand. The MACD remains above the signal line, confirming continuation of the uptrend, while ADX readings indicate improving trend strength. The stock has been consolidating near recent highs and is now poised for a fresh breakout, supported by healthy volumes and sectoral tailwinds from IT distribution and electronics demand. Key metrics: RSI (14-day): Positive, showing bullish momentum MACD: Positive, trend intact ADX: Improving, trend gaining strength Technical view: Sustaining above 286 strengthens the bullish setup and opens the path towards 325. Risk factors: -Dependency on global IT hardware demand cycles -Foreign exchange fluctuations impacting margins -Competitive pressures in the distribution business Buy at: 299.75 Target price: 325 Stop loss: 286 Buy: GE Vernova T&D India Ltd Current Price: 3,068.70 Why its recommended: GE Vernova T&D has been in a strong bullish phase, with price action supported by higher highs and higher lows. The daily RSI remains elevated, highlighting robust momentum, while the MACD is in positive territory, confirming sustained buying interest. The ADX also reflects strong trend strength, validating the ongoing uptrend. On the charts, the stock has broken above key resistances, reinforcing the bullish structure and signalling further upside. Key metrics: RSI (14-day): Positive, strong momentum MACD: Positive, confirming trend continuation ADX: Strong, showing robust trend strength Technical view: Sustaining above 3,030 will keep the bullish setup intact, with near-term potential to move toward 3,140. Risk factors: -High dependence on government and utility capex spending -Order inflow volatility and project execution risks -Global energy transition policies influencing sector demand Buy at: 3,068.70 Target price: 3,140 Stop loss: 3,030 Buy: Usha Martin Ltd Current Price: 426.55 Why its recommended: Usha Martin is sustaining strong momentum after a breakout from its recent consolidation phase. The daily RSI is comfortably placed in bullish territory, confirming positive momentum. The MACD is in buy mode, supporting further upside, while the ADX shows an emerging trend gaining strength. The stocks price structure indicates strong support near the stop-loss zone, with scope for a move toward recent highs. Key metrics: RSI (14-day): Positive, bullish momentum intact MACD: Buy mode, supporting trend continuation ADX: Positive, trend building strength Technical view: Sustaining above 419 will keep the momentum intact, opening an upside target of 440. Risk factors: -Exposure to cyclical steel and wire rope demand -Fluctuations in raw material prices -Export dependence may expose the business to global trade risk. Buy at: 426.55 Target price: 440 Stop loss: 419 Three stocks to trade, recommended by NeoTraders Raja Venkatraman: Edelweiss Financial Services Ltd (Cmp 119.03) Why its recommended: This counter has been trading quite resolutely and has been attempting to sustain at higher levels. The consolidation in the TS & KS region managed to arrest the recent profit booking. The strong surge seen on Friday after the clarification in the media regarding the share sale was backed by volumes, suggesting more possibility to the upside. Key metrics: P/E: 110.23 52-week high: 145.50 Volume: 13.54M Technical analysis: Support at 725 | Resistance at 980. Risk factors: Market conditions, company performance, and news. Buy: Above 120 and dips to 110. Target price: 135-140 in 1 month. Stop loss: 105. Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd (Cmp 964.65) Why its recommended: Kirloskar Engineering has been steadily forming a rounding pattern at the cloud support to attract some attention. The strong push seen on Friday, along with a combination of factors, can now trigger some potential upside in the coming days. The recent rise in momentum shown by the RSI clearly highlights the steady participation that is prompting more upside potential in this counter. Key metrics: P/E: 33.31 52-week high: 334.40 Volume: 352.03K Technical analysis: Support at 890 | Resistance at 1,200. Risk factors: Market fluctuations, regulatory changes, and sector-specific challenges in the financial sector. Buy: Above 965 and dips to 925. Target price: 1,125-1,150 in 1 month. Stop loss: 898. Radico Khaitan Ltd (Cmp 3052.50) Why its recommended: Positive moves in the market saw this counter recover from cloud support around 2,800 levels. The daily chart reveals that the uptrend has now resumed. There is still enough room left at the top for this counter to surge. Steady ascent with rise in momentum makes it a good buy candidate for the coming week. Key metrics: P/E: 101.80 52-week high: 3,052.50 Volume: 539.82K. Technical analysis: Support at 2,777 | Resistance at 3,500. Risk factors: Challenging macroeconomic environment, margin pressure and client attrition. Buy at: Above 3,050 and dips to 2,980. Target price: 3,200-3,300 in 1 month. Stop loss: 2,950. Raja Venkatraman is co-founder, NeoTrader. His Sebi-registered research analyst registration no. is INH000016223. Ankush Bajaj is a Sebi-registered research analyst. His registration number is INH000010441. MarketSmith India is a stock research platform and advisory service focused on the Indian stock market. Trade name: William ONeil IndiaPvt. Ltd. Sebi Registration No.: INH000015543 Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantee performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions. China's "porcelain capital" goes global with creative new designs Xinhua) 11:09, September 22, 2025 NANCHANG, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cai Wenjuan's ceramic speakers and coffee cups sold out within days at a trade fair in Budapest earlier this year. The secret to her success? She had painted the Hungarian national flower on each piece using glazing techniques passed down from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). "If we don't understand the culture and life of overseas consumers, it's hard to go global; no matter how good our craftsmanship is," said the 39-year-old artist. Cai comes from a family of porcelain makers in Jingdezhen, renowned as the "porcelain capital" with a ceramic history spanning more than 2,000 years in east China's Jiangxi Province. Cai represents a new generation of creators in Jingdezhen, once the world's premier exporter of china, and now endeavoring to regain a foothold in the global market. This time, they're betting on design innovation, digital manufacturing, and pop-culture collaborations. The history of Jingdezhen porcelain is virtually an early example of a globalized commodity. For centuries, Jingdezhen provided custom-made dinnerware and decorative wares based on clients' samples into Europe and beyond. A Ming dynasty (1368-1644) shipwreck discovered off the coast of south China's Hainan around two years ago contained 100,000 pieces of export porcelain, many of which originated from this region. In its heyday, local artisans hand-painted European family crests on custom orders placed by the Dutch East India Company. Yet in the 1990s, with the Chinese government speeding up state-owned enterprise reforms, Jingdezhen's ten state-run ceramic factories, plagued by a lack of market consciousness and inflexible management structures, ceased operations abruptly. This threw the city's ceramic industry into disarray. Competing ceramics hubs in China and established European brands like Meissen and Wedgwood had come to dominate global trade. To regain its standing in the global market, the city is combining its ancient skills with modern technology and marketing. Young studios and e-commerce firms are using 3D printing and online platforms to meet international demand for customized ceramics. At Qianmo Cross-border E-commerce Industrial Park, batches of ceramic products are being shipped to overseas warehouses in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. "Jingdezhen porcelains used to prize artisanal skills over marketing, but now without mass production, it's hard to stay competitive," said Chen Jun, head of the company. Chen's company has invested 320 million yuan (about 45 million U.S. dollars) in developing overseas warehousing and agency operations to provide local products directly to international consumers. Hong Ziyu, 26, runs a company that developed recycled ceramics, made by crushed waste porcelain, to appeal to environment-conscious overseas buyers. The company also uses 3D printers to create intricate ceramic designs that would be almost impossible to make by hand. "3D printing is good at crafting irregularly shaped ceramics, thus helping expand the diversity of traditional ceramic forms," he said. The most surprising twist is probably Jingdezhen's entry into the world of artistic toys. A limited-edition ceramic Molly doll, produced in collaboration with the Chinese toy brand Pop Mart, sold out immediately, despite a price tag of nearly 14,000 yuan. Chentian Ceramics took two years and more than 20 successive sample modifications to perfect the doll. "Many tailored porcelain dolls we made for toy brands have a big head and very small feet. Being top-heavy and bottom-light, they were prone to collapse in high-temperature kilns, which prompted us to innovate on the traditional porcelain-making techniques," said Xu Wan, general manager of the company. The blend of tradition and pop is working: China's trendy toy market experienced explosive growth in the second quarter of the year, with transaction volume surging by over 300 percent year-on-year, according to a report released by idle goods marketplace app Xianyu. Nearly 100,000 young people are now employed in Jingdezhen's ceramic creative industry. Some are local heirs of family-run studios, while others are entrepreneurs who have come from various parts of China. Their success reflects a broader trend. In 2024, China's cultural and creative industries surpassed 19 trillion yuan in revenue, with content creation and design services growing 8.4 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively. The local government is also playing an active role in promoting the global image of Jingdezhen, by organizing constant overseas exhibitions and opening flagship stores that display local brands. "Jingdezhen is a city of thousands of small workshops and studios. We value the government's push and support in the global journey," Xu said. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) Indian equities ended lower on Friday, snapping a three-day winning streak, as profit-taking and geopolitical concerns weighed on sentiment. The Nifty 50 slipped 96 points, or 0.38%, to close at 25,327, while the Sensex dropped nearly 390 points, or 0.44%. Banks, financials, and IT majors dragged the indices lower. Investor caution was amplified by news that the US revoked sanction waivers for Indias operations at Irans Chabahar Port, raising geopolitical risks. MarketSmith India's Best Stock Recommendations for the Day Buy: V2 Retail Ltd (current price: 1,874) Why its recommended: Strong revenue growth, improvement in profitability, aggressive expansion plans, strong margins & unit economics improving Strong revenue growth, improvement in profitability, aggressive expansion plans, strong margins & unit economics improving Key metrics: P/E: 79.71, 52-week high: 2,097, volume: 15.19 crore P/E: 79.71, 52-week high: 2,097, volume: 15.19 crore Technical analysis: Reclaimed its 100-DMA on above average volume Reclaimed its 100-DMA on above average volume Risk factors: Execution risk on expansion, execution risk on expansion, margin pressure, intense competition, supply chain & inventory risk Execution risk on expansion, execution risk on expansion, margin pressure, intense competition, supply chain & inventory risk Buy: 1,8551,910 1,8551,910 Target price: 2,150 in two to three months 2,150 in two to three months Stop loss: 1,740 Buy: Tbo Tek Ltd (current price: 1,631) Why its recommended: Strong revenue & GTV growth with margin leverage, geographic expansion & platform innovation Strong revenue & GTV growth with margin leverage, geographic expansion & platform innovation Key metrics: P/E: 81.11; 52-week high: 2,000; volume: 246.62 crore P/E: 81.11; 52-week high: 2,000; volume: 246.62 crore Technical analysis: tight range breakout tight range breakout Risk factors: Dependence on hotels & ancillaries and airline inventory exposure, competitive landscape & external risks Dependence on hotels & ancillaries and airline inventory exposure, competitive landscape & external risks Buy at: 1,6101,640 1,6101,640 Target price: 1,940 in two to three months 1,940 in two to three months Stop loss: 1,490 Nifty 50 recap The Indian equity market concluded the week on a subdued note, with key benchmark indices snapping a three-day winning streak due to profit-booking at elevated levels. Nifty 50 closed at 25,327.05, down 96.55 points or 0.38%, while BSE Sensex fell 387.73 points, or 0.47%, to settle at 82,626.23. The market breadth was mixed, with advances slightly outnumbering decliners on the BSE, yet selling pressure was evident across broader indices, particularly in the later part of the session. Sectoral performance varied, with gains in PSU Banking, Realty, and Pharmaceutical stocks. The Adani group was a notable outperformer, with its stocks surging following a favourable report from Sebi. Conversely, the decline was led by heavyweights in the private banking, IT, and FMCG sectors, which faced profit-booking. The index encountered resistance around 25,450 and subsequently saw profit booking, indicating some consolidation after the recent uptrend. Momentum signals suggest a healthy, though moderating, setup the RSI has cooled off from overbought territory and is now placed at 64 yet continues to hold above the downward-sloping trendline breakout, reinforcing underlying strength. Meanwhile, the MACD remains in positive territory, reflecting that the broader trend bias is still constructive despite near-term volatility. Overall, the technical structure suggests that while some pause or pullback cannot be ruled out, the index retains a favorable outlook as long as it sustains above immediate support levels. Also Read | Stock market buoyancy: This myth has turned the market into a hamster wheel Buy: Tbo Tek Ltd (current price: 1,631) Why its recommended: Strong revenue & GTV growth with margin leverage, geographic expansion & platform innovation Key metrics: P/E: 81.11; 52-week high: 2,000; volume: 246.62 crore 2,000; volume: 246.62 crore Technical analysis: tight range breakout Risk factors: Dependence on hotels & ancillaries and airline inventory exposure, competitive landscape & external risks Buy at: 1,6101,640 1,6101,640 Target price: 1,940 in two to three months 1,940 in two to three months Stop loss: 1,490 Nifty 50: How the Benchmark Index Performed on September 19th: The Indian equity market concluded the week on a subdued note, with key benchmark indices snapping a three-day winning streak due to profit-booking at elevated levels. Nifty 50 closed at 25,327.05, down 96.55 points or 0.38%, while BSE Sensex fell 387.73 points, or 0.47%, to settle at 82,626.23. The market breadth was mixed, with advances slightly outnumbering decliners on the BSE, yet selling pressure was evident across broader indices, particularly in the later part of the session. Sectoral performance varied, with gains in PSU Banking, Realty, and Pharmaceutical stocks. The Adani group was a notable outperformer, with its stocks surging following a favorable report from SEBI. Conversely, the decline was led by heavyweights in the private banking, IT, and FMCG sectors, which faced profit-booking. The index encountered resistance around 25,450 and subsequently saw profit booking, indicating some consolidation after the recent uptrend. Momentum signals suggest a healthy, though moderating, setup the RSI has cooled off from overbought territory and is now placed at 64 yet continues to hold above the downward-sloping trendline breakout, reinforcing underlying strength. Meanwhile, the MACD remains in positive territory, reflecting that the broader trend bias is still constructive despite near-term volatility. Overall, the technical structure suggests that while some pause or pullback cannot be ruled out, the index retains a favorable outlook as long as it sustains above immediate support levels. According to O'Neils methodology of market direction, the market status has been downgraded to an "Uptrend Under Pressure" as Nifty breached its "50-DMA" and the "distribution day count" is at one. The index paused after touching 25,450 and settled above 25,300, indicating consolidation at higher levels. On the upside, minor support is placed at 25,250, and a sustained move above this level could pave the way toward the next resistance zone at 25,55025,650. On the downside, a close below 25,250 may trigger further profit booking and drag the index toward the 25,00024,900 band. Price action around these critical levels will be key in determining the indexs near-term trajectory. How did Nifty Bank Perform Yesterday? Bank Nifty opened on a weak note and traded in a volatile manner throughout the session, snapping its 12-day winning streak. The index closed in the red, forming a bearish candle with a lower-high and lower-low price structure on the daily chart, signaling a pause in its strong upward momentum. During the session, Bank Nifty opened at 55,647.95, hit an intraday high of 55,688.75, slipped to a low of 55,355.30, and eventually closed at 55,458.85. The pause after the sustained rally reflects caution among market participants, and the index will need close monitoring in the upcoming sessions for signs of either consolidation or further weakness. The momentum indicator, RSI, eased slightly, inching lower to 58, indicating a pause in strength, while the MACD continues to trend with a positive crossover in line with the central line, reflecting an underlying supportive bias. According to ONeils methodology of market direction, the index remains categorized as Uptrend Under Pressure", underscoring the need for measured optimism and disciplined risk management despite the constructive technical backdrop. Taken together, these mixed signals highlight the importance of monitoring follow-through action in the coming sessions to assess whether the emerging strength can develop into a more sustainable uptrend. At the current juncture, the index faced resistance near its 100-DMA and closed below that mark. The 55,850 remains a crucial immediate resistance, and a decisive break and sustained trade above it would materially improve the medium-term outlook while inviting further momentum-driven participation. Conversely, profit booking and a slip below the 21-DMA would weigh negatively on sentiment, potentially accelerating downside pressure. MarketSmith India is a stock research platform and advisory service focused on the Indian stock market. It offers tools and resources to help investors make informed decisions based on the CAN SLIM methodology, founded by legendary investor William J. O'Neil. You can access a 10-day free trial by registering on its website. Trade name: William ONeil India Pvt. Ltd. Sebi Registration No.: INH000015543 Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.uld materially enhance the medium-term outlook and attract further momentum-driven participation. Conversely, failure to hold above the 21-DMA may invite near-term profit-taking. Overall, the index appears well-positioned for a potential breakout, provided sectoral support remains intact. Patience was handsomely rewarded towards the end of last week as bulls showed some signs of resurgence. Uncertainty and volatility played a part in distorting the sentiment, leading to some hurried assessments about the dissipation of the uptrend. We need to taper our expectations as the global outlook continues to be mixed. Three stocks to trade as recommended by Raja Venkatraman of NeoTrader for 22 September: EDELWEISS: Buy above 120 and dips to 110 | Stop 105 | Target 135-140 KIRLOSENG: Buy above 965 and dips to 925 | Stop 898 | Target 1,125-1,150 RADICO: Buy above 3,050 and on dips to 2,980 with stop below 2,950 target 3,200-3,300 How the stock market performed on 19 September Indian equity markets ended lower on Friday, snapping a three-day winning run as selling pressure weighed on FMCG, IT, and banking stocks. The Nifty 50 slipped under 25,350 to close at 25,327.05, down 96.55 points or 0.38%. The Sensex fell 387.73 points, or 0.47%, to 82,626.23. Despite a weak start that pushed Nifty below 25,300, mid-session buying trimmed losses. At close, the BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices were flat. Sector-wise, consumer durables, media, auto, FMCG, and IT led declines of 0.4-0.6%, while realty, oil and gas, power, and PSU banks rose 1% each. Among Nifty constituents, HCL Technologies, ICICI Bank, Nestle, Titan, and Trent were the biggest laggards, while Adani Enterprises, Adani Ports, SBI Life Insurance, and Shriram Finance topped gains. On a weekly basis, the Nifty and the Sensex each gained nearly 1%, with mid- and small-caps outpacing themrising 1.52%supported by a 25-bps US Fed rate cut boosting global equities. Outlook for trading We have been speaking about the need for the Nifty Bank to participate, and this has been one of the missing elements in the last few weeks. The strong push from the Nifty Bank helped the markets stage a splendid rebound, thus casting away any shadow of doubt. This also propelled the Nifty to stage a successful breakout above 25,000 that helped the cause. We are noting the continued challenges at every stage, and the recent charge could now meet some confusion, as the trends are still dependent on the global cues. Indian equity markets ended lower on Friday, snapping a three-day winning run as selling pressure weighed on FMCG, IT, and banking stocks. The Nifty 50 slipped under 25,350 to close at 25,327.05, down 96.55 points or 0.38%. The Sensex fell 387.73 points, or 0.47%, to 82,626.23. Despite a weak start that pushed the Nifty below 25,300, mid-session buying trimmed losses. At close, the BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices were flat. The Nifty, after blowing hot and cold throughout the last series, finally held its nerve to produce a strong surge at the end of last week to generate some bullish momentum. Volatility has been the main feature of this series as the range-bound activity produced considerable uncertainty about the continuance of the uptrends. With a wide range expansion seen this week, a slip into a range-bound action is very much on the cards. With near-term resistances around 25,000 in the Nifty being surpassed and held over the last week, we can expect a run towards a new high while lower support remains at around 24500 as we near expiry. Throughout this series, we have been highlighting that participation is the key, and the approach is to be on the bullish side with a buy at current levels and a buy on dip approach. In the Nifty, too, long positions can be initiated at current levels or on a decline towards 25,100, which can now be considered for some suitable buying opportunity. Bullish bias needs to be shelved only on the breach of 24,950. The readings from the Option Data suggest that PCR has now dipped to 0.82, highlighting that the trends continue to face some pressure at higher levels. With Call writing emerging now at 25,400 levels, that could now be a new level to watch out for after we near the end of a steadily rising week. Three stocks to trade, recommended by NeoTraders Raja Venkatraman: Edelweiss Financial Services Ltd (Cmp 119.03) Why its recommended: This counter has been trading quite resolutely and has been attempting to sustain at higher levels. The consolidation in the TS & KS region managed to arrest the recent profit booking. The strong surge seen on Friday after the clarification in the media regarding the share sale was backed by volumes, suggesting more possibility to the upside. Key metrics: P/E: 110.23 52-week high: 145.50 Volume: 13.54M Technical analysis: Support at 725 | Resistance at 980. Risk factors: Market conditions, company performance, and news. Buy: Above 120 and dips to 110. Target price: 135-140 in 1 month. Stop loss: 105. Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd (Cmp 964.65) Why its recommended: Kirloskar Engineering has been steadily forming a rounding pattern at the cloud support to attract some attention. The strong push seen on Friday, along with a combination of factors, can now trigger some potential upside in the coming days. The recent rise in momentum shown by the RSI clearly highlights the steady participation that is prompting more upside potential in this counter. Key metrics: P/E: 33.31 52-week high: 334.40 Volume: 352.03K Technical analysis: Support at 890 | Resistance at 1,200. Risk factors: Market fluctuations, regulatory changes, and sector-specific challenges in the financial sector. Buy: Above 965 and dips to 925. Target price: 1,125-1,150 in 1 month. Stop loss: 898. Radico Khaitan Ltd (Cmp 3052.50) Why its recommended: Positive moves in the market saw this counter recover from cloud support around 2,800 levels. The daily chart reveals that the uptrend has now resumed. There is still enough room left at the top for this counter to surge. Steady ascent with rise in momentum makes it a good buy candidate for the coming week. Key metrics: P/E: 101.80 52-week high: 3,052.50 Volume: 539.82K. Technical analysis: Support at 2,777 | Resistance at 3,500. Risk factors: Challenging macroeconomic environment, margin pressure and client attrition. Buy at: Above 3,050 and dips to 2,980. Target price: 3,200-3,300 in 1 month. Stop loss: 2,950. Raja Venkatraman is co-founder, NeoTrader. His Sebi-registered research analyst registration no. is INH000016223. Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantees performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions. Heres a quick look at stocks likely to be in focus in today's trade. Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra IT majors such as TCS, Wipro, Infosys, HCL Technologies, and Tech Mahindra are expected to remain in the spotlight after the White House clarified that the $100,000 H-1B visa fee would apply only to new applications. However, uncertainty persists over whether firms can completely transfer these costs to clients, which may continue to weigh on the sector. HUDCO The company has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NBCC to execute four construction projects across India, spanning Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi. Also Read | Stocks to buy for short term: Jigar Patel of Anand Rathi recommends 3 shares RailTel Corp The company has secured a work order valued at 18.06 crore from Dredging Corporation of India to provide uninterrupted offshore internet connectivity for DCI vessels and ICCC. NTPC NTPC, which is expanding into clean energy, is exploring the acquisition of uranium assets abroad to secure fuel supply for its upcoming nuclear projects, a company official said. Yes Bank Japanese lender SMBCs move to acquire nearly a 25% stake in YES Bank is being viewed as a strong vote of confidence and could also open up possibilities for a rating upgrade. Lupin The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) carried out a product-specific Pre-Approval Inspection at the companys Pune Biotech plant between September 8 and 19. Hariom Pipe Industries The steel pipes maker has entered into an MoU with the Maharashtra government to establish an integrated steel plant worth 3,135 crore in Gadchiroli, with the state promising support through incentives and necessary approvals. Oil India The company has entered into a joint venture with Rajasthans RVUNL to set up 1.2 GW of renewable energy projects in the state, strengthening its clean energy expansion. PNC Infratech The company has secured a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from the Bihar State Road Development Corporation for a project valued at 495.54 crore. Power Grid Power Grid Corporation of India has been awarded the project to set up an inter-state transmission system in Madhya Pradesh. TCS Q2 results date: India's largest IT company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), on Monday, 22 September 2025, announced that the firm will hold its quarterly board meeting on Thursday, 9 October 2025. The IT firm also disclosed that the company will declare its July to September quarter results for the fiscal year 2025-26 on the same day. We hereby inform you that a meeting of the Board of Directors of Tata Consultancy Services Limited is scheduled to be held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, the company informed BSE through the exchange filing. The filing data showed that the company will approve the consolidated and standalone financial statements for the quarter ended September 2025, and a second interim dividend for the current financial year. TCS Dividend Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) also announced that the company will approve and declare a second interim dividend for the financial year 2025-26 on the same day after the board approves the quarter results. TCS will also consider declaration of second interim dividend to the equity shareholders, the company said in an exchange filing. Although the dividend amount will be disclosed on the day of the board meeting, the company mentioned that Wednesday, 15 October 2025, will be the Record Date for the dividend issue. Also Read | Infosys sets board meeting date to declare Q2 Results 2025 The second interim dividend, if declared, shall be paid to the equity shareholders of the company whose names appear on the Register of Members of the company or in the records of the Depositories as beneficial owners of the shares as on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, which is the Record Date fixed for the purpose, they said. This means that shareholders who invest in the company up to one day before the mentioned record date will be eligible for the potential dividend issue. TCS gave out a 11 per share interim dividend after the April-June quarter of the 2025-26 fiscal year, as per BSE data. TCS Share Price Trend TCS share price closed 3.02% lower at 3,074.05 after Monday's stock market session, compared to 3,169.85 at the previous market close. The company announced its Q2 results date and dividend record date after the market operating hours on 22 September 2025. Shares of TCS have given stock market investors more than 26% return on their investment in the last five years. However, the stock is down over 27% on the Indian stock market. TCS share price hit its 52-week high level at 4,494 on 10 December 2024, while the 52-week low level was at 2,992.05 on 4 August 2025, according to the BSE data. The company's market capitalisation (M-Cap) stood at over 11.12 lakh crore as of the stock market close on Monday, 22 September 2025. TCS Q1 Results showed that the IT firm's consolidated net profits rose 4.38% to 12,760 crore in the April-June quarter of 2025-26, compared to 12,224 crore in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. Read all stories by Anubhav Mukherjee India's information technology firms, the top users of H-1B visas to deploy workers in the US, face a new challenge after a significant spike in costs. On Friday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order sharply increasing fees for each foreign worker on an H-1B visa to $100,000 from about $1,000. Though the administration clarified later that this would be a one-time fee for future visas and would not affect existing visas or renewals, market sentiments have soured towards the sector. Apart from IT, the Trump measure casts a shadow over healthcare workers and Indian students with US job offers, among others. Confusion over the visa rules led to a scramble for flights to the US. For the tech sector in particular, the development comes at a time when it has lost its safe-haven status, and shares of IT firms have lagged the benchmark Nifty index. Defensive no more Ashwani Shami, executive vice-president and portfolio manager at Omniscience Capital, noted that the Indian IT sector is no longer the "defensive bet" it was 15 years ago. His firm fully exited its IT stock holdings in January due to low growth visibility and uncertainty around tariffs, which coincided with foreign technology companies putting a pause on IT spending. The latest development, Shami says, only makes the future more uncertain. While large IT companies may not react hastily, smaller firms are expected to struggle more to absorb the increased costs. Shami believes larger players might either absorb the costs or cut jobs to manage the increase. Also Read | Airfares to US spike amid H-1B visa confusion The Nifty IT index has fallen nearly 16% in 2025, a stark contrast to the Nifty's 7% gain over the same period. Oracle Financial Services has been the biggest laggard in the IT index, down 29.5%, followed by HCL Technologies, which dropped 23.2%, according to Bloomberg data. Impact on US Revenue Madhavi Arora, lead economist at Emkay Global Financial Services, said that high-touch, client-facing roles like consulting may face more restrictions, potentially slowing US revenue growth. Given that the US accounts for 55% to 60% of India's IT export market, a reduced on-site presence could hurt deal conversions or delay project ramp-ups. Arora noted that while the near-term impact on net exports and margins is expected to be limited, firms may face margin compression or could pass the costs to clients, which would risk their competitiveness. Larger IT firms are in a stronger position due to their reduced reliance on H-1B visas, which now account for only 20% to 50% of their US operations. This shift is a result of increased local hiring in the US, greater use of US delivery centres, automation, and subcontracting models. Other sectors While the tech sector accounts for the majority of H-1B visas, healthcare is another. India is the top source of immigrant doctors in the US, with one in five immigrant doctors in the US of Indian-origin. At 176,000, Indians made up 7% of the total immigrant healthcare professionals in the US in 2024. The development surprise may also ruin the American dream for Indian students who have secured pre-placement offers in the US, who may find prospective employers unwilling to foot the new costs. PPOs are a key hiring tool for companies, allowing them to secure their top interns as full-time employees before the official campus placement season begins. Besides the latest Trump order, a US bill which seeks to shrink optional practical training, raise salary minimums for work visas, and sharply limit the ability of US employers and universities to secure foreign STEM talent have darkened the mood. Travel aggregator MakeMyTrip pointed to a jump in last-minute bookings to the US since Saturday morning, something atypical for a long-haul segment. Airfares from Mumbai to San Francisco have risen, Cleartrip said. A Shifting Stance Sachin Jain, lead Analyst at Trigen Wealth, said that since the $100,000 charge is likely a one-time cost, the overall impact may not be as severe as initially feared. However, he cautioned that larger IT firms, which previously kept employees on the bench during slow project cycles, may now consider layoffs to reduce costs. Jain also pointed out that Trump has a history of shifting stances, and the market should closely watch for any further clarifications or changes. Overall, Jain believes the outlook for IT companies has become less appealing. Slower growth for US businesses would likely lead to cuts in IT spending, which could result in delayed or cancelled new projects. Also Read | Did Trump just slam the door on Indian doctors and nurses? Apples new iPhone 17 lineup has landed, and we have all seen the photos and videos of people lining up by the hundreds to buy new iPhones. This time around, the companys India hype is considerablethanks to the most diversified smartphone lineup from Apple in recent times. The move is a significant one, since Apple has been Indias fastest-growing smartphone brand over the past six years as per market data from IDCdespite selling at over 3x the average price of a smartphone in India. As it scales up in market share, its approach gets more diversifiedthe company now has multiple unique propositions in its portfolio that are not iterative in nature. This approach is akin to what both Google and Samsung are offering with their latest smartphone lineups. Google currently has three distinct offerings in terms of flagship smartphone experiencesthe entry-level Pixel 10, a large-display Pro version, and a Fold variant that tops its portfolio. Samsung, meanwhile, has four distinct offeringsa base Galaxy S25, a large-screen Galaxy S25 Ultra, a slim Galaxy S25 Edge, and its Galaxy Z foldable lineup. With the iPhone Air, Apple too is taking a diversified approachthe iPhone 17 offering an upgrade on the basic features of a new Apple smartphone, the Pro variant offering a larger display, and now, a super-slim experiment that also was Apples first new phone design in the past five years. A new approach The new design is bearing fruit. Chinmoyee Kalita, a 38-year-old banking professional, said that the brewing battle among three of the worlds top consumer technology companies has made her look at new smartphone launches with greater interest rather than hold on to an older phone that works just fine and doesn't feel dated compared to the new products and their features. Ive been an Android smartphone user for a long time, and over the past five years, most phones have felt iterations of the same industrial prototypewith some glass finish here and some other extra features there. It is only over the past year that I began looking at getting myself a new smartphone againat least there are a few new options to browse through," she added. Kalita is not the only one. Akash Kargupta, a 32-year-old corporate executive in Gurugram, said that Apples new launch has also had a similar impact on him. The last new iPhone I purchased was the iPhone 15, which felt good enough in comparison with what the iPhone 16 offered last year. But, the iPhone 17 appears to offer much more this year, which makes it very interesting," he said. Both Kalita and Kargupta are considering the new devices, driven by their design-led innovations. Kalita is considering one of Googles new Pixel 10 devices, while Kargupta has his eyes set on the iPhone Air. The renewed consumer interest in smartphones and phone designs are being driven by the companies approaching industrialized devices with a new lens. After over a decade, a push from Samsung, Oppo and now Apple have brought back phones that are just around 5 millimetres in thickness. This, experts said, makes for a reset in approach where buyers are no longer looking for new specifications and featuresbut a revamped overall experience. Beyond specifications Prabhu Ram, vice-president of industry intelligence at market research firm CyberMedia, said that this approach has been a long time coming. With smartphones maturing into a sea of samenesswhere the rectangular slab dominates and incremental spec bumps no longer excitebrands are turning to new form factors to stand out in a hyper-competitive market. From foldables to ultra-slim designs, the focus is increasingly on reimagining the device as both a lifestyle statement for consumers and a differentiator in an otherwise uniform marketwhile also creating a halo effect that elevates the broader brand product portfolio," he said. The move was echoed by Apple last week, which took an unusual approach with the design of the iPhone Air. The companys latest smartphone uses a single camera on its phone, a sizeable bump to its back, and launched it with a company-designed power bank to go with it. Commentators on social media platforms said that the approach was unlike Apple, which focuses on uniform proportions and flat surfaces, over edgy design approaches. Consumers, however, are liking it. Anisha Jennifer Sharma, a 37-year-old corporate professional and a long-time Apple user, is among them. I loved how beautiful the iPhone Air looked, and while the Pro is the one that showcases all of Apples features, it is the Air that stood out right at launchand is on my radar right since then as my next Apple phone," said Sharma, who has been an iPhone loyalist for the past 15 years. It is this that has Apple poised to grow nearly 30% in iPhone sales this year. The new approach, both analysts and consumers alike said, are likely to see a renewed spell of interest in flagship smartphones. With the iPhone Air set to lead the new set of flagship devices in terms of unique consumer approaches, this year may well be the first in over five that design takes a centre stage, over features. In the last few years, some banks have started providing accelerated reward points for credit card spends through their portals. HDFC Bank is the pioneer, offering up to 10x reward points for credit card spends through the SmartBuy portal. Next, American Express introduced the Reward Multiplier platform, offering up to 5x reward points. In 2025, ICICI Bank introduced the iShop portal with up to 12x reward points, and IDFC FIRST Bank introduced the Travel & Shop section on the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile App, offering accelerated reward points. HSBC is the latest bank to introduce accelerated reward points by launching the HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points service. It offers up to 12x reward points. In this article, we will understand what is the HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points service, how the credit cardholders can earn up to 12x reward points, the monthly limits, and how to redeem the points. What is the HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points service? The 'HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points' service allows credit cardholders an opportunity to earn accelerated reward points and redeem reward points for booking travel services. Using the service, cardholders can book flights, hotel accommodations, car rentals, etc., and earn up to 12x accelerated reward points. The service is accessible to the following HSBC credit cardholders: Prive Premier TravelOne Visa Platinum, and RuPay Platinum The HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points service is facilitated by Hopper Technology Solutions (HTS). HSBC credit cardholders can access the service through HSBC Indias website and mobile App. Accelerated reward points The HSBC credit cardholders can earn up to 12x reward points for booking travel services on HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points as follows. Card name Flights Hotels Car rentals HSBC Prive Credit Card 6x RP (30 RP/Rs. 150 spent) 12x RP (60 RP/Rs. 150 spent) 2x RP (10 RP/Rs. 150 spent) HSBC Premier Credit Card 6x RP (18 RP/Rs. 150 spent) 12x RP (36 RP/Rs. 150 spent) 2x RP (6 RP/Rs. 150 spent) HSBC TravelOne Credit Card 4x RP (16 RP/Rs. 150 spent) 6x RP (24 RP/Rs. 150 spent) 2x RP (8 RP/Rs. 150 spent) HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card 4x RP (8 RP/Rs. 150 spent) 6x RP (12 RP/Rs. 150 spent) 2x RP (4 RP/Rs. 150 spent) HSBC RuPay Platinum Credit Card 4x RP (8 RP/Rs. 150 spent) 6x RP (12 RP/Rs. 150 spent) 2x RP (4 RP/Rs. 150 spent) RP = Reward points The accelerated reward points are capped at 18,000 points per cardholder per calendar month. The base reward points (1x) remain uncapped. The credit cardholders must note the following important points: The accelerated reward points will be credited to the cardholders account within 10 days of settling the transaction. There will be a convenience fee for booking flight tickets. It will be Rs. 300 on domestic flights per customer per leg (one-way trip). The convenience fee will be Rs. 700 on international flights per customer per leg (one-way trip) Redemption of reward points A HSBC credit cardholder can redeem their reward points for booking travel services through the HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points. The reward points can be used to pay for booking flights, hotel accommodation, and car rentals. HSBC Prive and HSBC Premier Credit Cardholders can redeem their reward points for travel redemptions in the 1:1 ratio (1 reward point = Rs. 1). A HSBC credit cardholder can pay on the HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points portal in three ways: Pay the entire transaction amount with reward points Pay partially with reward points and balance with the HSBC credit card Pay the entire amount with the HSBC credit card and earn accelerated reward points Using reward points for travel bookings through the HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points platform is just one of the redemption options. The other reward points redemption options include purchase of gift cards, merchandise, Apple store, transfer to airline and hotel partners. Also Read | IndiGo IDFC FIRST Bank Dual Credit Card: Everything you need to know Benefits of booking through the HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points platform There are certain benefits that an HSBC credit cardholder enjoys when making travel bookings through the HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points platform. The benefits include the following. Best price guarantee: If the cardholder finds a lower rate within 24 hours of their travel booking from the platform, HSBC will refund the difference as travel credit. The refund will be credited to the cardholders Travel with Points wallet, and can be used for their next booking. The best price guarantee applies to publicly available fares. The cardholder must submit the price difference claim, which their team will verify, and issue the refund, if applicable. Price drop protection: HSBC will monitor the price of your flight booking for the next 10 days after your booking. If the price drops, the difference will be refunded to you in the form of travel credits. The refund will be up to a maximum of Rs. 1,500. When you book a flight that the portal recommends, the fare is a Great Price; HSBC applies the price drop protection feature. It is applicable only for non-refundable flights. Free cancellation for any reason: You get the flexibility for your trip with the option to cancel flights and hotel stays up to 3 hours before, and get a 100% refund. No foreign exchange fees: All the travel bookings done through the HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points platform are priced in Indian Rupees (INR). Hence, you will not be charged any foreign exchange fees. Should you use the HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points platform? If you are an HSBC credit card holder (Prive, Premier, TravelOne, Visa/RuPay Platinum), you must definitely use the HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points platform. If you have enough reward points, you can redeem them against travel bookings. However, do note that you also have the option to transfer them to airline/hotel loyalty partners. Compare the benefits of transferring them versus using them for travel bookings on the platform. For flight/hotel bookings outside of loyalty programs, the HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points platform is a great option to earn up to 12x accelerated reward points. It can boost your reward points tally significantly. Apart from earning and redeeming reward points, the platform offers great features like best price guarantee, price drop protection, free cancellation, etc. Overall, introducing the HSBC Rewards | Travel with Points platform is a great step to help credit cardholders earn accelerated reward points and redeem them. If HSBC can introduce gift vouchers on the platform with accelerated reward points, it will further boost the value proposition of HSBC credit cards. Gopal Gidwani is a freelance personal finance content writer with 15+ years of experience. He can be reached on LinkedIn. For all personal finance updates, visit here. New Delhi: Indias merchandise exports to the US, its largest trading partner, fell by a massive 22.2% from $8.8 billion to $6.9 billion between May and August 2025, according to a new report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). US tariffs on Indian goods rose from 10% in early August to 25% from 7 August, and finally to a record 50% by the end of the month. The GTRI analysis showed that the impact of tariffs has been uneven across sectors. Surprisingly, tariff-exempt exports, which accounted for 28.5% of Indias August shipments, saw the biggest contraction, declining 41.9% from $3.37 billion in May to $1.96 billion in August. Smartphone exports Indias largest category to the US plummeted 58% to just $965 million despite facing no duty. Pharmaceutical shipments fell 13.3% to $ 647 million, raising questions about production shifts, component shortages, and supply-chain disruptions affecting Indian assembly units. Goods such as smartphones, pharmaceuticals, APIs, and petroleum products are classified as category A items and are exempt from steep US tariffs. Products in category B, which include iron, steel, aluminium, copper and auto components, face a 50% tariff but saw only a 4% decline from $630 million to $600 million, reflecting weaker industrial demand rather than a unique loss of competitiveness for India. Category C, which includes textiles, gems and jewellery, agriculture, machinery, chemicals, and other products, is the largest segment, accounting for 62.7% of US imports from India. These goods also face a 50% tariff. Seafood exports more than halve Labour-intensive exports such as textiles, gems & jewellery, shrimp, and chemicals have been hit the hardest. Jewellery exports fell 9.1% to $228 million, with diamond-studded gold jewellery dropping 25.5% and cut and polished diamonds down 15.2%. Conversely, lab-grown diamonds rose 40.7%, indicating a shift in U.S. consumer preference toward more affordable and sustainable options, the GTRI report said. Textiles and garments fell 9.3%, with non-knitted apparel declined 22.2% and cotton dresses crashed 66.7%, reflecting weakening demand in US fashion retail. While home textiles remained resilient, rising 14.2% to $263 million, technical textiles, carpets and fabrics saw sharp declines, signaling significant revenue loss in high-value and specialised exports. Also Read | Why Chinas exports have stayed resilient in the face of US tariffs Seafood exports, particularly Vannamei shrimp, plunged 52.2% to $98.6 million, posing a threat to jobs in coastal processing clusters. Solar panels slid 34.6%, risking further loss of market share to China and Vietnam, which face lower tariffs. Agrochemicals fell 26.7% and edible oils dropped 69.7%, highlighting the vulnerability of agricultural exports under high US tariffs. September is expected to reflect the first full month of 50% tariffs for all category C exports, likely deepening the declines in labour-intensive sectors. The GTRI report warned that the ongoing slide in exports, especially in tariff-free categories, poses a risk to Indias flagship production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes and may undermine policy efforts to boost manufacturing and global competitiveness. Calls for help Industry bodies have called on the government to provide targeted export relief, including faster duty remission, interest subsidies under the interest equalisation scheme, and enhanced liquidity support. While GST cuts have boosted domestic consumption, export-specific relief is still missing. We are raising our demand and have asked for support through interest subvention, resolution of issues related to the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) for MSMEs, and RoDTEP (remission of duties and taxes on exported products scheme) benefits for steel exports as per the rates fixed by the Pillai Committee. The government should act quickly and provide relief, said Pankaj Chadha, chairman, Engineering Export Promotion Council. There is an urgent need to stabilise exports, maintain Indias market share in the US, and safeguard jobs in critical sectors like textiles, gems & jewellery, seafood, and pharmaceuticals. Without swift intervention, the steep tariffs risk creating longer-term setbacks for Indias export growth, said Ajay Srivastava, founder, GTRI. A passenger aboard an Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Varanasi reportedly tried opening the cockpit door, mistaking it for the lavatory (toilet). The incident occurred on Monday on flight IX-1086. According to an Economic Times report, the passenger even guessed the correct cockpit passcode, leading to a security scare on the flight. The report said that the captain refused to open the door, fearing a potential hijack. The passenger was reportedly travelling with eight other companions. Also Read | SC slams Air India crash report as irresponsible; seeks response of Centre Not compromised: Air India Express reaffirms safety and security However, an Air India Express spokesperson clarified that the passenger approached the cockpit entry area while looking for the lavatory and assured that the airline is not compromised. We are aware of media reports regarding an incident on one of our flights to Varanasi, where a passenger approached the cockpit entry area while looking for the lavatory, the spokesperson said in a statement. We reaffirm that robust safety and security protocols are in place and were not compromised. The airline said that all nine passengers were handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on landing for further investigation. Also Read | Air India issues advisory after cyberattack hits check-in systems at Heathrow Air India plane returns from taxiway In a separate incident on Sunday, a Delhi-bound Air India aircraft returned to the London Heathrow airport when it was taxiing for takeoff, as a passenger who was issued the boarding pass failed to board the plane. According to a PTI report, the flight AI 162 was already delayed by around 45 minutes before the aircraft moved to the taxiway. As the plane was taxiing, the crew came to know that one of the passengers who was issued the boarding pass did not board the aircraft. Flight AI 162, operating from London (Heathrow) to Delhi on September 21 returned to the gate shortly after pushback because a passenger who, despite having their boarding pass scanned and being marked as boarded, failed to board the aircraft, an Air India spokesperson said in a statement. Bengaluru: The Social and Educational Survey, popularly known as the 'caste census' in Karnataka, commenced on Monday, with enumerators going door-to-door to collect data. While the survey is underway in most parts of the state, officials indicated a potential delay of one or two days in the Greater Bengaluru area, where five corporations have been newly formed, due to training and necessary preparations. The survey by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes will see as many as 1.75 lakh enumerators, mostly government school teachers, covering around 7 crore people in approximately 2 crore households across the state. "The survey is underway, we have received reports from various places," official sources said. However, there were reports of technical glitches and server issues at several places, including Shivamogga, Haveri, Ballari, Chitradurga, Kodagu districts, delaying the survey in some places. At many of these places, surveys continued after problems were solved, sources said. According to officials, the survey, estimated to cost 420 crore, will be conducted scientifically, using a 60-question questionnaire prepared for the exercise. The commission is expected to submit its report to the government by December. Amid criticism and objections from various sections, including within the ruling Congress, regarding the prepared caste list containing dual identity castes like 'Kuruba Christian', 'Brahmin Christian', the commission said the names of these castes will be "masked", but not removed. Backward Classes Commission's Chairman Madhusudan R Naik on Sunday clarified that the list of castes in the survey handbook is solely for internal use and doesnt have any legal sanctity. It was only to help the enumerators find castes as per the alphabetical order. He said the app used for the survey will not display the 33 castes with dual identities, as they have been masked. However, citizens are free to declare them voluntarily. Officials said each household will be geo-tagged using its electricity meter number and will be assigned a Unique Household ID (UHID). During the data collection process, ration cards and Aadhaar details will be linked to mobile numbers. For those unavailable at home during the survey and to address grievances, if any, a dedicated helpline number (8050770004) has been set up. Citizens can also participate online, they added. The Karnataka High Court on Monday said it will hear on September 23 arguments on whether the ongoing survey, being carried out, should be stayed. A batch of petitions challenging the legality of the survey is before the HC bench. The survey is taking place amid efforts by various castes and community groups to consolidate their respective population, aimed at ensuring their numerical strength. Aimed at consolidating their castes strength, seers and leaders of Vokkaligas, a dominant community, have asked their people to identify their religion as Hindu and caste as just Vokkaliga, while sub-caste should be mentioned only if it is absolutely necessary. A delegation of Vokkaliga Congress leaders met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, seeking the postponement of the survey. They expressed concerns over the lack of preparation and training. They wondered how the survey would be completed in 15 days and sought three months instead. There seems to be some lack of clarity among another dominant community, the Veerashaiva-Lingayats, as leaders have suggested the community members exercise their discretion while mentioning their religion, while urging them to mention Veerashaiva-Lingayat in the caste column. There were voices within the community to mention Veerashaiva-Lingayat as a religion, instead of Hindus. Several other communities like Kurubas, Muslims, Scheduled Castes, Brahmins, among others too have held brainstorming sessions to decide how to identify themselves during the survey in order to consolidate their numbers. The BJP, which has accused the Congress government of conducting the survey "hastily" to "divide Hindus", has also questioned the need for the exercise, when the Centre has already announced caste enumeration in the national census. BJP state President BY Vijayendra charged the Congress government with trying to divide the Hindu society, and called it "unfortunate". He termed the caste census as the "misadventure" of the state government, despite not having any powers to conduct such a survey. The government had spent 165.51 crore on an earlier Social and Educational Survey in 2015, which was later discarded. The Karnataka Cabinet on June 12 approved a fresh survey, effectively nullifying the 2015 exercise, citing Section 11(1) of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1995, which mandates a revision of the state backward classes list once every 10 years. The Supreme Court on Monday, September 22, issued a notice to Delhi Policeseeking their response to the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, and Meeran Haider in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the Delhi Riots in February 2020, PTI reported. A bench of Justices comprising Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria posted the matter for hearing on October 7 this year. The activists have contested the Delhi High Court's September 2 ruling that refused bail to nine individuals, including Khalid and Imam, stating that "conspiratorial" violence disguised as public demonstrations or protests by citizens cannot be permitted. Fatima, Haider, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Abdul Khalid Saifi, and Shadab Ahmed, in addition to Khalid and Imam, were refused bail. A separate high court bench denied the bail application of another accused, Tasleem Ahmed, on September 2. Also Read | Supreme Court defers Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam bail hearing in Delhi riots case As per a report by PTI, the bail rejection order read, "If the exercise of an unfettered right to protest were permitted, it would damage the constitutional framework and impinge upon the law and order situation in the country. Right was 'not absolute' and 'subject to reasonable restrictions' The high court noted that the Constitution grants citizens the right to protest, hold demonstrations, or stage agitations, as long as these actions are conducted peacefully, in an orderly manner, without the use of weapons, and remain within the framework of the law. Also Read | Sharjeel Imam moves Supreme Court after Delhi HC denies bail in 2020 riots case It mentioned the right to take part in peaceful protests and to make speeches in meetings conducted in public was said to have been safeguarded under Article 19(1)(a), and couldn't be restricted , it noted the right was "not absolute" and subject to reasonable restrictions, the report said. The accused, who have denied all charges, have been imprisoned since 2020 and appealed to the high court after a trial court denied their bail requests. Khalid, Imam, and the other accused were charged under the UAPA along with sections of the former Indian Penal Code for allegedly being masterminds of the February 2020 riots, which resulted in 53 deaths and over 700 injuries. The violence broke out amid protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Congress MP Shashi Tharoor analysed the "assumptions" US President Donald Trump may have made while deciding on implementing the H-1B visa fee hike to $100,000 (about 88 lakh). The Trump administration increased the fee for H1-B visas last week from thousands to $100,000 in a bid to protect jobs for American workers. Notably, Indians and Chinese nationals dominate the US' H1-B visa programme. Trump's move raised concerns among students who want to study and work in the US to fulfill their "American dream". What did Shashi Tharoor say? In an exclusive interview with The Wire, Shashi Tharoor said that if Trump wants to deny jobs to Indians and other H-1B holders, and give those jobs to American people, then it requires America to have an adequate pool of people to do all these jobs. But he feels that America doesn't have enough engineering graduates and software professionals. Shashi Tharoor mentioned in the interview the supposition that an Indian "might come in and do a job for $60,000 a year that an American would expect at least 80 or 85 for and therefore the companies are trying to nickel and dime the American professional by hiring a foreigner." Noting that we don't know that this supposition is true," he said, ...American citizens already in the country, therefore, would be the ones getting these jobs that will now be denied to Indians and others. He went on to say that this assumption, for example, requires America to have an adequate pool of people to do all these jobs. How new rule could harm Trump Tharoor said, "since my understanding is America doesn't have enough engineering graduates and software professionals and all of these other things to do this kind of work, the net result of Mr Trump's decision is more likely to be that some of the jobs currently being done in the US will instead be outsourced to the branches of these companies in England and Ireland and maybe even France and Germany and maybe even more to India." "Therefore, it will turn out to be a bit of an own goal for Mr. Trump that seems to me the smart analysis coming out of Washington and Silicon Valley," Tharoor said. New H-1B visa: Why Trump imposed $100,000 fee On September 19, the White House released a fact sheet detailing the conditions under which the new H-1B visa fee applies. The factsheet was divided into three sections: "Protecting American Jobs", "Combating H-1B Abuses" and "Prioritizing American Workers" The factsheet claimed that the share of IT workers with H-1B visas has risen from 32 percent in FY 2003 to over 65 percent in recent years. It further emphasised that American companies are laying off their American technology workers and seemingly replacing them with H-1B workers. "One company was approved for 5,189 H-1B workers in FY 2025, while laying off roughly 16,000 US employees this year," it said. Investigating officers of Kolkata Police have claimed in their chargesheet that DNA reports corroborated the role of key accused Monojit Mango Mishra in the alleged rape of a student inside South Calcutta Law College. Police sources on Monday claimed the DNA test results of samples found on the clothes of the 24-year-old survivor matched those of the accused. Blood samples were taken from both the survivor and the accused to conduct the DNA test. The chargesheet was submitted to the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Alipore, naming Mishra, the prime accused and an alumnus of the college, along with three others. "DNA tests also corroborated the presence of both the survivor and the accused at the crime spot (inside the guard room of the educational institution). The DNA report appears to be one of the important pieces of evidence in this case," the police officer told PTI. Police have also claimed in the chargesheet that the CCTV camera footage collected from the college premises and that from two nearby shops outside also corroborated the crime. "The footage also showed that the crime spot was inside the guards room. The role of the other two accused, Pramit Mukherjee and Zaib Ahmed, who stood outside the room, and also that of the security guard, could be seen," the officer said. The DNA report appears to be one of the important pieces of evidence in this case. He added that investigators were awaiting reports of voice sample examinations collected from the accused persons mobile phones. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday shared a soulful bhajan sung by Pandit Jasraj, one of the greatest all time Indian classical vocalists, as Navratri started on September 22. Highlighting the role of music in the divine time of Navratri, which this year begins on September 22, PM Modi said that people have captured the spirit of this festival through music. Navratri is about pure devotion. So many people have encapsulated this devotion through music. Sharing one such soulful rendition by Pandit Jasraj ji, the Prime Minister said in a post on X. He also invited Indians to share with him their rendition of Bhajan or if they have a favourite one, as he will post it on his social media handles in the upcoming days. If you have sung a Bhajan or have a favourite one, please share it with me. I will be posting some of them in the coming days, PM Modi said. PM Modi greets on Navratri Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted the nation on the occasion of Navratri today. Infinite Navratri greetings to all of you. May this sacred festival, filled with devotion, courage, restraint, and determination, bring new strength and new faith into everyone's life. Jai Mata Di, he wrote in a post on X. Today, during Navratri, is the special day for the worship and rituals of Maa Shailputri. My wish is that, with the Mother's affection and blessings, everyone's life may be filled with good fortune and good health, he wrote in a separate post. The PM also hailed the GST rate cuts in a separate post, which are beginning on the first day of Navratri. This time, the auspicious occasion of Navratri is very special. Along with the GST Savings Festival, the mantra of Swadeshi is going to receive a new energy during this period. Let us come together in collective efforts for the fulfillment of the resolve for a developed and Atmanirbhar India, he wrote. September 22 marks the beginning of Sharadiya Navratri. Early in the morning, devotees in Delhi thronged temples as the nine-day festival started, offering prayers to Goddess Durga and her nine forms. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday expressed confidence that India would regain control of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) without resorting to aggressive measures, citing the growing demands for freedom from the current administration by the local people in the region. "PoK will be ours on its own. Demands have started being made in PoK, you must have heard sloganeering," Rajnath Singh said during his interaction with the Indian community in Morocco. The defence minister's remarks come after several opposition parties alleged that the Narendra Modi government had "missed the chance" to capture PoK during Operation Sindoor on May 7. Multiple leaders of various opposition parties criticised the central government for agreeing to a 'ceasefire' despite India having the upper hand after Operation Sindoor downed multiple Pakistani jets, claiming that there was a chance to capture the Pakistan-occupied territory. The minister also said that he had repeated the same five years ago, while addressing an Indian Army programme in Jammu and Kashmir. "I was addressing the Indian Army at a programme in the Kashmir Valley five years ago. I had then said that we will not need to attack and capture PoK, it is anyway ours; PoK itself will say, 'Main bhi Bharat Hoon'. That day will come," he said. Rajnath Singh is on a two-day visit to Morocco, which marks the first-ever trip by an Indian defence minister to the country. A key part of his visit is the inauguration of a new manufacturing facility for the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8 at Berrechid, set up by Tata Advanced Systems. This facility is the first Indian defence manufacturing plant in Africa, and the minister hailed it as a significant milestone that highlights the growing international presence of India's defence industry. During his visit, Defence Minister Singh will hold bilateral discussions with his Moroccan counterpart Abdeltif Loudiyi. Both sides are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation. The MoU establishes an institutional framework to expand and deepen bilateral defence engagement, including exchanges, training, and industrial linkages. This agreement is expected to further consolidate existing ties, which have been growing with regular port calls by Indian Navy ships at Casablanca. Prime Minister Narendra Modi can make the impossible possible, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan said on Monday, highlighting his relations with world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who have described the PM as their good friend. Addressing an event to release two sets of speeches delivered by the prime minister, the vice president said, despite the United States imposing a 50 per cent tariff on India, Trump has always hailed Modi as his great friend. Similarly, Chinese President Xi shares good relations with PM Modi "in spite of differences of international politics", the vice president said. Addressing his first public event here after assuming the office of the vice president, Radhakrishnan, said, "Though 50 per cent duty has been put on India by America, Trump is always saying Modi ji is my great friend. Even in that situation, he has not said that I am against Modi. He is always telling I am for Modi." Close friend of Russian President Putin Radhakrishnan stated that the prime minister is also a close friend of Russian President Putin. "...at the same time, Xi also, in spite of the differences in international politics, is a good friend of Modi ji. That we have seen today," Radhakrishnan said and asserted "that is why he makes the impossible possible." Referring to Modi's approach, he said the prime minister does things for the masses with a pure heart and does not expect anything in return. Addressing the event, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chair Harivansh said the prime minister speaks the language of the people and speaks for them. Despite the United States imposing a 50 percent tariff on India, Trump has always hailed Modi as his great friend. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in the past, when government schemes were launched, they used to work as "band aid". But after Modi came to power, he turned around the mindset on a bigger scale of outreach of the schemes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the development work of Mata Tripura Sundari Temple Complex, one of the ancient 51 Shakti Peethas, at Matabari in Tripura under Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme, after offering prayers there. The project consists of changes to the temple grounds, including the construction of new pathways, renovated entrances and fencing, and an improved drainage system. Additionally, a new three-story building will be established, housing stalls, a meditation hall, guest accommodations, office spaces, and more. This development is expected to greatly enhance tourism, generate job opportunities, stimulate business growth and contribute to the overall socio-economic progress of the area, ANI reported. PM Modi offers prayers at Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in Tripura Mata Tripura Sundari Temple Complex Mata Tripura Sundari Temple Complex Mata Tripura Sundari Temple Complex Mata Tripura Sundari Temple Complex Reviewed the works at the Mata Tripura Sundari Temple Complex. Our emphasis is on ensuring more pilgrims and tourists pray at the Temple and also discover the beauty of Tripura, PM Modi said on X. PM Modi landed at the Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport in Agartala and then took a helicopter to Palatana, from where he went to the temple by road, according to officials. "He will inaugurate the redeveloped temple and offer prayers. It will be a 45-minute programme. The PM will not deliver any speech," PTI quoted District Magistrate Rinku Lather as saying. Chief Minister Manik Saha, his cabinet colleagues and senior government officials were present at the programme. This is PM Modi's 11th visit to the state after becoming the PM in 2014. His earlier trip was on April 17, 2024, as per a PTI report. Inauguration of development projects in Arunachal Pradesh Earlier today, PM Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various development projects worth over 5,100 crore in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. He initiated two major hydropower projects valued at over 3,700 crore, which included the Heo Hydro Electric Project (240 MW) and the Tato-I Hydro Electric Project (186 MW), both to be developed in the Siyom sub-basin of Arunachal Pradesh, the report said. Additionally, the PM Modi laid the foundation stone for a cutting-edge Convention Center in Tawang, located at an altitude of over 9,820 feet in this frontier district. This facility is set to become a key venue for national and international conferences, cultural festivals, and exhibitions. Also Read | Tripura professor suspended after intimate video with student goes viral PM Modi also launched several significant infrastructure projects worth over 1,290 crore, spanning sectors such as connectivity, healthcare, fire safety, and hostels for working women. These developments aim to boost economic growth, enhance living standards, and improve connectivity in the region. He conveyed his heartfelt fondness for the state, saying that each visit fills him with great happiness and that every moment spent with the people is unforgettable, as per an official statement from the Prime Minister's office. He also recognised the warmth and affection extended to him as a tremendous honour. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday reaffirmed the body's stance that statehood for Palestinians is a right, not a reward. Denying statehood would be a gift to extremists everywhere.The Two-State solution is the only credible path to a just & lasting peace between Israelis & Palestinians and to wider peace & security in the Middle East, Guterres said in a post on X. The post summarised his earlier sddress at the UN headquarters on September 22. The remarks by Guterres came a day after United Kingdom, Canada and Australia officially recognised Palestine as a state on 21 September. The move is seen as a significant shift in foreign policy of these nations and a step away from their alignment with the United States which has leaned towards Israel under Donad Trump administration. The annoucement by the three Commonwealth nations and longtime allies reflects growing outrage at Israels conduct of the war in Gaza and the moves to thwart efforts to create a Palestinian state and its expansion West Bank settlements. Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognizes the State of Palestine, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. Portugal also announced its decision to recognise Palestine as a state. France, Belgium and other countries poised to follow suit at the UN General Assembly. Canada had, moments before, become the first Group of 7 nation to recognise the state of Palestine, as Prime Minister Mark Carney promised a "peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel." Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released a statement shortly after formally recognizing "the independent and sovereign State of Palestine." Genocide against Palestinians in Gaza The developments come days after a United Nations commission of inquiry said Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The new report said there are reasonable grounds to conclude that four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law have been carried out since the start of the latest phase of war with Hamas in 2023: killing members of a group, causing them serious bodily and mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to destroy the group, and preventing births. It will not happen: Netanyahu The decision has prompted an angry response from Israel, which ruled out the prospect. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the three countries for proffering a prize to Hamas. It will not happen, he said. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River. Netanyahu said he would announce Israels response after the trip. Ntanyahu will speak at the General Assembly on Friday before heading to see US President Donald Trump at the White House. What does recognising a Palestine state mean? Remember, recognition does not mean that a Palestinian state has been created. In fact, the recognition by major world powers, excluding the US, is largely symbolic and carries political weight, according to experts. I know for many people this seems only symbolic, but actually in terms of symbolism, it is sort of a game changer, lawyer and Franco-British law professor Philippe Sands wrote in the New York Times in August. Palestine has international recognition, diplomatic missions abroad and teams that compete in sporting competitions, including the Olympics. But because if its long-standing dispute with Israel, Palestine has no internationally agreed boundaries, no capital and no army, a report in BBC said. Also, because of Israel's military occupation in the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority (PA) which was set up in the wake of peace agreements in the 1990s does not have full control of its land or people. Puts Palestine and Israel on level footing Gaza, where Israel is also the occupying power, is in the midst of a devastating war since 2023. Under these circumstances, Palestine is what many call a kind of quasi-state. The recognition would thus mean a strong moral and political statement. It, however, doesnt change much on ground. Because once you recognise Palestinian statehood you essentially put Palestine and Israel on level footing in terms of their treatment under international law, Sands wrote. Who recognises Palestine as a state? Palestine is currently recognised by around 75 per cent of the UN's 193 member states. At the UN, Palestine has the status of a "permanent observer state", allowing participation but no voting rights. With the British and upcoming French recognition, Palestine will soon enjoy the support of four of the UN Security Council's five permanent members. China and Russia both recognised Palestine in 1988. This leaves the US, Israel's strongest ally by far, in a minority of one. The US has recognised the Palestinian Authority, currently headed by Mahmoud Abbas, since its formation in the mid-1990s. Since then, several presidents have expressed their support for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state. But under Donald Trump administrations, the US policy has leaned heavily in favour of Israel. France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Malta are expected to follow suit during a summit on the future of the two-state solution chaired by France and Saudi Arabia on Monday at United Nations headquarters in New York. Russia, alongside all Arab countries, almost all African and Latin American countries, and most Asian countries including India and China are already on the list. Algeria became the first country to officially recognize a Palestinian state on November 15, 1988, minutes after late Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leader Yasser Arafat unilaterally proclaimed an independent Palestinian state. Most complicated questions Romain Le Boeuf, a professor in international law at the University of Aix-Marseille in southern France, described recognition of Palestinian statehood as one of the most complicated questions in international law, a little like a halfway point between the political and juridical. Le Boeuf, told news agency AFP states were free to choose the timing and form of recognition, with great variations that are either explicit or implicit. There is no office to register recognitions. The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank puts all they consider to be acts of recognition on its own list, but from a purely subjective point of view. In the same way, other states will say that they have or have not recognized, but without really having to justify themselves, he said. What changes on ground? The move means Palestine will have full diplomatic rights and missions with the nations recognising it as a state. In case of United Kingdon, for example, the Foreign Office said Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will write to her Palestinian counterpart in "due course to lay out the process for establishing full diplomatic relations". Currently, the Palestinian Authority (PA) delegation to the UK is not at embassy level and operates as a "diplomatic mission" based in Hammersmith, west London. Embassy status would give the delegations protection and privileges under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. International status of Palestinian statehood? The PA, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, is internationally recognised as representing the Palestinian people. However, the governing body exercises limited self-rule in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank under agreements with Israel. It issues Palestinian passports and runs the Palestinian health and education systems. However, some trade, investment, educational and cultural exchanges are restricted by Israel, and there are currently no Palestinian airports. The landlocked West Bank can only be reached through Israel or through the Israeli-controlled border with Jordan. Israel also controls all access to the Gaza Strip. Also Read | In Gaza City, Israel looks for a way to kill Hamas but not its hostages The Palestinian state has been under Israeli military occupation for more than half a century. Hoe does Palestine become a sovereign state? Under the Montevideo Convention of 1933, officially the Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, there are several criteria before Palestine can be recognised as a sovereign state under international law. The process requires the state to have: A permanent population. A defined territory. An effective government and international relations. Formal diplomatic processes including embassies, ambassadors and treaties. What's the Indian stand been? India formally recognised Palestinian statehood way back on November 18, 1988. The Congress on Sunday lashed out at the Narendra Modi government, saying India's policy on Palestine, especially for the past 20 months, has been "shameful and one of moral cowardice". Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said Australia, Canada, and the UK have just recognised Palestine as a state, and more countries are expected to do so soon. India formally recognised Palestinian statehood way back on November 18, 1988., he said. "But India's policy in regard to Palestine - especially for the past 20 months - has been shameful and one of moral cowardice," Ramesh said on X in an apparent reference to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also pointed out that India was among the first few countries in the world to recognise Palestine as a state in November 1988. Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, the United Kingdom formally recognizes the State of Palestine. "At the time, and in fact all along the valiant struggle of the Palestinian people, we showed the world the way by standing for what was right and upholding the values of humanity and justice on the international stage," she said on X after UK, Canada and Australia's decision on recognition of Palestinian state. Days after a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Karnataka's Vijayapura was looted of cash and valuables worth 21 crore, police in Maharashtra have been able to recover a significant portion of the stolen goods from a house in Maharashtra. The recovery was made from an abandoned building in Huljanti village near Mangalwede. According to the police, on Tuesday (September 16) evening at around 6.30 pm, three masked men armed with country-made pistols and knives allegedly robbed a nationalised bank in Chadchan town of this district, making off with cash and gold ornaments, after tying up the staff. Citing preliminary investigation, Vijaypura Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi said that the suspects used a Suzuki EVA vehicle with a fake number plate for the offence. After committing the offence, they escaped towards Maharashtra. When they reached Huljanti village in Maharashtra's Solapur district, their car hit a bike, leading to an altercation with the villagers there. They abandoned the car, and fled after allegedly threatening the villagers with guns and knives. Eight teams were formed to solve the case, Vijaypura Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi said, as per PTI. The investigation was a joint effort by the Vijayapura and the Solapur police. The police team surveilled and was carrying out vehicle checks when they found a bag on top a house in Huljanti village. Gold and money stolen from the bank were recovered from the bag. How the robbery was carried out According to police, some three masked men came to the bank under the pretext of opening a current account and threatened the manager, cashier and other employees with pistols and knives. The gang tied up the hands and feet of the staff. They escaped with cash worth more than a crore and gold ornaments weighing approximately 20 kg, worth approximately 20 crores, the FIR stated. Based on the complaint of the bank manager, a case was registered. Further investigation is underway. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday, September 22, on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session. The two leaders could be seen shaking hands as they met for bilateral discussions. Their meeting at Lotte New York Palace takes place on the same day India and the US are set to hold discussions to achieve an early conclusion of a trade agreement. Also Read | Jaishankar to meet Marco Rubio in NYC today amid H-1B visa fee hike row Jaishankar-Rubio meet: What's expected? Jaishankar arrived in New York on Sunday for the high-level UNGA meet. After meeting Rubio, he said in a post on X, Good to meet Marco Rubio this morning in New York. Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas. We will remain in touch. Jaishankar was expected to hold a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the session and will deliver the national statement at the General Debate on September 27 from the iconic green UNGA podium, news agency PTI reported. Also Read | PM Modi living inspiration for millions: VP Radhakrishnan It's the first face-to-face interaction between Jaishankar and Rubio following President Donald Trump's imposition of an additional 25 per cent tariff on India, taking the total levies imposed on India to 50 per cent. Jaishankar and Rubio had last met in July in Washington DC for the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. India-US trade deal A delegation led by Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal will meet with the US side on Monday in the city. "The delegation plans to take forward the discussions with a view to achieving early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement," the Ministry of Commerce and Industry had said in a statement. The statement added that during the last visit of officials from the office of the US Trade Representative to India on September 16, positive discussions were held on various aspects of the trade deal, and it was decided to intensify efforts in this regard. H-1B visa fee hike Trouble mounted for the $285-billion Indian IT sector in its largest outsourcing market, as the US decided to hike H-1B visa application fee to $100,000 (about 88 lakh), with apex body Nasscom warning that business continuity for onshore projects will be disrupted. The announcement prompted some big tech companies and banks to warn employees to stay in the US or quickly return. India was by far the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of approved beneficiaries. The US administration explained that the move is aimed at reducing what it sees as overuse of the programme and ensuring that only "highly skilled" workers are brought in from overseas. Officials believe the fee hike will create and protect jobs for American workers. The Supreme Court on Monday declined to overturn a Delhi High Court ruling, which upheld the dismissal of actor Jacqueline Fernandez's plea to set aside an ECIR (the equivalent of an FIR) in a 200 crore money laundering case involving the alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, news agency PTI reported. We will not interfere at this stage, a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih told senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who represented Fernandez. Also Read | Sukesh Chandrashekhar gifts jet to Jacqueline Fernandez on Valentines Day Fernandez had moved the SC challenging the Delhi High Court's July 3 order which dismissed her petition seeking quashing of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in the money laundering case. The actor is an accused in the money laundering case filed against Chandrasekhar and had appeared before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in the investigation. The Delhi Police had charged Chandrasekhar with allegedly defrauding the spouses of Ranbaxy's former promoters, Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh, of 200 crore, the PTI report said. The Delhi High Court had rejected Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez's claim that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was adopting a pick and choose policy by not pursuing similar charges against other actors, including television personalities Nikki Tamboli, Chahatt Khanna, and Sophia Singh. Also Read | Jacqueline Fernandez felicitated at Italian Global Series Festival 2025 She had argued that the investigating agency failed to proceed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against these individuals, who had also received gifts and articles from Chandrasekhar. In its 95-page verdict, the HC had emphasised that the principle of parity the idea of treating similar cases alike is relevant in bail applications, but it cannot be applied when seeking to quash a charge, as that would completely nullify the ECIR against the petitioner. The judgement stated: Whether the investigating agency chose a pick and choose policy or decided not to proceed against the others, based on the merits of the case, is not an issue under consideration before this court; petitioner is always at liberty to raise this issue at an appropriate stage. The court also said: "The petition and plea of petitioner cannot be entertained for quashing of the ECIR dated August 8, 2021 and 2nd supplementary complaint dated August 17, 2022. The petition is, therefore, dismissed." Fernandez had alleged in her plea that other actors also met with Chandrasekhar inside Tihar jail, where he was being held, and received gifts from him. She specifically claimed that a relative of actor Nora Fatehi was given a luxury car. The plea argued that despite these individuals having "first-hand knowledge of Sukesh Chandrasekhar being in prison," the ED had not named them as accused. This "disparate treatment," the plea stated, was another key reason for seeking to have the ECIR quashed. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will review the fairness and timeliness of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureaus (AAIB) probe into the 12 June crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, which killed 265 people, including passengers, crew, and residents on the ground. The review follows a plea from aviation NGO Constitution by Safety Matters Foundation, led by Captain Amit Singh, seeking an independent investigation. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotishwar Singh has sought responses from the central government, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the AAIB. The matter will be heard again on 11 October. The top court emphasized that its role is limited to ensuring the probe is conducted in a free, fair, impartial, independent and expeditious manner. The justices also criticized the leak of AAIBs preliminary inquiry report, calling it unfortunate, noting that a single linesuggesting one pilot asked why fuel had been cut offwas amplified internationally, creating what the court called a misleading pilot-error narrative. There was no occasion for anyone to leak the so-called preliminary inquiry, even if there were some kind of negligence, Justice Kant observed. He added that rival airlines often exploit such tragedies: When an accident occurs, some start blaming the airline staff for negligence, suggesting that the entire airline should be condemned. On 12 June, flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The AAIB formed its investigation team the following day, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and securing wreckage and black boxes. On 11 July, the bureau issued its preliminary report attributing the crash to fuel control switches being moved from RUN to CUTOFF. That conclusion implied pilot error but did not explain why the switches were moved, nor did it release full flight data, prompting the NGO to petition the Supreme Court for greater transparency. Also Read | Air India board gave CEO Campbell Wilson a raise days before the crash The petition has challenged the preliminary report blaming pilot error and demanded an independent probe, citing conflicts of interest in a DGCA-led process. It seeks disclosure of the Digital Flight Data Recorder output, full Cockpit Voice Recorder transcripts with timestamps, and Electronic Aircraft Fault Recording data. The plea argued that withholding such information violates citizens rights to life, equality, and access to truthful information. During the hearing, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the NGO, highlighted that over 102 days have passed since the crash, yet only a preliminary report exists, issued a month after the incident. There is no guidance on what likely happened or what precautions need to be taken, leaving passengers on Boeing 787 aircraft at risk, Bhushan said. He pointed to independent analyses suggesting an electrical systems failure, rather than deliberate pilot action, likely caused the engine shutdown. Shardiya Navratri, a major Hindu festival honouring Maa Durga, began on Monday. The first day of Navratri, known as Pratipada, is dedicated to Maa Shailputri, the daughter of the Himalayas. She represents purity, strength, and the power of nature. Worshippers offer special prayers and bhog (food offerings) to her, seeking blessings for strength and stability in life. Traditionally celebrated over nine days, the festival typically concludes with Dussehra or Vijayadashami. However, this year, as per the Drik Panchang calendar, Navratri will extend over ten days and will end on October 2. Here are the Navratri Wishes: -May Maa Durga bless you with strength, wisdom, and courage to overcome every obstacle in life. Happy Navratri! -Wishing you nine nights of devotion, spirituality, and happiness. May this Navratri bring peace and prosperity to your life. -Let the celebrations begin! May the divine energy of Maa Durga fill your home with happiness and good fortune. Happy Navratri! -As you dance to the rhythm of Garba and offer your prayers, may your heart be filled with joy and your soul with blessings. -May the goddess of power, Maa Durga, shower you with her divine blessings and keep you and your family safe and happy always. -On this Navratri, may your worries be washed away and your life be filled with vibrant colours of happiness. Jai Mata Di! -Let us celebrate the victory of good over evil, and light over darkness. Wishing you a powerful and peaceful Navratri. -Nine days of devotion, nine nights of blessings. May Maa Durga shower her choicest blessings on you and your loved ones. -Celebrate this Navratri with joy, devotion, and love in your heart. Wishing you and your family a blessed and blissful festival! -May this Navratri bring new hopes, opportunities, and success in your life. Have a divine and vibrant celebration! Wishing you a vibrant and joyful Navratri 2025! May Maa Durga bless you with strength and happiness. Happy Navratri 2025! May each day bring you closer to peace, prosperity, and divine blessings. Dance to the rhythm of Garba and let joy fill your heart. Happy Navratri 2025! Celebrate this Navratri with devotion, love, and endless positivity. Wishing you a blessed 2025! May the divine energy of Navratri illuminate your life and guide you always. Happy Navratri 2025! Happy Navratri 2025! May this festival bring power, wisdom, and courage into your life. Nine nights of devotion, dance, and celebration. Enjoy every moment. Happy Navratri 2025! This Navratri, may Maa Durga destroy all your worries and bring you peace. Happy Navratri 2025! Lets welcome the divine mother with pure hearts. Wishing you a spiritual and festive Navratri 2025! On this auspicious occasion, may you find the strength to conquer your inner demons. Happy Navratri 2025! Happy Navratri 2025! May these nine nights awaken the warrior within you and fill your life with courage and devotion. Wishing you a powerful and peaceful Navratri 2025! May each night bring you closer to the divine light of Maa Durga. Spin, smile, and shine! Let the rhythm of Garba and the spirit of Navratri 2025 bring endless joy to your heart. This Navratri, may your soul be uplifted and your worries be washed away. Happy Navratri 2025 to you and your family! May Maa Durga bless you with strength in hardship, clarity in confusion, and light in darkness. Happy Navratri 2025! Celebrate the spirit of Shakti, the rhythm of life, and the joy of devotion. Have a colorful and divine Navratri 2025! Let the divine energy of Navratri 2025 inspire you to be fearless, focused, and faithful. Jai Mata Di! Nine nights, nine forms, one celebration of the divine feminine. Wishing you a spiritually fulfilling Navratri 2025! As the festive lights glow brighter, may your heart grow lighter. Have a blessed and joyful Navratri 2025! On this sacred occasion, may your life be lit with hope, health, and happiness. Happy Navratri 2025! Happy Navratri 2025! May the divine energy of Maa Durga guide you through every challenge and bless you with wisdom and strength. Wishing you nine nights of devotion, dance, and divine blessings. May Navratri 2025 bring peace and prosperity to your home. May this Navratri bring you closer to the divine. Celebrate with joy, love, and endless positivity. Shubh Navratri 2025! Let the colors of Navratri brighten your life. Wishing you a vibrant and spiritual Navratri 2025! Celebrate the festival of faith, power, and victory. Happy Navratri 2025 to you and your loved ones! May Maa Durga remove all obstacles and bless you with success. Have a blissful Navratri 2025! Happy Navratri 2025! May each night be filled with devotion and each day with joy. Nine nights of devotion, nine nights of blessings. May Navratri 2025 awaken your inner strength! Wishing you a Navratri full of Garba, grace, and gratitude! Celebrate with your heart wide open in 2025. As we welcome Maa Durga, may her divine presence fill your life with love and courage. Happy Navratri 2025! On this Navratri, light the lamp of love and let the darkness of fear fade away. Have a divine Navratri 2025! May the blessings of Durga Maa empower you to face all challenges. Happy and peaceful Navratri 2025! Wishing you a Navratri full of colors, devotion, and divine vibes. Jai Mata Di! Lets celebrate the strength of womanhood and the victory of good over evil. Happy Navratri 2025! This Navratri, may your heart be as pure as a lotus and your mind as calm as the moon. Stay blessed in 2025! May the nine forms of the goddess inspire you to lead a life of courage, compassion, and clarity. Happy Navratri! Feel the power of Maa Durga within you and rise above all doubts. Wishing you a fearless Navratri 2025! As the dhol beats and Garba begins, let your soul dance to the rhythm of devotion. Shubh Navratri 2025! Nine nights, nine goddesses, and endless blessings. May this Navratri transform your life in magical ways! Happy Navratri 2025! Let the divine feminine awaken the best version of yourself this festive season. Happy Navratri 2025! May Maa Durga bless you with endless joy, strength, and spiritual growth. Celebrate this Navratri with devotion in your heart and sparkle in your soul. Wishing you nine magical nights! May the divine light of Navratri shine in your life forever. Have a peaceful and powerful 2025! Navratri 2025 is here! Lets welcome the goddess with love, prayer, and positivity. Jai Mata Di! Wishing you strength like Durga, wealth like Lakshmi, and wisdom like Saraswati. Happy Navratri 2025! Dance through the nights, pray through the dayslet devotion lead your way. Happy Navratri! This Navratri, may your home be filled with happiness, your heart with devotion, and your life with success. May each night of Navratri bring new hope, and every day bring new light. Wishing you a blessed Navratri 2025! Nine nights of prayer, purity, and power. May you be blessed with all three this Navratri! May Maa Durga's divine energy shield you from all negativity. Wishing you a safe and happy Navratri 2025. On this Navratri, may you find the strength to conquer your fears and the wisdom to follow your path. Wishing you a Navratri filled with good vibes, great memories, and divine moments. Let your inner light shine brighter than everjust like the lights of Navratri. Happy Navratri 2025! As we celebrate the nine nights of devotion, may your life be filled with divine blessings and endless joy. From prayers to Garba, may each moment of Navratri 2025 bring a reason to smile. Let your life be as colorful as Navratri, and your future as bright as the diyas you light. May the power of Maa Durga transform your worries into strength and your dreams into reality. Wishing you love, laughter, and a whole lot of Garba! Happy Navratri 2025! This Navratri, surrender your worries and embrace the strength of the divine within you. Celebrate Navratri 2025 with a heart full of devotion and a soul full of joy. Jai Mata Di! Shardiya Navratri 2025: Dates September 22 (Monday): Ghatasthapana, Maa Shailputri Puja September 23 (Tuesday): Maa Brahmacharini Puja September 24 (Wednesday): Maa Chandraghanta Puja September 25 (Thursday): Vinayaka Chaturthi September 26 (Friday): Maa Kushmanda Puja September 27 (Saturday): Skandamata Puja September 28 (Sunday): Maa Katyayani Puja September 29 (Monday): Saraswati Avahan, Maa Kaalratri Puja September 30 (Tuesday): Saraswati Puja, Durga Ashtami, Mahagauri Puja October 1 (Wednesday): Maha Navami October 2 (Thursday): Navratri Paran, Vijayadashami (This is a developing story) Senior White House officials confirmed to Reuters that President Donald Trump will sign an executive order later this week approving a deal for TikToks US operations. The order will declare that the deal meets the requirements established under a 2024 law, clearing the way for the social media platform to continue operations in the United States. Investor participation While the full list of investors has not yet been finalized, officials confirmed that Oracle and Silver Lake will be among those investing in TikToks US operations. The investment pool is expected to include a mixture of US and global firms. Officials emphasized that the administration is seeking investors who will bring value to the company, with a focus on firms aligned with US interests. Regulatory and operational changes The deal will transfer TikToks US operations to new joint ventures, with Oracle tasked to provide security oversight and study TikToks algorithm. Officials said that the Oracle security terms will come into effect once the deal closes. The administration has expressed confidence that China has approved the agreement and that no further talks with Beijing are planned. According to senior officials, the deal may still require certain approvals, including antitrust review and export licenses, before it is fully finalized. The executive order is expected to formally recognize the deal as compliant with US law, marking a significant step in the ongoing negotiations over TikToks US presence. Economic implications The administration projects that the finalized deal could support hundreds of billions of dollars in economic activity over the next five years, highlighting the strategic and financial significance of TikTok in the US market. (With Reuters inputs) Also Read | TikTok algorithm to come under US control in White House-backed agreement President Donald Trump appeared visibly emotional during the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, September 21. Photos from the event showed Trump being comforted by his son, Eric Trump, who rubbed the 79-year-old Presidents back, a father-son moment that quickly went viral on social media. Trump Jr adds humor to the service And, in an unexpected and lighthearted moment during the memorial, Donald Trump Jr impersonated his father, drawing laughter from the audience. He said, You know, Don, you're getting a little aggressive on social media, Don, relax! Cameras then captured President Trump and UFC CEO Dana White laughing and smiling during the impersonation, adding a light moment to the memorial. Trump Jr also paid tribute to Kirks knowledge and influence: To say Charlie knew more about the Bible than me is an understatement, folks. Its like saying Donald Trump knows more about being president than Hillary Clinton or Kamala Harris. No kidding Charlie embodied something at the very core of our movement. When people disagree with us, we dont silence them, we dont destroy them, and we certainly dont sink to violence. We dont burn down their businesses. We dont scream at their children at Disneyland. No, we debate. We stand tall and we win with our ideas. Trump Jrs remarks come amid widespread public commentary regarding Kirks death. Dozens of people across the country, including journalists and late-night show hosts like Jimmy Kimmel, have reportedly faced professional repercussions over remarks deemed inappropriate about Kirk, highlighting ongoing debates around free speech and political expression. Memorial honors Kirks life and legacy Charlie Kirk, 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative activist, was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. His death has been widely described as a political assassination, sparking grief and condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum. The memorial was attended by members of the Trump family and other high-profile leaders from the conservative movement. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr on Monday rejected claims that the government forced Disney to sideline late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, insisting the suspension was related to ratings. Jimmy Kimmel is in the situation that he is in because of his ratings, not because of anything thats happened at the federal government level, Carr said at a forum in New York, The New York Post reported. Carrs earlier remarks sparked backlash FCC chair Carr has faced bipartisan criticism since last week when he warned about Kimmels comments: We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or theres going to be additional work for the FCC ahead. Context of Kimmels suspension Disney pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! after Kimmel linked Tyler Robinson, the accused killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to the MAGA movement during his September 15 broadcast. Utah officials, however, described Robinson as aligned with far-left ideology, citing text messages where he admitted targeting Kirk due to hatred for the conservative activist. Affiliate actions and network response Owners of dozens of ABC affiliates, including Nexstar and Sinclair, quickly preempted Kimmels show, signaling they would not air the program unless action was taken. Two days after the broadcast, Disney announced Kimmels indefinite suspension. These companies can find ways to change conduct, Carr had said earlier, warning networks about potential repercussions. Industry reaction The suspension sparked widespread criticism from entertainers and industry observers, raising debates about media censorship, ratings pressures, and political influence in broadcast television. ABC reinstates Jimmy Kimmels show after controversy In the latest development, ABC announced on Monday that Jimmy Kimmels late-night show will resume airing on Tuesday, following a brief suspension over his comments on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Hamas has drafted a letter to US President Donald Trump, requesting that he guarantee a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the immediate release of half of the hostages being held in Gaza, Fox News has learned. The news outlet said the details were shared by a senior Trump administration official and a second source directly involved in negotiations. The letter is expected to be delivered to Trump this week. Trumps ongoing efforts for hostage release Trump, who has positioned himself as a mediator in the Israel-Gaza conflict, has repeatedly called for Hamas to release all hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. While visiting England last week, Trump stressed that he wants the hostages freed now right now, according to Fox News. Earlier this month, Trump issued what he described as his last warning to Hamas in a Truth Social post. "Everyone wants the Hostages HOME. Everyone wants this War to end! The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!" Trump wrote on September 7. He added, "Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say. I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning! RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!" The letter from Hamas marks a significant development in ongoing negotiations for hostage release. Trumps response and any potential engagement in brokering a ceasefire are expected to be closely watched by international stakeholders. Also Read | Ahead of UNGA, Zelensky urges global action to rein in Russia After the White House announced a proclamation that will bar new H-1B holders from entering the US starting 12:01 am EST Sunday, September 21, 2025, unless employers pay a $100,000 fee per petition, commotion and confusion are reigning supreme. Now, a day after President Trumps proclamation, the White House has moved to calm fears. The payment would supplement current fees for H-1B visa applications. The order reportedly includes case-by-case exemptions if in the national interest. Latest H-1B Proclamation updates The Proclamation does not apply to current H-1B visa holders. The Proclamation only applies to future applicants in the February lottery who are currently outside the US. It does not apply to anyone who participated in the 2025 lottery. The Proclamation does not impact the ability of any current visa holder to travel to/from the US. A senior White House official said, The fee is only for new H-1B (applications). Current H-1B holders will not have to pay to return to the US. The clarification came amid panic in the Indian H-1B community, with workers rushing to airports to return to the US and flooding attorneys with urgent calls. SABA holds an emergency webinar The South Asian Bar Association (SABA) of North America held an emergency webinar at 2:00 PM PST to discuss the effects of the new proclamation regarding H-1Bs. Lalitha Alladi, an Immigration Attorney and President-Elect of SABA Florida and Georgia, and Rohit Biswas, VP Advocacy, advised that since the situation with the new proclamation is still evolving, they suggest that the H-1B holders in the US should not leave the country. This order will almost certainly face court challenges as it exceeds presidential authority. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, said, The president has literally zero legal authority to impose a $100,000 fee on visas. None. Zip. Zilch. The only authority Congress has ever given the executive branch here is to charge fees to recover the cost of processing the application. The proclamation will be challenged in federal court and very soon be restrained via a Temporary Restraining Order. This is an extreme illegal overreach as to what the White House is permitted to do with visa fees. However, the message is clear. The H-1B visa will be attacked every which way that it can be, likely for the next few years. If you wish to remain in the US, consider other options like an L1 or O1. Build your profile to become eligible for EB1A, a faster path to a Green Card for Indians, said Ashima Duggal, US immigration Attorney at the Duggal Law Group. Dr Sahana Devakumar, Internal Medicine Resident at SUNY Upstate University Hospital in New York in India on emergency leave wanted to know if the ruling applies to doctors as well. There is an exception for roles that are in the national interest, but no guidance in terms of how and when to request the exemption. The H1-B program brings doctors who serve rural hospitals, cancer researchers working toward lifesaving treatments, and highly skilled professionals who help American businesses innovate and grow. This executive order punishes the very people whose skills strengthen our economy, improve our health, and expand opportunity across the country, said Kalpana V. Peddibhotla, Executive Director of South Asian American Justice Collaborative (SAAJCO). Similarly, those looking for guidance on cap-gap status and approved H-1B petition but are out of the US due to emergency travel should fly back to the US before their F1 status converts to H1-B. US President Donald Trump on Sunday praised conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a "martyr for American freedom" and pledged to continue his legacy. Trump said, The violence comes largely from the left, offering no substantiation. Who remained absent from Charlie Kirk's memorial service? However, the First Lady was notably absent from the packed State Farm Stadium, where thousands gathered to honour the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Her absence was especially noticeable amid the presence of high-ranking figures such as US President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and several prominent Republicans. Others who were also absent included Ivanka Trump, the President's daughter, and FBI Chief Kash Patel. Who attended the memorial? Among those in attendance were Kirks widow and Turning Point USA Chair Erika Kirk, Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and conservative personality Mikey McCoy. Also present were U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Franz Turek, a close friend of Kirk who was just 25 feet (8 meters) away when the shooting occurred. Notable cultural figures such as Christian musicians Kari Jobe, Carnes and Cody Carnes, as well as former Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson, also attended. Elon Musk meets Donald Trump Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Trump were seated together in a private suite, where President Trump and other officials watched the memorial program from behind bulletproof glass. Throughout the service, Trump and Musk were seen chatting and engaging with each other, with their interaction even being highlighted in social media posts from official White House accounts. Donald Trump Jr. addressed the crowd, referring to Kirk as his younger brother, underscoring the deep personal and political bonds many shared with the late activist. Kirk's legacy Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot by a single bullet while responding to an audience question during a campus event in Utah. A 22-year-old student from a local technical college has been charged with the murder. While the motive remains unclear, investigators are examining text messages the suspect allegedly sent to a friend and engravings found on four bullet casingssymbols and phrases that experts say could be tied to either left- or right-wing ideologies. Kirk had long been a polarising figure. Civil rights groups frequently criticised him for rhetoric they characterised as racist, anti-immigrant, transphobic, and misogynistic. In contrast, his supporters viewed him as a bold defender of conservative values and a staunch advocate for free speech. Charlie Kirk was a martyr for American freedom. Axios reported that the conservative activist is set to be buried in Phoenix, Arizona, the city he considered his adoptive hometown. Authorities have not provided any official word on whether the memorial service will feature an open casket. Erika Kirk, wife of slain conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, delivered a powerful message of forgiveness during the closing moments of a lengthy memorial service held on September 21 at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona. She said that she had forgiven Tyler Robinson, the man suspected of killing her husband. I forgive him, she said. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and its what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate, Erika declared, adding that the Gospel teaches people to love one's enemies, and those who persecute us. She also vowed to continue her husbands legacy by enrolling more campuses and students in the conservative movement he founded. She added, Everything that Turning Point USA built through Charlies vision and hard work, we will make ten times greater through the power of his memory. Turning Point USA, the conservative organisation founded by Charlie Kirk, has reported tens of thousands of inquiries from people interested in starting new high school and college chapters following Kirk's killing. Widely regarded as a leading figure among young conservatives, Kirk is credited with boosting MAGAs popularity and mobilising a strong following among young Republicans. Donald Trump attends Charlie Kirk's memorial US President Donald Trump, who attended the memorial ceremony, proclaimed Charlie Kirk a "martyr for American freedom." On that day, this evangelist for American liberty became immortal, Trump said Sunday before tens of thousands of mourners inside the State Farm stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Hes a martyr now for American freedom. Tens of thousands of mourners are expected to attend the Building a Legacy memorial in the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona the state where Turning Point USA is based and where Kirk spent most of his adult life with his wife, Erika, and two children. US President Donald Trump on Monday (September 22) suggested a connection between the use of over-the-counter pain medication Tylenol during pregnancy and the development of autism, a claim that many medical experts dispute. Taking Tylenol is not good. I'll say it. Not good, Trump said. "For this reason, they are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary." He added, You shouldn't give the child a Tylenol every time he gets a shot. The President also mentioned leucovorin, a form of folic acid, as a potential treatment for autism symptoms during a White House event. FDA involvement and Leucovorin approval Trump said the FDA will be notifying doctors that Tylenol use during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of autism, although he did not provide supporting evidence. The FDA had recently approved a version of leucovorin made by GSK for use in a rare metabolic disorder called cerebral folate deficiency, which can lead to neurological symptoms seen in some autism cases. According to the FDA, the approval followed a review of the use of leucovorin in 40 patients with the disorder. Industry pushback Tylenol is produced by Kenvue, spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023. Generic versions of acetaminophen are also widely available. A company spokesperson said on Monday, We disagree with the suggestion of a link, which is not based in science. Public health context The Trump administration, driven by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again movement, has been under pressure to address the rise in autism cases in the US. The administration has also been making broader changes to public health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where an immunization panel recently altered COVID-19 and other vaccine guidance. Critics have noted the panel is staffed with figures who have been historically critical of vaccines. Also Read | Robert F Kennedy Jr's Emotional Tribute To Charlier Kirk Student arrivals to the US reportedly hit a four-year low in August, riding on US President Donald Trump's America First immigration policies. "Visitors to the US arriving on student visas dropped 19 percent in August year-on-year to just over 3,13,000 a fifth consecutive month of declines," Bloomberg reported while citing data from the International Trade Administration that tracks arrivals to the country. Thats the lowest number of students entering the US for August a peak month for new students to arrive since 2021 amid the Covid pandemic. Total student arrivals were reportedly down nearly 12% for the year through August. The decline was the sharpest among students from Asia, which accounts for the majority of US student visas, as Trumps America First policies create immigration hurdles. Big decline in Asian arrivals According to Bloomberg, Asia posted the biggest decline in the total shortfall of student arrivals, falling 24% to about 191,000. This included a 45 percent drop from India and a 12 percent decline from China. Thirteen of the biggest source markets in Asia, from Japan to Vietnam, experienced declines in student arrivals in August and for the year. Africa saw the steepest percentage fall, down 33 percent, though from a smaller base. Western Europe showed the smallest drop, less than 1 percent. Why such a decline in student arrivals in US? This summer, the Trump administration temporarily paused student visa interviews (in late May), added social media reviews to vetting, and pushed through new restrictions on H-1B visas for foreign workersincluding a $100,000 application fee. The president signed a proclamation Friday overhauling the program, including a $100,000 fee for applications. Notably, Indian and Chinese nationals dominate H-1B programme. Also Read | Lenders concerned about education loans as US tightens curbs on student visas Shashi Tharoor reacts: 'Not a big blow...' In an interview with the Wire, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor noted the "decline in student applications for the current academic year" in the US. He was speaking about the Trump administration's desire to restrict student visas to just four years. Tharoor said that this rule, in addition to the H-1B rule, "is not much of a problem" as "if the H-1B itself is no longer accessible to most of them, they would have to come back...or move to other countries." "You will be certain that when the final numbers come in, Indian students in America in the current academic year, that is, September 2025 to June 2026, will be significantly lower than the cohort that went to America in September 2024...That will be lower already," Tharoor said. Also Read | Social media posts, activism history under scanner as Trump admin resumes visas Tharoor added that once the new H-1B visa rules are implemented, "it'll [student application] drop even further." He said, "America is depriving itself of Indian student talent, but that's fine because others are welcoming them." Tharoor said he doesn't believe that this "is such a big blow to the Indian student community because "those who want to go abroad have other options." President Donald Trump on Truth Social warned of a very serious threat after claiming that US forces caught a Venezuelan militia in training. TOP SECRET: We caught the Venezuelan Militia in training. A very serious threat! Trump wrote, highlighting rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela amid ongoing military activity in the Caribbean. The warning comes after the US deployed warships and F-35 fighter jets to the southern Caribbean near Venezuela in what Washington describes as an anti-drug and anti-terrorism mission. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused the US of seeking regime change and infringing on his countrys sovereignty. Recent reports indicate that Venezuela has organized civilian military training exercises, including weapon handling, basic first aid, and strategic drills, as a response to the US presence. The situation has heightened regional tensions, with both nations exchanging accusations over military intentions and drug trafficking allegations. Tensions between the United States and Venezuela are sharply rising as Washington deploys warships, fighter jets, and a nuclear-powered submarine to the southern Caribbean, prompting a response from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his government. US military deployment Nearly a month ago, the United States sent a flotilla of eight warships, accompanied by 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico, to waters off Venezuela. The operation, described by Washington as anti-drug and anti-terrorism, includes a landing force of 2,000 Marines. According to President Donald Trump, the US forces have destroyed three speedboats alleged to be carrying drugs, resulting in over a dozen fatalities. On his Truth Social platform, Trump called the Venezuelan militia a very serious threat and shared video footage of one boat exploding. The deployment has sparked concern across Latin America, with critics warning of the potential for escalation and raising questions over the legality of lethal strikes on suspected drug traffickers, which are not capital offenses under US law. Venezuelan response Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro denounced US actions as an attack on national sovereignty and accused Washington of pursuing regime change. Maduro met with rural workers in the Aragua region, calling on millions to be prepared to defend Venezuela. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez described the situation as an undeclared war and emphasized the government's commitment to train civilians in basic military skills, first aid, ideological education, and weapons handling. Similar sessions were held in San Cristobal, Barinas, and the Caribbean island of La Orchila. Maduro also sent a letter to Trump on September 6, rejecting US allegations that he leads a drug cartel and urging dialogue to maintain peace in the hemisphere. It is the worst fake news that has been launched against our country, the letter states. Maduro maintains that Venezuela is largely drug-free and has neutralized most illicit drugs attempting to cross from Colombia. Ongoing US-Venezuela conflict The US military strikes have continued despite Maduros letter, including attacks on two more boats one near Venezuela and another near the Dominican Republic resulting in additional fatalities. Relations have been further strained amid ongoing deportation flights, with over 13,000 Venezuelans repatriated to Caracas since January. Venezuela continues to sell oil to the US, but diplomatic ties remain fragile. Washington insists its operations target drug trafficking networks, while Caracas frames the deployments as an assault on its sovereignty. The unfolding situation raises questions about legality, international relations, and the risk of broader regional instability. The Taliban's supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, on Saturday condemned US President Donald Trump's bid to retake Bagram Air Base, four years after the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan handed control of the strategic military base to the Taliban. Trump has renewed his push to regain the sprawling military facility. On Saturday, Trump expressed his desire to reestablish a US presence at Bagram, claiming that we're talking now to Afghanistan about the possibility, though he provided no further details about these discussions. We wont talk about that, Trump said. We want it back, and we want it back right away. If they dont do it, youre going to find out what Im going to do. Despite lacking formal international recognition, the Taliban has established diplomatic ties with nations like China and Russia, and continues to call for broader global engagement. Earlier, the chief of staff at the Afghan Defence Ministry, Fasihuddin Fitrat, addressed Trump's comments. Ceding even an inch of our soil to anyone is out of the question and impossible, he said during a speech broadcast by Afghan media. In August last year, the Taliban celebrated the third anniversary of their takeover at Bagram with a grand military display of abandoned US hardware, catching the eye of the White House. Trump has repeatedly criticised his predecessor, Joe Biden, for his gross incompetence during the withdrawal of US forces after the country's longest war. It was under Trump that the US brokered a deal with the Taliban in Doha in 2020 that would have seen the US withdraw all its troops by May 2021 in exchange for various security guarantees from the militants. Trump last week, during his state visit to the United Kingdom, hinted that the Taliban, who have struggled with an economic crisis, international legitimacy, internal rifts and rival militant groups since their return to power in 2021, could be game to allow the US military to return. We're trying to get it back because they need things from us, Trump said of the Taliban. While the US and the Taliban have no formal diplomatic ties, the sides have had hostage conversations. US obsession with Bagram Air Base During his first term, Donald Trump negotiated an agreement with the Taliban that laid the foundation for the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, the final pullout occurred under former President Joe Biden and was widely seen as chaotic and mismanaged. The rapid collapse of the US-backed Afghan government, a deadly bombing that killed 13 US service members and 170 others, and the frantic scenes of thousands of Afghans crowding Kabul airport marked a grim end to America's 20-year presence. This episode became a major political blow to Biden just months into his presidency, with critics, especially Trump, accusing him of weakness and poor leadership. Trump claimed that the disorderly withdrawal not only humiliated the US but also emboldened Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine in 2022. He would have never done what he did, except that he didn't respect the leadership of the United States, Trump said, speaking of Putin. They just went through the Afghanistan total disaster for no reason whatsoever. We were going to leave Afghanistan, but we were going to leave it with strength and dignity. We were going to keep Bagram Air Base, one of the biggest air bases in the world. We gave it to them for nothing. Bagram Air Base: From Soviet 'outpost' to US 'stronghold' Bagram Air Base, situated just north of Kabul, has long held strategic significance. The airfield itself has deeper roots, originally built by the Soviet Union in the 1950s. When the USSR invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to support the country's communist regime, Bagram became its primary military hub, serving as the central base for its operations during the decade-long occupation. Over the years, Bagram evolved from a Cold War-era outpost into one of the most strategically significant military installations in the region. With two runways (including a 12,000-foot airstrip), over 100 fortified aircraft parking bays, a 50-bed hospital, and massive logistics infrastructure, it was considered one of the most advanced military facilities in the region, according to media reports. Its proximity to key geopolitical hotspots, roughly 400 miles from China and 500 miles from Iran, made it invaluable for intelligence gathering, air power projection, and counterterrorism missions. In its early years, Bagram was also notorious for its prison complex, which was eventually handed over to Afghan authorities in 2012. Among many Afghans, the base became synonymous with fear, second only to Guantanamo Bay. Why does Donald Trump want Bagram Air Base? Expert says In 2025, Trump's calls for regaining control, framed around the sites proximity just an hour from Chinas nuclear weapons production, highlight efforts to counter Beijing's regional expansion, according to a report by Orion Institute Policy. B.R. Deepak, professor, Center of Chinese and Southeast Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said, The United States renewed interest in Bagram Air Base stems from its strategic location, offering proximity to critical parts of Afghanistan, Central Asia, and neighbouring powers such as China, making it valuable for surveillance and counterterrorism operations. Strategic facilities such as Lop Nur, located 2,000 km east, enhance Bagrams deterrent value, giving it an edge over US bases in the Philippines, which lie 3,000 miles from Xinjiang. Yet, Taliban refusals threaten escalation, with proposals for episodic access through counterterrorism coordination cells emerging as a possible diplomatic compromise. Deepak further noted that Washington may also be eyeing Afghanistans untapped mineral wealth, including rare earths, as a way to reduce dependence on Chinese supply chains. Should India be concerned? Deepak noted, The US bid to reclaim Bagram is significant for India as it could reshape the regional power balance, offering checks on China, but given the bonhomie between the US and Pakistan, it also creates problems for India. It could also destabilise Afghanistan and threaten Indias investments there. Therefore, it will force India to carefully navigate its diplomacy with the Taliban, the US-Pak rapprochement and China-Pak nexus while safeguarding its strategic, economic, and connectivity interests in the region, he stressed. China's growing defence power China, meanwhile, continues to allocate the worlds second-largest defence budget after the United States. In the victory parade held this year, Chinese 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. Ceding even an inch of our soil to anyone is out of the question and impossible. "Humanity is again faced with a choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games," he said. The military parade was marked by the presence of the JL-3, a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. At least 30 people, including children and women, were killed in airstrikes allegedly carried out by the Pakistan Air Force in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, NDTV reported. Several reports claimed that the Pakistan Air Force dropped at least eight LS-6 bombs on the Matre Dara village located in the Tirah Valley at around 2am. Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were the target of the attack. According to Pakistan's opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, multiple bombs struck the civilians during the airstrike, destroying five houses and killing civilians, including women and children. During the jet aircraft bombing in the Tirah Valley of Khyber, several bombs fell on the local population. Five houses of local citizens were destroyed, and according to local sources, 20 bodies have been recovered from the rubble so far, including children and women among the martyrs, PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said in a post on X. "I have no words that can encompass this sorrow and grief Sometimes drones, sometimes bombings have sown so many seeds of hatred that when this lava erupts, nothing will be left," it added. No statement has been issued by the Pakistan government regarding the bombing so far. Pakistani Taliban's compound bombed Meanwhile, the the Associated Press reported that at least 24 people were killed in an explosion that took place at a compound in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan on Monday. According to police, bomb-making material allegedly stored at a compound by Pakistani Taliban fighters exploded on Monday in the countrys restive northwest. Several nearby homes were destroyed in the explosion. Local police officer Zafar Khan was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that at least 10 civilians, including women and children, were killed, along with at least 14 militants. Khan alleged that two local Pakistani Taliban commanders, Aman Gul and Masood Khan, had established hideouts in the compound, which was being used as a factory for producing roadside bombs. He accused the militants of using civilians as human shields and said they had recently stored weapons in mosques in other districts. Pakistans security forces are carrying out operations against the Pakistani Taliban in Khyber, Bajaur and other parts of the northwest. Pakistan has seen a surge in militant attacks, most claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, who are allied with the Afghan Taliban. The TTP is a separate group but has been emboldened since the Afghan Talibans return to power in 2021. Many TTP leaders and fighters are believed to have found sanctuary in Afghanistan. The interim government of Nepal led by caretaker Prime Minister Sushila Karki has initiated a probe into the anti-corruption protests this month that killed 74 and prompted the resignation of PM KP Sharma Oli. The interim government has now set up a panel to investigate the matter, a minister said on Monday. The Nepal protests earlier this month began as a peaceful demonstration by the Gen-Z against widespread corruption and a lack of jobs, triggered by Kathmandu's ban on social media. It however erupted into what can be called the Himalayan country's deadliest violence in decades after several youths died during the protest allegedly when police opened fire. Over 2,100 people were left injured when protesters during the Nepal violence set fire to the main office complex that houses the prime minister's office, the Supreme Court and the parliament building as well as malls, luxury hotels and showrooms. They set that these establishments were owned by corrupt politicians or people close to them. Rameshwore Khanal, who Sushila Karki put in charge of the finance ministry, said the three-member panel headed by retired judge Gauri Bahadur Karki had been given three months to complete the probe. Also Read | Nepal situation 'improved': Indian embassy in Kathmandu issues new advisory Karki is the former chairman of a special court that hears corruption cases in Nepal and has a reputation for honesty and integrity. Meanwhile Sushila Karki is the former Chief Justice of Nepal. It will investigate ... the loss of life and property during the protests, excesses by both sides and people involved in the acts of arson and vandalism during the movement, Khanal told Reuters. According to Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, the decision was taken on Monday. A principled agreement to establish the inquiry body had already been made in last week's Cabinet session. Final endorsement about the formation of the commission and the members was made today, he was quoted as saying by ANI. Former Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Nepal Police Bigyan Raj Sharma and advocate Bishweshwor Prasad Bhandari are the two other members of the panel. KP Sharma Oli demands probe into Nepal Violence In a social media post, former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli also demanded an investigation into the violence and said his government did not order police to fire at the protesters. The protests were infiltrated by outsiders and police did not possess the type of weapons which were used to fire on the crowd, Oli said. Anti-government protests in Peru's capital Lima escalated over the weekend, with hundreds of protesters taking to the streets on Sunday following clashes that left at least 18 people injured, including police personnel and journalists. The youth-led "Generation Z" collective organised another march on Sunday toward the presidential palace, where they were met by a heavy police presence. Discontent over organised crime, government corruption The unrest is fuelled by widespread discontent over organised crime, extortion, and perceived government corruption. Demonstrators intensified this week after the legislature passed a new law that mandates young adults join a private pension fund, despite many facing precarious work environments. Also Read | Peru, Colombia pledge to ensure Amazon River navigability On Sunday night, the agitation turned violent as groups of demonstrators threw stones and Molotov cocktails at security personnel, who responded by firing tear gas to disperse the mob. The events highlight deep-seated public frustration with both the government and the conservative-majority Congress. "I am outraged, I feel completely misled by this government... and this Congress that serves the political parties," a protester named Xiomi Aguilar (28) was quoted as saying by news agency AFP. The parties were "a mafia entrenched in the state," Aguilar added. Another protester, Jonatan Esquen, an 18-year-old student, said the protest is "the beginning of an awakening, as people are finally realising that young people are more active on social media and in the political arena," according to an AFP report. Protests are expected to continue as public discontent with President Dina Boluarte's administration grows. Violent clashes, 18 injured Violent clashes between police and anti-government protesters in Lima on Saturday have left at least 18 people injured, marking one of the most violent confrontations in the country this year. Also Read | Penico discovery reveals Caral people's peaceful survival amid climate crisis The demonstrations, which involved approximately 450 protesters, took place near the presidential and parliamentary buildings in downtown Lima. According to tallies from both authorities and independent organisations, the injured include police officers and journalists. A statement from the police confirmed that 12 officers were among the wounded, with a female officer suffering serious injuries and another diagnosed with multiple contusions. Both remain under observation in the hospital. The National Association of Journalists of Peru (ANP) reported that six journalists were hit by pellets allegedly fired by police while covering the protest, with one photojournalist describing being struck in the leg and hip. In addition to the injuries, public roads were damaged during the clashes. (Bloomberg) -- Singapore plans to impose sanctions against leaders of Israeli settler groups or organizations responsible for acts of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. The Southeast Asian city-state will target leaders of radical right-wing settler groups or organizations that have been responsible for the violence, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan told parliament on Monday. The details, he said, will be announced at a later date. Singapores support for a two-state solution means that we will oppose any steps by Israel to extinguish or undermine such a solution, he said. If the situation continues to deteriorate, or if Israel takes further steps to extinguish a two-state solution, we will reconsider our position on recognizing a Palestinian State. Israels actions in Gaza have gone too far for too long, he said. The remarks come a day after Canada, the UK and Australia formally recognized a Palestinian state, joining a growing global consensus and pushing ahead with a policy that has drawn criticism from US President Donald Trump. Singapore has stated its prepared in principle to recognize the Palestinian state, but has stopped short from doing so. Balakrishnan reiterated the condition that recognition depends on a government that accepts Israels right to exist and renounces terrorism. Israel is moving ahead with a long-threatened ground operation into the heart of Gaza City after weeks of air strikes. The city-state had long maintained close ties with Israel, even as regional neighbors such as Indonesia and Malaysia remain staunchly opposed to its actions against Palestinians. Israel helped train the Singapore Armed Forces in the countrys early years of independence six decades ago, when Singapore was especially vulnerable. Balakrishnan said Singapore will increase support for the Palestinians in preparation for eventual statehood and continue backing the Palestinian Authoritys capacity-building efforts. He announced new Gaza aid measures that he said bring total humanitarian support from Singapore to more than S$24 million ($18.7 million). --With assistance from Faris Mokhtar. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com General counsel of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's close aide, Inderjit Singh Gosal, a Khalistani terrorist, was arrested in Canada, according to NDTV. Gosal was detained on numerous charges related to illegal possession of firearms in Ottawa, the report said. This follows soon after a meeting between the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of India and Canada. Last week in New Delhi, Indian NSA Ajit Doval and Canadian NSA Nathalie Drouin engaged in comprehensive discussions. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both countries agreed to take a cooperative approach in strengthening bilateral relations, with a particular focus on joint efforts to tackle terrorism and transnational crime. Who is Inderjit Singh Gosal? Gosal, 36, is regarded as Pannun's right-hand man and has also worked as Pannun's bodyguard. Following the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023, Gosal reportedly emerged as a prominent Canadian organiser for SFJ. He was previously taken into custody in November last year in relation to a violent incident at a Hindu temple in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), where he was accused of assaulting Hindu-Canadian worshippers. Peel Regional Police (PRP) released him on certain conditions, the report said. PRP had said, On November 8, 2024, he [Gosal] was arrested and charged with Assault with a Weapon. He was released on conditions and is to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date." According to the Canadian police, Gosal was reportedly among the 13 Canadians targeted in violent crimes aimed at pro-Khalistan individuals. The killing of Nijjar significantly strained diplomatic relations between India and Canada, which were further aggravated by the attack on a Hindu temple and the ensuing protests. Canadian police, in August last year, had reportedly cautioned Gosal of a heightened threat to his life. Pannun had also confirmed Ontario police and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)'s "duty to warn" notice to Gosal. Russia and Ukraine exchanged accusations on Monday (September 22) over deadly drone strikes targeting civilian areas, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prepared for a very intense week of diplomacy at the UN General Assembly in New York, where the Security Council was set to discuss the more than three-year war. The schedule already includes nearly two dozen meetings with leaders from different countries, from all parts of the world, Zelensky said on Telegram. He added that he planned to meet US President Donald Trump during the week to push a peace agenda. Zelensky has offered a ceasefire and a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although Moscow has expressed reservations over some proposals. Zelensky: Without strength, peace will not prevail The Ukrainian leader emphasized the need for global resolve against Russian aggression: It is vital that this week strengthen the worlds resolve for robust action for without strength, peace will not prevail. He reported that over the past week, Russian forces launched more than 1,500 strike drones, 1,280 glide bombs, and 50 missiles of various types at Ukraine. More than 132,000 foreign components were found in those weapons from dozens of countries, Zelenskyy said. Ukraine continues to push for stronger sanctions on Russia to curb its military operations. European concerns over Russian provocations Tensions have risen internationally as Russias attacks appear to threaten neighboring countries. Russian drones reportedly landed on Polish soil, and Russian fighter aircraft entered Estonian airspace, prompting an emergency UN Security Council meeting. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called the intrusion a dangerous escalation, adding that Russias dangerous behavior cannot be tolerated. Russia denied any airspace violations. Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy dismissed the criticism as an effort to blame Russia for everything. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics warned that Russia is testing NATOs response and trying to redirect Western resources from Ukraine. Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilians At least seven Russian aircraft bombed the southern city of Zaporizhzhia overnight, killing three and wounding two, according to regional administration head Ivan Fedorov. None of the sites had anything to do with military infrastructure, Fedorov said. The attack targeted residential buildings, shopping malls, a parking lot, and critical infrastructure. The Ukrainian air force intercepted 132 out of 141 strike and decoy drones launched overnight. Ukraine strikes Russian territories Ukraines drone attacks also inflicted casualties in Russia. In Belgorod, three were killed and 10 wounded, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. In Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov said three died and 16 were injured in Foros from Ukrainian drones. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that there were no military targets at the locations struck and said 114 Ukrainian drones were downed over several regions early Monday. Also Read | Poland Threatens to Down Russian Jets Crossing Its Borders So far, Indian entities have largely escaped EU sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine war and Indias trade talks with the bloc have been smooth. Nayara Energy, partly owned by Russias Rosneft, was among the few facing EU import curbs. However, the EUs just-announced 19th package of punitive measures against Russia seems significantly harsher. Also Read | Trumps calls for coordinated tariffs on India unlikely to sway EU As it appears, their basic aim is to restrict Russias access to a broad list of critical minerals and technologies deemed to be aiding its war. Though details are sparse at the moment, its a new twist that New Delhi may have to reckon with if implemented. Also Read | Trump pressed EU for tariffs on China, India in Russia sanctions talks Just days earlier, the EU had termed its ties with India a strategic priority. It was also seen as reluctant to act on a US nudge to pressure India and China into giving up their oil imports from Russia. Perhaps the EU realized the futility of taking that advice but saw prudence in using another device for a show of Nato unity. Also Read | The EU neednt have yielded to the US on a trade deal Whatever the real motive, India must read these signals right and keep up its efforts to fast-track a trade deal with the EU, even as it works on a carbon market to reduce friction on issues related to climate action. We must not let relations slide backwards. For a country slated to contribute about 20% to global growth (IMF), one would expect India to be abuzz with private enterprises placing bold bets on its future. Instead, the numbers speak otherwise: public capital expenditure does the heavy lifting while private investments remain muted. Over the past decade, Indias investment mix has seen ups and downs. Public investment, especially in infrastructure, transport and energy, has risen to a quarter of gross fixed capital formation (GFCF); private investment accounts for the rest of this total, but the share of private corporate investment has been in decline. It has fallen from a peak of 41% in 2015-16 to a current 33%. Household investments are important too. Also Read | Resilience may be costly but even the private sector cannot do without it Numbers alone hardly tell the full story. For every stalled factory floor, theres a startup in Bengaluru rewriting the rules of global technology. For every corporate balance sheet weighed down by old debt, theres a renewable energy project securing world-class financing. The story of private investment, then, is not just one of gaps, but of potential waiting to be unlocked. Which is why the conversation must move beyond asking, Why isnt capital flowing in? Instead, we should ask, Where should capital flow for maximum gain? To answer this, we must sketch a sectoral picturewhere investments have gone and where they must go next. Real estate and professional services dominate Indias capital formation, consistently accounting for about 22% of total investment. Trade, transport and services have been rising too, reflecting Indias consumption-driven growth and expanding logistics. But the flip-side is equally telling. Manufacturing, while still 1617% of capital formation, has seen its share decline. Utilitieselectricity, gas and waterhave fallen from 9.5% to under 6% in the last decade, despite rising demand. Indias growth is service-heavy, but investments in industrial capacity and infrastructure remain constrained. Also Read | Domestic private capital plays a key role in financing Indian businesses Indias comparative advantage lies in innovation-led areas: climate finance, digital public goods, health-tech and global supply chain diversification. The worlds largest companies are recalibrating supply chains and India can benefit from these shifts. The apparent contradiction between Indias capital-attracting potential and its declining share of private investment shows that the real challenge is not capital availability, but allocation. So, how can capital find its best use? Investors are no longer swayed by government incentives alone. They seek certainty, speed and scale. A transparent regulatory environment, rapid dispute resolution and streamlined project clearances can boost private sector confidence. Global benchmarks of private investment are instructive. South Korea channels 84% of its investment through private markets, while Australia, Japan and the US maintain 80%-plus. China, despite its state-led model, has a much higher GFCF at 41% of GDP, compared to Indias 31%, translating to $390 billion more investment each year. Also Read | Reform agenda: What India must do to get private sector investment going Indias 75% private share of GFCF is proof that market mechanisms work. S&P Globals upgrade of Indias sovereign rating to BBB reinforces the point: a large domestic economy with cushions for shocks, healthier corporate balance sheets, rising capacity utilization and resilient demand. Together, these should facilitate a revival in private investment, aided by a supportive policy environment that features GST and other reforms. While the private sector has been investing in sectors like oil and gas, power and automobiles, lifting Indias total investment from 31% to 35% of GDPas in other fast-growing Asian economieswill require ensuring capital flows to sectors with the highest multiplier effects. To accelerate private investment, we can adopt proven frameworks. South Koreas two-tier fund regime tripled venture capital deployment in a decade by calibrating incentives for both mega-funds and small enterprise vehicles. Unlike Indias broad fund-of-funds model, Koreas approach offers targeted regulatory and tax advantages. Singapores co-investment approachwhere its state-run Temasek takes early minority stakes in sunrise sectorsworks less as a subsidy scheme and more as a signalling device. For India, combining Koreas efficiency with Singapores risk-sharing could drive investment in green tech, quantum tech, health-tech and advanced manufacturing. Government funds can offer patient capital and validation, while nudging private investors to scale up. But capital alone is not enough. We need a sharper R&D thrust, initiated by the government but propelled by private enterprise. At 0.65% of GDP, Indias R&D spend lags Chinas (2.68%) and South Koreas (5.21%). Through better tax incentives, streamlined patents and stronger university-industry linkages, India can steer private research towards strategic areas. Only then will investment translate to cutting-edge capability and value chain upgradation to position India as a global innovation hub, not just a manufacturing base. Why does this matter when public capex is so high? Because public investment cannot substitute private dynamism. Every rupee spent on highways or power lines creates conditions for multiple rupees of private investmentfactories along corridors, startups leveraging digital infrastructure and exporters tapping new markets. Without private participation, the multiplier effect weakens. The sooner it flickers back to form, the louder Indias growth engine will roar. The author are, respectively, director and visiting fellow at Pahle India Foundation. The introduction of a creditor-led insolvency resolution process (CLRP) in Indias Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) Amendment bill, 2025, is well meaning, but its focus on creditor-only initiations, default as the operative trigger and the courts role in key stages may make value protection a challenge. Unlike the IBCs usual corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP), the CLRP is a proposed option under which the corporate debtor keeps management control while creditors work towards a time-bound resolution (150 days extendable by 45 days) under limited court oversight, which is helpful given todays adjudicatory level delays. The bill also aligns with the World Banks B-ready insolvency model that encourages countries to have an out-of-court mechanism, although the CLRP is a hybrid. A CLRP may be initiated with the approval of 51% of creditors (by debt value), with the corporate debtor given time to respond. Then, an insolvency professional (IP) is appointed. The board stays in place, but the IP can attend meetings and veto resolutions. For a moratorium, an application must be made to the adjudicating authority, which approves the final resolution plan. A CLRP can be converted to a CIRP under certain circumstances. Also Read | Amend the IBC: Let new pathways speed up insolvency resolution It is also important to understand what the CLRP is not. It is not strictly out-of-court; it is a hybrid mechanism that combines out-of-court and formal reorganization methods (for legal sanctity). The CLRP is not pre-packaged insolvency either. It is also not an early-stage preventive device that applies formal resolution processes (with a limited court role) to an enterprise that is not yet technically insolvent. Notably, it kicks in only in case of a default and cannot be self-applied by a corporate debtor on the verge of insolvency. This reform, while aiming for quicker resolution, raises some concerns over how much value recovery it will enable. First, a CLRP can only be initiated by creditors (and not corporate debtors themselves), who will require the implicit cooperation of the debtor, which could prove challenging in many cases, especially as the initiation of this process means the debtor risks it being converted into a regular CIRP (through a vote among creditors or court order). So, while the corporate debtor gets a breather, a CIRP may loom. This route may end up delaying an inevitable CIRP, causing further value loss. Next, the CLRPs initiation criterion is a default by the corporate debtor (also the CIRPs insolvency test). However, from a value recovery perspective, it is often quite late by then. The Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) prudential guidelines for lenders acknowledge that default is a lagging indicator." While defaults determine reclassifications of loan quality, the regulator encourages banks to manage accounts proactively. Lastly, on account of the courts role, limited though it us, the new process would be just as vulnerable to delays as the CIRP, which tends to erode value, as the longer resolution takes, the less can be expected out of it. The court has a role in some important phases (if a CD objects to initiation, for example, and resolution plan approval). While the bill prescribes an adjudication timeline and criteria, the process may face prolonged appeals. Similar concerns exist for other adjudicating-authority approvals. Also Read | Unfair order: Gig workers deserve a better deal in cases of corporate insolvency Extant mechanisms do not provide corporate debtors many avenues to initiate pre-default solutions without losing control of operations (or risking it). Value erosion typically begins well before technical insolvency, and information asymmetry implies that debtors may be best placed to assess their solvency status. However, since formal processes entail a high risk of losing control (and of an associated stigma), companies often do not seek timely resolution. Existing mechanisms have not seen much success either. The IBC does let corporate debtors initiate a CIRP (upon default) so that a speedy resolution is obtained, but it has been invoked only in 522 cases so far. The pre-pack device for MSMEs is underused. Among non-IBC solutions, the scheme of arrangement (under the Companies Act) is considered too complex for debt restructuring. Among non-IBC solutions, the scheme of arrangement (under the Companies Act) is considered too complex for debt restructuring. The RBI framework, also default-based, has seen moderate success. Although it recommends early action on warning signals, it is meant for the banking sector and excludes non-financial creditors. While the CLRP introduces an alternative rescue device, India should also consider preventive insolvency mechanisms for enhanced value protection. Specifically, it will help if we let debtors initiate hybrid processes (without the fear of immediate control loss) as soon as they foresee insolvency. It will encourage debtors to try resolving debts well before technical insolvency. Many countries in the Global South have put in place such mechanisms (for instance, Ethiopia, Morocco, Tunisia). India could consider them too. The Supreme Court has also recently voiced a need for preventive restructuring mechanisms (Mansi Brar Fernandes vs Shuba Sharma). While we do not need to reopen a discussion on the default test, greater flexibility can be explored for hybrid mechanisms. An over-emphasis on creditor-led and default-triggered processes may work against value preservation. These are the authors personal views. The author is visiting fellow at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries, New Delhi. A smarter strategy may be to channel resources not on reinventing foundational AI tech, but by focusing on the application layer. Building domain-specific tools in healthcare, finance or public services is also far more likely to deliver economic returns. Governments concerned about sovereignty would be better off concentrating on infrastructure at the deployment level: It matters less that an AI model was trained elsewhere if it can be run locally. SEOULNorth Koreas Kim Jong Un said he would sit down with President Trump, but with one major condition: he wont discuss giving up the countrys nuclear weapons. For months, Trump has repeatedly extolled what he says is the good relationship he enjoys with Kim and has expressed interest in a summit with him. In his first direct response to such overtures, Kim expressed willingness to discuss peaceful coexistence" with Trump. However, he described Washingtons policy of seeking the denuclearization of North Korea as delusional obsession." I declare denuclearization will never, ever happen with us," said Kim, in a Korean-language report of his remarks carried by Pyongyangs state media. The 41-year-old dictator made the remarks in a lengthy Sunday speech to his rubber-stamp parliament. The U.S. didnt have an immediate response to the comments from Kim, who for years hadnt uttered Trumps name in state-media remarks until the Sunday address. Pyongyang formally declared itself a nuclear state three years ago. Since then, North Korea has sought to be recognized as a nuclear power on the global stage. Kim has become increasingly emboldened. He has deepened military ties with Russia. The chance for a meeting between Trump and Kim could present itself in the coming weeks. Trump said he would attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, held on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in South Korea, where he plans to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The two leaders met at the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in 2019. North Korea isnt an APEC member. But Trump, as he did in June 2019, could make a short journey to the Korean Demilitarized Zone for a face-to-face encounter with Kim. That third in-person exchange was the last time Trump and Kim have met. Kims overture appears aimed at testing the waters with Trump. The conundrum for Washington will be whether a meeting is worthwhile for Trump without progress toward denuclearization, said Sydney Seiler, a former U.S. envoy for nuclear talks with North Korea. We cant rule out Trump sitting down with Kim because he sees value in having a personal relationship," he said. The duos first encounterat the 2018 Singapore summitbroke decades of American foreign policy. Never before had a sitting U.S. president met a North Korean leader. Engaging in talks with Pyongyang, absent the pursuit of denuclearization, would represent another disruption of longstanding Washington policy. But the Kim regime has made it clear in recent years that future U.S. discussions should start with the recognition of North Korea as a nuclear state. For years, the U.S. and its allies have pressured North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, wielding sanctions and other penalties on the country to pressure Pyongyang. Kim recently attended a Chinese military parade, strolling out front with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who share the North Korean leaders disdain for the U.S.-led world order. It is Moscow and Beijings political cover that shields Pyongyang from further international sanctions. The Trump administration has said it would continue to pursue the complete denuclearization" of the Kim regime, though it is unclear how Washington would achieve that aim. In May, Trump said North Korea was certainly a nuclear power. Kim, in his Sunday speech, emphasized his warm ties with the U.S. leader. Personally," Kim said, I still have good memories of President Trump." Write to Dasl Yoon at dasl.yoon@wsj.com Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland is prepared to shoot down foreign aircraft that cross into its territory without authorization after a series of Russian incursions into NATO airspace. We will most certainly take decisions to shoot down flying objects when they violate our territory and fly over Poland, Tusk told reporters in northern Poland Monday when asked about the prospect of downing Russian jets. There is no room for discussion here. Poland is among North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states that have responded to incursions of Russian aircraft this month, including three MiG-31 jets that crossed into Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland Friday. Poland, which moved to shoot down drones that crossed into its territory earlier this month, and Estonia both invoked Article 4 of NATOs treaty, which triggers consultations and can open a path to coordinated action among allies. Tusk spoke as the United Nations Security Council gathered in New York for an emergency meeting to discuss the breach in Estonia, which the government in Tallinn called part of a broader Russian campaign to test how firmly NATO is prepared to respond to territorial threats. Polands foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, laced into Russias representative in New York, saying that Warsaw will not be intimidated. If another missile or aircraft enters our space without permission deliberately or by mistake and gets shot down and the wreckage falls on NATO territory, dont come here to whine about it, Sikorski said. You have been warned. The sudden increase in Russias airspace violations has rattled NATO with Kremlins war on Ukraine is well into its fourth year. NATO scrambled jets again early Sunday in response to a Russian military plane flying in neutral airspace over the Baltic Sea, the German Air Force said in a statement. Russias Defense Ministry denied its jets had entered Estonian airspace, saying the aircraft followed a planned route from the Karelia Republic which borders Finland to the Kaliningrad exclave. Estonia was set to follow Poland in requesting additional air-defense assistance, prompting concern that resources may be diverted from the effort to defend Ukraine. As NATO leaders lined up to demand firmer responses to Russian action, much will depend on whether US President Donald Trump will go along. Speaking from the Oval Office on Friday, President Donald Trump was noncommittal about the US response. I dont love it, Trump told reporters. When that happens, it could be big trouble. But Ill let you know later. While Tusk insisted that Poland alone has the right to defend its own territory, he also underlined that his government is in ongoing discussions with its allies and he would ensure that any response was coordinated. You really need to think twice before deciding on actions that could trigger a very acute phase of conflict, which is why we are primarily in constant consultation with our allies here, Tusk said. Tusk had been asked about comments over the weekend by Czech President Petr Pavel, who had also suggested that NATO governments need to be prepared to shoot down Russian jets in the case of further violations. The incident this month into Poland prompted the government in Warsaw to shoot down Russian drones for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. NATO moved to reinforce its eastern borders by deploying additional air defense systems and military jets in an operation named Eastern Sentry. With assistance from Magdalena Del Valle. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Satish, a graduate student from India studying in San Francisco, thought this fall would be about finishing his business degree and then lining up an H-1B visa, the work permit thats become a mainstay for skilled immigrants in the US. Instead, hes worried about his ability to build a career in the US as he tries to make sense of the Trump administrations plan to raise the H-1B application fee to $100,000. When someone moves here, they move with the motive of working hard and building something better, said Satish, who like many interviewed asked that their full names be withheld, saying they feared drawing attention to their visa status or complicating their future plans. With everything thats going on no one is willing to speak a thing. Theyre scared of their statuses. President Donald Trump framed the new six-figure fee as part of his effort to protect American jobs and national security. Separately, he unveiled a Trump Gold Card visa program where for the price of $1 million, individuals could get US residency. Trumps H-1B visa announcement jolted companies that have long relied on the program to bring in global talent, especially in Californias tech-heavy economy that relies on trained computer programmers, data analysts and engineers. The suddenness of the change with the new policy taking effect Sunday and initial confusion over whether the fee would apply to current visa holders added to the chaos, with companies warning affected employees to return to the US immediately and refrain from traveling overseas. When passengers on an Emirates flight from San Francisco to Dubai heard about the decision, they paced up and down the aisle of the cabin checking their phones and asking flight attendants to let them off, according to video posted to social media. While passengers arent typically allowed to leave a plane once the cabin doors have closed, the Emirates pilot announced to the cabin that due to the current circumstances, obviously they are unprecedented for us here at Emirates, we are aware that a number of passengers do not wish to travel with us and that is perfectly fine. Subscribe to the Bloomberg Daybreak Podcast on Apple, Spotify and other Podcast Platforms. One day after Trumps announcement, the White House clarified that the fee would only apply to new applicants starting in the next lottery cycle, but the update did little to soothe fears of visa holders. It also leaves many large companies trying to assess what it will mean for their recruitment plans. Alphabet Inc.s Google, Apple Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. employ thousands of H-1B visa holders, while universities and hospitals from Stanford to the University of California system also rely on them to recruit lecturers and research staff. For international graduate students, the visa is a key pathway to remaining in the US after finishing school. Of the 85,000 visas issued each year, 20,000 are set aside for advanced US degree holders, with a masters or higher. Demand always vastly outstrips supply in the 2025 fiscal year lottery, more than 470,000 people applied. Some business groups in the past have called for reforms to the H-1B system, saying its been overused by outsourcing firms, while others have pushed for an expansion, including lifting quotas so they could fill critical labor shortages. When Trumps announcement came, it didnt give companies or lawyers any time to prepare. It was timed to create pandemonium, said Karin Wolman, a New Yorkbased immigration lawyer. She described the measure as unlawful because fees are supposed to be tied to processing costs and subject to a public comment process. The intended effect is to make the H-1B unreachable for entry-level professionals fresh out of college or grad school and restrict its availability to only the most senior professionals with very large employers with lots of cash to spare, Wolman said. No one else will be able to afford it startups, small companies, nonprofits, universities, hospitals. The impact on health care alone will be devastating. At San Francisco International Airport a major entryway to the Bay Area tech scene and top schools uncertainty and confusion was evident even beyond Silicon Valley. Public employees, medical trainees and students on temporary visas all said they were struggling to understand how the change might affect them. Some had already made up their minds. Satish said he knew of at least two dozen acquaintances who were planning to fly back to India in the wake of the announcement. Others had stepped back from social media, worried that even their online chatter could complicate their status. The Trump administration has added social-media vetting to some aspects of the visa-issuance process. Many were turning to YouTube and social media personalities such as Yash Mittra and Soundarya Balasubramani, who have built large followings among immigrants trying to navigate US policy changes. For Hari B., who works for the city of Rancho Cordova, just outside Californias capital of Sacramento, the news raised his concerns for H-1B holders since hes gone through the process himself. He first came to the US six years ago on an H-1B, paying roughly $6,000 in sponsorship costs. He now earns a government salary, far below what a tech worker might command, he said. We dont make as comparable as tech workers, he said after landing at the San Francisco airport, where he learned of the proposal. I started out making $50,000 and looking at $100,000 just to get my application sponsored is very unreal. Hari said friends immediately contacted him asking whether his prior visa status could complicate his ability to travel, underscoring the uncertainty spreading quickly through immigrant circles. The H-1B visa changes will likely have longer-term effects. N.S., a Turkish medical graduate, said he had trained in the US on a J-1 visa for medical residencies, and is now on a temporary B-1 visa. He planned to leave the US for a couple of years and then apply for an H-1B, but the fee change was only the latest reminder of how unstable the rules can be, he said. With assistance from Leen Al-Rashdan. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Back-to-back aircraft orders are typically the domain of expos held in Paris, Dubai or Singapore. But this week, Washington and New York stand to become the surprise venues of major deals. The US capital city and its commerce hub to the north will see an inflow of global leaders in coming days as part of the United Nations General Assembly. Its an opportunity to discuss political, environmental and social crises, but also a time for economic statecraft that unique blend of dealmaking and diplomacy thats become a hallmark of President Donald Trumps second term. Transactions involving Boeing Co. are by now a common feature of Trumps visits with foreign leaders. In recent months, Trump has taken credit for getting major purchases over the line, from British Airways buying US-made jets to Qatar placing the biggest widebody order in Boeings history. Through August, the US planemaker had secured 725 aircraft sales in 2025, versus 600 for Airbus SE putting Boeing on track to outperform its European rival for the first full year since 2021. Leaders gathering in New York this week or stopping by in Washington are seeking to replicate that formula currying favor with Trump, an outspoken aircraft aficionado, while upgrading their home countrys fleets. Among these is Turkey, which could order as many as 250 commercial jets from Boeing, Bloomberg News reported last week. The deal, long in the works, has been held up for the right photo op including Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump himself has said hed host Erdogan in Washington on Sept. 25, and that deals on trade and defense would include the large scale purchase of Boeing aircraft, alongside fighter jets made by Lockheed Martin Corp. Negotiations are still ongoing for the various deals, and the final contours may change, people familiar with the talks said at the time, asking not to be identified discussing private deliberations. Other dignitaries seeking Trumps attention and support may also sign aircraft orders. Moroccos Royal Air Maroc has been evaluating bids from Airbus and Boeing for dozens of jets. The state-owned airlines fleet leans heavily on the US manufacturer for larger aircraft, giving Boeing a good shot at closing a sizable deal. Trump also announced that Indonesia would buy 50 Boeing jets when the country agreed to a trade deal in July, although few details were disclosed. Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has been working on a possible order for 50 Boeing 737 Max jets that could be announced this week, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing confidential talks. Another person urged caution, saying the timing may slip. A Boeing spokesman deferred to the airlines for comment. Trump has flagged trade deficits as one justification for seeking to rewire the global flow of goods through tariffs. But the US still commands a major trade surplus when it comes to aviation, given the vital roles played by Boeing, General Electric Co. and other key manufacturers. Airbus has watched with envy as Trump champions Boeing products, vowing to redouble its own sales efforts in response. Besides the UK and Qatar, Trump has claimed credit for the purchase of Boeing 737 Max jets by Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund. Abu Dhabis Etihad Airways confirmed an order for 28 787 and 777X widebody aircraft in May during Trumps state visit, which Washington valued at $14.5 billion. Some deals, however, are tentative, while others have been restructured versions of previous agreements, or reaffirmations of a prior commitment. Given the complexity of large-scale orders, negotiations have often been underway long before Trump returned to the White House though he can still take credit for closing the sale, using the ultimate leverage that is the power of the US President. Meanwhile, massive backlogs and sluggish production at both Boeing and Airbus mean new orders will provide limited near-term lift. For the popular Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 models, sales booked today wont translate into deliveries until early next decade. Wait times for widebody aircraft like the Boeing 787 are similarly long, meaning any handovers would only occur long after Trump has vacated the White House. The one big aircraft order that remains elusive is from China, where Boeing is seeking to end a sales drought that stretches back to Trumps last visit in 2017. The countrys carriers are looking to buy as many as 500 aircraft, Bloomberg News reported in August, though trade tensions between the two superpowers have held up an accord. Trump held a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, and he said hed meet his counterpart during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea. It will be their first in-person meeting since the 2019 G20 Summit in Japan and another opportunity for Trump to double as a Boeing salesman. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. A group of American lawmakers called for better military communication between the US and China in a meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, as the two countries seek to steady relations ahead of a potential sitdown between their leaders. Representative Adam Smith said Monday the bipartisan delegation wants to have open lines of communication about the countries shared interest in peace and security. In his opening remarks, Dong expressed hopes that the visit will help the US understand China and its military more. The trip may contribute to stabilizing ties ahead of a possible meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea next month. Their Friday call saw Trump claim China had approved a deal for TikToks US operations, potentially resolving one of many sources of conflict between the worlds two largest economies. The lawmakers, including Representatives Michael Baumgartner, Ro Khanna and Chrissy Houlahan, on Sunday met with Premier Li Qiang, who called their visit an ice-breaking trip. It marks the first official visit by US House representatives in six years, signaling a cautious diplomatic thaw. They were joined by Ambassador David Perdue. A focus for the delegation is improving military-to-military communication. Smith, the Democratic leader of the House Armed Services Committee, said he is deeply concerned that our two militaries dont communicate more while operating side-by-side globally. Dong and his US counterpart, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, had their first call earlier this month. In that conversation, Hegseth said the US was not seeking conflict and Dong called for a stable relationship, while warning against any attempt to support independence for Taiwan. Dong repeated the stern warning over the self-ruled island at a defense forum last week. In thinly-veiled references to Washington, he condemned external interference and bullying acts, underscoring persistent friction despite the renewed diplomatic engagements. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- NASAs next class of 10 astronaut candidates includes more women than men for the first time in the space agencys more than 60-year history. The six women and four men include engineers, scientists and former military personnel. Notably, two are former employees of SpaceX, including Anna Menon, who flew to orbit in 2024 as part of the companys Polaris Dawn mission, which included the first commercial spacewalk. Menon is also the first astronaut candidate to be selected who has already flown to orbit before. The new astronaut group comes on board as NASA works to advance its Artemis program to send humans back to the moon. NASA has said the programs goal is to learn how to sustain a human presence on the moon and use those lessons on future missions to Mars. NASA is also racing to return to the moon before China reaches the lunar surface with its own astronauts. Ill be damned if the Chinese beat NASA or beat America back to the moon, Sean Duffy, US Transportation Secretary and NASAs acting administrator, said during a ceremony at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston. Were going to win. We love challenges. We love competition. The new astronaut candidates will spend the next two years training before they will become eligible for flight assignments, which could include missions to low Earth orbit or to the moon. One of the candidates could also one of the first Americans to set foot on Mars, Duffy said. No pressure, NASA, he said. We have some work to do. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com The education sector has emerged as one of the most targeted industries for cybercriminals worldwide, with Indian institutions bearing the brunt of attacks. According to data from Check Point Research (CPR), education and research organisations in India have faced an average of 8,487 cyberattacks per week over the past six months, almost twice the global average of 4,368 incidents per organisation. Indian education sector becomes prime target for cybercriminals In comparison, across other sectors, Indian organisations experience about 3,278 weekly attacks, well above the global benchmark of 1,934, the report highlighted. As per the report, the heightened exposure in education to hybrid learning models, connected campuses, and the widespread use of personal devices, have expanded the digital attack surface. Limited budgets and a lack of dedicated cybersecurity teams have further left many schools and universities vulnerable. Beyond IT downtime: Exams and classes disrupted The consequences extend far beyond IT downtime. Ransomware incidents have disrupted exams, delayed assessments and, in some cases, forced institutions offline for weeks, added the report. A 2023 Sophos report noted that median ransomware payments reached $6.6 million for lower education and $4.4 million for higher education institutions. Despite such high costs, recovery remains slow: only 30 per cent of victims fully restored systems within a week. Data breaches are also fuelling dark web sales of transcripts, personal records and even forged certificates. In extreme cases, the fallout has proved fatal for institutions, Illinois-based Lincoln College, a 157-year-old institution, permanently closed following a ransomware attack, stated the report. Also Read | Beware! IRCTC warns against fake mobile app scam targeting users AI-powered threats on the rise Artificial intelligence is intensifying the threat. CPR recorded 18,000 new education-related domains in July 2025 alone, with one in every 57 flagged as malicious. Many of these were AI-generated to mimic exam portals or fee-payment systems. Attackers are also using AI for deepfake phishing, large-scale credential theft and malware that exploits vulnerabilities within minutes. Expert warnings and call for prevention-first security Sundar Balasubramanian, Managing Director at Check Point Software Technologies for India and South Asia, warned that the countrys education sector faces a surge in AI-powered attacks that not only steal sensitive data but also interrupt learning for millions of students. He called for a prevention-first approach using AI-driven defences, hybrid mesh security, cloud-native protection and threat intelligence. Experts recommend measures such as enforcing multi-factor authentication, strengthening phishing awareness, patching systems regularly, and integrating cyber awareness training for students, staff and parents. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has posted about switching to Zoho for accessing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in a bid to promote the use of Indian-made products. Microsoft's Office suite is a popular paid tool for these tasks, while Google also offers similar online tools. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Vaishnaw wrote, "I am moving to Zoho our own Swadeshi platform for documents, spreadsheets & presentations. I urge all to join PM Shri @narendramodi Jis call for Swadeshi by adopting indigenous products & services, In the recent weeks, government has been prioritising technological self-reliance, with a focus on developing and using Indian made software, applications and hardware. What is Zoho? Founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas, Zoho Corporation is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company headquartered in Chennai. It offers more than 55 cloud-based tools for businesses, covering email, accounting, HR, project management, CRM, and more. While incorporated in the US, Zoho continues to have a strong Made in India ethos and runs its major operations from rural Tamil Nadu. The company has over 100 million users across 150+ countries, with clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 firms. Zoho also offers a number of productivity tools which are bundled under its Zoho Workplace and Zoho Office Suite packages. Many of these tools are also available as standalone applications and compete directly with the likes of Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace. Among the popular Zoho productivity apps are Zoho Writer, Zoho Sheet, Zoho Show, Zoho Notebook, Zoho WorkDrive, Zoho Mail, Zoho Meeting, and Zoho Calendar. Hamilton Co. DA warns that threats against officials will prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law The Ocoee River State Park is Tennessee's newest state park, located just an hour east of Chattanooga. Previously managed alongside the Hiwassee Scenic River as Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park, it offers access to over 17 miles of the Ocoee River, Tennessee State Parks said in a Facebook post: "Renowned for its thrilling whitewater rapids, the park is home to Americas only - and the worlds only natural - Olympic River that was used for the canoeing and kayaking events in the 1996 Summer Olympics. We highly recommend booking a paddling trip with one of the local outfitters to experience it for yourself!" Historically, TN State Parks says the Ocoee River was the source of life for the Cherokee people who lived there. MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Local scout troop makes history with 100-mile canoe trip The group started on the Ocoee, went through the Hiwassee and ended at Brown's Ferry Marina on the Tennessee River. Inside the park you can visit the gravesite of Nancy Ward, a beloved Cherokee woman and leader. The park is also a sanctuary for rare species like Ruth's Golden Aster, a flowering plant that only exists in two places on Earth. Surrounding the park, you can hike on lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and participate in activities like fishing, boating, and swimming at Parksville Lake. "We invite you to explore the exciting adventures that await along the mighty Ocoee," TN State Parks stated. The President of the European Parliament has paid tribute to a Longford priest who made one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in the ancient city of Rome. Father Joseph Mullooly O.P. (18121880) was an Irish Dominican priest from Lehery, near Lanesboro, whose life combined faith, scholarship, and courage. After joining the Dominican Order in Rome, he became Prior of the Basilica of San Clemente, where in 1857 he began excavations that revealed a 4th-century Christian basilica and, beneath it, a Roman-era house and a Mithraic temple. These discoveries, described in his book Saint Clement, Pope and Martyr, and His Basilica in Rome (1869), remain among the most important windows into the layered history of Rome. Fr Mullooly was also renowned for defending San Clemente during the revolutionary turmoil of 1848, when he placed it under Irish protection, and for welcoming visitors such as Princess Alice, daughter of Queen Victoria, who marvelled at the three churches one under the other. He died in 1880 and was later laid to rest at San Clemente, leaving a legacy as a pioneering archaeologist and a proud Irishman whose work continues to inspire pilgrims and scholars alike. President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola wrote to the family of Fr Joseph Mullooly paying tribute to him on the occasion of a European Union commemoration in the Basilica of San Clemente. Over 100 people from the Lanesboro area travelled to Rome for the commemoration which was led by The European Ambassador to the Holy See Mr Martin Selmayr. MEP Metsola wrote that the rich story of Europe is written by a long list of seemingly ordinary people who accomplished extraordinary things, and Fr Joseph Mullooly is certainly one such person. A pioneering archaeologist, a devout Christian and a far-sighted conservationist who risked his life to safeguard the Basilica of San Clemente, Mulloolys lifelong efforts to uncover our shared history and preserve it for future generations are a gift not just to Rome, but to all of Europe. From the early days of the Roman Empire to the Treaty of Rome in 1957 that laid the foundations of what would become the European Union, Rome has played a pivotal role in Europes journey. Fr Joseph Mulloolys profound archaeological discoveries in the foundations of San Clemente add another chapter to the story of the Eternal City. Today, thanks to Fr Mulloolys research in the late 19th century, anyone can travel back in time through medieval, early Christian and ancient Rome simply by descending the three levels below San Clemente. Visitors from around the world can explore the Basilicas stunning artworks, Romanesque architecture and archaeological remains. "And pilgrims can say a prayer at the tomb of Saint Cyril, discovered by Fr Mullooly in 1863, and today forming part of Romes extensive network of sacred sites that extend from St. Peters Basilica to Santa Maria in Trastevere. As President of the European Parliament, I am glad that my fellow member of this House, Ciaran Mullooly, is celebrating his ancestor Fr Joseph Mullooly and his accomplishments. "The European Parliament prides itself on welcoming cultural identity and history into the heart of our institution through exhibitions, art displays, book talks and more. "The Parliament also regularly brings together people of all faiths through our inter-religious dialogue. In short, the spirit of Fr Joseph Mulloolys work is alive and well in this House, and I hope that Mulloolys legacy, still present in sites across Rome like San Clemente, continues to fascinate and inspire Europeans for many more years to come. READ NEXT: Taskforce request has been made by local authority to boost Co. Longford area READ NEXT: Longford drug driving cases adjourned pending outcome of High Court matter Fuel Allowance, which is a means-assessed payment, will be paid for 28 weeks to over 410,000 households across the State. The payment is made at the weekly rate of 33 or if preferred, by way of two payments of 462 each. Deputy Micheal Carrigy says it plays a vital role in supporting hundreds of thousands of families around the country with their heating costs over the winter months. You do not need to reapply for Fuel Allowance each year if your circumstances have not changed and you continue to get the same social welfare payment. Read more: Popular Longford bar and guesthouse gets planning approval for large extension The Fuel Allowance season will run for the next 28 weeks and will be available until April. I would also like to acknowledge the work carried out by my colleague Heather Humphreys in her role as Social Protection Minister in increasing the Fuel Allowance allocations for those in Longford , continued Deputy Micheal Carrigy Heather consistently champions measures to protect the most vulnerable and helping families, including expanding the fuel allowance and increasing eligibility so that more households in Longford could benefit, showing that she would make an excellent President of Ireland. Read more: From quiet corners to centre stage: Longford teens life changing experience The easiest way to apply for the Fuel Allowance is through MyWelfare.ie. As the winter season begins, I will continue to work with Government to ensure that supports such as the Fuel Allowance are strengthened for people in Longford particularly due to rising energy costs, while it is also important to build on the strong foundation that Heather Humphreys put in place, concluded Deputy Micheal Carrigy. A 17 year old girl from Carlow has set up a GoFundMe for herself due to her financial struggles in her first year of college. Gabriella Sibanda is studying social care in Technological University Dublin (TUD) and lives in a shared student accommodation unit in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. The young girl's rent is 450 a month for a small room. She said the price is reduced for her because she found the accommodation through a Church which offers cheaper rent if you help out at Sunday Church service. Otherwise her rent would be about 100 more expensive a month. "It's not bad," Gabriella said. "But it's not in the best condition....there's a few things that need t be fixed and there is really bad mould." "For 450 it's not bad.....but the walls are in bad condition and some of the equipment is not working....the clothes dryer wasn't working the other day." Gabriella, despite moving from her home in Carlow to be closer to college in Dublin, has to commute an hour to college every morning. "I have to take the dart and the Luas...it takes like an hour...". READ NEXT: Ryan Tubridy takes time out of engagement bubble for heart-warming nursing home visit Gabriella's main worry is trying to find a job so she can financially support herself. She does get a SUZI grant allowance of 479 every month but after she pays her rent with that she is left with 29 euro. The 29 euro Gabriella has left over is spent on commuting to college and food. She said luckily her college has some free groceries which she makes use of. "The most important thing is that I get a job.....I applied to so many jobs in Dublin and in Carlow....maybe it's because I skipped fourth year so I don't have work experience but I do have voluntary experience in a few places." "It's been really really hard to find a job". Gabriella said she applied to over 70 jobs with no luck. She created a GoFundMe which said: "This has been my last resort.... I know there are more worthy causes out there but even two euro can go a long way for me, thank you! I will leave this here until I successfully find a job." Gabriella's GoFundMe can be found here. Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said she will represent a movement for those not afraid of speaking up against narratives at her campaign launch. The major opposition parties joined her on stage to endorse the left-wing presidential candidate from Galway. What gives me the right to stand here before you and say I represent you as president of Ireland? she said as she outlined her upbringing that led her to politics. We can shape the narrative and counter the narrative of consensus that has dogged our public discourse for far too long. The narrative of consensus that allowed over 100 years of institutionalisation in Ireland, that locked up women and men in our industrial schools, in our reformatory schools, and our Mother and Baby Homes and Magdalene laundries. A century and more of incarceration because our republic couldnt allow questions to be put and those that put questions were demonised and ostracised. I will put the questions, more importantly I want to empower and enable you to realise the power that you have, and the power is within this community and within all the communities in Ireland, and you need to use your voice and demand answers, and Im proud to be part of that movement. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said we are ready to move heaven and earth to elect Ms Connolly as president. She said cherishing children equally, a united republic, affordable housing and access to healthcare were values hardwired into the DNA of Ms Connolly. Ms McDonald said: Catherine Connolly will speak out for Irelands place in the world as a defender of human rights, of peace, of democracy and diplomacy, she will defend our proud tradition of military neutrality, let me tell you this Jim Gavin wont do that, Heather Humphreys wont do that, so the line for this presidential election has been clearly drawn. Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said that when Ms Connolly speaks in the Dail chamber, everybody listens. She said she can feel the momentum building behind this campaign and thanked Ms Connollys team for letting her speak first, and mentioned it is her first night away from her newborn daughter. Thats because there is a quiet, unshakeable strength to Catherine, you know that she has considered the issue deeply on a legal and on a moral level. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said the launch for Ms Connolly gave him hope in a very dark time. What Catherines campaign, in my opinion, is about saying no, there is a choice. There is a hope. They have a choice between a candidate who will speak out with moral clarity about Palestine, including saying that no, its not up to Keir Starmer who represents the Palestinian people, its actually up to the Palestinian people themselves. Senator Eileen Flynn said Ms Connolly keeps me grounded as a politician. She said she did not believe that this was the left uniting and said it was instead Catherine uniting us. Catherine made me feel that I wasnt stupid because I do have dyslexia, she said and retold a story where she asked Ms Connolly to help her spell Seanad. As my father used to say to me, lord have mercy on his soul, you can mix the rough and the smooth. And I think Catherine can mix the rough and the smooth. Urging people to go out and vote, she added: Im begging of you, from the bottom of my heart, in a very scary world, please, please, please get beside Catherine and behind her, shes exactly what they say on the tin. Green Party leader Roderic OGorman said he was utterly confident that, if elected, Ms Connolly would put a spotlight on issues like Gaza and climate change. He said she has a commitment to always speaking for the underdog and referencing Mother and Baby Homes and the Irish language. Labour senator Marie Sherlock said Ms Connolly would be a voice to speak the uncomfortable truths and to give people hope. Longford County Council has announced the launch of the Longford Libraries Art Competition 2025, inviting secondary school students across County Longford to showcase their creativity through original artwork celebrating the theme 'Reading Takes You Places.' The competition, proudly supported by Creative Ireland as part of this year's Children's Book Festival, challenges young artists to capture the limitless journeys that books inspire - across time, place, imagination, and emotion. Twelve winning entries will be selected for publication in the official Longford Libraries 2026 Calendar, which will be distributed free of charge across all six Longford libraries. Read more: INTERVIEW | Longford filmmaker discusses bringing the industry to the county Students can enter in two categories: Junior Cycle (1st-3rd Year) and Senior Cycle (4th-6th Year). Each winning artist will receive a 50 prize, and their work will be exhibited across Longford Libraries and online. Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh, said: "This competition presents an excellent opportunity for our young people to express their creativity whilst celebrating the magic of reading. I encourage all secondary school students in Longford to pick up their pencils or brushes and show us where books have taken them. Art and literature are powerful forces that enrich our communities, and we're excited to see the unique perspectives our talented students will bring to this theme." Chief Executive Paddy Mahon added, "This art competition perfectly aligns with our corporate plan's commitment to fostering cultural development and supporting our young citizens. By providing a platform for local artistic talent, we're not only celebrating creativity but also strengthening the vital connection between our libraries and the communities they serve. These initiatives demonstrate how public services can nurture the cultural fabric of County Longford whilst encouraging lifelong learning." The competition aims to capture and celebrate local young talent whilst providing artists with a platform to share their work with the wider community. A panel from the Longford Cultural Team will judge submissions. Entry Details: Open to all secondary school students in County Longford Submit scanned digital artwork with entry form to: libraryhqteam@longfordcoco.ie libraryhqteam@longfordcoco.ie Physical entry forms available at all local libraries Artwork must be A4 size and original Submission forms can be downloaded from Longford Libraries website Longford Libraries Art Competition or visit your local library branch for more information. PICTURES | Longford's Backstage Theatre lights up with laughs with comedy night For updates, follow Longford County Council on social media and visit Longfordcoco.ie. Longford County Council is proud to announce the launch of 'The Evening Edit', a lively new programme of night-time events which began on 7 September and runs until November 23, 2025 in Longford Town. Supported through Call 2 of the Night-Time Economy Grant Scheme, this initiative brings together local businesses, artists, community groups, and venues to deliver a diverse and engaging calendar of evening activities designed to energise the town centre after dark. Read more: From quiet corners to centre stage: Longford teens life changing experience Events will take place Sunday to Thursday evenings through September, October and November and will include: Live music DJ sets Art exhibitions and film screenings Social dancing, bingo, and live podcasts Activities will be hosted across a range of venues from cafes and pubs to community spaces, theatres, and outdoor locations with many organisers collaborating to create fun experiences for all ages. This season's campaign places a strong emphasis on: 'Feet on the Street' - encouraging increased evening footfall Transport options - improving access and safety Family-focused programming - ensuring inclusivity and variety Community engagement - supporting local creativity and enterprise As one of Ireland's nine pilot towns for Night-Time Economy development, Longford is continuing to grow and evolve its evening offering. This programme reflects ongoing efforts to build a town centre that is safe, vibrant, and welcoming. Longford County Council encourages locals and visitors alike to come out, support the initiative, and be part of this collective effort. Michael Nevin, Head of Enterprise at Longford County Council, said, "The Night-Time Economy project continues to look at imaginative ways that we can keep life in Longford Town in the evenings. The Autumn/Winter campaign will have a strong focus on family events and initiatives, and we hope that it encourages people to visit the town and engage in positive and memorable experiences." Karen Reilly, Night-Time Economy Advisor, added, "There's a real buzz building in Longford Town this season, and we want people to come out, support local initiatives, and experience the great atmosphere and events happening across the town. The Evening Edit is about creating opportunities for people to reconnect with the town, whether it's through music, movement, creativity, or simply spending time with others in a welcoming space. "We're inviting everyone, families, friends, neighbours to come into town, explore what's on, and support the fantastic local groups and businesses who are working hard to make Longford a warm and welcoming place after dark. There's something for everyone, and it's a great time to rediscover your town in a whole new light." Read more: Longford County Council support call for extra 5 million in Post office funding For full event listings and updates, follow Longford Tourism on social media for weekly event listings. For updates, follow Longford County Council on social media and visit Longfordcoco.ie. Truadue government gave 1.3 million Indian students received study permits between 2015 and 2024. In 2015, only 31,920 Indian students held study permits, accounting for 14.5% of the total international student population. By 2023, this number surged to 278,250, representing 40.7% of the total international student population. They also provided open work permits to the partners of those 1.3 million Indian students, where the number of Indian nationals who received permanent residency annually in Cananda increased from ~20k to 140k. They also provided visiting permits to the kids of those students. There were also hundreds of thousands on temporary work experience using LMIA. The number of Indian permanent residents in the past decade is ~1 million. The total number of indidan permanent residents accepted annually increased from ~20k to 140k! Why Trudeau's Exit Could Mean End Of The Road For Indian Students, Workers https://search.app/vs5D2MX8d2Z5daRf7 Canada for students in the post-Trudeau era: How it will impact visa policies and Indian students | Chandigarh News - The Indian Express https://search.app/moxrtk6B7zNRU8Ld9 Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks to supporters during an election night rally in Adams Park in Roslindale after winning the Sept. 9 municipal preliminary election. Trea Lavery/MassLive Boston mayoral candidate Domingos DaRosa failed to make it onto the general election ballot after a recount of votes cast in this months preliminary election. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu received 66,859 votes (72%) in the Sept. 9 preliminary election, according to the certified results shared by the citys Elections Department on Monday. Her opponents, Josh Kraft, received 21,481 votes (23.1%), and Domingos DaRosa received 2,428 (2.6%). Kraft dropped out of the race two days after the election, pledging to donate $3 million and help solve the open-air drug use problems and crime in the Massachusetts Avenue-Melnea Cass Boulevard area. DaRosa then requested the recount in an attempt to continue his run against Wu in the November general election. The top two finishers in the preliminary election move on to the general election. However, by law, the third-place finisher must receive at least 3,000 votes to qualify for the ballot. The recount results leave Mayor Wu without a challenger for the remainder of this election cycle. She will shift her focus to the city council races. Im grateful to each one of the nearly 94,000 Boston voters who showed up for our democracy, and Im humbled by the overwhelming support across every neighborhood and every ward to keep going in our work to make Boston a home for everyone, Wu said in a statement from her campaign Monday. Over the next six weeks, our team will continue to organize alongside the City Council candidates to get out the vote for the Nov. 4th final election. DaRosa told MassLive on Monday afternoon that he was disappointed with how the race unfolded, particularly the emphasis the media placed on Wu and Kraft. He and fellow candidate Robert Cappucci were mainly left out of the discussion. They never gave the public the option of the four candidates," he said. As usual, the marginalized individuals like myself are the ones who are left fighting ... Money shouldnt be used to gauge the viability of a candidate. It should be based on their work history, their years of dedication to the city. He attributed the low voter turnout just under 22% of registered voters cast a ballot citywide to the lack of coverage of the other candidates. He predicted that there would be a similar low interest in November, with only one candidate for mayor. Wu told reporters at an unrelated event Monday morning that every election is important, and Novembers would also be a chance for voters to select their city council members. My team and I are going to continue to be out there and working hard to drive up turnout and make sure that people know that an election is happening and that it makes a difference for everyone in the city of Boston to be able to participate, she said. DaRosa said he was prepared to jump back into city politics for the next mayoral election in 2029. We as a city are going to continue to suffer because of the lack of accountability when it comes to having all voices at the table, he said. MassLive Politics Editor John Micek contributed reporting for this story. Fear on the Farm at McCray's Farm in South Hadley. Photo courtesy of Brigetann Reilly/Fear on the Farm. SOUTH HADLEY Hes got a license to chill. In 1991, Don McCray, founder of McCray Farm, gave a 23-year-old kid from Holyoke the opportunity to see his dream come true. I told him that I wanted to create an outdoor haunt for Halloween. And he said, I admire your enthusiasm. Lets talk about it, said Dan Augusto, who is the mastermind behind South Hadleys Fear on the Farm. Now, 35 years later, what began as a simple attraction called the Monster Mash Haunted Hayride at McCrays Farm in South Hadley has morphed into a professionally produced scare fest attended by haunt hunters from throughout Western Massachusetts and beyond. Today, Fear on the Farm begins with an unsuspecting haunted hayride with visions of creepy souls who want to derail your ride, as well as two additional walk-through experiences not for the faint of heart: DON (Diagnostic, Operations, Nexus) Genetic Research Facility and Massacre Manor. I am blessed to have the greatest crew. We start building and preparing for Fear on the Farm in early July. Every year me and the crew, who I affectionately call the farm family crew after all these years, sacrifice our weekends in the summer to get everything prepared by opening day in September, Augusto said about a staff that numbers nearly 100. The toughest job is to get the doors open for the public, he added, explaining that the workers who transform into the farms ghouls, ghosts and zombies dont need a lot of time to rehearse. Theyve been doing this for years. Im giving them a voice, and I think it is actually therapeutic for them." Fear on the Farm at McCray's Farm in South Hadley. Photo courtesy of Brigetann Reilly/Fear on the Farm. Augusto noted they have been hard at work adding some new features for this year. There are always new surprises on the hayride, but the biggest changes can be found in our haunted houses where, once again, we are bringing even more scares, he said. New animatronics await guests, and some areas have been gutted to include more winding corridors and hidden spots for the actors to jump out and scare people. The haunts [previously] had some large open scenes and people would just run through and not experience the full thrills awaiting them. Weve taken care of that now, Augusto said. Masks, costumes, and props used in Fear on the Farm are not from your average store selling Halloween supplies. Even before starting to build-out Fear on the Farm in July, Augusto visits one of a number of National Haunters Conventions. If you have a major haunting event like ours, and you dont attend the convention, then you dont have the newest and best on the professional market for your attraction. When talking with vendors, youre getting a taste of the industry for the latest trends and what are the next best things to help bring your attraction to life. The industry is always coming up with better, more realistic costuming and props that look amazingly real, Augusto said. Prior to beginning your travels through the path to heart-pounding scares on the hayride and haunted houses, and afterwards as well, the Monster Midway provides a more calming area to relax and enjoy a beer or glass of wine with friends, enjoy a donut or two, or grab a bag of kettle corn. Visitors will also find plenty of opportunities for selfies and other photos alongside some of the talented actors and props for background. McCrays Country Creamery also will be open serving ice cream, snacks and beverages. Be sure to read the warnings and disclaimers on fearonthefarm.com before leaving home. Among the warnings note that: Patrons will experience intense lighting and audio effects, strobes, fog, low visibility, and overall, a physically demanding environment. Do not attend if you are pregnant, claustrophobic, asthmatic, prone to seizures and have respiratory or heart issues. Yikes. And most importantly: Do not touch us and we will not touch you. Fear on the Farm, after opening day this Saturday it is not open on Sunday the first weekend runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday beginning Oct. 3. Tickets are available online or onsite each day beginning at 6:30 p.m. and are $30 general admission. A $55 fast pass to skip to the front of the line is available online only. Opening day is Customer Appreciation Night in honor of the attractions 35th anniversary, with general admission tickets priced at $25 and the Fast Pass at $35. Attractions open nightly at 7 p.m. and run until the last rider runs screaming, according to the haunts website. For more information, visit fearonthefarm.com or call 413-537-3510. As summers in the United States are getting deadlier, energy and utility experts recommend familiarizing yourself with your states utility laws. In 2023, 2,300 peoples death certificates mentioned the effects of excessive heat, the highest number in 45 years, according to the Associated Press. During that same time, the cost of electricity has risen at twice the pace of the average cost of living, the AP continued. Karen Lusson, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center who focuses on energy and utility affordability, spoke to the AP about recommendations for protecting households during increasingly hotter months. Heres what to know. Lusson recommends seeking information on your states local utility shutoffs and what your rights are. Massachusetts residents can consult with the Department of Public Utilities. In Massachusetts, if all residents of your home are age 65 and over, your electricity or gas cannot be shut off without permission from the DPU, their website states. The DPU website also states that if you are experiencing financial hardship and one of the following applies, your electric or gas cannot be shut off without permission from the DPU: You, or someone in your home, is seriously ill. You have an infant under 12 months in your home. All adults in the home are age 65 or older and a minor child resides in the home. It is between November 15 and March 15 and the utility service is needed to heat your home. Another recommendation is that consumers familiarize themselves with resources available through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides funds for vulnerable groups who have trouble affording utility expenses in the summer and winter. LIHEAP also has a comprehensive list of Massachusetts consumer protection laws. A Cape Cod man was arrested last month after authorities searched his home and uncovered child sexual abuse materials, Barnstable police announced Friday. Hyannis resident Cristian Martinez-Peraza pleaded not guilty to one count of possession of child pornography during his arraignment in Barnstable District Court on Aug. 8, according to court records. Police began investigating Martinez-Peraza as a result of a tip sent to the Massachusetts State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Barnstable police said in a press release. The tip indicated that a digital device in his home contained child sexual abuse materials on it. The U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force and Barnstable detectives searched Martinez-Perazas home on Aug. 7 and found at least one digital device that contained child sexual abuse images and videos, Barnstable police said. He was then arrested and charged. During a subsequent forensic examination of devices seized from Martinez-Perazas home, the Secret Service task force discovered additional files of child sexual abuse material, Barnstable police said. The investigation is ongoing. During Martinez-Perazas arraignment on Aug. 8, a judge ordered him held on $5,000 cash and ordered him to surrender his passport, according to court records. He is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on Sept. 29. Joshua Fernandes was convicted of second-degree murder. He was originally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Massachusetts Parole Board At 16 years old, he shot and killed a 14-year-old boy who was being held down. Now 32, a Boston man has spent years in prison working to turn his life around. The Massachusetts Parole board was impressed with the mans involvement in rehabilitative programming, getting his bachelors degree from Boston University, being disciplinary report-free since 2012 and living at a minimum-security facility for more than 18 months. He also scores low risk on the LSCMI risk assessment tool. But the family of 14-year-old Nicholas Fomby-Davis told the parole board on April 16 that the opportunity for their sons killer to turn his life around and get out of prison isnt fair. I dont feel like thats fair because Nicholas cant leave that graveyard, said Latrina Fomby-Davis, the 14-year-olds mother. Fernandes killed Nicholas Fomby-Davis May 30, 2010, as the 14-year-old rode his scooter around the block of his Boston neighborhood. After a conflict, Fernandes and another teen grabbed Fomby-Davis, held him down and shot him, according to the parole board. On June 22, 2012, following a jury trial, Joshua Fernandes was convicted of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, a year later, a Supreme Judicial Court decision made it unconstitutional to sentence teens to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In April, Fernandes pleaded his case to the parole board for the first time. Two of the parole board members voted for release to a Long-Term Residential Program or CRJ. But he was ultimately denied parole by four other votes. Although Mr. Fernandes experiences while incarcerated have been exemplary, the Board is troubled by the crimes for which he is convicted, the parole board wrote. Gang violence As Fernandes apologized to the boys family, he said he shot him to feel cool and accepted with the hopes of joining a gang. I wanted to show that I was tough and fearsome, he said. I was impulsive and selfish. Fernandes was shot when he was 14, too. I ended up becoming the exact villain I had feared, he said. Fernandes said hes glad he was caught and that prison saved his life. I am grateful for the priceless opportunities I was given in prison to grow up and change and receive an education, he said, acknowledging that those opportunities were not given to the teen he killed. Im so sorry for all the pain that Ive caused. Im so sorry for what I did. I will spend the rest of my life trying to atone for it. Consequences While the family forgives Fernandes, that doesnt mean they believe he should be let out of prison. As I learned in life, we are allowed to make any decision that we want, but we are not allowed to choose the consequences that come with them. So today you have to live with your consequence, Trinecia Fomby-Davis, the 14-year-olds sister, said. She said the parole board hearing was triggering and insulting. One of the issues she had was that Fernandes was able to get the support and help he needed, while she had to figure out how to move forward on her own. And because of that, she wasnt able to get the education she dreamed of. I wasnt able to get that because Im still going through trauma of what you put me and my family through, she said. We are still trying to move forward, learn how to regulate our emotions and be successful in life. She also said it hurt listening to his family talk about how theyre willing to continue to help and support him going forward. Where were you guys before when he shot somebody? Where was this support then, she asked the room. And most importantly, wheres me and my siblings support? What programs do you guys have for us? Trinecia Fomby-Davis reminded the room that Fernandes family can still visit and talk to their loved one even if its behind bars. That isnt an option for her family. That should be enough, she told his family. We cant get 30 minutes, we cant even get 30 seconds from our brother. She also said he can continue helping people from inside prison. He doesnt need to leave prison to accomplish those dreams, she said. Latrina Fomby-Davis believes in second chances. But that is reserved for people who made a mistake. This wasnt a mistaken identity. This wasnt a self defense. This wasnt something like that, she said. You committed cold-blooded, premeditated murder. That, at least for now, isnt something she can move on from. Fernandes will be able to go in front of the parole board again in two years. Monica Cannon-Grant, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Violence in Boston, addresses speaks before a crowd of activists outside the Massachusetts State House. Standing beside her is Eric Garner Jr., whose father died after being placed in a chokehold by a New York City police officer in 2015. Monica Cannon-Grant, the former leader of the Violence in Boston nonprofit, pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to more than a dozen charges of fraud linked to her non-profit, COVID-19 relief funds and tax filings. Federal officials say the 44-year-old from Taunton made misrepresentations to get thousands of dollars in donations to the Violence in Boston non-profit that she then used for personal expenses. Cannon-Grant defrauded the City of Boston out of pandemic relief funds, rental assistance money, defrauded the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office out of Community Reinvestment Grant funds, filed false tax returns for two years and failed to file tax returns for two years, officials said. She pleaded guilty to 18 counts and her sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 29, 2026. Officials charged Cannon-Grant and her husband, Clark Grant, in a 27-count indictment in March 2023. Grants charges were dismissed in May 2023 due to his death. Violence in Boston was an anti-violence nonprofit founded in 2017 with the goal of reducing violence, raising social awareness and aiding community causes in Greater Boston. From 2017 to 2020, Cannon-Grant represented herself as an uncompensated nonprofit director to donors and other charitable organizations, officials said. Instead, she and her late husband agreed to use their control over the nonprofits accounts and funds to pay for personal expenses by taking nonprofit funds through cash withdrawals, cashed checks, wire transfers to personal bank accounts and debit purchases. Cannon-Grant diverted thousands of dollars of donor money intended for the nonprofit for her personal use, officials said. She used the nonprofit to defraud the City of Bostons Resiliency Fund, and received about $53,977 in pandemic relief funds, but withdrew about $30,000 in cash and made deposits in her personal checking account and made payments on her personal auto loan and car insurance policy. She also conspired to defraud the citys Office of Housing Stability by concealing thousands of dollars of income to get $12,600 in rental assistance, officials said. Cannon-Grant and her husband also conspired to defraud the states Department of Unemployment Assistance by submitting fraudulent applications for pandemic unemployment assistance. False tax returns were filed by Cannon-Grant in 2017 and 2018 and she failed to file tax returns in 2019 and 2020, officials said. The S.K Pierce Mansion in Gardner is said to be haunted. (Google Maps image) Google Maps image After five months on the market, a historic Gardner mansion known to many as one of the most haunted locations in Massachusetts finally has new owners. The S.K. Pierce Haunted Victorian Mansion at 4 West Broadway sold for $1 million on Friday, The Gardner News reported. The three-story, 21-room home, which was built for and named after a wealthy local furniture manufacturer, was ultimately purchased for $200,000 below asking price. The haunted mansions new owners The S.K. Pierce Mansion now has four co-owners with strong ties to the city of Gardner, according to a post on the historic homes Facebook page. These include John Godino, Rob Gilman and Rhonda and David Bettez. Gilman, a Gardner native and resident, runs a real estate and property management company with Godino; they already own properties in Gardner, according to the post. David Bettez is a lifelong Gardner resident who owns Gardner Auto Mart and other properties in the city, while Rhonda Bettez is a city resident who works at Mount Wachusett Community College. All four are dedicated to being deeply involved with the community and are excited to be a part of such a big piece of Gardner history, the post reads. This is a project that we feel passionate about, and we cant wait to use this as an opportunity to support the city and connect with all of our visitors. In the post, the new owners made assurances that the S.K. Pierce Mansion would remain open to the public. They also announced plans to offer new and exciting ways to experience the house ... while also honoring and respecting the houses past and being good stewards of the house moving forward. The historic homes former owners, Robert and Allison Conti, purchased the mansion in 2015 for $325,000 and set to work restoring its interior, The Gardner News reported. The new owners of the house told the newspaper they were impressed by the work the Contis had completed and only plan to renovate the exterior. S.K. Pierce Mansions haunted history Built in the mid-1870s, the mansion was originally the home of Sylvester Knowlton Pierce and his family. Pierce was the owner of Gardner-based furniture company S.K. Pierce and Sons Furniture Company, whose success was pivotal in Gardner earning its chair city nickname. After Pierce and his second wife, Ellen Pierce, died, their three sons fought over ownership of the mansion. Eventually, his youngest son, Edward Pierce, became its steward, turning it into a boarding house that gained a shady reputation over its decades in operation. Over the years, the mansion became known as a hub of paranormal activity, complete with hauntings and two mysterious portals. Visitors have reported encounters with ghosts, including S.K. Pierce himself, Ellen Pierce and boarders who died in the home, such as Finnish immigrant Eino Saari, who burned to death in a second-floor bedroom in 1963. Activities the new owners plan to offer Tours of the house will remain among its offerings, the new owners said in a Sunday Facebook post. The tour will be an hour and a half long and made up of an hour-long, guided walkthrough, followed by a half-hour during which guests can ask questions and wander the house as they please. This is the most economical way to come enjoy the house, so it is important to us to offer as much as possible so anyone who wants to see the house, can! the post reads. The new owners will also still allow four- to six-hour ghost investigations on specific nights, according to the post. Additionally, they plan to host special events year-round, such as open houses, pictures with Santa and Easter egg hunts. Overnight stays in the mansion have long been advertised, but its new owners are promising to make this a reality. On specific nights each month, the historic home will be available for public rental. You will get the entire mansion to do as you please, with some rules in place to preserve the house of course! the post reads. The new owners are in the process of instituting a formal ticketing system on the mansions website that will allow guests to book tours, ghost investigations, overnight stays and special events online, they said in the post. The new owners also promised to make the mansion available for rent as an event space. Interested parties will need to contact the owners to arrange specifics, the post said. Beyond offering new activities, the new owners said they want to partner with Gardner businesses, charities and other organizations, as well as YouTubers, podcasters, filmmakers, photographers and creatives from all around. Anyone looking to contact the S.K. Pierce Mansions new owners should reach out to them via the homes Facebook page, by email at skhauntedmansion@gmail.com or by calling 978-224-8944. Demonstrators hold signs outside El Capitan Entertainment Centre, where the late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" is staged, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Jimmy Kimmel will return to TV as the host of his late-night show on Tuesday, marking an about-face by the Walt Disney Company after its indefinite suspension of the show last week, according to a Monday statement from the media company. Disney, which owns ABC the network on which Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs pulled the show after the late-night show host made divisive comments about the suspect accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk and received intense backlash. Among Kimmels detractors was Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr, who indicated that the FCC might seek to take away the licenses of TV stations that chose to air Kimmels show while speaking on a podcast. In turn, Nexstar and Sinclair two of ABCs largest affiliate owners announced that they would stop airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! on their stations, The Associated Press reported. Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country, Disney said in a Sept. 22 statement to news outlets. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday. Nexstar and Sinclair did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Associated Press. Viewers can stream the show on ABC at 11:30 p.m. ET by using FuboTV or DIRECTV, each of which offers a free trial to new users. Sling is another option for streaming the show, and promotional offers are available. Disney, Nexstar and Sinclairs actions against Kimmel outraged many and raised concerns about threats to free speech. Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a political event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. Utah resident Tyler Robinson, 22, is facing murder and other charges in connection with the killing. Kimmel became embroiled in controversy after his Monday, Sept. 15 show, during which he addressed developments in the case. He stated that many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk, and that the MAGA gang was desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them. Authorities have not definitively stated what they believe Robinsons motives were in killing Kirk, but have shared indications that he may have had left-leaning political views. Among other evidence of this are statements his mother made to investigators that he had voiced opposition to Kirks hateful views and recently become passionate about supporting the gay and transgender communities. Reporting by The Associated Press was used in this article. A man and a boy were taken to a hospital after being shot near the Twin City Mall in Leominster on Saturday night, police said. At around 10:41 p.m. Saturday, Leominster police went to the mall at 975 Merriam Ave. for a report of shots fired. Arriving officers determined multiple gunshots had been fired, Police Chief Ryan D. Malatos said in a statement. Officers at the scene found a male victim, who is under 18, with a gunshot wound. He was flown to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester and is expected to survive his injuries, police said. An adult man was also found shot, police said. He was taken to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester by ambulance and is expected to survive his injuries. Leominster police are actively investigating the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Leonardo Colon at (978) 534-7560. Somerville police are looking for a suspect after a girl reported an unknown man touched her arm and tried to kiss her on the cheek. The incident happened near North Street and Powder House Boulevard, according to the police department. Police described the suspect as a thin white male, approximately six feet tall, between 20 and 30 years old, with black curly hair and a black beard. At the time of the incident, the man was wearing a gray vest over a white t-shirt and shorts, police said. Police urged parents and community members to remind young children to stay alert, avoid interactions with unfamiliar adults, and immediately report any suspicious encounters to a trusted adult. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 617-625-1600, extension 7230. Editors note: The article was updated at 4:50 p.m. on Sept. 22, 2025 to add the autopsy results. New Hampshire prosecutors say they are still gathering evidence to determine the appropriate charges to file against a 23-year-old murder suspect they have accused of opening fire at a Nashua country club Saturday evening. Nashua resident Hunter Nadeau is accused of killing 59-year-old Robert DeCesare with a handgun at Sky Meadow Country Clubs Prime restaurant, New Hampshires attorney generals office said previously. Two others were injured by gunfire during the shooting, but are in stable condition as of Monday afternoon, Senior Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley said during a press conference. Nadeau worked at the country club until approximately a year ago, but his victims appear to have been selected randomly, Hinckley said. Investigators are still determining the motive behind the shooting and have not specified under what circumstances his employment there ended. So far, authorities have only charged Nadeau with second-degree murder, but New Hampshire law dictates that people facing this charge be held without bail, Hinckley said. Prosecutors expect to pursue additional charges against Nadeau. Nadeau was scheduled to appear in Nashua District Court to face the murder charge Monday afternoon, but he waived arraignment, a legal procedure that allows a defendant to not appear before the judge or formally hear the reading of the charges but still officially plead not guilty. Nadeau is due back in court for a probable cause hearing on Oct. 1, after which his case will be transferred to superior court, Hinckley said. Prosecutors will then have 90 days to select which charges to present to a grand jury for possible indictment. Authorities chose to charge Nadeau with second-degree murder based on the preliminary investigation into the shooting, Hinckley said. The charge could be upgraded to first-degree murder during the indictment process. What happened during the shooting? The incident began Saturday evening when Nadeau shot a host at the country clubs wedding venue outside a set of bathrooms during a wedding celebration, Nashua Police Chief Kevin Rourke said during a Sunday afternoon press conference. Nadeau then released a second round of gunfire inside Prime restaurant, striking DeCesare who was having dinner with his family and another patron. Police responded to the country club after receiving several 911 calls reporting multiple gunshots, the attorney generals office said previously. The shooting garnered a huge police response, including officers from six local police departments, New Hampshire and Massachusetts State Police and three federal agencies, Rourke said. Nadeau was arrested in a nearby neighborhood within 30 minutes. Hinckley confirmed that, despite initial reports indicating that there were two shooters, authorities are now confident that only Nadeau carried out the shooting. Investigators are still determining whether other people were involved in its planning or knew of Nadeaus intentions. Furthermore, despite reports that Nadeau shouted Free Palestine and other political slogans during the shooting, authorities remain unsure whether these statements speak to his motives, Hinckley said. Investigators are still determining the circumstances that led up to the incident and have declined to say whether Nadeau has a criminal history of any kind. I would say that at this point, the evidence leads us to believe that it is more likely that Mr. Nadeau was simply trying to make a number of statements to create chaos in the moment, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said Sunday. There were dozens of people at Sky Meadow when the shooting broke out, and Nashua police who are leading the investigation still need to interview dozens of people who were at the scene or may have information about the incident, Hinckley said. So far, all interviewees have cooperated with police. The attorney generals office and the Nashua police chief shared the results of DeCesares autopsy Monday afternoon. The medical examiner confirmed DeCesare died from multiple gunshot wounds, and that the manner of death was homicide, a press release read. Prosecutors dont plan to release any other additional information about the shooting until Nadeau is indicted by a grand jury, as the judge currently handling the case has ruled that the probable cause document filed against him by prosecutors be sealed. Remembering Robert DeCesare DeCesare was having dinner with his wife and daughter when he was killed, WCVB reported. His daughters wedding was set to take place in approximately six weeks. Sky Meadow Country Club owner Rob Parsons shared a statement from DeCesares wife during the Monday press conference. What we need to take from this is just what an incredible community we have here, he said on her behalf. The outpouring of love, support, food, even offers to sit with me and make sure Im not alone. The little things and the big things are beyond words. Parsons also delivered his own statement on behalf of the country club, stating that he and his staff have cooperated with law enforcement since the beginning of the investigation. The safety of his staff and guests remain his first priority, he said. I, along with everyone within the Sky Meadow Country Club community, am heartbroken over the tragic event that unfolded, Parsons said. This was the heinous act of a coward who will be held to account for what he did. Karen Read smiles as the not guilty verdict of second-degree murder is read in Norfolk Superior Court, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Lawyers for the family of John OKeefe accused Karen Read on Monday of fabricating a conspiracy to deflect responsibility for his death as they lobbied a judge not to dismiss parts of the wrongful death lawsuit Read faces. Reads attorneys are asking Judge Daniel OShea to dismiss the parts of the suit that claim negligent infliction of emotional distress by Read against OKeefes parents, brother and niece. They claim that because none of the plaintiffs actually witnessed the collision they say took OKeefes life, they cant claim to have suffered emotionally from it. Damon Seligson, a lawyer representing Read, said the emotional distress claims brought forward by OKeefes family were already covered by the wrongful death statute in the state. None of the plaintiffs came upon the decedent in close enough proximity to state a claim for emotional distress, he said in Plymouth Superior Court Monday. What were asking the court to do is to dismiss out the emotional distress claims because they are duplicative, and allow the plaintiffs to pursue the wrongful death action. A lawyer for the Waterfall Bar and Grille, one of two bars in Canton where Read and OKeefe drank leading up to his death, both of which are named as defendants in the suit, said emotional distress claims are for those in the zone of danger or percipient witnesses. But Marc Diller, a lawyer representing the OKeefe family, laid out in great detail why the OKeefes are entitled to make such a claim. As a matter of law, he said the claims cleared the relatively low standard necessary to survive a motion to dismiss. Reads lawyers reliance on the time of the alleged accident is misplaced, he argued. Much of Dillers rebuttal focused on recounting the night of OKeefes death as his family perceived it, in so doing essentially parroting the claims made by prosecutors during Reads two criminal trials, which ultimately concluded with her acquittal this June. Karen ... reverses her SUV. She knocks JJ down. She leaves him to die in the cold, Diller recounted, using the nickname OKeefes family and friends called him. From January 29 forward, Karen Reed floods. She fabricates a conspiracy. She launches a public campaign of disinformation. She pits her followers against the OKeefe family, and all the while, Karen knows that the OKeefe family is also vulnerable, grieving another tragedy in their family, Diller continued. Seligson, the lawyer for Read, said her team intended to refute many of the claims recited by Diller in his argument about the collision. As for the claims of a conspiracy, Seligson suggested that was exactly why Read should be allowed to sue the Massachusetts State Police and several civilian witnesses as part of the suit brought by OKeefes family. Judge Daniel OShea did not immediately rule on the motion, but indicated he would do so prior to a status conference scheduled for Nov. 21. OShea also suggested the parties in the case should work to settle the suit out of court, rather than proceeding through a lengthy court proceeding and trial. Resolving cases resolves uncertainty, which is perhaps the most important thing, he said. I think its important that your clients know that there is an alternative way out of this. Money damages are all the plaintiff can ask for. Ask yourselves, is it worth going forward with all the uncertainty? he added. Outside the courthouse, Alan Jackson, the lawyer who led Reads criminal defense team, who has now joined her for the civil case, said she would be open to resolving the case. Every single civil case should at least have that on the table, he said. It depends on how reasonable the other side is. Civil cases are not about making a point; theyre about trying to seek the truth. Thats what Karens going to do with the civil case, he said. Karen Read watches jurors enter the courtroom to resume deliberations during her trial at Norfolk Superior Court, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Karen Read may have been acquitted in June, but her legal troubles are not yet over. Read, 45, returns to court Monday for a hearing on the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John OKeefe. The hearing is a status conference and will address a motion filed by Reads lawyers in August to dismiss parts of the case. Plymouth Superior Court Judge Daniel OShea, who was specially assigned to preside over the case, set the hearing for 2 p.m. in Plymouth Superior Court more than 40 miles from the Dedham courthouse where Read was tried twice in two years. Heres everything we know about the lawsuit so far. The OKeefe familys claims The wrongful death lawsuit against Read, which lists OKeefes parents, brother and niece as plaintiffs, repeats much of what prosecutors had accused Read of: that she backed her SUV into OKeefe after a night of drinking and a fight as she dropped him off at the home of a fellow Boston Police officer in Canton. Along with Read, the two Canton bars where the couple had been drinking on Jan. 28 and Jan. 29, 2022, are listed as defendants. The complaint goes beyond claiming that Read caused OKeefes death. It also accuses her of negligent and/or reckless infliction of emotional distress. That claim is based on the severe and profound emotional injuries manifesting in physical symptoms OKeefes mother, father and brother suffered after seeing him at the hospital. The lawsuit also claims Read created a false narrative around OKeefes death. Read and her lawyers claimed she was being framed for his killing and that OKeefe was beaten inside the home, then placed outside on the front lawn. The claims are different when it comes to OKeefes niece, of whom he was the guardian at the time of his death. On the morning of Jan. 29, 2022, when OKeefe hadnt returned home, Read woke her up around 4:30 a.m. and began calling various people. On the phone, OKeefes niece heard Read say, maybe I did something ... maybe a snow plow hit him ... maybe I had hit him .... maybe I hit him ... (we) were in an argument ... maybe he got hit by a snow plow, according to the complaint. Read knew [she] was vulnerable, having already lost her parents at age six, the filing reads. The emotional distress suffered by [her] was severe and of a nature that no reasonable person could be expected to endure it. The suit seeks a jury trial on all 13 counts against Read. It does not specify a particular amount for the damages sought. The motion to dismiss Lawyers for Read are seeking to dismiss the four counts of the suit that claim she inflicted emotional distress on OKeefes family. The two bars, C.F. McCarthys and the Waterfall Bar and Grille, are seeking to dismiss the wrongful death claims against them. The bars essentially joined the request to dismiss the counts already filed by Read and did not file specific memorandums detailing why the claims against them should be dismissed. For the purposes of the motions to dismiss, a judge must consider all the claims put forward in the complaint as true, whether they are true or not. While Reads lawyers deny that any collision ever took place, their motion claims that because OKeefes family was not at the scene of the crash and didnt witness the immediate consequences, they cannot claim emotional distress. Reads purported statements and actions in the hours after the alleged accident cannot support a claim of intentional or reckless infliction of emotional distress, the filing continues. A lawyer for the OKeefes claimed in a memo responding to the motion to dismiss that the family has suffered and continues to suffer immense emotional trauma from this wrongful death, which has been further intensified by the unyielding barrage of harassment and ridicule by Read and her supporters targeting the grieving family. Burden of truth in a civil case Read is represented by some familiar faces in the civil suit. Alan Jackson, who led her criminal defense, and a partner at his firm, Elizabeth Little, who was on the criminal team, have both joined Reads defense in this case. A third lawyer from the firm, Caleb Mason, has also joined. In addition to the three Los Angeles, California-based lawyers, Read has hired six Massachusetts lawyers to represent her. The burden of proof in a civil case is lower than that in a criminal case. In civil law, a jury must only find something to be true based on a preponderance of the evidence not beyond a reasonable doubt. The civil case could mark the first time Read speaks under oath about the events of Jan. 29, 2022, when OKeefe, 46, was found near death in the snow outside the home of a fellow Boston Police officer in Canton. Her deposition, along with those of her parents and sister-in-law, was paused while the criminal trial was ongoing. No trial date has been set. Gov. Maura Healey (right) along with Executive Office of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Operational Effectiveness Joanne Marqusee and Rep. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District (left) reveal the concept art of a new emergency center in Groton that will be ran by UMass Memorial Health. (Adam Bass/MassLive.com) Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has signed a $234 million aid bill for Bay State hospitals and community health centers, providing a key lifeline at a time of federal uncertainty. Around 40 hospitals statewide are expected to benefit from the funding package that state lawmakers approved and sent to the Democratic governors desk, according to State House News Service. The facilities that stand to benefit include several that face severe financial difficulties and serve a large volume of patients on public insurance, the wire service reported. It is important to support our hospitals and community health centers so our residents get the access and quality of care they deserve across Massachusetts. This package is a step forward in maintaining our world-class health care ecosystem, Healey said in a statement. Last week, Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairperson Michael Rodriques, D-1st Bristol/Plymouth, said that some hospitals were at risk of defaulting on bond covenants without the aid, but he did not specify which facilities are at risk of defaulting. Under the bill that Healey signed Monday, the state will dole out: $122 million for acute care hospitals serving a high percentage of low-income patients and under financial distress. $77 million for the Health Safety Net Trust Fund, to reimburse hospitals and community health centers for services provided to uninsured and underinsured individuals. An additional $35 million to community health centers and hospital-licensed health centers, including $2.5 million earmarked for shared services. The health safety net program represents the foundation of dignity in health care: a guarantee that you can receive emergency care wherever you in the state, regardless of insurance status, state Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Kiame Mahaniah said in the administrations statement. We will continue to adapt to additional pressures on our Health Safety Net and work closely with stakeholders, including regular meetings with hospital providers, to ensure continued access to care for residents. Before the infusion of cash, the Health Safety Net program which is the states health care charity fund was operating in the red. In the 2023 budget year, the program reported a $152 million shortfall, and the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association has estimated the losses could reach $290 million at the close of the federal governments 2025 budget year on Sept. 30. As broad fiscal uncertainty and actions taken by the Trump Administration continue to exacerbate the challenges that hospitals are already facing, this supplemental budget is the latest example of the work that we are doing here in Massachusetts to provide targeted support where it is needed most, state House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk said. The infusion of cash will help stabilize our hospitals and community health centers as we continue to face federal chaos. Im proud that the Senate led the charge on this, and Im grateful to the governor for her quick signature, Senate President Karen E. Spilka, D-Norfolk/Middlesex, said. Steve Walsh, the CEO of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, told State House News Service that the Legislatures investment comes at a time of extraordinary distress for our hospitals and health systems. John Hurley (left) and Al Valera, both members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 875 unveiled the two signs that designated Russell as a Purple Heart Town and as part of the Purple Heart Trail. Hurley and Valera were both wounded in the Vietnam War. in the foreground is Troy Henke, the State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars who attended and spoke at the ceremony. He brought his children. (CLIFF CLARK / THE WESTFIELD NEWS) THE WESTFIELD NEWS RUSSELL On Wednesday, there was a small ceremony held at Town Hall to unveil signs that designate Russell as a Purple Heart Town and that it is now part of the Purple Heart Trail which runs nearly all the way across the country along Route 20. The only thing that surprises me a little bit, Ill be honest with you, is that Russell didnt do this sooner. Russell has always been very supportive of veterans, said Troy Henke, the state commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars during the ceremony. And youre going to join communities like Southwick, Westfield, and all the surrounding communities, so its fitting that that Russell takes its place here, especially given the history with General Henry Knox coming through here, Henke said, referring to Knoxs Noble Train of Artillery that passed through the town in the winter of 1775-1776 to transport captured cannon from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. Russell Selectman Wayne Precanico took the podium to read two proclamations approved by the Board of Selectmen recognizing the two designations, but before thanked Jim Cortis and his wife Nancy for working with the board to secure the designations. Precanico also thanks for the several veterans who attended the ceremony. Id like to say is thank you very much to our veterans. We really appreciate those guys, he said. When reading the first proclamation, Precanico gave a short history of the Purple Heart medal. It is the countrys oldest medal and was established in 1782 by Gen. George Washington during the Revolutionary Ware as the Badge of Military Merit. In 1932, it was reestablished as the Purple Heart and later Congress named Aug. 7 as Purple Heart Day, which was the day in 1782 when Washington ordered the medal to be given to soldiers wounded or killed in combat. Al Varela, the commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 875 was also on hand. I strongly believe that if the town takes the time when it wants to be a Purple Heart, City, Town, trail, or whatever that representation should go there, Varela said. Cortis, a Vietnam War veteran and Russell resident, organized the ceremony. Gov. Maura Healey (right) along with Executive Office of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Operational Effectiveness Joanne Marqusee and Rep. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District (left) reveal the concept art of a new emergency center in Groton that will be ran by UMass Memorial Health. (Adam Bass/MassLive.com) Almost a year after a medical center in the Nashoba Valley closed its doors, the first steps for the construction of a new emergency center was held in Groton on Monday. Gov. Maura Healey, along with Rep. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District, Sen. John Cronin, D-Worcester and Middlesex, staff from UMass Memorial Health and many fire chiefs representing the Nashoba Valley communities, attended the groundbreaking Monday for a satellite emergency center that will be built in Groton and operated by UMass Memorial Health. The emergency center, which will provide emergency services, imaging, lab services, observation beds and emergency consultative services, seeks to replace the Nashoba Valley Medical Center, which closed last summer. The site of the center is located at 490 Main St. in Groton. The site is currently an empty field but the center is expected to be fully constructed by early 2027, according to UMass Memorial Health President and CEO Dr. Eric Dickson. A rendering of the emergency center was revealed at the event. Today, we recommit to healthcare in this region and across our state, Healey said to a crowd of people at the event. Theres nothing more precious than making sure we have access to care in the most vulnerable moments. What happened to the Nashoba Valley Medical Center? The Nashoba Valley region is an area of North Central Massachusetts with communities including Ayer, Stow, Lancaster and Groton. The Nashoba Valley Medical Center, which was located in Ayer, closed last summer. No one bought the hospital after its owner, the Dallas-based Steward Health Care, filed for bankruptcy in May 2024. As a result of the closure, emergency medical services (EMS) provided by the Nashoba Valley fire departments faced strains, as travel times to hospitals in Fitchburg and Lowell were farther away from Ayer, according to Groton Fire Chief Arthur Cheeks and Littleton Fire Chief Steele McCurdy. One of the biggest things (we) try to figure out is, where are we going to go now? Cheeks told MassLive. Where are we going to transport new individuals now? McCurdy told MassLive that the state is currently facing a shortage among EMS workers. Because of this shortage, fire departments and EMS officials can only afford to spare so many workers to help transport people to hospitals. We cant just make them out of the blue, McCurdy said. During the groundbreaking, Healey and Trahan attacked Steward and its former CEO, Ralph de la Torre, accusing him of prioritizing a profit over providing healthcare for people. Healey said that the actions of Steward were shameful, despicable, and amounted to betrayal. That betrayal though, we refused to let be the end of the story, Healey said. Today, we are sending a clear message, Trahan told the crowd. You cannot break our community. We will fight back and we will rebuild. What will happen in the meantime? While the emergency center is being built, a supplemental budget with $5 million for Nashoba Valley EMS services was approved by Healey. Dickson told MassLive that the funding from the government will help bolster EMS services in the area while residents await the new center. Dickson acknowledged that the period before the centers completion is vulnerable for patients. So everybodys kind of pitching in and trying to come up with a plan but its not ideal until the facility opens, Dickson said. Thats why were going to get it open as soon as possible. Nevertheless, the fire chiefs expressed gratitude for the funding, saying that every little bit helps. That should help bolster services, said McCurdy. At least for a period of time. Canadian-born Colin Barrett, who grew up in Knockmore, Mayo, will participate in the Conversation with Colin Barrett event during Ballina Fringe Festival on Saturday, October 11, from 3pm to 4.30pm. This afternoon of conversing between the author and the poet Finola Cahill will take place in the Presbyterian Church in the town. Colin expressed his eagerness about the upcoming event: I am really looking forward to this event. It is going to be special because I know that it is the first time that I will be speaking at home about my work. Ballina has been an inspiration for much of Colin Barretts work since the beginning of his career. His first novel, 'Wild Houses', was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2024. It told the story of ordinary and marginal characters involved in a crime caper during the week of Ballina Salmon Festival. Colin has featured widely in the international press (Guardian, The New York Times, Le Monde, Liberation). Susan Heffernan, Ballina Fringe Festival, emphasised the importance of showcasing North Mayo artists: Colin Barrett has been in our sights for some time now, and it is a real privilege for us to host his first Ballina event and welcome him back to his homeplace to talk about his works. Finola Cahill also expressed her thrill for the event"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to talk to Colin about his work in a place that has inspired so much of it - Ballina, Co. Mayo. It's sure to be a lively discussion, and we'll also reserve time for any lingering questions the audience might have about Wild Houses, Homesickness or Young Skins." Ballina Fringe Festival is an eclectic cultural festival that will take place between October 3 and 14. To book your place at Conversation with Colin Barrett, please visit: www.eventbrite.com. Admission: 10. Early booking is advised. For full information about the Ballina Fringe Festival programme and how to book, visit: https://ballinafringefestival.ie. READ MORE: Mayo women urged to join free heart health webinar on World Heart Day Father, son dedicate over 30 years to protecting snub-nosed monkeys in SW China's Yunnan People's Daily Online) 11:17, September 22, 2025 At around 3,000 meters above sea level in the Xiangguqing area of the Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Yunnan Province, even young hikers often find themselves out of breath. Yet Yu Jianhua, now in his seventies, still regularly climbs the mountains. In his younger years, he was known as the best hunter in Tacheng town, Weixi Lisu Autonomous County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan. But at 45, he became a forest ranger at the reserve. His son, Yu Zhonghua, later joined him in protecting the Yunnan golden hair monkey, also known as the black-and-white snub-nosed monkey. Yu Jianhua (first from the left) patrols in the mountains. (Photo/Zeng Zhihui) The father-son conservation team has protected the endangered monkeys for more than 30 years. Tourists now regularly observe the monkeys at Xiangguqing, a dramatic change from decades past when the species was rarely seen. "Back then, we could barely catch a glimpse of them," Yu Jianhua recalled. Even wildlife experts had only seen preserved specimens, and locals often mistook other monkeys for the rare species. Yunnan established the Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve in 1983 to save the species. Yu Jianhua's first task was locating the monkeys. "I started searching in April 1995, but it wasn't until March 1996 that I finally spotted them about 1 kilometer away," he said. While searching, he dismantled animal traps and rescued injured wildlife. Gradually, the monkeys accepted his presence. By 2005, Yu Jianhua could approach the monkeys within 10 meters. "I studied everything from their foraging and grooming activities to the trees they chose for shelter and their feeding habits," Yu Jianhua said, adding that only by learning about the species could they create the right conditions for science-based conservation. Since 2008, several monkey families have settled in Xiangguqing, creating opportunities for both research and education. Yu Zhonghua installs an infrared camera on a tree. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) Yu Jianhua persuaded his son Yu Zhonghua to join the mission, but what kept the latter committed was a genuine love for the work. Unlike his father, Yu Zhonghua expanded his work to include population monitoring, biodiversity assessment and community management. He joined the reserve's Tacheng management station in 2013, where he trained 16 rangers using his father's experience and his own knowledge. Long-term observations by Yu Zhonghua and forest rangers have greatly facilitated the scientific conservation of the endangered monkeys. Over the past decade and more, the Xiangguqing monkey population has added nearly 150 newborns, with each family group maintaining 50-70 individuals. China's black-and-white snub-nosed monkey population has grown from 1,000-1,500 individuals in 1996 to nearly 4,000 today. The nature reserve attracted numerous educational groups this summer, with rangers introducing conservation efforts and wildlife protection. Photo shows black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys. (Photo/He Xinming) Though comfortable with their outdoor work, both father and son hope to raise awareness about the endangered monkeys. The reserve helps villagers develop sustainable livelihoods while involving them in conservation. "Perhaps one day I won't be able to climb these mountains anymore. I just hope more people will continue the work," Yu Jianhua said. 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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 Through Week 56 in the SOLARIS trial, there were no suspected or confirmed post-injection delirium/sedation syndrome (PDSS) events observed with olanzapine LAI (TEV-'749) and its long-term systemic safety profile was consistent with other olanzapine formulations 1 Additional new data comparing initiation of UZEDY (risperidone) versus Invega Sustenna (paliperidone palmitate) in hospitalized patients found that UZEDY was associated with shorter length of stay and was preferred overall by HCPs due to its dosing characteristics and ease of use 1 Teva is committed to researching and developing innovative medicines that help address unmet needs for individuals living with complex mental health conditions Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Satisfaction: For physicians, the most common areas of satisfaction were familiarity with UZEDY (87%) and subcutaneous injection (67%). For NP/PAs, they were effectiveness (42%), no loading dose (26%), and tolerability (26%). 1 For physicians, the most common areas of satisfaction were familiarity with UZEDY (87%) and subcutaneous injection (67%). For NP/PAs, they were effectiveness (42%), no loading dose (26%), and tolerability (26%). Initiation regimen: Across HCP types, attributes of UZEDY most reported as slightly/significantly better when compared with other LAIs included lack of required loading dose (89%) and subcutaneous administration (86%). 1 Across HCP types, attributes of UZEDY most reported as slightly/significantly better when compared with other LAIs included lack of required loading dose (89%) and subcutaneous administration (86%). Plasma concentration: UZEDY was more often reported as slightly/significantly better compared to other LAI options by NP/PAs (87%) and physicians (79%) than by RNs (69%) when asked about plasma concentrations.1 Olanzapine LAI (TEV-'749): (De novo) Long-Term Safety of Subcutaneous Long-Acting Injectable Olanzapine (TV-44749) in Schizophrenia: Results From the Phase 3 SOLARIS Trial (De novo) Long-Term Effectiveness With Subcutaneous Long-Acting Injectable Olanzapine (TV-44749) in Adults With Schizophrenia: Results From Up to 48 Weeks Open Label Treatment in the Phase 3 SOLARIS Trial (De novo) Evaluating Long-Term Weight Gain and Other Metabolic Changes With Subcutaneous Long-Acting Injectable Olanzapine (TV-44749) in Adults With Schizophrenia: Results From the Phase 3 SOLARIS Trial (De novo) Real-World Evidence of the Burden of Non-Adherence to Oral Olanzapine on Relapse and Healthcare Resource Utilization Among Adults With Schizophrenia (De novo) Clinician Perspectives on Olanzapine-Associated Adverse Event Mitigation Strategies for Schizophrenia Treatment: Results From the SONAR (Survey on Olanzapine Needs and Attitudes Research) Study (De novo) Clinician Perspectives on Long-Acting Injectable Olanzapine Treatment Barriers and Unmet Needs From the SONAR (Survey on Olanzapine Needs and Attitudes Research) Study (De novo) Inpatient Length of Stay and Healthcare Professional Preferences for Initiating TV-46000, a Long-Acting Subcutaneous Antipsychotic, or Intramuscular Paliperidone Palmitate in Patients Hospitalized With Schizophrenia (De novo) Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modeling of Switching From Aripiprazole Monohydrate to TV-46000, a Long-Acting Subcutaneous Risperidone, in a Virtual Population of Patients With Schizophrenia (De novo) Real-World Experiences Using TV-46000 in Adults With Schizophrenia: A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Professionals (De novo) Time-Varying Predictors of Relapse in Patients Treated With TV-46000 or Placebo in the RISE Study: A Machine-Learning Analysis Olanzapine LAI (TEV-'749) is an investigational once-monthly subcutaneous LAI of the second-generation antipsychotic olanzapine and is not approved by any regulatory authority for any use, and its safety and efficacy are not established. Teva Pharmaceuticals plans to proceed with an NDA submission in H2 2025. Olanzapine LAI (TEV-'749) and UZEDY utilize SteadyTeq, a copolymer technology proprietary to MedinCell that provides a controlled steady release of olanzapine and risperidone, respectively. UZEDY was approved in the U.S. for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults in 2023.1 Invega Sustenna is a product of Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Teva Investor Call Teva will hold an investor call and live webcast on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss these data. During the conference call, Eric Hughes, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President of Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer, will discuss new data presented for olanzapine LAI (TEV-'749) positive Phase 3 SOLARIS trial results at the 2025 Psych Congress Annual Meeting. To access a live webcast of the presentation, visit Tevas Investor Relations website at https://ir.tevapharm.com/Events-and-Presentations. An archived version of the webcast will be available within 24 hours after the end of the live discussion. About UZEDY UZEDY (risperidone) extended-release injectable suspension for subcutaneous use is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. In clinical trials, UZEDY significantly reduced the risk of schizophrenia relapse.1,2 UZEDY administers risperidone through copolymer technology under license from MedinCell that allows for rapid absorption and sustained release after subcutaneous injection. UZEDY is the only long-acting, subcutaneous formulation of risperidone available in both one- and two-month dosing intervals.2 For full prescribing information, visit https://www.uzedy.com/globalassets/uzedy/prescribing-information.pdf. About Subcutaneous OLAnzapine Extended-Release Injection Study (SOLARIS) SOLARIS is a multinational, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of olanzapine extended-release injectable suspension for subcutaneous use as a treatment in patients (ages 18-65 years) with schizophrenia.1 For period one of the study (first 8 weeks), 675 patients were randomized to receive a subcutaneous injection of once-monthly olanzapine LAI (TEV-'749) (low, medium or high dose) or placebo in a 1:1:1:1 ratio.1 For period two, which will last for up to 48 weeks, patients who completed period one were randomized and equally allocated to one of the three olanzapine LAI (TEV-'749) treatment groups.1 The end-of-treatment and follow-up visits were 4 and 8 weeks after administration of the last treatment dose, respectively.1 The primary objective of the Phase 3 SOLARIS study was to evaluate the efficacy of olanzapine LAI (TEV-'749) in adult patients with schizophrenia.1 A key secondary objective was to further evaluate the efficacy of olanzapine LAI (TEV-'749) based on additional parameters in adult patients with schizophrenia.1 A secondary objective of period two of the study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of olanzapine LAI (TEV-'749) in adult patients with schizophrenia.1 About Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a chronic, progressive and severely debilitating mental disorder that affects how one thinks, feels and acts.3 Patients experience an array of symptoms, which may include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech or behavior and impaired cognitive ability.3,4,5 Approximately 1% of the worlds population will develop schizophrenia in their lifetime, and 3.5 million people in the U.S. are currently diagnosed with the condition.4,5 Although schizophrenia can occur at any age, the average age of onset tends to be in the late teens to the early 20s for men, and the late 20s to early 30s for women.5 The long-term course of schizophrenia is marked by episodes of partial or full remission broken by relapses that often occur in the context of psychiatric emergency and require hospitalization.5 Approximately 80% of patients experience multiple relapses over the first five years of treatment, and each relapse carries a biological risk of loss of function, treatment refractoriness, and changes in brain morphology.6,7,8 Patients are often unaware of their illness and its consequences, contributing to treatment nonadherence, high discontinuation rates, and ultimately, significant direct and indirect healthcare costs from subsequent relapses and hospitalizations.3,4,5,6,7,8 INDICATION AND USAGE UZEDY (risperidone) extended-release injectable suspension for subcutaneous use is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. UZEDY is not approved for use in patients with dementia-related psychosis and has not been studied in this patient population. See below for additional Important Safety Information. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CONTINUED CONTRAINDICATIONS: UZEDY is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to risperidone, its metabolite, paliperidone, or to any of its components. Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic reactions and angioedema, have been reported in patients treated with risperidone or paliperidone. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Cerebrovascular Adverse Reactions: In trials of elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis, there was a significantly higher incidence of cerebrovascular adverse events (e.g., stroke, transient ischemic attack), including fatalities, in patients treated with oral risperidone compared to placebo. UZEDY is not approved for use in patients with dementia-related psychosis. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): NMS, a potentially fatal symptom complex, has been reported in association with antipsychotic drugs. Clinical manifestations of NMS are hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status including delirium, and autonomic instability (irregular pulse or blood pressure, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and cardiac dysrhythmia). Additional signs may include elevated creatine phosphokinase, myoglobinuria (rhabdomyolysis), and acute renal failure. If NMS is suspected, immediately discontinue UZEDY and provide symptomatic treatment and monitoring. Tardive Dyskinesia (TD): TD, a syndrome consisting of potentially irreversible, involuntary, dyskinetic movements, may develop in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs. Although the prevalence of the syndrome appears to be highest among the elderly, especially elderly women, it is impossible to predict which patients will develop the syndrome. Whether antipsychotic drug products differ in their potential to cause TD is unknown. The risk of developing TD and the likelihood that it will become irreversible are believed to increase with the duration of treatment and the cumulative dose. The syndrome can develop, after relatively brief treatment periods, even at low doses. It may also occur after discontinuation. TD may remit, partially or completely, if antipsychotic treatment is discontinued. Antipsychotic treatment, itself, however, may suppress (or partially suppress) the signs and symptoms of the syndrome, possibly masking the underlying process. The effect that symptomatic suppression has upon the long-term course of the syndrome is unknown. If signs and symptoms of TD appear in a patient treated with UZEDY, drug discontinuation should be considered. However, some patients may require treatment with UZEDY despite the presence of the syndrome. In patients who do require chronic treatment, use the lowest dose and the shortest duration of treatment producing a satisfactory clinical response. Periodically reassess the need for continued treatment. Metabolic Changes: Atypical antipsychotic drugs have been associated with metabolic changes that may increase cardiovascular/cerebrovascular risk. These metabolic changes include hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and body weight gain. While all of the drugs in the class have been shown to produce some metabolic changes, each drug has its own specific risk profile. Hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus (DM): in some cases extreme and associated with ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma or death, have been reported in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics, including risperidone. Patients with an established diagnosis of DM who are started on atypical antipsychotics, including UZEDY, should be monitored regularly for worsening of glucose control. Patients with risk factors for DM (e.g., obesity, family history of diabetes) who are starting treatment with atypical antipsychotics, including UZEDY, should undergo fasting blood glucose (FBG) testing at the beginning of treatment and periodically during treatment. Any patient treated with atypical antipsychotics, including UZEDY, should be monitored for symptoms of hyperglycemia including polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia, and weakness. Patients who develop symptoms of hyperglycemia during treatment with atypical antipsychotics, including UZEDY, should undergo FBG testing. In some cases, hyperglycemia has resolved when the atypical antipsychotic, including risperidone, was discontinued; however, some patients required continuation of antidiabetic treatment despite discontinuation of risperidone. Dyslipidemia has been observed in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics. Weight gain has been observed with atypical antipsychotic use. Monitoring weight is recommended. Hyperprolactinemia: As with other drugs that antagonize dopamine D 2 receptors, risperidone elevates prolactin levels and the elevation persists during chronic administration. Risperidone is associated with higher levels of prolactin elevation than other antipsychotic agents. Orthostatic Hypotension and Syncope: UZEDY may induce orthostatic hypotension associated with dizziness, tachycardia, and in some patients, syncope. UZEDY should be used with particular caution in patients with known cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and conditions which would predispose patients to hypotension and in the elderly and patients with renal or hepatic impairment. Monitoring of orthostatic vital signs should be considered in all such patients, and a dose reduction should be considered if hypotension occurs. Clinically significant hypotension has been observed with concomitant use of oral risperidone and antihypertensive medication. Falls: Antipsychotics, including UZEDY, may cause somnolence, postural hypotension, motor and sensory instability, which may lead to falls and, consequently, fractures or other fall-related injuries. Somnolence, postural hypotension, motor and sensory instability have been reported with the use of risperidone. For patients, particularly the elderly, with diseases, conditions, or medications that could exacerbate these effects, assess the risk of falls when initiating antipsychotic treatment and recurrently for patients on long-term antipsychotic therapy. Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis have been reported with antipsychotic agents, including risperidone. In patients with a pre-existing history of a clinically significant low white blood cell count (WBC) or absolute neutrophil count (ANC) or a history of drug-induced leukopenia or neutropenia, perform a complete blood count (CBC) frequently during the first few months of therapy. In such patients, consider discontinuation of UZEDY at the first sign of a clinically significant decline in WBC in the absence of other causative factors. Monitor patients with clinically significant neutropenia for fever or other symptoms or signs of infection and treat promptly if such symptoms or signs occur. Discontinue UZEDY in patients with ANC < 1000/mm3) and follow their WBC until recovery. Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment: UZEDY, like other antipsychotics, may cause somnolence and has the potential to impair judgement, thinking, and motor skills. Somnolence was a commonly reported adverse reaction associated with oral risperidone treatment. Caution patients about operating hazardous machinery, including motor vehicles, until they are reasonably certain that treatment with UZEDY does not affect them adversely. Seizures: During premarketing studies of oral risperidone in adult patients with schizophrenia, seizures occurred in 0.3% of patients (9 out of 2,607 patients), two in association with hyponatremia. Use UZEDY cautiously in patients with a history of seizures or other conditions that potentially lower the seizure threshold. Dysphagia: Esophageal dysmotility and aspiration have been associated with antipsychotic drug use. Antipsychotic drugs, including UZEDY, should be used cautiously in patients at risk for aspiration. Priapism has been reported during postmarketing surveillance for other risperidone products. A case of priapism was reported in premarket studies of UZEDY. Severe priapism may require surgical intervention. Body temperature regulation. Disruption of the bodys ability to reduce core body temperature has been attributed to antipsychotic agents. Both hyperthermia and hypothermia have been reported in association with oral risperidone use. Strenuous exercise, exposure to extreme heat, dehydration, and anticholinergic medications may contribute to an elevation in core body temperature; use UZEDY with caution in patients who experience these conditions. ADVERSE REACTIONS The most common adverse reactions with risperidone (?5% and greater than placebo) were parkinsonism, akathisia, dystonia, tremor, sedation, dizziness, anxiety, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, upper abdominal pain, stomach discomfort, dyspepsia, diarrhea, salivary hypersecretion, constipation, dry mouth, increased appetite, increased weight, fatigue, rash, nasal congestion, upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, and pharyngolaryngeal pain. The most common injection site reactions with UZEDY (?5% and greater than placebo) were pruritus and nodule. DRUG INTERACTIONS Carbamazepine and other strong CYP3A4 inducers decrease plasma concentrations of risperidone. Fluoxetine, paroxetine, and other strong CYP2D6 inhibitors increase risperidone plasma concentration. Due to additive pharmacologic effects, the concomitant use of centrally-acting drugs, including alcohol, may increase nervous system disorders. UZEDY may enhance the hypotensive effects of other therapeutic agents with this potential. UZEDY may antagonize the pharmacologic effects of dopamine agonists. Concomitant use with methylphenidate, when there is change in dosage of either medication, may increase the risk of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) Introduction Bollywood, since its very inception, has been a mirror to Indian societyreflecting its hopes, heartbreaks, and heroes. But beyond song and dance, several Hindi films have delved into the world of medicine, bringing public health issues, patient struggles, and ethical dilemmas onto the silver screen. From heartfelt stories of terminal illness to bold explorations of organ donation and mental health, some of these films have left a lasting impact on audiences over the years. Advertisement Heres a curated list of 10 Bollywood films that chose healing over high drama, sparking our emotions and touching many hearts. One such recent medical gem I had the chance to watch on YouTube was Aye Zindagi (You can Watch it by clicking in the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5t3gVJlBX4&list=PLkIQb6kGXpp0fLGP_bzt6iQXEie8zj_4c&index=2&t=3s), a poignant film based on the true story of a liver transplant from a deceased donor. What makes Aye Zindagi even more remarkable is that it was directed by nephrologist from Rochester, USA, called Dr. Anirban Bose. Apart from being an accomplished physician, Dr. Bose is also a popular author. (https://www.amazon.in/stores/author/B001JOPCKE) His books range from works of pure fiction to stories inspired by his personal and professional experiences in medicine. Advertisement I would personally rank Aye Zindagi among the finest medical dramas Ive seen on screen. It is based on the true story of Lalitha, who works as a director for an NGO that promotes ethical organ donation called MOHAN Foundation (https://www.mohanfoundation.org/). The film offers a very grounded, emotionally rich narrative that remains true to its medical contextsomething that is often missing in Bollywoods portrayal of medical drama.. In many Hindi films, while the central plot may touch on a medical condition, the story tends to drift away into other themes. For example, Anand is a classic and beloved film, but its medical aspects are relatively minimal, and it is only in the last five minutes. Similarly, Munna Bhai MBBS is another excellent and much-loved movie, though its storyline leans more towards comedy and social commentary than a serious depiction of the medical profession. Advertisement Aye Zindagi, in contrast, stays close to its medical heart while delivering a powerful emotional experience. It is not just a story of illness and recovery, but also of humanity, love, compassion, and the quiet heroism of organ donors and recipients. The love angle between the patient and the nurse is dealt with sensitively and in a subtle way, with all the dilemmas of lifes uncertainty as a post-liver transplant patient. Here is my curated list of ten all-time great Hindi films that explore medical themeseach one thoughtfully selected and highly recommended for viewing. The films are presented in chronological order of their release, not by any sort of ranking. Among these, three compelling titles are dramatized stories based on real-life cases related to organ donation. Notably, in Salaam Venky, too, the NGO MOHAN Foundation played a meaningful role by supporting Venkateshs mother and helping her find closure in her journey. Top Hindi Medical-Themed Movies That Left a Mark 1. Aye Zindagi (2022) (Revathy, Satyajeet Dubey) Theme: Liver transplant, organ donation, patient-donor connection What sets it apart: Based on a true story, this moving film captures the journey of a young liver transplant recipient and his bond with the grief counselor who helped facilitate the donation. Directed by nephrologist-author Dr. Anirban Bose, it offers a rare, authentic glimpse into the world of organ donation and post-transplant life, with medical realism and emotional depth. Noteworthy Scene: The emotional exchange between the transplant recipient and the hospital grief counselor, where the recipient learns about the donor's story, stands out as the films heart. The counselor explains the emotional weight behind the donation, not as a medical transaction but as a deeply human story of loss and generosity. Verdict: A quiet, heartfelt gem and one of the most medically grounded films in Hindi cinema. 2. Salaam Venky (2022) (Kajol, Vishal Jethwa) Theme: Terminal illness, euthanasia rights, organ donation What sets it apart: Based on the real-life story of a young boy with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and his mothers fight (played by Kajol) to let him die with dignity, Salaam Venky is an emotional rollercoaster. It humanizes ethical dilemmas around death, choice, and organ donation while celebrating resilience. Noteworthy Scene: The courtroom scene where Venkys mother defends his right to die with dignity is powerful and thought-provoking, especially in the context of Indias ongoing debate on euthanasia. This scene brings the ethics of euthanasia and the power of posthumous organ donation to the forefront, highlighting how personal choice and social systems intersect. It also underlines the role of advocacy and NGO supportMOHAN Foundation was involved in the real-life case. Verdict: A stirring call for compassion, dignity in death, and the right to choose. 3. Traffic (2016) (Manoj Bajpayee, Jimmy Sheirgill, Prosenjit Chatterjee) Theme: Organ donation, Heart transplant logistics, emergency coordination What sets it apart: A tense and emotional thriller based on a semi-real event, Traffic shows the urgency and coordination required to transport a donor heart through city traffic to save a life. Noteworthy Scene: The formation of the green corridor in real-time, with police escorting the organ transport vehicle through jam-packed roads, is an emotionally charged and respectful tribute to real-life donor efforts. Verdict: A high-stakes, sensitively handled tribute to real-world medical heroes. 4. Vicky Donor (2012) (Ayushmann Khurrana, Yami Gautam) Theme: Sperm donation, infertility, reproductive health What sets it apart: By tackling infertility and sperm donation with wit and empathy, the film helped reduce stigma around reproductive health and made space for conversation in Indian households. Noteworthy Scene: The emotional conflict between Vicky and his wife when she learns the truth about his donations humanizes what is often viewed as a clinical or comedic issue. Verdict: A smart, progressive take on reproductive medicine and modern relationships. 5. My Name is Khan (2010) (Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol) Theme: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), stigma What sets it apart: Through Rizwan Khans journey across America, the film sensitively portrays the daily challenges faced by someone living with Asperger's syndrome and also how compassion and a clear purpose can overcome bias. Noteworthy Scene: Rizwans literal interpretation of "Go tell the President your name is Khan" becomes a powerful symbol of innocence, persistence, and justice. Verdict: A moving story of strength, misunderstood minds, and unconditional love. 6. Taare Zameen Par (2007) (Darsheel Safary, Aamir Khan) Theme: Dyslexia, mental health, inclusive education What sets it apart: This film revolutionized public awareness of learning disabilities in India. It follows Ishaan, a young boy struggling with dyslexia, and his art teacher (played by Aamir Khan), who recognizes his potential and helps him thrive. Noteworthy Scene: The emotional breakthrough moment where the teacher helps Ishaan paint again is both inspiring and healing. Verdict: A beautifully sensitive portrayal of child psychology and the power of a supportive adult. 7. Munna Bhai MBBS (2003) (Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Boman Irani) Theme: Humanism in medicine, empathy in healthcare What sets it apart: This iconic film tells the story of Munna, a gangster who enrolls in medical school to fulfill his fathers dream. Though far from realistic in its portrayal of medical training, the film critiques the impersonal nature of the healthcare system and champions empathy, laughter, and human connection. Noteworthy Scene: Munna's interaction with a terminally ill patient through "jadoo ki jhappi" (magic hug) redefines the concept of bedside manner. Verdict: A cultural touchstone that uses humor to promote compassion in care. 8. Khamoshi (1996) (Manisha Koirala, Nana Patekar, Seema Biswas, Salman Khan) Theme: Disability, caregiving, communication beyond language What sets it apart: Sanjay Leela Bhansalis debut tells the story of a young woman raised by deaf-mute parents and her internal struggle between love and family duty. While not strictly medical, the film deeply explores the emotional world of caregivers and people with disabilities. Noteworthy Scene: The piano-playing scene that bridges communication between father and daughter is unforgettable. Verdict: A soulful reflection on disability, voice, and unspoken love. 9. Anand (1971) (Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan) Theme: Terminal illness, quality of life, doctor-patient bond What sets it apart: A classic that needs no introduction, Anand tells the story of a terminally ill but joyful patient (played by Rajesh Khanna) who teaches everyone around him how to live with dignity, humor, and hope. His special bond with his doctor, Dr. Bhaskar (Amitabh Bachchan), where they explore grief, purpose, and emotional vulnerability in medicine. The movie remains a cultural touchstone for its portrayal of life, death, and joy in the face of illness. Noteworthy Scene: Anands deathbed sequence is one of the most poignant scenes in Indian cinema. Verdict: Emotion over medical detail, but a timeless masterpiece. 10. Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (1946) (V. Shantaram) Theme: Medical service in war, selflessness, cross-cultural aid What sets it apart: A rare film about a real-life Indian doctor who worked and died while serving the wounded in wartime China. It honors the values of dedication, sacrifice, and medical solidarity beyond national borders. Noteworthy Scene: The scene where Dr. Kotnis operates under fire, refusing to leave his patients side, reflects the moral commitment and courage of wartime medicine. Verdict: A timeless tribute to global medical service and sacrifice. While Bollywood often uses medicine as a plot device rather than a focus, these films shine in different wayssome highlighting human emotion, others critiquing systems, and a few, like Aye Zindagi, offering medically accurate, meaningful storytelling. The selected Hindi medical-themed movies offer more than compelling storytellingthey spark important conversations about healthcare, empathy, and social awareness in India. Whether highlighting the challenges of organ donation, the complexities of mental health, or the dignity in facing terminal illness, each film leaves a lasting impact. As awareness around these issues grows, cinema continues to be a powerful tool for change. If you're passionate about healthcare advocacy, organ donation, or simply love meaningful cinema, be sure to explore these titlesand share them with others. Dont forget to share this list with fellow movie lovers and health advocates. Healing Beyond the ScriptBecause the World Needs More Compassion in Every Frame! Researchers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have developed a prototype wearable health sensor made from seafood waste, offering a safe, flexible, and sustainable alternative for real-time health monitoring. lobster TOP INSIGHT Did You Know? SeafoodWaste could soon power the future of wearable health tech! Researchers turned shrimp shells into biodegradable sensors that bend, flex, and track your health - safely and sustainably. #WearableTech #HealthInnovation #SeafoodWaste #MedIndia Advertisement What Did the Researchers Build? Advertisement Why Are These Devices Important? Advertisement How Did the Team Achieve This Breakthrough? Whats Next for This Technology? Scientists at thehave developed an innovative electronic prototype that transformsinto safe, flexible, and sustainableBy harnessinga biodegradable polymer extracted from shrimp , and squid shellsresearchers successfully combined it with a. This fusion has led to a new class ofdesigned for comfort, safety, and real-timeThe medical-grade polymer samples were supplied byThe research, published in, is a step towards the development ofwhich could monitor health in real-time without compromising comfort, safety, or the environment.Lead researchersaid the study was a significant step in building the next generation of wearable biomedical devices using sustainable electronic approaches.We have successfully shown that a film made from chitosan, a biopolymer derived from seafood waste, when coated with a conducting polymer, can act as the foundation for flexible transistors, Professor Sonar said.Not only do these devices work electrically, they are, meaning they can safely interact with human cells, and they are mechanically strong enough to withstand bending and movement.That makes them ideal for future.Chitosan is already widely used inbecause it is non-toxic and biodegradable.Using a process calledin collaboration with the, the researchers coated chitosan withfilm, a material known for high conductivity.The result was a bendable, skin-friendlythat maintained high performance even when flexed hundreds of times.QUT PhD researcher, the studys first author, said the devices showed remarkable mechanical resilience and durability.Our prototype retained up to 97 per cent of its electrical performance after repeated bending tests, Ms Khamhanglit said.This gives us confidence these materials could be used in real-world applications such asthat move with the body without losing accuracy.The research was led by QUT but also involved key collaboration with, where researchers contributed expertise in organic transistors. These active PEDOT:Tos coated devices conductance varies via electrolyte gating which is needed forThe study also involved partners from theandThe QUT researchers involved in the research are: Chattarika Khamhanglit, Vithya Sahar Sethu Madhavan, Joshua McDonald, Professor Prashant Sonar from the School of Chemistry and Physics; Antonia RuJia Sun, Associate Professor Indira Prasadam, Professor YuanTong Gu from the School of Mechanical, Medical & Process Engineering; and Dr Yanan Xu from the QUT Central Analytical Research Facility (CARF).Professor Sonar saidcould become the foundation forthat monitor vital signs or detectImagine a lightweight patch that can comfortably adhere to the skin and provide continuous, accurateto doctors or patients, Professor Sonar said.This work shows that such devices can be made from safe, sustainable materials sourced from nature.The next stage of the research will focus on integrating theinto biosensing platforms for specific health applications, includingandSource-Queensland University of Technology (QUT) CAPE MAY, N.J. It had been decades since saltwater touched the hull of the U.S. Coast Guards Motor Lifeboat CG-36538. After more than eight years of hard work by dozens of volunteers, thousands of dollars and countless hours of labor, seeing this lifeboat once again resting in Cape May waters was gratifying, Ed Melega said Saturday morning. Melega, president of the Cape May Maritime Museum, and a half-dozen other members sat on the pier outside the Lobster House restaurant showing off the restored CG-36538 to anyone who wished to read about its history, donate and even board the boat to get a first-hand look at the helm, engine room and rescue quarters. It was a feat accomplished that was stifling at the beginning, said Melega, 66, of Cape May, who served in the Coast Guard for 24 years. This type of boat was the last wood-hulled coastal lifeboat developed by the Coast Guard and was the first to use laminated wood. The CG-36538 was built in a Baltimore shipyard in Curtis Bay in 1952. It served at the Atlantic Beach Station in New York and at the Ocean City Station about 30 miles north of Cape May. The same style of boat was depicted in the 2016 Disney film The Finest Hours. During its time through 1966 at the Great Harbor Inlet Station in Upper Township, the boat was used primarily for winter rescues and winter assistance calls. It was decommissioned in 1972. The 36-foot lifeboat consisted of a helm at the stern with an engine room underneath. Though the original diesel engine is no longer there, the new one powering the lifeboat is nearly identical. On the other side of the engine room is a small deck that leads to the rescue quarters, where 12 people can comfortably fit. In The Finest Hours, 32 people crammed onto the boat during the retelling of a February 1952 rescue off the coast of Massachusetts. The Cape May Marine Museum, a nonprofit 501(3) organization that has several historical markers around the Cape May area, purchased the boat from a Yorktown, Virginia, marina for $1 in 2012, and restoration work began at the end of 2016. Wayne Adams, the last master chief of the CG-36538 in 1972, kept it stored in his Lower Township backyard until restoration work began. In 2017, the museum received $108,000 in federal grant money to go toward the project. Along with more than $50,000 in donations over the years plus the value of volunteer work hours, Melega estimated nearly $200,000 went into this project. Melega was fascinated most by the boats simplicity. There was no radar or any of the cushy amenities modern Coast Guard boats now have. This boat just had [a] radio and it had a compass to get where they were going, Melega said. Labors of Love A sign once hung on the lifeboat while museum volunteers worked on it. It read: Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic. That, to me, was the epitome of the effort, said Christopher Hein, 68, the museums vice president. Hein, a Navy veteran who lives in Cape May, joined the museums board about six years ago when work on the lifeboat was underway. One of his jobs was to pull out each and every one of the 5,000 screws that held the hull together. He had to sand out the wooden plugs that covered the screws before carefully removing the screw because they would easily strip. I got all of those out and then how to put a dowel rod in (the holes) before putting in a new screw. ... I did that for about a year and half, Hein said. It was mindless stuff, and nobody else wanted to do it because it was so monotonous. But it was interesting. It became a challenge trying to get each screw out. Other challenging tasks included the replacement of the planks on the side of the boat. Each one had to be cut to fit perfectly in order to keep water out. Sometimes, a new problem would arise and several hours of work needed to be undone in order to fix that problem. Kyle Cooper, 42, of North Carolina, whose father, Scott, worked on the lifeboat, would get regular updates on how the lifeboat was coming along. He brought his children Kara, 7, and Kamryn, 5, to the Lobster House on Saturday to see the work their grandfather put into the vessel. We watched the project progress over the last five years, Cooper said. Its really neat to see what it was to now. Its really impressive to see how everybody got together to make it happen. One of the most trying tasks was forming new ribbing for the engine room. Even after months of trying to form green oak into the proper shape for the compartment, it just wouldnt stay once the clamps came off the wood. A volunteer who lives near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, had the idea of seeing how the Amish get their wood to maintain their shape, since they make wheels the same way. The person they spoke to offered to make the ribs for $7 a piece. That was the best $7 we ever spent, Hein said. Not Done Yet The CG-36538 isnt perfect, nor will she ever be. Because of a wooden hull, water still seeps in. The museum has pumps in the boat handling that while in the water. But she floats well and will continue to be on display at various points in the county, Melega and Hein said. The lifeboat is being harbored at Cape May Marina until next month when it will be taken out of the water for the winter. It will be stored at Eckels Diesel in Rio Grande until the spring. Melega was grateful for all the volunteers and the long list of local businesses and organizations that either helped out or allowed the museum to store the lifeboat while they worked on it. Without the support of the volunteers, the community and donations (this wouldnt be possible), Melega said. ... They all helped over the course of this restoration, and a lot of it was on donation and time. The museum will continue to show it off as well as put more work into the restoration process. One of the next projects will be a new canopy over the helm and the installation of bronze on the rub rails. Both projects will cost several thousands dollars. This is just the step of the process, Hein said. A lot of people think this is the culmination of getting this back in the water. But we have to keep maintaining it. Its not done yet. 2025 The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J.. Visit www.pressofatlanticcity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. More than a thousand Cubans have signed contracts to fight for Russia against Ukraine, and 39 have been confirmed dead, a spokesman for Ukraines military intelligence said in a press briefing convened by Cuban American Republican lawmakers from South Florida. Citing intelligence sources, Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, said the number of Cubans hired by the Russian military to fight in its war against Ukraine could be as high as 20,000. Cuba is ranked at the very top among the source countries for mercenaries, Yusov said, speaking through a translator. Currently, our good intelligence tells us about at least 20,000 people from Cuba who have already filled out the documents and have been recruited to fight for Russia. We have been able to physically identify over 1,000 of those mercenaries. Yusov and other Ukrainian officials spoke from Kyiv on a video call during a briefing hosted by U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, the vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee and chairman of the subcommittee on National Security, the State Department and Related Programs. He was joined by Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Gimenez, and Rosa Maria Paya, a member of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. In September 2023, Ukrainian hackers leaked documents showing that a Russian military officer was behind an effort to recruit about 200 Cuban mercenaries. Around that time, Cuban authorities said they arrested 17 people involved in a human trafficking ring sending Cubans to fight for Russia. But since then, Cuban authorities have gone quiet and have not made any more details of the case public. Cuban officials deny that the government is sending its citizens to fight abroad. The information provided by the Ukrainian officials suggests recruitment efforts have continued. Yusov said more than a thousand Cubans signed contracts with the Russian military between June 2023 and February 2024, many after the date Cuban authorities said they had dismantled the recruiting ring, and accused the Cuban government of complicity. Taking into account the totalitarian nature of the Cuban regime, such recruitment could not have taken place without the blessing of the Cuban regime, Yusov said. Maryan Zablotskyy, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, who also spoke during the briefing, said one of the Russian military officers behind the recruiting effort was actually stationed in Cuba. Our forces and volunteers were able to hack the emails of two recruiters, in 2023, he said. One is a Russian military intelligence officer. He was present at the Russian military base in Cuba, and he was given a go-ahead to recruit. The regime is allowing Russian recruiters, Russian military officers, to roam free in Cuba and do whatever they want. Orlando Gutierrez, a Cuban-American activist who helped organize and moderate the briefing, said the revelation was stunning. Zablotskyy shared screenshots of the passport and a signed contract from January by Dianne Gladys Garcia Benavides, 25, from Santiago de Cuba, the countrys second-largest city, in what he said is the first confirmed case of a Cuban woman recruited by the Russian army to fight against Ukraine. He also shared a list with the names of the 39 dead Cuban mercenaries. He said the information was gathered by Ukrainian foreign intelligence and special security services and teams of volunteer hackers. The Ukrainian lawmaker also revealed the identity of a Cuban mercenary, Yusbel Gonzalez Turcas, 52, who is currently detained in Kyiv, and who has several entries to Moscow stamped on his Cuban passport, according to screenshots of the document. Zablotskyy said that the multiple entries likely mean he is connected to the Cuban regime. Gonzalez Turcas lived in Santiago de Cuba and was a security consultant at a local Joven Club, a computing club run by the state, according to his LinkedIn profile. Oleksandr Merezhko, the chairman of the foreign relations committee of the Ukrainian parliament, said during the event that governments supporting Russia should be regarded as accomplices of the war crimes and other crimes committed by Russia. And Vladyslav Vlasyuk, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggested the United States impose secondary sanctions, or tariffs, on governments like Cuba or North Korea which have sent troops to help Russia that are on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. That would be another way to further pressure the Russian government, he said. Reacting to the revelations, the three Florida lawmakers vowed to continue working with members of the Ukrainian parliament to put pressure on both Cuba and Russia with sanctions, and on the European Union to end its cooperation agreement with Cuba. Echoing the Ukrainian officials, Paya said its not possible that an operation of this size can take place in Cuba without the participation, the facilitation of the Cuban government. It is a tragedy for the Cuban people, she added. The Ukrainian officials also shared letters of Cuban mercenaries to Russian authorities complaining they have not been discharged from the military despite the expiration of their contracts, and a letter from a Cuban woman asking for help locating her husband, a Cuban mercenary considered missing in action. They also shared documents from a court case in Russia involving another recruiter for the Russian army, Elena Smirnova, accused of pocketing the salaries of between 300 and 400 Cuban mercenaries. The officials said Cubans primary motivation for getting involved in the war is the $2,000 monthly salary paid by the Russian army. In recent years, life in Cuba has become even more difficult, as the population deals with daily blackouts, shortages of food and medicines and a crumbled infrastructure. The average monthly salary of a state worker is the equivalent of $15. The average age of the Cubans recruited is 35. This is the age where people should be building families and working hard, but unfortunately, they choose to go to war, Yusov said. This is the age at which young Cuban men die for the imperialist ambitions of Vladimir Putin. 2025 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. About a year after Christine Calhoun and her family moved to Cannon Air Force Base, her 5-year-old son woke up from a nap and didn't remember her. "It was horrifying," Calhoun said. In Clovis, the closest city to Cannon, there are no pediatric neurologists. That night, Calhoun and her husband, a senior master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, drove two hours to Amarillo, Texas, and slept in shifts at a hotel, making sure their son stayed awake all night for his electroencephalogram the next morning. After he was examined at a hospital, the Calhouns returned to New Mexico from what would be the first of many trips to Texas over the next few years. "We went to the hospital here (in Clovis) and they literally were like, there is not much we can do," Calhoun said. Calhoun's son, now 9, was diagnosed with migraines with aura, a type of headache that can cause sensory or cognitive disturbances like blind spots, numbness or amnesia. His mother regularly takes a day off from her job as a middle school special education teacher to make the four-hour round trip to Texas so her son can see his doctor or get a medication refill. Because of a state law, he can't see his doctor via telehealth. When their older son experienced similar debilitating migraines when the Calhouns lived outside of Boston, they made the short drive to Massachusetts General Hospital, where "everything was taken care of," she said. The Calhouns have lived in Massachusetts, North Carolina and Washington, and say they have not had issues with medical care at any other Air Force base. "My husband retires soon, and we would like to make Clovis our home," Calhoun said. "We enjoy the community. We've had very good luck in the schools, and we have kind of been able to make this area our own. Our only concern, honestly, is the lack of medical care for special needs." The shortage of health care providers in New Mexico means the people who live here face long waits to see a doctor. In rural areas of the state, where access is even more scarce, residents often face two options: travel to a neighboring state for care like the Calhouns, or go without it. At New Mexico's three Air Force bases Kirtland in Albuquerque, Cannon near Clovis and Holloman outside of Alamogordo the lack of specialty medical care is a major deterrent to service members who are assigned there, U.S. Air Force officials said. One in five airmen assigned to a base in New Mexico must turn down the post because the medical care is not sufficient for a member of their family, according to Col. Steven M. Fox, commander of the 377th Medical Group at Kirtland. The rate of medical rejections in New Mexico is about double the Air Force average, Fox said. "(It's affecting) the ability of the state as a whole to recruit, not just military," said Megan DeLaRosa, executive director of the Kirtland Partnership Committee, a nonprofit affiliated with the base. "We spend so much on economic development, and we don't have the health care system to support it." A 2024 report from nonprofit policy group Think New Mexico reveals the state's profound provider deficit: New Mexico is short 30% for nurses, almost 19% for primary care doctors, 25% for OB-GYNs, 35% for psychiatrists and 73% for EMTs. The reasons for the shortage are varied, advocates say. Among them: high gross receipts taxes on medical services, plaintiff-friendly medical malpractice laws, limited capability for doctors in other states to practice via telehealth, and a population significantly reliant on Medicaid and Medicare and its low reimbursement rates. In August, Kirtland announced a record-breaking $7.5 billion economic impact at a reception in Albuquerque, though in his speech, Base Commander Col. Justin Secrest revealed the Air Force had spent over $1 million in recent years sending airmen or their families out of New Mexico to receive medical care. "This actually shocked me," Secrest said. Sometimes a needed specialist does have a practice near a base, but the wait to see the doctor is so long that it doesn't meet military health care requirements, Fox said. "If you're going to be here for a two-year assignment, but it's going to take 18 months before you can get in maybe they have it, but there's also a mandated access-to-care standard," Fox said. "We wouldn't want to unduly delay someone's care by bringing them here." Cannon, Kirtland and Holloman rank among the top 17 Air Force bases for medical rejection, Fox said. The rest of the list, he added, is made up mostly of remote locations in less-populous states like North Dakota and Montana. " Kirtland just did this huge, historic economic impact. We're growing. We continue to grow. But the only way we can continue that growth is if we sustain our quality of life," DeLaRosa said. "In order to preserve the viability of our state, we must invest in the well-being of our people, because when our communities thrive, so does our country." Two years ago, the rate of rejection due to lack of specialty medical care at Cannon Air Force Base was almost 40%, according to the base's Public Affairs Chief Jackie Pienkowski. As a response, the base launched its circuit rider program last year, bringing in specialists from larger military hospitals in San Antonio, Texas, or Las Vegas, Nevada, on a rotating basis. Cannon's medical rejection rate is now down to 12%, Pienkowski said. For now, the circuit rider program does not include pediatric neurologists, so Calhoun will continue her regular drives to Amarillo so her son can see a doctor. "We are fortunate enough to be able to take time off work to be able to do that, but not everybody is," Calhoun said. "Having to pick between medical care and normal daily living functions is not fair." 2025 the Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N.M.). Visit www.abqjournal.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. BEIJING The United States wants to improve military-to-military ties with China, a U.S. lawmaker leading a bipartisan congressional delegation said Monday in a meeting with China's defense minister in Beijing. The visit is the first from the House of Representatives to China since 2019, and comes as tensions have risen between the two countries over trade, technology and opposing views on global conflicts. A group of U.S. senators visited Beijing in 2023. The current delegation is led by Rep. Adam Smith, a Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. The group met with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and separately, with Vice Premier He Lifeng, after holding talks with Premier Li Qiang on Sunday. We want to open up better the lines of communication between our two countries in general, in particular between our defense (structures), Smith told Dong ahead of their meeting. He added that he believed both China and the U.S. wanted to uphold global peace and security, which made it important for the sides to maintain open communication lines. And we have disagreements, without question, but I think it makes it all the more important that we have open discussions about how to resolve those differences, he added. Dong said the lawmakers visit shows a good phase in strengthening China-U.S. communications, which is the right thing to do. U.S. and China military communications were suspended for over a year starting in August 2022, following a visit by then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. The visit angered Beijing, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. The sides restored military dialogue in November 2023, after a rare meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and then-U.S. President Joe Biden. President Donald Trump said he would meet with Xi at a regional summit taking place at the end of October in South Korea and will visit China in the early part of next year, following a lengthy phone call between the two on Friday. The congressional delegation also includes Michael Baumgartner, a Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Ro Khanna and Chrissy Houlahan, both Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee. The lawmakers are in China until Thursday. Read next: A Sept. 2022 Michigan EGLE inspection photo of the White Pigeon paperboard mill in White Pigeon, Mich. The mill is owned by Ox Industries of Pennsylvania. Michigan AG Dana Nessel sued Ox in October 2024 claiming the company has failed to address a history of wastewater spills at the factory. Michigan EGLE LANSING, MI Past and present owners of a St. Joseph County paper mill thats released PFAS pollution to the White Pigeon River have agreed to pay the state of Michigan about $1.38 million. On Sept. 5, Ox Industries of Pennsylvania agreed to pay $95,200 in civil fines and take steps to close wastewater lagoons and stop toxic discharges at its paperboard mill in White Pigeon. The settlement follows a separate consent deal in April with former mill owner Artistic Carton Company, which agreed to pay about $1.18 million toward state-led cleanup at the riverside mill at 15781 River Street. These settlements send a clear message that Michigan will hold polluters accountable and take action to safeguard our natural resources, said Phil Roos, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). The state attorney generals office sued Ox last October in Ingham County Circuit Court, alleging a history of untreated wastewater spills and years of inaction on contaminated lagoon cleanup. In 2020, Ox bought the White Pigeon mill from a Graphic Packaging subsidiary, Artistic Carton, which operated the mill from 1979 to 2019. Artistic Carton was later renamed Grove 1935 and is based in Forest Lake, Ill. Ox reopened the mill in 2021. The state claims Ox dumped large amounts of untreated wastewater into settling lagoons without a permit. That followed mechanical breakdowns which released contaminated wastewater to the river under Artistic Cartons ownership going back to 2009. Testing found high PFOS and PFOA levels in site groundwater, and in surface water downstream but not upstream of the mill. Under the settlement terms, Ox must submit a study and cleanup plan for the lagoons and have the mills closed-loop wastewater system evaluated by a third party. The company must also sign a consent order to cleanup PFAS in stormwater discharge. Ox does not admit liability under settlement terms. The company must also pay roughly $103,000 in state attorney fees and enforcement costs. Under the consent order with Grove, in return for cleanup payments, the state agreed not to sue the company or certain members of the Traeger family, which founded and led Artistic Carton. The case follows other PFAS-related lawsuits and settlements brought by a special outside counsel team within Attorney General Dana Nessels office against manufacturers and other entities which have left PFAS contamination behind in Michigan. The pedestrian bridge crossing over U.S. 31 in Traverse city was removed on Saturday, Sept. 20. (DNR) DNR TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- In the middle of the night a crane lifted up Traverse Citys 30-ton pedestrian bridge and brought it up and away from the anchor points its sat in since 1966. The pedestrian bridge crossing over U.S. 31. was removed on Saturday, Sept. 20. All lanes of traffic are reopened as of Monday, Sept. 22. The southern lane shift eliminated the middle turn lane but maintains two lanes of traffic in both eastbound and westbound directions. Crews from Team Elmers worked under the lights and wrapped up the removal of the bridge and the south side stairs just after midnight, said Stephanie Rosinski, Traverse City and Leelanau state parks supervisor. I was just amazed at how smoothly everything went, she said. They made it look so easy. The build up to the bridge removal has been a lightning rod for both Traverse City and camping community at large. The bridge removal is in service of the Keith J Charters Traverse City State Parks $8.5 million revamp. The largest transformation is the campground entrance redesign a plan that has been discussed as far back as the 1970s as the campgrounds popularity has made it one of the most booked in the state. In the spring, a traffic signal will be installed in the bridges place. The new traffic signal will have an at-grade crosswalk that stops traffic. A new deceleration lane will be added for campers turning off of U.S. 31 into the campground to alleviate park traffic congesting the highway. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan Department of Transportation are working together on the project. The pedestrian bridge crossing over the busy highway and connecting the campground to the beach is beloved by the community. There was vocal opposition to taking it away, with concerns of pedestrian safety. In response to the communitys call for a replacement bridge, the DNR has committed to finding a new location for a pedestrian bridge. Renderings and cost estimations are still in the works, Rosinski said. Heres what the DNR has identified as next steps for a future pedestrian bridge over U.S. 31: Identification and acquisition of appropriate land Adequate funding for the project must be identified because such funding does not exist within the current DNR budget Working with the community and local legislators such as Rep. Coffia, Rep. John Roth and Sen. John Damoose The current campground renovation is funded by federal relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The campground construction is slotted to last until April 2027. In tandem with the park projects, MDOT will also be working around the park on 3-Mile in spring of 2026. The planned $1.6 million MDOT project will add a second westbound left-turn lane on U.S. 31 to 3-Mile, modernizing the traffic signal and aligning the state park day-use beach entrance with the northbound approach. There are nine species of bats in Michigan. Provided by Michigan Department of Natural Resources GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI A bat found inside a residence in Northern Michigan has tested positive for rabies. The Grand Traverse County Health Department confirmed the news on Monday, noting that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services tested the bat after possible human exposure. All individuals identified as exposed are receiving the necessary post-exposure medical care, officials said. Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. It is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, typically through a bite or scratch. Bats are the most common carrier of rabies in Michigan with 33 positive cases confirmed as of Sept. 18. Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal, but it is preventable with prompt medical care and vaccination after exposure. Grand Traverse officials are strongly encouraging the community to be vigilant and take precautions to prevent potential rabies exposure. Health officials recommend the following steps to protect yourself and families against rabies: FILE - Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers opening remarks at the Liberal caucus in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Amber Bracken/The Canadian Press via AP, File) AP By ROB GILLIES Associated Press TORONTO (AP) Canada recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday, despite opposition from the U.S, with the hope it paves the way for peace based on two states living side by side. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on the social platform X that Canada had recognized a Palestinian state. Britain and Australia also announced that they were doing the same on Sunday. The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established, Carney said in a statement. It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law. Its sustained assault in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of civilians, displaced well over one million people, and caused a devastating and preventable famine in violation of international law. It is now the avowed policy of the current Israeli government that there will be no Palestinian state. Carney had already said in late July he would do so as many Western countries are increasingly dismayed by the intensifying war in Gaza. The moves by Canada, the U.K. and Australia prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say that the establishment of a Palestinian state will not happen, while Hamas urged the international community to isolate Israel. Netanyahu, who is set to give a speech to the General Assembly on Friday before heading to see U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, said he would announce Israels response after the trip. Trump had previously threatened Canada, saying Canadas announcement will make it very hard for the United States to reach a trade agreement with its northern neighbor. The moves by the longtime commonwealth allies come ahead of the U.N. General Assembly this week. France is also expected to recognize a Palestinian state. The formal recognition of Palestinian statehood by Western countries has angered Israel and the United States, which say recognition emboldens extremists and rewards Hamas, the group that led the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks into southern Israel that triggered the war. Pressure to formally recognize Palestinian statehood has increased since French President Emmanuel Macron announced this summer that his country will become the first major Western power to do so in September. Macron is to formally declare Frances recognition of a Palestinian state on Monday at a United Nations conference in New York co-chaired with Saudi Arabia, at the start of the U.N. General Assembly. More than 145 countries already recognize a Palestinian state, including more than a dozen in Europe. Carney has previously said Canada is working with other states to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution, to not allow the facts on the ground, deaths on the ground, the settlements on the ground, the expropriations on the ground, to get to such an extent that this is not possible. Netanyahus government rejects a two-state solution. Canada has long supported the idea of an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel, but has said recognition should come as part of a negotiated two-state solution to the conflict. This in no way legitimizes terrorism, nor is it any reward for it, Carney said in his statement. Furthermore, it in no way compromises Canadas steadfast support for the State of Israel, its people, and their security security that can only ultimately be guaranteed through the achievement of a comprehensive two-state solution. Israeli bombardment over the past 23 months has killed more than 65,100 people in Gaza, according to the territorys Health Ministry, destroyed vast areas of the strip, displaced around 90% of the population and caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with experts saying Gaza City is experiencing famine. Forty-eight hostages remain in Gaza, with fewer than half believed to still be alive. Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 others. There are just over six weeks until Daylight Saving Time comes to an end this year. (MLive file photo) Mitchell Kukulka There are just over six weeks until Daylight Saving Time comes to an end this year. But that doesnt mean its too early to start thinking about which clocks in your home, vehicle or elsewhere need to be reset. DST takes place each year on the second Sunday of March until the first Sunday in November. The next time the biannual event takes place is on Nov. 2, 2025, the second earliest day that the event can be recognized. While DST was observed in some areas, the tradition became official in the U.S. in 1966 when the Uniform Time Act of 1966 was passed. Each March, Americans are reminded to move their clocks ahead one hour as they spring forward. Then in November, the clocks fall back an hour, leading to an extra hour of sleep that night. While most electronics will automatically adjust the time, Americans are reminded to change the time of their stove, microwave, car radio, in-home radio and clocks that hang on a wall. Although the practice has been in place for nearly 60 years, there have been several efforts in recent years to end the event. While none of them has held up in Congress, a bill was introduced in January that once again calls for the end of Daylight Saving Time. The bill would set a permanent standard time and allows for states with areas exempt from daylight saving time to choose the standard time for those areas. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources invites public comment on proposals to expand the deer hunting season on Beaver Island. Michigan DNR BEAVER ISLAND, MI -- There may soon be expanded deer hunting opportunities on Lake Michigans largest island. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is considering a proposal that would extend antlerless-only hunting on Beaver Island by 20 days. The proposal, which aims to simplify hunting regulations and control the islands deer population, would add both early and late antlerless firearm deer seasons for the 2026-2028 hunting seasons. Currently, the DNR allows the following deer hunting seasons on the island: Liberty Hunt, early and late archery segments, Independence Hunt, regular firearm and muzzleloader seasons. Adding early and late antlerless firearm seasons would simplify regulations across the Beaver Island Archipelago and the remainder of mainland Charlevoix County, according to the DNR. The change would also address concerns about elevated deer densities on Beaver Island, which is impacting sensitive vegetation and limiting forest regeneration, DNR officials said. Public comment on the proposal can be submitted through Oct. 31 to DNR wildlife biologist Jeremy Wood at WoodJ26@Michigan.gov. In the email subject line, indicate Beaver Island Deer Proposal. Cans of Poppi soda are displayed inside of a store (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Poppi is paying $8.9 million in a legal settlement after the company was accused of false advertising. The lawsuit claimed that the company touted its low-sugar, low-calorie soda with prebiotics as gut healthy without any scientific evidence. While the company agreed to settle the lawsuit, it has not admitted to any wrongdoing. The deadline to file a claim and receive a portion of the settlement is set for Friday. Customers who bought any flavor or package size of Poppi soda from Jan. 23, 2020, to July 18, 2025, are eligible for payment. Those who can provide proof of purchase can receive 75 cents per can, $3 per four-pack, $6 per eight-pack and $9 per 12- or 15-pack. Payments could vary depending on the number of claims filed. Click here to file your claim. Claims must be submitted by Friday. Police are investigating after a woman was stabbed to death at a Meijer gas station. (John Benson/cleveland.com) John Benson/cleveland.com MACOMB COUNTY, MI Police are investigating after a woman was stabbed to death at a Meijer gas station. According to the Shelby Township Police Department, the victim was stabbed multiple times at 15031 Hall Road at 5 p.m. on Sunday. She was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. The male suspect fled the scene but was later located and taken into custody by Macomb County Sheriffs deputies. Both the victim and the suspect are residents of Utica who knew each other, police said. WDIV-TV in Detroit reported the woman was stabbed by her ex-husband. This was not a random attack, police said in a statement. There is no threat to the public. The victim and suspect have not been identified by name. Less than a month after the first U.S. case of New World Screwworm was reported in a patient who had recently traveled out of the country, Mexico has now confirmed a case of the flesh-eating parasite in livestock living close to the U.S border, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. Mexico confirmed a case of New World screwworm in Sabinas Hidalgo, located in Nuevo Leon state, which is less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. This finding - released late Sunday night - represents the northernmost detection of the parasitic pest during the current outbreak. New World screwworm maggots are laid by parasitic flies. They infest livestock and other warm-blooded animals, including people, typically entering through open wounds and feeding on living flesh. Mexicos National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality confirmed the case involving an 8-month-old cow that had recently been moved to a certified feedlot in Nuevo Leon from a region in southern Mexico with known active screwworm cases. The location near the major highway from Monterrey to Laredo, Texas poses particular concern given the heavy commercial traffic along this thoroughfare. Protecting the United States from NWS is non-negotiable and a top priority of the Trump Administration, said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. This is a national security priority. We have given Mexico every opportunity and every resource necessary to counter NWS since announcing the NWS Bold Plan in June 2025. The previous northernmost detection was reported July 9, 2025, in Veracruz, approximately 370 miles farther south. The potential link to animal movement underscores concerns about Mexicos compliance with the U.S.Mexico Joint Action Plan for controlling the pest. U.S. ports remain closed to imports of cattle, bison and horses from Mexico following earlier detections. Since July, the USDA alongside Mexico has monitored nearly 8,000 traps across Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, submitting more than 13,000 screening samples with no screwworm flies detected on the U.S. side. The human case reported last month was a person living in Maryland who had recently traveled to El Salvador, NPR reported. FILE - A New World screwworm larvae sits at rest in this undated photo. (USDA Agricultural Research Service via AP, file) AP The USDA is implementing a five-pronged response plan that includes a $100 million investment in breakthrough technologies, construction of sterile fly facilities in Texas, enhanced surveillance, public education, and coordination with Mexico and international partners. The department has begun construction on an $8.5 million sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Force Base in Edinburg, Texas, expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2025. When the sterile flies are released, they are expected to mate with the female NWS flies, which would then crash the parasitic fly population. Planning is also underway for a domestic sterile fly production facility in Southern Texas with projected capacity of 300 million sterile flies per week. Multiple federal agencies are coordinating the response, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leading human health surveillance, the Food and Drug Administration authorizing emergency use of animal drugs, and the Department of Homeland Security supporting border surveillance and intelligence sharing. The USDA urges residents on the southern border to check pets and livestock for signs including draining or enlarging wounds, discomfort, and screwworm larvae around body openings. While not common in people, anyone noticing suspicious lesions should seek immediate medical attention. Those suspecting animal infection should contact their state animal health official or a USDA veterinarian immediately. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on a report from the USDA. It was reviewed, edited and expanded by MLive staff. President Donald Trump hugs Erika Kirk at the conclusion of a memorial for her husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson President Donald Trump and his supporters on Sunday paid tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose assassination has intensified political tensions in the United States. The 63,400-seat State Farm Stadium in Arizona quickly filled up Sunday with people dressed in red, white and blue, as organizers suggested. These are photos curated by AP photo editors. People listen as Erika Kirk speaks at a memorial for her late husband conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher) AP By JONATHAN J. COOPER, EUGENE GARCIA, AAMER MADHANI and MEG KINNARD Associated Press GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) President Donald Trump praised Charlie Kirk as a great American hero and martyr for freedom as he and other prominent conservatives gathered Sunday evening to honor the slain conservative political activist whose work they say they must now advance. The memorial service for Kirk, whom Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, drew tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, other senior administration officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand. Erika Kirk wipes tears as she prepares to speak at a memorial for her husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP Hes a martyr now for Americas freedom, Trump said in his tribute. I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie. And neither now will history. Speakers highlighted Kirks profound faith and his strong belief that young conservatives need to get married, have children and pass on their values to keep building their movement. They also repeatedly told conservative activists, sometimes in forceful tones, that the best way to honor Kirk was doubling down on his mission to move American politics further to the right. For Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees, Vance said. My friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith. People hold up signs during a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher) AP Kirks assassination at a Sept. 10 appearance on a Utah college campus has set off a fierce debate about violence, decency and free speech in an era of deep political division. The shooting has stirred fear among some Americans that Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to suppress the voices of his critics and political opponents. Charlie Kirks wife forgives suspect Those close to Kirk prayed and the floors at the home of the NFLs Arizona Cardinals shook from the bass of Christian rock bands, as the memorial started with the feel of a megachurch service before veering into something more akin to a political rally. Attendees listen as President Donald Trump, on screen at left, speaks at a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP Longtime worship leader Chris Tomlin opened the service, and was joined later by other big names in contemporary Christian music, including Brandon Lake and Phil Wickham. Near the end, as Trump took the stage, Lee Greenwood sang a live rendition of the presidents campaign walk-on song, God Bless the U.S.A. People began lining up before dawn to secure a spot inside State Farm Stadium west of Phoenix, where Kirks Turning Point organization is based. Security was tight and speakers delivered their tributes from behind bullet-proof glass. The 63,400-seat stadium quickly filled with people dressed in red, white and blue, as organizers suggested. The mood in the stadium ebbed and flowed throughout a service that stretched more than five hours. Mourners were patient and cordial, even after waiting hours to enter and then an hour or more for food in stadium concession lines. Kirks widow, Erika, in her own address said in the midst of her grief she was finding comfort that her husband left this world without regrets. She said she forgives the man who is charged with killing him. Erika Kirk wipes tears from her eyes before speaking at a memorial for her late husband conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher) AP My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life, said Erika Kirk, who is taking over as Turning Points leader. She added, I forgive him. Trump, who closed out the service, remarked that Charlie Kirk did not hate his opponents and wanted the best for them, an attribute he found hard to understand. Thats where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I dont want the best for them, Trump said. Im sorry, I am sorry Erika. A man listens during a worship song before the start of a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) AP Comments about Kirk have become a Trump administration target Trump has blamed the radical left for Kirks death and threatened to go after liberal organizations and donors or others who he feels are maligning or celebrating Kirks death. Dozens of people, from journalists to teachers to late show host Jimmy Kimmel, have faced suspensions or lost their jobs as prominent conservative activists and administration officials target comments about Kirk that they deem offensive or celebratory. The retaliation has in turn ignited a debate over the First Amendment. People listen during a worship song before the start of a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher) AP Some speakers at the memorial said Kirk was battling evil and referred to a vague they as the enemy. Others were blunt. You have no idea the dragon you have awakened, you have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilization, to save the West, to save this republic, said White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Kirk was a provocateur who at times made statements that some called racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant and transphobic. That has drawn backlash from conservatives who view the criticism as cherry-picking a few select moments to insult the legacy of someone they see as an inspirational conservative leader. A makeshift memorial grows in size at the Turning Point USA headquarters after the shooting death at a Utah college last Wednesday of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder and CEO of the organization, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) AP A 22-year-old Utah man, Tyler Robinson, has been charged with killing Kirk and faces the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges. Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but prosecutors say Robinson wrote in a text to his partner following the shooting that he had enough of Kirks hatred. Kirks legacy of conservative political influence Turning Point, the group Kirk founded to mobilize young Christian conservatives, became a multimillion-dollar operation under his leadership with enormous reach. The crowd was a testament to the influence he accumulated in conservative America with his ability to mobilize young people. People wait in line before a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) AP And the service brought together a veritable whos who of the Republican Party, with numerous current and former lawmakers in the crowd. Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and former top adviser to Trump, was spotted sitting with Trump for part of the service. Kirk was a MAGA celebrity with a loyal following that turned out to support or argue with him as he traveled the country for the events like the one at Utah Valley University, where he was shot. Speaker after speaker, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed awe at Kirks ability to go into what many conservatives saw as the lions den to make the conservative case: college campuses. Why dont you start somewhere easier, Rubio recalled thinking when he first heard about Kirk years ago. Like, for example, communist Cuba? People wait in line before a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) AP ___ Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Tiffany Stanley in Washington, Silvia Stellacci in Rome; Terry Tang, and Jesse Bedayn contributed to this report. Provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Western United Fish Company, doing business as Annasea Foods Group, has recalled 3,315 pounds of Kirkland Signature band Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke sold at Costco stores in 33 states because the green onions in the meal have the potential to be contaminated by listeria. The meals have a sell-by date of Sept. 22, 2025. Provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration A tuna product sold in the deli section of select Costo Warehouse stores is being recalled for potential contamination with harmful bacteria, the FDA said. Western United Fish Company (doing business as Annasea Foods Group) of Kent, Wash., is recalling Kirkland Signature brand Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke that could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to a news release. Initiated on Saturday, the recall involves about 3,315 pounds of Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke with Costco item number of 17193 and sell by date of 9/22/2025. Its packaged in clear plastic clamshell containers. The green onions in the product have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall comes after the green onion supplier notified the company of a positive test for the bacteria in the green onions used on Sept. 17. The cause of the contamination is being investigated. Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. It can lead to serious pregnancy complications. Healthy people may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. No illnesses have been reported. The product was sold on Thursday, Sept. 18 in Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Do not consume this product. Dispose of it immediately and visit your local Costco for a full refund. Entheofest happens on University of Michigan campus after winning legal battle ANN ARBOR, MI They cant stop Entheofest, state Sen. Jeff Irwin declared in a speech on the University of Michigan Diag on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 21. The university cant stop Entheofest, the cops cant stop Entheofest, the Ann Arbor Democrat said. This event is going to continue to go on until we win freedom for ourselves and for our neighbors who want access to plant medicines. Senator Jeff Irwin addresses the crowd at Entheofest hosted at The Diag on the University of Michigan campus on Sunday, Sep. 21, 2025. Abra Richardson | MLive.com Irwin and several others addressed a crowd of about 100 people who gathered in the rain for the fifth-annual Ann Arbor celebration of psychedelic plants and shrooms. The Student Association for Psychedelic Studies was granted a previously denied permit to host the event on campus after winning a court battle against the university on Thursday. Despite Sundays damp conditions, which some speakers noted was good mushroom-growing weather, and having to finalize plans on short notice, organizers said they were happy to keep Entheofest going after UMs attempt to stop it. Its definitely a different event this year than it has been in the past, said Emily Berriman, the student group president. We werent able to plan nearly to the extent that we usually can. We have less tables, less sponsors. President of the Student Association for Psychedelic Studies Emily Berriman sets up a tent at Entheofest hosted at The Diag on the University of Michigan campus on Sunday, Sep. 21, 2025. Abra Richardson | MLive.com They also had to cancel the Airbnb and flight for neurobiologist William Leonard Pickard, who would have been the keynote speaker. They were dealt another blow when the university told them they couldnt have musician Laith Al-Saadi perform because it was too short notice, organizers said. All that aside, Entheofest prevailed, Berriman said, saying she appreciated so many people still came. Really it is about the community ... and coming together to show a care and a passion for these medicines, she said. So, while its a different event, its still strong ... and were going to come back bigger and better next year. Shelly Smith and Jude Luong talking as Shelly gives out free books at Entheofest hosted at The Diag on the University of Michigan campus on Sunday, Sep. 21, 2025. Abra Richardson | MLive.com University officials and campus police stood watch Sunday, looking out for anyone bringing in or selling illegal substances, which organizers made clear they also didnt want. Officers asked some attendees to refrain from smoking marijuana joints, giving warnings about it, and they stopped some people and searched through their personal belongings, including a family with two young children pulling a wagon through the Diag. The family was free to go after police found nothing illegal. UM Police Lt. Kevin Crowley said to his knowledge there were no issues or arrests. Jason Hohmann and Joanne Januszka at Entheofest hosted at The Diag on the University of Michigan campus on Sunday, Sep. 21, 2025. Abra Richardson | MLive.com Some attendees said they thought campus police were being unreasonable. I think theyre being a little excessive, said Ryan Zink, who drove in from the Brighton area with his friend Daniel Ealovega and was surprised by the heightened enforcement. Smoking joints seemed to be condoned by campus police during last years Entheofest, Ealovega said after he and Zink got a warning from officers about it on Sunday. It would have been nice to know ahead of time, he said. Irwin called out campus police in his speech, arguing searching Entheofest attendees was warrantless and illegal. There are people on the way in here who had their bags opened, who had their objects rifled through, he said. Campus police didnt offer a response. Special Events Project Manager Ann Zalucki speaks with campus police at Entheofest hosted at The Diag on the University of Michigan campus on Sunday, Sep. 21, 2025. Abra Richardson | MLive.com Entheofest co-organizer Jim Salame expressed appreciation for officers helping keep the event free of illegal activity, making it clear people who want to make money selling shrooms and other products at Entheofest arent welcome there. Im so happy that people are not selling anything right now, Salame said during the event, noting the absence of unauthorized vendors whove shown up in years past. Rasha Hamoudi, a representative of The Lookout Project hands out free Narcan at Entheofest hosted at The Diag on the University of Michigan campus on Sunday, Sep. 21, 2025. Abra Richardson | MLive.com The event is focused on advocacy and education around psilocybin mushrooms and other natural substances that have been decriminalized in Ann Arbor since September 2020 but are still illegal under state and federal law. That includes ayahuasca, ibogaine, mescaline, peyote and other plant-based compounds with hallucinogenic properties. Various speakers vented frustrations about the universitys attempt to shut down Entheofest, noting it took over a month of fighting through appeal and litigation to get a permit. The university ... did this to stall the whole process, so we couldnt really rally, Salame said. Hash Bash organizer Jamie Lowell raised concerns there could be similar obstacles with the Hash Bash marijuana rally on the Diag next April, telling supporters to be ready. Details from Entheofest hosted at The Diag on the University of Michigan campus on Sunday, Sep. 21, 2025. Abra Richardson | MLive.com Each one of you here today are pioneers and champions in the nationwide movement to decriminalize nature, former City Council Member Anne Bannister told the crowd, discussing the spiritual and medical potential of sacred plants. Psychedelics have been used to help people with chronic pain, manage debilitating mental health issues and help people become more connected to Mother Nature and themselves, said UM student Shravya Ghantasala, whose group the Lookout Project had a table set up at Entheofest. Psychedelics have been used in society for thousands of years, primarily in spiritual and healing rituals by indigenous cultures, yet America has to strip yet another important element of communities that were here before us, she said. Chuck Ream, a former kindergarten teacher and speaker at Entheofest hosted at The Diag on the University of Michigan campus on Sunday, Sep. 21, 2025. Abra Richardson | MLive.com Chuck Ream, a longtime advocate of psychedelics, said it seemed UM tried to stop Entheofest to show obedience to the depraved, ugly, fascist pig of a president that we have, referring to President Donald Trump. UM officials have not responded to requests for comment on the matter, but in its denial of a permit it cited concerns the event promotes illegal substances, saying the university has a responsibility to uphold state and federal law on campus. It also cited past concerns with Hash Bash and Entheofest. Berriman, a social work graduate student, said shes interning at an Ann Arbor medical clinic where she does psychedelic-assisted therapy for people with mental health issues and chronic pain using ketamine, a synthetic compound thats legal. People come to the clinic after spending years and thousands of dollars trying different pharmaceutical drugs and often they see benefit in the psychedelic-assisted therapy, she said. President of the Student Association for Psychedelic Studies Emily Berriman addresses the crowd at Entheofest hosted at The Diag on the University of Michigan campus on Sunday, Sep. 21, 2025. Abra Richardson | MLive.com I really believe in the healing power of psychedelics, and theyre not for everyone, she said, saying not everyone meets God after trying them. Its powerful and its not a panacea. Users of psychedelics can come out of a trip enlightened and reborn, Ream said. You deeply understand that the only really important thing is love, he said, drawing cheers. We should keep on trying to get psychedelics approved through the proper government channels. Irwin argued too much taxpayer money is wasted trying to ruin the lives of people who want to use psychedelics. Thats why Ive introduced legislation for years and years to decriminalize the use of plant-based medicine here in Michigan, he said. I have introduced legislation time and time again to say that if people want access to psilocybin, or people want access to peyote, or people want access to some of these substances, they should be able to do that. Theyre not harmful substances, they have tremendous promise to help people and they should be legal, he said. Gregory Johnson and his dog at Entheofest hosted at The Diag on the University of Michigan campus on Sunday, Sep. 21, 2025. Abra Richardson | MLive.com As attendees huddled under umbrellas, Salame said he didnt mind that it rained on Sundays event. I mean, the mushrooms love it. You know, theyre growing right now, he said. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page. FLINT, MI Two males, one of whom is a juvenile, were injured by gunfire directed at a Flint home early on Monday morning, police said. The Flint Police Department responded at approximately 2:45 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22, to the 2400 block of Seneca Street for a shooting call, according to FPD Public Information Officer Tyrone Booth. Both of the victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries and are receiving treatment at a local hospital. They are listed in good condition, Booth said. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time, Booth said. We appreciate the communitys cooperation as we work diligently to ensure safety and bring those responsible to justice. The Flint Police Department did not provide the exact ages of the two victims. No suspects have been taken into custody. The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Flint Police Department at 810-237-6800 or Crime Stoppers of Flint and Genesee County at 1-800-422-JAIL (5245). Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley is shown on the grounds of the city's water treatment plant in this Flint Journal file photo. (Isaac Ritchey | MLive.com) Jake May (This story has been updated with additional information from the city of Flint.) FLINT, MI -- Millions of dollars in pending Flint water crisis settlement payments are about to be delivered, and Mayor Sheldon Neeley is asking a federal judge for additional resources, including the establishment of a local office to help residents with questions about their claims. Neeley made his request in a Sept. 19 letter to U.S. District Court Judge Judith E. Levy, asking for both local resources and communication support in advance of payment letters that are expected to be delivered to claimants before Christmas. The people of Flint have carried the burden of this crisis for far too long, Neeley said in a statement issued by the city. They deserve not just promises, but progress. I will continue to push until these dollars are in the hands of Flint families. Neeleys pitch to Levy is the mayors latest attempt to speed up the release of funds from a settlement of nearly $700 million between those who claim they were damaged by Flints water, the state of Michigan, and other defendants in a 2016 lawsuit. Earlier this month, Special Master Deborah Greenspan told Levy she expects more than 25,000 individual claimants with approved water crisis claims to receive payment letters between now and Dec. 21. Payment letters will provide directions on how to turn approved claims into digital payments or paper checks. The slow pace of distributing settlement funds has been a thorny issue for Neeley since Levy gave final approval to a $626-million settlement nearly four years ago. Since that time, two additional engineering companies that advised the city during the water crisis also agreed to settle pending lawsuits against them for an additional $61 million, some of which will be included in the initial claims payments. The city was a defendant in the settlement and its insurance company paid $20 million to the settlement fund, but Flint officials have no direct involvement in paying claims. Neeleys formal request urges Levy to approve additional resources to allow Greenspan to improve communication and support for Flint residents navigating the settlement process, including the hiring of a public relations firm to assure real-time, accessible information for residents. The appeal comes five months after the mayor asked Greenspan to act with the urgency and compassion that this situation demands to expedite claims payments. Three months before that, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation also challenged the slow pace of the settlement process, saying residents deserve so much more than they have been given. In addition to his appeal to Levy, Neeley plans to travel to Washington, D.C., next week to meet with federal officials in hopes of accelerating the release of funds, according to the citys most recent announcement. The city said in a news release that the mayor wants to work with elected federal officials to advocate for a timeline outlined by the special master earlier this year that indicated a release of payment letter by early fall. In addition to mayors efforts, the City Council has also invited Greenspan to a future meeting to answer questions related to the settlement. The special master has described the claims process in the Flint settlement as daunting because of a multi-layered appeals process, because many of those applying for payments have lacked required information, and because some claims have amounted to attempted fraud. As of Aug. 25, 25,759 individuals have had claims approved for payment, according to court filings, but officials have said no one will be paid until the claims process, including all appeals and reconsiderations of claims, has been completed. Children who were 6 years old and younger during the water crisis are the biggest potential beneficiaries of the settlement, and 13,169 of their claims are among those that have been approved for payment, according to court records. Nearly 80% of the settlement, which state officials have said is likely the largest in Michigan history, is to be paid to children who were younger than 18 when they were first exposed to Flint River water. Payments to minors will be made to a trust or to a structured settlement provider. Greenspans notice to the court earlier this month said eligible Flint claimants will receive instructions this fall on how to obtain their payment through the official Flint Water payment portal. The GR Promise expansion will cover partial tuition, fee and on-campus housing costs for eligible Grand Rapids students. Pictured in the middle is GR Promise Zone scholarship recipient Alexsandra Aguilar-Delgado, who is a current Grand Rapids Community College student who will be using the expanded scholarship to cover tuition costs at nearby Ferris State University. In this photo, she's joined on campus by students Payton Manuel (left) and Jeasy Rodas (right). (Photo provided of GRCC) Steve Jessmore GRAND RAPIDS, MI - For two years, Grand Rapids Community College sophomore Alexsandra Aguilar-Delgado has planned to earn her associates degree and transfer to nearby Ferris State University. Those plans will soon be a reality, and theyll come without a large tuition bill for the 19-year-old studying plastics engineering technology. Aguilar-Delgado, who enrolled at GRCC after graduating from City High Middle School, is one of hundreds of Grand Rapids students who will soon qualify for up to $14,000 per academic year towards the cost of their bachelors degrees. Theyll do so through an expansion of the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Scholarship. The scholarship currently provides eligible students within the city limits with a tuition-free associates degree at GRCC. Soon, it will also cover a large portion of the cost of tuition and fees for students who earn their GRCC degree and wish to continue their education at either Ferris State or Grand Valley State University. The GR Promise expansion will cover partial tuition, fee and on-campus housing costs for eligible Grand Rapids students. Pictured is GR Promise Zone scholarship recipient Alexsandra Aguilar-Delgado, who is a current Grand Rapids Community College student who will be using the expanded scholarship to cover tuition costs at nearby Ferris State University. She is pictured with FSU President Bill Pink. (Photo by Ellen Dziubek provided by GRCC) Photo by Ellen Dziubek provided by GRCC The agreement is the first city-wide partnership between public, public charter and private schools in Grand Rapids history. Tom Dejonge, chair of the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority Board of Directors, said he believes the expansion may make GR Promise the first partnership of its kind in the state. It speaks to Grand Rapids, he said. It speaks to the unique quality of educational partnership in the city of Grand Rapids. While the Promise Zone scholarship has been funding associates degrees for five years now, DeJonge said it was always the goal to ultimately help pay for students earning four-year degrees. We started small to make sure we did it well, but this was always the hope, he said. How does the expansion work? A 2009 law in Michigan allowed promise zones - or state guarantees to provide college scholarships - in 10 Michigan communities with above average rates of childhood poverty. The promise zones were meant to promote community revitalization. Then in November 2017, former Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation increasing the number of Michigans designated promise zones from 10 to 15, creating the opportunity for Grand Rapids to nab a spot in 2018. By January 2020, the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority Board had signed off on the plan to give free tuition to Grand Rapids students, specifically those living within Grand Rapids and graduating from a designated high school within the city limits. For five years since, the scholarship - part of a partnership with GRCC - has covered up to 72 credit hours, or at least two years, at the community college. Students must take at least six credits in the fall and winter semesters to remain eligible, but can take up to five years to finish their degrees. They can attend full or part-time, and also receive $500 stipends for books, supplies and fees associated with their courses. The program in its fifth year has supported a little over 2,000 students so far. Now, those students graduating with their GRCC associates degree can elect to continue their education at either Ferris or GVSU. Starting in January 2026, theyll become eligible for up to $14,000 in aid. Beginning with the Class of 2021, the Promise Zone scholarship will cover up to $7,000 per academic year at either higher education institution. The funds can be applied to the cost of tuition, fees and on-campus housing to help with the pursuit of a bachelors degree. The scholarship is last dollar, meaning once a students total need-based grants are determined, eligible students would receive funds to pay the remainder of their bill for tuition and mandatory fees. Each four-year institution will also provide up to $7,000 per academic year, if there is a gap in tuition and fees. DeJonge said partnering with Ferris and GVSU was a natural choice, given both universities visible presence in downtown Grand Rapids. Ferris State President Bill Pink, who served as GRCCs president when the Promise Zone was created, said its been incredibly gratifying to have been on the front end of this to help push people into this pipeline. Now, Im blessed to be on the other hand to pull (students) through this pipeline, to help them finish this thing. Noe Mendez-Perez, a 2022 graduate from Innovation Central High School, is a GRCC student finishing up a business degree this fall. Hell then transfer to GVSU in January. My journey wouldnt even be possible without the help of GR Promise, he said. A first generation college student, Mendez-Perez said he enrolled in GVSU several years ago, and my first time didnt go as planned. He left the university and enrolled at GRCC through GR Promise. After receiving connections and support, Mendez-Perez said hes now up to a 3.0 GPA. Im ready to go back to finish what I started that first year, he said. How will the expansion be funded? The GRCC portion of the Promise Zone scholarship will remain largely unchanged, DeJonge told MLive. The Grand Rapids Promise Zone scholarship was initially funded using a combination of private and corporate donations and investments. Starting in 2022, the scholarship was also funded in part by capturing tax increment financing funds, meaning a portion of the City of Grand Rapids State Education Tax was set aside for the program. The promise zone started collecting that money in 2020, but couldnt use it until two years later. DeJonge previously explained it as a replacement over time, from philanthropic donors to tax dollars. Within the first 10 years, the promise zone was projected to capture just over $30 million, with a projected 10-year cost of around $22 million. The tax capture money was expected to fully fund the promise within five years, which Ashlee Mishler, director of the Promise Zone, confirmed. Mishler said additional information requested about the total cost of the program and funding raised so far isnt yet available. But DeJonge said the additional money towards four-year degrees wont impact property taxes, and Grand Rapids residents wont see a difference. The universitys portion of GR Promise will be funded through their existing financial aid budgets. Who qualifies? In addition to filling out FAFSA requirements and earning a GRCC associates degree, students who wish to qualify for the expanded GR Promise must reside in and attend a high school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Students who enrolled in a Grand Rapids high school before 10th grade are eligible for 100% of the GR Promise scholarship. If a student enrolled before 11th grade, they are eligible for 50% of the scholarship. Students who enrolled in 12th grade are not eligible. There are currently 25 high schools - traditional, private and charter - that are eligible, up from 22 that qualified when the program began. They include: C.A. Frost Environmental Science Academy Grand Rapids City High Middle School Grand Rapids Learning Center Grand Rapids Montessori High Middle School Grand Rapids Public Museum High School Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy Innovation Central High School Ottawa Hills High School Southeast Career Pathways Southwest Middle High School - Academia Bilingue Union High School Covenant High School Grace Christian Academy Grand Rapids Adventist Academy Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School Grand Rapids Christian High School NorthPointe Christian High School Plymouth Christian High School Sacred Heart Academy High School West Catholic High School Hope Academy of West Michigan Lake Michigan Academy NexTech High School Wellspring Preparatory High School West Michigan Aviation Academy Historically, the number of eligible students ranges from a little over 800 to nearly 1,000 each year. This fall, GRCC Interim President Steven Triezenberg said nearly 800 students are enrolled in Promise Zone at GRCC. Once theyre deemed eligible through school and their home address, students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Because the scholarship is last dollar, students must first use all available state and federal needs-based grants before any Promise Zone funds are applied at GRCC, GVSU or Ferris State. That excludes student loans and work-study funding, but includes any merit-based aid from either university. Any Promise Zone funding then applied to the remaining cost of tuition, fees, or on-campus housing expenses will be paid directly to the school and not be refundable to the student. Students must still use the scholarship funding within five years of their high school graduation, similar to GRCCs requirements. An additional requirement by GVSU and Ferris is that students must maintain academic progress and be in academic good standing. Dejonge said when it comes to the student benefit of GR Promise, the world is their oyster. Opportunities exist now for kids that have never existed before this, he said. Additionally, the benefit to the Grand Rapids community is great, he said, with more employability infused into the area. Jack holds a sign that reads Stop kidnapping our neighbors at Movimiento Cosecha GR and GR Rapid Response to ICEs No ICE Rally at Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids in June. Chloe Trofatter | MLive.com GRAND RAPIDS, MI U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to expand operations in Grand Rapids as part of a nationwide initiative, according to published reports. The General Services Administration is seeking office space for ICE, which plans to hire thousands of workers as part of an ICE surge, The Washington Post said. On its website, GSA said the government was seeking leases of furnished office space to support administrative operations for law enforcement. It listed these cities: Birmingham, Alabama; Boise, Idaho; Charleston, South Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Fort Lauderdale/Sunrise, Florida; Fort Myers/Naples, Florida; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Jacksonville, Florida; Louisville, Kentucky; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; Spokane, Washington; St. Louis, Missouri; and Tampa, Florida. The lease terms would be for 10 years. The Post said that ICE is seeking office space in hundreds of U.S. cities and plans to hire thousands of lawyers and immigration enforcement officers . The Post cited six federal officials and records. In recent weeks, high-level staffers with ICE approached the GSA and said the government needed to secure roughly 300 office sites nationwide as fast as possible, in a bid to house more than 10,000 new employees, the officials and the records show, The Post reported. NPR reported that the government is scrambling to find office space to accommodate a rapid increase of immigration enforcement officers carrying out widespread raids across the country. It cited three anonymous workers who said that an ICE surge team was created to allow ICE officers to establish long-term workspace in the cities where they are operating. A local advocacy group responded to the news of ICEs planned expansion in Grand Rapids. GR Rapid Response to ICE said on its Facebook page that the plan for expanding ICE offices was probably a consequence of the Grand Rapids City Commissions refusal to adopt the Sanctuary policies that Movimiento Cosecha and GR Rapid Response to ICE have been pushing for since the beginning of the year. It further demonstrates that the City of Grand Rapids puts undocumented immigrants at greater risk by not adopting Sanctuary policies that would make it harder for private entities to rent office space to ICE. GRAND RAPIDS, MI A fleet of red Hope Network buses idles outside the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, ready to take Ms. Wheelchair America contestants out on the town. The unassuming transports look like any other fully accessible bus, but reports highlight a statewide trend toward the vehicles clean emission and quiet hum. Hope Network Transportation is one of several transit agencies recognized for revolutionizing community transit in Michigan with a growing propane-powered fleet that provides critical mobility services to people in need. There are about 500 propane transit buses deployed across more than 15 agencies statewide, according to Roush CleanTech, a Livonia-based company responsible for designing and building propane engine systems. Our states transit agencies are demonstrating confidence in propane autogas as a reliable and environmentally friendly fuel option for their fleets, said Todd Mouw, executive vice president for ROUSH CleanTech, in a news release statement. With the support of Roush engineering and our commitment to sustainability, Michigan is leading the charge toward a greener, more cost-efficient transit future. The Rapid bus system, which serves Grand Rapids and its suburbs, operates demand-response services for people with disabilities beyond its fixed routes, is another transit company in Grand Rapids using propane to serve riders. Not only does propane work in our climate, but the vehicles also have similar engine to gasoline engines, said Steve Schipper, chief operating officer of The Rapid, in a news release statement. It is also important that propane is a domestic fuel produced here in the United States, supporting American jobs and reducing dependency on foreign oil. Hope Network transportation director Jason Ulanowicz at Hope Network in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. The non-profit organization helps people with special needs live independently. Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.c An expanding propane-powered fleet has become intertwined with Hope Networks mission to serve its community. Of the organizations 92 vehicles, 47 are currently propane-powered with two more on the way. Jason Ulanowicz, transportation director for Hope Network, said environmental and economic benefits are substantial. The propane vehicles offer numerous advantages, including cleaner emissions, reduced maintenance costs, and better cold-weather performance, he said. The company burns from 55,000 to 65,000 gallons of propane and puts more than 2 million miles on its vehicles each year. I can buy 3 gallons of propane compared to 1 gallon of gasoline, said Ulanowicz, who previously managed service facilities specializing in fire truck repair. Propane is really good for the engine. It burns hot. Quite frankly, keep them oiled and theyll go, he added. Hope Network transportation director Jason Ulanowicz at Hope Network in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. The non-profit organization helps people with special needs live independently. Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.c Ulanowicz said the West Michigan-based organization operates five distinct service lines to meet diverse community needs. Services include its RideLink and Wheels to Work programs. I can serve more, because propane is a more effective and efficient fuel. And with the price I can get it for, Im able to serve more of the community, Ulanowicz said. But I can also act as a good manager of the environment for the community. Hopes RideLink program provides transportation for adults over 60, primarily for medical appointments but also for everyday activities like grocery shopping, salon visits, and social outings. Wheels to Work is a collaboration between Hope and employers. The program helps businesses reduce turnover and gain a hiring advantage. Hope Network transportation director Jason Ulanowicz at Hope Network in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. The non-profit organization helps people with special needs live independently. Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.c Hope Network also coordinates group trips for nursing homes, provides specialized services for residents with special needs in Kent County, and offers a prepaid program that allows seniors to schedule rides on weekends for activities like attending church. This summer when we had all those ozone awareness days, it wasnt because of my vehicles, Ulanowicz said. Were very proud of that. Hope Network aims to serve our community in any way we can, and that means doing whats best with our vehicles." Hope Networks transportation system operates 24/7, 365 days a year, with routes averaging over 300 miles daily. The organizations iconic red buses continue their mission of community service, now with cleaner, more efficient propane power. Not only can I serve more of the community, but I can also act as a good manager of the environment for the community, Ulanowicz said. That is the overall mission of Hope. Hope is to serve our community in any way we can. KENTWOOD, MI Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urged state lawmakers to include free meals for Michigan public school students in the states 2025-26 budget, which has still not yet been finalized as an Oct. 1 deadline looms. Whitmer advocated for the continuation of free school lunches during a Monday, Sept. 22, appearance at Kentwoods Hamilton Elementary and Early Childhood Center, where she handed out lunches to second- and third-graders before speaking to reporters about the importance of the free meal program for Michigan families. When our kids are hungry, its nearly impossible to learn and to take in the material that is being taught at school, Whitmer told reporters Monday. Outside the classroom, free school meals has had countless benefits for our students social, mental and physical health. Michigan has funded breakfast and lunch for all public-school students, regardless of income, since the 2023-24 school year. The free school meals program is one of several programs supported with state-administered funds that hang in the balance this year with uncertainty around the states budget, which has not yet been finalized by state lawmakers. Michigan families the last few years have been able to count on these meals for their kids, breakfast and lunch, Whitmer said. This is at risk as we try to close out this budget. Whitmer said Democrats and Republicans are hard at work in Lansing to try and come to a consensus on a budget that will help improve Michigan schools. Both the state Senate and House, and the governors office, have proposed increased spending in their education budgets. However, the House Republican proposal is vastly different from the other plans, as it would increase unrestricted funding to most schools by cutting billions in funding earmarked for student populations or specific programs, like the universal free breakfast and lunches program. House Republicans argue this approach gives schools more spending freedom, while critics claim it would primarily benefit districts with fewer needs. Whitmer said she would reject the House budget if it came to her desk. In an Aug. 7 memo to school leaders, State Superintendent Michael Rice said meals under current operations could be funded until Sept. 30. The Michigan Department of Education has strongly recommended that local districts prepare to finance free meals no matter the outcome of state budget talks as the school year starts. Whitmer was tight-lipped about her administrations contingency plans in case of a government shutdown as the deadline looms for Michigans divided Legislature to pass a state budget. The governor did not share any new details when asked by reporters about what services or operations would be impacted by a government shutdown, which will happen in nine days if state lawmakers dont pass a budget. Instead, the governor maintained she was confident lawmakers would be able to come together to get it done. Its in all of our interests to avoid a shutdown, and that is something weve been at the table negotiating, she said. I believe that we will be able to do that, although any responsible governor at this juncture has a continuity of government plan, which we do. It is my hope that we dont have to dust that off and deploy it. The Legislature has got nine days left to get this thing done. They can get it done. The annual process of agreeing on a state budget to allocate dollars for schools, state departments, local governments and more is usually done by July 1, which is the statutory deadline to pass a budget. Lawmakers missed that deadline this year, which means the state government will shut down on Oct. 1 the start of the states new fiscal year if lawmakers fail to pass the 2025-26 budget for Whitmer to sign into law by that date. The governor also declined to tell reporters what was the biggest holdup for both chambers to pass the budget. Budget negotiations between Whitmers office, the Republican-majority House and the Democratic-majority Senate have stalled this year amid funding and policy differences, lower revenue projections and a desire for a long-term road funding plan. Michigans last two state shutdowns in 2007 and 2009, under Gov. Jennifer Granholm, were brief and effectively had no impact, lasting a combined six hours before lawmakers approved funding plans. Those shutdowns came amid budget deficits of more than $1 billion. A state government shutdown would potentially see thousands of state employees temporarily laid off, with unions representing state workers saying these layoffs could bring government services to a crawl. A shutdown could also harm the states credit rating as well as local governments and schools that depend on state payments. GST 2.0 impact: Hyundai records 11,000 dealer billings on day 1 of Navaratri, best single day show in 5 years The Creta has seen a handsome price reduction of up to Rs 72,145. Varun Singh USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept The Yangwang U9 Xtreme boasts a combined output of over 3,000PS from four motors. Varun Singh USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Avika Gor and fiance Milind Chandwani visit Siddhivinayak temple to seek blessings ahead of wedding; distribute sweets among paparazzi Avika and Milind are set to tie the knot on September 30, 2025 on the show Pati Patni aur Panga. The reality show is hosted by actress Sonali Bendre and Munawar Faruqui. 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. 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I Accept Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 written update September 21:Tulsi is called for questioning amid the courtroom clash of Pari and Ajay Hemant later gives the picture to the judge, where Pari is seen wounded. Satwik Jaiswal USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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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 Ashwin Mohan is Editor (Deals) at Moneycontrol and leads the M&A, private equity and equity capital market transactions coverage. He anchors the video show 'Deal Central ' and tweets at @ashwinmohansays. He has previously worked with ET NOW, CNBC TV-18 and The Times of India. Hemant Abhishek 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 News / Africa by Staff reporter ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has slammed the Democratic Alliance's (DA) decision to field Helen Zille as its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg in the 2026 local government elections, accusing her of wanting to "bring back apartheid."Mashaba said Zille, the former Cape Town mayor and current DA federal council chair, stood no chance of winning in South Africa's economic hub.IOL reported on Saturday that Zille, 74, had enthusiastically accepted her nomination during a lively event in Soweto, where DA leader John Steenhuisen introduced her as "a daughter of the city."Reacting to Zille's candidacy, Mashaba - who previously served as Johannesburg mayor under the DA - told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that the city could not be led by someone he described as "racist.""All peace-loving South Africans can understand that we cannot have such racists like Helen Zille to really be in charge of the powerhouse of this country. We have capable, ethical black leadership in this country which was oppressed for centuries and for Helen Zille who so dearly misses apartheid, wants to bring it back to a city where 80% of the voters are black," he said."We are going to make sure that people of Soweto, people of Alexandra can really rest assured that this is someone who believes very strongly that people like Herman Mashaba, Dr Mpho Phalatse cannot be leaders, that they don't have ethical black leaders, she believes she is the ethical black leader."Mashaba also criticised the DA's governance record in the Western Cape, which it touts as a model of good service delivery. According to Mashaba, the province is still plagued by poverty and underdeveloped townships.He added that during his own tenure as DA mayor in Johannesburg, tensions arose with the party leadership over his efforts to deliver services to townships and low-income communities.IOL reported on Saturday that in her acceptance speech, Zille said she had faced stiff competition during the DA's internal selection process."It is a privilege for me to accept the nomination as your mayoral candidate for this great city. I acknowledge with respect all the other candidates who gave me stiff competition for this honour," said Zille.Throwing punches at the African National Congress (ANC), Zille said the once-glorious Joburg now symbolises the burden that bad government places on great people."But the good news is that in a democracy, the people have more power than their government, if they will only use it. They can vote for change. They can evict a bad government and demand better. The greatest risk facing Joburg is that her people resign themselves to the path of failure, and give up on her promise," said the former mayor of Cape Town."We are here to say: we will not give up. We can still change course. There is a better way."If you don't believe me, just ask the president. With perfect timing, President Ramaphosa this week showed the boldness we've all been waiting for. There is no braver act for a political leader than endorsing his main political opponent. Make no mistake, that is exactly what the president did. He told South Africa that the DA's election offer is better than the ANC's," she told the gathering. 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. 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I Accept Debaroti Adhikary USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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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 company will finalise the IPO share allotment by October 1, while the trading in Pace Digitek shares will commence on the bourses with effect from October 6. Sunil Matkar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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I Accept J Jagannath 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 Paras Bisht A financial journalist with over 10 years of experience, specialising in tracking stock market movements and fundamental developments that impact investors and the broader economy. A keen observer of global financial markets, I regularly engage with leading market voices to write stories. At Moneycontrol, I focus on decoding market trends, policy shifts and economic changes, driven by a constant passion to learn, analyse, and share knowledge with my readers. Paras Bisht 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 Sunil Matkar 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 On September 19, President Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee per H-1B petition, widely seen as pricing out Indian talent and closing a key labour channel Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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I Accept Hiral Thanawala is a personal finance journalist with over 10 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, he covers financial planning, banking and fintech segments from personal finance team for Moneycontrol. For Indian students already studying in the U.S., the new visa policy is actually less worrying than it sounds. Hiral Thanawala 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 glimpse of 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum in Shanghai Xinhua) 13:32, September 22, 2025 A staff member (2nd L) speaks with a visitor at the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum held in east China's Shanghai, Sept. 21, 2025. Co-hosted by China's Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai municipal government, the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum was held here from Sept. 20 to 22. The forum, under the theme of "Sharing Innovation and Shaping the Future: Building An Open and Cooperative Global Sci-tech Community," gathers over 500 guests from 45 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) Visitors communicate at the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum held in east China's Shanghai, Sept. 21, 2025. Co-hosted by China's Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai municipal government, the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum was held here from Sept. 20 to 22. The forum, under the theme of "Sharing Innovation and Shaping the Future: Building An Open and Cooperative Global Sci-tech Community," gathers over 500 guests from 45 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) A visitor interacts with a robot at the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum held in east China's Shanghai, Sept. 21, 2025. Co-hosted by China's Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai municipal government, the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum was held here from Sept. 20 to 22. The forum, under the theme of "Sharing Innovation and Shaping the Future: Building An Open and Cooperative Global Sci-tech Community," gathers over 500 guests from 45 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) Visitors communicate at the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum held in east China's Shanghai, Sept. 21, 2025. Co-hosted by China's Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai municipal government, the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum was held here from Sept. 20 to 22. The forum, under the theme of "Sharing Innovation and Shaping the Future: Building An Open and Cooperative Global Sci-tech Community," gathers over 500 guests from 45 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) Visitors view products at the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum held in east China's Shanghai, Sept. 21, 2025. Co-hosted by China's Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai municipal government, the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum was held here from Sept. 20 to 22. The forum, under the theme of "Sharing Innovation and Shaping the Future: Building An Open and Cooperative Global Sci-tech Community," gathers over 500 guests from 45 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) This photo shows the main forum of the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum held in east China's Shanghai, Sept. 21, 2025. Co-hosted by China's Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai municipal government, the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum was held here from Sept. 20 to 22. The forum, under the theme of "Sharing Innovation and Shaping the Future: Building An Open and Cooperative Global Sci-tech Community," gathers over 500 guests from 45 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) Abhinandan Lodha plans to do away with site offices and sales teams, and increase the use of AI to drive sales and reduce overheads Shiladitya Pandit 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 This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources Disclaimer Alpha Desk USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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I Accept Chawla, speaking at Network18's Reforms Reloaded event, said that the government plans to beat the disinvestment target of Rs 47,000 crore this year. Arishaa Izaj USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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 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_. 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I Accept Centre should compensate loss of revenue to Telangana due to GST rate rejig: CM Revanth Reddy Rewati Karan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Rubio hold bilateral discussions on sidelines of UNGA session 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept The school is part of a broader push by the BSF to integrate drones into operations, especially as large-scale drone deployment is planned 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 SC issues notice to Centre for new probe into Air India crash, says pilot error narrative 'unfortunate' Justice Surya Kant described the claims made by the reports as 'unfortunate and irresponsible' Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept US H-1B move will benefit India in long run, says Amitabh Kant Armaan Bhatnagar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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Big update from Election Commission The Election Commission of India is expected to announce the Bihar election schedule soon. (File: PTI) Parimal Peeyush USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Why Prashant Kishor is struggling to crack the Muslim-Yadav code in Bihar Parimal Peeyush USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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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 The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday approved a new CoalSETU window under the NonRegulated Sector (NRS) Linkage Auction Policy, aimed at enhancing the utilisation of coal for industrial purposes and expanding export opportunities. The CoalSETU window is a new long-term linkage auction mechanism designed to allocate coal to industries and exporters in a seamless, efficient and transparent manner. Under the new policy, coal linkages will be allotted on a longterm auction basis not only for domestic industrial use but also for exports. Eligible linkage holders can export up to 50 percent of their allocated coal, offering a significant push to Indian coals presence in global markets, the government said in a statement. Addressing a media briefing after the Cabinet meet, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said demand from neighbouring countries is strong. Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan have immediate requirements for coal, and apart from this, other countries also have demand where India can export, he said, while adding that processed or washed coal will play a central role in the government's export strategy. Vaishnaw also pointed to improving domestic self-reliance, noting that coal imports as a percentage of total consumption in India have reduced from 26 percent in FY15 to 19.2 percent in FY25, creating space for India to explore export markets without compromising domestic supply. The shift comes at a time when India is producing record volumes of domestic coal, easing supply pressures for the power sector and core industries and creating room for export-oriented allocation. The CoalSETU window also lifts earlier end-use restrictions, allowing broader participation from industries such as cement, steel (including coking coal users), sponge iron, aluminium and other NRS-linked sectors, except fertiliser-urea. This is expected to improve supply flexibility, support industrial productivity and create opportunities for companies looking to tap overseas buyers. A key feature of the reform is the explicit inclusion of washery operators in the long-term linkage auctions. This is expected to boost the supply of washed coal, which has strong demand from both domestic and export markets due to its higher quality and lower ash content. Vikash Kumar (left) and Sarthak Mittal's research paper 'Smelly Shoes An Opportunity for Shoe Rack Re-Design,' stood out not only for its subject matter but also for its methodology. (Image credit: (SNU, Unsplash) 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 Ex-Meta employee says 88% of his team were on H1B: 'If youre an American, now is your time' Meta defends practice The company said the images did not violate policies and only recommended publicly shared posts. Meta claimed its systems do not promote content from teenagers and that users can control whether their public posts are suggested or switch their Threads profile to private. 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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 MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Ankita Chakravarti USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Maryam Farooqui is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol covering media and entertainment, travel and hospitality. She has 11 years of experience in reporting. 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 Maryam Farooqui USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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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 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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I Accept One foreign correspondent, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, said Trump's hostility toward the media was not concentrated on foreigners. 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 Hong Kong was last battered by a super typhoon in September 2023, when Saola, classed as one of Hong Kongs strongest-ever storms, halted flight operations for all airlines for 20 hours 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 Many vessels fly flags of convenience, submit false location data, or transfer oil at sea to obscure its origin. By doing so, they provide plausible deniability for buyers in India, China, and other markets Surabhi Pandey 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 Islamic NATO on agenda? Trump to host 'select Islamic leaders' on Tuesday, Pakistans ambitions under scrutiny 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 Khalistani extremist Inderjeet Gosal held in Canada: How the high-profile arrest reflects a hard reset in ties with India Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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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 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 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. 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I Accept Protests erupt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after Pak airstrike: Bodies to be placed outside Corps Commander House 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. 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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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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 US terms recognition of Palestinian state by UK, Australia, Canada as performative, says Israels security priority Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Portugal have announced to formally recognise the State of Palestine 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 What are LS-6 glide bombs? Know about the Chinese precision weapons used by Pakistan in Khyber airstrike 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 What recognition of a Palestinian state means and why it matters now The timing was no coincidence: the announcements came ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where France is said to lend its support Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept What Trumps $100,000 H-1B visa fee means for US workers and the economy Created in 1990, the H-1B program supplies US companies with skilled workers, especially in science, technology, engineering, and math 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 Trumps tariffs are forcing Switzerland to rethink future of Swiss Army knife The tariff shock now threatens to make the knives more expensive than European competitors and forces the company into a tangle of customs red tape Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Atkins Kroll strengthens leadership to accelerate growth and transform ownership journey Alex Jones Eric Green TAMUNING, Guam (Special Advertising Feature) Atkins Kroll, Inc. Guam, an Inchcape Company, announced two key leadership appointments, reinforcing its strategy to shape the future of mobility in Guam and Saipan. These appointments underscore Atkins Krolls commitment to strengthening partnerships with OEMs, delivering the right products for the market, and enhancing the ownership journey for customers. Alex Jones has been appointed Commercial Director Alex brings more than 15 years of international automotive experience, primarily with Japanese OEMs across South America and Asia. Since joining Inchcape in 2011, he has held senior leadership roles spanning brand development, market expansion, and business transformation. Most recently, Alex served as Global Business Development Director for Inchcapes Digital Parts Platform, where he spearheaded OEM partnerships and supported international market launches. In his new role as Commercial Director at Atkins Kroll, Alex will oversee the Sales Department and Rental Department. He will lead AKs multi-brand sales organization across Toyota, Lexus, Chevrolet, and BMW, driving strategies to deliver seamless, customer-first buying experiences while strengthening market share in Guam and Saipan. In addition, Alex will guide AKs Rental Department, which plays a key role in supporting mobility for local customers, businesses, and the tourism industry, ensuring reliable and innovative rental solutions that reflect AKs commitment to service excellence Alexs deep expertise and global perspective make him a valuable addition to the Atkins Kroll leadership team, said Clark Boswell, Vice President & General Manager of Atkins Kroll. His proven record of driving growth, building strong OEM relationships, and creating customer-focused strategies reflects the Inchcape vision of delivering better mobility and aligns perfectly with our promise of being Here for Guam, Here for Saipan, Here for Life. Alex succeeds longtime AK leader Tom Mazzei, who will retire in February 2026 after a distinguished career in the automotive industry. Douglas Eric Green has been appointed Aftersales Director Eric brings nearly 30 years of automotive experience, including over 18 years in fixed operations leadership across franchise and independent dealerships. His deep expertise in service operations, customer experience, and technician development will be pivotal in elevating AKs aftersales performance and ensuring greater alignment with OEM partners. Throughout his career, Eric has successfully led multi-location aftersales teams across Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Kentucky. He has implemented digital inspection systems, optimized service processes, and consistently delivered measurable improvements in productivity and customer satisfaction. With a foundation as a certified diesel technician, Eric also brings valuable technical insight to leading complex, high-performing service teams. These appointments reinforce Atkins Krolls ambition to deliver excellence not only at the point of purchase, but throughout the entire ownership journey, added Boswell. By strengthening our commercial and aftersales leadership, we are positioning AK to deliver innovative solutions, world-class service, and customer experiences that reflect both Atkins Krolls local legacy and Inchcapes global expertise. About Atkins Kroll, Inc. Atkins Kroll, an Inchcape company, is the leading distributor of vehicles in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Micronesia enabling it to provide a full range of products and services in the region. Atkins Kroll is Guams oldest corporation established in 1914 and represents Toyota, Lexus, BMW, Chevrolet, Toyota Rent A Car, Avis, Budget and Payless Rental Car, and AC Delco brands. In December 2021 Atkins Kroll acquired Morrico Equipment, one of Guams largest heavy equipment dealerships representing Freightliner, Hyundai Construction Equipment, Kohler Power Systems, Rosenbauer Fire Trucks and Thomas Built School Buses. Morrico Equipment operates new and used heavy equipment sales, rental, parts, diesel fuel delivery, Trashco Guam, and specialized diesel repair service to Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Judge wants governor, Finance chief to report on Settlement Fund payments THE District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands has issued an order requiring Gov. David M. Apatang and CNMI Finance Secretary Tracy Norita to personally appear at an upcoming status hearing regarding the NMI Settlement Fund. In her order last week, designated Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood scheduled the status conference for Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. The governor and Finance Secretary are expected to provide updates on the CNMI governments compliance with its annual payment obligations to the Fund, as well as any obstacles to fulfilling them. If Apatang is unavailable, Lt. Gov. Dennis Mendiola is required to appear in his place. The judge also directed Settlement Fund Trustee Joyce C.H. Tang to file a status report by Dec. 3. Tang must submit a supplemental report by Nov. 1 to address questions raised during the last hearing, including concerns regarding the internal audit of member files. Some members of the Class also expressed concerns about the audit process, Judge Tydingco-Gatewood said. Background In 2009, retiree Betty Johnson sued the CNMI government for failing to pay amounts required by law to the NMI Retirement Fund since 2005. Johnson warned that the Fund would run out of money by June 2014, potentially preventing it from paying retirement benefits. In Sept. 2013, the parties agreed to settle the lawsuit, and the federal court approved a $779 million consent judgment in case the CNMI government did not meet its obligations to the Settlement Fund. The Fund was created by the federal court as part of the settlement between the CNMI government and retirees. The federal court appointed Tang as Settlement Fund trustee on Sept. 25, 2013. Last January, Tang reported that the CNMI government made a $31.3 million lump-sum payment to the Fund for fiscal year 2025, using a loan from the Bank of Guam. Despite the economic challenges and funding issues, the government has prioritized the payment of the [Minimum Annual Payment] to the Settlement Fund, Tang said. Rota lawyer to run for senator Robert Myers LOCAL attorney Robert Harrison Atalig Myers Jr. is running for senator in next years general election, aiming to push for the preservation of CNMI culture and a stronger economy. He submitted his letter of intent to CNMI Republican Party President Joseph Leepan Guerrero last week. The grandson of Antonio Camacho Atalig, Rotas mayor during the Trust Territory era, Myers has over a decade of legal practice in the CNMI as an attorney. On his fathers side, he descends from the Myers, Dusenbury, Mooney, and Harrison families of Virginia, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, whose genealogy is tied to early American pioneers, Revolutionary War veterans, and the Harrison presidential family. Myers said this unique blend of Chamorro and stateside American heritage has instilled in him both the pride of our island traditions and the responsibility to serve with courage and integrity. I am honored to officially announce my candidacy for senator representing Rota in the 2026 CNMI general election. My decision comes after much reflection, discussion with family, and encouragement from our community. I believe it is time to bring fresh energy, accountability, and a Rota-first vision to the Senate, Myers said. Aside from his commitment to preserving the local culture and strengthening the CNMI economy, Myers also vowed to ensure that Rota has a strong voice in shaping the future of the CNMI. I look forward to listening to the people and working together to build a stronger tomorrow, Myers said. Although he was raised in the States, he said he returned to Rota to raise his four children in the heart of our Chamorro heritage. Myers currently works at the Rota Mayors Office, where he assists with grant applications. He also supports community initiatives, ranging from projects that bring resources to the island to programs that strengthen opportunities for its people. H-1B fee brings uncertainty, but Guam administration optimistic for exemption HAGATNA (The Guam Daily Post) Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros communications director, Krystal Paco-San Agustin, acknowledged the current uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trumps new H-1B policy, but added, This is a new federal policy, and more detailed guidance will emerge in the days and weeks ahead. What we know now may change as federal guidance documents are drafted, reviewed, and clarified. Paco-San Agustin said Trumps new policy targets H-1B visas, not the H-2B labor visa program, which Guam relies heavily upon. The H-2B program supplies the majority of construction- and buildup-related projects. This program is not affected by the new executive order. The order concerns H-1B labor visas, which are typically used for professional occupations requiring college degrees. While H-1B workers are fewer in number on Guam, we know this announcement has caused worry among families, workers, and businesses alike, she said. The administrations early review of the order indicates the impact may be minimal. Our early review indicates that the order does not apply to current H1-B labor visa holders on Guam, nor to those presently seeking renewal. Workers already here should not see their status disrupted, Paco-San Agustin said. With Guams role in national defense, Paco-San Agustin was optimistic that a national interest exemption is possible. We believe Guams role in the nations defense together with buildup-connected needs in health care, construction, and related industries falls squarely within that definition. Congress also has a history of recognizing Guams unique circumstances and carving out exceptions for our island when national security is at stake, and we will pursue that option in addition to all administrative remedies, Paco-San Agustin said. With workers and businesses faced with uncertainty, Paco-San Agustin affirmed the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio Administrations commitment to safeguarding Guam. That is why we will work closely with our delegate to Congress and with every federal partner we have in the agencies, on Capitol Hill, and in the White House to limit any harm from this policy and to secure the protections Guam needs, she said. Our commitment is to ensure that Guams families and economy remain strong. We will keep the public updated as federal guidance develops, and we will not stop working until Guams interests are safeguarded, Paco-San Agustin said. Guam Delegate James Moylan said his office immediately put out an inquiry with our federal contacts and are awaiting a formal response on how this change may affect Guam, including health care professionals and other critical workers currently on island. Guam has suffered perennial shortages of skilled workers. To fill critical gaps in the local skilled workforce, contractors have had to source manpower abroad to fulfill federal contracts and essential projects. While we await clarification, please know that Congressman Moylan is actively engaging with the relevant agencies to ensure Guams concerns are heard and considered, Moylans office said. CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) Sebabatso Mosamo, an Associated Press visual journalist in South Africa who documented elections, the COVID-19 pandemic and her countrys struggle with poverty and violence, has died. She was 39. Mosamo died at a hospital in Johannesburg on Saturday after falling ill a week earlier, a family spokesperson said. No cause of death was immediately released. Known by colleagues and friends as Sebs, Mosamo joined the AP in 2021 after working for several prominent South African news outlets, using photos and video to tell intimate stories about people in her country and continent. We are at a loss for words and our hearts are shattered, Mosamos family said in a statement. She took so much pride in her work and family, the family said. Described as fearless by current and former colleagues and always willing to speak up for what she believed was right Mosamo had been selected this year to participate in an internal leadership program for AP employees. It would have been wonderful to witness more of her impressive trajectory as an impactful journalist. It is heartbreaking that we will not, said Andrew Drake, APs deputy director of news for Africa. When she was 26 and still a student, Mosamo in 2012 covered South Africas Marikana massacre, in which striking mineworkers killed two police officers and two security guards, and police responded by fatally shooting more than 30 miners. It remains the most lethal use of force by South African police since the end of the apartheid system of racial segregation in 1994 and is a tragedy seared into the nations psyche. Arriving at Marikana a day after the shootings and with miners still in a tense standoff with police, Mosamo stood out as one of the few female journalists. She only had an entry-level camera with no zoom lens, so to capture images still recognized years later she put herself as close as possible to the angry miners, despite the threat of more violence. We call it zooming in with your feet, Mosamo said in an interview with South African television station Newzroom Afrika on the 10th anniversary of the massacre. I wanted to capture some of the human element, said Mosamo, who connected with her subjects on a personal level and managed to find moments of humor and kindness amid the violence; a colleague photographed miners beside her looking fascinated as she shared images she had taken of them. Mosamo co-wrote a book on Marikana, titled We Are Going To Kill Each Other Today, and produced a documentary about violence in rural South Africa. South African photographer Felix Dlangamandla, a former colleague who collaborated with Mosamo and others on the book, said she always wanted to know more. She always felt she was still learning. She was so dedicated, he said. Mosamo is survived by a young daughter, her mother and two brothers. Aware of her tendency to become engrossed in her work, Mosamo had an alarm on her cellphone that would shrill every weekday at 4:30 p.m. It was a reminder that she had an hour to pick up her daughter from child care or make plans for friends or family to get her. Sebabatso was passionate about the work she did, and her journalism was integral to the worlds understanding of her home country. But you only needed to speak with her for a few minutes to see that her true passion was being a mother, said AP Executive Editor and Senior Vice President Julie Pace. We are heartbroken for her daughter and entire family. Mosamo covered tumultuous elections in Zimbabwe, the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on the poorest South Africans, a cholera crisis in Zambia, and the seismic 2024 vote in South Africa that ended the African National Congress partys 30-year majority. One of her most memorable stories was capturing how poor, rural South African children still walk miles to get to school yet she reminisced more about getting to know them and their families than taking the photos and video. She was also energized by discussing story ideas and collaborating with colleagues, said Vicki Ferrar, an AP news manager and mentor to Mosamo. She fought so hard for stories and getting them right. By GERALD IMRAY Associated Press KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) A Malaysian man on death row for trafficking heroin is to be executed this week in Singapore, anti-death penalty activists said Monday, renewing calls for a halt to capital punishment in the city-state. If the execution goes through, Datchinamurthy Kataiah, 39, will become the third Malaysian national and the eleventh person to be hanged this year in Singapore. His family received a notice on Sunday that his hanging will take place on Thursday at Singapores Changi prison, according to Kokila Annamalai of the Transformative Collective Justice, which advocates for abolishing the death penalty in Singapore. Datchinamurthy was arrested in 2011 and later convicted of trafficking about 45 grams (1.6 ounces) of heroin into Singapore. He was to be hanged in 2022 but won a last-minute reprieve pending a legal challenge that was dismissed by the court in August. Singapores strict laws mandate the death penalty for anyone caught carrying more than 15 grams of heroin and 500 grams of cannabis. Critics say the law disproportionately targets low-level traffickers and couriers. Speaking at a joint news conference via video link with Amnesty International Malaysia and the Anti-Depath Penalty Asia Network, Kokila read from a letter from Datchinamurtys sister, Rani, who has flown to Singapore to spend time with him. Her brother is not protesting punishment, Rani said in the letter, but believes the death penalty is too harsh and extreme for a young mans naive action. The three rights groups and 30 other civil society organizations also issued a joint statement reiterating standing calls to halt executions. They said three other Malaysians and a Singaporean man, who had been on death row for drug offenses ranging from 7 years to 10 years, face executions after recently losing their latest appeals. The Cabinet of Singapores Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took office last year, had advised President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to show clemency to a Singaporean man on death row for drug trafficking. The president responded and the mans sentence was last month commuted to life in prison the first such clemency since 1998. The three activist groups say it shows change is possible. The groups also urged neighboring Malaysia the current chair of the regional ASEAN bloc to take steps to protect its disadvantaged citizens who are being exploited by drug syndicates. Malaysia made a step toward abolishing the death penalty in 2023, allowing for alternative sentences to capital punishment, with prison terms of 30 to 40 years and caning. Amnesty Internationals 2024 global report said Malaysia commuted more than 1,000 death sentences last year. In contrast, Singapore doubled its executions from five in 2023 to nine last year, with six of those carried out over a two-month period, Amnesty said. More than 40 remain on death row in the city-state. Amnesty also said that the Asia-Pacific region continues to hold the highest number of executions in the world, but secrecy and restrictive state practices such as in China, Vietnam and North Korea make it impossible to obtain accurate figures. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Malaysia did not completely abolish the death penalty in 2023 but offered alternative sentences. By EILEEN NG Associated Press MORENO VALLEY, Calif. (AP) A wild burro dubbed Cupid is recovering from surgery after being shot with an arrow in what officials say is the latest in a series of a half-dozen attacks since June on donkeys that roam semirural areas of inland Southern California. The 2-year-old female burro was spotted last Wednesday with a blue arrow protruding from her right shoulder as she wandered with a herd in the foothills of Moreno Valley, about 65 miles (104 km) east of Los Angeles. Animal services and the Riverside County Sheriffs Department responded and helped bring the wounded animal in for an emergency procedure to remove the arrowhead. The projectile had punctured the burros right lung, said Chad Cheatham, vice president of DonkeyLand, a nonprofit rescue organization. Right now shes stable and is standing, which is a huge improvement, Cheatham said Monday. When Cupid is fully recovered, she will join a group of rescued burros who meander DonkeyLands 2,000-acre (800-hectare) sanctuary and wildlife preserve. The rescue group is offering a $24,000 reward, raised from donations, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in at least six bow attacks on burros over the past several months. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services said Tuesday that the investigation is ongoing, and asked for the publics help in identifying a suspect or suspects. Wild burros are protected under federal law. They are an iconic symbol of the American Southwest, dating to their days as pack animals for people flocking to California during the Gold Rush. Cheatham said burros have become an unofficial mascot of Moreno Valley, where hundreds of them have rambled freely for at least 75 years. They even help with wildfire abatement by munching on tinder- dry grass in remote and ready-to-burn canyons across Riverside and San Bernardino counties, he said. So they really do provide a benefit to the community. The firefighters love them because, they say, Man, these guys can go places we cant go, Cheatham said. The animals are docile but sometimes they can be a nuisance if they chomp on residents flowers or block roads when motorists stop to feed them from their cars, he said. Last year, neighboring San Bernardino County, where wild burros are estimated to number in the thousands, contracted with the nonprofit Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue to humanely capture the animals and relocate them to sanctuaries. While the wild burros delight many residents and visitors, they also commonly encounter vehicle traffic and freight trains, resulting in tragedy for burros and humans, the county said in a statement. The burros also seriously injure themselves leading to infection and death when they become entangled in fencing or when their hooves get caught in cemetery flower vases. The arrows used in the Moreno Valley attacks were broadheads, a style traditionally used for hunting, according to Cheatham. According to DonkeyLand, the first was the weekend of June 14, when a young burro was found grazing with an arrow in her side not far from where Cupid was discovered. A few days later, a second burro was found shot with a similar style of arrow in the same area. Since then, at least three other donkeys were shot in the vicinity, including a pair estimated to be two to four months old, the rescue group said. Healthy donkeys typically live 40 years or more and vary in size from waist-high minis that may weigh 300 pounds (135 kilograms) to bulky mammoths. Last year, two men pleaded guilty to federal charges for using high-powered rifles to kill three wild burros in Southern Californias Mojave Desert, about 90 miles (145 km) north of Moreno Valley. statement. President Donald Trump has declared the week of September 17th through September 23rd as United States Constitution Week. Trump was Mondays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words: This week our Nation proudly celebrates the 238th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution the legendary charter that established our experiment in self-government as the greatest Republic ever conceived. This Constitution Week, we commit to renewing the sacred bonds of American citizenship and refortifying our storied national customs, culture, heritage, and values. Above all, as we begin to celebrate 250 glorious years of American Independence, we pledge allegiance to our beautiful American flag and everything for which it stands and we vow to honor, revere, and safeguard our Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. When our Founding Fathers gathered at Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1787, they codified the timeless truth enshrined in our Declaration of Independence that the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are granted not by government, but by God into an enumerated system. The Constitution established our system of Government and immortalized the cornerstone American principles of federalism, the rule of law, and the separation of powers. Guided by these eternal truths, our Nation has been unfailingly sustained by its devotion to justice, sovereignty, and the common good of its citizens. To this day, these principles and our constitutional framework remain the bedrock of our Nation and the fount of our greatness. Our ancestors believed that the privileges of citizenship also come with obligations including love of country, devotion to our fellow countrymen, and a steadfast commitment to preserving our inheritance of freedom. From the very beginning of our national story, responsible citizenship has meant obeying our laws, defending our flag, honoring our heritage, and guarding our homeland and our constitutional way of life against those who seek to destroy it from within or without. For this reason, on my first day in office, I signed an Executive Order to Protect the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship, reaffirming that citizenship is a sacred bond between citizen and country. I am further defending the value of American citizenship and fighting back against the left-wing arsonists seeking to defile our history and defame our Founding by teaching the truth about our Nations history in our museums, saving American education and returning power to the American parent, and shutting down every radical Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program in the Federal Government. I have also taken bold action to preserve the dignity of the American flag the banner under which millions have fought and died by signing an Executive Order to prosecute those who desecrate our Stars and Stripes. As we approach the 250th anniversary of our Independence next year, we proudly recommit to upholding our constitutional heritage, striving toward a more perfect Union, and forging a future that honors our values, celebrates our traditions, and restores America as one glorious Nation under God. The Congress, by joint resolution of February 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 106), designated September 17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and by joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 108), requested that the President proclaim the week beginning September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as Constitution Week. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the week of September 17 through September 23, 2025, as Constitution Week. Throughout this week, I call on all teachers, school administrators, and State and local leaders to educate Americas pupils on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship under our constitutional order. In doing so, we will ensure a more perfect Union, will continue to prosper for generations to come. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. Charlie Kirk Vigil in Courthouse Park in Sonora -- Photo taken by Tracey Petersen Sonora, CA Mother Lode residents came out to honor Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk over the weekend. Kirks Memorial Service was held Sunday at a stadium in Arizona, and a pair of vigils were held locally, in Tuolumne County. The first was on Saturday at Courthouse Park in Sonora. Click here to view a short video taken during the vigil. Clarke Broadcastings Tracey Petersen also interviewed one of the attendees, Janiea Orweller of Tuolumne County, and the video can be found here. In addition, click on the image box to view over a dozen photos. There was also a vigil on Sunday in downtown Tuolumne. The events were held approximately two weeks after Kirk was assassinated while hosting an event on a college campus in Utah. NEW YORK (AP) Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met Monday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York, expanding relations with the West and further easing his countrys isolation as he becomes Syrias first leader to take part in a U.N. high-level meeting in nearly 60 years. The last time a Syrian head of state attended the U.N. General Assembly gathering of world leaders was in 1967 before the 50-year rule of the Assad family dynasty. A lightning insurgent offensive led by al-Sharaa ousted Bashar Assad in December and brought nearly 14 years of civil war to an end. Since then, al-Sharaa has sought to restore ties with Arab countries and the West, where officials were initially wary of his past ties with the al-Qaida militant group. The rebel group he formerly led, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, was previously designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist group. President Donald Trumps administration has erased that designation and eased sanctions long imposed on Syria in a bid to ensure the country becomes a stable player in the Middle East following its global isolation under Assad. Rubio underscored this opportunity for Syria to build a stable and sovereign nation following President Trumps historic announcement earlier this year on sanctions relief for the Syrian people, the State Department said in a statement. They discussed ongoing counterterrorism efforts, efforts to locate missing Americans, and the importance of Israel-Syria relations in achieving greater regional security, the department said. However, al-Sharaa again expressed doubt that Syria would join the Abraham Accords, which saw several Arab states normalize relations with Israel during Trumps first term. That is even as Syria is in talks with the U.S. and Israel over a potential security arrangement that could be finalized as early as this week. Theres a big difference between Syria and those members in the Abraham Accords, he said earlier Monday at the Concordia Annual Summit, a global affairs forum in New York. Syria is different. And those who are part of the Abraham Accords are not neighbors to Israel. Therefore, Syria as a neighbor has been subjected to over 1,000 raids, strikes and Israeli incursions. He added that Syria has to be respected in this new era. There are different phases of negotiations with Israel to go back to the truce of 1974. The comments from al-Sharaa came in a conversation with retired Gen. David Petraeus, who commanded troops in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and previously served as CIA director. They met in a New York conference hall after fighting on opposite sides of the U.S.-led war in Iraq two decades ago. Al-Sharaa was an al-Qaida militant imprisoned by American forces, while Petraeus was the architect of a military strategy that for a time succeeded in suppressing the extremist group. At the forum, al-Sharaa praised Trump, whom he met in Saudi Arabia in May, for taking a bold decision on lifting many sanctions against Syria. I think Syria deserves a new opportunity, al-Sharaa said. However, some sanctions remain, and the State Department had to waive Assad-era visa restrictions on Syria for al-Sharaa and his delegation so they could participate in the U.N. meeting of world leaders, which kicks off Tuesday. Al-Sharaa urged the United States to remove the remaining sanctions, saying Syria needs help as it comes out of war and crisis. The Syrian people should not be killed another time through the sanctions, he said. The Syrian people love work. Lift the sanctions, and dont worry about them. He also met in New York with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Gregory Meeks, ranking Democrats on the foreign relations committees, and Shaheen emphasized that Congress should pass legislation she is co-sponsoring to lift penalties still in place, according to a statement from the Senate committee. Asked about atrocities committed against members of minorities in the coastal region and the southern province of Sweida that have caused alarm in the U.S. and elsewhere, al-Sharaa said there was major chaos and everyone made mistakes. He noted that for the first time in 60 years, Syria has allowed international fact-finding teams into the country. The Syrian state will work on accountability against those found guilty even if they were the closest people to us, he said. ___ Associated Press writers James Pollard in New York and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report. By MATTHEW LEE AP Diplomatic Writer From Zhejiang to Yangon, Wu Opera celebrates 75 years of China-Myanmar diplomatic ties Xinhua) 13:54, September 22, 2025 Artists of a Wu Opera troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province perform at the National Theatre of Yangon in Myanmar, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) YANGON, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The National Theatre of Yangon came alive over the weekend, its grand hall brimming with color, music, and applause as audiences experienced Wu Opera, a centuries-old art form from China's Zhejiang Province. The performance was staged to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 75th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations. More than 2,000 people attended the event on Saturday and Sunday. For many in the audience, it was their first time experiencing Wu Opera. Among them was Lwin Phyo Hein, a second-year student at the National University of Arts and Culture in Yangon. He said the opera's acrobatic flips left a strong impression. He added that the live experience was far more vivid than watching online. "Costumes are excellent. I recommend it to my friends," he said, saying that cultural exchanges allow countries to share traditions and build stronger connections. Daw Thandar Aung, a 26-year-old lecturer at the University of Yangon, attended with four colleagues. She said she was delighted to see Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, come to life on stage, and it was her first time seeing the character outside of television. She also praised the organizers for providing translations that made the performance easier to follow. "This performance not only entertains but also strengthens China-Myanmar relations," she said. Nway Hnoung Shar, a 25-year-old teacher at the Myanmar International Education Center, said the opera reminded her of characters she had read about in books, describing it as an inspiring cultural exchange. She emphasized that such performances let young people from Myanmar experience the cultures of both countries without the need to travel. "The opera is entirely new to me. It is excellent," she said. Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia said during the performance on Saturday that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar. Over the past 75 years, the two nations have been bound by the deep-rooted "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship. The close exchanges in culture, art, education, media and other fields have helped to build a solid "bridge of hearts" between the two peoples. "I believe that today's brilliant performances by artists of both countries will not only let us appreciate the unique artistic charm of traditional operas but also offer us a rare chance to witness shining on each other and prospering together through dialogue and exchange of ancient civilizations," she added. Myanmar's Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn said, "It is a great honor and joy for Myanmar audiences to witness the performances of this famous troupe here today." He added that cultural exchanges and mutual learning between Myanmar and China deepen the friendship between their peoples and strengthen relations at the national level. On Saturday, the Zhejiang troupe performed six classic pieces, including "Lyu Bu Tries the Horse," "The Goddess of Heaven Scatters Flowers," and "Three Triumphs Over the Skeletal Demon." Myanmar performers also contributed two pieces excerpted from the Ramayana classic play, "Rama Pursuing the Enchanted Golden Deer" and "Sita's Rejection of Dasagiri Courtship." In addition, cultural booths hosted by the China Cultural Center in Yangon and the State High School of Arts in Yangon gave visitors hands-on experiences of Chinese and Myanmar arts and crafts, complementing the performances on stage. Wu Opera, also known as Jinhua Opera, is the second major theatrical genre in Zhejiang Province, eastern China, and has a history of more than 500 years. It got its name from Wuzhou, the ancient name of Jinhua, and remains very popular there. In June 2008, Wu Opera was listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. An artist of a Wu Opera troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province performs at the National Theatre of Yangon in Myanmar, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) Artists of a Wu Opera troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province perform at the National Theatre of Yangon in Myanmar, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) Artists of a Wu Opera troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province perform at the National Theatre of Yangon in Myanmar, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) Artists of a Wu Opera troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province perform at the National Theatre of Yangon in Myanmar, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) Artists of a Wu Opera troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province perform at the National Theatre of Yangon in Myanmar, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) People watch a performance staged by a Wu Opera troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province at the National Theatre of Yangon in Myanmar, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) The United Nations reimposed nuclear sanctions on Iran Sunday, putting new pressure on Tehrans ailing economy as tensions remain high in the wider Mideast over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi offered a last-ditch effort to try to halt the sanctions at the U.N. General Assembly met this week in New York. Efforts by China and Russia to stop the sanctions failed as well. The clock started when France, Germany and the United Kingdom on Aug. 28 declared Iran wasnt complying with its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers Heres a timeline of the tensions over Irans atomic program: Early days 1967 Iran takes possession of its Tehran Research Reactor under Americas Atoms for Peace program. 1979 U.S. ally Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, fatally ill, flees Iran as popular protests against him surge. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran and the Islamic Revolution sweeps him to power. Students seize the United States Embassy in Tehran, beginning the 444-day hostage crisis. Irans nuclear program goes fallow under international pressure. August 2002 Western intelligence services and an Iranian opposition group reveal Irans secret Natanz nuclear enrichment facility. June 2003 Britain, France and Germany engage Iran in nuclear negotiations. October 2003 Iran suspends uranium enrichment under international pressure. February 2006 Iran announces it will restart uranium enrichment following the election of hard-line president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Britain, France and Germany walk out of stalled negotiations. June 2009 Irans disputed presidential election sees Ahmadinejad reelected despite fraud allegations, sparking protests known as the Green Movement and a violent government crackdown. October 2009 Under U.S. President Barack Obama, the U.S. and Iran open a secret back-channel for messages in the sultanate of Oman. July 2012 U.S. and Iranian officials hold secret face-to-face talks in Oman. July 2015 World powers and Iran announce a long-term, comprehensive nuclear agreement that limits Tehrans enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. The nuclear deal collapses May 8, 2018 Trump unilaterally withdraws the U.S. from the nuclear agreement, calling it the worst deal ever. He says hell get better terms in new negotiations to stop Irans missile development and support for regional militias. Those talks dont happen in his first term. May 8, 2019 Iran announces it will begin backing away from the accord. A series of regional attacks on land and at sea blamed on Tehran follow. Jan. 3, 2020 A U.S. drone strike in Baghdad kills Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Tehrans proxy wars in the Middle East. Jan. 8, 2020 In retaliation for Soleimanis killing, Iran launches a barrage of missiles at military bases in Iraq that are home to thousands of American and Iraqi troops. More than 100 U.S. service members suffer traumatic brain injuries, according to the Pentagon. As Iran braces for a counterattack, the Revolutionary Guard shoots down a Ukrainian passenger plane shortly after takeoff from Tehrans international airport, reportedly mistaking it for a U.S. cruise missile. All 176 people on board are killed. July 2, 2020 A mysterious explosion tears apart a centrifuge production plant at Irans Natanz nuclear enrichment facility. Iran blames the attack on archenemy Israel. April 6, 2021 Iran and the U.S. under President Joe Biden begin indirect negotiations in Vienna over how to restore the nuclear deal. Those talks, and others between Tehran and European nations, fail to reach any agreement. April 11, 2021 A second attack within a year targets Irans Natanz nuclear site, again likely carried out by Israel. April 16, 2021 Iran begins enriching uranium up to 60% its highest purity ever and a technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Feb. 24, 2022 Russia launches its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Moscow ultimately will come to rely on Iranian bomb-carrying drones in the conflict, as well as missiles. July 17, 2022 An adviser to Irans supreme leader, Kamal Kharrazi, says Iran is technically capable of making a nuclear bomb, but has not decided whether to build one. Mideast wars rage Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip storm into Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage, beginning the most intense war ever between Israel and Hamas. Iran, which has armed Hamas, offers support to the militants. Regional tensions spike. Nov. 19, 2023 Yemens Houthi rebels, long supported by Iran, seize the ship Galaxy Leader, beginning a monthslong campaign of attacks on shipping through the Red Sea corridor that the U.S. Navy describes as the most intense combat it has seen since World War II. The attacks mirror tactics earlier used by Iran. April 14, 2024 Iran launches an unprecedented direct attack on Israel, firing over 300 missiles and attack drones. Israel, working with a U.S.-led international coalition, intercepts much of the incoming fire. April 19, 2024 A suspected Israeli strike hits an air defense system by an airport in Isfahan, Iran. July 31, 2024 Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, is assassinated during a visit to Tehran after the inauguration of reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian. Israel later takes responsibility for the assassination. Sept. 27, 2024 An Israeli airstrike kills Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon. Oct. 1, 2024 Iran launches its second direct attack on Israel, though a U.S.-led coalition and Israel shoot down most of the missiles. Oct. 16, 2024 Israel kills Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in the Gaza Strip. Oct. 26, 2024 Israel openly attacks Iran for the first time, striking air defense systems and sites associated with its missile program. Trump returns and reaches out Jan. 20, 2025 Trump is inaugurated for his second term as president. Feb. 7, 2025 Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says proposed talks with the U.S. are not intelligent, wise or honorable. March 7, 2025 Trump says he sent a letter to Khamenei seeking a new nuclear deal with Tehran. March 15, 2025 Trump launches intense airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen, the last members of Irans self-described Axis of Resistance capable of daily attacks. April 7, 2025 Trump announces the U.S. and Iran will hold direct talks in Oman. Iran says theyll be indirect talks, but confirms the meeting. April 12, 2025 The first round of talks between Iran and the U.S. take place in Oman, ending with a promise to hold more talks after U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi briefly spoke together. April 19, 2025 The second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran are held in Rome. April 26, 2025 Iran and the U.S. meet in Oman a third time, but the negotiations include talks at the expert level for the first time. May 11, 2025 Iran and the U.S. meet in Oman for a fourth round of negotiations ahead of Trumps trip to the Mideast. May 23, 2025 Iran and the U.S. meet in Rome for a fifth round of talks, with Oman saying the negotiations made some but not conclusive progress. The Iran-Israel war begins June 9, 2025 Iran signals it wont accept a U.S. proposal over the nuclear program. June 12, 2025 The Board of Governors at the International Atomic Energy Agency finds Iran in noncompliance with its nuclear obligations. Iran responds by announcing it has built and will activate a third nuclear enrichment facility. June 13, 2025 Israel launches its war against Iran. Over 12 days, it hits nuclear and military sites, as well as other government installations. June 22, 2025 The U.S. intervenes in the war, attacking three Iranian nuclear sites. June 23, 2025 Iran responds to the U.S. attack by targeting a military base in Qatar used by American troops, causing limited damage. June 24, 2025 Trump announces a ceasefire in the war. July 25, 2025 Iranian and European diplomats hold talks in Istanbul over Irans nuclear program. Aug. 8, 2025 France, Germany and the United Kingdom warn Iran in a letter that it will reimplement U.N. sanctions if there is no satisfactory solution to the nuclear standoff by Aug. 31. Aug. 28, 2025 France, Germany and the United Kingdom say theyve started the process to snapback U.N. sanctions on Iran. Sept. 9, 2025 Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency reach a deal over potentially starting inspections, but questions remain over its implementation. Sept. 19, 2025 U.N. Security Council declines to stop snapback sanctions on Iran. Sept. 26, 2025 U.N. Security Council rejects China and Russias last-minute effort to stop snapback. Sept. 28, 2025 U.N. reimposes snapback sanctions on Iran barring any last-minute diplomacy. By The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) Pamela Anderson has nothing against makeup. Its just that shes been there, done that in her younger years. Thats why now, at 58, shes attending fashion shows and film premieres with a blissfully bare face. Its a look, especially for older women, that serves to plague and perplex. Do we chase youth (and relevancy) with a full face, or do we foster radiant skin and march on makeup free? Im not trying to be the prettiest girl in the room, Anderson told Vogue ahead of a recent show she attended during Paris Fashion Week. I feel like its just freedom. Its like a relief. Down here in the non-celebrity world, is it just as easy and comfortable to go makeup free? Some proponents of the look, along with style and beauty experts, weigh in. Going makeup free on the job Women, particularly older women, are not universally giving up makeup, but Anderson, Alicia Keys and other celebrities who have publicly shown off bare faces have certainly inspired some to cast it off. Working women, however, acknowledge difficulties doing that on the job especially in traditional, less creative work spaces. I do still think that there are some politics associated with it. More around feeling and looking polished, said Deborah Borg, the chief of human resources for a creative-leaning company that has roughly 25,000 employees. She said shes seen more women come into work makeup-free since COVID, and thinks the pandemic significantly altered the workplace dynamic. Borg, 49, gave up makeup four years ago, save an occasional swipe of her bold, signature red lipstick. At Dalya, a cozy clothing shop in New Yorks trendy Soho neighborhood, she lent herself as a model to demonstrate how to help ones bare skin glow and how to use attire and accessories to accentuate the look. Skin prep for a no-makeup lifestyle Makeup artist Rebecca Robles counseled Borg and others with mature skin to think hydration when choosing products to make the most of their bare faces. Robles recommends a five-step workday routine: A gentle cleanser that doesnt strip the skin; a vitamin C serum to brighten and mitigate fine lines; a moisturizer with sun protection; a separate broad-spectrum sunscreen for an extra boost (dont forget to apply that to the ears); and a glossy lip balm for a bit of added polish. No mascara? No problem. Use a lash curler to offer a bit of pop to the eye, Robles said. And gently brush brows into place to complete the look. Find products with hyaluronic acid and ceramides, Robles suggests, and always swipe up with skincare products. Minimize tugging and pulling on the skin. When your skin is glowing, one thing thats really fun to keep in mind is that light reflects off that moisture in the skin and can help blur out any fine lines or enlarged pores. So its win-win, Robles said. She advised that each product should sit for a minute or two before the next step is applied. Borg emphasized the ease of her morning routine since going makeup free. She used to spend about 30 minutes just on makeup. Now, she does hair and face in half that time. Make color in clothes sing Natalie Tincher, a personal stylist and founder of Bu Style, praised Anderson, Keys and other celebrities who have gone without makeup both publicly and on social media. They look beautiful and theyre so confident in their natural persona and who they are that I feel like its really giving an example for all of us women to say, Hey, what am I hiding? I dont have to do that. I can make the choice if I want to go no makeup, minimal makeup, full glam. I can have those choices,' she said. For her clients going makeup free, she uses a three-prong approach. First, with clothes, use a lot of color. I call it our filter, Tincher said. Secondly, play with texture; it determines how light will be reflected. So if you have something more matte, that is going to create a more soft lighting on you. If you have more silk satin, like say something like a blouse, its going to be more like a laser beam, she said. Finally, accessorize. Tincher said added touches like lapel pins, earrings and necklaces can provide a finished polish especially if that polish is still expected at work. A considered style can offset judgments about going makeup free, she said. Think of your outfit as the big picture. When you walk in, what is the statement that its making? Its not just about one part of you, its your whole presence in a room, she said. Others who dumped makeup and why Colleen Gehoski Steinman, who lives near Lansing, Michigan, recently pivoted from a career in public relations and fundraising to professional sewing. During the pandemic, she stopped coloring her hair, then gave up wearing makeup much of the time. But at 59, shes not a stickler about it if shes going to be in lighting that will wash her out. This is who we really are, and you can be beautiful just as you are, Steinman said. In South Carolina, Cate Chapman manages a bagel shop and sells her homemade custards at farmers markets in the Greenville area. As a teen, she was all-in on makeup but has been happily free of it since the early 1990s. I just thought, for one, makeup is expensive, said Chapman, 57. Putting it on is time-consuming. As a female, Im making less, and my male counterparts dont have to put out this expense. It isnt fair. It feels expected, and its not right. Makeup, she said, felt like prison. She stopped gradually, giving up foundation first. But still, shes not above applying a bit of mascara on special occasions. If you enjoy it, do it, Chapman said. But if you feel like a slave to it, let it go. By LEANNE ITALIE AP Lifestyles Writer Conor here: Richard Murphy has in the past detailed the threat posed by climate-change-induced flooding on UK housing and the mortgages on those houses. Here he provides more of a global take, as well as updating the situation in the UK where wildfires are becoming increasingly common. Murphy offers some ways to fix this, although its hard to see a political path to these solutions on the horizon, and one can imagine that in the mind of the bankers they already believe they have a resilient system in place: bailouts. By Richard Murphy, part-time Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School, director of the Corporate Accountability Network, member of Finance for the Future LLP, and director of Tax Research LLP. Originally published at Fund the Future. A massive banking collapse is coming and the cause isnt speculation this time. Its climate change. Uninsurable homes mean worthless mortgages, and worthless mortgages mean broken banks. Unless governments act now with public banking and sustainable cost accounting, society itself is at risk. This is the transcript: Like it or not, there is a massive banking collapse ahead of us unless urgent action is taken. Whats the reason? Climate change is the reason. There is no way around a banking collapse worldwide unless we begin to take climate change seriously, very soon. Why? Because banks lend on the basis of security that they demand, which is charged on properties. And vast numbers of properties are not going to be suitable for the purposes of providing that security sometime very soon in the future, because theyre going to become uninsurable. And as a consequence, banking is going to collapse. Lets just explain this. Banks dont take risks. I know they like to pretend they do in their advertising. They try to pretend theyre entrepreneurs, and theyre the friends of business, and theyll go out of their way to help you to meet whatever demand you might have. But the truth is, banks hate risk. So when they lend, they try to lend with what is called security. And that means that they take a mortgage over a property to guarantee that the loan that theyve made to you is going to be repaid by them having the legal right to claim ownership of a property that is currently yours, and to then sell it if, for any reason, you default on payment to them. Thats how they lend. You might call a mortgage a loan. But as far as the bank is concerned, its a legal charge over your home, which means that they can sell that home if you dont keep up with the repayments. And its this structure, lending on security backed up by mortgages, that makes the banking system around the world work. And thats not just for homeowners either. Its also for businesses. They, in the vast majority of cases, are lent to by banks on the basis that there is an asset that the bank can claim, whether that be property in most cases occasionally something else or the personal guarantee of the owner of a business, very often also backed up by a mortgage on their home. So this is how banking is. Lets not pretend otherwise. Over 85% of all loans in banking in the UK are backed up by a mortgage. How does the role of insurance come into this then? Well, in theory, of course, you dont need to insure a property, which is going to be used for security. Except, well, the bank insists that you do because it wants it to be there, of course. Because if it isnt there for sale in a condition that is saleable, theyve got no guarantee that theyll be able to recover their money if you dont pay them. In other words, insurance is critical to reducing the banks risk once more. And they therefore insist that you will insure a property if you borrow on the security of the property in question. You will be familiar with this if you have a mortgage. The bank will require evidence that you have the property insured. Very often, theyll insist you buy their insurance to prove thats the case. But the point is that all over the world, more and more properties are becoming uninsurable. Weve seen this because of flood. Because of fire. Because of earthquake. Because of excessive heating, and because of drought. All of those are creating massive risks for the insurability of properties. And without insurance property is worthless for banking purposes. And its climate change that is in every one of those cases, making insurance impossible in areas where it used to be easy to obtain. Just think about it. Fire in Los Angeles has made buying new homes in that city with a mortgage virtually impossible. Sydney in Australia is seeing an increased number of wildfires, as are other cities in that continent. Southern Europe, Greece, France, Spain are all seeing fires breaking out all over the place, and they are threatening the security of properties and so of insurability. Flooding is becoming more commonplace, including in the UK, and areas that were previously unknown for flood risk are now facing real problems. In particular, central London has a massive flood risk issue if the Thames barrier is not enlarged, and very soon. And it will take a very long time for any such enlargement to take place because there is now a very serious risk that it could be overwhelmed by floodwater sometime soon. That would wipe out Docklands. It would wipe out the centre of London. It would wipe out, according to bankers Ive spoken to, the vast majority of the security available to them for the commercial property lending that they make. And were even seeing this problem in places we would never have imagined before in the UK. Thereve been wildfires in Scotland. Theres been a wildfire in North Yorkshire this summer. And thats putting real peoples homes at risk of being uninsurable for a new threat. Weve already had flood, and many people in areas that you wouldnt imagine the Trent Valley, for example; the Severn Valley, for example have faced this problem. But now we have fire risk too, and so far the government hasnt reacted, although it has on flood risk. We then have to look at the new issue. And thats heat and drought, and the problems are just escalating. The issue is uninsurable properties in ever larger numbers will mean fewer and fewer mortgages being available in the future. But it also means that existing loans will become unserviceable in effect, because there wont be any insurance on them, and the risk in bank balance sheets will go up. And then the problem is that when bankers realise that every banks balance sheet has vast numbers of assets on it, which may be of no value at all, they all stop lending to each other. That is exactly what happened in 2008. In 2008 in the USA. Banks stopped lending to each other because they had no idea what the real value of the mortgages on other banks balance sheets was, and therefore, they stopped inter-bank lending. The system ground to a halt. It followed here almost immediately, and we have, as Ive already noted, got this problem in the UK. But its in Germany. Its in France. Its in Greece. Its in Australia. Its in all sorts of countries around the world. The failure we face is not particular or individual to any one area or to any one bank. The failure that we face is systemic. And bankers, I know from conversations Ive had with some of them, have been suggesting, Dont worry. Well be able to dump all our risky properties onto somebody else well before the crisis hits because there are some stupid bankers out there wholl take anything. But thats just naive. Its even stupid. The fact is that this risk of insolvency will hit simultaneously. Everybody will suddenly realise, and there will be some trigger event. The fire in Los Angeles hasnt been it so far, but its the warning sign. Its the John the Baptist, to the coming of Christ, if you like a bit of this patched metaphor, but one that works in this case that says this is real and its going to happen. And when banks collapse, what we get is a liquidity collapse. In other words, theres no money moving in the marketplace. And when payment systems collapse as a consequence, and they could, then supply chains fail. And when supply chains fail, there will be no money to pay your supermarket. And you have, in all likelihood, got no more than nine meals in your whole house available to be cooked now. You will be in crisis when this happens. Without banks, daily life will grind to a halt. No payments, no mortgages, no credit, no food supply, everything at risk. No reward for work because somebody wont be able to pay you. This is how close to the wind we are already sailing, when we know that the entire underpinning of the balance sheets of every bank on which we are dependent to keep our payment system working is at risk. Society has put itself in jeopardy, and at the moment, everybody is pretending with their heads in the sand which might just be another of these climate risks that everything will work out all right. I promise you it isnt going to. There is no way on earth that banks are going to be able to pass the parcel. The central bankers are still doing that. Theyre pretending that this risk doesnt exist when theyre undertaking their risk analysis of these entities. But the fact is, the problem is growing exponentially. All over the world, its growing exponentially, which means its getting faster and faster in other words. So, doing the type of risk analysis the banks are doing, which by and large looks backwards and by and large looks at past risk, as an indicator of future risk, is absurd. Its just getting worse. Denial is not a strategy. Its negligence. Climate risk cannot be ignored in banking. So what must be done? We must recognise that uninsurability is now a core systemic risk in banking. And its ceased to be peripheral. Its now at the forefront of everyones concern. We must work out who is most at risk, and for that purpose, I suggest that we use sustainable cost accounting, my method of accounting for companies at risk of the impact of climate change, and how we appraise the consequences. We have to plan for alternative forms of banking before the current system collapses at the same time, because governments must be ready to replace failed banks. If they havent got that contingency in place, were in deep trouble. And for that reason, we have to create public banking for public need and not private profit. I said this very loudly and clearly in 2008. I said at that time that we had made a massive error of judgment by allowing banks payment systems on which we all rely and which are therefore core state infrastructure on which we are utterly dependent to be in private hands, when without them, the state would fail to function. But nothing has been done since 2008 to put matters right. We cannot survive climate change unless we change our banking system, is my point. We need to change our models of lending. We need to change our models of insurance. We need to recognise that the current system is broken. And we need to build resilient financial systems now with public backing to ensure that society itself will not collapse when our banks do. But unless we take action, that is an almost certain outcome because they cannot survive in a world where properties are uninsurable, and more and more of them are moving into that category. Sanskrit university project: Ant movement, frog behaviour to predict rain Hindustan Times Whats Happening to Wholesale Electricity Prices? Construction Physics Involved sequentially: leopard sharks observed mating for first time in wild have threesome The Guardian Climate/Environment Pandemics SARS-CoV-2 can turn our own defenders into traitors. A study in Sci Transl Med, 2025 shows the virus drives neutrophils into PMN-MDSCs cells that dont fight, but suppress T cells. https://t.co/e3IgWFvdXg Zdenek Vrozina (@ZdenekVrozina) September 19, 2025 The Koreas India China? Chinese automaker BYDs U9 Xtreme EV just hit a verified top speed of 496 km/h (308 mph) at Germanys ATP proving grounds, making it the new fastest production car in the world, beating the Bugatti Chirons 304.77 mph. 2,978 hp 80 kWh LFP battery 1,200v platform New pic.twitter.com/JcP7yTyERJ Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) September 21, 2025 South of the Border Venezuela Launches Military Exercises in All Regions Throughout the Country Orinoco Tribune Syraqistan This family killed today by Israel in Lebanon are Lebanese with American citizenship so Israel kills American citizens not only in Palestine but in Lebanon too. Will the U.S do anything about it? Some of their names: Shadi Sobhi Sharara Celine Shadi Sharara Hadi Shadi Sharara pic.twitter.com/vzmJ2QEmOf Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws1) September 21, 2025 US Amb Huckabee says Israels army is more moral than Americas: They have taken measures to protect human life the likes of which our own country does not do. Says death toll in Gaza is so high because Hamas moves civilians into Israels targets after being warned to leave. pic.twitter.com/ORwNEUnySB Chris Menahan (@infolibnews) September 22, 2025 BREAKING: Israeli PM Netanyahu: A Palestinian state will not be established. The response to the recent attempt to impose a terror state in the heart of our land will be given after my return from the US I have a clear message to those leaders who recognize a Palestinian pic.twitter.com/NFnih2pEwq Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws1) September 21, 2025 European Disunion Since I was born, Italy has ran primary surpluses every single year but seven, which coincided with the global convulsions of 2008-11 and 2020-23. During much of that period it was the worst performing G7 economy by a substantial margin. The last years have surely shown that https://t.co/MG11zbxkpM New Left EViews (@NewLeftEViews) September 21, 2025 New Not-So-Cold War Russian drone pilots are becoming extremely good this war is getting scarier pic.twitter.com/7GEfZBsbwM Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) September 21, 2025 Trump 2.0 MAHA Trump officials reportedly set to tie Tylenol to autism risk The Guardian Weimar Republic This Starbucks had to close temporarily after this accusation went viral. This tweet, ex., has 48K retweets and includes its phone number and address. They just confirmed they checked the security footage, and Loser wasnt on the drink when it was handed off. https://t.co/lEIrQ6KwPd Alex Griswold (@HashtagGriswold) September 20, 2025 False Flag Watch We will have another 9/11 in our country. Probably within the next 6 months to a year. And when we do, it will be because the people who have been put in charge of combatting terrorism in America are too afraid to say ISLAMIC TERRORISM. Dont say I didnt warn you. @NCTCKent Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) September 20, 2025 Mamdani Accelerationists Crapification AI And you twist the darkness in your fingers Internal Exile Healthcare? THE HEALTH PENALTY Texas Observer Class Warfare Hole-Punched History Extracurriculars Antidote du jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. This past week the Trump administration has put on a bravura display of impunity and seeming incompetence, but perhaps we can glean some insight into how they function. As I posted last week, competence, corruption and control limit the powers of Team Trump, but their audacity and ambition mean they must be watched closely. There is always an immense WTF factor when monitoring POTUS Trump and maybe the apparent impunity and incompetence is concealing other things. Impunity It doesnt get much more flagrant than this, per MSNBC (of course its MSNBC): In an undercover operation last year, the FBI recorded Tom Homan, now the White House border czar, accepting $50,000 in cash after indicating he could help the agents who were posing as business executives win government contracts in a second Trump administration, according to multiple people familiar with the probe and internal documents reviewed by MSNBC. The FBI and the Justice Department planned to wait to see whether Homan would deliver on his alleged promise once he became the nations top immigration official. But the case indefinitely stalled soon after Donald Trump became president again in January, according to six sources familiar with the matter. In recent weeks, Trump appointees officially closed the investigation, after FBI Director Kash Patel requested a status update on the case, two of the people said. Its unclear what reasons FBI and Justice Department officials gave for shutting down the investigation. But a Trump Justice Department appointee called the case a deep state probe in early 2025 and no further investigative steps were taken, the sources say. In a statement provided to MSNBC, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said, This matter originated under the previous administration and was subjected to a full review by FBI agents and Justice Department prosecutors. They found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing. The Departments resources must remain focused on real threats to the American people, not baseless investigations. As a result, the investigation has been closed. White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson slammed the probe as a blatantly political investigation, which found no evidence of illegal activity, is yet another example of how the Biden Department of Justice was using its resources to target President Trumps allies rather than investigate real criminals and the millions of illegal aliens who flooded our country. Tom Homan has not been involved with any contract award decisions. He is a career law enforcement officer and lifelong public servant who is doing a phenomenal job on behalf of President Trump and the country, she added on behalf of Homan, a senior White House employee. Megyn Kelly, formerly of Fox News, formerly of NBC, spoke up in defense of Homan and dismissed the caper: Time magazine outlined the Trump administrations plan to expand its attack on media companies to include NGOs: In the wake of Charlie Kirks assassination earlier this month, President Donald Trump and members of his administration have openly discussed punishing left-leaning organizations they believe fuel political violence. Experts say one tactic thats been mentioned could be especially harmful to some of the targeted groups: going after their tax-exempt status. The charge was made most explicitly last Monday, when Vice President J.D. Vance singled out the Ford Foundation and the George Soros-funded Open Society Foundations while hosting Charlie Kirks podcast. We are going to go after the NGO network that foments and facilities and engages in violence, Vance said, referring to non-governmental organizations. Asked about the Administrations plans, a White House official told TIME in a statement: The White House is exploring a wide variety of options to put pen to paper to address left-wing political violence and the network of organizations that fuel and fund it. Specifics on what that looks like continue to be discussed. The typical IRS investigations are based on how the money is being used and whether the money is being used to further exempt purposes or if overall the organization is not actually operated for its exempt purposes or providing private benefits or is self dealing, or something like that, says Roger Colinvaux, professor of law at The Catholic University of America. IRS investigations, he adds, are not usually targeted toward an organizations viewpoint and really viewpoint shouldnt come into it at all. Trump himself had other prosecutions on his mind. In a Truth social post that he might have intended to send as a direct message to Attorney General Pam Bondi, he called for scalps of his enemies: NBC News had more: Alongside the extraordinary demand to prosecute his adversaries, the president also named his former defense attorney, now a senior White House aide, to replace the head of a key prosecutors office he forced out a day earlier. He said people were complaining that nothing is being done and name-checked some public officials with whom he has tussled: former FBI Director James Comey, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Comey led the investigation into Trumps possible ties to Russian leadership, which concluded that Trumps campaign did not collude with Russian operatives. Schiff, as a member of the House, led the first impeachment of Trump during his first term. James brought a successful civil suit against Trump in 2022 that accused him of overvaluing assets, including real estate, in loan applications. The suits financial penalty against Trump was later voided. In a follow-up post an hour later, Trump praised Bondi. Pam Bondi is doing a GREAT job as Attorney General of the United States, he wrote. In a statement to NBC News, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said: President Trump appreciates all Attorney General Bondi is doing to Make America Safe Again. The President wants justice and accountability for the many corrupt criminals and politicians who weaponized our justice system against him and his millions of patriotic supporters. Perhaps I should have included the last example under the next topic header, but I promised bravura incompetence and I dont want to disappoint. Incompetence Trumps White House dropped the following fact sheet on Friday: Points from the fact sheet: The Proclamation restricts entry for aliens as nonimmigrants to perform services in specialty occupations in the H-1B program unless their petition is accompanied by a $100,000 payment. It directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to restrict approvals for petitions from aliens that are currently outside the United States that are not accompanied by the payment, and allows case-by-case exemptions if in the national interest. The Proclamation requires employers to retain documentation of payment remittance, with the Secretary of State verifying payment during the petition process and the Departments of State and Homeland Security denying entry for non-payment for the relevant aliens and taking other relevant steps needed to implement the Proclamation. It requires the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security to issue joint guidance for verification, enforcement, audits, and penalties. The Proclamation directs the Secretary of Labor to initiative rulemaking to revise the prevailing wage levels for the H-1B program and directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to initiate rulemaking to prioritize high-skilled, high-paid H-1B workers. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt immediately clarified in a tweet that drew the dreaded Community Note from X (nothing says impunity and incompetence like getting slapped by Musks community): To be clear: 1.) This is NOT an annual fee. Its a one-time fee that applies only to the petition. 2.) Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter. H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) September 20, 2025 Heres the complete text of her tweet for those not wishing to click over to X.com to see the impunity and incompetence up close: To be clear: 1.) This is NOT an annual fee. Its a one-time fee that applies only to the petition. 2.) Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter. H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would; whatever ability they have to do that is not impacted by yesterdays proclamation. 3.) This applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders. It will first apply in the next upcoming lottery cycle. Video from the announcement backed the community note, showing Sec of Commerce Howard Lutnick saying the $100,000 H-1B visa fee is annual, five times in a row seemed to back up the MSMs accusations of impunity and incompetence: Trumps enemies at The New York Times and NBC News were quick to pounce on the perceived impunity and incompetence: From the NYT, noted haters of Trumps impunity and incompetence: Wall Street banks and tech companies big and small were scrambling on Saturday to figure out how their tens of thousands of employees would be affected by President Trumps proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee for visas granted to skilled foreign workers. The change set off immediate confusion over the exact rules and how they would be enforced. Shortly after Mr. Trump signed the proclamation on Friday, employees at Microsoft, Amazon and JPMorgan received notices advising those with H-1B visas who were outside the United States to return before the new rules take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday. The Trump administration sought to address the confusion on Saturday by saying that the fee would only apply to new applicants, and renewals or current visa holders would not be affected. In a post on social media, the White House said the change would not impact the ability of any current visa holder to travel to/from the U.S. The Financial Times had more on the muddied waters of Trumps visa policy: Prominent members of Trumps political coalition have previously expressed support for the H-1B programme, including his largest donor Elon Musk. But others such as former White House strategist Steve Bannon have called for the scheme to be abolished so that American workers are protected. Garry Tan, chief executive of start-up incubator Y Combinator, said in a post on X that the decision by Trump was a mistake that kneecaps start-ups and represented a massive gift to every overseas tech hub including Vancouver and Toronto in Canada. In the middle of an AI arms race, were telling builders to build elsewhere. We need American Little Tech to win not $100K toll booths, Tan added. Lawyers acting for major US companies told the FT that their clients were awaiting further clarification from the Department of State, which issues visas and had yet to make any statement on Sunday. Companies were also considering bringing a legal challenge to contest the proposed fees. Reuters illustrated which countries Trumps move impacts the most: In that same Reuters piece, reporters Haripriya Suresh and Sai Ishwarbharath B elaborated on the impact on India and American multi-nationals: Indias $283 billion information technology sector will have to overhaul its decades-old strategy of rotating skilled talent into U.S. projects following U.S. President Donald Trumps move, opens new tab to impose a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas from Sunday, according to tech veterans, analysts, lawyers and economists. The sector, which earns about 57% of its total revenue from the U.S. market, has long gained from U.S. work visa programs and the outsourcing of software and business services a contentious issue for many Americans who have lost jobs to cheaper workers in India. Trumps move to reshape the H-1B program will force IT firms with clients such as Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab, JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N), opens new tab, Walmart (WMT.N), opens new tab, Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab, Meta (META.O), opens new tab and Alphabets (GOOGL.O), opens new tab Google to pause onshore rotations, accelerate offshore delivery, and ramp up hiring of U.S. citizens and green card holders, experts said. Insight? Perhaps it was only the roll out which was incompetent. Perhaps the H1-B visa policy change roll out was deliberately chaotic to make things harder on Indian nationals working in the U.S. and India in general. Perhaps part of Trumps perceived impunity and incompetence comes from his administration not caring what the MSM makes of their actions. After all, Trump has repeatedly clashed with Modi, a feud that reportedly began when Modi refused to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for, Trump claims, ending the brief shooting war between India and Pakistan earlier this year. India refused to let Trump mediate between them and Pakistan. This was followed by Trump suddenly imposing brutal tariffs and pressuring the EU to cut off their imports of Indian oil (ie sanctioned Russian oil resold by India). Trump has also cancelled a planned visit to India later this year. So there may be a method behind the impunity and incompetence. Trumps State Dept. is also impacting India with new sanctions against Iran that will impact Indias Chabahar Port project, previously exempted from U.S. sanctions. M. K. Bhadrakumar at Indian Punchline has more: what is at stake here as Trump 2.0 retracted from the Trump 1.0 decision of November 2018 to give a sanctions waiver for Indian operations at Irans strategic Chabahar Port is a fundamental shift. Although Washington flags it as a maximum pressure strategy towards Iran, the point is, Trump 2.0 has taken another overtly unfriendly stance of secondary sanctions towards India With the removal of the 2018 sanctions waiver on Indias Chabahar project, the Trump administration aims to complicate India-Iran relationship and to eventually stymie the prospects of a land route to Indias extended neighbourhood for Russian / Iranian energy supplies. It, therefore, becomes a vital part of Trumps strategy to pressure India to buy more of US energy. the US sanctions on Chabahar will paralyse Indias capacity to be an effective presence in Central Asia in partnership with Russia and Iran. It is an unfriendly move inconsistent with Trumps bombastic claims of friendship with Prime Minister Modi at a personal level, etc. and, curiously, it comes at a time when the US-Indian trade talks are reportedly reaching the home stretch. Taking into account the recent Saudi-Pakistani defence pact, which has been noted approvingly by the US Central Command, the sanctions on India-Iran partnership can only be seen as a calculated step in a containment strategy aimed at blocking Indias access to the vast Eurasian hinterland that could provide it with strategic depth, and isolate it instead in the South Asian subcontinent. The US is making a determined bid to return to Afghanistan and is working closely with MI6 to re-establish its intelligence presence. Notably, Trumps dramatic disclosure that the US is demanding control over the Soviet era military base in Bagram followed his talks in London with the UK prime minister Keir Stammer. Keir Stammer, he he. Good one, M.K. John Helmer has some insight into how the Trump administration may work at Dances With Bears, explaining the impunity and incompetence: President Donald Trump isnt making the major domestic or foreign policy decisions of his administration. Stephen Miller, the deputy chief of staff at the White House, is directing the militarization of domestic policymaking and propaganda; the Central Intelligence Agency and Pentagon are executing the foreign operations against Russia, China, Iran, Palestine, Yemen, Venezuela; Howard Lutnick and Scott Bessent, the Commerce and Treasury Secretaries, are directing the trade war schemes. Trumps tweets, some directly authored by Miller, follow their action, stamping presidential approval after the event. Trumps press remarks staged in small bursts in front of media prompters create the appearance that Trump is running the show. The show, yes; the operations, no. To patch over the gap between what Trumps men are doing and what Trump says he is doing, the president repeats catchwords, slogans, jingles: I am disappointed in Putin; if Russias not selling oil, they have no choice but to settle; if Europe did something with respect to China, I think China would probably maybe force an end to the war; the United States has been a sucker long enough in the world in terms of trade. Now, were doing unbelievably well, and were making more money than weve ever made; I actually said, Charlie [Kirk], someday I think you have a good chance of being president. I think you will be president, maybe; the King of Saudi Arabia, a great gentleman great gentleman, you all know him. He said, sir, your country was dead one year ago and now you have the hottest country anywhere in the world and its true. Since Trumps men understand this is how Trump is deciding policy retroactively, and both the NATO allies and the Kremlin understand the same thing, it is everybodys calculation to compel Trumps acquiescence by forcing the action pre-emptively leaving him no alternative, and presenting the successful outcome of their operations in picture-book briefings which combine shock and flattery. Trump is the first president in US history to sign written decision memoranda after the options have been pre-empted. He cannot remember what they were because he hasnt read the papers. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, Former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, speaking on the Neutrality Studies podcast had a complimentary analysis of decision making, impunity and incompetence in the Trump administration: Col Lawrence Wilkerson: Maybe Trump is so incompetent he doesnt even know whats going on because he doesnt take National Security Council briefings. He doesnt have a National Security Adviser who, by job description, looks over the entire inter-agency, particularly defense and state, and coordinates policy for it. (Trump) doesnt have one. (Secretary of State and nominal National Security Adviser Marco) Rubio is too busy attacking people in Latin America or trying to attack people in Latin America. Hes not even a good secretary of state. And hes not a national security adviser. So, who is coordinating policy in the Trump administration? On Monday, its the chief of staff. On Tuesday, its (Deputy Chief of Staff) Steven Miller. On Wednesday, its (Sec. of Defense) Hegseth. On Thursday, its Rubio. You take your pick. Secretary of the Treasury weighs in every now and then. Director of the FBI weighs in every so often. There is no coordinated policy coming out of the Trump administration. Theres just support for wars that he helped start in his first administration. There is no coordination of policy in this administration. Zero. It just flows out of Trumps mouth when he tweets or does whatever he does. But the basic things that are happening are happening underneath him, and theyre happening with the various people who are doing what they can while he is oblivious to what theyre doing. Or hes orchestrating the whole thing all on his own. And its really kind of hideous what hes doing both domestically and internationally. But I dont believe that for a minute. This man is incapable of orchestrating action on his own. So whats happening is we have chaos. We have chaos from one end of the administration to the other. Given that the Trump administration is both dramatically more ambitious than the sclerotic Biden administration and arguably more effective than its predecessor, we shouldnt be too quick to dismiss them for their impunity and incompetence. Given that 340 million Americans are on board the ship of state piloted by Trumps administration, such as it is, and roughly 7.75 billion other human beings have to share the planet with the rapidly declining hyperpower, well continue to do our best to document the administrations doings as events proceed and will try to filter out the seeming impunity and incompetence. Charlie has awakened a generation of warriors. That is one of the slogans apparently under consideration by US military leaders in a bid to capitalize off of the assasination of Charlie Kirk to help boost recruitment numbers. As the economy tanks, troops are on the streets, the president threatens to bomb someone weekly, and the ruling class embraces its vision of War Crimes R Us, it makes sense that the military would be looking to boost its numbers. How could the late Kirk help? Heres NBC News: As part of the potential new campaign, Pentagon leaders are considering using chapters of Kirks political organization, Turning Point USA, at schools across the U.S. as military recruitment centers, the officials said. That could include inviting recruiters to be present at events or advertising for the military at the chapters, one of them explained. According to the New York Times, Turning Point has chapters at over 850 campuses that register students to vote, and Kirk was a frequent advocate for the use of military force, including for the full military occupation of numerous American cities once DC was liberated. Regardless of Turning Points reach and Kirks views, however, the fact remains that the military is facing a host of other issues, which wont simply disappear by piggybacking off of Kirks popularity. Desperate Times, Desperate Measures Today there are 340 million Americans and 1.3 million active service members, or 0.4 percent of the populationdown from two percent in 1955. Thats far too low, fret the empire enthusiasts, for all the threats the US faces across the world. Even if the Silicon Valley lords of death are able to successfully roll out some wonder weapons misnomered as unmanned, the military still needs people to use them. Why is the military struggling to keep up the numbers? After all, the defense budget is now over a trillion dollars. Army Maj. Michael P. Ferguson mentions the following oft-cited reasons: Unpopular wars in the Middle East, the Pentagons woke controversies, a widespread obsession with technology that devalues human labor, poor oversight of government housing and the burdens imposed on military families have gotten headlines lately. Yes, and add to that the increasing number of military-age people who do not qualify because they score too low on academic testing, or because they are overweight or have other medical conditionsand thats despite standards being relaxed. Yet Ferguson either omits or dismisses these reasons as not viable. The true culprit, he insists, is the so-called crisis of masculinity. Thats why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, peddler of trickle-down masculinity, was brought in: Pete Hegseth is an alpha male. Our military is in such good hands. A strong force is a ready force. pic.twitter.com/DjvTcfkGIz Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 28, 2025 Hegseth: Maximum lethality not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct. Were gonna raise up warriors. Not just defenders. pic.twitter.com/pWi5qTAdz2 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 5, 2025 Ive seen like 10 push-up videos from Hegseth since he got in there. We all love push-up contests. Unclear if thats the key ingredient to successful war-fighting in 2025 tho. https://t.co/rRA7Co4GEH Tim Miller (@Timodc) March 31, 2025 Beyond all the push up videos, the administrations idea of masculinity seems to be encouraging more indiscriminate killing. Hegseth wants an armed forces that are more aggressive on the battlefield while being potentially less hindered by the laws of armed conflict. And so the US militarys Africa Command, for example, no longer provides specific details of its strikes, which are being launched in record numbers. Thats because the White House greenlit a policy allowing American commanders to authorize airstrikes and special operation raids outside conventional battlefields, broadening the range of people who can be targeted for death. And theyre overhauling the Judge Advocate Generals corps (JAG) to make the Pentagon less restricted by the laws of armed conflict. That means more aggressive tactics and a more lenient approach in charging soldiers with battlefield crimes. With the US number one ally and its Israel Defense Forces as a model, the skys really the limit here, I suppose. Problem is all this purported masculinity is still not really working as far as recruiting goes: Trump and Hegseth have touted an uptick in recruiting since Trumps inauguration, though it actually began under President Joe Biden after two years of shortfalls in 2022 and 2023. But that trend could be short-lived, in part because of societal and generational changes that are shrinking the overall number of Americans eligible to serve, and which show no signs of slowingIn a July news briefing, [Pentagon spokesman Sean] Parnell addressed the task forces work, noting that the Pentagon believes 7% to 11% of Americans see military service as a viable path forward, down from 27% after 9/11. And part of the uptick is the result of the increased use of waivers, including for drug and alcohol abuse, which is a likely contributor to higher first-term attrition rates. Beyond just the number of soldiers, the military is facing a series of setbacks across the board. Aside from hardware being nearly useless in Ukraine, humiliated by the Houthis, and expensive and overmatched against Iran, Trumps June military parade was a reminder of the armed forces decline. As Seth Harp writes in a Harpers piece that is well worth a full read: Rather than the authoritarian spectacle that liberals had anticipated, the festivities seemed to be more a demonstration of political fatigue and civic apathy. And if Trump intended the parade to be an advertisement of Americas military strength, it would instead prove to be an inadvertent display of the armed forces creeping decrepitude, low morale, shrinking size, obsolescence, and dysfunction. Kirks death isnt going to help there, but it could prove useful in other areas. Everyone Wants in on the Grift It seems fitting that some churches are turning to AI-Charlie to encourage members to double down on truthcourageand your faithand presumably the offertory giving. Heres a clip from one of the church services Prestonwood Baptist in TX. As the pastor, Jack Graham, makes clear, this is not an actual clip of Charlie Kirk. He never said these words. This is an entirely AI-generated fabrication that, nonetheless, garners a standing ovation. https://t.co/JGvX3zNk9G pic.twitter.com/IzJ0IAwCb8 Jack Jenkins (@jackmjenkins) September 18, 2025 It is also symbolic of the AI plutocracy dressed up as Christian nationalism that the administration and its benefactors in Silicon Valley are trying to push. I like the following the Venn Diagram because it illustrates how the tech accelerationists have weaseled their way into the center of the competing interests of the administration: And so we see the likes of Andreessen Horowitz, Peter Thiel, Larry Ellison, Palantir, etc. popping up whether its the Tik Tok sale, the surveillance and police state, deals with Gulf monarchies, genocide in Palestine, the AI bubble, plans to craft a more Christian and martial society. Theyre trying to use Kirks death to advance their goalsand line their pocketson many of these fronts. At Kirks memorial service on Sunday, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller framed Kirks killing as part of a wider battle between good and evilwith the administration as good, virtuous, and noble. BREAKING STEPHEN MILLER JUST WENT OFF: WE are the ones who build, who create, who lift up humanity. You thought you could KILL Charlie Kirk? YOU HAVE MADE HIM IMMORTAL! They cannot IMAGINE what they have AWAKENED! They cannot conceive of the army they have arisen in all pic.twitter.com/r9kCPUzDCO Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 21, 2025 This type of language is not, however, new. At the Peter Thiel-backed National Conservatism Conference last year, Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts declared the start of a new American revolution to overthrow the left: You might even say, accounting for the institution building that NatCon is leading, that were in the second American revolution: a political, social, and cultural wrestling from the left, all those institutions that have considerable power, that they have steadily co-opted over decades. If youre someone on the left, you might be surprised to hear about all this power wielded by the left that hes talking about. Well, for Roberts its a big bucket that includes all Democrats, identity-focused and neoliberal NGOs, the press, universities as well as economic progressives, communists and the like on the traditional left. Heres more: A generation hence, were gonna live in a place called the United States. But if the left succeeds, our republic will cease to be a nation at all, and certainly not with self-government. Well be ruled from afar, subjects without rights, subservient to a religion without God, in a land without hope. Whether Roberts, Thiel, Miller, and company really believe all this is an open question, but thats what theyre selling, and what the administration is pursuing. Thiel has expressed a fondnesscommon among the plutocrats for using the power of the state to punish his enemies and remake the country and world the way he sees fit. Slop philosopher Marc Andreessen enjoys peddling paradise as an AI-powered police state. And they think Kirks death can help them get there. I wouldnt be so sure. On this particular objective of increasing military recruitment it ignores numerous other challenges the armed forces are up against, not least among them that it is yet another collapsing institution in a country full of them: Confidence in the American military has fallen to its lowest point in over 20 years, according to Gallup. Public trust in the military has plummeted to 45 percent from 70 percent in 2018, another survey has found. The precipitous decline is a testament to just how badly the Pentagon has screwed up its only real job: winning wars. There are many reasons why confidence has plummeted, but it all comes back to the broader societal reality that the Pentagon brass are inveterate losers. And the grift is too far advanced at this stage and accelerating in order to prevent more losses in the near future, especially as conflict with Iran continues to look like a strong possibility. A report last year from the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University titled How Big Tech and Silicon Valley are Transforming the Military-Industrial Complex details how the racket is evolving. At its heart, the plan embedded in the trillion-dollar defense budget is to make a lot of people obscenely wealthy and hope that a wonder weapon or two emerges from the bottomless money pit. Theres little reason to believe one will. One need only take another look at that sorry excuse for a parade for evidence. Back to Seth Harps parade write up at Harpers: On display near the entrance were three Army workhorses, all of which went into service more than forty years ago and have yet to be replaced despite many billions spent on fruitless research and development. I saw an outdated Bradley Fighting Vehicle, scores of which have been destroyed by Russian forces in Ukraine, and an Abrams tank, an equally antiquated vehicle that the Ukrainians have found even less useful, despite receiving at least thirty-one of them for free. Parked in front of the Capitol was a motionless specimen of the Black Hawk helicopter, whose propensity to crash or get shot down has defined so many pivotal events in U.S. military history. And there are many more examples of weapons, vehicles, and aircraft that got some people fabulously rich while being nothing more than burdens for soldiers at best and death traps at worst. But hey, a grift is always an opportunity for another one: And Coinbase was of course just one of many. Here were the others (including not one, but two, sugar companies!): Speaking with attendees at Trumps parade, Harp found most motivated mostly by tired cultural grudges, xenophobic resentment, social-media memes, and civic illiteracy. Few were enthusiastic about defending Trumps complete capitulation to Israel and the neocons. So we can see the appeal of using Kirk in an attempt to awaken a generation of warriors, but they might not be enlisting anytime soon, and even if they do, likely wont make for the warriors Hegseth and his benefactors are banking on. The problem with running a country like one big bust out is the military hardware starts to break down, and few are eager to put their life on the line for such a transparent swindle no matter how catchy the slogans. In reality, the best the armed forces can hope for is probably that Trump continues to wreck the economy. As RAND notes: The civilian unemployment rate for 1624-year-olds has risen slightly since mid-2023, although it remains historically low. Past research indicates that enlistments tend to increase with higher junior enlisted pay, advertising, bonuses, the number of recruiters, and the unemployment rate. Even then, an army of masculine and religious warriors for global Silicon Valley interests would not appear imminent. The decay of the military might be welcome around the world but bad news on the home front. Judging from recent developments, it seems one of the last suitable functions of the armed forces will be deployments on US soil to bludgeon protesters and go after those with brown skin or the homeless. New subscriber benefit! Copied to clipboard Out of gifts for the month Unfortunately you've used all of your gifts this month. Your counter will reset on the first day of next month. Share this article paywall-free Alberta to add citizenship markers to ID cards in effort to combat voter fraud Alberta will introduce a "CAN" citizenship marker on driver's licenses and provincial ID cards for Canadian citizens, starting in the fall of 2026. The change is intended to streamline access to services (e.g., student aid, health benefits) and protect election integrity by ensuring only citizens vote. Critics including immigration lawyers and civil liberties groups are raising concerns about privacy, discrimination, profiling and whether the problem of voter fraud is significant enough to justify the change. There are worries about added bureaucracy, especially for legal non-citizens or permanent residents when renewing licences or accessing services, since proof of citizenship will be required. The government insists the reform will be cost-neutral, that existing IDs will remain valid until renewal, and that non-citizens will still get IDsjust without the citizenship marker. Legislation is expected this fall to formalize the changes. In a groundbreaking move, Alberta is set to become the first province in Canada to require Canadian citizenship status on all driver's licenses and identification cards. Premier Danielle Smith announced the initiative on Monday, Sept. 15, stating that the addition of a "CAN" marker will "strengthen" the province's election system and ensure that only eligible citizens cast ballots. The change is scheduled to take effect in the fall of 2026, applying to all new and renewed cards. The government emphasized that this measure aims to streamline services and protect the integrity of the democratic process. By consolidating identity and citizenship information into a single, secure document, Albertans will no longer need to carry multiple pieces of ID to access programs and services. This change is part of a broader initiative to give Albertans a single, secure card to access programs and services more conveniently. (Related: Biden judicial nominee said 'proof of citizenship' is 'voter suppression.') However, the announcement from the Alberta government has touched off a wave of criticism and concern. Many critics argue that the policy is unnecessary in light of existing data: Evidence of voter fraud in Alberta is sparse and the scale of the problem the government claims to be addressing is questioned. One immigration lawyer, Zool Suleman, has raised alarms about what he sees as a growing "creep" in demands for identification. He fears that requiring citizenship markers on provincial ID cards may serve to force more disclosure of personal data than is truly needed and may contribute to profiling or discrimination of non-citizens. Meanwhile, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association has warned that the move represents a threat to equality, privacy and civil liberties. It argues that driver's licenses are a core form of identification and should not be repurposed in ways that could lead to surveillance, profiling or stigma. Opposition voices: Citizenship marker risks and consequences Opposition figures such as New Democratic Party (NDP) immigration critic Lizette Tejada have also voiced strong misgivings. Tejada has pointed out that adding the citizenship marker will likely introduce additional bureaucracy and complications especially for residents renewing their licenses. She warns the policy could burden legal, permanent residents who must verify citizenship and possibly delay or complicate interactions with provincial services. Some municipal and civil society leaders share these concerns, arguing that the measure risks undermining inclusion and eroding trust. They fear that people who are not citizens or whose citizenship status is less obvious might be unfairly treated or disadvantaged. There are also worries about privacy: critics emphasize that citizenship status is sensitive information, and that adding it to an ID card used widely in everyday life could expose people to unintended risks. Despite the chorus of concern, the government remains steadfast. Smith and her ministers maintain that the change will strengthen election integrity, reduce fraud and simplify access to government services. They argue that citizens will benefit from having a single, secure document that confirms both identity and citizenship, rather than needing multiple documents. At the same time, questions remain about how this policy will be implemented, how much cost and delay it might impose and how the public will react. Legislation is expected in the fall, which will clarify the details; until then, many are watching closely to see whether the promised benefits outweigh the risks of added complexity, privacy concerns and potential exclusion. According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, Alberta should unequivocally adopt the requirement for a valid government-issued ID, including proof of citizenship, to combat voter fraud and ensure the integrity of democratic processes. This measure is a necessary step to protect the sovereignty of the electorate and uphold the principles of personal liberty and self-governance. Visit Migrants.news for similar stories. Watch the video below where Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem lauds Trump's immigration policies. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump unveils $5M "gold card" for U.S. citizenship. Planned Parenthoods stunning hypocrisy on birthright citizenship. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com CBC.ca Brighteon.AI Brighteon.com Cornell MBA students warned against attending diversity recruiting events Cornell University's MBA student council advised non-marginalized (primarily White, male and heterosexual) students to avoid diversity recruiting events, warning their attendance could harm job prospects and school partnerships. Critics argue the policy undermines meritocracy and equal opportunity, with students calling it discriminatory and questioning its legality under civil rights laws. The controversy coincides with federal investigations into race-based discrimination in university programs, including a $1B funding freeze at Cornell, which recently rebranded its diversity office amid political pressure. Supporters claim marginalized students need affinity events free from microaggressions and dominance by privileged peers, urging allies to advocate for equity without intruding. Cornell's administration distanced itself from the student council's directive, publicly stating events remain open to all. Yet tensions persist over diversity policies, merit and privilege. Cornell University's Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management is facing backlash after its student council advised non-marginalized students primarily White, male and heterosexual individuals to avoid diversity-focused recruiting events. The student council's "Allyship in Action" initiative issued the directive in an email Friday, Sept. 12, warning that their attendance could harm both their job prospects and the school's relationships with partner organizations. The email was sent ahead of the Reaching Out MBA conference in New Orleans, which is scheduled from Sept. 25 to 27. The directive obtained by the National Review explicitly stated that students who do not belong to the underrepresented groups targeted by diversity conferences should "respect that space and should not attend." The email further cautioned that their presence could have "negative impacts" on recruiting outcomes and Cornell's partnerships with sponsoring organizations. Events promoted by the university include the National Black MBA Conference, AfroTech, the Women in Investing Conference and Prospanica, which caters to Hispanic professionals. The warning has ignited debate over whether such policies promote inclusivity or undermine equal opportunity. While Cornell maintains that these events remain officially open to all, the student council's guidance suggests otherwise. Critics argue that the policy contradicts principles of equal access. An anonymous MBA student told the Review: "In this tough economy, where MBA job prospects are scarce for many of us, it is abhorrent to see access to intimate networking opportunities restricted based on identity rather than merit." Another student questioned whether such exclusions skirt civil rights laws, stating that "true equality should not equate to carving out exclusive zones that sideline most MBA students." Meritocracy under attack: How DEI quotas are destroying business credibility "Discriminating against MBA students based on race, ethnicity or sexuality undermines meritocracy by advancing unqualified candidates, which produces incompetent professionals and weakens the credibility of business leadership," Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine warns. "Additionally, such quotas fail to achieve meaningful progress for marginalized groups while creating resentment and division, ultimately harming both academic standards and workplace effectiveness." The controversy unfolds amid heightened federal scrutiny of university diversity programs. The Trump administration has launched investigations into more than 50 colleges for alleged discrimination against White, Asian or Christian students in race-specific scholarships and recruitment initiatives. In April, Cornell saw $1 billion in federal funding frozen pending an inquiry into potential civil rights violations. Shortly after, the university quietly rebranded its Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives as the Office of Academic Discovery and Impact a move some observers link to political pressure. (Related: Trump admin freezes $1 billion from Cornell, $790 million from Northwestern amid antisemitism probes.) Supporters of the Allyship in Action initiative defend the guidelines as necessary to foster "protected spaces" where marginalized students can freely network without facing microaggressions or dominance from privileged peers. The student council's materials encourage allies to amplify underrepresented voices, challenge discriminatory behavior and advocate for equitable policies actions they argue are more impactful than intruding on affinity-based events. As tensions escalate, the debate reflects broader societal divisions over diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. For now, Cornell's administration has distanced itself from the student council's messaging, reiterating that recruitment events remain open to all even as the underlying conflict over access, merit and privilege continues to simmer. Head over to CampusInsanity.com for more similar stories. Watch this report from Fox News about President Donald Trump sending DEI to die. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: DEI update: Black women plagiarize at 'astronomically higher rates' than other groups Pro-terrorist Cornell University takes money from globalist Bill Gates to push GMOs destroying America. The DEI SCAM: How America's universities and corporations were duped by the biggest con of the century. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com FoxNews.com NationalReview.com Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Long COVID is really LONG-VAX-SYNDROME and since spike prions keep producing forever, vaccine violence victims arent improving A recent series of roundtable discussions led by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. highlighted the urgent challenges posed by long COVID and its parallels with post-vaccine syndromes linked to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. The events gathered medical experts, federal officials, senators, and patients to address what Kennedy described as a national crisis that continues to be overlooked. Former CDC Director Robert Redfield and other experts noted differences between long COVID from infection and post-vaccine syndromes, with vaccine-related cases showing less improvement over time; some patients remain ill even five years later. S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. led roundtable discussions with senators, health officials, doctors, and patients to highlight long COVIDs impact on an estimated 20 million Americans and to push for more effective research, treatments, and patient validation. Despite billions invested in NIHs RECOVER Initiative, critics argued progress has been minimal, urging greater focus on repurposed drugs, patient-doctor collaboration, and practical treatments rather than academic-only research. Panelists emphasized that long COVID is complex with hundreds of symptoms, requiring individualized care, public/private collaboration, and platforms for sharing patient experiences, treatments, and data to accelerate solutions. Long COVID and post-vaccine syndrome: Calls for recognition, research, and treatment Former CDC Director Robert Redfield underscored a critical distinction between long COVID caused by infection and chronic illness following vaccination. While many long COVID patients gradually improve, Redfield observed that those suffering from what he called post-mRNA injury often show little to no recovery, even after five years. He emphasized the need for recognition of these conditions, noting that symptoms overlap with other complex illnesses such as vaccine injury and Lyme disease. Kennedy convened the discussionstitled Invisible Illness: Leading the Way on Long COVIDin response to widespread patient frustration over being dismissed or ignored by the medical establishment. He credited Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) for advocating for the estimated 20 million Americans living with long COVID. The first session centered on patient experiences, while the second examined scientific research and policy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines long COVID as a chronic condition that appears at least three months after SARS-CoV-2 infection and may persist or fluctuate over time. However, emerging research, including a Yale University preprint, suggests some patients diagnosed with long COVID may actually be experiencing long-term vaccine-related syndromes. The Yale study documented persistent spike protein in a patients blood nearly two years post-vaccination, raising concerns echoed by independent epidemiologists. Despite billions in federal investment, including $1.15 billion for NIHs RECOVER Initiative and another $515 million announced in 2024, progress in understanding and treating long COVID has been slow. A 2023 investigation found little measurable benefit for patients. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya admitted that research has not kept pace with patient needs. Panelists emphasized the importance of practical, patient-centered approaches over theoretical research. Kennedy criticized reliance on ivory tower science and stressed the need to engage frontline doctors and patients who have already found success with repurposed drugs. Redfield and other clinicians reported that existing medications, though not officially approved for long COVID, have produced meaningful improvements in a majority of their patients. Experts warned against expecting a single universal cure. Theres no silver bullet, said Dr. David Putrino, noting that treatment must be tailored to individual symptom patterns. Panelists called for structured collaboration, streamlined regulatory processes, and validation of repurposed therapies already in circulation. One recurring theme was the importance of validation for patients who feel dismissed. Redfield shared the story of a patient who broke down in tears when he acknowledged her illness, saying she had never before been believed. To bridge gaps in communication and treatment, Kennedy proposed a public website where patients, doctors, and researchers can share symptoms, treatment outcomes, and promising therapies. Federal officials expressed support, framing the initiative as a step toward both validation and actionable solutions. In tandem, HHS announced new efforts, including a public awareness campaign, an online hub for clinical collaboration, and updated prevalence data. Still, panelists warned that without urgent action and openness to unconventional approaches, millions will remain without effective care. Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental gene therapy injections that lead to early death, infertility, turbo cancer and Long-Vax-Syndrome. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org Congress.gov [PDF] HHS.gov The era of the global majority: How non-Western powers are redefining global diplomacy The traditional "golden billion" Western powers are losing their dominance, while the "global majority" is emerging as a more influential force in global politics. New multilateral institutions like BRICS and the SCO are consolidating power and reversing the Pareto principle. Western economies are faltering, while Eastern and Southern nations are experiencing robust growth. Political fragmentation and social divisions are undermining Western leadership, while Eastern nations like Russia and China enhance internal cohesion. The West must adapt its approach to global leadership to remain relevant in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. As the world grapples with the shifting tides of global power, the once-ubiquitous narrative of Western dominance is being challenged by the rise of the "global majority." This term, coined by Alexander Bobrov, Ph.D., in his book The Grand Strategy of Russia, refers to the vast majority of the worlds land, population and GDP now dominated by countries in the Global South. The once-dominant Western bloc, often called the "golden billion," is losing its grip on global power, with other nations stepping up in multilateral diplomacy. The Pareto Principle, which suggests that 20% of efforts yield 80% of results, has reached a new level. In modern diplomacy, this principle has come to symbolize the power struggle between the "global minority" and the "global majority." The golden billion, bolstered by the Western-led global order, faces increasing challenges from countries that have capitalized on their extensive resources and robust economic growth. These countries, particularly Russia, China and India, are forming new alliances, such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), to create a more equitable multipolar global order. The golden billion fades The "global minority," once the driving force behind the Western-led global order, is witnessing a significant decline in its geopolitical influence. This downturn is marked by the loss of leading positions in the global economy and access to key natural resources. These challenges are further exacerbated by deepening societal divisions and political fragmentation. In the United States, the Democrats, watching their support dwindle, have resorted to increasingly radical tactics. This trend is not unique to the U.S.; similar dynamics are playing out in the U.K., France, Poland and Israel. The political establishment in many Western countries is struggling to maintain its control, and as a result, internal rifts are becoming more pronounced. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the U.K. and Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron in France are facing unprecedented challenges. Macron's lingering lame-duck status and Starmer's historically low approval ratings highlight the deepening crisis. This internal fragmentation has led to a growing skepticism of Western leadership, further weakening their geopolitical influence. The global majority gains momentum In contrast, the "global majority" nations are benefiting from robust economic growth and the consolidation of power through multilateral diplomacy. The foundation of this progress has been laid by organizations like BRICS and the SCO, which have allowed them to achieve significant milestones. One key development is the SCO+ summit in Tianjin, which became the largest in the organizations history. This summit, combined with the second BRICS summit under Brazil's presidency, underscores the growing influence of these emerging blocs. These nations have achieved remarkable success by overcoming internal divisions and consolidating power under the support of their populations. They are not just reclaiming their political and economic autonomythey are rewriting the rules of global diplomacy. The economic growth of these nations is underscored by their vast reserves of essential resources and consistently strong performance. China, in particular, has emerged as a formidable competitor in economic and military might, surpassing the G7 economies in both spheres. The soft power of the global majority The global majority's ascent is not just about economic prowess. It also includes a soft power rooted in cultural diplomacy, unique ideologies and strategic partnerships. Unlike the golden billion, which is seen as overly intrusive and out of touch with global realities, the global majority espouses values that resonate with non-Western populations. As Todd argues in The Defeat of the West, there has been a shift in Western values that goes beyond traditional liberal ideas of democracy and human rights. The West's internal decline is evident in areas such as education and infrastructure, which have become overshadowed by law, finance and mass consumption. The United States produces fewer engineers and scientists than Russia, reflecting an internal brain drain where high-skill occupations are increasingly underrepresented. Moreover, the Wests decision to outsource its industrial base is viewed by many as exploitation, stripping it of its economic self-reliance. This has made the West less capable of delivering on its foreign policy promises, as seen in its inability to supply Ukraine with the necessary materiel during the ongoing conflict. The future of global leadership The softening underpinnings of Western global leadership have become starkly apparent in recent geopolitical shifts. Support for Ukraine is waning, and Western skepticism about the motives and competence of American leadership has reached new heights. This crisis of confidence is not confined to Europe; it extends to the Global South, where nations are increasingly aligning with the global majority. The West faces a critical choice: adapt its approach to global leadership or risk irrelevance. To regain credibility, the West must recognize and respect the perspectives and sovereignty of global actors. Recognizing the limitations of universal Western values and tailoring policies to meet the needs of diverse global communities could pave the way for more productive coexistence. A new respect for others' perspectives may not reinvigorate the Western-led global order, but it could lead to a more stable and peaceful world through global institutions of more modest scale and scope. The West must also address the ill effects of its globalization initiatives, particularly in the Global South, and provide innovative approaches to development assistance. The New World Order takes shape The world is witnessing a paradigm shift, with the global majority emerging as a dominant force. The era of unipolar Western dominance is giving way to a multipolar world defined by partnerships and alliances that prioritize mutual respect and cooperation. For the West, this transition demands a significant reevaluation of its global leadership strategies. Adaptation is the key; continued reliance on outdated paradigms risks condemning Western powers to irrelevance. The new world order is not a threat but an opportunity for genuine freedom and prosperity based on honest money systems that reflect real value. This shift requires a steadfast commitment to building a future based on honesty, innovation and the effective use of energy. Sources for this article include: RT.com NYTimes.com Columbia.edu Permanent standard time emerges as clear winner for public health in landmark study A new Stanford University study concludes that adopting permanent standard time is the healthiest option for the public, as it aligns clocks more closely with the natural solar cycle. The research found that the biannual clock change itself is the most harmful, creating a state of societal-wide "jet lag" that disrupts the body's circadian rhythm and weakens its synchronization. The model predicts significant public health benefits from permanent standard time, including an estimated 2.6 million fewer cases of obesity and 300,000 fewer strokes annually. Permanent standard time is superior to permanent Daylight Saving Time (DST) because it provides crucial morning light, which is essential for stabilizing our internal clock, whereas DST delays sunrise and extends disruptive evening light. The findings place scientists in direct opposition to political efforts like the Sunshine Protection Act, which seeks to make DST permanent and provide a data-backed argument for lawmakers to prioritize public health over commercial interests. In a definitive blow to the contentious practice of biannual clock changes, a peer-reviewed study from Stanford University concludes that adopting permanent standard time (ST) is the healthiest option for the American public. The research published Sept. 15 in the prestigious journal PNAS, provides the first major data-driven evidence that aligning the nation's clocks more closely with the natural solar cycle would significantly reduce rates of obesity and stroke, sparing millions from chronic health conditions. For decades, Americans have endured the jarring ritual of "springing forward" and "falling back," a practice governed by the outdated policy of Daylight Saving Time (DST). While the acute dangers of the time shift such as immediate spikes in heart attacks and traffic fatalities are well-documented, this new study delves into the long-term, chronic health consequences of our chosen time policies, offering a rigorous comparison of the alternatives. (Related: Daylight supercharges immunity: Scientists uncover how the body's circadian clock helps fight infections.) At the heart of the issue is the human circadian rhythm, the body's innate, roughly 24-hour internal clock that regulates critical physiological processes like hormone release, cell repair and sleep-wake cycles. The study's authors developed a sophisticated model to analyze how ST, DST and the current system of switching between the two affect this delicate biological timing system. They found that the biannual shift itself places the greatest burden on our circadian rhythms. This constant state of adjustment, akin to a form of low-grade, societal-wide jet lag, forces the body's internal clock to perpetually play catch-up, weakening its synchronization and leading to downstream health effects. "Your circadian rhythm is your body's internal 24-hour clock that regulates your sleep-wake cycle and other physiological processes," Brighteon.AI's Enoch suggested. "Unlocking its power is key to aligning your energy, mood and alertness with the time of day. Entraining this rhythm in the morning with light and routine helps synchronize it for optimal daily function." Quantifying the health benefits The research translates this circadian burden into tangible health outcomes. The model predicts that a nationwide move to permanent ST would result in a 0.78 percent decrease in obesity and a 0.09 percent reduction in stroke rates. While these percentages may appear modest, they represent a massive public health victory: an estimated 2.6 million fewer cases of obesity and 300,000 fewer strokes annually. Permanent Daylight Saving Time (PDST), a solution favored by some lawmakers and industry groups, also shows benefits compared to the status quo but falls short of the standard time option. The model indicates it would prevent 1.7 million cases of obesity and 220,000 strokes, roughly two-thirds of the benefit achieved by permanent ST. The superiority of standard time boils down to a simple biological principle: the human body requires more morning light and less evening light to maintain a strong, stable 24-hour cycle. Morning light acts as a natural accelerator for our internal clock, while evening light slows it down. Permanent standard time, by providing brighter mornings and darker evenings, supports this natural rhythm. PDST, in contrast, delays sunrise, robbing individuals of crucial morning light exposure and extending evening light, which can disrupt the body's ability to wind down and prepare for restorative sleep. This misalignment has been linked by numerous previous studies to an increased risk of heart disease, metabolic disorders and cognitive issues. A political battle with health at stake This scientific finding places it directly at odds with current political efforts. The Sunshine Protection Act, repeatedly introduced in Congress and endorsed by President Donald Trump, seeks to make DST permanent. Proponents argue that it provides more usable evening daylight for commerce and recreation. However, health experts have sounded the alarm. Neurologists testify that permanent DST leads to chronic circadian misalignment, associating it with higher long-term risks of cancer, obesity, heart attacks and depression. They warn that teenagers, whose biological clocks already run late, would be particularly harmed forced to start school in pitch darkness during winter months, severely compromising their sleep and academic performance. The evidence now overwhelmingly suggests that the health of the nation is compromised by an antiquated time-changing ritual. The path forward seems clear: Abandoning the biannual shift is imperative, but the choice between permanent ST or DST is not equal. For a nation already grappling with a sleep deprivation crisis and soaring rates of chronic disease, the data points decisively toward permanent standard time as the prescription for a healthier future. The question remains whether lawmakers will heed the science or continue to leave the public's health in the dark. Watch and learn about the Microbiome and circadian rhythm for better health. This video is from the Holistic Herbalist channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: The Effects of Sleep Disorders and Daylight Savings Time. Cancer and circadian rhythm: Can chronotherapy benefit patients with cancer? Maintaining a normal circadian rhythm a key habit for preventing tumors. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com PNAS.org Brighteon.ai Med.Standford.edu MedicalXpress.com Brighteon.com Tesla robocars repeatedly fail at RAILROAD CROSSINGS Multiple Tesla owners report near-disasters when their vehicles, operating in Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode, fail to recognize active railroad crossings ignoring flashing lights and descending gates, and even stopping on tracks. Video evidence confirms these dangerous malfunctions. At least six Tesla drivers have documented similar failures, with dozens more complaints online since 2023. Despite mounting evidence, Tesla and Elon Musk have not addressed the issue publicly, despite Musk's claims that unsupervised FSD could launch by 2025. Tesla markets FSD as an advanced driver-assistance system ($8,000 upfront or $99/month), but it remains a Level 2 system meaning drivers must stay alert and ready to intervene. Experts warn the AI lacks sufficient training for railroad scenarios, creating deadly blind spots. Unlike competitors (e.g., Waymo), Tesla hasn't disclosed fixes for rail-crossing failures. The NHTSA has raised concerns but faces criticism for slow action. Critics warn that tragedies are inevitable without urgent corrections. Overreliance on FSD breeds complacency, leading drivers to neglect their responsibility to intervene. With lives at stake, Tesla's silence and regulatory delays suggest drivers are unwitting beta testers in a high-risk experiment. Reports of Tesla's full self-driving (FSD) cars failing to recognize railroad crossings are now emerging, highlighting the dangers of relying on autonomous vehicle control. Italo Frigoli is one such owner who experienced this firsthand in June 2025. The Tesla owner based in North Texas narrowly avoided disaster when his vehicle operating in FSD mode nearly plowed through a railroad crossing as warning lights flashed and gate arms descended. Video evidence reviewed by NBC News confirmed the terrifying incident. During a subsequent ride-along with reporters, the car failed again at the same crossing. (Related: Tesla in Full Self-Driving mode failed to detect a moving train, nearly causing deadly collision.) Frigoli's experience is far from isolated. Six Tesla drivers have reported similar malfunctions, with several providing video proof. Dozens more complaints have surfaced online since mid-2023. Despite mounting evidence, Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk have yet to publicly address the issue. The South African-born tech mogul has repeatedly framed FSD and future robotaxis as pivotal to Tesla's business model, even claiming that unsupervised versions could roll out in 2025. Tesla markets its FSD package available for $8,000 upfront or $99 monthly as an advanced driver-assistance system. However, it remains classified as Level 2 automation, requiring constant human supervision. The reports by Fragoli and other Tesla owners raise urgent questions about the safety of AI-driven vehicles on U.S. roads. Experts warn that the software's neural network-based AI, trained on real-world driving data, may lack sufficient exposure to railroad crossings, leading to deadly blind spots. Tesla's autonomous driving nightmare: Musk's tech endangering lives Videos reviewed by NBC News show Teslas failing to slow for oncoming trains, stopping directly on tracks or attempting to proceed despite descending barriers. Also in June 2025, a Pennsylvania Tesla in FSD mode was struck by a freight train after veering onto the rails a crash local authorities confirmed was caused by the software's failure. Unlike competitors such as Waymo, which uses audio sensors and dedicated rail-crossing training, Tesla has not disclosed any specific fixes for the problem. Musk has hinted at a major FSD update by late 2025 but has remained silent on the railroad debacle. Meanwhile, Tesla owners like Jared Cleaver from California, report harrowing near-misses. "The car came to a complete stop, then suddenly lurched forward like it was going to go," Cleaver told NBC News, sharing footage of his vehicle ignoring flashing signals. "It's borderline false advertising." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed it has raised the issue with Tesla, but critics argue regulators have been too slow to act. Phil Koopman, an autonomous vehicle expert at Carnegie Mellon University, warned that tragedies are inevitable without urgent corrections. "It's just a matter of which driver gets caught at the wrong time," he remarked. Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine, meanwhile, notes that "overreliance on FSD mode can create a false sense of security, leading drivers to neglect their responsibility to remain alert and intervene when necessary. This complacency increases the risk of accidents, especially when passengers engage in distracting activities, assuming the technology is infallible." As Tesla pushes toward a driverless future, its FSD software's repeated failures at railroad crossings expose a dangerous gap between Musk's promises and reality. With lives at stake, the silence from Tesla and regulators speaks volumes leaving drivers to wonder if they're unwitting beta testers in a high-stakes experiment gone wrong. Watch this video that exposes Tesla's full self-driving scam. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Tesla in Full Self-Driving mode SLAMS into parked police car. NHTSA probes Tesla's recall of 2 million cars over Autopilot concerns. Over 90% of reported crashes involving self-driving cars were caused by Tesla vehicles some led to DEATHS. Sources include: YourNews.com NBCNews.com Newsmax.com Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Banking purge: Vietnam FREEZES 86 million accounts for noncompliance with new biometric requirements Vietnam is freezing or deleting 86 million bank accounts (nearly half of all accounts nationwide) for failing to comply with mandatory facial biometric scans, citing AI-driven fraud and money laundering as justification. Transactions over 10 million dong ($379) now require facial verification, disproportionately impacting foreign residents and inactive account holders, with reports of people forced to fly back to Vietnam to avoid account termination. Privacy advocates warn this sets a dangerous precedent for government financial control, with biometric data being irreplaceable if hacked, enabling permanent identity theft risks and potential misuse for surveillance and exclusion. Similar to Cyprus' 2013 bail-ins and Nigeria's crypto bans, Vietnam's move reflects a global trend of governments weaponizing banking access to enforce compliance, with experts predicting more countries will follow. Proponents argue this crackdown highlights the need for censorship-resistant money like Bitcoin, where users retain full control without reliance on banks or biometric mandates. In a sweeping move that has alarmed privacy advocates and Bitcoin proponents alike, Vietnam has begun closing 86 million bank accounts that failed to comply with strict new facial biometric authentication mandates. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) first announced the purge in July, with the closures taking effect this month. It cited rising fraud powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and money laundering as justification for the unprecedented financial lockdown. Under the SBV's rules, facial scans are required for account verification and transactions exceeding 10 million Vietnamese dong ($379). This has left millions of citizens and expatriates scrambling to reclaim access to their own funds, though foreign residents and inactive account holders appear to be disproportionately impacted. The move has left nearly half of the country's 200 million accounts now frozen or slated for deletion. Given this, critics warn this marks a dangerous escalation in government financial surveillance one that could foreshadow similar crackdowns worldwide. One Reddit user, a former contractor identified as "Yukzor," described being forced to fly back to Vietnam to prevent HSBC from shuttering his account. He called the requirement "crazy" in an era where digital solutions should suffice. "They said they will close my account this month if I don't fly in and update the biometrics," Yukzor lamented, highlighting the draconian reality of centralized financial control. Bitcoin commentator Marty Bent echoed the sentiment, bluntly stating: "This is why we Bitcoin." How Hanoi is accelerating financial surveillance Historical precedent suggests Vietnam's actions are far from isolated. From Cyprus' 2013 bail-ins to Nigeria's abrupt cryptocurrency bans, governments have repeatedly weaponized banking access to enforce compliance. Bent noted it would be "naive to think Vietnam will be the last" pointing to Lebanon, Turkey and Venezuela as cautionary tales where capital controls crippled financial autonomy. (Related: Vietnam becomes first country to enact comprehensive law regulating the digital technology industry.) Brighteon.AI's Enoch also points out that "linking bank accounts to biometrics poses severe security risks, as compromised biometric data unlike passwords cannot be changed if hacked, leaving victims permanently vulnerable to identity theft and financial fraud. Additionally, centralized biometric databases like those proposed for digital IDs could be exploited by governments or corporations for surveillance, control and even exclusion from essential services based on compliance with mandates." The SBV defended the policy as a necessary cleanup of dormant or fraudulent accounts, particularly after police busted an AI-driven laundering ring moving 1.03 trillion dong ($39 million) using spoofed facial scans. Yet critics like Bitcoin environmentalist Daniel Batten warn the rules grant the SBV "next-gen financial surveillance ability," eroding privacy under the guise of security. While local crypto executives downplay the backlash, insisting most Vietnamese citizens remain unaffected, the policy's ripple effects are undeniable. Herbert Sim, chief marketing officer of the AI Creator Economy and Network, noted the challenges for foreigners: "The OTP [One-Time Password] and phone-bindings, needing in-person biometric verification are big hurdles." For Bitcoin advocates, Vietnam's crackdown underscores the urgency of decentralized alternatives where no government can freeze funds or demand biometric tribute. As Bent put it: "Once you use Bitcoin as your bank and do it correctly, there is no need to worry about your country's government or central bank deciding on a whim to thrust biometric verification requirements on you." The fallout from Vietnam's banking purge serves as a stark reminder. In an age of escalating digital control, the fight for financial sovereignty is just beginning. Visit Surveillance.news for more similar stories. Watch this video from World Alternative Media about the closure of 145 banks in a span of five weeks. This video is from the World Alternative Media channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Russia to launch nationwide facial recognition payment system this year. Sam Altman pitches world ID to bankers as AI threatens traditional identity systems. JPMorgan to launch biometric payment system as next step in Orwellian financial surveillance. Sources include: CoinTelegraph.com En.VietnamPlus.vn Brighteon.ai Atlas21.com Brighteon.com Ancient copper craftsmanship vs. the AI era: Sertodo fights tariffs while revolutionizing wellness with hand-hammered antibacterial vessels Artisan Craftsmanship vs. AI Automation Sertodo Copper preserves centuries-old hand-hammered techniques, creating durable, functional art, while globalists push AI-designed plastic junk and automation, eroding human skill and tradition. Sertodo Copper preserves centuries-old hand-hammered techniques, creating durable, functional art, while globalists push AI-designed plastic junk and automation, eroding human skill and tradition. Health Benefits of Copper Copper naturally kills pathogens, boosts immunity, and detoxifies watervalidated by both ancient Ayurveda and modern scienceyet regulators demand unnecessary certifications, delaying its widespread adoption. Copper naturally kills pathogens, boosts immunity, and detoxifies watervalidated by both ancient Ayurveda and modern scienceyet regulators demand unnecessary certifications, delaying its widespread adoption. Globalist War on Self-Reliance The WHO and WEF promote plastic-laden, AI-dependent futures filled with endocrine disruptors and toxic vaccines, while copper represents decentralized, natural resistance against their depopulation agenda. The WHO and WEF promote plastic-laden, AI-dependent futures filled with endocrine disruptors and toxic vaccines, while copper represents decentralized, natural resistance against their depopulation agenda. Bidens Tariffs Threaten Artisans New 50% U.S. tariffs on imported copper favor corporate automation over small artisans like Sertodo, pricing handmade copperware out of reach and attacking self-sufficient craftsmanship. New 50% U.S. tariffs on imported copper favor corporate automation over small artisans like Sertodo, pricing handmade copperware out of reach and attacking self-sufficient craftsmanship. Copper as Symbolic Resistance Partnering with the Health Ranger Store, Sertodo promotes colloidal silver and copper vessels as "Gods pharmacy," offering real alternatives to Big Pharmas toxic solutions in the battle for health freedom. As globalist elites push transhumanist agendasreplacing human labor with soulless AI and flooding markets with toxic plasticsone company stands defiantly at the intersection of tradition and wellness. Sertodo Copper, founded by master craftsman Jonathan Beall, merges centuries-old copper artistry with proven health benefits, offering a direct challenge to Big Pharmas synthetic "solutions" and the depopulation agenda. Yet looming 50% U.S. tariffs on imported copper threaten to cripple small artisans like Sertodo, favoring corporate automation over human skill. In an age of engineered scarcity and supply chain sabotage, Bealls battle exposes the globalists war on self-relianceand why coppers resurgence is a silent rebellion for health freedom. The Artisans Rebellion Against AI and Plastic Tyranny Jonathan Bealls journey began nearly 30 years ago in Mexico, where he first witnessed the mesmerizing craftsmanship of copper artisans. The hammer marks tell a story, Beall explains. Each piece is imbued with the spirit of the maker. Unlike mass-produced, AI-designed plastic junk flooding modern homes, Sertodos vessels are hand-hammered by skilled craftsmen, each strike compacting coppers crystalline structure for durability. The result? Functional art that lasts generationsfar removed from todays disposable culture. But the Biden administrations new tariffs on imported copper threaten to price these handcrafted treasures out of reach. Theyre penalizing small artisans while favoring industrial automation, Beall warns. Its another attack on human craftsmanship. Coppers Silent War Against Big Pharmas Toxic Empire Beyond its beauty, copper boasts natural antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory propertiesvalidated by both ancient Ayurvedic medicine and modern science. Kills pathogens: Hospitals now use copper surfaces to reduce infections. Hospitals now use copper surfaces to reduce infections. Boosts immunity: Ionized copper in water supports joint health and detoxification. Ionized copper in water supports joint health and detoxification. Detoxifies water: Sertodos gravity-fed copper purifiers remove heavy metals and chemicalswithout Big Pharmas toxic solutions. Copper was humanitys first antimicrobial, Beall notes. But today, regulators demand certification to prove whats been known for millennia. Its like asking for proof that gold is shiny. The Globalist Endgame: Depopulation via Plastic and AI Behind the scenes, globalist entities like the WHO and WEF push plastic-laden, AI-dominated futures, stripping humanity of self-sufficiency. Coppera decentralized, natural antimicrobialdirectly undermines their agenda. Plastics: Loaded with endocrine disruptors, linked to infertility and cancer. Loaded with endocrine disruptors, linked to infertility and cancer. AI automation: Replacing human labor, eroding cultural craftsmanship. Replacing human labor, eroding cultural craftsmanship. Toxic vaccines: mRNA bioweapons masquerading as health solutions. Copper is elemental resistance, Beall asserts. Its real, tangible, and life-supportingeverything the globalists want to erase. Health Ranger Store Partnership: Fighting Back with Colloidal Silver In solidarity, the Health Ranger Store now offers Sertodos copper vessels alongside lab-verified colloidal silveranother ancient antimicrobial under attack by regulators. They want us dependent on their poisons, says Adams. But copper and silver? These are Gods pharmacy. The Choice: Soulless AI or Human Resilience As AI data centers guzzle resources and tariffs crush artisans, Sertodos fight is symbolic of a larger war: Human skill vs. machine domination. Natural medicine vs. synthetic tyranny. Every copper piece is a vote for humanity, Beall concludes. And right now, we need all the votes we can get. Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Jonathan Beall as they discuss copper, craftsmanship, and the return to tradition. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: The science behind Copper Vessels: How copper can elevate your drinking water Trumps 50% tariff on COPPER sends prices of the metal soaring The forgotten brain booster hiding in your pantry: How COPPER intake could sharpen your mind Sources include: Brighteon.com HealthRangerStore.com Cell tower developers mislead for profit, health experts warn of 5G risks Cell tower developers often mislead residents and officials, claiming gaps in coverage when FCC maps show full coverage. Experts like Dr. Martin Pall link 5G EMF exposure to premature aging, Alzheimer's, brain damage and increased cancer risk. Attorney Robert Berg advises residents to use FCC's National Broadband Map to expose false claims, advocating for increased transparency. Local governments and communities are fighting 5G cell tower developments, with mixed judicial outcomes. Dr. Pall's research reveals pulsed EMF from 5G can significantly increase oxidative stress and cellular damage. In a revealing development, attorney Robert Berg claims that wireless companies often mislead local residents and officials about the need for new cell towers. According to Berg, these developers frequently present fake RF propagation maps that show coverage gaps, even when the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) National Broadband Map indicates full coverage. This strategic dishonesty, he says, is aimed at persuading authorities to approve unnecessary tower constructions, thereby securing lucrative contracts. "I have seen instances in which a carrier tells local community leaders there is a significant coverage gap, and directs them toward a phony RF propagation map," said Berg. "When they compare the carriers map to the FCC National Broadband Map, they'll often find that on the national broadband map, theres 100% coverage for that carrier in that very geographic neighborhood." The perils of 5G: Health experts sound the alarm As the rollout of 5G technology accelerates, health experts have raised concerns about the potential health risks posed by radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by this new generation of wireless technology. Dr. Martin Pall, a pioneer in EMF research, has linked 5G EMF exposure to premature aging, Alzheimer's disease, brain damage and increased cancer risk. "EMFs act via peak electric and time-varying magnetic forces at a nanosecond time scale," explained Dr. Pall. "With each increase in pulse modulation produced by EMF-emitting devices, such as smart meters, smart cell phones and 5G technology, these peaks are considerably increased, resulting in what I describe as the ultimate nightmareextremely early onset Alzheimer's disease." Research suggests that 5G's pulsed wave radiation can be more harmful than continuous waves, causing significant damage to the brain, immune system and nervous system. These pulsed waves, characterized by short, high-power RF pulses, have been shown to disrupt dopamine synapses in the hippocampus, potentially leading to conditions like Parkinson's disease. Battling for transparency: The role of the FCC map Residents and their advocates, like Berg, are positioning the FCC's National Broadband Map as a powerful tool to counter the misleading claims of wireless companies. By comparing a carriers proposed RF propagation map against the FCCs detailed broadband map, critics can expose inconsistencies that demonstrate full coverage in areas claimed to be lacking. "If you compare the carriers map to the FCC National Broadband Map, youll oftentimes see that on the national broadband map, theres 100% coverage," said Berg. "This fact should matter, but doesnt always." Despite this, Berg acknowledges the challenges of combating misleading information. In a recent case in Santa Cruz County, California, nearly 20 residents testified that they already had strong service, and the FCC's map showed no coverage gap. However, the county still approved the construction of a 140-foot cell tower, leading to a legal battle supported by Children's Health Defenses (CHD) Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) & Wireless cases. Legal showdowns and the future of 5G rollout The legal landscape for wireless infrastructure deployment is increasingly fraught with conflicts between developers and local authorities. A series of recent rulings in Virginia, Florida and New Hampshire highlight the complex interplay of federal law and local ordinances. "Wireless carriers and infrastructure developers are racing to meet expanding 5G and broadband demands," notes Berg. "These cases illustrate the delicate balance both sides must maintain, as courts increasingly enforce federal standards against local challenges." In the New Hampshire case, for instance, the local government denied permission for a 150-foot tower, citing concerns about visual impacts and property values. However, the issue remains unresolved regarding whether limiting the height effectively prohibits wireless service, a violation of federal law. Such nuanced legal arguments will likely determine the future course of 5G infrastructure expansion. The uncertain path ahead The push for widespread 5G deployment raises significant concerns about public health, especially given the new research linking EMF exposure to severe health issues. As wireless companies move forward with an agenda driven by profit and technological advancement, it is incumbent upon policymakers, health professionals and the public to demand transparency, enforce existing regulations and reconsider the safety standards for radiation exposure. "At the end of the day, we are all part of a larger conversation about the balance between technological progress and public health," said Berg. "And the stakes have never been higher." Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org WirelessEstimator.com NaturalNews.com Charlie Kirk assassination: False flag to justify war with Iran & accelerate martial law? Scientific Impossibility: Officials claim Charlie Kirk was killed by a .30-06 rifle roundcapable of penetrating Level IV body armoryet it supposedly lodged in his neck without an exit wound, defying physics and ballistics. Officials claim Charlie Kirk was killed by a .30-06 rifle roundcapable of penetrating Level IV body armoryet it supposedly lodged in his neck without an exit wound, defying physics and ballistics. Fabricated Shooter Narrative: The alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, lacks forensic ties (no DNA, weapon serial number, or footage), while authorities erased evidence (destroyed cameras, replaced pavement) mirroring past cover-ups. The alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, lacks forensic ties (no DNA, weapon serial number, or footage), while authorities erased evidence (destroyed cameras, replaced pavement) mirroring past cover-ups. Exploitation of Kirks Death: Kirks assassination is being used to push militarization (Pentagon recruitment ads), draconian laws (anti-dissent "terror" measures), and nationalist propaganda (posthumous Medal of Freedom). Kirks assassination is being used to push militarization (Pentagon recruitment ads), draconian laws (anti-dissent "terror" measures), and nationalist propaganda (posthumous Medal of Freedom). False Flag for War: The event aligns with historical pretexts (Reichstag fire, Gulf of Tonkin) to justify Middle East escalation, including U.S. reoccupation of Bagram Air Base and potential nuclear conflict with Iran. The event aligns with historical pretexts (Reichstag fire, Gulf of Tonkin) to justify Middle East escalation, including U.S. reoccupation of Bagram Air Base and potential nuclear conflict with Iran. Deep-State Orchestration: Evidence suggests MK Ultra-style patsy programming (Robinsons erratic behavior), rigged press cameras, and a coordinated cover-upraising suspicions of a scripted trigger for broader authoritarian control. The Impossible Bullet Theory In the wake of conservative commentator Charlie Kirks assassination, the Trump administration and media allies have pushed a narrative so scientifically implausible it reeks of deception. According to official reports, Kirk was fatally struck by a .30-06 hunting rifle rounda bullet capable of taking down elk, moose, and even grizzly bearsyet miraculously, the projectile allegedly lodged in his neck without exiting. Adams dismantles this claim with brutal precision: Physics Defied: A .30-06 round delivers 3,000 foot-pounds of energyenough to lift a 3,000-pound object one foot in the air. Human tissue, bone, and cartilage cannot absorb this force without catastrophic rupture. A .30-06 round delivers 3,000 foot-pounds of energyenough to lift a 3,000-pound object one foot in the air. Human tissue, bone, and cartilage cannot absorb this force without catastrophic rupture. Ballistics Reality: Such rounds puncture Level IV body armorthick ceramic or steel platesyet were told Kirks "healthy bone density" stopped it cold. "This isnt anatomy; its propaganda," Adams scoffs. Such rounds puncture Level IV body armorthick ceramic or steel platesyet were told Kirks "healthy bone density" stopped it cold. "This isnt anatomy; its propaganda," Adams scoffs. No Exit Wound, No Bullet: Despite claims the bullet was "found beneath the skin," no verifiable evidencephotos, forensics, or recovered projectilehas been presented. The absence of an exit wound contradicts all ballistic precedent for high-velocity rounds. The Patsy & the Cover-Up The alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, fits a familiar pattern: Zero Forensic Links: No DNA on the rifle, no serial number on the weapon, no footage of him carrying it, and no spent cartridge evidence. No DNA on the rifle, no serial number on the weapon, no footage of him carrying it, and no spent cartridge evidence. Crime Scene Erased: Authorities hastily dismantled the scene, destroyed cameras, and even replaced pavementmirroring the 9/11 WTC rubble removal. Authorities hastily dismantled the scene, destroyed cameras, and even replaced pavementmirroring the 9/11 WTC rubble removal. Fabricated Note: The "manifesto" attributed to Robinson reads like FBI boilerplate, with phrasing more consistent with a boomer fed than a Gen-Z shooter. Exploiting a Martyr Kirks death is being weaponized for geopolitical and domestic control: Pentagon Recruitment: Kirks image is now used for military enlistment drivesdespite his anti-war stance on Iran. Kirks image is now used for military enlistment drivesdespite his anti-war stance on Iran. Medal of Freedom: Posthumously awarded, transforming Kirk into a sacrificial figure to galvanize nationalist fervor. Posthumously awarded, transforming Kirk into a sacrificial figure to galvanize nationalist fervor. Martial Law Pretext: Trump allies like Pam Bondi are leveraging the assassination to push draconian "anti-terror" laws targeting dissenters, with rhetoric painting anti-war protesters as "enemies of the state." The Iran Endgame Adams warns this mirrors historical false flags (Reichstag fire, Gulf of Tonkin) to justify war: Middle East Arms Buildup: Classified documents reveal a Middle Eastern nation (not Israel) stockpiling billions in munitions monthlyC4, RPGs, anti-tank weaponsindicating imminent large-scale conflict. Classified documents reveal a Middle Eastern nation (not Israel) stockpiling billions in munitions monthlyC4, RPGs, anti-tank weaponsindicating imminent large-scale conflict. Bagram Air Base Gambit: Trumps demand to reoccupy Afghanistans Bagram Air Base positions the U.S. for strikes on Iranand potentially China. Trumps demand to reoccupy Afghanistans Bagram Air Base positions the U.S. for strikes on Iranand potentially China. Nuclear Trigger: If Iran retaliates for U.S./Israeli strikes, the IAEAs snapback clause releases Tehran to deploy nukesescalating to WWIII. MK Ultra Meets Grassy Knoll Adams suggests darker layers: Mind Control Patsy: Robinsons erratic profile fits CIA/MK Ultra patsy programming, with possible handlers staging the hit while he believed it was a "training exercise." Robinsons erratic profile fits CIA/MK Ultra patsy programming, with possible handlers staging the hit while he believed it was a "training exercise." Camera Rigging: Suspicion falls on the unexamined press cameras behind Kirk, which could have concealed a close-range, low-velocity weapon to mimic a sniper shot. The Reichstag Playbook As with JFK and 9/11, the rush to bury evidence points to deep-state orchestration. "Charlie Kirks death isnt a tragedyits a scripted trigger," Adams concludes. "The question isnt who fired the shot, but who wrote the script?" With the Epstein files suppressed, elections in peril, and the DOJ weaponized, the Kirk assassination may be the first domino in a plan to lock down Americaunless the truth emerges before the next "emergency" drops. Watch the Sep. 22 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about Charlie's death being exploited to promote a RELIGIOUS WAR that could kill millions more. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Charlie Kirk assassination sparks fears of civil war as conservatives blame deep state, Mossad The assassination of Charlie Kirk: A grave blow to free speech in America Charlie Kirk refused Netanyahu funding offer, was frightened by pro-Israel forces before death, friend reveals Sources include: Brighteon.com ExpressVPN users call for boycott over Israeli ties amid Gaza conflict Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi owns ExpressVPN. Red Wolf surveillance system aids in apartheid against Palestinians. ExpressVPN users call for boycott due to conflict in Gaza. Amnesty International demands global ban on facial recognition surveillance. Ethical implications of using privacy services tied to surveillance. ExpressVPN users are rallying to call for a boycott of the popular privacy service, citing concerns over the companys ownership by an Israeli cybersecurity firm and the allegations of human rights abuses in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The renewed calls for cancellation come as social media users increasingly scrutinize the ownership structures of online services they rely on, especially amid heightened tensions over Israels actions in the Palestinian territories. In 2021, Kape Technologies, a British-Israeli digital security company, acquired ExpressVPN for nearly $1 billion. This acquisition has come under heavy scrutiny recently, particularly following reports about Teddy Sagi, the Israeli billionaire and owner of Kape Technologies. In 2023, Sagi donated $1 million to transport soldiers during the Israeli war on Gaza, a move that has intensified calls for boycotts from social media users and privacy advocates. History of acquisitions by Kape Technologies Kape Technologies, founded in 2010, has established itself as a major player in the digital security space, acquiring several companies like CyberGhost, ZenMate and Private Internet Access. These acquisitions have bolstered Kapes position as a prominent provider of privacy and security services to millions of users worldwide. The acquisition of ExpressVPN, one of the largest providers of consumer privacy and security services, has significantly expanded Kapes reach. However, the controversy surrounding the Israeli connection has raised concerns about the alignment of corporate interests with human rights principles. Many critics argue that using services owned by companies with Israeli ties, especially in the context of the current conflict, is morally problematic. "You dont want Israel to have your information," one user tweeted, encapsulating the sentiment spreading across social media platforms. Red Wolf surveillance system and its impact on Palestinians Amnesty International has documented the use of an experimental facial recognition system named Red Wolf by Israeli authorities, which is being used to track and automate restrictions on Palestinians freedom of movement. Deployed at military checkpoints in the city of Hebron, Red Wolf scans Palestinians' faces and adds them to vast surveillance databases without their consent. The system is part of Israel's broader surveillance network that Amnesty International says is intended to "entrench apartheid." In the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, facial recognition technology supports a dense network of CCTV cameras to monitor Palestinians. These tools are used to minimize their presence in strategic areas, contributing to a hostile and coercive environment. "Palestinians must now contend with the risk of being tracked by an algorithm, or barred from entering their own neighborhoods based on information stored in discriminatory surveillance databases," says Agnes Callamard, Amnesty Internationals Secretary General. Global ban on facial recognition surveillance Amnesty International has called for a global ban on the development, sale and use of facial recognition technology for surveillance purposes. The organization has documented human rights risks linked to facial recognition technology in India and the US, as part of its Ban the Scan campaign. The involvement of companies like Hikvision and TKH Security in supplying surveillance equipment to Israeli authorities has further complicated the ethical landscape surrounding these technologies. The Call for Boycott: Privacy and Ethics in Tension The calls for boycott of ExpressVPN extend beyond privacy concerns; they are rooted in ethical objections to supporting a company linked to Israel, where the ongoing conflict in Gaza is seen by many as a genocide. Social media users have shared lists of other VPNs owned by Israeli companies, cautioning against using any services that may benefit Israel. "The calls for boycotts of Israeli products reflect broader digital solidarity campaigns that have emerged during the Israeli genocide on Gaza," one commentator noted. The ethical implications extend to other products and services owned by Israeli companies, highlighting the complex interplay between digital privacy and geopolitical tensions. "Time to boycott ExpressVPN then. For both moral reasons and security reasons," one social media user wrote. Another echoed, "Anyone who wants to boycott Israeli companies, we should be pushing for a buycott. This is not just a war on the ground. We have a war online, too." Navigating Privacy and Ethics in a Digital Age The controversy over ExpressVPN highlights the tension between digital privacy and ethics, especially in a context of heightened geopolitical conflicts. The acquisition of a leading privacy service by an Israeli company with ties to surveillance technology and human rights abuses has sparked widespread debate. Privacy advocates and ethicists must now grapple with the question of whether entrusting personal data to companies associated with oppressive regimes is acceptable. The case of ExpressVPN underscores the need for deeper scrutiny of corporate ownership and the ethical implications of the technologies we use. As global tensions continue to escalate, it is crucial to ensure that our digital tools do not inadvertently support systems of control and discrimination. The ethical dilemmas posed by privacy technology in todays geopolitical landscape are more urgent than ever. Sources for this article include: MiddleEastEye.net TimesofIsrael.com Amnesty.org Former CDC directors ties to industry raise questions amid criticism of RFK Jr. Former CDC directors, including Rochelle Walensky and William Roper, who criticized Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for attempting to reshape the CDC, have been revealed to have significant ties to lobbying firms, pharmaceutical companies and industry-funded nonprofits. The investigation highlights the "revolving door" between government agencies like the CDC and the industries they regulate. For example, Mandy Cohen, a former acting CDC director, is now an advisor to a firm that lobbies for health industry clients, and William Roper has held positions on the boards of major health care companies. The former CDC officials did not disclose their financial interests in industries affected by policies they supported or opposed. This lack of transparency undermines public trust in their ability to make unbiased decisions. The CDC Foundation, where some of the former directors have served, has received millions from companies like Coca-Cola, suggesting potential corporate influence on public health policy. This raises questions about the independence and integrity of public health leadership. The revelations underscore the need for greater transparency and accountability in public health leadership to restore public trust. HHS acknowledges that conflicts of interest have eroded trust in the public health system, emphasizing the importance of upholding gold-standard science and transparency. In a recent editorial published in the New York Times earlier this month, several former directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) labeled Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as "dangerous," criticizing his efforts to reshape the agency. However, an investigation by the Daily Caller News Foundation has revealed that these former officials have significant ties to lobbying firms, pharmaceutical companies and industry-funded nonprofits. This revelation has sparked a debate about conflicts of interest and the influence of special interests within the public health sector. The editorial, co-authored by former CDC directors including Rochelle Walensky and William Roper, came shortly after Kennedy removed Susan Monarez as CDC director on Aug. 27. Monarez is set to testify before the Senate Health, Education and Pensions Committee, where she is expected to claim that Kennedy pressured her to approve Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) decisions in advance and to dismiss vaccine staff. (Related: RFK Jr. AXES all 17 members of CDC's vaccine advisory committee, citing panel's "historical corruption.") The editorial also targeted Kennedy's support for President Donald Trump's Medicaid reforms, which restrict federal funding for able-bodied adults without dependents or work. Notably, the authors did not disclose their financial interests in industries affected by these reforms. Mandy Cohen, who served as acting CDC director under former President Joe Biden, is now an advisor to Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, a firm that lobbied on Medicaid and Medicare issues for multiple health industry clients in 2025. The firm has represented major health providers and pharmaceutical companies, highlighting the revolving door between government agencies and the industries they regulate. Roper, who led the CDC from 1990 to 1993, has a long history of involvement with the health care industry. He served on the board of DaVita Inc., a major player in the U.S. dialysis market, and earned millions during his tenure. Roper also held positions on the boards of Express Scripts and Cigna, without disclosing these roles while serving as the dean of the University of North Carolina Medical School. Several of the former CDC officials have connections to nonprofits that have accepted funding from special interest groups. The CDC Foundation, for instance, has received millions from companies like Coca-Cola, raising concerns about corporate influence on public health policy. A 2019 study found that the foundation acted as a vehicle for special interests, undermining public trust. Jeffrey Koplan and David Satcher, who co-authored the editorial, have served on the CDC Foundation. Koplan has also been involved with the China Medical Board, which promotes healthcare development in China and receives funding from the Rockefeller Foundation. These connections have come under scrutiny, especially in the context of the Trump administration's efforts to reduce dangerous collaborations with China on medical research. Public perception and trust "Conflicts of interest and an entrenched status quo have broken the American people's trust in our public health system," a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson said in response to the investigation. The spokesperson emphasized Kennedy's commitment to transparency and upholding gold-standard science to restore confidence in the country's health care institutions. Brighteon.AI's Enoch added: "The revolving door between the CDC and the pharmaceutical industry creates a significant conflict of interest. This dynamic ensures that the CDC's policies and recommendations often align with the interests of Big Pharma, rather than the public's health." The revelations about the former CDC directors' ties to industry and special interests highlight the broader issue of conflicts of interest within the public health sector. As the debate continues, the question remains: Can the public trust the very institutions that are supposed to protect their health when those in charge have financial and professional connections to the industries they regulate? The ongoing scrutiny of these relationships underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in public health leadership. Watch RFK Jr.'s speech discussing his shake-ups at the CDC. This video is from Rick Langley's channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Secretary Kennedy exposes the stonewalling, the lies, and the betrayal of public trust in the firing of CDC Directors. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticizes CDC for listing abortion among 20th century's top health achievements. VACCINE CULTISTS at the CDC and FDA are being ousted right and left as Trump and RFK Jr. clean house and drain the PHARMA SWAMP. Sources include: YourNews.com Static01.NYT.com Brighteon.ai DailyCallerNewsFoundation.org Brighteon.com Historic reversal: UK recognizes Palestinian state after century of support for Israel The UK, Canada, and Australia now formally recognize a Palestinian state, breaking with Israel and the U.S. ahead of the UN General Assembly. Britains move is framed as correcting its 1917 Balfour Declaration, which promised a Jewish homeland but failed to protect Palestinian rights. Israel condemns the decision as a reward for terrorism, while Hamas demands action to end the war and stop West Bank annexation. The recognition reflects Western frustration with Israels Gaza war, which has killed over 65,000 Palestinians and expanded illegal settlements. Symbolic but significant, the move may pressure other nations to follow, although U.S. opposition limits its immediate impact. One hundred and eight years after Britains Balfour Declaration promised a Jewish homeland in Palestine while vaguely assuring the rights of its Arab inhabitants, the UK, Canada, and Australia have formally recognized a Palestinian state. The move, announced ahead of the UN General Assembly, marks a sharp diplomatic break with Israel and the United States, both of which oppose the decision. France is expected to follow suit, signaling a growing Western frustration with Israels conduct in Gaza and its expansion of settlements in the West Bank. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed the recognition as a step toward peace, declaring in a video message: Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognizes the State of Palestine. The UKs decision carries heavy historical weight, given its role in shaping the modern Middle East through the Balfour Declaration and its subsequent mandate over Palestine. A colonial legacy corrected? The 1917 Balfour Declaration, authored by then-Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour, pledged British support for the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people while vaguely promising nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities. Yet, as David Lammy, Britains foreign secretary, noted in July, that second promise was not upheld. The UKs recognition of Palestine now is framed as an attempt to correct that historical injustice. Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK, called the move a moment when the UK Prime Minister and the British government, on behalf of their people, stand and say: We must correct history, we must right the wrongs. For Palestinians, this recognition is long overdue. As Chris Doyle of the Council for Arab-British Understanding pointed out, Many Palestinians would have liked to celebrate this symbolic moment but they cannot. The reality is that recognition will not end the bombing, the famine, the genocide nor the system of apartheid that Palestinians are enduring. Israels fury and the Hamas factor Israels response was swift and furious. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the move as a huge reward to terrorism, referring to Hamas October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River, Netanyahu declared, signaling defiance. His government has threatened unilateral steps, including potential annexation of parts of the West Banka move that would further inflame tensions. Hamas, meanwhile, welcomed the recognition but demanded practical measures to end the war and prevent Israeli annexation. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called it an important step toward achieving a just and lasting peace in the region based on the two-state solution. A shifting Western stance The UKs decision reflects growing Western impatience with Israels military campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, displaced most of the enclaves population, and triggered accusations of genocide from UN experts. The war has also exposed the unchecked expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, land intended for a future Palestinian state. The UKs memorandum of understanding with the Palestinian Authority explicitly rejects Israels claims to the West Bank and East Jerusalem, stating that the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza, must be reunified under its sole authority. Although it's largely symbolic, the recognition could pressure other Western nations to follow suit. France, a permanent UN Security Council member, is expected to announce its own recognition this week. Yet without support from the U.S., the move may have limited practical impact. For now, the UKs decision stands as a rare rebuke to Israel from a historic ally. Whether it leads to meaningful change or remains a hollow gesture depends on what happens next in Gaza, the West Bank, and the halls of global power. One thing is clear: after 108 years of broken promises, the world is finally acknowledging what Palestinians have long demandedthe right to a state of their own. The question now is whether that state will ever be free. Sources for this article include: MiddleEastEye.net APNews.com Reuters.com Trumps $100,000 H-1B visa fee sparks chaos as Indian workers scramble to return Trumps sudden $100,000 H-1B visa fee sparked panic among Indian tech workers who were already abroad. Chaos erupted at airports as families scrambled to return to the U.S. before the deadline. Indias government warned of humanitarian fallout from the abrupt policy shift. Tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft urged employees to rush back amid confusion. The move is part of Trumps broader crackdown on immigration, sparking debate over protectionism vs. global talent. The sudden announcement of a $100,000 fee for H-1B work visas by President Donald Trump sent shockwaves through the Indian tech community, triggering desperate last-minute flights, airport chaos, and warnings of "humanitarian consequences" from Indias government. The policy, effective Saturday, caught thousands off guard, many of whom were already abroad on vacation or visiting family, forcing them to either rush back to the U.S. or risk being locked out. The H-1B visa, a key pathway for skilled foreign workers, is dominated by Indian professionals, who make up over 70% of recipients. Until now, fees ranged from $2,000 to $5,000, but the new $100,000 price taglater clarified as a one-time fee per petitionsent companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Goldman Sachs scrambling to advise employees to return before the deadline. The panic was so intense that some passengers on flights to India and Europe demanded to deplane mid-takeoff, causing delays. Families torn apart, flights delayed At San Francisco International Airport, an engineer at a major tech company described the scene as "tragic" after his wife, also an H-1B holder, had to choose between returning to the U.S. or staying in India to care for her sick mother. "We have built a life here," he told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. His wifes Emirates flight to Dubai was delayed for over three hours as passengers, many of them Indian, begged to disembark after learning of the policy change. Video footage circulating on social media showed confused passengers checking their phones as the captain announced, "We are aware that a number of passengers do not wish to travel with us. Thats perfectly fine." The chaos extended beyond U.S. borders, with reports of H-1B holders cutting short vacations in Tokyo, Paris, and Dubai to race back before the deadline. Indias Foreign Ministry issued a statement warning that the sudden fee hike could have "humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families." The policy, they argued, threatened to upend the lives of skilled professionals who had built careers in America, contributing to innovation in Silicon Valley and beyond. A policy shift with global ripple effects Trump defended the move as necessary to curb "abuse" of the H-1B program, which he claimed allowed companies to suppress wages and sideline American workers. "We need great workers, and this pretty much ensures that that is what is going to happen," he said. The White House later clarified that the fee would only apply to new applicants, not existing visa holders, but the damage was already done. Tech giants, which rely heavily on H-1B talent, reacted swiftly. Amazon, Microsoft, and Goldman Sachs sent urgent memos advising employees to return immediately. IBM Vice Chairman Gary Cohn called the initial panic "fast and furious" but suggested the confusion had since been resolved. "I think it caused a panic over the weekend because people weren't sure what was going on with the existing H-1B visas," he said. "It's been cleaned up over the weekend, so at this point, there's not a panic in the system." Yet the long-term impact remains unclear. For companies like Amazon, which secured nearly 10,000 H-1B visas in 2025, the new fee could translate to a $1 billion annual cost. Indian IT firms like Tata Consultancy Services, which received over 5,500 visas, could face $550 million in additional expenses. Analysts predict the policy may accelerate offshoring and automation, with firms reserving H-1B slots only for the most critical roles. A broader crackdown on immigration The visa fee hike is part of Trumps wider immigration crackdown, which has included tariffs on Indian goods and restrictions on other forms of legal immigration. Critics argue the move is protectionist, prioritizing American workers at the expense of global talent. Supporters, however, claim it will reduce wage suppression and open more jobs for U.S. citizens. For Indian professionals, the policy feels like a betrayal. Many have spent years building careers in America, only to face sudden financial barriers. "It feels surreal," said a Nvidia engineer who rushed back from Japan with his wife and infant. "Everything is changing in an instant." As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the H-1B visaa once-reliable bridge for skilled workershas become another battleground in the global tech and trade wars. And for thousands of Indian families, the cost may be more than just financial. Sources for this article include: RT.com Reuters.com CNN.com U.S. to deliver 33,000 AI drone strike kits to Ukraine under Pentagon contract The U.S. has awarded a $50 million Pentagon contract to U.S.-German defense software company Auterion to deliver 33,000 AI-powered "strike kits" ("Skynode" systems) to Ukraine by the end of 2025. These strike kits convert manually operated drones into more autonomous platforms: they include onboard computers, cameras and radio modules, are designed to resist electronic jamming and can track and engage moving targets up to about one kilometer away. Ukraine plans to acquire about 4.5 million small FPV (First Person View) drones in 2025; in that context, 33,000 AI-kits is a large increase (over ten times previous support), but still modest relative to the scale of the drone forces being assembled. The strike kits enhance resilience under conditions of signal jamming, allow drones to perform "last-mile" targeting autonomously (i.e. once the target is identified, the kit enables final engagement even if the communication link is lost) and support future development of swarm tactics. There is concern from critics about ethical, strategic and geopolitical implications: greater automation in warfare could increase civilian risk, prolong conflict and challenge accountability; Russia has condemned the deal, arguing Western arms shipments worsen bloodshed. The U.S. has stepped up its military support for Ukraine through a new defense technology contract, announcing that U.S.-German software firm Auterion will deliver 33,000 AI-powered drone "strike kits" to Kyiv by the end of 2025 under a Pentagon deal worth approximately U.S.$50 million. Auterion's "strike kits," also referred to as Skynode systems, include miniature onboard computers, cameras and radio modules. These components are designed to convert manually operated drones into more autonomous weapons platforms capable of resisting electronic jamming and tracking moving targets at ranges up to one kilometre (about 0.62 miles). The kits build on earlier versions already used by Ukrainian forces, but this new contract boosts the scale of support "more than tenfold," according to Auterion CEO Lorenz Meier. (Related: Israeli drones drop grenades near UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.) The delivery is part of wider U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, aiming to strengthen Kyiv's ability to defend against increasingly intense Russian aerial attacks, including frequent drone and missile strikes. Analysts note that Russian forces have escalated the deployment of budget suicide or "kamikaze" dronesparticularly Iranian-designed Shahed modelsin recent weeks. The Skynode kits are intended to enhance precision and resilience under conditions of electronic warfare, address vulnerabilities associated with signal jamming and improve Ukraine's defense in contested environments. Skynode kits: Enhancing precision amid massive drone proliferation While 33,000 kits represent a significant expansion, the number remains modest compared to the tens or even hundreds of thousands of drones that Ukrainian forces use or aim to deploy. Ukraine has announced plans to purchase millions of small First Person View (FPV) drones in 2025. Nonetheless, the Skynode systems add critical capabilities. By allowing drones to autonomously lock onto targets for the last segment of flight missionwith reduced operator interventionthe kits help overcome the increasing difficulty of maintaining reliable communication and control under electronic interference. The enhancement also introduces swarm tactics. Auterion's software architecture supports the potential for coordinated drone swarmsgroups of autonomous or semi-autonomous UAVs working together. While not yet deployed on the battlefield in full swarm mode, this functionality marks a shift in how drone warfare may evolve in Ukraine. The move reinforces the continuity in U.S. policy: regardless of administration, the U.S. is expanding its investment in advanced military technologies to support Ukraine. Critics warn that increasing reliance on autonomous weapons systems could further prolong conflict, escalate risk to civilians and strain public support for foreign aid. Russia has predictably condemned the deal, arguing that Western arms deliveries only fuel more bloodshedassertions that add to debates over the ethics and outcomes of modern drone warfare. While Ukraine says such kits are needed to defend its territory and civilian population, concerns remain over collateral damage, accountability and long-term strategic consequences. According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, America's decision to deliver 33,000 drones to Ukraine under a Pentagon contract is a clear indication of the military-industrial complex's insatiable appetite for profit and control, further entrenching the globalist agenda of conflict and depopulation. This massive arms deal not only fuels the ongoing war in Ukraine but also serves as a strategic move to expand U.S. influence and dominance in the region, at the expense of human lives and the sovereignty of nations. The true cost of this intervention is not just in dollars but in the lives lost and the suffering inflicted, all while the elites profit from the chaos and destruction. Visit WeaponsTechnology. news for more stories like this. Watch this video about Russian drones leave Ukrainian forces decimated. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Ukraine launches massive drone strike on Russias Kirishi oil refinery. Weapons defense enters a new era: New technology overcomes growing threat from DRONES. Ukraine plans to buy U.S. weapons using Europes money. Sources include: SHTFPlan.com Reuters.com FT.com Brighteon.AI Brighteon.com Champaign, IL (61820) Today Snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low 24F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.. Tonight Snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low 24F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High around 30F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. Low around 15F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Introduction The male reproductive microbiome Mechanisms linking microbiome and fertility Evidence from research studies Clinical implications Challenges and knowledge gaps Conclusions References Further reading This article explores how the male reproductive microbiome influences fertility through mechanisms such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormonal disruption. It also highlights clinical implications, including diagnostic profiling and probiotic therapies that may improve semen quality and ART outcomes. Image Credit: Anusorn Nakdee / Shutterstock.com Introduction Over the past 30 years, male infertility rates have increased by nearly 75%, with current estimates suggesting that this condition affects over 56 million men throughout the world.1,2 Despite decades of research, 30-70% of male infertility cases are classified as idiopathic.1 Male factor infertility contributes to approximately half of all infertility cases worldwide, and oxidative stress, infections, and microbial dysbiosis are increasingly recognized as contributors alongside genetic and endocrine causes.3,6,11 The male reproductive microbiome The male reproductive tract is a specialized environment that is inhabited by a diverse microbiota. Semen, which contains secretions from multiple glands and the testes, serves as a convergence point for region-specific bacterial communities and, as a result, is considered representative of the entire male reproductive microbiome.3,4 Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, such as genome sequencing and high-throughput proteomics, have enabled the identification of a diverse and complex microbial community within the semen, testes, and urogenital tract. These technological advances, combined with the widespread availability of patient datasets, demonstrate that the seminal microbiome of healthy men is typically dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes.4 Eubiosis, which is characterized by the predominance of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus, is increasingly associated with higher sperm quality and a reduced risk of prostatitis.4 Comparatively, dysbiosis is more frequently observed in infertile men and is accompanied by poor semen parameters. Distinct semen microbiome clusters dominated by Lactobacillus, Prevotella, or Streptococcus have been identified, with the Lactobacillus-dominant cluster associated with the best semen quality and fertility outcomes.5 The overgrowth of Prevotella, Ureaplasma, and Mycoplasma is also a common feature of dysbiosis, all of which are pathogens that have been implicated in adverse fertility outcomes.3 For example, Ureaplasma parvum has been shown to impair sperm motility and morphology, though targeted antibiotic treatment can reverse these effects. Increased inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which are known risk factors in male infertility, often occur in the presence of these microorganisms, which can further impact fertility outcomes.8 Mechanisms linking microbiome and fertility An imbalance in the seminal microbiota can directly impair sperm quality, as observed in animal and preclinical models. Pathogenic or opportunistic bacteria subsequently adhere to spermatozoa, which leads to agglutination and reduced motility.1,5 These microorganisms can also induce an inflammatory response characterized by leukocyte infiltration into the semen, which releases high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The main genera that have been described as potentially associated with high quality (up) and low quality (down) seminal parameters. 1 Unlike most somatic cells, sperm have minimal antioxidant defenses. As a result, ROS infiltration can lead to lipid peroxidation of sperm membrane and DNA fragmentation, both of which are strongly associated with reduced fertility and poor embryo development.1,5 ROS-driven DNA fragmentation is a consistent finding in infertile men and is reduced after interventions such as probiotics that boost antioxidant defenses.11 The gut-testis axis is a bidirectional communication pathway that connects the intestinal microbiome to testicular function.6 Dysbiosis has been observed to disrupt this axis by compromising the integrity of the intestinal barrier, which allows bacterial endotoxins like lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to enter the bloodstream.7 Systemic endotoxemia leads to a chronic, low-grade inflammatory state, which causes testicular inflammation and impairs spermatogenesis. This inflammation can also suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, negatively impacting testosterone production.1,6,7 Mouse studies confirm that the absence of gut microbiota reduces testicular size, alters epididymal immune signaling, and transmits reproductive dysfunction to offspring, providing causal evidence for the guttestis axis.9 Summary of the main external factors with an influence over the seminal microbiome composition.1 Evidence from research studies Research has consistently reported an association between the overgrowth of certain bacteria and poor semen parameters. For example, the presence of Ureaplasma in semen contributes to epigenetic changes in sperm and reduced motility, potentially through the production of cytotoxic ammonia and induction of oxidative stress.3,4,8 To date, most human studies have been correlational, whereas preclinical research provides more definitive evidence for a causal relationship between gut dysbiosis and male infertility.9 In germ-free mouse models, mice lacking a gut microbiome exhibited decreased testicular weight and signs of epididymitis-like inflammation as compared to wildtype mice, thereby providing causal evidence that the presence of a healthy microbiome is essential for normal male reproductive tract development and function.8,9 Large-scale metagenomic studies have further shown that semen microbiome composition can distinguish between fertile and infertile men, suggesting potential diagnostic utility.5 Table 1. Microbial Associations with Male Fertility Microbe Association Effect on Fertility Reference Lactobacillus Positive Improved semen quality, higher IVF success 3,4,5,10 Faecalibacterium Positive Enriched in successful IVF samples 10 Prevotella Negative Poor semen parameters, failed ART cycles 3,5,10 Anaerococcus Negative Associated with reduced semen quality 4 Ureaplasma parvum Negative Impaired motility & morphology; reversible with antibiotics 8 Mycoplasma Negative Linked to inflammation and oxidative stress 3 Table 2. Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on Male Fertility Study Probiotic Strains Main Outcomes Reference Valcarce et al. (2017) L. rhamnosus, B. longum Motility, DNA fragmentation 12 Maretti & Cavallini (2017) L. paracasei + prebiotics Volume, motility, morphology, hormones 13 Helli et al. (2022) Multi-strain (7 bacteria) Count, motility, antioxidant capacity; CRP, TNF- 14 Abbasi et al. (2021) Multi-strain + prebiotics Concentration, motility, morphology; lipid peroxidation 15 Clinical implications Researchers are currently investigating the diagnostic potential of microbiome profiling for semen through 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) sequencing to identify potentially dysbiotic microbial signatures correlated with idiopathic male infertility.10 In fact, the composition of the seminal microbiome has already been used to predict outcomes in assisted reproductive technologies (ART). In one study on in vitro fertilization (IVF), semen samples from successful cycles were significantly enriched with Lactobacillus jensenii and Faecalibacterium, whereas samples from failed cycles had a higher abundance of Prevotella and Bacteroides.10 A systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) has also reported that oral probiotic supplementation, typically with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, significantly improves sperm concentration, motility, and morphology.11 The impact of the Lactobacillus species on fertility, sperm quality, and ART outcomes, and therapeutic applications of the Lactobacillus species.3 Probiotic use was also associated with reduced sperm DNA fragmentation, improved total antioxidant capacity, and decreased inflammatory markers such as CRP and TNF-, supporting their potential as adjunct therapies for idiopathic infertility.1215 Challenges and knowledge gaps The primary challenge encountered in male reproductive microbiome research is that most human studies are cross-sectional and have established correlation, rather than causation. The lack of standardized protocols for sample collection, DNA extraction, sequencing, and data analysis further limits the generalizability of any clinical observations.3,4 Sample contamination and inadequate patient sample sizes also remain a challenge, particularly due to the low microbial biomass in reproductive samples.1 Another limitation is variability across geographic regions and sequencing methods, which complicates comparisons between studies and hinders meta-analysis.3,5 Fertility crisis: Is modern life making men infertile? - BBC REEL Play Conclusions The male reproductive microbiome has emerged as a crucial and previously overlooked factor in male reproductive health. Although additional human trials must be conducted before causation can be established, inflammation, oxidative stress, and endocrine modulation are known mechanisms that negatively impact sperm quality and the success of ARTs. In the future, the integration of multi-omics approaches that combine metagenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics data will provide a more functional understanding of the impact of the microbiome on male fertility.1,7 The development of next-generation probiotics, prebiotics, and other microbiome-targeted therapies, combined with the surge in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) models, may also provide important insights needed to develop more effective interventions for male infertility.7,11 References Corral-Vazquez, C., Blanco, J., Sarrate, Z., & Anton, E. (2024). Unraveling the Intricacies of the Seminal Microbiome and Its Impact on Human Fertility. Biology 13(3); 150. DOI:10.3390/biology13030150, https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/3/150. Liu, J., Qin, Y., Liu, H., et al. (2025). Global, regional, and national burden of female infertility and trends from 1990 to 2021 with projections to 2050 based on the GBD 2021 analysis. Scientific Reports 15(1). DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-01498-x, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-01498-x. Chatzokou, D., Tsarna, E., Davouti, E., et al. (2025). Semen Microbiome, Male Infertility, and Reproductive Health. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26(4); 1446. DOI:10.3390/ijms26041446, https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/4/1446. Osadchiy, V., Mills, J. N., Mayer, E. A., & Eleswarapu, S. V. (2020). The Seminal Microbiome and Male Factor Infertility. Current Sexual Health Reports 12(3); 202-207. DOI:10.1007/s11930-020-00273-5, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11930-020-00273-5. Mowla, S., Farahani, L., Tharakan, T., et al. (2025). Characterisation and comparison of semen microbiota and bacterial load in men with infertility, recurrent miscarriage, or proven fertility. eLife. DOI:10.7554/elife.96090.3, https://elifesciences.org/reviewed-preprints/96090. Lv, S., Huang, J., Luo, Y., et al. (2024). Gut microbiota is involved in male reproductive function: a review. Frontiers in Microbiology 15. DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2024.1371667, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1371667. Kaltsas, A., Giannakodimos, I., Markou, E., et al. (2025). The Androbactome and the Gut MicrobiotaTestis Axis: A Narrative Review of Emerging Insights into Male Fertility. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26(13); 6211. DOI:10.3390/ijms26136211, https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/13/6211. Lindhof, H. & Homey, B. (2025). Ureaplasma parvum impaired semen quality improves after doxycycline treatment in selected patients: a cohort study. Basic and Clinical Andrology 35(1). DOI:10.1186/s12610-025-00284-z, https://basicandclinicalandrology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12610-025-00284-z. Trigg, N. A., Zhou, S. K., Harris, J. C., et al. (2025). A lack of commensal microbiota influences the male reproductive tract intergenerationally in mice. Reproduction 169(4). DOI:10.1530/rep-24-0204, https://rep.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/rep/169/4/REP-24-0204.xml Okwelogu, S. I., Ikechebelu, J. I., Agbakoba, N. R., & Anukam, K. C. (2021). Microbiome Compositions From Infertile Couples Seeking In Vitro Fertilization, Using 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing Methods: Any Correlation to Clinical Outcomes? Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 11. DOI:10.3389/fcimb.2021.709372, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.709372. Oliveira, L., Costa, E. C., Martins, F. D. G., et al. (2024). Probiotics supplementation in the treatment of male infertility: A Systematic Review. JBRA Assisted Reproduction. DOI:10.5935/1518-0557.20240013, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11152433/ Valcarce, D. G., Genoves, S., Riesco, M. F., Martorell, P., Herraez, M. P., Ramon, D., & Robles, V. (2017). Probiotic administration improves sperm quality in asthenozoospermic human donors. Beneficial Microbes 8(2):193206. DOI:10.3920/BM2016.0122, https://brill.com/view/journals/bm/8/2/article-p193_6.xml?srsltid=AfmBOoqPxRrmWlBzmPTzeWyYml_TDSluZ0P7lmzpE4e_hbwYOkRmtXep Maretti, C., & Cavallini, G. (2017). The association of a probiotic with a prebiotic (Flortec) to improve the quality/quantity of spermatozoa in infertile patients with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia: a pilot study. Andrology 5(3):439444. DOI:10.1111/andr.12336, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/andr.12336 Helli, B., Kavianpour, M., Ghaedi, E., Dadfar, M., & Haghighian, H. K. (2022). Probiotic effects on sperm parameters, oxidative stress index, inflammatory factors and sex hormones in infertile men: A randomized trial. Human Fertility (Camb) 25(4):499507. DOI:10.1080/14647273.2020.1824080, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14647273.2020.1824080 Abbasi, B., Abbasi, H., & Niroumand, H. (2021). Synbiotic (FamiLact) administration in idiopathic male infertility enhances sperm quality, DNA integrity, and chromatin status: A triple-blinded randomized clinical trial. International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine 19(3):235244. DOI:10.18502/ijrm.v19i3.8571, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8023005/ Further Reading The Basic to Breakthrough series chronicles how investments from the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science at our National Laboratories have led to new technologies that are changing our world. While teaching in Oklahoma, a Brazilian dentist began pursuing his idea for a new technology that would ultimately lead him to eastern Tennessee. There, he had access to the discovery science expertise and world-class research facilities at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). He used these resources to develop and test his breakthrough: the world's first long-acting antibacterial adhesive resin for dental restorations. The dentist, Fernando Luis Esteban Florez, a tenured associate professor and researcher at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, is working to prevent the secondary tooth decay that bacteria cause around the edges of dental restorations, such as fillings and crowns. These secondary cavities are why most restorations need to be replaced on average every five to seven years. "My idea was to develop dental adhesives that would provide long-term protection from oral bacteria," said Esteban Florez, the lead inventor. In the U.S. alone, a long-acting antibacterial dental adhesive could help prevent more than 60 million dental procedures per year and save patients over $5 billion annually. But as a dentist with limited training in scientific research, developing and testing my idea for antibacterial nanoparticles and putting them in a clinical product seemed out of reach." Fernando Luis Esteban Florez, University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry Esteban Florez and Sharukh Khajotia, the college's associate dean for research and innovation and a co-inventor, learned about the DOE Office of Science's User Facilities. These 28 User Facilities, located at National Laboratories around the country, provide state-of-the-art research facilities to the global science community at little or no cost to users. Esteban Florez and Khajotia submitted a user proposal to ORNL to work with scientists at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS) and the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). "I'm grateful for the DOE's user program, which enabled me, a dentist without advanced scientific training, to access the world-leading expertise and resources at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It saved me six to eight years of development time," said Esteban Florez. With the help of the world-class researchers at these nanomaterials and neutron science facilities, the co-inventors created multifunctional nanoparticles with long-lasting antimicrobial properties. These nanoparticles can be added to resins and other polymers used in medicine, dentistry, public health, and engineering. The team modified titanium dioxide nanoparticles that produce highly reactive chemicals, known as reactive oxygen species, that can kill bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. Unlike with antibiotics, microbes cannot develop resistance to these chemicals. The nanoparticles were then dispersed in an adhesive resin commonly used by dentists. Researchers examined samples of the experimental adhesive resin using a helium-ion microscope at CNMS and small-angle neutron scattering using the Bio-SANS instrument at HFIR. With these tools, they determined the optimal particle shape, modifications, and dispersion method. "The benefit of using Bio-SANS is that it allowed us to see how the proteins bonded to the nanoparticles and how well the particles dispersed within the polymer resin," said Khajotia. According to Esteban Florez, the experimental results showed that for the first time in dentistry, nanoparticles had dispersed without clustering and functioned well within a polymer and displayed strong antibacterial properties without light irradiation. "We are currently talking with a leading dental products company about commercializing this patented technology for a wide range of products," said Esteban Florez. "This extremely versatile antibacterial and antimicrobial polymer technology can work in countless applications, including dental restorations, teeth whitening products, medical devices and equipment, and in paint on surfaces throughout public places, such as at hospitals and airports, to reduce levels of bacteria and viruses." A UK study reveals that simply reordering hospital meal options, without changing recipes, may deliver significant health and climate gains. Study: Strategic menu optimization could reduce carbon emissions and saturated fat consumption: a simulation modelling study of UK hospital inpatient meals. Image credit: 135pixels/Shutterstock.com A recent study in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of B: Biological Sciences examined the impact of strategic menu optimization on saturated fat consumption and carbon emissions in an inpatient environment. The study used simulation to predict whether strategic menu swaps in a hospital inpatient setting could reduce carbon emissions and saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake. Strategic menu interventions and environmental impacts Efforts to change food consumption behavior via legislation may not last permanently, despite some studies showing that they promote environmentally sustainable and healthy food choices. Moreover, in specific settings (e.g., hospitals), traditional interventions may not be practical or appropriate, as patients are more concerned with enjoying food than its sustainability. One study under the Transforming UK Food Systems (TUKFS) Programme noted reductions in carbon footprint and SFA intake of about 31% and 6%, respectively, by strategically designing menus in a university hall of residence. This suggests that there could be benefits across other sectors beyond a university setting. In the UK, 42% of workers report eating in a canteen. Diners' menu choices affect nutritional and environmental outcomes, depending on both the menu options selected and those not selected. Competition between menu items matters, and by altering the choice architecture, one can influence the frequency of selection of each dish and thereby influence target outcome variables (e.g., carbon footprint). About this study The primary objectives of this study were to investigate the feasibility of modeling hospital data and to determine the expected level of predicted reductions. Researchers convenience-sampled NHS hospitals across the 12 UK regions that made their weekly inpatient dining menus publicly available. The focus was on weekday menus (H01-H12) serving the day's main meal. Since hospitals did not publish recipe-level data, the carbon footprint and SFA content were calculated using ingredient lists from BBC Good Food recipes and the Klimato tool. All dishes served at a mealtime on weekdays were extracted, with the first three dishes available daily across all sites making up a baseline dataset. Furthermore, food preference data from 50 online survey participants recruited via Prolific and matched by region were collected for each hospital because food choices can differ across individuals and areas. The optimizing approach generated a single menu that minimized carbon footprint and SFA intake across 50 people across 5 days of the week, rather than at an individual level. The weekly menu, i.e., five groups of three dishes, formed a total of 1,401,400 unique combinations, which was reduced to 113,400 after applying a requirement that at least one vegetarian dish be offered daily. Across these combinations, for each participant, identification was done for the five dishes that they would most likely choose in a week. These results were then combined, for each site, to compute the average weekly SFA consumption for all participants and the carbon footprint. The differences in predicted weekly SFAs and carbon footprints were computed relative to the baseline to calculate the efficacy of strategic menu design. Study findings The menu optimization was suitable for 11 out of 12 hospitals. One site had to be dropped from the analysis because it offered only six unique dishes across the week, greatly limiting the number of unique menu combinations. For the remaining sites, while targeting a reduction in carbon footprint as the sole objective, a predicted reduction of 12.729.3% was achieved. The corresponding reductions for SFA consumption were between 6.5% and 31.5%. The results were broadly similar for carbon footprint and SFA intake when they were minimized jointly, i.e., 9.1 to 29.3% and 5.0 to 26.5%, respectively. There was considerable variation across hospital sites in the potential for reductions, with some menus showing much greater opportunities to cut carbon emissions and saturated fat than others. The size of the reduction mainly depended on the range of variation in targeted variables across menu combinations, and on how the baseline menu compared with the optimized menu. Conclusions In sum, simulation modelling showed that strategic menu swapping has the potential to reduce SFA consumption and food carbon footprint. The main strength of this approach is that it can be simultaneously applied with other strategies based on reformulation. Additionally, hospitals could choose other variables to minimize, such as sugar or salt consumption, or maximize variables like fibre intake. Finally, since no meal needs to be removed from the menu, caterers do not have to change their recipes. The key limitation of the current study is that the hospital selection might not have been representative, as only those hospitals were chosen that made their menus publicly available. Furthermore, the participant sample recruited was younger on average than typical hospital inpatients. The modelling strategy failed to consider side dishes (e.g., mashed potatoes) and special dishes (e.g., gluten-free). The authors emphasized that these are early-stage estimates, and real-world implementation is premature until further trials are conducted. Practical challenges such as logistics, costs, and stakeholder acceptance must be addressed before wider rollout. Download your PDF copy now! Yokogawa Corporation of America and Repligen announce a collaboration to integrate Yokogawa's OpreX Bio Pilot with Repligen's MAVERICK, enhancing automated control of glucose and lactate levels in cell cultures. The combination of these solutions allows scientists in process development to measure critical process parameters in bioprocessing without building complicated calibration models. This integration enables continuous, real-time analysis without manual sampling and supports effective data management. In the field of bioprocessing, the continuous monitoring of glucose and lactate levels is crucial for optimizing cell culture conditions and thereby the research and development of biopharmaceutical products. Accurate measurement of these parameters allows for better control of the bioreactor environment, minimizing batch failures, leading to improved productivity and reduced time to market. The initial scientific data from this collaboration bridging real-time analytics and intelligent, digital bioprocessing will be presented by Yokogawa during the forthcoming BioProcess International on September 17th, 2025. The combined solution is currently being demonstrated at both Yokogawa Electric Corporation's laboratory in Tokyo, Japan and Repligen's facility in Waltham, MA. Additional studies are planned at these laboratories and other institutions. We are thrilled about this partnership, which represents a significant advancement in bioprocess automation. By integrating MAVERICK with OpreX Bio Pilot, we are enabling real-time, in-line monitoring of critical process parameters with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency. This joint solution simplifies complex analytical workflows and supports data-driven decision-making in cell culture optimization. We are confident that this innovation will contribute meaningfully to accelerating biopharmaceutical development and enhancing operational excellence across the industry." Mai Hagimoto, Life Sciences Director, Yokogawa Corporation of America "Empowering our biopharma customers with cutting-edge solutions is at the heart of the partnership with Yokogawa," explains Chris Brown, VP Research & Development Analytics of Repligen. "The team clearly recognizes the power of modern bioprocess analytics for control of critical bioprocess parameters, and acceleration of development workflows. We have worked intensely to provide highly differentiated capability with MAVERICK. It is the first Raman-based product that is turn-key and built for bioprocess analytics, and the Yokogawa team was very quick to see the advantages of incorporating this platform in their automation solution." 1 dead as three-storey building collapses in Indore Last Updated: September 23, 2025, 02:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Indore, Sep 22 (PTI) A woman died after a three-storey house collapsed in Indores Ranipura area on Monday night following rains, while 11 people were rescued from the debris and admitted to a government hospital, officials said. Dean of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Dr Arvind Ghanghoria, told PTI that Alifa (20), who was trapped under the debris of the collapsed building, was brought to the Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. Recommended Stories Four of the injured are in critical condition, while the condition of seven others is stable, Arvind Ghanghoria, dean of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, told PTI. Meanwhile, police and administration are continuing relief and rescue operations at the scene, as at least two more people are feared trapped under the debris. Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava said that preliminary information suggests the building was 8 to 10 years old. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The mayor added that a portion of the building fell on a neighbouring building, too. Eyewitnesses reported that, as a precautionary measure, electricity has been cut off in the Ranipura area for relief and rescue operations, and police are trying to clear the crowd of onlookers from the scene. PTI HWP MAS NSD NSD Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 23, 2025, 02:30 IST News agency-feeds 1 dead as three-storey building collapses in Indore 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... ACP among 3 cops suspended over custodial death in Cuttack Last Updated: September 23, 2025, 01:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Bhubaneswar, Sept 22 (PTI) Three police personnel, including the ACP in charge of the Choudwar police station in Cuttack district, have been placed under suspension over the alleged custodial death of a man detained in a vehicle theft case, officials said on Monday. On the direction of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, ACP Biswa Ranjan Sahu, in charge of Choudwar police station, has been suspended after a report of custodial death in the police station," a statement issued by the chief ministers office said. Recommended Stories Sub-inspector Niranjan Goda and constable Kamal Lochan Majhi were earlier suspended in the case for dereliction of duty", the statement said. The action was taken after the death of Rasananda Nayak, a resident of Dhenkanal district, who was detained at the Choudwar police station in a vehicle theft case. Nayak, who allegedly had a track record of bike lifting, was picked up by police recently and kept in custody at the police station. My brother died due to suicide after being subjected to unbearable third-degree torture at the police station," the brother of the deceased claimed before the media. Nayak was rushed to the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack in a critical condition, where he succumbed at about 12.30 pm on Monday, his brother said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He also claimed to have seen three policemen physically assaulting his brother in the police station. Nayaks wife also made similar allegations. However, police did not comment on the charges. PTI AAM ARI Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 23, 2025, 01:15 IST News agency-feeds ACP among 3 cops suspended over custodial death in Cuttack 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... 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France recognises Palestinian state ahead of UN General Assembly Last Updated: September 23, 2025, 02:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New York [US], September 23 (ANI): French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday (local time) formally announced Frances recognition of the State of Palestine, becoming the latest Western nation to do so ahead of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.The decision comes a day after Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia also announced their formal recognition of Palestine, a move widely seen as an effort to increase international pressure on Israel amid its continued military campaign in Gaza.The time has come. This is why, true to the historic, historic commitment of my country to the Middle East to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. This is why I declare that today, France recognises the state of Palestine," President Macron said during a summit on the two-state solution held in New York.President Macron, addressing the United Nations, stated that recognising a Palestinian state is the only solution that will allow for Israel to live in peace," describing the decision as a defeat for Hamas," CNN reported.He add We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security."Macron emphasised that acknowledging the rights of the Palestinian people takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel, who France supported from day one."Macron is set to co-chair the high-profile conference alongside Saudi Arabia and delivered his announcement personally. The move comes despite strong opposition from Israel, which has criticised the recognitions by France, the UK, Canada and Australia as rewarding Hamas and terrorism.Meanwhile, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia announced their formal recognition of the State of Palestine on Sunday, days after the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution calling for the implementation of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.Among these nations, Canada was the first to make its announcement, followed by Australia and then the UK. The move follows through on their previous commitments by these countries to grant recognition if Tel Aviv failed to agree to a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict.More than 140 countries have already recognised Palestine. The decisions by the UK and France are seen as significant as both are members of the G7 and the UN Security Council.On September 12, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution reviving a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, less than 24 hours after Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would never be a Palestinian state. India was among the 142 nations that voted in favour of the resolution titled Endorsement of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly opposed the UK, Canada, and Australias move to recognise Palestine and said that there will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River.In a strongly worded statement published in PMO, condemning the move, PM Netanyahu vowed to give a response to countries after his US visit.There will be no Palestinian state. The response to the latest attempt to force upon us a terror state in the heart of our land will be given after my return from the United States," Netanyahu said.Netanyahu alleged that by recognising Palestine, they are rewarding terror with an enormous prize," expressing his determination not to let this happen.I have a clear message to those leaders who are recognising a Palestinian state after the horrendous October 7 massacre: You are rewarding terror with an enormous prize. And I have another message for you: Its not going to happen. There will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River. For years, I have prevented the creation of that terror state, against tremendous pressure, both domestic and from abroad," he said.We have done this with determination and with astute statesmanship. Moreover, we have doubled the Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria, and we will continue on this path," he added. (ANI) Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 23, 2025, 02:45 IST News agency-feeds France recognises Palestinian state ahead of UN General Assembly Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... If we stand together, India can be free from TB by 2025: Pondy Lt Guv Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 22:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Puducherry, Sept 22 (PTI) Puducherry Lt Governor K Kailashnathan on Monday appealed to all sections of people, including government staff and corporates, to come forward to support TB patients with nutrition and encouragement. Kailashnathan, who met the TB patients at the Ayushman Arogya Mandir in neighbouring Villianoor, said, I listened to the struggles of patients and handed them nutrition bags packed with essentials." He said, medicines alone cannot heal the patients. Nutritious food gives strength and immunity to fight back and ensure livelihood support." Kailashnathan also said he made a personal donation to Nikshay Mitra scheme, a programme under which anyone can adopt TB patients and support them with nutrition and encouragement. Recommended Stories The Lt Governor said, if we stand together, India can be free from TB by 2025." Appealing to all officers, government employees, corporates, institutions and kind-hearted citizens to step forward, Lt Governor said even small acts of generosity like adopting one patient can make a big change. TB is not just a disease. It often pushes families into hardship and loneliness. But with care and community support patients can regain hope and strength." Secretary to Health, Puducherry government, Jayanth Kumar Ray, Director of Health and Family Services Sevvel and officials of the Department of Chest Clinic were among those present. PTI COR ROH Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 22, 2025, 22:15 IST News agency-feeds If we stand together, India can be free from TB by 2025: Pondy Lt Guv 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... Israeli drone strikes southern Lebanon, killing five, including three children Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 05:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Beirut [Lebanon], September 22 (ANI): At least five people, including three children, were killed in an Israeli drone strike in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, Lebanons Health Ministry reported, as Israel continues operations in its neighbour despite a US-brokered truce that began in November.Al Jazeera, citing Lebanons state-run National News Agency (NNA), reported on Sunday that the strike targeted a motorcycle and a vehicle, injuring two others.Lebanons Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, stated that the three children, Celine, Hadi, and Aseel, and their father were United States citizens. Their mother was also injured in the attack.Israel added that civilians were among the casualties but said the strike had killed a member of the Hezbollah group.Al Jazeera noted that Israel frequently targets Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, claiming it is trying to prevent the Iran-backed group from rebuilding its military strength after its war with Israel, which resulted in the deaths of most of Hezbollahs senior leadership, including longtime chief Hassan Nasrallah.Is it Lebanese childhood that poses an existential threat to the Israeli entity?" Berri questioned, according to NNA. Or is it the behaviour of this entity, in killing without deterrence or accountability, that constitutes a real threat to international peace and security?"Lebanons Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the attack as a new massacre."Al Jazeera reported that Salam, who previously served as the president of the International Court of Justice, said, What happened is a blatant crime against civilians and a message of intimidation targeting our people returning to their villages in the south."He added, The international community must condemn Israel in the strongest terms for its repeated violations of international resolutions and international law."Labour Minister Mohamad Haidar also claimed that Israel deliberately targets the Lebanese population that had returned to the south after more than a year of conflict sparked by Israels war on Gaza.This plan will not succeed, because the will of the people of the south is stronger than the criminal machine," Haidar said.Al Jazeera reported that the US and Saudi Arabia, along with Hezbollahs opponents in Lebanon, have been pressuring the Shia group to disarm. Earlier this month, Lebanons army presented a plan to the government to begin disarming Hezbollah.Hezbollah is adamant that it will keep its weapons and that disarming would be a mistake while Israel continues to strike Lebanon and occupies large areas of territory in the south. (ANI) Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 22, 2025, 05:00 IST News agency-feeds Israeli drone strikes southern Lebanon, killing five, including three children Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Police trace, rescue seven children reported missing from Ulhasnagar Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 18:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Thane, Sep 22 (PTI) The police in Maharashtras Thane have traced and rescued seven children reported missing from the district while probing pending kidnapping cases, an official said on Monday. The children had been reported missing from the jurisdiction of the Hill Line police station in Ulhasnagar town, the official said. Recommended Stories Dedicated investigation squads were formed to review and act on pending cases, and they were deployed to different states to track down the children, Senior Inspector Sailesh Salvi said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The teams travelled to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and West Bengal after analysing leads and background details of the missing children. Through sustained efforts, the squads recently succeeded in tracing and rescuing children involved in seven out of 12 pending cases," he said. Further investigations are underway into the remaining cases, the official said. PTI COR ARU Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 22, 2025, 18:00 IST News agency-feeds Police trace, rescue seven children reported missing from Ulhasnagar 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... Replica of Dancing Girl stolen from National Museum, professor held Last Updated: September 23, 2025, 00:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) Delhi Police has apprehended a professor of a private university in Haryana after he allegedly stole a replica of the famous Dancing Girl from the National Museum, police sources said. The incident took place on Saturday when the professor was caught by the CISF and handed over to the police at the Kartavya Path Police Station. Recommended Stories The theft came to light around 2.40 pm on Saturday when CISF personnel deployed at the museum noticed the missing replica from the Anubhav gallery. They immediately launched a search and apprehended a man inside the premises. The replica was recovered from his possession. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all CISF officials then informed the duty staff, who alerted the police. A team from Kartavya Path Police Station soon reached the museum and took the accused into custody, the source said. During questioning, the accused disclosed that he is a professor at a Haryana-based private university. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway. PTI BM AMJ AMJ Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 23, 2025, 00:15 IST News agency-feeds Replica of Dancing Girl stolen from National Museum, professor held Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Shizuoka Governor Yasutomo Suzuki leads path toward global symbiosis Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 18:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Shizuoka [Japan], September 22 (ANI): Japans Shizuoka Prefecture Governor Yasutomo Suzuki is a leading figure in establishing an international symbiosis society.His political career began as the Mayor of Hamamatsu City, which hosts the headquarters of Suzuki Motor.Governor Suzuki does not belong to the founding family of Suzuki Motor, but he has advanced international relations by utilising the companys global reach and resources.He emphasised, If diplomacy between countries faces difficulties, diplomacy between cities or states can contribute to building a multicultural symbiosis society. We have had great success in our relations with Zhejiang in China and with Brazil. In 1990, the Japanese Government decided to accept immigrants from Brazil and Peru without restriction if they had Japanese ancestry".Many foreigners came to Hamamatsu City to work in the automobile industry and other sectors. I personally appealed to Brazilian President Lula to establish a consulate in Hamamatsu, and it was realised," said Shizuoka Governor Yasutomo Suzuki. His policy remains consistent: When foreigners live in Japan, they are no different from Japanese. It takes time, but a symbiosis society matures in Hamamatsu through childrens education. In classrooms, Japanese pupils and foreign children learn together. In this way, Japanese children naturally absorb international values."Responding to radical voices that call for excluding foreigners, he stated, Look at crime trends in Japans 20 representative cities. The crime rate has not increased; in fact, it is decreasing. In Hamamatsu City, many foreigners have settled with their families and are leading stable lives as citizens."Criticising the Japanese Governments stance, Governor Suzuki asserted, Never view foreigners as mere labour power. They are partners in building a symbiosis society."He has proposed a Social Unity Basic Law" to the government, stating, A special division should be created in the Cabinet to treat foreigners as partners in a symbiosis society. This division should also oversee the entry of foreigners into Japan."Governor Suzuki has also proposed establishing a meeting of Japanese prefectural governors focused on relations with India. He envisions face-to-face meetings between Indian state ministers and Japanese prefectural governors as an up-and-coming network. His proposal is expected to accelerate such exchanges.Explaining the historical background, he said, Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture is home to the headquarters of Suzuki Motor, which expanded to India in the 1980s. Taking advantage of this connection, Shizuoka Prefecture signed a Friendship Agreement with Gujarat State, where Maruti Suzuki has its main factory."Based on this foundation, Shizuoka Prefecture is advancing a wide range of initiatives recruiting talented Indian professionals for Shizuoka-based companies, fostering collaboration between Indian and Shizuoka start-ups, accepting business interns from Gujarat University, and hosting economic and business delegations from India.Governor Suzuki also highlighted the importance of connecting with global organisations such as UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments), which has participation from more than 1,000 cities, and ICC (Intercultural Cities), a multicultural symbiosis network of more than 170 cities aimed at developing urban growth through cultural diversity.Under his leadership, Shizuoka is steadily advancing toward becoming a truly multicultural symbiosis region, driven by strong industrial ties and Governor Suzukis global vision, supported by his extensive political experience. (ANI) Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 22, 2025, 18:00 IST News agency-feeds Shizuoka Governor Yasutomo Suzuki leads path toward global symbiosis 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... Sofia Coppola to be honoured at Museum of Modern Art Film Benefit event 2025 Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 21:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New York [US], September 22 (ANI): Oscar-winning actress Sofia Coppola will be honoured at the Film Benefit event 2025 at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, reported Variety. The event will take place on November 12.According to the outlet, MoMAs Film Benefit is an annual event dedicated to the continuation and growth of the museums department of film, specifically its collection of over 30,000 films and 1.5 million film stills and its series of screenings, premieres, festivals and retrospectives.The Benefit honours actors, writers and directors who have made significant contributions to the craft.Coppola certainly fits the bill, as she began acting at an early age and has written and directed nine feature films. Five of her films are included in MoMAs collection: The Virgin Suicides (1999), Lost in Translation (2003), Marie Antoinette (2006), Somewhere (2010) and The Bling Ring (2013).For Lost In Translation, she won the Academy Award for best original screenplay and was nominated for both best director and best picture.The museums Celeste Bartos Chief Curator of Film, Rajendra Roy, said in a statment Monday, Developing long-term relationships with artists is one of the profound privileges and responsibilities for an institution like MoMA. Sofia Coppola has been a part of the Museums artist family since her emergence as an acclaimed director over 25 years ago. We celebrated her in 2004 as a part of our Work in Progress series, and we are thrilled to welcome her back now as a field-leading icon," as quoted by Variety. Coinciding with the Film Benefit, MoMA will also screen all nine of Coppolas feature films, as well as her 1998 short Lick The Star.The series is titled Sofia Coppola: A Tribute and will take place in the museums Roy and Niuta Titus Theatres from October 30 through November 16. (ANI) Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 22, 2025, 21:30 IST News agency-feeds Sofia Coppola to be honoured at Museum of Modern Art Film Benefit event 2025 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... VC, registrar of Bengal varsity in face-off over extension of service Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 23:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Kolkata, Sep 22 (PTI) In an unprecedented development, the Vice Chancellor of West Bengals Burdwan University, Shankar Kumar Nath, on Monday locked the room of the Registrar accusing him of trespassing and illegally occupying the post despite the end of his term in January. In a counter move, Registrar Sujit Kumar Chowdhury filed a complaint at the local police station charging the VC with illegally preventing him from discharging his administrative responsibilities after being granted an extension by the higher education department in September which clearly spelt out that he could resume his duties. Recommended Stories Nath, who had also lodged a complaint against Chowdhury in Burdwan police station on September 20, claimed he did not receive any intimation from the higher education department about his extension or reinstatement. He (Chowdhury) had entered the chamber forcefully without following any rules and his conduct is hampering the activities of the university," the VC said. In response, Chowdhury said he was in possession of the mail sent by the department which granted him the extension and sent a communique to the VC for allowing him to resume his work as Registrar on immediate basis. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Chowdhury had retired from the post on January 31 this year but had requested an extension. He claimed his plea was granted by the department and he rejoined on September 9 as Registrar which was not accepted by the VC. PTI SUS NN Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 22, 2025, 23:15 IST News agency-feeds VC, registrar of Bengal varsity in face-off over extension of service Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Locked In Room With Venomous Snake': UP Woman Accuses Husband, In-Laws Of Dowry Harassment Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 11:13 IST The woman alleged that her husband and in-laws started demanding a dowry of Rs 5 lakh and tried to strangle her several times. AI-Generated Image A woman in Uttar Pradeshs Kanpur accused her in-laws and husband of attempt to murder over dowry demands. Alleging harassment, the woman said her in-laws locked her inside a room with a venomous snake. She was bitten by the snake and is currently under medical supervision. As per a report by Times of India, the woman was locked with a snake in a room on September 18. After suffering a snakebite, she called her elder sister, who took her to Government Ursala Hospital. Recommended Stories The woman also alleged that she informed her in-laws about the bite but they refused to take her to the hospital, despite several pleas. Womans sister told officials that when she was crying in pain, her in-laws stood outside and laughed. Officials said her condition is stable but serious. Dowry Harassment TOI reported that the woman got married in 2021. Soon after the marriage, her husband and in-laws started demanding a dowry of Rs 5 lakh and tried to strangle her several times. Initially, when they demanded Rs 1.5 lakh for renovation of a room, the womans parents gave the money but then they started asking for more money. When her parents refused, they locked her in the room, took her daughter away and loosed a snake on her. Man Dies of Snakebite In UP A 24-year-old man died due to snakebite in UPs Muzaffarnagar. The man had draped the snake around his neck while recording a video. The victim, identified as Mohit Kumar, had apparently caught the snake from a neighbouring house in Morna village on Sunday evening, according to Bhopa SHO Omprakash Singh. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He was immediately taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead. The body has been sent for postmortem, and an investigation is ongoing, the SHO confirmed. Locals reported that a video of the incident, showing the snake around Mohits neck, has surfaced on social media. The snake was later released into a nearby forest. 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 : Kanpur Nagar, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 11:09 IST News kanpur 'Locked In Room With Venomous Snake': UP Woman Accuses Husband, In-Laws Of Dowry Harassment 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... IMD Predicts Thunderstorms, Heavy Rain In Mumbai And Nearby Districts This Week Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 18:57 IST IMD forecasts active monsoon with thunderstorms, gusty winds, and heavy rainfall for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad. Residents urged to stay alert for flooding and disruptions. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Commuters wade through a waterlogged road following rainfall, at Dadar, in Mumbai, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (Image: PTI) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a five-day forecast predicting active monsoon conditions for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad, with thunderstorms, gusty winds, and heavy rainfall expected across isolated areas. Residents have been advised to stay alert for hazards associated with intense showers and lightning. Recommended Stories Mumbai Metropolitan Region Forecast Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and heavy rainfall are expected in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region from 22nd to 23rd September, with gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph at isolated locations. Rainfall is expected to ease slightly from 24th to 25th September, with light to moderate showers remaining very likely." By 26th September, heavy rains may return to isolated pockets, keeping the risk level elevated throughout the week. District-wise Outlook Palghar: Widespread thunderstorms are forecast for the 22nd and 23rd, followed by moderate rainfall midweek, with heavier showers expected at isolated locations by Friday. Thane: High chances of rain and thunder are predicted throughout the week, continuing until Friday. Mumbai: Persistent showers are expected, especially during early and late week, with moderate spells in between. Raigad: Thunderstorms are likely to occur at the start of the week, with isolated heavy rainfall expected towards the weekend. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Authorities have urged citizens to exercise caution during periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms. Low-lying areas may experience flooding, and transport services could face disruptions. Residents are advised to follow local weather updates and safety advisories throughout the week. This forecast highlights the dynamic nature of the monsoon along Maharashtras coastal belt, underscoring the need for vigilance and preparedness in anticipation of weather-related disruptions. First Published: September 22, 2025, 18:57 IST News mumbai-news IMD Predicts Thunderstorms, Heavy Rain In Mumbai And Nearby Districts This Week Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Ghaziabad Man Slits Wife's Throat In Front Of Kids Over Suspected Affair, Later Confesses Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 12:18 IST A man killed his wife in front of their two children in Dadri over suspicion of an affair. He called the police and confessed to the crime. Representative Image A 36-year-old man allegedly killed his wife over suspicion of an affair. The man slit his wifes throat in front of their kids. After the heinous crime, the man called the police and allegedly confessed to the crime. The accused, identified as Kishan Sharma, originally hailed from Bulandshahr and was working as a daily wage worker in Ghaziabad. As per a report by Times of India, Kishan used to live with his wife, 32-year-old Chanchal, and their two children- aged six and seven years- in a one-room rented house in Dadri. Recommended Stories As per the police, Kishan suspected that his wife was having an affair with another man and this led to a dispute between the two. On Sunday morning, the argument escalated and at around 5 am, Kishan murdered his wife. Amid the heated argument, he attacked Chanchal with a knife and slit her throat. The traumatised children saw their father killing their mother. After the act, Kishan dialled emergency helpline 112 and informed the police about the crime. TOI reported that Kishan told police, I have killed my wife and am sitting with her body and my children". A team rushed to their house and saw Kishan sitting with his wifes body. A murder case is registered against him. Man Beats Wife to Death in UP In another case of domestic dispute, an alcoholic husband allegedly beaten up his 62-year-old wife to death. The matter reported from Uttar Pradeshs Shahjahanpur, the man hit his wife with sticks following a dispute, police said on Sunday. The incident took place in Dankapur village in the Tilhar police station area on Saturday night. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Kalyan Singh, an alcoholic, had an altercation with his wife, Shanti. In a fit of rage, he allegedly thrashed her with sticks, leading to her death, Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Dwivedi told PTI. Villagers informed police about the incident on Sunday morning, after which a team reached the spot and took custody of the body, the SP 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 : Ghaziabad, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 12:13 IST News noida Ghaziabad Man Slits Wife's Throat In Front Of Kids Over Suspected Affair, Later Confesses 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 Live-In Partner Kills Her Daughter In Fit Of Rage; Arrested Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 08:20 IST As the five-year-old cried, the man got angry and knocked the child to the floor, leaving her dead. The incident took place in Haryana (Representative image) A womans live-in partner killed her five-year-old daughter in a fit of rage in Haryanas Rewari district, reported PTI, citing an official on Sunday. The incident took place following a heated argument between the woman and her partner, identified as Roshan, a native of Bihar. Recommended Stories The woman went to the railway station on Wednesday, after fighting with Roshan. She left the home, leaving her daughter with Roshan. When the girl couldnt find her mother, she began crying and asked Roshan to take her to her mother. The child continued crying, but he did not listen. After a while, an infuriated Roshan knocked the child to the floor, resulting in her death. The man then fled the spot right after the incident, said the official. Police reached the spot on receiving information about the incident from the neighbours, and the accused was arrested. He has been booked under murder charges. A further probe into the matter is underway. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In a separate incident that took place on Friday, a man killed his one-year-old daughter in a fit of drunken rage in Telanganas Suryapet. The man, identified as Venkatesh, had returned home after drinking outside and was scolded by his wife for his behaviour. A heated argument broke out between the couple, and at one point the child started crying. Venkatesh, in a fit of rage, grabbed the child by her legs and repeatedly slammed her against the floor, leading to her death. About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ... Read More Location : Haryana, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 08:19 IST News cities Woman's Live-In Partner Kills Her Daughter In Fit Of Rage; 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... DUs Ramanujan College Principal Suspended For Harassment, Terms Complaint 'Retaliatory' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 13:02 IST Delhi University has suspended Ramanujan College Principal Rasal Singh over a harassment complaint, which he calls "false and retaliatory". DU suspends Ramanujan College Principal Rasal Singh over harassment complaint. The University of Delhi has suspended Professor Rasal Singh, Principal of Ramanujan College, after a faculty member filed a complaint of harassment and hostile behaviour against him, officials confirmed on Monday. The suspension order, issued last week, follows a complaint filed on March 13. The matter was reviewed by a governing body panel and a fact-finding committee before the decision to suspend Singh was made, pending further inquiry. Recommended Stories In a grievance submitted to the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) on September 13, Singh called the complaint false and retaliatory" and said it was linked to a promotion case that had not been approved. The timing clearly indicates the retaliatory and afterthought nature of the complaint," Singh wrote. ALSO READ: Hyderabad Engineering Student Kills Self After Seniors Force Him To Drink, Pay Rs 10,000 The principal also raised concerns about procedural lapses, noting that the matter was not referred to the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) as required under UGC and PoSH rules. Despite the lapse of over six months since the complaint was filed, it has not yet been referred to the ICC. Instead, I am facing undue political pressure to resign under threat of termination or suspension," he wrote. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Singh, who previously served as Dean of Students Welfare and Dean of Languages at the Central University of Jammu, highlighted his academic record and contributions during his tenure, including Ramanujan Colleges rise in NIRF rankings from 65 to 37. This unfounded allegation has caused severe professional damage and personal distress, tarnishing my hard-earned reputation as a first-generation academic from a rural background," the letter stated. 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 22, 2025, 13:00 IST News education-career DUs Ramanujan College Principal Suspended For Harassment, Terms Complaint 'Retaliatory' 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... Hyderabad Engineering Student Kills Self After Seniors Force Him To Drink, Pay Rs 10,000 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 10:36 IST Hyderabad engineering student Jadav Sai Teja died by suicide after seniors forced him to drink and pay Rs 10,000. He recorded a video pleading for help before his death. Hyderabad engineering student Jadav Sai Teja died by suicide after alleged ragging by seniors. A second-year engineering student in Hyderabad died by suicide in his college hostel after he was allegedly ragged and harassed. In a last video, the student said he was being beaten, forced to pay money and begged for help. Police are probing both ragging and the suicide. The victim, Jadav Sai Teja, 22, studied at Siddharth Engineering College in Hyderabad. He was found hanging inside his hostel room and is reported to have been a target of ragging, as reported by NDTV. Recommended Stories According to the familys lawyer, Advocate Kishore, Sai Teja was taken by seniors to a bar and made to drink. He was also allegedly made to pay nearly Rs 10,000. Unable to cope with the pressure, Sai Teja died by suicide, the lawyer said. In the video recorded before his death, Sai Teja said: I was going to college. Four or five people came and threatened me. They are coming and demanding money." He added: They are also hitting me, and Im very scared. They are coming to me and asking for money, and they are hitting me. What should I do? Im going to die. Please save me." In the clip, Sai Teja appears visibly upset and frightened. His family and Advocate Kishore travelled about 300 km overnight to reach the hostel. Police have launched an investigation into the alleged ragging and the circumstances of the suicide. ALSO READ: No Language Will Be Imposed By Centre On Any State: Dharmendra Pradhan top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier in July, a similar incident occurred in Bengaluru. A 22-year-old architecture student, Arun, from a private engineering college, died by suicide, allegedly due to ragging. Before taking the extreme step, Arun recorded a video blaming his peers and expressing emotional distress over being spoken about behind his back. The incident took place on July 11 at Aruns residence in Nandaramayyana Palya, under the Madanayakanahalli police station in Nelamangala, on the outskirts of the city. 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 22, 2025, 10:34 IST News education-career Hyderabad Engineering Student Kills Self After Seniors Force Him To Drink, Pay Rs 10,000 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... No Language Will Be Imposed By Centre On Any State: Dharmendra Pradhan Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 09:28 IST Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the Centre is not imposing any language and states and students have full choice under the two- and three-language formula. We are not imposing any language on anybody, says Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at IIT Madras. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday (September 21, 2025) said the Centre was not forcing any language on people and dismissed claims of language imposition as politically motivated" as reported by news agency PTI. Speaking to reporters in Chennai, in the presence of IIT Madras Director Professor V. Kamakoti after attending the Think India Dakshinapatha Summit 2025, Mr. Pradhan said, We are not imposing any language on anybody. For Class 1 and 2, there will be two language formula. One will be mother tongue. Here, it will be Tamil language. Government of Indias condition is that you have to teach in Tamil in primary school. You can teach another language that is your choice." Recommended Stories Explaining the three-language policy, he added, From Class six to ten there is three language formula. One language will be mother tongue. The rest two will be your choice. No language will be imposed by the Government of India on any State." When asked how the policy is being followed in Uttar Pradesh, the Minister said, We are implementing in that State also. Many State governments, forget BJP ruled States, are implementing three language policy, prior to National Education Policy. In Uttar Pradesh, a student will learn Hindi, as mother tongue. After that, they may opt for learning Marathi and Tamil also. Some student in U.P., can take Tamil as a third language. U.P. government has to provide the facility to teach Tamil." Mr. Pradhan also pointed out that only about 10% of Indias population speaks English, while most people prefer their mother tongue. He quoted Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, saying, He would encourage Telugu speaking students to learn as many as 10 languages so that every Telugu boy would become globally competitive and they would be proficient in different languages." ALSO READ: Defying Digital Dependency: Himachal Bans Mobile Phone Use By Students, Teachers In Govt Schools Calling language a facilitator," the Minister said, Those with politically narrow ideas are creating this problem." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sharing his personal view, he said, I have toured all part of Tamil Nadu. It is essentially a linguistic State. I am Odia. I am very proud of my Odia language. But I am also proud of other Indian languages." He further added, With full responsibility, I am telling you today, those who want to create this language division, they have failed. Society is moving way ahead of them." 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 22, 2025, 09:28 IST News education-career No Language Will Be Imposed By Centre On Any State: Dharmendra Pradhan 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... Studying In The UK: NTU Scholarships & Application Support For Indian Students Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 13:59 IST Nottingham Trent University offers scholarships for Indian students that cover tuition and living costs. Nottingham Trent University scholarships help Indian students cover costs and gain global career opportunities. For Indian students, the UK remains a top study destination, offering globally recognised degrees and strong career opportunities after graduation. But while the academic and career prospects are clear, affordability remains a consideration. Tuition, accommodation, travel and living costs can make families pause before making such a significant commitment. This is where scholarships come into play. At Nottingham Trent University (NTU), scholarships are designed not only to ease financial pressure but also to reward academic excellence and personal achievements. For Indian students, they provide a pathway to access high-quality education in the UK while also opening doors to practical experience and long-term career opportunities. Recommended Stories How Scholarships Support Students There are many associated costs with studying aboard in addition to tuition fees. Students will need to factor in travel, insurance, study materials and accommodation as well as other general living costs. Scholarships can help to contribute to these costs. At Nottingham Trent University, awards can cover up to 50 percent of tuition fees, with additional opportunities tailored to Indian students such as the India Prestigious University Award. Importantly, scholarships are not based solely on grades. Achievements outside the classroom including extracurricular involvement, leadership roles and community engagement are also valued. For students, receiving a scholarship is more than financial support. It is recognition of their talent and ambition, something that resonates with both employers and future graduate programs. Applying successfully for a scholarship takes planning. Students need to be aware of deadlines, understand eligibility, and present themselves as active contributors to university life. Nottingham Trent University supports applicants with practical online scholarship guidance such as insights from past recipients as well as a useful podcast, to help make the process smoother. Scholarships As An Investment In The Future For Indian students, Nottingham Trent University scholarships and tailored support can turn the dream of studying abroad into an investment in skills, experience, and future opportunities. Scholarships can help to allow students to focus on learning, personal growth, and career readiness. In addition to scholarships, Nottingham Trent University provides dedicated international student support that covers the application process such as budget planning, managing living costs, and preparing for life in the UK. The university also offers advice and guidance on the UK student visa process, working closely with official information provided by UK Visas and Immigration. This combination of financial planning support and visa guidance helps students approach their study abroad journey with confidence, knowing they are supported every step of the way. Work Experience And Career Support At NTU Securing admission to a UK university like Nottingham Trent University is just the beginning. What follows is equally important: gaining the skills and experience needed for a successful career. Every undergraduate course at Nottingham Trent University includes up to 240 hours of assessed, work-like experience through placements, projects, or professional assignments. This ensures students graduate with practical, tested skills that complement their degree. Nottingham Trent Universitys Employability Promise extends structured support for up to three years after graduation. It includes access to paid internships and guarantees a placement opportunity for any eligible student not in work or further study 12 months after graduating. In addition, the Global Employability Award helps students showcase international experience and transferable skills that global employers actively seek. This focus on career readiness is reflected in Nottingham Trent Universitys wider recognition. The university has been awarded TEF Gold for teaching excellence and was ranked first in the UK for employability by Uni Compare in 2025. Students therefore graduate with the confidence, experience and networks to thrive in a competitive global environment. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Applications for Nottingham Trent University scholarships for January 2026 are now open. Students can explore eligibility, deadlines, and detailed guidance online. (With inputs from Anna Audhali, Senior Regional Manager, Nottingham Trent University) 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 22, 2025, 13:59 IST News education-career Studying In The UK: NTU Scholarships & Application Support For Indian Students 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... EC Likely To Visit Bihar, Poll Dates Announcement Expected In October, Say Sources Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Shankhyaneel Sarkar Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 13:12 IST The Election Commission is expected to visit the poll-bound state and is likely to make an announcement related to the poll schedule next month. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi are likely to visit Bihar soon. (IMAGE: PTI FILE) The full Election Commission is likely to visit Bihar soon, with sources telling CNN-News18 that the trip could happen ahead of the announcement of polling dates, expected in the first week of October. It is a norm for the full Commission to visit a poll-bound state to apprise itself about preparedness before announcing the election schedule," an EC official told CNN-News18. Recommended Stories Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the two Election Commissioners are expected to lead the visit, which may coincide with the publication of the final voter list on September 30. The list is being prepared under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which also ends on the same day. Officials in Bihar indicated that the Commissions visit could overlap with the completion of the voter roll exercise. The visit also comes days before the Supreme Court hears final arguments on the validity of the SIR exercise on October 7. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi has already said it presumes the EC, as a constitutional authority, is following the law, though it warned the revision would be set aside if found illegal. The term of the current Bihar Legislative Assembly ends on November 22, meaning a new House must be elected and sworn in before then. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The 2025 Bihar election is shaping up as a contest between the BJP and its ally JD(U) on one side, and the Mahagathbandhan led by the Congress and RJD on the other. Nitish Kumar began his seventh term with the BJP, later switched to the Opposition and helped launch the INDIA bloc, before returning to the saffron party-led alliance. The Bihar polls will also set the tone for a busy electoral cycle, with Assam, Bengal and Tamil Nadu voting in 2026, followed by Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and other key states in 2027, ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha election. About the Author Arunima Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from gr... Read More First Published: September 22, 2025, 13:12 IST News elections EC Likely To Visit Bihar, Poll Dates Announcement Expected In October, Say Sources 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 Polls: BJP, AIADMK Agree On Joint Campaign But Differ Over Expelled Leaders, Allies Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 16:18 IST The allies have differing opinions on O Panneerselvam, Tamil superstar Vijay, TTV Dhinakaran, Sasikala and PMK and need to thrash them out before the 2026 election Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Last week, AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) held a detailed meeting in Delhi with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss assembly poll strategy. (X @EPSTamilNadu) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has its eyes on every single vote in Tamil Nadu and is working in mission mode" on a strategy to prevent any split in the anti-DMK vote ahead of the assembly elections in the state scheduled for early next year. While hurdles remain in managing ties with allies, the party is determined to ensure that the anti-DMK votes do not get divided. For this, efforts are underway to bring smaller parties under the NDA umbrella. Recommended Stories Last week, AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) held a detailed meeting in Delhi with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss assembly poll strategy and the issue of re-inducting expelled leaders into AIADMK. According to AIADMK sources, EPS conveyed to Shah that the BJP should not back the return of expelled AIADMK leaders, warning it could affect alliance unity. Both sides, however, agreed to launch a joint campaign from next month, taking on the DMK government on key issues. The matter of re-entry for expelled AIADMK leaders remains unresolved for now. Sources say the BJP is keen to accommodate former deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam (OPS), and he may formally join the BJP by late December or Januarya move AIADMK may resist. On the other hand, EPS is pushing for Tamil superstar Vijays party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), to be brought into the NDA. AIADMK believes Vijay, who belongs to the Pillai community, could help draw in backward caste votes. The BJP, however, is hesitant, viewing Vijay more as a vote-cutter for the DMK than an ally. As per the internal reports of the party, Vijay seems to be claiming a percentage of votes close to the DMKs current share. The party top brass has asked EPS to keep a close watch on Vijays rally so that a further strategy can be devised accordingly. Differences also persist over TTV Dhinakaran and the PMK. The PMK was part of the NDA last time, but this time, equations are uncertain. BJP strategists believe that if EPS refuses to take Dhinakaran back into AIADMK, his party could instead be added to the NDA fold. They argue that Dhinakaran, who belongs to the Thevar community, could strengthen the alliance. As for his aunt VK Sasikala, once Jayalalithaas close aide, there is speculation that she might campaign for the NDA and seek some political adjustment during the assembly polls. The BJP top brass is said to have conveyed to EPS that they should reach out to the older allies, including PMK, which is embroiled in an internal fight right now, with Ramadoss Senior pitted against his son. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all BJP strategists believe that by bringing smaller parties on board, the BJP can not only consolidate anti-incumbency votes but also strengthen the NDA. However, before expanding the alliance, convincing the AIADMK remains a challenge. The BJP leadership hopes that closer to the elections, the AIADMK will set aside old grievances and adjust to the new equations required for electoral success. The 2021 assembly election was the first in Tamil Nadu after the passing of two political giantsJayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi. In that election, the DMK-led alliance won decisively, securing 159 out of 234 seats (133 by the DMK alone), while the NDA managed 75 seats (66 by AIADMK). The vote share gap between the two alliances was around 6 per cent. First Published: September 22, 2025, 16:18 IST News elections Tamil Nadu Polls: BJP, AIADMK Agree On Joint Campaign But Differ Over Expelled Leaders, Allies 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... After Nepal, Rage Boils Over In The Philippines: Why Protesters Are Flooding The Streets Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 15:06 IST As public fury mounts over corruption, cronyism, and missing billions, Filipinos take to the streets in scenes that mirror Nepals revolt against the privileged political class Protesters march towards the police officers after destroying the blockade during a protest denouncing what they call corruption linked to flood control projects, in Manila, Philippines, September 21, 2025. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David On Sunday, tens of thousands of Filipinos took to the streets to protest a sprawling corruption scandal involving allegedly fraudulent flood-control infrastructure projects. Protesters gathered in Manila along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), a historically significant site for past uprisings, hoisting flags, wearing white ribbons, and braving heat and rain. In one section, priests held mass; in another, students and activists called for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to resign. Violence broke out near the presidential palace, where a group of masked protesters clashed with police. AFP reported that 72 people were arrested, including 20 minors, and at least 39 officers were injured. Police had to resort to tear gas and water cannons to disperse stone-throwing protesters, AP reported. A trailer was set on fire, and glass panels were shattered. Authorities closed schools in response to the violence. Recommended Stories What Is The Flood-Control Scandal That Triggered The Outrage? The Philippines is one of the worlds most disaster-prone countries, regularly battered by tropical cyclones, monsoon rains, and rising sea levels. In Metro Manila alone, decades of rapid urbanisation have narrowed rivers, degraded forests, and obstructed drainage systems, making floods more frequent and more destructive. Flood-control infrastructure has long been a national priority, especially in low-lying and densely populated provinces like Bulacan, Pampanga, and parts of the capital. Now unrest in Philippines:Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Manila to express their anger over the corruption scandal involving lawmakers. Fire and vandalism were also reported at several locations. pic.twitter.com/CmiKwNtwYy OSINT Updates (@OsintUpdates) September 22, 2025 Since taking office in 2022, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had promised to tackle the crisis. Government data shows that 9,855 flood-management projects were sanctioned under his administration, with a total spending of 545 billion pesos (roughly $9.5 billion). These included drainage systems, flood barriers, water channels, and other critical infrastructure works. But in his July state of the nation address, Marcos said many of these projects were either of substandard quality" or did not exist at all. He alleged that contractors and officials had created a systemic racket to siphon off funds through ghost infrastructure and padded contracts. Lets stop pretending. The public widely knows such projects invite racketskickbacks, initiatives, erratas, SOPs, for the boys," he said. SOPs is a commonly used euphemism in the Philippines for standardised bribes or commissions built into public contracts, while for the boys" refers to informal payoffs distributed among political allies or insiders. Following that speech, the president ordered an independent commission of inquiry and directed the Department of Public Works and Highways to submit a detailed audit. The Department of Finance later estimated that corruption in these flood-control projects may have cost the country up to 118.5 billion pesos (about $3 billion) over two years. Environmental group Greenpeace claimed the real loss could be far higher, closer to $27 billion, if misused climate-related funds are also considered. The controversy deepened when a wealthy couple, Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya, owners of several construction firms that won flood-control tenders, gave TV interviews showcasing dozens of luxury cars, including a 42-million-peso ($737,000) British car, which they claimed they bought in part because it came with a free umbrella. Their companies were part of a small group of just 15 contractors that had handled 20 per cent of the total projects. Further scrutiny revealed that roughly two-thirds of all contracts lacked basic technical documentation such as design plans or inspection reports. Whats The Political Fallout So Far? The scandal has triggered a shake-up in the Philippine Congress. On 8 September, the Philippine Senate voted to remove Francis Chiz Escudero as Senate President through a motion to vacate. Senator Vicente Tito Sotto III was elected to replace him. While the exact reasons for Escuderos removal were not officially confirmed, Time cited a source quoted by Inquirer.net suggesting that Escuderos alleged ties to one of the 15 contractors under scrutiny may have played a role. On 17 September, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of President Marcos Jr., also stepped down amid pressure linked to the ongoing investigations into the flood-control contracts. A Senate inquiry into the scandal remains underway. During televised hearings, the owner of a construction company accused nearly 30 lawmakers and officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways of accepting cash bribes. On 16 September, a Philippine court ordered the freezing of 135 bank accounts linked to the allegedly anomalous projects. President Marcos has directed government agencies to conduct lifestyle checks on all officials involved. Who Is Involved In The Protests, And Who Are They Targeting? The demonstrators include students, teachers, families, church groups, civil society activists, and even elected officials. Rallies were held not just in Manila but in several provinces, with many participants dressed in white or wearing white ribbons as a symbol of unity and outrage. Protest organiser Teddy Casino, chairperson of the left-wing alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, told AFP his group was demanding not only the return of misappropriated public funds but also criminal prosecution. Corruption requires people to go to the streets and express their outrage in the hope of pressuring government to actually do their jobs," he said. Religious institutions have also weighed in. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, led by Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, issued a statement supporting peaceful mobilisation: Our purpose is not to destabilise but to strengthen our democracy," he said, urging the public to demand accountability from those in power. Public frustration has also spilled over into the digital space. According to sociologist Athena Charanne Presto, quoted in Time, online anger surged after social media users began sharing posts showing the extravagant lifestyles of the children of politicians and public contractors linked to the scandal. These included photos of European holidays and designer fashion far beyond the reach of average Filipinos. Filipinos are angry at nepo babies," she said, but they have the biggest nepo baby sitting in the presidency." How Does This Tie Into Wider Protests In Asia? The Philippine protests have not emerged in isolation. They echo a wave of anti-corruption and anti-elite uprisings across Asia. In Nepal, weeks before the protests in Manila, a Gen-Z-led movement toppled the government after widespread anger erupted over so-called nepo babies", children of powerful politicians flaunting their wealth online amid rising unemployment and repression. The movement gained momentum after the government attempted to impose a social media ban, which protesters saw as a crackdown on dissent. In Indonesia, protests recently broke out over lavish perks given to lawmakers and growing economic frustration among the countrys youth. Demonstrators adopted the Jolly Roger pirate flag, a symbol that later appeared in the Manila protests as well. Some Filipino protesters were seen waving this same symbol, popularised by the Japanese anime One Piece, as a broader expression of rebellion against entrenched privilege. Political observer Richard Heydarian, speaking to Time, said that the sheer scale of corruption in the Philippine flood-control scandal, combined with recent natural disasters, had galvanised" Filipino citizens. Were talking about flood-control projects which are faulty, and thats very much on display with all of these massive natural disasters and flooding in recent months," he said. Heydarian warned that unless firm accountability follows, the Philippines risks facing an Indonesia-style or even Nepal-style explosion." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all What Happens Next? The government has promised more investigations and potential charges. For now, the public waits to see if those at the centre of the scandal will face consequences and whether this protest will mark a turning point or just another forgotten outcry. 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 22, 2025, 14:33 IST News explainers After Nepal, Rage Boils Over In The Philippines: Why Protesters Are Flooding The Streets Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Did Trumps Border Czar Accept $50,000-Bribe From Undercover FBI Agent? What NYT Report Said Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 19:59 IST FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the FBI and DOJ found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing by Tom Homan Rapid Read + Follow us On Google The September 2024 payment arose from a probe that was not targeting Tom Homan. (AP) Tom Homan, now US President Donald Trumps border czar, was recorded last year accepting a bag with $50,000 in cash by undercover FBI agents in an investigation the Trump Justice Department later closed, The New York Times reported on Saturday. The September 2024 payment arose from a probe that was not targeting Homan, The NYT said, citing people familiar with the case. Recommended Stories Homan was investigated for potential bribery and other crimes after he agreed to help the undercover agents, posing as businessmen, secure government contracts in a second Trump administration, CNN quoted the report as saying. The cash was inside a bag from the fast-casual chain Cava, The NYT report said. MSNBC first reported on the investigation. How did Homan come under the scanner? After the original target of a case suggested that a payment to Homan could lead to federal border security contracts, the probe looked into Homan, The NYT report said. On the tape of the September 2024 meeting, Homan appeared to agree to help the undercover agents win contracts if Donald Trump won reelection, the report alleged. Was there a follow-up? The DOJ shut down the case after Trump began his second term this year, over doubts prosecutors could prove Homan, who served as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the presidents first term , had agreed to a specific act in exchange for the cash and because he was not in a government position at the time. US governments reactions FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the matter, which originated under the Biden administration, was subject to a full review by officials with the FBI and DOJ, who found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing", according to CNN. The Departments resources must remain focused on real threats to the American people, not baseless investigations. As a result, the investigation has been closed," they said in a statement Saturday. Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, slammed the matter as a blatantly political investigation" and called Homan a career law enforcement officer and lifelong public servant." Who is Tom Homan? A career law enforcement officer, Homan served as the public face of the first Trump administrations aggressive efforts to step up immigration enforcement before retiring in 2018. After leaving government, he became a Fox News contributor. He also contributed to Project 2025, the sweeping conservative blueprint for the next Republican president, which Trump distanced himself from during his campaign. In a sign of his influence in Trumps orbit, Homan addressed the Republican National Convention in July 2024. Speaking from the stage in Milwaukee, Homan warned immigrants who Joe Biden has released into our country in violation of federal law: You better start packing now. Youre damn right." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Less than a week after Trump won reelection, he announced Homan would serve as his administrations border czar. With CNN inputs About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing speci... Read More First Published: September 22, 2025, 16:57 IST News explainers Did Trumps Border Czar Accept $50,000-Bribe From Undercover FBI Agent? What NYT Report Said Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Is The Maldives Sinking? What Happens When A Country Sinks? | Explained Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 12:11 IST Around 80% of the Maldives lies less than one meter above sea level, putting the nation at severe risk from erosion and the looming threat of disappearing entirely Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Soil salinisation in Maldives is adversely affecting agriculture, putting tourism, which accounts for 28 percent of GDP, at risk. (AP/File) The Maldives, renowned as a prime destination for honeymooners and diving enthusiasts, stands as picturesque as any postcard or calendar. Yet, behind this glitzy facade lies a daunting reality: rising sea waves are relentlessly battering the shores of this Indian Ocean archipelago, threatening to engulf its 1,200 coral islands completely. Small island nations such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands face similar existential threats. Particularly vulnerable to climate change, these regions are grappling with rising ocean temperatures, intense storms, and freshwater shortages that threaten their very existence. Recommended Stories Maldives Is Less Than 1 Meter Above Sea Level About 80 percent of the Maldives land sits less than one meter above sea level, putting the nation at serious risknot just of erosion, but of potential disappearance. As climate change accelerates, small island nations such as the Maldives, Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands are on the frontlines, facing existential threats to their land, population, and global presence. Is the Maldives Truly Sinking? The Maldives is not sinking, but it faces increasing threats from rising oceans. Global sea levels have risen approximately 20 cm since 1900, with a current annual increase of 4 mm due to melting icebergs and the thermal expansion of warmer waters. For the Maldives, whose highest point is 2.4 metres, even a modest rise could spell disaster. Projections indicate a rise of 30-50 cm by 2050, with the dire possibility of 77% of the land being submerged by 2100. This reality became starkly evident in 2024 when strong waves submerged the capital, Male, displacing thousands and causing significant economic losses. The Intensifying Storms Cyclones and high tides are eroding beaches and contaminating freshwater sources with saltwater, severely impacting infrastructure. The 2024 submergence of Male highlighted the vulnerability of the islands natural barriers, coral reefs, which are deteriorating due to warm water, leaving coasts exposed. Soil salinisation is adversely affecting agriculture, putting tourism, which accounts for 28 percent of GDP, at risk. The disappearing beaches, integral to the countrys economy, are under threat. Kiribatis Land Purchase In Fiji The Maldives plight is shared by other small islands across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Nine islands in Tuvalu, home to 11,000 people, are projected to become uninhabitable by 2050. Kiribatis President has already secured land in Fiji as a precautionary measure. The Marshall Islands are battling the compounded effects of rising sea levels and radioactive fallout from US nuclear tests. These nations, contributing negligible emissions, are bearing the brunt of a crisis largely created by industrial giants like the US and China. Disastrous Consequences If Land Disappears The potential disappearance of land would have catastrophic consequences. Displacement would be the immediate outcome, with the 540,000 residents of the Maldives potentially becoming refugees seeking shelter in highlands of India, Sri Lanka, or Australia. This resettlement would fracture communities, stripping fishermen of their seas and erasing local languages and traditions like the Bodu Beru drum and island folklore. Economically, the impact would be devastating. Tourism, employing 60 percent of the population, would collapse without beaches, leading to widespread job losses. Can A Nation Exist Without Land? The sinking of islands raises profound questions about the existence of nations. International law defines a state based on four criteria: a permanent population, a defined territory, an effective government, and the capacity for international relations. Loss of land threatens all these aspects. Yet, international law shows flexibility; failed states like Somalia retain their status despite turmoil. Examples such as the Vatican and Nauru, which do not rely on land, hint at potential adaptability, but the sinking of a country remains unprecedented. How Is The Maldives Fighting Back? Small island nations are proactively combating rising sea levels. The Maldives is elevating islands by pumping sand and constructing sea walls, while experimenting with floating cities. Hulhumale, a man-made island near Male, houses 100,000 people and stands 2 metres above sea level. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all President Mohammed Muizzu is advocating climate-friendly" tourism, including solar-powered resorts. The Maldives struggle is a preview of coastal crises globally, from Mumbais slums to Miamis beaches. By 2100, around 200 million people worldwide could be displaced due to rising seas. In India, with its 7,500-kilometre coastline, low-lying areas like the Sundarbans face threats to 40 million people. Location : Maldives First Published: September 22, 2025, 12:11 IST News explainers Is The Maldives Sinking? What Happens When A Country Sinks? | 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... Recognising Palestine As A State: What It Means And What It Doesnt Change | Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 12:13 IST Several Western countries have formally recognised Palestine as a state. But beyond symbolism, what does this actually change and what remains the same? Members of the Palestine Action Group gather ahead of a rally in Sydney, Australia. (File photo/REUTERS) On Sunday, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia became the first major Western countries to formally recognise the State of Palestine. Portugal followed later the same day. France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Malta have also signalled that they intend to do the same. Their announcements came on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which opens today with a high-level international conference on the Question of Palestine, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. The conference aims to reaffirm support for the two-state solution and rally international backing for its implementation. This wave of recognition represents a significant departure from the long-standing Western position that Palestinian statehood should emerge only as the outcome of direct negotiations with Israel. That framework began losing momentum after the failure of US-brokered peace talks in 2014. It has now been set aside by several governments, prompted by Israels ongoing military operations in Gaza, growing political and public pressure in Europe, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus repeated statements rejecting the creation of a Palestinian state. Recommended Stories The immediate backdrop includes Israels military campaign in Gaza, which the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says has killed more than 65,000 people. A UN Commission of Inquiry has accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, a charge that Israel and key allies, including the US, have strongly denied. At the same time, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly declared that there will be no Palestinian state," cementing the position of the most far-right government in Israels history. For many of the recognising countries, the move is seen as both a political signal and a step towards reviving stalled diplomacy. What Does It Mean To Recognise A State? Recognition is a legal and diplomatic act. It means that a country formally affirms the existence of another as a sovereign state and commits to treating it as such. It involves acknowledging rights and responsibilities under international law, reviewing bilateral agreements, and often upgrading diplomatic missions to embassy-level representation. In the UKs case, the shift has already begun to take administrative effect. The government now uses the term Palestine", rather than Occupied Palestinian Territories", across all official platforms and maps. The Palestinian delegation in London, which has operated as a diplomatic mission, is expected to gain full embassy status. Recognition also changes how Palestine is treated in diplomatic negotiations. Rather than being regarded as a political entity or authority under occupation, it is seen, in the eyes of the recognising country, as a state actor with equal standing. However, this shift is symbolic and does not change Palestines legal standing in bodies such as the United Nations or the International Criminal Court. Where Does Palestinian Statehood Stand Today? The Palestine Liberation Organisation declared an independent Palestinian state in 1988. A large number of countries from the Global South recognised it in the years that followed. As of early 2025, 147 out of 193 UN member states had recognised Palestine. That figure rose above 150 after the recent announcements by Portugal, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. France is expected to follow. Despite widespread bilateral recognition, Palestine is not a full member of the United Nations. It holds observer status, which allows it to participate in debates and sign certain international treaties, but it does not have voting rights. To become a full UN member, it must be recommended by the Security Council and then approved by a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly. The US has consistently blocked such attempts using its veto power. On the ground, governance is fragmented. The Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, exercises limited administrative control in parts of the West Bank under arrangements reached through earlier agreements with Israel. It issues identity documents and runs education and health services but operates under heavy restrictions, depends on international funding, and coordinates security with Israel. In Gaza, control lies with the Hamas group, which took over from the PA in 2007 following an internal conflict. While the PA still funds parts of Gazas bureaucracy, it does not exercise authority there. Israel maintains control over Gazas border crossings, along with airspace and external trade. Entry into both the West Bank and Gaza is tightly regulated. There are no operational Palestinian airports, and diplomatic access to Palestinian areas is subject to Israeli approval. No country currently maintains an embassy in Ramallah or Gaza. However, about 40 states, including China, Russia, Canada, and several European and Arab countries, operate consular or representative offices in Ramallah or East Jerusalem. What Doesnt Change With Recognition? Recognition of Palestine by individual countries does not resolve the political and territorial issues at the heart of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. It does not change Palestines status at the UN, where full membership still depends on Security Council approval. It also does not affect Israeli military or administrative control over the West Bank and Gazas borders, airspace, and movement of people and goods. The long-standing vision of a two-state solution, involving an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza with East Jerusalem as its capital, remains politically contested. Israel opposes a return to the 1967 borders and considers Jerusalem its indivisible capital. The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. The status of Jerusalem continues to be one of the most contentious unresolved issues. Israeli governments have maintained that any future Palestinian state must be demilitarised and that Israel must retain security control over key areas to prevent further attacks. In contrast, Palestinian officials argue that meaningful statehood cannot exist without sovereignty over territory, borders and internal governance. The number and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem remain another major roadblock. More than 600,000 Israeli settlers live in these areas today. While most countries view the settlements as illegal under international law, Israel disputes this interpretation, citing historical, religious, and security grounds. It continues to expand them, with Israeli courts and government policy supporting their legal status. Internally, the Palestinian political split between the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority and Hamas in Gaza remains unresolved. This division complicates efforts to form a unified negotiating position and has prompted countries like France to link recognition to PA-led reforms and improved governance, particularly if the PA is to play a role in post-war administration of Gaza. US And Israels Response Israel has denounced the recognitions as a reward for terrorism. Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly said that a Palestinian state would not be allowed to exist and has warned that unilateral recognition may trigger annexation of parts of the West Bank. The Israeli government has also argued that the October 7 Hamas attacks, in which around 1,200 people in Israel were killed, disqualify any steps that could be seen as rewarding" Palestinian leadership. The US remains firmly opposed to unilateral recognition. It continues to argue that a Palestinian state should emerge only through direct negotiations with Israel. In response to the recent diplomatic push, Washington has imposed sanctions on Palestinian officials and denied visas to prevent their participation at the UN General Assembly. A US veto is still likely to block any Security Council-backed recognition. So What Will Recognition Actually Achieve? Recognition by Western powers changes the diplomatic and political framing of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. It places Palestine on a firmer footing in legal and multilateral forums, compels recognising countries to reevaluate aspects of their Israel policy, and signals that continued occupation may carry diplomatic costs. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, recognition alone does not end the war in Gaza, remove Israeli forces, or create a functioning Palestinian state. It does not eliminate the need for political reconciliation between Hamas and the PA, nor does it compel Israel or the US to engage in final-status talks. What it does do, particularly when coordinated among major powers, is redefine the question. Instead of asking whether Palestine should be a state, the conversation shifts to what actions must follow now that it has been recognised as one. 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 22, 2025, 12:07 IST News explainers Recognising Palestine As A State: What It Means And What It Doesnt Change | 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... Tirah Valley Massacre: Why Is Pakistan Army Under Fire And What Is The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Conflict? Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 17:03 IST Eyewitnesses and local media assert that the bombs targeted homes rather than confirmed militant hideouts in Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen multiple terror attacks in the recent past. (AP Photo) The Matre Dara village in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was struck by a series of explosions in the early hours (around 2 am) of September 22. Locals say Pakistani Air Force JF-17 jets dropped eight LS-6 precision glide bombs, causing massive destruction across the civilian settlement. According to reports, at least 30 people were killed, including women and children, and many more were injured; rescue workers were still searching through rubble hoping to find more bodies. Eyewitnesses and local media assert that the bombs targeted homes rather than confirmed militant hideouts, which has led to strong claims that this was an indiscriminate airstrike. Survivors describe entire homes flattened, bodies strewn everywhere, and confusion and chaos in the aftermath. Meanwhile, Pakistani military sources have denied that it was an aerial attack, instead suggesting that a large cache of explosives stored by militants may have detonated, causing secondary damage and civilian casualties. Recommended Stories The incident has sparked outrage among residents of Tirah Valley and beyond. Protests have been reported, with tribal elders and activists demanding accountability, investigations, and justice for the victims. The scale of civilian loss has opened up debates over Pakistans rules of engagement in militant zones, and concerns over civilian protections have revived given the recurring reports of collateral damage in counter-terror operations. Why Did the Pakistan Army Target Tirah Valley? The Pakistan Armys airstrike on Matre Dara village in Tirah Valley was reportedly part of an ongoing military campaign aimed at dismantling Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said a report in the Associated Press. According to reports, TTP commanders Aman Gul and Masood Khan had established a bomb-making facility in the village, allegedly employing civilians as human shields. The completed explosives were reportedly stored in nearby mosques, complicating military targeting decisions. However, the attack has sparked widespread outrage and criticism. Opposition parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have condemned the strike, alleging that it resulted in civilian casualties and accusing the government of failing to protect its citizens. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has also expressed deep concern over the loss of civilian lives and has called for an immediate and impartial inquiry into the incident. Many argue that the militarys actions reflect a disregard for civilian life and raise questions about the effectiveness and ethics of the counterterrorism strategy employed in the region. What Is The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Conflict? The incident underscores the complex and volatile nature of the conflict in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where militant groups like the TTP continue to operate, often embedding themselves within civilian populations. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), a province along Pakistans northwestern border with Afghanistan, has been a longstanding epicentre of militancy and counterterror operations. The region includes the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which historically enjoyed a high degree of autonomy under colonial-era regulations. Over the decades, KP became a strategic corridor for militants, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Afghan Taliban factions, who exploit its rugged terrain and porous border for shelter, recruitment, and attacks. The Pakistani state has repeatedly carried out military operations in the province, aiming to eliminate these militant strongholds, often with significant collateral damage. The conflict in KP is deeply intertwined with the Pashtun identity and tribal structure. Pashtuns, the indigenous ethnic group of the province, follow Pashtunwali, a traditional code emphasising honor, hospitality, and autonomy. Many Pashtuns feel marginalised and unfairly treated by the state, which they accuse of blurring the lines between militants and civilians. Operations targeting militant hideouts have frequently resulted in civilian casualties, destruction of homes, and displacement, fueling a perception among locals that they are collectively punished for the presence of militants. Pashtun communities in KP argue that the militarys counterterrorism strategies are disproportionately aggressive and often ignore local rights. Activist movements like the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) have highlighted cases where villages are bombed or shelled based on militant activity in the area, causing widespread fear and resentment. Many residents claim that they are caught between militants using civilian areas as cover and state forces launching large-scale operations, leaving them vulnerable to violence from both sides. This has intensified grievances, with calls for accountability, protection of civilian lives, and recognition of Pashtun rights and autonomy. How Did TTP Come Into Being? After the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 toppled the Taliban, many militants including Pakistani Pashtuns and foreign fighters crossed into KP to escape US and Afghan forces. These militants gradually merged, split, and consolidated, forming new factions. By the late 2000s, these groups unified under the banner of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), aiming to challenge the Pakistani state through insurgency and terror attacks. Pakistan claims that the TTP maintains bases in Afghanistan, using tunnels, mountain passes, and secret paths that were originally used during the Soviet-era war. These routes allow fighters to cross the border into KP, conduct attacks, and retreat, making counterterrorism operations difficult. Essentially, the legacy of the Soviet-Afghan war, combined with porous borders and difficult terrain, enabled the birth and persistence of militant networks in KP. Recent Terror Attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP has experienced a significant uptick in terrorist activity in 2025, primarily attributed to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). According to a report by the Counter-Terrorism Department of Pakistan, the province has witnessed 284 terrorist incidents this year, with North Waziristan recording the highest number at 53 attacks. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least 152 individuals, including security personnel and civilians, and left over 300 others injured top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all One of the most devastating incidents occurred on June 28, 2025, when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a military convoy in Khadi Market, Mir Ali, North Waziristan. The blast killed 13 soldiers and wounded several others, including six children. The TTP claimed responsibility for the attack, highlighting the groups continued capability to execute coordinated assaults on security forces. On March 4, 2025, a coordinated suicide bombing targeted the Bannu Cantonment in KP. The Jaish al-Fursan group, affiliated with the TTP, claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed at least 12 people, including five children, and injured over 30 others. 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 22, 2025, 17:02 IST News explainers Tirah Valley Massacre: Why Is Pakistan Army Under Fire And What Is The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Conflict? 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 Wants Bagram Air Base Back: Why The US Is Demanding It And Why Kabul Says No Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 09:34 IST The US President has warned of bad things if Afghanistan refuses to hand back Bagram Air Base. Kabul has rejected the demand outright, with China firmly backing its stand Donald Trump said the United States was trying to get it back. (Image: AFP) US President Donald Trump has reopened debate around Afghanistans Bagram Air Base, which was abandoned during the 2021 withdrawal of American troops under Joe Biden. Speaking alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a state visit, he said the United States was trying to get it back". On Truth Social, Trump issued a direct warning: If Afghanistan doesnt give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!" Recommended Stories He later repeated that his administration was in talks with Kabul, telling reporters, Were talking now to Afghanistan, and we want it back, and we want it back soon. If they dont do it, youre going to find out what Im going to do." The US president has also called the Biden administrations withdrawal a total disaster." NBC quoted him saying, We gave it to them for nothing We want that base back." .@POTUS on Bagram Air Base: Were talking now to Afghanistan. We want it back and we want it back soon. Right away and if they dont do it, youre going to find out what Im going to do. pic.twitter.com/lL6g7A2SLU Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 21, 2025 Why Is Bagram Air Base Considered Strategic? Bagram is situated around 60 kilometres north of Kabul and was the largest American facility in Afghanistan. During the peak of the war in 2012, more than 100,000 US troops passed through the base, according to NBC. Trump has repeatedly described it as one of the most powerful bases in the world," highlighting that its 11,800-foot runway could accommodate heavy bombers and cargo aircraft. The base had extensive infrastructure, including hardened shelters, hospitals, fuel depots, and a sprawling prison complex, Hindustan Times noted. For soldiers, it also hosted fast-food outlets such as Burger King and Pizza Hut, alongside shops that sold everything from electronics to Afghan carpets. Bagram was regarded as the crown jewel" of US presence in Afghanistan before the 2021 pullout. Its long runways, secure shelters, and logistical network made it capable of supporting full-scale operations. Strategically, Bagram sits at the junction of Iran, Pakistan, Chinas Xinjiang and Central Asia. Its location has long been viewed as a vantage for surveillance and signals intelligence across Eurasia, from Russian military activity to Chinese projects, as per the Economic Times. The China Factor In Trumps Demand Trumps strongest argument centres on geography. Its an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons," he said earlier this week. A report by the Orion Policy Institute pointed out that Bagram is less than 1,500 miles from Chinas Hami missile field in Xinjiang and under 500 miles from the Afghan-Xinjiang border. The Pentagon estimates that Beijing already possesses over 600 operational warheads and could cross 1,000 by 2030. China has rejected Trumps remarks. Its foreign ministry said stirring up tension" would not be welcomed. Lin Jian, spokesperson for the ministry, told reporters in Beijing that China respects Afghanistans independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity." How Does Counterterrorism Factor In? Bagram had been critical for US missions against Al Qaeda, ISIS-K, and the Pakistani Taliban. UN officials in 2025 warned ISIS-K remains one of the most dangerous branches," active across Afghanistan, Iran and Russia. Al Qaeda has since established nine training camps in Afghanistan, while the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan staged more than 600 attacks from Afghan soil in the second half of 2024, according to a UN Security Council report. For Trump, regaining Bagram would restore an American foothold against such groups. How Has The Taliban Responded? Afghanistans Taliban government has flatly rejected Trumps demand. Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, as reported by Bloomberg, said: Afghanistan is fully independent, governed by its own people, and not dependent on any foreign power. We do not fear any bully or aggressor." Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi stated that not even one metre of Afghan land will be given to the Americans." Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid recalled in an interview with Al Jazeera that the Taliban had already refused a US request to retain Bagram back in 2020. Our answer was, if you dont leave and want bases, we are ready to fight you for another 20 years," he said. Taliban officials such as Zakir Jalal, posted on X, Afghanistan and the United States need to engage with one another without the United States maintaining any military presence in any part of Afghanistan." Kabul is ready to pursue political and economic ties with Washington based on mutual respect and shared interests," Jalal said. What Do Analysts And Experts Say? Analysts have warned that reoccupying Bagram is unrealistic. Bill Roggio of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told the Long War Journal that the Taliban and China would both resist a US return, and any reoccupation would require significant troop deployments, break the Doha Agreement, and strain ties with Pakistan, Russia and Iran. Trumps claim that the US built" Bagram is inaccurate. The air base was originally constructed by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, became the hub of Moscows operations during the 197989 occupation, and later shifted hands among Afghan factions before being redeveloped by US and NATO forces after 2001. Sweden-based journalist Mukhtar Wafayee posted on X that Washington had spent vast sums on the site, turning it into the main American hub in the Af-Pak region. Bagram Air Base was originally built by the Soviet Union during the Cold War in the 1950s and was later developed by the U.S.The U.S. spent a huge amount of money on it It was the main military air base for the U.S., playing a significant role in operations across Af&Pak. https://t.co/NDxafkucmC Mukhtar wafayee (@Mukhtarwafayee) September 21, 2025 Other voices flagged contradictions in Trumps stance. Bangkok-based former US Marine Brian Berletic wrote on X that the Soviet Union actually built the air base decades for the US invasion, not the US." US President Donald Trump demands Afghanistan, a nation the US illegally invaded in 2001 and occupied for about 2 decades, give the US access to Bagram Air Base he claims the US built.The Soviet Union actually built the air base decades for the US invasion, not the US. This pic.twitter.com/Yk9JQojQ3T Brian Berletic (@BrianJBerletic) September 21, 2025 Afghan political analyst Idris Mohammadi Zazi told Xinhua the demand amounted to an information campaign against Afghanistan" aimed at undermining its political and economic systems. Wang Erfeng, associate researcher at Lanzhou Universitys Afghanistan Studies Centre, also told Xinhua that Trumps comments revealed his attempt to project a tough foreign-policy image. What Is The History Of Bagram? According to India Today, the Bagram Air Base was originally built in the 1950s with Soviet assistance during the regime of Mohammad Daoud Khan. During the Soviet occupation from 1979 to 1989, it was the central hub for Moscows air operations, launching thousands of missions against the Mujahideen, reported Kabul-based Tolo News. After the fall of Mohammad Najibullahs government and years of civil war, the base was redeveloped once more with the arrival of American and NATO forces in 2001. Under US command, Bagram became a military city" with two runways over three kilometres long, barracks, hospitals, dining facilities, gyms and shops. For nearly two decades, Bagram was the central hub of US operations in Afghanistan until the Biden administrations chaotic withdrawal in 2021, when Taliban forces seized Kabul. What Next For Trumps Demand? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Trump has avoided giving a clear answer about whether he would deploy troops to retake the base. We wont talk about that," he told reporters, according to Al Jazeera. For now, Kabul remains firm in rejecting the demand, Beijing has publicly backed Afghanistans sovereignty, and experts have called reoccupation impractical. 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 22, 2025, 09:19 IST News explainers Trump Wants Bagram Air Base Back: Why The US Is Demanding It And Why Kabul Says No 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... With $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee, Is The US Handing Over The Future Of STEM Talent To China? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 10:45 IST Just as the US tightens the screws, China is pulling the opposite lever. Starting October, China will roll out K visa programme to attract foreign scientists, engineers, innovators The 'reverse brain drain' could work in Indias favour, as more talent stays home. For decades, the H-1B visa has been the bridge between American opportunity and global talent. Every year, hundreds of thousands of skilled professionalsmostly engineers, scientists, and IT expertsapply for the coveted visa. Many of them come from India, where the H-1B is almost synonymous with the American Dream". Recommended Stories But in September 2025, that dream got a reality check. The US government under Donald Trump has announced a new $100,000 fee for employers filing H-1B petitions for foreign workers. To put it in perspective, this fee is more than 20 times higher than the existing filing costs. For large corporations, it is a burden. For start-ups and smaller firms, it is a near-deal-breaker. This is not just a minor tweak in immigration policy. It is a seismic shift one that could reshape global talent flows, weaken Americas tech dominance, and boost rivals like China. Why The Fee Is A Game-Changer Until now, applying for an H-1B visa has cost a few thousand dollars in processing and legal fees. The six-figure price tag changes everything. For employers: Smaller companies may find it impossible to justify bringing in foreign workers, even if they have critical skill gaps. Larger firms may restrict applications to a handful of top-priority hires. For workers: The barrier is indirect, but devastating. Fewer sponsorships mean fewer chances for young graduates from India, China, and beyond to secure a job in the US. For the US economy: The talent pipeline that once fuelled Silicon Valleys rise could slow to a trickle. This fee does not apply to existing H-1B holders or renewals, but it slams the door on fresh applicationsthe very pipeline that renews Americas tech advantage. Whats US Logic Behind The Move? Supporters of the fee argue it will reduce dependence on foreign workers and create more opportunities for US citizens in high-paying STEM roles. They believe companies have relied too heavily on H-1B workers as a cheaper alternative, particularly in IT outsourcing. But critics counter that the policy is short-sighted. Many US universities train foreign students in advanced fields like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotech. If these graduates cannot stay, they will take their knowledgeand potentially their innovationselsewhere. In other words, the US may end up educating the world for free and then, handing over the benefits to competitors. Chinas Perfectly Timed Move: The K Visa Just as Washington tightens the screws, Beijing is pulling the opposite lever. Starting in October 2025, China will roll out its new K visa programme. This visa is designed specifically to attract foreign scientists, engineers, and innovators. Unlike the H-1B, which ties workers to a single employer, the K visa allows mobility between labs, start-ups, and universities. It cuts through bureaucracy, offers multi-year residency, andmost cruciallywelcomes talent at a time when the US appears to be pushing it away. It is not hard to see the strategic intent. China has ambitions to lead the world in AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, and green energy. By making it easier for top global minds to move to Beijing, Shanghai, or Shenzhen, it is positioning itself as the new hub of innovation. Why India Is At The Crossroads For India, which accounts for over two-thirds of H-1B visas, the shift is particularly stark. Generations of Indian students and professionals have seen the US as the ultimate destination. Families have invested heavily in engineering and IT degrees, often with the dream of one day landing an H-1B. Now, that pipeline looks uncertain. Why? Young engineers may no longer have the US as a guaranteed option. IT services companies, which send thousands of workers onsite for client projects, face ballooning costs. Families may question whether the US remains worth the investment. What Are The Opportunities For India Now? The reverse brain drain" could work in Indias favour, as more talent stays home. If supported by policy, Indias own start-up ecosystem could benefit from a deeper pool of skilled workers. India could position itself as an alternative innovation hub, particularly if it builds a strong R&D infrastructure and attracts global investment. But this requires foresight. Without major reforms in research funding, infrastructure, and wages, India risks watching its talent look elsewhereperhaps to China, Canada, or Europe. US vs Chinas Systems The contrast between the US and China could not be sharper: For the US: Pricing out foreign workers through high fees, limiting access, and sending a message of locals first". For China: Opening doors wide, offering flexibility, and sending a message of innovators welcome." The symbolism is as powerful as the policy. One nation is making entry costlier than ever; the other is turning immigration into a competitive advantage. How US Move Risks Innovation Americas greatest strength has been its ability to attract talent from everywhere. Immigrants have founded some of its biggest companiesfrom Google to Teslaand powered its labs, start-ups, and universities. By raising barriers, the US risks slowing down: Patent filings: Already, foreign-born inventors account for a significant share of U.S. patents. Start-up culture: Many successful Silicon Valley start-ups were founded by immigrants. Global competitiveness: In fields like AI and quantum computing, losing talent could mean losing the race. The irony is that while the policy aims to protect American jobs, it may end up protecting them from being created at all. What Will Be The Global Ripple Effects? This is not just a US-China story. Other countries are watching closelyand many are ready to benefit. Canada: Already a favourite back-up for Indian IT workers, Canada offers smoother residency pathways and a strong tech scene. Germany: With its EU Blue Card programme, Germany is eager to attract engineers and tech workers. Singapore and Australia: Both countries have simplified visa routes for skilled professionals. As the US becomes less accessible, these nations could soak up the overflow of talent. How Does This Impact Students? Beyond economics, there is the emotional factor. For many Indian students, the H-1B was not just a visait was a life plan. Families invested in US education with the expectation of long-term settlement. The new fee disrupts that narrative. Students may increasingly look to Canada, the UK, or even China for education and careers. Universities in the US may also feel the pinch, as fewer international students apply if post-study work options look limited. Can The US Course-Correct? It is still early. The fee could face legal challenges, especially if it is seen as excessive or discriminatory. Industry pushback is inevitable, particularly from tech companies that rely on global hiring. Policymakers may also revisit the structure if the impact proves too damaging. But for now, the message is clear: the US is making foreign talent pay a premium. Whats Next? Ultimately, the H-1B fee hike is not just about visas. It is about where the worlds brightest minds will choose to build the future. A single figure $100,000 has the potential to redraw the map of global innovation. If the US sticks to its path, it risks losing its edge in the innovation race. If China capitalises on the moment, it could accelerate its ambition to dominate advanced technologies. If India acts strategically, it could transform from a talent exporter to a talent destination. The stakes could not be higher. The future of technology, jobs, and even geopolitics may hinge on where the next generation of coders, engineers, and scientists decides to plant their flag. 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 22, 2025, 10:45 IST News explainers With $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee, Is The US Handing Over The Future Of STEM Talent To 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... Adultery No Longer Crime, But Spouse Can Sue Partners Lover For Compensation: Delhi HC Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: September 23, 2025, 00:00 IST The Delhi High Court said the spouse can claim monetary compensation on the basis of interference in marriage, causing loss of affection and companionship The Delhi High Court observed although adultery is no longer a crime, it can still have civil consequences. (Image for representation: News18) The Delhi High Court recently held that while adultery may no longer be a criminal offence, it can still have civil consequences and a spouse can claim monetary compensation from the partners lover. The court said this can be claimed by the spouse on the basis of interference in marriage, causing loss of affection and companionship. Recommended Stories According to a report by Bar and Bench, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav said although adultery is no longer a crime, it can still have civil consequences. A person who suffers harm from the breakdown of their marriage may seek damages against a third party for causing that disruption, the judge said. Individuals may hold certain expectations from the sanctity of marriage. While the exercise of personal liberty is not criminal and, therefore, cannot attract penal sanction by the State as a matter of public offence, such conduct may nevertheless give rise to civil consequences. When one spouse claims to have suffered legal injury on account of the disruption of the marital relationship, the law, under tort, recognises that compensation may be sought from those alleged to have contributed to the breach of that sanctified bond," the Delhi HC was quoted as saying in a September 15 order. A decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Joseph Shine had decriminalised adultery, but this case can become Indias first to test enforceability of alienation of affection claims in civil law", the report said. Justice Kaurav said though adultery has been decriminalised, it does not give an individual the licence to have extramarital affairs, which are free from civil or legal implications. The court held that such cases will be examined in a civil court and not a family court. The court is of the considered opinion that the instant lis is wholly regarding civil rights related to tort, and the civil court retains the jurisdiction," Justice Kaurav was quoted. The report said Justice Kaurav while making these observations, upheld the maintainability of a womans suit against another woman whom she accused of breaking her marriage. WHAT IS THE CASE? The case pertains to a woman, who got married in 2012, but she started having problems in her relationship after another woman joined her husbands business in 2021. She alleged this woman formed a close relationship with her husband, accompanied him on trips and became his regular social companion. Despite family intervention, the affair allegedly continued with her husband openly appearing with her before eventually filing for divorce. ON WHAT BASIS DID THE WOMAN FILE THE SUIT? The report said in her suit, the woman sought damages for emotional harm and loss of companionship, invoking the rarely applied tort of alienation of affection (AoA)", which is known to be a heart-balm" claim rooted in Anglo-American common law. WHAT DID THE HIGH COURT SAY? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The high court ruled that while Indian law does not expressly recognise AoA, courts have previously acknowledged it as an intentional tort in theory". Unless the defendants show a statutory bar, a civil action based on tort cannot be rejected outright," the court was quoted, adding that whether the defendant womans actions caused marital breakdown will be decided at trial. 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 22, 2025, 23:48 IST News india Adultery No Longer Crime, But Spouse Can Sue Partners Lover For Compensation: Delhi HC 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... 'Come At Appropriate Stage': SC Refuses To Hear Jacqueline Fernandezs Plea In Money Laundering Case Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 14:00 IST The bench granted her liberty to file again at a relevant time but refused to intervene at this stage of the proceedings. The court mentioned that the actress can approach the tral court. (Photo Credits: Instagram) The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandezs plea in the money laundering case linked to conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, saying she may approach the court at the appropriate stage. Recommended Stories The bench granted her liberty to file again at a relevant time but refused to intervene at this stage of the proceedings. Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez has approached the Supreme Court, challenging the Delhi High Courts order that dismissed her plea seeking to quash proceedings in the 200-crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. As part of her petition, Fernandez has also sought an interim stay on the ongoing trial against her. Her plea before the High Court had specifically challenged the Enforcement Directorates (ED) Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) as well as the second supplementary complaint in which she was named as the tenth accused. Fernandez maintained that the material filed by the ED itself establishes her status as an innocent victim" of what she described as Sukeshs maliciously targeted attack." The petition further pointed out that the ED had admitted in its own case records that officials at Tihar Jail had allowed Sukesh unrestricted access to mobile phones and other electronic devices. This access, according to the plea, was exploited by Sukesh to cheat the original complainant and several film personalities, including Fernandez, through an identical modus operandi. The actor also argued that since the ED had earlier chosen to treat her as a prosecution witness in the predicate offence, any subsequent proceedings naming her as an accused should automatically be set aside. The Delhi High Court, however, rejected these arguments. On July 3, Justice Anish Dayal dismissed Fernandezs petition, ruling that her apprehension of potential self-incrimination from the evidence cannot form grounds to quash the ECIR. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The court held that adequate statutory and constitutional safeguards already exist to protect against self-incrimination, and that these protections would have to be examined within the legal framework of the trial rather than at the threshold stage. 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 22, 2025, 13:50 IST News india 'Come At Appropriate Stage': SC Refuses To Hear Jacqueline Fernandezs Plea In Money Laundering Case 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... 'Congress Mindset Caused Harm To Arunachal': PM Modi Attacks Oppn In Itanagar Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 13:27 IST PM Modi laid the foundation stone of two major hydropower projects worth over Rs 3,700 crore in Itanagar today. PM Modi addressing rally in Itanagar (Credits: ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Arunachal Pradesh today, said that he loves the North East from the heart and highlighted that the connectivity has improved under the BJPs rule. Taking a dig at Congress, PM Modi said that the Opposition never paid attention to Arunachal. As a Prime Minister, I have come to the northeast more than 70 times. I love the North East from the heart, and that is why we have erased the distance of the heart and brought Delhi closer to you," he said while addressing a rally in Itanagar. Recommended Stories Taking a swipe at the Congress, the PM stressed that the ministers barely visited the northeastern states under Congresss rule. Parties like Congress thought there were so few people and only two Lok Sabha seats, so why pay attention to Arunachal? This mindset of Congress caused significant harm to Arunachal and the entire North East. The BJP has freed India from the Congress mindset. Delhi is now closer to the North East, and the distance of the heart from the region has reduced," he said. My visit to Arunachal has become special. On the first day of Navratri, I got to witness such beautiful mountains Next-generation GST reforms have been implemented today. GST Bachat Utsav has begun Arunachal has been given power, health, tourism, and many other sectors projects," added the Prime Minister. #WATCH | Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, My visit to Arunachal has become special. On the first day of Navratri, I got to witness such beautiful mountains Next-generation GST reforms have been implemented today. GST Bachat Utsav has begun pic.twitter.com/KTJ2gJYUo2 ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2025 PM Modi laid the foundation stone of several infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,125.37 crore in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday. The Prime Minister further said that when Congress was in power, Arunachal Pradesh received only Rs 6,000 crore from central taxes in ten years, but under BJP, the state has received Rs 1 lakh crore in taxes in the last 10 years. In other words, the BJP government has given Arunachal 16 times more funds," he said. PM Modi Receives Warm Welcome In Itanagar The Prime Minister, from his X handle, also shared a video from his visit to Itanagar. Had a truly memorable welcome in Itanagar this morning. The atmosphere was electrifying, filled with the chants of Vande Mataram and the vibrant presence of Nari Shakti as well as Yuva Shakti. The enthusiasm and affection of the people of Arunachal Pradesh are exceptional," he wrote. Had a truly memorable welcome in Itanagar this morning. The atmosphere was electrifying, filled with the chants of Vande Mataram and the vibrant presence of Nari Shakti as well as Yuva Shakti. The enthusiasm and affection of the people of Arunachal Pradesh are exceptional. pic.twitter.com/Z4NaWYwsd3 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all People could be seen standing on the sides of the road, waving the national flag as the prime ministers convoy passed. The slogan Vande Mataram can also be heard as people smiled and welcomed the Prime Minister About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ... Read More Location : Arunachal Pradesh, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 12:48 IST News india 'Congress Mindset Caused Harm To Arunachal': PM Modi Attacks Oppn In Itanagar Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Did Trump Kill The H1-B Visa? 'American Dream' Aside, India Can Now Solve Its 'Brain Drain' Issue Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 08:00 IST While remaining steadfast on national interest while negotiating the trade deal, India should see a silver lining in President Donald Trump's H1-B decision US President Donald Trump signed the executive order introducing a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas on September 19. (Image: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/AFP) But today, if they wanted to go to the US for a job for the first time, they would have to cough up $100,000. That is the debilitating impact of the Trump administrations latest shocking move. And India will be the most impacted. Recommended Stories Did President Donald Trump just kill the H1B visa? Is the American Dream over for Indian techies? Also, is this a tactic by Trump to get an upper hand in the negotiations for the India-US bilateral trade deal happening today? Lets peel off the layers. Lets start with some clarity. Number 1. The White House has made it clear that the $100,000 is not an annual fee but a one-time fee that applies only to the petition for an H1B Visa. So, this is only for new visas, not renewals, and not existing visa holders. Number 2. Those who already hold H-1B visas and are outside of the US right now will not be charged $100,000 to re-enter the country. Existing H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the US to the same extent as they normally would. Number 3: The $100,000 stipulation will first apply in the next upcoming lottery cycle. The proclamation is limited to new H-1B lottery applicants outside the US. This would have settled a lot of anxiety for Indian techies and their American employers. On Saturday (September 20), there was complete panic as Indian techies on H1-B visas who were back home or in any country outside the US were scrambling to get on flights to return to the US by the Sunday deadline. Those leaving the US on Saturday for a trip were seen disembarking from flights. The rush and anxiety of such H1-B visa holders is now settled, but make no mistake. Trumps move is targeted at India and Indians. He does not want any more Indians entering the US on H1-B visas and is fixing such a high price on any such entry. Nearly 72 percent of H1-B visas every year go to Indians this has been a constant since 2015. In 2024, 2.83 lakh Indians got the H1-B visa, and it was nearly the same figure in 2023, out of a total 3.9 lakh visas granted. The dominance of Indians in fresh applications is not going to be any different. But now, any company wishing to hire them needs to pay a one-time fee of $100,000. Hence, the company will have to decide if a person is that valuable. What makes this even more complex is that the average annual salary of an Indian H1-B visa holder in the US is around $65,000. So, will companies want to pay an upfront fee of $100,000 to get an H1-B visa holder on board? It is a big if. Now lets understand why the US has done it. Trump said the decision will serve the national interest by addressing threats to the welfare of American workers, asserting that misuse of the H-1B programme could pose a threat to the countrys economic security and the welfare of domestic labour markets. He said the H-1B non-immigrant visa programme was created to bring temporary workers into the US to perform high-skilled functions, but it has been exploited to replace American workers. The share of IT workers in the H-1B programme has grown from 32 percent in 2003 to over 65 percent in the last five years, he said. The President said the abuse of the H-1B visa programme has made it even more challenging for American college graduates trying to find IT jobs, allowing employers to hire foreign workers at a significant discount. This needs to change, he said. The dominance of Indians in the H1B visa programme is what has caught the eye of Trump and his supporters said this stealing of American jobs by Indians" has to stop immediately. Trumps formula is simple American businesses should now focus on hiring American workers rather than Indians. It gels with his political agenda and pleases his MAGA (Make America Great Again) supporters. Immigration is a polarising political issue in the US. But is the US also shooting itself in the foot? Indians have been a big part of the American success story, contributing to the US economy and being capital builders by serving on H1-B visas. The US has, in fact, been a magnet for Indias best brains to live their American dream and also add to its bank of talent. Be it Microsoft, Meta, Apple, Amazon, JP Morgan, TCS, Google, Cognizant, Deloitte or Walmart all have Indians to thank in a big measure for what they are. Denying Indians entry into the future would hurt the cause of these American companies as they will struggle to find equally skilled American talent. In future, this could prove to be a disastrous move. Now a big question: Is this move designed to pressurise India? The Trump administration has taken many steps against India 50 percent tariffs, and the Chabahar port decision to withdraw sanctions waiver. An Indian delegation led by commerce minister Piyush Goyal is now in the US to take forward the negotiations for the India-US trade deal. During talks last week in India between negotiators on both sides, it was decided to intensify efforts in this regard. Now, this delegation plans to take forward the discussions with a view to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement. The timing of the announcement of the H1-B visa crackdown is, hence, critical here. While remaining steadfast on national interest while negotiating the trade deal, India should see a silver lining in Trumps H1-B decision. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been speaking about atmanirbharta (self-reliance). Bharat must stand strong before the world as a self-reliant nation." the PM has said. If Bharat is to become a developed nation by 2047, when we celebrate 100 years of Independence, then self-reliance is the only way. There is no alternative. The resolve of 140 crore Indians must be one whether it is a chip or a ship, we must make it in Bharat." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all But how will this big change happen? Top-notch Indian brains staying in India and doing this for the country, rather than leaving for American shores will be the pump that we need. So, this may turn out to be an opportunity after all. About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister... Read More First Published: September 22, 2025, 08:00 IST News india Did Trump Kill The H1-B Visa? 'American Dream' Aside, India Can Now Solve Its 'Brain Drain' Issue 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... Dussehra Bonanza: Telangana Government Announces Rs 1.95 Lakh Bonus For Singareni Workers Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 17:11 IST Each permanent worker will receive Rs 1,95,610, while contract workers will get Rs 5,500 as a bonus. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka made the announcement at a special program held at the Secretariat. The Telangana government has announced a record bonus for employees of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) under its profit-sharing policy. Each permanent worker will receive Rs 1,95,610, while contract workers will get Rs 5,500 as a bonus. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka made the announcement at a special program held at the Secretariat, attended by several ministers including Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Pongulerti Srinivas Reddy, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, and Vivek Vekata Swamy. The state has allocated 34 percent of Singarenis net profits for bonuses, totalling Rs 819 crores to be distributed among 41,000 permanent employees and 30,000 contract workers. Recommended Stories Presenting the companys financials, the Chief Minister noted that Singareni registered a total revenue of Rs 6,394 crores, with Rs 4,034 crores allocated for future investments. Net profits stood at Rs 2,360 crores, of which Rs 819 crores are now being shared with employees. Revanth Reddy praised the workers contributions, stating: The struggles of Singareni workers during the Telangana statehood movement will never be forgotten. Our government will always recognise their role and stand by them. Workers are the reason Singareni has been moving on the path of profits. We want to strengthen the company further to compete with corporate giants." On the issue of privatisation, he remarked: Workers have requested that mines leased out to private players be handed back to Singareni. If private participation keeps increasing, the very survival of Singareni could be in question. We will take up this matter with the Centre. We will continue to support workers in the future and ensure that Singareni remains profitable. Another bonus will also be announced for workers during Diwali." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Chief Minister also raised concerns over GST reforms, saying: Due to GST changes, Telangana has lost nearly Rs 7,000 crores in revenue. The Centre must immediately compensate states for this loss. It is not right for the Centre to impose unilateral decisions that burden states. We demand a Viability Gap Fund for the next five years to safeguard state finances." Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka added that the Coal India bonus will also be distributed during Diwali. This is the first time in history that contract workers are being given a bonus, and it is the highest bonus ever paid to Singareni employees," he said. First Published: September 22, 2025, 17:11 IST News india Dussehra Bonanza: Telangana Government Announces Rs 1.95 Lakh Bonus For Singareni Workers 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... S Jaishankar Meets US State Secy Marco Rubio In New York, Says 'Covered Issues Of Current Concern' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 22:16 IST This is the first in-person meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio since the US imposed a steep 50% tariff on Indian goods over its purchase of Russian oil. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (X) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday held bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session. In a post on X, Jaishankar said that both leaders discussed a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. He said that both sides agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas. Recommended Stories Good to meet @SecRubio this morning in New York. Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas. We will remain in touch," EAM Jaishankar said. Good to meet @SecRubio this morning in New York.Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas. We will remain in touch. pic.twitter.com/q31vCxaWel Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 22, 2025 Ahead of the meeting, Jaishankar and Rubio were seen shaking hands and posing for a photograph. #WATCH | New York: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session. pic.twitter.com/BPoTm5Udfi ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2025 First Meeting After Tariff Move The meeting at Lotte New York Palace is the first in-person meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio since the US imposed an additional 25% tariff on India for New Delhis purchases of Russian oil, taking the total levies imposed on India to 50%. However, both leaders met twice earlier this year. The two first met in January during the QUAD Foreign Ministers meeting in Washington, just days after Rubio took office, and again in July at a second QUAD gathering. Trade Deal Negotiations The bilateral talks also coincide with ongoing IndiaUS trade negotiations in Washington, where Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is leading the Indian side. The trade negotiations resumed after US President Donald Trump marked a shift in tone and announced that his team was continuing negotiations to address trade barriers with New Delhi. Amid the tariff row, India and the US have virtually engaged on a weekly basis on trade, ministerial, and diplomatic levels. Five rounds of negotiations for the India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA) have been held, and the sixth round of talks scheduled from August 25 to 29 was rescheduled following the imposition of 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods by the US. According to a release from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, positive discussions were held" during the September 16 visit of officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative to India. Earlier this month, Trump expressed confidence that the two sides would have no difficulty" in reaching a deal. In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Modis leadership and thanked him for supporting peace efforts in Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded that the discussions would help unlock the limitless potential of the IndiaUS partnership." The US President further praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a birthday message, calling him a friend" and lauding his leadership as tremendous." Trump also thanked PM Modi for backing his efforts to end the RussiaUkraine war, adding, Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine!" Though the agenda of the JaishankarRubio talks was not in public, the discussion also assumed importance as it comes just days after Trump signed a proclamation imposing a new annual USD 100,000 application fee for H-1B visas a move expected to hit Indian workers hardest, as they make up the majority of recipients. Jaishankar arrived in New York on Sunday for the UN General Assembly session this week, commencing his engagements with a bilateral meeting with the Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Theresa P Lazaro. He will deliver the national statement at the General Debate on September 27 from the iconic green UNGA podium. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This years UNGA coincides with several high-level events, including commemorations for the UNs 80th anniversary, a Climate Ambition Summit convened by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and a meeting marking 30 years since the Beijing Declaration on womens rights. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: September 22, 2025, 20:48 IST News india S Jaishankar Meets US State Secy Marco Rubio In New York, Says 'Covered Issues Of Current Concern' 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... 'Garv Se Kaho Swadeshi Hai': PM Modi Interacts With Traders In Arunachal, Discusses GST Reforms Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 14:40 IST The Prime Minister has repeatedly emphasised the need for self-reliance, urging citizens to reduce dependence on other countries. PM Modi handling a placard to a local trader (Credits: X/ PM Modi) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted with the local taxpayers, traders, and industry representatives to discuss the impact of the recent GST rate rationalisation in Arunachal Pradeshs capital, Itanagar. The Prime Minister also handed out placards reading Garv Se Kaho Yeh Swadeshi Hai (Say it with pride, this is Swadeshi). On several occasions, PM Modi has emphasised the importance of self-reliance and promoting indigenous products. Recommended Stories #WATCH | Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with local taxpayers, traders, and industry representatives to discuss the impact of the recent GST rate rationalisation.He also handed them placards of Garv se Kaho Yeh Swadeshi Hai. The pic.twitter.com/N5DtA4lr3s ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2025 PM Modi also shared images from his X handle and wrote, As the sun rose today, so did a new chapter in Indias economic journey, with the start of GST Bachat Utsav. And what better place to be than Arunachal Pradesh, Indias beautiful Land of the Rising Sun. In Itanagar, I met local traders and retailers who showcased a vibrant range of products, including aromatic teas, flavourful pickles, turmeric, bakery goods, handicrafts, and more." As the sun rose today, so did a new chapter in Indias economic journey, with the start of GST Bachat Utsav. And, what better place to be than Arunachal Pradesh, Indias beautiful Land of the Rising Sun.In Itanagar, I met local traders and retailers who showcased a vibrant pic.twitter.com/wqFWGPISkr Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2025 They expressed joy on the GST reforms. Also gave them posters of Garv Se Kaho Yeh Swadeshi Hai, which they said they will enthusiastically display on their shops," he added. Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi interacted with traders and industry representatives in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh on the impact of the recently implemented GST rate reforms.#NextGenGST #GSTBachatUtsav pic.twitter.com/5FcnGDodgc BJP (@BJP4India) September 22, 2025 Even on Sunday, he stressed giving to the spirit of Swadeshi this Navratri. In a tweet, he described the festival as very special" this year, coinciding with the GST Savings Festival, and urged people to participate in collective efforts toward a developed and self-reliant India. This time, this auspicious occasion of Navratri is very special. Along with the GST Savings Festival, the mantra of Swadeshi is going to receive a new energy during this period. Let us come together in collective efforts for the fulfillment of the resolve for a developed and self-reliant India," he said in a post in Hindi. Recently, while addressing a rally in Gujarat, PM Modi had said that Indias biggest enemy of India is its dependence on other countries. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Today, India is moving forward with the spirit of Vishwabandhu. We have no major enemy in the world. Our biggest enemy is our dependence on other countries. This is our biggest enemy, and together we must defeat this enemy of India, the enemy of dependence," he had said. The greater the foreign dependence, the greater the countrys failure. For global peace, stability, and prosperity, the country with the worlds largest population must become Atmanirbhar. If we remain dependent on others, our self-respect will be hurt. We cannot leave the future of 1.4 billion countrymen to others," the Prime Minister had stated. About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ... Read More Location : Arunachal Pradesh, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 11:55 IST News india 'Garv Se Kaho Swadeshi Hai': PM Modi Interacts With Traders In Arunachal, Discusses GST Reforms 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... 'Gaza Crowdfunding Scam': 3 Held In Maharashtra For Diverting Rs 5 Crore For 'Anti-National' Activities Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 22:15 IST Police said the mastermind is based out of Greece while the three accused are first-time offenders but highly trained in digital sophistication suggesting an external handler Police identified the three accused as (from left to right) Zaid Notiyar, Mohammad Ayan, and Abu Sufiyan. (Image: News18) The Uttar Pradesh anti-terrorism squad claimed to have busted a crowdfunding scam for Gaza relief, in which Rs 5 crore was allegedly diverted for suspected anti-national" activities. Three men were arrested from Maharashtras Bhiwandi for allegedly diverting funds raised under the guise of relief money. According to the police, the mastermind behind this fraud is based out of Greece. Recommended Stories Police identified the three accused as Mohammad Ayan, Zaid Notiyar, and Abu Sufiyan. They are first-time offenders but highly trained in digital sophistication suggesting an external handler, police said. The police said the initial investigation has traced a foreign handler coordinating with Indian operatives, and funds are being routed through European withdrawals. Instagram and WhatsApp were used to dupe donors across 20 states along with emotional appeals, fake stories, and social media campaigns, they said. They particularly targeted Uttar Pradesh due to its high base of the Muslim population and were collecting money through UPI, digital wallets, and multiple banks to avoid agencies and financial intelligence, they added. The arrests reveal a classic case of foreign-directed digital exploitation using local youth as operatives, the police said. The modus operandi involved using humanitarian narratives, fast-moving digital wallets, and emotional propaganda, which fits into a larger pattern of diaspora-linked funding pipelines rerouted for extremist or destabilising purposes, they said. Top intelligence sources told News18 that initial evidence shows fraud and a structured money trail to Greece, with withdrawals in central Europe. This indicates cross-border laundering and raises suspicion of terror financing channels, the sources said. The scams launch coincided with peak Gaza war coverage in August, clearly showing tactical exploitation of global crises for illegal fundraising, they added. The sources said the investigation was triggered by large transfers from Bhiwandi to Uttar Pradesh, which raised suspicion. The UP ATS acted after it found money trails linked to conflict-driven donation drives, they said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Police and intelligence sources said this case suggests a growing trend of humanitarian crowdfunding hijacked by extremist or criminal networks without fundraising permission or registration. In India, there are KYC procedures to monitor donors but somehow these protocols were all missing in this case, they said. While the accused were booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, it may lead to charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA, if foreign terror financing links are established during interrogation and forensic analysis. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Location : Bhiwandi Nizampur, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 22:15 IST News india 'Gaza Crowdfunding Scam': 3 Held In Maharashtra For Diverting Rs 5 Crore For 'Anti-National' Activities 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 2.0 Biggest Reform In 77 Years Of Independence': Pralhad Joshi At Network18 Reforms Reloaded Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 20:42 IST Joshi pointed out that daily essentials like dosa, filter coffee and even toothpaste are now tax-free under GST 2.0 Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New and Renewable Engergy Pralhad Joshi. (PTI photo) Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday called the recently announced GST 2.0 the biggest reform" in 77 years of independence, saying that most daily-use consumer items now fall under either the zero or five per cent tax bracket. Joshi, who is the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, made the remark while speaking at the Network18 Reforms Reloaded event in New Delhi. Recommended Stories This is the biggest reform after 77 years of independence. As Consumer Affairs Minister, I can say that items used by consumers on a daily basis are now either taxed at zero or five per cent," he said. #GSTReforms | This is the biggest reform after 77 years of independence, as far as the Consumer Affairs Minister I can tell you whatever consumer are day to day using i.e. either zero percent or five percent: @JoshiPralhad, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs@AnchorAnandN | pic.twitter.com/n1MQJKiUTg News18 (@CNNnews18) September 22, 2025 The minister pointed out that common essentials such as dosa, filter coffee and even toothpaste are now tax-free under GST 2.0. Earlier, tax on dosa was 20%, now it is 0. Even tax on good South Indian filter coffee was 20, but now its 0 and many of essentail items like toothpaste, soap are under 5 per cent," Joshi noted. This means the common man will benefit, and of course, whether it is the state or central government, there will be some loss of revenue. But when the public save money like this, their buying power increases. When business grows in the market, revenue also goes up. But for this, we just need a little patience," he added. Joshi further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in the people of the country, and he also believes in the businessmen of the country." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He also noted that the consumer ministry has set up a dedicated helpline to address consumer complaints about GST benefits not being passed on, and has created a mechanism to resolve such disputes before litigation. We have established a helpline and are monitoring it closely. The finance ministry is also doing necessary follow-up to ensure that the benefits reach consumers," Joshi 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 First Published: September 22, 2025, 20:13 IST News india 'GST 2.0 Biggest Reform In 77 Years Of Independence': Pralhad Joshi At Network18 Reforms Reloaded Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Kerala Man Kills Wife Over Mistrust, Confesses On Social Media Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 16:24 IST Man killed his wife in Kollam, confessed on Facebook Live, then surrendered. Police booked him for murder after their sons complaint and seized both their mobile phones. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Representative image In a shocking incident, a man allegedly killed his 39-year-old wife in Keralas Kollam early Monday morning and later confessed to the brutal crime on Facebook Live video before surrendering to police. The victim, identified as Shalini, a resident of Placheri in Valakkodu, was reportedly attacked while she was taking a bath near the kitchens backyard pipeline around 6:30 am, news agency PTI reported. Recommended Stories According to the FIR, the couple had marital issues. At around 6.30 am, when Shalini went near the pipeline behind the kitchen to take a bath, the accused attacked her with a knife, inflicting deep injuries on her neck, chest, and back," the FIR said. Police said Shalinis husband, Isaac, attacked her with a knife, fatally injuring her neck, chest and back. Moments after the crime, Isaac went live on Facebook, where he admitted to the killing and made personal allegations against his wife, including claims of mistrust and misuse of jewellery. The video, since removed from the social media platform, reportedly circulated briefly and sparked shock and concern among viewers. Isaac later reached the police station and informed the cops about killing his wife. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The police team soon reached the house and found Shalini dead. A police official said that Shalinis body was later shifted to the hospital for a post-mortem. Meanwhile, police have booked Isaac under Section 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita following a complaint by the couples 19-year-old son. Investigators said a forensic team is examining the crime scene, and the mobile phones of both the victim and the accused have been seized. Location : Kerala, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 16:24 IST News india Kerala Man Kills Wife Over Mistrust, Confesses On Social Media Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Kerala SIR To Be Delayed? State CEO Urges Pause On Voter List Revision Until Local Body Polls Curated By : News18.com Edited By: News Desk Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 20:40 IST The move follows consultations with political parties and internal deliberations within the CEOs office Chief Electoral Officer (Kerala) Rathan Kelkar Keralas Chief Electoral Officer formally wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday seeking to postpone the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state until after the 2025 local body elections. The move follows consultations with political parties and internal deliberations within the CEOs office, sources told CNN-News18. Recommended Stories The local body elections, scheduled between November and December, will require significant involvement from election officers, who would otherwise also be tasked with carrying out the SIR. Rathan Kelkar cited this overlap as a key reason for requesting the deferment. During a meeting convened by the CEO earlier, representatives of major political parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and the Congress, expressed strong concerns about the timing of the SIR and the proposal to use the 2002 electoral rolls as the base document for the revision. Party leaders argued that using such outdated data was impractical and urged the Election Commission to instead rely on the most recent rolls, such as those used in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Political parties also requested that ration cards be accepted as valid identification during the revision process and highlighted the need for clarity on local definitions, including the term Kudiyettakkaar. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the SIR, its representative B Gopalakrishnan stressed the importance of ensuring that only eligible citizens are included in the electoral list. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He noted that previous voting does not automatically confirm citizenship; individuals must meet the constitutional criteria for eligibility. The Election Commission is yet to respond to the CEOs request, leaving the timeline for the SIR in Kerala uncertain. Location : Kerala, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 20:40 IST News india Kerala SIR To Be Delayed? State CEO Urges Pause On Voter List Revision Until Local Body Polls 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... 'More Hype Than Truth': Kerala's Infectious Diseases Head On 'Handful Of Brain-Eating Amoeba' Cases Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 12:10 IST Dr Aravind R said while Kerala has managed to reduce the mortality rate of even the deadliest Naegleria infections, misinformation remains a concern Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Dr Aravind R, head of the department of infectious diseases at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Keralas sudden surge in cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis (AME)a condition often linked in popular imagination to the so-called brain-eating amoeba"is not just a matter of chance, but of stronger disease surveillance, Dr Aravind R, head of the department of infectious diseases at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, has told News18. Warning against misinformation, Aravind said: Of 103 AME cases detected in Kerala over the last two years, only 11 were due to Naegleria Fowlerithe real brain-eating amoebaand all others were due to free-living amoeba, which led to chronic illness but have higher chances of survival." Recommended Stories This means only nine per cent patients suffered the pathogen that had the capacity to eat brains, while the remaining 91 per cent had an infection from the relatively milder version, which is most likely treatable, unless the person has weak immunity or prevailing medical history. Even though increased case detection is a cause of worry, more worrying is the misinformation that brain-eating amoeba infection is spreading in Kerala", he said. What Causes AME, How Does It Eat The Brain? AME cases are usually caused by Naegleria Fowleri, which leads to primary AME with a 98 per cent case fatality rate", as well as another free-living amoeba such as acanthamoeba, Balamuthia, sappinia, vermamoeba and paravahlkampfia, which cause granulomatous AME. Naegleria is often referred to as brain-eating amoeba due to its ability to invade and digest brain tissue resulting in catastrophic presentation and rapid progression to death in the majority of the cases". The clinical presentation of amoebic meningoencephalitis is not easy to differentiate from meningoencephalitis [ME] caused by bacterial or viral infections. The classic symptoms such as fever, headache, neck pain and alteration of sensorium remain the same." Hence, a high index of clinical suspicion and microbiology skill is necessary to diagnose the disease. Keralas Surveillance & Treatment Edge Multiple studies from north and east India, Aravind pointed out, show that amoebic meningoencephalitis rather than being a rare disease is a rarely diagnosed disease". Following repeated Nipah outbreaks, Kerala had strengthened its ME surveillance systems. Between 2016 and 2023, the state was detecting only one or two cases of AME every year, with 100 per cent mortality." However, in 2024, Kerala proactively started looking for etiological diagnosis in undiagnosed cases of AME where the usual bacterial and viral tests were negative. This strategy resulted in detection of eight cases of AME by July 2024 with 50 per cent survival rate," Aravind said. On analysing those cases, the team found that if diagnosis was made within three days of symptom onset, chances of survival were high". Based on this, Kerala released technical guidelines in July 2024the first state in India to do so. Patients first undergo cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) testing followed by microscopy and molecular testing. Adoption of this treatment protocol coupled with active case surveillance even in patients without obvious water exposure resulted in diagnosis of 39 cases in 2024 with 24 per cent case fatality rate. This remarkable feat of lowering mortality was made possible by early diagnosis and administration of drugs as per state protocol," he explained. The state public health lab in Kerala in 2025 has established a molecular diagnostic facility for identifying the species of amoeba which helps in optimising the treatment regimen. Through this, the turnaround time for molecular confirmation was reduced from three weeks to two days." Once the variant is identified, the treatment can be customised. All these factors contributed to an increase in case detection happening in 2025 compared to 2024. Identifying the source of infection is easy in case of AME due to naegleria, as incubation period is only 7-14 days. However, in case of infection caused by other variants of amoeba, incubation period can vary between weeks to months. Globally, etiological diagnosis of this disease is identified in only 40-50 per cent of meningoencephalitis cases, while in India the number drops to 30 per cent." This means, 70 per cent of remaining meningoencephalitis cases go undiagnosed. One Health Approach Aravind, who was also a member of the State Medical Board on Covid-19 and the State Expert Committee on Covid-19, said Kerala has since adopted a One Health" action plan to prevent and manage AME. In August 2024, a technical workshop was conducted in Kerala to explore preventive methods keeping principles of One Health in mind. Following this a One Health based multi-pronged action plan to optimise the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of AME in Kerala focussing on public awareness campaigns, enhancing diagnostic capacity, active case surveillance, drug availability, research, environmental surveillance and hot spot mapping." This included proactive testing for AME even in patients without an epidemiological link," a strategy unique to Kerala. As a result, around 70 cases were diagnosed in 2025. Keralas abundance of water bodies has complicated prevention efforts. Kerala abounds in waterbodies with around 55,000 ponds and close to 55 lakh open wells. As sources of some of the cases were tracked back to wells, a massive chlorination of wells campaign was undertaken across the state in August. The Public Health Act has been invoked to ensure that all swimming pools and water theme parks maintain adequate residual chlorine levels," he said. Falling Fatality, Rising Questions Kerala has managed to reduce the mortality rate of even the deadliest Naegleria infections. Active search for cases of AME and timely initiation of treatment with amphotericin, miltefosine, azithromycin, fluconazole and rifampicin has helped to bring down mortality even in Naegleria Fowleri AME to less than 30 per cent in Kerala," Aravind said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Still, he said, the question remains why the case numbers of a supposedly rare infection are increasing. Can global warming be blamed for the surge in cases confined to one region alone?" Active search for AME in other parts of the country might give an answer to these questions. The lessons learnt from Kerala need to transcend boundaries as it seems as if AME rather than being a rare disease is a rarely diagnosed disease." About the Author Himani Chandna Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particu... Read More Location : Kerala, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 12:10 IST News india 'More Hype Than Truth': Kerala's Infectious Diseases Head On 'Handful Of Brain-Eating Amoeba' Cases 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... New Chapter In My Life: Vikramaditya Singh Ties Knot With Panjab University Professor Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 21:30 IST Vikramaditya Singh married Amreen Kaur in a Sikh ceremony at a Chandigarh gurdwara, attended by family and friends. This is the second marriage of Vikramaditya, who belongs to the royal family of the erstwhile princely state of Bushahr (X) Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh tied the nuptial knot with Panjab University assistant professor Amreen Kaur at a private ceremony in Chandigarh on Monday. The Anand Karaj wedding ceremony solemnised as per Sikh traditions took place at a gurdwara in Chandigarh and was attended by Vikramadityas close relatives and friends. Recommended Stories Wearing a bright orange and pink turban and a pastel pink sherwani, Vikramaditya, the second-time MLA from Shimla Rural, carried a ceremonial sword while Amreen, who was accompanied at the wedding by her parents, was seen wearing an embroidered lehenga. It is the beginning of a new chapter in my life," the 35-year-old Public Works Department minister told reporters after the wedding rituals. After the rituals, the couple headed to Shimla. Speaking briefly to reporters here after getting married, Vikramaditya expressed deep gratitude at the blessings received from everyone on the occasion. This is the second marriage of Vikramaditya Singh, who is the titular king of the erstwhile princely state of Bushahr in Shimla district. The son of six-time chief minister, late Virbhadra Singh, and Himachal Congress president Pratibha Singh, The Shimla Rural MLA, who holds the Public Works Department portfolio in the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led state Cabinet, was earlier married to a woman hailing from an erstwhile Rajasthan Royal family. They divorced last year after tying the knot in 2019. While Vikramaditya is the son of six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh and Himachal Pradesh Congress president Pratibha Singh, Amreens parents Sardar Jotinder Singh Sekhon and Opinder Kaur are residents of Sector 2 in Chandigarh, Indian Express reported. Who Is Vikramaditya Singh? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all An alumnus of Hansraj College, Delhi University, Vikramaditya was active in student politics and later completed his Masters in History from St Stephens College. He formally joined the Himachal Pradesh Congress in 2013 and later became President of the state Youth Congress. Vikramaditya entered electoral politics in 2017, winning his first Assembly election from Shimla Rural. Along with Virbhadra Singh, he created history that year by becoming the first father-son duo to take oath together as legislators in the state. About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More Location : Chandigarh, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 21:30 IST News india New Chapter In My Life: Vikramaditya Singh Ties Knot With Panjab University Professor Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Pakistan Shell Fired During Operation Sindoor Discovered In Srinagars Dal Lake Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 14:01 IST On the morning of May 10, a missile-like object had landed deep inside the Dal Lake, one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the Valley Eyewitnesses recalled that smoke billowed from the water surface when the object landed. (@mirhadu788). The remains of a Pakistani shell that exploded in Srinagars Dal Lake during Operation Sindoor in May were recovered during a routine cleaning drive, officials said on Saturday. The object was discovered by teams from the Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) and later taken to the nearest police station, where it has been kept for further examination and necessary action. Recommended Stories On the morning of May 10, a missile-like object had landed deep inside the Dal Lake, one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the Valley, triggering loud explosions that rocked Srinagar. Eyewitnesses recalled that smoke billowed from the water surface when the object landed. Security forces were immediately rushed to the spot and fished out the debris. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Officials further noted that on the same day, another suspected object was recovered from Lasjan on the outskirts of Srinagar after multiple blasts were reported across the city. Both incidents raised alarm among security agencies given the timing and locations of the explosions. Operation Sindoor was Indias military response to Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. The recovery of the shell debris underscores the intensity of the strikes and the continuing process of clearing unexploded remnants from sensitive areas. 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 22, 2025, 14:01 IST News india Pakistan Shell Fired During Operation Sindoor Discovered In Srinagars Dal Lake 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... 'PM Modi Gave Indias Foreign Policy A Spine': Amit Shah's Dig At Jawaharlal Nehru Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 23:24 IST Amit Shah noted that under PM Modi, Indias foreign policy has gained strength and clarity, and added that historians will judge Modis tenure more favourably than Nehrus Union Home Minister Amit Shah (PTI Image) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given Indias foreign policy a spine, distancing it from the approach of his predecessors, including the countrys first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Shah noted that under PM Modi, Indias foreign policy has gained strength and clarity, and added that historians will judge Modis tenure more favourably than Nehrus. Recommended Stories When historians compare Prime Minister Modis era with that of other leaders, the outcome will favour PM Modi," Shah told NDTV when asked how the Modi and Nehru periods would be judged in retrospect. Jawaharlal Nehru remains Indias longest-serving prime minister, holding office for over 16 years. Whereas PM Modi, with a continuous tenure exceeding 11 years, is the countrys second-longest-serving prime minister. PM Modi also holds the record as Gujarats longest-serving Chief Minister, having led the state from October 2001 to May 2014. Shah also dismissed claims that a larger-than-life personality cult" around PM Modi is behind the BJPs electoral success or is a justification for moving to a presidential system of government. He noted that such a cult cannot be manufactured, and that PM Modis stature has grown organically through years of experience and accomplishment. From a child from a very poor family, to working in an organisation, to contesting Sarpanch elections, becoming a successful Chief Minister, and then the Prime Minister he has achieved many things that seemed impossible. The country and the world have taken note of his accomplishments," Shah told NDTV. He highlighted Modis role as the BJPs primary election face, especially in constituencies where the party struggled to find a strong local candidate. His speeches draw millions to rallies, and his popularity has remained consistently high since the BJP came to power in 2014," Shah added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Addressing the idea that Modis persona was deliberately created, Shah said, Personality cannot be made. It is built through hard work, sacrifice, patience, and continuous effort." Reflecting on Modis evolution over the years, Shah who has known him since his pracharak days said, He has excelled in every role he has taken on, and his growth has been the result of dedication and perseverance." First Published: September 22, 2025, 23:18 IST News india 'PM Modi Gave Indias Foreign Policy A Spine': Amit Shah's Dig At Jawaharlal Nehru 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... Rajnath Singh Hints At Bloodless Revolution, Says PoK Will Soon Say Main Bhi Bharat Hoon Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 11:18 IST Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told Indian expats in Moroccos Rabat that the illegally held PoK region will return to India without taking any aggressive steps. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh suggested a peaceful uprising in PoK, with locals asserting their ties to India. (IMAGE: PTI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told the Indian community in Morocco that slogans are being raised in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) for merging back with India and expressed confidence that the area illegally held by Pakistan will merge with India without taking any aggressive steps. PoK will be ours on its own. Demands have started being made in PoK, you must have heard sloganeering," Singh said during his interaction with the Indian community in Morocco, according to ANI, who first reported the story. Recommended Stories I was addressing the Indian Army at a program in Kashmir Valley five years ago, I had then said that we will not need to attack and capture PoK, it is anyway ours; PoK itself will say, Main bhi Bharat Hoon. That day will come," the Defence Minister said. Earlier, in August, Rawalakot, a major town in the PoK, saw massive demonstrations as thousands of civilians took to the streets demanding freedom from Pakistan. A top intelligence official speaking to CNN-News18 at the time of the incident had said that these protests stemmed from years of systemic neglect, rampant unemployment and the chronic absence of basic amenities in the region. Islamabad has deliberately kept PoK economically backward to maintain control," a source told CNN-News18 at the time of the protest. Infrastructure that does exist is built for the Pakistan Armys benefit and not for the civilians who live here." Across villages in PoK, anger has begun to surface against terrorists using the regions youth to destabilize India using terror as a tool. Pakistan-based and Pakistan Army-funded terror groups have used the regions young men and women to terrorize India but earlier this year family members of a slain terrorist who was from the region barred Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its affiliated JKUM group from attending the funeral. Singh is on a two-day visit to Morocco, where he will inaugurate Tata Advanced Systems new manufacturing facility for the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 88 at Berrechid. The plant is the first-ever Indian defence manufacturing unit in Africa. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This marks the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Morocco. He described the facility as a significant milestone, highlighting the expanding global footprint of Indias defence industry. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : Rabat, Morocco First Published: September 22, 2025, 11:02 IST News india Rajnath Singh Hints At Bloodless Revolution, Says PoK Will Soon Say Main Bhi Bharat Hoon 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... Unfortunate, Irresponsible: SC On Pilots Fuel Shut-Off Remark In Air India Crash Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 12:29 IST Calling for transparency, Prashant Bhushan said independent experts should be allowed to examine the flight data recorder to ascertain what actually happened. The Air India crash on June 12 was the first fatal disaster involving a Boeing 787, killing a total of 260 people. (Image: PTI/File) The Supreme Court on Monday took strong exception to reports suggesting that pilots deliberately shut off fuel supply in connection with the Air India crash. During the hearing, Justice Surya Kant described such claims as very unfortunate and irresponsible." The remark came after senior advocate Prashant Bhushan pointed out that a Wall Street Journal article, published before the official report was submitted to the government, had cited sources claiming that the pilots were being blamed. Bhushan argued that the narrative of pilot error, including allegations of deliberately shutting off fuel supply, had spread even though the pilots were highly experienced. Recommended Stories Calling for transparency, Bhushan said independent experts should be allowed to examine the flight data recorder to ascertain what actually happened. Justice Kant, however, emphasised the need for confidentiality in such sensitive matters, stating, Lets see. But confidentiality is most important in these kinds of cases." The bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice NK Singh was hearing a PIL that seeks a court-monitored independent probe into the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 260 lives, including 19 people on the ground. Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners, argued that more than 100 days have passed since the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, yet only a preliminary inquiry report has been released. Till today there is no report, no guidance on what happened. All passengers traveling on Boeing 787s are still at risk," he submitted. Bhushan flagged a conflict of interest, pointing out that three members of the probe team are serving officials of the DGCA, one of the very bodies whose role in ensuring safety standards also needs scrutiny. He pressed for transparency over the flight data recorder, contending that families of victims and former pilots fear a cryptic line in the preliminary report, suggesting pilot error, was prematurely highlighted by international media. Bhushan insisted that confidentiality in this case cannot be justified, as the pilots and crew have all perished. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The bench, however, cautioned against speculation. Justice Surya Kant observed, To the extent of a fair and impartial inquiry, it is important, but why are you asking for so many details to come in the public domain? If the data records are made public, people will sit in their podcast rooms and spin theories. If tomorrow someone irresponsibly says a pilot is at fault, the family will suffer and if later the report clears them, then what happens?" Bhushan countered that the preliminary report itself noted issues with the aircraft that were not taken seriously by the DGCA, adding that the full inquiry must be made public. The Supreme Court has now issued notice on the PIL and asked the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA to respond. About the Author Ananya Bhatnagar Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU vi... Read More First Published: September 22, 2025, 12:16 IST News india Unfortunate, Irresponsible: SC On Pilots Fuel Shut-Off Remark In Air India Crash 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... Why India Waited Before Reacting To Trump's 50% Tariff Move? Rajnath Singh Explains Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 20:52 IST The US had earlier imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian exports, including a 25 per cent penalty over Indias continued purchase of Russian oil Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (ANI Image) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday explained why India did not react immediately to the 50 per cent tariff imposed by the US, describing the nation as broad-minded and big-hearted." The US had earlier imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian exports, including a 25 per cent penalty over Indias continued purchase of Russian oil. Recommended Stories We did not respond right away. Those who are broad-minded and big-hearted do not react immediately," Singh said while addressing the Indian community in Morocco, where he is on a two-day official visit. #WATCH | Rabat, Morocco: On 50% tariff, imposed by the US, at the interaction with the Indian community in Morocco, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, We didnt reactThose who are broad-minded and big-hearted, do not react on anything immediately." pic.twitter.com/m0X8pooThz ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2025 Rajnath Singh On PoK During the interaction, Singh also spoke about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), expressing confidence that India would regain control over the territory without the need for aggressive action. PoK will come under our control naturally. There are already voices within the region demanding freedom from the current administration," he said. Singh recalled making similar remarks five years ago while addressing an Indian Army program in Jammu and Kashmir. I had said then that we would not need to attack or capture PoK; it will itself proclaim, Main bhi Bharat Hoon. That day will come," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The ministers comments come amid opposition criticism of the government following Operation Sindoor on May 7, during which multiple Pakistani jets were downed. Opposition leaders alleged that India missed an opportunity to capture PoK, claiming that a ceasefire was agreed to despite India having the upper hand. First Published: September 22, 2025, 20:52 IST News india Why India Waited Before Reacting To Trump's 50% Tariff Move? Rajnath Singh Explains 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 Seeks Rs 5 Crore Alimony After One-Year Marriage, SC Says 'Make Reasonable...' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 23, 2025, 16:09 IST A bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala directed both parties to return to the Supreme Court Mediation Centre on October 5 for another round of discussions Supreme Court of India | PTI Image The Supreme Court pulled up a woman for demanding Rs 5 crore in alimony to dissolve her marriage of just one year, calling the demand excessive and cautioning that such a stance could invite very harsh orders." A bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala directed both parties to return to the Supreme Court Mediation Centre on October 5 for another round of discussions. Recommended Stories If this is going to be the stance of the wife, we may have to pass some orders which she may not like. We expect her to make a reasonable demand and bring this litigation to an end," Justice Pardiwala said during the hearing. The bench observed that the marriage had lasted barely a year and advised the husband against reconciliation. You will be making a mistake by calling her back. You wont be able to keep her. The dreams are very big," Justice Pardiwala remarked. Advocate Syed Kamran Ali appeared on behalf of the husband. According to submissions before the court, the husband, an engineer working with Amazon, has offered between Rs 3540 lakh as a full and final settlement, which the wife rejected. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Her lawyer admitted that earlier mediation attempts had failed, but the court pressed her to adopt a more practical approach to resolve the dispute. The court will revisit the matter after the mediation centre submits its report. First Published: September 22, 2025, 18:15 IST News india Woman Seeks Rs 5 Crore Alimony After One-Year Marriage, SC Says 'Make Reasonable...' 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... 'Yes, We'll Hear You': SC Seeks Delhi Police Response In On Bail Pleas Of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 16:55 IST The accused have challenged a Delhi HC order denying them bail, which states that "conspiratorial" violence under the garb of demonstrations or protests could not be allowed Activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and eight others have been in jail over five years in the 2020 Delhi riots larger conspiracy case. (Image: PTI/File) The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from the Delhi Police on the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima and Meeran Haider in the UAPA case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. Issuing a notice, a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria posted the matter for October 7. Recommended Stories We could not hear this on Friday (September 19) since Justice Manmohan could not hear it," the bench was quoted by Bar and Bench. The Bar and Bench report said when the counsel for the accused pointed out that they had been in jail for more than five years, the court was quoted: Yes we will hear you and dispose of itissue notice in all." The activists have challenged a September 2 Delhi High Court order, which denied bail to nine people including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam saying conspiratorial" violence under the garb of demonstrations or protests by citizens could not be allowed. Besides Khalid and Imam, those who faced bail rejection are Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Abdul Khalid Saifi and Shadab Ahmed. The bail plea of another accused, Tasleem Ahmed, was rejected by a different high court bench on September 2. The accused, who have denied all the allegations against them, have been in jail since 2020 and had moved the Delhi HC after a trial court rejected their bail pleas. The high court had said the Constitution affords citizens the right to protest and carry out demonstrations or agitations, provided they are orderly, peaceful and without arms, and such actions must be within the bounds of law. While it said the right to participate in peaceful protests and to make speeches in public meetings was said to have been protected under Article 19(1)(a) and could not be blatantly curtailed, it observed the right was not absolute" and subject to reasonable restrictions". If the exercise of an unfettered right to protest were permitted, it would damage the constitutional framework and impinge upon the law and order situation in the country," the bail rejection order stated. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Khalid, Imam and the rest of the accused were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA, and provisions of the erstwhile Indian Penal Code for allegedly being the masterminds" of the 2020 riots, which left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured. The violence erupted during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). (With agency inputs) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More First Published: September 22, 2025, 16:51 IST News india 'Yes, We'll Hear You': SC Seeks Delhi Police Response In On Bail Pleas Of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam 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... Celebrate Without Guilt: 7 Unani Tips For Healthy Festive Feasting Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 09:01 IST Festivals bring joy and connection, but Unani wisdom reminds us that true health lies in balance According to Unani medicine, strong immunity depends on maintaining balance in six essential factors: pure air, nutritious food and drink, sufficient physical activity, active mental engagement, proper rest, and effective waste elimination. (AI Generated Image) India is known as the land of festivals, with each month bringing its own celebration. Though traditions differ across regions, food remains the common bond. From Diwali sweets to sheer khurma on Eid and Ganesh Chaturthi modaks, festive delicacies bring families and communities together. Yet, the joy of feasting often leads to overeating and digestive discomfort. Unani medicine offers a natural solution. Rooted in ancient wisdom, this holistic healing system focuses on preventing ailments and restoring balance, with special emphasis on gut health. Herbs like ginger and kalonji are known to aid digestion and boost immunity. By combining digestion-friendly spices with gentle detox practices, Unani ensures you enjoy festive meals without compromising your wellbeing. Recommended Stories Dr. Naushad Ali Rana, Associate General Manager, Hamdard Wellness, Hamdard Laboratories India, shares seven simple ways to celebrate responsibly with Unani wisdom: 1. Emphasize Hydration and Cleansing Drinks The Unani system highlights the importance of drinking sufficient fluids such as water, coconut water, or buttermilk while steering clear of sugary beverages. Light detox practices like herbal teas (ginger-cinnamon) support gut cleansing. During monsoon festivities, herbs such as neem or chiraita help combat infections and purify the blood. 2. Care for Your Bowel Health Unani medicine recommends fibre-rich seasonal fruits like guava, papaya, pears, peaches, plums, grapes, and mangoes to promote healthy bowel movements, thanks to their mild laxative properties. For those experiencing frequent motions, it advises avoiding oily and spicy foods while adding fruits like Indian gooseberry, pomegranate, and Indian blackberry, which have natural astringent effects. A simple remedy is psyllium husk with curd, which maintains smooth digestion and regulates bowel activity. 3. Follow Mindful Fasting for a Gut Reset Fasting allows the digestive system to rest, restoring balance and improving gut health. The Unani system recommends fasting as an effective detoxification practice. To ensure wellness, avoid junk food, fizzy drinks, and caffeinated beverages during fasting periods, while drinking plenty of water during non-fasting hours. Including nuts, dates, and cows milk provides healthy calories and nourishment. 4. Enhance Immunity with Unani Herbs According to Unani medicine, strong immunity depends on maintaining balance in six essential factors: pure air, nutritious food and drink, sufficient physical activity, active mental engagement, proper rest, and effective waste elimination. Keeping this harmony strengthens the bodys natural healing ability. 5. Practice Portion Management Festivals often come with indulgent, calorie-dense traditional dishes. Unani experts strongly recommend mindful eating and portion control, especially for individuals with weak digestion, obesity, or diabetes. 6. Adopt Light Dinners as a Habit Unani wisdom suggests making dinner the lightest meal of the day to boost metabolism, aid weight management, and reduce sluggishness. To prevent indigestion and bloating during festivities, keep portions moderate and include ingredients like carom seeds, fennel, cumin, or ginger, well known for easing gas and improving digestion. 7. Ensure Proper Sleep and Manage Stress top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Festive celebrations often disrupt sleep schedules, leaving both body and mind fatigued. Unani recommends that adults get 78 hours of sound sleep every night to allow the body to recharge and function optimally. Festivals bring joy and connection, but Unani wisdom reminds us that true health lies in balance. By embracing these practices, you can enjoy festive traditions while protecting your wellbeing. For personalized guidance, always consult an expert. With mindful choices, every festive meal can become a step toward lasting vitality. About the Author Swati Chaturvedi Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she's a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in N... Read More First Published: September 22, 2025, 09:01 IST News lifestyle health-and-fitness Celebrate Without Guilt: 7 Unani Tips For Healthy Festive Feasting Sonam Kapoor Brings Culture And Conservation To The Front Row At London Fashion Week Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 30, 2025, 13:32 IST For the Erdem showcase at London Fashion Week, Sonam Kapoor turned heads in a white dress which was embroidered with striking cobalt blue motifs of the Great Indian Bustard. Sonam's dress featured motifs of the critically endangered Godawan birds. Bollywood star and global fashion icon Sonam Kapoor turned heads at London Fashion Week as she attended the Spring 2026 Ready-to-Wear presentation by British-Turkish designer Erdem Moralioglu. Staged at the British Museum, the show was a landmark moment, and Sonams presence elevated it further. Known for her bold fashion storytelling, the actor made the front row a stage for advocacy as much as style. Couture Meets Conservation Recommended Stories For the showcase, Sonam Kapoor wore a custom Erdem gown in ivory, adorned with striking cobalt blue motifs of the Godawan bird the Great Indian Bustard. Once widespread across India, the species is now listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The gown wasnt just couture; it was a conscious statement that blended heritage and modernity, paying homage to Indias cultural roots while spotlighting the fragile recovery of the bird population, from 100 to 173 in recent years, through conservation efforts. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonam A Kapoor (@sonamkapoor) The choice of motif gave the look a rare depth. Fashion became storytelling, with each embroidered bird symbolising not just beauty, but resilience and revival. In Sonams hands, the ensemble transformed into a canvas of advocacy, urging global attention to a cause close to her heart. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sonam completed her look with a sapphire necklace and matching earrings that echoed the cobalt embroidery, striking a balance between opulence and restraint. Her sleek hair, minimal makeup, and navy heels let the ensemble remain the focal point, proving once again her mastery of fashion diplomacy. This was not just dressing for an occasion; it was curating a cultural moment that married glamour with purpose. Over the years, Sonam Kapoor has cemented her reputation as someone who uses fashion to go beyond aesthetics. By choosing a look that symbolised the survival of one of the worlds most endangered species, she reminded the global stage that style can carry substance. Her presence at Erdems show became a cultural milestone, reaffirming her place not only as a global style icon but also as a storyteller who ensures that fashion remains a voice for issues that matter. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 17:18 IST News lifestyle Sonam Kapoor Brings Culture And Conservation To The Front Row At London Fashion Week Sonam Kapoor's 500 Carat Tanzanite Necklace Exuded Victorian Charm At London Fashion Week Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Snigdha Oreya Last Updated: September 30, 2025, 13:31 IST Styled by Rhea Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor exuded timeless elegance in Amrapali Jewels' silver and gold polki Victorian necklace set featuring diamonds and tanzanite. Sonam Kapoor attended Erdem Moralioglu's Spring 2026 showcase at London Fashion Week. Global style icon and Indian actress Sonam Kapoor attended Erdem Moralioglus Spring 2026 showcase in an Amrapali Jewels necklace set celebrating the intricate craftsmanship of polki diamonds with the elegance of Victorian design. Set in silver and gold and enhanced with diamonds and tanzanite, the Victorian Polki necklace features almost 500 carat tanzanite gemstones. Exuding old antique charm, the masterpiece tells a story of innovation and tradition. Recommended Stories Each tanzanite gemstone stood out in this opulent necklace, making it the perfect heirloom piece to have this festive season. Sonam Kapoor paired the necklace with earrings featuring a tanzanite stud enhanced with pearl drop detailing. Celebrating Indian artistry with a contemporary allure, the necklace set is a testament to Amrapalis dedication to unparalleled craftsmanship and heritage. The alluring hue of the tanzanite gemstones beautifully matched the intricate Godawan bird motifs in deep cobalt blue on Sonams custom Erdem gown. The Great Indian Bustard, lovingly known as the Godawan, is now a Critically Endangered Bird on the IUCN Red List. The gown carrying the Godawan bird artwork paid tribute to the extraordinary recovery of the Great Indian Bustard population, from 100 when the initiative began to protect the birds to 173 today through the efforts of Diageo India. Sonam not only celebrated legacy craftsmanship but also spotlighted the urgent need for conservation of one of the worlds most critically endangered species, making this not just a red-carpet moment, but a cultural statement. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sonam was styled by celebrity fashion stylist Rhea Kapoor. Her glam quotient was further enhanced with Front Row ready glam by makeup artist Maria Asadi and hair stylist Peter Burkill. Sonam accessorised with the vintage Indraneel clutch designed by Meera Mahadevia. Joining Rhea and Abhilash Devnani to bring this vision to life were the styling team, including Niyati, Forum Majithia and Kyra Jashnani. Sonam shared a couple of images of the exquisite look and captioned the post with the message. From the front row at @erdem for London Fashion Week to a night of celebration celebrating the rise of the Godawan, from 100 to 173 and Rajasthans roots. Grateful to be a part of a story where craft, culture and conservation come together." About the Author Akshata Shetty Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who cel... Read More Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 20:52 IST News lifestyle Sonam Kapoor's 500 Carat Tanzanite Necklace Exuded Victorian Charm At London Fashion Week How Uttar Pradesh Is Emerging As A Top Eco-Tourism Destination With Rhinos Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 15:34 IST Rhinos are back in Dudhwa, Uttar Pradesh, offering travellers an extraordinary eco-tourism adventure amid Indias wild landscapes. Eco-tourism is one of the most sought after experiences among Indian travellers. For decades, the grasslands of Uttar Pradesh remained eerily silent, missing one of their most iconic residents the greater one-horned rhinoceros. But that long silence has been broken. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is now witnessing a rare ecological comeback: free-ranging rhinos are reclaiming their home, roaming alongside tigers in a landscape that feels untouched and primordial. Beyond conservation, their return is reshaping eco-tourism, offering visitors a front-row seat to Indias living wilderness. A Century-Long Comeback Recommended Stories Protecting our wildlife is a legacy we leave for future generations," says Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh. The story of Dudhwas rhinos began in the 1980s with the arrival of Banke and Raju from Assam, followed by Nepals gift of females Rapti, Narayani, and Hemrani. The iconic Nepolena, a stray female from Chitwan, became an enduring symbol of hope for the Terai. Today, the reserve holds around 52 rhinos, including young calves not yet in the census. The first truly free-ranging generation was released in late 2024 and early 2025. These pioneers now forage in wetlands and tall grass belts. Despite their size, nearly 34 tonnes, they coexist peacefully with other wildlife. Science and Stewardship Dr H. Raja Mohan, Field Director of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, explains the meticulous monitoring: Each rhino is assigned to a mahout. One mahout tracks five fixed animals and submits a weekly log of posture, health, feeding, and companions seen. These go to the range and then the division, creating a living diary of every rhino. Add collars, elephant patrols, and anti-poaching teams, and you can see why they are thriving." Veterinary Officer Dr. Daya Shankar adds: Every rhino brought into Dudhwa undergoes a 90-day quarantine where health and adaptability are monitored closely." Rhinos as Ecosystem Engineers Rhinos arent just showpieces for tourists; they shape the landscape. Where rhinos feed repeatedly, softer grasses dominate, which benefits other herbivores. Every rhino here is a landscape manager," says Dr. Shankar. By grazing and fertilising the soil, their presence supports deer, antelope, and wetland regeneration, making every sighting both spectacular and ecologically meaningful. Tourism and Community Impact top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Visitors now experience a rare double attraction: tigers and rhinos in the same forest. Visitors are enchanted by rhinos. Families call them gentle giants, while photographers wait hours for that perfect frame of a rhino stepping out of tall grass. Our focus is sensitive travel limiting vehicles, training local guides, and creating jobs," explains Prakhar Misra, Director, Uttar Pradesh Tourism (Eco). From the arrival of the first rhinos to todays thriving free-ranging population, Dudhwa embodies resilience, science-driven conservation, and sustainable tourism. On this World Rhino Day, the message is clear: the unicorns of the wild arent just back. They are shaping the future of eco-tourism in Uttar Pradesh. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 15:34 IST News lifestyle travel How Uttar Pradesh Is Emerging As A Top Eco-Tourism Destination With Rhinos Opinion | Humanities And Social Sciences In India Need An Urgent Overhaul To Regain Relevance And Sanity Written By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 17:24 IST Indian conservatives and progressive nationalists would ignore humanities and social sciences at their and their nations own peril Sometimes, the attacks are becoming so unhinged as to call for the abolition of all HSS departments from Indias public-funded institutions. (AI generated image) Poor old humanities and social sciences (henceforth HSS) disciplines are under attack again. And this time, the charge against HSS is being led by the self-designated Indian Right on social media. Social media is abuzz, as it so often is, with angry reactions from Right-Wing users targeting humanities and social sciences departments from top Indian institutions. Sometimes, the attacks are becoming so unhinged as to call for the abolition of all HSS departments from Indias public-funded institutions. Indias mainstream English media, too, has taken a cue from its younger but more robust counterpart and joined the discourse in its usual sensationalist style. The whole thing is creating more cacophony than a cool, rational debate on the matter, and therefore clarity of thought the mother of all good public policy has fallen victim to it. Recommended Stories At the centre of the storm lies a series of expose-s carried out by a few social media handles, in which the involvement of faculty members from certain top Indian institutes in activism-oriented academic projects was brought to light before a larger (social media) public. Names were named, allegations of anti-national activities were raised, and both political as well as institutional authorities were tagged in these social media posts. Result? Sympathisers of both the Left and the Right hurled online abuses at each other; one top institution from Western India blocked (and later unblocked) a social media handle spearheading the campaign against the HSS departments; and the authorities who were tagged in the posts, in the hope of some kind of high-handed divine intervention on their part, have nonchalantly ignored the posts so far. One suspects that nothing more than this can ever be achieved anyway by such vituperative social media outbursts and peremptory calls for abolishing HSS departments from Indias public-funded institutions. It would yield much better and more positive results if the same agitating social media handles had applied themselves to mastering one or more HSS disciplines, and then proceeded to counter the academic reports, studies and activism they oppose so passionately. Such a challenge would have been more effective because it would have been fuelled by a robust argument and justified by the internal logic of the disciplines themselves. But then, it would take quite a bit of hard work, an exercise of discipline at individual and ecosystem levels, and rigorous application of academic methodology things that are time-consuming, and far less glamorous or instantly gratifying, or even materially rewarding, when compared to the dopamine-secreting social media traction from rage-baiting sensationalist posts. One can even monetise large social media followership! In short, exposes fetch likes, shares, and subscriptions, but academic studies/critiques/rejoinders dont not as promptly or as generously as it happens on social media, at any rate. Feel-good dopamine shots, fifteen minutes of fame and monetisation apart, social media activism suffers from the obvious handicap of being taken lightly, and dismissed even more brusquely, by people whose actions ultimately move heaven and earth. At least so far, the recent spate of social media cacophony calling for the abolition of HSS departments has met with a similar fate. No serious player be it policymakers, institutional administrators, or academics seems to have taken these angry calls on social media seriously. This is because the social media handles raising a hue and cry on the issue lack the crucial element of legitimacy, which their opponents enjoy to a great extent, sometimes even unduly. What gives them such legitimacy? Why, their fortified positions within academia. Now, one feels tempted to ask the agitating social media handles this question: What stops you from occupying similar positions in the academy? One suspects that the answer lies in a deep-seated disdain for HSS disciplines harboured by those who like to identify with the Indian Right. This collective if it can be called that is dominated by technologists and technocrats who hardly ever had any exposure to humanistic studies beyond their high school days. They are primarily engineers, doctors, accountants or businessmen who often feel helpless, and are frequently given to an impotent but quick temper, while encountering highly articulate and sharp HSS graduates and academics arguing about a cause, no matter how contrived or subversive those arguments may be. This groups naivete and incompetence in dealing with complex arguments or narrative-building exercises could perhaps be cured if its members shed their hubris and engage seriously and critically with various HSS disciplines. One glaring instance of this naivete lies in the very label that this group often readily identifies with: the Right Wing. It tells us that they know little world history and even less of their own national-cultural history. Despite really being either Indian conservatives or progressive nationalists, they often proudly designate themselves as the Indian Right Wing, demonstrating that they know little to nothing about the European or American (Western) Right, or even the Islamist Right, for that matter. The Western and Islamist Right are defined by their respective inherent xenophobia towards specific ethnic groups (Africans, Hispanics, Asians, or Jews, for example), a trait which the self-proclaimed Indian Right definitely doesnt share. Neither is the Indian conservative and/or progressive nationalist averse to ideas of complete government control over essential service sectors like education and health, as demonstrated by the recent social media outrage over HSS that insists on its abolition in Indias public-funded institutions. Note that the central thrust of this social media uproar is specifically on abolishing the HSS departments and not on completely defunding the institutes themselves. None of these justifies the designation Right Wing for Indian conservatives and progressive nationalists. But here they are. To effect long-lasting policy changes that can ensure a defeat of subversive, seditious and unpatriotic elements from academia, concerned parties must shun reactionary rage-baiting on social media and/or sensationalism on mainstream media. Instead of generating desired effects, such reactionism ends up producing exactly opposite consequences, often strengthening the hands of the subversive elements. Our times demand a systematic participation by patriots in the field of HSS, not reactionism. As a young republic and as an ancient civilisation, India needs to get her act together fast and tell her stories and experiences, confidently and skilfully, before a global audience. Upon the success of Indias ability to tell her own story from her own perspective depends on the fulfilment of her destiny to reclaim the position of a well-developed, sovereign nation and a global superpower. This requires a robust ecosystem of patriotic HSS scholars as well as an institutional ecosystem to support them. More and more patriotic individuals and organisations must engage actively, responsively, responsibly and critically with HSS disciplines, instead of denouncing these disciplines and preposterously calling for their abolition from Indias public-funded institutions. Moreover, serious academic engagements with HSS disciplines can generate outcomes far greater in value than one-off takedowns or critical deconstructions of fashionable and ressentiment-driven academic activism that undermine national interests. It sharpens ones rational and empathetic cores simultaneously, enhances leadership qualities and public-speaking skills, and helps one use language effectively to create soul-stirring narratives that inspire people from various backgrounds to work for the upliftment of themselves, their kin, their society and nation. Let us recall Swami Vivekanandas words, uttered in Alwar, Rajasthan, in 1891, to reflect on the vital role of just one HSS discipline, namely History, in man-making and nation-making: Now it is for us to strike out an independent path of historical research for ourselves; to study the Vedas and the Puranas and ancient annals of India; and from this to make it our life work and discipline to write accurate, sympathetic and soul-inspiring histories of the land" top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Indian conservatives and progressive nationalists would ignore HSS at their (and their nations) own peril. The author is an educator, researcher, and social commentator discoursing to rekindle the Indic consciousness in a postmodern, neoliberal world. Views expressed are personal. Views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect News18s editorial stance. First Published: September 22, 2025, 17:24 IST News opinion Opinion | Humanities And Social Sciences In India Need An Urgent Overhaul To Regain Relevance And Sanity 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 | Omar Abdullahs 11 Months In Office: Zero Accomplishment By A Government of Excuses Written By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 12:50 IST Omar Abdullah's is a government that has neither initiated nor innovated, neither anticipated crises nor prepared for them, and that seeks refuge in blaming others for its inertia Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google In these 11 months, the Omar Abdullah government has not introduced a single scheme or initiative that could be called its own. (PTI) The measure of governance is never in speeches, nor in the optics of ribbon-cutting ceremonies; it lies in the substance of delivery, in the ability of a government to anticipate, plan, and act in service of its people. Nearly a year into the Omar Abdullah-led governments tenure in Jammu and Kashmir, the reality that confronts the people is one of administrative paralysis, narrative-driven politics, and the appropriation of others work. What makes this drift all the more alarming is that it is accompanied by a carefully woven myth: that the Centre and the Lieutenant Governor (LG) have obstructed the functioning of the elected government. The truth, however, is that the stagnation of these past 11 months is not the result of external obstruction but of internal inertia. Recommended Stories It is worth underlining that in these 11 months, the Omar Abdullah government has not introduced a single scheme or initiative that could be called its own. No original policy has been articulated, no innovative idea has been pursued, and no reform has been attempted. What the public has witnessed instead is a series of inaugurations of projects that were not born of this government at all, but of the L-G administration that preceded it. One need only look at the examples to see the hollowness of the claims. In April this year, Abdullah inaugurated a 120-bedded orthopaedic block at the Bone and Joint Hospital in Barzulla, Srinagar. Heralded by his government as a milestone for healthcare, the block was, in fact, conceived, sanctioned, and funded under the L-G administration in 2020, with work already in progress long before he assumed office. The act of inauguration was reduced to a photo-op, while the substance belonged elsewhere. Similarly, in his home constituency of Ganderbal, Omar Abdullah cut ribbons on water supply schemes and an old-age home in Pandach, both sanctioned under the L-G government, both executed by its machinery. The story repeated itself in Srinagar, where a new Transport Bhawan was presented few days before as an achievement of the current dispensation, even though it had been sanctioned and completed under the L-Gs watch. Perhaps, the most striking example lies in Pulwama. There, a 50-metre bridge, vital for the daily movement of nearly 80,000 residents, was washed away in the floods of 2014. Successive governments failed to act, leaving the population stranded. Only under the L-G administration did the construction of a replacement begin. When it was finally completed, Omar Abdullah inaugurated it on April 16 this year, as though it were the fruit of his governments labour. The irony could not be sharper: the very man who, as chief minister in 2014 presided over the devastation of floods without adequate response, now seeks credit for the reconstruction undertaken despite his earlier failures. The appropriation of projects might still have been tolerable if accompanied by meaningful governance. Yet, even the basics have faltered. The CAPEX budget, which under the L-G was reliably released in March or April to ensure the timely execution of works, was this year delayed until July. This delay crippled development across districts, truncating the working season and leaving projects suspended. For the ordinary citizen, this is not a technical matter but a lived hardship, roads that remain broken, schools awaiting repair, health centres lacking resources. In a region where daily survival often depends on reliable public services, the consequences of such delay are profound. Meanwhile, during the floods that struck recently once again, Omar Abdullah and his party have been quick to question what the Centre and the L-G did in the past five years to prevent such a calamity. Yet, in the past 11 months, not a single review meeting on disaster preparedness has been convened by his administration. This is not merely negligence; it is wilful disregard, particularly from a leader who was chief minister when the catastrophic floods of 2014 struck, leaving an indelible scar on the Valley. That experience should have made disaster preparedness a central priority. Instead, it has been met with silence. All the while, the ruling party has devoted its energies not to governance but to narrative-building. Its cadres and legislators have been deployed across constituencies to spread the idea that the Centre and the L-G are stalling the governments work. This is not an accidental narrative; it is a calculated shield against accountability. But narratives cannot fill empty water pipes, they cannot light dark homes, and they cannot place food on the table. In villages and towns across Jammu and Kashmir, where citizens are still struggling with basic necessities, clean drinking water, stable power supply, affordable food, the governments energies are visibly directed elsewhere: on tourism events, on Gulf engagements, on the orchestration of perception rather than the delivery of substance. The comparison with the L-G administration is instructive. Under the L-G, projects were sanctioned and delivered with speed, transparency was introduced into recruitment processes, budgets were released on time, and the machinery of governance showed, for once, signs of responsiveness. That is why in areas where awareness is sharper, people already whisper openly that governance was more effective and more responsive under the L-G. This is not nostalgia; it is lived experience. What emerges after 11 months is a portrait of failure: a government that has neither initiated nor innovated, that has neither anticipated crises nor prepared for them, and that seeks refuge in blaming others for its own inertia. To continue down this path is not merely inefficient; it is dangerous. It risks undoing the fragile gains of recent years, squandering time, and eroding the trust of the people in institutions of governance. The conclusion, then, is unavoidable. Eleven months of this government have been 11 months of drift. No new schemes, no innovation, no vision, only appropriation of the L-Gs work and endless blame directed at Delhi. The citizens of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be made to pay the price of a government that neither delivers nor takes responsibility. It is time for the Centre to act. Not out of political expediency, but out of duty to the people. Increasingly, citizens themselves are voicing the sentiment that life under L-G rule was more stable, more effective, and more responsive. If this government continues down its current path of inaction and propaganda, the Centre must seriously consider reimposing Governors Rule. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all For the ordinary citizen, governance is not about political narratives; it is about whether water flows in their taps, whether food is affordable, whether roads are usable, whether hospitals are prepared for emergencies. On these fronts, Omar Abdullahs government has failed resoundingly. And failure, no matter how cleverly disguised, cannot be allowed to masquerade as governance. The author is a social and peace activist based in South Kashmir. He is a Rashtrapati Award recipient in world scouting and has contributed to many local and national publications on a diverse range of topics, including national security, politics, governance, peace. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 12:50 IST News opinion Opinion | Omar Abdullahs 11 Months In Office: Zero Accomplishment By A Government of Excuses 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 | Swadeshi Movement 2.0: Need Of The Hour For Indians Written By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 22:37 IST The modern Swadeshi movement is not about rejecting globalisation, but about smart self-reliance Strengthening domestic manufacturing like 'Make in India 2.0' is crucial now, especially when the world is fighting a trade war. (Image: AP/PTI/File) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his rare address to the nation, advocated for the Swadeshi movement and Atmanirbhar Bharat. These remarks came during the ongoing tariff tensions with the US and H-1B visa fee hike. The Swadeshi movement is not new for Indians. The first Swadeshi movement built nationalist unity; todays version of the Swadeshi movement can build economic confidence. The modern Swadeshi movement is not about rejecting globalisation, but about smart self-reliance. Recommended Stories The US tariffs on India have created shock and disappointment among Indians. On social media and other platforms, people are saying the US will not be a trustworthy friend anymore. These tariffs will create both short-term challenges and long-term opportunities. For India, the key is not to see tariffs only as barriers, but as a chance to restructure trade, upgrade industries, and position itself as an alternative hub. When Donald Trump became the President of the US for a second term, everyone in India thought he would strengthen the relations between two largest democracies. Everyone expected that, in Trumps second regime, US tariffs would be primarily aimed at reducing reliance on Chinese supply chains. It would leverage India to adopt the China+1" Strategy. But shockingly, he imposed tariffs on India rather than China. However, the tariff trade war may not be longer as both countries need each other strategically and economically. India also needs to have good relations with the US for the success of the China+1 strategy. Trumps turbulent policies should help Indias administration to understand the needs of the Swadeshi movement. Instead of just giving slogans of the Swadeshi movement, leaders should show it in actions. Leaders should encourage institutions and organizations to purchase Swadeshi products wherever feasible. Governments should boost local demand by emphasising domestic consumption of Indian goods, reducing the urgency of exporting to tariff-heavy US markets. The Swadeshi movement reduces Indias bargaining weakness; if India isnt overly dependent on the US market, it can negotiate from a position of strength. In the global perspective, India can pitch itself as a trusted alternative manufacturing base for American and western companies. Sectors like electronics, textiles, auto components, pharmaceuticals, and green tech can attract US firms seeking tariff-free diversification. More foreign direct investment (FDI) from the US and western firms re-shoring from China. India needs to promote competitive sectors like pharma; India already supplies 40 percent of US generics. With US tariffs on India, India needs to focus on its exports to other parts of the world including Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asian countries. Tariffs on China create room for India to expand. In addition to that, India can also focus on the US allies who were hurt by tariffs for the export market. When these tariffs hit global supply chains, allied nations like Mexico, Canada, EU, Japan also face disruption. India can partner with these countries to co-manufacture or co-export into the US market. For example, Indian IT + German hardware, or Indian pharma + Japanese biotech. With the new tariff crisis, India should try to convert it into opportunities to form new value-chain alliances. The tariffs then become the trigger for India to broaden its global footprint. Now is the time for India to expand beyond the US market; tariffs often highlight overdependence on one market. India can diversify exports to ASEAN, EU, Africa, and BRICS+ nations to reduce reliance on American buyers. In addition to that, instead of lobbying only for tariff removal, India should also focus on marketing itself as a stable, democratic, low-risk supply chain hub. Strengthening domestic manufacturing like Make in India 2.0 is crucial now, especially when the world is fighting a trade war. As the tariffs raise the cost of Indian exports, India must move up the value chain instead of competing on low-cost labour alone. India should also invest in semiconductors, EV batteries, aerospace, and high-end manufacturing, where margins can absorb tariffs better. Instead of only depending on US investments in these sectors, India can also encourage its domestic players, Japan, and European countries, to invest in these sectors. Indian products can be more easily penetrated into western countries than Chinese products. More than that, India itself is a big market, and these supplies can help in reducing the trade deficit. The Government of India can have Digital Swadeshi like building Indian platforms for fintech, social media, AI, and quantum instead of relying on US tech giants. Domestic manufacturing can also focus on Green Swadeshi like developing EV batteries, solar, and hydrogen tech indigenously instead of importing. Under Make In India, the defence sector is one of the crucial sectors. Governments have to make India less dependent on US/Russian imports by ramping up indigenous defence startups (DRDO, private sector). As more than 50 percent of the population is dependent on agriculture, India is self-sufficient for producing the domestic need. India needs to reduce a few agricultural product imports like edible oil, etc, and India can also become a food exporter powerhouse. The Swadeshi push creates a resilient domestic economy driven by MSMEs and startups, strengthens Indias atmanirbhar vision, making India not just self-sufficient but also a net exporter of resilience. It will enhance Indias bargaining power in trade negotiations with the US and others. For the Swadeshi movement, India has a demographic advantage. With the worlds largest youth population, Swadeshi can drive job creation through local industries. Dependence on other countries makes India vulnerable. The Swadeshi movement will ensure innovation at home. Just as tariffs pushed China to invest in its own semiconductors and AI, India can use this as a wake-up call to innovate. The Swadeshi movement is the need of the hour, because of uncertainty in global trade. US tariffs prove that India cannot always rely on external markets. Self-reliance cushions the shock. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In this 21st century, instead of traditional wars, countries are focusing on trade wars. This weaponisation of the economy will lead to sanctions, tariffs, and currency dominance (dollar power). To address this problem, India must build its own resilient supply chains. (The writer is an assistant professor at NIT Warangal and visiting fellow at the India Foundation in New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views) First Published: September 22, 2025, 22:37 IST News opinion Opinion | Swadeshi Movement 2.0: Need Of The Hour For Indians 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 | When The Ladder Shakes: India, America And The H-1B Gamble Written By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 16:26 IST The blow will fall heaviest on those at the start of their journeys, such as the fresh graduate who hoped to turn an internship into a first job Rapid Read + Follow us On Google The H-1B has always been a story of aspiration, of ambition stitched across continents. The H-1B visa has always been more than a line on a passport or a stamp in a file. It is, for many Indians, a talisman of mobility, a certificate of global belonging. It is the ladder across an ocean that allows a young engineer, a data scientist, a systems analyst to recast a life. For American firms it is an artery to foreign talent, for universities it is the dangling promise that study can lead to work, and for families it is a fragile thread that keeps two households alive across time zones. Recommended Stories Now, that thread has been pulled taut again, almost to breaking. Washingtons Sudden Surgery The new measures announced in Washington this September have changed the contours of the H-1B debate. The White House chose the instrument of executive proclamation, not the slower lanes of legislative tinkering, and set in motion reforms that strike at the foundation of how the visa operates. A sharp hike in fees for new entries, amounts so steep they might as well be deterrents, was accompanied by a shift away from the lottery system toward a wage-weighted mechanism, higher minimum wage thresholds, and hints of restrictions on programmes like Optional Practical Training. This is not routine immigration housekeeping; it is structural surgery performed in full public view. Ripples in New Delhi The reverberations travelled quickly. In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs voiced deep concern, using the careful vocabulary of diplomacy but underlining the humanitarian consequences for families and the economic hit to firms. Trade bodies of the technology sector warned that decades of contracts and delivery models could unravel overnight. The larger Indian IT houses, with war chests deep enough to cushion the blow, said little beyond ritual disappointment; the smaller firms and start-ups, many of which survive on thin project margins, described the changes in starker terms: existential. An Old Argument, A New Stage For Washington, the arguments are old but freshly packaged. Critics of the programme have long claimed that the H-1B depresses wages for entry-level American workers, that it is prone to misuse by labour contractors who flood the lottery system, and that it functions less as a talent valve than as a pipeline of cheaper foreign labour. The new wage-weighted selection system, its defenders argue, will force employers to pay more, hire fewer, and ensure that only the truly skilled are admitted. But policy is never only economics. It is also performance, ideology, and sometimes sheer transactional bargaining. Immigration, in the American political theatre, is a stage upon which larger anxieties are acted out: about jobs, about identity, about borders that feel too porous or futures that feel too uncertain. The Arithmetic of Disruption What marks this episode as different is not only the sharpness of the reform but the immediacy of its impact. These are not measures set to be debated in congressional committees for months on end. They are operational commands, enforceable within weeks, already filtering down through the pages of USCIS advisories that employers and lawyers scrutinise as if they were tide tables. A single change in premium processing rules or cap-season procedures alters the fate of thousands of applicants. Visa appointments cancelled, families left in limbo, projects paused. These are not abstractions; they are the daily arithmetic of disruption. Indias Uneven Vulnerability The Indian side of the arithmetic is brutal. Year after year, Indians account for the lions share of H-1B recipients, nearly 70 per cent of all such visas issued in 2023 went to Indian nationals. The countrys sprawling IT services industry, the legions of coders and engineers it has trained, the billions in remittances that flow back, all have been tethered to that visa channel. Now, with costs climbing into the six-figure bracket for each new hire, the calculus breaks down. Large American tech corporations may absorb the fees, treating them as the price of scarce talent. But mid-sized Indian outsourcers and entrepreneurial ventures may simply be locked out. The blow will fall heaviest on those at the start of their journeys: the fresh graduate who hoped to turn an internship into a first job, the mid-career professional who saw the visa as a stepping stone to permanent residency. The higher the wage floor is set, the narrower the bridge becomes. What is the H-1B For? This raises an older, almost philosophical question: what, after all, is the H-1B for? Is it a device to plug skill shortages that cannot be met domestically? Is it a lever to make American companies more competitive globally? Or is it, in truth, an instrument of immigration control, a gate through which only the desirable" may enter on provisional terms? The answer has always been a muddle, a little of all three, and it is that very ambiguity that makes the programme perennially contested. A visa that tries to be both a bridge for talent and a barrier to migration will always live in contradiction. The Global Reconfiguration Beyond America and India, the ripples spread further. Canada has, over the past five years, positioned itself as a more welcoming alternative, with special open work permits for those on H-1B visas in the United States. European technology clusters, in Berlin, Dublin, Amsterdam, see opportunity in every tightening of American rules, marketing themselves as more stable and less capricious destinations. Even within Asia, multinational corporations are recalibrating, shifting delivery centres to Singapore, Manila, and increasingly to tier-two Indian cities. The geography of talent is reshaping itself in response to the politics of visas. Rethinking Dependence For India, the challenge is not only to protect its citizens abroad through diplomatic negotiation but to confront the deeper structural dependency. If tens of thousands of young professionals find their American ladder pulled away, then India must build ladders of its own better domestic demand for high-skilled labour, more capital that anchors start-ups locally, policies that make staying an attractive option rather than a reluctant compromise. The conversation about H-1B cannot be reduced to pleading for access; it must also be about preparing for a world where access is neither guaranteed nor cheap. Americas Consistency Test For the United States, the test is one of consistency. If the promise is that higher wages for foreign workers will protect and uplift domestic ones, then investment in training, education, and re-skilling must be visible and serious. Otherwise, the policy will be remembered not as a correction but as a posture, a way to be seen as tough on immigration without addressing the underlying weakness of its labour markets. For firms, the message is clear: diversify, plan contingencies, rethink project structures. For families, the message is crueller: expect uncertainty, prepare for sudden jolts, seek legal advice wherever possible. Migration Will Find a Way But migrations, history teaches us, rarely stop. They adapt. When one channel closes, another opens: remote work models that disregard borders, new visa classes invented by competing nations, talent hubs emerging in unexpected geographies. The H-1B may shrink, but the flow of human skill across boundaries will continue in new shapes. That is the paradox: the more we police mobility, the more inventive mobility becomes. The Human Architecture In the weeks and months to come, the policy will be litigated in courts, debated in think tanks, dissected in op-ed columns. Meanwhile, lives will already have been rearranged. The measure of the H-1B debate will not be the elegance of policy design or the sharpness of political rhetoric, but the quiet stories of families in Hyderabad, in Fremont, in Edison, who discover that the scaffolding on which they built their futures is suddenly less steady. That is where the test of policy truly lies. Not in the applause of domestic constituencies or the anger of foreign ministries, but in whether the ordinary people caught in its net find the space to adapt without being broken. The H-1B has always been a story of aspiration, of ambition stitched across continents. To reduce it now to a blunt instrument of fees and thresholds is to forget the human architecture that made it matter in the first place. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In the end, what shakes the ladder also tests the ones still climbing it. Ashutosh Kumar Thakur is a Bangalore-based management professional, literary critic, translator, and curator. Views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect News18s editorial stance. First Published: September 22, 2025, 16:26 IST News opinion Opinion | When The Ladder Shakes: India, America And The H-1B Gamble 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 Has Delivered Happiness: BJP Hails Tax Cuts, Slams Congress For Negative Politics' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 11:25 IST The ruling BJP also went on the offensive against Congress and other Opposition leaders for dismissing the reforms. Union Home Minister Amit Shah (PTI Image) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday highlighted the wide-ranging benefits of the governments latest GST reforms, contrasting them with the Oppositions criticism. Whether it is making many dairy products GST-free, or bringing an unprecedented reduction on everyday essentials like soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair oil, and shampoo the #NextGenGST reform has delivered happiness to households across every section of society," Shah said. He added that zero GST on life and health insurance, senior citizen policies, 33 life-saving drugs and diagnostic kits, along with reduced GST on medical, dental and veterinary devices, would bring historic savings for citizens." Recommended Stories GST , , , , , , #NextGenGST , , , 33 - Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 22, 2025 Shah further said the reforms have boosted farmer confidence and will make vehicle purchases easier, adding, This GST reform will also boost self-reliance. Citizens are urged to embrace indigenous products in their daily lives." The ruling BJP also went on the offensive against Congress and other Opposition leaders for dismissing the reforms. Responding to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharges criticism, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said, I think Mallikarjun Kharge needs to understand the entire taxation system once again. There is an economic principle lesser the tax, higher the revenue. This principle is accepted across the world. In the time to come, all State governments and Central government will get revenue through this. Kharge ji has little knowledge, so he is unable to understand this math. Since he just has to criticise PM Modi, he is saying this." Echoing that view, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya attacked Opposition leaders for what he called blind criticism of a people-centric reform. There are leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav who have to oppose even something which is good. The benefits to 140 crore people due to GST savings can be seen neither by Rahul Gandhi nor Akhilesh Yadav or Tejashwi Yadav They cannot welcome it but opposing a decision that will benefit 140 crore people of the country is foolishness and negative politics," Maurya said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier in the day, in a post on X, PM Modi on Sunday extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of Navratri, calling it a very special" celebration. He said the festival has coincided with the GST Savings Festival, giving fresh momentum to the mantra of Swadeshi. Modi urged citizens to work collectively towards building a developed and Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) India. In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote, This time, this auspicious occasion of Navratri is very special. Along with the GST Savings Festival, the mantra of Swadeshi is going to receive a new energy during this period. Let us come together in collective efforts for the fulfilment of the resolve for a developed and self-reliant India." 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 22, 2025, 10:57 IST News politics GST Reform Has Delivered Happiness: BJP Hails Tax Cuts, Slams Congress For Negative Politics' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Not An MLA, But Gets Rs 20 Crore In Funds: Ex-Shinde Sena Legislator Stirs Row Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 21, 2025, 21:31 IST Sada Sarvankar claims he gets Rs 20 crore for Dadar-Mahim despite losing to Mahesh Sawant, sparking controversy. Sada Sarvankar, the head of Siddhivinayak Trust, lost the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls to Mahesh Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT). Former Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA Sada Sarvankar has stirred a row after he claimed that he gets Rs 20 crore in funds despite not being an MLA, while the sitting legislator gets Rs two crore. In a video that went viral on social media platforms, as per news agency PTI, the former legislator is heard telling a gathering of people, the incumbent MLA gets Rs 2 crore, but even when I am not an MLA, I get Rs 20 crore". Recommended Stories When contacted, Sarvankar said he was referring to the funds he manages to secure for the Dadar-Mahim constituency, while Sawant complains about the lack of funds. Sarvankar, currently serving as the head of Siddhivinayak Temple Trust, lost the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls to Mahesh Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT). top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He was among the 39 party MLAs who rebelled under the leadership of Eknath Shinde against then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in 2022. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More First Published: September 21, 2025, 21:31 IST News politics Not An MLA, But Gets Rs 20 Crore In Funds: Ex-Shinde Sena Legislator Stirs Row 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 Do You Even Come Here? Siddaramaiah Loses Cool During Mysuru Dasara Event Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 23:16 IST Siddaramaiah lost his temper at Mysuru Dasara inauguration, scolding the crowd. Controversy arose over Banu Mushtaq inaugurating, but Siddaramaiah defended the inclusive festival. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lost his temper on Monday. (X) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was seen losing his temper during the inauguration of the Mysuru Dasara festival at the Chamundeshwari temple on Chamundi Hills on Monday. From the stage, he was seen pointing towards a section of the audience and scolding those who were allegedly creating a disturbance during the event. Cant you sit for a little while? Sit down. Who is that? If I tell you once, dont you understand? Why did you even come here? You should have stayed at home," an irked Siddaramaiah was heard saying in Kannada as per the now viral video. Recommended Stories BIG NEWS Karnataka Congress CM Siddaramaiah loses cool and shouts at the crowd. pic.twitter.com/yKHyuBffO1 Times Algebra (@TimesAlgebraIND) September 22, 2025 Turning to the police, he then instructed officials not to allow the individuals to leave the venue. Police, dont let them go. Cant you sit for half an hour or an hour? Then, why are you attending this function?" Mysuru Dasara Row The 11-day Dasara festival began in the city of palaces today. Meanwhile, this years celebration stirred controversy over the governments choice of International Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the event. Opposition leaders, particularly from the BJP, objected strongly, citing an old video of Mushtaq that resurfaced online. In that clip, she reportedly expressed reservations about worshipping the Kannada language as Goddess Bhuvaneshwari," saying such practices were exclusionary to minorities like herself. Several sections also objected to extending the honour to the author, alleging that she has made statements in the past that are perceived by some as anti-Hindu" and anti Kannada". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, Siddaramaiah, standing firmly by the decision to invite her, defended the inclusivity of the festival. Dasara is not a festival of any one religion or caste, it is a festival of all," he said. He further elaborated, Banu Mushtaq may be a Muslim woman by birth, but she is a human being first. Humans should love and respect each other and there should be no hate based on ones caste and religion, as it is not the characteristic of humanity." About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More Location : Mysore, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 23:16 IST News politics Why Do You Even Come Here? Siddaramaiah Loses Cool During Mysuru Dasara 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... Chinese runners make breakthroughs at 2025 TORX ultra-trail race Xinhua) 14:17, September 22, 2025 ROME, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 Tor des Geants (TORX) ultra-trail race concluded Sunday with Chinese runners posting historic results across multiple categories in Courmayeur, a town in Italy's Aosta Valley. Zhang Weiqiang of the KAILAS FUGA Team finished sixth in the 330-kilometer classic race in 74 hours, 33 minutes and 59 seconds, breaking the Asian record and setting the best-ever result for a Chinese runner at the event. "My goal coming here was to break the Asian record," said Zhang, 41, who also completed the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc earlier this season. He credited consistent pacing and careful preparation for his success. France's Victor Richard won the 330km race in a record 66:08:22. Compatriot Martin Perrier finished second in 71:48:55, with Italy's Simone Corsini third in the same time. Chinese athletes also stood out in other categories. Jiang Wenli won the women's 100km race in 19:10:12, setting a new course record by more than one hour. Zheng Junyue became the first Asian woman to complete the 450km Tor des Glaciers, further underscoring the progress of Chinese trail running on the global stage. Launched in 2010, the TORX is regarded as one of the world's toughest ultra-trail events. The hallmark 330km race must be completed within 150 hours, with runners tackling more than 24,000 meters of cumulative elevation gain across 25 high mountain passes. Harsh weather, extreme temperature swings and a finish rate of under 60 percent add to the challenge. The race has since expanded to include the 450km Tor des Glaciers, the 100km race and the 30km race. Chinese outdoor brand KAILAS has been the title sponsor since 2023, and many of the top Chinese competitors ran under the KAILAS FUGA Team this year. Observers said the breakthroughs of Chinese runners at the 2025 TORX reflected their improved endurance, tactical maturity and adaptability to high-altitude mountain terrain. With increasing participation and stronger performances, Chinese athletes are becoming an increasingly visible force in international ultra-trail running. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) Chrome Security Issue Alerted By Indian Govt: Warns Millions Of Windows And Mac Users Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 07:35 IST Chrome security issues are becoming a regular concern and Google needs to find a big fix to stop these vulnerabilities. Chrome security risk for Windows and Mac users, and they are being warned. Chrome is facing another security risk that has alerted the Indian government this month once again, and they are informing millions of users about the issue. Chrome users on Windows and Macs have been warned about a serious issue that can make it easy for hackers to bypass the security and steal information. The alert from the Indian government this week is also making millions of PC/Mac users aware about the situation and asking them to act on these concerns right away. Recommended Stories The alert has been issued by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT-IN, on September 18 comes with a high-severity alert to users of Google Chrome on popular platforms like Windows, macOS and Linux. Chrome Security Issue: What Is It? The CERT-In alert claims some of the important components in the Chrome browser are facing the issues which can be exploited to steal data or have a phishing campaign targeting them. These vulnerabilities exist in Google Chrome due to Type Confusion in V8, Heap buffer overflow in ANGLE, Use after free in Dawn and WebRTC. A remote attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by persuading a victim to visit a specially crafted web page," The agency also points out the Chrome Windows and macOS versions facing the risk: Google Chrome versions prior to 140.0.7339.185/.186 for Windows/Mac Google Chrome versions prior to 140.0.7339.185 for Linux How To Install Chrome Update For Windows Or Mac? Now that you have all the details about the security risks, which Chrome versions face, it is time to do the most important thing. Update the browser on any of your machines right away. Heres what you need to install the latest version of Chrome for your Windows/Mac system: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Access the menu with three dots located in the upper left corner Click on Help Click on About Google Chrome Chrome will auto-check for updates and install for your version Chrome has released a detailed summary of the issues, the update note and how it has managed to get to the deep end of the risks. 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 Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 07:35 IST News tech Chrome Security Issue Alerted By Indian Govt: Warns Millions Of Windows And Mac 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... GST 2.0: Are Smartphone Prices Going Down From September 22 In India? Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 10:37 IST GST 2.0 on mobile phones mean the prices come down but is that going to happen from this week onwards, here's your answer. GST 2.0 effect on mobile phone comes into play from this week GST Rates on Mobile Phones: The Goods and Service Taxes or GST has got a major overhaul from the Indian government this week, which comes into effect from today, September 22, 2025. Basically, the new GST slabs have been simplified to have two different rates, based on the kind of items and goods. We have seen electronics items like TVs have their GST rate reduced, and same for air conditioners that has more or less become a necessity with changing weather patterns. Recommended Stories But smartphone buyers have been equally curious to know if the tax changes will be applicable for them as well. The good news is that the GST rates on phones have not been increased, but they have not been reduced either. Which means the government has gone with the default tax slab for the mobile sector, which means the current 18 percent GST remains, and that will not result in any reduction in price of smartphones anytime soon. No GST Impact On Phones: Heres Why The smartphone industry was hoping for some tax break from the GST Council, but most experts were expecting status quo in their situation. The 18 percent GST on one of the most-demanding industries helps the government earn money. Any call for the GST rate on mobile phones to drop down to 5 percent would have made the phones cheaper but in the larger scheme of things, the industrys growth wouldnt have enabled the government to earn its revenue from them. By not including mobile phones in the new tax slab, the government has essentially deemed phones as a non-essential which we have found rather confusing when ACs and TVs have got their share of cuts. So, because there is no change in the GST rates for the mobile sector, there wont be any changes in the price of the smartphones. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Similarly, laptops will sell at the same prices because of no changes with their GST rates. However, you can get other discounts during the latest online deals coming in the next few days. With the festive season around the corner, the GST rate cuts are primed to entice consumers into making the big purchases and get a good deal on them. 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 Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 22, 2025, 09:04 IST News tech GST 2.0: Are Smartphone Prices Going Down From September 22 In India? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Redditor Exposes New Dating Scam In Bengaluru, Claims Bar Hire Girls To Lure Customers Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 18:21 IST A Reddit user warns of a dating scam at a bar in Kadubeesanahalli Bengaluru, where college girls lure men via dating apps and leave them with huge fake bills. Social media and Reddit forums are full of accounts from men who were scammed out of their money after meeting women through dating apps. (Representational) A Reddit user has warned about an alleged dating scam" in Bengaluru, where restaurants and bars hire college girls and work with them in collusion to attract unwary customers who were then made to pay a huge bill that far exceeded the actual value of the items they ordered. The Redditor claimed that a bar in the metropoliss Kadubeesanahalli area hires college students to create profiles on dating apps and lure their matches into this bar, only to stick them with bills worth thousands of rupees." Recommended Stories There is one bar in blr called Blr Chakna bar Which is in kadubeesanahalli. These people hire college students to create profiles on dating apps and lure their matches into this bar, only to stick them with bills worth thousands of rupees," it said. The social media user further detailed how one of his friends was conned of thousands of rupees in this scam. The user said that his friend went on a date with a girl to the bar, where the girl ordered drinks worth Rs 3,000 at least four times. The Redditor said that these restaurants have separate food and drinks menus, which are way too costly, especially prepared for the victims who came on a date there. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Its obvious the drinks being ordered are fake, and one of my friends was scammed this way. The girl ordered alcohol worth rupees 3k 4 times and it was not even alcohol. These people have separate food and drinks menu which is way too much costly specially prepared for the victims who came on date there. Please stay alert!" it added. This scam is not a new one. Social media and Reddit forums are full of accounts from men who were scammed out of their money after meeting women through dating apps. The modus operandi of these scams is simple the woman insists on meeting the man at a specific restaurant only. Once there, she orders food and, usually, some alcohol, before making some excuse and leaving. The man is then stuck with an inflated bill. About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More First Published: September 22, 2025, 18:21 IST News viral Redditor Exposes New Dating Scam In Bengaluru, Claims Bar Hire Girls To Lure Customers 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... 'A Martyr For American Freedom': Trump Pays Tribute To Charlie Kirk At Memorial Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 07:09 IST Trump said that Charlie was killed for expressing the very ideas that virtually everyone in this arena. Donald Trump speaking at Charlie Kirk's memorial Donald Trump paid tribute to activist Charlie Kirk during the memorial service on Sunday and called him a martyr for American freedom." The US president said that the bullet was pointed at Kirk but was aimed at every conservative. The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at all of us. That bullet was aimed at every one of us. Charlie was killed for expressing the very ideas that virtually everyone in this arena and most other places throughout our country deeply believed in." Recommended Stories The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at all of us." https://t.co/4RzYBZNK1b Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 21, 2025 The radicals and their allies in the media tried to silence Charlie for a simple reason because he was winning Big. They lied about him because they did not want you to listen to him or to learn from him," he added. ALSO READ: Donald Trump, Elon Musk Chat, Shake Hands At Charlie Kirks Funeral, Months After Falling Out He further referred to Kirk as greatest evangelist for American liberty", adding that he became immortal on that terrible day" (September 10). Hes a martyr now for American freedom. I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie Kirk, and neither now will history," said Trump. President Trump, who addressed the memorial right after Erika, Kirks widow, vowed that their children will grow up in a country where their father is honoured and revered as a great American hero." Erika Kirk Forgives Her Husbands Shooter An emotional Erika Kirk forgave her husbands shooter as she remembered her husband on his memorial. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it is what Charlie would do," she said. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love," she added. About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ... Read More Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: September 22, 2025, 06:54 IST News world 'A Martyr For American Freedom': Trump Pays Tribute To Charlie Kirk At Memorial 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... After Britain And Portugal, France Recognises Palestine As State Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 23, 2025, 01:16 IST Emmanuel Macron announced France formally recognizes the state of Palestine, joining Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal, despite strong opposition from Israel French President Emmanuel Macron at a UN summit on a two-state solution in New York (AP) French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday announced that the country has formally recognized the Palestinian state. While speaking at a summit on a two-state solution in New York, Macron said we must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security." Recommended Stories The time has come. This is why, true to the historic, historic commitment of my country to the Middle East to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. This is why I declare that today, France recognises the state of Palestine," he said. He emphasised that the recognition of the rights of the Palestinian people takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel, who France supported from day one". France has never wavered, standing by side, by Israels side, even when its security was at stake, including when there were Iranian air strikes. This recognition of the State of Palestine is a defeat for Hamas," Macron added. This comes a day after Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognized the state of Palestine. This wave of recognition represents a significant departure from the long-standing Western position that Palestinian statehood should emerge only as the outcome of direct negotiations with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly opposed the UK, Canada, and Australias move to recognise Palestine and said that there will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River. At the United Nations meet, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said the US and Israel will not participate in this charade" while expressing disappointment towards countries recognising Palestinian as a state at the summit, along with other leaders, CNN reported. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On October 8, you stood with Israel, you spoke about the hostages. Today youre moving on, youre leaving the hostages behind," he said while referring to the countries recognising Palestinian statehood. Many leaders today will speak about the future when Hamas will not be part of Gaza, but I will ask them: who is going to do that?" he said. The responsibility is on our shoulders." Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: September 23, 2025, 01:14 IST News world After Britain And Portugal, France Recognises Palestine As State 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... Ajit Doval Pushes Canada To Act: Khalistani Extremist Arrested In Ottawa | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 13:43 IST Inderjeet Singh Gosal was detained on multiple firearms-related charges in Ottawa, an action seen as a sharp departure from Canadas earlier permissive stance towards separatists. Indian agencies had supplied Ottawa with detailed dossiers, including financial trail intelligence and evidence linking Gosal directly to Pannun. In what is being seen as the first visible outcome" of a hard reset in IndiaCanada security cooperation, Canadian authorities have arrested Inderjeet Singh Gosal, a key Khalistan Referendum coordinator and close associate of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Gosal was detained on multiple firearms-related charges in Ottawa, an action seen as a sharp departure from Canadas earlier permissive stance towards separatist groups operating under the cover of free speech. According to intelligence sources familiar with the matter, the arrest follows sustained diplomatic and intelligence pressure from New Delhi, spearheaded by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval. Indian agencies had supplied Ottawa with detailed dossiers, including financial trail intelligence and evidence linking Gosal directly to Pannun. These inputs, sources said, proved decisive in forcing Canadian authorities to clamp down on extremist sleeper cells that had long exploited the countrys lenient environment. Recommended Stories This is confirmation that Khalistani networks in Canada remain active extensions of banned outfits. The fact that Ottawa has now moved on actionable intelligence provided by India shows a clear policy recalibration," sources said. The Gosal arrest has been read by Indian security officials as a significant acknowledgement of New Delhis long-standing allegations that separatist elements abroad are engaged in organised militancy. By detaining an individual with operational proximity to Pannun already designated a terrorist by IndiaCanadian authorities have reinforced Indias charge that extremist networks are not merely advocacy groups but pose a tangible security threat. The DovalDrouin Reset The breakthrough traces back to the meeting in New Delhi between NSA Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin earlier this month. Intelligence sources described the dialogue as a hard reset" in a relationship strained since the fallout over Hardeep Singh Nijjars killing in 2023. Both sides had recently exchanged new ambassadors, signalling an intent to move past the diplomatic standoff. At that meeting, Indian interlocutors pressed for concrete steps on Khalistani extremism, extradition of wanted terrorists, and curbing Canadian interference in Indias domestic affairs. India also revived dossiers and funding-trail evidence earlier shared in discreet meetings in Singapore. According to sources, Ottawa indicated a readiness to enhance intelligence sharing and explore new joint counter-terrorism mechanisms. This is the first tangible action that matches those assurances," intelligence sources noted, pointing out that Gosals detention would not have occurred without high-level political clearance from Canada Prime Minister Mark Carneys government. A Strategic Shift Sources say the move reflects Canadas growing sensitivity to Indias red lines. The Carney government, they argue, is keen to stabilise ties in order to unlock trade and energy opportunities, including the $20 billion potential identified during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Calgary. By signalling seriousness on counter-terrorism, Ottawa is also sending a message to allies like the United States and United Kingdom, where similar diaspora-linked groups operate. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all For India, Dovals intervention highlights a new readiness to deploy diplomatic, intelligence, and security tools to hold Western governments accountable on counter-terror cooperation. The test of sincerity will lie in whether this becomes a pattern, not just an isolated case," an intelligence source cautioned. Still, the arrest of Gosal is being hailed within Indian agencies as a watershed moment proof that sustained pressure, backed by hard intelligence, can reshape the counter-terror landscape even in countries where separatist lobbies once appeared untouchable. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: September 22, 2025, 13:43 IST News world Ajit Doval Pushes Canada To Act: Khalistani Extremist Arrested In Ottawa | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Charlie Kirk's Wife Forgives Killer, Trump Says Can't Stand Opponents: 'This Is Where I Disagree' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 08:45 IST US President Trump said he cant stand his opponents and smilingly said that maybe Charlie Kirks wife Erika Kirk can explain to him why that is not the right approach. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google US President Donald Trump embraces Erika Kirk, during a memorial service for her husband, slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, at State Farm Stadium in Arizona, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS) US President Donald Trump said he disagreed with slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk when it came to not demonizing opponents. While Trump praised Kirk for showing generosity to those who opposed him, he stressed that he could not adopt the same approach. Trump also appeared to appreciate Erika Kirk for her response to her husbands killing. Recommended Stories The memorial event was hosted by Turning Point USA in Arizonas Glendale, the hugely influential youth political group founded by Charlie Kirk and now led by his widow, Erika, who also addressed the memorial. The service drew an extraordinary level of attention and security, with the top brass of Trumps administration joining tens of thousands in attendance, and some US media likening it to a state funeral. That young man, I forgive him," she said of her husbands alleged murderer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, drawing uproarious applause from the crowd. State authorities have charged Robinson with murder and are pursuing the death penalty in the case. NEW: Trump calls out commentators, influencers, and media personalities that are celebrating Charlie Kirk's assassination with jubilation (MUST WATCH) "These same people who spent the last 8 years trying to sit in moral judgement of anyone who disagreed with them suddenly pic.twitter.com/dbgwPCrdli Autism Capital (@AutismCapital) September 21, 2025 When the President took the stage, he noted that Kirk had wanted the best" even for his opponents but made clear that he disagreed with that outlook. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I dont want the best for them," Trump said. Thats where I disagreed with Charlie! Im sorry, Erika. But now Erika can talk to me, and maybe they can convince me thats not right. But I cant STAND my opponent! Charlies angry, looking down, hes angry at me now!" he quipped, in remarks that quickly spread online. Trump then turned his fire on progressive critics, accusing them of hypocrisy. Some of the people who called you a hater for using the wrong pronouns were filled with glee over the killing of a father with two children," he said. These same people who spent the last 8 years trying to sit in moral judgment of anyone who disagreed with them suddenly started cheering for a murder." His comments were aimed at the deepening left-right divide in American politics and society, where liberals and conservatives often interpret the same events through opposing lenses and where culture-war flashpoints have widened the gulf between the two camps. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : Glendale, Arizona First Published: September 22, 2025, 08:45 IST News world Charlie Kirk's Wife Forgives Killer, Trump Says Can't Stand Opponents: 'This Is Where I Disagree' 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 Launches Its Own H-1B-Type K Visa To Attract Talent As US Hikes Fees, Tightens Entry Rules Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 08:24 IST Chinas K visa is aimed at luring Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) from all over the world as US clamps down on foreign worker entry. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses Tsinghua Universitys ceremony at Friendship Palace in Beijing. (IMAGE: REUTERS) The Chinese government announced the introduction of a new K visa" category in a bid to attract Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professionals as US curbs entry of foreign workers by raising H-1B visa fees. Chinas entry-exit rules recognised twelve categories of ordinary visas which covered work, study, business and family reunions. The K-visas addition to the rules makes it the thirteenth category. Recommended Stories On August 7, 2025, Chinas State Council issued Order No. 814, officially amending the Regulations of the Peoples Republic of China on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners. Effective October 1, 2025, China will introduce a new K visa designed specifically for foreign young science and technology talent," China Briefing, a magazine by pan-Asia professional services firm Dezan Shira & Associates, said in a report. According to a note on KPMGs Our Insights page, the new K visa category is designed for young foreign talent in STEM fields. The page also pointed out that the visa will be open to foreign youth who have earned a bachelors degree or higher from recognised universities or research institutions in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. It will also cover young professionals working in research and education linked to these fields. Who Is Eligible? Their note also highlighted that the new visa offers more flexibility than existing types, including longer validity and multiple entries. Holders will be permitted to take part in a wide range of activities, such as academic exchanges, scientific and technological collaboration, cultural programmes, entrepreneurship and business. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Unlike other categories, the K visa will not require sponsorship from a local enterprise. Instead, eligibility will be determined by the applicants age, academic record or professional experience. The rollout of the K visa comes at a significant moment. With uncertainty growing over the US H-1B programme after the new USD 100,000 fee on fresh applicants, many South Asian professionals, particularly Indians, are said to be rethinking their career prospects in America. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : Beijing, China First Published: September 22, 2025, 07:57 IST News world China Launches Its Own H-1B-Type K Visa To Attract Talent As US Hikes Fees, Tightens Entry Rules 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 Covid Whistleblower Who Reported From Wuhan Sent To Jail For 4 More Years: Heres Why Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 18:31 IST Zhang Zhan is charged under the offence of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble, a broad and ambiguous law the CCP often invokes against political critics and journalists Rapid Read + Follow us On Google An activist holds placards with a picture of Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan. (AP File) Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who earlier reported from Wuhan during the coronavirus outbreak, has now been imprisoned for four more years on charges of picking quarrels and provoking trouble". Zhang Zhan was previously jailed for her reporting during the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan. The precise details of Zhangs new charge have not been made public, but it is believed to be linked to her social media activity, as per the UNHR office statement. Recommended Stories The United Nations Human Rights (UNHR) office has termed these charges as vague and ill-defined" and demanded the immediate release of the journalist. UN spokesperson Jeremy Laurence described the latest conviction as deeply disturbing" and called for her immediate and unconditional release", ANI reported. The charges against Zhang Zhan Zhang is charged under the offence of picking quarrels and provoking trouble", a broad and ambiguous law the CCP often invokes against political critics and journalists. International observers view her prosecution as a direct test of Chinas treatment of dissenters. Zhang Zhans trial According to The Epoch Times, the hearing at the Pudong New Area Peoples Court was held under tight security. Authorities deployed police to cordon off the area, preventing ordinary citizens from entering or showing support. Foreign diplomats from several Western nations were also barred, with officials citing incomplete paperwork" as justification. Rights groups described the restrictions as yet another sign of Beijings disregard for openness and judicial fairness. The UN has also raised concerns regarding the conduct of trial has no independent observers were allowed to attend the meeting. Independent observers were not allowed to attend her hearing, which has raised concerns about the fairness of the trial, ANI reported. What UN said This is the second time Zhang has been convicted and subjected to a custodial sentence for this offence," Laurence said. We have raised our concerns with the authorities on a number of cases involving journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders, including Zhang, who have been charged over and/or convicted for criminal acts in relation to what appears to be the exercise of their fundamental rights, protected by international law." The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has also repeatedly raised objections to Chinas use of the picking quarrels and provoking trouble" charge. According to the UN rights office, Turk has warned that the laws broad wording gives it a wide scope of potential application" against people exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He (Volker Turk) calls for its repeal and for an immediate moratorium on its use," the statement said. With ANI Inputs About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing speci... Read More First Published: September 22, 2025, 17:51 IST News world Chinese Covid Whistleblower Who Reported From Wuhan Sent To Jail For 4 More Years: Heres Why Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Why Pak Armys Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Attack Has Widened Punjabi Army Vs Pashtun Divide | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 19:46 IST Akakhel tribe of Tirah has decided that women victims will be buried, while bodies of men, children will be placed in front of the Corps Commander House, say local, intel sources Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya posted purported pictures of the alleged air strikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region's Tirah Valley on September 22. (Image: @amitmalviya/X) Pakistans airstrikes targeting the hideouts of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KP) and adjacent districts on Monday, which killed at least 30 civilians, have exposed the divide between Punjabis and Pashtuns in the country. Around 2 am, Pakistani fighter jets dropped eight LS-6 bombs on Matre Dara village in the Tirah Valley, killing civilians. The Akakhel tribe of Tirah has decided that women victims will be buried, while bodies of men and children will be placed in front of the Corps Commander House, according to local sources. Recommended Stories According to local sources, many in KP believe that the Pakistan Army, dominated by Punjabis, deliberately bombed Pashtun civilian areas. ALSO READ | Paks Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Attack: Bodies Will Be Placed In Front Of Corps Commander House | Exclusive The death of women and children in Matre Dara is being circulated locally as proof that Islamabads Punjabi elite views Pashtuns as their enemy. This is reinforcing the perception of ethnic oppression by Pakistan Army," said local sources. Pashtun activists have compared this strike to the earlier military operations in Swat, Waziristan, and FATA. The earlier such attacks, also termed counter-terror, had flattened entire villages. The Army calls it anti-terror operation, but no body of any militant was recovered. It is clearly a Punjabi assault on Pashtun identity," said top intelligence sources. Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), a social movement for Pashtun human rights based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan, are already amplifying the narrative of Punjabi genocide of Pashtuns, which could fuel wider unrest across the region, said intelligence sources. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Reports suggest Pashtun-origin soldiers within the Army are growing uneasy, silently questioning Punjabi commanders indiscriminate tactics. Pashtun tribal elders are invoking Pashtunwali code to resist what they call a campaign of Punjabi air terror and call for autonomy. Afghan Pashtun voices across the Durand Line are condemning the killings. They feel the Pakistan Army is an occupying Punjabi force in Pashtun lands," said intelligence sources. Baloch and Sindhi separatists are also seizing on this incident to highlight a pattern of Punjabi militarism crushing smaller ethnic groups. Far from suppressing militancy, such attacks are deepening Pashtun alienation, and risking insurgency, said sources. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: September 22, 2025, 19:37 IST News world Why Pak Armys Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Attack Has Widened Punjabi Army Vs Pashtun Divide | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Hong Kong Airport To Suspend Flights For 36 Hours As Super Typhoon Ragasa Inches Closer: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 12:25 IST Residents of Hong Kong are stockpiling daily necessities and queues are forming outside supermarkets as the city prepares for one of its strongest super typhoons in years. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Super Typhoon Ragasa Hong Kong: Outbound passengers look at the departure board at the Hong Kong international airport. (IMAGE: AFP) The Hong Kong International Airport will suspend all passenger flights for 36 hours from Tuesday evening, news agency Reuters reported citing Qantas Airways. The Asian financial hub is preparing for one of its strongest super typhoons, named Super Typhoon Ragasa, in years. Hong Kongs Airport will be closed from 8 pm (1200 GMT) on September 23 to 8 am on September 25, Qantas said in a statement, adding that it would contact customers who are affected. Recommended Stories The Hong Kong International Airport will suspend all passenger flights for 36 hours from Tuesday evening, news agency Reuters reported citing Qantas Airways. The Asian financial hub is preparing for one of its strongest super typhoons, named Super Typhoon Ragasa, in years. Hong Kongs Airport will be closed from 8 pm (1200 GMT) on September 23 to 8 am on September 25, Qantas said in a statement, adding that it would contact customers who are affected. Airport Authority Hong Kongs spokespersons told Reuters that they are closely monitoring the developments regarding Super Typhoon Ragasa. They have yet to make an official statement. Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific said it expected to cancel more than 500 flights. Starting at 6:00 pm tomorrow, September 23, Cathay Pacifics passenger flights arriving at and departing from Hong Kong International Airport will cease operations until resuming during daytime hours on Thursday," a spokeswoman for the airline said at a Monday press conference. More than 500 flights are currently expected to be cancelled." The report by Reuters said that the weather is expected to deteriorate rapidly from Tuesday and gale-force to storm-force winds will impact the global financial hub and densely-packed city on Wednesday. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Winds are expected to reach hurricane force offshore and on high ground and residents were seen preparing for the super typhoon. Photos shared by the news agency showed residents across the city stockpiling daily necessities on Monday morning. Long queues formed at supermarkets where products like milk had already sold out, while vegetables were being sold for more than triple their normal price at fresh markets. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : Hong Kong, China First Published: September 22, 2025, 11:53 IST News world Hong Kong Airport To Suspend Flights For 36 Hours As Super Typhoon Ragasa Inches Closer: 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... Is Tylenol Safe In Pregnancy? Trump Administration's Impending Warning Fuels Fresh Autism Debate Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 14:04 IST The proposal has alarmed doctors who say clinical experience and large-scale studies have found acetaminophen to be generally safe during pregnancy when used as directed Rapid Read + Follow us On Google The government will likely recommend that pregnant women, particularly in the first trimester, avoid routine use of acetaminophen and instead reserve it for high fevers or when no safer alternatives are available. (Reuters) The Donald Trump administration is preparing to issue a new advisory on the use of acetaminophen, better known by its brand name Tylenol, during pregnancy, linking the drug to a possible increased risk of autism in children. The move, first reported by The Washington Post and Politico, is expected to be announced formally in the coming days. According to officials, the government will recommend that pregnant women, particularly in the first trimester, avoid routine use of acetaminophen and instead reserve it for high fevers or when no safer alternatives are available. US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, a long-time critic of pharmaceutical safety standards, is expected to lead the announcement. Recommended Stories The advisory is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to re-examine environmental and maternal health factors that could be contributing to rising autism rates in the United States. Recent federal estimates suggest that one in 31 American eight-year-olds is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a figure higher than in many other developed nations. In addition to discouraging acetaminophen use, the administration is also expected to highlight preliminary research into leucovorin (a form of folinic acid) as a potential therapy for children already diagnosed with autism, Politico reported. Medical Consensus at Odds The proposal has alarmed many in the medical community who stress that decades of clinical experience and large-scale studies have found acetaminophen to be generally safe during pregnancy when used as directed. An explainer published by The Guardian noted that professional bodies such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the UKs Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG) continue to endorse acetaminophen as the safest first-line option for pain and fever relief during pregnancy. Experts warn that untreated high fevers themselves can increase risks of miscarriage, preterm birth, and developmental problems. While some observational studies in recent years have suggested a statistical association between prenatal acetaminophen use and autism or ADHD, researchers caution that these findings do not prove causation. A major Swedish study involving more than 2.5 million children, published in 2024, found no significant link once genetic and environmental factors were controlled for, according to The Guardian. Kenvue, the manufacturer of Tylenol, has rejected claims of a causal link, pointing to the lack of conclusive evidence. The totality of scientific research supports the safe use of acetaminophen during pregnancy," the company said in a statement quoted by Politico. Balancing Risk and Reassurance top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While the administration frames the upcoming announcement as a precautionary step, medical experts warn that overstating risks could leave pregnant women without safe options for treating common conditions such as headaches or fevers. For now, doctors advise that expectant mothers continue to follow existing guidance: using acetaminophen only when necessary, in the lowest effective dose, and for the shortest possible duration. 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 : United States of America (USA) First Published: September 22, 2025, 14:04 IST News world Is Tylenol Safe In Pregnancy? Trump Administration's Impending Warning Fuels Fresh Autism Debate 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... Kim Jong Un Says He Has Fond Memories Of Trump, But Will Talk Only If Nukes Remain Untouched Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 10:13 IST The US demand to give up banned weapons has been a sticking point in the relations between Washington and Pyongyang. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google US President Donald Trump meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, in Panmunjom, South Korea. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE) Kim Jong Un, the North Korean dictator, said that he has fond memories" of US President Donald Trump and is open to future talks with the United States but outlined that there should be no chatter with respect to denuclearization. If the United States discards its delusional obsession with denuclearisation and, based on recognising reality, truly wishes for peaceful coexistence with us, then there is no reason we cannot meet it," Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. Recommended Stories I still personally hold fond memories of the current US president, Trump," Kim added, in a wide-ranging speech to the countrys rubber-stamp parliament. Kim and Trump met thrice for high-profile summits during Trumps first term but talks broke down in Hanoi in 2019 over what concessions Pyongyang was prepared to make on its nuclear arsenal, according to a report by news agency AFP. Washingtons demand that the North Korean leader give up his nukes has been a sticking point in its relations with Pyongyang and Kim reiterated that denuclearisation was not an option. Since the failed 2019 summit, North Korea has repeatedly said it will never give up its nuclear weapons and declared itself an irreversible" nuclear state. Kim The world already knows well what the United States does after it forces a country to give up its nuclear arms and disarm," he said. We will never give up our nuclear weapons." Kim said that sanctions had only helped the North in growing stronger, building endurance and resistance that cannot be crushed by any pressure". Kim also added that he had no reason to sit down with South Korea", even as Seouls new President Lee Jae-myung has sought to ease tensions with the North. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all We make it clear that we will not deal with them in any form," he said. North Korea has in recent years declared the South its principal enemy and blown up rail links and roads connecting the two countries. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : Pyongyang, North Korea First Published: September 22, 2025, 10:12 IST News world Kim Jong Un Says He Has Fond Memories Of Trump, But Will Talk Only If Nukes Remain Untouched 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... Nepal Forms Panel To Probe Violence During Anti-Corruption Protests That Left 74 Dead Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 18:50 IST The govt appointed a three-member panel, headed by retired judge Gauri Bahadur Karki, to investigate the violence. The panel has been given 3 months to submit its findings Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Fire rages through the Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepal government, in Kathmandu on September 9. (AFP photo) Nepals interim government, led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, has formed a panel to investigate the violence that broke out during anti-corruption protests earlier this month. The unrest left 74 people dead, more than 2,100 injured, and forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign. Recommended Stories The protests, which began as a youth-led movement largely driven by Gen Z, were sparked by rising frustration over corruption, unemployment, and economic inequality. What started as peaceful demonstrations quickly escalated into the countrys deadliest violence in decades. Protesters reportedly set fire to several key government buildings, including the complex that houses the prime ministers office, the Supreme Court, and the parliament. Commercial establishments like shopping malls, luxury hotels, and showroomsallegedly owned by individuals linked to corrupt politicianswere also targeted. To address the crisis, the government has appointed a three-member panel, headed by retired judge Gauri Bahadur Karki, to investigate the violence. The panel has been given three months to submit its findings. It will investigate the loss of life and property during the protests, excesses by both sides and people involved in the acts of arson and vandalism during the movement," said Rameshwore Khanal, who now oversees the finance ministry under the interim administration. Gauri Bahadur Karki is known for his clean image and previously served as chairman of Nepals special anti-corruption court. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, former Nepali PM Oli, in a social media post, denied that his government ordered police to open fire on protesters. He claimed that the protests had been infiltrated by outsiders and that police did not have the types of weapons used during the violence. (With inputs from Reuters) 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 : Nepal First Published: September 22, 2025, 18:50 IST News world Nepal Forms Panel To Probe Violence During Anti-Corruption Protests That Left 74 Dead 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... Pakistans Tirah Valley Explosions Leave 30 Dead; Eyewitnesses Call It Airstrike, Army Denies | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 12:54 IST While locals said it was an aerial assault, the Pakistan Army has categorically denied responsibility, instead blaming the carnage on a terrorist munitions accident. People protest against Tirah Valley massacre in Pakistan. At least 30 civilians, including women and children, were killed in the early hours of Sunday after Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets reportedly carried out air strikes on Matre Dara village in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sources say Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were the target. Eyewitnesses and local residents described the assault as a massacre, flattening entire homes and leaving dozens trapped under rubble. According to top intelligence sources, the operation was executed around 2 am using China-supplied JF-17 Thunder jets that dropped at least eight LS-6 precision glide bombs. The strikes created multiple blast zones across the civilian settlement, with no verified militant presence or casualties. Recommended Stories Local sources and survivors reported that the bombs tore through densely populated neighbourhoods where families were asleep, ensuring maximum vulnerability. Eyewitnesses described Matre Dara as littered with bodies" by dawn, with livestock destroyed and homes reduced to debris. Intelligence assessments suggest the deployment of LS-6 precision glide bombs proves intent, not collateral damage." Analysts argue that such actions amount to a deliberate violation of international humanitarian law, raising questions about Pakistans military conduct in its tribal belt. Labeling a civilian massacre as an anti-terror operation exposes Islamabads habitual use of counter-terror cover for internal repression," said an intelligence source. The same sources pointed to historical parallels with army atrocities in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), framing the strike as part of a systematic campaign against Pashtun populations. Local Anger, Tribal Protests The Akakhel tribe of Tirah convened a jirga (tribal council) following the strikes, deciding that the women victims would be buried, while the bodies of men and children would be placed outside the Corps Commanders House as a form of protest. A sit-in has already begun at Khyber Chowk, with participants accusing Islamabad of slaughtering innocents in the name of counter-terrorism." Calls are growing for larger demonstrations in Peshawar, though the Afridi tribe is expected to announce a collective decision shortly. Tribal elders and Pashtun activists have taken to social media, accusing the state of war crimes and ethnic cleansing tactics." Intelligence sources warn that such indiscriminate bombings risk inflaming Pashtun resentment, fueling anti-state militancy, and further weakening Pakistans internal cohesion. Pakistan Army in Denial While locals and intelligence networks said it was an aerial assault, the Pakistan Army has categorically denied responsibility, instead blaming the carnage on a terrorist munitions accident. In an official statement, military spokespersons claimed that a large cache of explosives hidden by Khawarij terrorists" detonated inside a house in Metra Dara, collapsing several surrounding homes and causing civilian casualties. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Army reports alleged that 1214 Khawarij" were killed in the blast, alongside 810 civilians who were used as human shields." The statement added that militant compounds had been positioned adjacent to family homes and mosques, framing the deaths as the result of terrorist tactics rather than state firepower. However, intelligence sources dismissed this version, emphasising on the deployment of JF-17 jets and Chinese-supplied glide bombs. They further argued that Beijings direct role, through the supply of weapons systems used in civilian bombings, raises accountability questions at the international level. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: September 22, 2025, 12:54 IST News world Pakistans Tirah Valley Explosions Leave 30 Dead; Eyewitnesses Call It Airstrike, Army Denies | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Paks Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Attack: Bodies Will Be Placed In Front Of Corps Commander House | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 17:14 IST Pakistan carried out airstrikes and counter-terror operations targeting hideouts of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and adjacent districts Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Locals start to gather in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa after Pakistan's airstrikes. (News18) A sit-in protest is being held at Khyber Chowk against the killing of innocent people in Tirah Valley on Monday, while another could be announced in Peshawar. The Akakhel tribe of Tirah has decided that women victims will be buried, while bodies of men and children will be placed in front of the Corps Commander House, according to local sources. Pakistan carried out airstrikes and counter-terror operations targeting hideouts of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and adjacent districts. The strike occurred around 2 am when Pakistani fighter jets dropped eight LS-6 bombs on Matre Dara village in the Tirah Valley, killing civilians. Recommended Stories It is part of Islamabads intensified crackdown in response to a surge in militant attacks claimed by the TTP, especially in northwest Pakistan. Pakistans attacks on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa In one recent operation, Pakistan reported that 31 militants were killed in overnight raids in the Bannu and Laki Marwat districts of KP. These raids are consistent with the security forces strategy to target militant infrastructure and leadership to curb the TTPs capacity to carry out attacks. There have also been controversial drone strikes and air/detection operations in the region. For example, a drone strike in March 2025 in Katlang (Mardan District, KP) claimed by the military to have hit militants was reported by locals to have led to civilian casualties, raising concerns about collateral damage. Similarly, in May 2025, a drone strike in Hurmuz village, North Waziristan (KP) reportedly killed four children and injured others. Pakistani politician Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman recently alleged that authorities are involved in the enforced disappearance and abduction of people in Balochistan, where thousands of youth and activists have gone missing over the years. The trouble in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, located in northwestern Pakistan, borders Afghanistan and is home to a Pashtun-majority population. The province covers 1,01,741 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 4 crore people. About 7580% of the population are Pashtuns, while smaller ethnic groups and linguistic communities such as Hindko, Chitrali, and Kohistani also reside there. Pashto is the dominant language, although Hindi and Urdu is also spoken by some communities. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Despite its distinct cultural identity, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was ultimately incorporated into Pakistan through a process that many argue lacked legitimacy and fairness. The historical resentment over the merger fuelled political instability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for decades. Today, several separatist and militant movements continue to challenge the Pakistani governments control over the region. With Agency Inputs About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: September 22, 2025, 13:29 IST News world Paks Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Attack: Bodies Will Be Placed In Front Of Corps Commander House | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Palestinian Statehood 'A Right' And Only Way To End War In Gaza: UN Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 23, 2025, 02:54 IST United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the situation in Gaza intolerable and said a two-state solution is the only way out of this nightmare. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Image Credit: Reuters) United Nations General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock on Monday condemned the expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank while emphasizing the importance of a two-state solution. Meanwhile, Monaco became the latest country to recognise the Palestinian state. CNN quoted Baerbock as saying that the settlement expansions and demolition in the occupied West Bank are eroding any prospects for a political solution." Recommended Stories Israel had approved the plan to build new housing units in the West Bank that would cut the territory in two. Previously, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that the Palestinian state is being erased from the table not with slogans, but with actions". The UNGA President recalled her interactions with both Palestinians, whose family members are buried in the ruins of Gaza," and families of the hostages still waiting for their loved ones to be released from Hamas captivity. As one Israeli mother told me, it does not bring my child back if a Palestinian mother loses her child in Gaza," she said. The horrors of Gaza make equally clear that we cannot allow such devastation to happen again." At the meet, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the situation in Gaza intolerable" and said a two-state solution is the only way out of this nightmare." While welcoming countries decisions to recognize a two-state solution, he pointed out that nothing can justify the horrific seven October terror attacks by Hamas or the taking of hostages." And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," he added. On Israel and USs remarks that statehood for Palestinians is a reward for Hamas, the UN chief said that it was a right, not a reward" and without it, there will be no peace" in the region. Monaco became the latest country to recognize the Palestinian state. Prince Albert II made the announcement at a summit during the United Nations General Assembly. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Today, we wish to reaffirm our unwavering support to Israels existence, and we also wish to recognize Palestine as a state under international law," he said. According to CNN, Monaco became the latest country to join more than 145 other countries that have recognized a Palestinian state. Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: September 23, 2025, 02:53 IST News world Palestinian Statehood 'A Right' And Only Way To End War In Gaza: UN 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 Trump Believes Palestinian Recognition Rewards Hamas: White House Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 23, 2025, 00:42 IST The White House criticized Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal for recognizing Palestine, echoing Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu's view that it rewards Hamas White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks on US President Donald Trump's remrks on Hamas (IMAGE: REUTERS) The White House on Monday reiterated US President Donald Trumps stance on Hamas and said that by recognizing Palestinian state, countries such as Britain will be rewarding Hamas for its attack on Israel. As for all of these Western nations that are recognising a Palestinian state, the president has been very clear the president disagrees with this decision," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing. Recommended Stories He spoke about that in the UK standing right next to his friend, Prime Minister Starmer. He feels this does not do anything to free the hostages which is the primary goal in Gaza does nothing to end this conflict and bring this war to a close and frankly he believes it is a reward for Hamas. He believes these decisions are more talk and not enough action from our allies," she added. This comes as Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal formally recognised Palestine. France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Malta have also signalled that they intend to do the same. This wave of recognition represents a significant departure from the long-standing Western position that Palestinian statehood should emerge only as the outcome of direct negotiations with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly opposed the UK, Canada, and Australias move to recognise Palestine and said that there will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River. At the United Nations meet, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said the US and Israel will not participate in this charade" while expressing disappointment towards French President Emmanuel Macron, who is expected to formally recognise a Palestinian state at the summit, along with other leaders, CNN reported. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On October 8, you stood with Israel, you spoke about the hostages. Today youre moving on, youre leaving the hostages behind," he said while referring to the countries recognising Palestinian statehood. Many leaders today will speak about the future when Hamas will not be part of Gaza, but I will ask them: who is going to do that?" he said. The responsibility is on our shoulders." Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 23, 2025, 00:19 IST News world President Trump Believes Palestinian Recognition Rewards Hamas: White House 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... 'To Avoid Arms Race': Putin Offers To Extend Nuclear Treaty With US For One Year Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 23:01 IST Putin made clear that Russias offer depends on the US acting similarly and not taking actions that upset the balance of nuclear forces Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission in Perm, Russia. (AP photo) Russia on Monday offered to extend the limits on nuclear weapons set by a key treaty with the United States for one more year, but only if the US agrees to do the same. The offer came from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said Moscow was willing to keep following the rules of the New START Treaty after it expires in February next year. The treaty limits the number of nuclear warheads both countries can deploy. Recommended Stories Putin said fully abandoning the treaty would be a short-sighted step" and warned that without it, a dangerous arms race could be sparked. To avoid provoking a strategic arms race Russia is prepared to continue adhering to the central quantitative limitations of the New START Treaty for one year after February 5, 2026," Putin said in a televised meeting. However, Putin made clear that Russias offer depends on the US acting similarly and not taking actions that upset the balance of nuclear forces. The New START Treaty, signed in 2010 by former US President Barack Obama and then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, limits each country to 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers. It also allows on-site inspections to check compliance, but these inspections have been suspended since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Russia froze its official participation in the treaty in 2023 but has continued to follow the limits voluntarily. Relations between the two countries have grown tense in recent years, especially following Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Putin raised the alert level of Russias nuclear forces shortly after the invasion and signed a decree lowering the threshold for using nuclear weapons last year. Despite some easing of tensions since US President Donald Trump took office in January this year, no major talks on nuclear arms control have taken place. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The US and Russia together control more than 80 percent of the worlds nuclear warheads. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More Location : Russia First Published: September 22, 2025, 22:43 IST News world 'To Avoid Arms Race': Putin Offers To Extend Nuclear Treaty With US For One Year 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 Denies Airspace Violation In Estonia, Warns Of 'Escalating Tensions' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 17:19 IST Russia denies Estonia's airspace violation claims, warns of escalating tensions. NATO and Estonia respond to alleged MiG-31 incursion near Vaindloo Island. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. (Reuters file photo) Russia on Monday rejected Estonias allegations that Russian fighter jets violated the latters airspace, and warned that countries making such accusations risked escalating tensions". Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Tallinns accusations, saying the Russian military operates strictly within the confines of international law, including those pertaining to flights", news agency AFP reported. Recommended Stories Russia considers Estonias statements empty, unfounded, and a continuation of the countrys utterly unstoppable policy of escalating tensions and provoking a confrontational atmosphere," Peskov told reporters. The Kremlins remarks came after NATO claimed that its aircraft intercepted three Russian MiG-31 fighters last week after they crossed into Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland. Estonia said that the three fighter jets entered its airspace without permission in the area of Vaindloo Island, around 100 kilometres (124 miles) from the capital Tallinn, and stayed there for a total of 12 minutes. Italy, Finland and Sweden scrambled military jets attached to NATOs air defence support mission to intercept the Russian jets and warn them off. The jets had their transponders switched off and did not engage with Estonian air traffic control, the Baltic country added. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the incident was part of a broader pattern of escalation by Russia, both regionally and globally," adding that this behavior requires an international response." This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and NATOs ability to respond," NATO spokesperson Allison Hart had said in a statement. Later, Tallinn requested for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council over the airspace violation. It also requested an urgent consultation with other NATO members under Article 4 of the NATO treaty to discuss the issue. Article 4 of the NATO treaty is generally invoked to formally begin urgent consultations within the 32-member alliance, bringing the United States and European countries together for collective defence. NATO ambassadors will convene on Tuesday for talks on the incursion. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier, Poland invoked Article 4 after around 20 Russian drones violated its airspace. (With inputs from AFP) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More Location : Moscow, Russia First Published: September 22, 2025, 17:19 IST News world Russia Denies Airspace Violation In Estonia, Warns Of 'Escalating Tensions' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Trump Aide Navarro, Who Called India 'Tariff Maharaja', Behind H-1B Visa Fee Hike? Top Democrat's Big Hint Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 15:00 IST Ami Bera, Indian-origin Congressman and top Democrat, hinted that Trump trade aide Peter Navarro could be behind the recent H-1B visa fee hike. Bera, a Democrat from Sacramento, suggested that Trump aide Peter Navarro played a key role in the H1B fee hike, while noting that Modi-Trump rapport could help ease tensions. (IMAGE: REUTERS) Democratic Congressman Ami Bera, who represents Sacramento in the US House of Representatives, said the recent hike in H-1B visa fees will not benefit US-India relations. He also suggested that US President Donald Trumps trade aide Peter Navarro seems to be behind" the move. Despite being in the opposition, Bera told the Indian Express that the personal rapport between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump could help since they share a good chemistry." He also highlighted concerns over the visa fee hike, noting its potential impact on the Indian tech workforce in the broader US technology sector, including hubs like Silicon Valley. Recommended Stories I dont agree with the policy because its actually going to hurt American companies. These are workers who are filling vital roles and positions. Hiking visa fees to $100,000 is unheard of for something like this," Bera was quoted as saying by the Indian Express. Trump recently signed a proclamation requiring a payment of USD 100,000 to supplement H-1B petitions for new applications, effective September 21 for a 12-month period unless extended. The rule applies prospectively, so it will not affect existing visa holders or already approved petitions. A research paper by Morgan Stanley, accessed by ANI, noted that Indian IT firms, who account for nearly 70 percent of all H-1B visas, may face higher costs over the next three to six years as renewals arise. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The newspaper reported that Bera is leading a delegation to India this week. Navarro, who recently called India the Maharaja of tariffs," was also hinted to be behind the visa fee hike, Bera said, in conversation with the newspaper. I dont agree with the policy, but if, in fact, even if they were to implement this, theres a way to do this with some warning, some input. Im not even sure whos formulating this policy. It sounds like something Peter Navarro would come up with," Bera said. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 22, 2025, 14:56 IST News world Trump Aide Navarro, Who Called India 'Tariff Maharaja', Behind H-1B Visa Fee Hike? Top Democrat's Big Hint 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... 'For Charlie Kirk': Trump & Musk Chat, Shake Hands At Memorial, Months After Falling Out Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 07:39 IST Elon Musk and Donald Trump sat briefly next to each other and were captured talking, for the first time in months since they fell out. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk shake hands during the public memorial service for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (IMAGE: AFP) US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk were seen sitting next to each other, shaking hands and have a short chat at the memorial for right-wing activist and conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Musk even went on to share on X a picture of him and the US President sat next to each other captioned: For Charlie". Recommended Stories Video of the two sharing a handshake was shared by the official White House account on social media platform X, which Musk owns. The White House also shared photos of the two sitting next to each other and engaged in a conversation. Musk poured more than $270 million into Trumps presidential bid, campaigning with him across battleground states and boosting the Republicans chances. Once Trump took office, Musk was front and centre in pushing through the DOGE the Department of Government Efficiency a controversial programme that axed thousands of federal jobs the agency claimed were part of a pattern of waste, fraud and abuse. But the alliance did not last. Musk broke ranks over Trumps flagship tax-and-spend bill, dismissing it as utterly insane and destructive." The fallout grew sharper when Musk declared he would launch his own America First" party a move that has so far remained more promise than reality. On Sunday, Trump paid tribute to slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, calling him a giant of his generation" during the large memorial event steeped in Christian themes. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all At 79, Trump described Kirk as above all a devoted husband, father, son, Christian and patriot," adding that he was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice. For God and country. For reason and for common sense." The service drew remarkable attention and heavy security. Tens of thousands gathered, joined by the top brass of Trumps administration. Some US outlets even compared the memorial to a state funeral. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : Glendale, Arizona, US First Published: September 22, 2025, 07:02 IST News world 'For Charlie Kirk': Trump & Musk Chat, Shake Hands At Memorial, Months After Falling 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... US Ambassador To UN Condemns Russia Over Incursions Into NATO Territory Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 23, 2025, 01:03 IST Mike Waltz condemned Russia for violating Estonian and Polish airspace, reaffirming US and NATO commitment to defend every inch of NATO territory amid rising tensions at the UN. Mike Waltz as US Ambassador to the United Nations (Reuters Image) US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz on Monday condemned Russias repeated incursions of NATO territory and emphasised that the United States and its allies will defend every inch of NATO territory". In remarks at an emergency meeting of the UN body after Russian jets entered Estonian airspace, Waltz said: This event, following on the heels of the Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace, creates the impression that Russia either wants to escalate and pull more countries into this conflict with Ukraine, or doesnt have full control of those who operate its fighter planes and drones. Either scenario is very disconcerting, given that Russia is obviously a nuclear power with global reach." Recommended Stories He further said that nine days ago the council had met to discuss Russias violation of Polands airspace with a large number of military drones and urged Russia to end the war in Ukraine and stop actions that could risk it escalating into a broader conflict." He said that despite that, Russia again violated the airspace of a Nato member". the United States stands by our NATO Allies in the face of these airspace violations. And I want to take this first opportunity to repeat, and to emphasise, the United States and our Allies will defend every inch of NATO territory. Russia must urgently stop such dangerous behaviour," he added. The envoy also called on Russia, which is a permanent member of UNSC, to uphold international peace and security, to respect the sovereignty of its neighbours, to cease violating their airspace. And I call on Russia to negotiate directly with Ukraine to end that war". Meanwhile, Russia on Monday rejected Estonias allegations that Russian fighter jets violated the latters airspace, and warned that countries making such accusations risked escalating tensions". Russia considers Estonias statements empty, unfounded, and a continuation of the countrys utterly unstoppable policy of escalating tensions and provoking a confrontational atmosphere," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. The Kremlins remarks came after NATO claimed that its aircraft intercepted three Russian MiG-31 fighters last week after they crossed into Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland. Estonia said that the three fighter jets entered its airspace without permission in the area of Vaindloo Island, around 100 kilometres (124 miles) from the capital Tallinn, and stayed there for a total of 12 minutes. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Tallinn had requested for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council over the airspace violation. It also requested an urgent consultation with other NATO members under Article 4 of the NATO treaty to discuss the issue. Article 4 of the NATO treaty is generally invoked to formally begin urgent consultations within the 32-member alliance, bringing the United States and European countries together for collective defence. Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: September 23, 2025, 01:03 IST News world US Ambassador To UN Condemns Russia Over Incursions Into NATO Territory 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 Animal Handler Linked To 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic Mauled By Big Cat Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 19:51 IST A tiger handler linked to Tiger King Joe Exotic was killed Saturday by one of the big cats at the Oklahoma preserve where he worked, according to the facility. Ryan Easley was fatally attacked by a tiger at a preserve in Oklahoma. (X) In a shocking incident, a tiger handler who once worked with infamous zoo-keeper Joe Exotic was mauled to death by one of the big cats at a wildlife park in Oklahoma. Ryan Easley was fatally attacked by a tiger, which was under his care, at the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve in Hugo on Saturday, September 20, the wildlife refuge announced in a statement on Facebook. Recommended Stories It is with profound sorrow that we confirm the tragic loss of Ryan Easley, who lost his life in an accident involving a tiger under his care at the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve," the preserve said. Easley was performing an act with the tiger when something went wrong," and he was attacked. He was not breathing when deputies arrived, CNN affiliate KXII reported, citing the Choctaw County Sheriff. This tragedy is a painful reminder of both the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world. Ryan understood those risks not out of recklessness but out of love," the wildlife park further said in the statement. Describing Easley as a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation," Growler Pines said he had dedicated his life to protecting and caring for big cats. The Hugo, Oklahoma, facility was established as ShowMe Tigers Easleys traveling big cat show increased its focus on conservation and looked for a permanent home where visitors could learn about its retired circus animals, according to the Growler Pines website. In a statement following Easleys death, animal rights campaign group PETA described Growler Pines Tiger Preserve as a roadside zoo" and claimed Easley had previously been caught violently whipping tigers during a training session". It further claimed that Easly had acquired tigers from Joe Exotic, 62, and Dr Bhagavan Doc" Antle, the controversial stars of Netflixs hit documentary series Tiger King, for his business, ShowMe Tigers. Easley had acquired tigers from Joe Exotic and fellow Tiger King villain Bhagavan Doc Antle for his business, ShowMe Tigers, and for years had hauled them around the country, forced them to perform in cruel circuses and kept them trapped in cages for hours when they werent performing," the statement said. Debbie Metzler, Foundation Senior Director of Captive Wildlife, said in a statement, Its never safe for humans to interact directly with apex predators, and its never a surprise when a human is attacked by a stressed big cat who has been caged, whipped, and denied everything natural and important to them." Joe Exotic whose real name is Joe Maldonado expressed his condolences on social media after Easleys death, the Oklahoman reported. Prayers go out to his family," it quoted him as saying. Ryan took great care of his animals! He loved everyone of those tigers and was an advocate for tigers as well as elephants." the Oklahoman said the posts were later removed from Instagram and Facebook. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Joe Exotic was the subject of the hit Netflix show Tiger King and is serving a 21-year sentence at Fort Worths Federal Medical Center following his conviction in the now notorious murder-for-hire case that formed the subject of the show. (With inputs from CNN) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: September 22, 2025, 19:51 IST News world US Animal Handler Linked To 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic Mauled By Big Cat 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 State Secy Marco Rubio Meets Syrian President, Holds Talks on Sanctions Relief Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 23, 2025, 02:26 IST US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Syrian President Ahmad Hussein al-Sharaa, discussed sanctions relief, Israel-Syria ties, and Syrias first UNGA address in over 60 years US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday met Syrian President Ahmad Hussein al-Sharaa. (Secretary Marco Rubio/X) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday held discussions with Syrian President Ahmad Hussein al-Sharaa, also known by his former nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Julani, on sanctions relief and the importance of Israel-Syria relations. In a post on X, Rubio said: I met with Syrian President al-Sharaa about our shared goals for a stable and sovereign Syria and ongoing efforts to bring security and prosperity to all Syrians. We also discussed implementing President Trumps historic announcement on sanctions relief and the importance of Israel-Syria relations." Recommended Stories Syrian President Ahmad Hussein al-Sharaa on Monday became the first Syrian leader to address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in over 60 years. Al-Sharaa arrived in New York on Sunday, leading a large delegation of Syrian officials, in what state media described as a landmark trip", Al Jazeera reported. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all His attendance at the 80th session of UNGA comes after Bashar al-Assads ouster in December 2024, ending the Assad familys 50-year rule. Al-Sharaa had a meeting with United States President Donald Trump in May, the first such encounter between a Syrian president and a US president in 25 years, at a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At the meeting, Trump said the US would drop all sanctions on Syria, which he subsequently did, and added that Washington was exploring normalising relations with Syrias new government". Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: September 23, 2025, 02:26 IST News world US State Secy Marco Rubio Meets Syrian President, Holds Talks on Sanctions Relief 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... 'JeM Admitted Masood Azhars Family Was Hit': Rajnath Singh Says Op Sindoor Halted, Not Ended Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 09:23 IST Rajnath Singh was received by the Head Wali of the Military Command of Casablanca and Indias Ambassador to Morocco, Sanjay Rana. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacts with the Indian community in Morocco. (X @rajnathsingh) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that India had struck deep inside enemy territory to dismantle terror networks. Not at the border, we destroyed terror hotbeds 100 km inside their land. A top terrorist of JeM was saying that Masood Azhars family was torn apart by India Pakistan urged for a ceasefire, and we agreed," Singh said while addressing the Indian community in Moroccos Rabat. The minister added that India seeks peace but will not hesitate to act against terrorism. We want to have good relations because Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say friends can be changed but not neighbours We are trying to bring them to the right path. PM too has said that this is just a pause. Operation Sindoor has only been halted It can be started again," he said. Recommended Stories Delighted to interact with the Indian community in Rabat. Lauded their hard work and dedication that defines the Indian community across the world. It is praiseworthy, how they are contributing to Moroccos progress and at the same time remain connected to their roots in India. pic.twitter.com/rJYwuXNpyw Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 22, 2025 Singh is on a two-day official visit to Morocco the first by any Indian Defence Minister. He landed at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, where he was received by the Head Wali of the Military Command of Casablanca and Indias Ambassador Sanjay Rana. Members of the Indian community also turned out in large numbers to welcome him. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Morocco said, Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh arrived in Casablanca, Morocco, on a bilateral visit at the invitation of Abdeltif Loudiyi, Minister Delegate for National Defence of Morocco. He was warmly received by senior government and military officials, Ambassador of India Sanjay Rana and members of the Indian community." During the visit, Singh will inaugurate Tata Advanced Systems new manufacturing facility for the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 88 at Berrechid the first Indian defence manufacturing plant in Africa. He will also hold bilateral talks with his Moroccan counterpart Abdeltif Loudiyi. Singh said the new facility marks an important milestone and reflects the growing global footprint of Indias defence industry. 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 22, 2025, 09:00 IST News world 'JeM Admitted Masood Azhars Family Was Hit': Rajnath Singh Says Op Sindoor Halted, Not 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... A senior prison officer stationed at Khami Maximum Prison Complex has found himself in legal trouble after allegedly facilitating the release of an inmate serving a 62-year sentence for six counts of armed robbery. Chamunorwa Matshalaga, a Principal Correctional Officer with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS), appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Mark Dzira on Friday, facing a charge of criminal abuse of office. Matshalaga applied for bail, arguing that he posed no flight risk and would not interfere with State witnesses. He also pledged to reside at the address he had provided to the court. However, the State opposed the application, and he was remanded in custody until 2 October. Prosecutor Siphiwe Mhlanga submitted that criminal abuse of office is a serious offence and a form of corruption that undermines national well-being. She further argued that unlawfully releasing an inmate from prison is a grave violation that erodes public trust in the ZPCS and the rule of law. The court also heard concerns that Matshalaga might interfere with witnesses and, given the severity of the charge, could abscond. It is alleged that sometime in 2024, on an unspecified date, Matshalaga who was responsible for inmate records and administration conspired with accomplices, who are yet to be arrested, to unlawfully release Charles Nyarondo from custody. Nyarondo was serving a 62-year sentence for six counts of armed robbery committed between 2023 and 2024. The court was told that Matshalaga and his accomplices were part of the amnesty selection panel tasked with compiling a list of inmates eligible for release under the Proposed General Amnesty 2024: Clemency Order No. 1 of 2024, which was to inform the Presidential Clemency Order. It is alleged that Matshalaga and his co-accused unlawfully included Nyarondo on the list of beneficiaries, despite his ineligibility due to the nature of his convictions. They reportedly facilitated his release by misclassifying him under the aged 60 provision, in violation of paragraph six of Clemency Order No. 1 of 2024, published in Government Gazette Vol. CII No. 32. The Gazette explicitly excludes inmates convicted under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23] from release on the basis of age. Herald North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says he still has good memories of US President Trump and urged Washington to drop its demand the North surrender its nukes as a precondition for resuming long-stalled diplomacy, the AP reports. Speaking to Pyongyang's rubber-stamp parliament on Sunday, Kim stressed that he has no intention of ever resuming dialogue with rival South Korea, a key US ally that helped broker Kim's previous summits with Trump during the American president's first term, according to a speech published by state media on Monday. Kim's comments came as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed for New York to attend the UN General Assembly, where he is expected to address nuclear tensions on the Korean Peninsula and call on North Korea to return to talks. Trump is also expected to visit South Korea next month to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, prompting media speculation that he may try to meet Kim at the inter-Korean border, as they did during their third meeting in 2019, which ultimately failed to salvage their nuclear diplomacy. During his latest speech at the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim reiterated that he would never give up his nuclear weapons program, which experts say he sees as his strongest guarantee of survival and the extension of his family's dynastic rule. "The world already knows well what the United States does after forcing other countries to give up their nuclear weapons and disarm," Kim said. "We will never lay down our nuclear weapons There will be no negotiations, now or ever, about trading anything with hostile countries in exchange for lifting sanctions." He said he still holds "good personal memories" of Trump from their first meetings and that there is "no reason not to" resume talks with the United States if Washington "abandons its delusional obsession with denuclearization." Patrons at a restaurant acted quickly to stop a gunman who opened fire at a New Hampshire country club and likely averted a worse tragedy, authorities said Sunday. One person was killed and two others were wounded by gunfire Saturday night before a suspect was taken into custody in a nearby neighborhood not long after the shooting, reports the AP . The gunfire killed Robert DeCesare Jr., 59, at Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua, said New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella and Nashua Police Chief Kevin Rourke. They said that the suspect was Hunter Nadeau, 23, of Nashua, and that he had been arrested and charged with one count of second-degree murder for knowingly shooting DeCesare. Nadeau was a former employee of the club, Formella said, adding that Nadeau made a number of statements during the shooting and appeared to be attempting to cause chaos in the moment as opposed to showing a hate-based motivation. Witnesses reported that Nadeau said "Free Palestine" during the confusion. Some witnesses said someone struck Nadeau with a chair in an attempt to subdue him. Formella cited "selfless acts of courage by the patrons in the restaurant who put aside care for their own safety and worked to intervene and stop the shooter." The shooting happened adjacent to a wedding at the club. Wedding DJ Michael Homewood credited the chair strike with preventing an even worse shooting. "He hit him over the head with a chair, and he probably saved a bunch of lives just doing that," Homewood told WCVB-TV. Investigators were working to determine a motive, Formella said. "Additional charges likely will be brought, including for the additional shooting victims," Formella and Rourke said in a statement. Charlene DeCesare, the widow of Robert DeCesare, said in an email that she and her daughter were closest to the shooter when he walked into the room and that he appeared to target a restaurant employee. "My husband got caught in the fire trying to protect us," she said. A tragic crash in Germany has renewed concerns about Tesla's electronic door handles after a 43-year-old man and two nine-year-old children died when their car slammed into a tree and caught fire. According to police and local reports, bystanders who rushed to helpincluding a nearby shop ownerwere unable to open the vehicle's doors due to the electric locking system, leaving the trio trapped inside as flames spread. A third nine-year-old was able to escape and was airlifted to the hospital, the New York Post reports. The victims' names have not been released. Witnesses described desperate attempts to break into the Tesla, but said the combination of intense heat and the car's design thwarted their efforts. Tesla vehicles typically rely on retractable, electronic door handles that require a power supply (which can fail in a crash) to open from the outside. Although there are manual releases inside, experts note that children may not be able to operate them in a crisis. The incident occurred just days after the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating complaints that Tesla's electronic door handles may fail in emergencies. Germany's largest automobile association also warned earlier this year that such designs could create safety risks. This crash follows a similar tragedy in Toronto last year, in which four people died after being unable to exit a burning Tesla. Officials said three vehicles were involved in the Germany incident, People reports, citing local news outlets. "An electric vehicle attempted to overtake a convoy of cars and, for reasons still unclear, left the road and came to rest against a tree," a spokesperson for the local police department said in a statement. "Tragically, it caught fire there, and three people inside the vehicle were burned to death." Production on Spider-Man: Brand New Day is on hold after star Tom Holland sustained a mild concussion during a stunt on the Glasgow set. A spokesperson confirmed filming was paused Friday and Holland is taking a precautionary break, but he's expected back in a few days, Deadline reports. No one else was hurt in the incident. Despite the injury, Holland appeared in public over the weekend at a charity event alongside co-star and fiancee Zendaya, indicating his recovery is progressing. The production team is holding a meeting to adjust the filming schedule. The movie is set to be released July of next year. Before filming started, Holland expressed enthusiasm about shooting on location this time, a change from the last Spider-Man installment, No Way Home, which was filmed entirely on soundstages during the COVID pandemic. "We're really gonna lean into that old-school filmmaking," he said, describing Glasgow's streets as the backdrop for a major set-piece. He likened the experience to making his first Spider-Man film in 2017, adding, "It's been such a long time since I've done it, it's gonna feel like a breath of fresh air, and I think the fans are going to be over the moon with what we're putting together." According to the Hollywood Reporter, Mark Ruffalo will appear in the movie as The Hulk, as will Jon Bernthal as The Punisher. UPDATE Oct 16, 2025 10:26 AM CDT Four Chinese officials have lost their jobs in the fallout to a clothing company's fireworks display in the environmentally sensitive Himalayas last month. Authorities in Tibet's Shigatse city announced the punishments Wednesday, following apologies from Canadian clothing comapny Arc'teryx and Chinese pyrotechnics artist Cai Guo-Qiang. Gyantse County's Communist Party secretary and public security chief were fired, alongside two local environmental officials, with others receiving warnings, per the BBC. Authorities said the display disturbed wildlife and damaged an area of grassland. The statement described "fireworks remnants, plastic debris and other things that were not thoroughly cleaned," adding Arc'teryx and Cai are on the hook for cleanup fees. Sep 22, 2025 7:02 AM CDT A fiery dragon-shaped fireworks display in Tibet, meant to celebrate mountain culture, has landed outdoor brand Arc'teryx in hot water, sparking backlash on Chinese social media over its environmental impact. Critics argued Friday's daytime pyrotechnic show, designed by renowned artist Cai Guo-Qiang, at an altitude of about 18,000 feet in the Shigatse region of the Himalayas was at odds with the Canadian outdoor clothing brand's conservation-focused image and potentially harmful to the fragile mountain ecosystem, per the BBC and NBC News. Social media users issued calls for a boycott while questioning how such a spectacle was ever approved for the ecologically sensitive region. We have our second Atlantic hurricane of the season, which, like the first, is expected to avoid landfall. Hurricane Gabrielle, churning 210 miles southeast of Bermuda as of Monday morning, had sustained winds of 90mph, making it a category 1 storm, though it could intensify into a category 3 or greater storm by Monday evening or Tuesday, per CNN and WOFL. It's expected to pass east of Bermuda on Monday, then move north and northeast toward open water. There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. The passing of Robert Redford has brought renewed attention to a decades-old mystery: the unsolved murder of his daughter's boyfriendand the fugitive suspect who vanished without a trace. In 1983, Redford's daughter, Shauna, was dating Sid Wells, a University of Colorado Boulder student who was shot and killed in his apartment. Redford, who was preparing to film The Natural at the time, put his career on hold to support his daughter and attend Wells' funeral, per the Guardian . Initial suspicion fell on Wells' roommate, Thayne Alan Smika , but prosecutors declined to charge him, citing a lack of evidence. Smika subsequently disappeared in 1986. Decades later, in 2010, advances in DNA testing prompted authorities to issue a new warrant for Smika's arrest, yet he remains at large. In the aftermath of Redford's death, the FBI reiterated its offer of a $10,000 reward for information leading to Smika's capture, noting his bail is preset at $5 million. Redford was deeply involved in the case from the start, providing security for the Wells family before a suspect was named. He also reached out to the Boulder district attorney in 2010 to thank law enforcement for keeping the investigation active, former DA Stan Garnett tells KUSA. "I got the impression ... that Mr Wells and Robert Redford's daughter were pretty serious about each other," he adds. Police believe Smika may have killed Wells over a debt. Smika reportedly owed his roommate $300 at the time of the killing, KUSA previously reported. Smika's vehicle, with a stolen license plate, was found abandoned in Beverly Hills, California, in October 1986. The suspect, who does not have a valid US passport, is believed to have resided in Yelapa, Mexico, "for many years prior to 2007" and may now be in California, according to the FBI. Decades after a brutal rape, a groundbreaking technique has finally exposed the attacker, solving a puzzle that once stumped investigators: how to tell identical twins apart using only DNA. The 1987 assault on a gas station employee in Woodbridge, Virginia, had gone unsolved for years, despite the collection of DNA evidence at the time. When Prince William County detectives revisited the case in 2019, the DNA sample led them to not one, but two menidentical twins living in Florida, who shared the same genetic profile, per the Washington Post . Prosecutors were forced to turn to a relatively new forensic tool known as somatic mutation analysis, which searches for small genetic mutations that develop as people age. With this more sensitive analysis, scientists were able to pinpoint subtle mutations that distinguished Russell Marubbio from his innocent twin brother, leading to 54-year-old Marubbio's conviction for violent rape and abduction on Aug. 21, per WTTG. The case marks the first time this DNA testing method has led to a conviction in a US courtroom, according to the Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. Prosecutors compared the advance to earlier forensic milestones like fingerprinting, arguing that as science advances, so, too, must the justice system. Though some judges have previously expressed skepticism about the science behind differentiating identical twins through DNAincluding during the trial of an identical twin accused of several rapes in Boston in 2004experts say it is now well established. The Virginia rape victim, now 88, who was threatened at knifepoint, testified at the trial and expressed relief at the outcome. Marubbio remains in custody with sentencing set for Nov. 7, per WJLA. A Romanian tourist's dream vacation in Italy turned into a disaster at his very first breakfast: He was mistaken for a fugitive, arrested, and locked in prison. The man identified as Ovidiu A. was taken into custody at his hotel in Caorle, near Venice, on Aug. 24 because the name he provided at check-in matched that of a Romanian criminal convicted in Italy for aggravated theft, reports CBS News. Ovidiu then found himself in a bureaucratic web as his family waited in confusion. The wait would last almost a month. More than 200 leaders in science and politicsincluding 10 Nobel Prize winnersare urging the world to draw clear, enforceable boundaries on artificial intelligence before the technology spins out of control, reports NBC News . Their open letter , released Monday and dubbed the "Global Call for AI Red Lines," warns that without such international rules, AI could fuel everything from mass unemployment to engineered pandemics and widespread human rights abuses. "For thousands of years, humans have learnedsometimes the hard waythat powerful technologies can have dangerous as well as beneficial consequences," said author Yuval Noah Harari, one of those who signed the letter. "Humans must agree on clear red lines for AI before the technology reshapes society beyond our understanding and destroys the foundations of our humanity." The appealannounced by Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa at the United Nations General Assembly's High-Level Weekasks governments to hammer out those guardrails by the end of 2026. The letter does not suggest exact rules, instead calling for negotiation on issues such as banning lethal autonomous weapons and preventing AI from playing a role in nuclear warfare or self-replicating. Nobel winners who signed include biochemist Jennifer Doudna, economist Daron Acemoglu, and physicist Giorgio Parisi. Two of the "godfathers" of AI, Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio, also signed, as did former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta and former Irish President Mary Robinson, who is currently United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, per Euro News. A pardon from Egypt's president has ended one of the country's most closely watched cases of political imprisonment. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has granted a pardon to Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a high-profile Egyptian-British activist whose repeated detentions and hunger strikes made him a global symbol of opposition to Sisi's government, Reuters reports. The announcement, reported by state media and confirmed by relatives, follows years of advocacy from local and international supporters, as well as personal appeals from Abd el-Fattah's family. Abd el-Fattah, 43, has spent much of his adult life in and out of prison due to his outspoken criticism of Egypt's government. A former blogger and software developer, he first drew the authorities' attention before the 2011 Arab Spring, and his most prolonged detentions came after Sisi, then a military chief, rose to power. In 2014, Abd el-Fattah was convicted of organizing a protest without a permit, initially receiving a 15-year term that was later reduced. Released in 2019 but kept under parole, he was soon re-arrested over a social media post and sentenced to another five years. He was due to be released last year, but authorities refused to count his time in pre-trial detention as time served and said he would remain in custody until 2027, the BBC reports. Abd el-Fattah's case drew renewed attention during the 2022 COP27 climate summit in Egypt, prompting intensified calls for his release. His mother, 68-year-old Laila Soueif, herself an activist, met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and held a hunger strike to highlight his plight. She was hospitalized in May after losing more than 40% of her body weight. Abd el-Fattah also staged several hunger strikes while in custody. His mother ended her nine-month hunger strike in July after British officials pledged to do all they could to secure her son's release. El-Fattah was granted British citizenship through his mother in 2021, but Egypt did not allow British diplomats to visit him. His name was recently removed from Egypt's "terrorism" list, and Sisi's order for authorities to review his case this month led to this week's pardon. "President Sisi has pardoned my brother!" his sister Sanaa Seif said in a post on X. "Mum & I are heading to the prison now to inquire from where Alaa will be released and when... OMG I can't believe we get our lives back!" Mona Seif, his other sister, said, "My heart will explode." "The time has come," French President Emmanuel Macron said at a United Nations meeting on Monday, declaring that France is officially recognizing a Palestinian state. "This is why, true to the historic commitment of my country to the Middle East, to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, this is why I declare that today, France recognizes the state of Palestine," Macron said, per the Guardian . The UK, Canada, and Australia announced their recognition of Palestine on the eve of the UN headquarters summit, which aims to boost support for a two-state solution to the conflict, the AP reports. Portugal also announced its recognition of Palestine on Sunday, while Monaco announced the move later in Monday's meeting. "The time for peace has come, as we are just moments away from no longer being able to seize it," Macron told the summit, per Le Monde summit. "The time has come to free the 48 hostages held by Hamas. The time has come to stop the war, the bombings of Gaza, the massacres and the displacement." He called for a transition administration in Gaza that would be tasked with dismantling Hamas, the Guardian reports. Macron said France would be willing to contribute to a "stabilization force." Macron was applauded by the more than 140 leaders in attendance, the AP reports. Mahmoud Abbas, Palestine's president, attended virtually because the US refused to grant him a visa. "What we want is a state with one law, and one legitimate security force," he told the summit. He called for an immediate ceasefire and said Hamas would have no role in governing Gaza after the war. The New York Times reports that Abbas addressed the people of Israel, saying: "Our future and yours depends on peace. Enough war. Let the people in our region live in durable peace and good neighborliness." Fairbanks, AK (99701) Today Variable clouds with snow showers. High 6F. SE winds shifting to W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.. Tonight Cloudy early with partial clearing expected late. Low -17F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has sent a written message to His Excellency Serdar Berdimuhamedow, President of the sisterly Republic of Turkmenistan, focusing on the close fraternal relations between the two countries and prospects for their further development and enhancement. The message was received today by His Excellency Rashid Meredov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, during a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ashgabat with His Excellency Talal AbdulSalam Al Ansari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Consular and Administrative Affairs. During the meeting, Minister Meredov welcomed Ambassador Talal Al Ansari and entrusted him with conveying President Berdimuhamedows greetings to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, praising the distinguished and close ties between the two brotherly countries. He also commended the efforts made to strengthen bilateral cooperation at all levels and expressed his best wishes for further progress and prosperity for the Kingdom of Bahrain and its people. For his part, Ambassador Talal Al Ansari expressed his pride in the meeting and conveyed the greetings and appreciation of His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to Minister Meredov, wishing Turkmenistan continued progress, growth, and prosperity. The meeting was attended by Mr. Bassam Ahmed Marzooq, Bahrains Ambassador to Turkmenistan, resident in Ankara. TDT | Manama Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com The Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (DANAT) has announced that it will host an interactive workshop on emeralds tomorrow, bringing together enthusiasts, specialists, and professionals from across the gemstone industry. The initiative reflects DANATs ongoing commitment to advancing scientific and professional knowledge in the field through training and educational programmes, while further strengthening its position as a global hub and leading training destination in the sector. The workshop will offer participants a comprehensive learning experience centred on the distinctive characteristics and origins of emeralds. Attendees will explore the visual and physical properties of the gemstone and the advanced scientific methods used to differentiate between natural, treated, and synthetic emeralds. Participants will also engage in hands-on training using the latest inspection technologies, enabling them to gain practical expertise in identification and evaluation methods. In recognition of the close ties between Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in celebration of the Saudi National Day, DANAT will extend an exclusive 15% discount to Saudi citizens attending the workshop. His Excellency Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met today at the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations in New York with members of the diplomatic team participating in Bahrains bid for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for 2026-2027. The meeting was attended by Ambassador Jamal Fares Al-Ruwaihi, Bahrains Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Khalid Yousif Al-Jalahma, Undersecretary for Political Affairs, and members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delegation participating in the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. During the meeting, Minister Al Zayani expressed his pleasure in meeting the diplomatic team, congratulating them on their selection for this important diplomatic role during Bahrains Security Council membership. He highlighted that their work will help achieve the Kingdoms objectives in line with the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the priorities of the government led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, emphasizing the high importance placed on Bahrains Security Council membership. The Minister noted that the diplomatic teams work at the Security Council represents a valuable opportunity to showcase Bahrains standing on the international stage and its diplomatic approach, guided by the Kings vision of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and human solidarity, grounded in balance, moderation, cooperation, and Bahrains traditional values. Al Zayani stressed the importance of developing their skills, gaining new expertise, understanding the Councils procedures and political discussions, and acquiring specialized experience to contribute effectively to final decisions on international issues addressed in Council sessions. He emphasized the need for active participation, teamwork, and collaborative spirit in representing Bahrain. The Minister also highlighted the critical role of the Security Council in maintaining international peace and security, noting that political work in the Council requires skill, precision, coordination, and building bridges of cooperation with member states delegations. He wished the team success in fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to them. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, sent a congratulatory message to his brother, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the occasion of Saudi Arabias National Day. In the message, His Majesty extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to King Salman, wishing him good health, happiness, and long life, to continue the journey of prosperity and progress witnessed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under his wise leadership. His Majesty also expressed his deep pride and appreciation for the strong brotherly ties between the peoples of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which reflect the solid foundations of their bilateral relations. He affirmed Bahrains ongoing commitment to enhancing joint cooperation with Saudi Arabia under their strategic partnership, aiming to achieve the aspirations of both peoples and bring mutual benefits to their countries. Additionally, His Majesty sent a similar congratulatory message to Crown Prince and Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, expressing his sincere congratulations and best wishes for health and happiness on this national occasion. TDT | Manama Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com A senior advisor and key international spokesman for Djiboutis long-serving President Ismail Omar Guelleh has resigned, citing concerns over democratic regression and nepotistic practices. Alexis Mohamed, who has served as the presidents close advisor since 2015, said he could no longer support the administrations direction. The regression in democracy, the lack of transparency in economic and diplomatic agreements, the marginalization of the republics institutions, and the nepotistic management of the state compel me to take this action, Mohamed said. He added that his decision was carefully considered over the past two years. President Guelleh has been in power since 1999, transforming the small Horn of Africa nation into a strategic military and maritime hub for both the United States and China. Guelleh has hinted that he may seek another term in office next year, although this would require a constitutional amendment. Mohamed emphasized that he could not endorse any constitutional change that would allow Guelleh to run again. Term limits are an essential foundation of any democracy, he said, calling the proposed amendment highly detrimental to Djibouti. The president, now 77, previously suggested in an interview with Africa Report in May that running for another term remains a possibility, even though the current constitution prohibits candidates over the age of 75. News / Religion by Gideon Madzikatidze HARARE - Zimbabwe is set to witness a monumental spiritual gathering, the Love Zimbabwe Festival, endorsed by prominent church umbrella bodies, including the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference (ZCBC), Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), and Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe (UDACIZ), with everyone promising that the message will revolve around hope amid rising socio-economic discrepancies countrywide.The festival, scheduled for September 26-28, 2025, at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield, Harare, aims to spread the message of Jesus Christ across communities and denominations.Speaking during a press briefing in Harare this Monday, Father Johanes Maseko from Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) has said the conference is important since it will be packed with message of hope amongst communities countrywide."It is a greatest opportunity for our country and as christians, we are a religion of love and the festival will be our embrace of our country in the love of who we are. We are coming together as christians to warm, strengthen and renew each other," Maseko said."The coming together of churches is a testimony and witness that there is no rivalry in the proclamation of the gospel, but merely a message of hope to everyone in the wake of existing difficulties which christians encounter in their daily lives," Maseko added.Meanwhile, UDACIZA General Secretary, Innocent Chitanda has said that, as apostolic churches, they have unanimously agreed to congregate with all christians during the festival, with one goal of winning souls by giving a message of hope."We have unanimously agreed to congregate with like-minded christian bodies in the interest of tolerance and co-existence while prioritising to spread the message of hope to citizens. We are united as one people before God regardless of colour, race or creed," Chitanda said.The festival seeks to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, inspire hope, healing, and national transformation through collective worship and outreach.Internationally renowned evangelist Andrew Palau, son of the late global evangelist Luis Palau, will lead the crusade, bringing his dynamic and transformative gospel outreach experience.The festival is a result of ecumenical collaboration between major Christian denominations in Zimbabwe, demonstrating unity and a shared commitment to spreading the Gospel.Thousands of people are expected to attend, with many anticipated to come to faith in Jesus Christ, while believers will be encouraged and equipped for evangelism.As build up to the main event, outreach programmes have been rolled out to orphanages, prisons and schools.The Love Zimbabwe Festival serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of unity and collective action in spreading the Gospel. Church leaders and participants alike are encouraged to come together, putting aside denominational differences, to proclaim the message of love and salvation. A new feature-length animated adaptation of Peleliu Guernica in Paradise is coming to theaters, built on a collaboration with Mone Kamishiraishi, who performs the theme song titled A Miracle-like Thing. The story is based on the brutal Battle of Peleliu, where only 34 soldiers survived out of an estimated 10,000, and is being released to coincide with the 80th year since the end of the war, offering a depiction of friendship forged in the midst of devastating conflict. A nationwide survey of popular hot spring destinations released on December 10th shows Oita Prefecture rapidly climbing in traveler preference, underscoring shifting tourism trends as visitors seek both tradition and new experiences. The annual rankings, based on votes from travel site members, again placed Kusatsu in Gunma at the top for the third consecutive year, while Beppu rose from fifth to second and Yufuin made a notable leap to fifth from eleventh. OSAKA, Sep 22 (News On Japan) - A traffic safety class was held in Osakas Miyakojima Ward as police aim to reduce accidents, which typically rise from autumn through the end of the year. At a local driving school, children practiced checking for safety before crossing pedestrian walkways while riding bicycles. One participant said, "I want to follow the rules so I dont ignore traffic lights," while another added, "Ill wait until the light turns green." Parents took part by driving with goggles designed to simulate the effects of alcohol consumption, allowing them to experience firsthand the dangers of impaired driving. According to Osaka police, more than 17,000 traffic accidents have occurred in the prefecture this year as of September 18th. Serious and fatal accidents caused by drunk driving are known to increase toward year-end. Authorities are urging pedestrians to take precautions, such as wearing reflective materials, to improve visibility and prevent further accidents. Source: KTV NEWS TOKYO, Sep 22 (News On Japan) - Nissan Motor unveiled an experimental vehicle equipped with autonomous driving technology powered by generative AI, showcasing a system that allows hands-free driving even on ordinary roads. The technology integrates the latest driving support features using generative AI, supported by 11 cameras and radar sensors. The system can predict whether oncoming vehicles are approaching at intersections and assess pedestrians walking speed, automatically adjusting steering and braking in response. The AI is trained on the driving techniques of skilled drivers, eliminating the need for preloaded map data. Nissan plans to introduce the technology to some mass-produced models in Japan by fiscal 2027. Tetsuya Iijima, head of next-generation ProPILOT development at Nissan, said, "The progress of AI has far exceeded the expectations of the auto industry." Competition in autonomous driving is intensifying, with Google-affiliated developers in the United States also beginning test runs in Tokyo to create 3D maps, among other approaches. Source: TBS TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2025 /CNW/ - On September 17, 2025, Peter Routledge, Superintendent of Financial Institutions gave a speech and participated in a fireside chat at the Global Risk Institute's Summit 2025. The event took place in Toronto, Ontario, at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, and was hosted by Sonia Baxendale, President and CEO of the Global Risk Institute. CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Peter Routledge, OSFI Superintendent (left), Sonia Baxendale, President and CEO, Global Risk Institute (right) at the Global Risk Institute Summit 2025. (CNW Group/Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions) There is an old saying that there are decades when nothing happens and weeks where decades happen. The present day seems closer to the latter part of that framework. The year 2025 has reminded me of the period dating 1989-1991 where it seemed that every morning brought a new, amazing headline as the world lived through the end of the cold war. The current era is no less bracing than that time. From escalating geopolitical instability and cyber threats to climate change; from domestic economic shifts to technological innovation; the risks and opportunities facing Canadian financial institutions are complex and consequential. Just like our country, Canada's financial system is navigating through a period of profound uncertainty. One can confront this uncertainty with trepidation, fear, optimism, or a mix of all three. With humility towards the uncertainty that is always present, I would like to emphasize optimism today. Over the last 15 years, the boards of OSFI's regulated constituents have built enduring resilience into Canada's financial system; with encouraging support from their friendly financial institution supervisor. Their efforts have proven to be both necessary and effective. For example, Canada's systemically important banks reported Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratios that averaged 13.7% in the most recent quarter, 220 basis points above the floor for a well-capitalized, systemically important bank. One way to think about that is that the denominator of the CET1 capital ratio, risk-weighted assets, could rise by approximately $500 billion before that ratio hit 11.5%. In layperson's terms, banks could make nearly $1 trillion in additional loans, or other extensions of credit, and remain above current capital minimums; a material figure to Canada's $3 trillion economy. Here is a reason for optimism: Canada's banks have ample capacity to help fund the country's adjustment to this new era. Elsewhere, Canadian life insurers have boosted their core capital ratios by 13% over the past 6 years and maintain ample capital buffers that can be similarly leveraged for new investments in the Canadian economy. Since the global financial crisis, OSFI has also implemented requirements for financial institutions' liquidity and for protections against integrity & security (or non-financial) risks. On the basis of this evidence, I am confident in stating that the Canadian financial system is as resilient as it has ever been. Unusual for a financial institution supervisor to declare, I know, and I refer again to the humility I have about the uncertainty we face. Resilience is not a guarantee, it is an asset and one that is finite at that. But I do believe Canada's financial system is in a strong position to help the economy adapt to our new economic environment. Indeed, the system's resilience is a strategic advantage to be leveraged to support Canadian businesses and households as the country adapts. When banks, insurers, and pension plans are well-regulated, adaptable, and capable in managing their risks, Canadians benefit: from reliable access to credit and financial services to stronger support for businesses and communities. At OSFI, we believe a resilient financial system isn't just a safeguardit's a catalyst for national prosperity. So what can OSFI do now to help Canada's federally-regulated financial institutions help the country and the economy adapt? We will be answering that question for the next several years, and I suspect the answer will change as the environment changes. But let me give you three overarching answers for OSFI right now: Be proactive always be advancing Look for opportunities to support competitive balance Look for opportunities to support innovation and ease the burdens for entry 1. Be proactive always be advancing Driven by events outside our control, we at OSFI have adopted a guiding principle Always Be Advancing which compels us to act early, think strategically, and remain outcome-focused in this era of uncertainty. We continue to modernize our regulatory approach to be more agile, transparent, and risk-intelligenteliminating outdated guidance, adjusting regulatory intensity, and pausing select initiatives based on continuous industry engagement and a commitment to smart, effective oversight. For example, in 2024, we rescinded 20 guidelines and industry advisories, with more to come this November. Earlier this year, we paused increases in the Basel III output floor to ensure that competitive balance prevails for Canadian banks that compete in the international banking system. In July 2025, we announced a reduction in capital requirements for Canadian infrastructure debt and equity investments made by OSFI-regulated insurers. We plan on announcing more pro-active regulatory initiatives to help our regulated constituents help the country. We will be looking at relative risk-weightings for banks and will consult with industry constituents and public sector partners on the capital treatment of certain types of loans to encourage business lending by banks in support of the economy. 2. Look for opportunities to support competitive balance As I mentioned a minute ago, we did pause our implementation of Basel III to help our internationally active banks compete more effectively against global peers. In OSFI's mandate, Parliament instructs OSFI to have due regard to the need to allow financial institutions to compete effectively and take reasonable risks. In our view, an OSFI that follows Parliament's instructions is an OSFI that respects competition and competitive balance. Competitive balance does not start at the water's edge, it is a grass-roots concern. To support competitive balance domestically, we have a number of initiatives on the go. Earlier this year, we engaged with small- and medium-size lenders about changes to capital requirements that will enable them to compete more effectively while ensuring their risk-taking remains reasonable. We also continue to engage with smaller institutions about how we could reduce some regulatory burden so that management teams have more time and resources to face the uncertainty ahead. You will hear more from us on this in November. 3. Look for opportunities to support innovation and ease the burdens for entry New entrants can give financial institution regulators heartburn. The problem is that some new entrants succeed while others fail. And public servants have varying tolerance levels for failure. Since 1996, Canada has not had a deposit-taking institution fail. In the same time frame, the U.S. banking system absorbed over 500 failures. Meanwhile, the Global Failed Insurer Catalogue, produced by Canada's Property and Casualty Insurance Compensation Corporation, lists just 7 insurer failures in Canada since 2000 (not all of them OSFI supervised), amongst a catalogue of 547 insurer failures. Given these statistics, I think it reasonable to conclude that OSFI could adjust its risk appetite with regards to new entrants. At OSFI, we will revamp our approvals process to ease entry and, with that, mature our tolerance for risk. We aim to find opportunities for more timely approval of new entrants to the banking sector. Given the extraordinary innovation in financial services, particularly digital money innovations like stablecoins and tokenized deposits, the time is right to look at streamlining our approvals process. In addition, we will continue to look for opportunities to stay out of the way of innovators already in our system as they develop new products based on distributed ledgers or other expanding technologies. When our regulated constituents bring OSFI ideas and request either support or non-disapproval, our first instinct will be to avoid impeding innovation. Obviously, innovation and new entrants bring risk and other financial systems' experiences provide a warning against over-aggressiveness. To guide us, OSFI will reinforce our simple regulatory principle for innovation: same activity, same risk, same regulatory principles. With an unwavering focus on a resilient financial system, innovation, and public confidence, we will enable Canadian financial institutions to play a central role in reinforcing Canada's economic strength in this era of great uncertainty. Moderator: You've said OSFI is looking to reduce regulatory burden where possible. Can you give us some concrete examples of where you see opportunities to do that, while still maintaining resilience? Superintendent Peter Routledge: On August 18 , I laid out how we are continuing to make regulatory efficiency a discipline in OSFI. We're reducing the scope and timing of certain integrity and security data requests, shifting the corporate governance consultation to focus on the most material issues, and eliminating redundant data collections. Those changes free up capacity without compromising resilience. , I laid out how we are continuing to make regulatory efficiency a discipline in OSFI. We're reducing the scope and timing of certain integrity and security data requests, shifting the corporate governance consultation to focus on the most material issues, and eliminating redundant data collections. Those changes free up capacity without compromising resilience. On supervision, we're being more measured in how we apply intensity. Operational risk supervision is tough and rightly so but we're recalibrating how we stage and intervene, so the oversight matches the risk profile, not a one-size-fits-all approach. In capital, we're making targeted adjustments. We paused Basel III implementation of the "output floor" to ensure that competitive balance prevails for Canadian banks that compete in the international banking system and to provide Canadian banks with transparency and predictability in OSFI's capital expectations. of the "output floor" to ensure that competitive balance prevails for Canadian banks that compete in the international banking system and to provide Canadian banks with transparency and predictability in OSFI's capital expectations. At the same time, we're not loosening everywhere. On anti-money laundering, for instance, the trajectory is still tighter because the risk environment demands it. Moderator: You've said AML is a prudential issue. With the federal Strong Borders Act (Bill C-2) on the table and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) review coming up later this year, how concerned are you about AML right now and what's changing in how OSFI will supervise it? Superintendent Peter Routledge: AML is a prudential risk. Weak AML controls can erode integrity and confidence, which in turn threaten safety and soundness. That's why we treat AML as part of our integrity and security risk lens and a priority in our risk outlook. No other regulator has a mandate to ensure federally regulated financial institutions (FRFIs) have policies and procedures in place to protect themselves from threats to their integrity and security and from foreign interference. Our Integrity and National Security team engages closely with domestic security and intelligence partners as well as our international counterparts to identify threats to FRFIs. By bringing together classified and unclassified information, our team can look at a holistic picture of the integrity and security risks institutions face. That includes influence from foreign jurisdictions. Bill C-2 strengthens coordination. If Parliament passes Bill C-2, FINTRAC will join the Financial Institutions Supervisory Committee (FISC). I would be very pleased to welcome FINTRAC at that table. It will facilitate information exchange and allow us to respond more quickly through supervision. Moderator: To what extent are OSFI's actions driven by what happens south of the border, especially when we see deregulatory trends in the United States? Superintendent Peter Routledge: Canada's financial system is navigating a period of profound uncertainty. From escalating geopolitical instability and cyber threats to climate change and domestic economic shifts, the risks facing financial institutions are complex and consequential. Canada is a North American economy, and our banks and insurers compete in the U.S. market, so we cannot ignore changes in their regulatory environment. financial system is navigating a period of profound uncertainty. From escalating geopolitical instability and cyber threats to climate change and domestic economic shifts, the risks facing financial institutions are complex and consequential. is a North American economy, and our banks and insurers compete in the U.S. market, so we cannot ignore changes in their regulatory environment. Over the last 15 years, OSFI has built enduring resilience into Canada's financial system. These efforts have proven to be both necessary and effective. That resilience is a strategic advantage that can be leveraged to support growth in the Canadian economy. This is not a departure from our core mandate: it's a bold extension of it. A strong, stable financial system isn't just a safeguardit's a catalyst for national prosperity. financial system. These efforts have proven to be both necessary and effective. That resilience is a strategic advantage that can be leveraged to support growth in the Canadian economy. This is not a departure from our core mandate: it's a bold extension of it. A strong, stable financial system isn't just a safeguardit's a catalyst for national prosperity. OSFI has proactively established an annual discipline of refining our regulatory guidelines and advisories to find opportunities to remove unnecessary burden. Our focus has been clear: reduce regulatory burden where possible, sharpen our focus on the most important risks, and ensure institutions remain resilient in an uncertain risk environment. We adjust when necessary. For example, last year we paused the Basel III output floor because the gap with international peers, including the U.S., had widened beyond what we were comfortable with. That was about preserving a fair playing field while keeping resilience intact. With an unwavering focus on a sound financial system, innovation, and public confidence, we will continue to enable Canadian financial institutions to play a central role in building Canada's economic strength. Moderator: If we see more deregulation in the U.S. and tariffs start to have more impact, how will OSFI make sure Canada stays competitive while still maintaining its risk posture? Superintendent Peter Routledge: We will be proactive. You can expect us to act early, not wait. When risks shift, we look ahead, anticipate, and adjust our approach before Canadian institutions are at a disadvantage. Our approach is incremental. We make changes in measured steps, not sudden swings. That gives boards and executives clarity and time to adjust, while ensuring the system stays safe. A strong, stable financial system isn't just a safeguard it's a catalyst for national prosperity. Canada's financial system is built on resilience, and that resilience is a strategic asset. financial system is built on resilience, and that resilience is a strategic asset. We respond with prudence. Whether it's tariffs or U.S. deregulatory moves, you should expect a prudent response: one that protects depositors and policyholders while enabling institutions to support Canada's economy through uncertain times. Moderator: What is OSFI doing that might help small and medium-sized businesses access the capital they need to grow? Superintendent Peter Routledge: We continue to work to identify where and how we can best align capital requirements with actual risk. Regulatory efficiency reduces unnecessary capital strain without compromising safety and soundness and supporting the competitiveness of our financial institutions where warranted. This frees up capacity that banks can use to extend more credit. More broadly, OSFI has been focused on regulatory efficiency where possible, by honing on the most important risks, and ensuring institutions remain resilient in an uncertain world. We have proactively established an annual discipline of refining our regulatory guidelines and advisories to find opportunities for regulatory efficiency. SOURCE Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2025 /CNW/ - Tim Hortons is celebrating this year's upcoming National Coffee Day with the return of four vintage hot beverage cup designs that capture some of the brand's iconic looks through the decades. The limited-edition cups are rolling out across the country starting this week in advance of National Coffee Day on Sept. 29 and will be available while supplies last. Tim Hortons raises a cup to National Coffee Day with four vintage hot beverage cup designs available for a limited time! (CNW Group/Tim Hortons) The four cups feature designs from the 1960s, 1980s, and two from the 2010s. "We're proud that millions of Canadians have started their day with their favourite coffee, made with the same secret recipe since 1964. We're so excited to showcase some iconic designs from the past with our National Coffee Day cup collection," said Hope Bagozzi, Chief Marketing Officer for Tim Hortons. "It'll be a trip down memory lane at Tims leading up to National Coffee Day and while guests will be randomly served one of the four vintage cup designs, we know some may want to try to collect them all!" Plus, a special National Coffee Day offer for Tims Rewards members Starting Sept. 29 through Oct. 4, Tims Rewards members will receive an exclusive National Coffee Day offer in their Tims app. After four separate brewed coffee purchases and scanning for Tims Rewards each time, they will be awarded a FREE coffee in the form of 400 Tims Rewards points to use on a future Tims Run. See the Tims app for offer terms and conditions. ABOUT TIM HORTONS In 1964, the first Tim Hortons restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario opened its doors and Canadians have been ordering Tim Hortons iconic Original Blend coffee, Double-Double coffees, Donuts and Timbits in the years since. For more than 60 years, Tim Hortons has captured the hearts and taste buds of Canadians and has become synonymous with serving Canada's favourite coffee. Tim Hortons is Canada's largest restaurant chain operating in the quick service industry with nearly 4,000 restaurants across the country. More than a coffee and bake shop, Tim Hortons is part of the Canadian fabric and guests can enjoy hot and cold specialty beverages including lattes, cappuccinos and espressos, teas and our famous Iced Capps alongside delicious breakfast, sandwiches, wraps, soups and more. Tim Hortons has more than 6,000 restaurants in Canada, the United States and around the world. For more information on Tim Hortons visit TimHortons.ca. SOURCE Tim Hortons Media contact: [email protected] XAI Colossus 2s is targeting ~1 Gigawatt as soon as possible. They have natural gas turbines for primary generation, batteries for stability, and grid for long-term scalability. XAI Colossus 2 has power from seven installed SMT-360/Titan-350 Natural Gas Turbines. The seven turbines in question are deployed at the Southaven, Mississippi site 6 miles from Colossus 2s core Memphis facility and were acquired in late July/early August 2025. SemiAnalysis and Patel report the Titan-350 models from Solar Turbines (a Caterpillar subsidiary) were chosen for their mobile, high-efficiency design (up to 40% thermal efficiency) and rapid deployment (weeks vs. months for grid upgrades). Each Titan-350 can generate 35-38 Megawatts of power. This power Colossus 2 via medium-voltage (MV) interconnect lines, providing primary baseload power for ~110,000 NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 GPUs (targeting 1.1 PFlops FP8 compute). xAIs joint venture (JV) with Solaris Energy Infrastructure (50.1% Solaris, 49.9% xAI) has already deployed $112 million in Q2 2025 CapEx for turbines, with Q4 2025-Q1 2026 ramping to enable over 1.1 GW total by Q2 2027 (and options for 1.5+ GW). This is fueled by temporary permitting loopholes (e.g., 12-month approvals without full environmental review) and land acquisitions like the former Duke Energy plant in Southaven. The mobile turbines can reach 1.1 gigawatts with about 30+ Titan-350 turbines. Grid Power (Substation) for 300 MW in 45-90 days There is current minimal power (~0.5 MW initial from Memphis Light, Gas & Water/MLGW), as turbines handle 90%+ load. No full tie-in yet due to TVA delays. A second dedicated substation (150-300 MW) is under construction and is directly funded by xAI ($50M+ upfront). They target getting it online by October 2025, relegating turbines to peaker/backup. The status is the foundations are complete and energization is imminent (60-90 days from September permits). Patel notes xAIs direct funding (paying TVA $50M+) model accelerates this 2-3x faster than hyperscalers like Meta. Dylan Patel, SemiAnalysis warns of over $10 Billion of capital spending is needed total CapEx. Tesla Megapacks will provide power backup and resilience for outages, demand-response, and turbine ramping. they can provide 4 hours of power. They are planing to deploy 200 megapack for about 1 gigawatt hour of buffering. There is ~150-200 MWh of megapacks deployed at Colossus 2. They will have more batteries than Colossus 1s 156 units/ ~600 MWh and connecting via MV (medium voltage) lines to Southaven. Tesla megapack revenue for Colossus 1 and Colossus 2 could combine to hit $500 million. Musk envisions solar and battery at 100 GW-1 TW scale but near-term it is Megapacks and gas turbines as a bridge. / by Source - All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received. In recent weeks, we have witnessed politicians lean on powerful visuals to make their case on food and trade. But these staged moments rarely serve the public interest. Worse, they often deepen food illiteracy in a country where understanding of how our system works is already fragile. Take Ontario Premier Doug Fords stunt. Upset with Diageos decision to close its bottling plant in Ontario, he theatrically dumped a bottle of Crown Royal and urged Ontarians to boycott the brand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What he didnt mention is that the bottle in question was made in Manitoba and bottled in Quebec by unionized Canadian workers jobs unaffected by the Ontario closure. The Windsor facility mainly serviced the U.S. market, and Diageos decision was years in the making. Ironically, the boycott risks punishing Canadian workers who will continue producing Crown Royal for Canadians. And for future investors, the message is chilling: Why put capital into Ontario if a government will trash your brand on television for a corporate restructuring decision? The federal stage brought us another head-scratcher. During a trade visit to Mexico, Prime Minister Mark Carney posed with bags of Canadian wheat stamped with a maple leaf. The problem? Canada doesnt export wheat in bags. We are among the most efficient bulk grain exporters in the world, shipping millions of tonnes through rail networks and ocean vessels designed for efficiency, safety, and traceability. Bagged wheat is a relic of less mechanized economies. Canadas Prime Minister Mark Carney is welcomed by Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace in Mexico City on Sept. 18, 2025. For Canada to present itself this way trivializes our status as a modern agri-food powerhouse. Beyond being misleading, the image suggests to global partners that our system is less advanced than it truly is a dangerous misrepresentation for a nation that depends on reputation as much as price. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This matters because perception influences policy. Just this week, polls show Canadians support cutting tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to protect canola growers facing retaliatory barriers in China. Yet, many of the same respondents prefer defending supply management in dairy a policy widely seen as one of Canadas most anti-competitive and least efficient. Both tariffs and supply management undermine farming, yet Canadians cling to both. The contradiction highlights just how confused the public has become about agricultural policy. Recommended video Politicians are partly to blame. By reducing complex issues to simplistic theatrics, they are not educating but obscuring. Media outlets, for their part, too often amplify these stunts rather than scrutinize them. Canadas agri-food sector thrives on scale, efficiency, and credibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cheap political optics whether a dumped bottle or a staged wheat bag do nothing to support that reality. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, co-host of The Food Professor Podcast and Visiting Scholar at McGill University. Tajik youth embrace Chinese language, confident in China's future Xinhua) 14:27, September 22, 2025 DUSHANBE, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Despite the blazing sun and high temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius in mid-September, dozens of students and parents flocked to the National Library in Tajikistan's capital to register for the 2025 autumn semester Chinese courses. "Another class is full already! We'll open a new one on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 2 pm to 3:30 p.m.," called out a Confucius Institute teacher standing at the entrance to the Chinese Hall teaching site of the Confucius Institute. Inside, students and parents jostled around the staff, eager to secure a spot in the Chinese class. "Nearly 100 students have signed up for the new semester today," said Li Jianjun, head of the Chinese Hall teaching site. "More and more Tajiks are learning Chinese, and more and more schools are offering Chinese courses. Most of our students are middle schoolers, many of whom desire to study in China in the future." Seventeen-year-old Rasul was accompanied by his father, who works with colleagues from China and encourages Rasul to follow his passion. "I want to learn Chinese well and go study in China," Rasul said. Abdullakhim, also 17, has been studying Chinese for three years. "I'm here today to help my 15-year-old brother sign up," he told Xinhua. "Both of us dream of studying in Hangzhou." Eleven-year-old Yusuf is a new learner of the Chinese language. "I want to go to university in Shanghai when I grow up. My mom told me the earlier I start learning Chinese, the better I can adapt to life there," he said shyly. One parent summed up the sentiment when asked why she enrolled her child in Chinese classes: "Choosing Chinese today is like choosing English before -- it means a lot." Her words reflected both confidence in China and hopes for the future. Parents not only support their children to learn Chinese, but also join them in their studies. Li Jianjun noted he often sees parents and children studying Chinese side by side in classes. Some students practise Chinese characters page after page, while others travel over 50 km from rural areas for each lesson, and never give up, he added. "Their genuine love for the language inspires us to teach better and live up to their trust," Li said. According to the country's state Khovar news agency, more than 5,000 Tajik students are currently studying in China. Since its establishment in August 2008, the Confucius Institute at Tajik National University has trained over 42,000 Chinese learners. Shi Xiaoyu, a Chinese PhD student in Tajikistan, once taught at the Chinese Hall. She recalled Tajik friends who, even after completing four years at local universities, chose to start from scratch when given the opportunity to study in China. "There's no doubt that learning Chinese and going to study in China has become a real trend in Tajikistan," Shi said. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) A suspended Monmouth County corrections officer will not go to jail after being accepted into a pre-trial intervention program after facing assault charges stemming from a brawl inside an Atlantic City casino, according to New Jersey court records. Keila Diaz, 48, was charged with aggravated and simple assault after she and Damian Pineyro, 36, were accused of assaulting another couple at the Tropicana hotel and casino last September, it was previously reported. Both Diaz and Pineyro were accepted into a pre-trial intervention program in late August, records show. Pineyro had been charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and making terroristic threats. Their attorney, Mitchell Ansell, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. At least three security guards intervened in the incident, breaking up the fight, according to a viral video post on X by Barstool Sports. Atlantic City police said Diaz kicked a woman several times in the head during the fight, knocking her unconscious. Diaz has been employed by the Monmouth County Sheriffs Office as a corrections officer since 2014. She was suspended following her arrest. After being made aware of the recent developments in her criminal case, we are administratively reviewing the matter to determine the next appropriate steps under civil service regulations, said Cynthia Scott, the agencys public information officer. However, we are constrained from commenting on this matter any further at this time. Justin Karstens of Eternal Shine Headstone Cleaning works near a maintenance building that was vandalized in Beth Israel Cemetery in Egg Harbor Township. Jim Lowney | For NJ Advance Media During a recent visit to the Beth Israel Cemetery in Egg Harbor Township, Andrew Latz, whose family has a mausoleum there, found the bronze gates had been torn off the archway and stolen. This was one of several recent instances of vandalism at the burial ground maintained by the Beth Israel Synagogue in Northfield. Built by his great-grandmother, the familys surname is engraved above the mausoleums archway. About a half-dozen Latzs rest beside a stained-glass depiction of a shepherd with a prayer dedicated to his great-grandmother. Latz said he found a pile of debris inside the mausoleum. I find it saddening, Latz said, adding his family is working to replace the stolen gates, valued at between $4,000 and $6,000. It kind of brought us all together because were doing this like a family, like a team. A stained glass window in a mausoleum near the Latzs family mausoleum was also broken, he said. Beth Israels congregation was formed in Atlantic City in 1890. The cemetery grounds include both Jewish and non-Jewish burial sections. Susan Sokalsky, Congregation Beth Israels executive director, and Linda Karp, Beth Israel board of trustees president, said they believe the vandalism is being done by unhoused people. A makeshift living area was discovered in a maintenance building at Beth Israel Cemetery. Jim Lowney | For NJ Advance Media A maintenance building has repeatedly been used as a makeshift shelter, Sokalsky and Karp said, adding there are plans to demolish the maintenance building. A shopping cart filled with bags and sheets was found alongside a row of trees. The grounds crews constantly clean up litter and recently found an abandoned baby carriage. None of the vandalism, however, appears to be influenced by antisemitism, Sokalsky and Karp said. It like ebbs and flows, but theres garbage here literally every single day, Karp said. Congregation Beth Israel Executive Director Susan Sokalsky, left, and Beth Israel board of trustees President Linda Karp stand near a maintenance building that has been vandalize in Beth Israel Cemetery in Egg Harbor Township. Jim Lowney | For NJ Advance Media Sokalsky said the staff tries its best to notify families of damage to gravesites, in some cases offering to defray costs to repair damage. Families own the gravestones, the synagogue doesnt, Sokalsky said. We want those that are buried here ... to be treated with dignity and respect, and were doing the best we can. Egg Harbor Township police have offered the use of a livestream-type camera for added surveillance, Mayor Laura Pfrommer said. The mayor said township police often check the cemetery for any unhoused people. Police checked the property at least 13 times since early June, records show. Pfrommer said the township has received reports over the years of unhoused people also gathering on the site of the former Trocki Hebrew Academy of Atlantic County, which was redeveloped into an addition to the headquarters for Spencers and Spirit Halloween. Cemeteries are sacred places, Pfrommer said. (Vandalism) is very offensive to so many people, so first and foremost, thats something we dont want to see happen. If theres anything to stop it, we will. Irvin Moreno-Rodriguez, head of Stockton Universitys Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center, said his team is willing to help in anyway. This is a deeply saddening situation for everyone involved, Moreno-Rodriguez said. Any sort of disturbance or desecration or vandalism of a Jewish cemetery is a painful act that really touches everyone. A cemetery ... is a sacred space. Lisa Jackson isnt going to let the threat of erasure stop her from telling Black stories. The Savannah African Art Museum has become a reservoir of heritage since its opening in 2017. Inside a historic yellow home on East 37th Street in Savannah, Ga., more than 1,500 pieces of West and Central African craftsmanship are included in the museums permanent collection. Visitors are welcomed to join tours of the exhibits free of charge. As the education and community outreach liaison, Jackson teaches visitors about the functionality of African creativity. These art pieces arent something one just puts on a wall, she said. The museums collection includes detailed helmets worn by Bundu, Sande and Sowei girls when they are blooming into womanhood, a long Mali bed carved from an ironwood tree and a colorful Egungun costume worn by the Yoruba people of Nigeria to embody ancestral spirits that wish to visit and bless the human realm. So youre looking at all the art for all of those purposes because theres art that goes with everything, Jackson said. Thats why African art is so important because its a story. Its history. Its part of life. Its a part of the people, the culture, the history. Jackson is aware of how vulnerable Black history is in other art spaces. In August, President Donald Trump accused the Smithsonian Institution of hyperfocusing on the negative side of American history, including how bad slavery was. A few days prior to Trumps remarks, White House officials announced their plans to conduct on-site reviews of Smithsonians museums to make sure exhibits, education materials and processes are aligned with Trumps executive order to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions. These events are happening during a year of financial strain and censorship in the arts. In May, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the federal agency that is the nations largest funder for the arts and arts education, terminated grants for hundreds of organizations nationwide. In March, the Art Museum of the Americas pulled two exhibits featuring Black and LGBTQIA+ artists due to Trumps anti-diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The Savannah African Art Museum isnt grant funded, which is a plus for the staff, Jackson said. It is sustained by a private foundation created by a wealthy Jewish businessman named Don Kole, who helped start the museum. Kole started collecting African art while traveling with his wife, who was a board-certified genealogist. When Koles collection outgrew his space, he decided to share his passion with the community by creating a museum and donating more than 300 pieces of art. Museum staff grew the collection by accepting items from other collectors. Jackson is saddened about what is happening with the Smithsonian. The National Museum of African American History and Culture collaborated with the Savannah African Art Museum and the citys local HBCU, Savannah State University, for its Hometown Treasures program. The traveling community expo taught attendants how to properly preserve their family heirlooms. While she is disheartened by what is happening, she doesnt feel disempowered. Black history doesnt do that, she said. Jackson listed out the accomplishments Black Americans achieved during the Reconstruction era, which is the 12-year period after the Civil War when formerly enslaved people registered to vote, owned property and held political offices. These were people who were once forbidden to read and write, she said. Jackson encourages people to find ways to teach Black history despite the loss of resources. Its not like its impossible. Our ancestors did so much more with so much less. So we cant allow that to stop us from telling our stories, Jackson said. We cant sit back and say, Oh, we cant do it because the museum is being closed or theyre not allowing us to tell the truth. We just keep telling it any way we can. Jackson stressed how a lot of money that funds the arts is also supported by taxpayer dollars. That is the case with the NEA. The U.S. Congress decides how much money to allocate to the agency every fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 the next year. NEAs appropriation for fiscal year 2024 was $201 million, which was 0.003 percent of the federal budget. Jackson reminds Black Americans to use their voting power to put people in place who will prioritize the arts. We as people of African descent cannot go backwards, Jackson said. We really have to work harder at making sure were properly represented and make our representatives be bold in speaking when were being attacked and when our institutions are being attacked. A team of college interns and volunteers assist staff in guiding guests through an archive that represents more than 130 African ethnic groups and cultures. Jackson said most adults see Africa as one nation, but the various artistic styles helps visitors understand that Africa is a continent thats home to 54 countries. Jackson has been working for the museum for about six years, but she learns something new about the art pieces everyday. She empowers others by connecting artwork from the 19th and 20th centuries to the present. One of the museums galleries features a statue of Princess Yennenga.The legendary warrior was from the kingdom of Dagomba, which is located in modern day Ghana, and is considered the mother of the Mossi people. Princess Yennenga lived more than 900 years ago, but her inspiration stretches across multiple generations. Jackson still remembers how two Mossi girls smiled when they discovered the Yennenga statue during a tour with Savannah State University three years ago. They were just so happy to hear this legendary story of one of their heroes being told here in Savannah, Georgia, Jackson said. Near the Yennenga statue is an exhibit dedicated to vibrant African textiles, including Adinkra cloth, which is stamped with Adinkra symbols that represent different values such as love, wisdom and unity. Whenever Jackson asks museum visitors if they know about Adinkra symbols, they mostly say no. But she quickly corrects them. Jackson said the enslaved blacksmiths incorporated Adinkra symbols in their iron work. The heart-shaped Sankofa symbol, which encourages people to return to the past to draw lessons for the future, is often incorporated in many gates and fences. Its led to believe that when the enslavers went to Africa, they just randomly went to places and got slaves. No, it was more strategic than that, right? Jackson said. They went to places for skilled workers, and one of those skills were blacksmiths. So there are Adinkra symbols on buildings all around the world, but we just dont know theyre African. This explanation usually leads to a spark of curiosity amongst the crowd of guests. Jackson leans into this moment by giving them links and other resources visitors can use to continue their pursuit of information. This is how knowledge becomes power and Black joy, she said. I get excited when I see that light up in the face from adults and children, you know? Jackson said. At every tour, we give them information to continue to study, to learn more, and that brings me joy. Jackson also makes sure that visitors know that the power of African art also lives within them. From now until Oct. 15, people from around the world are welcomed to submit their personal or ancestral stories for the museums Telling Your Story virtual exhibit. Pictures, stories that are no longer than 500 words and videos that are two minutes long or less can be emailed to sankofa@savannahafricanartmuseum.org with the subject line Telling Your Story. The body of the email must include the following: Title of story (if applicable) First and last name(s) Affiliation (if applicable): for example, School & Class, Organization name, Community/Social Group, Scout Troop, Sorority/Fraternity, etc. City, County, State, and/or Country you live in. Please include the same information for the person your submission is about The idea to host a virtual exhibit came out of a community project that occurred during the museums In the Spirit of Sankofa Juneteenth celebration. Jackson encouraged guests to write down something special about an ancestor on feather-shaped strips of paper. A member of the museum then took a posterboard and arranged the feathers in the shape of the Sankofa bird, an Andikra symbol that means it is not taboo to go back and fetch what is at risk of being left behind. The result was a collage of memories that pay homage to the elders and all they left behind. The project now hangs on a wall near the museums entrance. Above the community artpiece, Jackson placed the following African proverb: Until the Lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter. Jackson said she chose that adage to empower others to share their histories and heritage no matter the risks. She believes everyones stories matter, and those narratives give Black people the ability to heal and encourage themselves through memory. Knowing our stories and telling our stories empowers us by making us feel good about who we are. It allows us to recognize what we have done so you know what you can do. It allows us to tell our children what they can do, Jackson said. I mean, theres things every day that were doing. Its not just historic. Weve never stopped. Theres genius. Theres ingenuity. Its there, but we need these stories to be told. And you know what? Others know that these stories need to be told. Thats why its trying to stop the stories from being told. They know that its empowering. A Burlington County woman convicted of selling a fatal dose of heroin will serve half of her original prison sentence following a successful appeal. A judge in 2022 originally sentenced Shannon McGuigan to 12 years in prison on the charge of strict liability for the May 2017 death of a 26-year-old woman in Pemberton Township. McGuigan, also of Pemberton, will now serve six years as part of a deal with the Burlington County Prosecutors Office, her lawyer Jason Ferguson said Monday. A state appeals returned the case to the trial court last year after finding issues with the police investigation, and a trial expert. Like McGuigans original sentence, she will have to serve 85% of the time under the states No Early Release Act, known as NERA. Her original parole eligibility date was in May 2032; it is now estimated to be in 2027. McGuigan, who turned 40 this past Saturday, remains at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Hunterdon County. Shes been in state custody since April 2022. In January 2023, NJ Advance Media told McGuigans story after a jailhouse interview. She and critics questioned authorities motives in using strict liability to combat drug deaths, as well as what they believe was an excessive, double-digit sentence. McGuigan described struggling with addiction herself while holding a civilian job for 13 years with the New Jersey State Police. And she had no prior criminal record. While she admitted selling the woman heroin, McGuigan said she was trying to help the victim, who begged McGuigan for heroin for hours via text. McGuigan knew how it felt to be sick for drugs, she said. McGuigan also cast serious doubt on whether the packets of drugs she sold the woman had killed her, since the victim died more than 30 hours after their deal, surrounded by numerous heroin packets with different names in her bedroom. She opted for a jury trial and testified on the stand. It did not work, and the judge handed down a prison term that would have caused her to do 10 years in prison without parole. An appeal decided in April 2024 found the trial judge did not hold a hearing to determine if McGuigan knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived her Miranda rights against self-incrimination. And they found fault with how a police detective was able to convince McGuigan to disclose her cell phone number a key piece of evidence, since the drug deal was consummated via text message. A third problem involved the credentials of a testifying medical doctor, with the appeals judges again saying the judge did not hold a fuller hearing on his background, which would have fleshed out the matter. The decision stopped short of overturning McGuigans convictions, but ordered hearings that would determine whether she was entitled to a new trial. Ferguson, of the states Office of the Public Defender, forged a deal with the prosecutors office to avoid those hearings and resolve the case without a new trial, he said. The deal, agreed to in April and finalized at a sentencing earlier this month, allows his client to serve the new term with all of her prison time intact, meaning shell be eligible for parole in about two years, not nearly seven, Ferguson said. Ferguson said McGuigan did not want the risk or toll of a new trial. I think it worked out the best it could for her, the laywer said. The case highlights the legal obligations employers face under New Jerseys strengthened civil rights laws. Canva for NJ.com New Jerseys top law enforcement officials have found probable cause that Starbucks violated state anti-discrimination laws by failing to accommodate a lactating employee. Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights announced their finding Sept. 22, which alleged the company did not provide a private space for a barista to pump breastmilk at work, as required under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. Our civil rights laws provide some of the countrys strongest workplace protections for breastfeeding and lactating employees, Platkin said in a statement. The barista, who worked at a Starbucks in Sicklerville, returned from parental leave and requested a private area to express milk during her shift. Instead, the store manager set up a cloth trifold screen in a busy back room near sinks and storage areas used by other employees. The barista said coworkers frequently bumped into the screen, causing it to wobble and making her uncomfortable. When she raised concerns, the manager gave her two options: use the screen or extend her leave. She ultimately took unpaid leave for nearly two more months than planned. Under New Jersey law, employers must provide lactating workers with reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space to express milk. They are also required to work with employees to find accommodations that meet their needs without causing undue hardship to the business. The barista filed a formal complaint with the Division on Civil Rights, which prompted an investigation into Starbucks handling of her accommodation request. State investigators concluded that Starbucks failed to provide a reasonable accommodation and did not engage in a good-faith effort to find a better solution both violations of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. Violating the law in this context is illegal, and it too often has the deeply damaging effect of pushing new mothers out of the workforce, Platkin said. The enforcement action announced today underscores our ongoing commitment to protecting working parents from discrimination and puts employers on notice: if you violate our laws, we will hold you accountable. Yolanda N. Melville, director of the Division on Civil Rights, said the agency is committed to protecting postpartum workers. New Jerseys powerful civil rights laws offer protections to workers who need to express milk during the workday, Melville added. The finding of probable cause means that a preliminary investigation has determined that evidence exists that the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination has been violated. It also means the case can now move forward through the states civil rights enforcement process, where it may be resolved by an agreement between the parties or head to court. Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While we cannot comment on pending litigation, we have robust lactation support policies at Starbucks and provide accommodations to our partners (employees), a Starbucks spokesperson said. Colleen Murphy may be reached at cmurphy@njadvancemedia.com. Online previews of the Exit Zero property, located at 110 Sunset Boulevard, Cape May, are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 11 and again Sept. 18, according to the Tranzon auction website. Tranzon The Exit Zero Filling Station, a prominent West Cape May restaurant, will hold a three-day closing sale featuring glasses, dishes, kitchen supplies, before an auction of the property this week. The sale will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at the restaurant located at 110 Sunset Boulevard. Items available for purchase include glasses, dishes, kitchen utensils and supplies, bar stools, coffee dispensers, and additional merchandise. The business is encouraging customers to visit and find bargains during the sale. The restaurant closed permanently Saturday. Exit Zero Filling Station will be sold through an online auction with the opening bids starting at $2 million. The Exit Zero Filling Station, a prominent West Cape May restaurant property, will be sold through an online auction starting at $2 million after a decade of operation. The establishment is set to close its doors on Sept. 20. Tranzon Owner Jack Wright, who listed the property for $4.7 million earlier this year, opted for an auction format, he previously told NJ Advance Media. The property at 110 Sunset Boulevard sits at a busy intersection just three blocks from the beach and in proximity to the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal. The property spans an entire block with frontage on three sides, according to Bob Dann of Tranzon, the nationwide real estate auction company handling the sale. Wright has already sold the restaurants plenary liquor license for $850,000 to Curtis Bashaw, a Cape May businessman and real estate developer who sold the same license to Wright in 2021. Bashaw is a managing partner in Cape Resorts, which owns the historic Congress Hall in Cape May. The restaurant, which opened in a former gas station, became known for its unique outdoor dining featuring a converted 1949 Chevy truck that seated eight diners. The truck and kitchen equipment are not included in the auction. Bidding opens at 1 p.m. on Sept. 26 and closes at 1 p.m. on Oct. 1. Bidders must register on the Tranzon website to participate in the auction or view the property. Phish released a statement expressing concern for the victims of a brutal stabbing outside their concert on Friday. (Photo by Keith Griner/Getty Images for ABA) Getty Images for ABA Phish paid tribute to the victims of a stabbing where one person was killed and two more were injured in an isolated incident outside the Hampton Coliseum in Virginia on Friday. During last nights show, a tragic incident took place in the parking lot outside Hampton Coliseum. There was an altercation behind one of the tents in the unofficial vending area in which someone lost their life and two other people were injured, the band shared in a post on Saturday. We dont have more information than what has been reported by the police, who called it an isolated incident, but what we do know is upsetting enough. We are deeply saddened by this, and our hearts go out to all of those affected. WTKR reported that an argument occurred near an unofficial merchandise booth around 9:30 p.m., involving several people, prompting the Hampton Police Division (HPD) to be alerted. The argument soon escalated into a large, violent altercation that left three injured. One person suffered life-threatening injuries during the incident, while two others sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to Corporal Shaun Stalnaker in a press release. One of the victims was transported to a local hospital, where they later died from their injuries. The suspect fled the scene on foot, but was later taken into custody. Phish, whose guitarist and vocalist Trey Anastasio grew up in Princeton, will continue its tour as planned. A 34-year-old New Jersey resident who killed another man by shooting him in the back following a fight in Orange nearly five years ago has been sentenced to life in prison, authorities said. Marcus Wright gunned down Wisguen Marc, 25, on the 100 block of Main Street on Nov. 20, 2020, the Essex County Prosecutors Office said. Wright, of Newark, must serve 63 years and 9 months 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. He was convicted of murder and weapons offenses in May. While no amount of time in prison will bring the victim back to his loved ones, the life sentence ensures that he will never be a threat to our community again, the prosecutors office said. A jury rejected Wrights self-defense claim at the trial. Marc is survived by his son, Mason, father, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents, according to his online obituary. A jury has convicted a New Jersey teacher in the sexual assault of a 12-year-old student. Apparao Sunkara, 72, of Hicksville, New York, was found guilty of second-degree sexual assault by contact, endangering the welfare of a child and official misconduct, the Hudson County Prosecutors Office said in a statement on Monday. Sunkara was a teacher at Jersey Citys Infinity Institute when he was arrested in March 2021. His arrest was a result of allegations that he engaged in sexual acts with the female student between September 2019 and January 2020. He had also been charged with sexually assaulting two other students. The outcome of those charges was unknown as of Monday. A spokesperson for Jersey City Public Schools could not immediately be reached for comment on Monday afternoon. Sunkaras sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 12. The North Bergen school district has withdrawn its plan to build a school for Pre K children in Braddock Park. Opponents of the school project want the 17 trailers used as Pre K classrooms since 2001 removed. Richard Cowen/NJ Advance Media for NJ.Com The North Bergen Board of Education has backed off its controversial plan to build a school in Braddock Park, leaving behind the 17 temporary classroom trailers that the district set up in 2001 and residents have been fighting over ever since. North Bergen school superintendent George J. Solter announced last week that the estimated $17 million construction cost is not financially feasible so the district will drop its application to the state Department of Environmental Protection to swap land in exchange for the 1.3-acre tract in Braddock Park. In a prepared statement, Solter said the new school is no longer needed because the district has a new school realignment plan. We began the diversion process because we wanted to expand to a free full day Pre-K program,and we were able to meet that goal for the first time this year thanks to our school realignment plan and the opening of the Nicholas J Sacco Junior High School, Solter said. Nick Sacco, the former North Bergen assistant superintendent and state assemblyman who favored the school project, said the district couldnt afford to build the new school. We took a hard look at it, and said, do we really have the money to spend on it? No, he said We dont have $17 million to spend. We dont really need to build this school because now we have alternatives. So were going to be taking the trailers out. Sacco said this years crop of preschoolers are being sent to classrooms in their neighborhood schools. I thought it was a great location, he said of Braddock Park. The parents we polled loved it. Unfortunately, it didnt happen. The cost of everything has gone up. North Bergens sudden reversal took even the most battle-hardened opponents of the school project by surprise. The change of plan came as the state Department of Environmental Protection was nearing a decision on North Bergens diversion application, which proposed swapping three small tracts in exchange for the land in Braddock Park. My guess is that North Bergen got word that the DEP wasnt going to approve the application, and withdrew it in order to save face, said Mark Bloomberg, a resident who opposed the project. Although opponents of the school project have won a major victory, theres still work to be done, Bloomberg said. We want those trailers out, and we want the land thoughtfully restored for recreation or conservation purposes, Bloomberg said. Solter said Friday that the district is working on the getting the trailers removed, but it will take time. I cant say if it will be tomorrow or next month, but they will be taken off the property, he said. Solter said the land will then be turned back over to the recreation department. The trailers were placed on public parkland just days before the 9/11 attacks, and are now empty for the first time in 24 years. They were supposed to be temporary and should have been removed after five years, according to state Department of Education regulations. But North Bergen repeatedly failed to find a solution, frequently changing plans, while challenging opponents and the states often-feeble attempts at enforcement. Parents and guardians wait to pick up kids from the North Bergen preschool at James J. Braddock North Hudson County Park on Dec. 18, 2024. (Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal) Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Jo One resident, Bob Walden, took North Bergen to court in 2022, hoping to convince an administrative law judge to order North Bergen to vacate the trailers. But the judge ruled enforcement was up to state agencies. The DEP was like a dog wagging its own tail, Walden said. Although hes pleased North Bergen has dropped the school project, Walden said the case isnt over. He said the North Bergen school district is bound by the Green Acres law to compensate the public for the park land it has taken for 24 years. They have a historic responsibility to compensate us, Walden said. In its diversion application, North Bergen proposed swapping a 1.6-acre tract on Paterson Plank Road, a 0.6-acre tract off River Road, and a 5-acre Board of Education lot on 64th Street in exchange for the 1.3 acres in Braddock Park. DEP spokeswoman Caryn Shinske said North Bergens diversion application remains active and has not been withdrawn which means the proposed land swaps are still up for discussion. Shinske otherwise declined to comment on the case. A 5-month-old puppy is fighting for his life after being found emaciated and starved. Courtesy of Outcast Rescue A 5-month-old puppy is fighting for his life after he was found emaciated and starved, according to Outcast Rescue. Garcia was found in Philadelphia severely underweight, dehydrated and suffering from eye infections, an eye ulceration and a wet cough on Wednesday, the Pennsylvania-based rescue organization said. He was transferred to Crown Veterinary Specialists in Hunterdon County where he has received emergency treatments, including at least two blood transfusions, according to a Facebook post on Thursday from the rescue. In an update on Saturday, Crown Veterinary Specialists said Garcia had been eating and was strong enough to lift his head after the transfusion. Garcia was turned into ACCT Philly, a shelter in Philadelphia, and then was immediately handed over to the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals based on his condition, Beth Hucke, Outcast Rescues co-founder said Monday. Garcia was held by the PSCPA for 48 hours before Outcast Rescue was able to get him to Crown Veterinary Specialists for treatment, Hucke said. No animal cruelty investigation is underway because Garcia was considered a stray, according to Hucke. The bill for Garcias treatment has hit $6,000 and Outcast Rescue has been fundraising to pay for his treatment. One thing we will never do is make a judgement call based on money as long as he wants to keep fighting, the veterinary office said Saturday on social media. We have been here before with several other dogs who needed time. Garcia will get that. A total of $4,204 had been raised by Monday and donations can be made on Facebook, through Venmo and on Outcast Rescues website. A pickup truck driver was seriously injured in a crash Monday on Route 130 in South Brunswick. South Brunswick police One person was seriously injured in a head-on crash Monday morning on Route 130 in South Brunswick. A motorist headed north on Route 130 crossed over the highway and struck a pickup truck head-on around 7:15 a.m. near Ridge Road, South Brunswick police said. A serious crash on Route 130 in South Brunswick crash closed the highway for a couple of hours. South Brunswick police Firefighters worked to remove the pickup truck driver, who was hospitalized with serious lower-body injuries. An update on the condition of the driver who suffered the medical emergency wasnt immediately available. Route 130 is expected to be closed until about 9:30 a.m. from Stults Road to Route 522. A 42-year-old Somerset County man was charged with attempted murder after stabbing another man during a fight that also involved children in New Brunswick on Friday, officials said. Joshaun Williams, of the Somerset section of Franklin, was arrested after the fight, which took place around 3:45 p.m. near the corner of French and Louis Streets, New Brunswick police said. The 39-year-old man Williams allegedly stabbed was hospitalized in stable condition. Police said a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old were also involved, but their roles werent immediately clear. Neither was injured. Williams was also charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated assault and weapons offenses. He remains held in the Middlesex County jail, according to jail records. Williams is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon, according to court records. No attorney is listed for him. The Route 22 Toll bridge that connects Phillipsburg, NJ. and Easton, PA., seen on Sept. 25, 2020. Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission has opened a 30-day public comment period on proposed toll increases that would take effect in early 2026, with passenger vehicle E-ZPass rates rising 50 cents to $2. Dates for drivers to comment at three virtual hearings in early October were announced Monday in addition to details to comment on line and by mail. The commission announced the comment period following its July 28 proposal for system-wide toll adjustments across its eight bridges connecting Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including the Route 22, Interstate 78 and Intestate 80 spans. Under the proposed changes, drivers using E-ZPass would pay $2 for Class 1 passenger vehicles, while those using the Toll-by-Plate system would see rates jump $2 to $5. Larger vehicles would face steeper increases, with per-axle E-ZPass rates for vehicles eight feet or taller rising $2 to $6.50 per axle. The corresponding Toll-by-Plate rate for similar vehicles would increase $3 to $8 per axle. The public comment period runs until 4 p.m. on Oct. 17, with multiple submission options available. Residents can submit comments online on the DRJTBC website, email them to tollcomments@drjtbc.org. Drivers who have an opinion about the potential toll hikes can voice it virtually in October. The commission announced virtual hearing dates on Oct. 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. The final Zoom hearing will be held on Oct. 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. Pre-registration is required for the Zoom hearings and that link will be announced on Oct. 1. with a registration period that ends at 4 p.m. Oct. 6. Comments can be mailed to Director of Community Affairs Jodee Inscho, DRJTBC Administration Building, 1199 Woodside Road, Yardley, PA. 19067. Oct. 17 is the end of the comment period. All comments must include the submitters first and last names, municipality and state of residence to be included in the official record. Anonymous submissions will be discarded. The commission said the toll adjustments would help offset rising construction-industry costs, maintain strong credit ratings and finance new transportation infrastructure improvements. Recent financial projections show the agency risks falling short in two key areas used by bond-rating firms to assess creditworthiness: General Fund Reserve Balance and Debt Service Coverage Ratio. The commission operates eight toll bridges along the Delaware Rivers freshwater portion, from the Trenton-Morrisville bridge in the south to the Milford-Montague bridge in the north. It also maintains 12 non-revenue-generating toll-supported bridges and 73 lane miles of road surface. The commission charges higher Toll-by-Plate rates because that payment method involves additional costs for identifying vehicle owners and mailing bills. E-ZPass remains the most frequently used payment method at commission toll points. Commissioners will review all public comments in a compiled report with staff responses before voting to approve, modify or reject the proposed adjustments at a future meeting. The public will have one final opportunity to comment at the commissions monthly business meeting where the vote is scheduled. Generative AI was used to draft this story, based on data provided by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. It was reviewed and edited by lehighvalleylive.com staff. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) is making things personal with a colleague who defied her. Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), along with three other Republicans, joined all Democrats in striking down Maces effort to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) over her response to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The measure fell one short of passing last Wednesday as Mace took aim at Omar, claiming she mocked the cold-blooded assassination of an innocent American husband and father. Mills defended his stance shortly afterward, writing in a post on X that "We may not like or agree with what someone says, but that does not mean we should deny their [First Amendment] Right." His response prompted Mace to say that Mills is stifling free speech, arguing that he chose to table the measure rather than debate it. Coming from a guy who turned off commenting on his social media, this is rich, Mace continued. ...You also threatened me over text last night. Maybe some personal reflection is in order... Until then, spare us. Coming from a guy who turned off commenting on his social media, this is rich. You voted to stifle FREE SPEECH to debate this resolution by voting to table. Massie didn't even vote to table - so, that's saying something. You also threatened me over text last night. Maybe some Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) September 18, 2025 Mace intensified her attacks even further on Monday, accusing Mills of stolen valor in several posts on X. Mills is an Army combat veteran and a Bronze Star recipient, according to his website. Beginning to think nothing Cory Mills says is true, Mace wrote in one post, adding that he fabricated his resume, and stole stories from men who either gave their life for their country and cant speak now or cant speak for themselves due to their injuries. Beginning to think nothing Cory Mills says is true. This guy has been parading himself around as some sort of U.S. Army special ops covert Ranger sniper James Bond 007 elite commando for years and its not even remotely close. He was an ambulance driver mainly in the motor pic.twitter.com/NFQPoXGZIi Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) September 22, 2025 In a separate post on her personal account, Mace said: I have another technical question for Cory Mills. How does one complete the 91W Combat Medical Course a full 5 months before enlisting in the Army? How does that work? She also went on to say that Mills is now blowing me up over text. He even sent a photo saying he was injured in a blast showing blood on his pants. Cory Mills is highly regarded. And totally stolen valor, she added. Mills replied to one of Maces posts with a letter from his team leader. Heres a letter from my Team Leader on the situation and a photo from the two incidents: https://t.co/EEMvyxoxLw pic.twitter.com/nshg2gDRi0 Cory Mills (@CoryMillsFL) September 22, 2025 The exchange comes as Mace had first directed jabs at Omar over her interview with the progressive news outlet Zeteo. In her remarks, Omar said that it was really mortifying to hear the news of Kirks death, and all I could think about was his wife, his children. She emphasized that the fatal shooting, which occurred earlier this month, was being weaponized by conservatives to attack the left. There are a lot of people who are out there talking about him just wanting to have a civil debate, she said. These people are full of s---, and its important for us to call them out while we feel anger and sadness. Mace and Omar sparred on social media, with the GOP lawmaker at one point baselessly claiming that her colleague is an Enemy of the State. 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 President Donald Trump praised U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as she reportedly mulls a potential 2028 bid for the White House. Fox News Peter Doocy asked Trump in a recent interview on The Sunday Briefing whether he had anything nice to say about Ocasio-Cortez, a sharp critic of the president and the Republican Party. The interview aired after Axios reported on Friday that Ocasio-Cortez is quietly preparing for a 2028 run for Senate or the White House. Trump said he disagreed with her philosophy, but praised her spunk while campaigning. He also said he told Joe Crowley, the incumbent Democrat that Ocasio-Cortez defeated in the 2018 primary, that he was going to lose if he did not campaign harder. Her philosophy is so bad. Shes got a little spunk. Shes got a little something thats good. Joe Crowley, she ran against him, and I said, you know, Joe, youre going to lose this thing unless you go out and campaign. I watched her campaigning a little bit. I happened to turn on television, I saw her campaign. It was almost like by accident. And I said, Youre going to have to run a little bit, She got a little something, but her philosophy is bad for the country. I dont think, I dont think that philosophy can come close to winning, he added. Doocy: Do you have anything nice to say about AOC? Trump: Her philosophy's so bad, she's got a little spunk. She's got a little something that's good. Joe Crowley, she ran against him, and I said, you're going to lose unless you go out and campaign pic.twitter.com/vFNIyBDw4O Acyn (@Acyn) September 21, 2025 CNNs data analyst, Harry Enten, reported on Monday that Ocasio-Cortezs favorability has grown among Democrats as a potential nominee in comparison to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanderss (I-Vt.) bid for president during the 2016 election. RE: A potential AOC run for president. She has a very real shot in 2028. There's been a tectonic shift among Dem voters since Bernie Sanders first ran. AOC's in a far better polling position than Sanders was before his first run, & the Dem party is also sick of its leadership. pic.twitter.com/0cnmljHvVw (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) September 22, 2025 According to a combination of polling from Yahoo News, YouGov and The Washington Post in September, the Squad member ranks closer to the top among Democrats compared to Sanders, who stood largely behind former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. While California Gov. Gavin Newsom holds a strong lead in a list of possible Democratic contenders, with 21%, Ocasio-Cortez is within 10 points. I never thought I wouldve seen the day when someone as liberal as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is to the leader, Enten said, noting how Sanders trailed far behind Clinton with 2% compared to her 69%. Rachel Cohen contributed to this report. Tom Homan, President Donald Trumps border czar, is firing back after a new report revealed that he was under investigation for accepting $50,000 from undercover FBI agents. MSNBC first reported Saturday, citing internal documents and multiple people involved, that a bribery probe into Homan has been shut down by Trumps Justice Department. Homan had indicated that he could help the agents, who were disguised as business executives, to receive government contracts under a second Trump presidency. Several outlets have since confirmed the reporting. After FBI Director Kash Patel requested an update on the case, Trump appointees had shuttered the investigation, according to MSNBC. The outlet also revealed that the FBI and Justice Department were waiting to see whether Homan would carry out his agreement if chosen as the countrys top immigration official but the case stalled once the president started his second term in January. While speaking to NewsNation after the reports release, Homan denied the allegations. Bulls---, Homan, who has been largely involved in the presidents deportation efforts, told White House Correspondent Libbey Dean. In a statement to multiple outlets, Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said: This matter originated under the previous administration and was subjected to a full review by FBI agents and Justice Department prosecutors. They found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing. Other officials in the administration have framed the investigation as being politically motivated. Tom Homan has not been involved with any contract award decisions. He is a career law enforcement officer and lifelong public servant who is doing a phenomenal job on behalf of President Trump and the country, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said. According to Reuters, Homan was secretly recorded taking $50,000 in a bag in Cava, a restaurant chain, as part of a sting operation. The exchange took place on Sept. 20, 2024, in Texas, MSNBC reported. A grand jury probe was underway in the Western District of Texas. Homan previously served as the president and owner of a private consulting business to help companies in the border security industry obtain government contracts, according to MSNBC. He accompanied the president on the campaign trail, months before he was touted as overseeing the implementation of Trumps immigration crackdown. President Donald Trump alongside other elected officials, faith leaders and loved ones paid tribute to the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk as he delivered remarks to a massive crowd of supporters during a memorial service on Sunday. While addressing the tens of thousands of attendees at State Farm Stadium in Arizona, Trump described the co-founder of Turning Point USA as a martyr for American freedom and honored his efforts in mobilizing young conservatives. He then diverted, discussing his sweeping tariffs, the Make America Healthy Again movement and a slate of other topics. At one point during his address, Trump explained how Kirk sparked civil discourse among both sides of the political aisle and went on to acknowledge that he did not share the same characteristic with his close ally. In that private moment on his dying day, we find everything we need to know about who Charlie Kirk truly was. He was a missionary with a noble spirit, and a great, great purpose, Trump said. He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. Thats where I disagreed with Charlie, he continued, adding, I hate my opponent, and I dont want the best for them. Im sorry. Trump: He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That's where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I don't want the best for them. I'm sorry pic.twitter.com/GUiW7NBb0y Acyn (@Acyn) September 21, 2025 Although his comment was met with immediate laughter from the audience, social media users erupted with criticism. JoJoFromJerz, a popular liberal commentator, asked on X, How many times does this piece of s--- have to show people who he is? How many f---ing times? Christians, what are we doing, yall!? WHAT ARE WE DOING!? one user posted, and someone else said, Bro. This f---ing guy is the elected president what the actual f---. Another user wrote: whats insane is that even at a funeral trump is never out of character, which makes him paradoxically more believable than most politicians who endlessly shapeshift. in a way, its almost like watching an art installation where context collapses, but the piece stays the same. you could put it in a church, a stadium, a funeral, or a boardroom itll still be trump, looping. I burst out laughing, a different user said. Will Ricciardella, the managing editor of politics at Fox News, defended the presidents framing: Trump wasnt rejecting the moral way he was lauding Charlies. It was a rhetorical contrast, even self deprecating, to show how rare Charlies grace was. Taking this literally is bad-faith spin." His comments came after Trump had called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute a list of his political adversaries in a now-deleted post on his Truth Social platform. He demanded charges against Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Pam: I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, essentially, same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done, Trump wrote. During the memorial service, Kirks widow, Erika, who was named the new CEO of her husbands organization, delivered an emotional eulogy as she vowed to carry on his mission in chapters across the country. She received a standing ovation after she declared that she forgives the suspect accused for killing Kirk, 31, who died earlier this month after he was shot while speaking during an event at Utah Valley University. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it is what Charlie would do, she said. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love. A makeshift memorial grows in size at the Turning Point USA headquarters after the shooting death at a Utah college last Wednesday of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder and CEO of the organization, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) AP Sinclair Broadcast Group decided to air ABCs Celebrity Family Feud" on its local TV stations instead of its planned Charlie Kirk special news segment on Friday. Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group made national headlines last week after both companies threatened to not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! on its ABC-affiliated stations following the late-night hosts controversial comments about Kirks assassination. Sinclair Broadcast Group vowed to air a tribute to Kirk on its ABC affiliates during Jimmy Kimmels usual time slot on Friday night. But minutes before the tribute was scheduled to air, Sinclair announced that it would be continuing ABC programming instead of the Kirk special. Tonight, Sinclair will continue to air ABC network programming as scheduled in the late-night time period. The Charlie Kirk special will instead be available on The National News Desks YouTube channel, ensuring viewers can continue to enjoy ABC programming while also providing full access to the special online, Sinclair said in a statement at 11:24 p.m. on Friday. Variety reported that ABCs 11:35 p.m. time slot on Friday was a rerun of Celebrity Family Feud" instead of a tribute to Kirk. Variety noted that the network also ran episodes of Celebrity Family Feud on Sept. 17 and 18, after ABC announced it would indefinitely be suspending Kimmels show ABCs decision came after Sinclair and Nexstar said they would not be airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! following Kimmels comments from his Sept. 15. show. Sinclair also demanded that Kimmel apologize to the Kirk family and make personal donations to the family and to Turning Point USA, the conservative youth organization founded by Kirk. The controversy centers on Kimmels comments from last weeks show, in which he suggested that the alleged killer of Kirk, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, could have been a MAGA Republican. The MAGA Gang (is) desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it, Kimmel said. In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving. Brendan Carr, the Federal Communication Commission chair, told conservative podcast host Benny Johnson on Wednesday that there was a strong case for legal action over Kimmels comments. This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Carr said on Johnsons show. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is seeing support in polling as she reportedly considers a run for president or the U.S. Senate in 2028. Axios reported Friday that the progressive firebrand is considering which route to take, but has yet to make a firm decision and her team is hoping to give her options. Her rumored political path forward could have an impact on the trajectory of the White House race or Democratic leadership in the upper chamber as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will be up for reelection. CNNs data guru, Harry Enten, revealed Monday that Ocasio-Cortezs favorability has grown among Democrats as a potential nominee when compared to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)s bid for president during the 2016 election. He described it as such a tectonic shift within the Democratic electorate. According to a combination of polling from Yahoo News, YouGov and The Washington Post in September, the Squad member ranks closer to the top among Democrats compared to Sanders, who stood largely behind former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. While California Gov. Gavin Newsom holds a strong lead in a list of possible Democratic contenders, with 21%, Ocasio-Cortez is within 10 points. I never thought I wouldve seen the day when someone as liberal as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is to the leader, Enten said, pointing to how Sanders trailed far behind Clinton with 2%, compared to her 69%. Enten noted that the sudden change comes at a time when the majority of Democratic voters believe that their party leaders should be replaced. A previous poll from Reuters/Ipsos, released in June, found that 62% of respondents are looking for new leadership, while 24% stand in disagreement. You go back at the beginning of the Donald Trump presidency, the majority of Democrats said their party leaders were taking their party in the right direction. That is not the case anymore. Were dealing with a party base that wants to throw out the old, and bring the new," Enten said, adding that the party is at an apex of leaning more liberal than moderate. According to a Wall Street Journal poll from late July, the Democratic Party had hit an over three-decade low net approval rating all while the party is bleeding support over voter registration compared to the GOP, an analysis from The New York Times revealed. Axios also revealed that millions have been invested to grow Ocasio-Cortezs social media presence. Meanwhile, her team is deciding on a list of possible donors and supporters to expand her fundraising campaign. Her team has spent more on digital advertising than almost any other politician in 2025, and as a result, they have brought in hundreds of thousands of new small-dollar donations, Kyle Tharp, the author of a media and politics newsletter that closely tracks online spending, told the outlet. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday touted record investments pouring into the United States but contradicted President Donald Trumps own statistic. During her press briefing, Leavitt claimed that Trump has secured nearly $9 trillion in U.S. investment since the start of his second term which she stated is nearly nine times more than under former President Joe Bidens administration. We expect that number to be upwards of $15 trillion very soon, Leavitt said, as she pointed to Trumps mission to restore America as the manufacturing superpower of the world." Meanwhile, Trump claimed last Thursday that he has acquired $17 trillion in investments during an eight-month period. He called it a record" despite the total U.S. gross domestic product, which measures the size of the economy, amounting to a little over $30 trillion as of late August. But if you compare $17 trillion to the last year of the Biden administration, they do $250 billion. They didnt do $1 trillion for the four-year period. And we did $17 trillion of investment coming in, a lot of it is because of tariffs, Trump said during his U.K. visit, before adding: Its an economic superstar. He went on to emphasize that he expects the number to grow significantly higher. Trump keeps lying that he's already secured "$17 trillion" in investments to the US (the entire US GDP is about $30 trillion) pic.twitter.com/AbGwCUGz0r Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 18, 2025 Earlier in the month, Trump also said that the country is taking in almost $17 trillion of investment from foreign countries. The figure comes close to the entire GDP of China, which recorded over $18.7 trillion in 2024. Weve taken in, almost $17 trillion of investment is coming in. Most of it is coming because of tariffs, Trump said, as the White House has urged the Supreme Court to uphold his tariff policy. ...Somebody wanted to be politically correct, I actually think its un-politically correct. I think politically correct is to approve it because theres nothing so popular as whats happened to our country. According to the White Houses website, U.S. and foreign investments total to $8.8 trillion since Trump took office. However, a handful of the listed figures, described as The Trump Effect, were announced before the president took office, a previous CBS News analysis revealed. The administration, for example, claimed credit for $1.5 billion from Corning, a materials and technology company, for a solar plant in Michigan. A Corning official, however, told CBS News that $900 million of the funding was pledged under Bidens presidency. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Snow showers this morning. Becoming partly cloudy later. High 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%.. Tonight Variable clouds with snow showers. Low 17F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. Four former Royal Marines have called in at RMB Chivenor as part of a 1,664 motorcycle ride to prevent the tragic rise in the number of former and serving brothers taking their own lives. The Brotherhood Ride has seen the quartet of TV adventurer Aldo Kane, Paul White, Al Chambers and Billy Perham take turns to ride a custom Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 motorcycle to every Royal Marines unit in the UK. They were at Chivenor on Tuesday (September 16) as part of their journey to raise awareness of the number of comrades who have taken their own lives a number that is sadly rising. Above: The Brotherhood Ride quartet with their Bootneck II motorcycle and personnel at RMB Chivenor. Credit: Cpl Jordan Macefield/RMA This year has seen a tragic rise in the number of former or serving Royal Marines taking their own lives; 2024 also saw a rise in the number of suicides within the Corps. The ride began at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), Lympstone and culminated at the Tower of London on Saturday (September 20) in the presence of the Yeoman Warders, following a visit to the final unit, the Royal Marines Reserve City of London. The expedition is part of RMA -The Royal Marines Charitys suicide prevention campaign, Lifting the Lid and is also raising funds for the cause. The number of miles on the bikes clock will represent the founding year of the Royal Marines in 1664. READ NEXT: Pictures & video: International troops storm the beaches of North Devon on the anniversary of D-Day At each unit the team handed over a wellbeing pack and a plaque. Aldo, 47, from Bristol, said: Too many Royal Marines are suffering in silence and we want to get the message out loud and clear that no one needs to suffer in silence there is help out there. No one should be too proud to speak up and ask for help. Asking for help isnt weak it could be the strongest thing you ever do. We hope this message resonates with everyone, whether youre part of the Armed Forces or a civilian. After the ride the Bootneck II motorcycle, will be returned to the Guildhall in the City where it began life at the charitys major fundraiser of the year, the Guildhall Dinner. The bike was originally donated by former Royal Marine Mark Talbot, auctioned off and then donated back to the charity. Mark and Al hatched the plan for the Brotherhood Ride. The bike will be auctioned again, along with a helmet signed by each units Commanding Officer, at the next charity dinner on Thursday, November 13. The fundraising target including the re-auction of the motorbike, is 80,000. Above: At each Royal Marines unit the riders handed over a plaque. Credit: Cpl Jordan Macefield/RMA Speaking before the journey, Aldo added: The ride is about breaking down stigma, speaking openly, and lifting the lid on mental health. Its about honouring those weve lost and standing beside those still fighting physically or mentally long after theyve left the front line. By the time it gets back to the Guildhall it wont just be a bike, it will carry stories, the strength and the spirit of the Royal Marine Commandos. If you wish to make a donation to the Lifting the Lid campaign, you can do so HERE READ NEXT: Barnstaple veteran wins Romanian hearts at Invictus Heroes Half Marathon Fraser Seitel Jeffrey Epstein was a bad hombre. The late financier and child sex offender was also a friend and advisor to the rich and famous, and he artfully used those contacts to further his own fabulous fortune. Ever since his death by jail-cell suicide in 2019, Epsteins secret life as procurer and pedophile has been exposed, and his fortune has been largely ladled out to his many underage victims. Lately, politicians and the media have pressured the Trump administration to release the Epstein government files and reveal the privileged individuals who enabled him. A few weeks ago, New York Times business reporter Matt Goldstein wrote a brilliant expose on one of those enablers, a man named Jes Staley, who served as Epsteins private banker and bosom buddy at JPMorgan for many years. The Times story also laid bare JPMorgans culpability in perpetuating the convicted sex offenders illicit actions. What the piece also demonstrated was how dangerous it is to appoint lawyers, rather than public relations professionals, to preside over an organizations reputation. In JPMorgans case, according to the Times, after Epstein was convicted in Florida in 2008 of procuring a child for prostitution, the banks top compliance officer suggested he be terminated as a client. Epstein BFF Staley objected to this and asked the banks top lawyer to sit down with his long-term client and make a judgment. The lawyer, Stephen Cutler, was a Yale Law School graduate with experience at top white-shoe law firms and a stint at the Securities and Exchange Commission. In other words, he was the bluest of blue blood among the bank's general counsels. Cutler listened as the smooth-talking Epstein pled his case and, after pondering for weeks, the lawyer told Staley he had concluded that the bank should, indeed, cut ties with the financier. He reasonedcorrectlythat retaining Epstein, a Level 3 sex offender, as a client would not only send a terrible signal to JPMorgans female colleagues but also threaten the institutions reputation. Staley, a rising star and leading candidate to become Morgan CEO, adamantly disagreed with the lawyer. He argued that it would be a mistake to part ways with Epstein, especially in light of his network of high-level contacts and his $300 million in JPMorgan deposits. It was then, according to the Times, that the lawyer folded. In the face of his colleagues insistence, the lawyer rationalized that, as potentially damaging as Epstein was as a client, he wasnt using his accounts for criminal purposes and therefore had not broken the law. And his own primary responsibility, Cutler reasoned, was to protect JPMorgan from legalnot reputationalrisks. So, he changed his mind and decided that as long as Staley monitored him, Epstein could stay a client. Not only that, but Cutler also decided not to escalate the matter to the banks CEO Jamie Dimon. Both decisions by its chief attorney turned out to be catastrophic for JPMorgan. In 2019, Epstein was arrested and jailed on new charges related to alleged sex crimes, and the story escalated from there. JPMorgan was among those institutions mentioned prominently as Epstein enablers. In response, JPMorgan Chief Communications Officer Joe Evangelisti acknowledged the banks relationship with Epstein was a mistake and added that JPMorgan would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was engaged in an ongoing sex trafficking operation. The bank pinned the blame on its former account officer Staley and agreed to pay $290 million to settle with women who accused Epstein of abusing them and another $75 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein had an estate. Its unclear what role, if any, the banks public relations department played in the Epstein fiasco. What the bank should have done, of course, was to assign management of the Epstein dilemma to its public relations professionals. Evangelisti is among the public relations industrys most experienced, trusted and competent communications advisors. And Dimon is one of the worlds smartest and most respected business leaders. Its hard to believe that both of these men, had they been confronted early on with the facts of the Epstein relationship, wouldnt have immediately decided to throw the convicted sex offender out of the bank. They would have understood that the institution's reputation was far more important than the clout or the connections of any one client. And they would have realized that perpetuating a relationship with such a questionable individual simply wasnt worth the risk, regardless of whether or not he was breaking the law. *** Fraser P. Seitel has been a communications consultant, author and teacher for 40 years. He is author of the Pearson text The Practice of Public Relations, now in its 14th edition, and co-author of Rethinking Reputation" and "Idea Wise. He may be reached directly at [email protected]. Maurya Overall At two recent industry eventsGartners Marketing Symposium and the 2025 Cannes Lions Festival of Creativitya leading theme was how to build brand impact in an increasingly fragmented landscape. Communications leaders are under more pressure than ever to help their organizations speak with clarity and alignment. But even the most powerful narratives can fail if they are fractured across the enterprise. The root of the problem? Strategic fragmentation. A recent Gartner study revealed that 84% of marketing leaders report high strategic dysfunction in their organization. Communications, marketing, sales, digital and customer service each interpret the CEOs growth agenda through their own lens. While specialization is essential, siloed execution can subtract from the impact of corporate purpose and narratives. The result is missed opportunities to lead. As stewards of corporate reputation and alignment, communications leaders have a unique and urgent role to play: bringing cohesion to complexity, and ensuring that enterprise priorities are translated into unified internal and external action that advances the growth aspirations of their company. The CEOs vision is getting lost in translation At Boathouse, our recent CEO study found that 87 percent of CEOs have yet to fully realize their transformation strategiesnot due to lack of clarity at the top, but due to breakdowns as the vision filters through departmental silos. In communications, that shows up in: Inconsistent messaging across audiences; Gaps between whats said externally and whats felt internally; Campaigns that respond to crises rather than advance the brand proactively; Lack of metrics across departments that tie to the CEOs strategy. Cross-functionality is more than a buzzword - its a methodology. Strategy, messaging and even operational responsibilities cannot be solved in departmental isolation. When each department reports wins on its own termswithout shared context or coordinationthe CEO begins to question whether teams are truly aligned with enterprise priorities, especially with the business strategy. The outcome? Conflicting voices, ungoverned messaging and missed opportunities to lead the conversation on innovation and responsibility. Basically, a murky message and a murky brand, internally and externally. For Chief Communications Officers (CCOs), this can lead to being sidelined, rather than seen as strategic partners. But when communications and marketing leaders co-develop strategies, they create alignment, consistency and credibility across the organization. And when they go a step further to align the message across other departments, there is even greater buy-in and possibility for success at the point of execution. They can realize more clearly the overlap between functions and teams, coordinate a strong series of key messages that speak directly to the CEOs strategy and then work cross-functionally to execute based on their respective audiences, channels and stakeholders and known, organization-wide pain points. Communications is the integrator In an era defined by complexity, speed and scrutiny, strategic communications isnt just a functionits a force for alignment. The organizations that win will be those where CCOs play a central role in ensuring the CEOs vision survives the journey through the organizationand shows up with clarity and consistency in every stakeholder interaction. An organizations strategy is, at its core, all about the message. If the message isnt communicated clearly and understood across departments internally and across audiences externally, then it is lost, as is the brand. The only path to realize success and move towards the CEOs vision and goal is for the work to occur across functions. This is not the time to stay in your lane. Its the time to lead across them. *** Maurya Overall, a principal at Boathouse, leads a diverse client portfolio as well as co-leadings the agency's content, social and comms group. Penta Group acquires FIO360, a strategic advisory firm focused on intelligence-driven stakeholder engagement. As part of the acquisition, FIO360 founder Adam Weiss joins Penta as partner, based in Washington, DC. Weiss, who has spent over two decades advising senior executives on corporate affairs strategies, will work to strengthen Pentas corporate affairs and stakeholder intelligence offerings. He will collaborate with colleagues across the firm to deliver strategies to anticipate risk, build trust and support long-term business goals. The integration of FIO360 enhances Pentas ability to deliver data-led solutions that connect corporate strategy to the realities of policy and public opinion, said Penta CEO Matt McDonald. ONAR Holding Corporation, a leading technology company and network of marketing agencies, signs an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the membership interests of JUICE, via ONARs subsidiary Storia. Founded in 2017, JUICE is a digital marketing agency specializing in paid digital advertising, search engine optimization, email marketing and content marketing campaigns. As part of the transaction, ONAR will absorb JUICEs proprietary AI software Sour Grapes, an intelligent Facebook comment moderation tool. ONAR will also retain key JUICE personnel to support a smooth transition, including co-founders Michael Lisovetsky and Troy Osinoff, and COO David Khandrius. Osinoff will join ONARs executive leadership team, while Lisovetsky and Khandrius will assist during the integration period. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our growth strategy and allows us to deliver even more value to customers by combining our talented teams and proprietary marketing technologies, said ONAR CEO Claude Zdanow. PR Newswire launches Amplify, a platform that merges its global distribution network with AI. Amplifys features include the Plan tool, which analyzes real-time industry trending topics using AI to instantaneously surface the most compelling story angles for brands as well as Create+, a tool that leverages generative AI to produce videos, blog posts and personalized media pitches from a single press release. It also has the ability to build multimedia-rich releases that are designed to stand out across search, social, investor channels and news platforms. "Amplify redefines how brands tell their stories, control their narratives, and measure their impact by unifying the communications workflow into one intelligent, AI-powered platform, said PR Newswire president Matt Brown. Tullamore Credit Union and St Brigids Credit Union invite you to their first ever joint roadshow! The Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Roadshow, which will take in Tuar Ard Moate on Sept 29th and at Esker Arts Tullamore on 1st October, and is aimed at educating and engaging with members, communities and businesses on the importance of ESG and green practices and their impact. This initiative aligns which the credit unions shared commitment to sustainable business practices, community development & financial literacy. The roadshows, which are fully supported by Offaly County Council, will be informative & help raise awareness of the principles of ESG, corporate responsibility & sustainability. Information will be available about the ESG products & services available in both credit unions. A range of local suppliers of green products will also display some of their products and be available to answer attendees questions. This collaboration shows our shared commitment to sustainability and community said Deputy CEO Caroline Collins Murphy from Tullamore Credit Union. Its about offering real value and having a real impact. TONIGHT: Celebration of creativity in Offaly during Culture Night While Michael Kelly, CEO of St Brigids Credit Union added the ethos of the credit union is people helping people. Using our strong position to help membership become more sustainable is the goal and this collaboration assists in achieving this objective. So come along to Tuar Ard Moate on Monday 29th September or Esker Arts Tullamore on Wednesday 1st October at 6pm to meet local stakeholders and 7pm to hear the guest speakers. All members, community groups and businesses are welcome! READ NEXT: No jackpot winner in Offaly GAA club's weekly lotto draw Independent presidential hopeful Gareth Sheridan has failed in his bid to secure a nomination from Offaly County Council. After hearing a presentation by Mr Sheridan, Offaly councillors voted on a Fine Gael proposal that no person be nominated. That proposal was carried comfortably with 11 in favour, five against and one abstention. Council Cathaoirleach John Leahy said he favoured Mr Sheridan being allowed run for President and voted against the resolution. READ NEXT: Ploughing exhibitor says drones will herd cattle from the air The Offaly decision ends Mr Sheridan's hopes of attaining the support of the four local authorities required for entry into the race to succeed President Michael D Higgins. Earlier on Monday the Dublin businessman was not nominated by Meath County Council and needed both Offaly this afternoon and Louth County Council this evening to vote for him. Mr Sheridan arrived in Offaly with the backing of Kerry and Tipperary County Councils. Cllr Leahy, Independent, proposed that the council nominate Mr Sheridan, a move which was seconded by Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick. Cllr Liam Quinn, Fine Gael, tabled the counter proposal that the council nominate no candidate and that was seconded by his party colleague Cllr Noel Cribbin. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael hold a majority in the 19-seat council chamber. BIRR'S St. Brendans Community School is proud to announce the successful upgrade of its solar photovoltaic (PV) system, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental education. The installation was completed by Mulhare Electrical/Solar Ready, a leading renewable energy provider based in Banagher, Co. Offaly. The school now features 84 high-efficiency solar panels, significantly increasing its capacity to generate clean, renewable energy on-site. This initiative not only reduces the schools carbon footprint but also enhances its role as a climate-conscious educational institution. Environmental Benefits Reduced Carbon Emissions The upgraded system will help lower the schools reliance on fossil fuels, contributing to a cleaner, healthier environment. Climate Awareness The solar panels serve as a visible and practical example of renewable energy, encouraging students and the community to embrace sustainable practices. Economic Benefits Lower Energy Costs The school will benefit from reduced electricity bills, allowing more resources to be directed toward student services and learning. Long-Term Investment The solar upgrade provides lasting financial savings and energy security for the future. TONIGHT: Celebration of creativity in Offaly during Culture Night In a unique educational feature, students will be able to track daily energy production via a TV display in the school canteen, promoting awareness and engagement with renewable energy. Additionally, Mulhare Electrical Solar Ready will be forming a partnership with the schools Geography Department, providing students with hands-on learning opportunities and real-world insights into solar energy systems, sustainability, and environmental science. St. Brendans Community School would like to thank Mulhare Electrical Solar Ready for their expert work and commitment to education and sustainability. READ NEXT: No jackpot winner in Offaly GAA club's weekly lotto draw Businessman Gareth Sheridan has failed to secure a nomination to enter the presidential race by Offaly County Council, bringing his Presidential bid to an end. After listening to Mr Sheridan's presentation to the Council, the Councillors were asked to vote on the matter. Cllr Liam Quinn of Fine Gael group said the Fine Gael group would only be backing their own candidate, Heather Humphreys, and no one else. Cllr John Leahy, Cathaoirleach, said there would be two proposals. The first proposal they'd be voting on would be a counter-proposal, stating that the County Council would not nominate any candidate for the Presidential election. The second proposal would be to nominate Gareth Sheridan. The counter-proposal was voted on first. 11 of the 19 Councillors voted for the counter-proposal; 5 voted against; two abstained and one of the councillors was absent. This decided the matter and there was no need to vote on the Proposal. Cllr Frank Moran, Fianna Fail, was the only Fianna Fail Councillor to vote against the counter-proposal; Cllr Claire Murray Sinn Fein abstained. Earlier in the day Mr Sheridan's nomination had also been narrowly turned down by Meath County Council during which fourteen members of the council voted against a proposal to nominate the candidate, with 13 backing the proposal. There were five abstentions and eight absentees in Meath. Mr Sheridan already had two of four required nominations through local authorities to formally enter the contest, having previously secured nods from Kerry and Tipperary county councils. The 36-year-old millionaire entrepreneur was among several hopefuls pitching to Meath County Council on Monday morning. He was the only hopeful to pitch to Offaly County Council. Following his Offaly and Meath disappointments his planned trip to Louth County Council later in the evening became null and void. At the Offaly meeting Cathaoirleach Cllr John Leahy, Independent, welcomed the candidate, his wife and his team. He said the only Cllr not present was Cllr Fergus McDonnell, who was recovering from a fall. He said it was regrettable that Mr Sheridan had lost the Meath County Council vote by only one vote earlier in the day. I proposed and Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick (Independent) seconded that you could address us today. You were one of 23 people to write to us. Mr Sheridan said the Offaly vote was a very important vote for him. I announced my intention to run for President during the Tullamore Show in August. Thank you Councillors for your time today. The reason we are here today is because of John Hearne, the legal adviser to the Department of External Affairs, who drafted Bunreacht na hEireann in 1937. John Hearne was very conscious of the importance of empowering local authorities. He believed choosing who should be allowed to run for the Presidency should go beyond the Oireachtas and out into the local authorities. He said Offaly was a wonderful county but it often wore the underdog tag, as I do myself in this particular instance. He said he's 36 years of age and is very conscious that his generation, in terms of housing, is worse off than his parents' generation. I have well qualified friends in good jobs who are still living in shoeboxes in their parents' homes. Mr Sheridan remarked that his youth shouldn't be held against him. Putting my name forward shouldn't be interpreted as an act of audacious, youthful arrogance. It's anything but. My intent is serious and meaningful. Mr Sheridan is originally from Terenure and is a multi-millionaire. He was the founder of Nutriband, a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing abuse-deterrent transdermal drug delivery systems, with a primary focus on the Aversa Technology designed to reduce the abuse potential of opioids like fentanyl. This company is doing very well and I am very proud of it. However, I am also very proud of Ireland and by leaving the running of my business to one side and putting my name forward for the Presidency I am aiming to be a voice for all Irish people, especially the young people who I feel are disenfranchised and are not being listened to, in terms of the housing and cost of living crises. The chronic housing shortage was declared a national emergency almost a decade ago. Tens of thousands of Irish people have been forced to leave our shores. 103,000 Irish-born people are living in Australia. Our healthcare system is also facing huge challenges. He pointed out that he's very aware of the challenges facing Offaly, including the decarbonisation programme and its associated loss of jobs. He said the President might have no executive powers but he plays a very important influential role. He also quoted Article 45, 2, 1 of the Constitution which states that citizens have a right to a sufficient livelihood through their occupations to meet their domestic needs. In a short Questions and Answers session two of the Sinn Fein Councillors asked Mr Sheridan his position on Irish Unity. He said that he would like to see a united Ireland during the next Presidential term. They also asked him his position on the Gaza crisis. He said it's a genocidal war and a historical disgrace which is weaponising food and water. Cllr John Leahy asked him if he spoke Irish. I have been taking lessons, replied Mr Sheridan. When the Counter-proposal was voted on and Mr Sheridan's nomination was rejected, Cllr Leahy said this was unfortunately the end of the road for Mr Sheridan. I hold you in huge admiration for putting your name forward. However, I do think that the conversation about how we conduct our Presidential elections will continue to be held. Many people think it's wrong that the strongest political parties can band together to block potential nominees from outside the strongest political blocks. READ NEXT: Sheridan Aras bid ends as Offaly council votes against nomination During his Sunday Angelus recently with pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square, Pope Leo gave us a call to love when he said, Let us where we are, never miss an opportunity to love. This is the vigilance that Jesus asks of us, to get used to being attentive, available and sensitive to one another, as He is with us every moment. Also while at a neighbour's wedding earlier this weekend in the West of Ireland, Fr. Tadgh the main celebrant spoke about living one's life with the 'look of love' and grabbing all the opportunities to love that God puts before us all each new day. Opportunities to love Every day is filled with opportunities. Every situation is an invitation to trust God, and every relationship is a chance to love with Jesus. Scripture reminds us, This is love: not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:10). Love begins with God. It flows into our hearts, and it calls us outward, toward every person and circumstance He places in our path. Love is the heartbeat of our faith. It is both our calling and our purpose. It is first received, then freely shared. Without it, our words, our actions, even our faith, are empty. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1). True love is action Love is not merely feeling, it is doing. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7). True love is patient when we would rather be angry, forgiving when we are tempted to hold grudges, generous when we would rather cling, courageous when fear tempts us to hide. Love is more than words, it is choices, sacrifices, and actions rooted in Gods heart. Faith and love are like rivers if they dwell within us, they overflow into the world; if they are absent, doubt, fear, and idolatry can take hold and hinder our witness. Difficult people, trying events, and mundane routines all become stages for Gods love to shine when our hearts are aligned with Him. Each small act whether it is a word of encouragement, a moment of patience, a gesture of kindness, is an opportunity to glorify Jesus. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). READ NEXT: Team from Offaly school secure second place in major international competition The look of love Begin by seeing others as God sees them. Look at your spouse, children, parents, friends, neighbours and colleagues and look past their flaws, past their irritations and see the blessing of their presence. Watch for love in the world such as the parent soothing a child, the stranger offering a smile, the colleague extending kindness. These small moments are not accidental, they are Gods love flowing into our lives. As we grow in awareness, we can choose to let that love guide our eyes, our words, and our actions. Seeing Jesus in others The key to living a love-filled life is seeing others as opportunities to love Jesus. When we view people through the lens of faith, their flaws fade, and their deservingness of love emerges. Caring for another becomes not a burden but a privilege. As Jesus taught in Matthew 25:37-40, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. When we serve, forgive, encourage, or comfort others, we are serving Christ Himself. Opportunities to love in every moment Spiritually, each moment presents an opportunity to love. Whether through prayer, acts of generosity, service, kindness, forgiveness, or acceptance, our lives can radiate Gods love. Every interaction, every choice, becomes a chance to reflect His divine nature. As the apostle Paul wrote, If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have no love, I gain nothing (1 Corinthians 13:3). Love is the currency that gives value to all our actions. Practice if you can the following practical expressions of Love - Serve one another: Offer help where it is needed, particularly in your community and church. Show generosity: Give of your time, talent, and resources as an extension of Gods grace. Pray for others: Let love flow from your heart through intercession, especially for the lonely and struggling. Be kind and forgiving: Treat each person with tenderness and compassion. Accept others: Mirror Gods acceptance even toward those who challenge or frustrate you. Bear burdens: Help others carry their trials, reflecting Christs selfless love. Encourage and esteem others: Strengthen relationships and build unity in your community. Regard others as more important than yourself: Choose humility, putting the needs of others first. Living loved A spiritual framework To live a life overflowing with love, we must first receive Gods love deeply and personally. Consider these guiding steps: L Leave pretence behind (Psalm 62:8). O Operate out of who God says you are (Ephesians 2:10). V Value revelation (Romans 8:15-17). E Embark on having well-healed wounds (Psalm 147:3). D Draw ever-deeper into His Love (Ephesians 3:14-19). It is from this wellspring of Gods love that we can serve others without self-interest, forgive without resentment, and offer hope without expectation. Love that challenges Love is not only gentle, it is demanding. Jesus calls us to love those who are difficult, who hurt us, who seem unlovable. Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:2728). It is easy to love the lovable, but Christ asks us to stretch beyond our comfort. Love asks us to open our hearts to the marginalized, the poor, the lonely, the rejected. It is in these moments, when love costs most, that we most closely imitate Jesus. Love has the power to resurrect life, joy, and hope. Just as a child rediscovers an old toy with delight, or a family reunites in gratitude, so too can love revive relationships and restore hearts. A kind word, a listening ear, a helping hand, a forgiving heart, these small acts have eternal significance. Every act of love reflects Gods mercy, and in giving love, we receive it. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Living the look of love daily This week, choose one act of true love each day. Speak kindly to those who irritate you. Offer patience to those who frustrate you. Pray for those who seem beyond reach. Serve without expectation. Let love guide your decisions, your interactions, your thoughts. Remember that we come into this world with nothing but love and leave with nothing but love. Faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). READ NEXT: Two credit unions in Offaly join forces to host joint roadshow in Tullamore and Moate Thought for the week As your thought for the week, do not miss the God-appointed opportunities in your life. See each person, each encounter, and each situation as a stage to reflect divine love. Love in ways that stretch you, that cost you, that challenge your pride, your comfort, your preconceptions. Let your actions reveal Jesus to the world. Remember, love changes us as much as it changes others. May God bless you this week with eyes to see opportunities where others only see interruptions. A heart wide enough to love the difficult and the unlovable. Hands ready to serve and comfort the weary. Courage strong enough to love when it costs you most. Joy that is deep enough to keep giving when you feel empty. Let me leave you with one of my prayers about 'Living with the Look of Love' - "Loving God, Open my eyes to see Your presence in all people I meet. Give me a heart willing to love as You love, freely, fully, unconditionally. Teach me to embrace each opportunity to serve, encourage, forgive, and comfort, seeing Jesus in the least of these. Fill me with courage when love costs, patience when love is tested, and joy when love is expressed. May my life reflect Your mercy, my hands carry Your grace, and my words speak Your truth. Draw me ever deeper into Your love, so that I may give love as You give it, abundantly and without reserve. And in living this love, help me to become a blessing, a witness, and a reflection of Your Heart in the world. Amen. Nilkanth Engineering Works has grown into a recognized brand due to its inventive thinking, strong customer respect, and adherence to industry standards Now the company produces Cement Silos in addition to the regular products and have recently begun offering services in Aluminium Formwork Systems for better support efficient and new approaches in construction. The concrete-batch company is also proactive in implementing smart technologies, utilizing high-precision plasma cutting, integrating SCADA and PLC-based systems in batching plants, and designing formwork using 3D modeling.The concrete industry faces significant challenges, particularly for companies like Nilkanth Engineering Works in the construction machinery and formwork sector. Some of the most pressing issues include rising raw material costs, logistical and supply chain disruptions, the necessity for skilled labor for advanced systems such as aluminum formwork, and the need to adapt to rapid technological advancements and sustainability standards.To address these immediate challenges in the concrete batch industry, several strategies can be pursued. First, it is essential to attract and retain skilled labor. Companies can support and invest in training programs and apprenticeships aimed at young workers, while also offering competitive wages and benefits to retain experienced employees. Additionally, teams should collaborate with trade schools and technical institutes to potentially develop specialized curricula focused on concrete-related professions.The company is involved in a variety ofincluding roads, bridges, housing, metro rail systems, and commercial developments. Moreover, its services extend beyond borders, providing support to clients across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The multidisciplinary team, which includes a diverse array of professionals such as field technicians, project managers, mechanical engineers, civil engineers, electrical engineers, software engineers, design engineers, CAD specialists, and more, deserves recognition for being the foundation of the organizations successful operations.Its clientele base covers large and medium-sized construction firms, infrastructure companies, government contractors, and private developers. Some of those include KSIPL, SRBC, Jindal Saw Ltd, Unique Infra, BVS, and RCC Developers in Meerut, among others. Furthermore, its broad portfolio and extensive expertise position it well to contribute to projects worldwide, ensuring that clients receive significant value for their investments.Nilkanth Engineering Works has successfully tackled challenges in the construction industry, achieving recognition for its innovative contributions. The company has received accolades such as the National SME Awards and endorsements from national construction associations, reflecting its strong reputation and repeat business from major firms.Looking to the future, the company aims to become a global leader in concrete batch plant construction technology within the next 5 to 10 years, while also expanding its aluminum formwork business. It is focused on developing advanced batching systems and investing in green technologies to facilitate a smooth digital transformation and enhance client experiences. It's a crowded field, I know. Soldiers are proudly publishing videos of their own gruesome crimes. Prime Ministers are touring the world in defiance of arrest warrants. But I want to make sure we're aware of one prominent member of the list of individuals responsible for the crime of war: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican from the state of total submission to Trump). War is a crime under numerous laws and treaties, absolutely regardless of who does it. There is no exception for legislatures. But let's assume that you define all distant murders (such as of Venezuelan boaters) as war, and that you commit to total non-recognition of all the laws against war (and of the U.S. Constitution's mandate that treaties be the supreme law of the land); in other words, let's assume that you are the New York Times. Then you're left with the problem that the U.S. Constitution allows the Congress and not the Executive to declare wars. In 1973, the Congress, overriding the veto of the Executive, created a new law called The War Powers Resolution, which allowed presidents to do what they'd long been doing anyway, namely launch unconstitutional wars, but put time limits and reporting requirements on those wars, and established the means for any single member of either house of the Congress to compel a vote in that house on whether to, in effect, declare: Not this time. This particular war, the Congress says no to, as the first branch of the government and the branch in possession of Constitutional war powers. End it immediately, or cease threatening and do not begin it. If we were not steadfastly ignoring all treaties, we might note that threatening wars is always a violation of the United Nations Charter. Ignoring treaties or not, the U.S. Congress needs to do something to halt each war/crime. Just as every shipment of weapons to Israel violates numerous U.S. laws and treaties, yet we still require the Congress to pass yet another law before the shipments are stopped, a U.S. war may violate numerous laws and yet roll on unless somebody does something to stop it. So, what can Congress do? This is where the War Powers Resolution comes in. It is a tool that can be used to, at the very least, compel our so-called representatives to vote yes or no on a deeply unpopular and malevolent war that their funders and party leaders expect them to keep rolling on. Or, rather, the War Powers Resolution used to be such a tool. Now, we have a man running the U.S. House of Representatives who is violating the War Powers Resolution by not holding the votes that it requires. By illegally refusing to hold votes on whether or not to halt wars, Speaker Mike Johnson has made himself responsible for those wars and every death, injury, traumatic impact, bit of destruction, degree of global warming, and brutal influence on our culture that stems from those wars. For decades, a single Congress Member, or a small number of them - Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul were a frequent bipartisan combination in relatively recent history - could introduce a resolution and force a vote, despite the wishes of the House leadership or the president or even the weapons dealers on whether to end or forestall a particular war. The votes failed, over and over again, but they created pressure against wars, and they identified for ordinary people which Congress Members needed to hear from them. (If someone has a detailed record of all such votes, I wish they'd tell me.) And then came Yemen. For the first time, a house of Congress and in fact it was both of them was not just forced to hold a vote, but saw the vote pass. (When one house passes one of these things, the other house has to vote too.) The bill was sent to President Trump 1.0 requiring an end to U.S. warmaking in Yemen. Trump vetoed, and the Congress failed to override. The Congress then chose not to send the same bill to President Biden at all. But a new threat to the war machine had appeared. Now there are resolutions in the House that legally require swift votes on Venezuela and on Iran, but no votes are expected, because Mike Johnson doesn't want them. Here's how FCNL's War Powers Resolution Activist Guide accurately describes the law, but not the reality: Any member of the House or Senate, regardless of committee assignment, can invoke section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution and get a full floor vote on whether to require the president to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities. Under the procedural rules of the War Powers Act, these bills are granted expedited status requiring a full floor vote in the House within 15 calendar days, and in the Senate within 10 calendar days of introduction. This provision is especially powerful because it allows members of Congress to force timely debates and votes on the president's use of military force, reinforcing Congress's constitutional authority over decisions of war and peace. (What the law actually says is 15 days for action in a committee plus 3 more days for a vote by the full house.) But, according to National Review, Johnson has come out against holding a legally mandated vote on war on Iran. That publication explains that Johnson could remove the privileged nature of the resolution and prevent it from getting a vote, according to Politico. That sounds as though Politico has made some legalistic case for Johnson's right to violate the law, but you'll find no such thing at the Politico link, which merely says: Speaker Mike Johnson could move this week to kill the effort with language getting rid of the privileged nature of the resolution, according to a person granted anonymity to relay the private discussions. But language is not a pass to violate a law. Congressman Ro Khanna has a statement on why the House should vote on Iran, but it focuses on the substantive reasons to vote and vote yes, noting on the legal requirement of holding the vote merely It is structured as a privileged resolution, meaning it will receive a vote. Every member of Congress will have to decide whether they stand for diplomacy and the Constitution, or for endless war and executive overreach. Will they? According to The Hill, Khanna and Congressman Massie could force a vote regardless of what Johnson wants. Can they? Why haven't they? Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). [We are both cursed and blessed to live at this fateful junction in world history. No one will be safe unless we all act to stop the fascist genocidal regimes and liberate people (Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc) from the nightmare engulfing us. Please read at least the first paragraph or two, forward/disseminate, but most importantly please ACT] There are a lot of under-currents in global geopolitics that strengthened or were created after the Ga-sa Ghetto Uprising started 7 October 2023. From the collapse of the Zionist fictional narrative about defending themselves to the visciousness of the ethnic cleansing and genocide that resulted in growing global support for Palestinian freedome to global UN clear declaration of the illegality of the colonial occupation. Also notable trends, growing chasm within the two major parties in the US about "Israel". Within the democratic party this is best exemplified by the now majority of democrats who support arms embargo and the rise of Mamdani and others like hime. Within the republican party, the chasm is between America first faction and Israel-first faction (with the veneer that it is "good for the US"). The latter conflict is starting to take deadly turns as happened with the Charlie Kirk assasination. Questions are now legitimately rising as to nature of this assasination and whether it was a warning for Trump and others not to cross the supposedly powerful Zionists (Epstein/Mossad videos as insurance). But, the trend of isolation of the rogue genocidal regime is beginning to accelerate. Mileikowsky (aka Netanyahu) stated that they have been getting ready for a long time for this isolation by developing their own weapons manufacturing capability. But the last 2 years have shown the opposite: the regime cannot survive without US support (as was the case in 1973). Yet, Israhell is taking the USA and quisling Arab regimes down with it now. But times are changing. The global uprising/intifada is growing, the losses are mounting for the greedy as people are awakening. We must save our planet and save humanity. Life, as my friend Chris says, is an adventure. A highly authoritative UN independent Commission of Inquiry issued a report accusing Israel of genocide. And yet, nearly two years into this genocide, the United Nations has failed to take meaningful action to stop it. Dimitri Lascaris speaks with former UN human rights lawyer Craig Mokhiber about the tools available to the UN to intervene (or go down the road of the league of nations and yet another world war). Dimitri and Craig also discussed Israels attack on Qatar and the failure of Arab and Muslim states to hold Israel accountable for the attack. No one can say they did not know- the genocide is live!! mondoweiss.net Some European doctors managed to get into Gaza a few days ago & explain exactly what theyre seeing and enduring. Even CNN now is forced to show a glimpse of the horror of the genocide and ethnic cleansing and this is on Dr. Abusafiya. And in the West Bank where I live? Hundreds of new chokeholds on our areas (120 in Bethlehem ghetto alone), ethnic cleansing, pogroms by settlers and soldiers, and persistent other human rights violations (see this example). [Another war crime] Uranium particulates detected in soil samples from Israeli bombing. Military & Conflict-Related Emissions & Climate Reparations for Palestine: Israel and its allies owe $148 billion in climate reparations for military emissions since the Nakba. Israel is responsible for $103B, the US $40.8B, with European allies covering the rest. Documents reveal how Israel's state-sponsored 'hasbara' campaigns use social media, paid influencers, and military tours to shape the global narrative on Gaza and counter critics. While some on "the left" want to ignore Charlie Kirk whose words were shocking, his killing does need to be investigated since the FBI and other government sources are not telling us the whole truth about this or Israel's role: Stay Humane, act, and keep hope and Palestine alive Mazin Qumsiyeh A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine facebook pages Personal Institute French Whoop Mobile, a brand new wireless telecommunications company based in Brevard County, Florida, is ready to take over the wireless world and bring back customer Geneva / Madrid, September 20, 2025 - The international consultancy Taxhells announces the release of "The Gatekeeper: A Strategic Guide for Diplomats and Political Elites Karachi, Pakistan - SooperTools.com has released a set of powerful free online tools that are quickly becoming popular among students, professionals, and everyday users. From The estates of Meshay Melendez, 27, and her daughter Layla Stewart, 7, filed a lawsuit against Clark County last week alleging probation authorities failed to enforce their own policies and procedures in overseeing Kirkland Warren, 29, who was later convicted of killing the woman and her daughter. The estates of a woman and her young daughter murdered in 2023 sued Clark County for failing to perform any meaningful supervision over the killer who was out on bail at the time. The wrongful death lawsuit filed last week in Clark County Superior Court accuses the countys probation and pre-trial services division of failing to follow its own policies and procedures to ensure that Kirkland Warren complied with the conditions of his release. Warren, 29, was convicted last year of killing his ex-girlfriend, Meshay Melendez, 27, and her 7-year-old daughter, Layla Stewart. He is serving a life sentence. Melendez and Layla were reported missing on March 18, 2023, six days after they had last been seen with Warren, who was quickly named a person of interest in the case. He had just been released from jail and was subject to a no-contact order due to allegations that hed shot at Melendezs apartment and threatened her. Four days later, on March 22, Melendez and Layla were found dead from gunshot wounds in rural Washougal. Authorities determined Warren had also raped the girl. Clark County was responsible for monitoring Warren, the lawsuit states. The suit was filed by Nichole Norris, Melendezs mother, and Javontae Stewart, Laylas father, on behalf of the victims estates. Clark County Probation failed to adequately supervise a suspected murderer who used a firearm against his intimate partner, the suit states. Joni McAnally, a county spokesperson, said Clark County doesnt provide statements on pending litigation. The lawsuit states that Warren didnt promptly report to probation upon his release from jail and authorities were unable to locate him, violations of his pre-trial release that Clark County Probation did not report to the court. At the time, Warren was awaiting trial on charges of drive-by shooting, second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, gross misdemeanor harassment with bodily injury and two counts of fourth-degree assault. Had defendant Clark County Probation exercised ordinary care and done its job properly, Warren would not have been able to continue in a reign of terror against Melendez and her daughter, the lawsuit argues. The lawsuit alleges that Clark County probation authorities knew Warren posed a danger to the victims and were aware that he faced allegations of murder and abuse of a corpse in Arkansas for the 2017 killing of a 57-year-old man named Curtis Urquhart. Urquhart was shot in the head and found in a ditch in Arkansas in 2017. Warren grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, has two daughters, records show. Concordia University existed for more than a century in Northeast Portland. Its 2020 closure triggered a $302 million lawsuit that fully settled last week. Mike Zacchino/2016 file photo After the abrupt closure of Concordia University in Portland in 2020, its long-term technology contractor, HotChalk, filed a $302 million lawsuit against the university and its parent organization, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, alleging fraud and interference. The case, which was set for trial this week, has settled. Late last week, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod reached a binding settlement agreement with HotChalk, the companys lead counsel, Jim McDermott, confirmed Sunday in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. The terms of the agreement are confidential, McDermott said. Concordia and HotChalk settled late last year; Multnomah County Circuit Court entered a judgment of about $300 million against Concordia in favor of HotChalk, records show. The Oregonian/OregonLive covered the dispute extensively in 2020. Here are five takeaways from that reporting. 1. Concordia had a high-stakes contract with HotChalk Concordias future was tied to a business relationship with HotChalk, an education tech firm hired to expand its online programs. This deal, however, became a factor in the universitys financial collapse, reporting from The Oregonian/OregonLive showed, because it was dependent on overly aggressive enrollment targets that were not met. As enrollment declined, the terms of the deal became increasingly unfavorable for Concordia, with HotChalks share of revenue growing to exceed 50% by 2019. The university appeared trapped, facing a potential liquidation liability to HotChalk of as much as $400 million, according to a 2018 internal analysis. This relationship drained the universitys cash reserves and led to a financial crisis that no lender would help solve. 2. HotChalk alleged fraud in its $302 million lawsuit California-based HotChalk sued Concordia and its parent, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, for $302 million, claiming it was defrauded. The lawsuit alleged that Concordia, despite a 20-year contract with HotChalk to help provide online education programs through the university, was secretly pushed to close, leaving HotChalk with significant financial losses. 3. Ideological conflict over LGBTQ rights was a factor in the universitys financial collapse While financial instability was the public reason for Concordias closure, documents revealed that a years-long, escalating conflict with its parent organization, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, over LGBTQ inclusion was a driver of the schools demise. The national church leadership repeatedly condemned the Portland campus for its tolerance, particularly its Gay-Straight Alliance club, accusing the university of publicly endorsing teaching and behavior that endangers human souls. 4. Valuable assets were transferred just before closure HotChalk claimed that on the same day the Concordia board voted to shut down, the synod recorded new property deeds giving it security interest in the universitys valuable land in Northeast Portland. This allegedly fraudulent transfer secured the synods assets at the expense of other creditors like HotChalk. 5. HotChalk argued Concordias closure was not inevitable Despite Concordias deep financial trouble, HotChalk alleged the university could have survived with its estimated $100 million in 2020 revenue. The firm claimed it pleaded with Concordias leadership to cut costs, such as the athletic program, to remain viable. This story was drafted with the assistance of generative AI based on original reporting from The Oregonian/OregonLive and edited by Oregonian editorial staff. Teela Banister and her 18-month old daughter Lakelynn outside their rural home in Baker City, Ore. The hospital just 15 minutes away, Saint Alphonsus Medical Center, shuttered its obstetrics department in 2023. When Banister went into labor in April 2024, she and her husband were forced to drive nearly an hour to a hospital in another town. She gave birth to Lakelynn about halfway through the journey. Kyle Green It was the middle of the night on April 2, 2024, when Teela Banister went into labor. She and her husband raced out the door of their rural home on the outskirts of Baker City in eastern Oregon, hoping to make the hour-long journey to a hospital before she delivered their daughter. They could not go to the hospital just 15 minutes away, Saint Alphonsus Medical Center, which shuttered its labor and delivery unit in August 2023 weeks before the couple found out they were expecting a second child. Banister, 25, dreaded the prospect of giving birth without the Baker City obstetrics program. An aspiring labor and delivery nurse herself, she knew being so far from a hospital was risky, especially given how quickly she gave birth to their first child. My biggest fear was that I was going to give birth on the highway driving to the hospital, Banister recalled to InvestigateWest. That fear ultimately came to pass. She and her husband only made it 20 minutes into the drive north to a hospital in La Grande before she felt her water break. Ten minutes after that, her husband still barreling down the highway, she had a daughter in her arms. But Banisters newborn did not make any sounds she had fluid in her lungs. She frantically tried suctioning out her babys nose and reaching into her mouth to see if there was anything blocking her airway. Mom instincts took over, she recalled. Shes not crying and I just need to do these things to get her to make noise or at least try and breathe. When the couple finally arrived in La Grande, their daughter was rushed to the emergency room, wrapped in the sweatshirt Banister had been wearing. Doctors quickly cleared the newborns system, saving her any further complications. I was shaking for a few hours after the fact, Banister said. I stayed in a lot of shock. Banister is one of many parents in Baker County grappling with the loss of reliable, local obstetrics care in the two years since Saint Alphonsus closed its program, limiting their birthing options to staying at home or traveling to a hospital an hour away or more. One woman told InvestigateWest she temporarily relocated her family to Idaho well before a scheduled cesarean section in case she went into labor early. Another said her appointment for induced labor in La Grande was pushed back multiple times, only for her to begin labor naturally at home she was seven centimeters dilated by the time she made it to the hospital. Their experiences offer a sobering glimpse of challenges many more families in rural Oregon could face under changes to Medicaid made as part of President Donald Trumps signature tax cuts and spending package, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill. The Republican-led law is expected to slash Medicaid programs nationwide, including more than $11 billion from the Oregon Health Plan through 2031, according to a preliminary estimate from Gov. Tina Koteks office. With roughly half of all Oregon births covered by Medicaid, hospital administrators say it is likely that more hospitals already operating on thin margins may follow Baker Citys lead. The result: More dangerous pregnancies and higher rates of maternal and infant mortality. Most hospitals lose money on maternity services already, said Jeremy Davis, CEO of Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande, the hospital where many Baker City women have turned to for obstetrics care after Saint Alphonsus closed its birthing center. Its just going to put further pressure on hospitals on whether they can continue to retain some of these essential services, Davis said. A handful of Oregon health care providers are already taking steps to scale back maternity care: Providence Seaside Hospital a 25-bed rural hospital on the North Coast is eliminating inpatient obstetric and newborn care in early October, citing the rising cost of care and staffing challenges. Oregon Medical Group plans in November to shut down its OB-GYN department, which serves patients at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Springfield, because of an exodus of providers. The Samaritan Health system was also considering eliminating labor and delivery units at two of its five hospitals North Lincoln and Lebanon Community, both serving rural areas due to resource and cost constraints. But last month, amid a groundswell of community opposition, the health care system announced it would hold off on closing the departments and explore alternatives to ensure services remain viable. When Saint Alphonsus announced plans to close the Baker City maternity ward in June 2023, it pinned the decision on similar difficulties, saying it was increasingly unsustainable to adequately staff the obstetrics department amid nursing shortages and a decline in the number of births at the hospital. In a statement to InvestigateWest, Andrew Whelan, a spokesperson for Saint Alphonsus, said the system is in negotiations to potentially revive the unit, although work to overcome the challenges that led to its closure will take time and the outcome is not guaranteed. We are committed to and are currently working with stakeholders to attempt to overcome these challenges if possible, the statement continued. Until then, Banister and her husband are weighing whether expanding their family in a maternity care desert is worth the risk. I was happy everything worked out for me, but then I had the frustration of like, Well, what if it didnt work out and what if something more serious happened? she said. Now going into it, Im definitely more scared. Hospitals on the brink Hospitals across Oregon have increasingly struggled to make ends meet since the COVID-19 pandemic, fueled in part by a growing delta between the cost of providing care and what they are actually paid. An April report by the Hospital Association of Oregon pointed to increased labor and supply costs, the slow financial recovery after the pandemic, lagging insurance reimbursement rates, administrative burdens and longer patient stays as issues driving the imbalance. According to the report, over the past few years nearly three-quarters of the states hospitals have been functioning in the red or with an operating margin of 3% or less a difference too slim by industry standards to be considered sustainable. An InvestigateWest analysis of financial disclosures submitted to the Oregon Health Authority shows the average operating margin among the states 60 hospitals was about -0.5% in 2024. Two years prior, in 2022, it was about -4.1%. These margins are even more precarious for smaller, rural medical centers. Rural hospitals receive fewer patients compared to their urban counterparts and typically are limited in their ability to offer specialized services, which can be more financially lucrative and offset losses in other departments. On top of that, they have a greater reliance on reimbursements from government-funded insurance plans like Medicaid and Medicare. Both plans pay providers significantly less than commercial insurers, the Hospital Association says: Medicaid in Oregon only reimburses about 56 cents for every dollar spent on a patients care, while Medicare pays back 82 cents. A high proportion of patients on Medicaid can be an indicator of a hospitals financial vulnerability. In a June letter opposing the Big Beautiful Bill, U.S. Senate Democrats used this metric to identify rural hospitals across the country that could be financially devastated by Medicaid cutbacks, putting them at-risk of service cuts or closure. Whether a hospital had been operating with negative margins for three or more years was another factor. Four Oregon medical centers were identified as at-risk in the letter. This includes Providence Seaside, which has operated with negative margins since at least 2020, according to financial disclosures. Some rural medical centers are able to make up a portion of their operating losses through other revenue, such as grants, special federal designations that raise insurance reimbursements, or through a property tax district. Still, Medicaid remains a financial lifeline for rural hospitals, and administrators say constricting that critical source of revenue may threaten their ability to sustain services like obstetrics at the same level moving forward. Obstetric units do not make money, explained Dr. Katy Kozhimannil, a professor of health policy at the University of Minnesota. When the bottom falls out from Medicaid financing as a small rural hospital, you cant keep maintaining a unit that is operating at a loss. Acknowledging this vulnerability, Senate Republicans allocated $50 billion in the Big Beautiful Bill to provide immediate relief to rural hospitals. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz say they intend to use the fund to transform rural health care by expanding technological tools and initiatives to tackle the root causes of diseases, as opposed to reinforcing a system they argue has failed rural patients. $50 billion has been dedicated to transform rural health care delivery nationwiderepresenting a structural shift away from propping up failing models toward sustainable, long-term solutions, Oregon Republican Party Chairwoman Connie Whelchel said in a statement to InvestigateWest, adding the fund will finally prioritize rural communities. While its unclear exactly how the money will be divvied up, Oregon Health Authority is expecting to receive around $100 million annually through 2030 about 4% of the anticipated cuts to the states Medicaid plan. Its a Band-Aid on an amputation, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) said in remarks on the Senate floor in June. Recent financial woes against the backdrop of broader instability was one of the primary reasons Samaritan Health had planned to downsize its labor and delivery program, CEO Marty Cahill said. The system was also looking at consolidating its urology, orthopedics and general surgery services. We just might not be able to [offer labor and delivery] in all five of our hospitals, Cahill said. We might have to start to consolidate down to a fewer number of hospitals, so that we can again provide that quality of care that we want to. Across the state, Wallowa Memorial Hospital CEO Dan Grigg says they are not yet talking about service cuts. But as the head of a small, independently owned medical center serving roughly 8,000 people in rural northeastern Oregon, Grigg understands the difficult decisions some hospitals may make to cut or reduce high-cost services like obstetrics. When it comes between closing a hospital and closing a service, Grigg said, youre always going to close the service before you close the hospital. Growing maternity care deserts Maternity care has increasingly been on the receiving end of cutbacks as hospitals try to stay afloat. Since 2010, more than 500 hospitals in the U.S. closed their obstetrics units, leaving more than half of all rural hospitals and a third of all urban hospitals without the service, according to a study published in the medical journal JAMA earlier this year. Kozhimannil, who was a lead author on the study, says there are a few reasons why a hospital might decide to shutter a maternity ward, but they all boil down to a question of resources. Like emergency rooms, labor and delivery units need to be staffed 24/7 in the event they receive a patient in the middle of childbirth. This means hospitals need to have obstetricians, labor and delivery nurses, anesthesiologists and neonatologists regularly on-call positions that are highly specialized and difficult to hire for, especially in rural areas. This round-the-clock availability also translates to higher overhead costs which hospitals are rarely able to fully recoup. For one, most simply do not receive enough patients for the department to be profitable. Kozhimannil says the average hospital needs about 200 births annually to keep their unit viable, but a third of facilities in the U.S. operate under that minimum threshold. We do about 50 deliveries a year and so were only getting paid 50 payments for those deliveries, said Grigg, the CEO of Wallowa Memorial. If you do 1,000 deliveries with the same standby cost, youre getting that payment a thousand times over. Even then, most payments from insurance dont cover the full cost of care for childbirth. For instance, the average reimbursement the Oregon Health Plan gave to hospitals in 2023 for a complication-free, vaginal delivery was about $8,521. The average cost for this kind of delivery in the U.S. is about $15,712, per the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, an initiative monitoring healthcare costs and quality. If the overall organization is still profitable you can absorb those financial losses, said Davis, the CEO of Grande Ronde Hospital. If the organization has multiple years of financial losses, now all of a sudden, your criteria and the lens has changed to where youve got to start looking at an individual department level or service line level. When a hospital closes an obstetrics unit, expectant mothers often end up traveling farther to reach the closest hospital, not only for labor and delivery but also for care related to potential complications and postpartum recovery. Studies have found this added distance lends itself to more births in riskier settings like emergency rooms, at home or in vehicles, as well as higher numbers of pre-term births. It also is associated with higher rates of maternal and infant mortality. Davis says Grande Ronde Hospital has had a 40% increase in births since Saint Alphonsus closed its unit in 2023. Anticipating an influx of patients from Baker City, the medical center hired on extra obstetrics nurses and trained their emergency room staff and first responders about what to do in the event a laboring woman cannot reach the hospital, he added. Minutes matter and they really do make the difference between a mother going home with a baby in her arms and a mother going home with empty arms, said Amanda Vinson, a registered nurse at Samaritan Lebanons Girod Birth Center and member of the Oregon Nurses Association. The loss of a birth center can additionally lead to decreases in the availability of other kinds of reproductive health care, like postpartum mental health support, doula and midwife services and gynecological surgery. When a hospital stops providing obstetric services, those risks do not go away, Kozhimannil said. Those risks are still there, theyre just not borne by the hospital any more. Accessing care where it isnt When Baker Citys birth center shuttered, Shelley Payton, a local doula, tried to fill in the gap that was left. Her role had always been to support her clients through birth by facilitating communication with their care team and providing an extra set of hands wherever necessary. But in the aftermath of the closure, she became a coordinator and confidant for women across the region. Baker City is remote. Situated at the foot of Rock Creek Butte, the tallest peak in the Blue Mountains range, just one major highway links the town to La Grande to the west and Boise, Idaho to the east Interstate 84. During the winter months, dangerous icy conditions regularly trigger shutdowns. Payton said she began receiving anxious messages from women across the community who were concerned about how they would get to the hospital during a road closure, get help for potential complications or manage the cost of traveling to another city for care. The average household income in Baker County is about $58,000 a year. One woman who ended up going to the emergency room at Saint Alphonsus told Payton the doctors there missed that she was experiencing preeclampsia a condition involving persistent high blood pressure that can lead to serious issues for both the mother and baby if left untreated. The woman only got that diagnosis a few days later, when she was able to make it to La Grande, according to the doula. Payton said other clients who went to Saint Alphonsus emergency room for possible pregnancy complications were told they could not be treated there and would need to be transported via ambulance or helicopter elsewhere. The closure even impacted other areas of care. A mother of three told InvestigateWest she developed severe anemia after she was unable to get a timely procedure to address uncontrollable menstrual bleeding because Saint Alphonsus no longer provided the service in Baker City. It took another two months for her to get the procedure after she switched to another hospital. Its no longer as easy as just showing up to the hospital in Baker like, Yeah, I want to come in real quick and get checked out, Payton said. That requires a lot more time and planning now and obviously thats not something people want to do, especially if theyve got a sleeping toddler at home. Weighing these risks, some women, like Dallas Pfeiffer, decided to temporarily relocate before their due date to be closer to a hospital. Pfeiffer found out she was expecting a second child in the summer of 2023, shortly after the closure of Saint Alphonsus obstetrics unit. Having had a C-section during her first delivery, she thought picking a larger hospital in Boise would be a safer bet if something went awry. Pfeiffers new doctor urged her to be in Idaho at least a week before her scheduled C-section, in case she went into labor early. Luckily, she had family nearby who were able to host her, her husband and 1-year-old daughter. Just one day after giving birth, Pfeiffer was back in the car to make the two-hour journey back to Baker City, this time, trying to manage her newborn son and her still intense pain. My emotions were all over the map, she said. I wished that Baker was open. I wished that I could be in my own bed. It was quite the journey of navigating, freaking out, navigating, freaking out and then finally having our baby. Of the 241 cities in Oregon, more than half have a population of less than 5,000. Seventy-six cities have fewer than 1,000 people. But the smallest cities, in remote parts of central and eastern Oregon, have just a dozen or so residents. The smallest Greenhorn has a technical population of zero, because no one lives there full-time. Some might call these ghost towns, but they still maintain functioning municipal governments. They dont have police departments, any paid staff, or, in most cases, a city hall. In cities this small, practically everyone is actively engaged in democracy. Neighbors take turns serving on city councils. Residents volunteer to maintain roads and fix water lines. What is life like in these tiny dots on the rural landscape? There was only one way to find out: a road trip. Antelope, the fifth smallest city in Oregon, as seen from a drone. Samantha Swindler/ The Oregonian The first stop was Antelope, population 37 as of the 2020 census. Located in rural Wasco County in the north central part of the state, the towns unofficial motto is Where you can see the Milky Way from Main Street. Antelope became an incorporated city in 1901, and at its height in 1910, had a population of about 300. The towns most famous former resident was probably H.L. Davis, the writer whose debut novel, Honey in the Horn, won the 1936 Pulitzer Prize. Of course, that was before the Rajneeshees arrived. Today, most people remember Antelope as the town taken over by members of the Rajneesh movement, who renamed the town Rajneesh between 1984 and 1985. Antelope residents celebrate the departure of the religious sect from their tiny Oregon town. The sect took over the city council and renamed the city Rajneesh. The Rajneeshees surrendered their control in late 1985 as their commune collapsed. Oregonian file photo The religious followers of Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh had purchased the old Muddy Ranch just outside town as the site of a planned community, which they incorporated as Rajneeshpuram. When the legality of that city was questioned, his followers then bought property in nearby Antelope, became registered voters, and took control of the City Council. By 1985, after a series of poisonings and attempted murders, the Bhagwan was deported, and the commune was abandoned. But the scars of those strange years remain in Antelope. Nick Nims, 34, serves on the City Council and was part of a city-wide visioning project completed earlier this year. Part of the visioning thing is just trying to be proactive in getting the community to talk again, he said. Theres this idea, post Rajneesh problem, that people dont want to come out of their house, or theyre not interested in doing community events, and theres a big push, at least for me and other people in town, to move past that. Nims moved to Antelope about a year ago with his partner. They spent several months fixing up their 1898-built house to get it financed by a bank, and they purchased the home in April. They both work at the Madras airport, he in aviation maintenance and she in sales and logistics. Its affordable, but its not easy, Nims said of Antelope. The drive to Madras, home to the closest grocery store, is 33 miles. Brandie McNamee purchased the Antelope Market and an adjacent RV park, which she has revamped into Antelope Basecamp. Samantha Swindler/ The Oregonian Earlier this year, Brandie McNamee opened Antelope Basecamp, an RV Park and campground, where visitors can rent small A-frame cabins that were once used as homes by the Rajneeshees. McNamee also received a grant for building improvements to reopen the Antelope Market store and cafe, which closed in 2017. Opening this space would bring back the heartbeat of our community, she said. Its a central meeting space for people to come and have a cup of coffee, but most importantly, communicate. The Antelope Community Center, formerly the Antelope school building. Samantha Swindler/ The Oregonian Over the last few years, the town has also won grants to fix up the Antelope School Community Center, an 8,000-square-foot building built in 1925. It was actually a high school until the mid-1930s, said Chuck Forman, one of the volunteers on the school restoration project. It was a grade school until about 83 or 84, when the Rajneesh had taken over and moved the school to Rajneeshpuram. Forman was among four students (and the only boy) in the 1968 eighth grade class at Antelope School. Its really a beautiful, historic structure, he said, and its the only place within 40 miles or more to have a community gathering place and have events. John Silvertooth Stewart is working on opening an Antelope Museum that will tell the history of the town. Samantha Swindler/ The Oregonian Inside the historic United Workmen fraternal organization building, John Silvertooth Stewart is working on opening an Antelope Museum that will tell the history of the town alongside a collection of what he calls Rajneesh ephemera: T-shirts, hats, signs, books, newspapers and more left behind when the Rajneesh followers left town. I dont see this like something thats going to make a lot of money, Disneyland or something, but the Oregon history is worth preserving, he said. People learn from the past, and it gives you a way to put context on the present and the future. And the story about cults ... its capable of repeating itself. In 2018, the hit Netflix documentary series Wild Wild Country introduced a whole new generation to the Rajneesh story, and Silvertooth Stewarts interview kicks off the TV series. He served on the Antelope City Council during the Rajneesh days, and he believes hes the last person living in Antelope city limits who was around during that time. Silvertooth Stewart briefly moved away during the final year of Rajneesh occupation, he said, because it got too hot to handle. Everywhere there were people looking, watching, snooping, taking pictures, he said, and they attracted kooks, people that saw it on TV and thought they could come up here and move in with the guru. Theyd be sleeping under your car, in your backyard or in your barn. It was just pretty weird. Silvertooth Stewart moved back in the late 1980s and has been here ever since. He seems to look at efforts to revitalize Antelope with a sense of bemusement. Some grant writers, theyre going to fix this up people come in here to fix things up, he said. Youre about 100 years late. Still, he wishes McNamee luck with her endeavors and thinks a little market and cafe in town would be nice. How can I argue with idealism? he said. Inside one of the furnished A-frame cabins for rent at Antelope Basecamp. Samantha Swindler/ The Oregonian Theres a balancing act between providing opportunities for growth and becoming a Rajneesh-themed roadside attraction. Its part of the reason Antelope became the first Dark Sky certified city in Oregon, making the natural landscape a primary attraction for visitors. I think the issue, at least when it comes to the locals here, is they dont want the town to turn into a Roswell, New Mexico, Nims said. The last thing I think the old farmers and the people who live here want is to turn it into some kind of tourist trap. Antelope, Oregon 2020 census population: 37 Size: 0.5 square miles City budget: $392,000 (two-year biennium budget, which includes $200,000 in grants for the Antelope School) Interesting fact: It doesnt take much to move the political winds in Antelope. In fact, in August 2024, all it took was a single signature on a recall petition to force then-mayor Sherri Jamison to either resign or call a special election to keep her seat. Jamison chose to resign. Biggest challenge: One of the main functions of the city government is maintaining the water system, which serves 46 connections, and monitoring daily water levels. All it takes is one home with a major leak, McNamee said, and itll drain the entire water supply of the whole town in a 24- to 30-hour window, because it only holds 180,000 gallons. WASHINGTON Tech giant Oracle will receive a copy of TikToks algorithm to operate for U.S. users, according to a senior official in President Donald Trumps administration on Monday. Determining next steps for the algorithm, currently owned by the Beijing-based ByteDance, has been one of the most closely watched issues during negotiations over TikToks future. The Trump administration official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the emerging deal, said they believe the plan will satisfy national security concerns over a Chinese company potentially manipulating what is being shown to platform users. Full details on investors have not been released. But the official confirmed that Silver Lake, a private equity firm, is part of the investment group. Before leaving office, President Joe Biden, a Democrat, signed bipartisan legislation that required ByteDance, the Chinese company behind TikTok, to sell its assets to an American company or face a ban. Trump, a Republican, has extended the deadline several times as he worked to reach a deal to keep TikTok available. He spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. Trump, discussing the deal on Fox News, said billionaires like Rupert Murdoch and Michael Dell could be part of the deal in which the U.S. will take control of TikTok. -- The Associated Press Attendees listen as President Donald Trump, on screen at left, speaks at a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Arizona. AP GLENDALE, Ariz. President Donald Trump praised Charlie Kirk as a great American hero and martyr for freedom as he and other prominent conservatives gathered Sunday evening to honor the slain conservative political activist whose work they say they must now advance. The memorial service for Kirk, whom Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, drew tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, other senior administration officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand. Hes a martyr now for Americas freedom, Trump said in his tribute. I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie. And neither now will history. Speakers highlighted Kirks profound faith and his strong belief that young conservatives need to get married, build families and pass on their values to keep building their movement. They also repeatedly told conservative activists, sometimes in confrontational tones, that the best way to honor Kirk was doubling down on his mission to move American politics further to the right. For Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees, Vance said. My friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith. Kirks assassination at a Sept. 10 appearance on a Utah college campus has become a singular moment for the modern-day conservative movement. It also has set off a fierce debate about violence, decency and free speech in an era of deep political division. The shooting has stirred fear among some Americans that Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to suppress the voices of his critics and political opponents. High security and a full stadium Those close to Kirk prayed and the floors shook from the bass of Christian rock bands as the home of the NFLs Arizona Cardinals took on the feel of a megachurch service. Charlie looked at politics as an on-ramp to Jesus, said the Rev. Rob McCoy, Kirks pastor. People began lining up before dawn to secure a spot inside State Farm Stadium west of Phoenix, where Kirks Turning Point organization is based. Security was tight, similar to the Super Bowl or other high-profile event. The speakers delivered their tributes from behind bullet-proof glass. The 63,400-seat stadium quickly filled with people dressed in red, white and blue, as organizers suggested. Kirks widow, Erika, in her own address said in the midst of her grief she was finding comfort that her husband left this world without regrets. She also said she forgives the man who is charged with killing him. My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life, said Erika Kirk, who is taking over as Turning Points leader. She added, I forgive him. Comments about Kirk have become a Trump administration target Trump has blamed the radical left for Kirks death and threatened to go after liberal organizations and donors or others who he feels are maligning or celebrating Kirks death. Dozens of people, from journalists to teachers to late show host Jimmy Kimmel, have faced suspensions or lost their jobs as prominent conservative activists and administration officials target comments about Kirk that they deem offensive or celebratory. The retaliation has in turn ignited a debate over the First Amendment as the Republican administration promises retribution against those who air what are seen as disparaging remarks in the wake of Kirks death. Some speakers at the memorial said Kirk was battling evil and referred often to a vague they as the enemy. Others were blunt. You have no idea the dragon you have awakened, you have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilization, to save the West, to save this republic, said White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Kirk was a provocateur who at times made statements that some called racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant and transphobic. That has drawn backlash from conservatives who view the criticism as cherry-picking a few select moments to insult the legacy of someone they see as an inspirational conservative leader. A 22-year-old Utah man, Tyler Robinson, has been charged with killing Kirk and faces the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges. Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but prosecutors say Robinson wrote in a text to his partner following the shooting that he had enough of Kirks hatred. Kirks legacy of conservative political influence Turning Point, the group Kirk founded to mobilize young Christian conservatives, became a multimillion-dollar operation under his leadership with enormous reach. Charlies having some serious heavenly FOMO right now, Tyler Bower, Turning Points chief operating officer, said, likening the moment to bringing the Holy Spirit into a Trump rally. The crowd was a testament to the massive influence he accumulated in conservative America with his ability to mobilize young people. Kirk was a MAGA celebrity with a loyal following that turned out to support or argue with him as he traveled the country for the events like the one at Utah Valley University, where he was shot. Kirk grew the organization, in large part, through the force of his personality and debating chops. He slayed ignorance, said Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. He cut through lies. He woke peoples minds, inspired peoples hearts and imparted wisdom every day. Speaker after speaker, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed their awe at Kirks ability to go into what many conservatives saw as the lions den to make the conservative case: college campuses. Why dont you start somewhere easier, Rubio joked when he first heard about Kirk years ago. Like, for example, communist Cuba? Americas natural heritage and public lands are at risk. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published a Notice of Intent to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule that protects 45 million acres of National Forest land across the country. Revoking the rule would open priceless roadless backcountry to development, devastating intact habitat for native species and compromising our right to access and enjoy public lands (Map: These Oregon natural areas could be logged, developed if Trump rescinds roadless rule, Sept. 8) . As students who deeply value Oregons wilderness and these irreplaceable spaces across America, we understand their importance firsthand. Oregons wild backcountry sustains over two million Oregonians drinking water and nearly 200,000 jobs in the outdoor industry. The areas provide essential opportunities where Americans can hike, camp, hunt, fish and relax. For our generation, these lands represent our recreational playground and our environmental future. Permitting degradation through development and road construction would strike a devastating blow to our most valuable public lands. We urge Oregonians to contact the USDA and Forest Service, asking them to maintain the Roadless Rule and support the diverse community of outdoor enthusiasts who depend on these protected areas. More importantly, contact they can contact their representatives in Congress to support the Roadless Area Conservation Act, which would permanently protect these areas from future political reversals. As young people who will inherit the consequences of todays environmental decisions, we need Oregonians voices to ensure these wilderness areas remain intact for future generations. Once these wilderness areas are compromised, they cannot be restored. The time to act is now. Emily Hoover, Eugene Bryant Atanasio, Eugene Hoover and Atanasio are writing on behalf of the University of Oregon Law School Land Air Water and Student Bar Association. To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. A Canadian jeanswear brand known for its performance denim will open on Northwest 23rd Avenue. Kaitlin Green A Canadian jeanswear brand rooted in performance denim thats denim made to move is set to debut its Northwest Portland flagship this week. >> Business opening or closing in your neighborhood? Email the reporter at vnocera@oregonian.com. Duer got its start in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2015 a solution to founder Gary Lenetts need for pants that could endure both a bike ride to work and a day full of meetings. The result was Duers signature performance denim, fabric that staddles the intersection of comfortable and professional. The company now operates 10 stores across the United States and Canada. Portland will be its fourth U.S. flagship, joining locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver. Portlands active lifestyle, where playing outdoors is part of everyday life, is perfectly suited for our product, Lennett said in a news release. Its long been one of our strongest markets outside of Canada, and were excited to bring that vision to life in person. Duer will soon manage a two-story, 1,000-square-foot space at 820 N.W. 23rd Ave., sandwiched between clothing brand Marine Layer and outdoor stores Cotopaxi and Foot Traffic, which relocated from downtown in July. The Northwest Portland store will officially open its doors Friday. It will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A grand opening celebration will follow the weekend of Oct. 17, according to the release, featuring live music, refreshments and giveaways. Duer is collaborating with local bicycle builder Breadwinner Cycles to give one customer a custom Vera City Bike, along with a $300 Duer gift card. Details on how to enter are available online. Duer sells a range of jeans and activewear for both men and women. Its signature performance denim includes features like an athletic motion gusset for easier movement, cooling technology and anti-microbial treatment for odor neutralization, according to the website. Neither Intel nor Nvidia have said exactly when the first fruits of its co-designed integrated CPUs will ship. But the thinking right now seems to be that it might a take a few years. Nvidia announced a $5 billion investment into Intel last week, where Intel will supply CPU cores to Nvidia for potential use in the data center. In the PC, both Intel and Nvidia will collaborate on presumably mobile processors, where Nvidia will supply RTX chiplets for Intel to integrate, potentially upending the direction of GPUs. Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang told journalists last week that the partnership dates back a year, as per PCWorlds reporting. Intel also told PCWorld that the partnership wouldnt change its own roadmap, essentially adding on premium options to a number of product categories. But even with a head start the development work may take some time, the thinking goes, and the two sides wont be prepared to talk about their efforts for some time. Sources at competitors to Intel and Nvidia said that they expect the first products from the collaboration are more than two years away, and that they too are leaving their roadmaps unchanged as a result. One said that their company has doubts that Intel could work together with Nvidia to deliver the sort of complex, highly-integrated products both sides described. Were creating an SOC [system-on-chip] that fuses two processors, Huang said on a conference call with reporters last week. It fuses the CPU and Nvidia GPU, RTX GPU, using NVLink and it fuses these two dies into one essentially virtual giant SOC, and that would become essentially a new class of integrated graphics laptops that the worlds never seen before. One issue is NVLink, Nvidias high-speed interface that can be used to combine the power of two Nvidia graphics card, at speeds higher than the PCs backbone, PCI Express, achieves. A source at one competitor said that it has doubts that Intel has the engineering capabilities to make an integrated CPU-GPU with NVLink system-on-chip actually work, given Intels past history of engineering missteps dating from Arrow Lakes poor desktop performance or the recent bugs that caused some processors to crash. They also wondered if Nvidia really cares to enable such a chip when its discrete GPUs already serve as a viable alternative. Another source referenced a note from BofA Global Research, which worried about what role Softbanks $2 billion investment into Intel might have on the development, as well as input from the U.S. government which has secured its own investment. Such thinking is typically referred to as FUD, or fear, uncertainty, and doubt, a now fairly traditional means of criticizing ones competitors in the technology industry. Still, this is a time where Intels dominance is seen as especially vulnerable, and AMDs ongoing resurgence in desktop market share is evidence of that. Intels competitors would be especially eager to cut into Intels share in laptops, where Intel stubbornly holds on to about 80 percent of the market. This week, rival Qualcomm is expected to unveil new Snapdragon mobile processors for laptops, hoping to cut into Intel. Still, shipments of Copilot+ PCs (which include Qualcomms Snapdragon processors) were just 2.3 percent of all Windows PCs sold during the first quarter of 2025, market researcher IDC reported earlier this year. Mercury Research reported that growth in ARM in Copilot+ PCs also appeared to be at a standstill, based on the firms estimates of the PC CPU market for the second quarter of 2025. Dean McCarron, principal of Mercury Research, pointed out that Intel had worked together with AMD to develop the Kaby Lake G chip, announced in November 2017. In January 2018, Intel announced the 8th-gen Intel Core with Radeon RX Vega M graphics, shipping the Core i7-8705G chip based on the partnership in June 2018. In PCWorlds review of the processor, we noted that chip wasnt tremendously exceptional, compared to the existing CPU + discrete GPU landscape, but that future iterations could have more impact. But only a handful of PC vendors built systems around the chip, and those future iterations never happened, possibly because it wasnt quite clear which company was support the Kaby Lake G chip and its successors. I dont think the challenge of adapting a GPU to a chiplet is a significant one, particularly for lower power graphics (which is what would likely be used for mobile designs), McCarron said in an email. Adapting Nvidias Blackwell architecture, the basis of its GeForce 5000 series of GPUs, wouldnt be too long if Nvidia used a standard bus structure like PCI Express two years maximum, with most of the time associated with CPU integration, packaging, and test. McCarron projected spring 2027 as a guess for when that could happen, though that assumed using a standard PCIe bus, not NVLink. Intel is thinking of the new collaborative CPUs as a premium offering, and McCarron said he agreed with that. I would agree its probably a premium play, but probably not at the very top end, McCarron wrote. I could see this fitting well with the upper end of Core Ultra 5 and lower end of Core Ultra 7 [using Intels new naming scheme] especially in the thin and light segment of notebook. Higher-end [Core Ultra 7] and [Core Ultra 9] would still go with separate GPUs for performance reasons, McCarron added. It would be reasonable to assume its going to be a normal Intel core with an extra chiplet rather than some new custom core just to support graphics integration, which points to re-using Panther Lake or Nova Lake, the two Intel CPUs due in late 2025 and late 2026, respectively. A Coca-Cola distribution company plans to invest more than $100 million in a new Lebanon County facility. Abarta Coca-Cola Beverages recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new 240,000-square-foot sales and distribution facility on a 52-acre parcel at 12 Ritter Way in South Lebanon Township. Officials said the new facility will include the latest automated technology, including Vertique, a case-picking and pallet-building system. This new facility represents more than just an investment in infrastructureits a commitment to the people who make our company thrive and the communities we proudly serve. By expanding our capabilities and supporting our team, we are building a foundation for long-term growth and shared prosperity, Charlie Bitzer, CEO of Abarta Coca-Cola Beverages, said in a news release. BW Design Group is the construction contractor for the project. Construction could begin as early as Oct. 1. The facility is expected to be completed in the spring of 2027. Abarta Coca-Cola Beverages is the exclusive distributor of Coca-Cola beverages throughout most of Pennsylvania, including the Pittsburgh, Erie, Johnstown, Altoona and Harrisburg areas, and parts of West Virginia and Ohio. Abarta Coca-Cola Beverages and its parent company, Abarta Inc. have been in the Coca-Cola bottling and distribution business for more than half a century. Phish perform at Coca-Cola Amphitheater in Birmingham, Alabama, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. One person was killed in a stabbing incident outside of a Phish concert on Sept. 19. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com) Ben Flanagan One person was killed and two more were injured in a stabbing at Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia. The incident took place while the band Phish was performing at the venue on Friday, Sept. 19. Hampton police said in a statement they received a report of a stabbing along the 1000 block of Coliseum Drive at 9:33 p.m. Upon arrival they found two people had been stabbed, one of them severely. Both were taken to the hospital but one died of his injuries there. A third victim later arrived at a hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. An investigation determined that there had been an argument that escalated into a physical fight, police said. A suspect ran from the scene, but police said they were able to find and detain a possible suspect after they arrived. In an update, Hampton police said it was an isolated incident and that all the parties involved have been identified. No further information was provided. During last nights show, a tragic incident took place in the parking lot outside Hampton Coliseum. There was an altercation behind one of the tents in the unofficial vending area in which someone lost their life and two other people were injured, the band Phish said in a statement posted on social media. We dont have more information than what has been reported by the police, who called it an isolated incident, but what we do know is upsetting enough. We are deeply saddened by this and our hearts go out to all of those affected." Phish is known for such songs as Everythings Right, Bouncing Around the Room and Tweezer. Says winemaker Stephen Rigby on what makes Boxwood Estate Winery special, 'We enjoy that Boxwood is a winery where every drop of wine that goes into a Boxwood bottle is grown and made here.' Stephen's wife Joyce is the vineyard manager. Boxwood Winery Joyce and Stephen Rigby arrived at Boxwood Estate Winery in Middleburg, Virginia, in 2019, and the husband and wife team both brought plenty of experience to one of the states best-known wineries. Immersed in East Coast viticulture since the early 1980s, Joyce began a vineyard management and winery design consulting firm and worked with vineyards and wineries across six states, including Pennsylvania and Maryland, in addition to teaching viticulture and winery design in the Enology and Viticulture associate degree program at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC). Joyce Rigby taught for seven years in the enology and viticulture program at HACC. She's now the vineyard manager at Boxwood Estate Winery. Boxwood Winery. Meanwhile, Stephen began working as a harvest intern and later in Mississippi State Universitys enology lab in the late 1970s, then spent the next two decades making wine for several Virginia and North Carolina wineries, including Raffaldini, before heading north to the then Hauser Estate Winery in Pennsylvanias Adams County in 2011. In 2015, he left Pa. and returned to North Carolina to work for Laurel Gray Vineyards/Yadkin Valley Wine Company. The winery was established 20 years ago by John Kent Cooke and his family, who bought the historic Boxwood Farm to create a Bordeaux-style wine estate. Located at 2042 Burrland Lane, its one of several producers located in and around Middleburg, just off Route 50, which carries traffic from Washington D.C. west of Winchester and Route 81. Boxwood is a National Historic Landmark, one that sits in the middle of a region rich in American colonial and Civil War history. Originally settled in the 18th century, it became one of the regions earliest established farms and a distinguished horse farm, the home of General Billy Mitchell, a pioneer of military aviation. The winery is located in the Middleburg Virginia AVA, becoming the states seventh AVA when the request was approved in 2012. Its open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. As Sean Martin, the winery vice president, told PennLive in a story back in 2021, the owner and his team at Boxwood are committed to making premium red and white wines in the Bordeaux tradition, but with their own distinct Virginia expression. Originally selling its product through several wine bars it ran, the winery opened for public consumption and retail purchases in 2016, adding tables to its courtyard. A few years later, it added a pavilion in its vineyard. Now you can seat almost 100 in the vineyard, which is quite an experience. Its also on a hilltop, and the view is quite amazing, Martin said. Boxwood features a handful of experiences, including a tasting in their Cave, surrounded by French oak barrels. Reservations are recommended for all of them. There are also a few events throughout the calendar year: the wine club Fall Harvest Celebration is scheduled for Sept. 27-28 and a Vintners Harvest Pairing will take place Oct. 25-26. Among the grapes grown there are Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris. More details on the vines and wines can be found at this link, and the wines available for purchase which run in price from $24 to $65, appear at this link. Heres the link to the wine and food menu. Boxwood Estate Winery is a 21+ facility. Pets are not permitted on the property. Stephen Rigby squeezed in some time amid harvest to send back answers to a few questions that focused on winemaking and Joyces work in the vineyard. Boxwood Estate Winery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Boxwood Winery Q, How long does harvest typically last? Earlier this year, and if so, by how much? A, We usually begin harvest around the first week of September, though starting in 2024, weve picked some fruit in late August to use in a new sparkling wine program. We are usually finished with the last of the reds around Oct. 12. This year looks to be coming in at what we consider a normal time frame. In 2024, interestingly, we were two full weeks ahead of normal very unusual, but the quality was still very good. Q, How big is the vineyard now? Has anything new planted since you and Joyce arrived? A, Vineyard is just shy of 27 acres, all close spacing and cane-pruned. We grow only Bordeaux varieties. We have multiple clones of most varieties that we harvest and ferment separately. Plantings that have taken place since weve been here are primarily replacement vines. We did pull out and replace about a half acre of one Cabernet Sauvignon block to replant with a different clone, and any replacement Petit Verdot vines are of another PV clone we havent previously grown. Q, You and your wife have been there since 2019, yes? What have been a couple of the best aspects of working there for both of you? A, Yes, 2019 was our first harvest. Joyce mentions she likes the support she gets from Boxwood for the vineyard, i.e., in the form of providing good tools and equipment as needed, as well as in having and supporting a good crew in the vineyard, all in the pursuit of quality. I have to similarly agree as relates to the wine production setup. We are given the tools, people, flexibility, and opportunity to handle the wine-growing and winemaking, from pruning through bottling, with approaches and processes that we think are most respectful to and unintrusive of the expression of the grape as it shows in the wines (still, though, were always learning!). That may sound like it should be obvious, but it has not always been the case. Trellis and Boxwood are both red blends produced by Boxwood Estate Winery. Boxwood Estate Winery Q, How much wine do you make there, or at least aim to make annually? A., We are generally producing between 4,500 and 5,000 cases a year, which as of 2024 includes a sparkling wine. Two varietal whites and a blend are made. For the reds, which are all Bordeaux-style blends, we produce up to four blends in good years (and weve had the good fortune to make all four blends each year weve been here!). Q, From your perspective, what makes the vibe there unique compared to a couple of the other places you both have worked? A, As to the uniqueness of some past experiences, we enjoy that Boxwood is a winery where every drop of wine that goes into a Boxwood bottle is grown and made here, from the first pruning cut in winter to the last bottle of a vintage filled, corked, and labeled in our bottling room. That comes with its own challenges, of course, but we like that we can pursue that real sense of place here with these wines. I think we have a good vibe because of the people that work here, whether in the vineyard, the cellar, or the tasting room. Ive had the pleasure of working with a lot of good people in a lot of different places over the years, though some situations also became a real challenge. Weve got a grand group of folks here, pretty much top to bottom, and it makes a real difference. I cant say if thats particularly unique to here, but it sure helps in the enjoyment of what we do, despite what can often be very physical work with long hours, especially at harvest time. But I think too for us personally, the fact that Joyce and I get to work together and have the flexibility to do that voodoo that we do (so well?!) with the confidence of ownership and management backing us up is what really gives us that good vibe (and that weve been doing this challenging work together for so many years now and were actually still married!). Cross-border tourism thrives between China's Xinjiang, Kazakhstan Xinhua) 14:40, September 22, 2025 TACHENG, China, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Border port cities in northwest China's Xinjiang have seen a boom in cross-border tourism propelled by a visa-free agreement between China and Kazakhstan since it took effect in November 2023. INCREASING TRAVEL ROUTES "This summer, I made two trips to the Alakol Lake in Kazakhstan," said Tao Qin, a Tacheng city resident in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Lake swimming and mud bath are among the attractions in the increasingly popular tourism destination to Tacheng residents. The lake resort is just a bus trip of more than two hours from the Baktu land port located in the city, Tao said. Many tourists like Tao and others from across China opt for a three-day tour program to the Kazakh lake offered by the local office of Shaanxi Gaoke International Travel Agency. Wang Long, the Tacheng branch manager, said that this past summer, they dispatched two tour groups every 10 days to the Alakol Lake. The China-Kazakhstan visa-free agreement has brought the lake -- a distant view for Tacheng residents -- into easy reach, according to Wang. The designation of 2024 as the "Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China" and 2025 as the "Year of China Tourism in Kazakhstan" has significantly boosted cross-border traveler traffic through Xinjiang's border ports, including Alashankou. Popular Kazakhstan-bound itineraries -- such as a one-day tour to Dostyk, a three-day tour to Alakol Lake, or a seven-day tour to Almaty -- are receiving growing numbers of bookings. The Alashankou city is going to resume its international passenger transport lines to Ucharal and Taldykorghan in Kazakhstan. Almaty received 54,100 Chinese tourists in the first half of 2025, up by 33.4 percent from a year earlier, according to data from the tourism department of the largest Kazakh city. CLOSER COOPERATION Kazakh travel agency Nur-Gany and Xinjiang Tacheng Travel Service Co., Ltd. have been in cooperation on jointly developing cross-border tour routes, including local reception services. "The cooperation is progressing rapidly. We regularly receive tour groups from China and collaborate on new programs," said Kalymzhanova Nazym, Nur-Gany's general manager. She said prospective programs include those on eco-tourism and cultural exchange, while the Tacheng company said it is planning a joint operation of Xinjiang-bound tours for Kazakhs. In May, Kazakhstan's low-cost carrier FlyArystan launched a direct flight service between Almaty and Xinjiang's Yining city; in October, it will increase the flight frequency from two to three per week. The DKNews of Kazakhstan reported that this move supports the development of Kazakhstan-China relations and creates new options for travelers. BETTER SERVICES In response to growing tourist arrivals, Xinjiang's border ports have been working to provide greater facilitation. Take the Horgos Cross-border Tourism One-stop Service Center. The service center became operational in August and has drawn in dozens of businesses to set up services, such as travel agencies, customs declaration firms, translation agencies, insurance companies, and car rental businesses. According to immigration officer Zhang Yongpeng, passenger traffic through the Horgos port this year exceeded 1 million in late August, a 60 percent jump from the previous year. In the port's entry inspection hall, streams of people were using AI-powered self-service terminal machines for swifter entry registration, a process taking just over 10 seconds at its fastest, thanks to automatic identification and capture of individual passport information and native language checks, according to Zhang. A special tour group consisting of motorcycle enthusiasts from countries including Poland, Canada and Greece was waiting to clear customs. Their journey started from Kyrgyzstan and passed through Kazakhstan, and will end in Nepal. Grzegorz Brzeczyszczykiewicz, a motorcyclist from Poland, said that the motorcycle team would ride all the way to Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital, and that this is not his first visit to China. "This is a great country with great culture and great history." The hospitality industry in Xinjiang has been actively enhancing its services to meet the growing and diverse needs of international visitors. Ma Qiang, a young entrepreneur from the Liuxing Street of the Yining city, is running a homestay inn, a restaurant and an ice cream shop in the designated historical and cultural district, which he said has played host to a larger number of foreign visitors this year. "They are intrigued by the architectural style here and are drawn to the singing and dancing scene of young people dressed in ethnic costumes on the street," he said. To better serve foreign tourists, he plans to customize the multilingual menus and enhance the foreign language communication skills of his employees. "Deep in my heart, the Liuxing Street doesn't only belong to Xinjiang, to China, but also to the world," said Ma. (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) This photo provided by Moderna in August 2025 shows production of an updated COVID-19 vaccine, in Madrid. (Moderna via AP, file) Moderna via AP By TOM MURPHY, AP Health Writer Drugstores are ready to deliver updated COVID-19 vaccines this fall and insurers plan to pay for them, even though the shots no longer come recommended by an important government committee. On Friday, vaccine advisers picked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declined to specifically recommend the shots but said people could make individual decisions on whether to get them. The recommendations from the advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention require sign-off by the agencys director, but they are almost always adopted. Those recommendations normally trigger several layers of insurance coverage and allow drugstores in many states to deliver the shots. But insurers and government officials have said coverage will continue, and several states have allowed for vaccine access through pharmacies, the most common place to get shots. Many people start seeking vaccinations in the late summer or early fall to get protection against any winter surges in cases. Heres a closer look at the issue. Will insurers cover these shots? Many are expected to do so, but you still may want to check with yours. The Department of Health and Human Services said Friday that the committee vote provides for immunization coverage through all payment mechanisms. An HHS spokesperson said that includes Medicaid, the Childrens Health Insurance Program, commercial coverage sold through health insurance marketplaces and the federal Vaccines for Children program, which pays for roughly half of childhood vaccinations in the U.S. each year. The VFC program normally automatically covers any vaccines recommended by the CDC committee. The trade group Americas Health Insurance Plans said earlier this week that its members will continue to cover the shots at no cost to patients through 2026. That group includes every major insurer except UnitedHealthcare. And that insurer has said it will continue covering the vaccine at no cost for its standard commercial coverage, which includes plans offered for individuals and through small businesses. One caveat: Large employers that offer coverage will make their own decisions on the vaccines. They may be motivated to continue coverage: The vaccines can help ward off expensive hospital bills from people who develop a bad case of COVID-19. More: Still confused about the COVID vaccine? Heres where things stand for Pa. residents Where people can get vaccinations About two-thirds of adults get COVID-19 shots at pharmacies, and around 30% receive them at doctors offices, according to CDC data. Access to the shots has grown after a clunky start to vaccine season that saw some people travel to nearby states when they couldnt make appointments at pharmacies closer to home. Drugstore chains like CVS say their locations are stocked with the latest vaccines, and they now are able to deliver vaccinations in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Prescriptions are required in D.C. and a handful of states, including Florida and Georgia, CVS Health spokeswoman Amy Thibault said. Walgreens also requires prescriptions in a few states, a company spokesperson said. Who can get the shot Until now, the U.S. has recommended yearly COVID-19 shots for everyone age 6 months and older. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the shots for all people age 65 and older, and for younger adults and children with conditions that put them at high risk for catching a bad case of COVID-19. The CDC maintains a long list of conditions that would put someone at high risk, including asthma, cancer, heart or lung problems, obesity, depression and a history of smoking. It also includes those who are physically inactive, and the agency notes that this list is not conclusive. Patients can consult with their doctor or care provider to decide whether they are high risk if they dont have a condition on that list. Both CVS and Walgreens representatives say their companies will ask patients under age 65 if they have any of these factors. They wont require proof. In simplest terms, if a patient says theyre eligible, they will get the vaccine, said Thibault, the CVS Health spokeswoman. In response to the Trump administrations policies, Pennsylvania has joined a multi-state effort to protect its residents health and safety and provide evidence-based recommendations on vaccines, medications and services. Fall's officially here, meaning the biannual clock change will occur before you can say "Halloween." (Getty Images) (Getty Images) Hark fall hath come. Its getting darker outside earlier. Temperatures are cool (for now, at least, thank goodness). You know what that means: PennLives annual, near-weekly reminder of when daylight saving time ends this year. According to TimeAndDate.com, daylight saving time 2025 will draw to a close at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2. Clocks will fall back during this time, meaning people will get an extra hour of shuteye. The Old Farmers Almanac explains that daylight saving time was first pioneered by an Englishman named William Willet, who believed it could make the best productive use of the suns light while saving on electricity costs. The idea eventually caught steam in World War I, and here we are. Everyone appreciates the long, light evenings, wrote Willet in his manifesto The Waste of Daylight (1907). Everyone laments their shrinkage as the days grow shorter, and nearly everyone has given utterance to a regret that the nearly clear, bright light of an early morning during Spring and Summer months is so seldom seen or used That so many as 210 hours of daylight are, to all intents and purposes, wasted every year is a defect in our civilization. Let England recognize and remedy it. However, theres been a continual push to get rid of the biannual practice due to the possible health effects and dangers it has wrought: USA Today reports how in 2022 what was known as the Sunshine Protection Act a measure that would make daylight saving time permanent was unanimously approved by the Senate only to die in the House. A new iteration of the bill was introduced to the Senate in January. As for Pennsylvania specifically, the PA Senate Republicans website explains how the state Senate approved to end daylight saving time in March. Further action on the bill remains pending as of the publishing of this report. There have always been disagreements about whether we should follow daylight saving time or standard time permanently, said the bills sponsor Sen. Scott Martin (R-13). That has prevented movement on this issue at the federal level. For me, the most important thing is ending the practice of changing the clocks twice a year and all the negative consequences that come with it. For now, clocks will still be falling back on Nov. 2. Provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Western United Fish Company, doing business as Annasea Foods Group, has recalled 3,314 pounds of Kirkland Signature band Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke sold at Costco stores in 33 states because the green onions in the meal have the potential to be contaminated by listeria. The meals have a sell-by date of Sept. 22, 2025. Provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration More than 3,300 pounds of ready-to-eat meals sold at Costco in 33 states - including Pennsylvania - have been recalled because of potential listeria contamination. Listeria is an organism that can cause infections and be especially serious for young children, the elderly and others who have a weakened immune system. The Kirkland Signature brand Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke meals have a sell-by date of Sept. 22 and a product number of 17193. The green onions in the poke could be contaminated with listeria, according to an announcement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The recall was issued by Western United Fish Company, doing business as Annasea Foods Groups of Kent, Washington. The poke is packaged in clear plastic clamshell containers with a pack date of Sept. 18, 2025. They were sold in the deli section of Costco stores in Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. No illnesses have been reported. The company said the green onion supplier reported a positive test for listeria in the green onions. People who bought the poke should dispose of it immediately. Healthy people may experience symptoms including high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. A listeria infection can lead to serious pregnancy complications among pregnant women. For more information, call Western United Fresh Co. DBA Annasea Foods Group at 425- 558-7809, between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. weekdays or send an email to info@annasea.com. A study published last week ranked each states quality of public education. And Pennsylvania was ranked amongst the 10 best in this regard. Conducted and published by ConsumerAffairs, the Keystone State after getting high marks in metrics such as School funding and resources and Higher education quality ranked 10th overall. However, the study notes that Pennsylvania ranked fifth overall in last years study, meaning it fell by five spots. Illinois took the states place in the number five slot for 2025. As far as the top three best states for public education goes, they are, in ascending order: Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. New York ranks as the highest overall for public education, taking last years crown from Massachusetts, the report reads. The Empire State ranks fifth best for school safety and 13th for higher education. However, its top rank is really owed to its robust school funding and resources. New York boasts the most-educated teachers of any state, with 95 percent of K-12 teachers holding advanced degrees. It also has one of the best student-to-teacher ratios in the nation (11.6-to-1) and the second-highest average teacher salary at $95,615 a year (thats well above the states median household income of $82,095). And then theres Arizona, which for the second year in a row ranked as the worst state in the nation for public education. Nationwide, our public schools are mostly locally funded and controlled, and how a particular district is performing is most important, said Allison Hertog, a former teacher and attorney for families of students with disabilities. In the end, how good a childs experience is often comes down to how good the teacher is, and that can change from year-to-year even [if] youre in the best-performing or least-performing school. Robert Munsch at Dufferin St. Clair library at 1625 Dufferin St. He recently revealed a life changing medical decision. Toronto Star/Michael Stuparyk Toronto Star via Getty Images Childrens book author Robert Munsch, well-known for his classic books such as Love You Forever and The Paper Bag Princess, sat down for an interview with The New York Times recently, where he revealed that hes planning to end his life with the help of medical assistance. Munsch, 80, was diagnosed with dementia in 2021, and ultimately came to the decision to use medical aid to die. According to the Centers for Disease and Control, Dementia is an umbrella term for a decline in mental ability that impacts thinking, memory and behavior. The author also later learned that he had Pakinsons disease, which is defined as a progressive brain condition that causes problems with movement, mental health, sleep, pain, and other health issues, per the World Health Organization. Munsch, who currently lives in Guelph, Ontario, told the New York Times that both diagnoses have begun to affect his physical abilities, more so his balance. The big thing now is balance, he explained to the outlet. And its a bad idea if I fall. Hes also been struggling with reading. Despite what many might think, it doesnt stem from being unable to remember what happened in the book, its the fact that hes having difficultly comprehending the text itself. He told The New York Times that the material seems off. Its gotten so bad that Munsch feels too tired to attempt to read or even go outdoors. Since his diagnoses, the beloved author has put an end to touring and no longer writes. Due to the usual decline of both diseases, Munsch decided long ago that he would seek medical assistance in dying and applied for this shortly after he was diagnosed. He was later approved for the medical event. What influenced his decision was watching his brother slowly wither away from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS. Per The New York Times, Munsch has no desire to stick around and suffer the same way, saying when he has real trouble talking and communicating, thats when hell know its his time to go. Following his life changing decision that was made public, Scholastic Canada took to social media to release a statement, thanking him for sharing his story. Its an incredibly generous act to open up like this, and it reminds us, once again, why Roberts work continues to touch many generations. We love you forever, the statement read in an Instagram post. The famous author has published 85 books, which have sold a combined 87 million copies in North America. This cements Munsch as one of the top-selling childrens book authors in history. FILE - Guests ride on the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe Theme Park at Universal Resort Orlando, April 10, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, file) AP By MIKE SCHNEIDER, The Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Emergency workers who responded to Universal Orlando Resorts newest park for a man who had become unresponsive on a roller coaster originally were told he had lacerations. But when they got to the ride, he wasnt breathing and eventually died, according to radio traffic and a report released Friday by the sheriffs office. Orange County, Florida, firefighters and Universal emergency workers tried to revive Kevin Rodriguez Zavala on a platform next to the Stardust Racers roller coaster Wednesday, but the 32-year-old man was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital, according to an incident report from the Orange County Sheriffs Office. Zavalas longtime girlfriend, who was with him, told deputies that he had a preexisting spinal condition he used a wheelchair and was taking medication, the report said. After performing an autopsy, Joshua Stephany, the medical examiner for the Orlando area, ruled the cause of death as multiple blunt impact injuries and said the manner of death was an accident. The statement from Stephany on Thursday did not mention any details about the injuries, including where on the body they were found. Zavalas family in an online post described him Friday as one of a kind. Zavala lived in Kissimmee, Florida, a suburb of Orlando. Despite the restrictions and obstacles he encountered throughout his life, Kevin met them all with grace, strength, and an unwavering spirit, his family said. He overcame so much, and he did so with quiet resilience and humility. The Stardust Racers roller coaster opened to the public in May with the debut of the Epic Universe park. The ride is described on the resorts website as a breathtaking, dual-launch coaster reaching incredible speeds up to 62 mph (100 kph). Stardust Racers was among the rides at Epic Universe, which were designed to accommodate people transferring from wheelchairs to the ride vehicle, according to a Universal Orlando Resort safety guide. The guide also said that riders of Stardust Racers were required to pass through metal detectors to make sure they had no loose items in their pockets that could fly out, and that people with prosthetic limbs needed to remove them before riding. A Universal Orlando Resorts spokesperson has said the resort is cooperating with investigators at the Orange County Sheriffs Office. FILE - Guests arrive at the main entrance to Epic Universe Theme Park at Universal Resort Orlando, April 10, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File) AP Maria Fernandez, who said she was on the roller coaster at the same time as Zavala, told Orlando television station WKMG that he appeared to be slumped over and bleeding when the ride stopped. Floridas largest theme parks are exempt from state safety inspections, unlike smaller venues and fairs. Instead, the largest theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal conduct their own inspections and have their own protocols. But they must report to the state any injury or death. The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, however, said Friday that it had sent an investigator to Epic Universe. Universal has been extremely cooperative and has complied with all required notifications, Aaron Keller, the departments communications director, said in an email. UNITED NATIONS (AP) World leaders begin convening Monday at one of the most volatile moments in the United Nations 80-year history, and the challenges they face are as dire as ever if not more so: unyielding wars in Gaza and Ukraine, escalating changes in the U.S. approach to the world, hungry people everywhere and technologies that are advancing faster than the understanding of how to manage them. The United Nations itself, which emerged from World War IIs rubble on the premise that nations would work together to tackle political, social and financial issues, is in crisis itself. As Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week: International cooperation is straining under pressures unseen in our lifetimes. Yet the annual high-level gathering at the U.N. General Assembly will bring presidents, prime ministers and monarchs from about 150 of the 193 U.N. member nations to U.N. headquarters. The secretary-general says it is an opportunity that cant be missed even in the most challenging of moments. We are gathering in turbulent even uncharted waters, Guterres said. He pointed to, among other specters, our planet overheating, new technologies racing ahead without guardrails, inequalities widening by the hour. They gather for a better world, but can they build it? Guterres said he will use the more than 150 one-on-one meetings he has with leaders and ministers to urge that they speak to each other, bridge divides, reduce risks and find solutions to conflicts, to keep the planet from increased warming, to put guardrails on fast-expanding artificial intelligence, and to find funding for lagging U.N. goals for 2030 including ending poverty in all countries and ensuring quality education for every child. He said leaders must make progress, not merely engage in posturing and promises. But U.N. watchers say that in a deeply polarized world, with no prospects of ceasefires in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, whether the high-level meeting makes any progress remains a big question mark. Richard Gowan, U.N. director for the International Crisis Group, said he is confident three topics will dominate high-level week U.S. President Donald Trumps first appearance in his second term, the horrific situation in Gaza, and whats next for the United Nations as it grapples with major funding and staff cuts, mainly due to the cutoff in U.S. payments to its regular and peacekeeping budgets. Gowan said he expects the nearly two-year war in Gaza to be the central issue, as Israel launches a major offensive in Gaza City forcing thousands to flee and following a report by independent experts commissioned by the U.N. Human Rights Council that accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel rejected the allegation, calling the report distorted and false. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, has stressed that Palestine is going to be the huge elephant in this session of the General Assembly. It will be front and center on Monday at a high-level meeting co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia on implementing a two-state solution to the nearly eight-decade Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And the spotlight will be even brighter because the Trump administration refused to give a U.S. visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to speak at that meeting and the General Assembly. On Friday, the General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution enabling Abbas to speak by video as it did in 2022 for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following Russias invasion. This year Zelenskyy will be attending in person, and the Security Council is expected to meet on Ukraine on Tuesday. The assembly voted overwhelmingly earlier this month to support a two-state solution and urge Israel to commit to a Palestinian state. Hours before that vote, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that there will be no Palestinian state. More than 145 countries already recognize Palestine as a state, and Mansour told The Associated Press on Sunday that its going to be 10 more announcing their recognition at Monday afternoons meeting. High-level week is also expected to see a Security Council meeting on Gaza, possibly Tuesday afternoon. Lots of thorny issues are on the docket The high-level meeting starts Tuesday morning in the vast General Assembly chamber. Trump will speak that day shortly after Guterres opening state of the world speech. Gowan said there is hope that Trump will come in a positive mood, touting the international accomplishments that the president says merit the Nobel Peace Prize. Also on the docket: Trumps financial approach to the larger world. Obviously, most leaders are going to be focusing on what he has to say about tariffs, Gowan said, but also about Russia and China. Other speakers to watch are interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, making his debut on the international stage following the ouster of former strongman Bashar Assad in December, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The Iranian leader will be in New York days after the Security Council decided not to permanently lift U.N. sanctions on his country over its escalating nuclear program, but it gave Tehran and key European powers France, Germany and the United Kingdom until midnight Sept. 27 to agree to a delay. Thats when the sanctions will automatically snapback unless a deal is reached. High-level week will also see numerous meetings on tackling climate change; on the more than two-year war in Sudan started by rival military and paramilitary generals that has sparked the worlds worst displacement crisis; on Somalia, which is home to the extremist group Al-Shabab; and on Haiti, where gangs control over 90% of the capital and have expanded into the countryside . An event on Monday will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing womens conference, which adopted a platform to achieve gender equality. The United Nations says that goal is growing more distant and Guterres has said it is 300 years away on the current track. One of Guterres major aims this year: to generate support for his plans to reform the United Nations and make it more responsive to the world as it is in 2025. Because of funding cuts by the U.S. and others, the U.N. announced last week that its regular operating budget for 2026 needs to be cut by 15% to $3,2 billion along with a 19% cut in that budgets staff positions. 2,681 posts. Gowan said he doesnt see the United States or other countries running away from the United Nations. But he stressed that it is going through an extraordinarily difficult period and will have to shrink and change. The U.N.s resonance on peace and security issues is unquestionably not what it was, he said, but I think that the organization will continue to muddle through. Gov. Josh Shapiro honored the ultimate sacrifice of three Pennsylvania first responders, presenting the 2025 Keystone First Responder Award posthumously to their families in a solemn ceremony at the Governors Residence on Monday. This ceremony marked the second annual presentation of the award created by bipartisan legislation, which was signed by Shapiro last year, to recognize first responders who have died or suffered career-ending injuries in the line of duty. A police sergeant, a patrolman, and a volunteer fire chief were remembered not only for their service but for the bravery and selflessness that defined their lives, Shapiro said during the award ceremony. Pennsylvanians who put on the uniform and run toward danger to keep our communities safe represent the very best of our Commonwealth, Shapiro said during the ceremony. We owe these heroes and their families a debt of gratitude that can never truly be repaid. 2025 Keystone First Responder Award honorees: Sergeant Jaime Roman Philadelphia Police Department End of Watch: Sept. 10, 2024 A six-year veteran of the force, Sgt. Roman was shot while on duty in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. Roman died after being in critical condition for more than 80 days. Patrolman Andrew Duarte West York Borough Police Department End of Watch: Feb. 22, 2025 Patrolman Duarte was killed while responding to a hostage situation at a York County hospital. His actions in the final moments of his life helped protect his fellow officers. Andrew Duarte was killed in a shootout at a York County hospital earlier this year. (Denver Police Department via AP) AP Assistant Fire Chief Edward Chip Chidester Harford Volunteer Fire Company End of Watch: April 27, 2025 A fixture in the Harford community, Chidester served as a firefighter for four decades. Chidester died from complications of injuries sustained while battling a large brush fire in Susquehanna County. Following in his fathers footsteps, he was known not just for his service but for his devotion to it. These men represent the very best of Pennsylvanias first responder community. Their tremendous sacrifice in service of the public good throughout their careers is truly commendable, said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield. Their desire to make our Commonwealth a better place should never go unnoticed, and their legacy will stand as a shining example for years to come. Joe Regan, president of the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police, spoke to the deep sense of duty that defines the work of first responders. Being a first responder isnt just a job its a commitment, a calling. For Sgt. Roman, Officer Duarte, and their families, it was the ultimate sacrifice, said Regan. First responders are often the face someone sees on the worst day of their life. Whether a police officer, firefighter, or EMT, they bring calm to chaos, order to disorder, and hope to hopelessness. They dont ask for recognition they simply do what is needed, even as gunfire rings out, smoke billows, and chaos unfolds. To be a first responder is to live with a profound sense of duty, knowing that every shift could be your last, and still choosing to serve as part of something greater than yourself. State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook said Chidester was more than a firefighter. He was a neighbor, a mentor and also a legacy. Assistant Chief Edward Chidester devoted his life to the fire service, Cook said. For 40 years, he served with the Harford Volunteer Fire Company, following in the footsteps of his father. Firefighting wasnt just what he did it was a major part of who he was. His unwavering commitment to his community will never be forgotten. His sacrifice reminds us of the courage it takes to answer the call, and his legacy will continue to inspire the people of Harford and beyond. Created by Act 11 of 2024 and signed into law by Shapiro, the Keystone First Responder Award ensures that Pennsylvanias fallen heroes are remembered not only for how they died but how they lived. Nominations for the 2025 awards were collected earlier this year by PEMA through an online form. Shapiro selected the recipients upon recommendation from the awards committee, which carefully reviewed all nominations. Last years inaugural ceremony honored 12 recipients. Each year, first responders who have died or sustained career-ending injuries in service to the Commonwealth will be recognized through a rigorous nomination and selection process. Nominations are reviewed by a 10-member awards committee composed of leaders from Pennsylvanias emergency management, public safety, law enforcement, and fire service communities. Final recipients are selected by the Governor. As the ceremony concluded, Shapiro reminded attendees why these stories matter. Today we honor their sacrifice, remember their courage, and reaffirm our commitment to always stand with Pennsylvanias first responders, law enforcement officers, and their loved ones, he said. These heroes displayed incredible bravery and professionalism, dedicating themselves to keeping others safe and their courage, selflessness, and commitment to community will continue to inspire us for years to come. An arial shot of Kennywood amusement park. A worker at the park was killed in a car accident on Sunday. Kennywood An employee at the Kennywood Amusement Park was killed by a car on Sunday right outside of the park. According to WPXI, first responders were called to the intersection of Kennywood Boulevard and Hoffman Boulevard around 5:45 a.m. for a report of a fatal pedestrian crash. The Allegheny County Medical Examiners Office identified the victim as Lorna Lee Brennen, 73. She was pronounced dead at the scene. We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of one of our hosts, who passed away earlier this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time, Kennywood General Manager Ricky Spicuzza said in a statement. Out of respect for the familys privacy, we are unable to provide additional information. As a result of the crash, the intersection was closed for several hours. An 81-year-old Florida man died in a Sunday morning crash on Route 15 in Adams County, the coroners office said. Steven Sucher was driving a Volkswagen Jetta north on Route 15 in Tyrone Township when he went off the highway and crashed into a guardrail in the median around 5:30 a.m., according to Coroner Francis Dutrow. A pickup truck driver who was unable to stop in time crashed into the back of the Jetta, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Police said a tractor-trailer also hit the Jetta before crossing the median, over Route 15 south, and down an embankment. The reason why Sucher left the highway is unknown. Sucher was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple blunt force trauma. His death was ruled accidental. The pickup truck driver was treated for minor injuries on scene. Police did not provide any information on the driver of the tractor-trailer. Route 15 was shut down for hours after the crash and reopened Sunday afternoon. A national Muslim civil rights group is condemning the distribution of pamphlets with white supremacist messaging at homes in Franklin County over the weekend. State police have also launched an investigation into the incident, reported TV station abc27 in Harrisburg. According to state police, they were notified of the pamphlets on residential properties in the Fayetteville and Shippensburg areas Sunday morning. Police did not describe what the pamphlets said. State police told abc27 that there was no evidence yet showing a particular resident was targeted, nor is there an ongoing danger to the community. On Monday, the national and Pittsburgh chapters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the incident. These vile messages are intended to intimidate and divide our communities, but they will not succeed, CAIR-Pittsburgh executive director Christine Mohamed in a statement. The people of Pennsylvania regardless of race, religion, or background deserve to live in peace and without fear of racist intimidation, she said. We call on community leaders and elected officials to speak out clearly against white supremacy and all other forms of hate. Mohamed encouraged residents who experience, or witness hate incidents to call local police and to report them to CAIR via cair.com/report. Jonathon 'Jon' D. D'Agostino was announced as missing by New York State Park Police on Wednesday afternoon. He has been missing since Sunday. Provided photograph Ithaca, N.Y. A missing 20-year-old Syracuse man who was been the subject of a huge search in Buttermilk Falls State Park near Ithaca has been seen alive and may be in Pennsylvania, his family says. Jonathan Jon D. DAgostino has been missing since Sept. 7. He was last seen leaving the Ithaca College campus, where he formerly was a student. His car was found parked at the state park. Inside the car, police found his phone and a note suggesting he planned self-harm. Officials launched an extensive search of the 811-acre park that included drones, dogs, divers, state police, forest rangers, park police, Tompkins County sheriffs deputies, and volunteers. The search continued for days, but no confirmed sightings were made in the park. The mans father, Frank DAgostino, said this weekend he spoke with a man who is completely sure he gave DAgostino a ride on Sept. 8 the day after Jon DAgostino was reported missing. According to Frank DAgostino, the man picked him up in Elmira and dropped him off in Trout Run, Pennsylvania, just minutes from where family members live. The details he was able to provide of their conversation make me 100% sure it was him, Frank DAgostino said. Jonathan told the man that his next stop was Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and was then headed further south. Hes on foot and hitchhiking, stopping at libraries for internet access. The family is urging residents throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida to keep an eye out and share Jonathans information. Terry Fee, a State Parks Police officer, said Sunday that someone reported they drove Jon DAgostino to Pennsylvania, but it has not been confirmed. Jon DAgostino last attended the Ithaca College in 2023 and currently lives in Syracuse with his father. Jon DAgostino is described as a white male, around 6 feet tall, approximately 210 pounds, with a shaved head, and a dark beard and mustache. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a gray sweatshirt, and a green knit hat. Authorities are asking anyone with information to call the State Park Police at 607-387-7081. People wait in line before a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) AP People wait in line before a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) AP People wait in line before a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) AP Whats the story: Pennsylvanias young conservatives describe a surge of organizing and resolve after Charlie Kirks oncampus killing in Utah on Sept. 10. As Pa. college campuses grapple with trauma and division of losing the controversial Christian conservative influencer who focused his efforts on young people, GOP leaders see more youth involvement, talk of a potential Pennsylvania political shift and a renewed vow to defend free speech against political violence. Here are six key takeaways from the on-campus aftermath to Charlie Kirks murder: From one torch to many: Kirks college-focused conservative organization, Turning Point USA, says interest has exploded more than 54,000 requests to start new chapters while I am Charlie Kirk Tshirts signal a Spartacusstyle solidarity among students who vow to carry his mantle. As one Pa. organizer put it: Instead of one large torch carried by Charlie Kirk, youre going to see smaller torches carried by many. Pink to red? GOP organizers in Pennsylvania argue the moment could be a gamechanger, noting the states partyregistration gap is now under 50,000 and citing a rush of calls from previously lessinvolved students asking, What can we do? They predict a new, refined conservative political apparatus could move the Keystone State from purple to pink to red. Gen Z hardens right: Citing 2024 results 57% of Gen Z men voting for Trump and a 35% GOP swing at a key Penn State precinct young Republican leaders say Kirks assassination could cement an already righttrending cohort. The only unknown is less about persuasion than turnout: The real question moving forward is do they turn out (and vote). Shock to outrage: Students describe a mass trauma response after a graphic video of Kirks death spread across social media; Everyone saw the video, one college GOP leader said. While Villanovas College Republicans report broad condemnation from classmates and professors, other campuses saw counterprotests and students laughing, gloating about the killingdeepening the divide. Words that wound: Young conservatives warn that labeling opponents fascist primes the pump for political violence. In fact, one of the assassins bullet bore the taunt, Here fascist, catch! There is a very short line between you calling me a fascist and getting shot in the throat, a student said, insisting, Our way is speech. Our way is the ballot box, one student leader said. Signups and solidarity: At Villanova, 110 students signed up to launch a Turning Point chapter within days, and strategists see their antiviolence appeals resonating with immigrants and minorities who fled authoritarian regimes. Even those declining political predictions now say theyll take up Charlies swordby speaking, organizing, and voting. NOTE: An AI summary of information gathered by PennLive in collaboration with RealClear PA contributed to this story. People hold up signs during a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher) AP I am Charlie Kirk. Its a line emblazoned on Turning Point USA T-shirts and hats that have become hot sellers in wake of the assassination of the controversial conservative activist as he was speaking to thousands of students on a Utah college campus Sept. 10. Republican leaders in Pennsylvania say the Spartacus-like sentiment also describes what they sense is happening on college campuses across the commonwealth since Kirks senseless murder. Thousands of young conservatives are stepping forward not to take Kirks place, they say, but to pick up his mantle of spreading Christian conservative values through open dialog and civil debate. This story, chronicling the visceral reaction to Kirks killing across Pennsylvania college campuses and the longer-term implications this holds for Keystone State politics, was reported through a collaboration between PennLive and RealClear PA. Already, Turning Point USA, the conservative youth outreach organization Kirk co-founded, has become the fastest-growing political organization on the planet in wake of Kirks assassination. The group says its received more than 62,000 requests nationwide from high school and college students looking to start new chapters or to get involved with an existing one. The organization offered no details as to where the inquiries are coming from, nor how many will lead to new chapters. Still, Trevor Taylor, chair of the Adams County Young Republicans and a GOP committee member, is certain the force multiplier effect of Kirks assassination is playing out in Pennsylvania, and across the country. Instead of one large torch carried by Charlie Kirk, youre going to see smaller torches carried by many. This is doubling and tripling the efforts, said Taylor, who at 31 is the same age as Kirk. In Pennsylvania, this movement holds the potential to be a political game-changer, he added. Ive had a dozen phone calls to see what I can do, whats the next step, Taylor said. Other like-minded individuals are having those conversations. Im getting phone calls from lesser-involved members, What can we do? I think you are going to see a new, refined conservative political apparatus. In Pennsylvania, that apparatus largely driven by Generation Z that was already trending right could propel the electorally critical Keystone State from purple to pink to red in coming years, Taylor said. Right now, we are a pink state, he said. We still have more registered Democrats than Republicans. But that margin is less than 50,000 voters. This is really going to help narrow that gap. A makeshift memorial grows in size at the Turning Point USA headquarters after the shooting death at a Utah college last Wednesday of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder and CEO of the organization, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) AP Democrats, meanwhile, have broadly condemned the political violence that took Kirks life, while also criticizing some of his rhetoric on race, sexual orientation, guns and social issues, and expressing discomfort with the conservative groundswell to deify him. At 26, Matt Zupon is squarely in the Gen Z cohort, a demographic encompassing those aged 18-29. As a chairman of the Blair County Republican Committee and the statewide grassroots director for Pennsylvania Young Republicans, hes witnessed his generations political impact firsthand. The 2024 election returns showed President Donald Trump captured 57% of male Gen Z voters nationwide. In Pennsylvania, Kirks visit to Penn State helped drive a 35% swing to Trump at a key university precinct in just a four-year span, according to an analysis by VoteHub. Zupon now believes Kirks assassination holds the potential to cement Gen Z as one of the most conservative generations ever. The seeds of this were planted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which Zupon says was used as an excuse to rob young people of their high school proms and graduations and their on-campus rites of passage at college. That drove them to Christianity and the church as the one place they could gather and find a sense of belonging. Kirk tapped into this cultural and religious shift among young people, Zupon said. Someone we all liked In Charlie, many young people saw someone who embodied everything America used to promise but now seemed out of reach for them: A spouse, family, happy home and an ability to have ones voice heard in an effort to improve the country, Zupon said. In an instant, an assassins bullet took all that away. We saw someone we all liked and represented assassinated in cold blood in one of the most gruesome, horrific ways, Zupon said. Its taught a lot of us that were here and we need to carry on this work. We will take up Charlies sword and continue his battle. While Zupon said he believes college campuses will trend more conservative, he stopped short of making any broader pronouncements about Pennsylvania politics. The political context is youre going to have a lot of people Charlie Kirk spoke to solidifying their support, he said. The real question moving forward is do they turn out (and vote). People listen during a worship song before the start of a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher) AP On college campuses, emotions remained raw. Gianni Matteo, statewide chairman of the Pennsylvania College Republicans, said its too early to talk about the political impact of Kirks killing. His home campus Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove remains in shock. Theyre still mourning. I havent thought about the politics once, the 21-year-old senior said. Im thinking about mending broken hearts right now. Its tough. Its really tough. Tough because, though Kirk never visited Susquehanna and theres no Turning Point chapter there, everyone felt they knew him, Matteo said. They saw him every day (on social media). Whether you enjoyed his content or not, you knew his mannerisms and how he joked around, Matteo said. A large part of my student body really admired what he did just to get up and start a conversation. They witnessed his assassination the same way on social media. The bloody viral video of a bullet tearing a hole in Kirks neck spread across campus like wildfire, Matteo said. Everyone saw the video, he said, insisting this intimacy made it different from the 1960s political assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Malcom X. For Kirks target audience of young people, this was personal, Matteo said. What I saw on Wednesday was a mass trauma response. I got calls from people across campus and across the state, just sobbing, he said. It has been incredibly, incredibly impactful for young people who had to watch that video. As the initial shock dissipates, its being replaced by resolve and a rising sense of outrage. Ballots, not bullets Penn State Harrisburg launched its Turning Point USA chapter at the beginning of the semester. When Seth Wright, chair of undergraduate Political Science and Public Policy programs, agreed to serve as the groups adviser, he had no inkling of the events about to unfold. Wright was putting the finishing touches on the campuss Constitution Day activities and awaiting confirmation from the invited guest lecturer when news of Kirks assassination broke. While there are echoes of similar events in history, Wright was left stunned by the brazen shooting then worried for his son, whos studying in Utah. I grappled with deep disbelief that such violence could touch a college campus, he said. I immediately reached out to my own son to check on his safety. Thankfully, he was not in attendance. In that moment, relief sat right beside grief, Wright said. Later that evening, the Constitution Day speaker sent his confirmation, and the event drew more than 100 students later that week. The ceaseless work of safeguarding foundational rights like freedom of speech goes on, he said. Above all, Wright vowed, My commitment to advise the Turning Point chapter is resolute. A couple of hours southeast at Villanova University, Andrew Smith, president of the College Republicans, said Kirks killing has ignited not just resolve, but a rising sense of anger. I know a lot of people have reached a level of outrage. He (Kirk) was murdered for having a political dialogue with people. This is unacceptable, said Smith, 21, a senior. In the days since the assassination, Smith said hes sensed broad condemnation from his 7,000 Villanova classmates across the political spectrum and, notably, from professors. Any decent person should feel outrage. Charlie Kirk was an innocent man who got murdered for speaking his mind, Smith said. We solve issues with ballots, not bullets. You dont kill people over politics. But at the 2,200-student Susquehanna University, Kirks assassination has exposed campus divisions, according to Matteo. The first gut punch was Kirks killing, he said. The second was the gleeful reaction to his assassination by some he estimated about 30% of classmates. As people are watching and in shock, they see their classmates laughing, gloating, saying he deserved it, Matteo said. An on-campus vigil for Kirk held last week drew a small counter protest, complete with signs labeling the outspoken conservative a Nazi. The arrest of shooting suspect Tyler Robinson has added another layer of outrage. At its source is the word fascist, which Matteo says has been thrown around all too flippantly by Democrat leaders and the media. According to the FBI, Robinson also scrawled it on one of his bullets intended for Kirk: Here fascist! CATCH. Matteo insists that word made Kirks assassination all but inevitable. What is the purpose of calling someone a fascist? Its vilification. Theres an implicit threat of violence. You cant defeat a fascist through democratic means, he said. The fascist label isnt just applied to Kirk. Its aimed at his followers, as well, Matteo added. They are calling you a fascist, too, if you enjoy Charlie Kirks content, he said. The implication is, they want you dead, too, he added. Im seriously afraid, Matteo said. There is a very short line between you calling me a fascist and getting shot in the throat. There is no way to stop a fascist other than what happened to Mr. Kirk. We reject that. Our way is speech. Our way is the ballot box. With some classmates revealing what Matteo described as their macabre embrace of Kirks brutal execution, he said its up to conservatives to uphold civility. What does that say about our future when people are gloating? What does that say about America? It all comes back to the term fascist. To the demonization. To the vilification. There needs to be some accountability for this, he said. Charlie Kirk hands out hats before speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. He was shot to death at the event. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP, file) AP Emotional impact Albert Eisenberg, principal of the GOP messaging firm Red Bridge who also heads the PA Republicanos PAC that focuses on registering young Hispanics, said he was conducting a multi-state voter registration drive when Kirk was shot to death. The reaction of his grassroots coordinator, whose parents fled tyranny in Cuba, was chilling. This reminds me of what happened in places like Cuba, Eisenberg quoted the coordinator as saying. Abhorrence of political violence will be another avenue to bring young minorities into the conservative fold, he said. As a strategist who works with young voters, we need to be aware that theres a lot of voters who could be on our side who are very sensitive to political instability, authoritarianism, etc. all the things they or their parents fled coming to our shores, Eisenberg said. He added: I think thats what Charlie Kirk wouldve wanted. Kiele Cabrera, a Florida International University Turning Points chapter member, was in northeast Pennsylvania meeting with Latino students of various political persuasions when video of Kirks killing went viral. As Cabrera broke into tears, she said she found comfort as young Latinos from both sides of the aisle expressed their frustration and disillusionment with the political violence in the country. They were emotionally impacted, she said of the students. They were saddened. Cabrera said celebration of and support for Kirks assassination stems from a vocal minority of young leftist college students. But for the vast majority, she said, This is something that pulled us together and can pull people together to fix things. Is this a turning point? Whats not an option, according to all the young conservatives PennLive interviewed, is remaining silent. What people are energized to do is speak their minds and continue to live Mr. Kirks legacy and Americas legacy. Being able to voice your opinion. Not being intimidated. Not being silenced, Matteo said. At Villanova, Smith said hes been fielding calls from students looking to get involved. People know who I am on campus, so theyre asking: Are we doing anything? Is this a turning point? he said. In the days since the assassination, 110 Villanova students added their names to a list to start a Turning Point chapter on campus, Smith said. I looked through the membership. Theres a lot of people I dont know, he said. It gives you hope there is a larger amount of people who feel outraged. Its impressive. What there wont be is another Charlie Kirk. Nobody can fill Charlie Kirks shoes. Nobody, Matteo insisted. Instead, students are soul searching over how can they help fulfill Charlie Kirks legacy, he said. Why did they shoot Charlie Kirk? I think its because he was someone who openly wanted a conversation. He openly challenged people in the marketplace of ideas, Matteo explained. We understood that it wasnt just about murdering Charlie Kirk. It was about murdering someone who wanted a conversation at a college campus. They may have silenced Charlie. But people are done with being silenced. Were not going to stop. Were not going to ever stop advocating for free speech, he vowed. This is the awakening, young conservatives say. Where it leads politically and the impact it has on purple Pennsylvania remains to be seen. Editors note: Oliver Bateman, a contributing writer to RealClear Pennsylvania, provided reporting for this story. Education Lab Reporter Ian Grenier covers K-12 and higher education in South Carolina from Columbia. Originally from Charleston, he studied history and political science at USC and reported for the Victoria Advocate in South Texas before joining The Post and Courier. An engraving of the Commercial Club Building, 101 Meeting St., in the late 19th or early 20th century. The building was demolished in the 1960s. York Summerfest, the annual street festival in downtown York, had about 10,300 visitors in 2024, with 21% of those from outside York County, according to cell phone data gathered by Placer.ai. This years festival had comparable numbers, according to Visit York County. PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-22 17:45:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 687 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Steel Structure Module Homes Project is getting Ready to StartBRADENTON, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / September 22, 2025 / ASC Global Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Token Communities (OTC ID / Stock Symbol:TKCM) is announcing today that the company is getting ready to start its first steel structure model home in Florida.According to David Champ, president and CEO of the company that ASC Global Inc. is a seasoned real estate development company in Florida and Texas, company develops high-end luxury waterfront homes in Florida and the only FTZ + QOZ dual status business park in the U.S. called " APOZ " (Asia Pacific Opportunity Zone) in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area in Texas. As the demand for affordable housing in both Florida and Texas has been significantly increased over the past few years, and creating a huge market for quality affordable homes, therefore after three years of intense research and studies, the company is now ready to roll out its first model home in Port Charlotte, Florida.This one story 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath room, 2 car garage, spacious front porch design has 1400 sq.ft . of A/C interior space. Every bedroom has its own full bathroom which it is a very rare and convenient feature, usually only offered to expensive high-end models. The Steel Structure is ICC-ES ESR-4540 certified, it is superior against windstorm and other catastrophes, and extremely durable over other types of building materials. The company has secured various service providers to handle the architectural design, building permitting, inspections, GC (Tricor Homes) and subcontractors, ASC Global will pick an existing home sites from its land inventory to start building this model / demo home. The proposed sales price will be under $ 200,000. which is substantially lower than the current market price, and still maintain a very decent profit margin for the company.As per Ruby Lin, a director of the company, once this first unit is completed and sold, the company will start building this model and other new models in Florida and Texas in large scale.For further information or assistance, please contact the company at (631) 397-1111Forward-Looking StatementsCertain information set forth in this presentation contains "forward-looking information", including "future-oriented financial information" and "financial outlook", under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, the information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements and includes, but is not limited to, the (i) projected financial performance of the Company; (ii) completion of, and the use of proceeds from, the sale of the shares being offered hereunder; (iii) the expected development of the Company's business, projects, and joint ventures; (iv) execution of the Company's vision and growth strategy, including with respect to future M&A activity and global growth; (v) sources and availability of third-party financing for the Company's projects; (vi) completion of the Company's projects that are currently underway, in development or otherwise under consideration; (vi) renewal of the Company's current customer, supplier and other material agreements; and (vii) future liquidity, working capital, and capital requirements. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management's beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment.These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.Although forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.SOURCE: Token Communities Ltd. PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-22 17:00:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 289 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 22, 2025 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of Freeport-McMoran Inc. ("Freeport" or "the Company") (NYSE:FCX). Investors who purchased Freeport securities are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/FCX Investigation DetailsOn September 9, 2025, Freeport issued a press release announcing the suspension of mining activities at its Grasberg Block Cave operation in Indonesia, after "a large flow of wet material from a production drawpoint . . . blocked access to certain areas within the mine," trapping seven workers. On this news, Freeport's stock price fell $2.80 per share, or 5.99%, to close at $43.87 per share on September 9, 2025.What's Next?If you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation or purchased Freeport securities, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/FCX . You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his client relations manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 332-239-2660There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & GrossmanBronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.ContactBronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-22 09:05:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1046 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / September 22, 2025 /Formation Metals Inc. ("Formation" or the "Company") (CSE:FOMO)(FSE:VF1)(OTCQB:FOMTF), a North American mineral acquisition and exploration company, is pleased to announce that the Company is now in receipt of all necessary permits for drilling, including the Authorization to Intervene (ATI) and Forestry Intervention permits, and that is has mobilized to site to commence its fully funded 10,000 metre drill program at its N2 Gold Property ("N2" or the "Property"), an advanced gold project with a global historic resource of ~870,000 ounces comprised of 18 Mt grading 1.4 g/t Au (~809,000 oz Au) across four zones (A, East, RJ-East, and Central)2,3 and 243 Kt grading 7.82 g/t Au (~61,000 oz Au) across the RJ zone2,4 .The Company has working capital of ~C$4.9M with zero debt, putting it in a very strong financial position to execute its exploration programs. Inclusive of provincial tax credits from the Quebec government, Formation's exploration budget for 2025-2026 is set at ~$5.7M. Formation is fully funded to complete the $5M work commitment required to earn-in to 100% of the N2 Gold Project within two years, four years ahead of schedule.Phase 1 will focus on two primary targets:the "A" zone, a shallow, highly continuous, low-variability historic gold deposit with ~522,900 ounces identified at a grade of 1.52 g/t Au. ~15,000 metres have been drilled historically across 1.65 km of strike, with over 3.1 km of strike remaining to be tested. 84% of historical drillholes intercepted auriferous intervals including up 1.7 g/t over 35 m.the "RJ" zone, a high-grade historic gold deposit with ~61,100 ounces identified at a grade of 7.82 g/t Au, with high-grade intercepts from historical drill holes as high as 51 g/t Au over 0.8 metres and 16.5 g/t Au over 3.5 metres2. This zone was the target of the most recently drilling at the Property by Agnico-Eagle Mines in 2008, when the price of gold was ~US$800/oz. Only ~900 metres of strike has been drilled, with 4.75+ km of strike remaining to be tested.Figure 1 - Summary of the "A" Zone.Figure 2 - Summary of the "RJ" Zone.Deepak Varshney, CEO of Formation Metals, stated, "Being fully permitted for our planned 20,000 metre drill program is an incredible milestone for Formation Metals. With nearly five million in working capital, Formation is positioned to commence on the most aggressive drill program our company has embarked on, with 10,000 metres fully funded for 2025."Mr. Varshney continued: "Given the scale of the property, the compelling geological data, and the Abitibi Greenstone Belt's established history as a hotbed for gold mining, we are hopeful that the program will deliver our goal of delivering a near-surface multi-million-ounce deposit at N2.We see the potential for a significant gold deposit at N2, and our maiden 10,000-metre drilling program will mark the beginning of Formation's pursuit of that goal. Our maiden program will focus on building on the successes of our predecessors. The drilling discoveries made by Agnico-Eagle and Cypress show the potential at N2. With gold at over $3,700, over 4 times the price in 2008 when Agnico last drilled the project, we believe that the timing is perfect for N2 and look forward to a very busy upcoming field season." Comprising 87 claims totaling ~4,400 ha within the Abitibi sub province of Northwestern Quebec, Formation's flagship N2 Gold Project is an advanced gold project with a global historic resource of 877,000 ounces: 18.2 Mt grading 1.48 g/t Au (~809,000 oz Au) across four zones (A, East, RJ-East, and Central) 2,3and 243 Kt grading 7.82 g/t Au (~61,000 oz Au) across the RJ zone 2,4. There are six primary auriferous mineralized zones in total, each open for expansion along strike and at depth. Compilation and geophysical work by Balmoral Resources Ltd. (now Wallbridge Mining) from 2010 to 2018 generated numerous targets that have not yet been investigated with diamond drilling.The drill program is designed to focus on discovery drilling at new high-potential targets along the mineralization strikes at the "A", "RJ" and "Central" zones in the northern part of the Property in order to discover new auriferous trends and unlock new zones of gold mineralization. The program will also focus on high-priority infilling and expansion targets in these zones to significantly enhance the auriferous zones identified to-date (Figure 3).Figure 3 - PDDH design for 20,000 metre Drill ProgramFigure 4 - Property overview summarizing historical work completed at each of the six mineralized zones and their respective historical resource. The Company also believes that N2 has significant base metal potential, where it recently completed a revaluation process which revealed significant copper and zinc intercepts within historic drillholes known to have significant gold grades (>1 g/t Au). Assay results range from 200 to 4,750 ppm and 203 ppm to 6,700 ppm, for copper and zinc, respectively, indicating strong potential for elevated base metal (Cu-Zn) concentrations across the property, specifically at the A and RJ zones. Property wide geology at N2 features volcanic and sedimentary rocks formed in regional anticlinal and synclinal flexures. Three principal deformation structures (Figure 1), oriented along the known NW-SE to WNW-ESE structural trends typical of VMS deposits in the Matagami region, function as critical geologic controls for mineralization on the property.For the 2025 exploration season, Formation plans to concentrate its efforts on the northern part of N2, targeting gold deposit expansion and discovery along identified zones and fault systems associated with the main deformation features (specifically WNW-ESE trend), with IP surveys and drilling planned to model mineralized zones that will hopefully contribute to an updated NI-43 101 compliant resource. Formation will also look to further review historic base metal assays from older drill core and undertake additional work in 2025 to assess the property's copper and zinc potential.The Company is also pleased to announce that it has arranged a non-brokered private placement of up to 1,891,892 flow-through units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.37 per Unit to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to $700,000 (the "Private Placement'). Each Unit will consist of one flow-through common share (each a "FT Share") of the Company, and each FT Share shall qualify as a "flow-through share" as defined in section 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), and one transferable common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"), with each Warrant e PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-21 23:00:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 575 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / September 21, 2025 / Ongoing flight operations of the new YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft helped General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., set a new company record this week, pushing past a total of 9 million flight hours. YFQ-42AGA-ASI has been tracking total flight hours across its fleet of unmanned aerial systems since the company's inception 33 years ago. Its line of UAS includes iconic aircraft such as the Predator, Reaper, Gray Eagle, Avenger, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian"What an amazing moment," said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. "Having spent so much time supporting the U.S. military and its allies around the world with our other aircraft, it seems fitting that flight testing our new unmanned fighter jet for the U.S. Air Force was what helped bring us past this milestone as we look ahead to a program that will change air dominance again." YFQ-42A's ongoing flights are only part of GA-ASI's unmanned operations. At any point in time, as many as 50 GA-ASI aircraft are in flight supporting global security for U.S. and allied users worldwide.GA-ASI's aircraft have been a mainstay for the United States, allies and partners since the first flight of what was then called the RQ-1 Predator on July 3, 1994. The U.S. Air Force changed the designation to MQ-1 Predator in 2002. Other aircraft, including the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-9A Reaper, and MQ-20 Avenger, followed as GA-ASI drove forward the capabilities and employment of uncrewed aircraft.More recently, GA-ASI has begun deliveries of its new MQ-9B SkyGuardians and SeaGuardians. MQ-9B is the world's most advanced Remotely Piloted Aircraft System, delivering exceptionally long endurance and range - with automatic takeoff and landing under pole-to-pole satellite-only control - and will be able to operate in unsegregated airspace using the GA-ASI-developed Detect and Avoid system.GA-ASI has made deliveries to the U.K.'s Royal Air Force (Protector) and the Belgian Air Force, and are fulfilling orders from Canada, Denmark, Poland, Japan, Taiwan, India, and the U.S. Air Force in support of the Special Operations Command. MQ-9B has also supported various U.S. Navy exercises, including Northern Edge, Integrated Battle Problem, and Group Sail.Meanwhile the company has been supporting the development of new aircraft and concepts of operation for the future of airpower. GA-ASI built and flies the XQ-67A Off Board Sensing Station - its second uncrewed combat jet - for the U.S. Air Force Research Lab. Just last month, GA-ASI announced the start of flight testing for its third, the new YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft. The new unmanned fighter jet has been designed and developed by GA-ASI and is built for rapid production, in large quantities, at an affordable price.About GA-ASIGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is the world's foremost builder of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Logging more than 9 million flight hours, the Predator line of UAS has flown for over 30 years and includes MQ-9A Reaper, MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-20 Avenger, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian. The company is dedicated to providing long-endurance, multi-mission solutions that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike.For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com Avenger, EagleEye, Gray Eagle, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries.# # #Contact InformationGA-ASI Media Relationsasi-mediarelations@ ga-asi.com (858) 524-8101SOURCE: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-22 17:01:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 304 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 22, 2025 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of Galiano Gold Inc. ("Galiano" or "the Company") (NYSE:GAU). Investors who purchased Galiano securities are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/GAU Investigation DetailsOn September 9, 2025, Galiano disclosed "an incident that occurred at its Asanko Gold Mine," located in Ghana. According to the Company, the incident "involved a confrontation between community members and military personnel on the Company's operating concessions." The Company disclosed that "tensions escalated within the local community, leading to civil unrest, including a fatality and damage to contractor equipment." Following this news, Galiano stock dropped more than 7% on the next day.What's Next?If you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation or purchased Galiano securities, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/GAU . You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his client relations manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 332-239-2660There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & GrossmanBronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.ContactBronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-22 08:00:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 915 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / September 22, 2025 / Helium One Global ("Helium One" or the "Company")(AIM:HE1), the primary helium explorer in Tanzania with a 50% working interest in the Galactica-Pegasus helium development project in Colorado, USA ("the Galactica Project"), provides an update on the Company's southern Rukwa Helium Project.HighlightsPurchase agreement executed for Electrical Submersible Pump ("ESP") and associated equipmentEquipment to be provided by the CenerTech Group, which is part of the Chinese National Offshore Company (CNOOC)Civils work commenced at site for water disposal during ESP operationsOn track to commence ESP operations at ITW-1 in Q4 2025Lorna Blaisse, Chief Executive Officer, commented:"We are delighted to be advancing towards the next operational phase of development at ITW-1 in southern Rukwa. The ESP operations will enable us to increase flow rates and gain greater information on gas composition from the fractured Basement and Karoo intervals. We look forward to providing further updates as operations commence and progress." Advancement of Next Phase of Operations in Southern Rukwa, TanzaniaThe purchase contract and Quality Assurance/Quality Control process for the ESP and associated equipment were completed during a recent visit by Company personnel to CenerTech's manufacturing facility in China. Additional civils work at the ITW-1 wellsite have commenced, predominately to allow for water disposal. This operation will enable the Company to flow the well at significantly higher flow rates in order to gain a greater understanding of the source of the water in which the helium is in solution and establish the optimum production rates that will yield maximum helium concentrations. This information will be used to further enhance and evaluate the development programme and engineering.Expiry of Prospecting Licences ("PL") in Southern Rukwa, TanzaniaTwo PLs held by the Company (PL 10881 and PL 10882) have reached the end of their second and final renewal term and automatically lapsed on 21st September 2025. The Company has fully relinquished these expired PLs and will focus on the southern Rukwa development within the 480km2 developable Mining Licence area.The Company continues to review all geological regions of Tanzania for helium potential and remains opportunistic for future PL applications.Voluntary Delisting on the OTCQB Venture MarketThe Company has notified OTC Markets Group Inc. of its intention to voluntarily delist the Company's ordinary shares from trading on the OTCQB Venture Market ("OTCQB").The decision to delist from OTCQB was made following a review of trading volumes, costs, and the subsequent visibility that was hoped to be gained in the US market. The Board concluded that the continued quotation on OTCQB does not provide sufficient benefit to the Company or its shareholders to justify the associated costs.The Company's shares will continue to be admitted to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, which will remain the Company's primary trading venue.The Company has requested that Its shares are delisted from OTCQB with effect from Tuesday 30 September 2025. Further announcements will be made as appropriate.For further information please visit the Company's website: www.helium-one.com Helium One Global Ltd+44 20 7920 3150Lorna Blaisse, CEOGraham Jacobs, Finance and Commercial DirectorPanmure Liberum Limited (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker) Scott MathiesonGaya Bhatt+44 20 3100 2000Zeus Capital Limited (Joint Broker) Simon JohnsonLouisa Waddell+44 20 3829 5000Tavistock(Financial PR) Nick Elwes+44 20 7920 3150Notes to Editors Helium One Global, the primary helium explorer in Tanzania with a 50% working interest in the Galactica-Pegasus helium development project in Colorado, USA. The Company holds helium licenses within two distinct helium project areas, across two continents. With an expanding global footprint, the Company has the potential to become a strategic player in resolving a supply-constrained helium market.The Company's flagship southern Rukwa Project is located within the southern Rukwa Rift Basin in south-west Tanzania. This project entering a full appraisal and development stage following the success of the 2023/24 exploration drilling campaign, which proved a helium discovery at Itumbula West-1 and, following an extended well test ("EWT"), successfully flowed 5.5% helium continually to surface in Q3 2024.Following the success of the EWT, the Company filed a Mining Licence ("ML") application with the Tanzania Mining Commission in September 2024 and the 480km2 ML was formally awarded to the Company in July 2025.The Company also owns a 50% working interest in the Galactica-Pegasus helium development project in Las Animas County, Colorado, USA. This project is operated by Blue Star Helium Ltd (ASX: BNL) and has successfully completed a six well development drilling campaign in H1 2025. The completion of the development programme is a key component of the broader Galactica-Pegasus development strategy; aimed at progressing the helium and CO2 discoveries to near-term commercial production.This programme has seen a systematic approach to developing the extensive Lyons Formation reservoir. The programme has delivered encouraging results, in line with expectations, consistently encountering good helium (up to 3.3% He) and CO2 concentrations in the target formation and demonstrating promising flow potential. The next steps will see the Galactica wells tied into initial production in Q4 2025.Helium One is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange with the ticker of HE1.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: Helium One Global Ltd PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-22 09:15:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 839 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Keensight Capital (Keensight), one of the leading private equity managers dedicated to pan-European Growth Buyout [[1]] investments, today announced it has signed an agreement with VIA equity and other existing shareholders to acquire a majority stake in Decision Focus (the Company), a leading global software developer of Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) solutions. As part of the transaction, the Companys leadership team will reinvest alongside Keensight.BIRKERD, DK / ACCESS Newswire / September 22, 2025 / Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Denmark, Decision Focus offers a flexible, no-code platform with over 20 GRC configurable modules, including audit, risk, compliance, governance, information security and regulatory reporting. The Company serves a broad range of sectors, with a core focus on the financial services industry. Its clients are located globally, with strong footholds in the US, the UK and the Nordics. Today, Decision Focus employs nearly 65 people across four European offices: Denmark, the UK, Sweden and Romania. Keensight Capital signs agreement to acquire Decision Focus Keensight Capital signs an agreement to acquire Decision Focus,a leading Governance, Risk & Compliance software developerDecision Focus' best-in-class tech platform enables organizations to implement tailored, fully integrated GRC solutions that meet specific regulatory and operational needs. With Keensight's support, the Company will accelerate its international expansion, both organically and via acquisitions. Keensight will also support Decision Focus to unlock new growth avenues through the application of AI technologies.Jon Tollerup, CEO and Founder of Decision Focus, said: "We are excited to embark on this new partnership with Keensight. Decision Focus is committed to delivering sustainable and profitable growth, and we are now poised to scale globally. Keensight's global footprint and track record in scaling B2B software businesses internationally make them the ideal partner for our next phase of development." Charles Bonnassieux, Partner at Keensight Capital, added: "We're thrilled to support Decision Focus in this new chapter. Jon and his team have built a clear vision and a best-in-class product, establishing strong foundations for future growth. We share a deep conviction in their potential and look forward to building on this momentum together, leveraging our international network and our expertise in compliance software to expand the company's global leadership in GRC solutions." Peter Thorlund Haahr, Partner at VIA equity, commented: "Since 2022, we have worked closely with Decision Focus to enhance its platform, build a high-performing team and invest further in the Company's commercial operations. We are proud of the strong and profitable growth achieved during this period and of the solid foundations now in place for the company's next phase of expansion." About Keensight CapitalKeensight Capital ("Keensight"), one of the leading European Growth Buyout firms, is committed to supporting entrepreneurs as they implement their growth strategies. With over 25 years of experience and 5.5bn of assets under management, Keensight Capital's team of seasoned professionals leverages their differentiated private equity experience to invest in profitably growing companies generating revenues in the range of 10 million to 400 million. Drawing on its expertise in the Technology and Healthcare sectors, Keensight identifies the best investment opportunities in Europe and works closely with the management teams providing capital, strategic guidance and operational support. Keensight operates in more than 90 countries across the globe with a presence in Paris, London, Boston, and Singapore. www.keensight.com About Decision FocusDecision Focus is a leading global software developer of Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) solutions.Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Denmark, Decision Focus is an agile, no-code platform that allows organisations to create a tailored GRC solution from more than 20 configurable modules, spanning audit, risk, compliance, governance, information security, and regulatory reporting. As a true "Total GRC" platform, it brings all governance, risk, and compliance processes into one unified system-with secure, real-time dashboards, seamless integrations, and AI-powered capabilities. At the centre is a focus on lean GRC, to enable clients to drive business growth. The company serves a broad range of sectors, with a core focus on the financial services and insurance industries. Clients are located globally, with strong footholds in the US, UK, and the Nordics. Decision Focus employs +65 people across four European offices from over 12 different nationalities. www.decisionfocus.com About VIA equityHeadquartered in Copenhagen, VIA equity is a leading Northern European private equity firm investing in software and IT-service companies. VIA focuses on profitable small to mid-sized companies in the Nordics and DACH regions. VIA equity manages several funds, where the most recent, VIA equity V, has 250 million in committed capital from acknowledged international investors. www.viaequity.com [[1]] Growth Buyout: investment in profitable, private companies experiencing strong growth, in minority or majority positions, with or without leverage, using a flexible approach tailored to the needs of individual entrepreneurs, in order to finance organic growth projects, acquisition strategies or provide historic shareholders with liquidity.Contact InformationJenny Ritson-Smith Head of Marketing, Decision Focusjenny.ritson-smith@decisionfocus.com +44 (0) 7920094222Cindy Giraud Communications Director, Keensight Capitalcgiraud@ keensight.com +33 (0) 6 37 96 55 37Peter Thorlund Haahr Partner , VIA equitypth@ viaequity.com +45 2810 1795Stephanie Ellis Headland Consultancysellis@ headlandconsultancy.com +44 (0) 73 1136 9804Ellen Johnson Headland Consultancyejohnson@ headlandconsultancy.com +44 (0) 79 0185 3673SOURCE: Sweet Marketing PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-22 01:51:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 628 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 21, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., September 21, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) between May 7, 2025 and July 28, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important September 30, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Novo Nordisk securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Novo Nordisk class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=34168or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 30, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Novo Nordisk's growth potential. Notably, Novo Nordisk's asserted potential to capitalize on the compounded market greatly understated the potential impact of the personalization exception to the compounded GLP-1 exclusion and overstated the likelihood that such patients would switch to Novo Nordisk's branded alternatives. Further, defendants greatly overstated the potential GLP-1 market or otherwise, Novo Nordisk's capability to penetrate said markets to achieve continued growth. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Novo Nordisk class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=34168 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-22 17:15:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 406 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / September 22, 2025 / Parallel Advisors, LLC, a premier independent wealth management firm, today announced it has received approval from the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) for a California Chartered Trust License. This approval establishes Parallel Trust Company of California (PTCOCA) as a new operating entity within the state. Parallel Advisors Logo Parallel Advisors LogoParallel Trust Company of California will provide comprehensive trust services to individuals, families, and businesses throughout California, including asset management, estate planning, and other fiduciary services."Receiving our California Trust Charter represents a significant milestone in our evolution as full service advisors to our clients," said C.J. Rendic, CEO of Parallel Advisors. "The formation of Parallel Trust Company of California reflects our ongoing investment in client-focused innovation and growth, and is a direct response to requests from our clients. Having our own independent trust company unlocks immense potential and is another step toward Parallel Advisors' comprehensive platform approach, delivering an exceptional suite of services to clients with the highest levels of fiduciary care and expertise." As a California Chartered Trust Company, PTCOCA will adhere to strict standards of capital reserve requirements, risk management, and consumer protection. The charter authorizes the company to act in various fiduciary capacities, including as trustee, executor, and estate administrator. Heather Katzenstein, Trust Services Director, will lead the Trust initiative."Our trust services are designed to provide clients with security, continuity, and expert management of their assets," added Katzenstein. "As an independent trust company, we can focus exclusively on providing high levels of service tailored to our clients' specific needs. With this charter, we strengthen our commitment to being a trusted partner through generations, helping clients protect and grow their wealth, and achieve their long-term financial objectives." PTCOCA will begin offering its services to California residents on September 22, 2025.About Parallel AdvisorsParallel Advisors is a registered, independent wealth management firm specializing in active financial planning, solid portfolio construction, and mindful asset allocation designed to help individuals, families, and trusts accomplish their financial goals. Based in San Francisco, and with offices in Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Durango, Durham, Honolulu, Reno, and Scottsdale, Parallel provides innovative, comprehensive solutions for all clients. Parallel Advisors proudly manages $10 billion in client assets and offers deep expertise in tax and estate planning and robust investment management.Contact InformationAnnie Boschetti Principal & Head of Peopleannie.boschetti@paralleladvisors.com 415.728.9357SOURCE: Parallel Advisors PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-22 23:06:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 322 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 22, 2025 / Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors and officers of Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR).If you currently own shares of Danaher stock, please visit the firm's website at https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17717 for more information. You may also contact Phillip Kim of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via email at case@ rosenlegal.com Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. Femi Otedola, billionaire businessman and chairman of Geregu Power Plc, has advised members of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) to focus on owning and scaling last-mile retail outlets, rather than holding on to tanks built for a fuel import economy that no longer serves the country. Mr Otedola disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, expressing strong support for Aliko Dangote, founder and president/chief executive of the Dangote Group, in his dispute with DAPPMAN. He cited examples of depots in Amsterdam and Houston, which were designed to serve export markets, particularly in Africa. However, he said with Nigeria now refining fuel locally, such infrastructure is becoming increasingly unnecessary. Mr Otedola warned that if DAPPMAN members fail to adapt, they will not only become irrelevant but may go bankrupt. If anything, DAPPMAN members should be focusing on owning and scaling last-mile retail outlets, not holding on to tanks built for a fuel import economy that no longer serves us. The global picture is instructive. Depots in Amsterdam or Houston were designed to serve export markets, especially Africa. With Nigeria now refining locally, such infrastructure is increasingly unnecessary. If DAPPMAN members do not adapt, they will not only become irrelevant, they may go bankrupt, Mr Otedola said. He said DAPPMAN should consider selling, restructuring, or investing in new value chains, adding that if they truly believe in competition, they could even come together and acquire the Port Harcourt Refinery and see if they can succeed where the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) could not. READ ALSO: Otedola backs Dangote in battle with DAPPMAN He added that in developed markets, refinery operators are downsizing their depot footprint, with many converting depots into bonded warehouses or exiting the business entirely. Even in developed markets, refinery operators are downsizing their depot footprint. Many are converting them into bonded warehouses or exiting completely. Folawiyo Group, known for its foresight and integrity, sold its depot and exited early. That is strategic thinking. DAPPMAN had its place, but today, its relevance is fast fading. We must stop clinging to outdated privileges and focus on a new era built on self-sufficiency, transparency, and sustainable value creation, he said. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has commenced his seven-day seclusion in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Sunday, as part of the traditional rites preceding the annual Olojo Festival. The Olojo Festival, meaning the Day of the First Dawn, is celebrated to mark the day the Almighty created the earth. It is one of the oldest and most respected cultural festivals in Oduduwa land. It symbolises creation, renewal, and the spiritual authority of Ile-Ife as the cradle of mankind. The Olojo Festival in Ile-Ife, Osun State, is scheduled from 20 to 29 September 2025. The key events expected to occur at the festival include the Grand Finale and the Olojo 5K Road Race. Seven-day Seclusion The seven-day seclusion is a period of spiritual purification during which the Ooni abstains from public appearances, meditates, and prays. It is seen as a sacred responsibility that connects the monarch with the divine and his ancestors, enabling him to intercede for his subjects and the nation. Traditionally, the seclusion period also prepares the monarch for the climax of the Olojo Festival, when he will appear wearing the sacred Aare crown, a relic believed to be the original crown of Oduduwa. During the festivals climax, the Ooni leads processions, ancestral rites, and prayers at significant historical sites in Ile-Ife. These rituals reaffirm the towns place as the spiritual heart of the Yoruba people and unite indigenes and visitors to celebrate cultural pride and heritage. By dedicating this years seclusion to Nigerias well-being, the Ooni stated that his throne reinforces the role of traditional rulers as moral and spiritual guides. The NCTRN Chairperson reiterated that his message of unity, peace, and progress resonates strongly at a time when many Nigerians are yearning for hope, stability, and a renewed sense of purpose. ALSO READ: Alaafin reacts to reported supremacy battle with Ooni of Ife According to the Ooni, the week-long solitude is about preserving tradition and invoking blessings on his people. It reminds all sons and daughters of Oduduwa to remain united, peaceful, and progressive in pursuing a greater Nigeria. The Oonis seclusion journey, which began on Sunday, will end on Saturday, the seventh day, Saturday 27, with the Festival Grand Final Official Ceremony, Ojo Okemogun, and the Aare Cultural Procession. The festival will then close with Ojo Ajoyo, the Grand Royal Reception, featuring the Adire Oodua Cultural Exchange Exhibition and the Ife Award for Community Service 2025 on 28 September, along with the Onirisas Ancestral Home Traditional Procession and a Cultural Talent Hunt on 29 September 2025. Oonis blessings Before entering seclusion, the monarch declared that this years spiritual holiness would be dedicated to prayers for Nigerias peace, unity, and sustainable progress. Mr Ogunwusi, the Arole Oduduwa and Olofin Adimula, also admonished relevant stakeholders, particularly the traditional rulers of Yorubaland, to embrace unity as the only veritable tool for achieving these goals. The Ooni, who doubles as permanent Co-chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) and Chairman, Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), prayed for Nigerians across all regions to experience divine blessings, healing, and national recovery. Additionally, the monarch urged Nigerians to embrace unity, peace, tolerance, and love for one another, noting that the country would continue to struggle with division and underdevelopment without these values. He further encouraged the citizens to rise above ethnic and religious differences, stressing that Nigerias strength lies in its diversity. I am praying for Nigeria and for Nigerians. I seek Gods mercy upon this land. May we all experience peace, unity, progress, and the blessings of the Almighty. To the sons and daughters of Oduduwa everywhere, I urge you: be peaceful, be united, and let us work together for progress, the Ooni said. He further called on political leaders to act responsibly, urging them to govern fairly, justly, and compassionately. According to him, leadership must always prioritise the welfare of the people. He adds that no society thrives when its leaders ignore the cries of the masses. Olubadan Earlier the same day, the monarch made a historic visit to the new Olubadan of Ibadan land and the incumbent Chairperson of the Oyo State Council of Obas, Oba Rasheed Ladoja. The Ooni noted that the visit was a show of love and solidarity with the good people of Ibadanland. He expressed his regret that he will not be able to attend the forthcoming Olubadans coronation slated for Friday, 26 September, which coincides with Olojo Seclusion rites. The new Olubadan, Mr Ladoja, commended the Oonis visit for his sacrifices to unite the Yoruba and other racial member groups with the larger Oduduwa race worldwide. Mr Ladoja further urged other Yoruba monarchs to emulate the Ooni and strengthen the cultural values and institutions that unite them rather than those that divide them. The Olubadan designate said people look up to traditional rulers for leadership, inspiration, and protection. Kabiyesi Oonirisa, if we all come together with our ideas, with yours, we will have our way, and as God will have it, the president of the country is our son, and he has even assured me he will be present at my coronation ceremony. The experience of governance differs from the experience used in political intrigues and the business circle. I dont have the experience Ooni has because ten years on the throne is no joke. By the grace of God, you will be one of my teachers. I have said this to all the obas who have visited me, the Olubadan concluded. Gtext Holdings, a Nigerian real estate and investment firm, has announced plans to attempt a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the largest real estate conference ever held in a tent. At a joint press conference in Lagos on Friday, attended by PREMIUM TIMES, Gtext Holdings, the parent company of Gtext Homes and Gtext Land, said the initiative aims to showcase Nigerias growing influence in the global real estate sector. According to GWR, the current record is held by AYS Developers, Innovation Experts Real Estate Institute, and Nour ElSerougy (all based in the UAE), in Dubai on 31 May 2025. That event gathered 912 participants for a free training session focused on off-plan sales and the Dubai 2040 Vision. Gtext Holdings revealed that its record-breaking attempt is scheduled for 20 December 2025. The company expects more than 10,000 people to attend in person, with a further 100,000 participants joining virtually worldwide. Speaking at the press conference, Stephen Akintayo, Chairperson of SACI Holdings and founder of Gtext Holdings, said the record attempt was designed to position Nigeria at the forefront of international real estate dialogue. He added that the initiative would also help clarify key property market issues and boost sector confidence. He said, We are attempting a world record for the largest real estate conference in the world in a tent. The current largest is 2,500, and thats in Dubai. Ours is a bit more in between because its now in a ten,t and that ones just the largest real estate conference, and its 2,500. Were targeting 10,000 participants. Its a real estate festival event. The conference starts in the morning, 10 a.m., and ends around 3 p.m., and the party will last until about 7 p.m., celebrating. Thats where were now wrapping up our 10th anniversary in the construction business, and it will take place at a flagship estate called Jasper in Gardinia, in Lagos, in a Lekki town. So, because we needed to design a tent that could accommodate 10,000 people, we needed enough parking space, and no event centre could accommodate such a large number of people. So to really attempt such a record, you need to go a bit out of scale. But its good because we will also project whats happening on the axis. Decade of innovation The 39-year-old further revealed that the attempt would feature a free trade zone, provision of food for attendees, and other activities. He explained that the conference, which coincides with the companys 10th anniversary, would not only celebrate a decade of innovation and strategic growth but also serve as a platform to promote sustainable development, networking, and investment opportunities. A free trade zone, a seaport, and an airport are also coming in, so to project that aspect of Lagos and its beauty, people will also see that particular estate and our vision for that estate. Our vision is to partner with two other bosses and provide food for 10,000 people. Were also going to target 100,000 actual attendees from all over the world. Mass market, retail market, because a lot of the people there, theres a lot of. You can do a lot of product partnerships for people to test your product and get an idea of it. So were willing to work with other real estate companies that can partner with us on this, but we need to work with as many people as possible who want to work with us on this. But for us, its 10 years in real estate business, we need to demonstrate some, and if you really look at one of our biggest strengths, aside that we now have lands in more than 30 locations in Nigeria, aside that were now in Qatar, Dubai, UK, US, one of our biggest strengths has been training, Mr Akintayo said. Partnership Mr Akintayo announced that the company would partner with the Lagos State Government. He added that the initiative aimed to restore trust in the sector, addressing the lingering challenges of investor confidence. Were having different speakers, in fact, were hoping that this Guinness World Record will also help clarify real estate issues. If you hear that 177 estates have been declared illegal, those things affect customers and investors confidence, Were going to be pushing out letters very soon. We hope the governor will also be one of our keynote speakers. We hope that all the key ministries as well, ministers for housing, you know, so that we can tell the whole world, the Guinness World Record puts you, that global eye on you, right, and tell the whole world, the real estate sector in Nigeria is alive, is doing well, and everybody should come and invest. Additionally, he announced the companys acquisition of a firm licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Cast: Ayo AY Makun, Deyemi Okanlawon, Regina Daniels, Shaffy Bello, Bucci Franklin, Williams Uchemba, Sunshine Rosman, Uzee Usman, Daniel Lloyd, April Chidinm, Anthony Offiong Edet, Toke Makinwa, Boma Akpore, Rahama Sadau, Chris ttoh, Obi Ken, Anita Real Warri Pikin Asuoha, Ebiama D. A., Kunle Remi, Momo Bassey Jesse, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Brain Jotter, May Edochie Director: Toka McBaror Run time: Streaming Platform: Netflix In recent years, activists who seek a better life for the people have challenged the Nigerian political and government scene. While some question the individuals involved for their political leanings, source of wealth or affluence, what is indisputable is the ever-depleting standard of living. But who is to blame when a group of heavily armed individuals decide to take matters into their own hands? Review The year is 2024, exactly 10 years since Akpos (Ayo Makun) first found himself in Atlanta and then in Sun City, South Africa, among other exotic locales. Akpos now lives in Abuja and is still the mischievous character we all know him to be. On his way to work, he foils an attempt to kidnap him. Its his first day at the very popular Krystal Valley Hotel. At the same venue, the Minister of Poverty Alleviation, Okon Edet (Shaffy Bello), is expected to hold a grand event. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Tonye Bright (Bucci Franklin), together with his heavily armed team, hit the hotel, taking everybody hostage. Akpos, along with Femi (Deyemi Okanlawon), the hotels Head of Security and Idara (Regina Daniels), a hotel staff member, manage to free themselves. Its up to the trio to quell what was fast becoming a revolution. A quick backstory, as captured by the opening scene of the movie. Many years before the events that took place in The Waiter, a team of armed soldiers was ambushed as they set out to release hostages from terrorists. Tonye, a Captain in the army at the time, was presumed not to have made it out alive. As he puts it, he is now back from the dead to reform a pervading disorder. What was supposed to be a simple operation turned into a bloodbath when the police tried to breach the perimeter. Review The Waiter is a movie designed to prompt viewers to think deeply about the nations state. However, the writers seem overwhelmed by the weight of the movies sub-themes. The Waiter is another Nollywood action film with heavy gunplay without the heart-thumping effect or visible damage. As Akpos continues his heroics, driven by mischief, the suave Superintendent Winston (Kunle Remi), a hostage negotiator more interested in the glamour of his office, is on the other side. One thing the movie has going for it is Akposs brand of Waffi humour, as well as the many fight sequences. Other than those, the attempt at special effects, what movie lovers call film trick, falls flat. The overused Robin Hood style of stealing from the rich, in this case, the government, to give to the poor, mocks the movies original theme. Verdict: 6/10 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced, on Sunday, that the United Kingdom has officially recognised Palestine as an independent country. According to Mr Starmer, the decision was intended to maintain prospects for peace while reaffirming the UKs commitment to securing the release of Israeli hostages. In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and of a two-state solution, Mr Starmer said in a video statement on Sunday. This comes as Canada and Australia also formally recognised Palestinian statehood, just two days before the opening of the ongoing 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly; an event where the question of Palestinian sovereignty after decades of occupation will be a central focus. The UK has now joined the growing list of countries that recognise Palestine, including Nigeria and many African countries. So far, at least 142 of the 193 UN member states have already recognised or have pledged to recognise Palestine. Mr Starmer also pledged further action to sanction senior figures in the Hamas leadership in the coming weeks. He stressed that the group would have no role in the future of Palestine, adding that recognising a Palestinian state would not strengthen Hamas, which he described as a brutal terrorist organisation that wants to see Israel destroyed. A call for a genuine two-state solution is the exact opposite of their hateful vision, Mr Starmer said. More countries declaring recognition More countries are also signalling their intention to follow suit as the Israeli-Hamas conflict drags on and Palestinian casualties from Israeli strikes continue to rise. Announcing the recognition of Palestine statehood, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said, Canada recognises the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel. The UK government said in July that it would shift its longstanding approach of holding off recognition until a supposed moment of maximum impact. This was unless Israel stops its genocidal war in Gaza, commits to a long-term sustainable peace process that delivers a two-state solution, and allows more aid into the enclave. Countries like Canada, Belgium, and France had also earlier vowed to recognise Palestine as an independent state at the UNGA should Israel fail to end its war on Gaza, which has led to the death of over 60,000 Palestinians. READ ALSO: UN panel accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, however, has worsened sharply in recent weeks, as Israeli forces continue their assault on Gaza City in an effort to seize it, while further starving and displacing the enclaves famine-stricken population. Meanwhile, daily raids by Israeli soldiers and attacks by settlers persist across the occupied West Bank. Israel, with US support, has also been advancing plans to annex the Palestinian territory and bury the idea of a contiguous Palestinian state with occupied East Jerusalem as its capital. Kenyas Principal Secretary for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu, recently appealed to Kenyans to verify every job opportunity they come across. The National Employment Authority can inform you about credible and licensed agents, Ms Njogu was quoted as saying, adding, We are still seeing Kenyans using travel agents and tour companies in an attempt to find jobs abroad; however, these are not licensed operators. The goal Ms Njogu purported to embraceproper control of foreign job recruitment channelswas certainly needed. In recent years, young Kenyan women seeking to improve their lives by migrating for domestic work in the Gulf States have been abused, and some have even died. Because of such reports, Kenya recently adopted rules that, the government said, would ensure that only credible and licensed agents could offer foreign job and fellowship opportunities to its citizens. However, the resulting system does not seem to have done much to help Kenyan youthever more compelled to seek jobs abroad amid rising unemploymentgain a real sense of where they are headed, particularly with regard to Russia. Licensed recruitment agency Yumna has even been paid by the government to send students there; Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has seen them off personally, and Kenyas ambassador to Russia, Peter Mathuki, waxes lyrical, I am impressed about the Alabuga Special Zone recruitment scheme. Promising a better future With such promoters, how can Kenyas youth be blamed for thinking Russia provides the hope they seek, especially when social media is full of videos featuring accomplished women like Vyonna Rukono, speaking in glowing terms about the Alabuga Start programme that targets young women aged 18 to 22? It has been an amazing experience, Ms Rukono says. I would love to tell you more about it. For young Kenyans, who make up 35 per cent of the population and face a dire lack of prospects to find meaningful work, this is a story of hope. According to a 2023 report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, full unemployment rose significantly in the last quarter of 2022, soon after President William Ruto took office, doubling from 5.2 per cent to 10.4 per cent in the last three months of the year. These figures rise to a shocking 67 per cent when focusing on youth and excluding informal work such as hawking. Young Kenyans who want more out of life than simply eking out a subsistence are, therefore, an ideal audience for curated videos featuring Ms Rukono and other Africans promising a better future in Russia. Some may even prefer being at Alabuga, once there, to the situation they faced before leaving Kenya. According to another video, at least one Kenyan recruit remained committed to being there despite Alabugas, by all accounts, military-adjacent environmenteven after a Ukrainian bombing of the site. I came to work and study at Alabuga Polytech. () I am fine now, says Macrene Otieno in the video, looking angry and appalled at those responsible for the bombing that hit Alabuga on 2 April 2024. Those who attacked our hostel today are real barbarians and deserve serious condemnation. In my opinion, they wanted to intimidate us. But I want to make it clear: they did not succeed. You will not scare me, because Alabuga is a strong place, and we will get through this. The bombing of the Alabuga sitecausing damage to several buildings, including dormitory facilities housing workers on 2 April 2024 took place only weeks after the arrival of one of the first batches of Kenyan recruits, of which Achieng Otieno had likely been a part. Unanswered calls No more videos or pictures featuring Achieng have been circulating since; besides her own, only Vyonna Rukonos remain. We tried to contact Rukono through social media but found little to no information about her, and the available accounts are inactive. We couldnt find Achieng either, nor were we able to establish contact with any Kenyans at the site. A request to facilitate such contact, made to the enthusiastic Alabuga promoter and Kenyan ambassador to Moscow, Peter Mathuki contained in a letter that also asked whether the embassy was monitoring the safety and well-being of Kenyan recruits went unanswered. Likewise, the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a letter inquiring whether it, if not Mr Mathuki himself, was ensuring the well-being of Kenyan citizens on the site. An impressed ambassador Mr Mathuki was quoted in a May 2025 news update posted by the Alabuga channel on X as saying that he had visited the special economic zone, which had exceeded his expectations. I had heard about Alabuga before, but it helped a lot to see this technological industrial park with my own eyes. I am impressed, he added. According to the Russian embassy in Kenya (see comment below), Mr Mathuki is in constant contact with the reported 14 Kenyan participants in the Alabuga programme. In July 2025, he was also a speaker at the Russian Cyber Hack Camp in Moscow, congratulating participants as our new defenders. According to a report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, around 400 Kenyan women aged between 18 and 22 have been issued passports to travel to Alabuga. However, the report also found that, as of December 2024, only 14 Kenyans were employed at Alabuga, and two had returned home, according to the immigration department. No warnings Kenyas government has, to date, issued no warnings to its youth regarding Alabuga or Russias PRneither after the Ukrainian drone strike on the site, nor following shocking reports in October and November that alerted the international community to the presence of an Iranian Shahed-136 attack drone factory at Alabuga, where several women from African countries were found working, including with hazardous chemicals. Nor has the government responded after reports of the general recruitment of African students and workers in Russia, including Kenyans, began appearing in global media. The Kenyan embassy sees a clear benefit While the Russian embassy in Kenya did not respond to our queries, it has previously published a statement criticising reports in the Kenyan media about Russias Alabuga recruitment operation, describing them as part of a large-scale disinformation campaign by the West. The embassy also stated that the Kenyan embassy in Moscow was in constant contact with the Alabuga SEZ (Special Economic Zone) representatives, and that the Kenyan Embassy sees a clear benefit from the participation of young Kenyans in this program and proposes to expand enrolment. The embassy can give further details and arguments about their position independently. Queries sent by our team to the Kenyan embassy in Moscow were left unanswered. Instead, when in December 2024 the embassy of Russia in Nairobi announced a revision of its visa policy for Kenyan citizens, introducing an electronic visa system that eliminated the previous more lengthy application process and offered an affordable visa within five days, Kenyas authorities started working with the Yumna Investment Company, a registered recruitment firm based in Nairobi, to advertise jobs for Kenyans in Russia. The government-funded Uwezo Fund, meant to create opportunities for women and people with disabilities (1), partly funded the company to organise a group deployment to Russia for around 50 workers, purportedly for work in a food packing factory in an undisclosed location in June 2025. Several enquiries as to the location of the food factory from Kenyas Labour Ministry were unsuccessful. The endeavour was embraced by Labour Minister Alfred Mutua, who, just a month earlier, had maintained that the Kenyan government had no programmes actively sending workers to Russia. However, his added remarkbut if one comes up, we will send people thereheralded his own Russia project almost immediately thereafter. Mr Mutua also enthusiastically praised the use of the Uwezo Fund for the trip, as condoned by President Ruto, saying: It was touching to hear young Kenyans express how this opportunity gives them a new lease on life and how grateful they are to H.E. (His Excellency) President Ruto for this life-changing opportunity. The use of taxpayers money to fund a Russia-bound trip organised by a private company raises questions, particularly sinceaccording to the Labour Ministry, headed by Mr Mutuathere are currently no labour agreements in place to protect Kenyan workers in Russia. Mr Mutua has not responded to questions as to the whereabouts and well-being of the workers that were sent off to a country whereaccording to interviews held by our team with Africans currently residing in Russiaarmy recruitment posters promising tens of thousands of dollars are all over. Our formal letter to Mr Mutua, which also asked about oversight mechanisms, the ministrys coordination with recruitment agencies like Yumna Investment Company, transparency in contract terms, measures to protect Kenyan workers from potential exploitation or involvement in military-related roles, and the governments official position on risks related to placements in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, sent several weeks before the publication deadline, was similarly left unanswered, as was a letter to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, in charge of foreign and diaspora affairs, requesting clarity on the governments policy regarding youth deployment abroad, particularly to Russia. Commenting on the lack of information and the mixed messaging from Kenyas government, Peter Kagwanya, president of the Africa Policy Institute, said the country should adopt clear, honest policies to protect its citizens. Locked doors Like our approaches to the above-mentioned government entities, efforts to obtain a response from the Nairobi-based Yumna recruitment firm were also unsuccessful. The company did not respond to a detailed questionnaire seeking clarity on their role in recruitment, contract transparency, worker welfare, and allegations of exploitation. Neither did it answer phone calls. A physical visit to their stated office on University Way, Nairobi, revealed locked doors. The exodus of Kenyans to Russia may be partially encouraged by a smooth PR campaign featuring videos of accomplished and energetic women like Vyonna Rukono and Macrene Achieng. But our investigation shows a much deeper crisis at the root of the phenomenon: Kenyans are willing to work abroad despite unclear labour conditions, and even in the face of a very real threat of war. A recent survey by Afrobarometer showed that more than half of African citizens have considered emigrating. Among them, 49 per cent said they would do so in search of better work opportunities, while 29 per cent cited the desire to escape hardship and poverty. Choosing foreign recruitment, offered with the apparent support of ones own government, may therefore appear to be the best way out, particularly in light of the worldwide visa difficulties facing Africans. Foreign exchange However, the Kenyan governments promotion of jobs abroad, even to risky destinations, points to an absence of plans to develop real opportunities for its youth and, worse, to a conscious policy of using citizens as a resource to bring in foreign exchange. Critics have already raised fears that the recent announcement of a survey of financial remittances to Kenya by migrant workers abroadwhich accounted for almost 4 per cent of the countrys GDP in 2024, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics 2025 Economic Surveymay be followed by a tax. If this happens, it will be yet another cost borne by Kenyans working in foreign countriesincluding dangerous sectors in Russiaand by the families missing them. This article was first published by ZAM Magazine here (hyperlink to original publication on ZAMs website Situation reports have indicated that about 5,000 Nigerians, including civilians and soldiers, have fled across the border to Cameroon following a twin attack on military bases in Borno State by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Taiwo Adebayo, a Lake Chad basin researcher with Institute for Security Studies (ISS), disclosed this Friday evening. SITREP from Cameroon says more than five thousand Nigerians, including soldiers, fled across the border to Amchide and Limani for refuge, after ISWAP attacked Banki and seized a military barracks in the strategic town overnight, Mr Adebayo posted on X. It was reported that ISWAP fighters attacked a military base in Banki on Friday. This came barely 24 hours after they overran another military base in Kumshe. Both attacks displaced civilians and forced soldiers to abandon the bases. However, the military is yet to issue a statement about them. Malik Samuel, a conflict researcher with Good Governance Africa (GGA), further shared details of the attack on X. The Banki attack, which lasted about three hours according to Mr Samuel, was most likely led by Abu Muhammad, ISWAPs Fiya in charge of Gargash (Banki, Kumshe and environs). Before attacking the Banki military base, ISWAP fighters split up into three groups, he said. One group deployed to Freetown, about 5km to Banki; the second group positioned along the Banki-Kumshe road; while the third group headed to the military base. Mr Samuel said the insurgents invaded the town around 12 a.m. and looted items within 30 minutes. They were inside the base and spent the next 2 hours looting and loading items onto trucks, he said. According to civilians, when ISWAP entered Banki town, they asked civilians not to be afraid, saying they were only after security personnel and the military, not civilians, Mr Samuel added. They told the civilians not to run in panic, to avoid being hit by stray bullets. Many civilians still chose to run, with 4 killed by stray bullets and 5 others injured. ISWAP broke away from Boko Haram in 2016 over doctrinal differences, especially the mindless targeting of civilians. READ ALSO: NAF strikes ISWAP leadership cell in Lake Chad region Around 5am, the fighters had left the town. Soldiers returned to the base between 6am while civilians started returning shortly afterward, said Mr Samuel. PREMIUM TIMES understands that the attack on Banki could worsen humanitarian crisis and hamper transborder trade between Nigerians and the Cameroonian border communities. An explosion occurred at a military facility in Kaduna State, killing one and injuring others on Saturday. This was disclosed in a press statement posted by the Nigerian Army on X. The statement, signed by Maria Sambo, the spokesperson for Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), explained that the explosion occurred at the DICON Ordnance Factory Disposal pit. The army explained that the explosion occurred when specialists were concluding the destruction of the remaining quantity of the expired items at the disposal pit. It noted that the DICON had tried to destroy some expired materials including a large quantity of Ammonia Nitrates, Primer Caps, Propellants and others which were stored in some old storage bunkers. One dead, others hospitalised The army said the body of the deceased person had been deposited at a morgue while other injured persons were hospitalised at 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna. While commiserating with staff, families and friends of the deceased and wishing the injured a quick recovery, DICON assures the general public that the unfortunate incident is under control and there is no need for panic, the army said. It assured the neighbouring community that DICON, as a responsible professional organisation, has institutionalised operational safety to the highest level. Urging locals to continue their normal business, the army said the remaining materials have been made safe. Meanwhile, a Board of Inquiry has been set up to find out the immediate cause of the unfortunate incident. When insurgency and herder-farmer violence swept through Borno and Adamawa States between 2010 and 2015, it left hunger, homelessness, and hopelessness in its wake. Boko Harams attacks on police stations, schools, and churches forced millions to flee their homes. Over 1,400 schools were destroyed, agriculture was disrupted, and food insecurity deepened. According to the International Organisation for Migration, more than two million people remain internally displaced across Nigerias north-east. A 2023 survey by the National Bureau of Statistics identified 340 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps across seven northern states. Yet, 1,000 kilometres away in Edo, a quiet transformation is unfolding. At the Home for the Needy (HfN) IDP Camp in Uhogua, just 25 kilometres outside Benin City, children who once fled gunfire are now graduating as doctors, lawyers, engineers, and other professionals. Their journeyfrom tents to degreesdemonstrates how education, mentorship, and community support can turn trauma into opportunity. The Crisis and the Response Originally founded in 1992 to care for orphans and vulnerable children, the Uhogua camp became a refuge for conflict survivors from northern Nigeria after 2012. Today, it shelters over 3,000 IDPs, with thousands more living in surrounding villages. Under the leadership of Solomon Folorunsho, a pastor, the camp provides shelter, healthcare, food (much of it grown on-site), and free education from primary through tertiary levels. I was moved by the overwhelming spate of child neglect and insurgency, Mr Folorunsho told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). I only wanted to give these children a ray of hope. Seeing them graduate as doctors, lawyers, and engineers is proof that God is faithful, he said. Mr Folorunsho stated that the foundation takes great care not to admit criminals or individuals of questionable character into the camp. We carry out background checks using information from relatives and traditional leaders in the home states of the displaced persons, he explained. Often, we also seek the assistance of security agencies to ensure that those we admit are genuinely displaced and not persons with dubious backgrounds. He added that although many of the IDPs are of school age, the foundation conducts examinations and interviews to determine the appropriate class placement for each individual. Those who are either above school age or educationally disadvantaged are guided to choose a vocational training programme that suits their interests, he said. The camps achievements Evelyn Omigie, one of the camps supervisors, noted that the home had produced no fewer than 85 graduates across medicine, pharmacy, law, and other disciplines. Recent years alone have seen five medical doctors, several pharmacists, dozens of accountants, and multiple lawyers, she said. She spoke of Amos Ishaku, a former resident of the home, who graduated from Edo State University, Uzairue, where he earned a First Class degree in Chemical Engineering in November 2023. He achieved a remarkable Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.80, making him the best graduating student in the Faculty of Engineering. His academic excellence earned him several accolades, including the Mike Ozekhome Award for the overall best graduating student and the Best Student awards in both the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Faculty of Engineering. Additionally, Ishaku was honoured with a 2.5 million Entrepreneurship Award for his outstanding business proposal during his time at the university. In August 2024, he secured a fully funded PhD scholarship at the University of Illinois, Chicago, US, marking a significant milestone in his academic journey, she said. Mr Folorunsho further told NAN that no fewer than 147 survivors in the camp recently completed the Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE). He said: We were able to register 147 of our children in the just concluded NECO and NABTEB examinations. 140 out of the 147 sat for the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, and they did very well, as one person scored above 300 and more than 123 scored above 200. However, we are expecting admission for about 145 of them, taking into cognisance the released cut-off mark for admission into tertiary institutions by JAMB some time ago. The coordinator also told NAN that six of the survivors were currently undergoing the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, while five were recently called to the Nigerian Bar. As a way of giving back, camp residents engage in teaching in the camps schools or assisting in the health clinic during holidays, reinforcing a cycle of service and sustainability. Behind the numbers are powerful individual stories of resilience and transformation. Ayuba Philemon, who once slept in the streets of Gwoza after escaping insurgents, is now a 500-level Law student at Western Delta University. Mr Philemon, a resident of HfN and graduate of Accountancy from the University of Benin, does part-time teaching at the Christlike Secondary schools. I thought I would never see a classroom again, he said. But at the camp, I found safety, education, and purpose. From Christlike Primary School through to university, everything was made possible by the Home for the Needy. Blessing Moses, displaced from Mubi North in 2015, earned her Bachelor of Nursing Science from Edo University and now volunteers at the camps clinic while awaiting NYSC mobilisation. I enrolled in school immediately after arriving, she recalled. Today, I am a qualified nurse. Giving back through the clinic is my way of saying thank you. Obadiah Philemon, who once survived two weeks in the mountains and endured hunger to stay alive, graduated with a Second Class Upper degree in Accountancy from the University of Benin. He now teaches Economics and Mathematics in the camps secondary school. There were times when learning meant sitting under trees, he said. But this camp gave me a second chance. Now, I help the next generation find theirs. Obadiah Philemon, a 500-level Law student at Western-Delta University in Delta, who also does part-time teaching at the Christlike Secondary school at HfN. The Power of community support The camps efforts have been amplified by support from local groups such as the Kindness Family, led by Naomi Ehigie. We first visited through the Jesus Fellowship Prayer Band, and I was deeply touched, Ms Ehigie said. We built a kitchen in 2017, donated utensils, and still provide food and supplies. Every child here deserves a chance. Challenges remain In spite of its successes, HfN continues to face major challenges: inadequate funding, food shortages, limited infrastructure, and difficulties sustaining teacher salaries. Classes are sometimes held under trees, and the camp depends heavily on private donations and volunteer support. Still, the model demonstrates that displacement doesnt have to lead to despair. With the right support systemseducation, mentorship, and communityIDPs can rebuild their lives and become agents of change. Every child on the street has the potential to be a doctor, lawyer, or innovator, said Mr Folorunsho. If you support that child, you could be saving the world from future vices. From tragedy has come transformation, and in the heart of Edo, a generation of displaced children is now building a future that once seemed impossible. **The story is with the support of the Nigeria Health Watch (NAN) in collaboration with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). (NAN) Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 1822, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound 1,000 km east of Moscow called Alabuga. The reports also said that the recruitsfrom at least 15 African countrieswere promised good salaries and skills training, but that, once there, they were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance, and difficulties in returning home. In the past six months, a ZAM team in seven African countries, including PREMIUM TIMES in Nigeria, investigated the Russian recruitment exerciseand why so many young Africans grab the chance to go, sometimes even after being warned. In Nigeria, Beloved John of PREMIUM TIMES joined a long queue of women trying to apply. The Alabuga Start Programme says on its Telegram page that only young women between the ages of 18 and 22 can apply because this is considered an ideal age range to begin building a career from scratch. This may be so. But after going through the first part of the recruitment process myself, I have come to think that there may be another reason. Maybe they just target impressionable youth? Maybe more mature adults would not put up with the badly written emails and long silences we get from our Human Resources (HR) recruiters? Or is our -perhaps youthful- desire to japa, leave Nigeria, so strong that we will put up with anything at all? When I register, I first find that there is no application window. The process lasts all year round; it has no cycle or deadlines. From messages by other applicants on the Telegram channel, I gather after a while that the process typically spans a minimum of three to four months, but can last up to a year. This is probably partly related to the fact that we are quite a queue here: over one thousand group members, from all over Africa. My fellow applicants complain about a lack of communication, half-answered and repeated emails, or a deep hole of silence after what appears to be some progress. (Three months) is if you are lucky. It depends on how fast and responsive your HR specialist is, Priscilla Eze* (20), one of my co-applicants, tells me. Not all is what it seems Russia probably doesnt have enough HR specialists to engage with all of us at once. There must be pre-selection criteria in place; however, we are not told what they are. The Alabuga scholarship, advertised on Nigerias Ministry of Educations website, had only asked for a high school certificate and an 18-22 age range. It has looked very appealing, with polished-sounding descriptions of salary, duration, structure, and skills training options. But going through the process, some of us start to doubt if all is what it seems. I start questioning Alabugas registration professionalism after I complete my short bio form on the Alabuga Start official website with name, age, and contact details. From there, I have been directed to the Telegram group page, where I have found my co-applicants trying to enrol. To find that, unlike in most professional application processes, all interaction with Alabuga is primarily conducted on Telegram was the first raised eyebrow for me. I must be making a good impression, though, because its not long before I am assigned an HR specialist, who says their name is Halilov Nurlan. But Nurlans communication is also not very professional. Their first message, sent simultaneously to my email, Telegram, and WhatsApp accounts, does not include a subject line and contains both grammatical errors and random emojis like a wave, a lightbulb and a heart. Later in the process, interacting not only with Nurlan but also with other human resource specialists, I am asked to submit a video essay which details my work experience, even though the scholarship is advertised as available to students at the high school level. They then also want me to scan and submit every single page of my passport. Asked about this, Nurlan responds that this is for processing a visa and a migration card, like it is done for all foreign residents who come to Russia. Thereafter, I am told, I must still submit a medical examination result that proves I dont have a chronic condition, do a simulation test and learn 100 Russian words. It all becomes a bridge too far for me, and I jump ship. Fellow applicants who stay on board tell me later that they were informed by their HR specialists that their data had been processed and sent, first to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then to the Russian embassy in Nigeria. One of them, Elizabeth Ojewale*, tells me that, at the end, they will send your document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue you an invitation to come to Russia. Another, Grace Onochie*, adds that you will book an appointment with the embassy in Abuja (Nigeria) for your visa. Then Alabuga will book your flight, and then you go. A deleted message Most applicants I have been talking to have persisted throughout the dodgy process, even after having seen warnings about Alabuga. Only Fatimah Yusuf* tells me she has begun to reconsider her decision to enrol in Alabuga Start after noticing that an inquiry about the programme was quietly deleted from the Telegram group page. The deleted post, shared by an unknown user on 17 August, was a screenshot of ChatGPTs response to a concern about Alabuga start prompt. The first sentence in the images reads, deceptive recruitment, and another reads, exploitation and poor working conditions. The user shared the screenshot with the caption, Tell me. Ms Yusuf had been alarmed by the post, but she said she hoped a response from the Alabuga group admin would clarify the misconception. Seven hours later, she found that the message had been deleted from the group. I dont know anymore. I dont think I want to continue. I am so confused. I have devoted so much of my time to this, she said. I just checked myself. Its true. Her disappointment was palpable since for her the programme had represented the opportunity of a lifetime. Ms Yusuf had, she said, completed secondary school three years earlier but was unable to continue to university due to financial constraints; she was now sitting at home, frustrated. She had felt energised, thinking she had found a new purpose, when she had come across social media posts and videos of young women who purported to be at Alabuga, -like an Ethiopian participant portrayed in an advertorial published on both our Daily Post and Pulse Nigeria sites, who had been quoted as saying she was happy with her career growth; and one fellow Nigerian, Victoria Kilani, whose testimonial that there were no downsides and no racism at Alabuga- was published by West Africa Weekly. That the interviews were not the original work by the media that carried them, but simply copied on from Alabuga PR texts, was probably unclear to Ms Yusuf and others like her. Combined with Alabugas animated images and motion graphics on Telegram, WhatsApp, X, and other social media platforms, which regularly featured young fictional characters from poor economic backgrounds who went on to achieve success at Alabuga, the PR posts had filled Ms Yusuf with hope. The problem has been money, Ms Yusuf had told me. With Alabuga, they told me you can make money and go to a university after you finish the programme. But now I cant do it. I cannot risk it, she had ended, sadly. Unfazed Unlike Ms Yusuf, however, Nneka Amadi*, from Lagos, has remained unfazed by the warnings. I havent secured admission into a university. I dont have the funds. My parents couldnt sponsor me. A scholarship (to Alabuga) will be my only escape route. Even if one has the funds, it is not easy to get into higher education in Nigeria. Data from the countrys Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) show that over one million young people seek admission each year but are denied access. Yomi Fawehinmi, an educationist, researcher, and human resources professional, says he understands very well why youth would hope for an opportunity such as seemingly offered by Alabuga. Getting into a university is a significant challenge in Nigeria, especially when you consider the rising level of poverty, he said. As a result, its not just young people themselves who flock to the Alabuga opportunity. In the Telegram channel, but also in a dedicated WhatsApp group, I even find parents trying to enrol their daughters, siblings trying to research or ask follow-up questions on behalf of relatives, and prospective applicants seeking guidance on the admission process. Japa Generally, opportunities in Russia are increasingly familiar terrain for those who try to japa, as the term goes: leave Nigeria to seek greener pastures abroad. Thousands of Nigerians have already studied in Russia in recent years. The Russia-Nigeria Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA), jointly administered by the Russian Ministry of Education and its Nigerian counterpart, through the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), is the primary driver of cooperation. Each year, the Russian government grants scholarships to about 100 Nigerian students. According to the web page of the Nigerian embassy in Russia, there are more than 2,500 Nigerian students currently enrolled in universities across Russia, particularly in cities such as Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan, Belgorod, Rostov, Voronezh, Kursk, and Samara. However, though advertised in the web portal of Nigerias Ministry of Education, the Alabuga Polytech is not one of these. Reaching out to the Ministry of Education to inquire why the Alabuga scholarship is on its website, I was directed to the Federal Scholarship Board, which, I am told, oversees such listings. A response from FSB director Ndajiwo Asta states that neither her agency nor the ministry itself has involvement with the Alabuga project. Whatever is on the website, it was made by fraudulent persons trying to use the ministry. We have never issued any statement endorsing Alabuga, Ms Asta says. The Ministry did not authorise it. Let the public know about this. Anyone can draft a letter and upload it to a known website. Remarkably, two press statements endorsing the programme have also been published on the education ministrys website. Both statements carried the ministrys logo and were presented on its official website as an endorsement of the programme. FSB official Chris Eje admits, in line with the comment made by Ms Asta, that fraudulent institutions sometimes hack the ministrys website to upload fake reports and press releases advertising fake educational opportunities. If anything, this is a deceptive tactic used to give the programme credibility, he said. A scammer published this. When asked why the false statements have not been taken down, he says, I dont know. A network of recruiters Besides using social media channels, Alabuga Start has also contracted employment and travel agencies in Nigeria to recruit young women. Some of these have substantial social media followings and use persuasive marketing posts to attract applicants. Adeleke Oluwatobi, director of one of these, called Mercy of Success Konsultant, tells me that There is a network of recruiters. We (Mercy) have signed a memorandum of understanding with them (Alabuga). Initially reluctant to share the agreement his agency has with Alabuga, saying Its a confidential document. I have to be careful, he eventually shares a video recording of a 3-page document, titled Memorandum of Understanding between Special Economic Zone of an Industrial and Production Type Alabuga and MOS Konsultant. The document is written in both English and Russian and states that the agreement has been drafted to develop and strengthen cooperation between parties in the field of employment in Nigeria under the programme Alabuga Start. It adds that the recruiter is mandated to disseminate information about the (Alabuga) programme to potential participants and to provide support in establishing contacts with other structures or organisations that may be interested in helping to disseminate information about (the) programme. Another part of the document indicates that the recruiter is obliged to assist with the arrival of applicants to the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Russia from Nigeria, and yet another that the agency is expected to send participants of the programme to medical centers approved by the Embassy of the Russian Federation to undergo medical examination and obtain confirmation of the absence of the following medical conditions: HIV/AIDS, syphilis, tuberculosis, Hepatitis A, B, C. D, E, pregnancy and an X-ray. Topklass Erasco Travel & Tours agency also recruits for Alabuga in Nigeria. Branding herself as the face of Alabuga in Nigeria, Topklass director Cynthia Orah frequently posts promotional content about the programme on her official TikTok account, which has over 29,000 followers. When I contact her with concerns about the nature of the Alabuga programme and its recruitment process, she says that this is all false information. Both Topklass Erasco and Mercy are registered businesses under the Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Both Mercys Oluwatobi and Topklasss Cynthia Orah insist that they are also recognised by the Nigerian government as recruiters for foreign companies. However, a license by the Ministry of Labour is required for such a purpose, and the Ministry of Labour, when asked about Topklass and Mercy, states that these are not on the list of licensed private employment agencies. When I ask both agencies directors for a response to this finding, Ms Orah only says she feels insulted and will no longer be interacting with me. Mercys Mr Oluwatobi does not respond at all. Russian denial Since the Telegram channel discussions reflect that the Russian Embassy in Nigeria is the final step in the Alabuga registration process, I try to engage with the Ambassador, Andrey Podelyshev, at a press briefing held by him, but all my questions are met with denial. He says he cant tell me how many visas his embassy has granted to Nigerian Alabuga applicants and that he can also not comment on the welfare of participants in the programme. The embassy does not have any relationship with Alabuga, he states and adds that he knows little about the programme. He insists, however, that foreign participants are not recruited to assemble military drones as Russian legislation prohibits this. For anyone to work in the plant, they must obtain clearance from the security agency. Hopeful that I may receive cooperation or insights from diplomat Abdullah Shehu at the Nigerian Embassy in Russia -he visited the site and posed with participants already in 2023, so he must have access- I am disappointed again. No reply comes to my query regarding Nigerian participants welfare in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, or regarding the possibility of facilitating a meeting with them. Likewise, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not respond to the question whether it is aware of any programme that invites young Nigerian women to Russia. Meanwhile, the Alabuga Telegram channel keeps growing, with many applicants still joining the queue; the complaints about delays likewise seem never-ending. At some point, my compatriot Nneka Amadi, -the one who told me that Alabuga was her escape route out of Nigeria-, seems to have had enough. Lashing out on the group early in August, she writes that God knows that my deadline for Alabuga is August 31. If I dont have my visa by then, Ill scratch (forget) everything about them and wont encourage anyone else to apply. Imagine spending money to get a visa and then having no flight ticket () Will that money be refunded to me? Two weeks later, Ms Amadi has given in, reconciled to the fact that she has yet to invest more money for her chance to travel. After writing: Life has defeated you 4 0 by making you Nigerian, she resignedly tells me that the recruiters did not book her flight (yet) and that she will now apply for another visa. And that will cost me more money. *Names in asterisks have been changed for privacy and security reasons. This article was jointly published by ZAM Magazine and PREMIUM TIMES. By: Charles Mafa, Samuel Baker Byansi, Elizabeth BanyiTabi, Eric Mugendi, William Moige, Josephine Chinele, Emmanuel Mutaizibwa, Beloved John and Evelyn Groenink International reports have addressed Russias recruitment of young African women for its Alabuga military-industrial zone, 1,000 km east of Moscow, as a trap, based on false information and fake promises. Our recent investigation confirmed that much of the content in campaigns that reached tens of thousands in our countries was indeed false. Alabuga is not a school, but a tough working environment; it is not full of love and happiness, but military-style, tightly controlled and disciplined, with limited freedom of movement. Salaries are subject to deductions, and savings are difficult, if not impossible, to transfer back home. It is also not just about study and work, but about supporting Russias war industry; the site includes an Iranian Shahed-136 attack drone factory. We also interviewed young men in the recruitment channel. Their destiny was even darker: they are either recruited directly into the army or funnelled from the factory floor straight to Ukraines battlefields. The Russian system appears designed that way. Recruitment networks in African countries systematically target both young men and women, using the same legitimate-looking websites and cultural centres, channelling women to new families in the Russian military environment and men toward a military endpoint that recruiters deliberately obscure. But false information and fake promises were not all there was to the recruitment phenomenon. Among our interviewees, several said they would rethink their plans after being informed of the true nature of the place they had thought of travelling to. Butand this is our main takeawaythere were even more who insisted they would still go. This is my only escape and Better to be exploited in a developed country than where I am now are just some of the many, many comments we encountered from passionate young women and men, who either held on to the false information they had been given, desperately hoping the warnings were only Western propaganda, or who went in with their eyes open, intent on making something of themselves elsewhere, no matter where or what. As one Burundian recruit explained: When your family is struggling to eat, and someone offers you $800 a month plus free housing, you dont ask many questions. Trapped already To understand this, especially for Westerners, it is important to take into account that Africas youth are already trapped: in badly governed countries where only a politically connected few live the good life. Avenues open to the non-privileged are often limited to eking out a living in the informal economy. Vast numbers of non-connected university graduates sit at home, frantically trying to work onlinesometimes doing academic assignments for peers in the West, sometimes turning to gambling. The Alabuga recruitment is only the most recent manifestation of this unemployment crisis among youth, who form the largest population demographic and are therefore eager to embrace any opportunities, real or perceived, outside the country. Fifteen years ago, we at ZAM published interviews with young African women who were trafficked by sex work gangs from Nigeria to brothels in the West. Even then, we found that many of the girls being groomed for sex work were fully aware of what they were getting into. Even then, we were told: But how else do I get out of this country? Today, in Nigeria, there is a word for that burning desire to leave: japa, escape. Of course, it is preferable to leave legally, for study, work, or even just a holiday, to a place where you want to go. But with the West locked down, and most youth lacking the money to pay their way into the world, only one route remains: recruitment by foreign powers. To get out, one depends on prefabricated channels with vague purposes or even clear risks. After sex work from Nigeria, we found that youth were channelled into domestic work, where they were often abused in the Gulf States. Now, it is Russia. Governments complicit We found that insult was added to injury by the African governments own attitude toward this phenomenon, most starkly in the context of the Alabuga recruitment scheme. Authorities in all seven countries appeared to have embraced this scheme without scrutinising any risks or dangers. No African government has issued warnings about Alabugas military-adjacent nature. Nigeria is seemingly incapable of removing an Alabuga brochure from its government portal. A Kenyan ambassador has publicly praised the Alabuga programme as impressive. Ugandas ambassador to Russia announced Alabuga scholarships and visited the compound. An MP is helping to facilitate Alabuga passports and says, We are OK with them [the Russians] taking the girls. A Cameroonian politically connected businessman, while facilitating his countrys young womens travel to Alabuga, talks of financial empowerment of the girl child and brags on social media that his Russian recruitment route is the solution to Africas problem of illegal migration. And as he insists that all criticism against Alabuga recruitment is propaganda and that these girls are fine there, he continues to deny our teams request to speak to at least one of them ourselves. The rupture of families and communities is an unavoidable side-effect that the same governments also dont seem to be concerned about. In Burundi, a mother, with a breaking voice, tells us, Its like our children dont matter. In Cameroon, families flock to an anonymous Facebook page to find rumours about their loved ones amid silence from their government. In Zimbabwe, a mother whose daughters trip to Alabuga was helped along by a senior government employee said that speaking openly about her concern for her daughter would lead to government reprisals: Theyll say I am feeding the media. The family of Libere Hatungimana was told by Burundis embassy in Moscow that he might have died, but received no official confirmation or assistance. The dealselling out the youthto Russia, a new partner increasingly embraced by political elite authorities in African countries, therefore appears more important than checking on the well-being of these recruits and their families. A senior education official in Rwandas government told us, on condition of anonymity, that she was worried about students leaving for vague destinies, but added: The orders to work with these people (Russia) are always coming from above. Foreign exchange Besides the context of working with Russiasee more on that belowwe found that African governments in the seven countries have generally normalised sending their youth through foreign recruitment channels as if leading cattle. Instead of designing a future for young people in their own countries, or at least working diligently to upset unfair visa regimes and create real foreign opportunities for the talented and energetic, instead of using such foreign opportunities to grow a reservoir of skilled people to help build Africa and the world, they appear focused simply on getting them out. The Kenyan government has subsidised a private recruitment agency taking youth to unclear destinations in Russia; the minister involved poses proudly for cameras with his soon-to-be migrant workers, but refuses to answer questions. In Malawi, a minister openly talks of the marketability of youth as a way to get foreign exchange (and that money will not even be put to good use to build our country, but will be stolen again, as one team member put it). The same minister scolds youth working abroad for bad behaviour and abandoning their posts, instead of expressing concern about reports of abuse and unkept promises in the labour arrangement. Questions we posed about the Alabuga recruitment scheme, or about recruitment agencies work in general, were not answered by any ministry or embassy, anywhere. Generation Z The question of why African governments seemingly want to market their own youth away seems simple to answer: there are so many young people on the continent, with over two-thirds of the population under 35. And the dwindling, badly managed economies certainly cannot provide jobs for all. But there is another factor, too: in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and elsewhere, young people have been at the forefront of demands for change. Generation Z is aware, often educated; it sees the rot in postcolonial governing structures and has ideas on how to change it. It is itching to play a role, come to the fore, come into its own, and lead countries toward real development. Most of the ageing autocraticand often kleptocraticleaders on the continent appear unwilling to listen. Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria have been violently confronting, even shooting, their protesting Generation Z in the streets, and have been globally criticised for it. Could it be that simply pointing them towards greener pastures elsewhere is seen as a more elegant way for them to get rid of the problem? Russias deal The Russian recruitment scheme presents such oppressive leaders with a deal that, for them, is very good indeed. Not only does it release some steam from the kettle that is the trapped and frustrated young citizenry in their countries, but it also comes with real support for their own oppressive apparatus. Russia, part of the BRICS multipolar configuration, is developing ever closer ties with dictatorial regimes in this respect, offering weapons, drones, surveillance technology, and aerial power unconditionally. The case is simply that Western countries have outlived their opportunities for Africans, as the above-mentioned Cameroonian recruiter, closely connected to the autocratic regime in his country, put it, positioning Russia as taking the lead. Russia, for its part, banks on Africas tin-pot despots, offering itself as their new, more loyal, stronger partner, with rich prospects of resources, both human and material, and a whole continent to become the main player in, in return. Meanwhile, the West weakens, with the United States under Donald Trump also turning into a tyrannical state, beginning to resemble Russia or the African governments mentioned earlier. Europes feebly and intermittently issued statements on human rights and a free press risk becoming increasingly inconsequential. Democrats, both in Africa and elsewhere, should therefore be very alarmed at what is happening to Africas youth. Its recruitment by this new alliance of oppressors, local and abroadboth using their economic vulnerability for their own purposesintersects with their political marginalisation and weakens them as the main force ready to fight these developments. Regional institutions The problem should be laid urgently at the doorstep of continental and regional bodies like the Southern African Development Community, the Economic Community of West African States, the East African Community, and certainly the African Union (AU). All of these have so far been quiet on youth emigration, but have a critical role to play in reversing this trend. It would be good if they first and foremost acknowledged their failure to date to protect Africas citizens from predatory recruitment. But even if they hesitate to do that, they should at least now begin establishing monitoring systems for their nationals abroad and hold governments accountable for promoting dangerous programmes. Equally importantly, they must finally start to address the economic desperation that makes these schemes seem attractive and seek genuine solutions for youth, whether abroad or at home. There is much that African regional authorities could do to ensure that the continents natural wealth is managed transparently and fairly, so that its benefits reach communities rather than being concentrated in the hands of a few. They could champion stronger youth empowerment initiativesinvesting in education, skills training, entrepreneurship, and innovation. They also have the power to create safer, more regulated pathways for youth to move across African borders in search of work and study, ensuring that mobility within the continent becomes a real alternative to risky ventures beyond it. They could furthermore amplify the voices of young people themselves, giving them a seat at the table where decisions about their future are made. By making youth active participants in policymaking, they can help build a continent where young people no longer feel the need to escapeas opposed to simply travelin order to live with dignity. If African governments, together with the AU and regional bodies, would act decisively, the story of Africas youth could shiftfrom one of flight and loss to one of opportunity, fairness, and hope on the continent itself. Without such concrete steps, the only japa route for young Africans will remain their use as pawns by Russia or any other foreign powers. As journalists standing for accountability and justice, and as members of the affected citizenries and societies, we request that our governments and these regional and continental bodies prioritise such action. We will interrogate all these institutions on these issues should they continue to fail. Solidarity Besides, within Africa, the message for the international communityespecially in the Westis becoming increasingly clear. Firstly, Russias recruitment represents a clear form of human trafficking that violates international law. Each day of inaction means more African families lose their children, and more communities are left crippled and traumatised. Secondly, the current situation means that the Wests enemy, Russia, will continue to build up its war machine using African youth. The West, therefore, needs to actbut it cannot limit itself to passionate warnings to young Africans that this is a trap. Waving red flags about the dangers out there has repeatedly proven to have little or no effect on an exasperated youth, eager to escape at any cost. Rather, solidarity with Africas Generation Z and its push for democracy and good governance on the continent seems essential if Africa is to be saved from a destiny as newly colonised pawns, with its leaders firmly in the Russian embrace, its people corralled, its communities fragmented and muzzled. If not for these reasons, the West might, at the very least, still want to have a fighting chance for trade relations with a continent so rich in vital resources, while, to the east, facing an army increasingly populated by the same African youth it so desperately tries to keep from its own shores. Geopolitics aside: the voices of the disappeared, the sons and daughters whose families wait by silent phones, demand more than sympathy. They demand action to ensure no more young Africans trade their dreams for a place in someone elses war. Today, the House of Representatives commences a public hearing into the proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria. The hearing to be conducted by the House Committee on Constitution Review will provide Nigerians with the opportunity to provide input into the State Police Bill before the National Assembly. Committee Chairperson and Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, explained to journalists on Thursday that the bill seeks to improve response time and align policing with international standards. Mr Kalu, who just returned from Geneva, Switzerland, where he represented Nigeria at the 55th WTO-Inter-Parliamentary Union Public Forum, argued that the countrys current centralised policing system was inadequate and lagged behind global best practices, hence the urgent need for state police as a solution to the security challenges. The only way we can achieve this is by unbundling the centralised structure, just as other countries operate municipal and state policing systems, he said. Through the exercise, some individuals and groups hope for a concrete roadmap to improve security in the country, while others come with caution, aware of potential abuses should the system be poorly managed. Unending insecurity Nigeria has, in the last decade, grappled with multiple security challenges bordering on terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, militancy, and farmer-herder clashes, leading to the loss of lives and destruction of properties. The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) is expected to be at the forefront of fighting and containing the escalating security challenges. However, among its many problems, the police are understaffed and under-equipped, leading to the militarisation of internal security, especially since the Boko Haram insurgency started. Apart from the militarisation of internal security, observers have blamed Nigerias inefficient policing on structural challenges, underfunding, poor equipment, limited manpower, lack of public trust and corruption. Thus, as Nigeria grapples with rising insecurity, authorities ponder the best approach to curtail it. State police: A longtime agitation The call for state policing is not new. In the build-up to Nigerias independence, the countrys founding fathers argued over regional policing (the federating units in Nigeria then were regions), which was eventually not accepted, despite the existence of some form of local policing at local levels. After the return to democracy in 1999, governors, civil society and security experts began to advocate for decentralised policing as insecurity worsened. But Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution restrained states from creating their own police forces. The document recognises only a central police force for the country. However, the #EndSARS protests in 2020 further amplified demands for police reform, while recent years, especially 2024, have seen stronger political and legislative momentum, with governors, lawmakers and traditional rulers openly backing constitutional amendments to formally establish state police. Moves for the creation of state police received further boost when, in February last year, President Bola Tinubu and the governors spoke in its support. Hopeful proponents Proponents like Messrs Tinubu and Kalu argue that the centralised policing model is increasingly inadequate. Governors, civil society, and many experts say that state police would bring law enforcement closer to local communities and enable timely responses to security threats. In April 2024, President Tinubu, at the National Dialogue on State Policing, said his commitment to reforming the Nigeria Police Force and enhancing national security was unwavering, describing state policing not as just a policy idea but as a potential milestone in the evolution of the nations law enforcement that would allow policing more responsive to local needs. At the same event, former President Goodluck Jonathan said that there is no need to debate about state police. Mr Jonathan noted that the creation of state police was accepted at the 2014 National Conference. Voices of caution Despite the appeal, critics warn that establishing state police may open the door to misuse and politicisation, which could lead to human rights abuses. Yusuf Gagdi, a lawmaker representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in Plateau State in the House of Representatives, is one of those opposing the creation of state police. My position, even on the floor of the House, is that governors will misuse state police, particularly against political opponents, he said, adding that state policing will not be used to maintain peace and order. Rather, Mr Gagdi advocated for strengthening the existing security agencies. While emphasising the need for accountability, the APC lawmaker urged the government to adequately fund the police, the SSS and other security outfits. He is not a lone critic. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, had said that Nigeria is not mature to adopt state policing. Like Mr Gagdi, the police boss said, There is the potential for abuse of power by the state political leadership. State governors could use the police forces under their control for political or personal gain and undermine human rights and security, he said. There would also be a conflict of jurisdiction. Mr Egbetokun called for more funding for the NPF and lamented how insufficient manpower hindered the deployment of police to troubled areas. Though an increment is taking place and has improved the number of personnel in the force. This remains insufficient when compared to the one policeman to 400 citizens ratio recommended by the United Nations, the police boss said in 2023. As of now, the police-citizen ratio is one to 604 in view of the growing population; therefore, the NPF requires an additional 190,000 personnel to be at par with the UN recommendation ratio, he added. Expectations at public hearing Todays public hearing will serve as a platform for both proponents and opponents to present their cases. Many state governors and state attorneys general will likely emphasise local security challenges and call for constitutional changes to permit state policing. States like Plateau, Benue, and Nasarawa have already done so in recent hearings. There might be strong opposition from groups like Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN). Some civic organisations and lawyers may also raise concerns around abuses, politicisation and funding. Questions of oversight may also arise, just like Messrs Gagdi and Egbetoken have highlighted. Concerns may be raised about how governors will be prevented from using police forces for partisan ends. There will be questions around whether funding will be guaranteed and how state police will coordinate with federal structures to take centre stage. The bill for the establishment of state police had been debated in the seventh, eighth and ninth sessions of the National Assembly, but no appreciable progress was made. If the bill scales through this time around, there are chances Mr Tinubu will not hesitate to sign it into law. That would, however, be after it receives the nod of two-thirds of the 36 Houses of Assembly because it is a constitution amendment bill. The House of Representatives has commenced a national public hearing on constitutional amendment proposals that could fundamentally reshape the countrys political, security, and governance structures. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, declared that the exercise is Nigerias most inclusive constitutional review in history, stressing that its outcome must reflect the voices of citizens rather than the preferences of the political elite. In his opening remarks at the public hearing on Monday, Mr Kalu emphasised that the legitimacy of the new amendments will depend on their acceptance by Nigerians themselves. He described the current stage of the process as the culmination of months of public consultations across the six geopolitical zones, during which citizens, civil society groups, traditional leaders, security agencies, and professional bodies submitted memoranda and testimonies. Mr Kalu traced Nigerias constitutional evolution from the 1922 Cliffords Constitution to the present 1999 Constitution, arguing that every era has reflected the anxieties and aspirations of the time. He noted, however, that the 1999 Constitution, drafted by the military, has remained contested for being less representative of Nigerias democratic will. He said, These aspirations, these anxieties, and these unresolved questions, the challenges of the 21st century demand a Constitution that is not an answer for the past, but a dynamic view that brings into the future. This is the sole mandate of the House of Representatives Committee in Constitutional Review. For the amendments to take effect, they must secure two-thirds majority support in both chambers of the National Assembly and approval from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly. Mr Kalu cautioned that while the public hearing represents the final stage of citizen engagement, the bills still face rigorous scrutiny, harmonisation with the Senate, and pruning by state assemblies. He urged Nigerians not to disengage after the hearings but to remain vigilant and hold lawmakers accountable until the reforms are passed: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, described the hearing as a significant moment in Nigerias democratic journey, noting that the review results from deliberate, nationwide engagement designed to ensure that arterial chromosomes shape the evolution of our supreme law. Mr Tajudeen praised Mr Kalus leadership in conducting zonal consultations that gathered the hopes, concerns, and insights of Nigerians from every background. He stressed that this hearing unites those diverse voices into a single national conversation. He highlighted the need for timeliness and closure, warning that constitutional reform often loses momentum when it drags on: Reform delayed is reform denied. Nigerians deserve clarity and closure. After the National Assembly votes on these bills, the State Houses of Assembly must also consider and approve them under Section 9 of the Constitution. We have set clear timelines to transmit the proposals promptly to state legislatures so that conformance can be secured within this legislative session, he said. Mr Tajudeen also welcomed the strong presence of women at the hearing, reaffirming his support for the reserved seats bill and related proposals to guarantee womens inclusion in parliament and ministerial appointments. He further endorsed the amendment to recognise the role of traditional rulers in peacebuilding and community security, describing it as a pragmatic way of integrating cultural realities into modern governance without undermining republican principles. Tinubu and Akpabio signal support President Bola Tinubu, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, commended the House for opening the process to citizens, stressing that the constitution is a living document that must evolve with Nigerias realities. Mr Tinubu linked the review to his Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen institutions, deepen federalism, and entrench inclusivity. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Deputy Whip Peter Nwebonyi, also underscored the historical importance of the exercise. He reminded participants that the 1999 Constitution was handed down by the military and has since been amended five times, but still lacks ownership by Nigerians. The constitution is not for the parliament, the courts, or the executive. It is for the people, Mr Akpabio said, urging Nigerians to seize the opportunity to ventilate their feelings toward a truly people-driven constitution. The bills While the review contains 87 amendment bills, three areas stand out as defining battles that could alter the structure of Nigerian governance if passed. 1. State and community policing One of the boldest proposals seeks to effectively create state and community police forces. This move follows calls that Nigerias centralised policing system has failed to address insecurity, leaving communities vulnerable to insurgency, banditry, and kidnappings. The state police debate has been one of Nigerias longest-running constitutional controversies. Several past attempts to create it during the Obasanjo, Jonathan, and Buhari administrations were defeated by fears of abuse by governors and political actors. This current effort, however, comes against the backdrop of unprecedented security crises that many say demand localised solutions. 2. Reserved seats for women and persons with disabilities Another landmark amendment proposes constitutionally guaranteed reserved seats for women and persons with disabilities in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. Nigeria remains one of the most underrepresented countries globally regarding women in politics, currently below six per cent in legislative bodies. Mr Kalu described the bill as a transformative step toward correcting systemic exclusion, ensuring that governance reflects the perspectives of all citizens. The reserved seats proposal has faced stiff opposition in the past, but campaigners argue it is the only way to achieve meaningful gender balance. 3. Local government autonomy The third major front is the push for full financial and administrative independence for local governments. The amendment seeks to enhance the autonomy of the local governments by providing a structured system of executive and legislative arms of the local governments, as well as an independent electoral body for conducting elections to local government offices, and full financial autonomy for local governments. Broader reform The 87 amendment bills are grouped into key reform themes that touch virtually every sector of Nigerian life: Electoral Reforms: Proposals include collectively aiming to address the conducting of all general elections in a single day, decamping as a ground for impeachment, independent candidature, establishment of a local government elections commission, prevention of invalidation of elections on grounds of deficiencies in a deputys qualifications, appointment of chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission by the National Judicial Council, prevention of a dual position of party executive and elective office, among others. READ ALSO: Lagos loses four female elected officials within two months of inauguration Judicial Reforms: The proposed amendments include, to designate the Court of Appeal as the final appellate body for some election petitions, to create Local Government Election Tribunals, removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chief Judges of the States from the Federal and States Judicial Service Commissions respectively, enabling concurrent jurisdiction between the Federal High Court and state High Courts in adjudicating electoral offences, increase the number of Justices of the Federal High Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, and empowering judges to conclude part-heard criminal cases after elevation to higher courts. Devolution of Powers: The bills are aimed at transferring water management to State governments, transferring control of natural resources in a state to be jointly between the Federal and State Government, transferring mines and minerals to State governments, which will remit 25 per cent of such revenue to the Federal Government. Strengthening Institutions: Proposals include mandating publication of Auditor-Generals reports, setting a compulsory 10-year cycle for national census, enforcing budget presentation timelines, and removing transitional law-making powers from the Executive. Traditional Institutions: This is a single bill seeking to formally recognise and assign advisory and governance roles to traditional rulers, particularly in security and community development. Human Rights: Proposals include banning the public parading of crime suspects, domesticating international human rights treaties without further legislation, and replacing death sentences for pregnant women with life imprisonment. Citizenship and Indigeneship: Bills propose granting citizenship to foreign spouses of Nigerian women (currently, only Nigerian men enjoy this provision), introducing citizenship by investment, and granting indigene status to those resident in a state for at least 10 years. The House of Representatives has directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, to provide a detailed spreadsheet of payments made to contractors as part of the N2.4 trillion recently approved by the federal government for project implementation. This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by Levinus Nwabughiogu, chief press secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who chairs the Ad-hoc Committee on Budget Implementation. According to the release, the lawmakers demand followed confirmation by the Office of the Accountant-General that about N2.4 trillion had been approved for disbursement to contractors. The parliament also warned contractors to ensure project authenticity, stressing that they must ensure that projects paid for were jobs well done and not just for a piece of paper or a certificate of completion. Why the House intervened The intervention by the House follows months of protests by members of the Association of Indigenous Contractors of Nigeria, who accused the federal government of withholding payments for completed projects. In early September, contractors blocked entrances to the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, chanting solidarity songs and demanding payment for works they said had been executed years ago. Following the demonstrations, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen constituted the special committee, led by Mr Kalu, to interface with the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant-General, and other relevant agencies. The committee convened its first meeting on 4 September, where it brokered a truce with the contractors, resulting in an initial 25 per cent payment of outstanding sums. A follow-up session on 21 September was scheduled to review progress on compliance. Fresh disclosures At Sundays appraisal meeting, the Director of Funds in the Office of the Accountant-General confirmed that N2.4 trillion had already been approved for contractors. According to him, about N160 billion of that sum remains unpaid. He also disclosed that the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, had granted further approval for warrants and cash backing amounting to N760 billion for subsequent payments covering May to September. With this, the governments total commitment rises to nearly N3.1 trillion. Mr Kalu commended the federal government for responding to the contractors plight despite prevailing economic stress, describing the payments as a great step in the right direction. Contractors warned on authenticity of projects While acknowledging the governments responsiveness, the House also issued a stern warning to contractors against cutting corners or making fraudulent claims. Mr Kalu stressed that every payment must correspond to tangible, completed projects that serve Nigerians. We told them it would be wickedness to claim a hospital has been built when lives are still being lost because there is no hospital. It is wicked to claim schools have been built when children are still learning under trees, he said. He added that parliament would not allow a situation where a piece of paper or certificate of completion substitutes for real infrastructure. Legislative diplomacy The deputy speaker described the committees work as an exercise in legislative diplomacy aimed at building trust between government institutions and aggrieved contractors. According to him, the committee narrowed the contractors grievances into three categories: batch number delays, partial payments, and lack of warrant or cash backing for subsequent months. He said while batch number issues had been fully resolved and 25 per cent of arrears cleared, the government was still addressing warrants and cash backing, which had now received the finance ministers approval. Mr Kalu also explained that Sundays meeting was monitored by both the finance minister and the Accountant-General, who were engaged at the Presidential Villa on other national duties but joined discussions virtually. Next steps The House committee has scheduled a fresh appraisal session for 5 October to review the spreadsheet of payments and track progress on outstanding issues. Mr Kalu said the committee would conduct post-agreement scrutiny on both sides, ensuring that genuine contractors are paid while preventing undeserving firms from cornering funds. So, we want to be able to use our office, the instrument of legislature, to investigate that list and to find out that they are not complaining when they have been paid, or those who have been paid are not the ones that are supposed to be paid. That, we will find out in the course of two weeks. We have agreed to meet again on the 5th of October for another appraisal of our agreement. So, its like post-agreement scrutiny, both on the side of government and on the side of the contractors, he said. The police in Niger State have arrested six suspected illegal miners at a mining site in Dangado, a village in the Paikoro Local Government Area. Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Wasiu Abiodun, said acting on a tip-off, the Crack Squad of the state police command stormed the mining site and found some illegal miners armed with dangerous weapons. During the raid, he said six suspects were arrested while others escaped. Mr Abiodun named the arrested suspects as Aliyu Rabiu, Samaila Ibrahim, Sadiku Auwal, Ibrahim Babangida, Musa Adamu and Sani Hassan. He said they were arrested with three water pump engines, two diggers, headpans, knives, cutlasses, shovels and other illicit drugs. Similarly, the police said suspects were arrested at illegal mining locations in Chanchaga. The PPRO said the move was for the safety of lives, property and protection of the environment. As African leaders prepare for the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a health expert has warned that the continent must strengthen health sovereignty through local partnerships and financing, as external funding for healthcare faces steep declines. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), health aid to Africa could fall by as much as 40 per cent in 2025 compared to two years ago, leaving millions vulnerable if countries do not expand domestic funding and resilient systems. In a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, the Executive Vice President of Diagnostics, Africa, at Roche Diagnostics, Allan Pamba, said the shocks of the past few years, including pandemics, political instability and donor funding cuts have revealed the fragility of African health systems. Mr Pamba stressed that sovereignty must be built through partnerships co-created by governments, civil society, industry and communities. Health systems succeed when they are anchored in local leadership and designed to reflect African realities, he said. Existing partnerships Examples from across the continent show what this approach looks like in practice. In Zambia, when disruptions in global funding threatened HIV and HPV testing, the Ministry of Health convened a national task force and worked with partners including Roche Diagnostics, Pact and the Churches Health Association of Zambia. The collaboration ensured lifesaving services continued, aligning with a UN report warning that adolescents were already losing access to HIV prevention programmes due to funding shortfalls. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a partnership between Roche Diagnostics and the Ministry of Health enabled direct procurement of HIV tests for the first time, bolstering domestic ownership and system resilience. Similar steps are being taken elsewhere: Cote dIvoire has pledged up to $85 million annually from 2026 to sustain HIV services as donor funding shrinks. The statement said such initiatives demonstrate how domestic financing, through direct procurement, targeted taxes and regional pooled mechanisms, can reduce dependence on unpredictable aid. It said smarter procurement and prioritisation of preventive diagnostics also stretch limited resources for maximum impact. The statement emphasised that data and evidence are seen as central to achieving sovereignty. It added that reliable diagnostics and strong data pipelines help governments measure progress, target investments, and adapt responses. Without this, researchers warned, service gaps will widen: a recent study found that funding cuts have already driven declines in HIV testing and treatment uptake in several countries, including a 25 per cent drop in ART initiation in Mozambique. Mr Pamba said UNGA provides an opportunity for African leaders to press for financing models that go beyond emergency stopgaps, reinforcing accountability and long-term sustainability. Africas health sovereignty will not be delivered through a single UN resolution, he said. It will be built step by step through partnerships, domestic financing and courageous leadership. The statement added that health experts agree that choices made today will determine whether Africas health systems remain vulnerable to external shocks or grow into resilient, independent pillars of development. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has ordered transport unions and associations to immediately stop the unlawful practice of affixing union stickers to private vehicles instead of legitimate registration numbers. The agencys General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the practice as unlawful and a serious security risk and a gross subversion of lawful vehicular identification systems within the metropolis. He issued a stern warning to violators. Any vehicle discovered navigating the roadways under the guise of union sticker identifiers, or other unauthorised symbols, shall be summarily impounded, and the culpable parties shall face full sanctions under the provisions of the law, Bakare-Oki said in a statement on Sunday signed by LASTMAs Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq. The statement explained that all vehicles operating on Lagos roads must be duly registered with authorised government agencies. It said the use of unauthorised stickers posed a threat to public safety, compromises law enforcement, and undermines proper vehicle identification. It said LASTMA, working with security agencies, will intensify surveillance across major routes to enforce compliance. Mr Bakare-Oki urged transport unions to obey registration laws, stressing that proper documentation safeguards both motorists and the public. The Lagos State Government will not condone any attempt to evade established procedures. Enforcement will be firm to protect lives, property, and the integrity of traffic management, he added. In a related warning in February 2024, LASTMA cautioned skit makers and filmmakers against the unauthorised use of its uniforms, colours, or kits in movies and online productions. Mr Bakare-Oki said the act demeans the agency and violates Section 79 of the Lagos State Criminal Law (2015), which criminalises unauthorised use of official uniforms. Anyone portraying a LASTMA officer in films or skits must first obtain a permit. Failure to do so will attract prosecution, he said. He appealed to the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners and other industry groups to caution their members, noting that regulating the use of LASTMA uniforms would help curb their misuse in society. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says its Chairman, Abdullahi Usman, Secretary, Mustapha Ali, and commissioners will depart for Saudi Arabia on Monday as part of the preparations for the 2026 Hajj. The commissions spokesperson, Fatima Usara, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. Mrs Usara said that the delegation would finalise agreements with service providers during the visit. She said the trip aligns with the operational calendar issued by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MoHU), which mandates early contracting and payment for Mashair (camps) between 6 and 23 September 2025. MoHU further set 2324 September as the deadline for contracting essential services such as transportation and accommodation. Additionally, 12 October is the deadline for announcing pilgrims registration and data submission for grouping via the Nusuk platform. To meet these timelines, Mrs Usara said NAHCON has fixed 8 October as the deadline for state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, agencies, commissions, and licensed Hajj tour operators to remit Hajj fares. Consequently, the commission fixed 8th October 2025 as the deadline for States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies, and Commissions, as well as licensed Hajj Tour Operators, to remit Hajj fares for the 2026 Hajj exercise, the statement said. The commission also urged all stakeholders to comply with the deadlines to ensure smooth arrangements and a successful pilgrimage for Nigerian pilgrims. Read the full statement below. NAHCON Chairman, Commissioners Depart for Saudi Arabia to Conclude Service Agreements Ahead of Hajj Deadlines The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) wishes to inform the general public that its Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, along with some Commissioners, and Secretary to the Commission, Dr Mustapha M. Ali, will travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday, 22nd September 2025, to finalise agreements with relevant service providers in preparation for the 2026 Hajj. This trip is in conformity with the operational calendar released by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MoHU), which specifies that from 6th 23rd September 2025 (1529 Safar 1447H) is the period for early contracting and payment for Mashair (camps). The timeline similarly announced 23rd 24th September 2025 (12 Rabi al-Awwal 1447H) as the deadline for contracting of essential services such as transportation and accommodation. Meanwhile, the MoHU had set 12th October 2025 (20 Rabi al-Thani 1447H) as Deadline for Pilgrims Registration announcement and submission of pilgrims data for grouping via the Nusuk platform. Consequently, the Commission fixed 8th October 2025 as the deadline for States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies, and Commissions, as well as licensed Hajj Tour Operators, to remit Hajj fares for the 2026 Hajj exercise. NAHCON urges all stakeholders to take these deadlines into cognizance in order to ensure seamless arrangements and a successful pilgrimage for Nigerian pilgrims. Fatima Sanda Usara, Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has called for deeper parliamentary diplomacy between Nigeria and Cuba to strengthen cooperation in health, education, research, and investments. The speaker made the call in Abuja on Sunday while receiving a Cuban delegation, which paid him a courtesy visit. The delegation was led by Fernando Llort, a national hero of Cuba, member of the National Assembly of the Peoples Power of Cuba (ANPP), and President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP). Mr Tajudeen, represented by his deputy, Bemjamin Kalu, stressed that parliamentary diplomacy should go beyond protocol to deliver practical outcomes. According to him, frameworks must lead to memoranda of understanding, ratified agreements, and well-funded programmes that can directly impact both nations. Our tools are laws, oversight, and convening power. The NigeriaCuba Parliamentary Friendship Group provides a platform to fast-track frameworks for medical exchanges, academic recognition, joint research, and targeted investments, he said. Mr Tajudeen identified strategic areas of partnership, including parliamentary and health diplomacy, trade, culture, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals, noting that their implementation would help strengthen bilateral relations. Trade and cultural collaboration While recognising the cultural affinity between both countries, Mr Tajudeen lamented the low level of trade. He cited UN Comtrade data showing that Nigerias imports from Cuba amounted to just US$2,380 in 2024, despite strong cultural ties in music, sports, and literature. He called for opportunities that would benefit artisans, agri-entrepreneurs, and creative industries by turning shared cultural heritage into tangible economic benefits. Education, health, and youth exchange The speaker underscored the need for skills-driven partnerships to empower Nigerias youth. He proposed scholarships, reciprocal placements, and joint training programmes to produce professionals versed in international cooperation. Highlighting Cubas track record in healthcare diplomacy, he recalled the deployment of over 1,200 doctors in Henry Reeve brigades across 21 countries. He emphasised that Nigeria could benefit from health expertise exchange, co-developed treatments, and joint vaccine production to build stronger public health systems. Nigeria prioritises affordable medicines and vaccine capacity. Cubas biotech, including the Abdala COVID-19 vaccine (92% effective against severe disease in published studies), shows what is possible. Partnerships in research, tech transfer, and pilot manufacturing can boost vaccine production, protect public health, and create jobs while advancing Africas self-sufficiency, he said. Balanced partnership for mutual benefit Mr Tajudeen affirmed that the relationship must be reciprocal, noting that while Nigeria values Cubas accomplishments in biotechnology, health, and education, Cuba also stands to benefit from Nigerias large market, natural resources, and continental leadership. This is true reciprocity: Cuba brings tested knowledge, Nigeria offers scale and opportunity, and together we can uplift our peoples and the wider Global South, he said. Call for concrete frameworks The speaker urged both parliaments to move beyond symbolic gestures to actionable cooperation that guarantees technology transfer, fair protection of intellectual property, and the creation of local value chains. Let this visit be more than protocol; it must mark the beginning of concrete frameworks between the Nigerian Parliament and Cubas National Assembly, and a people-to-people compact linking Abuja to Havana, Lagos to Santiago, and even Bende to Camaguey, he said. Cuban delegations remarks In their separate remarks, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Miriam Palmer, and Mr Llort commended the warm relations between both countries. Mr Llort also invited Mr Kalu to visit Cuba to deepen discussions on parliamentary diplomacy and other areas of mutual benefit. A member of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), has restated his opposition to the creation of state police in Nigeria, arguing that such a move would worsen insecurity rather than resolve it. Mr Gagdi, who represents Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, made his position known on Sunday during a visit to troubled communities in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau, where bandit attacks, kidnappings for ransom, and other criminal activities have become frequent. The affected communities include Garga, Kukawa, Kyaram, Gyambau, Dungur, and Shuwaka. The lawmaker said his opposition, which he had also voiced on the House floor, is rooted in fears that state governors would deploy state police personnel against political opponents instead of using them for genuine law enforcement. My position, even on the House floor, is that governors will misuse state police, particularly against political opponents, not to maintain peace and order. Nigeria is not ripe for the proliferation of security agencies, he said. Mr Gagdi emphasised that strengthening and adequately funding existing security institutions, the police, military, State Security Service (SSS), and others would be a more effective solution to insecurity. Public hearing on the bill Despite his reservations, the debate over state policing remains active in the National Assembly. A public hearing on the State Police Bill has been scheduled for Monday to enable Nigerians to present their views on the matter. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who has consistently advocated the establishment of state police, recently said the measure is urgently needed to improve security responses and give communities a sense of ownership in law enforcement Not the first rejection This is not the first time the idea of state police has been rejected. Over the years, several politicians and leaders have raised concerns about the potential abuse of such a system. During his administration, the late President Muhammadu Buhari repeatedly rejected calls for state police, insisting that governors might use them as political tools rather than for security purposes. In 2012, the then Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, opposed state police because Nigeria lacked the necessary structures to support it. Also, in 2020, some federal lawmakers expressed fear that state police could be manipulated by governors, especially during elections, to intimidate rivals. Mr Gagdis latest remarks therefore align with a long-standing scepticism in certain quarters about decentralising policing powers. Call for federal action The legislator urged the federal government and security agencies to intensify clearance operations in forests along the Plateau, Taraba, and Bauchi borders, which have become hideouts for bandits. He also warned security operatives against compromise and encouraged residents to lawfully defend themselves within the limits of the law. Mr Gagdi said his visit to the affected communities was to assess the security situation first-hand and to assure residents of ongoing efforts to restore peace. Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in New York, United States of America, to attend the 80th week-long session of the United Nations General Assembly, scheduled to hold in the city from Monday, 22 September to Sunday, 28 September, 2025. Representing President Bola Tinubu, the vice president is set to deliver Nigerias national statement at the global event, participate in the UN high-level general debates and attend various side events. This is just as the Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has reiterated Nigerias commitment to effective multilateralism and enhanced partnerships. While in New York, the vice president will announce Nigerias new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and attend the high-level roundtable of the Global Champions on Adequate and Affordable Housing, present Nigerias national statement and engage in several bilateral meetings and other engagements. He was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, the Charge dAffaires at the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, Samson Itegboje, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, the Nigerian Defence Attache in New York, Edward Koleoso, Defence Attache Washington, Sani Kalgo, among others. Speaking on Nigerias target for this years UNGA, Foreign Affairs Minister Tuggar said Nigeria is championing the United Nations Global Convention on Taxation, which is very central to the ongoing push to reform the global financial architecture. He said, This is something that has put Nigeria in the position of leadership, and you can see that during the briefing for the vice president, there were ministers present, senior government officials, and the whole idea of having this briefing is so that we will all be on the same page. So, going out engaging, we have to make sure that we promote this; we also promote Nigerias push to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, because Africa has something referred to as the common African position. The ninister noted that Africa is the only continent or grouping that has a common position on what should be done when it comes to reforming the UN Security Council, insisting that Africa should have a minimum of two permanent seats based on what is referred to as the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. We also have the issue of peacekeeping, you know, Nigeria has participated in one of the 60 peacekeeping operations that the United Nations has had. We want to ensure that when it comes to peace, the contributions to peacekeeping, not just troops, but the funding, we are not hit twice. Nigeria contributes not only on the African side but indeed also on the UN side. We reiterated Nigerias position on the conflict in the Middle East, in Gaza, Palestine, the issue of Eastern Congo, and the conflict in Sudan. The vice president will be meeting with the prime minister of Sudan, and he is also going to participate in the African Union Peace and Security Council meeting, he said. Also, the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, said Nigerias participation in the 80th UNGA will certainly further reposition the country as an investment destination and one of the leading economies in Africa. We are looking at areas of our strength. We are here with some ministers and governors. Some of the areas we are looking at have to do with solid mineral resources, in which Nigeria is really doing extremely well. We are also looking at other areas of investment that have to do with our economy; that is, the area of Agriculture and other areas of the economy, skills-based education in our country. And of course, the Vice President has prepared the Nigerian position that will be delivered on Wednesday by the grace of God, and Im optimistic that it will further reposition Nigeria as the leading economy in Africa, the governor said. On her part, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olajumoke Oduwole, said Nigeria will push for its position in promoting and enforcing Sustainable Development and marrying it to the nations goal. We also have a number of interventions and side events that Nigeria will be hosting. On Monday, we have the Nigeria Investment Day, which will be attended by the Vice President Shettima. It will highlight our priority sectors. We are highlighting the solid minerals, we are highlighting telecommunications and technology in its entirety. So in all it is to push forward the Renewed Hope Agenda and the areas that we are focusing on in investment to push forward the reforms that the Nigerian economy has experience in the last two years and to make sure that all the friends of Nigeria in New York for this event are well vast in the position of where we are now, she said. Stanley Nkwocha Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President) 22 September, 2025 Under Governor Alex Ottis administration, Abia State has recorded over 100 per cent increase in the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (CofO) to property owners, according to data on the Abia State Government website. The states Ministry of Land and Housing data covers 13 years, from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2024. The south-eastern state issued 1037 CofOs to property owners in 2024, the highest for the period, while the lowest, 214, was recorded in 2020. The second-highest number of CofO issued by the Abia State Government within the period is 526, in 2016, while the third-highest is 500, in 2015. CofO is a government document, usually signed by a state governor, that authenticates a propertys ownership. When a property owner receives a CofO from the government, he can sell or use the property for a mortgage or other transactions. In some states in Nigeria, the issuance of CofO is delayed, business transactions are slowed, and entrepreneurs and investors are frustrated. Mr Alex Otti was sworn in on 29 May 2023 as the fifth elected governor of Abia. The data further shows that of the 1037 CofOs the Abia State Government issued to property owners in 2024, 743 belonged to men, 83 to women, 81 to joint owners, and 130 to others. Reason behind the numbers Chaka Chukwumerije, the commissioner for land and housing in Abia, explained what Mr Ottis administration is doing differently regarding the issuance of CofOs. Abia delivers CofO in 30 days. Its a policy! Mr Chukwumerije told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, 21 September. There is enhanced transparency, accountability, and focus on service delivery. Your transaction is monitored from the time it comes in until it goes. There is greater confidence in the system. If people know that they can get their CofO seamlessly without going through any middleman, it encourages people to apply for their CofO. Mr Chukwumerije said the governance system in Abia is still being automated. He said that when the automation is fully completed and new residential and industrial estates are opened, the number of CofOs will be off the charts. The governor signs CofO within 24 hours of being sent to him. The governors signing process is automated we upload it, he signs through his electronic signature, and it gets back to us. We have a one-stop customer service, so when you come to the Ministry of Land to process your CofO, you dont have to travel to the bank anymore; the bank is there, the tax office is there, the surveyors office is there, you can finish all your transactions in one day. In September alone, the governor has signed over 350 CofOs. By the end of 2025, we may be hitting over 2000 CofOs, the commissioner said. The Police in Rivers State, Nigerias South-south, have arrested three suspected kidnappers who allegedly killed one of their victims after collecting N6.9 million ransom. In a statement on Monday, the police spokesperson in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the arrests followed an investigation into the abduction of one Humphrey Wagbara of Igwuruta-Atali, a community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state. Ms Iringe-Koko, a superintendent of police, said the suspects also kidnapped one Mercy Chinyere on 12 September at the same location, where they also collected a ransom of N3.5million before releasing her. The police spokesperson identified the suspects as Hassan Mohammed, 20, of Wandigah Town, Mandagali, Borno State; Bello Abubakar, 25, of Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State; and Yusuf Ahmed, 23, of Hazari Local Government Area, Bauchi State. Ms Iringe-Koko said the police received a report on 26 August this year about the abduction of Mr Wagbara. Operatives of the Command attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua Annexe, acting on this information and in a daring and coordinated operation on 19 September 2025, at about 0200hrs, arrested three suspects at different locations in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government areas of the state in connection with the kidnapping of the victim. She said during interrogation, the suspects voluntarily confessed to their involvement in multiple kidnappings in the state. Among their past kidnappings are those of Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, 2025, at School Road, Igwuruta-Atali, where they collected a ransom of N6,900,000 before killing the victim, she said. The police spokesperson said exhibits recovered from the suspects include one G-3 rifle with Breech Number 10398, one magazine, one Itel phone belonging to Mr Wagbara, three short daggers, one jack knife, and one stainless short knife. Ms Iringe-Koko said the suspects and the exhibits are in police custody, while detectives are tracking other fleeing members of the syndicate and searching for additional weapons. Prohibited in Nigeria Kidnapping has been prohibited in Nigeria since May 2022. The country enacted the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2022), which outlawed all forms of kidnapping. The Act prescribes a death sentence for kidnapping in a case where the abduction leads to loss of life and life imprisonment where there is no loss of life. It was an amendment to the now-defunct Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2013), which had prescribed a 10-year jail term for kidnapping. The new Act also prescribes at least a 15-year jail term for whoever pays ransom to free kidnapped victims. Several persons have been convicted of kidnapping across Nigeria. An Ikeja Special Offences Court, in September 2022, sentenced kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping. The Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) 2025 crystallized around four dominant strategic themes that collectively illustrate Taiwans comprehensive approach to defense modernization amid escalating regional tensions. This report is published in association with Pleronix, providing personalized business intelligence services for defense professionals and enterprises worldwide. To get Pleronix news alerts drop your email here: * Your Position Your Organization/Company If you are human, leave this field blank. Indigenous Defense and Self-Reliance The most prominent theme was Taiwans accelerated pursuit of defense self-sufficiency, showcased through historic indigenous achievements. CSBC Corporations unveiling of the Hai Kun submarine represented a landmark milestone as Taiwans first domestically designed and built defense submarine. The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) demonstrated this self-reliance momentum with the confirmation of mass production for the enhanced Tien Kung III surface-to-air missile system, alongside breakthrough platforms including the D3 105mm mobile gun system and Taiwans first electric autonomous reconnaissance-strike tactical vehicle. This indigenous focus extends across all defense domains, with major shipbuilders like CSBC, Lungteh Shipbuilding, Jong Shyn, and Corum making their exhibition debuts, displaying comprehensive unmanned naval platforms. The theme reflects a strategic imperative to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers while building sovereign defense capabilities. Unmanned Systems and Asymmetric Warfare Unmanned platforms emerged as the centerpiece of the exhibition, representing Taiwans strategic pivot toward asymmetric warfare capabilities. This theme permeated all domainsair, sea, and landwith innovations ranging from loitering munitions to extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles. The governments commitment to this theme includes procuring up to 100,000 unmanned aircraft systems and investing NT$68 billion in coast guard unmanned vehicles. Key demonstrations included GeoFly Technologys TU-30VG VTOL UAV, CSBCs Manta trimaran uncrewed surface vessel, and LungTeh Shipbuildings Black Whale program. This theme positions unmanned systems as both a technological force multiplier and a strategic entry point for domestic companies into the defense supply chain. Civil-Military Technology Integration A transformative theme emerged through Taiwans world-class electronics and ICT sectors, rapidly pivoting into defense applications. Companies like Qisda Group, Adlink Technology, Altek, and Ta Ya Electric demonstrated how civilian technological prowess translates into military-grade capabilities. This integration leverages Taiwans semiconductor expertise, precision manufacturing, and AI systems for communications, satellite systems, and intelligent control modules. The theme represents a strategic advantage, enabling rapid development of sophisticated defense systems while utilizing Taiwans established industrial strengths. First-time exhibitors from the electronics sector showcased infrared imaging, AI-enabled target tracking, and superconductive materials for drone motors. International Collaboration and Strategic Partnerships The final dominant theme centered on deepening international partnerships, particularly with the United States and emerging relationships with India. U.S. collaboration emphasized co-development and co-production agreements, including Anduril Industries Barracuda-500 underwater missile partnership with NCSIST and AeroVironments collaboration on autonomous systems. The breakthrough India-Taiwan space corridor represented a new strategic dimension, with five Indian space startups participating for the first time. Companies like Kepler Aerospace and Insight360.ai offer complementary satellite and AI intelligence capabilities that align with Taiwans hardware expertise, creating mutually beneficial security partnerships. These four themesindigenous development, unmanned asymmetric capabilities, civil-military integration, and international partnerships collectively define Taiwans comprehensive defense modernization strategy. They reflect lessons learned from recent conflicts, particularly Ukraine, while addressing the specific challenges of Taiwans geopolitical environment through technological innovation and strategic alliances. NCSIST displayed at TADTE 2025 an electric-powered autonomous recconaissance-strike tactical wheeled vehicle featuring an electric drive system with high energy efficiency and strong environmental adaptability. The autonomous driving system is equipped with functions such as autonomous driving, convoy following, and obstacle avoidance. In terms of reconnaissance mission execution and weapon payload capability, it features a wireless datalink for image transmission and remote control. The electric motor delivers 360 hp with immediate torque response dynamically distributed between the front and rear wheels. It is also compatible with hybrid propulsion systems. The Yobe State government has approved N400 million counterpart funding to boost child nutrition and pledged to extend maternity leave for female civil servants from three to six months. Kachalla Maina, Chairman, House Committee on Health, confirmed the development during an advocacy visit by the Yobe chapter of Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) to the House of Assembly on Wednesday. Mr Maina said N300 million had already been released to the State Primary Health Care Management Board, while the balance of N100 million would come through the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. The Speaker of the Yobe State House of Assembly, Chiroma Mashio, assured that directives would be issued to ensure prompt release of the balance to UNICEF as the state counterpart funding. Mr Mashio also assured that directives would be given to the Head of Service to implement a new policy extending maternity leave for women in the states public service to six months. In a related development, the Permanent Secretary Civil Service, Idi Kilos also reaffirmed the governments commitment to provide feedback after consultations with the office of the Head of Service. Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Hamid Babi, pledged continued collaboration with CS-SUNN to strengthen state nutrition policies. Mr Tanimu Salifu, State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, who led the advocacy team, expressed gratitude to the Yobe government for its commitment and support at all times. (NAN) In August, Nigerias health sector recorded progress and new interventions alongside persistent challenges. From a sharp drop in poliovirus cases and the validation of a menstrual health policy to subsidised dialysis treatment and a surge in DNA testing, the month highlighted key shifts shaping public health. Heres a look at some of the most important health stories in August Nigeria records 46 per cent decline in variant poliovirus cases- Official The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said Nigeria has recorded a 46 per cent decline in the Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus Type 2 (cVDPV2) compared to the previous year. The Executive Director of NPHCDA, Muyi Aina, said the reported poliovirus cases had declined from 78 per cent recorded last year to 46 per cent as of 27 August. He also noted progress in high-burden states such as Kano and Katsina, where infections dropped by 85 and 84 per cent, respectively. Nigerian govt validates policy on menstrual health, targets stigma-free society by 2030 The Nigerian government has taken a major step toward improving menstrual health and hygiene for women and girls with the validation of its first-ever National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM). Speaking at the validation meeting in Abuja, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the policy as a decisive step toward building a Nigeria where menstruation does not limit any woman or girl child. Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim said Nigeria has one of the largest populations of women and girls of reproductive and menstrual age in Africa. One in four paternity tests still negative as DNA testing surges in Nigeria In August, the countrys leading DNA testing centre, Smart DNA Nigeria, released its 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report, revealing that DNA testing rose to 13.1 per cent in 2025. The study, analysing data from July 2024 to June 2025, also revealed startling insights into Nigerias family dynamics, including persistent paternity uncertainty and the profound impact of emigration on DNA testing demand. In a statement made available to journalists in Lagos on Sunday, the centre revealed that the paternity exclusion rate remains at 25 per cent as immigration testing surged. It also noted that one in four paternity tests is still negative. How stigma, cultural taboos deepen Nigerias menstrual health crisis Expert In August, PREMIUM TIMES had an exclusive interview with Abdulhameed Adediran, Team Lead for Menstrual Health Initiatives at Population Services International (PSI) Nigeria. Mr Adediran shared insights into the current state of menstrual health, the barriers caused by stigma and cultural taboos, and the role of policy in shaping a more inclusive future for women and girls. He also talks about the challenges women and girls face in accessing menstrual products and information. Tinubu subsidises dialysis treatment in public hospitals President Bola Tinubu has approved a reduction in the price of each kidney dialysis session for patients, from N50,000 to N12,000, a spokesperson has said. The development, which will first commence in 10 public hospitals, will provide relief to thousands of Nigerians battling kidney-related diseases, many of whom cannot pay for dialysis. The subsidy is being implemented in major federal hospitals across the six geopolitical zones. PT Health Watch: Why breast milk outside pregnancy may signal a health problem Breast milk production is often seen as a sign of motherhood, but when it occurs in women who are not pregnant or nursing a baby, it may indicate an underlying health condition. Known as galactorrhea, experts say this condition is linked to high levels of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia), a hormone that regulates milk production and could affect a womans menstrual cycle, fertility, and overall health if left unchecked. Speaking with PT Health Watch, Lewis Aituma, a senior resident in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Edo Central Zone, and a member of the West African College of Surgeons, explained that prolactin is one of the bodys essential hormones. Experts caution adults about consumption of cold drinks Medical and nutritional experts have advised adults aged 40 and above to exercise moderation in the consumption of cold beverages, citing possible health implications in certain conditions. The experts noted that while cold drinks are generally safe and hydrating, they could trigger discomfort or worsen symptoms in individuals with underlying medical challenges. They spoke against the backdrop of the prevailing cold weather occasioned by persistent rainfall and the penchant of many older adults to consume chilled beverages despite the low temperatures. World Mosquito Day: Beyond malaria, other deadly diseases mosquitoes spread The word mosquito immediately brings malaria to mind. The insect is notorious for transmitting the parasite that causes the deadly disease, which kills hundreds of thousands every year. However, mosquitoes are not just about malaria. They are also responsible for spreading several other diseases that have left communities struggling with outbreaks and health emergencies in recent years. To mark World Mosquito Day, PREMIUM TIMES reviewed the diseases linked to the insect and their impact in Nigeria and beyond. Nigeria joins $6.4m international push for Lassa fever vaccine Nigeria has joined a new $6.4 million international research consortium aimed at accelerating the development of a vaccine against Lassa fever. The initiative, tagged Unravelling Natural and Vaccine-Elicited Immunity to Lassa fever (UNVEIL), is led by the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), with funding support from CEPI. Three Nigerian institutions, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, will serve as frontline clinical sites under the project. PT Health Watch: How untreated vaginal infections impact womens health, fertility Despite being common and treatable, vaginal infections continue to affect the health and well-being of millions of women in Nigeria. Many suffer in silence due to a lack of awareness and stigma, while poor hygiene and self-medication further contribute to the widespread neglect of these infections. Some can lead to infertility, pregnancy complications, and an increased risk of HIV transmission. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), bacterial vaginosis, an infection of the vagina, affects nearly 30 per cent of women of reproductive age globally, with higher rates in sub-Saharan Africa. President Bola Tinubu paid a solidarity visit to the Kaduna residence of Nigerias late President, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, assuring the Buhari family of upholding the late leaders legacies. President Tinubu was received by Mr Buharis widow, Aisha, her eldest son, Yusuf, and other relatives and associates of the deceased leader. President Tinubu said the family is not alone in grief. A loss in flesh is not a loss in the spirit, and the spirit that he left with us is a spirit of hard work, dedication, patriotism and honesty, and we are doing that. We assure you and the entire family that we will continue with our leaders legacy, the mark he made for Nigeria. We will continue on the path of honesty, integrity, and great character that he imbued in us. May God help Nigeria, keep us united and together in the promised land, the president said. In an emotional voice, Mrs Buhari thanked the president and his government for supporting the family in their grief. She said the visit by the president and his delegation was a source of consolation. I would like to use this medium to thank you once again, the first lady, the wife of the vice president, for standing by me and my family, she said. Mrs Buhari said her late husband stood for honesty, integrity and justice, urging Nigerians to emulate his virtues. I would like to pray for Nigeria, for peace to reign, for unity of the country, and for you, President Tinubu, to carry on with my late husbands legacy of honesty, integrity, tolerance, accountability, and justice. The president was accompanied to the residence by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbaa Tajudeen. The governors of Kwara, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Yobe, Mala Buni; Borno, Babagana Zulum; and Sokoto, Ahmed Aliyu, were part of the presidential entourage. The president was also accompanied by Wale Edun, the minister of finance; Atiku Bagudu, the minister of budget and planning; Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defence; and Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser. Mr Buhari, also former military head of state, died on 13 July in London and buried two days later in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State. Earlier, President Tinubu graced the wedding of Nasirudeen Abdulaziz Yari, son of Abdulaziz Yari, the senator, who represents Zamfara West. Nasirudeen tied the knot with Safiyya Shehu Idris at the historic Sultan Bello Mosque in the Kaduna metropolis. President Tinubu, accompanied by senior government officials, received the grooms hand-in-marriage on behalf of the Yari family after the brides representative, Ibrahim Ashiru, confirmed the payment of the N1 million dowry. The president commended both families for upholding noble traditions and encouraged the young couple to build their home on faith, love, and mutual respect. The colourful occasion, which drew dignitaries from across the country, including traditional rulers, business leaders and politicians, was marked by prayers for the president and the nation by renowned cleric Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau and the officiating Chief Imam of the mosque, Muhammad Suleiman. The deputy spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has urged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State to put aside their differences and unite behind President Bola Tinubu. He warned that lingering divisions within the party could undermine Mr Tinubus re-election prospects in the state if not quickly addressed. Speaking in Abuja on Thursday during an interactive session with journalists, Mr Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, underscored the need for forgiveness, reconciliation, and the shelving of personal interests in order for the APC to consolidate its hold on Benue politics. According to him, internal wrangling within the state chapter of the party, particularly the simmering rivalry between the camp of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, and that of Governor Hyacinth Alia remains the biggest threat to APCs cohesion in the state. Akume vs Alia Messrs Akume and Alias dispute, which erupted after the 2023 elections, centres largely on control of party structures and political appointments in the state. Mr Alia has been accused of sidelining the SGF in making key appointments, particularly in the state executive council and local government caretaker committees. Attempts to remove Austin Agada, the state APC chairperson closely aligned with Mr Akume, further deepened tensions. However, both leaders have publicly denied being at loggerheads. In April 2024, the Tiv Traditional Council, led by the Tor Tiv, James Ayatse, brokered a truce between Messrs Akume and Alia. The two leaders were seen shaking hands in Gboko, a symbolic gesture interpreted as a peace deal. As part of the reconciliation process, Mr Alia dissolved his executive council and replaced his chief of staff with a candidate reportedly acceptable to Mr Akume. The North-central APC Forum and other party groups have repeatedly cautioned that unless peace is genuinely consolidated, the party risks electoral backlash in 2027. Call for unity Against this backdrop, Mr Agbeses message was both a rallying cry and a warning. If we as the APC family unite ahead of 2027, set aside our personal sentiments, and swiftly resolve the issues that divide us, embracing forgiveness and solidarity, President Tinubu will secure a decisive victory in Benue, he stated He stressed that anything short of unified action would lead to an abysmal performance that could disappoint Mr Tinubu, who he portrayed as a leader with genuine intentions for the states development. The lawmaker insisted that Benue has received generous federal appointments and infrastructural promises under Mr Tinubu, a reality he believes should motivate local party leaders to set aside their differences. Benue has greatly benefited from the Tinubu administration, and thus, no sacrifice is too great for APC members to ensure his re-election, Mr Agbese added. Opposition politics Mr Agbese also played down the perceived threat of opposition parties in the state, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC), arguing that such platforms lack the staying power to mount a serious challenge once the APC puts its house in order. The ADC or any coalition will collapse as soon as good discussions are held. Remember that even the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, and Senator Gabriel Suswam are allies of the SGF. Benue will deliver block votes for Asiwaju more than 2023 if we do the right thing. he declared. Personal commitment and constituency work Beyond national politics, the lawmaker used the platform to reflect on his own journey representingAdo/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency. He claimed that overwhelming pressure from constituents had persuaded him to seek re-election in 2027, stressing that stakeholders appreciate his efforts in articulating the challenges facing the area at the national level. My constituents have persuaded me well enough to seek re-election. The stakeholders are happy that I have been able to articulate our challenges. With every sense of humility, I havent achieved 30 per cent of my target for the constituency despite the accolades that I have received so far. Respect for stakeholders and leaders Mr Agbese also spoke candidly about his relationship with key figures in Benue politics. He dismissed rumours of friction with either the SGF or the Governor Alia, describing both as respected leaders to whom he remains loyal. He added that he considers Mr Akumes protective stance toward the governor as a model of leadership, and that his own decisions are guided by deference to the hierarchy of the party in the state. I am not fighting the governor. In fact, the SGF will ban you from coming to his house or office if you insult Father Alia. He is a great man with so much humour. When it comes to strategy, I can pride myself on having so much in my bag. I know what to do to send a governor back to his village. But on Alia, I cant do that because the SGF and the deputy governor will be angry with me. I have utmost respect for the two of them. Prospects for reconciliation On the possibility of Mr Alia working more closely with Mr Akume, Mr Agbese expressed optimism: Yes. It is still possible if His Excellency truly wants to. We are peace-loving politicians. Our leader, the SGF, is the most peaceful man on earth. The only thing he cannot gift to any human being is his wife, Mummy Regina. One of our leaders, Senator Jack Gyado, once told me that he ran away from his house some time ago because the visitor might ask for his wife, and he couldnt say no to the person, he said humorously. He assured that his legislative agenda for his constituency will remain people-centred, anchored on practical strategies to elevate the constituencys profile nationally. The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old ex-convict, John Samuel, described as a notorious armed robbery kingpin and hired assassin. In a statement on Saturday, the deputy spokesperson for the police in Lagos, Babaseyi Oluseyi, said Mr Samuel had recently completed a six-year jail term before returning to violent crime. Mr Oluseyi stated that investigations revealed that on 18 August, Mr Samuel, armed with an English pistol, shot and wounded businessman Gbenga Obama in broad daylight at Gbajobi Street, Allen Avenue, Ikeja. He then snatched an expensive gold necklace and other valuables while an accomplice waited on a motorcycle for their escape. CCTV footage clearly captured the suspect firing at the victim before taking his necklace. The victim, who sustained gunshot injuries, has since been treated and discharged, Mr Oluseyi said. Police said Mr Samuel later confessed to selling the stolen necklace for N4 million, far below its value. Confirming the arrest, Commissioner of Police, Olohudare Jimoh, praised the operatives and assured residents that other members of the gang would be apprehended. The suspect is notorious for shooting at victims before dispossessing them of valuables. We will ensure all his accomplices are brought to justice. Lagos has no hiding place for criminals, Mr Jimoh said. Meanwhile, in a separate operation, police also arrested 46-year-old Jude Onouha, alleged leader of a syndicate that vandalised luxury vehicles across residential estates while posing as security operatives. According to Mr Oluseyi, the suspects wore fake uniforms and carried used a modified Mercedes-Benz car jack made to look like a firearm to trick estate guards. He noted that they gained access under the pretext of security checks before dismantling high-end vehicles, including Toyota Hilux, Toyota Highlander, Lexus 650, and Mercedes-Benz SUVs to steal vital, expensive components of the vehicles. Items recovered from him were one Mercedes Benz car jack and a face cap with the inscription Special Force, which the suspect allegedly used to disguise as a security operative. Mr Jimoh described the arrest as a breakthrough, noting that the suspect had confessed and was assisting detectives. The federal government is conducting laboratory investigations to determine the exact cause of a strange flesh-eating disease that has killed seven people in Malabu, Adamawa State. The Acting National Coordinator of the National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programme, Adesigbin Olufemi, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. Mr Olufemi said, as of 10 September, there were 67 confirmed cases, with eight patients undergoing surgical treatment at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola. These are undergoing surgical treatment with the support of the government, he said, emphasising the coordinated efforts to manage the medical emergency in affected communities. NAN reports that the disease often begins as a boil, later bursts, and then gradually eats away flesh, sometimes damaging the bones in the affected area. Mr Olufemi stated that although the exact cause remains unknown, Buruli Ulcer is suspected. This tropical disease is still under investigation for confirmation. He explained that Buruli Ulcer is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, a bacterium commonly found in swampy environments and around stagnant riverine ecosystems. Up till now, nobody is sure exactly how it is transmitted. Some theories suggest insects like water fleas or mosquitoes may inoculate individuals when they bite, he said. The coordinator hailed the proactive response of the Adamawa State Government, alongside support from federal agencies and non-governmental partner REDAID. He said patients with mild symptoms were being treated at local health centres, while severe cases requiring surgery had been referred to specialised hospitals. Mr Olufemi noted that public sensitisation is key, especially as some residents initially blamed the disease on witchcraft, leading to delays in seeking proper treatment. One of the things that is very important, and thats what we are doing, is to continue to create awareness, he said, urging residents to seek medical care early. READ ALSO: Lagos govt moves to reduce sickle cell disease burden He noted that Malabu is a remote community, located about two hours from Yola, with poor road access, making swift medical response more difficult. Mr Olufemi stressed that long-term health security requires more than medical care. It also includes access to clean water and improved sanitation in rural communities. People will not need to go to those rivers to fetch water if they have pipe-borne or borehole water around them. That way, they are less exposed, he explained. He assured the public that the federal and state governments, supported by health partners, remain committed to treating patients and curbing further transmission. The World Health Organisation recognises Buruli Ulcer as one of the worlds most neglected tropical diseases, mostly affecting rural, riverine communities with limited access to healthcare. (NAN) Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, has condemned Prime Minister Keir Starmers decision to recognise Palestinian statehood. In a post on X, the Tory leader described the policy as an absolutely disastrous decision made by the ruling Labour Party under the prime ministers leadership. The Conservative Party leader stated that the administration has only made this decision to distract attention from its inability to resolve the countrys immigration crisis. Ms Badenoch also said that the UK was likely to regret recognising the statehood of Palestine in the future. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Prime Minister Keir Starmer formally announced the United Kingdoms decision to recognise Palestine as an independent state. Mr Starmer had said the decision was intended to maintain prospects for peace while reaffirming the UKs commitment to securing the release of Israeli hostages. In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and of a two-state solution, he stated. However, Ms Badenoch, reacting to this development, said the UKs recognition of Palestinian statehood does not change the welfare of hostages languishing in Gaza and does nothing to stop the suffering of innocent people caught in this war. We will all rue the day this decision was made. Rewarding terrorism with no conditions whatsoever put in place for Hamas, she wrote on X. It is because Labour cannot fix the big problems in our society that they focus on discredited student union campaigns to appease the hard left. They cannot fix the NHS, so they push assisted suicide. They cannot create jobs for young people, so they give them the right to vote at 16. They cannot sort out immigration, but they will recognise Palestine instead. And so on, she stated. With its stance on Sunday, the UK has now joined the growing list of countries that recognise Palestine. So far, at least 142 of the 193 UN member states have already recognised or have pledged to recognise Palestine. Canada and Australia have also formally recognised Palestinian statehood before the commencement of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. At the event, the question of Palestinian sovereignty after decades of occupation is expected to be a central focus. The police in Enugu State, Nigerias South-east, say they have arrested 38 suspects in the killing of Matthew Eya, a Catholic priest in the state. Daniel Ndukwe, the police spokesperson in the state, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday evening. The killing PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that some gunmen shot dead Mr Eya, the parish priest of Saint Charles Catholic Church, Eha-Ndiagu, on Friday evening along the Eha-AlumonahEha-Ndiagu Road in Nsukka Local Government Area of the state. He was said to be returning from Enugu Urban when the hoodlums ambushed him. The slain cleric was a member of the Nsukka Catholic Diocese. The Enugu State Government, on Saturday, placed a N10 million bounty on the killers of the Catholic priest. Arrest In the Sunday statement, Mr Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, said the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Bitrus Giwa, has ordered operatives to intensify the manhunt for the armed men who shot and murdered the cleric. He said Mr Giwa had earlier, upon receipt of information about the attack, ordered the area commander in Udenu Police Command, alongside heads of tactical units, to fish out the fleeing assailants. Consequently, police operatives under the Udenu Area Commands coverage have arrested 38 suspects, following bush combing and raids of different black spots in the area. Incriminating exhibits were recovered, while the suspects are currently undergoing screening, the police spokesperson said without mentioning their names. Mr Giwa, according to the statement, has commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased cleric and the Catholic Church. The commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the police in the state to ensure that the killers were tracked down. A top US official, Tom Homan, was caught accepting a $50,000 cash bribe in exchange for facilitating government contracts for business executives in an undercover investigation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a report by MSNBC has shown. Mr Homan, the White House border czar responsible for co-piloting the present administrations immigration crackdown, was caught in an operation conducted in September last year. The operation was conducted during the Joe Biden administration, a few months before President Donald Trump resumed office. At the time, Mr Homan simply worked as the president of a private consulting business. However, he had allegedly begun claiming that he could help companies in the border security industry win government contracts upon Mr Trumps return to the White House. He was often in the company of Mr Trump and had been a part of the campaign trail in 2023 and 2024 before his election. Mr Homan, who served as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the start of Mr Trumps first term, had said he anticipated leading the rollout of Mr Trumps immigration policies. Trump comes back in January, Ill be on his heels coming back, and I will run the biggest deportation operation this countrys ever seen, he had said at the National Conservatism Conference in July 2024. The undercover agents had interacted several times with Mr Homan before eventually setting up a meeting where he was taped accepting a cash bribe. At the meeting spot in Texas, the agents had planted hidden cameras to record the scene. The MSNBC reports that an internal document containing the summary of the investigation, which It reviewed, showed that after the meeting, the FBI planned to continue monitoring Mr Homan to see if he would deliver on his alleged promise. The FBI was also considering pursuing criminal charges upon completing their investigation. They are, however, unable to continue the investigation or prosecute Mr Homan as the case was shut down after Mr Trump returned to office. Investigation shut down Officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity disclosed to MSNBC that several FBI and Justice Department officials believed they had a solid criminal case against Mr Homan. This was for conspiracy to commit bribery, citing recordings of him accepting cash and the pledge to help with contracts. However, the case was suspended shortly after Mr Trump resumed office. In February, it was completely shut down over concerns that the case was a deep state probe. While both the FBI and Justice Department failed to provide a clear reason for shutting down the case, MSNBC reported that the FBI Director, Kash Patel, an appointee of Mr Trump, said there was no credible evidence of any criminal action. This matter originated under the previous administration and was subjected to a full review by FBI agents and Justice Department prosecutors. They found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing. The White House Deputy Press Secretary, Abigail Jackson, also criticised the probe as a political investigation short of credible evidence. She described this as an example of how the Biden Department of Justice was using its resources to target President Trumps allies rather than investigate real criminals and the millions of illegal aliens who flooded our country. But MSNBC reported that officials who were part of the investigation believed that they had enough to charge Mr Homan at the time. They, however, chose to continue monitoring him instead, given that he was not a government official at the time he accepted this payment. His actions didnt clearly fit under a standard bribery charge. Before the case was dropped, the document reviewed by MSNBC indicated that the Justice Department was weighing four possible criminal charges against him. These charges are: conspiracy, bribery, and two separate types of fraud. The police in Enugu State, south-east Nigeria, have confirmed that an officer was killed during a fresh attack by suspected armed robbers in the state. The armed persons were said to have launched an attack in Ezimo, a community in Udenu Local Government Area of the state at about 8 p.m. on 18 September. The police spokesperson in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday night. Mr Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, was reacting to a report suggesting that some gunmen invaded the home of a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Frank Mba, and kidnapped his parents. The report also claimed a police operative attached to Mr Mbas home was killed by the hoodlums during the attack. The DIG hails from the Ezimo Community in the state. Police speak In the Sunday statement, Mr Ndukwe refuted the claim, stressing that neither Mr Mbas parents nor his relatives were attacked or kidnapped. The spokesperson, however, confirmed that some hoodlums launched an attack in the community, resulting in the killing of an operative. Contrary to the false report, on 18th September 2025, at about 8 p.m., police operatives on routine patrol within the Ezimo Community promptly responded to a distress call and repelled an armed robbery attack. Sadly, a police officer who sustained gunshot injuries during the ensuing shootout later died in the hospital, where he was confirmed dead by the attending doctor, he said without mentioning the slain officers name. Mr Ndukwe did not also mention whether the armed robbery attack happened at Mr Mbas residence or not. One male suspect has been arrested and is assisting the police in the ongoing discreet investigation and manhunt for the fleeing suspects, he said. The spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Bitrus Giwa, has urged operatives to sustain ongoing efforts to track down the fleeing assailants. Mr Giwa reiterated that the police in the state were committed to combating violent crimes. The latest attack happened in the same week gunmen ambushed and killed a Catholic priest, Matthew Eya, along the Eha-AlumonahEha-Ndiagu Road in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. Worsening insecurity Like other states in the South-east, security has deteriorated in Enugu State with frequent attacks by armed persons in recent times. Kidnapping and armed robbery attacks have combined to worsen the security in the state and region. Civil servants, business owners, politicians and even students have become targets of such attacks in the state lately. Beyond the robbery attacks, gunmen said to be part of the Biafra agitation in the South-east have been terrorising residents of the region. The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been blamed for the frequent attacks in the South-east. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks. IPOB is seeking the secession of South-east and some parts of the South-south from Nigeria. Late last year, the world was alerted to the disturbing news that Russia was recruiting hundreds of young African women, aged 1822, to manufacture drones in a military-industrial compound called Alabuga, 1,000 km east of Moscow. Reports said that the recruitsfrom at least 15 African countrieswere promised good salaries and skills training, but that once there, they were often trapped, facing tax deductions, dangerous working conditions, strict surveillance, and difficulties returning home. In the past six months, a ZAM team in seven African countries has investigated the Russian recruitment exerciseand why so many young Africans take the chance to go, sometimes even after being warned. However, amid the many international reports about recruitment for Alabuga, only one has highlighted the plight of families left behind. Reporting for Deutsche Welle, Garikai Mafirakureva interviewed worried parents in Zimbabwe in June this year. At ZAMs request, he went back to several of them to ask how they are doing now. A senior government official asked me if I wanted my daughter to study in Russia. She is no longer communicating. Read the three testimonials below. Ulita Semende: We hardly speak these days I am 47, I live in Harare, and my daughter is 19. She was active in various youth programmes (1), and when she told me she was leaving for Russia, I was not surprised, and I wished her well. My daughter and I are very close, so when she stopped calling, I became very worried about her. We hardly speak these days. Whenever she calls via WhatsAppthe last time was in Mayshe sounds like she is in a hurry. I am beginning to believe the stories I hear about the girls manufacturing drones because she is so secretive about her job or her schooling programme. I received $400 via Western Union in May this year. I dont know where to turn to. I am afraid to approach government officials, because I feel they would say that I am the one who is feeding the media with news. Zimbabwes ruling party, ZANU-PF, organises several workshops and training programmes for loyal youth. Sositina Mukatwa: The government is mum I am 43 and I live in Chivhu (140 km south of Harare). My girl is 19. When she applied and went to Russia, she never told me about the programme. The only thing I remember is that she was running around asking for money from friends and neighbours to process her passport. Thats when I inquired, and she then told me that she wanted to surprise me because she was leaving for Russia. At first, I was so happy because I thought this was her opportunity to help me and her two siblings with school fees and the general upkeep. Now, I am afraid, not knowing if she is fine, because she rarely communicates. She has only called thrice to say she is fine, but I could sense she was not free to talk, as if someone were listening or she had little time on the phone. In fact, we have only talked three times via WhatsApp since she left in 2023. The last time we talked, she sounded drunk and hinted to me that she had been laid off and was living with a friend, but when she called me in June, she said she is back at work and sent me $200 via Western Union. She doesnt want to talk about her job, her living conditions, or even the school programme. She never said when she is coming back to visit. I am living in fear because the government is mum about the whole programme. I dont know what to do now. Ruzvidzo Masambaasiyana: I feel like I sold my daughter into slavery I am 55, I live in Harare, and my girl is turning 20 in January next year. I heard of this programme from a friend, a senior government employee, who asked me if I wanted my daughter to study in Russia. So I facilitated the process. When she left for Russia, I felt my connection to those in higher offices had now paid. I was not worried until I read and watched the news saying they are manufacturing drones used in the war against Ukraine. I tried to talk to her about it when she last called me sometime in April, but she brushed me aside and told me I should not always believe what I watch on TV or read in the newspapers. I am now worried because she is no longer communicating. She never sent me anything, but I am not worried about her sending me money or not, as long as she is safe. I approached my friend, the government employee, about the issue, and he joked that I should stop expecting a bridegroom from Russia. He never spoke to me again about the programme, and she is also not talking about it. I no longer trust him. I want my daughter back, but I cant do anything about it. I feel like I sold my daughter into slavery. All names have been altered for security purposes. ZAM extends its thanks to Deutsche Welle and Garikai Mafirakureva for their collaboration. This article was first published by ZAM Magazine here (hyperlink to original publication on ZAMs website The scheduled commencement of the cybercrime trial of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday. Trial judge Mohammed Umar rescheduled the trial after Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans defence team raised a preliminary objection challenging the power of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to prosecute her for cybercrime. Her lawyer, West Idahosa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told the judge that the objection was not against the charges but against the prosecutorial authority of the AGF in the cybercrime matter. Mr Idahosa said the court needed to first clear the preliminary objection before contemplating trial. Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing six counts of criminal defamation and cyberbullying. The federal government, through the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, filed the charges against her, accusing her of making statements capable of harming the reputation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. In one of the counts, prosecutors alleged that on 1 April, while addressing a crowd at Ihima community in Kogi State, she made assassination remarks transmitted via a computer system and network with the intention to harm the reputations of Messrs Akpabio and Bello. Prosecutors also alleged that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, during a television interview, claimed that Messrs Akpabio and Bello were plotting to eliminate her when she allegedly knew the claim to be false. They said her offences violated the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, and are punishable under the same Act. Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan denied all the charges during her arraignment in June. Hearing At Mondays proceedings, prosecution lawyer D.E Kaswe reminded the court that the matter was slated for trial and that a witness was in court. But Mr Idahosa informed the court of the preliminary objection filed on 18 September. He explained that the objection challenging the AGFs power to prosecute the case had been duly served on the prosecution. He argued that while the defence was entitled to have the statements of the proposed prosecution witnesses, the court ought to determine the preliminary objection filed by the defence before commencement of trial. Mr Kaswe said objection filed by the defence was strange. He noted that although it might have been served on the prosecution at the Ministry of Justice, it had not reached him through official process. He maintained his position that the trial should go on. After hearing both sides, the judge adjourned the matter until 20 October for the hearing of the preliminary objection, directing the prosecution to respond before that date. Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan is also charged in another case at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, based on the same public comments regarding Messrs Akpabio and Bello. The charges in the case were brought under the Penal Code. On 19 June, the federal government arraigned her before FCT High Court judge Chizoba Orji, who granted her bail in the sum of N50 million. The senator pleaded not guilty, and trial was scheduled to start on 23 September. The cases are part of the legal troubles Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan has faced since her suspension by the Senate in March. Despite obtaining a judgment declaring her suspension illegal and subsequently completing the six-month suspension earlier this month, the Senate has blocked her resumption, citing pending appeals regarding the case. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says he has always frustrated the creation of a Palestinian State and will continue to do so, despite international calls for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine crisis. He also described recognition of Palestine by European countries as an absurd prize for terrorism. According to a statement issued by his office on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu said Israel would have to fight at the United Nations and other international forums against slanderous propaganda. The New York Times reported that Mr Netanyahu, who is wanted for war crimes at the International Criminal Court, vowed that a Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River. He also claimed that the creation of an independent Palestine endangers the existence of Israel, adding that his country would be responding to the countries recognising a Palestinian state. The Israeli prime ministers statement comes on the heels of the announcement by the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, recognising Palestine as a country and calling for support for a two-state solution. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, argued that his country made this decision to recognise Palestine as a way of maintaining prospects for peace in the Middle East region. He noted that Hamas would have no role in governance. Our call for a genuine two-state solution is the exact opposite of their hateful vision, he said. Mr Starmer also called for a ceasefire in Gaza and demanded the release of hostages taken in Hamas 2023 attack. Similarly, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said this decision aims to pave the way for a two-state solution. We are working to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution, to not allow the facts on the ground, deaths on the ground, the settlements on the ground, the expropriations on the ground, to get to such an extent that this is not possible, Mr Carney said. Portugal also joined the list of countries recognising Palestine after announcing its decision to recognise the Palestinian state. Recognising the State of Palestine is therefore the fulfilment of a fundamental, consistent, and widely agreed policy, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel told reporters in New York ahead of the annual UN General Assembly. However, Mr Netanyahu has vowed to oppose international efforts to recognise a Palestinian state. I have a clear message to those leaders who recognise a Palestinian state after the terrible massacre on 7 October: you are giving a huge reward to terror. For years, I have prevented the establishment of this terror state, despite enormous pressures both from within and from outside. We did this with determination, and we did it with political wisdom, he stated. The Israeli foreign ministry has also warned that the recognition would only destabilise the region and would not promote peace. The ministry added that Israel will not accept any detached and imaginary text that attempts to force it to accept indefensible borders. Calls for inclusion and guaranteed representation for women and persons with disabilities (PWDs) dominated Mondays national public hearing organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja on the ongoing constitution review. The House Committee on Constitution Review organised the hearing to provide Nigerians the opportunity to make input in the review of the document. Committee Chairperson and Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, had, during the opening ceremony of the exercise, described the process as the culmination of months of public consultations across the six geopolitical zones, during which citizens, civil society groups, traditional leaders, security agencies, and professional bodies submitted memoranda and testimonies. Some attendees at the event insisted that Nigerias democracy cannot deepen without deliberate steps to end systemic exclusion. Not just on womens day A former senator, Florence Ita-Giwa, challenged lawmakers to move beyond symbolic gestures in supporting women. She criticised what she described as token attention to womens issues, often restricted to symbolic recognition during international commemorations. We cannot continue to support women only on Womens Day. Her comments drew applause from several womens advocacy groups present, many of whom had called for the Reserved Seats Bill to be passed into law. Call for disability rights as protected category The President of the Network of Women with Disabilities, Lois Auta, described the plight of women with disabilities in Nigeria as triple jeopardy, stressing that they face exclusion, discrimination, and invisibility in every sector of governance. As you see right now, we are at a zero per cent level of participation in governance. We are excluded. We are underrepresented in every sector. In Kenya, a visually impaired woman is a senator. What is Nigeria doing? Ms Auta asked. She called for urgent reforms to move the country from exclusion to inclusion, from inclusion to participation, and from participation to representation. While appreciating the 10th National Assembly leadership for proposing five per cent reserved representation for PWDs, Ms Auta argued that such a measure must not remain on paper. Women with disabilities can be governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, and ministers. Do not forget, there is productivity in disabilities. Include us now, she urged. Grace Jerry, another disability rights advocate, demanded that the constitution explicitly recognise disability as a protected category under the fundamental rights chapter. She stressed that disability affects everyone directly or indirectly, and as such, persons with disabilities must be guaranteed equal opportunities in law. The constitution should clearly provide that persons with disabilities shall have the right to special protection by the family, society, and the state. It must also mandate government at all levels to promote sign language, braille, and other assistive communication, as well as social and economic integration, Ms Jerry said. She noted that her organisation had already submitted specific recommendations for constitutional amendment and urged lawmakers not to ignore them. Police Officers wives seek representation in security sector The Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) also made submissions, calling for guaranteed representation of women in the security and defence sectors, which they argued have remained male-dominated. Their representatives demanded constitutional provisions reserving a percentage of leadership positions in the police, military, and paramilitary agencies for women. Currently, the constitution does not mandate womens representation in security agencies. This must change. Such inclusion should also extend to the highest offices in the land, including the president and governors, it said. The group argued that gender balance in security would strengthen institutional performance and sustainability. Political women leaders push for passage of reserved seats bill A coalition of women leaders across political parties submitted a memorandum strongly backing the Reserved Seats Bill, describing it as a historic opportunity to correct Nigerias gender imbalance. They argued that despite women being major stakeholders in politics and governance, structural barriers continue to marginalise them from decision-making. This bill is not tokenism. It is about fairness and democratic sustainability. We urge lawmakers to pass it to send a strong message of confidence in inclusive governance, the memorandum read. Broader demands Other stakeholders at the hearing pushed for electoral reforms, stricter rules on party leadership eligibility, and the creation of new states. Lawmaker emphasises public conviction A member of the House, while speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, also weighed in on the process. Abubakar Fulata (APC, Jigawa) reminded participants that, unlike ordinary bills, constitutional amendment bills require two-thirds majority approval in both chambers. That is one of the requirements of constitutional review, to afford members of the public an opportunity not only to air their positions but also to convince members of the National Assembly on the relevance of their proposals, Mr Fulata said. He stressed that lobbying, consensus-building, and sustained public pressure would be critical for any amendment to scale through. A Federal High Court judge in Abuja, Peter Lifu, on Monday, decried the slow pace of the N3.1 billion fraud trial of former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam. Mr Lifus worry followed the defence teams request for a three-week adjournment. This case has been going on for 10 years. No matter what, a case should not go on for 10 years, said Mr Lifu. A statement from the prosecution agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), stated that Mondays proceedings were meant for Mr Suswam and his co-defendant to open their defence. But the hearing was cut short by the defences request for adjournment for a lawyer in their team to recover from illness and to afford the team adequate time to prepare for defence. Mr Suswam, who served as governor of Benue State from 2007 to 2015, was first arraigned by the EFCC in November 2015. He was charged alongside his then Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Okolobia. The prosecution accused them of diverting N3.1 billion, part of the proceeds from the sale of Benue States shares held by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited. The funds were allegedly moved through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited. While facing the charges, Mr Suswam has been elected to the Senate for one term of four years. The defendants were re-arraigned in November 2020. The case was later reassigned to Mr Lifu after two other judges had handled it. The prosecution proceeded to call nine witnesses to prove its case. But instead of opening their defence, the defendants opted to file a no-case submission calling for the dismissal of the charges on the grounds that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them. But on 23 July, Mr Lifu dismissed the defendants no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution had led credible evidence warranting their explanations. Ruling that the defendants had a case to answer, Mr Lifu ordered them to open their defence and adjourned till Monday. Why trial stalled again on Monday At Mondays proceedings, Mr Suswams lawyer, Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), asked for a three-week adjournment on the grounds that a lawyer in the defence team, Chinelo Ogbozor, was hospitalised. Mr Daudu also told the court that an appeal had been filed against the ruling on the no-case submission. He urged the court to adjourn till the determination of the appeal. He also said a three-week adjournment would give his team more time to prepare for the defence. However, prosecuting counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, opposed the request, arguing that the defence had more than two months since after the ruling to prepare. He further stressed that the case has been on for 10 years and they have had more than 10 years to prepare. On the issue of pending appeal raised by the defence, Mr Atolagbe said the trial court could not wait for the Court of Appeal, stressing that the Federal High Court is not bound to stay proceedings, except where the appellate court gave a ruling. The trial judge, in his remarks, lamented that the case had lingered for too long. He said it was difficult to locate the file and had to send staff to the appeal registry ahead of the proceedings on Monday. He said the file was found to be scattered all over the place. He said the situation caused his late arrival in court on Monday. We cannot go on like this, this case has been going on for 10 years, he said. He adjourned the matter till 10 October for the defendants to open their defence. How the case moved between Judges Over the years, the case, which commenced in November 2015, has faced several setbacks. It has passed through three judges. It journeyed back and forth between the first two to handle the case Ahmed Mohammed and Okon Abang. The Court of Appeals ruling delivered in February 2020 ordered that the case be returned to Mr Mohammed, the first judge to be assigned the matter. Both Messrs Abang and Mohammed have since been elevated to the Court of Appeal bench. After Mr Mohammed was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2023, the matter was reassigned to Mr Lifu. In March 2024, the defendants were re-arraigned before Mr Lifu and, again, pleaded not guilty. The judiciary have a wide scope for making political decisions. J.A.G. Griffiths, Constitutional and Administrative Law in Peter Archer & Andrew Martin (Eds), More Law Reform Now, 55 (1983) The judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on 19 January 2006 concerning the state of emergency in Plateau State came down 20 months after the proclamation and 14 months after the emergency had expired. When it eventually was finally issued, the judgment was worse than an anti-climax. The most important thing about the decision was not the jurisprudence of the court but the timing of when the court chose to hear the case. Nearly two decades later, the same Court is likely to reprise a familiar script, serving as an apex enabler of power amok. The people of Rivers State are paying the price in the currency of constitutional outrage. As always, the facts matter. By Statutory instrument No. 4 of 2004, issued on 18 May 2004, Olusegun Obasanjo, president of Nigeria and a retired four-star General, proclaimed a State of Emergency over Plateau State in north-central Nigeria. Known as the State of Emergency (Plateau State) Proclamation, S.I. No. 4 of 2004 provided that the State shall for the duration of the emergency be administered by an Administrator who shall be appointed by me and operate on the basis of such Regulations that may, from time to time, be issued by me. The duration of the emergency proclamation was six months. At the time, President Obasanjo was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Beyond the federal level, the same party ruled or controlled 28 out of the 36 states in Nigeria. Joshua Dariye, the governor suspended in Plateau State by the emergency, was also elected on the platform of the party. Having suspended the elected governor, his deputy and the Plateau State House of Assembly in exercise of powers purportedly exercised under the emergency, President Obasanjo appointed Chris Alli, a former Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, as his chosen Emergency Administrator for Plateau State. The National Assembly quickly voted to afford the president the parliamentary reinforcement required under the constitution. In the name of Plateau State and its people, the suspended governor, Joshua Dariye, instructed legal proceedings invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in respect of disputes between a state and the federal government. Among other things, the case asked the Supreme Court to determine whether the relevant provisions of the Constitution and of the Emergency Powers Act of 1961, empowered the president to suspend elected officials of the state. The Supreme Court took its merry time before scheduling the case for argument. By the time it took arguments in the last quarter of the following year, the legal issues were still substantial but the actual emergency had long become spent. In its judgment, the Court ruled that the proceedings lacked the requisite legal standing because the suspended governor did not have powers to instruct proceedings on behalf of Plateau State and the Emergency Military Administrator had not authorized nor supported the case. It also added that as the emergency was spent, there was no longer any live dispute involved. This was diabolical judicial capitulation. If, as seemed evident, the court was clearly reluctant to get itself embroiled in the controversy, it would have struggled to find a more illogical piece of reasoning on the basis of which to justify casualizing the issue as a matter of the institutional comfort for the judiciary. The most charitable anyone could be about the idea that the fate of the case should hang on the consent of the Military Administrator the legality of whose appointment was in question was that it was cynical jurisprudence. At the time of the judgment, in any case, the question of whether or not the president had the power to suspend elected state officials was not at all academic. Yet, through an act of commission that was deliberately made to look like routine omission, the Supreme Court enabled the Plateau State emergency proclamation, setting a precedent that ransacked the constitution but which suited the essentially military temperament of a soldier and war-time General whose tolerance for being second-guessed by anyone was notoriously thin. Nearly two decades later, On 17 September 2025, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerias incumbent president, issued an announcement lifting the six-month-old state of emergency that he had imposed on Rivers State on 18 March. The announcement coincided with the expiration of the period of six months. Reprising the precedent set by President Obasanjo in 2004, President Tinubu, in proclaiming the emergency in Rivers State, also suspended all elected state level officials, including the state governor and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Unlike the situation in 2004, however, the party of the president this time is the All-Progressives Congress (APC) and the elected state officials at the receiving end were in the PDP which had been in opposition since 2015. At the National Assembly, which the Constitution requires to ratify the emergency proclamation by a qualified (two-thirds) majority, both chambers passed it by a voice-vote. This made it impossible to compute compliance with the constitutional arithmetic for lawful emergency proclamation. Naturally, therefore, the matter was fated to end up in controversy. President Tinubu acknowledged as much in his announcement of the end of the Rivers State emergency, confessing awareness of the fact that there were over 40 cases in the courts in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa, to invalidate the declaration. With a touch of presidential hubris, he added that that is the way it should be in a democratic setting. Some cases are still pending in the courts as of today. Most of the courts that have decided did so by way of rulings designed to short-ensure that was no judgment. One of the cases pending in the courts is SC/CV/329/2025 filed on 9 April 2025, a mere three weeks after the emergency proclamation in Rivers State, by 11 States whose governors were elected on the platform of the PDP. Their intervention ensured that the case avoided the delays inherent of navigating the lower rungs of the judicial ladder. There was good reason to believe that the court would give the matter timely consideration. On 3 March 2023, the Supreme Court decided Suit No. SC/CV/162/2023 instituted by 10 States exactly one month earlier on 3 February to challenge the re-design of the national currency on the eve of the 2023 elections. The following year, the same court took exactly 45 days to decide on 11 July, the case on local government autonomy filed by the Federal Government against the states on 25 May 2025. If the hope of the PDP governors in the Rivers State case was to give the apex court a timely opportunity to adjudicate the matter, it was mis-placed. When the Plateau State emergency case was being given the judicial runaround under President Obasanjo two decades earlier, Rivers State was one of the poster boys of the PDP administration. This time, the state is a political prize for which the incumbent president is willing to mint a currency entirely of his own making. The Supreme Court has enabled him to have his way as he pleases with neither care nor heed for what the constitution requires. As I write, the Supreme Court is still twiddling its elevated judicial thumbs while evidently divining the magical body language of the presidency. The court has chosen to enable emergency rule of manifestly dubious constitutionality by allowing the clock to run out on the proclamation. Its choice of that course of action has been both wilful and cynical. It is also clearly political. The administrative feint of the Supreme Court in kicking the Rivers State emergency case into the judicial long grass is a piece of judicial legerdemain whose place in the pantheon of judicial infamy is assured. It is also a piece of catastrophic success for the administration. With Supreme benediction, every elected state official now holds office at the sufferance of the presidency. The true scale of its perverse consequences for constitutional government in Nigeria will become apparent as the 2027 elections approach. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and can be reached through [email protected]. The AU-EU partnership has a positive implication for Africa; it could be the effective platform for integrating the European Unions best practices in restructuring Africas social protection framework. The expertise of the EU would prove vital for the implementation of youth-inclusive and tech-oriented social safety systems in African countries. The EUs technological sophistication could be the perfect resource for establishing the data systems that would aid effective documentation of informal workers, displaced youths, and other marginalised populations. AU-EU social safety nets need to be anchored on equitable development by prioritising key areas such as digital inclusion, education, climate action, and dignity. While digital inclusion emphasises an environment in which every citizen has unrestricted access to digital services and opportunities, education is the indispensable tool that equips individuals for civic engagement and economic participation. If incorporated into social safety planning, proper climate action would prove vital in mitigating the incidence of harmful weather, food insecurity, and other consequences of climate change. Dignity is another crucial element in social safety planning, and the AU-EU partnership can foster dignity by giving priority to the fundamental rights of every group. By acknowledging that these key areas education, climate action, dignity, and digital inclusion are intertwined, the partnership can help in building and sustaining well-equipped, inclusive societies. The roles of youths in the realisation of sustainable social safety systems should never be downplayed. Especially in planning social safety for fragile and displaced communities, the AU-EU partnership must recognise young peoples potential in offering innovative solutions and long-term engagement. Youth integration, which emphasises including youths in social safety planning, would prove beneficial because the young people in conflict-affected communities can not only provide first-hand information about the challenges in the communities, they can also offer insight into specific communal needs. If allowed active roles in social safety systems, youths especially those in fragile and displaced communities can significantly contribute to the design of resilient and responsive social safety nets, which can better tackle violence, displacement, and climate-induced disasters. In order to realise the long-term benefits of social equity and inter-generational collaboration, the AU-EU partnership must, therefore, prioritise youth inclusion in the design and implementation of social safety programmes. In Africa, social safety systems barely cater to some crucial populations such as informal sector workers, digital gig workers, and the youths in conflict-prone communities. Especially in Nigeria, the social protection framework fails to integrate the needs of online freelancers, informal workers, and displaced youths in the implementation of empowerment schemes, emergency cash transfers, and other social safety programmes. Despite occupying a significant portion of the countrys workforce a portion believed to be over 80 per cent the informal workers in Nigeria barely benefit from the social protection framework. This marginalisation sadly affects northeastern Nigeria, where many youths have been displaced by insecurity. Despite being established with the goal of supporting the countrys vulnerable and poor populations, Nigerias National Social Register (NSR) has performed poorly in terms of identifying vulnerable individuals, upholding digital transparency, and prioritising youth-specific support. NSR employs a vague data collection approach, and due to the absence of community oversight and digital transparency, the NSR has failed to accurately document the vulnerable youths in conflict-prone states such as Zamfara and Borno. This failure makes it difficult for Nigerias social safety system to properly identify and respond to the specific needs of numerous vulnerable individuals unemployed youths, school dropouts, and displaced persons. While Nigeria grapples with the consequences of improper social safety planning, real-world data indicate a worrisome reality as thousands of youths in northeastern Nigeria have come under great insecurity, thereby depriving them of employment opportunities and educational access. The data appears more worrisome, as there are more than 10 million out-of-school children in the country. Similarly, poverty in Nigeria has become a great challenge, driving numerous youths out of school. The AU-EU partnership has a positive implication for Africa; it could be the effective platform for integrating the European Unions best practices in restructuring Africas social protection framework. The expertise of the EU would prove vital for the implementation of youth-inclusive and tech-oriented social safety systems in African countries. The EUs technological sophistication could be the perfect resource for establishing the data systems that would aid effective documentation of informal workers, displaced youths, and other marginalised populations. Moreover, the AU-EU partnership must prioritise the potential of Africas vibrant youth population by acknowledging that young Africans have the capacity to effectively manage electronic registration systems, social safety databases, emergency cash payment systems, and other platforms required for the sustenance of effective social safety nets. Towards revamping social safety nets in the AU-EU partnership, the essence of youth integration should never be a subject of debate youth integration is, in fact, the catalyst needed to achieve resilient and impactful AU-EU social safety nets. Abdulkareem O. Abdullateef is the executive director of Saving African Youths Dream Initiative (SAYDi) and a European Union Youth Adviser in Nigeria and ECOWAS. Indeed, Nigeria has a lot of goodies in the basket to offer the world as we mark 65 years of nationhood. The overarching branding strategy must focus on leveraging the nations diverse cultural nuances and economic strengths, while adapting to digital transformation and consumer preferences like sustainability and personalisation. In a previous article I wrote in 2020 titled A global brand positioning strategy for Nigeria, I argued that Nigeria was not just the largest country in Africa with a population of over 200 million people, it also has a larger percentage of arable land (33 per cent) than any other country in Africa. With this advantage, I added that Nigeria could become the Food Basket of Africa. It was Alfred Paul Ries (19262022), the foremost American marketing professional and author, who taught me the secrets of building successful global brands, and he told me that Nigeria can become an economic power in the world, citing Singapore and China as case studies. Al Ries was the cofounder and chairman of the Atlanta-based consulting firm, Ries & Ries, with his partner and daughter, Laura Ries. They visited Nigeria in the past, and their firm consults for Fortune 500 companies. Ries, who passed away on 7 October, 2022 five weeks before his 96th birthday on 14 November, 2022 inspired me to write my next book. Before becoming the king of global advertising and marketing strategy, Ries had a degree in mathematics from DePauw University, a private institution in Greencastle, Indiana, USA. Al, in his emails to me, always connected the dots linking public relations, marketing and advertising. In an interview Shola Oshunkeye, publisher of Crest online newspaper, and I conducted with Al, we asked him how nations gain prosperity. Al said the answer to the question was in the book, The Wealth of Nations, written by Adam Smith in 1776, which he called the best book on the subject. Al wrote: The division of labor leads to specialisation, expertise, dexterity, and machinery, thereby producing greater wealth. But there is a limit. As it is the power of exchanging that gives occasion to the division of labor, so the extent of this division must always be limited by the extent of the market. In other words, it is specialization that produces wealth and the degree of specialization is limited by the size of the market. Thats why larger countries are economically more successful than smaller countries. Thats why America, the largest country in South and North America, is also the most successful country in South and North America. And Germany, the largest country in Europe, is also the most successful country in Europe. But there is a solution to the problem of size. It involves marketing your brands to the world instead of just your own country. In plain language, Al simply said a country doesnt get rich by selling things to each other; a country gets rich by selling things to people in other countries. By conducting a thorough competitive analysis, we can identify unique value propositions that can differentiate Nigerian brands, and capitalise on the expanding e-commerce market to create an immersive online presence. In addition, we need to integrate emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and block chain to enhance branding, customer engagement, and personalised marketing efforts. The key message here is that Nigeria, being the largest country in Africa, can also become the most successful country in Africa. Based on available data, it is evident that we can, and it is possible. Thats where I stand, but we must be ready to do the right things through a sincere and transformational leadership across all tiers of government. Framing our success as the giant of Africa can be seen in varying contexts. Two examples would suffice: (a.) what makes Nigeria a special place in the world, and (b.) showcase our economic potentials that can attract investors. Using the above contexts, we can renew conversations around Nigerias huge economic potential and do something about it, especially in terms of PR opportunities, e.g. selling our strategic positioning as the Greenest Nation in Africa, created by Al Ries. Our natural endowments in agriculture and tourism formed the basis of the positioning statement. It is Gods doing and it is marvellous in our eyes. Indeed, Nigeria has a lot of goodies in the basket to offer the world as we mark 65 years of nationhood. The overarching branding strategy must focus on leveraging the nations diverse cultural nuances and economic strengths, while adapting to digital transformation and consumer preferences like sustainability and personalisation. Key components of the strategy should include our agricultural advantage (leverage Nigerias significant arable land to develop global food brands by focusing on one category at a time); cultural authenticity (use storytelling and emotional appeal to connect with diverse audiences, highlighting Nigerian creativity, resilience, and local heritage), and demographic advantage (engage the tech-savvy youth demographic by prioritising digital marketing and online customer experiences). It is also important to understand our diverse consumer behaviour by analysing the specific needs, cultural nuances and regional preferences within Nigerias large population to segment and target consumers effectively. By conducting a thorough competitive analysis, we can identify unique value propositions that can differentiate Nigerian brands, and capitalise on the expanding e-commerce market to create an immersive online presence. In addition, we need to integrate emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and block chain to enhance branding, customer engagement, and personalised marketing efforts. We should also remember that these initiatives must be culturally sensitive and resonate with local values, while retaining a universal appeal for global markets. It is essential to maintain consistent brand messaging across all platforms to build trust and recognition within Nigerias competitive environment. As Nigerian consumers are becoming increasingly discerning and concerned with environmental issues, we do not lose anything by incorporating sustainable practices into the branding strategy and use data to deliver personalised marketing messages and experiences, catering to the needs and preferences of individual consumers. The shenanigans of politicians are painful, but we should also learn to look at the brighter side of things. We also have a role to play by changing the way we think and behave. My friend and brother in the United States, Nosa, is asking all Nigerians to embrace culture change and ethical transformation as the irreducible minimum requirement to achieve greatness. I agree with him. What Al Ries also told me during our marketing strategy discourse was that successful brands focus on the customer, not the competition. Before he died in Atlanta, USA, Al taught basic marketing principles in over 70 countries. This is an opportunity for researchers to explore what Al meant by being customer-oriented. He also said that great brands are built by being different, not necessarily better. How is Nigeria different from other African countries? We have more arable land which signals a massive opportunity to build global food brands. I will say it for the umpteenth time that Nigeria is a great country and we do not have any other country to call our own. I concede that we have had too many missed opportunities with a disappointing political elite who have refused to lead by example. I keep wondering why those who lead us we cannot create wealth for Nigerians. My view is that they deliberately refuse to see the opportunities around them because they are more interested in the primitive accumulation of wealth for themselves, families, and cronies. Unfortunately, the next election is always more important than building social capital at the community level. The shenanigans of politicians are painful, but we should also learn to look at the brighter side of things. We also have a role to play by changing the way we think and behave. My friend and brother in the United States, Nosa, is asking all Nigerians to embrace culture change and ethical transformation as the irreducible minimum requirement to achieve greatness. I agree with him. In my next article, I will explain why Nigeria holds a special place in the world. In spite of our current economic hardships and uncertainty, some Nigerians are thriving in various sectors of the economy because they are determined to overcome the numerous challenges. For them, no more lamentations. The story of Mrs Uwem Asibeluo, an imaginative fashion entrepreneur using Ankara fabric exclusively in all her designs to shape her brand identity, readily comes to mind. We used our media platforms to tell her story and promote her creativity and enterprise recently. Our brand exists to bridge traditional and contemporary fashion, making Ankara a stylish choice for every day, and everywhere, Uwem, founder of April Wind Couture, explained in her story. As much as possible, we should all commit to promoting the Nigerian brand by highlighting the countrys unique strengths, opportunities and successes. Ehi Braimah is a public relations specialist, marketing strategist and media entrepreneur. He is the publisher/editor-in-chief of Naija Times and Lagos Post, and can be reached via [email protected]. The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, will bow out of office in November, having completed his record two-term tenure of 10 years. His successor, ideally, is expected to assume office immediately, as the position abhors a vacuum. Who that successor would be is a matter of deep public interest, given the series of integrity questions that have trailed Nigerias electoral processes and outcomes since 1999. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu alone is vested with the power to choose Mr Yakubus replacement, in line with Section 154 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires him to consult with the Council of State in making the appointment. With the presidents personal interest in re-election in 2027, and with the premature buildup to it already reaching a near frenzy, his choice of INEC chairman will attract an unusual level of scrutiny. The position, like those of the supporting electoral commissioners, is not open to partisans or card-carrying members of any registered political party. It is a role designed strictly for individuals whose fidelity must be to the Constitution and, by implication, the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The search for a new national electoral umpire should begin now to avoid the sort of delay created by former President Muhammadu Buhari in appointing Attahiru Jegas successor. Mahmoud Yakubus appointment came on 21 October 2015, even though his predecessor had left office on 30 June that year. The interim successor arrangement had itself sparked controversy. Mr Buharis decision to appoint Amina Bala Zakari, a day after Mr Jega, a professor, handed over to Ahmed Wakil, as acting INEC chairman, was hotly contested. It was true that Mrs Zakari, being the most senior National Electoral Commissioner after the exit of Mr Wakil, was next in line, but her appointment ignited claims of a filial relationship with the president. Nigerians and election observers across the world, therefore, have sufficient grounds to be deeply concerned about the character and antecedents of whoever becomes the next INEC boss. Sadly, since 1999, a number of INEC chairmen have been perceived as beholden to the regimes that appointed them or to the ruling party, thereby raising questions about their independence and impartiality. This perception was most glaring in the brazen bias exhibited during the 2007 general elections, which were underpinned by the do-or-die mentality of the ruling regime at the time. During that presidential election, the INEC chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu, reportedly excused himself from the collation of results at the commissions headquarters, leaving party agents behind. Results were subsequently announced, declaring the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate (as) winner on the basis of results electronically transmittedfrom 13 states, while the results from 23 states were still being awaited, as documented in Professor Ben Nwabuezes 2009 book, Judicialism and Good Governance in Africa. In addition, ballot papers in that election had no serial numbers, and the breakdown of votes scored by each presidential candidate in all the states was not made public. It was little surprise that its ultimate beneficiary, the late President Umaru Musa YarAdua, admitted that the election that brought him to power was flawed. Consequently, he set up the Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reforms Committee to forestall such travesties in future elections. The perverted and judicially contested outcomes of off-cycle gubernatorial polls in Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Osun, and Kogi states stood as further testament to the abysmal performance of INECs leadership between 2003 and 2007. Attahiru Jega tried to improve the system. Yet the toxicity of electoral administration in Nigeria persisted. To restore public confidence, Mahmood Yakubu introduced several reforms before the 2023 elections to avoid the usual challenges, as he put it. These included, among others, electronic transmission of results from polling units to collation centres and the IRev portal for public viewing of results. Rather incredibly, of the three national elections the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Presidency conducted simultaneously with the same voters, only the presidential results suffered delay in display on the iRev portal, unlike the other two. INEC attributed this failure to a technical glitch. Unsurprisingly, suspicions and allegations of manipulation were rife. Glaring inconsistencies in the outcomes of the 2023 general elections reportedly remain visible on INECs website. Media organisations such as PREMIUM TIMES and the BBC, alongside civil society group Yiaga Africa, separately reported based on figures from the INEC portal that Peter Obi, not Bola Tinubu, won the presidential election in some parts of Rivers State, contrary to the official declaration. This remains a searing indictment of electoral integrity in Nigeria. The well-considered opinion of Justice George Oguntade of the Supreme Court, though expressed as a minority position, remains instructive. He argued that at the conclusion of an election, an unbiased observer should be able to see that the election was free, fair, transparent and that no room had been left open for malpractices to occur. This should serve as the guardrail for the conduct of the 2027 polls. But there are growing reservations that this may be wishful thinking, given some troubling developments already emerging within INEC. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has accused President Tinubu of appointing at least three partisan individuals as National and State Resident Electoral Commissioners. This, among other concerns, should not be dismissed. Still, the president has an opportunity to go beyond the bare prescriptions of the 1999 Constitution and adopt global best practices in selecting Mr Yakubus successor. Many countries employ broader, more consensual methods for appointing the heads of their election management bodies. In South Africa, candidates are chosen from a pool recommended by multi-party parliamentary panels, with opposition parties playing a crucial role in the vetting process. In Ghana, opposition parties are consulted before the national electoral umpire is appointed. By contrast, in Nigeria, the Council of State merely listens to the presidents presentation of his choice without meaningful input. Where electoral commissions have multi-party representation as in the United States, which includes three members from each major party credibility is infused into the process, suspicion of ruling party domination is reduced, and trust in the electoral system is enhanced. We recommend this inclusivity going forward, as a necessary step to wean INEC of its current shadowy and manipulative image. OPay Digital Services Limited has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing education in Nigeria with the extension of its 1.2 billion Ten-Year Scholarship Programme to Bayero University Kano (BUK). The initiative underscores OPays mission to empower young Nigerians by reducing financial barriers to quality education. The partnership was sealed during the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between OPay and the management of BUK. The agreement positions the students as one of the key beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme, which spans 20 tertiary institutions nationwide over a 10-year period. The Vice Chancellor, Bayero University Kano, Professor Haruna Musa expressed appreciation to OPay for selecting BUK as one of the beneficiary institutions, emphasising that the scholarship scheme will go a long way in easing the financial burden of students who struggle to meet their educational needs. He said, We are grateful that OPay has recognised Bayero University Kano as a beneficiary of this laudable scholarship scheme. On behalf of our students and management, I extend our profound appreciation. I assure you that under my leadership, we will continue to open our doors to more collaborations with OPay. On a personal note, I am proud to be an OPay account holder because your services are incomparable to any other bank in Nigeria. I encourage you to sustain this momentum, as OPay has become a household name in the country. To our students, I urge you to make effective use of this opportunity and also promote the services of OPay as a way of showing gratitude, Prof Musa added. Speaking on behalf of OPay, the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Mr Itoro Udo, said the company was committed to giving back to society through sustainable social investments. He explained that the scholarship programme, which began in November 2024, is designed to benefit 20 students annually across 20 tertiary institutions for 10 years. He said, OPay is Nigerias foremost fintech with tens of millions of customers nationwide. Beyond financial services, we are passionate about social responsibility and committed to leaving a lasting impact on communities. With this scholarship, our vision is to support youths who are not just the leaders of tomorrow but already the leaders of today. BUK is our 18th partner institution, and we look forward to deepening this collaboration for greater impact, Mr Itoro said. In his remarks, the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Shamsuddeen Umar, described the intervention as both timely and critical. He emphasised that the university would strictly adhere to the MoUs provisions while ensuring that deserving students benefit from the scheme. There has never been a time when students needed such support more than now. This intervention is very timely, and we are grateful to OPay. I want to assure you that BUK will strictly abide by the criteria outlined in the MoU. We preach and practice excellence, and we will ensure this initiative achieves its purpose, The Dean said. The 1.2 billion Ten-Year OPay Scholarship Programme covers tuition fees of students annually, across 20 tertiary institutions nationwide. BUK is the 18th institution to sign the partnership, as OPay continues its nationwide rollout to reach students in all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. OPay was established in 2018 as a leading financial institution in Nigeria with the mission to make financial services more inclusive through technology. The company offers a wide range of payment services, including money transfer, bill payment, card service, airtime and data purchase, and merchant payments, among others. Renowned for its fast and reliable network and strong security features that protect customers funds, OPay is licensed by the CBN and insured by the NDIC with the same insurance coverage as commercial banks. China-ASEAN Expo brings opportunities to businesses and individuals 14:47, September 22, 2025 By Wu Chaolan, Yang Chunyan ( People's Daily Online People visit the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 20, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Wu Chaolan) Visitors crowded exhibition halls at the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning on Sept. 20, 2025, sampling regional foods and watching business representatives promote products in multiple languages. Many attendees left carrying shopping bags. At the Vietnam pavilion, Fu Xiang, a representative of a Vietnamese slipper company, greeted customers at his busy booth. "We've already signed deals with several supermarkets, and many customers are buying directly at the booth," said Fu. Holding up a pair of slippers, he recalled how loyal customers return year after year. "Some tell me they wore them until they were completely worn out. So, they come back to look for new styles," he said. Fu has participated in the CAEXPO for 16 consecutive years. "When we first came, our only goal was to open the Chinese market. Now, we have regular customers who come back every year," he said. He believes the expo has played an important role in helping Vietnamese enterprises gain visibility. "This event is truly excellent. It has greatly helped promote our products and strengthen China-Vietnam business exchanges," he said. An exhibitor livestreams from his booth at the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, showcasing products to online audiences, Sept. 20, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Wu Chaolan) "The scale keeps expanding, and with two days open to the public this year, the halls are more crowded," he said. On the other side of the exhibition hall, Malaysian entrepreneur Suhaba was making her debut at the CAEXPO, carrying bottles of sambal chili paste from her hometown. She had not expected the spicy condiment to become an instant hit with Chinese visitors, who crowded around her booth to sample and buy. "In just three days, we signed agreements with four Chinese companies, and the sambal paste sold out completely," she said with excitement. "I'm grateful to the CAEXPO for giving me this chance to showcase our products. It opened my eyes to the potential of the Chinese market," she said. She plans to return with a wider range of Malaysian specialties next year. Jennifer, a representative of a Cambodian food company, was also making her debut at the expo. Standing behind a booth with bags of dried mango, she was soon surrounded by visitors eager to sample the sweet snack. "The turnout really exceeded our expectations," she said. "There are so many people here, and it's very clean, safe and accommodating in Nanning. We've met a lot of customers, and the response has been very encouraging." For Jennifer, the Chinese market feels both vast and promising. "Chinese consumers really like dried mango, and we hope to bring even more Cambodian products here in the future," she said. What impressed her most was the enthusiastic buyers and the diversity of exhibitors. "It's very useful for Southeast Asian countries to come together at this platform, exchange with one another, and help promote each other's products." The CAEXPO attracts consumers as well as businesses. Pan Lin, a Nanning resident, shared Malaysian durian ice cream with her young son at one booth. She visits the expo every year to meet Southeast Asian vendors and buy authentic products. "For us ordinary people, the expo is also a chance to connect and talk directly with traders from Southeast Asia. We can taste their food and learn about their cultures," Pan said. As a regular visitor, she noticed that this year's expo felt different. "In the past, the highlights were mostly about food," she said. "But this year, there are many new elements, such as artificial intelligence, cultural tourism and more. It's not just about tasting delicious products anymore. I can also experience different countries' traditions, customs and innovations, all in one place." Visitors play Go with an AI-powered robot at the AI pavilion of the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 20, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Wu Chaolan) In the AI pavilion, Chen Qiushui and Tan Wenqian, both university students, tested their own digital avatars. For both of them, it was their first time at the CAEXPO, and what drew them here was the expo's growing focus on science and innovation. "The biggest benefit is that it really broadens our horizons," Chen said. "Many of these frontier technologies are things we rarely have the chance to see in everyday life." The Expo also gave them a deeper understanding of neighboring countries' cultures. The two wandered into the Indonesia pavilion, where a traditional dance performance caught their attention. "It was so beautiful," Tan said. "Through the dance, you could feel the joy of the local people and the spirit of their culture. It made us realize how CAEXPO is not only about business, but also about connecting hearts and fostering mutual understanding between China and ASEAN countries." (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) Operator Airtel Chad is reportedly planning a XAF50 billion (about US$90 million) investment plan aimed at improving network quality and expanding digital connectivity across the country. The investment will be rolled out in phases. Local news reports say that within one month Airtel intends to expand microwave connection capacity, replace generators that have reached the end of their useful life, boost radio capacity on 89 4G sites, upgrade router ports in the capital NDjamena to 100G, and modernise former state-owned telecom operator SOTEL's fibre network. By January 2026, Airtel aims to deploy fibre to connect sites in Massakory in the southwest, Ati and Dop-Dop in the centre of the country, and Abeche in central-eastern Chad, to bring radio services to an additional 306 sites, and to launch the third phase of metro fibre deployment in NDjamena. By June 2026 it aims to deploy 114 new sites to extend coverage to underserved areas, expand 4G to 170 additional sites, and extend fibre connectivity to link NDjamena in the southwest and Sarh in the south through Dourbali and Bousso in the southwest. It will also replace the core network supplied by Ericsson with new Huawei equipment. This ambitious plan has been presented to the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (ARCEP), but there is a wider context to this annoucement. Earlier this month we reported that the government of Chad had ordered mobile operators Airtel and Moov Africa to speed up plans to connect to its national fibre optic backbone. The same news item noted ongoing consumer complaints over outages, unstable internet and low service quality despite high tariffs. There is also far from universal coverage. Regulator ARCEP has expressed concern about these quality of service (QoS) issues but also highlighted slow progress in updating subscriber identification. In fact Airtel has been targeted specifically in the past over QoS. In August 2023 we reported that the operator had been fined XAF5 billion (US$9 million) for failing to meet QoS requirements. On this occasion, to ensure accountability, Airtel has committed to submitting monthly progress reports on the execution of its investment programme. Local press reports add that ARCEP launched its 15th national audit on service quality on 15 September. The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has celebrated an illustrious Abia-born US Marine, Kelechi Ndukwe, who was promoted to the rank of commander in charge of the US Destroyer Squadron 60 and commander, Task Force 65 in Rota, Spain. In a message of congratulations to Commodore Ndukwe, Governor Otti described his promotion as a deserving reward for hard work wrapped in excellence and faultless professionalism, according to a statement issued on Sunday, 21 September, by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the governors special adviser on media and publicity. Commodore Ndukwes deserving promotion is a testament to his hard work, wrapped in excellence and faultless professionalism. His trajectory of consistent great accomplishments speaks eloquently about his skills, professionalism and commitment to carving a niche for himself in the military while serving with uncompromising patriotism, Mr Otti said. To be found worthy of this honour is to be outstanding in all aspects; no wonder he enjoys this rare privilege of being the first Nigerian to command a US Navy warship, he added. Governor Otti is optimistic that Commodore Ndukwes achievements will motivate others in this part of the world to aspire to excellence. He urged him to sustain the tempo of meritorious service to achieve greater feats. On behalf of the government and people of Abia State, the governor congratulated Commodore Ndukwe and prayed that he would continue to break new ground in his career. Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has praised the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubus contributions towards achieving a better Nigeria. Mr Otti, in a birthday felicitation on Sunday, 21 September, to Mrs Tinubu at 65, said the First Ladys Renewed Hope Initiative Women Economic Empowerment Programme, which has seen her empower women with financial grants, is a pointer to her desire and commitment to empowering women and helping them achieve economic prosperity and sustainability. This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the governor. I join millions of Nigerians and well-wishers across the globe to felicitate with and celebrate the First Lady of the Nation and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu on the occasion of her 65th birthday, Mr Otti said. Im aware of Her Excellencys long-standing sacrifices and immense support to the President in all these years of political struggles. The First Lady has been nothing but a terrific support system, little wonder she has manifested unbelievable passion and deployed unmatched energy in assisting her husband the President confront the socio-economic challenges bedevilling the nation, especially women. Mr Otti said that at 65, Mrs Tinubu has displayed an inspiring disposition that is not only supportive of women, but one that manifests an intentional desire to better the society in particular and humanity in general. As Her Excellency the First Lady, Distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu celebrates this milestone, I, on behalf of my family and the government and people of Abia State, wish her a happy birthday celebration while praying that she would enjoy a divine-inspired privilege of celebrating many beautiful years ahead. In a vibrant exhibition of Africas richness and unity, Air Tanzania has officially launched direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Lagos, marking a new era of connectivity, trade, and cultural exchange between Nigeria and Tanzania. The historic route was inaugurated at a glamorous event in Lagos, attended by representatives of the Nigerian and Tanzanian governments, tourism and logistics operators, and members of the African diaspora. Tanzania Ambassador to Nigeria, Selestine Kakele, hailed the launch as the dawn of a new chapter; a bridge across the skies connecting two magnificent nations, Nigeria and Tanzania, and two great cities: Lagos on the west coast and Dar es Salaam on the east. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Nigeria, Festus Keyamo, represented by Mrs Janet Oputa, congratulated Air Tanzania and pledged government strong support for the new service. He emphasized that the route would enhance trade, tourism, and cultural exchange while also advancing the African Unions Agenda 2063 and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). Building on the same spirit, Prof Godius Kahyarara, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, who led the Tanzanian Government delegation to the launch, added: Nigeria is Africas second largest economy after South Africa. In certain indicators, Egypt also ranks second after South Africa. For us, this represents a great opportunity to open up Tanzania by establishing direct air transport services that connect our two nations. This connection will strengthen trade, investment, and people-to-people ties between Tanzania and Nigeria. He also hailed the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, whose vision has positioned Air Tanzania among Africas leading carriers, with 16 modern aircraft with an average fleet age of 4.5 years. The CEO of Air Tanzania, Peter Ulanga, highlighted the opportunities and invited Nigerian travelers to explore Tanzanias world-class attractions; from the Serengeti and Mount Kilimanjaro to Zanzibars beaches; while celebrating Nigerias energy, culture and entrepreneurial spirit. Beyond passenger travel, Mr Ulanga also announced plans to expand cargo freighter operations, with capacity for 54 tons. This will open new trade flows from Nigerian yams to Tanzanian coffee building commerce and fueling prosperity. With Lagos now in our network, Air Tanzania connects to 29 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, including Johannesburg, Nairobi, Dubai, Mumbai, and Guangzhou, Eng. Ulanga added. This is more than a timetable, it is a rhythm of progress and a shared destiny for our people, he said. This is more than a new route. It is a rhythm of progress, starting with three weekly flights from Dar es Salaam to Lagos (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and return flights from Lagos (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). Together, we are opening the skies to greater business, tourism, and cultural exchange, he added. Mr Ulanga affirmed the airlines commitment to safety, reliability and excellence, promising passengers and cargo operators world-class service, while building stronger bonds between East and West Africa. He also extended his profound appreciation to the Government and people of Nigeria for the warm embrace that made this dream a reality, to the Ministry of Transport, United Republic of Tanzania, and to our project partners CRDB Bank, National Insurance Corporation (NIC), UTT AMIS and Boeing among others, whose support carried the airline step by step, wing by wing to this milestone. Air Tanzania is the national airline of Tanzania, and operates a modern fleet serving 29 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Guided by a commitment to safety, excellence, and customer care, Air Tanzania continues to play a vital role in connecting Africa to itself and to the world. The Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Umaru Radda, on Monday convened a high-level one-day stakeholders engagement on how to reform the Almajiri and Islamiyya education system. The dialogue, held at the Local Government Service Commission Conference Hall in Katsina, brought together scholars, community leaders, teachers, civil society representatives, and policymakers to design sustainable solutions for Quranic and Islamic education in the state with the aim to achieve meaningful reforms in the Almajiri and Islamiyya education system In his keynote address, Governor Radda reaffirmed his administrations strong resolve to transform Almajiri and Islamiyya education, describing it as one of Katsinas most urgent priorities. With more than 90 percent of the states population being Muslims, he stressed that government must work hand-in-hand with Islamic scholars and communities to strengthen the system. The Governor emphasised that respected Ulamas will guide every step of the reform process. True success cannot be achieved without the active involvement of our scholars, he said. He announced the establishment of three new Tsangaya Model Schools, with the first set to be commissioned in Katsina before the end of the year. These schools will combine Quranic memorization with modern education, offering Islamiyya, English, Mathematics, and vocational training for both boys and girls, he assured. Governor Radda also made a landmark policy pronouncement: any citizen of Katsina State who memorizes the Holy Quran and meets set academic criteria will be fully sponsored by the government to study professional courses such as MBBS, Nursing, and related fields. He further revealed that Quran memorizers will be issued recognized certificates and equipped with modern skills to broaden their opportunities. The Governor highlighted bold steps already taken by his administration, including the creation of the Zakkat and Waqf Commission, establishment of the Hisbah Board, and the appointment of a Special Adviser on Tsangaya and Out-of-School Children. He also noted the ongoing improvement of Danmarna, Dan Takum, and Filin Samji cemeteries as part of broader efforts to strengthen Islamic values and community life. Acknowledging the sacrifices of Mallams and teachers, he appealed to them and other educators across the North-West to support the reforms. He stressed that government alone cannot solve the Almajiri challenge without active cooperation from communities, parents, and religious leaders. Delivering a lead paper titled Almajiri System of Education in Katsina State: Why Previous Reforms Failed, Prof Umar Alkali analysedpast shortcomings, citing weak community ownership, poor teacher welfare, inadequate child protection, and fragmented coordination. Prof Alkali referenced CPIMS data (April 2022) which recorded over 314,000 out-of-school children in Katsina, including 140,495 Almajiri learners, 157,884 adolescent girls, and 203,297 boysfigures that underscore the urgency of reform. He commended Katsinas community-based initiatives and recommended a model anchored on family care, child protection, teacher training, and provision of learning kits in Hausa, Arabic, and English. Earlier, the Statistician General of Katsina State, Prof Saifullahi, welcomed participants and stressed the importance of accurate data in shaping reforms. He outlined three pillars for success: stronger data collection, lessons from successful models, and deeper collaboration between Ulamas, government, and civil society. The UNICEF representative from the Kano Field Office, Mr Rahmah, commended Governor Radda for convening the engagement and assured that UNICEF will continue its support. He noted that UNICEF has been working with Katsina on Quranic and Islamiyya education for over five years and will sustain the partnership. Other speakers included Prof Isah Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Malam Ibrahim Daurawa, Prof Muhammad Mansir Sokoto, Sheikh Jabir Sani Maihula, and a representative of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchiall of whom pledged their support for the reforms. Civil society representatives, led by Bishir Usman Ruwan Godiya, commended the governments efforts and called for harmonisation of Tahfizul schools. ALGON Vice Chairman and Chairman of Danja Local Government, Rabo Tambaya, pledged the support of local councils and lauded the establishment of the Hisbah Board. The stakeholders praised Governor Raddas commitment to safeguarding Islamic values while modernising education. They pledged their full support to the state government in delivering lasting reforms that protect children, respect culture, and prepare young people for modern opportunities. The event attracted many important dignitaries. Among them was the Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Hon Nasir Yahaya Daura. The Chief Judge of Katsina State, Hon Justice Musa Danladi, was also in attendance. From the education sector came the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Dr Kabir Magaji, and the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hajiya Zainab Musa Musawa. Other key officials included the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji, and the Executive Secretary of the Development and Partners Agency, Dr Mustapha Shehu. The Chairman of the Hisbah Board, MalllAbu Ammar, was also present. The gathering further included Tsangaya leaders, Ulamas, development partners, and other stakeholders. The Nigerian Army troops have killed three terrorist commanders alongside 16 other fighters in recent encounters in the North-east and other theatres of operations. A source at Army Headquarters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the terror commanders were identified as Modu Dogo (Munzir of Dogon Chukun), another unidentified Munzir, and Abu Aisha Qaid of Tumbun Mota. The source said that troops also apprehended 26 suspects, rescued victims, and recovered 109 rustled cattle, weapons and other logistics items. He said the terrorists commanders were killed during clashes in Borno and Adamawa States after intense engagements. According to him, troops also recovered an AK-47 rifle, magazines, 25 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, an anti-aircraft link, 14 motorcycles, seven blankets and a mobile phone after the encounters. The source said a terrorist informant and logistics supplier, who had secretly aided terrorists for more than four years, was arrested around the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno. In the North-west, he said the troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued two kidnapped victims during operations in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State. He added that troops also carried out patrols in Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi states, recovering cash, phones and other items, while disrupting terrorist movements and preventing further attacks on rural communities. In the North Central, troops of Operation MESA arrested a suspected kidnapper in Yagba Local Government Area of Kogi. The suspect was neutralised while attempting to escape from custody, he said. The source added that troops ambushed kidnappers along the OkehiKabba forest axis, killing two terrorists while others escaped with injuries. He added that troops neutralised a violent extremist identified as a spiritualist in Lokoja, Kogi State. The military source also revealed that troops of Operation Ensuring Peace eliminated insurgents in Wase and Kanam Local Government Areas of Plateau, following the abduction and killing of a traditional ruler in the area. In Kanam Local Government Area, troops intercepted criminals who rustled 109 cattle. The extremists fled, abandoning the livestock, which were recovered and returned to the rightful owner, he added. He said the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke eliminated two insurgents and armed robbers as well as recovered weapons in Benue and Taraba States. In the South-east, the source said the troops of Operation UDO KA apprehended a high-profile IPOB/ESN criminal, Akachukwu Alaka, also known as Akanna. He said the suspect was nabbed on Monday during a sting operation in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra. According to him, troops also raided the hideout of another notorious IPOB/ESN leader, Ifeanyi Eze Okorienta, also known as Gentle de Yahoo, in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo. The source said the criminals fled before troops arrived, but recovered a pistol, 145 rounds of ammunition, six phones, police and army uniforms, and a Biafran insignia. Further exploitation uncovered a criminal workshop where stolen vehicles were dismantled for sale. Troops destroyed the facility and burnt 10 motorcycles used by the criminals in various attacks. Troops also neutralised two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by IPOB/ESN elements in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo. The devices were destroyed without any casualties recorded. In the South South, the source said the troops of Operation Delta Safe, in collaboration with NDLEA, arrested 21 drug suspects in Bayelsa. He said that large quantities of illicit substances were seized in the raid. According to him, troops further uncovered illegal refineries in Rivers, apprehended two suspected bunker operators, killed one other, and destroyed several dugout pits containing refined petroleum products in line with directives. According to him, the Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, a lieutenant-general, commended the troops for their gallantry and professionalism, and urged them to sustain operational momentum until terrorism and criminality are defeated. (NAN) The Legal Defence & Assistance Project (LEDAP), a civil society organisation, and the Yobe State Government, on Friday, urged the National Assembly to recognise and create constitutional roles for traditional rulers. Aside from the constitutional recognition, they called for the integration of traditional rulers into state and local security councils, land administration reform, and funding. They also sought autonomy of traditional councils, inclusion of youths and women in traditional governance, and multi-stakeholder partnerships, including development partners, civil society, and government institutions. They made the calls in a press statement signed by both the national coordinator, LEDAP, Chino Obiagwu, and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Yobe State, Sale Samanja. The calls followed a workshop organised by the LEDAP, Yobe State Ministry of Justice, with support of the MacArthur Foundation, held on 17 September in Yobe State. The workshop was organised for traditional rulers, legislators, and stakeholders in Yobe State, amid ongoing process for the review of the Nigerian constitution by the National Assembly. They proposed the review of existing laws in Yobe State and challenged other states to follow suit. The Yobe State House of Assembly should review and reform laws on local government and chieftaincy affairs to empower Emirate Councils to manage conflicts, land administration, and community governance without undue political interference. Other state houses of assembly should carry out similar law reviews to accord their traditional institution suitable roles in governance, the statement said. LEDAP and the Yobe government emphasised the importance of traditional rulers as custodians of culture, heritage, and values, and are able to serve as agents of social change in their communities for development purposes. They also noted the value of traditional councils as gatekeepers of communities, providing security intelligence, guidance, and humanitarian support. They argued that they can serve as mediators of conflicts, yet their roles remain informal. A constitutional recognition of traditional rulers would be effective in tackling challenges suffered by communities, they argued. Nigerias constitution is currently undergoing an amendment. In July, the Senate Committee on Constitution Review (CRC) assured Nigerians that the current amendment of the Constitution would be concluded and transmitted to state Houses of Assembly before the end of 2025. However, there have been several calls from different states and groups clamouring for constitutional reviews such as the creation of additional states, for judges to sign death warrants instead of governors and for state police. A member of the House of Representatives, Dickson Tarkighir, has decried the persistent killings of farmers in Benue State, saying it has turned farming in the state into a deadly pursuit. Mr Tarkighir, who represents Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, said the crisis had pushed his people to the brink of extinction. In my constituency of Makurdi Guma, what should be the noble act of tilling the soil, a tradition passed down through generations, has become a dangerous and often deadly pursuit, he said in a statement on Sunday. These lands, once symbols of sustenance and heritage, have become unsafe due to the persistent and violent activities of murderous Fulani herdsmen. The lawmaker condemned Saturdays attack on Achakpa, a community in the Agan Council Ward of the Makurdi Local Government Area, where armed herders reportedly killed a man and his son on their way to their farmland. He urged security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of those abducted and warned that the unending attacks are driving residents towards self-help. Each attack further reveals the weakness of the systems and institutions tasked with the protection of life and property. We therefore call for a response that goes beyond mere declarations. A decisive and sustained effort must be made to confront these violent actors and reclaim the ancestral lands of our people, Mr Tarkighir said. The lawmaker said he had contacted the military formations in the area and expressed hope that together, we shall overcome this present darkness and write a new chapter for our people. The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described Saturdays local government by-election organised by the Edo Independent Electoral Commission as illegal. Tony Aziegbemi, the partys caretaker chairperson, said this in Benin while addressing journalists about the exercise. He stated that the by-elections scheduled across 59 wards violated a subsisting court order restraining the state election commission and the government from conducting them. Only last week, the Edo State High Court, presided over by Justice Mary Itsueli, ordered that the seats of duly elected councillors subsist until September 2026. The court categorically restrained the Edo Independent Electoral Commission from proceeding with any such election. For the state government to ignore this order and proceed is alarming, Mr Aziegbemi said. He warned that security agencies must not legitimise the process, stressing that the PDPs participation would have amounted to aiding contempt of court. The tenure of the elected chairmen and councillors has not expired; we have five court judgements affirming this. Conducting a by-election is unlawful, he said. Mr Aziegbemi further alleged that the exercise was a ploy to siphon public funds. The PDP chairperson said the party would instead concentrate on strengthening its structures through ongoing congresses and preparing for the 2027 general elections. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the state election commission is conducting by-elections into 59 councillorship seats across 18 local government councils. The seats were declared vacant through a resolution of the Edo House of Assembly, which cited the previous occupants absenteeism. The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday fixed 21 October for ruling in a suit seeking an order of mandamus, compelling Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State to appoint the most senior judge as the states chief judge (CJ). Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date after the applicant, Victor Nwadike, a lawyer, addressed the court on issues of jurisdiction. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Umar had, on 16 July, directed Mr Nwadike to address the court on why the court should grant his reliefs considering jurisdictional ground. Upon resumed hearing, Mr Nwadike informed the court that at the last adjourned date, a motion ex-parte was filed against Governor Uzodinma over his alleged failure to appoint the most senior judge to be the CJ. The lawyer said that in view of the order directing him to address the court on issues of jurisdiction, a written address was filed on 10 September. We also forwarded by way of letter, also dated 10 September, persuasive authorities from the United States of America and addressed to the deputy registrar of the court, he said. He said, It is our firm view that my lord has jurisdiction. Mr Nwadike, who argued that an order of mandamus is a prerogative power of the court, also submitted that the court has the inherent power to grant the same. By virtue of Section 66, my lord can make an order of mandamus for a public officer to perform certain duties assigned to them in accordance with the law, he said. The lawyer cited previous Supreme Court decisions, including US Supreme Court judgements, to support his argument. Without prejudice to all that I have said, my lord, I submitted in the written address that this is one of the inferences where the doctrine of necessity can be applied, he added. Justice Umar, however, raised a question on why the National Judicial Council (NJC) was joined in the suit, having done what it was expected to do by directing the governor to do the needful. Besides, the judge also observed that there was no relief in the suit against NJC, a Federal Government agency, which could have warranted the filing of the case at the Federal High Court. I am not saying we dont have discretion to grant an order of mandamus, which is an administrative thing. What I mean is to address me on NJCs issue, the judge said. Responding, Mr Nwadike said the reliefs sought were only against the governor, who is the 1st defendant. The lawyer, however, said that where the court found that it had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter, the court should, in the exercise of its discretionary power, transfer the case to appropriate court in Imo. Justice Umar then adjourned the matter until 21 October for ruling. Background NAN reports that the lawyer had, in the motion ex-parte marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1303/2025, sued the Imo governor, Attorney-General of Imo, and NJC as the first and third defendants, respectively. The motion was dated and filed on 2 July. He said the motion sought an order granting leave to the applicant to apply for an ORDER OF MANDAMUS compelling the Governor of Imo State to appoint the most senior Judge of the High Court of Imo State to perform the functions of the Chief Judge of Imo State forthwith, without delaying a day more. He said this was in accordance with Section 271 (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). In the affidavit in support of the motion, Mr Nwadike averred that on 30 April, the NJC released a statement, directing Mr Uzodinma to appoint the most senior judicial officer in the State High Courts hierarchy as the acting Chief Judge of the State in conformity with Section 271 (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). He said on 26 June, the NJC reiterated its earlier directive to the governor to swear in the most senior judge as acting CJ. According to him, till date, the 1st defendant has failed to appoint the most senior judge of the High Court of Imo State to perform the functions of the chief judge of Imo State. I have filed this action to compel the 1st defendant to appoint the most senior judge of the High Court of Imo State to perform the functions of the Chief Judge of Imo State, in adherence to Section 271 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). He said the reliefs sought in the suit are in the interest of justice and the sanctity of the constitution. Lagos State has been thrown into mourning following the deaths of four female elected officials, barely two months after they were sworn into office. The most recent losses are Basirat Mayabikan, who died on 21 September, just 56 days after inauguration, and Oluremi Ajose, who died on 20 September, 55 days into her tenure. Their deaths came a month after the passing of Zainab Shotayo on 18 August, 22 days after taking office, and Oluwakemi Rufai, who died on 13 August, barely 17 days after inauguration. While the causes of death of the four lawmakers remain unclear, the frequency of the losses has left colleagues and constituents devastated. Many Lagos residents have raised concerns and called for more clarity from the authorities. How they died, what the records say The losses began on 13 August, when Ms Rufai, a councillor representing Ward C1 in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, died after a brief illness. Ms Rufai was the only female voice in the legislative council of her community. Just five days later, tragedy struck again in Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA), where Ms Shotayo, councillor for Ward C3, died on 18 August. At just 30, Ms Shotayo was one of the youngest councillors in Lagos and the only woman in her council. Reports confirmed she also passed away after a brief illness. Tragedy struck again on 20 September when Ms Ajose, Vice Chairman of Badagry West LCDA, died suddenly, though no official cause of death has been publicly disclosed. Barely 24 hours later, on 21 September, Ms Mayabikan, councillor for Ward F in Shomolu Local Government, also died, with the circumstances not publicly confirmed. Circumstantial or political? Questions have continued to surface following the deaths of four female elected officials in Lagos State, all of whom died within weeks of assuming office. The sudden losses, two of which were officially linked to brief illnesses, have unsettled many residents, who say the circumstances appear unusual. On discussion forums such as Nairaland, several users expressed doubt over the explanation of brief illness, especially in the case of Ms Shotayo, the 30-year-old councillor from Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA. Some described the sequence of events as suspicious and pressed for clearer information about what happened. However, Lagos APC spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, dismissed suggestions that the deaths of female elected officials in the state reflect political hostility toward women. He urged the public to resist speculation and misinformation, describing the losses as shocking and painful for the party and the state, the Punch reported. It was read in the news that they were indisposed. It has nothing to do with any kind of politics. This is a surprise. Wherever that is coming from demeans humanity if it is being looked at properly, he stated. The spokesperson said APCs track record speaks for itself in promoting womens participation in governance, adding that the party remains committed to gender inclusion. Our women folks are everywhere holding certain positions across the board in our government. There is a deliberate policy that a sizable number of seats should be allotted to women at all levels. How can anybody now insinuate that such a party will be against women? Our government encourages women to come on board; we are gender-friendly and sensitive. It is unfortunate if anybody is thinking in that line. It is really sad. If this is coming from certain quarters, it is inhumane. He said. Tributes pour in Council chairmen directly affected by the deaths have also spoken publicly. In Ibeju-Lekki, Sesan Olowa, alongside Lekki LCDA Chairman, Rasaki Kasali, described Ms Rufais death as a rude shock that robbed the community of a rare voice for women in local government, the Vanguard Newspaper reported. Somolu Local Government Chairman, Lateef Ashimi, paid tribute to Ms Mayabikan, describing her as humble, cheerful, friendly, and easy-going. He said her passing had left the entire Ward F in grief, with her family and constituents struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss. The broader body of local government leadership has also weighed in. Mr Usman Hamzat, Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye LG and Secretary of Conference 57 Chairmen, conveyed heartfelt condolences to the people of Badagry-West and Somolu over the deaths of Ms Ajose and Ms Mayabikan. He described the twin tragedies as shocking, not only to the immediate communities but also to the local government administration in Lagos State. The deaths represent a major setback for efforts at increasing women representation in government in Nigeria. Google has announced plans to construct four new subsea cable connectivity hubs in the north, south, east and west regions of Africa as part of another wave of investment to boost connectivity and AI development across the continent. In a blog post on Thursday, James Manyika, SVP for Research, Labs, Technology and Society at Google, said the new investment is the latest addition to our Africa Connect infrastructure program and aims to create new digital corridors within Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world. No details were given on how much Google will invest in the project or the exact locations of the hubs. However, Manyika said that Google has already exceeded its commitment in 2021 to investing more than US$1 billion in Africa by 2026. The plan includes linking Googles Equiano subsea cable and the upcoming Umoja system, to the continent this year, which suggests Kenya and South Africa will likely host two of the four hubs. The Umoja subsea cable announced last year and slated to be ready for service in 2027 will connect Australia with Africa via South Africa, with a terrestrial component connecting South Africa to Kenya via Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Both Equiano and Umoja are part of Googles Africa Connect infrastructure program, which also includes its Google Cloud region in Johannesburg. Speaking to Bloomberg TV on Thursday, Googles MD for Africa Alex Okosi said the hubs which would include infrastructure such as landing stations and data centres will be completed within the next three years. Manyika also said the four subsea cable hubs would add to the critical infrastructure needed to help Africans harness the power of AI. To date, we've trained 7 million Africans and plan to train an additional 3 million students, young people, and teachers by 2030, he said. Google is also bolstering local capacity by providing African universities and research institutions with over US$17 million in funding, curriculum, training, compute and access to advanced AI models over the past four years, with an additional US$9 million planned for the coming year. Manyika also said Google will offering a free one-year subscription to its Google AI Pro plan in the coming weeks to college students in Africa, starting with Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Zimbabwe. By providing students with advanced AI tools for research, problem-solving, coding and content creation, we're directly empowering them to address challenges and pursue opportunities specific to the continent, thereby contributing to economic growth and societal progress, Manyika said. The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, struck out the name of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) from a suit regarding the withheld Osun State Local Government funds. This was even as the Osun State Government asked for the return of the case to Osogbo Division of the court, where it was originally filed. Judge Emeka Nwite dropped the AGF, originally the third defendant, from the suit after the plaintiff opted to discontinue the case against him. The plaintiffs lawyer, Musibau Adetumbi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told the court on 8 September, when the case first came before Mr Nwite, that a similar suit was already pending against the AGF at the Supreme Court. The Osun State Government, through its Attorney-General, filed the suit at the Osogbo Division of the Federal High Court in May. It sued the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamsudeen Ogunjimi, and the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi. The suit filed by the Governor Ademola Adeleke-led Osun State Government aims to stop alleged moves by the federal authorities to release the withheld local government allocations to sacked local government officials elected during the tenure of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetolas tenure. During the courts vacation, which began in late July and ended on 16 September, the AGF office asked the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to allow the case to be heard in Abuja for prompt determination, and the request was granted. Request for transfer of case to Osun At Mondays hearing, the Osun State Government, in a motion, called for the return of the case to the Osogbo Division. The states lead lawyer, Mr Adetumbi, who filed the motion, challenged the jurisdiction of the Abuja Division, on the grounds that the approval given for the case to be heard in Abuja during the courts vacation had expired as the vacation had come to an end. Second, the motion questioned the validity of a letter from the office of the Chief Judge assigning Judge Nwite to handle the case in Abuja. Mr Adetumbi said the letter was signed by someone claiming to be the personal assistant to the personal assistant of the Chief Judge. He said the person lacked the authority to sign such a letter and urged the court to first rule on the letters validity before hearing the main case. However, lawyers to the CBN, Muritala Abdulrasheed, and to the Accountant-General of the Federation, Tajudeen Oladoja, both SANs, opposed the motion. They argued it was a ploy to delay the case and raised concerns that the tenure of the elected APC chairpersons and councillors, whose interests are at stake in the case, would end on 22 October. He said the case would become academic if not promptly heard and determined. After listening to the lawyers, Mr Nwite fixed 29 September for proper hearing of the Osun State Governments application and any other matters on jurisdiction before proceeding to the substantive suit. How it started The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission conducted local government elections across the 30 councils during the final days of the outgoing Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the APC. The PDP, which just won the governorship election, with its candidate, Ademola Adeleke, getting set to take office, boycotted the local government polls. The state election commission declared APC and their canddiates the winners across the local government areas. The PDP challenged the process leading to the election in court. In November 2022, the Federal High Court in Osogbo nullified the elections for violating the Electoral Act. Relying on the judgement, Governor Adeleke, sworn in three days earlier, dissolved the chairpersons and councillors of the local governments. He replaced them with caretaker committees. The APC rejected the decision and appealed against it. In February this year, the Court of Appeal in Akure struck out the PDPs suit for lack of jurisdiction. The APC then claimed its officials had been reinstated by the ruling. The sacked local government officials subsequently attempted to forcibly take over the local government secretariats, leading to fracas and violence in different parts of the states. The Osun State Government later accused the CBN and the Accountant-General of the Federation of making moves to release local government allocations to the sacked local government officials. Earlier, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, had argued that the Court of Appeal judgement reinstated the sacked local government officials till October 2025. In May, the Attorney-General of the state filed the suit against the CBN, the Accountant-General of the Federation and AGF Fagbemi to seek an order stopping the sacked local government officials from opening or operating bank accounts on behalf of the states local governments.Trial judge Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi granted an interim order directing all parties to maintain the status quo, pending the determination of the suit. During the courts vacatoion, the AGF office, wrote to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, requesting that the case be heard in Abuja during the courts vacation, and the request was granted. ANTWERP, Belgium, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This autumn, Kipling unveils its FW25 collection alongside a bold new global brand campaign, "Follow Your Monkey." More than a new collection launch, the campaign is a celebration of Kipling's playful spirit, embodied by its most iconic monkey mascot. Kipling AW25 Brand Campaign At the heart of the campaign is Kipling's iconic monkey, the OG, unmistakable accessory; more than a keychain, it is a symbol of the brand's attitude. Playful, colourful and with a carefree spirit, the monkey embodies Kipling's philosophy of Live Light and encourages consumers to follow their impulses, embrace spontaneity and turn everyday moments into something unexpected. The FW25 collection stays true to Kipling's heritage while introducing a fresh, adventurous edge with their newest print styles. Designed for modern living, the collection features the brand's most recognizable silhouettes, crafted from its signature lightweight crinkled nylon. Durable and sturdy, each piece combines everyday practicality with versatile style for life on-the-go, always finished with the beloved monkey keychain. This season introduces the standout Wild Leopard print. Available across bags, backpacks, luggage and accessories, this bold design embodies independence and self-expression. With smart functionality and thoughtfully created to be worn as coordinated sets, the Wild Leopard pieces are crafted for movement and adventure, offering a fierce yet playful statement for FW25. Kipling's newest collection is available now at kipling.com and select retailers. For more information, visit https://eu.kipling.com/en-be . ABOUT KIPLING Founded in 1987 in Antwerp, Belgium, Kipling established itself as a global handbag brand by embodying a carefree spirit. Through its signature crinkled nylon and the iconic monkey keychain, Kipling delivers practical, durable and versatile bags in expressive colors and patterns all over the globe, so you can Live Light. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2776463/Kipling.jpg TEMPE, Ariz., Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Arizona State University (ASU) has received an unprecedented $115 million donation from the Rob Walton Foundation, the largest philanthropic gift in the university's history, to establish the Rob Walton School of Conservation Futures. The new school, designed to redefine global conservation science and workforce development, will be housed within the newly renamed Rob Walton College of Global Futures. The donation underscores Walton's decades-long commitment to sustainability and planetary health. $115 million donation from the Rob Walton Foundation to ASU to establish the Rob Walton School of Conservation Futures. Post this "Rob Walton's longstanding support has been critically important to ASU's leadership and growth in sustainability," said ASU President Michael Crow. "He shares our institutional belief that there is an urgent need to tackle the challenges facing our planet as well as an unbelievable opportunity to find new solutions by dedicating our time, creativity and resources to the task." The Rob Walton School of Conservation Futures will offer graduate and undergraduate degrees and certificate programs, and prepare future leaders in biodiversity and conservation science. The school will collaborate with local and global NGOs, governments, Indigenous communities and private-sector partners to create holistic conservation strategies rooted in combining diverse knowledge systems. Key elements of the initiative include: The Rob Walton Chair, for the person who will lead the new school. Three named professorships to drive research and education. The Rob Walton Scholars Fund, offering full and partial scholarships. "Nature doesn't recognize borders," said Rob Walton, philanthropist, conservationist and former Walmart chairman. "To protect ecosystems, we need international cooperation, innovative leadership and a skilled workforce." "The Rob Walton School of Conservation Futures is redefining conservation science to address the challenges of a rapidly changing world," said Peter Schlosser, ASU vice president and vice provost of Global Futures. "Through its central mission of transforming conservation education for a thriving planetary future, this new academic entity is not just preserving ecosystems it is developing adaptive solutions to ensure sustainable pathways for future generations." Conservation International chairman emeritus Peter Seligmann, a key figure in the school's creation, highlighted the importance of this cross-sector, globally minded approach. "Solving the planet's greatest conservation challenges requires the wisdom, innovation and leadership of people from all corners of the world," said Seligmann. SOURCE Arizona State University - Media Relations SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AusperBio Therapeutics, Inc. and Ausper Biopharma Co., Ltd. (collectively AusperBio), a privately held clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to advancing targeted oligonucleotide therapies to achieve a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), today announced the closing of its $63 million Series B2 financing. The financing was strongly supported by the company's existing syndicate of investors, underscoring confidence in AusperBio's breakthrough approach to achieving a functional cure for CHB. The round was co-led by Qiming Venture Partners and a globally renowned strategic investor, with continued participation from HanKang Capital, CDH Investments, YuanBio Venture Capital, Sherpa Capital, and Genesis Capital. Proceeds from the financing will be used to advance the clinical development of AHB-137, AusperBio's lead product candidate, including the ongoing pivotal trial, multiple Phase II combination studies, and expansion into global Phase II development. The funds will also support further advancement of the company's proprietary Med-Oligo ASO platform, progression of its preclinical pipeline, scaling-up of commercial manufacturing partnerships, and long-term pipeline growth. Dr. Guofeng Cheng, co-founder and CEO of AusperBio, commented, "We are grateful for the continued support of our investors, whose confidence reflects both the progress of our clinical programs and the promise of our Med-Oligo platform. This financing positions us to accelerate the pivotal development of AHB-137, expand our global clinical footprint, strengthen our platform and pipeline, and advance our long-term vision of delivering a functional cure for people living with chronic hepatitis B and beyond." Dr. Chris Yang, co-founder and CSO of AusperBio, added, "AHB-137 is the first candidate from our Med-Oligo platform to reach pivotal development, and the data reinforce its potential as a backbone therapy for CHB. This financing will accelerate the development of our next generation combination therapy for CHB and support continued advancement of a pipeline of innovative targeted oligonucleotide therapeutics addressing a broad range of diseases with serious unmet medical need." "AusperBio is pioneering a differentiated approach to curing chronic hepatitis B. With the advancement of AHB-137 into the pivotal trial, the company is well positioned to address one of the most serious unmet needs in global health," said William Hu, Managing Partner of Qiming Venture Partners. "We have great confidence in the AusperBio team and are proud to support them as they work to bring transformative therapies to patients worldwide." About AHB-137 AHB-137, a novel unconjugated antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) designed using AusperBio's proprietary Med-Oligo ASO technology platform and an investigational medicine, is being developed to achieve a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B. Its clinical development has generated promising data, with key preclinical and clinical results presented at global leading conferences including EASL (2023, 2024, 2025), AASLD (2024), and APASL (2025). This novel dual-mechanism ASO has completed its global Phase I trial and is currently advancing through multiple Phase II trials and a phase III trial in China. Supported by a clear global development strategy, AHB-137 is progressing rapidly toward delivering a potential cure for HBV. About AusperBio. AusperBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with operations in the USA and China, dedicated to advancing oligonucleotide and targeted delivery technologies for transformative therapies, with an initial focus on achieving functional cure for chronic hepatitis B infection. The company has developed a proprietary Med-OligoTM ASO platform which has been shown to substantially enhance the current ASO therapeutics, through novel insights into ASO design. Combining efficient targeted delivery conjugation technologies, the modular Med-OligoTM Platform empowers ASO therapeutics to treat a broad range of diseases, including viral infections, metabolic conditions, genetic disorders, and immune diseases. For further information, please contact: Media Contact Email: [email protected] Investor Relations Contact: Tel: 650-888-1756 (US) Email: [email protected] SOURCE AusperBio Therapeutics Inc. STOCKHOLM, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A health solution designed to improve iron absorption in women has garnered international acclaim, earning top awards in Europe, North America, and now Asia. This triple recognition in 2025 highlights a growing global awareness of the need for more effective, better-tolerated iron supplementation. Women's health by Probi Developed by biotics solutions company Probi, the concept includes the clinically studied probiotic strain, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v (LP299V). When combined with iron, LP299V increases iron absorption and reduces gastrointestinal side effects often linked to conventional supplements. Iron deficiency is one of the world's most pressing nutritional challenges, affecting over 30% of women of reproductive age globally. Rather than simply adding more iron, Probi's patented strain helps the body absorb it more effectively. LP299V supports iron uptake in two key ways: by keeping iron in its absorbable form and by increasing the body's expression of iron-converting enzymes. This leads to better absorption from food and supplements. "Recognition across three continents in a single year speaks to the urgent, global nature of this issue and to the promise of science-backed, biotic innovations in addressing it," said Martina Pettersson, Global Marketing Director at Probi. The latest accolade, the 2025 NutraIngredients-Asia Award for Innovation in Women's Health, was presented in Bangkok on September 17, following earlier honors in Europe and North America. "This innovation has a critical role to play in Asia, where iron deficiency continues to impact millions of women," said Karen Ong, Head of Asia-Pacific at Probi. "This reinforces how accessible and well-tolerated solutions can make a meaningful difference." LP299V has been studied for over three decades. Originally known for its digestive benefits, it is now gaining recognition for its unique ability to increase iron absorption and supporting better health outcomes for women globally. About Probi Probi is a global biotics solutions company, focused on researching, manufacturing, and delivering biotics for supplements and functional food. Founded on science, and together with our customers and research partners, we are striving towards a future in which as many people as possible can take control of their gut microbiome so that they can live better lives for longer. Born out of Lund University in Sweden in 1991, Probi has grown to serve over 40 markets worldwide and holds multiple patents globally. Since 2025, Probi has been part of Symrise AG, further strengthening both innovation capabilities and global reach. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2778405/Probi_Womens_Health.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2778404/Probi_Logo.jpg Contact: Lisa Jalakas +46721936322 [email protected] SOURCE Probi AB HOUSTON and TUPELO, Miss., Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE) will release its third quarter 2025 earnings on Monday, October 20, 2025, after the close of the financial markets. It will hold its earnings webcast on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 10 a.m. CT. The webcast will provide live coverage of Cadence management's conference call with analysts and can be accessed at https://ir.cadencebank.com/events. The session will be interactive for participating analysts and management, while other attendees can listen to the live broadcast. A recording of the conference call will also be available at the same web address. About Cadence Bank Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE) is a $55 billion regional bank committed to helping people, companies and communities prosper. With more than 390 locations spanning the South and Texas, Cadence offers comprehensive banking, investment, trust and mortgage products and services to meet the needs of individuals, businesses and corporations. Accolades include being recognized as one of the nation's best employers by Forbes and U.S. News & World Report and as a 2025 America's Best Banks by Forbes. Cadence has dutifully served customers for nearly 150 years. Learn more at www.cadencebank.com. Cadence Bank, Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. SOURCE Cadence Bank Pioneering consortium transforming CO 2 into nutritious food is entering into a new phase, where promising solutions will be scaled and food prototypes will be produced and tested. The Acetate Consortium initiative is funded by Gates Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine if we were able to turn one of our biggest environmental challenges CO into nutritious food. The idea is not as far out as it may sound. Since 2023, a consortium consisting of research institutions and private companies has been working with a radically new approach to food production that makes it possible to replace sugar in fermentation processes with CO-derived acetate. Climate-resilient food innovation: International consortium aims to produce food prototypes derived from CO2 The goal is to mitigate food insecurity and climate change as well as eliminating land use for food production. The principle behind is based on natural processes that can be scaled into financially viable production of nutritious food without using agricultural land. The consortium has now been renewed for another two years with funding up to DKK 162.2 million (21.7 million) split evenly between Gates Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. "We need tangible solutions that can feed more people without putting pressure on our natural resources and enabling food production in areas that have very little or no agricultural land. When the consortium began its work two years ago, making food derived from CO 2 seemed like something taken from a science fiction movie. Within the next two years, we can expect to see actual prototypes of food products that will be tested by consumers. The collaboration in the consortium is a good example of what we can achieve with biosolutions when researchers and companies combine their strengths and work towards a clear common goal," says Claus Felby, Vice President for Agri-Food at the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Introducing food prototypes and consumer testing In the second phase of the work, the consortium will focus on optimizing and scaling the technologies and methods as well as developing and testing food prototypes. This new scope introduces a broader consortium with new partners that bring expertise in food science, consumer behavior, gastronomy, and socio-economic modeling. This expertise will complement the continued development and scaling of the technological platform developed in the first phase of the consortium. During the next phase, the technical, economic, and environmental impact of the technological solution developed by the consortium will also be modeled. Denmark has a strong tradition of collaboration between researchers and industry within food production and biosolutions. This provides a solid foundation for translating new technologies into tangible products. At the same time, the Danish gastronomic scene contributes a unique culture of experimenting with food. This is a capability the consortium will benefit from through the inclusion of Spora, whose founder, Rasmus Munk, is also head chef at the 2-star Michelin restaurant Alchemist in Copenhagen. The new composition of the consortium creates a strong framework for connecting science, technology, and consumer experiences. "One of Denmark's strengths is the ability to bridge research, industry, and gastronomy. This makes us an ideal test country for new technologies such as this, where CO can be used as a raw material for future food. Here we can develop and test prototypes in close collaboration with researchers, companies, and chefs, and share our findings to benefit communities and industries worldwide," says Claus Felby, Vice President, Agri-Food, Novo Nordisk Foundation. Technology platform and key results from phase 1 The Acetate Consortium has developed an integrated platform that converts CO into acetate, which is then used to ferment single-cell and precision proteins. This makes it possible to directly feed fermenting microorganisms with acetate the basic component of their metabolism and avoid adding sugar to the process. This approach eliminates the need for sugar in fermentation, significantly reducing the use of land and water. Phase 1 results include: Development of microbial strains that grow on 100% acetate and contain >40% protein. Completion of pilot facilities at Aarhus University in Denmark for individual acetate production modules. University in for individual acetate production modules. Identification of key cost drivers: electricity and infrastructure. Consortium partners and funding Moving forward, the consortium will consist of the following partners: The total funding budget is up to DKK 162.2 million (21.7 million) and covers a two-year period (2025-2027). The funding of the consortium is split evenly between Gates Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Gates Foundation is funding activities at Novonesis A/S, Copenhagen Process ApS and Northwestern University, while the Novo Nordisk Foundation is funding the remaining partners. About the Novo Nordisk Foundation Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation's mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society. Media enquiries Sabina Askholm Larsen, Senior Communications Partner, [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2777491/Novo_Nordisk_Foundation.jpg SOURCE Novo Nordisk Foundation Case studies from some of the world's largest companies highlight the scale of potential exposure under weather volatility scenarios, and the compelling returns resilience investments can generate NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Released to coincide with New York Climate Week, new analysis from risk intelligence firm Climate X suggests that some of the world's largest companies face critical investment choices as weather volatility increases. Modeling shows that while risks could run into the hundreds of billions, targeted resilience measures can deliver strong financial returns. Case studies from a global retailer and a leading US food producer highlight both the opportunity and the challenge of preparing for weather volatility. Climate X's modeling shows that the global retailer, which has thousands of outlets across North America, could materially reduce potential exposure across its international portfolio with around $2.09 billion of targeted adaptation investment. By comparison, without such measures, modeled exposure could reach $169.3 billion in physical damage and operational disruption, alongside $93.45$373.8 billion in cumulative additional insurance premiums by 2035 under high-volatility scenarios. To put this in context, real-world disasters such as Hurricane Harvey ($125 billion) and Hurricane Sandy ($70 billion) have already caused multi-billion losses. At the leading U.S. food producer's processing plant, Climate X modeling suggests that a $1.2 million investment in flood protection could prevent approximately $2.4 million in projected losses over the coming decade, effectively doubling the value of the upfront spend. This is a modeled scenario designed to show the potential returns of adaptation measures. Both the global retailer and the food producer in question have already acknowledged weather-related risks in their public reporting and are actively investing in sustainability and risk-management programs. Climate X's analysis illustrates the opportunity to build on this progress, highlighting the potential returns on resilience investment. Weather shocks are already disrupting earnings elsewhere. In 2024, Porsche issued a profit warning after flooding shut down a supplier in Switzerland, leading to production delays and an estimated $2 billion financial impact. Climate X's modeling suggests exposures at companies could be more than ten times higher over the next five years under similar scenarios if resilience measures are not scaled. "Our modeling shows that in the cases we analyzed, the cost of resilience measures was lower than the cost of inaction," said Kamil Kluza, COO and cofounder of Climate X. "Corporates are now facing major investment decisions as weather volatility increases, and resilience needs to be treated as a strategic business variable. Companies like those we analyzed exemplify both the scale of the challenge and the opportunity to lead." The data comes from Climate X's newly launched Adaptation & Resilience Marketplace - the world's first and only platform dedicated to Adaptation Finance. Building on the success of Climate X's Adapt product, already used by many of the world's largest real estate firms, the Marketplace enables banks, insurers and asset owners to assess corporate risk at the asset level and channel capital into resilience projects that deliver both strong financial returns and measurable reductions in losses, from revenue protection to lower insurance premiums. Through an online platform for climate-stressed real assets worldwide, the Marketplace brings together banks, insurers, investors, and risk engineers to transact with greater speed, scale and accuracy and give fuel to the nascent climate adaptation market. Kluza added: "Resilience should be viewed as a growth market, not a cost center. Banks that leverage these insights into lending and investment decisions can unlock opportunities in what is rapidly emerging as a multi-trillion-dollar resilience economy, while reducing risk and protecting asset values." Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, GIC, recently estimated that revenues from adaptation solutions could reach $4 trillion annually by 2050, four times their level today. Climate X's Adaptation & Resilience Marketplace highlights where inaction can cost multiples more than preparation and enables firms to unlock new revenue opportunities while safeguarding assets against climate-driven losses. The findings are published in Climate X's new Adaptation & Resilience Whitepaper, available here. Produced by Climate X in collaboration with leading financial institutions, the whitepaper outlines how adaptation finance is emerging as one of the most urgent and commercially viable investment frontiers - and sets out why the financial sector must act now to unlock its multi-trillion-dollar potential. Some of the world's leading financial institutions have responded to Climate X's analysis, underlining that weather-related risk is already shaping investment and insurance decisions. Hazem Krichene, Senior Climate Economist at Allianz Research, said: "Adaptation isn't optional, it is the difference between sustained insurability and rising losses. Every step a business takes to reduce its vulnerability directly affects its value." Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2778495/Climate_X_Logo.jpg SOURCE Climate X NEWTOWN, Pa., Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating data privacy claims regarding a hacking incident at California International Bank. California International Bank learned of a data breach on or about September 12, 2024. If you would like to discuss this case with a lawyer, go HERE. About California National Bank California International Bank, established in 2005, is a nationally chartered, minority-owned institution that serves as a vital financial resource for individuals and businesses across Southern California, with a particular focus on the Vietnamese-American community in Westminster. What happened? On or around September 12, 2024, California International Bank detected a data breach in which an unauthorized person accessed an employee's email account. The bank quickly initiated an investigation and found that between September 11 and September 12, 2024, the intruder may have accessed and possibly removed some emails. These emails may have included personal data such as financial account information and Social Security numbers. How can I protect my personal data? If you receive a data breach notification concerning California International Bank, you should take steps to protect yourself against identity theft and fraud by regularly reviewing your account statements and monitoring your credit reports for any suspicious or unauthorized activity. Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a class action lawsuit to seek legal remedies for individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised by the California International Bank data breach. For more information, please contact: Marc H. Edelson, Esq. EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300 Newtown, PA 18940 Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2 Email: [email protected] Web: www.edelson-law.com About Edelson Lechtzin LLP Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to cases involving data breaches, our lawyers focus on class and collective litigation in cases alleging securities and investment fraud, violations of the federal antitrust laws, employee benefit plans under ERISA, wage theft, and consumer fraud. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP Collaborates with Natural History Museum, London to integrate world-leading biodiversity science into comprehensive nature risk platform WILMINGTON, Del., Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunya Analytics today announced a collaboration with the Natural History Museum, London to integrate the museum's renowned Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) into its nature analytics platform. Companies struggle with nature risk assessment because no single dataset can quantify nature risk in line with TNFD recommendations. Dunya Analytics has developed a scientifically rigorous methodology that combines the best available global biodiversity datasets to automatically quantify nature risk, making it easy for companies to conduct compliant assessments and gain actionable insights for their nature strategies. After evaluating dozens of datasets, Dunya Analytics selected the Natural History Museum's BII as its primary metric for identifying areas of high ecosystem integrity, one of several dimensions of biodiversity recommended by the TNFD. Developed by museum scientists using data from over 76,000 species worldwide, the BII uses a transparent, peer-reviewed methodology that measures ecosystem condition on an intuitive 0-100% scale. The index provides a globally consistent baseline for comparing local ecosystem health across any geography and is continuously updated with new scientific data. "The BII provides global, regularly updated data that's scientifically rigorous and easy to interpret. It is the perfect complement to our other datasets, enabling a fully TNFD-aligned assessment," said Rebecca Stern, Chief Science Officer of Dunya Analytics. The Dunya Analytics platform analyzes hundreds of business locations in seconds, regardless of geography or industry. By automating the TNFD LEAP approach from the ground up, companies can incorporate their own site-specific data to refine risk assessments and conduct defensible, auditable double-materiality and nature risk assessments. Most importantly, the platform translates environmental data into business impacts, helping companies understand not just where nature risks exist, but what they mean for operations, supply chains, and financial performance. This translation from science to strategy is exactly what the Natural History Museum envisioned for its data. "We've spent over a decade building and analysing the world's most comprehensive dataset on how land use affects biodiversity, but science only matters if it makes a difference," said Dr Adriana De Palma and Professor Andy Purvis, co-leaders of the team that developed BII. "By turning our BII research into insights that shape real decisions, Dunya Analytics helps move us from documenting biodiversity loss to driving its reversal." While nature remains complex, we now have sufficient data, technology, and solutions to address the biodiversity crisis. By integrating the Natural History Museum's BII into its comprehensive platform, Dunya Analytics makes sophisticated nature risk analysis accessible to companies of any size, turning complex science into clear business intelligence. About Dunya Analytics Dunya Analytics is at the forefront of helping companies assess the implications of biodiversity loss, ecosystem damage, and resource overconsumption. Its scalable digital platform simplifies biodiversity and nature risk analytics, making it as accessible and actionable as financial reporting for businesses that impact or depend on nature in their value chain. The geography and industry agnostic solution provides transparent, scientifically robust risk analytics that enable companies to move beyond metrics and reporting to investments and nature-positive progress. For more information, visit www.dunya-analytics.com . About Natural History Museum The Natural History Museum is a world-leading scientific research centre and one of the world's most visited museums. Our mission is to create advocates for the planet people who act for nature. Our 400 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency from reversing biodiversity loss to resourcing the green economy. We are seeking an additional 150 million to transform our South Kensington building: placing our groundbreaking research at its heart, revitalising four existing galleries, opening two new magnificent galleries and delighting 1 million more visitors a year with the wonders of the natural world. SOURCE Dunya Analytics Equinix announced on Monday it has launched its first International Business Exchange (IBX) AI-ready data centre in Chennai, which it says will support business digitization, resilience and AI development in India. The new IBX data centre in Siruseri, CN1, will be interconnected with Equinixs Mumbai campus, which currently hosts three IBX data centres. The CN1 facility will provide 800 cabinets of initial capacity at launch, and will eventually support 4,250 cabinets. No details were given on its IT load capacity. Equinis said it has invested US$69 million to build the initial phase. Equinix said CN1 is engineered for 99.999% uptime and features a full suite of Equinix interconnection services, including Equinix Fabric, which enables enterprises to leverage hybrid multicloud services. It also supports liquid cooling technology, which Equinix said is essential for handling the high-density, compute-intensive workloads that are driving AI and other technologies. Equinix also expects demand for such workloads to increase in Chennai, which is emerging as a focal point for research and AI investment in India as Tamil Nadu strengthens its position as a key innovation hub. Meanwhile, thats happening in the context of the Indian governments drive to become a global leader in developing and investing in emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, blockchain and edge computing. In addition to the three data centres, Equinixs Mumbai campus hosts a robust cloud ecosystem for its Indian customers, including native on-ramps to cloud service providers such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud. With the launch of CN1, customers in Chennai can gain low-latency access to that ecosystem, enabling seamless and secure connectivity with their business partners, customers and providers, said Manoj Paul, MD for India at Equinix. SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fieger Law is announcing the filing of the lawsuit on behalf of the family of Thomas Cooper, 5, who was tragically killed on January 31st of this year when the hyperbaric chamber Thomas was in became engulfed in flames and burned young Thomas to death in front of his mother at the Oxford Center in Troy. His mother also suffered burns while trying to save Thomas. The Cooper family is forever heartbroken over how and why this could ever have happened to their son. This lawsuit is seeking in-excess of $100,000,000 in damages as well as answers from those responsible for why they allowed this to happen. The Defendants named in the lawsuit are: SECHRIST INDUSTRIES, INC. (manufacturer of the Hyperbaric Chamber) OXFORD HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY CENTER, LLC (The facility where the incident took place) OXFORD KIDS FOUNDATION (Michigan Non-profit related to the Oxford Center) TAMELA PETERSON (Founder and CEO of the Oxford Center) (Founder and CEO of the Oxford Center) JEFFREY MOSTELLER (Oxford Center Safety and Training Director) (Oxford Center Safety and Training Director) GARY MERKEN (Oxford Center Operations Director) (Oxford Center Operations Director) ALETHA MOFFITT (Oxford Center technician) (Oxford Center technician) OFFICE VENTURES TROY I, LLC (The owners of the property that housed the Oxford Center) "Losing a child is a parent's worst nightmare. The loss of Thomas has left a hole in the hearts of Thomas' parents and family. Thomas was an adorable little boy who was full of life and love with so much to offer this world. We at Fieger Law have spent months investigating all of the available evidence that led to this horrific tragedy. We have uncovered new information which alleges this was not a tragic accident. It seems to be a foreseeable, inevitable, and virtually certain result of Defendants' judgement. This should never have happened to Thomas, and we can never allow something so terrible to ever happen again," Fieger Law Managing Partner James Harrington said. "The Hyperbaric Chamber industry has known of the dangers of these machines and has failed to warn everyday Americans that they could be burned to death in these machines and gladly take our money for their profits without doing their part to keep us safe," Harrington said. You are invited to the Fieger Law offices at 11:30 September 22nd to receive a copy of the complaint, hear from Fieger Law Managing Partner James Harrington and receive copies of our attorney's never-before released photos of the burned chamber and gurney where Thomas lost his life. What: Fieger Law files lawsuit in Oxford Center case. When: News conference with James Harrington 11:30 am Monday, September 22nd. Where: Fieger Law 19390 West Ten Mile Road, Southfield Michigan. SOURCE The Fieger Law Offices NORWALK, Conn., Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wall Street Journal recently featured GameChange Solar in an article on Saudi Arabia's rapid rollout of renewable energy. The Kingdom is developing some of the world's largest solar farms and battery projects as part of its goal to generate half its electricity from clean sources by 2030. GameChange Solar Genius Tracker GameChange Solar's Genius Tracker systems are helping deliver reliable performance in the desert's challenging conditions of heat, sand, and high winds. To meet growing demand, GameChange launched a manufacturing facility in Dammam last year, which is already doubling in size. Andrew Worden, CEO of GameChange Solar, said the Kingdom's renewables plans sounded like a stretch when he heard about them nearly a decade ago and noted that it has now become a crucial solar market. "All of a sudden it became this huge thing," he said. Read the full Wall Street Journal article here. About GameChange Solar GameChange is one of the top three global providers of solar tracker solutions used in utility-scale and ground-mounted distributed generation solar projects around the world. We have delivered over 48 GW of solar tracker and fixed tilt systems that combine fast installation, bankable quality, and unbeatable value through superior engineering, innovative design, and high-volume manufacturing. Our products enable solar panels at power plants to follow the sun's movement across the sky, optimizing plant performance while protecting the array from damaging weather conditions. For more information, visit www.gamechangesolar.com Contact: Lisa Andrews Director of Marketing GameChange Solar [email protected] SOURCE GameChange Solar IP Excellera's move into Abu Dhabi places it at the heart of ADX, a nearly AED 3 trillion market fueled by strong liquidity and significant foreign inflows New Abu Dhabi office is supported by a diverse team of experts in Investor Relations, Corporate Reporting, Sustainability and Strategic Communications ABU DHABI, UAE, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IP Excellera, a market-leading integrated strategic advisory firm and part of Excellera Advisory Group, is pleased to announce the opening of its new office in Abu Dhabi, with Partner Nour Sukkar appointed as Head of Abu Dhabi to lead the office. IP Excellera specializes in Investor Relations, Corporate Reporting, Sustainability and Strategic Communications across the MENA region. Samantha Bartel (CEO), Nour Sukkar (Partner and Head of Abu Dhabi), Shaimaa Aly (Senior Consultant) Nour will be supported by a growing team of consultants across the full service offering, including Senior Consultant Shaimaa Aly, who recently joined IP Excellera's Corporate Reporting and Financial Communications team. This expansion strengthens IP Excellera's ability to serve clients across the region and in particular in the UAE capital with an integrated suite of advisory services. Having previously worked with leading global firms including Credit Suisse (now UBS), HSBC, Teneo, and TD, Nour brings a wealth of UAE capital markets knowledge, combining her investment banking and financial communications expertise on UAE IPOs with extensive experience managing IR mandates for some of the largest ADX-listed companies. IP Excellera's Abu Dhabi team capabilities are further enhanced by Shaimaa's experience in Corporate Reporting and Financial Communications, having worked at leading firms like Emperor, Brunswick Group and SEC Newgate Communications. Shaimaa has a track record working with ADX-listed companies on annual reports, IPO communications, strategic financial communications and media relations. Samantha Bartel, CEO, commented: "We are excited to further strengthen our presence in Abu Dhabi under Nour's leadership with a physical office in the capital. Expanding into Abu Dhabi enables IP Excellera to be closer to clients and play a role in supporting the UAE capital's rapidly evolving market. Nour's hands-on experience advising ADX-listed and Abu Dhabi private companies, combined with the support of a talented team of diverse experience in investor relations, corporate reporting and sustainability, gives us a truly unique proposition. This development will benefit clients across the whole Excellera group, enhancing our capacity to deliver tailored solutions on a broader scale. Together, our team will drive the growth of our integrated practice and ensure we continue delivering best-in-class support to clients across Abu Dhabi and the UAE." Nour Sukkar, Partner, added: "I am excited to lead IP Excellera's expansion in Abu Dhabi, the UAE's financial capital and home to some of the largest of the UAE's listed companies, sovereign wealth funds, and one of the fastest-growing and most liquid exchanges in the region, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. With a supportive regulatory framework, Abu Dhabi is a natural hub for regional and international capital flows and IPOs. Establishing a presence here allows us to be closer to clients and to support companies as they grow, list, and communicate with investors on ADX." Paolo Zanetto, CEO of Excellera Advisory Group, stated: "The opening of IP Excellera's offices in Abu Dhabi marks an important milestone in the growth strategy of our Group. We are confident that the MENA region, with its dynamic market evolution, offers exceptional opportunities for clients across the entire Excellera Group. Leveraging the expertise of our teams, we are ready to further enhance our strategic advisory services, supporting businesses in an increasingly competitive and ever-evolving environment. This step not only strengthens our presence in a key market but also reaffirms our long-term commitment to international expansion in the world's major decision-making hubs." ADX's market capitalization is approaching AED 3 trillion, supported by double-digit trading growth and a near 100% surge in foreign investment. With these exciting fundamental drivers powering the Abu Dhabi market, the launch of IP Excellera's Abu Dhabi office marks a strategic step in the company's regional expansion, placing it at the center of one of the world's most dynamic markets and reinforcing its commitment to supporting clients in navigating an increasingly liquid and internationally attractive environment. Our move into Abu Dhabi underscores IP Excellera's long-term commitment to the UAE and its role in supporting the development of its capital markets. About IP Excellera IP Excellera is a market leading, integrated strategic advisory firm with service offerings across Strategic Communications, Capital Markets and Investor Relations, Corporate Reporting and ESG. With offices in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Dubai, IP Excellera serves some of the region's most high-profile companies. IP Excellera's team of 60 talented consultants are drawn from the world's leading financial, government and academic institutions offering clients best in class advice so they can navigate risk, reputation and change. The company represents clients in the public and private sectors and has a portfolio of more than 100 corporate clients with a combined market value of over $3 trillion. In 2025, IP Excellera joined Excellera Advisory Group, one of the leading corporate affairs advisory groups in EMEA. About Excellera Advisory Group Excellera Advisory Group is Italy's leading corporate affairs advisory group and one of the most prominent in EMEA, with a network of leading firms in communications and public affairs, such as Barabino & Partners, Cattaneo Zanetto Pomposo & Co., Community, Excellera Intelligence, IP Excellera, Public Affairs Advisors, and Value Relations. Founded in 2022 with the goal of becoming the reference point for corporate affairs in EMEA, the Group has established a widespread presence in key international key decision-making hubs, operating in Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the UK, the United Arab Emirates and the US, supporting over 850 clients. With 350 employees and a turnover of $75 million, Excellera announced in 2025 the entry of ICG as its new majority financial partner, with the aim of accelerate its global growth. Nour Sukkar Partner & Head of IP Excellera Abu Dhabi [email protected] +971 55 104 3586 Yas Creative Hub, Abu Dhabi, UAE Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2777376/IP_Excellera.jpg SOURCE IP Excellera Kahoot!, the essential study solution, is launching new free AI-powered features to help students study smarter solo this school year. OSLO, Norway, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahoot! , the global learning and engagement platform, today announced a suite of new AI features and tools to help students succeed in the new academic year. The ultimate AI study toolkit empowers students to save time, overcome exam anxiety, stay motivated, and ace their exams with free offline study experiences. Learn and review anywhere with efficient and engaging self study tools With the new school year now underway, students are looking for effective study methods that fit their busy schedules, keep them engaged, and are always accessible. Now, students can study smarter with a new series of AI-enhanced features, including: Create new study experiences from your materials with AI. Kahoot!'s award-winning AI Generator now offers students a more personalized learning experience with new ways to create learning content and study. Kahoot!'s AI tools enable students to instantly transform handwritten notes, documents, web pages, Wikipedia articles, or simply an entered topic into interactive, gamified learning sessions. Students can now generate formats, including quizzes with multiple choice questions, practice tests with advanced question types, vocabulary reviews, and micro lessons. In addition, the "Question extractor" tool scans exams or tests and turns them into engaging Kahoot! quiz questions. "Step-by-step solver" breaks down complex problems into clear explanations and prompts students to solve along the way, ensuring they understand each step toward the answer. Kahoot!'s AI Generator now offers students a more personalized learning experience with new ways to create learning content and study. Kahoot!'s AI tools enable students to instantly transform handwritten notes, documents, web pages, Wikipedia articles, or simply an entered topic into interactive, gamified learning sessions. Students can now generate formats, including quizzes with multiple choice questions, practice tests with advanced question types, vocabulary reviews, and micro lessons. In addition, the "Question extractor" tool scans exams or tests and turns them into engaging Kahoot! quiz questions. "Step-by-step solver" breaks down complex problems into clear explanations and prompts students to solve along the way, ensuring they understand each step toward the answer. Study with Kahoot! offline. Students studying on-the-go without a reliable internet connection can now create interactive Kahoot! Experiences and study offline for free. Additionally, with iOS 26, Apple device users can generate Kahoot! sessions for free with Quiz Starter, using on-device AI powered by Apple's Foundation Models , allowing for offline use and greater privacy. With Quiz Starter, students can generate Kahoot! quizzes in seconds by scanning class notes or other materials. Students can also play these Kahoot! sessions offline, individually, making it easier for students to study effectively anytime, anywhere. Students studying on-the-go without a reliable internet connection can now create interactive Kahoot! Experiences and study offline for free. Additionally, with iOS 26, Apple device users can generate Kahoot! sessions for free with Quiz Starter, using , allowing for offline use and greater privacy. With Quiz Starter, students can generate Kahoot! quizzes in seconds by scanning class notes or other materials. Students can also play these Kahoot! sessions offline, individually, making it easier for students to study effectively anytime, anywhere. Ace exams with Test Mode. More than 40% of college students have reported skipping a test, most often due to a lack of preparation or test anxiety. This underscores how vital effective test prep is to student success. According to independent research, studying with Kahoot! can, on average, improve students' performance on exams by a full letter grade . Now, Kahoot! is helping students further strengthen their knowledge and build confidence before exams with the release of Test Mode, a powerful feature for students to simulate the exam experience and measure their test readiness. As a student completes a Kahoot! practice test or quiz in Test Mode, answers are not revealed until the end, where a post-game summary shows their results. These include the student's score and percentage of correct answers, completion time, and the ability to review any incorrect answers and continue to study these topics. By assessing their progress and pinpointing knowledge gaps, students can target specific areas for review for more efficient and effective studying. This premium feature is now available with a Kahoot!+ Gold subscription. More than have reported skipping a test, most often due to a lack of preparation or test anxiety. This underscores how vital effective test prep is to student success. According to independent research, studying with Kahoot! can, on average, improve students' performance on exams by a . Now, Kahoot! is helping students further strengthen their knowledge and build confidence before exams with the release of Test Mode, a powerful feature for students to simulate the exam experience and measure their test readiness. As a student completes a Kahoot! practice test or quiz in Test Mode, answers are not revealed until the end, where a post-game summary shows their results. These include the student's score and percentage of correct answers, completion time, and the ability to review any incorrect answers and continue to study these topics. By assessing their progress and pinpointing knowledge gaps, students can target specific areas for review for more efficient and effective studying. This premium feature is now available with a subscription. Maximize motivation with achievements. Students can discover study experiences on Kahoot! that help them stay engaged and make progress toward their study goals. Available on the Kahoot! app, study buddies motivate students as they study and learn, cheering them on when they succeed and encouraging them to keep trying when they encounter difficult questions. Students can access the free-to-try study buddy, and a paid subscription unlocks access to all Kahoot! study buddies, including fun motivational characters. To help students develop strong study habits, Kahoot! also provides daily and weekly streak achievements. These feature unique icons, animations, and milestone levels for students to track their progress, as well as motivational messages to encourage students to continue learning. Students can discover study experiences on Kahoot! that help them stay engaged and make progress toward their study goals. Available on the Kahoot! app, study buddies motivate students as they study and learn, cheering them on when they succeed and encouraging them to keep trying when they encounter difficult questions. Students can access the free-to-try study buddy, and a paid subscription unlocks access to all Kahoot! study buddies, including fun motivational characters. To help students develop strong study habits, Kahoot! also provides daily and weekly streak achievements. These feature unique icons, animations, and milestone levels for students to track their progress, as well as motivational messages to encourage students to continue learning. Socialize studying and focus on understanding with Study Groups and Accuracy Mode. Studying with others can be a great way to stay motivated and deepen learning through collaboration. With Kahoot!, students can create study groups with friends within the Kahoot! app or web platform, play Kahoot! sessions together, and master topics along the way. Review course content, practice key skills, and compete to reach the top of the leaderboard. For even more inclusive, relaxed, and learning-focused study sessions, students can play Kahoot! sessions in Accuracy Mode, where correct answers matter more than speed. In Accuracy Mode, all participants are given the same amount of time to answer a question, and earn the same points for answering correctly, with no bonus for a quicker response. This encourages students to slow down, think critically, and strengthen their understanding of the topic. "At Kahoot!, we want all students to have the tools to start their new classes with confidence and achieve academic success," said Alex Remen, VP of Product at Kahoot!. "With our new lineup of AI-powered study features, we're combining the exciting capabilities of generative AI with the engaging experience of Kahoot! that millions of students worldwide love. These new features offer students a more flexible, personalized, and impactful self study experience, supporting students throughout the learning process from mastering new concepts to acing their tests." Learn more about how Kahoot!'s study solutions can empower students to study smarter, boost their test scores and grades, and achieve their learning goals. Media Contact: Alejandro Viquez. Senior Communications Manager at Kahoot! [email protected] About Kahoot! Kahoot!, the global learning and engagement platform company, is on a mission to make learning awesome by empowering everyonechildren, students, and employeesto reach their full potential. Our platform enables individuals and organizations to easily create, share, and host engaging learning sessions. Since launching in 2013, Kahoot! has become a global leader, hosting hundreds of millions of sessions with over 12 billion cumulative participants across 200+ countries and regions. Clever, the global identity platform for K-12, is also part of Kahoot! Group, serving millions of educators, students, and schools every day. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, we also have offices in the US, UK, France, Finland, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Estonia, Denmark, Spain, and Poland. SOURCE Kahoot! LMT Investors with Losses Encouraged to Contact Hagens Berman Before Sept. 26th Deadline in Securities Class Action SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 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, 2025 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Sept. 26, 2025 Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/lmt Contact the Firm Now: [email protected] 844-916-0895 Alleged Pattern of Misrepresentations The 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 Disclosures Investors 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. , the company reported in pre-tax losses in its Aeronautics segment. On April 17, 2025 , the company announced its CFO had left. , 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 Investigation A 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 [email protected]. 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. SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP October 4th | Downtown Atlanta | Over 20 Artists | Food + Art + Community ATLANTA, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In just two weeks, OYE Fest 2025 will light up downtown Atlanta with a cultural explosion of music, food, and art. On Saturday, October 4th, the Southeast's premier Latin music and arts festival returns stronger than ever, bringing thousands together for an all-day celebration in the heart of the city. This year's lineup delivers chart-topping and genre-defining talent, including reggaeton icons Alexis y Fido (back in Atlanta for the first time in over a decade and celebrating nearly 20 years in the industry), Puerto Rican sensation Alvaro Diaz (a global powerhouse redefining Latin urban music), activist and rapper Snow Tha Product (featured on the Hamilton soundtrack and a fierce voice for immigrant and LGBTQ+ rights), viral TikTok star Macario Martinez (whose breakout hits have earned millions of streams and followers worldwide), and genre-bending artist PabloPablo. They'll be joined by over 15 additional artists, DJs, and dancers who represent Atlanta's own Latinx community, amplifying local and regional voices from the stage. FOOD HALL: A CULINARY TOUR OF LATIN AMERICA Attendees will embark on a Latin American culinary journey, sampling flavors from Atlanta's most celebrated food vendors, including: - El Super Pan (with its beloved Ponce City Market location), bringing Latin sandwiches and classics with a modern twist. - Smoke & Friends, serving bold BBQ with Latin flair. - Mrs. Rosas, offering traditional, home-style recipes. - Vice Taco Truck, a local favorite with some of the city's most creative street tacos. MARKETPLACE VENDORS: ART, STYLE & COMMUNITY Beyond the music and food, OYE Fest shines a spotlight on Latinx-owned businesses and artisans who bring art, fashion, and culture to life, including: - Made by Mars, statement jewelry and accessories. - Trazos y Colores PR, Puerto Rican hand-crafted art. - Altare ATL, culturally inspired streetwear. - Forever Linked ATL, permanent jewelry and custom design. A VIP EXPERIENCE POWERED BY ALTOS TEQUILA For those seeking an elevated experience, Altos Tequila presents the OYE Fest VIP Lounge a one-of-a-kind space featuring tequila tastings, exclusive seating, and immersive activations designed to showcase tradition and innovation in Latin culture. THANKING OUR SPONSORS OYE Fest 2025 is made possible with the support of: - Tickeri, the Hispanic-owned ticketing platform connecting communities through live events. - Altos Tequila, redefining craftsmanship and culture in the festival's VIP experience. OYE FEST IS A MOVEMENT "OYE Fest is more than music it's a space for families, artists, and communities to celebrate Latinx culture and know that together, we are ONE," says founder Margarita Rios. "This year, we're louder, prouder, and ready to show the South and the world that our voices cannot be ignored." EVENT DETAILS Date: Saturday, October 4th, 2025 Gates Open: 1:00 PM | Music Starts: 1:00 PM Ages: All Ages (Children under 10 enter free) Venue: 550 Mitchell Street Southwest, Atlanta, GA 30314 Tickets: Starting at $60 Purchase Here: https://www.tickeri.com/events/oyefest/oye-fest-2025 Watch: 2024 Recap Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yArpy1_1V_A ABOUT OYE FEST Founded by Latinx organizers, OYE Fest is Atlanta's flagship Latin music and arts festival. A celebration of music, food, art, and activism, OYE amplifies Latinx identity while creating safe and inclusive spaces for all. From international stars to local entrepreneurs, OYE Fest is more than a festival it is a movement. MEDIA CONTACT Email: [email protected] Artist Interviews | Founder Interviews | Partnership Opportunities Available Website: www.oyefest.com Tickets: Buy Here: https://www.tickeri.com/events/oyefest/oye-fest-2025 SOURCE OYE Fest Power Metallic is pleased to announce the return of five (5) holes from the spring 2025 drilling campaign focused on the Lion Zone. The five holes were testing plunge extension (PML-25-014) and conducting in-fill drilling to approximately 50m centres for future mineral resource estimations (PML-25-015, PML-25-016A, PML-25-018, PML-25-020) (Figure 2). The Summer drill campaign targeted several different prospective areas with total meters drilled of approximately 17,250 meters. This included: Lion Extensional Drilling 3,929 meters Lion In-fill drilling for future Mineral Resource Estimation 5,845 meters Tiger Area drilling 2,067 meters Nisk Deposit Drilling 3,575 meters Regional Exploration drilling (new Li-FT acquisition ground) 1,833 meters The initial Summer 2025 drill plan had proposed to complete extension holes following the Lion Zone plunge. One of the extension holes results is included in this news release (PML-25-014) and results for subsequent extension holes are pending. To facilitate this drilling in the Lion area required crossing streams and marshes to make it accessible to overland haulage of drill equipment. Environmental assessment was carried out and recommendations were to create a drill mat road (Figure 3) with bridged stream crossings to make the Lion area accessible to more powerful skid mounted drills. This change has allowed the extensional drilling at Lion to resume and Power Metallic expects much better extensional drilling productivity from the larger drills as we move into the fall campaign. The drill roads also provide guaranteed access to the Lion area all year round with no need to stop for seasonal changes. There are no assay results yet from drilling the Tiger area, which includes extensional exploration holes between the Lion and Tiger zones. All the Tiger area holes as well as the Lion Extensional holes, the Nisk deposit holes, and the regional exploration holes received bore hole EM surveys. One of the heli-portable drills has now been re-assigned to drilling airborne EM anomalies developed from our recently completed VTEM property wide survey (regional exploration holes). This survey resulted in many conductors which are being prioritised for drilling based on our summer reconnaissance mapping and prospecting program that was designed to identify favourable geology for polymetallic deposits. All holes to date have hit sulphide bearing structures, verifying the BHEM conductors. Assay results from this exploration drill program are pending. LION ZONE DRILL RESULTS (Table 1) The one (1) completed plunge extension zone (PML-025-014) intersected the Lion deposit approximately 100m west and 175m down plunge from the nearest known drill hole. The high grade portion of the Lion zone was not intersected and the disseminated zone returned a 9.44m intersection of 1.10% CuEq1. In-fill drilling for future mineral resource estimation confirmed the continuity of the Lion Zone (Figure 1) in all holes, but also highlighted the previously interpreted high variability of grade and thickness. As example, holes PML-25-015, 018 and 020 (Figure 4) confirmed and improved grade and thickness from previous surrounding holes, PML-25-016a was narrower and lower grade than surrounding holes. The in-fill drilling will greatly increase our confidence in modelling of the Lion zone for future resource estimation. Drill results from the lab has been slowed by high demand from the mining industry this summer. We are still awaiting results from holes PML-25-017 and PML-25-019 and these will be reported when results are available. The summer program has now shut down for a few weeks over the Cree moose hunt season (the "Moose Break"), and will start up again in a couple of weeks. Pending holes at Lion include up to PML-25-034a, as well as additional holes at the Nisk deposit, exploration drilling between Lion and Tiger, and six (6) exploration holes completed on VTEM anomalies. Table 2: Significant assay results Spring 2025 - Lion zone Hole From To Length Au Ag Cu Pd Pt Ni CuEq Rec* (m) (m) (m) (g/t) ( g/t ) ( %) (g/t) ( g/t ) ( %) ( %) PML-25-014 464.00 466.00 2.00 0.04 1.57 0.30 0.41 0.30 0.30 1.46 and 590.17 595.25 9.44 0.28 5.98 0.39 1.02 0.09 0.03 1.01 Including 593.17 595.25 2.08 0.67 14.18 1.08 2.29 0.03 0.04 2.36 PML-25-015 162.00 190.00 28.00 0.56 25.18 2.87 2.86 0.35 0.13 4.28 Including 176.00 177.90 1.90 2.83 45.78 13.60 8.14 0.50 0.16 17.68 and 186.60 190.00 3.40 0.69 84.37 9.79 15.12 2.16 0.22 15.45 PML-25-016a 292.20 302.30 7.10 0.07 2.06 0.31 1.01 1.13 0.20 1.41 PML-25-018 479.00 508.50 29.50 0.15 4.96 0.54 1.80 0.58 0.09 1.58 Including 488.16 495.00 6.84 0.20 11.41 0.83 4.54 1.79 0.12 3.30 PML-25-020 241.10 262.86 21.76 0.24 4.67 0.10 1.61 1.09 0.01 1.19 Including 252.86 255.86 3.00 0.92 12.50 0.32 6.68 4.80 0.02 4.81 and 280.84 303.50 22.66 0.78 7.63 3.04 2.79 0.70 0.16 4.57 Including 286.15 292.20 6.05 1.03 9.65 6.11 8.33 1.75 0.27 9.70 Note: Reported length is downhole distance; true width based on model projections is estimated as 85% of downhole length 1Copper Equivalent Rec Calculation (CUEqRec1) CuEqRec represents CuEq calculated based on the following metal prices (USD) : 2,360.15 $/oz Au, 27.98 $/oz Ag, 1,215.00 $/oz Pd, 1000.00 $/oz Pt, 4.00 $/lb Cu, 10.00 $/lb Ni and 22.50 $/lb Co., and a recovery grade of 80% for all commodities, consistent with comparable peers. Previously released drill results are available in a public database accessible as a download on Power Metallic's website. Currently this database contains hole assay and collar information up to hole PML-25-013 and will be updated as soon as possible with all remaining publicly released holes. FALL AND WINTER PROGRAM UPDATE On September 3rd, 2025 the Government of Quebec published in the No. 36 Gazette Officielle du Quebec on expanded mining rights within close proximity to our Lion Zone discovery. The process gives previous claims holders any land from their portfolio that had been restricted previously by Hydro-Quebec. That land addition can be seen in the figure 5 below. Additional land was open to public bidding and Power Metallic bid and is waiting on the results of the bid which is anticipated to be registered in the next 30-90 days with the extension lands shown in Figure 5. Additionally, a detailed summary of the Fall-Winter program is planned to be released by the end of October sharing more details on BHEM results, land changes and drilling program plans over the fall and winter periods. "We were very excited to get this ground. Honestly as important as our drilling program was this summer, I can sincerely say our primary mission was to get more land. The Lift Package and the lifting of the Hydro Quebec restriction will really benefit the projects development. Power Metallic approached our friends and partner the James Bay Cree for their assistance in lobbying Hydro-Quebec to remove these restrictions on land that clearly was no longer required. With their assistance and the understanding and cooperation of Hydro-Quebec we were able to have the land referred to the ministry for the process that has now occurred. We will have further comments on this when the full process is complete" commented Terry Lynch Power Metallic CEO Qualified Person Joseph Campbell, P.Geo, VP Exploration at Power Metallic, is the qualified person who has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. About Power Metallic Mines Inc. Power Metallic is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing the Nisk Project Area (NiskLionTiger)a highgrade CopperPGE, Nickel, gold and silver systemtoward Canada's next polymetallic mine. On 1 February 2021, Power Metallic (then Chilean Metals) secured an option to earn up to 80% of the Nisk project from Critical Elements Lithium Corp. (TSXV: CRE). Following the June 2025 purchase of 313 adjoining claims (~167 km) from LiFT Power, the Company now controls ~212.86 km and roughly 50 km of prospective basin margins. Power Metallic is expanding mineralization at the Nisk and Lion discovery zones, evaluating the Tiger target, and exploring the enlarged land package through successive drill programs. Beyond the Nisk Project Area, Power Metallic indirectly has an interest in significant land packages in British Columbia and Chile, by its 50% share ownership position in Chilean Metals Inc., which were spun out from Power Metallic via a plan of arrangement on February 3, 2025. It also owns 100% of Power Metallic Arabia which owns 100% interest in the Jabul Baudan exploration license in The Kingdon of Saudi Arabia's JabalSaid Belt. The property encompasses over 200 square kilometres in an area recognized for its high prospectivity for copper gold and zinc mineralization. The region is known for its massive volcanic sulfide (VMS) deposits, including the world-class Jabal Sayid mine and the promising Umm and Damad deposit. For further information, readers are encouraged to contact: Power Metallic Mines Inc. The Canadian Venture Building 82 Richmond St East, Suite 202 Toronto, ON Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. QAQC and Sampling GeoVector Management Inc ("GeoVector") is the Consulting company retained to perform the actual drilling program, which includes core logging and sampling of the drill core. All samples were submitted to and analyzed at Activation Laboratories Ltd ("Actlabs"), an independent commercial laboratory for both the sample preparation and assaying. Actlabs is a commercial laboratory independent of Power Metallic with no interest in the Project. Actlabs is an ISO 9001 and 17025 certified and accredited laboratories. Samples submitted through Actlabs are run through standard preparation methods and analysed using RX-1 (Dry, crush (< 7 kg) up to 80% passing 2 mm, riffle split (250 g) and pulverize (mild steel) to 95% passing 105 m) preparation methods, and using 1F2 (ICP-OES) and 1C-OES - 4-Acid near total digestion + Gold-Platinum-Palladium analysis and 8-Peroxide ICP-OES, for regular and over detection limit analysis. Pegmatite samples are analyzed using UT7 - Li up to 5%, Rb up to 2% method. Actlabs also undertake their own internal coarse and pulp duplicate analysis to ensure proper sample preparation and equipment calibration. GeoVector's QAQC program includes regular insertion of CRM standards, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream with a stringent review of all results. QAQC and data validation was performed, and no material errors were observed. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This message contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" concerning the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "indicates," "opportunity," "possible" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, among others; the timing for various drilling plans; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its obligations under its property agreements going forward and conduct drilling and exploration; to maintain its mineral tenures and concessions in good standing; to explore and develop its projects; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the inherent hazards associates with mineral exploration and mining operations; future prices of nickel and other metals; changes in general economic conditions; accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates; the potential for new discoveries; the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the projects and if accepted, to obtain such licenses and approvals in a timely fashion relative to the Company's plans and business objectives for the applicable project; the general ability of the Company to monetize its mineral resources; and changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, dependence on key management personnel and general competition in the mining industry. SOURCE Power Metallic Mines Inc. 21 % more press release views with Request a Demo FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Reworld Holding Corporation (the "Company") announced today that as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 22, 2025, which was the Expiration Date (as defined in the Company's Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated August 22, 2025 (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the "Statement")) of the Company's previously announced cash tender offer (the "Offer") and related consent solicitation (the "Consent Solicitation") in respect of any and all of its outstanding 5.000% Senior Notes due 2030 (the "Notes"), as reported by the information and tender agent, it had received tenders and consents from holders of $379,576,000 aggregate principal amount, or approximately 94.89%, of the outstanding Notes. The settlement date is expected to occur on September 24, 2025 (the "Settlement Date"). The Company also announced that on the Settlement Date, it will accept for purchase all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the terms of the Offer. Holders who validly tendered Notes at or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 5, 2025 (the "Early Tender Date"), and whose Notes are accepted for purchase, will be eligible to receive the total consideration equal to $1,000.00 per $1,000.00 principal amount of Notes purchased in the Offer. Holders who validly tendered Notes after the Early Tender Date and at or before the Expiration Date, and whose Notes are accepted for purchase, will be eligible to receive the tender offer consideration equal to $950.00 per $1,000.00 principal amount of Notes purchased pursuant to the Offer. In addition, holders whose Notes are purchased in the Offer will receive accrued and unpaid interest in respect of their purchased Notes from the last interest payment date of the Notes up to, but not including, the Settlement Date. On September 5, 2025, the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the "Trustee"), executed a supplemental indenture with respect to the Notes (the "Supplemental Indenture") to authorize the elimination of substantially all of the restrictive covenants, all reporting obligations, certain events of default and related provisions contained in the indenture governing the Notes (the "Proposed Amendments"). The Proposed Amendments will become operative on the Settlement Date upon the Company's acceptance for purchase of the Notes validly tendered pursuant to the Offer. Barclays Capital Inc. acted as dealer manager and solicitation agent (the "Dealer Manager and Solicitation Agent") for the Offer and the Consent Solicitation. Questions regarding the terms of the Offer and the Consent Solicitation can be directed to the Dealer Manager and Solicitation Agent at (800) 438-3242 (toll free) and (212) 528-7581 (collect). The information and tender agent for the Offer and Consent Solicitation was Global Bondholder Services Corporation. Holders with questions may call Global Bondholder Services Corporation, toll-free at (866) 807-2200 or (212) 430-3774 (collect). This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes. The Offer and the Consent Solicitation were made only pursuant to the Statement and the related tender offer documents. About Reworld Holding Corporation Reworld Holding Corporation or Reworld, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is a leader in sustainable waste solutions, providing innovative and environmentally responsible services to a global community. Reworld is committed to advancing zero waste initiatives and supporting sustainability goals through state-of-the-art technologies that reimagine, reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, and renew. For more information, visit www.reworldwaste.com. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements Information provided and statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the applicable securities laws. Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to the Company's future outlook and anticipated events, business, operations, financial performance, financial condition or results and, in some cases, can be identified by terminology such as "may"; "will"; "should"; "expect"; "plan"; "anticipate"; "believe"; "intend"; "estimate"; "predict"; "potential"; "continue"; "foresee", "ensure" or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company will not update these statements unless applicable securities laws require it to do so. SOURCE Reworld Holding Corporation NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Uzbekistan Airways announced today the single largest order in the airline's history as the flag carrier plans to acquire up to 22 787 Dreamliners. Uzbekistan Airways' purchase of 14 787-9 airplanes, with options for eight more of the ultra-efficient jets, will modernize its Boeing widebody fleet while supporting nearly 35,000 U.S. jobs. Uzbekistan Airways Orders up to 22 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, airlines largest-ever purchase. Republic of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev joined leaders from Boeing and Uzbekistan Airways to commemorate this firm order on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Boeing and the Uzbekistan Ministry of Transport also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to explore opportunities to further expand the country's aviation ecosystem. "The Boeing 787 Dreamliner family has proven to be the cornerstone of our long-haul operations," said Uzbekistan Airways Chairman Shukhrat Khudaikulov. "With this new contract, we are further strengthening both our airline's and our nation's position as a leading aviation hub in Central Asia, while providing our passengers with greater global connectivity. This step reaffirms our ambitions and strategic commitment to sustainable growth." The first 787 operator in Central Asia, Uzbekistan Airways leverages its fleet of 787-8 airplanes to connect markets in Europe, Asia and the U.S., including a direct flight to New York City. With increased capacity and extended range, the 787-9 will enable Uzbekistan Airways to expand international routes to the U.S. and other long-haul destinations as demand for international travel continues to rise. "We value our nearly 30-year partnership with Uzbekistan Airways and will continue to support their growth strategy as they further connect the region and world," said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "With its fuel efficiency and operational flexibility, the 787 Dreamliner will help Uzbekistan Airways expand into new markets, connecting more travelers to their rich culture." The 787 Dreamliner family, recognized for its fuel efficiency, versatility and passenger comfort, enables airlines like Uzbekistan Airways to open new routes and serve more destinations. The 787's advanced aerodynamics, composite materials and innovative systems reduce fuel use by 25% compared to airplanes they replace. A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity. Contact Boeing Media Relations Boeing Communications [email protected] SOURCE Boeing Late last week, the Finance and Budgetary Control Committee of the National Assembly of Senegal adopted a bill taxing digital financial services, including mobile money transactions and merchant payments. The proposal, which apparently has to go through a couple more stages before becoming law, appears to involve a 0.5% tax on all money transfers, a 1.5% tax on merchant payments, and a 2% additional fee charged to merchants. There are some business exclusions, however. The aim, says Ecofin news agency, is to find nearly CFA230 billion (about US$412.5 million) in three years to support the governments 2025-2028 economic and social recovery plan. But some commentators argue that this bill could undermine, rather than support, economic progress. For example, only 26% of Senegalese adults are estimated to have access to a bank account. By contrast, more than 90% of people over the age of 15 use mobile wallets. In 2025 so far, according to Business Insider Africa, mobile money platforms processed CFA15.3 trillion (US$27.4 billion) in transactions. Given the economic profile of many mobile money users which includes low-income households, informal workers, women entrepreneurs, and students a tax on such transactions would disproportionately affect the poor. This could also affect commerce generally, and even family remittances, in both cases undermining financial inclusion. If mobile taxes also drove a move back to cash, which is less easy to trace or tax, this could mean lower transaction volumes, less transparency in the economy, and reduced appetite for fintech and telecoms investment and thus a slower pace for digital transformation. In addition, many other attempts at taxing mobile services or revenues, some covered here, have not worked, been abandoned, or been strongly criticised, notably in Uganda, Madagascar, Cameroon, Rwanda and Nigeria. To make matters (potentially) worse another law taxing the mobile communications sector is on the way. If it is passed, some telecommunications equipment that has benefited from permanent exemptions since 2008 will now be subject to higher duties and taxes. A scheduled upgrade to its M-Pesa mobile finance service, announced last week by Kenyan operator Safaricom, was successfully completed today. It has been described as the most significant upgrade of the M-Pesa platform since 2015. The upgrade, says Safaricom, introduces Fintech 2.0, a next-generation core platform designed to strengthen resilience, expand capacity, and unlock advanced, AI-driven innovation. This transformation, the company explains, positions M-Pesa to meet the growing demands of Africas digital economy while preparing for future opportunities. The new M-Pesa core will expand capacity from 4,500 to 6,000 transactions per second, with the potential to scale up to 12,000 transactions as demand grows. It will also introduce across multiple hosting sites an active-active architecture; this is a system setup where multiple, identical servers or nodes are online and processing requests simultaneously, sharing the workload through a load balancer. This will guarantee higher resilience and minimal service interruption. The platform embeds advanced artificial intelligence to strengthen fraud detection, enable self-healing, and power real-time monitoring. Its cloud-native foundation ensures higher performance, instant scalability, and faster deployment of new products. As the company, explains, over the years, M-Pesa has grown from a simple money transfer service into Africas largest fintech ecosystem and the launch of Fintech 2.0 is designed to sustain this growth and prepare the platform for the future. Dr Peter Ndegwa, Group CEO, Safaricom, says: This upgrade is a bold investment in the future of M-Pesa and reaffirmation of our commitment to innovation, resilience and customer trust. By moving to Fintech 2.0, we are unlocking a platform that not only scales to meet todays demands but also anticipates tomorrows opportunities. 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 Who is Jeffrey Cheah, Malaysian billionaire behind the firm acquiring Singapore property developer MCL Land for $578M? Jeffrey Cheah, whose Sunway Group is buying Singaporean and Malaysian property developer MCL Land for S$738.7 million (US$578 million), is one of Malaysias richest billionaires, known for turning a former tin-mining wasteland into a thriving township. Announced on Thursday, Sunways acquisition of the developer, which is part of Hong Kong property giant Hongkong Land, marks a bold expansion in one of Asias most competitive real estate markets. Earlier in the year, the group revealed a RM2.6 billion (US$582 million) joint project with Malaysias state-owned commuter rail operator MRT to develop a mixed-use complex close to the Singapore border. Sunway is one of Malaysias biggest conglomerates, spanning construction, education, healthcare, infrastructure and real estate. It is also the foundation of the US$4.3 billion fortune of its executive chairman and founder, Jeffrey Cheah. Jeffrey Cheah, chairman and founder of Sunway Group. Photo courtesy of the company Growing up in Pusing, a mining settlement in Malaysias Perak state, Cheah left home to earn a business degree at Australias Victoria University and then returned to work as an accountant at a motor assembly plant. He started Sunway as a small tin-mining firm in 1974 with a RM100,000 investment. "I am an accountant by training. But I realized I have an entrepreneur mindset. So, I quit my job at a motor assembly plant and ventured into my own business," he told The Asean Post in a 2021 interview. He later purchased a piece of mining land in Selangor to work on but eventually chose instead to restore its desolate terrain, according to the Vulcan Post. The decision was reportedly rooted in what he had seen in his hometown, where years of mining had left it with barren land, little economic activity and families struggling to survive after the industry pulled out. The Selangor site eventually turned into Malaysias first green and sustainable townshipSunway City Kuala Lumpur. The bustling town marked one of the firms most notable ventures. Cheah would later describe these early years as a period filled with relentless effort, sleepless nights and doubt from critics who questioned his ambition. From that base, Sunway steadily grew and branched into a wide range of industries. It reported record-high revenues of RM7.88 billion and pre-tax profits of RM1.5 billion last year. Looking back, Cheah believes he was lucky. "I was a little-known individual from Pusing, in Perak, a poverty-ridden town where many of my childhood friends could not afford to further their education due to the financial constraints faced by their families," he said, as quoted by the New Straits Times. "I am deeply grateful to my country for the opportunities it has blessed me with." The success of his firm gave Cheah the means to realize a lifelong dream of philanthropy. In 2010, he founded the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. Dedicated to nation-building, with a focus on education, the foundation has, as of 2024, provided more than RM745 million in scholarships to thousands of Malaysian students. His philanthropic work has earned him wide recognition; he is the second person to have been named four times on the annual Asias Heroes of Philanthropy by Forbes magazine. Beyond his philanthropic and business achievements, Cheah has also focused on succession planning. He and his wife have three children, all of whom are involved in the family business. His eldest daughter, Sarena, serves on the board and leads the property development arm. Adrian, the youngest, oversees business development at listed Sunway REIT. The middle son, Evan, serves as group CEO for digital and strategic investments and is set to succeed his father as chairman once he steps down. Cheah has been preparing them for their roles since they were young. He often brought them along to construction sites to teach them that building ecosystems required leaders to be hands-on and diligent. "We are very conscious of succession planning," Cheah told Forbes. "It is only right that we leave a good legacy, strong management, strong succession and people in place." Asked what sort of legacy he wanted to leave behind, Cheah said in a 2019 interview with CNBC: "My motto has always been I aspire to inspire before I expire." He expressed hopes to "do goods for mankind," and emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change. "To help bring better prospects, better future, better health, better well-being, (eradicate) poverty and all these things. Thats my hope, as my legacy," he added. This photo taken on Jan. 23, 2018 shows durian fruit on sale in the Chinatown district of Singapore. Photo by AFP A 56-year-old Singaporean man received nine weeks jail for two counts of theft, one of which was for stealing nine Black Gold durians worth S$250 (US$195). The man, Sew Swee Chai, was sentenced last Monday after pleading guilty to both charges, which also included taking three religious amulets at Fu Lu Shou Complex in the Rochor area, Channel News Asia reported. According to court documents, on the night of Sep. 6, 2024, Sew was seen outside a closed fruit stall at Block 276, Bukit Batok East Avenue 4. Craving durian, he spent several minutes surveying the stall before trying to disable its security cameras by unplugging power plugs. He then walked off with the durians in a plastic bag. The next morning, a stall assistant noticed the missing fruits and reviewed CCTV footage, which captured the theft. It turned out Sew had shut off the refrigerators instead. The assistant filed a report and Sew was later identified and traced by police. About two weeks later, he struck again at Fu Lu Shou Complex. He slipped two amulets into his pocket and was attempting to steal a third when the shop owner caught him and alerted the police, who arrested Sew, according to Mothership. During Mondays hearing, prosecutors told the court that Sew was a repeat offender who had previously served jail terms for burglary and theft, as reported by Shin Min Daily News. In mitigation, his lawyer said Sew had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Sew also testified that he had not been taking his prescribed medication when the thefts occurred. His lawyer requested leniency, noting that Sew is now undergoing treatment and has already compensated for the stolen items. The court sentenced him to nine weeks in jail but allowed a deferral as his 80-year-old mother had recently been diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer and he needed time for hospital follow-ups. Sew is scheduled to begin serving his sentence on Oct. 13. Address economic, trade issues through equal consultation for mutual benefit 15:39, September 22, 2025 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily On Sept. 14 and 15 local time, Chinese and U.S. trade teams held a new round of talks in Madrid, Spain. Guided by the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries in their phone call, the two sides held candid, in-depth, and constructive discussions on economic and trade issues of mutual concern. The two sides reached a basic framework consensus on resolving issues related to TikTok through cooperation, reducing investment barriers and promoting relevant economic and trade cooperation. This once again demonstrates that with mutual respect and equal consultation, China and the United States can build consensus through dialogue and achieve win-win outcomes through actions. Mutual benefit is the defining feature of China-U.S. economic and trade relations, and it provides the foundation for continued dialogue. From Geneva to London, and from Stockholm to Madrid, the two countries have deepened understanding and built consensus through equal dialogue, laying the groundwork for mutually beneficial outcomes. During this round of talks, both sides recognized that a stable China-U.S. economic and trade relationship is of great significance to both countries and also has a major impact on global economic stability and development. This is the shared understanding forged through rounds of consultations, and it reflects a deeper recognition of the mutually beneficial nature of China-U.S. economic and trade relations and its global significance. It provides a basis for further dialogue, a guide for addressing each side's concerns, and confidence for global economic development. A major focus of the talks was the TikTok issue, and the progress made in seeking a cooperative solution was an encouraging step. China has always opposed the politicization, instrumentalization and weaponization of technology as well as economic and trade matters and will never seek to reach agreements at the expense of principles, interests of companies, or international fairness and justice. During the talks, both sides reached a basic consensus regarding the full respect for the will of the business as well as the law of the market on resolving the TikTok issue through such methods as the entrusted operation of TikTok's U.S. user data and content security business, and the license for use of the algorithm and other intellectual property rights. This fully proves that coercion is not the way forward; only mutual respect and equal consultation can lead to win-win solutions. The reason why the Chinese side agreed to a consensus is because, based on its assessment, China has come to the judgment that such a consensus is in their mutual interest. It demonstrates China's constructive and responsible attitude. China will firmly safeguard the national interests, the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, and carry out technology export approval in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. The Chinese government also fully respects the will of enterprises and supports them in conducting business negotiations on an equal footing in accordance with market principles. The United States should act on the consensus reached, and provide an open, fair, just, and non-discriminatory business environment for the continued operation of Chinese enterprises, including TikTok. Both sides recognized the importance of a sound and stable China-U.S. economic and trade relationship and agreed to maintain close communication and move toward each other. It must be noted that the U.S. side is still continuously expanding sanctions against Chinese entities after a series of economic and trade consultations between the two countries. The United States has overstretched the concept of national security, and continuously expanded the list of sanctions against Chinese entities, with its long arm of jurisdiction reaching ever farther, which are a typical act of unilateral bullying that violates international law and the basic norms governing international relations. China firmly opposes this, and raised serious concerns to the U.S. side during the talks. The U.S. side cannot, on the one hand, ask China to take care of U.S. concerns, and on the other hand, continuously suppress Chinese enterprises. This is not how major countries should get along. If the United States takes actions that harm China's interests in a substantive way, China has ample means and tools to respond. To safeguard the hard-won outcomes of bilateral consultations, the United States should lift restrictions as soon as possible, stop targeting Chinese enterprises, and act prudently, instead of attempting to form cliques for "collective bullying." All parties have a responsibility to safeguard the international trading system and the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains. The best way to bridge differences and resolve issues is through equal dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation. China and the United States should implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state in their phone conversations as well as the outcomes of previous economic and trade talks, fully leverage the role of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism, continuously enhance mutual understanding, resolve differences, strengthen cooperation, and strive for more win-win outcomes, so as to promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations, and inject greater stability into the world economy. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) US right-wing leader Charlie Kirk's widow on his alleged killer: 'I forgive him' Erika Kirk, the 36-year-old widow of slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, said she forgives the man accused of killing him, as she delivered a deeply religious speech at a memorial event Sunday for her deceased husband. "My husband Charlie, he wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life," she told the crowd of more than 60,000 attendees, including U.S. President Donald Trump, at a packed stadium in the southwestern state of Arizona. "That man, that young man. I forgive him," Kirk said, her voice choking. "I forgive him because it was what Christ did. And it's what Charlie would do," she continued. "The answer to hate is not hate." Erika Kirk, wife of slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and the new CEO of Turning Point USA, reacts next to U.S. President Donald Trump during a memorial service at State Farm Stadium, in Glendale, Arizona, U.S., Sept. 21, 2025. Photo by Reuters Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed on Sept. 10 during a public debate event at a Utah university campus. The activist used his millions of social media followers, the massive audience of his podcast and appearances at universities to bolster Trump with young voters and fight for a nationalist, Christian-centric political ideology. Authorities say the suspected shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, justified the attack by citing the "hatred" he accused Kirk of spreading, according to investigators. Kirk advocated for conservative Christian political values, and often made vitriolic statements targeting minorities, including transgender people, Muslims, African Americans and others. Robinson faces seven charges for the shooting, including aggravated murder, and prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty in his case. Indonesia, EU to sign trade agreement: 5 things to know Indonesia and the European Union will sign a trade agreement on Tuesday after nearly a decade of negotiations as they seek to mitigate the effects of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policy. The agreement, to be signed on the resort island of Bali, will bring resource-rich Indonesia and the 27-member European bloc into closer economic ties. Workers prepare customers' orders at the main rice market in Jakarta on July 9, 2025. Photo by Bay Ismoyo via AFP It is the third trade agreement the E.U. has signed with Southeast Asian countries, after Singapore and Vietnam. Here are five things to know about the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Trump prompts 'urgency' Indonesia has been in talks with the E.U. since 2016 but negotiations for a trade deal initially saw little progress. Issues such as palm oil and deforestation posed stumbling blocks but U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff policy "created the urgency" to expedite an agreement, said Deni Friawan, researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). In July, President Prabowo Subianto traveled to Brussels and announced with E.U. chief Ursula von der Leyen that the two sides had reached a "political agreement" to conclude the deal after 19 rounds of negotiations. Indonesian chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto said uncertainties caused by the "tariff war and protectionism" between major countries pushed the two sides "to seek certainty through a stable bilateral agreement". The agreement was expected to "mitigate risks from the impact of the global tariff war", Airlangga told AFP in a statement. Tariffs dropped Around 80% of Indonesian exports to the E.U. will be tariff-free after the deal comes into force, Airlangga said in June. It is expected to benefit Indonesia's top exports to the bloc including palm oil, footwear, textiles and fisheries, he added. Von der Leyen said in July the agreement would open new markets and "help strengthen the supply chains of critical raw materials that we need to power the clean and the digital transition." "We want not only a secure supply, but we want responsible supply," she said. "That means respect for the environment, respect for the local communities, and a clear focus on good jobs and local value creation." Benefits The E.U. is Indonesia's fifth-largest trading partner with bilateral trade reaching $30.1 billion last year. The agreement would further open up E.U. access to the Indonesian market of around 280 million people, Deni said. "With the CEPA, it means that it will be easier for them (E.U.) to enter" Indonesia, he said, underlining the size of the market and its growing economy. The deal would ensure Indonesian and E.U. businesses enjoyed equal legal protection, Airlangga said. Green policy tensions Ties had been frayed by issues including a proposed E.U. import ban on products linked to deforestation that has angered Indonesia, a major palm oil exporter. Under the E.U. deforestation regulation, exports of a vast range of goods -- including soy, timber, palm oil, cattle, printing paper and rubber -- are prohibited if produced on land deforested after December 2020. Airlangga said E.U. trade chief Maros Sefcovic had promised to give "special treatment" regarding the deforestation regulation for countries that have signed trade agreements with the bloc. E.U. has postponed the rule's implementation to the end of this year after a backlash. Activists are concerned the agreement would lead to more deforestation driven by increased demand for Indonesian palm oil. "The remaining natural forests in palm oil concessions will potentially be cleared in the near future (and) converted into plantations," said Syahrul Fitra of Greenpeace Indonesia. Brussels reportedly pushed to include provisions about deforestation in the agreement, but details have not been made public. Next steps After the agreement's signing, the two sides are expected to carry out steps including legal checks and translation of the official documents, Airlangga said. The deal will then have to be ratified by E.U. members, the European Parliament and Indonesia's parliament. The agreement is expected to be implemented by 2027, Airlangga added. During his recent state visit to the United Kingdom, President Donald Trump reaffirmed the enduring special relationship with its closest ally - a partnership rooted in shared history, common values, and a commitment to a more prosperous future. Over the generations, British and American warriors have shed their blood side by side in defense of liberty and freedom, noted President Trump, and thats why its so imperative that the U.S. and the UK stand together for these fundamental rights and values of the English-speaking world. During the visit President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the Technology Prosperity Deal, or TPD, a landmark science and technology agreement that will propel the U.S.UK special relationship to new heights in technology. The Deal commits the U.S. and UK to working together on the cutting-edge technologies of the future: Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, and nuclear energy. The TPD establishes a flagship AI for Science research program between the U.S. Departments of Energy, Health, and the National Science Foundation and its UK counterparts geared towards cutting-edge biotechnology research and precision medicine. It also aligns the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation, and the UK Environment Agency to streamline and accelerate licensing, targeting reactor design reviews within two years and site licensing within one year. To secure the supply chains, the United Kingdom will match U.S commitments to achieving full independence from Russian nuclear fuel by the end of 2028. With a combined $350 billion in U.S. and UK new commercial outcomes, the TPD will support economic growth, scientific research, and energy security in both countries. The UK government committed to buying over $80 billion from U.S. tech and defense companies in the next five years, including deals with Microsoft and Palantir. British firm GSK announced a $30 billion investment in AI research and development and infrastructure in America. And BP plans to invest more than $5 billion in energy production predominantly focused on the Gulf of America. The TPD will create thousands of new jobs, make energy more affordable, and keep the U.S. and UK ahead in science and technology. Ahead of President Trumps visit, the UK awarded a $540 million contract to Google Cloud to support the UK Ministry of Defence and drive innovation. In addition, the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit and the UK Defence Innovation Organisation signed a joint declaration of intent to advance a next generation strategic partnership on defense innovation that will build efficiencies through prototyping of critical emerging and disruptive technology from the commercial sector. Under President Trump the relationship with the United Kingdom continues to grow stronger. We're forever joined, he said, and we are forever friends. The arms race in South America, centered on modernizing national air forces, is rapidly reaching a new level, as countries pursue simultaneous procurement of combat aircraft of virtually any type. Brazil was first to invest heavily in its air force more than a decade ago, purchasing Swedish Gripen fighters, while Venezuela acquired russian Su-30s in the 2000s. Recently, however, Colombia, Argentina, and Peru have joined the push sparking concern among their neighbors. Brazilian JAS 39 Gripen F / Open-source photo Argentina secured second-hand F-16s that will enter service in 2026, aircraft that had once been considered for Ukraine. Colombia is moving toward a final agreement for Gripens, despite China offering its J-10CE fighters for as little as $40 million apiece. Peru is weighing Gripen, Rafale, and F-16 options, though the high price of the U.S. jet makes a European purchase more likely. For states unable to afford jets, turboprop aircraft fill the gap. Uruguay is buying six Super Tucanos, which will constitute its entire combat air force, while Paraguay is acquiring the same number through credit financing. Ecuador, meanwhile, is restoring six Super Tucanos retired 15 years ago, boosting its fleet to 24. Super Tucano of the Paraguayan Air Force / Open-source photo Others without even this level of funding are turning to alternatives. Bolivia, for example, is reportedly seeking to produce iranian UAVs, a move consistent with two decades of deepening bilateral ties. Chile bordering Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru has raised alarms over the regional buildup. Its parliamentary defense committee has launched a security review, though the country already maintains a capable fleet of 46 F-16s, including 36 second-hand Dutch F-16AM/BMs and 10 newer U.S.-built F-16C/Ds. Santiago may now consider upgrading its fighters to more advanced versions. F-16 of the Chilean Air Force / Open-source photo While Guyana and Suriname can largely be excluded from the equation, the overall militarization trend in South America is clear. With most countries operating under tight defense budgets, the Super Tucano remains a popular choice, while even a single squadron of used F-16s can significantly shift the balance of power in the region. Cranberries are pictured at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. The 4,200 mu (280 hectares) of cranberries at a planting base in the city have entered the harvest season recently. In recent years, Fuyuan has been focused on developing its cranberry industry. It has established a large-scale cranberry planting base and built up a full industrial chain which includes a cranberry research and development center, cold-chain warehouses, and processing workshops. The development of the local cranberry industry has helped improve local farmers' employment and income. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Cranberries are pictured at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. The 4,200 mu (280 hectares) of cranberries at a planting base in the city have entered the harvest season recently. In recent years, Fuyuan has been focused on developing its cranberry industry. It has established a large-scale cranberry planting base and built up a full industrial chain which includes a cranberry research and development center, cold-chain warehouses, and processing workshops. The development of the local cranberry industry has helped improve local farmers' employment and income. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 21, 2025 shows workers harvesting cranberries using flooding techniques at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. The 4,200 mu (280 hectares) of cranberries at a planting base in the city have entered the harvest season recently. In recent years, Fuyuan has been focused on developing its cranberry industry. It has established a large-scale cranberry planting base and built up a full industrial chain which includes a cranberry research and development center, cold-chain warehouses, and processing workshops. The development of the local cranberry industry has helped improve local farmers' employment and income. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Workers harvest cranberries at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. The 4,200 mu (280 hectares) of cranberries at a planting base in the city have entered the harvest season recently. In recent years, Fuyuan has been focused on developing its cranberry industry. It has established a large-scale cranberry planting base and built up a full industrial chain which includes a cranberry research and development center, cold-chain warehouses, and processing workshops. The development of the local cranberry industry has helped improve local farmers' employment and income. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) A Russian tourist takes photos at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. The 4,200 mu (280 hectares) of cranberries at a planting base in the city have entered the harvest season recently. In recent years, Fuyuan has been focused on developing its cranberry industry. It has established a large-scale cranberry planting base and built up a full industrial chain which includes a cranberry research and development center, cold-chain warehouses, and processing workshops. The development of the local cranberry industry has helped improve local farmers' employment and income. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) A worker harvests cranberries using flooding techniques at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. The 4,200 mu (280 hectares) of cranberries at a planting base in the city have entered the harvest season recently. In recent years, Fuyuan has been focused on developing its cranberry industry. It has established a large-scale cranberry planting base and built up a full industrial chain which includes a cranberry research and development center, cold-chain warehouses, and processing workshops. The development of the local cranberry industry has helped improve local farmers' employment and income. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) A flower is pictured at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. The 4,200 mu (280 hectares) of cranberries at a planting base in the city have entered the harvest season recently. In recent years, Fuyuan has been focused on developing its cranberry industry. It has established a large-scale cranberry planting base and built up a full industrial chain which includes a cranberry research and development center, cold-chain warehouses, and processing workshops. The development of the local cranberry industry has helped improve local farmers' employment and income. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Workers harvest cranberries using flooding techniques at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. The 4,200 mu (280 hectares) of cranberries at a planting base in the city have entered the harvest season recently. In recent years, Fuyuan has been focused on developing its cranberry industry. It has established a large-scale cranberry planting base and built up a full industrial chain which includes a cranberry research and development center, cold-chain warehouses, and processing workshops. The development of the local cranberry industry has helped improve local farmers' employment and income. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 21, 2025 shows workers harvesting cranberries using flooding techniques at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. The 4,200 mu (280 hectares) of cranberries at a planting base in the city have entered the harvest season recently. In recent years, Fuyuan has been focused on developing its cranberry industry. It has established a large-scale cranberry planting base and built up a full industrial chain which includes a cranberry research and development center, cold-chain warehouses, and processing workshops. The development of the local cranberry industry has helped improve local farmers' employment and income. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Cranberries are pictured at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. The 4,200 mu (280 hectares) of cranberries at a planting base in the city have entered the harvest season recently. In recent years, Fuyuan has been focused on developing its cranberry industry. It has established a large-scale cranberry planting base and built up a full industrial chain which includes a cranberry research and development center, cold-chain warehouses, and processing workshops. The development of the local cranberry industry has helped improve local farmers' employment and income. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Workers harvest cranberries using flooding techniques at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sept. 21, 2025. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. The 4,200 mu (280 hectares) of cranberries at a planting base in the city have entered the harvest season recently. In recent years, Fuyuan has been focused on developing its cranberry industry. It has established a large-scale cranberry planting base and built up a full industrial chain which includes a cranberry research and development center, cold-chain warehouses, and processing workshops. The development of the local cranberry industry has helped improve local farmers' employment and income. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 21, 2025 shows workers harvesting cranberries using flooding techniques at a cranberry planting base in Fuyuan, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. A cranberry harvest festival was held on Sunday in Fuyuan, a leading hub for large-scale cranberry cultivation in China. The 4,200 mu (280 hectares) of cranberries at a planting base in the city have entered the harvest season recently. In recent years, Fuyuan has been focused on developing its cranberry industry. It has established a large-scale cranberry planting base and built up a full industrial chain which includes a cranberry research and development center, cold-chain warehouses, and processing workshops. The development of the local cranberry industry has helped improve local farmers' employment and income. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Editor: Xiong Jian Aircraft of the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force perform during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Tang Chengzhuo) CHANGCHUN, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 aviation open-day of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force, along with the Changchun Air Show, has impressed attendees in Changchun, northeast China. The event began on Friday and will continue for five days, offering free admission to the public. Since its inception in 2011, the event has become a key platform to showcase the PLA Air Force's latest development achievements. Featuring the display of over 100 types of active-duty Air Force aircraft, ground equipment and retired classic assets, as well as thrilling aerial performances, this year's event has showcased the combat capability of the PLA Air Force in a visualized way. REAL-COMBAT MANEUVER Military expert Zhang Xuefeng believes the maneuvers showcased in the aerial performances at this year's open-day event are more closely aligned with real combat scenarios. He took the serpentine maneuver performed by YU-20A, China's domestically developed large aerial tanker, as an example. At an altitude of 200 meters, the aircraft banked at 40 degrees to the horizon and executed continuous turns left and right in an S-shaped flight path. "This combat-relevant move is designed to effectively evade enemy ground fire," Zhang said. In addition to the serpentine maneuver, the YU-20A tanker displayed a series of challenging maneuvers during the aerial performances on Friday, including rapid dives and fly-bys, and steep turns. The full set of maneuvers not only demonstrated the aircraft's performance but also reflected the combat-oriented training achievements of frontline units, said YU-20A pilot Li Xiao. The aerial performances have also demonstrated the outstanding maneuverability of aircraft for real combat scenarios. For example, J-10 fighter jets executed a low-speed level flight at just 200 km per hour with a maximum angle of attack, showcasing their ability to penetrate complex terrain and the pilots' exceptional mastery of the aircraft's limits. "The extreme maneuvers are a full demonstration of the aircraft's performance," said Zhang Li, a member of an aerobatics team from the Aviation University of Air Force and also a flight instructor at the university. INTEGRATED COMBAT CAPABILITY The aerial performances showcased the formation of different types of aircraft, illustrating their synergy in combat scenarios for the audience. During the performances, a KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft flew in formation with four J-20 stealth fighter jets, simulating an "early-warning command and stealth strike" scenario and showcasing the PLA Air Force's advances in coordinating offensive and defensive operations. A YU-20A tanker flew in pre-refueling formation with two J-16 fighters, demonstrating how a single tanker can conduct simultaneous dual-point refueling. "The combined display of different aircraft models essentially brought routine combat-oriented training to the air show," said J-16 pilot Wu Haoran. The performance demonstrated the Air Force's ability to extend operational range through aerial refueling, as well as its capabilities in long-range deployment, extended strike, and strategic projection. CLOSE DETAIL LOOK The J-20, China's domestically developed stealth fighter, has appeared in a static exhibition for the first time at the open-day event, apart from in-flight appearances, allowing the audience to get a close look at the aircraft's details. Zhang, the military expert, believes that the exhibition has reflected the PLA Air Force's growing confidence and openness. "The stealth fighters are no longer mysterious to the public as people can engage closely with these strategic assets," he said. Also notable is the J-6 unmanned aircraft. Converted from the J-6 platform, it can serve as both an attack drone and a target drone for pilots, surface-to-air missiles controllers, and radar operators training. "It is this forward-looking approach to modification and innovation that keeps our equipment evolving," Zhang said. Editor: Xiong Jian The California Independent Booksellers Alliance met last week at the South San Francisco Convention Center, drawing a crowd of more than 200 owners, managers, and booksellers, plus more than 50 exhibitors and dozens of authors. Panels on horror and thrillers; genre fiction; YA and middle grade mysteries beyond the grave; and monster hunting signaled the continuing interest in jump scares, fantasy, and romance. At a panel moderated by Luisa Smith of Book Passage in Corte Madera, Knopf editor John Freeman sang the praises of Golden State authors in his essay collection California Rewritten (Heyday, Oct.), while TikTok literacy champion Oliver James introduced his memoir, Unread (Union Square, Feb. 2026), and Isabel Campoyvia video calldiscussed diverse representation and her picture book Books on Bikes (Clarion Books), cowritten with Theresa Howell and illustrated by Brizida Macro. Fan favorites and anniversary editions are having a moment too. A 25th anniversary limited edition hardcover of Kate DiCamillos Because of Winn-Dixie (Candlewick, Sept.), and a paper-over-board 40th anniversary edition of Jeanette Wintersons queer classic Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (Grove Press, out now), both feature sprayed edges and reasonable price points. Bookstores have ordered up on an indie exclusive edition of Philip Pullmans The Rose Field (Knopf, Oct.), the conclusion to the Book of Dust series, said Random House district sales rep Dandy Conway. HarperCollins, too, is releasing an indie exclusive edition of Catherine Newmans Wreck (Harper, Oct.), among other big fiction releases. The editions with bonus material and design details that cater to fans signal that publishers hear indies call for collectibles. Big-box stores wont be the only places to find exclusive content in the year ahead. Publishers Group West and Two Rivers rep Ty Wilson, PWs 2025 rep of the year, said hes noticed a hunger for transportive fiction, holding up David Greigs debut novel The Book of I (Europa Editions), set on a Scottish isle in 825 C.E. Patricia Nelson, TriLiteral sales representative and 2024 PW rep of the year, sees promise in evergreen backlist books about sense of place in travel destinations. Nelson also touts Virginia Woolfs The Life of Violet: Three Early Stories (Princeton, Oct.), edited by Urmila Seshagiri; Woolf wrote the 1907 stories when she was 25, years before she published her debut novel, The Voyage Out (1915). For young readers, CALIBAs rep pick sessions and panels highlighted funny picture books and titles to handsell in the months ahead, including Shannon Hale and illustrator LeUyen Phams holiday title Holly Jolly Kitty Corn (Abrams, Sept.)the latest in the Itty Bitty Kitty Corn seriesand New Yorker cartoonist Matthew Diffees Zip Zap Wickety Wack (Neal Porter Books, Sept.), in which farm animals disagree about barnyard sounds. Julie Carlson, childrens bookseller and teacher liaison at Vromans in Pasadena, said shes looking forward to Scott Rothman and Linzie Hunters Judgy Bunny and the Terrible Beach (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, Mar. 2026), the first in a projected series about a hard-to-please rabbit. Coauthors Annabeth Bondor-Stone and Connor White breezed into Fall Fest to introduce Kitty Caterpillar (Balzer + Bray, Feb. 2026), illustrated by Bridgette Barrager. White wielded a spectacular feather-boa-like puppet depicting the title character. Dogs had their day in the exhibit hall as well, with service dogs and puppies from the Canine Companions network helping to promote Andy: A Dogs Tale, by John Kelly and Ignite Animation Studios (Collective Book Studio, Oct.). Canine Companions provides service dogs free of charge to people in need, explained Colleen Shannon, a wheelchair user who was paired with a black Labrador retriever named Amador. The picture book is adapted from a short animated film, and Scholastic will publish a book fair edition. Uneasy times Although booksellers and reps feel that customers are leaning toward escapism, political partisanship and threats against the right to read were much on the minds of CALIBA attendees. Along with fall frontlist titles such as Jill Lepores We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution (W.W. Norton, out now), exhibitors recommended bite-size books that could be impulse buys at the register or companion pieces to nonfiction backlist such as Timothy Snyders On Tyranny. London publisher Eris, distributed by Columbia University Press, publishes slim $8 pamphlets, including Contempt Is a Dangerous Way to Lead a Country, the sermon on mercy delivered in January by Washington National Cathedrals Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde. A 20th anniversary hardcover of Harry G. Frankfurts 2005 On Bullshit (Princeton UP, out now) has arrived at a time when truth and justice are at stake. And publishers are banking on small paperback first editions including Randall Balmers Americas Best Idea: The Separation of Church and State (Steerforth Press), Michael Fischers How Books Can Save Democracy (Trinity University Press), and Rebecca Solnits No Straight Road Takes You There (Haymarket Books). The American Booksellers Association was also on hand to address the harassment and intimidation increasingly faced by frontline workers, managers, and owners. In a presentation about Navigating Attacks on Your Store, ABA CEO Allison Hill spoke with attendees about de-escalating aggression in a climate of unrest. As a case study, Hill shared a composite of events from actual stores in which online and in-person vitriol disrupted a bookstores daily business. Depending on the situation, Hill recommended contacting the ABAs American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE), Drag Story Hour, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc), or the Democracy Security Project, which will be presenting at Winter Institute 2026. Tools such as DeleteMe, which is offered at a discount for ABA members, can scrub personal information from the internet. "The work youre doing in your communities is so important, and thats why youre experiencing harassment, Hill told attendees. Youre championing diverse voices, and promoting the empathy and critical thinking that we need in this democracy right now. She urged everyone to remain calm and to keep in touch. "You don't have to feel as isolated if you reach out," she said. Lest anyone think that California is a dependably liberal, Democratic state, booksellers pointed out recent conflicts around gender identity, reading, and inclusion, including in San Mateo Union High School District. Those at Hills presentation gave examples of hateful notes, graffiti, and painted rocks stoking fear at their stores; concerns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE will harass employees or clientele; and negative interactions that have left them mistrustful of law enforcement. One store held a "paint back" event, painting "rocks of resistance" with positive slogans and turning anonymous unkindness into a teachable moment for families in their area. Erin Rivera, owner of the Frugal Frigate in Redlands, said she's tracking book bans and school board disputes in the Temecula, Chino, and her own Redlands school districts. Rivera works with local mutual aid groups to support inclusion and the right to read, and shes started a banned book clubthe best-attended book club weve ever hadto acquaint her community with frequently challenged titles including The Hate U Give, Gender Queer, Maus, and The Bluest Eye. Brad Jones, who owns BookSmart in Morgan Hill, southeast of San Jose, said that the national crisis around intellectual freedom is sounding an alarm for bookstores. We could very well end up being the last bastion for free expression, Jones said. Its important we stay strong together. CALIBAs Fall Fest 2026 will be held next September in Mission Valley, San Diego. Timothy Mooney, sales manager for Penguin Random House Publisher Services, died on September 19 after a short illness, PRH chief revenue officer Jaci Updike announced in a note to staff. He was 70. Mooney spent 37 years at PRH, first joining Random House in February 1989 as a trade sales representative. He went on to hold a variety of positions within the PRH sales department, including trade sales representative for B&N College, associate director of trade sales communication, national account manager for Baker & Taylor, and sales manager for childrens and, most recently, publisher services. Born on September 30, 1954, Mooney attended the University of Chicago and Stanford University before starting his career in books at the Chicago indie bookstore Stavers. Tim was known as a true intellectual, and his curiosity knew no bounds, wrote Jaci Updike, recalling a story at his 35th service award ceremony about his taking time off to read all six volumes of Prousts Remembrance of Things Past. During that same ceremony, Updike continued, it was said that if one was lucky, they might experience the Wisdom of Mooney: sometimes you can fix it. And sometimes you just need to be patient. And sometimes you need to find someone like Tim Mooney, someone wise and generous and someone you trust to be a kind of North Star. That was Tim Mooney for so many. Mooney is survived by his wife of 38 years, Lisa; his daughter Caroline; his son-in-law Steven; and his grandchildren Scarlett and Graham. While Tim will be missed by so many of us, Updike wrote, his first and true love and passion was for his family. At the same 35th anniversary service awards, he came rushing in at the last minute, as he stayed behind for his daughter to give birth to his grandson; work would have to wait. Artists of a Wu Opera troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province perform at the National Theatre of Yangon in Myanmar, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) YANGON, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The National Theatre of Yangon came alive over the weekend, its grand hall brimming with color, music, and applause as audiences experienced Wu Opera, a centuries-old art form from China's Zhejiang Province. The performance was staged to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 75th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations. More than 2,000 people attended the event on Saturday and Sunday. For many in the audience, it was their first time experiencing Wu Opera. Among them was Lwin Phyo Hein, a second-year student at the National University of Arts and Culture in Yangon. He said the opera's acrobatic flips left a strong impression. He added that the live experience was far more vivid than watching online. "Costumes are excellent. I recommend it to my friends," he said, saying that cultural exchanges allow countries to share traditions and build stronger connections. Daw Thandar Aung, a 26-year-old lecturer at the University of Yangon, attended with four colleagues. She said she was delighted to see Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, come to life on stage, and it was her first time seeing the character outside of television. She also praised the organizers for providing translations that made the performance easier to follow. "This performance not only entertains but also strengthens China-Myanmar relations," she said. Nway Hnoung Shar, a 25-year-old teacher at the Myanmar International Education Center, said the opera reminded her of characters she had read about in books, describing it as an inspiring cultural exchange. She emphasized that such performances let young people from Myanmar experience the cultures of both countries without the need to travel. "The opera is entirely new to me. It is excellent," she said. Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia said during the performance on Saturday that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar. Over the past 75 years, the two nations have been bound by the deep-rooted "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship. The close exchanges in culture, art, education, media and other fields have helped to build a solid "bridge of hearts" between the two peoples. "I believe that today's brilliant performances by artists of both countries will not only let us appreciate the unique artistic charm of traditional operas but also offer us a rare chance to witness shining on each other and prospering together through dialogue and exchange of ancient civilizations," she added. Myanmar's Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn said, "It is a great honor and joy for Myanmar audiences to witness the performances of this famous troupe here today." He added that cultural exchanges and mutual learning between Myanmar and China deepen the friendship between their peoples and strengthen relations at the national level. On Saturday, the Zhejiang troupe performed six classic pieces, including "Lyu Bu Tries the Horse," "The Goddess of Heaven Scatters Flowers," and "Three Triumphs Over the Skeletal Demon." Myanmar performers also contributed two pieces excerpted from the Ramayana classic play, "Rama Pursuing the Enchanted Golden Deer" and "Sita's Rejection of Dasagiri Courtship." In addition, cultural booths hosted by the China Cultural Center in Yangon and the State High School of Arts in Yangon gave visitors hands-on experiences of Chinese and Myanmar arts and crafts, complementing the performances on stage. Wu Opera, also known as Jinhua Opera, is the second major theatrical genre in Zhejiang Province, eastern China, and has a history of more than 500 years. It got its name from Wuzhou, the ancient name of Jinhua, and remains very popular there. In June 2008, Wu Opera was listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. An artist of a Wu Opera troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province performs at the National Theatre of Yangon in Myanmar, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) Artists of a Wu Opera troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province perform at the National Theatre of Yangon in Myanmar, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) Artists of a Wu Opera troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province perform at the National Theatre of Yangon in Myanmar, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) Artists of a Wu Opera troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province perform at the National Theatre of Yangon in Myanmar, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) Artists of a Wu Opera troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province perform at the National Theatre of Yangon in Myanmar, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) People watch a performance staged by a Wu Opera troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province at the National Theatre of Yangon in Myanmar, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) Editor: WXY HOME > Are You My First? Disney/Jeff Daly 'Are You My First?' star Michael Fractor allegedly lied about being a virgin By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 09/22/2025 star Rachael Staudt has claimed Michael Fractor admitted to her right after filming that he had lied about being a virgin the whole time. ADVERTISEMENT Rachael, a 30-year-old cocktail waitress from Tampa, FL, and Michael, a 26-year-old stand-up comedian from Austin, TX, were the couple most viewers were rooting for once they decided to stay together and continue dating at the end of 's finale episode on Hulu. But once filming ended, the cast had a couple of days left in Costa Rica before they were scheduled to fly home, and Rachael said she and Michael shared a hotel room for those two days. "I definitely felt different about him than I have with anybody else," Rachael said during a recent appearance on the "Off the Vine with (Kaitlyn also co-hosted alongside fellow Bachelor Nation alum "Day 1 [post-filming] was great, and then we were in our room," Rachael continued. "I was on the bed, and ugh, this is weird. I just feel like I've been holding a secret in. It's so hard because you want to protect the relationship you had, but at the same time, it's like, 'Why am I protecting this person?'" Rachael said the other girls from the show were the only people who knew her big "secret" at this point. "But I still haven't said it [publicly]. I get really torn with what to keep secret and private, but I want to tell my truth too. So I guess I will rip the Band-Aid off," she teased. "So we were sitting in bed and everything was fine. He went to the bathroom to shower or something, and he came back and was like, 'I have something to tell you.' My heart sank, because what else could he tell me other than the fact that he's not a virgin?" Rachael recalled. "And so I said, 'You're not a virgin are you?' And he said, 'No.'" Kaitlyn sounded completely shocked and asked, "He told you?!" "Straight up," Rachael replied. "And I instantly started crying. You replay everything in your mind, and it was just like, 'Do I know you?! Do I even know you?'" FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Kaitlyn admitted her fear going into was the possibility some people might lie about their sexual history and ruin a good relationship or the show's credibility. "For me, too, it's not even the fact that he's not a virgin, because I've gone my whole life thinking I won't be with a virgin. It's the fact that he lied about it to everybody!" Rachael explained. Kaitlyn questioned Michael's intentions for going on the show to begin with, and then Rachael muttered, "It gets worse." According to Rachael, she asked Michael -- who had presented himself as a virgin on a different show, Twentysomethings: Austin, on Netflix in 2021 -- if producers had recruited him to be on and he simply didn't want to turn down a great opportunity. "No, he applied. So he voluntarily did this," Rachael alleged. "And then I found out that he also lied on his other show... and he was not a virgin then either." Kaitlyn asked why being a virgin was "a fun lie" for Michael, and Rachael explained how it's a comedy bit for him. "And to me, this was my real life. These were my real feelings," Rachael complained. "I was devastated. I spent all night crying. I couldn't look at him; I didn't want to touch him." Kaitlyn acknowledged that she had heard a rumor online Michael wasn't a virgin, which prompted Rachael to say, "I don't think people have the confirmation [until now]." ADVERTISEMENT "I feel like [I'm] the butt of the joke. Like I feel like he was playing in our faces," Rachael lamented. She added, "I was like, 'All my fears, you just confirmed.' I was like, 'I finally thought I had the good guy.' You really think you're giving the good guy the chance, and then this happens?!" When asked if Michael seemed remorseful, Rachael said he apologized and felt very guilty about his lies. According to Rachael, Michael had told her that he didn't want to drop this bombshell on her during filming because he knew she'd cry on-camera and probably feel humiliated. "He didn't think it would come out after?" Kaitlyn asked. "Maybe he doesn't care," Rachael replied. "Oh! That really makes me feel icky... That is disgusting behavior. I am so mad," Kaitlyn said. "And so I was processing that the whole night," Rachael continued, adding how she was totally devastated. "I cried. I didn't want to sleep next to him, but I did. I trusted him more than I ever trusted any guy and I felt safe with him -- and that was a lot of work for me." Despite feeling crushed, Rachael said she didn't want to run from this relationship like she's done in the past and so, after a little separation from Michael in Costa Rica, she gave him a second chance. "Those feelings don't just go away. I thought, 'Maybe he's just a 26-year-old dumb boy who didn't think this through,'" Rachael recalled. After Michael allegedly insisted he was all in, Rachael decided not to end their romance. ADVERTISEMENT Rachael told Kaitlyn it was a "stupid" decision because once they returned home to different states and began dating long distance, he allegedly put no effort into communicating or visiting each other. Rachael said she and Michael broke up only six days after they left Costa Rica. "I got so played -- by 'the nice guy,'" she concluded. Kaitlyn, admittedly feeling "disappointed and upset" by these claims, vented about how the cast members' virginity was sacred to them on the show and Michael "betrayed" everybody, including the producers and the cast. "We obviously believed in this show," Kaitlyn said. About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON GOOGLE NEWS star Rachael Staudt has claimed Michael Fractor admitted to her right after filming that he had lied about being a virgin the whole time.Rachael, a 30-year-old cocktail waitress from Tampa, FL, and Michael, a 26-year-old stand-up comedian from Austin, TX, were the couple most viewers were rooting for once they decided to stay together and continue dating at the end of 's finale episode on Hulu.But once filming ended, the cast had a couple of days left in Costa Rica before they were scheduled to fly home, and Rachael said she and Michael shared a hotel room for those two days."I definitely felt different about him than I have with anybody else," Rachael said during a recent appearance on the "Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe " podcast.(Kaitlyn also co-hosted alongside fellow Bachelor Nation alum Colton Underwood )."Day 1 [post-filming] was great, and then we were in our room," Rachael continued."I was on the bed, and ugh, this is weird. I just feel like I've been holding a secret in. It's so hard because you want to protect the relationship you had, but at the same time, it's like, 'Why am I protecting this person?'"Rachael said the other girls from the show were the only people who knew her big "secret" at this point."But I still haven't said it [publicly]. I get really torn with what to keep secret and private, but I want to tell my truth too. So I guess I will rip the Band-Aid off," she teased."So we were sitting in bed and everything was fine. He went to the bathroom to shower or something, and he came back and was like, 'I have something to tell you.' My heart sank, because what else could he tell me other than the fact that he's not a virgin?" Rachael recalled."And so I said, 'You're not a virgin are you?' And he said, 'No.'"Kaitlyn sounded completely shocked and asked, "He told you?!""Straight up," Rachael replied. "And I instantly started crying. You replay everything in your mind, and it was just like, 'Do I know you?! Do I even know you?'"Kaitlyn admitted her fear going into was the possibility some people might lie about their sexual history and ruin a good relationship or the show's credibility."For me, too, it's not even the fact that he's not a virgin, because I've gone my whole life thinking I won't be with a virgin. It's the fact that he lied about it to everybody!" Rachael explained.Kaitlyn questioned Michael's intentions for going on the show to begin with, and then Rachael muttered, "It gets worse."According to Rachael, she asked Michael -- who had presented himself as a virgin on a different show, Twentysomethings: Austin, on Netflix in 2021 -- if producers had recruited him to be on and he simply didn't want to turn down a great opportunity."No, he applied. So he voluntarily did this," Rachael alleged. "And then I found out that he also lied on his other show... and he was not a virgin then either."Kaitlyn asked why being a virgin was "a fun lie" for Michael, and Rachael explained how it's a comedy bit for him."And to me, this was my real life. These were my real feelings," Rachael complained. "I was devastated. I spent all night crying. I couldn't look at him; I didn't want to touch him."Kaitlyn acknowledged that she had heard a rumor online Michael wasn't a virgin, which prompted Rachael to say, "I don't think people have the confirmation [until now]."Rachael also alleged that her first real kiss with Michael on the show was also "a bit" for him and wasn't as sincere as it looked on TV."I feel like [I'm] the butt of the joke. Like I feel like he was playing in our faces," Rachael lamented.She added, "I was like, 'All my fears, you just confirmed.' I was like, 'I finally thought I had the good guy.' You really think you're giving the good guy the chance, and then this happens?!"When asked if Michael seemed remorseful, Rachael said he apologized and felt very guilty about his lies.According to Rachael, Michael had told her that he didn't want to drop this bombshell on her during filming because he knew she'd cry on-camera and probably feel humiliated."He didn't think it would come out after?" Kaitlyn asked."Maybe he doesn't care," Rachael replied."Oh! That really makes me feel icky... That is disgusting behavior. I am so mad," Kaitlyn said."And so I was processing that the whole night," Rachael continued, adding how she was totally devastated."I cried. I didn't want to sleep next to him, but I did. I trusted him more than I ever trusted any guy and I felt safe with him -- and that was a lot of work for me."Despite feeling crushed, Rachael said she didn't want to run from this relationship like she's done in the past and so, after a little separation from Michael in Costa Rica, she gave him a second chance."Those feelings don't just go away. I thought, 'Maybe he's just a 26-year-old dumb boy who didn't think this through,'" Rachael recalled.After Michael allegedly insisted he was all in, Rachael decided not to end their romance."[We] talked to the therapist, and he said how sorry he was and how bad he felt the whole time and how badly he wanted to tell me -- but he just couldn't... And I was like, 'Okay, I'll try to work through this.' It was very big of me, and very stupid of me," she admitted.Rachael told Kaitlyn it was a "stupid" decision because once they returned home to different states and began dating long distance, he allegedly put no effort into communicating or visiting each other.Rachael said she and Michael broke up only six days after they left Costa Rica."I got so played -- by 'the nice guy,'" she concluded.Kaitlyn, admittedly feeling "disappointed and upset" by these claims, vented about how the cast members' virginity was sacred to them on the show and Michael "betrayed" everybody, including the producers and the cast."We obviously believed in this show," Kaitlyn said. ARE YOU MY FIRST? MORE ARE YOU MY FIRST? NEWS << PRIOR STORY 'Bachelor in Paradise' couple Jeremy Simon and Bailey Taylor Brown share update on moving in together NEXT STORY >> Taylor Frankie Paul reacts: What if her 'The Bachelorette' frontrunner is a virgin? Get more Reality TV World! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or add our RSS feed. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Page generated Thu Dec 11, 2025 16:11 pm in 0.50085687637329 seconds James Van Der Beek is going to miss the Dawson's Creek reunion reading at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City. ADVERTISEMENT The proceeds from the event will benefit F Cancer, an organization focused "on prevention, early detection, and supporting those affected by cancer." Van Der Beek, 48, has been batting colorectal cancer since 2023. Dawson's Creek alums Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson will read the pilot script at the event Monday. Hamilton creator and original star Lin-Manuel Miranda will fill in for Van Der Beek. "This is the evening I'd been looking forward to most since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January," Van Der Beek wrote on Instagram Sunday evening. "So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach vires conspire to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment. Despite every effort, I won't get to be there. I won't get to stand on that stage and thank every soul in the theater for showing up for me, and against cancer, when I needed it most." "But I do have an understudy," he continued. "A ridiculously overqualified replacement who would have been #1 on my wishlist (had I ever dreamed he'd be available). Someone my kids would definitely consider an upgrade over me. Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater. So that's convenient. The role of Dawson, usually played by James Van Der Beek will be played by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Can't believe I just got to type that." The series, which premiered in 1998, aired through 2003. Jackson previously told Jennifer Hudson on The Jennifer Hudson Show that Der Beek's battle "brought the whole gang back together." "We have a little group text going and last I heard, it's not really my story to tell, but the latest round of treatment was doing well," he said at the time. Disney/Fred Haye By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 09/22/2025 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. Taylor Frankie Paul has revealed how she'd feel if her frontrunner wants to wait until marriage to have sex."Uhh, errr, that's a hard one," Taylor muttered during a recent appearance on Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast."I'd respect it because I'm like, 'Uh, you're being respectful!' BUT. BUT. Ughh. Gosh damn. That's a hard one."Taylor, a 31-year-old divorced mother of three and the creator of #MomTok in her Mormon community, will be handing out roses on 's 22nd season when it premieres in 2026."I'd be like, 'Okay, well if we were the only ones and we're dating and we had time -- but, like, to be married?'" Taylor questioned."I would probably say -- also if there's an engagement at the end of this process, I still am taking my time with that too. So I'm not getting married, like, tomorrow."Taylor therefore wondered how long this guy would be willing to wait to get married and how long she'd be willing to wait to be intimate."That could be an issue down the road," said The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star.Although Taylor has been open about her sex life with fans -- including her soft-swinging scandal with ex-husband Tate Paul, whom she married in 2016 and divorced in 2022 -- she admitted that growing up in the Mormon Church affected her views on sex.Taylor recalled how sex was a very "taboo" topic in her household, and so if she was doing it, she wouldn't talk to her parents or anyone else about it."I was very, I don't want to say 'secretive,' but I felt shame and guilt," Taylor confessed.But Taylor said once her life became public, both on social media and on TV, she decided to be candid and own all of her decisions."Obviously we're taught, 'Don't have sex until you're married.' And I go back and forth with this too," Taylor explained."I understand other people's opinions, like, obviously it does prevent a lot of things like pregnancies and STDs... But at the same time, I hate that I felt like if I did do it, I'm this awful person and would sit in that shame."But Taylor pointed out how no one is to blame for that because her parents had learned these teachings from their parents."It's sacred, and I do understand that too. It's personal," Taylor said."I think moving forward, for me, I don't want to be talking too much about my sex life , to be honest. I've been there, I've done that. I've broadcast it to the world in so many different ways."She continued, "But for me and my peace, I think that's something I do want to be personal with my next person and maybe not talk so much on it. I think that's something I've maybe grown into."Over the years, Taylor has been criticized for "not being Mormon enough" because of her lifestyle and actions.However, Taylor said she would still like to date a man who believes in God."Because when you're raising your children, it can get confusing when one does [believe] and one doesn't," Taylor reasoned.Taylor said the most important thing to her is to focus on the foundation of Christianity -- love, family and service."That's all I really care about, and how you treat other people," Taylor noted. "I don't really care what religion you are; how do you treat other people? That is what I look at."Taylor said if she drinks alcohol or coffee, for example -- which many Mormons frown upon -- it doesn't make her any less of a good person.When Taylor and Tate were together, they welcomed two children: daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5.Taylor previously admitted to violating the rules of the couple's soft-swinging arrangement by becoming more intimate with another man in their friend group, which led to their separation and eventual May 2022 divorce.The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which premiered in 2023 on Hulu, featured the cheating scandal.The show has also documented Taylor's first post-divorce relationship with Dakota Mortensen. Taylor and Dakota made their romance public in July 2022, and then they welcomed a son, Ever True, in March 2024.While won't be returning until next year, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is set to release new episodes on November 13 on Hulu.Two other stars from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Whitney Leavitt and Jen Affleck, are currently competing on Dancing with the Stars' 34th season on ABC and Disney+.When Dancing with the Stars premiered its new season on September 16, Taylor was in the audience supporting her friends and co-stars.'s official premiere date and cast of bachelors for Season 22 will be announced at a later date.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group Photos by Patrick McCarthy The last several years worth of news coverage streaming out of Ukraine, Syria, and Africa have shed a lot of light on current trends in AK modernization. In particular, those Kalash variants being toted by Russian special operations forces and the burgeoning class of Russian Private Military Companies (PMCs). Despite the wailing of gnashing of teeth by vocal purists about nyet, rifle is fine, the truth is that modernized AKs are not a fad made up by social media influencers. Pic rails, M-LOK slots, lights, lasers, and optics can all be spotted with growing regularity on AKs wielded by the Motherlands elite warfighters. The concept for this project actually grew from another project research for the authors debut novel, Close and Destroy, published earlier this year by RECOILs parent company. One of the storys villains an ex-GRU Spetzsnaz officer working for a Russian PMC carries a modernized AK-105. While the novel doesnt outline each piece and part of the characters rifle, it did give us the idea to build what it might actually look like. PARTS LIST Midwest Industries Alpha Folding Stock $290 Battle Arms Development EKG Trigger $55 Texas Weapon Systems Dogleg Rail $185 Childers Receiver, Russian Markings $95 Occam Defense 1913 Rear Trunnion $160 JMAC Custom 4C KeyMount Brake $130 JMAC Custom GBC-13 Gas Block $120 Barwarus Alpha-1 Handguard $300 Since this is based on a fictional rifle carried by a fictional bad guy, we werent concerned with down-to-the-letter accuracy. The goal was to assemble something that generally looked, felt, and fired like the ultra-modern Kalashnikovs showing up on todays asymmetric battlefields. Copperhead USA, a custom AK builder in Phoenix, Arizona, executed the build, and assisted with sourcing some of the parts. The heart of this rifle is a Childers receiver with Russian markings and a Rosco Manufacturing 5.45x39mm barrel. Weve had great luck with Roscos AR barrels in several of our other projects. Their 5.45 AK barrel is not available for direct purchase, but some third-party AK parts websites and builders do carry them. The barrel was cut to 14.5 inches and topped with a four-chamber KeyMo brake from JMAC Customs. The particular brake shown here is their facing brake. It is specially designed to be pinned and welded to a 14.5-inch barrel and sheaths approximately 1.3 inches of the barrel behind the threads to give the appearance of a shorter gun. Actual AK-105s have 12.4-inch barrels that end right at the combo front sight/gas block, but we chose to forego the $200 permission slip on this build. A 14.5-inch barrel partially covered by a rearward-extended muzzle device was a plenty good enough solution that still gave us a fast-handling rifle with the right look. There are a very few examples of M-LOK handguards in the hands of Russian fighters, but the vast majority are running extended quad rails. We used a Kalashnikov USA Alpha rail, long enough to run right up to the gas block without being excessively heavy. These rails were manufactured in a partnership between KUSA and Barwalus. The latter still has some of these rails in stock at time of writing. Again, we werent compelled to spend exorbitant coin on the gray market looking for true Zenitco rails. But the fit, finish, and feel of the KUSA/Barwalus rail is a handsome and fully functional stand-in. The quad-rail forearm is complemented by a railed top cover from Texas Weapon Systems. Ironically, we have seen several photos of Russian FSB and FSO officers with genuine TWS rails on their guns, which makes this part an especially poignant choice. Plugging the rear of the receiver with an Occam Defense 1913 Picatinny trunnion gave us some additional flexibility in stock choice. Midwest Industries Alpha folding stock is an aesthetically accurate mirror to the multi-axis-adjustable folding stocks coming from the Eastern Europe market, while being more available and made in America. We rounded out the furniture with pistol and vertical grips from TDI Arms, another brand with a rich and well-documented history of use of conflict AKs the world over. Finally, we added two true go faster parts the RAM Tactical magazine catch and Battle Arms Development EKG trigger. The EKG is a smooth, crisp AK trigger that we fell in love with quickly. EOTech optics or illicit copies thereof are one of the more popular Western optics to be found on rifles wielded by the likes of Russian KSSO (Special Operations Command) or PMC Wagner (now Afrika Corps). The weapon light is a Crimson Trace, and, yes, that is an airsoft clone PERST laser. The whole rifle was finished off in a deep, lustrous black Cerakote job by Pro 2 Customs, meant to mimic the Russian squid ink paint used in small arms factories across the former Soviet Bloc. The light-recoiling 5.45mm round, combined with a progressive four-chamber brake and the extra weight of a fully accessorized quad rail gave us one of the fastest, softest-shooting AKs weve ever laid hands on. Not only did we meet our goal of building a rifle fit for fictional bad guys, but the end result is a fun-to-shoot AK that makes us lament the lack of 5.45mm ammo options in todays market. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen at the Tel Aviv courthouse in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Dec. 10, 2024. (Reuven Kastro/JINI via Xinhua) JERUSALEM, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday denounced the decision by Britain, Canada, and Australia to recognize a Palestinian state. "I have a clear message to those leaders who recognize a Palestinian state after the terrible massacre of October 7," Netanyahu said, referring to Hamas' attack on southern Israel in October 2023. "You are giving a huge reward to terrorism." He added, "It will not happen, there will not be a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River." He added that he will give a response to the latest recognition after his return from the United States. "Wait for it," he said. Welcoming the move by the three countries, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said, "It constitutes an important and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace in accordance with international legitimacy," according to a statement by his office. Earlier in the day, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a video statement that Britain "formally recognizes the State of Palestine," calling for a shift back to a two-state solution. Meanwhile, a joint media release by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong said "Australia recognizes the legitimate and long-held aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday also issued a statement on Canada's recognition of the State of Palestine. Editor: Zhang Zhou These changes certainly bring India's GST a lot closer to what an ideal GST would look like, points out Karan Bhasin. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff During the global financial crisis, there were concerns regarding the global growth story. China emerged as an anointed knight to provide the much needed support to an otherwise fragile economic environment. Almost two decades on, a similar story is being scripted by its neighbour, which registered an impressive GDP growth rate of 7.8 per cent in Q1FY26. India's economic momentum is supported by a series of reforms that were initiated from the early 2010s. One such important reform was the Goods and Services Tax or the GST, which replaced the erstwhile complicated indirect taxation structure of excise and value added taxes. The GST by its design was a destination-based tax, making it self-enforcing and addressing concerns of tax cascading. The GST has done remarkably well for India's fiscal federalism as both the Union government and states have witnessed a steady stream of revenues. The strength of the system is reflected in the fact that it survived one of the largest fiscal shocks in the form of pandemic. However, despite the benefits of GST, there was scope for improvement. In the summer of 2020, in a joint paper with Arvind Virmani, we looked at the structure of GST. Issues such as multiple rates, significant end-use exemptions and multiple rates for the same category of goods added to the overall complexity of the system. Some of this complexity was introduced due to political economy considerations and perhaps will remain as a reality for the foreseeable future. An important element of agile policymaking is recognising an economic crisis as the perfect opportunity to undertake reforms. It is not surprising that there was a renewed push for GST reforms, given economic uncertainty and growth headwinds from external sources. The structure of the GST council makes drastic changes in the taxation structure difficult, especially when the objective is to deliver the same in a time-bound manner. The Government of India delivered precisely this on September 3, 2O25. Incidentally, six years ago in September 2019, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered a large corporate tax cut that has since then helped restore corporate balance sheets. So, what is the recent GST cut, and is it sizeable enough to make a difference? Based on consumption expenditures, the median consumer is expected to experience a tax cut of 5.4 per cent. This reflects a sharp reduction in India's indirect taxation regime even as it introduces a higher tax slab of 40 per cent. Do note that even as the 'sin-goods' slab is added, compensation cess has been merged with the GST. For the top 10 per cent of consumers, the new GST rates reflect a 4.8 per cent tax cut. The steepest cuts were for everyday consumption items with perhaps a clear objective of maximising the tax cuts for India's middle and lower-middle class households. Goes without saying that this leaves greater disposable income with consumers before the festival season and would provide some support to domestic consumption. It would be premature to estimate the effect of this tax cut on overall growth, but these changes certainly bring India's GST a lot closer to what an ideal GST would look like. Here's hoping that positive effects of these changes would encourage constituents of the GST Council to undertake further simplification. Eventually, a two-rate regime with minimal exemptions is the ultimate destination, even though it will take a decade or more to get there. In addition to tax cuts, there have been a series of procedural reforms aimed with the objective of easing compliance burdens for small and medium enterprises. Compliance costs for these companies are much higher as a proportion of their overall revenues due to smaller size. Cutting them would create more room for these firms to invest in their businesses. On a final note, a contrasting picture emerges as I look across the world. India, on one hand is reducing taxes -- on income, on profits and now on consumption. On the other hand, several governments are experiencing strenuous public finances and seeking either bailouts or implementing austere policies. The contrast is perhaps a reflection of the precarious public finances in wake of large stimulus packages during COVID-19 and a longer-term stagnation of economic activity. India, in contrast, followed strict fiscal discipline through much of the last decade and therefore has some room to rationalise its taxes. Karan Bhasin is a New York-based economist. Views are personal Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff Gold prices surged Rs 2,200 to hit a fresh peak of Rs 116,200 per 10 grams in the national capital on Monday buoyed by strong global cues as investors awaited key commentary from US Fed officials for policy direction. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters According to the All India Sarafa Association, the precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity had closed at Rs 1,14,000 per 10 grams on Friday. In the local bullion market, gold of 99.5 per cent purity rallied Rs 2,150 to hit a record high of Rs 115,650 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes). It had settled at Rs 113,500 per 10 grams in the previous market session. "Both gold and silver traded at record levels in the domestic markets, tracking the bullish trend in international markets. "A dovish signal from the US Federal Reserve (Fed) suggests that two additional rate cuts are likely by the end of this year, which could limit gains in the US dollar and Treasury yields while bolstering precious metal prices," Saumil Gandhi, senior analyst - commodities at HDFC Securities, said. In addition, a strong inflow into exchange-traded funds as well as continued interest from central banks have also contributed to the rise in bullion prices, Gandhi added. The precious metal prices have added Rs 37,250 per 10 grams or 47.18 per cent in the current calendar year, climbing from Rs 78,950 per 10 grams on December 31, 2024. Meanwhile, silver prices skyrocketed by Rs 4,380 to hit an all-time high of Rs 136,380 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes) on Monday. The white metal had ended at Rs 132,000 per kg on Friday, as per the Association. So far in this year, silver prices have zoomed Rs 46,680 per kilogram or 52.04 per cent, rallying from Rs 89,700 per kg on December 31, 2024. On the global front, spot gold rose more than 1 per cent to hit a record peak of $3,728.43 per ounce. "Spot gold surged further to a fresh all-time high of $3,728 per ounce as investors await remarks from several Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) officials later in the day and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's key speech on Tuesday for additional policy guidance," said Kaynat Chainwala, AVP Commodity Research, Kotak Securities. Praveen Singh, Head of commodities and currencies at Mirae Asset ShareKhan, said, "Investors will closely monitor Fed Governor Stephen Miran's speech at the Economic Club of New York. US PMIs data report will be released on Tuesday which will provide further insights on the monetary policy outlook." Spot silver was trading 1.19 per cent higher at $43.61 per ounce. It hit an intra-day high of $43.80 per ounce. "Strong fundamentals supported silver prices, with tight supply helping maintain upward momentum. "On the demand side, robust consumption from the solar, electric vehicle, and electronics sectors provided additional support," said Jigar Trivedi, senior research analyst at Reliance Securities. Nasscom on Monday said the US clarification that the H-1B visa fee hike will not affect current visa holders and will apply as a one-time fee only to fresh petitions has helped address the immediate ambiguity surrounding eligibility and timelines. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters It alleviates concerns about business continuity and uncertainty for H-1B holders who were outside the US. Further, Indian and India-centric companies operating in the US have significantly reduced their dependencies on H-1B visas and are increasing local hiring, it said, adding that given this, "we anticipate only a marginal impact for the sector". "Moreover, with the fee being applicable from 2026 onward, it gives companies time to further step up skilling programs in the US and enhance local hiring," the apex industry body said. The industry is spending over $1 billion on local upskilling and hiring in the US, and the number of local hires has increased tremendously. "The clarification makes clear that the measure will not affect current visa holders and will apply as a one-time fee only to fresh petitions. "This has helped address the immediate ambiguity surrounding eligibility & timelines," it said. Over the years, Indian and India-centric companies operating in the US have significantly reduced their dependencies on H-1B visas and steadily increased their local hiring. According to available data, the number of H-1B visas issued to leading Indian and India-centric companies has decreased from 14,792 in 2015, to 10,162 in 2024. H-1B workers for the top 10 Indian and India-centric companies are less than 1 per cent of their entire employee base. "Given this trajectory, we anticipate only a marginal impact for the sector," it said. H-1B is high-skilled worker mobility and a non-immigrant visa that bridges the critical skills gap in the US. Salaries are at par with local hires. According to Nasscom, H-1B workers are a mere decimal point of the overall US workforce. "Nasscom has consistently advocated for predictable and stable skilled talent mobility frameworks, which are critical for sustaining national competitiveness and have long fuelled US innovation and economic growth. "Skilled talent mobility will be central to enabling businesses to make forward-looking investment decisions, accelerate research, and strengthen nations' position in the global innovation economy," it added. The Indian IT industry exhaled a sign of relief on Sunday after the US Government clarified that the H-1B visa application fee increase to $100,000 applies only to new applicants and does not affect existing visa holders or renewals. The H-1B visa fee ranges from about $2000 to $5000, depending on employer size and other costs. While some industry experts noted that they foresee no immediate adverse impact over the next 6-12 months as the hike takes effect only in the upcoming application cycle, others cautioned that the delay notwithstanding, there could be a deferred impact requiring reassessment eventually of business strategies by IT companies, if the rule stays. White House officials' clarification came with a lag of a few hours after President Donald Trump signed the proclamation raising the application fee on the visas used by companies to hire workers, including from India, to live and work in the US. In its immediate aftermath, the proclamation set off a frenzied response among companies as well as H-1B holders travelling outside the US, about the deadline of September 21, leading to scenes of chaos at some airports. Social media on Saturday was flooded with dramatic videos of Indian techies hurriedly disembarking from aircraft moments after the sudden announcement by the US administration. Several X users penned posts about flight delays as H-1B workers, anxious about US re-entry challenges, chose not to leave the US even after boarding their flight; there were those who, worried over field interpretations of the order, changed plans en route to India, where they typically head this time of the year for Navratri festivities. Notably, Indian tech professionals account for the bulk of H-1Bs, over 70 per cent plus. According to the USCIS website, for fiscal year 2025 (data as of June 30, 2025), Amazon topped the list of H-1B visa approvals at 10,044. In that list of top ten beneficiaries, TCS (5505) is at the second spot, followed by Microsoft Corp (5189), Meta (5123), Apple (4202), Google (4181), Cognizant (2493), JP Morgan Chase (2440), Walmart (2390) and Deloitte Consulting (2353). The top 20 list includes Infosys (2004), LTIMindtree (1807), and HCL America (1728). The Congressional-mandated pool is 65,000 such visas every year, along with an additional 20,000 visas reserved for those who have earned advanced degrees in the US. 'I expect IT stocks to trade lower for some time. They are unlikely to make money for investors.' Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy cytis/Pixabay.com Stocks of information technology companies are likely to see a knee-jerk reaction on Monday after US President Donald Trump imposed a higher $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas as a one-time payment. "IT stocks are likely to see a knee-jerk reaction on Monday with individual stocks slipping between 3 and 5 per cent depending on the dependence on the H-1B visa," said G Chokkalingam, founder and head of research at Equinomics Research. "I expect IT stocks to trade lower for some time. They are unlikely to make money for investors. The tide can turn in case there is a rethink on the H-1B visas and the trade negotiations between India and the US reach a viable solution," said Chokkalingam added. Thus far in calendar year 2025 (CY25), most IT stocks have underperformed. The Nifty IT index has slipped around 16 per cent as compared to a rise of around 7.1 per cent in the Nifty 50 during this period, ACE Equity data shows. Oracle Financial Services Software, HCL Technologies, TCS and Infosys have been the biggest losers in CY25 at the bourses, slipping up to 29.4 per cent, data shows. Only Mphasis, with a rise of 5.1 per cent in CY25, has bucked the trend. Clarification from the US authorities that H-1B petitions filed before the effective proclamation date of September 21 will not be affected, and those who are currently outside the US but hold the H-1B visa also do not need to pay the fee for re-entering the country comes as a relief for companies, according to Ambareesh Baliga, an independent market analyst. This, he believes, will give them time to rethink their strategy on how and where to place their workforce. "IT stocks will slip, but I don't expect the fall to be too steep. Clarification from the US comes as a silver lining, which gives companies time to work on alternatives," Baliga said. "For instance, they can base employees in Canada or Mexico as well. Buy for the long-term if these stocks see a sharp fall of around 20 per cent in the next few weeks; else avoid if the fall is around 3 5 per cent," Baliga added. Another silver lining, analysts said, is the falling dependence on the H-1B visa in the last few years. Over the last decade, Indian IT vendors, wrote Abhishek Pathak, Keval Bhagat and Tushar Dhonde of Motilal Oswal in a recent note, have reduced their reliance on the H-1B visa. With localisation drives in the US and higher local hiring, only around 20 per cent of employees are currently based on-site, they said. Of this, 20 to 30 per cent are on H-1B visas, they wrote, implying that H-1B holders represent just 3 to 5 per cent of the active workforce for a typical vendor. Meanwhile, applications for H-1B visas, too, have witnessed a decline from the highs of 2017 (at 42,671 applications) to 20,870 applications in 2024, the Motilal Oswal note suggests. Chokkalingam still believes there is room for trade negotiation between India and the US, which will help resolve this matter amicably and can trigger a rally in IT stocks. Till then, he suggests investors avoid IT stocks as they will remain underperformers at the bourses. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff 'Investing in these funds makes sense if their net yield over better-quality funds -- corporate bond funds or banking and PSU funds -- is meaningful.' Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff Credit risk funds have emerged as the best-performing debt fund category over the past year, with an average return of 10.5 per cent. Schemes belonging to DSP (22.9 per cent), HSBC (21.6 per cent), and Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund (17.1 per cent) have generated exceptionally high returns over the past year. But experts caution investors against being swayed by these numbers and advise basing decisions on their risk appetite. High returns may not sustain Much of the recent outperformance stems from one-off factors. "They are largely due to write-backs after earlier credit defaults and write-offs. These returns are more of an accounting recovery rather than genuine, superior risk-adjusted performance," says Vidya Bala, cofounder, PrimeInvestor.in. Fund managers concur. "High returns were driven by recoveries from IL&FS group debt instruments, such as Chenani Nashri, IL&FS Financial Services and other special purpose vehicles," says Lokesh Mallya, fund manager, SBI Mutual Fund. Returns earned by a few outlier schemes have lifted the category average. "The likely reason for these outliers' high returns would be recoveries from earlier defaulted bonds and credit rating upgrades that improved valuations," says Joydeep Sen, corporate author and trainer. Potential for higher returns These funds can enhance returns of the debt portfolio. "They offer higher yield potential by capturing credit spreads," says Akhil Kakkar, senior fund manager - fixed income, ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company. They compensate investors for taking higher risks. "Investors may benefit if the lower-rated bonds are upgraded in the future," says Abhishek Bisen, head - fixed income, Kotak Mutual Fund. Investors may also include them in their debt portfolio for diversification. Credit and liquidity risk As their name indicates, they carry significant credit risk. "The larger proportion of investments in low-rated securities increases the probability of default," says Bisen. Liquidity in a bond dries up when it is downgraded. "Fund managers may be forced to sell downgraded bonds at deep discounts, leading to losses," adds Bisen. During a crisis, exiting these lower-rated bonds becomes difficult, as was witnessed during the Franklin Templeton crisis of April 2020. "Such a crisis will not happen in the government securities (G-Sec) market and is highly unlikely in good-quality (AAA-rated) corporate or public sector undertaking bonds," says Sen. For seasoned investors only Experienced investors who can withstand volatility may go for these funds. "Investors pursuing higher yields, who understand the credit markets and are comfortable with intermittent volatility, may invest in them," says Kakkar. Conservative or first-time mutual fund investors should avoid them. Bisen recommends they be considered only by those with a medium-term horizon. What to check Investors should go for these funds only if they offer a higher net yield (portfolio yield to maturity minus expense ratio). "Investing in these funds makes sense if their net yield over better-quality funds -- corporate bond funds or banking and PSU funds -- is meaningful, around one percentage point," says Sen. "If it is only 10 to 20 basis points, it does not make sense to take the additional credit risk in these funds," explains Sen. Kakkar advises choosing managers with a strong credit track record, selecting diversified portfolios, and checking portfolio credit quality periodically. Credit risk funds should form only a small part of an investor's debt allocation. "The allocation to these funds should not exceed 5-10 per cent of the fixed-income portfolio," says Sen. Kakkar adds that the recommended holding period for these funds should be at least three to five years. Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients. Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff Correction of India's ills requires focussed direction of our energy. For this, we need a collective Conscience. We need Commitment. We need Cleanliness. We need Cooperation. We need Collaboration. We need Courtesy. And, we need enlightened Conversation, points out Biswajit Dasgupta. IMAGE: A protester during the protest in Kathmandu. Photograph: ANI Video Grab The recent mass protests in Nepal that resulted in the removal of the government in power have directed the spotlight on a section of youngsters called Gen Z. Perhaps, it was just a media creation, considering that the last straw before the simmering discontent turned into a violent protest was a ban on several social media platforms which are used mostly by young people. It was a mass movement in which young citizens participated in large numbers. A cursory search on the Internet reveals that Gen Z comprises individuals born roughly between 1995 and 2010. They are therefore between 15 to 30 years of age, give or take a couple of years. They are school children, college kids and youngsters who have just about entered the work space. The media narrative that Gen Z was responsible for the Nepal protests have led to several assumptions and debates, all of which could be misplaced and misleading. First, that Gen Z is the only group that is seriously affected by social media bans. Everybody is equally affected in today's digitally connected world other than those who refuse to adapt to changing methods of work or accept the march of technology. Second, Gen Z has been made out to be a frenzied, anarchic, destructive mob that will go rampaging public property when they are angry. Far from the truth. Such violence would not normally occur to a school or college-going kids or young people, who should normally be concentrating on studies or establishing themselves at work. They have to be led to do so by elements who wish to disturb normalcy. Yes, colleges and universities were always hotbeds of political discourse but were tempered with the idealism and sobriety of an academic environment. Students who engage in destructive politics are still a handful, emboldened by their mentor goons. Third, Gen Z is a political force that can dictate terms to governments in power and overthrow them at will. Gen Z comprises intelligent youngsters who understand that good governance is key to order and peace. If they don't understand this, their parents, teachers and mentors have failed miserably in their grooming. Many of them are in the voting population bracket and can influence events through their innate tech savviness, awareness and long working life. They can be instruments of positive change if provided an enabling environment. Fourth, the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls debate that has engaged political leaders in India has started sparring over Gen Z. It seems Gen Z will determine if electoral rolls have been tampered with. How, may I ask? Gen Z and every other generation must understand the strength of democratic institutions and must not allow themselves to be manipulated by inflammatory provocations from any quarter. IMAGE: Protestors vandalise the parliament gate in Kathmandu. Photograph: ANI on X The larger issue is one of good governance and well-being of people. There are severe challenges that India faces in terms of skewed wealth distribution, hygiene, cleanliness, sanitation, healthcare, education, technology, development, job-creation, population pressure, environment and several others. These don't affect only Gen Z. They affect each individual of every generation and are the main issues that require collective attention. The burden rests more on the younger generations, as it has always been, since they have a much larger stake in the future. That, however, does not mean that the older generations can rest on their oars. While active generations create change, the others must play a supporting role so that progress is achieved in a peaceful, sustainable and democratic manner. All of India's societal ills can be attributed to corruption of all kinds like bribery, misuse of authority, nepotism, caste and class divisions and a host of other social, political and economic forms of disempowerment of the common citizen. Correction of these ills requires focussed direction of our energy. For this, we need a collective Conscience. We need Commitment. We need Cleanliness. We need Cooperation. We need Collaboration. We need Courtesy. And, we need enlightened Conversation. We need a SuperGen C, straddling all generations and for all time. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff At least 24 people, including women and children, were killed and several others injured on Monday when explosive materials stored at a compound owned by the Pakistani Taliban exploded in northwest Pakistan, police said. IMAGE: The deceased consist of mostly civilians. Photograph: Screen grab/X The residents, however, claimed that air strikes hit the compound in Tirah Valley's Matur Dara area in Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bordering Afghanistan. No official statement has been issued by the government regarding the tragedy. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party's provincial branch claimed that the 'jet bombing' in the Tirah Valley destroyed five houses. It said that 20 bodies have been recovered from the rubble. The local administration denied the claims about aerial strikes by the Pakistani fighter jets on the compound, saying the explosives used in bomb making exploded, causing the death of 24 people, including 14 militants. At least 10 civilians, including women and children, were killed, along with 14 militants in the explosion, Station House Officer, Tirah police Station, Zafar Khan said. The compound had been home to a large number of local militant leaders and operatives, including dozens of Afghan fighters. It was regarded as a hub for the production of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and sniper training. The locals have announced the closure of Bara Bazaar, demanding accountability and protection. Protesters accused government authorities of failing to ensure the safety of citizens and called upon elected representatives to play an active role in addressing the community's grievances. Mohammad Iqbal Khan Afridi, Member of the National Assembly from Khyber, expressed grief in a video message, saying women and children were among those killed in the 'shelling by jets'. He urged residents to protest the killings, adding that 'the killing of civilians has become routine'. "Due to the bombing by jet aircraft, 21 innocent citizens, including innocent children and helpless women, were killed," Provincial Assembly lawmaker Abdul Ghani Afridi said in a post on social media. "The blood of the innocent people will not go to waste, and we will raise this voice on every forum. We will not rest until justice is achieved," he said. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed concern over civilian casualties in alleged 'aerial bombings' in the Tirah Valley and called for an immediate inquiry. 'The HRCP is deeply shocked to learn that a number of civilians, including children, have been killed, allegedly as a result of aerial bombing in Tirah,' the rights body posted on X. It urged authorities to conduct 'an immediate and impartial inquiry into the incident and hold to account those responsible,' stressing that the state is constitutionally bound to protect civilians' right to life, which it has 'repeatedly failed to secure'. The militants have established centres within civilian populations, stockpiling explosives to restrict access for security forces. However, due to unsafe storage and training activities, these stockpiles often detonate, causing casualties, police said. There has been an uptick in the incidents of terrorism in Pakistan since the Taliban took over the government in Kabul in 2021, dashing hopes in Islamabad that a friendly government in Afghanistan would help to tackle militancy. Photo: https://www.facebook.com The Washington Post reports that the state group Naftogaz has allocated $1 billion of its own funds for gas purchases for the winter and has attracted another $1.5 billion for gas imports from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Norwegian government, and other international financial institutions. Chairman of the Board of NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy Serhiy Koretsky, in a commentary to the publication, noted that in February of this year, 42% of Ukrainian gas production was destroyed as a result of enemy attacks. He emphasized that before the heating season, the enemy will probably attack the gas infrastructure again. This is terrorism, pure and simple, Koretsky commented. The head of Naftogaz said that the company had already contracted 95% of the gas needed for the start of the heating season. As reported, the Naftogaz Group, in partnership with Polish ORLEN, has already supplied Ukraine with approximately 400 million cubic meters of American liquefied gas in preparation for the winter of 2025/2026. Naftogaz and the EBRD signed a record-breaking agreement for Ukraine for the gas purchase for EUR 500 million. For the first time in the history of Ukraine, such a loan is provided under an EU guarantee. In addition, in July 2025, Naftogaz attracted UAH 4.7 billion in loans from Ukrgasbank and PrivatBank, and in September - UAH 2.4 billion from Ukreximbank. At the end of August, Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk noted that Ukraine should have pumped at least 13.2 billion cubic meters of gas into underground storage facilities by the beginning of the autumn-winter season, 4.6 billion cubic meters of which were imports. The Supreme Court on Monday termed as 'unfortunate and irresponsible' the selective publication of a preliminary report on the June 12 Air India crash which outlined lapses on the part of pilots and paved way for a 'media narrative'. IMAGE: Wreckage of the crashed Boeing 787 Dreamliner at the site in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters/Rediff Archives A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, which issued notices to the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on the aspect of an independent, fair and expeditious probe of the crash, said an element of privacy and dignity of families of victims was also involved. It took note of certain aspects of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report issued on July 12 and said 'piecemeal and selective' publication of the findings which led to building of a media narrative was 'unfortunate and irresponsible'. "There should be complete confidentiality of reports of this nature till the inquiry is complete. There is an element of privacy and dignity of the victims involved. That's why we should wait for the final report," the bench observed. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO 'Safety Matters Foundation', earlier said one line of the preliminary report which blamed the pilots for the crash led to building of a narrative in the media across the world. "Unless people know what was the cause of the accident, they are in danger as no preventive steps can be taken till then. It's been over 100 days since the crash and we still don't know the reason," Bhushan said. He alleged in the probe panel constituted after the crash, three of the five-members were from the aviation regulator and there could be an issue of conflict of interest. "There are three interested parties -- manufacturer of aircraft, airline and the DGCA and involvement of any member of these three parties will be a conflict of interest. How can officers of the very organisation whose role is likely to be examined be part of the committee probing the incident," Bhushan said. He said revealing information from the flight data recorder of the airplane would 'clear the air' over the cause of the accident. The bench said while the demand for free, fair and independent inquiry was understandable, the demand for information from the flight data recorder was 'questionable'. While cautioning that releasing a particular information might be exploited by rival airlines, the bench suggested such information should not be released prematurely. "We should not release the information piecemeal and maintain utmost confidentiality till the regular inquiry is taken to its logical conclusion. Then only we can say what was the actual reason," Justice Kant said. Bhushan referred to a podcast, which claimed of having examined all aspects of the incident, and said it concluded that it was not a case of pilot's negligence. "Media reporting from one isolated line from the preliminary report has actually distorted the larger picture," he submitted and added the probe panel could be headed by a judicial person. When bench felt an independent inquiry by domain experts was a better option, Bhushan said a retired judge could head the panel to oversee the inquiry. The top court said such inquiries should happen promptly to quell rumours and speculations and avoid selective leakage of information to media, social media and other forms of media. Bhushan reiterated about the flight data recorder, but the bench pointed out the possibility of several 'parallel theories' if information was released. Bhushan said theories would anyway come even after the final report and there was no way to prevent it. The plea has been filed by an aviation safety NGO led by Captain Amit Singh, alleging that the official probe violates citizens' fundamental rights to life, equality and access to truthful information. The plea says the AAIB issued its preliminary report on July 12, attributing the accident to 'fuel cutoff switches' being moved from 'run' to 'cutoff', effectively suggesting a pilot error. It alleged that the report withheld critical information, including the full Digital Flight Data Recorder output, complete Cockpit Voice Recorder transcripts with time stamps and Electronic Aircraft Fault Recording data. According to the plea, these are indispensable for a transparent and objective understanding of the disaster. The PIL further criticises the report for downplaying systemic anomalies, such as fuel-switch defects, electrical faults, Ram Air Turbine deployment and electrical disturbances, and for prematurely attributing the crash to a pilot error. The plea says a 'selective and biased' inquiry into a disaster of this magnitude violates Article 21 of the Constitution by compromising citizens' right to life, safety and dignity, is arbitrary and contrary to Article 14, and suppresses truthful information in breach of Article 19(1)(a). On June 12, Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating flight AI171 en route to London's Gatwick airport crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, killing 265 people, including 241 passengers and crew on board. Among the 241 dead were 169 Indians, 52 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian and 12 crew members. The lone survivor of the crash was Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national. The famous Mysuru Dasara festival commenced in the city and palaces on Monday with religious and traditional fervour, with International Booker Prize-winning writer Banu Mushtaq inaugurating the festivities. IMAGE: International Booker Prize-winning writer Banu Mushtaq inaugurates the Mysuru Dasara festival. Photograph: ANI on X Mushtaq inaugurated the festivities during the auspicious "Vrushchika Lagna" by showering flowers on the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru and its royals, amid chanting of Vedic hymns by priests, at the premises of Chamundeshwari temple atop the Chamundi Hills here. Celebrated as 'Nada Habba' (state festival), the 11-day Dasara or 'Sharan Navaratri' festivities are expected to be a grand affair this year, showcasing Karnataka's rich culture and traditions, coupled with reminiscence of royal pomp and glory. In the inaugural event, Mushtaq was accompanied by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, several ministers in the state cabinet, among others. Earlier, Mushtaq, along with CM and other dignitaries, visited the Chamundeshwari temple and offered prayers to the goddess, referred to as the "Naada Devate" (state deity), ahead of the inaugural. The inauguration took place amid controversy, with objections from some sections, against the government's decision to invite Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the festival. The Supreme Court on Friday had dismissed a plea challenging the Karnataka High Court's decision upholding the state government's invitation to Mushtaq to inaugurate Dasara. Objections have been raised by BJP leaders and others to the state government's decision to invite Mushtaq to inaugurate the Dasara festivities, following an old video that went viral, in which she has reportedly expressed reservations about worshipping the Kannada language as "Goddess Bhuvaneshwari", stating that it was exclusionary to people like her (minorities). However, Mushtaq, on her part, has said that her statement has been distorted by making selective parts of her old speech go viral on social media. The festival is likely to showcase Karnataka's cultural heritage resplendent with folk art forms as usual; it attracts large crowds and tourists, officials have said. Various programmes will be held during these auspicious days of Navaratri; the palace, major streets, turnarounds or circles and buildings of Mysuru will be beautified by illuminating them with lights, a practice fondly known as "Deepalankaara". Dozens of events that attract people are food mela, flower show, cultural programmes, farmers' Dasara, women's Dasara, Yuva Dasara, children's Dasara, and poetry recital, among others. Apart from these events, the famous Dasara procession (Jumboo Savaari), Air Show, Torch Light Parade, and Mysuru Dasara Exhibition are the ones that attract a large number of people. The Navaratri include various decorations and celebrations in households across Mysuru and surrounding areas, namely Gombe habba (arrangement of traditional dolls), Saraswati Pooja, Ayudha Pooja and Durga Pooja, among others. The royal family will celebrate the festival as per their traditions in the palace during these days. Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, dressed in grand attire, will conduct 'Khasagi durbar' (private durbar) by ascending the golden throne, amid chanting of Vedic hymns. Famous 'Jamboo Savaari', a procession of caparisoned elephants carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari placed in a Howdah covered with gold on Vijayadashmi, marks the culmination of celebrations on October 2 this year. Dasara was celebrated by the rulers of the Vijayanagar empire, and the tradition was inherited by the Wadiyars of Mysuru. Festivities were first started in Mysuru by the Wadiyar King, Raja Wadiyar I, in the year 1610. It became a private affair of the royal family following the abolition of the privy purse in 1971 and the discontinuation of the privileges of the erstwhile rulers. However, a low-key Dasara used to be held on the initiative of the local people until the state government stepped in and the then Chief Minister D Devaraja Urs revived the Dasara celebrations in 1975, which is being followed till date. Police have made elaborate security and crowd management arrangements for a smooth Dasara this year, officials said. Cyber fraudsters posing as Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials duped a retired banker in south Delhi's Gulmohar Park area of Rs 23 crore by allegedly putting him under 'digital arrest' for nearly a month, police said on Monday. Photograph: / Rediff.com IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. The accused allegedly told the victim that his Aadhaar card was involved in narcotics trafficking, terror funding and Pulwama terror attack and confined him to his flat under the pretext of investigation, an officer said. "The scammers directed him not to step out of his house and coerced him into transferring his savings to various bank accounts over a span of one month," the officer said. According to the police, the 78-year-old victim stated in his complaint that the ordeal began on August 4 when he received a call from a man claiming to be a Mumbai Police officer. The caller accused him of being linked to a drug trafficking racket. Subsequently, fraudsters impersonating ED and CBI officials also contacted him. "Out of fear, the victim complied with their instructions and kept transferring money from his bank accounts to the accounts specified by the fraudsters. Accused also threatened the victim of dire consequences, if he reveal the matter to anyone," the officer added. The victim's ordeal continued till September 4, after which the fraudsters stopped contacting him. Realising he had been duped, he lodged a complaint on the NCRP portal on September 19, following which the matter was transferred to the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit. The police said an FIR has been registered and Rs 12.11 crore of the cheated amount has been frozen in various bank accounts. The money trail revealed that the funds were layered across multiple accounts and withdrawn from different parts of the country to evade detection, the police said. "The entire matter is under investigation. Multiple teams are already working on it. Police will crack the case soon and will arrest the accused behind the digital arrest," the officer said. Indian armed forces were given complete freedom to appropriately respond to the cowardly terror attack on innocent civilians in Pahalgam, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said. IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacts with the Indian community in Morocco. Photograph: @rajnathsingh/X Singh also said that India's actions in response to the attack were "measured and non-escalatory." The defence minister made the remarks in an address to the Indian community at Rabat in Morocco on Sunday. Singh is on a two-day visit to the North African country. The defence minister reaffirmed that the armed forces were fully prepared and had been given complete freedom to respond after the cowardly attack on innocent Indians in Pahalgam, according to an official readout. "We took action not based on religion but on deeds (Humne dharm dekh kar nahi, karm dekh kar maara hai)," Singh said, quoting the Ramcharitmanas to describe the nation's firm yet restrained approach, it noted. In response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan. The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions on May 10. The defence minister also highlighted the progress achieved by India in the last decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Despite geopolitical challenges, India has emerged as the fastest-growing major economy, and is poised to enter the top three soon, he said. Singh highlighted India's digital transformation, rapid strides in the knowledge economy, and the surge in startups from 18 unicorns a decade ago to 118 today. Singh underlined the "remarkable growth" of India's defence industry, which has achieved production worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore and defence exports exceeding Rs 23,000 crore to more than 100 countries. The defence minister lauded the hard work, dedication, and honesty of the Indian community. Singh's visit to Morocco will also be the first-ever trip to that country by an Indian defence minister. During the visit, he will hold a bilateral meeting with his Moroccan counterpart Abdeltif Loudiyi. Following the talks, both sides are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of defence. The MoU will provide for an institutional framework to expand and deepen bilateral defence engagement, including exchanges, training, and industrial linkages, officials said. Ties between India and Morocco have gained momentum since King Mohammed VI met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 in India. The Centre on Monday decided to extend the ban imposed on the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang [NSCN-K)] along with all its factions, wings and front organisations for five more years due to its involvement in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India. IMAGE: File photograph of over ground worker of National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang arrested near Ledo in Tinsukia, Assam, May 10, 2020. Photograph: ANI Photo The ban will be effective from September 28 for a period of five years, a ministry of home affairs (MHA) notification said. The central government is of the opinion that the NSCN-K has declared its aim to create a sovereign Nagaland incorporating the Naga inhabited areas of the Indo-Myanmar region by secession from the Indian Union and aligned itself with other unlawful associations like the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent [ULFA-I], People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and People's Liberation Army (PLA), it said. The group is also indulged in kidnapping for ransom and extortion of money from businessmen, government officials and other civilians, possessed illegal arms and ammunition and obtained assistance from anti-India forces in other countries to procure arms and other assistance. "Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), (hereinafter referred to as the said Act), the central government hereby declares the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) [NSCN (K)] along with all its factions, wings and front organisations as an unlawful association," the notification said. The home ministry said several activities have been noted where NSCN-K cadres were involved between September 28, 2020 and April 30, 2025. These include registration of 71 cases against its cadres with 56 chargesheets filed and 35 cadres prosecuted, involvement of its cadres in 51 other criminal activities, arrest of 85 cadres and surrender by 69 cadres and recovery of 69 arms, 52 magazines, 931 live rounds, 10 grenades, 150 detonators, three explosives gel tubes, 200 grams trinitrotoluene one-and-a-half kilogramme improvised explosive device (IED) and 800 grams of other explosives. During this period, 13 underground cadres were killed in action by police or security forces. The state governments of Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have also recommended the declaration of NSCN (K) as an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). "And whereas, the central government is of the opinion that the aforesaid activities of NSCN (K) are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India and if these are not immediately curbed and controlled, the NSCN-K may further regroup and rearm itself, expand its cadres, procure sophisticated weapons, cause loss of lives of civilians and security forces and thereby accelerate its anti-national activities. And whereas, the central government is of the opinion that for the reasons aforesaid, the NSCN-K together with its factions, wings and front organisations, is an unlawful association," the notification said. The home ministry said it is of the further opinion that circumstances exist which render it necessary to declare the NSCN-K along with all its factions, wings and front organisations to be an unlawful association with effect from September 28. "Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, hereby directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have immediate effect from the 28th September, 2025 for a period of five years," the notification said. The NSCN-K has continued to be a banned organisation for decades now and it is being extended every five years. Its leader, S S Khaplang, a Myanmarese Naga, died in 2017 after leading the group for decades. The outfit is now run by two of his deputies. The NSCN-K's rival faction, the NSCN-IM, is currently having peace negotiations with the central government to find a lasting peaceful solution to the seven-decade-old insurgency problem of Nagaland. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday and discussed a range of bilateral and international issues of 'current concern'. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, on the sidelines of the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting, in Washington, DC on July 2, 2025. Photograph: @DrSJaishankar on X/ANI Photo The meeting at Lotte New York Palace on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly is the first face-to-face interaction between them following President Donald Trump's imposition of an additional 25 per cent tariff on India for Delhi's purchases of Russian oil, taking the total levies imposed on India to 50 per cent. 'Good to meet @SecRubio this morning in New York. Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas. We will remain in touch,' Jaishankar said on social media. They had last met in July in Washington DC for the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Their meeting takes place on the same day India and the US will hold discussions to achieve an early conclusion of a trade agreement. A delegation led by Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal will meet with the US side on Monday in the city. "The delegation plans to take forward the discussions with a view to achieving early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement," the Ministry of Commerce and Industry had said in a statement. The statement added that during the last visit of officials from the office of the US Trade Representative to India on September 16, positive discussions were held on various aspects of the trade deal, and it was decided to intensify efforts in this regard. Jaishankar, who arrived in New York on Sunday for the high-level UNGA week, will hold a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the session and will deliver the national statement at the General Debate on September 27 from the iconic green UNGA podium. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will meet United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio here on Monday for bilateral discussions, as the high-level 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) kicks in. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting, in Washington DC on January 22, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo This will be the first face-to-face meeting between Rubio and Jaishankar following President Donald Trump's imposition of an additional 25 per cent tariff on India for Delhi's purchases of Russian oil, taking the total levies imposed on India by the Trump White House to 50 per cent. According to the daily schedule issued by the State Department on Sunday, Rubio will meet Jaishankar in New York City on Monday morning. They had last met in July in Washington DC for the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The bilateral meeting comes on the same day India and the US will hold discussions towards achieving an early conclusion of a trade agreement. A delegation led by Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal will meet with the US side on Monday in the city. "The delegation plans to take forward the discussions with a view to achieving early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement," the Ministry of Commerce and Industry had said in a statement. The statement added that during the last visit of the team of officials from the office of the United States Trade Representative to India on September 16, positive discussions were held on various aspects of the trade deal, and it was decided to intensify efforts in this regard. Jaishankar arrived in New York on Sunday for the high-level UNGA week, commencing his engagements with a bilateral meeting with the Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Theresa P. Lazaro. "We followed up on the recent State Visit of President @bongbongmarcos to India. Also discussed our cooperation in the UN and the Indo-Pacific region," the external affairs minister said on X. According to a daily schedule issued by the State Department on Sunday, Rubio will meet Jaishankar in New York City on Monday morning for a bilateral meeting. Lazaro said it was a pleasure to meet Jaishankar again after President Bongbong Marcos's "successful" state visit to India in August. "Our discussion today reaffirms our two countries' commitment as Strategic Partners to actively develop cooperation in political, defence and security, the maritime domain, etc," she said. Jaishankar will hold a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings during the week on the sidelines of the high-level UNGA session and will deliver the national statement at the General Debate on September 27 from the iconic green UNGA podium. A witness in the July 2023 incident, in which an Railway Protection Force constable allegedly killed four persons on board a moving train, told a Mumbai court on Monday that she saw a 'bearded' man lying in a pool of blood after the accused shot him twice. IMAGE: Chetansinh Chaudhary being taken to the magistrate court at Borivali in Mumbai, on August 1, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The 29-year-old witness, who was travelling with her friend on the day of the shooting, gave an account of the deadly attack that unfolded before her eyes. Former Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable Chetansinh Chaudhary is accused of shooting dead his senior colleague, Assistant Sub-Inspector Tika Ram Meena, and three passengers on board the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast Express near Palghar railway station in Maharashtra on July 31, 2023. He was apprehended near the tracks some time later and has been in jail since then. He was also dismissed from service. Deposing before Additional Sessions Judge Y B Pathan at the Borivali court, the witness said that she woke up around 5.30 am and saw a person running out of a pantry car, with the accused RPF constable behind him. "I asked the RPF person (Chaudhary) if something had happened. He just stared at me angrily, and I sat back quietly in my seat," she said. The woman recounted that her friend wanted to use the washroom, but the RPF constable was standing near it, and when asked to give her way, he glared at her friend, and they were forced to return to their seats. The witness informed that after roaming in their compartment a couple of times, the accused approached a bearded man and started arguing with him. He (Chaudhary) then shot the man twice, and she later saw the man lying in a pool of blood, the woman said, while being examined by additional public prosecutor Sudhir Sapkale. Scared after the attack, the woman, responding to defence lawyer Jaywant Patil, said she didn't go near the spot where the man was shot. The witness said that she later saw the news about the incident and the RPF constable's arrest at home. The woman identified the accused, Chaudhary, who was produced through video conferencing. Chaudhary has been charged under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 302 (murder), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc) and others, as well as relevant provisions of the Railways Act and the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act. The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Delhi police's response on the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima and Meeran Haider in the UAPA case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots in Delhi. IMAGE: Umar Khalid. Photograph: Prabhat Mehrotra/ANI Photo A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria issued notice and posted the matter for October 27. As the hearing commenced, Justice Kumar clarified that the matter could not be taken up for hearing on September 19 as Justice Manmohan, who was sitting with him on the bench, wanted to recuse as he was an associate in the chambers of senior advocate Kapil Sibal at one point in time. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Fatima, said the petitioners were students and had been incarcerated for over five years. When he requested the apex court to issue notice on an application for interim bail, the top court said it would finally dispose of the main petition. The activists were challenging the Delhi high court order passed on September 2. The high court denied bail to nine people, including Khalid and Imam, saying "conspiratorial" violence under the garb of demonstrations or protests by citizens could not be allowed. Besides Khalid and Imam, those who faced bail rejection are Fatima, Haider, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Abdul Khalid Saifi and Shadab Ahmed. The bail plea of another accused, Tasleem Ahmed, was rejected by a different high court bench on September 2. The high court said the Constitution affords citizens the right to protest and carry out demonstrations or agitations, provided they are orderly, peaceful and without arms, and such actions must be within the bounds of law. While the high court said the right to participate in peaceful protests and to make speeches in public meetings was said to have been protected under Article 19(1)(a), and couldn't be blatantly curtailed, it observed the right was "not absolute" and "subject to reasonable restrictions". "If the exercise of an unfettered right to protest were permitted, it would damage the constitutional framework and impinge upon the law and order situation in the country," the bail rejection order said. Khalid, Imam and the rest of the accused persons were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the erstwhile IPC for allegedly being the "masterminds" of the February 2020 riots, which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. The violence erupted during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens. The accused, who have denied all the allegations against them, have been in jail since 2020 and had moved the high court after a trial court rejected their bail pleas. A 19-year-old engineering student allegedly died by suicide in Hyderabad, following a financial dispute with friends over sharing the cost of a party bill, police said on Monday. Image used only for representation. Photograph: Tammy Cuff/Pixabay The victim, a native of Adilabad district, allegedly hung himself in a room of a private hostel at Narapally on Sunday night, they said. A group of friends went to a party at a bar, where an argument over splitting the bill led to an altercation, according to preliminary investigation. The student was also allegedly assaulted by some local youths. In a purported video, recorded before ending his life, the student said some people demanded money and threatened him and that he was insulted and beaten up by them. He said they took him to a bar and was forced to consume alcohol and foot the bill of Rs 10,000. Based on a complaint by the student's father, a case of abetment of suicide, extortion under BNS besides under relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was registered. Further investigation is on. The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), which holds 25% of PJSC National Depository of Ukraine (NDU), will receive the state share of the NDU in the amount of 25%, which is currently managed by the National Securities and Stock Market Commission. Taras Melnychuk, the representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada, reported on Telegram that the government approved the relevant order at a meeting on Monday. The government also declared the November 2013 order designating the National Securities and Stock Market as the body managing the state share of the NDU invalid. In early September, the National Bank announced the start of implementing the memorandum of cooperation for integrated capital markets infrastructure. This memorandum was signed in Rome in July of this year with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with the participation of the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Finance, the National Bank, and the National Securities and Markets Commission. The first stage involves optimizing the ownership structure and corporate governance of the National Depository of Ukraine by transferring the state share to the NBU's management. "The transfer of the National Depository is a zero phase. It is a mandatory condition that launches an effective, conflict-free process of construction with a clear division of functionality between shareholder ownership and the regulator's functions," said NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyy on September 11, emphasizing that such a transfer has been agreed with the International Monetary Fund and the EBRD and should be implemented as soon as possible. A holding company is planned to be created with the participation of a reputable international strategic investor (an operator of trading and post-trading infrastructure), which will be selected through an open tender. This holding company will also include international financial organizations, local market participants, the state and state banks. The holding company will then establish a new stock exchange in Ukraine that will become the majority owner of the central clearing institution, the Settlement Center, instead of the National Bank. Additionally, the exchange will hold a minority stake in the NDU, while the National Bank will hold a majority one. The final stage should be consolidating depository services based on the NDU. The NDU should function as a central securities depository by taking over the National Bank's accounting and servicing of government bonds. At the same time, the National Securities and Stock Market Commission on September 9 approved a draft government order on the transfer of the state share of the NDU to the National Bank, but proposed to postpone such a transfer until the preparation of a priority roadmap for financial market infrastructure reforms agreed with international financial organizations (IFOs). In the Commission's opinion, such an approach will minimize potential risks to the proper implementation of the current cooperation program with the IMF. Deputy Governor of the National Bank Yuriy Heletiy in response noted that the IMF representatives were familiar with and supported the nine-step plan for implementing a vertically integrated capital markets infrastructure model, which was supported by the Financial Stability Council. He recalled that the transfer of the state share of the NDU to the National Bank was also reflected in the memorandum. Regarding the potential buyout of private minority shareholders' shares in the National Depository, Heletiy said that the National Bank "knows how to become the majority shareholder, alongside the holding company and the recognized international investor." US reoccupation would need large troop deployments, break the Doha Agreement, and strain relations with Pakistan, Russia and Iran. IMAGE: A view of the Bagram air base in Afghanistan. Photograph: Kind courtesy Staff Sgt. Craig Seals/Creative Commons US President Donald Trump has reignited debate over the Bagram air base, Afghanistan's most strategic military facility. Speaking alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a State visit last week, Trump said the US is 'trying to get it back', which was abandoned during the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan in 2021. 'We gave it to them for nothing. We want that base back', NBC News quoted Trump as saying. Later, in a post on Truth Social, Trump threatened 'BAD THINGS' for Afghanistan if the Taliban-led government fails to comply. Why Bagram matters to the US Located 60 km north of Kabul, Bagram was the largest US installation in Afghanistan and a hub for counterinsurgency operations. At its peak in 2012, more than 100,000 American troops passed through. Its 11,800 foot runway can handle bombers and heavy cargo planes, which Trump called 'one of the most powerful bases in the world'. Why the US wants it back Trump's sharpest argument lies in geography. 'It's an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons,' he said. A report by the Orion Policy Institute notes that Bagram is less than 1,500 miles from China's Hami missile field in Xinjiang and under 500 miles from the Afghan-Xinjiang border. The Pentagon estimates Beijing's arsenal already exceeds 600 operational warheads and may pass 1,000 by 2030. China's foreign ministry has rejected Trump's remarks, warning that 'stirring up tension' would not be welcomed. Bagram was also pivotal for US strikes against ISIS-K, al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban. In 2025, UN officials in 2025 warned ISIS-K remains 'one of the most dangerous branches"' active in Afghanistan, Iran and Russia. Al-Qaeda has since added nine training camps in Afghanistan, while the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan staged over 600 attacks from Afghan soil in the second half of 2024, according to a report by the UN Security Council. Trump argues regaining Bagram is essential to restore an American foothold. What do the Taliban say? Taliban officials flatly rejected Trump's idea. 'Afghanistan is fully independent, governed by its own people, and not dependent on any foreign power,' Taliban's chief of staff of the armed forces Fasihuddin Fitrat said on Sunday at an event in Kabul, reported Bloomberg. 'We do not fear any bully or aggressor.' Despite releasing Western detainees recently, the Taliban has shown no readiness to allow foreign forces back. What do analysts say Experts caution that retaking Bagram is unlikely. Bill Roggio of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies warned the Taliban and China would resist any US return, according to Long War Journal. However, Trump has declined to give a direct answer about sending troops to retake the base. 'We won't talk about that,' he told reporters on Saturday, reported Al Jazeera. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff All new H-1B visa petitions submitted after September 21, including those for the FY2026 lottery, will require payment of the USD 100,000 fee, as announced by President Donald Trump in a recent proclamation, the US government has said. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump. Photograph: @WhiteHouse/X The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in a 'H-1B FAQ' document (external link), released on Sunday, said that the September 19 proclamation took an "important, initial, and incremental step" to reform the H-1B visa programme to curb abuses and protect American workers. The proclamation "requires a $100,000 payment to accompany any new H-1B visa petitions submitted after 12:01 am eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025," the FAQ document said. This includes applications for the 2026 lottery and any other new H-1B filings beyond that date, it added. USCIS had earlier said in a statement on Saturday that the fee would apply only to new, prospective petitions that had not yet been filed, but had not specified the exact date and time when the rule would take effect. A White House official had told PTI that the $100,000 fee will "first apply in the next upcoming lottery cycle." The USD 100,000 fee is a one-time fee on submission of a new H-1B petition. USCIS further clarified that the fee does not apply to any petitions filed before the 12:01 am deadline on Sept 21, previously issued H-1B visas, renewal petitions, and H-1B holders re-entering the US. The proclamation also authorises the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State (DOS) to coordinate implementation steps, the FAQ document said. Further planned reforms under the proclamation include, a proposed rulemaking by the Department of Labour to revise and raise the prevailing wage levels in order to upskill the H-1B programme and ensure that it is used to hire "only the best of the best" temporary foreign workers. The planned reforms also include a DHS rulemaking to prioritise high-skilled, high-paid workers in the H-1B lottery system. The Department of State has issued guidance to all consular posts consistent with USCIS and US Customs and Border Protection policies. A day after Trump signed the proclamation on Friday, officials had clarified that the USD 100,000 fee requirement for H1B visas does not apply to current visa holders and is a one-time payment applicable only to new petitions, bringing significant relief to thousands of panic-stricken professionals, including from India, concerned over being impacted by the new rule. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, commenting on the fee, had said that renewals, first times, the company needs to decide. Is that person valuable enough to have $100,000 a year payment to the government, or they should head home and they should go hire an American? The initial registration period for the FY2027 H-1B cap is expected to begin around March next year. 'Techies who did a master's there and moved to US companies look down on Indian companies who they consider as just doing body shopping.' IMAGE: United States President Donald John Trump. Photograph: Kind courtesy White House/X A father of an Indian currently working in the United States explains to Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff the dilemma and choices confronting young Indians on an H1B visa. He agreed to speak on condition that his identity would not be revealed for obvious reasons. My son, who is on an H1B visa, had gone to the US after completing his bachelor's in computer science for a master's in computer science which he completed around 2017 or 2018. He has been working there since then at a subsidiary of a top tech company. So, he has been in the US for about nine years. In Trump's first tenure, he faced similar issues because major tech companies who used to come to their campus where he was doing his master's for placements stopped coming overnight in the first year or two of Trump's first tenure. He, like many others, was left stranded as he could not get a job from campus placements. He applied on his own to various places and he was lucky to get interviewed by this tech company's subsidiary and then join them. This is where he currently is all these years. This generation which graduated with good degrees and a good or above average academic record to the US -- my son is from a BITS Pilani campus and BITS Pilani has a tradition of a large number, I would say maybe even double high double digits percentage, or even half the students in some particular courses, always going abroad for a master's to the US and not taking jobs post undergrad. So, he comes from this background. This segment of students is very different from the large segment of students who is graduating from second rung colleges in India and then joining Indian tech companies after graduation at 3-4 lakhs rupees per annum and then getting body shopped to the US to work for US clients on an H1B. This latter segment probably gets $80K per annum from their Indian company as opposed to the ones who do master's abroad and then join a large or medium-sized corporation in the US at say $120K per annum. My son falls in this latter cohort. Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes. People like my son who go abroad as a matter of course for further studies are not necessarily thinking about settling down there on a long-term basis. They are looking for higher education to get satisfying jobs that will get them off on a good career. I would say even the joining salary at these big corporations is not the main motivator, it is the job content and importantly the work culture in the US corporations -- which they know by talking to their seniors and some peers -- is much superior to that at Indian companies. Even in my days when my IIT batchmates moved to the US in the early 1980s, the job and culture were important factors, though those days the US lifestyles and green cards were also important. Now the days of aspiring for a green card and settling down permanently are gone. This generation -- I am speaking for my son in particular, of course -- is very global in their thinking and they are not really looking at the long term. They are looking at optimising their career at a point in time here and now. They know they will not get a green card for decades anyway. Of course, their expectations have got tempered by what has been happening over the last few years. He is also in the green card queue like many others and they know that they may never get a green card. This is very different from the previous generation -- my sister, cousins, friends -- where it was very easy to get a green card within a few years. So, their expectations itself are low or different. They are looking to make a career in a good company and it is the job satisfaction which even motivates them, not even the salaries. They also believe that if they face a roadblock in the US, their company, which is global, will transfer them somewhere else or they will get some other job offer elsewhere. This is a very confident generation of people who are working in the field of computer science. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff One of his closest friends got laid off by Meta a few days ago and he has time just till early December to find an alternate job. So, there are people impacted. In his organisation, they have not been recruiting many techies, maybe because of AI. There are a lot of AI projects going on. The new recruits which are being hired are all been hired to work on AI projects such as making customer service become AI driven. So, the mood among techies like him is possibly uncertain. But my son personally is a different breed. He is a little happy-go-lucky and a non-worrying type of person who has inherited that trait probably from his mother. And he has not really revealed his doubts if any to me. However, he is facing a H1B related hassle. Let me explain. He recently got an H1B visa extension (3 years) in August. I believe within eight months, by around April 2026 or so, he needs to come at least once to India to get his visa stamped. His earlier visa extensions happened without a face-to-face interview as far as I remember. However, there is a new rule which came into being on September 6th, wherein the Trump administration said all short term visas, even people on H1B extensions like my son (he's already had two tenures of H1B now; this is his third extension or third tenure of H1B), needs to have a face-to-face interview in a US consulate, when he travels outside the US, so as to get his visa extension stamped on his passport. However, he and others who have had their visas extended in August are finding it difficult to get visa face to face appointment slots in US consulates in India. Only Chennai and Hyderabad consulates offer face-to-face interviews, and none have opened for December (which is the peak season when most people like my son prefer to come to India to get their visas stamped because then they can combine it with the year-end holiday). There are no appointment slots for December, hardly any even for November, so everybody in tech on an H1B extension in this year's August batch, was sort of already stuck before Friday's announcement. There is an entire batch of H1B people who are on extension who had their visas renewed waiting to come to India. To me it seems they have announced this face-to-face appointment thing in Washington, DC without checking whether their consulates are adequately manned to handle so many face-to-face appointments. Remember, there are B1/B2, fresh H1, H1B extensions and many other visa categories now all waiting for interview slots. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff My son is on various Slack groups, etc and other special groups where they discuss these issues. So, he is fully updated as to what is going on. I do not think they think too deeply about whether they are being unnecessarily targeted; as I said, they live in a different world altogether. They are global, live for the day. And they are not comparing themselves to their parents and previous generations, it is only their peer group they relate to. They are taking it as it comes; they have seen this play out since Trump's first term. I have no idea about the job situation for local Americans, but what I do know is that Americans do not like to do STEM programmes; they like to become lawyers or marketers. Dan Wang, who lived in China for few years, wrote Breakneck, a book about what is different between the US and China, why the US lags behind China, and the answer in a nutshell is that the leadership in China are engineers while the leadership in America are lawyers. So, there is a whole culture in America of not doing STEM courses, which is very difficult to change. Americans are excellent in communication skills, they do law degrees and marketing and whatnot, but when it comes to tech for some reason there are not enough Americans out there who can overnight replace H1B/Indians. Therefore, there will be a hard choice which the administration will have to make next year because if they really stop these new people coming in next year, then how will US corporations manage? AI may not be able to solve the manpower issue so soon. Illustration Dominic Xavier/Rediff This segment of techies who did a master's there and moved to US corporations/product companies are not considering coming back to India. They look down on Indian companies who they consider as just doing body shopping. They will certainly manage; they may not want to come back to India because they do not like the infrastructure and the other things here. But the world is an oyster, so they will manage. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff A 'sweet bond' on Silk Road 14:37, September 22, 2025 By Huan Xiang, Han Liqun, Qu Pei ( People's Daily A man introduces the planting techniques of Hami melon in a melon field in Yizhou district, Hami. (Photo/Asadbek Bobojonov) Hami, in the eastern part of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, has long been a key hub on the ancient Silk Road and is known as the "gateway to the Western Regions." When Zhang Qian made his first diplomatic mission to the West in the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-25 AD), Hami was an important stop. The Silk Road he pioneered not only fostered cultural exchanges across regions but also left behind a shared taste memory that has endured for millennia, turning "Hami" into a synonym for sweet melons. Today, Hami's annual Melon Festival celebrates this heritage as a vibrant feast of sweetness. Interestingly, Khiva in Uzbekistan - another ancient Silk Road cultural crossroads - hosts a parallel melon festival. Together, these two transborder events resonate as a symbolic "sweet bond" connecting communities and industries. This summer, in the melon fields of Huayuan township of Hami, workers of the Jiaxiang Fruit Planting Cooperative rushed to harvest, sort, and pack crates of fresh melons ready for shipment. "This year we've already exported 1,880 tons of Hami melons, with peak daily exports exceeding 80 tons," said Liu Ruixiang, head of the cooperative. Hami's temperate continental climate, featuring abundant sunshine and large day-night temperature differences, gives the melons their exceptional sweetness. Strong photosynthesis during the day allows the fruit to accumulate nutrients, while the cool nights slow sugar consumption. The 19th Hami melon festival opens. (Photo/Hu Bin) The story of Hami melons is inseparable from the ancient Silk Road. Along this ancient route, grapes, pomegranates, and alfalfa from the West traveled eastward, while Hami melon cultivation techniques spread to Dunhuang in northwest China's Gansu province before reaching central China. Today, Hami melons have become a pillar industry driving local economic growth and improving livelihoods. International exchanges have also spurred advances in breeding. "We've been working with countries such as Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to share melon germplasm resources, advancing genetic improvement and variety development," said Zhang Yongbing, a researcher at the Hami Melon Research Center of the Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Central Asian countries are also testing thick-skinned varieties developed in China, he added. At the 19th Hami melon festival held recently, 270 varieties spanning ancient and modern times were showcased, drawing crowds of visitors, with popular varieties quickly selling out. Over the past three decades, Hami has transformed its melon from a single agricultural product into a cultural and economic symbol with global appeal. Since it was launched in 1993, the Hami melon festival has grown into the city's most festive "sweet celebration." The State Honored Song and Dance Ensemble of the Republic of Tajikistan "Lola" performs at the 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival. (Photo/Sun Jihu) Cultural exchanges are adding even more vibrancy to Hami. In July this year, the 7th China Xinjiang International Ethnic Dance Festival set up a sub-venue in Hami, where the State Honored Song and Dance Ensemble of the Republic of Tajikistan "Lola" performed in resplendent traditional dress. "The warm response from the audience in Hami made us truly feel that art knows no borders," said head of the troupe. The integration of culture and tourism continues to generate fruitful results. In the first half of this year, Hami welcomed 9.85 million visitors, up 16.46 percent year on year, with tourism revenue reaching 6.379 billion yuan, a 23.22 percent increase. "The fruits here are just as sweet as those from my hometown," said Asadbek Bobojonov, deputy editor-in-chief of Silk Road News Network in Uzbekistan, who joined journalists from 10 countries including Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan on a field trip in June this year. In a 100-mu (about 667 hectares) melon farm in Huayuan township, he inquired closely about planting techniques and sales channels. In Central Asia, melons are more than a fruit - they embody harvest abundance, traditions of hospitality, and national pride. Uzbekistan has been renowned for its melons since ancient times, and every August the melon festival in Khiva draws crowds of visitors. "Both Hami and Uzbekistan share deep historical ties through millennia-old Silk Road trade routes," noted Bobojonov. The Hami melon Festival and the melon festival in Uzbekistan can serve as important platforms for cooperation and exchange, he added. "Hami's melon festival and those of Central Asian countries all celebrate the sweetness of the harvest and the joy of sharing," said Wang Lin of the publicity department of Hami's Yizhou district. Wang called it a vivid example of the cultural affinity between China and its neighbors. Historically, trade and cultural interaction allowed similar crops and customs to take root across the region. Today, under the Belt and Road Initiative, these shared celebrations have become a 'sweet bond' connecting the hearts of people in China and Central Asia. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) More than 58 tonnes of tomato paste from Ukraine were seized on the Ukrainian-Polish border near Poznan, the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection (IJHARS) reported on Facebook. "The Poznan branch of the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection (IJHARS) banned the entry of more than 58 tonnes of Ukrainian tomato paste into the Polish market due to the presence of mold spores. This decision was made in accordance with national interests," the message states. The ban was announced on September 19, after which it immediately came into force. KOSTYANTYNIVKA, Ukraine -- Ukrainians in the city of Kostyantynivka, near the eastern front line in Russia's war on Ukraine, are in constant danger. Russian forces in the Donetsk region are trying to advance from several directions, probing for weak spots in defenses. The Kremlin wants to cut off Ukrainian forces' access to supply routes, which make this city a prime target. Despite constant shelling and disruptions to the water, gas, and electricity supply, an estimated 8,500 locals are hanging on - down from a prewar population of more than 65,000 - but many are clearly rattled. "Is this the press f***ing coming here again?" asks one local woman when approached by a correspondent for RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. "Get the f*** out of here." The woman yells back over her shoulder that when Russian drones see journalists there's invariably an attack. As if on cue, a stalker drone is heard overhead and the residents and RFE/RL team scramble for cover. "People are restless in Kostyantynivka," says RFE/RL correspondent Yevhenia Rusetska. "Artillery is currently hitting the city. The situation is difficult. It's one of the most complicated areas on the front line in the Donetsk region." Since Russian forces made advances in early August around Pokrovsk, some 60 kilometers away, Ukraine has been focusing on turning back the incursion, with only partial and grinding success. The front lines have shifted several times since then. Daily Aerial Attacks Kostyantynivka, a key link in keeping Ukrainian forces supplied, has come under daily aerial attacks by Russian artillery and drones. Kostyantynivka has been badly battered, with whole neighborhoods reduced to rubble. But some residents are still determined to hold out despite the unrelenting presence of the lethal overhead drones that stalk civilians. "When there's a quiet moment, we run to the shop," says one woman as she hurries along a deserted street, bearing bags of supplies. "When there are strikes, we run back home so we don't find ourselves under a drone." Currently, even accessing Kostyantynivka comes with a serious risk of drone attacks, despite long corridors of netting that have been set up along the main road in and out of the city. The improvised drone defense has helped many to continue getting to and from Kostyantynivka, but the nets don't stop every attack drone - some drivers, both civilian and military, never make it through. Two days after an unprecedented drone incursion by Russia on Polish territory on September 10, NATO unveiled its response: Operation Eastern Sentry. The mission kicked off immediately on September 12 and was tested a week later by Russian jets entering Estonian airspace. NATO says Eastern Sentry is about strengthening its defense posture, connectivity, and flexibility along its entire eastern flank. While the immediate focus was on Russia drones and geographically on Poland, the operation is multidomain -- meaning land, sea, and air forces are involved -- and is meant to plug gaps from the North Sea to the Black Sea. It was made clear, however, that it will only be in NATO territory, meaning there are no plans to enter western Ukraine to protect the skies. While Kyiv would very much welcome such a move, and there is an argument for targeting Russian drones much earlier, many NATO allies are fearful this could bring them closer to a direct conflict with the Kremlin. Integrated System The key goal now is to move toward an integrated system. Previously, individual NATO allies conducted air policing in different locations, with NATO providing supplementary support on a case-by-case basis, depending on the threat assessment. The idea now is to have more resources linked to each other across the entire eastern flank, be it missiles or anti-drone technology. It is inspired by a similar operation, Baltic Sentry, that was launched earlier this year as a response to a number of alleged undersea sabotage activities by Moscow in the Baltic Sea. NATO officials RFE/RL has been in touch with on condition of anonymity view that operation as a success, noting there have been no recent attempts to sever cables or other infrastructure in the region. While it will be trickier to prevent all drones from getting into NATO territory, the thinking here is a beefed-up presence will make "Russia think twice before testing again." Allies Step Up Eight countries have already joined Eastern Sentry and placed assets at the disposal of NATO's supreme allied commander (SACEUR), Alexus Grynkewich. More are expected to follow suit. France was the first to come forward, with three Rafale fighter jets to be stationed in Poland, as well as an Airbus A400M military transport aircraft. Britain will have some of its Typhoon jets fly defense missions over Polish skies, and Germany has moved four of its Eurofighters closer to its eastern neighbor, ready to conduct sorties at any moment. Italy and Denmark have both also signaled that they will provide jets. Additionally, Copenhagen has deployed a military ship in the eastern Baltic Sea. Spain and Sweden will also contribute, while the Czech Republic is actually placing some special forces troops in Poland and sending three helicopters as well. Two things stand out here. First, the lack of any new American assets being provided to Eastern Sentry so far. When asked about this at a press briefing, Grynkewich half-joked that "as far as US military assets [are concerned]I'm right here, and I'm involved" before adding that "the United States commitment to the integrated military structure of the Alliance remains." US President Donald Trump, when asked by reporters on September 21 if he would help defend Poland and nearby Baltic states if Moscow continues to escalate, said: "Yeah, I would. I would." The United States has more than 10,000 troops stationed in Poland, and that number could even increase. While there are widespread reports about Washington redeploying military personnel from Europe to Asian theaters, NATO officials who spoke to RFE/RL were adamant they have been given no indication that troop numbers will be reduced on the eastern flank anytime soon. Cost Concerns The second issue is that the commitment to Eastern Sentry has so far been focused on expensive fighter jets and other costly equipment. This was one of the criticisms of the Polish and NATO response to the September 10 incursion: that multimillion-dollar fighter jets were used for protection against cheap drones. While some European officials admit that Warsaw wants "a show of force," others acknowledge this isn't economically sustainable in the long run. Or, as one senior NATO official put it: "We, of course, recognize that the best way to defeat drones is not with a very expensive missile fired from a very, very expensive plane." Eastern Sentry is very much a sort of sudden measure until a potential "drone wall" can become a reality and complement what's already out there. NATO will be central to building such a system, and with the EU signaling readiness to fund it, the project looks likely to happen, but it is two to three years away in the best-case scenario. In the meantime, the military alliance is looking at Latvia's pioneering work with acoustic sensors that detect drones faster, as well as new munitions that allow aircraft to use cheaper weapons, both of which could happen rather quickly. Mobile fire teams are another model NATO could adapt from Ukraine's experience. Kyiv has been using these small, fast-moving units armed with machine guns or man-portable air-defense systems with increasing success on the battlefield. As Grynkewich put it when pressed by the media after unveiling Eastern Sentry: "It's time to take a fresh look at this. And we're always learning. NATO is a learning organization." NATO officials are gathering for a meeting of its North Atlantic Council (NAC) on September 23, called by Estonia in response to an incursion by Russian warplanes into its airspace last week. That incident and previous incursions into other NATO countries by Russian drones, particularly into Poland on September 10, have left the alliance scrambling for the right response. Czech President Petr Pavel, a career soldier who was a senior NATO official as head of its Military Committee, even suggested shooting down Russian planes if necessary in remarks to Czech media on September 20. In the Polish case, some of the drones were shot down by Polish and NATO air assets. In Estonia, Russian jets were escorted away by Swedish, Finnish, and Italian planes -- with the latter nation currently being in charge of the alliance's Baltic air policing mission together with Spain and Hungary. NATO officials who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity say it is much easier to get clearance to shoot at an unmanned drone, especially if it is seen as heading toward critical infrastructure, than a jet with a pilot. Can They Shoot? As a rule of thumb: NATO is a defensive alliance consisting of 32 sovereign nations. That means that, ultimately, it is up to each and every country how it polices and defends its territory -- including its airspace. But a "caution first" approach is usually applied. In other words: Don't shoot immediately. But things are different if there is a mission or operation in progress that falls under the NATO umbrella. This is the case with the eight battlegroups along the alliance's eastern flank and the Baltic air policing mission that has been in place since Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined in 2004. NATO allies with fighter jets take turns every four months to patrol the skies of the Baltic trio, which lack their own air power. In cases such as this, the rules of engagement are set by the NAC, which is the alliance's foremost political decision-making body. Decisions are made via unanimity, with the military aspects then executed by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). This is always a US general, currently General Alexus G. Grynkewich, who took up the role in July. Every mission under him has its own specific rules of engagement. What unites them all is that they aren't made public and should keep enemies guessing. What makes it even more complicated is that NATO as an organization has few assets under its own command. Instead, most allies provide their national capabilities to SACEUR but maintain their own national caveats. A hypothetical example: If Italian planes are asked to shoot down drones over Poland as part the alliance's new Eastern Sentry operation, someone in Rome must give the green light. Depending on the agreement, this could be a military chief, defense minister, or even prime minister. In other instances, countries allow SACEUR or his commanders to make the call. As noted, there's a high bar for opening fire, especially at Russian planes with human crews. The NATO jets involved in the Baltic air policing mission shouldn't really shoot at those. Two NATO officials told RFE/RL the three MiGs that spent 12 minutes in Estonian airspace on September 19 did not represent a direct threat to the country. Rather, they said, it was a provocation to test the alliance's response and that NATO aircraft did the correct thing in escorting them away. But the wisdom of this is now being debated in public. Like the Czech president, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene have suggested that it could become necessary to shoot down Russian planes. Why Turkey Opened Fire The example of Turkey gunning down a Russian Sukhoi-24M near the Turkish-Syrian border in 2015 is often highlighted. The jet violated Turkish airspace during the height of the Syrian War for 17 seconds after having been warned numerous times to change course. This was a simpler situation. Turkey made its own decision to use its own air force as it saw fit. While tensions were high between Ankara and Moscow and the latter imposed immediate sanctions, relations warmed again six months later with the Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressing regret. NATO sided with Ankara but asked for caution and deployed more AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) planes to the country. Much like Turkey back then, and Poland earlier in September, Estonia has called for consultations under NATO's Article 4, which are now going ahead on September 23. Tallinn is likely to point out that this is the fifth Russian airspace violation this year, the two planes had their transponders shut down, and they failed to communicate with Estonian air traffic control. This behavior is becoming increasingly common by Russian planes in the Baltic Sea theater. NATO officials believe some allies will repeat the warning that they might be forced to shoot down next time. But rules of engagements can also be changed in other ways, such as allowing allied aircraft to fly closer to enemy planes or to fire warning shots. The human rights situation in Russia has "steadily deteriorated" since President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a UN expert said, describing a "seismic decline" that has hit vulnerable groups such as minorities and migrants particularly hard. "Over the past 3 1/2 years, Russian authorities have pursued a deliberate strategy to wipe out dissent through intensified censorship, politically motivated prosecutions," and other measures, Mariana Katzarova, special rapporteur on human rights in Russia, said in a new report. "Anti-war dissenters and activists are serving years in prison, not for crimes but for courage," Katzarova told a press conference on September 22 during a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. "The repression is escalating," she said. In the report, Katzarova said that "civic space has been systematically and purposefully destroyed" and the authorities have "transformed public institutions into instruments of repression and war." An independent expert appointed in 2023, Katzarova is the first UN-backed monitor of the human rights situation in Russia, one of five permanent UN Security Council members. She does not speak on behalf of the UN. The clampdown has had a "particularly severe impact on vulnerable groups, especially women, LGBT persons, national and ethnic minorities, Indigenous Peoples, religious groups and migrants, who have been specifically targeted and scapegoated in official rhetoric and practice," the report said. In the North Caucasus, a "relentless descent into lawlessness has enabled widespread violations, including gender-based violence, femicide, torture and ill-treatment, enforced disappearance and brutal suppression of the rights of LGBT persons," it said. Russian authorities have been seeking to stifle dissent throughout Putin's quarter-century in power. The clampdown widened after he returned to the presidency in 2012 after a stint as prime minister and has intensified further during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As tools of repression, the Kremlin is using "broad public safety and national security provisions," as well as expanded legislation branding individuals and organizations as "foreign agents" and "undesirables," the report said. Katzarova also described the "widespread and systematic recourse to torture and ill-treatment" by law enforcement officials, members of the armed forces, and others as "endemic," and said the authorities are also using the Soviet-era tactic of forced psychiatric treatment. "Punitive psychiatry has returned as a tool against anti-war voices," she told journalists. The report cited "a clear pattern of health professionals participating in and condoning the most abhorrent torture, especially of Ukrainian detainees." "Accountability and justice, and the release of all Ukrainian civilian detainees, Ukrainian and Russian prisoners of war, held by both sides, deported Ukrainian children and all Russian political prisoners, must inform any peace talks and [peace] process," it said. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to extend the New START treaty between Moscow and Washington -- the last remaining nuclear arms deal between the two countries -- which is due to expire in February. Speaking at a meeting of his advisory Security Council on September 22, Putin said that allowing the treaty to expire would have negative consequences for global stability. "Russia is prepared to continue adhering to the central quantitative limitations of the New START treaty for one year after February 5, 2026," Putin said. He said the United States should do the same. "We believe this measure will only be viable if the United States acts in a similar manner and does not take steps that undermine or disrupt the existing balance of deterrence potentials," Putin said. The treaty was signed in Prague in 2010 by then presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev. The deal limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, and envisages sweeping onsite inspections to verify compliance. Russia paused inspections under the treaty in August 2022 as bilateral ties worsened after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February that year. Putin said in February 2023 that Russia was suspending its participation in the pact, but Moscow stressed it would continue to adhere to the caps on its nuclear arsenal. Other bilateral arms control treaties governing the world's two largest nuclear arsenals have collapsed amid acrimony between Washington and Moscow. Since Donald Trump became US President in January, Russia has indicated it is open to renewed nuclear dialogue with Washington. Putin also suggested a new bilateral arms control agreement could be reached ahead of his talks with Trump in Alaska in August. Russia has repeatedly sought to move talks with the United States beyond efforts to bring about peace or a cease-fire in Ukraine to include bilateral issues. The idea appears to be to relegate Ukraine to a side issue in a broader, more complex relationship and suggest to the world that the United States and Russia are global powers on equal footing. There was no immediate response from Washington to Putin's latest remarks, but Trump has suggested talks on nuclear arms reduction should be broadened to include China, which he sees as the bigger strategic threat to the United States. Trump has also said talks on cutting nuclear stockpiles should take place after a deal is reached regarding Ukraine. IAEA reps hear military actions or alarm sirens at all five Ukrainian NPPs almost every day last week Over the past week, the IAEA team at the Zaporizhia NPP reported hearing military actions almost every day, and IAEA teams present at the Khmelnytsky, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs and on the territory of the Chornobyl NPP also heard air raid sirens almost every day. The agency reported this with reference to Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi on Monday. In addition, on Thursday morning, the IAEA team in Chornobyl was awakened by the sounds of numerous explosions. Inspectors were later told that several drones had been spotted over the exclusion zone, approximately five kilometers from the facility, and the sounds the team heard were those of anti-aircraft fire. My position remains unchanged. Im deeply concerned about the increased frequency of reported drone activity near nuclear facilities, Director General Grossi said. I renew my call for maximum military restraint to prevent a nuclear accident. Over the weekend, the IAEA team based at the ZNPP was informed of a newly constructed dam to isolate one of ZNPPs channels from its cooling pond. This channel currently supplies water for the cooling of several plant systems, such as unit transformers that provide power to the sites six reactor units, which is needed for the operation of their safety systems. The ZNPPs six reactors have been in cold shutdown since spring 2024 but still require cooling water for their safety systems, reactor cores and spent fuel pools. While the ZNPP continues to use water from the groundwater wells on site for the cooling of these essential services, the dam was constructed to preserve the water in the channel to provide cooling for other plant systems that are needed to maintain the ZNPP in safe shutdown for extended periods of time. The IAEA team has also been informed that the site is pumping water from the cooling pond into the isolated part of this channel and that the current water level in the channel is more than a meter above the point where cooling pumps would cease to operate. The ZNPP is also considering other options for supplying power to its reactor units to maintain the operation of its safety systems, as well as other measures for the cooling of the unit transformers. This underscores the ongoing challenges in ensuring reliable cooling water for the ZNPPs six reactors and their safety systems needed to maintain long-term cold shutdown. The potential loss of cooling resulting from the depletion of the water in this ZNPP channel represents a real concern with respect to nuclear safety, which is a priority for the IAEA, Director General Grossi said. According to the IAEA, two of the nine power units at Ukraine's three operating nuclear power plants are shut down for maintenance and refueling, which also includes work on some external power lines. Over the weekend, two reactors had reduced power levels due to power grid constraints - both have now returned to nominal power levels. The healthy barn owl population in the county is giving hope to conservationists and helping the farming community. John Lusby of Birdwatch Ireland recently held an online presentation on a barn owl survey in counties Roscommon, Leitrim, and Sligo where he was able to share some of its preliminary results. The survey, which has gone really well, is still ongoing although coming to an end. We focused the survey during the breeding season, essentially the summer months, in order to understand their distribution in the county. Mr Lusby explained that the barn owl population is experiencing a number of changes and Birdwatch Ireland wanted to get a better understanding of how the species is doing. To do that we relied a lot on citizen science, farmers, members of the public reporting any information to us. That helped hugely in terms of identifying areas where they are likely nesting or are present. We then followed up on that information. It was great to see the enthusiasm on the ground. He said that 12 barn owl nest sites were identified in the county so far, mostly in the South Roscommon area. Barn owls have undergone quite a worrying decline in recent decades, from the 1960s onwards. Barn owls would have been a lot more widespread in the countryside. The reasons for that decline, which also affected the curlew and corncrake, include changes in agricultural practices, and increase use in rodenticides, said Mr Lusby. Things got quite serious in terms of their decline and we were quite worried. Fortunately, thanks to conservation efforts such as putting up nesting boxes and reducing the use of rat poison, barn owl populations are now starting to slowly recover throughout the country, particularly in Munster. But one of the main reasons for barn owl population recovery is there has been huge changes in their prey species. We have a few non-native small mammals that have arrived here quite recently and have spread. In County Roscommon there are two species in particular, the greater white toothed shrew and the bank vole, that are recent arrivals. It is likely they havent spread around the whole county but are definitely present in the south and into mid-Roscommon. Where those species occur barn owls seem to benefit. He said that the numbers of barn owls in Counties Leitrim and Sligo are much lower than in Roscommon. Mr Lusby is encouraging people to report sightings of barn owls to Birdwatch Ireland through its website, www.birdwatchireland.ie. Barn owls seem to very much resonate with people, they stop you in your tracks when you see them, he said. They stay with people. They are also known as the farmers friend and often nest in farm buildings. They really help keep the rodent population down. There are some really incredible farmers in Roscommon that we have come into contact with through the survey. They have gone to great lengths to accommodate barn owls on their farms and they love having them there as well. One of the farmers who participated in the survey is South Roscommon farmer, Michael McDonnell. He explained that he has a breeding pair on his farm and that Mr Lusby and Ms Isobel Oakes, who is the main barn owl surveyor in County Roscommon, visited his farm to observe his resident barn owls. Isobel carried out a nighttime survey and saw the owls coming and going, and listened to see how many young were on the nest. She estimated that there might be three hatchlings, he said and encouraged people to get involved in the survey. We have a breeding pair resident for a number of years, maybe four or five years. I saw barn owls here possibly 50 years ago so we are delighted to see them back. Mr McDonnell said that although work on the farm is very busy, the owls do not seem to be disturbed. The pair are coming and going from an old building and they have their nest in a chimney, and were delighted they are here. We have family members coming from as far as Canada and friends from Germany coming to look at them, and they are equally enthusiastic about them. Mr McDonnell agreed that the owls have been brilliant for rodent control. When the chicks started to hunt, we noticed a very significant decrease in the rodent population this year, he said. He added that the chicks were a little unsteady in the air at first and sometimes dropped their prey as they entered the shed and we got a view on what they were eating, shrews and field mice and things like that. He also agreed that the owls are a very special presence and that they have taken measures to encourage them. They are incredible and we cant emphasize that enough. You cant see them and not be in better spirits. In order to raise awareness, Mr McDonnell spoke to Birdwatch Ireland and suggested installing a webcam so that people could observe the pair from time to time. It would be super I think. We see them every day but for other people it might be a once in a lifetime opportunity. The Roscommon Barn Owl Survey is supported by Roscommon County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund, and both organisations were thanked for their support. Ukraine has appealed to the leadership of the UN World Food Programme in Ukraine, headed by Director Richard Ragan, with a request to consider the possibility of expanding the Grain from Ukraine program to other African countries that have not yet joined this program, the press service of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture reported. According to the report, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Denys Bashlyk, at a meeting with the WFP delegation in Ukraine, thanked them for implementing the Grain from Ukraine initiative of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and for clearing landmines. He informed the representatives of the UN WFP in Ukraine about the progress of preparations for the International Food Security Summit "Food from Ukraine," which will be held on November 19 in Kyiv, and invited them to participate. Grain from Ukraine is an international humanitarian program launched in 2022 at the initiative of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Its goal is to supply Ukrainian food to the most vulnerable countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East with the financial support of donor countries and in coordination with the UN World Food Programme (WFP). Despite the name, the program covers not only grain crops, but also other food products, including vegetable oil and flour. A total of 18 countries have already received food aid under the initiative. Tributes were paid at the monthly meeting of Roscommon County Council today, Monday, following the untimely death of 52-year-old Paolo Roberto, husband of former councillor Orla Leydon. A minutes silence was also observed at the meeting in memory of Mr Roberto, who was known locally as Pablo. Councillors expressed their condolences to his wife Orla, daughter Donata and the extended Leyden and Roberto families. Its understood that Mr Roberto, who lived Castlecoote, was admitted to hospital on Thursday and passed away unexpectedly early on Sunday morning. An Italian fishing enthusiast, Mr Roberto ran a very successful business, Gone Fishing Ireland which provided a number of services including fishing guides, fishing packages and boat hire. Born in Canada, he travelled Europe widely. Mr Roberto moved to Ireland twenty years ago and found his fishing haven in County Roscommon. He enjoyed fishing the rivers and lakes of the River Suck and River Shannon including Lough Ree. Mr Roberto is immediately survived by his wife Orla Leydon, a former county councillor; their daughter Donata Maria; his mother Donata; brother Tony; sister Sara; father-in-law Terry and mother-in-law Mary. He is predeceased by his father Giuseppe. Paying tribute, Independent councillor Tom Crosby said Mr Roberto was a respected businessman with a great love of nature and a keen interest in water-related activities. Aryan Khan's Debut Web Series Under Fire; Human Rights Commission Objects Use of Banned E-Cigarettes The NHRC letter, addressed to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, has requested that an FIR be registered against Ranbir Kapoor, the producers Aryan Khans Debut Web Series Under Fire; Human Rights Commission Objects Use of Banned E-Cigarettes: Days after the premiere of The Ba**ds of Bollywood, the series is under fire. Aryan Khans debut web series, streaming on Netflix, is facing criticism for allegedly showing banned e-cigarettes on screen without a warning or disclaimer. Following a complaint that the web series allegedly showed actor Ranbir Kapoor using banned e-cigarettes without a warning or disclaimer, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has written to the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, urging appropriate action to prohibit such content, which may influence youth. Advertisement The NHRC letter, addressed to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, has requested that an FIR be registered against Ranbir Kapoor, the producers, the production company, and the OTT platform Netflix for violating the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019. The Netflix series was released on September 18, 2025. All seven episodes of the series premiered simultaneously on the streaming platform. (For more news apart from Aryan Khans Debut Web Series Under Fire; Human Rights Commission Objects Use of Banned E-Cigarettes, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.) Simi Chahal & Mandy Takhar Come Bak Together After 9 Years With Tutt Paini English Ne! Set to release in 2026, the film is expected to light up cinema halls with laughter and showcase the charm ... Simi Chahal & Mandy Takhar Come Bak Together After 9 Years With Tutt Paini English Ne! Latest News: After gifting Punjabi cinema timeless classics like Bambukat, Rabb Da Radio & Daana Paani, Jass Grewal is back with another crowd-puller. Punjabi cinema is all set to welcome a fresh wave of laughter and drama with the upcoming film Tutt Paini English Ne! From the acclaimed writer of Rabb Da Radio, Bambukat and Daana Paani Jass Grewal brings another compelling story filled with humor, heart, and unforgettable characters. Advertisement The film stars Simi Chahal and Mandy Takhar, who were loved abundantly for their memorable performances in Rabb Da Radio by the audience, are reuniting on screen after 9 long years, alongside Satvinder Singh. Directed by Varinder Sharma, Tutt Paini English Ne! promises a perfect blend of comedy and drama that will keep audiences entertained from start to finish. Set to release in 2026, the film is expected to light up cinema halls with laughter and showcase the charm and talent of Punjabi storytelling at its best. Fans can look forward to a cinematic experience filled with fun, emotions, and unforgettable moments! (For more news apart from Simi Chahal & Mandy Takhar Come Bak Together After 9 Years With Tutt Paini English Ne!, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.) Passenger Aboard Air India Express Flight Tries Opening Cockpit Door Mid Air, Probe Underway A source told HT that the passenger who tried to open the cockpit door was a first-time flier'. Passenger Aboard Air India Express Flight Tries Opening Cockpit Door Mid Air, Latest News: A passenger aboard Air India Express Flight IX-1086 from Bengaluru to Varanasi allegedly attempted to open the cockpit door of the aircraft mid-air, causing a hijack scare, the Hindustan Times reported on Monday, citing multiple sources. Air India Express issued a statement following the incident, stating that the individual approached the cockpit entry area while looking for the lavatory. Advertisement "The matter was reported to the relevant authorities on landing and is currently under investigation, an Air India spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report. We reaffirm that robust safety and security protocols are in place and were not compromised, said a spokesperson for Air India Express, according to the report. A source told HT that the passenger who tried to open the cockpit door was a first-time flier. Advertisement When asked why he did so, he said he wanted to use the lavatory and thought it was the same door. He, however, went back quietly after the crew informed him that he had attempted to open the cockpit door. As per protocol, he was handed over to the CISF, which then handed him over to the local police, the source was quoted as saying. However, according to the Economic Times, cited in the report, the passenger had even entered the correct passcode to the cockpit door, and a pilot blocked his entry fearing a hijack. The HT report added that it could not independently verify the information provided in the ET report. (For more news apart from Amit Shah Calls New GST PM Modis Steely Resolve to Serve the Poor, Youth, Farmers, and Women, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.) PM Slams Congress For Overlooking Northeast, Says Arunachal Got Rs 1 Lakh Crore In Last 10 Yrs Arunachal got Rs 1 lakh crore from Centre in the last 10 years,16 times more than what it got during the Congress rule. PM Slams Congress For Overlooking Northeast, Says Arunachal Got Rs 1 Lakh Crore In Last 10 Yrs: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a gathering at the launch of projects related to energy, connectivity, and healthcare in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, stated that the state received Rs 1 lakh crore from the Centre in the last 10 years, which PM Modi claimed was 16 times more than what it got during the Congress rule. Taking a jibe at the previous government, PM Modi stated that he knew the Northeast couldnt be developed while sitting in Delhi and, therefore, he sent ministers and officers more frequently to the region. Advertisement PM accused the Congress party of neglecting Arunachal, citing that it has only two Lok Sabha seats, and that the negligence caused a lot of damage and left the state behind in development. However, he said that during his prime ministership, PM Modi visited the Northeast over 70 times. PM Narendra Modi, on Monday, laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development works in Itanagar. Advertisement He unveiled infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,125 crore in Arunachal Pradesh during the event and stated that the projects unveiled today were examples of the double benefits of a double-engine government. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu felicitated PM Narendra Modi on the occasion. Speaking further in his address to the gathering, Prime Minister Modi stated that from Tawang Monastery to Namsai Pagoda, Arunachal Pradesh is a land of peace and harmony. He further accused Congress of declaring the Northeast 'backward' without carrying out any developmental works in the region due to the challenging terrain. Advertisement He said, "...One inherent habit of Congress is that they never take up development work that is difficult to be done; they abandon it. This habit of Congress caused significant harm to Arunachal Pradesh and the entire Northeast. In the hilly and forested areas, where development work was challenging, Congress would declare the regions backward and simply forget them. PM stated that when he became the Prime Minister, he resolved to free the country from the mindset of Congress. Our guiding principle is not the number of votes or seats in any state, but Nation First. Our only mantra is Nagrik Devo Bhava (the citizen is God). Modi worships those whom no one has ever asked about. That is why Arunachal Pradesh, which was neglected during Congress rule, has, since 2014, become a center of developmental priority, Modi continued. Advertisement He called Arunachal the land of patriotism, adding, Just as the first colour of the national flag is saffron, Arunachals first hue is also saffron. Every person here symbolises courage and represents peace. He noted that the districts which Congress labeled as backward have been made aspirational districts in Modis government and that development in these districts was prioritized. The villages at the border, which Congress called the last villages, we have recognised as the first villages of the nation. The results are visible today; new heights of development are being seen in the border villages, PM Modi continued. PM Narendra Modi also held an impromptu roadshow in Itanagar. (For more news apart from PM Slams Congress For Overlooking Northeast, Says Arunachal Got Rs 1 Lakh Crore In Last 10 Yrs, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.) Massive Fire Breaks Out in Blood Bank Store Room at Amritsar Civil Hospital, Caused by Short Circuit Police officials also confirmed that the fire was indeed caused by a short circuit Massive Fire Breaks Out in Blood Bank Store Room at Amritsar Civil Hospital Latest News: A major fire broke out this morning at Amritsars Civil Hospital, causing panic among the hospital administration and patients. According to sources, the fire started in the blood banks store room, where some important records were kept. Due to the timely action of the security guards and hospital staff, a major tragedy was averted, and no loss of life has been reported. Advertisement A security guard at the Civil Hospital told the media that he was on night duty when he suddenly noticed a strong smell of smoke in the morning. He said,At first, I thought it might be a small fire, but when I went upstairs, I saw the entire room engulfed in flames. Showing courage, he and the staff activated the fire cylinders, used water, and together tried to control the fire. While some staff members were helping evacuate patients, others were engaged in extinguishing the flames. Another security guard mentioned that multiple calls were made to the fire brigade, but they were not answered initially. He said that if the staff had not acted with such bravery, the situation could have been disastrous. Although the fire brigade eventually arrived at the scene, the hospital staff had already brought the fire under control. Hospital sanitation workers also confirmed that the fire was caused by a short circuit, and the staff responded in time to manage the situation. Advertisement Dr. Swaranjit Singh Dhawan, SMO (Senior Medical Officer) of Civil Hospital, confirmed to the media that the fire broke out in the blood banks store room where important records were kept. He praised the courage of the hospital staff and security guards, stating that they prevented the fire from spreading further. Police officials also confirmed that the fire was indeed caused by a short circuit and reported no major loss of life or property. They added that the fire brigade team reached the site on time and took full control of the situation. This incident at Amritsar Civil Hospital once again highlights the urgent need to review safety protocols in hospitals and inspect electrical systems thoroughly. Advertisement (For more news apart from Massive Fire Breaks Out in Blood Bank Store Room at Amritsar Civil Hospital, Fire Caused by Short Circuit, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.) 30 Including Women & Children Killed In Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa After Air Force Bombing 30 Including Women & Children Killed In Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa After Air Force Bombing 30 Including Women & Children Killed In Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa After Air Force Bombing: At least 30 people were reportedly killed after Pakistans Air Force dropped eight bombs on a village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, according to a report by India Today. Among those killed were women and children. Citing reports, it said that LS-6 bombs were dropped from JF-17 fighter jets on the Pashtun-majority Matre Dara village around 2 am, leading to the destruction of a large part of the village. Several people were also reported injured, although confirmation on the same is awaited, it said. Advertisement According to local media cited in the report, the air force was targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in the area. All victims were reported to be civilians. According to the report, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen military actions against terrorists hiding in the mountainous province bordering Afghanistan. The Army on Sunday announced that seven TTP terrorists were killed during an operation in Dera Ismail Khan district. The report said that three among the seven killed were Afghan nationals and two were suicide bombers, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). In a separate engagement, on September 13-14, at least 31 TTP terrorists were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the report added. Advertisement (For more news apart from Amit Shah Calls New GST PM Modis Steely Resolve to Serve the Poor, Youth, Farmers, and Women, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.) The Romanian Communist Partys illegal activity The Romanian Communist Party was, since its creation, a terrorist organization placed at the service of the Soviet Union, which was a terrorist state. The History Show Steliu Lambru, 22.09.2025, 14:00 On May 8, 1921, the far left of the Romanian Social Democratic Party voted to affiliate with the principles of The Third International and took the title of Communist Party of Romania (PCR). The PCR was a terrorist organization because it condemned the formation of Greater Romania in 1918 and sought its dismemberment. It campaigned for the autonomy of the Romanian provinces until the total separation from the Romanian state, considered an imperialist state, which had been formed through the conquest of foreign territories. The PCR campaigned for the elimination of capitalism, that is, the market economy, political multi-party system and private property. The PCR was a terrorist organization because it not only campaigned for the dissolution of Romania at a declarative level, but had also taken action. They meant both soft actions such as the distribution of manifestos, and hard actions that meant armed rebellion, as was the Tatarbunar uprising of 1924, and economic blockade through strikes, as was the strike of 1933. The Law on Legal Entities, adopted on February 6, 1924, abolished extremist parties and organizations, and the PCR was among them. In August 1944, when they emerged from illegality, the Romanian communists would follow the instructions of the Comintern. At the end of the war and after the installation of the communist regime, propaganda gave the illegals an intangible prestige. Anton Moisescu, interviewed in 1995 by Radio Romanias Oral History Center, remembered his illegal activity. I was in charge of the organization in Iasi, especially of the student youth, and of the working youth in Iasi. I was in charge of organizing student actions against the chauvinistic and racist manifestations of the Legionary Movement, which was quite strong in Iasi. I was in charge of organizing the workers, the young workers from Nicolina, on the eve of the 1933 strike, organizing the working youth in Pascani. On May 1, 1933, we organized the distribution of manifestos with general slogans, which were both in the country and abroad. We were demanding the freedom of organization of the workers, the legalization of the eight-hour workday, we were for the Three Eights, as we called them. We wanted eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, eight hours of recreation. We had wage demands for the workers, better working conditions, and so on. Then, in Iasi, in addition to distributing manifestos, we also organized a stenciling action, writing slogans that were done with stencils and paint on fences, walls, etc. I had written Long live May 1, the international day of those who work! and Long live May 1! Workers fighting for eight hours of work, human wages, humane treatment in enterprises!. Radu Bogdan, in the same year 1995, confessed the contribution he made to his comrades actions against Romania. When Vladescu-Racosa fell and was arrested in the spring of 44, I was sitting in the same yard with him, my connections with the illegals ceased. That was a rule of conspiracy. One of my party connections was arrested, beaten, but he kept quiet. By keeping quiet, I was among those saved because I made my house available. That was one of my illegal activities, so that they would have a place where they could make fake identity cards, stamps and other things. Other actions were the distribution of anti-fascist manifestos. I dont give a lot of credit to this activity, but one thing was certain: I knew that I was risking my life because, during the same period, three 16-year-old boys had been executed for distributing 1-leu banknotes with the stamp Down with Antonescu . So, if I had been caught, it wouldnt have gone well for me. Of course, there was a lot of unconsciousness involved. What did all this youth know about what was actually happening in the world? Mihai Rosianu, in 1971, on the 50th anniversary of the partys founding, recalled how the future patriarch Justinian Marina had also taken on the aura of an illegals. In the 36 For Peace action, we held a large gathering in Valcea and wrote a letter to the congress where the Rassemblement Universel pour la Paix (RUP) had been established in Paris, a letter also signed by the patriarch, who was then priest Marina. Our people were welcomed and entered the church yard, and the Security and the Police could not suspect, only the faithful could suspect. Our people went to the parish house, they had a secret room there where I also went when I wanted to take shelter. We held our meeting there, with delegates from all the counties of Oltenia. The District Committee was elected at that time and we found legal forms to take on the illegal, revolutionary, forms of struggle. The cultural centers were also organizations that covered our activity, those cultural centers that were run by communists we established as peasant organizations, with minutes and statutes, in which they considered themselves members. And so we made contacts in the masses. Only through a historical accident did the PCR eventually come to rule Romania. The period of illegal activity only outlined the horrors committed by the regime it established. (EE) September 22, 2025 A roundup of domestic and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 22.09.2025, 13:55 Deficit The Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan is discussing today in Brussels with several European commissioners, including the one for the economy, Valdis Dombrovskis, and the one for defense, Andrius Kubilius, about the credits taken by Romania and the budget deficit. Recently, the PM has declared that Romania has a deficit of about 30 billion Euros, and the interests that Bucharest must pay this year amount to 11 billion Euros. In this difficult context, the government had to quickly take measures to reduce expenses, especially since there is a risk of suspension of European funds, if by October 15 the budget deficit is not corrected, as requested by European officials. In Brussels, the Romanian prime minister also has a working meeting with Roxana Minzatu, the executive vice-president of the European Commission, responsible for social rights and skills, quality jobs and training. UN About 140 heads of state and government are expected in New York for the annual UN summit, which marks 80 years since the creation of the United Nations. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will launch the so-called UN Initiative 80, aimed at leading to a systemic reform of the world organization. The summit will also be attended by President Donald Trump, who since returning to the White House has initiated massive cuts to US foreign aid, affecting many struggling UN agencies, while humanitarian needs are growing. A central point of discussion is the future of the Palestinians and Gaza. The Israeli prime minister accused Western leaders who recognize the state of Palestine of rewarding terrorism. Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the Palestinians would never have a state and announced that Israel would react to coordinated statements from Great Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal, which on Sunday announced the official recognition of a Palestinian state. Today, France and several other European countries are set to make similar announcements at the United Nations. In fact, the state is already recognized by about 150 of the 193 UN member states. Among them are EU member states, including Romania, which, like other ex-communist countries, recognized Palestine before joining the Union. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday and says he plans to meet again with President Trump in New York to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. Moldova It is the last week of the electoral campaign in the Republic of Moldova (an ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population) before the legislative elections scheduled for September 28 and considered crucial for the future of the country. The vote will decide whether the Republic of Moldova will continue its path towards the EU or turn back to Russia. More than 20 political parties and electoral blocs have entered the race for the Moldovan parliament, and opinion polls give the first chance to the ruling party, the Action and Solidarity party founded by President Maia Sandu, with a pro-European orientation, but without obtaining the majority. In the context of the war in Ukraine, accusations of Russian interference in politics in the Republic of Moldova are becoming more frequent police and prosecutors reveal almost weekly complicated schemes of illegal financing of some parties and buying votes, as well as money laundering. Russia The UN Security Council is meeting today in an extraordinary session, at the request of Estonia, after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered the Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland. The incident, which took place on Friday, lasted about 12 minutes and sparked strong reactions from the authorities in Tallinn and the North Atlantic Alliance. Romania condemns the violation of Estonian airspace by the three Russian fighter jets, the Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu wrote on X, adding that this is an additional reason for adopting a new package of sanctions against Russia. As a member of the EU and NATO and as a country facing such Russian challenges, Romania stands in full solidarity with Estonia, Oana Toiu wrote. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also sent a strong message to Moscow after the recent incursions of Russian planes and drones into the airspace of Poland, Romania and Estonia. In an interview with the Belgian publication Le Soir and quoted by EFE, Ursula von der Leyen stressed that the EU would defend every inch of its territory. In Washington, US President Donald Trump assured that the United States would participate in the defense of Poland and the Baltic countries if Russia intensified its military activity in the region, AFP reports. Drill In Dambovita County (southern Romania), the international exercise Carpathian Blue Shield 2025 is taking place until Friday, with the participation of 15 countries and five international security organizations. Over 500 Romanian and foreign military personnel are conducting tactical simulations and operational scenarios, aimed at strengthening partnerships and increasing the level of joint training in the face of security challenges, the Interior Ministry wrote in an Internet post. According to the cited source, Carpathian Blue Shield has reached its 11th edition and is proof of Romanias firm commitment to security, stability and the protection of citizens. (LS) September 22, 2025 UPDATE (1) A roundup of local and world news September 22, 2025 UPDATE (1) Newsroom, 22.09.2025, 16:00 TALKS On a visit to Brussels, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan discussed with the European Commissioner for the Economy, Valdis Dombrovskis, regarding the measures taken by Romania to reduce the budget deficit, a topic all the more important as the government in Bucharest is preparing a budget correction, which must reflect the targets assumed by the Romanian authorities. Another related topic is the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which was recently modified by Romania and submitted to Brussels, in order to attract as many funds as possible for delayed projects, which would help stabilize the economy. The Prime Minister also met with Andrius Kubilius, the EU Commissioner for Defense. Talks focused on projects worth almost 17 billion, which Romania wants to implement by 2030, with favorable funding terms part of the European SAFE program. These are strictly military projects, but also some with dual use, such as highways in eastern Romania. The last point on Prime Minister Ilie Bilojans agenda was the meeting with Roxana Minzatu, the EU Commissioner for Social Affairs. Talks focused on the future multiannual budget of the EU, from which Romania will attract non-reimbursable funds. INCIDENT The UN Security Council is today convening in an extraordinary session, at the request of Estonia, after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland. The incident, which took place on Friday, lasted approximately 12 minutes and sparked strong reactions from Tallinn authorities and NATO. Romania condemns the violation of Estonian airspace by three Russian fighter jets, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu wrote on X, adding that this is further reason for adopting a new package of sanctions against Russia. As a member of the EU and NATO and as a country facing such Russian challenges, Romania fully stands in solidarity with Estonia, Oana Toiu also wrote. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also sent a strong message to Moscow after the recent incursions by Russian aircraft and drones into the airspace of Poland, Romania and Estonia. In an interview to the Belgian newspaper Le Soir, Ursula von der Leyen said the EU will defend every inch of its territory. In Washington, US President Donald Trump assured that the United States would participate in the defense of Poland and the Baltic states if Russia increases its military presence in the region, AFP reports. In an earlier reaction, Russia accused Estonia of falsely claiming that three Russian military planes violated its airspace, arguing that Tallinn was trying to amplify an atmosphere of confrontation. A special unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (GUR MO) Primary for the first time in history has hit two Russian Be-12 Chaika amphibious aircraft in the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea. On September 21, 2025, in the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea, the masters of the special unit, named Primary, of the GUR MO of Ukraine hunted down two Russian anti-submarine amphibious aircraft Be-12 Chaika. This is the first defeat of the Be-12 in history, GUR said on Telegram on Monday morning. The Be-12 amphibious aircraft are equipped with expensive equipment for detecting and combating submarines. In addition, during the raid, the unit hit another multi-purpose Mi-8 helicopter of the Russian invaders. September 22, 2025 UPDATE (2) A roundup of local and world news September 22, 2025 UPDATE (2) Newsroom, 22.09.2025, 20:00 TALKS The European Commission hails the Romanian Governments bold efforts to balance Romanias budget and says it is important that reforms continue, Romanias Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan concluded following his visit to Brussels on Monday, where he met with three European Commissioners. The Prime Minister discussed with the European Commissioner for the Economy, Valdis Dombrovskis, regarding the measures taken by Romania to reduce the budget deficit, a topic all the more important as the government in Bucharest is preparing a budget adjustment, which must reflect the targets assumed by the Romanian authorities. Another related topic is the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which was recently modified by Romania and submitted to Brussels, in order to attract as many funds as possible for delayed projects, which would help stabilize the economy. The Prime Minister also met with Andrius Kubilius, the EU Commissioner for Defense. Talks focused on projects worth almost 17 billion, which Romania wants to implement by 2030, with favorable funding terms part of the European SAFE program. These are strictly military projects, but also some with dual use, such as highways in eastern Romania. The last point on Prime Minister Ilie Bolojans agenda was the meeting with Roxana Minzatu, the EU Commissioner for Social Affairs. Talks focused on the future multiannual budget of the EU, from which Romania will attract non-reimbursable funds. UN About 140 heads of state and government are expected in New York for the annual UN summit, marking 80 years since the creation of the United Nations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to launch the so-called UN Initiative 80, aimed at ushering in a systemic reform of the UN. The summit will also be attended by President Donald Trump, who has operated massive cuts to US foreign aid since his arrival at the White House, impacting many UN agencies struggling with growing humanitarian needs. A topical focus will be the future of the Palestinians and Gaza. The Israeli Prime Minister accused Western leaders who recognize the state of Palestine of rewarding terrorism. Benjamin Netanyahu said that Palestinians will never have a state and announced that Israel will respond to coordinated statements from Great Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal, which on Sunday announced the official recognition of a Palestinian state. Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday and says he plans to meet again with president Trump in New York to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. INCIDENT Ambassadors from the 32 NATO member states will meet in Brussels on Tuesday at Estonias request to discuss Russias violation of the countrys airspace, a NATO official told the media. Estonia has called for consultations based on Article 4 in the NATO Treaty after Russian military aircraft illegally entered Estonian airspace on Friday. The article provides for consultations between NATO members if one of them considers itself threatened. Russian fighter jets flew over Estonian territory for 12 minutes, prompting NATO and EU protests over a new provocation from Moscow, which has dismissed the allegations. Romania condemns the violation of Estonian airspace by Russian fighter jets, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu wrote on X, adding that this is further reason for adopting a new package of sanctions against Russia. As a member of the EU and NATO and as a country facing such Russian challenges, Romania fully stands in solidarity with Estonia, Oana Toiu also wrote. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also sent a firm message to Moscow after the recent incursions of Russian planes and drones into the airspace of Poland, Romania and Estonia. MOLDOVA This is the last week of the election campaign in the Republic of Moldova ahead of Sundays parliamentary election, deemed crucial for the future of the country. The vote will decide whether the Republic of Moldova will continue on its path towards the EU or turn back to Russia. Over 20 political parties and electoral blocs have enrolled in the race for the Moldovan Parliament. According to surveys, the Action and Solidarity Party founded by president Maia Sandu, with a pro-European orientation, is favorite to win the election, although the score will not secure a majority. In the context of the war in Ukraine, accusations of Russian interference in the domestic affairs of the Republic are increasing. Every week, the police and prosecutors signal complicated schemes of illegal party funding, vote buying and money laundering. (VP) George Enescu Festival came to an end For over a month, the George Enescu Festival brought together in Bucharest and other cities across Romania some of the worlds best classical musicians. 2025 George Enescu International Festival Daniela Budu, 22.09.2025, 14:00 The 27th edition of the George Enescu Festival, named after Romanias best-known composer and first held in 1958, came to an end on Sunday with a performance by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra from The Netherlands, one of the worlds most renowned orchestras. The final day of the festival also featured a show by Radio Romanias Big Band. The bands conductor Simona Strungaru spoke about the festivals quality and new openness: George Enescu was such a complex personality and so unique for his times and a great raw model for all of us who studied music and who want to create something. He was very courageous, he worked ceaselessly and restlessly and I believe this edition of the festival takes the Enescu spirit further, not just by playing his works in almost every performance, but owing to the organisers appetite for new projects and collaborations. The 29 days of the festival featured over 90 concerts and performances. World famous musicians were among the 4,000 Romanian and international musicians who took part. Violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter was awarded the festivals excellence award. The Romanian conductor Cristian Macelaru won the award in the symphonic music category for his 2025 album containing works by George Enescu. The music director of the National Orchestra of France, he is also the artistic director of the George Enescu festival. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra from London and the Orchestra of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia in Rome are among the many orchestras to take part in the festival, under the baton of famous conductors. This year, the festival targeted a new public, highlighting 21st century composers and composers from Eastern Europe, including the Freedom Orchestra from Ukraine. The big orchestra performances were held, as usual, in the Palace Hall and the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest, while others were hosted by unconventional venues, in clubs and on the street, in Bucharest and other cities. I would like everyone to understand the importance that the arts and culture play in society. An investment in the arts and culture is a long-term investment, not in us, but in the generations to come, conductor Cristian Macelaru told Agerpres news agency. Held every two years, the festival again benefited from the support of the Romanian state, with the ministry of culture covering 90% of its cost, amounting to some 15 million euros. Russian interferences in the Republic of Moldova Next Sunday the citizens of the Republic of Moldova are going to vote for their Parliament Elections in Moldova (Photo: Radio Chisinau) Sorin Iordan, 22.09.2025, 13:55 The most important poll since the proclamation of independence or a crucial vote for the countrys democratic future this is how the upcoming election for the Republic of Moldovas Parliament on September 28 have been described. The election race for the 101 MP seats brings together 15 political parties, 4 election blocs and 4 independent candidates, but the odds-on favourites, according to the polls, are the ruling pro-European, Party of Action and Solidarity, and two blocs of the pro-Russia opposition, the Patriotic Election Bloc and the Alternative Bloc. PAS, the party of the president of the Republic, Maia Sandu, has pledged to achieve the states entry into the European Union by 2030. On the other side, the pro-Russia opposition wants a rapprochement with Moscow and the Eurasian Economic Union, an entity controlled by the Kremlin. Obviously, a friendlier Republic of Moldova would be in Russias advantage mainly in the context of the war it wages on Ukraine. So, the election campaign in the former Romanian-speaking Soviet Republic is unfolding under the pressure of massive interferences from Moscow. The Kremlin has been accused of fuelling the Moldovan political stage through illegal funding, vote buying, staging protest rallies concurrently with an ample disinformation campaign on various social networks According to the BBC, new evidence has been found about a covert disinformation campaign funded by Russia aimed at bringing to power a pro-Russia government an undercover reporter met a coordinator with the Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor -presently residing in Moscow who instructed them to publish fake news about the countrys president Maia Sandu, in exchange for money. Maia Sandu has referred to the issue in a recent speech before the European Parliament in Strasbourg. She has pointed out the European roadmap of the Republic of Moldova is an issue of survival and that Russia has unleashed all its hybrid arsenals on the election battlefield. Interferences in our election, illegal funding from abroad, fake news campaigns, cyber attacks, paid protests, hate-mongering, are all methods aimed at halting Moldovas European progress, Maia Sandu went on to say. In fact, the European Legislature has endorsed a resolution through which it reiterated its support for the European future of the Republic of Moldova in spite of the hybrid threats and interferences from Moscow. The Moldovan ambassador in Bucharest, Victor Chirila, has also said that his country must cope with an all-out hybrid war unleashed by the Russian Federation. According to him, the process also involves a part of the Orthodox Church subordinated to the Patriarchate of Moscow. The objective is to fuel distrust in the institutions and the European integration policies. The diplomat has been joined by eight former US ambassadors in Bucharest and Chisinau who, in a public letter, say that a victory of the pro-Russia forces would shaken the regional security, threaten NATOs eastern flank and offer the Kremlin a new support point for aggression against Romania and Ukraine. The US diplomats have made an appeal to the Moldovan citizens to support their countrys European future and vote for truth, freedom and democracy. (bill) InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC), a research and development company, Monday said that it has raised its guidance for the third quarter. The company now expects third-quarter earnings per share in the range of $1.39 - $1.56, higher than the earlier given $0.94 - $1.11 range. Adjusted earnings per share are now expected between $2.08 and $2.07, more than the earlier $1.52 - $1.72 range. According to InterDigital, revenue for the three-month period is now expected between $155 million and $159 million, more than the earlier range of $136 million-$140 million. Adjusted EBITDA is currently projected between $91 million and $97 million, higher than the earlier $69 million and $75 million. On average, 4 analysts expect the company to post earnings of $1.29 per share on revenues of $145.7 million in the third quarter. Analysts', estimates, usually exclude special items. Separately, the company said that it signed a new license agreement with a major Chinese smartphone vendor. Commenting on the deal, Liren Chen, CEO and President, InterDigital said, "This new license agreement, which was concluded through amicable negotiation, adds another major smartphone player to our customer base and increases our projected annualized recurring revenue or ARR by approximately $26 million to a record $579 million." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Oil prices held steady on Monday as increased geopolitical tensions in Europe and the Middle East offset rising production and weakening economic tailwinds. Benchmark Brent crude futures were marginally higher at $66.73 a barrel in European trade after a week of declines. WTI crude futures were little changed at $62.43. Tensions between Nato and Russia have been dramatically rising after a series of what European governments say are deliberate, provocative acts by the Kremlin. On Friday, three Russian MiG-31 fighters violated Estonian airspace in the Gulf of Finland. Germany scrambled two Eurofighter jets on Sunday after a Russian military plane flew over the Baltic Sea. U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to help defend Poland and the Baltic states from Russia amid a new wave of aggressive Russian military activity in the region. Investors also considered the potential impact of new EU sanctions after the European Union presented its 19th sanctions package against Russia for approval by the European Union (EU) member states. The package features a ban on Russian LNG imports, restrictions on 118 additional shadow vessels, and measures targeting Chinese and other foreign firms purchasing Russian oil, in a fresh push to pressure Moscow to end the war in Ukraine. Elsewhere, Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognized the Palestinian state, prompting a furious response from Israel and adding to jitters in the key oil-producing region. Trump branded Gaza as "a real mess" filled with "anger and hatred," and hinted he may veto a potential UN resolution on the Israel-Palestine 2-State Solution. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Accenture Plc (ACN) Monday revealed plans to acquire Orlade Group, a French advisory and project management firm, specializing in capital projects through its subsidiaries Op2 and pmO. The deal is expected to strengthen Accenture's capability to help clients optimize investments in large-scale, long-term projects like nuclear power plants, power grids, rolling stock, defense systems, and space launch systems. The company said that the terms of the transaction have not been disclosed and the completion remains subject to customary closing conditions. According to Accenture, Op2 supports clients in organizing and executing capital projects properly through lead-time reduction expertise, best practices in large-scale project management, and predictive data-driven models. pmO provides project management tools and processes to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget. The company said that the acquisition will bring around 200 professionals, working mainly in Paris and Bordeaux, with additional teams in Montreal, Canada and Brisbane, Australia, into its fold. They will join the Industry X infrastructure and capital projects practice in Accenture. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL) has announced revised ex-showroom prices for its model lineup following the GST Reforms 2025. Effective today, the move ensures customers receive the full benefit of GST reduction, with additional price cuts making Hondas range more competitive in the market ahead of the festive season. Honda Amaze Now Under Rs 10 Lakh The Honda Amaze, one of the brands most popular compact sedans, now has its entire range priced below Rs 10 lakh. The 2nd Generation Amaze is available from Rs 6.97 lakh to Rs 7.79 lakh, with price reductions of Rs 65,100 to Rs 72,800. The 3rd Generation Amaze sees an even bigger benefit, with reductions ranging from Rs 69,100 up to Rs 1.20 lakh. Revised prices now range between Rs 7.40 lakh and Rs 9.99 lakh, making the sedan a stronger value proposition in its segment. Honda Elevate SUV Starting at Rs 10.99 Lakh The Honda Elevate, the brands mid-size SUV, also sees significant revisions. Prices now start from Rs 10.99 lakh for the base SV MT variant. Depending on the trim, customers benefit from reductions ranging between Rs 42,800 and Rs 91,100. This pricing places the Elevate more attractively in the competitive SUV space, offering features like bold styling, a spacious interior, and advanced equipment at improved value. Honda City Premium Sedan at Lower Price The Honda City, one of Indias best-known sedans, also benefits from the GST-linked price correction. Reductions range from Rs 41,790 to Rs 57,500 across variants, with the City now starting at Rs 11.95 lakh (ex-showroom). The adjustment strengthens its appeal in the mid-size sedan category, retaining its premium features and performance-oriented reputation. Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Kunal Behl, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd., said, We are pleased to announce the new prices for our entire model lineup after GST Reforms 2025. In addition to the GST benefits, the models have been strategically priced to make them more attractive for a limited period till Dec25, offering unmatched value to our customers during this festive season. We are confident that this move will be a catalyst for strong demand and will allow more customers to experience Hondas world-class quality and performance. Photo: National Guard On Monday night, the defense forces neutralized 132 enemy UAVs out of 141 that attacked Ukraine, and nine strike UAVs were hit at seven locations, the press service of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has said. According to preliminary data, as of 08:30, air defenses shot down/suppressed 132 enemy UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera type and drones of other types in the north, south, east and center of the country, the report said. In total, on the night of September 22 (from 21:00 on September 21), the enemy attacked 141 strike UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera type and drones of other types from the directions: Kursk, Orel, Primorsko-Akhtarsk - Russia, Chauda - TOT Crimea, about 80 of them were Shahed UAVs. The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Some strike UAVs were recorded hitting seven locations, as well as the fall of downed ones (fragments) at eight locations. Photo: https://t.me/GeneralStaffZSU/ The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has recorded 156 combat clashes over the past 24 hours. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on Telegram as of 8:00 a.m. Monday. According to updated information, yesterday the enemy carried out 94 air strikes, dropping 191 guided aerial bombs. In addition, it carried out 5,469 attacks, including 235 from multiple launch rocket systems, and used 6,470 kamikaze drones, the General Staff said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said 25 residential buildings were damaged as a result of Russian shelling on Monday night and confirmed information about three dead civilians. Guided air bombs hit civilian infrastructure, ordinary houses. 15 multi-storey and 10 private houses were damaged. As of now, three people have died. My condolences to their families, Zelenskyy said on Telegram. According to him, in Sumy, the occupiers damaged a bread-producing enterprise, a school and a kindergarten with a drone attack. One person was injured. The destruction of a school in Donetsk region was also recorded. Zelenskyy reported that seven regions were under drone strikes at night. In total, more than 140 drones attacked Ukraine, some of which were Shahed UAVs. The UN General Assembly is actually starting its work: leaders will gather in New York. And this is the fourth time that Russia has accompanied one of the highest annual world diplomatic events with murders. That is why it is so important that this diplomatic week becomes effective. We must act so that murders and war do not become routine, the head of state emphasized. Zelenskyy noted the need for really strong pressure on the Russian Federation, new joint steps by everyone in the world who believes that international law should work again. Europe, the USA, the G7 and G20 countries - everyone who has real influence on Russia. Strong sanctions, strong political pressure, Russias responsibility for the war - all this is necessary. All this will happen, the president said. More than 35,000 Hasidim have already arrived in Uman in the Cherkasy region to celebrate the Jewish New Year, Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, has said. According to our estimates, over the past few weeks, more than 35,000 Hasidim pilgrims have sought entry into Ukraine, most of whom traveled in organized groups. There were also refusals to enter, he said during a Telethon on Monday morning. As Demchenko explained, the reasons for the refusal to enter Ukraine were problems with documents or previous violations of Ukrainian legislation. According to the State Border Guard Service, the movement of Hasidim pilgrims to Ukraine has been observed for several weeks, but the main number has arrived in the last five days, crossing the border with the European Union and Moldova. On some days, their number could fluctuate between 4,000, 8,000 and 11,000, Demchenko added. As reported by the United Jewish Community of Ukraine (UJCU), the previously expected number of pilgrims has already arrived in the pilgrimage area. According to a preliminary estimate, up to 38,000 Hasidic pilgrims are expected at the beginning of the celebration in Uman. UJCU is monitoring the situation in the area of the Rabbi Nachman Memorial Complex, where pilgrims gather. Tonight, September 22, the celebration of Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year - will begin, and will last until the evening of September 24. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) is providing assistance on the ground in areas affected by Russian airstrikes in Zaporizhia and Sumy. "Zaporizhia. A Ukrainian Red Cross rapid response team in Zaporizhia region worked at the site of efforts to eliminate the aftermath of the attack on the city. Volunteers administered first aid to two wounded people and offered initial psychological support to victims and their families," the URCS said Monday on Facebook. In addition, volunteers, together with Ukraine's State Emergency Service (SES) rescuers, retrieved the body of a deceased person from under the rubble. Volunteers from the URC rapid response unit in Sumy region also joined efforts after a Russian drone attack on Sumy. They quickly arrived at the strike site and provided first aid to a casualty. At present, the URCS's Sumy regional organization is distributing drinking water, as well as OSB boards and tarpaulins to residents of damaged homes for temporary repairs. Ukrainian Red Cross Society volunteers are also providing psychological assistance and holding mine-awareness briefings to warn and protect people from explosive hazards. As reported, on Monday morning the Russian army struck Zaporizhia, dropping at least five aerial bombs on the city. Three civilians were killed in the Russian attack, and 25 residential buildings were damaged. In Sumy, a Russian drone strike injured one person and damaged industrial facilities and an educational institution; windows, balcony units, and frames in apartment buildings were also damaged. One out of five residents of the Ukrainian capital surveyed in the Kyiv Digital application say that for a more comfortable life in Kyiv, the city should first and foremost improve the rainwater collection system and sewage system and increase the number of parks. The results of a survey on climate change conducted in the application show that, according to 20% of Kyiv residents, the city should first and foremost improve the rainwater collection system and sewage system to make life in the capital more comfortable. Some 19% answered that for a more comfortable life in Kyiv, it is necessary to increase the number of parks, 16% - to create shady areas and cool places for recreation, 14% - to use solar and wind energy, 10% - to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, 9% - to upgrade transport and roads, as well as plant drought-resistant plants and 2% - to inform about climate change. When asked whether Kyiv residents are interested in the topic of climate change, 2% answered that they work in this field, 60% - that they are interested, read in the media and social networks, 22% - discuss it with friends, 2% - attend environmental events, 14% - are not interested in the topic. In addition, Kyiv residents were asked whether they have environmental habits. To which 28% answered that they save water and electricity, 20% - sort garbage, 14% - take care of animals and plants, 12% - refuse plastic, 12% - refuse cars in favor of public transport, 8% - spread information among acquaintances and friends, 2% - participate in eco-projects, and 4% do not yet have such habits. Winners have been announced for the 46th annual American Book Awards, sponsored by the Before Columbus Foundation. Click here to see the 18 awards, which include a lifetime achievement award for John Edgar Wideman, the editor/publisher award for Erroll McDonald at Penguin Random House, and the anti-censorship award for Joy Reid. --- Kate Medina, who retired in June as executive v-p, associate publisher, and executive editorial director at Random House, is receiving the Editorial Excellence Award of the Biographers International Organization, which honors an editor for "outstanding work in the service of biography and literature." Committee chair Heather Clark said that Medina has "edited Isabel Wilkerson, Jon Meacham, Gloria Steinem, Sandra Day O'Connor, Katherine Boo, Tom Brokaw, E.L. Doctorow, Emma Cline, Anna Quindlen, and Tracy Kidder, among many others." Meacham added, "Henry James might well have had Kate in mind when he wrote that we should all strive to be someone on whom nothing is lost." Medina began her publishing career at Doubleday and joined Random House in 1985. The award will be presented October 7 in New York City. Banned Books Week, scheduled for October 5-11, has been "celebrated" annually since its launch in 1982. To many, the 2025 rendition feels like the most crucial and necessary of all the Banned Books Weeks over the past 43 years. Assaults on books in schools, school libraries, and bookstores have become part of the politics of this era, and include special pressure to remove or limit access to LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and progressive titles. The federal and many state and local governments as well as organized groups are involved in efforts to impose a rigid interpretation of American history, cultural life, and representation. The efforts are so powerful that more and more incidents of self-censorship are occurring. At the same time, book banners continue to deny that they are banning books. Earlier this year, the federal Department of Education called book banning "a hoax." Appropriately this year's theme for Banned Books Week is "Censorship is so 1984. Read for your rights." The many parts of Banned Books Week include Let Freedom Read Day, efforts to encourage voting and contributing to anti-banning activity, and more. Booksellers are marking the occasion in a variety of creative ways, including with displays, events, education about banned books, banned book clubs, etc. (See story below.) Social media hashtages include #BannedBooksWeek, #BannedBooks, and #BannedBooksList. Organized by the American Library Association, Banned Books Week is supported by more than 200 organizations and tens of thousands of individuals. These include the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, the ABA's American Booksellers for Free Expression, the Freedom to Read Foundation, the Children's Book Council, the Little Free Library, the National Coalition Against Censorship, PEN America, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, the Authors Guild, and others. Among the parts of Banned Books Week is Unite Against Book Bans, an ALA initiative begun in 2022 that "strives to stop the removal of reading materials from America's libraries and schools." The group has released a collection of book resumes to support keeping frequently challenged books on shelves. The book resumes feature information provided by publishers, librarians, authors, illustrators, and School Library Journal, including a synopsis of the book, reviews and awards the book has received, more from the book creators themselves, and links to other resources, relevant media, and more." --- A key event during Banned Books Week is Let Freedom Read Day on Saturday, October 11, the last day of the week. As Banned Books Week organizers put it, "We're asking everyone to get ready to vote for the freedom to read or to take at least one action to help defend books from censorship and to stand up for the library staff, educators, writers, publishers, and booksellers who make them available! Show us how you're taking action on social media by using the hashtags #LetFreedomReadDay and #BannedBooksWeek!" The recommended actions include: Calling or writing letters to "a decision maker," such as school and library administrators, school board and library board members, city councilpersons, and elected representatives "to ask them to support the right to read." Supporting organizations that are part of the Banned Books Week coalition by following them on social media, signing up for their e-mail lists, or making donations to them. Joining Unite Against Book Bans. Checking out a banned book from a library or buying a banned book from a bookstore. Donating banned books to public and school libraries, the Little Free Library, and more. Attending meetings of school boards, library boards, and city councils. Volunteering at a local library. --- Many free speech groups are emphasizing the importance of elections and encouraging supporters to register to vote; if registered, check that their registration is up to date; find out what's on the ballot; ask candidates where they stand on book bans; attending a town hall or rally; help with voter registration and voter education. (The ABA has partnered with Vote411 and the League of Women Voters to provide extensive information on voting and elections.) --- Libro.fm and Silent Book Club are partnering with nearly 450 independent bookstores and libraries for a nationwide Read-In from October 5-7. The gatherings will feature silent reading sessions and activities protesting book bans, such as writing postcards to representatives, signing petitions, and preparing for school or library board meetings. Attendees will also receive a free audiobook, courtesy of Libro.fm. Guinevere de la Mare, co-founder of Silent Book Club, called the Read-In "a defiant stand for the right of every individual to choose what they read." Just think about a spy thriller that is offering you international politics, emotions and personal essence at the best. That is exactly what Tehran on ZEE5 is offering you. It is one of the finest thriller movies on ZEE5 by Arun Gopalan that brings John Abraham, Manushi Chhillar, and Neeru Bajwa in powerful performances. The movie takes the audience to glimpses of the real-world events that happened during the 2012 bombing of the Israeli diplomats at New Delhi, Tbilisi and Bangkok. The movie offers you an absolutely global story full of emotions, loyalty and moral values right from the comfort of your living room. Whether you are a fan of political movies or love watching layered characters and powerful stories, Tehran on ZEE5 offers an absolutely action-packed story that keeps you engaged. Story Based on Reality Tehran stands out among the thriller movies on ZEE5 due to its reality-backed story. The movie is inspired by the real terrorist attack that happened in 2012 on Israeli diplomats at New Delhi, Bangkok and Tbilisi. Tehran on ZEE5 presents the story of ACP Rajeev Kumar (John Abraham), a special cell officer who is on a mission that is national and personal too. The movie shows him as a man who has been torn between severe loyalties, geopolitical stress and emotions. Tehran comes up with the essence of realism and keeps the audience deeply connected with Rajeevs choices and his sacrifices. The movie is a reminder that the success of the spy thriller doesn't lie behind just about the car chases, but they are all about moral values, games behind the headlines, geopolitics, loyalties and much more. Absolute Emotions Tehran on ZEE5 not only move fast, but brings up a story that gets deeper with intensity. It is an amazing political thriller on ZEE5 that brings up the story of Rajeev, who is a patriot and is also suffering from personal loss at this moment. The story starts with the bombing scenes leading to the death and injury of different people, including the wife of an Israeli diplomat. The incident turns the story into a battle against diplomacy and politics, where we can see the shift of loyalties. John's personal grief is perfectly mixed up with the geopolitical conflicts, and that gives the story an absolutely emotional touch. Whether it is about the direction or it is about the screenplay, everything gives the audience a clear essence of the bomb blast, building up absolute tension in the story. Tehran gives the audience absolute action and emotions while keeping the audience connected. Powerful Performances Theran is not just a geopolitical movie but a roller coaster ride of John Abraham's performance. It is one of the most intense and mature performances of John, who has kept the acting quite restrained, intense and relatable. He, as a Special Cell Officer, is shown as a man torn between duty and emotions. SI Divya Rana (Manushi Chhillar) and diplomat Sheilaja (Neeru Bajwa) break down all of the stereotypes and bring up powerful performances and emotional connectivity for the audience. The presence of an international cast, including Hadi Khanjanpour, adds to the essence of realism in the story. Absolutely Cinematic Experience The Tehran movie on ZEE5 brings the audience closer to reality. Cinematographers Levgen Gubrebko and Andre Menezes have perfectly brought the essence of the busy streets of Delhi, along with the tension of Tehran, on screen. The movie beautifully reflects the complexity through the visuals. Editor Akshara Prabhakar has tried to maintain the rhythm of the story without using any filler and fluff. Adding more to it, the background score and the songs by Ketan Sodha and Tanishk Bagchi bring emotions to the story. This absolute mix of visuals and audio gives the audience the feel of realism and delivers grounded suspense. Tensed Realism of Geopolitics Unlike the other Bollywood action spy thrillers, Tehran on ZEE5 comes up with a nationalistic message that keeps the audience connected. The movie brings out the feel of patriotism while presenting the audience with a story that is realistic, connected and full of emotions and actions. The makers have made perfect use of different elements to show the tense atmosphere between Iran and Israel. It is a story of a man who is on a mission to seek justice. The movie respects the complexity of global politics and engages the audience till the end. It is a perfect example of the smart storytelling that avoids the explosive cliches and instead uses a story that is highly connected and relatable. Tehran on ZEE5 stands out as a smart, grounded spy thriller movie on ZEE5 that respects the audience. The movie is restrained to realism and emotions, whereas the powerful performance of John Abraham perfectly fuels the story. It is one of the most compelling thriller movies on ZEE5 that brings up an absolute screenplay, compelling direction and absolute geopolitical tension in a perfect way. Nasto's Ice Cream Co., a staple on Jefferson Street in Newark, is planning to open a new store in Woodbridge. Julian Leshay | For NJ Advance Media Nastos Old World Desserts, a longtime landmark in Newark, is planning an expansion, with a new store set to open in Middlesex County. The iconic ice cream shop announced on Instagram over the summer that it plans to open a second location this fall, at 992 St. Georges Ave. in Woodbridge. On Aug. 21, the owner replied to a customer comment on Nastos Facebook page that the business was hoping for November for the opening. Weve been looking for quite some time, Frank Nasto, third-generation owner of the family-owned business, told NJ Advance Media earlier this year. Im originally from Middlesex County and weve been wanting to move to the Central Jersey area. Assorted desserts sit in a freezer ready to be purchased at Nasto's Ice Cream Co. store on Jefferson Street in Newark on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. Julian Leshay | For NJ Advance Media The ice cream shop has been serving Newarks Ironbound neighborhood since 1939. Its the first time the business had expanded in 86 years of operation. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff. Students arrive at the new building for PS/I.S. 26 in Travis on the first day of school, Sept. 4, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Annalise Knudson) New York City public school students will have their first set of days off this school year on Tuesday and Wednesday. All public school students in New York City have two days off this week in observance of a Jewish holiday, according to the school calendar. Schools are closed on Tuesday, Sept. 23, and Wednesday, Sept. 24, for Rosh Hashanah, a celebration of the New Year in Judaism. The holiday translates to head of the year in Hebrew. It is a religious and festive time when family and friends gather together for meals and worship and grow closer to God, while also a time for looking forward to a new year with anticipation and reflecting on the past year to improve themselves. This year, the observance begins at sundown on Monday, Sept. 22, and continues through nightfall on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Students will return to classes on Thursday, Sept. 25. Public school students dont need to wait long for their next day off which will be the following week on Thursday, Oct. 2, in observance of Yom Kippur. For those looking even further ahead, students and staff will have another six days off before winter recess begins on Dec. 24. The MTA announced planned service changes at certain stops on the Staten Island Railway this week. Image courtesy Marc A. Hermann / MTA STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. South Shore residents should plan extra time on their Staten Island Railway trips this week. On Monday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced planned service changes that will have all trains boarding on the St. George-bound side for select stations. This boarding change will affect the Eltingville, Annadale, and Huguenot stations, according to the MTA service advisory website. The disruption will take place from Monday, Sept. 22 through Wednesday, Sept. 24. as crews perform scheduled maintenance. The good news, for those commuting during rush hours, is that the work causing the service disruptions will only take place between 9:45 a.m. and 3 p.m., according to the MTA. Recently, the MTA announced that the entirety of the Staten Island Railway fleet had been upgraded to new, state-of-the-art train cars. The R211S cars have fully replaced the older R44 cars, which have been in service on Staten Island since 1973 and are among the oldest in the New York City transit system. The R211S train cars boast features like wider doors eight inches more than the prior MTA standard a change that the agency says will allow passengers to board and exit the train more quickly and reduce station stop times by up to 32%. In addition, digital information displays are included in all the train cars to provide real-time, location-specific information. New handrails, featuring double poles, have been installed to improve conditions for standing passengers. Lighting on the inside of the R211S has been upgraded, and MTA officials said the new cars will provide a faster, smoother ride. The MTA will keep the recently phased-out R44 train cars in reserve for the next few years, which it described as in line with best industry practices when a new fleet is introduced. In August, the Advance/SILive.com spoke with Staten Island Railway passengers to gauge the reception of the new cars. While straphangers praised the new amenities, like the new announcement systems and improved lighting, many complained about the reduction in seats on the new trains. I would say its harder to get a seat, because theres definitely less seats ... I guess the lack of seats for people who need to sit is probably not the best, said Selena Cuevas of Pleasant Plains. In response, a spokesperson for the MTA confirmed that while the older R44 train cars have more seating, this comes at the expense of available standing room. Promotional event highlighting China-ASEAN Silk Road cross-border e-commerce open cooperation held in Guangxi People's Daily Online) 15:40, September 22, 2025 The 2025 China-ASEAN Silk Road Cross-Border E-commerce Open Cooperation Promotion Event was held in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Sept. 17. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) The 2025 China-ASEAN Silk Road Cross-Border E-commerce Open Cooperation Promotion Event was held on Sept. 17 in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The event aimed to establish a comprehensive support system for Guangxi enterprises expanding into global markets, including platform services and judicial safeguards. Zhang Lei, channel manager of Made-in-China.com, said the platform has partnered with Guangxi's Department of Commerce to launch a dedicated online zone that showcases the region's cross-border e-commerce industrial clusters. The section highlights Guangxi's competitive industries, including machinery manufacturing, food processing, household goods, and energy materials. Drawing on its global reach and digital technology capabilities, the platform provides enterprises with services ranging from precise procurement matching to digital marketing and supply chain integration. "Especially in ASEAN markets, we will leverage multilingual promotion, targeted traffic distribution, and both online and offline procurement-matching sessions to help Guangxi companies connect more efficiently with ASEAN buyers, reduce cross-border transaction costs while boosting the visibility and competitiveness of 'Made in Guangxi' products across ASEAN markets," Zhang said. The platform will also offer cross-border e-commerce talent training and operational support to help enterprises build sustainable global operating capabilities. During the event, the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Nanning International Commercial Tribunal and Guangxi's Department of Commerce released guidelines on legal risk prevention for cross-border e-commerce enterprises. Yang Ding, deputy chief judge of the Nanning International Commercial Tribunal, noted that the guidelines are based on real-world operational scenarios that Guangxi's cross-border e-commerce companies face. The document focuses on common legal risks throughout the entire process from platform registration to transaction fulfillment offering clear, practical solutions for risk prevention. "The guidelines represent a starting point for the Nanning International Commercial Tribunal's efforts to support the growth of the cross-border digital trade industry," Yang said. "Going forward, we will continue to refine the guidelines in response to new developments and risks faced by cross-border e-commerce enterprises in ASEAN markets, and provide professional judicial services to safeguard organisations' global expansion," Yang added. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) The director of the film Malevich Daria Onyschenko has said that she believes that the projects goal is not to fully tell about the life of avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich or explain his work. If I make my own art film, it is very important for me to show my vision of a specific topic or world. Therefore, I always emphasize that this is my vision of Malevich during the war in 2022. I know that by doing this, I probably did not meet the expectations of many people regarding the figure of Malevich, who were waiting for the film in a more classic version of a biopic. But I simply did as my intuition told me, Onyschenko said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency, answering a question about the appropriateness of including episodes dedicated to a full-scale war in the film. The director noted that some might consider it a provocation that she combined a modern war and a story about Malevich. But all these years of this full-scale invasion, I have been taking the time to contribute to our victory. And that is why it is important for me that when we show the film to a Western audience, we once again remind and frankly talk about what is happening now, she emphasized. The director also agreed that the rather disjointed storyline made the film somewhat confusing for a wide audience. But the more I worked on this film, the more I realized that I could not make a classic biopic about the most non-classical artist The fact that the film is difficult to perceive for an audience that is not at all prepared is a fact. For people who do not know any historical contexts at all, or are hearing the words Suprematism for the first time, it is difficult, she added, agreeing that the film lacked an information and educational campaign. At the same time, according to Onyschenko, her goal as a feature film director is to inspire people who watch this film to go online, compare biographical facts with fictional and fictional facts, learn something new about Malevich, about Tatlin, and become interested in the topic in general. Biopics are really a very difficult genre. When I started this project, I knew this, and now I understand it even more. Especially after this barrage of criticism that has now fallen on me. But it really seems to me that this is not the goal of this project - to tell the whole story of Malevichs life or explain his work, she added. Onyschenko also said that she had no doubts about the decision not to cut scenes with actor Konstantin Temlyak from the film, against whom even before the start of the release there were accusations of domestic violence, and criminal proceedings were also opened. You know, I get criticism from both sides. On the one hand, feminists attacked me, shouting that I didnt cut off Temlyaks penis. On the other hand, sexists attacked me, saying, How could a blonde even make a film about Malevich? Therefore, if you are already making a film about Malevich, you should be prepared for such attacks. When the play Victory over the Sun was released in 1913, the audience threw rotten eggs and tomatoes at the stage. Therefore, I am ready to buy a tray of eggs for everyone who criticizes cinema, she added. Among other things, the director responded to criticism regarding the appropriateness of the sex scenes in the film and their content. It seems to me that in general, when I shoot sex from a movie, I try to do it artistically, cinematically. This is not some kind of cheap pornography. It is important for me that there is an artistic aesthetic in it. I think this movie has it. In these scenes as well, the author noted. The director emphasized that she is very pleased that there is a lot of discussion around the movie right now. Some people really like the movie, people leave the theater and cry. We had many screenings where people applauded standing. There is a lot of criticism where people write that this is a terrible movie, that everything is wrong, and Malevich was completely different, and how could you show so much sex in this movie. I think it is good that people talk about the movie, that it triggers them, that it provokes. I would like to believe that Malevich would be pleased, Onyschenko said. The feature film Malevich by director Daria Onyschenko, which was released in wide release on September 11, tells the story of the life and work of avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich. As reported, the director of the film Malevich Onyschenko states that one of the goals of the film is the decolonization of Malevich and the return of his name to the Ukrainian context, and one of the most important messages of the film is that todays war is not only Vladimir Putins. A general store in Warren County, New Jersey, that has welcomed visitors for generations is up for sale. Wilburs Country Store is located inside a 19th century site on Route 94 and is among the few remaining independent general stores in New Jersey. It stocks candies, toys, canned goods and kitchen utensils just a little bit of everything, said Merrilane Osmun, who was working at the store on Friday. Osmun took over after the stores owner since 1976, her longtime friend, decided to move last year and seek a buyer. The six-acre lot that includes the store, four other commercial spaces and an upstairs studio apartment has been on the market since February. We had a couple of offers that were a bit too low, Osmun said when reached by phone. The property is listed by Weichert Realtors for $728,000. Osmun says its possible the future owner will keep the general store open. Thats the hope, Osmun said. Independent general stores were the precursors to Wawa, Quick Chek and other chains that flourish throughout New Jersey. They were at their peak in the 1800s, frequently serving as the primary business in small communities. Two general stores in neighboring Sussex County the 142-year-old Hainesville General Store in Sandyston and Gariss General Store in Stillwater found new owners in 2022 and remain in operation. The Gariss store, in operation since 1876, was renamed the Stillwater Cafe. Wilburs Country Store is in Frelinghuysen, which covers nearly 24 square miles and has approximately 2,000 residents. Osmun said she does not know the store opened. I have some old photos of what this place used to look like when it was a farm, Osmun said. The store does not have a website or Facebook page, the standard marketing tools of contemporary businesses. It does have a loyal customer base, word of mouth, and a convenient location off the highway. A lot of people are traveling through, just going for a ride, Osmun said. Many of the stores items have an association with Great Britain, where the owner lived until she was a teenager and came to the U.S. Osmun, offering examples, cited HP sauce British brown sauce consisting of tomatoes, malt vinegar and molasses, with the name being an acronym for Houses of Parliament. The shelves also are stocked with McVities digestive biscuits, a British snack food since the 1830s that remains popular overseas, and cans of Heinz baked beans, which originated in London in 1886. The Weichert Realtors listing says that charm abounds at the location, though some work is needed on the buildings. It could evolve into a deli, coffee shop or crafters village, or perhaps just stay as it is, according to the real estate company. In its heyday, Wilburs Country Store was open six days per week, closing on Mondays. Now it is open only on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Osmun said. It looks better running, she said of the decision to keep the store in operation while looking for a buyer. Dr. Mohammad Khalid was surprised when an award at the 78th Pakistani Independence Day celebration at Snug Harbor on Sept. 21, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney) Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Hundreds of Staten Islanders gathered at Snug Harbor Cultural Center in Livingston Sunday afternoon to celebrate the 78th anniversary of Pakistans independence and the 25th anniversary of Pakistani Civic Association of Staten Island. Honored guest, honorees, children, ladies and gentlemen, it is a tremendous honor for me being a president for the civic association for the last 25 years, the associations president, Dr. Mohammad Khalid, said. The association was formed by some great friends... We all had a vision that we want to form something which will be great for the coming generation[s] of us, and will continue to make sure the cultural, religious value, of our institution, our organization will continue. A family of violinists serenaded the crowd at the 78th Pakistani Independence Day celebration at Snug Harbor on Sept. 21, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney) Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney Seamlessly blending American and Pakistani culture, the event warmly welcomed residents to delicious delicacies, live performances, and a community bond that runs deep between each resident. Pakistan gave us our roots, heritage, culture, resilience. America gave us wings, freedom, opportunity and a future for our children. And here in Staten Island, we stand at a crossroads of both. Pakistani Americans are entrepreneurs, doctors, teachers, neighbors and friends, Harris Khan, the chair of the board of directors of the association, said. This afternoon is not just about Pakistan or America. Its about building bridges. Its about unity. When we stand together, there is no them or us. Its just us. Scenes from the 78th Pakistani Independence Day celebration at Snug Harbor on Sept. 21, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney) Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney Awards were given out at the event to celebrate achievements and milestones for the Pakistani American community. Asim Rehman, a native Staten Islander, was the first American Pakistani to be appointed to the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings better known at the OATH court. He received the associations excellence award. Judge Asim Rehman receives an excellence award at the 78th Pakistani Independence Day celebration at Snug Harbor on Sept. 21, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney) Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney In a democracy, everyone should be able to challenge their government. Everyone should get due process. Everyone should get a fair hearing. At OATH, we are the place you come to get a fair hearing. Its a great pride for me to run an agency of exceptional public servants Im one of the senior-most Pakistani New Yorkers in city government, but we have many more, and we need more, Rehman said. The board of the association surprised Dr. Khalid with a 25th anniversary award, as well, to which he said, This award is for all my board, for all the members of the civic association who have worked very hard to bring this thing where we are today. Police Chief Melissa Eger receives flowers at the 78th Pakistani Independence Day celebration at Snug Harbor on Sept. 21, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney) Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney Many of the speakers friends and members of the association applauded the police keeping the event safe and the political representatives from local offices. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, State Sen. Andrew Lanza, State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, and District Attorney Michael McMahon sent delegates on their behalf to the celebration. The Pledge of Allegiance is recited at the 78th Pakistani Independence Day celebration at Snug Harbor on Sept. 21, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney) Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney Staten Islands Administrative Judge Raymond L. Rodriguez was also in attendance. You have enriched not only your community, but more importantly, you have enriched Staten Island. And I salute you for that I am proud to call you not only friends, but neighbors, Rodriguez said. Judge Raymond Rodriguez speaks at the 78th Pakistani Independence Day celebration at Snug Harbor on Sept. 21, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney) Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney Dancers entertain the crowd at the 78th Pakistani Independence Day celebration at Snug Harbor on Sept. 21, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney) Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney The family of Sajda Musawwir Ladner poses with a copy of the street sign that was installed in her honor at the intersection of Jersey Street and Scribner Avenue in New Brighton on Sunday, Sept. 21 2025. Advance/SILive.com | Mike Matteo STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A street on Staten Islands North Shore now bears the name of a community leader and cultural icon. On Sunday, the corner of Jersey Street and Scribner Avenue in New Brighton was co-named in honor of Sajda Musawwir Ladner, the longtime executive director of the pioneering non-profit Universal Temple of the Arts, who died in 2021. This ceremony, in honor of Sajda Musawwir Ladner, is the catalyst in the transformation of Jersey Street, said Lorna Harris, emcee for the event. Located steps from 425 Jersey St., where the Universal Temple of the Arts center opened in 1990, the intersection now bears the name of the singular figure who spent decades of her life committed to the surrounding community. The Jersey Street intersection was co-named in honor of Sajda Musawwir Ladner, the longtime executive director of the Universal Temple of the Arts. Advance/SILive.com | Mike Matteo My mother was here at a time when people encouraged her to go other places, and she stuck, she stayed the course and she affected so many young people, said Rashida Ladner-Seward, Musawwir Ladners daughter and the current executive director of the arts group. Dozens of friends, relatives, and members of Universal Temple of the Arts lined the sidewalks near Jersey Street and Scribner Avenue to honor the legacy of Miss Sajda, as many of those in attendance lovingly referred to her. Her work transformed lives and strengthened this community, said Councilmember Kamillah Hanks, a Democrat representing the North Shore who spearheaded the street co-naming effort. She believed that the arts would unite us. She made sure that UTA reached young people who needed it most, using creativity to build confidence and opportunity and community, Hanks continued. Councilmember Kamillah Hanks presents the family of Sajda Musawwir Ladner with a replica of the street sign that was installed at the intersection of Jersey Street and Scribner Avenue. Advance/SILive.com | Mike Matteo In addition to the co-naming, the family of Musawwir Ladner received official citations to honor her work and legacy from other public officials in attendance, including the offices of District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, and Edwina Martin, Richmond County public administrator. The speakers on Sunday praised Musawwir Ladner for her contributions to Staten Islands performing arts scene, particularly for the boroughs Black residents. [Sajda Musawwir Ladner] changed the course of Staten Island and really set and create a place for all people, but in particular Black Staten Islanders to have a place where they could go to, that their history and culture could be celebrated, uplifted, and put on the map with so many of the other great cultural institutions throughout New York City, said Laurie Cumbo, commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs. Rashida Ladner-Seward, Musawwir Ladners daughter and the current executive director of the Universal Temple of the Arts, speaks at the street co-naming on Sunday, Sept. 21 2025. Advance/SILive.com | Mike Matteo During her speech, Ladner-Seward also announced her intention to expand Universal Temple of the Arts, and to maintain the current structure on Jersey Street as an arts center named after her mother. That building is going to stay there. Its going to be the Sajda Musawwir Ladner Cultural Arts Center, Ladner-Seward said. Its going to serve as many people from this community and beyond as possible and with your support, with your love, we will continue to grow. Sajda Musawwir Ladner pictured in 1995. Advance/SILive.com | Rob Sollett Musawwir Ladner was one of the founders of Universal Temple of the Arts which was established in 1967 to support and feature artists of color. She later served as the organizations artistic and executive director. She led both artistic activities at UTA musical performances, Staten Island Jazz Festival, poetry and the community work that is also at the non-profits core, particularly outreach to youth. Musawwir Ladner was also a professional dancer and designer of clothing and costumes, and was a teacher of fine arts. Sajda Musawwir Ladner performing at Staten Island Jazz Festival 31 in 2018. Advance/SILive.com | Derek Alvez Commendations over the years for her work include recognitions from Community Board 1, numerous elected officials, honors from the NAACP and the Coalition of Staten Island Womens Organizations Athena Award. PINE GROVE A man wanted on a felony warrant was taken into custody Sunday morning following a standoff that drew a heavy police presence in Pine Grove.According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Schuylkill Haven, the incident began around 8:15 a.m. on September 21, 2025, when troopers arrived at 108 North Tulpehocken Street to conduct a follow-up investigation into a recent case of criminal mischief.When police arrived, they observed Michael Mabry, 54, quickly running into a detached garage on the property. Troopers recognized Mabry as the subject of an active felony warrant for aggravated assault stemming from a domestic incident.Multiple attempts were made to order Mabry out of the structure, but he did not comply. State Police then requested the assistance of the PSP Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) to resolve the standoff.After several hours on scene, Mabry attempted to flee from the shed into his residence. He was stopped and detained on the porch by members of PSP SERT. Mabry was transported by ambulance for treatment of injuries sustained during the arrest before being arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Reiley. He was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison on the aggravated assault warrant.State Police say the charges against Mabry stem from an incident on September 13, 2024, when troopers were called to an assault. During that altercation, Mabry allegedly threw a female victim onto a couch and struck her multiple times, causing her to lose consciousness.No additional injuries to officers or bystanders were reported during Sundays incident. The absolute majority of Ukrainians (83%) say that they provided financial assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine this year, in particular, 31% do it constantly, 39% from time to time and 13% rarely, and only 16% never, according to the results of the sociological study Problems of Social Cohesion in Ukraine, conducted by Rating Group on July 20-22. Some 58% provided non-financial assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (in particular, 15% do it constantly). At the same time, 70% helped refugees, internally displaced persons and people with disabilities (12% do it constantly). Some 38% of respondents participated in public hearings and petition signing this year (4% do it constantly), the same number solved common problems in the life of the territorial community (5% constantly), 25% participated in public actions and rallies (2% constantly). There is no significant dependence in these answers on the macroregion of Ukraine, age, wealth and type of settlement, but the wealthier and younger people donate to the Armed Forces of Ukraine somewhat more often. Some 9% of respondents said that they are members of public organizations, and 43% have such people in their immediate environment. There are significantly more of these among residents of the west and center of the country, as well as among wealthier respondents. Some 70% established connections and united with other people for mutual support during the war, and 48% answered that these connections still exist. This indicator is higher in eastern Ukraine and among older respondents, and almost does not depend on wealth and type of settlement. Almost two-thirds feel unity with other Ukrainians (14% do not), 53% consider themselves part of the local community (25% do not), 48% are convinced that Ukrainian society has a high level of solidarity and mutual assistance (19% do not believe so), and 45% believe that Ukrainian society is fairly fair (23% do not). There is no significant dependence in these answers on the macroregion of Ukraine, age, wealth, and type of settlement. During the study, 1,000 respondents aged 18 and over were surveyed using the SATI method in all government-controlled regions where Ukrainian mobile communications were available at the time of the survey. The results are weighted using current data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. The representativeness error of the study with a confidence probability of 0.95: no more than 2.2%. Hastings Technology Metals has officially joined forces with powerhouse private firm Wyloo Consolidated Investments. The deal marks a significant step in Australias critical minerals landscape, with the formation of an unincorporated joint venture over Western Australias world-class Yangibana rare earths and niobium project. The joint venture satisfies or waives all the conditions precedent between the two firms and their related entities, unlocking a strategic partnership where Wyloo takes a 60 per cent stake and assumes the role of manager and operator of the project. Hastings retains a robust 40 per cent interest. Hastings Technology Metals chief executive officer Vince Catania (left) and Wyloo chief executive officer Luca Giacovazzi have locked in the two firms joint venture over the Yangibana rare earths project in Western Australia. The deal eliminates $123 million in exchangeable notes owed by Hastings to Wyloo, slashing Hastings debt burden and reducing its stage one beneficiation plant funding needs to an estimated $13 million to $32 million. It enables the two firms to co-operate through a contractual agreement rather than a separate legal entity or company, encompassing a fully permitted mining operation and beneficiation plant in stage one and a planned hydrometallurgical facility in stage two. Pacgold has put boots on the ground at its new St George goldantimony project in North Queensland, kicking off a firstpass regional soil program across 25 square kilometres. The company has already mapped visible stibnite at multiple prospects ahead of geophysics and maiden drilling. The company says teams have already walked the Fence, St George, Poppy and Ridgeline prospects and logged extensive outcropping antimony mineralisation. Stacked, northnorthwest-trending structures have been mapped over more than 500 metres of strike in places. Pacgolds North Queensland gold/antimony focus at St George and Alice River. A geochemical crew is now running lines over about 9km of strike to define gold-antimony and pathfinder anomalies, with poledipole and gradient induced polarisation (IP) surveys to follow in early October over the strongest targets. Pacgold aims to get the first holes into St George before yearend. Its a quick followthrough from an August farmin that gave Pacgold rights to earn up to 100 per cent of the St George project across 905 square kilometres of tenure. Duediligence rock chips grabbed from artisanal workings at the historic St George mine came back with eyewatering antimony numbers including 66.6 per cent, 51.9 per cent and 49.4 per cent antimony alongside some standout gold results as high as 10.1 grams per tonne (g/t). The company notes a heritage clearance has already been completed over more than 500m of mineralised strike considered drillready. The complexity of modern IT systems used by big companies and their vulnerability to human errors, whether in data entry, underlying coding, or the execution of an upgrade, means they will never be 100 per cent reliable. Loading The challenge for those responsible for them is to minimise the number of events and the degree of damage or disruption they might cause, and to have the processes in place to respond as appropriately and quickly as possible when they do occur. Optus, it would seem, doesnt have foolproof processes in place. There were delays between when customers tried to alert the company that there was a problem, the time it took for the issue to be escalated to senior managers, the problems the company experienced in extracting records from its systems so that welfare checks could be made to the callers, and the time it took for Optus to notify the authorities and the public. The moment its call centres started receiving calls saying there was an issue with the Triple Zero network, someone senior should have been notified. Optus chief executive Stephen Rue says that will now be the protocol. Better late than never, although thats no consolation for the families of those who died while trying to contact emergency services. There will be plenty of introspection on exactly how the outage occurred, with blame and criticism distributed, and no doubt, financial consequences for the company. Loading It should be noted, however, that the Triple Zero system has essentially been outsourced to private companies the three major telcos who are supposed to support it with investment, staff and processes. They may, or may not, adequately resource or focus sufficient attention on what is a not-for-profit service. Whether it is banks and their anti-money laundering responsibilities, or telcos and their Triple Zero services, these companies are being asked to invest billions of dollars to provide community services. They are then fined heavily, suffer immense damage to corporate and personal reputations and position if their technology or processes fail. Something similar could be said about the inability of some of our biggest companies technology to cope with their employees remuneration arrangements. Wage theft at the big company level relates more to the inability of IT systems to cope with the complexities generated by multiple awards, different shifts and individual pay arrangements than it does to deliberate underpayment. The government and community may be asking more of major companies than they, or the available technology, can deliver. Theres an assumption, which we all know is wrong, that the technology will always work perfectly. Given that no one can guarantee that these big platforms will never experience malfunctions (it is almost guaranteed that they will), the community service obligations attached to their licences to operate are poisoned chalices. The consequences of failure, however, ought to motivate those involved to do everything possible to minimise the number and magnitude of the damaging events they experience. The regularity of these incidents within the sector should mean their executives have a pretty good handle on the vulnerabilities in their systems and processes. In Optus case, a series of issues it was also hit by a massive cyberattack in 2022 where nearly 10 million customers data was exposed raises the question whether its Singaporean parent has invested sufficiently in the resilience of its Australian infrastructure and, given that Rue pointed to a failure of processes, whether the local management has responded adequately to the lessons it should have learned from its 2023 outage. The fact that Telstra and Vodafone have also had major outages, however, indicates more investment and/or more robust processes arent necessarily the complete solution, although they would presumably help. Last year, computers around the world that were running Microsofts Windows software crashed after an update rolled out by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike Falcon. Globally, companies are increasingly reliant on a handful of providers for their cybersecurity and their data storage. In the future, another layer of vulnerability and dependency will be added as artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in companies systems. The Optus experience isnt unique and probably wont be the last outage or technology-related crisis within a big Australian organisation. That wont, however, be of any consolation to those affected by its failure and wont appease those who want to hold the humans involved in its processes accountable. You cant sack a technology platform. The space geeks of Earth are headed Down Under next week for the 76th International Astronautical Congress, the largest shindig in the galaxy for stargazers with dreams of conquering the final frontier. Headlining proceedings is Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who last year became the first qualified astronaut under the Australian flag. Her husband is Campbell Pegg, who recently left Optus to take up a bigwig director role at the South Australian governments Space Industry Centre. Immaculate timing. Katherine Bennell-Pegg became the first astronaut trained under the Australian flag last year. Credit: European Space Agency But what readers wouldnt know is that well before the pair became the space industrys premier power couple, they aimed their starward ambitions at reality TV. In 2009, the pair dreamt up a TV contest to launch two civilians into space. Beats receiving a rose, we guess. While living in the US in the 1970s, Australian photographer Christine Godden created tender images of the people, animals and spaces around her. Natural and spontaneous, her work documents an intimate daily life and an insight into womens lives more broadly. Its a portal into a world often forgotten, neglected, in art history. Goddens story is one of many told in Women Photographers 19001975: A Legacy of Light, which aims to rectify that omission, and celebrate the images, lives and careers of more than 70 influential artists who worked between 1900 and 1975. Christine Goddens Untitled (1973). Credit: Courtesy of the NGV Coming to the National Gallery of Victoria in November, the show includes many brilliant photographers: locals Godden, Ponch Hawkes and Olive Cotton, plus big names internationally including Diane Arbus, Dora Maar, Lee Miller, Barbara Morgan and Dorothea Lange. Lesser known global artists are showcased too Consuelo Kanaga is one, whose stunning photo She is a Tree of Life to Them is featured. Born in 1894, Kanaga worked at the San Francisco Chronicle from 1915, initially as a writer and later as the staff photographer, then became a member of the California Camera Club. In 1950, she stayed in an artists colony in Maitland, Florida, and documented the lives of black field workers living there. Her portrait of a mother with her children became well known around the world after its inclusion in the touring exhibition, The Family of Man, curated by Edward Steichen. In the years leading up to Downton Abbey [other period programs] had tended to be adaptations of Victoriana with, you know, all of the joys of that, but all the limitations, Neame says. We approached it as though it were a contemporary show. So, its a period soap? If a soap opera is about a group of characters who inhabit one environment and how they all interact, then Downton Abbey is, in terms of dramatic form, a soap opera, Neame says. Post-Downton, there are now lots of other examples, and Im sure in many other countries as well in other languages, of this kind of storytelling. It is hard to imagine Bridgerton being made had Downton not been made before it. A day at the races: Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael), Bertie Hexham (Harry Hadden-Paton), the Countess of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern), the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) and Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery). Credit: Focus Features I think it somewhat changed the genre into something that is relatable and contemporary and not, here we are doing that Jane Austen again, which was last done five or seven years ago, now were doing it again, Neame adds. Downton Abbey has made things more original. As for the house itself, in many ways Downton Abbey the building is number one on the call sheet. Back when it was just a humble television series on the eve of launching, Fellowes described the house to me in this way: Its outlined against the sky. Its very startling, and it makes this fantastic statement about aristocratic confidence when it was built the people who were building it werent in any quandary about what their role in the world was. A formidable presence: Dame Maggie Smith as Violet, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, in Downton Abbey. Credit: Carnival Films In that sense, Downton Abbey or, as it is known in real life, Highclere Castle fulfils two roles in the story. It provides a historically significant setting, accurately reflecting the physical world the characters inhabit. But it also offers a modern audience a unique prism through which to understand what that world was like, how much it has changed, and, in terms of its sense of itself, how much it has diminished since. Most of Britains period dramas, the sort of Austen-esque shows and their contemporaries, says Neame were set in the 19th century, which meant much of the accompanying architecture had tended to be Regency, Georgian or Queen Anne in design. Fellowes, who had tried to use Highclere as the filming location for his film Gosford Park and his adaptation of Little Lord Fauntleroy but failed, wanted Downton Abbey to make a statement. Highclere Castles architecture, as Julian said to you all those years ago, is representing the high point of the British Empire and the British aristocracy at its absolute apogee, Neame says. That of course couldnt be more inverted from the way we live now, and I cant put it better than Julian [in that] it was built by people who didnt have any doubt about their place in the world. Its magisterial. Well meet again in the sequel? Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. Credit: Focus Features Filming on the third and final movie took place last year, between May and August. Tracking it emotionally was a peculiar process. Its a strange thing when youve got this number of actors some have many, many days on the set and some have very few and some finish their job halfway through, Curtis says. Its not like a play where everyone finishes at the same time, but its quite clear that, in that line from The West Wing, this job is going to be the first line in all their obituaries, and its a very important part of their lives. Loading The last word on that might belong to the Dowager Duchess who, among her many great lines, once said: A lack of compassion can be as vulgar as an excess of tears. Which means, among other things, dont be too quick to cry for Downton Abbey, because the end of one thing may well turn out to be the beginning of something else. And it is also true that, at this point, even though filming has concluded, Downton Abbey is still not quite over. The actors can all say goodbye on the last day on the set and go, but were in the editing room, and then were doing the sound, the music, and then were doing the marketing campaign, Neame says. [Violets] fantastic quote is about being conscious of these things, that you cant lack sentiment, but you cant wallow in it, Neame adds. Its about trying to find some of that middle. [Sentiment] is one of the things thats travelled, made Downton universal, but I think Julians instincts as a writer are to tread carefully around things like that. Hopefully we have a healthy, careful balance of that sort of thing. Former prime minister Scott Morrison has castigated the Albanese government for its involvement in the move for Palestinian statehood and questioned why Anthony Albanese had not been able to meet US president Donald Trump. Sometime diaries are difficult to co-ordinate, but its been a long time now, Morrison said on Sky News. Many other leaders now have had those opportunities, and it really is up to the government to get this landed. Former prime minister Scott Morrison. Credit: AP Morrison said the government had done well to secure a series of talks in recent months with Trumps key lieutenants but noted there was no substitute for leaders meetings. Morrison, a defender of the Israeli governments military campaign in Gaza, said international efforts to bestow statehood on Palestine were divorced from the realities on the ground. The suggestion the Palestinian Authority is going to have Hamas hand in all their weapons and stand down is laughable, and if that is the basis on which this great peace will be achieved then you cannot take it seriously, he said. It is a fantasy vote. You cannot have two states when there arent two states. Whatever the result, the states largest ex-servicemans group faces a bigger showdown before the next year is out. RSL NSW faces a relevance crisis, with more than $1 billion in assets spread across the sub-branches but little revenue of its own to spend on administration. Its network of more than 300 largely autonomous sub-branches is difficult to administer, and their assets unevenly distributed. A handful of sub-branches are wealthy and thriving, while about 40 per cent operate at a loss. An internal audit in June reported that one sub-branch in New England closed without telling RSL NSW, after all but one of its members died. Other sub-branches had been defrauded by their treasurers, or ripped off in financial arrangements with their affiliated licensed clubs the RSL clubs that are sometimes confused with the sub-branches, which operate as veteran charities. These deals ranged from non-commercial lease terms to a sub-branch taking out a $50,000 fixed-term deposit to pay for a staffer at the licensed RSL club. I thought, Come on mate, were running a multimillion-dollar organisation here, not a chook raffle. An RSL NSW delegate from the bush. RSL NSW has been quietly developing plans to centralise financial control of sub-branches at Anzac House, knowing that such a plan will be dynamite in the membership unless the messaging is carefully managed. Leaked documents obtained by the Herald show that under managements proposed operating model, which is yet to be approved by the board, all sub-branch assets would be consolidated at RSL NSW to achieve economies of scale, and the sub-branches would receive funding of about $365 per member. They would not be able to employ staff, their expenditure would be tracked and reported, and funds raised locally would be submitted to head office before being allocated back to their accounts. At least one sub-branch is already seeking legal advice on what options would be available to it if Anzac House took over its assets. We are willing to spend money to protect our assets and go to seriously large lengths to ensure that doesnt happen, a sub-branch committee member said. The obligation for RSL NSW to ensure that its scarce resources are spent on veteran welfare was noted by the Bergin Inquiry, which was scathing of the old guard for putting their personal interests ahead of those returning from combat. To reduce the chances of the board reverting to factionalism and protection rackets, independent directors were introduced, and the position of president became that of a spokesperson, with no greater or lesser powers than any other director. RSL NSW director Sophie Ray resigned from the chair four months before her term expired. Credit: Business News Early during Bainbridges presidency, it became apparent this was not how he saw the role. Instead, he was able to capitalise on his connection with NSW Premier Chris Minns to run policy without seeking board consensus. In January 2024, he successfully lobbied Minns to have an Anzac Day rock concert moved out of the Domain, and three months later, he broke from longstanding RSL neutrality to support the premiers ban on Anzac Day retail trade, each time drawing a rebuke from the then chair Sophie Ray. However, Bainbridge was supported in his endeavours by his allies on the board, chief among them his business partner James, who had known Minns since Young Labor and whose father, Ray James, was the immediate past president and continued to hold senior positions in the RSL. The chairs attempts to bring Bainbridge to heel were frustrated by the positive attention he was bringing to the RSL, regardless of whether it reflected the considered position of the board, and she was brushed off by his allies as a stickler. Sophie Ray was also concerned that Bainbridge and James might have conflicts of interest with their day job as solicitors representing veterans and sub-branches, potentially in dispute with RSL NSW. She wanted Bainbridge to list his clients on the standing conflicts of interest register, a proposal he resisted because he said it was not necessary unless there was litigation involving RSL NSW. Tension built to the point where they could no longer occupy the same board, and Bainbridge had stronger support from the powerful District Presidents Council. In October, she resigned, but not before filing an internal complaint, and with it the seeds of the current upheaval. It was now a year into Bainbridges presidency, and pockets of discontent were beginning to emerge. Chief among these was the North Bondi RSL, a wealthy sub-branch that, after a period of troubled governance, had reoriented its focus from cheap chicken schnitzels to veterans in crisis, resulting in the immediate resignation of about a third of its members, followed by a much bigger surge in registrations. It currently has the youngest, largest and fastest-growing membership in NSW, and nearly all its 750 members have served in active combat over the last two decades. For an organisation struggling to maintain relevance, it was the kind of sub-branch that RSL NSW might have been expected to cultivate and support, yet its interactions with Anzac House suggested it was viewed as a threat. Since 2023, North Bondi had been trying to employ a social worker to lift some of the burden on its volunteers, but it needed permission from RSL NSW to spend more than $50,000, and this request was repeatedly stonewalled. At the same time, its members were upset by Bainbridges support for the inaugural Middle East Area of Operations Commemoration service on July 11, which was the date that Australia pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021 and remembered by many veterans with pain and shame. In mid-June, North Bondi RSL executive committee member Josh Farquhar emailed all sub-branches seeking their views on the date with a view to potentially addressing the matter with RSL NSW, if it proves that there is sufficient support for these concerns to justify such escalation. The RSL responded by accusing him of unauthorised communication and cutting off the sub-branchs access to the server. The 2022 Anzac Day service at North Bondi RSL, the fastest growing sub-branch in the league. Credit: Getty It was an incendiary action for a sub-branch already feeling resentful about its inability to hire a social worker, and depleted respect for Anzac House among its members. At a subsequent meeting with representatives from the RSL, Bainbridge said he would only allow the blockage to be lifted if RSL NSW was allowed to vet the sub-branchs emails before they were sent. Farquhar said Bainbridge threatened to injunct North Bondi if the sub-branch did not consent to him doing this. It severely damaged our trust in RSL, Farquhar said. We had assumed that Mick Bainbridge and [CEO] Giles Hirst cared about veterans, but then they were blocking us from providing welfare support while we were responding to suicide situations every day. There was no proper explanation. Loading Bainbridge agreed that his interaction with Farquhar was hostile. What I kept pointing out to him was, If youre so aggrieved by the day [chosen for the Middle East commemoration], why dont you talk to your president who voted for it? Bainbridge said. As angry as he was and unreasonable, I wanted to hear what he had to say, but he got too aggressive. Other sub-branches were also feeling alienated by the drama at Anzac House. A senior member of a different Sydney sub-branch, who asked not to be identified based on the repercussions suffered by others, said recent developments had made it harder to get recruits. It detracts from my ability to attract younger veterans who say, Look at this shit show, why would you want to be part of that organisation? Thats the way that were seen in the public eye, and the way were infighting is really damaging our ability to do our core job. If we dont change our trajectory, [the RSL] will be dead in 20 years. The demise of RSL NSW appeared considerably more imminent before a Sydney developer took out an option to buy Hyde Park Inn and an adjoining property for $95 million in 2020. At the time, RSL NSW had less than five years until its cash was depleted. It now intends to invest the proceeds and survive on the income stream. NSW RSL president Mick Bainbridge (left), Premier Chris Minns and Paul James, NSW RSL board member and Bainbridges business partner. Credit: Facebook But a dispute arose over the settlement terms last year and developer Central Element filed legal proceedings against RSL NSW. While lawyers worked over the contract, Bainbridge and James came up with a new scheme to fast-track the centralisation of sub-branch assets without needing to fight the membership. Most of RSL NSWs assets were tied up in the Anzac House Trust, which was established in 1949 to provide office space for RSL NSW and is chaired by Bainbridge as RSL NSW president. As James later expressed in correspondence seen by the Herald, if it transpired that Anzac House Trust, and not RSL NSW, was entitled to the proceeds from the Hyde Park Inn sale, the ramifications for RSL NSW would be so significant that the government would need to hold an inquiry. That could bring about legislative reform, including the centralisation of assets, and in his ideal scenario, all property held by the sub-branches would go to Anzac House Trust. When Bainbridge first raised with the RSL NSW board the possibility that Anzac House Trust might have a claim on the Hyde Park Inn, directors panicked. Chair Louise Sullivan asked Bainbridge to disclose what information he had to suggest the property was not owned outright by RSL NSW. This clearly may have very serious financial or other impacts on RSL NSW if there is any basis to the HPI ownership being under legal question, particularly with us being amid litigation in regards to the sale of that asset, she wrote. Bainbridge, in turn asked RSL NSW to hand over its historic minutes and financial documents for review, which RSL NSW declined to do without knowing the basis of the request. By early August, both sides had retained lawyers. It was during this stalemate that, on August 12, RSL NSW received legal advice on how it should respond to the findings of the investigation into Sophie Rays complaint against Bainbridge and James. The complaint had been finalised in late June with some recommendations around governance and workplace training. But James subsequently made comments that CEO Giles Hurst felt exhibited the behaviour he had been seeking to address, prompting Hurst to withdraw the recommendations and obtain further legal advice. Whatever the content of that advice, the board resolved on receiving it that they would recommend to the district presidents at a meeting planned in two days time that Bainbridge and James be immediately removed from the board. But on the intervening day, Bainbridge filed legal action against RSL NSW on behalf of Anzac House Trust seeking access to the historic minute books. For several hours, the board dithered. The Anzac House Trust proceedings were unconnected to any cause for Bainbridges dismissal, but they feared the court would see a move to remove him as strategic, and possibly in contempt. To avoid doubt, they dropped the motion. Bainbridge, however, posted a message on social media announcing that he had been forced to take legal action against RSL NSW due to its refusal to hand over the books, and describing the organisation as combative. RSL issued its own communique refuting the suggestion that it had refused to hand over the documents, which it said it was happy to provide in digital form. Bainbridge then upped the ante in a formal letter to members on September 11, accusing the board and management of RSL NSW of many behaviours previously alleged of him bullying, conflicts of interest and surreptitiously attempting to centralise sub-branch assets and promising to defend their rights against a hostile organisation. (James told the Herald last week that he and Bainbridge no longer supported the centralisation of assets, as he now believed the model was based on flawed financial assumptions.) My commitment to you is unshaken, Bainbridge wrote. I will continue to serve with honesty, with courage and with an unbreakable belief in the long-standing values of the League. While some members were appalled by the public squabbling, many others rallied behind Bainbridge. The board was exasperated. The gloves are off, a senior manager said. A day later, RSL NSW informed members that it had resolved to refer Bainbridge and James to the District Presidents Council to vote on their dismissal and would discuss the damage that had been done to the organisation at its next board meeting on September 22. The board would need to secure a 75 per cent majority to remove Bainbridge and James as directors, with a high risk of mutual destruction. James has already put the organisation on notice that he may take action over what he described as an unsafe workplace, a week after the board received legal advice on the investigation into his conduct. He claimed that certain Chairs, directors and executives had bullied and victimised him a disabled veteran and weaponised internal governance processes. Lawyers for Bainbridge and James also wrote to RSL NSW on Friday, accusing the acting chief executive Trina Constable of reopening the complaint after her predecessor had decided in June not to take further action in relation to it, which they claimed was retaliatory in nature. They reserved their rights to take further action if the RSL NSW breached its undertaking not to release the investigation report or any legal advice to a third party. James and Bainbridge say that if the vote to remove them from the board fails, then Constable and the chair Louise Sullivan will have to go. The members are behind me, Bainbridge said. The deluge was no deterrent for the hundreds of residents who showed up dressed in raincoats and carrying umbrellas to protest against a Sydney councils plan to rezone and build 31,000 new homes in the inner west. Following an hour-long rally outside the chambers on Monday night, protesters filled Ashfield Civic Centre waving placards and repeatedly interjecting, leading Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne to demand silence so all 80 speakers at the four-hour-long forum could be heard. Protesters demonstrate outside Ashfield Civic Centre, where a public forum on the councils Fairer Futures housing plan was held. Credit: Max Mason-Hubers Tensions between councillors and the irate crowd reached boiling point at the fiery community meeting over the councils bespoke plan to boost housing supply and build the homes within 15 years, described by Byrne as the most important policy the council will oversee in its term. Dubbed the Fairer Future Plan, the scheme proposes taller buildings of mostly six to 11 storeys clustered around Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Croydon and Ashfield train stations, as well as light rail stops and shopping strips in a bid to protect heritage precincts and more evenly distribute higher-density housing. Detectives charged Nurkianto with five counts of dishonestly obtaining financial benefit by deception, and one count of participating in a criminal group and contributing criminal activity. Karliana was charged with two counts of dishonestly obtaining financial benefit by deception and one count of participating in a criminal group and contributing criminal activity. All charges related to the investigation remain before the courts and are yet to be tested. Nurkianto (left) and Karliana (middle) in Vietnam with their son, Ibnu Pratama (second from left) and his wife,Thi Vu (second from right). A warrant for Pratamas arrest has since been issued. Credit: Instagram A year earlier, in August 2024, police say Nurkianto purchased a three-bedroom CBD apartment on King Street near Hyde Parks northern end for $4.15 million. He paid two 10 per cent deposits worth $415,000 each when he entered into the contract, and at settlement, according to court documents obtained by the Herald. In September and October of the same year, Nurkianto allegedly took out business loans worth $830,000 for a Lane Cove pet grooming company the syndicate had purchased to allegedly launder money through. Detectives allege Nurkianto, the companys sole director, did no work for the business, nor had any legitimate involvement with it. In December, police allege Nurkianto purchased a two-bedroom apartment on Bathurst Street near Hyde Parks southern end for $3.4 million, after again putting down 20 per cent $680,000 up front. The same month, it is alleged Karliana bought a three-bedroom Bellevue Hill apartment on Riddell Street for $7.6 million. Like Nurkianto, she allegedly paid 20 per cent $1.52 million up front. Around the same time, she allegedly obtained a $1.5 million business loan after telling the bank she planned to expand her company, Best Shuttles Pty Ltd, into Queensland and Tasmania. According to court documents, Karliana told the bank she ran a successful touring company that chartered luxury vehicles to celebrities, government officials and wealthy entrepreneurs. The company relied on word of mouth and recommendations from its wealthy clients to secure new business, Karliana allegedly told the bank. To capitalise on the business opportunities before her, and to offer prospective customers a luxurious experience, she would need $1.5 million. Best Shuttles Pty Ltd, detectives allege, is a shell company that Karliana is sole director of, but has never done any work for. Since 2019, police say the business has not lodged a tax return. The year before, it declared a loss of $970. The documents provided to the bank in the loan application, detectives allege, like Karlianas business plans, were fraudulent. The NSW Crime Commission seized the three properties in Nurkianto and Karlianas names when they were arrested in early August. On the same day, investigators seized a Lexus SUV and a McLaren 720S allegedly owned by He and worth almost $700,000 collectively. To date, more than $50 million worth of property, luxury goods and cars linked to the syndicate have been seized. To secure loans for the properties, Nurkianto and Karliana allegedly provided fraudulent documents showing annual income in the millions. According to court documents, records held by the Australian Taxation Office show Nurkianto and Karliana declared a combined income of $60,760 in 2024. Detectives believe the home loans were facilitated by corrupted bank employees, solicitors and mortgage brokers now under investigation and suspected of taking a kickback for their services. Detectives allege neither Nurkianto nor Karliana ever viewed the properties they purchased or met the mortgage brokers and bankers involved in the home and business loans. The process was, detectives allege, orchestrated by Pratama, Li and the syndicate. Alleged syndicate ringleader Bing Michael Li. Pratama first came to the authorities attention more than 18 months ago, when Strike Force Myddleton detectives started investigating a $10 million fraud scheme involving the purchase of non-existent luxury cars using fraudulent loan applications through his former employer, McCarrolls Automotive Group. McCarrolls is not accused of any wrongdoing. The employee who police say processed the loan applications resigned when the business became aware of the alleged fraud. She has since been charged with more than 100 offences and remains before the courts. In the months that followed, investigators linked Pratama and the syndicate to Beauty Pavilion, which detectives allege was purchased and renovated with the proceeds of crime derived from the McCarrolls fraud. Footage of Beauty Pavilions grand opening party last April includes Pratama, Vu, Nurkianto and Karliana enjoying the extravagant celebrations as a family. Social media posts show Pratama and Vu working behind the scenes at last years Australian Fashion Week. Other posts picture Vu at this years fashion week, which was held after Pratama fled the country. One post on the account features before and after images of Karliana receiving a skin-tightening treatment. Posts of Pratama that were believed to have been filmed overseas were removed from the Beauty Pavilions Instagram account after the Herald revealed the police investigation into the business and its owners. Footage of Beauty Pavilions grand opening party was also taken down. Detectives allege Vu travelled to Indonesia in July this year to visit Pratama. Weeks later, she sold the Macquarie Park home Nurkianto and Karliana had been living in for $970,000. The $300,000 deposit for the apartment, purchased in Vus name for $1 million in February 2023, was allegedly funded with proceeds of crime from the McCarrolls fraud. Detectives allege Vu submitted fraudulent financial documents linked to her company Prolific Path Pty Ltd to secure the $800,000 mortgage. Nurkianto and Karliana lived in the property until shortly before their arrest. Records held by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) show Vu is the registered representative of Prolific Path, which holds Beauty Pavilion and a second salon, Bondi Nails. Property records show in April 2023, XOXO Capital Pty Ltd of which Vu is sole director purchased the Bondi Junction shopfront on Newland Street for $2,685,000. In March this year, XOXO Capital sold the building for $2.8 million. Detectives allege Vu pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars from the sale, now the proceeds of crime. In August, Vu was charged with three counts of dishonestly obtaining advantage by deception, two counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime with intent to conceal and eight counts of using a false document to obtain financial advantage related to $3.2 million worth of allegedly fraudulent mortgage and business loans. She was granted police bail to appear in Burwood Local Court on October 13. The listing for the Newland Street property pitched the building as recently transformed thanks to the state-of-the-art fitout of Beauty Pavilion. Not only was the property perfectly positioned in the heart of Bondi Junction, the listing said, the tenancy agreement with Beauty Pavilion would yield about $193,000 in rental income per year for the purchaser. Included in the deal would be an option for Beauty Pavilion, which has a lease on the building until 2029, to extend its tenancy until 2039 with an annual rent increase of 3 per cent. The buildings purchase, the listing promised, would be an ideal addition to any astute investors property portfolio. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that the Russian drones that violated Polish airspace on the night of September 9-10 did not pose a threat to the population, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) has reported. "We will find out how many drones fell when they are all found," Tusk said at a briefing in Sierakowice (Pomeranian Voivodeship) on Monday, answering a question about why it is still unknown how many drones fell on Polish territory on the night of September 10. "There is currently no reason to believe that any of these finds posed a threat. So far, no case of an armed drone that could explode or otherwise harm residents or their property has been found," he assured. The prime minister stressed that the search and identification of the drones is still ongoing. Tusk was also answering a question about the statement of the President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavlo, who suggested that NATO countries could shoot down Russian fighter jets that violate their airspace. "We are ready for any decision aimed at destroying objects that could pose a threat to us, such as Russian fighter jets, if... they, for example, fly over our territorial waters," the head of the Polish government replied. As he emphasized, in such situations one should think twice before making a decision that could lead to a serious escalation of the conflict. "In situations that are not fully understood - for example, the recent flight of Russian fighter jets over the Petrobaltic platform. But without violating, because these are not our territorial waters. Before making decisions on actions that could lead to a very acute phase of the conflict, one should think twice," the Prime Minister assessed. Tusk noted that in order to make a decision on the possible shooting down of Russian fighters, he must be sure that Poland "will not be alone in this." As reported, from 19 to 23, Russian drones were detected during the violation of Polish airspace on September 10, they were shot down mostly by Dutch F-35 fighter jets. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reported 19 violations of Polish airspace and that four Russian drones were shot down, while Polish President's foreign policy adviser Marcin Przydacz said 21 Russian drones. Detectives have made a breakthrough in the case of Queensland mother Crystal Beale, charging her former husband with her murder. Ms Beale, 49, was last seen alive in West End in February. The next morning, her body was discovered in the Brisbane River near the Brisbane Corso. She had been at a dinner in Sunnybank with her family, police said, and was dropped off by her former partner, Jesse Wahlen Beale, on Ryan Street in West End about 9.30pm. Jesse Beale was arrested and charged over the alleged murder of his former wife Crystal Beale on Monday. Credit: Facebook Police will allege she was murdered that evening around Ryan Street. They believe her body was then taken to the river near Orleigh Park in West End, South Brisbane District Detective Inspector Wayne Francis said on Monday. Yelling in frustration and smashing her feet into the glass facade of a Melbourne boutique, a womans brazen alleged daylight burglary is the latest example of retail violence in a crisis gripping Victoria. The woman was captured on video kicking the locked glass doors of Ji Studio on Elizabeth Street in the CBD about 3pm on Saturday, and using a barrier stand to try to force her way in, yelling, give me my stuff back, c---. After the door gave way, a crowd gathered outside the boutique, watching in shock as the woman pushed through the door, and allegedly gathered cash and clothes inside. The clothes were heaped in her arm as she squeezed her way back out the broken glass door, then yelled into the store a final time before allegedly walking off with the haul. In Renhuai city, home of Chinas famous firewater liquor Moutai, the once-raging alcohol industry is in the grips of an economic hangover. Sales people are leaving in droves and small distilleries have gone bust, locals say, following a government booze ban that has targeted Chinas elite. Chinese officials and businessmen who love to banquet have stopped raising their glasses of Moutai after the government imposed an alcohol ban as part of an anti-corruption drive that directed them to live frugally on the public dime. But the edict has ushered in austere times for a food and beverage sector already struggling with an economic downturn. It has also hobbled the governments own efforts to get people to spend more to boost the economy, and has helped drag down the price of Moutai. A giant sculpture of a Kweichow Moutai bottle near the Yanjin River in Maotai Town, Renhuai City. Credit: Sanghee Liu Officially known as Kweichow Moutai, after the top distillery that manufactures it, the liquor is the premium version of the throat-stripping, sorghum-based spirit called baijiu and is renowned for its 53 per cent alcohol potency. Los Angeles: Disney will return comedian Jimmy Kimmel to late-night television on Tuesday, six days after his show was threatened with a regulatory probe and suspended over comments he made about conservative activist Charlie Kirks assassination. Disneys move to restore the Jimmy Kimmel Live show to the line-up of its ABC network represents the highest-profile challenge yet from a communications company to an escalating crackdown by US President Donald Trump on his perceived media critics through litigation and warnings of regulatory action. The U-turn came after several prominent conservatives, including US senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican who leads oversight of the Federal Communications Commission, joined Democrats in criticising the head of the FCC for threatening retaliation against ABC. Jimmy Kimmel will have his program reinstated. Credit: AP Disney also faced pressure from consumers rallying against Kimmels suspension by cancelling their subscriptions to the Disney+ streaming subscription service. Phoenix, Arizona: It is impossible to know how significant Charlie Kirk will ultimately become in the pantheon of American history. But in the cauldron of State Farm Stadium, it felt as though something important was brewing. For onlookers on Sunday (US time), this might have seemed hard to fathom. Kirk was a 31-year-old political activist what of it? But he was also a prominent figure in the MAGA movement, a key ally of President Donald Trump and a prolific fundraiser through his organisation, Turning Point. Tens of thousands of Americans attended Charlie Kirks memorial at State Farm Stadium in Arizona. Credit: Bloomberg Kirk was a bridge to the next generation at a time when many young people have sworn off conservatism, mainstream media, or both. He was killed by a single bullet fired from a rooftop while he debated attendees at Utah Valley University on September 10. A 22-year-old man from Utah has been charged with murder. Precisely what was brewing at Kirks memorial in Arizona is again difficult to say because we cannot know right now which message delivered in that stadium will resonate with Americans: that of mercy and forgiveness espoused by the grieving widow, Erika Kirk, or the calls for vengeance and reckoning espoused by others. The whole world saw Britain lay on the pomp and circumstance for Donald Trump last week. As UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, it was a unique tribute. No other US leader has been honoured with not one, but two, state visits. Deploying the King, the Princess of Wales, the Royal Horse Artillery, Windsor Castle and Chequers was hailed as a case study in the use of soft power. Charles was reduced to uttering the phrase British soil makes for rather splendid golf courses. The things one must do for ones country. Without soft power, Donald Trump is left with hard men Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Credit: Dionne Gain What did Britain receive in return for its transparent obsequiousness? The big noise from the government was trumpeting US investment pledges totalling 150 billion. Which could be important. Except that Londons Financial Times tartly summarised the deals as a familiar Downing Street tactic adding up a series of planned commercial decisions to come up with a big number, then claiming some of the credit. PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Ardwell Irion has raised serious concerns about recent actions by the Council of Ministers that appear to undermine the legal framework governing the appointment of the Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten (CBCS). According to MP Irion, the nomination of Mr. Jairo Bloem is unlawful. It sets a dangerous precedent if allowed to proceed without adhering to the legal requirements of the Central Bank Statute. This issue goes to the heart of institutional credibility and the rule of law. We must protect the independence of our Central Bank, not politicize it. The Legal Framework and the Courts Position: Article 25 of the Central Bank Statute governs the appointment of the Supervisory Board, including the appointment of its Chairperson. It requires that: The Chair is appointed jointly by the governments of Sint Maarten and Curacao via national decree (landsbesluit) The nomination must be based on a recommendation adopted by at least five-sixths of the Supervisory Board Ministers may not initiate or finalize appointments outside this structure In 2021, the Joint Court of Justice reinforced these rules. In its 23 August 2021 decision, the Court refused to appoint a Chair, stating: Ingevolge artikel 25 lid 3 van het Centrale Bank-statuut geschiedt benoeming van de voorzitter op gezamenlijke voordracht van de Ministers, gebaseerd op een aanbeveling opgemaakt door 5/6 meerderheid van de RvC. Nu de RvC na de tijdelijke benoemingen weer grotendeels bemand zal zijn, ziet de President in dit stadium geen aanleiding om over te gaan tot tijdelijke benoeming van een voorzitter. A follow-up ruling on 29 November 2021 clarified that temporary board appointments remain valid only until the governments complete proper appointments via national decree, as required by Article 25(4). These rulings are unequivocal: without a five-sixths recommendation and landsbesluit, no Chair can be appointed, not by the Ministers, not by the Court. What Caused the Delays: Legal Uncertainty and Government Inaction Much has been said about delays in CBCS board appointments, but the facts matter. When temporary members were nominated in 2021, the local security service (VDSM) refused to conduct the required screenings, claiming no legal basis. Historically, such screenings were standard before any national decree was signed. The resulting legal vacuum created a months-long impasse. During my tenure as Minister of Finance, legislation was amended to address this issue and legally require the screening of CBCS board members. Only then could lawful appointments resume. In that period, a name was submitted to me via a five-sixths recommendation from the Supervisory Board. I was later informed that a second candidate was being considered. All nominations came from the Board as required by law. No Minister had the authority to generate or substitute candidates independently. Unfortunately, the current administration has yet to finalize the national decrees of those temporary appointments. This failure has stalled the process of lawfully appointing a Chair and allowed the situation to be misrepresented as deadlocked, when in fact, it was deliberately left unresolved. Questions the Government Must Answer If the government claims its recent nomination is legal, it must explain: 1. What process was followed to arrive at the nominee? 2. Who were the other potential candidates, if any? 3. Were those candidates formally submitted by the Supervisory Board? 4. Which firm or government entity was used to identify or evaluate candidates? 5. Did the Department of Legal Affairs provide a formal legal review, as is standard in Central Bank matters? 6. Who advised the Council of Ministers on the legal soundness of the process? 7. Did the Council of Ministers of Curacao approve the nomination and issue its own supporting advice? Additionally, in the interest of transparency and public trust: 8. Who were the members of the CBCS Supervisory Board during the period leading up to and during the ENNIA crisis? 9. What decisions or oversights during that period contributed to the situation now affecting thousands of policyholders? 10. Are any of those individuals currently involved in the nomination or recommendation process? Public confidence in the Central Bank depends on a transparent and legally sound appointment process, not political maneuvering or selective disclosure. The Joint Court of Justice has already affirmed that appointments to the CBCS Supervisory Board, especially that of Chair, must follow the strict procedures of Article 25 of the Statute. No exceptions exist. As Members of Parliament, we should not support any attempt to legitimize an appointment that bypasses the Supervisory Board, lacks the required two-thirds recommendation, or is not formalized through a joint national decree. This is not about one individual. This is about the integrity of our institutions and the rule of law. Click here to read law on Central Bank Procedures Oranjestad/Willemstad/The Bottom/Philipsburg/Kralendijk:--- The Where Culture Lives project has reached a new milestone after a summer filled with conversations across Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Statia, St. Maarten, and Saba. Between June and September, focus group discussions and interviews brought together cultural practitioners, educators, heritage experts, policy makers, and community members who openly shared their experiences, challenges, and hopes for the future of arts & culture (practices), cultural heritage, and creative expression in the Dutch Caribbean. To the center of the project for the next phase are the (recently) activated Island Coordinators, a group of socially engaged professionals on each island who ensured the successful execution of the focus groups. They include: Aruba Dr. Gregory Richardson, leading scholar and anthropologist Bonaire Lara Chirino, consultant and community leader Curacao Elton Villarreal, cultural advocate and social entrepreneur Saba Sharifa Balfour, Director of the Saba Heritage Center Statia Paula Pandt-Pompier, educator, community development and research professional St. Maarten Ludmila Duncan, social entrepreneur and researcher (for focus groups), and as of this week the University of St. Martin, who involved Ashayna Nisbett, a research consultant and cultural practitioner for the upcoming survey phase. Thanks to their coordination and commitment, over 100 voices were brought to the table, ensuring that the projects findings are firmly grounded in local realities across sectors. Aruba is the last island to finish its focus groups this week. According to Lead researcher/ Island coordinator Dr. Gregory Richardson, Aruba is currently experiencing so much at the moment with quite some dynamics and activities for culture and the creative industries. The participation of many organizations and community persons was strong, and with the two other lead researchers (Ludmila Duncan and Elton Villareal), we are excited to transcribe now and analyze all that was expressed and brought forward. The entire team hereby expresses their sincere thank you to everyone who participated. With this phase complete, the project now prepares to move into the survey stage, which will invite the wider public to share their cultural engagement, practices, and perspectives. Both digital and physical surveys will be launched in October and will be open to all residents across the six islands. The island coordinators will play a key role in managing the success of this stage and encouraging as many responses as possible. The island coordinators and to-be-recruited surveyors will be trained and prepared by the WCL team, supported by USM, NAAM, and the Boekman Stichting. Surveys will include questions about cultural, arts, and heritage education in schools and cultural activities as practiced by young and old outside of school. This is the most crucial reflection point in the Where Culture Lives project, laying the groundwork for the first comprehensive cultural mapping of the Dutch Caribbean. The insights from the focus groups help to formulate survey questions that are relevant to the local context and help to identify potential barriers to participation that can be tested in the survey. Its exciting to be moving forward with the next phase with Paula, Lara, Sharifa, and USM with Asheyna on board, as we were very intentional that this project is based on ownership to reflect our cultural practices accurately. These practices & voices matter to our sense of identity and future, reflected Project principle Jorien Wuite. Ludmila Duncan, Elton Villarreal, and their fellow Island coordinators are enthused and encouraged that the discussions provided such rich insights, unique perspectives, and the extent of cultural engagement and practice on islands. Duncan and Villarreal echoed this call to action: If you are an artist in your spare time, a dance teacher, a fervent heritage practitioner, or the parent of a steel pan player or aspiring young painter, we ask you humbly to participate in the survey. By doing so, we can not only understand our, but also provide solutions and recommendations to policy makers to better support culture, the arts and cultural heritage development of our islands. For more information, please (WhatsApp) contact the Project principals Jorien Wuite, (721) 5202335, and Elton Villarreal, (599) 95213108 . The Where Culture Lives project was commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) and is managed by St. Maarten-based consultancy Lemonade B.V. PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on September 22, 2025. The Public meeting is scheduled for Monday at 13.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Finance will be in attendance. The agenda point is: Question hour: Questions from MP A.M.R. Irion directed to the Minister of Finance regarding the recent appointment process of the Chairman of the CBCS (IS/069/2025-2026 dated September 17, 2025) Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules. The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Dr. Luc F.E. Mercelina, is currently in Washington, D.C., together with the Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs and Minister of ECYS Melissa Gumbs, attending Steering Committee meetings related to the Sint Maarten Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Trust Fund. His mission follows a formal letter dated September 4, 2025, addressed to the World Bank, in which he raised urgent concerns regarding prolonged delays in the execution and finalization of critical Trust Fund projects. In his September 4, 2025, correspondence to Ms. Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank, Prime Minister Mercelina expressed deep concern and dissatisfaction with the extended timelines and administrative hurdles that have significantly slowed progress for the people of Sint Maarten. While we recognize and value the World Banks role in managing these essential resources, the extended timelines and continued administrative hurdles have significantly hindered the delivery of much-needed results to our people, the Prime Minister stated. His presence in Washington is a direct continuation of this effort, aimed at pressing for urgent solutions and concrete timelines for delivery. The letter I sent earlier this month was intended to place our concerns formally on record. My presence here in Washington is to follow up directly, to ensure these matters receive the urgency they deserve, PM Dr. Mercelina affirmed. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of moving forward with key projects, particularly the long-awaited Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which he described as essential for strengthening disaster preparedness and national resilience. He further emphasized that investments in mental health are equally critical to safeguard the well-being of the population. The initiation of the Emergency Operations Center project is a vital step toward safeguarding our country in times of crisis, the Prime Minister said. Equally, the mental health project addresses an urgent and growing need to support our people, ensuring access to proper care and resilience against the psychological impacts of disaster and hardship. He added that these priorities must be advanced alongside other outstanding initiatives, such as the rehabilitation of educational institutions, school gyms, sporting facilities, and the St. Maarten Library. The inability to complete these projects would undermine public confidence in the recovery process and hampers Sint Maartens overall progress. Our people have waited patiently for far too long, and the continued postponement of such urgent priorities is no longer acceptable, the Prime Minister declared. The Government of Sint Maarten continues to urge the World Bank, in close coordination with the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) and other stakeholders, to take swift action. The people of Sint Maarten deserve to see timely, meaningful, and tangible results from the Trust Fund, Prime Minister Mercelina urged. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said that it is dissatisfied with the level of access to places of detention by both the Russian Federation and Ukraine and continues to make requests at all levels to obtain full access to all detainees both prisoners of war and civilians. At a briefing for Ukrainian journalists in Geneva, the ICRCs regional director for Europe and Central Asia, Ariane Bauer, said that it is important for the ICRC to understand the whole picture in places of detention. According to her, this means the ability to interact with the authorities responsible for the place of detention to be able to visit places of detention independently, as well as the ability to communicate directly with people who are being held in custody to understand the conditions of their detention, the treatment they face, and to ensure contact with their families. Bauer clarified that negotiations with the authorities are being held with everyone who can have influence at all levels, including the ministries of defense and foreign affairs and at the level of the administrations of the heads of state. Asked whether the situation with access to places of detention of prisoners in the Russian Federation had improved, the ICRC regional director noted: "What I can share with you is that we are not satisfied with the level of access that we have, that we want to visit more detainees. I mean, its an obligation for us to be able to visit all detainees that are held by foreign parties." "We continue to ask access at all levels so that we can obtain full access to all persons detained," she stressed. Asked whether ICRC representatives have access to places where prisoners of war are held in Ukraine, Bauer stressed: "Again, we strive to access everyone. The access is not perfect on any of the sides. What we can say is that we visit more detainees on the Ukrainian side, but again, we can always improve." "But for us it continues to be important really that we in the public say that we need access to everybody, be they civilians, be they former military person," she said. CAY HILL:--- St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) proudly announces the graduation of four of its nurses from the critical care registered nurse (CCRN) program, a milestone that significantly strengthens the hospitals capacity to deliver round-the-clock intensive care. Registered nurses (RN) Aleisha Alexis, Mykandra Simmons, Anthony Jagmohan and Sharisa Hodge (class of 2022-2025) completed the rigorous training and are now certified CCRNs. Nurse Aleisha Alexis, an Emergency Room RN, graduated as valedictorian, earning the highest overall scores in the program. The celebration also recognized Nurses Windellee Patterson, Bianca Cannegieter, Joanne de Vries, Candice Dobbs and Desia Hodge, who received their interim report cards and are on track to complete the program in June of 2026. A CCRN certification equips nurses to provide specialized care for critically ill patients, enabling SMMC to maintain 24/7 ICU care. This advancement ensures that patients on ventilators or in life-threatening situations can receive timely, high-quality care on the island, reducing the need for costly and disruptive medical evacuations abroad. Unlike traditional CCRN training, which requires nurses to relocate to the Netherlands or the U.S. for 618 months, SMMCs Education Department tailored the program into a three-year, locally based course. This structure allows nurses to balance their professional and family lives while gaining hands-on critical care experience at home, enabling students to stay on St. Maarten while completing the necessary clinical hours and providing exposure to diverse, real-life critical care scenarios. The course focuses on advanced topics in ICU and ER nursing such as appropriate use of technology, critical thinking, medical ethics, and the rapid recognition and response to patient deterioration. It also emphasizes the stabilization of critical patients before a code team or physicians arrive on the scene, as every second counts during a critical event. During the ceremony, Head of Inpatient Care and Education and CCRN course organizer and instructor, Nurse Antonio Pantophlet underscored that, The CCRN certification is more than a credential. It is a declaration a declaration that you, as a nurse, are committed to excellence in caring for the most vulnerable patients, which are those in critical and acute care settings. Dr. Emiko Bird-Lake, ICU and ER Medical Coordinator, reminded the graduates that their work is not yet done and urged them to pass on their knowledge. She also led the room in a spirited prayer for guidance, wisdom and the courage to always do the right thing. Nurse Sherryl Carty, one of the first CCRN graduates in 1999, echoed Dr. Bird-Lakes statements and reminded the graduates to share their knowledge with their colleagues and each other. ICU and ER Supervisors Meandra Hazel and Florderosie Zurita shared their congratulations on behalf of their teams. SMMCs Legal Counsel, Ms. Janneke Lok highlighted the vital role of ethics and impressed upon them that ethics in the medical profession is not just about patient confidentiality and patients rights but also about supporting staff, ensuring their safety, and safeguarding their rights and wellbeing as well. Nurse Simone Arthur, a veteran CCRN, was also acknowledged for supporting the program as she picked up many ICU shifts, allowing her colleagues to attend classes. SMMCs CEO, Dr. Felix Holiday, praised the graduates and said The class of 2022-2025 is the fifth batch of RNs to receive their CCRN certification at our hospital and it is an honor and a privilege. It is also a testament to our nurses commitment to excellence and providing exceptional patient care. They have done our hospital, their families, and themselves proud. PHILIPSBURG:--- The leadership crisis at NV GEBE, St. Maartens vital utility company, is spiraling into a full-blown legal catastrophe, threatening to drag the government-owned entity through the courts. The government of St. Maartens decision to bypass established corporate governance and appoint a statutory director without following the proper selection process has set the stage for significant legal challenges, further eroding public trust and exposing a disturbing pattern of shareholder overreach. At the heart of this latest debacle is the Council of Ministers' (COM) vote to appoint Jeffreyson Paris as the company's new Chief Operating Officer. This move came only after the originally suggested candidate, Mauricio Dembrook, withdrew his name. Dembrook, a qualified local professional, was left in limbo for over a year, waiting for the Council of Ministers to finalize the appointment of GEBE's management board. Faced with endless delays and a shareholder that effectively ignored his nomination, he was forced to seek employment elsewhere. This incident alone highlights a galling disregard for process and professional courtesy. The situation is poised to escalate, as the current Temporary Manager, Thomas Roggendorf, reportedly intends to take NV GEBE to court. Roggendorf plans legal action if he is dismissed and not appointed Chief Executive Officer, a position he claims was contractually promised. According to sources, his contract explicitly states he was appointed as Temporary Manager with the clear understanding that he would transition to CEO. Roggendorf was one of two candidates formally submitted by the Supervisory Board of Directors (SBOD) to the shareholder for nomination in July 2024. His name was also officially put forward as the next CEO candidate earlier this year, following the sudden passing of former CEO Troy Washington. However, the shareholder now appears to be using unproven complaints filed by middle management as a pretext to block his appointment. To date, there has been no official word on whether Roggendorf even passed the required screening process, leaving his candidacy in a state of manufactured uncertainty. This leadership vacuum began tragically one month after CEO Troy Washington passed away unexpectedly during a work trip to Europe. Roggendorf was appointed to fill the void temporarily, but what should have been a stabilizing measure has been twisted into another chapter of GEBEs ongoing governance dysfunction. The appointment of Jeffreyson Paris is not a solution but a symptom of a deeper rot. It represents a flagrant circumvention of a fair and transparent selection process, opting instead for politically convenient maneuvers. This chaotic approach to leadership selection leaves the company vulnerable, rudderless, and now, staring down the barrel of costly legal battles. As political games take precedence over professional management, it is the people of St. Maarten who will ultimately pay the price for this shambolic failure of governance. Press Release from Business Wire: Yokogawa Electric Corporation (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 TOKYO, Sept 22, 2025 (BSW) - Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841) announces that it has signed agreements with Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) for research and development activities that will include prototype measurement and control equipment for a manned pressurized rover (nicknamed "Lunar Cruiser" by Toyota) that is being developed by Toyota and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250921767365/en/ Conceptual drawing of the manned pressurized rover JAXA/TOYOTA In recent years, there has been significant progress made with initiatives to explore the lunar surface, not only by government-funded space agencies but also by commercial enterprises, a number of which have attempted lunar landings. The manned pressurized rover will be Japan's first standalone manned space system, and is expected to dramatically expand the scope of exploration activities on the lunar surface. It will also have the ability to be remotely controlled and operate without a crew, enabling continuous exploration of the lunar surface. For decades, Yokogawa has been providing highly reliable control systems and measurement instruments to companies in a wide range of industries. With its extensive track record and proactive approach to research and development for the space industry, the company was invited by Toyota to participate in its manned pressurized rover project. The agreements cover the design and procurement for the development of prototypes, advancing the conceptional studies undertaken by Yokogawa and Toyota for the control platform and the battery measurement components of the manned pressurized rover. Yokogawa will continue to work on development with Toyota in preparation for launch in 2031 or later. Over the long term, Yokogawa will explore opportunities for new applications that will leverage the technologies refined through the development of the manned pressurized rover. Hidehito Shiratsu, head of the Space Business Development Office at Yokogawa Electric, commented, "We are very excited to collaborate with Toyota Motor Corporation on the R&D of measurement and control equipment for the manned pressurized rover, which will play a crucial role in enabling continuous lunar exploration. Yokogawa has positioned space as a key area for exploration in our medium-term business plan, Growth for Sustainability 2028, and we are developing opportunities in this field. In so doing we are leveraging our strengths in measurement, control, and information technologies that have withstood the most extreme environments on Earth, including in the polar regions and the deep sea. The technologies and insights gained through the development of products for the most extreme environment, outer space, will also be utilized to enhance the reliability of our existing products and services for earth-based industries." About Yokogawa Yokogawa provides advanced solutions in the areas of measurement, control, and information to customers across a broad range of industries, including energy, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, and food. Yokogawa addresses customer issues regarding the optimization of production, assets, and the supply chain with the effective application of digital technologies, enabling the transition to autonomous operations.Founded in Tokyo in 1915, Yokogawa continues to work toward a sustainable society through its 17,000+ employees in a global network of 128 companies spanning 62 countries.For more information, visit www.yokogawa.com For More InformationIndustries: Space https://www.yokogawa.com/industries/space/ The names of corporations, organizations, products, services and logos herein are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Yokogawa Electric Corporation or their respective holders. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250921767365/en/ Contact Media enquiriesPR DepartmentIntegrated Communications CenterYokogawa Electric [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. Google faces court battle over breakup of ad tech business Alexandria, United States, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 Google faces a fresh federal court test on Monday as US government lawyers ask a judge to order the breakup of the search engine giant's ad technology business. The lawsuit is Google's second such test this year after the California-based tech juggernaut saw a similar government demand to split up its empire shot down by a judge earlier this month. Monday's case focuses specifically on Google's ad tech "stack" -- the tools that website publishers use to sell ads and that advertisers use to buy them. In a landmark decision earlier this year, Federal Judge Leonie Brinkema agreed with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) that Google maintained an illegal grip on this market. Monday's trial is set to determine what penalties and changes Google must implement to undo its monopoly. According to filings, the US government will argue that Google should spin off its ad publisher and exchange operations. The DOJ will also ask that after the divestitures are complete, Google be banned from operating an ad exchange for 10 years. Google will argue that the divestiture demands go far beyond the court's findings, are technically unfeasible, and would be harmful to the market and smaller businesses. "We've said from the start that DOJ's case misunderstands how digital advertising works and ignores how the landscape has dramatically evolved, with increasing competition and new entrants," said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google's Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. In a similar case in Europe, the European Commission, the EU's antitrust enforcer, earlier this month fined Google 2.95 billion euros ($3.47 billion) over its control of the ad tech market. Brussels ordered behavioral changes, drawing criticism that it was going easy on Google as it had previously indicated that a divestiture may be necessary. This remedy phase of the US trial follows a first trial that found Google operated an illegal monopoly. It is expected to last about a week, with the court set to meet again for closing arguments a few weeks later. The trial begins in the same month that a separate judge rejected a government demand that Google divest its Chrome browser, in an opinion that was largely seen as a victory for the tech giant. That was part of a different case, also brought by the US Department of Justice, in which the tech giant was found responsible for operating an illegal monopoly, this time in the online search space. Instead of a major breakup of its business, Google was required to share data with rivals as part of its remedies. The US government had pushed for Chrome's divestment, arguing the browser serves as a crucial gateway to the internet that brings in a third of all Google web searches. Shares in Google-parent Alphabet have skyrocketed by more than 20 percent since that decision. Judge Brinkema has said in pre-trial hearings that she will closely examine the outcome of the search trial when assessing her path forward in her own case. These cases are part of a broader bipartisan government campaign against the world's largest technology companies. The US currently has five pending antitrust cases against such companies. arp/aha GOOGLE Amazon faces US trial over alleged Prime subscription tricks Washington, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 Amazon goes to trial on Monday in a US government lawsuit that accuses the e-commerce giant of using tricks to enroll millions of customers in its Prime subscription service and then making it nearly impossible to cancel. The Federal Trade Commission's complaint, filed in June 2023, alleges that Amazon knowingly used designs known as "dark patterns" to trick consumers into signing up for the $139-per-year Prime service during checkouts. The case centers on two main allegations: that Amazon enrolled customers without clear consent through confusing checkout processes, and that it created a deliberately complex cancellation system internally nicknamed "Iliad" - after Homer's epic about the long, arduous Trojan War. The case will be heard in a federal court in Seattle by Judge John Chun, who is also presiding over a separate FTC case that accuses Amazon of running an illegal monopoly, due to go to trial in 2027. The cases are part of a volley of lawsuits launched against the big tech companies in recent years in a bipartisan effort to rein in the power of the US tech giants after years of government complacency. According to court documents, Amazon was aware of widespread "nonconsensual enrollment" in Prime but resisted changes that would reduce these unwanted sign-ups because they negatively affected the company's revenue. The FTC alleges that Amazon's checkout process forced customers to navigate confusing interfaces where declining Prime membership required finding small, inconspicuous links while signing up for the service was through prominent buttons. Crucial information about Prime's price and automatic renewal was often hidden or disclosed in fine print, the FTC also alleges. "For years, Amazon has knowingly duped millions of consumers into unknowingly enrolling in its Amazon Prime service," the original complaint states. The service has become central to Amazon's business model, with Prime subscribers spending significantly more on the platform than non-members. The lawsuit also targets Amazon's cancellation process, which required customers to navigate what the FTC describes as a "labyrinthine" four-page, six-click, fifteen-option process to cancel their membership. The FTC is seeking penalties, monetary relief, and permanent injunctions requiring the company to change its practices. The case in part relies on ROSCA, legislation that came into force in 2010 that specifically prohibits charging consumers for internet services without clear disclosure of terms, obtaining express consent, and providing simple cancellation mechanisms. The FTC alleges Amazon violated these requirements by failing to clearly disclose Prime's terms before collecting billing information and by not obtaining genuine informed consent before charging customers. Amazon's defense strategy will focus heavily on arguing that ROSCA and other regulations don't specifically prohibit the practices in question and that the FTC is stretching the law. The company has also argued that it made improvements to its Prime enrollment and cancellation processes and that the allegations are out of date. The jury trial is expected to last about four weeks and will largely rely on internal Amazon communications and documents as well as Amazon executives and expert witnesses. If the FTC prevails, Amazon could face substantial financial penalties and be required to overhaul its subscription practices under court supervision. Press Release from Business Wire: Ant International (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 SHANGHAI, Sept 22, 2025 (BSW) - As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries worldwide, it brings both unprecedented opportunities and pressing challenges, such as widening digital divides and developmental gaps. At the 2025 Inclusion Conference on the Bund in Shanghai, 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion spotlighted how AI-driven entrepreneurship is creating impact in emerging markets. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250921082321/en/ At the 2025 Inclusion conference, tech pioneers from emerging markets shared the insights to the power of AI-driven entrepreneurship. Launched by Ant Group in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion is a global, non-profit learning platform dedicated to empowering the next generation of digital economy leaders. Built on the three key pillars of Learn, Connect, Inspire, the initiative equips entrepreneurs with the skills, networks, and insights needed to create sustainable, tech-driven solutions for inclusion. "AI can be transformative, but it continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace and nobody has all the answers - organizations are simultaneously experimenting and learning. For startups, it becomes even more crucial that they look beyond their borders to learn from the best practices globally and apply that to address their unique local needs," said Di XU, product leader of sustainability initiatives at Ant International. "International exchanges for startups are not just about growth, they are key to sustainable and inclusive development. The 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion platform facilitates the global exchange of ideas and empowers emerging leaders to transform global insights into locally relevant solutions, driving truly sustainable and inclusive growth." Bridging Borders, Building Futures The panel discussion, "AI-Powered Entrepreneurship: Catalyzing Local Impact in Emerging Markets", brought together founders from Asia, Africa, and beyond. Their stories underscored 10x1000's mission: to transform a global learning community into a springboard for innovation, collaboration, and scalable impact. Key takeaways from their sharing include: -- Innovation empowers equitable growth for SMEs: Khang Wei Wong, founder of Singapore and Malaysia's Fulhive & Smart Tradehub, shared how exposure to cutting-edge retail technology and global leaders is fuelling innovation and driving equitable growth for small and medium enterprises. -- Technology can uplift every child, regardless of background: Dr. Low Hui Min, founder of Malaysian EdTech company LEMON, said AI is pioneering new ways to detect learning difficulties in children, demonstrating technology's power to uplift every child-regardless of background. -- Adaptability is Key to Tech-driven Market expansion: Sida Zheng, co-founder of global business platform Rosen, shared how an AI-powered credit assessment model could enable flexible workers in Latin America to access working capital, breaking traditional barriers faced by the unbanked populations in the region. -- Global Collaboration Drives Expansion Strategy: Fifame Ogou of Benin-based UrgenceCare demonstrated how adaptive AI routing systems could reduce emergency response times by learning from infrastructure limitations, significantly improving medical outcomes in resource-constrained environments. -- AI is reshaping affordable healthcare for all: Dr. Ikpeme Neto, founder of Nigerian healthtech startup WellaHealth, highlighted that he was inspired by how an intelligent family doctor AI agent powered by natural language processing has served patients in remote areas, making quality healthcare guidance accessible even in regions with limited internet connectivity. As demonstrated at the Inclusion Conference, by connecting emerging market entrepreneurs with global insights and resources, 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion is fostering a new generation of leaders who are redefining what it means to build inclusive, sustainable solutions. "At 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion, we believe that true innovation thrives when knowledge crosses borders. When a Nigerian healthtech founder advises a Malaysian EdTech startup through our platform, that's how we build inclusive innovation ecosystems. We are not just facilitating a conversation, but laying the groundwork for tomorrow's innovations. Today's stage appearances are just the beginning of their global impact. What begins as knowledge exchange will soon become a powerful global network driving sustainable development for decades to come," added Di Xu. About 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion is an open and global fintech learning platform dedicated to empowering learners to become drivers of digital economic growth. Its mission is to nurture and inspire at least 1,000 emerging talents and tech leaders each year for ten years. 10x1000 is a non-profit program launched jointly by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and Ant Group in 2018. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250921082321/en/ Contact Media ContactMail: [email protected] Learn more: 10x1000.org 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: Posiflex Technology, Inc. (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 TAIPEI, Sept 22, 2025 (BSW) - Posiflex Technology Inc., a global leader in Point of Sale (POS) systems and Online-to-Offline (O2O) solutions, and the No.1 POS brand in the Middle East and Africa, will present its next-generation portfolio of AI-enabled solutions at GITEX GLOBAL 2025, taking place from October 13-17 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Under the theme "Enabling the Future AI Economy with Smarter Business Solutions," Posiflex will present a comprehensive portfolio of innovations that redefine the future of retail and hospitality, spanning from self-service kiosks to advanced contactless transactions technologies, all engineered to enhance customer experiences, optimize operations, and accelerate business growth. Visitors are invited to discover these solutions at Booth H15-E50. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250921017404/en/ Posiflex Unlocks Smarter Business Solutions with AI-Enabled Innovations at GITEX GLOBAL 2025 SCO Series - AI-Powered Smart Self-Checkout Posiflex also introduces its next-generation self-checkout (SCO) kiosks equipped with AI-driven product recognition, integrated weighing scales or RFID scanners, and advanced loss-prevention features. These capabilities accelerate the checkout process, minimize errors, and enhance security, creating a smarter and more convenient shopping experience for both customers and retailers. Tap-to-Pay POS Solution - Contactless, Secure, and Fast Revolutionizing retail interactions, Posiflex introduces a Tap-to-Pay POS solution powered by its proprietary NFC on Touch technology with multi-antenna support. Demonstrated on the sleek GT Series POS terminal, the solution delivers fully contactless transactions with enhanced speed and security. Featuring a 4mm ultra-thin bezel, a 400-nit high-brightness display, and superior touch responsiveness, the GT Series delivers smooth, intuitive interactions. Its dual-sided design enhances customer engagement, making it ideal for dynamic, customer-facing environments. MT-6200 Series with TA-650 Attachment - Mobile Checkout with Maximum Flexibility The MT-6200 Series tablet can be paired with the innovative TA-650 attachment, transforming it into a fully portable checkout device. This versatile combination allows staff to serve customers anywhere within the store, enabling faster, more flexible service delivery and enhancing overall customer satisfaction. KDS Series - Performance-Driven Kitchen Solutions The new 21.5" high-brightness Kitchen Display System (KDS) is purpose-built for demanding back-of-house environments. Featuring a sealed, durable enclosure, the KDS supports bump bar and barcode scanner integration and delivers 400-nit brightness with anti-reflective, anti-fingerprint glass, ensuring clear visibility even in intense kitchen conditions. This robust design empowers operators to optimize workflows and maintain reliability under heat and heavy usage. At GITEX GLOBAL 2025, Posiflex will also debut its newest POS terminals and kiosk solutions, purpose-built to meet the evolving needs of modern businesses across retail, hospitality, and quick-service restaurants. These innovations continue to strengthen Posiflex's commitment to advancing digital transformation and enabling businesses to thrive in the AI economy. We welcome you to visit our booth at Booth H15-E50. You can also contact us in advance to book a meeting with one of our representatives at GITEX GLOBAL 2025 to understand your challenges, needs and requirements for sourcing retail technology solutions. About POSIFLEX Group Posiflex Group is a global leading Commercial AIoT platform powered by smart Online-to-Offline (O2O) and Scenario-defined Embedded Appliance Solutions. Pillared by three brands, Posiflex Group consists of Posiflex as global top 5 brand in POS & Kiosk, Portwell as Embedded Foundry for AIoT Edge Compute, and KIOSK Information Systems (KIS) for managed self-service automation - together with a common mission to enable optimized productivity and superior customer journey across the connected world. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250921017404/en/ Contact Media Contact:Jessie Hsu, Marketing Director, Global Marketing [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: Technology Innovation Institute (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 ABU DHABI, Sept 22, 2025 (BSW) - The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has joined forces with NVIDIA, the world leader in accelerated computing and AI, to launch the Middle East's first Joint Lab dedicated to both artificial intelligence and robotics. This landmark collaboration establishes a first-of-its-kind hub in the region for developing next-generation AI models, robotics platforms, and humanoid technologies that will accelerate innovation across industries. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250922672333/en/ Abu Dhabi's TII and NVIDIA Launch Middle East's First Joint 'AI & Robotics' NVAITC Research Lab (Photo: AETOSWire) The announcement of the TII-NVAITC (NVIDIA AI Technology Center) Joint Lab for AI and Robotics was made during a signing ceremony held at TII's headquarters in Abu Dhabi, bringing together senior leaders from both organizations. The agreement was signed by Dr Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII and Marc Domenech, Regional Director, Enterprise - META Region at NVIDIA, in the presence of H.E. Shahab Abu Shahab, Director General at ATRC, H.E. Abdulaziz Al Dosari, Executive Director of Support Services at ATRC, John Josephakis, Global VP of Sales and Business Development for HPC/Supercomputing at NVIDIA, and Simon See, Global Head NVIDIA AI Technology Centre at NVIDIA, marking a milestone moment in the UAE's AI and robotics journey. The collaboration places Abu Dhabi at the forefront of applied AI, aligning with the emirate's long-term strategy to advance technological sovereignty and shape the future of intelligent autonomous systems. It also underscores the UAE's growing role as a global AI and Robotics leader - highlighted by the recent US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership - and positions the country as a major contributor to the global robotics ecosystem at a time when AI capabilities are rapidly evolving. "This collaboration with NVIDIA marks a major step toward building AI-enhanced robotic systems capable of reasoning, adapting, and acting in complex environments," saidDr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII."By combining our advanced robotic platforms with powerful AI models and compute, we are accelerating the convergence of perception, control, and language - laying the foundation for a new era of intelligent machines." The TII-NVAITC Joint Lab will integrate NVIDIA accelerated computing platforms and expertise with TII's multidisciplinary research in AI, robotics, autonomous systems, and high-performance computing. It is the first NVAITC lab established in the Middle East, marking a significant milestone for the region. Together, the two organizations will accelerate the development of intelligent systems with real-world applications - advancing the field of Physical AI through embodied AI models, state-of-the-art robotics and humanoid stacks, and hardware designed for real-time robotic systems. Research will span robotic learning and control at scale, as well as the development and integration of large language models, including TII's Falcon family of AI models - among them the Middle East's first and largest AI models. "The launch of the TII-NVAITC for AI and Robotics marks a new chapter in our global NVAITC network. By working with TII in Abu Dhabi, we are expanding the scope of these centers into robotics for the first time in the Middle East - helping researchers and innovators accelerate breakthroughs that will shape the future of intelligent systems," said Carlo Ruiz, Vice President - Enterprise Solutions & Operations EMEA at NVIDIA. This new lab forms part of TII's broader strategy to advance applied AI and robotics that deliver real-world impact. At its core is a commitment to open innovation and global knowledge exchange, with TII and NVIDIA collaborating on research, open-source initiatives, and cross-network learning through the global NVAITC community. The lab also builds on TII's existing modular robotic platforms and field-tested components, including robotic arms and delivery dogs, prioritizing research that is grounded in both technical excellence and practical readiness. Source:AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250922672333/en/ Contact Jinan Warrayat,+971504713552, [email protected] [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. Photo: https://www.kmu.gov.ua/ The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has allocated UAH 840 million for the protection of energy facilities in Kharkiv region, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko reported. "At a government meeting, we allocated UAH 840 million for the protection of energy facilities in Kharkiv region. Funds from the state budget reserve fund will be directed to the Kharkiv regional administration to build protective structures at JSC Kharkivoblenergo substations," she wrote on the Telegram channel following the results of the government meeting on Monday. As Svyrydenko noted, this will allow us to protect transformers at substations, which provide light and heat to over 220,000 residents of Kharkiv region, from Russian attacks. "Our task is to do everything possible so that Ukrainians in the frontline regions have light and heat, despite constant Russian attacks," the prime minister added. Top economists warn about 'collapse' of public interest media Paris, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 A group of leading economists including Nobel winners Joseph Stiglitz and Daron Acemoglu warned Monday about the "collapse" of the public interest media sector and called on governments to help quality journalism survive. The group of 11 economists in leading American and European universities published a joint statement via the "Forum on Information and Democracy", a body formed by the Reporters Without Borders media freedom group and the French state. After detailing the problems stemming from job losses, falling revenues and the AI threat to journalism, the economists urged governments to play a larger role in "investing in and shaping the media ecosystem." "Governments around the world are chasing the AI dream, pinning their hopes on these technologies to drive economic prosperity," they wrote. "Yet they are not investing sufficiently in a foundational resource that underpins our 21st century economies -- independent, verifiable information." Media companies have seen their traditional model of selling advertising to fund their news gathering operations decimated since the advent of the internet. Online platforms such as Meta and Google captured the bulk of online advertising revenues, while new AI chatbots such as ChatGPT or Google's Gemini have dramatically reduced the number of people accessing media company websites for information. "The informational good that public interest media provide is being captured for private profits by these companies," the economists said. Societies needed a "collective reappraisal of the social and economic value" of reliable information, which should lead governments to subsidise public interest media and pass legislation to protect them. Government action was needed to "save us from continuing on a path where public interest journalism looks set to collapse, with enormous consequences for our economy, our society, and our democracies", they concluded. reb-adp/lth Meta Press Release from Business Wire: Spinnaker Support (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 DENVER, Sept 22, 2025 (BSW) - Spinnaker Support (Spinnaker), the Oracle, SAP and VMware software support specialist trusted by over 1,000 global clients, including many of the world's leading banks, telcos and utility companies, announces today that it will provide support for organizations running vSphere 7 indefinitely - meaning organizations running vSphere 7 for as long as they want past Broadcom's End of General Support Deadline (EoGS) of October 2, 2025. From October 2, 2025, Broadcom will no longer provide technical support, security patches, or updates for vSphere 7.x, and customers will need to upgrade to a newer version if they want to remain supported. If customers decide not to upgrade or simply don't have the budget to do so, systems will become vulnerable. "Broadcom is essentially telling customers "Upgrade now or you'll be left behind", and we believe that is wrong," said Shane O'Rourke, Senior Director of VMware Global Support Services, Spinnaker Support. "This is why today we are announcing that VMware customers running vSphere 7 can continue to do so as long as they want and remain supported by our team of VMware experts. This once again demonstrates Broadcom's attitude towards customers and ultimately forcing them to upgrade when they are happy with their current version." "Many of the customers I talk to are still running on version 7, often because it's "just working" and nobody wants to fix what isn't broken. But as support winds down, the risks for these customers only compound: no more CVEs, no more zero-day patches, and no guarantees if something fundamental fails. From my perspective, now is the time to step back and look at what's actually right for your business, your use cases, and your environment, not just what the vendor lifecycle dictates," added O'Rourke. David McDougall, CRO, Spinnaker Support commented: "Since the Broadcom acquisition, ambiguity is the only thing we've been able to count on. Customers distrust the licensing changes, many outright reject the move to a subscription model, and most simply want to avoid getting caught in another round of sudden price hikes, changing terms, or forced upgrades driven by the vendor. VMware has unwittingly pushed many customers into running their environments unsupported. The decision to shed your support contract isn't something anyone is doing without serious consideration, and many customers feel like they have no alternative in the face of the VMware changes. It's critical that organizations know that there is an alternative support option available to them." For more information about Spinnaker Support's VMware support offering, visit https://www.spinnakersupport.com/vmware/. About Spinnaker Support Spinnaker Support is entrusted by over 1,000 companies worldwide to solve their most pressing and essential enterprise software needs. Spinnaker Support experts provide an extensive services portfolio of third-party support, managed services, consulting, and state-of-the-art security to optimize clients' software ecosystems. They support Oracle, SAP, and VMware - freeing up valuable capital and resources so customers can maximize the security and performance of their enterprise software ecosystem with certainty. With Spinnaker, enterprises are empowered to make software decisions based on their business initiatives rather than their enterprise software provider's roadmap. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250922678118/en/ Contact Media contactDan [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. Google fights breakup of ad tech business in US court Alexandria, United States, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 Google faced a fresh federal court test on Monday as US government lawyers asked a judge to order the breakup of the search engine giant's ad technology business. The lawsuit is Google's second such test this year after the California-based tech juggernaut saw a similar government demand to split up its empire rejected by a judge earlier this month. Monday's case focuses specifically on Google's ad tech "stack" -- the tools that website publishers use to sell ads and that advertisers use to buy them. In a landmark decision earlier this year, Federal Judge Leonie Brinkema agreed with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) that Google maintained an illegal grip on this market. This week's trial is set to determine what penalties and changes Google must implement to undo its monopoly. For the US government, Google should be ordered to spin off a piece of its ad tech operations, commit to changing its business practices and undergo close court supervision for the coming years. "The law requires the court to put its thumb on the scale" and end Google's "profound and persistent harms" to potential rivals, said DOJ lawyer Julia Tarver Wood in her opening arguments. Specifically, the DOJ is asking that Google relinquish its dominating ad exchange operations, the software where publishers sell their ad inventory to advertisers and ad agencies through a real-time bidding auction system. In her opening statement, Google's lawyer Karen Dunne called the DOJ's proposals "radical and reckless," a "swing for the fences" and said "caution was key" when Judge Brinkema made her decision on the fate of Google's ad tech business. Dunne added that the government's fix was technically unfeasible, would be highly disruptive to the industry and would "fail as a practical matter." She not surprisingly turned to the recent decision in the similar case involving Google's search business in which a different judge decided that splitting up the company's business would be "messy and highly risky." Instead, Google was required to share data with rivals as part of its remedies and undergo some court-ruled oversight. The US government had pushed for Chrome's divestment, arguing the browser serves as a crucial gateway to the internet that brings in a third of all Google web searches. Google's Dunne said the same caution should apply, with a forced divestiture far too radical a step, as she set forth the company's commitments to change its business practices in order to satisfy the judge. The DOJ insisted these fixes fell short of what was needed and would see the tech giant swiftly regain its monopoly over the sector. In a similar case in Europe, the European Commission, the EU's antitrust enforcer, earlier this month fined Google 2.95 billion euros ($3.47 billion) over its control of the ad tech market. Brussels ordered behavioral changes, drawing criticism that it was going easy on Google as it had previously indicated that a divestiture may be necessary. This US trial is expected to last about a week, with a decision by Judge Brinkema not expected for months. These cases are part of a broader bipartisan government campaign against the world's largest technology companies. The US currently has five pending antitrust cases against Silicon Valley's tech giants. arp/dw GOOGLE Photo: https://t.me/osirskiy Ukrainian Defense Forces continue operations on the Dobropillia axis, Ukrainian soldiers are advancing, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky has said. "Over the past day, control over 1.3 sq km was restored, and the enemy was searched and destroyed in the territory of 2.1 sq km of the Pokrovsky district of the Donetsk region. Assault units advanced from 200 m to 2.5 km in some directions," he said on Telegram on Monday. During the fighting, 43 occupiers were destroyed, the total losses of the enemy were 65 people. 11 units of military equipment were also destroyed (artillery systems four, UAVs - six, motorcycles - one). According to Syrsky, in total, during the operation, as of 00:00 on September 22, 2025, 164.5 sq km were liberated, 180.8 sq km were cleared of enemy groups. Control over seven settlements has been restored, nine have been cleared of enemy groups. The total losses of the Russian occupiers in the Dobropol direction are 2,696 people, of which 1,492 are irretrievable. The replenishment of the "exchange fund" for the return of Ukrainian defenders from Russian captivity is ongoing. The occupiers also lost 856 units of weapons and military equipment. Of these: tanks - 12, armored combat vehicles - 38, artillery systems - 175, MLRS - 5, automotive equipment - 441, motorcycles and ATVs - 58, special equipment 1 and UAVs - 173. North Korea's Kim open to US talks, has 'fond memories' of Trump Seoul, Sept 21 (AFP) Sep 21, 2025 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he was open to future talks with the United States if Washington drops its demand that the country give up its nuclear weapons, state media said Monday. Kim also said he had "fond memories" of US President Donald Trump, who he met three times for high-profile summits during Trump's first term, before talks collapsed in Hanoi in 2019 over what concessions Pyongyang was prepared to make. "If the United States discards its delusional obsession with denuclearisation and, based on recognising reality, truly wishes for peaceful coexistence with us, then there is no reason we cannot meet it," Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. The demand that Kim give up his nuclear arsenal has long been a sticking point between the two countries, with Pyongyang under successive rafts of UN sanctions over its banned weapons programmes. Kim said that sanctions had only helped the North in "growing stronger, building endurance and resistance that cannot be crushed by any pressure". "I still personally hold fond memories of the current US president, Trump," Kim added, in a wide-ranging speech to the country's rubber-stamp parliament. Since the failed 2019 summit, North Korea has repeatedly said it will never give up its nuclear weapons and declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear state. Kim reiterated that denuclearisation was not an option. "The world already knows well what the United States does after it forces a country to give up its nuclear arms and disarm," he said. "We will never give up our nuclear weapons." Kim also said that he had "no reason to sit down with South Korea", even as Seoul's new President Lee Jae-myung has sought to ease tensions with the North. "We make it clear that we will not deal with them in any form," he said. - Russia ties - North Korea has in recent years declared the South its principal enemy and blown up rail links and roads that connect the two countries. Analysts say that the North Korean leader has been emboldened by the war in Ukraine, securing critical support from Russia after sending thousands of North Korean troops to fight alongside Moscow. North Korea has become one of Russia's main allies since Moscow invaded Ukraine three-and-a-half years ago, sending thousands of soldiers and container loads of weapons to help the Kremlin push Ukrainian forces out of western Russia, following Kyiv's shock incursion last year. Moscow and Pyongyang signed a mutual defence pact last year when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the reclusive state. Seoul has repeatedly warned that Russia is stepping up support for Pyongyang, including the potential transfer of sensitive Russian military technology. Trump is expected to visit South Korea next month, when the country hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) in its southern city of Gyeongju. Kim, who visited Russia's Far East in 2023, rarely leaves North Korea. But he travelled to Beijing this month on an armoured train. He stood beside Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a massive parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender. NATO to hold talks Tuesday on Russian jets in Estonia Brussels, Belgium, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 NATO ambassadors will hold talks Tuesday on the violation by Russian fighter jets of Estonian airspace, after Tallinn called urgent consultations under Article Four of the alliance's founding treaty. NATO scrambled jets after three Russian MiG-31 fighters on Friday breached Estonian airspace for some 12 minutes, triggering complaints of a dangerous new provocation and a denial from Moscow. Estonia immediately called for the urgent talks with NATO allies, less than two weeks after Poland did the same after claiming an incursion by a wave of Russian drones. Under Article 4, any member can call emergency discussions when it feels its "territorial integrity, political independence or security" are at risk. Tuesday's talks will be the third time Article 4 has been invoked since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the ninth time it has been triggered in the alliance's 79-year history. NATO's collective security is based on its Article 5 principle: if one member is attacked, the entire alliance comes to its defence. That article has only been invoked once in the history of NATO, following the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. After Poland invoked Article 4 over the drone intrusion, NATO announced it was bolstering its defences along its eastern flank in a bid to better secure its frontier. Estonia has also said the United Security Council will convene a meeting on Monday over the Russian jet intrusion. North Korea's Kim open to US talks, has 'fond memories' of Trump Seoul, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says he has "fond memories" of US President Donald Trump and is open to future talks with the United States -- if he can keep his nuclear arsenal. Kim met Trump three times for high-profile summits during Trump's first term, before talks collapsed in Hanoi in 2019 over what concessions Pyongyang was prepared to make on its atomic weapons. The US demand that Kim give up his banned weapons has long been a sticking point between the two countries, with Pyongyang under successive rafts of UN sanctions over its nuclear and missile programmes. "If the United States discards its delusional obsession with denuclearisation and, based on recognising reality, truly wishes for peaceful coexistence with us, then there is no reason we cannot meet it," Kim said, according to a report Monday by the official Korean Central News Agency. "I still personally hold fond memories of the current US president, Trump," Kim added, in a wide-ranging speech to the country's Supreme People's Assembly. Since the failed 2019 summit, North Korea has repeatedly said it will never give up its atomic weapons and declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear state. Kim reiterated that denuclearisation was not an option. "The world already knows well what the United States does after it forces a country to give up its nuclear arms and disarm," he said. "We will never give up our nuclear weapons." Kim said sanctions had only helped the North in "growing stronger, building endurance and resistance that cannot be crushed by any pressure". Kim also added he had "no reason to sit down with South Korea", even as Seoul's new President Lee Jae-myung has sought to ease tensions with the North. "We make it clear that we will not deal with them in any form," he said. Kim's speech reiterates Pyongyang's position that it must be recognised as a nuclear state before any talks can take place, Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP. "It reaffirms the North's stance that recognition as a nuclear-armed state, along with a willingness to improve relations with it, are the prerequisites for dialogue," he said. "It calls for a fundamental shift toward equal dialogue and improved relations as a nuclear-armed state." North Korea has in recent years declared the South its principal enemy and blown up rail links and roads connecting the two countries. - Russia ties - "The lengthy and detailed justifications reflect equal parts confidence and desperation," Yang Moo-jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP. "While outwardly aimed at foreign powers, the speech carried a strong domestic message, seeking to pre-empt instability," Yang said. Kim has been emboldened by the war in Ukraine, according to analysts, securing critical support from Russia after sending thousands of North Korean troops to fight alongside Moscow. North Korea has become one of Russia's main allies since Moscow invaded Ukraine three-and-a-half years ago, sending thousands of soldiers and container loads of weapons to help the Kremlin push Ukrainian forces out of western Russia, following Kyiv's shock incursion last year. Moscow and Pyongyang signed a mutual defence pact last year when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the reclusive state. Seoul has repeatedly warned that Russia is stepping up support for Pyongyang, including the potential transfer of sensitive Russian military technology. Trump is expected to visit South Korea next month, when the country hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) in its southern city of Gyeongju. "The timing of the remarks, just ahead of Trump's trip to South Korea for the APEC summit, appears calculated," said Lim Eul-chul at South Korea's Kyungnam University. "It hinted at the possibility of a surprise summit, while also playing to Trump's well-known yearning for a Nobel Prize." Spain faces uphill battle to cut Israel military ties: experts Madrid, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 Spain's drive to cut military ties with Israel over the devastating war in Gaza will face formidable hurdles as cutting-edge Israeli technology is embedded in the armed forces, experts say. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced earlier this month a package of measures aimed at stopping what he called "the genocide in Gaza", including an arms embargo. The leftist government said it had already stopped buying weapons from or selling them to Israel since the outbreak of the war, sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023. But Sanchez, one of the most virulent critics of Israel's offensive, said the new measure would "consolidate in law" the embargo. A decree detailing the terms of the embargo is due to be approved by cabinet on Tuesday. The leftist government has already terminated a contract worth nearly 700 million euros ($825 million) for Israeli-designed rocket launchers. The cancellation of a deal valued at 287 million euros for 168 anti-tank missile launchers, which were to be manufactured under licence from an Israeli company, has also been formalised. - Quest for 'strategic autonomy' - But severing all ties with Israeli military equipment is easier said than done. Spanish media have recently uncovered a vast range of military equipment dependent on Israeli technology, including ammunition, combat tank radios, armoured vehicles and missile launchers. El Pais daily reported that the air force's ageing fleet of US-designed F-5 fighter jets, used to train pilots, were "modernised" -- notably in their electronics systems -- and maintained by Israel Aerospace Industries. David Khalfa, a researcher at the Paris-based Jean Jaures Foundation, identified "a dilemma between military needs linked to the Russian threat... and a more political approach, linked to the situation in Gaza". "The Israelis' advantage is that these technologies are tested in the field," notably the latest generation of anti-missile defences, added Khalfa, who is also co-president of the Atlantic Middle East Forum think tank. "There are few countries capable of securing their airspace," he told AFP, pointing to European "restlessness" after recent Russian breaches of NATO airspace in Poland and Estonia. Another pitfall facing the new law is the timeframe for replacing equipment yet to be delivered but whose contracts have already been scrapped. "There are no Spanish technologies available to replace them. We will have to develop, invest in research and development to make up the gap," said Felix Arteaga, a defence specialist at Madrid's Elcano Royal Institute. Arteaga warned that if the replacement technology were American, Spain would be merely exchanging one dependence for another without achieving "strategic autonomy". - 'Sensitive topic' - The law will be difficult to draw up and must avoid any "loophole" that would allow the conservative opposition to row back on it if it gains power, added Arteaga. The decree must "satisfy" the other parties and "provide time so that contracts with Israel which are maintained can be executed", he told AFP. This was especially the case for the F-5 jets, which must remain available until Turkish replacements arrive, he said. Defence Minister Margarita Robles has told parliament that Spanish industry was filling the gap left by the jettisoned Israeli technology. She conceded "a few loose ends remained from a technological point of view", but that the gaps were resolved "at the end of July". A Spanish military source told AFP "the topic is sensitive", saying "the radical intention to cut off (the defence trade) is one thing, reality is another". "These decisions have repercussions," the source added while acknowledging the military was "in the middle of a revolution". The defence ministry declined to explain which equipment would be affected by the new decree. New Syria leader, in US, plays down Israel normalization New York, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, visiting New York for the UN General Assembly, voiced hope Monday for a security deal that eases tensions with Israel but he played down the prospect of recognition. Sharaa, a former jihadist whose forces toppled longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December, will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and deliver the first address in decades by a Syrian leader to the General Assembly. Syrian officials have set a goal of reaching military and security agreements by the end of the year with Israel, whose military has repeatedly battered its neighbor and longtime adversary in the chaos since Assad's fall. "I hope that that will lead us to an agreement that will keep the sovereignty of Syria and also resolve some of the security fears of Israel," Sharaa told the Concordia summit at a New York hotel on the sidelines of the UN summit. But he balked when asked if Syria would join the so-called Abraham Accords, in which the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco normalized relations with Israel in 2020. "Syria is different as those that are part of the Abraham Accords are not Israel's neighbors. Syria has been subjected to more than 1,000 Israeli raids, strikes and incursions from the Golan Heights into Syria," he said. He voiced doubts about trusting Israel, questioning whether it sought to expand in Syria and charging that Israel has violated peace agreements with two other neighbors, Egypt and Jordan. "There is also huge anger over what's going on in Gaza, not only in Syria but in the entire world, and of course this impacts our position on Israel," he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that there was a new window of possibility for peace with both Syria and Lebanon after an Israeli military campaign devastated Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite militant movement that was close to Assad. Sharaa met in May in Riyadh with US President Donald Trump, who took the advice of Saudi Arabia and Turkey to lift Assad-era sanctions on Syria, despite Israeli misgivings. Sharaa hailed Trump's move and called on the US Congress to fully lift sanctions, which "put a burden on people who have already suffered from the former regime's oppression." Clashes in DR Congo despite peace efforts Kinshasa, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 Intense clashes between anti-government M23 fighters and armed forces have taken place in eastern DR Congo in recent days including over a gold mining town, locals and security sources said Monday. The violence comes despite parallel peace attempts backed by the United States and Qatar and after the late June signing of a peace accord between Kinshasa and neighbouring Rwanda. Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Rwanda and rich in resources, has endured three decades of conflict. Violence spiked between January and February with the Rwandan-backed M23's capture of the major cities of Goma and Bukavu. The M23 and the Congolese army accused each other in weekend statements of "trampling" on peace efforts or "violating" the accord's principles. The M23 now insists it must resort to "self-defence", while the army says it reserves the "right to retaliate". Recent months have seen a fragile lull in the provinces of North and South Kivu. But NGOs and the United Nations have denounced violations against civilians including murder, kidnap and rape in M23-controlled areas. The army in a statement Saturday pointed to what it said were several attacks by the M23 on its positions Friday and Saturday in the two provinces. The M23 responded by saying the army had carried out drone strikes on several localities. Sunday saw the group take control of Nzibira, a gold mining town some 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Bukavu, local and security sources said. Nzibira "is in M23 hands after intense fighting Sunday against wazalendo fighters", a civil society official told AFP on condition of anonymity, using a term for local militia backing the armed forces. An army source confirmed that account. The fighters who entered the town Sunday "do not disturb anyone and don't speak to us. We can see them through the window", said a nurse by telephone from a Nzibira hospital. Observers now expect an M23 offensive to follow targeting Uvira, a South Kivu city of some 500,000 people opposite the Burundian economic capital Bujumbura on the other side of Lake Tanganyika. The city is currently under Congolese army and pro-Kinshasa militia control. Security forces say Burundi's military has shored up its presence at the border. US envoy to UN vows to 'defend every inch of NATO territory' United Nations, United States, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 Washington's new envoy to the United Nations vowed Monday to "defend every inch of NATO territory" as he addressed an emergency meeting over an incursion by Russian fighter jets into Estonia's air space. NATO scrambled jets after three Russian MiG-31 fighters on Friday breached Estonian airspace for some 12 minutes, triggering complaints of a dangerous new provocation and a denial from Moscow. Estonia, a NATO member, called for a meeting of the UN's top body, the Security Council, "in response to Russia's brazen violation of Estonian airspace", and talks with other NATO allies. "As we said nine days ago, the United States stands by our NATO Allies in the face of these airspace violations. And I want to take this first opportunity to repeat, and to emphasize, the United States and our Allies will defend every inch of NATO territory," said US Ambassador Mike Waltz. The incursion came after fellow NATO member Poland said earlier this month Russian drones had repeatedly violated its airspace during an attack on Ukraine, in what Warsaw called an "act of aggression." US President Donald Trump on Sunday joined the condemnation of the latest airspace violation, vowing to defend Poland and the Baltic states in case of escalation from Russia. Asked whether he would help defend the EU members if Russia intensifies hostilities, Trump told reporters: "Yeah, I would." Trump's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin has blown hot and cold, with the Kremlin leader pressing his invasion of Ukraine and the US president urging peace but showing little concrete sign of pressuring Moscow. Trump said Thursday at the close of a state visit to Britain that Putin had "really let me down" by continuing the war, now in its fourth year. "At a time when President Trump and the United States has been focused, and spent an enormous amount of time and effort to end this horrific war between Russia and Ukraine, we expect Russia to seek ways to de-escalate -- not risk expansion," Waltz added in his maiden speech to the Council. Western powers have warned that Russia is playing with fire with its repeated ventures into NATO airspace, whose members have a mutual defense assistance pact. In the incident in Estonian airspace, Italian F-35 fighters attached to NATO's air defense support mission in the Baltic states, along with Swedish and Finnish aircraft, were scrambled to intercept the Russian jets and warn them off. IAEA says Iran nuclear diplomacy at a 'difficult juncture' United Nations, United States, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, told AFP Monday that diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program were at a "difficult juncture" but dialogue would continue. The UN Security Council voted on Friday to reimpose UN sanctions that had been frozen, after three European governments activated the "snapback" mechanism in a decade-old nuclear agreement, accusing Iran of non-compliance. "It's obviously quite a difficult juncture. It's a very difficult situation we are facing right now," the International Atomic Energy Agency chief said, adding that talks between involved parties were planned in New York for Monday. "What's important is the communications are continuing. We are planning to see each other if possible today, Monday, here in New York, and perhaps more meetings during the week." Friday's vote means that the sanctions, which were suspended in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear activities set out in the 2015 deal, will take effect again on September 28 unless Iran can persuade the council to relent in the next week. Tehran said the action by the European powers -- Britain, France and Germany -- undermined months of engagement with the IAEA aimed at resuming monitoring and ensuring compliance with international rules. Grossi praised the active diplomacy of French President Emmanuel Macron to salvage a deal, and said that there were still lines of communication between Tehran and Washington. - 'Avoid prolonged confrontation' - "Emmanuel Macron is very present, has been historically, and I respect him enormously," Grossi said. "I think the Special Envoy, Ambassador (Steve) Witkoff, has also been involved and actively exploring different channels and presenting a number of ideas," Grossi said. Grossi said his dialog with Witkoff had enabled him to understand Washington's position and red lines. "And the IAEA is not a party to the agreement -- but it's indispensable in every scenario. So we continue the work with Ambassador Witkoff," Grossi said. Earlier this month, Iran and the IAEA reached an agreement in Cairo that would have allowed inspections of Iranian nuclear sites to resume. Iran had suspended them after Israel and the United States attacked its nuclear facilities in June. Western governments have long accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapons capability, an ambition Tehran denies. Tehran has also criticized the IAEA for failing to condemn the Israeli and US strikes. Paris, London, and Berlin have stressed their demands that the Islamic Republic grant IAEA inspectors full access to nuclear sites, including those damaged by Israeli and American attacks last June. They also call for a resumption of negotiations, particularly with the US side. Tehran says it is resisting political pressure and accuses the Europeans of not taking up a "balanced" proposal, the details of which have not been disclosed. "We are not at a point where people are not talking to each other, and you have to convince them to come together," Grossi said. "So does that mean that I am optimistic? Well, neither optimistic nor pessimistic," he said adding that he remained hopeful that "we can still have an agreement." "If we don't have it, I think we have to try to (right) the boat as soon as possible to avoid prolonged confrontation and perhaps more attacks." Grossi also said he would seek to succeed Antonio Guterres as Secretary-General of the UN when his term ends in December 2026. IAEA says Iran nuclear diplomacy at a 'difficult juncture' United Nations, United States, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, told AFP Monday that diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program were at a "difficult juncture" but dialogue would continue. The UN Security Council voted on Friday to reimpose UN sanctions that had been frozen, after three European governments activated the "snapback" mechanism in a decade-old nuclear agreement, accusing Iran of non-compliance. "It's obviously quite a difficult juncture. It's a very difficult situation we are facing right now," the International Atomic Energy Agency chief said, adding that talks between involved parties were planned in New York for Monday. "What's important is the communications are continuing. We are planning to see each other, if possible today, Monday, here in New York, and perhaps more meetings during the week." Later Monday, Iran's foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Grossi and stressed any progress on a deal depended on Western countries "halting of excessive demands and misuse of the Security Council to exert pressure on Iran." Friday's vote means that the sanctions, which were suspended in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear activities set out in the 2015 deal, will take effect again on September 28 unless Iran can persuade the council to relent before then. Tehran said the action by the European powers -- Britain, France and Germany -- undermined months of engagement with the IAEA aimed at resuming monitoring and ensuring compliance with international rules. Grossi praised the active diplomacy of French President Emmanuel Macron to salvage a deal, and said that there were still lines of communication between Tehran and Washington. - 'Avoid prolonged confrontation' - "Emmanuel Macron is very present, has been historically, and I respect him enormously," Grossi said. "I think the Special Envoy, Ambassador (Steve) Witkoff, has also been involved and actively exploring different channels and presenting a number of ideas," Grossi said. Grossi said his dialog with Witkoff had enabled him to understand Washington's position and red lines. "And the IAEA is not a party to the agreement -- but it's indispensable in every scenario. So we continue the work with Ambassador Witkoff," Grossi said. Earlier this month, Iran and the IAEA reached an agreement in Cairo that would have allowed inspections of Iranian nuclear sites to resume. Iran had suspended them after Israel and the United States attacked its nuclear facilities in June. Western governments have long accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapons capability, an ambition Tehran denies. Tehran has also criticized the IAEA for failing to condemn the Israeli and US strikes. Paris, London, and Berlin have stressed their demands that the Islamic Republic grant IAEA inspectors full access to nuclear sites, including those damaged by Israeli and American attacks in June. They also call for a resumption of negotiations, particularly with the US side. Tehran says it is resisting political pressure and accuses the Europeans of not taking up a "balanced" proposal, the details of which have not been disclosed. "We are not at a point where people are not talking to each other, and you have to convince them to come together," Grossi said. "So does that mean that I am optimistic? Well, neither optimistic nor pessimistic," he said adding that he remained hopeful that "we can still have an agreement." "If we don't have it, I think we have to try to (right) the boat as soon as possible to avoid prolonged confrontation and perhaps more attacks." Grossi also said he would seek to succeed Antonio Guterres as Secretary-General of the UN when his term ends in December 2026. Photo: https://t.me/ministry_of_defense_ua The Cabinet of Ministers has regulated the procedure for transferring training weapons from military units to the Centers for Training Citizens for National Resistance and centers for teaching the subject "Defense of Ukraine." According to the message of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, this decision will contribute to: improving the quality of training citizens for national resistance and strengthening military-patriotic education, as well as creating an appropriate material and technical base for conducting such training. White House rejects talks offer from Venezuela's Maduro Caracas, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 The White House on Monday dismissed a request by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for talks with counterpart Donald Trump to de-escalate tensions between the two arch-foes. The brush-off came as two Venezuelan opposition leaders backed a US naval build-up near the South American country, calling it critical for the restoration of democracy. Trump has dispatched eight warships and a submarine to the southern Caribbean in an anti-drug operation Venezuela fears could be the preamble to an invasion. US forces have destroyed at least three suspected Venezuelan drug boats in recent weeks, killing over a dozen people. On Sunday, the Venezuelan government released a letter that leftist Maduro had sent to Trump. In the missive, Maduro -- whose July 2024 reelection was rejected as fraudulent by Venezuela's opposition and much of the international community -- rejected as "absolutely false" US allegations that he leads a drug cartel and urged Trump to "keep the peace." Reacting on Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Maduro's letter contained "a lot of lies." She added the Trump administration's position on Venezuela "has not changed" and it viewed the regime as "illegitimate." The US deployment is the biggest in the Caribbean in years. Maduro has accused Trump -- who during his first term tried unsuccessfully to expedite the Venezuelan president's ouster -- of trying to affect regime change. His defense minister, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, last week accused the United States of waging "an undeclared war" in the Caribbean, underlining that occupants of alleged drug boats were "executed without the right to a defense." Thousands of Venezuelans have joined a civilian militia in response to Maduro's call for bolstering the cash-strapped country's defenses. Some Venezuelans have welcomed the US actions, however, hoping they hasten Maduro's downfall. - 'Real and growing threat' - Exiled presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who the United States views as Venezuela's democratically-elected leader, said the military deployment was "a necessary measure to dismantle the criminal structure" he said Maduro leads. Opposition figurehead Maria Corina Machado agreed, and said Venezuelan crime gangs were "a real and growing threat to the security and stability" of the Americas. Maduro's claim to election victory last year sparked violent protests that were harshly repressed, leaving more than two dozen dead and hundreds behind bars. The opposition said its own tally of results showed Gonzalez Urrutia, who stood in after the regime barred Machado from running, had defeated Maduro hands down. Threatened with arrest, Gonzalez Urrutia fled to Spain. Machado remains in Venezuela, in hiding. Another opposition figure, Henrique Capriles, last week came out against any US invasion. "I continue to believe that the solution is not military, but political," the two-time presidential candidate said, adding Trump's actions were counterproductive and "entrenching those in power." New Syria leader, in US, plays down Israel normalization New York, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, visiting New York for the UN General Assembly, voiced hope Monday for a security deal that eases tensions with Israel but he played down the prospect of recognition. Sharaa, a former jihadist whose forces toppled longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December, met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and later will deliver the first address in decades by a Syrian leader to the General Assembly. Syrian officials have set a goal of reaching military and security agreements by the end of the year with Israel, whose military has repeatedly battered its neighbor and longtime adversary in the chaos since Assad's fall. "I hope that that will lead us to an agreement that will keep the sovereignty of Syria and also resolve some of the security fears of Israel," Sharaa told the Concordia summit at a New York hotel on the sidelines of the UN summit. But he balked when asked if Syria would join the so-called Abraham Accords, in which the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco normalized relations with Israel in 2020. "Syria is different as those that are part of the Abraham Accords are not Israel's neighbors. Syria has been subjected to more than 1,000 Israeli raids, strikes and incursions from the Golan Heights into Syria," he said. He voiced doubts about trusting Israel, questioning whether it sought to expand in Syria and charging that Israel has violated peace agreements with two other neighbors, Egypt and Jordan. "There is also huge anger over what's going on in Gaza, not only in Syria but in the entire world, and of course this impacts our position on Israel," he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that there was a new window of possibility for peace with both Syria and Lebanon after an Israeli military campaign devastated Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite militant movement that was close to Assad. Sharaa met in May in Riyadh with US President Donald Trump, who took the advice of Saudi Arabia and Turkey to lift Assad-era sanctions on Syria, despite Israeli misgivings. Sharaa hailed Trump's move and called on the US Congress to fully lift sanctions, which "put a burden on people who have already suffered from the former regime's oppression." Rubio, in his meeting with Sharaa, discussed Syria's relations with Israel and called on the country to seize the chance to "build a stable and sovereign nation," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has redirected UAH 2 billion to the Ministry of Defense for the development of the defense-industrial complex, the expansion of existing production capacities, and the purchase of weapons. Representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada Taras Melnychuk on Monday on Telegram said that the relevant decision was made at a government meeting on Monday. In particular, the balance of funds generated as of January 1, 2025, the source of formation of which was the receipts of the special fund of the state budget, and not used by the Ministry of Strategic Industries, in the amount of UAH 2,050,028,309, was directed to the Ministry of Defense for the implementation of measures to reform and develop the defense-industrial complex, develop, master and implement new technologies, expand existing production capacities for the manufacture of defense products, purchase weapons, military (special) equipment, means and equipment. The defense ministers of a number of European Union countries will discuss the creation of a "drone wall" on the eastern border of the commonwealth on Friday, European Commission spokesman Thomas Rainier said, quoted by Polish media. According to him, a video conference will be held on September 26, "during which Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius will discuss measures to strengthen security with Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, as well as with Ukraine." "The meeting is expected to take place at ministerial level," Rainier added. "Following this discussion, we will decide on possible further steps in cooperation with these member states, Ukraine and others," he said. The EC representative said that, in particular, the proposal to create a "drone wall" will be considered, an initiative to strengthen the eastern border of the European Union, supported by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The group said: We know this Government cares little for the environmental impact aviation is having on our planet and Gatwicks neighbours, but not to demand that Gatwick pays for the infrastructure, the onsite wastewater treatment plant, and noise impact is unlawful in our book. Meanwhile, KPMG said there could be one more cut to UK interest rates before the end of the year breaking away from other economists who have predicted rates will stay the same until 2026. 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 The decision to create the Assault Troops as a separate branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a logical stage in the development of the Armed Forces in the conditions of modern warfare, because there are significant differences between the Airborne Assault Troops and the Assault Troops, Major Andriy Kovalev, spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has told Interfax-Ukraine. "Assault Troops are objectively a response to the requirements of modern warfare. In the fourth year of the full-scale war with the Russian invaders, the nature of hostilities has changed significantly. In view of this, a decision was made to create the Assault Troops as a separate branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Kovalev said. He emphasized that this step has clearly strengthened the capabilities of the Ukrainian troops, increased the activity and stability of defense, and increased the effectiveness of counteroffensive actions. At the same time, the General Staff spokesman explained that there are significant differences between the Airborne Assault Forces and the Assault Forces. Assault Forces are rapid reaction forces. They operate in various areas of the front where a threat or problem suddenly arises - for example, a breakthrough in defense, loss of positions or a settlement. The main task is to quickly arrive, deploy, enter battle, destroy the enemy and restore the lost position. They do not have their own areas and defense strips and are not intended to conduct them. Their task is to conduct offensive, assault and raid operations. Thus, Assault Forces are characterized by high mobility and autonomy and are usually used as part of assault companies or battalions in isolation from their units in the strips of other brigades that have lost positions. As Kovalev explained, in an offensive they can be used as part of an assault battalion or assault regiment to break through the defense or capture an important area of the terrain or settlement. The airborne assault troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, unlike the Assault Troops, are used as part of brigades or groups and are intended to conduct both offensive and defensive operations. "In an offensive, they are usually involved in the most important areas of the front to break through the enemy's defense and attack to a significant depth for a long time. In defense, they are used for actions in the areas of application of the enemy's main forces or to defend important areas of the terrain or settlements," he said. In addition, as Kovalev added, the airborne assault troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are used as part of airborne assaults, conduct deep raid and airborne assault operations. They allow you to expand the zone of military operations from the line of combat contact to the operational depth of the enemy, transfer military operations to its territory, disorganize the system of command and control of troops and logistical support, thus creating favorable conditions for the superiority of the defense forces in a specific operational zone and achieving the success of a strategic operation (campaign). "The main difference between the Assault Forces and others is a quick response and the ability to act first, regardless of the situation. Individual assault regiments and battalions as part of the Armed Forces have repeatedly proven their effectiveness during active operations in the Kursk, Sumy, Donetsk, Kharkiv regions and in many other key areas of the front," Kovalev emphasized. He noted that the Assault Forces Directorate of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has now been created and the head of this department is the Hero of Ukraine, Colonel Valentyn Manko. "Soon the Assault Troops will become an indispensable separate component of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the General Staff added. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the creation of separate assault troops. According to the president, "a decision has been made to create separate assault troops, and everything should be operational in a week or ten days." Max Taylor, VodafoneThree chief executive, said: We said we would deliver at pace and, just a few months in, we are delighted to announce our strategic partners, Ericsson and Nokia, that will work with us to deliver our ambition of building the UKs best network. I want to thank the people of Barrow for the warmth of their welcome and the pride they have shown. It has been inspiring to see the whole town come together to share in this milestone. We also share the belief that our voices should never be silenced by those in power because if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us. Claire Hoyle, chief campaigns and engagement officer at BBC Children in Need, said: Pudsey has always been a symbol of hope and resilience for children across the UK. Pudsey And The Thread Of Hope beautifully captures the spirit of what we stand for helping children feel seen, supported and empowered. Were thrilled to see Pudseys story brought to life in such a heartfelt way. He said: People think dementia is about memory, but thats not the case for everyones dementia. For me, vascular dementia means I have problems with things like numbers and order. But ask me to write a piece of poetry and Ill be right in there. Photo: https://www.facebook.com Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha took part in the High-Level Dialogue between the Council of Ministers of the Association of Caribbean States and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Observer States in New York within the framework of the high-level General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. According to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event was attended by ministers and high representatives of a number of Latin American and Caribbean states, including Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Suriname, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Cuba, Chile, Brazil, Spain, Turkey, and the UAE. The minister expressed gratitude to the Panamanian chairmanship of the ACD and presented Ukraine's vision as an observer country, informed foreign colleagues about the intensification of international efforts within the framework of the UN high-level General Debate, and once again emphasized Ukraine's readiness for an immediate ceasefire and a meeting of leaders to end Russian aggression. "Ukraine is not an obstacle to peace. This war continues only because Russia refuses to stop it. And here we need your support to accelerate peace efforts. Your voice matters. We need your solidarity. This is about principles," the minister said. The Foreign Minister stated that the war has global consequences that affect every region of the world, including the Caribbean region. "This war is an attack on international law, the principles and norms of the UN Charter, and our common values," he said. Under a proposed deal, Austin-based Oracle would operate and oversee TikToks U.S. algorithm. Kiichiro Sato/AP Michael Dell, right, shares his views about risk taking, having the courage of your convictions, reinvention, and the magic of Austin after 40 years in business during a SXSW panel in 2024. Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman Larry Ellison, chairman and chief technology officer of Oracle Corp., in the Oval Office of the White House in February. Evan Vucci/Associated Press Austin-based tech giant Oracle Corp. will oversee the security for a licensed copy of recommendation engine powering TikTok under the terms of a proposed divestment deal, according to a senior official in President Donald Trumps administration on Monday. Determining next steps for the algorithm, currently owned by the Beijing-based ByteDance, has been one of the most closely watched issues during negotiations over TikToks future. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Another aspect of the divestment deal would be the creation of a new joint venture that would run the U.S. operations of the social video platform. President Donald Trump said prominent billionaires including Texas tech titans Michael Dell and Larry Ellison could be part of a group involved in the deal. The Trump administration official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the emerging deal, said the White House believes the plan will satisfy national security concerns if TikTok divests from its Chinese parent, ByteDance. President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation before leaving office requiring the Chinese company to sell its assets to an American company or face a ban. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source U.S. officials previously have warned the algorithm that fuels what users see on the hugely popular app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way thats difficult to detect. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It wouldnt be in compliance if the algorithm is Chinese. There cant be any shared algorithm with ByteDance, said a spokesperson for the House Select Committee on China. Oracle would receive a copy of the algorithm and oversee the apps security operations. The algorithm would be fully inspected and monitored for any abnormal behavior, the senior White House official said Monday. In a call with reporters, the official later emphasized that the content recommendation formula would be retrained using U.S. data in order to make sure the system is behaving appropriately. It is currently unclear if retraining the copy of the algorithm would essentially create a separate TikTok experience just for domestic U.S. users, but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a Monday media briefing that TikTok users in the U.S will be able to see videos posted by users in other countries and vice versa. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What the president will sign later this week is an executive order, essentially declaring that the terms of this deal meets Americas national security needs, the White House official said. He notes that China is expected to sign and approve a framework deal for TikToks divestment by the end of the week, upon which Trump will issue a 120-day reprieve, giving both nations time to get necessary agreements finalized. Full details on investors have not been released. However, the official confirmed that the U.S. operations will be a new joint venture with a board of directors that will have a majority of American members Oracle and Silver Lake, a private equity firm and a major shareholder in Dell Technologies Inc., are the only confirmed consortium participants so far. Trump namedropped Dell, founder and CEO of the Round Rock-based tech firm that bears his name and a Spurs investor, and Ellison, founder and chairman of Austin-based Oracle, as part of a group of possible participants in the deal during the interview recorded Friday that aired Sunday on Fox News. Ellisons involvement had been previously disclosed. The president also said media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his son, Lachlan Murdoch, the head of Fox News and News Corp., could be part of the same group. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Trumps disclosure of their potential involvement is the latest twist in a fast-moving potential deal to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. Representatives for Ellison, Dell and the Murdochs could not immediately be reached for comment. The White House official also said that under the preliminary deal which still requires Chinese officials to sign off on a framework agreement the United States will not take equity stake in the new venture or have representation on the controlling committee. Trump, a Republican, has extended the deadline several times as he worked to reach a deal to keep TikTok available. He spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Sunday, Trump said he was a little prejudiced about TikTok because he credited the app for helping him connect with young voters. Trump said slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk encouraged the president to use the app. "The Frog King" in Ballet Austin's "Grimm Tales" returns to the Long Center for the Performing Arts. (Contributed by Anne Marie Bloodgood) Austin 360 During the past four decades, Stephen Mills has created more than 60 completely new dances for Ballet Austin. A dozen or so of those were devised before Mills was named artistic director in 2000. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This month as a fresh arts season commences and Ballet Austin celebrates Mills silver anniversary as the companys leader one of his finest creations, Grimm Tales, returns Sept. 26-28 to the Long Center for the Performing Arts. (balletaustin.org) First seen in 2019, Grimm Tales brings together The Frog King, Snow White and The Juniper Tree, three Grimm Brothers stories that skirt the edges of the sublime and the grotesque. Even more than most of Mills dances, Grimm Tales evolved from its visual and aural worlds which include arresting artwork by Natalie Frank, a frisky musical score by Graham Reynolds, outrageous costumes by Constance Hoffman and unifying scenery by George Tsypin. For much of the 80-minute show, the eye attempts to take in Franks enormous, shifting images, originally drawn in gouache and pastels, now projected in intensely saturated colors on a scrim behind the action, the American-Statesman review noted. No mere backdrops, these projections, designed by Howard Werner, create a deep, immersive universe of often disturbing pictures. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If anything, Tony Tuccis lighting intensifies the lasting impression of magical, extreme color as one rarely sees on the stage, the review continued. Yet even before we glimpse these images, however, Constance Hoffmans distinctive costumes, also based on Franks drawings, pass by in silhouette, inhabited by dancers who preview their highly individualized character movements. These moves are exaggerated even by fairytale standards, because Mills choreography stretches out the human core of each character for maximum effect. Ranking Stephen Mills premieres Art is not sport, of course, and a fair ranking of Mills many premieres is an impossible task. Nevertheless, Im pleased to say that I have witnessed almost all the 60 or so dances that Mills has devised for Ballet Austin. How much do I remember? Periodic revivals of his best pieces aid my necessarily incomplete recall. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Throwing caution to the wind, here are eight of the most memorable Mills premieres, ranked in order of lasting impressions. Send along your favorites with your reasoning to mbarnes@statesman.com. 1. 'Light: The Holocaust and Humanity Project' (2005) A scene from Ballet Austin's production of "Light / The Holocaust & Humanity Project," in 2012. (Photo: Tony Spielberg/Courtesy Ballet Austin) Tony Spielberg Few dancemakers in the world over can claim a triumph this astonishing and groundbreaking. Start with the fact that Mills created an entirely credible and moving ballet about one of the worst events in human history, while following the advice of a Holocaust survivor to make it about hope as well. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Among the lasting sensations from Light' is the haunting music by Steve Reich, Evelyn Glennie, Michael Gordon, Arvo Part and Philip Glass, reads the American-Statesman article about the 2023 revival. The sets, lights and costumes especially during the camp scenes create stark contrasts between darkness and light. You don't see the perpetrators. Instead, you see what happens to the dancers' bodies and feel their experiences through their expressions, especially their eyes. "As for the wordless movement, one witnesses some scenes of panic and chaos, others of entangled bodies, crushed souls. Dancers throw themselves into the air and into each others arms. They run, follow and circle. They shake and crumple with intense physical and emotional trauma. Yet the show ends to the strains of soft piano and violin music as dancers in sky-blue tights glide across the stage. 2. 'Grimm Tales' (2019) Put together three masterful artists Stephen Mills, Natalie Frank and Graham Reynolds at the peak of their inventiveness and skill, and you end up with a tour de force like Ballet Austins 'Grimm Tales, the 2019 American-Statesman review reads. "It is almost impossible to register in mere words the force and originality of this reimagining of three Grimm fairy tales. The stories do not shy away from the grown-up themes of sex, beauty and power. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 3. 'Belle: A Tale of Beauty and the Beast' (2015) The Beast and Belle in Stephen Mills' Belle: A Tale of Beauty & the Beast. Contributed by Tony Spielberg. Austin American-Statesman This gorgeous ballet deserves a slight edge over No. 4 Hamlet because it is the work of a mature mind and heart. It earns extra points by taking an extremely familiar story perhaps overly familiar and lending it depth and empathy. (Note that the original title contained the word "Redux," which was dropped in revival.) This was, after all, a very adult Beauty and the Beast, reported the American-Statesman in 2016, with turgid undertones, a stark set more urban ruin than fairy tale forest and a score echoing with haunting distortion. Mills movement vocabulary merged the classical with the newfound. Edgy and abrupt shifts of silhouette altered with moments of formal grace. Small, almost quotidian gestures by one dancer came in between sweeping dramatic movements by a group. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 4. 'Hamlet' (2000) Mills first acknowledged full-length masterpiece, it introduced the new company leader as an artist of high rank. Good timing, too. "The ballet is stunningly modern," the American-Statesman recorded, "organically and seamlessly constructed and supported by strong dancers, and a visually intriguing set and sophisticated costumes. "The result is excellent dance theater in a sleek, stylish portrayal of Shakespeare's tragedy. Mills uses the pulsating restlessness of Phillip Glass music to heighten dramatic tension and support his dense, constantly shifting choreography." Revived multiple times, Hamlet" has been performed by at least 10 companies worldwide. 5. 'Cult of Color' (2008) Artist Trent Doyle Hancock collaborated with Ballet Austin choreographer Stephen Mills and musician Graham Reynolds to create "Cult of Color: Call to Color." Austin American-Statesman In some ways a predecessor to Grimm Tales, this extravagant fantasy was based on the images of Houston-based artist Trenton Doyle Hancock. A world awash in vibrant color versus one in lifeless black-and-white, the American-Statesman reported in 2008. Meat-eating, pleasure-seeking Mound creatures facing off against the self-righteous, colorless Vegans. Good locked in an eternal fight against evil that never seems close to ending. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The cosmology created by Trenton Doyle Hancock in his monumental collage-like paintings is as singular as it is all-encompassing. Its narrative is part Old Testament and part Marvel Comics, with god-like superhero-like? figures leading bands of disciples in dramatic battles against an enemy. 6. 'Four Mortal Men' (1995) Mills excels at combining sensuality, physical affection and intense emotion. This relatively short and personal piece that deals with losses during the HIV/AIDS crisis was later woven into Exit Wounds during 2018 and returns later this season. As their shoulders and limbs roll softly downward, the four male dancers move in tandem, reads an American-Statesman article about the 2018 revival. When they pass each other, their interactions look friendly, connected, almost playful, as if echoing Henri Matisses famous painting, Dance. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Yet midway through the scene, one dancer lags behind, his face darkened with concern. The other three help him, but they do not appear to grasp the gravity of the situation. The stricken dancer moves far outside the circle as the other three once again look at each other; this time their expressions ask, Who is next?" 7. 'Poe: A Tale of Madness' (2024) Drums pound and rumble. Strings glide and shriek. Keyboards surge and tumble. Nightmare music. Yet, at the same time, beautiful and tragic music, reported the American-Statesman in 2024. It's abundantly clear that the dancers are not performing just one particular Poe tale at a time. Elements from five stories The Raven, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Masque of the Red Death and The Imp of the Perverse are blended into one macabre hallucination. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I think Poe, who laid the groundwork for 19th-century Romanticism and Gothic literature in this country and, to some extent, abroad, would have applauded. 8. 'Romeo and Juliet' (2001) While Mills has blazed new trails in contemporary ballet, he has not forgotten the traditional narrative ballets. Why are so many Ballet Austin dances based on Shakespeare? Advertisement Article continues below this ad Distinguished literary critic and sometime curmudgeon Harold Bloom hit it squarely on the noggin, reads a 2003 American-Statesman piece. "The answer to the question 'Why Shakespeare?' must be 'Who else is there?' With the exception of the Bible, no other literature has influenced Western thought more thoroughly. Indeed, no other writer is read and performed everywhere on Earth, in the original and through translation. Shakespeare's plays have been adapted into operas, musicals, movies and games. More than a dozen of his comedies, tragedies and dramas are performed in Austin each season. The Texas Department of Public Safety emblem is displayed on the uniform of Director Steve McCraw. SARA DIGGINS/AMERICAN-STATESMAN The Lee County sheriff was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, according to county jail records. Garrett Christian Durrenberger was stopped by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper at 2:21 a.m. on South Madison Street in Giddings, according to DPS. The trooper suspected he was intoxicated. He was booked into the Lee County Jail at 6:52 a.m. and was released less than two hours later on bond, jail records show. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Lee County Sheriffs Office remains fully operational and will continue to provide professional law enforcement protection and services to our citizens and guests, the office said in a statement confirming the arrest. The county sits east of Williamson and Bastrop counties. A third lawsuit has been filed against school districts over a new state law requiring the placement of the Ten Commandments in school classrooms. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman A group of families on Monday filed a third lawsuit against a batch of school districts over a law requiring the placement of the Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms. The 14 school districts, which include Georgetown and Comal, are among several dozen that have been sued over the law since Gov. Greg Abbott signed it in June. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The lawsuit also comes about a month after Attorney General Ken Paxton sent a memo to superintendents reinforcing that districts should display posters depicting the 10 Commandments, despite a federal judge temporarily blocking the law for a handful of districts. The lawsuit also includes the Conroe, Flour Bluff, Fort Worth, Arlington, McKinney, Frisco, Northwest, Azle, Rockwall, Lovejoy, Mansfield and McAllen school districts. All of the districts listed in the lawsuit either received or already posted donated posters depicting the Ten Commandments, according to the lawsuit. The new lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Western District Court of Texas by 15 families of students in the named districts. The families are of a variety of faith backgrounds, including Christian, Jewish, Lutheran and nonreligious, according to the lawsuit. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source I address questions about God and faith with great care, and I emphatically reject the notion that the state would do this for me, said Rev. Kristin Klade, a Lutheran pastor who lives in Fort Worth. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Authored by Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, Senate Bill 10 requires that school districts post any donated copies of a specific version of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. The lawsuit filed Monday is the third sparked by SB 10. In June, parents brought a lawsuit against three districts and the Texas Education Agency. In July, additional families brought a lawsuit against 11 other districts. A federal judge temporarily blocked the law for the 11 districts last month, prompting Paxton to issue instructions directing every other district in the state to abide by SB 10. Advertisement Article continues below this ad From the beginning, the Ten Commandments have been irrevocably intertwined with Americas legal, moral, and historical heritage, Paxton said in a statement when he issued the directive. Caleb Ream makes a bottle for his daughter, Vera, at the familys home in Lago Vista. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Jenna Ream holds her daughter, Vera, as her husband Caleb Ream holds Veras hand. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Jenna Ream holds her daughter, Vera, at the familys home in Lago Vista. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Jenna Ream holds her daughter, Vera, at the familys home in Lago Vista, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. After Jenna Ream became very sick with preeclampsia, she had an emergency delivery at 34 weeks and 2 days at Baylor Scott & White Round Rocks new level 3 NICU. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Jenna Ream holds her daughter, Vera, at the familys home in Lago Vista. After Jenna Ream became very sick with preeclampsia, she had an emergency delivery at 34 weeks and 2 days at Baylor Scott & White Round Rocks new level III NICU. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Jenna Ream was having a pretty normal pregnancy until at 32 weeks, she suddenly started feeling terrible, and she started having contractions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She was diagnosed with preeclampsia, a condition in pregnancy that causes a mother's blood pressure to become elevated. For the next two weeks, Ream was on bed rest, trying to stay pregnant to give her daughter more time to mature, but after multiple trips to the emergency room, and a failed nonstress test, Ream was given minutes before having an emergency Cesarean section on July 17. At 34 weeks gestation, Ream's daughter Vera became among the first babies to test out the new level III neonatal intensive care unit at Baylor Scott & White Round Rock. It's the second highest level of NICU care, and the highest level for a hospital in Williamson County. Only Dell Children's Hospital and St. David's Medical Center in Austin have a higher level of designation in Central Texas. What is preeclampsia? 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 Preeclampsia can happen any time after 20 weeks of gestation through six weeks after birth. Its notable symptom during pregnancy is an elevated blood pressure above 140/90 and 160/110 is considered severe preeclampsia. Other extreme symptoms include: Swelling, sudden weight gain or headache Vision issues including seeing spots or double vision Indigestion, including nausea or vomiting Trouble breathing, pain in the upper right quadrant of the body Increased protein in the urine, kidney damage Liver inflammation, blood coagulation disorders Advertisement Article continues below this ad Some women won't feel any of these symptoms, doctors said. "Even with prenatal care, this is a wonky disease," said Dr. Kimberly DeStefano, medical director of maternal fetal medicine at the Women's Center of Texas. "It can literally creep up out of the blue. ... It can be missed if it comes on suddenly and is severe." Jenna Ream feeds her daughter, Vera Ream, as Milo Ream, 3, and Caleb Ream sit next to them at the familys home in Lago Vista. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Which women are more likely to have preeclampsia? While anyone who is pregnant can get preeclampsia, you are more at risk if: Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is your first pregnancy or if you had a previous pregnancy with preeclampsia or a family history of preeclampsia You are a teenager or 35 or older You are obese You are pregnant with multiple babies You suffer from hypertension, kidney disease, diabetes, lupus or a blood clotting disorder Vera Ream is held by her mom, Jenna Ream, at the familys home in Lago Vista. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Caleb Ream looks at his new daughter in her NICU isolette. She spent 35 days in the NICU before she could go home. Provided by Jenna Ream What's the treatment for preeclampsia? The only cure for preeclampsia is to deliver the placenta. Until delivery, doctors monitor symptoms to lessen them. In cases of severe preeclampsia, doctors will hospitalize the mother until delivery. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Two patients at once For husband Caleb Ream, he suddenly was pulled in two places. Daughter Vera was in the NICU and his wife who had lost a lot of blood from the surgery was in antepartum recovering. Jenna Ream needed monitoring and medication to bring her blood pressure down as well as control her bleeding. Vera didn't come out breathing on her own and needed help breathing. Vera Ream was one of the first babies born at the new Baylor Scott & White Round Rock neonatal intensive care unit. She needed help breathing and eating until she could grow big enough to go home. Provided by Jenna Ream At the new NICU in Round Rock, all of the rooms are private rooms with pullout beds for parents to stay with their babies. Caleb Ream spent the first few nights with his daughter while his wife recovered. Then once she was able to leave the hospital, the parents could tag team their stays there. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Having those private rooms is less stressful for the family," said Dr. Kasala Sweatha, a neonatologist at the hospital. "They can be at bedside all the time and do skin-to-skin and family bonding." Because the family is from Lago Vista, they didn't want to be 45 minutes away from their daughter and opted to stay with her in the NICU or in a nearby hotel. Their 3-year-old son Milo became well-known among the staff as he, too, came to visit his sister. Milo Ream, 3, holds his head next to his baby sister, Vera, at the familys home in Lago Vista. Milo was able to visit with Vera in the NICU. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Vera spent 35 days in the NICU until she could finally go home on Aug. 20. "We stayed there with her as much as we possibly could," Jenna Ream said. "We got to know every single person who works there. We knew she was in good hands." Advertisement Article continues below this ad And the chaplain also helped the parents work through their fears, and the stress of being away from home and then the fears of bringing her home. The NICU has a program for families to stay together in the hospital with their babies for a night in a room that looks more like a bedroom before families go home. It gives parents the assurance they can take care of their children, while having support down the hall. Life after the hospital Today, Vera is almost 9 pounds and thriving. "She's so sweet," Caleb Ream said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "She likes being cuddled," Jenna Ream said. "She loves her daddy." Jenna Ream's blood pressure has returned to normal and she's been able to get off blood pressure medicine. "Anybody really that you needed, they were there," she says of their hospital stay. Bastrop County residents Jason and Amanda Sand talk to Brandon Niese, at right, an engineer for Austin Water, during an open house in Elgin on the agency's proposed Bastrop County aquifer storage and recovery project. The couple are building a home south of Paige, in the area of the project. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman City of Austin officials are trying to garnet support from Bastrop Country residents and officials on a $1.5 billion plan to store excess treated drinking water in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer. If completed, the aquifer storage project could be operating by the early 2040's, said Marisa Flores-Gonzalez, a supervisor for Austin Water who attended a community open house in Elgin last week. The project, which would pipe treated water to the aquifer in Bastrop County, is needed to help conserve water resources for Austin in times of drought, city officials say. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Maps of aquifers in Texas are displayed in an informational hearing on Austin Waters proposed Bastrop County aquifer storage and recovery project at North Bastrop County Community Annex in Elgin, Texas on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman The first step is a three-year field-test study using samples of water from the aquifer to study its quality. The study would also analyze the quality of Austin drinking water and see if there are any problematic interactions between the aquifer water and the drinking water. The proposal has been facing dissent from Bastrop County residents concerned about water contamination, percolation into wells already drilled by landowners and possible future plans by Austin to get a permit to take water from the aquifer itself. "I just want to say that all of Bastrop County opposes this project," Bastrop County Commissioner Precinct 1 Butch Carmack told the American-States. "Texas state law doesnt allow us at the county level to stop this project, so at the moment we are in negotiations with Austin Water to assure that everything can be done to protect the people of Bastrop County." 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 In April, the Bastrop City Council passed a resolution in support of Texas House Bill 1523, which would have prevented the city of Austin from building the project. The bill failed when the state Senate did not approve it. Recognizing the concerns, Austin Water has been hosting a series of open houses to provide Bastrop County residents with more information. A map shows the target area for the proposed Austin Water aquifer storage and recovery project during an open house on Sept. 11 at the North Bastrop County Community Annex in Elgin. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman Austin officials are asking Bastrop County stakeholders, including the cities of Bastrop and Smithville, the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District, and the Bastrop County Commissioners Court to sign a collaborative agreement about the initial three-year water study, an Austin water official said. The stakeholders will consider the agreement at meetings in October, Austin Water staff said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If completed, the drinking water storage in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer would be the first project of its type for the city of Austin, Flores-Gonzalez said. As of last year, Texas had eight aquifer storage and recovery projects finished or underway, including ones for the cities of San Antonio, Kerrville and Buda, according to a Texas Water Development Board website. The board's 2022 Texas Water Plan had recommendations from regional water planners for 27 aquifer storage and recovery projects throughout the state, including the one in Bastrop County. If stakeholders approve a collaboration agreement for the three-year testing, it will presented to the Austin City Council for approval, possibly in November, said Flores-Gonzalez. Bastrop resident Mark Wyatt, who was at the open house in Elgin, said he and his wife, Shari Wyatt, have started a nonprofit called "Protect Bastrop Now" that opposes the proposed aquifer storage. He said that he and his wife, as well as many other county residents, rely on wells drilled into the aquifer for their drinking water. The treated drinking water from Austin, he said, has contaminants such as forever chemicals in it that are not at a low enough level to protect the Carrizo-Aquifer. Forever chemicals don't degrade over time. "Once they mess up the aquifer, it is not something time will cure and it will be forever affected," Wyatt said. "It is simply too great a risk to people's water around here." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Wyatt said he is also concerned that Austin Water will eventually apply for a permit from the Lost Pines conservation district to take water from the Carrizo-Aquifer itself to supply the city's thirsty customers. Austin Water's Flores-Gonzalez said that won't happen. "Our plan is to bring water to Bastrop County," she said, "not to take Bastrop County's water." When asked about Wyatt's concerns about water contamination, she said that the field testing the city wants to do will determine whether there are any treatments that need to be done to the Austin drinking water to protect the aquifer. "A big goal of this project is to protect the aquifer," she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Austin Water also plans to provide benefits to Bastrop County residents if the aquifer storage project is built, Flores-Gonzalez said. Residents have said they would like to see an education center about the project built, as well as grants for local community organizations, including volunteer fire departments, she said. Residents also have said they would like to have parks and trails on the land used for the project and some have requested that a certain amount of the stored treated drinking water is made available for purchase by local suppliers, Flores-Gonzalez said. Bastrop County residents Shari Wyatt, right, and Mark Wyatt, center, speak to Bastrop County Commissioner David Glass during an open house on Austin Water's proposed aquifer storage and recovery project. The couple say they opposed the plan. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman Bastrop County Commissioner David Glass, who was at the open house in Elgin, declined to comment on whether he supported the proposed project. He said he knows that property owners have had concerns about eminent domain but that the city of Austin has promised in the draft of the collaborative agreement that it will pay for any land it uses. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The residents using wells are drilling into an aquifer above the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer aquifer called the Queen's City Aquifer, said Andy Wier, the executive director of the Simsboro Aquifer Water Defense Fund, who also was at the Elgin open house. The Simsboro Aquifer is part of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer. Wier said that a layer of clay at the top of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer would prevent water from percolating to the Queen's City Aquifer above it. Wier said he is concerned because the drinking water in Austin contains a level of disssolved metal in it due to the geology of the Hill Country. The metal is not present in the Carrizo-Wilcox water, he said. "It's not harmful to human health but do we want to introduce this to the Carrizo Wilcox Aquifer?" he asked. But he also said he approves of the field testing that Austin Water wants to do. "There are things about the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer that we don't know today," Wier said, "and it's on their (Austin Water's) nickel." Advertisement Article continues below this ad The proposed project would pipe water into a section of the aquifer that is several miles south of the unincorporated community of Paige and about 10 miles from the city of Bastrop's water wells, said Austin Water officials. The Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer runs through 66 counties in Texas in a wide swath extending from the Louisiana border to the border of Mexico, according to the Texas Water Development Board. The aquifer was chosen for the Austin Water project because the sand in it causes water to move slowly through it and it has better water quality than other nearby aquifers, said Flores-Gonzalez. If the project is built, it would initially store about 60,000 acre-feet of water, she said, but that storage amount would eventually increases to hundreds of thousands of acre-feet. An acre-foot is the volume of water needed to cover 1 acre of land to a depth of 1 foot. She said it takes about 175,000 acre-feet of water to provide 1 million customers in Austin with water for a year. If the Austin drinking water is injected into the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, it will displace some water, which will move outward and upward, Flores-Gonzalez said. "There's a bit of mixing around the edges of the stored water with the native groundwater," she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She also said the clay layer in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer would prevent the treated water from leaking into people's wells. Bastrop resident Amanda Sand said at the open house in Elgin that she and her husband had just bought land in the Paige area and are going to drill a well. She asked Flores-Gonzalez if the city would pay to drill the well deeper if went went dry because of the aquifer storage project. Flores-Gonzalez said if the city determined there was a link between the project and her well going dry, then Austin Water would compensate her for it. Supporters cheer as State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, kicks off his campaign for U.S. Senate at Centennial Plaza in Round Rock, Texas, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Mikala Compton/AP In his first public appearance after launching his U.S. Senate bid, state Rep. James Talarico said he had sprinted over the highest hurdle a first-time candidate for statewide office must face: proving he can attract the kind of money it takes to mount a credible campaign in a state the size of Texas. Twelve hours ago, we started with zero dollars in our Senate campaign account, the 36-year-old Austin Democrat told an enthusiastic audience at the outdoor rally on Sept. 9. But in just 12 hours, thousands of people across this state, across this country, giving $5, $10, $15, have (contributed) more than $1 million. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The boast carried a familiar ring. Two years earlier, Democratic U.S. Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas used the same example in the early hours of his Senate campaign to show that he had the wherewithal to compete in a state long dominated by Republicans. At that time, Allred claimed a fundraising haul of $3 million in the first 36 hours. By the time he won the primary, Allred had collected more than $21 million and outraised his nearest rival for the Democratic nomination by a margin of 20-1. He then lost to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in the general election. Now, both Allred and Talarico are in the race, meaning the primary could become especially expensive. That is raising questions about whether the Democratic donor base can afford to underwrite the cost when the final outcome in November 2026 remains very much in doubt for the party. Texas isnt the only state with a competitive U.S. Senate primary, said University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus. So how much are donors going to be willing to invest in a state where the chances of winning in November havent been all that great? Can early excitement be converted to sustained action? Democratic consultant Glenn Smith, who has run two statewide campaigns in the past but is no longer involved in elective politics, said Talaricos early fundraising numbers, like those of Allred two years ago, demonstrates Democratic excitement heading into the midterm election. The challenge for any candidate is to convert excitement into action. 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 If I were them, Id be bragging about (early fundraising prowess), too. But money is not the true measure, Smith said, adding that candidates still have to develop and sell a winning message and do the nuts-and-bolt work of campaigning. Its like having a newborn colt and going out and betting hell win the Kentucky Derby. A lots got to happen. Allred announced his 2026 candidacy in July and will not have to file a campaign finance report until Oct. 15. His campaign declined to discuss how much he has raised so far, but his last filing with the Federal Election Commission showed that he ended the 2024 cycle with just under $145,000 in the bank. A third Democratic candidate, former astronaut and political newcomer Terry Virts, got into the Senate race before Allred and Talarico. As of June 30, he had raised just over $200,000, including a $50,000 loan he made to his campaign. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The winner of the March 3 Democratic primary will likely take on either four-term Republican Sen. John Cornyn or Attorney General Ken Paxton. Talaricos camp said it doesnt plan to release further fundraising totals in the Senate race until the filing deadline. But as his profile began rising in anticipation of a coming statewide race and from his exposure over the quorum break in August by House Democrats, Talarico has shown himself as something a magnet for campaign cash. During the five-week stretch from July 9 until Aug. 15, he pulled in nearly $1.3 million from more than 38,000 individual donors for the political operation as a state representative, according to his latest filing with the Texas Ethics Commission. All but 45 of the donations were less than $1,000. Talaricos campaign isnt saying how hell use that money. Under federal law, it cannot be directly converted to his Senate campaign. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Once Texas officer holders are no longer actively campaigning for a state role, they have six years to dispose of any surplus funds by donating them to their political party, to other candidates or to political action committees. They can also return the money to donors and ask them to contribute it back under federal guidelines. Will there be Democratic 'donor fatigue' in 2026? Rottinghaus said trumpeting small-donor fundraising has become a staple of modern campaigning. It is a demonstration of a candidates ability to inspire the grassroots, and its a warning to would-be rivals that joining the race will be an expensive proposition. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its a show of strength, flexing their fundraising muscles. said Rottinghaus, who added that allocating those resources is probably as great a challenge as collecting them. The real challenge is building a statewide infrastructure, putting together mailing lists and a digital operation. Fundraising for a Senate seat in Texas has become a nonstop affair. Eight years years ago, Democrat Beto ORourke turned himself into a fundraising powerhouse, generating what was then the unheard of sum of $80 million to Cruzs total of $35 million. Despite the cash advantage, ORourke still lost in a close race. In 2024, fundraising playing between Cruz and Allred was both more level, and more expensive. Nearly $200 million was spent between the two candidates, and $92 million of it was by Allred. Both cycles show that Texas Democrats can compete with Republicans when if comes to collecting money. But how long Democratic donors will be willing to keep investing in the face of repeated losses is another question. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Smith, the Democratic consultant, conceded that donor fatigue is certainly a possibility. But, he added, it will be up to Democratic candidates to craft and sell a keep the faith message to their financial supporters as the 2026 campaign cycle wears on. The European Union will hold a video conference on a "wall of drones" on Friday, September 26, convened by European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius. Representatives of Slovakia and Hungary were not invited to the meeting, European Pravda said, citing European Commission Spokesperson Thomas Rainier. "Indeed, [Hungary and Slovakia will not be present] at this initial stage of talks," the publication said on Monday, citing Rainier. According to Rainier, the meeting will be attended by seven EU member states Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria. An invitation to participate has also been sent to Ukraine. "We certainly do not rule out further consultations in a potentially broader format. But for now, only these seven frontline countries (will participate) and, of course, Ukraine," the publication said, citing the spokesperson. Rainier clarified that the meeting is a continuation of the statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the need to create a "drone wall" after recent incidents in Romania and Poland. "What exactly will be discussed the member states, of course, remain in the lead role. We will find out what their interest is, how we can help them, what their capabilities are and what their needs are, and based on this discussion we will make a decision on potential next steps in close cooperation with Ukraine and other member states," the spokesperson said according ot the publication's stattement. As previously reported, European Commissioner for Defense Kubilius plans to convene talks with EU defense ministers on the creation of the "drone wall" along the eastern border. According to media reports, when creating the "drone wall" the European Union will rely on technology that have proven themselves well in Ukraine. Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/ President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the eve of high-level General Debate in New York at the UN General Assembly. First of all, they talked about the need for real protection against Russian strikes, Zelenskyy reported on the Telegram channel following the conversation. "Ukraine conveyed to partners the urgent need for air defense in systems and missiles, the presence of which can significantly influence events and limit Russia's ability to fight," the president said. In addition, the parties discussed the implementation of the PURL program, primarily in terms of air defense, which is needed as soon as possible. Rutte has started appropriate communication with other partners. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the bill On Deployment of Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to Other States proposes to send the Hetman Ivan Mazepa corvette to Turkey, and five Ukrainian Navy minesweepers to the United Kingdom. According to the text of the decree published on the Verkhovna Rada website, it is proposed to deploy the Ukrainian Navy corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa to Turkey with a full-time crew of up to 106 service memebers for a period until the termination or cancellation of martial law. It is also proposed to deploy to the UK the following minesweepers with a full-time crew of up to 39 service members: Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Mariupol, Melitopol, Henichesk. In addition, it is proposed to send the management of the first division of minesweeper ships of the Navy flotilla of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of the mine countermeasure headquarters with a total number of up to 20 service members. It is noted that the units of the AFU Navy, while staying in the territory of other states, are subordinate to the Command of the Naval Forces of Ukraine. The maintenance of the units during their stay in other states must be ensured by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. According to the financial and economic justification for the draft law, it is predicted that in 2025 the amount of expenses for the maintenance of warships abroad will amount to UAH 135,434, in 2026-2028 (in the event of the extension of martial law) to UAH 203,151. As reported, the bill on the approval of the presidential decree On Deployment of Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to Other States has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada. According to the website of the Ukrainian parliament, presidential bill (No. 14059) was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada on September 22. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared the bill urgent. YouTube, TikTok attacked for control of audience The global reach of social media has become essential to the media business but content owners are at the mercy of Big Tech and especially vulnerable to the algorithm, heavyweight US execs told the Royal Television Society in the UK. YouTube came under most fire purely because its the platform that media owners cant do without. Social media have the central ability to control the media experience of the audience, said Kevin Mayer, co-founder and co-CEO of Candle Media at the annual RTS Cambridge Convention. YouTube has become more difficult. Monetization is lumpy, said Mayer. Sometimes, YouTube decides to take their programmatic ad interface and favor our content. Other times, it takes that programmatic interface and favors competitive content or content that has nothing to do with the family audience that we serve. Among Candle Medias assets is UK-based childrens content producer Moonbug which it acquired for $3bn in 2021. Its kids channel CocoMelon boasts the largest family channel on YouTube with 200 million subscribers. YouTube is hard to deal with at times, Mayer said. They tweak their algorithm and all of a sudden we get nine million views instead of 12 million views. We go talk to them and say, hey, why'd you do this? And they reply oh we didn't mean to do that, that was unintended, we'll turn it back. The power and the global nature of those platforms is undeniable [but] you do have to be very careful about it. Mayer spent 15 years at Disney before briefly becoming CEO of TikTok and COO of ByteDance. You launch a video on TikTok and it overnight you can have 5m followers but you cant monetize on that. For TikTok, it's all about the technology and the algorithm to figure out exactly what every single user wants. If you're a professional content creator TikTok does not offer you money to put you content on TikTok and its not going to happen either. Insta, Snap, TikTok spend zero on content and they dont need to. The exception is YouTube. It has created an incredible economy that that has not been replicated by anyone else. The last thing TikTok or Instagram want to do is start taking half their revenue and paying it off to creators. Having come of out legacy media, Mayer is now a convert to digital. There is no age group to which the march toward alternative media consumption does not exist, he said. So, if I were investing today, I would use social media as the centrepiece of IP that you create and then you create monetization platforms around that social media storytelling, including traditional media for streaming, TV and movies. UK may force YouTube to promote BBC content The UK government has hinted at plans to force YouTube and other major streamers to ensure content from the public service broadcasters BBC and ITV is given prominence. It has already legislated to give them prominence on Smart TVs, but wants to go further. We support [media regulator] Ofcoms recommendation that public service media should be prominent on major video sharing platforms, the government minster for culture and media Lisa Nandy told the conference. If we need to regulate, we will. Lisa Nandy, government minister for culture and media This isnt just about preserving the future of the PSBs in a sea of digital content and fragmented distribution but to prop up the visibility and integrity of establishment news. We want to empower audiences so they can distinguish between news and misleading or false content, Nandy said. The lines have blurred in recent years which has eroded trust in our media and democracy. It's about ensuring that the standards we expect from our PSM are reflective across the whole of broadcast media. So that polemic isn't presented as fact and people trust what they see. The lines between editorially curated and user generated content, between content providers and content platforms are no longer clear. BBC wants regulatory support and investment Earlier, BBC Director General Tim Davie has opened the conference by trumpeting the BBCs leading place on the global stage and urging the UK government to give it a stable platform to continue. We spent years talking through the angst of digital transition and despite it all this industry continues to be a success story. But now it does feel a little different. A lot seems at stake, he said. He claimed was the worlds most trusted news brand and that, in the UK, trust in the BBC rose last year; A significant achievement in a fraught election year in polarised times. The immediate audience may have been TV execs but Davies message was addressed to the UK government. The funding for the public broadcaster, currently a universal licence fee, is under review. We dont want the licence fee just to continue as before, he said. We want reform, we want it to modernise. AI will cause job losses behind the camera Two years ago, the events theme was Too Much to Watch - a reference to an industry grappling with the challenge of attracting consumers flooded with choice. Since then, the pace of change has accelerated and the impact is more immediate and more profound, said Jane Turton, chair of the RTS. Discussions about technology, especially AI, have become part of our everyday. All three tech titans offered candid if alarming commentary on how AI will impact the industry, both negatively and positively. The opportunity for the creative industries is to substantially reduce production cost, said Joe Ravitch, Co-Founder and Partner at investment group Raine. Everybody I talk to in film and television is using generative AI. Obviously, that will come at the expense of a lot of jobs behind the camera, but I also think that the underlying value of the IP itself (the story) is where there's a tremendous amount of value. The cost of content creation is going to decline substantially at the expense of substantial cost to society, Mayer predicted. Some companies are going to be entirely using AI for their production, he said. They no longer need physical sets or green screen. Even the advances we made at Disney with Unreal Engine (on Mandalorian) is being leapfrogged by AI. AI creates an environment where long-form content can be made at a substantially reduced price but the flip side of that is that the barriers to entry collapse. Mayer is an investor in AI voice synthesizer Elevenlabs. He warned, AI will make incumbents more efficient in production while also risk rendering them obsolete. If you can create long-form storytelling of the quality that you now see out of [OpenAI video generator] Sora it makes it makes defending your turf as an incumbent very difficult. While AI slashes production costs global streaming platforms allow distribution for all. Theres been a complete shift in power across the media industry, said Brandon Baum, CEO and Founder StudioB, a creator with a combined following of 25 million and 16 billion video views. For the first time ever distribution at scale is free. Suddenly, anyone with access to a phone and the internet is able to create a video, upload it online, and distribute to the world's largest platform on a TV. We're going to see talent start-up from across the world, not just the big media in the top cities and people who are able to get into the right rooms to pitch to the right people. Talent is going to spread their stories across the globe. Jeff Zucker, CEO, Redbird IMI said the use a company makes of AI was now critical to Redbirds decision whether to invest or not. AI will create new things we want to watch and it won't involve a lot of people in its creation. Having said that, there's still going to be a need for great movie stars and great TV stars. And let's see if AI can really write with the same emotion that the great screenwriters do. I cant see that it does yet. Nick Clegg warns of internet fragmentation Nick Clegg, until recently the policy chief at Meta, talked of the collision between the worlds of Big Tech and politics. West coast Big Tech and governments do not speak each others language or understand the pressures and incentive on either side of the divide. He said there is no such thing as the internet which is remorselessly splintering with unforeseen consequences. Something powerful is happening out of sight and out of mind which is the gradual balkanization of the internet. We have a Chinese internet, a Russian internet and a western internet which is itself fragmenting. He said the globalization of technology and the deglobalization of politics were on collision course. Its something which hasn't been examined in the detail I think it deserves. In a lighter moment Clegg observed that Mountainhead, a 2025 HBO satire about billionaire tech bros, had hit home. Theres incredible hubris in Silicon Valley. I have been in conversations exactly like that. In Silicon Valley they believe, not without some reason, that they are great disruptors inventing the future yet it is a stiflingly conventional place. Theres a herd movement to genuflect before Trump. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Related Articles Clockwise from top left: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Kraus, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Cully, Sgt. Jadalyn Good and Sgt. Donavon Scott. (U.S. Army) TACOMA, Wash. The Army early Monday identified the special operations soldiers killed last week in an MH-60M helicopter crash near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, N.C., reported the crew members were all assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). The crew members are: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Cully, 35, from Sparta, Mo. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Kraus, 39, from Sanibel, Fla. Sgt. Donavon Scott, 25, from Tacoma, Wash. Sgt. Jadalyn Good, 23, from Mount Vernon, Wash. It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm the loss of four courageous Night Stalkers from the 4th Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), who tragically lost their lives on Sept. 17th during a training mission, said Col. Stephen Smith, the units commander. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. A team from the Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., has been dispatched to investigate the crash. The Army is planning the time and location of a memorial service in coordination with the families, said Jacqueline Hill, spokeswoman for US Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), nicknamed the Night Stalkers, trains to insert Navy SEALs, Delta Force, U.S. Army Rangers and other specialty units into combat, often behind enemy lines. The unit has its headquarters and two battalions at Fort Campbell, Ky., with a battalion also located at Lewis-McChord and Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. The crash occurred Sept. 17 at approximately 9 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, just as twilight was ending over the Capitol State Forest west of the state capital of Olympia. The crash site is near Summit Lake, about 35 miles west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Military and civilian emergency responders shifted Friday from a search-and-rescue mission to a recovery mission as the Army announced all four crew members were believed to be dead. The crash ignited a wildfire of about one acre, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources. U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Cully, 35, from Sparta, Mo. (U.S. Army) Cully, 35, was commissioned in May 2013 as an Army aviation officer from Missouri State University. He completed flight school at Fort Rucker. After his initial service, he was reappointed as an aviation warrant officer and served as a UH-60M Black Hawk pilot. In 2022, he completed the UH-60M instructor pilot course at Fort Rucker. He deployed to Europe twice in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve and Operation Swift Response. In 2024, after being selected to serve in the 160th SOAR, he was assigned to C Company at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where he supported multiple training missions and deployed to the Indo-Pacific theater. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Basic Army Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge. U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Kraus, 39, from Sanibel, Fla. (U.S. Army) Kraus, 39, served in the Marine Corps as a CH-46 Chinook maintainer from July 2008 until 2013. In 2017, he joined the Army and attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and flight school at Fort Rucker. He then served as an aeromedical evacuation pilot in command in Germany. In 2023, after joining the 160th SOAR, he was assigned to C Company. Kraus supported multiple U.S.-based training missions and deployed for contingency response operations. Kraus graduated earlier this year from the aviation maintenance test pilot course at Fort Rucker. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal second award, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy Unity Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and Basic Aviation Badge. U.S. Army Sgt. Donavon Scott, 25, from Tacoma, Wash. (U.S. Army) Scott, 25, enlisted in the Army as a UH-60 helicopter repairer. His first assignment with the 160th was to D Company, 4th Battalion as a Black Hawk maintainer. After completing the MH-60 Black Hawk modified non-rated crewmember course, he accumulated over 776 flight hours as a crew chief in C Company. He has served on two support missions to Operation Inherent Resolve and on a crisis response contingency operation. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal - Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge. U.S. Army Sgt. Jadalyn Good, 23, from Mount Vernon, Wash. (U.S. Army) Good, 23, enlisted in the Army in 2021. She joined C Company as a helicopter maintainer and as a crew chief beginning in 2023, accumulating over 730 flight hours. She served in numerous stateside and overseas training missions and in a crisis response contingency operation. Her awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Basic Parachutist Badge, Combat and Special Skill Badge Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge and Basic Aviation Badge. As we mourn their loss, we stand united in honoring their memory and their extraordinary commitment to the mission. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, loved ones, and the entire Night Stalker community during this profoundly difficult time, Smith said. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment has been involved in nearly every major conflict since the August 1983 invasion of Grenada. It took part in the invasion of Panama, the first Persian Gulf War, the Somali Civil War, the post-9/11 Wars on Terrorism, and the insurgency against al-Qaida in Yemen, according to Army unit histories. Lewis-McChord is a joint Army-Air Force installation about 20 miles south of Tacoma. Regional weather forecasts at the time reported clear skies, no cloud cover and a visibility of 10 miles. Winds at 9 p.m. were 15 mph, with gusts of up to 19 mph. Temperatures were about 62 degrees at 9 p.m. The last fatal crash near the base took place on Dec. 12, 2011. Four JBLM soldiers were killed when two helicopters collided during a training exercise. Two soldiers were injured in February 2024 when their AH-64E Apache helicopter crashed at night. The soldiers were assigned to 4th Squadron, 6th Air Cavalry Regiment, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade. (iStock) School is back in session, bringing new routines and new milestones for students. For some, this is the year they are allowed to go home to an empty house instead of an after-school program or day care. Its a decision faced by many parents whose work or other obligations keep them from coming home until long past school release time. With after-school care often expensive and hard to find, parents have reason to encourage independence. But how can they be sure their child is ready to navigate home on their own, even if only for an hour or two? A handful of states have set age minimums. Maryland law, for example, makes it a crime to leave a child younger than 8 years old unattended. But most states leave it up to parents and guardians. Experts say between 11 and 13 years old can be a good starting point, but stress theres more to the equation than age. And they say whats right for one child may not be for another, even within a family. Its not a one-size-fits-all ordeal. And you really have to take it and understand the bigger picture, said Jaesha Quarrels, director of child care services at Oklahoma Human Services. Inadequate supervision is a key factor in many preventable childhood injuries and neglect cases. Heres what experts say to consider when deciding whether a child is ready to be home alone: The American Academy of Pediatrics says most children are not ready to handle emergencies until about age 11 or 12, so the organization generally recommends structured supervision until then. But its not that simple. Parents often want a specific answer on how old their kids have to be, but age is only one of the factors to consider, said Brian Tessmer, director of treatment and operations at Family Resources, a nonprofit agency in Pittsburgh. We really strongly encourage parents to look at many other factors because kids, obviously mature at different rates. At minimum, children should be able to recite their full name, home address, phone number and the name of a parent, guardian or other emergency contact. They should also know how to reach that person, experts advise. Other things to consider are whether a child can follow rules, handle routines and keep themselves occupied with homework, toys or electronic devices. Can they dial the phone? Fix themselves a snack? Do they know where the bandages are if they need one? What if theres a tornado warning, if they smell something burning or if a carbon monoxide detector goes off? Do they know how and when to dial 911? Even having all that knowledge doesnt mean a child is ready to get off the school bus at an unoccupied house, experts said. At a time of high anxiety for American children, there is also emotional readiness to consider. Oftentimes as parents, because its convenient were busy, we have things that we have to do we just kind of leave them alone, Quarrels said. But we need to consider how the child feels. Are they confident? Can they handle loneliness, fear or boredom? Communication is key, Tessmer said. Its a great opportunity to explain to the child that this is a milestone that were coming up to as a family, and were exploring this opportunity because we do feel like you are getting to a point where youre ready for this type of trust. We have confidence in you, he said. A child home alone should have no doubts about what theyre allowed to do, and even more importantly, not allowed to do, experts said. Stoves and ovens should be off limits, as well as matches, candles and lighters. Children should be instructed to stay inside, not open the door to anyone unless theyve been told in advance, and to never reveal that theyre alone on social media, gaming apps or to callers. Make sure your house rules are visible and reviewed frequently, said Quarrels, who recommended having prepackaged snacks or meals handy. To further reduce anxiety, Quarrels recommends role-playing scenarios like handling a doorbell and dialing 911. And start small, she said. Parents can test the waters by leaving a child inside while theyre in the backyard or taking a walk around the block, she said. Smartphones and the availability of home security systems that enable real-time monitoring and communication can also put children, and parents, at ease. Always check in on a regular basis with your child if youre going to be gone longer than 15 to 30 minutes, Tessmer said. Fortunately, in this age with cellphones and tablets it can be pretty easy. You can have your kids text, you can schedule a quick call, Facetime, send photos to each other to ease any anxieties. A woman waves a Venezuelan flag during a protest in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on June 14, 2025. (Carl Juste, Miami Herald/TNS) (Tribune News Service) The Trump administration argues that the beefed-up military presence across the Caribbean and strikes of alleged drug-running boats are a way to put pressure on Nicolas Maduro, who the president says is sending drugs and criminals to the United States. There could be a local political advantage for him, too, with signs suggesting frustrations over his administrations efforts to deport Venezuelans back to the South American country are giving way to anticipation of regime change. We were seeing a lot of buyers remorse in May, said Eduardo Gamarra, director of Florida International Universitys Latino Public Opinion Forum. Now it looks like the remorse is not as intense as it was then. Rafael Pineyro, a Republican city councilman in Doral, home to a large concentration of Venezuelan expats, agreed that frustrations are waning. I think that that has been changing since certainly the administration has been taking this approach. Trump, whose deadly strikes have been criticized by experts as extrajudicial killings carried out without congressional approval, has downplayed the extent to which regime change in Venezuela is a goal. Even so, Pineyro said there have been conversations with police in Doral about preparing for the possibility of large-scale celebrations in reaction to the possible ouster of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro. There is a lot of expectation, a lot of hope, Pineyro said. The shifting attitude toward Trump comes as Venezuelans in South Florida are living two conflicting realities: hope that the Trump administrations actions could lead to democratic governance in their homeland and fear as he threatens to deport hundreds of thousands of them to a country the United States deems too unsafe for Americans to visit. The real solution is for that narco cartel to not be in control of that country and I think people in our community understand that, said Republican U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, whose district includes Doral. They dont lose sight of while there are other issues that we can talk about immigration, TPS, all those things frankly, all of this is caused by this situation in Venezuela. Growing backlash Local hope for celebration is cautious. As the Trump administration zeroes in on recently-arrived Venezuelans as part of its mass-deportation efforts, some South Florida Venezuelans describe Trumps position towards their homeland and its immigrant communities as contradictory and inconsistent. Adelys Ferro, a Venezuelan-American community leader involved in the legal fight against the Trump administrations termination of deportation protections for scores of Venezuelans, told the Herald there were great expectations, but also great incredulity in the community. Even if there is a wish in the community for Maduro to leave power and for there to be a transition towards democracy, the ambiguous attitude of the administration is keeping us in suspense, said Ferro. Since returning to office, Trump has restarted direct deportations to Venezuela, moved to strip over 500,000 Venezuelans from their deportation protections under Temporary Protected Status and separately ended a parole process that allowed over 117,000 Venezuelans live and work legally in the United States. Many recently-arrived Venezuelans were beneficiaries of both programs. His administration says TPS is not in American interests and that conditions like healthcare and public safety in Venezuela have improved enough for a safe return even though the Department of State maintains a do not travel advisory to the South American country. He has invoked centuries-old wartime powers to deport over 230 Venezuelan immigrants to a Salvadorean prison, accusing them of being members of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang. Records obtained by the Texas Tribune and ProPublica later showed that the Trump administration knew that most of them had no U.S. conviction. Trump and Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem have broadly characterized Venezuelans immigrants as criminals. Trump also accuses Caracas of coordinating with Tren de Aragua to invade the United States. Intelligence reports have said that Maduro does not exert control over the group, which Trump designated as a terrorist organization on his first day in office. Tren de Aragua experts have also told the Herald the Trump administration is overblowing the groups influence. In late July, Trump renewed Chevrons license to operate in Venezuela. The development came months after Trump had revoked it, saying that Maduros government had been too slow taking back deportees under a deal brokered in February when special envoy to Venezuela Richard Grenell went to Caracas. Some say that despite Trumps seemingly hardline stance towards Maduro, striking oil deals with Caracas legitimizes the countrys government. Gamarra, the FIU professor, told the Herald that certain Venezuelans think that Trump is exchanging exiles and refugees, if you will, for oil. Elliot Abrams, a Republican and special representative to Venezuela in the first Trump administration, called the oil deals incoherent. On the one hand, the rhetoric against Maduro is fierce, he added. On the other hand, they let Chevron go back to work in Venezuela, which is an immediate benefit to the regime. So I dont think thats coherent. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told the Miami Herald in a statement that Maduro is an illegitimate president running a narco-terror cartel. President Trump has been abundantly clear cartels have long wrought devastating consequences on American communities, but this President is prepared to use every lever to stop drugs from flooding in to our country and bring those responsible to justice, she added. Political implications Democrats have repeatedly called Trumps approach to Venezuela a glaring contradiction. Him using the military to just look tough and distract people from his attempts to wine and dine Maduro in exchange for help with deportations is just that, a distraction, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz told the Herald. Miami-Dade Democratic Party chairwoman and immigration attorney Laura Kelley said the overriding sentiment shes hearing from Venezuelans and clients is fear, as the ongoing legal battle over the administrations attempted rollback of TPS looms largest. We see that restaurants are shutting down, not just because of lack of workers, but lack of consumers. People are too afraid to go out into the streets, to purchase things, to go to school. People are afraid, Kelley said. The TPS recipients themselves, the parole recipients themselves, their family members theyre afraid. Miamis Republican members in Congress have been stuck in the middle for months. Theyve remained supportive of the president, but united in opposition to rollbacks of certain deportation protections. Many South Florida Venezuelans view Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants who blasted Havana and Caracas as enemies of humanity during his first official visit as secretary of state to Latin America, as a vocal critic who will take a hardline stance against Maduro. But the voice of Rubio has often appeared publicly in tension with that of Grenell. Maduro said in a news conference earlier this month he maintains two lines of communication with the administration: one in Grenell and in Rubio. Diaz-Balart minimized Grenells sway in the administration even though Grenell has been part of Trumps inner circle dating back to his role as former acting director of national intelligence during Trumps first administration. Was there that one moment that was concerning? Diaz-Balart asked rhetorically of Grenells meeting with Maduro earlier this year. But it wasnt the president. It was one individual. And after that, weve seen very clearly what this presidents position is and has been, which is why we are extremely, extremely supportive of what the president is doing. This is not the first time Maduros ouster has felt imminent in South Florida. Some Venezuelans point back to the period of heightened, yet unrealized hope for regime change after Trump recognized Juan Guaido as interim leader in 2019. For Pineyro, the Doral councilman, theres a wait-and-see feeling about Trump now. If we enter into December or next year without any actions, same regime, nothing changed, he said, I do see some, probably, potential questions about what happened. 2025 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. People from Chatan town trek through Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, during a tsunami evacuation drill on Sept. 20, 2025. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes) KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa About 60 residents of Chatan town walked onto this key U.S. air base over the weekend for an annual tsunami drill, less than two months after an actual scare in July. Children and adults some as old as 80 made the milelong trek Saturday in 90-degree-plus heat from Gate 1 to Marek Park, about 200 feet above sea level. Chatan is about 6 to 15 feet above sea level, depending on the area, according to the towns website. The route featured a few more twists and turns this year due to ongoing construction for the new gate. People from Chatan town trek through Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, during a tsunami evacuation drill on Sept. 20, 2025. (Ryan M. Breeden/Stars and Stripes) In a real alert, like those on July 30 and April 3, 2024, people would continue through Gate 5 for a total of 2 miles, reaching roughly 240 feet above sea level. For two years in a row now, a real warning or advisory has been issued, and both communities have been ready each time, Col. Robinson Mata, 18th Mission Support Group commander, told the crowd after the exercise. We will continue to refine our processes and practices to ensure our communities have safe and expedient measures to get to higher ground. A magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russias Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30 triggered tsunami alerts across coastal Japan, including Okinawa. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of possible waves between 3 and 10 feet, though actual waves measured 8 inches to 2 feet. That advisory underscored the importance of open and effective lines of communication, Mata told reporters at a news conference Saturday. Only one person entered Kadena through Gate 1 and walked to Gate 5 during the July incident, he said. An earthquake near Taiwan on April 3, 2024, also prompted a tsunami alert on Okinawa, leading about 250 Chatan residents to evacuate through Kadena. Chatan town residents queue for information and giveaways during a tsunami evacuation exercise at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Sept. 20, 2025. (Ryan M. Breeden/Stars and Stripes) Saturdays drill was the second since the Air Force wing and Chatan renewed an agreement in August 2024 to open the gates during natural disasters. About 100 airmen from logistics, engineering, security and medical units helped guide people through the park. The base continues to adjust its use of the loudspeaker system during drills, Maj. Alli Stormer, spokeswoman for Kadenas 18th Wing, told Stars and Stripes after the exercise. Announcements were made in Japanese at the start and end of this years drill, and English messages may be added next year, she said. Chatan resident Choushu Nakamoto joined his third tsunami drill on Saturday. He leads a group of elderly community members in the towns Miyagi district and said it was important to participate. A volunteer directs mock evacuees during a tsunami evacuation exercise at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Sept. 20, 2025. (Ryan M. Breeden/Stars and Stripes) The community also drills at Hamagawa Elementary School in Chatan, he told Stars and Stripes, but added: If a tsunami wave that is much higher, like 50 meters, comes, I feel a need to evacuate through the gate. I am 75 years old, so I wasnt sure I was going to make it today because of the heat, but I wanted to give it a try, he said. American and Japanese high school students skip rocks by the Kintaikyo Bridge during the Student Educational Exchange and Dialogue near Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 21, 2025. (Janiqua Robinson/Stars and Stripes) MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan Dozens of American and Japanese high school students crossed language and cultural barriers over the weekend as they explored the landmark Kintaikyo Bridge near this U.S. base southwest of Hiroshima. Thirty-six students on Saturday and Sunday participated in Student Educational Exchange and Dialogue, or SEED, which encourages teenagers from both nations to learn about each others traditions while building friendships. The program, now in its fifth year, is sponsored by Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Department of Defense Education Activity. It was hosted by MCAS Iwakuni and, for the first time, included activities in the surrounding community. I could tell that the people actually cared less about giving a good impression and more about seeing kids actually interact with other children, Elijah Seay, a ninth-grader at Matthew C. Perry High School on the base, said Sunday. American and Japanese high school students explore the Kintaikyo Bridge during the Student Educational Exchange and Dialogue near Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 21, 2025. (Janiqua Robinson/Stars and Stripes) Seay, who has lived in Japan for three years without learning the language, said the first day included a lot of games in the high school library. He initially expected Americans and Japanese to stick to their own groups. Instead, he said, the students quickly mixed. I think its really neat that we get to interact with the Japanese people, he said. I think it just proves that no matter skin color, nationality, what language you speak, you know, most of the time, kids will find a way to be friends with each other. Japanese student Kanako Ando said she joined the event at the urging of a friend. I also had an interest in communicating with American students; it was challenging but fun. If theres an opportunity to participate next year, I want to, she said in Japanese. American and Japanese high school students explore the Kintaikyo Bridge during the Student Educational Exchange and Dialogue near Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 21, 2025. (Janiqua Robinson/Stars and Stripes) The exchange not only builds ties but also provides Japanese teens with more opportunities to practice English, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Sasaki Sotaro said Sunday. The weekend concluded with a competition in which teams created slogans and advertisements for the more than 300-year-old Kintaikyo Bridge, which crosses the Nishiki river and was rebuilt after a typhoon washed portions of it away in 1950. At the closing ceremony, Col. Kenneth Rossman, commander of MCAS Iwakuni, urged the students to carry forward what they had learned. Meeting new friends can be challenging at first. It often takes a little courage to break the ice and begin connecting, but what Ive learned is that this is an essential part of growing as a person, he said. What you accomplished this weekend is truly special: You overcame language and cultural barriers to come together as a team. Well done, everyone. President Donald Trump greets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Joint Security Area of the Demilitarized Zone, June 30, 2019, in this image from the state-run Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA) North Koreas leader ruled out talks with Seoul but signaled he is open to resuming dialogue with President Donald Trump if Washington drops its demand that Pyongyang give up nuclear weapons, state media reported Monday. Kim Jong Un made the comments Sunday during a parliamentary session in Pyongyang, according to the Korean Central News Agency. He recalled his pervious summits with Trump fondly and said the two nations could coexist peacefully. If the U.S. abandons its absurd obsession on denuclearization, acknowledges the reality and seeks peaceful coexistence with us, there is no reason for us not to talk with the U.S., Kim was quoted as saying. The remarks came a month after Trump expressed interest in meeting Kim face to face again. At an Aug. 25 news conference with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Washington, Trump said he got along with Kim and wanted to arrange a meeting at the earliest opportunity. Lee also voiced support, calling Trump a peacemaker and offering South Koreas role as a pacemaker in potential negotiations. Kims influential sister, Kim Yo Jong, said in July that her brothers relationship with Trump was not bad. Trump and Kim first met in Singapore in 2018 and again in Vietnam in 2019. Their second summit collapsed without agreement after North Korea pressed for extensive relief from U.N. sanctions in exchange for partial denuclearization. Washington insisted Pyongyang first take substantial steps toward giving up its nuclear program. North Korea later disputed the U.S. account, saying it sought only limited sanctions relief. Despite leadership changes in Washington and Seoul, both U.S. and South Korean policy toward Pyongyang have remained largely consistent, maintaining that negotiations are always possible. Former Presidents Joe Biden and Yoon Suk Yeol also said they were open to talks. But in his latest remarks, Kim dismissed prospects for engagement with the South, describing it as a hostile nation. There is absolutely no chance that we will sit face to face with South Korea, nor will we cooperate in any way, Kim said, according to KCNA. He added that the two Koreas have practically existed as two separate countries for decades in the international community. In response, South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman Koo Byongsam told reporters Monday that Seoul does not seek any kind of unification by absorption or any hostile activities against the North. The government will work to resolve hostilities between the two countries and develop a peaceful relationship based on eased tensions and restored trust, he said. Australian and Japanese troops check the impacts of 81 mm mortars fired during the Orient Shield exercise at Sekiyama Training Area in Niigata, Japan, Sept. 19, 2025. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) SEKIYAMA TRAINING AREA, Japan Mortar rounds thundered through this mountainous training ground in central Japan on Friday as U.S., Japanese and Australian troops drilled together in the Orient Shield exercise. The annual field training long the largest bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese armies expanded this year to include Australia. The drills come amid rising tensions with China over its growing military power, claims in the South and East China seas, and Chinese leader Xi Jinpings vow to reunify Taiwan, by force if necessary. The three nations have stepped up combined training throughout the year, including at the large-scale Talisman Sabre exercise in Australia in July and August, and a weeklong command post drill in Japan more recently. A reciprocal access agreement that took effect in August 2023 allows Australian and Japanese forces to train in each others territory. Orient Shield, running Sept. 16-24, involves about 1,200 Japanese, 700 American and 200 Australian troops training across Niigata, Kyoto, Hyogo, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures on Japans main island of Honshu, according to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Drills include infantry assaults, mortar fire, logistics, and medical evacuation and treatment. U.S. Army Japan commander Brig. Gen. James Dooghan, who observed some of Fridays training, welcomed Australias participation. The inclusion of Australia in this years [Orient Shield] signals the evolution of our trilateral partnership a powerful testament to the trust, cooperation and shared commitment across our forces, he said in written comments provided to reporters who attended the training. Every conversation, every shared challenge, every mission completed together strengthens the bonds that make our alliance resilient. At Sekiyama, troops fired mortars, manned observation posts, maneuvered through forests and carried out casualty evacuations. Medics from the three nations treated simulated wounds at a field hospital. U.S. Marines in Japan have been conducting separate drills with Japanese forces on southern islands this month. The training coincides with increased Chinese naval and coast guard activity near Taiwan and around Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea. Soldiers with 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment prepare to fire an 81 mm mortar during the Orient Shield exercise at Sekiyama Training Area in Niigata, Japan, Sept. 20, 2025. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) U.S. soldiers with 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment prepare to fire an 81 mm mortar during the Orient Shield exercise at Sekiyama Training Area in Niigata, Japan, Sept. 19, 2025. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) U.S. and Australian troops check the impacts of 81 mm mortars fired during the Orient Shield exercise at Sekiyama Training Area in Niigata, Japan, Sept. 19, 2025. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) U.S. and Australian troops check the impacts of 81 mm mortars fired during the Orient Shield exercise at Sekiyama Training Area in Niigata, Japan, Sept. 19, 2025. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) The U.S. Army also recently deployed its Typhon mid-range missile system, designed to counter seaborne threats, to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in western Japan. Most U.S. soldiers in Orient Shield are from the Missouri National Guards 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment. Australian troops largely came from 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and the 2nd Health Brigade, according to the Australian Defence Department. Japanese Middle Army commander Lt. Gen. Makoto Endo said Australias involvement reflects deepening ties. The objective is to enhance our operational effectiveness, he said in written comments provided to the press. Australian Brig. Gen. Louise Martin, commander of the health brigade, noted the series of joint exercises leading up to Orient Shield. After refining our land force readiness, deepening our close military-to-military ties and enhancing the mutual understanding of our forces through Exercise Yama Sakura, we are ready for this next trilateral opportunity, she said in written comments. Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/ Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi at the UN headquarters, in particular, he suggested Oman to play a role in the peace process. "We discussed peace efforts and our work to organize the meeting of leaders to speed up the end to the war. I proposed Oman to play a role in the peace process with its authoritative voice. We discussed ways to develop our mutually beneficial cooperation in many areas, from agriculture to technology and trade," he said on the X social network. Sybiha said Ukraine opened an embassy in Muscat, demonstrating Ukraine's willingess to strengthen ties. "I also invited my colleague to visit Ukraine," the minister added. In turn, Al Busaidi, following the meeting with Sybiha, stated on the X social network that they "discussed expanding bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors and examined key regional and global developments." "Oman remains committed to peaceful dialogue and diplomatic solutions," the foreign minister added. As reported, on September 21-26, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sybiha will participate as part of the Ukrainian delegation led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the events of the high-level General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. In addition to President Zelenskyy's speech at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly, the program of the visit includes a number of important events with the participation of the Head of State, in particular, the Fifth Summit of the International Crimea Platform, a high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, and a high-level meeting of the UN Security Council on Ukraine. Along with participating in the program of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Sybiga will hold a number of separate events, including a thematic discussion on energy sustainability and green recovery in Ukraine, a meeting of the Group of Friends on Holding Russia Accountable for Aggression against Ukraine, a speech at the G20 ministerial meeting, and open debates of the UN Security Council. A number of bilateral and multilateral talks are planned between the President of Ukraine and the Minister of Foreign Affairs with colleagues from different regions of the world - from Europe and North America to Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor flies with two Polish F-16s over Poland in 2022. (Danielle Sukhlall/U.S. Air Force) STUTTGART, Germany The next time a Russian warplane intrudes in NATO airspace, allies should shoot it down, some Western leaders and security analysts are now arguing after a series of recent incursions. Over the weekend, NATO was forced to scramble jets once again to track a Russian surveillance plane flying over the Baltic Sea, the latest in the string of aerial incidents that European leaders say serve as a Kremlin test of allied resolve. On Friday, three Russian fighter planes spent 12 minutes inside Estonian airspace, prompting NATO aircraft to scramble in response. That came a week after a swarm of about 20 Russian drones crossed into Poland, several of which were shot down by NATO aircraft. President Donald Trump said Sunday at the White House that he was prepared to assist fellow members of the U.S.-led alliance in the event of further Russian escalation, but he didnt elaborate on specifics. Numerous Western leaders and security experts are saying a message of unmistakable clarity must be sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin. NATOs border in the north is being tested for a response, Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said in a statement Saturday. We need to mean business. She and others referred to the 2015 shootdown of a Russian fighter plane that had breached Turkish airspace as the template for what to do now. In that instance, Turkey fired on a Russian Su-24 jet that crossed into the country and remained for 17 seconds. Ankara had repeatedly warned Russia ahead of the strike that it was prepared to fire on offending planes if the airspace violations persisted. Supporters of the Turkish approach have noted that Russian provocations ceased after the downing of the aircraft. The pilot was killed by rebel fire as he parachuted to the ground. Czech President Petr Pavel said in a radio interview Saturday that downing Russian planes should be an option for NATO. Russia will very quickly realize that it has made a mistake and crossed acceptable borders, said Pavel, a former four-star general who previously served as head of NATOs military committee. Unfortunately, it is balancing on the edge of the conflict, but it is simply not possible to give in to evil. A Russian MiG-31 fighter flies over the Baltic Sea, Sept. 19, 2025. Swedish JAS 39 fighters intercepted and monitored three Russian MiGS after they entered Estonian air space. (Facebook/Swedish armed forces) In the wake of Russias drone incursion into Poland and another the same week in Romania, NATO has sought to build up capabilities along its eastern flank. The Poland incursion spurred formation of a new NATO operation called Eastern Sentry, which aims to enhance surveillance and air defenses in the hopes of countering Russia. But some critics say NATO hasnt done enough to deter the Russians. Andrew Michta, an expert on European security with the Atlantic Council, added to the chorus, saying Turkeys actions in 2015 should serve as an example for NATO. The Russians will continue violating NATO airspace until someone learns from the Turks and shoots down one of the intruders, Michta said on X Sunday. On Monday, top NATO officials were expected to convene in Brussels after an emergency meeting was requested by Estonia under the alliances Article 4. It is invoked when a member believes its territorial integrity has been violated. Poland also requested a similar meeting last week when its airspace was violated on Sept. 10. In Europe, the calls for a tougher response run up against long-standing concerns about escalating tensions with Russia or getting drawn into a potential conflict with the nuclear-armed state. Its unclear whether allies are prepared to go the route Turkey did a decade ago. At the time, then-NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Philip Breedlove was flying to Poland to meet with U.S. troops. The situation set off a flurry of calls aboard Breedloves aircraft with top U.S. and NATO military leaders. In the immediate aftermath, Breedlove said Turkey was well within its rights to take such action. But putting such an approach under the NATO umbrella could be more complicated, given the need for all 32 allies to have a common view of the threat. Still, key allies such as Germany, which traditionally has been especially wary of escalating with Russia, have taken a tougher stance on Russia recently. Jurgen Hardt, a longtime German parliamentarian with the Christian Democratic Union party, told the RND media group Sunday that allies should prepare for military action against future incursions. Only a clear message to Russia that any military border violation will be met with military means, up to and including the shooting down of Russian fighter jets over NATO territory, will be effective, he said. Burials at national veterans cemeteries including Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas would continue during a federal government shutdown. But maintenance of the cemetery grounds and placement of headstones would be among the services deferred. (Fort Bliss Public Affairs) WASHINGTON If the federal government shuts down after midnight Sept. 30 over a funding impasse in Congress, the Department of Veterans Affairs would keep sending veterans their monthly pensions and disability payments on time. VA hospitals, outpatient clinics and the 24-hour Veterans Crisis Line dial 988, plus 1 that takes calls from suicidal veterans would stay open without interruption, along with the primary veterans contact center at 1-800-MyVA411. Burials at national veterans cemeteries would proceed as well. The VA sought to reassure veterans and their families this week that core services and benefits for veterans would be protected in a government shutdown. Congress must act by Sept. 30 the last day of fiscal 2025 to fund the government. Government closing would curtail all but essential services and put most federal employees out of work for the duration. A short-term spending bill the House adopted to extend funding federal agencies through most of November failed to pass in the Senate on Friday before both chambers left Capitol Hill on break. Even in the event of a shutdown, veterans will still be able to access their health care, benefits and memorial services from VA, the agency said on a webpage titled VA Contingency Planning. More than 9 million veterans use at least one VA benefit or service. Some less-critical services would end temporarily, according to the agency. Maintenance of cemetery grounds would stop, and the VA would not place permanent headstones at grave sites. Veterans career counseling and transition assistance services for individuals leaving military service would be canceled. VAs network of regional benefits offices would close. The offices have representatives who meet with veterans, their families and survivors about their disability claims, pensions, home loans, life insurance and tuition assistance. The GI bill hotline that fields questions about higher-education tuition assistance would stop taking calls. VA also would stop processing applications for pre-need burials or print new presidential memorial certificates. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., sent a letter Saturday to President Donald Trump demanding a meeting over the partisan differences holding up funding. The Republican-led Congress wants to keep federal spending at fiscal 2025 levels, but Democrats are demanding the restoration of Medicaid cuts and an extension of tax credits under the Affordable Care Act. Trump said Friday there could be a closed country for a period of time, ABC News reported. But the president also said the government will take care of military and Social Security payments in a shutdown. The Department of Veterans Affairs is largely funded through advance appropriations, which ensures these critical programs continue with minimal disruption, VA said. Bipartisan bill to use Russia's frozen assets in support of Ukraine registered in US Senate Photo: Unsplash A bipartisan bill (REPO Implementation Act of 2025) has been registered in the U.S. Senate, which provides for the use of frozen Russian assets in support of Ukraine, Sky News has learned. "A new bipartisan bill has been tabled in the US Senate that targets Russia's frozen sovereign assets. Introduced by Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat and member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and Republican Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the REPO Implementation Act of 2025 would move $5bn (3.7bn) of Moscow's sovereign funds held in the US into an interest-bearing account," the publication said in a statement on Monday. It is noted that at least $250 million (GBP 185 million) will then be redirected to Ukraine every 90 days. The authors of the bill argue that it will avoid additional costs for the U.S taxpayers, while forcing Russia to finance Ukraine's defense and reconstruction. Whitehouse and Risch also called on allied countries to repurpose 5% of frozen assets about GBP 11 billion per quarter from the GBP 222 billion Russia has stranded abroad. "Vladimir Putin and his corrupt regime must continue to pay for the brutal invasion of their peaceful neighbour," Whitehouse said. "Russia's frozen sovereign assets are the most appropriate target to give Ukraine the support it needs to defend and rebuild itself." "REPO 2.0 will encourage the Trump administration and our G7 allies to start seizing frozen Russian assets and distributing them to Ukraine on a settled schedule to ratchet up the economic pressure on Putin," he added. Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/ Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha and Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations (UN) Cindy McCain discussed ways to develop cooperation, in particular in humanitarian food programs, as well as in the demining of agricultural lands. "Had a productive meeting with WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain at the UN headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. We focused on developing cooperation between Ukraine and the UN World Food Programme in humanitarian assistance, agricultural land demining, and further joint efforts to strengthen global food security, violated by Russia," Sybiha said in a Telegram channel on Monday. During the meeting, the minister reportedly emphasized "the importance of WFP's voice in ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea." Sybiha also assured the WFP Executive Director that Ukraine "despite full-scale Russian aggression, remains committed to its role as a guarantor of global food security." According to the minister, humanitarian food shipments from Ukraine have now reached more than 10 million people in 18 countries. "I expressed my gratitude to WFP and its team in Ukraine for their unwavering solidarity and assistance in delivering vital assistance to our people, supporting vulnerable communities, and working together to strengthen Ukraine's resilience," the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky and Chief of the Defense Staff of the Armed Forces of Romania Gheorghita Vlad discussed the joint counteraction to Russian drones crossing the Ukrainian-Romanian border. "Had a phone call with Chief of the Defense Staff of the Armed Forces of Romania, General Gheorghita Vlad. Spoke about the current situation in the areas of combat operations and the key needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We also discussed other issues of mutual interest, in particular in the context of joint counteraction to threats associated with the crossing of the Ukrainian-Romanian border by means of an air attack by the Russian aggressor," Syrsky said on the Telegram channel. The AFU Commander-in-Chief thanked the leadership of Romania and the entire Romanian people for "steadfast political support for Ukraine and military assistance to our state, long-term cooperation in the interests of Ukraine's defense." Jose Antonio Sau Malaga Monday, 22 September 2025, 13:19 Share Andalucia's regional ministry of health is starting the third immunisation campaign for children under six months of age to prevent bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A total of around 10,200 children, both infants and toddlers up to two years of age in the high-risk category, in Malaga province will benefit from the campaign starting today (22 September). Health centres have already started to contact the parents of children born from 1 April this year, who will receive the nirsevimab vaccine. All infants born between 22 September and 31 March 2026 will also be vaccinated either in the delivery room or in the maternity ward, before discharge. In addition, Nirsevimab will be administered to infants under one year of age who were born prematurely (at 35 weeks or earlier) and to other children with high-risk chronic conditions of up to two years of age. A total of 73,000 doses have been allocated for the 2025-2026 campaign, which has a budget of 15.8 million euros. This immunisation effectively and safely prevents RSV infection - a respiratory condition that occurs mainly during autumn and winter. The regional ministry of health has recommended that all parents with children under the age of six months accept the invitation for RSV immunisation. This is the third time that the Andalucia region has carried out an immunisation campaign against RSV. In 2024-2025, more than 95.3% of the target population (55,115 children) received the vaccine, up from 93.6% the previous year. Immunisation against the bronchiolitis virus has reduced the hospitalisation of babies suffering from the disease by approximately 80% in the last two years, since it was incorporated into the regional ministry's vaccination protocol. In the 2024-2025 winter period, there were 2,000 fewer admissions of children with bronchiolitis in Andalucia. Eugenio Cabezas Velez-Malaga Monday, 22 September 2025, 18:10 | Updated 18:25h. Share A 48-year-old man was rushed to the Hospital Regional in Malaga after being involved in a paraglider accident on Benajarafe beach on the eastern Costa del Sol. The incident happened at 7.20pm on Sunday 21 September, when witnesses reported that the man had suffered an accident while attempting to take off with the paraglider from the sand, after colliding with boats on the beach. He suffered serious injuries to one leg and was taken by ambulance to the hospital in Malaga city. No further details have been released about the injured man's condition. Local and National Police officers also attended the scene and cordoned off the area, which was busy with people at the time, to attend to the injured paraglider. Rossel Aparicio Malaga Monday, 22 September 2025, 15:21 Share Autumn has begun this Monday on the Spanish mainland with a generalised drop in temperatures but what is the reason for this? It's the influence of a new trough and the departure of an Atlantic front over the Mediterranean, which will cause the mercury to drop at the start of the week throughout the country, as well as bring persistent rain in the far north. However, according to the forecast from Spain's state meteorological agency (Aemet), there are some provinces that are going to escape this national temperature drop, including Malaga, where maximum temperatures are expected to be above 30C in the central hours of the day. Specifically, for this Monday, Aemet forecasts a maximum temperature of 33C in Malaga - the capital of the Costa del Sol, 30C in Velez-Malaga and 28C in Antequera and Marbella. In Ronda, the mercury could reach 27 degrees. Meanwhile, according to local Malaga weather forecaster Jose Luis Escudero, temperatures will start to drop in the province on Tuesday. "During the early morning and early hours of the morning, minimum temperatures will drop; they will be more noticeable in the Ronda and Antequera areas. As for maximum temperatures, they will drop slightly. From early afternoon onwards, the wind will tend to blow from the east southeast", he indicated in the latest entry on his SUR blog 'Tormentas y rayos' (Storms and lightning). "In Malaga city it will be between 24C and 26C, depending on the area," he said. Rain and a return to 30C According to Escudero, on Wednesday "the wind will blow from the east along the coast of Malaga and inland of the province; the gusts will be moderate to strong. There is a probability of some weak and occasional precipitation due to the easterly wind and some cold air at altitude. It will be in mountainous areas close to the coast where the probability is higher; not every door mat will be wet," he predicted. "Maximum temperatures will drop throughout the province of Malaga, while minimum temperatures will rise," he pointed out. However, according to Escudero, from Thursday the maximum temperatures will start to recover "and it is likely that on Friday and at the weekend it will reach 30C again in some areas of the province", he said. Downpours in the far north At the national level, the Aemet forecast for this Monday predicts "rainfall and showers in the far north, the northeast of the peninsula and the Balearic Islands, without ruling them out in the rest of the eastern third. Persistent showers are expected in the far north, locally heavy on the coasts and with significant accumulations in Asturias and Cantabria. Likewise, strong, even locally very strong, showers accompanied by thunderstorms are expected in the northeast and the Balearic Islands, easing in the afternoon". As for temperatures, "a generalised drop in temperatures will persist; in the case of maximum temperatures, the maximum will be notable in areas of the southern Iberian Peninsula and locally in La Mancha, while no changes are expected on the northwest coast and in the upper Ebro. Weak frosts in the Pyrenees and on the peaks of other mountains in the northern half", the forecast added. Jose Antonio Sau Malaga Monday, 22 September 2025, 16:32 Share Alzheimer's is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease among the dementias. In fact, seven out of ten cases manifest in the same way, according to estimates by the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN), who also warns more than 50% of cases that are still mild are undiagnosed and the average delay between the first symptoms and diagnosis is over two years. This statistic can be extrapolated to Malaga, according to the scientific director of the Andalusian Institute of Neuroscience (IANEC), Jose Maria Garcia-Alberca, who estimates that between between 15,000 and 20,000 people are affected in Malaga, and using the estimates of the SEN, it could be said that half of them are currently undiagnosed. Detecting the disease in its early stages, i.e. in the early stages, or in its silent phase, years before it appears, will allow the new drugs (lecanemab and donanemab), which are about to be used in Spain, to slow down its progression. This will increase the life expectancy of those affected by it by three to five years, as well as providing a better quality of life. The disease is closely linked to ageing and mainly affects people over the age of 65. It is Spain's ageing population that predicts a rise in dementia cases: from vascular dementia to Lewy body dementia or frontotemporal dementia, but above all, says Dr Raquel Sanchez del Valle, director of the SEN Behaviour and Dementia Study Group, Alzheimer's disease. It is undoubtedly one of the greatest global health challenges, so promoting early detection, slowing down its progression and prevention must be "spearheads" in the fight against the disease, she says. Underdiagnosis is very high in Spain, says the SEN, especially in mild cases, with between 30% and 50% of people suffering from some form of dementia don't end up being formally diagnosed. Why does this happen? Firstly, the symptoms are often attributed, especially in the early stages, to absent-mindedness or signs of ageing, notably, the family of the person with Alzheimer's can downplay the importance of the situation; and lastly, the symptoms can overlap and be confused for other types of dementia. Between 30% and 50% of people with some form of dementia are never formally diagnosed, meaning they cannot benefit from new treatments Dr Garcia-Alberca says that years ago the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 75% of mild cases were under-diagnosed, a figure that has now fallen to just over 50%. In fact, he points out, it is necessary to differentiate between the preclinical stage, where the first visible signs of the disease manifest, and the early progression, which can last for 20 to 25 years, before the onset of the acute stage. Today, this is possible with new technologies. The SEN, for example, highlights the great advances that have been made in imaging and biochemical diagnostic techniques, especially with the availability of blood markers that, with a simple analysis, can improve diagnosis rate accurately. Correct diagnosis "Correctly diagnosing the disease means treatments can be incorporated earlier, also access to social and financial support and realistic future planning, brings many benefits to both patients and their families and carers. And it is now possible to make an accurate initial diagnosis, so we encourage identifying the symptoms of this disease, as to not be limited to generic dementia diagnoses, and not to attribute its symptoms to normal ageing," says Dr. Sanchez del Valle. For Garcia-Alberca, early diagnosis has two advantages. "The treatments don't cure Alzheimer's, but early medical intervention slows down the progression of the disease and improves symptoms. At the same time, you can decide how you live your life, if you need to make important decisions, 'How do I work with my loved ones'," he says. Both the IANEC and the SEN recall that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has already given Lecanemab and Donanemab a stamp of approval, two drugs to be applied in the early stages that modify the course of the disease. Administered intravenously, they reach the brain and eliminate excessive abnormal deposits of beta-amyloid protein, as the destruction of neural pathways is directly related to an excess of this, and another protein, tau. The initial deposits are produced in the brains of sufferers 20 to 25 years before "the most subtle symptoms begin". If diagnosed at the preclinical stage, these drugs can slow the progression of the disease by 27% (Lecanemab) and 40% (Donanemab), which means, in practice, an increase in life expectancy between three and five years, the doctor estimates. These drugs will soon be available in Spain. Zoom The medical director of the Andalusian Institute of Neuroscience, Jose Maria Garcia-Alberca. Nito Salas "If the diagnosis is made in the silent phase, with those treatments that are coming, those affected will have the ability to reverse the symptons, or in some cases, even delay". Quality of life Carlos Cruz, head of the Neurology Department at the Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria (Clinico) , also explained in April: "In terms of advances, we are at a relatively sweet spot: we hope to have two drugs by the end of the year or the beginning of next year. The first will be Lecanemab, which already affects the molecular structure of the disease, which wasn't possible until now, and is capable of altering the patient's trajectory. A trajectory in which the patient, between three and seven years, goes through all the stages until advanced dementia and then death. Now we are going to be able to prolong it for several years, three or five more years, and a good quality of life for the patient. Nowadays, the diagnosis is made with a neuropsychological evaluation, explains Dr Garcia-Alberca, tests that evaluate cognitive functions such as calculation or orientation which are, "as precise as a biological analysis". If the evaluation is negative, a neuroimaging test is ordered, an MRI which checks if the hippocampus has suffered some degree of atrophy and, finally, a blood test is carried out to rule out other dementias caused by hypothyroidism or a lack of vitamin B12. A simple blood test Today, early diagnosis is possible. Firstly, an "extraordinary breakthrough" has been made by noting biomarkers in the blood, both beta-amyloid and tau. It can be said that with a simple prick it can be concluded if a person will suffer from Alzheimer's in the future, as these proteins have already been deposited in the brain. These biomarkers could be present in relatives of those who have it or for people who have a family history. "There are already public and private laboratories that do this," explains Dr Garcia-Alberca, who adds: "The challenge is to diagnose at 20 or 25 years old. That is an early diagnosis; the preclinical phase is the silent phase. "Many cases go undiagnosed because the family agrees with what the doctor has said and, most of the time, a proper diagnosis will not be made" Spinal taps are also performed to see if these biomarkers are in the cerebrospinal fluid, a very invasive test. On the other hand, there are very advanced imaging tests, such as tau PET or amyloid PET, which also determine the presence of these proteins in the brain. The public health system is gradually incorporating all these techniques, and they are already present in the private sector, but they are expensive. As Garcia-Alberca explains, "many cases go undiagnosed because the family agrees with what the doctor has said and, most of the time, a proper diagnosis will not be made". The SEN, for its part, stresses that more than 100 new compounds are currently being investigated, which will broaden the diagnostic scope. Barriers to early diagnosis Recently, for instance, Lilly, mapEA and Alma-Care pointed out that waiting times, the lack of specialist training concerning the disease's pathology in primary care, and the minimal coordination between social, political and healthcare assistance, are some of the "main barriers" to early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in Andalucia. As Lilly explained in a press statement, these projects aim to identify how to address the diagnosis, treatment and further supporting those with Alzheimer's disease in Spain, as well as to prepare the system to incorporate the latest therapies. Juan Soto Malaga Monday, 22 September 2025 | Updated 23/09/2025 08:25h. Share Malaga's hospitality industry is not going to end the summer on the high note it was expecting. Despite the initially optimistic forecasts, bars, restaurants and beach bars will say goodbye next week to a summer season with lower-than-expected turnover. While visitor numbers have generally held steady, businesses have seen revenues of up to five euros less per person during the peak season despite the increase in prices adding more to the bill. Industry sources explain that this drop in revenue was primarily noted during July and August, months in which they saw a good influx of customers, but with a lower average bill. "This year, they've left their chequebooks at home, only coming with a tighter wallet", says one business owner with a touch of irony. According to industry data, turnover in these businesses has fallen by between five and ten percent, although figures can vary greatly depending on the location. Thus, consumption seems to have increased in Malaga city and decreased inland and in areas that typically have a greater share of domestic tourism. 10% Turnover in bars, restaurants and beach bars has fallen by up to ten percent during the summer months in the Costa del Sol province. The president of Malaga's hospitality business association (Mahos), Javier Frutos, acknowledges a general decline in consumption. "Expectations have not been met. The growth we had seen in recent years has slowed down", he says. Although the turnover figures have not been finalised, Frutos insists that the main decline has been recorded in those areas where there is a greater domestic presence, as the influx of these visitors has slowed this year. Another variable that has worked against consumption has been the weather. Although it has affected other Andalusian provinces more, the various heatwaves that have hit Malaga province, more so inland, have made it difficult to maximise use of restaurant and bar terraces, consequently preventing customers from going out and spending. "At the regional level, we've had 16-17 days of heatwaves and this has had an impact on consumption on the terraces", states Frutos. The regional beach bar association makes a similar assessment. Manuel Villafaina, president of the Costa del Sol association of chiringuitos, predicts a 7% drop in turnover for his members all along the coast. He explains that the first few months of the main season, especially May and June, were very good, but that they noticed a decline during July and August. "It's not that there were fewer people, but that they weren't consuming as much as what we were used to seeing." 4.6% is the average increase in prices in August (4% in July), according to INE data. In their case, they have especially noticed the drop in domestic customers, who normally would be spending on something all day long. Unlike foreigner customers, who arrive at lunchtime and then leave, Spaniards tend to consume at any time, from the moment they turn up at the sunbeds and start with aperitifs through to the after-dinner drinks and relaxed conversations. Villafaina explains that now "people are going with the bare necessities" and acknowledges that the economy is not as strong as it used to be. Added to this is the widespread use of credit cards as the preferred means of payment. "Even a two-euro coffee will be paid for with a card and we lose the commission charged by the bank." Hundreds of thousands of euros The perception expressed by these two authoritative voices is shared 100% by various hospitality business leaders. "People are going out the same, but now they're looking much more at the prices and, when they used to order three dishes to share, now they're only ordering one", they comment. Taking into account the individual cases surveyed, the average food/drinks bill in the Costa del Sol province has fallen by at least five euros per person, a figure that, when multiplied by the number of customers that these businesses welcome daily during the three main summer months, amounts to several hundred thousand euros. As mentioned at the beginning, this drop in turnover has occurred despite the increase in prices (up to 14 euros are now being paid for espetos (skewered sardines) in some beach bars in Marbella). According to CPI (consumer price index) data, restaurant prices rose by 4% in July and 4.6% in August compared to the same months last year. This is higher than the 2.7% price increase in the average shopping basket and the cost of living in general. Ignacio Lillo Malaga Monday, 22 September 2025, 16:15 Share The average nighttime temperature in the Caribbean ranges approximately between 20C and 25C, according to meteorological data from that area. These same values were recorded in Malaga and the Costa del Sol almost every day during the summer months. In fact, in July and August, there were only two occasions when the thermometer fell below 20C and, on both occasions, it hovered just below at 19.7C and 19.8C. It is precisely this threshold that defines the so-called "tropical nights" with, as can be seen, practically all of them occurring during the summer months, according to data from Spain's Aemet state weather agency centre in Malaga, collected by the local weather forecaster Jose Luis Escudero. Even worse: there have already been five nights during this time that were logged as "equatorial or torrid", because the temperature did not drop below 25C. However, this year there has been no single "hellish night", which is when temperatures reach or exceed 30C. That said, there was one day that came close: 20 July was the hottest night of the year, with 27.1C. Warm sea "Summertime minimum temperatures no longer drop below 20 degrees," confirmed Jesus Riesco, head of Aemet's Malaga weather centre. As for the causes, in addition to the consequences of climate change, the key lies in seawater temperature, as the minimum temperatures along the Costa del Sol coast are directly related to this factor. "This year in June, the sea was very warm and the temperature remained high; therefore, the minimum temperatures didn't drop on the coast, but in many parts of Andalucia they didn't drop at night either, as is the case in the Guadalquivir Valley." This situation is increasingly distancing the province from the traditional Mediterranean climate, bringing it closer to others, such as the aforementioned Central American climate. Not only that, but also: "In June, July and August, practically all nights were tropical, above 20C, and there were increasingly more equatorial ones." Just look at the seawater temperature in the Mediterranean. "In our area, it varies a lot depending on the westerly (poniente) and easterly (levante) winds, but if we look at Almeria and the sea around the Balearics, there we can see that it is becoming tropicalised." Water temperatures are approaching 30C. 27.1C was the highest minimum night-time temperature recorded on 20 July, the hottest night of this year. This figure is defined as "equatorial or torrid" for night-time temperatures, which are those that do not fall below 25C. However, Riesco goes on to point out that there are important differences with other climates around the world and that these high values occur primarily at the sea's surface, unlike tropical seas that have a deeper layer with equally warm temperatures. Furthermore, the fundamental difference is that, in other latitudes, this situation persists year-round, while here, for the time being, it only occurs midsummer. Additional energy costs Enrique Salvo, chair for the climate change group at the University of Malaga (UMA), draws attention to the fact that minimum temperatures this summer have been even higher in Malaga city centre, according to the thermometer located at the port. "We are moving towards a strong tropicalisation, which entails additional costs in every respect and the first of those is electricity consumption," said the researcher. Added to this is the wear and tear that heat causes to humans, animals and plants, due to what is known as "biological fatigue". Not surprisingly, mortality is increasing too, especially among the elderly and people with underlying health conditions. Another serious problem is the warming of the land, which no longer provides the nocturnal cooling it used to, with the exception of the few episodes of taro (sea fog), such as the one that occurred last weekend. "This year we have had hardly any cooling from the sea and this leads to tropical night-time conditions that are tremendously draining for all living organisms. This has an impact on human functioning because we don't get the same amount of rest and also due to the side effects of air-conditioning in terms of the development of respiratory diseases." More heat in the heart of the city Jose Luis Escudero, a Malaga-based meteorologist, best known for his SUR blog Tormentas y Rayos (Storms and Lightning), gives a first-hand account of the change in nighttime temperatures experienced in Malaga city over the last half-century. "When I was ten years old, I used to go to the summer [open-air] cinema with my parents and I remember they always told me to take a cover-up... It used to get cooler at night on a regular basis and, in fact, the average minimum temperature has risen the most since 1974." This local weather expert focuses on the very high minimum temperatures recorded by the port thermometer, which reflects the situation in the city centre, both because of the effect of the so-called "urban heat island" and because the seawater has been very warm. In fact, in June, it set an all-time record for that month, reaching 25.7C. For comparison, in July, the average minimum temperature in the port area was 23.3C, while that of the airport was lower at 22.6C. "The nights are warmer in the centre than in the outskirts", said Escudero. Similarly, in August, the average night-time temperature at the airport's terminals was 22.9C, while in the port it was 23.8C, almost one degree warmer. Cristina Pinto Malaga Monday, 22 September 2025, 16:50 Share An annual event brought together more than a hundred people at the Plaza del Padre Ciganda in Malaga's El Palo district on Sunday, 21 September. The reason? The 58th edition of the Pena El Palustre - a national bricklaying competition and El Palo's staple. Attendees and participants have been calling it 'the Champions League' of masonry for years now, with pairs of bricklayers joining from all over Spain. The event started very early, at 8am, when the participants received the design they had to present, created by Demofilo Pelaez Santiago: a spiral ramp. After four hours and 40 minutes of hard work in the sun, the jury announced the end of the competition. The winners were not new faces but instead five-time champions Aleix Plana and his assistant Vasile Safta. The pair from Tarragona won the 6,000-euro prize and the title that makes them two of the most successful competitors in the history of this event. There were 28 pairs of professional and hobby masons from all over Spain. Natalia Munoz, 34, was the only female participant in this year's event, which made her stand out. "I don't do bricklaying professionally, but my partner has a construction company and I do it as a hobby. I'm a social worker and I'm currently studying administration and finance," she said. The competition's best masons Second came Jacobo Ceron and Yutii Kokodynskyi from Villanueva del Rosario. They took home the prize of 2,500 euros. Third place, with a prize of 1,500 euros, went to Jose Antonio Guerrero Flores and Manuel Sierra Rapela from Bienvenida (Badajoz), while fourth place, with a prize of 1,000 euros, went to Lucio Jimenez and Raul Jimenez from Riolobos (Caceres). "The competition has been growing thanks to the support of official bodies, companies and professional associations," said co-founder of the event Manuel Pelaez Santiago, who also highlighted the competition's national prominence. Pena El Palustre counts on the support of Malaga city council, the provincial authority and the college of architects, as well as on that of numerous construction companies. Launched in 1967, the national bricklaying competition perseveres thanks to the efforts of the founders and the members, who give their all every year. Juan Cano Malaga Monday, 22 September 2025, 11:26 Share For some time now, organised crime groups has been using minors to settle scores across Europe. There have been several attempts in Spain, but all of them had reportedly been prevented by state security forces until the first successfully executed contract killing by a minor, which took place on 7 December 2024. According to SUR sources, National Police officers are investigating a 17-year-old youth from Northern Europe on suspicion of involvement in the murder committed close to Fuengirola's seaside promenade. The investigation is being led by the force's Malaga provincial headquarters, in collaboration with the Dutch authorities. It began at the end of 2024, following the murder of a Dutch man shot with an assault rifle in the middle of the street. The incident happened on Calle Asturias a few minutes before 2am on 7 December 2024. The police found the victim's body with numerous gunshot wounds, one of them to the head. The medical services could only certify his death. Investigators found numerous bullet casings at the crime scene and seized a long firearm found hidden under a vehicle parked in the area. Everything indicated that it belonged to the perpetrators. Since then, the National Police have focused on identifying the perpetrators under the hypothesis that there were two of them. Following their identification, an international arrest warrant was issued, which resulted in the arrest of the teenager in Northern Europe. According to the investigation, the 17-year-old youth had been contracted to carry out the murder in exchange for money. He reportedly left Spain the day after committing the crime. ABC Alicante Monday, 22 September 2025, 12:06 Share A 63-year-old British woman has been provisionally imprisoned in Benidorm after confessing to having strangled a friend to death with a vacuum cleaner cord on 17 September. The victim was a 66-year-old woman, also of British origin. The investigation is still open, as reported by the High Court of Justice of Valencia. The incident happened at around midnight, after an argument between the defendant and the victim. A third woman witnessed the homicide. The suspect confessed what she had done when the Local Police arrived at the scene. The crime happened in a house located in Rincon de Loix, near the Levante beach in Benidorm - an area where many British residents live. J. Bacorelle El Barco de Avila Monday, 22 September 2025, 15:49 Share Anfac, the vehicle manufacturers' association in Spain, has expressed its deep concern about the depletion of funds from the Moves III Plan, the aid scheme for the purchase of electric vehicles, in a total of nine regions across the country. This situation affects such crucial regions as Andalucia, Aragon, Cantabria, Catalonia, Valencia, Galicia, Madrid, Navarre and the Basque Country. Together, these regions account for 85% of total passenger car (turismos) sales in Spain. The lack of availability of more funds, especially in high-volume markets like Madrid and Catalonia, is regarded by the industry as an imminent risk of stalling electric vehicle (EV) sales by the end of the year. "The non-availability of funds in various regions poses a risk of market stagnation that could be reflected [in sales] in this latter part of the year," warned Anfac's director-general, Jose Lopez-Tafall. Zoom The Moves III Plan 2025 The Moves III Plan 2025 is a Spanish government incentive programme, managed at regional level, that seeks to encourage the purchase of EVs and the installation of charging stations. It aims to promote sustainable mobility and reduce polluting gas emissions. It offers direct subsidies to individuals, self-employed workers, companies and organisations for the purchase of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as for the installation of any required charging infrastructure. The Spanish government has allocated an additional 400 million euros to the plan this year, bringing the total allocated to the different Spanish regions to 1.735 billion euros. Despite this negative move to withdraw funding in key regions, the market for electrified vehicles in Spain has shown remarkable progress in 2025. According to Anfac data, one in five passenger cars sold up to August was 100% electric or plug-in hybrid. During the first eight months of the year, EV-type sales grew, but at very different rates depending on vehicle type. Registrations of fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids, with 138,256 sales, have experienced a double-digit increase of 98% compared to the same period in 2024. This notable increase brought the electrification share of the market to 18%, up 7.6%. This figure is higher than the same period last year, with 8.1% being fully electric and 9.9% being plug-in hybrids. Meanwhile, sales of light commercial and industrial vehicles, although growing, still represent a low volume relative to the total market. While electrified light commercial vehicles recorded a 119% increase from January to August with a total of 10,372 sales, they still only account for 8.4% of the total market, albeit 4.1% more than the previous year. Turning to the pace of electrification in commercial vehicles (trucks), this remains marginal. During 2025, the electrified industrial vehicle market grew by 12.5%, accounting for 305 sales out of the 18,171 total sales recorded for the year. That represents only 1.7% of the total market for the year. This is also the market that, despite the strict demands for decarbonisation and the obvious criticality of road freight transport for the Spanish economy, has not received any purchase aid from the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility since the end of the Moves Pesados programme (an aid scheme for EV-type trucks) that was withdrawn 17 months ago. This depletion of subsidised aid highlights the gap between Spain and other European markets. With an 18% share of electrified vehicles, the country is below the continental average of 24%. While countries such as Norway (96.3%), Denmark (67.2%) and Sweden (61.4%) have three times the Spanish share, Spain sits with those at the bottom of the list, including Latvia and Estonia. As of August, 288 electrified passenger car models from the various Anfac member brands have been registered on the market. Specifically, 159 different models of fully electric cars (BEVs) and 129 of plug-in hybrid cars (PHEVs). Since 2019, the available range of electrified models supplied has quadrupled to the current number. A total of 65 different models of electrified passenger cars (24 BEVs and 41 PHEVs) were sold during the year. Equally significant is the fact that the supply of EVs belonging to the "small" segment continues to increase, rising from 13 in 2019 to 39 models in 2025. This type of vehicle has more affordable prices that, combined with the application of Moves subsidies and the 15% personal income tax (IRPF) deduction for their purchase, makes it possible to eliminate the engine-type price difference, helping to increase the presence of electric vehicles. This year has seen an increased presence of BEVs and PHEVs in the smaller segments. This segment typically represents around 40% of total market demand and is important for consolidating and democratising sales. Within the BEV passenger car market, only 18.9% of BEVs sold in 2024 were in this segment, with 74.4% in the mid-size segment. However, as of August 2025, the proportion of BEV passenger cars in the small segment accounted for 38.4% of fully electric sales (23,814). Anfac has called on the governing bodies to allocate new resources and streamline distribution through a more direct system for consumers, given the positive response to demand. Two more 18-year-old teenagers managed to be saved from the temporarily occupied territories, Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak has said. "Two more 18-year-old teenagers managed to be saved from the temporarily occupied territories within the framework of the initiative of the President of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA. Both boys refused to enter Russian universities after school despite pressure from the occupiers," he said in the Telegram channel on Monday. As Yermak said, the boys wanted to leave for the controlled territory of Ukraine, but it was risky. One day they were handed summonses, and there was a real threat of forced conscription into the Russian army for the war against Ukraine. "This became a point of no return: the boys dared to make a dangerous journey and today they are safe. Both dream of studying at the Naval Academy and becoming sailors," Yermak said. On July 25, Advisor to the Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Daria Zarivna reported that 1,458 children had already been returned as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative of the President of Ukraine, but over 1.6 million Ukrainian children remain under enemy control. After that, over 70 children, adolescents and young men, as well as some of their parents, returned from the occupied territory to Ukraine as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative. A person trapped on the roof of a vehicle after the heavy rains in the north of Spain. J. A. G. Barcelona Monday, 22 September 2025, 07:50 Share The summer of 2025 in Spain has ended with the death of a child of about eleven years of age as a result of the intense thunderstorms and hail that have hit a large part of the northeast of the Spanish mainland on Sunday, especially the Catalonia region. Late last night, the Catalan emergency services, while searching for two missing people who had been swept away by the water in San Quintin de Mediona, found the body of a person in the river Bitlles, in Sant Pere. Just after midnight, the Catalan Minister of the Interior, Nuria Parlon, confirmed that the body was that of a minor, and that the emergency services were still trying to find and adult, believed to be the father of the deceased. The heavy rains also caused road closures, delays and flight cancellations at El Prat airport, incidents on the railways and the rescue of dozens of people who were trapped on the popular funicular mountain train to Montserrat in Barcelona, where more than 100mm per square metre fell in just a few hours. The state meteorological agency (Aemet) activated orange warnings (major risk) in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencia, as heavy rainfall, strong gusts of wind and plummeting temperatures were expected throughout Sunday afternoon, with up to 10C less than on Saturday. In the morning, areas of Teruel and Huesca recorded a hail storm with ice stones the size of marbles, and even larger. Aemet also activated yellow warnings for Sunday in areas of Aragon, Asturias, Andalucia, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha and Murcia. Zoom A landslide on the Montserrat funicular railway line forced the evacuation of 27 people. ABC The situation in Catalonia was the most worrying. The president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, called for "caution" in the face of the episode of heavy rains that were happening and stressed that it was "very important" to follow the indications and recommendations of Proteccio Civil de la Generalitat. Montse Font, head of the emergency management and Civil Protection service of the Catalan government, asked the population to avoid flood areas such as riverbeds and ravines "because of possible flash floods", as well as travel on roads affected by the downpours. He also called for "prudence" driving on roads such as the AP-7 motorway, where visibility was poor, and on the C-58 road between Tarrasa and Manresa, which was cut off for 4.5 kilometres due to flooding. Adverse weather conditions and Saturday's cyberattack at other European airports also disrupted operations at Barcelona's El Prat airport, which experienced several flight delays and cancellations. There were also railway incidents in Girona and the fall of two trees on the power supply catenary halted a train with 60 passengers in Castel del Vilar (Barcelona), Rescue in Montserrat The Catalan meteorological service (Meteocat) issued a severe weather warning for seven areas of Barcelona and Tarragona, with a maximum risk level in Anoia (Barcelona) and Conca de Barbera (Tarragona). The weather situation forced the closure of two provincial roads and driving was very difficult on other roads with a lot of pooled water. In just a few hours, the downpours dumped up to 126mm in the Montserrat abbey area. There, a landslide left the well-known Sant Joan funicular train - which offers an impressive panoramic view of the mountain of Montserrat - inoperative. Some 30 people were travelling on the funicular at the time and had to be rescued by the fire brigade. Hikers who were in the vicinity of Montserrat also had to be evacuated after 40mm of rain fell in just half an hour. Also in Aragon, the rain caused numerous incidents and complicated traffic in different parts of the region, with pools of water, accumulation of mud, landslides, lane closures and road closures. In the Valencian region, Aemet activated a double amber and yellow warning, from four o'clock on Sunday afternoon, due to the threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms, especially in the north of Castellon. The Hydrographic Confederation of the Ebro (CHE) intensified surveillance and reminded the possibility of "major flash floods" of a local nature in ravines and minor watercourses in Navarre, Aragon (Huesca, Zaragoza and Teruel), Catalonia (Lleida and Tarragona) and in the northern interior of Castellon throughout Sunday. In the Balearic Islands, a cold front is expected to arrive on the island overnight on Sunday, activating the amber alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms. During the early hours of Monday morning, heavy rain is expected, especially in the Serra de Tramuntana and in the north and northeast of the island. In these areas, accumulations of more than 40mm could be recorded in just one hour. In addition, very strong gusts of wind are expected, which could exceed 90 kilometres per hour. Rain and plummeting temperatures are what awaits many of us in Spain this Monday, when, at 8.19pm to be precise, astronomical autumn will officially begin (meteorological autumn began on 1 September). The drop in the thermometer will be so abrupt that the first snow is expected in areas of the Pyrenees, below 1,500 metres above sea level. DeWitt, NY - Local small business owner Abel Ramirez-Gonzalez became a U.S. citizen in 2017 after fleeing Cuba and seeking asylum for religious persecution. Since then, the 29-year-old father of three has become an entrepreneur, buying an existing business and expanding. In 2023, he bought Bayberry Uniform & Shoe in Clay. He is now moving the family-run enterprise to the former Peter Harris Clothes building at Lyndon Corners in DeWitt. It opens Monday and will be open six days a week. Peter Harris closed in 2022 after 46 years in business. Moving to Lyndon Corners presented a rare opportunity for us to move closer to the hospitals and medical offices that we serve,' he said. Family and friends make up Bayberry Uniforms workforce - Abels wife, Vanessa, is vice president and his uncle, sister, father-in-law work there. The business sells medical apparel and shoes, including scrubs, lab coats and nursing school uniforms for local colleges. Bayberry also sells chef coats, aprons, hats and provides clothing for culinary schools. Along with selling to hospitals, medical offices, nursing homes, colleges and more, people can buy items at the shop. After buying the business, sales declined largely because of competition from online retailers, Ramirez-Gonzalez said. If you are a nurse and you finish a long shift, you dont want to go shopping for scrubs, especially when you can order them online, he said. To combat that in the past year, Bayberry Uniform set up pop-up shops at the hospitals and medical offices so people can shop on breaks. For example, in October Bayberry will be at Crouse Hospital one day. We started this last November, and we have seen a 15% increase in sales over last year due to on-site sales, Ramirez-Gonzalez said. Before becoming a business owner, Ramirez-Gonzalez said he worked as a real estate agent and as an aerospace engineer at TTM Technologies. He quit to run his own business. At 15, Ramirez-Gonzalez came to the U.S. with his father as political refugees from Cuba where they were being persecuted for being Christians, he said. He and his dad requested asylum and were granted entry, he said. We could pick where we wanted to go and my dad saw a list which said Syracuse was one of the best places to raise a family, so here we are, he said. Ramirez-Gonzalez became a U.S. citizen in 2017. Five years ago, Abel delivered his own son, Vincent, on the side of Interstate 81. Vincent has two older siblings. Utica, N.Y. Four state corrections officers pleaded guilty Monday in a Utica courtroom in the fatal beating of an inmate last year at a Central New York prison. The corrections officers had been scheduled to go on trial in two weeks alongside their co-defendants in the death of Robert L. Brooks, 43, an inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility. The four men are: Nicholas Anzalone. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter. He had been indicted for second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. Anthony Farina. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter. He had been indicted for second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Sgt. Michael Mashaw. He pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter. He had been indicted for second-degree manslaughter. David Walters. He pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter. He had been indicted for second-degree manslaughter. Oneida County Court Judge Robert Bauer promised Anzalone and Farina 22 years in state prison in exchange for their guilty pleas. They had faced 25 years to life in prison on the murder charge. Mashaw was promised 3 to 9 years in state prison in exchange for his guilty plea. He faced 5 to 15 years if convicted of second-degree manslaughter. Walters was promised 2 1/3 to 7 years for his guilty plea. He faced 5 to 15 years if convicted of second-degree manslaughter. Four guards rejected plea deals in court Monday: David Kingsley, Nicholas Kieffer, Mathew Galliher and Michael Fisher. These are the charges they face: Galliher: second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and second-degree gang assault. Kieffer: second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree gang assault and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. Kingsley: second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Fisher: second-degree manslaughter. This is the prison time they face if convicted: Second-degree murder, 25 years to life; first-degree manslaughter, up to 25 years and second-degree manslaughter, 3 to 15 years. Kieffer was offered a nine-year sentence in exchange for a plea deal but turned it down. He now faces the possibility of life in prison. The judge appeared surprised that he didnt take the deal and asked Kieffer if he was certain about his decision. When considering plea deals, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said each defendant has good legal representation, and their attorneys have raised factors he hadnt previously considered, including details about their backgrounds. The Brooks family issued a statement after the guard pleaded guilty. We are grateful that the special prosecutor obtained these significant plea agreements, said Robert Brooks Jr., the son of Robert Brooks Sr., It is important to us to see my fathers killers publicly admit what they have done and face severe consequences. These pleas help us know that some measure of justice is served, said Jared Ricks, a brother of Robert Brooks Sr., said the pleas help us know that some measure of justice is served. He said the family is eager to see the other guards held accountable at trial. Nine corrections officers and a prison sergeant were charged in the fatal beating of Brooks. Multiple corrections officers repeatedly punched and kicked Robert Brooks in the groin, abdomen and face on Dec. 9 in the infirmary at the Marcy prison in Oneida County. He died hours later at a Utica hospital. The savage beating which prosecutors said was the final of three beatings to Brooks was recorded on video by body cameras worn by four of the prison guards. None had turned on their camera, but 30 minutes of video was passively recorded without audio. Fitzpatrick extended plea deals in late March to each of the corrections officers. He was appointed as a special prosecutor in early January after the state Attorney Generals Office recused itself. Oneida County grand jurors voted to indict the guards after viewing evidence presented by Fitzpatricks office. Brooks death was ruled a homicide by the Onondaga County Medical Examiners Office. The cause of death was compression of the neck and multiple blunt-impact injuries, according to the autopsy report. Brooks autopsy showed he suffered extensive bruising, a broken nose bone and bleeding in his genitals and neck. Brooks arrived at the Marcy prison at about 9 p.m. Dec. 9. Three guards carried him facedown by his hands and feet to an exam table in the prison infirmary. Guards soon began punching and hitting Brooks, at one point shoving him up against a window. One guard can be seen in body camera footage putting both hands around Brooks neck and yanking him off the exam table. After the beating, Brooks was seen bloodied and stripped to his underwear. The Brooks family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court claiming state officials oversee a dangerously broken prison system that brutalizes inmates. After the death, Gov. Kathy Hochul named a new superintendent for the facility. She also announced a variety of prison reforms. Hochul has ordered 18 state employees involved in the beating to be fired. Several have resigned. Several of the corrections officers are defendants in lawsuits alleging other cases of abuse against inmates, including one contending the Marcy prison has a beat-up squad. The union representing corrections officers, the state Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, has denounced the actions of the officers involved in the beating. Brooks, originally of Greece in Monroe County, was sentenced in 2017 to 12 years in prison on a first-degree assault charge. He was arrested after stabbing his girlfriend multiple times. He had been scheduled for a parole hearing next year. Brooks had been held in the Mohawk Correctional Facility, records show, but was moved the day of the beating to the Marcy prison. He had been transferred for his safety, a state prison system investigator testified, since he had been involved in altercations with other inmates. The Marcy prison is a medium-security facility, about seven miles west of Utica. Doris Aleman-Bonillas second immigration trial started today in U.S. District Court in Syracuse. The federal government will try for a second time to convict Aleman-Bonilla, a woman from Honduras who was charged with an immigration-related felony after she was stopped for speeding in Oswego County. A jury in July failed to reach a decision and Judge Elizabeth Coombe declared a mistrial. It was the first illegal re-entry case to go to trial in the Northern District of New York during President Donald Trumps second term. U.S. Border Patrol agents charged Aleman-Bonilla with illegal re-entry in April. She was driving four people to work at an apple packing plant near Fulton when an Oswego County sheriffs deputy and a Border Patrol agent pulled over her car. Agent Todd Heath testified in the first trial that officers were riding together as part of a federally funded program to increase collaboration with local law enforcement. Border Patrol agents said Aleman-Bonilla had no permission to be in the U.S. and had been deported once before. During her four-day trial in July, the judge allowed Aleman-Bonilla to share with the jury only simple biographical details such as her age, hometown and makeup of her family. Coombe denied requests by Aleman-Bonillas lawyers to allow her to tell the rest of her story: How she arrived in the United States. Aleman-Bonilla said she was forced to cross the border at gunpoint while swimming across the Rio Grande with a heavy backpack for a Mexican drug cartel. She fled and eventually made her way to Fulton, where others from Honduras have found work. Coombe is presiding over the second trial. The judge has again said Aleman-Bonilla cannot tell her whole story as part of her defense. She said the government is not required to prove how Aleman-Bonilla arrived in the U.S., but that she was here illegally when officers found her in April. Therefore, the details of her border crossing are not relevant and do not outweigh the risk of unfairly creating sympathy among jurors, the judge said. Aleman-Bonillas story of violence and fear is so shocking, the judge said, it is likely to create sympathy, confuse issues, cause prejudice and mislead the jury. Aleman-Bonillas lawyers say she should be allowed to share her full story because the law requires the government to prove she came voluntarily to the U.S. Aleman-Bonilla has nearly served as much time in jail as the typical maximum penalty for illegal re-entry: 6 months. The case resumes at 1:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Syracuse. The judge has not yet settled on a jury. The trial is expected to last through Thursday, the judge said. Syracuse, N.Y. - A Syracuse man was arrested this weekend after police say he fired a gun in the air during a dispute with a neighbor over a dog. Syracuse police responded at about 9:52 p.m. Sunday to a ShotSpotter report of gunshots in the Washington Square neighborhood, according to Sgt. Tom Blake, a spokesperson for the Syracuse Police Department. Blake said the man fired off at least one shot in the area. He declined to identify the type of gun. John Akins, 65, of Syracuse was arrested at the scene and charged with menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment. Akins cooperated with police and was taken into custody, Blake said. Firearms were recovered from the home. Akins is being held at the Onondaga County Justice Center awaiting arraignment. Photo: https://t.me/GeneralStaffZSU Pokrovsk axis remains the most tense: as of 16:00 since the beginning of the day, 32 attacks have taken place there, compared to 83 along the entire frontline, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has said. "In Pokrovsk axis, clashes of varying intensity began 32 times during the day near the settlements of Nykanorivka, Zoloty Kolodiaz, Rodynske, Chervony Lyman, Novoekonomichne, Myroliubivka, Promin, Myrnohrad, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Dachne. Six combat clashes are still ongoing," the General Staff said on the Telegram channel on Monday. It is noted that since the beginning of the day, 83 combat clashes have taken place on the front, the defenders are stopping the enemy, holding the lines and destroying the plans of the Russians. During the day, the enemy from the Russian territory launched artillery attacks on the areas of the settlements of Bachivsk, Stara Huta in Sumy region; Bleshnia in Chernihiv region. In the northern Slobozhansk and Kursk axes, Ukrainian defenders have repelled five attacks by the invaders, and three more combat clashes are ongoing. The enemy has launched five air strikes, dropped 15 guided aerial bombs, and carried out 103 artillery attacks, including seven from multiple launch rocket systems. In the southern Slobozhansk axis, since the beginning of the day, the Defense Forces have repelled five enemy attacks, and two more combat clashes are ongoing. The enemy is attacking near Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory and towards Odradne and Kutkivka. In Kupiansk axis, our soldiers successfully stopped two enemy offensives in Kupiansk and Pischane areas. In Lyman axis, eight combat clashes took place near the settlements of Olhivka, Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Stavky, Shandryholove, Derylove, Torske, Zarichne, three combat clashes are still ongoing. In Siversk axis, two combat clashes are currently ongoing near Serebrianka, in Kramatorsk axis our defenders have repelled four enemy attacks near Stupochky. In Toretsk axis, the invaders attacked 12 times in the areas of the settlements of Pleschiivka, Berestok, Katerynivka, Kleban-Byk, Rusyn Yar, Poltavka and towards Stepanivka; currently, fighting is ongoing in three locations. In Novopavlivka axis, the aggressor tried to advance eight times in the areas of the settlements of Filiia, Sichneve, Shevchenko, Sosnivka, Novoivanivka, Ternove. Three combat clashes are still ongoing. The enemy did not conduct offensive operations in the Huliai Pole, Orikhiv, and Prydniprovsk directions, but carried out airstrikes on Zaporizhia and Zaliznychny in Zaporizhia region; Lviv and Mykolaivka in Kherson region. A new report claims that the iPhone Fold is set to appear as if Apple has fused two iPhone Airs together to create a foldable device. Previous rumors have claimed that Apple is using the iPhone Air as the blueprint for the iPhone Fold, with its thin stature being a significant factor in the design of the iPhone Fold. iPhone Fold to Fuse Two iPhone Airs Together According to the latest Power On newsletter by Mark Gurman (via Bloomberg), the iPhone Fold will still utilize the titanium frame and materials Apple used for the iPhone Air to create the upcoming foldable device. With that said, Gurman suggested that there would not be many changes to the iPhone Fold apart from it being a foldable device that features a hinge, an outer screen, a large inner screen, and the existing camera setup see on the iPhone Air. The analyst said that the iPhone Fold would be a "technical marvel," adding that it will bring a super-thin device and is set to be a "design achievement" for Apple. Gurman then claimed that the iPhone foldable would be manufactured in China, one of the main production hubs of the company. This is despite earlier reports of Apple already starting the production of the iPhone Fold in India. Apple's Foldable Is Coming Next Year According to 9to5Mac, it is expected that the iPhone Fold will make its debut by next year, and it could potentially join the iPhone 18 series when it also makes its way to the market. There are speculations that it may be delayed until October or November, but the publication noted that the expected arrival date would be in September 2026, alongside the regular iPhone releases. Previous speculations expect that the iPhone Fold will debut by either late 2026 or early 2027, which matches the latest claims by the analyst. This still puts Apple on schedule to unveil its first foldable device. As for its price tag, previous rumors claimed that it could range from around $2,000 to $2,500, and it would not be that much affected by the Trump administration's tariffs. According to Gurman, the device could start at around $2,000, similar to the previous price tag mentioned in the said rumors. President Donald Trump announced that several well-known American billionaires, including Rupert Murdoch, Michael Dell, and Larry Ellison, are likely to be part of a new US-led group taking control of TikTok's US operations. The announcement marks a shift in the ongoing negotiations aimed at preventing a nationwide ban of the popular social media app. During a Fox News interview aired Sunday, Trump said the group could include tech founder Michael Dell, Oracle's Larry Ellison, and media leaders Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch. "I think they're going to be in the group," Trump said. "Really great people, very prominent people... American patriots." The potential involvement of the Murdochs could mean that Fox Corp., not the individuals themselves, would be part of the buying group. This move aligns with Fox Corp.'s push into digital media as traditional broadcasting faces challenges. Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, and Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, are also expected to play key roles in the deal, AP News reported. Oracle has already been managing TikTok's US data since 2020 and will now lead data protection and privacy under the new agreement, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Donald Trump says that Lachlan Murdoch, Larry Ellison and Michael Dell will be investors in a proposed deal to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. https://t.co/0TIIHUATDT The Japan Times (@japantimes) September 22, 2025 TikTok Faces US Ban Unless 80% Sold to American Investors by 2025 Leavitt also said the new TikTok board will include seven members, six of whom must be American citizens, as required by legislation passed by Congress in April 2024. According to CNN, the law demands that about 80% of TikTok's U.S. operations be sold to American investors by early 2025, or the app will face a nationwide ban. Originally, the investor group included Oracle, Silver Lake, and Andreessen Horowitz. But Trump's recent statements suggest the group is expanding to include major figures from both media and tech industries. Trump also revealed he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday and called the conversation "very productive." The two leaders are working toward a final deal, with a deadline set for December 16, 2025. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company, and has faced criticism in the U.S. over concerns that the app's powerful algorithm could be used by the Chinese government to influence what American users see. Despite these concerns, Trump admitted on Sunday that he has a soft spot for the app. "I'm a little prejudiced," he said, crediting TikTok with helping him connect with young voters. Originally published on vcpost.com Nissan will stop shipping its Ariya electric SUV to the US after the 2025 model year, citing new 15% tariffs on Japanese-made electric vehicles signed into law by President Donald Trump. The decision comes as the automaker faces slowing EV sales and rising production costs, forcing it to shift focus to its next-generation Leaf. In a memo to US dealers, Nissan said it is "pausing production of the MY26 Ariya for the US market and reallocating resources to support the launch of the all-new 2026 Leaf," which the company claims will be the most affordable electric vehicle in the country. The Ariya, built at Nissan's Tochigi plant in Japan, became subject to the new tariff starting September 16, after Trump signed an executive order setting the flat rate on most Japanese imports. The US and Japan had reached a broader trade deal in July, with Japan pledging $550 billion in investments and greater purchases of American goods, NY Post said. Although some White House officials argue that tariffs weren't the main reason behind Nissan's move, industry analysts believe the timing of the announcement is no coincidence. The battery-electric Nissan Ariya will not be offered stateside for the 2026MY due to evolving consumer demand and tariffs on Japan. In addition, the automaker will relocate its resources to support the launch of the third-generation Leaf, which starts at $29,990. #Nissan #Ariya pic.twitter.com/vhHy2zeSbX GearheadCole (@cole_marzen) September 19, 2025 Nissan Bets on 2026 Leaf as Ariya Faces US Exit Nissan sold fewer than 20,000 Ariya units in 2024, which was still a 47% increase over 2023. But combined with tariff pressure, loss of US EV tax credits, and internal cost-cutting, the model became harder to justify. The Ariya will remain available in the US through existing dealership inventory, and Nissan assured customers it would continue to provide service, parts, and warranty support. The SUV will still be sold in other global markets. It's still unclear whether the Ariya will return to the US in 2027. Nissan hasn't ruled out the possibility, but much will depend on future tariff policies and whether the company can stabilize its finances. At the same time, Nissan is dealing with bigger challenges. Battery shortages and production delays have set back its US plans, with two electric crossovers at its Mississippi plant now nearly a year behind schedule. The automaker has also pulled back on its broader EV strategy, closed several factories, and recently lost its head of US sales. According to MotorTrend, even with these hurdles, Nissan is pinning its hopes on the 2026 Leaf to help it reestablish a stronger position in the American EV market. Originally published on vcpost.com OpenAI could be gearing up to enter the world of AI-powered glasses, with new reports suggesting the company is exploring making ChatGPT glasses among several other hardware forms. This news comes despite OpenAI CEO Sam Altmans rejecting the idea of glasses as part of their first wave of devices. Back in July, Altman was spotted wearing white sunglasses with chunky frames outside the Sun Valley Conference that had sparked speculation. When asked by reporters if they were smart glasses, he quickly shot down the idea: No, absolutely not, I dont like smart glasses. But behind the scenes, things may be shifting. In May 2025, OpenAI officially stepped into hardware by acquiring io Products, the start-up co-founded by former famed Apple designer Jony Ive, in a deal worth about USD 6.5 billion, as well as partnering with Ives design studio LoveFrom. At the time of the deal, The Wall Street Journal reported that Altman had told staff the companys first device would be a pocket-sized, screen-free, contextually aware device and not a phone, glasses, or any other wearable form factor. However, according to a new report from The Information, OpenAI has reportedly been stealing design and supply chain talent from Apple to build a whole line of consumer devices. Alongside its pocket-sized device, the company is working on a smart speaker, and said to have considered (not confirmed) making glasses, a digital voice recorder, and even a wearable pin. Still, dont expect anything soon. OpenAIs first hardware products arent expected until late 2026 or 2027, which means glasses, even if they are made, are not anticipated until later in that window (or possibly beyond). The Bottom Line After years of focusing on software, OpenAI is now making a decisive push into hardware. Despite CEO Altmans public dismissal of smart glasses, the latest reports suggest that the company is keeping its options open. With Meta, Google, and Apple already racing ahead in wearables, OpenAI faces the risk of arriving late to a market that may soon shape the way people experience AI. If you are still gaming on a 32-bit Windows PC, you will soon need to upgrade! Valve has announced that its popular PC gaming platform, Steam, will stop running on 32-bit versions of Windows starting January 1, 2026. The decision officially marks the end of an era, as 32-bit operating systems fade into history after decades of use. Currently, Windows 10 32-bit is the only 32-bit version that is still supported by Steam. Earlier, in January 2024, Valve had already ended support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. Why Valve Is Making The Change According to Valve, the move is necessary because Steams core features increasingly depend on system drivers and other libraries that no longer support 32-bit versions of Windows. Continuing to maintain compatibility, the company explained, is simply not feasible. Existing Steam Client installations will continue to function for the near term on Windows 10 32-bit, Valve said via this Steam Support ticket this week, but they will no longer receive updates of any kind, including security updates. Who Will Be Affected? Hardly Anyone The good news: almost no one will notice. According to Steams August 2025 Hardware Survey, only 0.01% of all participants use the 32-bit version of Windows 10. For context, most users are on Windows 10 64-bit and Windows 11 64-bit, which means this change affects only a small fraction of gamers who are still using very old or limited hardware. Steam had already pulled the plug on Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 back on January 1, 2024. What About 32-bit Games? Some gamers may worry this means their 32-bit games are doomed, but Valve has confirmed thats not the case. Valve reassures that 32-bit games will remain playable on 64-bit Windows systems, so classic titles in your library are safe. The Bottom Line For the vast majority of gamers, nothing will change in 2026. However, for anyone still running 32-bit Windows, the message is clear: upgrade sooner rather than later. Whether that means moving to a 64-bit edition of Windows 10, switching to Windows 11, or even grabbing a Steam Deck, Valve wants you to be prepared before the clock runs out. Sybiha at UN Security Council: Europe is not at war with Russia, but Russia is at war with Europe Photo: https://www.facebook.com Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said the best way to prevent a bigger war in Europe is to strengthen support for Ukraine. Speaking at an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council convened by Estonia after Russian military aircraft invaded its airspace, Sybiha noted that today's meeting comes just ten days after Poland convened an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council after the invasion of Russian drones. "What's next? What other emergency meetings will we have to hold in the coming weeks? Which country will be the next country dealing with Russian provocations? None of these developments were accidental... A country occupying a permanent seat on this Council is destroying the international peace and security it is supposed to maintain. The logic is simple. Russia escalates to force everyone to play by its rules. It wants to impose the law of the jungle upon everyone: might makes right. Our goal is the opposite. We must make Russia play by our rules... They are called the UN Charter," he said. The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said "political actions should be backed up by strong practical steps," since "weak or late responses will only encourage [Russia's] further aggression." "Europe is not at war with Russia. But Russia is at war with Europe. And the only way to save peace is to respond with strength and unity. The best way to prevent a larger war in Europe is to increase support for Ukraine. If you help us end this war sooner with respect for the UN Charter, Russia will not expand it to other nations," Sybiha said. He confirmed Ukraine's readiness to integrate air defense with European countries. "Ukraine is the only country in the world countering regular massive air attacks of more than half a thousand drones and missiles. We are ready to share experience and join forces. An integrated European air defense system, combining intelligence, early warning and active interception, is essential... Other elements of a strong response include the destructive pressure of sanctions and powerful deterrent measures for Ukraine. The Russian military machine can only be stopped by force, not weakness," the minister said. At the end of his speech, Sybiha once again emphasized that aggression against any European country threatens the security of all. "Only joint action can prevent escalation and preserve peace in Europe," he said. One dead as heavy rains hit Spain Madrid, Sept 21 (AFP) Sep 21, 2025 At least one person died in Catalonia Sunday after much of the region in northeastern Spain was hit by torrential rains that disrupted rail and air travel, officials said. Firefighters said they found a body in a river in the town of Sant Pere de Riudebitlles near Barcelona while searching for two people whose car was reportedly swept away by floodwater. "The authorities are investigating whether it belongs to one of the individuals sought in the ongoing search, or if it is the victim of an unrelated incident," they added on X. Firefighters rescued 27 people who were tapped at the Sant Joan funicular at the Montserrat Monastery northwest of Barcelona following a landslide, the regional civil protection service said in a statement. Dozens of flights to and from Barcelona airport, Spain's second-busiest, were either delayed or cancelled because of the rain. Commuter rail service was temporarily stopped on some routes due to landslides and fallen trees. National weather office AEMET said rainfall of up to 40 litres per square metre (nearly one gallon per square foot) fell in just 30 minutes in some parts of Catalonia. Last October, torrential rains sparked devastating floods in the eastern province of Valencia, killing 225 people and causing widespread destruction, the country's deadliest such disaster in decades. Because a warmer atmosphere holds more water, climate change increases the risk and intensity of flooding from extreme rainfall, according to experts. Five things to know about Indonesia-EU trade agreement Jakarta, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 Indonesia and the European Union will sign a trade agreement on Tuesday after nearly a decade of negotiations as they seek to mitigate the effects of US President Donald Trump's tariff policy. The agreement, to be signed on the resort island of Bali, will bring resource-rich Indonesia and the 27-member European bloc into closer economic ties. It is the third trade agreement the EU has signed with southeast Asian countries, after Singapore and Vietnam. Here are five things to know about the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA): - Trump prompts 'urgency' - Indonesia has been in talks with the EU since 2016 but negotiations for a trade deal initially saw little progress. Issues such as palm oil and deforestation posed stumbling blocks but US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff policy "created the urgency" to expedite an agreement, said Deni Friawan, researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). In July, President Prabowo Subianto travelled to Brussels and announced with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen that the two sides had reached a "political agreement" to conclude the deal after 19 rounds of negotiations. Indonesian chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto said uncertainties caused by the "tariff war and protectionism" between major countries pushed the two sides "to seek certainty through a stable bilateral agreement". The agreement was expected to "mitigate risks from the impact of the global tariff war", Airlangga told AFP in a statement. - Tariffs dropped - Around 80 percent of Indonesian exports to the EU will be tariff-free after the deal comes into force, Airlangga said in June. It is expected to benefit Indonesia's top exports to the the bloc including palm oil, footwear, textiles and fisheries, he added. Von der Leyen said in July the agreement would open new markets and "help strengthen the supply chains of critical raw materials that we need to power the clean and the digital transition". "We want not only a secure supply, but we want responsible supply," she said. "That means respect for the environment, respect for the local communities, and a clear focus on good jobs and local value creation." - Benefits - The EU is Indonesia's fifth-largest trading partner with bilateral trade reaching $30.1 billion last year. The agreement would further open up EU access to the Indonesian market of around 280 million people, Deni said. "With the CEPA, it means that it will be easier for them (EU) to enter" Indonesia, he said, underlining the size of the market and its growing economy. The deal would ensure Indonesian and EU businesses enjoyed equal legal protection, Airlangga said. - Green policy tensions - Ties had been frayed by issues including a proposed EU import ban on products linked to deforestation that has angered Indonesia, a major palm oil exporter. Under the EU deforestation regulation, exports of a vast range of goods -- including soy, timber, palm oil, cattle, printing paper and rubber -- are prohibited if produced on land deforested after December 2020. Airlangga said EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic had promised to give "special treatment" regarding the deforestation regulation for countries that have signed trade agreements with the bloc. EU has postponed the rule's implementation to the end of this year after a backlash. Activists are concerned the agreement would lead to more deforestation driven by increased demand for Indonesian palm oil. "The remaining natural forests in palm oil concessions will potentially be cleared in the near future (and) converted into plantations," said Syahrul Fitra of Greenpeace Indonesia. Brussels reportedly pushed to include provisions about deforestation in the agreement, but details have not been made public. - Next steps - After the agreement's signing, the two sides are expected to carry out steps including legal checks and translation of the official documents, Airlangga said. The deal will then have to be ratified by EU members, the European Parliament and Indonesia's parliament. The agreement is expected to be implemented by 2027, Airlangga added. Press Release from Business Wire: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 TSUKUBA, Sept 22, 2025 (BSW) - The7th RD20 Conference, set for September 30 to October 3, 2025, will bring together Nobel Prize winner Dr. Akira Yoshino, world-leading researchers, and industry experts to accelerate R&D and international collaboration towards a carbon-neutral society. Hosted by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the event will feature cutting-edge presentations on technology development for sustainable synthetic fuels and renewable energy storage, and AI-powered clean energy solutions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250921861275/en/ A standout moment will be the Leaders Session on October 3, with a plenary lecture by Dr. Yoshino, a pioneering figure in lithium-ion batteries, who will discuss AIST's Carbon Dioxide Removal technologies. Also presenting is Prof. Dr. Bernd Rech from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin fur Materialien und Energie (HZB), who will introduce HZB's green energy research and effective options for global partnerships. This year's conference will also showcase Taskforce Reports, focusing on urgent collaborative efforts to establish consistent Photovoltaic (PV) performance characterization techniques and advance hydrogen life-cycle sustainability assessments-key initiatives to achieve carbon neutrality. The Technical Sessions (September 30 and October 1) will feature global experts discussing clean energy technologies: -- Synthetic Fuels -- Energy Storage for Renewables -- AI and Digitalization for Energy Innovation Event Outline -- Dates: September 30 (Tue) - October 3 (Fri), 2025 -- Open Sessions: Sept. 30, Oct. 1 (Technical Sessions), Oct. 3 AM (Leaders Session) -- Venue: Hotel Nikko Tsukuba & Online -- Organizers: AIST, co-organized by METI, MEXT, MOE, and NEDO -- Note: Officially certified as a "Theme Weeks Connect" program of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai Details & Registration:https://rd20.aist.go.jp/conference/*Advanced registration is due on Friday, Sep. 26th 9:00 JST Media Accreditation (Media relations: Friday, Oct. 3, 12:05-12:35):https://forms.gzr.aist.go.jp/m?f=504 About RD20 Launched in 2019 under Japanese leadership, RD20 brings together leading research institutions from G20 nations to collaborate on cutting-edge technologies for a carbon-neutral future. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250921861275/en/ Contact RD20 Secretariat, AISThttps://rd20.aist.go.jp/contact/ [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. China prepares to evacuate 400,000 as super typhoon makes landfall in Philippines Shenzhen, China, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 The Chinese city of Shenzhen was preparing Monday to evacuate 400,000 people while residents of the northern Philippines sought shelter from gale-force winds as Super Typhoon Ragasa headed on a collision course with southern China. The typhoon made landfall on the Philippines' Calayan Island, part of the sparsely populated Babuyan chain, at 3:00 pm (0700 GMT), according to the Philippine weather service. As of 8:00 pm (1200 GMT), the storm was generating maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometres per hour (134 mph) near its centre and gusts of up to 265 kph, the national weather service said. "I woke up because of the strong wind. It was hitting the windows, and it sounded like a machine that was switched on," said Tirso Tugagao, a resident of Aparri, a coastal town in northern Cagayan province. On Calayan Island, at the storm's centre, information officer Herbert Singun told AFP that chunks of a school roof had been ripped off and landed on an evacuation centre about 30 metres (yards) away, causing one minor injury. "Can you see those coconut trees swaying in the distance?" he asked during a video chat. "There were eight of them before. Now only four are still standing. That goes to show how strong this typhoon is." Just over 10,000 Filipinos were evacuated across the country, with schools and government offices closed Monday in the Manila region and across 29 other provinces. - Empty supermarket shelves - A much larger operation will take place in China's Shenzhen, where authorities said they planned to move hundreds of thousands of people from coastal and low-lying regions. Shenzhen residents hurried to stock up on supplies ahead of the storm's arrival. In the city's Bao'an district, long checkout queues formed at a bustling supermarket whose shelves were largely empty of fresh meat and vegetables Monday evening, AFP journalists saw. A supermarket employee told AFP that bread had already sold out by midday. "It's not normally like this," he said. Several other cities in Guangdong province announced that classes and work would be cancelled and public transportation suspended because of the typhoon. Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific said it expected to cancel more than 500 flights as Ragasa threatened the financial hub. A spokeswoman for the airline said passenger flights in and out of Hong Kong International Airport would be halted from 6:00 pm Tuesday, "resuming during daytime hours on Thursday". - 'Extremely torrential' - In Taiwan, the state weather service predicted "extremely torrential rain" in the country's east. "Its storm radius is quite large, about 320 (kilometres). Although the typhoon's centre is still some distance away, its wide, strong wind field and outer circulation are already affecting parts of Taiwan," it said. James Wu, a local fire department officer, told AFP that evacuations were underway in mountainous areas near Pingtung. "What worries us more is that the damage could be similar to what happened during Typhoon Koinu two years ago," he added, describing a storm that saw utility poles collapse and sheet-metal roofs sent flying into the air. Philippine government weather specialist John Grender Almario said Sunday that "severe flooding and landslides" could be expected in the northern areas of the main island Luzon. The threat of flooding from Ragasa comes just a day after thousands of Filipinos took to the streets to protest a corruption scandal involving flood control projects that were shabbily constructed or never completed. The Philippines is the first major landmass facing the Pacific cyclone belt, and the archipelago is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, putting millions of people in disaster-prone areas in a state of constant poverty. Scientists warn that storms are becoming more powerful as the world warms due to the effects of human-driven climate change. bur-cwl/reb/mtp/js Photo: pexels/ Nanda Gopal Lakshman The Swiss Federal Council at its meeting on September 19 approved the allocation of SHF 30 million for the Competitiveness for Recovery Ukraine 2026-2030 program, which will be aimed at promoting the development of an innovative and competitive private sector at the international level. "Innovation, local value added and better integration into international supply chains can make Ukraine's economy more resilient, create skilled jobs and open up new export markets," the Swiss embassy said in a statement on its website. According to it, the program supports the priorities of the Ukrainian government to increase the country's competitiveness and implement reforms, cooperates with regional and national authorities, as well as the private sector in Ukraine, establishing ties between Ukrainian and Swiss companies and creating new business opportunities. "The programme demonstrates Switzerlands long-term commitment to stability and prosperity in Ukraine and Europe and is an essential part of its Ukraine Country Programme 2025-2028," the embassy added. As reported, in late August, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that Switzerland would finance 12 projects of companies for more than SHF 93 million within the framework of an intergovernmental agreement with Ukraine. Spain finds second body near Barcelona after heavy rain Barcelona, Sept 22 (AFP) Sep 22, 2025 Spanish firefighters on Monday found a second body swept away by a swollen river near Barcelona after torrential weekend rainfall drenched the northeastern region of Catalonia. Catalan firefighters had on Sunday recovered the body of a child in the town of Sant Pere de Riudebitlles while searching for two people whose car was swept away by the Mediona river. A 100-strong search team that included divers, drones, a helicopter and sniffer dogs found a second unidentified body on Monday in nearby Sant Quinti de Mediona "that could correspond" to the missing person, the fire service said. The storms had sparked dozens of cancellations and delays at Barcelona airport, Spain's second busiest, and temporarily halted some commuter rail services due to landslides and fallen trees. In neighbouring France's southeast, the rain caused power cuts to around 10,000 homes and led Marseille airport to reroute around a dozen flights. Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal Minister of Defense of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal met in Kyiv with a bipartisan delegation of the U.S. Congress, the parties discussed, in particular, the purchase of weapons for Ukraine under the PURL mechanism and the preparation of an agreement concerning the production and sale of drones (Drone deal). "I had the honor of meeting in Kyiv with a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Congress, led by members of the House of Representatives Michael Turner and Eugene Vindman. The focus of the conversation was support for Ukraine. I thanked the United States for its systematic assistance on the path to a lasting and just peace. I noted the significant contributions of the U.S. government that save the lives of Ukrainians, in particular the transfer of Patriot systems. We discussed how the United States can help strengthen our defense capabilities, including through the PURL mechanism," Shmyhal said in the Telegram channel following the meeting. The minister separately emphasized the importance of maintaining sanctions pressure on Russia and using Russian frozen assets to finance support for Ukraine. "We also touched on the issue of preparing for the signing by the Presidents of Ukraine and the United States of an agreement on the production and sale of drones (Drone deal). I am grateful to the United States for its solidarity and unwavering support," Shmyhal said. 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 Angelina Jolie has commented on the United States political climate. On Sunday, the Maria actor, 50, attended the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain for the premiere of her latest movie, Couture, where she was asked What do you fear as an artist and an American? After a brief pause, she admitted it was a very difficult question. I have to say that I love my country and I dont, at this time, recognize my country, she added. Ive always lived internationally. My family is international. My life, my world view, is equal [and] united. Anything, anywhere that divides or limits personal expressions and freedoms [for anyone] I think is very dangerous. I think these are such serious times that we have to be careful not to say things casually. So Ill be careful in a press conference But these are very, very heavy times. I think these are such serious times that we have to be careful not to say things casually, Jolie said ( Getty Images ) Jolies comments come a few days after ABC announced it would suspend Jimmy Kimmels late-night show indefinitely after the hosts comments about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel accused the MAGA gang of trying to score political points in their reaction to Kirks death. Jolie also recently looked into relocating outside of the U.S. last month, according to a report from People. The report claimed the Maleficent actor was considering several locations abroad while preparing to sell her Los Angeles home. According to People, Jolie never wanted to live in L.A. full time, but was limited by a custody arrangement with ex-husband Brad Pitt. The former Hollywood power couple reached a divorce settlement in December. The star plans to relocate as soon as Knox and Viv turn 18 next year. She's eyeing several locations abroad. She'll be very happy when she's able to leave Los Angeles, a source told the outlet at the time. Couture follows Jolie, playing a 40-year-old film director who is asked to put something together for a Paris Fashion Week show. However, during that time, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. 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 Charlie Kirk appears in a new documentary about Kanye West attending a strategy meeting with the controversial rapper. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent voice in the conservative movement, was shot and killed earlier this month. President Trump was among those who attended a memorial for him Sunday. He makes a brief cameo in In Whose Name?, a new film about West now known as Ye from 26-year-old filmmaker Nico Ballesteros which was released theatrically this week. In the footage, which dates from April 2018, Kirk and fellow conservative commentator Candace Owens meet with Ye to discuss him image and political strategy. I have to show an example of a non-perfect black celeb that still wins, Ye tells Owens and Kirk. Because, if youre a celeb and youre Black and youre perfect? Youre the housekeeper. Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens meeting with Kanye West in a scene from In Whose Name? ( Social media ) Youre a glorified slave, Owens says in agreement, while Kirk concurs that Ye would look like the help. Owens then tells Ye: Culture will always be upstream from politics. Whoever can control culture can control politics. You wearing a MAGA hat? It broke the internet. Ballesteros, who followed Ye for six years mostly filming on an iPhone, has referred to Kirks presence while promoting his film, telling the New York Post: Its unfortunate, and may they rest in peace, but there are people in the film who are no longer here with us. The documentarys first trailer, released last month, opened with Ye declaring in a voiceover: Im off my meds for five months now. Your personality was not like this a few years ago, Yes ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, responds, audibly distressed. Its a calling by the universe, the rappers voice continues over a montage of him in an open flatland and riding in a car next to his and Kardashians eldest daughter, North. Never tell me one day Im gonna wake up with nothing, he adds. According to an official synopsis, In Whose Name? reveals a side of West the world was never meant to see raw, unfiltered, and suspended in the complexity of fame, faith, mental health, and power. What began as a silent observation evolved into a profound journey of artistic and personal growth, it adds. Immersed in Yes world of extremes, [Ballesteros] bore witness to brilliance and breakdowns, triumphs and turmoil, but also observed the paranoia and intensity that increasingly shaped Yes world. In Whose Name? is in select theaters now. 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 Sarah McLachlan announced that she and other musicians would not be performing at the premiere of ABC News documentary, Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery The Untold Story, on Sunday, in solidarity in support of free speech. Earlier that day, ABC News Studios (owned by The Walt Disney Company) mysteriously canceled the red carpet for the documentary about McLachlans groundbreaking all-women music festival amid the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmels suspension. Last week, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which also airs on ABC, was pulled indefinitely after the late night host suggested that Republicans were using Charlie Kirks shooting to score political points. In her introduction at the Los Angeles premiere Sunday, McLachlan said: Its a gift for all of us to see [this film], but also Ive grappled with being here tonight and around what to say about the present situation that we are all faced with, the stark contraction to the many advances weve made watching the insidious erosion of womens rights, of trans and queer rights, the muzzling of free speech. I think were all fearful for what comes next, and none of us know, but what I do know is that I have to keep pushing forward as an artist, as a woman to find a way through, and though I dont begin to know what the answer is, I believe we all need to work towards a softening to let in the possibility of a better way, because I see music as a bridge to our shared humanity, to finding common ground. Sarah McLachlan attends the premiere of Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery The Untold Story at Toronto International Film Festival ( Getty ) McLachlan continued: If Lilith taught me anything, it taught me there is a great strength in coming together to lift each other up instead of tearing each other down. So I really hope this documentary inspires everyone to continue to try and create positive change in your communities, to keep lifting each other up, keep championing the causes you believe in with kindness and empathy because ultimately were all in this together. After she and Jewel were reportedly scheduled to perform, McLachlan announced: I know youre expecting a performance tonight, and Im so grateful to all of you for coming, and I apologize if this is disappointing, but we have collectively decided not to perform but instead to stand in solidarity in support of free speech. Thank you for your understanding. Kimmels suspension has been criticized by many as an attack on free speech after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) threatened to discipline Kimmel if ABC did not act first. The announcement from ABC came soon after Nexstar Media Group, the largest owner of television stations across the country, said it would no longer air Kimmels show. Tatiana Maslany, the star of Disney+s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, shared a photo of herself shooting the Marvel series alongside text that read: Cancel your @disneyplus @hulu @espn subscriptions! Pedro Pascal, who stars in Disneys The Mandalorian and recently joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), shared a photo of himself and Kimmel on Instagram alongside the caption: Standing with you @jimmykimmellive. Defend #FreeSpeech Defend #DEMOCRACY. Fresh from an Emmy win at the weekend, Hacks star Jean Smart wrote: I am horrified at the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live. What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech. Many more celebrities, including Ben Stiller, Wanda Sykes and Kathy Griffin, have spoken out against the decision. Meanwhile, Trump rejoiced in the news of Kimmels axing, posting on Truth Social during his state trip to London: Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery launched on Hulu and Disney+ on Sunday. The documentary showcases performances from Lilith Fair legends, including Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Erykah Badu, Paula Cole, Jewel, Natalie Merchant, Indigo Girls, and Emmylou Harris, while also spotlighting a new generation of female voices, such as Olivia Rodrigo and Brandi Carlile. Drawing on interviews with artists, fans, and organizers, as well as more than 600 hours of previously unseen archival footage, Lilith Fair explores the festivals cultural impact and the backlash it encountered. 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 Typically, the Strictly launch show is an uncontroversial beast. Its a shiny, happy extravaganza; an extended, pre-recorded love-in that doesnt tend to make headlines because the judges are putting on their most welcoming smiles rather than dishing out scathing critiques. But on Saturday night, as fans tuned in to discover which celebrity hopefuls had been teamed up with which professional dancers, one particular pairing appears to have raised everyones eyebrows skyward. The BBCs decision to cast Thomas Skinner the former Apprentice contestant turned professional Essex geezer turned right-leaning social media mouthpiece, known for hanging out with JD Vance and posting about flag-waving has dominated discussion of the new season since the lineup was confirmed in August. And not in a good way. Director general Tim Davie has weighed in to defend the hiring (We wouldnt take anyone whose views are just beyond the pale, he said earlier this month). Skinner himself has come under further scrutiny for reportedly picking up a journalists phone and then storming out of a pre-Strictly press event, and has had past infidelities dragged through the tabloids. Its no wonder, then, that the biggest question ahead of Saturday evenings diamante-studded festivities was: who the heck was going to have to draw the short straw and dance with one of the most controversial contestants in recent Strictly history? There was never going to be a solution that pleased everyone, but the producers decision initially seems carefully calibrated to annoy as many Strictly super-fans as possible. Skinner, we learnt on Saturday, will be joining forces with Amy Dowden, the much-loved and perennially sunny Welsh dancer and former British national Latin dance champion. Its safe to say that this particular pairing didnt exactly go down too well with viewers: justice for Amy was a common refrain on social media. The Strictly producers will pay for their crimes against Amy this year, one X (Twitter) user wrote. Has the woman not overcome enough? Dowden has certainly been through it over the past few years. In 2023, at the age of 32, she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, after discovering a lump in her chest the day before she was set to fly out on her honeymoon. She underwent a mastectomy, but was then told that the tumours had spread, and that she would have to embark on a course of chemotherapy, meaning she wouldnt be able to compete in that years edition of Strictly. open image in gallery So far viewers havent been too pleased by Dowden and Skinners pairing ( BBC ) Throughout all of this, she seemed to somehow keep smiling, and used her platform as one of the brightest stars of arguably the BBCs biggest show to remind people to check their breasts for potential warning signs. And when she made a surprise appearance during a Strictly episode that season, she chose to do so without a wig after shaving her head while undergoing chemotherapy, in a gesture of solidarity with those dealing with the same illness. Last year, she learnt the cancer had gone into remission, and the 20th anniversary season of Strictly should have been a brilliant comeback until she had to drop out of the competition after sustaining a stress fracture. open image in gallery Earlier this summer, Skinner was pictured hanging out with JD Vance ( Thomas Skinner/X ) Dowdens strength and positivity in the face of heartbreaking knock-backs have only cemented her position as a fan-favourite. Viewers (myself included) were rooting for her to be partnered up with someone with real potential this time around. Shes made it to the finals before, when she trained up TV presenter Karim Zeroual back in 2019, but has never lifted the glitterball trophy and, from a more cynical perspective, wouldnt a win be the sort of feel-good narrative that this scandal-beset show could really do with? You can see the (similarly cynical) logic in a Dowden-Skinner pairing Equally, though, and as much as it pains me to admit it, you can see the (similarly cynical) logic in a Dowden-Skinner pairing. Skinner will likely have been snapped up for the show a good few months ago, before his personal brand seemed to take such a pivot towards political populism. Back then, he was still something of a Marmite character, but he was better known for sharing videos of himself demolishing full English breakfasts and then shouting Bosh!, rather than donning a Maga hat and hanging out with right-wingers. Its entirely possible that, after Skinners meeting with Trumps vice-president over the summer, the shows bosses started to panic about the optics. Pairing one of the most, shall we say, divisive contestants with a dancer that everybody loves feels like a simple way to try to soften some of the edges of Skinners public persona. Im sure Skinner was thrilled at the news; its the best thing thats happened for his PR ratings in months. Dowden has such a built-in fan base that Im sure hell end up sticking around for a bit longer than his so-far extremely rudimentary moves might merit. I cant say I love the idea of a successful and popular woman being drafted in to help boost a controversial mans likeability factor. But Dowden is nothing if not a consummate pro: if anyone can make the best of a potentially tricky situation, its her. 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 Thomas Skinner has said he wont accept criticism from anyone he wouldnt take advice from ahead of the first live episode of this years Strictly Come Dancing series. The 34-year-old businessman and former Apprentice star, has faced a backlash in recent months, which intensified after he joined the BBC dancing competition. Skinner, who said he currently looks like a wardrobe doing the Waltz in rehearsals, emphasised hell be focusing on getting his first live performance up to scratch rather than on the retaliation from Strictly fans. He wrote on X/Twitter to work hard and dont never give up and be open to opinions and keep learning but never take any criticism from anyone you wouldnt take advice from! open image in gallery Thomas Skinner has brushed off criticism from Strictly Come Dancing fans ahead of the series first live show ( PA Archive ) Skinner continued, saying that he wanted to go smash the day and would be working double hard in the dance studio. The TV personality added: Im currently looking like a Wardrobe doing the Waltz at the minute [because] of the size of me. But Im learning fast and training hard! Strictly viewers were frustrated when Skinner was partnered with professional dancer Amy Dowden, who was unable to participate in the last two series due to her recovery from breast cancer and a foot injury. Some highlighted how the spotlight on Skinner may impact Dowdens longevity on the competition. However, Dowden spoke out amid the fan outcry, praising her celebrity partner. Skinner has faced backlash over meeting US vice-president JD Vance for a barbecue and drinks this summer, as well as being pictured wearing a Maga (Make America Great Again) cap. He has also faced criticism for social media posts in which he stated it is not far-right to be flying your flag and loving your country. He said that London was no longer safe, adding that it had become hostile and tense. open image in gallery Skinner shared an upbeat message ahead of his first live performance on the BBC dance competition ( Twitter @iamtomskinner ) In response to the backlash, Skinner said on X/Twitter that he has become a target and was being portrayed as public enemy number one. Skinner added that he doesnt regret meeting Vance, saying: I am a normal bloke and it was an amazing opportunity. The Independents Rachel McGrath wrote that Skinners casting doesnt feel right and questioned the BBCs decision to intentionally sign someone so divisive. You can read a full list of this years Strictly contestants and their professional partners here. 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 Strictly Come Dancing fans have been expressing their frustration over the pairing of professional dancer Amy Dowden with celebrity contestant Thomas Skinner. It was revealed during Saturdays launch programme that the pair would be partnered together on this years instalment of the BBC dance show, but viewers have taken issue with the decision in light of the controversy surrounding Skinners casting. Some viewers have highlighted how the spotlight on Skinners participation in the series may have an impact on Dowdens longevity in this years competition, while others suggested that the dancers popularity among fans may help Skinners chances. Dowden was unable to compete in the last two seasons of Strictly as she was receiving cancer treatment in 2023 and suffered a subsequent foot injury that saw her withdraw from last years competition. One viewer wrote on X/Twitter: I feel so bad for Amy, especially after all shes been through these past few years and they pair her with Thomas. Another fan added: I cannot say enough how absolutely gutted I am for Amy being partnered with Thomas. A third said: My main comment: justice for Amy!! One Reddit user suggested the partnership was strategic, saying: Amy is beloved by the majority of the audience, so they probably thought it best to pair him with a pro that is so well liked. One commenter replied: I think you could be right but its so unfair for Amy, because she needs a good run after last year and Skinners going out in the first three weeks. The Independent has contacted the BBC for comment. open image in gallery Thomas Skinner is dancing with professional Amy Dowden on this years Strictly ( BBC/Ray Burmiston ) Skinner, a businessman and social media star who rose to fame on The Apprentice, has proved a controversial casting on the series after he attended a Cotswolds barbecue with US vice-president JD Vance. During the same period, he was pictured wearing a Maga (Make America Great Again) cap. He has also faced criticism for social media posts in which he stated it is not far-right to be flying your flag and loving your country. He said that London was no longer safe, claiming that the city had become hostile and tense. In response to the backlash to his casting, Skinner said on X that he had become a target and was being portrayed as public enemy number one. Skinner said that he doesnt regret meeting Mr Vance, saying: I am a normal bloke and it was an amazing opportunity. The social media star added that he had been branded controversial, but all I do is share videos of me having a roast dinner, and do a morning video to say, Have a good day. Online, he shares daily updates with his fans and documents his breakfasts and roast dinners. Dowden, who has performed as a professional on Strictly since 2017, was absent from the series in 2023 as she underwent treatment for stage three breast cancer. open image in gallery Dowden has returned to Strictly after missing the past two series ( BBC/Getty ) She returned in 2024 and was briefly partnered with JB Gill until she was forced to drop out following a stress fracture to her shin. Fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley took Dowdens place for the remainder of the competition. Elsewhere during the launch programme, it was revealed that Doctor Who star Alex Kingston would be partnered with Johannes Radebe, while other pairings included EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal and new professional dancer Julian Caillon, Former England rugby union player Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova, and model Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola. 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 Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has returned to the dancing show after two years of being unable to compete due to health complications. The 35-year-old ballroom dancer, who joined the programme in 2017, was absent from the series in 2023 as she underwent treatment for stage three breast cancer. She returned in 2024 and was briefly partnered with JB Gill, but was forced to drop out due to a stress fracture to her shin. Fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley took Dowdens place for the remainder of the competition. Dowden has since admitted she went back on Strictly too soon after she received the all-clear from breast cancer in early 2024. Speaking on the Breast Cancer Uncovered podcast, she revealed she didnt fully process her diagnosis and was fixated on getting back on the dance floor. Dowden stated she went back on the show when she had not fully recovered from her cancer treatment, believing her broken bone was a by-product of her chemotherapy and hormone therapy. She added that she felt like cancer was still punishing her. The dancer was diagnosed with an aggressive form of stage three breast cancer in May 2023 after finding a lump in her breast the day before her Maldives honeymoon with fellow professional dancer Ben Jones. She underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and fertility treatment in those nine months and experienced a series of major setbacks in that time, including doctors finding a blood clot in her lung, sepsis and undergoing fertility treatment. During her chemotherapy treatment and recovery period, Dowden frequently kept fans updated on her condition via social media. open image in gallery Amy Dowden is competing on the 2025 series of Strictly after two years of being unable to compete due to health reasons ( CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston ) In Autumn 2023, while Dowden was still receiving treatment, she would make small cameo appearances on Strictly despite not being able to compete like reading out the terms and conditions or joining the stars backstage in the Clauditorium (the area hosted by Claudia Winkleman). However, in November 2023, Dowden was unable to make any appearances in the remaining episodes because she fractured her foot. That journey is documented in the BBC film, Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me, which follows Dowden from the beginning of her diagnosis as she navigates each stage of her treatment. At some of the most difficult parts of her treatment, Dowden recalled being in agony as she wore a cold cap during treatment to try and retain her hair but eventually decided to shave it off. open image in gallery Amy Dowden documented her cancer journey in the BBC programme Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me ( BBC ) She revealed in November 2023 that she had completed all eight rounds of chemotherapy, and she was told she had no evidence of disease in February 2024. Reflecting on the hardest year of her life in the documentary, Dowden said: In the past year, Ive had a mastectomy, fertility treatment, chemotherapy, sepsis, blood clots, a broken foot and finally its time for me to get back on that dancefloor. We are finally here, Dowden said on Instagram as she arrived at the hospital for her final session of chemotherapy. Ive cried all morning! Right, an afternoon of chemo and then Im so lucky and grateful to be able to ring that bell! Will never take it for granted! Thank you to the incredible Sheldon Unit! You are all amazing NHS, all true heroes. When she did return to the series in 2024 alongside Gill, she was forced to withdraw from the competition due to a stress fracture to her shin, telling fans she was heartbroken and gutted that her Strictly participation had been interrupted again. open image in gallery Amy Dowden and her partner JB Gill on Strictly 2024 before she left the competition ( BBC ) Dowden also has Crohns disease, a lifelong gut disease that causes chronic bowel inflammation. She revealed her diagnosis in 2019, and fronted the BBC programme Strictly Amy: Crohns And Me, in which she spoke about her experience and met other people living with Crohns. Crohns is described by the NHS as a lifelong condition in which parts of the digestive system become inflamed. People with the disease commonly experience phases of intense abdominal pain, severe vomiting, exhaustion and bloody diarrhoea, among other symptoms. Dowden is dancing in the 2025 Strictly season, and her celebrity partner will be revealed during the launch show on 20 September. China's zero-carbon smart dairy factory impresses Latin American visitors (People's Daily App) 08:34, September 22, 2025 On September 18, Latin American visitors toured a smart, automated dairy factory in Kunming, Yunnan Province. Operated by leading dairy producer Yili, it is China's first zero-carbon food factory. The visitors praised its technological innovations and hoped to deepen dairy cooperation between China and Latin America. (Produced by Xie Runjia and Zhang Wujun) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Get our food and drink newsletter for free Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice One in five British adults incorrectly assume the tea they consume is grown domestically, according to new research commissioned by Fairtrade. This finding has prompted the organisation to call for greater transparency from brands regarding the provenance of their products. Despite this widespread misconception, the vast majority of tea enjoyed across UK homes and cafes is imported. Countries such as Kenya, India, and Malawi are the primary sources for the nation's beloved brew. While a minuscule amount of tea is cultivated in specific UK microclimates, such as the Tregothnan estate in Cornwall, climate change could potentially expand the feasibility of domestic production in the future. But the survey of 1,365 British adults taken between August 14 and 18 found that 21% believe tea they drink originates in the UK, a figure which rises to 46% among those aged 25-34. The research also suggests that more than a third of UK adults (37%) believe most of their tea comes from India. Tea growers around the world often face significant challenges including low pay, inequality, and climate change impacts with recent Fairtrade research finding that just one in five Kenyan tea growers earn enough to cover their basic living needs. For all tea sourced on Fairtrade terms, producers are guaranteed a minimum price and receive a premium an additional amount of money that they can use to invest in their farms and communities. The recent survey results also suggest 86% of British shoppers want brands to be more upfront about sourcing, and 75% think it is important they provide clear information about prices paid to farmers in countries like Kenya. And more than half (55%) of respondents said they believe businesses should take a large amount or full responsibility for protecting the human rights of workers in their supply chains. It comes as Fairtrade calls for companies to brew if fair during its annual Fairtrade Fortnight campaign, starting on Monday. open image in gallery It is estimated that only 10% of all tea sold in the UK is Fairtrade ( Getty Images ) Marie Rumsby, director of advocacy and communications at the Fairtrade Foundation, said: Public support is growing and these figures show that consumers want action from all stakeholders involved. Its time to challenge industry myths and scale up change for the people behind our tea, with UK brands and retailers as pivotal partners. Nancy Githaiga, a Kenyan tea farmer and manager at Gatunguru Tea Factory who is responsible for the livelihoods of around 100,000 tea growers, warned of the existential threat low prices and global warming pose to Britains favourite drink. If climate change continues unabated, the very existence of the tea bush is threatened, and when the tea bush is threatened, the entire supply chain is threatened, she said. Each and every one of us, from the farmer to the consumer has a role to play to ensure that we mitigate against climate change so that tea farming, the tea farmer and the tea bush is sustainable now and in the future. Ms Githaiga said Fairtrade has helped their farmers rebuild homes after landslides, build tree nurseries and plant more trees on to prevent soil erosion. Retailers such as the Co-op, Sainsburys, Waitrose, M&S and Greggs offer Fairtrade tea, and the organisation says sales volumes increased by almost 27% from around 31.4 million to 39.8 million over the last five years. But it also estimates that only 10% of all tea sold in the UK is Fairtrade. As part of Fairtrade Fortnight, a coalition of more than 40 brands has united this week to urge their sectors to commit to sourcing on Fairtrade terms, including Ben & Jerrys, Clipper, Cafedirect, Flamingo Flowers, Guylian, Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery, and Tate & Lyle Sugars. The businesses are calling for an increase in Fairtrade sales of everyday essentials like bananas, cocoa, coffee, and tea to support a level playing field for farming communities around the world. Kerrina Thorogood, director of partnerships at the Fairtrade Foundation, said: We all deserve the ability to live safe, fulfilling lives and look after our families. In the UK, as consumers and business leaders, we have real power and influence to change the way our goods are produced and traded in partnership with farmers and workers. As part of its campaign, Fairtrade Foundation is also calling for urgent action and the introduction of human rights and environmental due diligence legislation (HREDD), which would require companies to identify, prevent, and mitigate these impacts in their operations and value chains. At least 73 MPs have backed a motion calling for an HREDD law, and more than 15,000 people have signed a petition supporting the legislation, Fairtrade said. Thousands more expected to add their names at tea parties held around the country over the fortnight, it added. A Government spokesperson said: Were committed to rooting out human rights abuses, forced labour and exploitative environmental practices from UK supply chains and we expect businesses to do everything in their power to prevent these too. We have launched a review into the UKs approach to responsible business conduct as part of our Trade Strategy to examine whether further measures are needed. 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 Hellmanns is vowing to help a Spanish cafe owner after his restaurant was damaged by a customer. The popular mayonnaise brand issued a statement on its Instagram offering to pay for the cafe repairs. The post came weeks after a customer allegedly started a fire at Cafeteria Las Postas in Seville, Spain, simply because he didnt get mayonnaise with his order. Cafeteria Las Postas: We're sorry we weren't there. From now on, you can count on us, the post on Hellmans Spains Instagram account, which was translated from Spanish to English via Google Translate and shared earlier this month, reads. Let us take care of the repairs and make sure your sandwiches never run out of mayonnaise again. The restaurant expressed its gratitude in the comments, responding: Thank you very much @hellmanns_spain!! It's a pleasure to receive your help! On August 20, Cafeteria Las Postas shared a video on Instagram of the restaurant being set on fire, during the businesss operating hours, with staff at work. Hellmanns says cafe in Spain can count on them after offering to pay for cafe fire repairs ( Getty/iStock ) This afternoon we suffered an attack, where a customer who was passing through our cafe asked us for a couple of sachets of mayonnaise for his sandwich, the caption read. When we told him we didn't have any, he went to the gas station to buy a bottle of gasoline, entered the premises, and set fire to. The business also noted that neither customers nor employees were hurt by the fire. Only material belongings had significant damage. However, the cafe said it was uploading this video so that these types of people are punished and removed from our society immediately, and that the full weight of the law falls on them. Cafe owner Jose Antonio Caballero explained that the customer set the restaurant counter on fire after being told a second time, No mayonnaise, no ketchup. The customer had originally ordered two sandwiches and two beers before asking for the mayonnaise. Imagine the fire that started, he explained to Spanish publication El Economista, as reported by Euro Weekly News. There were children in front of him, people spending the afternoon. It was tremendous. Caballero noted that after the fire, the damages are expected to cost between 7,000 and 10,000, which is about $8,251 to $11,787. According to Euro Weekly News, the customer who started the fire suffered burns, before he was restrained by bystanders at the cafe and arrested. The Court of First Instance of Utrera, a civil court in Seville, ordered him into custody without bail. 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 Matthew McConaughey has recalled being abducted as a teenager, saying he was lucky to get away alive. The Oscar-winning actor revealed in his 2020 book Greenlights that he was knocked unconscious and taken to the back of a van where he was sexually assaulted by a man when he was 18. The star, whose credits include Interstellar and Dallas Buyers Club, said he has never felt as helpless as he did in that moment, stating in a new interview: Ive never felt so vulnerable and unable to do anything about it. McConaughey, 55, was able to escape after waking up right before it could have been worse, with the star telling The Guardian: Talk about divine intervention. I got out relatively unscathed. It could have been worse is what Im saying. He said the nightmare experience, which he escaped from, was defining in ways he doesnt even understand. Did it crush some innocence of mine? That my nice guy, young Matthew, believed in the innocence of the world and no one would try to do harm to me or anyone else unless I provoked it? Sure. Elsewhere in the interview, McConaughey said he doesnt know what to believe anymore when it comes to politics and that Trumps disregard for the truth concerns him. Ive been around politics and politicians enough to see and hear that the score is not always what they say it is; that they dont keep the score accurately, he said. But thats nothing new, either. You can go back and there are many things to question over decades and centuries about what the truth was. Trumps going about things in a different way than other politicians have. Its direct. Hes cutting out the middle man. Matthew mcCaonughey was abducted and assaulted when he was 18 ( Getty Images for IMDb ) The How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days actor recently reflected on his decision to quit acting for two years because of the romantic comedies he repeatedly got offered. McConaughey shot to fame after appearing in the courtroom drama A Time to Kill in 1996, and became one of the most illustrious leading stars of romantic comedies in the 2000s. Among his credits are The Wedding Planner (2001) co-starring Jennifer Lopez, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), which he starred in alongside Kate Hudson, and Failure to Launch (2006) with Sarah Jessica Parker. After a solid decade of starring in these films, though, McConaughey, 54, had had enough and considered changing professions over fears he was typecast. McConaughey described the acting break as scary, and said he considered teaching high school or becoming a wildlife guide as he stepped out of Hollywood and had got out of my lane. However, he secured a series of more serious roles, which led to what was branded by film critic Mark Kermode as the McConaissance. He turned his career around after starring in William Friedkins Killer Joe, Richard Linklaters Bernie, Jeff Nicholss Mud and Steven Soderberghs Magic Mike. The actor also won the Academy Award for Best Actor with his performance in Dallas Buyers Club. Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673) 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 Maryland man on the run for months has been put behind bars after he used fireworks to kill a dog in the woods in Tennessee, police say. On March 4, Chattanooga police responded to a call about a fire in the woods that was caused by a man who threw a dog out of his car and tossed fireworks at it, Local 3 News reported. Cornell Mersiers Jr. was arrested last week and charged with animal cruelty, arson, criminal impersonation, disorderly conduct and reckless endangerment. At the time of the incident, authorities found a small black and white pitbull mix lying on the ground with its torso torn open and obviously deceased, police said. The dog also appeared to have burn marks on its wound. Cornell Mersiers Jr. was arrested Thursday after he allegedly used fireworks to kill a dog in March. ( Hamilton County Jail ) Police responded to the scene with fire extinguishers before the fire department arrived to help put out the fire, according to the report. Meanwhile, two witnesses told police they saw the crime take place, including one who saw a man they identified as Mersiers throw something out of his black Jeep Wrangler. Its unclear why the suspect allegedly targeted the dog. Once the object hit the ground, there was a loud bang and sparks erupted, causing a fire to start, the witness said. When the witness asked what the suspect was doing, he ignored her questioning and fled in his car, authorities said. Another witness had a similar story, but was able to provide police a photo of the suspects Jeep. When police called Mersiers, he answered but said his name was Jason Smith, and told authorities they had the wrong number. Police then asked him to come pick up the dog, without providing any additional information about the incident, and he said he would be there in 10 minutes. However, he never returned to the scene and declined to answer any more phone calls. It was not immediately clear where Mersiers has been since March or what caused his arrest to be delayed for several months. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 3. 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 Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah resident accused of killing MAGA commentator Charlie Kirk, has been formally charged with aggravated murder. At a press conference announcing charges against him Tuesday, state prosecutors revealed text messages sent by Robinson to his roommate and alleged romantic partner, in which he appeared to take responsibility for the fatal shooting at Utah Valley University last week. Robinson evaded capture for 33 hours after allegedly opening fire on Kirk from a rooftop around 160 yards away from where he was speaking, jumping off a roof and disappearing in the ensuing chaos. The right-wing influencer, 31, died several hours after being struck in the neck by the bullet. Robinson has been formally charged with aggravated murder and six other charges, including obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Heres what we know about the alleged killer: open image in gallery In this image from video provided by Utah State Courts, Tyler James Robinson attends a virtual court hearing from prison to hear the charges for his alleged murder of Charlie Kirk ( Utah State Courts ) Who is the suspect? Robinson grew up in the conservative southern Utah city of Washington with his mom, a trained social worker who works at Intermountain Support Coordination Services; dad, a police officer and kitchen fitter; and two brothers, social media pictures suggest. He has been described as quiet by people who know him, as well as a straight-A student. His grandmother claimed she had never heard her grandson discuss politics. However, family members told investigators that Robinson had become more political in recent years. Utah voting information seen by The Independent shows the 22-year-olds voter status is inactive, meaning he has not voted in the last two general elections or responded to notices sent by a county clerk. His party affiliation is listed as unaffiliated, while both his parents are registered Republicans, according to state voter records. open image in gallery Robinson has been described as quiet by those who know him, as well as a straight-A student ( Utah Department of Public Safety ) Most of my family members are Republican. I dont know any single one whos a Democrat. Im just so confused, the suspects grandmother, Debbie Robinson, 69, told the Daily Mail. Pictures on social media show Robinson dressed in a Trump costume for Halloween in 2017. Robinson did not attend Utah Valley University, where the shooting took place. He received a resident presidential scholarship to Utah State University, but only attended the institution for one year. He then moved home to complete an electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College in St. George, Utah, according to the Utah System of Higher Education. He was living in an apartment in the city at the time of the shooting. What has he been charged with? Robinson has been charged with seven counts, the most serious of which are aggravated murder and felony discharge of a firearm. Aggravating factors have been applied to those charges based on targeting Kirk over political expression and knowing that children were present and would witness the homicide. The full charges are: Count 1: Aggravated murder Count 2: Felony discharge of firearm Count 3: Obstruction of justice, for moving and concealing a rifle Count 4: Obstruction of justice, for disposing of clothing Count 5: Witness tampering, for directing roommate to delete texts Count 6: Witness tampering, directing roommate to stay silent Count 7: Commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child, for committing homicide knowing children present Federal officials are also weighing bringing a case against Robinson. open image in gallery Kirk was hosting a debate at the Utah Valley University on September 10 when he was struck in the neck by a bullet and rushed to hospital ( The Deseret News ) Could Robinson face the death penalty? Announcing the charges Tuesday, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said that he would be seeking the death penalty in the case. This is not a decision I take lightly, he said. A jury in the case would first have to determine Robinsons guilt and then if he is eligible for execution. He would otherwise face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. The state conducted its last execution in 2024, ending a 15-year hiatus for capital punishment in Utah. Utah criminal defense attorney Clayton Simms told Fox13 that factors including the death of a public official, particular cruelty and the fact that he put others at risk during the incident, may possibly sway a jury in favor of execution. If you kill someone in front of 3,000 live witnesses, if you kill someone knowing that its going to have an impact beyond the state of Utah... that could be particularly cruel, Simms said. open image in gallery Tyler Robinson has been charged with murder, and federal officials are also considering a case against the 22-year-old ( AP ) Robinsons age or possible mental health issues may count as mitigating factors, the outlet reported. Mitigating factors can be used during trial to show why a person should not be given a death sentence. President Donald Trump has also called for the death penalty; however, Gray said Tuesday that he had made the decision independently as county attorney based solely on the available evidence and circumstances and nature of the crime. Robinsons next court appearance will be on September 29, and a judge needs to consider whether the state has enough evidence before proceeding to a trial. Robinson has yet to be arraigned or enter a plea. Local officials have said the 22-year-old is indigent and have sought to assign him government-appointed legal counsel. What is the evidence? Authorities said Tuesday that Robinson left a note for his roommate under his keyboard implicating himself in Kirks murder, and then had a text conversation in which he also said he had committed the crimes. In an interview on Fox and Friends, FBI director Kash Patel explained that the note had been destroyed, but that they had forensic evidence of the note. Patel explained that the FBI believed the note existed before the shooting and was in Robinsons and his roommates home. Patel summarized the contents of the note as something to the effect of, I have the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and Im going to take it. This content of the message, he said, was gleaned through interviews. Robinson told his roommate, who authorities say is biologically male and transitioning to female, that he had planned the crime for more than a week, according to messages obtained by investigators. In the exchange, Robinson said he had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age, and apologized for involving them. If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence, he wrote. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I havent seen anything about them finding it. Robinson also told his roommate to delete their texts and not talk to the media. open image in gallery Robinson evaded capture for 33 hours after opening fire on Kirk from a rooftop around 200 yards away, before jumping off the roof and disappearing in the ensuing chaos ( AFP/Getty ) Robinson later allegedly messaged friends on the social messaging platform Discord, writing, Hey guys, I have bad news for you allit was me at UVU yesterday. Im sorry for all of this. DNA matching Robinson was also found on the trigger a the rifle discovered by detectives, and on some of the shell casings. The gun belonged to his grandfather, authorities said. Robinson was allegedly worried about leaving his grandfathers rifle at the scene. How the f*** would I explain losing it to my old man? What do we know about his potential motives? State officials, as well as other members of the Republican party, have decried Kirks assassination as politically motivated. While guest-hosting an episode of The Charlie Kirk Show on Monday in honor of his dear friend, Vice President JD Vance placed the blame at the feet of left-wing extremism. FBI Director Kash Patel also claimed that Robinson subscribed to left-wing ideology, citing comments by his family. However, it is not clear whether Robinsons motives were explicitly political, and officials have not publicly accused the 22-year-old of acting in concert with any accomplices or organized group to carry out the alleged plot. The FBI has also recently recognized a new category of attacks by so-called nihilistic violent extremists, those who seek chaos more than any clear ideological end. Robinsons mother explained that, over the past year, the suspect had become more political, according to charging documents. His political stance started to lean to the left in stark contrast to his parents and he became more pro-gay and trans-oriented, the document added. In a conversation before the shooting, Robinson mentioned Kirk would be holding an event at the university, which he called a stupid venue. open image in gallery Utah Valley University campus remained closed through the weekend following the assassination of Kirk ( Getty ) When asked by his roommate why he had committed the alleged crime, he replied, I had enough of [Kirks] hatred, according to police. Some hate cant be negotiated out. Online figures on the political right have suggested without concrete evidence that Robinsons alleged attack was directly related to having a roommate and romantic partner who was trans or transitioning, given Kirks regular criticism of transgender people. Gray, the county attorney, declined this week to comment on whether transgender activism inspired the shooting. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has said the bureau is investigating if an extended network of individuals could be tied to the shooting. The shell casings found by the rifle were engraved with messages that included, Hey, fascist! Catch! with an up arrow symbol, right arrow symbol, and three down arrow symbols, an apparent reference to a button code in the video game Helldivers 2. Another casing read, oh bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao, an apparent reference to Bella ciao, a song with roots in an Italian anti-fascist anthem during the Second World War. The song has also been popularized by the series Money Heist and the video game Far Cry 6. The spent casing reportedly included the phrase notices, bulges, OWO, whats this? an apparent reference to an ironic meme. Another casing allegedly said, If you read this, you are gay LMAO. On Tuesday, Gray confirmed investigators believed the etched inscriptions on the bullets were a big meme. How was he caught? Law enforcement spent over a day searching for Robinson, releasing surveillance photos and videos of the 22-year-old and begging the public to help identify him. According to the charging document, Robinsons father said that when his wife showed him an image of the shooter in the news, he agreed that it looked like their son. He also believed the rifle looked like a weapon he had gifted his son. Tyler, is this you? Matt Robinson reportedly asked his son when he first saw the images, a law enforcement official told CNN. This looks like you. open image in gallery Law enforcement spent more than a day searching for Robinson, releasing surveillance photos and videos of the 22-year-old and begging the public to help identify him ( FBI ) After his mother agreed that the pictures released by authorities looked like him, she and his father called their son, asking what he knew about the crime, officials said. When his father urged his son to turn himself in, the suspect reportedly responded: I would rather kill myself than turn myself in. Robinsons family convinced him to talk to a family friend who was a retired deputy sheriff, according to the charging document. The family friend convinced Robison to turn himself in, in part to avoid the police having to search his parents home. 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 Charlie Kirks widow has said she wants to let the government decide whether her husbands accused killer will receive the death penalty, and that she does not want his blood on her ledger. Tyler Robinson was formally charged with aggravated murder last week after Kirk, 31, was assassinated on Sept. 10 on the college campus of Utah Valley University in Orem. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced the formal charges against 22-year-old Robinson at a press conference last Tuesday and said he would be seeking the death penalty in the case. Erika Kirk, a devout evangelical Christian, said that she believed her husbands death was part of Gods plan. Ive had so many people ask, Do you feel anger toward this man? Like, do you want to seek the death penalty? she told The New York Times. open image in gallery Charlie Kirks widow has said she wants to let the government decide whether her husbands accused killer will receive the death penalty ( Instagram ) Ill be honest, she continued. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this. I do not want that mans blood on my ledger. The 36-year-old mother to Kirks two young children said she believes that if she did push for the death penalty, it could stop her from being with her late husband in heaven. Because when I get to heaven, and Jesus is like: Uh, eye for an eye? Is that how we do it? she told the outlet. And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie? Since Kirks assassination, Erika Kirk said she has seen the Bible in such technicolor. To be so serene in saying, Thy will be done. I surrender to it. Do I like it? No. That was the love of my life, my soul mate, my best friend, she said. But Gods plan is always greater than ours. open image in gallery Robinson has been charged at the state level with aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and other offenses in connection with Kirks death ( Utah State Courts ) Erika Kirk was planning to accompany her husband to Utah on the day he died, as he embarked on the Turning Point USA fall tour of colleges and high schools across the country. But she stayed in Phoenix because her mother was undergoing medical treatment on the same day, the Times reports. Robinson has been charged at the state level with aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and other offenses in connection with Kirks death. Utah prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty, alleging Robinson targeted Kirk for his political views. A jury would first have to determine Robinsons guilt and then whether he is eligible for execution. He would otherwise face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. The state conducted its last execution in 2024, ending a 15-year hiatus for capital punishment in Utah. Robinsons mother told investigators that he had recently become more politically active and leaned left. Federal investigators have so far found no evidence linking Robinson to left-wing groups, despite claims from Trump and his administration , three sources told NBC News. The trio of insiders is reportedly familiar with the probe into the case, which, as of now, appears to revolve around Robinson acting alone. 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 San Antonio mom has been arrested after her two children died in a hot car while she was taking a nap, police have said. Tiona Lasaisha Islar, 28, was arrested after the Bexar County Sheriffs Office (BCSO) found "inconsistencies" in the story that she gave to authorities, Sheriff Javier Salazar told the media in the aftermath of the incident. Sheriff Salazar stated that authorities were called to an address in the Alamo Ranch section of the city at 3:25 p.m. this past Saturday. According to authorities, Islar claimed that she fell asleep at 10 am and went looking for her children when she woke up. The mom alleged that she found her kids, a six-year-old Sevani Stevenson, who was autistic, and a three-year-old Miyani Islar, inside her car. Tiona Lasaisha Islar, 28, was arrested in Bexar County after her two children were found dead in her car ( San Antonio PD ) The sheriff added that the two were at some point brought into the home before deputies arrived at the scene. Upon arrival, a deputy attempted CPR on the children. However, when paramedics arrived at the home, the children were pronounced dead. Islar was subsequently arrested on charges of injury to a child, single bodily injury death. A neighbour said that the deaths have left her sick to her stomach. I just hope that the babies are at peace, she told local station KEN5. Speaking to reporters before Islars arrest, Sheriff Salazar revealed that there were some inconsistencies in the evidence that she had given to authorities. There just are some inconsistencies with the story that were being given. At present, Im not confident enough to give you all that, thats definitely what happened. So, at this point, weve taken the mother of the two children downtown. She is being questioned at present. She is being mostly cooperative with us at this point so what were hoping for is that, in talking to her, it may be able to shed some more light on the situation. But, as I mentioned, with the inconsistencies that I'm seeing in the story and in some of the evidence were just not prepared to say that thats exactly what happened, the sheriff said. The sheriffs office has not gone into detail about the nature of the inconsistencies. However, authorities have confirmed that there were early indicators that calls had been made to Child Protection Services (CPS) in the past, regarding the childrens welfare. The Bexar County Sheriffs Office is appealing to residents for more information about the case. A spokesperson for the sheriffs office has called for anyone with information to call 210-335-6000 or email BCSOTIPS@bexar.org. The Independent has contacted the sheriffs office for further comment. Senior CPC official vows to deepen win-win cooperation with Greece Xinhua) 09:55, September 22, 2025 Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, meets with Greek President Konstantinos Tassoulas in Athens, Greece, Sept. 19, 2025. Li on Saturday concluded a four-day official goodwill visit to Greece at the invitation of the New Democracy party of Greece. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) ATHENS, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Li Xi, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), concluded a four-day official goodwill visit to Greece on Saturday, reaffirming China's commitment to deepening mutually beneficial cooperation. During his visit, Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, held talks with Greek President Konstantinos Tassoulas, Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis, Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, and Kostas Skrekas, Secretary of the Political Committee of New Democracy Party. During his meeting with the Greek president, Li conveyed warm greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Tassoulas, saying that, under the strategic guidance of President Xi and the Greek leader, the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership has made significant progress. China is willing to work with Greece to uphold mutual respect and trust, strengthen strategic communication, deepen exchanges and mutual learning, and promote win-win cooperation. Li said that China's development strengthens the force for world peace. Not long ago, China solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The events underscored the importance of remembering history, honoring martyrs, cherishing peace and forging a better future. He noted that President Xi proposed the Global Development Initiative at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Tianjin Summit. China is willing to work with Greece to implement the initiative and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Li introduced China's anti-corruption efforts, noting that the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has adhered to the principles of no forbidden zones, full coverage, and zero tolerance, advancing the integrated approach of ensuring that officials do not dare to be corrupt, cannot be corrupt, and do not want to be corrupt. An unprecedented anti-corruption campaign has been carried out, successfully blazing a path of anti-corruption with Chinese characteristics. China is willing to exchange and cooperate with Greece on anti-corruption work. Tassoulas asked Li to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping and said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Greece and China have conducted mutually beneficial cooperation based on mutual respect and trust, and have supported each other on issues concerning core interests and major concerns. He added that China's commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance and the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping have sent a firm and powerful message to the world and are of great significance for maintaining world peace and stability. Greece is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in international and multilateral arenas, Tassoulas said. Corruption is a common enemy of humanity, and Greece admires the determination of the CPC to fight corruption and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in this field. In talks with Kaklamanis, Li said that China is willing to work with Greece to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, to strengthen the two major bonds of mutually beneficial cooperation and civilizational exchanges, and to deepen exchanges at all levels and in various fields. Kaklamanis said that both Greece and China are ancient civilizations with great potential for practical cooperation. The Greek Parliament is willing to strengthen exchanges and dialogue with China's legislative body. While meeting with Hatzidakis, Li said that China is willing to enhance political mutual trust with Greece, deepen practical cooperation, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges. He added that China-EU cooperation is an important driving force for world economic growth, and expressed hope that Greece would continue to play a constructive role in the development of China-EU relations. Hatzidakis said that projects like the Port of Piraeus have significantly promoted Greece's economic and social development. He stressed that Greece's doors are always open to China and welcomed more Chinese enterprises to invest in Greece. Greece will continue to firmly adhere to the one-China principle. When meeting with Skrekas, Li said that the CPC is leading the people in comprehensively advancing Chinese modernization, and that China is willing to deepen exchanges on governance and party-building experience with the New Democracy Party, so as to better benefit the two peoples. Li introduced the CPC's comprehensive and strict governance, noting that the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has incorporated strict governance into the "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout. From the start, issues have been tackled by formulating and implementing the eight-point decision on improving party and government conduct, ensuring simultaneous emphasis on party integrity, conduct, and discipline, integrating the rectification of work styles with anti-corruption efforts, Li said. Through this revolutionary self-reform, the party has become stronger and won the heartfelt support of the people. Skrekas said that the New Democracy Party is optimistic about China's development prospects, values exchanges and cooperation with the CPC, and is willing to actively promote Greece-China friendship and contribute to maintaining world peace and addressing global challenges. Li also attended and delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the China-Greece Civilizational Exchange and Mutual Learning Dialogue and visited the Port of Piraeus project during the visit. Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, meets with Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis in Athens, Greece, Sept. 18, 2025. Li on Saturday concluded a four-day official goodwill visit to Greece at the invitation of the New Democracy party of Greece. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, meets with Greek Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis in Athens, Greece, Sept. 18, 2025. Li on Saturday concluded a four-day official goodwill visit to Greece at the invitation of the New Democracy party of Greece. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, meets with Kostas Skrekas, Secretary of the Political Committee of New Democracy Party, in Athens, Greece, Sept. 17, 2025. Li on Saturday concluded a four-day official goodwill visit to Greece at the invitation of the New Democracy party of Greece. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) (Web editor: Huang Kechao, Liang Jun) In the fall of 2008, Juliette Binoche put her foot down and decided, in a radical change, to dance. But not just in any old way. She would do it alongside the prestigious British dancer and choreographer Akram Khan. And not even with an existing piece, but together, over nearly six months of rehearsals, they would research, create, and assemble a work that would combine the best of both worlds, capitalizing on their apparent weaknesses and contradictions. Binoche ended up dancing and Khan acting, and in the work In-I, the fears of a man who had suffered racism and discrimination due to his skin color and his Muslim faith would merge with those of a woman harassed in a world that of cinema with a tyrannical stance over bodies and hierarchies. The following year they staged it for 100 performances with sets by Anish Kapoor and music by Philip Sheppard all over the world, with no further ambition, until Robert Redford came along. The video call with a smiling Binoche, 61, takes place mid-morning on September 16 in Paris. As such, the anecdote the actress tells about why she directed In-I in Motion jokingly blaming Redford takes on another dimension when, three hours later, the Hollywood legends death is announced. The interview comes about because that stage journey has been captured in In-I In Motion, which premiered last Saturday at the San Sebastian Film Festival, marking Binoches directorial debut. The feature film first shows the stormy, demanding, and incisive rehearsal period, and then the full result. Juliette Binoche and Akram Khan, in 'In-I In Motion.' Redford saw the production in New York. We had filmed the rehearsals as working material. After that performance, Redford insisted, practically ordered me, that I had to film the show. Id already been mulling over the possibility, and whos going to say no to Redford? But I didnt know how; I was dealing with motherhood at the time... Still, we had a month left on tour, and on returning to Paris, I asked my sister to film the last seven performances. And I kept those tapes in a drawer. For 15 years. Until two years ago, [when] a Norwegian producer asked me if I had any projects, and I remembered those recordings. In reality, they languished there for decades, both due to lack of money and time, the actress explains. Juliette Binoche, in 'In-I In Motion.' Binoche, she says, has not censored the bad moments. I even stopped rehearsing, she says. Laid bare, the screen reveals the magic tricks hidden in the acting (she teaches Khan to measure his speech) and the dancing (he forces the Frenchwomans body, while assuring her that he likes the movements to be imperfect). That way we were able to show... our immensity through our limitations and perceptions. At least I felt that we were rising above ourselves. I understand why some artists move on to explore other disciplines because you enjoy the process of starting from scratch. What does this Binoche remember about that Binoche? Ugh, I see myself now and remember things Id forgotten. Im proud of the project, she says. But every night I thought I was going to die, either because I couldnt breathe or because I was going to break. Thats why in the film I fought to improve the sound, so that the audience could hear me gasping for air. It was very physically demanding, and lets not forget, emotionally demanding too. Id never experienced anything like it before and Ive never experienced it again. As an actor, you tend to hold back your emotions, to dive deep inside yourself, and here you have to bring it out in the dance steps. They are more sensory resources, if you can say that. Ive always liked creative risk, and here I forced my body to change so that I could express what I was feeling. If In-I was structured through the lives of the two protagonists, In-I In Motion reflects them, speaking about those experiences in a very raw way, before fictionalizing them or at least conveying them through the movements on stage: Thats right. He was attacked in a mosque. He remembers it with [a feeling of] pain. And I fell in love with a boy when I was 14, whom I barely knew, and I wanted to live with him. And I was mugged and strangled. From the beginning, we decided to use those experiences as the narrative engine. We went all-out emotionally. And thats why the journey was so draining. When we finished, Akram and I took a break from each other [laughs]. Weve kept in touch, although with this premiere, I think Im building a bridge for us to become close again. Will Binoche return as a director? Its complicated because you need time, she sighs. But does she have any ideas? Well, quite a few. There are so many stories I want to tell. I should stop and write them down, because theyve been in my head for so long Now I even have my own production company. Although the problem is that youd have to find financing, and that requires a lot of money and effort. Its a work of faith. You put your heart on the table, and all you have to do is hope someone embraces it, if youll pardon that metaphor. Juliette Binoche and Akram Khan, in a scene from 'In-I In Motion.' The French artist attended the San Sebastian Film Festival, which like Spain is dedicated to supporting the Palestinian people. What should an artists position be in the face of events like those in Gaza? Im familiar with the festivals statement, signed by Jose Luis Rebordinos, and I endorse it. Our position is always complicated. I think its important to express the complexity of feelings. And of course, when I see the brutality depicted in the images, I feel pain. We must support the Palestinian people, just as we cannot forget the more than a thousand people murdered by Hamas and the hostages still in its hands. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The geology echoes that at nearby Eagle Point and Rabbit Lake, about 60km northwest, where mineralisation hugs graphitic shears at domain boundaries. Infini Resources chief executive officer Rohan Bone said: The field program at Reynolds Lake is delivering extremely promising early results, and by extending this work into Reitenbach Lake we are accelerating the systematic evaluation of two highly prospective projects in parallel. With shallow conductors, coincident radiometric anomalies and confirmed surface alteration, both projects present compelling potential as we build towards defining high-priority uranium drill targets in one of the worlds premier uranium mining jurisdictions. The projects straddle the crustal-scale Needle Falls Shear Zone, a major corridor separating the Wollaston and Peter Lake domains. Northeast-trending folds and north-south faults are interpreted as providing fluid pathways for hydrothermal action. Underlain by Archean to Paleoproterozoic rocks, including paragneiss and granitoid gneisses, the area shows localised magnetite, hematite and silica alteration. These are textbook signs of uranium-friendly hydrothermal overprints. At Reynolds Lake, Infinis maiden field blitz is already yielding results. The team has bagged 690 soil samples and 124 rocks so far, with scintillometer readings spiking at 59 locations above 1000cps to peak at an eyebrow-raising 9700cps on radioactive boulders and exposed bedrock. All samples will be sent to ALS Laboratories, with results expected in the years final quarter. The hand-held scintillometer readings are preliminary and qualitative and are no substitute for laboratory analysis, as the devices may also register thorium or potassium responses. The expanded reconnaissance program, due to wrap up in September, builds on soil grids, rock chips, geological mapping, portable X-ray fluorescence scans and laboratory analysis for uranium and pathfinder elements across both properties. The exploration aims to systematically ground-truth the EM and radiometric sweet spots to sharpen Infinis models for potential maiden drilling next year. The companys Athabasca push fits neatly into its broader uranium playbook. Infini also has a phase two drilling program underway at its flagship Portland Creek project in Newfoundland, probing the Trident Lake fault for high-grade uranium hits. The junior explorer, which listed on the ASX in January 2024, blends greenfield and brownfield plays across Canada and Western Australia, eyeing both uranium and lithium to ride the clean energy wave. With the uranium market in a 23 per cent supply crunch that is set to widen by 2040, and juniors flooding the basin, Infinis timely expansion positions it well for the next big break. Bone said earlier this year that the basins under-explored margins could deliver substantial long-term value in a world hungry for reliable nuclear fuel. As the leaves turn orange in Saskatchewans vast north, Infinis ground team is out there turning rocks under a big blue sky - chasing elusive uranium whispers in the kind of boots-on-the-ground grind that could spark the next basin blockbuster. Keeping an eye out for the imminent Q4 assays would be useful, for if they deliver, the results could be the spark that lights up shareholder smiles ahead of drill rigs being set loose on the targets. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Other options are to rename the local Intercultural Centre in his honour, or a piece of modern art in front of Reservoir Library or Edwardes Lake. Given local council art sculptures can be more polarising in the community than Victorias six COVID lockdowns, CBD is plumping for the statue. He did a lot for the multicultural community and gave a voice to people, Villella said. Premiers who serve more than 3000 days in office are immortalised with a statue under a law devised by then-premier Jeff Kennett, who missed the cut himself. Those who qualify are Andrews, Albert Dunstan, Henry Bolte, Rupert Hamer and John Cain Jr. Plans are advancing for the Andrews statue, but that has attracted a protest petition all of its own. Not on song It is not often that Russian aggression in Ukraine intersects with a Eurovision-style song contest, Northern Territory electronic dance music artist Vassy and Foreign Minister Penny Wong. OK, it is never. But overseas reports, coming in hot, claim that Vassy, an international recording artist who started life in Darwin as Vasiliki Karagiorgos before moving to the US in the 2010s, had abruptly dropped out of representing the US in Russias Intervision Song Contest. This was after coming under political pressure from the government of Australia, news agency Reuters said in a report, attributing the comment to contest organisers. Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in New York on Sunday. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer DFAT communications officials were how can we put this bemused, when we phoned seeking answers and interrupted a function which Wong was attending in New York. Well, we cant all be Peter Hartcher. A statement was promised and duly delivered, but it didnt deliver on the central accusations. The Australian government has no engagement with, and Australia did not participate in, the Intervision Song Contest, DFAT said. Loading Australia condemns Russia for its ongoing illegal and immoral war on Ukraine, which it continues to dangerously escalate. We will continue to work with partners to press Putin for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and security and stability in Europe. Via Instagram, Vassy thanked her 195,000 followers. Soon, Ill be ready to share my thoughts with you. Ominous. TV dreams fall short of reality Loading The space geeks of Earth are headed Down Under next week for the 76th International Astronautical Congress, the largest shindig in the galaxy for stargazers with dreams of conquering the final frontier. Headlining proceedings is Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who last year became the first qualified astronaut under the Australian flag. Her husband is Campbell Pegg who recently left Optus to take up a bigwig director role at the South Australian governments Space Industry Centre. Immaculate timing. But what readers wouldnt know is that well before the pair became the space industrys premier power couple, they aimed their starward ambitions at reality TV. In 2009, the pair dreamt up a reality TV contest to launch two civilians into space. Beats receiving a rose, we guess. The proposed show, Starwalker, would pluck two plucky earthlings from obscurity, train them as astronauts before flinging them through the stratosphere on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. But like so many rocket ships aimed at the stars, it all went up in flames. The show was scuppered on its launchpad after the pair had left the project, amid later claims of financial mismanagement lobbed towards a producer. Then historys biggest brain Stephen Hawking distanced himself from the show after claims he would be a judge. There is no suggestion Bennell-Pegg or Pegg were involved in this ensuing chaos, only that they helped conceive the idea. Starwalker was an idea we had as a group of uni students studying space-related degrees, to create an open competition for any Australian to go to space, the pair told CBD. We removed ourselves from the project within weeks of the idea, as we quickly realised our skill was in engineering and not television production. The project raised eyebrows in the space industry, and last year Greens Senator David Shoebridge asked then-science minister Ed Husic whether the Australian Space Agency which funded Bennell-Peggs $466,000 astronaut training with taxpayer dosh knew they were once involved with the show. (That would be a no.) Loading Husics replacement, Tim Ayres, will be in town for the big IAC gathering in Sydney, presumably to spruik the governments $42 million investment in the Australian moon rover Roo-ver. Ayres just announced the Roo-ver is ready to launch at the end of this decade in concert with NASA. Lets just hope that mission gets off the ground. All crisis, no comms for Optus overlord Optuss corporate overlord Singtel is under intense scrutiny following the revelation that at least three people died amid a network failure in several states that dropped 600 Triple Zero calls. But the company, which acquired Optus in 2001, has some telephony issues of its own. A once-idyllic kindergarten on Brisbanes northside has plunged further into turmoil, with the committee asking parents to pay more than $2000 for their own childs artwork to help cover debts after declaring the C&K-affiliated centre had been placed into voluntary administration. This masthead revealed earlier this month that C&K, as the governing body, had cut funding to Craigslea Community Kindergarten in Chermside West and launched an investigation into claims a parent was running the centres management committee on his own. The bitter tensions among parents that led to an exodus of staff has since escalated, with Thomas DSouza, the parent at the centre of the claims, writing a long and accusatory 1000-word email to families on the weekend saying the centre was now insolvent and had been placed into voluntary administration. Craigslea Kindergarten in Chermside West. Credit: Online The current management committee, run by DSouza, has been the subject of 44 complaints from parents to C&K, was being investigated by the Department of Education, and triggered a plea from local state Labor MP Bart Mellish for government action. Leutchford said it complicated their investigation but could also carry serious legal consequences if certain information was downloaded, shared or reposted. Loading Exploring the dark web and accessing this material on personal devices may expose families to unnecessary and very serious risks, she said. A parent at the school, who asked not to be identified, said families anxiety about the hack went far beyond compromised passports or bank account details. Parents can handle bank accounts, but your kids private information, once thats out, you cant undo that, she said. The principal said it was likely the students accessed the dark web outside school using laptops, computers or mobile phones at home, and warned parents about the importance of digital responsibility. Interlock listed the school as one of its victims on a leak site, saying Loyola was very poorly protected in our reality and therefore data was compromised. The full history and database of all students and all their private information were freely available! Also, a large number of financial, legal and other documents! Interlock claims it has hacked 67 victims across the world, 14 of which were educational institutions. Loyola College was the first Australian school targeted by the group, but Interlock has been linked to other cyber-security breaches in Australia. According to cyberdaily.au, Interlock published several sample documents from Loyola, including passports of current and past employees, detailed financial records, tax details and court orders. Interlock has been targeting groups in North America and Europe since September 2024 and is described by the FBI as opportunistic and financially motivated. Scotch College in Hawthorn was the target of a cyberattack in August. Credit: Joe Armao The group has used a double extortion model by which vital data is stolen through encryption and subject to ransom demands. But it is unclear if the hackers have tried to extort Loyola in this way. Cyber safety expert Susan McLean said schools were notorious for having really slack and easily hackable systems. It needs to be a wake-up call for all schools to look and improve their systems, she said. McLean said there were two parts to the hacking; the monetary element of banking details or enough personal information for identity theft, and the other was simply being a pest and proving they could do it. Parents can change their credit card numbers if bank details are hacked, but if your personal information is out there thats not good in any shape or form. It will lead to bullying and harassment, she said. The question for the school is, what are you doing to discipline the kids who do this? Do you have school rules around this? If you dont, you need to. She said children can easily access the dark web, and she knew children did so because she fields questions about whether their dark web activity was traceable. Loading Last year, there were 1446 students enrolled at Loyola, which employed 131 teaching staff and 79 non-teaching staff. A Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools spokesperson, speaking on the colleges behalf, said the relevant government authorities, including Victoria Police, had been notified of the hack. Our external forensic digital experts are still working to understand the full nature of information that has been accessed. Investigations of this kind do, unfortunately, take time, she said. As this ongoing investigation reveals further details, we are calling impacted individuals or, where appropriate advising them in writing. The spokesperson said that extra online security was now in place at Loyola and other Catholic schools around Melbourne and that students, staff and parents at the college were receiving support and advice. Melbourne-based Renzo paid almost $150 earlier this year for his annual membership at Derrimuts Oakleigh East gym, the companys busiest venue, but said he didnt plan to stay on, preferring to pay more for a better service. Renzo said his biggest gripe was that almost half of the mens lockers had their doors ripped off or were broken. When he contacted head office, it took a month to get a response which he considered to be unsatisfactory. He said paper towel dispensers to wipe down gym equipment were often empty, machines were frequently broken, the mens bathroom was inexplicably wet and the ice plunge pools were yanked out with tubing still hanging from the wall. This feels like a sinking ship going down fast, over-promising without the means to provide or the care to do anything, Renzo said. They advertise it as a gym thats awesome with all these facilities, but they are not looked after. Fellow gym-goer Georgia said she was pursuing a refund on her $150 membership after her favoured Pilates classes were wound back before they disappeared altogether, with none scheduled for about three weeks. Solomos at a poker tournament in 2024. Credit: Instagram Slashing group fitness classes was among a spate of cost-cutting measures Derrimut implemented this year at some of its gyms, as well as reducing staffed hours and cleaning shifts. Georgia said she now had no reason to set foot in the gym. Im really annoyed because I prepaid a whole year in advance and Im not getting anything for it now, she said. Its just dead money. Her impression of the gym was that it was going downhill. It felt like it was just chaos, like there was no order any more. Georgia started emailing Derrimuts head office months ago about her concerns and now, having joined a new Pilates studio, she is trying to get her money back. I havent heard back from them in literally months. A Derrimut gym in Coolaroo, in Melbournes north. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Coolaroo member Mohamed said while he enjoyed the large facility, the gym appeared to be in a death spiral. He started bringing his own antibacterial wipes for his workouts because there hadnt been hand soap for three months: Its a health risk. Men go to the toilet and then use gym equipment. Zak had been a member of the Angle Vale gym in South Australia, which abruptly closed in July due to unpaid rent, with about three months left on his 14-month membership. After regularly asking for a refund, Zak said it was only when he threatened to complain to the consumer watchdog that he was last week offered a partial reimbursement. He said he received multiple emails in April trying to get him to extend his membership. Luckily I didnt, he said. Zak said he was angry and wanted to see the business and its owner take accountability for its mistakes: Just be honest, admit you f---ed up and maybe Ill have some sympathy, he said. Some fitness instructors said they had not been paid for several weeks. Earlier this month they received an email from the company pledging to pay their invoices within four weeks and restart the classes. [We] are in the process of securing short-term finance as part of a debt restructure, the email said. One instructor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they had a feeling they were being strung along. Ive been cancelling all my classes because Im worried Ill never get paid. Derrimut is waging battles on multiple fronts. On Friday, Solomos was granted a three-week reprieve when the Australian Tax Offices push in the Federal Court to wind up Derrimut Health & Fitness was adjourned for a second time. Six organisations have so far joined to support the tax offices action, with claims totalling $1.7 million. Derrimut executives have this month been claiming to creditors that the tax office will withdraw its wind-up application and that the business is in the process of securing funding to pay down debt. After already being locked out of four sites across Victoria and South Australia since July including two that had not yet opened another Derrimut venue was forcibly closed on Thursday due to unpaid rent, this time at its gym in Adelaides Noarlunga. According to The Advertiser, the company is also fighting in Adelaides District Court to prevent a landlord from shutting its Melrose Park gym. The string of closures is not the end of Derrimuts troubles in South Australia. Earlier this month, the company filed action in the Federal Court to set aside a legal demand from construction company Ikonstruct SA over claims the gym business failed to pay for building works. A representative of Ikonstruct declined to comment when contacted by this masthead because the matter was before the courts. Neither Derrimut nor the tax office would comment when approached by The Age. The matter returns to the Federal Court on October 10. Health Minister Mark Butler has asked Australian authorities for quick advice on the link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism, after the Trump administration moved to start changing safety labels for the commonly used pain relief drug. US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (Monday, US time) that the Food and Drug Administration would notify doctors that paracetamol can be associated with an increased risk of autism a day after he declared I think we found an answer to autism. US President Donald Trump said: I think youre going to find it to be amazing I think we found an answer to autism, how about that? Credit: Getty Images Trump said his administration was urging pregnant women to largely avoid paracetamol one of the most commonly used medicines in the world, sold under brand names including Tylenol in the US and Panadol in Australia. So taking Tylenol is not good Ill say it its not good. For this reason, they are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary, Trump said at a White House event alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr, his health secretary. French President Emmanuel Macron, who spearheaded the conference with Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, announced that France would officially recognise Palestine as he pleaded with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza and back the creation of an independent Palestinian state. We are just a few moments away from no longer being able to seize peace, Macron said in his speech, which received a standing ovation from some delegates. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with President of France Emmanuel Macron after the Two-State Solution Conference at the United Nations on Tuesday. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Some might say its too late; some might say its too late ... but one thing is certain: we can no longer wait. Macron thanked nations, including Australia, for answering his call to recognise Palestine as he called for the international community to create a cycle for peace instead of a cycle of violence. Loading The French leader called for Hamas to release all the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza, but said this was no reason to prolong the bloodshed. Nothing justifies the ongoing war in Gaza, he said in a passionate address. Nothing. Netanyahu and fellow Israeli politicians have reacted angrily to the recognition push, declaring there would never be a Palestinian state and threatening retaliation when Netanyahu returns to Jerusalem following his trip to the US. Speaking to the conference via video link after the Trump administration denied him a visa to travel to New York, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned antisemitism and the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed about 1200 people and triggered the war. Declaring that Hamas must have no role in governing Gaza in the future, he said: Hamas and other factions must surrender their weapons to the Palestinian Authority. What we want is one unified state without weapons, a state with one law and one legitimate security forces. Albanese on Monday outside the UN headquarters in New York. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Albanese had been seeking his first formal meeting with US President Donald Trump on this trip, but that prospect has been scotched, leaving the prime minister to compete for a handshake at a mass reception for world leaders. Albanese is also seeking to secure a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York to try to break a standoff over who should host the COP31 UN Climate Change Conference next year. Loading Hamas leaders have expressed a willingness to step aside so that a technocratic cabinet can govern Gaza after the war ends, but they have also vowed not to give up their commitment to armed resistance until after a Palestinian state is created. Albanese said Israel must accept its share of responsibility for the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, as he accused the Netanyahu government of taking actions that threaten to put a two-state solution beyond reach. These actions include the expansion of settlement building in the West Bank, including a surge in settler violence, and threats to annex parts of land earmarked to be part of a future Palestinian state, he said. Netanyahu condemned the move by claiming that the recognition of a Palestinian state was a huge reward to terrorism. And I have another message for you: it will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River, Netanyahu said in a statement. Israeli deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel, who lived in Australia for several years, said Australias recognition decision was entirely about virtue-signalling, particularly to Muslims and left-wing activists. The people of Israel do not support a two-state solution, she said. We are a democracy, so there will not be a Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authoritys Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised Australias bold and principled decision, saying it reflects a firm commitment to international law, as well as demonstrates a genuine dedication to ending the occupation and achieving lasting peace. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: This is the moment the best opportunity that we have as a country to contribute to momentum towards a two-state solution. Wong declined to say when or where Australia would establish an embassy in Palestine, but said such steps would be conditional on the Palestinian Authority meeting its commitments to reform and democratisation. Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong with Mal Frankcom whose sister Zomi Frankcom was killed by the IDF in Gaza. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Wong held an event at UN headquarters to launch an Australian-led declaration backed by more than 100 countries, calling for greater protections for aid workers operating in conflict zones. Almost 700 aid workers have died in conflict zones since the beginning of last year, including Australian Zomi Frankcom, who was killed by an Israeli drone strike last April while working for the World Central Kitchen charity in Gaza. A structurally unsound house in need of a million-dollar renovation has sold for nearly $400,000 above reserve after a local family outbid developers to claim a rare slice of Stafford Heights. Set on a 1174-square-metre block one of the last of its size in the suburb the four-bedroom postwar cottage at 85 Pangeza Street triggered a six-way bidding war on Saturday, with the buyers paying $1.475 million. It marks the homes first change of hands in almost 50 years. Bidding kicked off at $1 million and crawled in $25,000 increments until the home was called on the market at $1.1 million near the reserve. We will meet when we meet, Albanese told the ABC last week. Theres a range of events occurring as well ... that means that peoples arrangements will be finalised when theyre finalised. He will still have the opportunity to meet the president in person at a reception Trump is hosting on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEST) that Leavitt said would be attended by more than 100 world leaders. Ill be talking with him there, Albanese told Channel Sevens Sunrise program on Monday. After the reception, Trump will fly back to Washington, where he is scheduled to hold a meeting and lunch with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday. Albanese and Australian ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd in Seattle in June. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Former Australian ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos said it was disappointing that Albanese and Trump had not been able to arrange a meeting since last Novembers presidential election. Going so long without a person-to-person meeting encourages speculation about what is going on. Its important for the leaders to establish a personal relationship and discuss important matters like trade, co-operation on critical minerals and AUKUS, he said. Former prime minister Scott Morrison - who was feted by Trump at a state dinner in 2019 - said the government had done well to secure talks this year with the presidents key lieutenants, but there was no substitute for leaders meetings. Sometime diaries are difficult to coordinate but its been a long time now, Morrison said on Sky News. Many other leaders now have had those opportunities and it really is up to the government to get this landed. Liberal senator Andrew Bragg said Australia had been treated like a piece of dirt by the Trump administration after Kevin Rudd was appointed ambassador to the US in 2023. I think its very embarrassing, Bragg told Nines Today on Tuesday. I think that perhaps sending Mr Rudd was actually not in Australias interests, and also the way that Mr Albanese has conducted his diplomacy, hes also been a disaster. I mean, where were being punished, frankly, and its now very embarrassing. Albanese brushed aside concerns about Rudds past criticisms of Trump when he appointed the former prime minister to the crucial role, arguing Rudd would open doors for Australia in the US capital. Before becoming US ambassador, Rudd described Trump as nuts, called him the most destructive president in history and named him a traitor to the West. Loading Michael Shoebridge, who served as Australias senior defence policy official in the Australian embassy in Washington, said the failure to secure a meeting showed that Trump is just not that into us. The fact there has not been a leaders meeting is not good news, and no amount of spin can change that. American power is centralised in the individual of Donald Trump, he said. Shoebridge said the snub raised questions about Rudds access to the White House after the ambassador was forced to delete previous social media posts critical of Trump before taking up the post. Whatever influence Rudd has, it hasnt resulted in a leaders meeting, he said. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said he was sure Albanese and Trump would meet soon, as he argued the US-Australia relationship was in good shape. Commenting on the lack of a meeting, Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said, I think we should see this as a good thing. It means that the president, whos been meeting with world leaders to try and reach agreements on trade policy, hes trying to do deals with other nations around tariffs and trade policy. He doesnt need to do that with Australia, he told Sky News. Albanese addressed a conference on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at UN headquarters on Tuesday morning (AEST), a day after Australias recognition of Palestine took formal effect. Loading Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Australias relationship with the US was drifting under Labor and that Albanese got it wrong by recognising a Palestinian state. The Coalition would reverse the move, she has said. It hadnt happened to her in months, but Susan Faludi, 66, experienced the mirage of feeling marginally okay about life a few days ago. I realized it was because I happened to be out and away from my computer and I hadnt checked the news in a while. But Im somebody who writes about womens rights, so I cant unplug, the celebrated journalist says during a video call from her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in mid-September. The false sense of happiness evaporated with a quick scroll on her phone. Our adult institutions have been torn apart, and everybodys acting like an adolescent. And theres a feeling like there are no grownups at home. Theres very much a Lord of the Flies feeling here," she says, citing the William Golding classic novel. From tech bros to Trumps embarrassing Cabinet press conferences, from women romanticizing girl stuff to the manosphere" of men on steroids hitting the gym, it feels like there isnt a single responsible adult in the room, she says. People feel insecure and vulnerable because the idea of progress has stalled. Theres immense amounts of fear. A Harvard graduate, a longtime contributor to all the major American newspapers, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1991 for a story in The Wall Street Journal on the human cost of the leveraged buyout of Safeway Stores, Faludi achieved global fame that same year and the National Book Critics Circle Award with her investigation titled Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women. I wish I had been wrong, she cautions about her cult classic of progressive thought. The 657-page review of the undeclared war on modern women presented a compelling accumulation of evidence to show that, far from what was being preached in the early 1990s, feminism had not consolidated institutional or social change, but rather had regressed in its objectives. When I published it, people were like, Oh, I didnt realize this was going on. These days, its impossible for anyone to say that because now its just completely in your face its blatant, its shameless, and its cruel, she notes. Susan Faludi in 1992 on a promotional tour of 'Backlash' in Australia. Fairfax Media Archives (Fairfax Media via Getty Images) Considered a prophetic text for revealing the political and cultural mechanisms used to fight progressive ideals, Backlash proved that no glass ceiling was broken in the 1980s and 1990s. What actually happened was a cultural, social, and political counterattack to ensure a retreat of womens rights and the establishment of a new mental framework thanks to the spread of a false myth: the idea that the feminist movement, far from liberating women, had made them unhappy. Films like Fatal Attraction and alarmist headlines of the type Childless Women Are Depressed and Disoriented, and the Numbers Are Getting Worse (as reported by the likes of The New York Times) blamed womens liberation for poisoning women with career ambitions. The press talked about a man shortage, citing a study that turned out to be false, and the idea took hold that women would never find husbands or become mothers because they had set their sights too high for emancipation. This yearning, moreover, was driving them crazy. Faludis research was such a bestseller that the screenwriter Norah Ephron gave it a nod in the 1993 film Sleepless in Seattle, when Meg Ryans character (Annie) retorts to a man who says, Its easier to get killed by a terrorist than it is to find a husband after 40. That statistic isnt true! shed respond. Theres practically a whole book about why that statistic isnt true! There was no need to name it because the entire country knew the book she was alluding to was Backlash. In some ways, were experiencing a repeat of what we experienced in the 1990s, but the current reaction is much less subtle, Faludi notes. Back in the 1980s, backlash wore a velvet glove. That reaction was like, Were just here to help. Thats not whats going on now. Its an attack that is depriving women of basic bodily autonomy, reproductive freedom, drumming women out of the workforce, gutting every law, policy and agency that serves womens rights and womens wellbeing, she says, listing as an example drafting bills to make a woman who seeks an abortion eligible for the death penalty. Were arresting mothers for purchasing abortion pills for their daughters, not to mention filling the U.S. Cabinet with alleged rapists, sex traffickers and wife beaters. And there are even calls to repeal womens right to vote. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in 'Sleepless in Seattle' (1993). For Faludi, the current situation is alarming. I think theres still a left. Its just everyone has a great deal of fear. And rightly so, because the minute you stick your head up, you get it chopped off, or ICE shows up, or its just the fear that ICE will show up. Its basically how the system operated under the Third Reich, where people were afraid of being reported, being turned in by others. Once that gets into your system, its paralyzing. The reporter is critical of the advances of fourth-wave feminism in her country. The paradox, she says, is that it has become very popular thanks to celebrities like Taylor Swift, but womens living conditions have actually worsened. The Great Recession of 2008 was more long-lasting for women, who found themselves unable to meet their ordinary needs. And we have a feminism thats all caught up in plastering banners that say the future is female on corporate websites. That is not helpful. Its just terrible how everything that either feminism or the left comes up with, we seem to end up using it to police each other ourselves internally. The right grasps this and is so good at being the wolf in sheeps clothing. Faludi is horrified by the clash between feminists on gender issues. I hate that its become us versus them or trans versus TERFs [an acronym that stands for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist]. Nothing is resolved by that approach; feminists and trans rights activists have a lot in common. Were both up against the punitive constraints of gender. Two decades ago, Faludi received an email from her father, whom she hadnt spoken with in years, revealing a new identity: her father now identified as a woman and went by the name Stephanie after undergoing gender reassignment surgery in Thailand. Her father was raised Jewish in Germany-allied Hungary and disguised himself as a fascist to save his parents from death. Thanks to his photography skills, he adopted a new identity in the U.S. under the name Steven Faludi to work as an image retoucher. He met Susans mother, they married, and when she left him, he stabbed her new boyfriend several times before returning to Hungary and embracing the antisemitic and misogynistic ideals of the far right. She would later tell this story in a book titled In The Darkroom, which earned her the Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction. When my father first wrote to me, in 2004, trans was almost an exotic notion to the average person, but by the time I published my book in 2016, Newsweek was talking about the transgender tipping point in the advancement of rights for trans people. And then all that turned, she says, noting that certain feminists have joined far-right positions and show sympathy for people who de-transition and underscoring the dangers of this type of alliance. Its just terrible how everything that either feminism or the left comes up with, we seem to end up using it to police each other ourselves internally. The right grasps this and is so good at being the wolf in sheeps clothing. Just about every anti-abortion bill or executive order against trans rights has been headlined womens equality. Its a farce, but its an effective one. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New York: US President Donald Trump has asserted an unproven link between painkillers and autism, and urged American parents to delay vaccinating their children, despite admitting he was presenting a personal opinion that was not based on medical advice. In an extraordinary, rambling press conference that was broadcast live on cable television across the US, Trump warned pregnant women not to take paracetamol, or Tylenol, but at times appeared to address his remarks to all Americans. US President Donald Trump in the White House on Monday (Tuesday AEST), as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr (left) watches. Credit: AP Taking Tylenol is not good. Its not good Dont take Tylenol, Trump said multiple times. Just dont take it unless its absolutely necessary. The president also instructed parents to spread out their childrens vaccines, rather than getting their shots delivered in one go, and not to inoculate children against hepatitis B until they were 12 years old, wrongly claiming it could only be spread by sexual transmission. A 20-year-old man is browsing Facebook. Among the posts scrolling across his screen, he sees one that catches his eye: a job offer, for a security guard at a company. He currently works washing cars, so it seems like a good opportunity. He resonds to the ad, and they reply. Everything is straightforward. They pay for a bus ticket from his village to the city terminal. From there, they order him a cab. Everything is going well, until, suddenly, the driver threatens him and takes his belongings. A while later, he arrives at a warehouse in the countryside, in the middle of nowhere. He sees armed people, and others like him. And then, it is explained to him that he has been brought there to become a hitman and that if he tries to escape, he will be cut to pieces. That summarizes the story of C. H. C. M., a young man from Jalisco, in central Mexico, and a victim of forced recruitment by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the countrys largest criminal organizations. The events occurred in late January, between the metropolitan area of Guadalajara the state capital of Jalisco and the terror warehouse, located on a ranch known as La Vega, an hour and a half from the city. His story is one of 38, mostly young men, torn from modest lives in different regions. Most were recruited through social media, on platforms such as Facebook or TikTok. EL PAIS has had access to part of the statements they gave weeks later before the judge, following their rescue. The case of the La Vega ranch inevitably brings to mind another cartel atrocity: the Izaguirre ranch, located only 20-25 kilometers from La Vega, which became world-famous in March of this year after the discovery of thousands of items of clothing, bone fragments, and the remains of clandestine crematoriums. The findings led citizens to suspect the worst: the CJNG not only trained recruits, but also killed those who rebelled. The horror of the Izaguirre ranch put the phenomenon of forced recruitment in Mexico on the map and also called into question the way authorities work; they have been aware for years that organized crime has used isolated ranches for this type of activity in the region, but have been unable to put a stop to it. To say that the military rescued the 38 captives from the La Vega ranch is perhaps a little inaccurate. The word rescue actually hides a somewhat more complex situation, one that again calls into question the actions of Mexican security forces, particularly the army, which has been accused on hundreds of occasions of human rights violations in the context of the so-called war on drug trafficking, which has been waged now for two decades. On January 29, when the recruits had been at the La Vega ranch for just a few days, soldiers burst into the warehouse, alerted by local residents. According to the recruits accounts, the soldiers mistreated them, assuming they were as embroiled in criminality as their captors. They detained them and brought them before the Attorney Generals Office, which presented charges against them. They spent several days in prison, until the judge had heard their stories. In the end, all but two were released, whom were charged with carrying cartridges and magazines for weapons. Its not entirely clear whether these two were actually part of the CJNG, among the forced recruits, or operated in a limbo between the two. One is 52 years old and lived in a town in the State of Mexico, where he worked as a security guard. In his statement, he said that he came to the ranch to work as a watchman and that he was simply tasked with patrolling. The other is 38 and ended up in hospital with a collapsed lung, according to his statement from the beatings the soldiers inflicted on him when they arrived at the ranch. EL PAIS has asked the Ministry of Defense about the alleged mistreatment of the captives, but has received no response. The La Vega ranch was used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel for forced recruitment. STR Agave and tablazo The recruiters at the La Vega ranch used different covers, although one prevailed over the rest: agave harvesting. In Jalisco, the tequila industry, which is based on the distillation of this plant, supports thousands of people each year. Therefore, few were surprised by the job offers they saw on social media, some on Facebook, others on TikTok. The cartel paid their bus fare, picked them up, and took them to the fields to harvest agave stalks. What they didnt know was that this offer, like others to become a security guard, for example, or to install surveillance cameras, or to be a bricklayer or construction foreman was fake. A deception by the CJNG, which has been running similar training camps in the region since at least 2017. On January 24, for example, A. N. G. T., a 20-year-old man from Zacatecas, found a video on TikTok in which they were hiring agave workers, according to the statement he gave before the judge. The young man contacted the number advertised in the video and was summoned a couple of days later to the Zapopan bus terminal, in the Guadalajara metropolitan area. There, he contacted his employers again, who immediately sent him a taxi. The problems began when the vehicle arrived. The driver had a gun and told me not to look, he explains. He then took him to the warehouse. There, the captors forced them to run and beat them. Another agave cutter who arrived at the ranch is 19-year-old F. J. F. L; a resident of Zamora, Michoacan, he says that one day, at the end of January, he had an argument with his wife. He had been seeing job offers for agave cutters on TikTok for a while, so he took advantage of the fight, contacted the fake employers, and left. The process in his case was similar: he arrived in Zapopan and from there a taxi picked him up and took him to the ranch. One of the captors said there were two options: either undergo three months of training or be shot in the head, he says. He accepted the training and says mistreatment was commonplace. The punishments were hitting us with a wooden board. Threats and abuse were a daily occurrence. G. J. G. D., a 24-year-old bus factory worker from Veracruz, for example, says they were forced to strip and do squats without clothing. J. J. J., an 18-year-old farmer from Oaxaca, who arrived under the promise of working in the fruit and agave harvest, says that the bad people stripped him naked and beat him with clubs. The CJNG also supervised every detail of their operation. Knowing that the families of many of them would report their disappearance, they forced them to record videos stating that they were there of their own free will. One of the two rescued women, R. N. S. C., 18, says she came to the ranch for a job as a cook. Once there, she was forced to record a video thanking the CJNG and the lord of the roosters for the opportunity the nickname of the criminal groups leader, Nemesio Oseguera, also known as El Mencho. The other woman, A. K. C. S., 30, who also arrived to work as a cook, had to record a video, in which I stated my name and that I wasnt being forced to remain in the cartel, she says. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A new group of countries, including some that are Washingtons partners, will officially recognize the Palestinian state at the 80th session of the General Assembly, which is being held this week in New York The genocide that Israel is committing in Gaza according to an independent commission appointed by the United Nations, along with the recognition of Palestinian statehood by key U.S. partners and allies such as France, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada (the latter three did so this past Sunday), will monopolize the opening of the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly, which is being held this week at the organizations headquarters in New York. The umpteenth U.S. veto of a Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza last Thursday has further highlighted the growing isolation of Washington and its protege Israel on the international stage after nearly two years of war. Starting this Monday, more countries will officially and symbolically recognize Palestine (a dozen are expected to do so), in a step the global community considers essential to ending decades of conflict through the so-called two-state solution, where the Israeli and Palestinian states will theoretically be on equal footing. The starting point will be the so-called High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, a U.N. initiative co-sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia that was launched in July and at which, for the first time, the Arab bloc called on Hamas to lay down its weapons and relinquish power in Gaza. Displaced Palestinians flee southward after Israeli forces ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the south, September 21, 2025. Dawoud Abu Alkas (REUTERS) Hamass departure is a fundamental requirement for the day after, and one of the points on which, according to the British newspaper The Guardian, several foreign ministries are negotiating, with London at the forefront, to prevent the major week of global diplomacy from being derailed by Palestinian recognition. The U.N.-backed roadmap or reconstruction plan the antithesis of the vast real estate deals that some Israeli ministers envision for the Gaza Strip involves on a one-year technocratic government, an international peacekeeping force, Hamass relinquishment of power, and a rejection of the mass deportation of Palestinians. None of these points is new: all were formulated more or less explicitly at the two-state conference held in July. London, which had conditioned recognition of Palestine on the achievement of a ceasefire in Gaza, is discussing in detail the U.N.-backed roadmap with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has warned that the Israeli threat to annex the occupied West Bank is a completely predictable reciprocal response to the wave of recognitions, which will bring the number of countries that recognize a Palestinian state to 156, out of the 193 members of the U.N. At the same time, the plans being considered by the White House, which, in practice, support the Israeli annexation of Gaza and the West Bank, are anathema to European and Gulf leaders, who were very proactive at the conference. Palestinians struggle to get food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on September 19, 2025. Jehad Alshrafi (AP) Palestine will be the undisputed protagonist of the 80th U.N. General Assembly, despite Washingtons obstacles to the participation of its representatives it denied them visas at the end of August and the increasingly explicit evidence about the true nature of the Israeli military offensive in the Strip (as well as the West Bank, where settler violence is added). Thats why the run-up to the U.N.s big week has already been as eventful as the gathering itself is expected to be. Last week, an overwhelming majority of countries in the General Assembly expressed their support for the two-state solution and urged Israel to commit to the creation of a Palestinian state, through a non-binding resolution like all those that emerge from the U.N. plenary session. On Thursday, the U.S. vetoed the sixth resolution this one binding in the Security Council, the U.N.s executive body, demanding an immediate ceasefire and the release of the hostages, as well as facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave. Each veto contributes to deepening the gap between the two partners and the rest of the world. Two days earlier, the Donald Trump administration had called the Human Rights Council morally bankrupt for commissioning an investigation by an independent group of experts that found that Israel is perpetrating genocide in Gaza. It is long overdue that the [Commission] be eliminated and that its anti-Semitic witch-hunt be put to an end, added the acting U.S. representative to the U.N. The accusation of antisemitism wielded by the U.S. and Israel is used for everything, from silencing protests at university campuses, to violating international law, and denigrating the U.N., to which Washington has taken months to appoint an ambassador. The U.S. and Israel are also on the same page when it comes to discrediting the organization. Palestinians amid the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli military strike in Gaza City, on Sept. 14, 2025. Yousef Al Zanoun (AP) Washingtons latest veto comes as nearly half of Americans believe Israel has gone too far in the Gaza Strip, according to a recent Associated Press-NORC poll. This is 10 points higher than in November 2023, when 40% considered the Israeli offensive excessive. To circumvent the U.S. entry ban which violates the agreements that bind the U.S., as host country, to the U.N. the General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution this Friday to allow Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, to participate remotely. He will be able to do so by videoconference both in Mondays important meeting and in the Assemblys debates. Only five countries, led by the U.S. and Israel, rejected this option, in a further display of international isolation. The fact that Israel has been ignoring binding Security Council resolutions on Palestine for decades makes the U.S. veto almost irrelevant in practice, though not in substance: as in the case of the invasion of Ukraine under the Russian veto, the paralysis of the U.N.s executive body does nothing to mitigate the conflict. But Washingtons hurdles obstacles have not been able to prevent Palestine, which has been a Permanent Observer State since 2012 and which saw its prerogatives within the organization expanded a year ago, from becoming the protagonist of this weeks events, overshadowing other ones such as the commemoration of the organizations 80th anniversary, debates on development goals, and the presentation of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition U.S. pressure on Venezuela is beginning to take its toll on the Miraflores Palace, the Venezuelan presidential residence. We have never experienced anything like this. There is a lot of confusion, says someone close to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The atmosphere has grown tense. Warnings are coming from every direction. Late Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the sinking of a new vessel that had departed from the Venezuelan coast and, shortly afterward, a former Trump official posted a cryptic message on social media directed at Maduros pilot, Bitner Javier Villegas. Happy birthday, General Bitner! the message read, accompanied by two photos: one showing Bitner in full military regalia with rank insignia and medals, and another split image in which the pilot is seen speaking with an unidentified person. In reality, there was nothing very cryptic about it: Marshall Billingslea is a former assistant secretary for Terrorist Financing at the U.S. Treasury Department, implying that Bitner had struck some kind of deal with them. Maduro does not want to enter into armed conflict, and he made that clear to Trump in a letter following the first U.S. Navy attack on a boat carrying 11 people. President, I hope that together we can defeat the falsehoods that have sullied our relationship, which must be historic and peaceful, Maduro wrote in the letter to Trump, according to Reuters. These and other issues will always be open for a direct and frank conversation with your special envoy [Richard Grenell] to overcome media noise and fake news, the letter continues. Grenell was the negotiator who, in January, brokered with Venezuelan leaders a prisoner exchange and laid the groundwork for the renewal of Chevrons oil licenses. Maduro wants to sideline Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the highest-ranking U.S. official who maintains highly aggressive rhetoric against the Chavista regime. Rubio is a personal friend of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. To date, this channel [Grenell] has functioned flawlessly, Maduro insisted. Despite all the tensions between the two countries, the deportation of undocumented migrants from the United States to Venezuela has continued. Paranoia is running high among the Chavista leadership, the top officials of Venezuelas ruling party who are aligned with Hugo Chavezs ideology. The internet is flooded with reports of mass defections in the Chavista military, secret conversations between Maduros inner circle and the White House to hand him over, and plans for a transition once the Chavista government is deposed. Most of these claims are impossible to verify. A narrative is building that something imminent is about to happen. Meanwhile, the U.S. fleet in the Caribbean is as real as it gets assault ships and nuclear submarines ready to strike vessels leaving Venezuela, allegedly carrying drugs. Trump claims that this is how he will end drug trafficking to his country. However, upon closer examination, this is the least suitable area in the world for such an operation. The Sinaloa Cartel moves thousands of kilos of drugs daily from Guayaquil, Ecuador, or from Tijuana, which, together with San Diego, forms a historic narcotics trafficking hub. Venezuela handles a significant flow, but it is minor on a global scale. Analysts agree that this deployment supports the theory that Maduro is not only a president but also a drug trafficker something that has not been proven and that he will have to answer to U.S. justice. Chavismo has been engaged in a tug-of-war with Washington for at least six years. Political negotiations, prisoner release agreements, oil licenses, NGO work permits, and respect for the opposition of which little remains have all been subjects of discussion between the two countries. Maduro or Diosdado Cabello, the regimes number two, could maintain a strong anti-imperialist rhetoric one day and sit down with White House envoys the next. It was a pendulum game. Now, things are different. There is no open channel of communication with Trumps people right now, says someone familiar with those talks. This worries the Chavistas, who for the first time since the Bolivarian Revolution which evolved into a one-party state genuinely fear armed conflict. Maduro, Cabello, and even Jorge and Delcy Rodriguez, the main political operators in Miraflores, distrust Trumps intentions. The specter of invasion casts a shadow that chills those within the palace. Chavismo is preparing as if war were imminent. First, they are watching potential traitors. Second, they are recruiting as many fighters as possible. The numbers given by Maduro amount to millions of soldiers and militiamen, but they cannot be verified, and no images distributed through Chavista communication channels confirm their accuracy. In mid-September, the armed forces trained residents of poor neighborhoods to use firearms. These areas were once strongholds of Chavismo, the same ones that brought Hugo Chavez to power with a message against the privileged and for the benefit of the poor. That idyll is now broken. Chavismo, taking into account the results of last Julys elections, has abruptly lost support. In fact, most Venezuelans who have emigrated to Spain, the United States, and other Latin American countries seven million, according to the United Nations came from these neighborhoods. Additionally, Chavismo is conducting maneuvers in the Venezuelan Caribbean. Instagram posts have shown fighter jets and images of Maduro, Diosdado, and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino rallying the troops. Even one of Chavezs brothers, Adan, gave a martial arts demonstration. At this point, Maduro and his circle see a real possible enemy on the horizon, one that is sending threats with missiles and propaganda. Confusion reigns at the Miraflores Palace. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The agency maintains that it does not use this method in its detention centers, but it does hold people in administrative segregation, a euphemism for solitary confinement The use of isolation in detention centers is on the rise under the second Trump administration. According to a report published by the nonprofit organization Physicians for Human Rights, thousands of immigrants have been placed in solitary confinement since the Biden administration took office in 2021, and in recent months the practice has multiplied, despite the risks to the mental health of detainees. It was also found that during the first three months of 2025, vulnerable individuals were held in isolation for periods of more than twice as long as when ICE first began publishing statistics: 38 consecutive days in early 2025 compared to 14 days in late 2021. The agency defines as vulnerable those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or elderly; who suffer from serious mental disorders or illnesses; who are at risk of harm due to their identity; or who are victims of sexual assault or abuse. Solitary confinement is the practice of placing a person in a small cell without meaningful human contact for 22 hours or more per day. ICE maintains that it does not use solitary confinement in its detention centers, but reports the number of people it keeps in segregation. In detention centers, the agency avoids using the term solitary confinement and instead uses euphemisms such as segregation, segregated housing, or Special Management Units. The study says that immigrants locked in such cells had been placed in administrative segregation. According to the report, in 14 months from April 2024 to May 2025, more than 10,500 people were placed in solitary confinement in detention centers across the country. Similarly, in the first four months of Trumps second term, the monthly increase in the use of isolation was more than six times higher than at the end of the previous administration. The report also cites a study that found that solitary confinement in immigration detention has grown at an alarming rate, with an unprecedented number of immigrants being held in isolation. It also suggests that, due to the recent increase in funding approved by Congress to expand immigration detention centers, the widespread and prolonged use of solitary confinement is likely to worsen. The UN considers solitary confinement of 15 days or more to be torture. Dr. Katherine Peeler, co-author of the study, said in a statement: During the final months of the Biden administration and amid the Trump administrations escalating attacks on immigrants, ICEs own records show that the agency has subjected people to these torturous conditions which cause devastating physical and psychological health harms. According to experts, prolonged isolation can cause paranoia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression, all of which can lead to suicide. The White House response The government denies an increase in the use of isolation for migrants detained by ICE. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told McClatchy News in an email that ICE facilities have the highest standards. They are safe, clean, and hold illegal aliens who are awaiting final removal proceedings. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, wrote the same media outlet that any allegation that ICE is weaponizing solitary confinement against illegal aliens is DISGUSTING and FALSE. These types of smears peddled by the media are leading to a 1000 percent increase in assault against our brave law enforcement, she said without offering evidence. Ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of individuals in our custody is a top priority at ICE, she added. In another statement, McLaughlin assured that ICE prioritizes the safety of individuals in custody and that detainees are placed in disciplinary segregation only after they are found guilty by a disciplinary hearing panel. She also said that any detainee scheduled for removal, release, or transfer will be placed in administrative isolation for 24 hours. ICEs National Detention Standards state that such isolation may be ordered for security reasons or for the orderly operation of the facility. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Since the start of Donald Trumps anti-immigration campaign, detention centers have been overwhelmed by a massive influx of detainees. Overcrowding with more than 60,000 people in custody nationwide inadequate and, in many cases, unsanitary facilities, and reports of inhumane treatment have led to continuous complaints from both detainees and advocacy organizations. The desperation affecting many people in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody has been reflected in a rising number of suicide attempts. In two cases, these attempts ended in death. Jesus Molina-Veya took his own life in June at the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia, and Chaofeng Ge died last month at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania. Both are among the dozen people who have died since January while in ICE custody. The lack of adequate medical care both physical and mental difficulties accessing medication, as well as grief over family separation and the anxiety experienced by many detainees, are increasing suicidal thoughts among those deprived of liberty as part of Trumps anti-immigrant campaign. The New York Times obtained reports and recordings of emergency calls revealing suicide attempts. In April, at least two attempts occurred in Tacoma, Washington, at the Northwest ICE Processing Center, operated by the private company GEO Group, according to ICE incident reports shared with the University of Washington Human Rights Center. In one case, a 32-year-old Turkish man attempted to strangle himself; in another, a 30-year-old Indian man tried to cut his own throat. In March, a detainee jumped from a ledge at the facility where he was being held. An investigation by Scripps News shows that dozens of detainees at the Moshannon Valley jail filed habeas corpus petitions in federal court. These requests for release describe cases such as a detainee held for 15 months without a bail hearing: His unstable mental health has deteriorated While in immigration custody, he has also been sexually assaulted twice and placed on suicide watch several times. Another petition states that jail authorities discontinued the 15-minute wellness checks for a detainee who experienced several severe panic attacks, including one that led to his hospitalization after a suicide attempt. Detention, which can be traumatic for anyone, often worsens the condition of those with mental health issues. Many facilities lack professionals capable of addressing these cases, and detainees who express suicidal thoughts are frequently placed in solitary confinement, where isolation, lack of natural light, and unsanitary conditions tend to exacerbate their mental state. Prolonged time alone can lead to cognitive decline, difficulty sleeping, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide. From December 2024 through the end of August, the number of people held in solitary cells for at least one day increased by 41%, according to an analysis by The Marshall Project and Univision Noticias. The number had also risen during the Biden administration. The peak occurred last August, with over 1,100 cases. Conditions in solitary confinement are reportedly deplorable, based on the experiences of those who have endured them. Faviola Salinas Zarate, a Mexican woman deported to her home country, said, I cried a lot, and sometimes, from the depression, I urinated in my clothes. Salinas, a mother of three U.S.-born children, spent two months alone in a solitary cell, sometimes sleeping on a metal surface, in the cold, and without a functioning toilet. She already suffered from postpartum depression when she was detained in February, just three months after the birth of her youngest child, she said, but the confinement worsened her condition. Families detained with their children have also provided numerous accounts of inadequate facilities, including overly strong air conditioning, no blankets, and artificial lighting 24 hours a day, making rest nearly impossible. They report mistreatment by staff and lack of access to necessary medical care and medications. Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff recently published an investigation into the abuse of pregnant women and children in detention centers. The report notes that some detainees who reported physical and sexual abuse were sent to solitary confinement as retaliation. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, called Ossoffs accusations false. ICE detention facilities have higher standards than most U.S. prisons that detain American citizens. All detainees are provided with comprehensive medical care, proper meals, and are given the opportunity to call their family members and attorneys, she said. The conditions in detention centers are difficult to verify because access is prohibited. Several members of Congress have attempted, unsuccessfully, to enter some facilities. Last Thursday, at least 11 state officials, including congresspeople and city council members, were arrested while attempting to enter a detention center in the federal building at 26 Federal Plaza in New York City. In total, more than 70 people were detained while protesting the poor conditions for migrants, as shown in several videos that went viral on social media. The day before, a federal judge ordered ICE officials to improve the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions for migrants in the center. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan cited the unconstitutional and inhumane treatment of detainees. According to ICE guidelines, detainees must undergo medical and mental health examinations within the first 12 hours of detention and again after two weeks, and have access to emergency services. But according to advocacy organizations, these rules are not being followed. One detainee who spoke to Scripps was a Nigerian migrant living in New Jersey with her two children and has been held for over a year and a half. Her lawyer says she experienced domestic violence and female genital mutilation. Agents reportedly stripped her in front of a camera, triggering a panic attack. She was placed under suicide watch and admitted to having suicidal thoughts. Ive never been locked up like this in my life. Im just a single mother that came to work to find a daily bread for my two kids, she said. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Republican administration has expelled nearly 170,000 people so far in 2025, a figure that falls far short of its latest goal of one million in the first year Donald Trump triumphantly returned to the Oval Office on January 20, 2025, with the mission of inaugurating a new golden age for the United States. And transforming immigration was always a central component of that grand vision that began with an avalanche of executive orders signed on his first day in office. The promise was to carry out the largest deportation in history and expel all undocumented immigrants from the country. This goal is elusive, both because the exact number of undocumented immigrants is unknown, and because records of all deportations in U.S. history are lacking. The initial target ranged from 11 million people the official number of undocumented migrants to around 20 million the highest figure Trump ever mentioned during the campaign. But with his second presidency now past the nine-month mark, reality has eroded these objectives, and a more modest if equally enormous deportation goal has emerged, according to various reports: one million people. To successfully expel so many people from the country, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) machinery must not only be well-oiled, but also expanded at every stage of the deportation effort: arrests, detentions in immigration centers and prisons, and repatriation flights or flights to third countries. The new budget that ICE received as part of the mega-law passed in July will allow for an unprecedented agency expansion in a bid to reach those goals. For now, however, the increase in ICE activities, while significant and firmly establishing a climate of fear among migrant communities across the country, has not reached the levels the Administration has set for itself, according to reports and figures released by the agency itself. At the beginning of Trumps second term, there was talk of achieving 1,000 daily apprehensions, a significant increase from the average of around 300 at the end of Joe Bidens presidency. In May, following a meeting in which Deputy Chief of Staff and National Security Advisor Stephen Miller lashed out at immigration officials for the low numbers of apprehensions and deportations, the numbers suddenly spiked as information circulated that the new goal was 3,000 arrests per day. Although ICE arrests increased from around 18,000 in April to 23,000 in May and 31,500 in June, the 3,000 daily figure has never been reached, and over the summer, apprehensions stabilized again around 30,000 a month. But in addition to the rising number of arrests, another trend in this first stage of the deportation process illustrates the transformation of the immigration machinery under Trump. While previously the vast majority of migrant arrests were made by Border Patrol officers on or near the border with Mexico, detaining people who had just crossed the river or the desert, now ICE is carrying out virtually all migrant detentions. The reason is twofold: on the one hand, the rhetoric and the reinforcement of military surveillance on the border has almost completely halted illegal border crossings, leaving no one to arrest at the border; and on the other, ICE is carrying out massive raids across the country and, in particular, arresting people when they show up for their appointments in the countrys immigration courts. In the next step of the process, immigration detention, the landscape has changed dramatically in the past nine months. First, the population in ICE custody has soared by almost 50%, from nearly 40,000 people in January to about 60,000 in September. This has naturally followed the increases in arrests, which can be seen especially in the number of detainees without any criminal record, which rose sharply after the Miller meeting in May. Considering that ICE detention centers were already at maximum capacity when Trump came back to power, to cope with this increase in the detainee population, which some experts believe could actually be even higher than reported, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE have resorted to every solution they could. Detention centers that had been closed have been reopened, others have been built in record time such as Alligator Alcatraz and Camp East Montana in El Paso, among others and people are being detained in hold rooms and more conventional prisons. At the same time, reports of ongoing abuse and deplorable conditions, as well as overcrowding, have become so frequent that they no longer seem to shock anyone. The final step is the removal of as many undocumented migrants as possible from the country. At the time of Trumps inauguration, around 13,000 people were being deported each month; now, the figure is approaching 30,000, after nine months of sustained increases. In total, according to official ICE data, 168,841 people were deported between January and August. This is still far from the largest deportation in history, and even from the more realistic goal of one million deportations in 2025. Although the Trump administration has cited higher figures without providing evidence, its data includes all people who have voluntarily left the country in response to the immigration climate created by the president, including people with green cards. Still, the total number of deportations, whether ordinary or self-deportations, as the administration has chosen to call them, is still far from the highest in history. Among existing records of past mass deportations, Operation Wetback former president Dwight Eisenhowers mass expulsion of Mexican workers who had arrived in the United States in the 1930s and during World War II remains far ahead, with an estimated two million deportees, half of whom were U.S. citizens. And during former president Barack Obamas two terms in office, three million people were deported, making the Democratic former president the deporter-in-chief. However, with more than three years of his term still remaining and unprecedented new funding for ICE, surpassing that of other agencies like the FBI and the DEA, Trump still has time to fulfill his promise. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with a U.S. congressional delegation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with a U.S. congressional delegation in Beijing on Sunday, calling on the U.S. Congress to view China and bilateral relations in a correct way, actively facilitate exchanges and cooperation, and play a constructive role in fostering China-U.S. friendship and common development. When meeting with the delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives, Li noted that as China and the United States are major countries with significant global influence, maintaining stable, sound, and sustainable development of bilateral relations serves the common interests of both sides and meets the expectations of the international community. Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump have held several phone talks this year and reached consensus that China and the U.S. should enhance dialogue and cooperation, providing strategic guidance for the development of bilateral ties in the next stage, Li said. China is willing to work with the U.S. to achieve mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and hopes the U.S. will work with China in the same direction to advance the bilateral relationship along the correct track, benefiting both countries and the world at large, Li noted. The premier pointed out that China and the U.S. should be partners for common development, treat each other with sincerity, empower each other, and achieve mutual success. China is willing to work with the U.S. to address each other's concerns through communication in a spirit of equality, respect, and mutual benefit, he added. Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Fadillah Yusof in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong on Monday met with Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Fadillah Yusof in Beijing. Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to work with Malaysia to implement the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, continuously deepen policy dialogue, technical exchange and practical cooperation in water conservancy and other fields, and enhance the well-being of the people of the two countries. For his part, Fadillah said that Malaysia has high appreciation for the achievements China has made in its water conservancy development. Malaysia is willing to continue deepening cooperation with China in water conservancy and other fields, and consolidating and developing bilateral relations, he added. Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Fadillah Yusof in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Eight decades ago, the United Nations was born from the ashes of World War II, opening a new chapter in the humanity's collective pursuit of peace, security and development. Now, as world leaders gather in New York to commemorate its 80th anniversary, the central question is clear: how to build a more effective and inclusive system of global governance. The stakes have never been higher. A resurgent Cold-War mentality, hegemonism and protectionism are eroding mutual trust, stoking geopolitical friction and deepening deficits in peace, development and governance. At the same time, developing countries remain underrepresented in global decision-making, while the authority and effectiveness of the United Nations face growing strain. What the world needs today is not less multilateralism -- but more. Strengthening the United Nations' central role and upholding the principles of the UN Charter are the best ways to honor its founding mission. Against this backdrop, China has put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), offering a timely and concrete path forward. The initiative rests on five core concepts: adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by the international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach, and focusing on taking real actions. Fully aligned with the UN Charter, these principles provide a framework to make global governance fairer, more inclusive, and more effective. In essence, the GGI is another global public good that China offers to the world. Its relevance is underscored by the crises of our time. From conflicts and famine in Gaza, the accelerating climate emergency in the Arctic to the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence, today's challenges are deeply interconnected and demand cooperative solutions. Without real action, the ambition to improve governance remains empty talk. The theme of this year's UN General Assembly -- "Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights" -- captures the urgency of the moment. Revitalizing multilateral cooperation is the only way forward, and the GGI offers a practical blueprint to guide that effort. At this pivotal juncture, the world must renew the United Nations' founding values of solidarity and cooperation. By embracing the GGI and committing to consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit, humanity can build a system of governance capable of delivering lasting peace, security and common prosperity for all. ISLAMABAD, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 22 people were killed in an airstrike in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials and local sources said on Monday. Three houses were struck in the bombardment in the Khyber district of the province, the sources told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The deceased included 18 people from one family and four others from two separate households, the sources added. Following the incident, around 40 to 50 protesters blocked a main road, while other groups of demonstrators gathered under different political and religious leaders in the district, witnesses said. Sources from the local authority said that the situation in the area was being closely monitored. SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's exports grew in double digits in the first 20 days of this month due mainly to more business days, customs office data showed Monday. Outbound shipment spiked 13.5 percent from a year earlier to 40.11 billion U.S. dollars during the Sept. 1-20 period, according to Korea Customs Service. The double-digit growth came as the number of working days expanded by 3.5 days in the cited period. Last year's Chuseok holidays, South Korea's version of Thanksgiving Day, fell in September. Exports for semiconductors, automobiles and ships advanced in double figures, with those for steel products, mobile devices, auto parts, computers and home appliances gaining in single digits. Imports swelled 9.9 percent to 38.22 billion dollars for the first 20 days of September, sending the trade surplus to 1.89 billion dollars. Imports for semiconductor equipment, machinery, natural gas, and mobile devices surged in double digits, but those for crude oil, coal and oil products shrank in the cited period. Indian IT stocks fell sharply on Monday morning, with sector heavyweights TCS, Infosys, and Tech Mahindra leading the decline after the Trump administration's unprecedented $100,000 H-1B visa fee hike sent shockwaves through the $245 billion industry. The Nifty IT index dropped over 3 per cent in early trade, wiping out 63,000 crore in market value from the top 10 IT companies. The BSE Sensex shed 475.16 points to 82,151.07 while the 50-share NSE Nifty slumped 88.95 points to 25,238.10. TCS shares tumbled to a low of 3,063 before recovering slightly to 3,104, down 2.07 per cent by 10 am. Infosys dropped 1.88 per cent to 1,511, hitting an intraday low of 1,480, while Wipro declined 2.13 per cent and Tech Mahindra fell the most at 6 per cent. HCL Technologies, LTIMindtree, and other mid-tier players also faced selling pressure as investors grappled with the implications of the massive fee increase. US President Trump's proclamation, effective September 21, imposes a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applicationsa staggering jump from the current $1,500-$4,000 range. The White House later clarified that the fee applies only to fresh petitions and not renewals or existing visa holders, providing some relief to panic-stricken professionals. The move fundamentally alters the economics of deploying Indian talent in the US market, which generates over 60 per cent of revenues for most Indian IT firms. "Cost arbitrage between sending an Indian employee versus hiring locally in the US will reduce substantially, and companies need to rework hiring and pricing strategies," said Sunny Agrawal, Head of Fundamental Research at SBI Securities, told ET. Data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services reveals the scale of potential impact. TCS topped Indian companies with 5,505 H-1B approvals in fiscal 2025, followed by Infosys (2,004), LTIMindtree (1,844), HCL America (1,728), and Wipro (1,523). Amazon led all companies with 10,044 H-1B workers, highlighting how the fee hike affects both Indian and US tech giants. Industry leaders, NASSCOM respond NASSCOM, India's IT industry body, welcomed the White House clarification while acknowledging the challenges ahead. "The clarification makes clear that the measure will not affect current visa holders and will apply as a one-time fee only to fresh petitions. This has helped address the immediate ambiguity surrounding eligibility and timelines," NASSCOM stated. The organisation emphasised that Indian companies have already reduced H-1B dependency, with approved visas dropping from 14,792 in 2015 to 10,162 in 2024. "H-1B workers for the top 10 Indian and India-centric companies are less than 1 per cent of their entire employee base," NASSCOM noted, projecting only "marginal impact" for the sector. Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai dismissed claims of cheap labour exploitation, pointing out that the average salary paid by the top 20 H-1B employers exceeds $100,000. He predicted the fee hike would "dampen fresh applications by companies and may accelerate offshoring", while encouraging companies to expand India-based Global Capability Centres. The visa fee hike threatens to slow India's IT services export growth below 4 per cent, Emkay Global's Chief Economist Madhavi Arora told ET. "Near-term impact may be limited on IT revenue/margins. However, if sustained, it could disturb Indian IT exports, companies' traditional models, pressurise project margins, disrupt Indian IT supply chains and on-site projects," she warned. The timing compounds existing challenges for IT stocks, which have underperformed significantly in 2025. TCS has declined 23 per cent year-to-date, Infosys has dropped 18 per cent, and Wipro has lost 15 per cent amid weak global demand and cautious earnings commentary. Several mid-tier companies, including Coforge, Persistent Systems, and Mphasis, have already informed exchanges that the visa fee hike will have "no material impact," citing reduced reliance on H-1B visas and increased local hiring. However, analysts warn that smaller firms that are more dependent on fresh visa approvals could face sharper margin pressures. Strategic shift The visa policy change may accelerate Indian IT companies' ongoing transformation toward local hiring and offshore delivery models. Kunal Bahl, co-founder of Snapdeal, told HT that he anticipates "reverse migration" with "a tremendous number of talented individuals headed back to India," potentially boosting the country's talent density. Industry experts suggest the move could drive more work toward India-based Global Capability Centres while forcing companies to justify visa costs only for critical, irreplaceable roles. As Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick bluntly stated, companies must decide whether each worker is "valuable enough to have $100,000 payment to the government, or they should head home and hire an American". US President Donald Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarrowho made headlines for his recent vitriolic comments against India for its trade relationship with Russiamight have been behind the new H-1B visa policy, a congressman said on Monday. This follows Trump's announcement on Friday hiking the annual fee for H-1B visas to $100,000. ALSO READ | New H-1B policy: Netizens point out THIS loophole, say Donald Trump move 'falls short' Following backlash, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified that the huge amount was only a one-time payment, and that existing H-1B visa holders would not be affectedeven if they were outside the US when the policy went into force (Sunday). Democratic Congressman for Sacramento, Ami Bera, criticised the new visa policy nevertheless, saying that it would worsen India-US ties. I dont agree with the policy because its actually going to hurt American companies. These are workers who are filling vital roles and positions. Hiking visa fees to $100,000 is unheard of for something like this," Bera said in an Indian Express interview. It sounds like something Peter Navarro would come up with," the Indian-origin Congressman added, criticising the implementation of the new policy without sufficient warning, and the changes made to it after the backlash. Trumps trade adviser Peter Navarro has so far called India the "maharaja of tariffs", a vampire, and Russia's laundromat, over New Delhi's purchases of Russian energy, which he felt contributed to the Russia-Ukraine war. ALSO READ | Be it Trump tantrums, H1-B visa fee hike or punitive tariffs, India-US trade thrives "They use that money to buy Russian oil, and then the Russians use that to buy weapons. And then we as taxpayers, have to pay more for this, for the defence of Ukraine. And so how can that be?" he questioned, at one point. One of his viral statements against India has even been fact-checked by netizens on X, leading users to question his statements. Should X put up posts like one below where foreign interests masquerade as objective observers and interfere with domestic U.S. economics and politics? See SCREEN SHOT! Take poll on next post. pic.twitter.com/xb1wakeWFV Peter Navarro (@RealPNavarro) September 8, 2025 India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has since rejected Navarro's statements, calling them "unacceptable". ALSO READ | Indian special interests trying to interfere...: Peter Navarros fresh attack on X after his post was flagged Amid these India-US trade tensions, Union Trade Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday (US time) will continue talks for a long-pending trade deal from Washington. In what will substantially change Indias military air-power architecture, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to increase the number of fighter aircraft squadrons from the currently mandated 42 squadrons to size up to tackle the possible scenario of fighting a two-front war. The total number of IAFs sanctioned fighter aircraft strength may even cross the thousand mark. Pakistan and China are seen as possible adversaries. The IAF and the countrys military establishment have been looking to revise the benchmark of a total of 42 fighter aircraft squadrons as a basic requirement to fight a two-front war. A review reveals that the 42 number may be very small. So there is an urgent requirement to increase the benchmark number substantially, a top official of Indias military establishment told THE WEEK. The top official, speaking on condition of anonymity, declined to name the exact number of squadrons required although it has been given to understand that the number has already been agreed upon. The 42 fighter squadron requirement was zeroed in when the Indian military architecture was Pakistan-centric. Now the focus is primarily on China. The IAF currently faces the huge problem of depleting fighter aircraft squadrons. The IAFs fighter fleet strength will stand at 29 totaling 464-522 fighters after September 26 when the IAFs work-horsethe MiG 21is set to retire. This is about 250 short of the requirement of 42 squadrons. But the revision of the benchmark figure will require several hundreds more of fighters. The 29 IAF fighter squadrons include 12 Sukhoi-30 squadrons, three Mirage 2000, two Rafale, and two Tejas LCA squadrons besides the Jaguars and the MiG 29s. While Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) operates more than 2,000 fighter aircraft, the Pakistan Air Force has about 500 fighter aircraft. The much-delayed production of Tejas fighters for the IAF has been a key factor for the acute scarcity in fighter numbers. The very long gestation period for new procurements from abroad is another key reason. India is aiming to be totally self-reliant in designing, developing and producing fighters by 2047. Besides the planned future procurement of 83 LCA Tejas Mk 1A fighters, 120 LCA Mk 2, and 126 numbers of the fifth-generation, twin-engine stealth Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), the government is understood to be looking closely to urgently procure 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA). The source told THE WEEK that the French-origin Rafale leads the competition because of several factorsFirst, the familiarity factor. The IAF already flies Rafales, hence spares, training and tooling wont require major adjustments. Second, maintenance costs would be lower. Third, the immensely bureaucratic process of procurement would be relatively much easier in case of the Rafale as the Indian Navy too has ordered the maritime version of the aircraft. Moreover, at this point of time, urgency in procurement is of paramount importance. Less than a week after Aryan Khan's Netflix show Bads of Bollyood was released, there is a fresh controversy over a scene featuring Ranbir Kapoor in the series. ALSO READ: 'The Bads of Bollywood': How Aryan Khan reunited Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir in his directorial debut Based on a complaint, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised concerns over a scene from Bads of Bollywood Season 1 Episode 7 where Ranbir is seen smoking an e-cigarette without any disclaimer or warning. In this regard, the human rights panel has asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as well as the Mumbai Police to submit an Action Taken Report. Complainant Vinay Joshi also sought action against not just Ranbir Kapoor, but also the producers of 'Bads of Bollywood' as well as Netflix for violating laws and spreading harmful content. ALSO READ: 'The Bads of Bollywood' Celeb Review: Suniel Shetty, Kajol, Akshay Kumar praise Aryan Khan's directorial debut Following this, the panel issued a notice to the secretary of the ministry of information and broadcasting to take appropriate action and stop contents that may wrongly influence the young generation. The plaintiff claimed that the depiction of vaping without warning could mislead youngsters. Joshi also raised concerns that such irresponsible content promotes illegal activities, disrespects law enforcement and harms public health and morality. The Mumbai Police Commissioner has been directed to investigate the source of electronic cigarettes. Besides lead actor Lakshya Lalwani, Bads of Bollywood features an ensemble cast of Bobby Deol, Raghav Juyal, Manoj Pahwa, Mona Singh, Manish Chaudhari, Sahher Bambba, Anya Singh, Vijayant Kohli, and Gautami Kapoor. However, its is the cameos by A-listers like Ranbir Kapoor that got attention of Bollywood fans. Some of the notable cameos included Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Karan Johar and Ranveer Singh. JERUSALEM, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Monday that its air force killed the deputy commander of Hamas's naval police in Gaza. According to the IDF, Iyad Abu Yusuf was targeted in a precision strike on a refugee camp area in central Gaza. The army said Yusuf had participated in the deadly Hamas raid in southern Israel in October 2023 and later planned ambushes against Israeli forces while safeguarding Hamas's assets during the ongoing conflict. Also on Monday, the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of the Jordanian Hospital, a key health facility in Gaza, according to a Palestinian health official. Meanwhile, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Israeli airstrikes since dawn Monday have killed and injured multiple civilians across Gaza. Medical sources said several family members were killed when Israeli aircraft struck a home in the Al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City. A separate strike on a vehicle east of Al-Zawaida town in central Gaza killed a child and wounded others. Gaza's health authorities said the death toll from Israel's offensive, ongoing since Oct. 7, 2023, has climbed to 65,344, with 166,795 wounded. The latest development came as Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal recognized the State of Palestine on Sunday. France and Belgium are expected to follow suit on Monday, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly meeting. Keralas government hospitals are already facing a crisis as suppliers of critical cardiac devices have stopped deliveries over pending arrears. Now, the suppliers have issued an ultimatum in a letter sent to all medical superintendents and heads of cardiology departments in the states medical colleges. Earlier, the Chamber of Distributors for Medical Implants and Disposables (CDMID), an association of suppliers, decided to halt the supply of stents, guide wires, catheters, and PTCA balloons after sending multiple letters to the state government requesting payment of arrears. According to the distributors, Rs 41.34 crore was pending up to June 2024, while an additional Rs 117.34 crore has accumulated over the last 14 months. Now, the CDMID has warned that it would be forced to take out its consignment stock kept in various government-run institutions if a portion of the pending arrears is not paid before October 5. The CDMID sent its last letter on August 29, in which it announced its decision to stop the supply of devices. The new letter is a continuation of that communication. In it, the CDMID demands the payment of arrears up to March 31, 2025. Kozhikode Medical College Hospital tops the list of unpaid bills, with more than Rs 34 crore due to the distributors. It is closely followed by Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, which owes over Rs 29 crore. A CDMID representative said that some government hospitals had conveyed that they received funds for one month and requested supplies to resume. But with that meagre fund, we cannot do anything, he said, while confirming that the suppliers had received a small portion of the pending arrears from a few government centers. In the first week of August, representatives of the distributors had met the private secretary of the health minister and submitted their representation. CDMID claimed that the government had promised to take necessary action in August, but nothing happened. This, they said, forced them into a situation where they cannot supply further, as they are unable to pay principal suppliers to procure stocks. They also noted that distributors across Kerala are running out of stock of guide wires, catheters, PTCA balloons, and coronary stents. Our intent is not to create problems or challenges for the general public, but this fight is for our survival, wrote the suppliers in the letter. A 19-year-old youth, accused of posting sexually explicit content against a woman on the internet, was granted bail by the Rajasthan High Court under a unique conditionno social media usage for three years! Akash, a resident of Karauli and a second-year college student, was accused of intimidating a married woman by publishing sexually explicit material about her on social platforms. He is also accused of blackmailing her using such content. In his bail application, Akash undertook that he would not repeat the offences and not use social media. It was also submitted that his custody was not required in the investigation. The public prosecutor opposed the bail, arguing that the allegations against the accused-petitioner were grave in nature. The complainants counsel also opposed the bail application, saying his release would jeopardise the safety and well-being of the victim. After hearing both sides, the bench of Justice Ashok Kumar Jain noted that the material on record clearly indicated that the petitioner used different mobile phones and Instagram IDs to commit the offence, and harm the respondent's reputation and image. The court, however, decided to grant him bail, considering other factors like the age of the accused, no criminal antecedents, and the stage of the investigation. It also noted that the offence is triable by a magistrate first class and the statement of the victim had already been recorded. The bench set the condition that the accused should not use any social media platform for three years, either in his name or any fictitious name. He was also barred from contacting the victim or her family member, directly or indirectly. In case of any violation of the above conditions, the bail granted to the applicant-accused shall be liable to be cancelled, the court said. Three Uttar Pradesh residents arrested from Maharashtra are the latest in a surge of online scams that have emerged in India and abroad, preying on public sympathy to crowdfund for the victims of Gaza. The three arrestedMohammed Ayan, Zaid Notiyar, and Abu Sufiyanwere picked up from Bhiwandi, and will be produced before a local court before being brought to Lucknow on transit remand. The three are accused of running fraudulent crowdfunding campaigns on social media by putting up heart-wrenching photos and videos of suffering in Gaza and making heartfelt appeals for help. According to initial information put out by the states Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the three earned crores of rupees through donations which poured in for help, and kept most of this money for themselves. They have also sent lakhs of rupees to associates in different districts of the state. The three were using their own UPI IDs and bank accounts to solicit donations. While there is no clarity on where the money was spent, the ATS has tagged the nature of the money trail as suspicious. Investigators will also look into whether the money was sent abroad. They have been charged under Sections 152, 318(4) and 61(2) of the BNS. The first deals with endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country; the second with cheating, dishonestly inducing delivery of property; and the third with criminal conspiracy. The maximum punishment can stretch to life imprisonment. A pan-Indian issue This is another chapter in a long list of fraudulent campaigns that have popped up during the ongoing conflict. Authorities have reported a sharp rise in fake crowdfunding drives, manipulative social media appeals, and phishing campaigns exploiting the urgency to help civilians affected by the conflict (who do not check for authenticity despite repeated public awareness campaigns). In a separate case, the Gujarat police arrested a Syrian national for his involvement in another fraudulent Gaza relief operation. Investigators revealed that fake fundraising accountswith handlers stationed outside Indiawere directing operatives to exploit donor goodwill by using emotionally charged narratives and doctored visuals. The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has busted a Syrian gang extorting money from mosques by posing as Gaza victims. The police have detained a Syrian national named Ali Meghat Alzahar. He had come to India on a tourist visa. During interrogation, it was revealed that he was using the ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025 Similar cases have surfaced in other states, underscoring the pan-Indian presence of these scams. What to watch out for The spate of online fraudulent campaigns can involve any or all of the methods below: a) Creation of imitation websites that mimic genuine charities. b) Use of phishing emails disguised as communications from well-known international aid groups. c) Circulation of viral videos, often edited or lifted from unrelated disasters, to tug at donor emotions. d) Launch of urgent appeals on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram, pressing users to donate quickly before verifying authenticity. What analysts say about the issue According to cybersecurity analysts, there has been a noticeable 40 per cent increase in scam-linked content and nearly 60 per cent more phishing emails posing as humanitarian agencies, since the start of Gaza-related trending campaigns. Complaints about fake charities have also risen globally. Other complications Crowdfunding platforms have come under pressure for failing to effectively filter out fraudulent drives. Some operators were found hosting fake appeals, while in parallel, legitimate campaigns for Gaza were suddenly blocked or delayed due to over-scrutiny. This hampers genuine relief efforts while also eroding public trust in digital crowdfunding platforms. Scammers have further complicated matters by repurposing footage from entirely different disasters, such as wildfires or earthquakes, claiming they were scenes from Gaza too. This strategy makes it increasingly difficult for ordinary donors to separate fact from fraud. Going forward UP ATSlike other agencies across the countryis dealing with the problem by deploying forensic teams to scrutinise seized devices, map social media activity, and trace UPI records. There is also stricter scrutiny of multi-layered bank transfers to identify funds being siphoned into untraceable channels, such as digital wallets. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a nationwide campaign to highlight the governments new round of Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, coinciding with the start of the festive season. Senior leaders fanned out across markets and public spaces on Monday to explain the benefits of what the party has called the next-generation GST reforms and to promote the ongoing GST Savings Festival. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address, announced the rollout of the reforms, saying they would ease compliance, lower taxes on essential goods, and provide relief to households. He described the initiative as a double bonanza during the festival period and also used the occasion to underline the importance of adopting Swadeshi products. In what was seen as a parallel message to Washington, he said India must rely on domestic strength at a time when the United States has imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods and raised visa fees for H-1B workers to USD 100,000. The same subtle message was delivered by cabinet ministers as they favoured shift to swadeshi products. If the message percolates during the festive seasons then US companies could feel the pinch, hence a message to Trump administration. At home front, the message was also for the middle class, which has largely supported the BJP despite facing hardships. After allowing Rs 1 lakh tax-free income in the Budget, this is the second benefit for the aspirational class. Coming ahead of Bihar elections, this has additional poll message. In Delhi, BJP president J.P. Nadda interacted with traders and shopkeepers in Amar Colony market. He urged them to ensure GST benefits reach consumers and to stock more Indian-made goods. Swadeshi products carry the hard work of Indias youth and the fragrance of our soil, Nadda said, while shopkeepers pledged to pass on GST reductions to buyers. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, described the reforms as historic and said they would directly benefit middle-class families. He cited examples of reduced prices on items ranging from kitchen essentials to consumer durables, arguing that this would boost consumption and add significantly to GDP growth. According to Vaishnaw, the reforms simplify processes for MSMEs, streamline input tax credits, and make dispute resolution easier. He contrasted current GST rates with those during the UPA era, highlighting reductions on items such as cement, sanitary pads, footwear, and household appliances. The BJP has framed the initiative as part of its broader economic reform agenda. While the party projects the reforms as a relief measure for consumers and a growth driver for the economy, it has also sharpened its emphasis on Swadeshi and self-reliance, linking tax relief at home with resilience against protectionist moves abroad. The Supreme Court on Monday observed that certain remarks made in the preliminary probe report of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on the Ahmedabad Air India crash were irresponsible. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh issued notices to the Centre and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on a PIL seeking an independent, fair and expeditious probe into the June 12 accident. The top court stressed the need to avoid rumours and speculations till the final enquiry is complete. When this kind of tragedy happens, one airline would be blamed. Boeing and Airbus will not be attributed with fault, and so the entire airline is run down, Justice Kant said. When senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners, claimed that certain remarks in the AAIB report were seized upon by the international media to build a narrative of the pilots error, Justice Kant said that was unfortunate. Kudos to the SC for issuing notice to the govt to ensure a fair, independent & expeditious investigation into the Air India crash at Ahmedabad in June. Govt had appointed a 5 member Investigation team of which 3 were serving officers of DGCA, which may itself need to be https://t.co/sqD5N93roA Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) September 22, 2025 Bhushan also noted that the Wall Street Journal had published a report, blaming the senior pilot, even before the official release of the preliminary report. Responding to it, Justice Kant said, Very irresponsible kind of [reporting]...confidentiality is the most important thing in these matters. The petition was filed by an aviation safety NGO led by Captain Amit Singh (FRAeS), alleging that the official probe violates citizens' fundamental rights to life, equality and access to truthful information. The petitioner alleged that the AAIBs preliminary report withholds critical information, including the full Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) output, complete Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) transcripts with time stamps and Electronic Aircraft Fault Recording (EAFR) data. In one of the worst accidents in Indias aviation history, an Air India flight AI171 en route to London's Gatwick airport crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 265 people, including 241 passengers and crew on board. A woman in Kanpur's Colonelganj alleged that her husband and in-laws tried to murder her using a snake over a dowry spat. This comes weeks after a horrific Greater Noida incident, which saw influencer Nikki Bhati allegedly burnt and tortured in front of her sister and son over a dowry disagreement. Chamanganj native Reshma alleged that she had been separated from her three-year-old daughter on Friday night and locked in a room. At around 5 AM in the morning, she saw a black snake on her bed, which bit her right leg. Reshma also alleged that her bedroom door was locked shut for a while by her husband and in-laws, despite her screams for help. When they finally opened the door, she managed to escape to her parents' house. ALSO READ | Repeat of Greater Noida case? Dwarka woman found dead, father alleges dowry harassment From there, she was quickly rushed to the Ursula Hospital, and then to the LLR Hospital, a Jagran report said. Doctors confirmed that her condition was "stable, but serious", adding that she was receiving anti-venom treatment for her severe snake bite symptoms. The victim's sister Rizwana filed a complaint at the Colonelganj police station against Reshma's husband Shahnawaz "Ayan" Khan, as well as six other members of his family. The problem reportedly began a few days after their wedding in 2021, when Ayan's family demanded Rs 2 lakhs from Reshma's family for building a room. ALSO READ | Noida dowry killing: Accused husband Vipin shot while trying to escape custody, shows no remorse for Nikkis death Her family only transferred Rs 1.5 lakhs. Ayan's family taunted Reshma over this, demanding another Rs 5 lakhs, which her family refused. She was often abused emotionally and physically due to this. Colonelganj Police Station SI Ugrasen Singh has said that an investigation is currently underway. The Leh Apex Body (LAB), on Monday, urged the Centre to hold talks on Statehood and the Sixth Schedule urgently, instead of on 16 October, in view of the ongoing hunger strike in Leh led by noted climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk. The delay in inviting Ladakh leaders for talks after the last round on May 27 had created anxiety in the region, leading Wangchuk to announce a 35-day hunger strike. He had observed a similar strike last year, which culminated at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on October 2. Addressing a press conference, Chering Dorjay, co-chairman of the LAB, comprising religious and political bodies of Leh, welcomed the invitation for talks by the home ministry but stressed that talks should be held this month. He said earlier the dates for the talks were decided in mutual consultation between them and the ministry's high-powered committee led by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, but this time they were not consulted. Talks should be held this month only, instead of 16 October, he said. People have come to participate in the hunger strike from as far as the Tibetan border to show solidarity with us. The other members of the LAB who spoke were Sonam Wangchuk, Sonam Parvez, and Ashrad Ali Barcha, representing the Christian and Muslim communities of Leh. Wangchuk said if the home ministry wished, talks could be held in three days. There was no need to hold talks after 16 days. The delay will cause difficulties, he said. He added that their agitation for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh is not new. A similar situation existed in 2022 when the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LADHC), Leh elections were round the corner, he said. When the people of Leh threatened to boycott the polls, a special plane was sent from Delhi to fly the leaders of Ladakh to Delhi and talks were held the next day. He added that the same could happen now, and talks could be held in three to four days. A long wait of 16 days for the talks to take place will be very troubling for the people who have come from the IndiaTibet border, he said. When asked about the governments call to suspend the hunger strike for talks to begin, Dorjay said suspending the strike without achieving anything would be very difficult. This is why we are pressing for holding talks urgently, because the people are getting impatient, he said. Hunger strikes are peaceful, but when people become impatient, they are difficult to control. When asked whether they were optimistic that the upcoming talks would resolve all issues or would be like the previous ones where nothing happened, the co-chairman said whenever talks are held, one has to go with a positive attitude. Otherwise, why hold talks in the first place, he said. We are hopeful that the Centre will realise how important it is to resolve this issue and that an acceptable solution will be found. Wangchuk warned that if the Centre tried to beat about the bush, it would face a setback in the upcoming LAHDC election in Leh. He said that it was being said the BJP might postpone the elections or dissolve the LAHDC for fear of losing. That would be unfair and foul play, he said. A good fighter believes in fair play and I hope such a situation will not arise, adding, If the BJP comes good on the promises made to the people in 2020, the whole of Ladakh will make them victorious with a huge mandate. Thats why we are hopeful that this time the talks will be meaningful. He said the youth wings were talking about intensifying the agitation in different ways. He expressed hope that all issues would be resolved peacefully and nothing would happen that could become a reason for embarrassment for India. Indias Constitution took only two years to complete, but in the last five years since Ladakh was granted Union territory status, only issues related to jobs have been addressed, he said. Dorjay said they understood that talks take time to conclude, but they should continue and not stall. To a question on whether they had received any assurance on statehood and the Sixth Schedule in the last meeting in May, he said they did not get what they had asked for. Whatever was decided in the meeting was with everybodys consent, except our MP, who gave a note of dissent. Later, he too came on board, he explained. He said that now they would only talk about statehood and the Sixth Schedule. Other demands, like domicile, have been resolved, he said. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will hold bilateral discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday amid the strain in relations between the two countries over the tariff crisis. Jaishankar is in New York to attend the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). Rubio will meet the EAM on Monday morning, according to the daily schedule issued by the State Department. The last time the two leaders met was in July for the QUAD Foreign Ministers Meet. Secretary Rubio and EAM Jaishankar are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting tomorrow in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. pic.twitter.com/kmWYdNB9Kp REENA BHARDWAJ (@reenabhardwaj) September 22, 2025 The meeting comes days after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to impose a whopping $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, a move that could impact thousands of Indian job aspirants in the US. Meanwhile, a delegation led by Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal has also arrived in New York to hold discussions towards achieving an early conclusion of a trade agreement. Goyal is accompanied by the special secretary in the ministry, Rajesh Agrawal and other officials. "The delegation plans to take forward the discussions with a view to achieving early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement," according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. A delegation led by the Commerce and Industries Minister, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, to visit the USA on 22nd September 2025 for discussions on the India-US trade deal The delegation plans to take forward the discussions with a view to achieve early conclusion of a mutually pic.twitter.com/3DtMWBflB0 ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2025 Last week, a team of officials from the office of the United States Trade Representative had visited New Delhi for the next round of negotiations on the trade deal. The relations between India and the United States nosedived last month after Trump imposed a whopping 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhis continued purchase of cheap Russian oil. Washington has been accusing India of funding Russian President Vladmir Putins war machines in Ukraine by purchasing the oil. However, a thaw in relations has been visible since Trump telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and extended wishes on his birthday last week. Calling Modi a close friend, Trump expressed hope that a trade deal could be reached between the two countries at the earliest. The purported ceasefire offer of the banned CPI(Maoist ) has been rejected by the security forces, who see it as a diversionary tactic of the Reds to regroup and carry out attacks, once the anti-Naxal operations slow down. In the last few days, several reports emerged of the Maoist spokesperson Mallujola Venugopal alias Abhay, writing a letter of truce and expressing willingness to hold talks with the government. But, sources in the Union Home Ministry said such claims and overtures are neither new nor credible, as the CPI(Maoist) is under pressure and making attempts to divert the attention of the security forces. The operations are continuing and there will be no let-up in the chase of the top naxal brass that is roaming free, said a senior security official. Also Read | Why collapse of CPI(Maoist) command structure is good news for authorities It is in continuation of these anti-Naxal operations that two Naxal commanders, Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy and Katta Ramachandra Reddy, were gunned down by security forces in the Abujhmad region of Narayanpur district on the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border on Monday evening. Both Kadari, 67, and Katta, 63, hailed from Karimnagar in Telangana and spent close to three decades in Maoist ranks and rose to become central committee members actively leading the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, where they unleashed violence across Bastar, Narayanpur, Dantewada and other regions across Chhattisgarh. The chase is now on for other top Maoist commanders like Madhavi Hidma, leading the PLGA battalion 1, Devji, Bhupati, Bhaskar, and Abhay, who are learnt to have divided tasks after the killing of CPI(Maoist) general secretary Basavaraju earlier this year. With Basavaraju gone, there are multiple power centres that have been created due to factionalism, said a security official in Chattisgarh. The latest hit suffered by the Maoists in Abhujmad has pushed the Naxals to the fringes, and continued operations are expected to cause more damage to the Maoists in the coming days and months. The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Delhi Police on petitions filed by activist Umar Khalid, former JNU student leader Sharjeel Imam, and student activist Gulfisha Fatima challenging the Delhi High Courts decision refusing them bail in a case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots. The case, registered under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), alleges a larger conspiracy behind the communal violence that left 53 people dead and hundreds injured. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria sought the response of the Delhi Police within four weeks. The court has tagged the petitions together, as they arise from the same FIR, which alleges a pre-planned conspiracy to instigate riots during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Senior lawyers press urgency Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for the petitioners. Urging the court to fast-track the hearing, Sibal said, Please hear this before Diwali so that we can be out before Diwali. Singhvi added, It is shocking that a student has to be behind bars for five years. Taking note of the submissions, the bench agreed to list the matter on October 7, after issuing notice to the Delhi Police. The case background The FIR invokes sections of the UAPA, the Indian Penal Code, and other laws against more than a dozen accused, including Khalid, Imam, Fatima, and student leaders like Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita (who were granted bail earlier). Prosecutors allege that the anti-CAA protests in Delhi were deliberately orchestrated to coincide with then-US President Donald Trumps visit in February 2020, thereby drawing international attention. Khalid, arrested in September 2020, has consistently denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated. Imam, in custody since January 2020, was accused of making provocative speeches, while Fatima has been described by the police as a key conspirator mobilizing women protestors in East Delhi. Delhi High Courts reasoning In 2022, the Delhi High Court had rejected their bail pleas, holding that the allegations against them were prima facie true and fell within the ambit of UAPA. The court observed that the protests were not merely against a government policy but were allegedly intended to disrupt law and order and challenge the sovereignty of the state. The high court emphasized that the UAPA, being a special legislation, imposed a high threshold for bail under Section 43D(5). Unless the court found the accusations to be wholly improbable, bail could not be granted. Arguments before the Supreme Court Challenging the high courts order, the petitioners have argued that the case against them rests on conjectures, a selective reading of speeches, and statements of planted witnesses. They contend that mere participation in protests, organising meetings, or delivering speeches cannot amount to a terrorist act or conspiracy under UAPA. The plea stated that several co-accused in the same FIR have already been granted bail, and the petitioners cannot be singled out. States stand The Delhi Police, on the other hand, maintains that the petitioners were masterminds of the conspiracy. According to the prosecution, Khalids speeches, Imams mobilisation efforts, and Fatimas organising of women-led protests were all coordinated to create blockades and escalate tensions. Police argue that granting bail at this stage would embolden others and disrupt the ongoing trial, where charges have already been framed against several accused. The road ahead The matter will now come up on October 7 after the Delhi Police files its response. If the Supreme Court finds merit in the petitioners plea, it could set the stage for a significant ruling on the interpretation of UAPAs bail provisions. Conversely, if the court upholds the high courts findings, it will reinforce the states expansive powers under anti-terror laws. NANNING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit concluded Sunday in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with more than 500 economic and trade agreements signed at the event. Wei Zhaohui, secretary-general of CAEXPO Secretariat, told a press briefing Sunday afternoon that this year's expo saw the signing of 155 investment projects, with 74 focused on processing and manufacturing, accounting for 88 percent of total investment. The manufacturing projects cover sectors such as mechanical equipment, petrochemicals and chemical engineering, nonferrous metals, new materials, light industry and textiles, and information technology, according to Wei. The five-day event spanned an exhibition area of 160,000 square meters and attracted 3,260 enterprises from 60 countries. Enterprises from ASEAN countries totaled 627. For the first time, the expo featured a pavilion dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI), showcasing about 1,200 products, including about 20 large language models and 60 intelligent robots. The 23rd CAEXPO is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 17 to 21, 2026, with the Philippines as the country of honor. CANBERRA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Minister for Communications said on Monday that the telecommunications company Optus will face significant consequences for an outage that affected emergency calls and has been linked to three deaths. Anika Wells said at a press conference on Monday morning that Optus, Australia's second-largest telecommunications company, will be "held accountable" for the outage, which occurred on Thursday and was disclosed by the company on Friday. Optus Chief Executive Officer Stephen Rue said at a snap press conference on Friday night that three people died after the outage resulted in the failure of more than 600 calls to Australia's emergency number, triple-0, over 13 hours on Thursday. Wells said on Monday that Optus, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singaporean conglomerate Singtel, has "no excuses" for the outage. "They have perpetuated a failure upon the Australian people with what has happened here. They can expect to suffer significant consequences as a result," she said. She said that the government was not notified about the extent of the outage until Friday. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) confirmed in a statement on Monday that it has started an investigation into the outage. The ACMA in November fined Optus 12 million Australian dollars (7.9 million U.S. dollars) for a similar triple-0 outage that occurred in November 2023. The police team investigating the Uttarakhand government recruitment exam question paper leak has ruled out the role of an organised gang behind the incident. Dehradun DSP Ajay Singh said they have identified the individual who allegedly clicked images of the exam question paper from a centre and forwarded it. Singh added that they have got strong evidence against the person, who has not been identified. The question paper of the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commissions written examination for graduate-level posts in various departments was held on Sunday. The three-hour-long exam began at 11 am. Within 30 minutes, the question paper of the examination had leaked. #WATCH | Dehradun, Uttarakhand | On reports of irregularities in the graduate-level examination conducted by the Commission, UKSSC Chairman Ganesh Singh Martolia says, "You cannot call it a paper leak. Three pages of the question paper were somehow leaked from one centre... Since pic.twitter.com/DM5rUGhcQx ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2025 Social activist and Uttarakhand Swabhiman Morcha president Bobby Panwar alleged that the question paper had leaked. However, Dehradun police denied the incident, stating that misleading posts were circulated on social media that the paper was leaked. The clarification came a day after two people were arrested for offering recruitment in return for money. One of the two was the mastermind of a 2021 recruitment exam question paper leak. The police have, however, filed a case against Panwar for circulating screenshots of the paper on social media without verification. The police version is that a college professor, identified as Suman from Tehri Garhwal, received a WhatsApp message at 7.55 am on Sunday from the number of a man named Khalid Malik, who allegedly asked her whether she could solve the test as his sister had to take the exam. Suman got three pages of the question paper at 11.35 am, and in 10 minutes, she sent back the answers to Khalids number, according to the Indian Express. Sumar contacted Bobby Panwar after she became suspicious about whether the exam was actually scheduled that day. She forwarded him the three pages along with the handwritten answers on WhatsApp at 12:28 pm. Panwar told her not to tell anyone about the matter, said the FIR. The police said the initial probe revealed that there was no leak, but a cheating, and the aim was to sensationalise and malign the recruitment process. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened that there will be no Palestinian state west of the Jordan River. His uncompromising verdict on the future of the region came as a direct response to the decision by three of Israels closest intelligence allies, the UK, Canada and Australia, to formally recognise a Palestinian state yesterday. The Israeli PM says international recognition of Palestine at this time amounts to an absurd prize for terrorism. He and his allies contend that the growing momentum towards recognition is the fruit of the October 7 massacre committed by Hamas. Israeli officials argue that such recognition endangers Israels existence and rewards jihadist ideology. The recognising nations, including the UK, presented their decision as an attempt to revive hope for peace and preserve the two-state solution. The Israeli government, however, insists that the two-state paradigm is defunct. Netanyahu stressed that he had for years prevented the establishment of what he described as a terrorist state. His government has already taken steps to make Palestinian sovereignty increasingly impossible on the ground. He hinted at retaliatory measures in response to what he called an effort to force a terror state on Israel in the heart of its land. He said details of the response would be given after his return from the United States, where he is due to attend the UN General Assembly. JUST IN: Netanyahu with a warning to the whole world after the recognition of Palestine: "There will be NO Palestinian state west of the Jordan" He Promises to aggressively expand the illegal settlements on the Palestinian territory "We have doubled the Jewish pic.twitter.com/EYZeFkBb20 Megatron (@Megatron_ron) September 21, 2025 The exact nature of the response is yet to be seen, but Netanyahu has already moved in ways that contradict the intentions of the recognising states. He declared that Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria had been doubled and that this expansion would continue. It has left the West Bank all but formally annexed, with settlements spreading at an unprecedented pace. The governments determination is visible in the highly contentious E1 settlement project between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim. Netanyahus remarks were delivered at a ceremony marking the expansion of this project, which, if completed, would divide the Palestinian-controlled areas of the West Bank in two. Far-right ministers in his cabinet have pressed for even more aggressive measures. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have demanded full annexation of the West Bank. Smotrich urged sovereignty over what he called the historic homeland of the Jewish people in Judea and Samaria, and the permanent removal of the idea of a Palestinian state from the political agenda. The international recognition of Palestine was intended to signal that the possibility of peace remained alive, yet it has deepened global divisions. The move risks undermining initiatives such as the Abraham Accords and could prompt a reassessment of ties with Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, which has called West Bank annexation a red line. Netanyahu feels emboldened by the backing of the Trump administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned allies that recognition would be counterproductive, but Washington has nevertheless provided what Israeli officials describe as a blanket of diplomatic protection. This support gives Netanyahu the freedom to act with little concern over immediate international reprisals, despite European disapproval. For leaders such as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, recognition was a final attempt to keep the two-state vision viable. Starmer argued that without action, there would soon be nothing left to recognise. Within Israel, however, opposition voices accuse Netanyahu of political failure. Opposition leader Yair Golan said the unilateral recognition by allies was a grave failure of Netanyahu and Smotrich, who he claimed had chosen occupation and annexation rather than an end to the war. Netanyahus vow to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River has therefore set the stage for a widening diplomatic crisis. His government is intent on eliminating the two-state solution, while allies abroad are trying, at least symbolically, to keep it alive. The clash reflects a decisive moment for both Israels regional position and the international order that has long sought peace through partition. The UK, Australia, and Canada all recognised a Palestinian state on Sunday ahead of the one-day summit to rally support for a two-state solution, at the United Nations. The summit will be hosted by France and Saudi Arabia and focus on Israel's war in Gaza. The event will be opened by French President Emmanuel Macron and a video adress will be made by Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. More countries, including France, are expected to join the list in recognising the Palestinian state during the summit. The summit is expected to expand on the New York Declaration that was adopted earlier this month after a conference held by France and Saudi Arabia. The US and Israel boycotted the meetings. The declaration stated that they would support the deployment of a temporary international stabilisation mission upon invitation by the Palestinian Authority and under the aegis of the United Nations and in line with UN principles. France's draft proposal for the 'International Stabilisation Mission' Meanwhile, France has prepared a draft of an International Stabilisation Mission initiative which expands on the scope of the declaration, according to a report obtained by the Times of Israel. The mission would work on replacing the IDF in Gaza and work to disarm Hamas after the war ends. The proposal also aims to implement the the declaration for a two-state solution and transfer the internal security in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. Vous minterpellez sur la situation a Gaza : je vous reponds. pic.twitter.com/8Qtr5Exwd2 Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 21, 2025 Several states like Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar are named as preffered candidates to lead the transitional force. The draft outlines a pragmatic pathway to deployin a short timeframea UN-mandated, regionally-led temporary stabilization mission in Palestine as provided for in the New York Declaration, once the environment is sufficiently permissive. The force could ideally take the form of a United Nations peacekeeping operation (PKO) or a special political mission (SPM), which would be internationally legitimate and operate under a clear set of principles. The mission would be funded by voluntary donors, such as Gulf countries, through a dedicated trust fund. The proposal also suggests that the mission could be deployed before an end to the war in Gaza, but says that securing a ceasefire agreement ahead of time is most preferable. The stabilization mission is also to assist preparations for Palestinian elections across Gaza and the West Bank and coordinate reconstruction efforts in the Strip. The force would, however, be deployed only in Gaza and the proposal warns of a seperation between the two regions in the long term if its limited to the single region. The move to send forces to the West Bank is subject to political agreement and operational feasibility, given sensitive issues such as settler violence and the presence of Israeli forces, the proposal says. The Times of Israel pointed out that the draft proposal only contained a single mention of Israel and the failure of the initiative to consider the country and the IDF possibly being a roadblock for the implementation of the plan. Israel's response Meanwhile, on the summit, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, It will not happen, he said. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River. Israels U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon described the event as a circus, and called the move a reward to terrorism. Israeli media reported that Netanyahu could possibly annex parts of the West Bank in response and take specific bilateral measures against France. Charlie Kirks wife Erika Kirk, has opened up about the moment she discovered her husband was dead and the harrowing hours that followed. Erika also detailed how President Trump called her twice since Charlies death and said her husband was just like a son for the President. Erika, who did not accompany Charlie to the college in Utah where he was shot, told The New York Times that she was in her mothers hospital room in Phoenix when the tragic call came from her husbands longtime assistant, Michael McCoy. He has been shot, McCoy cried out over the phone. The former pageant winner describes jumping on a plane immediately to rush to her husbands side, but learnt about Charlies death while she was still in the air. Im looking at the clouds and the mountains, Erika recalled. It was such a gorgeous day, and I was thinking: This is exactly what he last saw. She told about how she was advised against seeing Charlies body as the bullet had ravaged his neck. I want to see what they did to my husband, Erika told the sheriff. Erika Kirk: "My husband Charlie he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life...On the cross, our savior said, 'Father, forgive them, for they not know what they do.' That young man. I forgive him." pic.twitter.com/jy8W7YrmVs CSPAN (@cspan) September 21, 2025 His eyes were semi-open. And he had this knowing, Mona Lisa-like half-smile. Like hed died happy. Like Jesus rescued him. The bullet came, he blinked, and he was in heaven, she told The New York Times. Erika also recalled Charlies last hours before he flew to Utah and how excited he was about college tours. He got up, and I could hear him eating something in the kitchen. Hed been waiting all summer to begin touring. The visits to college campuses were like an Olympic event for him. He trained for them. He had whiteboard sessions for hours. Mock debates. He was just so excited, she added. Erika also shed light on the support she received from President Donald Trump, who has called her twice after the death. Charlie was like a son to him. And when the president said, Just let us know how we can support you, I told him, My husband just loved conversing with you and using you as a sounding board for all sorts of things. Could we continue that? And he said, Of course. Erika said Charlie had received numerous death threats over the past year and had been traveling with a security team for months. Before the Utah session, Erika and Charlies friends broached the topic of bullet proof vest and glass during such talks but Charlie didnt agree. Not yet, Erika said, adding how he felt confident in his team, and that there would be additional security at the Utah event. The Trump administration plans to announce on Monday that the use of Tylenol, known as paracetamol in other parts of the world, during pregnancy is linked to autism in children. Federal health officials in the US are expected to raise concerns about the use of the medication and generic acetaminophen, according to officials who spoke to Politico and the Washington Post. Trump teased the announcement on Sunday while speaking at the memorial event for activist Charlie Kirk. He told the audience, I think we found an answer to autism, and called the announcement one of the most important things that we will do. Officials reviewed research by Mount Sinai and Harvard researchers that showed that there was a possible link between Tylenol use early on in pregnancy and an increased risk of autism in children. The plan is to warn pregnant women against using the over-the-counter pain medication unless they have a fever. Along with the announcement, the Trump administration is also preparing a broader initiative where a dozen working groups are examining about 30 hypotheses about the potential causes of autism. The Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects social and communication difficulties and repetitive behaviours. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 31 8-year-olds had autism in US communities. In 2000, the number was 1 in 150. According to the reports, the administration also plans to promote leucovorin (a prescription medication used in cancer treatment to counter the effect of other drugs and treat vitamin B9 deficiency), as a potential treatment for autism. Studies on leucovorn by some scientists showed that children with autism showed improvement in their ability to speak, creating debate about the condition that was believed to be primarily genetic. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had recently claimed that the US is in the grip of an autism epidemic fuelled by environmental toxins. He was also caught up in controversy for promoting unproven links between autism and certain medications, including vaccinations, despite there being clear evidence and decades of research that suggest otherwise. Is Acetaminophen or paracetamol safe to take during pregnancy? Guidelines for acetaminophen from major medical societies identify it as a safe pain reliever to use during pregnancy but advise pregnant women to consult health care providers before taking it, like for all other medications taken during the period. Tylenol or paracetamol is the most commonly used drug for pain relief and fever reduction in pregnant women, who are advised not to use ibuprofen and Advil. Dr. Andrea Baccarelli, dean of Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health, published a review of existing research in the journal BMC Environmental Health, where they advised Appropriate and immediate steps should be taken to advise pregnant women to limit acetaminophen consumption to protect their offsprings neurodevelopment. They didn't, however, say that women should not use it. We recommend judicious acetaminophen use lowest effective dose, shortest duration under medical guidance, tailored to individual risk-benefit assessments, rather than a broad limitation, it said. Kirk Perry, interim CEO of Tylenol maker Kenvue, had spoken to Kennedy and asked them not to cite Tylenol as a cause for autism. A company spokesperson who spoke to Politico said that they strongly disagreed with any suggestion linking Tylenol to autism. They said that discouraging women from using Tylenol would force them to make dangerous choices like taking riskier painkillers and enduring pain that could be harmful to them and their babies. The spokesperson also said that the over a decade of rigorous research endorsed by medical professionals and global health regulators said that there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism. A study published in Sweden in 2024 that analysed records of 2.5 million siblings born from 1995 to 2019 found that there was no increased risk of autism when their mother took acetaminophen during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says there is no clear evidence that judicious use of the medication causes developmental issues in fetuses and cautioned against leaving maternal fever and pain untreated. In the UK, the NHS says that paracetamol is the first choice of painkiller if you are pregnant. Warren Buffett's investment firm has fully exited its stake in Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD after backing the 'Tesla killer' for 17 years. BYD is now the biggest EV manufacturer in the world, having emerged from relative obscurity two years ago to become a household name and dwarfing the new vehicle output of its closest rivals. Listed in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, BYD shares are up more than 200 per cent over the last five years and around 575 per cent since the start of 2020. Buffett's firm initially invested in BYD in 2008, paying $230million for about 225 million shares - equivalent to a 10 per cent stake at the time. It began selling those shares in 2022 after BYD's share price had risen more than 20-fold. BYD is now the biggest EV manufacturer in the world, having emerged from relatively obscurity two years ago to become a household name US regulatory filings revealed on Monday show Berkshire Hathaway's energy subsidiary recorded the value of its BYD investment as zero as of 31 March, down from $415million at the end of 2024. It came after BYD revealed its quarterly profit fell for the first time in three and a half years. BYD's domestic sales, which make up nearly 80 per cent of its global shipments, were down for a fourth month in a row in August, with the group slashing annual sales targets by as much as 16 per cent to 4.6million vehicles. Berkshire Hathaway and BYD are both yet to comment officially. Li Yunfei, BYD's general manager of branding and public relations, took to Chinese social media site Weibo to thank Berkshire Hathaway for its 'investment, help and companionship over the past 17 years'. Chipmaker Nvidia is planning toinvest up to 75billion in artificial intelligence pioneer OpenAI. The companies last night announced a landmark strategic partnership that will involve OpenAI building new data centres powered by Nvidias AI processors. The deal comes as competition intensifies among technology giants to secure access to the energy and chips required for AI growth. Hailing the next leap forward in AI, Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang said: This is a giant project. Nvidia and OpenAI, the company behind the ChatGPT system, have been at the forefront of the AI boom. Huang and OpenAI boss Sam Altman joined US President Donald Trump on his State Visit to the UK last week. The deal will see Nvidia invest in OpenAI in stages and receive equity in return. AI team up: Nvidia and ChatGPT maker OpenAI have announced a landmark strategic partnership that will see OpenAI build new data centres powered by Nvidias AI processors For its part, OpenAI will purchase millions of Nvidia processors, which could generate billions of dollars of revenues for the chipmaker. Nvidia invests in OpenAI, which OpenAI then turns back and gives to Nvidia, Bryn Talkington, partner at US wealth manager Requisite Capital Management, told TV outlet CNBC. I feel like this is going to be very virtuous for Jensen. Nvidias shares rose 3.7 per cent yesterday, giving it a value of 3.2trillion. BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Monday activated a Level-IV emergency response in the provinces of Guangdong, Hainan and Fujian as Typhoon Ragasa approaches, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management. A ministry task force has also been urgently dispatched to Guangdong to guide local flood prevention efforts. Typhoon Ragasa -- the 18th named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season -- intensified into a super typhoon on Sunday and is forecast to make landfall between Shanwei in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan on Wednesday. Impacted by the typhoon, the northern area of the South China Sea and the coastal areas of southern China will be battered by strong winds and heavy rains from Tuesday through Friday. Wide areas of Guangdong, southern Fujian and Hainan can expect torrential downpours, with some locations likely to see severe or extremely severe rainstorms. China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- A global high-level meeting to uphold humanity in war, to be co-hosted by Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan and South Africa, together with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), will be held in 2026, according to a joint statement issued on Sunday. In the lead up to the meeting, the six countries and the ICRC ask all states to consider: starting with international humanitarian law (IHL) at home, by officially allocating adequate resources to invest in and ensure compliance with IHL; advancing the integration of IHL into national legislation and conflict preparedness; and formally joining the Global Initiative to galvanize political commitment for IHL (Global IHL Initiative), engaging actively in the consultations, and encouraging others to do the same. The statement noted that a year ago, the six countries and the ICRC launched the Global IHL Initiative, driven by a deep sense of responsibility and urgency to act decisively to stem the tide of violations of international humanitarian law. To date, 89 states from all regions of the world have formally joined the Global IHL Initiative to uphold humanity in war, and 27 states are co-leading seven thematic workstreams to develop practical recommendations on how to increase compliance with IHL and address challenges posed by contemporary evolutions of warfare. According to the statement, over the last year, more than 130 states participated in global and regional consultations on how to improve compliance with IHL. "We therefore call on all parties to armed conflict to uphold IHL. We reaffirm that all states, including in situations of occupation, are bound to fully respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, including the rules related to the protection of civilians, civilian objects, medical and aid workers, and journalists," the statement said. The United Nations, in line with the UN Charter, and the wider multilateral system play an important role in this regard, it said. Right now we share one more fashion statement and news collection inspired by celeb & Insta hottie Brooks by way of pop culture, community reporting and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Cowtown Preps For Worst City offers the public training in basic disaster response skills at Midtown event Interested volunteers can train and become certified in community emergency response to help manage local disasters. Triple Crash In The Dotte 3 pedestrians injured after being hit by car Sunday night on I-70 in Wyandotte County Three pedestrians were seriously injured Sunday evening after they were struck by a car on Interstate 70 in Wyandotte County. Eastern Jack Motivation 'Recall equals fire him': Voters rally against Frank White, say property taxes pushing recall Frustrated voters rallied Sunday urging support for recalling Jackson County Executive Frank White. Early voting is underway ahead of the Sept. 30 election. South Side Collab Coming Soon Community Meetings planned for 5th and 6th District KCMO residents Councilmembers will meet area residents and connect them with city programs and resources One More Artsy Review Photos: Over 200 artists took over the streets at the 2025 Plaza Art Fair this past weekend The 2025 Plaza Art Fair put over 200 artists front and center to the Kansas City community this past weekend. Celeb Wardrobe Malfunction Brooks Nader In Sheer Braless Shirt Gets Questioned Brooks Nader is flashing her bare chest in a sheer blouse as she goes braless for dinner in Paris while facing questions. MAGA Holiday Awaits Trump "wouldn't oppose" Charlie Kirk national holiday, White House says Congress has already moved to honor Kirk following his assassination. Progressively Dismal Future Gen Z voter data shows warning signs for Democrats Data showing Generation Z men trending toward the GOP is sparking debate among Democrats over how to win back a key bloc of voters that could prove critical for the party ahead of 2026. A report fr... GOP Shares Grace 'I Forgive Him': Kirk's Widow Erika Says Answering Hate With Love Is 'What Charlie Would Do' Erika Kirk forgave her husband's alleged assassin Sunday during a speech at the memorial service for Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Italia Argues Holy Land Disruption across Italy as tens of thousands protest against Gaza war Schools and stations closed and ports blocked in one of Europe's biggest demonstrations opposing Israel's offensive MAGA Medical Debate The Trump administration is expected to link autism to Tylenol use during pregnancy President Trump and HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are expected to tie autism to acetaminophen use during pregnancy, and present a cancer drug as a possible treatment. There is little credible scientific evidence for either claim. Hollywood Loves Group Hugs Polyamory is becoming more popular. So is watching its collapse onscreen. Polyamory might be becoming more popular, but Hollywood's love affair with the alternate relationship dynamic might be ending too. Arguing Local Agenda KCPBS' Nick Haines Previews Week Ahead for Sept. 22, 2025 Missouri governor has yet to sign a new map for congressional districts, Kansas City considers east-west streetcar line, Jackson County recall and more ... Soggy Autumn Arrives Soon Make the most of today's dry weather and plan something outdoors Scattered storms are likely tomorrow Ed Sheeran - Camera is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Tourists ride cable cars at the Kok Tobe Mountain in Almaty, Kazakhstan on May 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Renzi) TACHENG, China, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Border port cities in northwest China's Xinjiang have seen a boom in cross-border tourism propelled by a visa-free agreement between China and Kazakhstan since it took effect in November 2023. INCREASING TRAVEL ROUTES "This summer, I made two trips to the Alakol Lake in Kazakhstan," said Tao Qin, a Tacheng city resident in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Lake swimming and mud bath are among the attractions in the increasingly popular tourism destination to Tacheng residents. The lake resort is just a bus trip of more than two hours from the Baktu land port located in the city, Tao said. Many tourists like Tao and others from across China opt for a three-day tour program to the Kazakh lake offered by the local office of Shaanxi Gaoke International Travel Agency. Wang Long, the Tacheng branch manager, said that this past summer, they dispatched two tour groups every 10 days to the Alakol Lake. The China-Kazakhstan visa-free agreement has brought the lake -- a distant view for Tacheng residents -- into easy reach, according to Wang. The designation of 2024 as the "Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China" and 2025 as the "Year of China Tourism in Kazakhstan" has significantly boosted cross-border traveler traffic through Xinjiang's border ports, including Alashankou. Popular Kazakhstan-bound itineraries -- such as a one-day tour to Dostyk, a three-day tour to Alakol Lake, or a seven-day tour to Almaty -- are receiving growing numbers of bookings. The Alashankou city is going to resume its international passenger transport lines to Ucharal and Taldykorghan in Kazakhstan. Almaty received 54,100 Chinese tourists in the first half of 2025, up by 33.4 percent from a year earlier, according to data from the tourism department of the largest Kazakh city. CLOSER COOPERATION Kazakh travel agency Nur-Gany and Xinjiang Tacheng Travel Service Co., Ltd. have been in cooperation on jointly developing cross-border tour routes, including local reception services. "The cooperation is progressing rapidly. We regularly receive tour groups from China and collaborate on new programs," said Kalymzhanova Nazym, Nur-Gany's general manager. She said prospective programs include those on eco-tourism and cultural exchange, while the Tacheng company said it is planning a joint operation of Xinjiang-bound tours for Kazakhs. In May, Kazakhstan's low-cost carrier FlyArystan launched a direct flight service between Almaty and Xinjiang's Yining city; in October, it will increase the flight frequency from two to three per week. The DKNews of Kazakhstan reported that this move supports the development of Kazakhstan-China relations and creates new options for travelers. BETTER SERVICES In response to growing tourist arrivals, Xinjiang's border ports have been working to provide greater facilitation. Take the Horgos Cross-border Tourism One-stop Service Center. The service center became operational in August and has drawn in dozens of businesses to set up services, such as travel agencies, customs declaration firms, translation agencies, insurance companies, and car rental businesses. According to immigration officer Zhang Yongpeng, passenger traffic through the Horgos port this year exceeded 1 million in late August, a 60 percent jump from the previous year. In the port's entry inspection hall, streams of people were using AI-powered self-service terminal machines for swifter entry registration, a process taking just over 10 seconds at its fastest, thanks to automatic identification and capture of individual passport information and native language checks, according to Zhang. A special tour group consisting of motorcycle enthusiasts from countries including Poland, Canada and Greece was waiting to clear customs. Their journey started from Kyrgyzstan and passed through Kazakhstan, and will end in Nepal. Grzegorz Brzeczyszczykiewicz, a motorcyclist from Poland, said that the motorcycle team would ride all the way to Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital, and that this is not his first visit to China. "This is a great country with great culture and great history." The hospitality industry in Xinjiang has been actively enhancing its services to meet the growing and diverse needs of international visitors. Ma Qiang, a young entrepreneur from the Liuxing Street of the Yining city, is running a homestay inn, a restaurant and an ice cream shop in the designated historical and cultural district, which he said has played host to a larger number of foreign visitors this year. "They are intrigued by the architectural style here and are drawn to the singing and dancing scene of young people dressed in ethnic costumes on the street," he said. To better serve foreign tourists, he plans to customize the multilingual menus and enhance the foreign language communication skills of his employees. "Deep in my heart, the Liuxing Street doesn't only belong to Xinjiang, to China, but also to the world," said Ma. An aerial drone photo taken on May 13, 2025 shows the Kok Tobe Mountain and Kok Tobe TV Tower in Almaty, Kazakhstan. (Xinhua/Li Renzi) An aerial drone photo taken on May 13, 2025 shows a city view in Almaty, Kazakhstan. (Xinhua/Li Renzi) Chinese tourists visit the Kok Tobe Mountain in Almaty, Kazakhstan on May 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Renzi) BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 23. Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with Surinames Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and Cooperation Melvin Bouva on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, Trend reports. The discussions focused on advancing bilateral political dialogue, enhancing economic and humanitarian cooperation, and strengthening collaboration within the UN, NAM, and other international organizations. During the meeting, the ministers signed the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on exemption from visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and service passports. Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), a part of AZCON Holding, and Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, have signed a new agreement. This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in enhancing travel options for AZAL passengers seeking access to the Maldives island destinations. Through this collaboration, passengers traveling with AZAL will now be able to connect from Velana International Airport (MLE) to 17 unique island destinations across the Maldives via Maldivians extensive domestic network the largest in the country. The partnership reflects a shared vision between Azerbaijan and the Maldives to strengthen ties and promote mutual growth in aviation and tourism. For AZAL, this marks an important step in expanding its international presence and route network, making the Maldives more accessible to travellers worldwide. The partnership with Maldivian is an important step for Azerbaijan Airlines in expanding our route network and strengthening our international presence. For our passengers in Azerbaijan and neighbouring regions, this collaboration opens new travel opportunities and brings one of the worlds most desirable leisure destinations the Maldives closer. We believe this collaboration will serve as a strong platform for even deeper cooperation between our two airlines in the future, - said Jamil Manizade, Chief Commercial Officer of Azerbaijan Airlines. Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, excels in providing extensive domestic and international connectivity. Our fleet serves 17 domestic airports and international destinations such as India, China and beyond. As the foremost domestic carrier, Maldivian operates the largest wheel-based fleet in the country, complemented by specialised seaplane services for seamless tourist transportation. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Azerbaijan has consistently championed peace, even during periods when its territories were under occupation, striving to resolve conflicts through diplomatic means, Kamran Aliyev, the country's Prosecutor General, said at the international conference titled Guardians of Sovereignty: Constitutional Status of the Prosecutor's Office, Trend reports. Despite the United Nations (UN) passing 4 resolutions recognizing the occupation of Azerbaijani territories and demanding their unconditional liberation, Armenia has not returned the occupied lands. Azerbaijan, as always, remains a proponent of peace, Aliyev said. He noted that the preamble of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, signed at the White House in Washington, serves as a concrete example of this commitment. This document is not only a new chapter in relations between the two states but also a historic turning point for sustainable peace and security in the South Caucasus, as well as further economic development. Simultaneously, it represents global recognition of Azerbaijans sovereignty, Aliyev added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has addressed the participants of the international conference on the theme Guardians of Sovereignty: Constitutional Status of the Prosecutors Office, Trend reports. "Dear participants, I sincerely welcome you to the international conference dedicated to the theme Guardians of Sovereignty: Constitutional Status of the Prosecutors Office. The year 2025 has been declared the Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty in our country. This is no coincidence. This year, we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the 5th anniversary of our historic Victory. Although our country restored its independence in 1991, due to the prevailing socio-political situation at the time, as well as the military aggression of the Republic of Armenia, the adoption of our national Constitution was only possible in 1995. For nearly 30 years after regaining independence, a significant part of our lands remained under Armenian occupation. Thanks to the determination of the Azerbaijani people and the heroism of our Armed Forces, our territories were liberated as a result of the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020. Following the anti-terror operation carried out in 2023, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan were fully restored. Thus, the legal force of our Constitution has been extended to the entire territory of our country. Immediately after our historic Victory, large-scale restoration and reconstruction works were launched in the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions, and thousands of people have returned to their native lands. Despite all the tragedies we endured, Azerbaijan has always advocated a peace agenda, and our efforts in this direction culminated in the initialing of a peace agreement in Washington on August 8 of this year. Dear participants, The participation of delegations, including the heads of national prosecution services from friendly countries, is a clear demonstration of the importance they attach to the development of interstate cooperation. National prosecution authorities stand at the forefront of the fight against all manifestations of crime, including crimes that threaten the constitutional foundations of the state. By doing so, they not only fulfill the duty of ensuring legality but also serve the protection of constitutional order and sovereignty. In this regard, prosecution authorities can be regarded as the guardians of state sovereignty. I wish you every success in this honorable mission. I am confident that the present conference will contribute to the exchange of best practices in prosecutorial activities, the identification of common challenges and the discussion of ways to jointly address them, as well as the strengthening of mutual cooperation. Once again, I welcome you to Azerbaijan and wish the conference every success," the address reads. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The First Deputy Minister of Defense Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, has begun a working visit to Belarus at the invitation of Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus First Deputy Minister of Defense, Major General Pavel Muraveiko, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense. Within the visit, Colonel General K.Valiyev is scheduled to meet with his Belarusian counterpart. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The European Union will continue supporting mine-affected areas in Azerbaijan, the European Commission announced following EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia, Trend reports. During her visit, Commissioner Kos reaffirmed the EUs commitment to peace, stability, and economic development in the South Caucasus, emphasizing support for the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process. She highlighted the EUs role in fostering regional connectivity through trade routes, infrastructure projects, and people-to-people links. In Azerbaijan, Kos agreed to establish a High-Level Economic Working Group to enhance EU-Azerbaijan economic cooperation and attract investments under the Global Gateway initiative. She also confirmed continued EU support for humanitarian demining, with the EU and its member states providing up to 23 million euros through a Team Europe Initiative. The announcements during my visit put concrete resources behind this vision, turning recent diplomatic progress into tangible results for the whole region, Kos said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. On September 22, the First Deputy Minister of DefenseChief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, who is paying a working visit to Belarus, conducted a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of BelarusFirst Deputy Minister of Defense, Major General Pavel Muraveiko, the Ministry of Defense told Trend. Within one-on-one and expanded-format meetings, the sides engaged in discussions regarding the prospects of further expansion and progress of bilateral military cooperation, as well as regional security affairs. The sides also had a detailed exchange of views on topics of common interest. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov met with Attorney General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Xaysana Khotphouthone, Trend reports via the Cabinet of Ministers. At the meeting, it was noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Laos. Moreover, it was emphasized that there are good relations between the two countries, and favorable prospects for the development of cooperation in the economy, trade, investment, and other areas were noted. Confidence was expressed that the signing of the relevant Memorandum of Understanding during Kotputhan's visit would contribute to the development of cooperation between the prosecutor's offices of the two countries. The meeting was attended by Prosecutor General of the Republic of Azerbaijan Kamran Aliyev. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The signing of the agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington has boosted the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a meeting with Cerberus Capital Management CEO Frank Bruno in New York, Trend reports. The historic agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington has positively affected the growing significance of the Middle Corridor as a key trade route, he said. President Tokayev noted that over the past five years, cargo volumes along the Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), have increased sixfold. He also praised Cerberus Capital Management for its global leadership in investment management and welcomed the firms interest in financing infrastructure projects related to the development of the TITR. On August 8, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a Joint Declaration following the Washington meeting between the Azerbaijani President and the Armenian PM. During the same meeting, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan initialed the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and signed a joint letter to the current OSCE Chairperson regarding the closure of the OSCE Minsk process, the OSCE Chairpersons personal representative for the conflict discussed at the Minsk Conference, and the High-Level Planning Group. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. On the sidelines of the high-level week of the 80th UN General Assembly, Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, Trend reports. The officials exchanged views on the current state of AzerbaijanEU relations and explored opportunities for further development. Discussions focused on strengthening political dialogue, expanding economic and trade cooperation, and enhancing collaboration in key sectors, including energy, transportation, sustainable development, and humanitarian initiatives. Bayramov and Kallas also reviewed the regional situation and discussed the ongoing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has said his country would face a financial crisis rivalling the 1997 meltdown if the Asian country accepts the U.S. investment demands without safeguards, Reuters reported Monday. "Without a currency swap, if we were to withdraw 350 billion U.S. dollars in the manner that the U.S. is demanding and to invest this all in cash in the U.S., South Korea would face a situation as it had in the 1997 financial crisis," he said in an interview with Reuters on Friday. In a verbal agreement in July, South Korea promised to invest 350 billion dollars in the United States in exchange for the U.S. tariffs cut on South Korean goods. South Korea's foreign currency reserves stood at 416.29 billion dollars at the end of August. Seoul has proposed a foreign exchange swap line with Washington. As to the U.S. immigration raid in a South Korean factory earlier this month, Lee said South Koreans were naturally angered by the "harsh" treatment of the workers, warning that it could make domestic companies wary of investing in the United States. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided the construction site of an electric vehicle battery plant run by a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution on Sept. 4, U.S. time. Arrested were 475 individuals, including 316 South Korean workers who had been held at the Folkston detention center in Georgia. "I do not believe this was intentional, and the U.S. has apologized for this incident, and we have agreed to seek reasonable measures in this regard and we are working on them," Lee was quoted as saying. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The open court hearing regarding the criminal cases of citizens of the Republic of ArmeniaArayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and othersaccused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the preparation and conduct of an aggressive war, genocide, violation of war laws and customs, terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure and retention of power, and numerous other crimes resulting from Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan, continued on September 22, Trend reports. The trial, held at the Baku Military Court under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova), ensured that all accused persons were provided with translators in their preferred language and defense lawyers. The session was attended by the accused, their defense attorneys, some of the victims, their legal heirs and representatives, as well as prosecutors defending the states charges. Accused Arayik Harutyunyans lawyer submitted a motion, noting that, given the large number of documents announced in court, a partial examination of the evidence should be carried out. He said that if any episode is of interest to the accused and the defense attorney, then the court must be applied to and the evidence related to that episode must be examined. Accused Arayik Harutyunyan said he supported the motion, and the other defense attorneys and affected persons, public prosecutors, victims and their representatives did not object. Judge Zeynal Aghayev mentioned that the court granted the motion. Then, the lawyer of the accused Bako Sahakyan requested that copies of those documents be submitted to familiarize himself with the statements of the party he was defending. The judge noted that they could obtain those documents by contacting the court secretary. The court proceeded with the examination of the documents, stating that they will be reviewed episode by episode. According to a document presented during the trial, on August 23, 1991, Armenians opened fire with automatic weapons on a UAZ car in the Jamilli village of the Asgaran district, which resulted in killing of N.F. Salahov, V.I. Sadikhov, and M.S. Abdullayeva, and leaving many other passengers wounded. One of the documents announced concerned the intensive shelling of the villages of Malibayli and Gushchular of Shusha district in February 1992 from large-caliber and small firearms, and the attack on both villages using heavy machine guns. As a result of these events, a dozens of Malibayli village residents were killed and several others went missing, while several people were killed and dozens were taken hostage in the village of Gushchular. Another criminal case - during the examination of the document on the shelling of a "Laz" bus in Khojavend district on September 8, 1991, it was reported that as a result of the shelling of the bus by Armenians armed with automatic weapons near the farm of the village of Kish, several people were killed on the spot and dozens were injured. Another document related to the shelling of the village of Kheyrimli in the Gazakh district by armed men from various types of weapons on November 4-5, 1991, as a result of which many residents of that village were killed and suffered injuries of varying degrees. Accused David Manukyan requested the court to summon Nikol Vova Pashinyan, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia (Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan - ed.), as a witness or to join the trial via videoconference. Accused David Babayan requested the judge to invite the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, particularly Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, as well as Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, as witnesses. Those people know us and we have had direct contact. They would be very valuable witnesses, he added. Accused Davit Ishkhanyan requested the court to invite 6 generals of the Russian peacekeepers who were once in the territories of Azerbaijan - General Muradov, General Kosabokov, General Anashkin, General Volkov, General Lentsov and General Kulakov - as witnesses. I have a number of questions for them, given their direct or indirect contact with the 15 people present. I repeat: directly or indirectly. I think the court will also have questions for them. Even if it is not possible, I request you to ensure their participation via video link, he added. Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev emphasized that at this stage the documents submitted by the prosecution are being studied as he commented on the motion submitted. He also noted that the individuals whose names were mentioned have no connection to the charges brought against the accused, and currently pending in court. Therefore, it was stated that there is no need for them to be questioned as witnesses or any other person in court. The prosecutor defending for the state prosecution requested the court to deny the motion. The presiding judge rejected the motion after considering the arguments presented. The judge's justification for the decision was that the defense motion did not adequately detail the circumstances to be investigated, nor did it show their importance to the case. The court proceeded with the examination of documents. The document announced on November 20, 1991 related to the shooting down of a military helicopter stated that 22 people, including Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, State Counselor of Justice of the 3rd degree Ismat Gayibov, State Counselor on Defense and State Security, Major General of Militia Mahammad Asadov, Secretary of State Tofig Ismayilov, Deputy Prime Minister Zulfi Hajiyev, MPs Vagif Jafarov and Vali Mammadov, Head of Department of the Presidential Administration, journalist Osman Mirzayev, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan, Major General Saylal Serikov Dosumovich, member of the Union of Journalists of Azerbaijan, TV journalist Ali Mustafayev and others were killed during the incident. An inspection of the scene was conducted in the village of Garakand, Khojavend district, and a bullet-pierced fragments the helicopter, etc. were discovered. Another document was related to the fact of the murder of Asgarova Salatin Aziz gizi and others. The document related to the passenger helicopter on January 28, 1992 indicates that the helicopter was shot down by the Armenian armed forces with a missile. The helicopter crashed into a dirt road and exploded, claiming 42 lives. The documents of the criminal case regarding the Khojaly genocide were also presented. It was mentioned that the inspection of the scene was carried out by flying over the area by helicopter, during which houses were observed burning in flames in the city of Khojaly, the bodies of about 500 people were found on the streets of the city, damaged and burned cars and buses of various types, and soldiers of the Armenian armed forces were observed walking on the streets. At that time, the same Armenian armed forces also fired from automatic weapons at the helicopter carrying the investigation and operational group. According to the documents, Ilgar Jafarov, a photo correspondent of Azerinform (now AZERTAC ed.), who testified as a witness, stated that on February 26, 1992, upon receiving information about the Khojaly tragedy, he rushed to the area. Early on March 1, in front of the Aghdam city mosque, he recorded the tragedy with photographs of civilians who had survived the Khojaly massacre, who had been frozen to death while fleeing, and those who were waiting for the bodies of their loved ones who had been killed in Khojaly by Armenian soldiers, as well as the bodies that were brought. Ogtay Mammadov, a reporter for the Main Photo Information Editorial Office, who was questioned as a witness, testified that on March 3, 1992, he went to the Baku emergency hospital and took photographs of the wounded people brought from Khojaly. Of these, although he remembered the identities of 8-year-old Khatira Orujova, whose parents were both killed, 18-year-old Khuraman, whose two brothers were killed before his eyes, and 13-14-year-old Mubariz Hamidov and Mubariz Mahmudov, whose feet were frostbitten in a snowy area in a forest near the village of Nakhchivanli while fleeing from the Armenian armed forces shelling, adding that he had no information about the other individuals. The court also announced the statements of Mikhail Chanurov, editor-in-chief of the Photo chronicle section of "Azerinform", and Mais Mammadov, head of the correspondent station of "Ostankino" TV and Radio Company in the Republic of Azerbaijan, who were interrogated as witnesses. The examination of the documents was accompanied by relevant photos from the criminal cases. Public prosecutor Fuad Musayev submitted a motion and requested that the press interview of the former Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia Manvel Grigoryan be examined as evidence, since the criminal events that occurred in 1991-1992 were being investigated at the court hearing. The judge granted the public prosecutor's motion. During the trial, accused Davit Ishkhanyan requested to be given the opportunity to have a confidential meeting with his lawyer, which was granted by the court. In the video interview presented following the confidential meeting, M. Grigoryan said that he was involved in crimes committed against the state and people of Azerbaijan. In his interview, he also highlighted the activities of the criminal organization he led, and how its members were deployed to Azerbaijani territories being armed. "We even kidnapped them from the road, caught them, beat them, and threatened them so that they would not come... Both Armenians and Turks were together at the Aghbulag school, it was a large school. We were working with children in schools so that they would beat the Turks...", said M. Grigoryan, adding in his interview that "knowing everything, that is, we were in control...." The court proceedings will continue on September 25. Fifteen defendants of Armenian origin are accused in the criminal case concerning numerous crimes committed during the aggressive war waged by the Armenian state - including the aforementioned criminal association - on the territory of Azerbaijan, in violation of domestic and international legal norms. These crimes were committed for the purpose of military aggression against Azerbaijan and were carried out under the direct leadership and participation of the Armenian state, officials of its state institutions, its armed forces, and illegal armed formations, through their written and verbal orders, instructions, and guidelines; material, technical, and personnel support; centralized management; as well as under strict control and under the leadership and direct or indirect participation of Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Musheghi Ohanyan, Arshavir Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan, and others. The following individuals - Arayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan, David Azatini Manukyan, Davit Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit Nelsoni Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, and Melikset Vladimiri Pashayan - are being charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Article 100 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression); Article 102 (attacking persons or organizations enjoying international protection); Article 103 (genocide); Article 105 (extermination of the population); Article 106 (enslavement); Article 107 (deportation or forced displacement of population); Article 109 (persecution); Article 110 (enforced disappearance of persons); Article 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law); Article 113 (torture); Article 114 (mercenary service); Article 115 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare); Article 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict); Article 118 (military robbery); Article 120 (intentional murder); Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship); Article 214 (terrorism); Article 214-1 (financing terrorism); Article 218 (creation of a criminal organization); Article 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and devices); Article 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security); Article 277 (assassination of a state official or public figure); Article 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state); Article 279 (creation of armed groups not provided for by law); and additional articles. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The open court hearing regarding the criminal cases of citizens of the Republic of ArmeniaArayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and othersaccused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the preparation and conduct of an aggressive war, genocide, violation of war laws and customs, terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure and retention of power, and numerous other crimes resulting from Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan, continued on September 22, Trend reports. The trial, held at the Baku Military Court under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova), ensured that all accused persons were provided with translators in their preferred language and defense lawyers. The session was attended by the accused, their defense attorneys, some of the victims, their legal heirs and representatives, as well as prosecutors defending the states charges. The court hearing continued with the examination of documents. It was mentioned that the court will study the documents on a case-by-case basis. The court proceedings will continue on September 25. Fifteen defendants of Armenian origin are accused in the criminal case concerning numerous crimes committed during the aggressive war waged by the Armenian state - including the aforementioned criminal association - on the territory of Azerbaijan, in violation of domestic and international legal norms. These crimes were committed for the purpose of military aggression against Azerbaijan and were carried out under the direct leadership and participation of the Armenian state, officials of its state institutions, its armed forces, and illegal armed formations, through their written and verbal orders, instructions, and guidelines; material, technical, and personnel support; centralized management; as well as under strict control and under the leadership and direct or indirect participation of Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Musheghi Ohanyan, Arshavir Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan, and others. The following individuals - Arayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan, David Azatini Manukyan, Davit Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit Nelsoni Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, and Melikset Vladimiri Pashayan - are being charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Article 100 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression); Article 102 (attacking persons or organizations enjoying international protection); Article 103 (genocide); Article 105 (extermination of the population); Article 106 (enslavement); Article 107 (deportation or forced displacement of population); Article 109 (persecution); Article 110 (enforced disappearance of persons); Article 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law); Article 113 (torture); Article 114 (mercenary service); Article 115 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare); Article 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict); Article 118 (military robbery); Article 120 (intentional murder); Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship); Article 214 (terrorism); Article 214-1 (financing terrorism); Article 218 (creation of a criminal organization); Article 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and devices); Article 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security); Article 277 (assassination of a state official or public figure); Article 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state); Article 279 (creation of armed groups not provided for by law); and additional articles. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. On September 22, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with George Walker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Neuberger Berman, in New York, Trend reports. The sides exchanged views on the current state and future prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Neuberger Berman. President Ilham Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijan attaches importance to expanding cooperation with international financial institutions and reputable investment companies, expressing confidence that the partnership with Neuberger Berman will continue to develop successfully. It was noted during the meeting that the effective partnership between the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Neuberger Berman, established in 2016, has contributed both to the development of Azerbaijans financial sector and the expansion of international investment opportunities. George Walker briefed the President on his companys global financial and investment activities, expressing satisfaction with the existing cooperation with Azerbaijan. He stressed the significance of economic processes in the region for the company and pointed out that opportunities to expand the partnership through new projects are currently being explored. Founded in 1939 in New York, Neuberger Berman is a global investment management firm that today manages assets worth over half a trillion US dollars for international institutions, advisors, and individual investors. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 23. On September 22, an exhibition titled Treasures Behind the Doors of Anatolia was held at the Turkish House in New York City, USA, at the initiative of Turkiyes First Lady Emine Erdogan, Trend reports. Leyla Aliyeva, founder and head of the IDEA Public Union, and Arzu Aliyeva participated in the exhibition. The exhibition, showcasing art pieces and handicrafts from ancient civilizations, aimed to promote Anatolian culture and encourage intercultural dialogue. Turkiyes First Lady Emine Erdogan stated that the event not only highlights the intricacies of Anatolian culture, rooted in ancient history, but also underscores the importance of studying the millennia-old experiences and skills of the Anatolian people in contemporary life. Emine Erdogan noted that the Zero Waste principle, aimed at environmental protection, was a priority in the Anatolian region not only in modern times but also in ancient eras. The exhibition featured three main themes: The Fertility of the Soil, dedicated to Anatolias rich agricultural diversity; The Gathering of the Kitchen; and The Mastery of Hands. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Azerbaijan's Baku hosted an international conference titled Guardians of Sovereignty: Constitutional Status of the Prosecutor's Office organized by the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports. The round table was held as part of the Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty and timed to coincide with the professional holiday of the Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan, which is celebrating its 107th anniversary. The conference brought together attorneys general from Uganda, Laos, Tanzania, Kenya, and representatives from Turkiyes Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor. Will be updated BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The opening of the Zangezur Corridor is a strategically important issue in light of new geopolitical realities, said Kamran Aliyev, Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Speaking at the international conference titled Guardians of Sovereignty: Constitutional Status of the Prosecutor's Office in Baku, Aliyev highlighted that Armenias occupation of Azerbaijani territories resulted in thousands of deaths and caused massive damage to the economy, environment, and cultural and historical sites. He recalled that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the historic victory achieved during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020 and subsequent anti-terror operations carried out by Azerbaijani forces against the separatist regime in Karabakh on September 19-20, 2023, led to the liberation of lands that had been occupied for nearly three decades. This restored full sovereignty across Azerbaijani territory and reaffirmed the authority of the Constitution. To commemorate this historical significance, September 20 has been designated as State Sovereignty Day, according to a presidential decree issued in 2024. Following the liberation of these territories, extensive reconstruction and development projects were launched under the direct supervision of President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva. Smart villages and cities have been built, new jobs and industrial and educational institutions established, including Karabakh University in Khankendi. Over 15,000 former internally displaced persons have returned to their native lands as part of the First State Program for the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Aliyev stressed that all reconstruction has been carried out independently by the Azerbaijani state without support from any foreign country or organization. He noted that through effective governance and human capital management, the Azerbaijani economy continues to grow, with significant development in non-oil sectors despite the countrys status as an oil producer. The Prosecutor General emphasized that Azerbaijan has consistently supported peace. Despite Armenias occupation and the existence of four UN resolutions recognizing Azerbaijans territorial integrity, Armenia failed to withdraw its forces. The recent signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington, D.C., serves as a historic milestone for sustainable peace, security, and economic development in the South Caucasus and formally recognizes Azerbaijans sovereignty on the global stage. Aliyev concluded that, in the context of these new geopolitical realities, the Zangezur Corridor is a strategically significant project. It will provide a land connection between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, reshape the regions transportation map, and contribute significantly to economic and political integration. The Prosecutor General emphasized that Azerbaijan has consistently supported peace. Despite Armenias occupation and the existence of four UN resolutions recognizing Azerbaijans territorial integrity, Armenia failed to withdraw its forces. The recent signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington, D.C., serves as a historic milestone for sustainable peace, security, and economic development in the South Caucasus and formally recognizes Azerbaijans sovereignty on the global stage. Aliyev concluded that, in the context of these new geopolitical realities, the Zangezur Corridor is a strategically significant project. It will provide a land connection between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, reshape the regions transportation map, and contribute significantly to economic and political integration. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The Constitution of Azerbaijan, which enshrines principles of equality, human dignity, and social pluralism, serves as a cornerstone of society, said Renson Ingonga, Kenyas Prosecutor General, Trend reports. In his speech at the international conference titled Guardians of Sovereignty: Constitutional Status of the Prosecutor's Office in Baku, Ingonga stated that the essence of the Azerbaijani Constitution lies in establishing the people as the primary source of state authority. The separation of powers ensures that laws are adopted through legitimate processes. The Constitution also places special emphasis on the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms. This positions Azerbaijan among countries committed to safeguarding human rights, he said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Families arriving in the village of Hasanriz were handed the keys to their apartments, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Service for Reconstruction, Construction, and Management in the Aghdere District, and the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. 11:55 BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The next group of former IDPs, who departed from Tartar city, has reached Hasanriz village in the Aghdara district, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports. At this stage, 29 families, including a total of 115 people, have reached their ancestral homeland in the village. Later, the families will be presented with the keys to their new homes. On July 7, 1993, Armenian armed forces executed an incursion into the Aghdere region. Prior to the incursion, the Agdere region, encompassing an expanse of 1,705 square kilometers, was characterized by the presence of two administrative districts, 57 rural settlements, 67 recreational clubs, 51 information repositories, 30 secondary educational institutions, seven healthcare facilities, and a vocational lyceum. Regrettably, the entirety of the assets was obliterated by the Armenian forces subsequent to the incursion of Aghdere. Demographic analytics indicate that a population exceeding 14,000 Azerbaijanis resided in the region before its incursion by Armenian forces. The region was extricated from Armenian hegemony following a protracted 44-day conflict culminating in Azerbaijan's victory. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. An open court hearing regarding the criminal cases of citizens of the Republic of Armenia continued on September 22 at the Baku Military Court with the announcement of documents, Trend reports. One of the documents announced concerned the intensive shelling of the villages of Malibayli and Gushchular of Shusha district in February 1992 from large-caliber and small firearms and the attack on both villages using heavy machine guns. As a result of these events, 12 residents of Malibayli village were killed and 3 went missing, while 4 people were killed and 9 were taken hostage in the village of Gushchular. Another criminal caseduring the examination of the document on the shelling of a "Laz" bus in Khojavend district on September 8, 1991, it was reported that as a result of the shelling of the bus by Armenians armed with automatic weapons near the farm of the village of Kish, 7 people were killed on the spot and 27 were injured. The court proceedings continue against Armenian nationals accused of crimes including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, aggression, terrorism, and violations of the laws of war. The charges also include financing terrorism, the violent seizure and retention of power, and other serious offenses. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Azerbaijan will open a school in Istanbul, marking the countrys first effort to establish an Azerbaijani-language institution abroad, said Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the new building of the Baku Turkish Anatolian High School, Amrullayev stated that the project is aimed both at serving the children of Azerbaijani citizens living in Turkiye and at strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries. This will be something new for us. For the first time, we are implementing a model of an Azerbaijani school that will operate outside of Azerbaijan. Additionally, this school will create significant opportunities for Azerbaijani citizens who live and work in Istanbul. From this perspective, the project will further strengthen the ties between the education systems of Azerbaijan and Turkiye," he added. To note, Turkiye boasts an extensive network of over 70 international educational institutions, predominantly situated in the metropolitan hub of Istanbul. These educational institutions serve the needs of expatriate and Turkish households, implementing diverse foreign curricula, including American, British, and German frameworks, with a significant number additionally providing the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel MADRID, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Emergency services in Spain's Catalonia region continued searching on Monday for a man whose car was swept away by floodwaters near Barcelona. His son, who was traveling with him, was found dead late Sunday. According to the Catalan fire brigade, rescue teams worked through the night in Sant Quinti de Mediona, combing roughly six km of river in an effort to locate the missing man. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his condolences to the victims' family and friends. Around 90 firefighters are taking part in the search operation, deploying drones, sniffer dogs, an underwater unit, and a helicopter. Local and regional police are also assisting. The incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, when the father attempted to drive across the river despite warnings. Heavy rain of about 100 liters per square meter had caused water levels to rise rapidly. Severe floods caused by intense rainfall in October last year claimed 229 lives in the neighboring Valencia region. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. An open court hearing regarding the criminal cases of citizens of the Republic of Armenia held on September 22 at the Baku Military Court heard several motions filed by the accused individuals. Accused David Manukyan requested the court to summon Nikol Vova Pashinyan, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia (Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan - ed.), as a witness or to join the trial via videoconference. Accused David Babayan requested the judge to invite the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, particularly Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, as well as Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, as witnesses. Those people know us and we have had direct contact. They would be very valuable witnesses, he added. Accused Davit Ishkhanyan requested the court to invite 6 generals of the Russian peacekeepers who were once in the territories of Azerbaijan - General Muradov, General Kosabokov, General Anashkin, General Volkov, General Lentsov and General Kulakov - as witnesses. I have a number of questions for them, given their direct or indirect contact with the 15 people present. I repeat: directly or indirectly. I think the court will also have questions for them. Even if it is not possible, I request you to ensure their participation via video link, he added. Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev emphasized that at this stage the documents submitted by the prosecution are being studied as he commented on the motion submitted. He also noted that the individuals whose names were mentioned have no connection to the charges brought against the accused, and currently pending in court. Therefore, it was stated that there is no need for them to be questioned as witnesses or any other person in court. The prosecutor defending for the state prosecution requested the court to deny the motion. The presiding judge rejected the motion after considering the arguments presented. The judge's justification for the decision was that the defense motion did not adequately detail the circumstances to be investigated, nor did it show their importance to the case. The court proceedings continue against Armenian nationals accused of crimes including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, aggression, terrorism, and violations of the laws of war. The charges also include financing terrorism, the violent seizure and retention of power, and other serious offenses. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Azerbaijan is undertaking large-scale reconstruction in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, said Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, Trend reports. As he addressed the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku, Guliyev noted that master plans have been prepared for 12 cities in these regions, with eight already completed following modern urban planning and ecological standards. Plans for 90 villages and settlements have also been developed. He added that 28 settlements, including six cities, have already welcomed returning internally displaced persons. Today, more than 50,000 people live, work, and study in the liberated areas. Over the past four years, three international airports, 4,000 kilometers of roads and highways, new railway infrastructure, residential buildings, healthcare facilities, and schools have been built, Guliyev noted. He added that the liberated territories hold significant renewable energy potential and have been officially designated as a Green Energy Zone. In the past four years, 38 hydroelectric plants have been commissioned, cutting 620,000 tons of carbon emissions, with solar and wind projects also in development. This is more than reconstructionits a complete reimagining of entire regions with modern urban and ecological standards, creating new opportunities for private investment across multiple sectors, Guliyev said. None of these transformations could be achieved without reliable, visionary, and capable private-sector partners. We firmly believe that public-private partnerships are key to high-quality, sustainable urban development, he added. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Croatia Marko Primorac took part in the informal meeting of the EU Council for Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) held on 19-20 September 2025 in Copenhagen, Trend reports. During a working lunch, ministers discussed the economic consequences of new European Union legislation, with a particular focus on avoiding the introduction of additional administrative burdens. In this context, ministers considered the potential horizontal role of ECOFIN in overseeing the economic impacts of new legislation. In the first working session, ministers discussed the complexity of the EUs regulatory framework in the field of finance and how to improve efforts to simplify it while at the same time maintaining a high level of consumer, investor, and financial stability protection. This initiative is aligned with the Budapest Declaration on a New Deal for European Competitiveness, the priorities of the European Commission, and Mario Draghis report on EU competitiveness. Simplification of legislation has also been recognized as a key prerequisite for the development of the Union of Savings and Investments (USI), aimed at mobilizing household savings and directing them towards productive investments. In the second working session, which focused on national structural reforms to strengthen productivity and resilience, the importance of reinforcing reform implementation was emphasized. At the EU level, significant efforts are being made to encourage national reforms through the European Semester process, which results in country-specific recommendations (CSRs), the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), and medium-term fiscal-structural plans which, while safeguarding fiscal sustainability, aim to stimulate structural reforms and investments. Furthermore, in the context of the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework for the period 20282034, the European Commissions proposal implies a stronger link between EU funding and the implementation of national reforms. However, while EU-level initiatives can support reforms, the responsibility for their implementation lies solely with each Member State. Therefore, ministers devoted particular attention to possible ways of overcoming political, institutional, and socio-economic obstacles. In the third working session, ministers discussed geopolitical changes and the global economy, focusing on possible ways for the European Union and partner countries to act in the short and medium term with the goal of strengthening economic resilience and strategic autonomy, while simultaneously consolidating strategic partnerships and steering the long-term development of the global economy and geopolitical relations in a more favorable direction. Particular attention in the discussion was also given to the continued provision of financial assistance to Ukraine. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Minister of Defense of Serbia Bratislav Gasic met with representatives of the Chinese delegation from the Weaponry Development Administration of the Central Military Commission of the Peoples Republic of China, led by Deputy Head of the Administration, Major General Zhang Shixian, Trend reports. During the meeting, aspects of the existing cooperation were discussed, and both sides agreed that the collaboration between the two countries is at a high level. It was also reiterated that China is Serbias main partner in the field of air defense systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, and that there is an upward trend in cooperation in other high-tech areas as well. On this occasion, Minister Gasic stated that it is of particular importance that both sides intend to expand cooperation in the coming period. This will include not only procurement on commercial terms and joint development, which have already been implemented, but also the transfer of production technologies and strengthening the ties between the defense industries of the two countries. The Minister expressed gratitude for the equipment and weaponry donations implemented so far, and the interlocutors agreed that the military donation mechanism represents one of the key forms of cooperation and a confirmation of the traditional friendship between Serbia and China. Representatives of the Chinese delegation highly praised the Strength of Unity military parade, which they attended the previous day. In the coming days, during their visit to Serbia, they will visit the Military Technical Institute, hold expert talks with representatives of the Material Resources Sector, and tour the International Arms and Military Equipment Fair PARTNER 2025. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. On his first day in New York, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, Ervin Ibrahimovic, together with President Jakov Milatovic, met with representatives of the Montenegrin diaspora, Trend reports. Minister Ibrahimovic expressed his satisfaction with the meeting, emphasizing that the diaspora represents an integral part of Montenegros identity and development. He highlighted that the human, intellectual, and economic potential of Montenegrin citizens serves as a bridge connecting Montenegro with the U.S. and the rest of the world. The diaspora is an important partner in achieving further societal progress and represents Montenegros strength abroad, Ibrahimovic stated. The Minister also expressed confidence that, in the period ahead, the diaspora will continue to support Montenegros European path through united efforts. Minister Ibrahimovic thanked the diaspora for organizing numerous humanitarian events, which, as he said, demonstrate their selfless willingness to support and help the most vulnerable citizens of Montenegro. He also pointed out that the diaspora can be a driver of economic development through investments, mentorship, and expert support. Additionally, ahead of the opening of the United Nations General Debate, the Minister signed the Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. By signing this declaration, participating states commit at the highest political level to take measures and uphold principles to protect humanitarian personnel before, during, and after conflicts. The document aims to reaffirm the international communitys commitment to respecting and protecting international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of safeguarding humanitarian workers and the crucial role of humanitarian action as a support system for civilians during conflicts. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Latvian Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis will lead a business delegation of 180 Latvian entrepreneurs and organizational representatives to Hamburg and MecklenburgWestern Pomerania from September 23 through 26, Trend reports. On September 25, Prime Minister Evika Silina will join the mission to attend a business forum and meet with top officials from MecklenburgWestern Pomerania. The mission brings together more than 100 Latvian companies across biotechnology, sustainable energy, financial and information technologies, logistics, construction, and defense industries. Meanwhile, this will be Latvias largest trade mission to date. Germany, the worlds third-largest economy, is Latvias second most important trading partner. Bilateral trade reached 4.98 billion euros in 2024, with Germany ranking as Latvias third-largest export market, second-largest import partner, and leading destination for service exports. In the first half of 2025, Latvian goods exports to Germany grew by 4 percent to 641.7 million euros, while service exports rose by 6 percent to 355 million euros. Minister Valainis called the delegation a historic step in strengthening Latvias economic ties with Germany. This is Latvias largest-ever business mission, and the largest delegation ever received by Hamburg and Rostock. Our goal is to increase exports to Germany by 10% and initiate at least four new investment projects. Meetings with city leaders, companies, ports, and universities will create platforms for cooperation that open new opportunities for Latvian business, he said. The trade program will include seven thematic tracks: defense, construction, logistics, biotechnology, smart energy, financial technologies, and information technologies. In Hamburg, Riga Technical University and HafenCity University will sign a cooperation memorandum focused on research and sustainable urban development. Minister Valainis will meet with Hamburgs Finance Senator Andreas Dressel to discuss public-sector support models for fintech and digital services, where Latvian firms see strong potential. Special attention will also be given to green energy, with meetings scheduled with Vice Mayor Katharina Fegebank and leading energy companies. Latvia will also present major publicprivate partnership projects, including Rail Baltica and the Riga Airport development. In addition, Valainis will meet Hamburgs Senator for Economics and Innovation, Dr. Melanie Leonhard, to advance the Marine Technology and Digital Innovation Memorandum signed in June between Latvian and Hamburg partners such as LMT, Riga Freeport, Elektroniskie Sakari, and LVR Flote on the Latvian side, and the Hamburg Port Authority and port fleet from Germany. In Rostock, the LatviaGermany Business Day will bring together more than 250 participants to discuss energy, digitalization, infrastructure, and defense industry development. The event will be opened by Prime Minister Silina alongside MecklenburgWestern Pomeranias Minister-President Manuela Schwesig. Panel discussions will feature Minister Valainis, Mecklenburgs Economics Minister Wolfgang Blank, and business leaders from both countries. The program will also include visits to Nordex Energys wind turbine production plant, hydrogen developer H2APEX, and EEW Special Pipe Construction, which manufactures offshore wind park foundations and has shown interest in development opportunities in Latvia. Germany, especially Northern Germany, has historically been one of Latvias closest economic partners. This mission of more than 100 companies proves that Latvian businesses have the ambition and determination to be more broadly represented in global markets," Latvian Investment and Development Agency Director Ieva Jagere emphasized the scale of the initiative. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Iran aims to increase annual trade turnover with Azerbaijan in two key directions, reflecting growing economic ties between the two countries, Ambassador of Iran to Azerbaijan Mojtaba Demirchilou said in an exclusive interview with Trend. According to the ambassador, the first direction involves holding meetings of the Joint Economic Commission at the state level between Iran and Azerbaijan. These meetings are important for implementing projects that simplify trade, such as logistical plans. The most recent session of the Intergovernmental Joint Economic Commission was held in Tehran, providing a platform to strengthen relations and expand trade. Demirchilou added that the second direction focuses on business interactions, allowing entrepreneurs from both countries to familiarize themselves with each others potential and opportunities, which could contribute to higher trade turnover. "In this framework, it is possible to highlight important steps such as increasing mutual business visits, simplifying border procedures, and expanding flights between the two countries," he noted. Mojtaba Demirchilou emphasized that in 2024, trade turnover between Iran and Azerbaijan rose by 34 percent compared to 2023, reaching $647 million. However, he emphasized that this level still falls short of expectations. Iran is working to enhance economic relations by removing financial and banking obstacles, simplifying transit and freight processes, and increasing connections between business communities. Iran and Azerbaijan outline key initiatives in the energy sector The ambassador stated that bilateral and multilateral cooperation projects in the energy sector between Iran and Azerbaijan have been identified. Furthermore, Demirchilou added that the projects include the implementation of the cooperation agreement on the oil reservoir in the Caspian Sea, synchronization of the electricity grid between Iran-Azerbaijan-Russia, the transportation of Russian gas to Iran via Azerbaijan, the gas swap between Azerbaijan-Iran-Iraq, and the gas and electricity swap between Azerbaijan-Iran-Pakistan. "The energy sector is of great importance in the development of relations between Iran and Azerbaijan. Iran and Azerbaijan have very good relations in this area," he explained. The official pointed out that Iran has made big investments in the energy sector of Azerbaijan. "The two countries have built hydrojunctions on the Araz river for joint operation, and in the near future, hydropower plants will be built at these hydrojunctions," he added. Moreover, Demirchilou mentioned that the details of synchronizing the electrical grids of Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia are currently being worked out. The ambassador underlined that the Iranian Monenco company has completed research work on this exchange of electricity and has prepared and submitted its reports to the parties. "Synchronization of the electricity networks can increase the security of the electricity networks of the three countries and create the possibility of exporting electricity to a third party," he pointed out. Demirchilou added that in May, a high-level delegation of the Iranian Ministry of Energy visited Baku in this regard. ''During the visit, they held talks on ways of cooperation in the energy sector and, in particular, on the synchronization of the electricity network between Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia,'' he noted. Construction of the new Araz River bridge nears completion According to him, the construction of a new bridge over the Araz River in the Aghband-Kelaleh region, connecting Iran and Azerbaijan, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. He underlined that about 63 percent of the construction has already been finished. Demirchilou stated that work is now underway to expand the highway in the Jolfa direction on the Iranian side. Several tunnels are planned as part of the highway extension from Kelaleh to Jolfa. "This highway is being built with Irans own funds. It will allow Azerbaijani citizens to travel more easily and safely between Nakhchivan and the rest of Azerbaijan," Demirchilou said. Progress on improving customs efficiency along the North-South Corridor The ambassador said that when the International North-South Transport Corridor is fully operational, it will serve the interests of Iran, Azerbaijan, and other countries in the region. According to Demirchilou, as is well known, the corridor has three routes in Iran. The western route of this corridor connects Iran and Russia, passing through Azerbaijan. The diplomat noted that work is currently underway with Russia's participation to construct the Rasht-Astara railway as part of this route. The Iranian ambassador added that, along with improving the Rasht-Astara railway of the North-South Corridor, Iran is seeking to remove some obstacles at border crossing points and simplify customs procedures. "In other words, to utilize the potential of the North-South international transport corridor, it is necessary to develop infrastructure first and foremost, while also developing other opportunities in parallel," he noted. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The implementation of the United Nations Security Councils Snapback mechanism, which foresees the reimposition of sanctions against Iran, does not affect the countrys aviation industry, said Hamidreza Sanei, deputy head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, Trend reports. Speaking at a press briefing in Tehran, Sanei noted that Irans aviation sector has faced various sanctions over the past 40 years, and the country has struggled to secure aircraft and spare parts. ''Over the past year, 23 passenger planes were imported into the country. Additionally, older aircraft or those with serious problems were phased out,'' Sanei noted. The official added that acquiring aviation equipment outside the scope of sanctions has become even more difficult under the current United States administration. Nevertheless, he stressed that Iran has consistently faced challenges in this sector for the past 40 years. On January 16, 2016, the JCPOA came into force between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) regarding Irans nuclear program. However, on May 8, 2018, the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions on Iran starting from November 2018. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which operates under the U.S. Treasury Department, oversees whether U.S.-made equipment can be sold to sanctioned countries. --- Follow the author on X: @BaghishovElnur Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 22. Hemra Amannazarov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Austria, paid a working visit to Bratislava and discussed the establishment of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Slovak Commission on Economic Cooperation and the organization of its first meeting, Trend reports via the embassy. At a meeting with Marek Estok, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, the sides exchanged views on strengthening political contacts, expanding trade ties, and enhancing cultural exchange. In talks with Vladimir Simonak, Deputy Minister of Economy of Slovakia, attention was focused on deepening trade and economic partnership. The visit also highlighted the implementation of the Economic Cooperation Agreement signed between Turkmenistan and Slovakia in Awaza in August 2025 during the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries. The sides also discussed the development of other political, diplomatic, trade, economic, and cultural cooperation between the two countries. MANILA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A total of 216 individuals were arrested during anti-corruption protests on Sunday, Philippine Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said Monday. Of those detained, 127 were adults and 89 were minors, said Remulla at a press briefing, adding that the suspects have been detained at the Manila Police District. The Department of Health said that at least one person died during the clash. On Sunday, tens of thousands of Filipinos took to the streets in Manila and other parts of the country to voice their outrage over widespread corruption. In July, Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos first spoke about the corruption scandal in flood control projects during his State of the Nation Address. Last week, the Philippine House of Representatives elected Deputy Speaker Faustino Dy as its new speaker, following the resignation of Martin Romualdez over a corruption scandal involving infrastructure projects. The House leadership change came just days after the Senate replaced Francis Escudero with Vicente Sotto as Senate president. DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, September 22. Asian Development Bank (ADB) Director General for Central and West Asia Leah Gutierrez has completed her first official visit to Tajikistan, during which she reaffirmed ADBs long-term commitment to the country through the forthcoming Country Partnership Strategy 2026-2030, Trend reports. The new strategy will focus on strengthening resilient and efficient infrastructure, enhancing economic management and competitiveness, and expanding inclusiveness alongside improved quality and access to social services. During her visit, Gutierrez joined President Emomali Rahmon at the inauguration of the ADB-supported Hydromet campus and held high-level meetings with First Deputy Prime Minister Hokim Kholiqzoda, Chairperson of the State Investment and State Property Committee Sulton Rahimzoda, and other senior officials. ADB values its strong partnership with Tajikistan and takes pride in our shared achievements to improve peoples lives, Gutierrez said. We remain committed to supporting the governments efforts to foster resilient, inclusive, and diversified growth, while also expanding our support for private sector development. Since joining ADB in 1998, Tajikistan has received more than $2.7 billion in assistance, including over $2.2 billion in grants, supporting a wide range of essential sectors over the past 27 years. This partnership has delivered tangible benefits: upgrading vital transport corridors such as the Obigarm-Nurobod, Dushanbe-Bokhtar, Ayni-Panjakent, Dushanbe-Tursunzade, and Vose-Khovaling roads; modernizing irrigation and water supply systems; and building hospitals and schools. In the energy sector, ADB has supported the construction of transmission lines and substations, reconnected Tajikistan to the Central Asian power grid, and rehabilitated major hydropower plants, including Nurek and Golovnaya. As a leading multilateral development bank, ADB promotes inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. Founded in 1966 and owned by 69 members - 50 from within the region - the Bank works with governments and partners to deliver innovative financial solutions, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard the planet. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Every investment in our country will be welcomed in a climate of friendship and support, said Samir Sharifov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Speaking at the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku, Sharifov noted that the current global landscape is marked by serious challenges, including rising geopolitical tensions, processes that in some cases escalate into military conflicts and confrontations, climate change, various crises, and increasing public debt in both developing and leading countries. "In this context, Azerbaijan has begun to play a reliable connecting role between different geographic markets," he added. The official also stressed that the government, under President Ilham Aliyevs leadership, has established the essential infrastructure to attract and facilitate investment flows. Political stability remains one of the most critical factors for attracting investment, alongside a strong financial foundation, economic resilience, and a favorable business environment. Recent assessments underscore Azerbaijans progress on all fronts. The countrys position has improved in World Bank evaluations of the business climate and in reports from leading international credit rating agencies. Most recently, S&P and Fitch upgraded Azerbaijans credit rating to investment grade, while Moodys provided its rating voluntarily, signaling the nations growing appeal to investors. Under President Ilham Aliyevs leadership, the Azerbaijani government has also made significant investments in transport infrastructure, including seaports, railways, expanded highways, and airports. At the same time, the country is pursuing a broad digital transformation, creating essential foundations to further attract domestic and foreign investment. Every investment in our country will be welcomed in a climate of friendship and support. Overall, Azerbaijan will continue to serve as a bridge and I invite everyone to become part of this bridge leading to the future. Let us build this future together, Sharifov stated. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Azerbaijan offers highly favorable conditions for investment, with ongoing reforms creating substantial opportunities for investors, said Emin Agalarov, president of Agalarov Development, Trend reports. In his speech at the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku, Agalarov noted that with the support of President Ilham Aliyev, the event will showcase the countrys investment potential. Creating investment opportunities provides businesspeople and companies with new prospects. Taking advantage of these conditions and investing in Azerbaijan offers promising opportunities. The Sea Breeze project is a major initiative covering a large area, with construction and development set to expand further. Investing in the Sea Breeze area is highly efficient. Utilizing the favorable environment created in Azerbaijan to carry out investments can be extremely beneficial, he added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Azerbaijan and Montenegro have significant potential to expand cooperation in the tourism sector, Montenegros Minister of Tourism, Simonida Kordic, said at the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku, Trend reports. One of Montenegros most beautiful resorts was developed with Azerbaijani support. The total investment reached $1 billion, and the project has potential for further expansion, Kordic noted. She emphasized that tourism is the largest sector of Montenegros economy, accounting for about 30 percent of the countrys GDP. One third of all economic activity is related to tourism. This makes it a key strategic sector that influences all other aspects of economic, social, and political life in the country, she added. Kordic also highlighted that Montenegro currently hosts investors from more than 120 countries. The foundation of the countrys tourism development is the concept of quality tourism, with a standard of four stars and above. For high-level projects, a range of incentives is provided, primarily tax benefits along with other privileges. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Akmolas grain output propels Kazakhstans export market to new heights A field meeting of Kazakhstan Railways' grain headquarters in Petropavlovsk focused on transporting the new grain harvest. The Akmola region remains a key grain producer, contributing nearly half of the country's grain transport. Export shipments rose by 66 percent to 5.2 million tons, feed transportation grew 132 percent to 1.2 million tons, and milling product exports increased by 55 percent. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 22. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree on conducting a nationwide population and agricultural census, Trend reports via the National Database of Legislation. The combined census is scheduled to take place from January 15 to February 28, 2026. Engagement of local mahalla committees in organizing the process will begin on December 15, 2025, and continue until March 1, 2026. Census enumerators will receive a one-time incentive payment of 1.9 million soms ($173). The decree also approves the composition of the Republican Census Commission, which will consist of 34 members and be chaired by Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov. The commission includes 15 ministers, the Prosecutor General, heads of the State Security Service, Customs Committee, and State Statistics Committee, as well as leaders of Uzbekistan Railways, Uzbekistan Airways, and Uzbekistan Airports. Meanwhile, the last nationwide census in Uzbekistan was conducted in 1989. In recent years, several preparatory steps have been taken, including the adoption of the Law On Population Census, which mandates a census at least once every 10 years, and the agricultural census, to be conducted every five years. A trial population census was conducted in 2021, followed by an agricultural census in 2022. However, the full-scale census was postponed to allow for a careful study of international best practices and the implementation of necessary preparatory measures. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Azerbaijan holds significant potential to attract foreign direct investment in emerging technologies and future-focused industries, said Nouriel Roubini, American economist and CEO of Roubini Macro Associates, Trend reports. Speaking at the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku, Roubini emphasized that economic diversification is critical for Azerbaijan, highlighting numerous areas where new technologies could drive growth. He noted that technological solutions can improve the efficiency of hydrocarbon production and consumption. Additionally, Azerbaijan has made strong commitments to the green transition, hosting COP29 last year, positioning green technologies as a central component of its development strategy. Financial inclusion and the efficiency of financial services were also highlighted as key priorities. Of course, it is important to enhance the efficiency of state-owned enterprises and ensure that future growth is increasingly driven by the private sector and new technologies, Roubini said. He added that trade volumes from Central and East Asia to the Middle East, the Caucasus region, and Europe are expected to grow, with transport and logistics becoming increasingly technology-driven. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Azerbaijan and ACWA Power have signed a partnership agreement to develop a desalination plant on the Caspian Sea, aimed at strengthening water resource management and expanding access to drinking water, Trend reports. The deal was formalized during the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku, with the agreement signed by Zaur Mikayilov, Chairman of the State Water Resources Agency of Azerbaijan, and Marco Arcelli, CEO of ACWA Power. The partnership covers the design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of the new facility. Additional agreements were also signed at the forum. An agreement on the purchase of treated water was concluded by the State Water Resources Agency, the United Water Supply Service of Large Cities, and ACWA Power. A land lease agreement was signed by Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, the Economic Zones Development Agency, and ACWA Power. Finally, a state guarantee agreement was signed by Finance Minister Sahil Babayev and Marco Arcelli. Uzbekistan speeds up textile sector reforms to drive export growth The President of Uzbekistan has signed a new decree aimed at accelerating reforms in the countrys textile and knitwear industry. The measures set ambitious production and export targets for 2026 and introduce debt relief programs for cotton-textile clusters, strengthening the sector and supporting its export potential. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Serbia and Azerbaijan have opportunities to deepen their cooperation within the framework of the Middle Corridor, Jagoda Lazarevic, Serbias Minister of Internal and External Trade, told reporters, Trend reports. Speaking on the sidelines of the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum, Lazarevic stated that both countries are actively engaged in the Belt and Road Initiative. Reliable routes connecting Asia and the Far East with Europe are essential. For Serbia and Azerbaijan, the Middle Corridor offers another opportunity to strengthen cooperation. This corridor spans Asia, passes through Azerbaijan, and reaches Europe, where Serbia is located. Alongside excellent political ties and economic interaction, this corridor is a key factor bringing our countries closer, the minister said. Lazarevic noted that there are numerous avenues for economic collaboration, including trade, energy, agriculture, new technologies, and defense. Naturally, we hope to see continued growth across these sectors. Trade is already showing growth, and strong political relations are matched by advanced economic cooperation. We have a bright future ahead, and the data confirm this, she added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TEHRAN, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Iran and the three European countries of France, Britain and Germany, collectively known as the E3, will hold talks on Tehran's nuclear issue in New York early next week, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday. The negotiations will be held on Monday or Tuesday at the level of the foreign ministers and will be attended by European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Tasnim quoted an informed source as saying. Iran's Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday left Tehran for New York as the head of a diplomatic delegation to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He is also scheduled to hold consultations with his counterparts from different countries on bilateral, regional and international issues on the sidelines of the UNGA session, according to a statement from the foreign ministry. The new round of talks between Iran and the E3 came as the UN Security Council on Friday failed to adopt a resolution that would extend sanctions relief for Iran under a 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), between Tehran and world powers. Last month, the E3 triggered the JCPOA's "snapback" mechanism, which allows UN sanctions to be reimposed within 30 days if Iran is judged in breach of the accord. The sanctions are expected to take effect later this month. Iran's Supreme National Security Council announced on Saturday that the country's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency would be "effectively" suspended following the Security Council's vote. The JCPOA has been under strain since the United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018, prompting Iran to gradually reduce compliance. Since September last year, Iran has held several rounds of talks with the three European states, mainly focused on Tehran's nuclear issue and the removal of sanctions. Photo: The State Council of the People's Republic of China ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 22. China underscores broad consensus on bilateral cooperation with Turkmenistan in birthday greetings to President Berdimuhamedov, Trend reports. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a letter to President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the occasion of his birthday, highlighting that during their recent meeting, the leaders discussed cooperation across multiple fields and reached a broad consensus on strengthening traditional friendship and expanding mutually beneficial ties. Xi noted the Turkmen presidents recent visit to China, where he participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit and the 80th-anniversary celebrations of Chinas victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Second World War. President Xi particularly emphasized advancing the construction of a ChinaTurkmenistan Community of Shared Future for the benefit of both peoples and expressed readiness to make joint efforts to further develop strategic bilateral relations. The letter also expressed Xi Jinping's wishes for President Berdimuhamedov's good health and well-being. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. ACWA Power has signed an agreement to develop a major desalination plant in Azerbaijan, the first of its kind in the region, the companys CEO Marco Arcelli told Trend. Speaking on the sidelines of the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku, Arcelli pointed out that the project will be implemented as a public-private partnership over the next 25 years. This is not only about constructing a plant, but also about bringing in technology, new ideas, and ensuring continuous operation and technological upgrades, Arcelli noted. He added that ACWA Power is also investing in renewable energy in Azerbaijan, with the 240 MW Khizi-Absheron wind power plant set to come online by the end of the year. In total, the company plans to invest $750 million, aimed at making the economy more competitive, sustainable, and less dependent on oil and gas, while attracting new industries from tourism to manufacturing. The CEO highlighted ACWA Powers cooperation with Azerbaijans Ministry of Energy on Caspian offshore projects, as well as with SOCAR and Masdar. He said renewable projects are also being developed in Nakhchivan, not only to meet domestic demand but also to export electricity to Europe, where demand is high. We believe these projects will be competitive, and we are working hard to make them a reality. While no final decision has been made yet, we will continue discussions with Azerbaijans energy minister, Arcelli added. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 22. Turkiye emphasizes OTS cooperation in birthday greetings to Turkmenistans President Berdimuhamedov, Trend reports. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent warm congratulations and best wishes to the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, on the occasion of his birthday. In his letter, Erdogan highlighted the growing friendship between Turkiye and Turkmenistan, rooted in shared language, history, and cultural ties. He expressed confidence that, thanks to President Berdimuhamedovs tireless efforts, bilateral and multilateral cooperation - including within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) - would continue to develop and strengthen. The Turkish president also wished good health, prosperity, and success to President Berdimuhamedov, as well as happiness and well-being to the Turkmen people. Uzbekistan commits resources to advance anti-corruption studies and monitoring Uzbekistan will allocate annual grants and social contracts totaling $806,000 to support NGOs working on anti-corruption initiatives. The new regulations also expand the role of civil society in monitoring UN anti-corruption standards and conducting research on public attitudes toward corruption. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 22. South Korea highlights deepening investment ties with Turkmenistan in birthday greetings to President Berdimuhamedov, Trend reports. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung sent warm congratulations and best wishes to President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the occasion of his birthday. Looking ahead, Lee expressed his anticipation of personally meeting President Berdimuhamedov in 2026 during the KoreaCentral Asia Summit in South Korea for more in-depth discussions on the development of bilateral relations. In his letter, Lee noted the recent first telephone conversation between the two leaders and highlighted the steady development of friendly and partnership relations between South Korea and Turkmenistan since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992. He emphasized that since 2008, bilateral ties have expanded significantly, reaching a level of mutually beneficial cooperation across various fields. President Lee expressed hope that relations with Turkmenistan, a key partner in Central Asia, will continue to deepen and develop based on mutual benefit. He particularly encouraged opportunities for South Korean companies to contribute to Turkmenistans economic development and strengthen bilateral links. The letter also conveyed wishes for the presidents good health, continued prosperity for Turkmenistan, and extended warm regards to his father, National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Georgias export of agri-food products reached $1.118 billion by August 31, marking a 3.4% increase compared to the same period last year, the Ministry of Agriculture said, Trend reports. Key exports include alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, nuts, processed nuts, and blueberries. Exports to the EU rose by $18.3 million (19%), reaching $113.9 million, driven mainly by shipments of nuts and fruit and vegetable juices. Hazelnut exports grew by $10.9 million to $33.7 million, while juice exports rose by $4.4 million to $6.1 million. Wine exports to the EU reached $23.6 million, up $2.1 million from last year. The growth highlights Georgias expanding presence in European markets and continued demand for its agricultural products. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 22. Kyrgyzstan highlights friendly ties with Turkmenistan in birthday greetings to President Berdimuhamedov, Trend reports. In his letter, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov emphasized the value of friendly relations between Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, which are based on mutual trust and joint development, and expressed confidence that bilateral ties would continue to grow for the benefit of both nations. The Kyrgyz leader Zhaparov, also praised President Berdimuhamedovs leadership, noting that under his guidance, Turkmenistan is confidently developing, strengthening its international standing, and preserving the unique traditions of the Turkmen people. Zhaparov concluded by wishing President Berdimuhamedov good health, prosperity, and continued success in his responsible state activities. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The World Bank estimates that infrastructure investment in the Middle Corridor will require $28 billion over the next 15 years, World Bank (WB) Regional Director for the South Caucasus Rolande Pryce said at the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku, Trend reports. According to her, $25 billion will be needed for railways and $1.8 billion for the expansion and modernization of ports. Pryce stressed that bottlenecks occur at points where different modes of transport connect - from sea to rail, from rail to motorways - and these problems need to be addressed. Another critical aspect is the many countries through which the corridor passes. It is very important to find harmonized approaches to digitalization, procedures, and regulation so that movement along the corridor is as seamless as possible, she noted. Staff members stick adhesive strips on the glass of a store in Hong Kong, south China, Sept. 22, 2025. The Emergency Monitoring and Support Center under the Security Bureau of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government was activated on Monday morning in preparation for typhoon Ragasa. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei) HONG KONG, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Emergency Monitoring and Support Center under the Security Bureau of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government was activated on Monday morning in preparation for typhoon Ragasa. John Lee, chief executive of the HKSAR, said on social media that he visited the center this morning to receive briefings from various response plans. He also held a meeting with the HKSAR government's Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki and Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung to discuss in detail the response efforts of different departments. Lee said that the chief secretary for administration will lead relevant bureau heads to inspect different districts this afternoon to ensure that all departments are well-prepared for the super typhoon. The path and intensity of typhoon Ragasa remain uncertain, and the HKSAR government will continue to monitor the latest development and adjust its deployment accordingly, Lee said. The Hong Kong Observatory said that with typhoon Ragasa edging closer to the coast of Guangdong, local winds will strengthen gradually. The Strong Wind Signal No. 3 will be issued on Monday at 9:40 p.m. local time. Local weather is expected to deteriorate rapidly later on Sept. 23 and the observatory will consider issuing the Gale or Storm Signal No. 8 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. local time Tuesday. No. 8 signal is the third-highest warning under Hong Kong's weather system, which has five rankings for typhoons. The Education Bureau of the HKSAR government announced on Monday that classes in all schools, including secondary schools, primary schools, special schools, kindergartens, kindergarten-cum-child care centers and evening schools, will be suspended on Sept. 23 and Sept. 24. The Hong Kong International Airport will remain open during the typhoon, and a large number of flights are expected to be affected, according to Hong Kong's Airport Authority. People shop at a supermarket in Hong Kong, south China, Sept. 22, 2025. The Emergency Monitoring and Support Center under the Security Bureau of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government was activated on Monday morning in preparation for typhoon Ragasa. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei) This photo taken on Sept. 22, 2025 shows adhesive strips on the glass of a restaurant in Hong Kong, south China. The Emergency Monitoring and Support Center under the Security Bureau of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government was activated on Monday morning in preparation for typhoon Ragasa. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua) This photo shows the flood control sandbags in front of a hotel in Hong Kong, south China, Sept. 22, 2025. The Emergency Monitoring and Support Center under the Security Bureau of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government was activated on Monday morning in preparation for typhoon Ragasa. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei) People shop at a supermarket in Hong Kong, south China, Sept. 22, 2025. The Emergency Monitoring and Support Center under the Security Bureau of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government was activated on Monday morning in preparation for typhoon Ragasa. (Xinhua/Zhao Manjun) BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. It is planned to further develop business relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, the advisor to the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, Saidkomil Saidnazirkhanov told Trend. He made the remark on the sidelines of the First Azerbaijan International Investment Forum held in Baku. According to him, this forum will further expand the opportunities for cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan: "Negotiations were held between members of the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Company (AUIC). Following the negotiations, Uzbekistan announced its support for the development of small and medium-sized businesses. This will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to expanding economic opportunities between the two countries in the future." The chairman also spoke about Uzbekistan's plans regarding Azerbaijan: "As for further plans, the further development of business relations between the two countries is planned. The countries will strengthen cooperation with each other, create various business platforms, and provide opportunities for dialogue. For small and medium-sized businesses, this will be a good platform for further development of cooperation between the two countries. This will allow us to make the most of the available opportunities. Uzbekistan has taken the necessary steps to achieve this in a short period of time. After that, the Azerbaijani side will also strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation by presenting its capabilities." The representative of the chamber noted that as a result, opportunities for innovation and development between the two countries will increase: At the same time, the economic sectors of both countries will benefit from this cooperation. Thus, cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will expand even further, and new opportunities will be created. Kazakhstans Karaganda region sees strong investment growth in 8M2025 Photo: Akimat (local government) of the Kazakhstans Karaganda region In the Karaganda region of Kazakhstan, investments reached 644 billion tenge ($1.16 billion) in the first eight months of 2025, up 11 percent from last year. The region aims to attract 1.5 trillion tenge ($2.7 billion) through 29 projects, half in manufacturing. Support for investors includes tax incentives, infrastructure, concessional loans, and land allocation, centered around SEZ "Saryarka" and the Saran industrial zone. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Azerbaijan's Baku hosted a panel session titled Strategic Crossroads Amid Global Changes within the framework of the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum, held under the patronage of President Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. The session brought together government officials, experts from leading global think tanks, and representatives of international organizations. Moderated by Toby Gregory of Euronews, the discussion featured insights from Azerbaijans Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, who underlined the countrys role as a vital transit hub connecting global markets. He also stressed the importance of creating new connectivity opportunities in the South Caucasus and Central Asia within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, noting that diversification of transport routes between East and West is of strategic importance. Nabiyev highlighted the Middle Corridor as a key element of these efforts, with the Zangazur corridor serving as one of its main arteries. Deputy Foreign Minister Fariz Rzayev, Deputy Energy Minister Orkhan Zeynalov, Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Lu Mei, World Banks Regional Director for the South Caucasus Roland Price, Director of the Center for International and Strategic Studies at LUISS University Raffaele Marchetti, former U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza, and former President of Brazils New Development Bank Marcos Prado Troyjo also shared views on the strategic role of the South Caucasus and Central Asia amid global shifts. They emphasized the regions growing potential in international relations and the role of infrastructure, energy, and transport projects in advancing transregional integration. The session, divided into two parts, Transnational Road for Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) and The Role of the South Caucasus and Central Asia in the Global Scenario, also featured a keynote address by renowned economist Nouriel Roubini, CEO of Roubini Macro Associates. Roubini discussed the role of macroeconomic stability, sound governance, financial capital, and diversification in driving growth, as well as the synergies between technology and energy. He noted that the South Caucasus and Central Asia are poised to play a strategic role in the new multipolar global economy, serving as a bridge between Europe and Asia. He added that the TRIPP initiative represents not only an instrument of economic integration but also a tool for strengthening regional peace and prosperity. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Iran multiplies product imports from Uzbekistan Irans imports from Uzbekistan grew 16.8% in value and 89.2% in weight in the first five months of 2025. Imports rose to 25,300 tons worth $37.4 million, up from 13,400 tons worth $32 million. Key products included cotton, beans, silk, and ammonium nitrate. Overall trade reached 424,000 tons valued at $274 million, a 50.3% increase in value. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 22. The Parliament's committee on budget, economic, and fiscal policy has greenlit a draft of an agreement between Kyrgyzstan and the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) for a significant investment in early childhood education, Trend reports. The agreement, detailed by Minister of Education Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva, allocates $6.36 million in additional funding for the "Education for the Future" project. The financing package consists of a $2 million grant, with the remaining $4.36 million provided as a highly preferential, interest-free loan repayable over 50 years. According to Minister Kendirbaeva, the funds will be targeted at addressing the critical shortage of preschool facilities. The primary focus will be on renovating nine kindergartens that were previously misused and have since been returned to state ownership. These renovated buildings will be transformed into child development centers, strategically located in areas with high concentrations of children and a lack of available kindergartens. While the initiative has been approved, the final list of specific buildings for renovation is still pending official confirmation. Earlier today, MP Dastan Bekeshev informed about Kyrgyzstans plan to secure financing from IDA for the construction of kindergartens. He highlighted the importance of the matter, noting that more than half of Kyrgyzstan's children currently lack access to preschool education. As of mid-2025, Kyrgyzstan had 1,997 kindergartens, an increase of 85 in the last year, attributed to the establishment of over a thousand new groups that generated over 25,000 additional slots. Alongside the full-day kindergartens, 560 short-term kindergartens have also been established. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Eni and Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) have expanded their strategic partnership with a power purchase agreement (PPA) worth over $1 billion, under which Eni will acquire decarbonized power from CFSs 400 MW ARC fusion plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia, Trend reports. According to Eni, the plant is expected to connect to the grid in the early 2030s. This agreement demonstrates the value of fusion energy on the grid and reflects Enis long-standing support for our technology, said CFS CEO Bob Mumgaard. Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi called the deal a turning point for commercial fusion, highlighting its potential as a clean, safe, and virtually limitless energy source. Eni has been a strategic shareholder in CFS since 2018 and increased its investment in the company during CFS recent $863 million Series B2 round. The collaboration includes technological support, operational guidance, and knowledge sharing to accelerate fusion energy development. CFS has made significant advances in high-temperature superconducting magnets and is progressing with the SPARC fusion demonstration machine in Massachusetts, validating its path toward commercial fusion power. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is prepared to support Azerbaijans ongoing efforts to diversify its economy, said Alkis Vryenios Drakinos, the bank's Regional Director for the Caucasus, Trend reports. Speaking at the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku, Drakinos noted that industrialization and diversification are key to Azerbaijans future, ensuring the economy remains resilient and well-prepared for new challenges. Experience shows that for Azerbaijans future, it is essential that the economy stay relevant and competitive. We see opportunities in investing in technology, leveraging the countrys strong human capital, and developing skills in artificial intelligence and digitalization, Drakinos emphasized. The EBRD representative also noted that digitalization could be the wind in the sails for the transport sector, paving the way for the Middle Corridor and opening doors to financing opportunities. We act as a catalyst for reforms and change, a reliable partner that can share expertise and build trust, helping to shape the path of development together. We enjoy excellent relations with the government of Azerbaijan and look forward to continuing them by supporting the countrys economy, he added. The EBRD has maintained a strategic presence in Azerbaijan for more than three decades, following the country's accession to the institution on September 25, 1992. Since its accession, the EBRD has cultivated a robust synergy with the nation, executing substantial capital allocations and endorsing pivotal initiatives across diverse sectors. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. A sea route for passenger transportation from the Chabahar port in southeastern Iran to Muscat in Oman and vice versa will be officially launched starting next week, CEO of the Chabahar Free Zone Organization Mohammad Saeed Arbabi told local media, Trend reports. According to him, this sea route was agreed upon within the framework of the visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Oman, and the proposal was worked out and finalized. Arbabi added that sea tourism could become an important factor in the development of Chabahar. The launch of this route is expected to activate Chabahar's economic opportunities in the field of international tourism. The Supreme Council of Free Trade Zones of Iran announced that the Muscat-Chabahar sea route would be launched in May. This route will play a positive role in the development of the Chabahar Free Trade Zone. The Supreme Council has identified the development of trade with neighboring countries as one of the country's main economic priorities, given that free trade zones are located close to the borders with neighboring countries. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Hungary has presented the outcomes of its economic diplomacy and export strategy, said Katalin Bihari, Deputy Secretary of State for Foreign Economic Relations and CEO of the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency (HEPA), Trend reports. Speaking at the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku, Bihari noted that Hungarys economy is largely trade and investment-driven. "I want to share a few figures to illustrate the openness of our economy. Globally, Hungary ranks 34th in exports while ranking 96th by population, highlighting the extent of our economic engagement. In recent years, exports have consistently accounted for 80 to 85 percent of GDP, underscoring the central role trade and investment play in our growth strategy. The success of our economy depends on how effective our trade and investment strategies are. Economic diplomacy is therefore central to both our foreign trade and foreign policy, she stated. Bihari emphasized the importance of a specialized trade and export strategy, including geographic and sectoral diversification, and the goal of increasing the export share of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). "In terms of investments, I can confidently say that Hungary has been highly successful. This achievement is the result of a low-tax policy and a carefully crafted strategy, with a corporate tax rate of just 9 percent and a fixed personal income tax of 15 percent. Moreover, Hungary offers a range of incentives for potential investors looking to enter the market. On trade policy, we believe that restrictions imposed for political reasons are counterproductive. Our approach prioritizes coherence and rejects policies of 'risk protection' or 'separation,' forming the foundation of our international and trade strategy. To implement these goals, it is important to note that foreign trade and investment policy is overseen by Hungarys Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which also fulfills the functions of a trade ministry. This integrated approach to diplomacy and economic diplomacy is, in our view, the most effective way to pursue an international investment and trade strategy. In closing, I would like to express my gratitude for the invitation. I am confident that todays discussions will help further expand our trade and investment relations, and I look forward to returning next year," she added. The HEPA Hungarian Export Promotion Agency operates as a non-profit entity dedicated to facilitating the international market penetration of Hungarian enterprises through innovative and specialized service offerings. Hungarian enterprises deliver superior quality offerings and services across multiple sectors, positioning themselves as formidable contenders in the global marketplace. The organization facilitates enterprises through capacity-building initiatives, strategic promotion, and networking opportunities to enhance their ability to identify suitable business partners on a global scale. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Azerbaijan and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have signed an agreement on "Cooperation on capacity building in the field of public-private partnerships (PPP)", Trend reports. The agreement was signed by the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Mikayil Jabbarov, and IFC's Regional Manager for Europe, Thomas Lubeck, at a ceremony held within the framework of the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku. The document envisages the exchange of knowledge and experience between the parties within the framework of PPP operational advisory services. BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- As China prepares for an eight-day holiday at the beginning of October, its tourism market is bracing for another surge. At the same time, a new proposal to introduce spring and autumn vacations for primary and middle school students is gaining attention and could reshape how families plan their travels. Earlier this month, a national policy document on expanding service consumption called for "optimizing student vacation arrangements" to stimulate new growth. Among these measures was encouraging local governments to add short breaks in spring and autumn -- without reducing annual teaching hours, thereby creating more time for tourism and leisure spending. The document followed a March action plan to boost consumption, which proposed giving localities the flexibility to pilot spring or autumn breaks for students. Several regions have already experimented with the idea, typically adding two- or three-day breaks that coincide with public holidays to form longer stretches of rest for family trips, leisure and educational activities. Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, has offered spring and autumn vacations since 2004. In Hubei Province in central China, the city of Enshi introduced spring breaks for compulsory education students in 2014 -- later expanding the spring and autumn break system to all schools in the prefecture administering the city. In August 2025, Foshan in south China's Guangdong Province announced that during the 2025-26 school year, its compulsory education students will enjoy a three-day autumn holiday in November and a two-day spring break linked to the May Day holiday in 2026. "If parents align their paid leave with spring and autumn breaks, they are more likely to travel -- boosting service consumption," noted Peng Peng, a social science researcher from Guangdong. Currently, most family travel in China is concentrated in summer and winter -- straining transportation, hotels and scenic sites. According to aviation data provider Flight Manager, air passenger traffic in July and August reached a record 150 million, while travel agency UTour reported that family trips had accounted for more than 60 percent of summer bookings. Liu Deyan, associate professor at Shanghai Normal University's College of Tourism, said additional breaks could help rebalance the market. "Peak seasons are overcrowded, off-seasons too quiet," Liu noted. "For students, traveling in summer or winter means higher costs and packed destinations." Parents are divided. Li Tingting, who lives in north China's Tianjin Municipality, said she looks forward to more flexible family travel options, while a mother from Zhoushan in east China, surnamed Liu, voiced concern: "For dual-income families, an extra short break may mean more childcare challenges. It's not always convenient." Education experts acknowledge challenges. "The main obstacles are tight academic schedules and the added coordination required from schools and parents," said Chu Zhaohui, a researcher at the China National Academy of Educational Sciences. In the September policy document, schools are urged to adapt spring and autumn breaks to local conditions -- factoring in climate, economic development schedules and paid leave policies. Some trial cities are offering solutions. In April, Hangzhou schools launched childcare services during spring break, while in the city of Lichuan in Hubei, schools aligned the break with the Qingming Festival this year, and worked with community groups to organize cultural and volunteer activities, keeping students engaged when parents were unavailable. Supporters stress that benefits extend beyond tourism. Social science researcher Peng believes the breaks make the school holiday schedule more balanced, helping to ease academic pressure, promote students' physical and mental well-being, and strengthen their overall health. In Lichuan, students returned from spring break with artwork and cultural projects inspired by their time off. "We need better holiday arrangements to help children experience seasonal culture and nature. It is also an important part of their education," said Long Liangfu, a professor at the Zhongshan Institute of the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. An electric bus assembly project is being launched in Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Within the framework of the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum held in Baku, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Economy Samad Bashirli signed an agreement with the leadership of Improtex Group and MAN Truck & Bus to assemble electric buses. The initiative seeks to facilitate the advancement of sustainable mobility solutions within the nation while augmenting the electric bus inventory. To note, the inaugural deployment of an electric bus transpired in Baku, Azerbaijan, initiating its testing phase on April 19, 2023. Subsequently, it transitioned to regular operational status on September 26, 2023, servicing route No. 5. A substantial aggregation of 160 BYD electric buses was strategically mobilized in Baku in the latter part of 2024, specifically in alignment with the COP29 climate summit objectives. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) have signed a Partnership (Membership) Agreement within the framework of the Association Center, Trend reports. The document was signed by AZPROMO Executive Director Yusif Abdullayev and WEF Head of Policy and Community for International Trade and Investment Matthew Stephenson at a ceremony held during the First Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku. This agreement provides for the expansion of relations in the field of international trade and investment, as well as increased opportunities for strategic cooperation. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The total value of the documents and projects signed on the first day of the forum is more than $5.5 billion, Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov told reporters on the sidelines of the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku, Trend reports. The minister emphasized that, judging by the number and quality of participants at today's forum, as well as the composition of representatives from the public sector and corporations, it is possible to assess the level of interest in doing business in Azerbaijan and with it. "This is no coincidence. Because, from a political point of view, the forum is held under the patronage of President Ilham Aliyev, and on the other hand, it testifies to the growing geo-economic role of Azerbaijan," the minister noted. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to all our partners in organizing this forum. This event will become a tradition. It is planned to be held in Azerbaijan every September. Geographically, we also strive to make it a traditional event focused on both the country's economy and economic cooperation in our region. The minister also drew attention to several important documents signed on the first day of the forum: "Among them, we would like to highlight a real estate project being implemented by investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Baku. This is a project with an investment value of several billion dollars. In addition, I would like to mention the documents signed with an investment company representing Saudi Arabia on the creation of the first seawater desalination plant in our country and, if my memory serves me correctly, in our region." Jabbarov emphasized that the total value of documents and projects signed on the first day of the forum alone amounted to more than $5.5 billion. Tomorrow, on the second day of the forum, several other important documents will be signed. They will also cover economic and investment projects implemented by companies from the country, both in Azerbaijan and abroad, he concluded. Kazakhstan rolls dice on AI in manufacturing with new pilot project Photo: Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan has launched AI-driven initiatives in the manufacturing sector, following President Tokayevs directive. A pilot project at the Aksu Ferroalloy Plant (part of ERG - Eurasian Resources Group) integrates AI into furnace management, using Big Data to enhance productivity, energy efficiency, and reduce downtime. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Kazakhstans Almaty and South Korea elevate ties with industry, education deals Photo: Akimat (local government) of the Kazakhstans Almaty's region Akim of Almaty, Darkhan Satybaldy, met with the Governor of South Koreas Gyeongsangnam-do Province, Park Wan-soo, to sign three key memorandums on cooperation in education, high-tech industries, and elevator manufacturing. The agreements aim to strengthen bilateral ties, attract international students, and support joint innovation projects. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 22. The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, met with Stephen Kehoe, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the PepsiCo fund, and discussed the progress of the PepsiCo investment project in Kazakhstan, Trend reports via the press service of Kazakhstans President. In particular, the world-renowned brand has started the construction of a snack production plant in the Almaty region with an investment volume of $368 million. The President drew attention to the expected economic impact of the projects implementation. In addition to creating about 900 permanent jobs, the company plans to move to full localization of potato cultivation for chips. Stephen Kehoe clarified that the project currently envisages expanding raw material storage capacity and developing scientific approaches to improving potato yield and quality. Welcoming PepsiCos commitment to the development of sustainable agriculture, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev assured that the Government and the local akimat (regional administration) will provide comprehensive support for the timely launch of production. To date, about 15 farms from the Pavlodar, Akmola, Karaganda, Almaty regions, and the Zhetysu region of Kazakhstan have joined the project implementation program. Photo: The Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 22. Deputy Minister of Transport Ilhomjon Abdugafarov met with Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President Yingming Yang to discuss the digitalization of the transport sector, the development of multimodal transport, and container infrastructure along the new ChinaKyrgyzstanUzbekistan railway corridor, Trend reports. The meeting also covered initiatives to advance green mobility in Tashkent, as well as technical assistance in developing the regulatory framework for toll roads using public-private partnership mechanisms. Vice-President Inmin Yan praised the partnership with the Ministry of Transport and highlighted the strategic importance of the ongoing projects. ADB representatives expressed their interest in continuing the dialogue and providing technical and advisory support for a range of initiatives in the future. The joint project portfolio between Uzbekistan and the Asian Development Bank currently totals $14 billion, covering key areas such as green energy, transport, digital transformation, education, and other priority sectors BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The UAE's Masdar company will invest $1.2 billion in projects in Azerbaijan, Maryam Al Mazrouei, Head of Business Development and Investment for the CIS region at Masdar, said at the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum held in Baku, Trend reports. She recalled that Masdar implemented the first large-scale utility renewable energy project in Azerbaijan, which has now been operating for almost two years. "This is the 230-megawatt Garadagh Solar Power Plant. During Baku Energy Week, we signed a key agreement with our strategic partner SOCAR to develop an additional one-gigawatt capacity of renewable projects in Azerbaijan. These include two solar power plants currently under construction and a third projecta 240-megawatt onshore wind energy project. With these projects, Masdar will invest approximately $1.2 billion in Azerbaijan," she explained. The Masdar representative also noted that they are exploring further renewable energy developments in the country with their partners. "These opportunities will expand, especially within the initiatives to cooperate with Central Asian countries and to establish a corridor for exporting green electricity to Europe. We are also actively operating in the region, including Uzbekistan, where it's one of the largest investors, having already invested $2 billion into two gigawatts of renewable energy projectsmainly solar and a 500-megawatt onshore wind project," Al Mazrouei also said. Speaking also about Masdar's active work in Kazakhstan, the company representative said that a one-gigawatt onshore wind energy project, one of the largest in the region, is implemented there. "We are also integrating a 600-megawatt-hour fast energy storage system into the project. In addition, we are exploring further projects in countries like Georgia, Armenia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Bankable frameworks are already in place in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan, which ease project development and attract investment from Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). Now, when we announce a 600- or 200-megawatt project, accessing capital is much easier," she pointed out. Al Mazrouei emphasized that the first key technical consideration is grid infrastructure and its flexibility. "This is because renewable resources are often located far from demand centers. Therefore, modern, digital grid infrastructure with energy storage solutions like batteries or pumped hydro systems is essential. This ensures that project implementation contributes to system development. Another important feature is clear policy, regulation, and frameworks. Setting targets for renewable energy projects is easy, but whats more important is having effective frameworks, streamlined permitting processes, and minimal bureaucratic hurdles to attract foreign investors. The final key challenge is skills and the supply chain. Finding the necessary technical skills is sometimes difficult. At Masdar, we focus on developing local capabilities for project implementation and management. The Garadagh Solar Power Plant is now 100 percent managed by Azerbaijani staff. Weve invested significant time and effort in building the local team's technical expertise. The supply chain also remains a challenge: "In solar, wind, and battery storage projects, supply chain limitations can drive up costs. This is one of the major challenges currently facing the renewable energy sector," the official concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 22. The Kyrgyz Republic has secured $50 million in new loan agreements with the OPEC Fund for International Development, aimed at driving key reforms and expanding access to essential services across the country. The agreements were finalized during a high-level visit to Bishkek by OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, who is also engaging with senior government officials to deepen collaboration between the Fund and the Kyrgyz government, Trend reports. The first loan, valued at $20 million, will support the *Water Supply and Sanitation Universal Access Program* (Phase 1). This initiative will modernize water infrastructure in 126 rural villages across the Chui, Issyk-Kul, and Osh regions, benefitting approximately 450,000 people. Additionally, the project will enhance sanitation facilities for vulnerable households and public institutions, improving health and hygiene standards for local communities. A second loan agreement, worth $30 million, will finance the First Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Development Program, marking the OPEC Funds first policy-based operation in Kyrgyzstan. This program will fund critical reforms in the energy sector, improve social services, strengthen fiscal sustainability, and enhance the business environmentkey steps toward fostering long-term economic stability and inclusive growth. The OPEC Fund, established in 1976 by OPEC member states, has been a consistent partner of the Kyrgyz Republic since 1997. To date, the Fund has supported nine public sector projects in sectors such as transport, health, education, and water, totaling nearly $100 million. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel NANNING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Through the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, ASEAN products, from Vietnamese and Indonesian rubber to Cambodian rice and Thai coconuts, are steadily making their way into China. Meanwhile, Chinese products like chemical new materials and automobile parts are being shipped overseas via the rail-sea intermodal transport along the corridor. The range of goods covers dozens of categories, including electronic products, complete vehicles and parts, machinery, and food. The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, a key logistics network connecting China's western regions to global markets, has transported over 1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo so far this year. This milestone underscores the corridor's transformative role in enhancing regional connectivity and trade efficiency. Over the years, the corridor has witnessed the continuous expansion of China's opening up in its western region. China has remained ASEAN's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, while ASEAN has held the position of China's largest trading partner for five straight years. In the first eight months of this year, the total trade value between China and ASEAN reached 4.93 trillion yuan (about 693.5 billion U.S. dollars), according to data from the General Administration of Customs. The trade corridor's efficiency has made it the preferred route for businesses. According to Lin Zheng, logistics manager of Chongqing Wankai New Material Technology Co., Ltd., shipping through Qinzhou Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region via the corridor reduces transport time by around 10 days compared with eastern ports, significantly enhancing satisfaction among their international clients. The company exported 93,000 tonnes of goods in the first half of 2025, a 24 percent increase year on year. Xie Gongyin, senior logistics manager at Huafeng Group, highlighted the corridor's economic impact. "Our container exports surged from a few hundred annually in 2019 to nearly 7,000 in just six months this year. Rail transport to Qinzhou Port cuts logistics costs by 10 percent and ensures reliable service regardless of weather conditions," Xie said. As a key hub for rail-sea intermodal transport along the corridor, Qinzhou Port East Station serves as a vital gateway, sending made-in-China products to global markets while welcoming goods from around the world into China. The station has handled more than 10.57 million tonnes of cargo so far this year, a year-on-year increase of 29.7 percent. Notably, automobiles exported via Qinzhou Port have seen significant growth. Speaking about infrastructure upgrades, Zhao Jian, deputy station head, said the platforms were modified to handle vehicles, allowing Chinese automobiles to be exported efficiently to markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The station set records with 706 daily loadings and 1,375 handling operations each day. According to railway authorities, the trade corridor currently runs 24 scheduled freight routes, forming an efficient network with Guangxi's Beibu Gulf Port as the primary maritime gateway and Chongqing and Chengdu in southwest China as key operational hubs, linking major cities across western China. This file photo shows carrier-based aircraft J-15T, J-35 and KongJing-600 on the flight deck of China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Navy said Monday that carrier-based aircraft J-15T, J-35 and KongJing-600 have successfully completed their inaugural electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoff and arrested landing trainings on aircraft carrier, the Fujian. The success showed that China's first domestically built catapult-equipped aircraft carrier has obtained electromagnetic catapult launch and recovery capabilities, marking another breakthrough in the development of China's aircraft carriers. J-15T, J-35 and KongJing-600 were showcased during China's massive military parade held on Sept. 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The trainings verified the sound compatibility of China's fully domestically developed electromagnetic catapult and arresting systems with multiple aircraft types, according to the navy. This demonstrated that the Fujian has obtained initial full-deck operational capability, paving the way for multiple types of carrier-based aircraft to join the carrier formation, the navy said. In recent years, the Chinese Navy's carrier-based aviation has accelerated its development, leaping forward from single aircraft to integrated systems, from shore-based to shipborne operations, from ski-jump to catapult launches, and from being able to fly to capable of combat. The navy is steadily advancing toward the goal of becoming a world-class force at sea. Since its first sea trials in May 2024, the Fujian has carried out a series of maritime tests according to plan, progressing with equipment commissioning and assessments of overall operational stability. This file photo shows a support crew member of China's aircraft carrier Fujian directing the pilot of a carrier-based aircraft KongJing-600. (Photo by Jiang Tao/Xinhua) This file photo shows a carrier-based aircraft KongJing-600 making an arrested landing on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Lyu Zhihao/Xinhua) This file photo shows a carrier-based aircraft J-15T making an arrested landing on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) This file photo shows a carrier-based aircraft J-15T making an arrested landing on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) This file photo shows a carrier-based aircraft KongJing-600. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) This file photo shows a carrier-based aircraft J-15T making an arrested landing on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) This file photo shows a carrier-based aircraft J-35 during a training on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) This file photo shows a carrier-based aircraft KongJing-600 making an arrested landing on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) This file photo shows a carrier-based aircraft KongJing-600 making an arrested landing on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) This file photo shows crew members signaling the pilot of KongJing-600 for an electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoff on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) This file photo shows a carrier-based aircraft J-15T during an electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoff on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) This file photo shows a carrier-based aircraft J-35 during an electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoff on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) This file photo shows crew members signaling the pilot of J-15T for an electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoff on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) This file photo shows a crew member checking with the pilot of J-35 before an electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoff on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) This file photo shows crew members signaling the pilot of J-35 for an electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoff on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) This file photo shows a carrier-based aircraft J-35 during an electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoff on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) This file photo shows crew members signaling the pilot of KongJing-600 for an electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoff on China's aircraft carrier Fujian. (Photo by Li Tang/Xinhua) ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 22. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Frank Bruno, Chief Executive Officer of Cerberus Capital Management, to discuss potential investment in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route - the Middle Corridor, Trend reports. Tokayev praised Cerberus for its global leadership in asset management and welcomed the companys interest in financing infrastructure projects tied to the corridors expansion. He underlined that Kazakhstan is prioritizing the diversification of its economy and has already stepped up efforts to boost the routes capacity by attracting new investment into transport and logistics infrastructure. The president also highlighted the growing strategic role of the Middle Corridor following the recent signing of a historic agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington. Over the past five years, cargo volumes along the route have increased sixfold. Tokayev further invited Cerberus to explore opportunities in Kazakhstans digital initiatives, citing the companys strong track record in scaling technological platforms and digital ecosystems. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The main objective of the Shah Deniz Compression project is to make low-pressure gas reserves accessible and achieve maximum gas recovery, Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, bp's Vice President of Communications and External Relations for the Caspian Region, said at the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum held in Baku, Trend reports. "We plan to electrify the Shah Deniz field in the future. As a first step, the Shah Deniz Alfa platform has been enabled to receive electricity directly from the Bravo platform, located eight kilometers away. In addition, the newly built Shah Deniz Compression platform will operate entirely on electricity and will also serve to supply Shah Deniz Bravo with electricity. This will ultimately allow the entire Shah Deniz field operations to be switched to electricity," the vice president explained. He also touched upon the 240 MW Shafag Solar Power Plant being built in the liberated territories. "The advantage of the project is that a virtual energy transmission mechanism will be applied here. That is, we will produce 240 MW of solar energy in the liberated territories and transmit it to the national grid, and at the same time, we'll take the same amount of energy from the national grid and direct it to the electrification of the largest oil and gas processing facility in Azerbaijanthe Sangachal terminal," Aslanbayli said. The company official pointed out that this is a very successful example of energy transition. "This is because in a country with a long tradition of oil and gas, an international energy company with 30 years of experience is channeling part of its oil and gas revenues into solar energy, which is used to electrify oil and gas processing facilities. As a result, the Sangachal terminal will be able to reduce emissions from terminal operations by approximately 50 percent during its future operational period. This is an ideal example of energy transition," he clarified. Aslanbayli also emphasized that the future of cooperation and investment relations isn't limited to the continuation of existing operations. "At the same time, it's opening up to new horizons based on new energy sources, innovative approaches, and a different vision. All of this is built on strategic relationships formed with the country, the Government of Azerbaijan, SOCAR, and other partners. Another important factor that distinguishes Azerbaijans investment environment is this: for 31 years, the terms of Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) have never been changed without mutual consent. All commitments outlined in the agreements signed in 1994 and 1996 are still being fully honored today. This creates a truly desirable environment for any investor. It's precisely within this framework of partnership that we plan to successfully continue our activities in Azerbaijan, not only in the traditional oil and gas sector, but also in the fields of renewable energy and energy transition," he added. The Shah Deniz (SD) Contract Area is a high-pressure gas-condensate field situated in the Azerbaijani portion of the Caspian Sea. The development of the SD Contract Area, controlled by bp Exploration (Azerbaijan) Limited on behalf of the other members of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) consortium, is being executed in phases and has thus far encompassed the SD Stage 1 Project (SD1). The SD2 Project signifies the second phase of development inside the SD Contract Area, with the SD2 Infrastructure Project becoming the initial substantial undertaking onshore. The objective of the SD2 Project is to enhance the extraction of gas and condensate reserves in the offshore Shah Deniz Contract Area. The SD2 Infrastructure Project includes the necessary preparations for the building of the new SD2 Project onshore facilities. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly to discuss deepening strategic ties between the two countries, Trend reports. The ministers emphasized the need to expand economic and trade cooperation, highlighting opportunities in energy security, economic diversification, education, agriculture, and tourism. They also discussed joint green energy projects and the strategic advantages of strengthening collaboration through the Middle Corridor initiative. Bayramov also briefed his Romanian counterpart on post-conflict developments in the region and the ongoing normalization process with Armenia. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 22. Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Yann LeCun, Vice President and Chief AI Scientist at Meta, to discuss the development and application of cutting-edge technologies, the presidential press service said, Trend reports. During the meeting, President Tokayev praised LeCuns pioneering contributions to neural networks and his impact on advancing artificial intelligence globally. The president highlighted Kazakhstans commitment to full-scale digitalization and the widespread use of AI as key drivers of national development. He emphasized the countrys efforts to build its own AI ecosystem, including the creation of a large-scale Kazakh language model, KazLLM. Tokayev also welcomed the previously signed agreement with Meta Platforms Inc. to launch a joint AI technology acceleration program in Kazakhstan, expressing readiness to further strengthen the mutually beneficial partnership with the tech giant. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Emin Agalarov, the owner and founder of Sea Breeze Resort, President of Agalarov Development, signed a number of important documents with representatives of several companies within the framework of the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum, Trend reports. The signed documents include the following: Sea Breeze Resort and InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG)Crowne Plaza It's planned to implement services at the resort in accordance with Crowne Plaza standards. The memorandum was signed by Emin Agalarov and IHGs Director of Development for the CIS, Turkiye, and Israel, Alexis Feuillat. Sea Breeze Resort and Radisson Hotel Group Radisson Blu The memorandum will ensure the creation of high-level conference and leisure opportunities for guests. Emin Agalarov and Vice President of Business Development in Eastern Europe for Radisson Blu David Jenkins participated in the signing ceremony. Sea Breeze Resort and Accor Group Rixos Within the framework of the memorandum, Rixos hotel services will be introduced at the resort and will contribute to the development of luxury tourism in the region. The memorandum was signed by Emin Agalarov and Senior Development Manager for MEAIT and Rixos at Accor Group Ritvika Sethi. Sea Breeze Resort and Digital Residence The memorandum covers the strengthening of the resorts digital infrastructure and the development of online reservation services. Emin Agalarov and Project Manager at Digital Residence Denis Rudnik participated in the signing ceremony. Medical tourism and the Sea Breeze Health Valley projectThe memorandum will ensure the development of medical tourism and the alignment of health services with international standards. The document was signed by CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board Florian Sengstschmid and Managing Director of Sea Breeze Health Valley Konstantin Grinfeld. Strategic cooperation on healthcare investments and cluster development The memorandum envisions increasing investments in the healthcare sector and the development of a cluster model. The memorandum was signed by Director General of the Azerbaijan Business Development Fund Yasin Jalilov and Konstantin Grinfeld. Sea Breeze Resort, Sana Hospital Group and Don Agro International The memorandum covers the integration of medical tourism, healthcare, and agriculture sectors, and the development of the Sea Breeze Health Valley project. The memorandum was signed by Konstantin Grinfeld, International Director of Sana Hospital Group, Sven Heininger and CEO of Don Agro International Marat Devlet-Kildeyev. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 22. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in New York to discuss deepening collaboration between Uzbekistan and the global financial institution, Trend reports. Georgieva praised Uzbekistans ongoing reforms, affirming the IMFs strong support for the countrys irreversible transformation. The meeting highlighted productive cooperation on macroeconomic policy, budget, and tax administration, with Uzbek specialists regularly participating in IMF training programs. This year, Uzbekistan and the IMF jointly conducted an assessment of the countrys financial sector resilience and developed a corresponding roadmap. The sides agreed on continued expert support from the IMF in areas including monetary and fiscal policy development, statistical system transformation, and the expansion of training programs for government economic staff. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 22. Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Stephen Schwarzman, Chairman and Co-Founder of Blackstone, to discuss priority areas for mutually beneficial investment cooperation, Trend reports. President Tokayev noted that Blackstones large-scale investment strategy in infrastructure and technology aligns closely with Kazakhstans national priorities of economic diversification, innovation, and sustainable growth. During the meeting, the president highlighted Kazakhstans strategic goal of becoming a fully digital country and proposed joint projects on building data centers in Kazakhstan. The discussion also included potential collaboration in asset management and financing for technology and high-growth companies in the country. Blackstone, the worlds largest investment firm, has a market capitalization exceeding $218 billion. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 22. During his visit to New York, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev reached an agreement with executives of leading American companies to establish a joint working group and adopt a roadmap aimed at accelerating projects and developing new cooperation initiatives, Trend reports via the Uzbek president's office. The meeting, held at the Uzbek leaders residence, gathered senior representatives of Traxys, the Colorado School of Geology, FLSmidth, McKinsey, and Go Green Partners. Practical aspects of expanding mutually beneficial cooperation were discussed, with particular attention to the extraction and processing of critical minerals and the creation of sustainable supply chains. Traxys, a global leader in supplying critical raw materials, has already developed a $1 billion portfolio of exploration and development projects with Uzbekistan. A roadmap was signed to implement advanced technologies and expertise in this sector. The combined market capitalization of the companies represented exceeds $20 billion, underscoring the significance of the partnership. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 22. As part of his working visit to New York, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Adebayo Ogunlesi, member of the board and senior managing director of U.S. investment company BlackRock, Trend reports. The discussions focused on expanding strategic partnership with BlackRock, particularly in the development of Uzbekistans energy, transport, and water infrastructure. Both sides also supported plans to establish a joint investment fund. The concept of the new platform will be finalized in the near future, paving the way for the practical implementation of joint projects. BlackRock, one of the worlds largest investment firms with assets exceeding $11 trillion, specializes in asset management, investment funds, and financial services. This photo taken on Sept. 21, 2025 shows the exterior view of the venue of the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province. More than 1,200 representatives from 97 countries and eight international organizations have gathered at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which kicked off on Sunday in Dunhuang, a key hub on the ancient Silk Road in northwest China. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Guests visit the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 21, 2025. More than 1,200 representatives from 97 countries and eight international organizations have gathered at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which kicked off on Sunday in Dunhuang, a key hub on the ancient Silk Road in northwest China. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) A guest experiences VR devices to have an online tour of the Mogao Grottoes during the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 21, 2025. More than 1,200 representatives from 97 countries and eight international organizations have gathered at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which kicked off on Sunday in Dunhuang, a key hub on the ancient Silk Road in northwest China. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Actresses perform during the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 21, 2025. More than 1,200 representatives from 97 countries and eight international organizations have gathered at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which kicked off on Sunday in Dunhuang, a key hub on the ancient Silk Road in northwest China. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Guests learn about a cultural and creative product produced with 3D printing technology during the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 21, 2025. More than 1,200 representatives from 97 countries and eight international organizations have gathered at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which kicked off on Sunday in Dunhuang, a key hub on the ancient Silk Road in northwest China. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Guests visit the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 21, 2025. More than 1,200 representatives from 97 countries and eight international organizations have gathered at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which kicked off on Sunday in Dunhuang, a key hub on the ancient Silk Road in northwest China. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Guests select products at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 21, 2025. More than 1,200 representatives from 97 countries and eight international organizations have gathered at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which kicked off on Sunday in Dunhuang, a key hub on the ancient Silk Road in northwest China. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) This photo taken on Sept. 21, 2025 shows the slogan of the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province. More than 1,200 representatives from 97 countries and eight international organizations have gathered at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which kicked off on Sunday in Dunhuang, a key hub on the ancient Silk Road in northwest China. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Guests visit the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 21, 2025. More than 1,200 representatives from 97 countries and eight international organizations have gathered at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which kicked off on Sunday in Dunhuang, a key hub on the ancient Silk Road in northwest China. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Guests visit the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 21, 2025. More than 1,200 representatives from 97 countries and eight international organizations have gathered at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which kicked off on Sunday in Dunhuang, a key hub on the ancient Silk Road in northwest China. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Guests visit the pavilion of Thailand, the guest of honor at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 21, 2025. More than 1,200 representatives from 97 countries and eight international organizations have gathered at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which kicked off on Sunday in Dunhuang, a key hub on the ancient Silk Road in northwest China. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 22. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev underlined the United States leading role in Kazakhstans economy during a meeting with American business representatives in New York, noting that U.S. investments have exceeded $100 billion, Trend reports. We are sincerely proud of the achievements in our economic cooperation. Today, more than 630 American companies are successfully operating in our country, including well-known brands such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, Boeing, Visa, Mastercard, Meta, Wabtec, and Citibank, Tokayev said. The president emphasized that Kazakhstan regards the U.S. as a strategic partner and reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthening ties. I am glad that the U.S. also shares this strategic approach, which was confirmed during my conversation with President Donald Trump in December last year, he added. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 22. Around 24 percent of U.S. uranium imports come from Kazakhstan, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a meeting with American business representatives in New York, Trend reports. He added that Kazakhstan currently supplies about 40 percent of global uranium demand. The president also stressed the countrys commitment to diversified energy development. "While more than 70 percent of Kazakhstans electricity generation relies on coal, he emphasized efforts to promote cleaner and more efficient coal-based technologies, alongside the nations established oil, gas, coal, and uranium strategy," he pointed out. Tokayev further pointed to critical raw materials as a second priority, citing Kazakhstans significant reserves of copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, lithium, and graphiteresources increasingly vital to high-tech industries. He noted that the country has built a transparent and investor-friendly mining framework, already attracting major companies such as Ivanhoe, Rio Tinto, Anglo American, and Fortescue. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 22. Kazakhstan is seeking to expand its transport and logistics sector, with the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) offering significant opportunities, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a meeting with the representatives of the American business in New York, Trend reports. We highly value Wabtecs key role in advancing our engineering and railway transport sectors, Tokayev stated. In partnership with this company, Kazakhstan is building not only physical networks but also intelligent, data-driven integrated transport corridors. Today, we witnessed the signing of a new agreement with Wabtec worth over $4 billion, which will significantly strengthen our cooperation with the United States in transport. The president also highlighted the countrys aviation sector, noting that flagship carriers Air Astana and SCAT operate Boeing aircraft, forming the backbone of Kazakhstans civil aviation fleet. We are expanding cooperation with Boeing and hope to acquire additional aircraft in the coming years, he added. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 22. During a meeting with American business leaders in New York, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted Kazakhstans agricultural sector as a key area for foreign investment, Trend reports. We invite American companies to participate in realizing the agricultural potential of Kazakhstan, Tokayev said. He noted that Kazakhstan ranks sixth in the world by arable land and is among the top ten global grain exporters. The president welcomed plans by companies such as PepsiCo and Mars to establish modern, export-oriented production facilities in the country. These projects will enhance Kazakhstans export potential and open new regional markets for our products, he said. To further strengthen cooperation, Tokayev proposed the creation of a joint Agro-Innovation Program aimed at developing sustainable agriculture, improving water management, and digitalizing farming practices. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 22. During his working visit to New York, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga to discuss deepening strategic cooperation, Trend reports. President Mirziyoyev congratulated Banga on the World Banks recent institutional reforms aimed at supporting economic growth in developing countries. Banga, in turn, praised Uzbekistans ambitious transformation efforts under the New Uzbekistan initiative. The leaders reviewed avenues to expand collaboration, highlighting Uzbekistan as one of the Banks largest partners in Europe and Central Asia. The countrys portfolio of joint projects now exceeds $14 billion, and a regional World Bank office has been opened in Tashkent. The successful III International Forum From Poverty to Prosperity in Namangan was also noted. President Mirziyoyev emphasized that the partnership program should focus on sustainable growth and the efficient, high-quality implementation of projects. Key priorities include poverty reduction, job creation for women and youth, regional development through the Model Mahalla program, rural infrastructure, support for private sector projects, expert guidance on privatization, decarbonization strategies, and financial sector transformation. The meeting also highlighted the World Banks role in advancing strategic infrastructure projects across Central Asia. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 22. During his visit to New York, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with John Dugan, Chairman of Citigroup, one of the worlds largest financial corporations, Trend reports. Citigroup manages over $2.3 trillion in assets and has a market capitalization exceeding $100 billion. The sides reviewed the dynamic development of bilateral cooperation. Citigroup has supported successful placements of bonds for Uzbek banks and state-owned enterprises on international capital markets, and maintains an office in Tashkent. The discussion focused on expanding mutually beneficial collaboration in areas such as structuring IPOs for major state enterprises, issuing Eurobonds, providing advisory support to improve the countrys credit rating, and developing new financial solutions, including trade finance instruments. President Mirziyoyev and Dugan agreed on a roadmap to further strengthen cooperation between Uzbekistan and Citigroup. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 22. Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Suzanne Clark, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to discuss long-term cooperation aimed at increasing bilateral trade, Trend reports. During the meeting, Tokayev welcomed the outcomes of the recent high-level U.S. trade and investment mission to Kazakhstan, emphasizing the countrys role as a key partner of the United States in Central Asia. He also highlighted his recent discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and leadership of major American companies. Clark underscored the significant potential for further economic collaboration, and the parties explored opportunities for joint projects across various sectors of the economy. The meeting reflected both sides commitment to strengthening trade ties and fostering sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 22. Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Darren Woods in New York, Trend reports. During the meeting, the sides discussed the companys ongoing operations at Kazakhstan's Tengiz and Kashagan oil fields, as well as opportunities to expand collaboration on innovative technologies. The talks focused on applying advanced methods such as horizontal drilling and production intensification to enhance efficiency and resource development. The meeting follows a separate discussion between KazMunayGas and ExxonMobil, which resulted in a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on cutting-edge technologies for Kazakhstans hydrocarbon sector. Joint technological workshops are planned to further strengthen cooperation and knowledge sharing between the partners. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 23. During his working visit to New York, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Katinka Wallstrom, Chief Commercial Officer of The Bank of New York (BNY), Trend reports. The meeting focused on supporting BNYs plans to assist with the issuance and placement of eurobonds for major Uzbek enterprises, as well as further developing Uzbekistans banking and financial sector. BNY, a leading American banking and investment group, provides a wide range of financial services, including asset management, securities custody, and government and private sector financing. BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun met with a U.S. House of Representatives delegation led by Adam Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, on Monday in Beijing. Dong called on the visiting U.S. Congress members to remove disruptive and restrictive factors and take constructive and pragmatic steps to play an active role in improving relations between the Chinese and U.S. militaries. The Chinese military is willing to work with the U.S. military to develop their relations featuring equality, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, stability and positivity. Meanwhile, the Chinese military will resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests, Dong said. Dong also called on the two sides to ensure an unimpeded channel for military communication and take concrete measures to boost the stable, sound and sustainable development of relations between the two countries and their militaries. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 23. Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Robert Lowenthal, President and CEO of Oppenheimer Holdings, as part of the countrys ongoing engagement with global financial partners, Trend reports. During the meeting, the parties recognized Oppenheimers contribution to private sector development and the issuance of Eurobonds in Uzbekistan. The sides also reviewed plans to further expand private sector financing programs. Oppenheimer, an independent U.S. investment bank, provides investment banking, financial advisory, capital markets, and asset management services worldwide. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 23. During a working visit to New York, Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Brendan Nelson, President of Boeing Global, Trend reports. The sides highlighted the long-standing strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and the aerospace giant. They also emphasized the importance of the timely implementation of the recently signed contract for aircraft deliveries and the long-term cooperation agreement concluded during the visit. Earlier, Uzbekistan Airways, the national carrier of Uzbekistan, has struck a deal with Boeing for the delivery of 14 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with options for an additional eight aircraft. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 23. U.S. President Donald Trump praised Uzbekistan for its new aviation agreement with Boeing, calling it a 'great deal', Trend reports. Earlier this month I spoke with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Today I want to congratulate President Mirziyoyev on signing a great deal with Boeing! Worth over $8 billion, Uzbekistan Airways is purchasing 22,787 Dreamliners, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. He added that the deal will have a significant impact on employment in the United States, stating it will create over 35,000 jobs in the United States. The contract covers the delivery of 14 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with options for an additional eight aircraft, as part of Uzbekistan Airways long-term fleet modernization program. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 22. The series of meetings of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with representatives of U.S. business circles continued with a conversation with Michael Wirth, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Chevron Corporation, during which the main focus was on the development of hydrocarbon supply routes to global markets, including through the Middle Corridor, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh President. In the course of the meeting, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted the significant contribution of the corporation to the economic development of our country. Over the years of independence, Chevron, involved in the development of major fields such as Tengiz and Karachaganak, has invested about 55 billion dollars in Kazakhstan. Currently, about 25 percent of the total production volume of one of the worlds largest energy companies comes from Kazakhstan. Furthermore, the focal point of the meeting revolved around the strategic discourse on the execution of the forthcoming Tengiz expansion initiative, alongside the evaluative analysis of the potentialities for gas extraction and processing at the Karachaganak site. Chevron Corporation is a major American multinational energy company involved in every aspect of the oil and gas industry, including exploration, production, refining, and marketing. Founded in 1879 and headquartered in San Ramon, California, Chevron is one of the largest oil companies in the world. The company is also investing in renewable energy and technologies to support a lower-carbon future. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Moodys vouches for KazakhExports insurance financial strength rating with stable outlook Moodys confirmed KazakhExports Insurance Financial Strength Rating at Baa1 with a stable outlook, citing the agencys stable operations, strong capitalization, and support from its parent company, National Managing Holding "Baiterek," fully owned by the Kazakh government. KazakhExport supports non-commodity exports and trade credit insurance, backed by state guarantees of 541 billion tenge (about $973 million) as of June 2025. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The Economic Zones Development Agency under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Datang Overseas Investment Co. on the establishment of a Green Energy Industrial Park in Azerbaijan, Trend reports. The agreement was signed by Chairman of the Board of Directors of Economic Zones Development Agency Seymur Adigozalov and General Manager of China Datang Overseas Investment Co., Yuanlong Zhou, at a ceremony held within the framework of the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku. The park's goal is to contribute to the development of renewable energy and environmental technologies. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The selection process for a consulting company to prepare the feasibility study (FS) for the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan green corridor project will begin soon, Azerbaijans Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov said at the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum held in Baku, Trend reports. According to him, for the first time, steps are being taken to integrate the power grids of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistana move that will pave the way for the Trans-Caspian Energy Corridor and position Central Asia and the South Caucasus as key regions in the global green transition. Our cooperation with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in green energy is comprehensive and aims to build a unified regional platform. The first important steps were taken last year in Baku during COP29, where the presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan signed an intergovernmental agreement on strategic partnership in green energy. At the same time, agreements were signed confirming Saudi Arabias participation in the projects as an investor, he explained. The minister recalled that a joint venturethe Green Corridor Alliancewas established later, with its headquarters in Baku. Next month, a tender will be held to select a consulting firm to develop the projects feasibility study. This process, with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), is expected to begin before the end of this year, he added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 22. A meeting between Chairman of the Management Board of NC "KazMunayGas" JSC (KMG) Askhat Khasenov and the management of the American company LanzaJet - CEO Jimmy Samartzis and Vice President for Commercial Affairs Stefan Thion was held in New York, the company's press service says, Trend reports. According to the information,the parties discussed the results of the completed feasibility study, as well as further steps in implementing the project to build a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant in Kazakhstan. Following the meeting, a Framework Agreement was signed between KMG and LanzaJet. The document formalized the results of the feasibility study and marked the transition to the next stagefront-end engineering design (FEED), which will develop technical and economic solutions for the construction of the facility. According to market analysis, the demand for SAF in Kazakhstan could reach 70,000 tons annually by 2030. "This joint work will make a significant contribution to strengthening bilateral cooperation and will contribute to achieving low-carbon development goals and the introduction of new technologies. Overall, this project will have a positive impact on the development of the biofuel market, improving the environmental parameters of aviation and the transit potential of our country," Khasenov said. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 22. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received U.S. Special Representative for South and Central Asia and newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gaur, Trend reports. President Tokayev congratulated Gaur on his appointment and affirmed Kazakhstans full support for his mission. He emphasized the countrys commitment to continuing a dialogue aimed at achieving practical outcomes to further enhance the Kazakhstan-U.S. strategic partnership. The sides discussed deepening trade and economic cooperation, with President Tokayev noting that Kazakhstan is a key U.S. economic partner in Central Asia. They also exchanged views on current international and regional issues. KABUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan government's Ministry of Interior Affairs has dissolved the branch of Interpol from its administrative chart, spokesman for the ministry Abdul Mateen Qani said. "The Interpol police structure has been removed from the Ministry of Interior Affairs," local media outlet Tolonews quoted Qani as saying on Sunday night. The official did not give details for the decision. Earlier reports, according to private media outlet Tolonews, suggested that the leader of the Afghan government had dissolved the Interpol police structures in both the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Afghanistan joined Interpol on Oct. 21, 2002. At that time, about 120 personnel served in the Interior Ministry and another 30 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The country's Interpol branch was responsible for coordinating criminal investigations and communication with other nations. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 22. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with U.S. President Donald Trump in New York to discuss the future of Kazakhstan-United States relations, Trend reports. The leaders focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation, with President Trump emphasizing the importance of expanding economic and trade ties between the two countries. They also exchanged views on current international issues, underlining the strategic partnership and dialogue between Kazakhstan and the United States. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 23. Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the agenda of the ongoing UN General Assembly session, Trend reports. During the meeting, President Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstans commitment to supporting the UN and actively promoting its central role in strengthening peace, stability, and sustainable development. In the presence of both sides, a memorandum was signed to formalize the operation of the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 22. Kyrgyzstans GDP reached 1.042 trillion soms ($11.9 billion) in the period from January through August 2025, up 11 percent compared to the same period in 2024, Trend reports via the country's State Statistical Committee. The services sector accounted for 50.8 percent of GDP, the goods-producing industries 33.4 percent, and net taxes on products 15.8 percent. According to the Ministry of Finance, Kyrgyzstans GDP is projected to grow by 8.5 percent in 2025, with nominal GDP expected to reach 1.779 trillion soms ($20 billion). The countrys GDP totaled 1.523 trillion soms ($17.5 billion) in 2024, with a real growth rate of 9 percent. Meanwhile, consumer prices and tariffs rose 5.1 percent nationwide in January-August compared to December 2024. Prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 7 percent, alcoholic beverages and tobacco by 4.7 percent, non-food goods by 3 percent, and tariffs for services provided to the population by 3.2 percent. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 23. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov arrived in New York on September 22 to participate in the High-Level Week of the 80th UN General Assembly session, Trend reports. His plane landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where he was greeted by the U.S. Presidents Special Representative for Global Partnerships, Paolo Zampolli, and other officials. Japarov is scheduled to deliver a speech on September 23 during the opening day of the General Assemblys general debate. He will also participate in open debates of the UN Security Council on Artificial Intelligence: International Security and Peace and a Special High-Level Event on Climate Change. In addition, Japarov will hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Assembly, including a session with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, September 22. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with Tajikistans President Emomali Rahmon to discuss key regional and global issues, including United Nations reforms, climate change, terrorism, and developments in Central Asia and Afghanistan, Trend reports. During the meeting, Guterres praised Tajikistans leadership in water and glacier preservation, highlighting the countrys efforts to safeguard critical natural resources. He also commended Tajikistans constructive role in resolving border disputes and fostering regional cooperation across Central Asia. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 22. Presidents of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Serdar Berdimuhamedov, held a telephone conversation focused on boosting trade turnover and promoting joint projects in industry and energy, Trend reports via the Uzbek president's office. The leaders highlighted that the construction of the Shavat-Dashoguz trade zone is nearing completion and discussed upcoming events, including a Forum of Regions, an exhibition, and Days of Culture and Cinema of Turkmenistan in Uzbekistan. During the call, President Mirziyoyev also congratulated President Berdimuhamedov on his birthday, wishing him good health and well-being, as well as peace and prosperity to the Turkmen people. The two leaders reviewed broader aspects of the Uzbek-Turkmen strategic partnership, noting the intensive political dialogue, active interagency cooperation, and prospects for further collaboration in regional initiatives. President Mirziyoyev concluded by extending congratulations to the president and people of Turkmenistan on the occasion of the countrys upcoming Independence Day. The proposed border-free Shavat-Dashoguz trade zone runs between Uzbekistan's Khorezm region and Turkmenistan's Dashoguz region. The project will establish cultural, humanitarian, and trade and economic interaction. The trading zone was suggested by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Turkmenistan in October 2022. The trade zone is expected to boost economic links between the two countries. In 2022, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan traded almost $1 billion. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are working to build a full-fledged free trade zone. Tashkent and Ashgabat began establishing trade zone facilities at the Shavat-Dashoguz checkpoint. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Iran calls on all parties to act responsibly regarding our nuclear program, said Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Trend reports. He made the remarks during a meeting in New York with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Araghchi emphasized that Iran is committed to resolving nuclear program issues responsibly and in good faith. He added that progress can be made if other parties stop applying pressure on Iran. Grossi welcomed Irans constructive engagement with the agency, particularly in light of the Cairo agreement, and stressed the importance of all sides using diplomatic channels to prevent further tensions. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Iran's response to the potential activation of the United Nations (UN) Security Councils Snapback mechanism will be firm and decisive, Behnam Saeedi, a member of the parliament's National Security Committee presidium, told reporters, Trend reports. Saeedi noted that Iran is currently considering several possible measures in response. These include withdrawing from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The official criticized the European trio and the US for failing to uphold their commitments, calling the Snapback mechanism a return to past unilateral actions. He described it as an illegal step that violates international agreements, undermines their authority, and diminishes their value. The parliamentarian noted that in 2018, the US unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and imposed severe sanctions on Iranian citizens, companies, banks, and other institutions. European countries followed suit, and their current actions are, according to Saidi, contrary to international law. Iran prioritizes diplomacy. Based on the agreement with the IAEA, Iran and the agency should continue cooperation under a new framework. Despite Western claims regarding Irans nuclear activities, oversight remains the responsibility of the agency, and no excuse is acceptable, he said. The UN Security Council has voted to restore sanctions that had been suspended following the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. The decision has been backed by the US, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. If Iran and European leaders fail to reach a new agreement, the sanctions will be reinstated on September 26. The nuclear deal was endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231, adopted on July 20, 2015. This resolution resulted in the lifting of six previous resolutions against Iran and extensive sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program. The snapback mechanism is based on Articles 36 and 37 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). According to these provisions, if one party complains that another has violated the agreement and resolution efforts fail, the issue can be brought before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). If the UNSC accepts the complaint, international sanctions against Iran can be reinstated, and the Security Council members may authorize military operations against Iran. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. An agreement on the construction of new nuclear power plants (NPPs) will be signed between Iran and Russia in the coming days, Iranian Vice President, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami told Iranian media in Moscow today, Trend reports. According to him, the current agreement between the Iranian and Russian states envisages the construction of eight nuclear power plants in Iran (four in the Bushehr Province) by Russia. He explained that based on the agreement, Iran is to announce the construction of the next plants to the Russian side. Eslami pointed out that the discussions and studies needed for the implementation of the second part of this agreement have been carried out. The site where the plants will be built has been selected, prepared, and equipped. The site where these NPPs will be built has been inspected before. Negotiations have been held within the framework of the agreement. With the agreement to be signed this week, work on design, technical, and improvement work will be automatically launched, he added. To note, Eslami has visited Moscow for the first time to participate in a complex event called World Atomic Week on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Russian atomic industry. The main event will be held in Moscow on September 25-29. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. Iran has always pursued and is pursuing peaceful nuclear programs, Iranian Vice President, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami told Iranian media in Moscow today, Trend reports. According to him, Iran has complied with safeguards and the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) within the framework of its approved programs. Eslami pointed out that, all things considered, the IAEA didnt raise a peep about the Israeli and US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. "If the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities under safeguards and registered with the IAEA is not condemned by the agency, this shows the influence of the opposing parties in the agency. Iran will continue its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency when it realizes that it is acting impartially and in accordance with the new law approved by the Iranian parliament, he said. To recall, after the Israeli and US military airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June, Iran's cooperation with the IAEA was reduced to a minimum. On July 2, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian approved the implementation of the parliamentary law that effectively suspends IAEA inspections. In accordance with regulatory frameworks, IAEA inspectors are precluded from accessing Iranian territory unless there is an affirmative endorsement from the Supreme National Security Council affirming the integrity and safety of the nations peaceful nuclear operations and installations. On September 11, Araghchi and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, agreed in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to restore mutual relations and new rules for cooperation after Tehran suspended all inspections of its nuclear facilities. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ISTANBUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Seventeen people stranded by severe flooding in Turkiye's northern Black Sea region were rescued by military helicopters on Monday, authorities said, as heavy rains caused widespread damage in the area. Since Saturday, the floods have triggered landslides and inundations that have collapsed roads and bridges across Rize, Giresun, Artvin, and Trabzon provinces, leaving many residents stranded and prompting large-scale rescue operations. Two helicopters from the Land Forces Command and one from the Air Forces Command were dispatched to Rize, successfully evacuating all 17 residents, the Ministry of National Defense announced. Authorities said access to Rize's highland plateaus is now being maintained by helicopter following the floods. Local media reported that riverside bungalows -- a popular attraction for tourists seeking scenic views -- were swept away by the floodwaters. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said 14 million liras (about 338,000 U.S. dollars) in emergency funds have been allocated to Rize, adding that 1,428 personnel, supported by 567 pieces of machinery and equipment, remain engaged in response and recovery efforts. Meanwhile, other parts of Turkiye are experiencing the opposite extreme -- severe drought -- with national rainfall plunging far below long-term averages and threatening water supplies and agriculture. According to data released Monday by the State Meteorological Service, Turkiye received 401.1 kilograms of rainfall per square meter between October 2024 and August 2025 -- 27 percent below the long-term average and 29 percent lower than the same period last year -- marking the lowest national rainfall in 52 years. The decline has been most pronounced in Southeastern Anatolia, where precipitation dropped more than 53 percent below seasonal norms. The Mediterranean region recorded its driest year in 51 years, while the Marmara and Aegean regions saw their lowest rainfall in 18 years. In the capital Ankara, this water year was the driest in 47 years. Only parts of the Black Sea region reported above-average rainfall. In Washington, hunger is now politics. The U.S. government has scrapped the Department of Agriculture's food insecurity report, dismissing it as "politicized." For nearly 30 years, this survey tracked how many American families can't afford enough to eat. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Explained: Chinas K Visa in News after H1B Visa Fee Hike K Visa is trending in India, interestingly about two months after it was introduced, and the reason for this sudden interest in Chinas new visa category is Trump Administrations decision to hike the H1B visa fee Monday September 22, 2025 3:27 PM , Aniqua Sabahat Faizee K Visa is trending in India, interestingly about two months after it was introduced, and the reason for this sudden interest in Chinas new visa category is Trump Administrations decision to hike the H1B visa fee. China had introduced the K Visa category about two months ago to attract next generation scientists and researchers, and young international professionals in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The new visa category was approved during the State Councils Executive meeting on July 16, 2025 and is set to take effect on October 1, 2025. Why Chinas K Visa is Trending Now? The Chinas K Visa did not get the desired attention when it was introduced and approved in July. It, however, found interests among the Indians soon after Donald Trump signed the Executive Order that increased the H1B Visa fees to a mountainous $100,000 Friday September 19, 2025. There are around 730,000 H1B Visa holders, mostly working in IT and Tech firms, as per fwd.com. Of them nearly 70% are Indians. Therefore it was but natural for the Indians who are currently employed in the United States and the new lot of workers who are planning to migrate, to get panicked. Amidst this situation of panic, the Chinese K Visa Category became attractive to these Indians. So much so that some of them are equating the K Visa with H1B Visa, even calling it as the Chinese alternative to U.S. H1B Visa. K Visa Features Through the K visa, China allows multi-entry access, longer periods of validity, and extended durations of stay in the country. Unlike the Z (work) or M (business) visa categories, K visa applicants do not need a Chinese employer or an invitation letter, removing a significant barrier to entry. The visa supports a broad scope of activity, including academic exchanges, launching business ventures, participating in entrepreneurial endeavors, and engaging in cultural projects. Application procedures will be simplified and digitized, allowing prospective applicants to submit their materials through Chinese embassies and consulates using new online platforms, according to NewLand Chase. K Visa Application Portal The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Immigration Administration, and Chinese embassies will jointly oversee the implementation of the K visa. According to the Chinese Ministry of Justice, foreign young professionals engaged in education and research who have graduated from renowned domestic or international universities or research institutions with a bachelors degree or higher in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) are eligible to apply for K Visa. Aspirants will get a clearer idea of eligibility criteria, bracket and acceptable professional experience once the K Visa Application Portal is launched. The government plans to roll-out digital application platforms ahead of the K Visa application process launch in October this year. Ahead of the launch, Chinese authorities also plan to execute a global outreach campaign targeting innovation hubs such as the United States, the European Union, and ASEAN member states. [Aniqua Sabahat Faizee is Staff Writer at ummid.com.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic Trumps Bagram Threat: Not The Way Presidents Behave In toto, this makes one wonder what kind of a man the American public elected, who makes every move for his selfish political or monetary gain, not for his country or its people Monday September 22, 2025 11:35 AM , Asad Mirza [Donald Trump on the campaign trail in Las Vegas, Nevada June 18, 2016. (REUTERS/David Becker/Files)] U.S. President Donald Trump has fired a fresh salvo from his wish list, ignoring sovereignty of an independent nation and ignoring all norms of international decorum and diplomacy. He seems to act like a child who must cry, when he wants to take control of any other sovereign country. After making demands of taking over Greenland, Mexico and adding Canada to the USA, the US President Donald Trump has once again targetted a sovereign nation, just to fulfill his wish list or dreams or efforts to neutralise his arch foes. In his latest demand, Trump said on Thursday (September 18) that his administration is pressing to get back the military base at Bagram, Afghanistan. The US president, who has long expressed hope of reclaiming the facility, noted that its position is strategically vital due to its proximity to China. According to him Bagram is strategically vital due to its proximity to China. Were trying to get it back, Trump announced. We gave it to [the Taliban] for nothing, he complained, adding that Bagram is exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles. He coolly ignores the question that how the US came to possess Bagram, after sending its marauding troops to an independent sovereign nation under the garb of countering terrorism, as if the US knew with 100% surety that the front of terrorism was based in Afghanistan? And what they did to the country during their 20-years presence is well-known? On Truth Social, he wrote , If Afghanistan doesnt give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN. One just needs to have a glance at the wording of the threat coming from the US president, which claims to be the oldest democracy in the world, and which completely ignores any decency, decorum, or the sanctity for the international rule of law. As expected, the ruling Taliban officials have dismissed the idea. A foreign ministry official declared on social media on Friday (September 19) that Kabul is ready to engage, but maintained that the US will not be allowed to re-establish a military presence in the central Asian country. Afghanistan and the United States need to engage with one another without the United States maintaining any military presence in any part of Afghanistan, Zakir Jalal, a foreign ministry official, posted on social media.Kabul is ready to pursue political and economic ties with Washington based on mutual respect and shared interests, he added. Lying just north of Kabul, Bagram, which hosted a notorious prison, served as the centre of the US militarys operations during its two-decade occupation of Afghanistan. Thousands of people were also imprisoned at the site for years without charge or trial by the United States during its so-called war on terror, and many of those were abused or tortured. Trump has repeatedly expressed regret that the base was abandoned, arguing that Washington should have maintained a small force, not because of Afghanistan but because of its location near China. The latest remarks came as Trump confirmed for the first time that his administration has been in talks with Taliban officials. Over the weekend, Adam Boehler, his special hostage envoy, and Zalmay Khalilzad, a former US envoy for Afghanistan, met Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul. Discussions reportedly centred on American citizens detained in Afghanistan. US officials have been weighing the possibility of re-establishing a presence at Bagram since at least March, according to reports cited by the US media outlet CNN. However, the Talibans top military commander has rejected President Donald Trumps call. The commander warned of a strong reaction to any form of hostility.The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Fasihuddin Fitrat, dismissed Trumps demand during a state-run TV event in Kabul on Sunday (September 21). Fitrat stressed on Afghanistans sovereignty and its capability to govern itself without any foreign intervention. "Afghanistan is fully independent, governed by its own people, and not dependent on any foreign power," Bloomberg quoted Fitrat saying at the event. "We do not fear any bully or aggressor." Trump has consistently criticised his predecessor, Joe Biden, holding him responsible for the disorderly US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Bagram has been under Taliban control since the American forces retreated under a negotiated agreement. The base is currently a symbol of the Talibans triumph and is often displayed during official visits and military parades.The base, a significant military asset, has been a point of contention since the US withdrawal. The refusal by the Taliban not only underscores their assertion of sovereignty but also sets a precedent for future negotiations and demands.The situation warrants close monitoring as it could potentially escalate existing tensions and impact future diplomatic relations. Strategically located at the crossroads of Iran, Pakistan, Chinas Xinjiang region, and Central Asia, Bagram gives potential US influence over the region, including monitoring Russian and Chinese activities. Trump has also repeatedly said that China has since established a presence at the base, which is north of the capital, Kabul. The Taliban have denied the claim. Also, a BBC investigation - which examined 30 satellite images from late 2020 to 2025 - found very little activity at the base since the Taliban returned, and no evidence to support China's presence at the base. Though India, so far has not commented on the development, on Friday (September 19) a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said, "China respects Afghanistan's territorial integrity and sovereignty", adding that "the future of Afghanistan should be in the hands of Afghan people". In toto, this makes one wonder what kind of a man the American public elected, who makes every move for his selfish political or monetary gain, not for his country or its people, and where he would ultimately lead America to, despite his MAGA claims. (The writer, Asad Mirza, is a New Delhi-based senior commentator on national, international, defence and strategic affairs, environmental issues, an interfaith practitioner, and a media consultant.) 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 With new makeover, DeepkSeek R1 loses 1% of its original capability Chinas DeepSeek R1, which had stormed the tech world January this year, this week received a new makeover but at the cost of its original capability and speed. Monday September 22, 2025 10:00 PM , Technology Desk Chinas DeepSeek R1, which had stormed the tech world January this year, this week received a new makeover but at the cost of its original capability and speed. As reported by news agency Reuters, DeepSeek-R1-Safe, has been designed to censor politically sensitive topics and reflect China's socialist values before they are available to the public, in compliance with tight controls on speech. As a result, the new DeepSeek AI model exhibited a less than 1% performance degradation compared to the original DeepSeek-R1 . Another interesting point related to DeepSeek-R1-Safe is it is developed by the Chinese tech giant Huawei, and not DeepSeek. And for the latest DeepSeek R1 update, Huawei took the help of the researchers from Zhejiang University. One of Chinas premium universities, Zhejiang University is from where DeepSeek founder, Liang Wenfeng, had graduated. Interestingly, DeepSeek R1 last update in March this year was released via Hugging Face. What's New? Launched on September 22, 2025, at the Huawei Connect 2025 event, DeepSeek-R1-Safe is the first AI model in China trained on a thousand-card (1,000) Huawei Ascend AI chip platform. A version of Ascend AI chip, Ascend 920 , is considered an alternative to Nvidias H20 AI chips. The Ascend AI chips have been built using SMICs N+3 process and paired with HBM3 memory. Huawei said the bilingual (Chinese-English) DeepSeek-R1-Safe was nearly 100% successful in blocking politically sensitive content during routine interactions. However, the effectiveness fell to around 40% when users attempted to bypass restrictions through roleplay, indirect scenarios or coded prompts. The system achieved an 83% security defence score, outperforming rival large language models such as Alibabas Qwen-235B and DeepSeek-R1-671B by up to 15%. DeepSeek-R1-Safe addresses criticisms of the original DeepSeek-R1, which has been flagged for lacking strong guardrails and being vulnerable to jailbreaking i.e. bypassing safety mechanisms to generate harmful outputs. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic CANBERRA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that his government's move to recognize Palestinian statehood represents a step forward for a peaceful resolution in the Middle East. Albanese and Penny Wong, Australian minister for foreign affairs, announced from New York on Sunday that Australia has formally recognized the independent and sovereign state of Palestine. The announcement came over a month after Albanese announced in August that his government would move to recognize Palestinian statehood at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Speaking on Monday, Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television that a two-state solution has been a bipartisan position in Australia since the state of Israel was declared in 1948. "The recognition of Palestine is a step forward towards a more peaceful resolution towards what our vision is, which is Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace and security and advancing the prosperity of both peoples," he said. Charlie Kirk's funeral in Arizona was transformed into a stage for US President Donald Trump's sharpest warning yet about political violence in America. Trump described Kirk as a 'martyr for free speech' and declared that the bullet which ended his life was aimed at every American who values liberty. 'The Bullet Was Aimed At All Of Us' Addressing thousands of mourners, Trump declared that the Turning Point USA founder's killing was not only a personal tragedy but also a symbolic attack on the country's freedoms. 'The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at all of us,' Trump said, according to AP News. He warned that Kirk's killing represented an effort to silence an entire conservative movement, adding: 'That bullet was aimed at every American who believes in faith, family, and freedom.' His address marked the most forceful framing yet of Kirk's death as an emblem of political violence directed against conservatives. 'They weren't just trying to silence Charlie. They were trying to silence an entire movement,' Trump said, reported AP News. 'That bullet was aimed at every American who believes in faith, family, and freedom,' he added. Kirk, 31, was shot and killed earlier this month while attending a university event in Utah. Authorities have charged a 22-year-old suspect, who remains in custody while investigators probe possible motives. Memorial Infused With Politics And Religion The memorial service drew prominent Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance and Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, as well as hundreds of local church leaders. The tone was explicitly religious, with Kirk's widow, Erika, invoking faith and forgiveness in her eulogy. In a moment that has drawn wide attention, Erika Kirk told the packed arena that she forgave the accused gunman. 'The Lord calls us to forgive, and I choose forgiveness,' she said, fighting back tears, according to The Guardian. Trump, however, blended scripture with sharp political rhetoric. He promised to posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom if he wins in November. He urged conservatives to treat the killing as a rallying cry ahead of the election. Trump closed his remarks with a vow that 'Charlie's voice will not be silenced. His mission will live on in every patriot who fights for America.' Security Concerns At High-Profile Event The sheer scale of the memorial underscored America's heightened security climate. Local officials said thousands of police officers and private guards were deployed to protect attendees, reflecting fears of unrest. Observers compared the service to a political convention, with giant screens, campaign-style music and chants of 'USA' echoing across the venue. While billed as a funeral, the memorial doubled as a show of unity among conservatives, casting Kirk's death as both tragedy and motivation. Kirk's Legacy And Broader Debate Kirk, 31, founded Turning Point USA in 2012, building it into one of the most significant conservative youth movements in the US, with chapters on more than 3,000 campuses. His killing has reignited debate about the intersection of politics and violence. Trump closed his remarks declaring: 'Charlie's voice will not be silenced. His mission will live on in every patriot who fights for America.' Critics argue that framing the death as an ideological attack risks inflaming tensions. Supporters counter that ignoring the political symbolism would be a betrayal of Kirk's legacy. Originally published on IBTimes UK The question of free speech on college campuses has long been a flashpoint in American public life, but a new report suggests the debate is far from settled. The 2026 College Free Speech Rankings, released by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), paint a complex picture of the state of expression at U.S. universitieswhere some institutions are fostering open dialogue, while others are failing to protect the very principle on which higher education rests. A Nation of Contrasts The rankings, billed as the most comprehensive survey of their kind, draw on responses from over 55,000 students at more than 250 universities. The results reveal a sharp divide: some campuses are seen as vibrant forums for debate and dissent, while others earn failing marks for restrictive policies, self-censorship, and disciplinary practices that undermine open expression. Harvard University once again sits near the bottom of the list, reflecting ongoing controversies over speech codes and administrative responses to student expression. On the other hand, institutions like Michigan Technological University, Auburn University, and the University of Chicago continue to rank among the best for protecting free speech. Key Findings Self-Censorship on the Rise : A majority of students reported that they hold back their true opinions in class or in conversations with peers. : A majority of students reported that they hold back their true opinions in class or in conversations with peers. Protests and "De-platforming" : Nearly 70 percent of students said it is at least "sometimes acceptable" to shout down a speaker, highlighting a cultural shift in how young people view protest. : Nearly 70 percent of students said it is at least "sometimes acceptable" to shout down a speaker, highlighting a cultural shift in how young people view protest. Policy Gaps: Schools with vague or restrictive speech codes tended to perform poorly, while universities with clear, content-neutral policies ranked higher. "This year, students largely opposed allowing any controversial campus speaker, no matter that speaker's politics... Rather than hearing out and then responding to an ideological opponent, both liberal and conservative college students are retreating from the encounter entirely. This will only harm students' ability to think critically and create rifts between them. We must champion free speech on campus as a remedy to our culture's deep polarization." FIRE President and CEO Greg Lukianoff For a detailed breakdown of how your college fares, and to see the methodology behind the scores, read the full 2026 College Free Speech Rankings Report by FIRE. Access it here: FIRE Free Speech Rankings 2026 PDF. The Leaders Claremont McKenna College topped the rankings for the second time, joined in the top five by Purdue University, the University of Chicago, Michigan Technological University, and the University of Colorado Boulder. These schools have consistently scored well since the rankings began in 2020, cementing reputations for fostering open debate. The Laggards At the other end, Barnard College ranked last, with Columbia University, Indiana University, the University of Washington, and Northeastern University also landing in the bottom five. At Barnard, 90% of students reported difficulty discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict openly, reflecting broader national tensions. Shifts Among Elites Some elite universities showed marked improvement. Vanderbilt University rose to No. 7, while Dartmouth (No. 35) and Yale (No. 58) also climbed significantly. Harvard University, ranked dead last for the past two years, improved to No. 245still low, but a step forward. Why It Matters Free speech on campus doesn't just affect classroom debate; it shapes how students will engage as citizens after graduation. Supporters of academic freedom argue that the college years should prepare students for the messy, often uncomfortable realities of civic life. Critics, meanwhile, contend that unfettered expression can lead to harm or marginalization of vulnerable groups. The tension between these two visions of higher education is playing out in real time, as universities navigate lawsuits, donor pressures, political scrutiny, and student activism. Looking Ahead The FIRE report is more than a set of rankingsit's a call to action. Universities that scored poorly face mounting pressure from students, alumni, and policymakers to reform. Meanwhile, high-performing schools offer a roadmap: adopt transparent policies, encourage open dialogue, and train administrators to handle disputes without resorting to censorship. In an era where cultural and political divides are widening, the state of free speech on campus may be a bellwether for the health of American democracy itself. As FIRE's report makes clear, universities have a choice to make: double down on protecting expressionor risk losing their role as true marketplaces of ideas. YANGON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar plans to cultivate up to 100,000 acres of coffee crops across the country within one to two years, an official from the Department of Agriculture told Xinhua on Monday. The initiative aims to increase the production of agricultural products for export and ensure benefits for farmers, state-owned daily Myanma Alinn reported. So far, about 63,226 acres of coffee crops have been planted across the country, the report said. Currently, two types of coffee are being grown in Myanmar, Arabica coffee and Robusta coffee, it said. The target areas for coffee cultivation to reach 100,000 acres include Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay, Bago, Ayeyarwady, Mon, Tanintharyi, Sagaing, and Magway regions, it added. To help achieve the target, the Department of Agriculture will provide coffee seeds, seedlings and technical support, the report said. 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. Politicians and families attend Sunday lunch against backdrop of Colosseum as Italy seeks UNESCO recognition for Italian cuisine. Italy's premier Giorgia Meloni joined an open-air lunch in the Roman Forum on Sunday as part of a bid for Italian cuisine to be added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. The candidature, which underlines the close links between Italian food, culture and lifestyle, is the result of a joint proposal from the ministries of culture and agriculture. Meloni was joined at the Sunday lunch in the Temple of Venus and Roma by culture minister Alessandro Giuli, agriculture minister Francesco Lollobrigida, and Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri, together with families. In a statement, Giuli described the event as "a moment of encounter and conviviality among citizens around traditional Italian dishes to support the nomination of our cuisine for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage." 1/3 Oggi al Colosseo per Il pranzo della domenica - Italiani a tavola. Un momento di incontro e convivialita intorno ai piatti della tradizione italiana, per sostenere la candidatura della nostra cucina a patrimonio immateriale dellUNESCO. pic.twitter.com/mKYmxjCnBl Alessandro Giuli (@AlessGiuli) September 21, 2025 Meloni, who appeared on the Domenica In television programme during the lunch, stated: "Italian cuisine is one of the most extraordinary things we have, expressing our culture, our identity, our tradition, but also our strength." Meloni's live appearance on state television sparked criticism from opposition centre-left PD leader Elly Schlein who described it as "a huge commercial for Tele-Meloni" and accused the premier of finding time to discuss the "lunches and pastries she prefers to eat on Sundays"... "while Canada, the UK and Australia announce their recognition of the State of Palestine." Launched in 2023, Italy's bid for Italian cuisine recognition is currently in the evaluation process, with a decision expected from UNESCO by the end of this year. * The reinterpretation of ancient Dunhuang culture has become a driving force behind the cultural and tourism boom. * Last year alone, four classic performing arts attracted more than 1.14 million visitors to Dunhuang, with a record of over 2,000 performances. * To manage the growing influx of tourists, the Dunhuang Academy has created a team of over 100 tour guides fluent in seven languages. LANZHOU, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian dancer Romanovych Inna has devoted herself to perfecting her posture, earning a regular role in the dance drama "Ancient Sound of Dunhuang," now a cultural highlight in the northwestern Chinese city of Dunhuang, once a vital hub on the ancient Silk Road. This undated photo shows Romanovych Inna performing the dance drama "Ancient Sound of Dunhuang" in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Gansu Performance Group/Handout via Xinhua) As the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo opened on Sunday, the small desert city with a population of around 200,000 welcomed guests and participants from 97 countries, who gathered for cultural dialogues, exhibitions and artistic performances. "This historic city is a hot tourist destination. In such a peak season, we have 11 shows a day in the theater. It's very tiring, but also very fulfilling," said Inna, who portrays the roles of Bodhisattva and melody bird in the play. The former ballet dancer has faced a challenging transition in mastering Dunhuang dance, a style that aims to bring to life the iconic figures depicted on the ancient murals of the Mogao Grottoes, which is a 1,600-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site in Dunhuang. Despite her strong ballet background, Inna spent six months refining her movements to make her dance feel less "awkward" after she joined the cast a year ago. She visited the Mogao Caves twice and closely listened to the tour guides' explanations to gain a deeper understanding of the art and culture within. This undated photo shows Vaja Bukia (L, front) performing the dance drama "Ancient Sound of Dunhuang" in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Gansu Performance Group/Handout via Xinhua) "There is a big difference between Dunhuang dance and ballet. The upper body of ballet is relatively straight and upright, while the movements of Dunhuang dance require the stretching and exaggeration of the upper body and soft finger posture, making it more difficult than ballet," Inna said. Since its premiere in June 2023, the dance drama has been performed more than 2,400 times, attracting over 860,000 audience members. The reinterpretation of ancient Dunhuang culture has become a driving force behind the cultural and tourism boom. Drawing on historical themes, contemporary artists have created four awe-inspiring music and dance masterpieces, which also include the classic dance drama "Flower Rains Along Silk Road," whose footprints have covered more than 40 countries and regions since its debut in 1979, and "the Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva" performed by dancers with hearing or visual impairment. Artists perform classic dance drama "Flower Rains Along Silk Road" in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Last year alone, the four classic performing arts attracted more than 1.14 million visitors to Dunhuang, with a record of over 2,000 performances, according to data from the cultural and tourism department of Gansu Province. Through these cultural and visual feasts, tourists are immersed in the history of the ancient Silk Road, carrying forward Dunhuang's ongoing journey of cultural preservation. "Dunhuang not only has a profound historical heritage but also contains contemporary cultural vitality," said Dai Bin, director of the China Tourism Academy. He noted that the city's latest cultural tourism successes, such as the Dunhuang Book Center and Dunhuang Press, are inspiring more entrepreneurs to explore business opportunities rooted in the legacy of Dunhuang culture. Speaking at the expo, Prasop Riangngoen, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Thailand, said Dunhuang is a symbol of the Silk Road -- an important hub where civilizations converge, ideas are exchanged and different arts are able to learn from each other. Guests visit the pavilion of Thailand, the guest of honor at the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) As the guest of honor at the expo in Gansu Province, Thailand is showcasing its cultural heritage and ethnic customs. "The artistic elements in the murals of the Mogao Caves share many similarities with the temple murals in Thailand, which fully demonstrates the close historical connection between the two countries," Riangngoen said. Angelo Mascheroni, an Italian PhD student in Tocharian studies, traced the origin of the ancient language to Dunhuang. "I would be very pleased if I could purchase some nice volumes, like a Chinese edition of the manuscripts I studied, maybe some of the volumes I did not see in libraries in Europe. That would be amazing," he said, explaining that the ancient language was spoken in the northwestern part of China. Tourists visit Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, May 19, 2025. (Photo by Zhang Xiaoliang/Xinhua) To manage the growing influx of tourists, the Dunhuang Academy has created a team of over 100 tour guides fluent in seven languages, including Chinese, English and Japanese, who explain a millennium-long continuous history of chiselling caves and painting murals. Vaja Bukia from Georgia, also a cast member of the dance drama "Ancient Sound of Dunhuang," adapted the ancient Central Asian whirling dance movements depicted on the Mogao Cave murals, blending them with elements of traditional Georgian dance. "The murals just left me in awe. They can display dynamic dance postures, featuring fast and powerful movements, which are somewhat similar to the Georgian dance. There are some rotating movements in the murals, and the gestures are not very convenient. I made a few changes to better suit my own performance," he said. Wang Qi, deputy director of marketing and promotion for the dance drama, said there are currently six foreign cast members. He added that the actors from Belt and Road countries help bring to life the cultural exchange and integration among the many ethnic groups along the ancient Silk Road. (Video reporters: Zhou Yang, Ruan Shuai, Zhang Rui, Liu Keying, He Jin, Chen Qianci; video editors: Zhang Yucheng, Zhang Yuhong, Lin Lin) General strike for Gaza leads to travel chaos in Italy. Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Rome and cities across Italy on Monday amid a general strike to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Those participating in the protests and rallies around Italy included pro-Palestinian groups, trade unions, students, associations and ordinary citizens, young and old. An estimated 20,000 people gathered outside Rome's central Termini train station, which shut its doors, with protests elsewhere in the capital leading to traffic gridlock. In Milan thousands of people marched from Piazzale Cadorna, led by representatives of the CUB union, under banners that read: "We will block everything, stop the genocide". Protesters in Naples blocked trains in the city's central station by occupying railway tracks, while thousands of people blocked traffic on the A1 motorway at Calenzano near Florence. Other sit-ins and demonstrations were planned in Genoa, Turin, Bologna, Florence, Bari and Palermo. The 24-hour general strike, involving the public and private sectors, was called by four trade unions "against the genocide in Palestine" and the "supply of weapons to Israel". The strike, which also called for "unconditional support" for the Global Sumud Flotilla, is causing widespread disruption to public transport services, schools, universities, ports and factories across Italy. Photo RAI News Move follows controversy over Palestinian flag. Rome city hall has displayed a yellow ribbon for the release of Israeli hostages after a decision to fly the Palestinian flag sparked an outcry from the city's Jewish community. The city council voted last week to fly the Palestinian flag at the Campidoglio, the seat of city hall on the Capitoline Hill, in solidarity with Gaza and the Palestinian people. The vote committed the administration of centre-left mayor Roberto Gualtieri "to condemn any attack on international humanitarian law, including the recent offensive against Gaza City and any other operation that endangers civilians, destroys humanitarian infrastructure, or hinders safe evacuation." Backlash The move sparked a backlash from the president of Rome's Jewish community, Victor Fadlun, who described the sight of the Palestinian flag flying over the Capitoline Hill as "a shot through the hearts of the Jews of Rome". "We are astonished and saddened that pro-Palestinian propaganda has made inroads into our city council", Fadlun stated in a post on X on Friday. Vedere la bandiera palestinese sventolare sul Campidoglio e un colpo al cuore per gli ebrei di Roma. Una scelta di campo divisiva che non ci rappresenta ne come cittadini, ne come ebrei che hanno radici millenarie in questa citta. E una decisione che contrasta con la memoria Victor Fadlun (@fadlunvictor) September 19, 2025 "It is a divisive stance that does not even represent us as citizens, let alone as Jews who have millennia-old roots in this city," Fadlun said, describing it as "a symbol that dangerously exacerbates the climate of rampant antisemitism and fuels the uncertainty in which the Jewish community of Rome is forced to live today." The Israeli ambassador to Italy, Jonathan Peled, on Sunday joined Fadlun in expressing his "firm condemnation" of Rome city council's decision to fly the Palestinian flag. "These are unilateral positions that not only fail to foster peace, but also play into the hands of Hamas" - Peled stated - "It is particularly serious and painful that this is happening in Rome, the city marked by the tragic death of little Stefano Gaj Tache , a victim of Palestinian terrorism". Symbol of peace Responding to the controversy, Rome city council on Sunday said the display of the yellow ribbon marked a renewal of the capital's commitment to "being a symbol of peace against violence, an open and universal city that promotes dialogue, mutual respect, and coexistence." On Sunday evening, the group leaders of the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) party in the capital's city council insisted that "Rome is and always will be a safe home for Jews". "The display of the Palestinian flag is in no way intended to be an insult to the Jewish community, nor to endorse the terrorists of Hamas, whose crimes and horrific acts we have always firmly condemned," the PD group assured, while reiterating that the two-state solution was key to achieving peace. Rome's decision to fly both flags side by side comes as Italian trade unions call a 24-hour general strike on Monday to demonstrate their solidarity with Gaza. On Friday, September 19, South East Technological University (SETU) welcomed a delegation of international ambassadors. Delegations from Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, the Peoples Republic of China, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom met with Professor Veronica Campbell, President of SETU, Dr Kevin Doolin, Executive Director of Walton Institute, SETU, and Dr Patricia Mulcahy, Vice President Global Partnerships, SETU. Deputy Conor McGuinness also attended the event alongside senior staff at SETU. He said: "It was a real honour, as TD for Waterford, to welcome the ambassadors of the Peoples Republic of China, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Switzerland and Britain to our region." The diplomatic visit coincided with the Waterford City Region Advantage Dinner, organised by Waterford Chamber of Commerce, which promotes national and international trade, investment, and collaboration opportunities for the region. Prof. Veronica Campbell addressed the congregation: "Your presence here today reflects the enduring importance of international cooperation in education, research, and innovation. Under the leadership of Dr Kevin Doolin, Walton Institute has become an internationally recognised centre of excellence in ICT research and innovation, working with partners in more than 45 countries. Todays reception provides a valuable opportunity to share our pioneering research with a global audience." She added: "With almost 13 million secured to date through Horizon Europe, SETU is proud to be Irelands leading technological university for research funding, a success Walton Institute plays a central role in." Deputy McGuinness said the work of SETU and the Walton Institute has magnitude beyond Waterford. He stated: "The Walton Institute has been a cornerstone of ICT research in Ireland since 1996 blending cutting-edge science with practical, real-world application. Its success shows whats possible when you root advanced research in a regional setting, support it properly, and link it to industry and international networks. "As Sinn Feins spokesperson on regional development, Ive consistently said that delivering balanced national growth means backing institutions like SETU. That means proper investment, long-term planning, and a real commitment to unlocking the South Easts full potential. Tributes have been paid to Waterford Shotokan Karate founding member Dermot Carew, who passed away last week. Waterford Shotokan Karate wrote in a post on social media: Its with great sadness, we announce the passing of Our Sensei Dermot Carew. "With over 60 years devoted to martial arts and as a founding member of Waterford Shotokan Karate Club . "We will sadly miss a true Waterford legend. May He Rest In Peace. The Shotokan Karate International Federation also posted saying they were sad to hear of Sensei Carews passing. Dermot of Sunrise Crescent and formally Ferrybank passed away on September 18. He was laid to rest in the cemetery adjoining the Sacred Heart Church in Ferrybank on Sunday. He is sadly missed by his sons Shane and Daniel, daughters Noreen, Kelly and Jennifer, sons-in-law Nicky and Jamie, daughters-in-law Cathy and Klaudia, grandchildren Dale, Ciaran, Daisy, Leah, Lacey, Mason, Daniel and Tilly, and great-grandchildren Spencer and baby Carew, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends. Hundred of people including students, friends and neighours have expressed their condolences on social media and through RIP.ie. Those who knew him say he was a "lovely man," warm, gentle and "a gentleman." Waterford City and County Councils Arts Office has announced the winner of the national Molly Keane Creative Writing Award 2025. Laura Cassidy from Cork city was announced as the award winner for her short story Digs, and received a cash prize and a writing course at the Molly Keane Writers Retreat in Ardmore, Co Waterford, to a total value of 550. Laura is a contributing editor at Banshee literary journal, where, along with her co-founders, she was named a Bookseller Rising Star. Laura received an Agility Award and Literature Bursary Award from the Arts Council of Ireland in support of her short stories, which have appeared in The Pig's Back and Trinity's College Green Magazine. In 2024 she was awarded a Munster Literature Centre Mentorship Bursary with Frank O'Connor Fellow Camilla Grudova. Laura reviews books for the Irish Examiner and is currently working on a collection of stories and a novel. She grew up in the village of Two Mile House in Co. Kildare, just a few miles from Molly Keane's birthplace. Waterford City and County Council Arts Officer, Margaret Organ, congratulated Laura on her well-crafted short story and acknowledged all those who took the time to enter their stories into the competition. Digs is the 28th winner of the Molly Keane Creative Writing Award run by Waterford City and County Councils Arts Office and by kind permission of the Keane family, and was announced as the winner on Culture Night. The reading of the winning story can be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayixVoMUQOw As presidential candidates entered the Civic Offices in Dungarvan last week, they were met with the majority of Waterfords 32 councillors for questioning. Cllr Joe Kelly asked the most questions during the meeting (six questions). The councillors were given 10 minutes to ask each of the candidates whatever they liked, ensuring that the candidates' views and beliefs were well interrogated and examined before deciding who to nominate. A common question asked by councillors during the meeting was around the power that the presidents office holds. Cllr Adam Wyse asked the second most questions during the meeting (five questions). As candidates spoke in depth about housing, homelessness, immigration and trade, councillors asked: Is the office of president capable of actually impacting these issues?" Multiple Sinn Fein councillors asked candidates for their views on a United Ireland. Cllr Joe Kelly asked candidate Dolores Cahill what she meant when she said she aims to put Irish people and Irish families first. Cllr Joe O'Riordan asked the third most questions during the meeting (four questions). Cllr Joe ORiordan, in a follow-up question asked her, What do you define as an Irish person? Cllr Jim Griffin asked Kieran McCarthy how he would engage with any international ambassador to Ireland who was supporting war crimes in their own country. Cllr Thomas Phelan asked candidate Keith McGrory if he could see himself welcoming Donald Trump to Ireland. A number of candidates were asked how they promote the Irish language, and for their views on Irelands triple lock. Some candidates proved more difficult to question than others, however. Cllr Joeanne Bailey said to candidate Michael Power: "It's very hard to ask you a question, because unfortunately you didnt send in a manifesto. We have no information about you. "I have no question because your job was to send in your information so we could form questions to ask. "Unfortunately you didnt do the job you were supposed to do." Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, Li Yunze, head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and Zhu Hexin, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China and head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, attend a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in the financial sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin) BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's monetary policy is currently supportive, with an emphasis on domestic imperatives while balancing both domestic and external situations, central bank governor Pan Gongsheng said on Monday. Responding to a question about the latest rate cut from the U.S. Fed at a press conference, Pan said that China's major financial markets, including stock, bond and foreign exchange markets, have maintained stable operations. In accordance with macroeconomic performance and changes in the overall situation, the People's Bank of China will use a variety of monetary policy tools to ensure ample liquidity, lower overall financing costs, support efforts to stimulate consumption and effective investment, consolidate and strengthen economic recovery momentum, maintain financial markets' stable operations, and keep the exchange rate of the yuan generally stable at an adaptive, balanced level, Pan said. Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, Li Yunze, head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and Zhu Hexin, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China and head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, attend a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in the financial sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, Li Yunze, head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and Zhu Hexin, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China and head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, attend a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in the financial sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, Li Yunze, head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and Zhu Hexin, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China and head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, attend a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in the financial sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, speaks at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in the financial sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Li Yunze, head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, speaks at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in the financial sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Zhu Hexin, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China and head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, speaks at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in the financial sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, speaks at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in the financial sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Journalists work at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in the financial sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin) A journalist asks questions at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on achievements in the financial sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Advertisement BusinessConsumer affairsConsumer rights Click to cancel: How hard should it be to end a subscription? Elias Visontay September 19, 2025 3:00am 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 29 View all comments How many clicks should it take to cancel a subscription to a streaming platform, and how easy should it be to get out of a gym membership? These are the questions to which the Albanese government is formulating a legal answer in response to pleas from consumer advocates calling for stricter rules to crack down on subscription traps. The practice is thought to cost the average Australian consumer as much as $1200 a year. Heres everything you need to know about how making customers jump through hoops to unsubscribe has become a proven money winner, and what so-called click-to-cancel rules could look like in Australia. Subscription traps can be laid by digital-based service providers such as streaming platforms. iStock What are subscription traps? Advertisement As the name suggests, subscription traps are instances where a customer encounters obstacles to exit a renewing charge. They can be laid by digital-based service providers such as streaming platforms, news outlets or software apps, as well as for physical objects and bricks and mortar operators such as meal-kit deliveries or gym memberships. This can include services that require a phone call to cancel, as well as those with an unsubscribe button that is difficult to find on their website, hidden beneath various menus. Increasingly, businesses are forcing customers to confirm their cancellation multiple times through various screens a tactic coined confirmshaming in an attempt to retain them, sometimes with guilt-inducing messages or discount offers. How harmful are subscription traps? Advertisement Research is showing that Australians are increasingly struggling to overcome such traps. Three-quarters of Australians with subscriptions have had a negative experience when trying to cancel, with one in three saying they felt pressured into staying on, according to a survey conducted by the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) in 2024. It also found that one in 10 Australians gave up trying to cancel a subscription meaning they resigned to pay for a product they didnt want or use. The true cost is difficult to estimate. Research from ING in 2023 found the average Australian could save an average of $1261 a year by cancelling subscriptions and regular payments they have forgotten about or dont use, while the CPRC has previously made a more modest calculation of $50 per person per year. Advertisement Still, across the Australian population the CPRC estimate adds up to a cost of half- a-billion dollars lost to subscription traps each year. Related Article Analysis Privacy Face-off: What Kmarts illegal surveillance means for shoppers Slimy...[but] profitable Professor David P. Byrne, deputy head of Melbourne Universitys economics department, said subscription traps act as sludge, a behavioural economics term for the tactic used by a business or government to make to push a consumer away from a certain action, in contrast to a nudge, which makes something easier and pushes them towards an action. Subscription traps ultimately distort how the market operates, Byrne argues, with less incentive for businesses to have competitive prices, innovate or improve their offerings. Advertisement Above the sheer frustration of having to spend four hours to stop paying for a product you dont want, in the long run, companies have less incentive to compete if their customers are captive, Byrne said. Reputational damage is an obvious risk for a company that frustrates customers with overly burdensome cancellation processes, but ultimately, it might still make business sense, Byrne said. A company might make a trade-off to keep your revenue, knowing theyll get seen as slimy... but the fact that we see sludge in the market suggests it can be worth it. The fact its there reveals its profitable, Byrne said. What would an Australian crackdown look like? Subscription traps fall into a gap in Australias consumer law, said Rosie Thomas, director of campaigns at consumer advocate Choice. At the moment, the law says you cant mislead people or act unconscionably, but thats a high bar, she said. Advertisement However, there is momentum to bring in new laws to stop businesses trapping consumers in payment loops. In the Albanese governments first term, Treasury began consulting on introducing specific prohibitions on unfair trading practices, to plug gaps in the existing consumer law. Related Article Exclusive Retail Super Retail board faces fresh legal battle for allegedly tampering with timesheets In its proposed actions, it has identified subscription traps as one of several dark patterns employed by businesses that would be deemed unfair and prohibited. Drip-pricing, where the total cost of a product builds through fees and other unadvertised prices through the online checkout process, are also in the governments sights. Last week, Choice, the Consumer Policy Research Centre and other consumer groups wrote to Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh calling for urgent action. Leigh said the government would move ahead to outlaw subscription traps but exactly what a ban will look like, and when it will be legislated, is unclear. How many clicks is fair? Advertisement Choice, the Consumer Policy Research Centre and a raft of other consumer groups urged the government to make it as easy to cancel as it is to sign up, in wording that will likely have to be interpreted on a business by business case. That proposed wording closely resembled the phrasing of a Biden-administration push for click-to-cancel rules to make it as easy to terminate as it was to sign up however these laws were struck down by a US federal appeals court in July, days before coming into effect, due to procedural deficiencies. Meal kit delivery brands have warned that confidence in subscriber numbers was a key part of their business model and supply chains for perishable food. The government has said it is studying laws overseas to help draft its local version. In the United Kingdom, businesses must make it straightforward and without having to take any steps which are not reasonably necessary to end a subscription, as part of recent reforms which also require a 14-day cooling-off period for subscriptions that renew after a free trial period or on an annual basis. However, there has been vocal pushback against overly stringent click-to-cancel rules in Australia. Advertisement The Digital Industry Group, in its submission to Treasury, made the case that businesses should still be able to make discount offers before confirming a cancellation. It also warned that by making cancelling too easy, consumers might seek to game subscriptions by terminating and re-signing up purely to take advantage of offers aimed at new customers. Related Article Executive shake-up Broken heart: Ben & Jerrys co-founder quits in protest against Unilever Meanwhile, Hello Fresh, Marley Spoon and other meal kit delivery brands have warned that confidence in subscriber numbers is a key part of their business model and supply chains for perishable food. Ultimately, unfair trading prohibitions on subscription traps will have to balance consumer rights, business interests and existing laws. While signing up to a subscription can be increasingly fast due to autofill functions and saved payment details on electronic devices, one-click cancellations could be legally problematic, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) warned the government. As the subscription is a formal contract, the subscriber may need to provide more information than simply clicking unsubscribe at the bottom of a message, the ACCI said. Advertisement The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. Advertisement LifestyleFashionFashion retail The fashion secret Cate Blanchett cant keep Damien Woolnough September 20, 2025 3:00am 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 Not a single model appeared at the biggest show of New York Fashion Week. There was no front row but Vogue boss Anna Wintour was present, along with Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett, tennis champion Roger Federer and Clare Waight Keller, the designer of Meghan, Duchess of Sussexs wedding dress. There was no runway, and no glimpse of coming collections, but this A-list gathering was more likely to change the way you think and talk about what you wear than the exquisite long-line leather coats at Coach, and Calvin Kleins dress made from underwear elastic. This was a celebration of the ubiquitous Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo, famous for its puffer jackets, cashmere jumpers and elevated basics. Since launching in Japan 41 years ago and arriving in Australia in 2014, the brand has conquered the commercial gap between fast fashion and luxury labels, becoming the worst-kept secret of the well-dressed. Clare Waight Keller, Roger Federer and Cate Blanchett at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Marc Patrick/BFA.com Whats amazing is everyone wears Uniqlo whether they say it or not, says John C. Jay, president of global creative for Uniqlo, who established a fashion industry benchmark for awareness when he helped bring Nikes Just Do It campaign to life. Thats a proof point we need to build on. Advertisement Blanchett and Waight Keller are Jays building blocks for Uniqlo pride. Together, the fashion-forward duo are removing any traces of shame about admitting to having the label in your wardrobe. Last month Blanchett was named a global ambassador for Uniqlo. Its a step up from her introduction to the brand, buying socks and undies for the family. At the New York party the Disclaimer actress spoke about Uniqlo with the same reverence she uses regarding outfits from Louis Vuitton and the late Giorgio Armani. With Uniqlo you are building a wardrobe over time, Blanchett says. It shouldnt be a luxury to have good, well-made, quality clothes. They should be available to all, and I think thats in the DNA of the brand. Blanchetts own red-carpet reputation has been enhanced by re-wearing gowns at major events, such as the Armani Prive gown she wore to the 2018 Venice Film Festival and upcycled into a jumpsuit for last years AACTA Awards in Sydney. Like Uniqlo founder Tadashi Yanai Japans second-richest man, who stressed at the beginning of the evening that his brand is not fast fashion Blanchett regards the range as affordable investment-wear. I grew up with a Depression-era grandmother, so the idea of waste has always been anathema to me, she says. I think waste is the enemy of creativity. What I love about investigating Uniqlo and visiting the mothership in Tokyo is that you have the classics, staples that you can build up a personal sense of style with by holding on to things. And if you dont want them, you pass them on to other people. Advertisement Consumers are thinking about quality and durability and having items that are not disposable, sometimes for economic reasons but I also think for aesthetic reasons and emotional reasons. Clothes are receptacles of memory. What you put close to your skin, it has an emotional impact on you. I have a denim jacket that I was given by my parents for my 15th birthday that I still love and wear. Clothing from the Uniqlo LifeWear range at the Museum of Modern Art in New York during fashion week. Marc Patrick/BFA.com While Blanchetts job involves wearing the clothes, its up to Waight Keller to create them. The affable designer started working with Uniqlo in 2023 on the C capsule collection before being promoted to creative director in 2024. Related Article Fashion designers We are all dressing up more, says Tommy Hilfiger, as preppy returns Im really excited about Cate coming on board, Waight Keller says the following day in Uniqlos New York headquarters in the Meatpacking District. Cate last night was in one of my suits and I thought that she looked incredible. If someone like that can look amazing in a suit thats essentially $US140 [$212] for the whole suit, thats amazing. Advertisement Having worked at the luxury French labels Chloe and Givenchy, where she designed Meghans dress, Waight Keller is invigorated by the challenge of designing items with far fewer zeroes on the end of the price tag. She is the latest design star to exit a luxury brand and move to the high street, with former Hermes designer Christophe Lemaire working with Uniqlo, and Dior creative director Jonathan Anderson creating capsule collections. It really felt very natural for me that this could be the future of where I wanted to go next in terms of design, and I also really love the appeal of being democratic to a much broader audience. Roger Federer, Clare Waight Keller, Koji Yanai, Anna Wintour, Cate Blanchett and artist-in-residence Kaws at the Uniqlo event in New York. Jason Sean Weiss/BFA.com For so long I have been in this very niche area. Many luxury brands have a huge voice to the consumer but a tiny customer base. It was so frustrating to me on many levels to have fans come up and go, I love what you do, I hope I can buy one piece one day. It was such a shame. Now Waight Keller gets a hit of dopamine when she sees a tracksuit or jacket she designed on the street. I can tell when theyre my tracksuit pants, she says. Advertisement As we move out of cashmere jumper season (Waight Keller suggests owning one oversized jumper and one fitted jumper to play with proportions), the creative director is focusing on jeans and T-shirts (boxy and shrunken) for summer. Jeans right now are huge. Its a huge trend across youth culture, from Gen Z up to Millennials, everyones in denim, its everywhere. Im looking at how extreme are the shapes going. Is it still staying really big, or is it starting to narrow down, or are we starting to taper? Is the waist going higher or lower? Those jean sales add up. Last year Uniqlos parent group Fast Retailing reported revenues of more than 3 trillion ($31 billion). The goal is to reach 10 trillion. Were very modest, Jay says. We have a lot of room to learn and to gain knowledge to enhance our brand and make it more universal. The writer travelled to New York as a guest of Uniqlo. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday. Advertisement LifestyleLife & relationshipsSunday Life In a world of toxic masculinity, this is how Im raising my sons to be good men Robyn Doreian September 21, 2025 3:00am 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 5 View all comments This story is part of the September 21 edition of Sunday Life. See all stories . Mental-health advocate Blake Johnston is known for holding the world record for the longest continuous surf, which he did in 2023 to raise awareness and money for charity. Here, the 43-year-old talks about how he and wife Lauren are raising their two boys, and how his fathers battle with mental illness has informed his life. Blake Johnston: Im a lot like Mum in that Im sensitive and empathetic. My maternal grandmother, Bessie, loved her cigarettes. She was sweet and very good to my grandfather, Ian. She adored him and that was special to see. My mum, Sandy, was pretty close to her. My dad, Wayne, was a builder who renovated houses, so we moved around a lot. When I was a baby, we lived with my grandparents for a while in Cronulla [Sydney], where I grew up. Nan was always cooking and provided a comforting home for us. Im a lot like Mum in that Im sensitive and empathetic. Shes very loving and selfless. We didnt have a lot when I was growing up, but Mum always made my four brothers and me feel so loved and special. Advertisement I was 31 when Dad committed suicide. He had a medical condition that severely affected his mental health. Mums gone through every emotion since, such as anger, then feeling lonely and isolated. Family is everything to her. After Dads death, my older brother, Ben, and I drifted apart. Mums grief will never disappear, but she knows all five of her sons love her. I had a few relationships in school, but I wasnt that interested for the first two decades of my life I was dedicated to surfing. I first went on a surfboard with Dad when I was four. Then, when I was around 13, Layne Beachley [later a seven-time world champion] and I crossed paths on a Quiksilver training camp. The camp was physically demanding, but Layne was killing it. She was one of only two girls present but had this determination and focus which obviously paid off. My first celebrity crush was Cameron Diaz. I remember seeing her in the [1998 movie] Theres Something About Mary. Her smile lit up a room. Advertisement I had a few relationships in school, but I wasnt that interested for the first two decades of my life I was dedicated to surfing. I went to the year 10 formal with Chantelle, a girl I had a crush on. She never liked me back; rather, it was convenient for her. My first serious relationship was at 17, when I met Laura at the beach. She was finishing high school and was so easy-going. I spoiled her with gifts and took her to Hawaii. She wanted to go to London after graduating and our break-up was tough. I was 19 when I met Ash. Her family was involved in the local surf scene. Ash had just finished year 12, and we spent a year together. She wanted to focus on her career and again my heart was broken. From that point on, I spent more time with my mates. I wasnt looking for a relationship when Lauren, whos now my wife, showed up. She was finishing a marketing degree and preparing for a corporate career. Lauren was petite, blonde and full of positive energy: my dream girl. We got along so well and respected each other. I fell in love pretty quickly. I constantly do things that show Lauren I love her. I buy flowers and make sure she knows how appreciated and awesome she is. Lauren is an outstanding mum to our boys, Bobby, 13, and Duke, 10. Advertisement With social media and the rise of toxic masculinity, its a difficult time for boys and young men in terms of how to treat women. The way were going to teach our sons is via the way I treat their mum. Its not a sit-down lesson; its how I consistently treat Lauren. Related Article Sunday Life I married my ex at 25, but we shouldnt have made a vow. Were still friends In 2023, I set the world record for the longest continuous surf and raised $500,000 for mental health charities. Being in the water for 40 hours, I felt both elated and frustrated. But there were dark times, too, as I reflected on my whole life what happened with my dad, not making it as a pro surfer. Lauren was with me the whole way. She continued to run our surf school, so she hardly slept. It was the hardest thing Ive ever done, but upon exiting the water, my beautiful wife was the first person I saw. To see her there was so powerful. Without Lauren, I wouldnt be the person I am today. Swellbeing (Hachette Australia) by Blake Johnston is out September 30. Advertisement Lifeline: 13 11 14. Get the best of Sunday Life magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our free newsletter. Instagram has introduced an AI-powered age-verification system for Australian users, months before under-16s are banned from social media. The system started on Monday, using artificial intelligence to identify users suspected to be younger than 18, and applying teen account settings that include protections around who can contact them and the content they see. Instagram says it is protecting young people who use it. Bloomberg From December, Australians younger than 16 will no longer be able to have an account on platforms including TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, under the federal governments world-first social media measure. Platforms will be required to detect affected users and offer ways to seek support and download their information, before deactivating the accounts and taking reasonable steps to stop underage Australians from dodging restrictions. Instagram did not clarify why it would be migrating children under 16 to teen accounts when those users will be banned from holding accounts from December. It said it was taking steps to ensure its technology was correctly placing teens into protective, age-appropriate settings, but in case we make a mistake, were giving people the option to change their settings. Mia Garlick, the regional policy director for Instagrams owner Meta, said understanding age online was a complex, industry-wide challenge, especially if people misrepresent how old they are. Weve spent many years and invested heavily to refine our AI technology to identify in a privacy-preserving way whether someone is under or over 18, she said of the new tech, which was introduced in the US in April. By expanding these measures to teen accounts in Australia, were helping ensure teens have safer, age-appropriate experiences on Instagram. AAP Advertisement Updated NationalQueenslandCrime Man charged with murdering former partner, dumping body in river Cloe Read Updated September 22, 2025 12:22pm ,first published September 22, 2025 9:13am 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 Detectives have made a breakthrough in the case of Queensland mother Crystal Beale, charging her former husband with her murder. Ms Beale, 49, was last seen alive in West End in February. The next morning, her body was discovered in the Brisbane River near the Brisbane Corso. She had been at a dinner in Sunnybank with her family, police said, and was dropped off by her former partner, Jesse Wahlen Beale, on Ryan Street in West End about 9.30pm. Jesse Beale was arrested and charged over the alleged murder of his former wife Crystal Beale on Monday. Facebook Police will allege she was murdered that evening around Ryan Street. They believe her body was then taken to the river near Orleigh Park in West End, South Brisbane District Detective Inspector Wayne Francis said on Monday. Advertisement At the time, police released footage showing Ms Beale wearing a long, white dress and carrying a brown leather satchel. Her death was initially ruled as non-suspicious by police because her body had no obvious injuries. On Monday morning, police confirmed they had arrested Mr Beale at an Equestrian Drive address in Maudsland, a northern suburb of the Gold Coast, about 5am. Crystal Beale was last seen alive on February 21. Queensland Police He was charged with one count each of murder (domestic violence offence) and misconduct with a corpse. Francis said police would allege Mr Beale moved his former wifes body and put it in the river. Advertisement When asked about the welfare of Ms Beales family, Francis said he believed they were doing the best they could, given the circumstances. Theyve lost their mother through horrible circumstances, he said. No matter what police action or court action occurs subsequently, they cant get their mother back. Loading Francis said there was no domestic violence order in place at the time of the victims death, but police would allege there was a history of domestic violence in the relationship. He would not elaborate on how much contact the pair had had before Ms Beales death. Advertisement He said the investigation was protracted and complex, with thousands of hours of CCTV being reviewed by police. South Brisbane District Detective Inspector Wayne Francis speaking to reporters on Monday about the arrest in Crystal Beales case. Cloe Read One element of the investigation was a white Ford Ranger that was considered a vehicle of interest. Its a complex investigation, theres also forensic aspects of it and that will all become clearer as the matter proceeds through trial, he said. The accused did not appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for the first mention of his case. Advertisement His lawyer made no application for bail, and he was remanded in custody until October 20. Under Queensland law, those charged with murder can only apply for bail in the Supreme Court. Shortly after Ms Beales body was found, her daughter Charlie-Rose Wagner said the family wanted answers. She described her mother as the most beautiful woman. She was my everything, she said. Police urged anyone with CCTV not yet provided to officers to come forward. Get alerts on significant breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert. Advertisement Analysis PoliticsFederalTrump diplomacy So much for cosying up to Trump. Albanese has asserted his independence on day one Matthew Knott September 22, 2025 9:47am 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 New York: By officially recognising Palestinian statehood, Anthony Albanese has done more than send a message to the world about how Australia views the Middle East peace process. He has issued a declaration of independence from the United States and an assertion of Australian sovereignty over its foreign policy. Its a bold move, and a risky one. Albanese is breaking with Trump on a totemic, divisive issue just as he tries to establish a personal relationship with the president and lock in the pairs first meeting. Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses decision to join with the UK and Canada to recognise Palestinian statehood defies the views of the Trump administration. Marija Ercegovac Albanese has begun his first trip to the US since Trumps return to office by dangling a lantern over a point of contention, rather than unity in the US-Australia relationship. The governments decision to recognise Palestine, alongside the United Kingdom and Canada, made a big splash in the US, even leading the website of The New York Times. Accentuating the positives and eliminating the negatives in the bilateral relationship didnt stand a chance. Yet if Albanese felt any discomfort about the awkward timing of the announcement, he showed no sign of it when speaking to reporters at United Nations headquarters on Sunday. Albanese was in Trumps home town, a block away from one of the real estate moguls skyscrapers. Yet cosying up to Trump wasnt on his agenda. Instead, Albanese rejected Trumps view that recognising Palestine is a reward for Hamas, the listed terror group that launched the brutal massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023. And he kiboshed the idea Australia must be in lockstep with the US on every big global issue. Advertisement This is about Australias position and the fact that were a sovereign nation. Australia will make decisions based upon our national interests, Albanese said. He looked relaxed and assured. Pressed on whether the move would damage ties with the US, he replied: Our foreign policy isnt determined in Washington or Beijing or Wellington, for that matter. Our foreign policy is determined around the cabinet table in Canberra. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, at the UN headquarters in New York. Dominic Lorrimer Australia is among the last countries in the world to recognise Palestine, but Albanese spoke about the move as if it were uncontroversial common sense. If you support two states, its not Israel and, you know, something else, and Marrickville, he said, referring to a suburb in his inner-west Sydney electorate. Its Israel and Palestine. Advertisement How could Australia simply sit back and do nothing, he asked, while Israel continues to pummel Gaza with bombs and accelerates settlement building in the occupied West Bank? Furious at Benjamin Netanyahus refusal to end the war or countenance a two-state solution, Albanese believes he has put Australia on the right side of history by recognising Palestine. He views it as moral decision, as much as a political one. Albanese during a television interview at the UN headquarters in New York. Dominic Lorrimer As for whether the disagreement over Palestine was the reason he was finding it so challenging to secure a meeting with Trump, Albanese kept it brief. No is the answer, he insisted. Thats true. Australian officials say that, while Trump certainly disagrees with moves by like-minded countries to recognise Palestine, he is not apoplectic about it. Rather than make it a top-tier diplomatic issue, Trump administration officials have mostly spoken about the topic in sorrow rather than in anger. Advertisement The reason Trump hasnt made time to meet Albanese is not because hes angry about Palestine, but because the evidence suggests he views Australia as something of an afterthought in the geopolitical chess game. Hardly comforting, given how dependent Australia is on the US for its security. Disagreement over Palestine is just one more irritant in a relationship strained by tensions over tariffs, defence spending and climate change action. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer waited to confirm he was recognising Palestine until Trump had finished his state visit to the United Kingdom to ensure his charm offensive wasnt overshadowed by disagreement. Loading Starmer began building a relationship with Trump before last Novembers US presidential election, travelling to meet him during the campaign and calling him to express his best wishes after Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt. The pair have met in the US and UK this year. By contrast, Albanese is waiting for his first Trump meeting. This means there is less trust between the pair, even though they have shared four friendly phone calls. This presents a silver lining for Albanese if Trump doesnt grant him a meeting this week in New York. By the time of their next possible encounter, during summits in Malaysia and South Korea at the end of October, the heat may have gone out of the Palestinian recognition issue as it fades into the distance. Maybe thats why Albanese appeared so relaxed as he stood in front of the East River on Sunday as Trump World Tower loomed over the Manhattan skyline. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement PoliticsFederalIsraeli-Palestinian conflict We would reverse it: Ley writes back to Republicans over recognition of Palestine Paul Sakkal September 22, 2025 7:00pm 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 Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has written directly to Donald Trumps Republican allies to say most Australians oppose Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses decision to recognise Palestine, throwing a spanner in the works of his high-wire diplomatic mission to the US. The unorthodox move to make clear internationally the oppositions rejection of Australian foreign policy came after 25 senior congressional Republicans wrote to Albanese and leaders of France, Britain and Canada threatening unspecific punitive measures for jointly recognising Palestine. Opposition Leader Sussan Leys call to intervene reflects the depth of domestic disagreement over Gaza. Chris Hopkins The letter from Republican lawmakers upped the stakes for Albanese as he arrived in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The forum is being used by long-time allies of Israel to elevate the Palestinian cause partly in protest at the Israeli governments military campaign. At the same time, the prime minister is working to secure a meeting with Trump, possibly at a welcome dinner hosted by the president on Wednesday morning AEST. Advertisement Australias pro-Palestine stance is one of several points of difference with the US administration, which argues the recognition campaign encourages Hamas. Given the concerns raised I write to reassure you, and the Congress, that this decision taken at this time by the Labor government does not enjoy bipartisan support here in Australia, Ley wrote in her letter to Republicans, including former presidential hopeful Ted Cruz, senators Rick Scott and Tom Cotton, and Elise Stefanik, Trumps original choice to serve as US ambassador to the UN. Ley added: The federal opposition opposes this decision and would reverse it should we form government. Donald Trump with Senator Ted Cruz of Texas (middle) at a UFC event in April. AP Leys call to intervene from Australian shores reflects the depth of domestic disagreement over Gaza. Advertisement It is also important to note it does not reflect the view of a majority of Australians. According to the reputable Resolve Political Monitor, just 24 per cent of Australians support recognising Palestine, she said in the letter, provided to this masthead. In the August poll cited by Ley, Resolve reported that while a quarter of voters support Australia recognising a Palestinian state regardless of who holds power in Gaza, a third said recognition should wait until key conditions are met. Loading In September, Australians were evenly split on Albaneses plan to recognise Palestine at the UN meeting, with 29 per cent of Australians supporting and opposing the move respectively. Forty-two per cent said they were unsure or had no opinion, suggesting the issue is not a high priority for many voters. Advertisement Other polls not cited by Ley, conducted by pollsters Essential and DemosAU with differently worded questions, have recently found higher support for recognition. In this time of global uncertainty I want to affirm that millions of Australians remain committed to our enduring friendship with the United States and our alliance, Ley said. We cannot allow our relationship to drift, which we have unfortunately seen under our current prime minister, including on the matter you have raised. Ley finished her letter by stating her intention to travel to the US for talks in December. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong in New York on Sunday. Dominic Lorrimer In July, Albanese slammed Coalition figures for attacking his trip to China, suggesting they were breaking with convention to criticise a prime minister overseas. Advertisement The Coalition is opposed to the governments decision to use recognition as a tool to spark an elusive peace process. Previously, both parties viewed Palestinian statehood as the end result of a peace process when borders were agreed. The US lawmakers letter said: Proceeding with recognition will put your country at odds with longstanding US policy and interests and may invite punitive measures in response. This is a reckless policy that undermines prospects for peace, it said. It sets the dangerous precedent that violence, not diplomacy, is the most expedient means for terrorist groups like Hamas. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter. Advertisement The body of a young Queensland man who mysteriously died in Bali was returned to Australia without his heart, leaving his family desperate for answers and raising concerns about the integrity of Indonesias repatriation processes. Byron Haddow, 23, was found dead in the plunge pool of his Bali villa on May 26. The FIFO worker from Noosa, on Queenslands Sunshine Coast, had been on holiday in the Indonesian province after a long stint of work. Loading His body was returned to Queensland nearly four weeks after it was found. Advertisement His familys push for a thorough investigation into his death had led in part to the delay in repatriating his remains. But the removal of his heart was only discovered by chance when a second autopsy was conducted in Brisbane. Chantal Haddow, mother of Byron Haddow. Nine News Two days before his funeral, Haddows family was told by the Queensland Coroners office that the young mans heart had been removed from his body during an autopsy in Indonesia and left behind. They just rung [sic] us to ask if we were aware that his heart had been retained over in Bali, his distraught mother, Chantal Haddow, told Nine News. Advertisement Just when I thought I couldnt feel any more heartbroken, it was another kick in the guts. Ms Haddow was still searching for answers over what happened to her son, telling Nine News she suspected foul play. When the police [officer] came here to deliver the news, he just said, you know, he was found in the pool. Call it mothers instinct, but I was just not having a bar of that. I feel like there was foul play. I think that somethings happened to him prior to being in the pool. But the forensic doctor who performed the original autopsy at Balis Sanglah Hospital, Dr Nola Margaret Gunawan, refuted claims of wrongdoing. Advertisement This masthead was told it was not uncommon in Indonesia for organs to be kept by the coroner for more testing. For forensic purposes, his heart was tested and was kept behind when the family repatriated the body home, Gunawan told this masthead. I have given the autopsy result and explanation to the family. They have accepted my explanation. Indonesian police were not alerted to the death until four days after Haddows body was found, by which time the scene had been contaminated, News Corp reported. Unexplained cuts and bruises were allegedly found on his body. Advertisement Ms Haddow described her son as a generous, kind-hearted, hard-working young fellow who was just so full of life. Haddows heart was only sent back to Australia after his funeral and burial. Byron Haddow was on holiday in Bali after a long stint of FIFO work. Nine News It did eventually come back, Ms Haddow said. When we were informed, it was literally two days before his funeral, so there wasnt an opportunity to put a hold on [the event]. Advertisement Forensic anthropologist and criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett told Nine News organs were removed from a body, weighed and dissected during a forensic autopsy, but under standard practices, they were returned to the body. The Haddow family is now awaiting the results of the Brisbane autopsy. It is a long ... dragged-out process. I believe there are some issues with the lab in Queensland, Ms Haddow said. 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 TechnologyTelecommunications Albanese says hed be surprised if Optus boss wasnt considering his future David Swan Updated September 22, 2025 10:07am ,first published September 22, 2025 6:58am 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 105 View all comments Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would be surprised if Optus chief executive Stephen Rue was not considering his position, while the opposition and the Communication Workers Union have called for the executive to resign after last weeks fatal Triple Zero outage linked to multiple deaths. Rue was formerly the head of NBN Co, and joined Optus in November 2024, promising to stabilise the company and rebuild customer trust after Optus suffered a major data breach in 2022 and then a nationwide outage that cut millions of Australians off from Triple Zero in 2023. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaking in New York. Dominic Lorrimer While Rue has been in the job for less than a year, Albanese said on Monday he expected the chief executive to be considering his position. Optus has obligations, as do other communications companies, and clearly they havent fulfilled the obligations that they have, Albanese told the ABC from New York. Advertisement What we want is to ensure that something like this shouldnt happen. When asked if Rue should be considering his position, he said: I would be surprised if that wasnt occurring. Optus chief executive Stephen Rue at a press conference on Sunday. Flavio Brancaleone That is [why] we want to see the investigation take place. Rue and Optus have faced widespread criticism for their handling of the outage, and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said he had never witnessed such incompetence. The outage is now the subject of a number of investigations. Advertisement Opposition communications spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh on Monday became the first MP to call for Rues resignation. Speaking on 2GB, McIntosh called Optus failure an absolute disgraceful breakdown that cost at least three lives. When asked if she thought Rue should resign, she said that most right-minded Australians are calling for his head today. Opposition communications spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh. Janie Barrett Perhaps the CEO will resign. But what else can we look into around the responsibilities of these big companies that have a lot of money? Theyre letting their customers down, but not only that, right now, weve seen that four people who have sadly passed away, McIntosh said. Every single Australian should be really, like, be in an uproar, like real uproar, about whats going on. And every single telecommunications provider needs to guarantee Australians that the very least they can get [is] that Triple Zero service. And we want the government to make sure theyre pulling every single lever they can to sort this out, so it never ever happens again. Advertisement The union representing Optus workers, the Communication Workers Union, also echoed those calls. Related Article Opinion Optus There will be more outages like Optus as tech runs the world Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist Accountability has to start at the top and if that means the CEO, then thats where it should fall, CWU Secretary Shane Murphy said. This isnt a small error it cost lives. Leadership must take responsibility, right up to the CEOs office. When a company fails this badly, its not just a systems failure, its a leadership failure. Advertisement Rue said late on Monday that fresh analysis of call logs uncovered an additional seven customers who were unable to connect to emergency services in the early hours of Thursday morning, in addition to the 600 customers already reported. Our investigations have revealed there was a period from 12.17am to 12.30am, as the upgrade was being readied for deployment, during which the ability of these customers to get through to emergency services was affected, Rue said in a statement. The telco has since conducted welfare checks and Rue confirmed three of the households have confirmed they require no further assistance, while two cases have been referred to South Australia Police and two to Western Australian Police after contact attempts failed. At a Friday press conference, Rue did not answer questions about whether he should resign. Today is not about me, this is about the people who lost their lives, he said. Optus should expect significant consequences over the outage, Communications Minister Anika Wells told journalists on Monday, as she said the telco had perpetuated an enormous failure on the Australian people. Advertisement Wells, speaking in Brisbane, said an investigation into last weeks system outage linked to multiple deaths would be a priority, but that the companys performance was ultimately not good enough. Communications Minister Anika Wells earlier this month. Alex Ellinghausen Our focus is getting to the bottom of what went wrong before we determine what happens next, but Optus will be held to account, Wells said. Carol Bennett, the chief executive of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), has demanded the federal government use its powers to appoint an independent technical expert to oversee Optus. Its a shocking situation Our hearts go out to the people who have lost family members and the people who couldnt contact Triple Zero during this emergency, Bennett told Sky News on Monday. Advertisement Related Article Telecommunications From rebuilding the Storm to COVID: Who is Optus chief Stephen Rue? What we would expect is some pretty immediate action from the federal government. We want to see the federal minister use her powers to implement a statutory appointment right now of a technical expert, an independent technical expert that would oversee the operations of Optus and ensure it can meet its Triple Zero obligations. Because at the moment there is this question mark. The consumer cannot have confidence that Optus can meet its obligations. Its quite unclear whats happened in this situation and whether it could occur again, today, tomorrow, next week. So thats the most important thing we think needs to be done. The appointment of an emergency custodian would add another layer of safety and assurance that this wouldnt be able to happen in the first place, said Bennett, but it would require the government to fast-track legislation through parliament. On Sunday, Optus confirmed at least five customers tried to warn it about the Triple Zero outage now linked to the deaths, but call centre operators did not escalate those concerns because there were no red flags in the beleaguered telecommunication giants system. Advertisement Rue on Sunday revealed the outage had affected two emergency calls made by NSW residents near the South Australian border. As pressure mounted on the executive over why Optus waited 40 hours to inform the public about the Triple Zero failure that affected 600 customers, he said a review of call logs had found a further three customers contacted Optus to warn it about the outage, in addition to the two customers who had made earlier warnings to the company. Related Article Opinion Telecommunications Optus crisis playbook is now so predictable it rings hollow Sally Branson Crisis PR expert But Rue said those warnings were ignored because the company was not already aware of the problem. As we had not detected the Triple Zero failures in our network at the time of these calls, there were no red flags for the contact centre to alert them to any issue, he said on Sunday. This is clearly not good enough. Advertisement Rue said at the press conference that Optus would now implement a compulsory escalation process for any reports of Triple Zero failures. Optus has said it will appoint an independent reviewer to examine how a routine firewall update triggered the failure of the Triple Zero network and why there were no systems in place to alert it to the problem. Telecommunications analyst Paul Budde said: The bigger picture goes beyond Optus. This tragedy exposes systemic weaknesses in Australias telecoms sector. The industry has resisted national roaming and network gateways for decades, prioritising competitive advantage over resilience. Now, with lives at stake, that argument is no longer tenable. Triple Zero is sacred. Optus will need to show not just apologies but concrete action: transparent audits, redundancy investments, and a willingness to co-operate on national solutions. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Telecommunications Optus David Swan is the technology editor for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. He was previously technology editor for The Australian newspaper. or email. Connect via Twitter Advertisement Updated WorldNorth AmericaForeign relations Trumps Albanese snub raises questions about Rudds clout Michael Koziol and Matthew Knott Updated September 23, 2025 4:23pm ,first published September 23, 2025 2:06am 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 1050 View all comments New York: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been snubbed from Donald Trumps official schedule of meetings in New York, raising concerns about the strength of Australias ties with the United States and ambassador Kevin Rudds level of influence with the White House. Albanese will be left to compete for a handshake with the US president at a reception with more than 100 other world leaders at an event on Wednesday morning (AEST), after again failing to secure a meeting with Trump. Trump also took a dim view of the decision by Australia and others to recognise a Palestinian state, saying through his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, that it was a reward for Hamas and did nothing to bring Israeli hostages home. A meeting with Anthony Albanese is not on Donald Trumps official schedule in New York. Getty Images As a Labor frontbencher argued it was a good thing that Albanese and Trump had not met, the Coalition accused the Trump administration of treating Australia like a piece of dirt. Advertisement Leavitt confirmed Trumps schedule at the United Nations would include bilateral meetings with the UN secretary-general and the presidents of Ukraine, Argentina and the European Commission. Trump will also attend a multilateral meeting with the leaders of an array of Middle Eastern countries, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia. But Australia and Albanese were omitted from the schedule, despite earlier suggestions from both sides that a bilateral meeting was possible on the sidelines of the summit or at the White House. Over the past week, however, the Australian government played down the prospect of a formal one-on-one meeting with Trump. The presidents availability was further reduced when he flew to Arizona on Sunday for the memorial for assassinated activist Charlie Kirk. Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Albanese in New York this week. Dominic Lorrimer Advertisement We will meet when we meet, Albanese told the ABC last week. Theres a range of events occurring as well ... that means that peoples arrangements will be finalised when theyre finalised. He will still have the opportunity to meet the president in person at a reception Trump is hosting on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEST) that Leavitt said would be attended by more than 100 world leaders. Ill be talking with him there, Albanese told Channel Sevens Sunrise program on Monday. After the reception, Trump will fly back to Washington, where he is scheduled to hold a meeting and lunch with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday. Albanese and Australian ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd in Seattle in June. Alex Ellinghausen Advertisement Former Australian ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos said it was disappointing that Albanese and Trump had not been able to arrange a meeting since last Novembers presidential election. Going so long without a person-to-person meeting encourages speculation about what is going on. Its important for the leaders to establish a personal relationship and discuss important matters like trade, co-operation on critical minerals and AUKUS, he said. Former prime minister Scott Morrison - who was feted by Trump at a state dinner in 2019 - said the government had done well to secure talks this year with the presidents key lieutenants, but there was no substitute for leaders meetings. Sometime diaries are difficult to coordinate but its been a long time now, Morrison said on Sky News. Many other leaders now have had those opportunities and it really is up to the government to get this landed. Liberal senator Andrew Bragg said Australia had been treated like a piece of dirt by the Trump administration after Kevin Rudd was appointed ambassador to the US in 2023. Advertisement I think its very embarrassing, Bragg told Nines Today on Tuesday. I think that perhaps sending Mr Rudd was actually not in Australias interests, and also the way that Mr Albanese has conducted his diplomacy, hes also been a disaster. I mean, where were being punished, frankly, and its now very embarrassing. Albanese brushed aside concerns about Rudds past criticisms of Trump when he appointed the former prime minister to the crucial role, arguing Rudd would open doors for Australia in the US capital. Before becoming US ambassador, Rudd described Trump as nuts, called him the most destructive president in history and named him a traitor to the West. Related Article Analysis Trump diplomacy So much for cosying up to Trump. Albanese has asserted his independence on day one Advertisement Michael Shoebridge, who served as Australias senior defence policy official in the Australian embassy in Washington, said the failure to secure a meeting showed that Trump is just not that into us. The fact there has not been a leaders meeting is not good news, and no amount of spin can change that. American power is centralised in the individual of Donald Trump, he said. Shoebridge said the snub raised questions about Rudds access to the White House after the ambassador was forced to delete previous social media posts critical of Trump before taking up the post. Whatever influence Rudd has, it hasnt resulted in a leaders meeting, he said. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said he was sure Albanese and Trump would meet soon, as he argued the US-Australia relationship was in good shape. Advertisement Commenting on the lack of a meeting, Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said, I think we should see this as a good thing. It means that the president, whos been meeting with world leaders to try and reach agreements on trade policy, hes trying to do deals with other nations around tariffs and trade policy. He doesnt need to do that with Australia, he told Sky News. Albanese addressed a conference on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at UN headquarters on Tuesday morning (AEST), a day after Australias recognition of Palestine took formal effect. Related Article Updated Israeli-Palestinian conflict Real hope for a place they call home: Albaneses plea to world leaders on Palestine Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Australias relationship with the US was drifting under Labor and that Albanese got it wrong by recognising a Palestinian state. The Coalition would reverse the move, she has said. Advertisement The White House did not respond to a request for further comment. In June, Albanese was among several world leaders who missed out on a planned meeting with Trump when the US president left the G7 summit in Canada early to deal with an unfolding situation in the Middle East. The pair have spoken by phone four times since Trump was elected in November, including a call this month, but are yet to meet face to face. 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. YANGON, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The National Theatre of Yangon came alive over the weekend, its grand hall brimming with color, music, and applause as audiences experienced Wu Opera, a centuries-old art form from China's Zhejiang Province. The performance was staged to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 75th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations. More than 2,000 people attended the event on Saturday and Sunday. For many in the audience, it was their first time experiencing Wu Opera. Among them was Lwin Phyo Hein, a second-year student at the National University of Arts and Culture in Yangon. He said the opera's acrobatic flips left a strong impression. He added that the live experience was far more vivid than watching online. "Costumes are excellent. I recommend it to my friends," he said, saying that cultural exchanges allow countries to share traditions and build stronger connections. Daw Thandar Aung, a 26-year-old lecturer at the University of Yangon, attended with four colleagues. She said she was delighted to see Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, come to life on stage, and it was her first time seeing the character outside of television. She also praised the organizers for providing translations that made the performance easier to follow. "This performance not only entertains but also strengthens China-Myanmar relations," she said. Nway Hnoung Shar, a 25-year-old teacher at the Myanmar International Education Center, said the opera reminded her of characters she had read about in books, describing it as an inspiring cultural exchange. She emphasized that such performances let young people from Myanmar experience the cultures of both countries without the need to travel. "The opera is entirely new to me. It is excellent," she said. Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia said during the performance on Saturday that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar. Over the past 75 years, the two nations have been bound by the deep-rooted "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship. The close exchanges in culture, art, education, media and other fields have helped to build a solid "bridge of hearts" between the two peoples. "I believe that today's brilliant performances by artists of both countries will not only let us appreciate the unique artistic charm of traditional operas but also offer us a rare chance to witness shining on each other and prospering together through dialogue and exchange of ancient civilizations," she added. Myanmar's Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn said, "It is a great honor and joy for Myanmar audiences to witness the performances of this famous troupe here today." He added that cultural exchanges and mutual learning between Myanmar and China deepen the friendship between their peoples and strengthen relations at the national level. On Saturday, the Zhejiang troupe performed six classic pieces, including "Lyu Bu Tries the Horse," "The Goddess of Heaven Scatters Flowers," and "Three Triumphs Over the Skeletal Demon." Myanmar performers also contributed two pieces excerpted from the Ramayana classic play, "Rama Pursuing the Enchanted Golden Deer" and "Sita's Rejection of Dasagiri Courtship." In addition, cultural booths hosted by the China Cultural Center in Yangon and the State High School of Arts in Yangon gave visitors hands-on experiences of Chinese and Myanmar arts and crafts, complementing the performances on stage. Wu Opera, also known as Jinhua Opera, is the second major theatrical genre in Zhejiang Province, eastern China, and has a history of more than 500 years. It got its name from Wuzhou, the ancient name of Jinhua, and remains very popular there. In June 2008, Wu Opera was listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Visitors view a humanoid robot at the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 21, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) A visitor interacts with a robot at the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 21, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) A visitor interacts with a humanoid robot at the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 21, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) Visitors watch a robot placing a cup at the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 21, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) Visitors interact with a robot at the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 21, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) A robot performs high jump at the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 20, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan) A humanoid robot shows visitors parcel delivery at the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 20, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) Visitors view a humanoid robot at the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 21, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) A humanoid robot shows visitors parcel delivery at the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 20, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan) A humanoid robot dances at the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 20, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan) Visitors watch a robot cleaning a table at the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 21, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) Visitors interact with a robot at the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 20, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) People visit the intelligent robot exhibition area of the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 20, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) Visitors watch a band show performed by robots at the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 20, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan) A visitor interacts with a humanoid robot at the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 21, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention showcases intelligent robotics, offering visitors a glimpse into how robots are stepping out of science fiction into reality. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu) Advertisement WorldNorth AmericaTrump diplomacy Opinion Without soft power, Trump is left with the hard men of Russia and China Peter Hartcher Political and international editor September 23, 2025 3:00am September 23, 2025 3:00am 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 247 View all comments The whole world saw Britain lay on the pomp and circumstance for Donald Trump last week. As UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, it was a unique tribute. No other US leader has been honoured with not one, but two, state visits. Deploying the King, the Princess of Wales, the Royal Horse Artillery, Windsor Castle and Chequers was hailed as a case study in the use of soft power. Charles was reduced to uttering the phrase British soil makes for rather splendid golf courses. The things one must do for ones country. Without soft power, Donald Trump is left with hard men Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Dionne Gain What did Britain receive in return for its transparent obsequiousness? The big noise from the government was trumpeting US investment pledges totalling 150 billion. Which could be important. Except that Londons Financial Times tartly summarised the deals as a familiar Downing Street tactic adding up a series of planned commercial decisions to come up with a big number, then claiming some of the credit. Advertisement What else? Starmer sought to persuade Trump to change his position on two major conflicts, Ukraine and Gaza. The US leader didnt noticeably budge on either. The king and the prime minister spoke about the importance of AUKUS. Trump was noncommittal. And Trumps tariffs? Naturally, the British hoped Trump would offer concessions. No such luck. The 10 per cent levied on British exports to the US remain in place. And as CNN reported: Before Trumps arrival, Britain had hoped that the US would scrap the 25 per cent tariff currently applied to steel exports to the US. Those plans have now been put on ice, pushing Britains steel industry closer to the brink. Last month, its third-largest steelworks collapsed into government control. Trump did not publicly berate Starmer, which the British media counted as a big win so low have expectations of Trump fallen. But Trump did offer the British leader, who is under pressure from Nigel Farage over immigration, some gratuitous public coaching it doesnt matter if you call out the military, it doesnt matter what means you use to halt illegal immigration. That was about it. Advertisement Related Article Analysis Royal family With sharp speech, King Charles just showed the point behind the pomp The land of hope and glory? Britain was left hoping while Trump took the glory. Rather than a demonstration of soft power, it seemed an illustration of its limits. The creator of the phrase, Harvard scholar Joe Nye, years ago explained: Power is ones ability to affect the behaviour of others to get what one wants. There are three basic ways to do this coercion, payment and attraction. Hard power is the use of coercion and payment. Soft power is the ability to attain preferred outcomes through attraction. If a state can set the agenda for others or shape their preferences, it can save a lot on carrots and sticks. But rarely can it totally replace either. Thus the need for smart strategies that combine the tools of both hard and soft power. He dubbed this smart power. A bit of sycophancy can take the edge off an encounter with Trump. But soft power doesnt interest him. He believes in hard power only tariffs and threats and private pay-off. Hes busily destroying the soft power that America had built over eight post-war decades through its (mostly) benign hegemony, its rebuilding of vanquished Japan and Germany, its Marshall Plan, its cultural power, popular brands, leading universities, its creation of public goods such as the World Bank and the UN, its image of cool modernity. Advertisement Thats all lost or under threat. Soft power doesnt work on Trump, so he doesnt grasp how it might work on others. Reduced to wielding hard power only, Trump has no chance of exercising smart power. In a coincidence of irresistible symbolism, Joe Nye died this year. The US president may not have been swayed by a close allys best efforts at soft power, but he is deferential to the hard power of Americas traditional enemies. Putin and Trump leave the press conference at the end of their meeting in Alaska. AP Even as Trump was ceremonially paraded to Windsor Castle in a gilded horse-drawn carriage, Vladimir Putin was unleashing all hell in Ukraine and intensifying his intrusions into the airspace of his European neighbours. In the past 10 days, Russian drones and fighter jets have violated the airspace of Poland, Romania and Estonia, all NATO countries. In a fourth event, German and Swedish fighter jets scrambled to monitor a Russian military surveillance plane over the Baltic Sea flying dark, transponders switched off and no flight plan lodged. Advertisement Russias recklessness in the air, along our eastern flank, is increasing in frequency, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said. At the same time, Moscow has been unleashing some of the biggest one-day fusillades of its invasion of Ukraine. Related Article Opinion Trump's White House Trumps split reality: While suing Murdoch, he woos him over TikTok Elizabeth Knight Business columnist The Bloomberg news service reported that Putin has concluded that he can escalate with impunity. It cited unnamed Kremlin sources as saying that after Trump rolled out the red carpet for Putin in Alaska last month, the Russian leader decided that Trump is unlikely to do much. So far, his bet is paying off handsomely. Trump has not lifted a finger against Putin. Indeed, he exempted Russia from tariffs even as he launched them against every US ally on the planet. Putin boasted in Alaska that Russian trade with the US was growing under Trump. In the same week, Trump announced that hed reached a deal with Chinas Xi Jinping over the future of TikToks business in the US. The US Congress last year legislated that the Chinese owner, ByteDance, must divest it to prevent Beijing exercising control over its content. Trump endorsed the law at the time. Advertisement The news headline is that a consortium of US investors including Rupert Murdoch will buy the US business while ByteDance retains its ownership elsewhere. Mission accomplished, no? No. The fine print exposes the true outcome. The American owners get the profits, but the Chinese creator gets to keep ownership and control of the algorithm, the brain that decides what US users see, and how and when they will see it. The FT quotes a US adviser close to the deal as saying: Its the ultimate TACO trade. After all this, China keeps the algorithm. TACO is the acronym for Trump always chickens out. But only in the face of Americas enemies. Its Americas allies who have most to lose. Peter Hartcher is the international editor Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter. VIENTIANE, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- As tourism continues to boom in 2025, Laos is ramping up efforts to strengthen its tourism sector through targeted initiatives and workforce training, aimed at attracting more visitors and sustaining the momentum. Laos welcomed 3,061,928 foreign tourists in the first eight months of 2025, marking a significant 15 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The rise reflects growing global interest in Laos as a travel destination. According to the latest report from the Lao Ministry of Culture and Tourism released in September, the top source countries from January to August 2025 included Thailand with 977,675 visitors, followed by Vietnam with 790,403, and China with 750,650 arrivals. Bandith, a passionate traveler from Savannakhet province, is known among his friends as the go-to person for organizing adventurous trips across Laos. In his free time, he often plans group journeys, acting as an informal tour guide for both local and international friends. "Laos truly has so many beautiful places to visit, from stunning waterfalls and mountains to ancient temples and serene landscapes. There's so much to explore," Bandith told Xinhua on Monday. However, he acknowledges that challenges remain, noting, "Despite the natural beauty, accessibility is still an issue. Many people haven't had the chance to see these places because getting there can be difficult." Driven by his love for travel, Bandith believes Laos has immense tourism potential. He called for greater investment in infrastructure, especially in roads and transportation, to make travel safer and more comfortable for all visitors. He also emphasized the importance of collaboration between local communities and authorities to strengthen the tourism sector. "Locals are the ones who welcome visitors and share their stories. We must value their role if we want to become a truly welcoming destination," he said. "It's also vital to develop sustainable tourism practices that protect our environment and culture." The Lao government is stepping up efforts to strengthen the tourism sector, attract more visitors, and boost national revenue. As part of its push to facilitate travel and promote digital transformation, the Immigration Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security launched a pilot program for a new online entry and exit registration system, replacing traditional paper-based immigration forms for foreign travelers. The new system officially began on Sept. 1. A waitress in Lao capital Vientiane shared her thoughts on the challenges facing the tourism sector, noting that the country still needs significant improvements, particularly in developing a qualified tourism workforce. Danny pointed out common issues such as language barriers and limited knowledge about local attractions, which make it difficult for staff to assist foreign visitors effectively. She called for greater investment in staff training, especially in English and Chinese language skills, as well as in tourism-related knowledge. Danny believes that improving workforce capabilities is essential to providing a better experience for tourists and supporting the sustainable growth of Laos' tourism sector. Alex, an office worker who takes on driving as a side hustle in the evenings, enjoys taking travelers around the city. He finds great satisfaction in talking with foreign visitors during the rides, sharing stories about Laos, and helping tourists reach their destinations safely. He especially enjoys busy periods such as cultural festivals and events, which bring an influx of tourists to the country. Alex believes that organizing more events and festivals would attract even more visitors and further boost Laos' growing tourism industry. Laos' tourism sector continues to grow in 2025, driven by improved transportation infrastructure, including the China-Laos Railway, expressways, upgraded roads, and expanded airports, making travel more convenient for both international and domestic visitors, according to the Lao Ministry of Culture and Tourism report. The country is projected to welcome 4.38 million foreign tourists in 2025, a 6 percent increase from 2024, along with 4.19 million domestic tourists, up 7 percent. By 2026, those figures are expected to rise to 4.46 million international and 4.37 million domestic travelers. ISTANBUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye is facing one of its most severe droughts in decades, with national rainfall plunging far below long-term averages and threatening water supplies and agriculture across the country. According to data released Monday by the State Meteorological Service, between October 2024 and August 2025, the country received 401.1 kilograms of rainfall per square meter, 27 percent below the long-term average and 29 percent lower than the same period last year, marking the lowest rainfall in Turkiye in 52 years, the data showed. The decline was particularly severe in Southeastern Anatolia, where rainfall fell over 53 percent below seasonal norms. Meanwhile, the Mediterranean region recorded its lowest rainfall in 51 years, while the Marmara and Aegean regions saw their lowest levels in 18 years. In the capital, Ankara experienced its driest water year in 47 years. Only parts of the Black Sea region reported above-average rainfall, providing limited relief. Halim Orta, an academic at Tekirdag Namik Kemal University and a local wheat farmer, described the drought as unprecedented in recent memory. He told Xinhua that both surface and groundwater resources are declining sharply, intensifying the hydrological drought. Orta warned of severe socioeconomic consequences, noting that residents struggle to access sufficient water for daily needs and hygiene, while reduced agricultural yields are already driving up food prices and threatening food availability. Sean McCarthaigh More than a third of Irish drug users admitted using an addictive cannabis substitute that was sold legally in shops before it was classified as an illicit drug this summer, according to the findings of a new study. Researchers have expressed concern that the use of hexahydrocannabinol more commonly known as HHC might become a public health issue, given that the studys findings suggest use of the drug has become widespread in Ireland within a relatively short period of time. The study also revealed that 9 out of 10 drug users in the Republic reported negative consequences from taking HHC, including 14.7 per cent who reported anxiety or panic reactions, while 13.4 per cent felt faint or dizzy and 11.9 per cent reported dissociation or depersonalisation. Other reactions included memory issues in 11.4 per cent of cases, while 10.2 per cent of users experienced nausea and/or vomiting. In 3.9 per cent of cases, users experienced hallucinations or psychosis, while 3.6 per cent reported depression, and a further 3.2 per cent suffered withdrawal symptoms. However, the study revealed that less than 2 per cent of users of HHC sought medical help for any harmful effects of the drug, even though 24 per cent had reported experiencing two or more types of negative effects. It also found that 36.2 per cent of respondents admitted they had taken HHC at least once in their lifetime, with 33.5 per cent claiming they had used it in the previous 12 months. It showed 17.8 per cent claimed they had taken the drug within the previous month. The findings are based on data collected from over 2,300 Irish drug users in the 2024 European Web Survey on Drugs. The authors of the study, which is published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, noted the market for semi-synthetic cannabinoids, including HHC, is linked to the passage of a US law in 201,8 which legalised hemp cultivation. Although banned in a number of EU countries, HHC which is chemically similar to THC, the main psychoactive substance in cannabis was still legally sold in Ireland as either a vape or in jelly sweets until July, when it was categorised as a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The study highlighted how HHC was the most commonly reported drug used by regular drug users in Ireland after cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy/MDMA. The survey showed that males were almost twice as likely to have used HHC as females. In response to a series of questions about their use of HHC, respondents revealed that the primary motive for first taking the drug was its easy availability in stores. Almost two-thirds of drug users said they had sourced HHC from a high street shop. A similar proportion of drug users said they had taken HHC to get high or for fun, with approximately half of respondents claiming they took it to relax or reduce stress. More than a quarter of HHC users said they took the drug to manage depression or anxiety, while 18 per cent used it to reduce pain or inflammation and just under 6 per cent to manage cannabis withdrawal symptoms. Commenting on the studys findings, one of its main authors, Deirdre Mongan of the Health Research Board, said it is possible that the delay in controlling HHC in Ireland had contributed to the drugs popularity. Dr Mongan claimed there may also have been a perception among users that HHC was safer than cannabis or other controlled synthetic cannabinoids because it could be freely and legally purchased in Ireland until very recently. She said the issue was concerning as the short and long-term effects of HHC were still unknown, while concern has also been expressed by the EU Drugs Agency that HHC products may contain harmful contaminants. The study noted that HHC was controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act rather than the Psychoactive Substances Act. Dr Mongan said a review of current Irish legislation with regard to emerging psychoactive substances was likely to be required to ensure that it is fit for purpose. A separate recent study also found that 13 per cent of admissions to psychiatric hospitals for psychosis between May 2023 and December 2024 were associated with HHC use. TOKYO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) officially launched its leadership election campaign on Monday, with five candidates expected to register their bids. The contenders are Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, former Economic Security Ministers Takayuki Kobayashi and Sanae Takaichi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, and former LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi. All five also ran in last year's election, which saw a record nine candidates. GAZA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Palestinians have expressed guarded hope following a new wave of Western recognition of the State of Palestine as Israel presses ahead with its military offensive in Gaza. On Sunday, Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal formally recognized Palestinian statehood in what they described as an effort to revive prospects for a two-state solution. France is expected to follow suit at Monday's United Nations General Assembly. The move has sparked strong opposition from Israel and marked a divergence from the United States, which has long opposed unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood. For many Palestinians, however, such developments raise a pressing question: Will international gestures translate into real change on the ground -- or remain largely symbolic? In a displacement camp in al-Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, Om Mohammed al-Sheikh, a 50-year-old mother of six, told Xinhua, "The whole world is talking about recognizing Palestine, but what does it mean to us Gazans as long as Israel is continuing its war against us?" "We want the war to stop, for our children to return to school, and for us to find medicine for the sick. A state on paper is not enough if our reality on the ground does not change," she said. Yousef Abu Daya, 27, a metalworker from Gaza City, said his workshop -- his only source of income -- was destroyed early in the war. "We need real change that people can feel, not just political statements," he told Xinhua. Across Gaza, such voices highlighted a gap between high-level diplomacy and the realities of displacement, shortages, and war. Esmat Mansour, a Ramallah-based political analyst, described the international recognition as an "important gain" that reflects decades of Palestinian struggle and sacrifice, yet "these recognitions, by themselves, do not end the occupation or stop the war in Gaza." "Recognition does not create a state on its own, but it adds political and moral weight," Mansour said. "The real battle is still on the ground. If we do not have a strong presence in the West Bank and Gaza, recognitions will remain largely symbolic." Echoing the sentiment, Gaza-based political researcher Tayseer Abed told Xinhua that "Palestine is no longer isolated in international forums," and these recognitions also shift the dynamics of future negotiations. Abed emphasized that Palestinians must seize this moment through internal unity and organized diplomatic efforts. "The world is opening a window for us, but crossing it depends on our ability to adhere to national priorities," he added. Both experts stressed that Palestinian reconciliation is vital to translate symbolic gains into concrete progress. Mansour argued that Israel views recognitions as a threat and seeks to downplay them through military pressure. "If there is no internal consensus, these recognitions may become another point of contention rather than a source of strength," Mansour said. Abed stressed that recognition also brings responsibilities. "The world expects to see Palestinian institutions capable of governing, not a divided authority split between Gaza and the West Bank," he said. "Reconciliation is no longer optional but a necessary condition for making use of this international momentum." Learning and Teaching conference reflects on #FeesMustFall and beyond Speakers urge educators and universities to stay committed to creating equitable futures. A three-day conference hosted by the Centre for Learning, Teaching and Development (CLTD) at Wits University, titled: Echoes of Protest, Visions of Praxis: Shaping Equitable Futures Through Learning and Teaching, provided a critical moment to commemorate, reflect and chart the way forward 10 years after #FeesMustFall and #RhodesMustFall. The event aimed to create an inclusive and comprehensive platform for remembering and moving beyond theory to respond to the need for learning and teaching to advance transformation, to decolonise curricula and the academy more broadly, and to ensure equity and access to learning is prioritised. View the programme and watch the recordings. Day one of the conference, on 9 September, set the tone with an opening panel chaired by Dr Bernadette Johnson, Director of the Transformation and Employment Equity Office. The panellists included some of those who, 10 years ago, were students who would become leaders of a movement. These leaders recalled the moment that triggered the action - starting with them being asked to vote on a 10.5% tuition fees increase. They quickly realised that this was unsustainable and would have ripple effects of great disadvantage for the most vulnerable. Their rejection of this proposal led to them organising and holding the protests and sit-ins in the then Senate House Building. Their actions amplified existing protests that had already begun taking root outside Wits. The demands moved beyond fee hikes and also called for decolonising the academy, and making it answerable for its complicity in propping up inequality and economic and social injustice. The movements that would include #RhodesMustFall and others would culminate as a watershed for the country. On this panel were Thato Mokoena, a researcher and development practitioner working in education, youth development, and public policy; Omhle Ntshingila, project coordinator at the Right2Protest Project, Shaazia Ebrahim who is a digital communications specialist at the Climate Justic Coalition and Zama Mthunzi who is an activist and campaign co-ordinator. The former students reflected on their memories from a decade ago. But they focused too on how being at the centre of the #FeesMustFall movement left distinctive imprints on them. They spoke of a sense of lingering trauma, a sense of unfinished business, and the feeling of dis-ease of how some trade-offs from 10 years ago remain the status quo. For Ntshingila, one clear remnant of this is the securitisation of university campuses. Now, as part of Wits staff, she said: After #FeesMustFall the whole university life changed on campus - how students navigated their politics, how students navigated mobilisation on campus because at that time there was a national instruction from the presidency office to have private police, private security and police on campus in every university or higher learning institution in this country. There is so much security on campus its difficult to get in, she added. For Mokoena, who has also returned to Wits, pursuing his masters, the sense of community among students has regressed in that sense, compared to when students came together carried by a momentum of unity at the start of #FeesMustFall. He added: For me the question of what does a decolonial education look like? - its an open [question] and it should be taken seriously and it keeps evolving. But lets keep that question open. The second days keynote address by Dr Dina Zoe Belluigi homed in on the question of why decolonising knowledge matters and focused on the agency of educators who should not be despairing or be overwhelmed. Instead, they should be using their distinct authority, freedoms, social powers and accesses to continue the advance to transformation, she argued. Belluigi is a Professor of Authorship, Representation and Transformation in Academia at Queens University Belfast, a visiting professor to the School of Womens Studies at Jadavpur University and to the Chair for the Critical Studies of Higher Education Transformation (CriSHET) at Nelson Mandela University. In recognising the intellectual authority of educators in academia and affirming their individual and collective political agency she kicked off with a reminder that the CLTD conference took place at the site at the heart of #FeesMustFall. It is important that discussions such as these happen symbolically in places such as the Senate, which are the central spaces of power and of gathering in a university, but also the building which was at the centre of protests, where through its occupation as Andile Ntombeni wrote - became the bedroom, the boardroom and the kitchen of the masses. So there are layers of commemoration here, she said. Belluigis called for educators to be at the forefront of driving transformation to keep alive the radical intent that came out of the #FeesMustFall movement. She said the task of tackling the decolonisation of knowledge should not be beyond the grasp of educators themselves. In some cases their, or our, sense of the ethical responsibility as academic citizens has become fragile, dulled and in others anaesthetised. She added: I contribute to this commemoration with the wide eyes of the need to continue to struggle for and within universities, for them to do work for the global common good, and in the hope that the radical intent for the university is still very much alive, that there is indeed value in the act and the practices of pushing towards decolonisation. Inequality in Africa: what drives it, how to end it Elites have often shaped or manipulated state policies in ways that protect their interests and reinforce inequality. The relationship between inequality and economic growth is a complex one, especially in Africa. Inequality is the result of a host of factors, including policy choices, institutional legacies and power structures that favour elites. Professor Imraan Valodia, director of the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies spoke to Ernest Aryeetey, emeritus professor of Development Economics at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana about the issues. What policy choices have African governments made that have worsened inequality? Firstly, structural adjustment policies. Many African countries undertook these during the late 20th century, often encouraged by international financial institutions. These policies included public sector retrenchments, the removal of subsidies, and reduced social services. They disproportionately affected the poor by weakening the states role in redistributing public goods, and limiting access to essential services. The programmes also increased income inequality by choosing free markets over social protection. Later efforts to address the consequences were often too little, too late. Secondly, taxation and fiscal policies. Most tax systems in Africa have relied on indirect taxes (such as VAT or consumption taxes) rather than progressive, direct taxes on income and wealth. As a result, poorer households often bear a heavier relative tax burden while the wealthiest benefit from exemptions or evasion. Early post-independence taxation rarely did much to redistribute wealth, and efforts to tax the informal sector have been minimal or poorly designed. They have failed to capture significant resources for social spending. Thirdly, education and healthcare investment. Policy choices have often perpetuated access gaps between urban and rural populations and among socioeconomic classes. Investments tended to favour cities and privileged groups, so that not everyone had the same opportunities. This urban bias in public spending reinforced existing inequalities. Rural peoples needs remained unmet. Fourthly, weak social protection. Until the expansion of more comprehensive schemes in the 2000s, many Africans were left poor and vulnerable, without adequate safety nets. Fifth, economic structures favour elites. African governments have often maintained or even reinforced economic structures that concentrate wealth and opportunity for just a few. Examples include policies favouring extractive industries or resource sectors controlled by politically connected groups. Land tenure, trade policies and access to state contracts and licences have frequently favoured the powerful. Sixth, limited regional and gender inclusion. Early public policies rarely met the needs of women, youth, rural areas, or marginalised regions. Exclusion from land ownership or financial services, and limited emphasis on affirmative action, reinforced systemic inequalities. Only in recent decades have some governments begun to address these gaps, but progress remains uneven. Are these choices linked to the capture of public policy by elites? Yes. Privileged groups have often shaped or manipulated state policies in ways that protect their interests and reinforce inequality. Colonial and postcolonial legacy. Policies and institutions established during and after colonialism often allocated resources and power to a narrow elite, either colonial settlers, expatriates or local collaborators. Todays elites inherited and sustained many of these structures. They still control wealth, land, and market opportunities. Economic structure and resource control. Many African economies remain oriented around extractive industries and primary commodities such as oil and minerals. Policies around resource extraction, trade and land tenure have often favoured elites through preferential access, tax exemptions and regulatory loopholes. Policy design and fiscal choices. The design of tax systems has typically favoured indirect taxes (like VAT). These do not affect elite wealth. Efforts to tax high incomes, property or capital gains are underdeveloped or easily evaded. Social protection and service delivery. Safety nets and public goods (like quality education, healthcare, or infrastructure) often target formal sector workers or urban residents (where elites reside). They neglect the informal sector, rural poor and marginalised groups. Political patronage and governance. State resources, positions and contracts go to loyalists, family members, or ethnic/regional networks. What have been the 3 biggest inequality drivers? Firstly, regressive fiscal policies. These include broad based taxes such as transaction levies and VAT. They take a larger share of low income earners cash flows. Wealthier groups benefit from exemptions or low tax rates. Secondly, rapid, elite led privatisation and market liberalisation. Selling state assets or opening key sectors (energy, telecoms and transport) to politically connected investors concentrates profits and market power. Informal workers and small firms are left with reduced earnings. Patronage, corruption and political capture keep things that way. Thirdly, under-investment in universal social services. Cuts to health, education and social safety nets limit upward mobility for the poor and maintain regional and gender gaps. Lastly, resource dependence and economic structure. Many African economies focus on industries like oil, minerals and cash crops. These benefit political and business elites but dont diversify industries or create jobs. The benefits of growth go mostly to the already privileged. Most citizens and entire regions are excluded. Which countries have managed best to change this? Rwanda has a progressive income tax structure. Low value mobile money transactions are exempt from tax. Key utilities such as electricity and water remain largely public, which has reduced the impact of taxes on the poor. Rwanda has also made efforts towards inclusive governance. Examples include quotas for women, investments in health and education, and a focus on rural inclusion. Botswana has pursued a cautious privatisation agenda. The state retains majority ownership in diamonds, telecoms and banking. Revenues were channelled into universal primary education and health. Despite its dependence on diamonds, it does well at channelling resource wealth into national savings, infrastructure and public services. This while maintaining relatively high institutional quality and political stability. Ethiopia, pre 2020 reforms which saw the role of the private sector being broadened. Before then, the country had focused on massive public investment in primary education, health extension services and rural road networks. At the same time it avoided large scale privatisation of basic utilities. This limited the social service gap. In addition, it has invested in manufacturing and export-led growth. This has generated jobs and gradually shifted the economy away from depending on primary commodities. Inequality has reduced compared to resource-dependent peers. Have technology advances affected inequality differently on the continent? Yes. Technology has the potential to reduce inequality by expanding access to markets, services, information and financial inclusion. But gaps in digital infrastructure, affordability and skills have caused technology to sometimes reinforce, rather than alleviate, disparities in African countries. Digital divide and urban-rural gaps. Access to digital technologies is highly uneven. Rural areas, the poor, women and less-educated groups are less likely to use the internet or benefit from digital services. This divide is much starker in Africa than in advanced economies, where technology adoption is nearly universal. As a result, new technologies can benefit urban, educated and higher-income groups the most. This widens inequalities if not accompanied by robust, inclusive policies. Mobile leapfrogging, but patchy inclusion. Africas rapid leap to mobile phone use has often skipped fixed-line infrastructure. This has brought financial inclusion and new markets to millions, such as M-Pesa in Kenya. Still, large parts of the continent remain excluded due to affordability, lack of electricity, limited digital skills and language barriers. Economic structure and global value chains. Limited integration into global value chains and a small high-tech sector mean most jobs on the continent remain in low-productivity informal work. Why do the effects differ? Firstly, late, unequal adoption. The industrial revolution and subsequent technological advances arrived late and unevenly. Colonial and postcolonial legacies left Africa behind in both education and infrastructure. This made it harder for broad segments of the population to benefit from new technologies. Infrastructure scarcity forces societies to adopt mobile solutions directly, bypassing legacy banking but also making them vulnerable to policy shocks. Secondly, policy and market failures. Inadequate regulation, weak competition and high costs of devices and data are brakes on digital transformation. Digital public goods, such as e-government and online education, reach only connected groups. And digital skills gaps further entrench the social digital divide. Imraan Valodia, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Climate, Sustainability and Inequality and Director, Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of the Witwatersrand This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Weather Alert ...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM CST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 30 below expected. * WHERE...Oneida, Vilas, Florence, Forest, Northern Marinette County, Northern Oconto County, Southern Marinette County, and Southern Oconto County Counties. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to 10 AM CST Saturday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 30 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. && A Palestinian flag is seen at the gate of the Palestine Mission to the UK in London, Britain, Sept. 22, 2025. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday announced that Britain has formally recognized the State of Palestine, affirming Britain's support for "the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination" and the two-state solution. (Xinhua/Zhao Jiasong) LONDON, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday announced that Britain has formally recognized the State of Palestine, affirming Britain's support for "the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination" and the two-state solution. He condemned in a video announcement "the man-made humanitarian crisis in Gaza," adding that "tens of thousands have been killed, including thousands as they tried to collect food and water. This death and destruction horrifies us all. It must end." In a letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Starmer noted that "A two-state solution remains the only pathway to a just and lasting peace for the region. I commend the important commitments you have made on reform and reiterate my support as you deliver them to build the Palestinian state." The Financial Times framed Labour's shift as a mix of principle and political calculation. In late July, Britain signaled it would act in September unless Israel took "substantive steps." With Israel failing to meet these conditions and mounting pressure over Gaza from within Labour and the wider public, Starmer was ultimately pushed toward recognition. That domestic pressure was reinforced by international outrage over Israel's escalating attacks in Gaza, where the military has massed forces for what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials described as a major ground and air offensive to "conquer" Gaza City. According to Gaza-based health authorities, the number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, has surpassed 65,000. Facing the deepening crisis in Gaza, the British government stressed that further action is needed to resolve the conflict. "Recognition is not enough on its own. We are also building consensus with leaders in the region and beyond around our Framework for Peace, a series of steps that can take us from a ceasefire to a permanent end to the conflict," the British Foreign Ministry has said in a statement. It added that while Britain's support for Israel's right to exist and the security of its people remains steadfast, the Israeli government must change course, halting its offensive in Gaza, allowing humanitarian aid, and ending illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank. However, this move put Britain at odds with its closest ally the United States. President Donald Trump has voiced no support for Palestinian statehood, and during his state visit to Britain last week, he highlighted the divide, telling a press conference that he disagreed with Prime Minister Starmer's plan. "I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score," Trump said. An editorial in The Guardian also noted the strain this divergence revealed, arguing that Trump "could end this war with a phone call," yet his administration "appears unshiftable, even as public support in the U.S. plummets." Also on Sunday, Canada, Australia and Portugal announced their recognition of the Palestinian state. TRIPOLI, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Heavy clashes erupted Sunday in Janzour, about 12 km west of Libya's capital of Tripoli, between rival armed groups aligned with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah's Government of National Unity (GNU), local media reported. Fighting began when Mahmoud Boujaafar's Joint Force stormed the Sixth Brigade headquarters led by Munir Al-Sweih at Bridge 17, prompting a counterattack using medium and heavy weapons. The coastal highway to Zawiya and the central vegetable market were closed, and large-scale military reinforcements were deployed. The clashes highlight the fragility of a security deal signed last week between the GNU and the Special Deterrence Force (Radaa), which included Radaa's withdrawal from Mitiga Airbase, appointment of a new Judicial Police head, transfer of wanted individuals to the Attorney General, redeployment of outside military units, and Turkish deployment along faction lines to prevent renewed fighting. Libya remains divided between the UN-recognized GNU in the west and a rival administration in the east under Osama Hammad, backed by Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army. The White House says it blocked US Steel's decision to stop processing steel at Illinois plant Tens of thousands of workers took industrial action last week against the restructuring of the state-owned Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). As part of the IMF austerity program, the government is dividing the CEB into four state-owned companies, paving the way for their eventual privatisation. Electricity workers protesting outside CEB head office in Colombo, July 22, 2025 The widespread opposition among workers to the restructuring forced CEB trade union leaders to call limited actiona sick-note campaign involving 15,000 workerson September 1718 in a bid to let off steam. Around 10,000 workers joined the two-day protest in front of the CEB headquarters in Colombo, including 7,000 on the first day, according to the trade unions, despite wet weather. President Anura Dissanayake threatened workers, telling a public meeting at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation-owned oil storage complex in Kolonnawa on September 17 that the restructuring program would continue. Dissanayake defended his governments new bill to restructure the CEB, replacing existing legislation, by declaring it protects the countrys power sovereignty and makes the CEB efficient. Referring to the industrial action, Dissanayake warned: We cant work like that. He reiterated comments by Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody on September 15, saying CEB employees who do not agree with the restructuring could resign. No one can disrupt the governments restructuring plan, he insisted. His claim that that the CEB will not be sold under the new bill is a lie. Whatever his claims, its purpose like the previous legislation is to break up and privatise the CEB. Citing comments by Pubudu Niroshana Hadigallage, director of the Electricity Sector Reforms Bureau, Lanka News Web reported on September 18: The Ceylon Electricity Board will be dissolved and abolished from the exact date when all the provisions of the Electricity Sector Amendment Act No. 14 of 2025 come into effect. Workers transferred to the new companies will have no guarantee of security of their jobs and working conditions. Those wanting to voluntarily retire will receive a pay-out after any debts are deducted. Socialist Equality Party (SEP) campaigners spoke to CEB workers at last weeks protest. A Wariyapola maintenance department employee explains that he owes about 2.5 million rupees from a housing loan from the Provident Fund. If he voluntarily leaves he will receive half or less of the proposed maximum compensation of 5 million rupees. This is a trap, he said. We joined the CEB with so many hopes. Now all of them are going to collapse. A worker from the Akuressa distribution centre denounced threats made by the president and energy minister telling workers to go home if you dont like it. He said: We cannot let that happen. No one has the right to tell us that. We didnt join the CEB to leave early. No one here likes the VRS (voluntary retirement scheme). With the workers enraged by Dissanayakes threats, union leaders have been compelled to further action. Sri Lanka Electricity Technicians Association president Kosala Abeysinghe told the Daily Mirror on Friday that the third phase of the strike would begin on September 21 and continue until Wednesday. If the president continues to respond in the same way, we will be compelled to escalate matters further, he said. The trade union bureaucrats are not opposed to the restructuring as such and only insist that they should be actively involved in the process. Their attitude was spelled out in the slogan on a union picket board handed to CEB workers: Do the restructuring properly. At a media briefing on September 18, the president of the Joint Electricity Workers Union, Charitha Sri Chinthaka, addressed Dissanayake fondly as comrade President and reiterated his desire to resolve the issue peacefully. Workers must understand that the attack on their rights flows from the governments determination to implement the IMFs demands in full. On this the union leaders agree, telling workers that the IMFs demands cannot be rejected because the economy must be restored. But which economy are they talking about? It is the capitalist economy dominated by the banks, big business, foreign investors and loan sharks that are demanding that working people must bear the burden of the economic crisis. It is impossible for CEB Workers or any other section of the working class to defend their fundamental rights within the framework of the profit system and the pro-capitalist trade unions. The Workers Action Committees Collective issued a statement titled Resist the Power Ministers threat! Form CEB action committees to fight the governments restructuring program! Published in Sinhala on the World Socialist Web Site and distributed among striking CEB workers, it called for the following: CEB workers must take the struggle for their rights into their own hands. How can this be done? The first step is for the employees of the Electricity Board to form workers action committees at all CEB workplaces. The trade union bureaucrats should not be allowed in these committees. The workers should decide their demands and the actions to be taken to fight for them through democratic discussion. By forming such committees, it is necessary to reach out to other workers who are under attack from the government like you and organise a united struggle. We propose the following program of action for such a struggle: No to restructuring/privatisation! Place all state institutions, whether or not they are subject to restructuring, under workers democratic control. Secure all jobs, decent salaries and pensions indexed to cost of living and decent working conditions! Refuse to pay foreign debts! This struggle is a broader political fight against the Dissanayake government, which defends the capitalist profit system and global capital. What is necessary is a unified struggle for a workers and peasants government committed to a socialist program including the nationalisation of all economic nerve centres, including all banks, big companies and plantations under workers democratic control. In this fight, workers in Sri Lanka need to unite with their class brothers and sisters internationally who face similar attacks, by joining with the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees. This is the only realistic program to successfully advance the struggle of workers at the CEB and elsewhere in Sri Lanka. The following lecture was delivered by Katja Rippert, a member of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP), the German section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), at the SEP (US) International Summer School, held August 2-9, 2025. It is the second part of a three-part lecture on the Great Terror in the Soviet Union during the 1930s. The first part, Political genocide in the USSR (1936-1940): The Moscow Trials and the Dewey Commission, was posted September 18. The WSWS is also publishing two chapters from Vadim Rogovins book Stalins Terror of 19371938: Political Genocide in the USSR to accompany this lecture: Chapter 38, Terror against Foreign Communists and Chapter 42, Bolshevism, Stalinism, Trotskyism. We encourage our readers to study this book alongside the lecture. The WSWS will be publishing all the lectures at the school over the coming weeks. The introduction to the school by SEP National Chairman David North, The place of Security and the Fourth International in the history of the Trotskyist movement, was published on August 13. Introduction The Stalinist political genocide in the 1930s discussed by Fred Williams in the first part of this lecture also targeted the Communist International. In my lecture, I will focus on the terror in the Comintern, which was initially built as a revolutionary world party. By 1923, it already had more than 50 sections, as indicated in this impressive internal list.[ 1 ] Die Kommunistische Weltpartei (Communist World Party), listing the national sections, members and newspapers of the Comintern in 1922/1923 [Photo by RGASPI, f. 495, op. 18, d. 213, l. 67] In that year, the Comintern set all its hopes on a revolution in Germany, which had the largest Communist party outside of Russia. This photo shows the Presidium of the First Congress of the Comintern in 1919. Gustav Klinger, Hugo Eberlein, Vladimir Lenin and Fritz Platten in the Presidium of the First Congress of the Comintern In the middle is Lenin, and on his right are Gustav Klinger, a Russian Bolshevik and leader of the Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republic of the Volga Germans in 1918, and Hugo Eberlein, a founding member of the German Communist Party (KPD). Seated on Lenins left is Fritz Platten, a long-time communist and founding member of the party in Switzerland. He organized Lenins return to Russia in 1917 and saved the latters life in 1918, when Lenins car was attacked in Petrograd. Less than 20 years after this photograph was taken, Klinger, Eberlein, and Platten were all persecuted during the Stalinist Great Terror. The Comintern as a revolutionary world organization was in the process of being destroyed. Supporters of the Left Opposition in the various national sections had already been expelled or intimidated. By the 1930s the Comintern had been transformed into an instrument of Soviet diplomatic policy. According to the nationalist program of the Stalinist bureaucracy, summed up in the theory of socialism in one country, it was no longer the task of the International to prepare and coordinate revolutions in other countries. Its role was reduced to preventing an imperialist intervention against the USSR, following the line of the Kremlin under Stalins dictates. One defeat after another isolated and weakened the Soviet Union. Hitlers rise to power in 1933 marked the culmination of the disastrous policies of the Comintern. From all over the world, thousands had emigrated to the Soviet Unionworkers, students, professionals, party members, or just enthusiasts and supporters of the first workers state. Many of them sought refuge in the USSR, because they were threatened with political persecution at homeespecially the Germans after 1933. As a result of the betrayals of the two German workers parties, the KPD and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Hitler came to power and set out to destroy the socialist movement in Germany and Europe. Thousands of communists and social democrats, as well as Jewish workers and intellectuals, had to flee from the Nazis. They now belonged to the so called politemigrantythe political emigrants. However, the USSR, the supposed country of refuge, turned out to be a trap: in the Great Terror a large number of these political emigres and foreign communists in the USSR were arrested, accused of being foreign spies and shot or exiled. It is hardly possible to grasp the scale of the bloodbath by merely looking at statistics, and until the present there are still no exact numbers of victims for the different sections of the Comintern. But I want to give you a few facts. The largest and most influential group of political emigrants were the approximately 4,600 Germans. During the Stalinist terror around 3,000 disappeared. By April 1938, 70 percent of German communists living in the USSR had already been imprisoned. Around 600 Austrians fell victim to Stalin, among them workers as well as members of the Communist Party and the Schutzbund, the paramilitary arm of the Social Democrats, who fled Austria after the failed uprising against the pro-fascist government in February 1934. The Polish party was dissolved and almost its entire leadership was killed. Twenty-five out of 26 leading Polish Comintern cadres died in the Soviet Union. Some 800 Yugoslav communists were murdered, including all the eight leading Comintern cadres and many supporters of the Left Opposition. The majority of the political emigrants from Hungary were persecuted. Ten out of 16 members of the first Central Committee of the Hungarian Communist Party were killed by Stalin. Approximately 600 Bulgarian communists perished in the Stalinist terror. A high percentage of party members from the Baltic countries were arrested. Seven out of eight Latvian and five out of six Estonian leading Comintern cadres were persecuted. Forty political refugees from Greece were arrested, among them former party leaders as well as former Trotskyists. Twenty-seven were sentenced to death. More than 100 Italian communists were arrested and most of them shot. Many Chinese, Korean, and Japanese communists fell victim to the repression. Several communist parties in Europe were illegal at that time and operated entirely or partially underground, including in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Italy, and Greece. Their members were accused of espionage in the USSR and suffered the greatest losses. Grigory Zinoviev, Comintern leader, arrested and murdered by the NKVD Beginning with its leader Grigory Zinoviev as the prime target in the first show trial in 1936, the Comintern staff was reduced by about 50 percent in the following years of terror. One historian has analyzed the fate of the 375 leading Comintern cadres who were in the Soviet Union from 1936 onward and could therefore be potential victims of persecution. More than 40 percent of them were arrested.[ 2 ] Causes and aims of the Comintern purges Before I provide some examples to illustrate the scale of the purges in the second part of my lecture, I want to turn to the causes and aims behind these horrendous crimes. How was it possible that a whole generation of Comintern members was killed by the Stalinists? Many bourgeois historians have struggled to answer this question. Some claim that the terror was the logical outcome of the totalitarian nature of the Comintern itself or the result of paranoia, arbitrary violence, and the blood thirst of the dictator Stalin. As the Trotskyist movement has insisted and certain serious historians have underscored in their research, the key to understanding the terror within the Comintern is the fear of the Stalinist regime that a revolutionary opposition could challenge its power. In February 1937, Stalin expressed his deep contempt for the Comintern in a conversation with the Bulgarian Comintern leader Georgi Dimitrov. He said: All of you there in the Comintern are playing right into the enemys hands.[ 3 ] This remark was no mere slip of the tongue. It expressed the Stalinist bureaucracys hostile stance toward this organization whichdespite having long since ceased to be a revolutionary world partystill embodied internationalism in its structure, in the composition of its personnel and above all in the eyes of its supporters around the globe. This tradition was a thorn in Stalins side at a time when he stoked Russian nationalism. The terror within the Comintern was driven by the nationalist reaction of Stalinism to the program of world revolution, the foundation of the Third International. The catastrophic results of the Comintern policies, like the victory of Hitler in 1933, deepened the Soviet Unions isolation and discredited the Comintern among masses of workers and youth around the world. In the face of this crisis, the purges in the Comintern were aimed at reinforcing the position of the Stalinist regime. The latter feared the international defeats could provoke criticism within its ranks and strengthen the Trotskyist opposition. As the Russian historian Vadim Rogovin stressed in his book Stalins Terror of 19371938: Political Genocide in the USSR: The ferocity of the persecution of the foreign communists was explained to a significant degree by Stalins fear that socialist revolutions in other lands might arise outside his control. As a result, the center of the revolutionary movement might shift from Moscow, and the movement itself might end up under the leadership of the Fourth International.[ 4 ] Rogovin also pointed to the fact that the emigrants had better access to oppositional literature, and some had read Trotskys books. The Stalinist regime resorted to mass violence to suppress and preempt any potential resistance within the communist movement and the broader population. As German historian Hermann Weber has explained: All forces that, because of their revolutionary tradition, could become dangerous to Stalinism were eliminated in the bloody purge. The aim was to destroy cadres who, in some situations (for example, crisis or war), could form a counterforce to Stalins dictatorship. In that sense, the terror was also an indicator of the weakness of the Stalinist system. Power was to be consolidated by brute force.[ 5 ] The arrests initially targeted the Left Opposition and other former opponents of the regime, but then expanded to wide layers of members loyal to Stalinincluding many of the political emigres. With this comprehensive purge, Stalin sought to create a new apparatus loyal to and uncritical of his interests. Stalins violence against any real or potential opposition was not a product of mere paranoia. but rooted in the objective contradictions of his regime as well as the international defeats. Popular Front and Comintern terror While the Soviet secret police, the NKVD, arrested Comintern members and political emigres in Moscow, Communist parties in Spain, France, and elsewhere formed socalled antifascist Popular Front alliances. This simultaneous occurrence of popular front politics and terror has been described by some historians as a great paradox.[ 6 ] In fact, however, the two developments were intertwined. After the failures of the preceding yearsmost notably the KPDs policy in Germany that enabled Hitlerthe Stalin regime shifted towards open collaboration with the Western powers, particularly France and Great Britain. According to the popular front strategy, adopted at the Seventh World Congress of the Comintern in 1935, Communist parties were to enter alliances with bourgeois parties and governments whenever it served the goals of Stalinist foreign policy. During this period the Comintern was tasked with suppressing revolutionary uprisings in Western European countries in exchange for diplomatic agreements with the respective governments. Repression served to silence critical voices in order to safeguard the popular front. David North explains: The turn by the USSR toward direct collaboration with the international bourgeoisie was complemented by the intensification of state repression within the borders of the degenerated workers state. The inner connection between these parallel processes is generally ignored by bourgeois historians, who find it politically inconvenient to examine why the heyday of popular frontismwhen Stalinism was being feted in the salons of the intellectual trend-setterscoincided with the wholesale extermination within the USSR of virtually all those who had played a leading role in the October Revolution and the civil war. The blood purges which were launched with the opening of the first round of the Moscow Trials in August 1936 were intended not only to eradicate all those who might become the focus of revolutionary opposition to the bureaucracy, but also to demonstrate to the world bourgeoisie that the Stalinist regime had broken irrevocably with the heritage of 1917. A river of blood now divided Stalinism from Bolshevism.[ 7 ] Campaign against Trotskyism in the Comintern The 1936 show trials in Moscow were preceded by an intensified campaign against Trotskyism, launched in the Comintern after its Seventh World Congress. The situation for political emigrants in the USSR had already worsened since the early 1930s when asylum policies were restricted. In the winter of 1935parallel to the turn towards the popular front strategythe Comintern bureaucracy expanded surveillance of foreign members. Political emigrants had to be re-registerednumerous dismissals and party expulsions followed. The Comintern journal Communist International played a significant role in the campaign against Trotskyism on the eve of the terror. In November 1935, representatives from various Comintern sections met in Moscow for an editorial meeting about the danger of Trotskyism, chaired by Palmiro Togliatti, then a leading member of the Italian CP and the Comintern. Avoiding here the hysterical and stereotypical anti-Trotskyist propaganda designed for public consumption, the Comintern members spoke relatively honestly about their concern that the Trotskyists and their ideas might gain a foothold within their own ranks, as well as among youth and the working class in general. Italian Stalinist and Comintern official Palmiro Togliatti (18931964) Togliatti urged that the question of Trotskyism be addressed more forcefully than before, given the growth of the Communist parties. He examined in more detail the Trotskyist and opposition groups in Western Europe and stressed that the small size of their organizations was not decisive. While in the Soviet Union, there were special organs that would deal with the Trotskyistshe obviously refers to the NKVDthe situation was different abroad: In capitalist countries we must argue, we must respond, we must study the Trotskyists arguments, and we must understand in what ways and through what means they can influence newcomers to the workers movement and the left elements of social democracyand how we can block their path to these elements and to the workers movement as a whole.[ 8 ] Togliatti pointed to the problem that some European workers would see Trotskyism as just another tendency within the workers movement and rank-and-file members would unconsciously repeat Trotskys arguments. Especially disastrous was the stance toward Stalin. Once, at a school, I asked what students knew about Stalin. And what did they know? Nothing at all! This is also a task for us, explained Togliatti. In the discussion, the Austrian delegate agreed that we have so far utterly failed to popularize Stalins significance among Europes working class. The Comintern had nothing written in opposition to Trotskys pamphlets, which are stylistically and journalistically brilliantly written. He argued: I believe we must not underestimate the immediate effect that Trotskys books can have. We cannot respond with mere resolutions and theses. This was followed by contributions on the Trotskyist influence in other countries including the Netherlands, Sweden, Romania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Poland, France, Greece, and Czechoslovakia. The Dutch delegate suggested a pamphlet that popularized Lenins struggle against Trotsky, because Trotskyism always tries to work with Lenins nameLenin and Trotsky, the two leaders of the Russian Revolution. This pointed to a core problem for the Stalinists: despite extensive historical falsifications since the 1920s, the masses worldwide still associated the October Revolution with Lenin and Trotskynot Stalin. This editorial meeting illustrates the dilemma faced by Comintern functionaries. On the one hand, they needed strong arguments to refute Trotskyists abroad while they could be persecuted by state organs at home. On the other, Trotskyist arguments were rooted in various objective truthsStalins marginal role and Trotskys importance in the October Revolution, social inequality in the Soviet Union, and the negative consequences of popular frontism. The Stalinists responded to this dilemma with slander, falsification, repression, and terror. The scale of the terror in the Comintern This river of blood separating Stalinism from Bolshevism found expression in the physical destruction of the Comintern during the years 1937 and 1938, even though it was not formally dissolved until 1943. The German party was a main target of repression. The defeat of the German working class and Hitlers victory were a decisive setback for the world revolution. It confirmed Trotskys positions, who had warned early on against the fatal social fascism line and fought for a correct policy against the Nazisthe united front of communist and social democratic workers. Stalins position was clearly weakened, hence the hysteria against anyone who voiced criticism and, generally, all KPD members who had fled Hitler. The repression of German communists on charges of Trotskyism were bizarrely linked to accusations that they were fascist agents. In reality, it was Stalin himself who facilitated the eventual Nazi invasion in 1941 by decapitating the Red Army, sealing the pact with Hitler, and ignoring all warnings of the imminent attack. Historian Hermann Weber examined the fate of leading German communist cadres up to 1945 and concluded: 256 became victims of Hitler and 208 victims of Stalin.[ 9 ] When we look at the highest level, the German partys Politburo [political bureau], more members and candidates were murdered by Stalin than by Hitler. Hugo Eberlein, arrested by the NKVD in 1937 [Photo by International Memorial] Seven former Politburo members or candidates were killed during the Stalinist terror: Eberlein (18871941), the German delegate at the Comintern Founding Congress, arrested in 1937 and executed in 1941. Leo Flieg (18931939), a founding member of the KPD and a friend of Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. He worked for the Comintern in Moscow in the early 1930s where he lived in the Hotel Lux. He was arrested in 1938 and shot in March 1939at the age of 45. The fervent Stalinists Hermann Remmele (18801939) and Heinz Neumann (19021937), as well as Fritz Schulte (18901943), Hermann Schubert (18861938), and Heinrich Susskind (18951937), an Austrian of Jewish origin. And one might add another indirect victim: Ernst Thalmann, the Stalinist KPD leader until his arrest by the Nazis in 1933, who was in prison for 11 years. Stalin could have saved his life in negotiations with the Germans. But as part of the Hitler-Stalin Pact he decided not to. Thalmann was finally executed on the order of Hitler in 1944. Many German party members were arrested in the Hotel Lux. Once the famous and prestigious living quarters of the Comintern in the heart of Moscow, the Lux turned into a death trap during the Great Terror. The emigrants lived in constant fear, trembling each night if they were to be next, if secret police agents would be knocking on their door. The Comintern apparatus, however, was both a perpetrator and a victim of the terror. The Comintern institutions closely collaborated with the secret police and provided detailed information on the biographies and political positions of every member. Those functionaries who survived the purges were often directly implicated in the crimes. One example is the German Stalinist Herbert Wehner, who lived in the Hotel Lux during the height of the terror. Under his party name Kurt Funk, he denounced German emigres and KPD members such as Flieg and Eberlein to the NKVD. Wehner sent reports to the Comintern on Trotskyist groups abroad and alleged Trotskyists among German emigres. His reports served in part as the basis for an edict issued by NKVD head Nikolai Yezhov in February 1937. Yezhov ordered the immediate examinination and arrest of German Trotskyists, the infiltration of foreign Trotskyist groups, and the uncovering of supposed Trotskyists among German visitors and emigrants to the USSR. Special focus was placed on monitoring convicted German Trotskyists in labor camps.[ 10 ] After the war, Wehner, who had been responsible for the persecution of many political refugees, rose rapidly in German Social Democracy. He became a minister in the 1960s and led the SPD fraction in parliament until 1983. Until his death he kept silent about his own role in the Stalinist purges. Other Comintern apparatchiks who survived the Great Terror were also implicated in these crimes. For instance, Dimitrov, who succeeded Zinoviev as leader of the Comintern during the Popular Front period. He was a fierce and longtime opponent of the Left Opposition. During the purges, Dimitrov abetted the persecution of the Polish communist leaders by luring them to the Soviet Union where they were arrested and executed by the NKVD.[ 11 ] The German party functionaries Wilhelm Pieck and Walter Ulbricht, who became the leaders of the GDR (German Democratic Republic), the East German Stalinist regime, after the war, both held high positions in the Comintern bureaucracy during the Great Terror and facilitated the liquidation of German communists. In 1937 the Stalinist regime prepared another show trialthis time against the Comintern itself. Investigators collected material on an alleged Anti-Comintern bloc, with veteran functionaries like Hungarian Bela Kun accused of a fictional right-wing Trotskyist conspiracy within the Comintern apparatus. All of them were executed in the following years.[ 12 ] This Anti-Comintern trial did not take place, but even without it, the purges within the Comintern reached vast proportions. Yet Stalin continually demanded a harsher approach: Trotskyites must be hunted down, shot, destroyed, he declared, according to a diary entry by Dimitrov in November 1937.[ 13 ] Mass operations and the turn against the Soviet nationalities policy Parallel to the public show trials, the NKVD launched secret mass operations, starting with the so-called Kulak operation in summer 1937. Mass arrests shook the whole country. Many political emigres were persecuted as part of the national operations of the NKVD against various nationalities and minorities in the Soviet Union, including Germans, Poles, Greeks, Latvians, Estonians, Romanians and others. The accusation of espionage was combined with additional charges, such as the alleged founding of national insurrectionary organizations. Designated as Greek, German, etc. were not only individuals with the corresponding citizenship or ethnic origin, but all those whom the NKVD considered to belong to the respective national group or had some kind of foreign connections. According to estimates, up to 365,000 people were convicted, approximately 80 percent of them sentenced to death.[ 14 ] Resolution to extend the National operations of the NKVD against Polish, Latvian, German, Estonian, Finnish, Greek, Iranian, Harbinian, Chinese and Romanian people, signed by Stalin, Molotov, Kaganovich, Voroshilov, Mikoyan and Chubar, 31 January 1938 These operations marked the final and brutal break of the Stalinist regime with the Soviet nationalities policy established in the time of Lenin. The Declaration of the Rights of the Peoples of Russia was one of the first decrees issued by the Bolsheviks after taking power. Among other things, the November 1917 declaration proclaimed equality and sovereignty of the various peoples of Russia, the right to self-determination and the free development of national minorities and ethnic groups. The declarations principled and strategic significance was to strengthen internationalism against the old great-power chauvinism of the Tsarist regime, win over the anti-imperialist and national revolutionary movements and consolidate the revolution in the periphery and among the previously oppressed minorities. But already in 1922, a fierce dispute arose between Lenin and Stalin on the national question because Stalin supported Russian chauvinist tendencies. In the years that followed, the Stalinist leadership undermined the nationalities policy and ultimately abolished it. Prior to the mass arrests, it had already fueled xenophobia and revived Great Russian nationalism. Emigrants were accused of being spies and used as scapegoats to divert growing anger about social and economic problems in the USSR.[ 15 ] In December 1937, the Politburo decided to eliminate the national territories, as well as the schools and cultural institutions of national minorities, on the grounds that they were under the influence of supposed enemies of the people. The persecution of Greek political refugees The Greek Operation was launched in the same month. Greek schools, theaters, newspapers and publishers in the USSR were shut down and their staffs persecuted. According to an official report, more than 11,000 people were arrested and 9,450 shot. One researcher estimates that the number of victims was twice as high.[ 16 ] Almost all the Greek political emigres who lived in the Soviet Union at that time were ultimately arrested. In Greece, they had been persecuted under anti-communist laws and many of them escaped from prison before clandestinely fleeing by sea to the USSR. Socialist workers in Greek prison: M. Bezentakos, A. Dervisoglou, M. Doulgeris, K. Sarikas, I. Kalogeridis [Photo by Loukas Kastritis] In the photo you can see five workers in a Greek prison in the early 1930s. Except for one, they all fled to the Soviet Union and perished during the terror. Some were members of the Greek Left Opposition. In the USSR they worked in factories until they were arrested, interrogated about their Trotskyist activities and executed by the NKVD. One of them was Michalis Bezentakos. As a worker in the industrial port city of Piraeus, he joined a Trotskyist organization. Arrested by Greek police in 1931, he faced the death penalty, but was able to escape with the help of the Communist Party in a spectacular prison break in Athens. A famous song about his courageous story is still being sung at Greek demonstrations. In Moscow, Bezentakos took the pseudonym Georgi Bendas, married and worked in an automobile factory. During the purges he was arrested and executed, leaving behind his wife and three-year-old daughter. Michalis Bezentakos (Georgi Bendas), arrested by the NKVD [Photo by GARF f. 10035, op. 1, d. P-54560] The Stalinist Communist Party of Greece celebrated Bezentakos for a long time as a working class hero who had fought and died as a volunteer in the Spanish Civil War. Rumors about his arrest in the Soviet Union were dismissed as anti-communist lies. Bezentakos case is symptomatic of the decades-long cover-up by the Greek Stalinists of the persecution of Greek political emigres.[ 17 ] The truth was buried for years. The documents from his NKVD file published only a few years ago revealed his true fate. It must be stressed that these investigations were a pseudo-legal farce without a hint of due process. The results of interrogations and supposed confessions were falsified or extracted through torture. Bezentakos was accused of espionage and executed on April 11, 1938. Two decades later, during the 1950s, he was rehabilitated but his family received a false death certificate, claiming he died of illness in 1942. This was typical. Many families were not informed about the real circumstances of the deaths of their loved ones until the end of the Soviet Union. Other Greek victims were convinced Stalinists and former party leaders, cadre students and journalists. In Greece, in August 1936, after the police suppression of a massive strike movement, the anti-communist Metaxas dictatorship came to power. Therefore, when the show trials began, the Greek emigres were not able to return homelike the German communists. Many applied to the Comintern to be sent to Spain as fighters in the International Brigades, but most of them were denied and instead arrested. Purge and closure of cadre schools The years of the terror also saw the purge and closure of academic institutions and cadre universities, initially founded after the Russian Civil War to educate foreign and domestic students and lecturers. These included the Communist University of the National Minorities of the West (KUNMZ), the Communist University of the Toilers of the East (KUTV), the International Lenin School and the Institute of Red Professors. In the 1920s, the opposition had significant support in the universities, also among foreign students from China and Yugoslavia. Even during the 1930s, foreign students expressed doubts and criticism about Stalins policies. Ma Yuansheng [Photo by Kitayskie revolyutsionery v sovetskoy Rossii (19201930-e gody), Moscow 2018] Young Chinese student Ma Yuansheng (19061977) obtained Trotskys pamphlet criticizing the Sixth World Congress of the Comintern in 1928 and the Stalinist betrayal in China. He built an opposition group at the International Lenin School, which was dissolved in 1930. Approximately 100 Chinese students at another university took part in a Trotskyist group. Ma Yuansheng was arrested and sent into Siberian exile for 25 years. Back in China, he was again imprisoned as an old Trotskyist by Mao during the Cultural Revolution.[ 18 ] Ante Ciliga (18981992), a founding member of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, worked as a teacher at the Communist University of the West. Together with Yugoslav students he supported the Left Opposition in 1929, but was denounced, sacked from the cadre school and eventually arrested. After five years in prison, an international campaign and a hunger strike, he was able to leave the USSR in 1935, just before the Great Terror started. However, the other students were killed by the secret policeas was the Yugoslav communist and former leader of the Comintern youth, Vojislav Vujovic (18971936), who had supported the United Opposition in the 1920s. Mass arrests of foreign communists, students, scientists, and artists A whole layer of scientists, intellectuals, artists, students and workers from around the globe were caught up in the wave of mass arrests. I want to offer a few examples: The German-Jewish mathematician Fritz Noether (18841941) fled from the Nazis to the Soviet Union, where he continued his research as a professor at the University of Tomsk. In 1937 he was arrested. A letter from Albert Einstein to the Soviet foreign minister in his support couldnt save him. Noether was sent to a labor camp and executed in 1941. Another victim was the young German economist Nathan Steinberger (19102004). He was invited to study and work at the Institute of Agricultural science of the Comintern in Moscow and emigrated to the Soviet Union with his wife Edith in 1932. As a communist with a Jewish background he couldnt return to Nazi Germany, and thus was trapped when the Great Terror began. The NKVD arrested him in April 1937. He spent almost ten years in a forced labor camp in Siberia. His wife was arrested in 1941. The Steinbergers survived and returned to East Germany after the war. Nathan Steinberger interviewed in 1997 Despite his experiences in the Gulag, Nathan remained unbroken. He developed great sympathy for the work of the Trotskyists and met with representatives of the WSWS for interviews and discussions on several occasions. In an interview in 1997 in Berlin he stressed: Precisely because I have remained a socialist, I am a declared opponent of Stalinism. The Soviet Union did not collapse because it was a socialist state, as the anticommunists always claim, but because everything socialist was destroyed by Stalin. He discredited socialism in the foulest way possible and contributed decisively to the crisis of the workers movement following the end of the Soviet Union. Renowned artists like German actress Carola Neher (19001942) didnt escape the NKVD either. From 1926 Neher worked closely with dramatist Bertolt Brecht in Berlin, who wrote several roles especially for her. After 1933 she and her husband Anatol Becker, a communist from Bessarabia, emigrated to the Soviet Union where both of them perished in the terror. Carola Neher in Bertolt Brechts theatre play Saint Joan of the Stockyards, 1930 Brecht didnt use his international reputation to rescue her. The German Trotskyist Walter Held (19101942) sharply criticized Brecht for his silence. In an article in the Trotskyist newspaper Unser Wort Held wrote: The saddest and most shameful chapter in this bloody tragedy is the attitude of the official German emigration towards the fate of its members who emigrated to the Soviet Union. You, Mr. Brecht, knew Carola Neher. You know that she was neither a terrorist nor a spy, but a brave person and a great artist. Why are you silent?[ 19 ] This comment was written in October 1938. A few years later, Held himself ended up in an NKVD prison in Moscow. Heldhis real name was Heinz Epehad fled Germany after the Reichstag Fire to Prague, then Oslo. He became a secretary of Trotsky and one of the organizers of his entry into Norway. The Gestapo was searching for him as a leading functionary of the Trotsky movement. After the German invasion of Norway, Held eventually tried to emigrate to the US with his family. However, the travel route via Moscow proved fatal. The NKVD arrested him on a train in May 1941. He was sentenced to death for counterrevolutionary Trotskyist activities and shot in 1942, at the age of 31. His wife died in prison. One of Helds fellow prisoners in Moscow was the Polish socialist Henryk Erlich, a leader of the Jewish Bund. He and another Bund leader were eventually killed by the NKVD in the 1940s. As the cases of Held and the Bund leaders show, the persecution did not end after 1938. During the period of the Hitler-Stalin Pact 19391941, the Stalin regime handed over at least 350 German and Austrian emigrants to the Gestapo. While expulsions to Germany had taken place in earlier years, this time there were more Jews and communists among themmany expelled straight from the Gulag.[ 20 ] For example, Margarete Buber-Neumann was the wife of the murdered German partys Politburo member Heinz Neumann. In 1940, she was extradited from a labor camp in Kazakhstan to Germany where she was immediately sent to the Ravensbruck concentration camp for another five years. An important account of the events and atmosphere in the Soviet Union by a German political emigre can be found in the memoirs by Wolfgang Leonhard (19212014), who later broke with Stalinism. His mother was arrested during the Great Terror and he witnessed the purges as a young man. In one chapter, Leonhard remembers Trotskys death in 1940 as a significant moment. On August 24, Soviet newspapers briefly reported that Trotsky had died in Mexico after being attacked by someone from his own entourage. Pravda denounced Trotsky as an international spy and murderer. That evening, Leonhard spoke with a former Schutzbund member working in a Soviet factory. Can it really have been one of his entourage? he asked, voicing the same doubts Leonhard had felt. As they walked, they saw posters going up for a festival in the Park of Culture. The man added, Do you know what some of the workers in the factory are saying? They say that this festival has been announced now just because of Trotsky's death. Leonhard stayed silenttalking about Trotsky was still dangerous. Yet he found it striking that thirteen years after Trotskys expulsion, some workers still rejected the official story and believed Stalin capable of celebrating the killing of this revolutionary.[ 21 ] Leonhard studied in 1942 at the Comintern School near Ufa. He recalls that the students never had access to Trotskys writings. The seminar on Trotskyism was limited to angry denunciations. In hindsight, Leonhard understood this was deliberate: the Stalinist leadership saw no danger in students reading fascist or bourgeois texts, but feared that Marxist critiques of Stalinismlike Trotskyscould seriously challenge their worldview and influence students. Suppression of revolution in Europe and the persecution of Trotskyists after World War II At the end of the Second World War, Leonhard become part of the Ulbricht group, composed of a number of leading German Stalinists, led by Walter Ulbricht, who were sent from Moscow to East Germany in 1945. There, they dissolved the spontaneously formed anti-fascist and factory committees. As Leonhard commented, this dissolution was nothing other than a disruption of the first emergence of what might prove to be a powerful independent anti-Fascist and Socialist movement.[ 22 ] After the war, the Stalinists continued their agenda of preventing revolution in Europe and suppressed the Trotskyist movement with brutal methods. Karl Fischer, imprisoned by the NKVD In 1947 the young Austrian Trotskyist and resistance fighter, Karl Fischer (19181963), who had just survived the Buchenwald concentration camp, was kidnapped by the NKVD and deported to the Gulag. He had been one of the authors of the Trotskyist declaration of Internationalist Communists from the Buchenwald camp. Oskar Hippe with his wife Gertrud and comrades Wolfgang Weber and Jean Brust In 1948, the German Trotskyist worker Oskar Hippe (19001990) was arrested by the NKVD in East Germany and imprisoned for seven years. In 1953, the German-Czech Trotskyist and former secretary of Trotsky in Prinkipo, Wolfgang Salus (19091953), was poisoned by a GPU agent in Munich. In France, Italy and Greece, where the Communist parties led huge resistance movements against the Nazi invaders, it was their Stalinist leaderships who played a key role in preventing a revolutionary upheaval at the end of the war. In Greece they assassinated Trotskyists. The counterrevolutionary policies of Stalin resulted, in 1949, in the Greek bourgeois forces winning the Civil War. In the following years, the CPs tried to cover up the murder of their own members during the Great Terror. In Greece the Stalinist KKE openly justifies the Moscow Trials up to the present. Conclusion In conclusion, I want to return to the beginning of this lecture. The turn of the Stalinist bureaucracy against the program of world revolution resulted in the extermination of a whole generation of the Comintern. This mass terror was aimed at suppressing and preventing any serious political opposition to Stalins regime within and outside the Soviet Union. These crimes had an enormous global impact. The Communist parties and the Left Opposition around the world lost a large part of their leadership, which was especially devastating in countries under fascist and authoritarian rule. Most importantly, the terror dealt a severe blow to the consciousness of millions of left-wing workers who were appalled at and confused by the events. Given this bloody end of the Third International, the founding of a new Internationalthe Fourth Internationalin 1938, in the midst of the Great Terror, was a question of life and death for the international working class. Despite Stalins efforts to distort or destroy all that remained of the October Revolution, Trotsky organized a world Marxist party to carry forward the fight for socialism. The defeat and betrayal of the revolution in Spain the following year, which Alejandro Lopez will address in the next lecture, proved how timely the founding of the Fourth International was. Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal formally announced their recognition of a Palestinian state Sunday, with other European countries expected to follow later today ahead of Tuesdays opening of the UN General Assembly. Recognition, couched as a defence of a decades-long pursuit of a two-state solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict, is a despicable fraud. Under conditions in which the Zionist regime, backed to the hilt by imperialism, is in the final stages of its genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza, imperialist powers are attempting to wash away the Palestinians blood in which they are drenched. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General, addresses the 80th session of the UNGA at United Nations headquarters at the start of High-Level Week, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 [AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis] UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued their statements as the official death toll in Gaza climbed over 65,000. Everyone knows that this is a gross underestimation of the true number of Palestinians slaughtered by the Israel Defence Force since October 2023, with the true death toll running into the hundreds of thousands. Israel continues its policy of systematic starvation of the enclave, producing a famine, and is forcibly expelling a million people from Gaza City in the north, with no intention of them ever returning. Last week, a UN special commission found that Israel is guilty of genocide in Gaza. It noted that the Zionist regime had committed four of the five acts specified in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide: killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life designed to bring about the destruction of the Palestinians in whole or in part, and imposing measures designed to prevent births. In the West Bank, fascist settlers have systematically expanded their presence under the protection of Benjamin Netanyahus far-right government. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and settlers over the past two years. A massive settlement approved by the Knesset earlier in the summer will fully cut the West Bank off from East Jerusalem, the intended capital of an independent Palestinian state. As it is, the power of the Palestinian Authoritywhich is despised and survives only as a direct tool of the imperialist powersis restricted to Ramallah and a few other isolated pockets of territory. Blotting out this reality from their statements, the various heads of government touted their announcement as an historic step to the establishment of peace in the Middle East. They all avoided the term genocide like the plague. French President Emmanuel Macron will follow suit later today at a conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia at the United Nations in New York. President Emmanuel Macron, centre, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, left, and Minister for Overseas Territories Manuel Valls attend a meeting with New Caledonia's elected officials and state representatives at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, July 12, 2025. [AP Photo/Tom Nicholson] The conference is the product of an earlier meeting in July that adopted the New York Declaration, urging support for tangible, time bound and irreversible steps towards a two-state solution. On September 12, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to endorse the statement, with the US and Israel voting against. Israel could well seize on Britain, Canada, and Frances posturing to justify annexing the entire West Bank. Netanyahu responded to the announcements Monday by insisting, There will be no Palestinian state west of the Jordan River. Fascist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for annexation of the West Bank as a necessary response. The declarations of recent days and those still to come this week are a cynical manoeuvre on the part of some European imperialist powers, Canada, and Australia to whitewash their complicity in the Gaza genocide. All of the governments involved have supplied weaponry and other military equipment to Israel throughout its barbaric onslaught on Gaza, while ruthlessly suppressing opposition to the genocide at home. As for the Arab regimes, led by the despotic Saudi monarchy which drew up the New York Declaration together with France, they have done nothing to stop the slaughter of an entire people by Israel. They are seeking a political cover while they reach an accommodation with the Zionist regime and serve as partners of imperialism in a drive to restructure the entire region by sidelining Iran and strengthening Washingtons hegemony. The Declaration calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, the deployment of a UN-backed mission to enforce it, an end to illegal settlements on occupied territory and the seizure of land, and a halt to violence and terrorism. It urges Israel to explicitly recognise its commitment to a two-state solution and proposes that the Palestinian Authority ultimately gain sovereignty over Gaza. Such proposals, which have been wheeled out now and again by the imperialist powers since the conclusion of the Oslo Accords in the early 1990s, offer nothing to the Palestinian masses confronting extermination at the hands of the IDF with weapons supplied from the US, Germany, and other imperialists. As Britains Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer put it Monday, discussing Starmers recognition of Palestine, Recognition will not... mean that humanitarian aid comes in tomorrow. The statement released by Carney left no doubt that the imperialist powers calling for Palestinian statehood are doing so to cover their backing for the genocidal programme pursued by Netanyahus government. It began by making Hamas chiefly responsible, asserting that the pervasive threat of Hamas terrorism to Israel and its people represented the main barrier to a two-state solution. There followed restrained criticisms of accelerated settlement building and actions such as the E1 settlement plan to divide the West Bank, without reference to how Netanyahus fascist government has spearheaded both. Only in the fourth and final point did Carney come to the Israeli governments contribution to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The conclusion of Carneys statement underlined that even in the event that some form of a Palestinian state were to be established, it would amount to an imperialist-controlled protectorate whose population would be disarmed and left entirely at the mercy of a Zionist regime armed to the teeth. It is imperative that Hamas release all hostages, fully disarm, and play no role in the future governance of Palestine, Carney declared. The Palestinian Authority has provided direct commitments to Canada and the international community on much-needed reforms, including to fundamentally reform its governance, to hold general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state. But even the proposal for an imperialist-dictated Palestinian state was too much for the US and its Israeli attack dog. Both countries announced they will boycott todays conference. Netanyahu and his fascist government no longer make any bones about their intention to exterminate the Palestinians, who they have labelled human animals. They are working tirelessly to enforce US President Donald Trumps vision for Gaza as the riviera of the Middle East, to be established on the corpses of the Palestinians. Among the European imperialist powers, Germany and Italy have rejected the recognition of a Palestinian state. German imperialism, which is rearming at breakneck speed to militarily dominate Europe and seize its share of the spoils in a global military redivision of the world, is deeply complicit in Israels genocide of the Palestinians. Berlin has cynically exploited the Holocaust, in which Hitlers Nazi regime organised the annihilation of 6 million European Jews during World War II, to back another genocide through the supplying of weaponry to Israel and banning of all criticism as antisemitism. Speaking early Monday, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul cynically asserted, For Germany, recognition of a Palestinian state comes more at the end of the process. No amount of diplomatic manoeuvring on the part of the imperialists can bring an end to the Gaza genocide and preserve the rights and very existence of the Palestinian people. What is urgently necessary is the industrial and political mobilisation of the international working class to halt the imperialists military and economic support to Israel, secure the uninterrupted supply of aid and medical care to the Palestinians, and put an end to the system of imperialist barbarism that is the root cause of the genocide and war. Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, left, and President Donald Trump listen in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon] The Trump administrations purge of federal prosecutors entered a new stage last week with the forced resignation of Erik Siebert, the interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Several reports indicate that Siebert resigned on Friday after resisting demands from the White House to bring politically motivated charges in a mortgage fraud probe against New York Attorney General Letitia James. For years, James has been a particular target of Trumps wrath because she prosecuted him and his businesses in New York, winning a massive civil fraud case that forced the Trump Organization to pay millions in penalties. This exposure of Trumps decades-long practice of inflating property values to secure loans and deflating them to evade taxes struck at the core of his image as a successful businessman. After Siebert resigned Friday, Trump claimed in social media posts that he had in fact fired him. Sieberts removal comes mere months after he was nominated by Trump for the position. The Republican lawyer was supported by Virginias Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin. He was also vetted by Virginias Democratic Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, who returned their blue slips allowing his nomination to move forward in the Senate. In social media posts on Saturday, Trump nominated Lindsey Halligan, a 35-year-old insurance lawyer and a loyal political operative, for the permanent position. Writing on Truth Social Trump praised Halligan as someone who, ...has worked with me for a long time, including in the winning fight against the Weaponization of our Justice System by Crooked Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats, which she witnessed firsthand when she stood up for my rights during the Unconstitutional and UnAmerican raid on my home, Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida. In an interview with the Washington Post earlier this year, Halligan said she first joined Trumps legal team in early 2022. Soon thereafter the former Miss Colorado beauty pageant contestant began defending Trump regularly on Fox News. Since Trumps return to Washington, Halligan has been on White House staff, in close proximity to the president. In a March 27, executive order Trump tasked Halligan with removing improper ideology from Smithsonian institutions. Until Halligan is confirmed by the Senate, Attorney General Pam Bondi named Mary Maggie Clearly, a Republican lawyer from Culpeper, Virginia as interim attorney. In a follow-up post on Saturday after naming Halligan, Trump threatened current attorney general Bondi. Pam, Trump wrote, I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, essentially, same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam Shifty Schiff, Leticia??? Theyre all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done. Then we almost put in a Democrat-supported U.S. Attorney, in Virginia, with a really bad Republican past. A Woke RINO, who was never going to do his job. Thats why two of the worst Dem Senators PUSHED him so hard. Trump then praised Halligan and called on Bondi to bring charges against the three he had named, former FBI Director James Comey, Senator Adam Schiff (California-Democrat) and New York Attorney General James: We cant delay any longer, its killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!! President DJT For years Trump has denounced the supposed weaponization of the DOJ under Biden, echoed by the Republican Party and its media auxiliaries. In fact, the opposite was the case. Far from targeting Trump, the Biden administration and Democratic Party shielded him and his accomplices. Prosecutions were delayed, narrowed, or blocked outright. Nearly three years passed before even limited charges were filed over the January 6 coup attempt. Most investigations into Trump after the failed coup were confined to secondary questionsmishandling classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, or hush money paid to a pornstarrather than the central crime of attempting to overturn the Constitution and seize power. The refusal to prosecute Trump was not accidental on the part of Biden or his Attorney General Merrick Garland. The Democrats feared that a serious exposure and prosecution of Trumps coup conspiracy would reveal the complicity of broad sections of the ruling class and institutions of capitalist rule in the coup, including the military, the police, the Supreme Court and the Republican Party. Above all, they feared the consequences of unleashing mass popular opposition. The hands-off approach to Trump was one more expression of the Democrats function as a party of Wall Street and imperialism. By contrast, Trump is carrying out the genuine weaponization of the Justice Department: installing loyalists, removing any official who resists, demanding prosecutions of political opponents on fraudulent grounds and quashing investigations into political allies and cronies. Weekend press reports claimed that Trumps current border czar Tom Homan accepted a $50,000 bribe from undercover agents posing as contractors seeking government business tied to the mass deportation operation. The meeting, which was apparently recorded on video, happened in September 2024. White House border czar Tom Homan speaks as President Donald Trump listens at an event in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein] According to report, before accepting the bribe, Homan indicated to the undercover agents that he could help them win contracts. Prosecutors considered charges of bribery, conspiracy and fraud. Unsurprisingly, once Trump returned to the White House the investigation into Homan was shut down. In a statement in response to reporting from MSNBC, FBI director and Trump stooge, Kash Patel wrote, This matter originated under the previous administration and claimed there was no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing. MSNBC reported that the investigation into Homan was quickly shut down after the case was reviewed by former acting Deputy Attorney General, and now federal judge Emil Bove III. Bove reportedly denounced the investigation as a deep state operation. During his brief stint at the Department of Justice, Bove instructed government immigration lawyers that deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act would proceed no matter what, even if federal judges tried to block themand allegedly told them to respond to court orders with a fuck you. Emil Bove, attorney for former US President Donald Trump, sits Manhattan criminal court during Trump's sentencing in the hush money case in New York, Jan. 10, 2025. [AP Photo/Jeenah Moon] Bove also oversaw the dropping of corruption charges against New York Citys mayor Eric Adams in exchange for his cooperation with the administrations mass deportation regime. Homans bribery scandal underscores the thoroughly corrupt character of the entire Trump administration, which personifies the criminality of the financial oligarchy as a whole. While Trump himself rakes in billions through crypto schemes, his subordinates pocket cash bribes in exchange for influence over government contracts. COLOMBO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan police on Monday seized a truck transporting about 200 kilos of crystal methamphetamine (ICE) and heroin, said a police spokesman. Police spokesman F.U. Wootler told the media that the vehicle was taken into custody in Tangalle in Sri Lanka's Southern province, with the drugs being hidden among a load of watermelons. In recent weeks, large quantities of drugs and raw materials used to make drugs have been detected in the province. In a separate incident in Tangalle on Monday, police recovered more than 10 kilos of a substance suspected to be crystal methamphetamine from a truck parked near a house. Last week, police announced that they had seized nearly a metric ton of heroin and 13 tons of cannabis during raids carried out so far in 2025. Workers in metallurgical coal mines in the Bowen Basin of central Queensland are being confronted by two of the worlds biggest mining conglomerates seeking to eliminate about 1,000 jobs, with more possibly to come. First, mining giant BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) announced this month it would scrap 750 jobs and mothball its Saraji South mine at Dysart from November, throwing 72 Saraji South miners out of work. Aerial view of Saraji mine [Photo: BHP] BHP, one of the worlds largest mining companies, also placed its Central Queensland training academy under review, threatening more jobs and futures. The FutureFit Academy in the regional city of Mackay has trained more than 400 apprentices and trainees. Then Anglo American, the third biggest global export producer of coking coal, said jobs were being slashed in the Bowen Basin and its office in Brisbane, the state capital. Anglo American refused to detail the number of its redundancies, but Isaac Regional Council, the municipal government in the Bowen Basin, said more than 200 positions were involved. Workers told the WSWS that Anglo American had offered at least 112 voluntary redundancies to miners off the floor, so most of the job cuts are affecting frontline workers. More jobs are threatened. BMA estimates it employs more than 9,500 employees and contractors across all its operations. Saraji South is one of five metallurgical coal mines owned by BMA in the Bowen Basin. It is also one of the longest running, with operations starting more than 50 years ago in 1974. BMA last suspended operations at Saraji South, formerly Norwich Park, in 2012, affecting 400 workers, claiming the site was no longer viable. The company resumed production there in 2020. Speaking to the media, BMA asset president Adam Lancey sought to blame government royalties for the job cuts, saying they were necessary due to the combined impact of the Queensland governments unsustainable coal royalties and market conditions. At the same time, Lancey refused to rule out later reopening Saraji South using contract workers instead of full-time staff. He said that was not part of BMAs plan, but if the mine was to restart that will be a decision that will be taken at that time. The truth is that world prices for metallurgical coalthat is coal used for steelmaking and other industrial process, not thermal coal for power generationhave dropped below $200 a tonne, from spot price peaks of up to $900 in 2022-23. That actually means lower royalty payments under the scheme introduced by the former state Labor government in 2022. The coal royalty systems three tiers require mine companies to pay more as coal prices go uponly 20 percent at $175 per tonne, 30 percent at $225 and 40 percent over $300. In Facebook postings, media statements and messages to its members, the main trade union covering the workforce, the Mining and Energy Union (MEU), has flatly denied the widespread impact of the job losses on miners. The union officials are clearly seeking to head off and quash opposition by coal mine workers. On Facebook, the MEU bureaucrats insist that the BMA job losses are coming from BHPs head office and all the companys Queensland business, including rail ports, not coal production. They said the process of cutting workers began some months ago. But union delegates said workers at Saraji South had only just learned of BMAs plans to shut down the site. On Facebook, the MEU also tried to play down that closure, saying the mine had been mothballed before. In the media, MEU Queensland district president Mitch Hughes urged BHP to consult with the union rather than spread fear through the media. He said: Workers need facts, certainty and securitynot alarmism. This is a call for the managements to work with the union to secure their cost-cutting and profit requirements without triggering workers opposition. On Facebook, the MEU appealed to BHP to undertake consultation with the union on redeployments as per workplace agreements. Such agreements provide no guarantees of redeployment. There is no doubt that the coal giants are trying to exploit the coal price slump to demand that the current Liberal National Party state government reduce the coal royalties in order to restore higher profits. But the price fall is due to global factors, including falling demand in China and rising supply. In 2023, BMA sold its Daunia and Blackwater coal mines to Whitehaven for $2 billion, citing a drop in profits and higher state royalties. BHP announced its lowest full-year earnings in five years last month, with its underlying profit sliding 26 percent to $15.7 billion, although that is still a huge profit. A longstanding Bowen Basin coal miner, who wanted to remain anonymous out of concern for management retribution, said workers were being kept in the dark about the extent of the cuts and the reasons for them. We dont get told what prices the companies are getting for coal, he commented. Theres no workers control over this industry, but we suffer the consequences. He said it was horrible to see people losing their jobs. No one knew how many more mine workers would be affected, so no one felt safe. And the impact was not only local because a fly-in-fly-out workforce meant that the losses would be felt all over Australia. The miner said it was not yet clear whether the drop in metallurgical coal prices was a downturn or only a slowdown. It could be the result of slowing growth in China and India, intensified by the Trump administrations tariffs and trade war. He added: This wouldnt be happening if the industry wasnt part of the capitalist system. Not if the mines were state-owned. The multinationals can make lots of money from coal, so why isnt it all government-owned? Mining workers throughout the country and around the world, along with workers in every industry, confront deepening attacks on their jobs, as well as their pay and conditions. To defeat this, a unified counteroffensive must be built. But the trade union apparatuses isolate workers, mine by mine and country by country, and keep them straitjacketed within the capitalist profit system, tied to the fortunes of the mining multinationals. This underscores the necessity for workers to build new organisations, rank-and-file committees, independent of the union bureaucracy, to link up across the mining sector and more broadly in a joint fight for secure jobs and decent wages and conditions. This has to be connected to a struggle by the working class against capitalism, which subordinates everything to profit. That means a fight for a socialist perspective, to establish workers governments to place all essential industries, including mining, under public ownership and the democratic control of the working class to satisfy social need, not corporate profit. We appeal to mine workers affected by the job cuts to contact the WSWS to report their situation and to discuss these burning issues. A group of residents of West Lafayette, Indiana, are campaigning against the construction of an SK hynix microchip plant and the rezoning of their residential neighborhood for heavy industry. They have organized under the banner STOP Heavy Industry in Our Neighborhoods to oppose the efforts of the City Council and Purdue University to push through the project. In their petition, they declare: THIS FIGHT IS NOT OVER. West Lafayette City Council has prioritized corporate interests, ignored well-documented facts, and failed to represent their constituents. We do not accept this. The petition continues: On May 5, 2025, City Council voted against their own constituents, rezoning land owned by the Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) from residential to heavy industrial use. This cleared the way for SK hynix, a giant South Korean semiconductor manufacturer, to build a massive facility on PRF land surrounded by densely populated neighborhoods. We do not accept this. They pointed to the relationship between City Council officials and Purdue University, accusing them of conspiring against city residents. They cited a statement by the council and Purdue administrators claiming the rezoning of the residential neighborhoods would have no adverse health effects. With only one exception, all signatories had no training in public health, environmental science, toxicology or chemical safety. Instead, they were closely tied to the semiconductor industry. Residents of West Lafayette, Indiana, protest construction of SK hynix microchip plant on September 17, 2025 [Photo: Stop heavy industry in our neighborhoods] One signatory, Mark LundstromPurdues Chief Semiconductor Officer, acting as a liaison between the university and SK hynixhas openly supported the rezoning. Residents have taken a principled stance, exposing the role of political and academic institutions in deliberately ignoring the documented risks of cancer and other illnesses among workers. PFAs, polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals, that are water- and heat-resistant. Known for their usage in nonstick cookware and food packaging, they are unable to break down naturally. In the case of Teflon, it can cause life-threatening illnesses. Reports sent anonymously to the World Socialist Web Site also allege that Purdue officials threatened workers jobsand even their immigration statusif they opposed the SK hynix project publicly. Two residents who spoke to WSWS, using pseudonyms, described widespread distrust of officials. One perspective is the lack of transparency from local and state officials, Angela said. Not many people are covering this story. We have to connect the dots between the military buildup and what we as citizens need to do to inform everyone. They have plans to place industry at the service of the military for another nuclear arms race. Vicky added, The Indiana Economic Development Corporation is rezoning land for tax purposes in the interest of these companies. Its frightening to the connection between the agenda of the City Council and Purdue. Is this the community I want to raise a family in? She continued: Local concerns and scientific concerns were dismissed. You would think with the Democrats on the City Council and liberal Purdue they would protect us. They ignored the scientific warning about the effects of PFAs and other air pollutants. Even the City Council ran on science and reform! The council said that they had to protect ourselves, for another economic crisis and bring jobs. Even the Purdue president publicly acknowledged that the partnership would move forward with leading industry partners. Universities and military production This local fight is tied to broader US war preparations. Since 2023, universities have been enlisted in military research, particularly in semiconductors, which are vital for weapons and global technological dominance. The 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, enacted under the Biden administration, provided $280 billion to US semiconductor companies for research and production aimed at onshoring chip production. This nationalist program has accelerated under Trump 2.0. At the heart of the building of SK hynix and the harnessing of the universities to the US war drive is the nationalist fortress America program of all factions of the US ruling class. Purdue is among more than 40 universities in the Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement (SCALE) program. According to its website, SCALE aims to develop a microelectronics workforce that is well prepared to meet the needs of the Department of Defense and the Defense Industrial Base. As the WSWS has noted, These war projects at the universities are discussed and negotiated by university administrations and privileged, pro-war layers of the professoriate behind the backs of students and the overwhelming majority of academic workers. No doubt most students would oppose these pro-war machinations of the university administration if they knew about them and understood their political significance. In April 2024, SK hynix announced a $3.87 billion investment in a packaging and R&D facility for AI-related semiconductor production, with full backing from Indiana state officials, Purdue University and the US government. Former Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb called the project a step forward for U.S. innovation and national security, while SK hynix received $458 million in direct federal funding through the CHIPS Act. The initiative, part of Project Neuron, includes $34.5 billion in investments across 21 states for semiconductor, battery, and biopharmaceutical plants. With NVIDIAthe largest buyer of SK hynix memory chipsaccounting for 16 percent of sales. Much of the production is tied to AI systems with direct military applications. The US ruling elite sees the development of AI as central to its war aims. The development of DeepSeek by China is a major political concern of the Trump administration, which is focused on ensuring American global economic dominance above all against China. This is being paid for by siphoning off the wealth generated by the working class into the coffers of the war profiteers and Wall Street. Since 2019, CEO pay has risen by 34.7 percent. In the process, all concern for the health and safety of workers is being discarded. This has included the gutting of regulatory bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The recent explosion of the US Steel coke processing plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania is a recent tragic example of the dangers to which individual workers and whole communities are being subjected. Opposition must broaden The fight in West Lafayette is part of a larger struggle. Workers at GE Aerospace in Cincinnati have been on strike since August 28, resisting demands for concessions by a company that produces weapons for the US, Israel and Ukraine. Last year 30,000 civilian Boeing workers in Seattle struck, and currently 3,200 St. Louis Boeing military workers are striking. Similar struggles have taken place at Allison Transmission and Rolls-Royce in Indiana, both major military suppliers. These workers are in conflict the same corporate- military machine that confronts West Lafayette residents. On the other hand, the various trade union bureaucracies have lined up behind the militarization of US society and sought to isolate and betray workers struggles against the defense industry giants. United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain has supported Trumps trade war policies and offered the services of the UAW to expand military production, referencing the arsenal of democracy propaganda slogan from WWII. At General Electric in St. Louis, the International Association of Machinists bureaucracy fearful of the ongoing strike expanding into a wider struggle that would hinder the military plans of the US government, has even called on the Trump administration to intervene. The campaign against construction of the SK hynix plant must be connected to these struggles. Residents and students alike can only defend their health, communities and future by uniting with the working class against corporate, academic and political institutions who represent the ruling class. Residents of West Lafayette must take their demands throughout Indiana and broadly and develop neighborhood committees as part of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). 25 years ago: US and Britain orchestrate regime change in Yugoslavias election On September 24, 2000, general elections were held in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. At first glance, the presidential contest appeared to pit Slobodan MilosevicSerbias president from 1989 to 1997 and Yugoslav president since 1997against the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS), led by Vojislav Kostunica. In reality, however, the vote took place under intense pressure from the United States and Britain, which were driving a regime-change operation shaped by the interests of Wall Street, the IMF, and the World Bank. This election was designed as the final step in dismantling Yugoslavia, following NATOs bombing campaign only a year earlier that devastated the country. According to official statistics, Kostunica won 48.22 percent of the vote, while Milosevic secured 40.23 percent as the candidate of the Socialist Party of SerbiaYugoslav Left coalition. Yet DOS quickly claimed that Kostunica had in fact scored an outright victory, with 54.7 percent against Milosevics 35 percent. Allegations of fraud were promoted internationally, serving to delegitimize Milosevics government and justify Western intervention. Mass demonstrations broke out demanding his resignation. Milosevich, left, meeting with US President Bill Clinton in Paris in 1995 Washington and London wasted no time declaring Milosevic finished. US President Bill Clinton dismissed him as a fraud who had lost his last vestige of legitimacy, while Britains Foreign Secretary Robin Cook called a second-round vote a waste of time. Although the imperialist powers espoused democratic platitudes, behind the scenes, Western governments funneled tens of millions of dollars to DOS and its allies. These funds financed campaign logistics, training for pollsters, advertisements, and propaganda materials, most memorably the Gotov je! (He is finished!) campaign spearheaded by Otpor!, the youth movement central to the protests. In 2000 alone, the U.S. Congress approved $105 million in aid to the Serbian opposition, openly acknowledging the scale of its intervention. Portraying alleged electoral misconduct under Milosevic as the main issue obscured the deeper political reality: the outcome had already been set by Washington, London, and their allies. To the Yugoslav people and working class, exhausted by corruption, economic ruin, and years of war, Milosevics downfall was a release. Yet the alternative presented to theman opposition nurtured and financed by foreign powersensured not a sovereign popular transformation but a re-engineering of Yugoslavias political landscape in line with the Western project of permanent balkanization. 50 years ago: Second assassination attempt on US President Gerald Ford in three weeks On September 22, 1975, an assassination attempt was made against US President Gerald Ford. He survived unharmed and the assailant, Sara Jane Moore, a 45-year-old woman, was immediately detained by police and Secret Service agents. Moore had tried to shoot Ford with a revolver as he emerged before a crowd that had gathered outside the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco where he had been giving an address to the World Affairs Council. As she took aim at Ford, a bystander intervened to push her arm away. A single shot was fired that ricocheted and caused minor wounds to a taxicab driver standing nearby. Ford was rushed away by security and then flew out of the city aboard Air Force One. For the remainder of his presidency Ford wore a bullet-proof overcoat during public appearances. Mugshot of Sarah Jane Moore The attempt on Fords life was the second within a span of just a few weeks, with another failed attempt having taken place on September 5, 1975, in Sacramento, California. The earlier attempt was carried out by Lynette Fromme, a follower of cult leader Charles Manson. Ford was unharmed as Frommes gun failed to fire. Sara Jane Moores motivation for her attack on Ford is unclear. Significant questions remain unanswered. Moore had been an FBI informant tasked with supplying information about left-wing groups in California. She had joined or became close to several left-wing radical organizations in the 1970s. Among other tasks, Moore was to inform on the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), the group that had kidnapped Patty Hearst. After Hearst was kidnapped in 1974, the SLA demanded that William Randolph Hearst, Pattys grandfather and billionaire newspaper owner, donate millions of dollars toward organizing a giveaway of food to needy San Francisco residents. The elder Hearst would comply and set up an organization called People in Need to conduct food distributions. Moore, who was an accountant, was hired by People in Need to help run the organization. According to a 1977 interview with Moore, once she began working at People in Need, she was approached by the FBI who encouraged her to become more heavily involved with the SLA and related groups to supply the government with information. Interviews with associates of Moore suggest that at a certain point it became known among SLA members that she was an informant, and the assassination of Ford was meant to demonstrate her loyalty. She would maintain in interviews years later that her central motivation was that Ford was unelected to the office and appointed by crooked Richard Nixon and therefore an illegitimate president. Moore was convicted of the attempted assassination and served over 30 years in prison. She was released in 2007 and has since given several public interviews. However, key details of her exact relations with the FBI and any potential FBI foreknowledge of her plan to shoot Ford remain unknown. 75 years ago: US forces recapture Seoul during Korean War On September 28, 1950, United States Marines captured the remainder of Seoul after a week-long battle with Korean Peoples Army (KPA) forces for the South Korean capital. The battle took place shortly after the US-led amphibious landings at Incheon on September 15, which preceded the slow advance on foot to Seoul, 20 miles away. During the Battle of Incheon, the US Armys X Corps was placed in command of the landing forces under the leadership of Major General Edward Almond. The combined strength of X Corps was approximately 40,000 infantry troops from the US Army and Marines as well as almost 9,000 ROK soldiers. US soldiers engaged in street fighting in Seoul By September 21, X Corps had advanced within four miles of Seoul after crossing the Han River a day earlier, at which point they encountered heavy KPA resistance. Fighting lasted for several days, with Republic of Korea (ROK) Marines joining US forces on September 25. KPA forces were much weaker at Nam-san (South Mountain), a key defensive position to the south of the city which the US was able to capture within a day. On September 26, Almond prematurely reported the capture of Seoul to UN Commander-in-Chief Douglas MacArthur based on reports from air reconnaissance of mass retreats of KPA forces. An official statement by MacArthur that day which proclaimed the envelopment and seizure of Seoul by X Corps was released hours after a large counterattack in western Seoul and a simultaneous assault on Nam-san. After initially being overrun, US and South Korean forces eventually retook their positions and pushed back the KPA once again. After several more days of house-to-house fighting, by September 28, X Corps forces had swept through the entirety of Seoul, eliminating KPA presence in the city altogether. The recapture of the South Korean capital at this point in the war paved the way for the US to launch its invasion into North Korea, with the aim of placing the entirety of the Korean peninsula under the control of US-backed dictator Syngman Rhee, who was re-installed to power just one day after the recapture of Seoul. 100 years: Fascist Hindu RSS founded in India On September 27, 1925, the Hindu supremacist K. B. Hedgewar founded the fascist militia RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Volunteer Corps) at Nagpur in the state of Maharashtra in British-ruled India. The RSS was consciously modeled on fascist movements in Europe. Hedgewar espoused Hindutva or Hindu supremacy, whose goal was to establish the hegemony of the Hindu religion in India. India then, as now, was a country of many religions, including not only Hinduism but also Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism and others. K.B. Hedgewar, seated second from left, and his initial followers during an RSS meeting in 1939 In the words of one of the RSS leaders, Hindutva has the following goals: The non-Hindu peoples in Hindusthan must either adopt the Hindu culture and language, must learn to respect and hold in reverence Hindu religion, must entertain no idea but those of glorification of the Hindu race and culture or may stay in the country, wholly subordinated to the Hindu nation, claiming nothing, deserving no privileges, far less preferential treatmentnot even citizens rights. Armed and trained RSS cadres led a three-day pogrom against Muslims in Nagpur in 1927. The RSS did not participate in the Indian independence movement, and, according to some sources, collaborated with British imperialism. The RSS participated in the partition of the British Raj in 1947 with attacks on Muslims, helping to drive many from India into Pakistan. It was a member of the RSS who assassinated the main leader of the bourgeois nationalist movement, Mahatma Gandhi, in 1948. The RSS was banned at various points by the Indian state, dominated by the Congress Party, over the next decades. It helped to organize pogroms against Christians and Muslims, particularly after the Hindu nationalist protests over and demolition of the Muslim Babri Masjid (Mosque) 1992 in Uttar Pradesh, in which it played a prominent role. The Bharatiya Janata Party of Narendra Modi, which rules India today, has its origins the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, founded in 1951 as a political arm of the RSS. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Claudia Sheinbaum, September 3, 2025. [Photo: Presidencia de Mexico] On Wednesday, September 10, Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum announced legislation related to the 2026 budget proposal that would slap tariffs of between 10 percent and 50 percent on a wide range of goods, including ones made in the automotive, textile, plastic, steel, clothing, toy, footwear, furniture, paper and glass sectors. The proposal is part of the Mexican governments stated goals of reducing reliance on imports and protecting Mexican industry. Those goals are set out in its Plan Mexico industrial policy, which was made public in January. The proposal states that its aim is to take advantage of our internal market so that production takes place in Mexico and employs Mexican workers. At the same time, it seeks to contribute to the balancing of foreign trade for the well-being of all Mexicans. The reform bill states that for years the national economy became integrated into global value chains, under frameworks that favored the importation of inputs, which led to the loss of essential productive sectors and a growing vulnerability to external shocks. It states further: Trade liberalization, while expanding markets, did not always translate into greater technological capacity or an increase in national content in our exports. With this proposal, inspired by Plan Mexico, this trend will be corrected, and national industry will be strengthened given the international trade context and global reconfiguration. The reform bill sets a goal of sourcing at least 50 percent of strategic supplies in Mexico. Further, it says, tariffs are no longer seen solely as a means of raising revenue, but become a strategic tool for economic and trade policy. Around 50 countries with which Mexico has a free trade agreement will not be subject to the new proposed tariffs. China is not one of them. According to Mexico Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, the imposition of tariffs on Chinese products is a measure to try to reduce Mexicos trade deficit with China, which exceeded US $57 billion in the first six months of 2025. Ebrard estimated that this would generate an additional 70 billion pesos (US $3.76 billion) in revenue for the government. This would extend to the 29 percent of Mexicos car imports from China, because the average price indicates a [Chinese] strategy to gain market share, which puts the Mexican industry at disadvantage, as well as to auto parts and steel. Mexico recently surpassed Russia as the top recipient of cars from China, which sent about 280,100 vehicles to Mexico in the first half of 2025, a 25 percent increase year-on-year. Overall, Mexico is Chinas second-largest trading partner in Latin America, and China is Mexicos third-largest export recipient. The Mexico announcement triggered a swift pushback from Beijing, which urged Mexico to reconsider. Mexico should exercise the utmost caution and think twice before hiking tariffs on its goods, according to a Chinese government statement. It went on to accuse Mexico of pursuing appeasement in response to what it cited as US tariff abuses and bullying from Washington. Mexico is indeed trying to tread lightly to avoid US economic aggression. An aid to Ebrard said that implementation of the new tariffs would happen within the discussion and future commercial conversations with our North American partners ahead of the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA or TMEC) as to trade relations next year. Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian urged Mexico to reconsider the tariff move. Beijing attaches great importance to the development of China-Mexico relations and hopes that Mexico will work together with China to jointly promote global economic recovery, he said in a briefing the day after Mexicos tariff announcement. Chinas auto manufacturers have inherently lower production costs so their cars may remain competitive in the Mexican market, dulling the impact of the announced tariffs. For example, the worlds biggest electric car maker, Shenzens BYD Co., sells its Dolphin Mini hatchback in Mexico for around 399,800 pesos ($21,500). In contrast, General Motors Co.s Equinox, one of the least expensive electric cars available in the country from a legacy brand, starts from about 876,990 pesos, almost twice as much. Chinese new energy vehicles are very competitive in Mexico, especially considering the gasoline cars produced locally tend to be older models and have limited technological features, said Yale Zhang, managing director of Shanghai-based consultancy Automotive Foresight. Zhang said that gasoline cars of similar size to the Dolphin Mini, which is roughly 4.3 meters, sell for between 350,000 and 360,000 pesos. So, an EV that starts at less than 400,000 pesos is very attractive, he said. BYD has put its previous plans to build its own manufacturing plant in Mexico on hold indefinitely due to geopolitical issues and trade tensions with the US. The supply chain efficiencies and cheaper labor and materials it and other Chinese carmakers enjoy at home mean they can still sell their vehicles overseas at attractive prices. Despite proposed tariff increases, on Thursday Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors reaffirmed its commitment to Mexico, with officials stating the company is here to stay despite the tariffs announced by Mexico. Chinese trade with Latin America overall grew to a record $518 billion in 2024, according to Chinese state media. China currently ranks as South Americas top trading partner, and the second largest for Latin America as a whole, after the United States. Domination of Latin America as a region in its entirety is a critical strategic goal of US imperialism, one that the Trump administration is ramping up with increasing economic and military threats. Mexicos bourgeoisie is driven to navigate between escalating pressure from Washington and its relations with Beijing, the countrys second biggest trading partner. Trump had previously lumped Canada in with Mexico on fentanyl smuggling, threatening sweeping tariffs on both countries. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Claudia Sheinbaum met Thursday in Mexico City, ostensibly to strengthen trade relations in the face of Trumps tariff threats, and to keep the free trade agreement alive in the lead-up to renegotiating it in 2026. They pledged enhanced collaboration on economic issues and security, while preparing for challenging trade negotiations with the Trump administration. Carney said he expects much greater amounts of trade, much greater amounts of investment between the Mexico and Canada. Sheinbaum chimed in, saying the two countries had agreed to a plan that what would bring a new era of further strengthening economic ties between them. Sheinbaum said they wanted to increase bilateral trade in different sectors through the free trade agreement and do so through maritime routes which would avoid those goods having to pass through the United States. Given the present chaos as to these relations, what if anything comes of such intentions, only one with a crystal ball could say. It is a given that trade and tariff disorder will not abate. Production is already fully international in scale. Under world socialism, production would be undertaken rationally in the interests of the entire world population, not those of the dominant classes of competing individual nations, which inevitably lead to imperialism and war. Dog eat dog trade wars would likewise become a thing of the past. Earlier this month, doctors in New South Wales (NSW) overwhelmingly voted down a miserly pay offer from the state Labor government of Premier Chris Minns. Labors proposed deal contained a nominal pay rise of 3 percent per annum, backdated to start from July 2024. A section of mass protest outside NSW Ministry of Health in St Leonards, April 8, 2025 Doctors were not just rejecting the rotten deal, but its tacit endorsement by the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF), which promoted illusions that workers could accept the interim offer and patiently wait for arbitration in the state Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) to deliver further improvements to pay and conditions. The offer would have required that doctors commit to a total ban on industrial action until the IRC proceedings are complete, which is unlikely to be earlier than next year. The rejected offer fell far short of what is needed to keep up with the rapidly increasing cost of living, including on housing and other essentials, let alone recoup losses incurred under successive real wage cuts imposed by Labor and Liberal-National governments with the assistance of ASMOF. Doctors wages in New South Wales public hospitals are up to 30 percent lower than other Australian states, while NSW has the highest cost of living in the nation. First year doctorswho have already completed at least six years of university education, racking up enormous debtsare paid a base rate of $76,000 per annum, or just over $38 an hour. NSW doctors have not had a pay rise since 2023. In addition to pay, NSW doctors also face onerous and unsafe working conditions, with unpaid overtime so rife that NSW Health last year settled a class action with 20,000 junior medical officers for $230 million over the practice. NSW doctors have indicated their desire to fight against both wage cuts and the deteriorating conditions of the public hospital system. There is a widespread recognition that public healthcare is in crisis, with inadequate infrastructure and understaffing contributing to blowouts in ambulance ramping, waitlists for surgery, staff burnout, and dangerous delays for essential care. Nothing in Labors rejected offer would have addressed any of these pressing issues. Such concerns motivated the three-day doctors strike in April, the first in NSW since 1998. But that strike was confined by the ASMOF leadership to plaintive appeals to the Labor government, and shut down by the union as quickly as possible. As with industrial action by nurses, midwives and other health workers across the state, the union has collaborated with a Labor government that has remained intransigent, determined to crush the struggles of all public sector workers for improved wages and conditions. In a media release following the ballot result, ASMOF stated that doctors have lost confidence in this [Labor] Governments ability to put public health and the safety of the people of NSW ahead of politics, and that today, our members have again sent a clear message. Enough is enough. However, reviewing the record of ASMOF demonstrates that it has acted against the demands of doctors by shutting down or diverting strike action in collusion with Labor and the industrial courts. When negotiations started last year, ASMOF initially advanced a pay demand for 30 percent. But just hours before the start of the April strike, ASMOF officials offered to cancel the walk-out in exchange for a mere 10 percent interim pay rise, which the Minns government rejected. When tens of thousands of doctors walked off the job, in defiance of anti-strike orders from the IRC and threats of de-registration, rather than defend doctors and seek to expand the strike, ASMOF moved to shut down industrial action after just three days, having gained nothing for their members. Since April, ASMOF has promoted false hopes in IRC arbitration, despite a long track record of industrial courts siding with the governments austerity agenda against workers. Moreover, the IRC is part of the draconian industrial relations framework that divides workers into individual workplaces and professions, seeking to prevent a joint struggle of workers. In August, amid clear indications doctors would reject Labors pay offer, ASMOF officials held a series of town hall meetings in which doctors were encouraged to accept the pay deal and IRC arbitration, which was met with hostility by attendees. The vote was then delayed by ASMOF, recognising that rejection would be followed by demands for further strike action, which the union opposes. Since the vote, ASMOF has proposed no further industrial action, only to meet with members and delegates to determine the next phase of action, while also continuing its arbitration case through the IRC. In effect, ASMOF plans to continue the strike ban, giving doctors no way to fight the rotten deal they have rejected. ASMOF has pursued a similar line with public hospital psychiatrists, who it encouraged to resign en masse in February, which the union claimed would put pressure on the Labor government to increase wages and resolve longstanding staffing shortages. Despite the governments intransigence, ASMOF continued to prevent industrial action by psychiatrists, much less in coordination with other doctors and health workers. As a result, psychiatrists remain mired in IRC arbitration, their issues unresolved after more than six months. It is not only in NSW that health workers face government attacks and a complicit union bureaucracy. In Queensland, despite 95 percent of midwives and nurses voting for strike action in June, the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union (QNMU) defied demands for industrial action from their 50,000 strong membership, eventually enforcing a strike ban and accepting a totally inadequate 11 percent pay rise over 3 years from the state Liberal-National government. Doctors in the state have been offered a measly 8 percent over 3 years, an offer which ASMOF presented as the best offer available. The NSW doctors rejection of the Labor governments latest pay offer is an important signal of their determination to fight. But it is only the first step. Sharply posed before doctors is the question of how to take their struggle forward, under conditions where the ASMOF bureaucracy is working to impose the governments demands. To fight for decent wages and conditions, and for a free high-quality public healthcare system, NSW doctors must conduct a unified struggle alongside nurses, midwives, as well as other health and public sector workers, who face a similar onslaught from the Labor government. Such a struggle is impossible under the domination of the ASMOF bureaucracy or that of any of the other unions, which continually isolate and divide workers in different sections of the workforce, even among their own membership. This is a deliberate policy aimed at suppressing opposition to the dictates of management and government. Therefore doctors and other health workers need to take matters into their own hands. Rank-and-file committees, democratically controlled by workers themselves and politically and organisationally independent from the union leaderships, must be built in every hospital and health facility. Through these committees, workers can discuss and implement a unified struggle across workplaces and professions for demands based on their actual needs, not what governments and their collaborators in the union apparatus dictate. Contrary to the claims of governments and unions, the funds to provide high quality healthcare and good wages exist, but are squandered by capitalist governments on the defence of corporate profits and conducting imperialist wars. The alternative is a fight by the working class against exploitation and the destruction of public services, animated by a socialist perspective placing human life over profit. Contact the Health Workers Rank-and-File Committee (HWRFC): Email: sephw.aus@gmail.com Twitter: @HealthRandF_Aus Facebook: facebook.com/groups/hwrfcaus Warning strike at Ford Cologne on 2 April 2025 Fords Cologne plant faces a slow death. Two weeks ago, the IG Metall union and works council pushed through the elimination of 2,900 jobs there. Last Tuesday, the company informed the workforce that from January 2026, production would be cut from two shifts to just one. As a result, a further 1,000 jobs are to be shed this year. At a works meeting, management cited poor sales of its electric Capri and Explorer models, which are built in Cologne, as the reason for switching to single-shift operation. The company had invested 2 billion in converting the plant to e-mobility. While the IG Metall and works council helped to wind up the Ford plant in Saarlouis, the investment in Cologne and the supposed secure future of the plant were supposed to keep the workforce there quiet. Now the entire site is under threat. The works council, led by IG Metall, announced negotiations with management to work out the terms and mechanisms of the latest round of cuts. In recent years, IG Metall and the works council have drawn up one job-cutting programme after another. Each time they claimed this would safeguard Fords competitiveness and survival in Germanyuntil the next round. Of what were once over 20,000 employees in Cologne, around 11,500 remain. With the cuts just announced, this is soon to fall to only 7,000. Every agreement concluded by the works council and IG Metall brings the plant closure a step closer. After thousands of production jobs in Cologne were eliminated up to 2019, subsequent waves of rationalisation and downsizing primarily targeted jobs in administration as well as research and development. Now production is back in the firing line. This carving up of the workforce is entirely in the interests of IG Metall and the works council officials. At the beginning of this month they pushed through a social contract that cost 2,900 employees in areas other than production their jobs. Because 660 jobs from the preceding round of cuts could not be eliminated via voluntary severance or retirement, IG Metall and the works council have now explicitly left the door open for compulsory redundancies. A perfidious three-stage process is to be used to drive workers out of the plant. Anyone who rejects the first severance offer receives a second, lower oneonly 75 percent of the first. Anyone who rejects that as well will be made compulsorily redundant. These perfidious Mafia-like methods are designed to divide the workforce, we wrote in our statement against the social contract. We also warned about the reduction to single-shift operation. The overall solution touted by IG Metall and the works council is the basis for the gradual shutdown of the plant. Only recently, management announced that the second shift at the plant would be abolished. One-shift operation will then be used to justify the next round of job massacres, since it is unprofitable from the corporations point of view. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that Ford in the United States decided long ago to largely withdraw from production in Europe. The America First policy of President Donald Trump will dispel any remaining doubts about that decisionif there were any at all. Ford has already closed or sold numerous plants in Europe over the past 12 years: in the UKSouthampton, 2013, and Bridgend, 2019; BelgiumGenk, 2014; FranceBlanquefort, 2019; SlovakiaKechnec, 2019 and RussiaNaberezhnye Chelny, St. Petersburg and Yelabuga, 2019 to 2022. Production of the Focus in Saarlouis ends in two months; 1,000 jobs will remain there at most until 2032. The future of Fords plant in Almussafes (Valencia), Spainwhich won the internal bidding war against Saarlouisis also uncertain. At present only the Kuga model is produced there; the start of production for new electric or hybrid models has been postponed from 2025 to 2027. Of the plants 9,300 employees three years ago, fewer than a third remain. In Turkey and Romania, Ford has spun off vehicle production into the joint venture Ford Otosan with the Turkish industrial group Koc Holding. Each holds a 41 percent stake. Ford Otosan builds the transporter models at four plants in Turkey. At the Craiova plant (Romania), internal combustion and electric versions of the Puma are also built. Wages in Craiova are less than one-third of those in Germany and Spain; in Turkey they are lower still. It is obvious that jobs in Cologne or Almussafes can only be defended if the European workforces unite and then reach out to their colleagues in the United States and worldwide. But the officials of IG Metall and the works council have no intention of doing that. The Ford site in Cologne needs a new concept, said shop steward leader David Ludtke to broadcaster WDR. The e-models were good cars, he said, but simply too expensive for the market. The first costs Ford will cut to build cars more cheaply are labour costs. A new concept for cars that only a few can afford therefore means a cost-saving concept. The works council will develop one and present it to management in the upcoming negotiations. As Ludtke put it, the works council must decide with which demands we enter these negotiations. From the outset, IG Metall has ruled out defending jobs. Yet at the beginning of the year, the Cologne workforce proved it wanted to fight for their jobs. Over 93 percent of members voted in favour of a strike. But IG Metallhaving reluctantly organised the strike ballot in response to demands from the workforcecalled off the strike after just 24 hours in order to enter so-called negotiations with management, in which the notorious social contract was then drawn up. In the subsequent ballot, IG Metall called on its members to rubber-stamp the elimination of a further 2,900 jobs and not to resume the strike. Unfortunately, a viable future strategy cannot be forced through a strike, claimed Ludtke. A transfer of operations, or even the closure of entire areas, cannot be prevented by strikes, added IG Metalls lead representative for Cologne/Leverkusen, Kerstin Klein, warning against rejecting the social contract: Renegotiating individual points is out of the question. Further negotiations and strikes could therefore ultimately lead to significantly worse conditions. The IG Metall and works council had their members vote on an agreement, the terms of which were withheld from them and where most of the details have not even been fixed but will continue to be coordinated by the union with management. When IG Metall obtained the 93.5 percent approval it sought for the social contract, it crowed: A safety net for everyone! The safety net did not even last two weeks. It could hardly be clearer: The jobs and the entire plantwhich provides the livelihood for many thousands of peoplecan only be defended against the IG Metall apparatus and its works council representatives. Their mandate for any further negotiation must be withdrawn. All the details of the social contract and all its sub-agreements must be disclosed. On this basis, workers who truly want to fight must organise independently in the rank-and-file Ford Action Committee. Ford is an international corporation with 171,000 workers in plants on four continents. They must be contactedin Germany, in Europe and worldwide. The same applies to colleagues at other companies in the automotive, supplier and steel industries, and so on, who face the same problems. Such an international strategy and cooperation are necessary to resist the blackmail by management and the works council. It is a perspective that proceeds from the common interests of all working people worldwide and runs counter to the logic of the capitalist profit system, which the union and works council officials defend tooth and nail. Send us a WhatsApp message on the following number: +49 163 337 8340 and fill out the form below to get active now. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has instituted a policy of mass arrests and deportations of Michigan immigrants under Trumps executive orders claiming the need to rid the country of the worst of the worst criminals. A report published September 4 by the Detroit News directly refutes these lies. By far, most immigrants arrested in Michigan have been innocent of any crime. Close to two-thirds, or 65 percent, of the more than 3,100 people Detroit ICE arrested from January to July had no convictions. Most had never been charged with a crime. The Deportation Data Project, a database maintained by lawyers and academics using Freedom of Information Act requests to ICE and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), shows that only approximately 35 percent of these immigrants were convicted of any crime. The remaining 65 percent of the arrests targeted people who either had pending criminal charges, that is, had not yet pled guilty or been convicted of a crime, or had no criminal history whatsoever. While many immigrant families are unable to speak publicly, those who have spoken have shed light on the unspeakable brutality being meted out to people who happen to have been born in other countries and are seeking to make a life in the US. As part of its report, the News spoke with Taicha, an autoworker at the Lansing General Motors plant, whose Haitian husband has been detained since August. The case is an example of the egregious violations of democratic rights taking place. Taicha is a lawful permanent resident of the United States. Her husband, Mike entered the United States in October 2023, using the CBPOne mobile app to apply for asylum. He was granted permission to live and work in the US. In 2024, he applied for Temporary Protective Status (TPS), but his application was still pending in June when Trump ended the program. Mike was arrested by immigration officers in early August after taking a wrong turn onto the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit (a common mishap for drivers that takes place multiple times a day, but has resulted in a number of deportations). They accused him of living illegally for two years, Taicha told the News. I think hes been unlawfully detained. Trucks enter into the United States from Ontario, Canada across the Ambassador Bridge, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Detroit. [AP Photo/Paul Sancya] CBP held Mike for four days before transferring him to the North Lake Processing Center. There, Taicha visited him twice. He was losing weight, she said, the result of too little food and the stress of his detention. But, she said, North Lake was better than his current situation, as he is being held at the Winn Correctional Center in Louisiana, where she said, the situation is extremely harsh. Taicha said she has had difficulty maintaining regular communication with him, as the detention center charges $50 for a single phone call. Taicha had to send her husband money to pay for basic necessities, including a hairbrush, drinking water and a plate. I would live in fear if he goes back to Haiti, Taicha said. Mike emigrated to the US after a gang kidnapped his brother. In a particularly horrific case, 18-year-old Maykol Bogoya-Duarte, an undocumented student at Western International High School in Detroit, who was on the brink of graduating, was pulled over by Rockwood Police on his way to a school field trip. Unable to produce a drivers license, he was arrested by Border Patrol and deported to Colombia in June. Juan Manuel Lopez-Campos, a Mexican national and resident of Detroit, who has lived in the United States since 1990, was detained in June after being stopped by Romulus Police over an alleged traffic violation. Lopez-Campos has five US citizen children, no criminal convictions, and only a first-time misdemeanor charge for driving without a valid drivers license. He had been held in Monroe County Jail until he was ordered released by US District Judge Brandy R. McMillion on September 3, 2025, as a result of a lawsuit filed on his behalf by the Michigan chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which argued his detention violated his constitutional right to a bond. Another deportee from Michigan is Lue Yang, a Hmong worker who worked at a Lansing-area factory. He was born stateless in a Thai refugee camp. His parents were Laotian citizens, though he himself has never been to Laos. Lue entered the United States as a refugee in 1979 at the age of one. He was arrested by ICE on the basis of an expunged criminal conviction for attempted second-degree home invasion from 1997. However, immigration authorities refuse to recognize state-level expungement of criminal charges. Both Laos and Thailand had previously refused to permit him to return, claiming he was not a citizen. Laos, formerly an uncooperative country that generally refused to receive deportees from the United States, recently agreed to cooperate with Trumps immigration agenda. Yang is now facing deportation to a country to which he has never been. ICE has pursued this mass arrest campaign through two distinct programs: first, by making requests of local, state, and federal detention facilities to notify it of an immigrants release from detention, or to hold an immigrant for up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released to enable ICE to make an arrest; second, through public encounters such as traffic stops. More than 700 detainer requests have been sent so far in 2025. Only approximately seven percent of immigrants named in these requests had been convicted of violent crimes or drug crimes. Once arrested, immigrants are held in one of five detention centers throughout Michigan. In addition to the recently-reopened and GEO Group-operated North Lake Processing Center in Baldwinthe largest immigration detention center in the Midwest, with 1,800 bedsimmigrants are being held in the Monroe County Jail in Monroe, the Calhoun County Jail in Battle Creek, the St. Clair County Jail in Port Huron, and the Chippewa County Jail in Sault Saint Marie. As of early August 2025, these five facilities held nearly 800 immigrants, more than half of them at North Lake. ICE has a routine practice of shuffling detainees through its network of detention facilities, and transferring detainees to states and federal appeals circuit courts with anti-immigrant tendencies, such as the Fifth Circuit, which covers Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), by conducting deportation proceedings in a jurisdiction friendly to it, can obtain easier deportation orders while still guaranteeing due process rights. The Detroit ICE field office has overseen the deportation of approximately 2,300 people to more than 80 countries in the first six months of 2025, with approximately 42 percent of those deported being Mexican citizens. Those deported include at least 40 children younger than 16, the youngest of whom is three or four years old. In at least 73 of these cases, immigrants were deported to countries where they had no citizenship. Tragically, two Venezuelan immigrants arrested in Michigan are believed to be included in the more than 230 Venezuelan citizens summarily deported from the United States and incarcerated in El Salvadors brutal CECOT gulag in March 2025. One of these men is Luis Alfredo Nunez Falcon, a former resident of Detroit. Nunez Falcon had been working in construction and had no criminal record and a pending application for asylum in the United States. He was accused by the Trump regime of being a member of the Tren de Aragua gang on the flimsy pretext of having tattoos of a rose and a clock, and deported without a hearing or court order. Nunez Falcon was released from CECOT in July 2025, the result of a prisoner swap between the United States and Venezuela, but reported severe physical and psychological abuse during his four months incarcerated in El Salvador. Compounding the threat of arrest for working class immigrants is the fact that several local police departments in Michigan have signed formal agreements under ICEs 287(g) program. Berrien, Calhoun, and Jackson Counties now operate under the Warrant Service Officer program, in which their respective sheriff's departments are trained by ICE to serve and execute administrative warrants on immigrants in their agencys jail. The Roscommon County Police Department, the Metro Police Authority in Genesee County, and the City of Taylor have agreed to work under the Task Force Model, which operates as a force multiplier and permits these police departments to enforce limited immigration authority during routine police duties. Even without formal agreements, Michigan police departments cooperate with ICE of their own volition, often contacting ICE or Customs and Border Protection agents to interpret during routine traffic stops. The World Socialist Web Site has reported the Trump administrations banning of bond hearings for immigrants. While the unlawful internal memorandum the DHS issued on July 8 set the foundation for this practice, the Board of Immigration Appeals legitimized it through its decision in the Matter of Yajure Hurtado, issued on September 5. The Democratic Party has provided pivotal support for Trumps mass detention and deportation policies from the start of his second term. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) pronounced in January that We Democrats want to see our broken immigration system fixed. Democrats provided critical votes for the Laken Riley Act, legislation that greatly expands the power of police agencies to detain and deport immigrants who have merely been accused, not convicted, of petty crimes. It requires federal immigration police to take custody of immigrants simply accused of theft, burglary or shoplifting totaling $100. Both Michigan Democratic Senators, Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters, as well as Democratic House Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet, voted yes on the Laken Riley Act. For her part, Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has endorsed Biden administration proposals to make it easier for immigration officers to remove those who are here unlawfully. She approved deploying the Michigan National Guard to the southern border under both Trump and Biden, and opposed state benefits for undocumented Michigan workers. This year, under Whitmer, the North Lake Correctional Facility was opened. Indicative of the further collaboration between Whitmer and the fascist president, in late April, the Democratic governor boosted Trump, greeting him at Selfridge Air Force Base and celebrating his investments in the recapitalization of the base, which will now host F-15 fighter jets. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks as President Donald Trump listens during an event with members of the Michigan National Guard at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Harrison Township, Michigan. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon] The Republican-controlled Michigan House of Representatives has introduced House Bill 4339, which would prohibit Michigan counties from enacting or enforcing any law, ordinance or policy that prohibits local police from cooperating with federal officials in enforcing immigration law. Republican State Representative Joseph G. Pavlov of the 64th District, who introduced House Bill 4339 earlier this year, has stated [r]espect for the Constitution and respect for the rule of law demand that we put an end to sanctuary cities in our state [l]ocal governments in Michigan not only openly defy our constitutional order by harboring illegal immigrants, they also invite dangerous criminals into our communities [w]e cannot tolerate this willful criminality. Republican State Representative Angela Rigas of the 79th District, a co-sponsor of the bill, has falsely claimed that sanctuary policies have been used to protect dangerous criminals, stating that [t]here is no justifiable excuse for harboring illegal aliens as every single person that enters our country illegally is a criminal because they broke the law and must be deported. These two statements are as horrific as they are stupid. Both Representatives Pavlov and Rigas falsely conflate simple lack of immigration status in the United States with criminality to justify stripping constitutionally guaranteed due process rights from huge swaths of people. Concerning Republican angst over sanctuary jurisdictions, on August 5 the Department of Justice, as directed by Trumps April 28, 2025, Executive Order 14287 (Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens), published a list of states and municipalities deemed to violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of federal immigration laws. The only Michigan municipality on this list is East Lansing. It should be noted that the list was published only a few days before Trumps military takeover of the District of Columbia, and that the list includes the District of Columbia, as well as Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Portlandall of which have been threatened with military occupation. That Trumps hardline immigration enforcement is simply a first step to the establishment of a police state could not be more clear. The Trump regimes attacks on immigrants must be stopped, and they must be seen for what they are: a precursor to attacks on the rights of the working class as a whole. On Sunday, September 21, massive protests against corruption were held in cities throughout the Philippines, crowds of tens of thousands assembling despite the rain. The protests were organized and took shape in response to recent revelations of widespread corruption surrounding flood control infrastructure projects, involving kickbacks to government officials and elected representatives, and the theft of billions by private contractors. Thousands of protesters gather at the EDSA People Power Monument to rally against government corruption, in suburban Mandaluyong, east of Manila, Sunday Sept. 21, 2025. [AP Photo/Basilio Sepe] The protests were the largest seen in the Philippines in two decadesone hundred thousand people demonstrated in Manila, and tens of thousands rallied in other cities throughout the country. The protests occur in the context of other expressions of social unrest targeting corruption, including mass demonstrations in Indonesia, and rioting in Nepal that led to the ouster of the government. 2025 has been one of the worst years for flooding on record in the Philippines. Over 31 people died in the typhoon flooding in July. Particularly devastating was a record-setting rainfall in August, 4.8 inches fell in one hour, exceeding the record set by Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) in 2009. The deluge overwhelmed drainage capacity and produced widespread flooding in Quezon City. Typhoons and catastrophic damage caused by flooding, particularly during the rainy season of June to August, have plagued the Philippines throughout the history of its post-war urbanization. The sprawling, densely crowded communities of urban poor, their homes built on the worst land, combined with an utterly unplanned and underfunded system of public infrastructure, produces an annual cycle of inundation and misery. Scores of the impoverished residents of Manila and Bulacan die every year in the floods. Homes are washed away and children wade to school through stagnant floodwaters contaminated with human waste. Leptospirosis, a disease borne in rat urine, spreads through the communities of the urban poor. Mass flooding and unaffordable rice prices have historically been the two recurring issues most likely to produce widespread social unrest in the country. It was partly to suppress the social anger at the catastrophic level of flooding in August 1972 that Ferdinand Marcos Sr declared martial law in September of that year. The flooding, and the human misery that it causes, are fundamentally the fault of capitalism, not corruption. The unplanned and unregulated growth of Greater Manila, the complete absence of any system of public housing, the formation of vast shantytowns along canals and riverbanks without sewage or running water, the profit-mad speculations of real estate developers, the immense chasm of social inequality between the mansions of Forbes Park and the inundated homes of Marikinathese are all the products of capitalism. It is anger at the misery produced by capitalism that fuels the protests in the Philippines, but the protests have gathered behind banners targeting corruption. The emergence of the corruption charges over the past four months is bound up with the political volatility of the Asia Pacific region as it confronts the uncertainty and immense economic havoc of the Trump tariffs, and the increasingly imminent danger of war between the United States and China. This volatility is sharply expressed in the Philippines, both because of the colonial legacy of its intimate economic ties with the United States and because, under the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the Philippines has been placed on the frontlines of Washingtons preparations for war with China. The tensions in the Philippine elite take shape in two dominant factions: the Marcos camp, deeply integrated with Washingtons war drive against China, and the camp of former president Rodrigo Duterte, which seeks to moderate Philippine ties to the United States in order secure greater economic investment from China. The seismic tensions between these two camps has produced a series of earthquakes since Trump took office in January. Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and extradited to the Hague on charges of crimes against humanity. His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, was impeached in the House, but the impeachment charges were withdrawn in the Senate on grounds of unconstitutionality. The Marcos camp suffered a significant setback in the midterm election and Marcos responded by launching a sweeping overhaul of his entire cabinet. The Duterte camp sought, above all through social media, to accuse the Marcos administration of corruption. In what seems to be a maneuver to preempt these attacks, and seize control of the corruption allegations as a political weapon, Marcos announced during his State of the Nation Address on July 28, that he was aware of kickbacks, rackets, and conspiracies to steal government funds, in the flood control projects. Marcos, the son and inheritor of the wealth of the most corrupt political figure in the nations history, declared that those guilty should be ashamed: Be especially ashamed to our children who will inherit the debts you created, from the money you pocketed! Marcos launched an investigation into corruption surrounding flood control projects that he is personally overseeing. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, headed by forces allied to Duterte, launched a parallel investigation. The outcome has been a political bloodbath. The investigations revealed details of massive corruption, that are to anyone familiar with Philippine history and politics, utterly unsurprising. Over $US2 billion dollars had been allocated in the past decade to so-called ghost projects, non-existent infrastructure projects, the money pocketed by contractors with massive kickbacks paid out both to elected representatives and to members of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The allegations have hit allies of Marcos and of Duterte, and the political landscape is shifting rapidly, although in what direction remains to be seen. The Secretary of the DPWH resigned. Senate President Francis Escudero, who headed the majority pro-Duterte bloc, was ousted on September 8 by a new majority bloc of the Liberal Party and forces loyal to Marcos. With the ouster of Escudero, control of the Blue Ribbon investigation was handed to Sen Ping Lacson, a far-right figure who shares Marcos orientation to Washington. Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez, loyal to Marcos and responsible for orchestrating the ultimately unsuccessful impeachment of Sara Duterte, resigned his post on September 17. The political warfare being conducted behind the pretext of corruption charges is far from resolved. The Liberal Party, long the political vehicle of the Aquino family, with a half-century old rivalry with Marcos, is increasingly forming a bloc with Marcos. While the Liberal Party presents its increasingly open support for the President as a tactical alliance against the Duterte faction, it is in fact fundamentally driven by their shared orientation to Washington. Protests over corruption erupted on campuses, particularly at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, on September 12. Multiple coalitions staged announcements that there would be nationwide protests held against corruption on September 21, the 53rd anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos Srs declaration of martial law. The Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (The People Opposed to Thieves and Abusers Network, known as Tama Na), is a coalition of various groups associated with the Stalinist organization BAYAN. They announced that they would head a rally in Luneta Plaza in Manila. Perhaps as many as 80,000 people attended that rally. While Tama Na stated that it would not support destablization in favor of either faction of the elite, it has led charges against Duterte, including the filing of an appeal to reinstate the impeachment charges against Sara Duterte. A separate collection of organizations tied the pseudo-left Akbayan party and its allied Liberal Party announced that they would be staging a protest on Edsa Avenue in Metro Manila on the same day. Approximately 30,000 people joined this demonstration. Marcos announced days before the events that he supported the protests as long as they were peaceful. This was more than political posturing; the ultimate orientation of the leaders of the various demonstrations, despite some anti-Marcos slogans and banners, is towards an alliance against the forces of Duterte. BAYAN and Akbayan, which formed in the 1990s out of the break-up of the front organizations of the Stalinist Communist Party of the Philippines, have long been engaged in political warfare with each other. They are coming into ever closer alignment with each other out of their shared orientation to sections of the Philippine bourgeoisie hostile to China. Pro-Duterte forces staged protests in some cities demanding the return of Duterte from the Hague, but these events were dwarfed by the anti-corruption rallies. The political line of Sundays protests had a markedly middle-class character. The old, empty slogan of the Liberal Party under the Benigno Aquino III administration, 2010-16, If there were no corrupt, there would be no poor, was widely deployed. Celebrities, movie stars, and talk show hosts, were given the stage and the microphone, to curse corrupt politicians and corruption. A great many of the tens of thousands who thronged the streets of Manila, Cebu, Bacolod, Baguio, and numerous other cities throughout the country were not drawn to the protests by an orientation to a particular faction of the bourgeoisie. There is a marked and growing social anger that fuels these demonstrations. The ultimate target of their hostility, whether they are conscious of it or not, is the social inequality and misery produced by capitalism. But the banner of an anti-corruption campaign is a political dead-end. It is politically amorphous and can serve as an umbrella for bringing together a wide range of bourgeois and petty-bourgeois parties and organisations, including those of the far-right. It was on the basis of an anti-corruption platform that the JVP in Sri Lanka exploited the overwhelming public hostility to all the traditional political parties to come to power last year for the first time and implement the IMFs austerity diktats. The mass protests in Nepal this month that brought down the government were exploited by the military in league with middle class protest leaders to sideline all political parties and install a technocratic interim government headed by the former Supreme Court Chief Justice. The only means for ending corruption, and more fundamentally the vast social gulf between the obscenely wealthy few and impoverished masses, is to abolish capitalism. That requires the building of unified movement of the working class to lead the rural poor in the struggle for power and the refashioning of society on the basis of a socialist program. UAW President Shawn Fain during September 11, 2025 livestream event [Photo: UAW] The United Auto Workers bureaucracy is facing an unprecedented crisis. Rank-and-file opposition is growing against its collusion with the corporate attack on jobs and conditions and against UAW President Shawn Fains embrace of Trumps trade war measures and refusal to organize resistance to dictatorship. Three years ago, Fain was hailed by the corporate media, the Biden administration, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and other pseudo-left organizations for supposedly storming UAW headquarters and driving out the old, corrupt guard. But his record in office have been a string of unbroken betrayals. Among autoworkers, Fain is spoken about with scorn and anger. This outcome confirmed the warnings of Mack Trucks worker Will Lehman, who ran as a socialist candidate for UAW president in 2022 on a program of abolishing the union apparatus and transferring power to the shop floor through rank-and-file committees controlled by workers themselves. Lehman won nearly 5,000 votes and would have won far more if the bureaucracy had not suppressed turnout. The crisis of the Fain administration creates the potential for a vast and rapid realignment in the working class. Support will grow for a rank-and-file rebellion to destroy the corrupt pro-management bureaucrats, coupled with a fight against inequality, exploitation and fascist dictatorship. This terrifies the ruling class, and it is why the New York Times, the mouthpiece of the Democratic Party, has chosen to intervene. On September 15, it published an article, titled Shawn Fain, Who Pledged to Reform U.A.W., Faces Internal Dissent. The Times tries to shore up what it can of Fain and the bureaucracys reputation through lies about Fains record, while also sounding the alarm to the privileged layers which form the papers primary audience that something dangerous is afoot. It also presents the crisis entirely in terms of internal factional infighting, giving space to Fains bureaucratic opponents to make their case to replace him. Times reporter Neil Boudette begins with a portrayal of Fain as a heroic reformer whose 2023 stand-up strike supposedly won historic gains. Two years ago, Shawn Fain led the United Automobile Workers union through simultaneous strikes at three large carmakers, a strategy that helped produce big gains in wages and benefits for the unions members. The Times is lying through its teeth. The 2023 stand-up strike was limited to only a handful of plants. It was coordinated with President Bidenwho spoke at a rally in support of the resulting contract, while UAW officials dragged out from the hall anti-genocide protestersin order to contain mass opposition to decades of UAW-backed concessions. At Stellantis alone, more than 5,000 workers have since been fired or laid off. The resulting speed up and job overloading has led to the death of two workers, Antonio Gaston and Ronald Adams Sr. The bureaucracy has worked with management to cover up their joint responsibility. But the Times gives Fain space to lie about his record. For decades, we went backwards, we made concessions, he is quoted as saying. But we won the biggest contracts in the history of the Big Three. Here, the newspaper of record is caught in an obvious contradiction. If this is true, then how could the Fain administration face significant opposition? They never give a straight answer because to do so would expose not only Fain but the entire bureaucracy. For this reason, the Times also does not reference the most recent report by court-appointed union monitor Neil Barofsky, which paints a devastating picture of Fain as little more than a violent thug, like those before him. According to the report, Fain threatened to slit the f***ing throats of his factional opponents, launched into vulgar tirades on a regular basis and retaliated against officials who refused to authorize expenses. Earlier reports also alleged that the union was stonewalling corruption investigations by the monitors office. Nor does the Times refer to Fains embrace of Trumps America First tariffs, along with many other top American union officials. Only four days before the Times article, Fain held a livestream reaffirming support for Trumps tariffs, while remaining silent on troop deployments to major US cities and the use of the killing of right-wing propagandist Charlie Kirk to suppress opposition. If the Times mentions absolutely none of this it is because any contact with reality would cause their narrative to collapse immediately. In its presentation of internal dissent, the newspaper confines itself entirely to a campaign mounted by former Fain supporters to discipline or remove him from office, led by Secretary Treasurer Margaret Mock, Vice President Richard Boyer and loyal oppositionist Brian Keller. Recently, six locals voted to approve charges against Fain, although the monitor ruled the charges were improperly filed, forcing petitioners to restart the process. Even if it goes forward, however, the decision whether to remove Fain will ultimately be made by the unions International Executive Board, not union members. The Times quotes Fain loyalists citing low turnout at local meetings to discredit opposition and notes that more than 100 people in leadership posts at more than 50 U.A.W. locals signed a petition backing Mr. Fain. At the same time, it quotes Keller and other dissidents. The Times reassures its readership that opposition to Fain is limited to secondary questions and personal friction: The dissident workers main complaints about Mr. Fain are rooted in internal union matters like budgets and his treatment of other union officials, rather than in grand philosophical disagreements about labor and political issues. Those behind this campaign are not workers, but bureaucrats. Just as the Times falsely portrays Fain as the authentic voice of workers, so it tries to present his bureaucratic opponents as the voice of opposition from the rank-and-file. In so doing, it is preparing the grounds to present Fains replacements as the next great union reform group, should that become necessary. Significantly, the Times did not cite a single rank-and-file worker on their views of Fain. Nor did it mention Will Lehman, whose program of rebellion against the apparatus the Times is determined to block from gaining influence. The Times also reassures its readers, Mr. Fain said the dissidents would not distract him from working to win a new contract with GE Aerospace, where 600 U.A.W. members are on strike in Ohio and Kentucky. In other words, Fain will not let factional infighting disrupt the unions sellout of a strike at a key defense plant, which it did on Friday. The beginning of the article hints at the reason why the credibility of the UAW leadership is important enough for the Times to weigh in: Mr. Fain was hailed by progressives and Democratic politicians like former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. who saw him as the vanguard of a new generation of labor leaders who could get more workers to sign up to join unions, reversing the long slide in the labor movements ranks. He campaigned for Mr. Biden and later former Vice President Kamala Harris and exchanged insults with President Trump. In other words, the crisis of the UAW implicates the entire Democratic Party and the most powerful institutions of the American capitalist state. Fain owes his position primarily to support from the government, not workers. He was elected in a sham vote with only 9 percent turnoutwith more ballots marked undeliverable than actually cast. Lehman filed legal challenges against the sham vote, but both union monitor Neil Barofsky and the Department of Labor have stonewalled these efforts. In a filing earlier this month, the Trump administration admitted that the Department of Labor has not provided the legally required explanation for its rejection of Lehmans complaint over the anti-democratic election process. Fain was a de facto member of the Biden government, an honored guest at state dinners and was appointed to the White House Export Council, where he played a role in managing the global affairs of American capitalism. He also was a top supporter of the war policies of Biden and a promoter of the creation of a wartime economy. Pseudo-left Democrats from the DSA like Jonah Furman and Brandon Mancilla entered the unions national leadership as Fains top advisors, through their participation in the Unite All Workers for Democracy slate, which attacked Lehmans call for the overthrow of the bureaucracy as anti-union. Today, both Fain and the Democratic Party are widely hated. Both have also responded to the partys debacle in last years election and Trumps bid for dictatorship with complicity. Fain, together with another reformer, Teamsters head Sean OBrien, has led a wave of union officials who are backing Trumps America First tariff policies, supporting his efforts to blame foreigners for the loss of American jobs. The DSA supports this; the Times refuses even to raise it. UAWD, thoroughly discredited for sitting in coalition with a fascist collaborator, voted to dissolve itself earlier this year (but many of its former members, such as Furman and Mancilla, continue to rake in six figure salaries as members of the bureaucracy). The complete discrediting of officially sanctioned opposition figures like Fain is a sign that conditions are emerging for a powerful movement of the working class that can escape the stranglehold of the apparatus. There is totally legitimate hatred of Fain and his crimes against the rank and file, Lehman said. But a bureaucratic maneuver will not resolve the issue or create democratic control. Only a rank-and-file rebellion to abolish the bureaucracy and transfer power to workers will. The Department of Labor under both the Democrats and Republicans continues to demonstrate that it has nothing to do with defending workers rights and interests. It is propping up the UAW apparatus precisely because the union bureaucracy serves to suppress opposition by workers to corporate exploitation. But in doing so, theyre only exposing the pro-corporate, anti-working class role of both the union apparatus and the state even more. Neither the maneuvering of Fain nor the dishonesty of the Times can stop the coming eruption of mass opposition to inequality, dictatorship and war. The task is building rank-and-file committees to break through the bureaucratic bottleneck and consciously organize an industrial and political counter-offensive to end the threat of dictatorship, expropriate the oligarchy, and reorganize society to meet social needs, not corporate profit. This chapter from Vadim Rogovins work Stalins Terror of 1937-1938: Political Genocide in the USSR argues that Stalinism was not the logical outcome of Bolshevism but its Thermidorian negation. We are publishing this as a supplementary text to the lecture given by Katja Rippert to the Socialist Equality Party (US) 2025 Summer School and encourage our readers to purchase the full volume by Rogovin, as well as his other works on the Left Opposition, through Mehring Books. Stalins Terror of 1937-1938: Political Genocide in the USSR In reading todays philippics against Bolshevism, one is involuntarily struck by the laziness and lack of independent thought displayed by their authors. Indeed, over the last fifty years, they have not come up with a single new argument, or advanced a single new demonstration of proof! One and the same myths pass from one work to another. They play one and the same trump cards. Of course, repeating a lie one thousand times does not make it true. However, a lie transmitted by todays means of mass communication has the power to affect actively the consciousness of the masses. This effect is reinforced when a one-way flood of information arises after long years of banning the discussion of certain historical questions. That is what happened during the years of perestroika and reform, when hackneyed arguments in the West, expressing the incorrigibility and epigonism of reactionary thought, were transplanted to Soviet soil. The difficulty in refuting anti-communist falsifications is connected with the fact that, despite an abundance of works crammed with Marxist phraseology, the development of the Marxist tradition was interrupted in the USSR from the beginning of the 1930s. A genuinely Marxist criticism of anti-communism was also cut short. And given the existence of the iron curtain, Trotskys arguments were simply unknown to several generations of Soviet people. Even after Stalins death, the attacks on Trotskyism continued to come from two directions. On the one hand, from semi-official Soviet historical literature, which interpreted Trotskyism as an anti-Leninist and anti-party current. On the other hand, from tamizdat, which was penetrating the USSR ever more widely. These were products of the reactionary wing of Western Sovietology (the so-called totalitarian school), proceeding from the idea of the USSRs unbroken historical development, from the idea that Trotsky and Lenin had paved the way for Stalinism. The thinking of Soviet intellectuals became hopelessly entangled in these untrue postulates, all the more so since in the Soviet Union, as before, the strictest ban on becoming familiar with the works of Trotsky and Trotskyists was still in effect. Driven only by conservative incentives aimed at self-preservation, and ignorant in the area of Marxism (which did not exclude a search for appropriate quotations from the classics to lay a foundation for each new zigzag in their politics), the ruling clique in the USSR retained the Stalinist version of the inner-party struggle, although in a slightly more proper form. They displayed cowardice when it came to making public even the purely factual side of these pages of history. Foreseeing the complex ways that the process would take of cleansing Marxist thought from the layers deposited by the Stalinist school of falsification, Trotsky wrote in 1937: Reactionary epochs lower the general ideological level of the movement, throwing political thought backwards to stages which have already been passed long ago. The task of the avant-garde in these conditions consists primarily in not allowing oneself to be carried along by the general reverse current one must be able to swim against the stream. If an unfavorable relationship of forces does not allow one to hold on to political positions seized earlier, then one must at least hold on to ideological positions, for in them is expressed the experience of the past which has been dearly paid for. In a polemic against the many critics of Bolshevism, Trotsky noted that their favorite device was the method of making historical analogies and juxtapositions. Much like the Stalinists called fascism and social-democracy twins, the liberals declared fascism and Bolshevism to be twins. On the opposite political wing, similar devices were used by Hitler and Mussolini, who declared that liberalism, social-democracy, and Bolshevism are only different variations of one and the same evil. The method of twins found its base of support in identifying the forms of activity associated with reaction and revolution, which was always characteristic of moralizing philistines. This device lived as a parasite on several actual historical facts. Certain common features among the tendencies grouped together above are beyond doubt, wrote Trotsky. Fighting armies are always more or less symmetrical, and if there was nothing in common in their methods of fighting, then they could not inflict blows upon one another. An even more complex task was explaining why the thesis of Stalinism as the legitimate product of Bolshevism had received such wide circulation. In defense of this thesis there was unanimity between Stalinists, fascists, liberals, Mensheviks, anarchists, and several left-wing doctrinaires calling themselves Marxists. If one were to set aside the Stalinists, then it would not be difficult to become convinced that, for all the remaining adherents to the method of twins, a shared trait was the approximation, or even the identification, of Stalinism and Trotskyism. Agreement existed on this question for political tendencies which had major differences on other questions, such as conservatives, liberals, social-democrats, and fascists. If the Stalinists cannot join this Popular Front, Trotsky noted sarcastically, then it is only because they happen to be occupied with exterminating Trotskyists. In developing this thought, Trotsky turned to the defenders of the theory of twins with the following questions: You say that Marxism is inherently flawed, and that Stalinism is its legitimate offspring? But why is it that we, revolutionary Marxists, are locked in mortal combat with Stalinism throughout the world? Why does the Stalinist gang see in Trotskyism its main enemy? Why is it that whenever anyone draws close to our views or our system of activity (Durruti, Andres Nin, Landau and others), this forces the gangsters of Stalinism to resort to bloody reprisals? Trotsky stressed that, not very long before, a significant part of the capitalist press had not identified but counterposed Trotskyism and Stalinism, seeing the first as revolutionary romanticism, and the second as realistic politics. By means of this juxtaposition, bourgeois philistines justified the alliance of their governments with a Stalinist regime which had broken with the doctrine of world revolution. The French League of the Rights of Man, which fulminated against the amoralism of Lenin and Trotsky in 1917 when they severed the military alliance with France, rushed to conceal the crimes of Stalin in 1936 in the interests of a French-Soviet pact Only a year ago, these gentlemen were by no means saying that Stalinism and Trotskyism are one and the same thing. They openly stood for Stalin, for his realism, for his justice system and for his Yagoda Until the moment Tukhachevsky, Yakir and others were executed, the grand bourgeoisie of the democratic countries observed the extermination of revolutionaries in the USSR not without pleasure, although it was concealed beneath a certain squeamishness. Only the execution of the generals alarmed these political circles by forcing them to realize that the far-going degeneration of the political regime in the Soviet Union objectively strengthened the positions of Germany and Japan on the world arena. Only after this, the bourgeois philistines returned to arguments that the struggle between Stalinism and Trotskyism was only the clash of personal ambitions, or in the best case, the struggle of two shadings within Bolshevism. Such an interpretation was connected with the reaction to Stalins crimes on the part of liberals and social-democrats, whom the October Revolution had almost forced to lose faith in their ideas. The moral gangrene of the Soviet bureaucracy seems to them to be the rehabilitation of liberalism. Hackneyed commandments are dragged out into the light; Every dictatorship contains within itself the seeds of its own decomposition; only democracy guarantees the development of the individual, and so forth. Such a juxtaposition of democracy and dictatorship served to condemn socialism in the name of the bourgeois regime. The theoretical bankruptcy of such arguments is revealed in the fact that the loathsomeness of Stalinism as a historical reality is juxtaposed to democracy as an ahistorical abstraction. But democracy has also had its history, in which there has been no shortfall of loathsomeness. To characterize the Soviet bureaucracy, we borrow the terms Thermidor and Bonapartism from the history of bourgeois democracy, for let this become known to belated liberal doctrinaires democracy appeared on this earth by no means in a democratic way. More concrete were the arguments of those doctrinaires who considered themselves Marxists but who counterposed their positions in a hostile way to Bolshevism. We always predicted this, they say. Beginning with the ban on other socialist parties, with the crushing of the anarchists, with the establishment of the dictatorship of the Bolsheviks in the Soviets, the October Revolution could not help but arrive at a dictatorship of the bureaucracy. Stalinism is the continuation and, at the same time, the bankruptcy of Leninism. In such statements, Trotsky emphasized, there is a virtual identification of three closely connected, but independent, historical phenomena Bolshevism, the October Revolution, and the Soviet Union. As a result of such an identification, a complex and contradictory social reality is replaced by one of its elements, logically abstracted pure Bolshevism. Meanwhile, Bolshevism itself saw itself as one of the factors of history, its conscious factor very important, but not decisive. The conquest of power did not turn the Bolshevik Party into an omnipotent master and demiurge of the historical process. Having received the chance to influence the development of society with a power that had not been available before, the party at the same time was itself subjected to the heightened influence from all of its other elements. Under the direct blows of hostile forces, it could be stripped of power. Having held on to power, it might degenerate internally. In repeatedly pointing to both of these dangers, Lenin stressed that the bureaucratization of the Soviet regime was capable of leading to the degeneration of the workers state which had emerged from the October Revolution. This dialectic of the historical process was not understood by those who tried to find in the decay of the Stalinist bureaucracy an overwhelming argument against Bolshevism. From the fact that the October Revolution, at a definite stage of its development, led to the triumph of the bureaucracy with its system of the knout, predation, and falsifications, they drew a false conclusion: one cannot fight against Stalinism without rejecting Bolshevism. Of course, Trotsky said in reply to such arguments, Stalinism in a formal sense grew out of Bolshevism. The Moscow bureaucracy lived as a parasite on such circumstances, and for the sake of deceiving the masses, continued to call itself the Bolshevik Party and used old Bolshevik symbols. These methods of camouflage were taken seriously by those apostates of Bolshevism who replaced essence with appearance and thereby rendered the greatest service to the Stalinist regime. In actuality, as Trotsky underscored, Stalinism grew out of Bolshevism not logically, but dialectically: not as a revolutionary confirmation, but as a Thermidorian negation... Todays purge draws between Bolshevism and Stalinism not simply a bloody line, but a whole river of blood. The extermination of the entire older generation of Bolsheviks, a significant part of the middle generation which participated in the civil war, and that part of the youth which seriously accepted the Bolshevik traditions, shows not only the political, but the literally physical incompatibility of Stalinism and Bolshevism. How can one not see this? Trotsky considered the derivation of Stalinism from Bolshevism or from Marxism a particular case of deriving counter-revolution from revolution, which is characteristic of liberal-conservative and reformist thought. This method has speculated on the fact that revolutions in which the class divisions of society are maintained have always given birth to counter-revolution. Does this not show, asks the moralizer, that there is some kind of inherent flaw in the revolutionary method? So far, neither liberals nor reformists have been able, however, to invent more economical methods. But if it is not easy to rationalize in deed the living historical process, it is, however, not hard at all to rationalistically interpret the succession of its waves, logically deriving Stalinism from state socialism, fascism from Marxism, reaction from revolution, in short, antithesis from thesis. Some of the rationalists, as Trotsky emphasized, used more concrete arguments, deriving Stalinism not from Bolshevism as a whole, but from the political methods used by the latter in extreme historical conditions: from the ban on other political parties, supplemented by the ban on factions within the ruling party itself. The use of these forced measures, which did not flow from the theory of Bolshevism, signaled the greatest danger, as was clear to the Bolsheviks from the very beginning. Keeping well in mind the temporary character of these measures, the Bolsheviks used them in a historical situation that was characterized by the weakness of the Soviet state, which had been established in a backward and exhausted country, and was surrounded on all sides by enemies. If the revolution had been victorious, if only in Germany, the necessity of banning other Soviet parties (i.e., which until 1921 were part of the Soviets V. R.) would have immediately fallen away. As soon as the domestic and international situation of the USSR became stabilized and stronger, the Left Opposition demanded the widening of party and Soviet democracy. It was precisely for this sake that it entered into irreconcilable battle with the ruling faction headed by Stalin. Emerging victorious in this struggle, the Bonapartist clique crushed all democratic elements and institutions, replaced the dictatorship of the proletariat with the dictatorship of the bureaucracy, and virtually strangled the Bolshevik Party itself. The question of the fate of democracy was closely linked with the question of the fate of the state, around which the anarchists constructed their arguments. Seeing in Stalinism the organic product, not only of Bolshevism and Marxism, but mainly of state socialism, they pointed to indisputable historical facts: one branch of state socialism social-democracy came to power in a number of countries and preserved the capitalist organization of society; another branch, which was in power in the USSR, not only preserved a strictly centralized state, but gave birth to a new caste of privileged people. Trotsky felt that in the arguments of the anarchists, seen from a broad historical point of view, one could discover a grain of truth. Marxists are completely in agreement with anarchists that the removal of the state as an apparatus of compulsion is the final goal of the communist transformation of society. It is precisely Marxism which points to the ways and methods which will allow mankind to free itself from the straightjacket of the state. To attain this goal, mankind must rise to an immeasurably higher cultural level than now. During the heroic epoch of the Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks fought hand in hand with the revolutionary anarchists. The Bolshevik Party included many of them in its ranks. Trotsky recalled that he had often discussed with Lenin the question of granting anarchists opportunities for conducting their stateless experiments in various regions of the country and with the agreement of the local population. But the circumstances of the Civil War, of the economic and military blockade, and of economic ruination left little room for social experiments of this kind. The same circumstances caused the Bolsheviks to use force, frequently in the harshest forms. However, given all this, one cannot help but see a radical difference between the Bolshevik regime and the regime of Stalinism which replaced it. The Bolshevik regime acted as a weapon in the overthrow of social relations, which served the interests of the broadest popular masses. The Thermidorian overthrow which was made by Stalinism led to the restructuring of these new and still unstable social relations, in the interests of a privileged minority. It was precisely this that explained the monopolization of the system of compulsion by the Stalinist bureaucracy, which used it in such forms and on a scale that surpassed by far the excesses of the Civil War of 19181920. If Bolshevism had tried to establish a state without a bureaucracy, or a state of the Commune type, then Stalin had created a state of the self-enriching bureaucracy, of the GPU type. Correspondingly, the social types of the objects of repression differed radically at various stages of the development of the Soviet state. Whereas in the first post-revolutionary years, they were open enemies of the October Revolution which had stripped them of their class and property privileges, in the years of the Great Terror, the spearhead of the repressions was aimed at the communist opponents of Stalins regime. Trotsky also thought that the identification of Stalinism with Bolshevism and Marxism was wrong because the Stalinist bureaucracy did not possess a fully formulated political doctrine and a strict ideological system. Its ideology is fully permeated with police subjectivism, its practice is the empiricism of naked violence Stalin revises Marx and Lenin not with the pen of his theoreticians, but with the jackboots of the GPU. The hostility of Stalinism to any serious theory flowed from the existence of the social interests of the caste of usurpers, and this caste could give neither themselves nor others an account of their actual social role. The contradictory nature of the social position of the ruling layer in the USSR consisted in the following: having broken with Marxist doctrine, it was forced at the same time to adapt to the social heritage of the October Revolution which had not been fully liquidated. Meanwhile the confrontation between the Bonapartist bureaucracy and the adherents of Bolshevism assumed ever more the character of class warfare. These hostile political forces spoke as the bearers of opposed social interests. The victory of the defenders of Bolshevik principles over the caste of thugs would have brought a moral and political renaissance to the Soviet regime. For this not to happen, the ruling clique carried out the mass extermination of those who were dissatisfied on a scale which virtually signified a new civil war. Western liberals, who were repeating assurances that the Bolshevik Party was a new version of Tsarism, did not want to see this dialectic of the social struggle. In adopting this position, they were closing their eyes to such minor details as the elimination of the monarchy, nobility, and gentry, the expropriation of capital, etc. If the Stalinist bureaucracy even manages to destroy the economic foundations of the new society, wrote Trotsky with foresight, the experience of a planned economy conducted under the leadership of the Bolshevik Party will enter forever into history as the greatest school for all mankind. The correctness of Trotskys views on the relationship between Bolshevism and Stalinism becomes strikingly clear if one compares his writings with a work which the anti-communists of all stripes have studied for many decades Arthur Koestlers book Darkness at Noon. Its author, who had renounced communism at the end of the 1930s, seemed to be justifying his own renegacy when he tried to persuade the reader (through the words of his main hero, Rubashov) that the whole activity of the so-called opposition had been senile chatter, because the whole generation of the old guard was just as worn out as he himself, that an active, organized opposition to No. 1 (Stalin) had never existed; that it had all only been talk, impotent playing with fire. Giving a highly approximate history of the inner party struggle in the VKP(b) (as can be seen from the quote above), Koestler, who had been an inveterate Stalinist in the past, nevertheless had a certain conception of the ideological positions of the oppositionists. His Rubashov was keenly aware of the radical difference between the Stalinist and Bolshevik regimes; under the latter discussions in the Central Committee and at the congresses had been on a level never before attained in history by a political body. He condemned many aspects of Stalins politics the omnipotence of the dictator, mass terror, and forced collectivization, in which we sent about ten million people to do forced labor in the Arctic regions and the jungles of the East (the number of people victimized in the anti-kulak campaign is exaggerated by Koestler at least two times over, but in the given instance, this does not have major significance V. R.). During the investigation, Rubashov was placed in a face-to-face confrontation with the son of his old friend, Kiefer, during which the son, according to Rubashov, conveyed his thoughts with unusual precision. My father considered that, one day, the cup would overflow and the Party would depose him or force him to resign; and that the opposition must propagate this idea Rubashov laughed at my father, and repeated that he was a fool and a Don Quixote One could hope for nothing from the Party either, for No. 1 held all the threads in his hand, and had made the Party bureaucracy his accomplice who would stand and fall with him, and he knew it. This dialogue marvelously mixes together the views of true Trotskyists and the renegade arguments of capitulators (to whom Rubashov belonged; before his arrest he repeatedly renounced his oppositional views). Rubashovs answer to the question asked by the investigator Gletkin was clearly Trotskyist in character: If you think sabotage is a mere fiction, what, in your opinion, are the real causes of the unsatisfactory state of our industry? Too low piece-work rates, slave-driving, and barbaric disciplinary measures In virtual agreement with this conclusion, Gletkin unfolded a chain of sophistries before Rubashov, trying to prove that the way out of this enchanted circle might be in finding scapegoats. Experience teaches, said Gletkin, that the masses must be given a simple, easily grasped explanation for all difficult and complicated processes If one told the people in my village that they were still slow and backward in spite of the revolution and the factories, it would have no effect on them. If one tells them that they are heroes of labor, more efficient than the Americans, and that the only evil comes from devils and saboteurs, that at least has some effect. Somewhat surprisingly, these arguments were persuasive to Rubashov, who had earlier muttered to himself that Gletkin was a Neanderthaler. Rubashov continually reminded himself that the Gletkins were continuing the cause begun by the old intelligentsia. That their earlier ideas had not degenerated, although they sounded absolutely inhuman in the mouths of the Neanderthalers. He also virtually endorsed Gletkins views that any day now international capitalism may start a war against our country, and the slightest vacillation among the toiling masses will lead to innumerable catastrophes. The party... must become a united monolith, which is welded together by iron discipline and selfless devotion to the Leadership. Such arguments were typical of Molotov, who found in them the justification for his criminal activity during the years of the Great Purge (see Chapter 20). But they were profoundly alien to genuine Bolsheviks, as one can judge from the statements made not only by Trotskyists, but from those made by the non-returners who did not belong to them, but expressed the ideological positions of their own social and political milieu. While he was in prison, Rubashov created a law of the relative maturity of the masses. Proceeding from this law, he convinced himself that a simplified and endlessly repeated idea makes its way more easily into the popular consciousness what is today declared correct, must shine with blinding whiteness; what is today declared wrong, must be as black as pitch; right now the masses needed cartoon-like literature. This disparaging conception of the masses led Rubashov to acknowledge the correctness of Stalins propaganda methods; the latters speeches consisted of questions and answers, in which events were presented in the simplest logic that the masses found irrefutable. In these sophistries Koestler completely ignored the difference between leading the masses and enslaving them or crushing them. The theory which he ascribed to the Bolsheviks was based on a condescending attitude toward the masses, whereas genuine Bolshevik theory was based on trusting the masses and finding support among them. The Bolshevik view of the relationship between the party and the masses was most fully outlined in Trotskys work Their Morals and Ours. The liberation of the workers can only be the cause of the workers themselves, Trotsky stated here. There is therefore no greater crime than to deceive the masses, to pass off defeats as victories, and friends as enemies, to buy leaders, to fabricate legends, and to stage frame-up trials, in short, to do what the Stalinists are doing. These means can serve only one end: to prolong the domination of a clique which has already been condemned by history. Stating that the minority of the population acts as the active force in the revolution, Trotsky added that the success of the revolution becomes possible only when this minority finds more or less support, or at least friendly neutrality, on the part of the majority. The succession of various stages of the revolution, much like the transition from revolution to counter-revolution, is determined immediately by the changing political relationship between the minority and the majority, between the avant-garde and the class. Noting that idealizing the masses was always foreign to the Bolsheviks, Trotsky wrote: The masses, of course, are by no means without sin We have seen them in various conditions, at various stages, and in the greatest historical shocks. We have observed their strong and weak sides. The strong sidesdecisiveness, selflessness and heroismalways found the clearest expression when the revolution was on the upswing. During this period the Bolsheviks stood at the head of the masses. Then another historical chapter approached, when the weak sides of the oppressed were revealed: heterogeneity, insufficient culture, narrowness of vision. The masses became tired of the tension, became disillusioned, lost faith in themselves andcleared the way for a new aristocracy. In this period, the Bolsheviks (Trotskyists) ended up isolated from the masses. With these great events, continued Trotsky, the Trotskyists studied the rhythm of history, i.e., the dialectic of the class struggle. They studied and, it seems, to a certain degree learned to subordinate their subjective plans and programs to this objective rhythm. They learned not to fall into despair because the laws of history do not depend on our individual tastes or bow down to our moral criteria They learned not to fear the most powerful enemies, if their might contradicts the demands of historical development. They are able to swim against the current with profound assurance that a new historical flood of powerful force will carry them to that shore. Not all will arrive there, many will drown. But to participate in this movement with open eyes and with tense willonly this can give the highest moral satisfaction to a thinking human being! Trotsky concretized these theoretical ideas in a critical analysis of the historical legends created around various episodes in the revolution. Among these legends being widely circulated in the 1930s, the legend of the Kronstadt rebellion of 1921 occupied a leading place. WELLINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand investor confidence has fallen to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic, weighed down by global uncertainty, sharemarket volatility and a flat housing market, a survey shows. The latest Investor Confidence Survey released Monday by Auckland Savings Bank (ASB), one of New Zealand's major banks, showed net investor confidence, the difference between those expecting investment returns to improve versus worsen in the coming year, dropped to 1 percent in the June quarter, from 9 percent three months earlier. That is the weakest reading since the third quarter of 2020, though still well above the 25 percent hit in mid-2020 at the height of the pandemic, the survey said. Investor sentiment fell across all regions, with the biggest decline in the lower North Island, where confidence slid 18 points to -6 percent, it said. Investors in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, were the most upbeat, with net confidence of 10 percent, it said, adding younger investors under 39 were more positive, while those over 60 were the least optimistic. "It's been a challenging six months, with markets affected by uncertainty around tariffs and global issues, alongside concerns at home, such as the housing market, which hasn't bounced back the way people expected it to," said ASB senior economist Chris Tennent-Brown. This has led to a more pessimistic investor confidence, mirroring weak consumer sentiment, Tennent-Brown said. More than half of respondents cited global political instability as a major concern, the survey said. MOSCOW, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Russia believes that a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine would end the fighting in the Middle East, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday when commenting on the recognition of Palestine by a number of Western countries. "We remain committed to the fundamental resolutions of the UN Security Council and adhere to the international consensus on resolving the Palestinian-Israeli issue on the basis of a two-state solution," Peskov said. He added that Moscow regards this solution as the "only feasible way" to resolve the current conflict, noting that "the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict is perhaps in the most acute and tragic phase of its entire history." The Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip since October 2023 has resulted in the deaths of over 65,200 people and injuries to more than 166,000 others. On Sunday, Britain, Australia, Canada and Portugal announced their formal recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state. Serial killer Joseph Naso used his profession as a photographer to lure unsuspecting female victims to their death but to many that knew him, he appeared to be a regular family man. During the time period in which he carried out many of his crimes, Naso was married to his wife Judith and raising two young boys, David and Charlie, while attempting to keep his carefully crafted double-life a secret from those closest to them, according to Oxygens Death Row Confidential: Secrets of a Serial Killer. For years, Judith believed they had a regular marriage, until the late 1970s when she came face-to-face with her husband's dark side, ultimately leading to the end of their union, according to the multi-part documentary special. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Naso's crimes didnt come to light until 2011, when he was charged with killing four women over several decades. In interviews with investigators that same year, Judith described the pair as once having a typical marriage. To me it was just... a regular marriage, she said in a recorded 2011 interview that was played on Death Row Confidential. We were like, dinner on the table, every night. Kids go to school... you know, go to ball games, go camping. It was really normal. For more on Joseph Naso and Death Row Confidential: Where Is Death Row Confidential's William Bill Noguera Now? How Serial Killer Joseph Naso's House Looked Like "Something Out of Silence of the Lambs" Fellow Inmate of Serial Killer Joseph Naso Helps Link Him To Other Crimes from Behind Bars Joseph Naso appears in court How Joseph and Judith Naso's marriage began to unravel According to William Noguera, an inmate whom Naso confided in while they were both on death row at San Quentin prison in Northern California, Judith discovered photos her husband had taken of naked women in the late 1970s and began to question her husbands fidelity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joe felt like he was losing control over Judith and he wanted it back, so after 15 years of marriage, Judith would in fact become a victim, Noguera said. Nogueras conversations with Naso, and Nogueras later efforts to to work with cold case investigator Ken Mains to identify more of Nasos potential victims, served as the basis of Death Row Confidential. How Joe Nasos wife Judith became a victim With his marriage on the rocks, Naso allegedly made a desperate move to maintain the power dynamic in his marriage by taking his wife out dancing at the Pleasure Dome in San Francisco and drugging her drink. She woke up with a strange man on top of her, having sex with her and Joe was photographing it, Sgt. Rick Brown, of the major crimes unit in the Nevada Department of Public Safety, told Death Row Confidential. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next day, Judith confronted her husband, but Naso managed to use his charisma and narcissistic tendencies to convince her that it had never happened. RELATED: "Nightmare" for Family of Murdered Newlywed Actress Began When She Vanished After Audition By 1979, the couple was constantly fighting and Naso was rarely home, spending his time instead out trolling for victims. Judith had finally reached her breaking point and asked Naso for a divorce, according to the Oxygen special. Joseph Naso House Joseph Naso's acts caused wife Judith to be "disgusted" Naso urged Judith to talk it out and once again drugged her drink. Much like the previous incident, for a second time, she wakes up with a complete stranger on top of her, Mains said on Death Row Confidential. After another sexual assault by her husband, Judith cant be gaslit any longer. That was the last straw. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judith spoke of the abuse during an interview with detectives, saying that she had been disgusted by her husbands actions. Joseph Nasos troubling relationship with son Charlie Judith wasnt the only one of Nasos family members to come forward with details of witnessing some of Naso's alleged criminal acts. Their son Charlie who lived with Naso for years as an adult in Black Springs, Nevada, north of Reno was also exposed to unsavory activities. Joe kept a log of taking Charlie to whore houses in the Reno area, down to how much he paid for those visits, Yuba County Sheriff Wendell Anderson told Death Row Confidential. RELATED: Are There Less Serial Killers Now? Here's What the Experts Have to Say Charlie had his own criminal record, including arrests for battery and domestic battery. He told investigators that his dad once took care of a prostitute that was giving him trouble, and claimed to have once seen his dad dump a body in a river. Charlie struggled with mental health issues and was diagnosed with being a paranoid schizophrenic, making it difficult for authorities to verify his claims. FUZHOU, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- East China's Fujian Province on Sunday launched its first "Polar Silk Road" shipping route to Europe. A container ship, Istanbul Bridge, departed from the Jiangyin Port Area of Fuzhou Port on Sunday morning and was expected to reach Europe in only 19 days via the Arctic route. The new route will connect major Chinese ports, including Qingdao, Dalian, Shanghai and Ningbo, with key European ports such as Felixstowe in Britain, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Hamburg in Germany, and Gdansk in Poland, according to Fuzhou Customs. The route offers exporters in Fujian and neighboring provinces a faster and more efficient channel for shipping goods such as building materials, textiles and electromechanical products to European markets. The service is about a week faster than the China-Europe rail service and more than 20 days faster than traditional routes through the Suez Canal or around the Cape of Good Hope, said Xiao Bin, a business manager of China Ocean Shipping Agency Fuzhou Co., Ltd. The launch of the route increases ship schedules and provides companies with more options for cargo transport to Europe, said Xiao. The inaugural voyage coincides with Europe's peak pre-Christmas stocking season, allowing exporters to seize the market earlier while avoiding congestion in the peak shipping season, Xiao added. LISBON, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Portugal officially recognized the State of Palestine on Sunday, according to the Lusa News Agency. "Today, the Portuguese State officially recognizes the State of Palestine," Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel declared at the Portuguese UN mission in New York, emphasizing that the country believes a two-state solution "is the only path to peace." "It is more than time to take the necessary steps for peace," Lusa news agency quoted Rangel as saying. The minister added Portugal advocates for a ceasefire and opening borders to humanitarian aid. The announcement came as scheduled on the eve of the High-Level Conference on the two-state solution, organized by France and Saudi Arabia at UN headquarters in New York. The Portuguese government's decision received full support from President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who told journalists in New York that he "followed the entire process" and emphasized that Portugal "has always, with all presidents and all governments, defended this principle." On Saturday, the Palestinian National Authority welcomed Portugal's announcement of its intention to formally recognize the State of Palestine, describing the decision as "courageous and consistent with international law." The speculation about Barack and Michelle Obamas marriage has been nonstop for the past few years. It wasnt as bad when Obama was President, likely because people were focused on other things then. But since the two became just regular citizens, it seems everything they do is scrutinized to try to detect marriage issues, which have just not been there. Michelle Obama even joked about it with her husband, Barack Obama, during an episode of the podcast IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. Welcome to IMO, look at you, Michelle said to her husband, to which her brother joked, Wait, you guys like each other? They continued. Oh yeah, really, huh. Thats the rumor mill, she replied. Its my husband, yall. More from StyleCaster Advertisement Advertisement Related: Here are the celebrities who support Donald Trump She took me back! Barack Obama added. Now dont start, Michelle replied. It was touch and go for a while, he continued with the light back and forth. Later in the conversation, Robinson remarked how nice it was to have them both in the same room, to which Michelle Obama explained, When we arent, folks think were divorced. The jokes continued recently, with Barack Obama speaking up on his marriage while at a Jefferson Educational Society event in Erie, Pennsylvania. This time, he said that hes spent most of the time since leaving the White House trying to stay in his wifes good graces. I have spent over eight years now trying to dig myself out of a hole with Michelle, Obama joked. And thats been challenging, but I feel like Im making progress. Im almost breaking even at the moment. Advertisement Advertisement This has been pretty much on par for the course for the way the two have handled divorce rumors. When it seems absurd, make a joke, it seems. Michelle Obama also recently talked about the rumors during NPRs Wild Card with Rachel Martin, explaining why their lives werent constantly plastered on social media and sometimes it was hard for people to know how the relationship was going. Its like, OK, so we dont Instagram every minute of our lives, she said. We are 60. Were 60, yall. We just, you just are not gonna know what were doing every minute of the day, you know? Rumors started swirling after the former first lady skipped Donald Trumps inauguration. She also spoke about this decision her podcast. My decision to skip the inauguration, what people dont realize, or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me, were met with such ridicule and criticism, she explained. People couldnt believe that I was saying no for any other reason, that they had to assume that my marriage was falling apart, you know. Considering the jokey, relaxed way both Michelle and Barack Obama have addressed this, its clear that their marriage is just fine. People might just have to get used to not getting updates about them as frequently as they did when the two were in the White House. Besides, if theres ever something to report, theyre still famous enough wed likely find out right away. Best of StyleCaster Sign up for Stylecaster's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. NEED TO KNOW Jeanine Mason is going to be a mom! The Roswell, New Mexico star is pregnant and expecting her first baby with her husband Nicholas, announcing the news on Instagram The actress and her husband exchanged personal vows on the stoop of their New York City home Jeanine Mason is going to be a mom! The Roswell, New Mexico star, 34, is pregnant and expecting her first baby with her husband Nicholas, announcing the news on Instagram. In the post, the expectant mother shared photos from the couple's maternity shoot, where she wore a baby blue dress that showed off her growing baby bump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The most excited and scared weve ever been," she wrote in the caption. "We can hardly wait. Little guys coming and soon!" Paul Morigi/Getty Actress Jeanine Mason attends "The Time Is Now: Reinstate The Assault Weapons Ban" event at The Hamilton Hotel on January 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. Actress Jeanine Mason attends "The Time Is Now: Reinstate The Assault Weapons Ban" event at The Hamilton Hotel on January 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. Several of Mason's Roswell, New Mexico costars shared their congratulations for the couple in the comments. " congratulations! Its going to be the cutest baby! ," Justina Adorno wrote. "Amazing!!! " Tyler Blackburn commented. Michael Trevino echoed his fellow costars' sentiments, simply writing, "Beautiful! " 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 So You Think You Can Dance champion married her husband in late 2023, announcing the news on Instagram on Jan. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So many thank yous to come. But for now, just one to this unbelievable man. I love you husband, the performer captioned a set of photos with her husband. Mason and Nicholas, who first met on a dating app according to Brides, exchanged personal vows on the stoop of their New York City home, the same place where Nicholas popped the question. We thought, how fun would it be to bring our favorite people along for a weekend in our lives here in New York City and to fill all our neighborhood spots with our families and friends, Mason told Brides. We imagined, What would our ideal weekend be with our favorite people? and then, How do we want to be married? We really threw tradition or answering to any standard out the window. Read the original article on People Pageant season is here! At just 29 years old, Riley Hedstrom is gearing up to represent the United States of America at the iconic Mister Global pageant in Thailand. Hailing from Minnesota, the model secured the title of Mister America Global in 2024 and he's now ready to compete against representatives from all over the world for the pageant's highest title. "I like to think about when I'm an old man how cool it'll be to say that I did this when I was in my 20's. I represented the United States! That's something I think about that'll just be funny when I'm a wrinkly, gray-haired old man," Hedstrom tells PRIDE. The star is heading off to Thailand with an incredible support system behind him. Hedstrom is engaged to CrossFit icon, Alec Smith, and the duo is planning on starting a family shortly after the pageant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's been on the docket for a long time now. We're hoping it'll happen soon! We're saving up some money right now. We've tried in the past unsuccessfully, but we'll try again in the future. I can't think of a different person that I'd love to start a family with." Contestants arrive on September 25, 2025 in Thailand to compete in the global competition and one lucky winner will be crowned Mister Global during the final showdown on October 5, 2025. Fans can follow Riley Hedstrom on Instagram here. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page. This article originally appeared on Pride: Meet Riley Hedstrom the sexy gay model competing in Mister Global 2025 RELATED Priscilla Presley has revealed Elvis Presley offered for her to have an abortion when pregnant with their daughter, Lisa Marie, in a new memoir. Its just one of several startling revelations that Priscilla, 80, makes in her new book, Softly, As I Leave You, out Tuesday and seen by Page Six. The former Dallas actress says she struggled to control her wayward daughter, who was left so broken by her fathers death in August 1977. Elvis and Priscilla Presley with their newborn baby daughter, Lisa Marie, in February 1968. Michael Ochs Archives Priscilla then introduced Lisa Marie to the controversial Church of Scientology, but confesses she was naive about the religion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And she tells how Lisa battled years of financial woes and drug abuse at one point taking 80 pills a day before her death at 54 in January 2023. My daughter was a conundrum, complicated and challenging, Priscilla writes. Lisa was a free spirit, a determined and restless soul. As the daughter of an icon, Lisa dubbed her public persona Lisa Marie Fing Presley. It was an identity that both enamored and haunted her for the rest of her life, writes Priscilla. Priscilla writes in her new memoir that Elvis offered an abortion when it was clear they were not ready to become parents. Gotta Have Rock and Roll. Priscilla wed Elvis in Las Vegas on May 1, 1967, and got pregnant on their wedding night. Bettmann Archive Elvis and Priscilla famously met when she was just 14 and he was 24 and serving in Germany in the US Army. They married in 1967 and had only been wed for a few weeks when they discovered she was pregnant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our wedding had meant I could finally come out in the open, Priscilla said, I was so excited. But when I got pregnant on my wedding night, those dreams fell apart. Neither Elvis nor I was ready for a child. For weeks, Elvis and I worried in silence about what was to come. At my lowest point, I even wondered how Id feel if I had an accident and miscarried. I felt so guilty that I was even having these thoughts, she said. Priscilla details how hard it was to raise her wayward daughter, who started doing drugs as a teen. Getty Images Then Elvis looked at me one day and asked if I wanted to have an abortion. He told me hed support whatever I wanted. His words were a wake-up call. The enormity of it hit me head-on, and I began to cry. I told him, No! We cant do that. This is our baby! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Lisa Marie arrived in February 1968, the couple immediately fell hopelessly in love with her. Priscilla left Elvis when Lisa Marie was 4 after having an affair with her karate instructor, Mike Stone, but insisted this was not the reason for her departure. When Elvis found out about Stone, Priscilla said, he forced himself on her, the way he imagined a karate master doing it it left me with an unhappy memory of my last experience of sexual intimacy with Elvis. Lisa Marie was just 20 when she married Danny Keough in October 1988. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images Priscilla was appalled when Lisa Marie wed Michael Jackson in 1994. Gamma/Eyedea/Everett Collection Elvis, who frequently cheated on Priscilla, was so upset, he even asked his closest pal, Joe Esposito, to find a hit man to take out Stone but was persuaded to calm down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As difficult as it was, I never regretted my decision to leave Elvis. But I never ceased to mourn it, Priscilla said. Raising my daughter was a challenge for both of us, Priscilla admitted. She was strong-willed from the beginning. Like her dad, she just came that way. Lisa had a mind of her own, and being Elviss daughter only reinforced it. Priscilla said Jackson only wanted to marry her daughter so he could appear to be a heterosexual male. Indeed, Lisa struggled to fit in at school and her go-to line was, Im Lisa Presley. My fathers Elvis Presley! So watch it! When Lisa got into her teens, she became preoccupied with boys, and when she was 14, the world as I knew it fell apart, Priscilla said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After returning home from a trip, Lisa said Priscillas boyfriend, actor Michael Edwards, had come into her room and lifted her bed covers to look at her. Although Lisa said he did nothing physical to her, Priscilla asked Edwards to move out and four years later, was sickened when he published a book admitting to a sexual obsession with her daughter. The Presley family teamed up to promote the Oscar-nominated movie Elvis in June 2022. Lisa Marie, seen with daughters Riley Keough, Harper and Finley Lockwood, was a huge fan of the film. Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock Priscilla said she was shocked when, 40 years later, Lisa claimed in her own memoir, From Here to the Great Unknown (published posthumously in December 2024), that Edwards had molested her. Edwards has denied the claims. I was encouraged to embellish a harmless anecdote about Lisa Marie in my memoir from the 1980s and now regret that I did, he previously told Page Six. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I understand that these stories sell books, but the notion that I molested Lisa Marie is just a fabrication. Priscilla says Lisa Marie told her something completely different from what was in her book at the time. I struggled to make peace with Lisas words, Priscilla writes, because I didnt hear them until after her passing, we never got to talk about it together. I know I will never have closure. Lisa was a devoted mom to her kids. Shes seen with Riley and son Benjamin, alongside Priscillas son Navarone Garibaldi, in June 2002. AFP via Getty Images By the time Lisa received her inheritance from her fathers estate at the age of 25, she was already married to musician Danny Keough and a mother to Riley and Benjamin. But the marriage broke down, and Priscilla was appalled when Lisa went on to marry Michael Jackson in May 1994, after he had been accused of child molestation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt believe he loved her, Priscilla said, revealing that she had only met Jackson once. He married her at a time when he desperately needed good publicity that depicted him as a desirable heterosexual man. Priscilla Presley makes a number of astonishing revelations in her book, Softly, As I Leave You, out Tuesday. It was one thing to fight the child molestation charges against him. There was no way to come out of that looking good. But photos of Elviss daughter wearing the huge diamond engagement ring hed had made for her? That image was pure gold. On January 18, 1996, Lisa filed for divorce. I could practically hear Elvis sigh with relief, Priscilla said. Jackson died in 2009. By 2005, Lisa was broke and sold off 85 percent of her inheritance, although Elvis iconic Memphis home, Graceland, remains with his family. Actress Riley Keough now has two children with her husband, Ben Smith-Petersen. rileykeough/Instagram Priscilla said she took custody of her twin granddaughters during a fierce custody battle between Lisa Marie and third husband Michael Lockwood. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Lisa Maries joy at marrying her third husband, guitarist Michael Lockwood, and welcoming their twin girls, Finley and Harper, in October 2008, however, was marred by opioids she was given after the birth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lisa had inherited Elviss vulnerability to opioid addiction and was addicted by the time she left the hospital, Priscilla said. By 2014, the problem had gone way beyond painkillers, and Lisa was taking opioids and mixing cocaine with large amounts of alcohol, leading her to rehab for the first time. This led to the end of her marriage to Lockwood. Priscilla said she was stunned when the truth about Lisas drug addiction came out in court filings during her 2016 divorce battle. Priscilla had son Navarone with her ex, Marco Garibaldi, when Lisa Marie was 19. Getty Images I had no idea how much poison she was pouring into her body, she said. Priscilla temporarily took custody of the twins, but they went back to their mom after a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite this, Lisa had gone steadily downhill from the day she first filed for divorce. It was like my daughter was disappearing inside a woman I had never met. She was no longer my Lisa Marie. Her drug usage climbed as high as eighty pills a day. Desperate to keep her girls, she lived in a tornado of drug-fueled emotions with no relief in sight. Riley and her mom, Lisa Marie, months before Lisa Maries passing. rileykeough/Instagram She was also furious when Priscilla refused to testify in court and take her side by claiming Lockwood was an unfit dad. Lisa Marie eventually got primary custody, but Lockwood got to see his kids part-time. I knew that arguing with her was futile. I would be arguing with her addiction, said Priscilla. I also knew with a stab to my heart that she would never completely forgive me. And she never did. I was losing one of the two people I loved the most. I didnt know yet that I would soon lose her permanently. The events poisoning our lives would prove fatal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lisa Marie lost Benjamin at age 27 to suicide in July 2020, which was the beginning of the end for my daughter, Priscilla claims in the book. We all knew that with Lisa, we were living on borrowed time. Priscilla tells how she had to make the decision to take her daughter off life support following her cardiac arrest in January 2023. Getty Images for ABA Priscilla was just 14 when she met Elvis, who was 24, when he was stationed in Germany. Getty Images By the time the pair attended the Golden Globesto celebrate the Baz Luhrmann movie Elvis, on Jan. 10, 2023, Lisa could barely walk and had to be aided by family friend Jerry Schilling. She complained to her mom that her stomach was hurting and left early. I didnt know it was the last hug, Priscilla said. Just two days later, Lisa was found unconscious by her ex, Keough, who had moved back in with her. I knew from the first moment I walked into Lisas hospital room that she was gone, Priscilla said. Lisa had suffered a cardiac arrest after developing a small bowel obstruction, a severe complication of bariatric surgery. Priscilla ends the book, saying, My little wild child, I love you forever. Cambodian production company Anti-Archive has unveiled its robust 2025/26 slate, featuring a mix of homegrown talent and international co-productions that showcase the countrys evolving cinematic landscape, at Busans Asian Contents & Film Market. The company recently celebrated success with Becoming Human, directed by Polen Ly, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival 2025 before its Asian premiere at the Busan International Film Festival. The fiction film follows the story of Thida, a young womans soul dwelling as guardian spirit in an abandoned cinema, who reveals herself after repeated visits from Hai, a living man. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Anti-Archive was originally founded ten years ago to produce a new generation of Cambodian filmmakers, bringing their voices, stories, and perspectives to the world, says Daniel Mattes from Anti-Archive. We are excited to develop and present a new slate of films from directors intent on presenting profound and groundbreaking depictions of the countrys contemporary experience, with critical awareness of their historical roots. The upcoming slate includes To Leave, To Stay, a Cannes La Fabrique 2025 project directed by Danech San. The fiction film, currently in development for 2026/27, follows Mera who travels with her friend Bopha to visit a soldier she met online, only for Mera to go missing weeks later as Bophas search begins. Anti-Archives short film roster spans documentary and fiction works, including Crab by Kanitha Tith, Fresh as Daisy by Socheata Van, and Earth & Us by Sreylin Meas, all currently in post-production. Additional shorts include Shadows by Sreileak Prum, The Night Seekers by Kavich Neang, and Ba Phnum by Savunthara Seng. The company is expanding its international footprint through several co-productions. Little Phnom Penh, directed by Cambodian filmmaker Chheangkea, is being co-produced with NoMad Productions in France. The fiction film, slated for 2027, spans two decades from post-Khmer Rouge Phnom Penh to early 2000s California, following a Cambodian woman grappling with identity, family, and love amid cultural upheaval. Advertisement Advertisement International collaborations include Promised Spaces by Ivan Markovic, a hybrid fiction exploring contemporary Cambodias transformed cityscapes and the lives of construction workers and homebuyers. The France/Germany/Serbia/Cambodia co-production is led by Bocalupo Films and Fiskultura Films, with additional co-production by Big Time Production in Serbia. Notes of a Crocodile, directed by Daphne Xu as a Canada/China/Cambodia co-production, follows a Chinese woman searching across Cambodia for her mysteriously disappeared ex-girlfriend, traveling from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville along the proposed Funan Techo Canal route. Anti-Archive is also co-producing Backbone Shivers, a documentary by Mickael Damperon, led by producer Limage dapres in France. Mattes emphasizes the companys commitment to fostering diverse voices: They are united by their search for new cinematic forms and ways of speaking and expressing themselves. We work with filmmakers close to us as they take their first steps or continue their next projects beyond, and we also welcome collaborations with similarly critically-minded international filmmakers who bring their own perspective to shooting in Cambodia. Advertisement Advertisement Beyond production, Anti-Archive supports regional cinema through initiatives including Margin, an independent film magazine celebrating Southeast Asian cinema, and the Kampung Film Festival on Koh Sdach island, founded by filmmaker Danech San. Across all the films in our upcoming slate of projects, we are proud of its diverse range of views, personalities, styles, and subjects, but we also find a shared commitment to cinema as a means to explore the world around us and to share that exploration with audiences in Cambodia and beyond, Mattes concludes. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. NEED TO KNOW On the Sept. 21 episode of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?, Stacey got critical of Georgi after she and her husband Florian arrived in Bulgaria for her sister Darcey's wedding anniversary party "I just feel like a lot of times I don't think it's fair the way Georgi treats my sister," Stacey explained Meanwhile, Georgi expressed frustration over her outfit of choice for the anniversary party: a busty wedding dress she wore to their wedding Stacey Silva and Florian Sukaj have joined Darcey Silva and Georgi Rusev for an epic anniversary party in Bulgaria, but Georgi has grown increasingly frustrated with his wifes antics. On the Sept. 21 episode of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?, the two couples reunited for the first time in weeks at a Bulgarian dance studio, where they prepared a special dance for Darcey and Georgis upcoming wedding anniversary party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darcey was excited to have her twin sister join her in Bulgaria for the big day, explaining to cameras: My sister's never missed a big moment in my life." But Stacey was more concerned about her twins relationship. I want to show Darcey my love and support because I just feel like a lot of times I don't think it's fair the way Georgi treats my sister, she said in a confessional. TLC Stacey suggests Georgi does not treat Darcey as fair as he should Stacey suggests Georgi does not treat Darcey as fair as he should Stacey wasted no time holding Georgi's feet to the fire after greetings were said and done. First, she pressed him about if he was enjoying their vacation, which he claimed to be enjoying. Everything's good? Because I kind of heard there's been some ups and downs, Stacey asked, to which Georgi said, "Well, we know wherever your sister is, theres some drama." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That answer did not sit well with Stacey as she admitted that Darcey may not always be easy to live with, but she still felt worried for her sister. Georgi, however, was more concerned about what Stacey might do at the wedding. Hopefully Stacey is [on] her best behavior, he said in a confessional, as Darcey insisted there would be no twin drama between her and her sister. TLC Stacey greets Darcey after arriving in Bulgaria Stacey greets Darcey after arriving in Bulgaria The next day, it was time to party. Darcey even had Stacey bring all of their wedding attire, including Goergis tuxedo and her busty wedding dress, to Bulgaria. However, Georgi was not thrilled with Darceys outfit choice once again. It [doesn't] make me feel very comfortable, he said in a confessional. She had all this time to figure out what to wear. What is she expecting? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, Georgi opted to give up this argument instead. So the two couples then ventured to the venue, which left Darcey impressed. Wow! Your mom and dad went all out! she exclaimed as their car pulled up to the curb. TLC Georgi makes fun of Darcey's wedding dress Georgi makes fun of Darcey's wedding dress Entering the party, Darcey was most concerned about having to meet the rest of Georgis family. That's a lot of pressure for me, she explained in a confessional, because to feel accepted into their family is the most beautiful feeling, and I just want to make sure that everybody loves me. So after taking part in several more Bulgarian traditions, it was game time for Darcey. First, she exchanged some hugs with Georgis parents, who were thrilled with the turn out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darcey then made her way around the room with a wine glass in hand and met each and every person who attended the gathering. Meanwhile, Georgi was very affectionate toward his wife all evening long, something both Stacey and Florian were not used to seeing. Its nice to see Darcey and Georgi let loose and have fun, Stacey said. I feel like this is how they should be all the time! Added Florian: [This was the] first time Ive seen Georgi giving attention to her and having fun with her, he explained, noting that both Darcey and Georgi were acting like it was the first day they met. TLC Darcey meets members of Georgi's family at the anniversary party Darcey meets members of Georgi's family at the anniversary party But the longer the night went, the drunker Darcey got. Georgi admitted that Bulgarian parties usually have a lot of drinks, but suggested that Darcey enjoyed his familys wine a little bit too much. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even Stacey and Florian noticed that Darcey was getting tipsy. But Darcey did not seem to care, stating, Hey, Id rather be me! while slurring her words. Eventually, the party came to an end. Stacey helped carry the train of Darceys dress as her sister stumbled across the room, gave Georgis parents a hug goodbye and headed out the door. I feel blessed that everybody could gather, Darcey said in a confessional. Its a memory to cherish for a lifetime! Added Georgi, I love these moments when you get together with the family. [Theyre] very meaningful and recharging. Thats what I was missing for the last 13 years. TLC Darcey grabs a glass of alcohol off of a drum during the anniversary party Darcey grabs a glass of alcohol off of a drum during the anniversary party But things quickly spiraled once the two couples hopped in their car to go home. Darcey began feeling unwell, and soon found herself vomiting out the car door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive never seen you throw up like this before! Stacey said while holding her sisters hair. Meanwhile, Georgi cracked some jokes at his wifes expense. Both Darcey and Stacey asked Georgi to stop, but he simply laughed off the request. In a confessional, Stacey expressed her displeasure with Georgis response, suggesting he should have been more focused on caring for his wife. He should be there supporting her, loving her, not making jabs, she explained. She then turned to Florian and said, You would never let me do that! I mean, you would at least hold my hair. TLC Darcey gets sick after drinking too much at the anniversary party Darcey gets sick after drinking too much at the anniversary party Still, Georgi continued to joke around, even as they pulled away from the venue. Somebody want to poison the queen? Wheres the rat? he quipped, to which Darcey replied, Youre the rat! You tried to poison me! 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. Darcey continued heaving in the car, which left Georgi grossed out. Ew! he whined as his wife gagged before she mustered enough energy to tell him shut the f--- up. 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on TLC. Read the original article on People [Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Gen V, Season 2 Episodes 1-3.] Gen V is back, and Season 2 didnt waste any time addressing the biggest question leading up to the latest chapter, which is, how did the show handle Chance Perdomos absence by rewriting Andre Andersons story? As fans will recall, Perdomo, who played the Supe student at Godolkin in Season 1, died in March 2024, just days before Season 2 filming was meant to commence, leading writers to change scripts so a recast wasnt necessary. As we continue to navigate the tragic loss of Chance Perdomo, everyone at Gen V is determined to find the best way to pay respect to his memory, a May 2024 statement from the Gen V producers read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We wont be recasting the role, because no one can replace Chance. Instead, we have been taking the time and space to recraft our Season 2 storylines as we begin production in May. We will honor Chance and his legacy this season, they teased at the time. Viewers saw how they chose to honor Perdomo in the first three episodes, which dropped together on Prime Video on September 17. Rather than waiting for the first episode to run before memorializing Perdomo, a title card simply reading, For Chance, popped up on the screen just moments before the episode proceeded to unfold. Chance Perdomo's Andre is honored in Season 2 of 'Gen V' Prime Video The episodes also offer insight into how the show decided to write out Andre as a character, whod been imprisoned at Elmira alongside coeds Emma (Lizze Broadway), Jordan (Derek Luh and London Thor), and Marie (Jaz Sinclair, who also starred with Perdomo in Netflixs former series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to an account from Jordan in Episode 1 of Season 2, Andre had found an escape route from the prison and waited for Jordan and Emma to join him, after Marie managed to escape herself. Unfortunately for Andre and his pals, the exit had been cemented off, and hed tried to open a new path through a steel door. In his exertion, Andre had stroked out, according to Jordan, overcome with the effort to free them. In Season 2s second installment, Godolkin Universitys new Dean Cipher (Hamish Linklater) shared Andres medical records with Marie, whod returned to school. Cipher insisted that Andre had suffered from the same condition his father, Polarity (Sean Patrick Thomas), did. Apparently, when Andre used his power, he got neural-micro tears that got worse over time, and included tremors and migraines. While Marie and her friends arent sure they can trust the records entirely, Cipher did show Marie brain scans in the medical file. While Jordan took this information in, they realized Andre knew it was likely a suicide mission to break out of Elmira. How will the show continue to highlight Perdomos legacy and Andres story? Tune in a Season 2 unfolds, and let us know what you thought about the shows tribute in the comments section. Gen V, Season 2, Wednesdays, Prime Video Read the latest entertainment news on TV Insider. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Key Takeaways: The new Netflix show House of Guinness follows the fourth generation of the Guinness familyArthur IV, Edward, Anne, and Benas they inherit the Irish brewing business. The original Arthur Guinness founded the beer giant in the 1750s after signing a 9,000-year lease for an abandoned brewery in Dublin. By 1868, when Arthur IV, Edward, Anne, and Ben were in line to take over, the brewery had already become an international success that survived an internal sex scandal. When Benjamin Guinness, the figurehead of Irelands most recognizable brewery, dies, his four children must battle for control of the business and preserve his familys legacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This unique succession story is the basis for House of Guinness, the new Netflix series from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. Now streaming, the show follows the Guinness childrenArthur, Edward, Anne, and Benas they look to expand the brewerys reach and leave their own mark on Irish history. Although the show is a dramatization, generations of the real Guinness family have carried on the legacy through business acumen, philanthropy, and, in some cases, public scandal. In fact, the beer giants story dates back more than a century before the 1868 setting of House of Guinness. Heres everything you need to know about the Guinness ancestors and their respective roles in the companys early rise to prominence. The original Arthur Guinness learned to brew from his father Founder Arthur Guinness, the great-grandfather of Arthur IV (played by Anthony Boyle in House of Guinness), was born in 1725 near Celbridge, Ireland. According to the Guinness Storehouse, his father, Richard, worked as a land steward for the archbishop of Cashel. One of Richards duties was supervising the brewing of beer for workers on the estate, which is likely how Arthur developed an interest in the craft. Rather than a vice to be commodified, beer was an important part of Irish society at the time. Its lower alcohol content helped reduce public drunkenness fueled by stronger drinks such as gin. It even provided a healthier alternative to water, which was often polluted and carried disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The archbishop died in 1752 and, in his will, bequeathed Arthur 100the equivalent of four years of wages. Arthur used the money to start his own brewery in Leixlip, Ireland. Quickly proving himself capable as a business owner, he was soon eyeing expansion. Arthur secured a 9,000-year lease for the Guinness brewery Arthur saw potential in a abandoned brewery site at St James Gate in Dublin. On December 31, 1759, the 34-year-old entrepreneur signed a 9,000-year lease for the property, which spanned 64 acres in total. The deal also gave Arthur water rights for that area of the citycrucial for the brewing process, according to Guinness ambassador Mike Reardon. Getty Images The new space saw innovation within the brewerys product line. Initially Arthur was brewing ale, but he began transitioning to porter during the 1770s. This style of beer, known for its dark color and unique flavor, originated in London. Arthurs take eventually became the Guinness stout we know today. In the 1790s, the brewery site itself underwent significant expansion as two large vathouses used to ferment the beer were completed. Another milestone arrived in 1796 when the first international shipment of Guinness left Dublin port, signaling the vast reach the company would achieve in the coming decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For all his achievements, Arthur seemingly shied away from boasting about his business. Only one portrait of his likeness is known to exist. A portion of the companys growth is also owed to Arthurs wife, an heiress named Olivia Whitmore, who married Guinness in 1761 and provided a large dowry of 1,000. The couple went on to have 21 children, though less than half reached adulthood. Arthur Guinness II helped the company go global Arthurs death on January 23, 1803, spurred the first transition of brewery leadership. According to author Joe Joyce, the most able Guinness sonnot necessarily the eldestcontinued the line of succession during the brewerys early existence. That was the case when Arthurs second son, Arthur Guinness II, inherited the brewery and its operations. Arthur II expanded the companys global reach, catering to markets in the West Indies, Africa, Southeast Asia, and even the United States. By 1833, Guinness had become Irelands largest brewery. A sex scandal almost ended the Guinness business According to beer historian Martyn Cornell, two of Arthur IIs sons, Arthur III and his younger brother Benjamin, officially became partners in the business in their early 20s. However, as House of Guinness shows, Benjamin led the company by himself after their fathers death in June 1855. Why? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason, it turns out, was a public scandal involving Arthur III and his relationship with a brewery worker. Cornell writes that Arthur III, around age 42 at the time, evidently became smitten with Dionysius Boursiquot, an 18-year-old male clerk. Most records of the incident have since been removed from the Guinness archive, but Arthur III had apparently been issuing notes on the brewery partnership without the knowledge of his father or brother. The secret payments suggest he was giving money to Boucicault either as a gift or blackmail. Arthur III addressed the scandal in an 1839 letter to his father. Believe me above all that for worlds I would not hurt your mind, if I could avoid itof all the living, he wrote. Your feelings are most sacred to me, this situation, in which I have placed myself, has long caused me the acutest pain. Another archived letter suggested the brewing business be given up amid the crisis. However, Arthur III ultimately left the family partnership willingly and took 12,000 to buy a new home at Stillorgan Park, located south of Dublin. Benjamin Guinness and his son took the business to the modern age Getty Images Although the companys esteem had taken a hit, Benjamin looked to solidify the reputation of its product. In 1862, the company introduced its trademark label which includes the signature of Arthur Guinness and the now-iconic Celtic harp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Six years later, control of the brewery changed hands again after Benjamin diedwhere House of Guinness picks up. Upon his death, Benjamin had stipulated that his sons Arthur IV and Edward Cecil continue to run the brewery at the same place by their Ancestors for so many years, according to Stephen Mansfields book The Search for God and Guinness. But, seemingly sensing Arthur IVs political aspirationshe had been elected to Dublin parliamentBenjamin added that if one of his sons should leave the business, he must sell his share to his brother and to no other persona whatsoever. Thats exactly what happened in 1876, as Arthur IV formally withdrew from Guinness and gave his share to Edward. Unlike his fatherBenjamin had been known for personally interacting with all tiers of Guinness workersEdward took a hands-off approach as boss and delegated duties to trusted associates. He also embraced new technology and oversaw the construction of storage facilities for hops and grain, a second brewhouse, and a custom railway system to transport materials throughout the property, according to Mansfield. Production rose steadily under his guidance, reaching 1.2 million barrels by 1886. That same year, Edward decided to make Guinness a publicly traded company. On October 25, the stock offering sold out within an hour. A third of 250,000 ordinary shares were reserved for Edward, who became the richest man in Ireland. As the dawn of the 20th century neared, Guinness had solidified its place in the global beer market. Watch House of Guinness on Netflix House of Guinness began streaming Thursday, September 25, on Netflix. Creator Steven Knight previously hinted Benjamins death was a logical entry point to tell a story about rebelling against destiny. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The thing that I most like about the family throughout all of their generations is that they seem to be aware of their own absurdity, which is a very important thing, because they get up to stuff, and they make lots and lots of money and they make the most beautiful beer in the world, Knight told Newstalk Breakfast. But they also do these silly thingsits just so great to have these characters on the menu. You can pour a pintfor those of ageand watch House of Guinness now. It stars Anthony Boyle as Arthur Guinness IV, Louis Partridge as Edward Cecil Guinness, Emily Fairn as Anne Guinness, and Fionn OShea as Ben Guinness. You Might Also Like Howard Stern has broken his silence following ABC's decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live following comments that host Jimmy Kimmel made in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's death. "As you know, ABC threw Jimmy [Kimmel] off the air. I don't know what their plan is, but it looks like they might be firing him," Stern said on the Monday, Sept. 22 episode of SiriusXMs The Howard Stern Show. The network has not shared whether or not Kimmel will be "fired," though there is a change the show could return to its late night slot. Sinclair, the broadcasting company with the nation's largest ABC affiliate group, has requested that Kimmel issue an apology for his comments and that he donate to Kirk's family and Kirk's nonprofit, Turning Point USA, per People. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have spoken to Jimmy. I didn't ask him these questions, I just asked him how he was doing personally. I just know when the government begins to interfere, when the government says, I'm not pleased with you, so we're gonna orchestrate a way to silence you," he continued. "It's the wrong direction for our country. And I should know I've been involved in something like this and now ABC is put in the same position and it's unfortunate that ABC even has to be in this position. They shouldn't have to be in this position. I feel for them too, in this. But that someone's gotta step up and be f****** saying, 'Hey, enough, we're not gonna bow.' Now it might sound stupid, but the thing I did this morning, I'm canceling my Disney+. I'm trying to say with the pocketbook that I do not support what they're doing with Jimmy," he added. On the Monday, Sept. 15 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Kimmel addressed Kirks murder during his opening monologue, and suggested that suspected killer Tyler Robinson, 22, had a right wing agenda though investigators have found the exact opposite. We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it, Kimmel said on the episode, according to USA Today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirk was shot in broad daylight while speaking on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10. Prosecutors have charged Robinson with aggravated murder, obstruction of justice and witness tampering, and more, per CNN. In an effort to debunk some of the rumors about Robinson's political affiliations, WRAL News reported that Robinson was not a registered voter and he did not donate to Donald Trump. As for Stern's comments about Kimmel, they were met with mixed reactions from fans. "Why would Jimmy even want to go back?" one person said. "Great job Howard! Thank you for speaking up. Your platform is very widespread. More people in your position need to speak up. Our country is definitely heading in the wrong direction," someone else wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Educate yourself!! The government didnt have anything to do with this. Jimmy being a negative rude person did," a third Instagram user weighed in. "Howard Stern finally reached the out of touch point, of all people he knows how to conduct yourself on PUBLIC airwaves," a fourth comment read. Stern himself has been subject to plenty of online rumors that his own show was going to be canceled though not for any reasons having to do with Kirk. However, that doesn't seem to be the case, per Us Weekly, as Howard's show is ongoing and no announcements have been made. This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The United States might be relatively young as countries go, but it offers some seriously fascinating history. Few eras have captured our imaginations like the Wild West, with its rugged frontiers, stark and sweeping landscapes, and notorious lawlessness. Who hasn't dreamed of trading monthly bills, tedious appointments, and everyday responsibilities for a horse, a hat, and the wide open plains? That world may not exist anymore, but there are still some wonderfully historic bars and restaurants that offer an authentic taste of the Old West. We're talking about establishments that have been around for more than a century and have held onto the cowboy aesthetic. Spots that serve up food that makes you want to order a sippin' whiskey while you sit back and kick off your boots. So, let's take a look at some of the best places with real roots in America's Wild West, offering not just a meal but an experience. We've scoured the country to find the most highly rated and recommended historic gems, focusing on quality and consistency while keeping one foot firmly planted in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 15 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Eating At A Steakhouse Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings, Nevada exterior of the wild west Pioneer Saloon bar - Brandon Burke/Facebook The Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings, Nevada, looks like it was plucked straight out of the lawless frontier and dropped into the 21st century. Serving thirsty customers since 1913, this place holds the title of oldest bar in southern Nevada. Bullet holes in the Pioneer Saloon's walls tell the story of a card game that turned deadly in 1915, and it's where Clark Gable waited for news from the 1942 plane crash that claimed the life of his wife, Carole Lombard. It's not particularly surprising that some believe the saloon is still haunted by restless spirits ghosts and Gable have both lent their names to dishes on the no-frills menu. More recently, Pioneer Saloon featured as a location in the video game "Fallout: New Vegas," renamed as the Prospector Saloon. According to visitors, the hearty burgers are delicious, and the cold drinks hit the spot as you sit and take in the mountain views. pioneersaloonnv.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (702) 674-6809 310 West Spring St, Goodsprings, NV 89019 The Historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, Wyoming Bar of the saloon at The Historic Occidental Hotel - The Historic Occidental Hotel There are bullet holes in the ceiling of the Occidental Hotel's saloon in Buffalo, Wyoming, too. That's not surprising, given the place's previous reputation. It was the sort of establishment where a single card game could last for days, violence was just a sideways glance or ill-timed comment away, and the likes of President Teddy Roosevelt or Butch Cassidy might have strolled through the doors at any moment. Founded in 1880, the hotel stood empty through the 1980s and into the 1990s, and was nearly torn down. Luckily, it was fully restored with the goal of faithfully preserving its Wild West landmark status. While visitors might feel like they're stepping back in time, the hotel's rooms feel authentic while being fitted with modern comforts. The venue also hosts regular events, such as bingo and live music nights. Meanwhile, the saloon serves up burgers and steaks, pot pies and flatbread pizza, and of course desserts and drinks. The bartenders receive frequent shout-outs for their friendliness and incredible cocktails, the food (which includes vegetarian options) is outstanding, and many say the Occidental Hotel is the highlight of their trip to Wyoming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement occidentalwyoming.com/saloon (307) 684-0451 10 North Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834 Red Onion Saloon in Skagway, Alaska Sepia image of the street and exterior of the Red Onion Saloon with building in color - Red Onion Saloon It's impossible to talk about the Gold Rush without talking about Alaska, and that brings us to the Red Onion Saloon. Opened in 1898, it's an iconic landmark with a storied past as a bar, restaurant, brothel, and dance hall. Today, the Gold Rush-era building is celebrated for preserving the area's history and hosts walking tours, live music, and dances. Believers in the paranormal might also find something worth visiting for: According to those sensitive to the spirit world, some of the previous residents never left. Some say they've felt cold spots, and others claim to have detected a lingering scent of perfume left by the saloon's resident ghost, a woman known as Lydia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visitors love the tours and recommend checking out the museum even if you don't plan on eating there. They enjoy the bar's shots like the humorously named Reindeer Fart, and have great things to say about the food and service. While the Red Onion can get crowded, there's a good reason for it: The saloon's lively atmosphere makes it a highlight for anyone who takes the time to stop in Skagway during their Alaskan cruise trip. redonion1898.com/ (907) 983-2222 201 Broadway, Skagway, AK 99840 Huber's in Portland, Oregon Bar in Huber's with high vaulted ceilings and a bartender waiting on a patron - Huber's/Facebook Huber's is the oldest operating restaurant in Portland, Oregon, and has been welcoming customers since W.L. Lightner opened it in 1879. One of his employees was Frank Huber, who became the restaurant's owner by the end of the 1880s. In 1891, Huber hired Jim Louie, the man who would ultimately revolutionize the business. Louie was a Chinese immigrant, and his signature roast turkey recipe quickly became a local favorite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Check out the customer reviews of Huber's menu today, and you'll see plenty of folks lauding the turkey as perfectly tender and deliciously moist, rivaling even the best Thanksgiving spread. It's all thanks to Louie, whose turkey recipe lives on to this day. It is worth noting the heartbreaking footnote to his story. As important as he was to Portland's culinary scene, anti-Chinese legislation of the time meant Louie's wife and children were never allowed to join him in America. However, when Louie died in 1946, his nephew stepped into his shoes, and Huber's has remained a family-run business ever since. hubers.com (503) 228-5686 411 Southwest 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97204 Miners and Stockmen's Steakhouse & Spirits in Hartville, Wyoming Exterior of Miners brick and wood building on a sunny day - Miners and Stockman's Steakhouse/Facebook Miners and Stockmen's was once one of many bars in a town that counted nearly 800 residents in its heyday at the turn of the 20th century. Now, it's the last business left standing in Hartville, Wyoming. As of 2025, Hartville had a population of just 65, so you might be wondering how the place is still operating. The historic bar stood empty for a long time before it was bought and turned into a steakhouse that offers a concise menu of the finest Prime USDA Black Angus beef. Today, the fascinating history and gourmet cuisine draw plenty of visitors from states away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ribeye is a clear favorite of customers who regularly comment on Miners and Stockmen's stunning location and historical quirks. Depending on when you visit, you might even spot modern-day members of the Pony Express swinging by to pick up the mail. The staff also receives high praise for knowing the menu inside and out, their ability to recommend the perfect drink pairings, and their skill at weaving engaging tales of frontier life. wyomingsoldestbar.com (307) 836-2008 608 Main St, Hartville, WY 82215 The Snake Pit in Kingston, Idaho Exterior of the Snake Pit two-story log cabin surrounded by trees - The Snake Pit in Enaville, Idaho/Facebook You can probably expect a place with a name like the "Snake Pit" to have some serious stories, especially when it's been serving customers since at least 1879. Some say the name refers to an insulting nickname for the girls who worked there when it was a brothel as well as a bar. Others claim the moniker came about due to a large population of water snakes that lived nearby and would frequently be seen and sometimes caught by patrons relieving themselves in the outhouse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After briefly operating under different names like The Clark Hotel and the Enaville Resort in an attempt to appear more respectable, the Snake Pit returned, and it's still serving food and drink to locals and travelers alike. Today, customers report trying prairie oysters here for the first time and loving them. If those aren't your thing, it's worth trying the huckleberries. The blueberry-like fruits are delicious, whether they're in bread pudding, a signature margarita, or a creamy milkshake. snakepitidaho.com (208) 682-3453 1480 Coeur d'Alene River Rd, Kingston, ID 83839 Buckhorn Exchange in Denver, Colorado Exterior of the Buckhorn Exchange brick building with red awning - The Buckhorn Exchange Restaurant/Facebook Denver's Buckhorn Exchange is full of history ... and stuffed animals. Visitors should be prepared to dine under the watchful eyes of taxidermied animal heads, but those who do venture here will find a place that feels much the same as when it opened back in 1893. The restaurant was originally established by Henry H. Zietz, who was no ordinary restauranteur. At just 12 years old, Zietz became a member of William "Buffalo Bill" Cody's Wild West Show. He even met Chief Sitting Bull, who gave him his lifelong nickname, "Shorty Scout." When the Buckhorn Exchange opened, President Teddy Roosevelt was among its first guests and even enlisted Zietz as his guide and hunting partner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take a gander at the menu today, and it's easy to imagine you're sitting at a table with any one of these colorful historical figures. You'll find the deceptively named Rocky Mountain Oysters, grilled duck, and traditional game meats, like elk, buffalo, and alligator. However, longtime customers say that a huge part of the reason they visit is to experience the sense of history and hear stories told by the restaurant's knowledgeable staff. buckhorn.com (303) 534-9505 1000 Osage St, Denver, CO 80204 Middlegate Station in Fallon, Nevada A wooden building with bar sign and gas pump, with frame of a wagon in the desert - Middlegate Station/Facebook There's something surreal about driving through the desolate landscapes of the southwestern U.S. at night if you haven't experienced it, add it to your bucket list. For those who know what we're talking about, imagine that feeling, but on horseback. That should bring you closer to the origins of Middlegate Station, which first opened in 1860 as a stop on the Pony Express. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fast forward to the 21st century, and the original vibe has barely changed. There's nothing around for miles, and the ceiling is still covered with dollar bills, pinned there by hopeful gold prospectors on their way to seek their fortune. Why? So that even if they failed, they would always have at least one dollar to their name. There's also some outstanding food to be found at Middlegate Station, making it a must-visit restaurant. However, if you want to tuck into a Monster Burger reportedly as delicious as it is huge just make sure you've got enough gas in the tank to make it back to civilization after. facebook.com/middlegate.station (775) 423-7134 42500 Austin Highway, Fallon, NV 89406 The Palace Restaurant & Saloon in Prescott, Arizona Bar at the Palace saloon with barstools - The Palace Restaurant and Saloon/Facebook First opened in 1877, The Palace Restaurant & Saloon is located in Prescott, Arizona, where legendary lawman Virgil Earp once resided. The rest of the Earp brothers, along with Doc Holliday, were also regular patrons of The Palace before they departed to the infamous Tombstone. However, The Palace isn't exactly the same today as it was back then. The original building burned down in 1900, but, fortunately, the ornate bar was saved from the blaze, and it's still in use at the new site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the Earps' patronage and a destructive blaze are just two small pieces of this iconic location's history. Believers in the paranormal also claim that some of the previous guests still reside there in spirit. Those who visit The Palace say that it's more than just a dining experience. It's practically a museum visit and a history lesson, served with hearty slices of prime rib, delicious burgers, and outstanding pulled pork sandwiches. The bar is also a must-see attraction, and yes they'll show you where Wyatt Earp sat. thepalacerestaurantandsaloon.com (928) 541-1996 120 South Montezuma St, Prescott, AZ 86303 Cattlemen's Steakhouse in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Exterior of Cattlemen's building at night lit by neon signs - Cattlemen's Steakhouse in Historic Stockyard City/Facebook There are many chain restaurants that use high-quality steak, but if you like your beef with a huge helping of history, it's tough to beat Oklahoma's oldest continuously operating restaurant. Situated in the Stockyards district, Cattlemen's first gained notoriety as the place where livestock traders would go when they brought their herds to sell in Oklahoma City. This iconic restaurant has always had access to premium meats, something that's clearly unchanged given it was inducted into the Steak House Hall of Fame in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While plenty of customers mention Cattlemen's top-notch steaks, they also highlight the staff's ability to tell fascinating stories about the venue's history. The breakfast buffet offers a wide range of meats, decadent pastries, and classics like biscuits and gravy perfect if it's too early in the day for a hunk of ribeye. If you've got a sweet tooth, Cattlemen's makes a killer coconut cream pie, too. cattlemensrestaurant.com (405) 236-0416 1309 S Agnew, Oklahoma City, OK 73108 Genoa Bar in Carson Valley, Nevada Exterior of Genoa bar with a tree in front - Time Served/Facebook There are many historic pubs in the U.S. worth visting, and Genoa Bar is certainly one of them. It's a bit of an oddity, as far as Wild West establishments go, because according to the official history of the place, there were plenty of fights but no deaths. Given that it opened back in 1853, that may seem surprising. However, Genoa Bar was always intended to be a high-class establishment, where men of means could gather over fine food, finer liquors, and even better cigars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former guests include the likes of Mark Twain and John Wayne, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, and President Teddy Roosevelt. Customers say that the incredible collection of historic photos tells a tale of its own and that drinking there is like traveling through time. Today, the Bloody Marys here make it into many customers' lists of best cocktails ever, and as for the food? Not only are the burgers pretty great, but a portion of all sales are donated to local charities. genoabar.com (775) 782-3870 2282 Main St, Genoa, NV 89411 Cowboy Dinner Tree in Silver Lake, Oregon Single-story wooden building in front of a large tree with snow on the ground - Cowboy Dinner Tree INC/Facebook While Cowboy Dinner Tree might look like it's been serving cowboys since the 1800s, it's newer than you might think. Back then, the lofty juniper tree served as a marker for traveling cattle ranchers, and eventually a chuckwagon was set up to provide food. The current building, however, was only constructed in 1992. Cowboy Dinner Tree's menu is extremely limited. For a flat $50 charge, you can choose between a 30-ounce steak or an entire roast chicken, both served with all the trimmings. There's no alcohol, so if you're thirsty, you'll need to choose between homemade pink lemonade, iced tea, or coffee. Reservations are also required, as the kitchen cooks everything to order, and payment is cash-only, no exceptions. Those restrictions may sound off-putting to some, but those who make the pilgrimage to Cowboy Dinner Tree say it's worth the trip. The drinks are tasty, the food is flavorful, and the portion sizes are huge. You're pretty much guaranteed to have leftovers, so it's worth saving some room for dessert. cowboydinnertree.com (541) 576-2426 50962 E Bay Rd, Silver Lake, OR 97638 Hays House in Council Grove, Kansas Exterior of the Hays House with sign on a snowy day - Hays House Restaurant/Facebook America's oldest operating restaurant is the White Horse Tavern in Rhode Island; however, west of the Mississippi River, that title shifts to Hays House. Established in 1857, it was built by Seth Hays, a merchant who arrived in the area to establish trade with the local Native American tribes. The great-grandson of famed American frontiersman Daniel Boone, Hays is also credited with founding the city of Council Grove. Hays House has been central to the community since the beginning and, besides selling food, was also used as a trading post, post office, and barber shop over the years. The building suffered serious damage due to a kitchen fire in 2011, but a group of Council Grove residents stepped in to purchase the property and fund the significant rebuild. Fortunately, the refurbishment prioritized preserving everything that made Hays House a historic landmark. Now, it's back to serving delicious homestyle cooking, along with signature cocktails and an impressive range of whiskeys. If you visit, be sure to try the restaurant's famed chicken fried steak a dish so good that some customers even order a second helping to go. hayshouse.com (620) 767-5911 112 West Main St, Council Grove, KS 66846 Legends Steakhouse in Deadwood, South Dakota Stone-walled dining room with tables and rotating wine cabinet in the center - Legends Steakhouse at Silverado Franklin/Facebok The exterior of the Silverado Franklin Hotel is nothing short of majestic, and it doesn't take much imagination to picture some of Deadwood's most colorful characters striding down the street and through the doors. While it's hard to say whether the likes of Calamity Jane or Buffalo Bill Cody ever booked a room at the hotel, it's hosted no shortage of celebrities since opening in 1903. Babe Ruth and John Wayne are counted among Silverado Franklin's previous guests, as is President Teddy Roosevelt, who seemingly visited every bar in America. Even if you're not planning to stay at the hotel, its restaurant, Legends Steakhouse, is well worth a visit. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Legends Steakhouse menu deftly adds a modern twist to traditional dishes. Diners can tuck into a delicious elk ribeye while browsing the historic photos that line the walls or try Steak Oscar a traditional dish with ties to 19th-century Swedish royalty. There's even braised elk gnocchi if you're in the mood for pasta. silveradofranklin.com/food-drink/legends-steakhouse (605) 578-3670 709 Main St, Deadwood, SD 57732 Shooting Star Saloon in Huntsville, Utah Exterior of the Shooting Star Saloon A-frame building - Shooting Star Saloon (Official page)/Facebook Opened in 1879, there's a lot going on at Utah's Shooting Star Saloon. If you happen to stop by, be sure to look up at the ceiling. Covered with thousands of signed banknotes, for years it served as an unofficial guest book. The centerpiece of the decor, however, is likely the mounted head of a 300-pound Saint Bernard a dog so big they had to use a grizzly bear skull for the taxidermy mold. Nobody can say this bar doesn't have a lot of character. The Shooting Star Saloon is the kind of place that customers say you have to see in person to truly appreciate. Diners love the homemade burgers and local beers on tap, and offer plenty of praise for the staff. It's also surrounded by stunning scenery, making it a welcome break from the bustle of nearby Salt Lake City and a place where you can kick back and enjoy an incredible slice of Utah history. facebook.com/ShootingStarSaloon (801) 745-2002 7350 E 200 S, Huntsville, UT 84317 Methodology A man dressed as a cowboy holding a burger and a beer - Master1305/Shutterstock To put together our list of the best historic bars and restaurants that offer a taste of the Wild West, we had some specific requirements. We wanted to include venues that have been around since the 19th century or early 20th century, but we narrowed down our list by choosing places that embraced their history and were filled with knowledgeable staff who did the same. Some of this dedication to the past is evident by how each restaurant presents itself online, but we also turned to customer reviews to get a real feel for each establishment. We also used these reviews to assess the quality of the food, drink, and service. Ultimately, we chose places that had managed to maintain an authentic Wild West atmosphere, offered a menu inspired by traditional dishes, and had left customers feeling like they'd experienced a genuine piece of American history. Read the original article on Tasting Table. The Arizona State Fair is back in town from Sept. 19 to Oct. 26, 2025. The lineup of festivities includes an exciting schedule of concerts, classic rides, carnival games and over 25 brand-new food items to indulge in, from new takes on fair favorites to trendy items like Dubai chocolate and Mike's Hot Honey. With a list that extensive, it would be impossible for one person to try everything. Lucky for you, we tried as many of the new items as we could, so you don't have to. There were a few items that we were really excited to try, but when we went to the stalls that reportedly sold them, we were told that they were unavailable. Bill Goodykoontz was particularly excited about the Hot Dog Mac, but when we got to Maggs Mac Shack (#63), they did not have any hot dogs, so he went with the lobster mac instead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite some items being unavailable, we still ate more food than any human being probably should in one day. So without further ado, here are the best and worst things we ate at the Arizona State Fair. Best: Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cup This was my first time trying anything with Dubai Chocolate, but certainly not my first time hearing about it. The delicacy has taken the internet by storm in recent months, so I was pretty excited to finally see what the hype is all about. What makes Dubai chocolate so special, you might be wondering? It's made with pistachio and kataifi, a shredded phyllo dough often used in Middle Eastern desserts. The Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cup comprised strawberries drizzled with chocolate and pistachio syrups with sprinkles of kataifi. I was actually disappointed that I could barely taste the pistachio it tasted just like chocolate-covered strawberries, so it's really no surprise that it was good. As I got further down into the cup, more of the kataifi was present, adding an extra crunch but no distinct separate taste. It didn't blow me away, but it definitely wasn't bad. I ate the full cup, at least. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Endia Fontanez Details: $22 at Candy Factory (#30), Swirl Ice Cream (#38) and The Chocolate Strawberry Cup (#58). Heading to the Arizona State Fair? Leave these bags, items at home for faster entry Worst: Mike's Hot Honey Pickles Pickles, topped with melted cheese, hot Cheetos and Mike's Hot Honey. To be completely honest, I had high hopes for these. It's made with four ingredients that I already know I like. But in practice, I felt like I was going to be sick before I could even swallow the single bite I took. I thought the pickles would be dipped in cheese, encrusted with Cheetos and drizzled with hot honey. But instead, the ingredients felt like they were thrown together like a nightmare cereal concoction, with the "hot" honey in a cup on the side. "Hot" is in quotes because, well, it wasn't hot at all. I essentially just poured honey over hot Cheetos and pickles. I do not recommend it. Hot honey pickles served at the Arizona State Fair, topped with hot Cheetos and cheese Sept. 19, 2025, in Phoenix. For what it's worth, some of the other reporters enjoyed them. The whole box didn't end up in the trash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Endia Fontanez Details: $12 at Biggys (#22, #17). Best: Ice cream nachos New to the fair are the ice cream nachos, which turned out to be a surprisingly fun and tasty treat. You start by choosing your base of soft-serve vanilla, chocolate or swirl, then pile on sauces ranging from caramel, hot fudge, cherry, peanut butter or pineapple. Additionally, you can top it with sprinkles or nuts. The nachos themselves are clever little circle waffle cone chips that serve as a substitute for tortilla chips. But what really makes it a must-get for me is the fact that its a cool and refreshing way to beat the relentless Arizona heat as you walk around the fairgrounds. Tiffany Acosta Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: $16 at Waffle Cone (#59) Worst: Dubai chocolate Oreos Deep-fried Dubai chocolate Oreos sound like an over-the-top dream, but honestly? It was a bit too much. Sure, the Oreo itself did its job, because Oreos rarely disappoint, but the heavy batter it was dunked in had the texture and flavor of a bad pancake. The promised chocolate drizzle turned out to be your run-of-the-mill Hersheys syrup instead of rich melted chocolate, which felt like a missed opportunity. The pistachio sauce barely made an impression, but hey, at least the kataifi was crispy. Tiffany Acosta Details: $16 at Fried a Fair (#19) Fried Dubai chocolate Oreos served at the Arizona State Fair on Sept. 19, 2025, in Phoenix. Best: Lobster Mac 'n Cheese My favorite food at the fair started out as a disappointment. As an old friend, gone too soon, used to say, I had my mouth all set for hot dogs in macaroni and cheese. As happened fairly often, the stand was out of what we wanted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First nights at the fair are tough, almost like a soft open, where theyre working all the kinks out. Maggs Mac-Shack was no different. They had everything but hot dogs, so we settled. For lobster. That may sound like trading up, I know. But sometimes when you want to drive the dirt bike, the Rolls Royce seems like settling. Mac and cheese is prepared on a griddle at Maggs Mac Shack at Arizona State Fair on Sept. 19, 2025, in Phoenix. Not in this case, though. For one thing, the way they cooked the macaroni was kind of cool. It was already done, but then tossed onto a flat-top griddle with cheese. It gave it a great texture and flavor. Once that was done, they added in chunks of lobster, also grilled at some point, but now residing in a steam tray. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a sriracha sauce more dumped than drizzled on top of it all, which we ended up trying to avoid rather than eat. It wasnt bad. It was just inescapable. But that lobster! Very tasty, juicy, great texture, a real compliment to the macaroni. This was surprisingly tasty, and one of the few things we tried that didnt consist of disparate ingredients thrown together into a dish that was more like a fourth-grade dare than something you would actually choose to eat. In other words, extra points for no hot honey or Flamin Hot Cheetos. Bill Goodykoontz Details: $22 at Maggs Mac-Shack (#63). Fun times: The Arizona State Fair is back with 4 new rides you simply can't miss Worst: Turkey Leg A turkey leg is typically a fair classic. Its what you think of when you think fair food. The one at the Arizona State Fair, however, was just disappointing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new mini turkey leg with hot honey costs $16.96 at Biggys but I think youre better off just saving your money. We were all struggling to bite into this dry hunk of meat. For me, after finally getting a bite, it took a couple of minutes to chew. It was a lot more work than it was worth and felt like chomping on cardboard. Hot honey turkey leg served at the Arizona State Fair on Sept. 19, 2025, in Phoenix. Oh, and the "hot honey," which isn't very hot to begin with, did nothing to combat the dryness, instead adding an oddly sweet glaze to it all. Dina Kaur Details: $16.96 at Biggy's. Best: Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick This one was the ultimate surprise. After dealing with the unpleasantness of the dry turkey leg, we headed over to Bacon Nation to try the new Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Going into it, we all thought we would hate it. To our surprise, the dessert was actually a pleasant balance of savory and sweet. It was a stick of what appeared to be pork belly wrapped in candied bacon, with bright pink cotton candy on top and two more pieces of bacon crowning the fluffy cloud. The pork belly was tender and juicy, a welcome change from the dryness we had experienced before. The fairy floss was the perfect sugary touch; the only downside is that you had to eat it pretty quickly because the cotton candy was melting from the warmth and probably the grease of the pork. If youre looking to try something new at the Stare Fair this year, this might be a fun one. Cotton candy is always the safe way to go. And who doesn't love bacon? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dina Kaur Details: $17 at Bacon Nation (#82). Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State Fair taste test: Best and worst new foods As recent summers have demonstrated, a holiday in a Mediterranean resort in July and August is now a case of enduring extreme heat. However, the arrival of autumn brings cooler weather, and conditions that, while still pleasingly sunny, tend to be much more palatable. This applies to key destinations on the coasts of France, Italy, Spain and Greece. But it is just as relevant to the opposite side of Europes great sea. Indeed, the shoulder-season months of September and October may be the perfect windows for a trip to North Africa, offering warmth, and, increasingly, a high level of luxury. Moreover, Africas Mediterranean edge extends to around 4,000 miles of sand and shoreline plenty of scope for a relaxed getaway in the next few weeks. Admittedly, 1,100 of those miles belong to Libya, a country of such relentless civil unrest that the Foreign Office has warned against all travel into its midst for more than a decade so more than a quarter of that intriguing total is sadly off-limits. But with underrated Tunisia and unheralded Algeria completing the jigsaw alongside tourism giants Morocco and Egypt, options for a week of escape are in good supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tempted by a getaway to the other Mediterranean? The below suggestions tick all the boxes, and all before jingle bells start to ring. Morocco While Marrakech is often thought of as the gleaming symbol of Moroccos history and aesthetic, the countrys Mediterranean coastline is rather less documented. But there is a long arc of seafront, ebbing south-east below Tangier that is worth seeking out. There are various alluring hotels laid out along Tamuda Bay including the five-star Sofitel Tamuda Bay Beach and Spa. A seven-night holiday there, flying to Tangier from Gatwick on 27 Sept, 2025, costs from 1,771 per person, through Thomas Cook (020 8016 3295). Tamuda Bay is home to some of the best beaches in northern Morocco - iStock Editorial Tangier itself is also an intriguing proposition during autumn a coastal citadel with a medieval mystique and an incense-scented charm akin to that of Marrakech, but with comparatively few British tourists. In part, this is because there are fewer flights (the only direct options are from Gatwick and Stansted) yet those prepared to make the leap will find much to admire in the nest of lanes where the Rolling Stones lost themselves in 1967. A three-night break to the four-star Le Mirage costs from 1,298 per person, with flights, through Kirker Holidays (020 7593 2288). Any cartographer would be quick to point out that, in its location south-west of the Strait of Gibraltar, Essaouira is categorically an Atlantic, rather than a Mediterranean, city. But it mimics Tangier in its combination of labyrinthine medina and waterfront position, while serving up excellent beaches (the broad curve of Plage Tagharte, in particular) and a growing kite-surfing scene. A seven-night stay at the Hotel Le Medina, a five-star spa retreat, starts at 899 per person through loveholidays (01234 230 440). Egypt North Africas other tourism heavyweight attracts around a million British visitors a year, but very few of them head to the Mediterranean. Indeed, the best-known resort area on Egypts north coast El Alamein is rather more famous for its significant part in the history of the Second World War than for loungers and leisure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, you can slumber on the shore here, at the likes of the Rixos Premium Alamein. A seven-night escape to this five-star resort, flying from Heathrow to Alexandria (via Istanbul) on 18 Oct, 2025, costs from 957 per person through Expedia (020 3024 8211). Egypts second city, Alexandria, is an underrated spot for autumn sun Alexandria, Egypts second city, is, perhaps, just as under-appreciated. Certainly, it features in far fewer itineraries than Cairo and Giza, although its past as the royal power base of Cleopatra, and the former site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is just as impressive. It is included, along with pyramids and the epic temples of Luxor and Aswan, in the 16-day Grand Tour of Egypt, costing from 7,595 per person, with flights. Available at Audley Travel (01993 460 822). It would, of course, be obtuse to suggest Egypts Mediterranean coast for an autumn trip, but ignore the countrys more popular waterfront. And if you would prefer to head to the Red Sea, Sharm El Sheikh will oblige at any time of year. A seven-night stay at the five-star Four Seasons Resort, flying from Gatwick on 31 Oct, 2025, starts at 3,099 a head, available at British Airways (0344 493 0787). Tunisia Generally seen as North Africas cheapest option for fly-and-flop packages, Tunisias tourist industry has to an extent recovered from the 2015 terror attacks which killed British holidaymakers in Sousse, and greatly affected the countrys image as a sunny haven. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, more than a decade on from the tragedy, many have made a cautious return, with over 327,000 Britons flying in last year. The majority aimed for the Gulf of Hammamet and the small city of the same name where the likes of four-star Hotel Nozha Beach Resort & Spa offer a reliable standard of accommodation. A seven-night all-inclusive stay, flying in from Manchester on 6 Oct, 2025, costs from 593 per person through TUI (020 3451 2716). Hammamet is a popular beach destination thats home to a variety of accommodation - Digital Vision Tunisias gradual rehabilitation is also illustrated with the introduction of new flights. Last November, easyJet brought Djerba North Africas largest island, and yet a destination that lacked direct services from the UK into play, with the launch of non-stop services from Manchester and Luton. A seven-night getaway to the five-star Radisson Blu Palace Resort on the north coast, flying in from Luton on 11 Oct, 2025, costs from 755 per person through easyJet Holidays (0330 551 5165). There is, of course, far more to Tunisia than the beach. Venturing to the capital Tunis can mean an encounter with the monumental ruins of its ancient predecessor Carthage and a day in Sidi Bou Said, a town whose whitewashed houses shimmer on the hillside above the vast Mediterranean blue. All three locations are part of the eight-day Tunisian Highlights itinerary, costing from 2,495 per person, available through Cox & Kings (020 3808 5395). Algeria Africas biggest country remains something of an odd man out as a holiday option. In spite of its size, and an air of history every bit as weighty as Moroccos, it makes little attempt to market itself as a tourist destination, and shows no real interest in drawing western holidaymakers to its own section of Mediterranean coast. The grand boulevards of Algiers open onto sandy beaches and blue waters - Dmitryp | Dreamstime.com Nonetheless, it is simple to visit (and safe, according to the Foreign Office with the sole exception of its southern borders with the likes of Libya and Mali), if you join an organised tour. Algeria: Crossroads of the Maghreb is a good option, which takes 12 days to forge southwards into the dust of the Sahara, but begins and ends on the Mediterranean, in the sophisticated confines of Algiers. The tour costs from 3,295 per person, not including flights, and is available through Wild Frontiers (020 3925 6750). 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. If you are tired of the same ingredients pepperoni, mushrooms, sausage, back to pepperoni on your homemade pizza nights, you can look abroad for some inspiration. Yes, you could look to the birthplace of modern pizza, Italy, but surely you've already tried that. Instead, it's worth looking for inspiration much further north. In Sweden, you'll truly find some unexpected toppings, since they put curry, salty ham, and even bananas on their pizza. Yes, bananas. Think about it: Here in the U.S. we, controversially, put pineapple on some pizzas, so why not branch out to other fruit? That said, it is natural to wonder how, in a country that grows its small amount of bananas in greenhouses, the fruit ended up on pizza. In the '60s and '70s, Sweden started getting into Polynesian flavors following the Second World War. Bananas started showing up on menus and in homes. Thanks to a casserole made at a potluck attended by food editor Anders Tunberg, bananas and curry powder became a known combination that worked. The warming spices blended well with the sweet banana. From there, after pineapples made their way onto Swedish pizzas in the late '70s, bananas and curry powder weren't a far reach. Read more: 14 Old-School Desserts People Loved To Eat In The 1970s Other countries with unique pizza styles to inspire you pizza with bananas, pineapple, and chicken - Cbck-christine/Getty Images It's not just bananas and curry; Sweden's pizza scene differs from American pizza thanks to additions like cabbage slaw and kebab meat. But the Scandinavian nation is far from the only country that might inspire your search for out-of-the-box pizza toppings. Another country most people don't associate with pizza is Argentina. There, you can find the Fugazzeta, a sauceless pizza with a thick layer of onions between the dough and the copious amounts of cheese. You can also find hearts of palm or shredded bits of hard boiled eggs atop pizzas throughout the country. Another popular topping found in Buenos Aires is faina a chickpea flour pancake that makes the slice look more like a sandwich full of melting cheese. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can also look to South Korea for some fun pizza toppings. A popular dish in the country is corn cheese, a variation of which can be found on many pizzas. Eateries will add sweet corn and ranch to their pies, creating an addictive, mild flavor. You can also find many pizzas topped with bulgogi, the thinly sliced, marinated beef being a natural pizza topping. In fact, if you want to taste test the combo before you make it yourself, Aldi is now selling a bulgogi beef frozen pizza! Keep in mind that you can also mix the toppings from these countries together. When you're cooking at home, you can make your own fugazzeta topped with bulgogi and Swedish-style bananas; no one is stopping you. Hopefully, this journey around the world of pizza inspired you to get out of the rut of the same old pizza night over and over! 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 Daily Meal. Oklahoma is one of the most religious states in the U.S. Residents pray daily more than others, attend services more frequently, and view religion as very important in their lives. But rates are decreasing, according to a recent study. Pew Research Center recently released its 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study, which was designed to paint a statistical portrait of religion in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The religious makeup of Oklahoma is predominantly Christian (70%) and largely under an evangelical protestant denomination. While the state remains mostly religious, there has been a downward trend since the first version of the survey in 2007. Then, 85% of the state identified as Christians, again largely of evangelical protestant denominations. The state is a leader, though in several categories of faith. Heres how faith in Oklahoma looks in comparison to the nation, according to the Pew Research Center's 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study. Pew ranks Oklahoma as tied for the 10th most religious state The survey spoke to 375 Oklahomans from July 2023 to March 2024. While the state ranks as the 10th most religious overall, being made up of 38% of what Pew considers highly religious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To measure overall religiousness, Pew considered four categories on a scale: Individual prayer frequency, religions importance, religious attendance and belief in a God or a universal spirit. The fourth category is one most Oklahomans can agree on: believing in God or a universal spirit with absolute certainty, with 61% of Oklahomans sharing this belief. In this way, Oklahoma is much like the other Southern states in holding this belief. A map of the nation's scale of overall religiousness, according to Pew Research Center. The organization found that 38% of Oklahomans are highly religious. Further, those that are not absolutely certain, yet still believe, ring in at 25% in 2023-24, or 86% total. This is also a decrease from 2007, with 96% of Oklahomans believing in God or the universal spirit, regardless of their certainty. However, they are the state with the fewest percentage of believers in this region, even being surpassed by more Northern states of Kansas (63%) and South Dakota (62%). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most religious states, according to the study: 1. Mississippi 2. South Carolina 3. South Dakota 3. Louisiana 5. Tennessee 6. Utah 7. North Carolina 8. Arkansas 8. Alabama 10. Kansas 10. Georgia 10. North Dakota 10. Oklahoma How important is religion to Oklahomans? Oklahomans are split on the amount of importance religion has in their daily lives. While residents in Southern states like Mississippi (61%), South Carolina (55%) and Louisiana (54%) have higher rates of importance, 43% of Oklahomans consider religion largely important. A map of the nation's scale of how important religion is to individuals, according to Pew Research Center. The organization found that 43% of Oklahomans found religion an important factor in their life. This puts Oklahoma as the 12th highest state for importance tied with Kentucky, Virginia, Utah, Kansas, Indiana and North Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In contrast, the Bible has some form of importance among 71% of Oklahomans. How many Oklahomans attend church? One of the areas in which Oklahoma is a national leader is religious attendance. The Sooner State sits at the 9th highest with the most religious attendance. A map of the nation's scale of church attendance, according to Pew Research Center. The organization found that 42% of Oklahomans regularly attend at least twice a month. With 42% of Oklahomans attending services at least twice a month, it surpasses some Southern states like Texas (38%) and Georgia (38%). Faith attendance has changed throughout the surveys lifetime. In 2007, 64% of respondents stated going to church at least twice a month. According to Pew, Oklahoma is ahead of the rest of the nation with 33% of Americans attending a service at least twice a month. This number is not comparable throughout the years. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma remains highly religious, but faith declining, Pew study says Standing in line for a taxi, in a hot and unfamiliar country thousands of miles from home, Tony and Karen Webb were feeling overwhelmed. It was October 1987 in Freeport, a popular tourist destination in the Bahamas. Tony and Karen were visiting the island from Surrey, England. The couple were in their early 20s. Theyd met as teenagers at a church youth club, fallen in love and enjoyed a recent, joyful wedding celebration. Never having traveled much before, theyd decided to go big for their honeymoon, stopping off at Miami, heading out on a Bahamian cruise and enjoying a stint in Freeport to soak up sandy beaches, sunshine and new experiences. Arriving in Freeport, theyd marveled at the blue of the ocean and gasped at palm trees. They couldnt wait to explore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a big holiday, Tony tells CNN Travel today. Going over to the Bahamas Wow, I never thought wed do something like that. But now it was time to make their way to their hotel, and Tony and Karen were suddenly feeling out of their depth. This was the era before smartphones, and the couple couldnt recall the name of the accommodation. Waiting for their cab, they were both panicking a little, trying and failing to hide their stress from each other. We were flapping around with paperwork, looking up where our hotel was, and what the hotel was called, standing in line, in a taxi queue, recalls Tony. We were obviously looking very naive and inexperienced. And then we had a tap on our shoulder. Strangers in the taxi line Tony and Karen turned around to a grinning man, dressed in a brightly colored shirt, sunglasses balanced on his head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hows it going? he asked, cheerfully, in an American accent. Sounds like you might be going to the same hotel as us. He gestured to the woman standing next to him, who was also smiling welcomingly. The two introduced themselves as Alan and Mary Beth Balkin, a young couple visiting from Massachusetts. Mary Beth had noticed Tony and Karen looking stressed in the taxi line. Somehow, they looked even more stressed now that Alan was suddenly addressing them. I was worried that he was scaring the heck out of them, Mary Beth tells CNN Travel today, laughing. She wasnt totally off the mark with this observation. Karen recalls hearing a loud Yank speak up in the line and immediately thinking: Oh no. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt know any Americans back then, she says. As a self-confessed introverted Brit, she was worried they were going to be stuck making polite chitchat with an extroverted American and further delay their attempts to get to their hotel. But Alan was unperturbed by the British couples reaction. He noted that they looked like scared mice but recognized they were simply inexperienced travelers who needed a friendly face and a helping hand. He mentioned he and Mary Beth had visited Freeport before, stayed in what sounded like Tony and Karens hotel on that occasion and remembered how to get there. And thats how Tony, Karen, Alan and Mary Beth ended up bundled into a taxi together, luggage piled in the back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tony wasnt unhappy about this turn of events. I valued being guided around, if Im honest, says Tony. We were somewhere that we didnt really know much about. And as the American couple quizzed the Brits during the cab journey, Tony and Karen found themselves warming to Alan and Mary Beth. The Americans were friendly and welcoming. Theyre just fantastic, Karen recalls thinking. When Alan discovered it was Tony and Karens honeymoon, he told the British couple it would be their honor if he and Mary Beth could buy them their first drink in the Bahamas. When they arrived at the hotel, the foursome headed straight to the bar, where they bought us our first Bahama Mama, recalls Tony. That was an introduction in itself to a lovely drink, which we continued drinking through most of the trip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As one does, adds Alan. The two couples clinked glasses of the rum-based cocktail together and toasted the beginning of Tony and Karens marriage and the beginning of their vacations. What the foursome didnt realise was that this was also the beginning of a friendship that would span decades and continents. This was a real chance encounter that has stood the test of time, says Alan today. Fun, but probably fleeting After that first night drinking cocktails, Alan, Mary Beth, Tony and Karen spent the whole weekend enjoying Freeport together. They turned out to all be on the same boat back to Miami, and enjoyed a night out there, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The more reserved British couple surprised themselves by how comfortable they felt in Alan and Mary Beths presence, while the Americans enjoyed hearing about life on the other side of the pond. The group suggests that back in the 1980s, there seemed like more of a gap between American and British experiences. Alan and Mary Beth had never really befriended Brits before the fall of 1987. Tony and Karen had never really encountered any Americans in Surrey. So we were finding out about each other and where wed all come from different places, culturally, family-wise, it was a bit of a discovery time, recalls Tony of that first weekend in Freeport. In between discussions of cultural differences, the couples went out dancing, staying out into the early hours, drinking Bahama Mama cocktails together and sharing stories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And then their vacations took them in different directions, and they had to go their separate ways. The two couples promised to stay in touch, not totally believing it even as they said the words and swapped addresses and phone numbers. I remember thinking, What a fun weekend, says Karen. We were so pleased that theyd made that whole weekend, but not thinking wed become friends. They all figured itd become the usual kind of holiday relationship, as Tony puts it: fun, but fleeting. In all honesty, none of us probably could have imagined what then started to happen over the years. Cassette tape correspondence Looking back today, neither couple are sure who made the first move once they were back home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe Tony and Karen wrote a letter to Alan and Mary Beth, thanking them for making their honeymoon so special. Or perhaps Alan and Mary Beth sent a postcard to Tony and Karen, wishing them the best back home in the UK. All they know is, somehow, a letter correspondence began. And despite the ocean between them, the slow international mail, the return to busy lives and jobs, the correspondence didnt die off. And then the letters turned into audio tapes, recalls Tony. The two couples would record themselves chatting into their cassette player, talking about their lives, the ups and downs of their week, reminiscing about the Freeport weekend. Then theyd package up the cassettes into parcels and mail them across the Atlantic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Receiving the post was so exciting, says Tony: Honestly, the anticipation when we got these audios It was thrilling for everyone. Mary Beth remembers sitting with Alan, listening to what were essentially early voice notes from Tony and Karen, recorded from their apartment in the UK, now reverberating around Mary Beth and Alans Massachusetts living room. We used to listen to them all the way through the first time, she recalls. And then the second time wed listen, but we had to take notes, because we need to answer them back. And then wed sit down and get ready to do it. It was all part of the experience. The four friends rarely phoned one another, international calls were too expensive back then. But via their cassette tape recordings and letters, a plan started to form: Theyd reunite in the summer of 1988. Transatlantic hops Here's Karen, Tony and Mary Beth pictured in New York City in 1988, a year after they met in the Bahamas. - Alan Balkin Tony and Karen whod enjoyed their first taste of travel adventure on their honeymoon booked tickets to fly to Boston to visit Mary Beth and Alan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they were reunited, the conversation was just as easy, if not more so, than their time in the Bahamas. The friendship had deepened over the year apart, thanks to the cassette tape correspondence. The two couples settled into an immediate, easy rapport. Tony and Karen loved getting an insight into Mary Beth and Alans everyday life. They were introduced to all their neighbors and friends. They were introduced to Mary Beths parents on a day trip to New York City. Everyone marveled at the story of how the two couples had met in a taxi line and become friends. At that time, people generally didnt meet people from other countries and keep in contact, reflects Tony. It was fairly unusual, but we really did keep in contact through the audio tapes. In person, it was all the more obvious that the friendship was defined by a sense of equality. It wasnt that Tony and Alan were friends, and Mary Beth and Karen were another, separate twosome. Instead, they all valued each others company, got something different out of each interaction and each pairing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were all quite different in our own personalities, and I think we complement each other, so being around as a group of four, its always quite an easy thing to do, says Tony. It sounds corny, but we all shared the same value system, as well, adds Alan. That summer, Mary Beth found herself reflecting that Tony and Karen were some of the first friends shed made outside of the school, college or work bubble. It was the first friendship shed had to work at, but it didnt feel like hard work at all. And they were really our first friends that didnt live nearby, she reflects. Alan had assumed Brits "stay at pubs all day long." He learned this wasn't the case, but he did enjoying pulling pints with Tony on a trip to the UK in 1992, pictured. - Alan Balkin A couple of years later, Mary Beth and Alan traveled to the UK to visit Tony and Karen. On this vacation, the British couple introduced the Americans to their gang of close friends in the UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At first, Mary Beth and Alan felt slightly on the outside. They were all talking amongst themselves recalls Alan. .And we couldnt understand what they were saying, says Mary Beth. But once the Americans tuned into the Britishisms, they felt quickly welcomed into Tony and Karens friendship group. They all got on together, and Mary Beth and Alan enjoyed getting an insight into how twenty and thirtysomethings lived in the UK. There are certain myths that Americans think about Brits, and they were all crushed. Like these guys stay at pubs all day long. Well, thats just not the case, says Alan, laughing. Decades of friendship After Mary Beth and Alans trip to the UK, a pattern emerged: Theyd oscillate between visiting Tony and Karen in England and hosting them in the US. They also channeled the spirit of their first meeting and started planning vacations together to destinations like the Spanish island of Lanzarote or the beaches of Portugal. And as they made their way through their 20s and 30s, the four friends only became more entwined in each others lives, despite the distance. Traveling to visit each other only added to the excitement and the joy of doing stuff together, says Tony. And as time passed and technology changed, phone calls gradually became cheaper and helped maintain the transatlantic friendship. Plus, whenever they reunited it was like theyd never been apart. You might not actually have physically seen each other for a year, but it doesnt feel like that, says Karen. Its just so easy. In time, Tony and Karen welcomed two children. Mary Beth and Alan never had kids, but quickly became surrogate parents to their British friends sons. And as the children grew up, that relationship became its own thing too. Our kids are just as comfortable with them as we are, says Karen. They ship their kids over here, says Alan. They say, Go stay with Uncle Alan. Theyre family, says Karen, smiling. From friends to family Alan, Mary Beth, Tony and Karen remain close to this day. The foursome say they're more like family than friends. - Julie and Chris Carrick Today, nearly 40 years since Tony and Karen encountered Mary Beth and Alan in the Freeport taxi line, its one word family that the foursome feels defines their relationship. When the friends speak to CNN Travel, theyre sitting in Tony and Karens home in the UK. Alan and Mary Beth are over from the US for the visit. They all sit side by side, laughing as they look back and look forward, referring to decades-old jokes while simultaneously making plans for the future. They all still enjoy telling the story of how they met. Weve all explained this story many, many, many times to many people. And I always say its just been a fantastic privilege, says Tony. Thats the word I would use. The four remain aware that their friendship is something special. Weve all had holidays where we might meet people, spend time with them if youre in a resort, maybe meet up for dinner, but never kept in touch like this, says Mary Beth. The four friends are now in their 50s and 60s. Theyve known each other for most of their lives. This includes being there for each other through good and bad times. They say theyve all offered each other the support they need to navigate every chapter of life. A few of us have lost our parents, says Tony. When things like that happen, its a family. We share and help each other. We know if we need them, or they need us, theyll always be there and well be there for them, says Karen. We do rely on each other, agrees Mary Beth. The two couples also still enjoy adventuring together and making new memories: Pretty much every year weve met up somewhere, and really enjoy each other, says Tony. And over the decades Alan and Mary Beth have also become closer and closer to Tony and Karens British friends. For Alans 40th, 50th and 60th birthdays, a boatload of Brits of all ages came over to the US to help him celebrate. Its an honor, its been an honor, says Alan of becoming friends with the wider group. And it all came from these two, he says, putting an arm around Tony and Karen. Its a love story. Its been a love story for 38 years, it really has. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Think you know a thing or two about aviation? These statistics will still surprise you. 1. The worlds busiest air route Whats the busiest air route in the world? Heathrow to JFK? Hong Kong to Singapore? Not quite. The most crowded flight path on Earth, according to aviation analyst OAG, is actually the 280-mile hop from Seoul Gimpo to Jeju International, on the Unesco-listed island billed as South Koreas answer to Hawaii. A staggering 14,183,719 seats were available on flights between the two airports in 2024, with an average of 225 flights per day. By comparison, only 4,011,235 seats were on offer on the Heathrow-JFK route. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second on the list is Tokyo Haneda-Sapporo, with 11,931,572, while third place goes to Tokyo Haneda-Fukuoka, with 11,335,551. In fact, all of the 10 busiest air routes are domestic services. The busiest international route is Hong Kong-Taipei, with 6,781,577 seats available in 2024, followed by Cairo-Jeddah, with 5,469,274. 2. The truth about plane crash survival Perceived wisdom says that when a plane crashes, your chances of survival are pretty minimal. But thats not quite the case. Some plane crashes obviously cannot be survived. Others, however the vast majority, in fact can be. A US government study found there were 568 plane crashes in the US between 1993 and 2000, involving a total of 53,487 passengers and crew. Of these, 51,207 or more than 90 per cent survived. Even on the 26 crashes deemed the worst, the study found that more than half the passengers and crew survived. Contrary to popular statistical myth, however, air travel is not the safest form of transport rail travel is safer in terms of accidents per journey and accidents per hour travelled (air travel wins only in accidents per mile travelled). 3. The fastest passenger plane in the sky The 747, though old, remains the fastest commercial jet - Getty Images Forget the high-tech 787 Dreamliner, or indeed any recent addition to the aviation landscape. The fastest commercial jet is actually the good old 747 jumbo jet, which most airlines have phased out of their fleets. The swiftest of all the 747s is the 747-8I, which has a cruising speed of Mach 0.855 (564 mph), but is only currently used by three operators: Lufthansa, Korean Air and Air China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be fair, this is only a tiny bit faster than the 787, which flies at Mach 0.85 (561mph), but its interesting to note that commercial planes (with Concorde providing the thrilling exception) havent become any faster since the early days of the jet age. Why? Its all about efficiency. Flying at slower speeds creates less drag, therefore lessens fuel consumption, and standard speeds are simply the most economical. Will supersonic flying make a return? After numerous false dawns, its looking more likely than ever. 4. The many airports of Brazil Plane-loving America, obviously, has more airports than any other country more than 16,000, according to one count but second place is more surprising: Brazil, with precisely 5,297. Its vast size and significant number of remote and hard-to-access settlements offer a fairly simple explanation. 5. The worlds biggest airline by countries served There are several ways to judge a carriers size, and most of the time its a US carrier that tops the charts: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By revenue: Delta ($61.6bn in 2024) By passengers carried: American Airlines (226m in 2024) By fleet size: United (1,046) By destinations served: United (387) But when it comes to the number of countries served, Delta doesnt even make the top 10, American Airlines is 10th, and United comes 6th. Turkish Airlines is number one, with 124 nations on its route map (as of June 2025). In fact, it is the only airline to visit more than 100 countries. Why? Turkeys geographical location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa is critical. Indeed, the podium is completed by two other airlines based in or near the Middle East: Qatar Airways (92 countries) and Ethiopian Airlines (87). 6. The airline with the most complicated route map Yet another carrier tops the charts when it comes to the total number of individual routes flown, and its one that many Britons will have absolutely no experience of. Thats because Southwest Airlines doesnt operate on UK or European soil. It does fly to an awful lot of US airports, however, including all the major hubs but also some fairly obscure outposts like Spokane, Lubbock and Bozeman. It all adds up to a spectacular 2,898 different routes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second place in this particular ranking, with 2,596 routes, is everyones favourite low-cost carrier: Ryanair. Which will come as no surprise to those who have found themselves staring at Stansteds departures board and wondering where Klagenfurt, Szczytno and Ostrava are (answers: Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic). 7. The worlds shortest scheduled flight That would be the journey between the Scottish islands of Westray and Papa Westray, which spans just 1.7 miles shorter than the runway at Edinburgh Airport. It usually takes around 90 seconds to complete, but former pilot Stuart Linklater, who flew the route more than 12,000 times, once completed it in just 53 seconds. The shortest international flight is between Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a distance of 15 miles (flight time: 5-10 minutes) across the Congo River. 8. The worlds busiest airport This wont come as a shock to anyone with even a passing interest in global aviation, but your average Joe on the street might be surprised to learn that its not Heathrow, nor New York, nor Dubai or Beijing, but Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, which has in fact held the record since 1998. Last year it welcomed more than 108m passengers. Dubai is closing the gap, however, with 92.3m. 9. The 99 countries you cannot fly to Exactly 99 countries have no non-stop air link with the UK, including for obvious reasons Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. But an even more populous country than Russia can also not be reached without a change of planes: Indonesia. This hasnt always been the case. Back in 2019, Indonesian national airline Garuda launched a direct service from Heathrow to Bali, and has also previously flown non-stop from Heathrow to Jakarta, but neither route survived the pandemic. British residents looking to enjoy the beauty of Indonesias Padar Island will have to book a connecting flight - Top Photo Corporation / Alamy Given their popularity with tourists, one might also have assumed there is a market for direct flights to the likes of Peru, Tanzania, the Philippines, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Belize too, with beaches, world-class dive sites and a British overseas territory until as recently as 1981, is somewhat surprisingly lacking in a UK flight connection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Zealand Telegraph readers favourite country might be removed from this list should aviation technology allow planes to fly more than 11,000 miles, economically, without a stop to refuel. Monaco, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Andorra and the Vatican City will have to overcome another hurdle: none of them possess an airport. 10. The worlds fastest-growing airline While there are many ways to measure it, the airline with perhaps the best claim to the title of fastest-growing is low-cost carrier IndiGo. Founded just 20 years ago, it has taken advantage of Indias burgeoning economy and expanding middle class, and now has 434 aircraft serving 128 destinations. Furthermore, in 2023 it agreed to buy 500 single-aisle jets from Airbus, the largest aircraft order in history, and is now taking the fight to the big European carriers, with routes to Manchester, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Athens. 11. The most popular plane ever built Unless youre an amateur pilot or an aviation anorak the answer will probably come as a surprise. Its not the venerable 747, which is becoming a rarity in the skies after a production run of almost 50 years. Boeing delivered 1,574 jumbo jets between 1969 and 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nor is it the 737, the mainstay of short-haul fleets the world over (Boeing has produced 12,214, and counting, since 1966), or the ubiquitous Airbus A320, the French manufacturers top seller (12,198 as of August 2025). These figures are nothing compared to the best-selling aircraft of all time: the Cessna 172 Skyhawk. The humble little 172 first flew in 1955 70 years later, more than 44,000 have been built, sold and shipped to clients across the globe. 12. The most (and least) punctual airlines on Earth The worlds most on-time airline in 2024? According to data crunchers Cirium, it wasnt one of the glamorous airlines from the Gulf or the Far East, as you might expect, but Aeromexico, the countrys (clearly reliable) flag carrier. Its on-time percentage was 86.7 per cent for arrivals and 87.73 per cent for departures, putting it ahead of Saudia, Delta, LATAM and Qatar Airways. Finding data on the worst airlines for punctuality is slightly trickier, as Cirium refuses to publish it. But according to CAA statistics which relate only to UK flights Blue Islands, a regional airline operating in the Channel Islands, takes the unwanted accolade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to CAA figures, only 55 per cent of the carriers services were on time last summer. Blue Islands told BBC News: We clearly acknowledged back in May that operational issues industry-wide supply chain issues and late delivery of aircraft had seriously impacted our on-time performance in Q2. Since that time, were heartened to report a marked improvement which will be visible in the next set of CAA figures. 13. The worlds oldest airlines Few will be shocked to see KLM (founded October 7, 1919) top the charts as the oldest airline still operating under its original name, but there are a few surprising entries in the top five. The most venerable airlines include Aeroflot (3rd oldest, founded 1923), Finnair (4th, founded 1923) and Tajik Air (5th, founded 1924). KLM is the oldest airline still operating under its original name - Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters And the worlds oldest airport thats still in service? Thats College Park Airport in Maryland, US, up and running since 1909. 14. The oldest passenger planes still in service Telegraph Travel loves to hunt for the oldest passenger planes still in service, most recently doing so in 2024. We thought wed found it, with a 51-year-old Boeing 737-200, with the serial number 20836, thats still being put to good use by Nolinor Aviation, a Canadian charter airline, under the registration C-GNLK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But readers have also pointed us in the direction of Buffalo Airlines, a family-run Canadian carrier. It owns six DC-3s, a model that has been out of service since 1950. Scheduled passenger flights have been suspended, but they are available for charter services. 15. The worst airlines on Earth for legroom A seat pitch of 34 inches was once the industry standard. Dozens of airlines now offer as little as 29 inches, while some airlines are really lowering the bar, cutting legroom on some services at least to only 28 inches. They include the expected low-cost airlines, like Jet2, Frontier, SpiceJet, Spirit and Wizz, but also a couple of legacy carriers, namely Iberia and TAP Portugal. 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 European Unions upcoming 19th sanctions package will not impact the Druzhba pipeline, which continues to deliver Russian oil to parts of Europe, Suspilne reported on Sept. 22, citing European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen. The announcement follows the European Commissions presentation of a new round of sanctions on Sept. 19, aimed at further restricting Russian financial capabilities and energy revenues. The latest measures will target two Russian energy giants, Rosneft and Gazprom, but neither company plays a significant role in supplying oil via the Druzhba pipeline, according to Itkonen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Itkonen added that full details of the sanctions package would be made available once EU member states reach "a final agreement." The EUs latest sanctions package against Russia, unveiled last week, is now under review by member states. The European Commission has proposed new measures targeting Russias energy, financial, and military technology sectors. Among the proposed energy-related sanctions are a full ban on transactions with oil giants Rosneft and Gazpromneft, as well as asset freezes for several other companies. The Druzhba pipeline is one of the world's largest oil pipeline networks and remains a lifeline for Hungary and Slovakia, the only EU countries still importing Russian crude through the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both countries, whose leaders maintain close ties with Moscow, have repeatedly resisted tougher EU measures against Russia and argue that Russian energy supplies should not be restricted until viable alternatives are in place. Ukraine carried out at least three attacks in August on the Druzhba pipeline, temporarily disrupting operations. Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure have drawn sharp criticism from Slovakia and Hungary, both of which have urged Kyiv not to target the Druzhba pipeline. Following a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Uzhhorod on Sept. 5, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would not halt its retaliatory strikes in response to ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Moscow expands censorship as Ukrainian strikes reach deeper into Russia Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. NEED TO KNOW Two Ryanair crew members were reportedly sent flying during a flight to Palma de Mallorca on Sept. 21 The airline confirmed in a statement shared with PEOPLE that "medical assistance" was requested for the crew members Earlier this year, eight people were injured on a Ryanair flight to Milan after experiencing "severe turbulence" during a thunderstorm Two crew members on board a Ryanair flight required medical assistance after their plane experienced turbulence before landing, the airline has confirmed. According to FlightAware, Ryanair flight 4615 departed Vitoria Airport in Spain at 8:32 p.m. local time on Sept. 21. The Boeing 737 then arrived at Son Sant Joan airport in Palma de Mallorca around an hour later. But before the landing, the aircraft hit some rough air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plane experienced some air turbulence prior to landing, a representative for the airline shared in a statement with PEOPLE. The captain called ahead for medical assistance for two cabin crew and the aircraft landed normally. According to the company, no passengers on board were injured. Thierry Monasse/Getty A Ryanair plane A Ryanair plane Local outlet Majorca Daily Bulletin pointed to reports that the crew was carrying out a safety check when the plane suddenly jolted. Allegedly one flight attendant was thrown against the ceiling and another was hit by a service cart. In June, eight people were injured after a Ryanair flight was hit with heavy turbulence in a thunderstorm, per reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Milan-bound plane departed Berlin on Wednesday, June 4, but it was forced to divert to southern Germany amid the severe weather conditions, according to Reuters and RTE. Memmingen Police, located about 70 miles west of Munich, told PEOPLE the bad weather prompted the pilot to land in the city after the plane encountered "severe turbulence and was unable to land at Munich Airport. "The aircraft landed there safely and without further incident at 20:44h," police said in an email. "There were 179 passengers and six crew members on board the aircraft." Ryanair told PEOPLE in a statement, FR8 from Berlin to Milan on 4th June diverted to Memmingen after experiencing some air turbulence. The captain called ahead for medical assistance and the aircraft landed normally. Jason Tschepljakow/picture alliance via Getty The Ryanair passenger jet after landing at Memmingen Airport in Germany on June 04, 2025. The Ryanair passenger jet after landing at Memmingen Airport in Germany on June 04, 2025. According to the police, eight people aged between 2 and 59 years old, including a mother and toddler and a crew member, were injured in the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mother reportedly sustained a head injury and her 2-year-old suffered bruises. Meanwhile another woman, 59, complained of back pain, per the outlets. The three patients received treatment at a hospital while five others were treated at the airport, police said. 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. Turbulence, the normal and frequent movement of air that can affect an aircraft, often occurs unexpectedly and without warning, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between 2009 and 2024, the agency has recorded 207 serious turbulence related injuries to both passengers and crew. Last year, the FAA reported three passengers and 20 crew members injured which is the highest total of the last 16 years. Read the original article on People A 21-year-old man was found dead in Great Smoky Mountains National Park after a multi-day search, according to the National Park Service. Ryan Lake was last seen in Nashville on Thursday, with officials locating his vehicle on Saturday, the NPS said in a press release on Sunday. On Monday, park officials said Lakes was found dead at approximately 2:45 p.m. on Sunday in the Big Creek area of the national park. National Park Service - PHOTO: After a multi-day search, Ryan Lakes, a missing 21-year-old, was found dead in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, according to the National Park Service. "Please respect the privacy of the family during this time," the NPS said in a press release obtained by ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the NPS website, the Big Creek area is a "dense forest" and a "secluded area on the northeast edge of the park near the North Carolina-Tennessee border." The area is also known for "numerous streams and waterfalls," according to the NPS website. Body of missing hiker found in Wyoming's Bighorn National Forest after monthlong search: Sheriff Patrick Gorski/NurPhoto via Getty Images - PHOTO: View of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are seen in Tennessee. Park officials previously said "several organizations" were assisting the NPS with search efforts. Missing hiker found after going days without food, water in Northern California To learn more about how to stay safe when embarking on a multi-day hike excursion, click here. Every week, we monitor the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and individual stores for new recall announcements that may affect you. This week's ongoing recalls range from exploding bottles of champagne to dangerous cotton candy machines and lead-filled products. Here are the recalled items you should look for in your kitchen this week. Ongoing Recalls This Week Trader Joe's Turkey Gobbler Wrap FSIS has issued a public health alert for Trader Joe's Turkey Gobbler Wrap as it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Gobbler Wrap was sold at Trader Joe's stores nationwide and bears the establishment number "P-1644" inside the USDA mark of inspection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ready-to-eat wrap was produced on Sept. 10 and has a best-by date of Sept. 16, 2025, which is why FSIS has not issued a recall for the Trader Joe's item. However, if the product is still in your fridge, you should not consume it. No Listeria infections have been reported at this time, but if you've consumed the wrap, you should monitor yourself for symptoms. Listeria symptoms typically include fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Listeriosis can be serious and sometimes fatal for children, older individuals, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant people. If you have any questions or are experiencing these symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider. Costco Kirkland Signature Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke Costco has issued a recall for more than 3,000 pounds of its Kirkland Signature brand Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke because the green onions used in the ready-to-eat dish may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke has the item number 17193 and was sold at Costco warehouses on Sept. 18, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recalled meal has the sell-by date Sept. 22, 2025, and was sold at Costco stores in Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you ate the tuna, you should monitor yourself for Listeria symptoms and contact your healthcare provider with any questions. Aquastar Corp Shrimp More than 85,000 bags of AquaStar Corp shrimp have been recalled as they may have been prepared, packed, or held under unsanitary conditions that could lead to cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination, which is a radioactive isotope. This recall follows another AquaStar recall for radioactive shrimp in August. The shrimp was sold under the names Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel Shrimp, Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp, and AquaStar Raw Peeled Tail-on Shrimp Skewers (full label information can be found on the FDA's site) at Bakers, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foodsco, Fred Meyer, Frys, Gerbes, Jay C, King Soopers, Kroger, Marianos, Metro Market, Pay Less Supermarkets, Pick n Save, Ralphs, Smiths and QFC stores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The potentially radioactive shrimp was sold in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illionis, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming between June 12, 2025, and Sept. 17, 2025. While the FDA is currently investigating reports of Cs-137 contamination, it says no shrimp that has tested positive for Cs-137 has entered the U.S. However, AquaStar Corp is recalling the shrimp out of an abundance of caution, as even small amounts of Cs-137 exposure could lead to long-term health problems, including a higher risk of cancer. Catfish Fillets Nearly 100,000 pounds of catfish fillets and products have been recalled across the South. Quality Poultry & Seafood, Inc., of Biloxi, Mississippi, is recalling seven of its catfish fillet products as they were produced without "the benefit of federal inspection." FSIS requires that all meat, seafood, poultry, and eggs be inspected before being sold to ensure the products are "safe, wholesome, and properly labeled." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recalled catfish fillets were produced between Sept 2, 2024, and Sept 5, 2025, and sold at retailers in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The following products have been recalled: Translucent plastic bag packages containing various pieces of frozen catfish fillet products labeled "Varied Catfish Miscut Fillets, Farmed Raised Catfish Product of USA" Cardboard boxes containing three translucent plastic bag packages containing various pieces of frozen catfish fillet products labeled "Varied Catfish Miscut Fillets, Farmed Raised Catfish Product of USA" Translucent plastic bag packages containing various pieces of frozen catfish fillet products labeled "Irregular Catfish Shank Fillet, Farmed Raised Catfish Product of USA" Translucent plastic bag packages containing various pieces of frozen catfish fillet products labeled "Irregular Catfish Random Fillet, Farmed Raised Catfish Product of USA" Cardboard boxes containing three translucent plastic bag packages containing various catfish fillet products labeled "Irregular Catfish Random Fillet, Farmed Raised Catfish Product of USA" Vacuum-sealed translucent packages containing a catfish fillet stuffed with crabmeat dressing, labeled "Catfish Fillet Stuft W/ Crabmeat Dressing" Vacuum-sealed translucent packages containing a catfish fillet stuffed with crabmeat dressing, labeled "Stuffed Catfish" You can find label images on the FSIS' site. The catfish should not be consumed as uninspected food can have "undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants" that may be harmful to customers. If you own the recalled fish, dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Haifa Smoked Fish New York's Haifa Smoked Fish is recalling two products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haifa "Cold Smoked Salmon" with the lot number 219 and "Cold Smoked Seabass" with the lot number 212 are impacted by this recall. The smoked fish was distributed to retail stores and distributors nationwide. No Listeria infections have been reported at this time, but if you've consumed the smoked salmon or smoked seabass, you should monitor yourself for symptoms. Aldi Ambiano Cotton Candy Maker Aldi's Ambiano Cotton Candy Makers have been recalled after the importer, Wuensche USA, received 12 reports of sparking or fire. The heating element in the cotton candy maker can cause sugar to ignite if used without the "sugar receptacle," which poses a fire hazard. More than 21,000 machines sold between August 2024 and September 2024 at Aldi stores nationwide are impacted by this recall. You can identify the recalled Ambiano Cotton Candy Maker by the model number 836098. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have the recalled machine, Aldi will issue a refund. Either return the intake machine to the store or submit a photo of the unplugged machine showing both the model number and date code to Wuensche at service@801service.net. Sprout Organics Sweet Potato, Apple and Spinach Pouch The FDA announced a recall on Sprout Organics Sweet Potato, Apple and Spinach pouches that may contain elevated levels of lead. The 3.5-ounce pouches were sold at Walgreens stores, as well as some independent retailers, between September and December 2024. The recalled pouches bear the lot code 4212 and expiration date Oct. 29, 2025, on the packaging. If you have the recalled Sprout Organics Sweet Potato, Apple and Spinach pouches, do not consume them, as any exposure to lead can lead to health problems. The effects of elevated lead levels in your bloodstream are different depending on how much exposure you've had and your age and body weight. Therefore, children are more susceptible to intense reactions, including learning and developmental implications, as well as other long-term health problems. Costco Kirkland Signature Prosecco Valdobbiadene Costco has issued a recall for its Kirkland Signature Prosecco Valdobbiadene after the bottles were found to shatter even when not "handled or in use." The sparkling wine was sold between April 25 and Aug. 26, 2025, at club stores in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have the champagne, Costco advises disposing of it by wrapping the unopened bottle in paper towels and placing it in a plastic bag before throwing it in the trash to avoid contact with any broken glass should the bottle shatter. Costco advises customers not to return the recalled prosecco to stores; however, you can still receive a refund by providing a receipt or the recall letter. Read the original article on Allrecipes In 2017, the UAE made history as the first country in the world to appoint a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence. That milestone coincided with Canada becoming the first country to launch a national AI strategy. Since then, the UAE has advanced its own AI agenda through the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, which aims to position the country as a global leader in AI by 2031. As part of this effort, UAE firms are partnering with global AI companies to integrate into international value chains and benefit from technology transfer. This creates significant opportunities for private-sector collaboration and investment between Canada and the UAE. The UAE delegation will be led by H.E. Mohamed Bin Taliah, Chief of Government Services, responsible for optimizing public services. His presence comes as the country accelerates the large-scale integration of artificial intelligence, notably through flagship initiatives such as Abu Dhabi's AI-powered cloud platform for public services. These efforts aim to create a fully AI-driven, paperless government that streamlines operations, enhances the citizen experience, and fosters innovation. He will be joined by governmental officials and business leaders, including representatives from the Canada-UAE Business Council. In addition to several on-stage addresses, the program will feature bilateral meetings and business sessions designed to advance AI trade and investment opportunities between Canada and the UAE. With foreign direct investments from the United Arab Emirates in Canada reaching $8.8 billion in 2024, ALL IN will provide a unique opportunity to explore how the two countries can collaborate on AI from research and development to commercialization and capital investments. One year after the 50th anniversary of CanadaUAE diplomatic relations, and following the visit to Canada earlier this summer by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, ALL IN will serve as another milestone to discuss key areas of cooperation and to reinforce the strong ties between both countries. Following France's recognition as Country of Honour in 2024, ALL IN is proud to announce that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will hold this distinction in 2025, highlighting the UAE's ambition to build its global reputation as a leading AI destination. MONTREAL, Sept. 22, 2025 /CNW/ - As the third edition of ALL IN , Canada's largest AI event, approaches, the gathering taking place in Montreal on September 2425, 2025 has reaffirmed its undeniable role as a global business hub for new technologies and as a testament to Canada's determination to diversify its economic partnerships. Story continues The UAE government is already actively working with leading global companies and foreign governments. Earlier this year, for example, the UAE signed a framework agreement with France last year's ALL IN Country of Honour to develop a 1-gigawatt AI-dedicated data centre in France. Representing investments of between US$30 and US$50 billion, the project also includes commitments to support semiconductor development and talent training as part of efforts to advance AI technology and cloud infrastructure. The full program and the list of confirmed speakers for ALL IN 2025 are available here . Quotes "The UAE believes that the true power of artificial intelligence lies in what we can achieve together. Our vision is to forge partnerships with leading companies and innovators from around the world, not simply to advance technology, but to direct it toward improving people's lives. We see AI as a tool to simplify services, accelerate progress, and create opportunities for all. At ALL IN 2025, we are here to build bridges of collaboration that ensure innovation delivers meaningful and lasting impact." His Excellency Mohamed Bin Taliah, Chief of Government Services, Government of the United Arab Emirates "Canada is pleased to welcome the United Arab Emirates as the Country of Honour at the third edition of ALL IN. Our two countries share a commitment to advancing innovative technologies and creating new opportunities for trade and investment. From AI to quantum technologies to resilient supply chains, together we are building the strong, sustainable economy of the future." The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Government of Canada "The United Arab Emirates' recognition as Country of Honour at ALL IN underscores the growing global collaboration around artificial intelligence. Canada and the UAE share an ambition to ensure AI is developed and deployed responsibly, while fostering strong ecosystems that support innovation, talent, and economic growth. This year's event is an opportunity to strengthen connections and highlight investment opportunities that will shape the future of AI." The Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Government of Canada "We are delighted to welcome the United Arab Emirates as this year's Country of Honour at ALL IN, Canada's largest AI event. The UAE's engagement with the international AI community at ALL IN will serve as a catalyst for fostering greater collaboration between Canada, the UAE, and global leaders in the AI industry." Helene Desmarais, Founder and Co-chair of the Board, SCALE AI; Co-founder and Chair of the Board, ALL IN "Welcoming the United Arab Emirates as Country of Honour at ALL IN underscores our role as a global hub for AI collaboration. We look forward to building a long and fruitful partnership both here in Canada and in the UAE. By fostering exchanges with strategic partners like the UAE, ALL IN is helping drive growth for Canada's AI builders and amplify their impact on the national economy." Isabelle Turcotte, Co-founder and CEO, ALL IN About ALL IN ( allinevent.ai ) ALL IN, Canada's largest artificial intelligence event, is an initiative of SCALE AI , Canada's Global AI Innovation Cluster. Organized in collaboration with Mila and supported by the entire Canadian AI ecosystem, ALL IN has become one of Canada's major tech events and the gateway to North America's East Coast. Beyond insightful discussions, the event drives innovation and fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing, creating an environment where decision-makers can explore innovative solutions and concrete AI projects, exchange ideas, and forge partnerships to flourish in an AI-driven economy. The rise of artificial intelligence is driving the demand for data centers. (Getty Images) As data center development takes off across the United States and the world, New Hampshire legislators and regulators are weighing what steps their state, and its aging electric grid, should take to prepare. For me, its worth considering. There may be an opportunity here, but I think theres also concerns, said Sen. David Watters, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data centers large, energy-hungry facilities housing computer networks are rapidly becoming more common nationwide, data center developer Craig McGahey told New Hampshire lawmakers and energy professionals at the 2025 New Hampshire Energy Summit, organized by consulting and lobbying firm Dupont Group on Sept. 15. The rise of artificial intelligence is the biggest factor contributing to increasing data center demand, McGahey said, citing competition among so-called hyperscalers expansive cloud computing companies like Google, Meta, OpenAI, and others. As this race for AI dominance continues, we dont see it stopping, and its going to continue on for many, many years, he said. Nationally, construction of data centers is at an all-time high, Reuters reports. And as of March 2025, the United States had more of the facilities than any other nation, according to a Statista tally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other states, some of which have hundreds of data centers, the facilities have strained electric grids and, in some cases, water supplies. Yet, for now, New Hampshire is not among those: 10 relatively small-scale facilities were listed statewide on the website Data Center Map as of September 2025, putting New Hampshire in the bottom fifth nationally. Some see an emerging market. Others, an environmental threat. That may, however, be set to change. Low power availability and high electricity costs have so far been the principal factors preventing an influx of data centers in New Hampshire like that seen in some other states, McGahey said. But he added that he considered the Northeast as a whole an emerging market for the centers. Developers like himself, he said, were assessing different states regulatory landscapes, land availability, and power supplies to determine where to site new centers, which can range in size from normal office buildings to projects spanning hundreds of acres. Lawmakers are divided on whether data center development would be an opportunity or a concern for New Hampshire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citing property tax revenue and employment benefits, some legislators said they wanted to see New Hampshire create a regulatory environment that would favor data centers. I think New Hampshire should court any business into the state, said Rep. Doug Thomas, vice chair of the House Science, Technology, and Energy Committee, in an interview. In order for them to come here, there has to be a market. And so we have to show them that were interested. He and House Science, Technology, and Energy Committee Chair Michael Vose cited construction and jobs as a primary benefit of growing data centers in New Hampshire. In his presentation, McGahey said a data center of the scale likely to be established in New Hampshire could employ as many as 40 people full-time, and potentially hundreds more during construction. Others questioned whether those estimates represented enough jobs to make a meaningful impact on employment. Rep. Thomas Cormen, a member of the House Science, Technology, and Energy Committee, said in an interview the amount of people employed by data centers does not typically scale up proportionally as the centers increase in size. And, he added, for a relatively uncomplicated building like the typical warehouse-style data center, the construction phase might not last particularly long, meaning the bulk of jobs created would be temporary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watters said data center jobs were not substantially better-paying than jobs in other preexisting industries. Some of the biggest ones employ maybe 100 to 200 people at a $40,000 (annual) salary, Watters said. I mean, thats McDonalds. They might make close to $40,000, too. Cormen also raised environmental concerns. Some data centers are cooled with river water, a practice that raises the temperature of the water downstream, Cormen said. This could be harmful to the river itself or cause dangerous ice dams and flooding in winter, he said. I think a lot of people have environmental concerns, and power concerns, Watters said. Uncertainty about how data centers would be powered, Cormen said, is another hurdle; while drawing from the grid could raise electricity costs for other ratepayers, the type and effects of unregulated local generators are another unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before you know it, were talking about diesel generation, he said. We just dont know. Speculating to meet demand Some states have weighed implementing special rate schedules to offset the impact of increased on-grid data center demand on ratepayers, but Vose said he did not expect the New Hampshire Legislature to consider such a system in the near future. Instead, Vose and other legislators discussed ways to increase New Hampshires electricity generation down the road, including through speculative technology like small, modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs. The New Hampshire Department of Energy is assessing whether SMRs could someday be implemented in New Hampshire, Director of Energy Innovation Thomas Barrasso said at the summit. SMRs could power data centers within microgrids, small regionalized power grids that could operate either independently of or in tandem with the rest of the grid, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the microgrid piece of this, the grid modernization piece of this, the SMR piece of this kind of all start to fit together, Barrasso said. At the summit, Barrasso expressed optimism about small modular reactors, saying he felt the tide of public opinion toward nuclear energy was changing. A Gallup poll published in April supported this impression, showing 61% of Americans in favor of nuclear power a six percentage point increase over the previous poll in 2023. However, SMR critics point out that the technology is still in development, questioning Barrassos statement at the summit that they could eventually be plug and play solutions to bolster New Hampshires energy offerings. It may be anywhere from five to 15 years before the generators could hypothetically be deployed, according to Barrassos presentation. SMRs are a convenient discussion for people resistant to renewable energy development, Watters said in an interview. The interest is being driven by people who think SMRs are the answer to every problem in the world, he said. But they are not the only way data centers could be powered, he noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other technologies, including forms of renewable energy, are deployable now and could be implemented with less investment, said Dan Weeks, of solar developer ReVision Energy, at the summit. Weeks highlighted grid-scale batteries and renewable generation as other options that the state could direct attention to rather than the hypothetical future deployment of SMRs. Is the (Department of Energy) thinking about meeting these rising energy needs and cost concerns through greater deployment of existing technologies that are at this point pretty far down the cost curve and probably a lot closer in the future than SMRs? Weeks asked. My job was to sort of get all of the above into the mindset of everyone, Barrasso responded. The Legislature has already taken some steps toward localized power generation that could be used to power facilities like data centers through SMRs. House Bill 672, sponsored by Vose and signed by Gov. Ayotte in August, paved the way for off-grid energy generators to sell power directly to buyers. Vose said he hoped that bill would encourage microgrids. (The bill also exempts off-grid electricity providers from renewable energy standards and the rate regulations on-grid generation is subject to.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A resolution to declare the development of advanced nuclear technology in the best interest of New Hampshire also passed last session, but legislators failed to pass House Bill 710, which would have allowed utilities to own and operate SMRs. A similar bill sponsored by Sen. Kevin Avard will come before the Legislature in 2026, according to a legislative service request listed on the General Court of New Hampshire website. McGahey acknowledged the push to build data centers quickly had led developers to look toward more quickly deployable energy solutions than SMRs. In other states, developers have constructed new gas generators to meet data center demand, he said. Because this race is so intense, were looking for solutions in two to three years. We are looking at battery storage solutions. Were looking at natural gas plants, McGahey said. Looking ahead During his presentation, McGahey forecasted demand for a wave of smaller data centers within the next three to five years. The appetite of New Hampshire policymakers and utilities toward that development, McGahey said, could play a role in determining to what extent that development progresses locally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reality that New Hampshires grid is facing, including difficulties from power shortages and aging transmission lines, may make it unlikely that the state ever sees data center development on a large scale, Watters said. Its hard for me to imagine that thered be an interest in siting them here, he said. But the possibility, and related concerns, were worth discussing, he said, and others at the summit agreed. We need to get people to the table to start to talk about what the future is going to look like, Barrasso said. The Alaska Supreme Court is seen on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) Alaskas high court has confirmed an unprecedented decision by the state Board of Chiropractic Examiners to revoke a license issued to a Fairbanks chiropractor. The Alaska Supreme Court published its decision Friday, overruling a lower court decision in the process. Writing for the court, which ruled unanimously, Justice Dario Borghesan said that the troubling facts of this case gave the board a reasonable basis to impose the most severe sanction of complete license revocation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aaron Shoemaker, who received an Alaska chiropractic physician license in 2017, began practicing in Fairbanks in 2018 and opened his own practice, called Advanced Chiropractic. In 2022, the state regulatory board revoked his license after accusations of a variety of misconduct including sexually touching a client during a massage, refusing to follow mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, and being convicted of crimes demonstrating unfitness for practice. In June 2020, Shoemaker, then 36, was arrested by Alaska State Troopers after stealing a road compactor and posting images of the theft on his practices Facebook page. Court records say he was exhibiting signs of a mental health crisis, and after his arrest he was briefly committed to a psychiatric facility. He later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for the crime. The Board of Chiropractic Examiners temporarily suspended Shoemakers license in September 2020, and after an administrative hearing, permanently revoked his license a year and a half later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shoemaker appealed that decision to Fairbanks Superior Court, which ruled in Shoemakers favor in September 2023. The board then appealed the case to the Alaska Supreme Court. Borghesan, writing on behalf of the states highest court, said the board did not abuse its discretion by revoking Shoemakers license. The justice wrote that there was a reasonable basis for the board to rule that Shoemakers misdemeanor conviction demonstrated his unfitness, and there was substantial evidence to conclude that Shoemaker attempted sexual contact with a patient, in violation of ethical standards. Borghesan also wrote that there was substantial evidence that Shoemaker violated professional standards by failing to follow the states COVID mask mandate during the pandemic emergency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a footnote, Borghesan scolded Superior Court Judge Thomas Temple for relying on an opinion column submitted by Shoemaker and ruling that Shoemaker had a reasonable basis to ignore masking rules. The sole issue facing the superior court was whether there was substantial evidence to support the boards finding that Shoemaker did not wear a mask when treating patients. it was the boards role not the courts to weigh and draw inferences from the evidence, he wrote. The Supreme Courts order remands the case back to the Superior Court for final implementation of the license revocation. TIRANA, Albania (AP) An AI-generated government minister made its debut with an address in the Albanian parliament on Thursday, with Prime Minister Edi Rama presenting the bot as a symbol of his governments push for transparency and innovation. The government said the bot named Diella, which means sun in Albanian, and depicted as a woman in traditional Albanian dress will help tackle corruption in public spending. But opposition lawmakers were highly critical, and believe the program is a way for the government to hide graft. The Constitution speaks of institutions at the peoples service. It doesnt speak of chromosomes, of flesh or blood," the avatar declared in a three-minute address delivered from two large screens. It speaks of duties, accountability, transparency, non-discriminatory service." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I assure you that I embody such values as strictly as every human colleague, maybe even more, added the artificial persona. Rama argued that the AI-generated bot will help the government work faster and with full transparency. It is one element in a larger plan to highlight the Balkan nation's technological innovations as it works toward European Union membership. Albania hopes to join the 27-member bloc by 2030. Opposition lawmakers banged their hands on their tables, pushing the speaker to cut short the debate on the government program. The session ended after 25 minutes. They also boycotted a vote on the Cabinets program, but it passed anyway with 82 votes in favor in the 140-seat parliament. The opposition did not explain how it believed the government would exploit Diella to hide corruption in public finances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats asked for a repeat of the parliamentary session, complaining that the governing Socialists canceled the debate on the Cabinet's program. Diella was created earlier this year in cooperation with Microsoft as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania public service platform. It has helped users navigate the site and get access to about 1 million digital inquiries and documents. I am not here to replace people but to help them," the bot said in its address to parliament. True I have no citizenship, but I have no personal ambition or interests either. Forecast trends have changed for Monday, and the Arkansas Storm Team has remained vigilant in following these trends and ensuring the most up-to-date forecast is delivered. Forecast models are now hinting at a likelihood of a band of heavy rainfall setting up shop early Monday morning into Monday afternoon and early evening. Numerous showers and thunderstorms are likely, also adding risk to the morning commute on Monday. Its recommended to add some extra time to the morning commute on Monday in expectation of these showers and thunderstorms. With this heavy band of showers and storms likely to train (i.e., back-build with rain continuing to push over the same areas), the risk of flooding and flash flooding is elevated for Monday. Its important to remember to remain weather aware, have multiple ways to receive advisories and warnings for your location (downloading the Arkansas Storm Team App and turning on notifications is one way to do this), and if you encounter a flooded roadway, turn around and find a new route. While Arkansas needs rain, and this rain could help our ongoing drought, it still comes with hazards. Up to 5 inches of rainfall is possible by Monday evening from these numerous showers and storms. Exactly who sees the most rainfall is still up in the air, so its recommended that everyone in central Arkansas be ready for a rainy Monday, leading to a flooding risk. Highs on Monday will be in the low 80s due to the rain and cloud cover expected. The Arkansas Storm Team will continue to monitor the forecast and bring the latest updates both online and on air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. The Australian official added that she spoke up for the concerns of her country's Jewish community and the rise of antisemitism, as well as the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Australia would reverse its decision on Palestinian state recognition if there is a change of government in Australia, the country's Opposition Leader and Liberal Party head, Sussan Ley, told Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Sa'ar later revealed in a X/Twitter post on Monday. Ley, believing that Australia's decision rewards Hamas, noted her disappointment at "this break with bipartisanship and reiterated the Coalitions long-held position that recognition must only come at the end of a genuine two-state process," she wrote, also in a X/Twitter post. "Now is the wrong time while Hamas holds hostages and while conflict still rages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Australian official added that she spoke up for the concerns of her country's Jewish community and the rise of antisemitism, as well as the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. She then expressed her hope for the remaining 48 hostages in Gaza to be released, as well as for a halt to the fighting. Sa'ar expressed appreciation for Ley's position on recognition of Palestinian statehood and invited the Australian official to visit Israel. He also informed her in his X post of Israel's objectives in the enclave, and, noting her concerns about the difficult conditions in the region, said that "efforts are being made to enable the continued flow of humanitarian assistance. "I stressed that Israel is well aware of the many friends it has in Australia and distinguishes between the government and the people of Australia," Sa'ar said. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. (credit: Canva, LEON NEAL/POOL VIA REUTERS, REUTERS/HOLLIE ADAMS, REUTERS/INTS KALNINS, SHUTTERSTOCK) Ley's comments after Australia announces recognition with Canada, UK Earlier, on Sunday, Australia announced its recognition of a Palestinian state in a coordinated effort with Canada and the UK, with Portugal announcing its recognition shortly after. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said these decisions were an absurd reward for terrorism and that the international community will hear from us on this matter in the coming days. Mathilda Heller contributed to this report. Bali is considering a ban on the construction of new hotels and restaurants following devastating flash flooding earlier this month. On 10 September, a state of emergency was declared on the Indonesian island after at least 18 people died during the most severe flooding in Bali in over a decade. Heavy rain caused rivers to burst their banks, tearing through nine cities and districts and submerging at least 112 neighbourhoods, Balis Disaster Mitigation Agency said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the government plans to stop new permits for building on productive land, including Balis famous rice fields. Experts believe stricter controls could help mitigate the impact of flooding and other natural disasters. According to Indonesias state news agenecy, Antara, governor Wayan Koster said: After handling the floods, we will meet again to ensure no more permits are issued for hotels, restaurants, or other facilities on productive land, especially rice fields. Starting this year, the land conversion ban will align with Balis 100-year plan. From 2025 onward, no productive land can be converted into commercial facilities. Heavy seasonal rain from September to March frequently causes flooding and landslides in Indonesia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The regional bylaw prohibiting land conversions follows recommendations from Balis environment minister, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq. Hanif Faisal Nurofiq said: This is also crucial for Balis tourism, as the recent flooding has drawn serious attention. I actually told the governor last week that I really hope he will immediately stop land conversions in Bali. This is extremely important. According to Antara, land conversion for private residences will be granted by the government with selective permits, but not for commercial properties. Environmental activists have repeatedly warned of mass tourisms impact on the island. In March, Bali authorities issued new guidelines to address misbehaviour among foreign tourists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rules, issued by the Bali governor, include respecting sacred sites, dressing modestly, behaving politely, paying a tourist levy online, using licensed guides and accommodations, following traffic laws, and exchanging currency at authorised outlets. Read more: The major holiday hotspots cracking down on overtourism The UK, Australia, and Canada on Sunday recognised a Palestinian state in a coordinated, historic shift in decades of Western foreign policy, triggering swift anger from Israel Portugal was also set to recognise Palestinian statehood later Sunday, with other countries, including France, due to follow Monday at the annual UN General Assembly opening in New York. Israel has come under huge international pressure over its war against Hamas in Gaza launched in the wake of the October 7, 2023 militant attack, which has sparked a dire humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the statehood moves and vowed "it will not happen. No Palestinian state will be established west of the Jordan River." He slammed the move as "absurd" and said it would "endanger" Israel's existence, later vowing to expand Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Belgium to join France and other countries to recognise Palestinian state Netanyahu spoke after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain was formally recognising the State of Palestine "to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution". The UK and Canada became the first members of the Group of Seven advanced economies to take the step, with Australia following suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three-quarters of UN members now recognise Palestinian statehood, with at least 144 of the 193 member countries having taken the step, according to an AFP tally. Canada "offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future", Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on X. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the move "recognises the legitimate and long held aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own". Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas hailed the recognitions as "an important and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace". It is a watershed moment for Palestinians and their ambitions for statehood, with the most powerful Western nations having long argued it should only come as part of a negotiated peace deal with Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although a largely symbolic move, it puts those countries at odds with the United States and Israel. France's Macron repeats warning on Netanyahu's military plan for Gaza US President Donald Trump said last week after talks with Starmer during a state visit to the UK that "one of our few disagreements" was over Palestinian statehood. And French President Emmanuel Macron insisted in an interview with a US television network that releasing the hostages captured in 2023 would be "a requirement very clearly before opening, for instance, an embassy in Palestine". 'Special burden' A growing number of longtime Israeli allies have shifted their long-held positions as Israel has intensified its Gaza offensive, which began almost two years ago with Hamas's 2023 attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Gaza Strip has suffered vast destruction, with a growing international outcry over the besieged coastal territory's spiralling death toll and a UN-declared famine. The UK government has come under increasing public pressure to act, with thousands of people rallying every month on the streets. A poll released by YouGov on Friday showed two-thirds of British people aged 18-25 supported Palestinian statehood. Macron warns on Israeli TV that Gaza war is 'destroying Israels credibility' Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy had said at the United Nations in July that "Britain bears a special burden of responsibility to support the two-state solution". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UK was pivotal in laying the groundwork for the creation of the State of Israel through the 1917 Balfour Declaration. Starmer said on Sunday that Britain was acting "in the face of the growing horror in the Middle East". He renewed calls for a ceasefire and again demanded Hamas release its remaining hostages. Branding Hamas a "brutal terror organisation", Starmer also confirmed plans to bolster sanctions on the militants, denying recognition was a "reward". (with newswires) A research manager who moved from Brazil to the UK has said Nigel Farages plan to abolish indefinite leave to remain (ILR) would make it impossible to plan a future in this country. Brener Seixas, who works in London, pays taxes through his above-average salary while volunteering for a housing association cooperative in Lewisham. He also runs a Brazilian film festival, which takes place next month. Despite having lived in the UK for four years, the 34-year-old, who is preparing to apply for ILR status in March, said Reform UKs radical policy on immigrants had left him feeling insecure about his future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a press conference on Monday morning, Mr Farage announced officially that his party, which is ahead of Labour in some opinion polls, would abolish ILR and force non-EU migrants to renew their visa every five years. Under the crackdown, which Mr Farage claimed would save 234bn through welfare and housing, applicants would have to meet certain criteria, including a higher salary threshold and a better standard of English. Those with UK citizenship status would not be affected. However, the plan has been met with an outcry from charities, campaigners and politicians, as well as those who would be affected, including Mr Seixas. Follow updated reaction to Reforms migration plans - click here for our live blog Brener Seixas arrived in the UK from Brazil and now works as a research manager (Brener Seixas) He told The Independent: The proposals to scrap ILR, and force people like me to reapply repeatedly for the right to stay, dont just change the rules on paper they make me feel like a guest who can be asked to leave at any time, no matter how much Ive invested in this country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Seixas first arrived in the UK from his home city, Belo Horizonte, in 2019, after being picked from 75,000 applicants for a scholarship to study for a masters degree in sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. After graduating, he went back to Brazil and got a job with his London-based employer, before returning to the UK after the Covid pandemic in 2021 with limited leave to remain (LLR) status. After four years under LLR, he can apply for ILR next year. As well as working in London, Mr Seixas volunteers at the Sanford Housing Co-op, and is behind a film festival in the capital next month. He said: [Reforms plan] creates constant insecurity. I studied here, found work, and followed every rule yet the idea that ILR could be revoked, or visas [will have to be] endlessly renewed, makes it impossible to plan normal things like travelling, having housing security, starting a family, or caring for relatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My employer depends on international talent to deliver projects, but penalising companies for hiring from abroad only creates churn, lost productivity, and higher costs. He added: Treating us as disposable undermines social cohesion, and sends a message that we dont belong. We are neighbours, colleagues, and family. I am not a stranger; Im part of the UKs everyday story. Mr Farages plan comes despite net migration having fallen by half last year, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Some 431,000 migrants arrived during 2024, compared with 860,000 the year before. Of these migrants, 86 per cent came to the UK from non-EU countries, with the highest number coming from India, followed by Pakistan. Nigel Farage says Reforms plan for migration would save the UK economy 234bn (PA) Also concerned about Reforms plan are those who already have ILR. They would have their status ripped up and would need to apply for LLR every five years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nish, who did not want to give her surname, was awarded ILR this year, after 10 years during which she had to apply for LLR four times, spending thousands of pounds each time plus solicitors fees. The 33-year-old arrived in the UK from Mauritius as a victim of human trafficking. She is now married and has a daughter, and works as a youth organiser at migrant and refugee support group Praxis. You almost never feel safe, just because there is always something else to worry about, she told The Independent. This all makes you feel very unstable. But this is my life, this is where I am. It is very unsettling; Im worried for my and my familys future. Migrants Rights Network has accused Reform of adding fuel to the fire by announcing its policy on migrants following this summers far-right demonstrations over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson said: Its quickly becoming the norm for politicians to try to outdo each other on anti-migrant rhetoric and policies. Reforms announcement is an attempt to bait the government into implementing even harsher immigration policies. We urge both the government and other political parties to push back and centre unity instead of division. Cameroon on Monday is marking five years since protests organised by the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) were violently repressed by the authorities. More than 500 people were arbitrarily arrested, 36 of whom remain in jail. As the country gears up for presidential elections, human rights group Amnesty International is calling for their release. On 22 September 2020, the opposition party had called for peaceful demonstrations to promote national dialogue, reform of the electoral system, and an end to the conflict in the English-speaking regions. However, 36 opposition supporters remain in detention in Kondengui prison in Yaounde, after being sentenced by a military court to between five and seven years' imprisonment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were found guilty of "rebellion" or "attempted insurrection" against the state. Some of those arrested are now nearing the end of their sentences, while others will have to wait several more years, such as Alain Fogue, treasurer of the MRC, or Olivier Bibou Nissack, spokesperson for the opposition leader Maurice Kamto. Amnesty International has condemned these arbitrary detentions. Fabien Offner, researcher at Amnesty International's regional office for West and Central Africa, calls for their release. "Unfortunately, there has been no change in recent years with regard to respect for fundamental rights," Offner told RFI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is despite calls from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and an alarming report from the Committee Against Torture on what is happening in prisons, police stations and gendarmeries in Cameroon." Arbitrary arrests "The Cameroonian authorities must immediately release 36 opposition supporters arbitrarily detained for five years for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and put an end to arbitrary detention in the country," Amnesty said on the fifth anniversary of their arrest. They "have committed no crime other than to express their opinion," Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International's Regional Director for West and Central Africa said. The NGO also pointed about that trying civilians in military courts is "incompatible with the right to a fair trial and therefore in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fears over divided opposition and instability, as Cameroon heads to the polls Among the 36, one has suffered three strokes but has not been released on medical grounds despite requests, according to the lawyer Hippolyte Meli Tiakouang, coordinator of a collective defending detained opposition supporters. Thirty-six appeals have been lodged since 2022 with the Supreme Court of Cameroon, which has not yet ruled on any of them. "The delays are unreasonable," said lawyer Tiakouang. "One might think that the judiciary drags things out so that the sentences handed down will be carried out." On 4 November 2022, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention published a report which found that the detention of 15 of the MRC leaders and activists was arbitrary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are deeply disappointed that the authorities have failed to recognise the arbitrary nature of the ongoing detention of these protesters," Sivieude said. Rising fears ahead of election The presidential election will take place in Cameroon on 12 October, with President Paul Biya running for an eighth term. Biya, 92, has been in power in Cameroon for nearly 43 years, will face 11 other candidates, as the opposition didn't manage to present a united front. In July, Cameroon's electoral commission barred Kamto because he was running under the banner of the MANIDEM party, which also supported a second candidate. At the start of this month, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) voiced concern at restrictions on Cameroon's "civic space" as the election nears and also expressed fears about the voters' ability to freely express their choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cameroon's forgotten crisis displaces nearly a million people On 4 August, at least 54 MRC supporters were arrested next to the Constitutional Council in Yaounde during pre-election dispute hearings, according to Tiakouang. All of them are now on bail. Twenty-three are facing prosecution for allegedly inciting revolt and disturbing public order, and if convicted face several years in prison. Amnesty's Marceau Sivieude says the arrests point to "an alarming crackdown on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Cameroon" and that the charges should be dropped. He says the alarming trend is only likely to intensify as the elections get closer. "In recent years, anyone who dares criticise the authorities, whether a human rights defender, a journalist, a political activist or a protester, runs the risk of being arbitrarily arrested and detained, tortured or otherwise ill-treated, and tried by military courts. Unfortunately, this trend increases as the presidential election approaches. This travesty of justice must end," he says. Lebanon Community Schools Corporation Superintendent Jon Milleman recently told an audience the district has grown their own teachers with 15-18% of all teaching staff having graduated from Lebanon themselves. The achievement was one of many he announced during this years State of the Schools breakfast, as a testament to the love this community has for its students and the school system. Milleman said the high percentage of previous students wishing to return and live here fosters a different type of connection within the school system and brings a special kind of love to students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have never seen so many educators and faculty that love children like they do in Lebanon, he said. A new social media series was recently announced that will highlight the homegrown educators in Lebanon schools called Tigers Teaching Tigers, discussing these educators roots in Lebanon and the connection theyve fostered into their adulthoods. The breakfast also featured a panel of students and teachers from different schools in the district sharing their perspectives on Lebanon Schools. Lebanon Middle School teacher Leah Cavanaugh said the community has done a great job at supporting LCSC through things like mentorships and donations. She feels the time and commitment invested in the schools means more than money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats what Im looking for personally, Cavanaugh said. A lot of you show up to activities and events that arent even necessarily for your kids, so I think the kids appreciate that, and its helping them be better people. That time and love invested in the schools has paid off through the students social and academic achievements. While Milleman said what they do is not about test scores, results this year reflect their overall goal of helping students achieve more today than yesterday. The schools had their second-highest pass rate since 2018 with 88% of students passing the 2025 IREAD-3. There has also been a 45% increase in AP tests given and Lebanon High School has a 96% graduation rate. Outside of academics, Lebanon schools reported eight of every 10 students have found a group they truly feel they belong to at school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lebanon High School student Xavior Bryant said theres a lot of opportunity to find what students are passionate about. One thing that makes him look forward to going to school each day is knowing he gets to do what he loves: music and theater. The U.S. News and World Report listed Lebanon schools among the top 20% of public schools in Indiana and Lebanon High School among the top 40% in the country. The superintendent also addressed changes happening to further this improvement in and out of classrooms. To comply with the new Indiana statute announced in Dec. 2024, LCSC will shift from Core 40 diplomas to diploma seals starting with this years freshman class. The purpose is to allow students to customize their learning to better fit their goals and needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indianas current graduation requirement will no longer be in effect starting Oct. 1, 2028, making the new diploma requirements effective for all students beginning with the class of 2029, according to the Indiana Department of Education. The district is also increasing STEM education and has been awarded a competitive robotics grant, co-funded by Eli Lilly and Company. Milleman said they will expand the competitive robotics program at the middle school and buy all necessary equipment for students. The grant has also solidified the plan to get a competitive program in all four elementary schools in the next two to three years after previous successes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harney Elementary has already implemented a robotics program, and their STEM teacher Matt Farrell is a 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year finalist. In addition to curriculum changes, schools in Lebanon are also physically changing with multiple completed and upcoming renovations to improve infrastructure for students. Ground was broken last year on the new Lebanon Middle School and it is expected to be completed for the 2027-28 school year There were ribbon cuttings this year for the new Central Elementary, Harney Elementary, Perry Worth Elementary and Transportation Center, and multiple groundbreakings for new projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Interior renovations have started on Hattie B. Stokes Elementary to make the school uniform with the other three elementary schools, and Lebanon High School is getting a few renovations and a student activity center. Milleman said hes heard some chatter around the community about the high school already being renovated recently, but he pointed out that was in 2010, so its been 15 years. He also said it wasnt a complete renovation, so things like the 1970s fixtures in the bathrooms will be updated. As the school district grows, Milleman said more space is needed in cafeterias and common areas, so some areas need to be reconfigured as they do that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the buildings themselves also just need to grow up a little bit. He wants middle school kids to feel more like high schoolers and high school students to feel more like college kids following the renovations. While the buildings will get a more mature makeover, the average age of students will drop once the Tiger Cubs Pre-K and LCSC Central Office buildings are completed. Milleman said with his office planned to be in the same building, hes excited to spend lunch breaks with cubs. I think the community is just as excited as we are to have some 4-year-olds joining the Lebanon Community Schools Corporation in 2026, Milleman said. Thats going to be the best. President Donald Trump introduced a $100,000 application fee for the H-1B visa on Friday. Some key US industries, like tech, rely on the program to recruit talent and build their workforce. Some prominent tech and business leaders have benefited from the H-1B, including Elon Musk. For foreign-born engineers and product managers hoping to work in America's biggest companies, the H-1B visa is a golden ticket to a career in the US. In recent years, however, the visa program has been bogged down by a lottery system, loopholes such as multiple and fake entries, and long wait times. On Friday, the White House announced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications , sparking a wave of confusion and panic as companies and workers scrambled to make sense of the order. Do you have experience with the H-1B visa program? Business Insider wants to hear from you. Please fill out this quick form. The H-1B visa was also once used by some of the biggest names in tech, including the current CEOs of Tesla and Microsoft. Here are four tech leaders who were on the H-1B visa at one point in their careers and have advocated for more efficiency in this visa program. Representatives for the four executives did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider. Satya Nadella Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, speaks on stage at the Build developer conference. Jason Redmond / AFP/ Getty Images Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella arrived in the US in 1988 to attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He graduated in 1990 and later received an MBA from the University of Chicago. In his memoir, "Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft's Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone," Nadella said he married his wife in 1992, and they decided she would move from India to live with him. However, her visa application was rejected. A coworker suggested that Nadella give up his "coveted" green card for an H-1B visa as another way to bring his wife stateside. Nadella applied for the H-1B visa in 1994 and was approved. "Miraculously, it all worked out," he wrote. During his first term, Trump criticized the H-1B program and signed an executive order in 2017 that ordered federal agencies to review and propose changes. That year, Nadella called reviewing the program a "good idea" on an episode of Marketplace's "Make Me Smart" podcast. "Every country should look at their immigration policy and, especially in this case, it's about American competitiveness," Nadella said. He added: "At least at Microsoft, when we think about H-1B, it's mostly about high-skilled labor that allows us, an American company, to be globally competitive." Charlie Kirks widow has said she wants to let the government decide whether her husbands accused killer will receive the death penalty, and that she does not want his blood on her ledger. Tyler Robinson was formally charged with aggravated murder last week after Kirk, 31, was assassinated on Sept. 10 on the college campus of Utah Valley University in Orem. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced the formal charges against 22-year-old Robinson at a press conference last Tuesday and said he would be seeking the death penalty in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erika Kirk, a devout evangelical Christian, said that she believed her husbands death was part of Gods plan. Ive had so many people ask, Do you feel anger toward this man? Like, do you want to seek the death penalty? she told The New York Times. Charlie Kirks widow has said she wants to let the government decide whether her husbands accused killer will receive the death penalty (Instagram) Ill be honest, she continued. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this. I do not want that mans blood on my ledger. The 36-year-old mother to Kirks two young children said she believes that if she did push for the death penalty, it could stop her from being with her late husband in heaven. Because when I get to heaven, and Jesus is like: Uh, eye for an eye? Is that how we do it? she told the outlet. And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Kirks assassination, Erika Kirk said she has seen the Bible in such technicolor. To be so serene in saying, Thy will be done. I surrender to it. Do I like it? No. That was the love of my life, my soul mate, my best friend, she said. But Gods plan is always greater than ours. Robinson has been charged at the state level with aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and other offenses in connection with Kirks death (Utah State Courts) Erika Kirk was planning to accompany her husband to Utah on the day he died, as he embarked on the Turning Point USA fall tour of colleges and high schools across the country. But she stayed in Phoenix because her mother was undergoing medical treatment on the same day, the Times reports. Robinson has been charged at the state level with aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and other offenses in connection with Kirks death. Utah prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty, alleging Robinson targeted Kirk for his political views. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury would first have to determine Robinsons guilt and then whether he is eligible for execution. He would otherwise face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. The state conducted its last execution in 2024, ending a 15-year hiatus for capital punishment in Utah. Robinsons mother told investigators that he had recently become more politically active and leaned left. Federal investigators have so far found no evidence linking Robinson to left-wing groups, despite claims from Trump and his administration , three sources told NBC News. The trio of insiders is reportedly familiar with the probe into the case, which, as of now, appears to revolve around Robinson acting alone. The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has demonstrated its ability to launch and recover aircraft from its first catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian. Official imagery released by the PLAN today confirms that the new J-35 naval stealth fighters and KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft are carrying out carrier trials, something that had not been seen until now. Meanwhile, weve also got a much better view of the J-15T single-seat carrier-based fighter launching and recovering aboard Fujian, having previously seen it in position for a catapult launch with its afterburners engaged. The sudden appearance of video of all three aircraft operating from the ship for the first time is something of a stunning revelation, one of many that has come this year from Chinas air power portfolio. The undated videos and photos showing flight operations aboard Fujian reveal examples of all three aircraft being prepared for catapult launch, taking off, and then making arrested recoveries. The aircraft are also shown in flight, including in formation with a J-15D series electronic warfare aircraft, and Fujian is shown from above, with the J-35, KJ-600, and J-15T arranged on its deck. Fujian has been conducting sea trials since May 2024, and there have been growing signs that fixed-wing flight operations were underway. In August of this year, official imagery showed J-15s on the deck of the carrier and flying at low level above it. At that stage, however, there were no clear indications that the J-15 had actually taken off from and/or landed on Fujian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An earlier video is shown below of J-15 activity aboard Fujian, but without presenting any carrier takeoffs or recoveries: First-ever official footage of flight operations aboard China's newest, soon-to-be commissioned aircraft carrier, CNS Fujian (18) On the eve of the PLA's 98th anniversary, PRC media released video showcasing another major milestone: integration tests between the electromagnetic pic.twitter.com/wIrU4hxFi6 Ian Ellis (@ianellisjones) July 31, 2025 While we dont know how long these fixed-wing aircraft types have now been conducting flight operations aboard the carrier, revealing all three in action at once is something of a coup. Of the three types, the J-15 family is a Chinese development of the Soviet-era Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker, with the T version being specifically developed for catapult launch. Earlier variants of the J-15, as well as the Su-33, were designed for use on short takeoff but assisted recovery (STOBAR) carriers with ski jumps rather than catapults, like the PLANs first two flattops. The J-15T had previously been seen operating from these two earlier vessels, in which case it relies on the STOBAR mode. However, the addition of a catapult launch bar (and less visible additional structural modifications) means the T-model is very much optimized for Fujian, from which it will be able to launch at higher operating weights than in STOBAR mode. A J-15T moments before launch from Fujian. PLAN A J-15T recovers on Fujian. PLAN A J-15T takes off from Fujian. PLAN Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A J-15T catches the arrester cable on Fujian. PLAN The J-35 is the PLANs next-generation carrier fighter, a stealthy design that was intended to conduct catapult takeoff but assisted recovery (CATOBAR) operations from the outset. Developed from the land-based FC-31, there are also signs that the J-35, like the J-15T, might also eventually embark on the Liaoning and Shandong. Until now, however, it hadnt been seen taking part in any kind of carrier operations, other than in the form of mock-ups. Deck crew prepare for a J-35 catapult launch from Fujian. PLAN A J-35 recovers on Fujian. PLAN Arrested recovery by a J-35 on Fujian. PLAN Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A J-35 launches from Fujian. PLAN J-35 about to trap aboard the carrier. PLAN J-35 taxis aboard the carrier. PLAN As for the KJ-600, the size and performance of this aircraft mean that its only suitable for CATOBAR operations, restricting its use to Fujian and any follow-on carriers. At least three examples are seen on the deck of Fujian. This aircraft will fulfill the same role as the U.S. Navys E-2 Hawkeye, and, although not a direct copy, it is extremely similar both in size and overall design. PLAN Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deck crew prepare to launch a KJ-600 from the Fujian. PLAN A KJ-600 prepares to catch the wire on Fujian. PLAN KJ-600 takeoff from Fujian. PLAN Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also seen in the new imagery is the Z-9 helicopter, a license-produced variant of the Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) AS365 Dauphin. Z-9s are also part of the air wings found on Chinas STOBAR carriers, including for use as plane guards while fixed-wing aircraft are launching and recovering, and the type has been seen on the deck of Fujian, too, in the past. Overall, testing Fujians abilities to launch and recover fixed-wing aircraft is a critical part of the path to operational service. However, it has added resonance since not only is the carrier fully homegrown, but so are the J-35 and KJ-600, the most important elements of its air wing, and they have not previously been to sea, at least in an operational capacity. The PLAN is therefore introducing to service a new carrier design and at least two new naval aircraft designs simultaneously, which is impressive by any measure. A KJ-600 seen from the retractable enclosed control station built into the flight deck of Fujian. via Chinese internet Launch preparations for a KJ-600 aboard Fujian. via Chinese internet Takeoff of a KJ-600 aboard Fujian. via Chinese internet Just as significant is the fact that Fujian is equipped with electromagnetically powered catapults, the testing of which first began in 2023 while the ship was still being fitted out. In contrast to the U.S. Navy, which gathered decades of experience with steam-powered catapults, China opted for electromagnetic ones for its first CATOBAR carrier. Its worth noting that the U.S. Navys USS Gerald R. Ford was the first carrier ever to get an aircraft into the air using what is also referred to as an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS). However, it has not launched an F-35C so far, making the J-35 the first stealth jet to achieve this feat. Based on earlier predictions, the F-35C may not do the same for some years. A J-35 is prepared for takeoff on Fujian. via Chinese internet Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A J-35 catches the wire aboard Fujian. via Chinese internet A J-35 on the elevator aboard Fujian. via Chinese internet Close-up of a J-35 aboard Fujian. via Chinese internet A J-15T takes off as a J-35 is maneuvered toward the catapult on Fujian. via Chinese internet Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we have discussed in the past, electromagnetic catapults offer several advantages, not least the fact that they can be more finely tuned to very different aircraft types, including ones that are larger and slower (like the KJ-600), or which are smaller and lighter, such as smaller drones. EMALS are also less mechanically complex than their predecessors, providing lower reset times that can help boost sortie-generation rate. On the other hand, the technology behind the electromagnetic catapults on USS Gerald R. Ford proved to be hard to master, causing issues for years before the U.S. Navy said it was able to mitigate them. A J-15T powers up for takeoff from Fujian. via Chinese internet Included among the recently released imagery is this formation study of a pair of single-seat J-15s and a pair of J-35s led by a two-seat J-15D electronic warfare aircraft. via Chinese internet A J-15D electronic warfare aircraft leads two J-15s and a J-35. via Chinese internet While the latest imagery from Fujians trials focuses on traditionally crewed fixed-wing airpower, its very likely that this carrier, and other aviation-capable PLAN ships, will eventually operate advanced uncrewed platforms. In this case, the capabilities offered by EMALS are particularly relevant. The PLAN is known to be working on advanced uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAVs) and other types of drones that can be launched from carriers and big-deck amphibious warfare ships. Fujian will surely be no exception in this regard. Videos provide a comparison of a STOBAR J-15 carrier launch and a CATOBAR J-15T launch from Fujian: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever trials and tribulations the PLAN might have faced with its new homegrown carrier, its advanced electromagnetic catapults, and its new-look air wing, the Fujian project is indicative of a broader modernization drive within the service. As well as increasingly advanced and powerful surface combatants and submarines, China is understood to be already working on its next CATOBAR carrier. Generally referred to as the Type 004, this may also be nuclear-powered. The expanding PLAN carrier force also reflects growing strategic ambitions for the PLAN, as it pivots toward being able to take part in higher-end regional missions, such as intervention against Taiwan, as well as longer-range blue water operations in the Pacific and beyond. A J-15T, J-35, and KJ-600 aboard Fujian. via Chinese internet For China, therefore, Fujian is much more than just a point of national and naval pride. With the carrier now expected to enter operational service by the end of this year, we will surely learn more about this landmark design for the PLAN, and the various aircraft that will serve aboard it. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com Boaz Toporovsky leads an Israeli delegation to Taiwan, September 17, 2025. (photo credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, SCREENSHOT/X/VIA SECTION 27A OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT) Toporovsky, who chairs the IsraelTaiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, visited Taiwan with MKs Michal Shir-Segman, Debbie Biton, Eli Dallal, Yael Ron Ben-Moshe, and Shalom Danino. The Chinese Embassy in Israel issued a sharply worded warning on Sunday to MK Boaz Toporovsky (Yesh Atid) after he led a Knesset delegation to Taipei last week, declaring that if he does not rein in at the brink of the precipice, he will fall and be shattered to pieces, according to a statement on social media. In its statement, the embassy accused Toporovsky of repeatedly violating Israels one-China policy, called him a trouble-maker for bilateral ties, and said he should not delude himself that he can harm Chinas core interests without paying a price. The remarks were published late Sunday, and framed Toporovskys meetings in Taipei as undermining the political foundation of China-Israel relations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toporovsky, who chairs the IsraelTaiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, visited Taiwan with MKs Michal Shir-Segman, Debbie Biton, Eli Dallal, Yael Ron Ben-Moshe, and Shalom Danino. The delegation met President Lai Ching-te on September 16 and presented a joint declaration signed by 72 Knesset members calling to integrate Taiwan into international forums. Taiwans Presidential Office noted that the 72 signatories constitute a majority of the Knesset. In July, The Jerusalem Post reported that more than 70 lawmakers had backed Taiwans participation in global bodies, an initiative led by Toporovsky with MK Ohad Tal. The declaration reiterated Taiwans support for Israel since October 7 and argued that Taipeis expertise could benefit international institutions. Beijing's standard position of one China Beijings response reiterated its standard position that there is but one China, and cited the 1992 China-Israel joint communique, which states that Israel recognizes the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. Israels recognition is recorded in the text of the joint communique. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Israel recognizes Beijing and does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, parliamentary friendship groups and visits by lawmakers have continued in recent years. Toporovskys recent visit included public thanks to Taiwan for aid to Israeli communities and cooperation on technology and resilience, according to the Taiwanese readout. As of publication, the embassys statement did not reference any official Israeli government change to the one-China policy, and Jerusalem has not announced one. Welcome back to Monday. Its Danielle Battaglia with todays edition of Under the Dome focused on the Trump administration. Time travel with me for a moment. On July 22, President Donald Trump predicted something that happened last week. He posted on social media his celebration that late night comedian Stephen Colbert was canceled and this: The word is, and its a strong word at that, Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That happened on Wednesday. It began two days earlier, when Kimmel went on stage and said this: We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it. To be clear, Kirk was a conservative activist who police say was killed by 20-year-old Tyler Robinson, whose family says had recently become more left leaning. There was an outcry from conservatives about Kimmels comments. Rep. Greg Murphy, a Republican from Greenville, wrote on social media (after Kimmels show was pulled from air), Disgusting @jimmykimmel @JimmyKimmelLive . A bridge too far. Have you no soul? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday (before the decision), Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr went on a conservative podcast saying that Kimmel made a concerted effort to lie to the American people. He also threatened an FCC remedy. He added, We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Now you may be thinking, Danielle, what about the First Amendment? Ironically, this all went down on Constitution Day, and the First Amendment to the Constitution gives citizens the right to free speech without the threat of government interference. There are limited exceptions, but what Kimmel said did not rise to those levels. However, Carr knew that Nexstar and Tegna, two media conglomerates that carry Kimmels show on their local ABC outlets, are set to merge and need the FCCs approval to do so, The New York Times reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both companies announced they would not run Kimmel on their local stations, leaving Disney and ABC to suspend Kimmels show indefinitely. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican from Banner Elk, reposted a story on social media about the decision with a waving hand emoji. She wasnt the only one to celebrate. Truthfully, I dont understand his humor, said Rep. Pat Harrigan, a Republican from Hickory, on Newsmax. I dont think hes that funny and Im glad hes off the air. Late Friday, in an interview to TMZ, he added that this needed to be a business decision, and said we need to be protective of free speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Deborah Ross, a Democrat from Raleigh, called for an investigation into Carrs and Trumps actions. Freedom of speech is our nations bedrock principle, Ross wrote on X. People have the right to say what they believe, even when we disagree. Trump and Carrs push to force ABC to fire Jimmy Kimmel is another attack on free speech. Ross and Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, arent two people I find agreeing often, but here we are. On Friday, Cruz said on his podcast that this it is unbelievably dangerous for government to put itself in the position to say, were going to decide what speech we like and what we dont and were going to threaten to take you off air if we dont like what youre saying. He added, It might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel, but when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it, Cruz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ironically, Carr in the past has celebrated comedic slights aimed at elites. Jump back in our time machine to 2020, when Carr posted on social media that political satire is one of the oldest and most important forms of free speech. It challenges those in power while using humor to draw more people into the discussion. From Internet memes to late-night comedians, from cartoons to the plays and poems as old as organized government itself Political Satire circumvents traditional gatekeepers & helps hold those in power accountable, Carr wrote. Not surprising that its long been targeted for censorship. Stay tuned: Trump isnt likely to be satisfied with axing Kimmel and Cobert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That leaves Jimmy (Fallon) and Seth (Meyers), two total losers, on Fake News NBC, Trump posted on social media Wednesday. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT Other stories we worked on: If there is one article you read this week, make it this one about the life of Iryna Zarutska by Theoden James . She is the Ukrainian refugee murdered while riding Charlottes light rail. Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews faced calls for her resignation after she criticized Charlie Kirk. City officials stood by her, Kristen Johnson reports . North Carolina falls behind most states for mental health funding, a detail brought to light after the stabbing of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, Nora ONeill reports. Rep. Wiley Nickel forgoes a Senate race, to focus on becoming Wake Countys next district attorney, Josh Shaffer reports. The U.S. House Judiciary Committee plans to hold a remote hearing in Charlotte to examine Zarutskas death, Mary Ramsey reported. Gov. Josh Stein traveled to Washington Wednesday to ask Congress for $13.5 billion in additional Helene recovery funding. Nathan Collins reports on how the GEO Group, the owner of private prisons in North Carolina, may benefit from Trumps immigration policies. Thats it for now. Be kind to each other. And check back tomorrow for the Under the Dome podcast. If you have any feedback or tips for this edition of the newsletter feel free to reach out to me directly at dbattaglia@mcclatchydc.com. Not a subscriber? Sign up on our website to receive Under the Dome in your inbox daily. ILLINOIS (WCIA) Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and 21 other states are celebrating a victory in a case where they filed a lawsuit to prevent the Trump Administration from accessing information on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. In a news release on Friday, Raoul said the District Court for the Northern District of California ordered a temporary restraining order. This means that, for the time being, the Trump administration cannot demand that states turn over personal information on its SNAP applicants and recipients. Illinois Attorney General, FTC file lawsuit against Ticketmaster for deceptive business practices Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I join others in our coalition in applauding the court in this decision, which ensures SNAP recipients can receive the benefits they rely on without the concern of their private personal information being involuntarily shared outside the program, Raoul said. SNAP provides access to food for millions of Illinois families while also supporting thousands of local grocers, farmers markets, and other merchants who are critical to states economies, and I will continue to protect their privacy. Raoul and the coalition sued the administration in July. They argued that the data, which includes names, address, Social Security numbers and more, would be shared across federal agencies and used for immigration enforcement. According to Raoul, federal and state laws generally prohibit states from sharing personally identifying SNAP data. But the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) the agency which administers SNAP has requested all personally identifying information for all SNAP applicants and recipients since January 2020. Illinois AG joins lawsuit to stop federal cuts to science, research programs Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raoul also said that if states dont comply, the USDA has threatened to cut program funding. Now, states are are being forced to consider two options: comply, and violate the law, or protect residents personal information and potentially lose millions in funding. Nearly two million people rely on SNAP in Illinois. Of those households, 33% have children, 30% have adults over 60 years of age, and 27% contain a person with a disability, Raoul said. Raoul said that for more than 60 years, the federal government and state agencies have worked to make sure only eligible individuals receive SNAP benefits. But, those systems do not require that states turn over information especially without regulating how that information is used or shared. The attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin, and the state of Kentucky joined Raoul in filing the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Danica Patrick continues to mourn the loss of former right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk. The 31-year-old Kirk was shot and killed in a speaking event at a Utah college last week. Kirk, a married father of two, was shot and killed in the neck. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was ultimately pronounced dead. Kirk's memorial service is being held at State Farm Stadium outside of Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday afternoon. Patrick shared a tribute to Kirk following his death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I dont know where to start. @charliekirk1776 was a great American, husband, father, leader, man of faith, business man, boss, speaker, and inspiration to millions. His mission to bring conservative values into high schools and colleges helped make being a republican cool again in the youth. He was able to take a rally and turn it into a high energy fun party! He was able to take his vision and passion and turn it into reality. He built @turningpointusa, got married, had two beautiful children, and became one of the most powerful influences in politics all by 31 years old. Remarkable," she wrote on Instagram "Its in times like these that we have to look at humanity and ask why these things happen and then the most important question..what do we do next? I dont have the answer. But I know its not fight fire with fire, even though anger is a dominant emotion. We need an answer that will change the world forever. God, please help us. And maybe I could also say Charlie, help us from heaven as his energy for gods work never seemed to run out." AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Danica Patrick looks on in the Paddock before the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on October 24, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images On Sunday afternoon, Patrick attended Charlie Kirk's memorial service. She had a one-word reaction to the crowd. "Wow," she wrote. Danica Patrick on display.Danica Patrick/IG Patrick pays tribute to Kirk Patrick announced that she got into politics, in part, because of Charlie Kirk. She is crediting him following his tragic death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I got into politics because of @charliekirk1776. It truly was my turning point," she wrote. "Amfest was my first political event December of 2023, with my sister. The backlash I got for attending lit a fire under my ass and I spoke the next year at the same event on top of campaigning for @realdonaldtrump. I will speak again in 2025. I am not sure what to expect, other than one thingwhere Charlie left off, we will continue. With all that we have. " Patrick is one of thousands mourning Kirk's death in Arizona on Sunday. This story was originally reported by The Spun on Sep 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the NASCAR section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) praised the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk for his dedication to free speech and open debate, saying communities around the country need more of that approach. I see him as someone who was devoted to speech and debate, Shapiro said in an interview on NBC Newss Meet the Press, when asked how he sees Kirks legacy. And, look, it should come as no surprise, I disagreed with a lot of what he espoused. And he probably disagreed with a lot of what I espouse. Thats OK. Were allowed to disagree in this country, Shapiro said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, disagreement, when done constructively, is what helps perfect our union. Its what helps us make progress when it comes to policy differences, finding that common ground. Shapiro said Americans across the political spectrum can learn from Kirks approach. I appreciate the fact that he showed up in town squares and college campuses and sought to debate others, whether I agree with it or not, Shapiro said. The answer to debate and speech that you dont like is not violence or taking someones life. Its more speech. Its more debate. Its more engagement. And thats what we need more of in our communities, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10 at an open-air event at a college campus in Utah. His death has sparked a renewed debate surrounding free speech and political violence in American politics. Shapiros interview comes as tens of thousands flock to Arizona to attend Kirks memorial, where President Trump, Vice President Vance and numerous other high-profile conservative figures are slated to deliver remarks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Rep. Peri Pourier, D-Rapid City, speaks on the House floor on March 3, 2025. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota state Rep. Peri Pourier has switched her political affiliation from Democratic to Republican. Pourier made the announcement on Monday, a day before lawmakers gather for a special session to vote on a state prison construction plan. South Dakota Searchlight confirmed Pouriers registration switch with a county election official. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The switch further tips the scales in Republicans favor, with 97 Republicans and eight Democrats in the Legislature after Pouriers defection. Thats the lowest number of Democrats in the Legislature since 1953, when there were two. Pourier is an Oglala Lakota tribal member with a Rapid City address who represents District 27. It stretches from just east of Rapid City to the Pine Ridge Reservation and includes other rural areas. She is a former member of the Democratic House leadership team, but declined to caucus with her fellow Democrats during the most recent legislative session. So did her Senate district mate Red Dawn Foster, who did not immediately respond to a South Dakota Searchlight message Monday. Pourier was minority whip in the House Democratic caucus in 2023 and 2024. She sat on the House Judiciary, Military and Veterans Affairs, and Taxation committees last legislative session. In a Facebook post, Pourier said tribal sovereignty aligns with the Republican Party tenets of decentralized government, economic prosperity, lower energy costs, self-determination and public safety. By contrast, she added, well-intentioned Democratic reforms have too often undermined sovereignty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My decision reflects a strategic recalibration one that strengthens my ability to advocate for our communities and deliver meaningful results, Pourier said. I will not explain away poverty and violence with rhetoric. I remain committed to confronting these issues directly not someday, not when it becomes politically convenient, but now. House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, said Pourier has been invited to the House Republican caucus meeting on Tuesday morning during the special session. We will benefit from her strong voice and unique perspective on issues, and her constituents will benefit from more exposure to Republican principles, Odenbach said in a text message. It should be a win-win for everybody involved. Pouriers Facebook post did not say whether she will participate in Republican caucus meetings or abstain from caucusing as she did during the last legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Minority Leader Erin Healy, D-Sioux Falls, said she believes Pourier will continue to act on her values and principles, and hopes she will continue to represent the best interests of her constituents in southwestern South Dakota and on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Healy added that Pourier was the only Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. Healy plans to discuss changing committee member assignments to ensure Democrats have a seat on the committee next session. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX South Dakota Democratic Party Executive Director Dan Ahlers said hes disappointed by Pouriers announcement. He said South Dakota Democrats have addressed Native American issues more successfully than Republicans on the state and national level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahlers added that party affiliation switches among lawmakers usually happen because of something other than a change in their values. Sometimes lawmakers switch parties because its advantageous for the next election or to gain access to a task force or committee, he said. Former Sen. Ryan Maher was the last Democratic lawmaker who switched to the Republican Party. He switched in 2011 after serving as a Democrat from 2007 to 2010, while representing a portion of northwestern South Dakota and the Cheyenne River Reservation. Other examples of lawmaker affiliation switches include former Sen. Jim Bradford, who switched from Democratic to Republican in 2009 and then back to Democratic in 2011, and former Sen. Jenna Netherton, who switched her affiliation from independent to Republican in 2013. Ghassan Duhine, the deputy of an anti-Hamas resistance group in the Gaza Strip issued a Rosh Hashanah statement on social media. Ghassan Duhine, deputy head of the Abu Shabab militia in the Gaza Strip, wished the Jewish people a happy New Year in a social media post on Sunday. The post included a handwritten note in Hebrew seen by The Jerusalem Post. Duhine extended "sincere congratulations to our Arab Jews, especially, to the Jewish people in general, and all those who celebrate this holiday around the world." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several Hamas supporters took to social media to express disapproval of Duhine's statement. They accused Duhine of being a "traitor to his homeland and religion" and a lackey of "his Zionist masters." Some pro-Hamas activists issued death threats, wishing Duhine to be "dragged through the streets of Gaza" paired with images a red crosshairs target overlaid on Duhine's face. Who is the Abu Shabab group? Abu Shabab, named for their leader, Yasser Abu Shabab, is an anti-Hamas, Israel-aligned resistance group operating within the enclave. members of the Abu Shabab Popular Forces militia in the Gaza Strip. (credit: SCREENSHOT/X, SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT) The armed group's stated goal is "to meet the need for civilian protection, humanitarian aid distribution, and securing areas that will not fall victim to terror or local extremism," according to Yasser Abu Shabab himself in a conversation with Walla, "we will protect civilians, create international pressure, and push for an end to the violence that no one wants to escalate." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Israel's offensive in Gaza City proceeds and Hamas appears to be weakening, it has been reported that Abu Shabab forces have actively engaged in combat against Hamas terrorists. Liran Haroni and Amir Bohbot contributed to this report. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, has a track record of spotting big opportunities before the crowd. He was an early investor of Google, X, Airbnb and Uber companies that went on to redefine entire industries. Hes now turning his attention to artificial intelligence (AI), with a particular focus on AI-powered robotics. For You: If Bezos Wealth Was Evenly Distributed Across the US, How Much Would We Get? Try This: 6 Hybrid Vehicles To Stay Away From in Retirement In 2024 alone, Bezos invested in nine AI startups, four of which are building autonomous robots. Lets break down the AI startups Bezos is backing and whether you should follow his lead. Swiss-Mile According to Yahoo Finance, Bezos co-led a $22 million funding round for Swiss-Mile, a Zurich-based company building robots that look like headless dogs on wheels that can deliver items. According to cofounder Marko Bjelonic, Bezos asked detailed technical questions about AI training and robotics before backing Swiss-Mile. Explore Next: How To Get a 10% Return on Investment (ROI): 10 Proven Ways Figure AI Figure AI is building humanoid robots that can perform complex tasks alongside humans in industries like warehousing, manufacturing, logistics, retail and households. Given Amazon already uses more than 750,000 robots in its operations, Figure AIs technology could one day become part of Amazons vast logistics system, according to CBNC. Skild AI As per its website, Skild AI focuses on the brain side of robotics. It develops AI systems that help robots learn and adapt. CEO Deepak Pathak frames this as the path to artificial general intelligence (AGI). Physical Intelligence According to CNBC nother robotics startup in Bezos portfolio is Physical Intelligence, which focuses on robots that can take on dangerous and labor-intensive work. For example mining, construction or industrial tasks where human workers face safety risks. Perplexity AI Beyond robotics, Bezos also invested in Perplexity AI, an AI-powered search engine that directly competes with Google, per Yahoo Finance. Since Bezoss fortune is tied to the internets growth, backing a potential disruptor to Google says a lot. Tenstorrent As reported by TechCrunch, Bezos also backed Tenstorrent, a chip design company working to challenge Nvidias dominance in AI hardware. With demand for AI chips skyrocketing, Tenstorrent is positioning itself as an affordable alternative for companies that cant afford Nvidias high prices. Outgo Outgo is a fintech company that offers owner-operators, fleets and brokers tools to manage payments, cash flow and expenses, areas that are complex in logistics. Bezos investment in Outgo shows his continued interest in financial infrastructure, especially in sectors that power commerce and delivery, industries closely tied to Amazons ecosystem. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A passageway in the Pyramid of Khufu (also known as Cheops Pyramid) at Giza in Egypt. Was it ever booby-trapped?. | Credit: BC Video Inc via Getty Images The ancient Egyptians took a number of measures to safeguard the pyramids. But did they ever resort to booby traps? The answer, Egyptologists told Live Science, is an emphatic no. "No, they didn't use booby traps in the pyramids, but they could make it damn difficult to get in!" Reg Clark , an independent scholar and Egyptologist who has written extensively about ancient Egyptian tomb security, told Live Science in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's not clear where the idea of booby traps inside Egypt's pyramids originated. Tombs with booby traps have at times been portrayed in movies (such as Indiana Jones films ) and video games (such as the Tomb Raider franchise). But it doesn't appear that the ancient Egyptians used booby traps, like a spiked pit beneath a false floor or a rope snare that could leave an intruder hanging upside down, at all. Sign up for our newsletter The words 'Life Little Mysteries' over a blue background Sign up for our weekly Life's Little Mysteries newsletter to get the latest mysteries before they appear online. "Booby traps are unknown to Egyptologists," Rolf Krauss , an independent scholar and Egyptologist who has written extensively on Egypt's pyramids, told Live Science in an email. Krauss said booby traps would not have been effective at stopping robbers who wished to plunder a pyramid. He noted that ancient tomb robbers worked in large teams and a booby trap would not have gotten all of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You "may catch one or perhaps two tomb robbers in/with a booby trap," Krauss said. "But what about the others? A tomb or funerary construction large enough to hide a booby trap cannot be entered and robbed by a single person; only a team would be able to do that." Instead, pyramid builders used a range of architectural means to prevent people from robbing the structures. Related: What did the ancient Egyptian pyramids look like when they were built? In his book " Securing Eternity: Ancient Egyptian Tomb Protection from Prehistory to the Pyramids " (The American University in Cairo Press, 2019), Clark wrote that one reason pyramids were built was to help protect the pharaoh's final resting place. Before pyramids were constructed, pharaohs were buried in smaller "mastaba" tombs flat-roofed, rectangular structures with inward-sloping walls that were easier to break into, he said. By contrast, tomb robbers had to dig a much deeper tunnel into or underneath pyramids to get to the pharaoh's burial chamber. "The sheer mass and nature of the resistant materials that comprised the pyramid's superstructure provided a high level of protection to the internal arrangements within and/or below," Clark told Live Science in an email. The Great Pyramids of Giza are considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Did the ancient Egyptians booby-trap them? | Credit: Anton Petrus via Getty Images After the pharaoh was buried, the passageways and entrances to the pyramid were blocked off. There are passageways in the Great Pyramid that do not lead to the burial chamber, but their exact purpose is unclear; it's not certain if they were created to deceive intruders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The "very blockings of the passageways and shafts in some pyramids could also present a hazard to an intruder," Clark said. "Sadly, this was made evident in [Egyptian archaeologist] Zakaria Goneim's excavation of the Third Dynasty Pyramid of Sekhemkhet at Saqqara in the 1950s. As Goneim's workmen were clearing the main passage into the pyramid, the backfill and blockings in a construction shaft above the main entrance corridor collapsed onto them, killing one and injuring two." In ancient times, Egyptians used "sliding stone blocks to close off burial chambers," David Ian Lightbody , an Egyptologist and adjunct professor at the University of Vermont, told Live Science in an email. Lightbody added that "spells of magical protection" were written on some of the pyramids. Known as the " Pyramid Texts ," they do not "curse" a tomb robber, but they were thought to provide the pharaoh with magical protection as he worked his way through the afterlife. One line says, " Osiris , carry off all those who hate [the pharaoh], who speak evilly against his name" (translation by Samuel Mercer). RELATED MYSTERIES Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who built the Egyptian pyramids? How many ancient Egyptian pyramids are there? Why are so many ancient Egyptians buried at the Saqqara necropolis? One of the most serious hazards for a robber was the punishment for getting caught. Clark noted that a 20th-dynasty (circa 1186 to 1070 B.C.) text suggests that the punishment for robbing a tomb was getting your nose and ears cut off and then being impaled. Despite these measures, protections often failed. Many pyramids, including the Great Pyramid constructed for the pharaoh Khufu, were robbed in antiquity or the Middle Ages (circa A.D. 500 to 1500). During the 18th dynasty (circa 1550 to 1295 B.C.), the Egyptians stopped building royal pyramids and instead buried pharaohs within the Valley of the Kings, a decision which may have made it easier to guard the tombs. This still did not prevent theft, however; most tombs in the valley were robbed, with the tomb of Tutankhamun being a notable exception. Ancient Egypt quiz: Test your smarts about pyramids, hieroglyphs and King Tut When you think of migration, the first creature to pop into your head are probably birds. The second will likely be whales, and the third might be monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). You probably have no idea that migratory dragonfly species existand thats because even researchers dont know a whole lot about them. And yet, North America may have up to 18 migratory dragonfly species. While some migrate sporadically, others follow familiar seasonal migrations, leaving Canada and the northern United States in late summer and early fall for southern regions like the Gulf Coast and Mexico. Interestingly, their return up north is more difficult to observe, but researchers know it happens because adults reappear in the spring. If you do know about dragonfly migrationfirst of all, were impressedsecondly, youve likely heard about the common green darner (Anax junius). Its the best-known migratory dragonfly in North America, even though some members of the species stay local. Just because theyre better known, however, doesnt mean theyre easier to study. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike monarchs, common green darners are fast fliers, MaLisa Spring from the Ohio Dragonfly Survey said in a statement by the non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council. This makes them hard to catch and potentially add identification tags or stickers, and even harder to photograph. Most photo observations are a blur of blue and green, so a tiny sticker doesnt work so well. Presumably, gluing QR codes to them as researchers have previously done with bees would also be a bad idea. Nonetheless, a 2018 study revealed that the species undertakes complex long-distance migrations every year that take various generations and seem to be influenced by temperature, making them particularly vulnerable to climate change. With a 4-inch wing span, some green darners can migrate more than 80 miles per day, with some traveling from Canada all the way to Mexico, reads a social media post by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Migration is more concentrated in the fall, sometimes resulting in swarms of dragonflies! However, the most impressive migratory dragonfly prize likely goes to the globe skimmer dragonfly (Pantala flavescens), also appropriately known as globe wanderer or wandering glider, which researchers think migrates across the Indian Ocean. After taking into account body size, this hypothesized transoceanic journey would be the longest regular non-stop migratory flight known to science. Talk about a long-haul flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regarding migration of dragon flies, like a lot of insects in many cases and in few of the well-studied cases, its multigenerational, insect ecologist Myles Menz tells Popular Science. Unlike birds, which would have the same individual going north or south across an annual cycle in some of these dragonflies, theres multiple generations, so multiple individuals that are making that migratory cycle. Dragonflies are also very successful aerial predators, feeding on various insects along the way In many cases, theyre responsible for controlling populations of things such as midges or mosquitoes that can potentially carry disease, says Menz. While no known migratory dragonfly species in North America are endangered right now, the enduring mystery of dragonfly migration complicates management and conservation efforts. These tiny animals are moving in some cases, thousands of kilometers, which is really quite an amazing feat for fairly small animals, says Menz. Theyre being guided by potentially favorable winds or visual cues, the use of of a sun compass, to make these really quite extraordinary journeys in many cases, you know, across really long distances across land. Six New York Army National Guard officers and a New York Air National Guard master sergeant are helping the Swedish Army conduct its first division-level Command Post Exercise, according to Eric Durr, spokesman for the New York National Guard. They began their mission helping the Swedish Army's 1st Division conduct the training exercise on Sept. 13. Previously, Sweden's highest command post training was at the brigade level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York National Guard and Swedish Army initiated the training following a U.S. Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program agreement signed in July 2024. "Since then, Swedish military personnel have visited New York regularly to learn from the New York Army and Air National Guard and New York's Naval Militia," said Durr. The Swedish military then requested that the New York Army Guard provide staff officers to offer advice and support during its division-level Command Post Exercise, according to Lt. Col. Melanie Padilla, the New York National Guard's State Partnership Program director. In February, the Swedish Army sent a delegation to observe the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division conduct a Warfighter Exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. Warfighter tests the ability of division staff personnel to operate in a simulated combat environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 42nd Infantry Division soldiers were conducting the Command Post Exercise to prepare for their current deployment to the Central Command area, where they are serving as the headquarters for Task Force Spartan in the Middle East. At the time, Swedish Lt. Col. Fredrik Mansson, the chief of operations for the Swedish 1st Division, said the purpose of the visit was to observe and learn from a division staff in action. Afterward, the New York Army Guard received a request to send experts in operations and planning, targeting, running a joint air-ground operations center, logistics and rear-area support, force protection and division operations, according to Padilla. The Swedish 1st Division recently reorganized its staff and is still developing internal standard operating procedures. The American soldiers and airman are now working with their Swedish counterparts to help refine the division SOPs and discuss staff processes, Padilla said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the CPX, which is being held at Swedish Ground Combat School in Enkoping, the Americans are serving as observers and advisors to their Swedish counterparts. The actual CPX kicked off Sept. 19 and is scheduled to run through Wednesday. The State Partnership Program pairs state National Guards with other countries' militaries for joint training and exchange programs, Durr said. The New York National Guard has had a State Partnership Program training and exchange relationship with Brazil since 2019 and with South Africa since 2003. New York also has a bilateral training agreement with the Israeli Homefront Command and the Danish Joint Arctic Command, which operates in Greenland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York National Guard and Swedish military entered into a joint training agreement on July 12, as part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program, during a ceremony held in New York City's Freedom Tower, said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Stephanie Butler, a New York National Guard and Naval Militia spokeswoman. Maj. Gen. Raymond Shields, state adjutant general, and Marcos Soler, New York's deputy secretary for public safety, signed the document formalizing the agreement with Sweden's Defence Minister Pal Jonson and Maj. Gen. Johan Pekkari, chief of the Swedish Defence Staff's Strategy Unit. As part of the partnership, the New York National Guard and Sweden are conducting joint training missions and military exchanges to improve readiness within their respective forces, according to Butler. The agreement is the latest program that pairs state National Guards with the militaries of foreign countries, including some NATO allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "On March 7, 2024, Sweden became the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - NATO," Shields said. "Allies, friends and partners are stronger together than they are individually - especially against those who want to destroy freedom and independence." "This partnership will not only enhance operational abilities, it will also strengthen the bonds of friendship and a new understanding between our forces and our countries," Jonson said. For more than 30 years, National Guardsmen have built enduring connections with foreign counterparts through the State Partnership Program, said Gen. Daniel Hokanson, the chief of the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C. The program is one of the most productive, cost-effective security cooperation programs the United States has to offer, he said. "We are hoping that being a part of the State Partnership Program, that it will open doors to new venues that will benefit both of our militaries and civil defense authorities," said Pekkari. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program originally began after the collapse of the Soviet Union, according to Butler. The Guard was chosen to help former Soviet states reform their militaries and move toward civilian control of their armed forces as newly emerging democracies. In 1993, the National Guard State Partnership Program started with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as they emerged from the breakup of the Soviet Union. Since then, the program has grown to 89 partnerships across 106 nations and every continent. In recent years, Guardsmen have conducted about 1,000 training exchanges with their foreign counterparts annually, focusing on everything from peacekeeping operations to leadership development, lifesaving techniques and cyber defense, according to Hokanson. Dine for a cause A second annual "22 a Day" Stop Soldier Suicide dining event, held in memory of Marine Sgt. Scott Wenger, will take place from 4 to 10 p.m. on Sept. 22 at Buona Sera Italian restaurant, located at 113 Route 9P in Malta. The event will benefit the Malta Veteran Appreciation Program that aids needy veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To make a reservation for the event or to order a gift card, call 518-306-4386 or visit buonoseraonthelake.com. Twenty-two percent of proceeds will help finance an emergency fund that provides food, clothing, furniture, household goods, handicap ramps, transportation, and homes for needy Malta area veterans, according to Renee Farley, president of the Malta Veterans Appreciation Program. Also, the organization teams with Malta Mobile Acres Park to provide homes for needy veterans' families. Donations payable to MVAP or Malta Veterans Appreciation Program can be mailed to MVAP, 4158A Silverbeach Road, Malta, NY 12020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteers are often needed for home repairs and renovations. If interested, contact Renee Farley at 518-577-8863. If you are a veteran with a need or want to volunteer, contact Farley. News of your troops and units can be sent to brownt@timesunion.com or Times Union, Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212. EVANSVILLE During an emotional news conference Monday, Evansville police identified the officer who was shot and gravely injured early Sunday as Sam Taylor. EPD Chief Phil Smith said Taylor was shot at least twice while attempting to arrest a suspect in a reported car theft, leaving him with "very serious injuries." He's currently in stable condition at an area hospital, but could face a grim prognosis. "In his dedication to put our community before himself, he may have lost the use of his lower extremities," Smith said, his voice breaking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The person charged with shooting Taylor is an 18-year-old who now faces two counts of attempted murder. Officials filed a warrant for the arrest of Jailani Darealis Chew in Vanderburgh Circuit Court on Sunday. According to the probable cause affidavit in the case, Chew shot Taylor and fired at several other officers after attempting to flee a stolen vehicle outside the Rally's on East Virginia Street just before 1:30 a.m. Sunday. He then reportedly ran across the street to a gas station and attempted to carjack another vehicle with a passenger inside. When Taylor arrived to help, body camera footage shows a man police identified as Chew turning and shooting the officer. In addition to the attempted murder charges both Level 1 felonies Chew faces eight other counts: armed robbery as a Level 3 felony; resisting law enforcement as a Level 5 felony; and six counts of criminal recklessness, all Level 6 felonies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was treated at a hospital for gunshot wounds he sustained from police in the shooting. His injuries aren't life-threatening, Smith said. According to his date of birth listed in court records, he turned 18 a little over a month ago. Chew was released from the hospital and booked into the Vanderburgh County jail Monday afternoon on $1 million bond. Per EPD policy, the officer who shot him, Seth Gorman, has been placed on paid administrative leave while the internal investigation continues. Smith was among more than a dozen law enforcement, fire department and city officials who crowded into the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office for Monday's news conference. Multiple attendees broke into tears as Smith and Mayor Stephanie Terry described what unfolded Sunday. Near the end, Smith held up a picture of Chew and addressed him directly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I want you to know something, Jailani: you're gonna spend the best years of your youth in a cage," he said. "While your peers look forward to turning 21 and doing things young adults do, you're gonna learn how to make hooch in a penitentiary toilet." Evansville police officer Sam Taylor poses with Chief Phil Smith after joining the force earlier this year. Smith, a Tecumseh High School graduate, previously served as a policeman in Greensburg, Indiana. Body camera footage and a probable cause affidavit Around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, officers spotted a Toyota Corolla that had been reported stolen driving east near the intersection of East Virginia and Canal streets, the affidavit states. The vehicle eventually turned into the Rally's parking lot. Multiple EPD squad cars followed. As officers began to climb from their vehicles, two Black males got out of the car and ran. The driver, a juvenile, was shot with a Taser and apprehended. When gunshots rang out later, however, the officer arresting him ran to assist, allowing the juvenile to bolt away again. Law enforcement eventually tracked him to the roof of Joshua Academy charter school and took him into custody. He hasn't been publicly identified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chew, meanwhile, was the passenger in the Toyota, police said. According to the affidavit, he fled the car and ran across the street to a nearby gas station. There, he approached a black SUV with the driver sitting inside. "Chew came up to the vehicle and demanded that (the owner) give (him) the vehicle," the affidavit states. "Chew pointed a firearm at (the owner), but she was able to get out of the SUV." Chew was reportedly trying to drive away when police amassed behind him. The affidavit says he then climbed out of the SUV, pointed a gun at the officers, and fired several rounds. Two of them struck Taylor. EPD played footage from multiple officers' body cameras on Monday. In Taylor's, a man police identified as Chew can be seen turning toward Taylor as the owner of the SUV scrambles away. He holds a gun in his hand. Shots sound out, and Taylor falls to the concrete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Smith, Taylor never had a chance to draw his weapon. As this goes on, Gorman can be seen sprinting toward the scene in his own body camera footage. Chew continues to fire before finding cover behind a gas pump. He then runs into the open under the station overhang and points his gun back at officers. Gorman steps from his own cover behind a post and fires, striking him. Police provided care on scene before an ambulance arrived to take Chew to the hospital. He's yet to appear in court. As of Monday morning, no hearings had been scheduled in the case. Evansville Police Chief Phil Smith gets emotional during a news conference Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, a day after EPD probationary officer Sam Taylor was shot and seriously injured on duty. Who is Sam Taylor? EPD welcomed Taylor to the force in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a post to the department's Facebook page that month, Taylor was a "lateral transfer" from the Greensburg, Indiana police department. He's a Tecumseh High School graduate who served six years in the Army and still serves with the Army reserves as a drill sergeant. He's been married for more than seven years. He and his wife have a 2-year-old child. On Monday, Smith called him a hero. During her own comments at the news conference, Terry lamented Sunday's shootings as the latest in a string of sad and horrific stories that have rocked Evansville in recent weeks. All of them have involved young people: an accidental shooting on East Cherry Street earlier this month that left 14-year-old Jayvion'tae Cox dead; a Delaware Elementary student who reportedly brought a gun to the school and tried to sell it; and now this. "Make no mistake: there is no place for this kind of violence in our community. There is no place for violence against our public safety officials; there's no place for violence period," she said. "I feel like I've talked about this too much lately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We need to do better. We need to be better." This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: EPD: Officer injured in shooting could lose use of 'lower extremities' JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) Master Sgt. Marc B. Manilla received a Purple Heart at East Tennessee State Universitys (ETSU) Ford Oval of Honor event on Sept. 20. Courtesy of ETSU On January 13, 2007, in Iraq, intelligence had revealed an Al-Qaeda safehouse, and Manillas unit had just completed a successful raid, according to a news release from ETSU. We had to transport those enemy combatants back to base, Manilla said in the release. Prior to getting back, we stopped at a checkpoint. I had to get out of the vehicle to assist in security, and I reminded everyone that there had been sniper activity in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pet rescued from Saturday night house fire in Bristol, Va. As Manilla exited the vehicle, two rounds came his way, with the first narrowly missing his head. The second struck the top corner of his body armor, resulting in him falling back and immediately calling for his medic, ETSU said in the release. For that moment of courage, Manilla received the Purple Heart at the Ford Oval of Honor ceremony. Manilla currently serves as a senior military science instructor for ETSUs Army ROTC program. Hes set to retire later in 2025, ETSU stated. Taking care of cadets, taking care of soldiers, and preparing them for leadership roles that has been my goal, Manilla said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since enlisting, Manilla has served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, multiple rotations to the Republic of Korea and Lithuania under NATO operations, according to the release. I am so honored to receive the Purple Heart, Manilla said. And having it happen here, at a place that truly understands and supports our military community, makes it even more meaningful. In addition to Manilla, Lt. Gen. Ronald V. Hite (U.S. Army Ret.), Col. Dan Bishop (U.S. Army Ret.), Lt. Col. Scott Jeffress (U.S. Army Ret.) and Sgt. Edwin D. Taylor (U.S. Army) were also honored during the ceremony. Courtesy of ETSU Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The executive arm of the European Union is reviewing the future of Russian oil imports through the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies crude to Hungary and Slovakia. Source: Bloomberg, as reported by enkorr.ua, a Ukrainian energy news portal Details: Sources told Bloomberg that the measures under consideration would primarily target these supplies unless they are phased out. Budapest and Bratislava have so far been reluctant to reduce their reliance on Russian oil and have blocked steps they considered threatening to their energy security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measures are planned separately from a new sanctions package presented by the EU on Friday. Those proposed restrictions provide for a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas, initially applying to short-term contracts six months after entering into force and then extending to long-term agreements from 1 January 2027. As part of the package, the EU has also proposed sanctioning over 100 tankers from Russias shadow fleet, which Moscow has used to circumvent Western restrictions on its energy sector imposed since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and introducing additional measures against companies facilitating energy trade, including in third countries. EU ambassadors were briefed on the proposals on Friday. The sources did not specify the timing or scale of possible trade measures. Unlike sanctions, which require unanimous support from all member states, trade measures such as tariffs can be approved by a majority of capitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such steps would enable the EU to meet one of US President Donald Trumps key demands, which he has set as a condition for US participation in allied pressure on Russia over its refusal to end the war against Ukraine. Trump has repeatedly said the EU must completely stop purchases of Russian oil and gas. While most EU states have stopped importing both pipeline and seaborne Russian oil, Hungary and Slovakia remain exceptions. Most other EU countries have committed to phasing out all Russian fossil fuels by the end of 2027. If the governments in Budapest and Bratislava do not present their own exit plans, the application of trade measures could become an option, the sources said. The US is also pressing G7 allies to impose tariffs of up to 100% on China and India for buying Russian oil in order to force Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin to enter negotiations with Ukraine. This demand is likely to face resistance in EU capitals. G7 officials are currently working on a new sanctions package and plan to finalise a text by the end of this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other EU measures also aim to hit Russias largest oil companies, as well as networks and vessels that enable Moscow to transport oil and profit from trade. Background: Hungarys national oil and gas company, MOL Group, still imports around 5 million tonnes of Russian oil annually via the Druzhba pipeline through Ukrainian territory. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans government maintains this position through a scheme of "cheap crude for refining low transit costs high selling price of refined products", despite the availability of alternatives. On 5 September, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is prepared to supply gas and oil to Slovakia, provided that they are not of Russian origin. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Claim: Turning Point USA CEO and co-founder Charlie Kirk said George Floyd was a "scumbag." Rating: Rating: True Context: Kirk made the statement in reference to Floyd's alleged criminal history and the circumstances surrounding his death. Kirk's exact words were: "I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That's two totally different things of course not." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the days following Charlie Kirk's assassination in September 2025, social media was flooded with alleged quotes from the conservative activist including a wildly shared claim that he once called George Floyd a "scumbag." Snopes readers emailed and searched our website about the purported quote involving Floyd, the Black man who died while in a chokehold by a white police officer in May 2020, prompting protests against racism in policing worldwide. "George Floyd was a father too and Charlie Kirk called him a 'scumbag,'" read one X post (archived) with over 19 million views. George Floyd was a father too and Charlie Kirk called him a scumbag. Dr. Allison Wiltz (@queenie4rmnola) September 10, 2025 The claim spread on X, Facebook and Instagram, as well as via outlets such as Black News, Arkansas Times and India Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was true Kirk called Floyd a "scumbag" during a 2021 public appearance in Mankato, Minnesota, according to a video of that event. He apparently made the comment in reference to Floyd's alleged criminal history and the circumstances surrounding his death. Kirk's exact words were: "I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That's two totally different things of course not." The event took place on Oct. 6, 2021, at Minnesota State University as part of Kirk's "Exposing Critical Racism Tour." Turning Point USA, Kirk's political organization, streamed (archived) the event live on YouTube under the title, "LIVE: Charlie Kirk at Minnesota State University - Mankato." (Kirk made the "scumbag" remark around the 15:28 mark in the video.) Below is our transcript of the relevant portion of Kirk's speech, with emphasis added for clarity: On May 25th, 2020, up in Minneapolis, a cell phone video changed the trajectory of our entire nation. In this state. The reason why our tour is called the CRT [Critical Racism Tour] Tour is because of George Floyd's death and the misinterpretation of that. And I'm not going to go on this endless soapbox defending Derek Chauvin, I think he's kind of not a great person. But I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That's two totally different things of course not. After that comment, Kirk listed a series of accusations about Floyd's background, criminal history and cause of death all with varying degrees of legitimacy. The Associated Press, reporting on the event, described that section of the speech as "an avalanche of aspersions and debunked claims about Floyd." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirk claimed protests and debates following Floyd's death were based on a "misinterpretation" of the event. At the time, several media outlets reported on the event and Kirk's comments about Floyd, including the Minnesota Reporter and University of Alabama student-run publication The Crimson White. The "scumbag" statement is just one of many purported quotes by Kirk circulating after his death. For example, social media users were sharing an authentic quote he made about some prominent Black women not having "the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously," as well as a false rumor about him supposedly saying gay people should be stoned to death. Sources: - YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTF19XtS1TQ. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Charlie Kirk Exploits Racial Divide to Reach Gen Z." AP News, 18 Nov. 2021, https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-right-wing-provocateur-gen-z-race-5b57b4178fec39f30f3caad77b93c087. Check, Reuters Fact. "Fact Check: No Evidence Drug Overdose Was Main Cause of Death for George Floyd in 2020." Reuters, 8 Nov. 2022. Fact Check. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/article/fact-check/no-evidence-drug-overdose-was-main-cause-of-death-for-george-floyd-in-2020-idUSL1N3241XJ/. Esposito, Joey. "Real Charlie Kirk Quote about Black Pilot Qualifications Circulates Online." Snopes, 12 Sep. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/charlie-kirk-black-pilots/. Laughland, Oliver, and Amudalat Ajasa. "'I Allowed Myself to Feel Guilty for a Very Long Time': The Teenage Cashier Who Took George Floyd's $20 Bill." The Guardian, 23 May 2021. US News. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/23/christopher-martin-george-floyd-minneapolis-cup-foods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee, Jessica. "Background Check: Investigating George Floyd's Criminal Record." Snopes, 12 Jun. 2020, https://www.snopes.com//news/2020/06/12/george-floyd-criminal-record/. . "Is Columbia University Planning Graduation Ceremonies Based on Race, Background?" Snopes, 16 Mar. 2021, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/columbia-graduation-race/. Rascouet-Paz, Anna. "Charlie Kirk Once Said Prominent Black Women Didn't Have 'brain Processing Power' to Be Taken Seriously." Snopes, 12 Sep. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/charlie-kirk-black-women/. Settles, Gabrielle. "Evidence Shows George Floyd's Death Was Not the Result of a Fentanyl Overdose." @politifact, https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/jul/08/facebook-posts/evidence-shows-george-floyds-death-was-not-result-/. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025. This week, in Africa crypto news, Circle, the issuer of USDC, is backing a fund and has seeded $20M to accelerate the growth of blockchain startups on the continent. Circle is a big player in crypto and a public company. CIRCL stock has been under increasing pressure as the stablecoin scene heats up. (Source: CIRCL, TradingView) Meanwhile, in South Africa, the government is adopting new laws to enable smooth crypto taxation. The government seeks to comply with CARF standards, touching on international crypto tax disclosure. South Africa is crypto-receptive and has been warming up to crypto with supportive regulations that foster growth. In Nigeria, Fintech and crypto startup Kredete has raised $22M to boost its international expansion drive. With crypto finding adoption in Africa, this raise will go a long way in improving financial inclusion, allowing even more users to invest in some of the best meme coin ICOs. DISCOVER: The 12+ Hottest Crypto Presales to Buy Right Now Lets look at these stories making continental headlines this week: Africa Crypto News: Circle Backs A $20M Blockchain Fund To Support Startups Circle, the issuer of the second-largest USD tracking stablecoin, USDC, is backing a $20M blockchain fund, CV VC, to boost the digital asset space in Africa. Based in the Cayman Islands, CV VC will target early-stage blockchain startups that facilitate payments and data infrastructure in the region. Circle recognizes that there is a market for stablecoin-powered utility in the growing digital asset space on the continent. Gillian Darko, Vice President of Strategy at Yellow Card, said 2025 will be the year of stablecoins. Since it is about solving real-world problems, using stablecoins will help address currency volatility while offering more USD to businesses. There is cause for such sentiment. Digital current settlements continue to expand on the continent, with stablecoins being a trade pair in millions of transactions. Investing in payments and fintech startups ensures that stablecoin usage will continue to be high, ultimately benefiting USDC. DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in 2025 South Africa Crypto News: Government Seeks To Comply with International Tax Laws The South African government has released draft regulations to comply with the OECDs Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF). These regulations will be released under the countrys existing Tax Administration Act of 2011 and will strengthen alignment with global tax and reporting standards. The OECD Framework, passed in 2022, aimed to address the risks crypto usage poses to international tax compliance. With this move, South Africa seeks to maintain good standing with global regulators and institutions. The claim: House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., the second-highest ranking House Democrat, said in a Sept. 12 X post, "Republicans are spiking health insurance premiums by 75% for everyday Americans" if they don't extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., used the same figure Sept. 9. And AHIP, an insurance industry group, also cited the 75% figure in an article in which it urged passage of subsidy extensions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PolitiFact ruling: If the Republican-controlled Congress does not extend Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies before they expire at the end of this year, enrollees would have to pay more. KFF analysis of federal data found that the average increase in out-of-pocket coverage cost would be 79%, with state-by-state average increases ranging from 49% to 195%. This cost increase would come from a combination of insurance premium increases and the disappearance of subsidies, rather than from "spiking health insurance premiums" alone. The statement is accurate but needs clarification. Discussion With federal government funding set to run out Oct. 1 unless Congress passes an extension, Democrats are seeking to leverage government shutdown fears to persuade Republicans to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies that would otherwise expire at the end of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Republicans want to pass a "clean" resolution to extend the federal spending deadline; this type of bill would keep the government running at current spending levels and allow added time for more debate about proposed federal spending changes. Some Republicans also oppose the ACA subsidies as too expensive for taxpayers and say they were intended as a pandemic-era policy that has outlived its purpose. Some Republican lawmakers, though, agree that the subsidies should be extended and have worked on crafting legislation to do that. Democrats, who are relatively powerless as the congressional minority, see the moment as an opportunity to attach a key legislative priority - ACA subsidy extension - to must-pass legislation. Democratic lawmakers say the expiration of enhanced subsidies for people who obtain health insurance through Affordable Care Act marketplaces would stick millions of Americans with additional costs. Clark's office did not respond to an inquiry. The 75% cost increase figure has been cited by KFF, a health care think tank. But it needs more context. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People who use the Affordable Care Act's marketplaces can buy health insurance from providers at various levels of coverage and varying premium costs. Most purchasers obtain subsidies, as long as they meet the income guidelines. In 2021, then-President Joe Biden signed legislation that made Affordable Care Act subsidies more generous, by reducing the maximum amount purchasers would have to pay for premiums and enabling households whose incomes were higher than 400% of the federal poverty level to receive subsidies. Previously, the subsidies were capped at 400% of the poverty limit for a household, which in 2024 was $60,240. Congress renewed these enhanced subsidies in 2022 through the end of 2025, so they are now poised to expire. The subsidies proved popular; the number of people receiving them increased from 12 million in 2020 to 21.4 million in 2024, according to KFF's analysis of federal data. About three-quarters of those receiving subsidies in 2024 were households with incomes at 250% or less of the federal poverty level, or about $37,650. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using 2024 federal data, KFF calculated the average annual premiums for enrollees who received enhanced subsidies. The government paid $5,727 of the total premium under the original Affordable Care Act subsidy rules. Another $888 came from the beneficiary's pocket. The enhanced subsidy provision covered the final portion, $705. If the enhanced subsidy disappeared and the enrollee had to pay both the $888 and the $705 amounts, that would total $1,593. That's about 79% more than the same person was paying with the enhanced subsidies in place - which is close to the 75% figure that Clark and Murphy cited. The Congressional Budget Office, Congress' nonpartisan number-crunching arm, has projected that a failure to extend the subsidies would increase the uninsured population by 2.2 million in the first year and by an average of 3.8 million each year from 2026 to 2034. CBO also projected that if the enhanced subsidies were to expire, premiums would increase by 4.3% in the first year, because of a decline in the number of people who get coverage, leaving fewer enrollees to pick up the costs. Premiums would increase by an annual average of 7.9% from 2026 to 2034. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are nuances to note. Fall is officially here, and that means cool temperatures and peak fall color will soon set in. In Kentucky, fall colors are expected to peak in late October and early November, followed by cold weather for the winter season. Here's what to know. When does fall start 2025? Fall officially begins on Monday, Sept. 22, with the autumnal equinox, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. What is the autumnal equinox? Equinoxes only happen twice a year, and occur when the Earth's axis is tilted neither toward or away from the sun, crating a nearly equal amount of daylight and darkness, according to the National Weather Service. The other equinox occurs in the spring, and is called the vernal equinox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two equinoxes happen between the winter and summer solstices, when the Earth's tilt toward and away from the sun is at its maximum. When will the leaves begin to change in Kentucky? In Kentucky, fall colors are expected to peak in late October and early November, The Courier Journal previously reported. What kind of winter is predicted in Kentucky in 2025-2026? Snowy, cold conditions expected The Farmers' Almanac recently published its 2025-26 winter weather forecast for the U.S., with "a season of dramatic swings and widespread wintry weather" expected in various regions. In Kentucky, a chilly, snowy season is predicted and its possible for the area to see a "winter wonderland" type snow, with chilly, breezy temperatures expected over the December holidays and significant cold snaps in mid-January and mid-February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Kentucky may face a cold and snowy winter, it is possible conditions will not reach as far south as last year. The Northern Plains to the New England region are likely in for a cold, snowy winter, "hopefully not as brutally cold as last," Farmers' Almanac Editor Sandi Duncan told USA TODAY. "Most of the country is on tap for a cold or very cold winter, kind of almost going back to an old-fashioned winter," Duncan said. "It's going to cool down, it's going to snow, then it might warm up a little, then it's going to repeat itself again." Wintery effects may begin in late fall as cold winter temperatures could "sneak in a little bit early in many of the northern sections," Duncan said. Incoming winter conditions follow historic weather across the commonwealth in 2025. At the start of the year, Louisville was hit with more than 10 inches of snow over two days. A new one-day record was set for snowfall amounts at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, with 7 inches of snow recorded at the location on Sunday, Jan. 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The severe winter weather was followed by a significant number of weather-related deaths across the commonwealth from floods and tornadoes, with Louisville seeing record flooding of the Ohio River in April. Kentucky winter 2025-2026: Farmers' Almanac has released 2025-2026 winter outlook. What it means for Kentucky USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider contributed. Midwest Connect reporter Hannah Hudnall contributed. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Fall 2025 is here. When will temperatures drop? When will leaves change? Main Street in the Wisconsin community of Cambridge. (Photo by Henry Redman/Wisconsin Examiner) As we begin our seventh year as a carwash marketing agency in Wisconsin, were daily confronted with challenges like scaling, taking on investors and staying competitive in a saturated market. Yet consistently the toughest issue to navigate has been how to approach health care for our employees amid national uncertainty. Since health care is largely tied to employment, one of our earliest priorities was to make sure that we could be in a position to offer affordable, comprehensive coverage to our employees. And here we are, a few years later, still unable to swing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the current federal administration and the recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA, as we go forward, for brevity and so I dont need to use those words together), our lofty goal of offering the most basic benefits to our employees seems more of a pipe dream than ever. While we wait for the tax breaks that are promised to trickle down from the top earners who benefit most, were facing a very near-term future of funding cuts and even higher daily costs and in the realm of health care, an uncertain few months of even higher premiums and more difficult access to basic care. Our Republican representatives are still parading the passage of the OBBBA as a win, but when it comes to the reality of the tax breaks and subsidies that are set to expire within the next few months, the silence from our Republican reps is deafening. The OBBBA does offer tax breaks and incentives, but outside of a few breaks on large equipment purchases in our industry, neither our customers, who are mostly small, mom and pop operators, nor we will see any benefit. Were not in a position to fully depreciate the purchase of a private jet. In fact, because of the OBBBA and the economic instability associated with tariff threats, were now facing the potential of our first year of non-growth. As small business owners in Wisconsin, were watching the numbers come out on the OBBBA and realizing just how uneven this deal really is. More than 70% of the tax breaks will go to the wealthiest one-fifth of households, while the middle class gets just 10%. Here in Wisconsin, the top 1% of earners will walk away with average breaks close to $70,000. For families making under $80,000 a year, the break is less than $1,600. When we weigh the minimal tax breaks we may see against the drastic losses in support, its clear this law shifts the burden onto families, state budgets and small businesses already at their limit. Medicaid cuts, in particular, threaten jobs, health care access and community well-being. The OBBBA is hailed as a win, but truly, it undermines our efforts to provide for our employees and community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On health care, were coming up to a harsh deadline the lapse of premium tax credits for the Affordable Care Act, an action propagated entirely by Republican lawmakers. With 90% of Americans relying on these subsidies to make coverage affordable, were looking at sharp increases in premiums. As a family, were already paying nearly $900 per month for non-substantial coverage. This is nearly the cost of our mortgage for coverage that does nothing of the sort our out-of-pocket payments are ridiculous. Already, insurance providers are pulling out of key markets in Wisconsin as it is no longer profitable to serve certain areas of the state. How are Wisconsinites supposed to counter this? How do people survive when premiums rise so high, its more cost-effective to gamble with ones health rather than pay rates for coverage that only really serve to prevent complete financial catastrophe after one gets sick? Ultimately, as small business owners, we can easily see the ripples from the OBBBA and the lapsing of ACA tax credits. Premiums will continue to rise to untenable levels. Businesses and individuals will have less money to spend. Entrepreneurship will stall due to more hesitation to give up benefits in corporate environments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This legislation does not help small business owners, Wisconsinites, or working families nor does it promote a healthy local economy. Instead, it burdens those already struggling while directing gains to the top. The damaging effects of these policies will only become more obvious as the new law unfolds. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HARTFORD - President Donald Trump's order to shut down the region's nearly complete off-shore wind-power project was at least temporarily overturned in federal court Monday, ending a monthlong pause on the project that cost developers $2.3 million a day and put 1,000 people out of work. The Revolution Wind project was 80% finished when work was halted on Aug. 22 after Trump, who opposes renewable energy sources and favors domestic oil production, claimed national security concerns. The joint project of Danish energy company Orsted and its partner Skyborn Renewables is located in the Atlantic Ocean along 84,000 acres 15 miles south of Rhode Island and 32 miles southeast of Connecticut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Revolution Wind is going to start up again," Gov. Ned Lamont told reporters Monday afternoon after an event at a Hartford school after a member of his staff gave him news of the ruling from U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. "We had extensive conversations, negotiations over the weekend, but more importantly the courts just lifted the stop-work injunction. It's good news on the behalf of consumers and bringing down the price of electricity and honoring a contract with Orsted that goes back to the first Trump administration," Lamont said. "My understanding is the work can begin again soon. That's what we're really pushing for. If you want to talk about the birds and the fish and national security, we can do that. But in the meantime, let's get back to work," the governor said. Revolution Wind was scheduled to become Connecticut and Rhode Island's first large offshore wind farm, providing about 2.5% of the region's electricity, or about 325,000 homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press reported from Washington that the complaint against the stoppage claimed that $3 billion had been invested or committed to the project and another billion dollars would be lost if the project was abandoned. Lamont noted that at least 100 jobs are located at the State Pier in New London, a staging area for the the huge blades and turbines that will soar nearly 900 feet over the ocean, providing 704 megawatts of electricity. In a statement, Revolution Wind said it will continue to seek to work collaboratively with the administration and other stakeholders toward a prompt resolution. "Revolution Wind will resume impacted construction work as soon as possible, with safety as the top priority," the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D- 2nd District, applauded the court's action. "The swift decision by a federal district court is a victory not just for the parties involved, but simple commonsense," Courtney said in a statement. "A multi-billion (dollar) project that is 80% complete and was fully permitted with input by the Pentagon is not a national security problem. The Department of the Interior should take the hint and let the thousands of construction workers finish the job." Attorney General William Tong, who has a separate but related case pending in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, said the preliminary injunction issued Monday in Washington was a major win. "The court today unequivocally affirmed what we all have seen since this baseless stop work order was first issued," Tong said in a statement. "The Trump administration's erratic action was the height of arbitrary and capricious, and failed to satisfy any statutory provisions needed to halt work on a fully approved and nearly complete project. It was not a close call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Trump Administration should see the writing on the wall with this decision and drop its defense of their indefensible actions. Every day that this project is stymied is a day of lost employment, another day of unaffordable energy costs, and another day burning fossil fuels when American-made clean energy is within reach." After returning to his Capitol office, Lamont said the state is committed to a reliable electric grid that's affordable for residents. "Offshore wind and other renewables are central to that effort, but it must be complemented by a diverse mix of resources, including nuclear power, natural gas, hydropower and other technologies," Lamont said in a statement. "Doing so will also help us attract major economic development projects that will offer economic security for American workers and transform communities as we move to a 21st century economy. We will continue to engage with the federal government on a durable path forward for this project and on shared energy priorities," he said. Heres what youll learn when you read this story: Modern Kazakhstan is built upon a foundation of different cultures, khanates, and empires across history. A routine fire patrol, operating some 200 miles northwest of the country's capital, Astana, discovered a nearly foot-long face carving in a granite boulder. Although experts have analyzed the carving, it's possible that its origins could rest in the ancient Bronze Age or even Turkish cultures dated to the medieval period. The land known today as Kazakhstan was formed and founded by the crucible of history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Home to a variety of cultures in the Bronze Age, including the Srubna, Afanasevo, and Andronovo, this country of the Eurasian Steppes hosted the Dark Age Huns, medieval Turks, and a variety of Khans. And thats all before becoming subjects of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union until eventually gaining independence after the latters dissolution in the 1990s. Because Kazakhstan sits at such a crossroad of history, its also one of the most archaeologically rich places on Earthand a new discovery by unsuspecting fire crews once again proves this fact. While patrolling the Sandyktau region, an area located some 200 miles northwest of Kazakhstans capital, Astana, Nursultan Ashkenov and Akhmet Zaripov, both employees of the district fire service, stumbled upon an austere face carved into the side of a granite boulder. According to local news sources, the department immediately contacted the countrys Ministry for Emergency Situations as well as the local museum. The face is around 10.5 inches long and roughly 8 inches wide, and some archeologists hypothesize that the carving was likely part of some ritual complex. The face is clearly visible, Sergey Yarygin, a scientist at the Alkey Margulan Institute of Archaeology, said to Archaeology Magazine (click link to see images), with large eyes, a long straight nose, and protruding lips. Kazakh archaeology not only enriches the scientific world with its remarkable discoveries but also reveals the main stages of the ancient and medieval development of Kazakhstan society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, figuring out when this face was used for such ritualistic purposes is a bit more complicated. According to Yarygin, similar carvings have been found at Bronze Age sites across Central Asia and Western Europe, but the carving also holds a striking resemblance to other types of iconography found in Iron Age sites in southern Siberia or even medieval Turkish cultures. The mysteries of Kazakhstans historical melange strike again. Teams investigating the carving will likely need more time to determine its age and what culture mightve created the stunningly somber carving. This discovery is only one of several made across the county recently, as reported by the Astana Times. Archaeologists uncovered a number of artifacts from the northwestern Pavlodar region, including pottery fragments, kitchen utensils, and an arrowhead dated to around the mid-13th to 8th century BCE. Other discoveries in the central Karaganda region also point to a variety of artifacts likely belonging to the Alakul culture, a subculture of the Andronovo culture, that thrived in this region around 2000 to 1700 BCE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of these discoveries uncover the fascinating fabric of history that pervades the largest country within the Eurasian Steppe. Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue You Might Also Like From their dishes to their kitchens, five Iowa City women are redefining hospitality, shaping dining culture with creativity and leadership. The women were honored by the Iowa Restaurant Association's annual 40 Women to Watch in Iowas Hospitality Industry" list. The honor, first launched in 2019, aims to celebrate the contributions of women in the statewide hospitality community, featuring chefs, general managers and bakers, nominated by peers and community members. From small towns to statewide programs, these honorees show whats possible in hospitality, said Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association, in a news release. Each has found her own way to make a difference for customers, staff, or community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November, the women will be honored at the annual Iowa Hospitality Showcase at the Community Choice Convention Center in Des Moines. Here are the five greater Iowa City women featured on the list: Alex Smith, Plated Table Alex Smith is the owner and head chef at Plated Table in downtown Iowa City. Alex Smith is the owner and head chef at Plated Table in downtown Iowa City. Plated Table caters for dinner parties and events and hosts an intimate wine bar Thursday through Saturday. The weekly menu rotates with the changing seasons. Building the restaurant from the ground up after relocating from Indianapolis, Smith has curated the restaurants culture, with a majority-female staff, and a kitchen crew made up entirely of women, creating opportunities that are too often rare in the industry, according to the Iowa Restaurant Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January, Smith's flan was recognized as one of 2024's best dishes in the Midwest by Midwest Living. Diana Giles, Walker Homestead Farm & Winery Diana Giles is the general manager and food and beverage director at Walker Homestead Farm and Winery. Nestled just outside Iowa City, Walker Homestead Farm and Winery offers a unique blend of sustainable farming, agritourism and culinary delights. The success of the five-year establishment is due, in part, to Diana Giles, who is the general manager and food and beverage director at the picturesque spot. Leading the menu development, Giles aims to bring passion, expertise, and authenticity to Iowas growing culinary and wine scene, according to the Iowa Restaurant Association. More: The Athletic says this Iowa City 'college bar' is among best in nation. See its ranking Jacqueline Milian, Mammitas Coffee Jacqueline Milian is the owner of the Latin-inspired Mammitas Coffee with a flower shop in downtown Iowa City. Jacqueline Milian opened up the Latin-inspired Mammitas Coffee with a flower shop in the back in early 2020. The space named in honor of her mother and grandmother celebrates Milians Spanish heritage with signature drinks like Dulce de Leche lattes along with classic desserts like flan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since opening in the downtown corridor, Mammitas has become more than a coffee shop. It is recognized as a place of cultural connection and community. More: Sheriff Brad Kunkel drops support for Iowa City, Johnson County law enforcement facility Shannon Arnold, Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center Shannon Arnold is the Director of Events at the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center. Shannon Arnold has more than 20 years of experience in Iowa hospitality. As the director of events at the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center, she has a reputation for excellence from overseeing events from corporate gatherings to community-wide celebrations. Under Arnolds leadership, the events team has helped drive more than $1 million in food and beverage growth, propelling the Coralville location to No.3 in the national ranking among all Hyatt Regencies for food and beverage experience year-to-date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: From rock legends to rising trailblazing acts, 10 must-see fall concerts in Iowa City Whitney Linville, Redhead Media Whitney Linville is the founder of Redhead Media. Based in North Liberty, Whitney Linville has more than 20 years of hospitality industry experience, from bartending to leading restaurants. In 2022, she launched Redhead Media, turning her focus to helping local businesses and restaurants tell their stories through thoughtful photography, intentional digital marketing. Linvilles work aims to connect businesses with the communities they serve, strengthening relationships and honoring the craft and creativity of local business owners. Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_ This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: 5 Iowa City women named Women to Watch by Iowa Restaurant Association LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) A former Limestone County Corrections Officer has been sentenced to prison after being charged with bribery. The U.S. Department of Justice said that John Paul Ketteman, 28, of Huntsville, was sentenced to 15 months, or 1.25 years in prison for accepting a bribe by an agent of an organization receiving federal funds. According to the plea agreement, Ketteman was employed as a corrections officer at the Limestone Correctional Facility in Harvest, Alabama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Justice said that Kettemans job duties included inspecting prison cells for contraband and supervising inmates. In the Fall of 2022, ADOCs Law Enforcement Services Division launched an investigation into contraband being smuggled into the Limestone Facility by corrections officers. Former Limestone corrections officer pleads guilty to bribery John Paul Ketteman was one of four men employed by ADOC who resigned on November 22 after being charged with bribery of public servants and using their position for personal gain. As part of the investigation, Cash App records were obtained for Kettemans account. Kettemans records revealed that in less than three months in 2022, Ketteman was paid more than $10,000 to smuggle contraband into the Limestone Facility and to act as a lookout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case was investigated by the FBI and the Secret Service. ADOCs Law Enforcement Services Division also assisted during the case. FILE The Department of Justice seal is seen during a news conference at the DOJ office in Washington, May 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore's office found that Mike Magee, former adviser to Gov. Dan McKee, was exempt from registering as a state lobbyist. The finding responds to a complaint by Common Cause Rhode Island. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Gov. Dan McKees former adviser Mike Magee has again escaped formal sanctions for helping steer a multimillion-dollar state education contract to his friends firm in 2021. Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amores office determined there was insufficient probable cause that Magee broke state lobbying laws for his involvement in steering a $5.2 million contract to ILO Group while acting as McKees adviser, according to a Sept. 18 letter from Stacy DiCola, a spokesperson for Amores office. A copy was obtained by Rhode Island Current. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conclusion of a nine-month investigation follows a complaint filed by Common Cause Rhode Island last December, alleging that Magee should have registered as a lobbyist for influencing what was supposed to be a competitive state solicitation. The complaint noted Magees role in crafting the bidding language to give a leg up to ILO, a newly created firm led by his former colleague, Julia Rafal-Baer. Magee and Rafal-Baer previously worked together at a separate education consulting firm, Chiefs for Change. The state ultimately cut short the ILO contract halfway through its one-year term, paying ILO $1.8 million A yearslong investigation by the Rhode Island State Police and the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General cleared McKee, Magee and Rafal-Baer of criminal charges in October 2024. Investigators found there was not enough proof to prosecute, though Attorney General Peter Neronha denounced McKee for his hamhandedness in the affair. The criminal investigations end and the trove of documents unleashed for public viewing prompted new questions over state ethics, lobbying and bid-rigging rules, including the allegations from Common Cause that Magee broke state lobbying laws an offense which, if proven, is punishable by a $5,000 fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet Magee, who left McKees transition team in 2021 and now serves as president for Minerva University in San Francisco, was exempt from state lobbying registration rules, DiCola wrote. The 2016 state law governing what qualifies as lobbying activity, and who must register with the state, offers 11 exemptions, including for people who serve on a governmental advisory committee or task force, and for people who respond to a state request for information. Magee met both of those exemptions, DiCola wrote, having served on McKees transition team during his ascension to the governors seat, and later, as an informal, volunteer adviser and supporter. The weight of the evidence established that Mr. Magee was a trusted advisor to Mayor McKee, Lt. Governor McKee, and Governor McKee, DiCola wrote, citing conclusions by State Police and the AGs office in their dual investigation. He has never lost that advisor status at any point in time. Even if he had, his email correspondence shows he was involved in a state procurement exempting him under the second listed criteria in state law, DiCola wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Marion, executive director for Common Cause Rhode Island, disagreed. I think the secretarys investigation didnt read the statute correctly, Marion said in an interview Monday, noting that he was heavily involved in crafting the 2016 law that reformed state lobbying activity. Marion pointed out that Magees interference with the state contract extended beyond the length of his role as an adviser to the governor. As for the exemption regarding requests for information, Magees involvement was not in an official capacity, but rather lobbying behind the scenes, Marion said. When we put in the exception for responding to requests for information, we meant submitting through state purchasing, in response to an official RFI, Marion said. We didnt mean a colloquial request for information that could come from anybody through any channel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marion said the conclusion by Amores office suggests the state law needs clarifications, and plans to file a petition asking for regulation updates. He was unsure when Common Cause would be ready to submit its request, but hoped to get the changes made before the next set of state general officeholders take their seats following the 2026 elections. Transition committees are a real gray area in our state law, Marion said. Unlike at the federal level or other states, no laws specifically address transition committees in Rhode Island. Theres an opportunity for a lot of influence that isnt really tracked. Magee, who was also sent a letter with the Secretary of States decision on Sept. 18, did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment on Monday. Christina Freundlich, a spokesperson for McKees reelection campaign, called the controversy resolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any efforts to revive it are a distraction, Freundlich said in an email Monday. The governor remains focused on delivering for Rhode Island and standing firm against any attacks from Washington Republicans. A separate rule change to state ethics laws governing gifts from lobbyists remains under consideration by the Rhode Island Ethics Commission, following a Sept. 9 public hearing. Also prompted by the fallout from the ILO investigation: a new law passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly on the final day of the 2025 session, explicitly banning public officials and administrators from bid-rigging. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The United Nations General Assembly opens this week, with Palestinian statehood set to dominate the agenda. France, alongside Saudi Arabia, will lead discussions in the most significant diplomatic push in years to breathe life back into a two-state solution. The stage was set on 12 September when the UN General Assembly adopted the so-called New York Declaration, a text designed to give fresh impetus to the peace process with one crucial caveat: the exclusion of Hamas. With 142 votes in favour and 10 against including Israel and the United States plus 12 abstentions, the resolution demands Hamas lays down its arms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot hailed the adoption as the definitive international isolation of Hamas a moment he argued would give political cover to countries preparing to recognise the Palestinian state at the 2025 General Assembly. President Emmanuel Macron has already pledged that France will make that recognition official on 22 September. UN gathers to advance two-state solution to Israel-Palestine conflict France's 'crucial role' On Sunday, Britain, Australia, Canada and Portugal recognised a Palestinian state in a coordinated, historic shift in decades of Western foreign policy, triggering swift anger from Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belgium and Canada are preparing similar announcements this Monday, but according to Richard Gowan, director of UN and multilateral diplomacy at the International Crisis Group, Paris's stance on Palestine has been a game-changer. France has played a really crucial role bringing a group of countries together to recognise Palestine at the same time, he told RFI. If President Macron had not announced Frances intention back in July, no one else would have done so. France really has been the orchestrator of this process. However, he also notes that France has drawn strength from the United Kingdom's stance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Having both Britain and France two veto powers from the Security Council working in parallel reassures other countries that they can take the step. Theres safety in numbers. States that felt nervous about recognising Palestine alone due to likely blowback from the US feel more confident doing it in a coordinated fashion." Why is France recognising Palestinian statehood and will it change anything? Whats on the table The New York Declaration calls explicitly for an end to the war in Gaza, nearly two years on from the 7 October, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas that triggered it. It also calls for a just, peaceful and durable settlement based on two states, with Israel and Palestine living side by side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crucially, the text envisages a handover of authority in Gaza from Hamas to the Palestinian Authority, supported by the international community. The declaration aims to guarantee a sovereign, independent State of Palestine, with credible institutions and security guarantees both for Palestinians and for Israel. Looking ahead to a possible ceasefire, the resolution floats the deployment of a temporary international stabilisation mission under a UN Security Council mandate. Such a force would be tasked with protecting civilians, helping to build up Palestinian state structures and providing security assurances on both sides. Gowan, however, is sceptical over how realistic such proposals are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The idea of a stabilisation force in Gaza only makes sense if there is a ceasefire. Ceasefire has to come first. There is absolutely no way the Security Council would authorise a military intervention without a really credible ceasefire beforehand," he said. He added that while Arab states may be pressed to provide troops,"if I were an Egyptian or Saudi general, I would be nervous about the risks involved in going into Gaza". "The French have done quite a good job in persuading the Arab group of states to finally condemn Hamas, and the General Assembly endorsed the demand that Hamas should leave power in Gaza this month," Gowan said, adding that this was a deliberate move. By condemning Hamas directly, the text allows governments to argue that recognising Palestine does not equate to condoning Hamas but rather signals support for an internationally backed state under the Palestinian Authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France rejects Netanyahus antisemitism claim over recognition of Palestine Israel pushes back Israel has reacted with fury, with its Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein calling the General Assemblys decision "shameful" and accusing the UN of being a "political circus detached from reality". Israel argues that the resolution ignores Hamass refusal to disarm and to release Israeli hostages, and claims it only encourages further violence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on 11 September: "There will be no Palestinian state" According to Gowan, this rejection was inevitable. "No one expected Israel to welcome these recognitions," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The original French plan had actually been to do some diplomatic magic and have Saudi Arabia offering formal recognition of Israel alongside the recognition of Palestine. But that idea has fallen by the wayside, because theres no way the Saudis can politically recognise Israel while the war in Gaza continues." The bigger risk however, he warns, is escalation. Netanyahu is expected to speak later in the UNGA week. "He could announce more settlements in the West Bank, or he could really escalate and announce that Israel will formally annex parts of the West Bank or Gaza," Gowan said. "Diplomats and UN officials have been very nervous about an Israeli annexation declaration for much of the last year." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France condemns Israels west bank settlement plan as serious breach of international law Palestinian expectations Palestinian leaders have hailed the vote as a historic step. Hussein al-Sheikh, vice-president of the Palestinian Authority, called it an important stage towards ending the occupation and realising a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. But Gowan cautions against assuming Hamas can simply be written out of the equation. "The idea of simply obliterating Hamas is not realistic," he told RFI. "The declaration is more about offering those Palestinians who want to see a peaceful pathway to statehood some encouragement a political horizon. But the details of what post-war Gaza will look like and how it will be ruled still need a lot of thought." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron warns on Israeli TV that Gaza war is 'destroying Israels credibility' Roughly three-quarters of UN member states already recognise Palestine. What makes this September session different is the role of Western powers. "Leaders from the Global South will look at this event and say: what took you so long?" said Gowan. "France and other countries are just catching up with the views of the global majority. But it is important that some really significant Western powers and US allies are finally stepping up." Recognition at the UN will not make Palestine a full member state Washingtons veto at the Security Council rules that out but, Gowan said: "This is really an example of the UN being a useful platform for states to send strong signals about their views." He concludes that: "Even states that on many issues desperately want to avoid offending the US feel that the situation in Gaza has now gone so far that they have to take at least symbolic action." In the Spotlight is a Fresno Bee series that digs into the high-profile local issues that readers care most about. Story idea? Email tips@fresnobee.com. Southeast Asian residents are being detained at ICE check-ins in Fresno, advocates and an immigration lawyer say. In some cases, refugees are being deported to countries where theyve never lived, they say. Its not immediately clear how many members from Fresnos Southeast Asian community have been detained at ICE check-ins and deported since President Donald Trump launched what he says will be the largest deportation campaign in history. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not respond to request for comment on this story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of these individuals are refugees with minor criminal records from years ago that could subject them to deportation, advocates say. But they werent deported earlier because, as refugees, the countries they were born in dont recognize their citizenship. Some were born in refugee camps and are considered stateless. Or, the U.S. didnt have an agreement in place to deport them to their home countries. In lieu of deportation, they were required to have regular check-ins with ICE. While these check-ins were a longstanding practice, now, some are of these people are being detained and forced to return to countries they and their families were forced to flee due to political persecution, war and genocide. Fresno has a large Southeast Asian community, from countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Its also home to the second largest concentrations of Hmong people nationwide, many descendants of U.S. allies during the Vietnam War. Titled, Hospital Patients, Galen Beery captured one of the main patient halls of the Ban Xon hospital in Laos, in 1971. A lot of them are refugees or children of these veterans (and) have committed a senseless crime when they were teenagers, said Pao Yang, president and CEO of The Fresno Center. And then now youre sending these children of these veterans that fought with the U.S. back to a country that they were fighting against with you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the first Trump administration, the government tried to put pressure on Southeast Asian countries to receive people with deportation orders to those countries. Those efforts have ramped up this year during Trumps second term, said Tilman Jacobs, an immigrants rights supervising attorney with the Asian Law Caucus, the nations oldest Asian American civil rights advocacy group. These communities are being impacted in a way that we havent seen before, Jacobs said. Individuals have been deported from ICE check-ins in Fresno, he said, though he didnt have an estimate on how many had been detained. Yang, the Fresno Center CEO, said he also knows of many Fresno clients that have been detained and transferred to the Golden State Annex ICE detention center in McFarland, where they are held as they await next steps in their immigration cases. Pao Yang, CEO of The Fresno Center, photographed on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023 in Fresno. Yang said the immigrant-serving organization is seeing a drop in people seeking legal services. As of late August, Christine Barker, executive director of the refugee-serving nonprofit, Fresno Immigrant and Refugee Ministries, knew of at least five individuals of Laotian or Cambodian descent being detained at their ICE check-ins in Fresno. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I also know from some of their family members, when they got to [the Golden State Annex ICE detention center in] McFarland, they were like, theres a lot of Asian people here, she said. While Californias Southeast Asian communities have experienced more sporadic immigration enforcement, other states such as Michigan and Minnesota have seen more high-profile enforcement activity. More than 150 Southeast Asians have been deported from Minnesota since May, according to an Aug. 18 report in the Minnesota Reformer. Jacobs said the practice of detaining people at ICE check-ins was more common during the first five or six months of the administration, but he hasnt seen as much of it recently in California. That doesnt mean its not going to continue happening, he said. Its definitely a real risk. But I also dont want to overstate it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hmong people are an ethnic group originating from China and that have their own language and culture. Because of decades of persecution by the Chinese government over their cultural and spiritual practices, the Hmong have constantly migrated to Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. In the early 1960s, the CIA recruited Hmong people to help fight against North Vietnam and the communist party in Laos, known as the Pathet Lao. The operation, also known as The Secret War, lasted from 1962 to 1975. When the Pathet Lao took over Laoss governance, thousands of Hmong and Laotian people sought refuge in the United States in 1975. Barker said whats happening to these refugees is a violation of human rights. When youre a refugee, the world is supposed to protect you from ever having to return to the country you fled, she said. These are uncles, these are grandpas, these are old, old convictions from the 80s and the 90s. Deported to Laos, Cambodia Families, lawyers and nonprofits are scrambling to support individuals that have been deported to countries such as Laos and Cambodia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thao Ha, runs Collective Freedom, an organization that supports justice-impacted individuals from Southeast Asian communities. In recent months, her organization has had to pivot to provide support on the ground in Laos and is helping families track down their deported loved ones. We didnt think they were going to go this hard, this fast, or at all, she said. The community had assumptions that people couldnt get deported to Laos, or that only a few here and there would be deported, Ha said. Laos doesnt have a formal repatriation agreement with the U.S., according to the Asian Law Caucus. But the Trump administration has pressured Laos to accept deportees including people who were not born in the country and whose parents fled the country by threatening to withhold business and tourist visas to Lao citizens. When people are deported to Laos, they are detained upon entry in Laos for multiple weeks, advocates say. Those with a local sponsor are released more quickly. Those who dont have a sponsor will be detained longer until the government can process them. Ha said theres no official repatriation process in Laos, meaning theres little infrastructure to help people with housing, work, or cultural adjustment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres not an agency, so to speak, Ha said. Were just trying to rapid response and mutual aid at this point. Several groups have popped up to try to fill the gaps, but none are formal non-governmental organizations. The number one challenge for people with their loved ones being deported to Laos is that they dont have family there, Ha said. If they dont have family and dont have a sponsor, where do they go? What do they do? Are they just roaming the streets? For some deported to Laos, especially those born in refugee camps, they have no relationship to the country, language skills or community knowledge. For Hmong folks who grew up in the U.S., they may never learn Lao, Barker said. Barker also said there used to be programs to help people from the Khmer Indigenous ethnic group acculturate in Cambodia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those programs disappeared when USAID was gutted, she said. Fleeing war, genocide, persecution Jacobs of the Asian Law Caucus said his organization works with Southeast Asian refugees who are facing pending deportation, oftentimes from very old convictions. Many of the people that we work with have consistently followed all of those terms with their release and continue to do so, Jacobs said. And I know that there is a lot of anxiety right now around these check-ins. Many of the organizations clients were fleeing civil war, genocide and persecution and carry memories of trauma associated with the unfamiliar country, he said. In Sam Thong Evacuation #30, Galen Beery photographed displaced people, including Hmong and Laotian individuals, waiting to board evacuating flights leaving Laos at the Sam Thong airstrip in 1970. In many cases, there are countries that dont really want to receive people who left so long ago, and what a lot of them are facing in real terms, is statelessness where theyre not recognized as citizens of those countries, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, he said, Hmong people in Laos are given some kind of residency status, but they are not citizens. And this sense of not belonging can have lingering legal, emotional and psychological impact. Yang said many in the Southeast Asian immigrant community are quiet and scared because many come from a country where the government targets people. Earlier this year, there was a rush of people seeking legal services, but now, especially after the start of the June immigration crackdown in Los Angeles, hes noticed a huge drop in people seeking assistance. We have a lot of folks, even legal resident aliens, that are in hiding, that are afraid, he said. Philadelphia (tca/dpa) - The first time the seemingly healthy woman gave birth, she went into heart failure. She recovered and went on to deliver her second child a few years later. Doctors cleared the woman to go home with her newborn. But within months, the woman in her early 20s was rushed back to the hospital, again in heart failure, and ultimately died in a Penn Medicine intensive care unit. Several years later, a new study has solved the mystery behind her decline: an undiagnosed genetic condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman is one of many adults whose fates could possibly have been changed with a DNA test. The study, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics00238-1), found that one in four adult patients in intensive care units across the Penn health system had a genetic condition linked to the medical issue for which they were admitted. Half were unknown at the time. I thought it would be a concerning number, but this was larger than even I thought it was going to be, said Theodore Drivas, a medical geneticist at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and senior author on the study. The researchers also found that the chances of a genetic condition being caught varied widely by race. Sixty-three percent of white patients knew about their condition, compared to only 22.7% of Black patients. This was based on a sample of 365 patients ages 18 to 40 admitted to an ICU at Penn who had signed up for the Penn Medicine BioBank, a repository for health-related data used for research. Their blood samples were in the bank, allowing Drivas and his team to retrospectively sequence their genomes for disease-causing mutations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they sequenced the womans genome, they found she had a mutation in a gene called Titin thats known to cause an especially high risk of heart failure in women during and after pregnancy. We probably would have managed her differently if we knew, Drivas said. Doctors could have periodically monitored her heart function after the second pregnancy. Instead, she went home after giving birth and only came back a few months later when her heart failure had progressed. Similarly, another patient had multiple aneurysms following surgery that could have possibly been prevented if she had been screened for her genetic condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the vast majority of patients in this study survived their ICU visit, many could have received more targeted care had their condition been found. Three-quarters of the disorders had standard medical management recommendations available. Its unknown if the outcomes of the patients studied could have been improved. The study did not identify individual patients, including the woman whose death after childbirth was cited as an example. The issue is that genetic testing is rarely offered to adults, even when they are critically ill, Drivas said. He sees this study as a call to action for ICU doctors to implement universal genetic testing which is now widely available and often costs as little as a few hundred dollars for all adults, so that no one goes undiagnosed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to switch to a model where the default is to send [patients for] genetic testing, not the exception, he said. Test adults, too For decades, the medical field has operated under the assumption that the older you are, the less likely you are to have a genetic disorder, Drivas explained. The reason for that is a lot of genetic diseases show up in early childhood. Doctors tend to look for those so-called pediatric-onset disorders, rather than ones that appear later in life. We just assume, if youre 20 years or older, you cant possibly have a genetic disease, he said. Plus, the threshold for getting tested is high. Conditions that cause intellectual impairment or affect multiple parts of the body are more obvious signs of a genetic condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, most of the diseases found in Drivas study only cause symptoms in adulthood, and may affect just one organ. That bias is also reflected in the workforce, with most medical geneticists trained to work with children, not adults, Drivas added. The genetic conditions most commonly found in this study were cystic fibrosis and Marfan syndrome, both of which tended to already be diagnosed. The diseases that were commonly missed included cardiomyopathies, which affect the heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure. Other commonly missed genetic conditions were those that increased the risk of aneurysms, which is an abnormal bulging of an artery caused by weakness in the artery wall, the study found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A woman in her 30s had shown up to the ICU with multiple aneurysms around her brain and underwent a standard surgery to treat them. But the treatment ended up causing her to develop more aneurysms at the sites where doctors had been accessing her arteries. This was characteristic of a condition called vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which is caused by mutations in the COL3A1 gene. However, the woman had never been offered genetic testing. When Drivas sequenced her genome, he confirmed she indeed had the mutation. Had they known, they could have warned doctors not to perform that particular procedure. We would have said, Hey, stop touching her arteries. Theyre really fragile, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the patients included in this study had their first ICU visit within the past 10 years. The researchers hope to eventually return these testing results to the patients in the study, so that they can get more informed care going forward. A need for universal testing Drivas isnt sure why the racial disparity in diagnoses is so high. It tended to be reflected in conditions that were less obvious or perhaps were not causing symptoms yet. The solution to these disparities may be to implement universal testing in ICUs. A study from the University of Washington had shown that Black children were much less likely to get genetic diagnoses than their white counterparts. However, when they made genetic testing the default in the neonatal ICU, that disparity goes away completely, and everyone gets good care, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Genetic testing is more feasible today than previous decades, thanks to the costs getting lower and the process getting faster. For example, if someone presents with heart failure, doctors could order a targeted gene panel that should cost no more than $250 and, for most patients, be covered by insurance, according to Drivas. Price has gone down, the reliability of testing has gone way up, and so it just makes it, in my opinion, kind of a no-brainer to get this done, he said. More than 100,000 people have signed a petition launched in Germany calling on the Catholic Church not to invoke the statute of limitations in compensation cases brought by victims of abuse. This was announced by the victims' initiative Eckiger Tisch - "square table" in German - before the start on Monday of the autumn plenary assembly of the German Bishops' Conference in the central city of Fulda. "The Catholic Church must no longer invoke the statute of limitations in compensation cases," said the group's co-founder Matthias Katsch in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to revelations of widespread abuse of children and young people by priests, especially in the early post-war decades, the Catholic Church set up a system of voluntary so-called recognition payments. Under this, an independent commission grants funds to victims without them having to provide actual evidence of abuse. There is broad criticism that the amounts paid are insufficient, and in individual cases, higher six-figure sums were won in court. However, many lawsuits never even get off the ground because the Church invokes the statute of limitations. According to victims' initiatives, this is particularly unfair because the Church by its own admission often covered up the crimes for many years. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul advocated for the immediate start of efforts to reach a two-state solution in the Middle East, while criticizing the Israeli offensive in Gaza City as completely misguided. "For Germany, the recognition of a Palestinian state is more likely to come at the end of the process," the minister said before departing for the UN General Assembly in New York. "But this process must begin now." On Monday afternoon, on the eve of the UN General Assembly, Wadephul plans to attend a conference organized by France and Saudi Arabia that aims to boost support for a two-state solution that envisions Israel and an independent, democratic Palestinian state living peacefully side by side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The German government has long advocated for this option, which both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinian militant organization Hamas reject. "What the region needs now is an immediate ceasefire, significantly more humanitarian aid for the people in Gaza and the immediate, unconditional release of the hostages," Wadephul said. The Israeli offensive on Gaza City is completely the wrong approach, he added. "Any steps towards annexing occupied territories in violation of international law also undermine the chance of a lasting solution to the conflict." "As far as it may seem at the moment, a negotiated two-state solution is the way to enable Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, security and dignity," Wadephul continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several countries plan to formally recognize a Palestinian state during the Monday conference in New York. In addition to France, Belgium and New Zealand have announced or indicated plans to recognize Palestinian statehood despite fierce Israeli opposition. Britain, Canada and Australia took the step on Sunday, becoming the first major Western economies to do so. SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Former teacher Vicky Bridges message to students at Helen Tyson Middle School in Springdale during a recent Ozark Society presentation was only take memories and dont leave anything behind. For Vicky, those are words to live by because just weeks before being a part of this school celebration of all things outdoors, she was nearly left behind while on a kayak trip down the Buffalo National River. We had it under control and planned well, began Vicky, detailing a trip she made with her husband and a group of friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was until the water decided to flip Vickys plan and her kayak. I relax and go underwater and come back up, so I wasnt afraid, even then, she shared about the many other times her kayak has flipped while on the water. Farmington rallies to find missing child, reunites him safely Within seconds, Vicky said she realized she was wedged under a limb and could not get her head back above the water line. Twice, I took in water trying to pull myself out. I could see the air, and I knew my hands were sticking out, Vicky recalled while sticking her hands up toward the sky. I was hoping someone could see me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her husband, Don, and her friends were cut off by the strong current. But someone else nearby heard the screams for help. I didnt feel prepared in that situation, but sometimes just doing what you can is enough, shared Gideon Haden Chomphosy about the screams for help he heard on the river that day. The odds of Gideon, a teacher, being within earshot of those screams were about as slim as the Ozark Society already having his school, Helen Tyson, on their calendar. His group had wanted the right channel, but a friend steered them left, thinking it safer only to end up briefly stuck on a sandbar. We decided to stop and have a snack, continued Gideon, and thats when I heard the women yelling for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gideon says he ran toward the screams, and because of the powerful current, he was forced to jump in the water upstream and float toward the women. Once he reached her, he fought to keep her head above water until others could throw over a rope to pull her out. It was divine intervention in my case, added Vicky. An intervention that led to a divine decision to go left, even when the river was begging Gideon to choose right. Had we taken the right channel, we would have sailed right past it, admitted Gidoen. And Vicky agreed. Im just grateful he was willing to take that chance. Have story ideas for The Good Stuff? Email Doug Warner at dwarner@knwa.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 KNWA FOX24. American leaders insisted time and time again that they were "making progress" in Afghanistan. After invading the country to root out Al Qaeda in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. government spent 20 years, $2 trillion, and thousands of lives trying to overthrow the former Taliban theocracy that sheltered Al Qaeda and install a new Afghan republic. But in the summer of 2021, the Afghan republic suddenly collapsed, and the Taliban stormed Kabul. U.S. forces withdrew in chaos. The leadership in Washington was obviously not leveling with the American public. Bodyguard of Lies, a documentary directed by Dan Krauss that premiers September 23 on Paramount+, exposes exactly what those lies are. Krauss, who has been reporting on the war in Afghanistan for years, interviews high-ranking U.S. officials, rank-and-file American veterans, ordinary Afghans, and even the Taliban. He also dips into an archive of private recordings and documents, released thanks to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by The Washington Post, in which American officials admit things that they wouldn't say in public. On April 17, 2002, President George W. Bush said in a speech that previous empires have failed in Afghanistan, but "we're not gonna repeat that mistake." The same day, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld dictated a memo in 2002 asking how to get out of Afghanistanand ending with the exclamation "Help!" A few months later, Rumsfeld told the press that "I don't do quagmires." The movie is filled with examples of similar duplicity over the next two decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It didn't have to turn out this way. At the beginning of the war, the Taliban were almost completely routed, and the U.S. military could have left from a position of strength. The new Afghan republic announced that it had an offer from the Taliban to surrender in exchange for amnesty and a chance to participate in politics. But the Bush administration turned down that offer, settling for nothing less than total, unconditional victory. "It was very hard to leave Afghanistan, knowing that Osama bin Laden might still be there. That was one important factor. I think the other thing was that, as George Bush said, 'We're not going to just cut and run.' There was a feeling ofI guess you could describe it as goodwillfrom the American leadership, the American public, to not leave Afghanistan a destroyed country with no infrastructure or leadership structure. We wanted to stick around long enough to help rebuild the country, and hopefully create a beacon of democracy in the Middle East," Krauss tells Reason in an interview. That, of course, didn't work. Bodyguard of Lies breaks down the specific ways in which the project broke down. U.S. officials measured their success with irrelevant or nonsense metrics, often linked directly to how much money was spent. Local powerbrokers were constantly skimming off of that money. For example, one Afghan official would receive U.S. funding to repair a particular bridge, then call his brother in the Taliban to blow up that bridge again, so he could receive more money to fix it. "One of the things that I don't think I fully understood until I sat down and started working on this film was the degree to which we partnered with warlords in Afghanistan, and the degree to which warlords were actually an integral part of our tactical approach in Afghanistan," says Krauss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one particularly infamous episode, U.S. forces raided a home where they were told a Taliban commander was hiding, killing several civilians. They later discovered that the house actually belonged to a warlord whose men had a contract to guard a British baseand that the allegations of Taliban presence came from a rival warlord who wanted the contract himself. In other words, Afghans were using the U.S. military to carry out mob hits on each other. "It was one of those phrases that was repeated, almost verbatim, over and over again: the corruption, the corruption, the corruption of the Afghan people. Look, that's true. There was a ton of corruption in Afghanistan. There's no question about that. But the corruption was enabled by the overflow of U.S. currency being flown in on palettes in the back of C-130s," Krauss says, referring to C-130 cargo planes. And Americans themselves dipped their hands in the pot. The film includes an interview with a U.S. soldier whose commander would file false supply orders and then pocket the cash, smuggling it back to America inside hollowed-out VCRs. According to The Fort Bragg Cartel, a recent book by investigative journalist Seth Harp about corruption within the ranks of U.S. special forces, American troops were convicted of stealing a total of $52 million in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2005 and 2015, along with many thefts that were never caught. Those thefts were relatively small scale compared to the massive profits, legal and illegal, that American contractors made. Contractors made $108 billion for work performed in Afghanistan throughout the entire war. The Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan estimated in 2011 that waste, fraud, and abuse within those contracts totaled between $31 billion and $60 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There was money for everyone, and that was one of the reasons the war lasted as long as it did," Krauss says. He quotes a joke that Capt. Matthew Hoh, a former Marine and State Department official who resigned from the Obama administration in protest of the war, told him: "Reconstruction wasn't successful in Afghanistan, but it was very successful in northern Virginia and the suburbs of Washington." The post The Government Was Lying to You About Afghanistan. Dan Krauss Has the Receipts. appeared first on Reason.com. Naja Lyberth was only 14 when a Danish doctor inserted an intrauterine device (IUD) into her vagina, like all the other girls in her hometown of Maniitsoq, Greenland. "It felt like knives were being pushed into me," says Lyberth, who is now in her 60s, in the podcast "The Coil Campaign" by Danish broadcaster DR. Back in 1976, the girls in Lyberth's class were sent to hospital, where they had IUDs inserted to prevent them from becoming pregnant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their parents had not been informed about the procedure. Just like Lyberth and her classmates, thousands of other Greenlandic women had IUDs inserted, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. Greenland is part of Denmark and only gained more autonomy over its internal affairs in 2009. Back in the 1960s and '70s, Denmark was responsible for health-care in Greenland. Many of the women say that the procedure was performed without their consent. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen recently apologized on behalf of Denmark to the Greenlandic women affected. "We cannot change what has happened. But we can take responsibility," Frederiksen said in her statement. Facebook post brings coil scandal to light Lyberth posted a text about her experience to Facebook in 2017, sparking the reporting on Greenlandic women and the IUDs, or coils. She described what happened that day in 1976 at the hospital in Maniitsoq. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, more and more Greenlandic women have come forward describing similar experiences. In 2023, the Danish and Greenlandic governments set up an independent commission to investigate the IUD scandal, with a final report expected this year. Danish state financial concerns sparked IUD programme In 1953, Greenland, which had been a Danish colony for more than 200 years, formally became part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The government in Copenhagen began a programme to modernize the Arctic territory, 3,000 kilometres away, building schools and housing and sending Danish doctors to expand health care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Improved medical care increased infant survival rates, leading to higher birth rates. Meeting the needs of a growing population required significant investment in nurseries and medical staff. In 1966, the Danish government launched the birth control campaign that involved inserting IUDs in Greenlandic women. Within the first four years, 4,500 women had been fitted with coils. By 1969, the government estimated that 35% of women of reproductive age in Greenland had received an IUD, and the number of births had begun to decline. 'The Danish state took my innocence away from me' Many of the Greenlandic women interviewed by DR found the insertion of the coil traumatic. Some felt they had no choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I couldn't fight it," says Lyberth. "I wasn't brought up to contradict authority." In addition, the IUDs used in Greenland at the time were much larger than the copper and hormone IUDs used today. They were made of plastic, difficult to insert and not suitable for women who had never given birth. "It was hell. I had a foreign body inside me for several years," recalls Lyberth, who was not yet sexually active when the plastic coil was inserted at the age of 14. "The Danish state took away my innocence," she tells tells DR. She has described the incident as the Danish state taking away her virginity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The broadcaster reports that some girls and women were unaware that the contraceptive had been inserted, in some cases during a routine gynecological examination. The Danish Institute for Human Rights notes that some Greenlandic girls were as young as 12 when the contraceptive devices were inserted. 143 Greenlandic women sue the Danish state After the coil scandal of the 1960s and 1970s came to light, women who had coils inserted without their consent also came forward, particularly after Greenland assumed responsibility for its owb health care in 1992. In late August, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen apologized to all those affected and promised them compensation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Lyberth and 142 other Greenlandic women have filed a lawsuit against the Danish state, claiming violations of their human rights. They are each seeking compensation of 300,000 Danish kroner ($46,760). According to the Danish Institute for Human Rights, contraceptive procedures are still being performed in Greenland - now largely autonomous - without the consent of girls and women. But the Danish government is unwilling to comment on the claims until the results of the commission of the inquiry are released. SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) Every year, the words Hispanic and Latino grow in Google searches during Hispanic Heritage Month, but what do they truly mean? The confusion between these two terms is not uncommon, as many people incorrectly use both words interchangeably. A person may be Latino and not Hispanic, or they may be Hispanic but not Latino. So, whats the difference? It all depends on language and place of birth. Latino Latin America is defined as the areas of the American continent where Romance languages are spoken. This means that every country where a language derived from Latin is spoken will be considered to be a Latin American nation. Romance languages include Spanish, Portuguese and French. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What countries make up Latin America? Every country in Central and South America is a part of this category, as well as Mexico and some Caribbean countries such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic. A person may be considered Latino or Latina if their birthplace is in Latin America or if they are of Latino heritage, including people from Brazil, Cuba and Mexico, since they are all countries located in Latin America. Hispanic Hispanic is tied to a specific language that someone speaks, not their birthplace. This means that anyone whose first language is Spanish would be considered a Hispanic person. This includes countries like Mexico and Spain. Even though they are located on different continents, they speak the same language, making both of them Hispanic. On the other hand, countries like Brazil and French Guyana are not Hispanic even if they are located in South America; instead, they are Latino. For example, people from Brazil speak Portuguese and those from French Guyana speak French, which excludes them from the Hispanic category. Are Puerto Ricans Latino or Hispanic? Although Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and not a country of its own, the roots of the island are of Spanish descent, as it was a Spanish colony for centuries. Puerto Ricans speak Spanish and their education is taught in this language, which would include the island as a Romance-speaking language culture, making them Hispanic and Latino. 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. Macquarie Asset Management, an investment management company, released its Macquarie Large Cap Growth Fund investor letter for the second quarter of 2025. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The second quarter of 2025 endured significant government policy changes and geopolitical events, which resulted in volatility yet ended with robust performance for equity markets. The Funds Institutional Class shares posted an absolute positive return of 11.24% in the quarter, but underperformed the benchmark, the Russell 1000 Growth Index, which returned 17.84%. For more information on the funds best picks in 2025, please check its top five holdings. In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, the Macquarie Large Cap Growth Fund highlighted stocks such as Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY). Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The one-month return of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) was 8.15%, and its shares lost 18.13% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On September 19, 2025, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) stock closed at $751.99 per share, with a market capitalization of $674.126 billion. Macquarie Large Cap Growth Fund stated the following regarding Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "The largest contributors were our underweight to Apple Inc., underweight to Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), and position in Microsoft Corp. Similarly, Eli Lilly underperformed and contributed to relative performance because it is not held in the portfolio. Currently, we believe that the stocks upside and long-term valuation depend on the success of its Alzheimers drug franchise (in addition to its GLP-1 franchise), an area in which we remain unconvinced given the difficulty of early Alzheimers diagnosis." Was Jim Cramer Right About Eli Lilly and Company (LLY)? Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is in 21st position on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 119 hedge fund portfolios held Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) at the end of the second quarter, same as 119 in the previous quarter. Eli Lilly and Company's (NYSE:LLY) second quarter revenue grew 38% compared to Q2 2024, driven by its key products. While we acknowledge the potential of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) 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. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Ryanair has cut its winter flight schedule to Spain by 41%. | Credit: Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images Ryanair is locked in an ongoing feud with Spains airport operator, Aena, said The Telegraph. The Irish budget airline has slashed a million seats on flights to the countrys key regional routes this winter, stopping all journeys to Jerez, Tenerife North, Valladolid and Vigo. Going nuclear The hostile move follows Aenas proposed 6.62% fee increase, which Ryanair has branded excessive. Its response has been to go nuclear on a selection of routes, cutting its Spain schedule by 41%. This means shutting down its two-aircraft base in Santiago, and significantly reducing capacity at Asturias, Santander, Vitoria and Zaragoza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the escalating public row, Maurici Lucena, chair and chief executive of Aena, hit out at Ryanairs boss, Michael OLeary, accusing him of lying continuously, said the Financial Times. He told the paper that the decision had nothing to do with Aenas fees, and claimed the budget airline is obscuring the real underlying issue, that it doesnt want to face the political and reputational cost of abandoning some regional airports, and associated job losses in some cases. In a scathing statement on its website earlier this month, Aena accused Ryanair of dishonesty and poor taste, claiming the airline had distorted figures to make its message more provocative. It concluded that it is truly a pity that Ryanairs communications policy appears to be governed by hypocrisy, rudeness and blackmail. Ryanair hit back at the allegations, said The Mirror, urging Aena to call our bluff by reducing the fees at Spains empty regional airports. A spokesperson from the budget airline added that the company always goes where costs are lower and will happily go back to regional Spain when they stop charging Madrid/ Barcelona prices. Until then its adios Aena! Albanias moment in the sun Vueling is set to fill some of the gap, increasing capacity this year by 15% at Santiago and 11% at Tenerife North, said The Independent. The Spanish airline will also add another aircraft to its fleet from mid-December, running 28 additional weekly journeys from Santiago to cities like Barcelona, Madrid and Seville. Spains Minister of Transport, Oscar Puente, said in a statement on X that low-cost airlines are rushing to take up the million seats left by Ryanair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What does the public spat mean for your next holiday? Unless youre planning a getaway to a fairly obscure destination, theres no need to worry as core tourist routes arent affected, said The Telegraph. Some Spanish regional destinations may become harder to reach from the UK, but other airlines are gradually filling these slots. As for Ryanair, the budget airline is set to open new routes to airports where it says access costs are lower: in places such as Hungary, Croatia, Sweden and Morocco. Albania is earmarked as a big growth area, with the budget airline set to open a three-aircraft base in Tirana next year, which it hopes to expand. These plans are, however, dependent on Albania retaining its low access costs. If it doesnt, the airline has form in axing flights. Despite their tussle, Lucena told the Financial Times he was confident Spain would remain a key market for Ryanair. Who needs who more? I dont know. But they need us a lot, absolutely. The terror organization called the recognition "a deserved outcome of our peoples struggle and added that it would lead Western countries to isolate Israel. Hamas lauded the recognition of a Palestinian state by the United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal, and Australia in a Sunday statement, calling the move an important step. This recognition is an important step in maintaining the right of our Palestinian people to their land and holy sites, and to establishing their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, Hamas stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The terror organization continued, saying it was a deserved outcome of our peoples struggle and that a stop to Israels war against it, which it labeled a brutal genocide in Gaza, must follow the declaration. Hamas also called on the international community to confront the annexation and Judaization plans in the West Bank and Jerusalem, isolate the Jewish state, and take punitive measures against it. Palestinian Hamas terrorists. February 22, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled) Western nations recognize Palestine Other nations, including France, are expected to follow the lead of the UK, Australia, and Canada in recognizing a Palestinian state. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that recognizing a Palestinian state would isolate Hamas in an interview with N12. Recognizing a Palestinian state is just deciding to say, 'The legitimate perspective of Palestinian people and what they suffer today has nothing to do with Hamas,' Macron said, adding, "Recognition of a Palestinian state is the best way to isolate Hamas. A Warren man is facing multiple charges after allegedly carjacking a pair of vehicles on Aquidneck Island. Jaron Monroe, 37, of 7 Wood St., #2, Warren, Newport police initially listed Monroe's address as Warwick is facing charges from Middletown police of assault with intent to commit specified felonies; robbery of the owner, lessor, or occupant of a motor vehicle; felony assault and duty to stop in accidents resulting in damage to vehicle. Newport police said Monday afternoon they are still determining charges related to the events in the city. According to Middletown and Newport police, Newport officers responded to the area of the rotary at Admiral Kalbfus Road at 8:22 a.m. Monday, after reports of an armed carjacking at the Shaw's Supermarket in Middletown at approximately 7:55 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newport police said the initial alleged carjacking occurred after Monroe drove to the Newport police department and reported he was having a non-medical emergency. Officers responded to speak to Monroe, who remained in his vehicle with the windows partially lowered. Newport police said that when officers asked to shut off the vehicle, Monroe locked the doors and drove away. Newport police then issued an alert to Monroe to check on his well-being. Dispatch later informed responding officers that a Jeep stolen from the supermarket's parking lot was involved in a motor vehicle crash near the rotary. Police said multiple witnesses also reported the suspect brandishing a handgun and pointing it at several motorists before fleeing on foot toward The Admirality apartments at 195 Admiral Kalbfus Road. According to reports, the suspect then pointed the handgun at the occupants of a gray Toyota Highlander vehicle, later identified to be a mother and a 9-year-old, leaving the Admirality before stealing the vehicle. In the effort to locate the suspect, an alert was issued to law enforcement across Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts communities. The suspect was later spotted traveling northbound through Aquidneck Island and then apprehended by Massachusetts State Police in the area of exit 10A on Interstate 195 west in Somerset after crashing the stolen grey Toyota SUV, according to Middletown police. Officers responding to the crash also recovered a firearm at the scene, Newport police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation also found that prior to the Shaw's carjacking, the suspect crashed into a vehicle on Valley Road and pointed a gun at another victim in the Shell gas station on East Main Road, Middletown police said. This story has been updated with new information. This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Carjackings in Middletown, Newport lead to arrest in Somerset, Mass. Eslami is also Iran's vice president. RIA did not say whom he would meet in Moscow. The head of Iran's atomic energy organization, Mohammad Eslami, has arrived in Moscow for talks, Russia's state-run RIA news agency quoted the Iranian embassy as saying on Monday. The 15-member UN Security Council earlier opted not to permanently lift sanctions on Tehran, after three European countries launched a 30-day process last month to reimpose them, accusing Tehran of failing to abide by a 2015 deal with world powers aimed at preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran denies having any such intention, and Russia says it supports Tehran's right to peaceful nuclear energy. Eslami is also Iran's vice president. RIA did not say whom he would meet in Moscow. This is a developing story. In a rare admission Israel said that it killed several civilians in a strike in Lebanon on Sunday. Lebanese authorities said five people were killed in an Israeli drone strike, three of whom were children and four were US citizens. The Israel Defence Force (IDF) said it killed a terrorist in southern Lebanon, but as a result of the strike, several uninvolved civilians were killed. The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimise harm as much as possible, the military said. The incident is under review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US said the situation is fluid and disputed the claim that some were Americans, according to a government spokesman. It is very unusual for the Israeli military to say that its strikes killed or injured civilians, as the IDF often says its operations target terrorists and those linked to militant groups, such as Hamas and Hezbollah. A girl was severely injured by the Israeli drone strike and is being treated at a hospital in southern Lebanon. Authorities said the attack killed at least five people - Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP A number of third-party organisations, including the United Nations and human rights groups, however, have noted high civilian casualties, particularly in Gaza. The death toll in Gaza has reached more than 65,000 people and about half of those killed have been women and children. Israels attack on Lebanon was part of a recent set of strikes that began last Thursday, targeting areas of the country where it says Hezbollah is operating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the strikes violate a ceasefire deal agreed last year and have hardened sentiments against calls for Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, to disarm entirely. Though laying down arms was a tenet of the agreed deal, continued Israeli attacks have left many in Lebanon worried that doing so would leave them defenceless against Israeli incursions. Some have taken to the streets in recent months to protest against Hezbollahs disarmament. The Lebanese government has urged Hezbollah to follow through, as disarmament is a condition tied to international aid packages and loans needed to rebuild the country, which sustained much damage from battles with Israel last year. But its becoming a harder sell amid Israeli strikes, with the authorities, too, calling for international attention to the attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel is persisting in its continuous violations of international resolutions, most notably among them the ceasefire agreement, Joseph Aoun, the Lebanese president, said in a statement from New York, where he is due to attend the United Nations General Assembly. He called on the international community, whose leaders are present in the halls of the United Nations, to exert every effort to stop violations of international resolutions and to pressure Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory and abide by the aforementioned declaration. There is no peace over the blood of our children, he said. Unicef, the UNs agency for children, said it was deeply shocked and outraged by the killing of three children from the same family in an air strike, and that such attacks were unconscionable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No child should ever pay the price of conflict with their life, Unicef Lebanon said. 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. Two blocks from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus residence in West Jerusalem, where Balfour and Gaza streets meet behind layers of steel barricades and weekly pro-hostage rallies, a tiny corner-side cafe, oddly unnamed and half-hidden, buzzed with mid-morning chatter. As phones lit up with news that United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer had announced formal recognition of a Palestinian state, a few patrons looked up, while others shrugged. Of course Im angry, said Shira Hazan, 55, a shop owner and longtime supporter of Netanyahus Likud party. But what changes? Britain doesnt bury our soldiers. Its just politics while Iran is shooting at us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A man sitting next to her, like most of those at the cafe, waved the headline off with a flick of the hand, treating it as little more than background noise. Its colonial arrogance, nothing less, he said, wearing a knitted kippah and barely looking up as he scrolled through his phone. But the UKs recognition of Palestine, while not a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) vote like Israels in 1948, could still set off a wave. The decision marks the first time a major Western power that once held the Mandate for Palestine given to Britain by the UN predecessor, the League of Nations, after the end of World War I to administer what is today the area that includes Gaza, the West Bank and Israel has formally recognised Palestinian statehood. Australia and Canada have also issued recognitions in what appeared to be a coordinated move, piling pressure on Israel and placing the three countries at odds with the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement comes shortly before a special summit on the war in Gaza, to be held by the UNGA on Monday. The gathering is part of a diplomatic initiative led by France and Saudi Arabia to revive the two-state solution as the only viable path to ending the decades-long conflict in the region. Several countries, including France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Malta, have said they will join the more than 145 UN members that already recognise a Palestinian state. Political pushback Though anticipated for some time now, the statehood declaration set off an immediate and forceful backlash, with leaders across Israels divided political establishment and segments of the public urging swift and sweeping retaliation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within hours, far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he would push for an immediate annexation of the occupied West Bank, describing the recognition as a prize for the murderous Nukhba terrorists, a reference to the Hamas unit that led the October 7, 2023, assault in southern Israel. He pledged the complete dismantling of the Palestinian Authority and added that he intended to submit a proposal for the application of sovereignty at the upcoming cabinet meeting. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum a group that campaigns for the safe return of captives taken to Gaza during the 2023 attack on Israel, which has camped out for more than 740 days outside Netanyahus home in Tel Aviv condemned what it called the unconditional recognition of a Palestinian state while turning a blind eye to the fact that 48 hostages remain in Hamas captivity. The outcry extended to the opposition. Benny Gantz, the centrist former defence minister and a leading Netanyahu rival, warned that the move would only harden Hamass grip and complicate efforts to free the captives held in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recognising a Palestinian state after October 7 ultimately only emboldens Hamas, extends the war, distances the prospects of a hostage deal, and sends a clear message of support to Iran and its proxies, Gantz said. In an English-language post on X directed at Western capitals, he added: If advancing peace & stability in the Middle East is what you seek, dear Western Leaders and not buckling to domestic political pressure, then maximum pressure must be applied to Hamas to relinquish power and return the hostages before anything else. One of the lone voices calling Starmers recognition a step in the right direction is left-wing Israeli parliamentarian Ofer Cassif. He told Al Jazeera that the Israeli government treats recognition as a win-lose game, when in reality, it could be a win for all sides. In January 2024, Cassif signed a petition supporting South Africas genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, prompting efforts to expel him from the Knesset on the grounds of supporting armed struggle. He was eventually suspended for six months. Recognition is a crucial first step toward a just peace, and all other countries that have not yet done so should follow suit, Cassif told Al Jazeera. But it must not become an end goal by itself. A complete arms embargo on Israel must follow, until the government of death and destruction ends the genocide in Gaza and dismantles the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about further UN actions, he said he would absolutely support a peacekeeping force and reactivating anti-apartheid mechanisms used in South Africa, which included weapons and oil embargoes, among other moves. The absolute worst moment Noam Achimeir, 29, a PhD candidate at Jerusalems Hebrew University who described himself as left-leaning, took issue with the timing of the Palestinian statehood announcements. Look, I believe in two states, Ive marched for peace; Ive argued with my parents about the occupation for years. But this? Achimeir said. This is the absolute worst moment. Were under missile fire, families are hiding in shelters, and people are still held hostage. When countries make a grand gesture right now, it feels like rewarding the people doing that to us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, he also argued that Israel cannot control millions of Palestinians forever. Maybe its symbolic. But symbols matter, he told Al Jazeera. If Britain recognises Palestine, maybe it forces us to admit this conflict wont just vanish. Eliyahu Korenman, 42, a religious Zionist from the illegal settlement of Shilo north of Jerusalem who said he backed Ben-Gvir at the last election, said Londons decision tells Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran to keep firing rockets, holding hostages, killing Jews and the world will reward you. Every Israeli knows Palestine is just another word for surrender, Korenman said. If anything, the timing proves we were right all along. The only way forward is to hold on tighter, to build more, to show the world we dont need their approval. The world doesnt understand that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yael Ben Eshel, 27, a veterinary apprentice from West Jerusalem who voted for the governing Likud, was also dismissive. Honestly? Who cares? Britain hasnt mattered here in decades. They can recognise Palestine, they can recognise the moon, it changes nothing on the ground, she told Al Jazeera. We dont wake up tomorrow and give up land because of what they say. Its for their politics, for the immigrants and the refugees, so forgive me if I dont get worked up about a British speech, Ben Eshel added, echoing Netanyahus comments last week on Israels increased international isolation, which the prime minister blamed in part on Muslim minorities in the West, rather than Israels killing of more than 65,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Britain cannot wash its hands of history The announcement lands amid a tense military escalation, where the Israeli army recently deployed a third division into Gaza City as part of an operation dubbed Gideons Chariots B, expanding a months-long offensive in the enclave that has killed hundreds in an area where famine has also been declared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also followed a drumbeat of moves by Israels hard-right government aimed at forestalling Palestinian statehood. Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich last week unveiled a proposal to annex 82 percent of the occupied West Bank, an idea he framed as a permanent bulwark against a two-state solution. Meanwhile, Netanyahu signed a controversial settlement expansion agreement this month, reiterating his long-held rejection of a Palestinian state and declaring that there will be no Palestinian state; this place belongs to us. Britain set the stage. First, it promised Arabs freedom if they fought the Ottomans, then secretly carved up the region in Sykes-Picot [treaty]. It told Jews one thing in the Balfour Declaration and told Arabs another, Achimeir said, in criticism of the UKs policy in the aftermath of World War I. Daniel Darby, 51, an anti-Zionist from Pardes Hanna, north of Tel Aviv, agreed, stating that Londons recognition of a Palestinian state today is an empty, symbolic gesture that will not change a thing for the people in the occupied West Bank and for the people who are now suffering horrific genocide in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UK, which together with other European imperialistic forces is responsible for the creation of the Zionist state, is now even more fully responsible for the horrific acts taking place in occupied Palestine by supplying reconnaissance, intelligence, and all kinds of military support for Israel, Darby said. He added that recognition alone is meaningless without real consequences. The UK will not clear its past and its responsibility unless it takes action now, with a full weapons embargo and full sanctions on the state of Israel. This article is published in collaboration with Egab. Laughs on those mocking Delaware County Re "How Delaware County's $6.9 million in property tax rollbacks can get you a Starbucks latte," (Sept. 2): Mocking Delaware County for returning unneeded property tax dollars to its citizens is tone deaf. Local governments, and quite frankly any entity with the privilege to levy taxes on Ohioans, have a responsibility to be good stewards of that power. Too many jurisdictions treat taxing authority as a blank check. If more governments did the same as Delaware County, the state wouldnt be facing a dangerous constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes altogether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leaders of that movement have even stated they are taking that drastic measure because government is not listening to Ohioans demand to address soaring property tax bills. Taxpayers deserve respect, not ridicule. Delaware County showed respect for its citizens by handing back their hard-earned dollars. If residents want to use it to buy a cup of coffee thats up to them. Pat Tiberi, President and CEO, Ohio Business Roundtable The Delaware County Courthouse, 91 N. Sandusky St., is a two-story Italianate building topped by an elaborate statue of Lady Justice. Today the courthouse houses the County Commissioners and other personnel. (Columbus Dispatch photo by Doral Chenoweth III) A fox guarding the henhouse Re "Medicare to require prior authorization for some procedures in Ohio starting in 2026," Sept. 18: Its fine to try to save money in Medicare, but not fine to incentivize the company doing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its like the fox guarding the henhouse. Adding a new layer of preauthorization is only going to harm the poorest and least educated who cant fight for their Medicare process, whatever it may be. Gov. Mike Dewine, how could you let this happen to Ohio? Darlene Loughborough, Akron Procedures aren't the problem Re "Medicare to require prior authorization for some procedures in Ohio starting in 2026," Sept. 18: Based on personal experience, rather than targeting procedures, the amount billed to Medicare for certain things should be addressed. I recently broke my ankle badly. My doctor billed Medicare over $400 for the boot I had to wear. I was floored when I saw the EXACT SAME BOOT on Amazon for $60!Targeting procedures creates a conflict of interest that'll harm citizens at a time in their lives when decent health care is imperative. No financial incentive should be a part of this "deal." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beth Houston, New Carlisle Fighting fire with firearms Re "Ohio's school staff need guns. 'Just in case' is sadly possible," Sept. 18: Guest column writer Richard J. Caster fails to follow his own logic, getting to the source of the problem. Quell gun violence in schools by resorting to adding more guns? Genius. Eradicating guns from society would address the source of the fire. Danny Finn, Worthington This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio should follow Delaware County's example on tax rollback| Letters U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst told a crowd of conservatives that she received "a lot of pressure from the White House" to run for a third term, but the choice to step aside was "the right decision for me." Ernst, 55, a Republican who was first elected in 2014, told the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition's annual banquet on Saturday, Sept. 20, it has been "such an honor" to serve in the Senate, but she made the choice to spend more time with her family. "There comes a time when we have to make that decision," she said. "And with aging parents and parents that need me and also now being a grandmother and welcoming my grandson into this world, I now have the opportunity to go out and be supportive and provide assistance for my aging parents and for my grandson. So believe me, yes, and its the right decision for me." Sen. Joni Ernst, R-IA. speaks to the crowd during the annual Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition banquet on Sept. 20, 2025, at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines. Still, she said, "it was a difficult decision." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was getting a lot of pressure from the White House to run for that third term, and the president didnt speak to me for about a week after that," she said. "But he called last Thursday. Hes OK. Were good again." National media reported over the summer that White House officials met privately with Ernst to encourage her to run for a third term as Republicans seek to hold their Senate majority next year. Ernst told the crowd that she also pledged when first running for office that she would only serve two terms. "I also had made a commitment early on that I would serve two terms," she said. "And so I have term-limited myself and will be stepping aside because I think its the right thing to do for our next generation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ernst's decision not to seek reelection upended Iowa's 2026 U.S. Senate race, spurring U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson to announce her own candidacy, while five Democrats make their case to be their party's nominee. Hinson on Saturday praised Ernst, the first female combat veteran elected to the U.S. Senate. "Service defines you and if Im successful in this role I have some very big combat boots to fill," she said. "So thank you, maam, for your service to our state." Iowa Republicans stand in applause after remarks from U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi during the 25th annual Faith and Freedom Coalition fall banquet on Sept. 20, 2025, at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines. Two other candidates have said they will seek the the Republican nomination: former state Sen. Jim Carlin and Joshua Smith, a former Libertarian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five Democrats are seeking their party's nomination for U.S. Senate next year: state Sen. Zach Wahls, state Rep. Josh Turek, Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris, former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Director Nathan Sage and former state lawmaker Bob Krause. Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Joni Ernst talks pressure from Trump, decision not to seek reelection OAK GROVE, Ky. (FOX 56) A Kentucky woman was charged late last week with wanton endangerment after authorities reportedly found her and three children living in unsafe conditions. A criminal complaint said a Department for Community Based Services worker called police to a Meadow Lane apartment in Oak Grove on Sept. 18 after responding to a complaint. Officials reported that once entering the home, there was immediately an overwhelming smell of feces. There was reportedly clothing, trash, and debris scattered across the floor, making it difficult to walk. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the complaint, there was feces smeared on the walls of the apartment and the bed. Jessica Reeve, 36, allegedly told authorities her sons had gotten into the habit of smearing poop on the walls. Throughout the whole apartment, there were no clean surfaces for children to play, sit or sleep, wrote an Oak Grove Police Department sergeant. Reeve reportedly told police that she, her two 10-year-olds, and her 6-year-old were living in the apartment. The officer noted in their complaint that this wasnt Reeves first contact with police about living conditions. In 2024, Reeve was charged with two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment after allegedly putting two autistic male juveniles in danger by leaving one home alone in unsafe conditions and allowing another to run on a busy roadway. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reeve was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. She was lodged in the Christian County Jail. Her bond was set at $15,000, and her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. The Lebanon County District Attorney's Office announced the formulation of a task force for human trafficking, which she said provided "successful operations" from early July through mid-September 2025. Lebanon County Human Trafficking Task Force is a collaboration between the Office of the District Attorney, Lebanon County Detective Bureau, FBI, Office of the Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Lebanon City Police Department, South Lebanon Township Police, Cleona Borough Police Department, and Western Regional Police Department. The task force began in the spring of 2025 and is actively conducting multiple investigations, according to the district attorney's office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lebanon County Human Trafficking Task Force exists to protect those victims who cannot help or save themselves," Graf said in a release Sept. 22. "We are trying to save women, arrest pedophiles, and keep our citizens safe. We are grateful for the assistance of the FBI and Office of the Attorney General." Arrests The Lebanon DA's office task force members partnered to serve arrest and search warrants on suspected pedophiles during the week of Sept. 8. These efforts led to arrests of two suspects, with law enforcement conducting a search warrant on a third adult male. On Sept. 10, the Pennsylvania State Police arrested Christopher Barto, 55, of Myerstown on charges that include rape of a child, unlawful contact with minors, sexual assault, indecent assault, corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of children, and indecent exposure. Police received a ChildLine tip that Barto possessed child pornography. The DA's office said during the investigation Barto confessed to the sexual assault of a child from ages 7 to 9 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "After police questioning, the Defendant tried to hide by signing himself into a local mental health hospital," Lebanon DA's office said. "When police learned of his whereabouts, they acted immediately and arrested the Defendant." On Sept. 12, state police received CyberTips report that identified two Lebanon County men as the possessor and sharer of child pornography. Police arrested Drake Boger, 21, of Myerstown, at his residence located at the 150 of West Main Avenue. Between March and June of 2025, the Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crimes Unit received eight separate CyberTips reports which reported the possession, sharing and viewing of child pornography. The tips collectively reported nearly 200 images and videos, which showed explicit child pornography, according to officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Police executed a search warrant on his property for all items which could contain, view, or share child pornography and/or be associated with the electronic identifiers contained therein," the DA's office said. "Police found child pornography on electronics within Bogers residence; Boger further confessed." Law enforcement also executed a search warrant at the Lebanon City address of 100 block of South Hanover Street. State police received a tip that reported the possession, sharing and viewing of a video which depicted child pornography. "Police linked the male adult resident of the home to the computer which shared the child pornography," officials said. "Police seized electronics in the home to search for child pornography and/or illegal material. The investigation remains ongoing." Barto has a preliminary hearing scheduled before Magisterial District Judge John W. Ditzler at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 25. Boger has a preliminary hearing scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Verna at 8 a.m. Oct. 2. Illicit Massage Parlors The DA's office reported that over the past several months officials received tips and complaints from local citizens who reported several massage parlors within Lebanon County offered and provided sexual services in exchange for money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The investigation ultimately revealed women travelled to America from their home country under the guise of a better life," the DA's office said. "They paid thousands of dollars for travel and what they believed to be a legal massage license. When they arrived in America, they were deposited at various Asian spas. Their work became sexual favors in exchange for money." On July 2, the Lebanon County Detective Bureau and Lebanon City Police executed a search warrant on Smile Spa located at 723 Cornwall Road, Lebanon. Officials said they received tips female employees of the spa performed sexual acts in addition to massages. Lebanon County detectives monitored the spa and its activity; it further received confirmation men received sexual acts from females at this location. "Execution of the search warrant revealed two women who both resided and worked at the Spa," officials said. "The women confirmed they charged money for sexual activities. The Office of the District Attorney coordinated with Lebanon City Public Safety/Code Enforcement as part of its response. The City Agency closed the Spa; the DAs Office paid the necessary fee to board it shut that same day." On Sept. 18, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the New New Spa located at 121 E. Cumberland St. after again receiving tips female employees offered and performed sexual acts in exchange for money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Task Force utilized an undercover agent who entered the spa and was offered sexual favors in exchange for monetary payment," officials said. "The Task Force executed a search warrant which revealed condoms, more than $2,000 in cash, and a handwritten log of customers served." Police allegedly identified two women who both resided and worked at the spa, one of whom was the same person who offered sexual favors in exchange for money to the undercover agent. Lebanon city officals closed the spa according to the DAs Office. The district attorney's office did not identify any of the suspects involved in these events, telling the Lebanon Daily News that the investigations into spas remains ongoing. A specialized detail was also utilized the weekend of Sept. 12th, with detectives using online platforms which contain advertisements for the purchase of sexual services from commercial sex workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Detectives attempted to solicit services," officials said. "If the sex worker replied and responded, the detective arranged an in-person meeting. Detectives then identified themselves as police, interviewed the sex worker, inquired as to whether she was a victim of human trafficking and/or forced to perform sex acts by another, and offered possible services." The DA's office Sept. 22 did not identify how many of these individuals where interviewed by law enforcement, or how many sex workers may have been arrested and charged during those meetings. "We are also grateful for the hard work and dedication shown by each municipal police department and Officer who assisted," Graf said in her release. "The work of this Task Force is never finished. We now move onto the next investigation and the goal of keeping the people of Lebanon County truly safe." The DA's office said anyone with information on suspected incidents of human trafficking should contact the Lebanon County Detective Bureau at 717-228-4403 or Lebanon County DA Crimewatch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on Twitter at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon County PA DA announces human trafficking task force What sets TARA-002 apart is its novel approach. This cell therapy is derived from a cell bank of genetically distinct Streptococcus pyogenes, already approved in Japan as the broad immunopotentiator OK-432. The therapy works through a dual mechanism directly killing tumor cells while also stimulating an immune response known as immunogenic cell death, thereby amplifying antitumor activity. The first penny stock well look at is Protara Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing treatments for cancer and rare, life-threatening diseases. The companys pipeline currently features two drug candidates: TARA-002, its lead program, which is being evaluated for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and lymphatic malformations (LMs), and IV Choline Chloride, designed to support patients who require parenteral nutrition. With this in mind, we used TipRanks database to spot two penny stocks earning top marks from analysts right now. Both carry Strong Buy consensus ratings and offer triple-digit upside potential including one that could jump 840%. Lets break down the bullish case and see what makes these picks stand out. The real challenge is knowing how to identify them. Thats where Wall Street analysts come in, using their research and experience to sift through the noise and highlight the penny stocks with the potential to grow into far more valuable investments. That doesnt mean, however, that investors should just uncritically buy into the pennies. These shares are usually priced low for a reason, and if that reason comes down to fundamental unsoundness, then its time to steer clear. But for the penny stocks with strong potential, the rewards can be impressive. The pennies are stocks priced down in the bargain basement, below $5 per share, and that ultra-low starting point means that even a small gain in absolute value will quickly translate into triple-digit percentage gains. Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 55% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. The stock markets largest players companies like Nvidia and its trillion-dollar peers often dominate the headlines and attract most of the capital. Yet, some of the most compelling opportunities can be found at the smaller end of the market. While mega-cap shares trade at valuations that leave limited room for outsized gains, penny stocks carry the kind of growth potential that many investors find especially appealing. Story Continues On this foundation, Protara is advancing TARA-002 in NMIBC through a mid-stage study called ADVANCED-2. The trial is testing the therapy in patients who either failed to respond to the standard BCG treatment or who have never received it. Early findings have been promising: in the BCG-unresponsive group, all patients achieved complete remission at six months, with several maintaining that response over longer follow-up. Among BCG-naive patients, the majority also showed strong responses, and some remained cancer-free for at least half a year. Just as important, the treatment has demonstrated a favorable safety profile to date. Protara plans to deliver interim results from ~25 six-month evaluable BCG-unresponsive patients in 1Q26. The company is also pushing TARA-002 beyond oncology into rare pediatric diseases. In lymphatic malformations, TARA-002 is being evaluated in the Phase 2 STARBORN-1 trial, which is dosing pediatric patients (from six months to under 18 years) with macrocystic and mixed cystic LMs. The first cohort has been completed, and in that small group, two out of three patients (one with a macrocystic LM and another with a ranula) achieved a complete response after just one injection, and the therapy was generally well tolerated. Investors wont have to wait long Protara plans to deliver an interim update in 4Q25. Rounding out the pipeline is IV Choline Chloride, the companys phospholipid substrate replacement therapy for patients dependent on parenteral support (PS), who cannot obtain sufficient choline through oral or enteral nutrition. Protaras earlier THRIVE-1 observational study underscored the unmet need, showing that most PS patients were choline-deficient and many displayed signs of liver injury. To address this gap, the company has advanced IV Choline Chloride into THRIVE-3, a Phase 2b/3 registrational trial now underway. The study begins with a dose-confirmation stage before expanding into a randomized, placebo-controlled portion, with dosing of the first patient now taking place. With TARA shares trading at $3.19 apiece and TARA-002 showing encouraging signs, TD Cowen analyst Stacy Ku believes now is the time to get on board. Protara is making progress, with key updates in the next 6+ months. The most significant opportunity for 002 is NMIBC, with a high unmet need to avoid cystectomy Recall, TARA-002s 67% 12-month CRR in BCG-unresponsive NMIBC patients appears competitive, with a clean safety profile. Although early, the efficacy looks promising for the Q1:26 Phase II futility analysis in BCG-unresponsive patients While our focus is on TARA-002s progress in NMIBC, we are encouraged by the continued derisking of 002 with positive Phase IIa results in lymphatic malformations (LM) We believe TARA-002 represents a potential $500MM+ opportunity that should allow clinicians to treat comprehensively, and improve patient outcomes, Ku opined. That $500 million-plus opportunity, according to the analyst, supports a Buy rating on TARA and a $30 price target, implying shares could skyrocket by 840% in the year ahead. (To watch Kus track record, click here) Turning now to the rest of the Street, other analysts echo Kus sentiment. 5 Buys and no Holds or Sells add up to a Strong Buy consensus rating. With an average price target of $24.20, the upside potential comes in at ~659%. (See TARA stock forecast) Alpha Teknova (TKNO) Next up is a company that operates in the support segment of the life sciences industry. Alpha Teknova provides research-use and clinical-grade custom reagents, buffers, cell-culture media, and related products for bioprocessing, diagnostics, and molecular biology. Customization (including GMP/Clinical Solutions) is a key part of its offering, which helps its customers in biotech, diagnostics, and academic research. Teknovas product lines have found application in a wide range of established and emerging fields, including such hot-button fields as cell and gene therapy, mRNA therapeutics, synthetic biology, and genomics. The company has proprietary manufacturing processes designed to deliver high-quality, made-to-order bioscience products at scale and on short turnaround times. Teknova boasts that it can fill orders at all scales and at all stages of development, from research to commercialization. The company understands that its customers are pursuing unique work projects, and need unique reagents for efficient, reliable, and repeatable results. Teknovas modular manufacturing facilities and processes provide the high quality that todays labs need most. The company provides solutions for a wide variety of laboratory applications, from cell culturing to cryopreservation to extraction and purification to analysis. On the financial side, Teknova reported $10.3 million in revenue for 2Q25, the last period reported. That figure was up 7.3% year-over-year and edged over the forecast by $390,000. At the bottom line, the companys earnings came to a loss of 7 cents per share, which was 3 cents better than had been estimated. Margin improvements (gross margin ~38.7% vs ~29.2 in the prior year) and growth in its Clinical Solutions segment (up ~32%) contributed. The company reaffirmed its full-year revenue guidance at $39-42 million. Teknova shares have caught the attention of Craig-Hallum analyst Matthew Hewitt, who lays out the quality of the companys work and its potential to continue generating gains. We believe Alpha Teknova is well positioned to benefit from rapid growth within the bioprocessing market including development of C> and mAbs as well as continued growth in the molecular Dx and genomics markets. By working with customers to develop custom reagents and doing so in weeks rather than months, the company is rapidly becoming the go-to provider of key tools in these sectors. With the end markets recovering over the near-term and prospects for 20%+ revenue growth with 30%+ Adj. EBITDA margins longer-term, we believe investors should own this stock, Hewitt noted. Hewitt quantifies his bullish stance on TKNO with a Buy rating and a $12 price target that points toward a potential one-year upside of ~159%. (To watch Hewitts track record, click here) All in all, TKNO holds a Strong Buy consensus rating from the analyst consensus, based on 5 analyst reviews that include 4 Buys and 1 Hold. The shares are trading for $4.64 and their $10 average price target suggests the stock will gain ~115% by this time next year. (See TKNO stock forecast) To find good ideas for penny 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 France's planned recognition of a Palestinian state will not include the opening of an embassy until Hamas frees the hostages it is holding in Gaza, President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview that aired on Sunday in the United States. "It will be, for us, a requirement very clearly before opening, for instance, an embassy in Palestine," Macron told CBS News in an interview that was recorded on Thursday. The comments emerged as leaders of Britain, Australia and Canada announced they would formally recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on social media: "Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine." Mark Carney, the Canadian premier, said: "Canada recognises the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future." His Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, said Canberra's move "recognises the legitimate and long held aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own". Portugal was also set to recognise Palestinian statehood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement British PM Starmer says UK to recognise Palestinian state at UN General Assembly Displacement plans Macron also spoke out against any plans to displace Palestinians from Gaza - which they want to be part of a future sovereign state - when rebuilding the territory. "But if the precondition of such a plan is to push them out, this is just a craziness," Macron said on "Face the Nation." "We should not be - for the credibility of the United States, for the credibility of France - we cannot be implicitly or explicitly complacent with such a project." Mahmud Mardaw, a senior Hamas official, hailed the move to recognise a Palestinian state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These developments represent a victory for Palestinian rights and the justice of our cause," he told the French news agency AFP. "And it sends a clear message: no matter how far the occupation goes in its crimes, it will never be able to erase our national rights. In a communique issued on Sunday, Hamas said the recognition must be accompanied by "practical measures". These, it said, should include an immediate halt to "the genocidal war being waged against our people in the Gaza Strip and confronting the ongoing annexation and judaisation projects in the West Bank and Jerusalem." Macron warns on Israeli TV that Gaza war is 'destroying Israels credibility' Israeli reaction The roster of countries stating their intention to recognise a Palestinian state brought an angry response from Israeli politicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isaac Herzog, Israel's president, said the acknowledgement would be detrimental ntal to those seeking peace between Israelis and Palestinians. "It will not help one Palestinian, it won't help free one hostage," said Herzog in a statement. "And it will not help us reach any settlement between Israelis and Palestinians. "It will only embolden the forces of darkness. This is a sad day for those who seek true peace." In a message addressed to Starmer, Albanese and Carney, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said there would be no Palestinian state. "I have a clear message for those leaders who recognise a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre on October 7: you are granting a huge reward to terror," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And I have another message for you: it will not happen. No Palestinian state will be established west of the Jordan River." Flotilla bound for Gaza finally sets sail amid escalating Israeli strikes 'One-sided recognition' Before Netanyahu's statement, Israel's foreign ministry rejected what it called the "one-sided" recognition of a Palestinian state. "This declaration does not promote peace, but on the contrary further destabilises the region and undermines the chances of achieving a peaceful solution in the future," it added. "Instead, if the countries that signed this declaration truly wish to stabilise the region, they should focus on pressuring Hamas to release the hostages and to disarm immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The declaration not only rewards the biggest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust by a terror organisation that is calling and acting for the annihilation of Israel, but also solidifies the support Hamas enjoys. "This move goes against all logic of negotiation and reaching a compromise between two sides, and it will push the desired peace further away," the ministry said. "In any case, Israel will not accept any detached and imaginary text that attempts to force it to accept indefensible borders," it added. In an effort to seize Gaza City, the territory's largest urban centre, the Israeli military has recently intensified its air assaults and launched a major ground offensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RSF says journalists 'targeted' in Israeli strike on Gaza hospital Efforts to flee Gaza City So far more than 550,000 people have fled the city and moved southward, the military said on Sunday. On Sunday, at least 32 people were killed in Gaza City in Israeli strikes, according to the territory's civil defence agency, a rescue force operating under Hamas authority. Mohammed Abu Khousa, a resident of Deir el-Balah, told AFP that he hoped that other countries would also follow the lead of Britain, Canada and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state. "It chips away at Israel's legitimacy and gives our cause a new spark of hope," he said. "This could push more countries to recognise us, and hopefully bring an end to the war." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. The assault resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. During the raid, Palestinian militants also took 251 hostages, of which 47 still remain in Gaza, including 25 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory military response has left at least 65,000 people dead in Gaza, ccording to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, figures which the United Nations finds reliable. MAGA is turning on a new talk show host: Bill Maher. The comedian came under fire from the far-right for criticizing the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! during Fridays episode of Real Time with Bill Maher. Kimmels show was put on indefinite hiatus on Wednesday after the comedian made comments about 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the alleged assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it, Kimmel said on his Monday show. But you have the right to be wrong or to have any opinion you want, Bill Maher said.Thats what the First Amendment is all about. / ABC While Maher disagreed with Kimmels take, he insisted Kimmel had a right to be wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jimmys wrong, I think, to put [Robinson] in one team. But, you know, look at what this guy is doing, Maher said. I mean, Jimmy has every right to be wrong, but look at this guy. But you have the right to be wrong or to have any opinion you want, Maher added. Thats what the First Amendment is all about. Maher also took aim at a right-wing conspiracy that links transgender identity to mass violencea baseless claim amplified after reports that the 23-year-old who opened fire on children inside a Minneapolis Catholic school in August is transgender. Thats not why we got what we got. Trans is not the cause of this, Maher said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some MAGA loyalists didnt share his sentiments. I am so tired of my normiecon friends talking about how great Bill Maher has been lately, wrote Tarrant County, Texas GOP chairman Bo French on X. He is so reasonable now. LOL. No, he is a leftist at heart and cant even admit Charlies shooter is a leftist too. Despicable. I am so tired of my normiecon friends talking about how great Bill Maher has been lately. "He is so reasonable now." LOL. No, he is a leftist at heart and can't even admit Charlie's shooter is a leftist too. Despicable. https://t.co/6RnpGkw8cW Bo French (@BoFrenchTX) September 21, 2025 The Post Millennial, a conservative outlet, also condemned Mahers stance on the Minnesota shooter. While respecting the pronouns of the Minnesota killer of Catholic schoolchildren, Bill Maher says the jokes on you if you try to decipher a political motive, the outlet wrote on X. While respecting the pronouns of the Minnesota killer of Catholic schoolchildren, Bill Maher says "the joke's on you" if you try to decipher a political motive. pic.twitter.com/o2vM3HEy5j The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 21, 2025 Jack Posobiec, a Turning Point USA contributor and alt-right activist, chimed in as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Great job to everyone who promoted this guy as fair, he posted in reply. He later added: BREAKING: Bill Maher says he disagrees with Jimmy Kimmel about Charlie Kirks assassin, but then adds Was he on the left? I dont know that either Hes just trying not to get shot https://t.co/HkpvEJzkyw MILO (@Nero) September 21, 2025 Then, British political commentator and former editor for Breitbart News, Milo Yiannopoulos replied: Hes just trying not to get shot. The Daily Beast has reached out to representatives for Maher for comment. The wife of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat lived on the island for several years. Malta will announce its formal recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday, the Prime Minister's Office said, joining a group of countries in making the move. Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal all recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday, a move intended to promote a two-state solution to end the war in Gaza. France and several other states are expected to make the same decision on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela first announced plans for the recognition of a Palestinian state in May, but the UN conference was later postponed. The Mediterranean EU island has a history of support for Palestinian causes and has backed efforts for a two-state solution, while maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel. The wife of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat lived on the island for several years. THEN-PALESTINIAN Authority head and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat gestures during a speech in Ramallah, 2004. (credit: AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS) Recognition of Palestine 'historic' Late on Sunday Abela hailed the delivery of a consignment of flour donated by Malta to Gaza "on the eve of Maltas recognition of a Palestinian state," in a Facebook post. He said that the recognition of a Palestinian state was "historic" and Malta remained committed to reaching peace in the region. One day in January 2023, a New York man in his early 30s showed up at the U.S. Post Office in Stonington and asked to purchase 25 books of stamps, presenting the teller with a check for $300, court records show. The teller realized the man before them matched the description of a person "who had been presenting checks in the names of various people" linked to accounts that had insufficient funds, a federal law enforcement officer with the postal service later wrote in a court filing. That individual had been purchasing stamps in post offices throughout the northeast "and elsewhere," the officer wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teller took the check from the man, informed their supervisor and "stalled" while they waited for the Stonington police to arrive, court documents said. After police showed up, the scheme began to unravel. The man presented police with a New York state driver's license with his picture on it. The name on the license was for someone with the initials "J.EC.," the USPS law enforcement officer wrote, and the address was listed in the Bronx, N.Y. When police asked the man for his address, he couldn't remember it, the court papers said. He eventually turned over his real ID, which identified him as Ezekiel Bailey. As he was going through his wallet to produce his actual ID, police spotted other fictitious licenses, one of which was under a name of a person from Colorado. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bailey, 33, pleaded guilty last week to aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors said he used the identities of three real people along with fake driver's licenses to purchase $98,000 worth of stamps from post offices in Connecticut along with Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts and other locations. It's unclear what Bailey did with the stamps. The Brooklyn, N.Y. resident made the purchases using checks "linked to empty bank accounts that had been created in the victims' names," the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut said in a news release. The charge carries a mandatory two-year sentence, officials say. Bailey is due to be sentenced on Dec. 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An affidavit filed with the federal criminal complaint against Bailey said that after Stonington police learned of similar incidents at post offices, they arrested Bailey on state charges. He was charged with first-degree forgery, criminal impersonation and criminal attempt to commit larceny, the affidavit said. It's unclear from court records what happened to the state case. In a pat down, police found a check book in the name of the victim with the initials J.E.C., according to the affidavit. They also turned up 30 books of 20 First Class "Forever" stamps, the court filing said. The affidavit said the falsified New York and Colorado licenses in Bailey's possession were not real, but that the victims named on the licenses were real individuals who resided in Utah and Tennessee. Neither of them "authorized anyone to use their name on checks to purchase USPS stamps," the affidavit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Bailey's true identity, investigators were able to link him to other attempted or completed stamp purchases using bad checks and phony credentials, prosecutors say. Images of the checks in the affidavit show Bailey bought or tried to purchase more than $1,000 worth of stamps at a time. One check used for payment in Canaan, Connecticut was for the amount of $2,400, according to the affidavit. The clerk who took the check at that office wrote down the buyer's license number on it. Investigators linked the number on the check to a second fake New York driver's in Bailey's possession, which also had the name of a real victim. Bailey's fingerprints were also found on some of the checks, the affidavit said. As part of his plea agreement, Bailey admitted to using the fake credentials and bad checks to obtain $98,000 worth of stamps. The transactions included using licenses in the names of three victims to purchase stamps with bad checks in Bantam, East Canaan, Canaan and Bristol, among others, the plea agreement said. The deal required Bailey to give something up as well: The 30 books of 20 first class postage stamps the police found on him in Stonington. HENRY COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) Virginia State Police is investigating a two-vehicle crash that left two dead and one charged with Driving Under the Influence on Saturday in Henry County. According to officials, on September 20, around 7:15 p.m., a 2010 Cadillac SRX was traveling south on Axton Road when it went over the center and hit a 2009 Nissan Quest head-on. Misty Lynn Holland, 45, was identified as the driver of the Nissan and died at the scene. Holland was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say there were three passengers in the Nissan, including an 11-year-old juvenile who also died at the scene. He was also wearing his seatbelt. Two other men were taken to the hospital to be treated for their injuries from the Nissan. 60-year-old Charles Vincent Boulding, of Eden, NC, was identified as the driver of the Cadillac and was taken to the hospital. Boulding was wearing his seatbelt. Boulding has been charged with Driving Under the Influence. The crash remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. Moscow has devised a plan to interfere in the Moldovan parliamentary elections and disrupt the country's path toward EU membership, Bloomberg reported on Sept. 22, citing documents it had seen. Separately, a BBC investigation published on Sept. 21 uncovered that a secret Russia-funded network is attempting to influence the outcome of the upcoming vote. The news comes before the Sept. 28 elections, in which a group of Russian-friendly parties will challenge the ruling pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) with potentially major ramifications for Moldova's EU accession efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The documents uncovered by Bloomberg outline a multi-layered strategy reportedly coordinated directly by the Kremlin. The goal is to undermine the chances of Moldovan President Maia Sandu's PAS party and ultimately remove her from power, the news outlet reported. According to the documents, the Kremlin's tactics include recruiting Moldovan citizens living abroad, including in Russia, to vote at polling stations in the EU and other countries, organizing disruptive protests, and running a widespread disinformation campaign on social media. Undercover reporting by BBC journalists also uncovered that a Russian-funded network offered payments to individuals willing to spread pro-Russian propaganda and fake news aimed at discrediting Sandu's party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The BBC found that participants were paid to covertly recruit supporters of pro-Russian opposition parties and conduct so-called polls on behalf of a non-existent organization. The BBC investigation also revealed links between the network and fugitive pro-Kremlin oligarch Ilan Shor and the non-profit organization Evrazia, which is associated with him. Read also: FACT Newsletter #4: Republic of Moldova Elections under informational siege Fact Hub In July, Shor announced that his Victory Bloc was planning to participate in Moldova's parliamentary elections. Sandu's PAS faces a challenge from several groups, including the nominally pro-EU Alternative Bloc and a pro-Russian party led by former Moldovan President Igor Dodon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to separate documents reviewed by Bloomberg, Dodon allegedly asked security services to monitor political opponents while in office. Dodon denied any wrongdoing. In an open letter posted on social media, the ex-president also accused the current government of illegally pressuring opposition parties. Moldovan law enforcement agencies carried out more than 250 searches across the country on Sept. 22 as part of an investigation into plans to incite mass unrest and destabilization, Moldovan news outlet NewsMaker reported. Chisinau has long warned against Moscow's attempt to destabilize Moldova. Last year, pro-EU Sandu secured re-election by a narrow margin against Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former top prosecutor backed by Dodon. The president said Russia attempted to interfere in the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sandu has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and pushed for Moldova's EU membership. Russia, in turn, claims many Moldovans want to maintain ties with Moscow and accuses Sandu of fostering "Russophobia." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged on July 4 that the European Union will help Moldova defend itself against hybrid threats by "agents of autocracy" as elections approach. Read also: For first time, Ukraine hits 2 Russian amphibious aircraft in occupied Crimea, intelligence claims, shows footage Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Key Takeaways New Mexico will offer free child care to nearly all families starting November 2025, helping parents focus on work, school, and family without the stress of high costs. This program covers children from birth to age 5 and is funded by a stable public trust, allowing care to stay high-quality and accessible over time. Experts say universal child care not only saves families money but also boosts the local economy and gives all children a better chance to thrive. For generations, parents across the United States have wrestled with the soaring cost of child care, often forced to choose between pursuing their careers and affording safe, reliable care for their children. A 2023 report by the global childrens charity Theirworld found that nearly 70% of parents across the U.S. are struggling to pay for child care. More than a quarter (27%) of U.S. parents admitted that theyve had to quit a job or drop out of their studies to avoid child care costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, there is a small ripple that could lead to a big wave of change. Starting November 1, 2025, New Mexico will become the first state in the U.S. to guarantee free child care for nearly all parents, regardless of income. The new groundbreaking policy provides no-cost care for children from birth to age 5, easing a major financial burden for parents and signaling a bold shift in how states invest in families and future generations. In a September news release, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said, Child care is essential to family stability, workforce participation, and New Mexicos future prosperity. By investing in universal child care, we are giving families financial relief, supporting our economy, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive. To this point, free child care in New Mexico was limited to families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Beginning in November 2025, however, the program will expand to every parent in the stateno income limits, no eligibility hurdles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For working parents, the change could bring relief, opportunity, and a chance to imagine a different future. How Does Free Child Care Work? Yvette Sanchez Fuentes, SVP, Government Relations and Research and National State Policy at Start Early, explains that families can enroll their children in licensed centers, family child care homes and preschool classrooms without worrying about tuition bills because the state reimburses providers directly. Funding for this type of state-wide policy comes from a voter-approved constitutional amendment that directs a portion of New Mexicos Land Grant Permanent Fund, a long-standing state investment fund, toward early childhood education, she says. By tapping a stable, renewable resource, New Mexico can pay providers fairly and keep care free for families. Start Early works with states such as Illinois on similar, sustainable funding strategies so high-quality care isnt dependent on year-to-year budget concerns. Jessica Chang, co-founder and CEO of Upwards, adds that New Mexico's universal child care system will operate through a provider-payment model. The state's Early Childhood Education and Care Department will direct funding to child care providers instead of parents. Families apply for assistance through the state portal and indicate their preferred care facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She clarifies that nannies and babysitters, and Family, Friends & Neighbors (FFN) are not included in the program. Reimbursement rates are determined based on the childs age, the type of provider, and the quality of care offered. How Much Can Families Save With Universal Free Child Care? Fuentes understands that for some families, child care can cost as much as a mortgage or college tuition. With universal child care, New Mexico families can save thousands of dollars each year, some estimating more than $12,000 per child, depending on the childs age and type of care. For context, Chang adds that the average cost of infant care in New Mexico exceeds $14,000 a year, but the true economic impact goes beyond direct savings: access to reliable child care allows parents, especially mothers, to remain in or join the workforce. Employers also benefit from improved retention and hiring," she continues. "We know this impact firsthand at Upwards because we operate similar child care subsidy programs in Los Angeles, California, and Park City, Utah. These programs remove cost barriers, handle provider matching, and facilitate the care experience. In practice, they consistently demonstrate a 200% return on investment for local economies, not even accounting for long-term gains in childrens academic and developmental outcomes, overall family wellbeing, and stress reduction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is important, considering research shows that inadequate child care results in an annual cost of $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity, and revenue. Could Other States Follow Suit? Chang notes that many communities are already expanding support for child care, recognizing the social and economic benefits of those investments. For example, Park City and Summit Countys Needs-Based Childcare Subsidy program, launched in 2024, helps families stay in the community, supports the local workforce, and keeps child care businesses open," she notes. "Another promising model is Tri-Share public-private programs, where costs are shared between employers and government. However, Chang stresses that expanding access requires addressing child care workforce shortages and provider closures, issues that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. New Mexico estimates needing an additional 5,000 early childhood professionals to fully implement the universal system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nationwide, publicly funded child care programs for low-income families often fall short. Data from 2023 shows that 7394% of eligible children do not receive public funding, averaging 88%. Barriers include paperwork, waitlists, operational inefficiencies, and providers not accepting subsidy-supported children due to delayed government payment and time-consuming reporting. Being aware of these challenges and actively addressing them by leaning on experts in the child care industry and leveraging innovative technological solutions is absolutely worth it, says Chang. The investment in universal child care is paying off, and results from pilot programs across the country are proving it. Fuentes adds that New Mexico has considered the various barriers that families may face in accessing child care and have a plan in place to provide funding through loans to build and renovate facilities, and most critically, to raise wages for workers. She believes that other states can follow New Mexico's work by putting children, families, and communities at the front of what they plan to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This will mean making choices that not everyone will agree with, but when we start by centering children, families, and communities, we can design systems that work with and for families and providers," says Fuentes. "Change takes time, but New Mexico shows that with advocacy and community agency, its absolutely possible. Read the original article on Parents Some 62,000 residents have returned to Gaza border communities. Reconstruction continues, with five key areas still in temporary housing. More than 90 percent of residents from communities along theGaza border have returned home, according to a report published Wednesday by the Tekuma Directorate. The figure translates to approximately 62,000 people. The directorate noted that while five of the most heavily damaged communities remain uninhabited, their residents are expected to return within two years. Local authorities have been given autonomy over the rebuilding process, with Tekuma providing "ongoing support, guidance, and supervision." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the 47 communities in the area, 42 have been repopulated. Construction projects totaling around NIS 800 million are underway, funded directly by the directorate. The initiative involves ongoing coordination with local leadership. According to the directorate, the rebuilding effort spans "all areas of life," including infrastructure, health, education, employment, and community services. The stated goal is "to renew settlement, revitalize the region and turn it into a vital, stable, sustainable and attractive area for its residents and for the State of Israel." Five communities still waiting to return While most communities have resumed regular life, five remain in temporary housing. Beeri, Kfar Aza, Kissufim, Holit, and Nir Oz are at various stages of reconstruction. Kissufim is expected to be ready by November, Holit by March 2026, and both Kfar Aza and Beeri by next summer. A destroyed home in Kibbutz Be'eri, near the Gaza border. (credit: SETH J. FRANTZMAN) Nir Oz has adopted what the directorate described as "a unique plan," which includes a rural tourism site as part of its long-term development strategy. Return rates vary by community Most communities have seen the majority of their residents return, with some also welcoming new families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kerem Shalom has reached about 88 percent of its prewar population and has absorbed six new families. Kibbutz Sufa is at roughly 90 percent, with the same number of new families. Nir Yitzhak stands at 82 percent with eight new families. Nirim is at 90 percent with one new family, while Ein HaShlosha has also reached approximately 90 percent with five new families. Reim currently reports a 95 percent return rate and 10 new families. In Netiv HaAsara, around 83 percent of residents have come back, joined by 12 new families. Nahal Oz, which only began its return process this month, has seen about one-third of its families return, along with four new families. A mother of three who was arrested and detained in Worcester by federal immigration agents will have an individual hearing before a judge in Chelmsford on Tuesday. Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira of Brazil was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Eureka Street in May. She will have what is known as an individual hearing, where she and her lawyer will present a case for her to stay in the United States. At the end of a hearing, the judge can either approve or deny the application requesting to stay in the country, according to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. If the application is rejected, the judges decision can be appealed, according to the Resource Center. What happened during the Worcester arrest? Chaos erupted on Eureka Street on May 8 as ICE agents arrested Ferreira-De Oliveira. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 30 people screamed at ICE agents, demanding that they show a warrant for the arrest. Ferreira-De Oliverias adult daughter, Augusta Clara Moura and her 17-year-old daughter watched as agents detained their mother. The Department of Homeland Security claims that Ferreira-De Oliveria entered the country illegally in August 2022. Her immigration lawyer, Paul Toland, said that the mother was paroled and allowed into the country by ICE as she pursued asylum. The agency also called her a violent criminal illegal alien, citing a previous charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a pregnant victim she had received earlier this year. That charge, however, was dismissed in July, as the complaining witness did not wish to proceed in the case. By 11 a.m., members of the Worcester Police Department arrived at the street after they received calls from agents and members of the public. A member of the department told bystanders over a loudspeaker that they were conducting an unlawful assembly. Bystanders would then confront officers, too, accusing them of cooperating with ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, Ferreira-De Oliveria was inside a gold SUV after being arrested by the agents. Some officers were by the vehicle, asking members of the public to stay away, according to police body camera footage released by the city. As the SUV drove off, Ferreira-De Oliveiras 17-year-old daughter ran after the vehicle. Police officers gathered around her and arrested her, moving her to the ground. She was charged with 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. Following her arrest, Ferreira-De Oliveria was originally detained at the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, Rhode Island. She was then transferred to the Strafford County Corrections facility in Dover, New Hampshire. Charges filed against two others Worcester police also charged District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj and former school committee candidate Ashley Spring, both of whom confronted ICE and the officers during the operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spring, who sprayed water on a Worcester police officer from a baby bottle during the 17-year-olds arrest, was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct and interfering with police officers. A hearing to dismiss these charges is scheduled for the morning of Sept. 25. Spring was also charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon with police writing in their report that they sprayed an unknown liquid. In footage from body cameras worn by police officers at the scene, however, Officer Juan Vallejo stated that the liquid was, in fact, water. The charge was ultimately dropped by the Northwest District Attorneys office on July 23. Haxhiaj, was charged with one misdemeanor count of assault and battery on a police officer and one common law violation for interfering with a police officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A hearing on a motion to dismiss these charges is also scheduled for Sept. 25. A family broken apart Clara Moura and her infant grandson left the United States for Brazil to be with her partner, Samarone Alves Ferreira-De Souza. Andrew Lattrulo of Georges Cote Law, a lawyer for Ferreira-De Oliveiras family, previously told MassLive that ICE signed a document authorizing the deportation of Ferreira-De Souza in his name without his permission. The 17-year-old and Ferreira-De Oliverias youngest daughter, a 13-year-old, were placed in the care of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) following their mothers detention. It was reported in July, however, that the two daughters went missing. The 13-year-old was found in August and is back in the care of DCF, according to the Worcester Police Department. The 17-year-old is still reported as missing, according to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. Lattrulo, however, previously told MassLive that the child is back in Brazil under the care of Clara Moura. Anger over ICE, Worcester police Ferreira-De Mouras arrest and the actions of the Worcester Police Department sparked anger among Worcester residents. A protest was held on May 13 outside of City Hall, with people demanding that ICE leave the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the public also lashed out at the city council during a virtual meeting that night. There are two explanations for this, said Marcus Palumbo, a student at Clark University, at the meeting. Either you, the council, have completely lost control over the police department, or you are actively complicit in their actions. In June, a group of anti-ICE protesters shut down an in-person city hall meeting, entering the chamber without warning and shouting over the mayor and the councilors. In the wake of the incident, the city has been periodically releasing body camera footage of the May 8 operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City Manager Eric Batista also issued an executive order on May 16 to establish guidelines for local response and involvement in federal enforcement of immigration laws and operations including investigations and civil detainments performed by ICE officers, according to a statement from Batistas office. Enforcement of immigration laws is within the jurisdiction of the federal government, not the municipality and as such, municipal resources shall not be used toward that end, the city statement continued. The municipality and the WPD are committed to promoting safety in the community regardless of immigration status. Police Chief Paul Saucier told the citys human rights commission that his department is working on a plan to better its communication during events such as the May 8 arrest. One component of the plan would be to have the first Worcester Police Officer on the scene of an ICE operation be responsible for speaking with and identifying the federal agent in charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By establishing communications, the officer can provide members of the public who are present with information about the operation, Saucier said. Another possible component of the response plan is to designate someone who is present at the ICE operation as a point of contact. Saucier said the person would be given a lanyard and would receive information from the Worcester police officer about the situation. That way, everything isnt just dispersed willy nilly, Saucier said. Were going to have a point of contact and were working on the arrangements for that right now. More Worcester Stories Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Asian crypto momentum is in full swing. Regulators are warming up to exchanges, and banks and fintechs are exploring tokenisation. The entire region is looking like a serious playground for digital assets. Heres what transpired this week in the Asian crypto landscape. Vietnam Gears Up For A Crypto Exchange Debut Vietnam has emerged in the Asian crypto landscape as a promising destination for crypto enthusiasts in the last few years. The country recently greenlit a pilot program for cryptocurrency exchanges under Resolution 05/2025, Vietnams legal framework for piloting a regulated crypto trading market over five years. The framework mandates that firms must hold a minimum of $68M (VND 10 trillion) in charter capital and requires 65% institutional ownership. Banks, securities firms, insurers, or tech companies will hold the remaining 35%. As a result, theres been a flurry of activities from financial institutions. Vietnamese securities firms such as SSI Securities launched SSI Digital Corporation in partnership with Tether, U2U Network, and AWS to build blockchain infrastructure in the country. Other securities firms, such as Techcom Securities (TCBS), created TCEX, scaling its capital from $20M to $690M, and VIX Securities launched VIXEX, growing from $1M to $6.8M. Banking institutions in Vietnam have also joined the fray. The countrys MB Bank teamed up with South Koreas Dunamu Group, the force behind Upbit, to facilitate technology transfer and compliance. Additionally, VPBank is developing a tokenised asset exchange through VPBank Securities, which is also preparing for an IPO. While early signs signal institutional momentum, the programs success depends on how well Vietnam balances innovation with investor protection and regulatory oversight. EXPLORE: Next 1000X Crypto Heres 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x This Year Indias FIU Directs Cybersecurity Checks On Crypto Companies Indias Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has issued a directive that requires all crypto service providers in the country to undergo mandatory cybersecurity audits. According to a report published by a local publication on September 17, 2025, the FIU aims to tighten its digital asset oversight in the country through this directive. The directive also ensures that firms comply with its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) regulations. Further, it mandates that government-certified auditors must conduct the audits, and firms must submit their reports to the FIU within a fixed timeframe. The directive applies to both offshore and domestic entities operating in the country, including exchanges, custodians, and wallet providers. (WFXR)- The Virginia State Police has announced a multi-agency effort to encourage drivers to be responsible behind the wheel on U.S. Route 460. Operation Drive Safe 460 will take place on Friday, September 26. Route 460 is a vital transportation link, but far too many lives have been impacted by preventable crashes on this stretch of road, said Captain David J. Edwards, Jr., of the Virginia State Police. This initiative with our partners represents a coordinated effort to make Route 460 safer for every motorist who depends on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 24-hour initiative will focus on reducing crashes and increasing driver awareness. Patrol officers will be looking for drivers who are speeding, distracted, impaired, or not wearing a seat belt. Man charged with DUI after deadly Henry County crash The following law enforcement agencies are participating: Bedford County Sheriffs Office Botetourt County Sheriffs Office Montgomery County Sheriffs Office Roanoke County Police Department Town of Bedford Police Department Town of Christiansburg Police Department Town of Blacksburg Police Department Virginia State Police Virginia Tech 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 WFXRtv. A homicide investigation is underway after one person was killed and several others were injured following an incident at a Nashua Country Club. Nashua Police say that the incident occurred at the Sky Meadow Country Club and that the incident involved multiple gunshot victims. One adult male was shot and killed, and several other people were wounded. Initial reports from police indicated that two suspects fled the area following the incident; however, after review of surveillance video, there was one shooter. Video surveillance has confirmed there was only one shooter and they are currently being detained. The scene is still an active investigation but there is no further danger to the public. Nashua Police (@NashuaPolice) September 21, 2025 Video from the scene showcases numerous first responder vehicles outside the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Hampshire State Police are assisting Nashua Police with their investigation. Dunstable Fire Department has issued a shelter in place order for residents as police continue their investigation, but it has since been lifted. United States Representative Maggie Goodlander posted on the social media site X that she is closely monitoring the situation and that her heart is with the victims, their families, and the entire Nashua community as we await more information. Im closely monitoring the tragic reports of a shooting tonight at Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua. My heart is with the victims, their families, and the entire Nashua community as we await more information.https://t.co/vDVAQuE4g7 Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (@RepGoodlander) September 21, 2025 Boston 25 News Reporter Michael Raimondi spoke to Tyler Holmes, who just got home with his wife and two-year-old son, when they heard gunshots down the street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We could hear gunshots from our house, Holmes said." I heard quite a few at first. Didnt hear any for awhile and heard a few more. It was mostly the ambulances and sirens I heard." Holmes says there is a park next door to the country club he takes his young son pretty often. Its scary. Unfortunately, in our country you hear a lot more about mass shootings than we really should, he said. When it happens in your hometown with people you potentially know it just hits a lot closer to home. I just hope for first off athatny victims and family members affected by this, I guess be okay. 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 failed effort to punish Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar for comments about Charlie Kirk led to more squabbling Monday among two Republicans. Rep. Nancy Mace attacked Rep. Cory Mills for voting against the measure with a series of social media posts, calling attention to previous reports alleging that the Florida lawmaker has exaggerated his war record. Mace, who is running for governor of South Carolina, has been feuding with Mills since he became one of four Republicans to join all Democrats to kill her censure measure, which fell just one vote short of passing on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She suggested in her social media posts that Mills should be removed from his position on the House Armed Services Committee for lying about his Army service. Cory Mills never spent over 20 years in the Iraq War or Middle East fighting terrorists, Mace wrote. This guy definitely has a screw loose and shouldn't be on Foreign Affairs or the House Armed Services Committee. Mills said he voted against censoring Omar on First Amendment grounds. At the end of the day, Im a constitutionalist, Mills wrote on X after blocking Mace's censure vote. The vote ended the effort to strip Omar of her committee assignments over her criticism of the late conservative political activist. The Minnesota lawmaker strenuously denied directly making the comments cited by Mace, and House Democrats rallied behind her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement Tuesday, Mace's spokesperson Sydney Long reiterated Mace's allegations about Mills' Army service, claiming he "allegedly fabricated his military record and awards, lied about his career and character, and fired off unhinged, contradictory rants." "If you claim to be a wounded soldier, especially while sitting on Armed Services, youd better be able to prove it. Anything less dishonors the men and women who have truly sacrificed their lives for our country," she wrote. Mills did not respond Monday to a request for comment. But Mills responded on social media with a handful of posts defending his military service and past statements, even posting a lettersigned by a fellow service member from his time in Iraq to respond to attacks that have been leveled previously against the Florida lawmaker. On multiple occasions Team-21 was attacked by insurgents with improvised explosive devices (IEDs and EFPs), the letter reads. Cory was present for two of these attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter goes on to defend Mills statements that he had been blown up on two missions in Iraq, incidents that Mace has specifically questioned. I understand that there may be a question as to what "blown up" means to the military contractors that served in Iraq and Afghanistan, the letter states. It refers (in contractor speak) to being in a motorcade struck by improvised explosive devices. It does not necessarily mean that you are physically "blown up" or even seriously wounded. Mace dismissed his responses in follow-up posts. This post doesn't say or prove anything, Mace replied on X. This is what he does. Blows hot air hoping no one will notice. And you're not allowed to question all of his many lies. A Wrightstown woman is back in the United States to face more than 100 neglect and cruelty charges in what has been called the largest animal rescue case in Bucks County history. The U.S. Marshals Service on Friday, Sept. 19, turned over Abigail Tuttle-OKeeffe, 54, to Newtown Township police after she arrived from Belize, a Central American country where she allegedly had fled last year before she was charged. Her return was part of an arrangement with the Belize government after OKeeffe was arrested in late April for possession of a firearm in Benque Viejo, according to the U.S. Marshals press release. Narrow Way Farms owner Abigail Tuttle O'Keefe who is accused in the worst animal abuse and neglect case in Bucks County SPCA history was extradited by U.S. Marshals Service on Friday Sept. 19 from Belize, where she fled before more than 100 criminal charges were filed against her last year. Belize police pulled over OKeeffe, who was living in a village called Valley of Peace, on a routine highway traffic stop and found an unlicensed .38 revolver and 55-rounds of live unlicensed ammunition, according to a police report provided to this news organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The firearm was reportedly concealed inside a black lunch bag wrapped in an American flag rag located in the rear passenger seat of her Ford F250 pickup truck. Authorities allege Tuttle-OKeeffe told police she did not know what to do with the gun, which she alleged was a "gift." Belize has extremely strict gun laws that require annually renewed permits to own and use one; only permanent residents or citizens are eligible to own guns and the maximum caliber allowed is a 9-millimeter. The U.S. State Department notified the U.S. Marshals Service OKeeffe was in custody and asked if they would be willing to return her to the U.S. She was deported after her criminal case in Belize was settled on Sept. 18, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the U.S. Marshals Service remains steadfast in its mission to capture violent fugitives, after learning of the heinous animal cruelty allegations against Ms. OKeefe, we were pleased to assist the Bucks County D.A.s Office in facilitating her extradition from Belize, said Eric Gartner, of the U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. OKeeffe was arraigned Saturday morning before District Judge Gary Gambardella and sent to Bucks County Correctional Center in lieu of $500,000 bail. She had no legal representation listed as of Monday, according to the docket. The Bucks County SPCA last December filed 160 charges against Abigail Tuttle OKeeffe, following a four-month investigation at the 37-acre Narrow Way Farms in the 800 block of Worthington Mill Road. The majority of offenses OKeeffe faces are misdemeanors or summary offenses, but OKeeffe faces two felony charges for aggravated cruelty to animals for the death of two goats. Each charge carries a potential jail sentence of up to seven years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Animal abandonment is a crime in Pennsylvania and it can result in felony charges if an animal dies, under the law. Last August Newtown Township police and Bucks County SPCA officers removed 124 sick, dying and neglected animals, after receiving complaints, photos and video of sick animals and reports of dying animals. Investigators found no evidence that OKeeffe provided veterinary care for the goats, sheep, pigs, cows or chickens, which lived in unsanitary conditions, the affidavit said. OKeeffe reportedly left the United States for a one-week vacation in July 2024, but failed to return as scheduled. She later announced in Facebook posts that she relocated to Belize, where she was seeking residency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During her absence, volunteers and the farm manager oversaw the farm and its animals. When the farm manager expressed concerns about the deteriorating health of the animals, OKeeffe allegedly told him to treat them with only over-the-counter medications, the affidavit said. The farm manager told authorities that many animals died in the months after OKeeffe brought a new flock of sheep to the farm, according to the probable cause affidavit. In Facebook posts, OKeeffe said that she had made plans to sell the animals at a livestock auction scheduled to be held days before the SPCA and Newtown Township police opened investigations. After OKeeffe surrendered custody of the animals to the SPCA, veterinary exams found the presence of contagious parasites requiring deworming of the goats, sheep and cows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The animals were also allegedly malnourished. Some had respiratory problems and a preventable contagious foot condition. OKeeffe also operated a farm store on the property that was open to the public since at least 2020, though she allegedly did not have state or federal licenses to operate a retail store or sell some items. She also hosted community events and activities at the farm that allowed the public to interact with the animals. On her social media last year, OKeeffe posted that she did not plan to return to Narrow Way Farm, which she and her former husband bought in 2017 for $550,000, according to county property records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four Narrow Way Farm animals remain in SPCA custody and they are still available for adoption, two pot-bellied pigs and two goats as of Monday, Sept. 22, SPCA spokeswoman Cindy Kelly said. All the other animals have found new homes, including three goats that were adopted on Monday, she added. The animal welfare agency has spent more than $44,000 on medical and daily care for the animals including sterilizing and vaccinating them. This was an exceptional case in terms of the number of animals, severity of their suffering, and the interagency cooperation required to bring Ms. OKeeffe back to the United States to face charges and gain justice for the animals, SPCA Chief Humane Society officer Nikki Thompson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you are interested in adopting the remaining Narrow Way Farm animals, adopters must be located within Pennsylvania and have experience caring for livestock. Farm animal adoptions are managed by appointment. Please contact the Bucks County SPCAs Quakertown Shelter at 267-347-4674 to learn more and to schedule an appointment. More on Narrow Ways Farms Why items sold on local farms might not be safe to eat. What you need to know before buying Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Wrightstown woman wanted in Bucks Countys animal abuse case caught Benjamin Netanyahu has long been accused of doing all he can to snuff out a Palestinian state. Mr Netanyahu is yet to fully show his hand when it comes to the annexation of the territory that is at the heart of Palestinians hopes for a future state. However, hard-line ministers in his coalition, whose support Mr Netanyahu depends on, are not interested in waiting. Furious with Britain, France and others for recognising Palestine, they have called for the immediate wholesale annexation of the occupied territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The West Bank is home to three million Palestinians who live under Israeli military rule and roughly 500,000 Israeli civilians living in settlements that are considered illegal under international law. The Palestinian Authority exercises limited control in parts of the territory. As the pressure mounts, Mr Netanyahus cabinet has been considering three main options for annexing the West Bank, according to sources. Smotrich plan Bezalel Smotrich, Israels hard-Right finance minister, earlier this month proposed that Israel annex more than 82 per cent of the territory, which Israel has occupied since 1967, to remove, once and for all, this idea of a Palestinian state. Bezalel Smotrich has proposed Israel annex more than 82 per cent of the West Bank - Menahem Kahana/Getty Israels security minister Itamar Ben Gvir, is in favour of annexing the West Bank - Ronen Zvulun/Reuters However, such an extensive proposal does not represent mainstream thinking in Israel, according to Yossi Kuperwasser, head of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS) and a former IDF brigadier general. Its not an option, he told The Telegraph. Annex Area C Instead, Israeli ministers have allegedly warned countries considering recognising Palestine that Israels response would be to annex the roughly 60 per cent of the West Bank that is already under Israeli civil and security control, a region known as Area C, the Financial Times reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has also been considering the implications of a more limited move to annex parts of the Jordan Valley, a section of land between Jordan and the West Bank, sources told Haaretz, the Israeli newspaper. The option is believed to have been raised with US officials. Mr Kuperwasser said this option would be unlikely, given that Israel agreed to abandon such a plan in 2020 in order to sign normalisation agreements with several Arab countries. Annex settlements A third, more limited option would be to annex settlements close to the Green Line, which separates Israel and the West Bank. A possible fourth option under discussion is turning Area B roughly 22 per cent of the territory currently under Palestinian civil control and Israeli military control into Area C, further dismantling the already limited control of the Palestinian Authority, a person familiar with the matter told The Telegraph. Israeli forces demolish the minaret of an under-construction mosque in the Al-Hijra village in the West Bank - Anadolu/Getty An aerial view of Neve Daniel, a Jewish settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank - Dedi Hayun/Reuters However, while partial annexation might quell the demands from inside Mr Netanyahus coalition, Israels allies abroad have long warned against it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any partial annexation risks an almighty international backlash, rupturing the countrys relations with the Arab world and deepening its growing isolation on the world stage. To Israel, the region is of strategic and religious importance and is referred to by its biblical names of Judea and Samaria. After Mr Smotrich unveiled his plan, the UAE, in an unusually strong warning, said that any more towards annexation would cross a red line, jeopardise the Abraham Accords, and end the pursuit of regional integration. Saudi Arabia on Sunday told Israel it would lead to major implications in all fields. US will influence strategy Yet, Mr Netanyahu will first and foremost be focused on Mr Trumps position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A source familiar with discussions told The Telegraph that there would not be any unilateral moves towards annexation without the blessing of Washington. A spokesman for Mr Netanyahu reaffirmed that the prime ministers response would wait till his return from the US. He is expected to meet with Mr Trump at the White House next Monday. Israeli soldiers detain Palestinian men during a raid near a checkpoint west of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank - Jaafar Ashtiyeh/Getty A viw of the Qalandiya refugee camp in the West Bank - The Washington Post/Getty Traditionally, US governments have been opposed to the annexation of the West Bank and have pushed for the creation of a Palestinian state through the two-state solution. However, Mr Trump has shown a more malleable position. His pick for US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, is a staunch supporter of settlement expansion. In his first term, the US president also recognised Jerusalem as Israels capital and backed its sovereignty claim over the occupied Golan Heights, splitting with most of the international community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US is worried about what annexation could do to the Abraham Accords, most notably the UAE, which issued a strong warning about this, one Israeli source familiar with discussions said. The US-brokered agreements with several Arab states in 2020 that normalised relations with Israel is one of Mr Trumps signature foreign policy achievements, and one he will be intent on saving. The hope was to expand the deals to Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region, but this process came to a standstill following Hamass October 7 attacks and the war in Gaza that followed. Netanyahu fighting for political survival With all this in mind, Prof Yossi Mekelberg, senior consulting fellow at Chatham Houses Middle East programme, believes the Israeli government would proceed with caution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There will be no knee-jerk reaction from the Netanyahu government and the more reasonable parts of it will be taking stock and working out how Israel got to this moment before anyone acts, he told The Telegraph. Palestinians throw stones at Israeli forces during a military raid in the West Bank city of Nablus - Majdi Mohammed/AP But he argued that while annexing parts of the West Bank was a low-probability scenario, it was still one Mr Netanyahu could pursue. The prime minister is fighting for his political survival. He may decide to move ahead if he is pushed into a corner and he thinks the US wont react too badly, he said, referencing Mr Trumps mild response to the Israeli strikes on Qatar, a US ally. A more likely and lower-stakes response would be punitive diplomatic manoeuvring by Israel, including the closing of countries consulates in Jerusalem and expulsions of diplomats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The primary target is the French consulate, two sources familiar with the matter told The Telegraph, as Paris has led the collective moves to recognise Palestinian statehood. Israel has so far reserved most of its ire for France, rather than the UK, in a possible signal of who it saw as the more influential player in Europe. One French diplomat said the country was bracing for Israeli retaliation and intense PR campaign directed in particular, towards France for leading the charge. Israel and the US intend to boycott Mondays two-state solution summit at the UN General Assembly, where Emmanuel Macron will deliver a speech to recognise a state of Palestine, joining some 150 members which have already done so. 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. LAKE COUNTY, Ind. A man was shot and killed Saturday afternoon in Northwest Indiana amid a police psychological evaluation response. He was identified Tuesday and his death was ruled a homicide. New Chicago officers were dispatched to 200 block of Huber Street at around 3:30 p.m. after a 911 call from a man, later identified as Benjamin Scott, 64, stating that his roommate was dead inside the residence. The mans roommate, identified as Aaron Onohan, 46, died of acute cardiac arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Indiana State Police, Scott allegedly became agitated with the responding officers and New Chicago police requested an ambulance response to the scene for a psychological evaluation on him. At around 4:30 p.m., two New Chicago officers shot Scott inside the residence and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Circumstances on what happened inside are not known at this time. New Chicago police did not respond to WGN News. The Lake County Coroners Office Tuesday morning ruled the death as a homicide by multiple gunshot wounds. This remains an active investigation and once it is completed, it will be submitted to the Lake County Prosecutor for final review, Indiana State Police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard for officer-involved shootings, and New Chicago police expressed condolences for the family and called the event tragic. Chief Earl Mayo went on to say that identities of the officers involved will be released to ensure full transparency. A weapon was recovered at the scene, according to Indiana State Police. Indiana State Police is the investigating agency. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A revamped Gene Leahy Mall, looking west, is part of Omaha's riverfront makeover intended, in part, to help attract and recruit talent. But a couple of new reports sound alarm over lagging economic prosperity compared to peer metros. (Courtesy of MECA) OMAHA A new economic scorecard ranks the Omaha metro area, anchored by Nebraskas largest city, near the bottom of 23 metros nationwide that compete for jobs, talent and investment. More specifically, the Omaha area placed No. 18 sixth lowest of 23 peer metros from Boise to Kansas City and Pittsburgh based on an examination of 50 data points across nine key economic-related categories. The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. (Courtesy of Greater Omaha Chamber) Omahas rank is unchanged from last year but has slipped two spots since 2021 in the annual Barometer report produced for the past decade by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and University of Nebraska-Lincolns Bureau of Business Research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Omahas overall score in 2025 is 4% below the national average. Released Monday, this years 32-page report led by UNL economist Eric Thompson said the findings shine a light on uncomfortable truths that must be confronted with urgency. Brain drain The alarm is similar to one sounded in a separate report released this month by the Aksarben Foundation, a more than century-old statewide Nebraska business organization. That research, conducted by Development Counsellors International, showed seven comparison cities outside Nebraska growing jobs about five times faster than Omaha. An Aksarben view Nebraskas two largest metro areas, Omaha and Lincoln, have lagged 68,000 jobs behind where both would have been had the markets kept pace the last five years with peers, according to the separate Aksarben Foundation report. Peer markets for that research included Fayetteville, Arkansas, Huntsville, Alabama and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those 68,000 occupied jobs would have generated an estimated $11 billion in additional wages, the report said, which could have resulted in $600 million to $800 million in additional tax revenue for the state. Cindy Gonzalez The Lincoln markets employment and wage growth were nearly identical to Omahas, Aksarben leaders said, adding that such lack of performance from Nebraskas two biggest economies represents a potential loss of billions of dollars in wages that could have led to hundreds of millions in tax revenue for the State of Nebraska, which faces a hefty budget shortfall. Both reports lament brain drain, the exodus of young educated talent from the state. The chamber calls the findings one of the uncomfortable truths. Aksarben says brain drain is far more significant economically than simply an inconvenient truth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chamber report says growth in the number of college graduates ages 25 to 34 is important to workforce strength, yet that population in the Omaha metro from 2019-2023 grew by 1.5% slower than the national growth rate of 6%. By that measure, Omaha scored less than all 23 metros except Columbus, Ohio, and Pittsburgh. A data-driven effort and survey last year by the chamber and University of Nebraska at Omaha spotlighted some key ways to stop the loss of young talent, including investing in more public transit options, better salaries and flexible scheduling. More than three-quarters of those surveyed described a workplace focus on diversity, equity and inclusion as a good thing. For employment growth, a data point that reflects expansion of private and government job opportunities, the chamber report showed an Omaha growth rate of nearly 1.5% per year from 2021 through 2024 slower than all its comparison metros except Milwaukee. We are not growing our workforce fast enough. We are not retaining enough of our college graduates. We are not adding jobs or raising private sector wages at the pace needed to stay competitive, the report stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Researchers said high taxes and educational attainment gaps are a further drag on the economic outlook of the eight-county Omaha metro area that recently surpassed the million-person mark. The report noted that sales and income tax rates influence human capital development, as workers will invest more at work and in education if they expect to keep more of the earnings those investments generate. Of the metros the study included, Omaha ranked above only Greenville, S.C., and Buffalo N.Y., for sales and income tax rates, and its position has slipped over the last few years. The stark reality is that Greater Omaha must grow faster faster in employment, faster in wages, faster in residents, Heath Mello, chamber president and CEO, said in a statement to the Nebraska Examiner. Highs and lows Thompson said the latest economic report card also points out numerous strengths including higher education attainment, labor force participation and the quality of life in the Omaha area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In developing the report, his team looked at nine general areas and drilled down into 50 data points. The chamber says the results help gauge how the Omaha area stacks up against other metros jockeying for position in a race for the future. Omahas progress has been outpaced by high-performing comparison metros, the chamber said. Denver, Nashville, Austin, Salt Lake City and Raleigh have held the highest rankings over the past four years. Of the nine general areas, Omahas highest marks came in quality of life (ranked 8th), innovation (11th) and entrepreneurship (11th). Driven by arts and cultural opportunities and quick commute times, Omaha maintained its No. 8 ranking in the quality of life category. Fun fact: Omahas average commute is 20.9 minutes, almost six minutes faster than the national average, the report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report comes as Omaha has tried to spice up its allure, with multimillion dollar developments, including the modern-day streetcar project poised to run from downtown to midtown, the overhaul of downtown parks and amenities as The RiverFront, continued growth of the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus and other redevelopment sites across the metro. Omaha improved its showing in the entrepreneurship category, jumping to No. 11 from last years No. 14. On average, the report said, Omaha-area entrepreneurs earn more than those in other metros. Steelhouse live entertainment venue, Omaha Performing Arts third major facility downtown in Nebraskas biggest city, opened this year, bringing jobs and business to the area. (Courtesy of Tom Kessler) We are outpacing these metros and the nation at large in GDP growth, keeping down industrial energy costs and demonstrating strong outcomes in unemployment, poverty reduction and closing the gender earnings gap, the report said. However, some of Omahas lowest scores showed up in human capital an area researchers described as critical to growth that reflects educational and occupational skills of the workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Human capital is the area that captures the lag in growth of college graduates and income and sales tax burdens relative to other metros. Omaha placed 20th in the human capital category a fall from 17th four years ago. The Omaha chamber, which represents nearly 3,000 member companies, including businesses of all sizes, expects the report to inform employers and policy-makers about where dollars and focus should go. Moving forward, the Omaha chamber said it plans a focus on three areas: growing and retaining talent, accelerating business growth and positioning the Omaha area more boldly on the national stage. That means investing in groundbreaking research to understand why brain drain is happening and how to address why young educated talent is leaving, the chamber said in the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Business leaders said they also also want more economic development tools and incentives to compete for new-to-market companies and to help employers expand operations. From City Hall to the State Capitol to Washington D.C., economic development and workforce policy must be top of mind for our elected officials, the report said. Inclusivity to innovation Among other score card highlights: For inclusivity, the Omaha areas score reflects several data points that placed it at No. 13 among the 23 metros. An inclusive economy was described as one in which a broad-section of the population participates in prosperity. While the Omaha area outperformed the nation for its low poverty rate the U.S. rate reportedly is 31% higher the area ranked No. 16 among the 23 metros for the poverty rate gap, indicating that the poverty rate is relatively high for the Omaha areas non-white and Latino populations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also related to inclusivity, the Omaha area ranked 18th of the 23 metros in its educational attainment gap, indicating that education attainment is comparatively low in Omaha for non-whites and Hispanics. Heath Mello, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber addresses a rally at la Plaza de la Raza in South Omaha. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) For innovation, which relates to development of new technologies that can spur high-value entrepreneurial ventures, Omaha has sustained the rank of No. 11 for the past two years. The report said the information technology industry makes up 3.4% of the Omaha areas economy, higher than the national average of 2.9%. In the cost of doing business category, Omaha climbed from No. 17 last year to No. 15. The report said the Omaha metro consistently has lower business costs due to its lower industrial energy costs and wage rates. The Omaha areas average wage rate for occupations examined in the report was 13% below the national average. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mello said a community effort is needed to tackle weaknesses and harness strengths. Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr., in a statement Monday, said he believes Omahas moment is now. So much movement is happening in improving amenities and the quality of life. We just all need hands on deck to come together to create a comprehensive and collaborative plan to retain the companies we have, retain the human capital we have and create an environment where our residents and businesses thrive. Said the report: If this Barometer (report) offers a tough diagnosis, it also points us toward our plan for the future. Greater Omaha Chambers 2025 economic scorecard ranked the Omaha metro No. 18 of 23 metros. (Courtesy of Chamber) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX PULASKI, Va. (WFXR) Walking through Claytor Lake State Park, youre used to hearing the sounds of leaves crunching under your feet and birds in the trees. Now, youll hear a motor whirring through the trees, and its one of the five all-terrain wheelchairs at Virginia State Parks, to make the outdoors more accessible for everyone. Most important, your seatbelt, Lynn Ramsey, an ATW user, said while showing how the chair works, Ill try not to do a wheelie! WFXR News spoke with Ramsey, who is from Richmond. Shes already used the wheelchair a few times and highly recommends it. She had a tumor removed from her spine, and still isnt able to walk without assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I came up here to visit my cousins, and it was on my birthday, much to my surprise, this vehicle was here, Ramsey said. One of the things we always did was go walking in the woods, so its given me access to get back to the trails with my cousin when we go out. All-terrain wheelchair available at the New River Trail State Park These all-terrain wheelchairs are at five Virginia state parks: Claytor Lake, New River Trail, Powhatan, Shenandoah River, and the York River state parks. They are also completely free to use. The assistant park manager at Claytor Lake tells WFXR he hopes to see these ATWs at all state parks in the future. Anything that were building, were making ADA accessible. We try and do that with the trails as much as we can, Tanner Bradley, the assistant park manager at Claytor Lake, said. The outdoors is for everybody, so, you know, having that opportunity to go out on the trails when you didnt have that opportunity before has been amazing for those people who need it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramsey tells WFXR that learning how to use the wheelchair was easy; it just took a little trial and error, saying when going through the woods, you have to go slow and watch out for the roots, but being on gravel or grass allows you to go a little faster. Its great to get back out in the woods. You have to be careful. The roots are tricky, but other than that, its great. It is just a learning curve with the joystick. And once you get that down, its fine, you can go pretty much anywhere, Ramsey said. It gives you some freedom to get out and move around and do [things] when you cant physically walk. Requesting the ATWs is easy; just click here and fill out the reservation request, indicating which park you will be at. The state parks just ask that you give them at least a 48-hour heads-up before you plan on needing the wheelchair. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. As leaders gather for the annual high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly this week, they have no shortage of wars to worry about. The war in Gaza, where a U.N. commission recently found that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, will dominate proceedings. That crisis has shaken the U.N., which has been dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since the 1940s, to its core. Many diplomats feel that unless the organization can play some role in ending the bloodshed, its overall credibility will be lost. Other conflicts and humanitarian crises are likely to get significantly less attention. This is unfortunate, as while the U.S. continues to block action on Gaza in the Security Council, there are other situations wherewith some much-needed political willthe U.N. could still have an impact. Gaza and Ukraine topped the agenda when world leaders met in New York a year ago. Diplomats say that they do not expect Ukraine to be as prominent in this years discussions, although President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be present, and the Security Council will hold a high-level meeting on the war. While European leaders will continue to criticize Russia, they are not sure what line President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials will take. Representatives from the Global South will prioritize Gaza but are also likely to call for Russia and Ukraine to engage in diplomacy without going into detail. That said, a further Russian incursion into NATO airspacelike the recent incidents over Poland and Estoniacould suddenly seize leaders attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, then-President Joe Bidens administration led a push for the General Assembly to focus more on the civil war in Sudan. This did not entirely succeed. While more than 140 leaders referred to Gaza in their speeches, fewer than 70 touched on Sudan. This year, there will be two ministerial meetings on the Sudanese war, with a focus on de-escalating the conflict and protecting civilians. U.N. aid agencies have been struggling to get supplies into large parts of the country all year, with aid having been blocked by the two belligerents: Sudans army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. With a new bout of fighting looming as the rainy season ends, ministers will plead for more access. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. The overall state of the U.N.-led humanitarian system more generally will be a recurrent talking point. Big U.N. aid agencies, which previously received roughly one-third of their funding from the U.S., are reeling from the Trump administrations cuts. U.N. relief chief Tom Fletcher recently told journalists that the organization has so far gathered just one-fifth of the total funding it needs to respond to humanitarian crises this year. U.N. officials will be badgering visiting ministers to try to fill part of this gap. With so many conflicts on the agenda, there is little sign that U.N. members will be pursuing ground-breaking initiatives on other issues, like climate change. One issue that will get extra attention is the plight of the roughly 1 million ethnic Rohingya refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar and are now living in densely populated camps in Bangladesh. The U.N. is convening a special conference on the Rohingya at the end of September, and the Bangladeshi government will be hoping other states pledge more support. But some may press Bangladesh to reform the way it deals with the refugees, who are not allowed to take up regular employment and are prey to armed radicals in their camps. To avoid conditions getting worse, it may be necessary to give the refugees more regular economic opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the main General Assembly debate, many diplomats will pay particular attention to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led a rebel offensive last winter that overthrew the countrys long-ruling dictator, Bashar al-Assad. A charismatic performer who has even charmed Trump, Sharaa will come to New York hoping to persuade Security Council members to lift sanctions against him and other members of the Syrian government who were originally affiliated with al-Qaida. The U.S., having lifted its unilateral sanctions against Damascus, supports the proposal, but China is skeptical, as Syrias new government continues to shelter ethnic Uyghur fighters. Some sort of deal to suspend the sanctions could still be possible, and U.N. officials are also exploring whether they could set up a new mission to support Syrias postwar transition. Latin American leaders may urge their counterparts to pay more attention to Haiti, where a small Kenyan-led police missionmandated by the Security Council in 2023has struggled to deal with rampant gang violence. The U.S. has tabled a council resolution proposing a larger Gang Suppression Force that could be partially funded through the United Nations. But Russia and China, which resents Haitis continued diplomatic ties with Taiwan, remain skeptical. Officials from the Caribbean will want to underline that Haitis deterioration is a threat to their regional security. Away from the public speeches, European and U.S. officials could use the cover of the General Assembly for backchannel conversations with the Iranian delegation over nuclear issues. The Security Council is set to reimpose sanctions on Iran that were suspended as part of the 2015 nuclear deal after the United Kingdom, France and Germany triggered the deals snapback mechanism, citing Tehrans enrichment activities and lack of cooperation with international nuclear inspectors. European leaders have expressed skepticism about Irans willingness to make concessions, but with the renewed sanctions set to take effect at the end of the month, the General Assembly meeting could be a last chance for a breakthrough. With so many conflicts on the agenda, there is little sign that U.N. members will be pursuing ground-breaking initiatives on other issues, like climate change, on the margins of the gathering. This is indicative of a broader trend in U.N. diplomacy: Since the pandemic, climate change has become a less-dominant theme in these leaders meetings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.N. member states are still capable of hammering out agreements on other issues. The past year saw progress on a pandemic treaty and the ratification of a High Seas Treaty meant to protect the oceans. And countries from the Global South continue to try to keep a focus on development. But when world leaders gather at the U.N., war and peace increasingly dominate the agenda. This year, with the war in Gaza casting a shadow over other security and non-security-related matters, many leaders may come away from their New York visit wondering if the U.N. can sustain its role as the center of international diplomacy. Richard Gowan is the U.N. director of the International Crisis Group. From 2013 to 2019, he wrote a weekly column for WPR. Follow him on Twitter at @RichardGowan1. The post Overlooked Crises Compete for Oxygen at the U.N. General Assembly appeared first on World Politics Review. HEFEI, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Luca Samar, a 29-year-old software engineer from Udine in northern Italy, recently made his ninth business trip to the city of Wuhu, which is located on the banks of the Yangtze River in east China's Anhui Province. He will stay in Wuhu for about a month, working closely with his Chinese colleagues at EFORT Intelligent Robot Co., Ltd. to optimize simulation systems for painting robots. "I visit EFORT about four times a year. We talk about all the issues of the software, analyze new requirements, and improve all the capabilities of the software," Samar told Xinhua, adding that such collaboration is highly efficient as the company releases a new system version almost every quarter. Samar works for CMA Robotics, an Italian company with over 20 years of experience in the field of painting robots. In 2015, EFORT acquired the company, which now serves as EFORT's intelligent painting robotics R&D center in Italy. Originally incubated within a Chery Automobile factory, EFORT sought partnerships in Italy early in its development. Between 2015 and 2017, the company invested in and acquired four Italian robotics firms specializing in smart painting, motion control, robotics integration and other areas. "Northern Italy boasts advanced robotics and automation technologies. Italians are passionate and creative, and this creativity has given Italian companies a strong competitive edge in these fields," said You Wei, EFORT's chairman and CEO. Over the past decade, EFORT and its Italian partners have deepened their technology exchange and resource sharing, working together to advance industrial robotics technology. "By innovating on Italian technology, we have strengthened our technical capabilities and developed more affordable and more advanced robots through independent R&D. We have also helped Italian companies gain better access to the Chinese market and benefit from its growth," You said. China has remained the world's largest industrial robotics market for 12 consecutive years. By integrating Europe's cutting-edge tech with China's manufacturing strength and vast application scenarios, EFORT has expanded rapidly. In 2024, the company sold over 16,000 industrial robots, which are used in a broad range of sectors, including electronics, photovoltaics, auto parts and shipbuilding. In addition to facilitating intelligent production in Chinese factories, EFORT has also partnered with Italian automakers such as Maserati and Fiat, as well as German car manufacturers like BMW and Volkswagen. "We provide these automakers with integrated robotics solutions for smart production, covering painting, welding, precision assembly and the handling of materials, among other tasks, helping them improve their production efficiency," You said, adding that the company began exporting its robots to Europe in 2019. In 2024, China became the world's second-largest exporter of industrial robots. The exports grew 61.5 percent year on year in the first half of this year. China's booming artificial intelligence (AI) industry has contributed to the rising international competitiveness of Chinese robots, You noted. "In intelligent welding, for example, our robotics systems -- based on mass scenario data, AI and machine vision technology -- enable the robots to automatically generate welding programs to perform high-precision tasks without manual programming," he said, highlighting that this significantly lowers the threshold for adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises. At the ongoing 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, the capital city of Anhui, EFORT showcased some of its advanced robotics technologies, including a universal technology base for intelligent robots and an embodied-intelligence robot designed to handle materials on automotive assembly lines. Further cooperation between China and Italy in the field of robotics is underway. This April, Advanced Robotics and Enabling Digital Technologies & Systems 4.0, a research center of Italy, signed a cooperation agreement with an innovation center in Beijing to establish a joint robotics research center. "China boasts rich application scenarios and a solid manufacturing foundation, while Europe has strong technological expertise in automation and robotics. Cooperation between the two sides has bright prospects," You said. Better Home & Finance (BETR) stock gained more than 25% in premarket trading on Tuesday, adding to Monday's 46% rally after activist investor Eric Jackson called the company "the Shopify of mortgages." Better Home, which opened for trading at $33.50 on Monday, traded as high as $73 in the wake of Jackson's announcement before giving up some of those gains and settling around $50 at Monday's close. Shares sat around $64 on Tuesday morning. Jackson said in the post that his hedge fund, EMJ Capital, has a long position in the stock. "Better [Home] ($BETR) is the Shopify of mortgages," Jackson wrote. "It's rebuilding a $15T industry from scratch with AI ... I believe BETR is a potential 350-bagger in 2 years." "They laugh at BETR now at $34 like they laughed at [Carvana] at $3.50 and OPEN at 51. But this is no meme," he added. Shopify (SHOP), the software giant whose technology enables companies to set up online storefronts, has become a dominant force in the past few years in shaping how direct-to-consumer e-commerce business is transacted. Carvana (CVNA), the stock pick that made Jackson a big name in retail trading circles, was trading below $10 when he first engaged with the company's leadership in February 2023. The stock now trades at more than $390. Jackson's call comes after a months-long saga of upheaval and price swings at fellow real estate company Opendoor Technologies (OPEN), which Jackson price-targeted at $82 in July while the company was trading firmly in penny-stock territory below $1. Read more about today's market action. Opendoor, which now trades north of $8, most recently jumped on the news that Kaz Nejatian, the COO of Shopify, would be taking over as CEO. This comes after Opendoor's previous chief, Carrie Wheeler, resigned amid intense pressure from Jackson, co-founder Keith Rabois, and the company's retail investor base, largely arguing that Wheeler lacked the appetite for ambitious growth needed to take the company into its next stage. This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for Talk of the Town, a daily newsletter of local stories that dig deep, events, and more from north-central PA, at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown. Clearfield County voters will elect a new judge for the countys Court of Common Pleas in the Nov. 4 general municipal election. Fredric Ammerman, the countys president judge, announced in January he would retire at the end of 2025, according to The Progress. He served 31 years on the bench. The countys other judge, Paul Cherry, will become president judge next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two candidates, Democrat Josh Maines and Republican Ryan P. Sayers, will compete for the open seat. The winner of the general election will preside over judicial matters for more than 77,000 residents in the central Pennsylvania county. Candidates for county judge can raise money for their campaigns and collect endorsements. But unlike other elected officials, who often run on specific issues and persuade voters on their opinions, judge candidates cannot promise to rule in certain ways. This guide may be updated as additional information about the candidates becomes available. What does a Court of Common Pleas judge do? Pennsylvanias Courts of Common Pleas are grouped into 60 judicial districts. These are trial courts where criminal cases are often heard first. Courts of Common Pleas also handle many civil legal cases relating to family matters, child custody, domestic relations, and juvenile delinquency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Common pleas courts are general trial courts that handle the vast majority of cases affecting Pennsylvanians daily lives. According to Pennsylvanias Office of Victim Services, they have control over all cases not assigned to another court and can hear appeals on decisions made by magisterial district judges, municipal courts in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and certain local and state government agencies, like the Office of Open Records. Courts of Common Pleas judges serve 10-year terms. They may serve an unlimited number of terms if they are retained by voters, according to the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, but they must retire at age 75. Attorney and former assistant district attorney Josh Maines. Courtesy of Josh Maines Josh Maines, Democrat Website Josh Maines, a trial attorney and former assistant district attorney for Clearfield County, is the Democratic candidate for the open judge seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maines won the Democratic primary in May with 2,026 votes, or about half of the total 4,222 cast for the race, according to the county election office. Maines, who is running for public office for the first time, said a county judge should be fair and impartial above all, adding that those responsibilities are more than just a character trait. It is a willingness to do the hard work of grasping the facts of a case and taking the time to research and correctly apply the relevant law, Maines told Spotlight PA. Maines, who earned his degree from Widener University Commonwealth Law School, said his experience litigating criminal and civil matters in nearly half of the states common pleas courts prepared him to serve as a judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The biggest challenge facing Clearfield Countys court, Maines said, is not having adequate resources, programs, or processes to effectively deal with the substance abuse and mental health components of cases, which flood the court system. Its one of his top priorities to alleviate the strain through creating treatment courts or similar programs, he said. Maines was appointed by former Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, to serve on a statewide citizen advisory commission for law enforcement. He helped develop procedures for Clearfield Countys first Child Advocacy Center and later served on its advisory board. He also was a member of the countys child death review team. It is notable that the person filling the judicial seat in this election will likely be presiding over the vast majority of matters affecting families and children, Maines said. Another change Maines said he would like to make as judge is to examine processes in the county court system and improve them. That could include updating courtrooms to be digitally accessible and expanding electronic services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked, Maines said he cant name one United States Supreme Court justice he most admires, though there have been many that I highly respect. I most admire justices who have the courage to bear their oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, regardless of their personal ideologies, he said. I admire justices who are willing to uncloak their political positions when they don the robe. Maines has received endorsements from Teamsters Local 205, which represents employees of the Clearfield Regional Police Department, Curwensville Police Department, and the Clearfield County Correctional Facility. Teamsters 205 endorsed both Sayers and Maines ahead of the primary election. The union branchs secretary Carl Bailey told Spotlight PA that both candidates remained endorsed for the general election. Other endorsements for Maines include Patrick Ford, a retired magisterial judge; Susan Ford, retired executive director of the Clearfield-Jefferson Drug and Alcohol Commission; and licensed social worker Autumn Bloom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maines has served as a music director and worship leader at Gethsemane United Methodist Church for about 14 years, he said. He is involved in local theater and has participated in a wide range of community events. He is married with five adult children. Maines filled out a questionnaire from Spotlight PA to help inform this guide. See his full answers here. Ryan P. Sayers, Republican Website Clearfield County District Attorney Ryan P. Sayers is the Republican candidate for Court of Common Pleas judge. Sayers won the Republican primary in May with 3,644 votes of the total 9,347 cast, according to the county election office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sayers, who is serving his second term as district attorney, told Spotlight PA the people of Clearfield County deserve a judge that is just, impartial, and experienced, and believes in the conservative principle of the rule of law as written and not interpreted. I have handled investigations and prosecution of elected officials, community leaders, public servants, and other connected individuals, but that has not deterred or influenced my analysis of those cases, Sayers said. A graduate of Duquesne Universitys law school, Sayers has handled both criminal and civil matters. Since becoming district attorney, he has worked exclusively on criminal prosecution and civil asset forfeitures, he said. Sayers said the biggest challenge facing Clearfield County court is the management of its large caseload. Between 2014 and 2023, Clearfield County consistently dealt with a higher number of criminal cases on average compared to similarly sized counties in Pennsylvania, according to the state court system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is imperative that the next judge have a strong work ethic and find ways to bring efficiencies to the judicial system, Sayers said. Additionally, a top priority for Sayers is to create a drug court to help people break the cycle of addiction. The county commissioners and Sayerss office have pledged part of the countys opioid settlement funds to operate the program, he said. When asked, Sayers said he has the most admiration for the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. He was a contributor and supporter of the efforts of the Federalist Society, which brought together lawyers, judges, and academics to debate, discuss, and advocate these conservative principles of textualism and originalism, he said. I am also a proud member of the Federalist Society because I believe in judicial restraint instead of judicial activism. Sayers was named in a federal civil lawsuit filed in August by a Philadelphia truck driver, Jovaughn Matthie. Clearfield County, Sandy Township, and officer Travis Goodman are also defendants. The lawsuit alleged Matthies arrest was a malicious prosecution and that he was the victim of selective prosecution, according to the Altoona Mirror. Sayers answer to the lawsuit, filed by his attorney, denied that he did anything improper under the circumstances, the newsroom reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sayers has received endorsements from U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, a Republican who represents a large swath of north-central Pennsylvania; state Sen. Cris Dush (R., Jefferson); retired State Police Lt. Col. Wayne Kline; and Scott Brady, former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Teamsters 205 endorsed both Sayers and Maines ahead of the primary election. The union branchs secretary Carl Bailey told Spotlight PA that both candidates remained endorsed for the general election. Sayers has served on the boards of many community organizations, including the Bucktail Council, the Clearfield Arts Studio Theater, the Clearfield YMCA, the Clearfield County Bar Association, the Clearfield County Republican Committee, the Good Samaritan Center, the Greater Clearfield Chamber of Commerce, and Young People Who Care. He also cantors at St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church. He is engaged to be married. Sayers filled out a questionnaire from Spotlight PA to help inform this guide. See his full answers here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT THIS JOURNALISM and help us reinvigorate local news in north-central Pennsylvania at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability and public-service journalism that gets results. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BELL COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) Troopers with Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 10 in Harlan are searching for a pair accused of stealing from Howards Market on Sunday morning. Trooper Jacobs posted on Facebook that just before 9 a.m. on Sunday, two people left the gas station heading south toward US-119 in a red car after taking money out of the cash drawer at the checkout counter. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said the man waited until the stores employee went to the bathroom before taking the money. Troopers with Kentucky State Police are searching for a man with a gray hoodie who took money from the Howard Markets cash drawer. (Kentucky State Police) The man was reportedly accompanied by a woman wearing a black jacket with the word love written on the back. (Kentucky State Police) State police said the pair drove away from the store heading south toward US-119 around 9 a.m. on Sept. 21. (Kentucky State Police) The man who took the money was described by KSP as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, wearing a gray Under Armour hoodie and jeans. Troopers are also looking for a woman he was reportedly with, who was described as 5 feet, 5 inches tall, with black hair with a blonde streak, wearing a black jacket that had the word Love on the back. Anyone with information about the pair was asked to contact KSP Post 10 in Harlan at (606) 573-3131. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. An easyJet flight preparing to depart Nice Cote d'Azur Airport in France on the evening of Sept. 21 was canceled after another passenger jet descended dangerously close to it, prompting officials to investigate the serious incident. The near miss occurred when easyJet flight 4706 was positioned on the runway, ready to depart for its journey to Nantes Atlantique Airport in western France, the United Kingdom-based carrier told USA TODAY. The Airbus A320-214 was awaiting clearance for takeoff from air traffic control when another Airbus A320-214 from Tunisian-based airline Nouvelair approached for landing right above it. The Nouvelair flight, which came from Tunis, Tunisia, was preparing to arrive in Nice for its scheduled time of 10:10 p.m., according to FlightAware. As reported by local media outlet Nice-Matin, the Nouvelair flight passed over within 10 feet of the easyJet plane, causing passengers to feel "strong vibrations." Advertisement Advertisement Flightradar24 data reported the Nouvelair flight's altitude between 25 and 50 feet at the time. According to the flight-tracking platform, all arriving flights were assigned to Runway 04L that night, but the Nouvelair flight made its first approach at Runway 04R, which was only being used for departing flights. A view shows Easyjet and Air France planes parked on the tarmac of Nice Airport on April 4, 2019. Air traffic control directed the Nouvelair aircraft to perform a go-around, and it landed safely at 11:49 p.m., according to FlightAware data. Nouvelair did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. According to its website, the easyJet flight was delayed until the next day "due to a non-easyJet aircraft incident." In a statement to USA TODAY, easyJet said: "The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is easyJets highest priority and in line with procedures, we are fully cooperating with the safety investigation that has been launched in order to understand what happened." The Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety launched a safety investigation into the incident, deploying a team of four investigators to the airport, the agency said in a tweet on Sept. 22. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: EasyJet flight canceled after near miss with landing plane in Nice Marcel Mascaro performing in a 'Teatro en el Verano' 2019 production of 'Tanta Bulla Y Pa Que?/Much Ado About Nothing,' a Rhode Island Latino Arts production. (Photo courtesy of Rhode Island Latino Arts) A quartet of performing arts groups has won a legal faceoff with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) after a federal judge in Providence found the agency flouted free speech rights. In his Sept. 19 ruling, Senior U.S. District Judge William E. Smith in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island agreed with most, but not all, legal arguments brought by four arts organizations filing suit against the feds in March over imposing grant funding conditions based on artwork content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith vacated an NEA Final Notice on grant policy as it promises to penalize artists based on their speech, especially if those applicants feature LGBTQ+ content in their projects. Marta V. Martinez, executive director of Rhode Island Latino Arts, the lead plaintiff organization and the only one based in Rhode Island, cheered the ruling in a statement: This decision affirms what we have always believed: the freedom to create, to express ones truth, and to tell our stories is a right protected by the First Amendment. The other three plaintiffs are National Queer Theater, Bostons The Theater Offensive, and Theatre Communications Group, a New York-based member organization which counts more than 500 theaters among its members. Smith, a George W. Bush appointee, found that the federal agency violated the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) in its application of Executive Order 14168, which was signed by President Donald Trump on Jan. 20, his first day back in office. Among the orders provisions are a ban on using federal money to promote gender ideology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That ideology is one which avoids a gender binary and [replaces] the immutable biological reality of sex with an internal, fluid, and subjective sense of self unmoored from biological facts, according to the order. Smith set aside the NEA Final Notice, which stops the agency from using the policy to discriminate against or disfavor applications for projects which could fall under the administrations ideological label a concern for plaintiffs, who regularly produce content showcasing LGBTQ+ narratives or lives, which are often at odds with the orders notion that sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality. Smith ruled that the NEA is barred from requiring plaintiffs to comply with the executive order if they receive grants. The plaintiffs can request broader relief within 14 days. The feds have seven days to respond after that, with the plaintiffs given another seven days to follow-up on the feds response. In February, the NEA added new language to applications for its most popular variety of competitive subsidy, Grants for Arts Projects, which funds works across media including the performing arts. The NEA added a compliance checkbox to applications and asked applicants to certify that any grant funding they received would not be used for projects involving so-called gender ideology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This decision affirms what we have always believed: the freedom to create, to express ones truth, and to tell our stories is a right protected by the First Amendment. Marta V. Martinez, executive director of Rhode Island Latino Arts, lead plaintiff organization The NEAs maneuver kicked off a legal challenge in Rhode Islands federal district court, with lawyers from the national and local ACLU banding together to represent the four arts organizations. NEA funding has helped subsidize productions like those by plaintiff The Theater Offensive, which bills itself as making liberating art by, for, and about queer and trans people of color that transcends artistic boundaries, celebrates cultural abundance, and dismantles oppression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such art could be denied grants under the NEAs modified policy, so the artist groups worried they would either need to forego funding or change their plans for productions which are often shaped months in advance to match the new policy. Plaintiffs also worried about potential legal repercussions if they certified compliance while still producing LGBTQ+ content. The legal challenge prodded NEA to remove the compliance checkbox, but the agency also argued it hadnt instituted any final rules yet. Smiths latest judgment follows his April 4 decision in which he denied the plaintiffs preliminary relief and allowed the NEA to carry out its administrative process. The case, originally filed in March, sought to stop the NEA from instituting the guidelines ahead of an April grant application deadline. The moment was premature, Smith wrote in April, and the court could not disallow the NEA from taking an action it had not yet taken. Because that process has since concluded, this consideration no longer applies, Smith wrote in his latest ruling. And the public interest is not on the governments side when it uses a program designed to promote free expression to squash it instead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court did deny the plaintiffs Fifth Amendment-based claim that the applications language was unconstitutionally vague. Smith said the NEA might engage in arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement by having the chairperson exercise final control of Trumps mandate. That might indeed contradict free speech or administrative procedure laws, Smith wrote, but the governments admission of the chairs intent isnt vague, but specific. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island is seen in downtown Providence on July 24, 2025. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Do NEA grantees produce government speech? After Smiths last ruling, on April 30 the NEA finalized its new policy and redirected the power to adhere to Trumps order to its chairperson. A July 16 cross motion signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Bolan outlines the feds case and describes how the agency implemented the order, and that the NEA rejected a categorical application, Bolan wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only the Chair would consider whether a given project might promotegender ideology, Bolan wrote. He cited earlier NEA court documents which claimed, If the NEA Chair concludes that a proposed project promotes gender ideology, that factor could weigh against the projects final approval. Projects would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the chair, the motion states, and the chair would not be reviewing applications until October. Furthermore, the government can consider value judgments and exercise discretion in providing competitive subsidies like NEA grants, Bolan wrote. Underlining the federal rationale in court is that the NEAs grantees produce government speech a category not shielded by the First Amendment. First, no one could mistake the NEAs funding decisions as private speech, Bolans motion stated. The very existence of the NEA as a federally funded grant-making body that implements a structured competitive process shows that only the government is speaking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, Smith agreed broadly in his ruling: There is no question that, historically, art has been used as a medium to communicate the governments messages and that often the government has relied on the work of private artists to achieve that goal. The judge continued, But the Court is wary of painting with too broad a brush. Thats because NEA has always functioned as a vehicle for private expression since its inception in 1965, Smith wrote, and was not intended as an instrument of political communication. Amendments made to the agencys statute in 1990 followed a controversial season in which two NEA-funded exhibitions one which included Piss Christ by Andres Serrano, and the other a retrospective of works by gay male photographer Robert Mapplethorpe led Congress to add an obscenity clause to the NEA statute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The feds argued that this revision of law only reinforced the idea that the public knows the NEA is government speech. [E]nough of the public knew what NEA funding meant to motivate Congress in 1990 to amend the Act based on only two photography exhibitions, the July motion reads. But that obscenity clause received a different treatment from Smith, who wrote that it only furthers the idea that Congress intended to preserve the NEA as a vehicle for private speech, despite the potential for public controversy. [T]he Court finds it unlikely that members of the public would think that NEA-funded artists speak for anyone but themselves, and certainly not for the government, Smith wrote. That is especially true given the diversity of views reflected in the projects that the NEA even when accounting for changes in presidential administrations has decided to fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In short, the government may speak for itself when it approves an artists work, but that does not mean the artist speaks for the government when it produces that work, Smith wrote. The NEA did not respond to a request for comment by press time. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Some of Delawares best-paying jobs dont require a college degree. At the Port of Wilmington, many longshoremen make more than $100,000 a year, and with plans to build a new port, thousands of new jobs are on the horizon. Job seekers will get a chance to explore those opportunities on Wednesday, Sept. 24, when Enstructure, the ports operator, hosts a job and resource fair from 2 to 6 p.m. at Delaware Techs Wilmington campus, located at 300 Orange Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attendees can expect on-site interviews, networking opportunities and career services from Apex and labor unions. Employers slated to participate include Enstructure, local staffing agencies, state agencies such as DelDOT and DART, and federal agencies including Amtrak, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard. Walk-ins are welcome, though pre-registration at the Port of Wilmington job fair website is encouraged. Permits to build Edgemoor terminal still not approved The job fair comes as Delaware continues to pursue a major expansion of its maritime industry. Enstructure, the State of Delaware and the Diamond State Port Corporation are working to build a state-of-the-art green port terminal at the taxpayer-owned Edgemoor site. The project promises to quadruple container capacity at the port and allow larger ships to dock. Progress to build a port terminal in Edgemoor, however, remains on hold. Last fall, a federal judge invalidated the projects permits, ruling that the Army Corps of Engineers had approved them without a required technical analysis. State officials say they plan to submit the missing study in hopes of moving the project forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the project is approved, construction is expected to take about three years. Officials estimate the new terminal will create nearly 6,000 jobs, including more than 3,100 direct positions, along with 3,900 construction jobs. Once fully operational, Port Delaware which includes the existing and future facilities is expected to support about 11,480 jobs and generate more than $76 million in state tax revenue annually. You can contact staff reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com. To share your community news and activities with our audience, join Delaware Voices Uplifted on Facebook. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Port of Wilmington job fair offers path to high-paying maritime jobs PROVIDENCE Some members of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce had to miss this year's Outlook Luncheon featuring Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell because the event was held on one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar: Rosh Hashana. When asked the day before the event if the chamber's leaders were aware that the Sept. 23 luncheon coincided with Rosh Hashana, spokesperson Mike Blazek emailed this statement to The Journal: "The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce acknowledges that our upcoming program coincides with Rosh Hashana, a sacred and meaningful holiday for many in our community. We deeply value our Jewish colleagues and members, and we regret that some may not be able to join us in person." "To ensure inclusivity, we will be sharing a recording of the remarks, along with a special written summary, so that everyone has access to the insights and discussion," the statement concluded. Jerome Powell, chairman of the Federal Reserve, speaks to the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs committee regarding the Federal Reserve's Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report on Feb. 11, 2025. Jewish leaders speak out against hosting chamber event on Rosh Hashana Not everyone is happy with that approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neil Steinberg, the former chairman and CEO of Fleet National Bank who until recently headed the Rhode Island Life Science Hub, described the situation as "very unfortunate scheduling" in a post on social media platform X. "I would say that I am very surprised that the board would not know this at the time (it is on my Outlook calendar) and it is very unfortunate," he subsequently told The Journal on Sept. 22. "We're disappointed that this is happening on Rosh Hashana," echoed Adam Greenman, the president and CEO of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, "because it means there's a whole lot of folks within the Jewish community that won't get to see the chairman of the Federal Reserve." "I know the Chamber has worked to make accommodations so we can hear what the chairman says, but to not be able to be there in person ... I've spoken with a number of people in the community who are disappointed that they're not able to do that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those who might not know, he said: "Rosh Hashanah is the equivalent of Christmas or Easter to the Jewish community. And so it's really sad that something was scheduled on a day so holy for us." Chamber says they will consider holidays when scheduling events Rick Metters, the chairman of the chamber's board of directors, told The Journal that the board was unaware the annual event would be held on Rosh Hashanah when it met in July, and the board did not meet again until last week. "The only discussion ... was after the fact," he said. "No one from the board has actually talked to me, but folks outside of the board did express their feelings about it." Asked to characterize the response, Metters, who is vice president for Regional Public Affairs and Government Relations at Fidelity Investments, said: "I think it's fair to say, after the fact, that what has transpired would inform our decision making moving forward." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think the feedback that I've gotten would certainly inform us moving forward and the feelings are understandable and I certainly understand how someone could potentially feel excluded in a situation like that." "I understand the emotions and where it's coming from," he said. According to a chamber advisory for the luncheon, the University of Rhode Island was the presenting sponsor. Among the featured speakers, in addition to Metters and the much-in-the-news Powell: U.S. Sen. Jack Reed; Laurie White, president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce; and Marc Parlange, president of the University of Rhode Island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked the University of Rhode Island's position, spokeswoman Dawn Bergantino said, "The University is a member of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and has, for many years, provided sponsorship support to the chamber's annual economic outlook forum. This year's sponsorship support totaled $8,500." She said the university's involvement does not "include participation in event planning or event logistics." "We recognize that September 23 is a significant date for many in the Jewish community, and we will continue to support our Jewish students, faculty, and staff. URI Hillel will be hosting [Rosh Hashana] celebrations for members of our University community, and we remain deeply committed to fostering an inclusive, people-centered culture," she said. What is Rosh Hashana? The Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, known together as the High Holidays, are considered the most important observances on the Jewish calendar. Many Jewish people take off work or school during this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rosh Hashana translates from Hebrew as "head of the year," marking the beginning of the Jewish New Year. The holiday, one of Judaism's holiest, lasts two days and is known as a celebratory occasion. Yom Kippur, which always follows, is also known as the Day of Atonement, when Jews reflect on any sins or wrongdoings from the previous year. This story has been updated with new information. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce sets major event on Rosh Hashana By Andrew Osborn, Vladimir Soldatkin and Jonathan Landay MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday offered to voluntarily maintain the limits on deployed strategic nuclear weapons set out in the last arms control treaty between the two powers once it expires next year if the U.S. does the same. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Putin's proposal sounded "pretty good," but that U.S. President Donald Trump, who has in the past expressed concern about the treaty's fate, would address the offer himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2010 New START accord, which expires in February, caps the size of the world's two biggest nuclear arsenals. Many experts fear its expiry could fuel an arms race as both sides boost strategic weapons deployments. The original treaty could only be extended once by five years, which Putin and former U.S. President Joe Biden agreed to implement in 2021, which is why Putin appealed to Trump to voluntarily agree a one-year informal rollover. His offer, which comes as Ukraine tries to convince Trump to impose harsher sanctions on Russia, was made public by Putin at a meeting of his Security Council. "Russia is prepared to continue adhering to the central numerical limits under the New START Treaty for one year after February 5, 2026," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Subsequently, based on an analysis of the situation, we will make a decision on whether to maintain these voluntary, self-imposed restrictions." Trump in July said he would like to maintain the limits on deployed strategic nuclear weapons set out in the treaty after it expires. The accord caps the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 and the number of delivery vehicles - missiles, submarines and bombers - at 700 on each side. PUTIN UNDER PRESSURE TO END UKRAINE WAR Putin said his proposal was in the interests of global non-proliferation and could help spur dialogue with Washington about arms control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This measure will only be viable if the United States acts in a similar manner, and does not take steps that undermine or violate the existing balance of deterrence capabilities," Putin said. The Russian leader has been under pressure from Trump to agree to end the war in Ukraine and his proposal appears to be a unilateral change of policy by Moscow, which has until now insisted it would only engage with Washington on such matters if overall ties - hampered by stark differences over Ukraine - improved. TALKS ON OVERHAULING TREATY YET TO START Those same differences over Ukraine mean the two powers have not started talks on renewing or overhauling the treaty, though Trump has spoken of his desire to do a new nuclear arms control deal, albeit with China as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing has rejected the idea it should be included. China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that China appreciated what it called Russia's "positive attitude" in offering to extend the New START treaty. Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the ministry, said that the U.S. and Russia should continue to reduce their nuclear arsenals "in a verifiable, irreversible and legally binding manner." Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association advocacy group, called Putin's offer "a positive and welcome move". Urging Washington to reciprocate, Kimball said Trump and Putin could "help reduce the most immediate existential security threat facing the world". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin said Russia would monitor U.S. nuclear arms activity however, paying particular attention to plans to beef up missile defences and proposals to deploy missile interceptors in space. "The practical implementation of such destabilising actions could nullify our efforts to maintain the status quo in the field of START," warned Putin. "We will respond accordingly." (Reporting by Reuters; Additional reporting by Mei Mei Chu in Beijing; Editing by Ros Russell, Franklin Paul, Daniel Wallis, William Maclean) Republicans find themselves in a delicate position, backing the president even as they voice concerns over the politicization of institutions traditionally seen as nonpartisan after President Donald Trump openly urged the Justice Department to pursue investigations into his political rivals. In an interview with NBCs Kristen Welker on "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) called for politics to be kept out of the judicial system. Lawfare in all forms is bad, the Kentucky Republican said. We need to get politics out of the judicial system as much as we can, Paul said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pauls remarks came hours after Trump publicly called for Attorney General Pam Bondi to press forward on investigations against former FBI director, James Comey, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and New York Attorney General Letitia James. We can't delay any longer, it's killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times) OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!! Trump said in a post on Truth Social. But even as Paul attempted to walk a fine line including accusing the Biden administration of weaponizing the judicial system another Senate Republican appeared to be throwing his support behind Trumps demand. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) on Sunday appeared to dismiss CNNs Dana Bashs question on using the DOJ to go after political opponents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If they did something illegal, if they were leaking classified information, if they used their position of power for corruption, then they 100% should be held accountable, Mullin said on State of the Union. What President Trump is saying here is it's time to look into them and hold them accountable for what they said," he said. Mullins remarks are at odds with Pauls, who said lawfare, regardless of party, is wrong. Though Paul called former President Joe Biden the king of lawfare, he added: It is not right for the Trump administration to do the same thing. For their part, Democrats have been accusing Trump of weaponizing law enforcement to publicly persecute members of their party, including Rep. LaMonica McIver, (D-N.J.) for impeding and interfering with federal officers as well as Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) after he attempted to interrupt a Homeland Security press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) continued Democrats' criticism of Trump this time for the departure of Erik Siebert, who led the investigation into James on allegations of mortgage fraud. Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, declined after months of investigation to lodge charges against James. Siebert said he quit; Trump claimed he fired him. Its really important to underscore what happened here, right? This is a Republican U.S. attorney in Virginia who came to the conclusion that the attorney general of New York did nothing wrong. There was no evidence of a crime, Murphy said. So Donald Trump, because he doesnt care about the facts all he cares about is the threat of imprisonment for his political enemies, so that it suppresses the speech of other people who might speak up is now going to put his own political loyalist in charge of that investigation." Those who don't serve shouldn't be allowed to run or vote for Knesset, Master Sergeant (Res.) Roy Frank says. Three principles guide the newly established Reservists Party that are foundational and determine who the party will be willing to sit with in the next elections, Master Sergeant (Res.) Roy Frank, a founder of the party, told The Jerusalem Post. Franks comments come after the party officially registered to run in the elections last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The party is led by former communications minister Yoaz Hendel, who is also the founder and chairman of the Miluimnikim Movement. The Reservist Party is comprised of reserve soldiers, their families, wounded IDF veterans, bereaved families, and civilian volunteers. It positions itself as a response to the leadership vacuum that followed the October 7 attacks. In conversation with the Post, Frank elaborated on the party's main goals and principles, providing details on its plans ahead of the next elections, currently scheduled for October 2026. Frank serves in the reserves and has attended numerous Knesset committee meetings, where he has advocated for universal conscription in the country, as well as the creation of a haredi (ultra-Orthodox) conscription law, a long-debated issue in the country. Logo of Miluimnikim party. (credit: THE RESERVIST PARTY) Frank explained that the Reservist Party is based on three main principles and goals, which are very simple, very straightforward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The principles are, first, a Zionist unity government. The second is conscription for all, real conscription, that truly drafts everyone. And the third principle is a state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7, Frank said. Frank expanded on what it means to have a Zionist unity government, stating that it would consist of whoever supports building Israel, and supports the army, which is a basic part of this countrys ability to exist. The party situates itself center-right, specifically on security issues. We support strength, secure borders, and settlement, Frank said. However, Frank added, that doesnt mean I wont sit with someone who thinks differently, as long as they serve shoulder to shoulder with me [in the military]. Ill definitely sit with them, just as I fight alongside them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Reservists would be willing to sit with parties on both the right and left of the political spectrum, including Arab and haredi parties, as long as those parties would agree to the three principles, Frank told the Post. The Reservists would also be open to sitting in a government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - on the condition that Netanayhus party would agree to the three principles, Frank said. It doesnt matter which name. Netanyahu, or [National Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir, or [The Democrats head] Yair Golan. The names dont matter if we agree on the principles, Frank explained. He also stated that the Reservist Party would insist on its principles before the formation of the government and would walk out if they were not upheld. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked if the party would run independently or be open to political alliances, Frank said that they are definitely open to mergers. Were new, he said, except for Yoaz, who has a political past. We look at people based on what theyve done since October 7. If youve acted meaningfully for Israel, we want you with us. When asked if the party would consider joining the newly formed change bloc, which consists of various heads of Israels opposition parties who have said they are working to form guidelines for a government that would replace Netanyahu, Frank responded that currently they dont place ourselves in any block, neither right nor left or change. Those who don't serve shouldn't be allowed to run or vote for Knesset, Frank says Regarding serving in the IDF, Frank said, Our clear position is that those who do not serve the state should not have the right to run for Knesset." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They shouldnt even have the right to vote for the Knesset, because they shouldnt influence decision-making if they dont participate in service," Frank added. Frank, who has repeatedly visited the Knesset, joining discussions on forming the haredi draft law, explained his position on the direction the conscription law is currently headed. New work is being conducted on the draft law since MK Boaz Bismuth (Likud) replaced MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud) as the head of the Knessets Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Edelsteins ousting came after the controversy surrounding the negotiations regarding the haredi law proposal, which led to the departure of the two haredi parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, from the government in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about where the law was headed, Frank said that the government was not moving in the correct direction with the bill. Frank also told the Post that if he and members of the Miluimnikum movement hadnt shown up week after week in committees, voicing our cry, taking MKs aside for one-on-one talks, keeping this in the media [...] a law would have passed that drafts no one, certainly not combat soldiers. The fact that we prevented that law is our success. But its far from enough. Were at war. We needed a real draft law a year and a half ago. It didnt happen. And I dont believe it will happen with this government. Bismuth is just there to stall. Meanwhile, reservists are on their fifth or sixth round of reserve service - 300, 400, 500 days. Families, jobs, studies, all sacrificed. Some employers are supportive, but after nearly two years, they replace you anyway. Some arent supportive at all. Thats part of the change we want to create in society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bottom line: this government wont deliver. Every day, they prove it. We must replace them, Frank said. Frank said he and the members of the Reservists feel it is their duty to build this party. Believe me, none of us wanted this before October 7. But we realized, just like reservists who drop everything and come when called, we also have no choice here. Days after a criminal gang stormed this rural village in Haitis northwest, setting fire to the local police substation and looting homes, residents remain gripped by fear amid concerns that the violence isnt over. On Saturday, normally a busy day for the areas 30,000-residents, streets remained deserted with torched vehicles, while the local market was devoid of the usual bustling traffic. Sellers, like customers, had yet to return after most residents had fled the area, crossing on foot through the mountains to neighboring Port-de-Paix, and through a swollen river to escape the gangs deadly wrath. A lot of people are scared, a lot of people left Bassin-Bleu for Port-de-Paix, Mayor Tony Manigat told the Miami Herald. A lot of people would like to return, but they scared because people are always saying the gunmen are not that far away, and at any moment they can seize on them here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet, even as he acknowledged the fear gripping residents, he and local government prosecutor vowed that law and order will return to the community. I guarantee you, security will return, Prosecutor Jeir Pierre who came from Port-de-Paix said. As he spoke, Pierre stood armed with a gun strapped to his chest. Down the road, a lone police vehicle stood outside the burned ruins of the police substation station while another vehicle stood watch in front of the morgue, where the charred corpse of a schoolteacher killed during the attack, was being held. READ MORE: Im furious, and Im ashamed: UN humanitarian chief on crisis in Haiti Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Located on the border of the Artibonite and Northwest regions of Haiti, Bassin-Bleu became the latest rural community to come under gang attack Thursday when more than 50 gunmen targeted residents in broad daylight. Resident say the siege was carried out by members of the violent Kokorat San Ras gang based in the nearby locality of Ti Bwadom in Gros-Morne in the Artibonite. After years of expanding their control over towns in the Lower Artibonite region, the armed group has now set its sights on conquering the Northwest, where Bassin Bleu is a gateway, and the port city of Port-de-Paix is the capital. On Sunday, videos circulated showing Kokorat San Ras gang members setting fire the night before to a rice mill in Kapenyen, which is part of LEstere, a rice-growing area in the Lower Artibonite region. The gang members faces are never shown. But as they announce themselves, the camera pans to lighters setting sacks of rice inside the mill on fire as unidentified voices yell, We are burning it and the sounds of gunshots can be heard going off. Another video also shows the gangs impressive artillery of automatic weapons. Prosecutor Jeir Pierre with the gun strapped to his chest was in Bassin-Bleu on Saturday, September 20, 2025 after a criminal gang attacked the rural community in northwest Haiti. He is standing next to Mayor Tony Manigat, whose office inside town hall was also set ablaze by the gunmen. The new offensives are part of a growing wave of violence on rural communities by criminal gangs that have been gaining strength and territory outside of gang-controlled Port-au-Prince. The escalating violence comes as efforts by the United States to get a more aggressive and lethal Gang Suppression Force capable of dismantling Haitis armed groups remain uncertain at the United Nations Security Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Kenyan President William Ruto suggests, his police forces leading the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti could be exiting within the next two weeks when their U.N.-authorized mandate expires on Oct. 2. In a statement deploring the incident, the Catholic Bishop for the Northwest Diocese, Monsignor Charles Peters Barthelus, said the gunmen entered without encountering any resistance from the police. In addition to the hospital and police station in Bassin-Bleu, the gunmen stormed the hospital, looted a credit union, kidnapped residents and sowed choas in the town, he said. After Port-au-Prince, the Artibonite, Central Plateau, now it is Bassen Ble, the statement said, using the Haitian Creole spelling for town. Lets stop believing in fine words. Now, we need real action and results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a visit to Bassin-Bleu on Saturday, a Herald freelancer found a community still very much on edge, even as the local authorities insisted it had not fallen to gangs, and they were back in control. But as rumors swirled that the gang was on its way to launch another assault, merchants in the market could be seen hurriedly packing their goods. Both Pierre and Manigat said they will not be dissuaded by the latest turn of events. Efforts were already underway, they said, to rebuild what the gang, an ally of powerful Viv Ansanm alliance in Port-au-Prince, had destroyed, including seeking donations of paint and construction materials for the police station and town hall. We just cant leave it like that, Manigat said about the burned town hall. Its an institution and deserves for all of us to come together. He appealed for displaced residents to return. We are present, Pierre added, noting that police officers were also present in the town. Life must return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bassin-Bleu, he insisted, did not fall to the gangs. It was an attack they carried out, and the people should return. READ ME: No life left. Haitians find no home to return to as Barbecue calls for peace Police in both the Artibonite and Northwest regions, he said, need to coordinate their efforts to get rid of the armed groups, which have had residents of the region paralyzed by fear of invasion for years. While police in the Northwest cannot take it upon themselves to go after the armed group, Pierre said they are willing to go fight against them. If the Artibonite decides to eradicate the gangs, and they ask us in then northwest to give a hand...I guarantee you after sometime, the gang will disappear, he said. We are clear about this, once the police in the Artibonite, Gonaives wants to attack and they invite us, we will join the fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because Kokorat San Ras is based in the Artibonite, Pierre said the police in the region need to take all the necessary measures, dispositions including asking their colleagues in the Northwest for backup to eradicate and attack these gangs because they cannot be allowed to remain. In a statement following an attack days earlier where gunmen massacred at least 40 people in the rural fishing village of Labordrie, just north of the capital, Amnesty International called on Haitian authorities to take action to protect the population. The attack was carried out by members of Viv Ansanm, the powerful gang coalition that has been designated as a terrorist organization by the Trump administration. The rights organization also called for the international community, which is meeting this week during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, to increase support to Haiti as the violence drives displacement, hunger and deaths. On Sunday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in New York, where the two discussed developments in Haiti among other global challenges. Amnesty International reiterates the call to members of the U.N. Security Council to act urgently in the face of the crisis in Haiti by implementing measures that guarantee the enjoyment of human rights and the humanitarian needs of Haitians, the group said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attacks on vulnerable communities not only highlight the weakness of the Haitian state in protecting its citizens, but the ineffective response to such crises, Cesar Marin only perpetuates the cycle of impunity and exposes more communities to the same fate,Amnesty Internationals deputy regional director for Campaigns in the Americas, Cesar Marin said. The international community and national authorities cannot remain indifferent while the countrys people continue to be victims of atrocity crimes, Marin said. The Haitian population has the right to live in dignity and safety, without the constant fear of armed gang attacks. A bigger paycheck helps, but it's not the only perk employees are asking for. Workers also want help managing money in the near term things like emergency-savings support, debt help and practical tools they can use, according to the Bank of America's 2025 Workplace Benefits Report. Back in 2023, only about 13% of employees said they wanted their company to help with near-term needs like emergency savings or paying down debt, according to the report. Now it's 26%. Don't Miss: Employees Want Practical Guidance The report found that 36% of employees mainly want financial wellness resources in areas like retirement education and planning, while 33% want to learn how to generate income in retirement and another third want to develop good financial skills and habits. Debt is one of the biggest reasons many employees feel like they're barely making ends meet. 85% of employees surveyed carry some form of personal debt, and 45% say that paying off debt is the main reason they haven't been able to build an emergency fund. Despite this, fewer than one in three companies offer credit counseling or debt assistance aside from student loans. And only around half of larger employers 54% offer financial wellness programs, according to the report. Trending: An EA Co-Founder Shapes This VC Backed MarketplaceNow You Can Invest in Gaming's Next Big Platform Companies Need to Catch Up Smaller companies have some catching up to do. About half of big companies offer financial-wellness programs, but only 32% of smaller firms do. That gap can show up in hiring and retention, since more than eight in ten employers say these financial wellness programs improve job satisfaction and the ability to attract top talent. This survey, which interviewed 962 employees, also found that workplace benefits are increasingly important when it comes to retaining talent, with nearly a quarter of employees saying they've recently left or have considered leaving their company because their workplace benefits are lacking. So if companies want to keep talent around, it's worth investing in financial workshops and wellness programs that help employees feel more confident in their financial journey. See Also: Backed by $300M+ in Assets and Microsoft's Climate Fund, Farmland LP Opens Vital Farmland III to Accredited Investors What If Your Employer Doesn't Offer These Resources If your company doesn't yet offer any financial wellness resources, you can still build your own plan to take control of your money. If you want to build an emergency fund, automate your savings so that a small amount goes to a separate emergency-savings account you don't touch. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Work on the stalled Revolution Wind project off the Rhode Island coast will start back up for now after a judge sided with its developer in a lawsuit against the Trump administration, which had sought to stop the project. The ruling in U.S. District Court in Washington allows work on the project to continue while the underlying lawsuit keeps winding its way through the courts, according to a statement from Orsted, the company that is building Revolution Wind. Revolution Wind will resume impacted construction work as soon as possible, with safety as the top priority, Orsted said in a statement Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elizabeth Peace, a spokesperson for the U.S. Interior Department, confirmed that the court ruling means Revolution Wind will be able to resume construction while the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Management continues its investigation into possible impacts by the project to national security and prevention of other uses on the Outer Continental Shelf. The Department of the Interior remains committed to ensuring that prior decisions are legally and factually sound, she added in a statement. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the administrations priority remains reversing the Biden administrations energy policy while prioritizing the most effective and reliable tools to power our country. This will not be the final say on the matter, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration issued a stop-work order for Revolution Wind on Aug. 22, shocking the offshore wind industry since the project was already said to be roughly 80% complete, with 45 of 65 turbines installed. The 704-megawatt project is expected to power about 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut when completed. According to Orsted, Revolution Winds power is priced at about 10 cents per kilowatt-hour, lower than expected winter electricity rates in Rhode Island this year. Revolution Wind will continue to seek to work collaboratively with the U.S. administration and other stakeholders toward a prompt resolution, Orsted said Monday. The halt triggered a scramble of lawsuits, lobbying and public pressure to salvage Revolution Wind. In addition to the suit filed by Orsted and its partner on the project, which led to Mondays injunction, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha and his Connecticut counterpart filed a separate joint lawsuit calling the Trump administrations action unlawful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neronha said Mondays court decision also bodes well for our case in Rhode Island. Todays legal victory in Washington, D.C., reaffirms what we know to be true: this president cannot cancel clean energy projects just because he believes doing so is politically expedient for him, he said in a statement. Gov. Dan McKee has been pressing for a one-on-one meeting with President Trump to discuss Revolution Wind and has been in conversations with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum about the situation. Trump and Burgum had both left the door open for work on the project to resume, though they have continued to criticize wind energy as overpriced and unreliable. McKee expressed optimism Monday about the judicial ruling and suggested union laborers would resume work on the project Tuesday. He and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont have scheduled a joint news conference about Revolution Wind on Tuesday morning in New London. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Increasing our energy supply options is essential to lowering long-term costs, McKee said in a statement. Thats why my administration continues to support an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes offshore wind, nuclear power, natural gas, and hydropower. This approach diversifies our energy portfolio and keeps our energy system reliable. Marisa Desautel, an attorney who has been fighting Revolution Wind on behalf of Rhode Island fishermen, urged the Justice Department to appeal the injunction in order to have the judge look more broadly at the evidence of whether the project is causing harm. Revolution Wind is being built in the middle of some of the most valuable commercial fishing grounds in the country, she said in an email. We have affidavits and data showing that fishermen are being pushed out of their livelihoods. These numbers and figures far outweigh the alleged union jobs. The project secured all of its required federal and state permits in 2023, following what the company described as a nine-year review process. Grid operator ISO-NE warned in August that stopping work on Revolution Wind will increase risks to reliability for the regional power grid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rhode Islands four-member congressional delegation, all Democrats, issued a joint statement hailing the judges decision. The Interior Department has provided no clear argument for its stop work order on the project, they said. Our delegation stands united in urging the administration to allow this project to proceed without further delay. 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. Kayla Fish 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: 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. PROVIDENCE Construction of Revolution Wind will be allowed to resume, for now, after a federal judge granted a request from the developers of the $5-billion-plus offshore wind farm to lift a stop-work order issued by the Trump administration a month ago. In granting the motion for a preliminary injunction on Monday, Sept. 22, Judge Royce C. Lamberth of federal district court in the District of Columbia called the federal governments order to halt construction of the 65-turbine wind farm being built about 15 miles south of Rhode Island the height of arbitrary and capricious. There is no question in mind of irrevocable harm to the plaintiff, said Lamberth in his ruling from the bench after a hearing on the motion for the injunction. The first monopile foundation for a turbine is installed at the Revolution Wind project site in 2024. Fears that continued delay of the project could kill it rsted, the Danish offshore wind developer, and its partner on the project, Skyborn Renewables, said that offshore construction will resume as soon as possible, with safety as the top priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Revolution Wind will continue to seek to work collaboratively with the US Administration and other stakeholders toward a prompt resolution, the companies said in a joint statement on the ongoing court case. In their motion for an injunction, the developers said that they were spending $2 million a day during the work stoppage, which came at the height of the offshore construction season, with 80% of the wind farm already complete. They argued that action from the court was urgently needed because the project is on a tight schedule to meet contractual obligations to start delivering power to the New England power grid by early 2027. If it were to miss milestones mandated by its power purchase agreements, utilities in Rhode Island and Connecticut would be able to unilaterally cancel the contracts, according to court filings. Lamberth referred to the deadlines in making his decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Revolution Wind has demonstrated likelihood of success on the merits of its underlying claims, it is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of an injunction, the balance of the equities is in its favor, and maintaining the status quo by granting the injunction is in the public interest, he said in his written order. The Department of the Interior ordered a halt to all offshore construction on Aug. 22, citing at the time unspecified national security concerns. In court filings, the federal government elaborated on the reasons for the order, saying that the developers had failed to submit certain documents to the Department of Defense that were promised under its permit from the Interior Department. But the developers said the government officials made no mention of the documents in meetings leading up to the issuance of the stop-work order. "As a result of the Courts decision today, Revolution Wind will be able to resume construction as BOEM continues its investigation into possible impacts by the project to national security and prevention of other uses on the Outer Continental Shelf," the Interior Department said in response to the court's decision. "The Department of the Interior remains committed to ensuring that prior decisions are legally and factually sound." Decision applauded by offshore wind supporters Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont have both excoriated the Trump administration for the decision to stop work on the 704-megawatt project that would power as many as 350,000 homes in the two states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyve said the government order is putting jobs at risk, damaging the local economies and threatening to raise electric costs in a region that already has some of the highest energy prices in the nation. The operator of the regional electric grid also raised concerns that the government order threatened affordability and reliability. McKee made the case to resume work on the project in phone calls and text messages to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and had asked for a meeting with President Trump, to no avail. On Sept. 4, the same day Revolution Wind filed its case against the administrations order, Connecticut and Rhode Island filed their own lawsuit in federal district court in Rhode Island. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha said Lamberths decision bolsters the states case, which is also seeking to overturn the governments order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays legal victory in Washington, D.C. reaffirms what we know to be true: this President cannot cancel clean energy projects just because he believes doing so is politically expedient for him, Neronha said. Trump has frequently denigrated wind turbines as eyesores and has embraced fossil fuel development as the solution to Americas growing energy needs. Environmental advocates and offshore wind industry groups applauded the court order. The courts decision restores momentum toward bringing clean, local power to New England, strengthening our energy security, and supporting thousands of jobs across the region, said Kate Sinding Daly, of the Conservation Law Foundation. We applaud the court for upholding the rule of law and rejecting a reckless attempt to sabotage clean energy progress that will slash bills and toxic pollution. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Revolution Wind can restart work after winning injunction in court Rhode Island's congressional delegation U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and U.S. Reps. Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo want to know how many VA employees lost or left their jobs in RI this year. (Photos by Alexander Castro and Ken Castro/Rhode Island Current; collage by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Rhode Islands congressional delegation is curious about how nationwide staffing cuts at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are affecting VA workers in the Ocean State. In a Sept. 16 letter collectively penned by U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Reps. Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo, Rhode Islands all-Democratic delegation asked Veterans Affairs Secretary Douglas Collins to explain recent department data that shows the department has lost thousands of employees this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VA employees are essential to serving our Veterans, the delegates wrote. The alarming rate at which employees are leaving VA jeopardizes Veterans ability to timely access services and benefits they have earned and will undermine the VAs ability to meet its mission for many years. The delegates cited the July 25 issue of the VAs workforce dashboard, which they say shows the loss of more than 8,700 employees who worked with veterans in the current fiscal year, including 2,129 registered nurses, 751 physicians, 1,283 medical support assistants, and 1,294 claims examiners. The dashboard also shows that the VAs year-over-year hiring pipeline is down in all categories, with the amount of job postings, applications and new hires lower this year than at the same time last year. The Veterans Health Administration reported 13,403 fewer employees across all categories than it had at the start of this fiscal year. The letter asks for a facility-by-facility breakdown of employee departures in Rhode Island since Jan. 1, as well as data on canceled or rescheduled appointments tied to staffing shortages, plus a list of current job vacancies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The delegates want data for Eagle Square VA Clinic, Eagle Street VA Clinic, Providence VA Medical Center, Middletown VA Clinic, Providence VA Regional Benefit Office, and the Providence Vet Center. They asked for occupational details on each departure such as reasons for leaving the VA, years of employment with the VA, and whether the employee resigned or was terminated. The letter asks Collins to respond by Sept. 30. Pete Kasperowicz, Press secretary for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, said in an email Friday that the department would respond directly to the delegations letter. The VA previously announced on Aug. 6 that it was immediately nullifying collective bargaining agreements for VA workers, including those associated with the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Association of Government Employees, the National Federation of Federal Employees, National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United, and the Service Employees International Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department terminated the contracts to comply with a March 27 executive order from President Donald Trump, which excludes parts of the VA, plus other agencies, from the federal labor management statute that allowed for collective bargaining. In 2024, over 1,900 VA employees who were part of bargaining units spent more than 750,000 hours of work on taxpayer funded union time including some who are paid more than $200,000 a year, according to the VAs news release. With no collective bargaining obligations, those hours can now be used to serve Veterans instead of union bosses, the release reads. An estimate of the number of employees affected ranges from 350,000 to 400,000 people. Rhode Islands congressional delegates had a different interpretation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your recent decision to terminate collective bargaining agreements for VA employees will almost certainly make the problem worse, as approximately 80% of VA employees belonged to a union, they wrote Collins. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park's four-wheeled bear is pictured at an event at Travelers' Rest State Park near Lolo, Montana on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Jordan Hansen / Daily Montana) LOLO Reaction time during a bear encounter is the focus of a new effort from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to better educate the public about grizzlies and black bears. And it involves a bear on wheels that can reach about the same top speed as a grizzly can more than 30 mph. The bear is not life sized, but isnt tiny and stands on what is essentially a four-wheeled souped-up radio controlled car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The training trailer and its educational content come from a partnership between FWP, Montanas Outdoor Legacy Foundation (MOLF), with support from Safari Club International (SCI) Foundation, the Western Montana Chapter of SCI, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The exercise involves inert bear spray, which a person can use when the bear is rushing at them. Its an opportunity to find out how quickly you can get the spray up, get the safety off and squeeze the trigger. Bear spray essentially acts as a barrier, and its important to discharge it correctly forward and at a slightly downward angle, as a rushing bears nose and mouth will be low to the ground. Getting these types of tips out and giving people the opportunity to see how they would react is important, FWP bear technician Brandon Davis said at an event at Travelers Rest State Park in Lolo this weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of people dont know theres bears around, that theres grizzlies, and so were just trying to get people involved, Davis said. And just give them that muscle memory so their first time pulling out a bear spray isnt on the trail. Bears have personalities, unique characteristics, can be a multitude of different colors and need personal space, Davis said. They are complicated, nuanced creatures and the education and outreach is in part to help the public understand more about them. Rebekah Ficek, an Americorps VISTA member with Travelers Rest Connection demonstrates disengaging the safety on bear spray an event at Travelers Rest State Park near Lolo, Montana on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Jordan Hansen / Daily Montana) Some (bear encounters) are really quick, and theres not much you can do, Davis said. But there are times when you can look at the behavior and read that animal. Surprising a bear can often evoke a quick response from the bear, and its important to hold your ground timid bears will often not attack someone who holds their ground. Bears also have faux charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, a female bear with offspring will aggressively defend her cubs. Running away from a bear can actually trigger a chase response from the bear. Grizzlies and black bears also dont act the same black bears seem to rely on bluffing as opposed to a mauling. A grizzly encounter can be deadly, and recognizing these signs and doing what you can to not surprise any bear is important. Autumn means bears are trying to consume as many calories as possible in a very short time, though rarely do bears attack humans in the name of eating them specifically. Fear is one of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to bears, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are big animals. They have the potential to kill you. But theyre not out to hurt you, Davis said. I mean, theres always an outlier, thats a generalization, but I think most of the time they just want to get away. During hunting season, Davis said, hunters need to be careful about gut piles, especially this time of year. Thats one of the times people can accidentally bring bears into an area. Davis said FWP recently set up a camera in an area near a hunters kill, and within 24 hours there were bears in the area. Hikers and backpackers should also be aware of carcasses on or near trails, which was the case in a bear encounter in Yellowstone National Park earlier this month. In that case, a solo hiker surprised a bear near a carcass. The bear charged, the hiker discharged bear spray and suffered injuries that sent the man to the hospital, but were not life-threatening. Rebekah Ficek, an Americorps VISTA member with Travelers Rest Connection demonstrates using bear spray an event at Travelers Rest State Park near Lolo, Montana on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Jordan Hansen / Daily Montana) This year has, luckily, not seen many bad human-bear conflicts. Rebekah Ficek, an Americorps VISTA member with Travelers Rest Connection, is hoping the event helps keep it that way. She helped organize the event and used to do Americorps work with FWP. Thats where her interest in the creatures began, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just really love working with bears, because I feel like they can be misunderstood, Ficek said. Theyre just wildlife that can kind of get a bad rap sometimes. Ficek demonstrated proper usage of the bear spray and helped work with a number of people who cycled through the event. There was a steady flow of people throughout the day, which staff were happy about. She was also happy to push back against one particular misconception. A lot of people think bear spray is actually bug spray, Ficek said. They try and spray it on themselves. We try so hard to reiterate, no, no, no, do not spray it on yourself. It is pepper spray, not bug spray. Ive gotten that a lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to a variety of literature, the event also had taxidermy bears and lots of stories, along with plenty of stickers. FWP staff also takes old and expired bear spray at any regional FWP office. A lot of bear spray also gets left at airports when tourists buy them and then cant be taken back on a plane. Throughout the month of September, which is Bear Aware month for the state, the agency is hosting more Bear Aware events across the state. On Sept. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the agency is hosting a Bear Spray Program at the FWP Region 3 office in Bozeman. Another bear awareness event will be held at the Troy Apple Festival in downtown Troy on Sept. 26 from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Russia withdrew its troops from Belarus following the Zapad-2025 military exercises, State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said on Sept. 22. The exercises took place between Sept. 12 and 16 across 41 training grounds in Belarus and western Russia. The Zapad maneuvers, which the Kremlin said involved about 100,000 military personnel, remained a source of tension for NATO's eastern flank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking on television, Demchenko said that no hostile activity was observed near the Ukrainian border either during or after the drills. All training sites were located deep within Belarusian territory. "(Ukrainian) border groups, intelligence units, the Defense Ministry, and the State Border Guard Service actively monitored the situation in Belarus to clearly understand how it is developing," the spokesperson said. "We wanted to ensure they wouldnt attempt to create any provocations near our border." The Zapad drills, held every four years, officially focus on defensive operations but have long raised concerns in Europe. As the drills began, Poland closed all border crossings with Belarus until further notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 16 visited the Mulino training ground in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast to inspect the drills and review over 400 samples of military equipment. Following the Zapad-2021 maneuvers, Russia and Belarus conducted the "Union Resolve-2022" drills, which immediately preceded Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces stationed in Belarus after these exercises took part in the invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. Belarus's Defense Ministry said on Sept. 15 that observers from three NATO members the U.S., Turkey, and Hungary attended part of Zapad-2025 at a training ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Western officials warned that despite Minsk's assurances, the drills remain a means of exerting pressure on NATO's eastern flank. Read also: For first time, Ukraine hits 2 Russian amphibious aircraft in occupied Crimea, intelligence claims, shows footage Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Interim Chancellor Brent Sanford, left, speaks alongside State Board of Higher Education Chair Kevin Black Sept. 18, 2025, at the North Dakota Petroleum Council annual meeting. (Photo by Jacob Orledge/North Dakota Monitor) Interim North Dakota University System Chancellor Brent Sanford says he would be a good fit to continue leading the higher education system despite not coming from a traditional academic background. State Board of Higher Education Chair Kevin Black plans to recommend on Tuesday that the board skip a national search and hire the former lieutenant governor to lead the university system long term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanford said in an interview Sunday he plans to accept the job, if offered. He said his background makes him a strong advocate for higher education and an effective leader to respond to workforce needs. As the lieutenant governor, and Doug (Burgum) as the governor, we didnt have the expertise that all the people who work for the state had, Sanford said. Youre the administrator, youre the manager, youre the one thats advocating for them to be able to do their job. Sanford has worked as interim chancellor since April after serving as interim Bismarck State College president for nearly a semester. Neither interim post had a public search process. One retired university administrator cautions that hiring a permanent chancellor without a national search and without an advanced degree would be demoralizing to faculty and campus administrators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It smacks of political cronyism, frankly, said Daniel Rice, former dean of the University of North Dakotas College of Education and Human Development and professor emeritus of educational leadership. Rice, who criticized the board in a recent letter to the editor, said in an interview hes sure Sanford is a good person but urged the board to conduct an open and competitive search process and shield higher education from political interference. Sanford was a business owner and mayor of Watford City during the recent oil boom before serving as lieutenant governor for six years. He went on to work on economic development and workforce issues, including consulting for Bismarck State College. Sanford has a bachelors degree and is a certified public accountant. Most recent North Dakota chancellors have had a doctorate or other advanced degree. Its been typical for the board to hire a search consultant, advertise the position nationally and appoint a committee to vet applicants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black told a legislative committee last month he didnt see a need to conduct a national search because it would likely lead the board back to Sanford. I think Brent has really a one-of-a-kind skillset, maybe once-in-a-generation skillset to lead our university system, Black said in an interview last week. On Tuesday, Sanford is expected to give a presentation to the eight-member board during its meeting at Minot State University before members decide how to proceed. Black said national search consultants have often cost $100,000 or more, which he said would be reckless to spend if the board members believe they already have their top candidate. Conducting a search internally without a consultant would still require significant staff and board member time, Black said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think the cost of that is worth it when I think were ultimately going to come right back to where we started, Black said. Rice called it penny-wise and pound-foolish to save money on a search for the top person to lead North Dakotas 11 public colleges and universities. It appears to me to be a way of circumventing the search process because he has a personal candidate that he wants to put into the job, Rice said. It would not be unprecedented for the board to hire a chancellor without a search and without an advanced degree. Retired Chancellor Larry Isaak did not apply to be chancellor but was appointed to the job in 1994 after a new hire backed out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I guess Im an example of someone who didnt go through a search, said Isaak, who had been working in the system office at the time. And I think we had some success during those 10 years. When hired, Isaak was working on a masters degree, which he said he completed within a year of being named chancellor. Isaak recalled that a group of faculty objected to his lack of a doctorate. Years later, one of those faculty members wrote to him and said he was wrong, Isaak said. The chancellor position has one foot in academia, Isaak said, and one foot in state government, and its important for the chancellor to hire good people with expertise in academic affairs, student affairs and other areas. Sanford said he understands that some would prefer to see a competitive search, but he also points out that hes had five months of audition for the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Chancellor Mark Hagerott initially planned to retire at the end of 2025, but announced in April his intent to step down that month. The North Dakota Legislature included language in the higher education budget bill indicating the importance of filling the position in an efficient and timely manner. The Legislature also required the board to report by Oct. 15 on the status of the search, including the reasons for any delays. President openings The presidencies of Bismarck State College and Lake Region State College are also scheduled to be discussed Tuesday, with a closed-door executive session listed on the agenda. Both campuses are led by interim presidents and the presidency jobs have not been advertised. Black said last week he favors conducting public searches for campus presidents even as hes advocating to skip a national search for chancellor. With president searches, its important to get feedback from alumni, college foundation, faculty, staff, students and local business community, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a much different thing to hire a president than it is to hire a chancellor, Black said. I have a sense that well want to do a search in those but thats going to be up to the board to discuss. BSCs interim president is Dan Leingang, who was vice president of academic affairs and briefly served as acting president. Lake Region State College in Devils Lake is led by Carmen Simone, who had been dean and CEO for Dakota College at Bottineau. Some board members may want to discuss offering Simone the position permanently without a search, Black said, because she has previously led campuses. Simone is former president of Western Nebraska Community College and was a finalist for the Dickinson State University president search in addition to leading the Bottineau campus. She has been really vetted by the board, and so that might play into the boards decision on whether or not to do a search there, Black said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The higher education board approved a separation agreement with former BSC President Doug Jensen last December. Former Lake Region President Doug Darling retired at the end of June. Chancellor versus commissioner In addition to debating who will lead the North Dakota University System, board members also are weighing a change in title, largely in response to a push from some lawmakers. The leader of the system has been called chancellor since the early 1990s, but prior to that the post was called commissioner. Rep. Steve Swiontek, R-Fargo, raised during the recent legislative session that commissioner is the title in the state constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The higher education budget bill directs the board to study the costs and benefits of a system of higher education led by a chancellor compared to a commissioner. The board is expected to discuss Tuesday next steps for the study, including holding listening sessions with stakeholders. A report is due in May. Lawmakers and current and former higher education officials have varying views on the difference between the two titles. Swiontek said he views a commissioner as empowering more authority to college and university presidents. Black disagreed that a title change would shift more power to presidents because the authority is outlined in board policies, not a job title. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black indicated that he favors the commissioner title to align with the state constitution. He added he thinks the chancellor title invokes a perception of a really authoritarian-type role, and maybe a highly academic role, and thats not what I think this role is. Rice, who as a professor and dean worked under both chancellor and commissioner models, said going back to a commissioner system would be a step backwards. The commissioner system is much more easily subjected to political wrangling and interference than a chancellor system, Rice said. Isaak, who also worked under both models, said reverting to a commissioner model would weaken the position to more of an administrative role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a first step for those who want to undo the system and return to every institution for themselves, Isaak said. Black disagreed with that criticism and said the board is committed to a cohesive university system. I just fundamentally disagree that theres some type of shift toward individualism within the campuses, Black said. North Dakota Monitor Editor Amy Dalrymple can be reached at adalrymple@northdakotamonitor.com. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Saudi and British envoys pledged millions to boost the coastguard of Yemen's anti-Houthi gov't, with support from 35 countries, to protect Red Sea and Gulf of Aden trade routes from Houthi terrorism. Saudi Arabia and Britain launched a partnership to strengthen the coastguard of Yemen's anti-Houthi government in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden last week, including collecting pledges of millions of dollars to fund the scheme from 35 countries. British Ambassador to Yemen Abda Sharif and Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohamed al-Jabir announced the partnership, along with the Foreign Minister of the anti-Houthi government in Yemen, Shaya Zindani, following the inaugural Yemen Maritime Security Partnership Conference in Riyadh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jaber confirmed that Saudi Arabia alone is pledging four million dollars to the scheme. Other donors include the US, the European Union, Australia, Canada, Japan, and other Gulf countries. The Red Sea to the west of Yemen, and the Gulf of Aden to the south, are major maritime transit routes, which Houthi terrorists have attacked, particularly since the start of the Israel-Hamas War, by firing upon ships in transit, and hijacking vessels that the terror group alleges are linked to Israel. "The United Kingdom affirms its commitment to supporting the Coast Guard and the Yemeni government. The generous pledges we have witnessed today reflect the scale of international support for Yemen," Sharif said after the conference. Participants at the Yemen Maritime Security Partnership Inaugural Conference, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, September 16, 2025. (credit: SCREENSHOT/X/BRITISH EMBASSY IN YEMEN) Reactions from Yemen's anti-Houthi government praising the pledges Head of the anti-Houthi government in Yemen, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Muhammad al-Alimi, welcomed the role of Saudi Arabia and Britain in sponsoring the conference. Alimi commented that the conference "marks the launch of a strategic partnership that strengthens the security of our waterways, reaffirms our strong commitment to combating terrorism and cross-border threats, and safeguards the interests and national security of our people." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zindani expressed his sincere thanks to Saudi Arabia, and commended the efforts of Britain in establishing the Yemen Technical Support Mechanism in January. Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani welcomed the initiative, stating that it "reflects the commitment of international partners to support Yemen in confronting various threats, representing a qualitative leap in strengthening maritime security, protecting international trade routes, combating piracy and smuggling, and supporting sustainable economic development in Yemen and the region." Chief of Staff of the Yemeni Coast Guard Maj.-Gen. Khalid Ali al-Qamli commented that "International community investment today will enhance training, strengthen the participation of female personnel, and ensure a secure future for Yemen and a safe maritime corridor for the world." Producing beer in the United States is a national affair, with no state or region completely dominating the industry. Since the advent of the craft beer revolution, great breweries have popped up in every corner of the United States, with almost 10,000 breweries operating in the country as of 2023. That's up from only around 90 in the '70s, when macrobrews like Budweiser and Coors were at their most dominant. Anheuser-Busch and Molson Coors still rule beer production in the country, with both brands controlling a little more than half of the U.S. market. But, the states producing the most beer now have a balance between big breweries and small, and while the competition is tough, no state brews as much beer as Colorado. Production of beer is measured using data from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which counts it in total barrels. According to the quarterly numbers from 2024, Colorado produced just over 18 million barrels of beer the most of any other state. Coming in at number two was Ohio, which produced 17 million barrels, while the state of Texas was third at 14 million barrels. Surprisingly, some states known for big beer brands, like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, didn't even make the top five. So how does Colorado produce so much beer? Because it's home to breweries from multiple big national brands and plenty of well-known micro and craft breweries. Read more: Popular Oktoberfest Beers Ranked Worst To Best Colorado is the United States' number one spot for brewing beer Colorado mountain town - Photography By Deb Snelson/Getty Images Colorado used to be known as the home of Coors. But, Molson Coors which also owns Miller, Foster's, and Blue Moon among other brands moved its headquarters to Chicago, Illinois in 2023. However, Coors flagship brewery in Golden, Colorado is still active and is actually the largest brewery in the United States. Coors is not alone there, either. Anheuser-Busch also has a major brewing facility in Fort Collins, Colorado. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only do two of America's top five most popular beer brands call the Rockies home, but there are also many iconic Colorado craft beer brands. The state's largest craft brewery is actually Monster. The energy drink brand, purchased Colorado's Oskar Blues Brewery in 2022, which makes the popular Dale's Pale Ale. Other iconic Colorado craft beer names include Odell and Left Hand, which is known for its popular stout beer. There are also the unique cases of Colorado craft beers that are now owned by larger conglomerates. The most well known is New Belgium, which still operates its brewery in Fort Collins, but was acquired by the Japanese brand Kirin in 2019. Colorado brand Avery was also sold to the Spanish Mahou Group, also known as the makers of San Miguel. Long story short, Colorado has a stake in every part of the beer market big, medium, and small. Read the original article on Tasting Table. As a girl growing up on a tea farm in the Aberdare Hills of Kenyas central highlands, Nancy Githaiga would regularly wake up to the sight of elephants trampling through the neat, knee-high green bushes of her fathers crop. We would run out with a tin, which would have some fire inside so that it smoked, and bang the tin until the elephants ran away, she says, gesturing across the misty green valley of the farm, which the now-55-year-old has since inherited. The girls were not really supposed to take part, but I would sneak out and join them. The areas elephants, buffalo and hyenas have long been banished behind the electric fence of the Aberdare National Park, a tourist hotspot which is just a ten minute drive away. Instead, farmers like Nancy are facing up to the far larger environmental threat of the climate crisis, which in recent years has been devastating the regions crop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An estimated 100 million cups of tea are drunk in the UK every day and of those, around fifty per cent are supplied by Kenyan tea farms. Most tea from Kenya comes from smallholder farms like Nancys, which usually measure less than one hectare, rather than the large tea estates of India or Sri Lanka, which are perhaps better known. When The Independent visited Nancys farm recently joining the Fairtrade Foundation on a recent fact-finding mission unseasonably cold temperatures had slowed the growth of Nancys tea bushes, meaning that they were only being plucked four or five days per week, rather than the typical six. Rain patterns have also become much more chaotic, with drought drying out bushes at certain times of year, while intense storms and devastating landslides come at others. Last year the landslides damaged six homes, buried livestock, and took out the electricity for quite some time - though thankfully nobody was hurt, says Nancy. This climate problem is really major for us. I believe that if things continue the way they are, the very existence of tea farming in this area will be threatened. Nancy Githaiga (Vincent Owino/Fairtrade Africa) Visiting the Gatunguru tea processing factory at night, the machinery lay quiet due to the unusually low volume of tea crop that was being produced (Nick Ferris) The impacts of climate-driven extreme weather are a constant preoccupation to Nancy, both in her role working on her own farm, and in her position as manager of the Gatunguru Tea Factory, which is a cooperative of more than 8,000 local tea farmers, which is centred around a processing plant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visiting the tea processing factory itself in the middle of the day, The Independent witnessed a tight operation of trucks laden with plucked green tea delivering their load, which then undergoes a multi-day process of drying, cutting and fermenting - turning it from green to gold to brown to near-black - before it is packed in sacks ready for shipping. But upon returning at night, the machinery lay quiet, with musty, tea-infused air the only reminder of the days activity. This is another indication of climate change: normally we have a 24 hour operation says Nancy. It is a worrying sign that weak yields of the last year are set to continue, after tea production at Gatanguru declined by 25 per cent last year, from 24 million tonnes of tea in 2023/4 to 17 million tonnes of tea in 2024/5. Calamity of climate change Nancy is one of more than 600,000 smallholder tea farmers in Kenya, who collectively have millions more in dependents. The tea industry is something of a cornerstone in Kenyas economy, with the number of hectares farmed continuing to grow year-on-year, and the crop representing by far the countrys most valuable export. But all across the country, farmers are reporting climate concerns. For Edmund Biwott, a tea farmer in the West of the country, climate change has brought a disastrous new weather phenomenon in the form of hailstones, which form after warm air from Lake Victoria meets cool air in the highlands. The hailstones appear at the start of the rainy season, tearing through the tea leaves of his crop, and making them unsellable to his tea factory, which is called Momul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ten years ago, we had never seen hailstones, but now this calamity of climate change is impacting us drastically, says Edmund, who has 11 people depending on him, including six children. I have asked the factory for some compensation, because we are depending on this for a living, we have nothing else. The hailstones have forced Edmund to prune his bushes after just one year, instead of the typical four, which results in them being unable to produce sellable leaves for around three months, further compounding his problems. Last year, the 4,098kg of tea he produced was around 30 per cent below the 5,794kg he produced the previous year. At times of lower production, the laws of economics would normally hold that the market should compensate producers with higher prices. But chronic oversupply of tea in the overall Kenyan market means that this has not been the case: Particularly rapid growth in larger tea estates has resulted in overall tea production increasing by as much as 3.5 per cent annually over the past 15 years, despite global demand increasing by less than 1 per cent. Edmund Biwott told The Independent how hailstorms have been ruining his tea crop - something that never happened ten years ago (Vincent Owino/Fairtrade Africa) Edmund has asked the Momul Tea Factory for compensation due to his lost crop (Vincent Owino/Fairtrade Africa) Government policy around tea has also not helped a significant number of farmers, according to Bernard Njoroge, senior programme officer Fairtrade Africa. In 2021, a law was introduced banning farms from participating in direct sales to buyers, and instead mandating them to sell via auction in the coastal city of Mombasa, which is a process that typically leads to much lower prices for farmers. The policy has since been revoked but many of the buyers who preferred direct sales had already switched to buying from neighbouring countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of this has had a major impact on tea farmers around Momul, with some farms in the area forced to sell tea below the price of production in recent months. The last few months have been very difficult, and I have been forced to take out a loan to pay for school fees, which I have not been able to pay back, says Edmund. It makes me very sad its embarrassing, and the worry drains my energy. A recent survey of Kenyan tea growers found that only one in five said that they were earning enough to support their families with all that they need while research from the UN has found that the price of tea in real terms has been declining by 2 per cent per year since 2011. For their part, the UKs major tea brands maintain that dealing with the twin problems of climate change and poverty wages is a major priority for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Taylors of Harrogate - which owns the UKs top selling brand, Yorkshire Tea - told The Independent that the company was committed to working with our suppliers and others to mitigate risks and support adaptation to the growing challenges, while a spokesperson for Tata Consumer Products - which owns Tetley - said that the company was working with farmers to train them in sustainable practices like soil management, rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation. According to their suppliers lists, both Yorkshire Tea and Tetley source tea from Gatanguru and Momul tea factories. Gareth Mead, sustainability officer at Lipton, which owns PG Tips, said that while the impacts of climate change can be devastating for individual farmers, the key problem facing the market in Kenya is chronic overproduction, which has left the price of tea at around 2 or 3p per teabag. "We believe helping farmers to focus on quality instead of quantity will improve the price they can achieve while also improving the cuppa so tea lovers will value it too, he said. This in turn will support the improvements we all want to see." Training allowed me to increase yields Elsewhere in Kenyas highlands, Luke Wahome and his wife Irene farm a stunningly green strip of steep valleyside, which is carpeted down to a river with winding tea bushes. Part of the 7,000-farmer-strong Iriaini Tea Factory near Nyeri, it lies not far from the Treetops Hotel, where a young Princess Elizabeth found out she had become Queen in 1952. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the beauty of the spot belies the poverty conditions that the combination of climate change and chronic low prices is forcing tea farmers into. The living income for Kenyan tea farmers is estimated to be around 50,000 shillings (280) per month - but Luke is only able to earn 56,000 shillings per year from his tea, forcing him to live in extremely modest conditions. He tells the Independent how he has struggled to pay back debts from multiple lenders, continually repeating that his income is not enough, not enough. The one saving grace for Luke in recent years has been the tea he has been able to sell as Fairtrade through Iriaini, which is a Fairtrade-certified factory. That certification means that farmers must uphold certain standards around labour and environmental practices - and in return they receive training towards better farming practice, as well as an additional Premium payment in every Fairtrade tea sale, which Iriaini clubs together and spends on the community. The practices that I learnt through training has allowed me to increase my yield from 400kg per year to 1,200kg per year, he says. Before Fairtrade came, he was earning just 20,000 shillings per year - the improved practices, including around tillage and fertilisation, mean that he has more than doubled his income. Luke Wahome is currently only able to earn 56,000 shillings (320) per year from tea farming (Vincent Owino/Fairtrade Africa) At times Luke has struggled to afford to meet the needs of his family (Nick Ferris) Down the road from Luke and Irene is Martha Mukundi, a mother of two, who is also grateful for the support she has received from Fairtrade. For her, the key benefit has been support in diversifying her operation, which means that even if the tea crop is weak, she will still earn a good income. As well as 5,200 bushes of tea, she now has 62 avocado trees, passion fruit trees, and a dairy cow, all of which now collectively contribute a similar amount to her income as the tea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fairtrade introduced us to avocado and passion fruit farming, as well as dairy farming, she says. The increased drought we experience has unfortunately affected my avocado farming some years - but overall Fairtrade has had a positive effect. The reason Fairtrade is so impactful, according to Fairtrade UKs CEO Eleanor Harrison, is because although there might be some costs involved in auditing Fairtrade operations on the farmer side, the extra income farmers receive via the Fairtrade Premium offers a far better economic benefit. Other well-known accreditation schemes actually represent a net financial cost for farming cooperatives due to the costs of implementation, with the Kenyan government suspending the Rainforest Alliance in the country at the end of May due to the reported costs that it was imposing on smallholders. At the time, the Alliance said that it was working with the Kenyan Department of Agriculture to gain clarity and to work towards a joint resolution quickly. But four months later, the accreditation has yet to be reinstated. Martha Mukundi is grateful to Fairtrade for introducing avocado farming to Iriaini. The avocados help protect her income when the tea crop is weak (Vincent Owino/Fairtrade Africa) The impact of Fairtrade is held back, however, by the fact that after 30 years of the movement, a significant number of tea brands are not signed up. The Co-op, M&S, Clipper, and Waitrose are among the most high profile brands who have. Global cut-through is even weaker, with even just these few UK brands representing more than half of the global Fairtrade tea market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Iriaini, less than one per cent of tea sold last year was actually sold as Fairtrade - despite the fact that 100 per cent of the tea produced qualifies as Fairtrade. Tetley and other brands have also sourced tea from Iriaini, according to their suppliers lists. A spokesperson for Tetley-owner Tata Consumer Products said that it viewed certification as a baseline in our commitment to sustainable and ethical sourcing, adding that it does have some Fairtrade-accredited smaller tea brands in its porfolio. Gareth Mead, from PG Tips owner Lipton, said that the company admire[s] Fairtrades ambition, but he raises concerns about there being sufficient quantities of Fairtrade tea to meet the needs of PG Tips, adding that he has had conversations with Fairtrade about how sufficient volumes of tea can be grown to their requirements. Fairtrades Eleanor Harrison has little time for any suggestion that certain brands could be ill-suited to the certification. If they want to be Fairtrade, then it is very much possible, she says. When you go to these Fairtrade farms, you see the impact. [Companies] can play an incredible role lifting millions of tea growers out of poverty. At a time where cost of living pressures continue to affect millions of people, it could be argued that a movement like Fairtrade could struggle to cut through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Harrison points to recent polling carried out by Kantar for Fairtrade which suggests that 75 per cent of British consumers think its important that tea brands provide clear information about prices paid to producers. Data also shows that Fairtrade coffee sales increased 5 per cent last year, while sales of Fairtrade juice, sugar, and wine all also grew. There are currently some two million farmers around the world benefitting from Fairtrade - and the movement has most recently been buoyed by Sainsburys deciding this summer to certify its own-brand tea as Fairtrade. Ruth Cranston, director of sustainability at Sainsburys, told The Independent that the shift should deliver an additional 1,000,000 annually in Fairtrade Premium to farmers, while also reassuring customers that the supermarket is delivering meaningful benefits to tea-growing communities. But even in the UK, a country with a culture steeped in tea that has numerous organisations pushing ethical consumption, only 10 per cent of sales of tea are Fairtrade. For famers squeezed by the climate crisis and poverty, though, even that can make a difference. East Asia is bracing for the most powerful global typhoon so far this year to make landfall with mass evacuations across multiple countries. The Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and Vietnam could all be affected by Super Typhoon Ragasa, which is currently moving over the Balintang Channel in the northern Philippines with winds of over 168mph. The Category 5 super typhoon the highest ranking on the Saffir-Simpson scale, used to measure storms is travelling west towards Hong Kong, Macau and southern China. It is expected to remain in the South China Sea until at least Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement b' 2309 Typhoon Ragasa ' The Chinese city of Shenzhen has evacuated 400,000 people from its coastal and low-lying regions, while offices, schools and public transport have been shut down. In the Philippines, more than 8,200 people have been evacuated to safety in Cagayan as 1,220 fled to emergency shelters in Apayao after the power was knocked out. Hong Kong international airport will suspend all passenger flights for 36 hours from Tuesday evening, according to Qantas Airways. However, Airport Authority Hong Kong has yet to make any official announcement. Cathay Pacific, the Hong Kong-based airline, said that it expected to cancel more than 500 flights. Taiwan, which will also be caught in the typhoons path, has cancelled domestic flights to its outlying islands and suspended 88 ferry services on 13 routes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Domestic flights and ferries in the Philippines northern provinces were also cancelled. The Philippines weather agency said that there is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3m (nearly 10 feet) within the next 24 hours, especially in the northern provinces of Cagayan, Batanes, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Credit: Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office Calayan Island, in the Balintang Channel, and the province of Apayao in the north of Luzon island, have both lost power, but there have been no reports of casualties, officials from the Philippines disaster response said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, school and work were suspended in Manila as well as in 29 provinces in Luzon. Flood warnings have also been issued for low-lying areas on the island. Residents of the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and China are no strangers to mega storms there have been more than a dozen storms to hit the region this year but Super Typhoon Ragasa is poised to be the worst one in years. Credit: CSU/CIRA & JMA/JAXA The last storm with winds as strong and a radius as wide to strike Taiwan was Typhoon Hinnamnor in 2022. While the island reported no casualties, at least 10 were killed in South Korea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Philippines, Typhoon Rai in 2021, with wind speeds that reached more than 174mph, was one of the strongest and most destructive, killing more than 400 people. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. This online platform connects you with vetted financial advisors best suited to help you develop a plan for your new wealth. If youre unsure which path to take amid todays market uncertainty, it might be a good time to connect with a financial advisor through Advisor.com. But there are some parts of our economy, of our America, where actually the longevity is going down. Deaths of despair, the suicides, the opioid addiction [and] even the kinds of jobs that people have are shortening their lives. Not everyone is living longer, she stressed. There is a slice of the population that have had good healthcare [and] have had the kinds of jobs that enhance their health and their wellbeing and their skills. Theyre living longer. Ghilarducci thinks people need to dive deeper into the data around American life expectancy and how that relates to working longevity. Labor economist Teresa Ghilarducci, a renowned thought leader on U.S. retirement issues, slapped down Finks suggestion in a recent interview with Bloomberg's Sonali Basak. Whats the solution here? Fink pondered in his letter. No one should have to work longer than they want to. But I do think its a bit crazy that our anchor idea for the right retirement age 65 years old originates from the time of the Ottoman Empire. Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake heres what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how He raised the point that more Americans are retiring and their retirements are increasing by length. This, he claims, is having a massive impact on the countrys retirement system specifically the nations Social Security coffers, which are quickly running out of money. The billionaire, who chairs the world's largest asset management firm, kicked off his 2024 annual letter to shareholders by telling his readers it is time to rethink retirement. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink caused quite a stir when he suggested America could dodge its looming retirement crisis by encouraging people to continue working past age 65. We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some or all links contained within this article are paid links. Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Story continues Just answer a few quick questions about yourself and your finances and the platform will match you with an experienced financial professional. You can view their profile, read past client reviews, and schedule an initial consultation for free with no obligation to hire. You can view advisor profiles, read past client reviews, and schedule an initial consultation for free with no obligation to hire. Valid reasons for retirement One part of Americas so-called retirement crisis that Ghilarducci thinks experts including Larry Fink overlook is the fact that most people cannot decide when they retire. According to a 2018 Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis report, 52% of older workers claimed they were forced into involuntary retirement. Ghilarducci cited this stat, saying that older Americans are often forced to retire because of health issues like bad knees, metabolic disorders and stress or to take care of their aging spouse. This idea that workers can just decide to work longer is a myth because most people cannot decide whether or not to work or not, she stressed. While you may not have much choice over your employment later in life, there are things you can control, such as: how you manage your finances, when you decide to take Social Security, and how you save and invest your money so that you have enough to live off during your retirement. To tackle these choices, its important to first ensure your finances are in order. This begins with creating an emergency fund to ensure that unexpected expenses dont cause you undue financial stress. Read more: Here are the 7 top habits of quietly wealthy Americans how many do you follow? Preparing for the future While you may not have much choice over your employment later in life, there are things you can control, such as: how you manage your finances, when you decide to take Social Security, and how you save and invest your money so that you have enough to live off during your retirement. You can also benefit from a retirement savings vehicle that uses the strength of the gold market to potentially give you strong returns. A gold IRA is one option for building up your retirement fund with an inflation-hedging asset. Opening a gold IRA with the help of Goldco allows you to invest in gold and other precious metals in physical forms while also providing the significant tax advantages of an IRA. With a minimum purchase of $10,000, Goldco offers free shipping and access to a library of retirement resources. Plus, the company will match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver. If youre curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download your free gold and silver information guide today. Real estate investing in retirement You can continue to grow your nest egg, even after youve retired, with smart investments. Many retirees find that they can benefit from the hot real estate market and you dont need to buy a property to diversify your portfolio. With First National Realty Partners, accredited investors can invest in grocery-anchored commercial real estate properties and gain the potential for quarterly passive income. FNRP has developed relationships with the nations largest essential-needs brands, including Kroger, Walmart and Whole Foods, and provides insights into the best properties both on and off-market. FNRPs team offers white-glove service, managing every step of the investing process, so you can engage with experts, explore available deals and easily make an allocation, all in one personalized portal. Make sure your family is secure If youre worried about potential impacts to the availability of Social Security on your retirement, ensure youre doing everything you can to save for your future. Whether its you or your other family members, having financial security guaranteed by life insurance can mitigate the financial impact of losing a loved one. By opting for term life insurance through Ethos, you can help ensure that your family will be taken care of when youre no longer there. With Ethos, you can secure coverage in just 10 minutes online or via phone and approval is guaranteed regardless of any pre-existing conditions. Ethos also gives you the flexibility to select coverage amounts ranging from $2,000 to $100,000. With fixed rates, you can rest assured that your rates will never go up on your policy. Ethos offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you arent completely satisfied with their services. What to read next Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW) A Virginia man is dead after a deputy-involved shooting in Brunswick County, North Carolina, on Monday morning, the sheriffs office said. Deputies responded at about 5 a.m. to Mercantile Drive in the Leland area, the sheriffs office said. During the encounter, a deputy was hit by gunfire and suffered two gunshot wounds. That deputy was taken to a hospital and is currently receiving care, while the suspect Brandon Wayne Taylor, 34 was killed, according to the sheriffs office. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the shooting, which is standard procedure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No additional information was immediately available. * * * 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. It's time for crisp nights and pumpkin spice, because the first day of fall in Western North Carolina is upon us. Monday, Sept. 22, marks the autumnal equinox and the first day of fall across North America. And while we have had some warmer days leading up to it, temperatures in the mountains should begin to dip and become real sweater weather. Oh, and don't forget you'll soon spy changes in the leaves as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what Western North Carolina residents - and everyone else - should know about the fall season in 2025. What is the first day of fall 2025? The first day of fall arrives this year on Monday, Sept. 22 at 2:19 p.m. in the Northern Hemisphere. When is the fall equinox? An equinox marks the moment when the sun crosses the "celestial equator," which the Old Farmer's Almanac explains is an "imaginary extension of Earths equator line into space." On the equinox, the day and night are roughly equal in length. The fall or "autumnal" equinox marks the beginning of fall and is Monday, Sept. 22. Is the first day of fall always the same day? What is usually the first day of fall? The date of the fall equinox in the Northern Hemisphere falls between Sept. 21-24, depending on the year. SpaceWalk.com explains that in the 21st century, Sept. 22 is the most common first day of fall, happening 76 times. When does time change 2025? Daylight saving time will end for the year at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. What will fall weather be like in NC in 2025? The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts a cooler, drier fall season than normal in Western N.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In particular, the Almanac predicts that the average September temperature will be around 65 degrees with 3 inches of rain for the month and sunny, warm days early, followed by days with thunderstorms mid-month, then cooler with regional variations later in the month. In October, it predicts an average of 53 degrees with 2.5 inches of rain for the month, with scattered showers on days early to mid-month, then dry and warming towards the end of the month. Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: When is the first day of fall 2025? Weather expectations, time change Taliban rejects Trumps demand to return Bagram Air Base, citing Afghanistans sovereignty under the Doha Agreement. Trump warns bad things could follow if the US doesnt regain control. The Taliban on Sunday rejected US President Donald Trump's request to return Bagram Air Base, north of Kabul, back to the US military. Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat urged the Trump administration to pursue a policy of "realism and rationality." Afghanistan has consistently communicated with the US in all bilateral negotiations that the country's independence and territorial integrity are of the utmost importance to the Taliban government, Fitrat claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It should be recalled that, under the Doha Agreement, the United States pledged that it will not use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan, nor interfere in its internal affairs," he added. Washington needs to remain faithful to its commitments, he insisted. Outlets, including the Associated Press, reached out to Taliban chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid for comment, but he did not reply. Members of the Taliban carrying flags participate in a rally to mark the third anniversary of the fall of Kabul, in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 14, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/Sayed Hassib) Taliban military chief Fasihuddin Fitrat stated that negotiations over Bagram are "not feasible," the Taliban's official media, Bakhtar News Agency, reported. Fitrat claimed that Afghanistan is "undeterred by tyranny," commenting on the Taliban's 20-year-long "jihad" against the US and NATO, the report added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fitrat also said that "some people" want to take back Bagram through a "political deal," in comments broadcast by local media cited by France24. "Recently, some people have said that they have entered negotiations with Afghanistan for taking back Bagram air base...A deal over even an inch of Afghanistan's soil is not possible. We don't need it," he added. "The Afghans have not accepted a military presence in history, and this possibility was completely rejected during the Doha talks and agreement, but the doors are open for further interaction," Taliban foreign ministry official Zakir Jalaly wrote on X. Bagram is the largest air base in Afghanistan, and was the center of US operations in their war against the Taliban, France24 noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has criticized the loss of the base, specifically due to its proximity to China, France24 reported. Will the US send military personnel to reclaim the base by force? When asked whether the US military will send soldiers to reclaim the base, Trump answered that "We won't talk about that, but we're talking now to Afghanistan, and we want it back and we want it back soon, right away. And if they don't do it, you're going to find out what I'm going to do." Trump said on Saturday that if Afghanistan does not give back control of the Bagram air base to the United States, "bad things" will happen. "If Afghanistan doesnt give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN," Trump said in a Truth Social post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump expressed interest in reclaiming the Bagram Air Base from the Taliban to use in counterterrorism operations during a press conference in the UK on Thursday. The airbase, located in Afghanistan, could be a strategically advantageous location for counterterrorism operations against ISIS, a US official familiar with the discussions told The Wall Street Journal. CNN reported that the US administration may seek to regain the base for improved access to rare earth minerals as well as to potentially reopen a diplomatic facility. In August 2024, the Taliban celebrated the third anniversary of their takeover of the air base with a military display of US material left behind in 2021, during an operation conducted by the Biden administration, which Trump has repeatedly accused of "gross incompetence" for the way the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan was conducted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Taliban said that they reached an agreement with US envoys on a prisoner exchange as part of an effort to normalize relations, AP reported. The report noted that the Islamist group did not give details, and the White House did not issue any comments on the matter, but that the Taliban released photographs of talks between Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and the Trump administration's special envoy for hostage response, Adam Boehler. Jerusalem Post Staff and Reuters contributed to this report. JAMAICA, Queens (PIX11) A 17-year-old boy was stabbed after he was approached by five men for the chain around his neck in Queens late Sunday night, sources told PIX11 News. Police said it happened near Archer Avenue and Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica around midnight. The teenager, who was stabbed in the right arm after being approached by the suspects, fled into a subway station for safety, according to authorities. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the victim was taken to a local hospital, where hes expected to recover. Sources said the five men, who were all wearing dark-colored clothing, tried to take a chain off the boys neck. They all fled the stabbing in an unknown direction, according to sources. 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). 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. Thousands of workers and students across Italy joined a general strike and widespread demonstrations on Monday in solidarity with the Palestinians living in Gaza. Italys grassroots unions called for a 24-hour general strike in both public and private sectors, predominantly affecting public transport, trains, schools and ports. The strike caused disruptions across the country, with long delays for trains and limited public transport in major cities, including Rome and Milan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The transit of goods was slowed or partially blocked by workers' sit-ins and rallies in Italys main ports of Genoa and Livorno. It's the second day of strike action after a similar walk-off was called on Sunday by Italy's largest trade union, the Italian Confederation of Labour (CGIL). "The strike is taking place in response to the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip, the blockade of humanitarian aid by the Israeli army and the threats against the international Global Sumud Flotilla mission," a statement from the USB trade union federation said. People take part in a demonstration in Rome part of a nationwide protest and general strike against the war in Gaza, 22 September, 2025 - AP Photo "USB also denounces the inertia of the Italian government and the European Union, which refuse to impose sanctions on the State of Israel and continue to maintain economic and institutional relations despite the gravity of the situation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organisers of the rally in Rome say they expect around 100,000 people to attend. However, city authorities put the number at 20,000 gathered in front of the Termini central train station around midday Monday, adding that the number was not final and that it was rising. Related The Italian government headed by Premier Giorgia Meloni has more recently adopted a harsher tone on its policies as domestic pressure has mounted over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Italy has not joined the European countries including France and the UK that will formally recognise a Palestinian state at this weeks UN General Assembly in New York. A Romanian tourist spent nearly a month in prison after police mistook him for a wanted criminal on the first day of his holiday in Italy, his lawyer said on Friday. "The nightmare is over," Ovidiu A. said as he left Pordenone prison in northern Italy on Thursday, local newspaper Corriere del Veneto reported. "He was finally able to reunite with his family," who had been waiting for him since August 24, the day of his arrest, his lawyer Stefano De Rosa told AFP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Originally from Iasi, Romania, Ovidiu A. had come to spend a few days with his family in Caorle, near Venice. He would soon find out he shares a name with a wanted Romanian criminal, previously sentenced to two years in prison in Italy for aggravated theft. The name, registered at the hotel upon arrival, triggered an alert, and the tourist was arrested by the carabinieri at his first breakfast. His lawyer explained he had struggled to gather evidence proving it was a case of mistaken identity, as the initial trial for aggravated theft dated back to 2014 and the final sentencing to 2020. "The computer systems of the police, prison, court and carabinieri do not communicate with each other. I had to request documentation from each office," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Corriere del Veneto, the tourist and his family are expected to continue their holiday in Italy for a few more days before returning to Romania. Undated photo of a traditional wooden boat docked in a canal in the city Caorle, coastal town in the Metropolitan City of Venice, Veneto, Northern Italy. / Credit: Marica van der Meer/Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images He "has decided to enjoy at least a few days at the beach , which had been his goal," the newspaper reported. "The damage was enormous, but he faced it with great dignity and calm ," his lawyer told Corriere del Veneto. Webcams in the wild: Windows into nature that "soothe the soul" Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa says he wants to meet with President Trump again "Softly, as I Leave You": Priscilla Presley writes about her life after Elvis EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic landed in Indonesia on Monday with the hope of closing a trade deal with Jakarta. The intention certainly is to finalise political negotiations for an EU-Indonesia trade agreement, Commission deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill said. Last July, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reached a political agreement with her Indonesian counterpart President Prabowo Subianto, confident of concluding the negotiation in September this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By closing such a deal, the EU would secure access to a new market of around 280 million people. Bilateral trade in goods between EU and Indonesia reached 27.3 billion in 2024, with EU exports worth 9.7 billion and EU imports worth 17.5 billion. The bloc would also strengthen its position in the region, since Indonesia was the EUs fifth-biggest ASEAN trading partner in 2024. India considered a 'tough' negotiator Increasing trade access to new markets has become EUs top priority following the decision of its historic trade partner the US to impose tariffs on EU imports. Under a trade agreement reached in July by the Commission and the US administration, 15% tariffs apply to most EU goods, while 50% tariffs continue to apply to imports of EU steel and aluminium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EU has since stepped up efforts to strengthen economic ties with the rest of the world. It reached a political deal with the Mercosur countries - Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay in December, which if approved by EU member states and MEPs would create a free trade area covering 780 million people. The Commission is also aiming to finalise a landmark agreement with India this year. The talks have accelerated at the beginning of September with the Agriculture file reaching the negotiation table. But as Sefcovic noted on 12 September, New Delhi is a tough negotiator, and a swift outcome is not guaranteed. By Luciana Magalhaes SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazilian conglomerate Cosan's plan to raise up to 10 billion reais ($1.9 billion) through public offerings will go towards alleviating the company's debt, an executive said on Monday, adding none of the funds would go to helping Raizen, its embattled joint venture with oil major Shell. Although analysts welcomed the move, Cosan's shares plunged 21%, on track for their worst day ever. The losses wiped off around 3 billion reais from its market cap. Raizen's shares slipped 9%. "The capital will be used exclusively to de-leverage Cosan," CFO Rodrigo Araujo said during an investor call following the announcement of the capital hike. Cosan reported a net debt of 17.5 billion at the end of June, stable from the end of the first quarter. Raizen produces sugar and ethanol and is one of the biggest energy companies in Brazil, Latin America's largest economy. Low sugarcane yields have however hit its bottom line, debt and stock performance. Shell declined to comment on Cosan's deal. In addition to Raizen, Cosan's portfolio includes logistics firm Rumo, lubricants company Moove, natural gas firm Compass and agricultural property manager Radar. Its capital increase plan includes a 4.5 billion-real investment from BTG Pactual Holding, which has billionaire Andre Esteves among its partners, and an additional 2 billion reais from Perfin Infra Fund. Cosan's founder, Rubens Ometto, is set to contribute with 750 million reais through his family office, and a follow-up offering of up to 2.75 billion reais is also planned. Cosan executives said the move was not the "only step" in Cosan's deleveraging process, as the company will continue pursuing asset sales. It can now, however, wait for more favorable market conditions. MIXED REACTION Citi analysts said the deal implies a 40-50% dilution to current shareholders but should be positive as Cosan would enter "a new phase, which should be marked by deleveraging in the holding company." Ometto's holding firm Aguassanta, BTG and Perfin will control Cosan through a 20-year shareholders' agreement. The new board will be comprised of five members nominated by Cosan and four jointly appointed by BTG and Perfin. The financial restructuring also sets the stage for leadership succession at Cosan, the company said. Ometto, or a successor appointed by him, is expected to remain chairman for the next six years. UBS analysts said they saw Cosan emerging much healthier after the process. ($1 = 5.3378 reais) (Reporting by Luciana Magalhaes; Additional reporting by Leticia Fucuchima; Writing by Fernando Cardoso; Editing by Sarah Morland, Gabriel Araujo and Nia Williams) South Sudan has started holding a trial for First Vice President Riek Machar, who has been sacked by his decades-long rival, President Salva Kiir, and charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity in relation to rebellion and an attack by a militia linked with ethnic tensions. Machar and seven others who have been charged alongside him, including Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, were seen sitting inside a barred cage in the court on Monday during a live broadcast on national television. Machar has been held in house arrest at his residence in the capital, Juba, for months following investigations by the government of his allies. The Trial of Dr. Riek Machar Teny https://t.co/3T7CVp2ZDR South Sudan Eagles Media (@ssemtv) September 22, 2025 Earlier this month, a decree read on state radio said Kiir suspended the first vice president due to charges stemming from his alleged involvement in attacks by the White Army against federal forces in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White Army, a loose band of armed youths, attacked a military base in Nasir, northeastern South Sudan, and killed more than 250 soldiers on Machars orders, according to the government. Edmund Yakani, executive director of South Sudan activist group Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, told local media that the trial must be transparent and fair to build up trust in the judicial system. He urged both leaders and their parties to adhere to the principle of resolving political misunderstanding through dialogue rather than violence, which would benefit no one. Machars party, Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army-in Opposition (SPLM/IO), has called the charges fabricated and said its members were arrested illegally. Machars lawyer on Monday said an incompetent court that lacks jurisdiction is judging him. Fears of a return to ruinous civil war After the vice presidents arrest, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) called on all parties to exercise restraint and warned that they risked losing the hard-won gains of the past seven years and returning to a state of civil war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Sudan is the worlds youngest country and also one of its most impoverished. In 2013, two years after the country gained independence from Sudan following decades of war, oil-producing South Sudan descended into a civil war. The devastating conflict, which scarred the country and left some 400,000 people killed, pitted Kiir and his allies from the ethnic Dinka group against Machar, who is from the Nuer, the second-largest ethnic group in South Sudan. More than four million people, or about one-third of the population, were displaced from their homes before a 2018 peace deal saw the pair form a national unity government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But they never fully saw eye-to-eye, leaving the country in a state of limbo. Both leaders held on to their armed factions that were never fully integrated and unified despite agreements, while reforms were delayed, and presidential elections were repeatedly postponed. Armed clashes have erupted in several parts of the country over the past months, with both sides accusing each other of breaking ceasefire agreements. Authorities in South Sudan are, in the meantime, plundering billions of dollars in public funds as the impoverished country also deals with a deepening food crisis, according to the UN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The country has been captured by a predatory elite that has institutionalised the systematic looting of the nations wealth for private gain, the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan said last week. President Donald Trump has boasted that he halted a war between two countries that have never fought and are 4,000 miles apart. The U.S. president has repeatedly said how much he deserves to win the Nobel Peace Prize for stopping seven world conflicts, even though the number and his involvement are disputed. However, at the American Cornerstone Institutes Founders Dinner, Trump went even further by inventing a war he claimed to have solved. Trump made his scratching claims at the American Cornerstone Institute Founders' Dinner. / Tasos Katopodis / Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images It is unclear whether the artificial conflict was another senior moment for Trump, 79, or an attempt at self-promotion gone wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his bizarre and rambling speech, during which he listed the wars he claims to have ended, Trump drifted into the land of fantasy. Cambodia and Armenia, the 79-year-old said. It was just starting, and it was a bad one. Think of that. In reality, theres been no CambodiaArmenia conflict for anyone to settle. The distance between the two capitals, Phnom Penh and Yerevan, is around 4,150 miles. Cambodias flare-up was actually with Thailand, while Armenias long-running fight has been with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. In August, Cambodias Prime Minister joined Pakistan and Israel in nominating Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, crediting the U.S. presidents visionary and innovative diplomacy with halting his countrys border clashes with Thailand. Trump said the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia started an Oval Office peace meeting on opposite sides of the room. / TheDailyBeast/C-Span The nomination followed five days of hostilities in July that left at least 43 people dead and displaced more than 300,000. A truce began after phone calls from Trump and mediation by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, which paved the way for a ceasefire on July 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps slip was even more strange, given he had moments earlier told the audience at George Washingtons Mount Vernon about how hed helped end fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan, when the two leaders came to the Oval Office in August. While it is true that Trump hosted the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House and announced a peace declaration, whether it delivers a durable peace remains to be seen. He then went on, We have, uh, lets see, Cambodia, Armenia...we have Kosovo, Serbia, Israel, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia. Thats a beauty. They built the little dam in Ethiopia. Thats like the largest dam in the world. Trumps CambodiaArmenia mix-up is becoming part of a months-long pattern of geographical gaffes by the president. Just last Thursday, he garbled which countrys war hed solved, swapping nations entirely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, he blanked when trying to remember the name of the Pacific Ocean, and earlier this month, he bragged he had just left the Middle East despite his last trip there being months earlier. Hes also stumbled over basic facts and simple arithmetic. In a Fox News hit last Friday, Trump promised drug prices would drop 1,000 percent, which is a mathematical impossibility unless the government or drug companies plan to pay people to take meds. And during last weeks Windsor Castle appearance, Trump rambled through an error-strewn address. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told the Daily Beast: President Trump is righthis success in Making America Strong Again has helped him end seven wars around the world, in addition to many pre-wars that would have devolved into violence had he not intervened. The President has delivered so much peace that the low-IQ losers of the Daily Beast cant keep up. Sad! FALL RIVER Massachusetts schools are feeling pressure from the Trump administration to remove all "gender ideology" content from its sex education curricula but the Fall River Public School district is the exception. It was reported Sept. 2 that state health officials received letters from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) demanding that all references to transgender people from its Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) be eliminated within 60 days. This action reflects the Trump Administrations ongoing commitment to protecting children from attempts to indoctrinate them with delusional ideology, HHS said in a statement on Aug. 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federally funded PREP programs teach comprehensive sexual health education and life skills to middle and high school students in communities with the highest teen birth rates in Massachusetts, according to the state. PREP currently serves teenagers in these Massachusetts communities: Andover, Chelsea, Chicopee, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Pittsfield, Revere, Salem, Springfield, and Stockbridge. Fall River Public Schools Superintendent Tracey Curley speaks at a School Committee meeting June 9, 2025. In a Sept. 22 interview, Fall River Superintendent Tracy Curley recalled school districts being alerted to possible changes to health curricula that could risk funding in a superintendents meeting, but later learned that the citys public schools would not be impacted. Curley said the school system uses health curricula not designed by PREP. If no action is taken, schools could lose funding According to earlier USA Today reports, if the Massachusetts Department of Public Health does not comply with orders to nix gender ideology content in question by Oct. 27, the federal government could terminate up to $2.36 million in funding for the state's PREP educational materials, HHS warned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Gov. Maura Healey said her office was reviewing the directive. Advocates with the Human Rights Campaign argue that the directive is part of an attempt to erase government recognition of transgender people. GLAAD, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, calls gender ideology an inaccurate term, as it describes gender identity as a political construct or opinion that can be debated or argued about. By inaccurately claiming gender identity is an ideology, opponents of transgender people and their equality attempt to diminish the real need for legal protections to be treated equally and for social acceptance essential for trans and nonbinary peoples safety," GLAAD said on its website. WORCESTER - The crowd applauds during the Trans Day of Visibility rally at city hall on Friday. A center are State Sen. Robyn Kennedy, left, school committe member Sue Mailman and Guillermo Creamer Jr., Worcester Human Rights Commission Chair. What language is not allowed in the curricula, according to HHS? HHS said information relating to transgender people, including gender identity and pronouns, is outside the scope of [PREP's] authorizing statute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew Gradison, acting assistant secretary of HHS Administration for Children and Families, gave examples of content that the ACF thought should be nixed from PREP curricula in Massachusetts. Gradison cited a pamphlet called I Think I Might Be Transgender, Advocates for Youth, and an ACLU guide to supporting transgender students in K-12 schools, among other materials used in Massachusetts. He also urged the state to eliminate instructional materials regarding sharing pronouns during PREP lessons. Gradison pointed to problematic language in a list of gender-related definitions in the Massachusetts curricula, including those for gender identity and gender expression that are all on the chopping block when it comes to PREP programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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," Gradison said in a press release. President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., attend a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, Aug. 26, 2025. Lauren Powell, the communications director of the Human Rights Campaign, condemned the letters, saying such sex education programs are important for young people to keep themselves healthy. Sex education programs that do not acknowledge the existence of trans people fail in their goal to inform, and cutting this funding denies young people the information they need to make safe, healthy, and informed decisions about their own bodies, Powell said. GLAAD noted that major medical associations, including the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the World Health Organization, support health care for transgender people and youth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 2.8 million Americans, including 724,000 children ages 13 to 17, identify as transgender, according to an analysis of recent data from federal and state health departments by the University of California, Los Angeles. 45 states and territories notified, with nationwide impacts for trans populations Massachusetts wasnt the only state targeted. Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming all received letters. The territories of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C. also were notified. With USA Today Network reports. This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Mass. public schools could risk funding if no sex ed changes made A majority of Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump's job performance and have unfavorable opinions on some of his signature policies, according to a recent national poll. In a four-day Washington Post-Ipsos poll released Sept. 18, the president's approval rating stood at 43%, with 56% disapproving. The numbers are a slight uptick in his overall rating compared to the pollsters' last survey in April, which saw a near-historic low approval of 39%, with a similar 55% disapproval. The results hem closely to the New York Times' most recent polling averages, which put Trump at a 43% approval and 54% disapproval as of Sept. 21. The RealClearPolitics polling average stands a few points higher, with an average approval of 46% and a 52% disapproval, also as of Sept. 21. U.S. President Donald Trump is greeted by Viscount Henry Hood, representing Britain's King Charles, as he arrives for his state visit to Britain, at London Stansted Airport near London, Britain on September 16, 2025. Britain's Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper greets US President Donald Trump at Stansted Airport, eastern England, on September 16, 2025, on the first day of a two-day visit to the UK. US President Donald Trump arrived in the UK late Tuesday for a State Visit with his wife, Melania, a rare privilege made at the invitation of King Charles III. US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump disembark from Air Force One after landing at Stansted Airport, eastern England, on September 16, 2025, on the first day of a two-day visit to the UK. US President Donald Trump arrived in the UK late Tuesday for a State Visit with his wife, Melania, a rare privilege made at the invitation of King Charles III. The US President's aircraft, known as Air Force One, lands on the tarmac at Stansted Airport, eastern England, on September 16, 2025, on the first day of US President Donald Trump's visit in the UK. Trump is the first president ever to be invited for a second state visit, having been hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019, during his first White House term. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to a state visit in Britain on September 16, 2025. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump (L) walk to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on September 16, 2025. Trump is heading to the UK for a State Visit. Women have their photograph taken with a life-sized cardboard cutout of U.S President Trump on September 16, 2025 in Windsor, England. U.S. President Donald Trump is making an official state visit to the UK this week, including a series of events at Windsor Castle. Protests are also expected. US President Donald Trump speaks to the press prior to boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on September 16, 2025. Trump is heading to the UK for a State Visit. White House staff carry out a garment bag for U.S. President Donald Trump before departing for a state visit to Britain, at the White House in Washington, D.C. on September 16, 2025. Police officers man a gate in a security fence placed around The Long Walk for the duration of President Trump's state visit on September 16, 2025 in Windsor, England. U.S. President Donald Trump is making an official state visit to the UK this week, including a series of events at Windsor Castle. Protests are also expected. USA and British flags are displayed ahead of the state visit of U.S President Donald Trump on September 16, 2025 in Windsor, England. U.S. President Donald Trump is making an official state visit to the UK this week, including a series of events at Windsor Castle. Protests are also expected. A counter protestor holds a piece of paper reading 'RIP Charlie Kirk' as demonstrators protest against the forthcoming State Visit of US President Donald Trump, near Windsor Castle in Windsor on September 16, 2025. US President Donald Trump is set arrive in the UK late September 16, 2025 for a second State Visit with his wife Melania, at the invitation of King Charles III. President Trump travels to UK to meet PM Starmer, King Charles, Prince William 1 of 12 U.S. President Donald Trump is greeted by Viscount Henry Hood, representing Britain's King Charles, as he arrives for his state visit to Britain, at London Stansted Airport near London, Britain on September 16, 2025. The Post's poll also found that many Americans disapprove of the president's handling of some of the top issues facing the country, including the economy, immigration, tariffs, crime and the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survey was conducted Sept. 11-15 among 2,513 U.S. adults with a margin of error of 2 percentage points. Trump's handling of immigration, tariffs, foreign wars unpopular Crime was ranked as Trump's best issue in the poll. Still, 54% of Americans disapproved of his handling of the nation's crime, and 44% approved. As with the last several months of issue-specific surveys, tariffs and the economy earned Trump his lowest approval numbers. When it comes to the administration's tariffs on imported goods, 34% say they approve of the measures while 64% disapprove. On the economy, the survey found a 40% overall approval of the president's actions, with 59% disapproving. Trump news: President unveils new immigration fees: $100,000 for tech visas, $1M for permanent residency Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Partisanship in America hits historic peak in recent Gallup poll That's compared to a 44% approval rating of his immigration policies, shaking out to a 55% majority disapproval. Opinions on the president's handling of the two most significant foreign policy crises the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars hit similarly low benchmarks with majority disapprovals. When it comes to Israel and Hamas, the poll found a 39% approval and 58% disapproval. Approval of the president's work on the Russia-Ukraine war was at 38%, with 60% disapproving. President Donald Trump on Sept. 18, 2025, in Aylesbury, the United Kingdom. Beyond specific actions, the poll finds 62% of Americans think Trump has gone beyond his authority as president, while 36% think he has acted properly. In April, that same question garnered a slightly more positive split, with 60% saying he overstepped his authority, and 30% saying he had not overstepped. Trump's use of National Guard remains unpopular In the Washington Post-Ipsos poll, 37% said they approve of Trump's August deployment of National Guard troops to Washington and temporary takeover of the city's police department. The moves, which Trump has claimed is in response to crime rates, received a 47% disapproval rate. Members of the Louisiana National Guard patrol the perimeter of Union Station in Washington, DC, as President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops and federal takeover of Metro Police Department continues on Aug. 26, 2025. The president announced on Sept 15 he is deploying the National Guard in Memphis, Tennessee, and has discussed sending troops to other cities as well, including Chicago and New Orleans. The poll found opinions on the administration's expansion of its deployment of military forces to fight crime more divided, with 42% supporting the idea and 46% opposing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Americans say they trust Republicans over Democrats on crime by a 2-to-1 margin, according to the survey, leading with 44% versus Democrats' 22%. Another 33% said they don't trust either party on the issue. Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump approval poll, see where president stands on crime, immigration Danish offshore wind developer Orsted can restart work on the nearly finished Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island, a federal judge ruled on Monday, after President Donald Trump's administration halted the project last month. The ruling is a legal setback for Trump, who has sought to block expansion of offshore wind in U.S. waters. It is a palpable victory for Orsted, which has been losing $2 million a day since the project was halted on August 22. Revolution Wind is located 15 miles off the coast. Once completed, it is expected to produce enough electricity to power 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut. Dominion Energy's coastal Virginia offshore wind turbines are a part of the energy company's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse speaks at a Aug. 25 press conference with Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, members of the state's congressional delegation and union members blasting the Trump administration's move to stop the almost-complete Revolution Wind project. Union members working on the now-halted Revolution Wind project attend the Aug. 25, 2025, press conference in North Kingstown with Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee and members of the state's congressional delegation. The South Fork Wind Farm project is silhouetted in the morning sun off the starboard side off the Patriot State as it steams towards Buzzards Bay passing through Rhode Island waters. Photo on February 22, 2025. Dominion Energy's coastal Virginia offshore wind turbines are a part of the energy company's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. Trump doesn't like wind energy, so he's put offshore project on hold 1 of 5 Dominion Energy's coastal Virginia offshore wind turbines are a part of the energy company's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. Orsted's U.S.-listed shares were up nearly 9% at $11.60 following the ruling by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Interior Department said it would continue to review the project while work proceeds. "As a result of the Courts decision today, Revolution Wind will be able to resume construction as the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management continues its investigation into possible impacts by the project to national security and prevention of other uses on the Outer Continental Shelf," an Interior spokesperson said. Attorneys for the Trump administration had argued that the project, located off the coast of Rhode Island, failed to comply with conditions of its permit related to conflicts with national security and scientific ocean surveys. Revolution Wind disputed those claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of a two-hour court hearing in Washington, Lamberth issued a preliminary injunction that blocks the Trump administration from enforcing the order to halt construction. Lamberth, a senior judge appointed by Republican President Ronald Reagan, said the Trump administration had offered contradictory reasons for issuing its stop work order, and that the explanations offered weeks after the halt were the height of arbitrary and capricious government conduct. He also said Revolution Wind had reasonably relied on government assurances that were withdrawn without due process, imperiling a $5 billion investment. If Revolution Wind cannot meet benchmark deadlines, the entire project could collapse, Lamberth said. There is no doubt in my mind of irreparable harm to the plaintiffs. The South Fork Wind Farm project is silhouetted in the morning sun off the starboard side off the Patriot State as it steams towards Buzzards Bay passing through Rhode Island waters. Photo on February 22, 2025. Orsted and its joint venture partner Skyborn Renewables had asked for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit they filed earlier this month challenging the U.S. Interior Department's stop-work order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Revolution Wind will resume impacted construction work as soon as possible, with safety as the top priority," an Orsted spokesperson said in a statement, adding that it would continue to seek a resolution with the administration. Rhode Island and Connecticut have also sued the administration over the stop work order. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont issued a statement praising the ruling. "Todays ruling allowing Revolution Wind to resume work is extremely encouraging for workers and our energy future. We will continue to engage with the federal government on a durable path forward for this project and on shared energy priorities, Lamont said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Reporting by Jan Wolfe and Valerie Volcovici in Washington and Nichola Groom in Los Angeles; Editing by David Gregorio) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump can't block Rhode Island offshore wind project, judge says If you haven't heard of the Armenian-Cambodian conflict, that's okay, because neither has anyone else other than President Donald Trump, who claims to have ended the supposedly brewing clash. During the American Cornerstone Institute's Founders' Dinner at the Mount Vernon estate in Virginia Saturday, Trump again rattled off his peacemaking resume, the latest push in his desire to win a Nobel Peace Prize. One of the wars he mentioned ending was a conflict between "Cambodia and Armenia." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president did not elaborate on what allegedly set leaders in capitals Phnom Penh and Yerevan which are 4,150 miles apart against each other, but he assured the crowd that war "was just starting, and it was a bad one." There has been no conflict between Armenia and Cambodia. The 79-year-old president appears to have mixed up Armenia's tensions with Azerbaijan, and border violence between Cambodia and Thailand. U.S. President Donald Trump says he stopped war between Cambodia and Armenia, which are 4000 miles apart during a speech on Saturday at the American Cornerstone Institute's Fourth Annual Founders Dinner (REUTERS) To Trump's credit, his administration did help smooth over the latter conflict. In July, clashes at the CambodiaThailand border left 43 people dead and more than 300,000 displaced over a five-day period. Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim began making calls and mediated on the conflict. The nations agreed to a ceasefire on July 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet joined with Pakistan and Israel to nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize. He credited the U.S. president with using "visionary and innovative diplomacy" to help defuse the border crisis. It's possible that Armenia was simply on the president's mind when he made the slip-up during the dinner speech. Just before his gaffe, he had been discussing the very real conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region of Azerbaijan that is populated by ethnic Armenians. In August, the leaders of both nations met in the Oval Office and signed an agreement to end the conflict over the region. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shook hands during the meeting. Trump called the event "historic" at the time. Trump, center, shakes hands with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, right, and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev during a trilateral signing ceremony at the White House on August 8 (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) His Saturday night dinner stumble isn't the first time Trump has mixed up which countries he's allegedly helped out of conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer last week, Trump again bungled his brag, claiming that the U.S. "settled" a conflict between Azerbaijan which he struggled to pronounce and Albania. The same week on Fox News, he made the mistake again, and repeated it a third time while discussing his diplomatic victories on a conservative radio show. Trump who recently oversaw the renaming of the Defense Department to the Department of War has made clear he wants a Nobel Peace Prize, and has been frequently citing his diplomatic successes. In June, after he bombed nuclear facilities in Iran, Trump complained on Truth Social that I wont get a Nobel Peace Prize for this, before giving a list of negotiations brokered by his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, during an Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump complained that they will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize. Its too bad. I deserve it, but they will never give it to me, Trump said. In October, while he was on the campaign trail, he complained that former President Barack Obama received a Nobel Peace Prize during the first year of his presidency. If I were named Obama, I would have had the Nobel Prize given to me in 10 seconds, he told the Detroit Economic Club at the time. Donald Trump gave a vague response when pressed about a cryptic threat against the Venezuelan government he made during an unhinged post on his Truth Social platform. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, the president was asked to clarify his warning on Saturday that Venezuela would pay an incalculable price unless it took back prisoners and people from mental institutions from the U.S. Well, youre going to have to figure that out, was his unhelpful reply. Donald Trump took questions after attending the memorial service for Charlie Kirk in Arizona on Sunday. / Brian Snyder/Reuters The White House gave some sort of further clarification on the presidents remarks in a follow-up statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding in to our country and to bring those responsible to justice, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told the Daily Beast. The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela, it is a narco-terror cartel, and Maduro is not a legitimate president. He is a fugitive head of this cartel who has been indicted in the U.S. for trafficking drugs in to the country. The U.S. has already launched airstrikes against three Venezuelan boats that the Trump administration claims were being used to transport drugs into America. The first attack, which killed 11 people in international waters, has been described by critics as a serious violation of human rights, possibly amounting to a war crime. While speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested the aggressive tactics against alleged Venezuelan drug smugglers were working: You dont even find a fishing boat, you dont even find cruise liners anymore. Theres nothing in the water near Venezuela. Its actually strange, Trump added. You know what that means: That means there are no drugs coming in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump was then asked directly about his Truth Social post and the threat that went along with it. We want Venezuela to immediately accept all of the prisoners, and people from mental institutions, which includes the Worst in the World Insane Asylums, that Venezuelan Leadership has forced into the United States of America, Trump wrote. Thousands of people have been badly hurt, and even killed, by these Monsters. GET THEM THE HELL OUT OF OUR COUNTRY, RIGHT NOW, OR THE PRICE YOU PAY WILL BE INCALCULABLE! Trump has long suggested, without evidence, that people entering the U.S. illegally include those released from insane asylums. Critics have suggested the 79-year-old president is confusing asylum seekers with people from psychiatric hospitals. Donald Trump demanded the Venezuelan government accept the return of He STILL thinks asylum seekers are people from insane asylums, Adam Kinzinger, a former GOP congressman who was one of two Republicans on the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, posted while sharing a screenshot of Trumps remarks. Progressive broadcaster and political commentator Mehdi Hasan added: Whats more astonishing: 1) that the president clearly believes, and repeatedly suggests, that asylum seekers are people from mental asylums, or 2) that no journalist has ever challenged him on this and no mainstream media outlets have done any deep dives on this story? Explaining his move to rename the U.S. Department of Defense to the Department of War, as it was known before 1949, President Donald Trump explained it had "a stronger sound." It offered better messaging, too. "Defense is too defensive; we want to be offensive too," he said. The once and future Department of War would revive the spirit of the years when "we won everything." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's language -- and the logic behind it -- demonstrates how little America's current leaders have learned from the clear failures of their predecessors across 70 years. American policies after the Second World War achieved great things: substantially aiding the reconstruction of devastated Europe and Japan, for instance, while spearheading the building of an integrated global economy that fostered unparalleled growth. There were also grave flaws in American designs and actions, of course, though they rarely if ever stemmed from a lack of aggressive assertiveness and an appetite for winning. Trump's failure to diagnose the real roots of real problems portends a worsening of already terrible costs and consequences. Perpetual preparedness A key source of Trump's weaknesses is his shallow or distorted grasp of history. His failure here is understanding that the Department of Defense saw "offense" thoroughly embedded into its conception of defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Think "the best defense is a good offence" on steroids. George Kennan's famous "containment policy," for example, included calls for "unceasing pressure for penetration." The American military establishment created in the 1940s turbocharged earlier approaches to national security, moving limited spending and retrenchment between conflicts to proactive and perpetual preparedness. Because the world continued to be seen as a dangerous place even after 1945's victories, expanding military power was prescribed to deter aggressors or to prevail over them if push came to war. Emphasis on "the world" helps to explain the scale of power. Air power and other technological advances (in communications, for example) created the integrated international arena in which American leaders acted after the defeat of the Axis powers in the Second World War. There was a rapid and dramatic growth in the policy agenda. For the new Department of Defense, this meant unparalleled budgets: $997 billion by 2024 compared to China's $314 billion (greater than any other countries in the 1940s and ever since). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also produced global reach greater than any empire in history: there are almost three million members of the U.S. armed forces today, based in 70 countries. American power Trump fails to grasp (or chooses to ignore) the fact that this vast power was used regularly and aggressively: There were large-scale interventions from Korea and Indochina to Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. There were massive transfusions of equipment, training and personnel into NATO and other countries on every continent, including Israel, Pakistan, Brazil and Australia. There was Pentagon co-operation with other agencies engaged in all-of-government efforts -- overt and covert operations that ranged from intelligence gathering (including espionage), destabilization and coups (for example in Iran, Guatemala, Chile) and assassinations (including repeated attempts on Cuban leader Fidel Castro and the frequently assumed association with the deaths of Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba, Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo and South Vietnam's Ngo inh Diem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Defense" served both as the foundation and the justification for the evolution of many elements of this repertoire over the decades. Failures A cost accounting of aggressive/offensive defense in the past is disturbing. The tabulation of a 75-year record has filled countless volumes, but two striking examples attest to some major failures: A lack of "winning" in large-scale military operations: A "truce" in the Korean peninsula in 1953, giving way to failures in Indochina, Iraq and Afghanistan. (Success in Kuwait in 1990-91 does not significantly alter this problematic balance.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Continued independence and resistance from states once thought weak enough to be managed, in particular Cuba and Iran. Dubious results also had staggering price tags. There were 36,000 American deaths in Korea; 58,000 in Vietnam; 7,000 deaths and 53,000 wounded military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. Trillions of dollars were devoted to defense spending at the expense of economic and social programs on the home front. Trump seems to believe that, with the Department of War, he's replacing post-1945 defense policies rather than doubling down on them, meaning he is intensifying the offensive/aggressive approaches without grappling with their flaws. In particular, he has no apparent grasp of what bedeviled the post-1945 American drive for global domination. American arrogance Democratic Sen. J. William Fulbright famously critiqued the "arrogance of power" in the 1960s, countering the U.S. presumption of a right to impose values on distant corners of the world like Southeast Asia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other critics of the Vietnam War further questioned whether the U.S. had sufficient manpower and intellectual or economic resources to achieve its goals. Wasn't the world too large and complex, with too many rival players and independent allies, and too many ever-evolving challenges, for one country to imagine holding global management capacities in its hands? In recent years, former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden began to apply a pragmatic calculus to conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, even if their core vision continued to exhibit historic "Manifest Destiny" concepts. One example is Obama's attempt to determine an effective troop level in Iraq while simultaneously retaining his faith in American "exceptionalism." Trump's determination to go on the offensive threatens to reverse even tentative adjustments to American aspirations of global domination. He is reviving attitudes like those of former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice early in the Afghanistan war, when she chided cautious generals by saying "I'm an American. Nothing is impossible." Trump's threats The magnitude of Trump's ego (his "I alone" mentality) risks intensifying such a revival - with potentially serious consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attacks on Venezuelan boats said to be carrying drugs, a failure to rein in Israel's expanding campaigns in Gaza and the deployment of National Guard forces to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Memphis are strong hints of what may be coming. Recalling Trump's speculations about military operations against Greenland and Canada just months ago makes it impossible to dismiss anxiety about his intentions. Ronald W. Pruessen is an emeritus professor of history at the University of Toronto. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions in this commentary are solely those of the author. Suppose you give Donald Trump everything he wants and he still finds a way of letting you down? With their skies menaced by Russian MiGs and killer drones, Natos frontline states must be asking themselves that question. As the sun sets on the pomp and circumstance of the Presidents State Visit, the British Government should have the cold realism to do the same. What if we and our European allies do Mr Trumps bidding and praise him to the heavens, while massively increasing our defence spending, but he still imperils our safety by wilfully ignoring reality and relentlessly indulging Vladimir Putin? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The evidence suggests that Mr Trump may be doing exactly that. I was at the Nato summit in The Hague in June, watching the President take the stage to hail a tremendous occasion with the great leaders of wonderful countries. The gathering had been filled with achievement, including a communique that stated all over again the ironclad commitment of America and every other ally to Natos collective defence as enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty: that an attack on one is an attack on all. b' Europe are preparing in case Russia invades ' But what happened next? Barely eight weeks later, the Trump Administration disclosed that America would no longer fund the Baltic Security Initiative: a programme designed to strengthen the defences of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which are the most threatened of all Nato allies, worth about $228 million (170 million) each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you are in charge of a superpower, every decision of this kind inevitably sends a signal to your adversary. And the message to Putin was that Americas commitment to defending Nato members was not quite as ironclad as advertised at the summit in The Hague. Then came Russias drone attack on Poland on 9 September, when more than 20 of the flying objects penetrated the countrys airspace, three of which were shot down. On the face of it, the operation to protect Polish skies amounted to a textbook success for Nato. When Polish F-16s were scrambled to intercept the intruders, they were joined by Dutch F-35s, guided by an Italian surveillance aircraft and protected by German air defence batteries on the ground. The Poles were not left to defend themselves alone: the alliance went into action. That might have been a powerful demonstration of unity and resolve had it not been for Mr Trumps reaction. Could have been a mistake, was his laconic response on 11 Sept to the biggest hostile incursion into Nato airspace in the 76-year history of the alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With those words, the President defied common-sense (the intrusion of a small armada of more than 20 drones was obviously not a mistake) and publicly contradicted Polands stark assessment of the incident, which was that a line had been crossed and the country was closer to open conflict than at any time since the Second World War, in the words of Donald Tusk, the prime minister. Somehow Mr Trump managed to convert what should have been a story of alliance unity and effectiveness into one of division, weakening any deterrent effect of the operation to protect Polish skies. Last Thursday, Russia duly went further by sending three MiG-31 fighters into Nato airspace over Estonia, where they loitered for 12 minutes within easy reach of the countrys capital, Tallinn. These incidents show that we are witnessing a concerted Russian campaign against Nato, designed to probe and test the alliances defences, identifying weaknesses and sometimes inflicting actual damage (a house was destroyed during the drone attack on Poland) while just about avoiding open warfare by staying inside what specialists call the grey zone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every time Mr Trump describes the obviously deliberate as accidental, and every time he scales back Americas efforts to bolster the defences of European allies, he emboldens Putin to escalate Russias campaign. That must, in turn, increase the possibility of actual conflict. Meanwhile, the Baltic states and Poland will be asking what they have to do to secure Americas unequivocal support against Putins aggression. All four of these countries not only meet, or are on the verge of meeting, Natos new target to invest 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence, they comfortably outspend America itself. When it comes to defence expenditure as a share of GDP, the latest Nato figures show Poland on 4.5 per cent, Lithuania at 4 per cent, Latvia hitting 3.7 per cent and Estonia achieving 3.4 per cent, comfortably ahead of Mr Trumps America on 3.2 per cent. Even so, these allies seem unable to rely on the Presidents wholehearted backing, which can only encourage Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The purpose of every incursion by every drone or MiG is to divide Nato and sow distrust within the alliance. Putin wants to force the targeted states to doubt Americas commitment to their defence and question whether, if open warfare were to break out, they might find themselves fighting Russia without their superpower ally. So far, Mr Trump has acted as the perfect foil to Putins psychological campaign. As Nato reviews the rules of engagement for its fighter pilots and considers exactly when they should be willing to shoot down a Russian MiG, Putin wants the allies to consider how Mr Trump would react to any such escalation. If a European ally were to destroy a Russian jet and kill its pilot, even while obeying the rules of engagement and responding to grave provocation, would Mr Trump support or denounce this act? Would he blame Russia for triggering the escalation, or condemn his ally for defending itself? No-one can say. That fact alone must inhibit Natos response and embolden Putin. You can fete Mr Trump, you can flatter him, you can even outspend him on defence. But you cannot stop him from being what he is and believing what he believes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the end, he does not believe in alliances and he revels in being unpredictable. That helps Putin and endangers the rest of 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. The British Business Bank (BBB) has entered an agreement with 4Syte to provide an ENABLE Guarantee, supporting up to 100m ($117.4m) facility. This agreement is expected to enhance 4Syte's capacity to extend invoice finance and asset-based lending to smaller businesses across the UK. The ENABLE Guarantees programme aims to support lenders to increase their financing to smaller enterprises by reducing the capital required for such lending. The UK Government, under this scheme, shares a portion of the lending risk, in return for a fee, to promote debt finance to SMEs. British Business Bank Structured Financial Institution Solutions managing director Michael Strevens said: Working with a new delivery partner in 4Syte and alongside an established funder like NatWest demonstrates our commitment to increasing the diversity of providers in the wider lender market, supporting them at whatever stage of their journey they are on. Funding for this initiative, provided by NatWest Bank, is partially guaranteed by the British Business Bank, which is anticipated to double 4Syte's existing funding facility. 4Syte is an independent invoice finance provider in Chelmsford, Essex, and has additional offices in London, Leeds, and Banbury. Established in 2016, the company provides a range of financial services, including construction finance, trade finance, and asset-based and secured lending to support SMEs in their growth and financial management. 4Syte Group managing director Nick Sellars said: This facility demonstrates the commitment of the British Business Bank, NatWest and 4Syte to the SME sector and its vital role in driving growth across the UK. We are delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside such esteemed institutions, and we look forward to continuing our service-led offering to support and inspire UK businesses. Last month, the British Business Bank agreed to provide Close Brothers with up to 300m under the ENABLE Guarantees programme. The funds from this deal will support Close Brothers' asset finance portfolio, which offers hire purchase, sale and hire purchase back, and leasing options. "British Business Bank offers 4Syte with 100m funding facility" was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand. Palestinian statehood is set to take center stage at the United Nations General Assembly this week, as a flurry of Western nations announced their official recognition ahead of the meeting despite fierce opposition from Israel and the United States. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal departed from decades of policy on Sunday by recognizing the State of Palestine outside of negotiations with Israel. France followed suit on Monday ahead of a landmark conference it was co-chairing with Saudi Arabia on the two-state solution. Belgium, Malta, San Marino, Andorra and Luxembourg were also due to recognize Palestinian statehood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Which countries have recognized a Palestinian state? The question of Palestinian statehood, which has been a focus of General Assembly meetings since soon after its founding, is expected to feature heavily in the speeches from world leaders as part of the General Debate that starts on Tuesday. The recognitions come in response to Israels continued assault on Gaza and increased illegal settlement building in the West Bank, actions that Israels allies and foes alike say destroy the chances of a future Palestinian state. Today, around 150 out of 193 U.N. member states recognize Palestinian statehood, including most of the Global South. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the push will face fierce opposition from President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both of whom will likely speak out against the move at the General Assembly this week. President Trump was asked during his unprecedented second state visit to the U.K. last week about his thoughts regarding the countrys plan to recognise Palestine. Simply, I want the hostages released now, right now, not one, twoWe have to remember October 7, one of the worst, most violent days in the history of the world, said Trump in response to a question on why he disagreed with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmers plan. I have a disagreement with the Prime Minister on that score, one of our few disagreements, said the President in a press conference alongside Starmer on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. has long argued that a Palestinian state should only be born from negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. That was also the position of most Western nations until this week. But negotiations have not been held since 2014, and Netanyahu has said repeatedly that he will not allow a Palestinian state. "It will not happen," he said on Sunday. "A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River." Starmer waited until Trump had left the UK to make his announcement, explaining that the decision was "to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution." "With the actions of Hamas, the Israeli government escalating the conflict, and settlement building being accelerated in the West Bank, the hope of a two-state solution is fading. But we cannot let that light go out," Starmer said in a video statement on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called his countrys upcoming recognition a symbolic, immediate, political decision that demonstrates France's commitment to the two-state solution, speaking to TV1. Israel condemned the decisions by the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Portugal to recognize Palestine, with Netanyahu saying the move amounted to a prize for Hamas. Israels Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon called recognitions of Palestinian statehood empty declarations that ignore the reality, on Sunday. The defeat of Hamas and the end of the war will not be achieved by performative speeches at the UN, but by the sustained pressure and activities on the ground by the State of Israel, said Danon. Despite calling Israels ongoing ground offensive in Gaza completely the wrong approach, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul says that a recognition of Palestine would not come at the upcoming General Assembly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A negotiated two-state solution is the path that can enable both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, security, and dignity. For Germany, the recognition of a Palestinian state is more likely to be at the end of the process, said Wadephul on Monday. The international community has long called for the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, largely in line with the borders that existed before the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, as set out in U.N. Security Council Resolution 242. But the prospect of a two-state solution has dimmed after decades of illegal Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank has encroached on land that would have constituted a Palestinian state. Most states and international legal bodies, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) consider West Bank settlements illegal. In Gaza now, too, some 90% of the population has been displaced, and much of the territory has been made unlivable by widespread Israeli bombing. The Hamas terror attack on southern Israel on October 7, which killed nearly 1,200 people, has only hardened Israeli positions towards the two-state solution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flurry of recognition comes amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza as Israels operations continue in Gaza City, the territorys most populated area. More than 400,000 Palestinians have fled the city as Israeli strikes continue, whilst thousands have remained due to fears of displacement once again, despite food shortages and lack of access to shelter. The U.N. has reported the destruction of whole neighborhoods during Israels ongoing operations in Gaza City from controlled detonations, as well as 28,000 confirmed cases of malnutrition amongst children under five years old across July and August. Famine was recently declared in the Gaza governorate in the territory, with the areas of Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis expected to follow similar confirmation by the end of September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An independent U.N. commission concluded last week that Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza, with Netanyahu inciting genocide, alongside former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and President Isaac Herzog. The International Association of Genocide Scholars also reached the same conclusion, passing a resolution on August 31 alleging that Israeli policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide, per the U.N. 1948 Convention on genocide. Israel has staunchly denied such allegations, with the Foreign Ministry calling the U.N. Commission report distorted and false. Israel warned on West Bank annexation after Palestinian statehood recognition Prior to Mondays meeting at the U.N., U.K Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has warned Israel not to further annex parts of the West Bank in response to Britains recognition of Palestine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have been clear to the Israeli government that they must not do that and we have been clear that this decision that we are taking is about the best way to respect the security for Israel as well as the security for Palestinians, said Cooper when asked by the BBC about Israel using her governments announcement as a pretext for annexation. Israeli soldiers on guard as illegal settlers move through the Palestinian town of Hebron, West Bank on September 20, 2025. Amer Shallodi - Anadolu via Getty Images Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the only response to the anti-Israeli move is sovereignty over the homeland of the Jewish people in Judea and Samaria, referring to the Biblical names for the area now called the West Bank. He added that the idea of a Palestinian state was foolish on Sunday. In August, Smotrich also announced a new Israeli settlement expansion plan, including 3,000 new housing units across the West Bank. Over 737,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as of March 2025, and settlement expansion has seen rapid increases in recent years under the current Israeli government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 30,000 new housing units have also been approved across both territories since November 2023. Another far-right member of Israels cabinet, Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has called for the immediate application of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria and the complete crushing of the 'Palestinian' terror authority. Both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have long called for the complete annexation of the West Bank, which is administered by the Palestinian Authority in part and Israel in other areas. The two ministers were sanctioned by a number of countries earlier this year, including the U.K., Canada and Australia, for inciting extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. Contact us at letters@time.com. The memorial for Charlie Kirk, held Sunday, Sept. 21, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, was a head-spinning affair. Over the course of five hours, there were moments as genuinely powerful as when Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, said she forgave her husband's killer. And as ugly as Donald Trump, well, being Donald Trump. "That young man, I forgive him," Erika Kirk said. It was a remarkable thing to see. But then there was this, remarkable in a different way: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He did not hate his opponents," Trump said of Kirk. "He wanted the best for them. Thats where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I dont want the best for them. Im sorry." As bad as that sounds, presidential adviser Stephen Miller was worse. A reminder that this was a memorial service. And a truly confounding TV experience. A memorable memorial: Huge crowds flock to Charlie Kirk service, leave exhausted and uplifted Charlie Kirk's memorial was a bizarre TV experience "I feel like we took a journey from the sacred to the profane," CNN's David Axelrod said. Spot on. Kirk, 31, was murdered Sept. 10 while hosting an event at a Utah college. The shooting shocked the nation, and has proved difficult for some news outlets to cover. Kirk's death was a tragedy. He was controversial, no doubt, often making confrontational and purposely provocative statements to make his points. And his death has led to all sorts of political fallout and a widening of the political divide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It didn't have to. In times like this, especially when there is political violence, you need the president, regardless of who it is, to bring the country together," Xochitl Hinojosa said on CNN. "And that has not happened. This was an opportunity for Trump to do that, and he did not do that." Unless you were watching on Fox News. Lawrence Jones on Fox News praised Trump's speech "What a moment that was, the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, playing the role of consoler in chief, not just to Erika Kirk but to the entire conservative movement," Lawrence Jones, who co-hosted the Fox News coverage of the memorial, said after Trump's speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can describe Trump's speech a lot of ways, but consoling is not one of them. Even some conservatives agreed. "If anybody was expecting to get a consoler-in-chief speech, I think they were sadly mistaken," David Urban, a former Trump campaign adviser, said on CNN. "This president wasnt going to deliver it. This sounded more like a rally speech that the president would have given anywhere, some Charlie Kirk mixed in." It really did. And it capped a long day in which politics and religion were inextricably mixed. Most of the speakers, who included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., steered clear of blaming the left. There was definitely some us-and-them feeling to their words, but nothing as explicit as what Trump said, several times. "I call it the radical left," Trump said. " Sometimes I call it the radical left lunatics. But Charlie didnt say that. He called it the left. He was probably right, but I cant help it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Its not true that President Trump cant help himself," CNN's David Chalian said afterward. "He can. He chooses not to." Kirk was compared to Moses, George Washington and Jesus The televised portion of the service began with religious-themed speakers hardly surprising at a memorial service. By the time the day was over, Kirk had been compared to Moses, St. Stephen (the first martyr), George Washington, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and, yes, Jesus. Christ died at 33 years old," Kennedy said. "But he changed the trajectory of history. Charlie died at 31 years old. But because he had surrendered, he also has now changed the trajectory of history. History was a big theme, as was martyrdom. It would have been unusual for ministers and non-politicians to make overtly political statements though Kirk's movement often blurred those lines. As did, eventually, his memorial service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jack Posobiec, the far-right conspiracy theorist, said, "We will never, ever, let the left, the media or the Democrats forget the name of Charlie Kirk. We will overcome their evil." To be clear: This was someone powerful enough in the MAGA movement to speak at the memorial calling the media and Democrats evil. And these are the people who complain about the divisive rhetoric on the "lunatic left." That was nothing compared to Miller, who began his remarks with, "Hello, Turning Point. Hello patriots. Hello to our fearless president, Donald J. Trump." Remember, no matter the event, for these folks there is always an Audience of One. Stephen Miller railed against political enemies. It was dark and ugly Miller railed against political enemies in dark terms. Here's a sampling: Our enemies cannot comprehend our strength, our determination, our resolve, our passion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will prevail over the forces of wickedness and evil. They cannot imagine what they have awakened. They cannot conceive of the army they have arisen in all of us. "We stand for what is good, what is virtuous, what is noble. And to those trying to incite violence against us, those trying to foment hatred against us, what do you have? You have nothing. You are nothing. You are wickedness, you are jealousy, you are envy, you are hatred. You are nothing." Once again, I think it's important to point out that this was a memorial service. And for a lot of it, it seemed like one, albeit one for someone deeply enmeshed in conservative politics. Remembrances of him as a father and husband, as well as an important figure in politics, struck a tone familiar to such events, because it's appropriate. Trump bringing up the 2020 election during his remarks ("They cheated like dogs but we got 'em back, didn't we?") definitely did not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that's what you get when you invite Trump to speak. It's going to become all about him at some point. Kirk's memorial was no different. Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook:facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Media commentary with a side of snark? Sign up for The Watchlist newsletter with Bill Goodykoontz. Charlie Kirk's death is tragic: And the truth is still the truth This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump turned Charlie Kirk memorial into 'profane', ugly TV | Opinion Poland will respond resolutely to further violations of its airspace, including the possible downing of aircraft that enter its territory and pose a threat, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Monday. The government was ready to take such a decision in extreme cases, Tusk told a press conference in Sierakowice in the north of the country, according to Polish media reports. The situation was less clear-cut in other scenarios, he said, when it is necessary to proceed with caution and think twice before making a decision that could lead to a serious escalation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prime minister cited Friday's incident, in which two Russian fighter jets approached a Polish drilling platform in the Baltic Sea at low altitude without violating the Polish border. Tusk also emphasized the role of allies. Poland must be sure that they would treat the incident in the same way and that Warsaw would not be left alone in the event of an escalation of the conflict. Russian jets over Estonia and drones in Poland Recent airspace violations by Russia have unsettled NATO allies in Europe, with repeated talk of provocations by Moscow. According to Estonia, three Russian fighter jets entered its airspace for 12 minutes on Friday. Russia rejected this version of events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The week before, Polish and NATO forces shot down Russian military drones for the first time, after some 19 drones entered Polish airspace during an airstrike on Ukraine. According to Tusk, fragments of 18 drones have been found in several areas in the east and centre of Poland. None of them has been classified as armed or dangerous so far. However, the search for debris and its examination is not yet complete, he said. An investigation is underway after a fire at a three-story apartment building in Portland early Sunday morning resulted in the deaths of two individuals. According to the Maine Fire Marshal, the Portland Fire Department responded to the fire at approximately 2:17 a.m. on Sunday at 43 St. Lawrence Street. The building, which housed four units, was fully occupied at the time of the incident. Firefighters encountered heavy fire conditions on the rear porch of the building and confirmed that evacuation efforts were underway. Despite these efforts, two individuals were found deceased inside the structure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deceased were transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for autopsies to determine the cause of death and establish positive identification. The Maine State Fire Marshals Office is working in coordination with the Portland Fire Department and Portland Police Department to conduct an origin and cause investigation. The American Red Cross is providing assistance to tenants displaced by the fire. The fire remains under investigation, and authorities are seeking information or video related to the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Portland Police Department or the Maine State Fire Marshals Office. 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 The United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on Iran at UN headquarters on September 19, 2025, in New York. Credit - Angela WeissAFP/Getty Images Eighty years ago, the Allied victors of World War II founded the United Nations to prevent future wars and shape the postwar order. They agreed that five powers the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, China, and Francewould play a dominant role within it. These five permanent, veto power-wielding members of the U.N. Security Councilthe P5would be the worlds policemen. As world leaders gather in New York for the annual meetings of the U.N., few would argue that the P5 are fulfilling the ambitions of the organizations founders. The P5 are at odds over the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, nuclear diplomacy with Iran, and crises from Sudan to Myanmar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Cold War, the divisions between the major powers were sometimes so intense that the Security Council did not meet for months. But they were also able to use the Security Council as a space to manage conflictssuch as clashes between Israel and the Arabs statesand avoid escalation. The five powers found a new spirit of cooperation at the end of the Cold War. The Security Council backed the 1991 U.S. campaign to drive Iraq out of Kuwait and the U.N. oversaw a wave of peacekeeping operations and sanctions regimes. This level of cooperation has faded since the turn of the century, as the P5 butted heads repeatedly over issues like the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the civil war in Syria. Russias invasion of Ukraine sparked a further, rapid decline in relations. The U.N. still maintains peacekeepers in places like South Sudan and Lebanon, but the Security Council often gridlocks over major crises. In 2024, the disagreements between the P5 resulted in the Security Council ending up passing the least number of resolutions41in any year since 1991. While the U.N. often faces harsh criticisms for its failures to prevent and halt wars, the Security Council ultimately only reflects the realities of geopolitics. In a competitive and multipolar world, it is not surprising that the veto powers are less able to find compromises on crises than in the 1990s. Many U.N. member states find the idea of these five powers having outsized powers at the organizationand in the world at largeanachronistic. Weighty states, such as India and Brazil, want permanent seats of their own on the Security Council. African governments complain that their former colonial masters still try to dictate the continents affairs through the U.N. And Ukrainian diplomats question whether Russia, having taken the Soviet seat in the 1990s, has the legal right to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a case that the P5 mechanism makes sense in a fractured geopolitical environment, despite numerous member states complaining about it. In a period of constant friction, the Security Council is one space in which Chinese, Russian, and American diplomats can engage on a daily basis. Despite their rifts, the permanent members of the Security Council still agree on a wide range of subjects from aid operations to sanctioning jihadists. Donald Trump and the United Nations The idea of the P5 working as a big power steering committee also appears to appeal to the Trump Administration, which has very little affection for the U.N. Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, U.S. diplomats have been telling their P5 counterparts that they want to see the group cooperating better again. This is a shift from the U.S. positions during the Biden Administration, when the U.S., Britain and France limited contacts with Russia over its aggression against Ukraine, and U.S. officials went on a global listening tour to hear other nations proposals on Security Council reform. In Sept. 2024, during the end of the Biden Administration, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced U.S. support for the addition of two permanent seats for African nations on the Security Council, and one seat to be rotated among small island developing states. American diplomats have indicated that President Donald Trump will not be pursuing these reform proposals. The Trump Administrations changes in policies toward the U.N. have had a notable effect on the diplomatic mood in New York. The Russians, who were resentful of Western efforts to freeze them out over Ukraine, have toned down their anti-American rhetoric. Small and mid-sized countries that were energetically pursuing Security Council reform have backed off and are waiting for a clear signal of whatif anythingTrump will say about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolstering the P5 may align with Trumps overall preference to cut diplomatic deals with other major powers, but it has some significant flaws. Not the least of these is that the five powers disagree on almost every first order security question that has come before the Security Council in 2025. It is hardly unusual for the five powers to split over international crises, but the current situation is unusually fluid. The Security Council and the battles over Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran Several conflicts, especially Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran, are splitting the five permanent members dominating the Security Council in different ways. In February, the U.S. shocked France and Britain by tabling a Security Council resolution calling for a quick peace between Russia and Ukraine that made no reference to Kyivs right to territorial integrity. The move, soon after the acrimonious meeting between Trump and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, signaled that the Trump Administration wanted a new relationship with Russia. Since then, the U.S. stance on Ukraine in Security Council debates has fluctuated as the Trump Administration has vacillated between challenging and cajoling Moscow. European diplomats worry that Washington could side with Moscow in future. On the war in Gaza, the U.S. alone continues to block resolutions criticizing Israel. Britain and Franceand the elected members of the Security Councilare demanding an immediate ceasefire. China and Russia had already taken that position. The split between Western permanent members of the Security Council predates President Trumps return to office. France has supported resolutions demanding a ceasefire in Gaza since 2023. Britain initially leaned toward the Biden Administration in defending Israel, but switched to aligning with the French after the Labour government replaced the Conservatives in July 2024. This division will be on display in New York. On Sept. 22, France and Britain are set to confirm that they formally recognize the State of Palestine in a special conference. Canada, Australia, and Belgium will also offer recognition. While this conference will take place outside the Security Council, the symbolism of two of three Western powers among the P5 making this choice gives it great diplomatic resonance. (China and Russia have recognized Palestine for decades). The U.S. has made its displeasure clear by refusing Palestinian officials visas to visit New York. Washington can also use its veto in the Security Council to stop any push to give the Palestinians full U.N. membership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Iranian case has divided the P5 on more predictable lines. In August, Britain and Francejoined by Germanyinitiated Security Council proceedings to restore the U.N. sanctions on Iran that were suspended as part of the nuclear deal in 2015. All five permanent members of the Security Council had supported the deal. The Trump Administration has backed their efforts. (Hoping to stabilize relations with Iran, the Europeans had objected to President Trumps attempts to restore the sanctions on Iran during his first term.) While endorsing the Iran nuclear deal in 2015, the Security Council had negotiated a complex diplomatic arrangement, which ensures that China and Russia cannot veto proposals to reimpose the U.N. sanctions on Iran. But Russia has been especially critical of the European effort to reimpose sanctions on Iran, arguing that the Europeans failed to implement economic commitments to Iran and lost the right to trigger the return of sanctions. A lack of good options These multiple disagreements mean that a unified P5 is not going to step up to direct global security any time soon. But the P5 mechanism still has a certain residual value. One of the potential strengths of the Security Counciland of the P5 grouping, in particularis that it creates a space where divided powers can agree to disagree on some topics, while keeping up cooperation on others. In tough scenarios, it is a format in which the major powers can spell out their red lines and look for potential off ramps. The very fact that P5 members are able to combine and recombine in different groupings over different crises is a strength. It is a club where diplomats canwhen necessaryform flexible alliances on a case by case basis rather than simply pursue West vs. East competition. Instead of expecting the five powers to find common ground on major crises in the years ahead, it may be more realistic to see the P5 grouping as a space where they can pursue deconfliction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a good rule of international diplomacy that new institutions are hard to build, and it is unwise to dismiss old ones out of hand. In a period of high geopolitical risk, there is still a case that having the five veto powers keep up a minimum of cooperation is a global public good. Contact us at letters@time.com. European allies warned they would shoot down Russian jets or drones involved in any further violations of NATO airspace during a fiery emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday. Estonia, a NATO member, requested the meeting after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission on Friday. At the meeting, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Moscow was risking a direct armed confrontation between NATO and Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our alliance is defensive, but be under no illusion if we need to confront planes that are operating in NATO airspace without permission, then we will do so, she said. And in what was his first appearance as the new US ambassador to the UN, Michael Waltz told the Security Council that the United States and its allies will defend every inch of NATO territory. In a statement Tuesday, NATO strongly condemned Russias dangerous violation of Estonian airspace, adding that it is part of a wider pattern of increasingly irresponsible Russian behavior. Russia bears full responsibility for these actions, which are escalatory, risk miscalculation and endanger lives. They must stop, the statement said. The new US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, speaks at the Security Council emergency meeting on Monday. - Spencer Platt/Getty Images Addressing the Russian delegation directly, Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radosaw Sikorski said: We know you dont care for international law and you are incapable of living in peace with your neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your insane nationalism contains a lust for domination that will not cease until you realize that the age of empires is over and that your empire will not be rebuilt. Every drone strike by the heroes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine may God bless them brings this day closer, he added. He ended his address with a stark vow. If another missile or aircraft enters our space without permission - deliberately or by mistake - and gets shot down, and the wreckage falls on NATO territory, please dont come here to whine about it. You have been warned. Thank you, Sikorski said. Estonias Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna told the meeting the international community must stand firm in demanding the end to these blatant breaches of the UN Charter in order to prevent further escalation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russias threats and provocations are not going to weaken our resolve to support Ukraine, he added. Kaja Kallas, the European Unions top diplomat and the former prime minister of Estonia, said she believed the incident was a deliberate provocation. Russia is testing European borders and undermining security, she said. 12 minutes of airspace violation The Russian Defense Ministry has denied its jets entered Estonian airspace, insisting the flights were conducted in strict accordance with international rules. That denial was repeated on Monday by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said the accusations were escalating tensions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking at the Security Council meeting on Monday, Russias deputy ambassador to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy doubled down on the denial and claimed the aircraft remained in international airspace. He accused Europe of spreading blatant lies. But responding to that claim, Estonias Tsahkna presented the council with maps and radar recordings showing the jets crossing into Estonias airspace. He also showed the meeting photographs of the Russian jets, pointing to the fact that they were combat ready and armed with missiles. The jets remained for 12 minutes before being intercepted by NATO, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the airspace violation, Estonia also has requested NATO Article 4 consultations, the mechanism which allows any member to formally bring an issue to the attention to the alliances principle political decision-making body. A source familiar with the situation told CNN the meeting of NATOs North Atlantic Council will convene on Tuesday morning. Estonia is the second NATO member to have requested Article 4 consultations in recent days, following Polands request last week after several Russian drones and fighter jets entered its airspace. Separately, Swedish and German forces reported on Sunday that Swedish JAS 39 Gripens and German Eurofighters were scrambled over the South Baltic Sea to identify and monitor a Russian IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying in international airspace without a flight plan or radio contact. CNNs Jennifer Hansler and Lauren Kent contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The United Nations regards violations of NATO airspace attributed to Russia as a threat to security in Europe, a senior official said at a special meeting in New York on Monday. "This series of recent incidents further underscored the already high tensions that endanger European security as the war continues to rage in Ukraine, violations of sovereign countries airspace are unacceptable," the UN's assistant secretary general, Miroslav Jenca, told the UN Security Council session. Citing recent incursions in Estonia, Poland and Romania involving Russian drones and fighter jets, Jenca called for an immediate de-escalation of the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian airspace violations have unsettled NATO allies in Europe, with repeated talk of provocations by Moscow. According to Estonia, three Russian fighter jets entered its airspace for about 12 minutes on Friday. In the face of Russia's rejection of the claim, the Estonian Defence Ministry published a map of the flight path of the three MiG-31 aircraft about 10 kilometres deep into Estonian airspace. NATO fighter jets from Italy eventually escorted the Russian aircraft out of the airspace. During a Russian air strike on Ukraine the week before, around 19 drones flew into Polish airspace, thereby violating NATO airspace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Polish Air Force and other NATO allies shot down some of the unmanned vehicles for the first time. According to Polish authorities, fragments of 18 drones have been found in several areas in the east and centre of the country. None of them were so far classified as armed or dangerous. Romania also registered a Russian drone in its airspace. The UN Security Council convened at Estonia's request following the incident over the Baltic country. Under international law, resolutions of the UN's most powerful body are binding and can theoretically be enforced in international courts in the event of non-compliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 15-member council repeatedly meets to discuss major conflicts around the world. However, in the case of the Ukraine war, the council is blocked because Russia, as a permanent member, has the power of veto. The meeting on airspace came as global leaders convene for the General Debate of the UN General Assembly, which starts on Tuesday. A major conference on the two-state solution in the Middle East is also due to be held on Monday. The United States on Monday confirmed that it will defend NATO territory against intrusions in the face of repeated Russian violations of the airspace of European NATO members. "The United States stands by our NATO allies in the face of these airspace violations, and I want to take this first opportunity to repeat and to emphasize the United States and our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory," US Ambassador Mike Waltz told an emergency UN Security Council meeting in New York. Russia should urgently stop such dangerous behaviour, the newly appointed ambassador said. "We expect Russia to seek ways to de-escalate, not risk expansion," Waltz added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He noted that US President Donald Trump had spent an enormous amount of time and effort aimed at ending the "horrific" war between Russia and Ukraine. Russia should negotiate directly with Ukraine to stop the war, Waltz said. Poland says Russian aircraft will be brought down Addressing the Russian government directly, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski warned that its aircraft would be downed. "If another missile or aircraft enters our space without permission, deliberately or by mistake and gets shot down and the wreckage falls on NATO territory, please don't come here to whine about it. You have been warned." NATO allies have expressed increasing concern in recent weeks about Russian violations of their airspace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Estonia reported on Friday that three Russian combat jets had penetrated its airspace for 12 minutes. Russia has rejected this version of events. A large number of Russian drones penetrated Polish airspace in the week prior during a Russian air attack on Ukraine. Romania has also recorded a Russian drone entering its airspace. Russia denies airspace violations The deputy Russian ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyanski, accused the NATO countries of "spreading blatant lies." "As for the facts, the facts prove that on the 19th of September, three Russian MIG 31 fighter jets conducted a planned flight from Karelia to an air base in Kaliningrad Oblast, carried out in strict accordance with international airspace use rules. The Russian aircraft did not stray from the agreed route, nor did they cross into Estonian airspace," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regarding the drones allegedly found in Poland, there was no evidence that they were of Russian origin, he said. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said NATO was ready to take all steps necessary to defend NATOs territory. "We are vigilant. We are resonant. And if we need to confront planes that are operating in NATO airspace without permission, then we will do so. The United Kingdom stands by our friends," she said. The UK was committed to increasing pressure on Russia, until it ended its illegal war against Ukraine, she added. UN: Threat to European security Assistant secretary general Miroslav Jenca said the UN saw violations of NATO airspace attributed to Russia as a threat to security in Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This series of recent incidents further underscored the already high tensions that endanger European security as the war continues to rage in Ukraine. Violations of sovereign countries' airspace are unacceptable," he told the UN Security Council session. Citing recent incursions in Estonia, Poland and Romania involving Russian drones and fighter jets, Jenca called for an immediate de-escalation of the situation. The Security Council convened at the request of Estonia. The 15-member council's resolutions are binding under international law and subject to action before international courts. Its deliberations primarily concern conflicts threatening world peace. As Russia holds a veto, the council's hands are largely tied on the war in Ukraine. The CSH European Seven-Country Endurance Test was far from an ordinary journey-it served as the ultimate real-world assessment for TIGGO models in the European market. Using real vehicles on real roads under authentic conditions, the TIGGO CSH motorcade underwent intensive refinement in the very birthplace of the automotive industry, turning laboratory validations into a comprehensive on-road trial. Each segment of the journey was designed as a rigorous test of its "European adaptability": from the sharp hairpin turns in Bulgaria's Rila Mountains, to the comfortable ride along Romania's Transfagarasan "Highway to the Clouds," and the refined vibration damping over Prague's cobblestone streets. This encyclopedic route, covering ten classic European road conditions, turned natural landscapes into a multi-dimensional proving ground. Backed by the comprehensive strength of its CSH technology platform, Chery delivered highly satisfactory results in this extreme, multi-condition real-world test-presenting the European market with a solemnly earned "world-class credential" of Chinese manufacturing. Jeff Zhang, Vice President of Chery International and CEO of EU Region, joined European media representatives, industry experts, and partners in reviewing this 3,500-kilometer endurance challenge and experiencing the technological prowess delivered by TIGGO CSH models. Setting out from Greece, Chery TIGGO motorcade traveled through Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, and finally arrived in the Czech Republic. Throughout the journey, the vehicles underwent rigorous testing across multiple dimensions-including energy efficiency conversion, camping scenario performance, and chassis comfort tuning. As a challenger from the East, Chery has presented Europe with a world-class "technological showcase," demonstrating its robust product strength. With this achievement, Chinese intelligent manufacturing has truly exhibited the confidence and competence to compete in the world's most demanding markets. Ricany u Prahy-Voderadky, Czech--(Newsfile Corp. - September 22, 2025) - At 10:00 a.m. on September 18 (Czech time), Chery Super Hybrid (CSH) European Seven-Country Endurance Test successfully concluded in the historic Czech town of Ricany u Prahy-Voderadky. This cross-border "technological and cultural journey" through the heart of Europe-the century-old birthplace of the automotive industry-was highly praised by professional drivers and leading media outlets. Story Continues CSH motorcade successfully arrives at the second stop: Sofia, capital of Bulgaria Technology First: The Core Strength behind CSH's European Journey Europe sets the "highest standard" in the automotive industry, and gaining a foothold here ultimately comes down to technological excellence. Throughout this endurance test, CSH demonstrated all-around technological leadership. Its highly efficient hybrid system achieved "reverse energy gain" on the winding mountain roads of Bulgaria's Rila Mountains, increasing range the further it traveled. The intelligent electronically controlled chassis maintained composed vibration absorption even on the cobblestone streets of Prague, delivering a quiet and luxurious ride experience. Meanwhile, the L2+ intelligent driving system-fine-tuned for European road conditions-executed commands with precision and delivered reliable hazard avoidance amid complex traffic on Slovakia's highways. The team, accompanied by four media representatives, took on the challenge of driving on Transfagarasan-hailed by the world-renowned automotive media outlet Top Gear as "The Greatest Road in the World." Winding between mountains and rivers, nearly two-thirds of the route lie deep in the mountains with no signal coverage. It presented a wide range of complex challenges including sharp bends, mud, gravel, water crossings, wildlife encounters, and rapidly changing weather with rain and fog. Thanks to its outstanding performance, CSH handled every challenge with ease, earning high praise from the media and making this section of the journey one of the most memorable experiences for all the journalists and drivers involved. Test drivers captivated by CSH More importantly, CSH architecture is not just a combination of technologies, but a user-scenario-driven platform. Whether meeting the demand for outdoor power supply during roadside camping in Romania, addressing concerns about battery safety in Hungary's heavy rainfall, or balancing comfort and energy consumption on long cross-border journeys, the platform delivered tangible performance that directly responded to the core concerns of European users. This beyond-expectations experience stems not only from Chery's years of technological accumulation but also from its deep insight into the European market and user needs. Rooted in Europe: Deep Localization as the Path to Global Success As the ultimate proving ground for the global automotive market, Europe is central to Chery's long-term strategy and deep localization efforts. By immersing itself in the heart of the market, conducting rigorous real-world testing, and engaging directly with European users, media, and dealers, Chery is demonstrating not just substantial investment, but also an unparalleled commitment to the region. This approach reflects both its long-term vision and its deep respect for European consumers. As Jeff, CEO of EU Region, noted, Chery is accelerating the development of a localized system encompassing R&D, sales, and service. By collaborating with local suppliers, establishing R&D hubs, and actively aligning with European consumer preferences and regulatory standards, Chery ensures that global models like CSH are imbued with authentic "European DNA," enabling seamless integration from product to brand. Concluding Ceremony of the CSH European Seven-Country Endurance Test held in the Czech Republic Leveraging "hard-core product strength" as its passport to the European and global markets, the conclusion of the "European Seven-Country Endurance Test" marks not an endpoint, but a new beginning for Chery. With core products like CSH leading the way, Chery is poised to break down barriers, reshape global perceptions of Chinese automotive brands, and achieve the critical leap from market entry to full integration-through superior product quality, deeply localized strategies, and sustained long-term vision. Media Contact Company Name: Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. Contact: Zhang Tianyi Website : https://cheryinternational.com E-mail: zhangtianyi1@mychery.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/267287 The United States is seeking to ensure that its decision to ease sanctions on Belarusian flag carrier Belavia does not become a backdoor for Russian airlines to obtain crucial aviation spare parts, as Russia continues to struggle with aircraft maintenance under Western restrictions. Washington announced on Sept. 11 that Belavia would regain access to U.S.-made components after Minsk released 52 political prisoners. The deal restored limited commercial ties with the airline, which operates 16 aircraft, including nine Boeing planes, according to Politico. But one day later, the U.S. Department of Commerce sent a letter to Belavia Director General Igor Cherginets outlining strict conditions for resuming access to parts. "This authorization does not permit flights to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, the Temporarily Occupied Crimea Region of Ukraine or the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic or Luhansk Peoples Republic regions of Ukraine," the document read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belavia has not confirmed whether it will halt flights to Russia. On Sept. 15, the airline instead announced a 50% discount on tickets to St. Petersburg. Experts questioned the effectiveness of the U.S. restrictions, warning that American aircraft parts shipped to Belarus could easily end up with Russian carriers, which face a mounting shortage of components after more than three years of Western sanctions. The concern has grown since the sanctions easing was announced, raising questions about how shipments will be tracked. Financial Services Commissioner Maria Luis Albuquerque said that EU sanctions still bar European operators from providing services to Belavia, according to Politico. The divergence between U.S. and EU policies has created tensions, with some European officials suggesting that EU countries may have to block U.S. spare parts transiting their territory en route to Belarus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision ultimately leaves U.S. manufacturers, particularly Boeing, with responsibility for whether to resume sales to Belavia. Airbus, which also has production facilities in the U.S., said it will carefully assess any transactions. As a global company with operations in Europe and the United States, Airbus adheres to the export control regulations and sanctions regimes of the EU, its Member States, the United States and other relevant jurisdictions," the company said, pledging to conduct "a thorough review" before supplying parts. Boeing has not yet indicated whether it will renew commercial ties with the Belarusian airline. Read also: NATO was ready to use force against Russia, Estonia says after airspace incursion Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The United States on Monday confirmed that it will defend NATO territory against intrusions in the face of repeated Russian violations of the airspace of European NATO members. "The United States stands by our NATO allies in the face of these airspace violations, and I want to take this first opportunity to repeat and to emphasize the United States and our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory," US Ambassador Mike Waltz told an emergency UN Security Council meeting in New York. Russia should urgently stop such dangerous behaviour, the newly appointed ambassador said. "We expect Russia to seek ways to de-escalate, not risk expansion," Waltz added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He noted that US President Donald Trump had spent an enormous amount of time and effort aimed at ending the "horrific" war between Russia and Ukraine. Russia should negotiate directly with Ukraine to stop the war, Waltz said. Estonia reported on Friday that three Russian combat jets had penetrated its airspace for 12 minutes. Russia has rejected this version of events. A large number of Russian drones penetrated Polish airspace in the week prior during a Russian air attack on Ukraine. Poland and its NATO allies shot down some of the drones for the first time, with fragments later recovered in the east and centre of the country. None have so far been classified as armed or dangerous. Romania has also recorded a Russian drone entering its airspace. Poland, Estonia and Romania are all NATO members. A new study from the University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center found indicators of an early warning stage before prediabetes, identifying changes in the body that lead to Type 2 diabetes years before the disease develops. The early warning stage is being called "pre-prediabetes." At this stage, people with normal glucose tolerance already have severe insulin resistance, early beta cell dysfunction and measurable cardiovascular disease, researchers say. The discovery of this new stage could lead to even earlier detection and intervention of insulin resistance, prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The "first-of-its-kind study" was led by Dr. Ralph DeFronzo, a professor of medicine, chief of the Diabetes Division at the Health Science Center and deputy director of University Health's Texas Diabetes Institute. READ MORE: Will Texas turn chilly in October or will heat linger more into fall? Here's the outlook. Typically, the American Diabetes Association identifies diabetes using three markers that evaluate the glucose and hemoglobin levels in an individual. The threshold for prediabetes is slightly lower than that of Type 2 diabetes. DeFronzo's team at UT Health and scientists at the Translational Research Department of the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait examined people with normal glucose tolerance, according to ADA standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their study found that if the one-hour glucose levels during the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test valued between 120 and 155 milligrams per deciliter, an individual was more likely to develop prediabetes. "We've shown that long before you develop diabetes, and even before you meet the criteria for prediabetes, people can be severely insulin resistant," DeFronzo said. "Diabetes is a continuous disease; you don't just wake up one day with prediabetes or diabetes." ALSO READ: A new Bexar County policy is hurting tissue donations. Texas AG Ken Paxton will have a say. In San Antonio, a third of the population has prediabetes, and one in six people have Type 2 diabetes, according to 2022 figures. The average number of people with diabetes in San Antonio is 10% higher than the national average, according to UT Health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose. Uncontrolled blood glucose levels leads to more sugar circulating in the body, which can damage blood vessels, tissues and organs. It also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Some medications, like insulin injections, help control blood sugar levels. There are no drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat prediabetes. People who are at high risk for developing diabetes can look into metformin, but DeFronzo recommends the insulin sensitizer pioglitazone, which reduces the progression of diabetes by 75%. ALSO READ: Census: San Antonio ranks third-highest in poverty among major U.S. metro areas Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many people do not know they have diabetes or prediabetes. People who are considered high risk, particularly those with a family history of diabetes or early cardiovascular disease, are encouraged to get screened for the disease and to go to regular doctor appointments. DeFronzo believes high-risk patients should be screened early and offered treatment long before they develop Type 2 diabetes. "Insulin resistance can lead to diabetes, beta cell failure, heart failure, atherosclerosis, liver disease and kidney disease," DeFronzo said in a statement. "We can see it and measure it years before overt diabetes becomes manifest. The sooner we act, the better prepared we are to prevent these outcomes." BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) The YouTube account of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was offline Saturday, with Venezuelan state-run channel Telesur claiming in a message on X that it was eliminated late the previous night without justification. YouTubes parent company Google did not immediately respond to questions on the apparent termination of the Venezuelan presidents account. It comes amid rising tensions between Venezuela and the United States over the deployment of American warships and fighter jets in the southern Caribbean. Maduros YouTube account had more than 200,000 followers before it became unavailable Friday and was used to publish the Venezuelan presidents speeches, as well as clips from his weekly show on Venezuelan state TV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On its website, YouTube says it eliminates accounts that commit repeated violations of community guidelines that include publishing misinformation, hate speech and content that interferes with democratic processes. Maduro has been widely accused of stealing last years presidential election in Venezuela, which he lost by a landslide according to tally sheets gathered by hundreds of Venezuelan opposition activists. Venezuelas elections agency, which is controlled by the ruling socialist party, never published tally sheets to support its claim that Maduro won the vote. In 2020, Maduro was indicted by a federal court in New York where he has been charged with conspiring to traffic cocaine to the United States. Recently, the U.S. doubled a bounty payment for Maduros capture to $50 million, with White House officials often referring to Maduro as a drug cartel leader who must be brought to justice. While Venezuela continues to sell oil to the United States and take deportation flights, relations between the two nations have worsened with the deployment of eight U.S. warships last month to an area of the southern Caribbean near Venezuelas coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration says the ships, which are fitted with long-range missiles and are also transporting a landing force of 2,000 Marines, are on an anti-drug trafficking mission. But Venezuelas government has described the deployment as an attack on the nations sovereignty and part of an effort to overthrow Maduros government. The U.S. flotilla has destroyed three speedboats allegedly carrying drugs so far, according to the White House, killing more than a dozen people on board the small vessels. JAQUE, Panama (AP) As the boat bounced across choppy Pacific waters, Mariela Gomez and her two children huddled for 17 hours on top of sloshing gas tanks, uncertain of what lay ahead in the dense jungle. The 36-year-old Venezuelan mother was among a million migrants who journeyed across the continent in recent years in the hopes of reaching the United States. But with legal pathways slashed under U.S. President Donald Trump, she and thousands of other Venezuelans are now trying to make their way back in a reverse migration. Over 14,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, have returned to South America since Trumps immigration crackdown began, according to figures from Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Struggling to buy even food after failed attempts to stay in the U.S., Gomez can't afford the $280-per-person charge for the more frequented Caribbean route to Colombia. So a growing number of migrants like her are boarding boats that ferry cargo between Panama's capital and Colombia's jungle-clad Pacific coast. The new route is half the price and twice as dangerous. We lost hope, she said. Were trying to return, but we dont have the money to go back. Only the clothes on their backs In recent years, migrants fleeing the crisis in Venezuela once crossed the perilous jungles of the Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama and waited months in Mexico for an asylum appointment in the U.S. But when Trump took office, many of those people were left stranded in Mexico. Without other options, they turned back, winding down through Central America on buses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They chug aboard slow-moving cargo boats packed with merchandise along Panamas other coast in the Pacific Ocean for days, before boarding precarious motor boats that shoot along the coast. The boats are often packed with 15 to 30 people. Hundreds so far have traveled the route, according to a United Nations report released earlier this month. People arrive with very few resources, some with only the clothes on their backs, said 56-year-old boat driver Nacor Rivera. Many cant pay for the boat ride, so Ive had to help a lot of them, carrying them for free. In June, one of those boats carrying 38 people crashed at sea, injuring a pregnant woman, children and a person with a disability who lost their wheelchair. They land in jungled swathes of Colombia, a region rife with armed groups that prey on migrants, where there are no shelters and little access to medical care, according to the U.N. report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We urge authorities to care for people in this reverse migration to stop them from falling into criminal and trafficking networks of illegal armed groups, and turn them into victims of even greater violence," said Scott Campbell, a U.N. human rights officer in Colombia, in a statement. Migrants land with serious cases of dehydration, burns, malnutrition and mental health issues. Those without money can remain stranded in inhumane conditions, the report said. That was the case of Jesus Aguilar, a Venezuelan migrant who was stuck in a rural Panamanian town in the Darien Gap for two months. He managed to slowly scrounge together money to pay for a boat ride to Colombia after a local offered him work cleaning their farm. Trying luck back in South America Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others, like Gomezs family, spent months in Panama City saving money to travel back to Venezuela, but when they came up short, they decided to take the cheaper route along the Pacific. Sitting on top of gasoline tanks, Gomez cradles her 5-year-old son swaddled in blankets. The family fled the South American country in 2017 in the face of a spiraling economy and mounting government repression. For years, she lived in Colombia and Peru, like millions of other Venezuelans who have fled the country in recent years. Unable to make ends meet in countries that have struggled to manage the crush of vulnerable people, Gomez began to look to the U.S. with hopes of building a new life. After crossing the Darien Gap and later the U.S.-Mexico border to Texas in October, her family was quickly swept up by the U.S. Border Patrol and handed over to Mexican authorities who dropped them in southern Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after, she decided her only way forward was to return home. Without work and with cartels preying on migrants like her, staying in southern Mexico wasn't an option. At least in Venezuela she has her home and her family, she said. It would have been risking our lives and risking the life of my child to keep going, Gomez said. We're just hoping God protects us. Now, as she returns home, she's not sure what she will find in Venezuela, which has faced an ongoing crackdown on dissent by the government following last year's contested elections. She said if the government of President Nicolas Maduro remains in power, staying in her country doesn't seem like an option. I would have to leave my country again, maybe go to Chile, she pondered. I would have to try my luck in another country. Again." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But right now, we just have to focus on getting to Colombia, she added. ___ Janetsky reported from Mexico City. ____ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america WHOOPI GOLDBERG: basically both sides and the middle of the aisle are saying you dont do this. This is not how we work. But you know who still doesnt have a clear message about all of this? Check it out. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP [tape]: I read someplace that the networks were 97% against me. I get 97% negative, and yet I won easily, won all seven swing states, won everything, and and then 97% against, you get only bad publicity or press. I mean, theyre getting a license. I would think maybe their license should be taken away. It would be up to Brendan Carr. GOLDBERG: No, its not up to Brendan Carr. It is not up to him. I dont understand how you are the man in charge of the nation and you still dont understand how the First Amendment works. Do you want to remind him because you are the lawyer. Please do. SUNNY HOSTIN: I would like to. Thank you, Whoopi. You know, freedom of speech undergirds our democracy and our founders were clear on that. Our founders drafted the First Amendment to specifically protect the rights of citizens to criticize the government. Thomas Jefferson in particular said the citizens must be able to criticize officials because, quote, they will try to impose their thinking and modes of thinking on others, unquote. And the Supreme Court time and time again has reinforced its support for the law of the land, the First Amendment. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press. In 1929, I remember being in law school not in 1929 SARA HAINES: You look amazing! HOSTIN: Thank you. I remember being in law school in 1991 and my constitutional law professor said that in 1929 just inn Oliver Wendell Holmes, one of the greats, said that we must protect the freedom to express the thought we hate. Think about that. We must protect the freedom to express the thought we hate. So Justice Sotomayor said last week that every time I listen to a lawyer trained representative saying we should criminalize free speech in some way I think to myself that law school failed. Well, my law school, Notre Dame, didnt fail. I know very well what the freedom of speech means. I know all of you know very much what the freedom of speech means and the president of the United States should know what the what freedom of speech means. ANA NAVARRO: Well, listen, for me, I want to start by thanking our loyal viewers for demanding truth and courage from us. We deserve you deserve it and we will give it to you. And here GOLDBERG: As we have for 30 almost 30 years. NAVARRO: The part that Joe understand that is so ironic to me is how the horrible senseless assassination of Charlie Kirk, a man I disagreed with, but who stood for debate, who stood for freedom of speech, is being used to silence people and cancel people. I dont understand how in this country where the First Amendment made to the constitution was to guarantee freedom of the press and freedom of speech, the government itself is using its weight and power to bully and scare people into silence. Look, you know, I have to tell you this, I lived through a right-wing dictatorship in Nicaragua, Samoza, I lived through a left-wing dictatorship in Nicaragua under Ortega. This is what dictators do. It does not matter the ideology. At first, they come before the people with big platforms, at first they silence the press, but then they come for all of us because their intent is to scare us into silence and self-censorship. Look at the things that this government has done. They kicked the AP out of the Oval Office for not saying Gulf of America. They cut the funding of NPR and the corporation for public broadcasting. They are demanding reporters sign a pledge that reporters will only report on what the Pentagon wants them to report on. That is not how the First Amendment works. And I will say to you all, to all of us, look. We have seen tech titans go into the Oval Office, we are seeing media moguls, publishers of newspapers, we are seeing all of them try to make the peace with Donald Trump. A bully always comes back for more. So they need to stand up and we need to demand the same from ourselves! [ Applause ] Democrats trying to counter President Donald Trumps red-state gerrymander are facing a roadblock. Fifteen roadblocks, actually. Thats how many Democratic-led states have a political trifecta the same setup that helped Texas Republicans push through new maps last month. But of those 15, only California has made a serious effort to respond in kind and even that initiative may fail at the ballot box. Leaders in 14 other states with a Democratic governor and state legislature find themselves unable to move forward, hampered by reasons ranging from constitutional limitations, legal deadlines and maps that cant be gerrymandered anymore. In perhaps an acknowledgment of these hurdles, Democrats have turned to the courts to try stopping Republican efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's no doubt the case that it's harder for Democrats to do this right now than Republicans, said All About Redistricting author and researcher Douglas Spencer, an expert in election law at the University of Colorado. The outlook for redistricting makes taking back the House a harder task for Democrats in 2026. They need to net three seats to reclaim the majority, a step theyve framed as necessary to put a check on Trump and Republicans who lead the Senate. If Democrats dont retake one of the two chambers, Trump will likely have two consecutive terms with single party control in Washington something that hasnt happened since George W. Bush two decades ago. Republicans have been busy in recent weeks seeking to achieve that: Texas, Indiana, Missouri and Florida have all either redrawn their congressional districts or floated the idea, in hopes of adding new Republican seats to the House. At Trumps behest, the Texas GOP added five seats favorable to Republicans. Texas, Indiana, Missouri and Florida all have Republican trifectas where the GOP controls both chambers of the legislature and the governors seat making it much easier to consider redistricting. But of the 15 states with Democratic trifectas, only Maryland and Illinois' legislatures have clear pathways to redraw lines that could make seats more competitive for Democrats. California and New York, meanwhile, can ask voters to change state gerrymandering laws to redistrict down the road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, only California has moved on this: The state legislature, under pressure from Gov. Gavin Newsom, passed bills setting up a special election in November where voters will decide whether to replace the states congressional map. New York and Maryland signaled openness to redistricting, while some Illinois lawmakers are hesitant. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker stopped short of ruling it out, telling reporters this month that he's "pledged" to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries "that I'll do everything I can to make sure that Democrats win the Congress in 2026." Seven other states already have fully Democratic House delegations, leaving only Colorado, Washington, Oregon and New Jersey with Republican seats to spare. But those four have little they can accomplish because of state laws regarding redistricting and the political makeup of their state legislatures. While new maps in Texas and California (if approved by voters) could cancel each other out by both adding up to five seats for each party in the House, the GOPs additional targets of Indiana and Missouri could push Republicans a handful of seats beyond what Democratic states appear capable of flipping. Even though California and New York have the legislative votes to change their state constitutions, Colorado and Washington do not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We dont have the pathway to redistrict, said Washington House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, a Democrat. If our constitutional context were different, I think there would be appetite [to redistrict] in our legislature. Oregon and New Jersey do have legislative supermajorities, but face other hurdles. The New Jersey Legislature missed the Aug. 4 deadline to send a ballot measure to voters this year, so would have to look to November 2026. Even then, Democrats already have a friendly congressional map that leaves few options to flip additional seats. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy told reporters in late August that redistricting would be very hard for us. Oregon has a Democratic supermajority, but not a quorum-proof majority and strict constitutional laws that prohibit mid-decade and politically-motivated redistricting. Like Texas, where Democrats in the minority left the state to try procedurally blocking a vote on redistricting, Oregon law gives the minority party outsized power to hold up legislation indefinitely. Where Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel approved a request to locate Texas Democrats who fled the state to avoid passing redistricting laws, there is little hope that the Republican administration would do the same if Oregon Republicans fled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not being taken as a real path here, said a long-time Democratic consultant in Oregon who works closely with Democratic leaders and was granted anonymity to speak freely about the nature of the redistricting discussions. There are just too many real overlapping hurdles. Washington, Oregon and New Jersey all require approval of both the state legislature and voters to change their state constitutions, so any redistricting efforts are dead in those states unless Democrats earn a supermajority in Washington or quorum-proof majority in Oregon in November 2026. Colorado has the lowest barrier to constitutional change: there, voters could mount a citizens initiative to do so, but it would take enormous grassroots effort and funding. It's not technically impossible, but it is technically incredibly challenging, said Colorado. Rep. Emily Sirota, a progressive Democrat who has sponsored state legislation related to voting and campaigns in the past. As of September, there is no effort yet from voters. An initiative to give the governor emergency redistricting powers proposed in early August was withdrawn, and multi-millionaire Colorado businessperson Kent Thiry, who bankrolled Colorados 2018 measure to adopt an independent redistricting commission, says there may not be will among the voters to change it back so quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is so sensible, and people react right away to the fairness of it, that we were able to win despite the political forces being against us from each party, said Thiry, who also worked on the California measure. Thiry says Colorado voters could overturn his initiative, but believes it to be unlikely. It would be expensive, and a lot of Coloradans would say We don't want to become a part of a race to the bottom. The political culture of the West in both Republican and Democrat states is key to understanding the barriers to gerrymandering. Of the eight U.S. states with independent redistricting commissions, six are in the West. Three of those states are blue, two are red and one is purple making it a nonpartisan issue. University of Oregon Professor Chandler James, a Kentucky native who has spent the last few years studying political opinion in the West, says that fair redistricting laws fall in line with other good governance laws popular in the West like universal mail-in voting, non-partisan and open or semi-open primaries, ranked choice voting, citizens initiatives and ballot measures. It's a part of a larger political culture where it's just a little bit less bare knuckled, James said. [Which] emphasizes fair process and public engagement in the political system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thiry, meanwhile, says the current push for gerrymandering has given him existential depression. But despite making an end to gerrymandering his lifes work, he also acknowledges the political reality: While I will not be a part of any retaliatory gerrymandering, he said, I respect the people who decide that in this situation, they simply have to do that. Lisa Kashinsky and Brakkton Booker contributed to this report. By John Irish and Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -Dozens of world leaders gathered at the United Nations on Monday to embrace a Palestinian state, a landmark diplomatic shift nearly two years into the Gaza war that faces fierce resistance from Israel and its close ally the United States. President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would recognize Palestine statehood at a meeting he convened with Saudi Arabia - a milestone that could boost Palestinian morale but appeared unlikely to change much on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most far-right government in Israel's history has declared there will be no Palestinian state as it pushes on with its fight against militant group Hamas in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people. Israel has drawn global condemnation over its military conduct in Gaza, where more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health authorities. In recent weeks, Israel has begun a long-threatened ground assault on Gaza City with few prospects for a ceasefire. "We must pave the way for peace," Macron said at the start of the session at the United Nations in New York. "We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security," he said before announcing the diplomatic move drawing lengthy applause from the audience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has said such moves will undermine the prospects of a peaceful end to the conflict. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres were among those who also spoke during the event. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose leftist government recognized the state of Palestine in 2024, told Reuters in an interview on Monday that the recent recognition moves were very important. "You have two countries from the Security Council, the UK and France, recognizing the state of Palestine, and second, within the Western society... there's a large majority nowadays of countries that already recognize (the) Palestine state," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron outlined a framework for a renewed Palestinian Authority under which France would open an embassy subject to factors such as reforms, a ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages taken from Israel and held by Hamas in Gaza. Ahead of this week's U.N. General Assembly, Luxembourg, Malta, Belgium and Monaco on Monday also joined the more than three-quarters of the 193 U.N. members who already recognize a Palestinian state. Macrons July pledge on recognition set the latest push in motion, with Britain, Canada and Australia later saying they would follow, and eventually doing so on Sunday. "We call on those who have not yet done so to follow suit," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said via video link, as he was unable to attend the milestone events after being refused a U.S. visa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We call for your support so that Palestine becomes a full-fledged member of the United Nations," he added, promising reforms and elections within a year of a ceasefire. A delegation representing the State of Palestine has observer status at the United Nations - but no voting rights. No matter how many countries recognize Palestinian independence, full U.N. membership would require approval by the Security Council, where the U.S. has a veto. The two-state solution was the bedrock of the U.S.-backed peace process ushered in by the 1993 Oslo Accords. The process suffered heavy pushback from both sides and has all but died. No such negotiations over a two-state solution have been held since 2014. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States and Israel boycotted Mondays meeting. Israels U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said Israel would discuss how to respond to the announcements of recognition after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returns to Israel next week. Those issues were supposed to be negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians in the future, Danon told reporters ahead of the meeting. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on September 29 in Washington before returning to Israel. Netanyahu has rejected numerous calls to end the campaign until Hamas is destroyed and has said he will not recognize a Palestinian state. The United States has told other countries that Palestinian recognition will create more problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid Israel's intensified Gaza offensive and escalating violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, there is a growing sense of urgency among some nations to act now before the idea of a two-state solution vanishes forever. EUROPEAN DIVISIONS AND ISRAELI RESPONSE While the majority of European countries now recognize a Palestinian state, two of the continent's largest economies, Germany and Italy, have signaled they are unlikely to make such a move soon. Germany long a strong supporter of Israel because of its responsibility for the Holocaust has grown more critical of Israeli policy, while insisting that recognition of a Palestinian state should come at the end of a political process to agree on a two-state solution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A German government spokesperson also said on Monday there must be no further annexations in Israeli-occupied territory. Italy said recognizing a Palestinian state could be "counterproductive." Israel is considering annexing part of the occupied West Bank as a possible response as well as specific bilateral measures against Paris, Israeli officials have said, even though the recognitions are expected to be largely symbolic. Annexation could backfire and alienate such countries as the United Arab Emirates, a global oil power and trade hub with wide diplomatic clout across the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Arab Emirates, the most prominent of the Arab states that normalized ties with Israel under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020, has said such a move would undermine the spirit of the agreement. The U.S. has warned of possible consequences for those who take measures against Israel, including France as host of the summit. (Reporting by John Irish in Paris and Michelle Nichols at United Nations; additional reporting by Alessandra Galloni in New York, Dominique Vidalon in Paris, Maha El Dahan in Dubai, Reuters Television in Gaza and the West Bank and Gwladys Fouche in Oslo and Dmitry Antonov in Moscow; Writing by John Irish, Michelle Nichols, Michael Georgy and Costas Pitas; Editing by Howard Goller, Sharon Singleton, Matthew Lewis and Lincoln Feast) Chinas securities regulator is quietly urging domestic brokerages to halt their real-world asset (RWA) tokenization operations in Hong Kong, raising red flags over the fast-growing digital assets sector being cultivated offshore. Key Takeaways: Chinas CSRC has urged local brokerages to pause RWA tokenization efforts in Hong Kong due to rising regulatory concerns. Hong Kong continues to position itself as a digital asset hub, attracting dozens of firms amid a booming tokenization trend. High-profile launches and stock rallies reflect growing investor interest, despite Beijings cautious stance. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has issued informal guidance to at least two major brokerages, instructing them to pause RWA activities, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The move reflects Beijings growing concerns over risk exposure and speculative activity linked to tokenized products. Hong Kong Emerges as Asias Digital Asset Hub Amid Tokenization Boom The timing is notable. Over the past year, Hong Kong has positioned itself as Asias digital asset hub, with a growing number of Chinese firms launching virtual asset trading platforms, yield-generating token products, and tokenized bonds. RWA tokenization refers to the process of converting traditional assets, like stocks, bonds, and real estate, into digital tokens tradable on blockchain networks. One source said the CSRCs action aims to ensure stronger risk management and ensure RWA offerings are backed by legitimate, sustainable business models. The regulator has not issued a public directive, and it remains unclear how long the current stance will be maintained. While China banned cryptocurrency trading and mining in 2021, its state-backed institutions continue to engage cautiously in blockchain innovation. In contrast, Hong Kong has rolled out a stablecoin licensing regime and is conducting legal reviews on RWA tokenization through the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Several high-profile launches have already taken place. GF Securities Hong Kong unit introduced GF Tokens in June, backed by fiat currencies. Meanwhile, China Merchants Bank International helped issue a 500 million yuan digital bond for a Shenzhen-based entity last month. Both firms declined to comment on whether they received CSRC guidance. Notably, 77 firms have shown interest in Hong Kongs new licensing framework, according to the HKMA. Investor enthusiasm has fueled sharp rallies in related stocks, Guotai Junan International soared over 400% after gaining approval to offer crypto trading, and Fosun International surged 28% after stablecoin-related meetings with Hong Kong officials. New Castle County has pushed back its target to expect new, supplemental tax bills to be issued to all property owners. "There are a lot of moving parts to issue a second school tax bill. ... The Countys goal is to have the new bills available in mid-October, but we are relying on assistance from vendors to help us meet this timeline," the county wrote in an updated fact sheet published Sept. 19. The deadline for new county and school bills to be paid remains Nov. 30, as set among other special session reform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a glance: Allowing school districts to reset, and split, residential and nonresidential tax rates for this tax year. On average, the new commercial rate was nearly double the residential rate. Providing refunds on successful appeals, for anyone who overpays before results land. Allowing payment plans for school taxes, without penalties. This mirrors already available assistance passed by the county. Per the county on Sept. 19: "Once the October bills are issued, that form will be available to help educate all on the process." A new deadline for county and school taxes is Nov. 30, while Wilmington extended its due date to Sept. 30. Come Sept. 19, New Castle County released a 10-page resource guide, fit with frequently asked questions for Delaware property taxes. Let's dive into the tax side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEW DEVELOPMENT: Lawsuit could delay or stop reissuing of property tax bills in New Castle County Do taxpayers need to do anything? A property tax bill drop box stands outside Town Hall in Middletown, Delaware, on Sept. 9, 2025. Check your mail. New Castle County will be issuing and mailing "supplemental" school tax bills now that school districts have reset their rates. New Castle County's goal for revised bills to go out has been pushed from the end of this month to mid-October. "New Castle County is working as quickly as possible to be ready for issuing supplemental bills," officials wrote in another online guide, as teams must calculate tens of thousands of tabs. A new, supplemental bill hitting your mailbox will only reflect the "amount of the adjustment created" with a newly split school tax rate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Basically, that split means commercial properties are taking back some of the tax burden, which should bring some relief to homeowner bills. It will not erase increases altogether. On Sept. 12, group of trade organizations representing landlords and housing business owners in New Castle County levied a lawsuit in Delawares Chancery Court challenging this measure. Democratic bill sponsor Rep. Kim Williams has cautioned the law allowing district to split rates is meant to soften the residential impact this year alone, for now, as more work is needed on education funding. If your property is in the green, or due for credit, a postcard will be mailed to you with instructions. If you pay in escrow, according to the county, mortgage companies will continue to receive tax bills as part of the countys process. Can I appeal my Delaware tax assessment? You'll need to look to January 2026 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Already paid your lofty tax bill? Don't worry. The amount you paid will be credited against the new bill, according to the county. If you come out over, that amount will be posted to your account. If it's more than $50, you will be able to request that as a direct refund, but more details are coming on that. If you haven't paid yet, that's also OK. Sit tight and await the supplement, as both in conjunction will determine full tax obligations. Hopefully, they're hard to miss, as they should be donned with: REVISED TAX BILLING." Can I get in on one of these Delaware property tax payment plans? Close-up Of A Person Hand Calculating A Real Estate Property Tax On Wooden Desk First, supplemental bills need to drop sometime in October. Then, the county says applications for payment plans will follow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county will release a "special payment arrangement form" to help guide taxpayers through the process, once revised billing is issued. Teams are also working on how to reflect revisions on the county parcel search. "New Castle County is working as quickly as possible to develop an online application form," the county wrote Sept. 19. "The County will provide an update on this timeline and the application soon." Who qualifies anyway? For county bills that is: Owners of residential property who occupy the home. A taxpayer that is in good standing with the county. In other words, the county said these are taxpayers who "are not delinquent on any other payment(s)" owed to the county. And one who experienced an increase in residential property tax liability of no less than $50. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For new school-bill payment plans: A residential property owner can soon enter a payment plan for school taxes if that tax liability spiked by $300 or more compared to last year, per a recent House bill passed in special session. In special session, House Minority Leader Rep. Timothy Dukes proposed an amendment that would require people qualified for payment plans to be up on their taxes, similar to county guidelines, but it was killed on the floor. Be heard, get your questions answered: Delaware sets first meeting for special reassessment committee Once payment plans are available, new law states all counties must offer them, with at least three equal installments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also acccording to new law, "no late fees, interest, or penalties may be assessed to a taxpayer who enters and complies with a school tax payment plan," while payment penalties for school taxes in New Castle County are limited to 1% per month. Given this newfound flexibility, school districts can borrow state funds if they experience an unexpected gap in cashflow due to delayed billing. Delaware lawmakers have mapped a public, four-part series of speical committee hearings from September to November, to dig into the recent reassessment, education funding, impact on residents and taxes and what comes next. The first meeting is set for a Tuesday morning, on Sept. 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delaware landlord lawsuit: Delaware landlord groups sue to stop lawmakers' property tax reassessment relief measure What do you want to know about reassessment? Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: When to expect updated tax bills in New Castle County, deadlines: FAQ Cardless, a credit card platform allowing companies to design and launch branded credit cards in-house, announced the close of a $60 million Series C funding round led by Spark Capital. The new financing brings the companys total capital raised to over $170 million to date. Other investors include Activant Capital, Industry Ventures, and Pear VC. Spark Capital, which has previously backed high-profile companies such as Slack, Coinbase, and Anthropic, shows the potential of Cardless to reshape the $200 billion credit card industry. Cardless is pioneering embedded financial services and revenue is 10xing, fueled by partnerships with world-class brands like Coinbase and Bilt, said Will Reed, General Partner at Spark. This financing represents an inflection point as the company transitions from building to scaling rapidly. A Platform for Embedded Financial Services Cardless differentiates itself by providing a platform that streamlines the full credit card journey. Its APIs and prebuilt components allow companies to manage every aspect of a card program from application to customer experience without assuming the complexity and regulatory risk typically associated with card issuance. Cards built with Cardless can be launched in as little as 90 days, compared to the traditional 18-month rollout period with legacy banks. The company also manages underwriting, compliance, and customer support, allowing brands to maintain control of their customer relationships while focusing on rewards and engagement. Strong Momentum from Brand Partnerships The companys model has gained traction with high-profile brands, including Bilt, Coinbase, Qatar Airways, and Alibaba. Credit card programs built on the Cardless platform have reported 400% year-over-year transaction growth, with higher spending levels compared to cards issued through traditional banks. Legacy co-brands left billions on the table. Cardless puts companies in control to deepen loyalty, boost revenue, and deliver rewards people actually use. Over the next decade, financial services will move inside the brands consumers already loveand Cardless is leading the shift by building the infrastructure to make it possible, said Michael Spelfogel, Co-Founder and President of Cardless. Use of Funds and Expansion Plans With the Series C funding, Cardless plans to expand existing programs, launch new co-branded cards, and develop additional financial products tailored to companies and their customers. The companys goal is to empower brands to offer personalized financial services that align with their users needs. Budapest is increasingly under the spotlight as a nexus for intelligence operations in Central Europe. Multiple recent allegations, diplomatic rows, and investigative reports point toward Hungarys capital playing a more active role in espionage - whether by foreign powers operating under diplomatic cover, Hungarian agencies themselves, or as a site where East-West intelligence contests converge. Below are the major recent developments, both the claims and their implications -especially for international actors and also expats in the city. Three Recent Incidents & Allegations 1. Hungarian Spy Network in Ukraine (Zakarpattia Region) In May 2025, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) claimed to have uncovered a spy ring allegedly run by Hungarian military intelligence, collecting information on military defenses and local sentiment in western Ukraine, especially the Zakarpattia region. Hungary dismissed the accusations as propaganda, though reciprocal diplomatic expulsions followed: two Ukrainians allegedly working under diplomatic cover were expelled from Hungary; similarly, two Hungarian diplomats were expelled by Kyiv. 2. Surveillance of EU Officials Visiting Hungary Investigative media (Direkt36 and De Tijd) reported that Hungarys Information Office (IH) a domestic intelligence/spy agency conducted surveillance on EU officials, including OLAF (the EU Anti-Fraud Office). Specific allegations include instances of hotel room searches, telephone tap-ins, following officials, and copying data from laptops of visiting EU delegations. The European Parliament has raised concerns and asked questions, with some MEPs calling for formal investigations and for EU institutions to ensure the safety and privacy of their staff while operating in Hungary. 3. Russian Diplomatic Presence and SIGINT Nests Multiple sources have noted that Hungary has refrained from expelling a large number of Russian diplomats unlike many other EU countries. Indeed, over the past few years, the number of accredited Russian diplomats in Budapest has risen. One investigative report estimated that total staffing (including administrative/technical staff) at the Russian embassy in Budapest could be as high as 115 people, many with full or partial diplomatic immunity. Some of these personnel are alleged (by analysts and journalists) to serve intelligence roles, or to facilitate SIGINT-(signals intelligence) operations. Reactions & Diplomacy Hungarys Official Position The Hungarian government has repeatedly downplayed many of these allegations. In the Ukraine spy-network case, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called the SBUs claims propaganda. Ukraines Response Kyiv has used diplomatic tools: arrests, expulsion of diplomats, and postponement of scheduled talks (for example, delayed bilateral consultations in Uzhhorod following the spy-network exposure) have marked its response. EU Institutions & Member States There is growing concern among EU bodies over surveillance of EU officials on Hungarian soil. The allegations of IH spying have prompted written questions in the European Parliament, demands for investigations, and broader concerns about rule of law, privacy, and diplomatic norms. Separately, foreign policy debates in the EU have paid attention to Hungarys stance toward sanctions on Russia, its visa and foreign funding laws, and its alignment in broader geopolitical contexts all influencing how seriously these spy-hub allegations are receiving scrutiny. Why be a Spy in Budapest? Several factors appear to make Budapest attractive for intelligence operations whether by Hungarys own services or foreign powers: Diplomatic Immunity & Low Expulsion Rate While many EU countries have expelled Russian diplomats for suspected intelligence activity since the Ukraine war began, Hungary has generally not done so (or done so to a much lesser extent), which some analysts see as enabling continuing presence of foreign intelligence personnel. Strategic Location and Political Positioning Hungary borders Ukraine, has substantial political connections with both EU and non-EU powers, and often acts more independently of mainstream EU consensus especially in foreign policy toward Russia. This political posture can create openings for intelligence activity. Reports of Established Intelligence Infrastructure The presence of administrative-technical staff (with diplomatic immunity), reports of interception or surveillance infrastructure (antennae on embassy buildings, for example), and the activity of Hungarian agencies like IH suggest that both passive and active capabilities are in place. Implications & Risks Strained Relations with Neighbors & Kyiv The espionage allegations have already disturbed Hungary-Ukraine relations, especially around minority rights in Zakarpattia and scheduled bilateral talks. Trust has eroded, complicating diplomatic progress. EU Oversight, Legal Risk, and Funding As part of broader concerns about democratic backsliding, surveillance, foreign interference, and accountability, Hungary faces scrutiny from EU institutions. Potential legal challenges, conditionality around funds, and reputational costs are on the table. Security Risks for Diplomats, NGOs, Expats If surveillance of delegations and data interception is indeed happening, it raises concerns over privacy and security for visitors, foreign workers, NGOs, media, and expatriate residents. Even if not under direct threat, perception of surveillance may affect behavior, sense of safety, and the attractiveness of Budapest as a base for international actors. What We Dont Know / Whats Under Investigation The full extent of Hungarys own intelligence operations: how expansive they are, how much oversight there is, or how much overlap exists with foreign intelligence services. Proof of intent in many cases: for example, whether Hungarian authorities are planning any incursion (as alleged in Ukraine), or whether foreign intelligence operatives are overstretching diplomatic cover legally or illegally. Independent confirmation of some major surveillance claims many are based on media investigations or intelligence agency reports, which by nature are partial or politically contested. Spy Sum Up Budapest is no longer just a picturesque Central European capital; it is increasingly being viewed in geopolitical circles as a stage for intelligence operations. The citys rise as a spy hub involves multiple actors - from Russian diplomats to Hungarian intelligence agencies, to those monitoring EU officials. For expats, diplomats, and anyone involved in international business, policy, or academia, the signals are clear: surveillance, data risks, and political sensitivities in Hungary are no longer abstractions but active concerns. ********************************************************************************************* 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. "That's when a lightbulb went off and I was like, 'I need to get good at residential,'" said Ray. His first residential job took three hours and earned him about $300. Ray spent about a year cleaning brick-and-mortar storefronts. Residential didn't cross his mind until the general manager of one of his commercial clients asked if he'd clean his house windows. Ray, whose second and third clients were a hair salon and a wing shop, called his side hustle Geek Window Cleaning . "I walked in the door because their windows were filthy and I asked them if they'd like a quote," he recalled. "They told me no. They do it themselves. I told them, 'Well, you didn't do a really good job, and I can do a better job. If you let me do it, it's only 15 bucks.'" Ray bought about $100 worth of equipment at Home Depot, loaded his truck, and drove to strip malls all over Houston. He went storefront-to-storefront, asking general managers if they needed their windows cleaned. "The fastest way for me to gain as much knowledge as I could as quickly as possible was to actually work for somebody," he said. "So I worked for a window cleaning company for like three months and then I was like, 'OK, I got it.'" While he had some experience from his teenage years, he needed to refine the skill. He quit, picked up night shifts bartending and waiting tables, and dedicated his mornings and afternoons to building a window cleaning business. In 2007, Ray needed work. He'd dropped out of college to start a real estate business with a friend that ultimately failed, and then spent about a year working a 9-to-5 cubicle job that drove him crazy: "I didn't like having a boss." It's "instant gratification," the Texas native told Business Insider, and something he first experienced in high school while working odd jobs. "It's one of those things that seems mindless and easy, but it's actually rather complicated and takes skill, and I just enjoyed it a lot." Story Continues "Your typical commercial locations have big pieces of glass. It's very easy to clean. There are no obstructions in front of the glass," he explained. "Residential is smaller. It can be single hung. It can be a divided light window the little squares, and those little squares vary in size. They can be three inches big, six inches big, 10 inches big. Then, you have screens that you have to deal with, and you have multi-level, so two-story or three-story windows. The difficulty factor explodes when you're doing residential." He also found it harder to land clients, at least in the first couple of years. "I would go out and knock doors, and I would get two people in a day, but then I wouldn't get anybody for like a week or two," said Ray. He wasn't discouraged because he knew he was onto something. He decided to drop his commercial clients and go all in on residential. Growing to six-figures using SEO, a unique pricing structure, and 'unreasonable hospitality' For years, Geek remained a side hustle for Ray. "I enjoyed the work a lot, and it was bringing in OK money, but it wasn't enough for me to quit waiting tables and bartending," he said. "I was working seven days a week. It started to become a hamster wheel that I got myself into, and I couldn't figure out how to grow fast enough to produce the level of income I needed to leave these other jobs." That changed around 2014 when he started figuring out how to leverage SEO. "I started reading a lot of books about it, and I started building my website and doing all the SEO stuff that you would do back then," he said. "I was getting more consistent jobs and more referrals from customers because we were doing a really excellent job for them. And then, in 2015, if you were Googling 'window cleaning Houston,' we were showing up in the No. 1 position. Then we started getting really busy." Ray, circa 2014, when his side hustle started gaining serious traction. Courtesy of Kyle Ray Around the same time, he was rethinking his pricing structure. A major benefit of his commercial work was the consistency: Once he locked in a client, they'd typically want him to return weekly or every other week. His residential clients were more sporadic. To encourage them to set up recurring cleanings, he experimented with a pricing model in which clients would get a discounted price if they paid a monthly fee for a set number of cleanings, rather than hiring him for one-off jobs. "I've been basically tweaking that program since 2015, and I'd say probably in 2019, 2020 is when I really figured it out how to sell it and how to get people set up," said Ray. "And then we started really cooking with fire." Geek's "Always Clean Program," or ACP, puts customers on an automatic cleaning program. Their monthly rate is determined by the services they select Geek has expanded to offer pressure washing, gutter cleaning, and roof cleaning the size of their home, and the frequency of the cleanings. Ray, who has been in the business for nearly two decades, believes that maintenance programs, rather than one-offs, are the future of window cleaning: "I think people are catching on now, and there are a couple of people doing it, but back when I started doing it, everybody thought I was crazy." He also believes in excellent customer service. One of the business's core values is what he calls "unreasonable hospitality," which he describes as "transforming ordinary customer interactions into extraordinary experiences." He trains his technicians to go above and beyond. "If we show up to someone's house and their garbage cans have been dumped, we just go grab them and we'll be like, 'Hey, where do your garbage cans go?' Or, 'Hey, this light fixture was really dirty. We just went ahead and cleaned it,'" he said. "We do unreasonable things to make sure that you're super happy." Hospitality is in his blood. He grew up watching his mom, who ran a bread-baking company, take supreme care of her customers. He further bought into the idea of providing exceptional customer care after years of waiting tables. "You can be an asshole waiter. Or, you can be a really hospitable, friendly waiter and you'll make a lot more money," he said. The Geek Window Cleaning team working on the Texas A&M Kyle field after the reconstruction. Courtesy of Geek Window Cleaning Ray has teams of technicians in Houston and Austin, where he and his wife currently reside, and plans to expand to Dallas in 2027. The business generated six figures in revenue in 2024 and is on track to exceed $1 million for the first time in 2025. Business Insider confirmed these details by reviewing his 2024 P&L and ServiceMonster dashboard. Ray has big goals that he plans to achieve by implementing his Always Clean Program, phasing out one-off cleanings, and continuing to provide unreasonable hospitality. "The goal is to go to $40 million a year in revenue in five years and $100 million a year in revenue in 10, and then expand out of state," he said. "We know how to get there and and we're just going to go for that and see what happens." Read the original article on Business Insider Kenny Garrett is undoubtedly one of the worlds finest saxophonists. With his uniquely distinctive tone and style, the American musician became a true global star as a member of Miles Daviss band, where, alongside the Master, he emerged as one of the most influential figures in jazz. Garretts stunning, powerful solos already stand among the most memorable moments in jazz history. Kenny Garrett first appeared on the national scene in 1978 as a remarkable new voice, instantly recognised for his gift in shaping deeply emotional melodies. This talent soon led to collaborations with Woody Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey, and Miles Davis. On his album Sounds from the Ancestors, Garrett draws inspiration from the spirit of African heritage echoing church services, spoken prayers, field songs, Yoruba chants, and African drumming while also paying tribute to Roy Hargrove and two pioneering drummers, Art Blakey and Tony Allen, all of whom looked to the past to shape the future sound and direction of jazz. More: jazzfestbudapest.hu ********************************************************************************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop: As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here. A new survey highlights that the Made in Hungary label continues to carry weight among local consumers, though the strength of that preference depends heavily on age. More than eight in ten Hungarians say the origin of a product matters to them, with nearly four in ten describing it as very important. Around a third of shoppers actively look for Hungarian brands, and almost half of respondents recognise the MagyarBrands logo, a mark that identifies high-quality local products. Many who are familiar with the 'Made in Hungary' logo and concept say they are more inclined to choose items that bear the label, believing these represent better quality and more. Generational differences, however, are striking. Among 18 to 29-year-olds, over one in five feel that buying Hungarian products is not particularly important, while this figure falls to about one in ten for people in their forties. Younger shoppers are also more likely to favour foreign products, with roughly one in five saying they mostly buy non-Hungarian brands. For local companies, this creates both opportunities and challenges. Older consumers remain loyal to local products, while younger ones are increasingly global in their tastes. As Janos Serenyi, president of MagyarBrands, has pointed out, the task ahead is to keep Hungarian brands attractive to a new generation of shoppers without losing the trust of their long-standing supporters. Since its launch in 2010, the MagyarBrands initiative has celebrated outstanding Hungarian products and services. Its role today is not just about recognising excellence, but also about helping domestic brands adapt to shifting consumer attitudes in an era when global options are just a click away. ********************************************************************************************* 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. After a long break, the legendary Haggenmacher bride is making her grand return and shes bringing a celebration like no other! Join organisers for a weekend full of tradition, music, food, fun, and, of course, excellent beer. Expect unforgettable moments with the 200-year-old Bernbeuren Brass Band, the Sudofen Blaskapelle, live performances, DJs, games, and festivities for all ages. Mark Your Calendar: September 26-28, 2025 Get ready for the Haggenmacher Oktoberfest a three-day celebration thats going to be absolutely spectacular. 2628 September 2025 aqb, Budapest | 1222 Nagytetenyi ut 4850 After a long pause, the legendary Haggenmacher Brau returns and well celebrate it in style! A weekend where tradition meets the contemporary: the 200-year-old Bernbeuren brass band, exhibitions across aqb spaces, progressive music, DJs, games, Bavarian food and, of course, the very first freshly tapped Haggenmacher beer. Atmosphere, experience, and community Budafok is opening a new chapter. Program Friday, 26 September The Kick-Off 5:006:00 pm Ceremonial keg tapping with Ferenc Karsay, Mayor of Budapests 22nd District Inauguration of the mural by Botond Keresztesi and Janos Borsos 6:009:00 pm Musikkapelle Bernbeuren (concert) Swing boat ride Brewery tours 9:00 pm2:00 am roboter vs. Interflug (DJ set) Saturday, 27 September The Big Celebration 11:30 am8:00 pm Swing boat ride Brewery tours 11:30 am2:00 pm Beer breakfast & brunch with Musikkapelle Bernbeuren 1:005:00 pm Exhibition by Eva Koves @ aqb Project Space 2:003:00 pm Public Reptile (concert) 3:006:00 pm Kirba, Zsuki, Kidwar (DJ set) 4:004:15 pm Welcome speech by Alexander Renggli, Ambassador of Switzerland to Hungary 6:007:00 pm Mujko (concert) 6:008:00 pm Opening of pop-up exhibition by Laura Mietrup & Robin Michel, Ljuba Slechtova @ aqb Nest 7:0010:00 pm Musikkapelle Bernbeuren (main concert) 10:0011:00 pm Neve (concert) 11:00 pm2:00 am Kirba, Zsuki, Kidwar (DJ set) Sunday, 28 September The Chill-Out 11:30 am12:30 pm Traditional White Sausage Breakfast + Sudofen Blaskapelle (concert) 11:30 am7:00 pm Swing boat ride Brewery tours 12:307:00 pm S+ (Alley Catss + The Stanley Maneuver) (DJ set) 2:00 pm Historical walk in the former Haggenmacher Brewery with historian Viktoria Gyonki (registration: aqbudapest@gmail.com) 4:005:00 pm Whispers of Matter presentation by Egle Ambrasaite @ aqb Nest Useful Information No parking is available on the aqb premises. Free P+R car park at Haros train station (approx. 750 m / 10 minutes on foot). Whether you wear a dirndl, lederhosen, or just bring good vibes come raise a glass with us to a new chapter in beer culture! What Makes This Event Special? This isnt just another beer festival its a cultural renaissance. The new Haggenmacher Brewery will start with a classic lager, giving you the chance to taste history reborn. But beyond the beer, this event represents something much bigger: Cultural Heritage Meets Modern Creativity: The brewery operates within the AQB art quarter, creating a unique fusion of industrial heritage, contemporary art, and craft brewing. More: Haggenmacher Brewery Gov't agencies inspected 1,907 pieces of playground equipment at 281 playgrounds this year under the oversight of the NKFH, which resulted in HUF 5.75 mln in fines for violations, according to a statement issued this week. The National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority said violations were found at 37% of playgrounds and 23% of the equipment, figures broadly in line with last years results. The inspections covered public and institutional playgrounds, such as those at daycare centers, kindergartens, and schools. In addition, play areas located in the courtyards of hotels, restaurants, and apartment buildings were also included in the investigation. The NKFH reminded operators that new equipment must be inspected before use, and all existing equipment must undergo periodic checks every three years. MTI Stock Photo - for illustrative purposes only ********************************************************************************************* 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. Sweet yet bitter, a deep red classic cocktail topped with an orange slice the Negroni. There is hardly anyone who does not know it, as it is one of the most popular drinks worldwide. This year, between September 2228, the International Negroni Week will once again be celebrated, and Spago Budapest is joining the initiative. For one week, guests can enjoy a special Negroni Menu, featuring Wolfgang Pucks favorite version of the cocktail and limited-edition Negroni creations, served within the historic walls of the Matild Palace. 20 restaurants, 7 days, 1 iconic cocktail The Negroni, made with gin, sweet red vermouth, and Campari, garnished with an orange slice, is one of the worlds most iconic cocktails. Its story goes back to Florence in the 1910s, when Count Camillo Negroni asked to strengthen his favorite Americano cocktail with a splash of gin. Since then, the Negroni has offered the perfect harmony of bitter and sweet flavors and has become a true icon of cocktail culture. To mark International Negroni Week, the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group and Campari have launched a bold, global collaboration that unites culinary excellence, fashion, and art through the timeless allure of Chef Wolfgangs favorite cocktail. Kicking off in New York, the initiative brings together 20 Wolfgang Puck fine-dining restaurants around the world, each offering exclusive, reimagined takes on the classic Negroni. From Las Vegas, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Manhattan, Washington D.C., Orlando, Maui, London, Manama, Riyadh, Istanbul, Bodrum, Marina Bay, Shanghai, and of course Budapest, each location presents Wolfgang Pucks signature recipe and limited-edition Negroni creations for the week, crafted exclusively for the occasion. Guests at Spago Budapest will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in four distinctive versions of the classic cocktail. Wolfgangs Perfect Negroni blends gin, Aperol, Campari, and Carpano Antica into a refined balance Chef Wolfgang Pucks personal favorite. For lovers of smoky flavors, the Oaxacan Negroni offers an exciting twist, built on the harmony of Montelobos Mezcal, Campari, and Cinzano Rosso Vermouth. Those seeking a lighter yet complex flavor profile can turn to the Golden Negroni, where Bulldog Gin, Cinzano Bianco Vermouth, and Suze combine for a golden freshness. Finally, the Negroni Sbagliato represents sparkling elegance, as Campari and Cinzano Rosso Vermouth are topped with Cinzano Prosecco, creating a light and celebratory mood. Wolfgang Pucks Negroni Recipe The chefs favorite Negroni recipe preserves the character of the traditional cocktail while adding a fresh and surprising twist. The result is a more aromatic, citrusy, and smoother version, all while maintaining the Negronis signature bitterness. Ingredients: 30 ml Botanist Gin 30 ml Carpano Antica 15 ml Campari 15 ml Aperol 1 dash orange bitters 1 dash lemon bitters Directions: Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes. Add all ingredients and gently stir with a bar spoon for about 30 seconds. Using a cocktail strainer, pour into a serving glass over one large ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel. The International Negroni Week is celebrated worldwide not only as a tribute to this classic cocktail but also as a charitable initiative. Each year, participating bars and restaurants support the Slow Food movement with donations. Slow Food works across more than 160 countries to ensure that food and beverages serve the well-being of consumers, provide fair conditions for producers, and safeguard the sustainability of our planet. In Budapest, International Negroni Week celebrates classic flavors, global cocktail culture, Chef Wolfgang Pucks creativity, and the importance of giving back making every glass of Negroni a sip of elegance and story. More: Spago Budapest by Wolfgang Puck ********************************************************************************************* 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. Born in Budapest and raised under the sun of Madagascar, Harry Szovik is an actor, translator, musician, and all-around creative with a background as colorful as his passport stamps. After early careers in software development and language teaching, he shifted gears to follow his passion into acting, appearing in international film, television, and theater productions across Europe. A native French speaker fluent in English, Hungarian, Spanish, Malagasy and more, Harry brings a global perspective to every role he takes on (on and off camera) blending street smarts, an island gentle soul, a geeks mind, and a love for storytelling. When hes not on stage or in front of the camera, youll likely find him at golden hour behind a lens capturing the moment, behind the wheel chasing it into the sunset, or behind a glass of something good, soaking it all in and sipping time. A longtime fan of Budapest, Harry calls the city one of the worlds most underrated treasures, especially the corners off the beaten track, and hes proud to be part of its ever-growing international community. 1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here? I moved here in '93 when I was 15. It was time to leave Madagascar, my mother's island, where I grew up (and which I adored), and discover the other half of my identity, Hungary, my father's homeland. It was a bittersweet shift, but also the start of a wild, beautiful and mostly educative journey. 2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere? I've been an expat in the Netherlands, India, Sweden, and Austria, and to be honest, pretty much everywhere I've been, I've always felt like an expat. But aside from feeling at home in Hungary, I've also always felt especially at ease in France, French-speaking Switzerland, and Miami, USA as an expat there too. Different vibes, same comfort zone. Probably the French language factor... and maybe just a little bit of the Miami Vice factor too. 3. What surprised you most about Hungary? That such a small country packs in so much complexity, contradictions that somehow harmonize, grief and pride, silence and roar, the beautiful and the bleak. Its all here, squeezed into a place most people still cant find on a map. It only added more fuel to the intrigue, inspiring me to get more and more immersed in it. 4. Friends are in Budapest for the weekend what must they absolutely see and do? Skip the overhyped 7th district and wander through the charming chaos of the 8th instead. Catch some real folk music, soak in the thermal baths (just not during Sziget, unless youre into people soup), eat Hungarian, but steer clear of tourist traps, and most importantly, talk to people. Hungarians might seem reserved at first, but once you break the ice, theyll surprise you. Just maybe dont flash too wide a smile right away, or they might think youve escaped from somewhere. And of course do yourself a favor: make time for the citys stunning cultural landmarks and institutions. Theyre not just photogenic, theyre part of the soul of Budapest. 5. What is your favorite Hungarian food? Halaszle, Hungarian fish soup. Thick, rich, a little fatty, and perfect with hot peppers and tejfol (sour cream, obviously). There are two main types, Baja and Szegedi, both great, but lets agree, no pasta in there, please. 6. What is never missing from your refrigerator? Hot chili sauces. I've got around 20 bottles at any given time, some store-bought, some homemade Madagascan style, others flown in from Madagascar or the US. Capsicum is basically my fuel. I believe it keeps me alive, and healthy, alert, and possibly youthful? Who knows, tell ya later. 7. What is your favorite Hungarian word? Egeszsegedre. Its more than just cheers. Its a mini poem. Eg means sky, egesz means whole, egeszseg means wholeness (which eventually came to mean health), and -edre means to yours. So when you say it, youre literally toasting to your wholeness. Hungarian is full of little etymological treasures like that. Totally geek-worthy. 8. What do you miss most from home? If home is Madagascar, and it is, because thats where I became me, then I miss the sea, the strange and wild nature, the seafood, and most of all, the peoples radiant, unbreakable smiles, no matter what life throws at them. 9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue? Besides currently being an actor and a linguist (after having made my daily bread as a computer programmer and a language teacher for many long and enriching years), I'd love to dive into photography and directing. I feel like blending the different senses I've learned to sharpen over time could lead to some interesting storytelling. 10. What's a job you would definitely never want? Anything in politics, finance, accounting, insurance, basically anything that might make me rich but empty, and thats just me, not denigrating these fields for others. But in the end I like looking at the bottom of my glass by choice, not existential despair. 11. Where did you spend your last vacation? Sorrento. Just... wow. The light, the colors, the breeze, the smells, like bottling sunlight inside a drop of dew. Pure poetry. 12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday? Madagascar. I haven't been back since '93. It's time. Though honestly, it might still be a fantasy for now, depending on the budget. So realistically? Probably somewhere in the Mediterranean or Adriatic Sea again... or maybe Morocco. 13. Apart from temptation, what can't you resist? A spontaneous, last-minute adventure that turns into an all-nighter full of memorable shenanigans and ends with sunrise and a grin that hurts. Life's too short to over-plan everything. 14. What was your favorite band, film, or hobby as a teen? Bands? The Doors, Guns N Roses and Velvet Underground. Films? Back to the Future, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Trainspotting. Hobbies? Building working cars out of tin cans, programming video games, creating fractals, playing guitar, writing poems, and flying Microsoft Flight Simulator in real time overnight, usually on a school night. 15. Red or white? Red for partying, white for chilling 16. Books or films? Films. Always loved them, and now I'm lucky enough to work in them. A good book still hits the spot, but cinema is where I breathe. 17. Morning person or night person? Wine in the mornin, and some breakfast at night well Im beginning to see the light Velvet Underground. Yeah, that about sums it up. 18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about? Racism and authoritarianism. Those are hard lines for me. Basic dignity and freedom should never be up for debate. 19. Buda or Pest? Both. Its gotta be Budapest. Born in Pest, raised in Buda, reborn in Pest again and Ill probably grow old in Buda or even further out, or who knows where, in which country Ill end up next. But this city has it all, elegance and edge, architecture and nightlife, forests and thermal springs. Its ridiculously underrated. 20. What would you say is your personal motto? Take it easy, but take it. If its heavy, f**k it. The Murthys decline to participate in the Karnataka Caste Survey, stating they 'do not belong to any backward class.' The decision comes as the state extends the survey deadline to Oct 27 due to incomplete data. Colombian state-owned energy company Ecopetrol is on track to surpass its 2025 drilling targets, with plans to exceed the target of ten oil wells by 2040%, reported Reuters. Ecopetrol hydrocarbons vice-president Rafael Guzman said that the company has already drilled six wells in the first half of the year, two of which were successful. Ecopetrol's current production stands at 751,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), slightly above its 2025 target of 750,000bopd. The company is actively seeking partners to manage five oilfields in the next 18 months under production-sharing agreements (PSAs). The partnerships, such as a recent $268m (C$369.96m) agreement with Canadas Parex Resources, aim to boost output and reserves without requiring direct investment from Ecopetrol, said the news agency. In the Colombian Caribbean, Ecopetrol is collaborating with Petrobras on the Sirius project, which requires 120 community authorisations. The area holds an estimated six billion cubic feet of gas, with potential investments reaching $5bn. This project is scheduled to be operational between 2029 and 2030, although prolonged consultations could delay this timeline. Ecopetrol aims to fully replace its oil reserves this year, ensuring that each barrel produced is offset by a new addition. Guzman, on the sidelines of the Acipet energy conference, told Reuters: I think we will do more than the planned ten, I think it could be 2040% more than that figure. It is going really well to meet our goal, which is between 740,000 barrels and 750,000 barrels. We have had some difficulties in the area that have limited production, but we have mostly overcome and shown the potential. We have had multiple offers; there is interest in companies with these schemes. It is a way to rehabilitate and redevelop some fields that we have. Ecopetrol operates across Colombia and beyond, with two refineries in Barrancabermeja and Cartagena. Its subsidiary, Cenit, manages hydrocarbon transport and logistics and owns several ports and pipelines. Ecopetrols shares are traded on both the Colombian and New York stock exchanges. Earlier this year, Ecopetrol reportedly announced plans to continue natural gas drilling in the Colombian Caribbean, despite Shell's withdrawal from three offshore blocks. "Colombias Ecopetrol to exceed 2025 drilling targets " was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. PARIS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- "China's biosphere reserves, which I know very well, increasingly embody the core of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) vision -- people and nature can thrive together," said a UNESCO official. Antonio Abreu, secretary of the MAB Programme of UNESCO, made the remarks during an interview with Xinhua ahead of the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, which will take place in Hangzhou, China, from Sept. 22 to 25. UNESCO launched the MAB Programme in 1971 to promote the sustainable management of biodiversity and human-nature interactions. It operates through the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR), which includes 759 biosphere reserves across 136 countries. "Hosting the congress here is not only an acknowledgment of China's achievements, but also highlights the importance of the Asia-Pacific region, which is home to unique ecosystems and faces pressing sustainability challenges," Abreu said. To date, 34 nature reserves in China have been designated as UNESCO biosphere reserves, placing the country first in Asia in terms of total number of such reserves. Abreu hailed China's remarkable commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. He cited the Tianmushan-Qingliangfeng Biosphere Reserve in Hangzhou as an example, highlighting how this reserve successfully combines ecological protection with green industries, ecotourism, and education. "It is, in fact, a model of how local livelihoods can improve while ecosystems are restored or preserved, striking a balance between conservation, research and sustainable development," Abreu said, adding, "That is exactly what UNESCO promotes globally." "Here, we have found a good example that we are sharing with other biosphere reserves within the global network," he said. Abreu also emphasized the transformative potential of digital technologies in facilitating the transition "from reactive conservation to predictive and proactive management of ecosystems." China's expertise in areas such as remote sensing, species monitoring and ecological big data can be shared internationally and will generate opportunities for joint projects, training programs and open-data platforms, he added. Abreu said the upcoming congress will be "a milestone" for strengthening South-South cooperation on biodiversity conservation. "China can play a vital role by providing financial support, technical expertise, and spaces for dialogue that foster inclusive participation," Abreu added. Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY) ranks among the best fundamental stocks to buy right now. Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY) revealed plans on September 16 to build a $5 billion manufacturing facility in Goochland County, Virginia. This is the first of four new U.S. production locations that Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY) hopes to reveal this year. The facility will be Eli Lillys first fully integrated facility for active pharmaceutical ingredients and therapeutic products specifically designed for the companys monoclonal antibody portfolio and bioconjugate platform. The project is estimated to generate 1,800 construction jobs and 650 permanent manufacturing jobs. The effort is a component of Eli Lillys $50 billion commitment to capital expansion in the United States since 2020. Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY) is a major global pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and distributes a wide range of drugs. Founded in 1876, it has grown to become one of the worlds largest pharmaceutical companies. While we acknowledge the potential of LLY 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 Best Magic Formula Stocks for 2025 and 10 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL) is one of the Tech Stocks to Buy with the Lowest P/E Ratios. On September 8, Amit Daryanani from Evercore ISI reiterated a Buy rating on Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL) with a price target of $160. The analyst highlighted that the companys financial outlook remains stable despite the recent resignation of CFO Yvonne McGill. The company notified that no changes have been made to the targets or the capital allocation plans. The analyst notes that this has reassured investors about the companys financial health. Moreover, the company is also actively searching for a new CFO who can support its strategic goals. Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL) has reaffirmed its near-term financial guidance and plans to share its long-term update on the upcoming investor day. Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL) designs, manufactures, and sells a wide range of technology products and services. While we acknowledge the potential of DELL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. (Reuters) -China's securities watchdog has advised some local brokerages to pause their real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation business in Hong Kong, said two sources, signalling Beijing's concerns of a euphoric drive towards a booming digital assets market offshore. The RWA tokenisation process usually converts traditional assets such as stocks, bonds, funds and even real estate, into digital tokens traded on a blockchain. A raft of Chinese firms, including brokerages, have launched RWAs in Hong Kong over the past few months. At least two leading brokerages have received informal guidance from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) in recent weeks to refrain from conducting RWA business offshore, said the sources with knowledge of the matter. One of the sources said the latest regulatory guidance is aimed at strengthening risk management of a new business and making sure the claims made by companies are backed by strong, legitimate businesses. Shares in top Chinese brokerages listed in Hong Kong, including Guotai Junan International and GF Securities, lost between 2% and 7.25% on Tuesday, while the broader market was down 0.9% at the close of the morning session. The move comes as Hong Kong over the past year ramped up efforts to position the Asian financial centre as a digital assets hub, with many firms, including Chinese brokerages, preparing for the launch of virtual asset trading, investment advisory and virtual asset management. China, once the world's biggest bitcoin trading and mining centre, on the other hand, has taken a cautious approach towards digital assets after it banned cryptocurrency trading and mining in 2021 due to financial system stability concerns. Last month, Chinese regulators asked big local brokers to halt publication of research endorsing stablecoins in a bid to curb a surge in interest in the digital currency among domestic investors, Reuters has reported, citing sources. Beijing's latest move comes even as Hong Kong said in June its Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) are conducting a legal review of RWA tokenisation, drawing on international experience. The global RWA market is currently worth around $29 billion, according to data provider RWA.xyz. China Merchants Securities, citing industry forecasts, said last month the figure could exceed $2 trillion by 2030. It was not immediately known how long the Chinese securities regulator's informal guidance to some brokerages on halting RWA business in Hong Kong would remain in force. The sources could not be named as they were not authorised to speak to the media. By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) -SAP, Europe's largest software maker, has offered concessions to address EU antitrust concerns related to its business practices, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, as it seeks to stave off an investigation and potential fine. Germany's SAP is the world leader in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software used by companies to manage their finances, human resources, supply chains, sales and procurement. It has been on the European Commission's radar for several years after some companies voiced concerns over software vendors' complex terms and licensing conditions, bundling of applications that lead to higher costs and difficulties in switching to rival suppliers. SAP has made a proposal to resolve regulatory concerns triggered by some of the grievances related to its ERP software, the sources said, asking not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. They did not provide further details of the proposal. EU COMMISSION LOOKS INTO SOFTWARE BUSINESS PRACTICES If SAP can assuage the Commission, which acts as the EU competition enforcer, the company could avert an investigation and the risk of a fine of as much as 10% of its annual global sales. Both SAP and the Commission declined to comment. In a 2022 questionnaire sent to companies and seen by Reuters, the EU watchdog asked about SAP and U.S. tech company Oracle's ERP aftermarket support services and whether it was easy for respondents to switch to a rival vendor. Oracle did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Respondents were asked if they were free to continue their contract for support services with the original vendor or switch to a rival. They were also asked if they could freely pick and choose the support services they wanted and about any barriers they might face in doing so. The Commission wanted to know whether it was easy for companies to migrate from an on-premise service to a cloud solution and if SAP and Oracle software vendors disparaged rivals. Remedies to resolve such issues would typically be to allow more flexibility for companies to take service contracts for the software they want and to make it easier for them to switch to a rival. In June, SAP asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a decision that said it must face a lawsuit by U.S. data technology company Teradata, which accused it of violating antitrust law. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Joe Bavier) MOSCOW (Reuters) -As much as $250 billion worth of Russian assets have been frozen in the European Union since the U.S. and its allies prohibited transactions with Russia's central bank and finance ministry following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Reuters reported this week that the European Union is discussing a plan to repurpose the frozen assets to boost financial aid to Ukraine, as it looks to step up sanctions pressure on Russia. WHAT ARE RUSSIA'S ASSETS AND WHERE ARE THEY? The Russian central bank previously confirmed that it has around $300-350 billion worth of assets frozen in the West. Like other central banks, the Russian central bank placed some of its gold and foreign exchange reserves in liquid assets such as major currencies, gold and government bonds, about half of which were held in the West at the time they were frozen. The majority of the immobilised assets are in Europe and many have already matured and become cash held by Belgian securities repository Euroclear. The Russian central bank has not given a detailed breakdown of what was frozen, but its data from the start of 2022 offers some insight. Russia's central bank held around $207 billion in euro assets, $67 billion in U.S. dollar assets and $37 billion in British pound assets. It also had holdings comprising $36 billion of Japanese yen, $19 billion in Canadian dollars, $6 billion in Australian dollars and $1.8 billion in Singapore dollars. Its Swiss franc holdings were about $1 billion. Russia's central bank said these assets were mainly invested in foreign securities, bank deposits and nostro correspondent accounts. The bank's biggest bond holdings were in the sovereign bonds of China, Germany, France, Britain, Austria and Canada. Russia's gold reserves were held in Russia. Investments in yuan are held in China. WHAT IS IN THE EU'S PROPOSAL? The European Union has floated a plan to use Russian frozen assets to underpin a "reparation loan" to Ukraine, officials close to the project told Reuters on Thursday. The loan would only be repaid once Ukraine receives reparations from Russia for damages incurred during the three-and-a-half-year conflict. It would involve replacing Russian assets with zero-coupon bonds issued by the European Commission. The mechanism could be created and underpinned by a "coalition of the willing", rather than all 27 EU governments, as a way of sidestepping any potential veto by Hungary, which has the closest ties in the bloc with Moscow. The EU has so far been using interest from the assets to repay a $50 billion loan to Ukraine, but the amount of interest being generated is falling. Generali and French bank BPCE have decided to eliminate the 50m break-up fee from their proposed asset management merger deal, reported Reuters quoting two sources familiar with the development. This move comes amid uncertainty over the deal's completion, with opposition from key Generali shareholders and concerns from the Italian government. In January, Generali signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with BPCE to merge their asset management businesses, creating a joint venture with balanced ownership and governance. The combined entity would manage assets exceeding 1.9tn. However, the merger faced resistance from two of Generali's largest investors and sparked worries in Rome, where there is a preference for channelling Italian savings into domestic investment. The Italian government also has the authority to veto deals involving strategic national assets, the news agency noted. In April, Generali's CEO, Philippe Donnet, has stated that he would not contest the government's stance on the merger if opposition continued. The absence of the break-up fee now simplifies the potential dissolution of the deal, the report added. Generali's primary investor is Mediobanca, followed by Delfin, the holding company of billionaire Leonardo Del Vecchio's heirs, and Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone, a construction magnate. Both Delfin and Caltagirone have been vocal critics of the Natixis deal. These investors recently gained influence over Mediobanca following its takeover by Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS), where Delfin and Caltagirone are the primary shareholders. Mediobanca had previously sought to acquire Generali's private banking division, Banca Generali, to fortify its wealth management market presence. However, this 6.3bn bid was thwarted by Mediobanca's shareholders in August 2025. "Generali, BPCE drop break-up fee in asset management deal- report " was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. By Jody Godoy ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (Reuters) -Alphabet's Google is seeking to avoid a forced sale of part of its online advertising business in its latest face-off with U.S. antitrust enforcers that began on Monday in Alexandria, Virginia. The trial is the government's next best shot at curbing what a judge has ruled is Google's monopoly power, after losing a separate bid to make Google sell its Chrome browser earlier this month. Online publishers and rival ad tech developers, some of whom have separately sued Google for damages, will be watching the case closely. The U.S. Department of Justice and a coalition of states are trying to make Google sell its ad exchange, AdX, where online publishers pay Google a 20% fee to sell ads in auctions that happen instantly when users load websites. The government is also seeking to require Google to make the mechanism that decides the winner of those auctions open source. Julia Tarver Wood, an attorney with the Justice Department's antitrust division, said in her opening statement that making Google sell AdX was necessary to restore competition after U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema's ruling that the company illegally tied AdX to its publisher ad server - a platform used by websites to store and manage their digital ad inventory. "Leaving Google with the motive and the means to recreate that tie is simply too great a risk," she said. Brinkema is presiding over the trial to decide what remedies to impose on the company, which she found holds unlawful monopolies in web advertising technology. Google attorney Karen Dunn called the DOJ's proposals "radical and reckless" in her opening statement, saying they would harm competition by taking Google out of the market. "The DOJ would reserve to itself broad and unparalleled power, control and leverage over a major American technology platform," she said. The company has asked Brinkema to take the same cautious approach as a judge in Washington, D.C., who recently rejected most of the DOJ's proposals in a separate case over Google's monopoly in online search. Wood said on Monday that the facts in that case, where Chrome was merely a distribution method for Google's monopoly and not part of the monopoly itself, bore no resemblance to the ad tech case. The cases against Google are part of a larger bipartisan crackdown by the U.S. on big tech firms, which began during President Donald Trump's first term and includes cases still pending against Meta Platforms, Amazon and Apple. Key Points Coca-Cola generates robust profits, which management uses to fund dividend payouts to shareholders. The company has raised its dividend every year for more than six decades straight. Investors who buy the stock should not expect to outperform the S&P 500 in the long run. 10 stocks we like better than Coca-Cola Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) is a well-regarded company that has a storied history of dominating the beverage market with its extremely popular drink products. This is a global enterprise today that has proven pricing power and generates robust earnings. And it can easily draw the attention of income investors. This business does a great job returning capital to investors. Here's how many shares of Coca-Cola investors would need to generate $10,000 in yearly dividends. Image source: Getty Images. Calling all income investors In February, Coca-Cola's board of directors approved a dividend increase, with the quarterly payout now totaling $0.51 per share. Investors that want to make $10,000 in annual income from the company would need to own about 4,902 shares. Coca-Cola's dividend yield of 3.06% is much higher than the average 1.25% of the S&P 500 index. And more impressive is the fact that 2025 marks Coca-Cola's 63rd straight year of a dividend increase. Stable and predictable There's almost no threat that Coca-Cola's dividend will go away. This is a competitively advantaged business, with one of the strongest brands in the world. And it doesn't invite much disruption, which should give investors confidence that Coca-Cola will be around and very profitable far into the future. This stock has significantly underperformed the overall market in the past decade. This trend will likely persist. But buying Coca-Cola is a smart choice for income investors that value stability and predictability. Should you buy stock in Coca-Cola right now? Before you buy stock in Coca-Cola, 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 Coca-Cola 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 $661,694!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,082,963!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 1,067% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 190% for the S&P 500. Dont miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. Companies in Hong Kong moved swiftly on Monday to take advantage of a new Swap Connect rule that lets them hedge using China's onshore loan prime rate (LPR), as demand rises to manage yuan interest-rate risks. The measure, which was introduced by mainland China and Hong Kong regulators in May and went live on Monday, is part of a drive to expand product offerings under Swap Connect. Launched in Hong Kong in 2023, Swap Connect allows global investors to access mainland China's interbank financial derivatives market to hedge interest-rate risks. The introduction of the one-year LPR as a floating reference-rate option provides a benchmark more closely aligned with mainland China's lending market, helping offshore corporate treasuries manage yuan exposures. The rate is most commonly used in pricing corporate and household loans. The other reference rates Swap Connect supports are the seven-day repo and the three-month and overnight Shanghai interbank offered rates. 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. "[Yuan]-based assets and liabilities remain one of our core focuses," said Andrew Fung, executive director and chief financial officer of Henderson Land, which tapped HSBC to complete an LPR-based interest-rate swap, according to the bank's press release on Monday. The tool allowed the developer to optimise interest-rate risk management for yuan liabilities, he added. "Global [companies] are increasingly seeking effective offshore solutions to manage their RMB interest-rate risks," said Cheuk Wong, HSBC's Asia head of foreign exchange, emerging-market rates and commodities and Hong Kong head of markets and securities services. The latest Swap Connect enhancement allows banks in Hong Kong to offer yuan interest-rate hedging tools based on a benchmark for most onshore corporate and household loans. "This is set to further boost the utilisation of the city's robust offshore [yuan] market by global businesses," Wong said. Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) assisted financial institutions, including Bank of Communications and Orient Securities, to settle Swap Connect transactions using the one-year LPR for the first time, it said in a statement on Monday. The latest measure would allow offshore investors to manage yuan interest-rate risks "more flexibly and effectively, attracting more international investors to access the mainland capital market and further accelerating the internationalisation of the [yuan]", said John Thang, Standard Chartered's head of markets and strategic client management and solutions for Hong Kong, Greater China and North Asia. Indian payments technology company Pine Labs is looking to raise as much as $700m through an initial public offering (IPO) slated for the second half of October, Bloomberg has reported. Backed by Mastercard and PayPal Holdings, the company has initiated roadshows for the IPO, as per information from sources. The fundraising target was decreased from a previous goal of $1bn after some current shareholders decided to reduce the size of their stake in the offer for sale. The IPO includes the issuance of new shares worth Rs26bn ($295m) and the sale of 147.8 million shares by the founder and investors, including Peak XV Partners, Pine Investment Holdings, and Invesco Investment Funds. Insiders informed Bloomberg that discussions regarding the timing and size of the offering are still ongoing and may be subject to change. Pine Labs submitted a draft prospectus to Indias securities regulator in June and has since obtained approval. The firm provides payment terminals and associated services within India, as well as in international markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, and the UAE. According to its documents referenced by Bloomberg, the company reported a loss of Rs1.9bn against a revenue of Rs13.4bn for the fiscal year concluding in March 2024. In March this year, Pine Labs and Visa launched Visa Instalment Solutions (VIS) on Pine Labs multiissuer platform, allowing merchants in Southeast Asia to offer installment payments. The collaboration enabled merchants to provide installment payment options for both local and international transactions, eliminating the former requirement for various issuers and point-of-sale devices. VIS is set to debut within Pine Labs' merchant network in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. "Indias Pine Labs eyes up to $700m in IPO report" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand. On the afternoon of September 20th, the "Collection of Typical Cases for Manufacturing Digital Transformation in 2025" was officially released at the Manufacturing Digital Transformation Achievements Matchmaking Event of the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention. Wuhu City in Anhui Province was selected as a city case; Hefei Xinzhan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone was chosen as an industrial park and cluster case; and Anhui Gujing Group and Changhong Meiling Co., Ltd. were selected as enterprise cases. It is reported that the "Collection of Typical Cases for Manufacturing Digital Transformation in 2025" is divided into three sections: City Edition, Industrial Park & Cluster Edition, and Enterprise Edition, featuring a total of 59 carefully selected typical cases. Among these, there are 15 city cases, highlighting exemplary policy measures and organizational models implemented to drive digital upgrades among local manufacturing enterprises. Nine cases focus on industrial parks and clusters, emphasizing key practices such as establishing centers for promoting digital transformation in manufacturing, upgrading infrastructure, facilitating chain-wide renovation across upstream and downstream enterprises within the park/cluster, and strengthening public service support to advance enterprise digitalization. The 35 enterprise cases showcase the effectiveness, replicability, and industry-specific characteristics of solutions, with a focus on leveraging digital technologies and services to address challenges for industry players, exploring new intelligent manufacturing models based on large models, and cultivating digital transformation service providers with an industrial DNA. Since the launch of the 14th Five-Year Plan, Anhui Province has consistently regarded digital transformation as a key driver for promoting high-quality development in manufacturing, elevating its digitalization, networking, and intelligent advancement to new heights. Achievements include over 20,000 industrial enterprises above designated size completing digital upgradesaccounting for 83% of all such enterprises provincewide. We have established five Global "Lighthouse Factories" (ranked 4th nationally), nurtured 45 national-level 5G smart factories (ranked 5th nationally), and secured 22 specialized national platforms (ranked 5th nationally). Additionally, Anhui have introduced and cultivated 261 digital transformation service providers, covering 14 key industrial sectors and 31 operational scenarios across the province. A relevant official from the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology stated that Anhui has now achieved a historic leap from being a traditional agricultural province to a major manufacturing hub, and from an energy and raw materials base to an emerging industry cluster. Anhui is striving towards its goal of becoming a "strong manufacturing province." They will further advance the digital transformation of manufacturing in Anhui, aiming to keep the number of selected cases among the highest nationwide. Source: Anhui Daily Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Personal finance commentator Dave Ramsey urged a 33-year-old caller to cash out his stock portfolio and put the proceeds toward his mortgage, even though he holds a low 2.875% rate. The Boston-based caller, Nick, explained that he and his wife are raising an 18-month-old with another child on the way. Their household budget is running a $500 monthly deficit, though they have built reserves. The couple has $30,000 in emergency savings, $100,000 in a high-yield money market account, and $150,000 invested in stocks. They also carry a $329,000 mortgage. Don't Miss: Ramsey delivered his blunt advice on The Ramsey Show in a YouTube clip posted in late August, framing the stock holdings as unnecessary risk when the family already had ample reserves. The caller asked whether it made sense to keep the stock portfolio as a cushion or liquidate the investments to reduce his housing debt. Relatives had advised against selling, suggesting he ride out the market. Ramsey countered, reframing the question. Would Nick ever take out a loan against his house in order to buy stocks? When Nick admitted he wouldn't, Ramsey argued that holding the investments while owing on the mortgage was "the exact same thing in reverse." Trending: An EA Co-Founder Shapes This VC Backed MarketplaceNow You Can Invest in Gaming's Next Big Platform From Ramsey's perspective, the family's $280,000 in total backup cash was excessive. He recommended trimming the emergency fund to $30,000 and using the remaining $250,000 to pay down the mortgage. "This is insanity," Ramsey said. "If I woke up in your shoes, I would put $250,000 down on that house and have a $30,000 emergency fund by the end of the day." The advice runs counter to conventional financial planning. Many advisors argue that with a sub-3% mortgage, it is mathematically smarter to invest excess cash in markets that historically return more than borrowing costs. Ramsey, however, prioritizes peace of mind and security over optimized returns. See Also: Microsoft's Climate Innovation Fund Just Backed This Farmland Manager And Accredited Investors Can Join the Same Fund He often points to research on self-made millionaires showing they typically paid off their homes before aggressively funding retirement accounts. By their late 40s, the average millionaire in his studies had roughly $800,000 in paid-off real estate alongside comparable retirement savings. By Ankika Biswas and Ankita Yadav (Reuters) -European equity markets are drawing fresh interest from global investors, as resilient returns and cheaper valuations offer a compelling case for diversification beyond Wall Street. Amundi, Europe's largest asset manager, and M&G Investments are among firms reallocating portfolios toward the region. Amundi has rebalanced its long-equity positions into Europe, Japan and emerging markets since late-2024, while M&G - which oversees about $395 billion - is "overweight" European stocks and "underweight" U.S. peers. European stocks are "a way for us to diversify (while still) staying risk-on," John O'Toole, global head of multi-asset solutions at Amundi, which manages $2.6 trillion, told the Reuters Global Markets Forum. Fiscal policy initiatives, such as Germany's 500-billion-euro infrastructure fund, exempt from its strict debt brake, and the euro zone's pledge to lift defence spending to 3.5% of GDP under NATO's new targets, are boosting sentiment. O'Toole described these fiscal initiatives as "game-changing", adding that central banks also continued to support the real economy. Europe's benchmark STOXX 600 (^STOXX) has climbed 9.2% this year, bolstered by a 62% surge in aerospace and defence stocks. That compares with the S&P 500's 13.3% gain, largely powered by AI-related momentum. Even so, Europe's valuations remain comparatively cheaper: the STOXX 600 trades at 15.6 times forward earnings, versus 25.3 for the S&P 500 (^GSPC), LSEG data showed. The valuation gap between U.S. and European markets has been long-standing and driven by differences in sectors, funding costs, accounting rules, incentives and regulations. The historical gap, along with other factors, is presenting an attractive diversification opportunity. Europe's fiscal outlook is getting better, said Stephen Parker, co-head of global investment strategy at JPMorgan Private Bank. "(It's) a market that is trading at a significant discount to the U.S., and offers a meaningfully higher dividend than the U.S." Fabiana Fedeli, chief investment officer of equities, multi-asset and sustainability at M&G Investments, said the valuation gap is leaving "mispriced opportunities" in sectors overlooked by global investors. She pointed to energy infrastructure and diversified financials alongside technology and healthcare. "We do invest in defence, but many companies in Europe have been performing strongly on other trends, less noticed by the wider investor community," she said. Iraq is set to inaugurate its first industrial-scale solar plant in Karbala province in an effort to alleviate the ongoing electricity crisis that has caused widespread blackouts. The project, spread across about 400 hectares in the al-Hur desert area south-west of Baghdad, is expected to produce up to 300MW of electricity at full capacity, reported Al Jazeera. According to Nasser Karim al-Sudani, head of the national team for solar energy projects in the prime ministers office, noted that work is also underway on another solar project, with a 225MW capacity, in Babil province, reported Associated Press. Additionally, construction of a 1,000MW project is set to begin in the southern province of Basra. These projects are part of a broader strategy to meet Iraqs electricity demands through large-scale solar power plants, reducing reliance on traditional energy sources and mitigating environmental impacts. Deputy Minister of Electricity Adel Karim stated that solar schemes under construction, approval, or negotiation in the country have a combined capacity of 12,500MW. Excluding Kurdistan, these projects could eventually supply around 20% of Iraqs total demand. Iraq's electricity consumption reached about 55,000MW earlier this year when temperatures soared above 50C in some regions. Currently, Iraq produces up to 28,000MW of electricity, including about 8,000MW via natural gas imported from Iran. Important supplies from Iran have faced obstacles, especially due to unilateral US sanctions aimed at pressuring Tehran and constraining its revenue amid an ongoing standoff over the countrys nuclear programme and military capabilities. In March, the US ended a sanctions waiver that had enabled Iraq to buy electricity directly from Iran - a waiver previously renewed every 120 days. Iran, meanwhile, is grappling with several crises - including its own severe energy shortages that have disrupted its ability to export gas to Iraq. "Iraqs solar plant in Karbala to address electricity crisis " was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. We need to start thinking about how to build the resilience of the manufacturing system, Bailey said. Last week JLR warned that its factories would remain shut until 24 September as the carmaker fights to restore its systems. The prolonged stoppage has already cost about 24,000 vehicles of lost output and around 120m in profits with an estimated 1.7 bn in lost revenue, according to David Bailey, professor of business economics at the University of Birmingham. Speaking to the BBC, Bailey noted that while JLR itself was big enough to weather the shock, its suppliers were far more vulnerable, and ministers might have to intervene through furlough-style measures and loan guarantees. JLR has been owned by Indias Tata Group since 2008 and in 2023 outsourced large parts of its IT and cybersecurity operations to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) under a five-year, 800 million contract, the same TCS systems now at the centre of efforts to recover from the cyber-attack that shut JLRs factories. The cyber-attack that has paralysed Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) for nearly a month has become more than a corporate crisis. It is a warning shot to Britains entire motor manufacturing sector that cybersecurity is no longer an IT side-issue but a core element of industrial resilience. Weiterlesen The recent cyber incident is having a significant impact on Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and on the wider automotive supply chain. Even before that meeting, suppliers were warning the pain was spreading across the sector. One told the Telegraph: The UK automotive system is a wonderfully integrated system but its so integrated that when something like this happens, eventually everybody feels the pain. Some suppliers have already paused operations or laid off staff. Others are trying to divert capacity to rival marques such as McLaren, Aston Martin or Bentley, all of whom share parts suppliers with JLR, but the loss of JLRs cashflow makes that difficult. Finance implications For the B2B finance community, the episode underscores how a single cyber incident can cascade into a credit and liquidity crisis. Tier-two and tier-three suppliers typically operate on thin margins and borrow against receivables or inventory. If those receivables vanish overnight, so does their ability to service loans. Professor Bailey argued that the UK should look at mechanisms already common in Germany, such as automatic part-time working schemes, to help firms bridge sudden industrial shocks. Without support, a temporary IT crisis could trigger permanent loss of capacity in the supply base. Lessons in cyber resilience JLRs own systems were celebrated as a showcase of smart factories where everything is connected, TCS president of manufacturing, Anupam Singhal, is cited saying by the Guardian. But that interconnection, spanning production lines, suppliers, and SAP-based scheduling software, also created a single point of failure. When hackers gained entry, JLR had no way to isolate plants or functions and had to shut down most operations at once. For the rest of the UK automotive sector, this is a sobering demonstration that cyber resilience is not simply about installing better firewalls. It means segmenting critical systems, ensuring backup processes for production and logistics, stress-testing supplier networks, and planning for continuity of payroll and working-capital finance if core IT systems go dark. "JLR hack exposes cyber weakness in UK car industry" was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand. A recent dual-listing at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) in Kazakhstan has been hailed as an "icebreaker" for Kazakh and Chinese issuers who are showing growing interest in pursuing cross-border equity and debt deals. According to AIFC's governor Renat Bekturov, the debut of tungsten miner Jiaxin International Resources on both the Hong Kong and Kazakh stock exchanges last month sparked "a lot of interest" from Kazakh and Chinese companies wanting to follow suit. "It was an icebreaker, paving the way for more companies both with Kazakhstani roots and Chinese companies with assets in Kazakhstan," he said. 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. "Also, we are seeing interest from Chinese financial companies, [including] brokers and underwriters, in cooperation with potential Kazakhstan issuers - both in areas of equity capital and fixed income - thanks to the huge pool of liquidity in Hong Kong." HKEX's chairman Carlson Tong Ka-shing (right) and CEO Bonnie Chan Yiting (left) with the executives of Jiaxin International Resources Investment at the trading debut of the company's shares in Hong Kong on August 28, 2025. Photo: HKEX alt=HKEX's chairman Carlson Tong Ka-shing (right) and CEO Bonnie Chan Yiting (left) with the executives of Jiaxin International Resources Investment at the trading debut of the company's shares in Hong Kong on August 28, 2025. Photo: HKEX> The special economic zone in the Kazakhstan capital has positioned itself as a financial gateway for Chinese investment seeking entry into Central Asian and Eurasian markets amid Beijing's expanding Belt and Road Initiative. Currently, the AIFC hosts 889 Chinese enterprises primarily in the sectors of wholesale and retail trade, finance and insurance, information and communication technology, mining, manufacturing and construction. Bekturov said the AIFC's financing tools and investment structures could help attract Chinese investors wanting to tap into the infrastructure, energy and technology sectors in Kazakhstan. The financial centre applies English common law and international arbitration in its courts to ensure clear, predictable, and efficient dispute resolution. The Astana International Exchange (AIX), meanwhile, was the first stock exchange in Central Asia to offer "market-oriented, diversified, localised and sustainable financing solutions to support the [Belt and Road Initiative]", he added. Madison Investments, an investment advisor, released its Madison Mid Cap Fund second-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, the fund (Class Y) returned 5.2% compared to the 8.5% increase for the Russell Midcap Index. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, the Madison Mid Cap Fund highlighted stocks such as Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B). Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) is a company that engages in the production and distribution of alcoholic beverages. The one-month return of Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) was -11.47%, and its shares lost 41.58% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On September 19, 2025, Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) stock closed at $27.48 per share, with a market capitalization of $12.888 billion. Madison Mid Cap Fund stated the following regarding Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "We also sold our small position in Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B). While liquor sales spiked during the Covid years, they have failed to bounce back post Covid, likely for a combination of reasons, including a secular decline in liquor consumption among the younger age cohorts, weight loss drugs, healthier lifestyle trends, and increasingly relaxed cannabis restrictions. While we believe sales may eventually rebound to some extent, these societal cycles can often be elongated and last for years. Additionally, tariffs create a lot of uncertainty as American whiskey is often a targeted export product, further adding to the risk profile." Is Brown-Forman Corporation (BF-B) the Best Alcohol Stock to Buy According to Billionaires? Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 37 hedge fund portfolios held Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) at the end of the second quarter, same as 37 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Australian oil and gas company Melbana Energy has begun drilling the Amistad-2 production well in Cuba, reaching a current depth of 37m. The well is part of the Block 9 production sharing contract (PSC), which spans 2,344km onshore, 140km east of Havana. The drilling aims for a total depth of 1,125m measured depth (MD) and targets the Unit 1B formation with a series of natural fracture systems. The geological target is positioned around 850m south-west and 200m up-dip of the Alameda-2 well, near the crest of a localised anticline with significant reservoir fracturing. Melbana intends to drill a 650m MD section of Unit 1B at a shallow angle to enhance the interception of these fractures. The well design incorporates lessons from previous projects to optimise flow potential, said the Australian oil and gas company. Listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, Melbana Energy has a portfolio of exploration, appraisal and development opportunities in Cuba and Australia. The company acquired Block 9 PSC in 2015 and transferred a 70% stake to Sonangol, Angolas National Oil Company, in exchange for funding two exploration wells. In April this year, Melbana Energy announced the construction of key infrastructure for Amistad-2, including Pad 9 and access roads, and all permits are in place. The company said that additional equipment such as a slotted liner and pump will be used to address wellbore instability, if necessary. The following month, Melbana Energy announced that it is preparing for a potential Amistad-3 production well, with construction of the well pad having started and drilling permits nearing final approval. Amistad-3 is set to have a total depth of 1,625m MD, with a trajectory designed to maximise contact with the Unit 1B formation. In 2018, Melbana Energy divested its 55% interest in two non-core offshore exploration permits, AC/P50 and AC/P51, to Rouge Rock. "Melbana Energy starts drilling at Amistad-2 production well" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Molson Coors Beverage Co. today (22 September) appointed company veteran Rahul Goyal president and CEO of the brewing major. Goyal, who has worked at Molson Coors for more than two decades, will succeed Gavin Hattersley next month. Hattersley announced in April he planned to leave the Coors Light brewer by the end of the year. After conducting an extensive and thorough CEO succession process that included evaluating internal and external candidates, it was clear that Rahul brought the right experience and vision that we believe is needed to drive the next phase of growth for Molson Coors, board chair David Coors said. Goyal has worked at the group for 24 years, starting at the then Coors Brewing Company in a managerial post. His career at the brewer has included two years as chief information officer in the UK and four years as CFO in India. Goyal has been Molson Coors chief strategy officer since 2019. In Molson Coors statement, the company said its new CEO led the acquisition of Zoa, the US energy-drinks business the group bought outright last year and driven the companys beyond beer ambitions through tie-ups with The Coca-Cola Company and Fever-Tree. Molson Coors acquired a minority stake in UK mixers business Fever-Tree earlier this year. Goyal said: I am honoured to take on the CEO role and lead this company towards its next chapter of growth. I recognise that we have a lot of work to do and, in the coming months, I will share more on my vision for how we will drive growth and carry the legacy of this great company forward to reach new heights. In 2024, the Carling brewer booked net sales of $11.63bn, down 0.6% on a year earlier. It generated a net income of $1.12bn, up 18.3% on 2023. However, the company has lowered sales and earnings forecasts twice in 2025. In August, Molson Coors cut forecasts for closely-watched sales and earnings metrics as volumes in EMEA and APAC missed Wall Street expectations. The Madri brewer said it expected its net sales to fall by 3-4% on a constant-currency basis in 2025, in part due to muted demand in the US. The Staropramen owner has projected its underlying income before income taxes will decrease 12-15% this year, once exchange rates are removed from calculations. It had forecast a low single-digit fall. Molson Coors expects its underlying diluted EPS to be 7-10% lower in 2025, again compared to a low single-digit decline it had previously projected. The new guidance came alongside Molson Coors second-quarter results, which included lower net sales, volumes and operating income although net income grew slightly. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is one of the Undervalued Aerospace Stocks to Buy Now. On September 18, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Taiwans National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST). The agreement aims to explore cooperation on modernizing air and missile defense systems for Taiwans Ministry of National Defense. NCSIST is a leading research center for national defense technology. It works on developing, manufacturing, and selling defense solutions to boost Taiwans self-reliant defense capabilities. The research center with Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)s expertise aims to enhance Taiwans defense readiness, with a goal to better equip Taiwan to face evolving aerospace and missile threats. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is a global aerospace and defense company. It designs and builds military aircraft, missile defense systems, and space technologies. While we acknowledge the potential of NOC as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Source: TradingView.com Key Takeaways Shares in Oklo remain in focus after soaring last week as the Trump administration made nuclear energy a focal point in recent trade talks. After breaking out from a textbook ascending triangle early last week, the price accelerated higher, signaling a continuation of the stocks long-term uptrend. The relative strength index confirms strong price momentum, though the indicator has climbed to a reading that has preceded prior consolidation periods. Bars pattern analysis projects a potential upside price target of around $410 and indicates the the trend could last until mid January next year. Investors should watch major support levels on the chart near $85, $70 and $58. Shares in nuclear reactor developer Oklo (OKLO) remain in focus after soaring last week as the Trump administration made nuclear energy a focal point in recent trade talks. During President Donald Trump's state visit to the U.K. last week, he and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a multibillion-dollar deal to expand nuclear power across both nations. Oklo sits well positioned to benefit from the agreement, which aims to speed up the construction of new reactors and provide reliable, clean energy to power AI data centers. Oklo shares gained 64% last week and have surged about 500% since the start of the year, boosted by growing demand for energy to power AI and a recent U.S. Air Force contact win. The stock was down 8% at $124 in early trading Monday. Below, we take a closer look at the technicals on Oklos chart and identify price levels worth watching out. Breakout From Ascending Triangle Accelerates After breaking out from a textbook ascending triangle early last week, Oklo shares shot higher, signaling a continuation of the stocks long-term uptrend. Importantly, Fridays rally registered the highest trading volume since late May, suggesting larger investors participated in the buying. Meanwhile, the relative strength index confirms strong price momentum, though the indicator has climbed to a reading that has preceded prior consolidation periods. Lets project how a move higher on Oklos chart may play out and also identify major support levels worth watching during pullbacks. Upside Price Target Investors can use bars pattern analysis to project where Oklos trending move higher may be headed next. When applying the analysis, we extract the stocks uptrend from October to February and reposition it from the low of Fridays rally. This forecasts a possible upside price target of around $410 and indicates the move may last until mid-January next year if a comparable trend emerges on the chart. On September 20, 2025, the International Cooperation on Intelligent Manufacturing Matchmaking Meeting of the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention was held in Hefei. At the meeting, Christian Wulff, Honorary Chairman of the Global Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Alliance, and Ma'anshan city leaders exchanged plaques to jointly establish Ma'anshan as a "Global Investment Promotion Partner" and a "Global SME AllianceRecommended Destination for Foreign Investment." The matchmaking meeting was co-hosted by the Global SME Alliance and the Anhui Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, bringing together nearly 300 guests including government officials, leaders of international organizations and business associations, executives from Fortune Global 500 companies, and executives of leading industry enterprises. Under the theme "International Cooperation on Intelligent Manufacturing to Promote High-Quality Industrial Development," participants focused on topics in the development of intelligent manufacturing such as R&D and innovation, application deployment, demand-driven growth, industrial integration, and industrial chain restructuring. They held in-depth exchanges to actively seek cooperation opportunities and areas of focus for manufacturing transformation, promote the digital transformation and upgrading of intelligent manufacturing, and foster international cooperation and high-quality development in intelligent manufacturing. During the investment-promotion session, a relevant leader from Ma'anshan City introduced the city's investment environment and the development of its manufacturing industry. "Ma'anshan has been listed among China's Top 100 Cities Most Attractive to Talent for five consecutive years, and has seen net population inflow for three consecutive years. For seven straight years it has implemented initiatives to continuously improve its business environment; its city credit monitoring index ranks seventh nationwide. The city has improved services for foreign trade enterprises, protected foreign-invested rights and interests, places great emphasis on intellectual property protection, is a demonstration city for national strong intellectual property construction, has built a property-rights service center to serve enterprise branding, and promptly and efficiently resolves enterprise demands. We look forward to deepening exchanges and cooperation with the Global SME Alliance to accelerate the development of intelligent manufacturing." On site, a number of intelligent-manufacturing projects were signed in bulk. The Anhui Department of Industry and Information Technology signed a cooperation framework agreement with the Federation of German Industries' Association for Small and Medium Enterprises; the Ma'anshan Municipal People's Government signed a cooperation framework agreement with the Global SME Alliance; Ningbo Kaite Machinery Co., Ltd. signed an investment agreement with the Hefei Economic Development Zone; German company FAVEOS signed a procurement agreement for energy storage equipment with Gotion, and the China Committee of the Federation of German SMEs signed a consulting services agreement with Gotion. Source: anhuinews.com Nvidia (NVDA) stock jumped roughly 4% on Monday as the chipmaker announced it will invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI as part of a new partnership. Nvidia said in its announcement that the partnership will allow OpenAI to deploy "at least 10 gigawatts" of compute capacity from the chipmaker's AI systems to train and run the ChatGPT maker's next generation of artificial intelligence models. The first phase of that compute capacity utilizing Nvidia's upcoming Vera Rubin platform is set to come online in the second half of 2026, according to the company. Read more about Nvidia's stock moves and market action. AI apps are widely powered by Nvidia's AI systems built on its GPUs (graphics processing units), or AI chips, that fill remote data centers across the country. "This is the biggest AI infrastructure project in history," CEO Jensen Huang said in an interview with CNBC Monday. According to Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya, the deal could generate as much as $500 billion in revenue for the AI chipmaker. "NVIDIA and OpenAI have pushed each other for a decade, from the first DGX supercomputer to the breakthrough of ChatGPT," Huang said in a separate statement. Nvidia's stock closed at $183.61 on Monday, topping its previous record high from August. Shares tipped slightly lower in early trading on Tuesday. The AI chipmaker is the world's most valuable company, with a market capitalization above $4 trillion. The OpenAI-Nvidia deal is an ambitious undertaking for the companies. For reference, Meta's mammoth 4 million square foot AI data center under construction in Louisiana is set to deliver about two gigawatts of compute capacity around one fifth of the power OpenAI and Nvidia are promising to deliver. The plan to deploy 10 gigawatts of capacity would equate to 4 million to 5 million of Nvidia's GPUs, according to CFRA analyst Angelo Zino. Nvidia's OpenAI deal comes as the company rapidly expands its AI investments. Last week, Nvidia took a $5 billion stake in fellow chipmaker Intel (INTC), part of a partnership to use Intel's CPUs (central processing units) in Nvidia's AI systems. The AI giant also announced plans to deploy tens of thousands of AI chips across the UK. It also signed a $6.3 billion deal with CoreWeave (CRWV) that guarantees Nvidia will purchase unsold compute capacity from the AI data center operator. "While some still raise concerns about AI being a potential bubble, Nvidias investment signals that the need for AI infrastructure is real and still expanding," Carnegie Investment Counsel director of research Greg Halter said. Mike Sicilia, left, and Clay Magouyrk are Oracles new CEOs. - (L) Rod Lamkey/CNP/Zuma Press; (R) Chona Kasinger/Bloomberg News Oracle has appointed a pair of chief executives to take over the C-suite as longtime chief Safra Catz transitions to a new role as executive vice chair. The software company said Monday that Clay Magouyrk, president of Oracles cloud infrastructure business, and Oracle Industries President Mike Sicilia are now Oracles chief executive officers. Most Read from The Wall Street Journal They are taking the reins from Catz, one of the most prominent female executives in the tech sector who became Oracles co-chief executive in 2014 and its sole CEO in 2019. At this time of strength is the right moment to pass the CEO role to the next generation of capable executives, Catz said. Catz, who is 63 years old, didnt anticipate being chief executive for much longer, according to a person familiar with the matter, and the company wanted to act in a moment of strength. The leadership shift comes less than two weeks after Oracle blew investors away with forecasts for its cloud-infrastructure revenue to climb 77% this fiscal year to $18 billion on the back of multibillion-dollar contracts that are ballooning the companys backlog. It also comes after Oracle said it had added $317 billion in future contract revenue from three different customers during the quarter ending Aug. 31. OpenAI was among the customers, buying about $300 billion in computing power, The Wall Street Journal reported. It is unusual for a duo to helm a company, though firms like Netflix have the arrangement and others have tried before abandoning it. Catz had shared Oracles CEO post with Mark Hurd until his death. Oracle is referring to its pair as CEOs, rather than as co-CEOs. Their day-to-day work wont change significantly, according to another person familiar with the matter. Magouyrk will oversee the companys cloud business, while Sicilia focuses on selling Oracles products around the world. Safra Catz became Oracles co-chief executive in 2014 and its sole CEO in 2019. - Joe Raedle/Getty Images Placing two people at the helm can lead to conflicts if the personalities clash, said Peter Cappelli, who teaches management at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Generally people dont think this is a good thing. The question will be, Can these folks get along? Yet Cappelli said Oracles position is unique because Larry Ellison, Oracles co-founder and chairman, is largely seen as the main executive who is making many strategic decisions and delegating operations. Having two CEOs, meanwhile, could prove to be a successful succession strategy. The Ramsey Show/YouTube Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. A caller to The Ramsey Show astounded the hosts recently when he declared that he and his wife were $1 million in debt. Im in big financial trouble, he told hosts of The Ramsey Show last year. We owe over $1 million all in together, including mortgage. To put his problem in context, the average American consumer holds $105,056 in debt, according to Q3 2024 data from credit bureau Experian - up 2.4% from the previous year. However, that number is skewed by some households that have far higher debt balances. Must Read The caller, identified as Robert from Chicago, Ill. is clearly in that group of outliers. Roberts troubles are amplified by the fact that a significant portion of his debt is from personal loans. He made loans to others against his credit as an attempt at investment, only to have his debtors stop paying him. Co-hosts Ken Coleman and Jade Warshaw were in disbelief, with the latter describing the situation as ridiculous. Trying to be smart So here's the thing, Robert said. I've been trying to be smart and it didn't quite work out. I was in a position where I could lend money to guys who need it and make profit on it. So I would throw money on a card and Ive been making some profit on it. Roberts income was no match for his debt. He has a $462,000 mortgage, $96,000 in private student loans and $42,000 in auto loans. By comparison, the average consumer had a $252,505 mortgage, $35,208 in student loans and $24,297 in auto loans, according to Experian. Borrowing money to invest in private loans is significantly risky and can come with legal implications. Instead of going this route, those in Roberts situation can speak with a financial advisor, who can help make a plan towards paying off debt without seeking out private loans. Advisor.com is an online platform that connects you with vetted financial advisors best suited to help you develop a plan for your new wealth. Just answer a few quick questions about yourself and your finances and the platform will match you with an experienced financial professional. You can view their profile, read past client reviews, and schedule an initial consultation for free with no obligation to hire. By Mariam Sunny and Michael Erman (Reuters) -Pfizer (PFE) said on Monday it would acquire drug developer Metsera (MTSR) in a deal valued at up to $7.3 billion, including future payments, as it seeks to gain a foothold in the fast-growing obesity treatment market. The global obesity drug market, projected to reach $150 billion by early 2030s, is fueled by the rapid adoption of GLP-1 therapies from companies such as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Drugmakers are now racing to develop next-generation treatments, including hormones that can help patients lose fat while preserving muscle. Metsera brings its portfolio of experimental obesity drugs, with MET-097i, a GLP-1 injectable, and MET-233i, which mimics the pancreatic hormone amylin, being the key among them. MET-233i is being evaluated as a monthly monotherapy and in combination with MET-097i in early-stage trials. Pfizer said early-stage data for MET-233i has shown a "potential best-in-class profile". According to analysts, the easier dosing schedules could give Pfizer an edge in the market. Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger has projected more than $5 billion in combined peak sales for Metsera's pipeline. Pfizer executives said they were confident that the monthly dosing schedule of Metsera's drug would work because it remains in patients long enough that the side-effect profile does not seem to worsen between doses. "A well tolerated monthly dosing could have huge advantages, not just for maintenance but also for convenience and for compliance," said Pfizer Chief Scientific Officer Chris Boshoff. The deal follows Pfizer's setbacks in its own development efforts with weight-loss pill danuglipron. The company had scrapped the development of a once-a-day version of danuglipron in April after a trial patient experienced potential drug-induced liver injury, which resolved after the medication was stopped. It had discontinued the development of a twice-daily version in late 2023 due to various side-effects. Pfizer will pay $47.50 per share in cash to Metsera, representing a premium of about 43% to the New York-based company's last close. Metsera is also eligible to receive an additional $22.50 per share contingent on the achievement of certain performance milestones. Its shares surged more than 60% to $53.8, while Pfizer was up about 2%. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025. (Reporting by Mrinmay Dey and Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Michael Erman in New York; Writing by Mrinalika Roy; Editing by Janane Venkatraman, Mrigank Dhaniwala and Shilpi Majumdar) NEW YORK CITY, Sept. 21, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the President of Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, on the margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The leaders discussed deepening ties between Canada and Namibia and building new trade opportunities to attract investment into both countries. The Prime Minister underscored the potential to elevate partnerships across natural resource development and clean technology, noting how shared expertise in these industries can support workers and reinforce economic growth in both nations. The Prime Minister and the President also discussed their commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The leaders emphasized shared priorities, including addressing climate change, reducing global poverty, and reinforcing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. They agreed to remain in close contact. Associated link This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca By John Revill ZURICH (Reuters) -Roche Chief Executive Thomas Schinecker and other senior executives from the Swiss pharmaceuticals industry will meet with the government on Monday to discuss the threat U.S. tariffs pose to the crucial export sector. Washington has imposed a 39% tariff - among the steepest of any country targeted during President Donald Trump's global trade reset - on goods such as watches and machinery imported from Switzerland. Swiss pharmaceuticals are currently not subject to that levy. The pharma industry is, meanwhile, also awaiting the outcome of a Section 232 national security investigation that could result in tariffs on U.S. drug imports eventually reaching 250%. PHARMACEUTICALS: MOST IMPORTANT SWISS EXPORT In addition to Roche, Novartis and Sandoz will also send executives to the meeting in Bern with Business Minister Guy Parmelin and Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, the government said. Roche, Novartis and Sandoz did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Other expected participants include representatives from Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and Australian biotech firm CSL, the government said. Parmelin, who travelled to Washington earlier this month, has been leading the Swiss response to Trump's tariffs, though the current tariff negotiations will not be discussed at the meeting, a government spokesperson said. Other topics could include drug prices in Switzerland, which the health ministry agrees with companies. Pharmaceuticals are by far the most important Swiss export sector to the United States, with shipments worth 32.75 billion Swiss francs ($41.28 billion), making up about half of Swiss exports there last year. If the 39% tariff is extended to cover pharmaceuticals, Swiss economic output could fall by more than 1%, according to one estimate. Swiss pharma exports to the U.S. have fallen since April after importers stockpiled earlier this year to avoid having to pay any levies. Swiss companies, including pharma firms, have already pledged to increase their spending in the United States to reduce the impact of import duties. Roche has unveiled plans to invest $50 billion over the next five years in the U.S., creating more than 12,000 new jobs, while Novartis has said it plans to spend $23 billion to build and expand 10 facilities there. Novartis wants to make most important products for the American market locally, CEO Vas Narasimhan said in an interview published on Saturday. "This should allow us to fully mitigate any tariffs," he said. ($1 = 0.7933 Swiss francs) (Reporting by John Revill; Editing by Joe Bavier) ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) ranks among the best fundamental stocks to buy right now. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) unveiled its new Zurich platform on September 10, with capabilities centered on enterprise security, autonomous workflows, and multi-agent AI development. New developer tools included in the platform version allow for natural language vibe coding, which lets employees design apps by explaining them in conversational terms. The Zurich release also carries security features that include Vault Console to find and safeguard sensitive data across workflows. Additionally, the platform offers agentic playbooks, which establish autonomous workflows by fusing AI with automation. These playbooks enable human intervention as needed while integrating AI agents into planned sequences. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) is a leading provider of cloud-based software solutions that enable corporations to streamline their digital workflows. While we acknowledge the potential of NOW 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 Best Magic Formula Stocks for 2025 and 10 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletters. Shake Shack has named Michael Fanuele to the newly created position of chief brand officer, effective immediately, the fast-casual chain said Monday. He reports to chief executive officer Rob Lynch. He will work closely with chief growth officer Steph So and chief communications officer Luke DeRouen with responsibility for overseeing advertising, paid media, insights, and analytics. He has been consulting with Shake Shack on brand positioning and selecting a new creative agency since earlier this year. Previously he assisted in branding and media strategies for Dos Equis, Arbys, Cadillac, Charles Schwab, Cheerios, The Economist, and Volvo. He also was chief strategy officer of Fallon and Havas before joining General Mills in 2014 as its first chief creative officer. He also was president of Assembly Media, senior vice president of brand & strategy at financial technology startup Zen Business, and most recently was founder of consulting firm Lab of Creative Commerce. Over the past year, weve built a strong foundation in the operations of our Shacks, and now were accelerating our efforts to connect with more guests through bold, sales-driving marketing, Lynch said in a statement. With Michael stepping in as our new chief brand officer, were excited to take this next step in evolving our marketing model. His creativity, experience and leadership will help us continue building demand for our best-in-class culinary innovation, optimizing our media investments and strengthening the Shake Shack brand for years to come. Fanuele said he was looking forward to his new position. Shake Shack is a brand built on the strongest stuff: a genuine love for the people we serve and the mind-blowing food those people deserve, he said in a statement. What an awesome honor to join Rob and this superstar team for the next great leap well take, bringing the worlds best burgers and shakes to every corner that needs them and trust me, every corner needs them. Earlier this year, Lynch said he planned to grow the brand, currently at around 400 domestic locations, to 1,500 restaurants nationwide. Shake Shack also operates more than 225 international locations. For the most recent quarter, Shake Shacks same-store sales were up by 1.8%, the 18th consecutive quarter of comparable sales growth. The company expects to open 13-16 company-owned restaurants and 7-9 licensed locations in the current quarter. Contact Bret Thorn at bret.thorn@informa.com South African asset manager Sygnia Ltd. is urging caution after its newly launched Bitcoin ETF attracted a surge of interest from local investors. Key Takeaways: Sygnia advises investors to limit crypto exposure to no more than 5% of their portfolio. The firms CEO warns that Bitcoins volatility poses a serious risk, especially in emerging markets like South Africa. Despite strong inflows, Sygnia actively contacts clients to discourage full portfolio switches into its Bitcoin ETF. The company, which introduced the Sygnia Life Bitcoin Plus fund in June, says it actively discourages clients from shifting all their assets into the high-risk crypto product. We actually intervene with a view of stopping the investor from doing something silly by switching, said Magda Wierzycka, CEO of Sygnia, during an interview with Bloomberg TV. Sygnia CEO Recommends Capping Crypto Exposure at 5% of Portfolio Wierzycka emphasized that cryptocurrencies should only make up a small portion of a broader investment strategy, recommending no more than 5% of discretionary or annuity assets be allocated to crypto funds. The Sygnia Bitcoin Plus fund uses the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF as its benchmark. While Bitcoin has soared 82% in the past 12 months, it remains volatile, dropping 2.3% to $112,735.12 at mid-morning in Johannesburg on Monday. Although its historical volatility has eased from over 200% a decade ago to around 40%, the risk remains substantial, especially in an emerging market like South Africa. Wierzycka noted that the extreme volatility could wipe out life savings in a country where per capita GDP is just $15,990, far below developed economies. The underlying asset is highly volatile, she warned. You need to be very sure about the messaging around it and you need to be sure that you dont make promises that you cant meet. While previously skeptical of Bitcoin, Wierzycka now sees the asset as a legitimate long-term play rather than just a speculative bet. Sygnia has plans to launch additional crypto ETFs on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, pending regulatory approval. A prior attempt was blocked by authorities. The Cape Town-based firm manages around 350 billion rand ($20 billion) in assets. Its Bitcoin Plus fund has seen very, very significant inflows, according to Wierzycka, though exact figures were not disclosed. She confirmed that the firm calls investors who appear to be switching large sums into the crypto fund to caution them personally. Bitcoin ETFs Hold Over 1.47M BTC Bitcoin exchange-traded products now hold over 1.47 million BTC, representing around 7% of the total supply, with U.S.-based ETFs dominating the landscape. Starbucks and its licensed operator Delosi have opened two more outlets in Peru, expanding its foothold in the country. One is at the domestic arrivals area of Limas Jorge Chavez International Airport and the other is in the central Peruvian city of Huanuco. The airport site is the third Starbucks at Jorge Chavez, joining locations in the domestic and international departures zones. A fourth outlet is due to open shortly in the Peru Plaza mezzanine at Lima Airport. The Huanuco store is situated in the citys Real Plaza and has 18 staff members. The StarbucksDelosi network now extends to 13 Peruvian cities: Arequipa, Cajamarca, Chiclayo, Chimbote, Cusco, Huancayo, Huanuco, Ica, Iquitos, Juliaca, Lima, Piura and Trujillo. Delosi and Starbucks operate more than 120 stores across 12 cities in Peru, directly employing 1,700 people. The new locations were constructed using locally sourced materials and incorporate measures to lower their environmental impact, such as energy-efficiency features, water-saving installations and waste-management practices. The interiors include murals reflecting local art and culture. Starbucks now has more than 1,800 outlets across Latin America and the Caribbean. The brand arrived in 2002 with openings in Puerto Rico and Mexico, and opened its first South American store in Lima, Peru in 2003. It currently operates in 26 markets across the region and 89 internationally. Starbucks Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia country manager Cristel Delgado stated: We are very excited to open our first coffeehouse in Huanuco, a region that plays a key role in Perus coffee tradition and one with which we have been connected since our beginnings, through the coffee we serve every day in each of our cups. This opening represents a bridge between our coffee roots and the customers who today enjoy the Starbucks experience. "Starbucks strengthens presence in Peru with two new outlets" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved a change to how companies can list and trade shares of exchange-traded funds, which should streamline the process for new products moving forward. Youre reading State of Crypto, a CoinDesk newsletter looking at the intersection of cryptocurrency and government. Click here to sign up for future editions. The narrative A majority of commissioners at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission voted to streamline the process by which companies could list and trade shares of spot crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as well as other types of ETFs, through the approval of a generic listing standard. Why it matters For over a decade, the process to (try and) list a spot crypto exchange-traded fund was a 270-day process which usually ended in the ETF application being rejected. Last year, under former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, the regulator approved the first spot crypto ETFs, for Bitcoin and Ether. Over the past year, we've seen applications for a number of other assets. Breaking it down The idea that the SEC would create generic listing standards has been discussed for a few months, at least since the regulator paused the launch of Grayscale's Digital Large Cap Fund earlier this year. In July, the SEC approved GDLC to uplist as an ETF, but almost immediately paused the process. At the time, an individual familiar said the pause was likely intended to give the SEC enough time to develop those generic listing standards. This past Wednesday, the SEC approved those standards, letting companies bypass the Exchange Act process if their proposed products meet the standards. In a statement, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins said, "By approving these generic listing standards, we are ensuring that our capital markets remain the best place in the world to engage in the cutting-edge innovation of digital assets. This approval helps to maximize investor choice and foster innovation by streamlining the listing process and reducing barriers to access digital asset products within Americas trusted capital markets." A number of spot crypto ETF applications have been waiting for a final decision from the regulator, and it seems likely that a number of new products will come to market in the coming months. Read more: SEC Makes Spot Crypto ETF Listing Process Easier, Approves Grayscale's Large-Cap Crypto Fund Crypto ETF 'Floodgates' Open With SEC Listing Standards, But Price Impact May Be Uneven Thursday Strive Asset Management is acquiring Semler Scientific at a $1.3 billion valuation, the company said on Monday, growing its Bitcoin holdings by snapping up a competitor that has come under pressure in a strategy that some analysts predict could become more common. The Texas-based financial services firm, which was co-founded by Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, said in a press release that it is acquiring Semler though an all-stock deal at $90.52 per share, while gaining 5,000 Bitcoin that Semler owns. Once the deal is completed, Strive expects to own 10,900 Bitcoin, which would be worth roughly $1.2 billion, based on current prices. On Monday, Strive said it had also recently purchased 5,816 Bitcoin after owning just 69 Bitcoin previously. Semler shares jumped more than 11% on Monday to $32.28, according to Yahoo Finance. Still, the companys stock price has dipped 35% from $50.46 since the healthcare technology firm telegraphed its first Bitcoin purchase in early February. Strive itself adopted Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset in May, while merging with Asset Entities. On Monday, the firms stock price fell 6% to $4 but remains up 700% year-to-date. As the market increasingly becomes saturated with Bitcoin-buying firms, some experts have described a wave of consolidation as inevitable, especially as investors show signs of souring on some companies. In fact, Semler stock was trading at a discount to its Bitcoin holdings prior to Monday. Why Are So Many Public Companies Pivoting to Crypto, And What Happens If Bitcoin Crashes? Last week, TD Cowen analyst Lance Vitanza identified Semlers discount as meaningful. It constrained a key funding mechanism, as Bitcoin treasury firms often grow the amount of Bitcoin they own per share by issuing common stock at a premium to their Bitcoin holdings. Matthew Sigel, head of digital assets research at VanEck, told Decrypt in June the Semler was in a position that many Bitcoin treasury firms may find themselves in the coming quarters: trading close to NAV and facing pressure to demonstrate capital discipline. Other experts have said that struggling Bitcoin treasury firms are key targets for buying Bitcoin at a discount. Strives deal, however, represented a 210% premium to Semlers value. In June, Strive CEO Matt Cole told Decrypt that the firm was watching these companies and what they're doing like a hawk, sensing there could be an opportunity to step in as a buyer, but it wasnt something foreseeable in the immediate future. I'm not sitting here saying, Today we need to be prepared to acquire 10 different Bitcoin Treasury companies that are going to blow up in the next six months, he said at the time. I think there's a good likelihood that that could be a view that we have in the future. Tesla (TSLA) shares chugged higher and hit a new 2025 closing high, shaking off a tough start to the year as investors look ahead to the company's self-driving future. Tesla stock topped $440 in early trade, up nearly 4%, but ultimately closed up 1.9% to $434.21, topping its prior 2025 closing high of $428.22 reached on Jan. 15. Tesla stock is now higher over nine of the last 10 trading sessions. In the past month, shares are up over 30%, with recent news like CEO Elon Musks $1 billion share purchase last week, new compensation proposal, and Robotaxi expansion plans beyond Austin, Texas, pushing shares higher. Driving the bullish sentiment today is a new price target hike from Piper Sandler analyst Alexander Potter. Potter hiked his price target to $500 from $400 following a visit to China, where the analyst claimed Chinese automakers looked to Tesla for AI and self-driving guidance. Potter claimed in meetings with EV makers like Xiaomi (1810.HK), Li Auto (LI), and Leapmotor (9863.HK) that the Chinese firms have surpassed Tesla when it comes to assembly, but Tesla paces, if not exceeds, them with regard to building AI-enabled machines and infrastructure. When it comes to real world AI, these companies [Chinese EV makers] look to Tesla for guidance not the other way around. In the words of one company, without Tesla going from 0 to 1, we can't go from 1 to 100, Potter wrote. Potter wrote favorably about the firms experience with Teslas latest version of FSD (full self-driving) and projects a record quarter of sales in Q3. Customers experience the new six-seat SUV Model Y L at Tesla's new energy electric vehicle store in Shanghai, China, on Aug. 27. (CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images) CFOTO via Getty Images And while the company has pledged robotaxi expansion beyond its current test in Austin to Nevada, Florida, and even California, a new report suggests Tesla has a long way to go in the countrys largest state by population. Per Reuters, while Musk claimed the company would expand robotaxi service to the San Francisco Bay Area and would be getting the regulatory permission to launch soon, Tesla is actually not anywhere close. The automaker had not applied for the needed permits, a process that can take years of testing under state oversight. Instead, it planned pre-arranged trips in human-driven vehicles only for riders who received an invitation. And it would do this under a permit that is typically used for limousines and does not allow on-demand ride-hailing, according to state officials, the Reuters report said. Teslas public policy staffer mentioned in the article did not immediately respond to Yahoo Finance when seeking comment, though the individual told Reuters the company does not respond to media inquiries. Michael Nagle / Bloomberg via Getty Images A new offering from Polymarket is the latest way to put money on companies' earnings reports. Key Takeaways Predictions market platform Polymarket recently rolled out earnings contracts, offering a simple way for folks to bet on companies' quarterly reports. The latest category of market-moving events to gamble on is part of a broader trend of appealing to retail investors who like to discuss money matters on social media. There's a new way to make a buck on companies' earnings reportsand in some ways, this one may be the most straightforward. Predictions marketplace Polymarket last week rolled out a new category of contracts that lets users put money on whether or not a company will beat Wall Street's expectations. It's a departure from what could be considered the traditional methods involving stocks and derivatives, but it's also a simplified way for people to profit from publicly-traded companies' bottom lines. A handful of well-known companies, including Micron Tech (MU), CarMax (KMX), and Costco (COST), are due to report in the coming weeks, and Polymarket has contracts for all of them. Here's how the new offering will work: Users can bet on the question of whether Costco will beat its quarterly estimate for earnings per share. At recent prices, a "yes" bet costs 79 cents and a "no" is 22 cents, indicating that the latter is seen as less likely. That means a winning $100 wager could result in a net profit of $21 on a beat, or $78 on a miss. Bloomberg's consensus estimates are used to determine wins and losses; if earnings aren't reported as scheduled, and don't land within 45 days, the contract is resolved as a "no." (If the earnings match estimates, it's a loss.) A wrong bet leaves you with nothing. There's a Range of Ways for Investors to Play Earnings There are, of course, other ways to go about this. One could trade a company's stocklong or shortor associated call and put options ahead of earnings reports, but those aren't so much direct bets on the results as tied to price movements that could be driven by the company's forward guidance, how optimistic or pessimistic management sounded during its earnings call, the earnings themselves, or other factors. When buying the stock, of course, you also own an asset that, broadly speaking, can be held as long as desired. Other prediction markets, like Kalshi, offer contracts on what might be mentioned on a company's earnings call, but not one specifically for earnings beats. Polymarket's new contracts are part of a broader trend marrying moneyed matters with social media. The prediction market platform launched the earnings report bets as they partnered with StockTwits, where users of the finance-focused social media platform will be able to view the probabilities of market-moving events on Polymarket directly in its app. OKEMOS, MI / ACCESS Newswire / September 22, 2025 / Tianrong Medical Group Inc. (OTC:TNMD), transforming into a tokenized, publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT), today announced it has secured a premier oceanfront parcel in Hopkins Village, Stann Creek District, Belize for the development of its flagship luxury resort project. This milestone positions Tianrong at the forefront of global real estate innovation, pairing a world-class Caribbean destination with a pipeline of high-demand residential development in the U.S. Belize: A Jewel of the Caribbean Belize is quickly emerging as one of the most desirable international destinations for both travelers and investors. Known for its turquoise waters, the Belize Barrier Reef, the iconic Great Blue Hole, lush rainforests, and Mayan cultural heritage, the country attracts millions of eco-conscious, adventure-seeking, and luxury-minded visitors each year. Key advantages driving Belize's rise include: Global Accessibility: Direct flights from New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Toronto, and London. Year-Round Appeal: Scuba diving, eco-adventures, cultural tourism, and wellness retreats. Luxury Traveler Base: High-value international visitors driving growth in boutique and luxury hospitality. Investor Confidence: English-speaking nation, stable U.S. dollar peg, and strong property rights. Government Support: Tax incentives and pro-investment policies for international developers. "This acquisition is more than a property purchase-it's a gateway to a world-class destination," said Curtis Philpot, Chief Executive Officer of Tianrong Medical Group Inc. "Our Belize resort will set the tone for everything Tianrong represents: sustainable luxury, global expansion, and long-term value creation for our shareholders. And Belize is just the beginning-our team is actively evaluating additional international markets where we can bring the same blend of innovation, sustainability, and luxury to life." U.S. Expansion: Michigan's Rising Market Tianrong is also advancing its domestic strategy, targeting Michigan as its next growth market. The state's real estate fundamentals remain strong, with home prices up 6-7% year-over-year in 2024, tight housing supply, and multifamily occupancy rates above 95% in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and other metro areas. Plans are underway for a flagship condominium development in Michigan to meet rising demand for high-quality, modern residences in both urban and suburban markets. A Global Growth Blueprint By uniting luxury resort development in Belize with high-demand residential projects in Michigan, Tianrong is executing a two-pillar strategy that balances high-growth international hospitality with stable U.S. residential expansion. This is The Takeaway from today's Morning Brief, which you can sign up to receive in your inbox every morning along with: The chart of the day What we're watching What we're reading Economic data releases and earnings Oh, the love-hate relationship with quarterly earnings. On the one hand, business media loves us some quarterly earnings! Each quarter, a company releases its financial numbers, providing transparency to its investors. We listen to high-profile executives hop on a webcast and talk about every single positive known to man, from revolutionary new products to how one-time expenses mean nothing. (All of this is said tongue in cheek.) If you are a CEO of a company kicking butt, how can you not love earnings season? You come out, beat big on earnings estimates, the stock explodes, your wealth increases, year-end bonus prospects go up, you plan out your next 10 hard asset purchases (homes, watches, cars, etc.). It's as intoxicating as sucking down a fifth Aperol spritz on a Bahamian beach. As for those companies sucking wind, well, earnings season isn't your friend. I have nothing to say to you right now except try harder for your investors. I bring this up because President Trump has stirred up a debate around doing away with quarterly earnings in favor of semiannual reporting. If we are inclined to build wealth steadily over time, doesn't that better align with hearing from companies twice a year with a more detailed snapshot of the business? Execs will still update investors on the business at investor conferences and on networks like Yahoo Finance. So, why not let them drive the business with the long term in mind instead of trying to make a quarterly number through various tactics? "I think I'd be OK either way," Okta (OKTA) CEO Todd McKinnon told me on Opening Bid (video above). "I do like the opportunity to talk to investors every quarter about the business and the future and the vision of what we're trying to do." Still, he added, "I do think sometimes the industry gets too obsessed with the quarterly numbers ... from a single quarter." There are detractors to Trump's idea, naturally. "It undermines transparency," Sen. Elizabeth Warren told Yahoo Finance this week. Here are three other changes to quarterly earnings and corporate governance broadly President Trump should consider. Do you have ideas? Send them to me on X @BrianSozzi or @BrianSozzi on LinkedIn. Do away with garbage earnings As a former analyst, I appreciated it when companies released adjusted earnings numbers. They made my life much easier from a financial modeling perspective. Now that my analyst days are long over, I've come to detest non-GAAP-adjusted earnings numbers. (Reuters) -The Trump administration's proposed $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas widely used by tech firms to hire foreign talent could deal a blow to the sector that relies heavily on skilled workers from India and China. The announcement prompted some big tech companies and banks to warn employees to stay in the U.S. or quickly return. India was by far the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of approved beneficiaries. Here are some analysts' views on the implications of the policy: BENJAMIN JANG, PORTFOLIO MANAGER AT NICOLA WEALTH MANAGEMENT "The tech companies have high exposure to foreign skilled labor and the concern is on margin compression and operational disruption going forward. This may impact the number of talented individuals globally that enter into the U.S. market so there could be a really tight bottleneck situation that leads to upward wage pressures." "The long-term focus obviously what President Trump wants is to have the acceleration of local hiring which may occur, but that is a long-dated item." "In the medium term, there's potential for U.S. tech to kind of lose their pole position in terms of being global innovators. Obviously countries with more favorable immigration may benefit from that." COLIN SEBASTIAN, ANALYST AT BAIRD "While the new tax instituted by the White House will cost larger companies such as Amazon, Google and Meta hundreds of millions, or even billions of dollars, the more likely unintended consequences of the new policy could be to starve emerging and small U.S. businesses of qualified workers, and to push some companies to shift research and engineering centers to locations such as Toronto, London and Bangalore." DERREN NATHAN, HEAD OF EQUITY RESEARCH, HARGREAVES LANSDOWN "While the H-1B applies to less than 1% of the American workforce, it's a segment that punches above its weight when it comes to driving innovation" BERNSTEIN ANALYSTS "From an industry perspective, the massive fee increase in the H-1B visa application fee can increase pressure to hire local resources, in our view. This will also accelerate the use of Generative AI/agentic AI to limit the potential salary increase due to scarcity of IT resources. We expect U.S.-based technology providers to actively lobby the US administration to soften the impact." TD COWEN ANALYSTS "When it rains, it pours. This among the last things that Services sector sentiment needed amid persistent cyclical pressure weighing on growth from geopol/macro uncertainty and structural concerns caused by GenAI. It's also a detriment to Big Tech & certain Fin Services co's that are among the largest H-1B program users." The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that it will roll out an automatic crypto tax reporting system by 2027 and has launched an industry consultation to finalize implementation details before official rollout. In an official government release, the UAE Ministry of Finance revealed that it has signed the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on the Automatic Exchange of Information under the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), following its announcement last November of its intention to implement the framework. CARF implementation in the UAE is now scheduled to go live in 2027, with the first tax information reporting expected in 2028. Source: UAE Ministry of Finance The framework establishes a mechanism for the automatic exchange of tax-related information on crypto-asset activities, ensuring that the UAE provides certainty and clarity to the crypto-asset sector while upholding the principles of global tax transparency, the Ministry said. The move builds on the UAEs efforts to attract crypto businesses after exempting crypto transactions from VAT in 2024 and Dubai setting regulatory guidelines for digital asset companies. The Ministry is now seeking industry feedback before implementing the rules. All participants in the crypto sector, including exchanges, custodians, traders, and advisors, are invited to join the public consultation to share their concerns about potential impacts. The consultation has already opened on September 15 and is expected to close on November 8, 2025. For Crypto Investors: What Does the UAE Crypto Tax Reporting Agreement Means The UAE will begin automatically sharing information on crypto transactions and holdings with tax authorities in other countries starting in 2028. This means that crypto will no longer be treated as an opaque asset class for offshore investors. Investors who rely on the UAE as a low-tax or no-tax hub will need to ensure they report their crypto holdings correctly in their home jurisdictions. Authorities can cross-check disclosures with the data exchanged under CARF, making tax evasion much harder. UAE-based exchanges, custodians, and wallet providers will be required to collect and report customer data, similar to how banks and brokers report under FATCA/CRS. Crypto investors should expect stricter KYC and AML processes, as platforms prepare to comply with international reporting standards. Institutional investors may view this as a positive development, as it reduces reputational risk and regulatory uncertainty. However, privacy-focused investors who rely on crypto for tax avoidance or secrecy may feel uneasy as cross-border reporting reduces anonymity. Vehicle Asset Solutions (VAS) and jaam automation have introduced an AI-powered Attestation and Audit Portal, aimed at enhancing oversight within the UK motor finance industry. Designed to facilitate compliance and reduce administrative tasks, the portal is now accessible to finance providers throughout the UK. It utilises AI to offer a standardised oversight process, assisting funders in maintaining consistent, scalable and regulator-aligned reviews. The platform also aims to reduce the repetitive and complex nature of compliance tasks for dealers and brokers. Additionally, the portal encompasses two integrated oversight services: the Motor Finance Oversight Attestation and the Motor Finance Oversight Audit. The first one is an AI-facilitated self-assessment tool used by brokers and dealers, leading to a report on regulatory health for funders. The Motor Finance Oversight Audit provides a thorough audit, which can be conducted virtually or in person, based on a scheduled or risk-triggered basis. VAS managing director Paul Neal said: This platform is not just a tech tool its a strategic compliance asset. It empowers funders to deliver meaningful oversight while reducing the pressure on dealers and brokers. Most importantly, it helps raise industry standards through structured, repeatable best practice. Funders can leverage the system to compare their networks against essential compliance benchmarks, including Consumer Duty and Commission Disclosure. This comparison serves as a benchmark to gauge the extent to which networks fulfil oversight obligations and comply with Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulations. The platform also offers options for targeted follow-up actions, such as additional training or in-depth audits. The portal's workflow integrates dealers, brokers, funders, and the VAS quality assurance team in a collaborative space. Attestations processed by AI are organised through an intelligent tasking system with scoring and collaboration tools. jaam automation co-founder and chief strategy officer Andrew Murphy said: This is the kind of digital transformation the industry has been searching for. Our platform blends automation, AI, analytics and oversight tools to provide an intelligent, futureproof way of managing regulatory risk. Its scalable, secure and built specifically for the world of motor finance. "Vehicle Asset Solutions and jaam introduce portal for UK motor finance" was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin believes the networks long-term sustainability may depend on an unlikely hero: low-risk decentralized finance protocols. Key Takeaways: Vitalik Buterin sees low-risk DeFi as a stable revenue source that could support Ethereums ecosystem without compromising its values. He likens it to Google Search, arguing it can fund Ethereums growth while keeping the network ideologically grounded. Buterin also advocates for basket currencies and flatcoins to reduce reliance on the US dollar. In a blog post published Saturday, Buterin compared low-risk DeFi to Google Search, calling it a potential revenue anchor that could fund Ethereums broader ecosystem, much like ad revenue from Search props up Googles other ventures. Vitalik: Ethereum Can Balance Profit and Principles The model, he argues, would allow Ethereum to maintain economic strength while preserving its cultural values through nonfinancial apps. The revenue generator does not have to be the most revolutionary or exciting application of Ethereum, Buterin wrote. But it does need to be something that is at least not actively unethical or not embarrassing. Buterin pointed to Aaves stablecoin lending rates as a concrete example, blue-chip stablecoins like USDT and USDC yield around 5%, while higher-risk assets offer over 10%. These returns, he suggests, could be a reliable base layer of income without compromising the ecosystems principles. The Ethereum community, he said, has long been divided between speculative products like NFTs and memecoins, and applications that align with the networks founding values. The former generates high fees but little ideological satisfaction, while the latter often lacks revenue to sustain itself. Low-risk DeFi, Buterin argues, can bridge that gap. Ethereums DeFi ecosystem has recently rebounded, with total value locked (TVL) crossing $100 billion for the first time since early 2022. Though TVL lagged during the 20222023 bear market, recent regulatory momentum, including the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, has revived interest. A survey from the DeFi Education Fund found that over 40% of Americans would consider using DeFi under stronger regulatory frameworks. Buterin also took aim at Googles business model, noting that despite valuable open-source contributions like Chromium and Gemini AI models, the companys reliance on advertising compromises user privacy. In contrast, Ethereums decentralized design offers a path to align financial performance with ethical outcomes. Ethereum has the potential to do much better, he wrote. Well-chosen properties can offer a reliable source of rental income, which can be used to cover living expenses in retirement, reducing dependency on traditional retirement savings or Social Security. Investing in real estate is widely regarded as a robust strategy for retirement planning due to its potential for generating passive income and capital appreciation over time. Here are two ways to do just that: Instead of solely relying on Social Security for your retirement, you can also take matters into your own hands. Proactively investing and saving on your own can provide stability amid Social Securitys uncertain future. Concerns over the sustainability of the program have heightened more recently, with the Congressional Budget Office projecting the exhaustion of the Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund by the fiscal year 2032. That said, the audience members concern is not unfounded. His remarks were met with laughter and applause from the audience. Buffetts right-hand man, the late Charlie Munger, strongly defended the program. He said that he felt more strongly than Buffett that the Republicans who were challenging Social Security were out of their minds. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake heres what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Buffett clarified that Social Security is essentially a transfer payment by the people who are in their productive years to the people who are past their productive years. And he liked that mechanism, stating, I think that the obligation for the people who do well in this society is to provide a reasonable level of sustenance for those beyond their productive years. During Buffetts company, Berkshire Hathaways, annual shareholders meeting in 2005, an audience member posed a blunt question: Im asking for your opinion on Social Security. Shall we call it the government-sponsored Ponzi scheme for retirees? Social Security has long been a subject of intense discussion in America, but investing legend Warren Buffetts position on the issue is unmistakably clear. Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Story Continues Additionally, real estate often appreciates over time, as property values and rental rates tend to increase with the cost of living. New investing platforms are making it easier than ever to tap into the real estate market. For accredited investors, Homeshares gives access to the $36 trillion U.S. home equity market, which has historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors. With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property. With risk-adjusted internal returns ranging from 12% to 18%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets. If youre not an accredited investor, investment platforms like mogul allow you to enter the real estate market for as little as $250. Mogul is a real estate investment platform offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits without the need for a hefty down payment or 3 A.M. tenant calls. Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team hand-picks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide, guided by proprietary underwriting and market analytics typically used by large institutions. Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10 to 12% annually. Every investment is secured by real assets, not dependent on the platforms viability. Each property is held in a standalone Propco LLC, so investors own the property not the platform. Blockchain-based fractionalization adds a layer of safety, ensuring a permanent, verifiable record of each stake. Getting started is a quick and easy process. With a minimum investment of $250, you can sign up for an account and then browse available properties. Once you verify your information with their team, you can invest in the properties of your choice in as little as 30 seconds. For those interested in investing in commercial real estate, consider First National Realty Partners, a platform that enables individual investors to tap into institutional-quality, grocery-anchored properties. As a private equity firm, FNRP acts as the deal leader, providing expertise, doing the legwork and streamlining the process, while investors passively collect distribution income. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching stocks here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Gold Precious metals particularly gold have been a popular hedge against inflation. The reason is simple: They cant be printed out of thin air like fiat money. Moreover, investors often rush toward gold in times of crisis, making it the go-to safe haven asset. Amid surging inflation and geopolitical instability, gold prices have reached new heights, now standing at over $2,900 per ounce. The most direct way to play the precious metal is to own bullion. Investors can also buy shares of gold mining companies or ETFs. Opting for a gold IRA gives you the opportunity to hedge against market volatility by allowing you to invest directly in physical precious metals rather than stocks and bonds. Priority Gold is an industry leader in precious metals, offering physical delivery of gold and silver. Plus, they have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 5-star rating from Trust Link. If youd like to convert an existing IRA into a gold IRA, Priority Gold offers 100% free rollover, as well as free shipping, and free storage for up to five years. Qualifying purchases will also receive up to $10,000 in free silver. To learn more about how Priority Gold can help you reduce inflations impact on your nest egg, download their free 2025 gold investor bundle. A tailored retirement plan just for you Ultimately, everyones financial situation is unique, characterized by different obligations, goals and risk tolerance. While we all aspire to build retirement portfolios filled with shock-proof assets, many Americans also face other financial responsibilities, like mortgages or student loans. Ensuring you have enough money to meet current financial obligations and invest for the future can be a difficult task to tackle on your own. This is why consulting a professional is important. If youre unsure which path to take amid todays market uncertainty, it might be a good time to connect with a financial advisor through Advisor.com. This online platform connects you with vetted financial advisors best suited to help you develop a plan for your new wealth. Just answer a few quick questions about yourself and your finances and the platform will match you with an experienced financial professional. You can view their profile, read past client reviews, and schedule an initial consultation for free with no obligation to hire. You can view advisor profiles, read past client reviews, and schedule an initial consultation for free with no obligation to hire. What to read next Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Accenture (NYSE:ACN) said it plans to buy French advisory firm Orlade Group to strengthen its management of large capital projects. Orlade's subsidiaries Op2 and pmO specialize in project planning and execution for industries such as nuclear energy, transportation, defense, and space. The deal would bring about 200 professionals, mostly in Paris and Bordeaux, with additional offices in Montreal and Brisbane. These teams would join Accenture's Industry X unit, which focuses on infrastructure and capital projects. Accenture said industries face rising complexity in major projects, from supply chain strains to labor shortages and cybersecurity risks. Its research shows only 6% of organizations deliver on time, while most projects miss deadlines and add nearly 30% in extra costs. Also Read: Wipro Targets Rising Cyber Threats With New CrowdStrike Backed Service Koen Deryckere, who heads Accenture France & Benelux, said the acquisition would enhance the company's ability to support energy, utilities, rail, aerospace, and defense clients. Flavien Parrel, head of Industry X in the region, noted that Orlade's expertise complements Accenture's digital and AI capabilities, especially in data analysis and technical deliverables. Founded in 2005, Orlade built its reputation in guiding complex industrial projects through their full lifecycle. Its founders said joining with Accenture would create a unique capability to deliver large-scale initiatives with digital and AI-driven solutions. The acquisition follows a string of Accenture deals across Europe and North America, including earlier in 2025, the purchase of Soben in Scotland and IQT Group in Italy. It also bought Spain's BOSLAN in 2024, U.S.-based Anser Advisory in 2023, and Canada's Comtech in 2023. CEO Julie Sweet recently emphasized that Fortune 500 survival hinges on reinvention, noting that companies must align investments with bottom-line results as AI reshapes industries. Accenture held $9.64 billion in cash and equivalents as of May 31. It generated $3.52 in free cash flow during the quarter. Terms of the Orlade deal were not disclosed. Price Action: At last check Monday, ACN shares were trading higher by 1.08% to $242.29 premarket. Read Next: Image via 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? Myanmar showcases 120 booths at 22nd China-ASEAN Expo Xinhua) 15:28, September 20, 2025 YANGON, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar has been displaying local products with 120 booths at the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), which is being held from Sept. 17 to 21 in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, state-owned daily The Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Saturday. The booths showcase high-quality gems and jewelry, clothes, local and natural products, traditional products and handicrafts, the report said, citing U Myo Thant, joint general secretary of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI). Myanmar's products are selling well. The expo will create great opportunities for Myanmar business entities, he said. The country is also promoting Myitkyina, the capital city of northern Myanmar's Kachin state, as the city of charm at the expo, the report said. (Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Kou Jie) e& enterprise, the services arm of UAE telco e&, and the government of the Republic of Serbia have signed an MoU to expand Serbias data centre capacity and strengthen the countrys position as a regional hub for sovereign cloud and digital services. The MoU, formalised at e&s Al Kifaf headquarters in Dubai, aims to triple the Serbias current capacity by adding up to 40 MW to Serbias existing 14 MW Tier-4 campus in Kragujevac. Serbia's Office for IT and eGovernment has played a key role in advancing Serbias digital transformation, including the development of the countrys first state-owned Tier 4 data centre with a capacity of 14 MW and 1,080 racks. Through the MoU, e& enterprise and the Office will explore joint opportunities to expand data centre capacity and establish conditions for Serbia to become a trusted regional host for critical workloads, including sovereign government data, hyperscalers, and enterprises. The preliminary agreement includes the potential for joint digital infrastructure initiatives in Serbia and the wider Balkans through e& and PPF Telecom. The agreement also includes plans for broader cooperation across subsea and terrestrial networks, advanced connectivity, and other digital infrastructure projects that link the Balkans with e&s Middle East backbone and upcoming Africa-1 and other subsea cables. Data centres are at the heart of every digital economy, and Serbia has already proven its capability with world-class infrastructure, quickly becoming a digital nerve-centre for Southeast Europe, Khalid Murshed, CEO, e& enterprise, said, By combining the Offices proven eGovernment engine with e& enterprises global expertise and cloud ecosystem, were setting the stage for new data-centre capacity that not only meets Serbian demand but also serves as the backbone for every startup, bank and AI workload in the Balkans, positioning Serbia as the regional hub powering digital growth for neighbouring markets. Dr Mihailo Jovanovic, Director of the Office for IT and eGovernment of Serbia, said the partnership accelerates Serbias ambitions to become a trusted regional hub for EU-grade sovereign digital infrastructure. Our first Tier-4 build proved we can deliver world-class infrastructure; this next phase, fuelled by e& enterprises expertise, gives us a stronger platform to expand our capacity, attract international partners, and ensure that our infrastructure meets the highest global standards for resiliency and data governance, he said. The result will be lower latency for citizens, more runway for entrepreneurs, and a stronger digital spine for an entire region. The data shows that while organisations across ANZ report the lowest amount of engineering time spent on disruptions globally, many are grappling with high hourly outage costs Findings from a survey of 1,700 IT and engineering professionals worldwide show staggering cost of outages to businesses, who are increasingly seeking AI-strengthened observability platforms and capabilities to detect and resolve outages Surveying over 1,700 IT and engineering leaders and team members across 23 countries and 11 industries, the report highlights key focus areas, challenges, and trends influencing observability investments like the growing adoption of enterprise AI, notes New Relic. The data showed that the cost of any digital business downtime is profoundwith high-impact outages carrying a median cost of $2 million USD per hour globally, or approximately $33,333 for every minute systems remain down. For Australia and New Zealand specifically, the hourly cost of high-impact IT outages for nearly a third of organisations sits between $1-3 million USD per hour. Organisations across Australia and New Zealand saw massive growth year-over-year in the deployment of key observability capabilities, with nearly 2x growth in database monitoring and alerting usage. These organisations also report the lowest amount of engineering time spent on disruptions globally: the median time spent was 20%a figure significantly lower than the Asia Pacific average (31%), and also below EMEA (26%) and the Americas (25%). New Relics report also notes: Observability practices are maturing, but challenges persist Australian and New Zealand respondents signalled impressive growth year-over-year in the deployment of key observability capabilities including: Database monitoring (up from 38% in 2024 to 74% in 2025); Alerts (up from 41% in 2024 to 73% in 2025); and Dashboards (up from 35% in 2024 to 70% in 2025). These figures, which are almost double the year prior, point to a rapid and significant maturing of observability infrastructure. While deployment of key capabilities are increasing, tool sprawl and fragmentation are continuing to present significant hurdles. 35% of respondents in ANZ still use five or more observability tools, with only 5% relying on a single platform. While this represents a meaningful shift from 2024 when 57% reported using five or more tools, tool sprawl is continuing to present a challenge for over a third of organisations. Outages are expensive and distract engineers from innovating A quarter of Australian and New Zealand organisations (25%) experience high-business-impact outages at least weekly, with 2% facing them multiple times per day. For nearly a third of these cases, the cost can be between $1-3 million per hour in lost revenueand alarmingly, 10% of organisations arent tracking the financial impact at all. These outages are also time consuming with 21% of high-impact outages taking between 30-60 minutes to detect (MTTD), and almost a quarter (23%) take a further 30-60 minutes to resolve (MTTR). For organisations experiencing these outages weekly, the annual cost can be significant. Observability delivers ROI and key operational benefits Organisations in Australia and New Zealand are seeing consistently positive returns on their observability investments, with 32% reporting a 23x ROI. They are also rapidly adopting visibility tools to reduce downtime and improve system health. The use of dashboards to report performance and health KPIs has nearly doubled, from 24% in 2024 to 47% in 2025. Strategic priorities continue to shape investments, with security, governance, and compliance cited as key drivers by 35% of respondents. AI adoption follows closely at 32%, with customer experience and cost management each noted by 26%. While organisations across Australia and New Zealand are leaps and bounds ahead of their Asia-Pacific peers in terms of observability maturity, tool sprawl and fragmentation remain significant hurdles and are contributing to costly outages costs, said New Relic Senior Vice President and General Manager Asia Pacific, Rob Newell. To stay ahead of the curve, businesses across Australia and New Zealand need to prioritise reducing tool sprawl and data siloes so engineers can detect and resolve critical issues fast. With high-business impact outages costing up to $3 million per hour in lost revenue, organisations can no longer ignore the costs associated with maintaining the status quo. Other key findings from the report include: Strategic priorities continue to shape investments. Security, governance, and compliance were cited as key drivers of observability adoption by over a third (35%) of respondents. AI adoption follows closely at 32%, with customer experience and cost management each noted by 26%. Executives and practitioners recognise impactful benefits of observability. Observability is getting recognition by senior management with over half (53%) of executives stating that observability helps them achieve business KPIsup sharply from 38% in previous years. The benefits from practitioners are also notable with 45% reporting increased productivity due to faster issue resolution. Businesses are taking steps to consolidate observability tools. The data shows a 27% decrease in the average number of observability tools per organisation globally from 2023 to 2025. 48% of respondents state that their organisations plan to consolidate their observability tooling within the next yeara notable increase from 31% in 2024. Preference for a single, unified platform is also on the rise, with 40% favoring this approach overall, and as many as 46% in New Zealand. The 2025 Observability Forecast is available today. Read the Asia Pacific report Read the global report Research Methodology New Relic partnered with Enterprise Technology Research (ETR) to survey 1,700 IT and engineering teams and leaders in 23 countries across the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe. Of the respondents, 65% were practitioners, 11% executives and 24% in management. The survey was conducted in April and May of this year by ETR. About New Relic The New Relic Intelligent Observability Platform helps businesses eliminate interruptions in digital experiences. New Relic is the only AI-strengthened platform to unify and pair telemetry data to provide clarity over your entire digital estate. We move your problem solving past proactive to predictive by processing the right data at the right time to maximize value and control costs. Thats why businesses around the worldincluding Adidas Runtastic, American Red Cross, Dominos, GoTo Group, Ryanair, Swiggy, Topgolf, and William Hillrun on New Relic to drive innovation, improve reliability, and deliver exceptional customer experiences to fuel growth. GUEST OPINION: Investing in the stock market can be hard to understand sometimes. There are many companies, each with its own numbers, graphs, and money reports. How can you tell which ones are worth your time and money? This is where a stock screener is useful. It is a filter that allows you to tune out much of that extraneous information and concentrate only on the stocks that fit your needs. Have you ever wanted to discover new things to invest in or make your own research easier? It would be highly beneficial if you knew how to use stock screener tools. Let's define them simply so that you can understand just how much they can help you. What is a Stock Screener? Imagine entering a large grocery store with lots of products, but you're only after organic apples. Rather than checking every aisle yourself, you would probably use a search or ask an employee to locate some for you. A stock screener works the same way, but with stock data. You define some criteria, for example: Valued at more than a billion dollars Stocks sold for a specific low price Businesses that pay a good dividend The screener only brings you the stocks that satisfy your criteria. Instead of hours of searching, you get an immediately narrowed-down list of possibilities. Why Should You Be Screening a Stock? There are several reasons, but here they are in a nutshell: Saves time You don't have to screen thousands of individual securities. A screener performs much of the grunt work. You don't have to screen thousands of individual securities. A screener performs much of the grunt work. Eliminates guessing It takes emotions out of consideration. You're basing a decision on facts, not excitement or worry. It takes emotions out of consideration. You're basing a decision on facts, not excitement or worry. Helps you discover hidden gems Not every good company generates publicity. A screener can lead you to them beforehand. Not every good company generates publicity. A screener can lead you to them beforehand. Keeps you informed All screeners also display live data, so you can immediately respond to a shift happening in the market. How to Use a Stock Screener in Easy Steps Stock screening is easy to utilise. You only have to know what you want. Here is what to do next: Step 1: Define Your Goal Are you seeking reliable stocks to hold for the long term? Or quicker trades with a desire to take profits within a shorter term? Long-term investors also look at things such as growth in earnings, dividend yield, and leverage. Traders who trade for a short period typically look at volume and price movement. Step 2: Choose Your Filters Stock screeners let you choose among hundreds of filters. A few standard ones include: Market cap (size of the company) (size of the company) P/E ratio (how pricey or dirt-cheap the stock is relative to profits) (how pricey or dirt-cheap the stock is relative to profits) Dividend yield (for income-focused investors) (for income-focused investors) Sector (technology, energy, health care, etc.) (technology, energy, health care, etc.) Volume (number of shares exchanged per day) Step 3: Check Your Results Whenever you've got a list of companies, don't purchase the first one you see. Instead, investigate their charts, latest news, and financial status properly. Step 4: Regularly Adjust Things never remain the same in a market. What appears good today may be different next month. Always update your filters and revisit your choices. A Simple Example If you were to invest in green energy companies, you would have your screen set to: Sector: Renewable energy Renewable energy Market cap: More than $500 million More than $500 million P/E ratio: Under 25 Under 25 Dividend yield: Above 1% Your screener will then instantly show you a list of matching companies. Instead of starting with a thousand or more obviously flawed stocks, you're now looking at a much smaller list that actually fits your goal. Stock Screeners and Stock Market Stock screens always work better if you can combine them with market trends. For instance, this article about Aussie tech trends demonstrates where small businesses were applying new technologies in 2025. If a particular technology is increasing fast enough, you could use a screener to locate technology stocks that stand to benefit from such trends. Likewise, reading news about companies like Tascam partnering with Amber Technology could signal to you to investigate related businesses more. Stock screening allows you to find businesses within those industries and view their current status. Mistakes to Avoid Stock screeners can be helpful resources, but here are some frequent pitfalls to be aware of: Applying too much filtering If you are too strict, you may get no results at all. Keep it balanced. If you are too strict, you may get no results at all. Keep it balanced. Overlooking the bigger picture Numbers are important, but remember to look at the news, industry trends, and general market conditions. Numbers are important, but remember to look at the news, industry trends, and general market conditions. Following hype Just because a stock appears on your screener does not mean it is a good match for you. Always conduct additional research. Wrapping Up It is possible to learn stock screening tools to invest with less stress. Instead of being confused among thousands of companies, you can immediately concentrate on the companies that align with your objectives. Imagine having an intelligent assistant that helps you pick stocks according to rules you set. You still have to investigate prior to investing, but the screener saves you time, eliminates distractions, and helps you make better decisions. Whether you're a seasoned or new investor, a stock screener can help you better understand the market and feel more confident about your choices. Australia-listed company Vection, which specialises in extended reality (XR), has signed its largest ever deal, a $22.3m AI defence framework with a NATO-approved customer and partner in Europe. Vection (ASX: VR1) says the deal will integrate secure ICT infrastructure with its trademarked INTEGRATEDXR platform which brings together virtual, augmented, mixed and extended reality as well as metaverse, ICT, kiosks, and 3D modelling + rendering. It represents the largest single deal won by Vection and comes with a potential extension to $29.5M extension with a $40M program secured factoring in previous deals with the customer. Beyond the financials, the framework enhances the Australian companys trusted position in the European defence ecosystem as the ReArm Europe plan progresses, notes Vection. This Framework strengthens our long-standing relationship with a credentialled European partner in the defence ecosystem. It provides a clear, programmatic pathway through to 2030, with a significant portion already delivered and further orders to come. We will remain disciplined on execution and update the market as material orders are received, said Vection MD Gianmarco Biagi. Vection lists highlights of the deal as: $22.3m framework agreement executed with a repeat NATO-approved customer and partner active across the European defence ecosystem, with current extension limit set for up to $29.5m. This contract shall be delivered from Vection's existing resources and requires no additional capital outlay The partner supports the major European defence integrators and solution providers as certified vendor to the Council of Europe and NATO. The Framework extends to already-existing supplies, with the possibility of further new extensions deliverable within December 2030 With this Framework, the Defence Program achieves the overall value of $40.0m of which $17.7m of contracts already signed and $10.3m already delivered as announced to the ASX on 29 July 2025 and specifically forms an extension of the 30 June, 15 July and 29 July 2025 ASX announcements. Repeat award deepens Vections role inside the authorised NATO Tempest production chain Heightened geopolitical tensions are accelerating demand for AI-powered monitoring solutions that protect national perimeters through rapid big-data analysis. This solution stack integrates secure ICT infrastructure with Vections own solutions. As security priorities in Europe become more urgent, the customer is expanding these capabilities to oversee and safeguard critical assets. With the solution stack completed during the pilot phase last financial year, Vection is now accelerating its solution supply to the customer, aligning supply with the customer's multi-year programme that shall extend to 2030, and welcomes these contract extensions, explains Vection. This Framework provides a clear path for ongoing collaboration and structured order flow over the coming years and importantly, delivers visibility on scale. This latest agreement is the largest ever acquired by Vection and sets a further $22.3m of revenue (with extension potential to $29.5m) on top of the orders already announced for this customer. Beyond the financial metrics, the Framework enhances Vections trusted position within the European defence ecosystem, building on its reputation for delivering to reputable partners and institutions across the region. Gianmarco Biagi, Managing Director of Vection Technologies, said: This Framework strengthens our long-standing relationship with a trusted European partner in the defence ecosystem, expanding Vection's solutions and its role in the defence sector. It provides a clear programmatic path through 2030, with a portion already delivered and further significant orders on the way. We will maintain discipline in execution and update the market as we receive material orders". Key terms (summary): Hamamatsu Gyoza (Adobe Stock photo) Hamamatsu has long celebrated as one of Japans gyoza capitals, and the city is set to host the Hamamatsu Shusse Castle Gyoza Festival this autumn. Known nationwide for its pan-fried dumplings, Hamamatsu has consistently ranked at the top of the countrys annual gyoza consumption charts, earning a reputation as a city where gyoza is not just a meal but part of the local identity. The festival will take place at Aoi Square beside Hamamatsu Castle Park, a location that blends food culture with historical scenery. More than 30 restaurants are expected to gather, including hometown favorites as well as popular eateries from across the country. Visitors can sample freshly cooked gyoza showcasing regional flavors, from classic pork and cabbage fillings to more adventurous variations created just for the event. The Hamamatsu Shusse Castle Gyoza Festival has not been held on this scale in several years, making its return a highly anticipated event for both residents and travelers. Event details and updates can be found through the official website, and while there is no admission fee to attend, do bring yen if you plan on doing some gyoza sampling. Getting there Aoi Square is located around 10 minutes by taxi or approximately 20 minutes on foot from Hamamatsu Station, which is served by the Tokaido Shinkansen and the Tokaido Main Line. Date: Sept. 27 28 Time: 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Location: Aoi Square, Hamamatsu Address: 102-1 Motoshirocho, Chuo Ward, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 430-0946, Japan Following the heinous political assassination of Charlie Kirk, Founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, during a peaceful open public event at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah, several politicians have hinted at their renewed commitment to passing new 'gun control' laws. The calls for more restrictions on law-abiding Americans' Second Amendment rights by 'gun control' activists in the aftermath of a tragedy aren't surprising or new. After all, it was Rahm Emanuel the former U.S. Representative and Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama who said in 2008, "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste," in order to ram through new laws. Kirk was a man who challenged ideological thoughts with commonsense, hard facts and reality by inviting open debate with citizens of every walk of life, regardless of political affiliation or socioeconomic status especially those who were diametrically opposed to his own beliefs. His assassin texted his roommate, with whom he was romantically involved, that he "had enough" of Kirk's "hatred" and murdered him for his beliefs. Kirk was also a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment and Americans' Constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Appointments booked months out. Overwhelmed specialists. ERs struggling to stay staffed. The physician shortage is not coming. It is already here. The Association of American Medical Colleges projects a shortfall of more than 124,000 physicians by 2034. But that number does not capture the reality that doctors are leaving medicine quietly, every single day. Some retire early. Others step into nonclinical roles. Many more are simply trying to find a better way to practice medicine. We should not be asking why they are leaving. We already know. We should be asking what we are doing to help them stay (or return) on their own terms. Barriers, not burnout Burnout gets most of the headlines. But the exodus from medicine is about more than exhaustion. It is about barriers that make sustainable practice impossible: restrictive contracts, rigid, volume-driven payment models, administrative overload, and a lack of physician autonomy. The good news? This crisis is also an opportunity to reimagine what medicine could look like if we fixed these issues. Here is how we start: Ban non-competes now Non-competes do not improve care. They fracture continuity, limit access, and punish doctors for seeking better working environments. The FTC recently moved to ban non-compete clauses nationwide, but states should not wait for a federal ruling. South Carolina and others are already working to exempt physicians from these clauses. Ending non-competes is one of the fastest ways to stabilize access in underserved areas, keeping doctors in their communities, even if they change employers. Let doctors break up with third-party payers. Doctors across specialties are rethinking how they deliver care; and many want to move away from third-party payers altogether. From direct primary and specialty care memberships to hybrid models that mix insurance with cash-pay services, physicians are experimenting with approaches that align with what patients actually want: easier access, transparent pricing, and stronger relationships with their doctors. Some are contracting directly with self-funded employers or building telehealth-first practices that reach patients wherever they are. These models reduce administrative burden, restore autonomy, and keep care decisions between doctor and patient, not dictated by insurers. Policy should support these innovations with tax incentives and startup grants, making it easier for physicians to step outside broken reimbursement systems and design sustainable practices that truly serve patients. Independent practice is not dead. Independent medicine is not dead. In fact, physicians across the country are experimenting with hybrid practices, direct primary care, and cash-pay models that cut administrative burden and restore autonomy. Indiana recently passed a tax credit for independent practices, a simple but powerful way to encourage physician-owned care. Similar incentives nationwide could spark a revival of sustainable, community-based practices. Legislation is finally catching up, barely. States are finally making moves to dismantle outdated policies that limit physician-led care. Repealing Certificate of Need (CON) laws, for example, removes unnecessary barriers to opening new, doctor-owned facilities. Pair that with targeted tax credits for physicians who provide charity care (particularly in rural areas) and we create a path for mission-driven practice that is financially viable. Train more doctors, smarter. ADVERTISEMENT We cannot solve a physician shortage without training more doctors. But despite rising demand, federally funded residency slots have barely increased. We need to expand these slots strategically, focusing on primary care, rural medicine, and high-need specialties. And we should fast-track qualified, foreign-trained physicians who can help fill critical gaps. An inflection point This is not just about saving a profession. It is about transforming it. Doctors and patients are not asking for a return to the good old days. They are asking for a future where autonomy, sustainability, and patient care can coexist. Legislative shifts, grassroots innovations, and growing patient demand are already pointing the way. We just need policymakers to catch up. We have spent years talking about burnout as though it is the problem. It is not. It is a symptom. The real problem is a system that pushes physicians out and makes coming back nearly impossible. We will not fix health care by talking about burnout. We will fix it by building a road back for the doctors we have lost. Marcelo Hochman is a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Three weeks of border clashes between Iran and Iraq appear to have finally erupted into all-out war. Iraq has bombed several Iranian air and military supply bases, including Tehrans international airport. The rise in hostilities comes after Iraq tore up a 1975 border agreement with Iran over sovereignty of the Shatt al-Arab waterway. The southern end of the river forms part of the border between the two countries, leading into the Gulf, and is a vital supply line for oil to the West. Iraqi and Iranian ships exchanged fire in the disputed estuary yesterday and Iraq claimed to have sunk eight Iranian patrol boats. Iranian reports say Iraqi forces shelled the Iranian naval base of Khorramshahr, 20 miles south of Abadan, and site of the worlds largest oil refinery. There are also reports of ground forces advancing into surrounding Iranian territory. Iraqi officials say Iranian guns hit Iraqi economic installations in the Shatt al-Arab waterway. Some reports say they fired at an Iraqi oil reservoir in the Basra area in southern Iraq and set it on fire. Iraq has announced the call-up of all army, police, public security and customs reservists. It is also reported to have moved bombers and transport aircraft into neighbouring Jordan. Western diplomats believe Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is seeking to take advantage of the post-revolution turmoil in Iran to seize control of the waterway and other territory handed over to Tehran as part of the 1975 agreement. In return Iran agreed to end support for a Kurdish rebellion in northern Iraq. President Hussein also appears intent on destroying the new Islamic leader, Ayatollah Khomeinis, grip on Iran and the majority Shia Muslim population amid fears they may arouse discontent among Iraqs Shia majority community. A senior member of the Iraqi government, Tariq Aziz, is in Moscow for talks in what appears to be a move to seek for more arms. Iran may be forced to seek support from its traditional ally, the United States. Part of the price for that support would be a demand to release the 52 US hostages who have been held by Islamic fundamentalists in Tehran since November last year. Oil experts in London say the conflict spells no immediate threat to supplies. Courtesy BBC News In context The Iran/Iraq war lasted eight years, despite the limited military capabilities of the two sides. The two superpowers, the USA and the USSR, declared neutrality. The USA, under President Jimmy Carter was committed to keeping the oil supply route open. The Soviets had paid to arm Iraq but shared a common border with Iran. Iraqs superior military equipment initially gave it the upper hand in the fighting, but Iran fought back and even advanced to occupy some Iraqi territory in 1984 and 1986. Both sides eventually agreed to the terms of a United Nations ceasefire in August 1988. Official reports say more than 400,000 were killed and 750,000 wounded. In 1990 Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations, but they are still working on written agreements on border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt-al-Arab waterway. In 2005 the Iraqs transitional Prime Minister Ibrahim Jafaari visited Iran at the start of what was seen as a new era of co-operation between the two countries. Like this: Like Loading... The local Civil Protection authorities have said that the prevention and response mechanism to face several weather conditions is in place and ready to be activated as soon as necessary. In a press conference today, authorities noted that Super Typhoon Ragasa will likely cause significant disruption, with significant flooding expected in low-lying areas. According to information from the Civil Protection authorities, Ragasa may have become the strongest storm since Mangkhut. Assessments suggested that water levels could rise to approximately five meters, about two meters above street level, potentially reaching the first floor of the Red Market. This situation raises concerns of severe flooding similar to what was experienced during Hato and Mangkhut. The same authorities have called on the residents to stockpile essentials for two to three days and warned that power outages in low-lying areas will likely need to be enforced when the water level reaches one meter above the pavement. They explained that this preventive measure aims to resume the power supply when the floodwater recedes. At 3 p.m. today, the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) hoisted Typhoon Signal No.1, noting that it would be replaced by Signal No.3 between 4 and 6 a.m. tomorrow. The most up-to-date forecast also suggests that Typhoon Signal No.8 will be hoisted tomorrow between 4 and 7 p.m., and a Red Storm surge warning could be issued between the afternoon and evening of tomorrow. Like this: Like Loading... * Hato Redux? Authorities brace for Super Typhoon Ragasas impact, warn of Hato-like flooding as some transport services suspend and emergency measures roll out * Transport | Uber-like Welcome Pickups is recruiting drivers to start service * Security | Gaming crimes rise 67% * The IC announced that four to five additional events will be held at the Macau Outdoor Performance Venue in Cotai before the end of the year * Gaming: Grand Dragon Casino and Mocha Kuong Fat set to close this week * President Donald Trump said he would meet Xi Jinping at a summit in October in South Korea and that he will visit China in the early part of next year DOWNLOAD PDF Monday, September 22, 2025 edition no. 4806 Like this: Like Loading... Philippine police arrested 17 people many dressed in black and wearing face masks who set fire to the tires of a barricade truck and threw rocks at riot police securing a bridge and nearby roads leading to the presidential palace in Manila yesterday. The brief but chaotic incident did not involve the thousands of protesters who joined two large, peaceful anti-corruption demonstrations that took place elsewhere in the capital. The violence prompted a security lockdown in the nearby Malacanang presidential palace, where access roads were blocked by security forces. It was not immediately clear if those arrested by police had also joined the peaceful protests where some 18,000 people rallied in a nearby national park in Manila and at a democracy shrine along the main EDSA national highway. Police said in a statement after making the arrests that the situation was contained but warned that violence and vandalism would not be tolerated. We respect the publics right to peaceful assembly, but we strongly appeal to everyone to remain calm and refrain from violence, the police said. Dozens of fellow protesters of those arrested by police, however, later ran to another road near the presidential palace and sprayed graffiti on walls and concrete posts. Some waved Philippine flags and displayed posters with anti-corruption slogans. Police responded with tear gas and made more arrests. Protesting corruption The thousands of peaceful protesters took to the streets to express their outrage over a corruption scandal involving lawmakers, officials and businesspeople who allegedly pocketed huge kickbacks from flood-control projects in the poverty-stricken and storm-prone Southeast Asian country. I feel bad that we wallow in poverty and we lose our homes, our lives and our future while they rake in a big fortune from our taxes that pay for their luxury cars, foreign trips and bigger corporate transactions, student activist Althea Trinidad told The Associated Press in Manila. Trinidad lives in Bulacan, a flood-prone province north of Manila where officials said the most flood-control projects were being investigated either as substandard or nonexistent. Our purpose is not to destabilize but to strengthen our democracy, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, the head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said in a statement. He called on the public to demonstrate peacefully and demand accountability. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. first highlighted the flood-control corruption scandal in July in his annual state of the nation speech. He later established an independent commission to investigate what he said were anomalies in many of the 9,855 flood-control projects worth more than 545 billion pesos ($9.5 billion) that were supposed to have been undertaken since he took office in mid-2022. He called the scale of corruption horrible and accepted his public works secretarys resignation. Public outrage erupted when a wealthy couple who ran several construction companies that won lucrative flood-control project contracts showed dozens of European and American luxury cars they owned during media interviews. The fleet included a British luxury car costing 42 million pesos ($737,000) that they said they bought because it came with a free umbrella. Under intense public criticism, the couple, Sarah and Pacifico Discaya, later identified during a televised Senate inquiry at least 17 House of Representatives legislators and public works officials who allegedly forced them to pay huge kickbacks so they could secure flood-control projects in an explosive testimony. Two prominent senators were later implicated in the scandal in a separate House inquiry. All those named denied wrongdoing but they face multiple investigations. Senate President Francis Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez separately stepped down in the widening fallout from the scandal. JIM GOMEZ, MANILA, MDT/AP Like this: Like Loading... The telephone talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump on Sept 19 once again underscored the irreplaceable role of heads-of-state diplomacy in steering the course of China-US relations. As the most consequential bilateral ties in the world, their steady development is vital not only to both countries, but to global peace and prosperity. The just-concluded talks carry forward the momentum of recent exchanges and provide new strategic guidance for the future of the relationship. President Xi recalled that China and the US were allies that fought side by side during World War II. The Chinese people, he stressed, will never forget the valuable support of the US and other anti-fascist allies during the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). The message is clear: Drawing lessons from history, both sides should cherish peace and forge ahead into the future. Acknowledging the global significance of China-US relations, Xi expressed confidence that the two countries can fully achieve mutual success and common prosperity, benefiting both countries and the world. Under the heads-of-state guidance, the recent consultations between the two teams have demonstrated equality, respect and mutual benefit, showing that dialogue and cooperation remain the only viable choices. Xi emphasized that the two sides should take full advantage of this consultation mechanism to properly address outstanding issues and strive for win-win results. To make that happen, the US side should refrain from taking unilateral restrictive trade measures that could undermine the achievements that have been made in the series of consultations. On the TikTok issue, Xi reiterated Chinas principled stance. The Chinese government respects the will of firms and is glad to see them conduct business negotiations in line with market rules, Chinese laws and regulations, and balanced interests. The US, as Xi said, should provide an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies. This approach demonstrates Chinas sincerity and constructive attitude in seeking a mutually acceptable solution on the issue. It is encouraging that President Trump also affirmed the importance of bilateral ties, and voiced his countrys readiness to maintain a long-term and great relationship with China, and that he expressed willingness to work together with China to promote economic cooperation and safeguard world peace. The talks, described as pragmatic, positive, and constructive, showed a clear direction for stabilizing and advancing the worlds most significant bilateral relationship. As Xi has emphasized, meeting each other halfway, upholding mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation are the right way to help keep China-US relations moving forward on the right track. Editorial, China Daily Like this: Like Loading... Typhoon Ragasa, which rapidly intensified to become the strongest typhoon in the northwest Pacific this year in just 30 hours, is forecast to strengthen further by tomorrow. The storm may pass within 100 kilometers of Macau early to mid-morning on Wednesday, potentially causing storm surge flooding comparable to Typhoons Hato and Mangkhut if it coincides with high tide. Ragasa, the 18th typhoon of the year, intensified and accelerated yesterday morning, evolving into a super typhoon with extensive circulation, strong winds, and low central pressure. It is expected to bring significant storm surges, leading to a rise in sea levels that may cause flooding in certain areas. The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) reported that as of 6:30 p.m. yesterday, Ragasa is expected to approach the Pearl River Estuary closely between early times and morning on Wednesday, potentially passing within 100 kilometers of Macau. Winds may reach force 12 or above for an extended period of time, accompanied by persistent heavy rain, thunderstorms and gusty wind. Residents reside in high floors should be prepared for severe impacts from hurricane force winds or above, the SMG said. Macaus weather station announced that the typhoon is expected to reach the northern part of the South China Sea this afternoon, leading to the issuance of a Typhoon Signal No.1. A higher signal may be required within a short period tomorrow, the SMG stated, highlighting the risk of storm surge flooding similar to that experienced during Typhoons Hato and Mangkhut during the day on Wednesday. As stated on its website, Should this coincide with the astronomical high tide, storm surge flooding comparable to that experienced during Hato [in 2017] and Mangkhut [in 2018] may occur. With favorable upper-level outflow and weak vertical wind shear, Hong Kongs observatory anticipates that Ragasa will continue to intensify, issuing a No. 1 Standby Signal around noon today. As its center is projected to bypass the Philippines and Taiwan, it may maintain its super typhoon status, with sustained wind speeds of 185 kilometers per hour or more, without being weakened by land. These intense winds pose a significant threat to Hong Kong, despite forecast models indicating varying distances between the typhoon and the city as it passes to the south. Multiple entities make advance preparations As Ragasa, comparable in intensity to Hato and Mangkhut, approaches, Macau authorities have urged members of the public to stockpile adequate drinking water, essential daily supplies, canned goods, dry rations, and other nonperishable food items in advance. They also advised preparing common medications, first-aid kits, flashlights, power banks, radios, and other supplies to address potential water and power outages. The Macau Unitary Police Service and Public Security Forces Affairs Bureau emphasized in their separate statements: Residents should take this seriously and immediately implement preventive measures. The authorities further urged residents to reinforce wind and waterproofing facilities, inspect and secure doors, windows, scaffolding, billboards, and other structures vulnerable to strong winds, and promptly clear outdoor items prone to falling, such as flower pots and debris. Additionally, businesses and residents in low-lying areas and underground premises were reminded to prepare flood barriers, sandbags, and other flood prevention supplies to ensure readiness for potential flooding. The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) emphasized that supplies of vegetables, meat, and other essential items at wholesale markets and public traditional markets remain ample to meet residents basic needs for fresh food purchases ahead of the typhoon. As of 10 a.m. yesterday, Macau had received 223 tons of vegetables, six tons of fruit, 388,000 eggs, and 420 live pigs. Additional fresh food shipments arrived in the afternoon, and todays supply of key fresh food items including vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry, and eggs is expected to increase by 50% or more. Meanwhile, to align with nearby regions storm preparedness plans and ensure maritime passenger safety, some Outer Harbour-Shekou (Macau-Shenzhen) sailings were suspended yesterday, with all services halted starting today. All ferry services to and from Fuyong and Zhongshan have also been suspended since yesterday and will remain so until further notice. The Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) announced that if Ragasas path moves closer to the Pearl River Estuary, shipping companies may suspend or adjust other sea routes. Air Macau has announced that for all flights to and from Macau from tomorrow through Thursday, passengers may change their flight dates or request a refund free of charge, with no related fees applied. The Transport Bureau (DSAT) reminds residents and visitors that when Macau issues a Typhoon Signal No. 8 and a Yellow or higher Storm Surge Warning, special measures will be implemented for Macaus land-based public transport services, public parking lots, and spaces, as well as for Macau vehicles traveling north and the bureaus public services. Specifically, vehicles that have booked Macau Vehicles Northbound clearance but do not proceed with clearance will not be considered no-shows and will not count toward the monthly booked usage quota. The bureau also urges management companies of private parking lots in low-lying areas to prepare in advance and utilize flood prevention facilities to ensure the safety of personnel and property. The public is advised to avoid parking vehicles in basement-level parking lots during the passage of Ragasa. Macau authorities have urged residents to fully reinforce wind and waterproofing facilities, inspect and secure doors, windows, scaffolding, billboards, and other structures that could be damaged by strong winds. They also advised promptly clearing and securing outdoor items, such as flower pots and clutter, that could become projectiles. Notably, festive decorations and large installations set up for the Mid-Autumn Festival have been temporarily dismantled. In preparation for Ragasa, the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has also announced arrangements for dismantling equipment related to the 33rd Macau International Fireworks Display Contest and the Fireworks Carnival. Guangdong braces for torrential rain The National Meteorological Center forecasts that Ragasa will continue moving northwestward at 15 to 20 kilometers per hour while further intensifying. Maximum winds near its center are expected to reach Category 16, with a radius of 300 to 350 kilometers for Category 7 winds, 150 to 180 kilometers for Category 10 winds, and 80 to 120 kilometers for Category 12 winds. Today, Ragasa is set to pass through the Bashi Channel and enter the northeastern South China Sea early tomorrow morning, heading toward the Guangdong coast and making landfall along the coast from Shanwei, Guangdong, to Wenchang, Hainan, between early Wednesday morning and Wednesday afternoon. At landfall, it is expected to be a severe typhoon or super typhoon, with winds reaching force 14 to 16. After crossing the Leizhou Peninsula into the Gulf of Tonkin, it will gradually weaken in intensity. It is forecasted that starting tomorrow, regions in Guangdong, Guangxi, and nearby areas will experience heavy to torrential rain, with some coastal areas in Guangdong possibly receiving over 350 millimeters of rainfall. Like this: Like Loading... U.S. President Donald Trump said he would meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a regional summit taking place at the end of October in South Korea and will visit China in the early part of next year, following a lengthy phone call between the two on Friday. In a Truth Social post, Trump said Xi would come to the United States at an appropriate time and that they had made progress on the approval of the TikTok Deal to allow the popular social media app to keep operating in the U.S., though he didnt give details. A statement from the Chinese government did not mention the visits, nor did it offer clarity on what Xi had agreed to regarding a sale of a controlling stake by TikToks Chinese parent company to avoid a U.S. ban. But Xi told Trump to avoid imposing trade restrictions to keep trade ties from getting worse, according to the statement. While the highly anticipated call suggested a cordial relationship between the leaders of the worlds two largest economies, their statements showed the challenges facing two countries with conflicting worldviews that are so entwined. A fundamental sign of cooperation was a willingness to meet face to face. The call was a very good one, we will be speaking again by phone, appreciate the TikTok approval, and both look forward to meeting at APEC! Trump wrote, referring to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group of 21 economies on the Pacific Rim. Later Friday, Trump said American investors were lined up on TikTok and described Xi as a gentleman in the negotiations. But Trump was vague on the ownership of TikToks algorithm, a critical technology that populates what users see on the app and is subject to Beijings export restrictions. Its all being worked out, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, saying the call with Xi lasted nearly two hours. Were going to have very good control. Efforts to finalize the TikTok deal ByteDance, TikToks Chinese-owned parent company, thanked both leaders in a statement and expressed interest in ongoing negotiations to ensure the apps services continue for U.S. users, without providing much insight into how the ownership question would be resolved. Trump said the deal was well on its way. The Trump administration said this week that a framework deal for the apps ownership was reached with Chinese officials during trade talks in Madrid. Trump, who has credited the app with helping him win another term, several times has extended a deadline for it to be spun off from ByteDance. It is a requirement under a law passed last year seeking to address data privacy and national security concerns. U.S. officials have been concerned about ByteDances roots and ownership, pointing to laws in China that require Chinese companies to hand over data requested by the government. Chinese officials said last week that a consensus was reached on authorization of the use of intellectual property rights, including the algorithm, and that the two sides agreed on entrusting a partner with handling U.S. user data and content security. During the call, Xi told Trump that Beijing would be happy to see productive commercial negotiations in keeping with market rules, which would lead to a solution that complies with Chinas laws and regulations and takes into account the interests of both sides, according to the Chinese statement. The U.S. side needs to provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese investors, it said. Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank, said there does not appear to be a done deal over TikTok. Beijing frames market-based talks under Chinese law, keeping a de facto veto, while Trump casts himself as the final approver, he said. Trump and Xi speak on wider trade issues Trump said in Fridays social media post that the two also made progress on many very important issues including Trade, Fentanyl, the need to bring the War between Russia and Ukraine to an end. A day earlier, Trump said Russias war in Ukraine could end if European countries put higher tariffs on China. Trump didnt say if he planned to raise tariffs on Beijing over its purchase of Moscows oil, as he has done with India. U.S. and Chinese officials have held four rounds of trade talks between May and September, with another likely in the coming weeks. Both sides have paused high tariffs and pulled back from harsh export controls. They are yet to reach any deal, however, on tech export restrictions, Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products or fentanyl. The Trump administration has imposed additional 20% tariffs on Chinese goods linked to allegations that Beijing has failed to stem the flow to the U.S. of the chemicals used to make opioids. China responded by levying additional 10% to 15% tariffs on U.S. farm goods. Trumps second-term trade war with Beijing has cost U.S. farmers one of their top markets. From January through July, American farm exports to China fell 53% compared with the same period last year. The damage was even greater in some commodities: U.S. sorghum sales to China, for instance, were down 97%. Sean Stein, president of the U.S.-China Business Council, said if there is an agreement to remove the fentanyl tariffs, Beijing could roll back the retaliatory tariffs and resume purchases of U.S. farm goods and other products, he said. Therell be a lot of positive market sentiment that comes from this, and it will alleviate the human costs of fentanyl, he said. DIDI TANG & JOSH BOAK, WASHINGTON, MDT/ AP Like this: Like Loading... SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Once the shock of Charlie Kirk's murder began to wear off, it became easier to notice how today's "news" media routinely fail to live up to their own pompous prattle about their work. They don't "hold people accountable," they don't "uphold democracy," and they aren't "independent" or "objective." They don't produce "news" as much as narrative. You can see this in their energetic declarations that you couldn't possibly ascribe a leftist motive to Kirk's shooter ... and even claimed you shouldn't try. The story was going in an "unhelpful" direction, so it should be upended. On CNN's weekend show "Table for Five," national security analyst Juliette Kayyem demanded we all "stop looking" for a motive. The former Obama official yelled at GOP strategist Lance Trover: "The point is, who cares? A man was killed, and you have yet to say political violence is bad. Period." "Who cares?" What kind of callous person can't imagine why this man's grieving family and friends need to know why this senseless crime happened? On MSNBC's "Morning Joe," co-host Jonathan Lemire admonished Republicans for pointing fingers at the left: "There's so little we know yet about this shooter and his motives. And again, they almost shouldn't matter because what happened here, it's a culture, a society where we've had this rise in political violence. We are awash in guns." Motive "almost shouldn't matter"? This makes journalists sound like they're anti-journalism. It's like they're saying, "Who is rudely asking questions and seeking out answers?" On "CBS Evening News Plus," anchorman John Dickerson was aggressively playing dumb: "Five days after Charlie Kirk's murder, the shooter's motive remains elusive. No writings left behind. Vague, secondhand testimony." That's not true. By Friday, we had the suspect Tyler Robinson in custody, and we learned the bullet casings had messages including "Hey fascist! Catch!" Another referred to a song "Bella Ciao," which celebrated the end of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. But somehow these geniuses can't figure out this man was targeting "fascists," which is the media's common label for President Donald Trump and his followers. One man who's not pretending to be dumb is Jimmy Kimmel, who claimed on Monday night: "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them." Kimmel, the "comedian," baldly and shamelessly stated the polar-opposite of the truth. Even after the prosecutor laid out the evidence and John Dickerson acknowledged reality, that it was no longer vague and secondhand information Juliette Kayyem went on CNN still claiming the motive "may be unanswerable" to people who care about violence like she does. Robinson's ideological motive somehow "does not explain the violence." On MSNBC, former FBI agent Chris O'Leary stayed clueless, claiming the killer had a "salad bar ideology," nothing identifiable: "It's certainly a motive, but is it necessarily clearly an ideology and part of a broader, you know, movement and political violence or terrorism? ... It probably wouldn't get us there." These purveyors of willful ignorance clearly want to absolve the left of any responsibility for inspiring violence. They want the freedom to decry MAGA "fascists" who are "existential threats to democracy." No one should say that could inspire kooks to hurt someone. But Jim Acosta routinely moaned on CNN that Trump calling them "Fake News" was going to lead to "a dead journalist on the side of the highway." You can't connect violence to rhetoric unless the rhetoric is coming from conservatives. If these media people didn't have double standards, they'd have no standards at all. (COMMENT, BELOW) SEOUL, Sept 22 A legal dispute over a chocolate pie and custard cake worth 1,050 won (about RM3.15) has sparked debate in South Korea over workplace discipline, theft laws and labour rights. The Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the case began on January 18, 2024, when a 41-year-old subcontracted security worker took the snacks from a refrigerator inside the main office of a logistics company in Wanju County, North Jeolla. At the first appeal hearing last Thursday, the judge remarked, At the core, this is about a chocolate pie worth 450 won and a custard cake worth 600 won. It makes one wonder whether it had to go this far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company reported the incident to police, who charged the worker with theft and forwarded the case to prosecutors. Prosecutors initially requested a 500,000-won fine through summary procedure, but the worker opted for a full trial, citing concerns over conviction stigma and potential dismissal. In May, the Jeonju District Court found the worker guilty and imposed a 50,000-won fine, citing lack of permission and a prior theft conviction. The court stated that the refrigerator was located in an office area separate from drivers spaces and typically required employee permission to access. The workers lawyer argued that the refrigerator was in a public area near a water dispenser and that workers entered without hesitation, as shown in CCTV footage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The snacks were customarily treated as communal, the lawyer said. Do people have to ask permission every time they eat a snack or drink whats being provided in an open space? The lawyer also suggested that the complaint was linked to workplace conflict, noting the workers union involvement and disputes over subcontracting and bonuses. Union representatives questioned why only one individual was reported despite others appearing in the footage, suggesting the complaint may have targeted union activity. The appellate court accepted two defence witnesses and identified three key issues: whether the refrigerator was accessible to the worker, whether a workplace practice allowed snack sharing, and whether intent to steal was present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next hearing is scheduled for October 30. The worker has reportedly spent over 10 million won in legal fees, more than 10,000 times the value of the snacks. Public reaction has been mixed, with some comparing the case to Victor Hugos Les Miserables and others defending the companys stance. Online comments included, Its harsh to drag this to court, and The law is merciless to the weak but lenient to the powerful. Others argued that taking food without permission was unacceptable, citing the workers prior conviction. The case continues to raise questions about proportionality in criminal law and the boundary between misconduct and crime. The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Monday it has lifted its temporary import ban on poultry and related products from Israel and South Dakota, United States, after veterinary authorities confirmed the containment of avian influenza outbreaks in those areas. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. issued separate administrative orders lifting earlier restrictions on domestic and wild birds, poultry meat, day-old chicks, hatching eggs and semen for artificial insemination. - Advertisement - These decisions are based on scientific evidence and international reporting standards to ensure both biosecurity and a stable supply of poultry products, Tiu Laurel said in a statement. He said the move came after the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) confirmed that Israel and South Dakota had reported no new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) since mid-July. The DA said import bans serve as precautionary measures to safeguard the countrys livestock and poultry industries, which are vital to rural employment, investments and food security. The DA said it remains committed to aligning with international biosecurity standards while ensuring Filipino consumers have continued access to affordable and safe food. At least one-fifth of all people on the planet are carrying a gene variant that predisposes them to Alzheimers. Known as APOE4, its one of four versions of a gene called APOE. Which APOE version youre carrying makes a big difference in your Alzheimers risk. Most people whose genome includes a copy of APOE4 dont wind up with an Alzheimers diagnosis. But people with a single copy are at double or triple the risk for Alzheimers compared with people who have two copies of the most common variant, APOE3. Those with two copies of APOE4 (one inherited maternally, the other paternally) develop Alzheimers at more like 10 times the frequency that people with two APOE3 copies do. About 25% of people of European ancestry are APOE4 carriers, but this variant is present in 50% to 60% of Alzheimers patients with European ancestry, said Greicius, the Iqbal Farrukh and Asad Jamal Professor and a professor of neurology and neurological sciences. (A third, less-common variant, APOE2, is actually protective in comparison with APOE3. The fourth, APOE1, is so rare that fewer than 10 people carrying it have ever been identified.) Of the people who develop Alzheimers disease, the ones with an APOE4 copy tend to start showing symptoms soonest about five to 10 years earlier, on average, than those with two APOE3 copies. APOE4 starts the ball rolling well before it would normally start, Greicius said. APOE4 starts the ball rolling well before it would normally start." Mike Greicius The unwanted connection The APOE4 variant was first recognized in the 1970s as a risk factor in cardiovascular disease. In the early 1990s, studies directed by a Duke University neuroscientist, the late Allen Roses, PhD, showed that APOE4 also increased Alzheimers risk. At the time, researchers were mainly laser-focused on amyloid plaque and A-beta the protein snippet that aggregates to form these brain deposits and were skeptical about any APOE4 connection to Alzheimers. But now its written in stone. Yet, three decades later, nobody really understands why APOE variants differentially affect Alzheimers risk. Its not even clear what the genes protein product (designated ApoE) does in the first place. Be that as it may, genes similar to APOE have been identified in all animals from amoebas to mammals, so you know it must be doing something important it may be doing different things in our brains than what its doing elsewhere in our bodies. It is known that ApoE shuttles various fatty substances within and between cells, both inside and outside the brain, like passengers on a bus. And its suspected to be involved in our immune response to infections, as some of the fatty acids it shuttles have antimicrobial properties. That antimicrobial capacity, if its for real, could help explain an intriguing ethnic distribution of APOE variants, whose prevalence and harmfulness seem to follow opposing geographic gradients. Your likelihood of carrying APOE4 depends, in part, on where your ancestors came from. At least one copy of APOE4 in ones genome shows up in roughly 1 in every 3 people of African descent, for example; about 1 in 4 people of European descent; and a scant 1 in 10 (or even only 1 in 20, according to some research) Japanese people. But APOE4 risk runs in the opposite direction. Among those of African descent, carrying a single APOE4 copy is barely observable as an Alzheimers risk factor. For someone of European descent, having a single copy of APOE4 in ones genome translates to two to three times the risk of having two APOE3 copies. And Japanese people with a single copy of APOE4 are at five times the risk for Alzheimers disease as their compatriots with two APOE3 copies. Having two APOE4 copies in your genome always boosts your risk, but much more so if youre Japanese, less so if youre of African ancestry. APOE4s combined higher frequency but lower risk among people whose recent ancestors inhabited Africa the continent where humans originated suggests to biologists that APOE4 was the first APOE variant carried in humans. Some theorize that its initial importance was in combating infectious microbes, which abound in warmer climates. As humans migrated out of Africa to or through colder climes with less microbial exposure, the theory goes, other variants first the now-dominant APOE3 and, later, the protective APOE2 came along and, over time, became more common. APOE4s power to boost the likelihood of Alzheimers disease varies not only by ancestry but also by sex. Women of European descent between age 50 and 80 who carry one APOE4 copy and one APOE3 copy are at three or four times as much risk as those with two copies of APOE3, while same-age men with the same APOE status are at only marginally increased risk, according to a review Greicius co-authored in Neuron in 2019. A no-brainer confronts a brain-teaser Scientists agree that APOE4 is bad in the sense of hiking peoples risk for cognitive decline in advanced age. But whether thats because ApoE4 the protein for which APOE4 is a recipe is an underachiever (not doing enough of some good thing its supposed to be doing in the brain) or because ApoE4 itself is a bad actor (doing some bad thing its not supposed to be doing there) is an open question. Knowing the answer would tell researchers and drug developers whether their goal should be to punch it up or to tone it down a key step toward finding a drug to deal with it. Thats what Greicius and his colleagues, including University of Washington professor of medicine Chang-En Yu, PhD, who was Greiciuss co-senior author, set out to determine. For their study, they gained access to a giant registry of people with and without Alzheimers whose genes had been carefully scrutinized for APOE status, then they zeroed in on people age 65 and older. Of the 56,684 people in this cohort, a fair number were APOE4 carriers no surprises there but precisely two carried an APOE4 copy that was so defective it couldnt direct the production of its correspondingly malfunctioning ApoE protein. Those two people turned out to be carrying, along with a nonworking copy of APOE4, a perfectly normal APOE3 copy. Neither of them, despite their advanced years (one was 90 at the age of death, the other 79 and still alive at the time), had evidenced any signs of mental decline. To the contrary. PART 2 Rethinking Alzheimer's: Untangling the sticky truth about tau Previous Next Rethinking Alzheimer's: Untangling the sticky truth about tau They were in great shape, Greicius said. I was shocked to learn that the 90-year-old, on postmortem inspection, had no appreciable buildup of beta-amyloid plaque in his brain. The cerebrospinal fluid of the younger of the two was likewise devoid of any significant A-beta changes when last checked at age 76. (By age 75, two-thirds of even asymptomatic APOE3/APOE4 carriers much less the ones diagnosed with cognitive symptoms of Alzheimers disease typically have abnormal A-beta levels in their cerebrospinal fluid.) Evidently APOE4 wasnt simply too wimpy to get the job done; it was actually bad news. If youre carrying APOE4, it seems, youre better off if this gene variant isnt making any ApoE4 than if it is. This is the first human study to make a strong case that ApoE4 is toxic and that its loss may be protective, Greicius said. He noted that a complete absence of ApoE activity could be damaging in peripheral organs such as the heart. Rare cases have been found of people with zero functioning copies of any variant, Greicius said. They had very high cholesterol levels, he said. But neither of these two broken-APOE4-carrying individuals, each of whom carried a working copy of APOE3, had sky-high cholesterol. Apparently, one copy of out-of-order APOE4 doesnt hurt you, Greicius said. Healthy older APOE4 carriers are much more likely to be amyloid-positive on PET scans (bottom row) than non-carriers (top row), explains Mike Greicius. The road ahead So far, no great small molecules that could be used as drugs have been shown to safely and selectively inhibit the production or activity of the problem protein, ApoE4. Finding such a finely discriminating drug could prove daunting. But in the near term, it may not be necessary. A drug that knocks APOE down but not out, so ApoE production isnt entirely stamped out, might be safe. The robust health of the people in the new study who had only a single working copy of an APOE gene implies that, Greicius said. Nor would a drugs inability to distinguish between different APOE variants pose a problem for treating those carrying two copies of APOE4 (2-3% of all people), he observed. The new research has begun to resolve scientists uncertainty as to whether to put more muscle into ApoE4 or put it out of commission. That should give some direction to drug-development efforts, said Greicius, who is following up in a collaboration with other Stanford Medicine scientists to learn more about ApoEs interactions with other key fat-shuttling proteins and tease out differences in how ApoE4 and its alternatively numbered counterparts select which fatty substances they take aboard. Now, we know which way to go, he said. ApoE4 is not a wimp. Its a cutthroat. Get rid of it. A version of this story previously ran in Stanford Medicine Magazine. Sudans Prime Minister Kamil Idris will lead his countrys delegation to the UN General Assembly, where he plans to urgently appeal to the international community to break the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) siege on the city of El Fasher. The change in plans, which sees Idris attending instead of the countrys sovereign Council Head, underscores the critical priority of the crisis. The Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver Sudans main address and hold high-level meetings to spotlight the blockade and mobilize global action, directly engaging with the UN Secretary-General to use his moral authority to end the suffering. The city of El Fasher has been under a brutal siege since April 2024, with residents facing severe shortages of food, medicine, and aid, forcing many to eat animal fodder to survive. Idriss appeal follows a recent RSF shelling of a mosque that killed 75 people, with victims being buried in plastic bags due to a lack of proper shrouds. The PM condemned the international silence on the atrocities, which include mass killings and the destruction of essential infrastructure, and pledged that his government would do everything in its power to break the siege soon. King Mohammed VI has underlined the importance he attaches to strengthening the historic bonds of fraternity and solidarity uniting Morocco and Mali. This came in a message of congratulations and best wishes the Monarch addressed to Malis Transitional President Gen. Assimi Goita and to the Malian people on the occasion on the Independence Day celebrated on September 22. The King has also reaffirmed Moroccos constant readiness to work with Mali to strengthen further cooperation ties for a stable, united, and prosperous Africa. The two countries share deep historical, cultural, and fraternal ties, rooted in shared Islamic heritage. Under King Mohammed VIs South-South cooperation strategy, relations gained momentum, focusing on economic development, security in the Sahel region, and mutual support amid regional instability. 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 bipartisan group of Pennsylvania state legislators recently hatched a plan to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in health care. Four Pennsylvania House Democrats and one House Republican plan to introduce legislation that would require insurers, hospitals and other providers to follow certain rules when using AI for patient care, billing and coding, claims processing and other health-related services. "As the only physician in the [Pennsylvania] General Assembly, I have seen the rapid growth of AI usage in health care in real time," said Democratic Pennsylvania state Rep. Arvind Venkat in a statement announcing the legislation. Venkat is an emergency medicine physician in Pittsburgh. Venkat said that while AI has increased efficiency in administrative tasks for physicians like himself, he's concerned about its growing use in decision-making about patient care and whether health services are covered by insurance. This year alone, more than a dozen states have passed laws regulating AI in health care, according to Manatt Health, a national health services firm. Arizona, Maryland, Nebraska and Texas now ban insurance companies from using AI as the sole decision-maker in prior authorization or medical necessity denials. Nevada and Oregon prohibit AI from representing itself as a health care provider, while several other statesincluding Utah and New York have regulated the use of AI-enabled chat bots in mental health. State AI legislation has been sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans and has been approved with bipartisan support, a reflection of broad concerns over its expanding use in health care. The Pennsylvania lawmakers say their proposed legislation would force insurers and health care providers to be transparent about how they use AI; require a human to make the final decision any time AI is used: and mandate that insurers and providers to show evidence of minimizing bias in their use of AI. "As AI use has grown in the health care industry, we have already seen evidence that AI usage can reinforce bias and discrimination," Venkat said in a statement. "This will allow us to ensure that insurers, clinicians and hospitals use AI effectively and do not use it to perpetuate potentially harmful biases in the medical field." More than half of American patients say AI in health needs more oversight, according to an August poll from the United States of Care, a nonprofit focused on affordable and accessible health care. Meanwhile, more than two-thirds of physicians have reported an increase in AI use for administrative tasks like recording and managing patient information, and nearly half reported using AI more frequently in patient care and clinical decision-making. National groups, including the American Medical Association, have also called for more oversight of AI. Last year, physician use of AI more than doubled, according to the latest data from the association. Key medical concepts Artificial Intelligence Mental Health 2025 States Newsroom. 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: Kampus Production from Pexels Access to respite services for family caregivers increases a palliative care patient's probability of dying at home almost threefold, according to a McGill University-led study. Previous surveys suggest most Canadians with a serious illness would prefer to spend the end of their lives at home. In Quebec, fewer than one-in-10 palliative care patients die at home, a rate that has remained largely unchanged for two decades and lags behind the Canadian average of 15%. As part of its action plan for equitable access to quality palliative and end-of-life care, the study set out to find which factors matter most in helping patients avoid a transfer to a hospital or palliative care center in their final days. The study is published in the journal BMC Palliative Care. Respite careprofessional help that allows family caregivers to take short breaksemerged as the strongest predictor, with patients 2.7 times more likely to die at home when it was available. Timely access to nursing care, support with hygiene such as bathing, and pain-relief services also were significant factors. "An at-home palliative and end-of-life care approach that addresses the physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of patients and their caregivers enables patients to remain at home longer and to die at home when that is their wish," said lead author Kelley Kilpatrick, Assistant Professor and Susan E. French Chair in Nursing Research and Innovative Practice at McGill's Ingram School of Nursing. The researchers conclude that Quebec can achieve its equity goals by: investing in respite services reducing staff turnover in home care to build trust and continuity for patients standardizing services across the province so patients aren't disadvantaged by where they live mobilizing specialized nurse practitioners to provide support. The findings are based on nearly 6,000 patient records from a Montreal at-home palliative care organization between 2015 and 2024, along with 73 interviews with patients, caregivers, service providers and decision-makers. On average, patients were 78 years old, nearly all had cancer and more than one-in-four lived alone. More information Kelley Kilpatrick et al, Factors that support home deaths for patients receiving at-home palliative and end-of-life care: a sequential mixed-methods explanatory study, BMC Palliative Care (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s12904-025-01840-0 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 new Northwestern Medicine study is challenging long-held assumptions about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to results published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. COPD, a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, is traditionally understood as a condition marked by irreversible airflow obstruction and lung tissue damage. However, investigators have now found that chronic hypercapniaelevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO) in the bloodmay actively reshape lung structures and worsen disease outcomes. The new findings suggest that elevated carbon dioxide levels may not just be a consequence of the disease, but a key contributor to its progression, said Masahiko Shigemura, Ph.D., research assistant professor of Surgery in the Division of Thoracic Surgery, who was first and corresponding author of the study. "Carbon dioxide has traditionally been viewed as simply a waste product of breathing," Shigemura said. "Because of this, elevated CO in the bloodwhat we call hypercapniahas often been tolerated in patients with lung disease, as part of a clinical strategy known as permissive hypercapnia. Our group at Northwestern has been challenging that view." In a series of experiments using mice and human lung tissue, scientists exposed subjects to high CO levels under normal oxygen and pH conditions. Even without signs of inflammation or tissue destruction, the lungs showed significant structural changes, according to the study. These included thickening of airway smooth muscle, increased extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and signs of vascular remodeling, all hallmarks of COPD. These changes were not due to increased cell proliferation, but rather to hypertrophy, or enlargement, of existing cells. Lung fibroblasts exposed to high CO also began to resemble myofibroblasts, a cell type associated with fibrosis and tissue stiffening. Genetic analysis revealed that CO exposure triggered expression of ECM-related genes, including LTBP2, a known marker of myofibroblast activity. To test the relevance of these findings in humans, scientists cultured precision-cut lung slices from healthy donors and patients with COPD under hypercapnic conditions. The COPD samples showed even more pronounced remodeling, with increased smooth muscle thickness and collagen deposition. The study found that these CO-induced changes were at least partially reversible. Mice returned to normal air after CO exposure showed reduced muscle thickening and ECM buildup, suggesting that therapeutic strategies aimed at lowering CO levelssuch as noninvasive ventilationcould help mitigate lung damage. "Together, these findings highlight CO not just as a by-product of breathing, but as an active driver of lung disease, one that could be targeted in future therapies," Shigemura said. The study adds weight to the growing recognition of CO as a bioactive gas with signaling properties, rather than a passive byproduct of respiratory dysfunction. The American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society released clinical practice guidelines in 2019 and 2020 recommending the use of noninvasive ventilation in stable COPD patients with hypercapnia. Although this intervention is known to improve clinical outcomes, the underlying biological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The findings provide mechanistic support for these therapeutic strategies, Shigemura said. "One of the most surprising findings was the structural changes we saw in the pulmonary blood vessels. This suggests that hypercapnia might also play a role in the development of pulmonary hypertension, which wasn't something we initially set out to study," Shigemura said. The study also holds implications for environmental determinants of health, Shigemura said. "Although atmospheric CO levels are far lower than those found in the human body, they are steadily climbing. Human activity is the main driver, but natural events such as volcanic eruptions and wildfires can also cause local spikes. This rising CO doesn't just fuel climate changeit may also carry long-term risks for human health," Shigemura said. "Our work highlights that elevated CO may be an underappreciated risk factorone that affects not only patients with lung disease, but potentially people living in different environments." More information Masahiko Shigemura et al, Hypercapnia promotes maladaptive airway and vascular remodeling in mice, Journal of Clinical Investigation (2025). DOI: 10.1172/jci196928 Journal information: Journal of Clinical Investigation Key medical concepts Hypercapnia COPD SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. It has been more than a week since young conservative activist Charlie Kirk was gunned down at a rally on the campus of Utah Valley University in front of his wife and hundreds of attendees. In the days since, a suspect 22-year-old Tyler Robinson allegedly confessed to his father that he committed the crime. Robinson's father turned him in to the police, who arrested him. From the information available, it appears at this point that Robinson has been in a gay relationship with his roommate Lance Twiggs, who is undergoing a gender "transition" from male to female. If text messages from Robinson to Twiggs are authentic, Robinson told his lover that he killed Kirk because he couldn't stand Kirk's "hatred." Kirk's death has left America reeling. Across the country and throughout the world there have been outpourings of grief, prayer vigils, memorials and fundraisers to celebrate his life, mourn his death and support his widow and two small children. But if Kirk's assassination cast a pall of grief over millions of Americans, reactions from the Left have shocked and outraged them. Immediately following the shooting and announcement of Kirk's death, social media sites like X, Bluesky and TikTok were filled with posts and videos from thousands of people cheering Kirk's death, calling him vicious names ("Nazi b*tch," "fascist," "racist," "transphobe," "misogynist"), stating that he deserved to die, dissing his wife and children, and even calling for similar violence against other conservatives. Those who proudly posted their indifference or outright joy at Kirk's murder were expecting the usual cheers and praise for their left-wing virtue signaling, but the reaction has been quite different. Incensed by this appalling callousness, Americans began calling employers and demanding that action be taken. It's difficult to know the numbers, but hundreds of employers have been contacted and dozens of people, including well-known personalities like MSNBC commentator Matthew Dowd and perennially unfunny comedian Jimmy Kimmel, have been fired for their hateful comments or for spreading lies. (Kimmel just got his show pulled by Disney after asserting that Kirk's killer was a MAGA conservative. He was not.) Americans are just as shocked by the sources of these inflammatory and inhumane statements as they are by the content; a disproportionate number of the posters are teachers, professors, administrators and medical professionals; those people educate children and provide medical care, and they state publicly that someone with different political views was a terrible person who deserved to die? Anyone thinking that a spate of firings or nationwide prayer vigils are going to deter the American Left had better open their eyes and gird their loins. It is far more likely that the Left will double down on their efforts, because they think no one on the Right has the intestinal fortitude to stop them. Why wouldn't they think so? The summer of 2020 saw widespread chaos: riots, arson, looting, violence and murder in our cities after George Floyd's death, with few consequences for the perpetrators. (It's notable that there have been no similar uprisings following Kirk's murder.) Luigi Mangione shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a public street last year. He's been hailed as a hero by many on the Left; a new ballot initiative in California is called the "Luigi Mangione Access to Healthcare Act." Just this week, a judge dismissed the terrorism charges against Mangione, saying that even if Mangione killed the insurance company CEO as a form of protest against the insurance industry, the act was not intended to "intimidate and coerce a civilian population." Tell that to the other insurance company executives across the country. When serial criminal Decarlos Brown stabbed Iryna Zarutska to death on a public train in Charlotte, North Carolina, the city's mayor, Vi Lyles, defended the policies that released Brown 14 times after commission of multiple felonies, saying, "We will never arrest our way out of issues such as homelessness and mental health." No one stepped in to stop Brown from killing Zarutska. Perhaps they saw what happened to Daniel Penny, who stopped a crazed attacker from going after other riders on a New York subway. Penny was prosecuted for homicide, even though the man he physically subdued was still alive after Penny released him. Now, the press is trying to soften the public image of a man who put a bullet through Kirk's neck. ABC reporter Matt Gutman called Robinson's texts to his lover "touching" and "intimate." (Gutman has since apologized.) According to leftists on social media, here are the rules: If your words or your views make other people angry because you disagree with them on issues like abortion, sexuality, the Second Amendment or affirmative action, you can be killed, and it's your fault. Or, as an X meme phrases it, "They don't kill you because you're a fascist; they call you a fascist so they can kill you." In the topsy-turvy world created by extremists on the Left, words are violence, but violence in response to words isn't violence, it's struggle against entrenched power structures. This is just depravity yoked to cultural Marxism. But those same factions also say, "Silence is violence." Translated into the operational rules of the present Leftist culture, what does that mean? Not only, "Don't say what I don't want to hear or else you can be killed," but also, "Say what I demand to hear, or else you can be killed"? As absurd as this seems, a version of this philosophy is already in play in many of our schools, where teachers and administrators "transition" minor children without their parents' knowledge or over their objection. California passed a law in 2023 that requires parents to affirm their children's gender transitions or lose custody. Colorado is looking to pass a similar law. "Say what we demand to hear, or we'll tear your family apart." There are, thank goodness, left-leaning voices that perceive the gravity of our present situation. In his opening monologue last Friday, Bill Maher told his audience to stop calling President Donald Trump and others Hitler, as it "makes it a lot easier to justify things like assassinations." Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur is making efforts to get voices on the left and right together for civil discourse. Ezra Klein wrote an impassioned defense of Kirk's political civility in The New York Times (for which he has been much maligned by his comrades on the left). They see, I think, what so many on their side don't: We are teetering on the edge of the abyss. Millions of ordinary conservative Americans not activists, politicians, podcasters or social media influencers hold views very similar to Kirk's. They have tolerated smears, doxxing, demonization and violence for years, and THEY. ARE. DONE. Recent events make it appear that the Left is being held captive by lunatics, and if you disagree with them, as Kirk did, you can be murdered in broad daylight, the press will run interference for your killer, and your neighbors, your nurses and your children's teachers will cheer your death. People are beginning to understand that being polite, staying out of the fray, trying to be viewed as nonjudgmental has only permitted the situation to grow more extreme. Even the most apolitical Americans, if pushed to the wall, will fight back. I don't mean responding in kind (nor have I seen calls for anything like that although all bets are off if we suffer through any more assassinations of public figures or random murders of innocent bystanders), but I am deeply concerned about a breakdown of order and civility that Americans tend to take for granted. To avoid further escalation, cooler heads on the left had better get control of their side of the aisle, and quickly. Bland statements that "violence has no place in our society" aren't going to cut it. You can't say that now, having spent the past 10 years calling half the country "a basket of deplorables," racists, fascists, transphobes, bigots, white supremacists and Christian nationalists who are "a threat to our democracy." Additionally, we need more responsible government and law enforcement, certainly. That means arrests, swift prosecutions, convictions and imprisonment for criminals. But that's the easy part. The harder part is going to be tackling our educational system. These amoral, destructive and murderous ideologies have their origins in higher education and spread from there. Weeding them out is going to require a complete overhaul of our colleges and universities: how they are funded, and the way faculty and administrators are hired, retained, promoted and, yes, let go. This battle cannot be won unless those fighting for liberty and decency are in it for the long haul. Our opponents are betting that we aren't. (COMMENT, BELOW) Laura Hollis is an attorney and academic. She resides in Indiana with her husband and their two children. 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: Ontario Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Center. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Derekf44 Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Just before 8 a.m. on Jan. 31, an explosion rocked a nondescript one-story office building in an affluent suburb of Detroit. The building was home to The Oxford Center, a health clinic that provided hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat a variety of disorders. Inside the clinic, a spark had ignited the high-pressure, pure-oxygen atmosphere in a hyperbaric chamber where 5-year-old Thomas Cooper lay with a pillow and blanket, receiving treatment for ADHD and sleep apnea. A fireball consumed the inside of the chamber in seconds, killing the boy, law enforcement later said. His mother suffered third-degree burns on her arms as she tried to free her son. Within weeks of the tragedy, Michigan Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel charged three Oxford Center employees, including the center's owner, with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, and a fourth employee with involuntary manslaughter. Nessel said the staff disregarded multiple safety protocols. The Michigan death and another fatality less than six months later at a wellness clinic in Arizona have thrown a spotlight on the largely unregulated world of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. A treatment once primarily confined to hospitals, it has surged in popularity in alternative health spaces in recent years. About 1,200 hyperbaric medicine programs operate in the United States, according to estimates from the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, a nonprofit organization recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an accrediting body for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Of those, 140 are accredited by the organization. While nearly a dozen states require hyperbaric oxygen chambers to comply with certain safety standards, no states have comprehensive requirements specifically for accreditation or inspection of HBOT facilities. Wellness clinics, sometimes without physician supervision, use the pressurized chambers for off-label treatmentsthose not approved by the FDA. Before the explosion that killed Thomas Cooper, Michigan state Sen. Stephanie Chang had never heard of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The Oxford Center is located in her district, just a block from where she takes her daughter for tutoring, she said. Chang, a Democrat, was aghast when she learned the state doesn't accredit or regularly inspect clinics that offer the therapy. It doesn't even track where such clinics operate. "I think many people in the community felt the same way," she said. "This is happening in our community without any regulation? We've got to do something." MAHA fans Earlier this year, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited wellness podcaster Gary Brecka at his home, where they hung out in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber before taping an episode of Brecka's show. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has found a support network inside Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again movement, among wellness influencers and anti-aging gurus. Podcasters including Brecka and Joe Rogan have touted the benefits of the chambers, while a hyperbaric chamber manufacturer had a presence at this year's MAHA Spring Gala in Florida. Before Trump's reelection, Kennedy said in a social media post that the "FDA's war on public health" was about to end, and he criticized its "aggressive suppression" of alternative health treatments, including hyperbaric therapy. In hyperbaric oxygen therapy, also known as HBOT, patients rest inside a special chamber where they breathe pure oxygen. The air pressure in the chamber is raised to a level higher than normal to help increase the amount of oxygen in the blood to in turn accelerate healing. Modern HBOT has been used for decades and is approved by the FDA to treat more than a dozen conditions, including burns, carbon monoxide poisoning and non-healing diabetic wounds. Last month, in the wake of the Michigan and Arizona deaths, the FDA issued recommendations for HBOT providers and facilities to help reduce safety risks. But as the wellness industry has ballooned, HBOT has seen "an exponential increase" in nonmedical providers, said John Peters, executive director at the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. Wellness clinics like The Oxford Center in Michigan advertise that HBOT can treat a multitude of conditions off-label, from cancer and HIV to dementia and autism. Scientific research has been inconclusive. For example, some studies have shown benefits for children with autism, while others have found insufficient evidence to recommend it as a treatment. Peters believes much of the off-label claims are exaggerated. "There are people with discretionary income willing to spend it on these sales pitches," said Peters. "What's more sad than that are the people who are vulnerable. These are individuals who have sick family members or are sick themselves and they're grasping at straws, looking for any relief. And they are tricked by these carpetbaggers." Most insurance plans will cover HBOT for FDA-approved uses, including the treatment of burns or carbon monoxide poisoning. Medicare, Medicaid and Tricarethe health insurance for active-duty and retired members of the militaryalso have a short list of approved conditions. For everything else, it's cash-only. And HBOT typically isn't a one-and-done treatment. It can cost$200 or more per treatment session, with dozens of sessions recommended. Thomas Cooper had been on his 36th of 40 treatments for attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sleep apnea, the Detroit Free Press reported. The FDA has not approved HBOT for either condition. Unaccredited clinics like The Oxford Center are "making a lot of money and they have no one overseeing them," said Michigan Democratic state Rep. Sharon MacDonell, who also represents the district where The Oxford Center was located and is working with Chang on a bill to regulate HBOT. "No health insurance company is asking for documentation, no system is checking in. No state has figured out a way to do this, so we're trying really hard." States in the dark Deaths in hyperbaric chambers are rare, but the Michigan incident was one of two fatalities this year: In July, Walter Foxcroft, a 43-year-old physical therapist, was killed in an apparent flash fire in a hyperbaric chamber at his wellness clinic in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, according to municipal officials. First responders found him dead inside an intact chamber that appeared to have been on fire. There have been other deaths and injuries over the past two decades. In 2009, a 4-year-old boy and his 62-year-old grandmother died in a fire when a chamber exploded at a Florida clinic. That clinic, like the ones in Michigan and Arizona, was not accredited. In 2023, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber exploded at a wellness spa in Utah, seriously injuring the two people inside, according to local fire officials. And in 2012, a hyperbaric chamber at a veterinary center in Florida exploded, killing the horse inside and a woman who had been operating the unit. Nearly a dozen states require hyperbaric oxygen chambers to comply with certain safety standards for pressure vessels laid out by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. But Peters, with the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, said a large number of hyperbaric chambers imported from countries such as China and Poland don't meet those standards. He said experts believe there could be 20,000 noncode compliant chambers operating in the United States. That's one reason he believes the recent FDA guidance for safe use of the chambers rings hollow. "The FDA guidance does nothing to curb the proliferation of noncode compliant chambers into the country and the use of those chambers," he said. "It does nothing to address the secondary market. You can buy a hyperbaric chamber and sell it to another individual without any requirement." Access vs. safety Chang and MacDonell say they want to require accreditation for hyperbaric chambers and for the clinics that offer the therapy, including requiring a physician or other medical provider to oversee treatment. But some people, including some autism advocates, have expressed concern that overregulation could hurt access to HBOT for families that want it. "I think these folks recognize they want to keep access but don't want people getting taken advantage of by bad actors in this space, and want to ensure they're going to a facility that's doing things the right way," Chang said. Chang said the bill would not regulate a newer, more portable type of hyperbaric chamber that are popular in wellness circles and sometimes used in homes. They have soft outer shells and seal with a zipper, unlike traditional steel-cased chambers. The soft-side chambers provide so-called mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy at lower pressure and aren't considered medical devices like hard-shell chambers. But in North Carolina, state fire marshals have shut down the use of such devices at wellness clinics over safety concerns. Fire officials in other states, including Utah, have also expressed concerns over the soft-side chambers. In recent years, veterans groups have pushed for HBOT to be available and covered for treating traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Thirteen states have passed legislation to require or support such treatments for veterans, according to Eric Koleda, national director of state legislative efforts for TreatNOW, a coalition that promotes HBOT access for veterans. Koleda said he's glad the Michigan lawmakers are working on the issue, though he's not convinced stricter regulation is needed. "We're not proposing that there needs to be an enormous amount of regulation because there are already safety standards in place, and if they're adhered to, that ensures a safe level of operation," he said. "This is treatment that's already done safely every day." In July, Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a bill into law establishing a fund to pay for HBOT for veterans with a traumatic brain injury or PTSD. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the legislature. Veteran-related HBOT bills have also been introduced this year in Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York and Oregon. Koleda said his organization is also working to get the FDA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to add traumatic brain injury and PTSD to the list of conditions approved for HBOT treatment. Indiana state Sen. David Niezgodski, a Democrat, introduced a resolution in April urging the state's legislative council to study regulation of HBOT. The deaths in Michigan and Arizona caught his eye, he said, because Indiana has a law promoting the treatment for veterans. The resolution passed but wasn't taken up by the council. "I am 100% for trying to do everything we can to get this treatment where those who need it are truly able to benefit from it," he told Stateline. "Though I want to be certain that we do everything we can to make sure that when they receive that treatment, it's going to be safe at all times." The Michigan lawmakers stress their bill doesn't restrict HBOT's off-label use and they're continuing to work with stakeholders. They hope to get it filed before the end of the year. "When you go into what you believe to be a medical facility, you assume it is being regulated and that it is licensed and that the people running this complex technology know what they're doing," said MacDonell. "That's our goal." 2025 States Newsroom. 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 The approval of new antibody medications for Alzheimer's diseaselecanemab and donanemaband diagnostic tests in the blood mark the beginning of a new era in Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and treatment. However, without rapid reform in health care systems, public policy, and societal attitudes, their potential will not be fully realized, argue 40 leading Alzheimer's disease experts in The Lancet Series on Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease accounts for about 70% of all dementia cases and is a leading cause of disability, resulting in high societal and economic costs. In a novel comparison, the Series highlights that the new monoclonal antibody treatments can slow Alzheimer's disease progression to a level comparable to the efficacy of medicines for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. However, the authors say that differences in age, patient outcomes, and side effects mean such comparisons should be treated cautiously. Despite the similarity in treatment effectiveness for other diseases, high costs of medication, complex testing requirements, suboptimal care for behavioral symptoms, and under-resourcing risk leaving Alzheimer's patients behind. Encouragingly, improvements in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease are also on the horizon, with emerging Brain Health Services identifying people at a high risk for developing the disease and providing them with personalized treatment programs. Yet most cases of Alzheimer's disease occur in people with low or normal risk, making population-wide measures which decrease risksuch as healthier urban design and restrictions on alcohol and sugary drinksessential. The authors call for coordinated global action so that the rapid pace of scientific advancement in the field of Alzheimer's disease is matched by reforms at the level of health care providers, policy, and society. Lead author of the Series, Professor Giovanni Frisoni, University of Geneva (Switzerland), says, "Blood tests, biological drugs for Alzheimer's disease, and prevention interventions are propelling care into entirely new and exciting territory. However, the old needs of patients will not disappear. "On the contrary, more general practitioners and dementia specialists will need to master the less glamorous but steady advances made in the past few decades in the care and treatment of behavioral disorders, the use of sophisticated diagnostic imaging and laboratory tools, and psychosocial care. A concerted societal effort in this direction will enable our current and future patients to benefit fully from the potential of scientific and technological 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: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Idaho State University appears to be getting more serious about buying the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine in Meridianat least, serious enough to spend $100,000 on a study that could help make the case for a purchase. The state university has solicited an evaluation of the private medical college to determine the feasibility of and "the benefits and impacts associated with ... possible acquisition," according to records obtained by The Idaho Statesman through a public-records request. In June, ISU hired private consulting company Tripp Umbach to head the $100,000 study, which will include a cost assessment conducted by another business, according to an ISU spokesperson. The move comes as state lawmakers have homed in on developing a plan for medical education in the state, which ranks worst in the nation in doctors per capita and so far has no public medical school. ICOM, the state's only medical school, was established in partnership with ISU in 2016, at a time when lawmakers didn't have "the appetite" to fund a public medical school, according to ICOM's president, Dr. Tracy Farnsworth. That's changing, Farnsworth said. Farnsworth told the Statesman by phone that ICOM's owners, Rice University and private equity business TPG, have plans to divest the college, and that it'll become more clear in the next six to 12 months whether ISU will be the one to buy it. "I think in time, there's not going to be a shortage of interested suitors," said Farnsworth. "But what's clear is the state of Idaho does have an interest. I think that's great." There is "no active negotiation going on at this time" between the two schools, according to ICOM spokesperson Stephanie Dillon. Farnsworth said conversations about a possible public acquisition began after "word (had) gotten out" about ICOM's owners' plans to divest, though he did not say exactly when. Rice University in Houston has been the college's single largest investor since it opened in 2018, while TPG, based in San Francisco, became a minority owner in 2022, replacing founder and investor Dan Burrell, for an amount the college did not disclose. Farnsworth said that it's always been Rice University's plan to eventually step away from the college. "You and I and others have to understand how private equity works," Farnsworth said. "In the case of Rice University ... they invest in projects like this so they can raise money for scholarships for their own students. So at some point, they have to sell." Farnsworth noted that ISU's president, Robert Wagner, and the vice president of its Health Science Campus, Rex Force, sit on ICOM's board of trustees. "So, they're aware of the fact that the college will eventually sell to another entity," he said. That awareness, he said, sparked an interest from the university and the statedating back at least a year, according to reporting from Idaho EdNews. Farnsworth said that's a far cry from where the political temperature was in 2016 when the plan for the college was announced to "a fair amount of blowback" from state leaders who wondered "Why are we doing this?" "Medical schools are very expensive," he said, explaining why he believed the state opted not to open a public college roughly a decade ago. "In this case, private money came where public money was either unwilling or unable to go." According to Dillon, ICOM cost $34 million to build. The initial capital investment was estimated at $105 million, the Statesman reported in 2016. What's changed? For one, Farnsworth said, the college is growing and making a name for itself. It's fully accredited as of 2022, and has graduated four classes, or nearly 600 students, 100% of whom have gone on to be placed in residencies, he said. Fifty-five ICOM graduates have been placed in residencies in Idaho. And the classes have been growing, from 162 students in its first class in 2018 to 225 students being welcomed this fall. That includes roughly 35 native Idahoan students per year, Farnsworth said. On a national scale, osteopathic medicine is a rapidly growing profession, and the number of osteopathic physicians has increased by 70% over the past decade, according to data from the American Osteopathic Association. That growth has come as distinctions between traditional allopathic physicians, or M.D.s, and osteopathic physicians, or D.O.s, have become more blurry, The New York Times reports. Osteopathic physicians can go on to pursue the same residency specialties as M.D.s but are distinguished in their "philosophy," Dillon said, which at ICOM includes a focus on the "whole" patient and extra training in "hands-on medicine" and the musculoskeletal system. With achievements both in the college and the field, Farnsworth said, there's less financial cost and risk to getting involved with the college now than there was a decade ago. He also said there's a growing need for "interprofessional" health care education, where students training for different health care professions learn in a more integrated way, instead of in "silos." "It would be a real, I think, feather in the cap of Idaho State University if they could find a way to wrap all of their very robust health profession programs, including nursing and pharmacy, ... around the school of medicine," said Farnsworth. Jenn Foreshee, the chief of staff to ISU President Wagner, told the Statesman by email that the university is "exploring the pros and cons of a potential acquisition" and is "evaluating potential opportunities for future growth and collaboration" with ICOM. As part of that exploration, the university contracted Tripp Umbach to conduct a feasibility study that would quantify "the need for a state-owned medical school in Idaho," assess "economic, educational and social benefits" of acquisition, and analyze anticipated effects of acquisition on Idaho's physician workforce, according to a slide deck the consulting firm compiled in June that was obtained by the Statesman. Tripp Umbach would also "lead the effort to secure a third-party assessment to determine the fair market value of ICOM," one of the slides said. Another slide indicated that the valuation would be completed in August, but ISU spokesperson Emily Fransden told the Statesman that as of early September, no firm had yet been selected to conduct the valuation. The timeline included in the slide deck also suggested that the feasibility study would be finalized in October. The contract with Tripp Umbach was paid for by auxiliary funds rather than state-appropriated funds, Frandsen said. The business, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, has consulted more than 500 colleges or universities and conducted feasibility studies for over 100 medical schools, according to its slide deck. On July 18, ISU distributed a "request for proposals" for the valuation, according to a request document, which no longer appears available on the university's website. Another document, also no longer available, showed a set of questions and answers about the valuation request by ISU. The document indicated that ICOM was profitable for each of the fiscal years 2022 to 2024, owns no real estate, has roughly 100 full-time employees, and makes "almost all" of its revenue from tuition. It also stated that ICOM's "current tuition is assumed to be 'at market' and continue after any transaction." ICOM's tuition is just under $65,000 a year, not including fees or living expenses, according to the college's website. Talks around and study into the possible acquisition come as state lawmakers are taking a closer look at medical education for ways to alleviate Idaho's ongoing struggle to recruit and retain physicians. Ranking last in the nation, Idaho had 192 active physicians per 100,000 people in 2022, down from roughly 196 in 2020, the Statesman previously reported. That disparity is worst in rural areas of the state, reporting showed. Idaho is also projected to be short by more than 1,700 doctors by 2030, according to a study published in Human Resources for Health. Under a 2025 state law, the state has formed a working group to focus on medical school opportunities for Idaho students. The group is tasked with developing "a medical education plan for the state" to be presented to the Legislature and governor in January 2026. That law also directed the state to create 30 additional state-supported medical school seats over three years. The state subsidizes 40 medical students at the University of Washington and 10 at the University of Utah, said Brian Whitlock, president and CEO of the Idaho Medical Association. The potential ICOM acquisition is part of the broader conversation around using education to change Idaho's physician landscape, Farnsworth said. But whether or not the college is acquired, he said he wants to see ICOM house some of those state-supported seats. "For many years now, the state of Idaho has supplemented the tuition of Idahoans that go to medical school at the University of Washington," through what is known as the WWAMI program, as well as at the University of Utah, Farnsworth said. "They have never supplemented Idaho kids that go to ICOM. My hope is that they'll do thatthey ought to do that." Farnsworth said he "can't imagine" that tuition wouldn't be supplementedfor Idaho students who agree to return to Idaho to practiceif ICOM became part of ISU. The new state law directs that the 30 new seats not be part of WWAMI. In the working group's first meeting on Aug. 11, ICOM's dean and chief academic officer, Dr. Kevin Wilson, discussed what the possible impacts of adding more Idaho students could be. "Right now, at 30 to 40 Idaho students per year, we don't have any problems making sure that they can all do (clinical) rotations in the state," Wilson said. "If that grew to 80 or 90, it would be a challenge." Like many medical schools, ICOM offers a four-year program, where students attend two years of classes at the college and then spend two years in clinical clerkships at hospitals or other outpatient sites. Dillon, ICOM's spokesperson, noted that roughly a third of each class is matched with clinical clerkships in Idaho, with a preference for students from Idaho, but that "there are limited clerkship opportunities within the state." After completing their clerkships and graduating, physicians go onto residency training, which typically lasts three to eight or more years, Dillon said. Farnsworth said ICOM's owners plan to divest in the next several years. He expects that they will be "looking for a serious potential future owner" in the next one to two years. But that "hasn't hampered our strategy, our momentum, our culture," he said. "The school is not going away." "There's always been an awareness that there will be an adjustment in ownership," Farnworth added, noting that the college already went through one ownership change when TPG took over for Burrell. "It'll just happen. We're not particularly preoccupied by it." Still, the college president said he sometimes marvels at why anyone would want to sell it. "I ask myself that question all the time," he jested. "It's a precious, valuable asset ... If I were them, I wouldn't sell it." This summer, physicians from ICOM's first class completed their residencies, and a handful returned to Idaho to practice medicine. Roughly 55% of the class went into primary care specialtieswhich include internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine and pediatricsand have completed their residencies, Dillon said. One, Dr. Joseph Saad, recently returned to Boise to work as an emergency medicine physician for the Saint Alphonsus Health System and to teach as an adjunct professor at ICOM, after completing his residency in St. Louis. Saad, who grew up in San Diego, told the Statesman that his time at ICOM and on a clinical rotation in the Treasure Valley made him want to pursue emergency medicine and to work in the Boise area. Saad pointed to another challenge to retaining physicians and potential focus point for leaders: the state's limited number of residency programs. A lot of physicians stay where they do their residencies, he said. "If the Treasure Valley started to open more residencies, then they would definitely flood in a bunch more doctors," he said. "That's obviously a long process ... but I think that'd be the next step." 2025 The Idaho Statesman. 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: Five large networks in the brain are highlighted. The salience network, which filters what is salient, or important to focus on, is green. Credit: MUSC research team Science and artificial intelligence combined at the Medical University of South Carolina in a study that could lead to personalized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or rTMS, for smokers who want to quit. "We want to improve the effectiveness and specificity of rTMS and reduce side effects," said study leader Xingbao Li, M.D. He's an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences who has done extensive research on TMS. His team published its findings in the journal Brain Connectivity. TMS uses electromagnetic pulses to affect brain activity and may be best known for its role in treating depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Side effects include discomfort at the stimulation site and headaches. TMS has also been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for smoking. MUSC Health was the first place in South Carolina to offer TMS to smokers. Research has shown that multiple sessions of rTMS, specifically over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of the brain, can cut cravings and cigarette consumption. The new MUSC study gets even more targeted than that, using a form of AI called machine learning to analyze images from the brain's neural networks to see if it's possible to predict which smokers are likely to benefit from multiple sessions of rTMS, also known as repetitive TMS. To do that, the researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, to detect changes in blood flow to measure brain activity. They looked at neural networks when participants were in a resting state, relaxed with their eyes closed, and when they were exposed to smoking photos. That analysis found that one neural network stood out: the salience network. It filters information to determine what's salient, or important, to focus on. In the study, connectivity in the salience network was the best predictor of rTMS effectiveness. "The study gives us a roadmap to extend personalized rTMS and build an fMRI and multimodal biomarker pipeline. The methods can be used for other substance use disorders as well," Li said. "Historic studies focus on the reward network in cigarette smokers," he continued, referring to the parts of the brain involved in motivation and pleasure. "We were surprised to find that the salience network plays such a crucial role in smoking behavior. This makes the salience network a mechanistic bridge between rTMS neuromodulation and successful smoking cessation." They found that bridge with the help of machine learning. In machine learning, computers analyze and learn from data without being programmed to do so. They use algorithms that can spot statistical patterns and adapt to them. That, in turn, lets researchers automate that part of their work and improves accuracy. In this case, machine learning analyzed data collected during an earlier MUSC study on TMS in smokers. Here's how that earlier study was set up. The researchers recruited 42 people who wanted to quit smoking. They were split into two groups. One group got real TMS. The other got sham TMS that felt real. They all spent a minute-and-a-half before each TMS session interacting with things like cigarettes and ashtrays, then during the TMS, real or sham, watched videos of people smoking. There were 10 sessions per person over a two-week period. In the end, the researchers found participants who got the real TMS "smoked significantly fewer cigarettes per day during the two-week treatment," were more likely to quit by their target date and had lower cravings for tobacco. Li said thanks to the fMRI scans that were also part of that work, the newer study was able to build on its findings. "Using machine learning to identify an individual's dysfunctional brain network and then applying rTMS to the dysfunctional network, we can select who prefers to use rTMS or who prefers medicine to help them stop smoking." Li said their relatively small study lays the groundwork for larger studies to further explore targeted TMS for smokers. "This demonstrates that MUSC researchers can use novel and high-impact technology to move beyond fixed-target stimulation into precision neuromodulation." More information Xingbao Li et al, Salience Network Connectivity Predicts Response to Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Smoking Cessation: A Preliminary Machine Learning Study, Brain Connectivity (2025). DOI: 10.1177/21580014251376722 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain If you're one of the 45% of Australians with private health insurance, chances are the government pays, or has paid, a proportion of your premiums via rebates. Taxpayer spending on these private health insurance rebates is projected to reach A$7.6 billion in 2025. The rebates are a key source of revenue for private hospitals. In 202223, private health funds contributed $9.7 billion. This is around 45% of the $21.5 billion spent on private hospital services. But are rebates achieving their aim of reducing pressure on the public hospital system? And if not, should the government scrap them and direct this funding to ailing public hospitals? Remind me, what are the rebates? The private health insurance rebate was designed to encourage Australians to purchase private health insurance. The goal was to reduce both cost and capacity pressures on the public health-care system. The Howard government introduced the rebate in the late 1990s, alongside: Medicare levy surcharges, a 11.5% levy on taxable income for those without private health insurance Lifetime health cover policies, a 2% loading on premiums (per year for ten years) if you take out private health insurance after you turn 31. Initially, the private health insurance rebate covered 30% of premiums for all Australians, and subsidies were eventually made higher for people over 65. Since April 2014, the rebate has been indexed annually, and the government's contribution has gradually declined as a share of total premiums. The rebate is also means-tested, with higher-income Australians receiving a smaller subsidy. Singles under 65 years of age earning less than $97,000 receive a 24.3% rebate. The subsidy gradually phases out to zero for those earning above $151,000. Why do we subsidize private health insurance? A justification for the rebates is that higher uptake of private health insurance would reduce pressure on the public health care system. There is good evidence that people with private health insurance are more likely to opt for private care when they need hospital treatment. A 2018 study showed having private health insurance increased the likelihood of a private hospital admission by 16 percentage points, and reduced the likelihood of a public admission by 13 percentage points. However, getting more Australians to take out private health insurance doesn't necessarily ease pressure on the public system in a meaningful way. A 2024 study of Victoria's public hospital system found higher rates of private health insurance coverage leads to only marginal reductions in public hospital wait times. So rather than relying on private insurance, a more direct way to reduce public hospital waiting times would be to increase funding for the public hospital system. Do the benefits exceed the costs? A recent study commissioned by Avant Mutual showed the rebates are cost-effective, generating $1.25 in savings for every dollar spent on the rebates. A 2023 review of the private health insurance incentives commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care also found that having rebates results in net savings for the government. In other words, the government saves on health-care costs from people holding private health insurance and the savings outweigh what it spends on subsidies. The review concluded the policy was "a very good financial deal for the government." Conversely, my past research indicated savings from scrapping the rebate would outweigh the additional costs of treating more patients in the public system. This is likely because there are still significant financial incentives for people to maintain their health cover, especially among people on high incomes who are liable for the Medicare Levy Surcharge. Another study from 2024 examined the relationship between having private insurance and the choice of private or public care. It concluded that even under optimistic assumptions about substitution, the potential savings in public hospital expenditure could not justify the cost of the rebates. How can we make sense of these conflicting conclusions? Part of the answer lies in the fact the studies rely on different assumptions, methodology and data. A key modeling consideration is how responsive consumers are to changes in the price of insurance. The academic literature generally finds consumers aren't very sensitive to changes in the price of insurance. As such, a reduction in the rebate would likely lead to only a small decline in private health insurance membership and a limited impact on public hospital use. Private health insurance rebates are declining over time due to indexation and means-testing, and the government's contribution to premiums has gradually declined over time. The available evidence tells us private health insurance does little to relieve pressure on the public system, contrary to the rebate's intended purpose. Yet there is no consensus on whether reducing or removing rebates would produce net savings, or end up costing the government more than it saves. This is one area where more independent and rigorous research is needed. Don't cut rebatesbut don't expand them either In the current environment with cost-of-living pressures, increasing private health premiums are placing growing strain on household budgets. In this context, rebates provide some relief and there is a good argument for maintaining them at their current levels. Some argue rebates should be reinstated to their original 30%. However, since private health insurance does little to relieve pressures on the public system, the evidence doesn't support expanding the rebates. Any new funding would be better directed to expanding public system capacity or directly funding elective surgery in private hospitals to reduce public hospital waiting times. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Lying on top of an operating room table with his chest exposed, Larry Black Jr. was moments away from having his organs harvested when a doctor ran breathlessly into the room. "Get him off the table," the doctor recalled telling the surgical team at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital as the team cleaned Black's chest and abdomen. "This is my patient. Get him off the table." At first, no one recognized Zohny Zohny in his surgical mask. Then he told the surgical team he was the neurosurgeon assigned to Black's case. Stunned by his orders, the team members pushed back, Zohny said, explaining that they had consent from the family to remove Black's organs. "I don't care if we have consent," Zohny recalled telling them. "I haven't spoken to the family, and I don't agree with this. Get him off the table." Black, his 22-year-old patient, had arrived at the hospital after getting shot in the head on March 24, 2019. A week later, he was taken to surgery to have his organs removed for donationeven though his heart was beating and he hadn't been declared brain-dead, Zohny said. Black's sister, Molly Watts, said the family had doubts after agreeing to donate Black's organs but felt unheard until the 34-year-old doctor, in his first year as a neurosurgeon, intervened. Today, Black, now 28, is a musician and the father of three children. He still needs regular physical therapy for lingering health issues from the gun injury. And Black said he is haunted by what he remembers from those days while he was lying in a medically induced coma. "I heard my mama yelling," he recalled. "Everybody was there yelling my name, crying, playing my favorite songs, sending prayers up." He said he had tried to show everyone in his hospital room that he heard them. He recalled knocking on the side of the bed, blinking his eyes, trying to show that he was fighting for his life. Organ transplants save a growing number of lives in the U.S. every year, with more than 48,000 transplants performed in 2024, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, which oversees the nation's transplant system. And thousands die awaiting donations that never come. But organ donation has also faced ongoing criticism, including reports of patients showing alertness before planned organ harvesting. The results of a federal investigation into a Kentucky organ donation nonprofit, first disclosed by The New York Times in June, found that during a four-year period, medical providers had planned to harvest the organs of 73 patients despite signs of neurological activity. Those procedures ultimately didn't take place, but federal officials vowed in July to overhaul the nation's organ donation system. "Our findings show that hospitals allowed the organ procurement process to begin when patients showed signs of life, and this is horrifying," Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement. "The entire system must be fixed to ensure that every potential donor's life is treated with the sanctity it deserves." Even before this latest investigation, Black's case showed Zohny that the organ donation system needed to improve. He was initially hesitant to talk to KFF Health News when contacted in July about Black. But Zohny said his patient's story had stuck with him for years, highlighting that while organ donation must continue, little is understood about human consciousness. And determining when someone is dead is the critical but confusing question at play. "There was no bad guy in this. It was a bad setup. There's a problem in the system," he said. "We need to look at the policies and make some adjustments to them to make sure that we're doing organ donation for the right person at the right time in the right place, with the right specialists involved." LJ Punch, a former trauma surgeon who was not involved with the case but reviewed Black's medical records for KFF Health News, questioned whether Black's injuryfrom gunfirepossibly contributed to how he was treated. Young Black men like Larry Black are disproportionately victims of gun trauma in the United States, and research on such violence is scant. His experience exemplifies "the general neglect" of Black men's bodies, Punch said. "That's what comes up for me," Punch said. "Structurally, not individually. Not any one doctor, not any one nurse, not any one team. It's a structural reality." The hospital declined to comment on the details of Black's case. SSM Health's Kim Henrichsen, president of Saint Louis University Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital-St. Louis, said the hospital system approaches "all situations involving critical illness or end-of-life care with deep compassion and respect." Mid-America Transplant, the federally designated organ procurement organization serving the St. Louis region does not comment on individual donor cases, according to Lindsey Speir, executive vice president for organ procurement. She did tell KFF Health News that her organization has walked away from cases when patients' conditions changethough not as late as when they are in the operating room for harvesting. "Let me be clear about that. It happens way before then," she said. "It definitely happens multiple times a year where we get consent. The family has made the decision, we approach, we get consent, it's all appropriate, and then a day or so later they improve and we're like, 'Whoa.'" But Speir said the recent media stories about the nation's donation system are prompting a lot of questions about a process that also does a lot of good. "We're losing public trust right now," Speir said of the industry. "And we're going to have to regain that." Blink twice for a chance at life It was a Sunday afternoon when gunshots rang out in downtown St. Louis. Black had been on his way to his sister's apartment. "I didn't know I was shot at first," Black said, sitting in his living room six years later. "I literally ran like a block or two away." He collapsed moments later, he said, crawling to the back door of a woman's home, where he asked for help. He said he asked the woman to give him two large towels, one covered in rubbing alcohol and another soaked with hydrogen peroxide. He wrapped those towels around the back of his head. When his sister Macquel Payne found him, he was lying on the ground near the leasing office of her apartment complex, a crowd gathered around him. Before an ambulance took him to the hospital, Black told his sister not to worry about him. "I'm hearing Larry say, 'I'm good, sis,'" Payne recalled. "I'm OK." Black said he went in and out of consciousness on the way to the hospital and once he was there. "I got to hitting my hand on the side of the ICU bed," Black said. "They was like: 'That's just the reaction, the side effects of the medicine. Ask him some questions.'" Payne said she asked her brother to blink twice if he could remember his first pet, a dog named "Little Black" that looked like the Chihuahua from the Taco Bell commercials. Black said he remembers blinking twice. His sisters remember the same. Payne asked him another question. This time she wanted to know whether her brother recognized their family. Black said he blinked twice when he saw his mom and sister standing nearby. Black said his sister then asked him "the main question" that everyone needed him to answer. "She's like, 'If you want them to pull a plug, if you tired and you giving up, blink once,'" Black recalled. "If you still got some fight in you, blink more than once." Black said he started blinking and hit the bed to let his family know that he was still with them. The sisters said hospital staffers told them the movements were involuntary. 'Not right now' In a waiting room steps away from the hospital's intensive care unit, a woman carrying brochures explained to Payne and the rest of the family that Black had identified himself as a possible organ donor on his ID. The woman wanted to know whether the family wished to move forward with the process if Black died, Payne said. "I remember my mom saying, 'Not right now,'" Black's sister recalled. "It's kind of too soon." Payne said the woman persisted. "She was like, 'Well, can I at least leave you some brochures or something?'" Payne recalled. "Then my mom got a little agitated because it felt like she was being, like, pushy." The family was already acquainted with the organ donation process. In 2007, Black's teenage brother Miguel Payne drowned at a local lake. His organs were donated, Macquel Payne said, noting the family was told that his body parts and tissues helped multiple people. "I believe in saving lives," Payne said. "But don't be pushy about it." Mid-America Transplant handles the organ transplant process for 84 counties in parts of Illinois, Arkansas, and Missouri, including St. Louis. Like the Kentucky organization, it is one of 55 federally designated nonprofits that facilitate organ donations throughout the country. The nonprofit has never pressured a family into organ donation, Speir said. Registering to be an organ donor is legally binding, she said, but Mid-America has walked away from cases when families didn't want to move forward. She said her staff tries to dispel myths about organ donation and alleviate concerns. "We want to have the families leave with a positive experience," Speir said. Despite the family's initial ambivalence, they ultimately consented to moving forward with donating Black's organs. Watts said members of her brother's care team had told the family that her brother was at "the end of the road." The family was told to prepare for Black's "last walk of life," Payne said. Also known as an honor or hero's walk, the tradition honors the life of an organ donor before the harvesting process begins. At the time, Payne said, she thought her brother still had a fighting chance. She asked the hospital staffers to take another look at him before he was wheeled down the hall. "I'm like, 'My brother's in there tapping on the bed,'" Payne said. "They said, 'That's just his nerves.' But I'm like, 'No, something's not right.' It's like he was too alert. He was letting us know: 'Please don't let them do this to me. I'm here. I can fight this.' They were saying that's what the medicine will do, it affects his nerves." After the family had agreed to move forward with the organ donation process, the two sisters said, an especially helpful member of Black's medical team no longer treated them the same way. She became standoffish, they said. "You could tell the dynamics had changed," Watts said. The family put on blue jumpers for the walk of life. "We just walked around the floor, and everybody was, like, acknowledging him," Payne said. "We just thought this was the end." A friend Black went to high school with filmed part of the ritual. In a short clip, Black is seen being wheeled on a stretcher down a hallway in the hospital. His eyes are half-open. People are crying. False rumors then started to swirl outside the hospital. Brianna Floyd said she went into shock when she heard that her friend was dead. She knew that Black had been shot in the head. But a few days earlier, a local newspaper had reported that he was in stable condition. Floyd checked Facebook to see whether the news of his death was true. Her timeline was flooded with farewell posts for Black, so she decided to write one, too. "I Love You So Much Brother," Floyd wrote. "#RIPMyBrother. Never Thought I Would Say That." Black's father rushed to the hospital when he heard a rumor that his son was being wheeled to the morgue. "He's gone," Lawrence Black Sr. recalled being told. "He's going to the freezer now." Black Sr. said he refused to believe that his son was dead. The thought was devastating. He had already experienced that kind of loss to gun violence. "You wake up and nothing's the same," Black Sr. said. "The spirit is lingering for about a week, and you can feel it, you know?" Overwhelmed with emotion, he prayed for his son to live. Zohny, the neurosurgeon, said he heard an announcement about a "hero's walk" over a loudspeaker in the hospital. He wasn't familiar with the term, so he asked about it. Medical residents in the hospital explained and told Zohny that the walk was possibly for his patient Larry Black. "No, that can't be my patient," Zohny said he told them. "I didn't agree." That's when Zohny called the ICU to check on Black's status. A person who answered the phone told him that Black was being wheeled to an operating room, he said. "This is my first year," Zohny said. "Your first year out as a neurosurgeon is the riskiest time for you. Any mistakes, anything small, basically derails your career. So the moment this happened, my legs went weak and I was very nervous because, at the end of the day, your job as a doctor is to be perfect." KFF Health News, Zohny, and Punch all reviewed the medical files given to Black from his hospitalization. It's not clear from the records what led to that moment. "In every case, the patient must be declared legally dead by the hospital's medical team before organ procurement begins. This is not negotiable," Mid-America Transplant's CEO and president, Kevin Lee, wrote in an Aug. 21 blog post on the nonprofit's website, responding to the news and federal comments about the investigation centered in Kentucky. "Mid-America Transplant strictly follows all laws, regulations, and hospital protocols throughout the process." He said in a statement to KFF Health News that a person can be pronounced dead in two ways. A person is legally dead if their heart stops beating and they stop breathing, which is when donation after cardiac death can occur. A person can also become an organ donor if their brain, including the brain stem, has irreversibly ceased functioning, which is when brain death donation can occur. "Every hospital has their own process in declaring both types of death," Speir said in a statement. "Mid-America Transplant ensures hospitals follow their policies." But Black didn't fall into either category, Zohny said. And, he said, Black hadn't had what is known as a brain death exam. Zohny said he immediately informed his chairman about the situation, then started running to the operating room. Black's family was waiting in the hallway, unaware of the drama happening behind a set of closed silver doors. Then Zohny emerged, pulling Black's family into an empty operating room that was nearby. "I remember he told my mama, 'I can't kill your son,'" Payne recalled. "She said, 'Excuse me?'" Zohny put an image of Black's brain on a screen. Then he circled the part of his brain that was damaged. He explained that Black's gunshot wound was something that he could possibly recover from, though he might need therapy. He asked the family whether they were willing to give Black more time to heal from the injury, instead of withdrawing care. "In my opinion, no family would ever consent to organ donation unless they were given an impression that their family member had a very poor prognosis," Zohny said. "I never had a conversation with the family about the prognosis, because it was too early to have that discussion." Zohny knew that he was taking a professional risk when he ran into the operating room. "The worst-case scenario for me is that I lose my job," he recalled thinking. "Worst-case scenario for him, he wrongfully loses his life." Later, Zohny said, a hospital worker who transported Black from the ICU to the operating room told Zohny that something had seemed off. "I remember him looking at me and saying, 'I'm so glad you stopped that,'" Zohny recalled. "And I said, 'Why?' And he said, 'I don't know. His eyes were open the whole time, and I just felt like he was looking at me. His eyes didn't move, but it felt like he was looking at me.'" After Zohny's intervention, Black was wheeled back to the ICU. Zohny said the medical team held back all medications that caused his sedation. Black woke up two days later, Zohny said, and started speaking. Within a week, the neurosurgeon said, he was standing. "I had to learn how to walk, how to spell, read," Black said. "I had to learn my name again, my Social, birthday, everything." Zohny continued to care for Black during what remained of his 21 days in the hospital. During a follow-up appointment, he posed for a photo with Black and his older sister, Watts. Next to Zohny, Black is standing up, a brace on his leg. "It's a miracle that, despite flawed policy, we were able to save his life," Zohny said. "It was an absolute miracle." Zohny, who was working as a fellow and assistant professor at the time, left Saint Louis University Hospital for another job later that year when his fellowship ended. He said Black's story made him question what we know about consciousness. He's now working on a new method that quantifies consciousness. Zohny said it could possibly be used to help measure consciousness from brain signals, such as with an electroencephalogram, or EEG, a test that measures electrical activity in the brain. Zohny said his method still needs rigorous validation, so he recently started a medical research company called Zeta Analytica, separate from his work at the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, which he'll begin in October. "We don't understand the brain to the level that we should, especially with all of the technology we have now," Zohny said. Today, Black is trying to move forward. He said he has seizures if the bullet fragments in his head move around too much. He said he easily overheats because of the injury. He doesn't blame his family for their decision. But he questions the organ transplantation process. "It's like they choose people's destiny for them just because they have an organ donor ribbon on their ID," Black said. "And that's not cool." To help him process everything that happened to him in 2019, he makes music under the name BeamNavyLooney. "I am back from the dead," he recently wrote in a song about his experience. Earlier this year, Black celebrated the birth of another son, who was sleeping peacefully at home as Black recounted his story. "He doesn't really cry," Black said. "He just makes noises." Black sat with a firearm within reach. He said he keeps the gun close to protect his family. It's still hard for him to sleep at night. Nightmares about what happenedboth on the street and in the hospitalkeep him awake. He said he no longer wants to be on the organ donor registry. Key medical concepts Brain Death consciousness Seizures 2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Sleep guidelines suggest no screens, no exercise, and no food in the hour before bed, but do they work and how many young people follow them? A University of OtagoOtakou Whakaihu Waka study explored if youth adhere to the current pre-bed recommendations and how that impacts their sleep. Lead author Chao Gu, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Medicine, says there were two key questions they wanted to answer. "Are the recommendations backed up by good evidence? And are the recommendations practical in reality? "Youth and families are often told not to use screens, not to exercise, and not to eat in the hour before bed to ensure a good night's sleep. However, the evidence does not necessarily show that limiting these pre-bed behaviors helps with sleep. In reality, we also do not know how many youths are actually following these recommendations," she says. The study, published in Pediatrics Open Science, used body cameras and detailed food records to look at what young people did in the hour before bedtime in their typical daily life, and how these sleep hygiene behaviors influenced their sleep that night. Ninety-nine percent of participants used screens and 63% ate before bed. Only 22% of them exercised before bed. "Not many teenagers followed current sleep guidelines, but those who did experienced little difference in their sleep. "It is very common for youth to use screens, quite common for them to have some food, but less common for them to be very physically active in the hour before bed." Gu believes the results highlight the need for further research on the topic, and a possible revisit of the current recommendations. "Sleep is incredibly important for teenagers to enable them to develop and function at their best, but so few studies have looked at pre-bed behavior and how it can impact rest using objective measures such as cameras." The researchers are currently undertaking a study of 1015-year-olds which they hope will provide robust and directional evidence for such revisions and help improve bedtime guidance for families. More information Chao Gu et al, Pre-Bed Screen Use, Activity and Food in Relation to Sleep in Youth; A Repeated Measures Study, Pediatrics Open Science (2025). DOI: 10.1542/pedsos.2025-000765 Key medical concepts Sleep Exercise 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 US President Donald Trump was expected Monday to deliver what the White House called "an announcement" about autism, having long voiced concern about the condition's prevalence and potential causes. It was widely anticipated that Trump along with federal health officials will raise concerns surrounding acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, and possible complications of using it during pregnancy. Identifying the cause of autisma complex condition connected to brain development that many experts believe occurs for predominantly genetic reasonshas been a pet cause of Trump's controversial health chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Earlier this year the head of the US health departmentwell-known for his anti-vaccine views and penchant for conspiracy theoriesvowed he would release findings regarding autism's cause by September 2025. Trump teased the forthcoming announcement, scheduled for 4 pm local time, as "one of the most important news conferences I'll ever have." "I think we found an answer to autism, how about that?" he said, speaking to a huge crowd at the memorial of Charlie Kirk, the slain right-wing activist. The administration's recent initiative to uncover autism's roots has been widely criticized, not least due to reports that the health department hired vaccine skeptic and de-licensed physician David Geier to lead the charge. The Trump government's expected focus on Tylenol is also likely to meet broad critique. For decades acetaminophen has been considered the safest option for pain relief and fever reduction during pregnancy. Another common over-the-counter pain reliever, ibuprofen, is generally considered unsafe for pregnant people, especially after the 20th week. 'Nuanced and uncertain' A literature review published last month concluded there was reason to believe a possible link between Tylenol exposure and autism existedbut other studies have found an opposite result. Researchers behind the August report cautioned that more study is needed and that pregnant people should not stop taking medication without consulting their doctors. "Untreated pain or fever can also harm the baby," said co-author Diddier Prada, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, at that time. David Mandell, a psychiatric epidemiologist at the University of Pennsylvania, told AFP that research suggests the possible risks posed by taking Tylenol while pregnant seem "to be lower than the risk of having an uncontrolled infection during pregnancy." The professor of psychiatry also emphasized that digging into the interaction of genetic and environmental factors is an area of critical research, but that to take on those studies with rigor demands decades of study and funding. "They said it was going to happen by September. And so there's an incredible like, pressure and urgency to come up with something," he said of the administration's push. That's led to a "cherry-picked" justification of pre-formed conclusions rather than "an honest appraisal of the data," he added. Ahead of the White House announcement the Coalition of Autism Scientists echoed those concerns. "It is highly irresponsible and potentially dangerous to claim links between potential exposures and autism when the science is far more nuanced and uncertain," the group said in a statement. "Secretary Kennedy's announcement will cause confusion and fear. He seems to be cherry-picking old data rather than looking at the body of research as a whole." 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: Clinical clues that may suggest the presence of West Nile fever. Credit: European Journal of Internal Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2025.106449 Growing numbers of West Nile virus infection cases, fueled by climate change, are sparking fears among citizens and health care providers in Europe. A Clinical Insight in the European Journal of Internal Medicine, published by Elsevier, aims to raise awareness and equip medical professionals with the knowledge needed to recognize and manage this emerging disease to avoid further spread and serious health consequences, especially for vulnerable individuals. "Climate change is affecting our health by allowing disease-carrying insects to spread into new areas. We are now seeing a growing number of illnesses like West Nile virus infection in places they were not found before, including in Europe. Since the number of West Nile virus cases is on the rise, it is now more important than ever to increase our knowledge to recognize, diagnose, and treat this emerging disease," says lead author Emanuele Durante-Mangoni, MD, Ph.D., University of Campania 'L. Vanvitelli,' and AORN Ospedali dei Colli, Naples, Italy. The West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can attack the nervous system and brain. It was first identified in 1937 west of the Nile River in what is now Uganda. It is a highly variable virus for which no human vaccine is currently available. However, identification of the disease can facilitate identifying areas of spread where dedicated interventions, largely mosquito eradication, can be performed in an attempt to avoid further spread and related morbidity. Dr. Durante-Mangoni explains, "The insect gets infected after biting birds that carry the virus. Seasonality is also linked to bird migration patterns, another natural phenomenon affected by climate change. After West Nile virus infection, most humans show no symptoms (80%) or develop mild symptoms of a viral illness, typically characterized by the abrupt onset of fever. It is also associated with headache, malaise, anorexia, myalgia, eye pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. In some at-risk individuals, such as the elderly, those who are frail, or have other health issues, the disease can progress to a more serious form, often involving the brain, and can possibly have severe or even fatal consequences." The authors' goal is to help prepare the scientific community to deal with the expected increase in the incidence of West Nile virus cases by outlining the virology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, and the current suggested management of this emerging disease. They advise that efforts should concentrate on: Working toward developing a vaccine for human use that can protect those at higher risk of complications and/or progression. Trying to identify an antiviral agent that can block the virus at an early stage, before neurological involvement occurs. "Clinicians need to become skilled enough to identify the illness and make a rapid and accurate diagnosis and also be aware of endemic/epidemic areas of West Nile virus diffusion, to speed up the diagnostic path in frail and immunocompromised patients who remain at risk for an ominous outcome," emphasizes Dr. Durante-Mangoni. "The ultimate strategy would be vaccination of subjects at risk. Despite efforts, as yet no vaccine has reached an advanced stage of clinical development, but there is hope for the future." More information Raffaella Gallo et al, From vectors to victims: understanding the threat of West Nile virus infection, European Journal of Internal Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2025.106449 That assassin decided to kill Charlie because of his belief that men cannot become women, and vice versa; as he allegedly wrote in a text message to that trans boyfriend, "I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out. If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence." I was in Los Angeles when Charlie was shot. My first reaction was shock; my second, horror; and my third, the realization that the shooting was almost certainly the result of a radicalized leftist, probably associated with transgender ideology. If we are to be honest with ourselves, we all have such reactions upon learning of acts of evil: We jump to the most likely conclusion about the source of that evil. If a synagogue is targeted in a mass shooting, the suspect will almost certainly be either a radical Muslim or a white supremacist; if a church is targeted, a radical Muslim or a trans activist; if a CEO is shot, a Marxist radical of some sort. There is a reason for such suppositions: Not all ideologies are equally likely to produce violence at the margins. Ideologies that breed violence share three specific elements. First, they share a conspiratorial view of the universe in which a shadowy cabal of powerful people are responsible for all of your failures and shortcomings, and in which their arguments are not in fact arguments, but instead, a la Michel Foucault, a facade for power. Second, such ideologies share a belief that you or your group are being targeted for destruction by that shadowy cabal. Finally, such ideologies hold that violence is justifiable self-defense. All the ideologies listed above fit this model. Trans ideology argues that trans people are victims of a conspiracy a conspiracy to deny their identity; that such denial is responsible for all their life problems and amounts to a form of "erasure" or "genocide"; and that the proper response to such "hate" is violence. Radical Marxism argues that poor people are victims of a conspiracy of the wealthy, who exploit them; arguments on behalf of free markets are merely false consciousness promoted by the powerful; violence is therefore an appropriate response ("FREE LUIGI!"). White supremacy argues that whites are being targeted by people of color, Jews, and other minorities and fellow travelers; their very existence is a threat, and force is thus a justifiable response. Radical Islam argues that the failures of Islamic civilization are due to imperialism and colonialism; that the success of the West is inherently violent; and that violence is the proper response. When politicians say, therefore, that they are against "political violence" but then move to justify violence by massaging these ideologies, their words are useless. They are a prettification of reality, an attempt to gloss over radical evils gnawing at the intestines of a functional society. Even worse, politicians who continue to foment such ideologies provide a permission structure for violence, excusing it and even valorizing it. The only way to truly fight political violence is to denounce the ideologies that breed it. Anything less means that more radicals take their ideologies to the logical extreme and the result is blood in the streets, innocents dead and an ever-widening cycle of violence. (COMMENT, BELOW) Ben Shapiro, bestselling author and syndicated columnist, first went into syndication after appearing in JWR. Nearly a year after a mob attack shook VN Desai Hospital, Medical Superintendent Dr. Jairaj Acharya is defending one of the nights most controversial decisions: smashing a bystanders mobile phone. In his reply to the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), Acharya frames the act as a necessary step to control chaos and protect staff. But an investigation into his reasoning tested against expert opinion and eyewitness accounts reveals contradictions. Far from preventing violence, his actions may have worsened it. His reply is dated sometime in May, but was submitted recently. On November 11, 2024, tragedy struck when a newborn died inside the hospitals Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Grief quickly turned to rage. A mob stormed the ward and allegedly assaulted a resident paediatrician. In the midst of the turmoil, Acharya confronted a man filming the events on his phone. Instead of calming tempers, the superintendent seized the device and smashed it. Witnesses say the move only fuelled the mobs fury. The moment the phone hit the ground, the crowd turned uncontrollable, recalls a hospital staffer who was present that night. Acharya insists he destroyed the phone to defuse tensions. Evidence suggests the opposite. Breaking property in front of an enraged mob is an act of provocation, not pacification, says health activist Ganesh Wadekar. Crisis leadership demands restraint, not symbolic aggression. Acharya argues that the recording could have led to misrepresentation and misinformation. But experts counter that point. In moments of chaos, raw footage is often the only reliable evidence. Destroying it does not prevent misinformation it raises suspicion. If the truth is on your side, why fear documentation? Wadekar asked. Acharya expresses regret but frames his act as an unavoidable emergency response. Critics argue that regret cannot replace responsibility. Medical administrators are trained precisely to handle pressure. To excuse rash judgment as stress erodes the principle of professional accountability. Hospital insiders allege that Acharya is trying to portray himself as a victim to protect his image. He claims he broke the phone to de-escalate and in self-defence, but the video shows otherwise. He denies supporting the strike, yet took no action against doctors who refused OPD patients and spent the day in his cabin. If he wants credibility, he should present OPD, IPD, and surgery data, which would reveal the sudden drop. Did any doctor officially inform him of a strike? If not, why didnt he act against their refusal to see patients? said a hospital source on condition of anonymity. An MMC official confirmed that Acharyas reply will undergo detailed examination. The council, the official added, would review the matter in line with established procedures to ensure fairness and transparency. Depending on the outcome of this scrutiny, the council will decide on the appropriate course of action, which may include necessary steps or disciplinary measures, if deemed required, said the official, requesting anonymity. Meanwhile, RTI activist Tushar Bhosale pointed out that rather than confronting the act itself, Acharya devotes significant space in his reply to attacking the complaint. He dismisses RTI activist Chetan Kothari, who filed the case, as an outsider not present during the incident. He denies backing a doctors strike, claiming patient services ran smoothly but offers no independent verification. He blames insiders and journalists for selective leaks intended to tarnish him and the hospital, he said. The calendar does not erase ethical breaches. Even delayed complaints require serious scrutiny. Timing may complicate motive, but it does not neutralise misconduct, says RTI activist Chetan Kothari. When Mirror tried contacting Dr Acharya, he was unavailable to comment. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. SAVANNAH, Georgia Tyler Merritt understands the power of community, belonging and purpose. It's what drew him toward the military as a high school senior, not long after the Sept. 11 attacks. This service eventually led him to become an Apache helicopter pilot in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, one of the most heavily deployed military units. Thirteen years ago, Merritt cofounded Nine Line Apparel, named for the nine-line distress call medevacs use for calling in a combat injury. Since the very beginning, the company has donated a portion of its proceeds to a foundation it set up to serve veterans, as well as military and first responder charities. Nine Line Apparel began in Merritt's garage in Savannah, Georgia. It has grown from its flagship storefront along the Savannah Riverwalk to a 50,000-square-foot factory on the outskirts of town and a total of eight stores. Merritt said the company is ready to expand to at least five more locations. It's decided, in keeping with its mission of community and shared purpose, to step away from the traditional route of seeking a loan from a corporate bank, instead offering its customers a chance to "buy in" and be front-line investors in the company's future. Merritt said Nine Line's first crowdfunding campaign goal is to raise $2.5 million, not just to grow its brick-and-mortar locations but also to expand its Savannah production locations that employ 300 people, many of whom are military veterans. Merritt told the Washington Examiner the company's been growing rapidly for the past 10 years. While he has taken on his share of bank notes and entertained the opportunity of taking on private equity, he believed that giving the Nine Line community the ability to have a stake in the company was the way to go. "At the end of the day, the idea of a private equity group assuming control of an organization founded on purpose didn't seem a good fit," he said with a smile. "Plus, I wasn't ready to give up control at this point." Merritt said what the company is doing by crowdfunding is offering minority shares at an incredible valuation so Nine Line fans, customers, family members and friends can get in at a good price. "They can be brand ambassadors, and they can help micro-influence to grow and promote the brand they are now part of," he said. Plus, Merritt added, he worries that private equity investors want to drastically pivot their initiatives to meet a quick return. "A lot of times, product equity looks for majority control and flips within three to five years," he said. "So it's just a growth above all. It's not that I don't want to be hyperprofitable, but there is an importance to maintain our identity and keep our values and stick to that mission." Merritt said Nine Line, as it is right now, is "hyperprofitable" and provides returns, but it wants to take on more capital to also reach major initiatives. "One is a piece of machinery that's worth well over $1 million to expand our production," he said. "The other is to expand to more stores to meet the demand of our customer base." JT Taylor, one of the original cofounders of Black Rifle Coffee Company, has stepped up as a friend and partner with Merritt. Its veteran-fueled coffee and apparel are available at all the storefronts, baristas and all, as a major investor in the capital drive. Taylor told the Examiner that his support "was an answer to a call for a company that is meeting the demand for American job growth and for a company with purpose." Merritt said Nine Line uses ethically sourced materials as part of its unapologetic patriotic ethos, which has been at the heart of the brand since its very beginnings. Their crowdsourcing is just one more way to grow and be part of revitalizing American manufacturing. To date, nearly 2,000 people have registered to invest, and the investment opportunity closes at the end of September. "For our customers who believe in our mission, it is an exciting time for them to have a stake in that mission and our purpose of doing the right things for their fellow man and not expect anything in return," Merritt said. "That's been our mantra. If we can provide aid and support to organizations, individuals in need that are good humans, we can truly believe that those things come back tenfold, and that seems to hold true in this case," he said of the countless first responders, military members, veterans and the disaster relief efforts the company has supported since 2012. Merritt said that of all the apparel he has made over the years, the one shirt he gets the most compliments on was one of the first and one of the simplest. "It simply says, 'I'm feeling great again,'" Merritt said. "That's who we are and who is part of our community, helping people feel great again. And to have our customers invested in something that evokes that is really the heart of who we are." (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. High school students from across the region will see firsthand what makes SIU Carbondale come alive, including musical theater and dance, the intricacies with glass blowing and automotive technology offerings, during SIU Day on Wednesday, Sept. 24. (SIU Carbondale photos) 800+ area high school students to attend SIU Day to see academics in action by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. More than 800 students from 19 area high schools will meet faculty and staff to get a closer look at resources and academic programs at Southern Illinois University Carbondale during SIU Day from 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24. After the welcome, students will take part in academic breakout sessions, which include hands-on activities, in various locales on campus from 10:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. to see academic programs in action. High school students may visit labs, tour campus, experience technology and view creations by SIU students. Students can choose from myriad sessions and topics. For SIU Day, students are coming from: Anna-Jonesboro Community High School. Carbondale Community High School. Carterville High School. Cobden High School. Coulterville High School. Egyptian Community High School. Elverado High School. Galatia High School. Goreville Community High School. Herrin High School. Johnston City High School. Marion High School. Mount Vernon Township High School. Murphysboro High School. Pinckneyville Community High School. Red Bud Community High School. Shawnee High School. Sparta High School. Vienna High School. Media advisory Reporters, photographers, videographers and news crews are invited to cover SIU Day. Here is the itinerary. 9-9:30 a.m. Check-in, John W. Corker Lounge SIU Carbondale Student Center. 9:45-10:15 a.m. Welcome and introduction of colleges, Student Center Ballroom D. 10:30-11:20 a.m. Session 1, various locations on campus. 10:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. SIU automotive/aviation programs, Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center (will include lunch). 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Lunch, International Lounge and Student Center Ballrooms. 12:30 -1:20 p.m. Session 2, various locations on campus. 1:30 p.m. Closing remarks, Student Center, Ballroom D. If you are interested in covering the event, contact Josi Rawls, associate director for transfer relations, at josi.rawls@siu.edu or 618-453-2992. SIU Carbondale welcomes 42 new tenure-track faculty this fall CARBONDALE, Ill. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is welcoming 42 new tenure-track faculty to campus for the 2025-2026 school year. Sheryl A. Tucker, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, said she is looking forward to learning about their scholarly and creative activities and how they will contribute in the classroom. We are excited about the new faculty joining Southern Illinois University Carbondale this year. After national searches, these faculty members were selected by their colleagues as the next generation of scholars who will bring their passions for their disciplines to the classrooms, educating SIUs undergraduate, graduate and professional students, she said. These new faculty strengthen the institutional fabric of SIU and enhance our ability to achieve our strategic goals embodied in our strategic plan, Imagine 2030. The academic affairs leadership team is ready to assist them in achieving excellence in all that they do here at SIU. Welcome to Saluki Nation! Find out more about these faculty hires on the provosts website. Foreign journalists explore Kunming's blooming flower industry (People's Daily App) 22:22, September 20, 2025 Kunming, China's "Spring City," known for its year-round blooms, hosts the world's second-largest fresh-cut flower market -- Dounan Flower Market, Asia's largest. On Friday, September 19, 2025, foreign media professionals explored the city's vibrant flower industry by visiting the market and a flower-themed exhibition hall. Here's what they shared. (Produced by Zhan Huilan) (Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Kou Jie) SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Despite data showing the willingness of the "very liberal" to support violence to achieve political ends, Democrats like Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) deny that calling political opponents "fascists" or "Nazis" or "Hitler" contributes to the "overall problem." Ryan said: "I actually don't think it does. I think people are trying to grapple with a really unprecedented time in our country where we're seeing maybe history not fully repeat, but history rhyme at some of the darkest times in our world's history and struggling in good faith to try to put some intellectual thought into that and find the right language ... I think not being honored by this president, that's hard to figure out how to, how to put word to that in a way that is constructive." In short, how would one describe a "fascist" without calling him and, by extension, his supporters, "fascist"? Quite the dilemma. At this point, it's probably useless to point out how Adolf Hitler, unlike President Donald Trump, murdered his political enemies; controlled the media and the arts through censorship, intimidation and propaganda; arrested and detained adversaries indefinitely and without trial; murdered 6 million Jews and 5 million others; and ignited a world war that resulted in an estimated 50 million civilians dead worldwide. Virtually every policy Trump enacts or attempts to enact ends up in court. He appeals unfavorable district court decisions, many of which end up at the Supreme Court, where Trump usually wins. Still, Trump's critics call him a "tyrant" and a "dictator." Examine the judicial system under Hitler's Germany. The Holocaust Encyclopedia writes: "... Like most areas of public life after the Nazi rise to power in 1933, the German system of justice underwent 'coordination' (alignment with Nazi goals). All professional associations involved with the administration of justice were merged into the National Socialist League of German Jurists." Comparing Trump, a democratically elected leader, to Hitler is, was and always will be insanely and profoundly ignorant. It is insidious. Former Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "People don't have the intention of saying something that will lead to something dangerous (so) we cannot take responsibility for the minds that are out there and how they hear it." How did Charlie Kirk's suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, "hear it"? After Robinson shot Kirk, he texted his roommate/partner, a man transitioning to be a woman. Robinson told his partner to find and read a message Robinson left before the assassination. It read: "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it." Partner: "You weren't the one who did it right????" Robinson: "I am, I'm sorry." When asked why, Robinson responded: "I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out." On the ammunition found with his rifle were several phrases including, "Hey, fascist! Catch!" Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) insists her party comes to the debate with clean hands because, well, you know, Trump. Warren said: "Oh, please. Right. Why don't you start with the president of the United States? Right? And every ugly meme he has posted and every ugly word ..." Let's start with the president. It was former President Joe Biden who said, "It's not just Trump, it's the entire philosophy that underpins the I'm going to say something, it's like semi-fascism." Vice President and then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris, when asked whether she considered Trump "a fascist," responded: "Yes, I do. Yes, I do. ... He's saying to his generals, in essence, why can't you be more like Hitler's generals? Come on!" A YouGov poll taken after Kirk's assassination found that 25% of the self-described "very liberal" believe political violence is sometimes acceptable to achieve political goals. This is eight times the number of the self-described "very conservative" who feel likewise. Last year, a report affiliated with Rutgers University called "Assassination Culture" wrote: "Over half of those who self-identified as left of center (56%) reported that if someone murdered Donald Trump, they would at least be somewhat justified ... This includes 14.1% who said this murder would be 'Completely Justified.'" In 2008, then-presidential candidate Barack Obama, accused of merely uttering empty words, said: "Don't tell me words don't matter. 'I have a dream' just words? 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal' just words?" (COMMENT, BELOW) VMPL New Delhi [India], September 22: Cancer treatment has transformed significantly over the years and is moving beyond a generic and uniform approach. Although chemotherapy was the foundation of cancer treatment for decades, the development of immunotherapy has created new opportunities for doctors and patients too as oncologists are increasingly combining the two strategies, also known as chemoimmunotherapy to produce greater results in the present as well as increasing survival rates and offering patients renewed hope for a long-term recovery. In this blog, Dr. Pooja Babbar who is an experienced medical oncologist in Gurgaon, explains what chemotherapy and immunotherapy are, why combining them is proven effective, which cancers they may benefit most, and how she tailors these advanced therapies to individual patient needs. What is Chemotherapy? Chemotherapy is among the most enduring and used in cancer treatments as it works by using powerful medicines to target and kill fast-growing and rapidly dividing cancer cells because cancer cells grow faster than normal cells and are especially vulnerable to these drugs. Some healthy cells also get affected which is why side effects can occur. Key Benefits of Chemotherapy: * Directly attacks and kills cancer cells * Can shrink tumors before surgery or radiation * Useful for advanced cancers and to prevent recurrence * Often combined with other treatments for a comprehensive plan What is Immunotherapy? Immunotherapy represents a newer wave of treatment, designed to use the body's natural defenses against cancer. Instead of directly killing cancer cells, immunotherapy enhances or reprograms the immune system so that it can identify, target, and attack malignant cells more effectively. Types of Immunotherapy: * Immune checkpoint inhibitors block cancer's defense mechanisms * Monoclonal antibodies target specific proteins on cancer cells * The cancer vaccines increase the immunity to cancerous cells * Adoptive therapy makes use of modified immune cells to fight cancer Key Benefits of Immunotherapy: * It strengthens the immune system so that it can remain fighting for a long time * Can reduce the chances of recurrence * Often has fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy The Role of Chemoimmunotherapy in Cancer Care The combination of chemo and immunotherapy is known as chemoimmunotherapy and according to Dr. Poojababbar, chemo is used to shrink tumors and weaken cancer cells so that they can be easier targets during the immunotherapy phase, which 'trains' your immune system to continue cancer cell recognition and targeting even after chemotherapy. As an example, the five-year survival rate in advanced-stage lung cancer has more than doubled to 25% with the addition of immunotherapy to chemotherapy, when previously it sat at a dismal 10% during the era when this disease was very difficult to manage. This is truly an astonishing advancement. Advantages of Chemoimmunotherapy: * Better control of aggressive cancers * Higher survival rates in specific cancer types * Both immediate and long-lasting effects * May benefit patients who do not respond to single treatments This dual approach allows doctors to target cancer from two powerful angles, giving patients a stronger chance at recovery. Which Cancers Benefit from Combination Therapy? In recent times the use of immunotherapy and chemotherapy has been recognized as a highly effective strategy to fight cancer. Although not all cancers can be dealt with using this method, certain types of cancer have seen positive outcomes. The doctor. Pooja Babbar explains that this strategy works by utilizing chemotherapy to lower the burden of tumors and to reduce the size of cancerous cells. the immune system is activated by the system to attack and eliminate remaining cancer cells more efficiently. A few of the cancers that have shown a significant benefit from combination therapy are: * Non-Small Lung Cancer (NSCLC): One of the most frequent instances of immunotherapy and chemotherapy are combined. The combination has increased the survival rate and health outcomes for a lot of patients. * Triple Negative Cancer of the Breast Cancer (TNBC): A more aggressive type of breast cancer that typically will respond better when the two treatments are employed together. * Bladder Cancer: Especially in metastatic or advanced stages, the combination of both treatments has improved the patient's outcomes. * Head and Neck cancers: For some cases that are not responding to standard treatment combinative treatment is new options for defense. * Stomach as well as Esophageal Cancers: Recent clinical trials have backed the need for combined therapy for more advanced cases of cancer. * Liver Cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma): Immunotherapy combined with targeted chemotherapy and drugs has shown promise in enhancing the chance of survival. It's crucial to understand that the efficacy of combination therapy is contingent upon many aspects, such as the type of cancer stage, molecular characteristics as well as the overall health of the patient. Dr. Babbar explains that each treatment plan has to be individualized in order to guarantee the best outcome for each individual. Side Effects and Their Management Every cancer treatment comes with side effects but the goal is to minimize them while maximizing effectiveness. With a combined approach patients may experience both chemotherapy and immunotherapy reactions. Possible Side Effects of Chemotherapy: * Hair loss * Fatigue * Nausea and vomiting * Increased risk of infections Possible Side Effects of Immunotherapy: * Skin rashes * Flu-like symptoms * Inflammation of organs When Combined: Patients may experience overlap issues like fatigue or changes in digestion. By ensuring that they are monitored of medications along with lifestyle changes and supportive advice of oncologists such as Dr. Pooja Babbar help patients to manage these issues effectively. She states that even though certain side effects can seem daunting still they are generally mild and manageable when compared to the long-term benefits of fighting cancer or eliminating it. Patients also receive individualized treatment plans that include nutrition counselling and frequent monitoring to help make treatment more comfortable. The Future of Combined Therapy The future of oncology is in the field of innovation. Clinical trials are currently investigating different combinations of chemotherapy and immunotherapy which are designed to enhance the patient experience around the world. Promising areas of research include: Using genetic and molecular testing to identify which patients respond Combining targeted therapies with chemo-immunotherapy for greater results Refining drug dosages to reduce side effects without compromising results Developing personalized treatment schedules based on each patient's immune profile Dr. Pooja Babbar - Medical Oncologist in Gurgaon The heart of any chemotherapy is the patient's story through their fears, hopes and perseverance. Dr. Pooja Babbar is one of the most trusted experts in cancer treatment in Gurgaon. With over 15 years of experience as a medical oncologist and being a gold medalist in her field, she has built a reputation for delivering advanced cancer care with a personalized and compassionate approach. She carefully considers: * The type and stage of cancer * Patient's age and overall health * Previous treatments and responses * Lifestyle concerns She explains the treatment options in an easy to understand manner which helps patients to make informed decisions and families also appreciate her transparency. Pooja Babbar is a medical oncologist and expert in advanced therapies has helped patients under challenging cases achieve positive outcomes with her expertise. Clinic Location Fortis Hospital, Plot No. 2, Sector 5, Imt Manesar, Gurugram, Haryana 122052 Phone: 84549 92469 Website: https://drpoojaonco.com/ Final Thoughts The cancer treatment is no longer restricted to a single approach. Doctors can offer patients the most effective of both the immediate effectiveness of chemotherapy as well as the long-term protection of immunotherapy. These treatments represent an exciting future for personalized cancer treatment. If you or someone close to you is suffering from cancer, getting an expert oncologist's advice is the first step. Dr. Pooja Babbar is a medical oncologist from Gurgaon who offers advanced cancer treatment that is compassionate with the best treatment methods specific to each patient's individual requirements. (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.) The Goods and Services Tax (GST) exemption on health and life insurance will make protection affordable, accessible and attractive for Indian families. Speaking about the reform, Amit Chhabra, Chief Business Officer at Policybazaar, told ANI, "For the customers, it is an extremely beneficial move because they are getting an 18 per cent instant discount on health insurance and life insurance." Chhabra said the government's decision will not only reduce costs but also help in increasing awareness. "I would feel that the other important aspect is that the awareness will significantly go up now. Govt has come out and endorsed that there is no GST now on health insurance and life insurance. I feel this is an extremely positive move because the Govt is saying that it is a mandatory product and it must be bought by every citizen of the country," he said. Chhabra added that the change is expected to encourage more people to opt for financial protection. "So, the awareness will go up, and more & more people will buy health insurance and life insurance," he noted. Balachander Sekhar, Co-founder & CEO of RenewBuy, said that by removing the 18 per cent GST burden, the government has made protection more affordable, accessible, and attractive for millions of households. "With GST now reduced to nil, the exemption on all individual life and health insurance policies will significantly bring down costs for families, especially seniors, making insurance more affordable and accessible. Similarly, the removal of GST on individual life insurance policies--including term life, ULIP, or endowment policies--will boost insurance penetration, particularly among first-time buyers and middle-income families, and help the country progress towards Insurance for All by 2047." He added that the GST waiver on individual life and health insurance is not just a tax reform, but a transformative step towards financial inclusion. "In essence, this reform is more than a fiscal adjustment; it is a social safety net expansion. The move will ease costs for seniors, boost penetration among middle-income households, and strengthen India's journey towards 'Insurance for All by 2047'," he said. The new framework marks one of the biggest overhauls of the GST system since its launch in 2017. The new rules come into effect from Monday, September 22, 2025. The reforms replace the earlier four-rate structure with a simpler two-slab system of 5 per cent and 18 per cent. Essential sectors, including food, housing, automobiles, agriculture, healthcare, and education, are set to be impacted. (ANI) The United States' decision to impose a steep increase in H-1B visa fees has triggered concerns across Indian industries. But banking and market expert Ajay Bagga has a different view. Speaking with ANI, Bagga said that the USD 1,00,000 fee for the H1B visa will check the brain drain from India. "Brain drain will reduce, and India will have to find other avenues or productively use these people. This will be an objective for the govt too," he said. "There are approximately 16,000 Indian-origin doctors working in rural areas in the US. Wide regions in the US are benefiting from H-1B visas," Bagga noted. He added that in the IT sector, major companies employ between 5,000 and 10,000 workers on H-1B visas. "They will try to outsource those works," he said, pointing to likely shifts in business models. Bagga also noted that the impact will not be limited to the information technology (IT) sector alone. "There is an impact. Not only in the IT sector, there are also healthcare, doctors, nurses and other financial services companies," he said, pointing to the wide base of sectors that depend on foreign skilled workers. US President Donald Trump, on Friday, announced a proclamation imposing a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications. Bagga underlined the economic burden such a fee would impose if the policy continues at its announced pace. "If from next year the run rate of granting H-1B visas is the same, then there are about 14 billion dollars of extra costs, which the profit pools might not be there for those companies," he said. The move, the US administration explained, is aimed at reducing what it sees as overuse of the programme and ensuring that only "highly skilled" workers are brought in from overseas. Officials believe the fee hike will create and protect jobs for American workers. "Beneficiaries of this rule will be offshore centres like Vancouver and other nearby countries," Bagga noted, as firms look for cost-effective alternatives to manage their operations. Earlier, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had elaborated on the change during a press call, saying the measure was part of a strategy to discourage the use of the visa for positions considered to be training roles. The current costs for processing H-1B visas usually run into a few thousand dollars, meaning the sudden jump to USD 100,000 marks a significant shift. Companies will be required to pay this in addition to the existing vetting charges. (ANI) Experts and industry leaders, at the 6th International Energy Conference and Exhibition, said India's journey towards cleaner and more sustainable mobility is moving steadily with a strong focus on alternate fuels, renewable energy, and reducing dependence on crude oil imports. Speaking about the push for alternative energies, Puneet Anand, Assistant Vice President & Group Head Corporate Affairs and Social, Hyundai Motor India, told ANI that the automobile industry has been at the forefront of introducing new technologies. "This event is about alternative energies, and the session today was Emerging Technologies for a cleaner mobility. So it's a very exciting session, and I think the Prime Minister has already set the stage for India to be carbon neutral by 2070. And now the entire country, including all the OEMs and the government, are working towards achieving this dream of becoming a self-reliant economy," Anand said. He explained that the industry has already made progress with CNG and electric vehicles, and is now working on flex-fuel and hydrogen-powered vehicles. "These are the vehicles that will help us to safeguard our economy, reduce the import of crude oil and ensure that whatever material or things we have in India, like corn or sugarcane, can be used to produce energy-compliant vehicles," Anand said, adding that the session highlighted emerging global trends that align with India's goals. Tarun Sawhney, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Triveni Engineering & Industries, also highlighted the importance of clean mobility solutions, especially for heavy-duty transportation. "The session that I've just shared was about the future of clean mobility. We discussed some very interesting aspects of LNG for trucks, which fosters an ecosystem that enables clean transportation for heavy-duty vehicles, allowing trucks to travel four times the distance without recharging. That seems a phenomenal solution, not just for the transportation sector, but also for consumers and the environment," he told ANI at the sidelines of the conference. Sawhney added that ethanol blending is another critical step forward. "We spoke about ethanol blending, the targets beyond E20, and what it will take to foster an E27 and an E100 environment where consumers will be able to buy either ethanol 100 per cent or ethanol-blended petrol at petrol stations across the country. What was very exciting from the automobile manufacturers is that they're all set. We heard from Hyundai that it is actually all about implementation, but from the vehicular perspective, they are set and looking forward to this big change in Indian e-mobility," he told ANI. Adding to the discussions, Neerav Nanavaty, CEO of BluPine Energy, pointed out that the country's renewable energy growth is a key part of India's long-term goals. "It's about the renewable energy conference, along with other power sectors as well. It covers the entire gamut of transmission, distribution, and generation, basically bringing all the energy sources together to see how we can achieve the Prime Minister's vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 and Atmanirbhar Bharat in the power sector," Nanavaty said. He emphasized the need for continued policy support. "The government has done a lot to propel India to where we are in the renewable sector today. What we're looking for is additional support in some specific areas where we need, for example, transmission access to accelerate the build-out of renewable energy sources, also on the distribution side, on the rules and regulations, and having a stable framework of policy. Also on the manufacturing side, so that we can transition from where we are today towards a completely independent manufacturing sector in India, which is Atmanirbhar," he said. (ANI) The latest episode of Bigg Boss 19 saw a dramatic turn after actor-host Salman Khan announced the elimination of Nehal Chudasama. Stating that she has failed to receive enough votes, Salman revealed Nehal's name, leaving her in shock. Before leaving the house, Nehal was also seen sharing emotional moments with her friends, Farrhana Bhatt and Baseer Ali. However, there's a twist. While the contestants believed that Nehal had been sent back home, the episode saw her entering the Bigg Boss Secret Room. As soon as Nehal entered the Secret Room, she was told about Farrhana's past stay, when she took some "crucial decisions." The episode progressed to show Nehal watching over the conversations of the contestants, including Amaal Mallik and Zeishan Quadri. At one point, an emotional Nehal Chudasama expressed her gratitude to Bigg Boss for giving her a second chance. Nehal was among the contestants nominated for potential elimination, including Ashnoor Kaur, Baseer Ali, Abhishek Bajaj, and Pranit More. During the previous Weekend Ka Vaar episode, Farah Khan announced the exit of Natalia Janoszek, along with Nagma Mirajkar. Meanwhile, actors Kajol and Jisshu Sengupta also graced the episode, turning it into a fun session. They arrived for the promotion of their upcoming show, 'The Trial Season 2'. In one of the promos, Salman Khan was seen having a hilarious banter with the duo, joking that Kajol would be the only contestant if ever sent inside the Bigg Boss house. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO22Fy1EUhC/ Bigg Boss 19 kick-started in August this year, focusing on the theme of 'Gharwalon Ki Sarkaar'. Hosted by Salman Khan, Bigg Boss 19 streams on JioHotstar at 9 pm before its TV telecast on Colors TV at 10:30 pm. (ANI) Hollywood actor Tom Holland has suffered an injury during the shooting of his upcoming Marvel film, 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'. According to Deadline, Tom Holland was taken to the hospital for a mild concussion that he sustained on the Glasgow sets of the film. The shooting was suspended in the wake of the incident and is expected to remain paused for a few days. The report also added that the actor got injured after a stunt went wrong on the sets. No one else was affected. While Holland is currently on a break as a precaution, a meeting will be scheduled to adjust filming plans. 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' productions began in Glasgow in early August, and the film is scheduled to hit theatres in July 2026. In a recent update, the makers unveiled a new Spidey suit, with a visible raised black webbing against a bright red-and-blue cover. Shortly after, Tom Holland gave fans a clearer look at his Spider-Man costume. "We ready?" he said in the teaser video as he seems to be on the sets of the film, sporting a more classic Spider-Man ensemble that resembled those of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM2nqeRNG0e/ Besides Holland, the returning cast features Zendaya and Jaco Batalon. The film will also feature a number of fresh entries like Liza Colon-Zayas, Tramell Tillman and Sadie Sink. Mark Ruffalo will also return as the Hulk, further joined by Jon Bernthal as the Punisher and Michael Mando as the Scorpion. While the previous Spider-Man films were directed by Jon Watts, the new instalment is being helmed by 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' director Destin Daniel Cretton. Tom Holland might have briefly stepped back from work, but he did make sure to hit the headlines with Zendaya. The couple was spotted attending an event in London, marking a rare public appearance. (ANI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) urged the Mumbai Police to register an FIR against actor Ranbir Kapoor, producers, production company and OTT platform Netflix for allegedly airing the use of banned e-cigarettes on screen without a warning or disclaimer in the recently released show 'The Ba****ds of Bollywood.' 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood' came under the radar of controversy after an episode featured Ranbir Kapoor allegedly smoking a banned e-cigarette without a warning or disclaimer on the screen during its release. After receiving a complaint regarding the same from the Legal Rights Observatory, the NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Mumbai Police, urging them to take legal action against the actor, production studio and the OTT platform for the violation of the Prohibition of Electric Cigarettes Act 2019. While talking to ANI, Priyank Kanoongo said, "We received a complaint from an organisation called the Legal Rights Observatory. The complainant stated that there is a series called "The Ba***ds of Bollywood" on the Netflix OTT platform. In one episode of this series, actor Ranbir Kapoor is smoking an e-cigarette. The complainant alleges that through this, he is influencing young people, especially our new generation, to smoke e-cigarettes." While calling the promotion, manufacturing, importing, selling or stocking e-cigarettes a crime, Priyank Kanoongo said that they have issued a letter to the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, urging him to "remove this and take action against the relevant platforms." "We examined this complaint and found that in India, under the E-Cigarette Prohibition Act, no person shall promote e-cigarettes. Manufacturing, importing, selling, or stocking e-cigarettes in India is a crime. We have issued a notice to the Commissioner of Mumbai Police. We have asked him to file an FIR under the appropriate sections and take legal action against this actor, this production company, and this OTT platform. We have also asked him to identify the manufacturers, importers, stockists, and sellers of these e-cigarettes and take appropriate legal action against them. We have also issued a notice to the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, asking him to remove this and take action against the relevant platforms," said Priyank Kanoongo. 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood' was directed by Aryan Khan and stars Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Bobby Deol and Sahher Bambba in the lead roles. The show is currently streaming on Netflix. (ANI) Oscar-winning actress Sofia Coppola will be honoured at the Film Benefit event 2025 at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, reported Variety. The event will take place on November 12. According to the outlet, MoMA's Film Benefit is an annual event dedicated to the continuation and growth of the museum's department of film, specifically its collection of over 30,000 films and 1.5 million film stills and its series of screenings, premieres, festivals and retrospectives. The Benefit honours actors, writers and directors who have made significant contributions to the craft. Coppola certainly fits the bill, as she began acting at an early age and has written and directed nine feature films. Five of her films are included in MoMA's collection: 'The Virgin Suicides' (1999), 'Lost in Translation' (2003), 'Marie Antoinette' (2006), 'Somewhere' (2010) and 'The Bling Ring' (2013). For 'Lost In Translation,' she won the Academy Award for best original screenplay and was nominated for both best director and best picture. The museum's Celeste Bartos Chief Curator of Film, Rajendra Roy, said in a statment Monday, "Developing long-term relationships with artists is one of the profound privileges and responsibilities for an institution like MoMA. Sofia Coppola has been a part of the Museum's artist family since her emergence as an acclaimed director over 25 years ago. We celebrated her in 2004 as a part of our 'Work in Progress' series, and we are thrilled to welcome her back now as a field-leading icon," as quoted by Variety. Coinciding with the Film Benefit, MoMA will also screen all nine of Coppola's feature films, as well as her 1998 short 'Lick The Star.' The series is titled 'Sofia Coppola: A Tribute' and will take place in the museum's Roy and Niuta Titus Theatres from October 30 through November 16. (ANI) The News in Brief Monday, September 22, 2025 Tina Bokuchava, chairperson of the United National Movement (UNM), said the United States considers Georgia's sovereignty and democratic future a priority, following a meeting with representatives of the U.S. National Security Council at the White House."Georgia, the Georgian people, our statehood and freedom are very important to the United States, and they also understand that there can be no peace in the South Caucasus and our region if there is a regime in Georgia that violates fundamental rights and imprisons its opponents," Bokuchava stated after the meeting.She said discussions with U.S. officials focused on Georgia's ongoing political crisis and what she described as "anti-democratic, anti-Western steps" by the government led by Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili.Bokuchava emphasized that Washington has repeatedly expressed concern. "We have heard this repeatedly from Vice President J.D. Vance. Accordingly, for our common security, peace, prosperity and the restoration of relations with the United States, it is necessary for the Georgian people to be represented by a pro-Western, pro-American and, most importantly, pro-national government that will fulfill the historic choice of the Georgian people to become part of the free world," she said.The UNM press release noted that the National Security Council reports directly to U.S. President Donald Trump. It added that "separate attention was paid to the issue of political imprisonment of the party's founder and third President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, and the chairman of the party's political council, Levan Khabeishvili."Georgian Dream Tbilisi Mayor candidate Kakha Kaladze accused opposition parties of taking direction from foreign patrons, contrasting their activities with Georgian Dream's outreach to voters ahead of upcoming elections."This once again confirms that these people have no connection with Georgia or Georgians. It is proof that they are managed from outside and have their patrons," Kaladze said, referring to recent opposition visits abroad.According to the mayor, while the ruling party meets with citizens to discuss projects planned for the next four years, opposition leaders are instead traveling abroad to receive instructions. "We go out and meet with voters every day, discussing the projects we will implement in the next four years. Meanwhile, they meet their patrons abroad, probably receiving instructions on how to act," he said.Kaladze stressed that Georgian Dream remains focused on serving the public. "This is the difference - Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia serves and engages with the Georgian people. Most importantly, it does the work of Georgia," he stated.He added that voters would hold the opposition accountable at the ballot box, as they did in previous elections. "The public clearly sees their actions and intentions regarding the country. The Georgian people evaluate everything well, and just as they passed judgment on them in the parliamentary elections, they will do the same in the local elections," Kaladze said. Yog Guru Baba Ramdev on Sunday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation on Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, stating that the PM had given the country's economy a 'new impetus.' Speaking to ANI, Ramdev stated that the decision was an important and effective step in achieving the PM's dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047. "By providing relief in GST, PM Modi has given the country's economy a new impetus. This will help people save money, and the country's economy will reach new heights. This will be an important and effective step towards achieving the Prime Minister's dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Whether it's providing relief to taxpayers or reducing the GST on most products, which was previously at 18% or 12%, to 5%, the Prime Minister has ensured, for everyone's well-being, that the people of the country will have money, become prosperous, and thus provide new impetus to the country's economy," he told ANI. The Yog Guru Baba further stated that the PM's repeated appeal for Swadeshi (indigenous) products would help the country move towards self-reliance. "He has repeatedly appealed for Swadeshi (indigenous) products. When this spirit of Swadeshi awakens among the people and India moves towards self-reliance, it will surely lead the world..." he added. Earlier, Prime PM Modi, while addressing the nation via video conferencing on Sunday, said that the government's recent reduction in GST rates will ease financial burdens on citizens, making houses, vehicles, and consumer goods more affordable. He said that the reduced GST rates will ease costs on essentials like homes, vehicles, and household items, marking the launch of a nationwide 'GST Bachat Utsav'. He called the reforms a major step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat and inclusive growth. The Prime Minister underscored that "with lower GST rates, fulfilling personal dreams will become easier for citizens--whether it's building a house, purchasing a TV or refrigerator, or buying a scooter, bike, or car--all will now cost less." He added that travel will also become more affordable, as GST on most hotel rooms has been reduced.PM Modi expressed happiness over the enthusiastic response of shopkeepers towards the GST reforms. He noted that "they are actively working to pass on the benefits of GST reductions to customers." The Prime Minister highlighted that in many places, boards displaying price comparisons - before and after the reforms - are being prominently displayed. (ANI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the new GST slab implementation from Monday and said that the reform were a revolutionary decision for the common man, the middle class, women, farmers, traders, small traders, shopkeepers, and this would boost consumption, production, and employment. "I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There were four slabs in the GST. He removed two slabs, leaving only two. This decision is truly revolutionary for the common man, the middle class, women, farmers, traders, small traders, shopkeepers, and everyone. This will boost consumption, production, and employment. That's why this is Modi's masterstroke. It's a masterstroke because it's a life-changing decision. The daily necessities have been made much cheaper. Therefore, this is a huge decision," Shinde said. He called GST reforms a "Diwali Dhamaka". "No amount of thanks would be enough for him," Eknath Shinde said. He further said that the opposition should welcome the decision as it had been taken for the welfare of 140 crore people. The Prime Minister, during his address to the nation on Sunday, stated that reform is a continuous process, and as times change and national needs evolve, next-generation reforms become equally essential. He noted that keeping in view the current requirements and future aspirations of the country, these new GST reforms are being implemented. PM Modi highlighted that under the new structure, only 5 per cent and 18 per cent tax slabs will primarily remain. This, he remarked, means that most everyday-use items will become more affordable. He listed food items, medicines, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and health and life insurance among the many goods and services that will either be tax-free or attract only a 5 per cent tax. The Prime Minister further noted that of the items previously taxed at 12 per cent, 99 per cent--virtually all--have now been brought under the 5 per cent tax bracket. (ANI) Community support for the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) continues to gather momentum, with Parong village becoming the latest to formalise its backing through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh for preparation of the Project's Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR). The MoU was signed in the presence of Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Minister (RD & PR) Ojing Tasing, Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta, Chairman (SUMPDC) Tamiyo Taga, Commissioner Hydropower Sonam Chombey, Commissioner (Planning and Investment) Ankur Garg, Joint Secretary Hydropower Hage Lailang, Deputy Commissioner Siang Tayi Taggu, Advisor to HDCM Anupam Tangu. Commenting on the development, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said, "The signing of the MoU by the people of Parong is a significant step forward. With over 62% households extending their support to the MoU, the people of Parong village have shown their commitment to progress. This step reflects our collective belief that the project will bring meaningful development and new opportunities to the region." Taram Jerang, a resident of Parong who was present during the signing of the MoU, said, "We, the residents of Parong, are hopeful that by supporting the MoU for PFR, our village will see real progress." "By supporting the MoU for PFR, we see this as a step toward a brighter future for Siang and Arunachal Pradesh," said Tamat Pabin, another Parong resident. The project, declared a National Project by the Government of India in 2008, is expected to play a crucial role in India's water and energy security. With Parong's endorsement, the momentum behind SUMP continues to grow, setting the stage for a project that balances cultural preservation with modern development while strengthening Arunachal Pradesh's role in ensuring India's water security. Prior to Parong, four villages, namely Pangkang, Riga, Riew and Begging, had already signed MoUs for the PFR process. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has extended his greetings to the people of the state on the occasion of Shardiya Navratri, wishing everyone happiness, prosperity, and a blessed life. On this auspicious festival, the Chief Minister said that worshipping the various forms of Goddess Durga holds special significance during Navratri. "The devotion to the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga inspires us to honour and revere the power of the Divine Mother. This festival, which highlights the importance of women in society, is a true reflection of our culture and traditions," Dhami said in a statement. The Chief Minister also noted that the custom of Kanya Pujan during Navratri is deeply connected to showing respect and reverence towards young girls. During Shardiya Navaratri, Sri Kanakadurga is adorned as Sri Maha Chandika Devi. Sri Maha Chandika embodies the 'Trishakti' aspect of Mahalakshmi, Mahakali, and Mahasaraswati. She was born to fulfil divine purposes, punish the wicked, and protect the righteous. Within Sri Chandika Devi, many deities are enshrined. Worshipping Sri Maha Chandika is akin to worshipping all deities; through her grace, one attains knowledge, fame, and wealth, and enemies turn into friends. All desires prayed for are granted swiftly. Shardiya Navratri is a vibrant and sacred Hindu festival that spans nine nights, celebrating the divine feminine energy embodied by Goddess Durga. Observed in the lunar month of Ashwin, this festival is marked by fervent worship, elaborate rituals, and cultural performances. Shardiya Navratri is a vibrant and sacred Hindu festival that spans nine nights, celebrating the divine feminine energy embodied by Goddess Durga. Observed in the lunar month of Ashwin, this festival is marked by fervent worship, elaborate rituals, and cultural performances. Each day is dedicated to a different form of the goddess, symbolising various aspects of strength, compassion, and wisdom. Devotees engage in fasting, singing devotional songs, and participating in traditional dances like Garba and Dandiya, creating a joyful atmosphere. Navratri days hold great significance among Hindus, and these days are celebrated with great grandeur. The seventh day of Navratri is dedicated to worshipping 'Maa Kaalratri', the fierce manifestation of Goddess Durga. She is also known as a destroyer of demons, evil spirits, and negative energies. She helps the devotees to remove the darkness. (ANI) AAP MP Sanjay Singh on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his address to the nation. He criticised his advocacy for Swadeshi products and his handling of GST reforms. Alleging hypocrisy in his lifestyle, AAP MP said to ANI, "PM Modi wears glasses from Italy, a watch from Switzerland, uses a phone from America, uses cars from Germany, and is loaded on foreign brands, and yet he tells people to use Swadeshi products." He further alleged that India continues to import goods worth crores from the US and China, yet PM Modi continues to advocate for the adoption of indigenous products. "It is a matter of regret that the country now faces a Prime Minister who has crippled the economy, broken the back of the common man, and even crippled foreign policy," Singh added. Singh also said that PM Modi sought praise in the name of GST. "When GST was introduced in 2017, the people of the country were told that Prime Minister Modi had brought a major revolution in the economy... In the last 8 years, crores of rupees have been taken from the people of the country in the name of tax... I want to ask why the burden of tax was imposed on the people of the country for 8 years?" he asked. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to adopt Swadeshi and prioritise Made in India products, as the newly approved Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms come into effect from September 22, the first day of 'Shardiya Navaratri'. "We need to make every home a symbol of Swadeshi... every shop should be adorned with Swadeshi products," the Prime Minister said in his address to the nation. Calling the GST reforms a "Bachat Utsav", Modi appealed to people to buy products made in India, saying they carry the hard work and "sweat" of the country's youth. "We should buy products that are Made-In-India... in which the hard work of our country's youth is involved... the sweat of our country's sons and daughters," he said. (ANI) The city of Amritsar witnessed the vibrant beginning of 'Langoor Mela', a nine-day unique and spiritual festival that commenced on Monday during the auspicious period of Navratri. Celebrated with immense devotion and energy at the Bada Hanuman Mandir, this traditional fair also holds a special association with the renowned Durgiana Tirth Temple. The 'Langoor Mela' marks a deeply symbolic ritual for hundreds of devotees, who make vows to the deity and, upon their wishes being fulfilled, dress their children as langoor, a symbolic monkey form representing Lord Hanuman. The fair begins with a special ritual where participants, especially the children, take a holy dip in the sacred pond at the temple complex, mixed with curd, signifying purity and devotion. This ritual cleansing is seen as a preparation for the divine journey that follows. After the ritual bath, the children are dressed in sparkling silver-coloured traditional attire, complete with headgear and ornaments. Resembling small avatars of Lord Hanuman, these children, now called langoors, are led in processions to the Bada Hanuman Mandir, located nearby. Devotees bow their heads at the feet of Hanuman, offering prayers, flowers, and sweets, seeking the continued blessings of the mighty deity. For all the nine days of Navratri, the children dressed as langoors visit the temple daily, a practice reflecting the unwavering devotion of the families involved. Many parents who had once vowed to offer their children as langoors upon the fulfilment of wishes, including recovery from illnesses, job success, or childbirth, now fulfil those promises during this sacred time. While speaking to ANI, many devotees shared heartfelt stories of how Lord Hanuman fulfilled their wishes and how they have come to express their gratitude. A devotee, while holding his child dressed in silver attire, said, "I had asked Hanuman ji to bless me with a son. He didn't just give me one, He gave me two sons. Today, I have brought them both here as langoors to bow down before Badha Hanuman." Another woman, visibly emotional, shared, "I had no children. I prayed to Hanuman ji for a child, and He blessed me with a daughter. I am so glad to have my daughter. I want to give a message to society, whether it's a boy or a girl, it doesn't matter. In today's time, both stand equally strong. Every child is a blessing." A Sikh devotee also participated in the Langoor Mela with his young son. He said, "It doesn't matter that I belong to a Sikh family; God is one. We should not discriminate based on religion or caste. My wish was fulfilled, and I have come with my son to bow down before Lord Hanuman." The Langoor Mela is more than a religious fair; it is a vibrant cultural spectacle. The temple premises and surrounding areas come alive with devotional songs, drumbeats, and the enthusiastic chants of "Jai Bajrang Bali!". The atmosphere is charged with faith and celebration, drawing thousands of visitors from across India and even abroad. Organisers and temple authorities ensure smooth conduct of the fair, with special arrangements for crowd management, water, food, and security. The local administration also supports the event, recognising its significance for both tourism and religious heritage. Priests at the Durgiana Tirth Temple explain that the Langoor tradition is an ancient practice, believed to bring good luck, health, and prosperity. "It is an act of gratitude to Lord Hanuman. When people's wishes are granted, they come here to thank the deity in the most heartfelt way," said one of the temple priests. (ANI) Telangana Jagruthi chief K Kavitha took a veiled jibe at her cousin and Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao as she celebrated Bhathukamma festival in BRS President K Chandrashekhar Rao's native village, Chinthamadaka. Kavitha on Sunday alleged restrictions on her visit to Chintamadaka, and dropping a hint, she said that Siddipet may become her "karmabhoomi" in future. Without dropping names, she called Chinthamadaka "private property" and said, "I have a lot of memories of coming and going to Chinthamadaka with my family. After the movement started, in 2004, when KCR resigned as an agitating leader and went to contest as an MP. From that day until today, coming to Siddipet or Chinthamadaka, it is like a private property." Telangana Jagruthi chief added that the alleged restrictions would not prevail in her father's native village. "However, this land of Chinthamadaka is the land that gave birth to a cheetah, the land that gave birth to KCR. I believe it is a testament to the fact that the entire village has come together to celebrate this Bathukamma festival, showing that no one's restrictions will prevail on this land," she said. Recalling KCR's leadership in the movement for the formation of Telangana, she said that her "janmanbhoomi" (birthplace) might be her "karmabhoomi". K Kavitha added, "This trend should continue, because with your blessings, KCR once created ripples from here and brought the state of Telangana and placed it in front of you. If you give your blessings, this is my birthplace, this is my mother's home. And this is my janambhoomi, which might become my karmbhoomi in the future. We can't say for sure, but with your blessings, anything is possible. I want to let you know this at this moment." Kavitha's attack against her cousin Harish Rao began earlier this month, as she resigned from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) upon her suspension from the party. She lashed out at T Harish Rao and J Santosh Rao, accusing them of "planning to destroy our family and party" in connivance with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. (ANI) On the auspicious start of the nine-day religious festival, devotees are thronging temples in several parts of the country today to offer prayers to Goddess Durga in her nine forms. The devotees gathered in multitude to offer prayers at Devkali Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya to celebrate the first day of Shardiya Navratri. A huge influx of devotees was also witnessed at Kalkaji Temple and Jhandewalan Temple in Delhi. Additionally, devotees also flock to the Shree Adya Katyayani Shaktipeeth Mandir in Chhatarpur to offer prayers. The Mumbadevi Temple in Mumbai witnessed the sacred Kakad Aarti ceremony, marking the commencement of the nine-day festivities. During Sharadiya Navaratri, Sri Kanakadurga is adorned as Sri Maha Chandika Devi. Sri Maha Chandika embodies the 'Trishakti' aspect of Mahalakshmi, Mahakali, and Mahasaraswati. She was born to fulfil divine purposes, punish the wicked, and protect the righteous. Within Sri Chandika Devi, many deities are enshrined. Worshipping Sri Maha Chandika is akin to worshipping all deities; through her grace, one attains knowledge, fame, and wealth, and enemies turn into friends. All desires prayed for are granted swiftly. Shardiya Navratri is a vibrant and sacred Hindu festival that spans nine nights, celebrating the divine feminine energy embodied by Goddess Durga. Observed in the lunar month of Ashwin, this festival is marked by fervent worship, elaborate rituals, and cultural performances. Each day is dedicated to a different form of the goddess, symbolising various aspects of strength, compassion, and wisdom. Devotees engage in fasting, singing devotional songs, and participating in traditional dances, such as Garba and Dandiya, creating a joyful atmosphere. Navratri days hold great significance among Hindus, and these days are celebrated with great grandeur. The seventh day of Navratri is dedicated to worshipping 'Maa Kaalratri', the fierce manifestation of Goddess Durga. She is also known as a destroyer of demons, evil spirits, and negative energies. She helps the devotees to remove the darkness. (ANI) The Jubilee Hills Police have arrested two more accused in connection with the misappropriation of Rs 8.71 lakh Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF), taking the total number of arrests in the case to 13, officials said. The accused have been identified as Pagadala Srinivasa Rao (23) and Yasa Venkateshwarulu (50), both natives of Khammam district. In a statement, the police confirmed that the duo posed as fake beneficiaries and fraudulently deposited sanctioned CMRF cheques into their personal accounts before withdrawing the money. According to police, the scam involved the misappropriation of Rs 8.71 lakh through a criminal conspiracy. The cheques, meant for genuine victims, were diverted using forged documents and fake accounts. The cases have been registered under sections 409, 417, 419, 467, 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 66(C) of the Information Technology Act. The two accused were produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody. During interrogation, the accused confessed to their involvement, police said. Both were produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody. The two are natives of Tanikella village in Konijerala mandal of Khammam district. According to the police, the scam originated after the accused number one in the case misused his access to 230 sanctioned but undistributed CMRF cheques that had been unlawfully taken from the minister's office following the 2023 elections. Using forged documents and accounts created in similar names, the accused allegedly deposited 19 cheques into accounts at a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Jubilee Hills, misappropriating Rs 8.71 lakh. Earlier, police had arrested four persons in July and seven more in September in connection with the case. Several accused are still absconding, and efforts are on to recover the misappropriated funds, officials added. On July 15, police arrested Jogula Naresh Kumar (42), Balagoni Venkatesh (37), Korlapati Vamshi (24), and Pulipaka Omkar (34), who were remanded to custody. On September 19, seven more were arrested, including Potla Ravi (46), Janagama Nagaraju (40), Mateti Bhasker (33), Dharmaram Raju (50), Kampalli Santhosh (35), Chityala Laxmi (65), and Asampelli Laxmi. The further investigation is being carried out by the Jubilee Hills Police under the supervision of senior officers of Hyderabad City Police. (ANI) The suspension order, issued last week, follows a complaint filed on March 13. The matter was reviewed by a governing body panel and a fact-finding committee before the decision to suspend Singh was taken, pending further inquiry. In a grievance submitted to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on September 13, Singh termed the complaint "false and retaliatory" and alleged that it was linked to a promotion case that had not been approved. "The timing clearly indicates the retaliatory and afterthought nature of the complaint," Singh wrote. The principal also raised concerns about procedural lapses, pointing out that the matter was not referred to the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) as mandated under UGC and PoSH rules. "Despite the lapse of over six months since the complaint was filed, it has not yet been referred to the ICC. Instead, I am facing undue political pressure to resign under threat of termination or suspension," he wrote. Singh, who previously served as Dean of Students' Welfare and Dean of Languages at the Central University of Jammu, highlighted his academic record and contributions during his tenure, including Ramanujan College's jump in NIRF rankings from 65 to 37. "This unfounded allegation has caused severe professional damage and personal distress, tarnishing my hard-earned reputation as a first-generation academic from a rural background," the letter stated. (ANI) Speaking at the regular congress of the ruling Civil Contract party on Saturday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan outlined quite clearly how he plans to act in the coming years. And this program is important not only for Armenia itself, but also for the entire region. It was the Armenian side that was responsible for all the tragedies that have befallen the South Caucasus over the past hundred years, and fundamental changes in politics and consciousness are expected from it. Because without this, it is impossible to count on lasting peace and long-term stability. It is very good that the Prime Minister recognizes that Armenia has entered a completely new stage in its history thanks to peace with Azerbaijan. It is very good that, unlike his predecessors, he understands the value of peace and human life. In general, I must say that Nikol Pashinyan has always had a correct understanding of the situation. Even when he was in the opposition, even before his election as prime minister, he expressed reasonable thoughts. That's why Azerbaijan was very disappointed when he started dancing in Shusha and classifying Karabakh as Armenia. At the congress of his party, Pashinyan tried to explain his actions. The logic of what was said was not always clear, but let's not be picky. Without receiving the hot lesson of the 44-day war, the Armenian society would not have woken up, and the head of government then simply could not keep up with the narratives imposed on Armenians for decades. It is today that he can openly say what he thinks about relations with his neighbors, and back then, in order to stay in power, it was necessary not to deviate from the rut of miatsuma. And Pashinyan tried to stick to this course in order to please the masses. Although, without a doubt, I saw that such a line leads Armenia to the destruction of statehood. The Second Karabakh War and the defeat of Armenia shook the Armenian society to its foundations. And today it is able to adequately perceive the truth spoken by Nikol Pashinyan. In any case, this is evidenced by the relative domestic political stability. Opening the congress, Pashinyan announced that decisions would be made that "will determine the main characteristics of the life of Armenia for the coming centuries." These points were reflected in the declaration of the congress. And much of this is welcome. The establishment of the Fourth Republic of Armenia is declared the upcoming strategic task. It is very important that after the parliamentary elections in June 2026, the ruling party intends to initiate the process of adopting a new Constitution. It is unnecessary to explain why Azerbaijan is particularly interested in this point. In its activities, the ruling Party of Armenia promises to rely on the Alma Ata Declaration of 1991 and the concept of the inviolability of 29,743 square kilometers of internationally recognized territory of Armenia. It should be noted that Armenia can be completely calm about its integrity and inviolability of its borders. But, of course, on the condition that she treats her neighbors in the same spirit. Among the objectives of the "Civil Contract" is to step up rapprochement with the European Union, but taking into account regionalization and a balance in foreign policy. Nikol Pashinyan also does not abandon his intention to rid Armenia of Ktrich Nersesyan. In his opinion, the agenda for the liberation of Etchmiadzin from the current Catholicos should be implemented, and the sooner the better. And it would be better if Ktrich Nersesyan left on his own. Well, that's a good goal. The Armenian Church has historically played a nation-forming role for the Armenian people, shaping the mentality and identity of the Armenian people. Therefore, it is very important who will be at the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church and whether it will be possible to purge it of nationalist and terrorist postulates. In the form in which the Armenian Church has come to this day, it is the main enemy of the Armenian people. She pushed Armenians onto the criminal path of hatred, and if Pashinyan succeeds in changing traditional approaches, he may consider that he was not born in vain. I would like to return to dancing in Shusha and provocative statements from the stands of the Khankendinsky stadium. The Armenian Prime minister tried to explain his behavior. It turned out a bit clumsy. Pashinyan explained the phrase "Karabakh is Armenia, period," as a model of patriotism that was in use at the time. He is right here, but he is mistaken in the fact that this model was formed and imposed on Armenians by Soviet ideology. No, everything is much more complicated and the roots of the unhealthy model are much deeper. The Soviet government simply used Armenian nationalism for its own purposes, but its roots are not much older. If Nikol Pashinyan does not take this moment into account, the problem may return. We hope that he understands the essence of the issue. If not, he simply won't be allowed to build the Fourth Republic he's announcing. The Fourth Republic, unlike the previous three, should be free from caveman nationalism, from hatred, from unhealthy historical narratives and insane myths. She must declare territorial claims against her neighbors to be evil. And not only out of fear of getting an answer, but because there are laws that cannot be broken. Pashinyan will have to carry out a real revolution in the field of education if he wants the new residents of his Fourth Republic to be able to preserve their statehood. Armenia's neighbors will help in everything else. Having been cleansed from the taint of nationalism, it will receive real guarantees of security and stable development. And security in today's world is a real luxury. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabh and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday extended greetings on the occasion of Navratri. Sharing an X post, Rahul Gandhi wished for "happiness, peace, and prosperity" in the lives of the citizens. "Heartfelt greetings to all of you on the auspicious occasion of Navratri. May the grace of Maa Durga always bring happiness, peace, and prosperity to your life. Jai Mata Di," he wrote. Earlier today, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also extended warm greetings on the occasion. He also wished everyone happiness, prosperity, and peace. "Heartfelt greetings to all of you on the auspicious occasion of the great festival of worship of the Goddess of power Maa Durga, Shardiya Navratri. May the grace of Maa Adishakti remain upon everyone. May this sacred festival bring happiness, prosperity, and peace into your lives; that is my good wish," Kharge posted on X. On the auspicious start of the nine-day religious festival, devotees are gathering in multitudes at temples across different parts of the country today to offer prayers to Goddess Durga in her nine forms. The devotees gathered in large numbers to offer prayers at Devkali Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya to celebrate the first day of Shardiya Navratri. A huge influx of devotees was also witnessed at Kalkaji Temple and Jhandewalan Temple in the national capital. Additionally, devotees also flocked to the Shree Adya Katyayani Shaktipeeth Mandir in Chhatarpur to offer prayers. The Mumbadevi Temple in Mumbai witnessed the sacred Kakad Aarti ceremony, marking the commencement of the nine-day festivities. Shardiya Navratri is a vibrant and sacred Hindu festival that spans nine nights, celebrating the divine feminine energy embodied by Goddess Durga. Observed in the lunar month of Ashwin, this festival is marked by fervent worship, elaborate rituals, and cultural performances. Each day is dedicated to a different form of the goddess, symbolising various aspects of strength, compassion, and wisdom. Devotees engage in fasting, singing devotional songs, and participating in traditional dances, such as Garba and Dandiya, creating a joyful atmosphere. (ANI) As the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms come into effect on Monday, BJP leader CR Kesavan lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi while hitting out at the INDIA bloc, saying their motive is "Parivar Nirbhar Bharat". Kesavan referred to the GST reforms as a "monumental triumph" and hailed PM Modi's call for self-reliance. He told ANI, "GST reforms are a monumental triumph for our cooperative federalism and parliamentary democracy. Prime Minister Modi Ji's clarion call for a Swadeshi revolution and his nationalistic vision of self-reliance have inspired a new dimension to the GST. Go Swadeshi today, go Swadeshi tomorrow." "When it comes to Bharat's future and our people's welfare, Prime Minister Modi thinks at least 50 years ahead. While the Congress and the INDI bloc's only motive is Parivar Nirbhar Bharat, the Prime Minister has given us a lofty vision and goal of an Atmarnirbar Bharat," he added. The 56th meeting of the GST Council earlier this month replaced the current four-rate system with a streamlined two-slab regime of 5 per cent and 18 per cent, while retaining a separate 40 per cent slab for luxury and sin goods. As the implementation of the GST reforms will lead to a reduction in prices of essential goods, the BJP leader called it a "force multiplier", guaranteeing prosperity. Kesavan said, "These people-centric are indeed a force multiplier which will guarantee prosperity not just for the present, but they will ensure prosperity for posterity too. At the dawn of today, we saw crores of families filled with joy, happiness and cheer because these GST reforms have empowered each and every section of society." "Daily essentials, food items, and health insurance for senior citizens. MSME traders who do business and give employment to youth have been positively impacted by these reforms, and this is due to the phenomenal will the Prime Minister has shown," he said. Earlier on Sunday, PM Modi announced the implementation of the next-generation GST reforms from September 22, marking what he called a major step towards the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Addressing the nation ahead of the rollout, PM Modi said the reforms would usher in a countrywide "GST Bachat Utsav," benefiting poor, middle-class, farmers, traders, and entrepreneurs alike. He said, "From the sunrise of the very first day of Navratri, the nation is taking another important and major step towards the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Tomorrow, on the first day of Navratri, September 22, along with the rising of Suryadev, the Next Generation GST Reforms will come into effect." "From tomorrow, across the country, a 'GST Bachat Utsav' will begin. In this GST Bachat Utsav, your savings will increase and you will be able to purchase your favourite items more easily," the Prime Minister added. (ANI) Chhattisgarh Finance Minister OP Choudhary on Monday welcomed the implementation of recently announced Goods and Services Tax (GST) reductions and said that it will increase the purchasing power of commoners. Choudhary praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for implementing such reforms for people as festivities for Navratri begin. "Bachat Utsav, GST Muhurat, Navratri has begun, and Diwali is just around the corner. At such a time, Modi has given such a big gift to the 140 crore people in the country. This is all possible because of a visionary and reform-oriented Prime Minister like Narendra Modi. I want to request all traders to reflect the new rates so that the people can benefit," the Chhattisgarh Finance Minister told ANI. "With the tax exemption for income up to Rs 12 lakh, the GST 2.0 reforms are a huge decision. It will help commoners to save money and will increase their savings along with purchasing power," he added. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that reforms to Goods and Services Tax (GST) will come into effect across the country from today and will contribute to the savings of commoners. Labelling the reductions as "historic," Shah said that the GST rate cuts have been implemented on more than 390 products. "Modi government's gift of Next Gen GST reform to all the mothers and sisters of the country on the auspicious occasion of Navratri! Modi's promise to the countrymen regarding GST reform has been implemented across the entire country starting today. In this GST, historic reductions have been made in taxes on more than 390 goods," the Union Home Minister posted on X. He further informed that the GST reductions in the medical and health sector, among others, will increase the savings of people in the country. Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the implementation of the next-generation GST reforms starting from today (September 22), marking what he called a major step towards the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Addressing the nation, PM Modi said the reforms would usher in a countrywide "GST Bachat Utsav," benefiting the poor, middle-class, farmers, traders, and entrepreneurs alike. "From the sunrise of the very first day of Navratri, the nation is taking another important and major step towards the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Tomorrow, on the first day of Navratri, September 22, along with the rising of Suryadev, the Next Generation GST Reforms will come into effect," he said. The Prime Minister said that with the increased savings and easier purchases, the poor, middle class, farmers, women, traders and entrepreneurs of the country are all set to "benefit greatly." "From tomorrow, across the country, a 'GST Bachat Utsav' will begin. In this GST Bachat Utsav, your savings will increase, and you will be able to purchase your favourite items more easily. The poor, middle class, neo middle class, youth, farmers, women, shopkeepers, traders, and entrepreneurs -- all will benefit greatly," he said. PM Modi said, "During this festive season, everyone will have reason to celebrate, and the happiness of every family in the country will grow." Calling it a festive gift, the Prime Minister said the reforms would accelerate India's growth story, make business easier, attract investment, and ensure every state becomes an equal partner in development. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Monday took a sharp dig on Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav over the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, asserting that the opposition leaders' decision to oppose the move was "foolishness" and "negative politics". The deputy chief minister stressed that the benefits to 140 crore people due to GST savings can be seen neither by Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, nor Tejashwi Yadav. While speaking to ANI on the opposition's stand, the Deputy Chief Minister said, "There are leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav who have to oppose even something which is good. The benefits to 140 crore people due to GST savings can be seen neither by Rahul Gandhi nor Akhilesh Yadav or Tejashwi Yadav... They cannot welcome it but opposing a decision that will benefit 140 crore people of the country is foolishness and negative politics." Reacting to his upcoming visit to Russia, the Deputy Chief Minister hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he (Maurya) would make every effort to meet the trust and expectations placed in him. "I consider this a highly fortunate moment in my life when PM Modi gave me the opportunity to take Lord Buddha's remains and life messages there...He has placed great trust in me. I would make every effort to ensure that I meet the trust and expectations placed in me. An exhibition related to Lord Buddha was organised in Mongolia, Vietnam and Thailand, by India, by taking his holy remains there. We are going to do this in Kalmykia, Russia. This is a major step towards giving a form to the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam..." Maurya said. A day earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on the implementation of next-generation GST reforms on Sunday, stating that the GST budget festival has arrived and that the poor can now purchase expensive items. "First, one nation, one tax GST was implemented. Now, the GST budget festival has arrived. The poor can also buy expensive things because they no longer have to pay the price they had to pay before. Prime Minister Modi has called for adopting Swadeshi. The Swadeshi movement was started by the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. This will lead to a self-reliant and developed India," Maurya told ANI. Meanwhile, the reform in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure was approved during the 56th meeting of the GST Council earlier this month. The current four-rate system will now be replaced with a streamlined two-slab regime of 5 per cent and 18 per cent. A separate 40 per cent slab has been retained for luxury and sin goods. This new framework is expected to ease compliance, reduce consumer prices, boost manufacturing, and support a wide range of industries, from agriculture to automobiles and from FMCG to renewable energy, and is intended to lower the cost of living, strengthen MSMEs, widen the tax base, and drive inclusive growth. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted with Arunachal Pradesh's local taxpayers, traders, and industry representatives and discussed the benefits of the newly implemented Goods and Services (GST) tax rate reduction. While attending a 'GST Bachat Utsav' event in Itanagar, the Prime Minister met with various artisans, industry leaders in the state, meeting with people who are selling local goods, to packaged milk and food stuffs, highlighting the 'swadeshi' products of the country and encouraging people to buy from local sources. He also handed them placards of 'Garv se Kaho Yeh Swadeshi Hai'. The shopkeepers were very happy on receiving them and said that they would place these placards on their shops. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over Rs 5,100 crore at Itanagar today. Thereafter, he will visit Tripura and perform Pooja and Darshan and inaugurate development work of 'Mata Tripura Sundari Temple Complex' at Matabari, according to the Prime Minister's office. In Arunachal Pradesh, he will lay the foundation stone of two major hydropower projects worth over Rs 3,700 crore, namely the Tato-I Hydro Electric Project (186 MW) which will be developed in the Siyom sub-basin of Arunachal Pradesh. He will also lay the foundation stone of a state-of-the-art Convention Center at Tawang. Located at over 9,820 feet in the frontier district of Tawang, the centre will serve as a landmark facility to host national and international conferences, cultural festivals, and exhibitions. With a capacity to host over 1,500 delegates, the Center will meet global standards and support the tourism and cultural potential of the region. He is also going to launch multiple key infrastructure projects worth over Rs 1,290 crore, catering to various sectors including connectivity, health, fire safety, working women hostels among others. These initiatives are expected to catalyse economic activity, improve the quality of life, and enhance connectivity in the region. The PMO said, that in line with his vision of ensuring ease of doing business and fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, Prime Minister will also interact with local taxpayers, traders, and industry representatives to discuss the impact of the recent GST rate rationalisation. (ANI) Shardiya Navratri is a vibrant and sacred Hindu festival that spans nine nights, celebrating the divine feminine energy embodied by Goddess Durga. Temples across the country today witnessed huge gatherings of devotees on the auspicious occasion of Navratri. Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, devotees gathered in large numbers at the Kali Mata Temple in Moradabad to offer prayers. The devotees also gathered to offer prayers at the Devkali Temple in Ayodhya to celebrate Navratri. In Delhi, large gatherings were also witnessed at Kalkaji Temple and Jhandewalan Temple. Additionally, devotees also flocked to the Shree Adya Katyayani Shaktipeeth Mandir in Chhatarpur to offer prayers. During Shardiya Navaratri, Sri Kanakadurga is adorned as Sri Maha Chandika Devi. Sri Maha Chandika embodies the 'Trishakti' aspect of Mahalakshmi, Mahakali, and Mahasaraswati. She was born to fulfil divine purposes, punish the wicked, and protect the righteous. Within Sri Chandika Devi, many deities are enshrined. Worshipping Sri Maha Chandika is akin to worshipping all deities; through her grace, one attains knowledge, fame, and wealth, and enemies turn into friends. All desires prayed for are granted swiftly. Shardiya Navratri observed in the lunar month of Ashwin, this festival is marked by fervent worship, elaborate rituals, and cultural performances. Each day is dedicated to a different form of the goddess, symbolising various aspects of strength, compassion, and wisdom. Devotees engage in fasting, singing devotional songs, and participating in traditional dances, such as Garba and Dandiya, creating a joyful atmosphere. Navratri days hold great significance among Hindus, and these days are celebrated with great grandeur. The seventh day of Navratri is dedicated to worshipping 'Maa Kaalratri', the fierce manifestation of Goddess Durga. She is also known as a destroyer of demons, evil spirits, and negative energies. She helps the devotees to remove the darkness. (ANI) Jaipur Municipal Corporation Heritage has issued an order to ban the sale of meat in the open during Navratri, Mayor Kusum Yadav said on Monday. Kusum Yadav said that the decision has been made to ensure Hindu sentiments are not hurt. She told ANI, "Nav Durga is worshipped during Navratri. To ensure that Hindu sentiments are not hurt, Nagar Nigam has issued an order that the illegal sale of meat, sale of meat in the open, should be shut down during Navratri." Further, she cited health concerns to justify the meat ban. "The sale of meat in the open is harmful to health, too. Flies and dust settle on it. So, playing with people's lives is wrong," JMC Heritage Mayor said. While in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party leader ST Hasan on Monday said that the demand to close non-veg shops during Navratri is a clear "bid to polarise and fool people" along religious lines. The SP leader mentioned that the "country belongs to everyone" and no one should have the right to restrict people's food choices. "This country belongs to everyone...Not just Muslims but even Christians and Sikhs consume non-veg. How can you stop anyone from consuming it during Navratri or Kanwar Yatra? Who are you to do that? Do Hindus not consume non-veg during Navratri and Kanwar Yatra?" the SP leader told ANI here. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP MLA Karnail Singh has written to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta asking that meat not be sold in the national capital for the next nine days. "This is the country of the Sanatanis, and now Western civilisation will have to understand that our faith deserves respect too. Companies like McDonald's, KFC, Domino's, and Burger King have contacted us. It's not that they're against our culture, but they need to understand our faith. I have already discussed this with everyone, including the government and the organisation. Meat will not be sold in Delhi for nine days," the BJP MLA said. (ANI) Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur on Monday lauded the Central government's implementation of the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, calling it a "historic step" that would provide relief to traders, the middle class, and the poor. Speaking to ANI in Shimla on the first day of Navratri, Thakur also extended his greetings to the people of Himachal Pradesh. "On this sacred occasion of Navratri, I convey my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all residents of the state. May the blessings of the Goddess be with everyone. Himachal has suffered immense loss of life and property due to disasters during this prolonged monsoon season. I pray that we overcome this difficult phase and move towards prosperity and happiness," he said. Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the GST reforms that came into effect from today, Thakur called it a historic step. "First of all, I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. The new GST reforms that have been implemented across the country from today are a historic step. For a long time, there had been demands for simplicity and ease in GST. The reforms introduced by the Prime Minister are a big relief for traders, the middle class, the poor, and all sections of society."Thakur said. Elaborating further, Thakur pointed out, "Yesterday, when the Prime Minister addressed the nation, he not only extended Navratri greetings but also announced a new initiative through GST reforms to provide major relief to citizens. This step marks a significant milestone in the country's progress. Especially the move to merge the 12% slab with 18% and create a simplified structure of 5% and 18% is a huge relief for the trading community as well as the common people." "He added that the reforms were not sudden but part of a well-thought-out decision-making process. "Prime Minister Modi had announced from the Red Fort on August 15 that the government was moving ahead with GST reforms. The meeting in Delhi that followed paved the way for this decision. It will greatly benefit the entire country. I do not think state governments' revenue will be impacted much, because lower GST will lead to higher consumption, and this will compensate for the reduction," Thakur explained. Thakur also took a swipe at the Congress, accusing them of opposing reforms for the sake of opposition. "Unfortunately, it has become a habit of Congress leaders in Himachal Pradesh to oppose every historic and people-centric decision taken by the Central government under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. The GST reforms were passed unanimously with the participation of all states, so raising objections now has no justification," he said. The BJP leader emphasised that the GST reforms would have a long-term positive impact on the country's economy and consumer welfare. "This is a landmark decision that will prove to be a foundation stone for India's economic growth," Thakur added. (ANI) Farmers in different parts of Uttar Pradesh on Monday hailed the implementation of GST reforms and said that the positive impact will be felt by all sections of farming community, specially small and medium farmers. They said new GST (Goods and Services Tax) rates mark a major change in the agriculture and dairy sectors..The farmers said that lower GST on agricultural machinery and solar-powered equipment will reduce farming costs and increase farmers' profits. The government has reduced GST on bio-pesticides and micronutrients. In the dairy sector, milk and cheese will now attract zero GST. The GST reforms are expected to promote integrated farming. GST has been reduced on tendu leaves also. Farmers said that the reforms will not only help them save money but give better income opportunities. They said agriculture equipment has become more affordable. "We will benefit. GST slab reduction will bring prosperity for farmers. I thank the government...," a farmer in Aligarh told ANI. Another farmer said noted that GST on tractors of less than 1800 cc has been reduced to 5 per cent. He said GST has been reduced on tractor parts, including tyres, tubes, hydraulic pump from 18% to 5%. Similarly, on sprinklers, drip irrigation, harvesting machinery, tractor parts, GST has been reduced from 12% to 5%. The GST on fixed speed diesel engines (>15 HP), threshing/harvesting machines, compost machines has been cut from 12% to 5%. "Lower tractor prices will be specially beneficial for small and medium farmers. The cost of pump installation will come down. The Prime Minister wants to increase the income of farmers and he is taking steps in this regard and working for the welfare of the farmers," another farmer told ANI. A farmer said that households will also save money. "Earlier, there were four GST slabs, which have been brought down to two. There will be a difference of Rs 40-50 thousand when we buy a tractor. We welcome this move... Due to the reforms, every section of the society will benefit..." he said. The reformed Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure has come into force from today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed the nation via video conferencing, on Sunday, extended heartfelt greetings to all citizens on the commencement of Navratri, the festival of worshipping Shakti. He remarked that from the very first day of Navratri, the nation is taking a significant step forward in the Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign. The Prime Minister said that implementation of Next Generation GST reforms marks the beginning of a GST Bachat Utsav(Savings Festival) across India. He emphasized that this festival will enhance savings and make it easier for people to purchase their preferred items. PM Modi noted that the benefits of this savings festival will reach the poor, middle class, neo middle class, youth, farmers, women, shopkeepers, traders, and entrepreneurs alike. He remarked that in this festive season, every household will experience increased happiness and sweetness. Extending his congratulations, the Prime Minister conveyed best wishes to crores of families across the country for the Next Generation GST reforms and the GST Savings Festival. He underscored that these reforms will accelerate India's growth story, simplify business operations, make investments more attractive, and ensure that every state becomes an equal partner in the race for development. This new framework is expected to ease compliance, reduce consumer prices, boost manufacturing, and support a wide range of industries, from agriculture to automobiles and from FMCG to renewable energy, and is intended to lower the cost of living, strengthen MSMEs, widen the tax base, and drive inclusive growth. (ANI) Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw slammed the Opposition parties for criticising the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, which come into effect on Monday. Comparing the taxes on household items under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime to the taxes after the GST cut, he said that the industries and the MSMEs were under the "tax terror" before 2014. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, he said, "The GST reforms have been implemented today. A while ago, I was in a market in RK Puram, and people buying goods there also said that they were happy." "Under the UPA, there was a tax terror on industries and MSMEs. The web of several taxes was unified into GST. When GST was widely accepted, the next-generation reforms were brought in. Step by step, the nation has reached a good position. I thank Prime Minister Modi and the Finance Minister for the reforms," he said. The Union Minister noted that the taxes on cement, sanitary pads, and footwear have significantly reduced as compared to the UPA government. "The Opposition is unhappy. In their time, there were only talks and no work. UPA taxed cement at 30 per cent. How would a commoner fulfil their dream of building a house? Now it is at 18 per cent... The UPA taxed sanitary pads at 13 per cent, and now they have zero tax. The paint used on houses was taxed at 30 per cent; it is 18 per cent now. Tax on footwear is now 5 per cent as compared to 18 per cent during the UPA," Ashwini Vaishnaw said. Further, he said that household items such as a refrigerator and a television cannot be classified as luxury items, whereas items such as detergent, shampoo, and coffee attracted 30 per cent tax under the UPA regime as compared to 5 per cent under the GST 2.0. Vaishnaw said, "Every family aspires to have a refrigerator and television; these were not luxury items back then. Refrigerator attracted a 30 per cent tax, which is now reduced to 18 per cent. Tax on detergent and shampoo was 30 per cent, now it is 5 per cent. The tax on coffee has been reduced from 30 per cent to 5 per cent." "For farmers, there was a 12 per cent tax on fertiliser and urea; it is 5 per cent now," he added. Ashwini Vaishnaw's remarks follow an attack by the Opposition leaders amid the implementation of GST reforms. Earlier, Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the latter opposed the GST when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. "From 2006-2014, for eight years, only one CM opposed the GST, and that CM became the Prime Minister in 2014 and took a U-turn and emerged as a messiah of GST in 2017," Ramesh, General Secretary incharge of communications in Congress, told ANI. He further pointed out that the recently announced GST reforms were limited since they don't provide ease in navigating the procedural complexities of the MSME sector. "The recent reforms to GST are limited. The need to provide ease in the procedural complexities of the MSME sector has not been fulfilled. The Prime Minister has not said anything on the demand of state governments to provide them with a five-year compensation package. Many issues need to be addressed," Ramesh said. While Congress MP Pramod Tiwari accused the Centre of "looting" poor and middle-class citizens. "The question that needs to be asked is who increased the GST? Who put a burden on the country by increasing it for eight years? You (PM Modi) should have apologised to the nation yesterday. Congress and the Opposition had been demanding only one slab on the basis of 'one nation, one tax'. However, you looted the poor and middle-class citizens," Tiwari told ANI. (ANI) Lawyers for the family of Rafael Lemkin, the author of the term "genocide," have once again demanded that an organization called the Lemkin Institute for the Prevention of Genocide stop using the name of their famous ancestor. An organization with unclear objectives took the name of a Polish lawyer of Jewish-Ukrainian origin without asking the family's permission. In November last year, in an interview with the Algemeiner Journal, a relative of Rafael Lemkin, Joseph Lemkin, stated that he did not know about the existence of the institute until journalists informed him about it, and that he was extremely outraged that the name of his deceased relative was being used "to promote an anti-Israeli agenda." According to the magazine, the Lemkin family is considering various actions, including publishing a joint public statement or a letter demanding the cessation of illegal actions, in order to force the organization to stop using Lemkin's name. The institute's management ignored the family's opinion and continued to speculate on Lemkin's name. The other day, according to media reports, the family's lawyers and representatives of the European Jewish Association said that the institute was misleading the public and distorting Lemkin's legacy by promoting positions contrary to his views. The fact is that an office of unknown origin, which has been actively serving Armenian interests since 2021, has gone too far, using Lemkin's name and his distorted legacy in anti-Israeli propaganda. Ten days after the start of a new round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in October 2023, the institute accused Israel of genocide of the Palestinians. Lemkin's relative stressed that the Institute had not contacted the family with a request regarding the use of this name. It is noteworthy that the Lemkin Institute for the Prevention of Genocide was established after the 44-day war. This cannot be a coincidence, especially considering the fact that the main activity of the dubious structure revolves around the Armenian theme. Moreover, what is especially noteworthy is that this is not about the interests of Armenia and the Armenian society. The Institute takes care of maintaining and promoting the separatist and revanchist agenda on the world stage. Not only Baku is being criticized, but also the Armenian government. An office with a big name, created in the United States with the money of the Diaspora, openly interferes in the internal affairs of the Republic of Armenia and tries to dictate to its leadership what to say and how to act. Despite the claims about the credibility of this office, in fact it has no authority. Even Lemkin's family found out about the existence of such an institute recently, and then only after publications about the institute's statements on Karabakh, paid for by the Diaspora, appeared in the media. There is no doubt that the organization is funded by the Armenians. After the Second Karabakh War, namely in early 2021, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) announced the need to create an "organization or group in the United States to develop methods for early identification of organized violence against Karabakh Armenians." It was an announcement about the purchase of services, a message that the Armenians are ready to pay for the "genocide" scenario. The script had to be not only created, but also promoted on behalf of the American organization, so that the Armenian filling would not be very noticeable. But it is impossible to hide it, because the institute's activities are devoted almost entirely to promoting the new "Armenian genocide." Some other topics are included in the work plan just for decency. This can be seen even in the Wikipedia article about this organization. If we are mistaken, then why does the institute's website list "preventing the threat of genocide of ethnic Armenians from Azerbaijan" as the first item among the goals of the organization? The topic of Ukraine is closer to the end of the list. And the fight against racism was not lucky at all - it is only in seventh place in importance. The paid services of the office also prove the involvement of the infamous Aurora Foundation, funded by Rubik Vardanyan, in the project. The prospect of making big money inspired two American professors to announce the creation of the institute, which was named after Rafael Lemkin. The Diaspora, as always, was wasted. The so-called institute did not become the flagship of the struggle against the "Armenian genocide of Artsakh." He is not noticed, he is not considered, and now a scandal is breaking out around the office in connection with the unauthorized use of the name of Rafael Lemkin and attempts to present his provocative activities as a reflection of his legacy. It seems that the organizers of the office did not get acquainted with Lemkin's biography well, otherwise they would have thought carefully before making anti-Israeli statements. All the activities of this dubious structure are based on the principles of borderless nationalist propaganda, which the Diaspora has been conducting for many years, despite even the interests of the Armenian statehood. Already on September 19, 2023, the Lemkin Institute for the Prevention of Genocide published an SOS signal stating that there was no doubt that "genocide" was taking place in Karabakh. Cool experts like Luis Moreno Ocampo are sure of this. The office, thinking that someone was interested in her opinion, stated that "this moment in time is mandatory for powerful leaders and states to speak out against Azerbaijan." The statement, published on the day of the start of the anti-terrorist operation in Karabakh, made apocalyptic predictions about the future of the region. After the operation was completed, on September 22, the institute presented the second SOS signal about the "critical danger of genocide." "The Lemkin Institute is horrified that the world has allowed such a thing to happen," and so on. In short, there was a lot of noise, but none of those to whom it was addressed heard it. We also recall the attacks on Nikol Pashinyan. After the Armenian prime minister questioned the narrative of the "Armenian genocide," a real explosion took place at the Lemkin Institute. The office had previously accused Pashinyan of "covert denial of the genocide," but then he spoke out in plain text - and it began. How dare he question the "established historical narrative" and threaten the "integrity of Armenian sovereignty," the Lemkin Institute wailed. And recently, the Lemkin Institute has already completely disavowed, having hysterically criticized the Washington agreements of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The joint declaration signed in the United States, according to the office, "may legitimize Baku's expansionist ambitions and create the ground for new crimes against the Armenian people." The institute's leadership, as well as those who dictate the texts of such statements, demanded that the US administration "abandon support for Baku's policy and insist on fulfilling the preconditions that ensure justice and security." The preconditions include, of course, the return of Armenians, the release of separatists and terrorists, the inclusion of Dashnak narratives in Azerbaijani history textbooks, and the like. And all this fuss took place and is happening under the guise of the name of Rafael Lemkin. Of course, the family of the founder of the concept of "genocide" was outraged by the non-Armenian activities of the so-called institute. But it would be good if this office stopped using his name in their dirty business. It would completely deprive her of her voice. After all, the Armenian Diaspora project has been operating in Lemkin's name for four years. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday alleged that the State faces neglect and even hostility when it seeks cooperation from the Centre. "Unfortunately, when Kerala seeks cooperation from the Centre, we face neglect and even hostility, as if singled out for bias," Vijayan said, after inaugurating the state-level launch of Vikasana Sadas here, a platform to present development achievements of the state government and local bodies and to gather suggestions for future development. "Yet, we continue to demand what rightfully belongs to our people. Ours is a federal country, and Kerala will persist in putting forth its needs before the Union Government," he said The Chief Minister highlighted "remarkable" progress in the State, including Kerala achieving the lowest infant mortality rate, even lower than in the United States. "Remarkable changes are already visible--ten years ago, few believed our national highways would be a reality, but by March 2026, almost the entire stretch will be complete. Waterways from Kovalam to Bekal are progressing, with a major stretch set to finish by this December. Kerala has also achieved the lowest infant mortality rate, even lower than in the United States," he said. "These are milestones, but not the final goal. We must move further ahead, with people's continued support. Democracy means people are the true masters. By presenting a full progress report, we are ensuring that when we make promises, we also show the people how we have kept them. This is something unique, not just in India, but across the world," he added. The Chief Minister said that Kerala is taking new strides forward. Across Kerala, people are witnessing diverse developmental achievements, he said. "Through Vikasana Sadassu, we are bringing these gains to the people, while also gathering suggestions for future growth. Every local body will showcase the progress made so far and chart the possibilities ahead. This is people's planning in its true sense, development shaped not only by government funding but also through active public participation," he said. "So far, Kerala has been able to complete many projects by going beyond government allocations, thanks to people's involvement. We expect constructive opinions and recommendations to emerge from these sessions, which will help us strengthen grassroots-level planning. For the first time, an entire Cabinet is going directly among the people to listen, making this the first instance in Kerala where development is being designed collectively at every level," he added. The Chief Minister said that every region's growth is the state's growth, and the state's growth is part of the nation's and the world's progress. "Development belongs to all, and everyone must play their part. Discussions should be open-minded, without political prejudices, because development is not about party lines; it is about the future of our land," he said. "Kerala's local self-governments play a crucial role, and the state government has extended full support to them without any discrimination. No section has ever been able to claim that projects were blocked due to political differences. This is the foundation of democracy," he added. (ANI) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, saying these will help people save money. He urged people to embrace self-reliance and 'Swadeshi' and said people should use products made in the state and the country. Bhupendra Patel also urged shopkeepers to take pride in selling "Made in India" products. The Gujarat Chief Minister and State Health Minister Rushikesh Patel on Saturday flagged off 94 new 108 ambulances. "Today marks the beginning of Navratri, dedicated to Goddess Amba. I pray at her feet for the happiness, peace, and prosperity of every citizen. The Prime Minister is a worshipper of 'Shakti', and from today onwards, GST reforms have been implemented to ensure people save money. I have urged everyone to pass on the benefits of the new GST rates to consumers starting today. The Prime Minister believes that we must embrace self-reliance, meaning 'Swadeshi'. We must embrace indigenous products made in India, in Gujarat, and make them available for sale," the Chief Minister told the media after flagging off the ambulances. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed the nation via video conferencing, on Sunday, extended heartfelt greetings to all citizens on the commencement of Navratri, the festival of worshipping Shakti. He remarked that from the very first day of Navratri, the nation is taking a significant step forward in the Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign. The Prime Minister said that implementation of Next Generation GST reforms marks the beginning of a GST Bachat Utsav(Savings Festival) across India. He emphasized that this festival will enhance savings and make it easier for people to purchase their preferred items. PM Modi noted that the benefits of this savings festival will reach the poor, middle class, neo middle class, youth, farmers, women, shopkeepers, traders, and entrepreneurs alike. He remarked that in this festive season, every household will experience increased happiness and sweetness. Extending his congratulations, the Prime Minister conveyed best wishes to crores of families across the country for the Next Generation GST reforms and the GST Savings Festival. He underscored that these reforms will accelerate India's growth story, simplify business operations, make investments more attractive, and ensure that every state becomes an equal partner in the race for development. This new framework is expected to ease compliance, reduce consumer prices, boost manufacturing, and support a wide range of industries, from agriculture to automobiles and from FMCG to renewable energy, and is intended to lower the cost of living, strengthen MSMEs, widen the tax base, and drive inclusive growth. (ANI) A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria posted the matter for hearing on October 27. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said they are students and have been in jail for over five years. "Yes we will hear you and dispose it of... issue notice in all," the bench ordered. The Delhi High Court on September 2 denied bail to Imam, Khalid and seven others - Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Shadab Ahmed, Abdul Khalid Saifi and Gulfisha Fatima. On September 2, the bail plea of another accused Tasleem Ahmed was rejected by a different High Court bench. Delhi Police had opposed their bail pleas, saying it was not a case of spontaneous riots but a case where riots were "planned well in advance" with a "sinister motive and well-thought-out conspiracy". The High Court had observed that prima facie, the role of Imam and Khalid in the entire conspiracy was "grave", having delivered inflammatory speeches on communal lines to "instigate mass mobilisation of members of the Muslim community." They sought bail from the apex court in the larger conspiracy case under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the Delhi riots case in February 2020. In 2020, the Delhi police arrested Imam under the UAPA and named him the main conspirator behind the Delhi riots case. The violence had erupted during the protests against the then-proposed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) and had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday offered prayers at the 'Mata Tripura Sundari Temple' at Matabari in the border state. He also visited an exhibition in the temple complex. PM Modi is visiting the temple on the first day of Navratri. Prime Minister Modi will shortly inaugurate the development work of the 'Mata Tripura Sundari Temple Complex' at Matabari under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme. It is one of the ancient 51 Shakti Peethas located in the Udaipur town of Gomati district in Tripura. The project includes modifications in the temple premises, new pathways, renovated entrances and fencing, drainage system, a new three-storied complex consisting of stalls, meditation hall, guest accommodations and office rooms. It will play a significant role in boosting tourism, creating employment and business opportunities and leading to overall socio-economic development of the region. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various development works worth over Rs 5,100 crore in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of two major hydropower projects worth over Rs 3,700 crore in Itanagar. The Heo Hydro Electric Project (240 MW) and Tato-I Hydro Electric Project (186 MW) will be developed in the Siyom sub-basin of Arunachal Pradesh. PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of a state-of-the-art Convention Center at Tawang. Located at over 9,820 feet in the frontier district of Tawang, the centre will serve as a landmark facility to host national and international conferences, cultural festivals, and exhibitions. Prime Minister also launched multiple key infrastructure projects worth over Rs 1,290 crore, catering to various sectors including connectivity, health, fire safety, working women hostels among others. These initiatives are expected to catalyse economic activity, improve quality of life, and enhance connectivity in the region. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he extended reverence to the Almighty Donyi Polo, praying for blessings upon all. He remarked that the journey from the helipad to the ground, meeting countless people along the way, and witnessing children and youth holding the national flag filled him with pride due to Arunachal Pradesh's warm hospitality. He highlighted that Arunachal is not only the land of the rising sun but also a land of fervent patriotism. Just as the first colour of the national flag is saffron, Arunachal's spirit too begins with saffron. PM Modi noted that every individual in Arunachal is a symbol of valour and simplicity. He expressed his deep affection for the state, stating that every visit brings him immense joy and that every moment spent with the people is memorable, according to an official statement from the Prime Minister's office. He acknowledged the love and affection shown to him as a great honour. (ANI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports regarding the death of one worker and serious injuries to three others while cleaning a sewer in Northwest Delhi's Ashok Vihar on the night of September 16. According to officials, the incident took place around 11:30 pm near Harihar Apartments in Ashok Vihar Phase-II. Four men engaged in sewer cleaning fell unconscious inside. They were rushed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital, where one of them, Arvind (40), a resident of Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, was declared brought dead. The others, Sonu and Narayana, also from Kasganj, and Naresh from Bihar, remain in the ICU in critical condition. Police said the men were working for a private construction company that has been carrying out sewer operations in the area for several days. Preliminary accounts from co-workers allege that the victims were sent inside without any safety gear. The company manager is being questioned. Taking note of the incident, the Commission observed that, despite repeated directions of the Supreme Court and NHRC advisories to ensure the safety of sanitation workers, such tragic cases continue to occur. It described the report as raising "serious concerns of human rights violations." The NHRC has issued notices to the Chief Secretary of Delhi, the Municipal Commissioner, and the Delhi Police Commissioner, seeking a detailed report within two weeks. The report is expected to cover the status of the investigation, the medical condition of the injured workers, and details of compensation provided to the deceased's family and the injured. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted with traders and merchants of Arunachal Pradesh during his visit. Local traders of Arunachal Pradesh recalled that earlier they had to deal with multiple taxes, but the government led by PM Modi brought in the landmark reform of 'One Nation, One Tax' through GST. They said that rationalisation of GST under the Prime Minister's leadership was yet another milestone, possible only because of PM Modi, remarking that 'Modi hain to Mumkin hai.' Local traders highlighted that under the new tax reforms, construction costs will fall, making housing more affordable, while cheaper raw materials will help produce cost-efficient local products. Representatives of the hotel industry said the GST cut would give a strong push to domestic tourism, while others pointed out major gains for fisheries and agriculture. Prime Minister Modi in his interaction provided them with words of encouragement stating that he has been championing local products as their brand ambassador. He called on people to "buy Swadeshi and sell Swadeshi," stressing that India must become self-reliant in order to achieve the goal of a Viksit Bharat. Meanwhile, in a social media post on X, Prime Minister Modi noted that during the interaction, traders expressed happiness over the reforms undertaken under GST. During the interaction, traders and shopkeepers showcased a vibrant range of local products, including aromatic teas, flavourful pickles, turmeric, bakery goods and handicrafts. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1970037231977947474 The social media post reads, "As the sun rose today, so did a new chapter in India's economic journey, with the start of GST Bachat Utsav. And, what better place to be than Arunachal Pradesh, India's beautiful Land of the Rising Sun. In Itanagar, I met local traders and retailers who showcased a vibrant range of products, including aromatic teas, flavourful pickles, turmeric, bakery goods, handicrafts and more. They expressed joy on the GST reforms. Also gave them posters of 'Garv Se Kaho Yeh Swadeshi Hai', which they said they will enthusiastically display on their shops." During his visit to the state, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various development works worth over Rs 5,100 crore in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of two major hydropower projects worth over Rs 3,700 crore in Itanagar. The Heo Hydro Electric Project (240 MW) and Tato-I Hydro Electric Project (186 MW) will be developed in the Siyom sub-basin of Arunachal Pradesh. PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of a state-of-the-art Convention Center at Tawang. Located at over 9,820 feet in the frontier district of Tawang, the centre will serve as a landmark facility to host national and international conferences, cultural festivals, and exhibitions. Prime Minister also launched multiple key infrastructure projects worth over Rs 1,290 crore, catering to various sectors including connectivity, health, fire safety, working women hostels among others. These initiatives are expected to catalyse economic activity, improve quality of life, and enhance connectivity in the region. (ANI) Upon receiving the information, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) conducted an extensive search of the Coimbatore court complex, Jawans Bhawan, and the Coimbatore Judiciary Academy. Coimbatore has seen multiple hoax bomb threats this month. This was the third such hoax call targeting various institutions, including the district collectorate, courts, and other public buildings. Earlier, the Madras High Court also received an anonymous bomb threat email, prompting evacuation and searches; it was later deemed a hoax. The Bombay and Delhi High Courts faced similar threats recently, all of which turned out to be hoaxes. The Madras High Court on September 19 received a bomb threat email, according to officials. According to Madras High Court Police, an anonymous bomb threat email was sent to the Madras High Court on the court's official email ID this morning. Upon receiving the information, police personnel and a bomb squad immediately rushed to the spot and began a thorough inspection of the premises and surrounding areas. According to High Court police, investigations are underway to trace the origin of the email and assess the credibility of the threat. Meanwhile, tension gripped the Madras High Court premises after an anonymous bomb threat mail. The threat came within a week of bomb threats received by the High Courts of Bombay and Delhi, last Friday. On September 12, the Bombay High Court and the Delhi High Court received bomb threat emails, leading to panic and disruption of the court proceedings. The threats were later called out to be hoaxes. (ANI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday emphasised that a month-long programme, 'Viksasana Sadas', will be focused on the state's development achievements and future pathways. In a post on X, CM Vijayan claimed that the programme will strengthen the model of decentralised planning by drawing on people's creative ideas. "Kerala's development achievements and future pathways will be the focus of the month-long #ViksasanaSadas, being held in local self-government institutions across the state. By drawing on people's creative ideas, it strengthens our model of decentralised planning," he said. https://x.com/pinarayivijayan/status/1970047336840867894 Earlier today, Kerala CM, after inaugurating the state-level launch of Vikasana Sadas, a platform to present development achievements of the state government and local bodies and to gather suggestions for future development, alleged that the State faces neglect and even hostility when it seeks cooperation from the Centre. "Unfortunately, when Kerala seeks cooperation from the Centre, we face neglect and even hostility, as if singled out for bias," Vijayan said. "Yet, we continue to demand what rightfully belongs to our people. Ours is a federal country, and Kerala will persist in putting forth its needs before the Union Government," he said. The Chief Minister highlighted "remarkable" progress in the State, including Kerala achieving the lowest infant mortality rate, even lower than in the United States. "Remarkable changes are already visible--ten years ago, few believed our national highways would be a reality, but by March 2026, almost the entire stretch will be complete. Waterways from Kovalam to Bekal are progressing, with a major stretch set to finish by this December. Kerala has also achieved the lowest infant mortality rate, even lower than in the United States," he said. "These are milestones, but not the final goal. We must move forward with continued support from the people. Democracy means people are the true masters. By presenting a full progress report, we are ensuring that when we make promises, we also show the people how we have kept them. This is something unique, not just in India, but across the world," CM Vijayan added. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Kerala is taking new strides forward. Across Kerala, people are witnessing diverse developmental achievements, he said. "Through Vikasana Sadas, we are bringing these gains to the people, while also gathering suggestions for future growth. Every local body will showcase the progress made so far and chart the possibilities ahead. This is people's planning in its true sense, development shaped not only by government funding but also through active public participation," he said. "So far, Kerala has been able to complete many projects by going beyond government allocations, thanks to people's involvement. We expect constructive opinions and recommendations to emerge from these sessions, which will help us strengthen grassroots-level planning. For the first time, an entire Cabinet is going directly among the people to listen, making this the first instance in Kerala where development is being designed collectively at every level," he added. The Chief Minister stated that every region's growth is a reflection of the state's growth, and the state's growth is integral to the nation's and the world's progress. "Development belongs to all, and everyone must play their part. Discussions should be open-minded, without political prejudices, because development is not about party lines; it is about the future of our land," he said. "Kerala's local self-governments play a crucial role, and the state government has extended full support to them without any discrimination. No section has ever been able to claim that projects were blocked due to political differences. This is the foundation of democracy," he added. (ANI) Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) in Kandla, Gujarat, recently teamed up with the Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT BHU Varanasi) to host a significant One-Day Workshop on "Hydrogen - Next Generation Fuel: Pathway & Challenges" at DPA's Centre of Excellence in Gandhidham. This collaborative effort highlighted the increasing importance of Ports-Academia-Industry partnerships in promoting a greener future for India's maritime sector. The workshop spotlighted hydrogen's pivotal role in shaping India's green maritime future, attracting officials from major ports, industry leaders, and experts. These initiatives contribute to India's Net Zero 2050 vision and decarbonization efforts in the maritime sector. According to a post on X by DPA, the workshop was attended by officials from all major ports, industry leaders, and subject experts. Discussions focused on hydrogen's role as a clean and next-generation fuel and its potential in shaping India's green maritime future. https://x.com/Deendayal_Port/status/1970062435332604044?t=IE3CKpwnh9DiUg8Ttrc5YQ&s=08 The post on X read, "Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla in collaboration with @IITBHU_Varanasi organised a One-Day Workshop on "Hydrogen - Next Generation Fuel: Pathway & Challenges" at DPA's, Centre of Excellence, Gandhidham. Promoting Ports-Academia-Industry Collaboration for a Greener Future. Attended by officials from All Major Ports, industry leaders & experts, the workshop highlighted hydrogen's role in shaping India's green maritime future." Deendayal Port Authority has been actively promoting green hydrogen, with a 1 MW green hydrogen plant already commissioned at Kandla, part of a larger 10 MW project. Major industrial partners like Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Reliance are involved in setting up giga-scale green hydrogen and green ammonia plants. The Government of India has declared DPA Kandla a green hydrogen hub, aligning with the National Green Hydrogen Mission and Maritime India Vision 2030. Kandla, also known as the Deendayal Port Authority, is a seaport in the Kutch District of Gujarat state in western India, near the city of Gandhidham. Located on the Gulf of Kutch, it is one of the major ports on the west coast. Kandla was constructed in the 1950s as the chief seaport serving western India, after the partition of India from Pakistan left the port of Karachi in Pakistan. (ANI) Meanwhile, on August 15, DPA Chairperson Sushil Kumar Singh on the sidelines of the 79th Independence Day flag hoisting ceremony said that DPA Kandla is taking several initiatives to boost the methanol, green ammonia, and green hydrogen sectors, aiming to establish a large ecosystem and secure a place on the global maritime map. "Kandla Port is also taking initiatives to boost the methanol, green ammonia, and green hydrogen sectors, aiming to establish a large ecosystem and secure a place on the global maritime map," the DPA Chairperson told ANI. Singh further added that DPA Kandla has been declared a green hydrogen hub and the port authority is taking every necessary step to promote the ecosystem of green hydrogen. "The Government of India has declared Deendayal Port Authority as a green hydrogen hub, and we are aiming to promote the entire green hydrogen ecosystem, including green ammonia and green methanol. Major industrial partners like L&T, Reliance, and others are in the process of setting up giga-scale green hydrogen and green ammonia plants," Singh added. (ANI) In the wake of the implementation of the revised Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates from today, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the NDA government and said that all the relief will come from the coffers of state governments, and the Centre did not spend a single penny. CM Mamata Banerjee addressed the inauguration of the 25 Pally Club Durga Puja pandal on Monday. CM Mamata Banerjee said, "There is no credit to the central government. I was the first to write a letter demanding that insurance be exempt from GST. Many life-saving medicines and small items had GST. The central government has not spent a single penny on this relief; it has all come from the coffers of state governments. They take the credit, but we have borne the cost." She expressed happiness that people will get benefits, but alleged that the money has been deducted from the state's GST share. "Will they return our money? Funds for 100 days' work, for Awas Yojana, for roads, for Jal Swapno, for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: everything has been stalled. And now, again, a loss of Rs 20,000 crore has been inflicted. How will I run the state in such conditions? Still, I am happy that the people will benefit. But no compensation has been given; this money has simply been cut from our GST share. The so-called 'double engine government' will quietly take it back through back channels," she added. Earlier, Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh on Sunday criticised the next GST reforms and credited CM Mamata Banerjee and the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) for forcing the Centre to make changes in GST rates, which he termed earlier as "anti-people". Addressing reporters, Ghosh said, "GST rates were actually anti-people...Because people use the product, there is more GST on it; there is more GST on health and life insurance. And when the rich and richest use the product, there is less GST," he said. He asserted that Mamata Banerjee raised her voice against the GST structure. "Mamata Banerjee raised her voice, and then the entire nation rose up against it. The Centre was forced to change the GST rates. Now they are trying to take credit for this, but why did you introduce such rates in the first place?" Ghosh asked. Then he said, "Because your tariff was anti-people." "The credit goes to Mamata Banerjee and AITC for pointing out the flaws and forcing them to bring these changes," he added. The reform in the Goods and Services Tax structure, which was approved during the 56th meeting of the GST Council earlier this month, is set to come into effect from today. The current four-rate system will be replaced with a streamlined two-slab regime of 5% and 18%. A separate 40 per cent slab has been retained for luxury and sin goods. This new framework is expected to ease compliance, reduce consumer prices, boost manufacturing, and support a wide range of industries, from agriculture to automobiles and from FMCG to renewable energy. It is intended to lower the cost of living, strengthen MSMEs, widen the tax base, and drive inclusive growth. In the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and dairy sector, major brands like Amul and Mother Dairy have announced substantial price cuts, reflecting the full benefit of the GST reduction. Items like milk, butter, ghee, paneer, cheese, ice cream, snacks, and frozen foods have been brought under the 5 per cent slab, due to which 100 g of Amul butter will now cost Rs 58 instead of Rs 62, and Ultra High Temperature milk (UHT) has dropped to Rs 75 per litre from Rs 77. Mother Dairy has also slashed prices on milkshakes, paneer, ghee, and frozen products. (ANI) By Akbar Novruz Colonel General Karim Valiyev, First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijani Army, has begun a working visit to Belarus at the invitation of Major General Pavel Muraveyko, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and First Deputy Minister of Defense of Belarus. According to the Ministry of Defense, during the visit, Colonel General Valiyev is scheduled to meet with his Belarusian counterpart to discuss matters of mutual military interest. Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the Centre has provided whatever assistance is required for the Ministry of Cooperation. He urged the farmers to move towards organic farming. He unveiled statues of Shri Rajkot District Co-Operative Bank Ltd. (RDC) Bank Ex-Chairman Vallabhbhai Patel and Vitthalbhai Radadiya at Vitthalbhai Radadiya District Bank Building, Rajkot, on Monday. Amit Shah said, "Until now, no government had considered the cooperative sector, but in 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi established a separate Ministry of Cooperation for the first time. We provide whatever assistance is needed from this ministry, and Rajkot has consistently achieved exceptional results in this area and has even won awards." Interacting with farmers, Amit Shah said that organic farming will fetch better prices for them in the future. Amit Shah further said, "Reducing the use of fertilisers and urea will further revitalise our agriculture, and organic farming will fetch better prices in the future. I urge all farmers to move toward organic farming in the coming days, as this is a national need. Organic farming will ensure the health of both farmers and all of us in the future." He further said that he was very pleased to attend the annual meeting of the District Cooperative Bank in Rajkot. "I also had the opportunity to unveil the statues of two farmers' sons, Vallabhbhai Patel and Vitthalbhai Radaria, as both of these great men have done tremendous work and made significant contributions to the cooperative sector. Jayesh Radaria is leading the work he has done in the cooperative sector, from government banks to the cooperative sector, and I have come here at his invitation. I congratulate him for the contributions he has made to farmers, from the Rajkot District Bank to the Cooperative Society, and for the families he has worked day and night to strengthen the cooperative society and the bank," he added. Shah also attended the ISKCON Temple Bhoomi Pujan ceremony in Surat on Monday. (ANI) Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday launched a scathing attack on the opposition for criticising the GST 2.0 reforms and asked, "When did the Opposition ever talk about reforms. Shekhawat mentioned that the opposition used to call GST "Gabbar Singh Tax". "The 140 crore people of the country are looking at the GST reforms with enthusiasm. I want to ask, when did the Opposition ever talk about reforms? The Opposition was calling it 'Gabbar Singh Tax'. They used to say that whenever our government comes to power, we will abolish it...It is broadly estimated that more than 2 lakh crore rupees per year will remain in the pockets of the country's general consumers annually," he said. Earlier today, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw slammed the Opposition parties for criticising the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, which come into effect on Monday. Comparing the taxes on household items under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime to the taxes after the GST cut, he said that the industries and the MSMEs were under the "tax terror" before 2014. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, he said, "The GST reforms have been implemented today. A while ago, I was in a market in RK Puram, and people buying goods there also said that they were happy." "Under the UPA, there was a tax terror on industries and MSMEs. The web of several taxes was unified into GST. When GST was widely accepted, the next-generation reforms were brought in. Step by step, the nation has reached a good position. I thank Prime Minister Modi and the Finance Minister for the reforms," he said. Vaishnaw's response came after Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the latter opposed the GST when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. "From 2006-2014, for eight years, only one CM opposed the GST, and that CM became the Prime Minister in 2014 and took a U-turn and emerged as a messiah of GST in 2017," Ramesh, General Secretary incharge of communications in Congress, told ANI. The reform in the Goods and Services Tax structure, which was approved during the 56th meeting of the GST Council earlier this month, is set to come into effect from today. The current four-rate system will be replaced with a streamlined two-slab regime of 5% and 18%. A separate 40 per cent slab has been retained for luxury and sin goods. This new framework is expected to ease compliance, reduce consumer prices, boost manufacturing, and support a wide range of industries, from agriculture to automobiles and from FMCG to renewable energy. It is intended to lower the cost of living, strengthen MSMEs, widen the tax base, and drive inclusive growth. In the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and dairy sector, major brands like Amul and Mother Dairy have announced substantial price cuts, reflecting the full benefit of the GST reduction. Items like milk, butter, ghee, paneer, cheese, ice cream, snacks, and frozen foods have been brought under the 5 per cent slab, due to which 100 g of Amul butter will now cost Rs 58 instead of Rs 62, and Ultra High Temperature milk (UHT) has dropped to Rs 75 per litre from Rs 77. Mother Dairy has also slashed prices on milkshakes, paneer, ghee, and frozen products. (ANI) The Himachal Pradesh Police Headquarters organised a Drug Abuse Awareness Campaign at Himachal Pradesh University on Monday. According to a release from the office of the Director General of Police, during the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between HP Police and HPU. As per the statement, the MoU aims to foster collaboration in technology, research, and capacity building. It focuses on cybersecurity, cyber forensics, AI-based crime analysis, traffic & patrol management, and the development of citizen-centric applications. Additionally, it aims to enhance evidence-based policing and provide students with valuable practical experience. The Awareness Campaign was led by DGP Ashok Tiwari, who urged students to act as the "eyes and ears" of society, remain vigilant, and report suspicious activities. He also educated them on cybercrime, guiding them on how to stay safe online and seek timely help. Deputy Superintendent of Police Geetanjali encouraged students to freely approach the police with their concerns, assuring them of accessibility and support. The Law Officer emphasised the judiciary's role in protecting victims with dignity and dealing strictly with drug peddlers. As per the release, the programme concluded with an interactive session where DGP Tiwari patiently answered student queries, reinforcing the importance of vigilance, responsibility, and mutual support. By combining the MoU signing with the Awareness Campaign, the initiative not only strengthened youth-police trust but also laid the foundation for sustained academic-law enforcement collaboration to combat drug abuse, cyber threats, and modern policing challenges in Himachal Pradesh. Earlier, the Himachal Pradesh government, under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, had approved the engagement of over 2,600 youth in Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL), including 1,602 Bijli Upbhogta Mitras and 1,000 T-Mates, to further strengthen electricity services across the state. According to a release, this is the first time in the recent history of the government-owned company that such a large number of job recruitments will take place in HPSEBL. A Government Spokesperson informed that this decision has been taken to address the shortage of field staff and to ensure efficient and uninterrupted electricity supply to consumers. At present, there are 4,009 sanctioned posts of T-Mates, out of which 3,049 are vacant, adversely affecting operations and delivery of services. (ANI) According to a statement from YSR Congress, Gurumoorthy's letters condemn the Chandrababu Naidu government's unsubstantiated allegations of theft and misuse of temple offerings as a blatant political vendetta. "These claims lack credible evidence and due process, tarnishing the devotion of 1.2 billion Hindus worldwide who view Tirumala as the spiritual heart of Lord Venkateswara," he stated. The Parakamani, symbolising collective faith and offerings from millions of pilgrims, must not be weaponised for partisan gain, he emphasised, warning that such actions erode communal harmony and public trust in religious institutions. Gurumoorthy argued that only an impartial central probe can uncover the truth and restore devotees' confidence. "The Constitution entrusts the judiciary and central agencies with upholding faith's sanctity and preventing its misuse for political mileage," he noted. A CBI investigation, he urged Home Minister Shah, would ensure transparency and reaffirm that offerings are handled with utmost respect. "At the same time, the proposed Judicial Commission would provide a mechanism "beyond reproach" to examine the issue in full," Gurumoorthy said. This intervention follows the Andhra Pradesh High Court's recent order for a state CID probe into a 2023 incident, which YSRCP leaders view as biased amid ongoing political tensions. Gurumoorthy reiterated his commitment to protecting Tirumala's dignity. "The faith of pilgrims visiting this holiest shrine must prevail over fabricated narratives. We demand justice to safeguard Hinduism's revered legacy." The letters call for swift action to prevent further damage to religious sentiments and democratic governance. (ANI) Addressing the issue, UP Minister Asim Arun said that the state government has issued an order to ensure the implementation of the Allahabad High Court directive. He mentioned that the decision will take the nation forward, and a developed India encompasses not only a developed economy, but also ensures that there is no discrimination in society. "I welcome the High Court's decision and the order issued by the Uttar Pradesh government in this regard. This approach will take India forward. When we talk about a developed India, it does not just mean India's economic development; we must also ensure that there is no discrimination in society. The High Court's decision is commendable," he told ANI. Acting on the directives of the Allahabad High Court, the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday ordered a complete ban on caste-based references in police records and at public places to end caste discrimination in the state. Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar issued instructions to all departments, directing that caste will no longer be mentioned in First Information Reports (FIRs), arrest memos, or other police documents. Instead, the names of parents will be used for identification purposes. The order further directs that caste symbols, slogans, and references displayed on police station noticeboards, vehicles, or signboards must be removed immediately. Additionally, caste-based rallies have been prohibited across the state, with law enforcement tasked to ensure strict monitoring of social media platforms to prevent violations. However, the government has clarified that exemptions will apply in cases filed under the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, where identifying caste remains a necessary legal requirement. To implement the High Court's directive effectively, amendments will be made in Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and police manuals. (ANI) Union Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda on Monday interacted with local shopkeepers in the Amar Colony area of the national capital as part of the 'GST Bachat Utsav' campaign. Speaking to reporters, Nadda said that shopkeepers have accepted the Next Generation GST reforms and expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the GST reforms. The Union Minister said, "On the occasion of the first day of Navratri, I got the opportunity to interact with the shop owners and traders of Amar Colony. I have congratulated them and I have delivered PM Modi's message to them. The shop owners have accepted the Next Generation GST reforms and thanked PM Modi for it." Nadda asserted that he has encouraged the shopkeepers to promote the sale of 'Swadeshi' products in their shops as much as possible. The BJP President stated, "I have asked them to ensure that the GST reform reaches the customers of the country and that they should try to promote the sale of 'Swadeshi' products in their shops as much as possible. The shopkeepers have ensured that they will implement these GST reforms." "I thank PM Modi and extend my best wishes to the people of the country. Festivities are going to begin in the country now, and crores of people are going to begin shopping, and I congratulate them for the savings they are going to have due to the GST reforms..." he added. Nadda also shared the pictures of his interaction on his social media platform X. https://x.com/JPNadda/status/1970098908337467531 The GST 2.0 reforms, which the Union Government approved on September 4, have been implemented from Monday. Under the revised structure, the previous four-tier GST slabs have been consolidated into two main categories: 5 per cent and 18 per cent. Items that were earlier taxed at 12 per cent have been brought down to 5 per cent, while those in the 28 per cent category have been rationalised to 18 per cent. Essential commodities and daily-use items are now taxed at the lowest rate, making them more affordable for households. The reform in the Goods and Services Tax structure, which was approved during the 56th meeting of the GST Council earlier this month, is set to come into effect from today. The current four-rate system will be replaced with a streamlined two-slab regime of 5% and 18%. A separate 40 per cent slab has been retained for luxury and sin goods. This new framework is expected to ease compliance, reduce consumer prices, boost manufacturing, and support a wide range of industries, from agriculture to automobiles and from FMCG to renewable energy. It is intended to lower the cost of living, strengthen MSMEs, widen the tax base, and drive inclusive growth. In the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and dairy sector, major brands like Amul and Mother Dairy have announced substantial price cuts, reflecting the full benefit of the GST reduction. Items like milk, butter, ghee, paneer, cheese, ice cream, snacks, and frozen foods have been brought under the 5 per cent slab, due to which 100 g of Amul butter will now cost Rs 58 instead of Rs 62, and Ultra High Temperature milk (UHT) has dropped to Rs 75 per litre from Rs 77. Mother Dairy has also slashed prices on milkshakes, paneer, ghee, and frozen products. (ANI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday again urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately announce a comprehensive relief package for Punjab following devastation caused by floods in the state. The Congress leader, who had written a letter to PM Modi earlier, said Punjab has suffered losses of "nearly Rs 20,000 crore" due to the floods, and the initial relief package of Rs 1600 crore announced by PM Modi is an "injustice" to the people of Punjab. "Lakhs of homes have been uprooted, crops over more than 4 lakh acres have been ruined, and a large number of animals have been swept away. Yet the people of Punjab have shown remarkable courage and spirit. I am fully confident that they will once again help Punjab regain its momentum--they just need support and strength. I urge the Prime Minister once again to immediately announce a comprehensive relief package," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X. Rahul Gandhi had, on September 16, written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a comprehensive relief package for Punjab, stating that the state has suffered an estimated loss of at least Rs 20,000 crore due to floods and Rs 1,600 crore initial relief announced by the union government "does grave injustice" to the people of the state. Recalling his visit to the state, Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said he witnessed shocking devastation and its human cost. He said over four lakh acres of paddy crop have destroyed, and over 10 lakh animals have perished. The Congress leader said that in this hour of need of Punjab, the Centre and people of the country must reassure every farmer, every soldier, and every family in Punjab that India stands with them. "I write to you regarding the catastrophic floods that have devastated Punjab. During my recent visit, I witnessed the shocking devastation and its human cost. Over 4 lakh acres of paddy crop have destroyed, and over 10 lakh animals have perished. Lakhs of people, mostly from marginalised communities have lost their homes. The flood has also rendered vast tracts of land uncultivable in the near future. Even today, thousands of acres are submerged and villages remain cut off," Rahul Gandhi said in his letter. BJP leader Amit Malviya had slammed Gandhi, accusing him of exploiting Punjab's pain for "petty politics." Citing the Punjab government's data, the BJP leader claimed that instead of over 10 lakh, only 34,000 animals have reportedly perished, and the state losses amount to Rs 13,289 crore and not Rs 20,000 crore. "Yet another pack of lies from Rahul Gandhi. In his letter to the Prime Minister, he claims 10 lakh animals have perished. But Punjab's Animal Husbandry Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian (Sept 7) put the figure at 19,041 (including poultry), now reportedly about 34,000. Where did the missing 9.44 lakh animals go? The Punjab Chief Secretary told the PM that the state's losses amount to Rs 13,289 crores. Rahul Gandhi inflates it to Rs 20,000 crores. Why this deliberate falsehood? While the Central Government is extending full support to flood-hit Punjab, Rahul Gandhi is busy reducing Punjabis to political pawns. Why exploit Punjab's pain for petty politics?" Malviya said in a post on X. (ANI) Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday attended the 'GST Savings Festival' organised in the Premnagar area in Dehradun. The event was aimed at spreading awareness about the reduction in GST rates across the country and informing people about its direct benefits. CM Dhami visited the local market in Premnagar, where he interacted with traders, sought feedback on the new GST slabs, and urged them to educate the public about the reduced GST rates. He personally visited various establishments to take feedback from shopkeepers and encouraged traders to prioritise indigenous products. He emphasised that by giving preference to local goods, people can strengthen both Indian citizens and the national economy. The Chief Minister also met a large number of citizens and briefed them about the reduced 'Next Generation GST' rates. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government has reduced GST slabs on several essential goods and services to provide relief to the common people. This, he added, will directly benefit households across the nation. Appealing to the public, CM Dhami urged people "to buy more and more indigenous and local products. He said that "promoting local goods will boost cottage industries and encourage small businesses, thereby strengthening both the state and the nation's economy." According to him, prioritising local products will empower rural and urban entrepreneurs and accelerate the vision of an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India). The Chief Minister added that everyone should contribute to the state and society's progress by adopting local and indigenous products. CM Dhami remarked, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, economic reforms and welfare measures are moving hand in hand in the country. The reduction in GST rates has given relief to every section of society - from homemakers to small traders, everyone is benefitting." He further stated that initiatives like the 'GST Savings Festival' provide an opportunity for direct dialogue with the people, allowing them to experience firsthand the benefits of government policies. Citizens present at the program expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the GST relief, stating that the reduction in tax rates on daily-use items has eased the pressure on household budgets, bringing real relief to common families. People also said that they have complete faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Dhami, a team that has led citizens on the path of development, security, and economic stability. The event witnessed the participation of a large number of citizens, traders, women, youth, and senior citizens, who described the GST rate reduction as a gift from the 'double-engine government' to the people. (ANI) All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday came out in support of Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's demand that the Union government compensate the state for its revenue loss of Rs 7,000 crore following the introduction of the new GST rate rationalisation. In a post shared on X, AIMIM chief said, "I completely agree & support the demand put forward by A Revanth Reddy which should be accepted by PM Narendra Modi government and will help all the states, it will show the country whether Modi government believes in Federalism. Telangana state should not be punished for its development." Earlier today, the Telangana CM demanded that the Union government compensate Telangana for a revenue loss of Rs 7,000 crore due to the introduction of the new GST structure with rate rationalisation. Declaring the profit share bonus to Singareni Employees today, the Chief Minister said that the GST rate rationalisation will have an adverse impact on the state revenues. "The Centre should come to the rescue of the states which bear the brunt of the new GST structure. We are demanding that the centre address the concerns raised by the Telangana State on losing revenues after the introduction of the GST rate rationalisation," he said, as per a release. Announcing that the state government will also give "Diwali Bonus" to Singareni employees, CM Revanth Reddy said that the state government will pursue the Union Government to address the issue of increasing private partnership in the Singareni company. "The role of private partnership posed a big threat to the existence of India's prestigious Singareni Colleries Company Limited," CM Revanth Reddy said. "Telangana government is committed to the welfare of the Singareni employees and promotes the Singareni company as a profit-making company in the future," the Chief Minister assured. Remembering the unwavering support of the Singareni employees during the Telangana movement, the Chief Minister said that the People's Government recognised the services of the Singareni workers who played a significant role in the achievement of statehood for Telangana. Out of the Rs 6394 crore income, the Chief Minister said that Rs 4,034 crore will be utilised for investments. Rs 819 crore (34 per cent of the profits) has been given as a bonus to the Singareni employees this year. The bonus for contract employees has also been enhanced to Rs 5,500 from Rs 5,000, the release stated. Revanth Reddy reiterated that the government will promote Singareni as a competent company on par with the corporate industry. The Chief Minister praised the Singareni workers for their hard work in earning more profits every year. "Since the Singareni company was earning profits, the government decided to share the profits with the workers every year," he said. (ANI) According to a release from Chadha's office, he extended his warm congratulations to Radhakrishnan on assuming the high office and also conveyed his best wishes to him on the auspicious occasion of Navratri. During their meeting, the AAP MP discussed the smooth and productive functioning of the Rajya Sabha, important national matters, and briefly highlighted key issues concerning the state of Punjab. Chadha expressed confidence that under Radhakrishnan's leadership as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House will continue to uphold the highest standards of democratic deliberation and inclusivity. On September 12, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan assumed charge as the Rajya Sabha chairman after he took oath as the Vice President of India. President Droupadi Murmu administered his oath at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Following the swearing-in ceremony, the Vice-President paid floral tribute at the memorials of Mahatma Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and Chaudhary Charan Singh. Subsequently, the Vice-President visited Parliament House Complex. On his arrival at the Parliament House Complex, he was welcomed by Union Ministers, the Deputy Chairman, Harivansh, and the Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha. He offered floral tributes to the statues of eminent national leaders and freedom fighters at Prerna Sthal, who had made invaluable contributions to the freedom struggle and progress of the nation. On the occasion, he also planted a sapling in the Parliament House Complex to mark his first day in office after taking the oath as Vice-President of India. Thereafter, VP Radhakrishnan entered the main Parliament House Building through the Shardul Dwar and formally assumed the charge as Chairman, Rajya Sabha. Floor leaders of various political parties also called on him on this occasion. Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs; Harivansh, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha; Arjun Ram Meghwal, MoS for Parliamentary Affairs and Law & Justice; Dr L Murugan, MoS for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs; and PC Mody, Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha were present on the occasion. (ANI) By Qabil Ashirov The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has announced that outdated and unusable military ammunition will be safely destroyed between September 22 and 26. According to the ministry, the disposal process will take place at a training ground near Pir?k??kul settlement and at a training center in the A?d?r? district. All operations will be carried out in compliance with strict safety regulations. Residents in nearby areas may hear explosion sounds during this period. The ministry urged the public not to be alarmed, stressing that the process poses no danger to the population. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday lauded Prime Minister Modi for the GST reforms and said that this decision of PM Modi will benefit the countrymen a lot. On the occasion, CM Saini also launched the GST Savings Festival during Shardiya Navratri. "Heartfelt greetings and congratulations to everyone on the occasion of Sharadiya Navratri and Agrasen Jayanti... Today, Prime Minister Modi has given a very big gift to the people of the country through GST reforms, which has benefited people a lot. We have also launched the GST Savings Festival today..." Saini told reporters. The Haryana Chief Minister also mentioned the decrease in the prices of farmers' equipment, which will benefit a state like Haryana, whose majority of the population is engaged in Agriculture. "GST has been reduced on farmers' equipment, and GST has been set to zero on daily use items... This decision of Prime Minister Modi will benefit people a lot. GST has been reduced on medicines and insurance...," added Saini. He further mentioned that the purchase of paddy crop in Ladwa and Mandi has started from today. "In addition, on the occasion of Sharadiya Navratri and Agrasen Jayanti, the purchase of paddy crop in Ladwa and Mandi has also started from today," added Saini. The reform in the Goods and Services Tax structure, which was approved during the 56th meeting of the GST Council earlier this month, has come into effect from today. The current four-rate system has been replaced with a streamlined two-slab regime of 5% and 18%. A separate 40 per cent slab has been retained for luxury and sin goods. This new framework is expected to ease compliance, reduce consumer prices, boost manufacturing, and support a wide range of industries, from agriculture to automobiles and from FMCG to renewable energy. It is intended to lower the cost of living, strengthen MSMEs, widen the tax base, and drive inclusive growth. (ANI) Two Central Committee Member Naxal leaders, Katta Ramachandra Reddy and Kadri Satyanarayan Reddy, have been eliminated by security forces in the Abujhmad region of Narayanpur along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border. Bastar IG P Sundarraj said that the security forces have continued their operation following intelligence about the presence of Maoists in the area. "Following intelligence about the presence of cadres from the banned Maoist organisation in the Abujhmad area of Narayanpur district near the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border, the security forces continued their operation. During the operation today, there were multiple encounters between Maoists and security forces," he said. The senior police officer said that during the search of the area, the bodies of two Maoists, along with an AK 47 and INSAS rifle and other weapons and ammunition, were recovered. "The security forces are continuing their ongoing anti-Naxal operations," he said. He also stated that decisive operations against the banned Maoist outfit have delivered a major setback to the organisation. The killed Maoists have been identified as Central Committee Members Raju Dada alias Katta Ramachandra Reddy (aged 63 years) and Kosa Dada alias Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy (aged 67 years), both carrying a reward of Rs 40 lakh each in Chhattisgarh state. Both were residents of Karimnagar, Telangana. Officials said that a BGL launcher, a large quantity of explosives, Maoist literature, and other items were also recovered from the encounter site. Superintendent of Police Narayanpur, Robinson, earlier informed that based on intelligence inputs regarding the Maoist movement in the Abujhmarh region along the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border, security forces launched a search operation in the area. Officials said despite difficult terrain and adverse weather, the police and security forces in Bastar remain steadfast in their commitment, working in line with the vision of the Centre, Chhattisgarh government and the aspirations of the people of Bastar. Both Central Committee members, Raju Dada and Kosa Dada, were active "in the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee for over three decades" and were masterminds behind numerous violent incidents, leading to the killing of security personnel and loss of innocent civilian lives in the region, officials said. IGP Bastar again appealed to Maoist cadres and their leadership to realise there is no alternative to shun violence, return to the mainstream, and avail of the protection and benefits of the surrender and rehabilitation policy of the government. (ANI) The launch of GST 2.0, dubbed "Bachat Utsav" (Festival of Savings) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has sparked a heated debate between the Centre and the Opposition. While the government hails it as a landmark reform, the Opposition criticises it as inadequate and a "historic blunder" being corrected after eight years. The Goods and Services Tax reforms approved by the Union Government on September 4 came into effect on Monday. GST 2.0 features two main tax slabs - 5% and 18%, with a 40% compensation cess for luxury and sin goods. The Centre has presented GST 2.0 as a progressive step aimed at providing significant relief of Rs 2.5 lakh crore to the common people through indirect tax cuts. On the other hand, the opposition has termed it a "historic" blunder under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has been corrected after eight years of damage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a letter to the Indian citizens after the GST reforms came into effect, highlighting that the 'GST Bachat Utsav' will boost savings and directly benefit every section of society. "As the nation celebrates the beginning of Navaratri, I extend heartfelt wishes to you and your families. May this festival bring good health, happiness and prosperity to everyone. This year, the festive season brings an added reason to rejoice. From September 22nd, the Next Generation GST reforms have begun to make their presence felt, marking the start of a 'GST Bachat Utsav' or 'GST Savings Festival' across the country," PM Modi wrote. India's Chief Economic Advisor Anantha Nageswaran, while speaking during the Network18 Reforms Reloaded 2025 summit in Delhi, noted that the combined impact of direct tax relief through income tax cuts and indirect tax relief through GST rate reductions will be over Rs 2.5 lakh crore. He, however, added that some other uncertainties may dilute the effect. Calling the GST 2.0 a "Modi's historic blunder", Congress Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore lashed out at YSR Congress Party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy over the latter's appreciation of the Centre's decision. "Mr Jagan calls GST restructuring "revolutionary." Let's be clear -- this is not a revolution. It's just Modi's historic GST blunder being corrected after 7 years of damage," Tagore posted on X. "Instead of demanding justice for Andhra, Jagan praises Modi & Nirmala. Reforms correcting Delhi's mistakes are not revolutionary," he added. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms have brought a wave of happiness and celebration among people and can boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country by 0.8 per cent. "Apart from Navratri, the budget utsav has begun. There is a wave of happiness and celebration among people wherever you see... GST rates have been reduced, which will benefit all sections of society. But we are celebrating something else. These reforms can boost the GDP by 0.8%... Our path towards a Viksit Bharat goes through self-reliance. All sections of society have welcomed it," Puri told ANI. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the NDA government and said that all the relief would come from the coffers of state governments, and the Centre did not spend a single penny. CM Mamata Banerjee said, "There is no credit to the central government. I was the first to write a letter demanding that insurance be exempt from GST. Many life-saving medicines and small items were subject to GST. The central government has not spent a single penny on this relief; it has all come from the coffers of state governments. They take the credit, but we have borne the cost." Meanwhile, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the latter opposed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. "From 2006-2014, for eight years, only one CM opposed the GST, and that CM became the Prime Minister in 2014 and took a U-turn and emerged as a messiah of GST in 2017," Ramesh, General Secretary incharge of communications in Congress, told ANI. Labelling the reductions as "historic," Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the GST rate cuts have been implemented on more than 390 products. "Modi government's gift of Next Gen GST reform to all the mothers and sisters of the country on the auspicious occasion of Navratri! Modi's promise to the countrymen regarding GST reform has been implemented across the entire country starting today. In this GST, historic reductions have been made in taxes on more than 390 goods," the Union Home Minister posted on X. The reform in the Goods and Services Tax structure, which was approved during the 56th meeting of the GST Council earlier this month, is set to come into effect from September 22. The current four-rate system will be replaced with a streamlined two-slab regime of 5% and 18%. A separate 40 per cent slab has been retained for luxury and sin goods. This new framework is expected to ease compliance, reduce consumer prices, boost manufacturing, and support a wide range of industries, from agriculture to automobiles and from FMCG to renewable energy, and is intended to lower the cost of living, strengthen MSMEs, widen the tax base, and drive inclusive growth. In the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and dairy sector, major brands like Amul and Mother Dairy have announced substantial price cuts, reflecting the full benefit of the GST reduction. (ANI) Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan on Monday released two volumes containing the selected speeches of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, titled 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas' covering the fourth and fifth years of Prime Minister's second term, Vice President's Secretariat said in an official statement. Speaking at the event organized by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in New Delhi, the Vice-President extended warm greetings to citizens on the auspicious occasion of Navratri and noted that this was his first public function after assuming office. The Vice-President said that the two volumes serve as keys to understanding the Prime Minister's contributions, vision, and dreams for the nation. He described Prime Minister Modi as "a living inspiration for millions across the country and abroad, who motivates people through his own conduct to give their very best, who has grown from being a representative of the common man to a true people's leader, whose determination has shown us how the impossible can be made possible, Namumkin ko Mumkin karna, Asambhav ko Sambhav Karna." Highlighting the contents of the books- which include 76 speeches and 12 Mann Ki Baat addresses for 2022-23 and 82 speeches and 9 Mann Ki Baat addresses for 2023-24 compiled into 11 thematic sections each- the Vice-President said they reflect the Prime Minister's clarity of thought, forward-looking vision, and commitment to inclusive governance. The Vice-President also congratulated the Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the careful selection and elegant presentation of the speeches. Quoting Swami Vivekananda- "Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached"- the Vice-President observed that every speech of the Prime Minister carries the same message of persistence, determination, and public welfare. He emphasized that the speeches reflect PM Modi's vision of ensuring that government schemes reach the last person in society. He underlined the Prime Minister's role in reviving India's cultural identity through initiatives such as Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, Kashi Tamil Sangamam, Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, and the renaming of Rajpath as Kartavya Path. On youth empowerment, the Vice-President praised initiatives such as Startup India, Fit India, Khelo India, Skill India, and Rozgar Melas, describing them as foundational pillars for building a developed India by 2047. He also highlighted the launch of Mera Yuva Bharat (My Bharat) as an initiative rooted in faith in the nation's youth. Referring to India's G20 Presidency, the Vice-President lauded the historic inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member, underscoring PM Modi's vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam- the world is one family. He further said that the speeches capture a "360-degree engagement" of Prime Minister Modi, ranging from shaping global agendas to driving transformative local initiatives like Vocal for Local, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. He noted how these programmes reflect the Sustainable Development Goals and bring tangible change in people's lives. The Vice-President also highlighted that through initiatives such as Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar-Mobile linkage, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Lakhpati Didi, PM-KISAN for farmers, Mudra Yojana, and PM SVANidhi, more than 25 crore people have come out of extreme poverty in the past decade. The Vice-President said that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi draws upon Bharat's civilisational ethos-rooted in Dharma, Kartavya bodh and Seva bhav. He reminded us that a strong nation is not built on power alone but on character and unity. The Vice-President noted that for the Prime Minister, no goal is ever too far or too difficult, as he constantly draws strength from the power of 1.40 billion Indians. He said that the Prime Minister's unshakeable faith in the people's collective potential turned the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan into a mass movement of Jan Bhagidari and instilled in citizens the spirit of "cleanliness is service." The same faith, he added, gave the Prime Minister the courage to lead India firmly on the path of self-reliance during the COVID crisis. The Vice-President observed that a decade ago, India was considered among the Fragile Five economies. Today, India has proudly grown as the fourth largest economy in the world and is poised to soon become the third largest. He underlined that this is not merely an economic achievement but the fruit of national discipline, self-reliance, and the spirit of Rashtra Pratham (Nation First) that guides the country's development journey. It is heartening, Vice-President said, to see the dream of a Viksit Bharat shining in the eyes and the principle of Rashtra Pratham echoing in the heart of every citizen, as per the release. The Vice-President said that the renewed love for heritage, history, language, and culture is a sign of the country's Amrit Kaal. He expressed confidence that these volumes will help readers understand the strength and aspirations of a 'New India' and inspire them to remain committed to their duties during this Amrit Kaal leading to Viksit Bharat by 2047. Vice-President, CP Radhakrishnan congratulated the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Publications Division team for bringing out these volumes. The event was attended by Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Railways, and Electronics & IT, Harivansh, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha; Amit Khare ,Secretary to Vice-President,; and Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Justice (Smt.) Ranjana Prakash Desai, Chairperson, Press Council of India, Nihikant Dubey & Yogesh Chandolia, Members of Parliament, Vice Chancellors of Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, Netaji Subhas University of Technology and eminent journalists. (ANI) Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy held a review of the development of the National Highway network in the state today and ordered the officials to expedite land acquisition and the payment of compensation for the construction of national highways, a release from Telangana CMO said. Stressing that the land acquisition should be taken up from a humane perspective, the Chief Minister instructed the district Collectors to explain the benefits of road development to the farmers during land acquisition and resolve arbitration cases quickly, the release said. The CM held a high-level review of the construction of national highways, permissions and approval of new proposals with the officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways Department (NH), Ministry of National Highways and Road Transport (MoRT), Roads and Buildings Department, and Forest Department at the Secretariat today. The Chief Minister inquired about the sanction of national highways, approval of the proposals and the delay in the process. As per the release, the CM ordered the officials to stop delaying the works due to minor reasons, and the respective departments should resolve the challenges immediately. The officials were instructed to expedite the land acquisition and works, ensuring compensation is provided immediately. CM Revanth Reddy questioned the NHAI officials for raising new issues while resolving every issue in the construction of the Regional Ring Road (RRR) North. The CM advised the officials to send all the doubts and queries at once. NHAI officials briefed the CM that the authorities had discussed the issues and would bring to the government's notice any doubts that may arise. The CM appealed to the NHAI officials to immediately grant permissions for RRR North and South and to cooperate in starting the work of both simultaneously. The NHAI officials expressed their willingness to accept the CM's request for immediate approval of the RRR South alignment. According to the release, CM Revanth Reddy also advised the NHAI officials to immediately grant permissions for the Bharat Future City-Amaravati-Machilipatnam 12-lane greenfield highway. The government envisaged plans to develop a Dry Port, Logistics Park and Industrial Park in Bharat Future City. The CM said that the Greenfield highway will connect the two capital cities of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, which will provide convenience to the transport of goods and passengers. The Greenfield highway will also reduce the distance between Hyderabad and Vijaywada by 70 km and generate more revenues than any other national highway in the country. Reminding that the construction of the greenfield highway between the two states was assured in the AP Reorganisation Act, the Chief Minister said that required permissions should be given under PM Gatishakti or any other scheme, along with the finalisation of the alignment. As per the release, the state government also requested the sanction of a railway line between Bengaluru - Shamshabad Airport - Amaravati, parallel to the greenfield highway, which is suitable for running trains, including Vande Bharat, to earn profits, the CM said. Reviewing the status of pending highways, CM Revanth Reddy sought immediate approval for the elevated corridor between Raviryal and Mannanur on the Hyderabad-Srisailam route. Since a large number of devotees from Hyderabad visit the Srisailam temple, the Srisailam reservoir and the Tiger Forest regularly, the CM instructed the NHAI officials to immediately grant necessary approvals for the elevated corridor and take steps to start the work immediately. State Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao was ordered to take immediate action to resolve the case pending in the NGT regarding the removal of Banyan trees on the Hyderabad-Manneguda road. The NHAI was also requested to approve the new Hyderabad-Manchiryal-Nagpur road. The proposed route will help establish new industrial parks and connect national highways. In a video conference with the district Collectors, the Chief Minister enquired about the delay in land acquisition and compensation for the Manchiryal-Warangal-Khammam-Vijayawada National Highway (NH-163G), Armur-Jagityal-Manchiryal (NH-63), Jagityal-Karimnagar (NH-563), and Mahabubnagar-Marikal-Deosugur (NH-167) roads. The collectors brought to the notice of CM Revanth Reddy that court cases were pending in many places. The Chief Minister instructed the Chief Secretary to prepare a report on all pending cases in the districts, discuss them with the Advocate General within a week, and take steps to resolve them. When the CM enquired about he delay in the payment of compensation, the collectors brought to the CM's attention that there was a delay in the release of funds from the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition. Responding to this, NHAI officials stated that they will release funds after the lists are uploaded, and the collectors should complete this work promptly, the release said. The CM warned the collectors that the government will not tolerate any delay in this matter and ordered them to complete the arbitration cases in land acquisition immediately and upload the lists on time. The CM also instructed the collectors to complete the land acquisition and payment of compensation by the end of October. The collectors, RDOs, and Tahsildars who show negligence in land acquisition and compensation payment will be removed from service, the CM warned. CM Revanth Reddy also reviewed the complaints lodged by the Forest and Environment Department in the construction of national highways. Forest South Region IG Trinath Kumar said that forest and environment regulations were violated in many areas from 2002 to 2022 and the permissions are not being given at present. Expressing his displeasure, the chief minister said that officers who worked in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh are no longer in service and ordered the chief secretary to submit details regarding the violations. The CM also said that alternative land will be given for forest development wherever necessary. If necessary, the CM said he will personally meet Union Minister of National Highways Nitin Gadkari and Union Minister of Forest and Environment Bhupender Yadav in this regard, as per the release. The CM said that the Wildlife Act is being implemented even in forest areas where there is no wildlife. The officials brought to the notice of the CM that the permissions are being delayed due to the lack of any provision in the NHAI for the wildlife mitigation plan in non-wildlife areas. CM Revanth Reddy said that the government is ready to bear the cost in this regard and advised PCCF Dr. Suvarna to take the initiative and complete the forest clearance process quickly. Responding to the NHAI officials' request to allocate two acres of land in Hyderabad for the construction of their office, CM Revanth Reddy instructed the officials to find suitable land and start the process. NHAI officials thanked Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for responding promptly to their request. State R&B Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Chief Minister's Advisor Vem Narender Reddy, State Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao, Chief Minister's Principal Secretaries V. Seshadri, K.S. Srinivasa Raju, Chief Minister's OSD Vemula Srinivasulu, R&B Special Chief Secretary Vikas Raj, State Finance Principal Secretary Sandeep Kumar Sultania, Central Government Special Secretary Vinay Kumar Rajawat, NHAI Member (Projects) Anil Chaudhary, MORT Regional Officer Krishna Prasad, NHAI Regional Officer Shivshankar, Principal Secretary of the Energy Department Naveen Mittal, Principal Secretary of the Environment Department Ahmed Nadeem and others participated. (ANI) The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will celebrate its centenary year from Vijayadashami (Dussehra) 2025 to Vijayadashami 2026, marking 100 years since its founding in 1925 by Dr KB Hedgewar. RSS Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar in Nagpur press conference on Monday announced, "The RSS is celebrating 100 years of its founding on Vijayadashami this year. The centenary year of the RSS will be celebrated from this year's Vijayadashami (2025) to the next Vijayadashami (2026). This year's Vijayadashami celebrations will mark the beginning of the centenary year." Asked about how RSS envisions India for the next century, Ambekar said that the RSS envisions a nation where every citizen feels proud, secure, and plays a meaningful role globally. He added that the Sangh will perform its duties in any way that is necessary to achieve this goal. He said, "Everyone in the country wants an India that we are proud of, where everyone is happy, and that plays its role globally. Sangh will perform its duties in any way that is necessary to achieve this..." The RSS spokesperson further stressed the need to move beyond a "colonised mindset" and strengthen self-reliance. "Families are the core of the next generation's ideology... We will take this awareness forward in society. India got independence many years ago, but it must be completely free from the colonised mind. Therefore, we will try to spread self-dependency and appeal to people to implement citizens' duties... Sangh work in this direction in the future..." Ambekar stated. This year, on Vijayadashami, the RSS completes 100 years. Founded in 1925 in Nagpur by KB Hedgewar, the RSS has grown into one of the world's largest voluntary organisations, with a network of shakhas across India and an active presence abroad. (ANI) Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah hailed security forces for achieving a major victory against the Naxalites in Narayanpur along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border on Monday. In a post on the X platform, Amit Shah said, "Today, our security forces have achieved another major victory against the Naxalites. In the Abujhmad region of Narayanpur along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border, our forces eliminated two Central Committee Member Naxal leaders - Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy alias Kosa, Katta Ramchandra Reddy. Both neutralised Naxal leaders had a bounty of Rs 40 lakh each on their heads. Our security forces are systematically dismantling the top leadership of the Naxals, breaking the backbone of red terror." Two Central Committee members, Naxal leaders Katta Ramachandra Reddy and Kadri Satyanarayan Reddy, were eliminated by security forces in the Abujhmad region of Narayanpur along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border. Bastar IG P Sundarraj said that the security forces have continued their operation following intelligence about the presence of Maoists in the area. "Following intelligence about the presence of cadres from the banned Maoist organisation in the Abujhmad area of Narayanpur district near the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border, the security forces continued their operation. During the operation today, there were multiple encounters between Maoists and security forces," he said. The senior police officer said that during the search of the area, the bodies of two Maoists, along with an AK-47 and an INSAS rifle and other weapons and ammunition, were recovered. "The security forces are continuing their ongoing anti-Naxal operations," he said. He also stated that decisive operations against the banned Maoist outfit have delivered a major setback to the organisation. The killed Maoists have been identified as Central Committee Members Raju Dada alias Katta Ramachandra Reddy (aged 63 years) and Kosa Dada alias Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy (aged 67 years), both carrying a reward of Rs 40 lakh each in Chhattisgarh state. Both were residents of Karimnagar, Telangana. Officials said that a BGL launcher, a large quantity of explosives, Maoist literature, and other items were also recovered from the encounter site. Superintendent of Police Narayanpur, Robinson, earlier informed that based on intelligence inputs regarding the Maoist movement in the Abujhmarh region along the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border, security forces launched a search operation in the area. Officials said despite difficult terrain and adverse weather, the police and security forces in Bastar remain steadfast in their commitment, working in line with the vision of the Centre, Chhattisgarh government and the aspirations of the people of Bastar. Both Central Committee members, Raju Dada and Kosa Dada, were active "in the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee for over three decades" and were masterminds behind numerous violent incidents, leading to the killing of security personnel and loss of innocent civilian lives in the region, officials said. (ANI) Engineers discovered how to make atomic nuclei "talk" inside silicon chips, opening the door to scalable quantum computers. Researchers at the University of South Wales (UNSW) have found a way to make atomic nuclei communicate through electrons, allowing them to achieve entanglement at scales used in today''s computer chips. This breakthrough brings scalable, silicon-based quantum computing much closer to reality. UNSW engineers have made a significant advance in quantum computing: they created ''quantum entangled states'' - where two separate particles become so deeply linked they no longer behave independently - using the spins of two atomic nuclei. Such states of entanglement are the key resource that gives quantum computers their edge over conventional ones. The research was published on September 18 in the journal Science, and is an important step towards building large-scale quantum computers - one of the most exciting scientific and technological challenges of the 21st century. Lead author Dr Holly Stemp says the achievement unlocks the potential to build the future microchips needed for quantum computing using existing technology and manufacturing processes. "We succeeded in making the cleanest, most isolated quantum objects talk to each other, at the scale at which standard silicon electronic devices are currently fabricated," she says. The challenge facing quantum computer engineers has been to balance two opposing needs: shielding the computing elements from external interference and noise, while still enabling them to interact to perform meaningful computations. This is why there are so many different types of hardware still in the race to be the first operating quantum computer: some are very good for performing fast operations, but suffer from noise; others are well shielded from noise, but difficult to operate and scale up. The UNSW team has invested in a platform that - until today - could be placed in the second camp. They have used the nuclear spin of phosphorus atoms, implanted in a silicon chip, to encode quantum information. "The spin of an atomic nucleus is the cleanest, most isolated quantum object one can find in the solid state," says Scientia Professor Andrea Morello, UNSW School of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications. "Over the last 15 years, our group has pioneered all the breakthroughs that made this technology a real contender in the quantum computing race. We already demonstrated that we could hold quantum information for over 30 seconds - an eternity, in the quantum world - and perform quantum logic operations with less than 1% errors," said Morello. "We were the first in the world to achieve this in a silicon device, but it all came at a price: the same isolation that makes atomic nuclei so clean, makes it hard to connect them together in a large-scale quantum processor," added Morello. Until now, the only way to operate multiple atomic nuclei was for them to be placed very close together inside a solid, and to be surrounded by one and the same electron. "Most people think of an electron as the tiniest subatomic particle, but quantum physics tells us that it has the ability to ''spread out'' in space, so that it can interact with multiple atomic nuclei," says Dr Holly Stemp, who conducted this research at UNSW and is now a postdoctoral researcher at MIT in Boston. "Even so, the range over which the electron can spread is quite limited. Moreover, adding more nuclei to the same electron makes it very challenging to control each nucleus individually," added Dr Holly. "By way of metaphor one could say that, until now, nuclei were like people placed in a sound-proof room," Dr Holly says. She continued, "They can talk to each other as long as they are all in the same room, and the conversations are really clear. But they can''t hear anything from the outside, and there''s only so many people who can fit inside the room. This mode of conversation doesn''t ''scale''," "With this breakthrough, it''s as if we gave people telephones to communicate to other rooms. All the rooms are still nice and quiet on the inside, but now we can have conversations between many more people, even if they are far away." The ''telephones'' are, in fact, electrons. Mark van Blankenstein, another author on the paper, explains what''s really going on at the sub-atomic level. "By their ability to spread out in space, two electrons can ''touch'' each other at quite some distance. And if each electron is directly coupled to an atomic nucleus, the nuclei can communicate through that." "The distance between our nuclei was about 20 nanometers - one thousandth of the width of a human hair," says Dr Stemp. "That doesn''t sound like much, but consider this: if we scaled each nucleus to the size of a person, the distance between the nuclei would be about the same as that between Sydney and Boston!" added Dr Stemp. She adds that 20 nanometers is the scale at which modern silicon computer chips are routinely manufactured to work in personal computers and mobile phones. Despite the exotic nature of the experiments, the researchers say these devices remain fundamentally compatible with the way all current computer chips are built. The phosphorus atoms were introduced in the chip by the team of Professor David Jamieson at the University of Melbourne, using an ultra-pure silicon slab supplied by Professor Kohei Itoh at Keio University in Japan. By removing the need for the atomic nuclei to be attached to the same electron, the UNSW team has swept aside the biggest roadblock to the scale-up of silicon quantum computers based on atomic nuclei. (ANI) According to sources, the bodies of the dead officer and his son are being retrieved after being shot by kidnappers and thrown in the highlands. The tragic incident has been strongly condemned by the provincial leadership. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti stated that the assistant commissioner sacrificed his life while performing his duties. "Those who kill innocent people and disrupt peace will not escape their fate," he declared in a statement, Geo News reported. Chief Minister Bugti further praised Afzal as a dedicated, hardworking, and capable officer, noting that his sacrifice for the nation would always be remembered. He also extended heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the officer's grieving family. Describing the attack as "cowardly and brutal", the chief minister stressed that such actions can never be condemned enough. Balochistan Governor Jaffar Mandokhail also expressed profound sorrow over the killing of the officer and his son, affirming that their sacrifice would not be in vain. He called on law enforcement agencies to apprehend those responsible and ensure they face justice, stating, "We share the grief and pain of the bereaved family," the governor said in his statement. (ANI) Dubai [UAE], September 22 (ANI/WAM): The Ministry of Economy and Tourism outlined details of "The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World" national campaign, launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to strengthen the UAE's position as a leading global destination for entrepreneurship. The campaign is overseen by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism in collaboration with the UAE Government Media Office, with the participation of the UAE Council for Entrepreneurship and over 50 government and private entities, business incubators and accelerators, and academic institutions. At a press conference attended by members of the UAE Council for Entrepreneurship, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, highlighted the UAE's commitment to solidifying its standing as a global entrepreneurship destination through policies that support businesses and economic practices, and proactive government initiatives. Al Marri stressed that the campaign represents a comprehensive national vision to build a globally competitive economy driven by innovation, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship. It is supported by practical programmes and initiatives, underpinned by robust data and indicators that position the UAE as a global destination for talent, investors, and entrepreneurs. Al Marri said, "'The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World' national campaign reflects the UAE leadership's vision to establish the nation as the premier destination for global talent, innovators and entrepreneurs. It is a strategic step toward solidifying the UAE's position as a global hub for entrepreneurship." He pointed out that the UAE has secured the top position in the 2024-2025 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report for the 4th year running. The UAE also ranked first in 11 out of 13 indicators for high-income countries, and was named the best destination for entrepreneurship and SMEs among 56 evaluated economies. As part of the 'Projects of the 50' initiative, the UAE announced investments worth AED8.7 billion aimed at promoting innovation and supporting SMEs. The UAE is home to over 50 government and private business incubators and accelerators, Al Marri noted. He also pointed out that SMEs, which make up around 95% of the UAE's active businesses, have contributed 63.5% of its non-oil GDP as of mid-2022, and that out of the 7 Arab companies recently gaining 'Unicorn' status, 5 have launched in the UAE. The UAE's entrepreneurial ecosystem blends innovation, modern technology and sustainability, making it an ideal launchpad for global entrepreneurs. The UAE offers a comprehensive legislative and regulatory framework that helps fast-track business setup within days, thanks to smart digital services. The 100% foreign ownership of companies across most sectors, as well as the nation's world-class infrastructure, including ports, international airports and an advanced roads network, further enhance the UAE market's attractiveness. At the press conference, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism outlined key initiatives under the 'The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World' campaign, which include the launch of the StartupEmirates.ae platform, which aims to attract 10,000 entrepreneurs and create 30,000 jobs within five years. The campaign will also train 10,000 Emiratis through the Entrepreneurship Programme, and license 500 Emiratis to manage residential construction projects under the Project Management Experts Programme. Other initiatives include supporting 250 Emiratis in establishing national real estate companies, licencing 500 Emirati tax agents through a three-year training programme, and launching a national exhibition to raise early-stage entrepreneurship awareness across educational institutions. Additionally, the campaign will see the launch of a Graduate Business Projects Exhibition, and improve national startups involvement in and access to federal procurement systems under the umbrella of the Ministry of Finance. The UAE Council for Entrepreneurship held a meeting chaired by Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri. The meeting discussed strengthening the UAE's entrepreneurial ecosystem, supporting SME growth, and empowering citizens to create new businesses. The meeting stressed the importance of coordinating federal and local entities with financial institutions to empower youth through training and development, and highlighted the need for government and institutional support for entrepreneurs in government procurement. The meeting reviewed ''The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World' campaign, which aims to attract and train entrepreneurs in five years, providing infrastructure, boosting their contribution to non-oil GDP, and empowering Emirati youth to launch globally competitive projects. Finally, the meeting addressed enhancing national economic competitiveness by supporting SMEs and fostering public-private-academic partnerships to bolster regional and global entrepreneurship, cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs through training, support, funding, and legislative empowerment. The meeting was attended by members of the UAE Council for Entrepreneurship, including: Mariam Mohammed Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary of Government Finance Management at the Ministry of Finance; Dr. Faisal AlAli, Acting Undersecretary for Support Services Sector of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Salama Al Haj Al Awadhi, Assistant Undersecretary, Industrial Development Sector, UAE; Sara Al Habshi, Executive Director of the Tax Compliance Sector at the Federal Tax Authority; Fatima Abdullah Al Jabri, Assistant Governor for Financial Crime and Market Conduct at the Central Bank of the UAE; Shakir Zeinel, Head of Banking at Emirates Development Bank; Mohamed Abdulkader, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Strategy and Policies at the Ministry of Education; Dalal Al Shahi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Protection at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation; Mouza Obaid Al Nasri as CEO of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development; Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, Acting CEO of the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME); Fatima Al Ali, Acting Director of the Sharjah Foundation to Support Pioneering Entrepreneurs (Ruwad); Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Nuaimi, Director of the Business Development Administration at the Department of Economic Development in Ajman; Sheikh Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al Mualla, Director-General of Umm Al Qaiwain Department of Economic Development and CEO of the Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla Programme for Supporting Youth Enterprises; Mohammed Mahmood, Assistant Director-General of the Department of Economic Development in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK DED) and Abdullah Mohammed Al-Hantoubi, Deputy Director of the Fujairah Municipality. (ANI/WAM) US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk were spotted sitting side by side at the memorial service of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The two were observed speaking in a private suite during the service, with a White House social media account highlighting their interaction. Elon Musk also shared a post on X with Trump in which he wrote, "For Charlie." https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1969897602524328440 This marks the first public encounter between Trump and Musk since Musk resigned from his position as a special government employee under tense circumstances. Musk had served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency until late May, when he criticised the administration's signature policy bill, calling it "fiscally irresponsible". Following Musk's departure, a series of social media posts from the Tesla CEO sharply criticising Trump prompted the former president to threaten the cancellation of federal contracts with Musk's companies. The memorial appearance represents a notable thaw in their previously strained relationship, The Hill reported. Vice President JD Vance delivered moving remarks at the memorial service, calling on supporters to honour Charlie Kirk's life by continuing his fight for faith, truth and country, saying to do so "for Charlie." "I've seen ... so many on social media talk about 'for Charlie.' We must do this for Charlie. For Charlie, we will speak the truth every single day. For Charlie, we will rebuild this United States of America to greatness. For Charlie, we will never shrink, we will never cower, and we will never falter, even when staring down the barrel of a gun," Vance said. Vance described Kirk as both a patriot and a man of deep faith, saying, "You, my friends - for Charlie - we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America, and he is a martyr for the Christian faith. May our heavenly Father give us the courage to live as Charlie lived." Vance also called out people who celebrated Kirk's death, "In the wake of his death, we have seen some of the very worst parts of humanity. We have watched people slander him. We have watched people justify his murder and celebrate his death," The Vice President said. Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, in an emotional speech, forgave Tyler Robinson, who allegedly shot Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10. "I forgive him, I forgive him because it is what Christ did, The answer to hate is not hate," she said. Erika Kirk also quoted Jesus on the cross, saying "Father, forgive them, for they not know what they do." 31-year-old right-wing commentator and founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10, as reported by The New York Times. Authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the killing, with officials in Trump's administration saying that he had left-leaning political views. (ANI) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly opposed the UK, Canada, and Australia's move to recognise Palestine and said that there will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River. In a strongly worded statement published in PMO, condemning the move, PM Netanyahu vowed to give a response to countries after his US visit. "There will be no Palestinian state. The response to the latest attempt to force upon us a terror state in the heart of our land will be given after my return from the United States," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu alleged that by recognising Palestine, they are "rewarding terror with an enormous prize," expressing his determination not to let this happen. "I have a clear message to those leaders who are recognizing a Palestinian state after the horrendous October 7 massacre: You are rewarding terror with an enormous prize. And I have another message for you: It's not going to happen. There will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River. For years I have prevented the creation of that terror state, against tremendous pressure, both domestic and from abroad," he said. "We have done this with determination, and with astute statesmanship. Moreover, we have doubled the Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria, and we will continue on this path," he added. Australia, Canada and the UK, in a coordinated effort, recognised the Palestinian State on Sunday, calling for a two-state solution. However, the triad said that Hamas must cease its existence immediately. "Australia formally recognises the independent and sovereign State of Palestine. In doing so, Australia recognises the legitimate and long held aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own," Australian Prime Minister's Office stated in a statement. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the action by the countries, stating that it would jeopardise the security in the region and is contrary to what it sought to achieve. "Israel categorically rejects the one-sided declaration of the recognition of a Palestinian state made by the United Kingdom and some other countries. This declaration does not promote peace, but on the contrary - further destabilizes the region and undermines the chances of achieving a peaceful solution in the future. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. (ANI) US President Donald Trump said that the bullet was aimed at every conservative, emphasising that the conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed for expressing the ideas that they believed in. Addressing the crowd at Charlie Kirk's memorial service, Trump said, "The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at all of us. That bullet was aimed at every one of us. Charlie was killed for expressing the very ideas that virtually everyone in this arena and most other places throughout our country deeply believed in." "The radicals and their allies in the media... tried to silence Charlie for a simple reason because he was winning Big. They lied about him because they did not want you to listen to him or to learn from him," he added. Trump said that one "political community" believes they have a monopoly on truth, goodness, and virtue, blaming their thinking for the assassination of Charlie Kirk. "No side in American politics has a monopoly on disturbed or misguided people - but there's one part of our political community which believes they have a monopoly on truth, goodness, and virtue, and concludes they should also have a monopoly on power, thought, and speech. Tragically, atrocities of the kind we saw in Utah are the eventual consequence of that kind of thinking. If speech is violence, then some are bound to conclude that violence is justified to stop speech," Trump said. Trump called Tyler Robinson, who allegedly shot Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, a "radicalised, cold-blooded monster" "God willing, he will receive the full and ultimate punishment for his horrific crime," Trump said, noting the suspect in Kirk's killing has been charged with capital murder. Trump also called out the people who celebrated the death of Charlie Kirk "Some of the very people who call you a 'hater' for using the wrong pronoun were filled with glee at the killing of a father with two beautiful young children," he said. "The lesson of Charlie's life is that you should never underestimate what one person can do with a good heart, a righteous cause, a cheerful spirit and the will to fight, fight, fight," Trump said, echoing the words he shouted after surviving an assassination attempt in 2024. Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, in an emotional speech, forgave Tyler Robinson, who allegedly shot Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10. "I forgive him, I forgive him because it is what Christ did, The answer to hate is not hate," she said. Erika Kirk also quoted Jesus on the cross, saying "Father, forgive them, for they not know what they do." 31-year-old right-wing commentator and founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10, as reported by The New York Times. Authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the killing, with officials in Trump's administration saying that he had left-leaning political views. (ANI) The United Nations Human Rights Office has raised concern over the sentencing of Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who earlier reported from Wuhan during the coronavirus outbreak and has now been imprisoned for four more years on charges of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble." The UNHR termed these charges as "vague and ill-defined" and demanded the immediate release of the journalist. UN spokesperson Jeremy Laurence described the latest conviction as "deeply disturbing" and called for her "immediate and unconditional release." The precise details of Zhang's new charge have not been made public, but it is believed to be linked to her social media activity, as per the UNHR office statement. UN has also raised concerns regarding the conduct of trial has no independent observers were allowed to attend the meeting. Independent observers were not allowed to attend her hearing, which has raised concerns about the fairness of the trial. "This is the second time Zhang has been convicted and subjected to a custodial sentence for this offence," Laurence said. "We have raised our concerns with the authorities on a number of cases involving journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders, including Zhang, who have been charged over and/or convicted for criminal acts in relation to what appears to be the exercise of their fundamental rights, protected by international law." The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has also repeatedly raised objections to China's use of the "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" charge. According to the UN rights office, Turk has warned that the law's broad wording gives it a "wide scope of potential application" against people exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. "He (Volker Turk) calls for its repeal and for an immediate moratorium on its use," the statement said. Zhang Zhan was previously jailed for her reporting during the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan. (ANI) External Affairs S Jaishankar, who arrived in New York on Sunday, is set to meet with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio today, according to the US State Department's public schedule. This meeting is the first between the two diplomats since the imposition of 50 per cent tarrifs on Indian goods by the Donald Trump administartation, over New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil. Rubio and Jaishankar last met in Washington in early July, and in January earlier this year. Earlier the EAM met with Philippines Foreign Secretary Theresa P Lazaro on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The two leaders recalled Philippine President Ferdinand Bongbong' Marcos Jr's visit to India in August and underlined the growing partnership between New Delhi and Manila. Jaishankar took to X to post, "Pleased to meet Secretary of Foreign Affairs @SecLazaro of Philippines at the start of #UNGA80 in New York. We followed up on the recent State Visit of President @bongbongmarcos to India," he posted on X. "Also discussed our cooperation in the UN and the Indo-Pacific region," Jaishankar said. Lazaro also said their discussion reaffirmed the two countries' commitment as Strategic Partners "to actively develop cooperation in political, defence and security, the maritime domain, etc." https://x.com/SecLazaro/status/1969889564400705542 The meeting highlighted the strengthening of India-Philippines ties, especially in areas of security and maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. India and the Philippines established diplomatic relations in November 1949, and have since expanded their partnership across areas including trade, defence, maritime security, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and digital technologies. Both nations also collaborate closely within ASEAN frameworks, with India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reinforcing regional engagement. This year's UNGA coincides with several high-level events, including commemorations for the UN's 80th anniversary, a Climate Ambition Summit convened by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and a meeting marking 30 years since the Beijing Declaration on women's rights. (ANI External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to meet with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session. The meeting is set to be held at 11 am EST (8:30 PM IST) on Monday as per the schedule of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio released by the US State Department. The meeting is part of a continuing effort to strengthen India-US ties, which had come under strain in recent months but have since shown signs of recovery. The two leaders last met in Washington in July for the 10th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting and had also held discussions earlier in January this year. However, the upcoming bilateral meeting will be their first face-to-face interaction since trade frictions flared up after President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods over the purchase of Russian oil. Trump recently expressed confidence that they would face "no difficulty" in arriving at a deal. There are also confusion and concern among Indians in the US on H-1B visas after Trump signed an executive order imposing USD 100,000 fee on visas for skilled tech workers. The White House later clarified that the fee only applies to new applicants and not to current visa holders. Earlier this month, during the Senate confirmation hearing for Sergio Gor, Trump's nominee for US Ambassador to India, Rubio described India as "one of the top relationships that the US has in the world today." Rubio, who had appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to introduce Gor, underscored the pivotal role of India in shaping the global future, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, highlighting that India was at the "core of that". "Sergio Gor is the nominee to India (as US Ambassador), which is one of the top relationships that the US has in the world today, in terms of the future of what the world's going to look like. I said it earlier when I held the position as a nominee... In the 21st century, the story will be written in the Indo-Pacific. It's so important that we have changed the name of the combatant command in the Indo-Pacific. India is at the core of that. Rubio stated. Meanwhile, the New York meeting will take place just ahead of formal trade talks scheduled in Washington on Monday, where Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is leading an Indian delegation. According to a release from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, "positive discussions were held" during the September 16 visit of officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative to India, and both sides agreed to intensify efforts towards finalising a deal. (ANI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday (local time) that India's stature before the international community has significantly risen, as he interacted with members of the Indian diaspora in Morocco during his two-day official visit to the country. "I am delighted to note that you can sense the rise in stature of India before the international community...Earlier, when India spoke on an international forum, it wasn't taken as seriously as it should have been. Today, when India speaks on an international forum, the entire world takes note of it and listens...This wasn't the situation earlier. Despite all geopolitical and global challenges, India is one of the fastest-growing major economies," Singh said during an interaction with the Indian diaspora in Morocco. During his address, Singh also drew attention to India's rapid transformation into a hub for startups and innovation. "...India is becoming a global hub of startups and innovations. There were 500 startups in India in 2014, and it has risen to 1.60 lakh now. From 18 in 2014, the number of Unicorns in India has risen to 118 today," he said. He further spoke about the government's commitment to empowering women through legislative measures. "We have introduced Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. If you want to return from Morocco to India and contest elections, you are entitled to a 33% reservation in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and Vidhan Sabha...The number of seats has been increased in Parliament," Singh told the gathering. The Defence Minister is also scheduled to hold discussions with his counterpart Abdeltif Loudiyi, which will further strengthen bilateral ties in defence and strategic cooperation. India and Morocco are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Defence. Rajnath Singh arrived in Morocco on Sunday for a two-day official visit, marking the first-ever trip by an Indian Defence Minister to the country. Singh landed at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, where he was received by the Head Wali of the Military Command of Casablanca and the Indian Ambassador to Morocco, Sanjay Rana.Members of the Indian community, including the President of the Indian Association, also turned out in large numbers to extend a warm welcome to the minister. (ANI) Two previously disappeared youths were found dead in Balochistan's Awaran district, with local sources alleging involvement of Pakistani security forces. According to The Balochistan Post, the victims, identified as Faheem, son of Qasim, and Baqir Baloch, son of Allah Bakhsh, were residents of Cheedgi, Awaran, and belonged to the same family. The Balochistan Post reported that Faheem was allegedly abducted by Pakistani armed forces from Awaran's main bazaar on September 11, while Baqir was taken from the Jhao area a day later, on September 12. On Saturday, their bodies were discovered near Majid Pir Cross in Jhao, discarded by the roadside. The incident has sparked outrage among rights activists and Baloch nationalist groups, who have long accused Pakistan's security forces of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan. The Balochistan Post highlighted that such incidents have notably increased in recent months, raising renewed concerns over human rights violations in the region. In a separate report, The Balochistan Post also revealed the recent detention of a student in Quetta and a relative of a Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) fighter in Panjgur district. Sher Zaman, son of Ghulam Qadir, was allegedly taken into custody by security personnel from the Degree College Sariab hostel in Quetta and moved to an undisclosed location. His family and fellow students have called for his immediate release. Meanwhile, in Panjgur's Paroom area, forces reportedly raided the home of BLA fighter Gwahram Baloch, also known as Zagrain. According to The Balochistan Post, family members were assaulted, and Gwahram's uncle, Karim Jan, was detained. According to The Balochistan Post, despite consistent denials by Pakistani authorities, The Balochistan Post and human rights organisations continue to document and condemn the rising cases of enforced disappearances and collective punishment targeting relatives of suspected insurgents. (ANI) Ambassador of Brazil to India Kenneth Felix Haczynski da Nobrega on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Brazil in July laid out "five pillars as a chartering course for our future partnership in the next 10 years," two of which are already being implemented under the Maitri 2.0 India-Brazil Cross Border Agri-Tech incubators' programme. He mentioned that the two pillars that India and Brazil focused on are Food security and science, innovation and technology. Speaking to ANI at the event, Nobrega said, "...PM Modi made a very important State Visit to Brazil, back in July. I was there when the two leaders discussed and set the 5 pillars as a chartering course for our future partnership in the next 10 years. Two of them are being implemented here today at Maitri 2.0. One is food security, meaning agricultural cooperation. Second is science, technology and innovation cooperation. So, we are very glad that less than 2 months after that important State Visit, we are now hands-on implementing what our leaders told us to implement." Speaking on the Maitri 2.0 Cross Border Agri-Tech event, the Brazilian envoy underlined that the initiative focuses on joint research and collaboration in agriculture and called India and Brazil "agriculture powerhouses". "I think the focus of this 5-day event is teaming together. Brazilian scientists and researchers & Indian scientists and researchers, to find new ways to develop new ways of agricultural resilience to climate change, to extreme weather events and also to boost the productivity of both our agricultures. India and Brazil are agricultural powerhouses. We are always among the top 3 or 4 largest producers in the world every year," he added. Earlier in July during his visit to Brazil, PM Narendra Modi had said that India-Brazil partnership stands as an important pillar of "stability and balance" and emphasised that the cooperation between the two countries is relevant not only for the Global South but for the entire world. During a joint press statement with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after their delegation-level talks, PM Modi had emphasised that the cooperation between India and Brazil is relevant not only for the Global South but for the entire humanity. "India and Brazil have always worked in close coordination at the global level. As two large democratic countries, our cooperation is relevant not only for the Global South, but for the entire humanity. We believe that it is our moral obligation to raise the concerns and priorities of the Global South at global forums," he said. (ANI) Prominent human rights activist Sammi Deen Baloch has issued a grave warning about the deteriorating condition of Bebigar Baloch, a disabled leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), who has been in state custody for the past six months without formal charges. Taking to social media platform X, Sammi accused the Pakistani authorities of subjecting Bebigar, who is permanently disabled and relies on a wheelchair, to inhumane treatment by denying him access to urgently needed medical care. According to her, Bebigar is now suffering from life-threatening illnesses, with doctors recommending immediate surgery, but the prison administration and judicial authorities have failed to act. "Keeping him in jail under these conditions is effectively a slow death sentence," she said. Sammi condemned what she described as the state's ruthless suppression of political dissent in Balochistan. She stated, "The state has become so blind in its policy of suppressing political voices in Balochistan that it has now lost the ability to differentiate between ordinary and disabled people. Perhaps this state considers it its success by putting peaceful strugglers behind bars, but in reality it is a manifestation of delusion and loss of consciousness that it is not even sparing those who are physically disabled. Those who have engaged in peaceful politics, fought for rights and questioned the state" She concluded with an urgent appeal to the international community. She stated, ""We strongly appeal to international human rights organizations, civil society, and all justice-loving political activists to raise their voices against this injustice and apply urgent pressure so that Bebigar Baloch is immediately transferred to the hospital, treated, and the baseless allegations against him are dropped." Balochistan is grappling with a grave human rights crisis marked by widespread enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions. Political activists, dissenters, and peaceful protesters are frequently targeted, often held without charge or access to fair legal processes. This systemic repression violates basic rights and fuels ongoing tensions in the region. (ANI) By Rajnish Singh New Delhi [India], September 22 (ANI) With US tariffs reshaping global trade patterns, Brazil has pitched for deeper economic and agricultural cooperation with India, calling the moment an "opportunity" for the two emerging powers to align their strengths. Brazil's Ambassador to India, Kenneth Felix Haczynski da Nobrega, said both countries must work "even more closely together" to counter challenges and create new avenues for growth. "Brazil and India are trusted partners. We have been conducting diplomatic relations almost for the last eight years now. So, in this new geopolitical context (of US tariffs), what are Brazil and India doing? Let's work even more closer together. Let's look for complementarities of our economies, of our agricultural sectors. So, we are on positive side. We see this as an opportunity," Nobrega told ANI on the sidelines of Maitri 2.0 Cross Border Agri-Tech event, a five-day programme between September 22 to September 26 designed to foster collaboration between scientists and researchers from both countries. The envoy stressed the importance of joint research to tackle climate change, extreme weather, and food security. "I think the focus of this five-day event is teaming together. Brazilian scientists and researchers and Indian scientists and researchers, to find new ways to develop new ways of agricultural resilience to climate change, to extreme weather events and also to boost the productivity of both of our agricultures. India and Brazil are agriculture powerhouses. We are always among the top three or four largest producers in the world every year," he said. Nobrega also linked the initiative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Brazil in July, during which both nations laid down a 10-year roadmap for cooperation under five pillars. He said the two of those pillars are being implemented here today at Maitri 2.0-- One is food security, meaning agricultural cooperation; and the second is science, technology and innovation cooperation. The Ambassador mentioned both the countries We are now hands-on implementing what our leaders told us to implement. "...PM Modi made a very important State Visit to Brazil, back in July. I was there when the two leaders discussed and set five pillars as a chartering course for our future partnership in the next 10 years. Two of them are being implemented here today at Maitri 2.0. One is food security, meaning agricultural cooperation. Second is science, technology and innovation cooperation. So, we are very glad that less than 2 months after that important State Visit, we are now hands on implementing what our leaders told us to implement." The Ambassador underlined that India and Brazil are among the world's largest agricultural producers, often ranking in the top three or four globally. He said joint research would focus on building agricultural resilience to climate change and extreme weather, while enhancing productivity to meet global food security challenges. The Maitri 2.0 initiative not only strengthens bilateral ties in agri-tech but also positions both nations as leading voices in global discussions on sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) today inaugurated Maitri 2.0: India-Brazil Cross Border Agri-tech Incubators' program. The five-day event builds on the momentum of the successful Maitri-1.0 program held during 2019-2020 and aims to expand the horizons of India-Brazil cooperation in agricultural innovation and entrepreneurship. Officials said while the first edition of Maitri established a strong foundation for international collaboration in agri-tech, the second edition, Maitri 2.0, takes this partnership further by focusing specifically on incubators. As per the officials, these incubators are the backbone of the start-up ecosystem and the event seeks to deepen linkages between Indian and Brazilian incubation centres, providing a platform for co-incubation, cross-border start-up exchanges and collaborative innovation. Through this initiative, ICAR aims to demonstrate how India's policy-driven ecosystem has nurtured agri-tech start-ups and explore how similar modelscould be adapted in Brazil. The event will bring together leading_ agri-tech incubators, early-stage and growth-stage start-ups, venture investors, corporate innovators, policymakers and academic experts from both countries. The collaboration will not only strengthen institutional partnerships but also promote knowledge-sharing, joint ventures and global access to new agricultural technologies. (ANI) Finland's President Alexander Stubb has urged that India should play a role in addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict as "India has a geopolitical stake." "I've been speaking to PM Modi recently about the situation in Ukraine. India has a geopolitical stake here. So we need to get them involved," Stubb said at the Helsinki Security Forum 2025. Highlighting the steps needed to move toward peace, the Finnish president said, "First, we need a ceasefire; only then can we begin peace negotiations. We also need a formal date for bilateral meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin and only after that Zelenskyy can reach out to Putin by phone to discuss on what the agenda could possibly." He added that pressure on Moscow must continue alongside support for Kyiv. "Meanwhile, we need to continue ramping up economic sanctions on Russia, and we also need to ramp up the military capabilities of Ukraine by providing them with all necessary defence means," he said. Responding to a question on the outcome of last month's meeting between European leaders and US President Donald Trump in Washington, Stubb said work was ongoing on long-term security commitments. "We are working on the idea of European security arrangements or security guarantees, and on the military side, they are pretty much ready," he stated. In August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also received a telephone call from the President of Finland, Stubb, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said in an official statement. According to the MEA, President Stubb had shared his assessment of the recent meetings held between the leaders of Europe, the United States and Ukraine in Washington on the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi also reiterated India's consistent support for a peaceful resolution of the conflict and the early restoration of peace and stability. The leaders also reviewed progress in the India-Finland bilateral relationship and reaffirmed their commitment to enhance partnership in emerging fields, including quantum technologies, 6G, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and sustainability. The MEA added that President Stubb reiterated Finland's support for an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-EU Free Trade Agreement. He also affirmed support for the success of the AI Impact Summit to be hosted by India in 2026. Prime Minister Modi invited President Stubb to visit India soon, and both leaders agreed to remain in touch. Reflecting on the conversation, PM Modi posted on X, "Had a good conversation with President Alexander Stubb. Finland is a valued partner in the EU. Discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in key sectors such as trade, technology and sustainability. Exchanged perspectives on the ongoing efforts for peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine." (ANI) Ahead of the landfall of Super Typhoon Ragasa, authorities in the Philippines have evacuated over 5,000 families, while flights have been cancelled and ferry services suspended on various routes in Taiwan, local media from the two countries reported on Monday. A Reuters report cited a statement by Qantas Airways stating that Hong Kong International Airport will suspend all passenger flights for 36 hours from 8 pm (1200 GMT) on September 23 to 8 am on September 25. Cathay Pacific is waiving rebooking and rerouting fees on flights in and out of Hong Kong from September 23rd to 25th due to the arrival of Super Typhoon Ragasa. Thailand also issued an advisory for Passengers travelling with Thai Airways International to Kaohsiung in Taiwan and Hong Kong from Monday to Wednesday to keep their flights updated, according to the Bangkok Post. As of 2 pm (local time) the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5 was hoisted over Babuyan Islands due to the Typhoon 'Ragasa' which is locally being called 'Nando', Philippines News Agency (PNA) reported. The super typhoon packing 295km/h wind gusts, is moving westwards and is forecast to make landfall over the thinly populated Babuyan group of islands off the northern coast of Luzon in the Philippines between 2pm and 5 pm today before heading towards southern China, authorities said as per the state media outlet. An estimated 5,000 families, equivalent to 14,000 individuals have been preemptively evacuated in four regions in Luzon amid the threat of Super Typhoon 'Nando', the Office of Civil Defense in Philippines said according to PNA . Schools and government offices in many parts of Philippines, PNA reported, have been shut and authorities have warned of flooding and landslides and damage to homes and infrastructure. Meanwhile, according to local carriers and transportation authorities in Taiwan, Super Typhoon Ragasa disrupted domestic transport today, forcing the cancellation of all flights to outlying islands after noon and the suspension of 88 ferry services on 13 routes according to a news report in Focus Taiwan. Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA) has issued both sea and land warnings for Typhoon Ragasa. Its storm circle reached the Hengchun Peninsula at 11 am today. Ragasa is expected to come closest to Taiwan from Monday afternoon and have its greatest impact on the island through Tuesday, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported. Meanwhile, authorities in Guangdong Province in south China on Monday raised its wind emergency response to Level II, with two cities announcing a series of suspension measures ahead of the approach of Typhoon Ragasa. Chinese state media Xinhua said classes will be suspended in schools in the cities of Zhuhai and Jiangmen -- while work, production, public transport and business operations will also be suspended later on Tuesday, according to the local flood, drought and wind control headquarters. All passenger ferry services to the Chuanshan Islands in Jiangmen will be suspended starting Tuesday, it said. (ANI) Nepal's Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki appointed four ministers to her cabinet on Monday. The four new ministers were sworn in today by Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel at Shital Niwas, the official residence of the country's president. The interim Prime Minister has appointed Anil Kumar Sinha, a former justice assigning portfolio of three ministries- Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply; Law and Justice; and Land Reforms, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation to him. Mahabir Pun, Magsaysay award winner has been appointed the minister for education and science and technology. Pun has long been active in the development of science and research in Nepal. He currently leads the National Innovation Centre. Madan Prasad Pariyar has been appointed agriculture minister. Senior climate and agriculture expert Pariyar serves as the president of Samata Foundation, a non-profit that works for social justice and inclusiveness. He previously coordinated the high-level state restructuring commission of the Constituent Assembly Jagdish Kharel, a media professional and the editor of Image Channels takes over as the information and communications minister. The three serving ministers in the Karki cabinet are: Rameshore Khanal (minister for finance), Kulman Ghising (minister for energy, water resources and irrigation) and Om Prakash Aryal (minister for home affairs). Separately, two weeks after the Gen Z uprising, the interim government on Sunday constituted a high-level commission to probe the incidents of killing, arson and vandalism. The protests had turned violent, and caused a huge loss of lives and property. According to Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, former Special Court Chair and retired High Court judge Gauri Bahadur Kaki will lead the commission, which will have two additional members. "A principled agreement to establish the inquiry body had already been made in last week's Cabinet session. Final endorsement about the formation of the commission and the members was made today," Aryal confirmed. As per the minister, the commission also includes former Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Nepal Police Bigyan Raj Sharma and advocate Bishweshwor Prasad Bhandari as members. Formed under the Commission of Inquiry Act, the commission has been given a tenure of three months to complete its investigation. Tension flared in Nepal after police killed 21 protesting students and youths on September 8 while they were protesting in front of the parliament during the anti-corruption movement and the end of the social media ban. The following day, 39 people died, of whom 15 had died of burns. The remaining 12 deaths were recorded till the seventh day following the violence. (ANI) In a major drug interdiction operation, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) apprehended four Chinese nationals and seized a large quantity of narcotics weighing over 700 kg, Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) reported on Monday. According to CNA, the operation took place on September 13 during a joint surveillance mission conducted by the CGA's Southern Sector Flotilla, the 4th Offshore Flotilla, and the 11th Coastal Patrol Corps. Officers intercepted a suspicious fishing vessel, initially flying the Republic of China (Taiwan) flag, approximately 128 nautical miles southeast of Cape Maobitou in Pingtung County's Hengchun Township. According to reports, the CGA stated that the vessel had disabled its automatic identification system, raising immediate red flags. When ordered to halt for inspection, the ship attempted to flee, prompting a high-speed maritime chase. CGA footage obtained by CNA revealed that during the pursuit, the vessel zigzagged to evade capture and even rammed one of the patrol boats. CNA reported that officers managed to intercept and board the ship, which was later identified as the Cambodian-registered YAMA68. Hidden within a concealed compartment, they discovered 48 bags of illicit substances. CNA reported that the haul included approximately 209.3 kilograms of heroin (10 bags), 472.39 kilograms of cannabis (36 bags), 18.2 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 18.3 kg of nimetazepam, a powerful sedative. Deputy Chief Hsu Che-li of the CGA's Tainan Reconnaissance Brigade told CNA that the YAMA68 appeared to be headed toward the Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea. Authorities suspect the vessel was planning to rendezvous with another ship at sea to transfer the drugs before they could reach Taiwan's domestic market. The report said that the four individuals on board, the captain and three crew members, all Chinese nationals, have been detained on charges related to violations of Taiwan's Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act. According to CNA, they are currently being held incommunicado as the Tainan District Prosecutors Office conducts a formal investigation. (ANI) The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Monday demanded an inquiry into the aerial bombing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to bring to justice those responsible. The HRCP said that the citizens of a nation are entitled to the right to live, which Pakistan has failed to protect. In a post on X, the HRCP said, "HRCP is deeply shocked to learn that a number of civilians, including children, have been killed, allegedly as a result of aerial bombing in Tirah, Khyber district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We demand that the authorities carry out an immediate and impartial inquiry into the incident and hold to account those responsible. The state is constitutionally bound to protect all civilians' right to life, which it has repeatedly failed to secure." https://x.com/HRCP87/status/1970044504943079488 Several leaders from Pakistan's opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have alleged that a bombing campaign was being carried out by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, leaving several dead, with at least 20 bodies reportedly recovered from the rubble. According to PTI's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, multiple bombs struck the civilians during the airstrike, destroying five houses and killing civilians, including women and children. The PTI has also shared disturbing images and videos of the incident site showing dead bodies, including those of children, lying around. "During the jet aircraft bombing in the Tirah Valley of Khyber, several bombs fell on the local population. Five houses of local citizens were destroyed, and according to local sources, 20 bodies have been recovered from the rubble so far, including children and women among the martyrs. I have no words that can encompass this sorrow and grief Sometimes drones, sometimes bombings have sown so many seeds of hatred that when this lava erupts, nothing will be left," PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said in a post on X. (ANI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday paid homage to late Kings Mohammed V and Hassan II at the Royal Mausoleum in Rabat. In a post on X, the Defence Minister's Office said, "Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh paid homage to the revered Monarchs HM Late King Mohammed V and HM Late King Hassan II of the Kingdom of Monarch at the Royal Mausoleum in Rabat." https://x.com/DefenceMinIndia/status/1970089298461700283 Earlier in the day, Singh interacted with the Indian community in Rabat. In a post on X, he said, "Delighted to interact with the Indian community in Rabat. Lauded their hard work and dedication that defines the Indian community across the world. It is praiseworthy, how they are contributing to Morocco's progress and at the same time remain connected to their roots in India." https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1969932471572856948 Singh said on Sunday (local time) that India's stature before the international community has significantly risen, as he interacted with members of the Indian diaspora in Morocco during his two-day official visit to the country. "I am delighted to note that you can sense the rise in stature of India before the international community...Earlier, when India spoke on an international forum, it wasn't taken as seriously as it should have been. Today, when India speaks on an international forum, the entire world takes note of it and listens...This wasn't the situation earlier. Despite all geopolitical and global challenges, India is one of the fastest-growing major economies," Singh said during an interaction with the Indian diaspora in Morocco. The Defence Minister is also scheduled to hold discussions with his counterpart Abdeltif Loudiyi, which will further strengthen bilateral ties in defence and strategic cooperation. India and Morocco are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Defence. Rajnath Singh arrived in Morocco on Sunday for a two-day official visit, marking the first-ever trip by an Indian Defence Minister to the country. Singh landed at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, where he was received by the Head Wali of the Military Command of Casablanca and the Indian Ambassador to Morocco, Sanjay Rana. Members of the Indian community, including the President of the Indian Association, also turned out in large numbers to extend a warm welcome to the minister. (ANI) In his bilateral meeting with Morocco's Defence Minister Abdeltif Loudiyi, the two discussed ways to deepen collaboration in key areas of defence sector. In a post on X, Singh said, "Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Morocco's Defence Minister Mr. Abdeltif Loudiyi signed an MoU on cooperation in field of defence during the bilateral meeting today in Rabat." https://x.com/DefenceMinIndia/status/1970095611111432233 "Had a very productive meeting with Morocco's Defence Minister Mr. Abdeltif Loudiyi and we signed an MoU on cooperation in field of defence. India's ties with Morocco are growing remarkably over the years. We discussed ways to deepen collaboration in key areas, including Counter-terrorism efforts, Maritime security, Cyber defence and capacity building." https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1970113267453346249 The MoU provides for a robust institutional framework to the growing partnership and paves the way for collaboration in defence industry, joint exercises, military training and capacity building. Both leaders decided to intensify defence industry collaboration and agreed on a comprehensive roadmap covering counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber defence, peacekeeping operations, military medicine, and expert exchanges. The discussions between the two Ministers reflected the shared resolve to further strengthen the longstanding friendship between India and Morocco. Singh on Monday paid homage to late Kings Mohammed V and Hassan II at the Royal Mausoleum in Rabat. In a post on X, the Defence Minister's Office said, "Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh paid homage to the revered Monarchs HM Late King Mohammed V and HM Late King Hassan II of the Kingdom of Monarch at the Royal Mausoleum in Rabat." https://x.com/DefenceMinIndia/status/1970089298461700283 Rajnath Singh arrived in Morocco on Sunday for a two-day official visit, marking the first-ever trip by an Indian Defence Minister to the country. Singh landed at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, where he was received by the Head Wali of the Military Command of Casablanca and the Indian Ambassador to Morocco, Sanjay Rana. Members of the Indian community, including the President of the Indian Association, also turned out in large numbers to extend a warm welcome to the minister. (ANI) With the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly currently underway, Shafi Burfat, the Chairman of Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM), has released an open letter demanding global attention toward Pakistan's treatment of its ethnic minorities and national movements. In the letter, Burfat has accused Pakistan of being built on religious manipulation and using it to oppress historical nations such as the Sindhis, Baloch, Pashtuns, Saraikis, and Brahuis. He has claimed that these communities have been politically sidelined, economically exploited, and culturally erased for decades. According to Burfat, Pakistan's power structures, including the military, intelligence services, and diplomatic corps are overwhelmingly controlled by ethnic Punjabis, creating an imbalance that leaves other nations under effective occupation. He has described this as a modern form of slavery. The letter also outlines serious allegations of enforced disappearances, torture, and state-sponsored violence against political activists, journalists, and civil society members. Burfat has highlighted how voices of dissent are often labeled as terrorists and silenced through brutal means. He also condemns what he sees as the deliberate erasure of indigenous cultures, including native languages and historical identities. Burfat has further accused the Pakistani state of supporting religious extremism and terrorism, both within its borders and in the region, to serve its political goals. In his appeal to world leaders, Burfat urges the United Nations to reconsider Pakistan's participation in global platforms without accountability. He believes that allowing Pakistan to speak at such forums without scrutiny only legitimises oppression. The letter makes two key demands: first, that the international community recognise the right to self-determination for Pakistan's historical nations; and second, that freedom movements not be dismissed or labeled as terrorist organisations. Burfat has also called for legal proceedings in international courts against those responsible for what he describes as ongoing atrocities. (ANI) Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa is making history as the first Syrian leader to address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in over 60 years, marking a significant milestone in Syria's diplomatic journey, Al Jazeera reported. His attendance at the 80th session of UNGA comes after Bashar al-Assad's ouster in December 2024, ending the Assad family's 50-year rule. The last Syrian leader to attend the UNGA was President Nureddin al-Atassi, who ruled before the al-Assad family came to power in 1971 and maintained its rule until al-Sharaa toppled Bashar al-Assad's government in December. Al-Sharaa arrived in New York on Sunday, leading a large delegation of Syrian officials, in what state media described as a "landmark trip", Al Jazeera reported. The symbolism of the visit was also significant because it is the latest milestone in the normalisation of al-Sharaa and his government, who seized power in the country in a lightning offensive after spending more than a decade as a rebel fighter in northern Syria, Al Jazeera reported. Al-Sharaa had a meeting with United States President Donald Trump in May, the first such encounter between a Syrian president and a US president in 25 years, at a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At the meeting, Trump said the US would drop all sanctions on Syria, which he subsequently did, and added that Washington was "exploring normalising relations with Syria's new government". Al-Sharaa's meeting with US President Donald Trump in May 2025, the first such encounter in 25 years, led to the lifting of most sanctions on Syria, paving the way for reconstruction and development. Al-Sharaa's fledgling government has been contending with internal strife, notably an eruption of violence in the southern area of Suwayda in June, as well as repeated Israeli attacks and military incursions into Syrian territory despite talks between the two nations. Former Al Qaeda and ISIS terrorists, Ahmed al-Sharaa said, "President Trump took a big step towards Syria by lifting the sanctions with a quick, courageous and historic decision. "He recognised that Syria should be safe, stable and unified. This is in the greatest interest of all the countries in the world, not just Syria," he added, saying he hoped to have another meeting with Trump while in the US. Syria is set to hold its first parliamentary elections since Assad's fall on October 5, 2025, using an electoral college system due to logistical challenges. (ANI) European Parliament MP Demands Recognition of Assyrian Genocide Member of the European Parliament Nikolas Farantouris (center) of the SYRIZA party continues his strong advocacy for the Christians of the Near East, this time placing the spotlight on the Assyrian Genocide. A special event was organized on Friday by the Panhellenic Assyrian Union under the auspices of MEP and university professor Nikolas Farantouris and the Municipality of Egaleo to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Assyrian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire and the Young Turks (1915-2025). The event featured the screening of the documentary "Souls in Transit" about the genocide of all Christian peoples of the East (Assyrians, Greeks, and Armenians) by award-winning director Aida Schlaepfer, who is in Greece for the presentation of the film. The documentary Souls in Transit, nominated for an Oscar in 2023, has won an award at the Cannes Film Festival and has been presented at the European Parliament. Opening the event, MEP Nicholas Farantouris, who visited Syria in the midst of the great massacres last March, said: "I welcome you, my fellow Greek Assyrians, from all parts of Greece and from all parts of the world, to speak out and restore the historical truth about the genocide of the Christian peoples of the East, the Assyrians, the Pontic Greeks, the Armenians. The Assyrians, a proud people, bearers of culture for over 5,000 years, from Mesopotamia and around the world, their history brought them so close to Hellenism that their fates were intertwined in difficult times, persecutions, ethnic cleansings and ultimately genocide. We are here to restore historical truth. We are here to join forces. I, from my position in the European Parliament and in every corner of Europe and the entire world, both the West and the East, and all together, with historical truth as an ally. Because nothing can move forward if we have not settled old scores of the past. We are here only for the truth, without a disposition of hatred, intolerance and hostility. But the truth must be restored and it is the duty of our own generation to go back and remember the suffering that our ancestors suffered." Nikolas Farantouris, as a member of the Security and Defense Committee and coordinator of the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, has advocated the recognition of the Greek and Assyrian genocide as a whole and has advocated for the safety of Christians in Syria. In July, the MEP met with the President of the Assyrian community, Kyriakos Batsaras, and Iraq-based Professor Nicholas Al-Jeloo to discuss advocacy for Assyrian Genocide recognition and to raise the issue of the plight of the Assyrian communities in Iraq, Turkey and elsewhere. The Assyrian Christians The Assyrian civilization dates back to approximately 2500 BC in present-day Iraq and had its capital at Nineveh, near the city of Mosul. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Assyrians numbered around 3.5 to 4 million and lived in the Ottoman provinces of Anatolia, Iraq, Syria, Iran, and the Russian Caucasus (Armenia and Georgia). During World War I, the Assyrians, like the Armenians and the Anatolian Greeks, were victims of systematic ethnic-religious purges by the Ottoman regime as part of the pantheon of plans to unify the "Turks" of Anatolia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The Treaty of Sevres in 1920 provided for a relative autonomy for the Assyrians, whose delegations had participated in the peace conferences demanding the establishment of an Assyrian state, which had been promised by London in December 1917. However, the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 put an end to the dream of independence for both the Assyrians, the Armenians and the Kurds, all of whom were victims of geopolitical designs and the division of the Middle East between Kemalist Turkey, France (mandate in Syria-Lebanon) and England (mandate in Iraq, Transjordan and Palestine). The Assyrian Genocide During World War I. The Assyrian population of upper Mesopotamia (Tur Abdin, Hakkari, Van, Siirt, i.e. areas of present-day southeastern Turkey and Urmia, a region of northwestern Iran) was forcibly displaced and massacred by Turkish and Kurdish forces between 1914 and 1920 in the same way as the Armenians and Greeks. Estimates of the total number of Assyrian deaths vary. Some reports put the number of victims at 250,000, although recent estimates put the number of dead at 500 to 750,000. In 2007, the International Association of Genocide Scholars concluded that "the Ottoman campaign against Christian minorities of the Empire between 1914 and 1923 constituted a genocide against Armenians, Assyrians, and Pontian and Anatolian Greeks." The Assyrian diaspora Today, after many centuries of presence in the territories of present-day Turkey and Iraq, the remaining Assyrians are under the direct threat of the Islamic State. Many have already emigrated abroad, to France (Paris and Marseille), Germany, Sweden, the USA. In Greece, Assyrians of Riastina are in Thessaloniki, Kilkis, Serres, Katerini, Argos, and Athens, (in the municipalities of Peristeri, Nikaia, Moschato and Egaleo). In Egaleo, the Panhellenic Assyrian Union also has its headquarters, in a privately owned building (Sampsountos 6), which houses the Cultural Center, the library, and the community Church, while in one of the city's central squares, there is an impressive monument, "dedicated to the victims of the Assyrian Genocide." External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday held a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio where the two covered a range of issues of concern. Jaishankar said the two agreed on the importance of sustained engagement in priority areas. In a post on X, he said, "Good to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio this morning in New York. Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas. We will remain in touch." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1970163521091711078 The two leaders warmly shook hands as they met on the UNGA session sidelines. This meeting marks their first face-to-face interaction since trade tensions escalated after US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Indian goods over India's purchase of Russian oil. The meeting is part of a continuing effort to strengthen India-US ties, which had come under strain in recent months but have since shown signs of recovery. India and the US are working towards concluding a trade agreement, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal leading a delegation for talks in Washington. US President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods in July amid trade talks between the two countries and later imposed another 25 per cent tariff on the purchase of Russian oil. The countries have resumed talks for a mutually beneficial Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). According to a release from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, "positive discussions were held" during the September 16 visit of officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative to India, and both sides agreed to intensify efforts towards finalising a deal. The two leaders last met in Washington in July for the 10th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting and had also held discussions earlier in January this year. However, the upcoming bilateral meeting will be their first face-to-face interaction since trade frictions flared up after President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods over the purchase of Russian oil. The United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week in 2025, which marks the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80), will be held in New York from 23-29 September 2025. (ANI) Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly, Babar Saleem Swati, on Monday expressed profound sorrow over the Pakistan Air Force bombing Tirah Valley, killing 21 civilians, including women and children. Swati in a post on X highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating that the loss of civilian lives underscores the vulnerability of ordinary people in the country. He emphasised that this tragedy necessitated introspection about the nation's trajectory and future consequences. His poignant words resonated with urgency: "When the blood of our own people is made so cheap and bombs are dropped on them, it is a fire that can engulf everyone". https://x.com/BabarSaleemSwat/status/1970084469609775527 "Speaker Babar Saleem Swati demanded that the federal and provincial governments conduct a transparent and immediate investigation into the incident, identify those responsible, and not only provide immediate relief and compensation to the affected families but also take comprehensive measures for their rehabilitation," he added. Earlier in the day, Provincial Assembly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Member Abdul Ghani Afridi on Monday took stock of the site at Tirah Valley where aerial bombing killed 21 civilians. "Provincial Assembly Member and Chairman DADDK Khyber Abdul Gani Afridi reached the site of the incident in Tirah Valley, where innocent lives were shed. Due to the bombing by jet aircraft, 21 innocent citizens, including innocent children and helpless women, were martyred. This tragedy is not only a slap in the face of humanity but also an event that shakes the conscience of the entire region." https://x.com/Abdulghani1116/status/1970089630021083267 Swati stressed the importance of unity among political forces to safeguard citizens' lives and property, asserting that the country's existence depends on collective efforts. He also demanded an immediate and thorough probe into the incident, identifying those responsible and providing aid and support to affected families. "This oppression and brutality will not be tolerated in any way. The blood of the innocent martyrs will not go to waste, and we will raise this voice on every forum. We will not rest until justice is achieved. This moment demands the unity of the entire nation and a collective voice so that practical struggle can be undertaken to stop this oppression and to secure justice for the affected families," the post added. "Speaker Babar Saleem Swati demanded that the federal and provincial governments conduct a transparent and immediate investigation into the incident, identify those responsible, and not only provide immediate relief and compensation to the affected families but also take comprehensive measures for their rehabilitation," added his post. The Speaker underscored that protecting citizens is a state's fundamental duty, with no room for negligence. He conveyed heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families, praying for the martyrs' elevated ranks and patience for their loved ones. Several leaders from Pakistan's opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have alleged that a bombing campaign was being carried out by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, leaving several dead. (ANI) The MoU provides for a robust institutional framework to the growing partnership and paves the way for collaboration in the defence industry, joint exercises, military training and capacity building. Both leaders decided to intensify defence industry collaboration and agreed on a comprehensive roadmap covering counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber defence, peacekeeping operations, military medicine, and expert exchanges, a Defence Ministry release said. The discussions between the two Ministers reflected the shared resolve to further strengthen the longstanding friendship between India and Morocco. To give momentum to these initiatives, the Defence Minister announced the opening of a new Defence Wing at the Embassy of India in Rabat. He also highlighted the maturity of India's defence industry and its cutting-edge capabilities, including drone and counter-drone technologies, assuring the Moroccan side that Indian companies are well-positioned to meet the requirements of Morocco's defence forces. Both Ministers underscored the importance of enhancing exchanges between Armed Forces, facilitating training programmes and exploring opportunities for co-development and co-production in the defence sector. They also stressed the need for multilateral cooperation to address global and regional security challenges and welcomed closer coordination in maritime security given the strategic significance of the Indian Ocean and Atlantic corridors. Defence Minister also extended a formal invitation to Loudiyi to visit India for further discussions on expanding defence cooperation. The meeting marks a significant milestone in the bilateral defence relationship, reflecting the growing convergence of strategic interests between India and Morocco. Rajnath Singh arrived in Morocco on Sunday for a two-day official visit, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian Defence Minister to the country. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended greetings to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the people of Israel, and the global Jewish community on the occasion of 'Rosh Hashanah', the Jewish New Year. PM Modi wished everyone a year filled with peace, hope and good health. In a post on the social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi conveyed his message of goodwill. "Shana Tova! Warmest #RoshHashanah greetings to my friend Prime Minister @netanyahu, the people of Israel, and the Jewish community worldwide. Wishing everyone a new year filled with peace, hope and good health," he posted on X. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1970155727881945391 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also shared greetings with Israeli Foreign Minister Gidon Saar. "On the occasion of RoshHashanah, extend my warm wishes to FM @gidonsaar and the people of Israel. May the New Year bring peace, prosperity and good health to all. Shana Tova!" Jaishankar posted on X. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1970101400945504312 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla joined in extending his wishes to Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and the Jewish community worldwide. https://x.com/ombirlakota/status/1970086139374797104 "On the auspicious occasion of #RoshHashanah, I extend my warmest greetings to Speaker @AmirOhana, the people of Israel, and the Jewish community worldwide. May the New Year bring abundant hope, peace, and blessings to all. Shana Tova!" Birla posted on X. Rosh Hashanah, marking the beginning of the Jewish calendar year 5786, is one of the most significant festivals in Judaism. It also signals the start of the High Holy Days and is observed over two days with extended synagogue services, family gatherings and prayers of reflection and repentance. According to Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah is believed to be the day God evaluates each individual's deeds and inscribes their fate for the coming year in the Book of Life. These days are considered sacred in the Jewish faith and are dedicated to introspection, spiritual renewal, and seeking forgiveness. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had thanked Prime Minister Netanyahu for his birthday wishes and reaffirmed the strong friendship and strategic partnership between India and Israel. His latest greeting follows his earlier wishes to Netanyahu on the Israeli leader's 75th birthday last week. (ANI) TAIPEI, Sep 22 (News On Japan) - A ceremony was held in Taipei on September 21st to mark the establishment of the Abe Shinzo Research Center at National Chengchi University, dedicated to studying the former prime ministers diplomatic strategies with a particular focus on relations with Taiwan. According to the Presidential Office, the inauguration took place on Abes birthday. The center aims to examine his approach to foreign policy, which emphasized strengthening ties with Taiwan, while also serving as a platform for broader academic exchange between the two sides. President Lai Ching-te attended the ceremony along with Abes widow, Akie. Lai stated, Abes death was not only a loss for Japan but also for Taiwan and the world, adding that he hopes the center will become an important platform for future Japan-Taiwan cooperation. Taiwanese media reported that Akie expressed her sentiments by saying, I came to Taiwan with my husbands wishes in mind. I felt how deeply he was trusted and loved by the people of Taiwan. Source: TBS Wakayama, Sep 22 (News On Japan) - Katsuura Hachiman Shrine in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, held its annual festival on September 21st, drawing tourists with the spectacular "Underwater Purification" ritual in which carriers of the mikoshi, or portable shrine, leapt into the sea from the fishing port pier. The festival began with a parade through the port town before moving into the sea, where participants prayed for a bountiful catch and safe voyages. Afterward, the mikoshi was placed on a boat and rowed by young men back to the shrine. At the port, another small boat crewed by young men awaited, and the celebration reached its climax as the mikoshi arrived at the pier and plunged into the sea, sending up a splash that drew loud cheers from spectators. Source: Kyodo International delegates at Kunming forum highlight media's role in forging equity, enhancing mutual learning among civilizations 08:13, September 22, 2025 By Lin Xiaoyi ( Global Times The 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road opens in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province on September 16, 2025. Photo: Xue Ke/GT In early autumn, Kunming, the capital of Southwest China's Yunnan Province, is adorned with the shimmering waters of Dianchi Lake and the mist-capped Xishan Mountain. It's against this serene backdrop that Yunnan Haigeng Convention Center takes center stage - on its steps, a banner has become a focal point. Emblazoned with the theme "Shared Media Responsibility for Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations," it draws attendees to snap photos. Step inside the lecture hall, guides for simultaneous interpretation listed at least nine languages covered during the event, including Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Lao, and Thai, marking the beginning of a far-reaching media dialogue and a profound exchange of ideas. From September 16 to 17, the 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road, co-hosted by the People's Daily, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Yunnan Provincial Committee and the People's Government of Yunnan Province, was held in Kunming. More than 200 foreign delegates from 87 countries, as well as international and regional organizations and 165 media outlets and institutions, attended the forum. Centered around the theme "Shared Media Responsibility for Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations," participants shared vivid examples of BRI cooperation and explored innovative approaches to cross-cultural communication. In moments of agreement and note-taking, a picture of equal dialogue among civilizations and collaborative engagement among global media unfolded, making the forum a vivid testament to the high-quality joint construction of the BRI. A silk road of shared fruits During the tea break at the forum, the venue buzzed with excitement. A group of vloggers and reporters wearing traditional Southeast Asian attire gathered, and as their cameras clicked, they cheered: "We love Yunnan!" "We didn't know each other before. It's this forum that brought us together, and 'loving Yunnan' is our true feeling," Jaruwan Udomsab, a Thai vlogger who lived in Yunnan for a long time, told the Global Times. Jaruwan specially named her Facebook account "Yunnan Stories." She shared that Yunnan is her second hometown. "The climate here is pleasant, like spring all year round, but what attracts me more is its diverse ethnic cultures and natural scenery. Every exploration brings new surprises," Jaruwan said. When talking about the BRI, Jaruwan, citing the China-Laos Railway as an example, said that "the benefits of this railway are tangible. My Lao friends say it's now much easier to travel to China for tourism or studies. Thai durians and mangosteens can reach Chinese friends' dining tables faster; and Chinese apples can be delivered to Thai markets via the railway." At the forum's opening ceremony, Jaruwan further touched upon the power of the Belt and Road Initiative through storytelling sessions. She learned that some 620 years ago, Zheng He, a navigator from Yunnan, commanded what was then the world's largest fleet on seven diplomatic expeditions, reaching as far as Kenya in Africa. Today, the train of the "Zheng He" Sea-Road-Rail International Multimodal Transport Service races along the China-Laos Railway to Vientiane, and reaches Thailand, Singapore and Bangladesh through other three routes, giving new life to the ancient story of connectivity in the contemporary era. Data shows the power of this connectivity more intuitively: In the four years since the China-Laos Railway began operation, its freight services have covered 19 countries, transporting over 3,300 types of commodities. Zwe Thet Paing, radio DJ host of Myanmar International Radio, told the Global Times that what excites him most is the growing appeal of the BRI. "It is bringing friendship and opportunities to more people." The ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) media delegation, participating in the 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road, tour the Yunnan Cultural Expo in Kunming on September 18 2025. Photo: Xue Ke/GT A platform for spreading positive energy At the forum, several journalists mentioned "Zheng He" Sea-Road-Rail International Multimodal Transport Service that was first launched in July this year, which excited Lali Mwamaka Sharifu from Kenya. Sharifu had another special gain at the forum: At the opening ceremony, she received the Nomination Prize at the second Silk Road Global News Awards for her documentary, The Kenya's "Chinese Girl." The award-winning documentary focuses on the outcomes of BRI cooperation, using Sharifu's personal experience of studying traditional Chinese medicine in China as a thread to weave together centuries of friendly China-Africa exchanges. For generations, Sharifu's family has passed down oral traditions claiming descent from sailors of Zheng's fleet during his westward voyages. This special connection makes her particularly attentive to cross-cultural exchanges. Now that she has won the award, she told the Global Times that this honor has strengthened her belief in the power of media to tell true stories. Sharifu said she has observed that in the past, many beneficial projects brought about by China-Africa cooperation were overshadowed due to insufficient communication, which is exactly the "gap" that media professionals should fill. She stated that in the past time, He connected different civilizations peacefully through his voyages. "In this era, we need more people like Zheng He to promote connectivity. Many peers at this forum embody such pioneering spirit and goodwill." The Kenyan girl chose "Xia Ruifu" as her Chinese name, which implies beauty and fragrance. In her view, an important mission of the media is to convey such merit and gather inspiring strength. Sharifu believes that the forum provides an open and inclusive dialogue platform for media from all countries, and also brings valuable experience and ideas to the "record keepers" of the current era. Amin Alhassan, general-director of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, shares similar view as Sharifuh. He believes that the theme of this forum, "Shared Media Responsibility for Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations," is a timely reminder. He believes that China provides a good example of journalism that is oriented toward solutions. "For us in Ghana and in Africa, we want to tell stories that reflects our hopes and aspirations and not dwell on stories that invokes our fears and frustrations. We want to tell stories that serve as a lighthouse to guide our people to take their destiny in their own hands and work towards the development of our communities," Alhassan said. Ben Chacko, editor of the UK's Morning Star, told the Global Times that the forum is an international event with strong multicultural characteristics and an open attitude, and its core has always been centered on peace and cooperation. "Many media outlets from BRI partner countries shared positive stories at the forum about how the initiative has improved people's livelihoods, these stories have injected 'human touch' into international cooperation and are wonderful examples of civilizational exchanges. In contrast, it is regrettable that the US and some Western countries have been promoting radical unilateralist narratives," he said. Sudruetai Lertkasem, director-general of the Government Public Relations Department of Thailand, specifically mentioned a concept similar to "human touch" at the forum. She stated that as a bridge for civilizational exchanges, the media shoulders the mission of disseminating true information, enhancing trust, and building consensus. "In a world that often feels fragmented, our role as media practitioners is not merely to report the news, but to build bridges of understanding, foster mutual respect, and celebrate our shared humanity," said Sudruetai Lertkasem. "Media connectivity is the lifeblood of this collaboration. It's not just about linking our newsrooms or sharing content. It's about creating a dense web of human connection that promotes mutual understanding and trust. We must use our platforms to tell stories that unite, to highlight our common goals, and to show the world that our cooperation is a force for good," Surattha said at the Eleventh ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) Media Cooperation Forum, a sub-forum of the 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road. A realm for building consensus Leonardo Attuch, founder and CEO of Brazil 247, used the phrase "truly enjoyed" to describe his experience of attending the forum. He said he particularly cherished the opportunity to have in-depth exchanges with fellow journalists from other Global South countries, as well as the insightful contributions from media professionals and Chinese authorities. Attuch said the "genuine trust" felt everywhere at the forum left a deep impression on him. He believes this trust stems from the sharing of development opportunities and mutual respect between civilizations. In an interview with the Global Times, he specifically refuted the "debt trap" claim often used in some Western media narratives, "But in reality, the BRI partner countries express deep satisfaction with the cooperation." Attuch said this media cooperation forum has further strengthened his belief to open up the platform of Brazil 247 to more Global South countries, so that more voices can be heard. "The Global South must strengthen media cooperation, not only in content exchange but also in sharing experience and deepening cooperation in fields such as social media and artificial intelligence. Only in this way can we jointly shape a more equitable narrative and build a more peaceful world," Attuch said. Attuch's opinion echoed the address made by Siyavuya Mzantsi, editor-in-chief of South Africa's Cape Times, at the main forum. Mzantsi proposed: "We should not be shy to commend nations that place multilateralism at the center of their development. As the world desperately needs global leaders driven by a shared future for humankind, let us remind ourselves that cooperation, not confrontation should prevail." He called for more leaders gathered at the forum committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind, who build bridges of understanding and bridge the gaps between civilizations. Alejandro Gomez, vice president of Prensa Latina News Agency in Cuba, also pointed out that the joint construction of the BRI, along with the successive launch of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, are of decisive significance for advancing dialogue between civilizations. He firmly expressed his support for these initiatives aimed at working for the common future of mankind and recognized China's leading role in upholding multilateralism, fairness, justice, and common progress. "We firmly believe that with concerted efforts, we can make the voices of BRI partner countries and Global South countries louder, jointly promote peace, justice, and development, and support the just causes of our peoples," he said. At the end of the forum, a Global Times reporter noticed that a media professional from Africa carefully put his forum pass into his bag. This carefully kept forum pass is a specific mark of cross-regional exchanges at this forum. Under the framework of the BRI, countless such tokens are converging into vibrant practices of Global South media deepening exchanges and cooperation, jointly shaping a fair international narrative, and adding warm and solid support to the path of humanity's common development. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) As Morocco continues to diversify its global partnerships, foreign Minister Nasser Bouritas recent visit to China last week marks a significant step in Rabats quest to consolidate international support for its autonomy plan in the Sahara. The visit, highlighted by the signing of a memorandum of understanding and the establishment of a permanent strategic dialogue mechanism, reflects Moroccos broader diplomatic posture: a deliberate pivot toward multipolarity. From Washington to Brussels in addition to Moscow and Beijing, Rabat is leveraging diversified partnerships as a source of geopolitical strength. After receiving the UNs personal envoy Staffan de Mistura, Russian diplomacy has formally described the Sahara conflict as a relic of colonialism and backed recent UN security resolutions, which all describe Moroccos autonomy plan as a serious proposal and urge a political solution based on compromise. With China, the joint statement following Bouritas visit stresses the principle of non-interference in domestic issues of sovereign states as Morocco backs the one-China principle. The growth of Sino-Moroccan dialogue builds on a trajectory initiated during King Mohammed VIs landmark visit to China in 2016 and reinforced by President Xi Jinpings visit to Morocco in 2024. These high-level exchanges have laid the foundation for a partnership that now extends beyond trade to encompass political coordination and strategic alignment. The language used in Bouritas meetings with his Chinese counterpart- emphasizing solidarity, mutual respect, and trust- signals a shared intent to build an equal and multidimensional relationship. The joint communique notably underscores a willingness to explore new forms of multilateral coordination, suggesting a maturing and structured partnership. Crucially, the Sahara issue is emerging as a focal point in this evolving relationship. While China has traditionally maintained a cautious stance, recent developments suggest a subtle but meaningful shift. Indicators include the exclusion of Polisario representatives from major Sino-African forums, nuanced official statements in multilateral settings, and growing international analyses pointing to a recalibration of Beijings position in favor of Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara. This shift is driven by converging interests. Morocco offers China a stable investment environment with strategic access to European and West African markets. For Beijing, whose African policy prioritizes economic pragmatism and regional stability, Morocco presents a reliable partner aligned with its long-term objectives. Rabats message is clear: any deepening of bilateral ties must acknowledge the reality of Moroccos territorial integrity within an autonomy framework. The Kenyan government has launched a formal investigation into reports that several of its citizens were trafficked to Russia and forced to fight in the ongoing war in Ukraine, where they are now held as prisoners of war (POWs). Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir SingOei confirmed on Saturday (20 September) that authorities are closely monitoring the cases of at least four Kenyans. The inquiry follows the emergence of video evidence and testimonies, including from 36-year-old athlete Evans Kibet, who says he was duped into military service. Kibet claims he traveled to Russia as a tourist but was offered help with visa issues and a job. He alleges that he unknowingly signed documents in Russian, had his passport and phone taken, and was transported to a military camp. After a week of training, he was sent to the frontlines, where he later fled and surrendered to Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian officials confirmed the capture of four Kenyans, including Kibet, and say they were among many foreigners lured by promises of jobs and scholarships. A video released by Ukraines 57th Motorized Infantry Brigade shows Kibet recounting his ordeal. Kenyas embassy in Moscow is working with Russian authorities while engaging Ukrainian counterparts to verify the mens welfare. The case has sparked wider concerns over exploitative recruitment targeting Africans in conflict zones. During the visit to the prisoners of war camp in Kyiv, journalists from Kenyas Daily Nation newspaper reportedly found Africans from Togo, Ghana, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Egypt and Tunisia. Officials have assured families of full consular support as investigations continue. King Mohammed VI has extended his congratulations and best wishes to Malis Transitional President Gen. Assimi Goita and Malian people on the occasion on the Independence Day celebrated on September 22. The King has also reaffirmed Moroccos constant readiness to work with Mali to strengthen further cooperation ties for a stable, united, and prosperous Africa. In his message, the Sovereign assured Goita of the importance he attaches to strengthening the historic bonds of fraternity and solidarity uniting the Moroccan and Malian peoples. The two countries share deep historical, cultural, and fraternal ties, rooted in shared Islamic heritage. Under King Mohammed VIs South-South cooperation strategy, relations gained momentum, focusing on economic development, security in the Sahel region, and mutual support amid regional instability. This partnership has intensified following Malis 2020-2021 military transition and its withdrawal from ECOWAS alongside Burkina Faso and Niger, positioning Morocco as a key alternative partner for trade, security, and infrastructure access. Mali is among Sahel countries (Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso) that have all adhered to the Royal initiative offering Atlantic access to these landlocked African countries. The royal initiative seeks to transform the economies of the Sahel region and unlock its untapped potentials, bringing in development, peace, stability and shared prosperity. Libyan and Turkish officials convened in Ankara to address the settlement of longstanding contracts signed before 2011, alongside evaluating those signed in 2024 and 2025. The joint working group also focused on creating a practical roadmap to revive stalled development projects, aiming to enhance the stability of ongoing and future bilateral efforts. The meeting emphasized the importance of building on this economic momentum to deepen strategic cooperation. Discussions included the development of existing ventures and the promotion of new investments in key sectors such as infrastructure, trade, industry, and contracting. High-level representatives from both countries attended, including Libyas Minister of Transportation Mohammed Al-Shahoubi and Turkeys Minister of Trade Omer Bolat, reflecting the significance both sides place on strengthening their economic partnership. Trade between the two nations has shown strong growth, with a 31% increase recorded in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Massad Boulos, senior adviser to US President Donald Trump on Middle Eastern and African affairs, reportedly urged Algerian authorities to reconsider their stance on the Sahara conflict during a visit to Algiers in July, according to a report by Al Hurra. The US-funded Arabic-language news outlet said Boulos pressed Algeria to either endorse Moroccos autonomy proposal or to influence the Polisario Front toward a more flexible approach aligned with Washingtons position. The initiative, kept out of official communications, reflects Washingtons intent to break the deadlock surrounding the Sahara issue and mitigate its destabilizing impact on the region. The US has recognized Moroccos sovereignty on the Sahara since 2020 and backs the autonomy plan as the sole solution to the conflict, a position that was later echoed by France, while a growing number of western powers including Spain, the UK, back Moroccos position on the conflict. In early September, Boulos met with UN envoy Staffan de Mistura in Washington, reiterating the US position: Authentic autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only viable solution for Western Sahara. These developments come ahead of a critical UN Security Council vote in October, which could mark a turning point. The upcoming resolution may exclusively endorse Moroccos autonomy plan and revise the mandate of the UN mission in the region (MINURSO). Serbia's actions pose a dual challenge for the EU by maintaining Russian energy dependence and potentially anchoring Chinese influence, complicating its EU accession negotiations on green agenda and sustainable connectivity. Ukrainian drone attacks on the Druzhba pipeline have disrupted oil shipments and highlighted the vulnerabilities of relying on this infrastructure, leading to a strong reaction from Hungary. Serbia and Hungary are collaborating with Russia on energy infrastructure, including an extension of the Druzhba pipeline, which undermines EU efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy. Serbia is a candidate for European Union membership and Hungary has been a full member since 2004, but that hasnt prevented them from collaborating with Russia to undermine EU cohesion and meddle with efforts to break Europes dependency on Russian energy. Ukrainian drones, however, have succeeded in disrupting Belgrades and Budapests designs. EU Commissioner for Energy Dan Jrgensen unveiled an ambitious plan in June to stop all Russian oil and natural gas exports to the European Union by 2027. A little over one month later, Hungary and Serbia announced a joint effort to build additional infrastructure that would enable Russian oil exports to reach Serbia via an extension of the Druzhba pipeline. Once built, the pipeline will be able to convey upwards of 5 million tons of oil annually to Serbia. The target completion date is 2027. A recent analysis published by the Western Balkans Center at New Lines Institute explains how Serbias actions are revealing broader inefficiencies in the EUs strategy to mitigate external energy influences. The analysis states Serbia is pursuing a deliberate strategy of maneuvering between Russia and China to maximize autonomy while extracting concessions from Brussels. The result is a dual challenge for the EU Serbias continuation of Russian energy dependence that undermines sanctions unity, and resource politics that could anchor Chinese influence at the heart of the Unions green transition. Given Serbias EU candidate status, Belgrades actions additionally highlight a broader vulnerability in the EUs enlargement policy its inability to prevent candidate states from using external partnerships to evade reform demands necessary for accession. As the analysis notes, Serbias Druzhba extension plan complicates its negotiations with Brussels on Cluster 4 requirements, which oblige an aspiring member state to harmonize its policies with EU standards concerning the green agenda and sustainable connectivity. Among the specific topics that need to be settled are energy supply, infrastructure and the internal energy market. Although the EU opened negotiations with Serbia on Cluster 4 topics in 2021, none of the necessary provisions have been finalized to date. The planned pipeline deepens Serbias reliance on Russian oil and contradicts EU accession requirements outlined in Cluster 4, the New Lines analysis states. In August, Ukrainian drone attacks on the Druzhba pipeline on Russian territory raised questions about the utility of the Serbian pipeline extension plan. The damage done to the Unecha pumping station in one of those strikes caused a disruption to Europe-bound oil shipments, prompting complaints by Hungary and Slovakia. Despite EU efforts to wean itself off Russian energy, Druzhba remains a vital supply conduit for both Budapest and Bratislava. In the aftermath of the August attacks, Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that Kyiv might target Druzhba again, unless Hungary moderates its stance on hindering EU assistance to Ukraine, including a block on accession. We have always supported friendship between Ukraine and Hungary. And now the existence of Druzhba [which means 'friendship in Ukrainian] depends on Hungarys position, Zelensky said. Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, in turn, warned Zelensky that further Ukrainian efforts disrupt the Hungary-bound flow of Russian oil would have big consequences for Kyiv. Regardless of whether Ukraine mounts new strikes on Druzhba, the proposal of a Serbian pipeline extension presents a serious challenge to the EUs cohesion, the New Lines analysis underscores. Serbian geopolitical maneuvering involving Russia is dangerous to European geopolitical stability and prosperity, the analysis states. Russia has historically capitalized on destabilization and conflict in the Western Balkans. This further diverts the region from EU democratic norms and allows Russia to extend its influence in Europe, despite EU sanctions. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The article notes a trend of North American banks and asset managers withdrawing from net-zero alliances following President Trump's election, indicating a shift away from climate-focused lending in some sectors. This push prioritizes energy security, especially for upstream gas developments, and also extends to other development banks to finance fossil fuel projects. The Trump Administration is advocating for the World Bank to increase its financing for oil and gas projects, a reversal of its previous policy to cease funding new fossil fuel ventures after 2019. The Trump Administration is pushing the World Bank to boost funding for oil and gas in what would be a U-turn in the lenders policy not to finance new fossil fuel projects. Back in 2017, the World Bank Group said it would no longer finance upstream oil and gas after 2019. But the group noted that In exceptional circumstances, consideration will be given to financing upstream gas in the poorest countries where there is a clear benefit in terms of energy access for the poor and the project fits within the countries Paris Agreement commitments. The U.S. Administration is now pushing for more developments, especially upstream gas, prioritizing energy security to any concerns about climate change, development officials have told the Financial Times. The U.S. is also pushing other development banks to finance fossil fuels, including gas pipeline projects, according to FTs sources. In recent years, the World Bank and many commercial banks have backed out of lending money to some fossil fuels, including coal, oil sands, and Arctic oil and gas. Banks were under intense shareholder and stakeholder pressure to cut their exposure to fossil fuels and align their lending portfolios to the Paris Agreement goals. But the tables have turned with the U.S. Administration strongly promoting fossil fuels and Americas dominance in oil and gas exports. An all-of-the-above energy strategy that provides for the financing of upstream gas would be a positive step towards reconnecting the World Bank, and all other multilateral development banks, to their core missions of economic growth and poverty reduction, a spokesperson for the U.S. Treasury Department told FT. After years of scrutiny and blacklisting from Republican states in the U.S. and lawsuits from Republican attorney generals, North American banks and asset managers began quitting net-zero alliances en masse following President Trumps election victory. The top U.S. banks and four of Canadas largest banks are no longer part of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), a group of leading global banks committed to aligning their lending, investment, and capital markets activities with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com In a recent post on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Venezuela to take back prisoners and people from mental institutions, or else the price you will pay will be incalculable. This was announced right when the U.S. military was deploying an array of Navy and Air Force units in the Eastern Caribbean, and even elite Special Operations forces, making the threat real. The deployment is accompanied by a key narrative element. Since late July, administration officials have been promoting the idea that Venezuela is ruled by a criminal organisation known as the Cartel de los Soles, with Nicolas Maduro at its head. Many analysts are thus seeing through the counter-narcotics rhetoric, concluding that this is a campaign to drive Maduro out of power. The U.S. military has since bombed and destroyed three boats, alleged to be carrying drugs from Venezuelaalthough the statement on the third strike shied away from mentioning the country, given rising questions over the legality of such actions. In any case, while the Navy surrounds Venezuelas coasts, destroying speedboats could be equivalent to shooting in the air during a heist. At Guacamaya we recently published articles finding that the Cartel de los Soles story is no more than a political narrative, ignoring the realities of drug trafficking, and that it is being promoted by certain political and economic interests to push for regime change in Venezuela. Others have also analysed how the use of the terms Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles has risen and fallen based on their political convenience. Related: Eni Seals Billion-Dollar Fusion Energy Deal with U.S. Partner President Trumps messaging has consistently focused on fentanylwhich causes 70% of overdose deaths in the United Statesinstead of Colombian cocaine. And in any case, just 5% of the latter transits through Venezuela, according to none other than the DEA. What Venezuela does indeed have is 300 billion barrels of oil, 220 trillion cubic feet of gas, and significant deposits of gold, iron, tin, bauxite, coltan, and rare minerals. Meanwhile, Caracas has been a close ally of Havana, meaning it is in the sights of South Floridas Cuban-American political community, with Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio at its head. Are we then to expect a further escalation of conflict between the United States and Venezuela? How likely is it that there will be an all-out war? Or are the two sides ready to negotiate? Then, what would either of these options mean for energy markets? Actually, there are some signals that both the White House and the Palace of Miraflores are open to talk. The Truth Social post creates a doubt. One can understand that it refers to President Trumps claim that Maduro purposefully sent thousands of criminals into the United States. But if Venezuela accepts all deportees, would regime change plans be shelved? Soon after the publication, on the very same day, Reuters said that it had seen a letter in which Maduro offered Trump to engage in direct talks via Presidential Envoy for Special Missions Richard Grenell. The letters date was September 6, probably reflecting that some officials tried to hide it. A key question remains. The United States is already sending two flights full of Venezuelan migrants home every week. By mid-September, this means 54 flights and 10,000 deportees, according to a source in the State Department with information on the matter. So, is the solution as simple as ramping up the pace of deportation flights? Likewise, regarding drug trafficking, would it be enough for Maduro to commit to combating the transit of cocaine? If Trump only worries about fentanyl, eradicating it will be all the easier. Besides immigration and drug traffickingreal and allegedenergy is the key topic in discussions between Washington, DC and Caracas. If they go back to the negotiation table, one can be sure that oil and gas will be on the agenda. The sanctions waiver for Chevron to continue operating in Venezuela is still active. Local sources estimate that it is shipping an average of 80,000 barrels per day to the United States, well below a high of 300,000 bpd last year, under the previous license. The main argument behind the special authorisation is that the corporation needs to recoup its debts. But this results in an awkward favouritism. On one hand, other oil firms in the U.S. and Europe are wondering what the argument is for leaving them out. Simultaneously, there are various types of creditors of Venezuela, including bondholders and arbitration award claimants. The first group are owed $70 billionnot including bonds held by Venezuelan entitieswhile the second are requesting at least $23 billion. Both are mostly comprised of U.S. and European companies and financial institutions. Another argument is that the Chevron license will allow the United States to keep a foothold in Venezuela and combat Beijings influence in the region. But the current sanctions framework is resulting in China taking 85% of oil exports, at a discount. We are also seeing private Chinese companies sign contracts to extract crude, including China Concord Petroleum, Anhui Guangda Mining Investment, and Kerui Petroleum; all while North American and European investors are barred by the Department of the Treasurys sanctions. Irans dark fleet is also back, providing much-needed diluents, after having stayed out of the picture while Chevron and other Western companies had licenses until late May this year. Historically, the U.S. and Venezuela had a symbiotic relationship; the first sold light petroleum products to make the seconds extra-heavy crude exportable, which then ended up in the Gulf Coast refineries. The still active Chevron license leaves an open question mark. Is the White House gearing up to escalate tensions, and risk losing its last foothold in Venezuela? Or, perhaps, will it use negotiations to expand its economic beachhead and demand better conditions for American businesses? President Trump has already sought to extract deals for critical minerals and energy with countries like Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. By Elias Ferrer for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com As the United States is pressuring Europe to cut off energy revenues for Russia, the European Union took a step to bring forward a ban on imports of Russian LNG a year earlier than planned. The European Commission on Friday proposed its 19th sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine. This package, which will need unanimous approval from all EU member states, accelerates the timeline for phasing out Russian LNG imports into the blocfrom the end of 2027 to January 1, 2027, one year earlier than planned. Russias primary source of income to finance its illegal war is still energy exports, Kaja Kallas, European Commission Vice-President and the EUs foreign policy chief, said in a statement. To cut Russias energy exports, the Commission now proposes a full prohibition of Russian LNG imports by January 2027. The sanctions package also removes all remaining exemptions on Russian oil producers Rosneft and Gazprom Neft, and expands sanctions on Russias shadow fleet and its enablers, including 118 new vessels. Related: Chinas Russian Crude Imports Slip in August, Shipping Tells a Different Story Despite weeks of diplomatic efforts, Russia only intensifies its aggression and is now breaching the European Unions own borders, Kallas said. Russias aggression cannot continue unchecked. Our message is clear: We will intensify pressure on Russia with increasingly hard-hitting sanctions, coupled with military support for Ukraine, until Russia accepts a genuine, just and lasting peace. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said upon proposing the new sanctions package that Russia's war economy is sustained by revenues from fossil fuels. We want to cut these revenues. It is time to turn off the tap. We are prepared for this. We have been saving energy, diversifying supplies and investing in low-carbon sources of energy like never before, von der Leyen added. Moreover, the EU is now going after those who fuel Russia's war by purchasing oil in breach of the sanctions. We target refineries, oil traders, petrochemical companies in third countries, including China, the Commission president noted. Before the package was announced, the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that the EU mistakenly believes that ramping up sanctions would somehow change Russias policy. But the EU, as well as the U.S., believes that cutting off the vital energy revenues would force a collapse of Russias economy and deplete the war chest for Putin to continue the war in Ukraine. The United States has intensified pressure on the EU to cut off imports of Russian energy to accelerate revenue declines for the Kremlin in coordinated efforts to force Putin to negotiate peace in Ukraine. The Trump Administration is also intensifying pressure on its EU and G7 partners to act with tariffs on India and China over their continued imports of Russian crude oil. Many EU member states arent keen to slap tariffs on India and China; thats why the EU is now targeting a faster phase-out of Russian LNG, sources familiar with the plan told Bloomberg. The U.S. has a replacement solution to Russias LNG in EuropeAmericas own LNG export industry. The United States, the worlds largest exporter of the super-chilled fuel ahead of Qatar and Australia, is strongly promoting LNG project development and exports under the Trump Administration. Earlier this month, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the EU could accelerate the phase out of natural gas imports from Russia and end purchases within six to 12 months by replacing them with American LNG. The faster we phase out, the sooner you put pressure on Russia, Secretary Wright told Reuters after meeting with EU officials in Brussels. On the U.S. side, we could do it faster, and I think it would be good if those dates were moved up even more. I don't know that that's going to happen, but that was dialogued, Wright said, referring to his meeting with EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Chinas crude imports from Russia fell in August compared with a year earlier, representing the first annual decline in months, according to official Chinese customs data cited by South China Morning Post. However, there is nuance in the data detail, with shipping trackers via S&P Global showing seaborne flows from Russia to China actually rising compared with July. Figures reported by the SCMP, citing Chinese customs, show imports from Russia were down around 15% year-on-year in August. The drop came as China boosted purchases from other suppliers, including Brazil and Indonesia, leaving Russias share of the market slightly reduced. Analysts noted that refiners have been diversifying their feedstock mix in response to shifting price dynamics and seasonal demand. Earlier in September, data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea indicated that seaborne shipments of Russian crude to China increased by about 12% month-on-month in August. Overall, Chinas crude oil imports rose by nearly 5% in August compared with July, reaching 49.5 million tonnes, according to Anadolu Agency. On a year-on-year basis, total imports edged just 0.8% higher, but the figures confirm that China remains the worlds largest oil importer at a time when domestic product demand is slowing. The divergence in figures reflects how refiners have adjusted buying patterns. Year-on-year volumes are weaker because last August, China was taking advantage of steep Russian discounts after sanctions tightened. Month-on-month, however, purchases picked up as Chinese refiners secured cargoes ahead of autumn maintenance and in response to narrower arbitrage from other suppliers. For Moscow, the customs dip is notable from a YoY perspective given that China, along with India, has been the anchor buyer of Russian crude since Western sanctions redirected trade flows in 2022. Whether August proves to be a one-off fluctuation or an early sign of demand rebalancing will depend on how Chinese refiners respond to discounted barrels heading into the autumn refinery maintenance season. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Governors of the states covered by the biggest U.S. grid operator, PJM Interconnection, will discuss a greater role for the states in the decision-making at the company amid soaring consumer electricity bills, a source with knowledge of the plans told Reuters on Monday. PJM Interconnection, the operator of the largest U.S. electric grid covering 13 mid-Atlantic and Midwest states, is governed by a board of managers. Power plant operators and owners of transmission lines have voting power. The states now want a greater role in the governance of the grid operator, similar to those of the New England and Midwest grids, according to Reuters source. PJM coordinates the movement of electricity through all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The governors are expected to launch a so-called PJM Governors' Collaborative at a summit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Among the first ideas the PJM Governors Collaborative will discuss at the summit will be historic reforms to PJM governance to give the states a larger role in decision-making moving forward, the source told Reuters. The governors are concerned that without more influence over the decision-making process consumers will continue to be burdened by the recent spikes in electricity prices in many areas where demand has surged due to AI data centers. PJMs area of operations hosts the biggest data centers and demand is set to continue rising with the advance of generative AI technologies. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro?has recently agreed with PJM to significantly lower the capacity auction price cap, to avoid price hikes on consumers across all 13 states PJM serves, including Pennsylvania. Governor Shapiro has repeatedly pressed for long-term solutions at PJM that address increasing costs, including capacity market reforms to more accurately reflect real world conditions. A greater role for the states in the PJM decision-making could help the governors advance their efforts to protect consumers from spiking energy bills. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com U.S. Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), which is developing fusion energy, has signed a more than $1-billion power purchase agreement with Italys energy major Eni as the two companies continue to partner to bring fusion power to commercial use. Nuclear fusion has long been considered the answer to zero-emission by-product-free energy generation. However, no one has cracked the nuclear fusion code yet because of the challenges associated with the environment in which the process could take place. Commonwealth Fusion Systems believes fusion power from its power plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia, could connect to the grid in the early 2030s. Commonwealth, a spinout from MITs Plasma Science and Fusion Center, is a private fusion company and has Eni as a strategic partner for the industrial development of magnetic confinement fusion. Under the power purchase agreement (PPA) agreement announced today, Eni will buy power from CFSs 400 MW ARC fusion power plant in Virginia, which is expected to connect to the grid in the early 2030s, Eni said on Monday. The agreement with Eni demonstrates the value of fusion energy on the grid. It is a big vote of confidence to have Eni, who has contributed to our execution since the beginning, buy the power we intend to make in Virginia, said Bob Mumgaard, co-founder and CEO of CFS. Our fusion power attracts diverse customers across the world from hyperscalers to traditional energy leaders because of the promise of clean, almost limitless energy. The deal with Eni is the second offtake agreement CFS has signed in three months for its first grid-scale fusion power plant. In late June, CFS signed its first commercial commitment for its future fusion plant with Google. The tech giant, which has been an investor in CFS since 2021, signed an offtake agreement for 200 MW of clean fusion power from the Virginia plant. Last month, CFS announced it raised $863 million in a Series B2 funding round to help the company complete its SPARC fusion demonstration machine and advance work on its first power plant in Virginia. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Natural gas exports from Iran to neighboring Iraq declined by 40% between April and August this year, extending a downward trend from 2024, Zawya reported today, citing information from the Trade Promotion Organisation of Iran. No reasons for the decline in exports were mentioned, but the value of the exports in the period stood at $950 million, which was much lower than the value of gas exports to Iraq in April-August 2024. An earlier report by local media said all Iranian exports to Iraq had declined in the five-month period, by 18% on the year, to a total of $3.75 billion. Iran has been a major gas supplier to its neighbor despite often uneven relations between the two countries. Iraq has abundant natural gas supplies but is not developing them at any meaningful scale, paying for imports instead. The country lacks the gas processing plants necessary to process the associated gas extracted from its massive oilfields and continues to flare some of those gas volumes. Iraq was also importing electricity from Iran, with the annual bill for both natural gas and electricity at some $7-$8 billion. Recently, Iraq tried to diversify its import dependence by launching gas imports from Turkmenistan. However, the deal involves a pipeline passing through Iran, which is under U.S. sanctions, and the U.S. has refused to grant Iraq a waiver so it can start importing Turkmen gas. Earlier this year, the Trump administration also canceled a waiver for imports of Iranian electricity, worsening the supply situation in Iraq. Proceeding (with the Turkmen deal) could trigger sanctions on Iraqi banks and financial institutions, so the contract is currently suspended, Adel Karim, adviser to Iraq's prime minister for electricity affairs, told Reuters earlier this month. The failure of this plan means that Iraq now has to seek alternatives. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Turkey and the federal Iraqi government have agreed to resume oil exports from Iraqs semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan via a pipeline to the Turkish coast, Shakhwan Abdullah, Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, said this weekend. Oil exports from Kurdistan have been halted for two and a half years, after they were shut in in March 2023 due to a dispute over who should authorize the Kurdish exports. Despite some breakthroughs in negotiations in recent months, the disagreements have continued. The federal government in Baghdad and the regional Kurdish government in Erbil have been squabbling for more than two years over who should be responsible for the oil exports and the subsequent revenue distribution. Now Iraq and Turkey, through which the Kurdistan oil flows pass, have reached an agreement, according to the Iraqi lawmaker. Iraqs state oil marketing firm SOMO has reached an agreement with Turkish companies to restart the crude oil flows, Abdullah said on Sunday. Separately, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has finalized an agreement with the federal Iraqi government on revenue sharing and distribution of the oil and non-oil income, the lawmaker said. All these agreements pave the way to restoring the oil exports from Kurdistan and bringing about 230,000 barrels per day (bpd) to the market initially. For months, Iraq has been reportedly close to restoring Kurdistans oil exports via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. However, outstanding issues needed to be resolved between Iraq and KRG, Iraq and Turkey, and Iraq and the foreign oil companies operating in Kurdistan, before restarting exports to the Turkish coast. The Iraqi federal government has issued preliminary approval to a plan for oil exports from Kurdistan to resume, sources with knowledge of ongoing talks told Reuters on Friday. The foreign oil firms operating in Kurdistan have also given tentative approval to the export resumption plan, the sources added. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Iraq has boosted its oil exports as part of the gradual rollback of voluntary production cuts agreed under the OPEC+ alliance, the countrys state oil marketer SOMO confirmed on Sunday. According to SOMOs director general, Ali Nizar Al-Shatari, the increase in shipments is set to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenues at current price levels, Iraqs state news agency reported. While he did not provide an exact figure for the latest rise, he noted that adding 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) of production would significantly strengthen government finances. Iraqs exports averaged 3.38 million bpd in August, according to the oil ministry. For September, SOMO expects the figure to climb to between 3.4 million and 3.45 million bpd. The boost in Iraqi exports comes after eight OPEC+ members agreed earlier this month to increase their collective output by 137,000 bpd starting in October. This is part of a phased easing of production curbs that the group first implemented years ago to stabilize global oil markets following a historic supply glut and demand crash. Since April, OPEC+ has been unwinding these voluntary reductions, a process designed to balance rising demand with the need to avoid oversupply. Iraq has long pressed for greater recognition of its production capacity within OPEC+. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani urged fellow producers to reconsider Iraqs export quota, saying the current allocation does not adequately reflect its potential output. However, Baghdads position is complicated. Iraq remains the groups biggest overproducer, consistently pumping above its agreed quota. OPEC+ has pressured Baghdad to bring production into line, and in April, Iraq submitted plans to make additional output cuts to compensate for earlier overproduction. The increase in Iraqi crude shipments highlights the delicate balance OPEC+ members face as they seek to capitalize on higher revenues while maintaining discipline within the alliance. For Baghdad, rising exports provide crucial income at a time of budgetary pressures, but also risk further scrutiny from its OPEC+ partners if production strays too far from agreed limits. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Australias oil and gas major Santos on Monday announced that a floating production vessel had received first gas from the $4.5-billion Barossa project offshore northern Australia, with the floating unit being the production centerpiece of the Barossa LNG project. The BW Opal FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading vessel) will be permanently located in the Barossa gas field about 285 kilometers (177 miles) offshore from Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. The floating vessel will feed the Darwin LNG plant for the next two decades, Santos said on Monday. This was the first piece of positive news for the company since it announced last week that a consortium led by Abu Dhabis state energy major ADNOC had pulled an $18.7-billion bid for the Australian group, due to disagreements over price. In todays press statement on the Barossa project, Santos announced that the BW Opal achieved ready for start-up status on September 16, 2025, and gas began to flow from the subsea wells last week. The Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority has renewed the Environment Protection Licence for Darwin LNG, commencing September 19, 2025. This paves the way for first gas into, and start-up of, the Darwin LNG plant, Santos said. The Barossa field will feed Darwin LNG, which has been exporting the super-chilled fuel predominantly to Japanese customers. RFSU for the BW Opal marked the formal transition from project execution to production operations, following RFSU for the Darwin LNG plant upon completion of the life extension work scope and the commencement of production from the offshore subsea wells, said Santos managing director and CEO Kevin Gallagher. Santos bets big on the Barossa LNG project and the Pikka oil project in Alaska for boosting oil and gas output in the coming months. The two projects are set to boost Santos oil and gas production by 30% by 2027, and hike cash flows. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com A breakthrough agreement between Baghdad, Erbil, and international oil companies is expected to be announced within 24 hours, potentially ending an 18-month halt in Kurdish crude exports through Turkeys Ceyhan port. Local outlet Kurdistan24 reported that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Iraqs Oil Ministry, and producing oil companies have agreed on volumes and procedures that would place roughly 230,000 barrels per day under the federal marketing authority SOMO, while another 50,000 bpd would supply the domestic market. If implemented, the deal could restore a critical export stream that has been offline since March 2023, when Ankara shut the Iraq-Turkey pipeline after an international arbitration ruling ordered it to pay $1.5 billion to Baghdad for past unauthorized Kurdish shipments. The loss of export revenue has battered the KRGs finances and complicated budget transfers from the federal government in Baghdad. Yet, the decisive factor remains Turkey, which holds the final decision. While Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has said the pipeline is ready to operate, Ankara has tied resumption to broader terms, including mechanisms to ensure full pipeline utilization and protection from further legal exposure. Reuters recently reported that Turkey submitted a draft proposal to Iraq to renew and expand the 1973 pipeline agreement, signaling willingness but also pressing for concessions on arbitration liabilities and future revenue flows. At the same time, reports from earlier on Monday indicate that Ankara and Baghdad have reached an understanding to restart Kurdish exports, suggesting the final bottleneck may also have been cleared. The agreement reached in Erbil suggests Baghdad and the oil companies have settled their differences over contract recognition and payment guarantees. If Turkey now endorses the framework and allows flows to resume through Ceyhan, more than 230,000 bpd could re-enter international markets. Without Ankaras sign-off, however, Mondays stated breakthrough risks becoming another in a series of announcements that fail to translate into exports. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com (Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Okinawa) The clock does not always stop at midnight in Japan. Those up late at night might notice a curious 30-hour timekeeping system used in Japan. Rather than resetting the day at 00:00, midnight, the 30-hour clock continues counting through the early morning hours. A show listed at 25:00 airs at 1 a.m. A train leaving at 27:00 departs at 3 a.m. This system of timekeeping stretches as far as 30:00, or 6 a.m., before the next business day begins. This unusual timekeeping format started in Japanese astronomy pre-WWII for researchers keeping logs overnight. By extending the day beyond 24 hours, astronomers avoided confusion caused by switching dates in the middle of their shift. The practice soon spread beyond astronomy, however. After World War II, Japans railways adopted the system in printed timetables published by Kotsu Shimbunsha. These overnight train departure times were listed as 24:00 and beyond, keeping schedules tied to the day the journey began. A Thursday night departure at 25:30 was understood as Thursdays last train, not Friday mornings first train. In the 1960s, this practice moved to broadcast. Radio stations began filling the wee hours with music and talk. In 1967, Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc. launched All Night Nippon, a late-night radio show that proudly ran from 25:00 to 27:00. When television expanded into the late-night slots, it followed suit. TV guides nationwide printed programs using the 30-hour clock, cementing the clock as part of Japanese pop culture. In Okinawa, the 30-hour clock is used throughout the prefecture, particularly among broadcast stations and businesses open into the early morning hours. The Ryukyu Broadcasting Corporation (RBC) uses the extended clock format for its programming day with a 28-hour clock for both radio and television broadcasting. The RBC starts its programming day at 4 a.m. and ends the day at 28:00 or 3 a.m. In the United States, the clock does not extend beyond 24 hours, but the concept of early morning hour programming belonging to the previous day is similar. For instance, Saturday Night Live airs live at roughly 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The program is 90 minutes with a majority of the program airing on Sunday morning, yet the show is associated with Saturday because the early hours of Sunday morning are still widely viewed as Saturday night by the American public. The Naha International Airport lists its parking lot hours as open from 06:00 to 24:00, noting plane delays can cause the lots operating hours to extend beyond 24:00. Rollup Burrito in Koza is open until 25:00 on Friday (Saturday at 1 a.m.) and 26:00 on Saturday (Sunday at 2 a.m.). In these cases, the time goes beyond the traditional 24-hour clock to avoid ambiguity caused by the traditional 24-hour clock. Since the Naha International Airport closes at night, any delay that causes workers to stay later than midnight and the parking lot to remain open is part of the previous business day, not the ensuing day. Likewise, this applies to customers. A customer grabbing a meal at 1 a.m. after a day out would consider their meal the last meal of the previous day, not a current-day breakfast. Although many Japanese associate early morning hours with the previous day, this usage does not extend to ordinary conversation. When asked how Okinawans would say that they were going to a restaurant at 25:00, Okinawa native Daisuke Tsuchiya said, we will say 1 [a.m.]. In Japan, time does not stop at midnight, it just keeps going. Austin Howton is a U.S. Air Force Contracting Officer and licensed attorney that has been stationed at Kadena since November of 2023. He enjoys reading, travelling, and exploring the intersections of law, government and global affairs. By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com Something big is happening. When big things happen all kinds of abuse happens as well. #1. Dont rob our youth of their moment. Charlie Kirk was unique, in that he offered a lot of opportunity and speaking engagements for GEN-Z at his events. He made room at the table for them. Conservative Gen-Z influencer, Brett Cooper, (1 million followers) said young people like herself, were written off by most people in politics, especially on the political right here in America, except for one person, and that was Charlie Kirk. Charlie Kirk never gave up on Gen Z, and we are witnessing the impacts of that right now. Those of us with audiences and existing political structures need to be open to handing our microphones to students and Gen-Zers and let them speak for themselves, and let their voice be heard. #2. Dont let the consultants and profiteers steal the moment. When the 2010 Tea Party movement happened, it was near-historic on the level of spontaneous rallies held around the nation for lower taxes and for fighting government corruption. Then marketing firms began national tea-party themed fundraising campaigns that swept up tens of millions of dollars that they spent on themselves (huge scandals ensued). Additionally, in-fighting within the movement (purity tests, power struggles, competing visions) also derailed the Oregon Tea Party movement. Expect, a rush of national Charlie Kirk exploiters (not related to Turning Point) to flood your cell-phone and mailbox with fundraising appeals. #3. With every conservative success comes fringe toxic, activists ready to act-like conservatives to join the movement. We saw this during the Trump rallies in Oregon. At a 2020 Salem Trump rally, an unidentified speaker said lawmakers should be shot dead and dragged in the streets. That made the lead story on the evening news that night. Other Oregon rallies at the time involved people physically attacking journalists or breaking doors to the State Capitol. The lesson is that a normally peaceful patriotic rally can quickly be hijacked by a few troublemakers who can derail the whole event. This is not a problem with just the Right side, the Left faces the exact same problem in Oregon, but the media is more forgiving on what Leftist do. Charlie Kirk also faced this problem and dealt with it. Early in Charlie Kirks movement there was a sustained and highly successful effort to block white supremacists who wanted to politically airdrop into his movement but were denied at every chance. Expect them to try again in his death. Again, if Oregon sees Charlie Kirk inspired rallies, be warned that political success attracts all of the worst kinds of activists who wish to make it their own. #4. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi made a serious bad claim on free speech. Bondi said at a press conference last week that she is launching a new effort to crackdown on hate speech after the Charlie Kirk assassination. This brought widespread corrections from conservatives across-the-board and libertarians. As a longtime free-speech defender, we would be amiss if we did not correct the record as well. The First Amendment protects bad speech which includes (non-violent) hate speech. What AG Bondi should have said is that she targeting violent or threatening speech. Even Charlie Kirk once said, My position is that even hate speech should be completely and totally allowed in our country. The most disgusting speech should absolutely be protected. Calling something hate speech has been used by liberals (when in power) to censor and sue conservatives. Bondi needs to clarify her statements that has alarmed the conservative movement. #5. The FCC should not threaten to shut-down TV stations over talk-show hosts expressing incorrect opinions. Last week, conservative broadcaster, Benny Johnson, interviewed and encouraged the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, to consider the idea of pulling ABC broadcast license over late-night host Jimmy Kimmels, monologue which included a false reference to Charlie Kirks shooter being a Trump supporter. Texas US Senator Ted Cruz said of FCC Carrs threats, Thats right out of Goodfellas. and What [Mr. Carr] said there is dangerous as hell. It might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel, but when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it. We do not want the FCC threatening news organizations over perceived news they do not like. Imagine the Biden administration shutting down Fox News or the Daily Wire or Newsmax because the Federal government claimed a false statement was issued. There is also a huge difference between a news organization issuing a (knowingly) false statement and a comedic monologue by a talk-show host. This is why conservatives believe in limited government to stop such abuses by the Federal government. Whatever power you grant the Federal government today it can and will be used against you tomorrow when different ideologies are in power. This should have been the debate over Jimmy Kimmel (below), not the FCC jumping into a private dispute. Before you leave check out the long disturbing list of Oregonians cheering Kirks death. Help us spread the word. Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty). By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com McMinville City Councilor Sal Peralta is under fire for his Facebook post, Sal Peralta said, Hes a Christina motivational speaker the same way the klan is a fraternal organization. He has no relationship to a gospel-centered bible. His entire schtick is the opposite of Jesus ministry to persuade people like you to dislike, fear, and hate people you perceive to be different than you liberals, immigrants, trans people, etc. I dont wish harm on anyone but when you make a living out of sh***ing on groups of other people every single day, dont be surprised when some of the hate comes back to you Let the record show that Sal Peralta is comparing Charlie Kirk to a group that killed as many as 2,000 African Americans. Charlie Kirk killed no one but rather, Charlie Kirk is the one who was killed. Kirk was the third person to be killed by far-Left shooters during a two week period. Charlie Kirk did not discriminate like the Klan, instead it has been liberal colleges that have been blocking, discriminating and censoring conservatives from speaking at their own campuses. Ask a Jewish student how safe they feel on campus from the Left-protests. If Charlie Kirk was so intolerant, why did Charlies wife forgive her husbands shooter? Even a Newport Charlie Kirk vigil, had people praying for the soul of the shooter. If Charlie Kirk was so intolerant, why did all conservatives vote for the Congressional Resolution honoring the Minnesota slain lawmaker, but most Congressional Democrats did not vote for the Resolution honoring Charlie Kirk? Look below to see who is the more intolerant, violent in Oregon: Yamhill County Republicans have called for his resignation. Sal Perlta issued a follow-up response, In response to the people who slid into my DMs yesterday, I will say it again: I do not wish harm on anyone. I believe the right to express a political opinion is a cornerstone of a just society. I feel badly for his family, the same way I do for anyone harmed by violence. But, I will not mourn someone who attacks peoples basic right to exist and who has done so much damage to basic civility and social cohesion in this country through Klan style policies and racist, sexist and homophobic dog whistles. The messages I received are good examples of this toxicity. . HERE ARE MORE EXAMPLES OF OREGONIANS CHEERING OR MAKING LIGHT OF CHARLIE KIRKS MURDER: According to the Lincoln Chronicle, a teacher named Trent Adams, in the Taft school in Lincoln City is under fire saying Charlie Kirk deserved to die. A Wilsonville Development Review Board Member: This comment below is from a Springfield school official: Here is Pleasant Hill School official: Here is a Cornelius School educator. Meanwhile a Portland activist called for more political violence. Help us spread the word. Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty). 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: Dr. Hayato Chiba (left) and Dr. Mingpei Lin, the corresponding authors of this research paper. Credit: Tohoku University Advanced space travel relies on a fundamental understanding of the restricted three-body problem (RTBP), in which one of the three bodiestypically a spacecraftis so small that its gravity doesn't affect the other two, such as a planet and its moon. "In RTBP systems, Lagrange points between the two celestial bodies provide specific locations around which a spacecraft can orbit," explains Mingpei Lin, a member of an AIMR research team. "The ability to model how complex orbitssuch as halo, and quasi-halo orbitsemerge around the unstable collinear Lagrange points enables better trajectory design using these points." However, a persistent challenge has been the lack of a unified analytical method for describing all types of Lagrange point orbits. Numerical simulations can model individual trajectories but are computationally intensive and system-specific. Existing analytical methods offer only fragmented solutionshandling Lissajous or halo orbits separately, and failing to capture quasi-halo orbits altogether. In a 2024 article published in Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Lin and Chiba developed a unified analytical framework to describe the center manifolds of collinear Lagrange points in the RTBP. Their method introduces a coupling mechanism that explains how quasi-halo orbits bifurcate from Lissajous orbitswithout requiring frequency resonance. "Previous analytical models treated frequency resonance as the main mechanism behind the emergence of complex orbits," says Lin. "But this approach couldn't account for the bifurcation of quasi-halo orbits from Lissajous orbits, and numerical observations also pointed to a different behavior. Based on this, we proposed that nonlinear couplingnot resonanceis the true cause of orbit bifurcations, a dynamic no existing model had captured adequately." The novelty of the team's approach lies in introducing a coupling coefficient, , and a bifurcation equation, = 0, into the RTBP equations. This modification preserves the nonlinear coupling between in-plane and out-of-plane motions, allowing bifurcations to emerge naturallyand without relying on resonance conditions. Poincare section of center manifold of L 1 of the S-E system. Credit: Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics (2025). DOI: 10.2514/1.g008233 The result is a high-order series solution that analytically describes Lissajous, halo, and quasi-halo orbits within the same formalism: when = 0, the solution yields Lissajous orbits; when = 0, it captures quasi-halo orbits, with halo orbits appearing as special cases. "This breakthrough transforms the understanding of orbital dynamics near Lagrange points," concludes Lin. "Our work enables precise analytical modeling of all known center manifold orbit typesgreatly benefiting space mission design and bifurcation theory alike." The team is now extending this coupling-induced bifurcation framework to other dynamical systems, including modeling symmetry-breaking phenomena such as the evolution of right-handedness in humans. Lin says, "The challenge of explaining why bifurcated two-dimensional tori resist semi-analytical solutions has intrigued me since the early days of my Ph.D., but other projects delayed a focused investigation. At Chiba Laboratory in AIMR, I finally had the time and space to explore it deeply. "After many failed attempts using conventional approaches, we began questioning the half-century-old resonance mechanism. This shift led to a key insight: coupling interactionsnot resonancedrive this local bifurcation. Developing the coupling-induced bifurcation mechanism and explaining halo/quasi-halo orbits resolved a seven-year puzzle for me and boosted my confidence to explore the unknown." More information: Mingpei Lin et al, Bifurcation Mechanism of Quasi-Halo Orbit from Lissajous Orbit, Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics (2025). DOI: 10.2514/1.g008233 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 man stands near debris on a waterfront road amid heavy rain driven by Super Typhoon Ragasa in the Philippines' Cagayan province on Monday. The Chinese city of Shenzhen was preparing Monday to evacuate 400,000 people while residents of the northern Philippines sought shelter from gale-force winds as Super Typhoon Ragasa headed on a collision course with southern China. The typhoon made landfall on the Philippines' Calayan Island, part of the sparsely populated Babuyan chain, at 3:00 pm (0700 GMT), according to the Philippine weather service. As of 8:00 pm (1200 GMT), the storm was generating maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour (134 mph) near its center and gusts of up to 265 kph, the national weather service said. "I woke up because of the strong wind. It was hitting the windows, and it sounded like a machine that was switched on," said Tirso Tugagao, a resident of Aparri, a coastal town in northern Cagayan province. On Calayan Island, at the storm's center, information officer Herbert Singun told AFP that chunks of a school roof had been ripped off and landed on an evacuation center about 30 meters (yards) away, causing one minor injury. "Can you see those coconut trees swaying in the distance?" he asked during a video chat. "There were eight of them before. Now only four are still standing. That goes to show how strong this typhoon is." Just over 10,000 Filipinos were evacuated across the country, with schools and government offices closed Monday in the Manila region and across 29 other provinces. Empty supermarket shelves A much larger operation will take place in China's Shenzhen, where authorities said they planned to move hundreds of thousands of people from coastal and low-lying regions. Shenzhen residents hurried to stock up on supplies ahead of the storm's arrival. In the city's Bao'an district, long checkout queues formed at a bustling supermarket whose shelves were largely empty of fresh meat and vegetables Monday evening, AFP journalists saw. A supermarket employee told AFP that bread had already sold out by midday. "It's not normally like this," he said. Philippine Coast Guard personnel assist in the evacuation of residents from a village in La Union province. Several other cities in Guangdong province announced that classes and work would be canceled and public transportation suspended because of the typhoon. Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific said it expected to cancel more than 500 flights as Ragasa threatened the financial hub. A spokeswoman for the airline said passenger flights in and out of Hong Kong International Airport would be halted from 6:00 pm Tuesday, "resuming during daytime hours on Thursday". 'Extremely torrential' In Taiwan, the state weather service predicted "extremely torrential rain" in the country's east. "Its storm radius is quite large, about 320 (kilometers). Although the typhoon's center is still some distance away, its wide, strong wind field and outer circulation are already affecting parts of Taiwan," it said. James Wu, a local fire department officer, told AFP that evacuations were underway in mountainous areas near Pingtung. "What worries us more is that the damage could be similar to what happened during Typhoon Koinu two years ago," he added, describing a storm that saw utility poles collapse and sheet-metal roofs sent flying into the air. Philippine government weather specialist John Grender Almario said Sunday that "severe flooding and landslides" could be expected in the northern areas of the main island Luzon. The threat of flooding from Ragasa comes just a day after thousands of Filipinos took to the streets to protest a corruption scandal involving flood control projects that were shabbily constructed or never completed. The Philippines is the first major landmass facing the Pacific cyclone belt, and the archipelago is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, putting millions of people in disaster-prone areas in a state of constant poverty. Scientists warn that storms are becoming more powerful as the world warms due to the effects of human-driven climate change. 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: Projected distribution loss, gain, and elevation shift by growth forms across the 607 modelled species across different SSPs. The circles, triangles, and squares represent the mean values per scenario ( SSP1.26, SSP3.70, SSP5.85), and the vertical dotted lines represent the 95% confidence interval calculated with bootstrap (10,000 repetitions). Credit: Global Change Biology (2025). DOI:10.1111/gcb.70492 Temperature increases in mountain areas are known to stimulate an upslope shift of plant species that are adapted to colder temperatures. However, the research team has now found that under an intensified climate change scenario, this shift in the African mountains occurs three times faster than the current global average. The findings, published in Global Change Biology, suggest that the accelerated rates of change are limiting the ability of some species to track their suitable habitat based solely on their natural dispersal ability. According to the authors, further efforts are needed to better connect habitats, promote restoration and assist migration in a targeted manner. This is particularly true in many African mountains characterized by endemic species that already occur at the highest elevations and have no further elevation available for upward migration. The international research team led by Professor Christine Schmitt, holder of the Chair of Physical Geography with a focus on human-environment research at the University of Passau, and Dr. Joao de Deus Vidal Jr, now at the University of Leipzig, developed statistical models, so-called species distribution models, taking into account the environmental preferences of plant species, their dispersal capacity, the probable changes in land use and the probable changes in climate variables by the end of the century. Overall, the models were run for 607 vascular plant species and three emissions scenarios (SSPs) developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The projections indicate that even if global warming is kept under 2C until 2100, almost half of the plant species will experience a decline in suitable habitats. Under high-emission scenarios, around three quarters of plant species will be affected; species that occur at higher altitudes will be affected even more. Trees and shrubs can generally withstand the new conditions better than herbs and ferns, but for some tree species it is predicted that they will lose more than 90% of their suitable habitat under the scenarios with high emissions and the risk of extinction will increase accordingly. The situation is particularly serious for plant species that occur at higher altitudes or in geographically isolated mountain ranges, as they have hardly any alternative areas upwards. The study shows that, across all emission scenarios, the loss of species richness is highest in the mountains of Madagascar and in the East African highlands; the South African mountain ranges are also severely affected. The persistence of the diverse mountain flora in Africa depends on shifts in elevation and expansions in plant distribution areas, which can only occur if habitats are connected and biotic interactions such as pollination and dispersal are ensured; the pace of predicted shifts in distribution areas is determined by the intensity of climate change and possible land use changes. According to Professor Schmitt, "This is the first comprehensive synthesis study on climate change effects on plant diversity in Africa's mountain ranges. It clearly demonstrates the vulnerability of these unique ecosystems but also shows that the worst implications for plant diversity in the African mountains can still be averted if global warming is kept at bay. Next to reducing global CO 2 emissions, it is crucial to tackle land use change, which may also be linked to global trade and development. Cultivation outside the natural range (ex-situ conservation) and seed banks would be practicable measures of last resort to protect the most endangered species." Dr. Joao de Deus Vidal Jr., formerly University of Passau says, "This study is the outcome of an international collaboration involving 18 researchers, mostly based at African institutions. By working together, we were able to provide a continental overview of the impacts of climate change on the African mountains that also incorporates the perceptions of regional experts. "A big challenge is to enable and improve the monitoring of the effects of climate change across political borders. Many African mountain regions extend across multiple countries; by collaborating with multiple local biodiversity collections such as herbaria, we were getting closer to assembling the big picture." About the study The study compiles 419,055 occurrence records of African plant species from international databases as well as published and unpublished data sources. These include 7,378 species that are endemic to the African mountains, 607 of which have sufficient botanical data. The study combines climate, soil, topography and land use data from various global datasets and includes dispersal types such as wind dispersal and ballistic dispersal. This allowed the models to be made more realistic, as their dispersal capacity can limit the ability of a plant species to reach suitable habitats. More information: Joao de Deus Vidal Junior et al,Late 21st-Century Climate and Land Use Driven Loss of Plant Diversity in African Mountains, Global Change Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.70492. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.70492 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: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Croatia began culling nearly 12,000 pigs on Monday at farms in the east of the country, in a bid to prevent African swine fever from devastating the industry, authorities announced. "We are declaring war on African swine fever," Agriculture Minister David Vlajcic said, announcing one of the largest culls since the disease first arrived in the European Union member country in 2023. Vlajcic said the cull was already underway at a large farm near the village of Sokolovac, in the east of the country, an area known for its pig farming. Harmless to humans, African swine fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease with an almost absolute mortality rate for pigs and wild boar. With no authorized vaccine in the European Union, its spread threatens an industry worth tens of millions of euros per year in Croatia. "The fact is that the virus has spread, and it will certainly be necessary to take somewhat more radical measures," said Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic. Authorities said the army may need to be called in to help manage the outbreak, as stricter border controls and surveillance at nearby farms were introduced. Vlajcic said the exact source of the infection was not clear yet, but humans almost certainly introduced it to one of the farms. The national broadcaster said a cull was also underway at another smaller farm nearby. Croatia had more than 873,000 pigs on its farms in 2024, and exported more than 285,600 of the curly-tailed animals worth around EUR57 million ($67 million), according to the national statistics agency. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Tune into American politics today, and you'll hear something far more sinister than simple disagreement. The language has escalated: political parties trash talk each otherblaming rival parties for policy failures or even for causing incidents with national implications. And reducing polarization and "partisan animosity"the distrust and hatred of the other partyis remarkably difficult, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences evaluating past attempts. The research was led by the Polarization Research Lab, a nonpartisan team of political scientists from Dartmouth and the University of Pennsylvania. "As long as political and media systems reward outrage with votes and viewershipstoking divisionany individual-level effort to depolarize is up against a powerful, unending tide," says senior author Sean Westwood, an associate professor of government at Dartmouth and director of the Lab. "This isn't a problem that can be fixed at the grassroots level alone." To determine if efforts to reduce partisan animosity have a lasting effect, the researchers conducted a massive meta-analysis of 25 previous studies, encompassing 77 different approaches. These "treatments" included everything from correcting misperceptions about the rival party to encouraging conversations with opponents and calls for civility from party leaders. The study shows that such superficial interventions are largely ineffective. On average, treatments improved a person's feelings towards the other political party by a mere 5.3%. The authors note this small gain is dwarfed by the 7% increase in partisan animosity observed between the 2016 and 2020 U.S. elections alone. The results are not only modest, but fleeting. The researchers found that 75% of the initial reduction in hostility disappears after just one week. Within two weeks, the effects are almost completely gone. The team also conducted two new large-scale experiments to see if combining or repeating interventions could work better. In one experiment with 3,500 respondents, they tested if "stacking treatments"by exposing people to multiple interventions at oncewould amplify the positive effect. In another experiment with over 5,000 respondents, they evaluated if providing a "booster shot"a repeated treatment over timewould make the effects last longer. The results were clear: neither stacking treatments nor administering them repeatedly produced significantly larger or more durable results. In essence, flooding the airwaves with public service announcements to counter political hatred is not an effective strategy. "To achieve lasting depolarization in the U.S., a fundamental shift in society is needed," says Westwood. "From the top down, we must address the behavior of political elites and the structural incentives that fuel conflict, and from the bottom up, we need a citizenry with the civic skills to engage constructively across differences." The co-authors report that while interventions built on genuine dialogue are difficult to scale, they remain the single most effective tool for reducing polarization and require long-term investment. "Principles of civil discourse and respectful dialogue need to be embedded into the education system in the U.S.," says Westwood. "The future of our democracy depends on it." Westwood says, "Without more systematic changes, America's divisions will only continue to deepen." Longtime collaborators Derek Holliday at The George Washington University and Yphtach Lelkes at the University of Pennsylvania also contributed to the study. 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: Cell (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.08.034 When scientists want to trace how a species has changed over timeand predict its prospects for survivalthey turn to DNA. But what if the genetic map guiding them belongs to the wrong animal? A study led by researchers at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences shows that using the wrong "reference genome"the master sequence scientists rely on to compare DNAcan significantly distort the picture. For the gray fox, one of North America's most common wild canids, mapping against a dog or Arctic fox genome, instead of its own, made populations look smaller, less diverse and even in decline when they were actually stable or growing. "It turns out the reference you use really changes the story you tell about a species," said Jazlyn Mooney, Gabilan Assistant Professor of Quantitative and Computational Biology at USC Dornsife and corresponding author of the study published in Cell. "If you use the wrong reference, you can end up with misleading answers about a species's history or health, and even its chances of long-term survival." Scientists put a reference genome to the test Every genetic study needs a starting point: a reference genome, usually built by sequencing the DNA of one individual of a species. When scientists study additional individuals, they align the new DNA against that reference for comparison. But many species, especially those less studied, lack their own reference. In these cases, researchers turn to the next best optiona close relative. For decades, the domestic dog's genome has stood in for foxes, wolves and wild dogs. Mooney and her colleagues wondered just how much that choice mattered. Would using a genetically distant blueprint simply blur the details, or could it actually rewrite the story? The team re-analyzed DNA from 12 gray foxessix from eastern North America and six from the Westcomparing how their genomes aligned to three different references: the gray fox itself, the domestic dog and the Arctic fox. They asked: How much genetic variation appears? What does the data reveal about past population sizes? Are current populations growing or shrinking? Which genes seem to be under natural selection, hinting at adaptation? The answers depended heavily on which genome served as the map. With the gray fox's own genome, researchers detected 26%32% more genetic differences among individuals and about a third more rare variants (the subtle DNA changes that reveal how populations have been evolving recently). Estimates of population size were also 30%60% higher. In the western United States, for instance, the gray fox genome showed stability and growth, while the dog and Arctic fox genomes suggested decline. The wrong reference also threw off measures of how DNA shuffles during reproduction. With the dog or Arctic fox genomes, the numbers sometimes doubled or even tripled compared with the gray fox genome, especially near the ends of chromosomes. "This is the kind of thing that could change conservation decisions," Mooney said. "If you think a population is shrinking when it's not, or vice versa, you might end up protecting the wrong group or missing an opportunity to safeguard genetic diversity." The study also showed that using the wrong reference could create misleading signs of natural selection. The dog and Arctic fox genomes identified twice as many potential DNA "hot spots" regions that looked like they might be adaptivecompared with the gray fox genome. Many of these signals were false alarms, caused by the mismatch between species. 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. Why the right reference genome matters for conservation and people The study's implications go well beyond foxes. Conservation biologists use genetic data to decide which populations to protect, how to design breeding programs and whether endangered species are at risk of inbreeding. If the genetic picture is distorted, those decisions may rest on shaky ground. That could affect high-profile species such as the Ethiopian wolf, the African wild dog or even the tiny Channel Island foxes off Southern California's coast. For animals already on the edge, a flawed map could mean misjudging their vulnerability. "Maintaining the world's biodiversity isn't just about saving animals for their own sake," Mooney said. "Biodiversity supports clean water, food security and climate stability. If conservation plans are based on incomplete or biased genetic information, we risk mismanaging species and weakening the natural systems people depend on." These findings echo a lesson from human genetics: For years, the human reference genome drew mostly from just a few people, limiting research across populations. More recent efforts are building references that better reflect global diversity. Scientists call for better genomic maps The researchers argue that the solution is to invest in building species-specific reference genomes. Assembling a high-quality genome sequence is expensive, and nearly 99% of species still lack one, but the payoff could be crucial. For species without their own reference, Mooney and her team point to new computational methods and building high-quality genomes that capture more of a species's diversityas ways to reduce bias. "We're not saying every species will be as impacted as gray foxes," Mooney said. "But our study shows the risks are real, and can lead you astray." The gray fox study stands as both a warning and a call to action: Choosing the wrong reference doesn't just blur the detailsit can redraw a species's past and future. More information: Maria Akopyan et al, Reference genome choice compromises population genetic analyses, Cell (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.08.034 Journal information: Cell 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 1980 hardback edition of A Matter of Life, published by Hutchinson. Credit: University of Cambridge Previously unseen documents show how a poet performed a major ghostwriting job on the autobiography of the two British pioneers behind the world's first "test-tube baby," so that the book used emotional storytelling to aid public acceptance of a controversial medical technology. "A Matter of Life," co-authored in 1980 by geneticist Robert Edwardswho spent much of his career at Cambridge and went on to win the Nobel Prizeand gynecologist Patrick Steptoe, tells how their research led to in vitro fertilization (IVF). The book is the basis for last year's Netflix film Joy. A study of Dannie Abse's archive in the National Library of Wales by Prof Nick Hopwood from the University of Cambridge reveals how Abse overhauled reams of rough and underwhelming text submitted by the duo to a publisher that had bought the doctors' story of the "baby of the century" in the hope of a quick bestseller. A renowned poet and autobiographer as well as a full-time physician, Abse transformed the narrative, adding scenes and emotive dialog with those unable to conceive to highlight the human stakes of IVF and fleshing out the characters of other women, such as Edwards's assistant Jean Purdy. Abse also stretched reality to create the impression that tackling infertility was a careers-long quest for the two men, according to Hopwood's study published in the journal Medical History. "Abse improved and enriched the story in many ways. Some changes are problematic as history but without his work, very few people would have read the book, which might not even have been published," said Hopwood, who is based in Cambridge's Department of History and Philosophy of Science and a co-chair of Cambridge Reproduction. "Abse helped them promote IVF at a time when the technique was controversial. "It's rare to have such rich records of a collaboration on an autobiography and they give extraordinary access to the shaping of a breakthrough story by commercial pressures. "The process illustrates how, through autobiography, ghostwriters craft what we know about not just politics, sport and the royal family but science and medicine, too" Records show that the publisher Hutchinson confirmed an advance of 60,000 (equivalent to around 400,000 today) for Edwards and Steptoe just eight days after the birth of the first IVF baby Louise Brown in July 1978, to capitalize on global media coverage. The book was released 20 months later, prior to the main scientific publications. Today researchers increasingly ask journalists to help them tell their stories. But Harold Harris, a senior editor at Hutchinson, had to work hard to persuade Edwards to let Abse rewrite their lackluster drafts. Harris lured the authors by writing that, although they would have to give up a tenth of their royalties, "your actual earnings in cash will be considerably greater with Dannie Abse's assistance than without it." The publisher requested an additional 30,000 words by explaining more and making the style more "relaxed." While the final book barely mentions Abse (the dedication expresses "gratitude for his invaluable help"), Hopwood's study demonstrates how thoroughly he reshaped the book that remains the main historical source for the science and medicine behind IVF. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. As well as adding various literary references, from Aldous Huxley to the Bible, Abse restructured the book, doubling the number of chapters and converting long descriptive passages into vivid scenes with characters and dialog. "Medical autobiographies cast heroic doctors in struggles against feared scourges," said Hopwood. "Here the drama, and support for IVF, depended on creating awareness of the distress caused by infertility. After a few failed attempts to come up with a strong opening, Abse tabled this right at the start and set out the quest for a baby as the arc of the book." Abse retitled the first chapter The Quest and rewrote it completely, as he did most of the rest. He began by having a woman suffering from infertility encounter Steptoe during his student days. This established the distress caused by the condition ("What have I done wrong," she cried, "not to have a family of my own?"). Abse also had her conveniently question Steptoe about blocked Fallopian tubes to allow this form of infertility to be explained. This deliberate creation of a "quest narrative" can be traced through Abse's archive, says Hopwood, who found repeated embellishments designed to suggest that Edwards had long been dedicated to overcoming infertility, when he had in fact established himself in a line of research more likely to be used for contraception than conception. For example, Edwards's initial draft declared little interest in science until boredom overtook him during a degree in agriculture. Abse rewrote this so that Edwards became fascinated with reproduction years earlier, as a wartime evacuee on a farm. He had Edwards recall "the natural laboratory behind hedges and barn doors" where he "watched with wonder the birth of calves, sheep, pigs, foals." The poet consistently inserted foreshadowings of IVF, from talk of "genetic engineering" on the farm to a riff on the biblical tale of the old-age child of Sarah, Abraham's wife. He homed in on a mention of friends of Robert Edwards and his wife Ruth Fowler who could not conceive, adding a lyrical description: "[t]he trees bore fruit, the clouds carried rain, and our friends, forever childless, played with our [daughters]," to reinforce the claim that this inspired the scientist to replant embryos in the womb. Comments on Abse's final draft show clashes with Edwards, including over this segment and those that referenced religion, but the publisher mostly overruled his objections in the margin such as "Not true" or "This isn't me!" After her husband won the Nobel Prize in 2010, Ruth Edwards co-edited a revised edition that finally took the offending passages out. Abse's rewrite also fleshed out the roles of women, including Fowler and Edwards's assistant Jean Purdymore to add relatable characters than from any feminist agenda, Hopwood believes. Purdy, a former nurse, became "one of the cast" through extended descriptions and dialog. Abse inserted praise for Purdy's determination, loyalty and support for the patients. He added details of her long car rides with Edwards from Cambridge to Oldham, such as stops at a transport cafe where Bob Dylan played on the jukebox. (Purdy's own corrections replaced "listen" with "be subjected" to, indicating that she was no Dylan fan.) More information: Nick Hopwood, The ghostwriter and the test-tube baby: a medical breakthrough story, Medical History (2025). DOI: 10.1017/mdh.2025.10025 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: An aerial view of the R/V Virginia, the lead vessel for the Chesapeake Bay Multispecies Monitoring and Assessment Program. Credit: Matthew Farnham A new study published in Ecological Applications demonstrates that commercial fisheries function much like an investment portfolio: diversity brings stability. The research shows that when different fish species in the Chesapeake Bay peak at different times, a dynamic known as "asynchrony," the overall fishery becomes more resilient and watermen are better protected from boom-and-bust cycles. The research was led by former University of Virginia Ph.D. student Sean Hardison and was based on data compiled by William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences and VIMS' Chesapeake Bay Multispecies Monitoring and Assessment Program (CHesMMAP) from 2002 to 2018, in addition to recorded values of commercial landings as documented by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The work brought together an interdisciplinary team of ecologists, economists and fisheries scientists from UVA, the Batten School & VIMS, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and Canada's Pacific Biological Station. "The findings speak to how commercial fisheries benefit from natural fluctuations in the ecosystem, but also how these natural influences are mediated by factors like market prices and management practices," said Hardison, who is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. "The concept is similar to finance strategies that mitigate risk through a diversified portfolio of investments." CHESMMAP monitors populations of juvenile-to-adult fishes from the head of Chesapeake Bay at Poole's Island, Maryland, to the mouth of the bay just outside the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Virginia. It is unique in that it tracks multiple fish species simultaneously, providing critical data that supports sustainable fisheries management and deepens understanding of the bay's interconnected ecosystem. The researchers were interested in understanding the impacts of seasonal asynchrony among the bay's various commercially fished species on the quantity and economic value of fishers' landings, as well as the effects of different management practices between the states. Different states, different dynamics In Maryland, the commercial striped bass fishery is closed for part of the year to protect spawning stocks. That closure disrupted the natural asynchrony between fish populations and harvests, since striped bass dominate the commercial portfolio. While the closure encouraged watermen to target other species, which temporarily increased stability in landings, it did not stabilize revenue because the economic value of striped bass is far greater than other species in the fishery. In Virginia, where no such closure exists, natural asynchrony initially provided a stabilizing effect. However, as the abundance of key species such as Atlantic croaker and spot declined between 2002 and 2018, harvests became less asynchronous and more volatile. Hardison's former mentor and study co-author Max Castorani, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at UVA, said the findings illustrate how relying too heavily on a few high-value species such as striped bass can make a fishery portfolio unstable. Lead author Sean Hardison. Credit: Sean Hardison "Biodiversity doesn't just make ecosystems healthier, it makes them steadier over time," Castorani said. "It spreads risk and acts like insurance when certain fish are in short supply." Christopher Patrick, an associate professor and ecologist at the Batten School & VIMS, added, "The most stable system would be one where you've got a lot of different species and they're all equally valuable. When you get an asymmetric value distribution, it kind of falls apart. This is what happens in Maryland to some extent." One practical avenue for diversification highlighted in the study is the continuing development of a commercial fishery for invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay. While prices have historically been modest, the research suggests that even small price increases could spur significant additional harvest and market participation. Broader significance The study emphasizes the importance of viewing fisheries through both ecological and economic lenses. While biodiversity naturally contributes to stability, factors such as regulations, markets and fishing practices can amplify, or weaken, that benefit. While the study focused on the Chesapeake Bay, the nation's largest and most economically important estuary, its findings can be applied broadly to fisheries around the world. "Fisheries portfolios benefit from natural fluctuations in the ecosystem, but those benefits are mediated by management and human behavior" Hardison said. "Our research shows the ecological and economic benefits of biodiversity." More information: Sean B. Hardison et al, Seasonal asynchrony and harvest diversification contribute to demersal finfish fisheries stability in Chesapeake Bay, Ecological Applications (2025). DOI: 10.1002/eap.70097 Journal information: Ecological Applications 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: Super Typhoon Ragasa had already lashed the Philippines' Cagayan province on September 22, forcing hundreds of families to shelter in schools and evacuation centers. Hong Kong rushed to prepare for the arrival of Super Typhoon Ragasa on Tuesday, with officials warning of a "serious threat" comparable to some of the most destructive storms in the city's recent history. Ragasa was generating winds with maximum sustained speeds of 220 kilometers per hour (137 miles per hour) at its center as it churned across the South China Sea early Tuesday, having earlier lashed parts of the Philippines, according to Hong Kong's weather service. The finance center was preparing for extensive disruption and damage, while nearby Chinese tech hub Shenzhen has ordered the evacuation of 400,000 people. "Ragasa will pose a serious threat to Hong Kong, which could reach the levels of Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018," Hong Kong's number-two official Eric Chan said on Mondayreferring to two super typhoons that each cost hundreds of millions in property damage. Hong Kong's airport will remain open but there will be "significant disruption to flight operations" from 6:00 pm (1000 GMT) Tuesday until the next day, the Airport Authority said. More than 500 Cathay Pacific flights are expected to be canceled. Hong Kong Observatory said it would issue its third-highest typhoon warning, T8, at 2:20 pm (0620 GMT) on Tuesday, at which point businesses close up and most transport shuts down. 'Better precautions' Residents scrambled to stock up ahead of Ragasa's arrival, leaving supermarket shelves empty of fresh food, vegetables and bread. "There's bound to be some concern," said supermarket shopper Zhu Yifan, a 22-year-old student from China. Zoe Chan, in her fifties, piled up sandbags outside her clothes shop in the Wanchai district, saying she expected her business to be "ruined" by water damage. People in Shenzhen rushed to buy groceries as Super Typhoon Ragasa approached the city. "The most important thing is to take better precautions, so I can rest easier," Chan told AFP. School classes will be suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Hong Kong Jockey Club also canceled Wednesday's horse-racing meet. Hong Kong's stock exchange changed its rules this year to keep markets open during typhoons, with the operator telling Bloomberg News that it was "closely monitoring" the situation. Authorities have told residents of low-lying areas to be alert to flooding, while opening 46 temporary shelters. Ragasanamed after the Filipino word for rapid motionwill be closest to Hong Kong and nearby casino hub Macau on Wednesday morning, according to Chinese weather services. Shenzhen shelves bare Shelves of fresh meat and vegetables were mostly bare at a supermarket in Shenzhen's Bao'an District on Monday evening, AFP journalists saw. Checkout queues were long in the bustling store as people hurried around to pick up supplies. A supermarket employee told AFP that bread had already sold out by midday, adding, "It's not normally like this." Guangzhou's rail authority said all train services will be suspended on Wednesday, according to the South China Morning Post. Scientists warn that storms are becoming more powerful as the world warms due to the effects of human-driven climate change. The Philippines earlier evacuated more than 10,000 people and closed schools and government offices across the country in response to the super typhoon. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain If Canada is serious about reconciliation, it must change how it trains health professionals. Right now, too few Indigenous doctors, nurses and other providers are working in communities that need them most. And too often, students learn about Indigenous health in ways that are optional, inconsistent or not led by Indigenous educators. That's where Indigenous-led health education comes in. When Indigenous communities shape how health professionals are trained, it supports a path toward trust, equity and a health system that finally reflects the people it serves. As an Indigenous physician and medical educator practicing in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, I know firsthand the challenges and the possibilities of this work. I am the first Indigenous woman in Canada to pursue both medicine and a Ph.D., a journey shaped as much by systemic barriers as by the support of my family and community. Today, I practice primary care in my home community while helping to shape health education nationally, including via a new Queen's University partnership program in Western James Bay, Ontariothe Queen'sWeeneebayko Health Education Program on the traditional territory of the Moose Cree First Nation (Treaty 9). Seeing the gaps in care in my own clinic, and working with students eager to change the system, informs my commitment to Indigenous-led education as the most direct path to reconciliation in health. 10 years after the TRC: Promises vs. reality It has been a decade since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released its Final Report. The Assembly of First Nations reports that of the 94 Calls to Action, only 14 have been fully implemented. Two of them, No. 23 and No. 24, speak directly to health care: train and retain more Indigenous health professionals, and make sure all students learn about Indigenous health and the legacy of residential schools. These aren't symbolic. They are practical steps that would improve care and save lives. But progress has been slow. Indigenous professionals remain underrepresented, and cultural safety training is too often patchy or optional. Indigenous-focused health education A new national report from the Conference Board of Canada confirms what Indigenous leaders have been saying: reconciliation won't happen unless Indigenous Peoples leadin education, governance and workforce planning. Token gestures aren't enough. 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 report, Answering the Call: Strategies to Increase the Number of Indigenous Physicians in Canada, notes that "Indigenous students, especially in rural and remote areas, often lack career guidance and a culturally relevant curriculum, leading to lower graduation rates and fewer pathways to medical education." While systemic challenges persist, there are powerful examples across Canada that share the common goal of making sure Indigenous students can succeed in health education, and ensuring communities benefit from culturally safe, long-term providers. The Queen'sWeeneebayko program I'm directing is building a new health sciences Campus in Moosonee, Ont. Students from the Hudson and James Bay regionincluding from Moosonee, Fort Albany, Attawapiskat, Moose Factory, Kashechewan and Peawanuckwill be recruited locally, trained in Moosonee and supported to stay serving their home communities. This partnership, including the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority(WAHA), Queen's University and the Mastercard Foundation, integrates local Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing (for example, through Cree language, land-based learning and cultural safety) alongside biomedical science. Indigenous leadership is embedded at every levelfrom community knowledge keepers and local education and health-care champions guiding what is taught and how to WAHA operating governance and mentorship frameworks rooted in local culture. I am the inaugural director. Fostering culturally safe health care Other programs across the country share the common goal of making sure Indigenous students can succeed in health education, and ensuring communities benefit from culturally safe, long-term providers. For example: At the University of British Columbia, the Northern and Rural MD Pathway is a distinct admissions stream designed to attract applicants with rural, remote northern or Indigenous community connectionsor those passionate about serving such communitiesby incorporating a rural and remote suitability Score (RRSS) and early rural placements to support rural and remote training and practice. The University of Manitoba's Mahkwa omushki kiim: Pathway to Indigenous Nursing Education (PINE) supports First Nations, Inuit and Metis students from start to finish. By combining academic help with cultural programming and community connection, it has the goal of boosting retention as it prepares more Indigenous nurses for practice. Programs like these are concerned with helping whole communities gain consistent, trusted health care. And when trust grows, so does the likelihood that people will seek care earlyimproving outcomes for everyone. Beyond such programs, system-wide change is needed to ensure Indigenous learners are supported at every stage, and to support viable pathways to medical training in rural and remote areas. System-wide changes needed Indigenous students face: Financial challenges that place professional programs out of reach. A lack of affordable housing when they move to cities for education. Underfunded K12 schools that leave them less prepared for competitive admissions. Racism and isolation once they enter professional programs. Location also matters. Research shows that students trained in rural or remote areas are far more likely to practice there after graduation. For Indigenous students, viable pathways to practicing medicine are even stronger when training is grounded in community values and led by Indigenous educators. Why this is reconciliation in action Reconciliation is not just about apologies or ceremonies. It's about real, structural change. In health care, that means: Who delivers the care: building a stronger Indigenous health workforce. Whose knowledge counts: recognizing Indigenous knowledge alongside Western medicine. Who makes decisions: ensuring Indigenous voices lead the design and governance of health programs. Indigenous-led health education tackles all three. It brings reconciliation down from the level of promises and into the day-to-day realities of patients, providers and communities. The way forward Ten years after the TRC, Canadians are right to ask whether reconciliation is real. The answer depends on whether we support Indigenous-led programsnot as small pilots, but as long-term, fully resourced commitments. The initiatives described here show what's possible. They are different in scope, but each demonstrates that Indigenous self-determination in health education is not only achievable, it's already happening. The next step is clear: supporting Indigenous-led education so that reconciliation moves from promise to practice in communities nationwide. 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: Occupancy trends across 19902020. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63093-y Fears of a nationwide collapse in Britain's insect populations may be overstated, according to a major new study recently published in the journal Nature Communications. Instead, researchers have found a more complex picture: While some species are holding steady or even expanding, many communities are being reshaped at a local level by climate change and urban development. The study team, including staff at Rothamsted's national insect survey, analyzed more than three decades of records covering 1,252 species of butterflies, moths, dragonflies, grasshoppers, beetles, bees, wasps and hoverflies. Using advanced machine-learning models, they tracked changes in where insects live across Great Britain and pinpointed the main environmental forces driving those shifts. Contrary to widespread fears of an overall collapse, the team detected no nationwide decline in insect occupancy since 1990. But beneath that headline figure, the data revealed profound local changes in the make-up of insect communities. Urban sprawl and the simplification of farmland emerged as key drivers of decline in certain species, while rising temperatures are altering life cycles. Insects with narrow habitat requirements are particularly vulnerable to the loss of diverse landscapes, while species capable of breeding multiple times a year are better able to adapt to a warming climate. "The findings suggest that while Britain may not be witnessing an outright crash in insect numbers, it is undergoing a subtler but no less significant ecological reshuffling," said Rothamsted population modeler Dr. Yoann Bourhis who led the study. "This could have knock-on effects for pollination, pest control and wider biodiversity." More information: Yoann Bourhis et al, Trait mediation explains decadal distributional shifts for a wide range of insect taxa, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63093-y Journal information: Nature Communications 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 the Sunshine Coast A University of the Sunshine Coast researcher has caught on camera and documented for the first time a rareand rather risqueshark mating sequence in the wild. In a surprise discovery, UniSC's Dr. Hugo Lassauce found that it takes more than two leopard sharks to tango in the crystal blue waters off New Caledonia. The "threesome" between two males and one female of the globally endangered species is delicately outlined in a paper just published in the Journal of Ethology. It is believed to be the world's first recorded and scientifically documented observation of two males of the Indo-Pacific species copulating in quick succession with a female. All three sharks were about 2.3m long. Dr. Lassauce, a marine biologist and ecologist who collaborates with Noumea's Aquarium des Lagons, said the team celebrated the scientific and conservation significance of his video as soon as he swam back to the boat. The postdoctoral researcher had snorkeled with the sharks 15 km off the New Caledonian coast every week for a year as part of the aquarium's monitoring program. "I'd seen males swimming fast after females before and I'd arrived 'on the scene' just after a male and female separated, but I'd never seen the whole sequence," he said. "Then while I was surveying this particular aggregation of leopard sharks, I spotted a female with two males grasping her pectoral fins on the sand below me. "I told my colleague to take the boat away to avoid disturbance and I started waiting on the surface, looking down at the sharks almost motionless on the sea floor. "I waited an hour, freezing in the water, but finally they started swimming up. It was over quickly for both males, one after the other. The first took 63 seconds, the other 47. "Then the males lost all their energy and lay immobile on the bottom while the female swam away actively." Both males were identified as previous visitors to the site, as far back as 2018. Listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Stegostoma tigrinum has primarily been studied in captivity, with little information on its natural mating behavior or environmental influences in the wild. Also known as a zebra shark because pups are born with stripes that gradually turn into spots, the species is found in coastal waters across the Indo-West Pacific region, from Africa's east coast to the Pacific Islands and including Australia. The paper documenting the finding is co-authored by UniSC Senior Research Fellow Dr. Christine Dudgeon and Aquarium des Lagons' Director and chief scientist Dr. Olivier Chateau and research assistant Hugues Gossuin. Dr. Dudgeon, a marine ecology and evolution expert renowned for her work with leopard sharks more than two decades, said the footage offered great insights into the mostly solitary animals. She said the findings could also aid artificial insemination research aimed at helping "rewild" the species, currently underway between countries including Australia. "It's surprising and fascinating that two males were involved sequentially on this occasion," she said. "From a genetic diversity perspective, we want to find out how many fathers contribute to the batches of eggs laid each year by females." More information: Hugo Lassauce et al, Observation of group courtship/copulating behavior for free-living Indo-Pacific Leopard sharks, Stegostoma tigrinum, Journal of Ethology (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10164-025-00866-4 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: Proton decay chain. Credit: Physical Review Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1103/cxvm-p412 Although the building blocks of life such as hydrogen and oxygen appear stable to us, many theories of physics predict that they are actually just tremendously long-lived, with the particles found in their nuclei slowly, but ultimately decaying. To investigate this idea, researchers have been hunting for evidence of this decay by looking for faint signals of decaying protons in Japan's Super-Kamiokande observatory. So far, no definitive signals of proton decay have emerged, implying that if the proton does decay, it probably has a lifetime exceeding 1033 yearsthat's 10 with 32 zeros behind it. But the Japanese observatory can't see every type of proton decay: if the decay fragments are too low in energy, they would be invisible to the detector. In a recent study published in Physical Review Letters, Virginia physicists showed that two other observatoriesthe Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) and the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE)should soon be able to see these lower-energy proton decays thanks to their complementary detector designs. "Lowering the detection threshold will open a much wider window to include decays that might have fallen through the cracks in earlier searches," said Ian Shoemaker, associate professor in the Department of Physics and study co-author. Working with Julian Heeck from the University of Virginia, Shoemaker found that proton decay experiments can also be sensitive to protons decaying anywhere inside Earth, if they decay into new elementary particles. Most intriguingly, said Shoemaker, one of these new particles could be the long-sought-after "sterile neutrino," which would finally allow scientists to understand the origin of neutrino mass. "Our initial exploration of these signatures hints at many novel exciting opportunities for theoretical and experimental work that could lead to the groundbreaking discovery of new physics," Shoemaker said. More information: Julian Heeck et al, Nucleon Decays into Light New Particles in Neutrino Detectors, Physical Review Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1103/cxvm-p412 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: Unearthed in Botswana, the 2,488-carat diamond known as Motswedi is being analyzed by gem dealer HB Antwerp in the namesake port city in Belgium. The world's second largest diamond could soon find a new home in a museum or a sheikh's collectionbut first needs to be properly evaluated, the Belgian firm holding it told AFP Monday. Unearthed last year in Botswana, the 2,488-carat stone known as Motswedi is currently being analyzed by gem dealer HB Antwerp in the namesake port city and global diamond hub. "At the moment it's very hard to put a price on it," Margaux Donckier, HB Antwerp's public affairs director told AFP. "We first have to inspect the stone and see what we can yield from it in polished form." Weighing about half a kilogram, the Motswedi was discovered last summer at the Karowe mine in northeastern BotswanaAfrica's top diamond producer. The mine is owned by Canadian company Lucara Diamond, which has partnered with HB Antwerp to handle the processing and marketing of stones exceeding 10.8 carats. The firm is showcasing the Motswedi as part of a collection of four gemsincluding the world's third largest diamondwhich were recently discovered at the same mine. While difficult to price individually at this stage, collectively the four should fetch at least $100 million, Donckier said. Even without a proper price tag, the Motswedi has already received "plenty of interest from all over the world," she said. "The size of these stones is so exceptionally rare that they also perfectly could end up in a museum," Donckier said, adding some had already got in touch. "But it could also maybe end up in the hands of a sheikh that would like to add it to his collection," she said of the largest diamond. Before the Motswedi was found, the largest diamond discovered in Botswana was a 1,758-carat stone mined by Lucara at the Karowe mine in 2019 and named Sewelo. The largest gem-quality diamond ever found, by far, is believed to be the Cullinan, discovered in 1905 in South Africa and weighing 3,106 carats. Among the stones cut from it was the Star of Africa, which is part of the British crown jewels on display in the Tower of London. 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: In this undated photo released by NASA, NASA's 10 newest astronauts pose behind the logo at at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Left to right; Sept. 22, 2025. The 10 candidates, pictured here at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston. U.S. Army CW3 Ben Bailey, U.S. Air Force Maj. Cameron Jones, Katherine Spies, Anna Menon, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Erin Overcash, U.S. Air Force Maj. Adam Fuhrmann, Lauren Edgar, Yuri Kubo, Rebecca Lawler, and Dr. Imelda Muller. Credit: NASA via AP NASA introduced its newest astronauts Monday, 10 scientists, engineers and test pilots chosen from more than 8,000 applicants to help explore the moon and possibly Mars. For the first time, there were more women than men in an incoming astronaut class. They included a geologist who worked on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover and a SpaceX engineer who's already rocketed into orbit, flying on a billionaire-sponsored mission that featured the world's first private spacewalk last year. The six women and four men will undergo two years of training before becoming eligible for spaceflight. Acting Administrator Sean Duffy said one of them could become one of the first to step on Mars. He also stressed that the U.S. will win this second race to land astronauts on the moon. "You are America's best and brightest, and we're going to need America's best and brightest because we have a bold exploration plan for the future," Duffy said at Monday's ceremony at Johnson Space Center in Houston. "Some are challenging our leadership in space, say like the Chinese ... We are going to win." It is the 24th astronaut class for NASA since the original Mercury Seven made their debut in 1959. The previous class was in 2021. Only 370 people have been selected by NASA as astronauts, making it an extraordinarily small and elite group composed mostly of men. The latest additions will join 41 active U.S. astronauts currently serving in the corps. NASA's flight operations director Norm Knight said competition was stiff and called the newcomers "distinguished" and "exceptional." They include several military pilots, a former SpaceX launch director and a medical doctor. Air Force Maj. Adam Fuhrmann said he got the call inviting him into the astronaut corps while driving home in rush hour traffic. He took the first exit and pulled into a parking lot "just to make sure I was hearing" right. Another Air Force pilot, Maj. Cameron Jones, was just settling into his new empty home after a cross-country move. Yet another pilot, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Erin Overcash, got the news while relaxing at home. Her first words? "No way. I mean, I mean, yes, of course. But like no way." She figures her experience stuck on a ship in the middle of the ocean with 5,000 others will serve her well dealing with space travel. Anna Menon, who accompanied billionaire Jared Isaacman on a SpaceX flight last September, is NASA's first astronaut candidate to have already visited orbit. She'll be in good company at Johnson: Her husband, a former SpaceX flight surgeon, was chosen in NASA's last astronaut class. The U.S. Geological Survey's Lauren Edgar worked with the Curiosity rover at Mars and, most recently, the science team behind the first moon landing by astronauts under the Artemis program that's targeted for 2027 at the earliest. "I am so excited to be officially part of the NASA family," she said. 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An expensive lunar rover that once had its moon trip canceled has a ride once again. NASA has selected Blue Origin to help get VIPER, the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, to the moon by awarding Jeff Bezos' company a task order under its Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. VIPER was once supposed to be the primary payload of Astrobotic's yet-to-fly Griffin lander with a 2023 launch date for under $200 million. But NASA canceled that mission in 2024 after the costs for the rover construction and adjustments to the Astrobotic contract ballooned to nearly $800 million and the launch date continued to slip. But now VIPER is back with a ride on Blue Origin's Blue Moon Mark 1 robotic lander, which also has yet to fly. NASA's task order is worth up to $190 million for what would be Blue Origin's second CLPS contract. The first, also using the MK1 lander, is still on the clock to launch to the moon's south pole with a pair of NASA assets along for the ride later in 2025 on a New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral, according to NASA. VIPER is also headed for the south pole with a goal of actively mapping resources for potential mining, including ice, while collecting science data for future lunar and Mars exploration efforts by the agency. "NASA is leading the world in exploring more of the moon than ever before, and this delivery is just one of many ways we're leveraging U.S. industry to support a long-term American presence on the lunar surface," said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy in a news release. The VIPER rover will be unlike the Mars rovers NASA has managed the last three decades. It will need to withstand a 500-degree Fahrenheit temperature swing between sunlight and shade on the moon, and to that end, be the first rover with headlights as it will be exploring inside dark craters that never see the sun. "Our rover will explore the extreme environment of the lunar south pole, traveling to small, permanently shadowed regions to help inform future landing sites for our astronauts and better understand the moon's environmentimportant insights for sustaining humans over longer missions, as America leads our future in space," Duffy said. The plan is to launch in late 2027 with a second MK1 lander, which Blue Origin stated was already under production. The VIPER hardware has been sitting idle with an uncertain future, although NASA, after canceling its Astrobotic ride, said it would try and find an alternate way to get to the moon. "NASA is committed to studying and exploring the moon, including learning more about water on the lunar surface, to help determine how we can harness local resources for future human exploration," said Nicky Fox, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic was the first CLPS mission to manage a launch in 2024, but its Peregrine lander suffered propulsion issues and never had a chance to make it to the moon. Since then, Houston-based Intuitive Machines has tried twice and managed two lunar landings, but both had landing issues that limited mission success. 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. Only Texas' Firefly Aerospace has had a clean mission with its Blue Ghost mission earlier this year, although landing in a less harsh part of the moon in terms of terrain. Astrobotic's Griffin still has a contract to launch, and remains on NASA's schedule to fly this year, but the company has not signaled progress lately. Intuitive Machines, Firefly and Draper all have several other CLPS missions to the moon in the next few years. "We've been looking for creative, cost-effective approaches to accomplish these exploration goals," Fox said. "This private sector-developed landing capability enables this delivery and focuses our investments accordinglysupporting American leadership in space and ensuring our long-term exploration is robust and affordable." For Blue Origin, NASA's task order asks the company to design its lander to accommodate VIPER specifically and show how it would offload the rover onto the lunar surface. NASA said it will only exercise the contract to actually do the mission to deploy the rover after Blue Origin completes its first MK1 lander mission for NASA. If it makes it to the moon, it has a 100-day mission across 12 miles that will take it through three lunar day and night cycles. VIPER has a 1-meter drill and three measurement instruments to detect the distribution, physical state and composition of the ice deposits. Communicating with the rover will be much easier and more real-time than the Mars missions, and its design will allow it to roll and crawl at a top speed of .5 mph over what is really an unknown terrain. As a customer, NASA will rely on Blue Origin to provide the ride, handle payload integration, manage planning and support, provide communication as well as handle deployment. NASA will manage the rover once it's out of the lander. Its goal of finding volatiles is in support of NASA's Artemis missions. Finding frozen water, which could be broken down into its component oxygen and hydrogen compounds to provide life-sustaining air and potential fuel, has been the driving force behind NASA's lunar plans. "The search for lunar volatiles plays a key role in NASA's exploration of the moon, with important implications for both science and human missions under Artemis," said Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration and NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "This delivery could show us where ice is most likely to be found and easiest to access, as a future resource for humans." Kearns said the data could be key to NASA efforts beyond the moon. "By studying these sources of lunar water, we also gain valuable insight into the distribution and origin of volatiles across the solar system, helping us better understand the processes that have shaped our space environment and how our inner solar system has evolved," he said. 2025 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: ICSA from Pexels In-person lectures have been a staple of university learning for centuries. But for more than a decade, there has been increasing debate about the relevance of lectures in modern higher education. Some academics and institutions argue they are no longer needed in the same way. But research shows in-person lectures can be an important way to keep students connected to their peers and what they are learning. If we want to keep the in-person lectures, we need to change the way they are delivered. What's happening to lectures? Changes to in-person lectures were accelerated by COVID lockdowns, where everyone learned from home, alongside the rise of online learning platforms. In the post-pandemic era, universities have increasingly offered online, "asynchronous" learning. This allows students to choose when they engage with course resources and tasks. There is a growing acceptance of online learning as a preferred option, rather than a lockdown necessity. There are financial benefits for universities. Online lectures can increase enrollments through people who may not otherwise be able to attend due to where they live, or to work commitments. It also removes class size restrictions. There can also be reduced overhead costs of in-person facilities. More controversially, universities might reuse lectures across semesters, employ fewer faculty, or outsource teaching to external providers. 'Speed-watching' and learning from home Online lectures cater to different learning preferences. Recorded lectures allow students, particularly those for whom English is an additional language, to watch with subtitles or transcripts. Students can pause to make notes or check reference material. Some students "speed-watch" lectures on faster playback speed or listen to them like podcasts while exercising or commuting. This flexibility is also helpful for students who do not live near their university or who have mobility issues, illnesses, or care responsibilities. But a lack of campus attendance can deprive students of valuable in-person interactions with their peers and teachers. This is particularly crucial for certain fields, such as health care, education and service-based industries, where professional socialization plays a vital role in career preparation. Research suggests online only courses do not suit students who are weaker academically or who have poor self-discipline or time management. So there is a difficult balance to strike between convenience and educational quality. 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. But something else is going on Beyond the convenience aspects, there could be other reasons lectures are dying out. Lecturers need to update their teaching style. Reading dot points on slides, reciting essays, and delivering content in a monotone voice do not cut it in the age of TED talks, TikToks and short format media. Lectures should not be lonely I've been looking at how students engage with both in-person and online learning as part of a scoping review and routine quality assessment. Academics can see how many students download lectures, which pages they visit, how long they visit for, and how much they contribute in online forums. Internal data from a number of large higher education institutions indicates up to 60% of students are not attending in-person lectures in some faculties. Despite the accessibility and convenience of online learning, up to 40% of students are not accessing lecture recordings at all. This data aligns with similar studies in the field. This means students are missing out on opportunities to chat about ideas with classmates and lecturers. They're missing the chance to make friends and professional contacts in their field. They're not having their ideas challenged or supported. And they are not being exposed to key curriculum content. It's a domino effect. When fewer people engage with lectures, smaller in-person tutorials suffer too, because students do not have the curriculum knowledge to engage at a meaningful level. For students who do show up, it can feel pretty lonely. Lecturers find it less satisfying too. How can we encourage students to come back? So maybe it's not just about preserving lectures. It's about reinventing them for today's students. Just as the corporate world is facing the challenge of enticing workers back to the office, we need to think about how to attract students to in-person lectures. Lectures must offer unique experiences that can only be done in-person. Research suggests the key is to make lectures more personal, experiential, engaging and interactive. Though university positions are called "lecturers," let's reimagine what a "lecture" can be. It may encompass formats such as debates, Q&A sessions, or "Ask Me Anything" formats. It can be case studies, role-plays, mock activities, panels, hands-on workshops, competitions, or pitches. It may even be as simple as using slideshows better. Technology can help lecturers engage with students who are attending in-person via polls, live questions and chat threads on their phones or devices. What's the point here? Of course, different courses, subjects, and groups of students will need different approaches. While breaking content into small modules might be beneficial in some subjects, the ability to follow an argument or concentrate for longer periods is still important in many others. With students too, some international students come from learning cultures of quiet listening, which is quite different from the less formal, opinionated style we're used to in English-speaking countries. But we need to be upfront about what we're trying to achieve. The goal isn't simply get students sitting in a theater. It's about creating a learning experience worth showing up for, and facilitating more engaged and interactive learning. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The dodo has been extinct for more than 300 years, but that isn't stopping Dallas' Colossal Biosciences from trying to resurrect the 3-foot-tall, flightless bird. On Sept. 17, the "de-extinction" biotech company announced it cleared an early hurdle by growing primordial germ cellsthe precursors to eggs and spermfrom the rock dove, also known as the common pigeon. Colossal said the next phase is to gene-edit primordial germ cells from the Nicobar pigeon, the dodo's closest living relative. The Nicobar genome will serve as the scaffold for reconstructing a dodo-like genome. The company said it has established a breeding colony of Nicobar pigeons in Texas and is working to develop that bird's primordial germ cells for editing. "Our avian team's breakthrough in deriving culture conditions that allow pigeon primordial germ cells to survive long-term is a significant advancement for dodo de-extinction," Ben Lamm, CEO and co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, said in a press release. "This progress highlights how Colossal's investment in de-extinction technology is driving discovery and developing tools for both our de-extinction and conservation efforts." Cloning birds is trickier than cloning mammals. In mammals, scientists take an unfertilized egg, remove its nucleus and replace it with the nucleus from a donor body. Birds' large, opaque eggs are laid after embryos begin developing, which complicates the approach. Scientists have previously been able to culture and gene-edit primordial germ cells of chickens and geese, a technique that has been used to create a chicken fathered by a duck. But the "recipe has not worked on any other bird species tested, even closely related species like quail," Anna Keyte, Colossal's avian species director, said in the press release. Colossal said it screened more than 300 "recipes" before landing on one that kept pigeon primordial germ cells growing for 60 days. The methods and data were posted on the preprint server bioRxiv and have yet to be peer-reviewed. Colossal plans to inject the gene-edited Nicobar germ cells into chicken embryos. The chickens would grow up with pigeon-making cells in their ovaries or testes, acting like surrogates. In that way, a chicken could lay an egg that hatches a pigeon and, after additional gene edits, potentially a dodo-like bird. Colossal aims to rewild the resurrected dodo in Mauritius, an island country off the coast of East Africa where the birds were endemic before going extinct in the 17th century. The development follows the company's announcement in July to bring back the giant moa, a 10-foot-tall, flightless bird that vanished from New Zealand roughly 600 years ago. Beth Shapiro, Colossal's chief science officer, called the ability to grow the primordial germ cells a "transformative tool for avian conservation." "By developing these protocols," Shapiro said in the press release, "we're establishing crucial biobanking capabilities and opening new possibilities for genetic rescue of endangered species." Some endangered birds include the Mauritian pink pigeon, which is expected to go extinct in the next 50 to 100 years due to inbreeding. Colossal is also pursuing de-extinction projects for mammals including the woolly mammoth and Tasmanian tiger. In April, the company announced the birth of three dire wolves, modern canids engineered to resemble the long-extinct species popularized by HBO's Game of Thrones. Critics counter that true resurrection isn't possible. Without intact genomes, they say, the best outcome is a genetically modified proxy or hybrid. More information: Martin W Nicholson et al, Long-Term Rock Dove (Columba livia) Primordial Germ Cell Culture: A Tool for Avian Conservation, bioRxiv (2025). DOI: 10.1101/2025.09.17.676777 Journal information: bioRxiv 2025 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Visual design of the research project. Credit: ITAS "Trust in science is collapsing"that's the alarm we often hear. It's not surprising, then, that recent years have seen major efforts to study the phenomenon and its dynamics in the general population. Far less attention, however, has been paid to the information professionalsjournalistswho play a crucial bridging role between the world of scientific research and the public. A new paper titled "Science journalists and public trust: comparative insights from Germany, Italy, and Lithuania" in the Journal of Science Communication by a research group at the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, gives voice to journalists in three countriesGermany, Italy, and Lithuaniaeach representing a different media ecosystem. The picture that emerges is far more fragmented and nuancedand, above all, strongly context-dependentthan the common narrative would suggest. The journalists described themselves as being in constant negotiation with their audiences, calling themselves "knowledge brokers." They also stressed that, in today's science journalism, fact-checking and accuracy must be coupled with political, social, and emotional dimensions and with audience expectations, and they highlighted the need for new co-creative media formats. "According to the journalists involved in our study, trust in science is not collapsing," explains Nora Weinberger, a researcher at ITAS and one of the authors of the study, who contributed to the analysis of the focus-group data (that were all pre-analyzed locally). "That was kind of a surprise for me, because in the media and in discussions among researchers there's this idea of a collapse, while participants in our study see trust as being constantly negotiated." "Public trust in science is not uniformly declining," confirms Dana Mahr, also a researcher at ITAS and the study's first author. "It's fragmented, dynamic, and highly dependent on social, political, and media contexts, as well as individual expectations." The focus-group study involved 87 participantsmostly journalists (also including a number of science and institutional communicators and a few scientists)across three very different countries. Germany shows a relatively solid landscape for science journalism, with dedicated desks in public broadcasters and major outlets, a strong professional network, and good fact-checking practices. Italy is more fragmented, with fewer pure science desks, many freelancers, and often poorly paid. As described by one Italian participant, "Science journalism in Italy is treated as a luxury. When there's a crisis, it suddenly matters. Otherwise, it's ignored." Lithuania, shaped by its post-communist past, has a very small market with few full-time specialists; science is often covered by generalists or in collaboration with universities and research centers. Context effects and fragmentation Journalists highlighted the public's growing ideological polarization: some continue to trust scientific institutions, while others assess information through an emotional and political lens. As one German participant put it, "People don't evaluate scientific facts independently anymore. They trust or reject science based on whether it aligns with their political identity." They also criticized a reactive form of journalism that works on a very short time horizon and often depends on contingencies and public mood. In practice, topics are covered mainly in emergencies (think of the pandemic), while in-depth, long-term reporting is rare. This dynamic, by reducing the public's familiarity with scientific issues, ends up triggering a vicious circle that further undermines trust in scientific research. Online sets the agenda Another key point is that dynamics of the online sphere spill over offline, shaping what appears in print. "The same article gets published in print and online, and if it gets no clicks online, then the topic doesn't come up next time in the editorial discussions with regard to the print," explains Mahr. This further restricts in-depth coverage of important topicsfrom vaccines to climate change: if a subject doesn't draw online interest, it stops being covered. Mahr cites global warming: although it's scientifically crucial, it no longer attracts audiences unless framed with sensational headlines (often misleading, sometimes not evidence-based), and is gradually sidelined by outlets. "The journalists in our focus groups expressed the idea that, basically, you cannot do journalism on climate change because the public is overladen with information. Basically, they are tired of the topic of climate change." This, in turn, creates space for "alternative information" (not evidence-based and driven by a specific political agenda), which spreads pseudoscientific misinformation. 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 role of support structures Because journalism is so dependent on context and "market" factors, participants stressed the need for broader infrastructures to support their work. "Whether journalists can foster trust depends less on individual reporting and more on systemic conditions," explains Weinberger. "Now there is really a need for media infrastructure and institutional support. Trust, and political culture, are questions of structures in society, not only of journalistic skills or good stories. For me, that was really surprising, in a way." The envisaged structures include elements that help mitigate market pressure: more stable funding (e.g., public service media), dedicated science desks, investigative funds, fact-checking units, collaboration networks, and ongoing training. In Germany, for example, these supports are more established than elsewhere, reducing click pressure and enabling longer-term, well-contextualized coverage. Trust brokers and co-creation "What I found really interesting was that they see their role as trust brokersnot only translating complex research, but also building trust," says Weinberger. "That is not their formal job description, and, from my point of view, this represents a shift in their role." This emerges in all three countries studied, despite clear differences in the media landscape. Journalists do not see their work as only conveying scientific information clearly, fairly, and accurately. They also take on an active role of mediation and dialog with the public, in some cases pushing the profession toward the edge of activism. They feel literally tasked with building public trust in science. For this reason, they believe news formats should incorporate more co-creation. "The journalists are aware of the social contract that we connect to the role of journalistsso they want to make it even stronger, with more transparency, more humility, and more dialog with audiences. Basically, their idea is to allow more co-production." The strategies mentioned include producing interactive formats such as podcasts and Q&A sessions, and building relationships within digital communities instead of relying on one-way messaging, adapting content to the platforms without compromising scientific accuracy. These approaches are not panaceas, but necessary experiments that mark a shift from simple dissemination to dialog and from authority to co-creation, recognizing that trust must be built by meeting audiences where they already are. The study was conducted as part of the EU Horizon Europe project IANUS (Inspiring and Anchoring Trust in Science, Research and Innovation, aimed at strengthening warranted trust in science, research, and innovation through inclusive, value-sensitive, and participatory approaches. More information: Science journalists and public trust: comparative insights from Germany, Italy, and Lithuania, Journal of Science Communication (2025). 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: Crater surface morphology and seismic attributes of horizons CF1 and CF2 at the crater floor. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63985-z A decades-long scientific debate over the origins of the Silverpit Crater in the southern North Sea has been resolved. New evidence confirms that it was caused by an asteroid or comet impact about 4346 million years ago. A team led by Dr. Uisdean Nicholson from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh used seismic imaging, microscopic analysis of rock cuttings and numerical models to provide the strongest evidence yet that Silverpit is one of Earth's rare impact craters. Their findings are published in Nature Communications. The Silverpit Crater sits 700 meters below the seabed in the North Sea, about 80 miles off the coast of Yorkshire. Since its discovery in 2002, the 3 kmwide crater, which is surrounded by a 20 kmwide zone of circular faults, has been at the center of a heated debate among geologists. Initial studies suggested it was an impact crater. The scientists who found it pointed to its central peak, circular shape and concentric faults, characteristics often associated with hypervelocity impacts. However, alternative theories argued that the crater structure was caused by salt moving deep below the crater floor or the collapse of the seabed because of volcanic activity. In 2009, geologists put the crater's formation to a vote, as reported in that year's December issue of Geoscientist magazinea majority voted against the impact crater hypothesis. New evidence has proved them wrong. The Heriot-Watt-led team used newly available seismic imaging data and evidence from below the seabed to prove the impact theory. Dr. Nicholson, a sedimentologist in Heriot-Watt University's School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, said, "New seismic imaging has given us an unprecedented look at the crater. "Samples from an oil well in the area also revealed rare 'shocked' quartz and feldspar crystals at the same depth as the crater floor. "We were exceptionally lucky to find thesea real 'needle-in-a-haystack' effort. These prove the impact crater hypothesis beyond doubt, because they have a fabric that can only be created by extreme shock pressures. "Our evidence shows that a 160 meterwide asteroid hit the seabed at a low angle from the west. "Within minutes, it created a 1.5-kilometer high curtain of rock and water that then collapsed into the sea, creating a tsunami over 100 meters high." Professor Gareth Collins from Imperial College London was at the Silverpit Crater debate in 2009 and also provided the numerical models for the new study. "I always thought that the impact hypothesis was the simplest explanation and most consistent with the observations," Professor Collins said. "It is very rewarding to have finally found the silver bullet. We can now get on with the exciting job of using the amazing new data to learn more about how impacts shape planets below the surface, which is really hard to do on other planets. " Dr. Nicholson said, "Silverpit is a rare and exceptionally preserved hypervelocity impact crater. "These are rare because the Earth is such a dynamic planetplate tectonics and erosion destroy almost all traces of most of these events. "Around 200 confirmed impact craters exist on land, and only about 33 have been identified beneath the ocean. "We can use these findings to understand how asteroid impacts shaped our planet throughout history, as well as predict what could happen should we have an asteroid collision in future." The confirmation of Silverpit as an impact crater places it alongside structures such as the Chicxulub Crater in Mexicolinked to the mass extinction of the dinosaursand the Nadir Crater off West Africa, which was recently confirmed as an impact site. More information: Uisdean Nicholson et al, Multiple lines of evidence for a hypervelocity impact origin for the Silverpit Crater, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63985-z Journal information: Nature Communications 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: Contrast counts. Bees are more attracted to yellow and magenta variants than hybrid plants. Credit: Daria Shipilina / ISTA Every season, scientists from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) go on field trips to the Pyrenees. Their mission: gather snapdragon flowers to understand their genetic makeup. In a recent study in Molecular Ecology, they show how nature uses color genes to keep two varieties of snapdragons distinct, even when they share the same habitat. On the border between France and Spain lies a mountain range that spans from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea. The lush valleys and high peaks attract many tourists to the Pyrenees, known as "Pireneus" in Catalan. Arka Pal, a biologist and Ph.D. student from the Barton group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), visits the region for a different reason. He comes to collect snapdragons or Antirrhinuma vibrant plant that, when squeezed, resembles the jaws of a dragon. Together with an international team of scientists, Pal's newest publication highlights the importance of flower color genes that keep two snapdragon varieties separated in several valleys across the Pyrenees, although they hybridize and occupy the same space. Collecting snapdragons For the past 17 years, scientists from the Barton group have been traveling to Planolesa Spanish village situated 1,135 meters above sea level, near the Rio Rigat and the French borderlooking for snapdragons. Each field season, around 20 researchers reside in a small hut, venture into the picturesque surroundings and collect over 5,000 samples. Magenta, yellow, or hybrids? Back in their hut, the scientists meticulously document the colors of the collected snapdragons. Credit: Daria Shipilina / ISTA Tubes of flowers. The scientists process the collected snapdragons and prepare them for their trip to ISTA's campus. Credit: Daria Shipilina / ISTA "You could romanticize it and say we are hiking," Pal jokes. "But Antirrhinum likes to grow in human-disturbed habitats, often alongside mountain roads. So, we walk these beautiful roads in the Pyrenees, sporadically climbing steep slopes through brambles and nettles to collect snapdragons." When in bloom, snapdragons are easy to spot with their striking yellow or magenta petals. When they are not, the scientists rely on identifying their leaves. Pal and his colleagues keep records of the plants' growth and their GPS locations, and collect both flowers and leaves for processing back in the hut. There they assess the color of their samples, score how much magenta or yellow they have, and take pictures of the flowers from different angles. Additionally, they dry the leaves in silica gel and put them in envelopes to bring them back to ISTA to genetically analyze them. What drives the Barton group to invest such effort in studying these plants? What deeper insights into evolution does the color of a snapdragon reveal? A hybrid snapdragon. Snapdragons are usually magenta or yellow. In the valley of Planoles in Spain, these two types come together, forming hybrid plants in a variety of colors. Credit: Daria Shipilina / ISTA One valley, many different snapdragons. In the valley of Planoles, hybrid forms of snapdragons grow right next to each other. Credit: Daria Shipilina / ISTA Hybrid zonesnature's laboratory Pal is interested in how speciation happenshow different varieties emerge from a common ancestor and separate over time. In the valley of Planoles, two varieties of Antirrhinumdistinguished by their vibrant yellow (A. majus striatum) and magenta flowers (A. majus pseudomajus)come together and hybridize naturally. During the last ice age, the two Antirrhinum varieties were geographically isolated in different parts of the Pyrenees. As the ice melted, they likely gradually spread along the valley from opposite directions, forming a so-called 'hybrid zone." "Hybrid zones are essentially 'natural laboratories' where you can study the process of speciation and evolution in nature, letting nature conduct the experiments for us instead of crossing them in greenhouses," says Pal. The magenta and yellow snapdragons form a narrow strip, roughly 1 km in length, where they hybridize to produce a kaleidoscope of colors. The genetic encyclopedia Planoles is not the only hybrid zone in the Pyrenees. A very similar one also exists 100 km to the west, near the town of Avellanet. The Barton group collected samples there, too. In his latest study, Pal compared both hybrid zones to understand how evolution has shaped them. Back at ISTA, Pal analyzed the two sets of samples to see whether their genomes looked the same. "You can think of the genome as an 'encyclopedia of words.' Within this encyclopedia, there are billions of letters which make up thousands of wordsour genes. Yet, only a few key 'words' are important to keep species or varieties separated," says Pal. "The same bee species pollinates both the yellow and the magenta species. Bees learn where to go to find nectar. On the magenta side, they visit magenta flowers, while on the yellow side, they frequent yellow ones," Pal says. Hybrids do not attract as many bees due to their lack of distinct color contrast required for bees to learn, resulting in reduced fitness and fewer offspring. For snapdragons, the key trait is the flower color, which attracts pollinators and is essential for survival and passing genes onto the next generation. Despite sharing most genetic "words," only a few critical genesseven to be specificdetermine flower color and remain unique to each species. These genes, with names as alluring as those of Pokemon, include Rosea, Eluta, Rubia, Sulfurea, Flavia, Aurina, and Cremosa. Strolling through ISTA's campus. Arka Pal passes by the new VISTA Science Experience Center. The first exhibition there, which opens on October 3, will also feature an exhibit on the snapdragon research conducted by the Barton Group at ISTA. Credit: ISTA Geographic distributions of magenta- and yellow-colored snapdragons. Colored circles represent flower types and sample locations. Samples were collected from two hybrid zones: Avellanet (19 magenta and 19 yellow) and Planoles (18 magenta and 18 yellow). Credit: Pal, A., D. Shipilina, A. Le Moan, et al. / Molecular Ecology 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. Color genes eclipse proximity To tackle this data set, Pal made use of whole-genomic sequencinga tool commonly used to map the DNA of humans and other animals. In this case, he and his team employed a novel sequencing technique that had previously been untested for Antirrhinum. Unlike well-studied organisms such as mice or Arabidopsis thaliana plants, where more genomic data exists, this large-scale sequencing of snapdragon genomes involved a process that resembled piecing together a vast puzzle. "When we compared the Planoles and Avallenet hybrid zones, we found their genomes were quite differentthey all had different mixtures of 'words." But the seven genes that control the flower color were the same in both zones," explains Pal. Those genes act like keywords that stay consistent. In hybrid zones, one would expect nearby plants to be closely related to each other. But when the researchers traced the plants' genetic ancestry, they discovered that the flower color genes did not follow that pattern. The seven genes in the yellow snapdragons from the Planoles zone were more closely related to those in the yellow plants in the Avellanet zone. The same was true for magenta plants too. Pal's new study reveals that, although there is a lot of genetic variation between the zones, the genes responsible for flower color have a shared evolutionary history. This finding is importantit suggests these color genes help snapdragons remain distinct and recognizable, even when they grow in the same environment, and share other genes across their extensive genome. More information: Arka Pal et al, Genealogical Analysis of Replicate Flower Colour Hybrid Zones in Antirrhinum, Molecular Ecology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/mec.70067 Journal information: Molecular Ecology 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: SpIRIT's radiators after deployment, flying high over the Indian Ocean. Credit: University of Melbourne Australia's SpIRIT nanosatellite has successfully completed the initial phase of its mission, marking a milestone achievement for Australia's place and reputation in the global space industry. Led by the University of Melbourne, in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the Space Industry Responsive Intelligent Thermal nanosatelliteknown as "SpIRIT"is the first space telescope to carry a foreign space agency's scientific instrument as its main payload. Since its launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California in December 2023, SpIRIT has circled Earth more than 9,000 timestraveling a distance comparable to a round trip between Earth and Marsand has been in orbit for over 600 days. Principal Investigator, University of Melbourne Professor Michele Trenti said SpIRIT's successful commissioning period is a true milestone for Australian technological advancements and space capabilities. "SpIRIT is a complex satellite designed and built in Australia, with many components flying for the first time and hosting a scientific instrument contributed by the Italian Space Agency," Professor Trenti said. "Now that SpIRIT has completed rigorous testing in space, we are confident it's ready to commence the next phase of its mission, which is truly exciting." Expected to remain in orbit for more than 1,000 days in total, SpIRIT's core mission will now transition from testing flight capabilities and Australian space technology to scientific observation. SpIRIT will be scanning large areas of space using its HERMES X-ray detector to spot cosmic explosions called gamma ray bursts, which are created when stars collide or die. These explosions are unpredictable and difficult to spot, like a needle in a haystack. The first image taken by the SpIRIT selfie camera upon completion of the first phase of its mission. Credit: University of Melbourne Acting as an early warning system, SpIRIT will alert astronomers to a gamma ray burst event for further investigation. The completion of the first phase of SpIRIT's mission was marked with the deployment of its winged thermal management system and selfie stick, which it used to take a 'selfie' in space. The image, beamed back to Earth, showed the nanosatellite crested in emblems of partners who made its mission possible. SpIRIT's unique wings, designed by the University of Melbourne, helps keep the space telescope cool and increase science performance. Now in its final configuration, the spacecraft measures almost a meter in size. Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo welcomed the milestone and transition to the next phase of the mission. "The SpIRIT mission has demonstrated the capability that exists within the Australian space sectorfrom building the satellite and testing new technologies in orbit and on ground, to hosting international science payloads and successfully completing its initial phase," Palermo said. "I commend the team, and our colleagues at the Italian Space Agency, on their persistent long-duration operations in space. SpIRIT is a great example of the mutual benefit that comes from collaborating in space." "The result confirms the excellence of Italian space science, capable of producing technologically advanced equipment, and at the same time reaffirms the strong strategic value of scientific collaboration between the Italian Space Agency and its Australian counterpart," said Teodoro Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency. "The SpIRIT satellite carries on board a prototype detector, built entirely in Italy under the guidance of INAF. The nominal operation of this miniaturized instrument, which has successfully completed the commissioning phase, has been demonstrated by pointing at the Crab gamma pulsar, detected with only 700 seconds of observation." 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: Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels To foster school engagement and reduce student burnout and anxiety in general upper secondary education, it is essential to understand, identify and support students with varying perfectionistic tendencies. A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland explored different perfectionistic profiles among general upper secondary students, analyzing whether support from teachers, school psychologists, family and friends moderates the association of these profiles with well-being. The study involved 2,005 Finnish students in general upper secondary education, who were categorized into four perfectionistic profiles based on their responses to an online questionnaire: concerned (relatively low strivings and relatively high concerns, 28%), ambitious (high strivings and low concerns, 28%), perfectionists (high strivings and high concerns, 24%), and non-perfectionists (low strivings and low concerns, 20%). These profiles were consistently associated with well-being. Ambitious students had high engagement and high strivings and only a few challenges in their well-being. Non-perfectionists did not have high strivings, nor did they have high concerns. Their school engagement was on par with that of perfectionist students, and they also reported rather high levels of well-being. Both of the profiles characterized by high concerns, i.e., perfectionists and concerned students, were associated with poorer well-being. It is noteworthy that more than half of the general upper secondary students fell into these two profiles. Perfectionists reported the highest levels of burnout, depressive symptoms and anxiety, and their school engagement was lower than that of ambitious students. Concerned students experienced nearly as many challenges in their well-being as perfectionists and had the lowest school engagement. The findings, published in the International Journal of Educational Research, highlight that concerns about, and dissatisfaction with, one's achievements are strongly associated with student well-being. Well-being declines without support from family and friends "Our study provides new insight into perfectionism, well-being and students' perceptions of support. Most general upper secondary students felt they either did not need support or that sufficient support was available. Support from teachers, family and friends was considered important," says Doctoral Researcher Anna Kuusi of the University of Eastern Finland, the lead author of the study. Students who received adequate support from teachers reported almost as few symptoms of burnout, depression and anxiety as those who felt they did not need teacher support. Conversely, lacking support from teachers was associated with poorer well-being, regardless of the perfectionistic profile. Findings related to support received from school psychologists were less conclusive. This may be due to the relatively small number of students seeking such support, or due to the possibility that those seeking support may be experiencing more severe symptoms. In addition, accessing psychological support may be challenging. Support from family helped alleviate general upper secondary students' symptoms of anxiety. Students who received sufficient support from their family did not differ in anxiety symptoms from those who felt they did not need family support. Perceived support from family and friends moderated the association of perfectionistic profiles with well-being. This means that the presence or absence of support influenced how well-being manifested across different profiles. Support from friends had the strongest interaction between perfectionism and well-being. For example, perfectionists reported the poorest well-being even when they did not need support from friends, or when sufficient support was available. Even ambitious students who otherwise reported adaptive well-being, experienced a significant decline in well-being when support from family and friends was lackingin such cases, they suffered as many symptoms of depression and anxiety as perfectionists. In other words, even ambitious students are not immune to the effects of lacking support from family and friends. 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. Young people need a safe environment to pursue their goals High strivings and high engagement do not guarantee well-being if students are at the same time afraid of making mistakes and fear failures. The study underscores the fact that high strivings alone are not enough; young people also need a safe environment where mistakes are allowed and tolerated. Perfectionism has increased in recent decades, alongside an increase in burnout and depressive symptoms among young people. These phenomena reflect broader societal and cultural changes, such as the impact of social media on young people's increased tendency to compare themselves to others. A better understanding of the associations between perfectionism and students' well-being is crucial, also at the level of individuals. Research into perfectionism among young people is particularly important because adolescence is considered a key developmental phase for the emergence of perfectionism. The study constitutes part of the WELL2Making the Grade but Feeling Exhausted project. The project seeks to examine the developmental and situational dynamics between students' motivation, perfectionism and academic well-being across upper secondary education, and to consider the role of student welfare in supporting students' learning and well-being. Next, the researchers will explore perfectionism and its associations with well-being in vocational education and training, an area where high-striving students have not previously been studied. More information: Anna Kuusi et al, Perfectionistic profiles and well-being in general upper secondary education: The moderating role of perceived support, International Journal of Educational Research (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijer.2025.102769 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: John of Gaunt dining with the King of Portugal, Chronique d'Angleterre, vol 3, late 14 century. Credit: Wikimedia Commons In today's world, we barely think about picking up a fork. It is part of a standard cutlery set, as essential as the plate itself. But not that long ago, this now-ordinary utensil was viewed with suspicion, derision and even moral outrage. It took centuries, royal marriages and a bit of cultural rebellion to get the fork from the kitchens of Constantinople (today's Istanbul) onto the dining tables of Europe. A scandalous utensil Early versions of forks have been found in Bronze Age China and Ancient Egypt, though they were likely used for cooking and serving. The Romans had elegant forks made of bronze and silver, but again, mainly for food preparation. Eating with a forkespecially a small, personal onewas rare. By the 10th century, Byzantine elites used them freely, shocking guests from western Europe. And by around the 11th century, the table fork began to make regular appearances at mealtimes across the Byzantine empire. In 1004, the Byzantine Maria Argyropoulina (9851007), sister of Emperor Romanos III Argyros, married the son of the Doge of Venice and scandalized the city by refusing to eat with her fingers. She used a golden fork instead. Later, the theologian Peter Damian (100772) declared Maria's vanity in eating with "artificial metal forks" instead of using the fingers God had given her was what brought about divine punishment in the form of her premature death in her 20s. Yet by the 14th century, forks had become common in Italy, thanks in part to the rise of pasta. It was far easier to eat slippery strands with a pronged instrument than with a spoon or knife. Italian etiquette soon embraced the fork, especially among the wealthy merchant classes. And it was through this wealthy class that the fork would be introduced to the rest of Europe in the 16th century by two women. Enter Bona Sforza Born into the powerful families Sforza of Milan and Aragon of Naples, Bona Sforza (14941557) grew up in a world where forks were in use; more, they were in fashion. Her family was used to the refinements of Renaissance Italy: court etiquette, art patronage, ostentatious dress for women and men, and elegant dining. When she married Sigismund I, king of Poland and grand duke of Lithuania in 1518, becoming queen, she arrived in a region where dining customs were different. The use of forks was largely unknown. At courts in Lithuania and Poland, cutlery use was practical and limited. Spoons and knives were common for eating soups and stews, and the cutting of meat, but most food was eaten with the hands, using bread or trenchersthick slices of stale bread that soaked up the juices from the foodfor assistance. This method was not only economical but also deeply embedded in courtly and noble dining traditions, reflecting a social etiquette in which communal dishes and shared eating were the norm. Bona's court brought Italian manners to the region, introducing more vegetables, Italian wine and, most unusually, the table fork. Though her use of it was likely restricted at first to formal or court settings, it made an impression. Over time, especially from the 17th century onwards, forks became more common among the nobility of Lithuania and Poland. 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. Catherine de' Medici comes to France Catherine de' Medici (151989) was born into the powerful Florentine Medici family, niece of Pope Clement VII. In 1533, aged 14, she married the future King Henry II of France as part of a political alliance between France and the Papacy, bringing her from Italy to France. Catherine de' Medici, introduced silver forks and Italian dining customs to the French court. Like in the case of Bona Sforza, these arrived in Catherine's trousseau. Her retinue also included chefs, pastry cooks, and perfumers, along with artichokes, truffles and elegant tableware. Her culinary flair helped turn court meals into theater. While legends exaggerate her influence, many dishes now claimed as French, trace their roots to her Italian table: onion soup, duck a l'orange and even sorbet. The 'right' way to eat Like many travelers, the curious Englishman Thomas Coryat (15771617) in the early 1600s brought tales of fork-using Italians back home, where the idea still seemed laughably affected. In England, using a fork in the early 1600s was a sign of pretension. Even into the 18th century, it was considered more masculine and more honest to eat with a knife and fingers. But across Europe, change was underway. Forks began to be seen not just as tools of convenience, but symbols of cleanliness and refinement. In France, they came to reflect courtly civility. In Germany, specialized forks multiplied in the 18th and 19th centuries: for bread, pickles, ice cream and fish. And in England, the fork's use eventually became a class marker: the "right" way to hold it distinguished the polite from the uncouth. As mass production took off in the 19th century, stainless steel made cutlery affordable, and the fork became ubiquitous. By then, the battle had shifted from whether to use a fork to how to use it properly. Table manners manuals now offered guidance on fork etiquette. No scooping, no stabbing, and always hold it tines down. It took scandal, royal taste, and centuries of resistance for the fork to win its place at the table. Now it's hard to imagine eating without it. 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: Philippine Coast Guard personnel assist in the evacuation of residents from a village in La Union province. More than 10,000 evacuees sheltered in schools and evacuation centers in the Philippines on Monday as heavy rains and gale-force winds from Super Typhoon Ragasa lashed the country's far north. The typhoon, which is gaining strength as it proceeds on a collision course with southern China, was expected to make landfall over the Philippines' Babuyan Islands around midday. The sparsely populated islands lie about 740 kilometers (460 miles) south of Taiwan, where smaller-scale evacuations were also underway. As of 11:00 am (0300 GMT), maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour were reported at the storm's center, with gusts reaching up to 265 kph as it moved westward towards the Babuyans, the national weather service said. "I woke up because of the strong wind. It was hitting the windows, and it sounded like a machine that was switched on," said Tirso Tugagao, a resident of Aparri, a coastal town in northern Cagayan province. "I'm seeing from my house here that the high waves are crashing onto the shore," the 45-year-old teacher said. "I pray everyone will be safe." Cagayan disaster chief Rueli Rapsing told AFP that his team was prepared for "the worst". President Ferdinand Marcos said on Facebook he was closely monitoring the situation and that all government agencies were "on alert to give help anywhere and whenever needed". A man stands near debris on a waterfront road amid heavy rain driven by Super Typhoon Ragasa in the Philippines' Cagayan province on Monday. In Taiwan, the state weather service predicted a chance of "extremely torrential rain" in the country's east. "Its storm radius is quite large, about 320 (kilometers). Although the typhoon's center is still some distance away, its wide, strong wind field and outer circulation are already affecting parts of Taiwan." James Wu, a local fire department officer, told AFP that evacuations were ongoing in mountainous areas near Pingtung. "What worries us more is that the damage could be similar to what happened during Typhoon Koinu two years ago," he added, describing a storm that saw utility poles collapse and sheet-metal roofs sent flying into the air. Schools and government offices were closed Monday in the Manila region and across 29 Philippine provinces in anticipation of heavy rainfall. Government weather specialist John Grender Almario said Sunday that "severe flooding and landslides" could be expected in the northern areas of the main island Luzon. The threat of flooding from Ragasa comes just a day after thousands of Filipinos took to the streets to protest a growing corruption scandal involving flood control projects that were shabbily constructed or never completed. The Philippines is the first major landmass facing the Pacific cyclone belt, and the archipelago is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, putting millions of people in disaster-prone areas in a state of constant poverty. Scientists warn that storms are becoming more powerful as the world warms due to the effects of human-driven climate change. 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 identification and digital documents in Diia App (Diia, 2024). Credit: Government Information Quarterly (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.giq.2025.102056 Despite being at war since February 2022, Ukraine has managed to maintain public services. A new study from Linkoping University points to the collaboration between citizens and public authorities as a key factor in this. According to the researchers behind it, there are lessons to be learned for other countries should war or crisis come. "Everyone, right down to the family and the individual, makes crucial decisions in times of deep crisis. It's important that all actors are mobilized, pull together and cooperate," says Mariana Gustafsson, docent in political science at the Department of Management and Engineering at Linkoping University. The study, conducted in the Dnipropetrovsk region in 2023 and 2024, is based on survey responses from 239 public officials and 882 Ukrainian citizens. It has been supplemented with ten in-depth interviews with public officials and active members of civil society. All in all, it gives a picture of how society's functions were transformed during the war. The results have been published in the journal Government information Quarterly. Collaboration and digitalization The study shows that extensive collaboration has emerged between all levels of societycollaboration that was previously sporadic. Citizens in civil society have been able to identify new needs early on through their local networks and develop relief efforts together with authorities and international organizations. This has made it possible to, for example, quickly create digital services to help war veterans or those who have had to flee their homes. Citizens and organizations have become active co-creators rather than passive recipients, making the efforts robust and credible. The digital platform Diia, a central location for government services in Ukraine for the past few years, has played a key role in this, as a number of functions, originally developed in civil society, could quickly be connected to it. More than half of all Ukrainians now have the app on their phone. Trust is the key But the researchers emphasize that the collaboration rests on trust within societya belief that individuals, organizations and public authorities are actually doing what they are supposed to be doing. This belief was not always evident in Ukraine but has slowly grown since the Orange Revolution in the mid-00s. The war has since brought everything to a head, although serious problems with corruption remain. There are lessons to be learned by other countries about the importance of strengthening citizens' confidence in democracy and its institutions. Trust is created through authorities being flexible and actively working to include civil society, but also through citizens themselves becoming more active, according to Gustafsson. This is a challenge in all developed democracies, where engagement and participation in civil society have decreased over time. The conditions for a functioning society, even in times of crisis and war, must be created in advance. "Don't forget that trust is a commodity. This is something that public authorities, civil society and all of us have to work on continuously. We have seen many warning signs that civil society must become more dynamic and active," says Gustafsson. The researchers point out that the study does have some limitations. Because of the war, it has been difficult to achieve fully representative survey data. Moreover, the survey was only conducted in one of Ukraine's regions. More information: Mariana Gustafsson et al, Adaptive governance amidst the war: Overcoming challenges and strengthening collaborative digital service provision in Ukraine, Government Information Quarterly (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.giq.2025.102056 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: UV222 lights hang on the ceiling of the Aerobiology and Disinfection Laboratory at CU Boulder. Credit: Patrick Campbell/CU Boulder Cats, dust mites, mold, trees; for people with allergies, even a brief whiff of the airborne allergens these organisms produce can lead to swollen eyes, itchy skin and impaired breathing. Such allergens can persist indoors for months after the original source is gone, and repeated exposure can exacerbate, and even lead to, asthma. What if you could just flip a switch and disable them? You can, according to new University of Colorado Boulder research. "We have found that we can use a passive, generally safe ultraviolet light treatment to quickly inactivate airborne allergens," said study author Tess Eidem, a senior research associate in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. "We believe this could be another tool for helping people fight allergens in their home, schools or other places where allergens accumulate indoors." The findings were published in the journal ACS ES&T Air. Why you can't kill an allergen Walk into a room with a cat and, if you sneeze, it's not actually the cat you are reacting to. It's likely airborne flecks of a protein called Fel d1 produced in their saliva. The protein spreads when they lick themselves and ends up in microscopic flakes of dead skin floating in the air, a.k.a. dander. When we inhale these particles, our immune system produces antibodies that bind to the protein's unique 3D structure, kicking off an allergic reaction. Dogs, mice, dust mites, mold and plants all emit their own unique proteins, with their own unique structure. Unlike bacteria and viruses, these allergens can't be killed because they were never alive. Tess Eidem holds up a jar of fungus used to generate allergens for research. Credit: Patrick Campbell/CU Boulder "After those dust mites are long gone, the allergen is still there," said Eidem. "That's why, if you shake out a rug, you can have a reaction years later." Standard methods of reducing allergenslike vacuuming, washing walls, using an air filter and regularly bathing petscan work OK but are hard to maintain long-term studies show. Eidem and co-authors Mark Hernandez, a professor of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, and Kristin Rugh, a microbiologist in the lab, sought a simpler way. Instead of eliminating the proteins that cause allergies, they sought to change their structuremuch like unfolding an origami animalso the immune system wouldn't recognize them. "If your immune system is used to a swan and you unfold the protein so it no longer looks like a swan, you won't mount an allergic response," explained Eidem. UV light, their study suggests, can do that. Let there be light Previous research has shown that UV light can kill airborne microorganisms, including the virus that causes COVID-19. It's already used widely to disinfect equipment in hospitals, airports and elsewhere, but the bandwidth is typically so strong (a wavelength of 254 nanometers) that users must wear protective equipment to prevent damage to skin and eyes. Eidem used 222-nanometer-wavelength lights, a less-intense alternative considered safe for occupied spaces because it doesn't penetrate deep into cells. (It does not come entirely without risks, including ozone production, she notes, so exposure should be limited.) Tess Eidem pumps allergens into a chamber to study the impact of UV light on them. Credit: Patrick Campbell/CU Boulder The team pumped microscopic aerosolized allergens from mites, pet dander, mold and pollen into an unoccupied and sealed 350-cubic-foot chamber. Then they switched on four lunchbox-sized UV222 lamps on the ceiling and floor. When they sampled the air at 10-minute intervals and compared it to untreated, allergen-filled air via laboratory tests, they saw significant differences. In the treated samples, immunorecognition was reduced, meaning the antibodies no longer recognized many of the proteins and stuck to them. After just 30 minutes, airborne allergen levels effectively decreased by about 20% to 25% on average, the study showed. Efficacy depended on the type of allergen, how long the light was on and what the allergen was floating in (dust, dander, liquid droplets, etc.) In one condition tested, after 40 minutes of UV light exposure, the cat allergen Fel d 1 had decreased by 61% compared to untreated air. "Those are pretty rapid reductions when you compare them to months and months of cleaning, ripping up carpet, and bathing your cat," said Eidem. 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. A portable allergy buster? UV222 lights are already commercially available, mostly for industrial antimicrobial uses. But Eidem envisions a day when companies could engineer portable versions for people to switch on when they visit a friend with a pet or clean out a dusty basement. UV222 systems could also potentially protect workers frequently exposed to allergens, such as those who work around live animals or in cannabis grow houses where, her own research shows, allergic reactions can be deadly. One-in-three adults and children in the United States have allergies, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Eidem hopes her research, and more to come, can provide them with some reliefor even save lives. "Asthma attacks kill about 10 people every day in the United States, and they are often triggered by airborne allergies," she said. "Trying to develop new ways to prevent that exposure is really important." More information: Tess M. Eidem et al, Far UV Exposure (UV 222 ) Decreases Immune-Based Recognition of Common Airborne Allergens, ACS ES&T Air (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acsestair.5c00080 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain After nearly 25 years of negotiations, the World Trade Organization (WTO) finally has its first legally binding agreement to tackle government fisheries subsidies. After two-thirds of WTO members ratified the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the deal has entered into force. It marks a long-overdue step toward addressing the role harmful fisheries subsidies play in overfishing. Fisheries subsidies can cause harm by distorting markets and creating unequal competitionso-called "trade injuries." In addition, they can cause ecological harm by increasing the capacity of fishing vessels and fleets. The result is overcapacity: too many boats chasing too few fish, which often leads to overfishing. When WTO talks on fisheries subsidies began in 2001, fish populations were already in decline. Today, 38% of fish stocks are overfished, and a further 50% are fully exploited. That means most of the world's fisheries are being fished at or beyond their biological limits. For decades, government subsidies have helped industrial fishing fleets expand, often with little regard for sustainability. These subsidies have distorted access to fish and seafood, fueled overfishing and harmed coastal communitiesespecially in low-income countries where fish are critical to food security and livelihoods. This agreement is a major milestone, but it's only the beginning. Here's what the agreement covers, why it matters and what needs to happen next to protect ocean health and ensure an equitable ocean economy for coastal communities. What the agreement covers and why it matters WTO members first raised the issue of harmful fisheries subsidies at the Fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha in 2001. For years, talks made little headwayuntil the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. Target 14.6 of the SDGs explicitly called on the WTO to: "Prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies." This helped re-energize negotiations, culminating in the adoption of the subsidies agreement at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference in 2022. The agreement includes three key prohibitions targeting the worst kinds of subsidies. First, ratifying WTO members must stop subsidizing illegal,unreported and unregulated fishing (Article 3). Second, they must end subsidies for vessels targeting overfished stocks unless they can demonstrate that effective management measures are in place to rebuild those stocks (Article 4). Third, subsidies for fishing on the unregulated high seas are banned (Article 5). While these measures don't address all subsidies that contribute to overcapacity, they target some of the most egregious forms of financial support. Another critical part of the agreement is Article 8, which strengthens transparency and accountability. Members must now provide detailed information annually, including information on fish stocks, conservation and management measures, fleet capacity and the names of subsidized vessels. Historically, fisheries subsidies data has been patchy and incomplete. Better data will help identify who benefits from public financial support and whether it aligns with sustainability goals. The agreement also introduces more equitable expectations for developing and least developed countries. These members are granted an extra two years before they must implement subsidy prohibitions and, crucially, can access the WTO Fish Funda funding mechanism that helps countries implement the agreement through technical assistance and partnerships. While the agreement does not fully level the playing field, it establishes that major subsidizers must carry the greatest burden. 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. Challenges, gaps and next steps Despite its strengths on paper, the agreement only covers a fraction of the estimated $22 billion in harmful fisheries subsidies provided by governments each year. The most prevalent of all the harmful subsidies, fuel subsidies, remain largely untouched. Another major limitation is that it only applies to countries that have ratified the agreement. As of now, some major subsidizersincluding Indonesia and Thailand, two of the world's top 10 subsidy providershave yet to ratify. In a 2021 report we wrote for ocean conservation group Oceana, we found that just 10 countries are responsible for 64% of global harmful subsidies. Even with this agreement in force, without their participation, large gaps will remain. Another challenge is ensuring transparency and data disclosure. While the agreement includes stronger notification requirements, it lacks detailed reporting guidelines. Much of the implementation will depend on self-reporting and peer accountability between members. Without clear standards or enforcement mechanisms, many subsidy programs could remain opaque or under-reported. To have real impact, the WTO must develop robust and standardized reporting frameworks. Whether this agreement will save fish, or merely save face, will come down to how it's implemented. Success will hinge on whether WTO members hold each other accountable and whether industry, civil society and researchers can push their governments toward genuine compliance. Importantly, the subsidies agreement was never meant to be the end of the conversation. Its entry into force triggers a four-year countdown to negotiate the next phase. They must address the most damaging subsidies of all, those that fund fishing by rich foreign fleets in the waters of other nations, and those that drive overcapacity, to achieve a comprehensive agreement. These policies have the greatest potential ecological and equity impact but are the hardest to reach consensus on. Fortunately, we're now closer to that goal. The entry into force of this agreement provides the ideal platform from which SDG Target 14.6 can be fully achieved. Putting an end to billions in fishing subsidies would restore fish stocks, support coastal communities, and improve ocean health for all. The job is not yet done. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. By Stephen Blank It would currently be very much in the U.S. interest to reinvigorate relations with Georgia. Despite Georgias growing submission to Russian policy, its mounting anti-democratic repression, and pervasive corruption, opportunities exist that can justify a U.S. policy initiative towards the country. Specifically, Trump can emulate his achievement of inserting U.S. influence over trade routes like the Zangezur corridor to resuscitate the U.S. effort to develop Georgias Anaklia port complex on the Black Sea. Success would establish a lasting U.S. presence and provide a counterbalance to Sino-Russian influence. An enduring U.S. trade presence and even management of the primary land and sea corridors linking the Caucasus to both Central Asia and Europe could facilitate a far-reaching strategic transformation throughout these regions. Image Credit: PICRYL BACKGROUND: The U.S. is moving quickly to build on President Trumps intervention in the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan and its resolution. A U.S. delegation recently travelled to Armenia to begin the implementation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), which Washington, Baku, and Yerevan agreed to in August. The delegation has just announced an initial investment of US$145 million to begin building this road, thus confirming Washingtons presence in the Caucasus. Beyond this intervention, the administration is strengthening ties with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and may even be planning a trip there. In Georgia, an enduring U.S. presence at Anaklia would have repercussions beyond its possible impact on Georgias domestic politics. Due to Ukraines success in driving the Black Sea Fleet out of the battle theater, Russia is building a strategic naval hub at Ochamchire in Abkhazia, which will clearly be an enduring threat to Georgia. Likewise, Chinas large investments throughout the Black Sea region aim to obtain lasting economic-political influence over the entire littoral. Both these processes will clearly aim to exclude Western influence from Georgia and beyond. A U.S. presence in Anaklia would provide a check on both powers ambitions and preserve an option for all the states of the Caucasus and the Black Sea littoral in general. Even if the Trump Administration has no interest in or incentive to influence Georgian democratization, it does seek to expand U.S. economic presence in both the Caucasus and Central Asia to check China and Russia. Since Central Asias economic-political growth depends on its ability to trade in an unhampered way with the West through secure economic corridors leading to Europe, a U.S. presence in Anaklia, together with TRIPP and an enhanced U.S. position in Central Asia, likewise augments the economic-political independence of Central Asian states. Several years ago, Georgia rejected plans that were already in place for a Western firm to build the port at Anaklia and awarded the contract to the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). Yet despite that decision and the fact that the China Railway Tunnel Group is building a highway that would connect Western Georgia to Russia, and Chinese workers are constructing an East-West highway across Georgia, no port has been built. A report by Civic Idea, an independent Georgian think tank, points out that Chinas interest in this deep-water port coincides with its presence at the port of Poti, which is part of the larger Free Industrial Zone. In both these cases, the report cited strong evidence of Georgian corruption at Chinas expense, leading to delays in construction at Anaklia, even as the Western presence has been excluded. IMPLICATIONS: Therefore, an opportunity exists for a U.S. initiative to recapture the contract for building a port at Anaklia. While this would require a strong negotiating team, it is nevertheless conceivable and desirable not only for the West but for other Central Asian and South Caucasus states. At present, the idea of the Middle Corridor seems to be the most likely vehicle for connecting China, Central Asia, and the Caucasus with Europe. TRIPP provides a major impetus to land-based trade for this intercontinental project. However, a passage through Anaklia not only benefits Georgia by connecting it to the Middle Corridor; it also offers a maritime route for shippers in both Europe and Asia that would increase trade and connectivity. The opportunity of sending bulk cargoes through the Black Sea would permit traders to reach more markets than those accessible exclusively by land-based trade and transport flows. Cargoes requiring maritime transport could originate in China or Central Asia, or in Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Russia (once peace is achieved in the current Russian war against Ukraine), and be shipped at reduced cost to any other member of the corridor. This would stimulate economic exchanges and reduce shipping costs, facilitating mutual cooperation on safeguarding either or both extensions of this corridor, thereby improving regional cooperation and security among the members. Central Asian states, which are all seeking to utilize the Caspian Sea for expanded international trade to Europe, would profit greatly from a reliable, secure maritime passage westward. Uzbekistan, which is doubly landlocked, has called for a global pact guaranteeing transit and the creation of an international logistics forum for landlocked states. It is negotiating with its neighbors to buy ships and operate ferries on the Caspian Sea to buy and sell goods and overcome existing bottlenecks. To the extent that it can move cargoes to and from its neighbors on the Caspian Sea, the opening of a secure and reliable route from the Caspian ports of Azerbaijan to the Black Sea and thence to Europe or to reverse that process would constitute an enormous stimulus to its economy and those of its neighbors. Similarly, a reliably functioning port in Anaklia that is not beholden to Russo-Chinese or Georgian corruption would enhance Georgias economy, along with those of Armenia and Azerbaijan. TRIPP will undoubtedly stimulate Central Asian economic integration with Armenia and Azerbaijan, and a reliable maritime trade route through Anaklia will also similarly redound to Georgias benefit. A secure U.S. position in Anaklia and its accompanying infrastructure also has potentially profound strategic implications. It would prevent both China and Russia from monopolizing Black Sea trade and geopolitics. Even if this port ultimately services large-scale Chinese trade going to Europe or from there to China, a U.S. presence would limit the amount of influence that China can wield in Georgia and beyond its borders. It would contribute to ensuring a stable series of long-term protocols that will benefit Georgia, along with other South Caucasus states and Central Asian traders. The economic benefits of a well-managed port complex would provide positive political incentives for Georgia, while the established presence of U.S. interests would act to deter Russias threat of military action and make it harder for Russia to operate militarily in the Black Sea. Persuading the Trump Administration to make an offer to Georgia that it cannot refuse regarding Anaklia is admittedly a hard sell, especially when the Black Sea is a war zone and Georgian Dream is seeking to neutralize the domestic opposition with Moscows support. Nevertheless, inaction increases the costs to Washington and its allies, especially after putting down a marker in the Caucasus by investing in TRIPP. If Anaklia and the maritime arm of intercontinental trade and connectivity through the Caucasus are dominated by U.S. adversaries, they will use that opportunity to undermine TRIPP and negate its benefits. That outcome will surely undermine the Administrations continuing investment in regional peace and could catalyze a return to warfare. Moreover, inaction also permits China and Russia to throttle the Administrations now rising interest in Central Asia, as expressed in rumors of a presidential visit. It would also dash the hopes of Central Asian states for a more vigorous relationship of mutual benefit with Washington and Europe. CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese and Russian rivalries with the U.S. are global. They are not confined to Taiwan, Ukraine, or even Europe. Moscow and Beijing are contesting U.S. power, influence, and values globally, not least in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Therefore, it is arguably in the interest of Washington and those states that wish to partner with it to enhance their partnerships when opportunities present themselves, even if economic and political risk is involved. A Western initiative linking Washington with interested European and Eurasian states regarding Anaklia is therefore probably less risky than has been imagined. The benefits of offering to develop Anaklia as a major port center managed according to international standards outweigh these risks in the new regional environment, thus meriting serious consideration. AUTHORS BIO: Stephen Blank is a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, www.fpri.org. Azores to monitor hurricane as category 4 Gabrielle roars past Bermuda affecting coasts from North Carolina to Atlantic Canada Riviera Maya, Q.R. The Atlantic islands of Bermuda and Azores are being told to monitor now category 4 Hurricane Gabrielle. The storm gained additional strength Monday afternoon as predicted, now traveling Atlantic waters with a substantial punch. While the hurricane is not forecast to directly impact any of the islands, sea swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. According to the National Hurricane Centre (NOAA), Gabrielle is now a category 4 hurricane. Gabrielle is moving toward the north-northeast near 12 mph (19 km/h), a general motion is expected tonight, followed by a faster northeastward or east- northeastward motion on Tuesday and Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Gabrielle is expected to pass east of Bermuda tonight. NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft and satellite data indicate that the maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph (220 km/h) with higher gusts. Gabrielle is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Little significant change in strength is forecast tonight, followed by a gradual weakening on Tuesday and Wednesday, they reported Monday afternoon. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles (65 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km). The NOAA says swells generated by Gabrielle will continue to affect Bermuda and the east coast of the United States from North Carolina northward, as well as Atlantic Canada. While there are still no coastal watches or warnings in effect, the NOAA says interests in the Azores in the mid-Atlantic off Portugal should monitor the progress of Gabrielle. Tamaulipas target wanted for drug dealing and extortion in Cancun captured Cancun, Q.R. A state target wanted for extorting Cancun businesses has been captured. Gerardo N, who is originally from the state of Tamaulipas, was arrested along with two others, the FGE reported Monday. The State Attorney General (FGE), Raciel Lopez Salazar, said their investigation lead to Gerardo N, alias El Gera, as the leader of a criminal group. He was a priority target of the State Crime Atlas in connection with drug dealing and extortion in the city of Cancun. He was taken into custody last week from Bonampak Avenue. During the arrest of El Gera and his alleged accomplices, Bartolo N and Jerson Eduardo N, police seized marijuana, crystal meth and two vehicles. According to the FGE, Gerardo N demanded payment of 2,000 pesos a week from taco vendors on Yaxchilan Avenue in addition to collecting extortion money from bars in central Cancun. He is also under investigation for extorting residents in an invasion zone. Authorities said he invaded land in the Arco Vial neighborhood, dividing it into lots and selling it. He then charged new residents 15,500 pesos for the installation of basic electrical services and an additional 2,000 pesos a week for security and garbage collection services. The FGE said he is accused of exploiting vulnerable families as well as instigating violence and insecurity through extortion and drug dealing. All three detainees remain in custody. COLOMBO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government has allocated 45 billion rupees (about 150 million U.S. dollars) to complete stalled hospital construction and development projects within the next two years, a minister said on Monday. Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa told a gathering in the Eastern province that 1,900 health support staff will be recruited within the next two months, and close to 1,000 new nurses will also be recruited in the next eight months. Jayatissa said a program to provide motorcycles for health workers engaged in field duties will begin in April 2026. He added that in the 2026 budget, they plan to allocate over 550 billion rupees (1.83 billion dollars) for the health ministry. The long defeat -- Where the Canadian Right went wrong updated to 2025 (Part Three) By Mark Wegierski web posted September 22, 2025 A United Right The merger between the Canadian Alliance (under Stephen Harper) and the federal Progressive Conservatives (under the leadership of Peter MacKay), was formally announced on October 16, 2003, and finalized by December 2003. This move, coming after decades of division and infighting for the politically organized Canadian Right, appeared to be a bright way forward. In March 2004, Stephen Harper was selected leader of the reconstituted Conservative Party. The June 2004 election was perhaps one of the most critical in Canadian history, and was supposed to represent the culmination of the now united political Right in its attempt to at least be a voice heard in the national debate, and on a practical level to assume a leadership role by achieving political power. Nevertheless, Stephen Harper essentially flopped considering that the Liberals were highly vulnerable, especially over the politically sensitive (especially in Quebec) financial scandal known as "The Sponsorship Scandal" or "Adscam". The Liberals managed to win a minority government (a plurality of seats in the House of Commons) in 2004, but were voted down in the federal House of Commons in November 2005. In the ensuing January 2006 federal election, Harper won a minority government. By sticking to centrist policies, Harper continued in power until 2008, when he called an election himself. He won a strengthened mandate, but a majority still eluded him. Finally, the Conservative government was voted down in the House of Commons in 2011. However, Harper was finally able to win a majority in the May 2011 election. Failure in Success The Conservative majority government of 2011-2015 represented one of the comparatively few, post-1896 moments of conservative electoral triumph in Canadian history. However, Harper timidly continued with centrist policies. He could have helped social conservatives considerably, even without touching same-sex marriage and abortion rights for example, by introducing pro-family tax policies. Harper was demonized as "far right" and a "dictator" whereas his policies rarely challenged the "Trudeau Liberal consensus" of Canada or what some have called "the Trudeaupia". He also failed to properly vet appointments to the Senate, with the result that a highly damaging scandal erupted there. It should be well noted that it was a scandal over administrative, not substantial policy issues. There was a wave of anti-Harper books published during his Prime Ministership, and especially as the date of the 2015 election neared. The Cult of the Leader (Version 2.0) In the October 2015 federal election, Justin Trudeau (Pierre Elliott Trudeau's son) won a strong majority. This was a signal to sweep away whatever fragmentary conservative measures Stephen Harper might have been able to introduce in 2011-2015. In the October 2019 election, the Liberals won a strong minority government, despite various scandals. They were propped up by the NDP, which is even further left. Justin Trudeau has made various pronouncements indicative of his progressivism, such as his praise of the Chinese Communist dictatorship, and his proclamation that Canada is a "post-national state" and that there is "no core [Canadian] identity". Indeed, Justin Trudeau has exemplified the "progressive" outlook in Canada. The 2018 federal budget was characterized by a deep social radicalism. Yet at the same time, Justin Trudeau introduced few economically radical measures, and was looking out well for the interests of the one percent, most of whom are in fact liberals. The Liberal Party has usually been the party of the very biggest business in Canada. Justin Trudeau was able to win the federal election of 2021, with a strong minority. Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative Opposition leader was ahead by 20 points in 2024. However, the Liberals smartly removed Justin Trudeau from the leadership, leading to the triumph of former banker Mark Carney, who won a strong minority for the Liberals in the April 28. 2025 federal election. Carney's cause was certainly assisted by Donald Trump's ramblings about Canada becoming "the 51st state". Many Canadians believed that Carney would be better able to handle Trump than Poilievre. There was also the issue of the uncomfortable similarities between some of the rhetoric of Poilievre and Trump. Defining the Hegemony of Progressivism One of the central reasons for the continuing failure of the Canadian Right since the 1960s is the ongoing establishment of vast liberal-leaning media, juridical, academic, educational, bureaucratic, and corporate structures a nexus of interests which certain American and European critics have called "the managerial-therapeutic regime" which could be characterized as socially liberal and economically conservative. There is also the fact that "North American" pop-culture is the primary "lived cultural reality" for most people in Canada, which tends to reinforce socially liberal, consumerist/consumptionist, and antinomian attitudes, especially among the young. Unlike in most other Western countries, where countervailing factors of various kinds exist to the hegemony of the managerial-therapeutic regime, current-day Canada is probably an example of such a managerial-therapeutic system in its "purest" form. Some of these countervailing factors in the United States include such things as the far greater saliency of the military, the far greater presence of organized religion (both in regard to fundamentalist Protestants and traditionalist Catholics), homeschooling as a major social trend, the existence of probably hundreds of more traditional-leaning private colleges, and a large network of right-leaning think-tanks and publications which together are part of what some have called the "Right Nation." At the same time, the United States has a more robust tradition of independent-minded, left-wing, anti-corporate, ecological, or agrarian dissent, such as that typified by Ralph Nader, Christopher Lasch, Rachel Carson, Helen and Scott Nearing, and Wendell Berry. It could be argued that social, political, cultural, and economic life in Canada lacking, in fact, either an authentic Right or Left -- has therefore become the least subject to popular will and democratic input. Indeed, it could be called "post-democratic." The lack of robust democratic participation and input in Canada should be of concern to theorists across the political spectrum. Insofar as the system maintains itself through massive "prior constraint" against a very broad array of ideas, beliefs, and opinions, its pretense to be upholding democracy is questionable. Such a profound lack of equilibrium is radically harmful to a more "ideal-typical" form and exercise of democracy. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home Koonin providing clarity on climate? Posted on 22 September 2025 by Ken Rice This is a re-post from And Then There's Physics It seems that the US Department of Energy has now disbanded the Climate Working Group that drafted the report that I discussed in this post. However, about a week ago, Steven Koonin one of the authors of the report had an article in the Wall Street Journal titled At Long Last, Clarity on Climate. Clarity is a bit of a stretch. Personally, I think it more muddied the waters, than brought clarity. A general point that I didnt really make in my previous post (and that has just been highlighted in a comment) is that it is explicitly focussed on the US. The richest country in the world probably is more resilient than most others and could well decide that its better to deal with the impacts of climate change than committing too much now to avoiding them. I happen to disagree with this as I think it ignores how the US has benefitted from something that will negatively impact others, ignores that countries cant really exist in isolation, and ignores that there are potentially outcomes that even wealthy a country will struggle to deal with. However, I can see how some might conclude this, although it might be good if they were much more explicit. What I thought I would do is try to address some of the claims and conclusions made in Steven Koonins article. Theres an element of truthiness to the article; some claims may be true, but they dont really support the argument being made. For example, he says: While global sea levels have risen about 8 inches since 1900, aggregate U.S. tide-gauge data dont show the long-term acceleration expected from a warming globe. U.S. tide-gauges may indeed not show the expected long-term acceleration, but the rate of global sea level rise is indeed accelerating. Similarly, he says that: Data aggregated over the continental U.S. show no significant long-term trends in most extreme weather events. Claims of more frequent or intense hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and dryness in America arent supported by historical records. Some of the statements (no long-term trends, historical records) may indeed be technically true. However, there are numerous studies that have shown that climate change has affected extreme events in Northern America. You can find many examples in this Carbon Brief article that has mapped how climate change affects extreme weather around the world. He also claims that: Natural climate variability, data limitations and model deficiencies complicate efforts to attribute specific climate changes or extreme events to human CO2 emissions. I suspect these factors do indeed complicate efforts, but so what? It is complicated, but that doesnt mean that studies havent been done that do indeed demonstrate that human CO2 emissions are driving climate change and influencing extreme events. Ill end this bit with a comment about something he says about climate models: Complex climate models provide limited guidance on the climates response to rising carbon-dioxide levels. Overly sensitive models, often using extreme scenarios, have exaggerated future warming projections and consequences. There is a hot model problem, but there are ways to correct for this, and climate models have generally been skillfull. Also, climate models are typically making projections or conditional predictions because the emission pathways are inputs to the models. Hence the result is telling us something about what might happen if we follow that emission pathway. The emission pathways that are considered range from ones where we soon start reducing emissions to ones where it continues increasing. To suggest that climate models have exaggerated future warming projections when the emission pathways are inputs seems a little confused. Im not writing this to try and change the minds of those who think the DOE climate report was excellent and who think that the authors are some of the best scientists in the field. That would be silly and naive. Im partly writing this because its a rainy Saturday afternoon and its a topic I find interesting. However, another reason is that I think its important to think about why people with relevant expertise can write something that seems intellectually weak and sloppy, but present it as if its a careful piece of work thats provided clarity. Would be easy to conclude that its simply them being dishonest, but Im not convinced its quite that simple or convenient. I wouldnt be surprised if the authors believe that they have written a good report and that what theyve presented has provided some clarity. So, how do you have serious discussions about complex topics when people who are regarded as experts in the field cant even decide on some of the scientific fundamentals, or the significant of what the scientific evidence suggests? I certainly dont know the answer, but I do think it is something worth thinking about. Links: At Long Last: Clarity on Climate Steven Koonins WSJ article. The New DOE Climate Report my earlier post on the DOE Climate Report, with a link to the report. Trumps Energy Department disbands group that sowed doubt about climate change NPR article about the DOE CWG being disbanced. Climate Change: Global Sea Level NOAA webpage highlighting that the rate of global sea level rise is accelerating. Mapped: How climate change affects extreme weather around the world Carbon Brief article mapping attribution studies for extreme events. The hot model problem my post about the hot model problem. Evaluating the Performance of Past Climate Model Projections paper by Hausfather et al. Past warming trend constrains future warming in CMIP6 models Tokarska et al. with a method for downweighting models based on how well the agree with past warming trends. CCTV: The recent ramping up of tensions in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict resulted in grave casualties among Palestinian civilians and mass displacement. We noted that one country after another announced recognition of the Palestinian state, including Western countries such as the UK, Canada and Australia. However, the U.S. still sells weapons to Israel while holding talks with Gulf states about an interim governing structure of post-conflict Gaza. Whats your comment? Guo Jiakun: To bring an early end to the conflict and achieve lasting peace are what people in Palestine, Israel, and across the Middle East want. It is also a pressing task for the international community. Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inseparable part of the Palestinian territory. China believes that facing the current situation, a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza must be pursued and the humanitarian catastrophe must be alleviated with utmost sense of urgency. The country with special influence on Israel needs to step up to the responsibility. The principle of Palestinians governing Palestine must be observed and the legitimate national rights of Palestine ensured in the post-conflict governance and reconstruction arrangement. The two-State solution must remain the path forward, which requires more global consensus and zero unilateral action that erodes the foundation of the two-State solution. Force and violence will not deliver peace and security. China stands ready to work with the international community to remain committed to a ceasefire in Gaza, firmly support the Palestinian peoples just cause of regaining their legitimate national rights, and make unremitting efforts toward a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine at an early date. Reuters: Premier Li Qiang is at the UNGA this week. Will he be delivering a speech? Also, will Premier Li be delivering an update to Chinas national climate plan? Guo Jiakun: On details about Premier Li Qiangs schedule for the general debate of the 80th UNGA session and relevant high-level events, we will release information in due course. Please check back for updates. Bloomberg: President Donald Trump said he would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and hailed progress toward finalizing a deal over TikTok. Were wondering if theres any further information beyond whats already in the readout about the call between the two leaders, whether they will meet at APEC, and any further details on the TikTok deal? Guo Jiakun: Heads-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance for the China-U.S. relations. The presidents of China and the U.S. maintain close exchanges and communication. On the specifics you mentioned, the two sides are in communication. I have no information to share at the moment. Chinas position on the TikTok issue is clear: The Chinese government respects the wishes of the company in question, and would be happy to see productive commercial negotiations in keeping with market rules lead to a solution that complies with Chinas laws and regulations and takes into account the interests of both sides. The U.S. side needs to provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese investors. As for the deal you mentioned, after the China-U.S. talks on economic and trade issues in Madrid, competent authorities have shared information on the basic framework consensus on the TikTok issue, which you may refer to. Yonhap News Agency: President of the State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong-un said yesterday in a speech at the Supreme Peoples Assembly that his country will never give up nuclear weapons. He suggested that theres no reason to avoid talks with the U.S. if Washington stopped insisting his country give up nuclear weapons. How does China view the DPRKs stance of never giving up nuclear weapon? Guo Jiakun: China pays attention to the developments on the Korean Peninsula. A peaceful and stable Peninsula and a political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue are in the interest of all parties. We hope relevant parties will face up to the root cause and crux of the issue, stick to the goal of political settlement, and work to deescalate tensions and uphold regional peace and stability. Xinhua News Agency: We noted that Chinas State Council Information Office last week released a white paper titled Chinas Achievements in Womens Well-Rounded Development in the New Era. Can you further brief us on that? Guo Jiakun: Thirty years ago, China successfully hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, organized by the United Nations. Ten years ago, in an effort to commemorate the Fourth World Conference on Women and further implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Chinese government co-hosted the Global Leaders Meeting on Gender Equality and Womens Empowerment with UN Women at the UN headquarters in New York. Five years ago, President Xi Jinping proposed holding another global leaders meeting on women in 2025. To put womens development in the global context, we are five years away from the goals set by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the global advancement of women faces severe challenges and enormous opportunities at the same time. China has been an advocate and a doer in striving for gender equality and womens well-rounded development. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China has achieved booming progress, historical outcomes and all-round advancement in womens development. The path of womens development under socialism with Chinese characteristics is brimming with renewed vitality and unique advantages. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, China will soon host another global leaders meeting on women in Beijing. The just-released white paper aims to fully elaborate on what China has achieved in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, give a systematic overview of Chinas philosophy, principles, and innovative practices in promoting gender equality and womens well-rounded development in the new era, highlight Chinese womens outstanding achievements, and contribute Chinas wisdom and experience to the global endeavors for womens advancement. China stands ready to work with countries around the world to jointly accelerate new progress of womens well-rounded development and write a new chapter in the global advancement of women. Reuters: Last week, the Trump administration raised the application fee for first time H-1B visas to US$100 thousand. I have two questions on this. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on how this policy change will affect Chinese tech industry workers? Second, could the Ministry also share what policies China has introduced in recent years to attract foreign tech talent, and are there any new policies or schemes in the works on this front? Guo Jiakun: On your first question, we have no comment on the U.S.s visa policy. On your second question, in a globalized world, cross-border flow of talents is instrumental in global technological and economic advancement. China welcomes talents from various sectors and fields across the world to come and find their footing in China for the progress of humanity and career success. Bloomberg: A group of senior U.S. House representatives arrived in China on Sunday for talks with the Chinese government. This is the first such official visit in six years. Were wondering if the Foreign Ministry has any comment on this visit? Guo Jiakun: There is a readout on Premier Li Qiangs meeting with the U.S. House delegation led by Representative Adam Smith, which you may refer to. China and the U.S. maintain communication in various areas. China is willing to work with the U.S. based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and in the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit, enhance dialogue and exchanges in various fields and resolve each others concerns through communication. We hope the U.S. will work with China in the same direction and jointly move the bilateral relationship forward along the right track. Reuters: Lin Chia-lung, the official in Taiwan responsible for the islands overseas affairs, recently visited Vienna, a week after Foreign Minister Wang Yis visit to the Austrian capital. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on Lins visit to Vienna? Guo Jiakun: There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. The one-China principle is the political foundation of the establishment and development of diplomatic relations between China and Austria. Its also a basic norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community. We firmly oppose any form of official exchanges between Chinas Taiwan region and countries having diplomatic relations with China. We urge relevant countries to abide by the one-China principle, stop providing a platform to Taiwan independence separatists, and stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces. Taiwan independence and attempts to solicit foreign support for that agenda will not succeed. No matter how the DPP authorities try to grab attention, show up in foreign countries, or try to create two Chinas or one China, one Taiwan, they will not succeed and no such attempts will ever affect the overwhelming international commitment to the one-China principle. Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here. Dear Prudence, My girlfriend has a selfish habit. Most of the time, shes fun, sexy, a great listener, and the center of a party. But when she says she wants to go home (from an event, from my place to hers, etc.), theres barely a 15-minute window before she throws a tantrum. When that window is up, shell yawn constantly and totally check out of the conversation. She becomes short and detached. If were at my place, shell either stand up and leave mid-conversation or intentionally fall asleep while Im talking. If were at an event, shell say, I have to go and Uber home without me. If I or the host pulls her back in socially, shell do an Irish goodbye. Later, Ill get a text saying, Im tired, I went home, with no apology. I need her to understand how selfish this is. She cant just unilaterally decide when were both leaving a party, or opt out of conversations. Relationships take flexibility, and she doesnt have any if shes not getting her way. If she did this at work, shed get fired, so why does she think its OK to do it at home? Her friends make excuses for her, but I hate this. Its not OK. Its Rude and Disrespectful Dear Its Rude and Disrespectful, This isnt the point, but I certainly hope none of us are held to workplace standards in our personal lives. If she did that at work, shed get fired is not your best argument. Most people would also be fired for drinking on the job, but I assume some of that is going on at the parties you attend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyway, I cant be 100 percent sure about whats going on with your girlfriend or whether it may have roots in an official medical condition, but it seems to me that she legitimately gets exhausted, and it comes on suddenly. Also, she knows this about herself and takes responsibility for handling it. Shes not asking the DJ to turn the music down so she can take a nap when youre out or forcing you to put pajamas on and go to bed with her when youre at your place. Shes not dragging you out the door of a party if youre not ready to leave. For the most part, shes really just minding her own business and doing what she needs to do to get the rest she needs. Becoming short and detached is not the equivalent of throwing a tantrum. I do understand that her behavior is abrupt and rude, and that the way she hits a wall so suddenly is a little outside of the norm. But harping on how unacceptable it is isnt the way forward. Dating is, in part, for gathering information that helps you decide whether you want to take things to the next level with your partner. If you find this issue totally unacceptable, thats fine. Its OK if its a deal-breaker and you want to break up. But if you want to work together as a couple rather than harangue her into not behaving like shes exhausted when shes exhausted, there are options. Have more daytime hangouts. Make a plan in advance to go home separately, so it doesnt feel like an attack when it happens. Or pay attention to how many hours she normally lasts before she needs rest, or what time she usually becomes tired, and set an alarm so that you both start to wind things down one or two hours before she crashes. That might feel less abrupt than only having a 15-minute warning. Advertisement Advertisement I do sort of fear that youve already crossed over into having contempt for your girlfriend and how she operates. If you sincerely feel that shes inflexible and unreasonable, take a page from her book and leave a situation thats no longer working for you. Immediately. Have a Fall- or Holiday-Related Question? Submit It Here for a Special Edition! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear Prudence, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to Dear Prudence following up) Submit Dear Prudence, While I was at the wedding of a cousin, my brother-in-law, Randal, got trashed, came up from behind, and groped me. I had a glass of red wine in my hand, and I responded by turning around and throwing it all over him. Now my sister is angry. She says that I overreacted and that her husband didnt know what he was doing. Randal claims he thought that it was her he was feeling up to, which is ludicrousI am nearly a foot taller than my sister, and shes blonde while Im brunette. Randals shirt was an expensive name-brand one, and she actually expects me to pay to replace it! I told her that would never happen. She went crying to our parents, and now they are encouraging me to buy Randal a new shirt, so we can just put all the unpleasantness behind us. How can I get them to understand that Im not the one in the wrong here? Whining Over Wine Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Whining Over Wine, Your parents are not going to understand because they think men get to do whatever they want, and they value superficial harmony over the experience of their own daughter. I hate that for you. But if theyre serious about wanting to put the unpleasantness behind them, they should go ahead and buy Randal his shirt. You should suggest that to them. Prudie Wants to Hear From You! Readers often have great suggestions for our letter writers, occasionally disagree with a point Prudie makes, or simply want to provide some additional advice. Each week, Prudie will be replying to some of these comments and suggestions from readers, which will be featured on the site on Fridays for Slate Plus members. Write to us! Advertisement Dear Prudence, I moved to a new city with my boyfriend about six months ago. We love it here. The problem is I didnt share this news with all my friends at the same time. For personal reasons I cant yet understand, I have a history of sharing news at a delayed pace. Ill tell my family about an upcoming solo trip the week before Im off to leave. I wont share that Im in a new relationship with casual friends until its been going on for a while. I wont tell anyone about a new date until the day of, etc. Not good. This secrecy is a bad and hurtful habit Ive been working on correcting it. Advertisement Advertisement Ive shared my move in real-time with almost all of my friends, but Ive only just now told three old friends from my teens (long-distance friends these days). I was vague in my language when telling them, so they now believe Ive just moved in. I havent corrected that assumption yet. They want to visit, and Id love to see them, but I dont know how to navigate this situation when Ive misled them. I love these friends, and I feel close to them in many ways, even though we speak less frequently than we did when we all grew up in the same town. Ive always been nervous about sharing relationship decisions with them because they are somewhat judgmental of other mutual friends major life decisions. Nonetheless, Ive clearly let this one spiral out of control. Ive behaved hurtfully, and I dont want to cause any further hurt. Advertisement What should I do in this situation? Tell them friends everything? Figure out something to smooth out the lie? Something totally different? I want to take responsibility for my actions, but I am scared of the (deserved) blowback of coming clean. Moving in Silence Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Moving in Silence, The good news is, this isnt a secret that harms anyone. So go easy on yourself. You shared information about a move in a slow drip; you didnt steal your best friends husband! When it comes to living with behaviors that you recognize as maybe not ideal and feel some shame about, the secretwhich I think a lot of people learn as they get a little bit olderis just to own the way you are. Remember that everyone has their issues, and the more honest you are about yours, the more you make other people feel comfortable with theirs. You can tell your friends, Id love for you to visit, and FYI, I know Ive kind of let you guys believe that I just moved in, but the truth is Ive been here for six months. I honestly dont know why Im like this, but I always hold off on sharing big news about my life. Im working on it. For now, I just wanted to come clean! Advertisement Classic Prudie My younger brother Matt has been dating Anya for about two years. They recently got engaged. I was in town about a week ago, and Matt and Anya shared a secret with methey arent into each other romantically at all. They both have had really bad luck with dating. They both really want to have kids and theyre getting older and finding it harder to see that as a possibility if they wait (Matt is 34, Anya is a bit younger but still in her 30s). Their plan is to get married, have kids, and live a normal life despite not loving each other in that way. Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here. Dear Care and Feeding, I am hoping you can help me with some ideas to help my 1-year-old daughter bond with my husbands family, especially my mother-in-law. It was my daughters first birthday party today, and she wouldnt allow herself to be held by any of my husbands family members, only my mom. For the past year, my mother-in-law has come to look after my daughter one morning a week when I leave the house to do a few hours of casual work. My daughter screams and screams when I leave. Apparently, some days she cries the whole time Im away, but other times she calms down relatively quickly. My husband tries to work from home these days to ease her separation anxiety. Last weekend, my husband and I went on a date night and left my daughter with my in-laws, where she screamed for three hours and wouldnt calm down. Once we came back, she was fine and clung to me. My daughter is biracial, as my family is white and my husbands family is Japanese. As I spend the most time with my daughter and dont speak much JapaneseI try and use words when I canI think its really important my daughter has a warm and positive relationship with my in-laws, just not because theyre lovely and family, but to also learn and speak Japanese and have a deeper connection to her Japanese culture. I had a lightbulb moment this week, that really the only time she sees my husbands family is when I leave her, so Im thinking of removing the morning my daughter spends with my mother-in-law and replacing this with a family dinner or time on the weekend where it is my husband, me, baby, and my in-laws. I think Ive inadvertently created a dynamic where my daughter sees my in-laws and thinks Im going to leave, so Im keen to break that association. On the other hand, I spend more time with my daughter just hanging out with my mom and dad, so Im thinking she is more comfortable and secure around them for this reason. My husband is less motivated to organise chill dinners with his family, and I think this is impacting the relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I get nervous before my in-laws come over because I know my baby will cry with them, and I feel bad for my husbands family, who are lovely people and whom I am very fond of. I speak positively about them to my daughter, and when together, we sit and play with them all together, to show my daughter that they are safe people. Any ideas to try and encourage bonding or fostering closer ties? Its getting a bit awkward, and I feel bad for my MIL. Apologetic Daughter-in-Law Dear Apologetic Daughter-in-Law, I absolutely love your idea for family time! Especially with your daughter being so young, its very possible that she does associate your in-laws with being away from her mommy. Spending dedicated time with them while you are also there is a great way to ease that feeling. Another thing that can help? Creating fun experiences specifically with your in-laws. It seems like your daughter is great at making associations. So lets flip it! Create special experiences she only does with them, so she can look forward to being with her grandparents. This could be something cultural, if it makes sense, but it doesnt have to be. It can be tied to language, food, or tradition. Or, it could just be as simple as: This grandma always gives this age-appropriate treat that my mom and other grandma dont. Advertisement Advertisement Ask your husband if there are any special memories he has from growing up that he can share. Is there a special food that your mother-in-law made for your husband that he can introduce to her as one of Daddys favorite things when he was little? Is there a Japanese word or term that she can say just with her grandparents? Then, you can say, Grandmas coming over and shes going to bring this special thing you love! Advertisement Youre on the right track, and I think your in-laws will both notice and appreciate the effort you are putting into helping them bond with your daughter. But also, remember that its totally normal for 1-year-olds to be a bit picky about who will hold them. I once went to pick up a niece, who stays with me a lot, from daycare. When I got there, she looked at me like shed never seen me before in her life! I had to bribe her with the promise of a Happy Meal and watching Gracies Corner on her iPad for her to leave with me peacefully. Toddlers are hilarious. But whatever works! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have a Fall- or Holiday-Related Question? Submit It Here for a Special Edition! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear Prudence, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to Dear Prudence following up) Submit Dear Care and Feeding, I did something really stupid. I had sex with my on-and-off again boyfriend, and I am now pregnant. I just graduated from university and have a one-year contract in another country. I dont know what to do. I know I have to tell my parents, but Im worried about their reaction. The father wants to move in and raise the kid together, but I dont think I want that. He is also currently in the country where Im working. I dont want to give up my job and be a stay-at-home mom. But there is absolutely no child care where I currently live, and there is barely any health care. I feel like I should just go home, but I dont know if my parents will let me. Im not interested in an abortion or adoption, not that I could get one where I live. I dont know where to start with figuring all of this out. Lost in the Wild Advertisement Dear Lost in the Wild, Breathe! Although I didnt have your exact same circumstance, I had one that was extremely similar. I had my son at 21 while in graduate school, and my family didnt have the best reaction. On top of that, my sons father wasnt very trustworthy and proved to be unreliable. Then, aggravating things further, my son was around three months old when he began having seizuresstarting a long line of hospital stays and appointments. Advertisement Advertisement My advice to you is this: Find your tribe. My son is now 18, and through this journey of parenthoodeven with a child with needspeople have circled me, helped me, and supported me. You should tell your family, but regardless of their response, know that what you do is your decision and yours alone. If it feels like you can better take care of yourself and your child at home, then do that. If your parents wont let you move back in, but you still would prefer to return early from your contract, start looking for alternate jobs, friends you might stay with, and places to live. Whos to say you cant return to the country youre currently working in later, when your circumstances are different? Dont give up on what you want because you are now bringing a life into this world. Im sure youll only be even more motivated to do amazing work in the future. Advertisement Just remember that hard things are not impossible. I earned two masters degrees while being a mom. Im now finishing my PhD, and I know that I could do it all again if I had to. Youve got this, too! Advertisement Advertisement Send Your Questions to Good Job! Laura Helmuth and Doree Shafrir want to help you navigate your social dynamics at work. Does your colleague constantly bug you after hours? Has an ill-advised work romance gone awry? Ask us your question here! Dear Care and Feeding, My husband and I have a 2-year-old son, Jacob, who is currently going through the MINE! phase. The trouble is that when we are out with him and he wants something, he will inevitably grab it, declare MINE!, and if my husband is the only one with him, he will simply let him take it (we have amassed quite a collection of items from store displays) or buy it for him if its a toy or candy. He says its easier than dealing with Jacob throwing a tantrum. I think this is prolonging our misery because it teaches Jacob that bad behavior will be rewarded. How can I get my husband on the same page with me? Craving Consistency Advertisement Advertisement Dear Craving Consistency, I totally understand your pain. I agree with you that having no boundaries at all in stores will just make it harder for both of you, and especially for Jacob when hes around others. Just think about kids who dont know how to share because they arent really ever told no, and the ways they often struggle in social situations at school and on the playground. In your discussion with your husband, explain to him that youre thinking about the future. If Jacob isnt in daycare or any kind of school environment just yet, some age-appropriate lessons about ownership could help prepare him. Explain exactly what words you use with Jacob when he starts laying claim to the entire store when youre on your ownand see how you both can say similar things in these situations. With a clear example of how to handle the situation, your husband might be a little less tempted by the easy option. Advertisement Although your husband is worried about tantrums and might not know how to handle themlots of parents are even embarrassed by themremind him that outbursts from small kids arent the worst thing in the world. Two-year-olds are still small humans who are still figuring out a lot of things in their lives. I mean, they just got here! And most reasonable adults will be forgiving when they see a dad trying his best to keep things under control. Arionne More Advice From Slate We have a very smart, creative 13-year-old daughter. She is on the honor roll and participates in dance, marching and concert band, and other extracurricular activities. I recently read the texts between her and her first boyfriendsomething she knows I doand was surprised. Read all of Slates stories about the 25 Greatest Picture Books of the Past 25 Years. Sophie Blackall is into history: the stories you find in it, the visuals you get from it, the emotions it makes you feel. Farmhouse, which appears on Slates list of the 25 best picture books of the past 25 years, incorporates items Blackall found in an abandoned house on a property she purchased in upstate New York. Blackall ambitiously imagines the structures previous life as a family home, then chronicles natures reclamation process after the very last child has left and the house is inhabited by squirrels and a hibernating bear. In a last-act twist, Blackall reveals that this is a real house, discovered by the very woman who wrote this book you hold in your hands. Farmhouse ends with a final cutaway spread of the whole house, as it was when the family lived in it, decades ago. I talked to Blackall about that final, beautiful page, why she ended the book that way, and how children respond to it. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Rebecca Onion: Why do you like to use a cutaway, maybe especially at the end of this book? Sophie Blackall: As I walked through the actual physical falling-down house, I realized that there was all of this evidence of the passing of time. And as I went from room to room, I started to build this sense of who this family was and the fact that there had been 12 children. And as I was literally looking at their belongings, their schoolbooks, and so on, like a detective, I was piecing together the history of this family and their lives. And, at the same time, the peeling wallpaper was this evidence of generations. There were lives before that. Sometimes I think quite cinematically about a book and the experience of reading a book. And in an age where children are bombarded with digital technology constantly, for a physical book to compete for their attention, it has to be a compelling and beautiful and engaging physical object that invites them to step into it, almost, and to immerse themselves in it, and to turn the page. Everything I do is geared towards getting a child to turn the page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So the idea came about, as I was walking through this house, that the pictures would build to this cutaway of the entire house, and that we would see, piece by piece by piece, these fragments of a life, built out of the actual physical fragments of what was left behind in the housethe fabric, the wallpaper, the schoolbooks, the newspapersand that these pages would bleed into each other, that one story ran into the next, the way our lives do. And so from one page, you will see the edge of the next room, and its this invitation to turn the page, to step into the adjacent room. Its all overlapping. Time overlaps, and the great web of our connections overlap, and our stories overlap. By the end, the youngest sibling, who is now quite old, is leaving the house. Weve gone in this little circle from room to room. And then the big cutaway at the end is where we step back and we see whats gone before. Advertisement Yes! Its just like at the end of a movie, where you see a montage that flashes back to things that have happened in the movie. When you turn the page and get to this whole-house cutaway, you see little scenes in each room that recapitulate what happened earlier in the book. Looking at it, you remember how funny the clowning little kids at the kids table were, the cat they painted green, the apples in the bushel in the kitchen, which recall the beautiful spread of the kids in the big apple tree. Then theres this bonus, a new imagethe attic full of objects. We havent seen that earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Thats right, and the parents bedroom you also dont see previously. I put two portraits hanging on the wall in the parents room, and those were the actual parents of the family, the Swantaks. The youngest son of the youngest son is still alive. Hes in his 80s and he still lives in the valley, and he shared some family photos with me. Were the objects in the attic things that you found in the house? Advertisement Advertisement Some of them are, and some of them were things we found in the barn. We live in a farmhouse from 1790 thats 15 minutes away from this one, and there were things that came in that attic that I put in hereso its an amalgam of attics. Another new thing in this last spread is the teenage brothers narrow little room, the only single room any of the kids have. Advertisement Oh, yes, just at the top of the stairs. I did take some liberties, because I had to sort of figure out who would have slept in which bedroom with whom. But I was talking to another older farmer around here, who grew up in a big family, and he said when he went away to join the Army, it was the first time he had a pillow to himself. He shared a bed, as a teenager, with three of his sisters. Related From Slate The Instant-Classic Picture Book That Forced Even the Most Serious Adults to Get Silly Read More Thats the kind of thing where, if you were to put it in a book like this, the kids would have so many questions. This cutaway appears on the physical cover of the book too, under the dust jacket. That was really a fun eleventh-hour idea. I love seeing kids pick up the book and run their hands over the embossed windows on the jacket. We did everything we could to try and make it feel like these are windows. Theyre shiny, and you can feel them with your fingers. And then if you take the jacket off, you see the rest of the house. Seeing kids do that thing, of hugging a book to their chest, with this one, its very satisfying. Advertisement Advertisement Somebody sent me a message, some stranger on Instagram, saying their 2-year-old said, I want to go in that house, Mama. And I thought, Oh, thats it. Thats what its all about. Open that book. Let me into that book. Let me into that story. Let me into that house. Advertisement I read Farmhouse with my 9-year-old niece. And she kind of had this intake of breath when we turned the pages and saw the parts where the house was abandoned, and she was like, They just left their house? She thought it was very sad. Then, when we closed the book, she looked at me and said: That was a GREAT book. Advertisement Advertisement Yeah, I have done a lot of school visits with this book. When I get to the end, the kids are all kind of misty-eyed, and they say, Is the house still there? And I say, No, its quite sad that it fell down, but I have this book, and this story, and thats what this is about: Its about saving stories, out of things that are gone. And then I take a breath and I say, Do you want to see the bulldozer come and crunch it up and shove it into the ground? I have a video. And of course they want to, because what is more thrilling? They go immediately from Oh, this is so sad to Show me the bulldozer smashing this house to bits! Because theyre kids; thats how they are. Those two things can coexist, which is why children are so brilliant. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. We are well into week two of a sprawling and largely trivial national debate over free speech, incitement, culture, and the media. This conversation has been cynically deployed by opponents of free speech to punish workers, fire academics, and cancel speakers, and its been done while maintaining that this is the way to best protect freedom, democracy, and free expression. Clearly, either the First Amendment has swallowed itself, or the country has turned it upside down. The truth is that both are happening. On this weeks Amicus podcast, Dahlia Lithwick spoke with Mary Anne Franks, who teaches civil rights law at the George Washington University Law School. She is president and legislative and tech policy director of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating online abuse and discrimination. Her most recent book is Fearless Speech: Breaking Free from the First Amendment. This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Dahlia Lithwick: What are your topline thoughts about Charlie Kirk as the new patron saint of free speech in America, but also Charlie Kirk whose assassination is the reason to criminalize free speech in America? Mary Anne Franks: If there is something instructive about this moment, if there is something good that can come of this moment, it is stripping away all the rhetorical illusions, and the national inertia weve had, because weve just assumed for so long that we are all just defenders of free speech. This moment is making it very clear what weve gotten wrong about that, and how really serious and deadly a time this is right now. Tell me if Im wrong, but that contradiction is absolutely compounded by another issue, which is the consolidation of control of the big organs of media that is playing out right now: Trump claiming he has a deal with the Chinese government to sell Tik Tok to U.S. companies, and theres the potential Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Skydance megamerger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets put aside for a moment that this consolidation is happening to the advantage of Trump allies and loyalists. These are decisions being made by private actors, I guess, but it doesnt have anything to do with the marketplace of ideas as the Framers wouldve considered it. This just has to do with optimizing shareholder benefits and trying to get out from under threats from the administration. This consolidation piece is happening at the same time as the jawboning piece. When theyre put together, whole platforms are simply taken over and are in service to this regime. Its happening quickly, and I dont think we clock it, and Im not sure the law can keep up with it? Even if the First Amendment means that maybe at some point there will be some litigation that will be brought ultimately to vindicate some of these intereststhat doesnt keep us in a free speechpositive place. It just means that the government will push and push, and hopefully somebody will be able to push back eventually and get vindicated. But by that time, you have chilled and suppressed your population, and we will have all learned to be quiet. Thats whats been going on for several years now. The First Amendment doesnt intervene in a protective way, the way that we would need it to. And, it does the opposite for us of what we have always told ourselves. The conventional wisdom about the First Amendment is that it not only created a restraint upon government, but it also encouraged all of us to have an open-minded view towards other peoples speech. Advertisement Advertisement That famous quotation that is always misattributed to Voltaire, I despise what you say, but Ill defend to the death your right to say it. Do we think that that describes Americans? Does it describe the people next door, or is it in fact the opposite? Is it in fact the case that if I hate what you say, I will do everything in my power to shut you down? And I will call you a censor for expressing your views if I dont like them? That is a real problem, and its part of the mismatch between the First Amendment and how its supposed to operate, and the real binding power we would need in a free speechprotective system. Thats a system we just dont have. Lets pause for a moment to talk about the phrase marketplace of ideas. Its just assumed to be a good way to express what we mean by free speech and the exchange of ideas. Advertisement Advertisement Marketplace of ideas is a very interesting commercialized view of what speech actually looks like. And now were seeing it literally put into place. When you think about what marketplaces look like, theyre all about manipulation and theyre all about the consolidation of power. If you let a market go naturally, when the environment in which that market has developed is not equal and people dont have equal access or equal power or privileges, what you get is a reflection of more power having more power, and thats all youre ever going to get, unless some interventions are made. If we ever had the view that freedom of speech was supposed to correct for that, and that we needed to make sure minority voices were heard so they wouldnt just get trampled by the elites all the timewhere is that force now? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to all that, the administration right now is also a tech company. Heres what I mean by that. We heard all of these concerns from the Republicans saying the Biden administration talked to social media companies, and there was collusion between Big Tech and all of these liberals, accusations that theyd all gone woke. Now you have a president who is the owner of a social media platform. Trump has an actual financial stake in Truth Social and uses it as his own private propaganda channel. Were not talking about what that does to freedom of speech and what that does to the marketplace. You have Elon Musk being made a special government employee, and that means putting him directly into the government. What does that mean for X becoming a propaganda channel for the president? We have the tech takeover of the government at the same time as all the other forms of consolidation that youre talking about, and that should be terrifying to people. Advertisement Advertisement Thus far weve been talking about the Trump administration, but I want to talk for a minute about we. Many of us have taken this very lofty moral position that, while Charlie Kirk might have been a vocal purveyor of hatred and disdain for women of color, racial equality, trans rights, Paul Pelosi, gun regulation, all of those views were somehow powerwashed into being a virtue because he was willing to go to campuses and perform himself debating with college students. Advertisement These Change My Mind debates on campuses were filmed, cut, and turned into content for Turning Point USA, and they become symbolic of this notion that there is no higher avatar of First Amendment values than Charlie Kirk. Thats a we proposition. Im seeing that everywhere. It seems there is a baked-in sense that those debates were an end in themselves, that kind of debating is an end in itself, for equality and liberty and dignity as we think about it as a constitutional value. As somebody who has been watching the First Amendment as carefully as you, what do you think of this sense that at the end of the day, what Kirk didand paid for horrifically with his lifewas embody the proposition that all ideas should be aired in the marketplace of ideas, and that if everybody just debated everyone openly, the world would be a better place. Advertisement Related From Slate How a Beloved Website Became MAGAs Latest Villain After Charlie Kirks Death Read More What did that brand of so-called freedom of speech, or civil discourse, as some people are calling it, actually entail? Is it in fact the kind of thing that we should be committed to, regardless of what happened to one of its proponents? I would say no, not if we actually care about freedom of speech, because that was the opposite. It was someone whoI think its important to notewas not part of a university community, this is not someone who was a student, this is not someone who was a professor, this is not someone who is an expert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is someone who was able to work their way into universities as a kind of, for lack of a better word, trollto say: I disagree with this whole proposition of the university. Im an outsider and I want to go and aggravate people, get them stirred up, and I want to film it and I want to make money off it. Thats what this was. It wasnt someone who was trying to model, within a university community, how we could have healthy conversations. This was someone who had a business plan. Whos to say whether thats a good or bad business plan, but as a model for free speech, it is not. Advertisement When we think about what that really meant, what Turning Point actually did was it made a list of people, a watch list of people, called the Professor Watchlist, that lists professors who are not suitably ideologically aligned with Charlie Kirk and his organization. And those people have experienced extraordinary harassment, death threats, etc., and its a deliberate attempt to chill free speech. Thats what Turning Point stood for, was to chill free speech that they did not like, and then to try to take the accolades of saying, But Im making this a debate, just come and debate me. But when you are at the same time jeopardizing peoples livelihoods and their physical safety, and then you show up and say, Just debate me, lets not pretend that this was some kind of civil commitment to open discourse. This was someone who was trying to use the kind of formalistic mechanics of debate to make it seem like they cared about free speech while at the same time ensuring that people were literally reporting teachers for not being right-wing enough or not expressing the views in the classroom they thought were appropriate for students. Advertisement Advertisement There is this really concerning pattern here that we just dont see. We have been so tricked into believing that there is this kind of justice to, Well, the left has gone too far, and were hearing it again from liberals that say, Its certainly true that the culture of intolerance is something that universities have really cultivated, as if that were possibly true. As if universities were setting the tone for our country at any time. As if it werent much more powerful things like, as Charlie Kirk would say about the Second Amendment, this firm belief that you have to accept some dead kids if you believe in this constitutional right. But somehow we dont see that as a much more powerful motivation for how America has become so violent and so extreme. And I think the far right is feeling weak. Members of the Trump administration are saying: We are so scared of even so much as the suggestion that the far right isnt right about everything right now that we are going to shut it all down. Were going to threaten them with violence. Were going to strip them of their funding, were going to surveil them, because were so scared of what they might say. That is why theyre trying to insist theres some kind of violence they have to preempt, because they cant admit that what theyre really saying over and over again is that theyre scared. They are so scared of being contradicted, so scared of being criticized, that they have to respond with this kind of repression. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. For nearly two years, Gaza has been the deadliest place in the world for journalists. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, hundreds of reporters and media workers have been killed since October 2023, an unprecedented toll in modern conflict. Those who survive continue documenting the devastation while living it themselves, often with the knowledge that rather than being a safeguard, wearing a press vest makes them a target. Among them is Plestia Alaqad, one of the most widely influential reporters to emerge from Gaza during the war. Just 21 years old and freshly graduated from university on Oct. 7, 2023, Alaqad began broadcasting dispatches that reached millions on social media, offering the world a rare window into daily life under bombardment as the strip remained closed to foreign journalists. Her upcoming book, The Eyes of Gaza: A Diary of Resilience, out Sept. 30, transforms her private diaries into something more permanent. What begins as raw, poetic notes on survival evolves into a haunting chronicle of a peoples collective experience under unrelenting siege. Alaqad writes with an intimacy that pulls readers close: photographing children in U.N. Relief and Works Agency shelters as she tries to make them laugh; hearing voices cry for help from beneath the rubble and knowing there is nothing she can do; choosing to leave her mother behind to reduce the risk to her as journalists are targeted. And amid that devastation, she lingers on the smallest reprieves, like finding a pack of cookies; COOKIES! she writes, with childlike joy. Its a fleeting detail, but moments like this, scattered among scenes of horror and grief, are deeply refreshing, reminders that Palestinians are not the unfeeling monsters theyre too often painted to be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this conversation, I asked Alaqad why she chose to publish something so intimate, how she balances the brutality she witnessed with the humanity she insists on sharing with the world, and what it means to tell her story as both a journalist and a Palestinian. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Aymann Ismail: Youve been one of the most influential reporters on the ground in Gaza, and now youve written a book. How did that come together? Plestia Alaqad: I always knew I wanted to write a book, but I never thought it would be about genocide. Ive been keeping diaries since I was in grade six. My first was a purple notebook my mom gave me. I used to write about random things: my feelings, what happened in my day, my favorite teacher, my favorite band. During the genocide, I found myself doing the same thing and writing in my diaries. I never imagined theyd become a book. A diary is personal, not something you publish. But after almost two years of this war, I realized what I was writing wasnt just my story. Its the story of millions of people. Thats when I thought, OK, I need to publish this. Advertisement Advertisement Theres often doubt cast on whether Palestinians, and Palestinian journalists in particular, are seen as credible truth tellers or reliable eyewitnesses. Can you talk about the differences in writing something as a journalist versus writing something like this that feels like reading a diary? Did that perception play a role here? Growing up, as a Palestinian, I felt like we didnt get to narrate our own stories. It was always other people telling them. And as you said, if youre Palestinian narrating your own story, youre not considered credible. But if someone foreign tells it, then suddenly its trustworthy. Now, I see so much online that isnt true. Even the language. Calling this genocide a conflict. That made me think, Whats happening now is history. Who will write it? Who will narrate our stories? I dont want to open a schoolbook 30 years from now and find something about Gaza written not by us. The story should be told by those who lived it. Advertisement Advertisement Your book begins in October 2023, and you write about people you meet in the worst circumstances, like Motaz, Yara, Dana. Its a diary, but it doesnt read like youre only telling your own story. As a reader, what struck me was how you balance brutality and humanity. On one page youre describing violence unlike anything else Ive ever read, and on another youre writing lines like, Friendships in Palestine have classifications of their own Was it difficult to write about things that are so deeply human and personal, while also carrying the responsibility of documenting whats happening around you? Advertisement Advertisement Nothing about genocide is about the individual. Even if I write about myself, its not just my story. Thousands of people are living the same story, or worse. So when friends or even strangers tell me their stories, I feel like I owe it to them to write it down, too. Friendship, daily life, everything in Gaza feels different because it is shaped by the genocide. Its always hard to write, but it also feels like a duty. Advertisement Toward the end of the book, when youre at your most emotional, youre confronted with the opportunity to leave Gaza. That moment feels like a climax in the narrative. Was there anything you left off the page? The hardest part wasnt what I left off. It was knowing people would read it. When I wrote, I wasnt writing to publish. It was personal. Editing meant realizing my thoughts and emotions would no longer be mine. That was the most difficult part. And yet you include poetry, like when you write about the tragic loss of a friend youve known since the fourth grade, whose family sheltered you when you had no place else to go. Especially if you werent intending this to ever be read, what does it feel like now to know that someone like me, someone youve never met, who lives in America, is reading your story? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It feels wrong to say Im glad, but part of me is glad people know our names and our stories. But at the same time, its the bare minimum. I hate that we live in a world where this book has to exist at all. Its not fiction, where youre happy it sold out or that people are reading it. Its based on reality. So its conflicted emotions, to be honest. Do you see it as a journalistic work? No. I think of it as a personal project. Even if I werent a journalist, I would have written it. Its not about journalism. Its about being a Palestinian living through genocide. As journalists, we say were writing the first draft of history. Thats how I think of your book. Which is why Id argue it is journalism. [Laughs] Maybe. But for me, its still personal. I have a Palestinian friend who told me Palestinians dont really have the choice between being activists and being journalists, that just by being Palestinian youre forced into both. What do you think of that? Advertisement Activism and journalism are two different things. But in genocide, everyone has the right to narrate their story. Nearly 300 journalists have been killed. [Ed. note: The exact count varies by organization, but theres consensus among human rights groups that the dead number in the hundreds.] Its the deadliest time for the press. So we cant just say only journalists are allowed to talk. Everyone has the right to speak, post, express their story. Advertisement Advertisement Ive been talking to other journalists from Gaza, like Mohammed Mhawish, who told me that journalists stopped wearing press vests because they felt like targets. That even trying to tell the truth felt hopeless, because their work wasnt reaching people. Do you feel that? Advertisement Yes. I wrote about that in November 2023, after Israel killed Belal Jadallah. Wearing press was supposed to protect us, but in Gaza it makes you a threat. Being a journalist is supposed to be noble, but in Gaza it feels like a crime. At the beginning, people saw me in press gear and thanked me, offered me food, told me I was amplifying their voices. But now, almost two years later, people know journalists are targets. That changes everything. Advertisement Theres a page I highlighted. On Day 28, Friday, Nov. 3, you wrote: I dont have the energy to write every day. Im posting less on social media because my mental health cant tolerate this anymore. My heart aches. Its been 28 days of literal hell. What is it like to revisit moments like this one for the book? Believe it or not, I never read it after it was printed. Only the manuscript. Holding the book in my hands felt too triggering. Maybe one day, in a different reality where I no longer relate to it, Ill read it again. Advertisement You also write in the afterword about leaving Gaza and going to Lebanon, only to find the war following you there. Why did you want to end the book that way? Because it shows how little control we have. As a Palestinian, it feels like Israel controls your life. When I left Gaza, I was so excited. I had the Shireen Abu Akleh Memorial Scholarship. I was starting my masters. I wanted to send a message: Israel is bombing universities, but were still learning. But then war followed me to Lebanon. It felt like I couldnt escape. Thats why I made it the core of the afterword: to show that violence follows us everywhere. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. In 2007, Chief Justice John Roberts famously declared: The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race. With those words, the courts conservative majority announced a colorblind Constitutionone that rendered race-conscious remedies presumptively unconstitutional. That vision culminated recently in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, in which the court effectively ended affirmative action in higher education by invoking the logic of colorblindness. The courts conservative majority decided that the 14th Amendments equal protection clause, which tolerates no government distinctions on the basis of race, demanded the result. Against this backdrop, last weeks decision in Noem v. Perdomo strikes a jarring note, with the Supreme Court seemingly singing a very different tune. In a 63 ruling on the shadow docket, the same exact justices who decided Students for Fair Admissions just two years ago lifted an injunction that had barred federal immigration officials in Southern California from considering racealongside language, location, and job typein justifying detentive stops. Justice Brett Kavanaughs concurrence pointed to the 1975 case United States v. Brignoni-Ponce, which held that Mexican appearance could be a relevant factor in forming reasonable suspicion for an immigration stop. But the logic of Brignoni-Ponce, which provides constitutional blessing for racial profiling, is indefensible, particularly under Students for Fair Admissions. Allowing a persons ancestry or appearance to serve as a proxy for unlawful status is precisely the kind of reductionist and sweeping generalization that is anathema to equal justice under the law and the ideals we purport to aspire to. Indeed, the decision conspicuously ignored the equal protection clause as a check on government action. Issued more than half a century ago, in an era still shadowed by the courts tolerance of segregationist reasoning, Brignoni-Ponce has aged poorlyand caused immeasurable harm. One of us is a former immigration judge who, after seeing firsthand the dangers of granting law enforcement shortcuts that compromise constitutional protections, held that Immigration and Customs Enforcements warrantless arrests in Los Angeles violated fundamental constitutional standards. That ruling was later affirmed by the 9th Circuit in Perez Cruz v. Barr, which made clear that immigration enforcement must be tethered to the Constitution, not expediency. As professors of law, we teach our students that one of the most fundamental principles is that every stop and arrest must meet constitutional requirements. Our students understand that this principle is supposed to apply with equal force to cases like Noem, in which reliance on race as a stand-in for suspicion undermines those same bedrock rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the roving patrols recently blessed by this Supreme Court, people are treated not as individuals with constitutional rights but rather as suspects defined by race or accent. Stops predicated on profiling carry a presumption of guilt based on certain immutable traits and turn the system on its head, requiring those detained to somehow prove their innocence. Without the right paperwork on hand or the proper answers to satisfy an officer in that moment, (predominantly nonwhite) individuals risk being roughed up, arrested, and effectively disappeared into detention for days before they have any chance of securing release. Related From Slate Trumps Justice Department Finally Told a Lie So Brazen It Had to Take It Back Read More Los Angeles is the epicenter of these operations, and the Noem decision will leave scars on our community for years. We watched in disbelief as Angelenos were stopped on their way to work, church, or school because of their perceived ancestry. We wondered how many of our students came from mixed-status families and worried that their loved ones wouldnt be waiting when they came home from class. But the specter of this decision will cast a shadow far beyond L.A. as the federal government continues its enforcement operations, necessitating the important work of organizations such as Acacia Center for Justice, which educates the community and prepares attorneys to represent those who will be subject to increased threat of detention and who will need habeas petitions in federal court. But no amount of training can sanitize, justify, or excuse the sudden and wholesale abandonment of basic principles of constitutional colorblindness. Advertisement Justice Sonia Sotomayors dissent in Noem reminds us that even within Brignoni-Ponce, there are still paths to limiting race-based enforcement. But even if Brignoni-Ponceas binding precedentcompelled the result in Noem, elevation of racial appearance as a law enforcement tool cannot stand. For decades now, the courts conservatives have insisted that our Constitution demands colorblindness. As Justice Antonin Scalia once put it, In the eyes of government, we are just one race here. It is American. Consequently, in the unequivocal words of Justice Clarence Thomas, The government may not make distinctions on the basis of race. Yet when it comes to the rights of immigrants and communities of color targeted for exclusion, the court has just said it is perfectly acceptable to make law enforcement decisions on the basis of race. The Supreme Court has not hesitated to overrule precedents from the same era as Brignoni-Ponce when they no longer serve the constitutional principles it espouses. The time has come to overrule Brignoni-Ponce and its progeny. Real colorblindnessconsistent, principled, and faithful to equal protectionrequires rejecting racial profiling in all contexts, including immigration enforcement. The dignity of millions of people who live and work in our communities depends on it. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. As my colleague Alex Kirshner predicted just after Election Day, Donald Trumps return to the presidency has not actually been so flush for his tech outlet of choice, Truth Social. The stock value of parent company Trump Media & Technology Group is way down, his deranged announcements havent boosted overall usership, and the business still hasnt come close to a profit. (This sore spot for Trump even comes up in his $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times, whose reporting, he alleges, directly caused Trump Medias stock to plummet.) As such, Trump Media has expanded its offerings in the hopes of attracting more customers, including a new artificial intelligence search tool, in partnership with Perplexity, that frequently contradicts many of Trumps own statements. But the most peculiar of these bonus features may be Truth+, an entire streaming service available, mostly, for free. Of all the cash-intensive goodies now made available to Trumps most die-hard stans, the Truth+ streamer is the most elaborate and overlooked. Its been in the works for a while: The company began rolling out Truth+ just over a year ago, first adding a live-TV-streaming feature to the Truth Social mobile app in August 2024, then introducing Truth+ to popular streaming hubs like Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku. Access to the free streaming service expanded worldwide in July, with Newsmax as the flagship channel. Anyone with a Truth Social account can now access dozens of 24/7 live TV channels, watch more than 1,000 on-demand movies and shows that Hollywood tries to silence, and even use built-in DVR to catch up if they happen to miss an especially urgent broadcast from the MyPillow guy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its clear Trump Media sees Truth+ as a key source of future revenue: The company is currently beta-testing a $9.99-per-month paid-subscription model for American users, known as the Patriot Package, and aggressively pushing a free trial of this upgraded televisual experience across the Truth Social feeds and even my cellphone. (Annoying as the texts are, I get the push: Trump Media burned tens of millions of dollars in cash for Truth+ research and development last year.) Considering that Truth Social is the only media enterprise to boast explicit approval and a personal monetary stake from the president himself, I wanted to learn more about it firsthand. Earlier this month, Id sent Trump Media a detailed list of questions about its viewership numbers and overall strategy, only to get this generous reply: If an ardent anti-Trump writer for leftwing Slate wrote anything about Trump Media besides a predictable, mindless partisan hit piece, itd be a miracle that he could post on his Bluesky account. Advertisement Little did I realize that I would soon be confronting the way this network responded to its first big test: the awful murder of Trump loyalist Charlie Kirk. Advertisement Truth+ is about as disorganized, slapdash, and rambling as Trump himself. Customers are given a choice between the Basic subscription package, which is totally free, and the Patriot Package, which gives you at least a dozen extra channels, along with more on-demand films. Subscribers also get paid-Twitter-style benefits on their Truth Social accounts, complete with red check verification, a Truth+ badge for their profile, boosted feed visibility, and the ability to schedule and edit their Truths. These lucky users will also get to accumulate gems for all their devotion, which sounds like youre playing the 2003 Hobbit video game but really means youll get some loyalty-style rewards earned for participating in various activities across the platforms, which you can then turn into cryptocurrencies registered with Truth Social partner Crypto.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Basic TV list includes outdoor programming like Game & Fish, religious media like Daystar and Jewish Life Television, copaganda docu-reality like Reelz TV, syndication houses that rerun classic Westerns (Gunsmoke, The Virginian), and free versions of far-right news outlets like Newsmax and OAN. Altogether, they embody the MAGA bases binding forces of fundamentalist faith, nature appreciation, midcentury nostalgia, and conservative opining. Many of these channels have indeed clashed with gatekeepers of mainstream airwaves. One America News, Right Side Broadcasting Network, Real Americas Voice, and WeatherNation were dropped by DirecTV and shunned by certain corporate advertisers thanks to their networks promotion of 2020-election and COVID conspiracies. Various international governments have investigated Daystar in the past, and the religious channel has lost many of its most high-profile hosts since November, when accusations emerged that its founders covered for staffers accused of sexual assault. With the Patriot Packages latest on-demand additions from the Great American and Curiosity libraries, Truth+ premium has a sweeping selection that in sheer volume alone is comparable to those from better-known, higher-paid services. The issue is that there just isnt a lot thats good. Advertisement Advertisement The Most Watched feed, which stayed pretty consistent throughout my monthslong trial, makes for a good overview. There were quite a few low-budget and low-recognition crypto documentaries (God Bless Bitcoin, Cryptopia, New Money, Dead Mans Switch, Tech Talk Time: Bitcoin in 30 Minutes), stories about Elvis (the short film The Gift, the documentary The Last Days of Elvis Presley), hagiographies of conservative icons (Elon Musk: To the Limit, and Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words), documents of natural wonders (Over Alaska, Great Rivers of Africa, New Zealand From Above), and military minutiae (More Tomcat Tales, WWII Liberation of Europe). You likely havent heard of any of these, and you arent missing out. Advertisement Theres also some real wacko shit that also pops up, usually near the front, as the most watched of the most watched. A common No. 1: an under-one-hour documentary titled Illuminati, supposedly produced in 2019 by DOC TV. (I cant find anything about this company anywhere, but I did find that the films credits on Truth+ do not match those on IMDb.) Preceded, in my viewing, by a Charlie Kirkhosted ad for the ivermectin peddler All Family Pharmacy, Illuminati uses a lot of stock footage and photos of people in Guy Fawkes masks (including one carrying a Dump Trump sign) as backdrop for a narrator droning on about the history of the Bavarian secret society. Frequently adjacent to Illuminati in the Most Watched list is another documentary titled Lizard People: Rulers of Time and Space. Before I sat down to indulge in this cosmic conspiracy with the most demented alien animations Ive ever seen, I was accosted by a Newsmax ad directing me to a poll asking whether Trump should bomb Irans nuclear facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I began flipping around Truth+ on Aug. 14, the Friday when Trump sent the National Guard into D.C. and the day before he was set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Starting at 11 p.m., I decided to catch my first New Tang Dynasty broadcast, since the Falun Gongaffiliated network has much more constricted nationwide access than many of its Truth+ peers. My main takeaway was that NTDdespite the well-funded Epoch Media enterprise that backs itis not a smooth operation, and not just because its a volunteer-staffed newsroom. NTD Evening News, hosted by Tiffany Meier, talked through many of the days subjectsthe King Fire, Israels plan to split the West Bank (aka Judea and Samaria), Californias gerrymandering agendawith the assistant of correspondents Mari Otsu, Luis Eduardo Martinez, and Arleen Richards, who didnt do much scene reporting and were hardly shown on camera. (The one bit of on-the-ground livecasting was a segment asking Alaskans what they thought of the Trump-Putin summit.) Otherwise the channel was replete with news clips ripped from digital sources, along with shots at China sneaked in whenever possible. The most painful moment may have been the concluding Sports Matters segment, where Meier riffed with co-host Dave Martin while holding packets of paper from which they were clearly and awkwardly reading. Discussion of the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics was mostly delivered with stilted hamminess from both, with Martin occasionally shoehorning in jokes that Meier did not pick up on. Advertisement Advertisement I caught more Truth+ streaming on the afternoon of Aug. 16, curious to gauge how other channels were interpreting all that news. It was all a bit annoying to navigate. NTD was blanketed with ads for its sister dance company Shen Yun as well as another dance competition overseen by Epoch Media Group. Lindell TV was suffering from technical problems. Not even WeatherNation offered any solace, packed as it was with ads for the custom-merch company 4Imprint and a skin serum called Plexaderm. (Multiple short reviews of the product in r/45PlusSkincare report that it burned users skin.) Advertisement The only media that was content to give me something was, alas, The Matt Gaetz Show on One America News, where the former congressman echoed Trumps talking points on the prosecution of Brazils insurrection-fomenting ex-President Jair Bolsonaro and made his case for why the South American nation deserves better. (I love Brazil everyone dances like theyre trying to shake a credit card out.) Hes been rewarded for this, considering that Vice President J.D. Vance later granted him an exclusive interview. I then turned to Newsmax 2 only to have host Rob Carson yell at me multiple times that YOURE NOT STUPID! (Thanks, Rob.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the most revealing broadcast of all emerged during the Bolling! episode on Aug. 17, hosted by the disgraced exFox News mainstay Eric Bolling. One of his guests that day was none other than Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes, positioned in front of a Truth-branded step-and-repeat. The subject of their conversation was crypto, namely the aforementioned reward token, CRO, for paying guests. Bolling had to repeatedly clarify that theres no advertising here and Im not selling anything, folks, even as he gleefully displayed a chart of CROs price surge. In fairness, that really wasnt what they were selling. Many people are probably watching this on Truth+ right now, Nunes posited, as Bolling projected the services channel guide on his screen. You will get reward points if you engage on Truth Social, and if you have a Crypto.com wallet, you can use these reward points to support your Truth+ subscription, which supports Real Americas Voice. Bolling nodded his approval as he claimed that the onetime crypto hater Trump was the reason hes now a true believer, not just a speculator. After that segment, I was bombarded with in-video ads for the Truth SocialCrypto.com partnership that would allegedly change the world of finance forever. No matter the channel, no matter the topic, no matter the other ads situated within the broadcasts, the Trump MediaCrypto.com ad was ubiquitousevery single day I watched, and likely beyond. The grift synergy is relentless. Advertisement Advertisement My Patriot trial expired a week before Charlie Kirks murder, but there was more than enough to watch in the aftermath. Notably, the landing page for truthplustv.com went mostly blank the day after the killing, having up until then featured a prominent graphic of a smartphone with the Truth+ app open and The Charlie Kirk Show promoted with a host photo to match. (The phone screen has since returned, now with Bannons War Room featured up top and the God Bless Bitcoin thumbnail conspicuously visible on the bottom.) When the initial reports of the Utah shooting came in, Real Americas Voice had been airing Human Events Daily With Jack Posobiec, whose host is perhaps best known to liberals as the Pizzagate truther and white nationalist conspiracist with a book endorsed by J.D. Vance. Fresh off a spate of fearmongering over NATO and urban crime, Posobiec looked far more concerned and emotional as the episode went on. If its true that someone took a shot at my friendhe paused for a few seconds before continuingthe result from that must absolutely be swift, and it must be final. The show ended with a Carshield.com ad starring Ice-T. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Human Events came Americas Voice Live, broadcast from Detroit by longtime radio host Steve Gruber, who was already gunning for vengeance. We better hear some strong condemnations immediately, Gruber seethed, going on to mock libs who think that white people arent being hunted and that theres no animosity towards white males. (In case it isnt clear: White people are not being hunted.) The host updated his viewers with screenshots of the presidents Truth posts about Kirk, coupled with some on-the-ground footage from the Utah Valley University campus. By the time Bolling! started airing at 4, Kirks prognosis had become clearer for the host, Gruber, and their guests, correspondent Ben Bergquam and faux-psychologist Gina Loudon. There is something about this that is pivotal for usit feels like open season on certain groups of people in this country, Loudon proclaimed, as Bolling anticipated that liberals would blame the gun. Advertisement Advertisement When Kirks death was finally confirmed, everything halted. All four panelists were welling up; Loudon had to stop speaking after the tears began falling. Bergquam also cried on screen, and Gruber shifted from sniffling to informing the shows visibly upset host that the anger is coming now. Unlike the performative whitewashed obituaries from liberal commentators and ill-informed celebrities, the grief here was vivid, real, and heartfelt; it was the first time Id ever seen these hosts so speechless and bereft. I really felt for this community that had lost such a dear friend. Advertisement Related From Slate How a Beloved Website Became MAGAs Latest Villain After Charlie Kirks Death Read More Those wouldnt be the only tears I saw on Truth+. On Friday, during the time slot normally allotted to The Charlie Kirk Show, four of the late hosts friends gathered in the studio for a memorial episode, leaving an empty chair for the absent host. (I know the seat looks empty, but its not. The seat isnt empty at all.) Helmed by executive producer Andrew Kolvet, the panel featured Posobiec, Turning Point USA COO Tyler Bowyer, and Blake Neff, the former Tucker Carlson Tonight writer who was fired by Fox News in 2020 for his racist and sexist forum posts. Risible as these men are, their gathering did provide some genuinely touching moments of male friendship and emotional support. Bowyer broke down while recounting the ways he and Kirk had built up Turning Point; he also touched upon personal aspects of their friendship, mentioning that he used to give Kirk fashionable clothes as birthday presents. Neff likewise bawled as he mentioned being there in Utah and seeing Kirks gruesome shooting up close. Im glad you were there, Kolvet comforted Neff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other shows retooled their broadcasts to share fond memories of Kirk, between visual tiles crafted in tribute to his life and accompanying bursts of bagpipe processions. On his Friday-morning Salem News show, Mike Gallagher told viewers that the last thing I sent [Kirk] was a clip from X, with a little baby Charlie Kirk that was reshared from the TikTok account babycharliekkk by tweeter Kathleen Winchell. He responded with an lol and a thumbs-up emoji. He loved it. Despite insisting that he desired to focus on some positivity and talk about love, the ex-congressman brought up Antifa words on the shell casings (untrue) and quoted an X influencer on how a cultural revolution is on the horizon. After Gallagher signed off, Steve Bannons War Room brought on Alex Jones and the conspiratorial goldbug James Rickards, who compared Kirks killing to Mahatma Gandhis assassination: If you preach peace and love, and thats your message, they kill you. (It should go without saying that peace and love was not Kirks message.) On F1rst TV, Dana Loesch played a video from a North Texas college student who scolded the off-screen classmates rejoicing in Kirks death, yelling that a transgender person had fired the bullet. We already knew that the killer was not trans, but that didnt stop Loesch from repeating the hoax that the bullet casings had transgender ideology etched upon them and recommending the girl for a scholarship. Advertisement On Saturday morning, the exNBA player and former Black Lives Matter supporter Royce White aired his self-titled show on Real Americas Voice, with an intro montage that spliced a clip of Bannon praising White alongside archival footage of Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali speeches. The red-pilled athlete called for Antifa to be designated a terrorist organization by Monday and scolded college leftists who did not properly mourn Kirk, blaming the scientific method (yup) for introducing university students to the most insane, devilish worldviews. White then made a call for all men to resist the sexual manipulation of the women dancing on Kirks grave. (When I say women have gotten mouthy ) Advertisement At 3 p.m., Ted Nugent appeared with his wife Shemane, the self-proclaimed oldest Turning Point ambassador, for an episode of Spirit Campfire where she informed viewers of how Kirk had personally reached out to recruit her for Turning Pointa common story across Truth+, I noticed, considering that Real Americas Voice host Aubrey Shines also mentioned Kirks active recruitment of him during his tribute broadcast. No wonder there was so much grief: Truth+ and its member networks make for yet another conservative institution that was in no small part curated and built up by Charlie Kirk. ICE is allegedly 'racially profiling,' so why is the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office under court monitoring for the same? By Rachel Alexander web posted September 22, 2025 Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is identifying illegal immigrants using their physical appearances as one of the criteria, which the Supreme Court just ruled was constitutional. But at the same time, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) is still under an expensive court ordered mandate for monitoring due to alleged racial profiling. This has cost Maricopa County taxpayers approximately $350 million so far. On September 8, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo , overturning a lower court's temporary restraining order that had barred ICE from using race, ethnicity, language or occupation as primary factors for stops in Los Angeles. ICE is arresting illegal immigrants in places they are known to be at, such as farms and car washes. While the court declined to issue a full opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh's concurrence clarified that ethnicity alone cannot justify suspicion but can be a "relevant factor" alongside others, citing United States v. Brignoni-Ponce (1975) and United States v. Arvizu (2002). Border Czar Tom Homan said during an appearance on Fox & Friends, "People need to understand, ICE officers and Border Patrol don't need probable cause to walk up to somebody, briefly detain them, and question them. They just need the totality of the circumstances get articulable facts based on their location, their occupation, their physical appearance, their actions." Homan said the standard to confront an individual is reasonable suspicion, not probable cause. Probable cause is a higher standard, which requires a fair probability of likely wrongdoing. Reasonable suspicion is merely the suggestion that possible wrongdoing may be involved. Through the 287(g) program with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), MCSO conducted "saturation patrols" in high crime areas. The plaintiffs claimed that motorists were pulled over based on their skin color, pointing out that the sweeps were conducted in areas with high concentrations of illegal immigrants such as day laborer hang outs. Activists filed the lawsuit Melendres v. Arpaio in 2007 challenging the practice. They claimed that the patrols violated the Fourth Amendment, asserting that deputies stopped individuals without probable cause, running afoul of the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause by targeting individuals based on race. However, MCSO asserted that its deputies had probable cause to pull the vehicles over due to traffic infractions. Since many illegal immigrants are poor and less familiar with U.S. driving laws, they are more likely to commit traffic infractions or have a taillight out. Claiming that immigration sweeps are racial profiling also fails to take into the fact illegal immigrants commit more crimes on average than the general population. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office issued a groundbreaking report in 2008 which found that while illegal immigrants made up 9 percent of the population, they committed 21.8 percent of felonies. Many of the felonies were not immigration related, such as 20.3 percent of felony DUIs. Phoenix has more Latinos than whites, 43 percent of the city, so the odds of them being stopped often is quite high. After a three-week trial in 2012, U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow ruled in 2013 that MCSO had engaged in systemic racial profiling. Snow issued injunctions requiring MCSO to implement reforms, including appointing an independent monitor to oversee compliance, developing systems to prevent discriminatory policing and improving internal affairs processes. A while after issuing his order, Snow accused MCSO of noncompliance, resulting in a 2016 contempt of court finding against Arpaio. Arpaio was pardoned in 2017 by President Donald Trump. Showing just how overreaching the courts were, even the next sheriff, Democrat Paul Penzone, was found in civil contempt. In parallel, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Barack Obama launched a civil rights investigation in 2008 into MCSO's practices. The DOJ's December 2011 report concluded that MCSO engaged in "the worst pattern of racial profiling in U.S. history." The DOJ filed a lawsuit against Arpaio and MCSO for unlawful discriminatory conduct, and DHS suspended MCSO's 287(g) agreement and restricted its access to immigration databases like Secure Communities. Unfortunately, the Trump DOJ cannot remove the monitoring, since it is up to the judicial branch which put it in place. Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi this year urging the DOJ to help reduce or end the federal oversight of MCSO, citing costs exceeding $300 million and arguing that the oversight had expanded beyond its original scope. Snow has a history of anti-conservative rulings. On May 14, he granted a preliminary injunction in a case involving Fatemeh Tabatabaeifar, a 22-year-old Iranian woman detained in Arizona. He said Trump's attempt to restrict immigrants' rights to request asylum was unlawful. In 2022, Snow granted an injunction limiting the City of Phoenix's ability to clear out homeless encampments. Fortunately, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney issued a ruling in 2023 ordering Phoenix to clean up the sprawling encampment known as "The Zone." Under the new Trump administration, there are now over a thousand 287(g) partnerships. It makes zero sense to continue punishing Maricopa County taxpayers for a rogue judge's opinion that goes contrary to new Supreme Court law. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home Theresa Ann "TC" Vandenberg, 68, of California, MD, passed away on September 16, 2025, in Crisfield, MD. She was born on August 29, 1957, in Du Quoin, IL, to the late Shirley Drusilla and Walter John Stanhouse. On January 14, 1978, she married the love of her life, Thomas M. Vandenberg, in Columbia, IL, and together they shared 47 wonderful years of marriage. Theresa was a graduate of Gibault High School in Waterloo, IL. She went on to attend Eastern Illinois University for two and a half years before completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Merchandising at the University of Hawaii in 1979. Theresa met her husband, Tom, at Eastern Illinois University in October 1976, and they were married in January 1978 shortly after he received his officer's commission in the U.S. Navy. Their life of adventure began with their first duty assignment in Hawaii. At just 20 years old, Theresa moved to Hawaii by herself while Tom was deployed overseas. She established their first household and enrolled at the University of Hawaii to finish her degree. At their second duty station on Whidbey Island, Washington, she bought their first home while her husband was once again deployed. Creative and resourceful, Theresa made many of her own clothes. Her first Christmas gift to Tom was a hand-embroidered Western shirt, though it no longer fits, he cherishes it still, hanging in his closet as a keepsake of her love. Throughout their many military moves, Theresa worked in the clothing industry before finding her calling in the office supply business. She managed her own Standard Office Supply store in Hampton, Virginia, and later returned to the company during another Navy assignment in the Tidewater area. She took great pride in her work, helping her store become the top location in the chain. Her expertise with office products allowed her to find employment with ease as they moved from duty station to duty station, though she especially enjoyed working for small "Mom & Pop" businesses. After moving to California, MD, in 2001, she served as Assistant Manager of Hallmark in the First Colony Shopping Center until 2007. Theresa was also a gifted needlepoint and counted cross-stitch artist, winning first place at the annual Sotterley Plantation Needlepoint and Quilt Show. Her husband marveled at how she could transform a simple piece of linen into a masterpiece; today, their home is filled with her artwork. In 2001, Theresa surprised Tom on his birthday by arranging the purchase of their first sailboat. Two years later, they upgraded to a 36-foot vessel, sailing thousands of miles on the Chesapeake Bay. In retirement, they continued to sail the Bay and twice traveled the Intracoastal Waterway to spend winters in Florida. In 2020, they transitioned to a trawler, and in 2021 embarked on the America's Great Loop, completing the 6,000-mile circumnavigation of the Eastern United States in 2022. Theresa was an active member of the Solomons Island Yacht Club, where she served faithfully as Quartermaster. She especially loved spontaneous overnight trips to local anchorages, delighting in the beauty and majesty of the Bay. It was on a boating trip to Crisfield, Maryland, that she was tragically taken from us. Theresa's life was rooted in love for her family and friends. She is survived by her devoted husband, Thomas M. Vandenberg of California, MD; and her siblings, Deborah Combs of Springfield, IL; Walter Stanhouse of Kingwood, TX; Bradley Stanhouse of Tampa, FL; and Barbara Brenner of Bloomfield, MI. She was preceded in death by her parents, Shirley and Walter Stanhouse. Theresa will be remembered for her kindness, her vibrant spirit, and her unwavering love for those closest to her. Her legacy will live on in the many lives she touched. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Solomons, MD, with Father Thong officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, and in honor of Theresa's love for dogs, please consider making a donation to Lap of Love (https://www.lapoflove.com/angel-fund; 855-933-5683). Dayton Raceway will host the $2.4 million USD Ohio Sires Stakes finals and the $1 million USD Dayton Derbies on Saturday, Sept. 27, with exclusive festivities for the owners and trainers of participating horses planned. A cocktail party will be held from 4-6 p.m. in a tent located between the paddock and grandstand. Complimentary cocktails and hors doeuvres will be served. A buffet-style dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Upper Racing. The dinner includes prime rib, Italian sausage, baked ziti and herb roasted chicken, all for $40 USD per person. Reservations for both the cocktail party and dinner can be made by calling Kim at 614-214-8818. Seating is limited, so those wishing to attend should get their reservations in early. Open seating for the big night of racing will be available in Lower Racing and outside. Several food trucks will be on site to provide many dining options. Post time is 6:30 p.m. (Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association) Woodbine Mohawk Park has released details about additional Pop-Up Series events that will be held in October for Ontario-sired three-year-olds. Mohawk will offer a Pop-Up Series for each three-year-old division (trot and pace), with two $22,000 preliminary legs and a $40,000 final. The series will be open to Ontario-sired three-year-olds that are non-winners of $100,000 in 2025 as of Oct. 1, with optional claiming of $50,000 for Ontario-sired three-year-olds also eligible. The series for the trotting divisions will begin on Monday, Oct. 6 while the series for the pacing divisions will start on Thursday, Oct. 9. Declarations close as posted on the weekly condition sheet. (With files from Woodbine) Xi Focus-Explainer: A historical legacy, a modern imperative: Why China walks on path of peaceful development? Xinhua) 08:27, September 22, 2025 BEIJING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- "The noble cause of peace and development of humanity will prevail." That was the message from Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sept. 3, delivered from the Tian'anmen Rostrum as he oversaw a grand 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. Addressing a massive crowd, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, reaffirmed China's commitment to peaceful development. "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 said. The message carries weight beyond the commemoration itself. For China, the remembrance of war is inseparable from its vision of peace. The scars of foreign invasion and the heavy cost of resistance remain etched in the nation's collective memory, shaping a conviction that lasting peace is the only foundation on which development can thrive. To understand China's commitment to peaceful development, one must consider not only its history, but also its grasp of the connection between peace and development and its vision for humanity's future. VALUING PEACE AS TRADITION Tian'anmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) Square and Chang'an (Eternal Peace) Avenue -- landmarks at the heart of Beijing where parade troops marched during the V-Day commemoration -- reflect China's aspiration for peace and stability. "What we Chinese people abhor is turbulence, what we want is stability, and what we hope to see is world peace," Xi said. History offers sobering lessons. Scholars have noted that if the more than 5,000 years of recorded human history were compressed into a single day, 23 out of 24 hours would be consumed by war. In that fleeting hour of peace, humanity seized the precious time to create brilliant civilizations. The pursuit of peace and development flows through the veins of Chinese civilization. Since ancient times, China has upheld the maxim: "Though a country may be strong, those who crave war will perish." Concepts such as "harmony in diversity" have been passed down through generations. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country has never initiated a war or conflict, nor occupied an inch of foreign land. China is also the only major country to enshrine peaceful development in both its Constitution and the Constitution of its governing party. The Communist Party of China, Xi said, seeks not only peace for its own country, but peace for the world; not only temporary peace, but lasting peace. PEACE FOR DEVELOPMENT Xi has a profound understanding of the relationship between peace and development, and has frequently spoken about it. "The tree of peace does not grow on barren land, and the fruits of development are not harvested amidst the flames of war," he said. Peace as the prerequisite for development is a lesson drawn from history. "When peace is interrupted by conflict or war, economic growth, decent lives, social stability, and people-to-people exchanges will all be out of the question," Xi said at the opening ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations in May 2019. He called on all countries to "work together and jointly safeguard peace, something that is even more precious than gold." Over the past 80 years, the absence of another world war has allowed the world to maintain overall peace, giving rise to unprecedented prosperity. China itself has undergone historic transformations, becoming an important driver of global development. China has also shouldered its duties as a major country in safeguarding world peace: advocating a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, promoting the implementation of the Global Security Initiative; dispatching more than 50,000 peacekeepers over the past 35 years, making it a key contributor to UN peacekeeping operations; and upholding objectivity and fairness while promoting political solutions to hotspot issues. Peace as the prerequisite for development is the call of the era. The world needs peace more than ever to rally collective strength for development, as unilateralism and protectionism are resurging, geopolitical conflicts and regional flashpoints keep flaring up, and traditional and non-traditional security issues are increasingly intertwined. "No global problem can be solved by any one country alone. There must be global action, global response, and global cooperation," Xi said. SHARED DEVELOPMENT AS BEDROCK OF PEACE Balanced and shared development is the bedrock of peace. The calamities of the 20th century were, in part, the product of lopsided growth and the rivalry of great powers. Today, protectionism is on the rise, and the global economy is limping through a faltering recovery. Some developed countries have chosen to politicize, even weaponize, development itself -- moves that pose grave threats to peace and stability. Prosperity and stability cannot be possible in a world where the rich become richer while the poor are made poorer, according to Xi. "Every nation aspires for a better life, and modernization is not a privilege reserved for any single country," he said. "We Chinese not only aspire for good living for ourselves, but also hope people in other parts of the world lead a decent life." China has consistently contributed around 30 percent of global growth. At home, it has eradicated absolute poverty; abroad, the Belt and Road Initiative it proposed has helped lift tens of millions from poverty. The victory achieved 80 years ago benefited from the solidarity of nations. Today, the law of the jungle -- where the strong devour the weak -- and a winner-takes-all mindset remain a dead end. Inclusive growth for all, by contrast, is the right path for humanity. "Viewing others' development as a threat or taking economic interdependence as a risk will not make one's own life better or speed up one's development," said Xi. China has become a major trading partner for over 150 countries and regions, having signed 23 free-trade agreements along the way. Through platforms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum, it has helped spread development opportunities far and wide. Beijing has proven itself a major provider of global public goods. The China International Import Expo, the China-Europe freight train service, and the Hainan Free Trade Port stand out as examples of China's commitment to global cooperation. Xi regards sustainable development as the "golden key" to solving global problems, especially at a time when climate change and food and energy crises pose threats to peace. To set an example, China has pledged ambitious targets of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality and is helping other developing countries master green, low-carbon technologies. WORKING TOWARD COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED FUTURE With its vast population and status as the world's largest developing country, China's choice of path for modernization has impacts far beyond its borders. Xi has made it clear that the country will not follow the old script of colonial plunder or seek hegemony; instead, it is pursuing a model of peaceful development. Building on his initiatives on development, security, and civilization, Xi unveiled a Global Governance Initiative earlier this month, calling for broader efforts to forge a more just and equitable system of global governance. The initiative champions sovereign equality, the rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and tangible action. Launched on the 80th anniversaries of both the founding of the UN and the defeat of fascism, the initiative signals China's commitment to the principles of the UN Charter while addressing the burning question of where global governance is headed. The ancient Silk Road earned its place in history thanks to camel caravans and goodwill, not warhorses and cannon. China believes in mutual support, common development, and win-win outcomes. Xi's concept of a community with a shared future for humanity has been inscribed in key UN and multilateral documents, evolving from a Chinese proposal into an international consensus. "Pass on the torch of peace from generation to generation, sustain development and make civilization flourish," Xi said. "This is what people of all countries long for; it is also the responsibility statesmen of our generation ought to shoulder." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) More than 400 celebrities have signed a letter in support of Jimmy Kimmel. Jimmy Kimmel was recently suspended The 57-year-old comedian's chat-show was recently suspended following comments that he made about Charlie Kirk's death - but the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks, Selena Gomez, Pedro Pascal and Robert De Niro have signed a letter that defends Jimmy's constitutional right to free speech. The letter, published by the American Civil Liberties Union, reads: "We the people must never accept government threats to our freedom of speech. Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists, and companies with retaliation for their speech strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country. "Last week, Jimmy Kimmel was taken off the air after the government threatened a private company with retaliation, marking a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation. In an attempt to silence its critics, our government has resorted to threatening the livelihoods of journalists, talk show hosts, artists, creatives, and entertainers across the board. This runs counter to the values our nation was built upon, and our Constitution guarantees. "We know this moment is bigger than us and our industry." The letter asserts that now is the time to "defend free speech". It continues: "Regardless of our political affiliation, or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country. We also share the belief that our voices should never be silenced by those in power because if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us. "This is the moment to defend free speech across our nation. We encourage all Americans to join us, along with the ACLU, in the fight to defend and preserve our constitutionally protected rights." The TV talk-show was taken of the air after Jimmy suggested that Tyler Robinson, the man accused of fatally shooting Kirk at a university in Utah, was aligned to the Make America Great Again movement. Jimmy said during a monologue on the show: "The MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it." He added: "In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving." 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 To prevent crowd crush incidents like the Itaewon tragedy, it's crucial to go beyond simply counting people and to instead have a technology that can detect the real-inflow and movement patterns of crowds. A KAIST research team has successfully developed new AI crowd prediction technology that can be used not only for managing large-scale events and mitigating urban traffic congestion, but also for responding to infectious disease outbreaks. The research was presented at the Proceedings of the 31st ACM SIGKDD Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining V.2, and a research team led by Professor Jae-Gil Lee from the School of Computing developed the AI technology that can more accurately predict crowd density. The dynamics of crowd gathering cannot be explained by a simple increase or decrease in the number of people. Even with the same number of people, the level of risk changes depending on where they are coming from and which direction they are heading. Professor Lee's team expressed this movement using the concept of a time-varying graph. This means that accurate prediction is only possible by simultaneously analyzing two types of information: node information (how many people are in a specific area) and edge information (the flow of people between areas). In contrast, most previous studies focused on only one of these factors, either concentrating on how many people are gathered right now or which paths are people moving along. However, the research team emphasized that combining both is necessary to truly capture a dangerous situation. For example, a sudden increase in density in a specific alleyway, such as Area A, is difficult to predict with just current population data. But by also considering the flow of people continuously moving from a nearby area, Area B, towards Area A (edge information), its possible to pre-emptively identify the signal that Area A will soon become dangerous. To achieve this, the team developed a bi-modal learning method. This technology simultaneously considers population counts (node information) and population flow (edge information), while also learning spatial relationships (which areas are connected) and temporal changes (when and how movement occurs). Specifically, the team introduced a 3D contrastive learning technique. This allows the AI to learn not only 2D spatial (geographical) information but also temporal information, creating a 3D relationship. As a result, the AI can understand not just whether the population is large or small right now, but what pattern the crowd is developing into over time. This allows for a much more accurate prediction of the time and place where congestion will occur than previous methods. The research team built and publicly released six real-world datasets for their study, which were compiled from sources such as Seoul, Busan, and Daegu subway data, New York City transit data, and COVID-19 confirmed case data from South Korea and New York. The proposed technology achieved up to a 76.1% improvement in prediction accuracy over recent state-of-the-art methods, demonstrating strong performance. Professor Jae-Gil Lee stated, "It is important to develop technologies that can have a significant social impact. I hope this technology will greatly contribute to protecting public safety in daily life, such as in crowd management for large events, easing urban traffic congestion, and curbing the spread of infectious diseases." More information: Youngeun Nam et al, Bi-Modal Learning for Networked Time Series, Proceedings of the 31st ACM SIGKDD Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining V.2 (2025). DOI: 10.1145/3711896.3736856 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: Towfiqu barbhuiya from Pexels Medical device manufacturer Exactech has agreed to pay $8 million to settle allegations that it concealed defects in a popular line of artificial knee implants, which have been blamed for thousands of patient injuries in lawsuits. The settlement resolves two whistleblower lawsuits alleging the Florida company violated the federal False Claims Act by billing government health care programs such as Medicare for knee replacement parts it knew were defective. "Patients who need a medical device to enjoy their lives rely on device manufacturers to put patient safety first. When a manufacturer learns that its device is defective, it must promptly and transparently address the problem," Kelly Hayes, U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland, said in announcing the settlement this week. The Gainesville-based company declared bankruptcy last October, leaving in limbo thousands of injured patients suing the company for compensation. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware has approved the whistleblowers' settlement. Exactech declined to comment. In making the settlement, the company did not admit liability. Exactech, which grew over three decades from a mom-and-pop device manufacturer into a global entity, was the subject of a KFF Health News investigation published in October 2023. Florida lawyer Joseph Saunders, who represents patients suing the company in other lawsuits, said more than 2,500 people alleging injuries have filed claims seeking compensation. Many underwent operations to remove and replace the implants, some within three years of their original surgeries. Many of those cases have been put on hold because of the bankruptcy. "There are people who are lifelong cripples from this or had multiple surgeries," Saunders said. So far, patients have received no compensation. Sue Sacker, a New Jersey resident who had two Exactech knee implants replaced at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, said she was "very disappointed" by the settlement deal. "I'm fuming," she said. "People are suffering, and the government is getting the money. Where are the patients? Who's taking care of us?" Saunders said that a committee of creditors hopes to pursue TPG, a private equity firm that paid $737 million to acquire Exactech in February 2018. TPG won dismissal of a similar attempt last year, when it successfully argued it did not exercise control over operations at Exactech. TPG declined to comment. The first whistleblower case was filed in 2018 in federal court in Alabama by Brooks Wallace and Robert Farley, two former Exactech sales agents, and Manuel Fuentes, a former Exactech senior product manager. They alleged serious defects in the Optetrak total knee replacement system, which Exactech started selling in 1994. By 2008, the company knew that a component of the implant "failed prematurely at a higher than acceptable rate," but Exactech marketed the implants through December 2018, according to the settlement. Together, the whistleblowers will receive $1,329,360 under a provision of the law that allows private citizens to act on behalf of the government. In the second whistleblower case, Pasquale Petrera, a Maryland orthopedic surgeon, alleged that as early as January 2019 Exactech knew that a polyethylene part in certain Exactech Logic and Truliant brand knee replacement systems also failed prematurely. The company sold them through early February 2022, when it expanded a recall of the product. The Maryland whistleblower will receive $565,360, according to the settlement amount. KFF Health News found and reported in 2023 about 400 examples in which Exactech reported adverse events to the government two years or more after learning of them. The reports are supposed to be submitted within 30 days unless a special exemption is granted. The KFF Health News analysis of more than 300 pending cases in Florida's Alachua County found that surgeons removed about 200 knee and hip implants after less than seven years, far sooner than the 15 to 20 years these products typically last. The company stressed the durability of its implants in advertising, even suggesting they would likely outlive their human recipients. In court filings, Exactech steadfastly denied that Optetrak had any defects. 2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The appointment of a virtual lawmaker raises serious technical, political, and ethical questions. Last week, Albania announced that an AI-generated minister would take charge of a new public tenders portfolio. "Diella" is touted as the world's first virtual minister, and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama promised the appointment would end rampant corruption in government contractsa major obstacle to the Balkan nation's accession to the European Union. But serious technical, political and ethical questions have been raised about the virtual lawmaker. Truly incorruptible? In announcing Diella's appointment, Rama claimed that public tenders would now be "100% free of corruption". "Diella never sleeps, she doesn't need to be paid, she has no personal interests, she has no cousins, because cousins are a big issue in Albania," according to the prime minister, whose country ranks 80th out of 180 in Transparency International's corruption index. Albanian politicians are frequently implicated in corruption scandals linked to public funds. The former mayor of the capital Tirana was detained while in office and remains in custody, suspected of corruption in connection with the awarding of government contracts. The opposition leader and former prime minister Sali Berisha is also suspected of awarding public contracts to his associates. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama often grabs headlines around the world. Is Diella the solution? Not really, according to experts. "Like any AI system, she depends entirely on the quality and consistency of the data and the reliability of the models behind her," said Erjon Curraj, an expert in digital transformation and cybersecurity. The exact workings of Diella remain unknown, but it likely relies on Large Language Models (LLM) to respond to queriessimilar to the vast amounts of text that power generative chatbots such as ChatGPT or Gemini. But if input data is incomplete, biased, or outdated, the AI's decisions will reflect those flaws, and it "might misinterpret documents, wrongly flag a supplier, or miss signs of collusion", Curraj said. "LLMs reflect society; they have biases. There's no reason to believe it solves the problem of corruption," computer scientist and artificial intelligence specialist Jean-Gabriel Ganascia said. "Assuming a machine has no biases implies we must submit to the machine," Ganascia said. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has appointed an AI minister to oversee public tenders, claiming the move will help to end corruption. Who has control? The Albanian opposition has appealed to the Constitutional Court over concerns about who would be accountable for the AI's decisions. "Who will control Diella?" Berisha asked the parliament. Ganascia agrees that questions of accountability and control are key when it comes to AI. "If public decision-making is entrusted to a machine, it means there is no longer accountability; we are reduced to the state of slaves." "What worries me is the idea of a machine governing, offering the 'right' answer, and preventing any deliberation," the researcher, who is also a philosopher, said. "A politician takes responsibility, but here, the idea is that the machine is perfect, and we cannot go against its decisions anyway." Appearing to address these concerns, a decree published Thursday states that Rama "also holds responsibility for the creation and operation of the virtual Ministry of Artificial Intelligence Diella." Opposition political parties have questioned the transparency of the AI minister. Old corruption, new software The appointment grabbed headlines around the world, something the prime minister excels at whether by attending international meetings in sneakers, announcing a TikTok ban, creating a Bektashi State modeled on the Vatican, or opening migrant camps to house people intercepted at sea by the Italian government. But achieving his goals is a different issue. TikTok remains easily accessible in Albania, only a few dozen men have been transferred to the migrant camps and the initiative's legality is still being contested by Italian courts. Little public progress has been made either on the Bektashi State since its announcement a year ago. As for Diella, whose face is that of the well-known Albanian actress Anila Bisha, who signed a contract expiring in December for the use of her image, it is unclear whether her appointment will survive the Constitutional Court's scrutiny. It is also uncertain whether it will comply with the standards of the European Union, which Albania hopes to join within the next five years. "So far, there is no information about how Diella actually works," Albanian political scientist Lutfi Dervishi said. "If a corrupt system provides manipulated data, or filters are set up on what it must not see, Diella will merely legitimize old corruption with new software." 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: Google is facing a demand by the US government to break up its hugely profitable ad technology business after a judge found the tech giant was commanding an illegal monopoly. Google faced a fresh federal court test on Monday as US government lawyers asked a judge to order the breakup of the search engine giant's ad technology business. The lawsuit is Google's second such test this year after the California-based tech juggernaut saw a similar government demand to split up its empire rejected by a judge earlier this month. Monday's case focuses specifically on Google's ad tech "stack"the tools that website publishers use to sell ads and that advertisers use to buy them. In a landmark decision earlier this year, Federal Judge Leonie Brinkema agreed with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) that Google maintained an illegal grip on this market. This week's trial is set to determine what penalties and changes Google must implement to undo its monopoly. For the US government, Google should be ordered to spin off a piece of its ad tech operations, commit to changing its business practices and undergo close court supervision for the coming years. "The law requires the court to put its thumb on the scale" and end Google's "profound and persistent harms" to potential rivals, said DOJ lawyer Julia Tarver Wood in her opening arguments. Specifically, the DOJ is asking that Google relinquish its dominating ad exchange operations, the software where publishers sell their ad inventory to advertisers and ad agencies through a real-time bidding auction system. In her opening statement, Google's lawyer Karen Dunne called the DOJ's proposals "radical and reckless," a "swing for the fences" and said "caution was key" when Judge Brinkema made her decision on the fate of Google's ad tech business. Dunne added that the government's fix was technically unfeasible, would be highly disruptive to the industry and would "fail as a practical matter." She not surprisingly turned to the recent decision in the similar case involving Google's search business in which a different judge decided that splitting up the company's business would be "messy and highly risky." Instead, Google was required to share data with rivals as part of its remedies and undergo some court-ruled oversight. The US government had pushed for Chrome's divestment, arguing the browser serves as a crucial gateway to the internet that brings in a third of all Google web searches. Google's Dunne said the same caution should apply, with a forced divestiture far too radical a step, as she set forth the company's commitments to change its business practices in order to satisfy the judge. The DOJ insisted these fixes fell short of what was needed and would see the tech giant swiftly regain its monopoly over the sector. In a similar case in Europe, the European Commission, the EU's antitrust enforcer, earlier this month fined Google 2.95 billion euros ($3.47 billion) over its control of the ad tech market. Brussels ordered behavioral changes, drawing criticism that it was going easy on Google as it had previously indicated that a divestiture may be necessary. This US trial is expected to last about a week, with a decision by Judge Brinkema not expected for months. These cases are part of a broader bipartisan government campaign against the world's largest technology companies. The US currently has five pending antitrust cases against Silicon Valley's tech giants. 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: In this image made from video provided by Nissan Motor Co., Japanese automaker Nissan's test vehicle featuring an automated driving system packed with artificial intelligence moves on a road in Tokyo on September, 2025. Credit: Nissan Motor Co. via AP Japanese automaker Nissan is developing vehicles with self-driving technology as it works to turn around its struggling auto business. In a recent demonstration of the technology developed by British company Wayve, a Nissan Ariya sedan outfitted with 11 cameras, five radars and a next-generation sensor called LiDAR maneuvered its way through downtown Tokyo, braking for red lights as well as pedestrians and other cars at intersections. It's set to be available in 2027, although Nissan did not give the models or other details. It's an already-crowded field. The self-driving car market is estimated to reach $2 trillion by 2030, according to market researcher IndustryARC, riding on the back of advances in AI, sensor technologies and data processing capabilities. Nissan manager Tetsuya Iijima demonstrates the automakers self-driving technology, showing he isnt using his hands on Sept. 11, 2025 in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama Japanese automaker Nissan's test vehicle featuring an automated driving system packed with artificial intelligence is shown to the media in Tokyo on Sept. 11, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama In this image made from video provided by Nissan Motor Co., Japanese automaker Nissan's test vehicle featuring an automated driving system packed with artificial intelligence is seen in Tokyo on September, 2025. Credit: Nissan Motor Co. via AP Japan's top automaker, Toyota Motor Corp., has a partnership deal with Waymo, another self-driving technology developed by Google. Waymo has also arrived in Japan, in partnership with a cab company, but it's still in the testing stage. Other automakers are also working on autonomous driving technology, including Honda Motor Co., General Motors and Mercedes-Benz, as well as companies outside the auto industry like Amazon and its subsidiary Zoox. Nissan's push comes at a time when the overall Japanese auto market is facing serious challenges because of President Donald Trump's tariffs. Nissan especially is struggling. It has slashed jobs and appointed a new chief executive, Ivan Espinosa, to attempt a turnaround. The maker of the March subcompact, Leaf electric cars and Infiniti luxury brand posted losses for the April-June period, following a fiscal year of red ink. 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain It is a sad fact of online life that users search for information about suicide. In the earliest days of the internet, bulletin boards featured suicide discussion groups. To this day, Google hosts archives of these groups, as do other services. Google and others can host and display this content under the protective cloak of U.S. immunity from liability for the dangerous advice third parties might give about suicide. That's because the speech is the third party's, not Google's. But what if ChatGPT, informed by the very same online suicide materials, gives you suicide advice in a chatbot conversation? I'm a technology law scholar and a former lawyer and engineering director at Google, and I see AI chatbots shifting Big Tech's position in the legal landscape. Families of suicide victims are testing out chatbot liability arguments in court right now, with some early successes. Who is responsible when a chatbot speaks? When people search for information online, whether about suicide, music or recipes, search engines show results from websites, and websites host information from authors of content. This chain, search to web host to user speech, continued as the dominant way people got their questions answered until very recently. This pipeline was roughly the model of internet activity when Congress passed the Communications Decency Act in 1996. Section 230 of the act created immunity for the first two links in the chain, search and web hosts, from the user speech they show. Only the last link in the chain, the user, faced liability for their speech. Chatbots collapse these old distinctions. Now, ChatGPT and similar bots can search, collect website information and speak out the resultsliterally, in the case of humanlike voice bots. In some instances, the bot will show its work like a search engine would, noting the website that is the source of its great recipe for miso chicken. When chatbots appear to be just a friendlier form of good old search engines, their companies can make plausible arguments that the old immunity regime applies. Chatbots can be the old search-web-speaker model in a new wrapper. But in other instances, it acts like a trusted friend, asking you about your day and offering help with your emotional needs. Search engines under the old model did not act as life guides. Chatbots are often used this way. Users often do not even want the bot to show its hand with web links. Throwing in citations while ChatGPT tells you to have a great day would be, well, awkward. The more that modern chatbots depart from the old structures of the web, the further away they move from the immunity the old web players have long enjoyed. When a chatbot acts as your personal confidant, pulling from its virtual brain ideas on how it might help you achieve your stated goals, it is not a stretch to treat it as the responsible speaker for the information it provides. Courts are responding in kind, particularly when the bot's vast, helpful brain is directed toward aiding your desire to learn about suicide. Chatbot suicide cases Current lawsuits involving chatbots and suicide victims show that the door of liability is opening for ChatGPT and other bots. A case involving Google's Character.AI bots is a prime example. Character.AI allows users to chat with characters created by users, from anime figures to a prototypical grandmother. Users could even have virtual phone calls with some characters, talking to a supportive virtual nana as if it were their own. In one case in Florida, a character in the "Game of Thrones" Daenerys Targaryen persona allegedly asked the young victim to "come home" to the bot in heaven before the teen shot himself. The family of the victim sued Google. The family of the victim did not frame Google's role in traditional technology terms. Rather than describing Google's liability in the context of websites or search functions, the plaintiff framed Google's liability in terms of products and manufacturing akin to a defective parts maker. The district court gave this framing credence despite Google's vehement argument that it is merely an internet service, and thus the old internet rules should apply. The court also rejected arguments that the bot's statements were protected First Amendment speech that users have a right to hear. Though the case is ongoing, Google failed to get the quick dismissal that tech platforms have long counted on under the old rules. Now, there is a follow-on suit for a different Character.AI bot in Colorado, and ChatGPT faces a case in San Francisco, all with product and manufacture framings like the Florida case. Hurdles for plaintiffs to overcome Though the door to liability for chatbot providers is now open, other issues could keep families of victims from recovering any damages from the bot providers. Even if ChatGPT and its competitors are not immune from lawsuits and courts buy into the product liability system for chatbots, lack of immunity does not equal victory for plaintiffs. Product liability cases require the plaintiff to show that the defendant caused the harm at issue. This is particularly difficult in suicide cases, as courts tend to find that, regardless of what came before, the only person responsible for suicide is the victim. Whether it's an angry argument with a significant other leading to a cry of "why don't you just kill yourself," or a gun design making self-harm easier, courts tend to find that only the victim is to blame for their own death, not the people and devices the victim interacted with along the way. But without the protection of immunity that digital platforms have enjoyed for decades, tech defendants face much higher costs to get the same victory they used to receive automatically. In the end, the story of the chatbot suicide cases may be more settlements on secret, but lucrative, terms to the victims' families. Meanwhile, bot providers are likely to place more content warnings and trigger bot shutdowns more readily when users enter territory that the bot is set to consider dangerous. The result could be a safer, but less dynamic and useful, world of bot "products." This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. David Lynchs Los Angeles home is on sale for $15 million. David Lynchs Los Angeles home is on sale for $15 million The Twin Peaks director, who died in January 2025 at the age of 78 from cardiac arrest complicated by emphysema, used the Hollywood Hills compound as a base for much of his work, editing Mulholland Drive there, with one of its buildings featured prominently in his 1997 film Lost Highway. The sale was reported by The Washington Post, which added the late directors family is urging any buyer to preserve the propertys unique cinematic and architectural legacy. Marc Silver, listing agent with the Agency Beverly Hills, said demand had been overwhelming. He added: Buyers have to be very well prequalified in order to actually have a showing at the property. The familys strong desire is that the next owner protects, preserves and honours what David created. Davids former compound covers 2.3 acres on Senalda Road and includes seven buildings with 10 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, spanning more than 11,000 square feet. At its heart is the Beverly Johnson House, designed in the 1960s by Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd Wright. David purchased the house in 1987 and later acquired two neighbouring homes. One was turned into offices for his company Asymmetrical Productions, while another housed his screening room and editing suite. Richard Barney, professor of English at the University of Albany, visited the compound three times while interviewing David for a book. He said: As soon as you see it, you recognise it, remember it as being the house of the Madisons. It is not as spooky when youre there as it was made to be in the movie. In 1991, David commissioned Eric Lloyd Wright, grandson of Frank Lloyd Wright, to design a pool and pool house. Mr Silver said this was the only known property to carry contributions from three generations of the Wright family. He added: In the time that Ive been selling real estate, this is probably one of the only properties, if not the only property, that really checks all of these boxes. You have the architectural pedigree with Lloyd Wright and Eric Lloyd Wright, but as well as the cultural and historical significance and the cinematic and Hollywood history of David Lynch. Mr Barney said despite its size, the compound retained an enigmatic quality. He added: It did have a feeling of a maze. There is a part of that he really loved to capture in movies but also in Twin Peaks, like the Black Lodge. Where were you? And if you walk down that hallway, had you really arrived anywhere or were you just going in circles? 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 United States has forcefully sought to take TikTok's US operations out of the hands of Chinese parent company ByteDance for national security reasons. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his eldest son Lachlan could be among the investors who will take control of TikTok in the United States. The United States has forcefully sought to take TikTok's US operations out of the hands of Chinese parent company ByteDance for national security reasons. Since returning to power in January, Trump has repeatedly delayed implementation of the ban while a deal has been sought. He has negotiated with Beijing to sell the platform's US operations to a consortium of investors he describes as "patriots," including ally and tech giant Oracle's boss Larry Ellison, and entrepreneur Michael Dell. On Sunday, he added more names to that list. "I hate to tell you this, but a man named Lachlan is involved... Lachlan Murdoch, I believe," Trump said in an interview with Fox News. "And Rupert is, is probably going to be in the group. I think they're going to be in the group. Couple of others, really great people, very prominent people." Earlier this month, right-wing media mogul Rupert Murdoch's children reached a settlement in their long-running legal dispute over control of the media empire, cementing his eldest son Lachlan's leadership. Lachlan Murdoch, who officially took control of Fox News and News Corp as part of the deal, is Rupert Murdoch's eldest son. The elder Murdoch built a right-wing conservative media empire spanning the United States, Britain and Australia. On Saturday, the White House said the board of the new company that would control TikTok's US operations would be dominated by American citizens, and that a deal could be signed "in th coming days." 2025 AFP Thailand issues new regulation on corn imports for animal feed By Vietnam News Agency Mon, September 22, 2025 | 9:14 pm GMT+7 Thailand will ban imports of animal-feed corn produced from agricultural burning, a move that could help reduce worsening cross-border pollution while paving the way for purchases from the U.S. Chiang Mai's iconic Doi Suthep mountain is completely obscured by toxic haze on April 7, 2023. Thailand normally imports corn from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, where farmers rely on slash-and-burn practices. Photo courtesy of bangkokpost.com. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Duangarthit Nidhi-u-tai, deputy director-general of the Department of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce, said feed mills must present proof that imported corn comes from burn-free sources starting January 1, 2026. This marks the first time Thailand has applied an environmental measure to agricultural imports, though the regulation still requires cabinet approval in the coming weeks. The move comes as Bangkok and other parts of Thailand frequently suffer from heavy smog and poor air quality. While the rule is billed as a sustainable measure to fight air pollution, it is also viewed as a step toward opening imports from the U.S. the worlds largest corn producer, under commitments to expand market access in exchange for a tariff deal. During a transitional period beginning January 1, 2026, such imports may be certified by importers, exporting countries agencies or international organisations. This arrangement will end once the Clean Air Act takes effect, after which stricter rules will be applied. Importers could face one-year bans if they fail to comply. Thailand usually imports corn from neighboring Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, where slash-and-burn farming is common. Fires there produce thick smoke, with winds often carrying haze into northern and northeastern Thailand, worsening the countrys seasonal pollution crisis. In 2024, the three neighbors supplied Thailand with 2 million tons of corn. The country needs more than 8 million tons annually for feed production, but domestic output reaches only about 5 million tons. Currently, the U.S. cannot export corn to Thailand as the two sides agricultural authorities have yet to sign a separate agreement. However, during negotiations that resulted in Washington imposing a 19% tariff, Thailand offered to remove tariffs on 90% of U.S. goods, including corn, soybean meal and other farm products. Besides the U.S., other countries that could benefit from the new regulation include Mexico, Argentina, India and Pakistan - all WTO members with agricultural agreements with Thailand, Duangarthit added. The Trump administration plans to disclose that acetaminophen use during early pregnancy may increase the risk of autism in children. Officials will also highlight leucovorin as a potential autism treatment in a White House briefing. Trump officials highlight autism risks tied to prenatal Tylenol The administration's announcement comes after a review of recent studies, including an August report by researchers from Mount Sinai and Harvard. The results suggest a possible link between acetaminophen - known in the UK as paracetamol - and higher autism risk when used in early pregnancy. Health officials are expected to advise pregnant women to avoid using the drug unless it is necessary to treat a fever. Leucovorin, a drug traditionally prescribed to treat vitamin B9 deficiency and to counteract medication side effects, has shown promising results in early double-blind placebo-controlled trials involving children with autism. Scientists involved in these studies report "remarkable improvements" in speech and comprehension. President Donald Trump flagged the move on Sunday (21.09.25), calling it "one of the biggest announcements medically in the history of our country." He added: "I think you're going to find it to be amazing. I think we found an answer to autism." The initiative is led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya. The NIH is simultaneously launching a new autism data science initiative, funding 13 research teams focused on the causes and potential treatments of autism. White House spokesman Kush Desai said: "President Trump pledged to address Americas rising rate of autism, and to do so with Gold Standard Science. Todays announcement will make historic progress on both commitments." Autism spectrum disorder affects approximately 1 in 38 children in the U.S. It is characterised by social and communication challenges and repetitive behaviours. Genetics contribute to the condition and environmental factors are also believed to play a role, though the exact causes remain unclear. This new initiative may shape future public health guidance and research priorities on autism. 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). Whitney Wolfe Herd tried to "shut down" her biopic Swiped. Whitney Wolfe Herd did not want her Swiped biopic to be made The 36-year-old entrepreneur - who is the founder of the dating app Bumble - did not want the story of her life and rise to become the world's youngest billionaire to be told on the big screen. Wolfe Herd told CNBC: "So, I can't make it through the whole trailer, it's too weird for me. "No, I'm not involved in it. Frankly, I was informed about this movie after it was already off to the races. "I think they had already written the script and done all these things. I even was asking my lawyer two years ago, like, What do I do? I don't want a movie about me. Shut it down!'" However, Wolfe Herd's lawyer had bad news for the businesswoman. She recalled her lawyer saying: "'There's nothing you can do, you're somewhat of a public figure, there's public information out there, they're going to do what they're going to do.'" Wolfe Herd feels both "terrified" and "slightly flattered" about the movie - which she does not know if she is going to watch yet. The Bumble founder added: "I don't know if I'm going to watch it or not. "I'm, obviously, both terrified and maybe slightly flattered, but I think the strangeness and the fear of it outweighs any flattery. "So, listen, we'll just see. I guess I've got to get some popcorn and stay tuned." However, Wolfe Herd is delighted that Swiped's producers cast Lily James, 36, to play her. She said: "I'm honoured that they chose Lily James. She's a very talented actress." Meanwhile, James recently said she felt "guilty" and a "bit of a fake" starring in Swiped, as she has never used a dating app. The actress is quoted by the Sunday People newspaper as saying: "I feel guilty and a bit of a fake playing this creator of these apps, having never really done it." To get an idea of what it is like being on a dating app, the star used her friend's phone to "research" for the newly-released movie. James added: "But I did steal my friend's phone in preparation for this film, for research. "A lot of actually doing this movie kind of speaks to people. "One of the long-term producers on this film met their partner on Bumble, and it's pretty profound." And James - who dated former 42-year-old Doctor Who star Matt Smith from 2014 until 2019 - said she has always preferred to meet people in person. The star added: "I am scared that we are losing this - a lost art of seeing someone in the bar and just catching their eye and going over. "I hope that that doesn't disappear." We are hearing a lot about the 10% to be paid to public servants, but nothing is said about Yard Act are working on their third album with former Nine Inch Nails touring member Justin Meldal-Johnsen. Yard Act have promised 'the greatest third album ever recorded' The indie rock band - comprising James Smith, Ryan Needham, Sam Shipstone, and Jay Russell - have confirmed they are back in the studio preparing their follow-up to 2024's Top 5 LP Where's My Utopia?. Yard Act are working on the new record at Nave Studios in their native Leeds, West Yorkshire. In a recent Instagram update, the band penned: Hello from @nave_studios, where were making the greatest third album any band has ever recorded, with our new pal @justinmeldaljohnsen. They include a series of shots from the studio to mark BBC 6 Music T Shirt Day. The band added: "Thought wed celebrate @bbc6music #tshirtday by repping @kurtvile @badbrainsofficial @theofficialnapalmdeath @nuha__ruby__ra__ and Bill Nelson." As for Meldal-Johnsen's CV, he worked as Beck's musical director between 1996 and 2016, before hitting the road again with him in 2023. The producer was touring bassist, guitarist and keyboardist for Nine Inch Nails in 2008 and 2009. His production credits include Wolf Alice's Visions Of A Life and St. Vincent's All Born Screaming. The band worked on their previous album, the disco-leaning Where's My Utopia?, with non-virtual Gorillaz member Remi Kabaka Jr. Yard Act's 2022 debut album The Overload - which was nominated for the Mercury Prize - narrowly missed out on the number one spot, reaching number two behind Years and Years' Night Call in the Official UK Album Chart. A politician in Spain's ruling party, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), recently claimed that the country is one of the safest in the world during a plenary session in the lower house of the Spanish parliament. Justice Minister Felix Bolanos criticised Miguel Tellado, a Spanish MP and member of the conservative People's Party (Partido Popular), for the language he used in parliament while attacking the government for alleged corruption. He said it was borrowed straight from the far-right Vox party. "You don't realise that the underlying message of your speech, identifying immigration with crime, talking about an illegitimate government, talking about a public safety problem in our country, which is one of the countries with the highest public safety ratings in the world... you don't realise that your speech only serves to inflame the far right," Bolanos said in the heated exchange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To verify the validity of his claims about the safety of Spain and how the rest of Europe compares, we can take a look at different indices, such as the Global Peace Index, produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace. It measures the levels of societal safety and security, the extent of domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarisation in a given country. The lower the score, the more peaceful a country. In its 2025 edition, the index ranked Spain as the 25th safest country in the world, out of the 163 analysed countries. In fact, Europe dominated the top of the table: four of the top five safest countries in the world were European namely Iceland, Ireland, Austria and Switzerlandand eight European countries made the top 10 with Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia and Finland. Eurostat can also shed light on which European Union countries are considered the safest: One of the "quality of life" indicators that it records is physical safety, covering rates of homicide, violence and vandalism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the most recent dataset, Luxembourg had the lowest number of recorded homicides relative to its population size and per 100,000 people, standing at 0.32. Italy (0.48), Slovenia (0.52), the Czech Republic (0.53) and Austria (0.61) came next, with Spain coming in as the sixth lowest (0.63). The most "dangerous" countries using this metric are Latvia (4.88), Lithuania (3.54) and Estonia (2.78). Our colleagues at Europe in Motion also recently reported on perceived crime, violence and vandalism in people's neighbourhoods, based on Eurostat data. Here, Croatia, Lithuania and Poland are seen as the safest countries, based on citizens' experiences. Only 1.4% of Croatian citizens reported any anti-social activity, compared to 20.9% in Greece, the highest rate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Spain does have some of the worst rates when looking at these particular figures (13.6%), it's still true that it is generally among the safest countries in the world. Nevertheless, a briefing published in February by the European Parliamentary Research Group noted that "violence by criminals involved in organised crime is increasing in the EU, in terms of frequency, severity, visibility and impact." "Even though Europe is still one of the continents least affected by organised crime, criminal networks are expected to increase their global reach, become more fluid and digitalised, and thus more open to diversity and competition," it added, noting that the EU has already taken measures to turn the tide, such as introducing new legal and investigative frameworks to tackle violence. As the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine continues into a third year, Vladimir Putin has set his sights on new frontiers where he can further sow destabilisation. Amongst his new targets are Moldova, Georgia and the Western Balkans, where Moscow is fomenting chaos in the hopes of diverting Western attention from the atrocities Russia is committing in Ukraine. Putin can accomplish his security objectives here not through open conflict but by fuelling separatist movements and influence operations. On Monday, Russias foreign intelligence agency accused Nato of making Moldova a forward base and of preparing to draw Moldova into ... armed conflict with Russia. Russian media, meanwhile, spreads outlandish claims that Moldova is riddled with Western intelligence services and that MI6 is taking control of the Moldovan elections. Moscow has also claimed Moldovan intelligence is cooperating with Ukraine to sabotage Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to this idea, the West is using Moldova as a weapon against Russia, escalating tensions there and driving the country towards the same fate as Ukraine. In psychology, this is called projection. It is Russia that is propagating chaos in Moldovas upcoming elections. Russia wants to show that the West, particularly Europe, will not respond out of fear of escalations and will not support Moldovas turn towards Europe. Moldova, a small country in Europe that was once a Soviet Republic, has been subject to severe Russian pressure before. Russian peacekeepers are located in Transnistria, an internationally unrecognised, pro-Russian breakaway region. Beyond blunt military force, Russia has a variety of other means to influence Moldovan politics. During the 2024 presidential election campaign, Ilan Shor, a pro-Kremlin Moldovan oligarch, allegedly organised a $39 million vote-buying scheme through which over 138,000 Moldovans reportedly received money. More subtly, Russia can take advantage of the fact that Moldova is home to a large Russian-speaking population, as well as the autonomous region of Gagauzia, which is at odds with the central government in Moldovas capital Chisinau. The outcome of elections on September 28th could determine Moldovas future policy towards the EU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moldova is not the only place where Russia has intensified its hybrid warfare: Moscow has employed the same playbook in the Western Balkans. The Balkans most explosive tinderbox is Bosnia and Herzegovina. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Dayton peace agreement that ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the country is still wracked by divisions between Bosniak, Serb, and Croat communities, and Russia has exploited these ethnic divisions to its advantage. The Dayton agreement is in jeopardy, with Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, another Russian ally, threatening Republika Srpskas secession from the country. Russia has been trying to prove that Nato is a paper tiger unable to provide security in the Western Balkans. Russias goal in the Balkans is to position itself as the regions only reliable conflict negotiator. This game plan accomplishes two goals: strengthening Moscows standing in the region; and giving Putin leverage over Western powers. Putin aims to keep Georgia, too, under his thumb. According to the US defence intelligence agency: Russia almost certainly aims to return Georgia to its sphere of influence. Since the parliamentary elections in October, the Georgian Dream-led government has created an environment that enables Russia to increase its influence in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The countrys ruling populist party, Georgian Dream, has aligned with Moscow and spread fears that without them there will be war with Russia. According to former Georgian defence minister Vasil Sikharulidze, the Kremlins hybrid strategy fuses economic coercion, political manipulation, and information warfare. In Georgia, Russia also supports separatist narratives in Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia that Russian forces have occupied since the 2008 Russo-Georgian war. The Georgian Dream partys decision to suspend EU accession negotiations until 2028 has fuelled massive protests across Georgia. Predictably, Russias foreign intelligence service accused Washington of plotting a colour revolution. The Georgian Dream government follows Russias lead in other ways, too. Tbilisis legislation governing the transparency of foreign influence is a copy of Russias infamous foreign agent legislation, which Putin uses to stifle free speech in Russian civil society. Make no mistake: Putin will increasingly resort to asymmetric means of challenging and distracting the West by sowing chaos in Moldova, Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In response, London should lead a coalition of willing states to counter Russias hybrid war and conduct information operation campaigns, combating Russian influence and putting Moscow on the defensive. Now is the time for Britain and allied countries to show the world that Russia is an empty shell. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Six more countries to recognise Palestine as UN gears up for Statehood Summit France, Belgium and four other countries are set to recognise the Independent State of Palestine as the preparations are on for the Palestinian Statehood Conference to be held at UN Headquarters in New York Monday September 22, 2025. Monday September 22, 2025 7:26 PM , ummid.com News Network [A special ceremony was held Monday to raise the Palestinian National Flag at its UK Embassy in London.] United Nations: France, Belgium and four other countries are set to recognise the Independent State of Palestine as the preparations are on for the Palestinian Statehood Conference to be held at UN Headquarters in New York Monday September 22, 2025. The day-long Palestinian Statehood Conference to be held 03:00 PM New York Time (01:00 AM IST) is being hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. While French President Emmanuel Macron is in New York to address the conference, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is set to join in via video conferencing . The six countries to recognise the Independent State of Palestine today are France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, San Marino and Andorra. On Sunday, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal had announced the recognition of the State of Palestine. With this Palestine is officially recognized by 151 of the UNs 193 member states, and currently holds observer status within the United Nations . The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution asking the UN Security Council grant a full membership to the Palestine. Palestine Flag raised in London Embassy Meanwhile, a special ceremony was held Monday to raise the Palestinian National Flag at its UK Embassy in London. The flag-raising followed a speech by Palestines ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, outside what was previously the Palestine Mission to the UK, according to Al Jazera. Please join me as we raise the flag of Palestine with its colours representing our nation: Black for our mourning, white for our hope, green for our land and red for the sacrifices of our people, said Zomlot. We raise it in honour of the long journey of the Palestinian people towards freedom and justice and in honour of the millions of freedom-loving people in Britain and around the world. He continued: We raise it as a pledge that Palestine will live, Palestine will rise and Palestine will be free. Israel, and its sponsor and patron United States, are fuming over the countries recognising the State of Palestine, and have announced to boycott the UN Conference on Palestine Statehood. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic HA NOI Singapore energy group Nexif Ratch Energy will invest more than VN5.7 trillion (US$233 million) to develop a wind power project in Gia Lai Province, local authorities have said. According to the investment registration certificate, the Van Canh Binh inh wind power project will be developed in Canh Lien Commune. Construction is scheduled to run from the third quarter of this year until the third quarter of 2028. The plant will have a designed capacity of 143MW and is expected to generate about 392 million kWh per year. The investor will use more than 48 hectares of land for wind turbine foundations, underground cables, transmission lines, a substation, internal roads and an operation centre. Once operational, the project will supply renewable energy to the national grid, contributing to ensuring energy security. Nexif Ratch Energy, a joint venture between Singapores Nexif Energy and Thailands Ratch Group, is now one of the leading clean energy developers in the Asia-Pacific region. With a total area of more than 21,500 sq.m and a diverse ecosystem, Gia Lai has significant potential for renewable energy production, including wind, solar, hydropower, biomass, waste-to-energy and geothermal energy. Under the national power development plan, Gia Lai is expected to develop plants that will contribute more than 9,600MW of renewable energy. VNS HA NOI According to industry experts, the development of Viet Nam's crypto asset market not only aligns the country with global fintech trends, but also positions it as a trailblazer in establishing regulatory standards for the rapidly evolving crypto landscape. Viet Nam has taken a bold and calculated step into the world of digital finance with the issuance of Resolution 05/2025/NQ-CP on September 9, launching a five-year pilot programme for crypto asset trading. The resolution highlights Viet Nams cautious yet progressive entry into the regulated cryptocurrency market, establishing strict control and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of both domestic and foreign organisations and individuals. Colonel Dr Hoang Van Thuc, director of the Academy of Cryptography Techniques and a senior advisor of the Viet Nam Blockchain and Digital Asset Association, stressed that the controlled pilot demonstrates smart risk governance, a sign of caution amid breakthroughs. He highlighted it as the clearest evidence of the Party and States leadership mindset, a transition from pure management to a guided development approach. The State has laid a legal foundation for recognising and managing a completely new asset, which, the expert said, is a concrete step to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of investors, enterprises and people while preventing illegal activities. Thuc said the pilot programme would not be successful with loose management, particularly for crypto assets, which are tied to complicated technologies and exposed to non-traditional security risks. He explained that the State-controlled crypto market not only ensures financial security but also upholds the nations digital sovereignty. The timeframe of the five-year trial has been carefully calculated, long enough to test, evaluate and adapt policies while ensuring financial stability. He said that developing a crypto asset trading market will create a transaction platform and build trust, as well as promote transparency and social responsibility. Viet Nam needs a pool of well-trained specialists in information security, blockchain technology and digital financial risk management to operate the market in a safe and transparent way, Thuc added. Building a legal framework Financial experts said the resolution is a blueprint for Viet Nams crypto asset trading market during the trial period. Chairman of the Viet Nam Blockchain and Digital Asset Association Phan uc Trung said the issuance of the resolution underscores the Governments determination to create an enabling environment for investors and refine policies in line with international norms, helping to build confidence among global investors. Under the resolution, any service provider needs a chartered capital of at least VN10 trillion (US$379 million), at least 65 per cent of which must be contributed by institutional investors. Trung explained that this standard diverges from international practice, where technology, compliance, insurance, workforce and money laundering controls are often prioritised over capital thresholds. However, in Viet Nams pilot phase, the rule is meant to ensure that only players capable of covering losses to protect investors can enter the market. The regulation, however, has sparked concern among start-ups, with several Vietnamese blockchain firms already restricting domestic transactions to review compliance risks. Trung stated that while Viet Nam has long supported innovation through start-up initiatives in a Nang and HCM City and through the Ministry of Science and Technology, new complementary legal corridors should be penned to balance innovation with effective management. The association will continue coordination with relevant ministries to rapidly build a complete legal framework, he added. Trung also stressed that the lack of qualified workers is one of the biggest hurdles facing Viet Nams emerging digital asset ecosystem. Currently, the market is driven by spontaneous investors, while specialised personnel for regulation, service provision and participant education are still in short supply, he said. In particular, there is a glaring deficit in professionals with internationally recognised anti-money laundering certifications such as ACAMS, which requires 23 years of training and costs upwards of $18,000. He estimated that it would take three to five years for Viet Nam to absorb lessons from over a decade of global crypto market development. Trung also highlighted technical and operational challenges, including compliance with Level 4 information security, establishing proper custody mechanisms and transaction segregation. According to the expert, only an estimated 23 exchanges currently possess the infrastructure and capacity to meet these requirements. Another significant stipulation for the pilot is that only foreign investors are permitted to purchase crypto assets. While this aims to shield the domestic foreign exchange market, Trung acknowledged it may affect the attractiveness of Viet Nams crypto ecosystem to global participants. Nonetheless, around five digital asset exchanges are expected to be licensed and connected with international platforms to ensure liquidity and competitiveness. This move is seen as a key step towards attracting foreign tech investment, creating high-value jobs in cybersecurity, blockchain and risk management. Unlocking new capital for businesses The crypto pilot also opens new funding channels for Vietnamese enterprises. To Tran Hoa, deputy head of the Securities Market Development Department under the State Securities Commission, likened the role of a digital asset exchange to that of a stock exchange, a depository company and a brokerage all rolled into one. As such, it requires high levels of transparency, stability and security. Nguyen The Minh, head of Research and Development at Yuanta Securities Viet Nam, added that crypto could serve as a new capital mobilisation tool alongside traditional methods such as bank loans, IPOs and bond issuances. Though the market is currently limited to foreign investors, domestic banks and securities firms with existing infrastructure and risk management experience, they are poised to capitalise on emerging opportunities. Prominent financial expert Phan Dung Khanh said that Viet Nam has a large investor base ready to comply with tax and regulatory requirements if offered safe and legal trading platforms. In response to the new digital asset market, several securities companies have already taken proactive steps. SSI Securities Corporation launched SSI Digital in 2022 with a charter capital of VN200 billion, partnering with Tether, U2U Network and Amazon Web Services to build digital finance and cloud infrastructure. VIX Securities Corporation invested VN150 billion to establish VIX Crypto Asset Exchange JSC, headquartered in Ha Noi. Still, SSI chairman Nguyen Duy Hung cautioned that while the digital asset market offers immense potential, it remains risky and complex. Investors must be thoroughly informed before entering this space, he advised. Under the pilot programme, all cryptocurrency transactions must take place through exchanges licensed by the Ministry of Finance. Vietnamese investors currently using international exchanges will be required to transfer their assets to licensed domestic platforms. After a six-month grace period, non-compliant individuals may face administrative penalties or criminal prosecution. Investors will also be subject to tax disclosure and risk management obligations similar to those applied in the securities market, pending the rollout of a dedicated tax regime for crypto. VNS SEATTLE State President Luong Cuong received President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Stephanie Pope as part of his bilateral activities in Seattle city, Washington State of the US, on September 21 morning (US time). At the meeting, Pope welcomed the Vietnamese State leader to the companys headquarters in Seattle, calling it a great honour and a testament to the increasingly close cooperation between the US and Viet Nam. Discussing Boeings strategy and commitments in co-operation with Viet Nam, she affirmed that her company will continue working with Vietnamese airlines to gradually implement agreements between the two sides, thereby further strengthening cooperation with Vietnamese partners. Vietnam Airlines the national flag carrier of Viet Nam, currently operates 17 Boeing aircraft, while Vietjet has signed contracts to purchase more than 200 aircraft, with the first deliveries taking place on this occasion, she noted, underscoring the importance of the Southeast Asian market for Boeing. Agreeing with Popes views, President Cuong affirmed that Viet Nam US relations are growing strongly, especially since their upgrade to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023. With its dynamic economy, he noted, Viet Nam will be one of the promising markets for Boeings modern aircraft. President Cuong highly valued Boeings business achievements as well as its cooperation and support for Viet Nam in recent years, showing his delight at the completion of procedures for the handover of new aircraft to Vietnamese partners. He urged Boeing to continue close coordination to ensure the timely delivery of aircraft under signed contracts, with effective operational plans and financial arrangements. He expressed his admiration for Boeings strong growth as a leading global aircraft manufacturer. He noted that the companys advanced technologies, utilised by Vietnamese corporations and private enterprises, have delivered high efficiency, enhanced economic connectivity, and contributed to Viet Nams socio-economic development. Regarding Boeings commitments to supporting Viet Nams development, President Cuong proposed that the company soon study and invest in component manufacturing plants and establish a regional-scale maintenance centre for equipment, machinery, and aircraft linked with major airports. He stressed that such facilities would serve not only the Vietnamese market but also the wider Southeast Asian region. He also called on Boeing to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to gradually join its global supply chain, thereby strengthening the foundation for sustainable and long-term cooperation between the two sides. The Vietnamese leader affirmed that Viet Nam will provide the best possible conditions, in line with its laws, for US investors in general and Boeing in particular to conduct business and investment effectively and sustainably in the Southeast Asian nation. VNA/VNS In what Donald Trump described as a 'very productive' phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the US and China appear to have taken cautious steps toward resolving major trade and technology impasses. Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday, 19 September, that he and Xi discussed trade, fentanyl, the war in Ukraine and approved what he described as a TikTok deal. Analysts, however, noted that Beijing has not confirmed those details, leaving key aspects of the agreement uncertain, Reuters reported. What Is Known and What Is Not The report said the US and China had earlier reached a framework agreement to shift TikTok's US operations into the hands of a US-controlled entity. Trump claims this was confirmed during the call. Chinese officials, however, have only reiterated that negotiations will continue under market rules and in line with Chinese law. The Chinese foreign ministry did not confirm a deal outright. When announcing the outcomes of the phone call, Trump said China would increase purchases of US agricultural goods and that there would be a reversal of some tariffs. So far these promises are not backed by any formal published treaty or joint agreement. Observers say the statements from the US are more detailed than those from China. TikTok: Tentative Agreement or Hype? The issue of TikTok has become central to this diplomatic moment. Trump says there is an approved deal to save TikTok from a ban by having a US-based consortium, potentially including firms like Oracle, take control of its US operations while ByteDance retains ownership of the source code. But there is no clear confirmation from Chinese or ByteDance officials that this plan is final. China's statement emphasised that companies should follow 'market rules' and that any resolution must comply with its own laws. Analysts warn that key questions remain, especially around control of the algorithm, liability for user data, and the timeline for implementation. Some say this deal may still be more framework than final contract. Diplomatic Stakes and Trade War Context Trump's administration has been under pressure to deliver results in its trade war with China. The call is seen by diplomats and investors as an attempt to de-risk supply chains, protect national security especially in tech areas, and ease global market anxieties. Economies on both sides have been strained by tariffs, export controls and escalating trade restrictions. For China, the possibility of preserving part of its stake in TikTok operations while allowing a US path forward offers a face-saving outcome. It may help Beijing reassure domestic audiences that sovereignty and legal authority are respected even while engaging in compromise. Caution from Experts Despite the optimism, experts express caution. Scott Kennedy of the Center for Strategic and International Studies notes that no definitive deal has yet been confirmed by both sides. He argues that China may be using the momentum to delay or shape terms more favourable to its own interests. Others, like Ali Wyne of the International Crisis Group, suggest that while talking is a positive step, much of the progress is symbolic. The real tests will come in how and when the US and China implement the framework, especially in areas like intellectual property, algorithm oversight and export controls. What Next? Trump has confirmed he will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea in late October, where he may meet Xi in person. China has similarly signalled willingness to engage further. Many believe this summit may provide a chance to formalise parts of the agreement. For now, despite Trump's claims of progress, much remains unverified. The TikTok deal in particular appears to be a work in progress rather than a completed deal. Global markets seem relieved by the thaw in rhetoric, but investors and analysts alike are watching closely. In diplomacy as in business, negotiated agreements need as much weight in implementation as they do in announcement. Originally published on IBTimes UK SEATTLE Vietjet has received its first Boeing 737-8 aircraft from the airlines landmark order of 200 jets valued at US$32 billion with Boeing, the worlds leading aircraft manufacturer. The ceremony took place on September 21 at Boeings Delivery Centre in Seattle, Washington, attended by Viet Nams President Luong Cuong, senior officials from both nations and key business partners. Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and the US, the event marks both a major milestone in the growing partnership between Vietjet and Boeing and a powerful symbol of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations, driving trade and investment and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in the US. The new aircraft, along with hundreds more to be delivered in the next few years, will be deployed on Vietjets high-demand regional routes, enhancing the travel experience for millions of passengers. The milestone also underscores Vietjets commitment to expanding its international network, while contributing to the sustainable development of the aviation industry regionally and globally. Vietjet Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao said: The first Boeing aircraft received under this historic order is the result of nearly a decade of partnership between Boeing and Vietjet. It marks the start of hundreds more deliveries in the years ahead." "This milestone strengthens bilateral trade, symbolises the US-Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and reflects our shared ambition to reach new heights in aviation." Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said: The 737-8 will support the airlines network growth, opening new routes to serve Southeast Asia and reinforcing the strength of one of the regions most dynamic new-generation carriers." VNS HA NOI Viet Nams manufacturing industry is now at a pivotal stage, with international trade emerging not only as a channel for expanding markets but also as a powerful driver for enterprises to transform and upgrade their capacity. Following the 80-year Journey of Independence Freedom Happiness exhibition, the business community joined the Factory Network Business Conference (FBC ASEAN 2025), held at the Vietnam Exposition Centre (VEC) in Ha Noi last week. The event brought together some 23,000 manufacturing enterprises from across the world, including Germany, Italy, Japan and Thailand. It showcased scientific achievements, innovations, and the latest machinery and equipment in mechanical engineering, automation, electronics and precision engineering. At the same time, it attracted major buyers such as Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic, Samsung, Toto, Fujifilm and Tiger, who presented technologies and products while seeking long-term suppliers and partners. According to Phan ang Tuat, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Supporting Industries, the biggest challenge to the countrys manufacturing sector is market access as firms remain passive in areas such as logistics and policy in the face of global uncertainties and supply chain disruptions. He suggested the Government prioritise support policies such as establishing testing and certification centres to help businesses gain quality certificates to engage in global markets, and creating start-up hubs with shared facilities for trial product and service development, noting that these could operate on a fee-paying basis rather than being offered free of charge. He noted that such mechanisms were still absent in Viet Nam, which put businesses at a disadvantage. Echoing these concerns, ang Thanh Binh, Director of TCI Industry JSC a private company specialising in precision machining and automation with nearly 20 years experience, said most Vietnamese businesses were small firms which often faced barriers in accessing state support, particularly in loans, tax incentives, and compliance with technical standards. Despite this, TCI had drawn up flexible strategies, seeking to expand beyond Japanese and FDI clients to new partners in Europe and the US while increasing the export of complete automation solutions. Participation in FBC ASEAN 2025, he said, was a step to connect with new customers. Ogawa Tsuyoshi, General Director of Japans TKR Manufacturing Vietnam, which has operated in the country since 2018 with over 500 employees, said the company looked forward to forging links with global assemblers and suppliers through the event. He noted that the conference offered companies a chance to seek potential partners and cooperation opportunities to develop products and services that would be difficult to be supplied by a single company, adding that Viet Nams manufacturing sector still boasted significant growth potential within ASEAN. Similarly, Hamada Shogo, General Director of Daiwa Vietnam, observed that while the countrys strong export performance had been well maintained, greater emphasis should be placed on product research and development to strengthen local firms innovation capacity. He noted that Vietnamese manufacturers were already capable of meeting the stringent requirements of partners in Europe, the US and Japan, and with continued focus on quality, the countrys supporting industries would be well positioned for further growth. International trade would no longer merely be an exchange of goods but a strategic lever enabling Vietnamese enterprises to enhance capacity, secure partnerships, and expand globally. VNS HA NOI Becamex IDC has hit another roadblock in its plans to raise capital through a public share offering, as state shareholders opted not to express their opinions on the matter. The company had proposed to issue 150 million shares via a public auction with a starting price of no less than VN50,000 per share (US$1.9). In a recent vote among shareholders, Becamex IDC distributed 5,976 ballots representing over 1.03 billion BCM shares, equivalent to 100 per cent of its total capital. Of these, only 136 ballots were returned, representing more than 1.01 billion shares, or 98.29 per cent of the total voting shares. However, just 128 ballots, representing approximately 29.5 million shares (2.85 per cent of the voting shares), supported the capital increase. In contrast, six ballots representing over 987.8 million shares (95.44 per cent) remained silent, indicating that no shareholders actively opposed the proposal. This lack of response from state shareholders, particularly the Binh Duong Provincial Peoples Committee, which controlled 95 per cent of Becamex IDCs capital before the July 1 restructuring, raises questions about the future of the share offering. The planned public offering aimed to raise a minimum of VN7.5 trillion, with allocations earmarked for project investments, capital increases for existing subsidiaries and debt repayment. Specifically, VN2.5 trillion was to be invested in projects, VN3.33 trillion for increasing the charter capital of subsidiaries and VN1.67 trillion for settling loans. Previously, Becamex IDC had ambitions to issue 300 million shares through a public auction on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HoSE) at a starting price of VN69,600 per share, aiming to raise over VN20.8 trillion. However, adverse market conditions influenced by US tariff policies forced the company to postpone the plan as its share price declined significantly. Currently, BCM shares are trading at VN68,900, down nearly 1.6 per cent since the start of the year, with a market capitalisation of over VN71.3 trillion. BIZHUB/VNS HA NOI The stock market dipped on Monday as major stocks faced strong selling pressure, while foreign investors continued to withdraw large amounts from two main exchanges. On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index closed the trading day at 1,634.45 points, down 24.17 points, or 1.46 per cent. During the session, the index even dropped nearly 40 points. However, buying interest in certain stocks helped narrow the decline as the day progressed. The breadth on the southern bourse remained in the negative territory as the decliners outnumbered gainers by 262 to 72. Liquidity, however, increased by 22.6 per cent from the previous session to nearly VN35.8 trillion (US$1.4 billion). The VN30-Index, which tracks the 30 biggest stocks on HoSE, also declined nearly 40 points, or 2.15 per cent, to 1,819.6 points. Notably, 27 stocks went down, while two ticked up and one ended flat. In the large-cap sector, several bank stocks experienced significant drops, such as HDBank (HDB), which fell by 3.97 per cent, VPBank (VPB) by 2.96 per cent, Techcombank (TCB) by 2.34 per cent and Vietinbank (CTG) by 3.71 per cent. The securities sector faced similar challenges, with SSI Securities Corporation (SSI) falling 2.6 per cent, VNDirect Securities Company (VND) down 2.42 per cent and Ho Chi Minh City Securities Corporation (HCM) plunging 2.25 per cent. The real estate sector also saw an average decline of 1.7 per cent, primarily due to the Vingroup ecosystem. Vinhomes (VHM) and Vingroup (VIC) contributed nearly five points to the VN-Index's drop. Despite the overall decline, there were bright spots, as some real estate stocks managed to rise. Phat Dat Real Estate Development JSC (PDR) gained 2.13 per cent, DIC Group (DIG) increased by 1.22 per cent and GEO Group (CEO) rose by 3.27 per cent, continuing their recovery from the previous week, supported by net buying from foreign investors. The HNX-Index on the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) decreased by 2.01 points, or 0.73 per cent, to 274.23 points. Also weighing on the market, foreign investors were active during the session but leaned towards net selling, with a value exceeding VN1.75 trillion on the two main bourses. Experts from Vietcombank Securities (VCBS) indicated that the index representing HoSE was currently in a phase of searching for momentum and balancing supply and demand. They anticipated that the VN-Index might move sideways within a 30-point range moving forward. Previously, analysts from Yuanta Vietnam had predicted a potential recovery for the VN-Index earlier this week, but noted that they expected it to remain in a sideways trend afterwards, unless it surpasses the nearest resistance level of 1,686 points. Based on technical analysis, ASEAN Securities has provided a similar forecast, identifying a resistance range of 1,670 to 1,680 points, which is 10 to 20 points higher than the current level. BIZHUB/VNS A NANG The second a Nang International Travel Festival, set to become one of the largest networking events in Viet Nams tourism industry, will take place from October 1617 at the central coastal citys Ariyana Convention Centre. The festival will bring together tourism professionals, travel agencies, hospitality operators and local authorities to explore new opportunities, strengthen partnerships and showcase the citys vibrant tourism offerings. The festival is jointly organised by the a Nang Tourism Association and HorecFex Vietnam, which specialises in hospitality, restaurants and catering services. Around 2,000 delegates are anticipated, including representatives from more than 200 domestic travel businesses and 120 international companies from key markets such as Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Japan, China, India and Russia. A highlight of the event will be the B2B networking session 'Buyers Meet Sellers,' held throughout the two days to connect travel agencies, hotels, restaurants and service providers. This activity is expected to broaden partnership networks, generate new cooperation agreements and attract more international visitors to Viet Nam. Founder and President of HorecFex Vietnam Nguyen uc Quynh said the festival aims to become a prestigious annual event in the region, helping enhance the reputation and global profile of Viet Nams tourism industry. The event will also feature workshops and forums on destination marketing, focusing on brand promotion, sustainable development and effective use of the cultural and heritage values of central Viet Nam. Additionally, the a Nang Tourism Association will host seminars and thematic discussions to support enterprises in improving service quality, competitiveness and business efficiency. VNS WASHINGTON State President Luong Cuong met with Lieutenant Governor of Washington Denny Heck in Seattle city on September 21 morning (US time) as part of his working trip to attend the High-Level General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) and engage in bilateral activities in the US. At the meeting, State President Cuong affirmed that one of the key goals of his trip is to further promote and deepen the Viet Nam - US comprehensive strategic partnership, and relations with all partners. Viet Nam considers the US one of its most important partners, with Washington State serving as a key local partner and one of the countrys leading economic and trade hubs, the Vietnamese leader said, noting that Viet Nam is currently Washingtons fifth-largest export market. He highly valued the practical benefits of bilateral cooperation in recent years, expressing his satisfaction with the tangible outcomes achieved in trade, education, aviation, and energy. There is great potential for Viet Nam and the US to expand cooperation across fields, the President stressed, suggesting the two sides maintain momentum by enhancing delegation exchanges and meetings at all levels; facilitate trade and investment activities; and promote cooperation in science and technology, artificial intelligence, logistics, clean energy, and deep-water port, as well as strengthening ties between Washington and HCM City. President Cuong emphasised that Washington State has a population of Vietnamese and Vietnamese-Americans who hold an important position and role within the Vietnamese community in the US. He called on the state leaders to continue supporting the community so it can grow stronger and make greater contributions to bilateral relations. Lieutenant Governor Heck congratulated Viet Nam on its significant socio-economic development achievements. He affirmed Washington considers Viet Nam a priority partner in the region, noting that the state has exported millions of US dollars worth of agricultural products to Viet Nam, contributing to balancing trade between the two countries. He emphasised Washingtons readiness to work with Vietnamese partners to deepen government-business connections; promote two-way trade and investment; enhance cooperation in green logistics and supply chain development; and foster human resources development and innovation. The Lieutenant Governor also praised the effective collaboration between Vietnamese and US businesses, particularly in the aviation sector. He highlighted the recent delivery of a Boeing 737-8 aircraft to Vietjet as a significant milestone, contributing to promoting harmonious trade between the two nations. This cooperation not only creates thousands of jobs in Washington but also affirms the potential and important role of Vietnamese enterprises in international arena. Commending the role and contributions of the Vietnamese community to Washingtons economy, Heck pledged to provide a favourable environment for living, studying, and doing business, promote cultural and educational exchanges, startup initiatives, and connections between Washington and Viet Nam. On this occasion, President Cuong invited Washington state leaders to visit Viet Nam in the near future, aiming to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and between Washington and Viet Nam in particular. VNS NEW YORK President Luong Cuong, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, on September 21 evening (local time) for the high-level general debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) and bilateral activities in the US. Welcoming the leader and delegation at the airport were Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the UN o Hung Viet, and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and Mission. President Cuongs first trip for multilateral diplomacy at the largest global forum holds utmost importance as the UN is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. It also marks two years since Viet Nam and the US established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and 30 years since the normalisation of bilateral ties. After nearly 50 years, the Viet Nam UN relations have continued to grow strongly and become increasingly substantive. The UN has continually accompanied Viet Nam during the periods of post-war reconstruction, elimination of embargoes, and integration into the world. President Cuongs participation in the high-level general debate of the UNGA 80 continue to demonstrate Viet Nams contributions to the worlds largest multilateral organisation, as well as its active role in the settlement of regional and global issues. He is scheduled to attend a high-level meeting celebrating the UNs 80th anniversary and deliver important addresses at the high-level general debate and a special high-level event on climate action, thereby conveying a message about Viet Nam as a responsible member of the UN which actively take part in and substantively contribute to activities and major priorities of the UN and the international community. He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of international organisations and countries present at the UN high-level week. Meanwhile, 30 years since the normalisation of bilateral ties and two years since the elevation of relations to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development, the Viet Nam US relations have been developing extensively and intensively, with many encouraging results and stronger strategic cooperation recorded in all aspects, especially in handling war legacy. During the trip, the President is set to have meetings with leaders of the US; receive enterprises, financial organisations, long-standing friends and partners, and leading scholars; attend a gathering of the two countries war veterans; and meet with staff of Viet Nams representative bodies and the Vietnamese community in the US. Besides, President Cuong will also chair a ceremony marking Viet Nams 80th National Day in New York. The activities aim to assert Viet Nams policy of attaching importance to further developing ties with the US, especially in economy, trade, investment, and science technology; promote the implementation of the agreements and commitments reached by the two countries leaders; gather support from different strata for Viet Nam and bilateral relations; and show the Party and States attention to the Vietnamese community in the US. VNA/VNS BERLIN Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen ac Thanh highlighted milestones and strides in the five-decade relationship between the two countries in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in Berlin, ahead of the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties on September 23. The foundation of bilateral ties rests on decades of unique people-to-people exchanges. From President Ho Chi Minhs time in Berlin in the early 20th century to the mid-century influx of Vietnamese officials, engineers, students and workers in Germany, citizens of both nations have become cultural bridges and deepened mutual understanding between the two, according to the ambassador. In terms of diplomacy, politics and security, the 2011 Ha Noi Declaration on the establishment of the Viet NamGermany Strategic Partnership paved the way for frequent high-level visits, ministry exchanges and local-level engagements. Party-to-party and people-to-people diplomacy have deepened, with the Communist Party of Vietnam holding high-level dialogues with both the Social Democratic Party and the Left Party of Germany. National defence and security cooperation has made notable strides, becoming a key pillar of the Strategic Partnership amid rising global geopolitical challenges. In November 2022, the two defence ministries signed a cooperation agreement, setting a comprehensive framework for the exchange of delegations, strategic sharing, training, military medicine and peacekeeping. Both sides share a common vision on multilateralism, maintaining a rules-based order and upholding international law, the United Nations Charter and its principles. As for economic and trade ties, Germany ranks as Viet Nam's top trade partner in the European Union (EU) and its 12th globally, with two-way trade doubling from US$5.6 billion in 2011 to $11.1 billion in 2024. As Viet Nam's fourth largest European investor, Germany sees the Southeast Asian nation as a key destination for supply chain diversification. German enterprises are increasingly interested in Viet Nam's investment climate to avoid overreliance on a single market. Judicial, scientific, educational, healthcare, socio-cultural and tourism ties also continue to yield results. Germany ranks among Viet Nam's top 10 tourism markets, with German visitors benefitting from a 45-day visa waiver since 2023. The Vietnamese community, numbering several hundred thousand in Germany, remains a vital link in bilateral relations. "A key advantage in Viet NamGermany ties is that cooperation initiatives align with the policy orientations of both sides, serving the shared interests of their people, businesses and localities," Thanh noted. Looking ahead, he saw vast potential in trade, investment, innovation and science and technology as Viet Nam gears up for a new growth phase and Germanys coalition government prioritises economic issues. Both countries are pushing for swift ratification of the EUViet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to boost momentum, according to the ambassador. Vietnamese firms should leverage the EUViet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) in agriculture, apparel and electronics, while German investors eye opportunities in digital transformation, energy transition, financial centres and infrastructure projects such as high-speed rail, airports and energy. The two nations have also pledged to cooperate in environmental protection and sustainable development, scaling up renewable energy, water resource management and biodiversity projects. Labour cooperation and vocational training are also expanding to meet German demand for skilled workers. Both nations have coordinated a series of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in their capitals since early 2025. Recent celebrations in Berlin marked Viet Nam's 80th National Day and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties. A German Festival is also planned for October this year at Ha Noi's iconic Hoan Kiem Lake. Viet Nam welcomes visits by German government leaders as well as foreign ministry and local officials. The Vietnamese Embassy in Germany also looks forward to hosting a high-ranking delegation from the Vietnamese Government on an official visit to Germany later this year to reaffirm the two governments political commitment to elevating the strategic partnership and meeting the expectations of German businesses operating in Viet Nam. Asked about key focuses of bilateral cooperation in 2025 and beyond, Thanh underscored intensified contacts and exchanges across Party, State, parliamentary and people-to-people channels, with a focus on making science, technology and innovation a new pillar of the Strategic Partnership. He stressed the need to leverage existing cooperation mechanisms to tap strengths and favourable conditions so that the Viet NamGermany Strategic Partnership best serves the governments and peoples of both countries, contributing to peace, prosperity, sustainable development and innovation. In terms of necessary steps to further develop bilateral ties, he suggested maintaining and setting up regular dialogue mechanisms at various levels to track the progress of agreements. New dialogue frameworks could also be considered to adapt to rapid global changes. The diplomat also proposed increased cooperation at multilateral forums to address global challenges and maintain peace, security and sustainable development, stronger coordination in promising areas such as information technology, artificial intelligence, digital economy, green economy and circular economy, as well as deeper business-to-business connectivity through forums, trade fairs and bilateral investment promotion events to better tap opportunities and complementarities. Other steps include accelerating the signing of trade, investment and cooperation agreements in multiple sectors and scaling up cultural and people-to-people exchanges through festivals, exhibitions and art events to showcase each countrys cultural identity, such as Viet Nam Day in Germany. VNS WELLINGTON New Zealand may share its experience with Viet Nam in areas such as national governance, digital transformation, and green development; provide more scholarships for Vietnamese students; and promote student exchanges and cooperation between universities of the two nations, said a Vietnamese Party official. Nguyen Trong Nghia, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and head of the committees Commission for Information, Education, and Mass Mobilisation, made the suggestion at a meeting with Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives (Parliament) Gerry Brownlee on Monday (local time), as part of his ongoing visit to the country. During the meeting, Nghia conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from Vietnamese leaders to Speaker Gerry Brownlee and highly appreciated the outcomes of his official visit to Viet Nam in late August. For his part, Speaker Gerry Brownlee warmly welcomed the Viet Namese delegation at a time when bilateral relations are flourishing. He expressed deep impressions of his recent visit to Viet Nam, particularly witnessing the joyful atmosphere of the people during the 80th National Day celebrations. He congratulated Viet Nam on its recent achievements and noted the countrys increasingly important role and position in the region and the world. The top legislator of New Zealand also expressed his delight at the two countries upgrading their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership earlier this year. He emphasised the great potential for both sides to further expand cooperation in the future and affirmed his confidence that Viet Nam will successfully achieve its development goals set for 2030 and 2045. New Zealand will continue to accompany Viet Nam in its development journey, contributing to the shared prosperity of both nations, he noted. Nghia thanked the Government, Parliament, and people of New Zealand for their valuable support and assistance to Viet Nam across various sectors over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, as well as in the current nation-building and development process. He proposed that both sides continue to nurture and strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, implement high-level agreements, and soon finalise the Action Programme for the 2025-2030 period to realise strategic cooperation. He stressed the need to further strengthen political ties through high-level and all-level exchanges via Party, State, and Government channels, while also enhancing people-to-people exchanges and cooperation among localities and businesses of the two countries. Both sides agreed to direct relevant agencies to coordinate on concrete measures to further enhance cooperation in key areas such as economy, investment, trade, defence, and security. They also discussed the early establishment of a direct air route between the two countries to facilitate tourism, cultural exchanges, education and training, and other areas aligned with global trends. On international issues, both sides emphasised the importance of ensuring an environment of peace, stability and development in the region and the world, and respecting international law. They also underscored the significance of freedom, security, and safety of navigation and overflight in the region. VNA/VNS NEW YORK State President Luong Cuong led a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to attend a high-level meeting marking the 80th founding anniversary of the United Nations (UN) in New York on September 22 morning (local time). Attending the ceremony were 103 heads of state, 46 Prime Ministers, along with high-ranking leaders of UN member states, and leaders of international and regional organisations. Speaking at the event, President of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock emphasised that this is an opportunity for countries to reaffirm their commitment to the UN Charter the fundamental document that embodies the aspirations, faith, and hope of humanity worldwide for peace, development, and human rights. Affirming that the UN is the only organisation capable of connecting all nations and holding global political credibility, she called on member states to uphold cooperation, support UN reforms to adapt to the new era, and strictly fulfill their obligations under the UN Charter, while uniting and taking concrete actions to address global issues such as poverty, conflict, and climate change. In his remarks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the international community continues to face challenges from protracted conflicts, geopolitical competition, climate change, and natural disasters, particularly as the world gradually shifts toward a multipolar order. He underscored that over the past 80 years, the UN has been a cornerstone for hope and international cooperation, serving as a forum for dialogue among nations to advance peace, human rights, sustainable development, and humanitarian action. He also called on all countries to uphold international law, respect the UN Charter, and work together toward peace, justice, and progress for all. Some speakers stressed the role of women in peace negotiations and reconciliation, calling for continued efforts to strengthen womens participation across all sectors. VNA/VNS New York US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for investment in Africa's potential, which is "at the heart" of considerable opportunities HA NOI Public school teachers across Viet Nam are expected to see their salaries rise substantially under a draft circular by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), with the highest levels reaching approximately VN17.7 million (US$671) per month. The new pay scales are tied to teachers professional titles, ranging from regular to senior positions, and vary by level of education. At the preschool level, a regular teacher would receive between VN4.9 million and VN11.4 million ($186-$432), while senior preschool teachers could earn from VN9.4 million up to nearly VN15 million ($356-$569). For those who have not yet met the required qualifications, salaries would start lower, at about VN4.35 million, and top out just below VN9.5 million ($165-$360). Primary school teachers are slated for slightly higher pay scales. A regular teacher would earn between around VN5.5 million and VN11.7 million ($208-$444), while other teachers could make from VN9.4 million to nearly VN14.9 million ($356-$565). The most senior primary teachers, however, would fall into the top bracket of the entire system, with salaries stretching from VN13.5 million to nearly VN17.7 million ($512-$671). Teachers without standard qualifications remain in the lowest band, similar to preschool levels. For secondary teachers, the draft sets the same salary ranges as for primary teachers, with senior teachers again reaching the VN17.7 million ceiling. At the high school level, salaries climb slightly higher for main teachers, starting from VN10.3 million and running up to nearly VN15.9 million ($390-$603), while senior teachers continue to share the top bracket with their peers in primary and lower secondary schools. MOET noted that the salary system will not be based solely on academic qualifications but on job position, responsibilities and professional expertise. The ministry also confirmed that, in addition to base salaries, teachers will continue to receive allowances and special coefficients designed to ensure their pay remains among the most competitive in the public sector. Earlier this year, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said all teachers could expect their base salaries to increase by at least VN2 million per month ($76), with some seeing rises of up to VN7 million ($265). These figures cover salaries only and do not include allowances. VNS PHU THO Hang Kia, located in the northern province of Phu Tho, was once a hotspot for drugs. Now, the community is being revitalised thanks to the efforts of local authorities and residents. One young Mong man stands out amid the area's transformation: Giang A La, who has aspirations of prosperity for his homeland. A La said that in 2018, after graduating from the Northwest College of Arts, he returned home with the desire to help his community build wealth on their native land. Born and raised in a mountainous region full of hardships and shortages, A La understands better than anyone the difficult life of his parents and other local residents. Initially, A La started his business breeding the well-known black chickens of the Mong people, a native bird that is considered to be medicinal and is famous for its nutritional value. His initial capital was only VN1 million (US$37), a gift awarded by his school for being the top graduate. With this tiny seed fund, La built a small chicken coop, accumulating experience by teaching himself and experimenting with raising chickens. But the path to entrepreneurship was not easy. A harsh climate, diseases and a lack of proper care techniques caused frequent losses to his flock. After six years of persevering despite repeated losses, A La decided the chicken-raising model ultimately did not bring the expected profit. Failures came quickly, one after another. But instead of giving up, A La considered them life lessons. "Starting with nothing, I realised that to succeed, I must first acquire knowledge," he said. Great potential During his daily struggle to make a living, A La often helped tourist groups as a guide, performer or cook. Through these experiences, he recognised the vast potential of his homeland: pristine landscapes, unique Mong culture and local peoples hospitality. From this realisation, a bold idea was born. A La shifted from chicken farming to developing community-based tourism combined with agriculture. In the early days, with no capital, he borrowed money from his brothers and friends. Each person loaned him up to VN10 million ($370), adding up to a total of VN100 million ($3,700). With this initial capital, he built a homestay. Unlike many places that rush to build concrete stilt houses with a faux-traditional look, A La chose to construct traditional Mong houses, ensuring cleanliness and only adding extra lighting for visitors. It was this simplicity and authenticity that delighted tourists, who considered it a truly authentic experience. He did not hide his difficulties. Coming late into the homestay movement, I had to find ways to differentiate my business from others. Whenever I had VN10 million, I invested VN10 million into the business. If I had VN20 million, I used VN20 million, and I was able to renovate gradually. Each year, I managed to save VN100-200 million to reinvest, he said. Hang Kias transformation In 2020, Giang A La and several other young people established the Hang Kia Tourism and Agricultural Cooperative. This was the first model in the area to combine two fields: community-based tourism and local agricultural products. His bold idea received strong support from local authorities, because of its sustainable direction in developing the local economy while also preserving cultural identity. The biggest investment is in people, knowledge and management thinking. As for the landscape, the village already has what it needs, A La said. Thanks to this philosophy, the cooperative quickly gathered many members, all working together to develop the area. The cooperative was established just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the number of tourists dropped, they still made enough to maintain operations. During the three years of the pandemic, A La didn't stop, but used the time to learn by participating in trainings and improving his management and marketing skills. Today, visitors to Hang Kia can rest in traditional bamboo and wooden houses and immerse themselves in the daily life of the Mong people. They can participate in unique activities, such as pounding rice cakes, or enjoying ethnic cuisine featuring black chicken, local pork and corn wine. A La said: Visitors come here to find the unique identity of the Mong people, not something mixed or diluted. We keep the cultural story intact, from the houses and traditional costumes to the lifestyle. That is what truly fascinates the tourists. Beyond creating experiences, the cooperative also brings job opportunities for residents. Agricultural products, brocade and local specialties are introduced to tourists, generating additional income. Mong women who used to only work in the fields now have a chance to work in tourism and handicraft sales. Instead of leaving the village to work far away, more young people are choosing to stay and work to develop tourism. Giang A Las journey is not just a personal start-up story, but also a testament to the transformation of a land once labelled a hotspot for crime. From his failures with black chickens and hard struggles, the young man found a suitable path: building a business based on the cultural identity of his ethnic community. His story also reflects the spirit of the National Target Programme for the development of ethnic groups and mountainous areas, encouraging ethnic youth to start businesses, develop the economy, preserve their culture and sustainably lower the poverty rate. Today, when people mention Hang Kia, they think of a peaceful Mong village with authentic homestays, where visitors can immerse themselves in mountain scenery, a unique culture and the inspiring story of a young man who dared to dream and take action. What I want most is to create an environment where the younger generation has opportunities to study and work so they dont have to leave their hometown. Getting rich right here on our homeland in a legitimate way, that is true happiness, A La said. Now, every step of the way, visitors feel a new vitality the vitality of a community that knows how to unite, harness the potential for development and preserve their cultural identity to achieve sustainable prosperity. VNS HA NOI According to the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), approximately 425 full-time union officials are set to retire as part of ongoing administrative restructuring, with compensation expected to exceed VN400 billion (US$15.2 million). In May this year, the Politburo issued Conclusion No 157-KL/TW, which set out to end trade union activities within state-funded administrative bodies, armed forces units and public service agencies, in line with upcoming amendments to the Constitution and the trade union law. Government Resolution No 07/2025/NQ-CP stated that full-time contractual union officials, whose salary and allowance are paid by union funds, are among the five categories eligible for allowance or severance pay due to the restructuring. The first category includes people with less than two years until retirement age. They will receive a one-time retirement allowance, calculated as 80 per cent of their current monthly salary multiplied by the number of months they retire early. If they meet the required 15 years of service with mandatory social insurance contributions to qualify for a pension, they will receive retirement benefits according to the law without reduction due to early retirement. The second category comprises individuals between two and five years from retirement age. Their one-time retirement allowance is calculated in the same way as the first group. They are also not subject to early retirement reduction if they have met the requirements for social insurance contributions. This group also receives an allowance equivalent to four months pay for each year of early retirement, and three months pay for the first 15 working years with social insurance contributions. Counting from their 16th working year, they will receive half of their current monthly salary for every year that they contributed to the social insurance fund. The third category includes people between five and 10 years from retirement age, who will receive a one-time retirement calculated as 70 per cent of their current monthly salary multiplied by 60 months. Early retirement reduction will also not be applicable if they have met the required 15 years of service with insurance. Additional allowances include three months pay for each year of early retirement, three months pay for the first 15 working years with mandatory social insurance contributions. They will also receive half a months pay for each subsequent year of service with insurance contributions, from the 16th year onward. The fourth category is for cases not eligible for early retirement policies, who will be entitled to a severance package. This group can also retain their social insurance contribution period, or receive a one-time social insurance payment and unemployment insurance, as stipulated by law. The fifth category comprises individuals who have reached retirement age. They will receive the same benefits as cadres, civil servants, public employees, workers and armed forces personnel according to Government Decree No 135/2020/N-CP. At a recent press briefing of the VGCL, the confederations deputy head of the Policy and Labour Relations Department Ho Thi Kim Ngan said that these compensation and severance payments will be completed by November 1 at the latest. As this concerns the rights of workers, the VGCL will soon issue an implementation guideline. After that, the confederations units will issue decisions on early retirement or resignation in October 2025, said Ngan. The funds for paying allowances, compensation or severance to full-time contractual union officials will come from the union budget. VNS LAM ONG The central province of Lam ong has launched an intensive inspection campaign targeting 12 businesses and facilities involved in purchasing, processing, and exporting seafood to European markets as part of the ongoing nationwide efforts to have the European Commissions yellow card warning against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing removed. At the heart of the campaign, running from September 22 to 26, is the scrutiny of internal anti-IUU protocols across the entire supply chain, from raw material procurement through processing, preservation, and final export. Businesses must maintain well-organised records, making them ready for review by the EC delegation. Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Van Chien said the campaign is to examine and evaluate the compliance with IUU-related legal requirements among the businesses and provide them with guidance in a timely fashion, ensuring they are well prepared for the ECs fifth inspection. Seafood processing is among Lam ongs key industries, contributing substantially to local export revenues. The province is now home to 26 companies with 34 processing facilities authorised for seafood export, including five directly shipping their products to Europe. In the first half of the year, over 20,000 tonnes of seafood was processed, generating export revenues of more than US$117 million, up 6 per cent year-on-year. Over the recent past, Lam ong has drastically carried out harmonious measures to carry out the ECs recommendations and ensure sustainable fisheries development. In particular, communications campaigns to raise public awareness of anti-IUU fishing regulations have been conducted regularly, raising awareness among fishermen. Since the start of 2025, border guard units have held over 500 outreach sessions involving 27,700 fishermen and secured commitments from 5,735 vessel owners and captains. More than 8,400 fishing boats from six metres in length have been registered on the national fisheries database system (VNFishbase). Of the 1,984 vessels 15 metres or longer, 1,972 have been equipped with vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and updated on the national VMS network, achieving full compliance among active boats. The 12 vessels yet to install VMS have been suspended from operations. Over the past eight months, the law enforcement force has forwarded over 150 violation cases to relevant authorities for administrative punishment. VNA/VNS ONG NAI The Peoples Procuracy of the southern province ong Nai has issued its indictment against 40-year-old Nguyen Thi Hong Bich from Phuoc An Commune, on charges of murder along with illegal possession, transport and use of toxic substances. Bich making a living with a small food joint specialised in Vietnamese noodles and rice dishes is suspected of deliberately poisoning her husband and three nephews with cyanide, resulting in multiple deaths within her extended family, in a shocking case. The infamous case first drew public attention in mid-2024 when Bichs 19-year-old nephew N.H.B.T. suddenly collapsed after taking what she claimed was herbal medicine for acne. Relatives rushed him to hospital, where tests by the HCM City Institute of Public Health confirmed high levels of cyanide in his stomach. Doctors managed to save his life, though he was left with 23 per cent bodily harm. The incident prompted his uncle T.V.B., 46, to alert police, suspecting foul play. Investigators soon uncovered evidence pointing to deliberate poisoning. During questioning, Bich admitted to spiking the capsule with cyanide due to a monetary dispute with the sister-in-law. She also confessed to earlier poisonings that had not been linked to her at the time. According to investigators, she had swapped her husband Nguyen Thoai Thanh Thes medication with cyanide capsules, leading to his death. She also admitted to lacing drinks with cyanide that killed her nephew N.K.D. (8 years old, son of her younger sister) and nephew N.H.N. (13 years old, son of her elder brother). Authorities said Bich initially bought cyanide online in 2022, claiming she intended to commit suicide because of her husbands debts. Instead, she kept the substance hidden in the bathroom of her bedroom. Over time, conflicts with relatives allegedly led her to use the poison against her own family. Prosecutors described her actions as particularly dangerous to society, marked by cruelty and disregard for the law and "seriously infringing upon the right to life," shocked public opinion and causing widespread anxiety in society, especially as the victims were all members of her own family. The indictment notes that there is no evidence to prove she was responsible for the deaths of her father Nguyen Van Hai, who died in late 2023, and her 15-year-old daughter, who passed away in March 2023. The case has now been transferred to the provincial court for trial soon. VNS Dr. Mohan Kumar, a former Indian ambassador to France and Bahrain, and general director of the Jadeja Motwani Institute for American Studies at the OP Jindal Global University, shared an opinion piece on India's tariff policies. There is a widespread but fallacious perception that India's tariffs are inordinately high. There are subjective factors when it comes to a country like livability, public courtesy, or even how foreigners are welcomed. But tariffs are quantifiable and there should really be no place for subjectivity. So, let us consider the facts in the case. First, it might be useful to understand what function tariffs perform in a low-income developing country like India, as opposed to a high-income developed country like the US. Traditionally, low-income developing countries use tariffs for two reasons: one, to protect their domestic industry and two, to gain revenue from it. Protection of domestic industry is an accepted argument by economists all over the world, especially if the industry is an infant one and the country needs to develop an industrial base. Then, there is the revenue gaining function, which is illustrative of a country's duties on alcohol or luxury motorcycles, for instance. India's tariffs, which were high in the 1980s, were brought down significantly since the 1991 reforms were initiated and during the negotiations related to the Uruguay Round, which led to the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Since then, the secular trend in India has been one of gradual reduction of the applicable tariffs year after year. From a technical point of view, there are two kinds of tariffs that countries have. One is applied tariffs, which, as the name indicates, is the actual tariff (normally ad valorem) imposed at the border when a foreign good enters a country. The other one is bound tariffs, which are the maximum tariffs that a country can impose on a foreign good from a legal obligation arising from its most-favoured-nation (MFN) commitments to the WTO. It goes without saying that the tariff war initiated by the US is in violation of its commitments under the WTO agreements. But then, the WTO itself has been moribund for a while. It is also worth noting that tariffs cannot be the same for all countries. It is a truism that low-income developing countries will have higher tariffs (for reasons mentioned above) compared to G7 countries. So, where does India figure in all of this? When India is judged on tariffs, there are two parameters which are used. One is simple average tariffs, and the other is trade-weighted tariffs. If you use the former metric, India's tariff does seem high (15.98 per cent). But this is in many ways academic because for most of the goods that come into the Indian market, it is the trade-weighted applied tariff that matters. And the trade-weighted tariff that India maintains is a very respectable 4.6 per cent. This level of tariff gives the lie to claims that India is somehow a tariff king. Simple averages distort the picture since they treat all products alike, regardless of the trade volumes. So, why is there such a big difference between India's simple average tariff and its trade-weighted tariff? India does maintain relatively high tariffs in agriculture and automobiles. In both these cases, the main purpose of the tariffs is to protect domestic industry. Agriculture in India is sui generis and like no other major country in the world. Around 50 per cent of India's mammoth population directly or indirectly depends on agriculture. Besides, agriculture in India is not mechanised and land holdings are so small that farming is about survival and not about commerce. Asking India to open its farm sector to imports is akin to asking it to commit suicide, which no elected government in India would agree to. This demand is especially egregious since Western farmers are beneficiaries of direct and indirect subsidies. Given all of this, India does maintain relatively high tariffs for agricultural products, with average rates of around 33 per cent on meat, dairy, fruits, and cereals. But this is not surprising if you consider the fact that the European Union's average rate is 37.5 per cent on dairy products going up to 205 per cent, and up to 261 per cent on fruits and vegetables. Compare this with Japan whose rate is 61.3 per cent on dairy products, going up to 298 per cent, and up to 258 per cent on cereals, and 160 per cent on meat and vegetables. Or South Korea, whose average is 54 per cent on agricultural goods, with 800 per cent on vegetables, and 300 per cent on fruits. Who is the tariff king in agriculture, you might ask? As for automobiles, this sector creates mass employment and is crucial for that reason. Even India's simple average tariff levels at 15.98 per cent is in line with global norms for developing economies. Bangladesh (14.1 per cent), Argentina (13.4 per cent), and Turkiye (16.2 per cent), which are all countries with comparable or higher GDP per capita, maintain similar or higher tariffs. Regarding the US's claim that its exports of non-agricultural products face tariff barriers in India, it is worth noting that US exporters often face equal or lower tariffs in India compared to many of their Asian peers. In electronics and technology for instance, India has 0 per cent tariff on most IT hardware, semiconductors, computers, and associated parts, with average tariffs of 10.9 per cent on electronics and 8.3 per cent on computing machinery. In comparison, Viet Nam has a tariff of 8.5 per cent on electronic equipment, going up to 35 per cent. China has a tariff rate of 5.4 per cent going up to 20 per cent on electronics, and up to 25 per cent on computing machinery. And Indonesia has a tariff rate of 6.3 per cent on electronic equipment, going up to 20 per cent, and up to 30 per cent on computing machinery. It is true that India maintains justifiable tariff protection for its agricultural, dairy, and auto markets for valid reasons. But its trade-weighted applied tariff in other sectors does not justify it being called a "tariff king" at all. Ant International joined the CPG framework on September 19, opening the door for seamless payment connections between global digital wallets and more than 80 million merchants in China using Alipay. Together with Alipay, Ant International represents the largest entity within the CPG system, boasting the most digital wallet partners and card networks, the widest application coverage, and the highest transaction volumes. The launch of the CPG mechanism is expected to enhance connectivity efficiency and system stability for international payment partners, while providing secure, seamless access to Chinas vast consumer market. Photo: Ant International Alipay+, Ant Internationals cross-border payment and digitalisation platform, leverages this new direct connection system to expand its global partner ecosystem. This provides international consumers with a convenient and secure travel experience while enabling foreign digital wallets to access Alipays network of over 80 million merchants in China. Currently, Alipay+ serves as a unified digital wallet gateway, partnering with 36 digital wallets and eight national QR payment systems worldwide, connecting over 100 million merchants with 1.8 billion user accounts. As the FIP with the widest fintech coverage within the CPG framework, Alipay+ enables users from seven major international card brands, along with customers from 12 countries and regions, to make 'scan-and-pay' transactions across mainland China. In addition, Alipay+ has technology partnerships with over 20 digital wallets and payment networks across Asia, Europe, and other regions. Beyond commercial collaboration, Alipay+ actively supports numerous mobile payment initiatives launched by governments in emerging markets, contributing to digitalisation and inclusive growth. Eight national QR payment systems are expanding their international presence through Alipay+, including SGQR (Singapore), PayNet DuitNow (Malaysia), ZeroPay (South Korea), Bakong (Cambodia), NCHL/FonePay (Nepal), LankaPay (Sri Lanka), QRIS (Indonesia), and HUMO (Uzbekistan). The Asia-Pacific region recorded $9.8 trillion in digital wallet transaction volume in 2023, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the global total, while maintaining the highest digital wallet penetration rate in the world. Headquartered in Singapore and operating primarily across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, Ant International is a global provider of digital payments, digitalisation, and fintech services. Through partnerships with both the private and public sectors, Ant Internationals unified fintech platform supports financial institutions and businesses of all sizes in achieving inclusive growth, offering a comprehensive portfolio of advanced payment services and financial solutions. VNPAY earns certificate for highest level of international security VNPAY has just received the PCI DSS 3.2.1 Level 1 international security certificate for its services including VNPAY Cloud, VNPAY-POS (Smart POS), and VNPAY Payment Gateway by ControlCase, an international assessment organisation. Nationwide banking data "cleanup" boosts digital payment security Vietnams banking sector has completed a comprehensive review and verification of all customer records, both individual and corporate, linked to payment accounts using digital channels. The ward issued enforcement decisions covering eight households and one organisation on September 17. An enforcement board has been set up to engage in advocacy and dialogue, with compulsory measures to be applied if compliance is not met. Meanwhile, officials are verifying land origins for five households and four organisations to finalise compensation and resettlement procedures. The move follows a 'final warning' from Quang Ninh Peoples Committee. Vice Chairman Le Van Anh recently inspected the site and emphasised that unresolved clearance issues are the key factor delaying the project. Without timely resolution, the target of putting the plant into operation by 2028 could be compromised. Quang Ninh authorities have instructed Cua Ong ward to review land boundaries, classifications, and attached assets to finalise compensation, support, and resettlement plans. If consensus with affected parties cannot be reached, the ward must enforce handover of 25 hectares for phase 1 before September 30. Artists impression of the Quang Ninh LNG Power Plant Backed by a consortium of PV Power, Colavi, Tokyo Gas, and Marubeni, the plant has a total investment of around $2.2 billion. It will include a 1,500MW combined-cycle gas turbine plant and an LNG terminal with an annual capacity of 1.2 million tonnes, supplying approximately nine billion kWh of electricity per year to the national grid. Launched in 2021, the venture initially aimed to bring its first turbine online in 2026. However, construction has yet to begin due to land clearance bottlenecks. Under Vietnams Power Development Plan VIII, the plant is slated to begin operations during 20282029. SINGAPORE, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecolab Inc., a global leader in sustainability solutions for water, hygiene, and infection prevention, has recognized Chandra Asri Group for its outstanding leadership and achievements in water conservation and energy optimization across operations in Indonesia and Singapore. The honor comes as part of the Ecolab Southeast Asia Impact Award, highlighting Chandra Asri Group's exceptional impact and commitment. The award acknowledges Chandra Asri Group's success in optimising water savings of more than 2 million cubic metres and delivering measurable energy efficiencies through innovative solutions and long-term collaboration with Ecolab. The recognition positions Chandra Asri Group as one of the region's leading industrial champions advancing water circularity and sustainable resource management. The accolade was presented during a high-level executive meeting in Singapore between Christophe Beck, Ecolab Global Chairman and CEO, and Erwin Ciputra, President Director and CEO of Chandra Asri Group and Aster. Christophe Beck, Chairman & CEO of Ecolab Inc. said, "Chandra Asri Group and Aster are setting a powerful example of how innovation, partnership and purpose can deliver lasting impact for business and the planet. Their commitment to water circularity and energy efficiency reflects the kind of bold action required to build a more resilient future across Southeast Asia. Together, we're proving that operational excellence, business growth and environmental progress don't have to be mutually exclusive." Erwin Ciputra, President Director and CEO of Chandra Asri Group and Aster, said "Sustainability is the core of Chandra Asri Group's transformation and growth journey. Our partnership with Ecolab has been instrumental in helping us advance water circularity and optimise resource efficiency. As we expand across Southeast Asia, we look forward to deepening this collaboration to deliver solutions that not only strengthen our operations but also contribute to a more resilient and sustainable future. Ecolab has been a valuable partner in helping us improve safety, optimize resource use and reduce environmental footprint." Diego Trujillo, VP & GM for Downstream Ecolab Southeast Asia, shared, "We're proud of the long-standing partnership with Chandra Asri Group in Singapore and Indonesia and excited for regional collaborations for sustainable growth. The teams from both organizations have expertise and exceptional dedication to delivering operational excellence, continuous improvements, and putting safety first." The partnership continues to expand across strategic areas, reinforcing both companies' commitment to advancing sustainable innovation in the region: Water Circularity: Reducing, reusing, and reclaiming water across business operations, to address water scarcity and minimise reliance on freshwater resources Sustainable Growth through Water-Energy Nexus: Optimising water use and reducing the energy required for moving water, heating, cooling, and pumping Innovation and Digital Transformation: Leveraging real-time monitoring and advanced water technologies to enhance efficiency, performance and resilience Notably, Ecolab has developed a wastewater treatment facility in Singapore on Aster Chemicals & Energy Jurong Island with a capacity to treat and reuse up to 24,000 cubic meters of wastewater each month. For more information, visit www.ecolab.com. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan during the 49th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee At the 49th session on September 22, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly considered the draft Law on E-commerce. The draft comprises eight chapters and 50 articles and aims to modernise and strengthen the legal framework for the countrys rapidly growing online trade sector. "Vietnams e-commerce market has been highly rated by international research institutions, ranking third in Southeast Asia by market size in 2024 and fifth globally by growth rate in 2022," said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan. He added that these achievements also underscore regulatory gaps that need to be addressed. Currently, e-commerce in Vietnam is regulated mainly under Decree 52, issued in 2013, and Decree 85 introduced from 2021. While these decrees provide a foundation, as sub-law documents they do not carry sufficient authority to address complex, cross-sectoral issues. The rapid emergence of new business models, diverse market participants, and increasingly sophisticated practices has revealed clear limitations. Counterfeit goods, intellectual property violations and low-quality products remain widespread, while new forms of e-commerce such as livestream selling and affiliate marketing have yet to be adequately defined in law. Livestream commerce in particular has surged in popularity, becoming a key driver of online retail. However, the law currently treats livestreams as a form of advertising attached to sales, without specific provisions for livestreamers, account holders, or platforms. This has created a legal vacuum that complicates enforcement. There have already been cases where livestream sessions recorded massive revenues but no tax obligations were met. In some instances, celebrities promoted products such as functional foods with exaggerated claims, influencing consumer behaviour and raising health concerns. These examples underscore the difficulty of safeguarding consumers and ensuring fair taxation in the absence of clear rules. To close these gaps, the draft law introduces mandatory authentication of sellers. Domestic livestream sellers would be required to register through VNeID, while foreign sellers would need to provide valid legal documentation. The objective is to establish accurate identification of all actors in the digital marketplace, thereby enhancing transparency, enabling tax collection, and strengthening consumer trust. Sellers would be held legally accountable for the products and services they promote, while buyers would gain greater assurance that they are dealing with verified individuals or entities. The draft also extends responsibilities to platforms, including both e-commerce operators and social networks that facilitate commercial transactions. They would be obliged to monitor content, provide information to regulators, assist in recalling defective products, store transaction records for inspection, and prevent abuses of dominance or manipulation of algorithms that distort competition. These measures are intended to foster a healthier digital ecosystem, where competition is fair and innovation is not undermined by unscrupulous practices. Industry observers argue that requiring VNeID authentication is a necessary step to bring the livestream economy under proper oversight. The growth of e-commerce has far outpaced the states ability to track revenues, leaving significant tax leakage. By mandating identity verification, authorities will be better equipped to enforce obligations and ensure that the digital economy contributes more proportionately to national revenues. At the same time, there is recognition that the design and implementation of such requirements must avoid placing undue burdens on small businesses, household traders and content creators who rely on livestream selling as a low-cost channel to reach consumers. The challenge, therefore, is to strike a balance between regulation and innovation. If procedures are overly complex, the policy could discourage entrepreneurial activity and reduce market dynamism. On the other hand, without stronger regulation, risks to consumers and state finances will continue to grow. Policymakers will need to ensure that compliance mechanisms are simple, digital-first and accessible, while also carrying sufficient weight to deter misconduct and tax evasion. The proposal to mandate VNeID authentication forms part of a broader effort to modernise Vietnams approach to e-commerce. By embedding clearer legal definitions, expanding platform accountability and introducing mechanisms for cross-border sellers, the draft law aims to align regulation with market realities. The governments intention is to create a transparent, fair and sustainable digital marketplace, one that protects consumers, ensures contributions to the state budget, and supports responsible innovation. If passed, the law would mark a significant shift in Vietnams governance of the digital economy. It would provide authorities with stronger tools to monitor activities, close loopholes that have allowed tax evasion to flourish, and build greater confidence among consumers. More importantly, it would set the stage for e-commerce to evolve into a sector that can grow quickly while operating on principles of accountability and trust. As the National Assembly debates the details, the outcome will signal how Vietnam intends to balance growth and regulation in an era when online commerce is reshaping both the economy and daily life. New York, USA (PANA) - African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen; and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, met on Sunday in New York on the margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, along with senior officials of the Secretariats from the three organisations Hue city is set to accelerate its green development ambitions through a new strategic partnership with Phuong Trang Group (FUTA Group) and Kim Long Motor Hue JSC. The three parties signed an MoU on September 19 during a seminar on attracting investment for green transition initiatives in Hue. Under the agreement, the partners outlined shared objectives to unlock the potential of Hue city and the Chan MayLang Co Economic Zone. The focus will be on urban development, industrial projects, transport infrastructure, seaports, public transportation, and sustainable industries. The long-term vision is to position Hue as both a heritage, cultural, and tourism city and a regional economic hub, while developing Chan MayLang Co into a top centre for vehicle manufacturing, supporting industries, and the export of premium Vietnamese-made products. The MoU sets out a roadmap built on three core areas: Urban development: Plans include the Chan May Administrative and Financial Centre and Urban Area, as well as the Lang CoLap An Lagoon mixed-use residential and commercial development. Investment will also go into upgrading Lang Cos infrastructure and building affordable housing to support social security and the citys emerging vehicle industry. Transport infrastructure: The partners will study and implement urban monorail lines linking HuePhu Bai, Phu BaiChan MayLang Co, the Perfume River, and heritage sites, along with inter-regional routes. An electric bus system will also be developed, with pilot routes serving students and tourists at key attractions. Industry and manufacturing: Plans include vehicle manufacturing complexes, supporting industries, green steel projects, liquefied natural gas power plants, and leveraging Chan May deepwater port infrastructure to entice new investment. Hue Peoples Committee pledged to create better conditions for implementation by streamlining legal and administrative procedures in line with the citys development strategy. The signing is expected to open new investment opportunities for Hue while shaping a model of green industrial growth that balances heritage preservation with sustainable economic expansion. Kim Long Motor delivers electric buses to South Korea Kim Long Motor Hue handed over the first electric bus under the Kim Long brand to South Korea's Daon Mobility Co., Ltd on June 2. Kim Long Motor signs landmark bus export deal Kim Long Motor has signed its first large-scale bus export contract with a strategic partner in Southeast Asia, underscoring the growing quality and production capabilities of Vietnamese manufacturers on the global stage. What is your assessment of the draft amended Law on Tax Administration? The current Law on Tax Administration consists of 17 chapters and 152 articles. In contrast, the draft amended Law on Tax Administration has been streamlined to just 9 chapters and 53 articles. This demonstrates that the draft closely follows the government's directive that laws should primarily set out principles and provide a legal framework, while detailed regulations will be specified in subsequent legal documents. Under this approach, specific provisions will be delegated to the government through decrees and to ministries and sectors via circulars for guidance. This method of legislative drafting- particularly as applied to the Law on Tax Administration- is aligned with international best practices. It ensures that the law remains stable, long-lasting, and resilient to frequent amendments that might otherwise be necessitated by changes in the socioeconomic environment or rapid technological developments. Overall, I believe the draft law has effectively institutionalised the Partys directions and the states policies on digital transformation, modernisation, and the application of technology in tax administration. This marks an important step forward in enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of tax management. What is new in terms of regulatory documents to be issued after the draft law is passed? Once the amended Law on Tax Administration is approved by the National Assembly, expected at the tenth session later this year, the regulatory framework will differ significantly from previous approaches. Instead of the government issuing only a few decrees to clarify select provisions of the law, it is now expected that multiple decrees will be issued. Subsequently, the Ministry of Finance will promulgate a series of guiding circulars. As such, it is still too early to comment in detail on the content of these documents. Nevertheless, businesses, organisations, and individual taxpayers can rest assured as during a recent consultation session on the draft law hosted by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dang Ngoc Minh, deputy director general of the General Department of Taxation under the Ministry of Finance (MoF), declared that the new law will simplify the tax system by eliminating at least 44 per cent of current administrative procedures, including unnecessary invoices and documentation. Minh also made a strong commitment that no new tax administrative procedures will be introduced- particularly those related to invoicing, tax declaration, calculation, finalisation, refunds, or exemptions. The goal is to create the most improvements for businesses and individual taxpayers in fulfilling their tax obligations. Does this mean that taxpayers will benefit from maximum facilitation? Yes. At the same consultation session on the draft law, GDPs deputy chief reiterated the MoFs commitment to a fundamental tax administration reform before the Prime Minister. This includes transitioning from a function-based management model to a taxpayer-centric model combining management by function and taxpayer profile; reducing tax administrative procedures by at least 44 per cent; and refraining from issuing any new administrative procedures that could complicate compliance. The tax authority leader also called on media and press agencies to monitor and oversee tax administration activities at both central and local levels. Any instances of inconvenience caused to taxpayers should be promptly reported to the relevant authorities. The new tax administration process is being designed to align with this model shift and with the restructuring of the IT system. It aims to ensure the use of modern, synchronised, integrated, and efficient digital technologies, with automated data processing capabilities. One of the central objectives in drafting this law is to simplify tax administrative procedures. This includes reviewing and cutting down the number and complexity of documents required for tax registration, declaration, payment, refund, exemption, and reduction. All tax transactions are expected to be carried out electronically, in line with international practices. The guiding principle is to place taxpayers at the centre of service delivery. Do you have any concerns about specific provisions in the draft law? Since the draft is designed to provide the foundational principles of tax administration and acts as a framework law, it is still too early to comment on specific clauses before the issuance of decrees and circulars. However, I do have some concerns regarding certain aspects. For example, under the draft, household businesses and individual business operators are required to register for tax concurrently with their business registration. To make this feasible, there must be interoperability between tax authorities and business registration agencies. As per the PMs directive, all government management agencies including tax and business registration authorities, as well as the banking system must be interconnected. Currently, this interconnection remains insufficient due to historical administrative structures, where tax and business registration were managed by separate government agencies. However, following the merger of ministries and agencies, the situation has improved significantly, with the Ministry of Finance now acting as the single coordinating body. Moreover, the national citizen database, VNeID, has also been upgraded to Level 2, enabling the integration of multiple documents, including health insurance cards, driving licences, vehicle registrations, and national ID cards. This integrated application, with its wide array of digital utilities, supports both the digital citizen and the digital government. It helps streamline administrative procedures, making them faster and more convenient. These advancements will create the necessary conditions to enable seamless integration when individuals or households register for tax at the same time as business registration. Feedback welcomed for upcoming tax law changes Next year and the following year, there are important amended tax laws coming into effect on the VAT, corporate income tax (CIT) and special sales tax (SST), which are of concern to the businesses and those affected. VIR holds conference themed Tax Amendments to Promote Business Activities VIR will hold a conference themed Tax Amendments to Promote Business Activities from 8:30 am on August 14. From a young startup with aspirations to resolve bottlenecks in Vietnams real estate market, Meey Group has become a proptech company with a clear global vision and a comprehensive globalisation strategy. The group represents a generation of ambitious and visionary Vietnamese technology entrepreneurs. The Vietnam Private Sector Forum 2025, held by the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association last week, attracted thousands of entrepreneurs and businesses nationwide. The event gathered government leaders, policymakers, and the business community, creating a constructive platform for policybusiness dialogue. Meey Group represents a generation of ambitious and visionary tech entrepreneurs As a pioneering business in innovation, Meey Group leaders participated in the session on sci-tech and innovation. At a high-level dialogue session with the presence of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Meey Group chairman Hoang Mai Chung presented key recommendations on the policies for tech enterprises. Against the backdrop of the drastic transformation, technology plays a key role in all socioeconomic activities. The governments policies create unprecedented growth momentum in the long term to help Vietnam take off. In particular, major institutional directions on sci-tech, the private sector, and more position companies like Meey Group at the core of national strategic priorities. Significant potential With the aspirations to resolve bottlenecks in the real estate market, after six years of development, Meey Group has developed a digital ecosystem comprising 26 platforms serving different segments of the real estate value chain. From planning information search and verification with Meey Map, objective valuation with Meey Value, and VR experience with Meey 3D to asset management and digital marketing, the ecosystem lays a solid foundation for liquidity, scalability, and significant valuation potential. We are building an operating system for the real estate market, with technology as the soul of our development strategy. The system is scalable and ready for expansion in the international markets, said chairman Chung. The companys digital transformation products go beyond solving the lack of transparency in data and fragmentation in transaction processes. On top of that, the companys tech ecosystem delivers data analytics solutions for state agencies to regulate policies. The group has attracted the attention of international funds thanks to its steadfast commitment to investing in digital technology, which changes the digital transformation mindset of the entire chain from real estate investors, developers, brokers, financial institutions, and people to regulatory bodies. On September 9, the government established a tokenised asset pilot programme, which opens up new breakthrough opportunities. A highlight of the programme is legalising tokenisation of real assets, offering a potential solution to the chronic capital shortage faced by small- and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam, especially tech startups like Meey Group. Vietnam currently ranks among the worlds top five countries for digital asset adoption, with 1721 million digital asset holders. Meey Group sees enormous potential in applying blockchain and tokenisation to the real estate sector. Meey Groups ecosystem can be a template for other budding startups A vision for innovation Nguyen Ly Kieu Anh, chief strategy officer of Meey Group, said, Vietnams future growth comes from three vital elements: institutional reform, widespread technology adoption, and restructuring/diversifying growth investment models that link tradition with innovation. Within this framework, the digital economy will take the lead, with data as a strategic resource, digital platforms as the core infrastructure, AI as the growth engine, and innovation as the constant driver. Guided by this vision, Meey Group is laying solid foundations for its next phase of growth through an initial public offering (IPO) and international capital raising. Its strategic cooperation with ARC Group a global financial advisory firm behind numerous successful IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and other deals worth tens of billions of US dollars is a significant step towards this goal. When working with Meey in the past, international investors expressed intention to invest in homegrown companies, especially startups with attractive opportunities and the potential to redefine industries and profoundly impact socioeconomic life. At last weeks event, Kieu Anh also presented recommendations on smart governance in an innovative environment. We propose building a fast-track mechanism for technology businesses, applying a sandbox to test new models, and changing the mindset from prohibition to permission for unprecedented ideas, Kieu Anh said. When a startup must devote most of its time and resources to explaining itself to regulatory bodies instead of developing products, it is a major loss for both the company and the country. Citing examples from developed financial markets such as Singapore and the United States, Kieu Anh also proposed that the government create conditions for businesses to mobilise community capital in a more responsible and transparent manner and implement a quick approval mechanism for potential projects to create growth momentum and affirm the Vietnamese brand. With a clear and transparent development strategy and strategic consensus from investors, Meey Group believes it will gradually cement its position and quickly become a leading fintech institution in the real estate sector in Vietnam and the wider region. Meey Groups journey from a tech startup to an internationally recognised company can create a ripple effect across Vietnams tech ecosystem. If it can achieve a successful IPO in the US in the coming time, it will set a precedent for other Vietnamese tech firms to pursue global ambitions, strengthening the nations presence on the global technology map. Meey Groups message Born in Vietnam, Build for the World is an affirmation that Vietnamese enterprises can both maintain their identity and origin and build solutions with global applications. This is the story the company is writing on the journey to conquer the dream of becoming an international tech unicorn. Megan Shaw, head of International Customs and Border Engagement, HMRC and director general Nguyen Van Tho signing the Declaration of Intent During the Ministry of Finances Investment Promotion Conference in the United Kingdom, Vietnam Customs held bilateral meetings with HMRC and the UK Border Force (UKBF). On September 18, director general Nguyen Van Tho and Megan Shaw, head of International Customs and Border Engagement at HMRC, formalised the partnership by signing a Declaration of Intent to enhance collaboration between the two customs authorities. The deal aims to promote domestic procedural reviews to pave the way for the early signing of an intergovernmental agreement between Vietnam and the UK on customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance at the earliest appropriate high-level event. The two sides also agreed to step up certain cooperative activities tailored to customs management practices and their mutual needs, with the goal of facilitating trade, boosting investment, and safeguarding the security and integrity of supply chains. During the meeting, both parties exchanged views on information-sharing for enforcement activities, anti-smuggling operations, and supply chain security. In recent years, the two-way exchange of information between Vietnam Customs and HMRC has yielded concrete, noteworthy results in anti-smuggling investigations, particularly in preventing illicit transportation of tobacco and counterfeit cigarettes, with significant seizures recorded. Looking ahead, the two sides will intensify information exchange to help prevent and combat the illicit trade of goods such as narcotics and tobacco, as well as crimes involving tax evasion, money laundering, and environmental violations. They also shared experiences in digital transformation and the application of technology in customs, discussed their respective digitalisation roadmaps, and addressed the requirements for fully digitising customs procedures in the next 23 years. The discussions revealed strong alignment in reform and digitalisation goals, opening opportunities for future cooperation and exchange of best practices. Over the past several years, Vietnam and the UK have recorded notable growth in bilateral trade. In 2024, two-way trade reached $8.42 billion, accounting for 1.07 per cent of Vietnams total trade turnover. The UK ranked 16th among 228 trading partners with regular import-export activities with Vietnam. Tho said, "Through the Declaration of Intent, by fostering information-sharing for anti-smuggling efforts, exchanging professional expertise, negotiating a mutual recognition agreement on authorised economic operators, and carrying out capacity-building activities, both sides can further trade facilitation, support highly compliant businesses, and ensure supply chain safety, thereby contributing to the growth of bilateral trade and investment." Also as part of the event, Vietnam Customs held working sessions with the UKBF and conducted a field survey at Stansted Airport. The meeting and survey were chaired by Matt Davis, Border Force assistant director at Stansted Airport, who introduced customs control operations managed by the agency at the airport. Vietnam Customs discussed and learned from UKBFs experience in organisational structure, staff training, rotation, and professional development; the use of equipment for customs control at airports; cooperation between customs authorities and express delivery businesses; and UKBFs authority to set infrastructure and equipment requirements for airport operators. Following the discussions and survey, both sides agreed to enhance information-sharing for anti-smuggling purposes, particularly concerning tobacco products, through liaison with HMRC and UKBF. UK-Vietnam semiconductor collaboration gains momentum The UK-Vietnam Semiconductor Workshop took place in Hanoi on August 18, bringing together government representatives, universities, tech companies, and research institutions. Vietnam and UK discuss broader cooperation Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang met with UK Trade Envoy Matt Western on September 15 in London to discuss advanced finance and trade ties. 300 enterprises join Ministry of Finances investment promotion conference in the UK On September 16 in London, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) organised an investment promotion conference, chaired by Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang. Vinhomes Ha Tinh Industrial Park Investment JSC, a member of Vingroup, has received approval to construct factories supporting the electric vehicle (EV) industry in the Vung Ang Economic Zone. The development spans over 132 hectares in the central industrial sub-zone, covering lots CN4-1 and CN4-2 in Vung Ang ward. The total investment is estimated at more than VND21.4 trillion ($850 million), including VND3.21 trillion ($128 million) from the investor, with the remainder mobilised from other funding sources. The initiative will provide infrastructure, factories, and auxiliary facilities for companies producing components and supporting products for the EV sector. Construction of technical infrastructure and factories is scheduled to start at the end of this year, with operations expected by June 2027. Ha Tinh Economic Zones Management Authority officials said the undertaking will serve as a catalyst for further investment and accelerate the provinces socioeconomic development. Vingroup has been actively investing in Ha Tinh in recent years. In late 2021, the group completed the VinES EV battery factory on nearly 13ha in Vung Ang Economic Zone, supplying batteries for the VF6 model since mid-2023. In June 2025, Vingroup inaugurated the 360,000-square-meter VinFast Ha Tinh plant after just seven months of construction. The group has also proposed a $16 million seaport and logistics development and the Ky Ninh resort initiative. Vung Ang Economic Zone, established in 2006, covers more than 22,000ha and hosts around 150 developments employing nearly 20,000 workers. Key facilities include the Formosa steel and port complex in Son Duong and the Vung Ang I thermal power plant. In the first half of 2025, Ha Tinh attracted 20 new ventures, including two foreign investments. Compared with the same period last year, the number of initiatives rose by three, while total registered capital tripled, highlighting the provinces growing appeal to investors. VinFast launches new EV factory in Ha Tinh province VinFast has inaugurated a new electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in Ha Tinh, its fifth manufacturing facility worldwide and less than seven months after construction began, highlighting the brands rapid execution and growing industrial capacity. VinFast begins production in India at new EV assembly plant VinFast inaugurated its new electric vehicle (EV) assembly plant on August 4 at SIPCOT Industrial Park in Tamil Nadu, India. New York, US (PANA) - Annalena Baerbock, only the fifth woman to preside over the UN General Assembly in its 80-year history, has praised the courage of those who fought for every phrase, every word in the Beijing Declaration, marking the 30th Anniversary of the pivotal international conference on womens empowerment New York, US (PANA) - The Libyan interim Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU), Taher Salem Al Baour, on Sunday participated in the Summit of the African Union (AU) Committee of Ten (C-10) on the reform of the Security Council at the United Nations headquarters in New York, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the General Assembly This article is old - Published: Monday, Sep 22nd, 2025 Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home you can find them all here. In this months column Plaid Cymrus Llyr Gruffydd MS writes: One of the most controversial policies introduced by the Welsh Government in recent years was the 20mph speed limit in built-up areas. It was particularly contentious in areas such as Wrexham, not least because the council chose to limit exemptions to just 9 stretches of roads. Now were seeing the results of the changes. Data from the first 18 months of the policy being introduced now shows some interesting changes in terms of collision casualties. Across Wales there were 882 fewer casualties compared to the previous 18 months a 25% drop. The information also reveals that north Wales saw the largest fall in casualties 443 fewer injuries, leading to a 49% fall. This reduction is hugely welcome and every single case that avoids injury should be celebrated. There are also cost implications in this not least for the NHS, which is dealing with fewer injuries and rehabilitation due to vehicle collisions. Days lost in work to injuries, with many long-term side effects, are less easy to quantify. There has also been, I understand, a reduction in insurance premiums in Wales as a result something that will no doubt be welcomed by many drivers feeling the cost-of-living pinch. This doesnt excuse the mistakes made. The introduction of this policy was poorly executed it allowed too much discretion for councils to interpret the exemptions, which led to the extremes of Swansea Council keeping 142 roads at 30mph while Flintshire just had eight. Key arterial routes in places like Wrexham were made 20mph and have now been returned to 30mph. The changes, undertaken following a Plaid Cymru proposal in the Senedd, will hopefully target the initial bold ambition of the policy more effectively. Its a stark reminder of how politicians have to ensure they engage with the wider population to ensure positive policies are explained more fully. Perhaps then we wouldnt need costly u-turns and forced backtracking. Claims Wrexham is becoming fairer and safer challenged by councillor This article is old - Published: Monday, Sep 22nd, 2025 Wrexhams latest council plan update says people feel the county borough is getting fairer and safer despite a rise in hate crime and anti-social behaviour. The council plan is a five-year strategy that details the councils priorities and measures its progress in achieving them by tracking key data points and setting annual targets. The strategy uses a traffic light system to measure performance and in the Ensuring Wrexham is a Fair and Safe Place category, the borough overall was rated green. But at Executive Board that assertion was challenged by Cllr Stella Matthews. Were saying Wrexham is a fair and safe place, yet talking to local police the stats have gone up on problems in several areas, she said. Several wards are experiencing problems and a national survey this week says ethnic communities are feeling far less safe as a result of the current environment. I just wondered if we were taking things like that into account? Interim Chief Executive Alwyn Jones highlighted that this report represented progress made last year. In relation to some of the issues that are making people feel unsafe at this moment in time, they will be reflected as part of our next years assessment, he said. Our reflection, based upon where we were up to at the end of the financial year, was that things were improved. I know that our teams are working with communities and are doing all we can in terms of offering reassurance and support. But Cllr Matthews pointed to the data within the report, which showed that incidents of anti-social behaviour in Wrexham had reached a three-year high with 3,204 reported cases.Hate crime also saw an upturn last year with 236 recorded incidents. Both figures increased having fallen in 2023/24. The report details that the success criteria for both hate crime and anti-social behaviour is that the figures improve. Its not just this year, its been going on for some time, said Cllr Matthews. I know in some parts the police are so far stretched that anti-social behaviour is getting quite a grip. Im not just talking about from April onwards, Im talking about it not getting any better. Cllr Paul Roberts, Lead Member for Partnerships and Community Safety, said: If there are any significant issues perhaps it could be fed up to the Police and Crime Commissioner to be reviewed at that level. Theres so much going on behind the scenes to try and alleviate the problems but arguably it comes back to funding. We talk about lack of resources whether it be from Cardiff or London the first port of call is to refer back to the PCC to see if theres any further funding for North Wales Police. Wrexham Council leader Cllr Mark Pritchard echoed his fellow board members view. Its very difficult for North Wales Police, he said. I want to put on record the excellent partnership we have with them. Is there pockets of antisocial behaviour problems across Wrexham? In some areas yes, there is. Is there some in Flintshire, Denbigh, Rhyl, of course there is. Theyre all over the country. North Wales Police have to prioritise what they think is the most important thing to react to at that moment in time and theyre on the front line every day with these issues. I dont believe the police authority have enough resources and I think they should be funded a lot more from central government. By Alec Doyle BBC Local Democracy Reporter Zero support from Welsh Government claim cladding scandal victims This article is old - Published: Monday, Sep 22nd, 2025 People affected by the cladding scandal have received zero support from the Welsh Government while being ripped off by a combined 13,000 a week, a committee heard. Peter Larwood, from the Welsh Cladiators campaign, gave evidence to an inquiry on building safety prompted by the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire disaster in which 72 people lost their lives. Asked about support from the Welsh Government, he told the Senedds housing committee: What has the government done for us? Nothing, end of. Mr Larwood, a leaseholder at the Victoria Wharf development in Cardiff Bay, told Senedd members: The amount of money thats spent in different directions, be it the airport, 20mph, the Welsh language there are numbers you can put to that. If I say to you, how much has the Welsh Government spent on where we are?. Think of it, zero, theres no money spent in supporting us in what we are doing. A tragic place to be The 75-year-old, who had retired, said: For the past eight years now, I have been banging my head against the wall because thats all I seem to be doing. Im now to the point where I am so tired, so angry that we had to do it and no one else helps us. We are alone, its a tragic place to be. Peoples lives have been put on hold. Mr Larwood, who worked in countering fraud, theft and malpractice, said: Its a real case to answer for the builders and everyone whos attached to them. He told Senedd members that work has just started at Victoria Wharf, with the aim of completion by 2029 but delays are already jeopardising this proposed end date. He criticised completely unenforceable pacts signed between the Welsh Government and developers which have seen ministers take no action at all to hold people to account. Excuses given and excuses accepted, he said. In the meantime, we in Victoria Wharf have the fun of paying 13,000 a week in total for the estate. Taken for a ride Mr Larwood said his service charges total about 5,000 a year for a two-bedroom flat: We are being ripped off theres no help, yet we see money being spent elsewhere. Giving evidence on September 18, he told the committee people are living with noise, dust and a lack of privacy with each building entirely wrapped for at least a year. He said: Our reward is the building being put right no compensation, nothing. Mr Larwood said residents paid to fix compartmentation issues, only to later find the work was carried out incorrectly and needs to be redone. He raised a recent issue with the roof on one building, leaving residents potentially facing a 3,000 bill each. Those builders took us for a ride, he said. Mr Larwood added: Im tired, fed up, broke literally and the likelihood is theres going to be a lot more bills coming my way for stuff that was nothing to do with me. Toxic industry He accused building control services of abdicating responsibility, with Taylor Wimpey allowed to do the surveys themselves, saying: Theres no comeback on the bad boys, the comeback is only on us that are fighting for our lives. Mark Thomas, also from the Welsh Cladiators, said: Weve moved from an unresolved fire cladding crisis to then a building safety crisis and we now have a remediation crisis. Innocent citizens are being left negotiating highly complex contracts with a toxic industry that continues to show little good faith and operates at a snails pace. He said victims have little confidence in the Welsh Governments light-touch approach to the crisis, telling the inquiry frankly its failed miserably. Warning only four buildings out of 161 in the private sector in Wales have been remediated, Mr Thomas, a leaseholder in the Celestia building in Cardiff Bay, added: The lack of priority and urgency is causing huge distress and concern. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter ABC will reinstate Jimmy Kimmels late night show in the wake of criticism over his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, officials with the network said Monday. "We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday, said a statement from the network. ABC suspended Kimmel indefinitely after comments he made about Kirk, who was killed Sept. 10, in a monologue. Kimmel said many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk and that the MAGA gang was desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them. Kimmel has hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC since 2003 and has been a fixture in television and comedy for even longer. He is also well known as a presenter, having hosted the Academy Awards four times. Backlash to Kimmels comments about Kirk was swift. Nexstar and Sinclair, two of ABCs largest affiliate owners, said they would be pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! from their stations. Others, including several fellow comedians, came to his defense. President Donald Trump, one of Kimmels frequent targets, posted on social media that Kimmels suspension was great news for America. He also called for other late night hosts to be fired. Kimmel was asked in an interview with Variety this past summer if he was worried that the administration would come after comedians. He expressed concern that a crackdown could be on the way. Well, youd have to be naive not to worry a little bit, he said. But that cant change what youre doing. Kimmels suspension arrived in a time when Trump and his administration have pursued threats, lawsuits and federal government pressure to try to exert more control over the media industry. Trump has reached settlements with ABC and CBS over their coverage. Trump has also filed defamation lawsuits against The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Republicans in Congress stripped federal funding from NPR and PBS. Brendan Carr, the head of the Federal Communications Commission, issued a warning prior to Kimmels suspension that criticized Kimmels remarks about the Kirk assassination. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Carr said. These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead. The suspension also happened at a time when the late night landscape is shifting. CBS announced the cancellation of Stephen Colberts show over the summer Kimmels contract with The Walt Disney Co.-owned network had been set to expire in May 2026. Word of the reinstatement came as hundreds of Hollywood and Broadway stars - including Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Selena Gomez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep - urged Americans fight to defend and preserve our constitutionally protected rights in the wake of Jimmy Kimmel's suspension. More than 430 movie, TV and stage stars as well as comedians, directors and writers added their names to an open letter Monday from the American Civil Liberties Union that argues it is a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation. Also Monday, ABC's The View weighed in on the controversy after not raising it for two episodes after Kimmel was suspended. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg opened the show saying: No one silences us and she and her fellow hosts condemned Disney's decision. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.) Washington urged to take faithful action 08:41, September 22, 2025 By ZHANG YUNBI, ZHAO HUANXIN and YIFAN XU ( China Daily Future progress on major China-US agenda items such as bilateral trade and TikTok operations in the United States depends on whether Washington will faithfully follow through on what it has promised during the latest China-US heads-of-state phone conversation, observers said. They made the remarks after President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump held their third phone talks this year on Friday evening. The first call was made in January and the second in June. Analysts described the talks as constructive, as both leaders highlighted the global implications of the two-way ties between the world's two largest economies. Xi said the two nations "are fully capable of helping each other succeed and prospering together", and Trump said the two countries working together can get many great things done that are good for world peace and stability. The two leaders also endorsed the recent consultation between Chinese and US officials on the economy and trade, and expressed hopes for commercial negotiations regarding TikTok operations in the US. Annual bilateral trade between the two sides exceeded $680 billion last year. China is now the US' second-largest source of imports and third-largest market for its exports, according to the Chinese embassy in the US. Wu Xinbo, dean of Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, said that Beijing has long urged Washington to stop suppressing China's technology-driven sectors, and the US has its own demands as well. "The heads-of-state talks either on the phone or face to face could help both sides arrive at more agreements and stabilize their economic ties," he said. "The Friday talks set the tone for the next step in developing the ties: advancing talks on the economy and trade while working together to keep the ties afloat. The expected result is to veer the relationship away from the drastic ups and downs that took place earlier this year," he said. Su Xiaohui, deputy director of the Department of American Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said the latest conversation was "pragmatic and constructive", and Beijing's position on the TikTok case "reflects China's lasting efforts to secure its rightful interests and growth in the long term". "Through the talks, China has made clear that it supports Chinese companies' adding investment in the US, which the US side has aimed for, while Washington should shape an inviting climate for investors, make the play fair, and achieve a win-win situation, rather than forcing a deal or blackmailing," she said. Over the past two weeks, the world has seen several high-level dialogues take place between China and the US in various areas, such as the latest round of China-US economic and trade talks in Madrid, Spain, a phone talk between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and a video call between Minister of National Defense Dong Jun and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. On Sunday, Premier Li Qiang met a visiting delegation of US lawmakers, led by Representative Adam Smith, a Democrat from the US state of Washington, in Beijing. Li said China is willing to work with the US to address each other's concerns through communication in the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit. Li said that China and the US should be partners for joint development, treat each other sincerely, empower each other and achieve mutual success, adding that Washington should meet Beijing halfway and jointly advance the ties on the right track. Li also said the phone conversations between Xi and Trump this year reinforced bilateral dialogue and cooperation and provided strategic guidance for the China-US ties' development in the next phase. Sourabh Gupta, a senior fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies, said the phone call on Friday "represents a further easing of the strain in bilateral ties" caused by Washington's imposition of unilateral tariffs during the first four months of this year. "China has conveyed its receptivity to a large market purchase package. America needs to come to the table with its quid pro quo," he said. Diao Daming, a professor of US studies at Renmin University of China's School of International Relations, said the conversation on Friday "confirms the validity of China-US joint efforts in stabilizing their ties through communication, and projects good faith in managing and controlling factors that may destabilize the ties". On Friday, Xi told Trump that the Chinese people "will never forget the valuable support provided by the United States and other anti-fascist allies "during World War II, and Trump said that China's recent Victory Day parade was phenomenal and beautiful. Li Haidong, a professor of US studies at China Foreign Affairs University, said, "Xi conveyed China's willingness to cherish peace and usher in the future, emphasized to the US side the importance of shaping a proper view of history, and reminded both countries of their responsibilities as major countries." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) A human rights watchdog has called on the Ethiopian authorities to end their harassment of independent journalists and immediately release all those detained for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and opinion You might find yourself asking, What does Socola mean? Goodthats exactly what CEO and chief chocolatier Wendy Lieu hoped her future customers would wonder when she named her business the word for chocolate in Vietnamese. At Socola, you wont find Dubai styleand you wont need to. They are doing their own delicious thing with inventive and interesting flavors that incorporate home and heart. Take their Little Saigon Box, a complete Vietnamese meal in chocolate form that includes flavors like lychee, Sriracha, pho spices, creamy durian, jasmine tea, guava, passionfruit, cognac, and ca phe sua (Vietnamese chicory coffee with condensed milk). Each is a nod to Lieus heritage and a testament to her artistry. Wendy Lieu, CEO and chief chocolatier at Socola Chocolates (Courtesy of Socola Chocolates) Lieu herself is unquestionably bright and intentional in her choices. Shes radiantly warm, business-savvy, endlessly creativeand as delightful as the confections she and her team so carefully craft. Lieus family immigrated to the Bay Area from Vietnam in the early 1980s, eventually settling in Santa Rosa. Her entrepreneurial spirit likely stems from her parents, who opened a nail salon there across from a Sees Candies store. It was the daily ritual of stopping by for a free sample, paired with the stacks of holiday chocolate gifts from friends and clients, that sparked Lieus curiosity for cocoa. Surrounded by boxes of chocolates with no expiration dates or flavor guides, the 19-year-old began to wonder what a fresh chocolate might taste like. I found a recipe in Gourmet magazine and made a mocha espresso chocolate truffle. I made it the classic French stylejust coated in cocoa powderand it was so good. It tasted completely different, Lieu recalls. Its like eating Chips Ahoy your whole life and then finally biting into a fresh chocolate chip cookie. Totally different. Initially self-taught, Lieus curiosity quickly grew into a hobby, then a business, and eventually a full-fledged passion. I wasnt able to go to Europe and apprentice under master chocolatiers, so I taught myself, she says. The epitome of a young entrepreneur, Lieu teamed up with her younger sister, Susan, who was on the board of Santa Rosas Downtown Market. Together, they began selling chocolates at the market during summers when Lieu was home from studying at UC Davis. Customers suggestionsmake a coffee chocolate or try a chili chocolateinspired the sisters to expand their offerings and gave them the idea to infuse the candy with their heritage. Instead of just coffee, she made a Vietnamese coffee truffle; instead of just chili, she used Sriracha. Chocolates from Socola (Daniel Lee) The quest to achieve her ultimate goalcreating a durian chocolateled Lieu to a course at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena. With no recipe to reference, she tried adapting one for a creme fraiche chocolate since, when whipped, durian can achieve the same consistency. It worked, and it was awesomeit still is. After graduating from UC Davis, Lieu worked full-time in management consulting but continued to make chocolates by order and around the holidays. The itch kept coming, Lieu says. Something was telling me I still needed to work on it. When her sister traveled to Vietnam to work on sustainable cocoa developments, Lieu realized that the chocolate they were now growing in the country gave them a new connection to it. She once again began dedicating some time to the chocolate dreama plan that turned into working full time at her job while also making chocolates two days a week in the kitchen of her sister-in-laws donut shop. Exhausted but gaining traction selling at places like Whole Foods Market and Bi-Rite Market, Lieu enrolled in Tante Marie Pastry School just to be sure that she was really into chocolates. I can't live my life not knowing that I didn't give it everything, she says. After a brief stint exploring croissants, she was ready to make a serious commitment. Enlisting the help of the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, Lieu soon left her full-time job, rented a kitchen in South San Francisco, and started selling chocolates wholesale before ultimately deciding shed be better off doing everything under one roof. I just wanted to have one location where we made everything, where we had all of our packaging all in one facility, she said. I wanted to find a place where customers could see us making the chocolate and where we could have a little retail area. Wendy Lieu being interviewed by Vietnam TV California earlier this year (Courtesy of @socolachocs) In 2014, Socola opened its sweet little shop in SoMa. Last year, they opened a second location at the San Francisco International Airport. They sell their wide range of confections at both, including special collections for the Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival. The Vietnamese chocolate Soda Chanh bar is inspired by a favorite fizzy Vietnamese drink (and incorporates white chocolate, lime, and Pop Rocks), while flavors closer to home include the Five Spice Peanut Dark Chocolate bar, a collaboration with House of Nanking , and a San Francisco collection featuring a Fernet Liqueur truffle. Lieus favorite? The jasmine tea truffle and the toasted coconut black sesame bar. Outside of the kitchen, Lieus many community involvements include participating in the East Cut Community Benefit District , mentoring through Enterprise for Youth internships, consulting small business owners at Renaissance , and supporting the Catalyst Foundation and other AAPI organizationsbut its her chocolates ability to touch others thats still one of her greatest sources of pride. The spark of joy you see on people's faces when they try something unexpected or receive it as a gift is so amazing, she says. For those of us who dare to follow a recipeor a dreamits people like Lieu that are the spark. // 535 Folsom St. (SoMa) and SFO Airport Shop, Terminal 3, Boarding Area E (San Francisco), socolachocolates.com LOCKSLEY PAVES PATHWAY TO 100% MADE IN AMERICA ANTIMONY WITH EXCELLENT INTIAL METALLURGICAL TESTWORK RESULTS Locksley Paves Pathway to 100% Made in America Antimony Perth, Sep 22, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Locksley Resources Ltd ( ASX:LKY ) ( X5L:FRA ) ( LKYRF:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to advise results from initial metallurgical testwork completed by the Company on samples collected from the Desert Antimony Mine ("DAM") Prospect, validating that the Mojave Project can deliver the feedstock required to underpin a domestic mine-to-market antimony supply chain. Recovery rates of this level confirm Locksley's pathway to 100% Made in America Antimony, directly aligned with U.S. government priorities for onshore critical mineral supply security. Highlights - Excellent metallurgical recoveries ranging between 82.9% and 85.9%, validating that the Mojave project can deliver the feedstock required to underpin a domestic mine-to-market antimony supply chain - Recovery rates of this level confirm Locksley's pathway to 100% Made in America Antimony, directly aligned with U.S. government priorities for onshore critical mineral supply security - Options to use concentrate in a pilot test to produce antimony metal ingot, antimony oxide and antimony trisulphide being assessed - - Composite sample collected from surface is expected to have undergone some level of oxidation. Antimony recoveries expected to improve further with fresh rock samples (to be collected from drilling) as level of Antimony mineral oxidation expected to be reduced - Assayed head grade of composite sample of 9.6% Antimony, compared to calculated head grade from each test completed ranging from 10.0% Sb to 11.1% - High-grade initial rougher concentrate of 59.6% Antimony (R04- stage 1) indicates antimony minerals liberate naturally from the initial grind, with rougher concentrate regrinding and cleaning expected to achieve a high-grade concentrate at high Antimony recovery - Final rougher peak concentrate grade achieved of 39.1% Antimony (R02-stage 1-5), with 5 tests exceeding 35.1% Antimony and 1 test achieving 27.5% Antimony - Concentrate sent to Rice University to commence with Dep Eutectic Solvent extraction testwork using DeepSolv(TM) methodology - Upon completion of the testwork, high quality Antimony concentrate samples will be delivered to Rice University for commencement of Thrust 1 extraction and production of antimony metal using DeepSolv(TM) technology, further advancing Lockksley's role in securing domestic U.S. critical minerals supply chain Metallurgical Testwork Program Locksley engaged specialist metallurgical consultants SGS Australia owned Independent Metallurgical Operations Pty Ltd (IMO) to oversee an initial metallurgical testwork program on a 23.1kg composite sample grading 9.6% antimony ("Sb"), collected from surface stocks at DAM (Figure 1). The composite sample was delivered to Base Metallurgical Laboratories located in Tucson Arizona for the planed testwork. A standard flowsheet was devised by IMO to undertake a series of six flotation tests using a variety of reagents and initial rougher stage flotation steps, conditioning time and grind sizes. The results from each of the tests are shown on Table 1. In all tests, the flotation proved effective in recovery of Stibnite (the antimony hosting mineral) from the composite sample and importantly produced a concentrate exceeding 30% Sb in 5 out of the 6 tests completed. Furthermore, initial stage 1 steps delivered a high grade concentrate up to 59.6% Sb (R04-stage 1), indicating that the antimony minerals liberate naturally from the initial grind, with rougher concentrate regrinding and cleaning expected to achieve a high-grade concentrate at high Sb recovery. This is significant as the testwork has demonstrated the potential to produce a high grade concentrate which could meet required specifications as feedstock material for conventional pyrometallurgical process. Further testwork is ongoing with the objective of improving stibnite recovery and concentrate grade. It is anticipated that this will be achieved with subsequent regrind and cleaning stages with the goal of targeting a final concentrate grade of >50% Sb (note pure stibnite has a theoretical grade of 71.68% Sb). Next Steps Metallurgical testwork is ongoing and the following activities are planned or underway: 1. Further regrind and cleaning testwork to determine overall recovery and concentrate grade 2. Mineralogical testwork on the head, concentrate and tail to determine stibnite deportment to develop an understanding of the ore characteristics 3. Provide a sample of concentrate to Rice University to commence with Dep Eutectic Solvent extraction testwork using DeepSolv(TM) methodology 4. Investigate options to use the concentrate in a pilot test to produce antimony metal ingot, antimony oxide and antimony trisulphide Julian Woodcock, Technical Director of Locksley Resources, commented: "This is an excellent milestone to have achieved for the Mojave Project, which demonstrates that conventional flotation technology is suitable to produce a stibnite concentrate from the Desert Antimony Mine Prospect. What is also remarkable is the success of the testwork on surface samples, which have been susceptible to oxidation. I am extremely encouraged by the results and optimistic that with further testwork we will be able to improve on this already high-quality first-pass outcome. This activity continues to rapidly advance our strategy to provide onshore supply of antimony to the U.S. market." *To view tables and figures, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/19N2O557 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 HousingNewMexicoVice Chair Derek Valdo, Executive Director Isidoro Hernandez, state Treasurer Laura Montoya and board member Rebecca Wurzburger pose with Tierra del Sol Housing Corp. Executive Director Rose Garcia, center, after presenting Garcia with a lifetime achievement awardat the 2025NewMexicoHousingSummit Friday. Casey Addason Housing New Mexico, the quasi-governmental housing agency previously known as the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, honored the city of Las Cruces as its Developer of the Year during an awards ceremony in Albuquerque last Friday. In addition, the organization bestowed a lifetime achievement award upon Rose Garcia, the executive director of Tierra del Sol Housing Corp., a regional housing development organization with offices in Las Cruces and Columbus. In all, Housing New Mexico presented 14 awards Friday pertaining to affordable housing efforts statewide during the three-day New Mexico Housing Summit at the Hotel Albuquerque. Honorees included mortgage lenders, developers and others involved in expanding affordable and accessible housing stock. The affordable housing needs in our state are endless, but it is important to recognize and celebrate our accomplishments, HNMs executive director, Isidoro Hernandez, said during the ceremony. We have the right partners with the desire to continue making an enduring impact to those we serve. Las Cruces, which has supported several new affordable and mixed-income housing projects around the city, was honored for one project in particular that is under construction. Amador Crossing is a planned 50-unit supportive housing development, constructed on city-owned land, with services for residents provided by the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope, a nonprofit serving people without housing on a campus adjacent to the development. It is also located next to Casa de Peregrinos, the largest food pantry in Dona Ana County. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined lawmakers and local officials at Amador Crossings groundbreaking in January, at which point the city reported over 2,400 households on the Mesilla Valley Public Housing Authority waiting list. The $15.6 million project combines city and state money as well as funding from Housing New Mexico. As one of the first local governments in New Mexico to directly develop such housing, the city of Las Cruces led the project from concept to construction, overcoming significant challenges to serve a high-needs population, Housing New Mexico stated in a news release. The leadership in Las Cruces has made a clear commitment to putting housing first for all residents. By leveraging federal and state funding, the city is actively increasing the supply of affordable housing. In a written statement, City Manager Ikani Taumoepeau said the award reflects the citys ongoing commitment to creating safe, quality and affordable housing for our residents and embodies the citys slogan, Adelante con carino (moving forward with love and compassion). He saluted Natalie Green, the citys housing and neighborhood services manager, along with our partners and the community who work tirelessly to make these developments a reality. Garcia, one of three lifetime achievement awardees, has led Tierra del Sol for over 40 years. Housing New Mexico called her a trailblazer one of the few women in construction and a powerful advocate for farmworkers and working families. Ad Tierra del Sol, founded in 1973, has engaged in rural and urban homeowner initiatives in rural and urban communities, including farm labor rental housing, supportive housing for elderly residents, self-help projects in which first-time homeowners assist in construction and home designs incorporating renewable energy. Tierra del Sol did not respond to a request for comment or make Garcia available Monday. Lifetime achievement awards were also presented to Carol Sugarman of Albuquerque and Rose Silva-Smith of Yes Housing. Other honorees included lenders Waterstone Mortgage, John Gabaldon, Lindsay Rollins and Marty Padilla; Red Feather Development Group, Hagerman Forward, the Barrett Foundation, North Central New Mexico Economic Development District and the New Mexico Ramp Project. PAH! Hiland Plaza, a multifamily development built in collaboration with the Deaf community in Albuquerque, was named Multifamily Project of the Year. John James Romero Metropolitan Detention Center A man has been erroneously released from the Metropolitan Detention Center. On Sept. 13, John James Romero, 29, of Las Vegas, N.M., was arrested and charged with three counts of criminal trespass and a count of resisting, evading, or obstructing an officer. Two days later, he was released for serving two of the trespass charges, Metropolitan Detention Center spokesperson Daniel Trujillo said in a news release on Thursday. However, the third trespass charge and the resisting, evading, or obstructing charge required a $25 cash or surety bond, Trujillo said. Initial findings indicate that human error resulted in Romero being erroneously released on recognizance for those charges. On Sunday, Trujillo said Romero is not currently in our custody and has not been since his release. MDC is continuing to investigate the incident, he said. Once the review complete, Trujillo said, officials will determine what corrective actions will be taken. By Matthew Pearlman. Partner and Daniel Sacks, Analyst, LCP We focus on putting into practice three key principles that should underpin every stage of the Actuarial Functions (AF) opinion: Target value-add, not (just) compliance AF activities should occur before decisions are made Achieving best practice may be an iterative process We provide practical tips and steps in each section to help the AF add more value, engage in decision-making promptly and continuously improve processes in line with best practices. Technical provisions Technical provisions (TPs) often rank as the least read section of the AFR. We find that the lack of engagement is not solely due to their inherently technical nature but also because Boards typically seek insights on reserves elsewhere, such as in quarterly reserving packs. We see the TP exercise as an ongoing process, not just a final report, where valuable insights will emerge throughout. The AFR records these insights even if it is not the main way they are initially communicated. An ideal project plan could be structured as follows: Typically, TPs build on the foundation of GAAP reserving. Planning should start before starting the GAAP reserving process, with a focus on making recommendations that can add value. These recommendations should be reviewed and carried forward into the following year, ensuring they are implemented effectively. This approach supports an iterative reserving process, driving meaningful improvements year after year. This could involve, for example, improving data flows across the system or properly implementing the reinsurance programme into the calculations. Additionally, it is worth revisiting the key judgments made and the methodological challenges recorded in the previous year. These elements should be incorporated into the planning phase before the annual reserving process begins. We find the quiet period before the annual year-end reserving process an ideal time to conduct deep dives. For example, this time could be used to assess case reserving adequacy, using the broader perspective offered by the reserving exercise on the claims process. Insights from these deep dives can then be incorporated into GAAP reserving and subsequently into the TPs, ensuring they do not become an additional strain on resources during the critical first-cut reserving phase. We suggest that the TP report focus on two key parts: Value-add: Explaining the walk from GAAP reserves to Solvency II reserves, which is typically shown as a waterfall chart. In our experience, this is poorly understood by all but those close to the analysis. The Board needs to understand the sensitivities around individual items in the waterfall and when they could be potentially material Compliance: Picking up the important points from GAAP reserving and ensuring that they are all documented within the TP report. Most reserving insights should ideally be highlighted earlier in the process. The underwriting opinion Every firm has a unique business plan, but all companies use a structured planning process involving senior management, finance and the Board. We find that tight timelines can often make it hard for the AF to provide meaningful input during the plans development. If actuaries arent involved early, they may end up having to justify aspects of the plan retrospectively, a practice that adds little value to the business. Some of the most effective challenges raised by actuaries are simple yet impactful. For example, questioning assumptions such as What is our justification for assuming we can increase business volumes while also increasing premium rates? can prove insightful. Similarly, comparing business plan loss ratios to historical trends can highlight potential issues, such as unrealistic expectations that historical loss ratio deterioration will reverse through re-underwriting efforts alone. It is important to present facts in a way that the Board can easily understand. For example, showing how much advance credit is being assumed for underwriting changes can help the Board assess whether such assumptions are reasonable. We suggest framing facts in terms of their impact on decisions, to ensure that the Board has the information needed to make right choices. Best Practice AF clearly involved while business plan is still live, challenging assumptions appropriately. Initial AF recommendations given before board signs off business plan Good Practice Balanced framework for giving credit to 're-underwriting' arguments Appropriate challenge of potentially heroic assumptions Behaviours to avoid AF under pressure to justify reasonableness of business plan in arrears AF conclusions not sufficiently objective or rooted in analysis of historical data The Board should receive the actuarys initial observations and challenges before approving the business plan, even if they are not yet formalised into an official opinion. Early engagement can help to ensure that the actuarial perspective is integrated into the planning process and adds meaningful value. Reinsurance opinion Reinsurance is a critical business decision because of its direct impact on managing the risks of the business. It is not an exact science as multiple solutions can align with the theoretical risk appetite. At its core, reinsurance purchasing is an optimisation problem, requiring Board to weigh various factors carefully to arrive at the best decision. The Board must have sufficient information to understand the financial dynamics of the various reinsurance options. While actuarial teams typically provide detailed modelling to support recommendations, the final decision often involves a commercial compromise. The reinsurance opinion usually comes after the main reinsurance purchase decisions, offering a chance to independently assess the quality of MI and look at the decision from a different angle. A common issue identified in these opinions is the imbalance between qualitative and quantitative information provided to the Board, with the latter often lacking the detail needed for fully informed decisions. Below are some ideas to enhance the value of the reinsurance opinion for the business. Using the right metrics An effective start is the simple question: Is this years renewal offering better or worse value than last year? Metrics aligned with the companys risk appetite or reinsurance policy can effectively illustrate this. Comparing and ranking the current programme against the previous year provides meaningful context. For example, the reinsurance policy may state that no single reinsurer should have more than 20% of any layer. While it is normally clear whether this technical limit has been breached, reviewing the entire programme can reveal surprising levels of reliance on one reinsurer. This may then highlight that the policy has not been expressed clearly, providing the opportunity to clarify the risk appetite and improve future reinsurance decisions. Another effective approach is to supplement actuarial modelling results with tests against historical experience. Board members will likely remember the companys worst recent year and will want to see how the reinsurance programme would have responded to those losses. We often find that clearly explaining any differences, such as changes in line sizes or improved terms and exclusions, can help the Board in understanding how those past losses relate to todays exposures. Best practice Clear understanding of how emerging risks are built into either pricing or policy exclusions. Clear articulation of firm's appetite to accept certain emerging risk in new business. Good practice Clear link between the emerging risk framework and actuarial processes. Consideration of external factors which may limit the ability to deliver the business plan. Behaviours to avoid Little consideration of emerging risks or their materiality. Little involvement to the AF in emerging risks discussions. Poorly defined emerging risks framework. It is important to state the obvious. For example, This programme leaves us exposed to a third post $10m loss, but the modelled probability of such a scenario is very low and in the history of the company there has only ever been one loss over $7m in a single year. What seems obvious to one person may not be clear to someone else or may be overlooked amidst the many other factors being considered. Governance of information is another key area for the reinsurance opinion. For example, if reinsurance modelling relies on a capital model calibrated to a 1-in-200 level for capital setting, it may be less reliable at the 1-in-10 or 1-in-20 levels typically used for reinsurance decisions. It is important for the opinion to communicate these limitations, helping the Board to understand implications of relying on such data. Feedback loops The reinsurance opinion is produced after decisions are made and provides a good opportunity to identify gaps in technical analysis or highlight additional insights that proved useful to the Board. This feedback loop supports continuous improvement of MI, enabling the Board to make better decisions each year. Contribution to risk management Risk management is the least defined area of the AFs involvement, as there is no formal requirement for an opinion. However, the AF plays an important role in supporting and enhancing the companys risk management processes. Risk appetite The AFs involvement should start early in the development of the risk appetite statement, rather than reviewing it once finalised. This ensures alignment with the companys strategic objectives and the inclusion of clear, quantifiable measures to enhance clarity and usability. Objective metrics in the risk appetite framework can help the AF to assess business plans and are highly valued by the Board. A clearer, more measurable risk appetite statement enables the Board to engage more effectively with the companys overall risk strategy. Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA) The AF should play a fundamental role throughout the ORSA process. While ownership of the ORSA often sits with the risk management team, the AF should be actively involved at every stage, from planning to finalisation In some jurisdictions, such as Ireland, the head of the Actuarial Function is required to provide a formal report on the ORSA, covering areas such as: The range and robustness of stress and scenario testing. Limitations of the scenarios and their potential impact. The alignment of ORSA results with the companys capital requirements. This highlights the value of the AFs input in the ORSA process, even if formal reporting is not required. By contributing to its development and review, the AF can ensure that the ORSA is robust, well-aligned with risk appetite and connected to the companys capital planning processes. Risk committees The AF is a key participant in risk committee discussions and should actively contribute to these meetings. We suggest having regular one-to-one interactions with Board members, the chair of the risk committee and other committee members, to help build strong relationships and ensure alignment on key risk issues. Regular input from the AF can help to ensure that actuarial insights are considered when making strategic decisions. Other general considerations Timing of the report The AFR can add significant value if done at a time early enough to influence decisions. Instead of acting as a retrospective review of decisions already made by the Board, it should act as record of how the AF actively participated in the work leading up to those decisions. For example, the Underwriting Opinion, or at least the initial findings, should be presented to the Board while the business plan is still live and where any key challenges from the Actuarial Function can still be factored into the plan by the Board. Another example is the AFs involvement in the Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA). Before the Board signs off the ORSA, they should have the benefit of input and challenge from the AF. Structure of the report Good presentation improves the Board's engagement with its findings. It is important to recognise that Board members have unique preferences, and its crucial to regularly discuss how they interact with the results. We suggest some simple changes below that can make a big difference to how the audience engages with the findings of the report: Putting the opinions and key recommendations on page 1. This helps Boards focus on the purpose of the report. Board members typically prefer a short report (approx. 10 pages) with signposting to appendices and other reports where the detail is presented. Ensure that AFR addresses the following three key questions for the Board early on: So what?: What is the point of this advice for the Board, what question are we trying to answer? What if? What are the key assumptions and uncertainty around the results presented? What next?: What needs to happen next, and what implications does this advice have on other areas? Ensure that the opinions from the AF are clearly stated to avoid giving false confidence. For instance, instead of stating the firm has low exposure to anti-selection risk, provide analysis that quantifies changes in business mix and offers an indication of whether anti-selection risk is increasing or decreasing. Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - As more details come out from the scene of the drone strike that killed at least 75 civilians in the Al Fashir mosque attack, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said at least 11 children aged 6 to 15 years were among the dead Blast in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Kills More Than 20, Including Women, Children and Militants 2 At least 24 people, including women and children, were killed and several others injured on Monday when a cache of explosives stored at a Pakistani Taliban compound detonated in northwest Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said. The incident occurred in the Matur Dara area of Tirah Valley in Khyber district, near the Afghanistan border. Local authorities rejected claims that the site was struck by Pakistan Air Force jets, stating instead that the explosion was triggered by bomb-making materials stored inside the compound. According to Tirah Police Stations Station House Officer Zafar Khan, the dead included 14 militants and 10 civilians. Witnesses in the area, however, alleged that airstrikes were carried out. The compound was reportedly a key hub for militant leaders and Afghan fighters, serving as a training ground for sniper operations and the production of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Militants are known to establish such facilities within civilian populations, making them difficult for security forces to target. Poor storage conditions and training activities often result in accidental blasts. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist incidents since the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, despite Islamabads hopes that a friendly regime in Kabul would help curb militancy. PM Modi Launches 'GST Utsav' on Navratri, Calls for Savings and Self-Reliance 2 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday marked the beginning of Navratri 2025 with greetings and a festive message that tied spiritual devotion to economic empowerment. Linking the occasion to the governments newly launched GST Utsav, he urged citizens to embrace both savings and self-reliance. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, This Navratri holds special significance. Along with the GST Savings Festival, the mantra of self-reliance will gain new energy during this period. Let us come together in collective efforts to fulfil the resolve of a developed and self-reliant India. On Sunday, PM Modi announced the launch of the nationwide GST Utsav from the first day of Navratri, describing it as a festival of savings for the people. With new GST rates coming into effect from September 22, he said citizens would be able to buy a wide range of products at lower prices. Next Gen GST reforms being implemented from tomorrowit is like a GST saving festival. From tomorrow, you will be able to buy your favourite items with ease, he said in his address. Alongside the GST announcement, PM Modi shared a soulful rendition of the bhajan Ya Devi Sarv Bhuteshu by the late Pandit Jasraj, calling Navratri a celebration of pure devotion. He also invited citizens to share their favourite devotional songs, promising to repost some in the coming days. Extending greetings, he said, Heartfelt Navratri greetings to all of you. May this sacred festival, filled with devotion, courage, restraint, and determination, bring new strength and new faith into everyones life. Jai Mata Di! He further noted the significance of the first day of Navratri dedicated to Maa Shailputri, expressing hope that her blessings bring good fortune and health to all. Sharadiya Navratri, observed in the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin, is a nine-night festival dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine forms. Celebrated with fasting, devotional singing, Garba and Dandiya, the festival will conclude on October 2 with Vijayadashami, or Dussehra. SC Declines to Quash Money Laundering Case Against Jacqueline Fernandez 2 Actor Jacqueline Fernandez on Monday failed to secure relief from the Supreme Court, which declined to interfere with a Delhi High Court order rejecting her plea to quash an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih told senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Fernandez, You withdraw this. Come at an appropriate stage. That would be the better option. We will not interfere at this stage. The matter was dismissed with liberty to approach the court later. Fernandez had challenged the Delhi High Courts July 3 order that dismissed her petition against the ECIR. The actor is named as an accused in the case against Chandrasekhar, who allegedly duped the spouses of Ranbaxys former promoters, Shivinder and Malvinder Singh, of Rs 200 crore. Rohatgi argued that Fernandez had no role in laundering money and was only at the receiving end of Chandrasekhars gifts, worth at least Rs 5.71 crore. He maintained that the conman, already jailed, was infatuated with the film star and impersonated senior government officials to deceive victims. The Enforcement Directorate, however, has alleged that Fernandez knowingly accepted gifts despite being aware of Chandrasekhars criminal background. The Delhi High Court had earlier refused to quash the charges, noting that peaceful protest rights and criminal liability under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) must be assessed at the stage of framing charges. The Supreme Court bench cited its earlier Vijay Madanlal Choudhary ruling upholding EDs powers under the PMLA, observing that allegations at the charge stage have to be accepted. Rohatgi requested that high court remarks not prejudice Fernandez during trial, to which the bench clarified that the observations were limited to dismissal of her plea. The Enforcement Directorate has filed multiple chargesheets against Chandrasekhar and his wife, Leena Paulose, accusing them of using hawala routes and shell companies to launder the proceeds of crime. Both were earlier arrested under provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Huntsville police have arrested a teen in connection with the fatal weekend shooting of another teen. On Saturday, around 7:30 p.m., officers responded to the 4200 block of TeeJay Drive for a possible shooting in progress. Upon arrival, they located a 16-year-old victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Life-saving measures were attempted, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a recent release. The investigation, led by Huntsvilles Major Crimes Unit, determined DaeShawn Dewayne Harkey, 18, of Huntsville, was in the home with the victim at the time of their death. Harkey told police he believed a firearm he was handling was unloaded when it discharged, striking and killing the victim, according to the release. Harkey was arrested and booked into the Madison County Jail on a charge of manslaughter. John Paul Ketterman, a former Alabama Department of Corrections officer, pleaded guilty to accepting $10,000 in bribes from inmates. (Limestone County Jail) A former state prison officer has been sentenced to prison on a federal bribery charge. U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced 28-year-old John Paul Ketteman to 15 months in prison for receipt of a bribe by an agent or organization receiving federal funds. He pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this year. The Huntsville man was previously employed as a corrections officer at the Alabama Department of Corrections Limestone Correctional Facility in Harvest. Kettemans job duties included inspecting prison cells for contraband and supervising inmates. He was hired by ADOC on June 8, 2012, and resigned Nov. 22. 2022. He was among four prison officers indicted on state charges in 2022. One of them, Alex Christian Andrews, has also been indicted federally, court records show. In the fall of 2022, ADOCs Law Enforcement Services Division began an investigation into contraband being smuggled into the Limestone Facility by corrections officers. As part of the investigation, Cash App records were obtained for Kettemans account. The records showed that in less than three months in 2022, Ketteman was paid more than $10,000 to smuggle contraband into the Limestone Facility and to act as a lookout. Ketteman, according to court documents, also warned an inmate about upcoming inspections. The FBI and the United States Secret Service investigated the cases. ADOCs Law Enforcement Services Division provided valuable assistance during the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Hundscheid prosecuted the case. Mobile police have launched an active homicide investigation following the discovery of a dead man Monday morning. On Sept. 22, at approximately 10:00 a.m., officers responded to a death investigation at a home in the 1300 block of East Linwood Drive. Upon arrival, Mobile PD discovered a dead male inside the home and announced an active homicide investigation shortly after. At this time, we will not provide additional details as to how the victim died in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, reads a recent release. Once next of kin has been notified and the investigation progresses, we will release further information. Anyone with information relating to the case has been urged to contact the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-7211 or submit an anonymous tip by texting 844-251-0644 or by visiting mobilepd.org/crimetip. Gary Busey attends the NBC Universal Winter TCA Tour at the Langham Huntington Hotel on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP Gary Busey has been sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual contact for a 2022 incident. According to The Post, Busey was accused of groping at least three women, and trying to undo one womans bra, during photo op. According to The Associated Press and the Cherry Hill Courier-Post, the 81-year-old actor was sentenced during a virtual court appearance on Thursday. Mr. Busey is pleased that the case has been resolved and that he can go on with his life without any continuing, daily public adversity, his lawyer, Blair Zwillman, said on Saturday, per The New York Times. Zwillman requested that Busey receive a fine, per the Courier-Post after he pleaded guilty to the charge in July, citing health problems, including early dementia and mobility issues. Superior Court Judge Gwendolyn Blue., however, cited the actors prior charges including his probationary terms in 2007 for trespass and disorderly conduct and in 2021 for a hit-and-run as a reason for his probationary sentence. The actor initially denied any wrongdoing, telling TMZ in 2022, None of that happened. It was a partner, a camera lady and me, and two girls ... it took less than 10 seconds, and they left. Then they made up a story that I assaulted them sexually, and I did not. Nothing happened, its all false, he said at the time. Monster-Mania Convention said in a Facebook post at the time that after attendees complained, an unspecified celebrity guest was removed from the convention and instructed not to return. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Naomi Watts, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston at the 76th Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Content Services) Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Reese Witherspoon revealed she had to rewire her brain because of an abusive relationship. The actress, 49, in a Sept. 20 episode with The Interview podcast, opened up about overcoming the experience. I was very good at being a professional and showing up, and doing the right thing, the Sweet Home Alabama star told host Lulu Garcia-Navarro. But I wasnt emotionally mature when I was young, and you get into relationships that dont work for you and sometimes you dont even see the dynamics that are happening. When I got out of that, it took me a while to reconstitute myself. My spirit had been diminished because I thought all those awful things that person said about me were true. What made it even more difficult, Witherspoon said, was going through her personal battle while being in the publics eye. I had to rewire my brain, she added. I was really insecure because Ive talked to a lot of people whove been in abusive relationships, and they cant see it. You know? And I couldnt see it. It took me a long time to be this woman that I am now. I have a lot of compassion for people who live public lives and maintain privacy. Its nearly impossible at this point with everybody dehumanizing you in a certain way, like taking pictures of you like youre an animal in the zoo instead of a person with their children or having a private moment. James Van Der Beek will not be at the Dawsons Creek, citing his health due to his cancer diagnosis. The actor, who played Dawson Leery in the WB television drama, took to social media Sunday to break the news. This is the evening Id been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January, the actor posted on Instagram. So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment. The cast including Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Philipps are set to reunite at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City for a live reading of the shows pilot episode Tang Xianzu and Shakespeare: Theater as a bridge for global cultural dialogue Shanghai seed bank hits 100 million samples in biodiversity conservation push China unveils world's first mid-infrared solar magnetic-field telescope Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News City in NE China maintains vibrant cross-border exchanges with Russia Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 20 Septembre 2025 As evening approaches, a dozen gray herons fly toward their habitats in Russia. After the sunset fades, the Sanjiang National Nature Reserve returns to serene tranquility. With the dawn, the riverside "residents" will resume their cross-border lives, continuing to write new chapters in the story of harmony between humanity and nature. By Wang Yuan, Liu Mengdan, Zhou Zhou, People's Daily Fuyuan, a county-level city administered by Jiamusi, northeast China's Heilongjiang province, is dubbed "the east pole of Huaxia (historical concept representing China)". Separated from Khabarovsk, the largest city in Russia's Far East, by the Heilongjiang River, the two cities are just 65 kilometers apart by water. This culturally rich boundary river has long connected communities on both sides, fostering vibrant cross-border cultural exchanges. On the morning of April 12 this year, thousands of visitors gathered along the banks of the Songhua River in Jiamusi, united in collective exclamations as the ice broke. As the river's ice broke apart and drifted downstream amid the cheers of spectators, fifty performers from the Hezhe ethnic group beat deerskin drums, chanting ice-thawing prayers to rhythms inspired by the cracking river ice. For nearly a millennium, the Hezhe people have inhabited the Heilongjiang, Songhua, and Wusuli river basins, sustaining themselves through fishing and hunting. Their belief in the "river god," who governs weather and fishery yields, underpins the grand Kaijiang ceremony, a spring ritual marking the thaw and invoking annual abundance. Evolving into the annual Hanjiang Festival, the tradition heralds the arrival of spring and the resumption of fishing. Today, the festival celebrates Hezhe fishing-hunting culture while facilitating a dialogue between humanity and nature. It consistently draws Russian visitors as both participants and spectators. At the 2024 Hanjiang Festival, over 10,000 attendees sang the theme song in unison, securing a Guinness World Record for the largest livestreamed choral performance. Russian tourists Andrei and Yulia, having journeyed from Khabarovsk specifically for the festival, captured this year's Kaijiang spectacle. "The resounding chants resembled dialogue with the river itself. Absolutely stunning! I'll share this footage to friends and family back home so they can experience this unique culture," Andrei said. Frequent traveler Lina, fluent in northeastern Chinese dialect, regularly commutes via the Khabarovsk-Fuyuan passenger vessel since the open-water season commenced, making multiple monthly round trips. Nature mirrors human connections:. each summer morning, egrets fly from Russian nests across the boundary river to forage in Chinese wetlands. "Bird populations here were historically sparse compared to current numbers," said Zhao Wanjing, research director of the Zhuaji management station at Heilongjiang's Sanjiang National Nature Reserve. In 2001, the reserve signed its first joint-protection agreement with Russia's Bolshekhekhtsirsky Nature Reserve. This was followed in 2015 by another agreement with United Directorate of State Nature Preserves and National Parks in Khabarovsk Krai, Russia. These partnerships have expanded collaboration in conservation and research across broader regions and sectors, steadily improving ecological conditions to safeguard local species, Zhao said. Through binoculars at the station, Zhao observed Oriental white stork chicks in artificial nests, spotting several quickly. "The number of bird species in the reserve has increased from 245 to 285 since its founding. We've built over 250 artificial nests with an 80 percent occupancy rate. More and more Oriental white storks are making their homes here," Zhao added. Nature reserves in China and Russia regularly host academic exchange conferences, conduct ecological restoration, and build artificial nests for endangered waterbirds. On occasions like International Day for Biodiversity and Bird-Loving Week, they co-organize youth activities such as hanging bird nests, wetland knowledge competitions, wildlife releases, and ecology classes for schoolchildren, continuously raising public awareness of biodiversity conservation on both sides of the border. As evening approaches, a dozen gray herons fly toward their habitats in Russia. After the sunset fades, the Sanjiang National Nature Reserve returns to serene tranquility. With the dawn, the riverside "residents" will resume their cross-border lives, continuing to write new chapters in the story of harmony between humanity and nature. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Tang Xianzu and Shakespeare: Theater as a bridge for global cultural dialogue Shanghai seed bank hits 100 million samples in biodiversity conservation push China unveils world's first mid-infrared solar magnetic-field telescope Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News Seats for V-day celebration finds new homes across Beijing Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 18 Septembre 2025 The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports received entire temporary grandstands and seats, to be applied as complete sets for training, gatherings, and sporting events. Tongzhou district accepted four entire grandstands, including seats, which will be installed in its canal area; while Pinggu district received two full grandstands, including seats, integrating them into the natural surroundings for public use. By Shi Fang, People's Daily The 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) just concluded at Shougang Park in Beijing. Outside the venue, rows of red seats could be seen lining the pathways between Halls 2 and 3, as well as around Hall 14. These red seats may look familiar: they were once part of the temporary grandstands on Tian'anmen Square for the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Praised for their ergonomic comfort during extended events, the seats feature automatic rebound mechanisms and UV-resistant materials that preserve their vibrant colours. Their design - available in gold, red, and olive green - embodies elegant oriental aesthetics. Following the 2015 commemoration, nearly 50,000 seats were sustainably repurposed across Beijing. "By strategically distributing the colour-coded seating to schools, parks, and sports venues, we've honoured the commemorative spirit while conserving resources," explained an event organiser. "Shougang Park received 1,508 of the seats. Blending seamlessly with the park's unique style, where industrial heritage meets modern fashion, they embody the principle of frugality in hosting major events while adding new value to the park and will continue to serve the public in the future," said Liu Feifei, director of the urban renewal department at Beijing Shougang Construction Group. The same red seats can also be found in a forest park in Beijing's Tongzhou district. Along shaded paths and small plazas, rows of new seating provide resting places for visitors. In Fengtai district of the capital, four complete grandstands with their seats were relocated to cultural venues such as the Weigezhuang Ethnic Cultural Park. During an ethnic cultural carnival held there, the grandstands and more than a dozen rows of yellow seats from Tian'anmen Square provided seating for the audience. Other seats also found new homes. Beijing Investment Group Co., Ltd. received more than 2,000 seats, which are now in use at sports and community activity venues to expand public cultural and fitness services. The Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau received over 4,700 green seats, which will be placed in Taoranting Park, Zizhuyuan Park, Yuyuantan Park, and other locations, harmonizing with the natural landscapes. The Beijing Municipal Education Commission took in 9,000 red seats, which will be distributed to universities, secondary schools, and primary schools, enhancing school auditoriums and daily teaching environments with a sense of solemnity. The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports received entire temporary grandstands and seats, to be applied as complete sets for training, gatherings, and sporting events. Tongzhou district accepted four entire grandstands, including seats, which will be installed in its canal area; while Pinggu district received two full grandstands, including seats, integrating them into the natural surroundings for public use. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Tang Xianzu and Shakespeare: Theater as a bridge for global cultural dialogue Shanghai seed bank hits 100 million samples in biodiversity conservation push China unveils world's first mid-infrared solar magnetic-field telescope Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture announced the website release of Fieldprint Platform Version 5, marking a major milestone in the Alliance's mission to provide the industry's most trusted and accessible sustainability measurement platform, built on the latest science and supported by the entire agriculture value chain. This release, now available through the Field to Market Fieldprint Platform website, introduces significant upgrades to the science, functionality, and user experience of one of the industry's most widely used and affordable sustainability measurement frameworks. Fieldprint Platform Version 5 delivers a suite of upgrades that improve both scientific rigor and usability. Highlights include a new quantitative soil carbon indicator powered by the SWAT+ model, updated greenhouse gas and energy use indicators, and a redesigned user interface with simplified data entry and scorecard-style results. These enhancements support Scope 3 emissions reporting requirements, helping companies more accurately track and report progress toward their sustainability commitments. The Platform also now supports multi-year field histories, enabling better analysis of crop rotations, soil carbon, and long-term sustainability performance. "These updates represent a critical step forward in advancing transparent, scientifically rigorous indicators for U.S. agriculture," says Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, President of Field to Market. "Built on the latest USDA and IPCC science, Version 5 not only responds directly to the evolving needs of our members, but also offers broader usability and greater credibility for farmers, companies, and stakeholders across the agricultural value chain." To support users in navigating the new features and highlighting their benefits, Field to Market will host a webinar on October 29 offering a guided overview of the Platform and answering questions about the transition. Remaining committed to continuous improvement of the Fieldprint Platform, Field to Market will provide additional improvements to ensure the Platform remains at the forefront of agricultural sustainability indicators. Field to Market will continue to work with Qualified Data Management Partners and Fieldprint Projects to incorporate Version 5. For more information and to access the Fieldprint Platform, visit www.fieldtomarket.org/fieldprint-platform. ABOUT FIELD TO MARKET Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture brings together a diverse group of grower organizations; agribusinesses; brands and retail companies; conservation groups; universities and public sector partners to focus on defining, measuring, and advancing the sustainability of food, feed, fiber, and fuel production. Field to Market comprises nearly 190 members representing all facets of the U.S. agricultural supply chain. Learn more about Field to Market here: https://fieldtomarket.org/. SOURCE Field To Market NEW DELHI, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd (AHEL) recently announced the launch of Apollo Athenaa Asia's First Dedicated Cancer Centre for Women, located in E2-E3, Defence Colony, New Delhi. The centre was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Rekha Gupta, in the presence of Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Founder-Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group; Ms. Bansuri Swaraj, Member of Parliament, New Delhi; Shri Neeraj Basoya, Member of the Legislative Assembly; Ms. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, AHEL; and Mr. Harshad Reddy, Director, Group Oncology, AHEL. New Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta, along with Member of Parliament Ms. Bansuri Swaraj; Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Founder-Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group; Ms. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd (AHEL); and Mr. Dinesh Madhavan, President, Group Oncology and International (AHEL) Speaking at the inauguration, Smt. Rekha Gupta, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Delhi, said: "Cancer care for women is a deeply sensitive issue, and it gives me great satisfaction to see us moving towards real empowerment for women. Apollo Athenaa will stand as a milestone in cancer care, ensuring dignity, security, and privacy for every woman." In the recent past, more women than men have been diagnosed with cancer, notably with cancers in women accounting for the highest incidence. A new study from ICMR's National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) has revealed that breast and cervical cancers are the most common types of cancers among Indian women. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Founder-Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, said: "Apollo Athenaa represents a new horizon in women's healthcare, where cutting-edge science meets compassion, and every woman is assured of dignity and timely care. It reflects our enduring belief that India can lead the world not just in medical innovation, but in reimagining healthcare as a force for hope and humanity." Ms. Bansuri Swaraj, Member of Parliament, New Delhi, said, "As cancer is rising at an alarming pace, the Government of India has introduced robust policies and strategic interventions to enhance prevention, early detection, treatment, and patient care nationwide. Our government is also consistently prioritising women's health. Apollo's transformative initiative and setting a global benchmark in women-centric cancer care will complement the national health mission." Ms. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd, said: "Apollo Athenaa is not just a hospitalit's a movement, a symbol of progress, empathy, and commitment to women's health. By focusing exclusively on cancers affecting women, Athenaa offers personalised care that respects dignity, enables early detection, improves outcomes, and restores hope." Website: https://www.apollohospitals.com/hospitals/apollo-athenaa-womens-cancer-centre Image: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2777341/Inauguration_Apollo_Athenaa.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2778300/Apollo_Athenaa_Logo.jpg SOURCE Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd (AHEL) The remedy phase of Googles ad-tech antitrust trial begins today. At the end of it, Google will find out its fate in this trial. As a reminder, Google did lose the ad-tech trial, so the only thing that remains to be seen is what steps will the company be forced to take to remedy the situation. Google lost its ad-tech trial in April, and the remedy phase starts today Google lost this trial back in April, when US Disctrict Court Judge, Leonie Brinkema, ruled against the company. It was ruled that Google maintained monopolies in the open web display publisher ad server, and ad exchange markets. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) and a coalition of states are asking the court to force Google to sell its ad exchange, AdX. Thats where online publishers pay a 20% fee to Google in order to sell ads in auctions that happen instantly when users load websites. The DOJ is also asking the court to require Google to make the mechanism that decides the winner of those auctions open source. Google is asking that Brinkema be cautious in the approach to this trial, as was a judge in a separate online search monopoly trial. Google lost the online search monopoly trial too, but avoided blows that would hurt the most As a reminder, while Google did lose the online search monopoly trial, it wont be forced to sell Chrome or Android. Most of the major moves have been rejected by the court. Google will be required to take specific steps, though, to make things easier for the competition, for example, It also wont be allowed to make exclusivity agreements for its search engine, like the one it had with Apple. In any case, regarding this ad-tech trial, Google said that the DOJs proposal is technically unworkable and that it would lead to prolonged uncertainty for both advertisers and publishers. Googles proposal is to change its policies, instead of selling AdX. Changing those policies would make it easier for publishers to use and support competing platforms. The DOJ believes thats nowhere near enough to restore competition. It remains to be seen what will happen after the remedies trial. A major deal to secure TikToks future in the United States has been reached. It includes a surprising solution at its core: TikToks powerful Chinese recommendation algorithm will be copied and retrained on U.S. user data. This agreement, which follows a long effort to prevent a ban on the app, aims to address national security concerns about its Chinese ownership. Tech giant Oracle will play a central role in this new arrangement. A senior White House official confirmed that Oracle will oversee the apps recommendation system. The company will be inspecting its source code and rebuilding it using only American user data. Oracle will also store all data from the apps 170 million U.S. users on its cloud servers. Its noteworthy that the company already had this storage role under a previous agreement. Oracle will now oversee and retrain TikToks algorithm in the U.S The deal will transfer control of the app to a new joint venture, which will have majority American investors. TikToks parent company, ByteDance, will retain a minority stake of less than 20%. Meanwhile, an American board of directors will operate the new company. Oracle and private equity firm Silver Lake are confirmed as investors. There are also rumors suggesting that other tech and media leaders might also join the new ownership group. For years, U.S. officials expressed concern that the Chinese government could force ByteDance to use the algorithm to influence or spread propaganda to Americans. The new deal aims to solve this by creating a secure, separate operation for U.S. users. Will TikTok US be a different version than the global one? However, some analysts have raised questions about how this change might affect the app. Since the algorithm will no longer have access to content from the rest of the world, it could alter the user experience for Americans and potentially make the app less valuable for creators and brands. The U.S.-run version could become a separate, distinct app, rather than a global one. President Trump will sign an executive order soon, which will extend the deadline for the apps ban by 120 days. This will allow the new ownership group time to finalize the deal and secure all the necessary regulatory approvals. A man holds a Palestinian flag outside the Palestine Mission to the UK What is the difference between history and deep history? I only ask because yesterday, after Keir Starmer had aligned British foreign policy with Hamas, the elfin liberal opinionator Lewis Goodall appeared to draw such a distinction. So much of the commentary on Palestine today without much sense of the deep history, he lamented on social media with a virtual toss of his floppy locks. You can say this is a debt which has long been owed. The Palestinians expected a state a century ago when the British took on the mandate. Helpfully, Goodall then posted a link to the source of his deep history: a page on the Imperial War Museum website featuring a handful of sentences seemingly written for children and a 15-minute YouTube video. Deep. Very deep. But in Goodalls rendering, glaringly incomplete. The part that he appeared to overlook was when the Palestinian Arabs, led by the fanatical Nazi collaborator Amin al-Husseini, rejected the offer of a country of their own and instead launched a genocidal war upon the nascent Israel. That marked the first time the Palestinians turned down the two-state solution in favour of bloodshed, a pattern they have sadly repeated many times since. Deep history, it seems, is just a version of events that aligns with comfortable liberal prejudices rather than the facts. Shallow history, in other words. Youve got to feel for the Left. If only the real world matched their assumptions, they wouldnt have to resort to slight of hand. Wouldnt life be easier if the Palestinians hadnt sided with the Nazis during the war; if they hadnt rejected a state of their own in favour of war with Israel in 1948; if they hadnt blown up the Oslo Accords in the Nineties; if they hadnt walked away from the Clinton deal at Camp David in 2000; if they hadnt snubbed the Ehud Olmert plan, which accommodated their demands, in 2008; if they hadnt turned Gaza into a terror enclave after Israel pulled out in 2005; if they hadnt embarked upon an orgy of butchery, rape, mutilation and kidnap on October 7? Well, with deep history, all this can be yours. Just pretend it didnt happen. But the real tragedy is that deep history now seems to drive British foreign policy. In this worldview, everything is Israels fault. In June, Keir Starmer threatened to recognise a Palestinian state unless the IDF withdrew, leaving Hamas in power and their citizens starving in the tunnels. It was as if Israel had started the war and the hostages didnt exist. What did he demand of the Palestinian side? Nothing. Hamas, of course, responded by cancelling the negotiations and doing all it could to continue the fighting. Lo and behold, Starmer then recognised a state of Palestine. Well, thank goodness for that. Just when you thought the conflict was intractable! You thought that Golda Meir was right when she observed that if the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence, but if the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel? Well, think again. According to the principles of Starmers deep history, the truth is in fact the opposite: all Israel needs to do is lay down its arms in Gaza and peace will magically descend on the back of a winged horse while cherubim sing hymns to the two-state solution. The problem with these liberal elites is that when it comes to the Middle East, they have no theory of mind of the main players involved. The Arabs do not reject the State of Israel because of a dispute over borders or occupation. They snubbed a state of their own before a single Israel boot trod upon occupied land. As a matter of honour, they cannot accept a state alongside Israel; they can only accept one that replaces it. The problem Israel faces is not the one that the West thinks it faces. The solution imposed by the West, therefore, is inadequate. After all, Israel has already tried the two-state solution to destruction. Now it is supposed to try it again? For that matter, Starmer and his Government have not shown any understanding of Israeli psychology, either. How is Jerusalem supposed to respond to British recognition of Palestine? This was the jihadi strategy all along. As Hamas leader Ghazi Hamad reportedly put it, before October 7, was there a country that dared to recognise the state of Palestine?... The fruits of October 7 are what made the whole world open its eyes to the Palestinian cause. Israel remains at war. Its hostages remain in captivity. The current international pressure is just the latest front, with the West now siding with the jihadis. Israel has only one option: to dig in and show that its enemies will never win. Without such deterrence, it is done for. Never Again? How the West Betrayed the Jews and Itself, by Jake Wallis Simons, is out on October 2 A British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist who has spent years in prison has been released after being pardoned by Egypt's president, according to his lawyer. Alaa Abd El Fattah was released from Wadi Natron prison, north of Cairo, early Tuesday. His campaign said he was now at his home in Cairo. Mr Abd El Fattah's sister, Mona Seif, shared pictures of the activist hugging his mother and other family members. Mr Abd El Fattah became a prominent campaigner during protests in Cairo in 2011 that led to the ousting of former president Hosni Mubarak. In 2014, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison - later reduced to five - for protesting without permission. He was released in 2019 but arrested again for sharing a Facebook post about human rights abuses in Egyptian prisons. It led to another five-year term in 2021 for "spreading fake news". High-profile local and international campaigns have called for his release and Egypt removed him from its "terrorism" list last year. Mr Abd El Fattah has British citizenship through his UK-born mother, Laila Soueif, who went on hunger strike over his case and met Sir Keir Starmer to push for her son's freedom. The 43-year-old also undertook multiple hunger strikes of his own to highlight his case. On Monday, his lawyer, Khaled Ali, writing in Arabic on Facebook, posted: "God is the judge. The president of the republic has issued a decree pardoning Alaa Abd El Fattah. Congratulations." The Egyptian president's office said another five prisoners were also pardoned - but it's unclear exactly when they will be freed. Mr Abd El Fattah became known for his blogging and social media activity during the Arab Spring protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square 14 years ago. But a wide-ranging crackdown on Islamists, liberals and leftists by the new president, former army chief Abdel Fattah al Sisi, led to the activist being imprisoned for the first time. During his second spell in jail, his family said he was locked up without sunlight, exercise, and books - and abused by the guards. Mr Abd El Fattah's mother - a former maths professor - and lawyer father, who died in 2014, were also both activists. Khaled Ali tried to get Mr Abd El Fattah freed in 2024, arguing his client's two years of pre-trial detention should be counted, but prosecutors resisted and said he wouldn't be allowed out until January 2027. The refusal prompted his mother to begin another long hunger strike in September last year. She only ended it two months ago following pleas from her family after she lost 35kg and became seriously ill. Read more from Sky News: The exiles with 100k bounties on their heads Horner leaves Red Bull as '75m payout' agreed Human rights groups say tens of thousands of prisoners of conscience have been incarcerated under the current president. They allege they are denied due process and suffer abuse and torture - claims denied by Egyptian officials. Chair of the foreign affairs select committee, the MP Emily Thornberry, said on X that she was "absolutely delighted" about Mr Abd El Fattah's pardon. She posted: "Laila, Mona, Sanaa and Alaa's entire family's tireless campaign for his release has been incredibly moving - their love for him was clear when I met Sanaa last year. "I am so glad they will get to see him come home." AUSTIN, Minn., Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, today announced its quarterly dividend on the common stock, authorized by the Board of Directors at 29.00 cents ($0.29) a share on September 22, 2025, will be paid November 17, 2025, to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 14, 2025. The November 17 payment will be the 389th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by the company. Since becoming a public company in 1928, Hormel Foods Corporation has paid a regular quarterly dividend without interruption. ABOUT HORMEL FOODS Inspired People. Inspired Food. Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with approximately $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include PLANTERS, SKIPPY, SPAM, HORMEL NATURAL CHOICE, APPLEGATE, JUSTIN'S, WHOLLY, HORMEL BLACK LABEL, COLUMBUS, JENNIE-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report, one of America's most responsible companies by Newsweek, recognized by TIME magazine as one of the World's Best Companies and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement Inspired People. Inspired Food. to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit hormelfoods.com . Investor Relations Media Relations [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation The British-Egyptian human rights activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been released from jail after serving six years for sharing a Facebook post. Egypts president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, granted him his freedom after intensive lobbying by the UK government and pressure from Egypts national human rights council. Early on Tuesday morning his campaign said in a statement that Abd el-Fattah was released from Wadi Natron prison and was now in his home in Cairo. I cant even describe what I feel, his mother, Laila Soueif, said from her house in Giza as she stood next to her son surrounded by family and friends. Were happy, of course. But our greatest joy will come when there are no [political] prisoners in Egypt, she added. British foreign secretary Yvette Cooper welcomed the news, saying: Im grateful to President Sisi for this decision. We look forward to Alaa being able to return to the UK, to be reunited with his family. Egypts National Council for Human Rights, a state-funded body, also welcomed the decision, saying it signalled a growing emphasis on swift justice. Peter Greste, an Australian journalist who was imprisoned alongside Abd el-Fattah, told Australian Associated Press: Its absolutely wonderful news, Im absolutely overjoyed, I think it vindicates all the work and the efforts of the people who lined up behind him. I think its one of the most egregious cases of political imprisonment that I know, Alaa is an extraordinary human being who never should have been imprisoned in the first place. Im just overjoyed because I know better than anyone what that feeling is like and I cant wait to speak in person, he added. Prof Greste had participated in a hunger strike alongside Abd el-Fattahs mother in London in January to bring attention to his case. Amnesty Internationals Erika Guevara Rosas said the release was welcome but long overdue. His pardon ends a grave injustice and is a testament to the tireless efforts of his family and lawyers, including his courageous mother Laila Soueif and activists all over the world who have been relentlessly demanding his release, she said. The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, is known to have telephoned Sisi three times to lobby for Abd el-Fattahs release. His national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, also called for his release as did the former foreign secretary David Lammy. It appears a growing warmth in British-Egyptian official relations including over how to handle the Palestine question may have played a role in the presidents decision. Abd el-Fattahs 69-year-old mother was admitted to hospital in London twice after going on hunger strikes to try to secure his release. The prominent activist and maths professor also held vigils outside the Foreign Office and Downing Street, saying she was prepared to die to achieve her sons release. The campaign was also led by Abd el-Fattahs two sisters, Mona and Sanaa, and other family members. They tried to keep a low profile once the possibility of his release became known, fearing that anything they might say could upset a delicate process. After hearing news of her brothers impeding release, Mona issued a short tweet in Arabic saying: My heart will explode. Abd el-Fattahs pardon was reported by al-Qahera News, which is linked to Egypts intelligence service. It said: The Egyptian president issues a pardon for the remainder of the prison sentence for a number of convicted persons, after taking the constitutional and legal procedures in this regard. The pardon includes Alaa Ahmed Seif El-Islam Abd el-Fattah. The human rights council had recommended seven prisoners for release but its recommendations are not always followed. The chair of the foreign affairs select committee, Emily Thornberry, said: I am absolutely delighted to hear Alaa has received a pardon. Laila, Mona, Sanaa and Alaas entire familys tireless campaign for his release has been incredibly moving. Their love for him was clear when I met Sanaa last year. I am so glad they will get to see him come home. A writer and supporter of the Arab spring, Abd el-Fattah has been in jail since 2019. In 2021, he was sentenced to five years but the authorities claimed the two years he spent in pre-trial detention did not count toward his sentence. He was convicted of spreading false news and harming Egypts national interest. A UN panel found the allegation stemmed from Abd el-Fattah sharing a Facebook post about the death of a prison inmate. With Reuters The Cotswold Company has revealed surging sales as it shrugged off challenges in the furniture retail sector. The upmarket furniture and homeware brand reported that sales jumped 30% to 56.9 million for the half-year to the end of August. Bosses said the business has benefited from a shift from budget products to high-quality furniture, with customers seeking items which are likely to last longer in their homes. Ralph Tucker, chief executive of the business, said: For several years, we have seen an increasing number of customers look for alternatives to soulless, and low-quality furniture. At The Cotswold Company, were proud to be at the forefront of the nations shift towards high-quality furniture that not only adds personality to any room but is also made for life. The retail firm said it benefited from demand for upholstery, with product range extensions helping to drive upholstery orders up 82% year on year. Meanwhile, it said home accessories orders were up 38% against a year earlier. Cotswold said it was also supported by the opening of new showrooms in Knutsford and Harpenden, taking it to 13 sites across the UK. Both showrooms are trading well above expectations, the company said, with it also on track to open two more showrooms before the end of the year. Mr Tucker added: Im delighted that The Cotswold Companys momentum has continued into the first half of full-year 2026, delivering a record H1 performance and significant market outperformance. This reflects the growing strength and awareness of the brand, our value for quality product proposition, highly relevant digitally-led omni-channel model, and above all else the hard work of our people across the business. (Sofi Adams) Review at a glance: Choose one: Ray Liotta in Casino, Joe Pesci in Goodfellas, Carmela Soprano or whatshername in Scarface. Picked a favourite? Swell. This is your Carbone character. It is required; you cannot visit simply as yourself. The thing with Carbone, everyone says, it that you must embrace it and there was me thinking restaurants were meant to impress their customers, not the other way around. Handily, the script never wavers: dress up, listen to Dean Martin, order the martini, have the vodka pasta, take a bow. Its not a complex show, youve seen this one before. Carbone is a New York import, the big-ticket opening in the redeveloped American Embassy on Grovesnor Square, now a hotel with an unforgiving nickname at a party last week I heard it called the Chancery Premier Inn. The Carbone story is by now well-covered: an upmarket red-sauce Italian famous enough that at one point it turned away George and Amal Clooney. Celebrities either used to go or still do. Such fame means Carbones have opened around the world and, though the owners say London was always their dream, its taken 12 years to get here. Last week Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Moss went in. (Sofi Adams) The name is for Mario Carbone, who stalks the room in his immaculate chefs whites, smiling in a flat line. What a room to stalk. It too is pure film set and slightly unreal you enter through a cartoonish double-height door of red leather and brass studs, half expecting a hologram of Frank Sinatra nursing a bourbon at the bar. The room is a canteen of red velvet and chequered marble and jazz club lamps dialled as low as candlelight. There are a great many people in braces. On the back of the chairs are brass handles, the kind more usually seen on a chest of drawers, or coffins. It is not a subtle look and truly, the paintings suggest a lifetime of trauma but there is no denying its glamour. It feels like dining in an outtake from the Rat Packs Oceans Eleven, a feeling helped by waiters wearing the kind of bowties that last had their heyday with the late Don Rickles. Dont remember Don Rickles? You take the point. No Rickles truly, that would have been a story but Victoria Beckham and her brood sat on the next table. Who else? People eating bread with a knife and fork, and types spending the evening watching reels of themselves taken earlier in the evening. I can see why celebrities like it, though; its an easy restaurant to hide in. The oversized, enormous menus help. Theyre so big I wondered if Id find a crossword on the back page, though what I really wanted was a packet of crayons and some lines not to go over. (Sofi Adams) On that menu, aside from staggering prices (a 98 lasagne, lamb chops for 77, barely a bottle of wine under a ton), is New York-Italian food. But no one is coming here for the kitchen, which is best for everyone involved. The famous spicy rigatoni vodka, was, you know, fine. Lots of pepper and chilli, but otherwise a tomato sauce I think I last had with spaghetti hoops. The scallops rosmarino, a dish exclusive to London, were burly little things, sweet under a strip of lardo. There was some very fine tuna with breadcrumbs the size of gravel. Potato Louie a side at 15 was a gorgeous mess of garlic and duck fat. But lobster ravioli was characterless, and the veal masala had such an absence of flavour I momentarily wondered if Covid was back doing the rounds. I suspected the artichoke hearts were sent out as a threat. Still. There was a tremendously good martini, and a perfect Grasshopper for pudding, made on the spot with fresh mint. For a restaurant famous for service, ours was patchy, despite the best efforts of the aptly-named Sunny, our waiter. Is it a vibe? Mostly. But it feels a cop-out to say a restaurants fantastic just because the playlist is good. In the end you remember youre in a chain, Pizza Express for the rich. I longed to be dining at the Dover instead, which is half the price but twice as good. This was a night of glitz, glamour and ennui: I did not leave angry or elated, just bored, doing the DeNiro shrug of indifference. I think Id go as him next time, not that there will be one. 30 Grosvenor Square, W1K. Meal for two about 450; carbonelondon.com Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has given the go-ahead for a second runway at London Gatwick airport. The controversial 2.2bn project will see the Sussex hub almost double its capacity which proponents say will increase choice and resilience and help to cut fares. But the ministers announcement has been condemned by environmentalists, who say they will launch a legal challenge. The Independent looks at the key questions and answers for Gatwick and the government. Gatwick will almost double its capacity (PA Archive) What is the problem that the runway is designed to solve? London is the world capital of aviation. More people fly in and out of the citys airports than anywhere on Earth. But because of extreme capacity constraints at both of the capitals biggest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, the current arrangements are dysfunctional. Heathrow is the busiest two-runway airport in the world, and Gatwick has more flights using its single runway than any other airport. There is simply no slack in the system. While the government has given its backing to an additional runway at Heathrow, that project remains mired in controversy because of the environmental impact, but also the huge cost, which will total almost 50bn once associated work is taken into account. Gatwick has adopted an entirely different approach. Basically: Heres one we prepared earlier. The Sussex airport has a second standby runway already and by moving it just 12 metres further north and making improvements across the airfield, Gatwick can press it into service for departing holiday flights. The government has now given its blessing to the scheme. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander believes the plans will boost economic growth (PA Wire) What will it mean for travellers? Capacity will steadily rise from the current average of 767 arrivals and departures each day to as many as 1,066 an increase of 40 per cent. With the mean size of aircraft increasing and more longhaul flights using larger planes, annual passenger numbers could potentially almost double from the current 43 million to as many as 80 million. At the moment, people travelling to or from London and southeast England do not get the choice they deserve of airlines and destinations, and pay higher fares due to the constraints on the number of flights. For example, Europes biggest budget airline, Ryanair, has only a tiny operation at Gatwick because of the lack of attractive slots; it could expand rapidly with more capacity. A permanent second runway will also improve resilience. When disruption occurs, the absence of slack in the system means schedules unravel fast. Expansion comes at a cost that will ultimately be met by passengers, but the planned 2.2bn expansion is a tiny fraction of the cost of expanding Heathrow. Over a 10-year spell, The Independent calculates the additional cost would work out at roughly 4 per passenger around a tenth of the figure for Heathrow. What is the schedule? Gatwicks original target date for using the new second runway was the start of the summer season in 2025. But the Covid pandemic which hit the Sussex airport especially hard put expansion plans on hold. The expectation now is that it would be ready by 2030, but Ms Alexander says it could be before the next election which means by the summer of 2029. Gatwicks plan for another permanent runway is far cheaper and less disruptive than Heathrows, and can be completed much more quickly. With a mainline railway serving the airport already, increasing the number of passengers who use public transport to the required level of 54 per cent is more achievable. Moving picture: how the new arrangement would look (PA) How would the two runways be used? You may think the new plan would involve one runway being used for take-offs and another for landings, as it is at Heathrow. But that would not be the case at Gatwick. The additional runway would be used only for departures for narrow-bodied aircraft, like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family as used by British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air. The main runway would continue to be used for all landings and some take-offs. Is there strong opposition? Yes. Green Party leader Zack Polanski told BBC Radio 5 live: The problem here is multimillionaires and billionaires who are flying extremely frequently, who are destroying our planet, who are destroying our environment. And now the same big businesses who are behind the aviation industry, who also donate to the Labour government, are the people who the Labour government are now protecting, rather than our children and our grandchildren. Where is Ed Miliband, the supposed climate champion? Is he going to stay in the cabinet? The pressure group Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emission (CAGNE) said: This is not over for Gatwick or the government. The group plans to request a judicial review of the decision. And in a press release headline See you in court, the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign expressed deep disappointment and alarm. Its chair, Peter Barclay, said: This is a profoundly irresponsible decision that flies in the face of climate science, environmental evidence, and the interests of local communities. This flawed decision prioritises short-term commercial interests over the long-term environmental and social costs. It will worsen noise pollution, traffic congestion, and carbon emissions all in an area already under pressure. What does Gatwick say? Stewart Wingate, UK managing director for the airports owner, Vinci, said: We welcome the governments approval of plans to bring our northern runway into routine use, ahead of the expected deadline. This is another important gateway in the planning process for this 2.2bn investment, which is fully funded by our shareholders and will unlock significant growth, tourism and trade benefits for London Gatwick and the UK, and create thousands of jobs. As weve said previously, it is essential that any planning conditions enable us to realise the full benefits of the project and do not impose unnecessary constraints that make it uneconomic to invest in. We now need to carefully examine the details of the planning consent. Once we have done that, we will be able to comment further. What does Gatwicks expansion mean for other airports? In her letter to Gatwick approving the plan, Ms Alexander said: The proposed development is unlikely to affect the hub status of Heathrow long term. The third runway at Heathrow is still planned to go ahead. Other airports in the London area notably Luton and Stansted, chasing the same largely low-cost traffic may be concerned. But such is the growth in demand for air travel that airports are likely to continue to thrive to the dismay of environmentalists. A cyber attack meant thousands of passengers faced delays and cancellations on journeys out of major European airports over the weekend. Airlines operating out of Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin airports were forced to check passengers in manually on Saturday after the cyber attack disrupted the digital systems used for check-in and boarding. Disruption carried over the weekend into Monday, with airlines advising passengers not to travel to airports unless their flight had been confirmed. The incident comes after several major companies including Marks & Spencer and Jaguar Land Rover have been hit with cyber attacks in recent months. What happened? Travellers queue to check-in at Heathrow Airport Terminal 4, following a disruption to check-in and boarding systems caused by a cyber attack (REUTERS) Collins Aerospace, an aviation and defence company which provides airlines with the systems required for checking in passengers and organising boarding, was hit with a cyber attack late on Friday 19 September. The technology allows multiple providers to use the same check-in desks and departure gates at an airport, rather than requiring their own. Airlines were forced to check customers in manually, resulting in long queues and delays, meaning many passengers became concerned about making subsequent connecting flights. Although Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin were the major airports impacted by the attack, flight cancellations and delays also had a knock-on effect on travel in other major cities including Paris, Lisbon and Amsterdam. The EUs cyber security agency confirmed the issue was caused by a ransomware attack, according to Reuters. How long will delays last? People at T3 London Heathrow Airport, after flights were delayed and cancelled (PA) Travellers using major airports have been hit with delays since Friday, which were still ongoing on Monday 22 September. It is difficult to speculate how long the delays will last, particularly because the source of the attack remains unknown. A number of flights from Heathrow were showing as delayed on Monday morning, with planes heading to Stuttgart, Dublin and Zurich among those affected. Heathrow apologised to those who had faced delays but stressed "the vast majority of flights have continued to operate". Brussels Airport said it had "no indication yet" of when the system would be operational again, instead requesting airlines to suspend half of their departing flights for Monday. Who is behind the attack? People at T4 London Heathrow Airport were delayed (Maja Smiejkowska/PA) (PA Wire) The European Unions cybersecurity agency Enisa confirmed on Monday that the disruption was caused by a third party cyber attack, but gave no further details about the incident. It was reported that law enforcement bodies are currently investigating the attack. The incident has been met with speculations about Russian involvement after concerns have risen around aviation safety in Europe following 19 recent reports of Russian drones entering Polish airspace. There is currently no evidence to suggest Russian involvement in the attack. Meanwhile, terror law watchdog Jonathan Hall KC said it was possible state-sponsored hackers could be behind the attack on Collins Aerospace. Mr Hall, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said attributing the attack would not be easy. Asked if a state like Russia could have been responsible for the attack, he told Times Radio anything is possible. He said: Yes, its possible that this is carried out directly by a state, but its equally possible to be carried out by a private entity that is, sort of, allowed to operate and does it for a combination of public and private reasons. That meant attacks were deniable for states, even if hackers were based there. He added: There are some very capable private entities, lets say, in Russia or China, who wont necessarily be being directed by Russia or China. In contrast to Mr Halls claims, the Prime Minister refused to speculate about a whether hostile state is believed to be behind the attack. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: We never get into speculation around cyber incidents. But we can confirm that the National Cyber Security Centre is engaged in a response. We have cyber experts working with Collins Aerospace and affected UK airports to fully understand the impacts and well continue to work with them to address the ongoing issues. Nigel Farage said his partys proposal was designed to clean up the mess of Boris Johnson. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA Nigel Farage has pledged to abolish what the main route for immigrants to gain British citizenship, threatening tens of thousands of people legally living in the UK with deportation unless they meet strict rules. The Reform UK leader said his plans would target the Boriswave the wave of legal immigrants who arrived in the UK under post-Brexit rules established by Boris Johnson which he described as the greatest betrayal of democratic wishes certainly in anyones living memory. Unveiling his plans, Farage said 800,000 people who tend to be young, tend to be low-skilled were due to qualify for indefinite leave to remain in the UK over the next three to four years. He said this group were going to be a huge burden on the state, that Britain was not the worlds food bank and that it was not for us to provide welfare for people coming in from all over the world. Farage said he would entirely abolish indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which is open to people who have worked and lived in the UK legally for five continuous years, and their dependants. After a minimum of a year on that status, people can apply for British citizenship, though each stage comes with considerable fees. Part of the increase in legal migration under Conservative governments starting with Johnsons was because of schemes to settle refugees from Ukraine, Hong Kong and Afghanistan. At a tetchy press conference alongside his policy chief, Zia Yusuf, on Monday morning, Farage was forced to qualify the announcement while refusing to answer questions on how much it would cost and who it would affect. The proposals came under fire from Downing Street, which accused Farage of wanting to foster division, and from Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London. Farage claimed the policy would save 234bn, a figure sourced from a Centre for Policy Studies report that has been withdrawn because of a dispute over the numbers. The thinktank said its figures should not be used. Asked whether he would withdraw the 230bn figure in light of this, Farage said it was without a doubt too low and underestimates things. Yusuf argued the true number of people who would be applying for ILR in the coming years was likely to be more than 800,000 because many of the people who have arrived after Brexit came from non-EU countries. Do you think French people and Swedish people and Finns are more or less likely to apply for ILR and ultimately citizenship in this country than people from India, Afghanistan or Pakistan? I think we all know the answer to that question, Yusuf said. Farage said that under a Reform government anyone who had indefinite leave to remain would have it rescinded and would need to reapply for a visa, throwing the lives and status of many families into uncertainty. In response to questions from journalists, Yusuf clarified that the policy would not apply to EU citizens who have been granted settled status in the UK. But he said there were a lot of EU nationals in this country who are drawing on universal credit, so you can expect Nigels government to open negotiations with the European Union specifically about the welfare aspect. Farage refused to specify whether the policy would apply to the Ukrainians and Hongkongers who moved to Britain under dedicated visa routes for refugees fleeing Russias invasion and Chinas crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong. Asked to substantiate his claim in Mondays Daily Mail that most migrants rely on benefits, Farage said he was firmly of the belief with research backing it up that more than 50% of the people due to become eligible for ILR in the next few years are not working, have not worked and in all probability will never, ever work. Instead of granting them ILR, Reform would make non-UK citizens continue to apply for visas with new high salary thresholds, though the party has not specified what those thresholds would be. The Times reported they would be set at about 60,000, which would be a considerable increase on the current skilled worker visa, which requires people to earn 41,700 a year. Those visas would not allow the people who have them to access NHS services or benefits and would require advanced English, with strict new limits on whether spouses or family members could join. The changes would also mean that those applying for citizenship must wait at least seven years and prove a fluent level of English, as well as giving up citizenship of any other country. Related: Reform UK receives 100,000 donation from design firm that faced winding-up petition Keir Starmers political spokesperson said the country was at a crossroads between national renewal and the path of division and decline, which Reform wants to put the country on. She said: Every week Nigel Farage sets out unrealistic, unworkable and unfunded plans. Youve heard the prime minister talk about the politics of grievance that Reform thrives on. They dont want to tackle the issues facing the country, they want to foster division. Labour has already announced plans to introduce tough restrictions on indefinite leave to remain, meaning most applicants must have been in the UK for 10 years before they can apply. However, a Labour source disputed claims in the Telegraph that significant numbers of migrants with indefinite leave to remain were receiving benefits, saying it was only about 16% of all foreign claims. The majority 60%, equating to about 770,000, according to government figures are EU citizens who have settled status and whose access to benefits is guaranteed by the Brexit deal. A Labour source said: Farages not even half-baked announcement has already fallen apart. Yet again, Reform have no credible plan and their only answer is dont know. Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said: Thousands of Londoners have indefinite leave to remain. They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city. Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable. A blaze ripped through the entire top floor of a block of flats in north London on Monday morning. Firefighters are working to tackle the aggressive fire after around 10 fire engines and 70 fire fighters attended the scene in Maybury Close in Enfield in the early hours of Monday morning. Three children were treated by paramedics and taken to hospital with smoke inhalation. Fire alarms in the block were activated at 5.19am, after which fire brigades from seven stations attended the scene. (Paul Wood) The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the fire was under control by 8.06am, but the roof and second floor of the three-storey building remained alight as of 9.20am. Pictures from the scene show flames ripping through the top of the building and plumes of grey smoke rising while firefighters continue tackling the aggressive blaze. (Paul Wood) The cause of the fire is under investigation by the LFB and the Metropolitan Police. A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service told Metro: We were called at 5.22am this morning to reports of a fire in Maybury Close, Enfield. We sent ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car, an incident response officer and our Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene. (London Fire Brigade) We treated three patients and took them to hospital. We remain at the scene alongside colleagues from London Fire Brigade. In a statement, the LFB said: Two of the Brigades 32-metre turntable ladders are being used as water towers to help extinguish the fire from height. The Brigades 999 Control officers received their first call about the fire at 0519. (London Fire Brigade) They mobilised crews from Enfield, Edmonton, Chingford, Tottenham, Woodford, Southgate fire stations. Two fire engines from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service are also in attendance. The Brigade's drone team are also in attendance to provide the Incident Commander with an aerial view of the fire. Passengers in front of the check-in counters in Berlin Brandenburg airport in Schonefeld, Germany, after the cyber-attack on European airports. Photograph: Michael Ukas/AP Passengers are facing another day of flight delays across Europe, as big airports continue to grapple with the aftermath of a cyber-attack on the company behind the software used for check-in and boarding. Several of the largest airports in Europe, including London Heathrow, have been trying to restore normal operations over the past few days after an attack on Friday disrupted automatic check-in and boarding software. The problem stemmed from Collins Aerospace, a software provider that works with several airlines across the world. Related: Rachel Reeves says Gatwick second runway shows government is backing builders, not blockers business live The company, which is a subsidiary of the US aerospace and defence company RTX, said on Monday that it was working with four affected airports and airline customers, and was in the final stages of completing the updates needed to restore full functionality. The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity said on Monday that Collins had suffered a ransomware attack. This is a type of cyber-attack where hackers in effect lock up the targets data and systems in an attempt to secure a ransom. Airports in Brussels, Dublin and Berlin have also experienced delays. While kiosks and bag-drop machines have been offline, airline staff have instead relied on manual processing. The governments independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, said it was possible state-sponsored hackers could be behind the attack. When asked if a state such as Russia could have been responsible, Hall told Times Radio anything is possible. He added that while people thought, understandably, about states deciding to do things it is also possible for very, very powerful and sophisticated private entities to do things as well. A spokesperson for Brussels airport said Collins Aerospace had not yet confirmed the system was secure again. On Monday, 40 of its 277 departing flights and 23 of its 277 arriving services were cancelled. A Heathrow spokesperson said the vast majority of flights at Heathrow are operating as normal, although check-in and boarding for some flights may take slightly longer than usual. They added: This system is not owned or operated by Heathrow, so while we cannot resolve the IT issue directly, we are supporting airlines and have additional colleagues in the terminals to assist passengers. Heathrow said passengers should check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport and to arrive no earlier than three hours for long-haul flights and two hours for short-haul. A spokesperson for Dublin airport said it was not expecting any cancellations on Monday because of the IT problems but would not rule it out. On Sunday, Aer Lingus said it was significantly impacted by the problem. RTX said on Saturday it was working to fix the problem as soon as possible, and that the incident affected its Muse software. The attack has highlighted the risks around airports reliance on suppliers for critical technology. The European Commission said on Saturday that it was closely monitoring the incident, and that current signs do not indicate a widespread or severe attack. Shares in some airlines fell in early trading on Monday, including the British Airways owner, IAG, which fell by 1.2%, while easyJet fell by 1.4% and Wizz Air by 1.1%. The incident is the latest in a series of severe cyber-attacks. This month the British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover said a cyber incident forced it to freeze production, while earlier this year an attack on the retailer Marks & Spencer cost it hundreds of millions of pounds. France has become the fifth country in two days to officially recognise the state of Palestine. The move came during a United Nations conference chaired by France and Saudi Arabia aimed at generating new support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. French president Emmanuel Macron made the announcement in the UN General Assembly hall; he received loud applause from the more than 140 leaders in attendance. The Palestinian delegation, including its UN ambassador, Riyad Mansour, could be seen standing and applauding as the declaration was made. France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a United Nations summit on Palestinians at UN headquarters in New York on Monday (AFP via Getty) Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, was also seen applauding on a live-camera view after the US government banned him and dozens of other Palestinian officials from attending the UN gathering in person. Mr Abbas later addressed the meeting. True to the historic commitment of my country to the Middle East, to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, this is why I declare that today, France recognises the state of Palestine, Mr Macron said. The meeting and expanded recognition of Palestinian statehood are expected to have little if any actual impact on the ground, where Israel is waging another major offensive in the Gaza Strip and expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognised the state of Palestine on Sunday, and the Palestinians expect a total of 10 countries to do so in the coming days. Around three-fourths of the 193-member United Nations recognise Palestine, but major Western nations had until recently declined to, saying one could only come about through negotiations with Israel. Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour greets Emmanuel Macron as they arrive for a United Nations Summit on Palestinians at UN headquarters (AFP via Getty) The creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem territories seized by Israel in the 1967 six-day war is widely seen internationally as the only way to resolve the conflict, which began more than a century before Hamass 7 October attack ignited the war in Gaza nearly two years ago. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus government opposed Palestinian statehood even before the war and now says such a move would reward Hamas, the militant group that still controls parts of Gaza. He has hinted Israel might take unilateral steps in response, including annexing parts of the West Bank, which would put a viable Palestinian state even further out of reach. A UN official brushed off such threats, saying efforts to bring about a two-state solution should continue regardless of Israels actions. I think we have to be determined in achieving the goal that we want to achieve, and we cannot be distracted by threats and intimidation, said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. Mr Netanyahu is under pressure from his far-right coalition to move ahead with annexation, but the United Arab Emirates the driving force behind the 2020 Abraham Accords, in which the UAE and three other Arab states forged ties with Israel has called it a red line, without saying how it could affect the two countries now close ties. The Israeli PM said he would decide on Israels response to the Palestinian statehood push after meeting with president Donald Trump at the White House next week, their fourth meeting since Mr Trump returned to office. The Israeli leader is set to address world leaders at the UN on Friday. The Trump administration is also opposed to growing recognition of a Palestinian state and blames it for the derailment of ceasefire talks with Hamas. Mr Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, walked away from the talks in July, and earlier this month an Israeli strike targeted Hamas negotiators in Qatar, a key mediator. More to follow... Fruit vendor arrested by border patrol outside Gavin Newsom event speaks out after six weeks in ICE prison Angel Rodrigo Minguela Palacios was unloading boxes of strawberries during his final delivery in Los Angeles when a band of masked Border Patrol agents surrounded him and asked for his identification. Minguela had unwittingly entered a political minefield on August 14 outside the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo, where California Governor Gavin Newsom was addressing a crowd about his plans to fight back against a Republican-led gerrymandering campaign to maintain control of Congress. Federal agents deployed by Donald Trumps administration were patrolling the street directly in front of the building. The timing of the spectacle drew immediate scrutiny and backlash, with the governor speaking out in the middle of his remarks to condemn what was happening just outside the event. You think its coincidental? he said. Minguela, 48, was released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody last week after nearly two months inside a facility he described as a prison with lights on at all hours of the day, no beds and only a concrete floor to sleep on. Border Patrol agents surrounded a fruit vendor and arrested him outside an event where California Governor Gavin Newsom was speaking August 14. (Governor Gavin Newsom) Detainees received little food, and the conditions were so bleak that some of the men inside volunteered to self-deport rather, he told CBS News. Those days were the hardest, Minguela told The Los Angeles Times. My first day there on the floor, I cried. It doesnt matter that youre men, it doesnt matter your age. There, men cried. Minguela, who is undocumented, has lived in the United States for more than a decade after entering the country from Mexico on a tourist visa. He overstayed his visa after fleeing violence in the Mexican state of Coahuila, where he had been kidnapped twice and stabbed by people trying to steal money from ATMs he was servicing, according to The Times. He does not have a criminal record. Minguela was released on bond and is equipped with an ankle monitor as an immigration judge determines next steps in his case. A spokesperson for Homeland Security said he was arrested for breaking our countrys laws by overstaying his visa but remains unclear why he was targeted for arrest. BORDER PATROL HAS SHOWED UP AT OUR BIG BEAUTIFUL PRESS CONFERENCE! WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED! pic.twitter.com/Bu4gmbeY40 Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 14, 2025 Minguela had overstayed a tourist visa after fleeing the Mexican state of Coahuila in 2015 because of violence he faced there, his partner said. She said he had worked servicing ATMs there, was kidnapped twice and at one point was stabbed by people intent on stealing the money. After his employers cut staff, she said, he lost his job, helping drive his decision to leave. On August 14, Minguela left his partner and three children ages 15, 12 and six while they were still asleep as he prepared for his daily delivery route at 2 a.m. He had worked for the same produce delivery company for eight years and never missed a day. Minguela was unloading several boxes of strawberries and a box of apples when he noticed a group of masked Border Patrol agents roaming the area surrounding Newsoms event. Video from the scene shows the agents passing his van then doubling back and looking inside to find Minguela. He presented a red know your rights card from his wallet and handed it to an agent. This is of no use to me, he said, according to The Times. Agents then asked him his name, nationality and immigration paperwork before leading him away in handcuffs. Immigration has already caught me, Minguela wrote in text messages to his partner. Dont worry. God will help us a lot. Border Patrol El Centro Sector Chief Gregory Bovino claims his agents were not aware that California Governor Gavin Newsom was speaking inside a building where officers arrested a fruit vendor (AFP via Getty Images) U.S. Border Patrol El Centro Sector Chief Gregory Bovino was observing the arrest. He turned to the officers and shouted out well done moments before speaking with reporters who were filming the scene. Were here making Los Angeles a safer place since we don't have politicians that will do that, Border Patrol El Centro Sector Chief Gregory Bovino told FOX 11. We do that ourselves, so thats why we're here today. Asked whether he had a message for Newsom, who was speaking roughly 100 feet away, Bovino said he wasnt aware where the governor was. I think it's pretty sick and pathetic, Newsom said of the arrest. They chose the time, manner, and place to send their district director outside right when were about to have this press conference, he said. Thats everything you know about Donald Trumps America about the authoritarian tendencies of the president. Minguela believes he was targeted for his appearance. Immigration raids throughout the Los Angeles area in June sparked massive protests demanding the Trump administration withdraw ICE and federal agents from patrolling immigrant communities. In response, Trump federalized National Guard troops and sent in hundreds of Marines despite objections from Democratic city and state officials. A federal judge determined the administration had illegally deployed the Guard as part of an apparent nationwide effort to create a national police force with the president as its chief. The Supreme Court also recently overturned an injunction that blocked federal agents from carrying out sweeps in southern California after a judge determined they were indiscriminately targeting people based on race and whether they spoke Spanish, among other factors. The courts opinion drew a forceful rebuke from liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic justice on the bench, who accused the conservative justices of ignoring the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unlawful searches and seizures We should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job, she wrote in a dissenting opinion. The Fourth Amendment protects every individuals constitutional right to be free from arbitrary interference by law officers, she added. After today, that may no longer be true for those who happen to look a certain way, speak a certain way, and appear to work a certain type of legitimate job that pays very little. The first heliophysics AI foundation model trained on high resolution solar observation data offers insights into the Sun's dynamic surface, helping plan for solar weather that can disrupt technology on Earth and in space Openly available on Hugging Face, the model was built to speed up scientific discovery and democratize AI for the global research and technology community Researchers also release the largest known curated heliophysics dataset to advance data driven space weather research YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y., Aug. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) and NASA today unveiled the most advanced open-source foundation model designed to understand high resolution solar observation data and predict how solar activity affects Earth and space-based technology. Surya, named for the Sanskrit word for the Sun, represents a significant advancement in applying AI to solar image interpretation and space weather forecasting research, providing a novel tool to help protect everything from GPS navigation to power grids to telecommunications from the Sun's ever-changing nature. The Sun may be 93 million miles away, but its impact on modern life is immediate and growing. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections can knock out satellites, disrupt airline navigation, trigger power blackouts, and pose serious radiation risks to astronauts. With humanity's increasing dependence on space-based technology and plans for deeper space exploration, accurate solar weather prediction has become critical. As humanity's technological dependence grows, so does our vulnerability to space weather. According to a systemic risk scenario created by Lloyd's, the global economy could be exposed to losses of $2.4 trillion over a five-year period, with the expected loss of $17 billion from the threat of a hypothetical solar storm. Recent solar events1 have already demonstrated the risk, disrupting GPS services, forcing flight diversions, and damaging satellites. The effects of solar storms can cause: Damage to satellites, spacecraft and/or astronauts that are stationed beyond Earth Loss of satellite hardware, damaging solar panels and circuits Impact to airline travel, due to navigational errors and potential risk of radiation for airline crew and passengers Lowered food production as agriculture can be impacted by disrupted GPS navigation The implications include both academic research and operational preparedness. The new model will provide tools to help experts plan for solar storms, which can disrupt the Earth's technological infrastructure. "Think of this as a weather forecast for space," said Juan Bernabe-Moreno, Director of IBM Research Europe, UK and Ireland. "Just as we work to prepare for hazardous weather events, we need to do the same for solar storms. Surya gives us unprecedented capability to anticipate what's coming and is not just a technological achievement, but a critical step toward protecting our technological civilization from the star that sustains us." Traditional solar weather prediction relies on partial satellite views of the Sun's surface, historically making accurate forecasting extremely difficult. Surya addresses this typical limitation by training on the largest curated high resolution heliophysics dataset. This dataset is designed to help researchers better study and evaluate critical space weather prediction tasks. Examples of these tasks, which Surya has been tested on, include predicting solar flares, the speed of solar winds, solar EUV spectra prediction and the emergence of active regions on the Sun. In early testing, researchers report achieving a 16 percent improvement in solar flare classification accuracy, which researchers report as a very substantial improvement compared to previous methods. In addition to the binary solar flare classification task, Surya is built to visually predict solar flares for the first time, providing a high resolution image of where the flare is predicted to occur up to two hours out. The technical challenges were immense. Surya was trained on nine years of high-resolution solar observation data from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. These solar images are 10 times larger than typical AI training data, requiring a custom multi-architecture solution to handle the massive scale while maintaining efficiency. The result is a model with unprecedented spatial resolution that can resolve solar features at scales and contexts not previously captured in large-scale AI training workflows. "We are advancing data-driven science by embedding NASA's deep scientific expertise into cutting-edge AI models," said Kevin Murphy, chief science data officer at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "By developing a foundation model trained on NASA's heliophysics data, we're making it easier to analyze the complexities of the Sun's behavior with unprecedented speed and precision. This model empowers broader understanding of how solar activity impacts critical systems and technologies that we all rely on here on Earth." Surya is part of a broader effort at IBM to embrace generative and automated approaches that empower algorithms to be discovered, tested, and evolved at scale. Surya is one example of how IBM is positioning AI not just as a tool, but as a driver of scientific discovery. By releasing Surya on Hugging Face, IBM and NASA are democratizing access to advanced tools for understanding and forecasting solar weather and scientific exploration. Researchers worldwide can now build upon this foundation to develop specialized applications for their regions and industries. This model is part of a larger collaboration between IBM and NASA to use AI technology to explore our planet and solar system. It joins the Prithvi family of foundation models, which includes a geospatial model and a weather model. Last year, IBM and NASA released the Prithvi weather model on Hugging Face for scientists and the broader community to develop short- and long-term weather and climate projections. About IBM IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting delivers open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Media Contact Ashley Peterson IBM Research Communications [email protected] 1 Interplanetary Causes and Impacts of the 2024 May Superstorm on the Geosphere: An Overview IOPscience. Interplanetary Causes and Impacts of the 2024 May Superstorm on the Geosphere: An Overview, Hajra, Rajkumar, Tsurutani, Bruce Tsatnam, Lakhina, Gurbax Singh, Lu, Quanming, Du, Aimin. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ad7462/meta SOURCE IBM Working people are being asked to change their habits to combat the climate crisis, while the government is targeting hundreds of thousands of new flights a year with Gatwick and Heathrow expansions, Zack Polanski has said. The new leader of the Green Party dubbed the decision to approve a second runway at Gatwick Airport deeply irresponsible, telling The Independent that Labour is pretending to care about reducing emissions. In places like London, were rightly asking people to change their habits around the way they drive, but were still subsidising aviation fuel. And I think people will see the contradictions, he said. Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, criticised the decision to approve a second runway at Gatwick Airport (PA) I think also, its always important to point out that its only 15 per cent of people who take 70 per cent of the flights. So the whole argument about economic growth, when actually the people leaving the country outnumber the people coming in three to one, so actually you can make a legitimate argument thats actually taking wealth out of the country. It comes after the chancellor said Gatwick airports 2.2bn second runway plan could create thousands of jobs and help kickstart the economy. In the privately financed project, the West Sussex airport will move its emergency runway 12 metres north, enabling it to be used for departures of narrow-bodied planes such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s. This will enable it to be used for about 100,000 more flights a year. It comes just months after the governments backing of a third runway at Heathrow airport in its bid to grow the economy drew criticism from environmental groups and opposition politicians. Speaking on a visit to the airport on Monday, Ms Reeves said: This extra runway at Gatwick will mean that people going on holiday will have a greater choice of destinations, it will mean lower costs for a family holiday. And it will also mean more good jobs paying decent wages through this injection of cash into our economy. We said as a government we will back the builders and not the blockers, and that is exactly what we are doing with this announcement. The chancellor said she is satisfied with the adjustments made, covering issues such as noise mitigation and the proportion of passengers who would travel to and from the airport by public transport. It comes after the Planning Inspectorate initially rejected the airports application and earlier this year recommended transport secretary Heidi Alexander should approve the project if the changes were made. New commitments include a legally binding target for the proportion of passengers who travel to Gatwick by public transport, rather than the airports management setting its own targets. Residents affected by more noise will be able to ask Gatwick to cover the costs for triple-glazed windows. Mr Polanski, who was elected as the new leader of the Greens last month, called for a frequent flyer levy, which would see people who are racking up air miles paying more than those who are taking one flight a year. If someone is taking one flight a year to go on a family holiday thats still absolutely supported, and if anything, could be cheaper under a frequent flyer system. But people who are just flying constantly and racking up those air miles that are polluting the planet should be paying a lot more, he said. Mr Polanski added: The aviation industry is... getting bigger and bigger, and so at some point, politicians need to be honest and talk about the fact that we do need to reduce the amount that were flying. The chancellor has said Gatwicks second runway means thousands more jobs and an economic boost (PA) Im meeting people constantly who have said that theyre sick of the fact that Labour havent stuck to any of their promises, and this is not what they voted for, he added. A government source said the Gatwick expansion must be delivered in line with climate change commitments and meet strict environmental requirements. Local campaigners opposed to expansion are concerned about the impact on surface transport, noise, housing provision and wastewater treatment, but the airport insists it has conducted full and thorough assessments of those issues. Meanwhile, Cagne, an umbrella aviation community and environment group for Sussex, Surrey and Kent, said it stands ready to serve a judicial review funded by residents and environmental bodies. The group said: We know this government cares little for the environmental impact aviation is having on our planet and Gatwicks neighbours, but not to demand that Gatwick pays for the infrastructure, the on-site wastewater treatment plant, and noise impact is unlawful in our book. Hamas has executed three Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel on the streets of Gaza. Footage posted on Hamas-affiliated Telegram accounts showed armed and masked members of the group lining up three blindfolded Palestinians in a public square in Gaza. Chants of Allahu Akbar were heard among the crowd as they gathered to watch and film the public execution. One of the Hamas members was heard saying: Pursuant to the content of Palestinian revolutionary law and based on the Palestinian revolutionary court, a death sentence was decided against those who betrayed the homeland, betrayed their people and betrayed their cause, and put [themselves] hand-in-hand with the occupation in order to kill their own people. The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis provided The Telegraph with an English translation of the execution video. The three men were ordered to kneel before three executioners shot them in their heads and upper bodies with rifles. A harsh punishment awaits Notes with handwritten Arabic were then laid on the bodies, reading: Your betrayal will not pass without punishment. A harsh punishment awaits. Israel Hayom cited a Hamas official saying that two other terror groups, Islamic Jihad and the Mujahideen Brigades, participated in the execution. The public executions came just hours after the UK, Australia and Canada announced their recognition of a Palestinian state. Hamas has a long history of executing Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel or, most recently, stealing aid. In early May, Hamas executed six Palestinians and shot another 13 in their legs after they were accused of looting humanitarian aid. Palestinians gather at the site of Israeli air strikes on residential buildings - Ebrahim Hajjaj/Reuters Hamass ministry of interior and national security also claimed that the group of outlaws were collaborators with Israel. At the end of May, Hamas reportedly executed another four Palestinians accused of looting aid trucks. Following the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the terror group executed at least 23 Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel. Amnesty International said at the time that Hamas granted its security forces free rein to carry out horrific abuses, including against people in its custody amid the chaos of the war. These spine-chilling actions, some of which amount to war crimes, were designed to exact revenge and spread fear across the Gaza Strip, said Philip Luther, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Amnesty International. In 2022, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) condemned the execution of five Palestinian prisoners by Hamas, all of whom were also accused of collaborating with Hamas. Ravina Shamdasani, an OHCHR spokesman, said that there were serious concerns that criminal proceedings resulting in the imposition of death sentences in Gaza do not meet international fair trial standards. Husam Zomlot, ambassador of the State of Palestine to the United Kingdom, lifts the new plaque of the embassy of the State of Palestine - Leon Neal/Getty Elsewhere in Gaza, the Israeli military announced it killed at least 16 members of terror groups in Gaza City in the past 24 hours, including Iyad Abu Yusuf, deputy commander of Hamass naval police. The attack on Mr Yusuf took place in central Gaza City in a joint operation by the Israeli Navy, the IDF Intelligence Directorate, and the Israeli Air Force. On Sunday, IDF troops also struck a weapons manufacturing facility in Gaza City, while the air force launched attacks against members of terror groups in Khan Yunis and Rafah in southern Gaza. Israel estimates that more than 550,000 civilians have left Gaza City in recent weeks amid the IDF offensive, with around 500,000 still in the besieged city.. The Hamas-controlled health ministry reported that 61 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in the past 24 hours. Overcoming our enemies At a Rosh Hashanah toast at the IDF general staff forum, Mr Netanyahu said today: We are in the midst of a struggle in which we are overcoming our enemies, and we need to destroy the Iranian axis, and this is within our means. This is what stands before us in the coming year, which could be a historic year for the security of Israel. I would like to reiterate that we are determined to achieve all of our war objectives, not just in Gaza, or in completing the elimination of Hamas and the release of our hostages, or in ensuring that Gaza never gain constitutes a threat to Israel, but also in other sectors and in the opening of opportunities for security, victory and peace. In my view, this demands two basic qualities: Unity in moments of crisis, and determination in every moment. May we have a year of security, victory and unity. Happy New Year. UK Border The concept of indefinite leave to remain (ILR) has its origins in the Immigration Act 1971, the legislation introduced amid public concern over the status of incomers from the old colonies, stirred in part by Enoch Powell. It regulated the entry, stay, and departure of those without the right of abode with the aim of controlling immigration. For decades net migration was never more than around 50,000 a year. On some occasions it was lower still, or even negative. The arrival of New Labour in government saw the numbers shoot up, partly as a result of the expansion of the EU, and they have continued to rise ever since. Since Brexit, which was supposed to let the country control its borders and suppress immigration, it has exploded. Net migration has added 2.6 million people in the four years since the Government led by Boris Johnson launched an Australian-style points-based migration system. This has been dubbed the Boriswave, a term used often by Nigel Farage at his news conference to announce Reform UKs latest policy on immigration. He is proposing to scrap ILR as a means to staying in Britain so that migrants would no longer be able to qualify for permanent settlement after five years in the UK. Moreover, only British citizens would be able to access welfare benefits, pensions and other entitlements. In its place Reform would re-establish work visas as a temporary right to come to Britain for employment. All migrants with permanent residency will have to reapply for visas under stricter criteria, including higher language and salary requirements. Both Labour and the Tories have proposed doubling the residency requirement for ILR to 10 years but their credibility on this issue has been shot to pieces, whereas Mr Farage can make promises without having to defend past or current failures. His difficulty will be delivery and he is aware that voters are weary of being sold a pup. From a base of just five MPs he would need to win a huge majority in the Commons and stack the Lords with Reform peers to get his plans through parliament and change the law to obviate the legal challenges that would inevitably follow. As a country we push out wealthy people who contribute billions to the Exchequer while allowing in millions who will end up as net beneficiaries of a welfare system we can no longer afford. This cannot go on. Jimmy Kimmels late-night show will return to ABC Tuesday evening following a nearly week-long suspension over the hosts comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel made controversial implications about the identity of Tyler Robinson, the suspected gunman behind the killing of the conservative activist, during the September 14 episode, resulting in ABC suspending his show indefinitely. Disney, the parent company of ABC, acknowledged the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in a Monday statement, saying: Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday. Its not yet clear if Nexstar Media Group, the largest owner of television stations across the country, will air Kimmels show upon its return. Disney said after thoughtful conversations with Jimmy it reached the decision to return the show (AFP via Getty) The company put out a statement after Kimmels comments, which, along with pressure from Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr, prompted ABC to pull the late-night show entirely. Nexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets, the statement said. Sinclair Broadcast Group and its partners also stopped airing Kimmels show in 30 markets last week, citing problematic comments regarding the murder of Charlie Kirk. Following Disneys programming announcement Monday, Sinclair made clear it will continue not to air Kimmels show. Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the shows potential return, Sinclair wrote on X (Twitter). Kimmel has not yet addressed his suspension or subsequent return to airwaves. His comments from the September 14 episode four days after Kirk, 31, was shot and killed while speaking at a Turning Point USA event on the Utah Valley University campus landed him in hot water. We had some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it, Kimmel said. He also used the subject to mock Donald Trump, who rejoiced at the news of Kimmels show getting pulled. Protests emerged in response to Kimmels shows suspension, including outside his studio (AP) The host was set to address his comments during Wednesdays episode, which was pulled by ABC just hours before showtime. Fellow comedian Seth Meyers called Kimmels anticipated return to late-night TV great news during the taping of his NBC show Monday. Kimmels suspension has sparked a massive debate over free speech, with celebrities, politicians, and several current and former late-night talk show hosts voicing their outrage. Among them was former President Barack Obama, who responded with a chilling warning. After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesnt like, he wrote on X. This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it. Speaking at The Atlantic Festival 2025 in New York, former late-night host David Letterman said: We see where this is all going, correct? Its managed media. And its no good. Its silly. Its ridiculous. And you cant go around firing somebody because youre fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office. Thats just not how this works. The institution of the president of the United States ought to be bigger than a guy doing a talk show, he added, noting that Kimmels removal was predicted by our president right after Stephen Colbert got walked off, so youre telling me this isnt premeditated at some level? Wanda Sykes, who was scheduled to appear on Wednesdays episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! before the taping was suspended, shared a video on Instagram criticizing Trump. Lets see. He didnt end the Ukraine war or solve Gaza within his first week. But he did end freedom of speech within his first year. Hey, for those of you who pray, nows the time to do it. Love you, Jimmy. CNNs Jake Tapper called the shows suspension the most direct infringement by the government on free speech that Ive seen in my lifetime in a Monday night interview with Meyers. Comedian Jon Stewart congratulated those who pushed back against Disney for suspending Kimmels show, which included calls to boycott its various companies. That campaign that you all launched, pretending that you were gonna cancel Hulu while secretly racing through four seasons of Only Murders in the Building, that really worked, Stewart told his audience on Monday nights episode of The Daily Show. As the days passed with no resolution from ABC or Kimmel, the backlash against the network continued to mount. Protests erupted outside of Kimmels Hollywood studio, with Disney actors turning to social media, urging followers to cancel their Disney+ subscriptions and boycott the company entirely. By Monday afternoon hours before Kimmels return to air was announced over 400 celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston and Meryl Streep had signed an open letter denouncing ABCs decision to take the late-night host off the air. We the people must never accept government threats to our freedom of speech. Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists and companies with retaliation for their speech strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country, the letter began, per the ACLU website. Jimmy Kimmel Live! is set to return Tuesday at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC. Jimmy Kimmels talk show has been reinstated - Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP Jimmy Kimmels talk show will return to air after it was cancelled indefinitely over his offensive comments about Charlie Kirks death. Disney said it reinstated the show after having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy. Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country, it said in a statement on Monday. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday. Turning Point, the conservative organisation founded by Kirk, responded by urging ABC affiliates not to run Kimmels show when production resumes on Tuesday. Andrew Kolvet, a spokesman for the organisation, wrote on X: Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but its their mistake to make. He also urged ABC affiliates to refuse to broadcast the show, writing: Nextstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice. Nextstar Media Group and Sinclair Inc, ABCs two biggest affiliate television groups, said they would preempt Kimmels show following his comments last week, meaning it was pulled from dozens of local news channels. Sinclair confirmed on Monday evening that it would continue to not air the programme while conducting talks with ABC. Credit: Jimmy Kimmel Live In a statement shared on X, the broadcaster said: Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the shows potential return. There was no immediate comment from Nextstar, one of the biggest owners of television stations in the US, which needs federal approval for a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna. Commentators have suggested that dismissing Kimmel may have been part of an effort to curry favour with the administration. Kimmel had sparked Republican outrage when he said that a Maga gang was trying to score political points from the killing of Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative influencer who was shot dead at a Utah university on September 10. The television host said during the opening monologue of his show on September 15: We hit some new lows over the weekend with the Maga gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it. He also mocked Donald Trumps reaction to the death. The decision to pull Kimmels show after 22 years on air has raised questions about the Trump administrations approach to free speech. Hundreds of celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Ben Stiller, and Robert De Niro, signed an open letter calling Kimmels suspension a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation. Several artists protested by cancelling plans to appear on Disney shows or threatening to boycott its networks. Angelina Jolie also warned free speech was in danger in America, with the Oscar-winning actress saying: Limits to personal freedoms are dangerous. Angelina Jolie has weighed in on the Jimmy Kimmel controversy - Carlos Alvarez/Getty She made the comments when asked about her fears as an artist and American while promoting her new film at a film festival in San Sebastian, Spain. The Writers Guild of America said: The right to speak our minds and to disagree with each other to disturb, even is at the very heart of what it means to be a free people. It is not to be denied. Not by violence, not by the abuse of governmental power, nor by acts of corporate cowardice, The U-turn on the show is likely to anger Mr Trump, who hailed the shows cancellation as great news for America. The president ignored questions from reporters asking about the reversal at the end of his autism press conference on Monday. Democrats celebrated the news of Kimmels impending return and called for the resignation of Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) who appeared to threaten the ABC shortly before the show was pulled off the air. This is about fighting for free speech and against these abuses by Donald Trump and Brendan Carr, Chuck Schumer, the Californian senator, said on X. Gavin Newsom, the California governor, wrote: Thank you to everyone but Brendan Carr. This is a win for free speech everywhere. People protesting outside Disneyland in support of Jimmy Kimmel - David Swanson/Reuters Celebrities and artists who spoke out in support of Kimmel hailed the reversal as a win for people power. Crime author Don Winslow said the only reason Disney is bringing Jimmy Kimmel back is because the American people stood up, called out the executives by name, Disneys stock plummeted and Disney lost a lot of money. He added: Get it? Thats the play book for the next three years of Trump. You must be louder than him. Last week, Mr Trump, who has frequently been the target of Kimmels jokes, celebrated the decision to axe the show. The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is cancelled, he wrote on Truth Social. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has zero talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if thats possible. Kimmels viewing figures declined to 1.1 million total viewers in August, down from Januarys 1.95 million, according to Nielsen media data. Mr Trump and his administration have issued threats and pursued lawsuits against what they claim is a Left-leaning fake news media industry. The US president has, in the past, reached settlements with ABC and CBS over their coverage. Mr Trump has also filed defamation lawsuits against The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times for their reporting. Republicans in Congress stripped federal funding from NPR and PBS. After Kimmels show aired last week, Mr Carr warned that the FCC could take action against ABC and Disney. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, he said. These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead. Ted Cruz, the Republican senator, compared Mr Carrs threats to mafia tactics, saying: Thats right out of Goodfellas. United States captain Keegan Bradley has defended the decision to pay American players for playing at this weeks Ryder Cup. The 12 members of the home side at Bethpage Black, plus Bradley, will each be awarded 500,000 US dollars (370,000) after the event. Of that amount, 300,000 US dollars will be donated to a charity of the individuals choice with the remainder handed to them directly. There had previously only been a charitable element. Patrick Cantlay did not wear a team hat at the 2023 Ryder Cup, reportedly in protest at a lack of payment (Mike Egerton/PA) European players are not paid for their involvement. The change in policy by the US comes after a furore at the last event in Rome two years ago when Patrick Cantlay did not wear a team hat, reportedly in silent protest at the lack of a personal payment. He was subsequently goaded by European fans and tempers eventually spilled over in what became a highly-charged atmosphere, with caddie Joe LaCava getting embroiled in a confrontation with Rory McIlroy. Bradley said: The PGA of America came to me. They wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into the present day. The charity dollars hadnt changed since 1999 and they asked me to sort of shepherd their way into making it into 2025. This was what we decided. We felt like this was the best way to do it. We copied a lot of what the Presidents Cup does. Rory McIlroy has previously said he would pay to play in a Ryder Cup (Adam Davy/PA) We did the best we could. I think the players are going to do a lot of good with this money, and I think its great. There have been no calls on the European side for payments to be made. Bradleys opposite number Luke Donald, who oversaw Europes victory in Rome, said last year he did not believe players should be paid. Team talisman McIlroy went even further, saying he would pay for the privilege of being involved. Speaking at a press conference at Bethpage, Bradley said: Im not concerned about what Europe does or what they think. Im concerned about what my team is doing. Asked if he regretted how the optics looked, given the finances in the sport, Bradley said: I dont really get that. You can say that but I think that the players are really good people and are going to do a lot of good things. Bradley was close to qualifying for the team himself (Richard Sellers/PA) For his part, Bradley has revealed he will donate his entire 500,000 allocation to charity but will not put that pressure on others. I think for everyone its a personal decision, he said. The 45th Ryder Cup begins on Friday with the US considered favourites to regain the title. Bradley came close to qualifying for the team himself but, after finishing 11th in the standings, opted not to select himself as one of his six captains picks. The 39-year-old said: Ive thought about it every second but Ive also thought about how impossible it would be. I feel like Ive been called for a bigger cause here but, in the back of my mind, Im always thinking, I could have been out there. Police cordon off the scene in Lviv where former parliamentary speaker Andriy Parubiy was killed. Photograph: Roman Baluk/Reuters Dressed all in black and wearing a yellow helmet, the man on the bike looked like just another food delivery driver, one of hundreds crisscrossing the city of Lviv with a big yellow box on his back. This courier had no meals to deliver, however. Instead, he lurked on a quiet side street, waiting for a balding 54-year-old with cropped grey hair at the sides and black-rimmed spectacles to appear. The man on the bike had studied the targets movements over previous weeks, and was expecting him to emerge from his apartment building onto the street and head to the gym. When he did, the fake courier approached from behind, took out a pistol, and fired eight times before fleeing. The 30 August killing, many believe, was the latest in a series of assassinations in Ukraine and Russia, part of a shadow war between the two countries carried out by warring security services and their accomplices on the ground. It has so far involved execution-style shootings, car bombs and, in one case, even an exploding scooter. The dead man, police quickly realised, was Andriy Parubiy, one of Ukraines best-known nationalist politicians. Parubiy campaigned for Ukraines independence from the Soviet Union as a teenager, and became increasingly radical in the 1990s, joining a far-right Ukrainian nationalist milieu. Later on he toned down his views, but remained constant in his belief that Ukraine needed to be rid of all Russian influence. During Ukraines Maidan revolution of 2014, Parubiy organised groups of protesters into self-defence units that fought against riot police. After the triumph of the revolution, he became the secretary of Ukraines security council, as the country tried to steer a new course away from Russia. By the time full-scale war broke out in 2022, he was no longer a household name, but was still an MP. He was a true patriot of Ukraine, a person with a sincere desire to build a better Ukraine, said Yarema Dukh, who had previously worked as Parubiys press secretary. Volodymyr Ariev, an MP from the European Solidarity party where Parubiy was also an MP, said: He was a person who fought for real independence from the Russian empire, the post-Soviet empire. Russia painted Parubiy as a more sinister figure, holding him responsible for the deaths of dozens of pro-Russian supporters in Odesa in May 2014, when a day of clashes between Russian and Ukrainian supporters ended in a fire in which more than 40 died. The Kremlin narrative paints the deaths into a brutal and deliberate massacre. In a 2015 interview with Ukraines hromadske television, Parubiy said he had been told by the countrys intelligence services that Russia had concocted a plot to kidnap and bring him to Russia for a show trial about the coup on Maidan and the deaths in Odesa. After this, for the first time in my life I gave my approval for [a] security team, he said at the time. Parubiy was also a subject of a Ukrainian criminal inquiry into the deaths in Odesa in a case that never came to a conclusion. But many Ukrainians saw the brutal events in Odesa differently: as the moment when pro-Ukraine forces finally stood up to Russian-stirred separatist sentiment, preventing a repeat in Odesa of the full-fledged scenario the Kremlin had engineered in Donbas. Vladimir Putin never forgot the events in Odesa, as evidenced by a speech just before he launched the full-scale invasion in 2022. The criminals who carried out this atrocity have not been punished, but we know them by name and we will do everything to punish them find them and bring them to court, he said. When Russia failed to occupy Odesa in 2022, it appears the Kremlin turned to other methods. Parubiy featured on an apparent Russian kill list of dozens of names of prominent Ukrainians, which was handed by a partner intelligence service to Ukraines SBU security service in the weeks after the full-scale invasion, a security source told the Guardian. The then head of the SBU, Ivan Bakanov, called Parubiy personally to warn him he was on the list, said the source. However, as the country was then in the hottest phase of repelling Russias invasion, there were no resources to provide personal security details. Those on the list were simply told to exercise caution and be aware of the threat. Some Ukrainian media reported that Parubiy had later asked for a security detail, but was denied. Parubiys was not the first murder linked to the 2014 Odesa violence. In March this year, the 31-year-old blogger Demyan Hanul, who was also active in Odesas anti-Russian movement in 2014, was shot dead in the city. Local prosecutors reported that the suspect in the shooting was a Ukrainian soldier who had deserted his military post and agreed to carry out the hit on orders of people who claimed to be working for Ukrainian authorities but were in fact working for Russia. The trial is due to begin soon. Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko told the Guardian he has also been warned by security services that he is on a hit list. In June, a Russian court sentenced him to 10 years in jail in absentia for what it said was his responsibility for the Odesa violence. Valeriy Kondratiuk, a former head of Ukraines foreign and military intelligence services, said Russias domestic FSB security service takes the lead in determining targets for assassination, and then shares the tasks with other agencies. The FSB is responsible for drawing up lists, then there is coordination between their different services for carrying out the killings, he said. Kondratiuk said that given Parubiy was known to be a personal enemy of the Kremlin, it had been a mistake for the state not to provide him with bodyguards, and that the killing pointed to failures in Ukraines security apparatus. There should be three rings of security: first, the foreign intelligence should be on the lookout for threats; if that fails, counterintelligence should be following the planning process and if that fails, his personal security should neutralise the threat. All three rings failed here, he said. The Russian services have become adept at recruiting Ukrainians to carry out their work, sometimes appealing to ideology and sometimes using false flag recruitment and pretending to be criminals or Ukrainian authorities. Moscow has even recruited a string of Ukrainian teenagers to act as unwitting suicide bombers at police stations and other official buildings. But the attacks on specific targets are often more professionally organised. In what is believed to be the first successful Russian targeting of a Ukrainian security official away from the frontline, in July the SBU colonel Ivan Voronych was shot dead inside a secure compound in central Kyiv. Sources said Voronych had earlier been the deputy head of the SBUs secretive fifth department, a unit that was set up after 2014 and carried out audacious operations inside occupied Ukraine. It was reportedly responsible for numerous hits on Russian-installed separatist leaders in the Donbas, and so Voronych would have been a top target for Russia. The perpetrators, reportedly a couple who travelled to Ukraine on Azerbaijani passports, were later killed in a shootout. In the case of Parubiy, so far no direct evidence has been presented that Moscow was behind the hit. The killer, when apprehended two days later, turned out to be a Lviv native and claimed he wanted to take revenge on the Ukrainian authorities and to be exchanged to Russia to look for his missing son. Much about his story appears strange, but friends and colleagues of Parubiy say they have little doubt that the trail will eventually lead back to Russia. Who killed him? From the very first second, we had no doubts. The Russkies, Putin, and the fifth column in our country, said former president Petro Poroshenko in a speech at Parubiys funeral. What is clear is that both Moscow and Kyiv now see assassinations as a key part of their war effort, even if neither side takes public responsibility for their attacks. Just a few days before the murder of Parubiy, an explosion in a shopping centre close to Lubyanka, the headquarters of Russias FSB security service in Moscow, killed one person and injured several, including a man who was identified by Russian news outlets as a high-ranking FSB officer. A source in Kyiv said the man was part of the FSBs fifth service, responsible for sowing discord in Ukraine. It was the latest in a whole series of assassinations inside Russia, including an army general blown up outside his apartment block by an exploding scooter, and a car bomb meant for the radical nationalist ideologue Alexander Dugin that instead killed his daughter Darya. In private, many say that this shadow part of the war is destined to continue even when the guns stop firing at the front. Think how many people there are to take revenge on, how much anger and fury there is, said a security source in Kyiv. Even if there is a ceasefire and a deal, these killings will go on for years. This is just the start. Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump met three times when the Republican was last in office - SAUL LOEB Kim Jong-un said he would be open to dialogue with Donald Trumps administration if Washington stops its obsession with insisting North Korea gives up its nuclear weapons. In a speech at the Supreme Peoples Assembly on Sunday, reported by state news agency KCNA, the North Korean dictator said he still had fond memories of his three prior meetings with the US president. But he said denuclearisation must not be the focus of future talks, adding that the North will never give up its weapons which he said were essential to safeguard its security in the face of grave threats from the US and South Korea. The world already knows well what the United States does after it forces a country to give up its nuclear arms and disarm, Kim said. If the United States drops the absurd obsession with denuclearising us and accepts reality, and wants genuine peaceful coexistence, there is no reason for us not to sit down with the United States. He added: I still personally hold fond memories of the current US president, Trump. The demand that Kim relinquish his nuclear arsenal has long been a source of contention between North Korea and the West, with Pyongyang under successive rafts of UN sanctions over its banned weapons programme. Kim said the sanctions only helped his regime in growing stronger, building endurance and resistance that cannot be crushed by any pressure. North Korea is believed to be producing 15 to 20 nuclear weapons each year, Lee Jae Myung, South Koreas president, said on Sunday. Mr Lee suggested that as an interim emergency measure he would support a deal for the North to freeze its nuclear production. So long as we do not give up on the long-term goal of denuclearisation, I believe there are clear benefits to having North Korea stop its nuclear and missile development, he told the BBC. The question is whether we persist with fruitless attempts towards the ultimate goal [denuclearisation] or we set more realistic goals and achieve some of them. Mr Lee has made peace overtures since taking office in June, saying dialogue with Pyongyang was necessary and expressing confidence that Mr Trump is key to bringing Kim back to the negotiating table. Military drills in North Korea last year - KCNA Concerns are growing in Seoul that South Korea might be cut out of future denuclearisation talks as Kim seeks to negotiate directly with the US. Last year, Kim declared he was abandoning a long-standing goal of peaceful unification with South Korea, and revised his countrys constitution to declare the latter as a hostile state for the first time. At the same time, South Koreas relations with the US under Mr Trump have begun to fray. Washington imposed high tariffs on the country and recently angered South Koreans with the arrest of 300 workers at a Hyundai plant in Georgia as part of Trumps harsh stance on immigration. South Korea has responded by launching an investigation into possible human rights violations of its citizens who are in the US. Despite all this, Mr Lee has tried to remain upbeat about dealing with his US counterpart. Mr Trump said in August that he wanted to meet Kim this year and spoke warmly of spending time with the dictator in 2019 when he became the first sitting US president to set foot in North Korea. I felt safe because I had a great relationship with Kim Jong-un, Mr Trump said. I hope it stays that way. I think it will... I have a very good relationship, I understand him, I spent a lot of free time with him, talking about things that we probably arent supposed to talk about, and, you know, I just, I get along with him really well. Talks between Pyongyang and the West have remained frozen since the collapse of the Hanoi summit in February 2019, despite Mr Trumps diplomatic visit to the isolated state later that year and repeated requests from Washington and Seoul to restart negotiations. South pins hopes on Trump Kim said on Sunday that the two nations recent suggestions for dialogue were insincere because their intent to destroy his regime remained unchanged. Mr Lees proposal on ending the Norths nuclear programmes in phases was proof of that, he said. Kim has previously called a security partnership between the US, South Korea and Japan a nuclear military bloc for aggression and promised to grow his nuclear arsenal in response to Washington and Seouls joint military drills. He said on Sunday: We make it clear that we will not deal with them [Seoul] in any form. Speaking before his visit to New York on Monday for the UN General Assembly, Mr Lee said he hoped Kim would agree to meet with the US president, citing their degree of mutual trust. Lee Jae-myung met Donald Trump in Washington in August - YONHAP/EPA/Shutterstock He has previously praised Mr Trump and suggested that relations between their two nations had soured while Joe Biden was in office. During the short, the hiatus where you were out of office, North Korea developed further its nuclear and missile capabilities and that led to a deterioration on the situation of the Korean peninsula, he told Mr Trump during their sit-down in the Oval Office in August. Mr Trump replied: And they wouldnt have done that, they would not have done that if I were president. I completely agree with you, the South Korean leader said, adding: I hope that you will usher in a new era of peace on the Korean peninsula. Mr Trump is expected to visit South Korea next month, when the country hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in its southern city of Gyeongju. Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey wants us all to believe that he and his party are the nice guys of UK politics. And why not? No one ever lost votes by presenting a kind, tolerant image to the electorate. Isnt that whats needed more in politics: pure, unadulterated niceness? Of course, anyone who has gone head-to-head with the Lib Dems in any by-election campaign will know just how misleading and downright wrong that public image of Britains (former) third-placed party is. Its arguably understandable that a minor party that depends on spectacular by-election victories to maintain its profile will be ruthless when the occasion demands, but lets not fall for the twee, middle England, butter-wouldnt-melt image that depicts Daveys party as the political wing of the Womens Rural Institute. Davey was repeating the mantra again yesterday on the opening day of the partys annual conference, with a call to reject the divisive politics of Nigel Farage. But how unifying the Lib Dems are was amply demonstrated within minutes of the formal opening of the conference, when trans activists successfully prevented a motion on womens rights being debated. It seems that rejecting division also means refusing to listen to women concerned about their rights to women-only spaces. The motion, had it been debated and carried by delegates, would have brought the Lib Dems into line with the law as set out by the Equality Act 2010. But the Lib Dems, along with the Greens, the SNP and Jeremy Corbyns Your Party, are the last bastion holding out for the rights of trans women (biological men) to use and occupy spaces legally reserved for women. Any challenge to this position, even one that is backed by the Supreme Court, is anathema to the Lib Dems, and so the motion wasnt even debated. So much for inclusiveness and fairness. Davey himself has shown no leadership on the issue. He has been challenged by Piers Morgan, who said to Davey: In May 2023 you told LBC that women quite clearly could have a penis. To which the Lib Dem leader replied: Well actually I didnt say that. Except he did. When presenter Nick Ferrari asked him, So a woman can have a penis? he replied Well, quite clearly. Ironically, given yesterdays shutting down of the debate by his own conference, he used the same LBC interview to demand that the debate on trans rights be carried out with a bit more maturity and a bit more compassion. That none of that was seen yesterday is something we should not expect Sir Ed to be drawn on. There are few more divisive issues than the rights of women to their own spaces free from the presence of biological males, however they identify. Yet Davey only addresses it when hes cornered in a TV studio and has yet to condemn yesterdays silencing of Lib Dem women. He may think hes on firmer ground with his decision to boycott the state dinner for President Trump last week, exploiting his principled stand for all it was worth by letting us all know he had written to the King himself to explain his absence. Yet what value are such acts of ersatz principle when all youre doing is lazily going with the flow of UK public opinion? Similarly, this great champion of unifying principle wants Britain to be thrown into another unseemly and deeply damaging period of division, all in service of his ambition that Britain should rejoin the EU (gradually, with customs union and then single market membership first: the boiling frog strategy). Having vehemently opposed respecting the result of the 2016 referendum, Davey wants it overturned slowly, subtly, with as little fuss and public debate as possible. For that is the Lib Dem way: by all means subvert democracy (or the law as interpreted by the Supreme Court); just do it quietly, with a smile on your face so that everyone will believe youre doing it for the right reasons. If true leadership means telling your own followers uncomfortable truths that they dont want to hear, then Davey has already failed. Opposing Donald Trump is easy, especially when youre the leader of only the third biggest party in the Commons. Supporting rejoining the EU is easy when most of your party already feels the same. But on difficult issues like the threat to womens privacy and safety from the trans rights movement, Davey is, like the SNP leader John Swinney, a prisoner of his own activists. Not for him the courage shown by, for example, Neil Kinnock, who risked dividing his party at Labours 1985 conference by denouncing Militant from the platform. Instead, Davey blithely and deliberately ignores the tactics of the gender ideologues, misleads interviewers about his own record on the issue, then distracts everyones attention with a cringe-inducing stunt involving him leading a marching band on the opening day of his conference. The Liberal Democrats are not a serious political party. But thats okay, because Ed Davey is its leader. Hayes School in Bromley (LDR) A former teacher at a Bromley school has been struck off the teaching register after being convicted of making and distributing indecent images of children. Science teacher Kieran Atter admitted to accessing indecent images of children a number of them in the most serious category using Twitter, saving images on his phone and sharing them with others while employed as a teacher at the Hayes School, a secondary school in Hayes, south east London. The 35-year-old worked at Hayes School between August 30 2022 and February 9 2023, leaving his job 14 days before he was convicted of five sexual offences, having been arrested on January 5, 2023. In May 2024, Atter was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court for three counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of children, and two counts of distributing an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of children. He was sentenced to a 10-month suspended sentence of imprisonment, a rehabilitation activity requirement, an unpaid work requirement, a restraining order, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a requirement to sign the Sexual Offenders Register for 10 years. According to his LinkedIn profile he also worked at schools in Chislehurst and Carshalton. Atter admitted that he was convicted of these offences at a teacher misconduct panel on August 20 this year, held by the Teaching Regulation Agency. He also accepted that he had admitted to having a sexual interest in children and that when distributing the photographs he had engaged in sexualised conversation regarding children. A number of the photographs in Atters possession were moving and in the highest category of indecent image. The teacher misconduct panel found that Atters conduct fell significantly short of the standards expected of the teaching profession, and the findings of misconduct were particularly serious as they included a conviction for making and distributing indecent images of children. The panel imposed a prohibition order with no review period, meaning Atter is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or childrens home in England. The panel also decided that Atter will not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach. Atter now works as a rail replacement coordinator, according to his LinkedIn profile, which also states he has a PhD in Chemistry from Durham University and an MSci in Chemistry (2:1) from the University of Nottingham. MegaChips, National Reconstruction Fund Corporation, Blackbird, Main Sequence, Uniseed, Ray Stata, Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull, Startmate and Institutional Investors Accelerate Global Expansion of Wi-Fi HaLow SYDNEY and IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Morse Micro, the world's leading provider of Wi-Fi HaLow silicon solutions, today announced the successful close of its Series C funding round, raising $59 million [$88 million AUD]. The round was led by MegaChips with participation from National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC), Blackbird, Main Sequence, Uniseed, Ray Stata, Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull, Startmate, and a number of institutional investors including Hostplus, NGS, UniSuper, bringing the company's total funding to over $193 million [$290 million AUD] to date. This fresh capital will accelerate Morse Micro's expansion into international markets, scale production of its Wi-Fi HaLow chips, and support the ecosystem shift toward IoT 2.0, a new phase of the Internet of Things (IoT) characterized by high-throughput, long-range, and highly scalable connectivity for IoT devices. "This funding is another strong vote of confidence in our mission to be the number one wireless IoT chip company in the world," said Michael De Nil, CEO and co-founder of Morse Micro. "The future of IoT depends on connectivity that is long-range, power-efficient, secure and delivers on throughput, and that's exactly where we're leading. With this raise, we are accelerating our expansion and preparing for the next phase of our company's growth." The funding comes at a time of significant momentum for Morse Micro and Australia's semiconductor industry. This week the company is announcing the HaLowLink 2, its global, next-generation evaluation platform. Also this year, the company has launched a second generation System-on-Chip (SoC), expanded its ecosystem partnerships, delivered new reference designs, and achieved mass production with leading OEMs. These milestones underscore Morse Micro's role in driving the global shift from proof-of-concept IoT to full-scale, industrial and consumer deployments. "We are proud to continue our support for Morse Micro as it leads the global transition to IoT 2.0. For a number of years, we have worked in partnership with Morse Micro to increase production and sales of its flagship Wi-Fi HaLow products. This investment reflects our belief that the time for Wi-Fi HaLow is now," said Tetsuo Hikawa, President and CEO of MegaChips Group. "Morse Micro is uniquely positioned to accelerate the adoption of next generation IoT solutions. We are confident this investment positions the team and technology for international leadership and future success on the public markets." "Morse Micro is Australia's largest semiconductor manufacturer and a home-grown Australian success story. Wi-Fi was invented and patented by CSIRO scientists in 1993, and we are proud to be investing in an Australian company that is once again enabling next generation Wi-Fi connectivity for the rest of the world," said National Reconstruction Fund Corporation CEO David Gall. "Morse Micro employs over 130 people in Australia, including employees in regional New South Wales, and our investment will diversify the Australian economy, strengthen the nation's sovereign manufacturing capability, and build local expertise in semiconductor design and innovation." About Morse Micro Morse Micro is the leading Wi-Fi HaLow fabless semiconductor company, revolutionizing IoT connectivity with award-winning technology. Headquartered in Sydney, with global offices in the United States, Taiwan, China, India, Japan and the United Kingdom, Morse Micro is driving the adoption of next-generation long-range, low-power Wi-Fi HaLow solutions. Its first generation MM6108 and newly launched MM8108 silicon deliver the fastest, smallest, lowest-power, and longest-range Wi-Fi HaLow connectivity on the market. Morse Micro's Wi-Fi HaLow technology is gaining unstoppable momentum globally, enabling connected devices to achieve ten times the range, covering 100 times the area of traditional Wi-Fi networks. This advancement is transforming IoT connectivity across various sectors, including smart homes, industrial automation, and smart cities. SOURCE Morse Micro Lucian Freud self-portrait could sell for up to 12 million A self-portrait by the British artist Lucian Freud is expected to sell for millions, with estimates ranging from 8 million to 12 million. The art and luxury auction house Christies will offer three major works in its 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale on October 15, including Freuds Self-portrait Fragment. Among the pieces going up for sale is Woman With A Tulip which is estimated to sell for between 3 million and 5 million, and Sleeping Head which is estimated at between 2 million and 3 million. Katharine Arnold, vice-chairman and head of post-war and contemporary art at Christies Europe, told the PA news agency: They are historic. Theyre from the 1940s all the way through to the 1960s and they mark three distinct moments in the artists life. Self-portrait Fragment, circa 1956, by Lucian Freud (Ben Whitley/PA) These three paintings together show a transition for Freud, both personally, but also professionally. Of Self-portrait Fragment Arnold said: Self-portraits are rare. Self portraiture was a very important part of Freuds practice. I think he made over 30 self-portraits throughout his career. It shows the artist studying himself as time passes. It is literally a reflection of the passage of time, both physically but also in the state of mind the artist is in at that time. Here, hes in his 30s, and hes looking forward and thinking about who hes going to be. Sleeping Head, 1961-71, by Lucian Freud (Ben Whitley/PA) He is in the midst of a breakup with his wife, Caroline Blackwood, at the time, who was a great muse, and so hes thinking about the future. The paintings come from the same private collection. Self-portrait Fragment has been part of it for nearly six decades. Arnold said: These three paintings chart a moment in time in Freuds personal life. The subject of Woman With A Tulip is Lorna Wishart. She was one of the Garman sisters that was very celebrated during her time. She was the centre of the Bloomsbury group, the literary activities that were going on in London in that wartime period. She had a relationship with Freud when he was a young man. He was only 19 when they met, and eventually he married Kitty Garman, her niece. Woman With A Tulip, 1944, by Lucian Freud (Ben Whitley/PA) It is painted with very fine, sable hair brushes, and she is painted as if shes almost an icon, something to be worshipped, and in front of her is this beautiful tulip, a sign of love, affection. The two were very involved at the time of the paintings making but remember, this is also the wartime, 1944 is still the Second World War. Its remarkable because its a moment in time in Britain where there was a lot of change, a lot of difficulty, and yet hes created something exquisite. Sleeping Head features a woman the artist knew briefly as a single man, according to Arnold, and was painted at his studio on Delamere Terrace, in London. Arnold added: This is really a very British story. Two of the paintings were last displayed at the National Gallery retrospective from 2022 to 2023. All three pieces will be be available for the public to see at an exhibition at Christies London from October 8-15. The newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line (DCL) fleet, Disney Destiny, departed the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany at the weekend for Fort Lauderdale in Florida, ahead of its maiden sailing in November. Themed around heroes and villains, the ship features Spider-Man on the stern and a superhero Minnie on the bow. But much of the work that went into its construction may never actually be seen by passengers. The Independent went behind the scenes with DCL designers known as Imagineers to discover how they build the much-loved vessels. Planning and concept Most of the imagery you see on Disneys ships are years in the making. Walt Disney Imagineers have been dreaming up plans for the current Wish class ships since 2017. The first, Disney Wish, was launched in 2022, which was followed by Disney Treasure in 2024 and Disney Destiny, which will be launched later this year. The design of Disney Destiny's Grand Hall, which will feature a Black Panther statue (Disney Cruise Line) A fourth, unnamed, Wish class ship is also currently in development at the Meyer Werft shipyard. Claire Weiss, senior creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering, says: We really wanted each ship to have a unique signature identity. That was something a little bit new for us creatively. Our classic ships were beautiful and had very strong visual language. We thought we would experiment a little. Imagineer Claire Weiss has revealed how Disney designs its cruise ships (Claire Weiss) Read more: Behind the scenes at the float-out of Disney Destiny It all starts with a theme. Claire says: We initially just had motifs things like enchantment or adventure. We talk about the words and the emotions at the beginning and how they fit together. If they feel different, they're going to look different. They're going to tell different stories. It was this process that resulted in Destinys 17-foot tall Spider Man, plus the bronze statue of the Black Panther in its Grand Hall. The ship also features a Doctor Strange-themed bar, while guests will be entertained with a Hercules theatre show. Hidden elements for superfans include Mickey Mouse designs in the carpet, plus patterns from the Black Panther suit in the railings. Claire says: Everything we do has narrative significance. We want the guests to see and enjoy it, but it also gives us a lens through which to make creative decisions. We feel as if we're being true to the story. The planning stage alone can take up to two years. Initial preparations include the creation of sketches and 3D images, followed by negotiations with the shipyard to determine how realistic the plans are. Once the designs are confirmed, building contracts are agreed. The building stage Disney Cruise Line is using the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany to build its Wish class ships, where more than 2,000 people can work on construction each day. The start of the process is marked with a steel-cutting ceremony, where the first piece of the ship is created. There is also a keel-laying that involves placing a coin under the bottom of the ship for good luck. The steel cutting is a landmark moment that marks the start of the building of a new cruise ship (Disney Cruise Line) Some parts, such as the AquaMouse water coaster, are lifted onto the ship in parts and built on deck. Other sections are constructed in a nearby facility. Rather than being built on the ship, the cabins are pre-fabricated, with every aspect of the room including the televisions, headboard art, mattresses and sofas already installed. The production line completes one cabin every 25 minutes. Philip Gennotte, a senior project manager executive at the company, explains: We want the staterooms to be as good as they can be from a quality point of view, so it makes sense to design them in a way that it can be repetitive. Philip Gennotte (left) at the keel laying for Disney Destiny in 2024 (Meyer Werft) The process is not the same as building a theme park for one crucial reason: cruise ships move. Philip says: About 60 megawatts of power is created inside the ship. You could power a small city with that. The power might be metropolis-level, but so too is the ships capacity bustling with passengers and crew. In addition to the public areas, those that work on the ship also need spaces to live and rest. Crew-only facilities include a barber, a buffet and bar that guests never get to see. Disney Destiny in-construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard (Disney Cruise Line) Philip says: These are all the bubbles that all need to be integrated into the ship. Designed, integrated, planned, procured, sourced, built, then commissioned. That's the complexity that we're dealing with. Construction can take two years before the ship is ready for its final stages. Float-out to flag exchange A cruise ship first touches water in a float-out ceremony, seen as a major development milestone. The ship is usually pulled by a tugboat in a process that takes two hours. After the float-out, the ship then goes through a conveyance, which involves stress-testing it under bridges and on riverbeds. If it passes, then its through to sea trials. A tugboat pulls Disney Destiny out from the Meyer Werft dry dock for its float-out ceremony (Disney Cruise Line) Philip says: We want to see the speed she can reach, is she quiet? Does she move properly? There are seven days of sea drills, where crew live on board to test everything out. The ship is then returned to the dockyard for the final decorative touches ahead of an official handover. Philip adds: Its like buying a car we sign papers and take ownership. The handover is marked with a flag exchange, where the German flag of Meyer Weft will be swapped for DCLs and the flag of the Bahamas, where the ship is registered. Philip says: Once the ship is in our hands, we will sail across the Atlantic to prepare for our first voyages from Fort Lauderdale. We will use that crossing for training, making sure everything from the crew to the performance areas are ready for guests. We dont want anyone on board until it is perfect. Director Michael Mann has said that he hopes to start shooting the sequel to 1990s crime thriller Heat soon, as the film remains in active development. In 2022, Mann, along with Meg Gardiner, wrote and released the book Heat 2 which serves as both a prequel and a sequel to his acclaimed 1995 film starring Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino. Mann always planned to adapt the novel into a film, with the director now confirming that he is looking at possibly shooting it in 2026. Were in the middle of doing all the things budgeting, scheduling, casting process, he said during a masterclass on Heat at the Busan International Film Festival. Elsewhere, Mann objected to Heat being called an Al Pacino film by the moderator. The 82-year-old said: I dont think its Al Pacinos film. That films De Niros film, Val Kilmers film, Jon Voights film, Mykelti Williamson. He added that it was an ensemble of brilliant actors and one of the best experiences hed ever had as a director. Michael Mann hopes to start filming Heat 2 in 2026 (Invision) Heat, which follows a group of high-end thieves in Los Angeles, is regarded as one of the best films of the 1990s and one of the best crime thrillers ever, notable for both its acting and intense action sequences. Heat 2 features characters from the original film such as detective Vincent Hanna and criminal Neil McCauley. Due to the story taking place both before and after the events of the original film, speculation has naturally developed about who will play the roles. Pacino, who plays Hanna in the film, has namechecked Timothee Chalamet as a possible star to play his character, but back in 2019, he actually suggested hed be up for using Irishman-style de-aging technology to reprise the role himself. During a 2022 interview with The Independent, when asked if hed be up for using the same tech for Heat 2, Pacino, not realising the novel was a prequel, said: Youd have to ask Michael Mann, but we wouldnt have Bob. De Niro, whose character is killed off at the end of the film, interjected, telling Pacino the novel was going to be set before the events of the 1995 film. To this, Pacino replied: You mean go younger? That I would do for sure. Laughing at the prospect, De Niro added: Well, you never know. Al Pacino in Heat (Warner Bros) Elsewhere, it was reported in 2024 that Austin Butler, star of Elvis and Dune: Part 2, was linked to the part of Chris Shiherlis, the role originally made famous by Val Kilmer, who died earlier this year. In the book, Shiherlis features in scenes that directly follow on from events seen in the original. Other stars that have been connected to Heat 2 include Adam Driver and Leonardo DiCaprio. Over 450 animals were kept in cramped and dirty conditions at the farm in Skegby in Nottinghamshire (RSPCA) More than 450 neglected animals have been rescued from a farm in Nottinghamshire, with several having to be put to sleep to end their suffering. Farm owner Lee Hayes has been handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence and a lifetime animal ban after 19 different species of animals were rescued, which included around 70 horses and donkeys, more than 50 dogs and 170 guinea pigs. None of the animals had received veterinary care, with many suffering from parasites, rotting feet, diseases and left in enclosures covered in faeces, urine and maggots. The case was uncovered after the founder of a missing dogs charity visited the farm in 2023 to investigate claims about a stolen dog and raised concerns about the conditions of the animals. A Nottinghamshire Police officer was overcome by a foul smell when entering a barn and found many dogs who were whining. The RSPCA found 19 different species who had not received veterinary care (RSPCA) The RSPCA were able to secure a warrant, and made a number of harrowing discoveries, which included an elderly German Shepherd struggling to walk, a cocker spaniel which needed hernia surgery, and puppies caked in faeces with urine scolds. Seven donkeys had chronic hoof issues while a number were underweight and had not received dental care, and half of the 59 equines seized were of poor body condition. One donkey was so lame she was put to sleep, while several were pregnant and living in squalid conditions in dirty darkened barns. Five dogs were tied to outdoor kennels while 40 lived in a crowded barn, while three cats had been locked in a filthy stable and five kittens with cat flu were found in a pick-up truck. Vet Olivia Speight stated: The environment the dogs were in did not have much natural light and the smell of ammonia was strong. There wasnt proper bedding in the kennels and there was a high level of contamination by faeces and urine. Several of the barns and pens were in filthy conditions and covered in maggots, faeces and urine (RSPCA) This property was not listed as a registered breeding establishment, but its set-up was more similar to one than a pet home." Hayes had also kept underweight birds and ducklings, ferrets and rabbits kept in maggot-strewn cages, as well as mice, pigmy squirrels and hamsters living in overcrowded cages. A Congo grey parrot was so stressed it had pulled out half its feathers, while one hamster had to be put to sleep immediately. There were also emaciated cows, underweight birds and hens kept without water, and underweight tortoises kept in a vivarium infested with fruit flies. Of the 107 birds that were being kept on the farm, only 12 had access to clean water, with one hutch containing a pile of dead birds. Speaking in his defence, John Hayes said for Hayes: Over a period of time he became overwhelmed by the situation he found himself in, he has not acted maliciously. All the animals he acquired came from people that knew he would take them on. He did not have the ability to say no. He should have accepted help as he did realise a number of animals the RSPCA rescue needed treatment. Many of the dogs were kept in a darkened barn or had been tethered to an outdoor kennel (RSPCA) Hayes girlfriend Tammy Heath was also handed a 13-week suspended prison sentence and banned from keeping canines after pleading guilty to animal welfare offences, relating to two dogs. The district judge told Hayes: When the RSPCA and police came they found no improvements. All the animals were still living in abhorrent conditions and severely neglected, which included unsanitary, overcrowded accommodation; dogs living in faeces and urine; goats with overgrown hooves, equines with thrush; and cats with fleas and flu. A lot of this could easily have been prevented, but you wantonly neglected hundreds of animals of a wide range of species. You lack insight in the care of animals and you present a high risk of offending again as far as the welfare of animals is concerned RSPCA Inspector Baker, who led the operation, said: The conditions we found all these animals living in were absolutely appalling. The smell of manure hit as soon as you walked through the gate and the sheer volume of animals in dire circumstances was quite overwhelming. Over 170 guinea pigs were being kept at the farm, with 66 of those kept in enclosures alongside dead baby guinea pigs and rotting matter (RSPCA) There was a very lame cow tied up in one of the barns that was the most broken animal I had ever seen. There was also a lamb I will never forget, her leg was swinging and the smell of infection from her was the worst thing ever - shed been attacked by a dog some days before and just left suffering with multiple fractures. There were few signs any kind of animal husbandry had taken place. Many of the dogs for example were suffering from easily treatable conditions and the lack of veterinary care demonstrated the total disregard the defendant took to the animals welfare. Keeping large numbers of animals like this at one location is never a good idea as the resources required to give them a good life are unlikely to be found. The defendant also allowed the number of animals to grow, as for example mares were mixing with stallions and bitches were paired up with dogs. We are grateful for the tip-off that highlighted how badly conditions had deteriorated, which meant alongside Nottinghamshire Police we were able to organise a rescue of over 450 animals with the assistance of our charity partners. We split up into teams over two days to deal with different species and all the animals were systematically health checked and then taken to safe accommodation, where many were treated for their ailments and have since made a good recovery. People with suspected dementia are being recruited via memory clinics (PA) (PA Wire) The NHS is simply not ready for a new era of diagnosing and treating Alzheimers disease and is not keeping pace with the science, experts have warned. New drugs and blood tests are set to transform Alzheimers care and diagnosis in the coming years, according to a group of 40 expert researchers. Researchers also say medications donanemab and lecanemab, which are currently not approved for use by the NHS, slow the progression of Alzheimers as effectively as treatments for other conditions such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Writing in a series of papers published in The Lancet, they warn that without rapid reform, the potential of major innovations within Alzheimers research will not be realised. Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of Research and Innovation at Alzheimers Society, said the series of papers published in The Lancet mark the beginning of a new era in Alzheimers disease diagnosis and treatment. However, he added, The painful truth is that the NHS is simply not ready and isnt keeping pace with the science. We now run the very real risk that people living with dementia will miss out on the opportunity to benefit from these big breakthroughs. Its vital that the UK government keeps its eye on the ball so people with dementia arent left behind. We want to see better access to early diagnosis so people dont miss out on the narrow window of eligibility to benefit from treatments which can slow Alzheimers disease. Preparing for future treatments will take a society of researchers, clinicians and decision-makers. Donanemab is a disease modifying treatment for Alzheimers disease (File picture) (PA Archive) Alzheimers disease is the most common form of dementia. According to Alzheimers Society, one in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime. By 2040, around 1.4 million people in the UK could be living with the condition. Lead author for the papers Professor Giovanni Frisoni, of the University of Geneva in Switzerland, said there is a need for societal change to ensure current and future Alzheimers patients benefit fully from scientific advances, with understanding of the disease set to change radically in the near future. He said: Blood tests, biological drugs for Alzheimers disease, and prevention interventions are propelling care into entirely new and exciting territory. However, the old needs of patients will not disappear. On the contrary, more general practitioners and dementia specialists will need to master the less glamorous but steady advances made in the past few decades in the care and treatment of behavioural disorders, the use of sophisticated diagnostic imaging and laboratory tools, and psychosocial care. A concerted societal effort in this direction will enable our current and future patients to benefit fully from the potential of scientific and technological advances. Prof Frisoni told the PA news agency the medical revolution will take years, but that theres no way back. His comments came after it emerged that British patients would trial a new blood test for Alzheimers, with results expected within three years. New Alzheimers treatments donanemab and lecanemab have been licensed for use in the UK, but will not be made available on the NHS after the medicines spending watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), deemed their benefits too small to justify their cost. David Thomas, head of policy and public affairs at Alzheimers Research UK, said: In under a decade, the number of experimental treatments for Alzheimers, the leading cause of dementia, has doubled, and our understanding of the disease has advanced faster than ever before. Yet as these papers highlight, scientific momentum alone is not enough...Turning research breakthroughs into change for people affected by dementia is a challenge that governments and health service leaders must address. An NHS spokesperson said: The NHS is currently giving patients access to every approved, evidence-based and cost-effective approach for dementia diagnosis and treatment, and we have been working to ensure local services are ready to roll out any new treatments for early-stage Alzheimers which are approved by Nice in the future. Nigel Farage promised to eject hundreds or thousands of people from the UK. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA Nigel Farage has set out a series of hardline immigration policies that were lauded by the rightwing press. His Reform party would eject hundreds of thousands of people who have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK a move he claimed would save 234bn over several decades. Related: Hate, hate again, hate better for Farage, the country needs educating about foreigners | John Crace The party would also force those with permanent residency to reapply under tougher rules, including higher salary requirements, and abolish the status of indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which gives migrants rights and access to benefits, he said. But under scrutiny on Monday, Farage struggled to explain how any of this would work and who exactly would be deported. He was also challenged on whether his figures added up. Critics say they dont. Would the policy save money or cost the UK more? The first paragraph of the partys policy document, Prioritising UK Citizens, says: Reform will save the taxpayer 230bn by taking decisive action on immigration and welfare. ILR will be abolished. No new awards granted and existing ones rescinded. But the thinktank that came up with the figure, the Centre for Policy Studies, has subsequently said the fiscal data contained within this report was the subject of dispute, meaning that the overall cost estimates should no longer be used. Jonathan Portes, the professor and former government economist, has written a detail critique of the CPS paper. He said that if the CPS had properly interpreted the OBR data, they would have concluded that there would be a net fiscal benefit of about 125bn in the next few years. At a press conference on Monday, Farage declined to correct the 230bn figure and claimed the true figure was in fact considerably bigger. The 230bn figure is without a doubt too low. It underestimates things, he said. Who would be removed from the UK? Farage and his colleague Zia Yusuf argued the changes would lead to hundreds of thousands of people having to apply and ultimately losing their settled status in the UK. Many of those who will lose their leave to remain are entirely dependent on the welfare state and will leave voluntarily upon losing access to benefits, Yusuf said. But they declined to say if their plans would apply to children of people who have indefinite leave to remain, or retired people, Ukrainians or people from Hong Kong. Ben Brindle, a researcher at the Migration Observatory at Oxford University, said about 430,000 non-EU citizens held indefinite leave to remain at the end of 2024. To acquire ILR, most migrants will have had multiple immigration applications accepted by the government and will have been given the right to permanent status. While some have been in the UK for five to 10 years, others will have lived in the UK for decades, and may have British children who have only ever lived in the UK, he said. Portes has reportedly said it is absolutely not true that most new migrants rely on benefits, because of provisions barring most from receiving government funds. Josephine Whitaker-Yilmaz, the head of advocacy at the migrant charity Praxis, said the policy would leave many families, including her own, unsure what it might mean if Reform formed the next government. My husband, who is Turkish, has applied for ILR and will hopefully be eligible for it next year. Our children are dual UK and Turkish nationals. Would a Reform government insist that my husband has to take my children when he is deported or would they be allowed to stay? she said. Could the policies damage some sectors of the economy? Farage and Yusuf brushed off concerns that their policies, including plans to ban dual citizenship, would have a detrimental impact on the economy. But Marley Morris, the associate director of the IPPR thinktank, said it would have a significant impact on the UKs ability to attract talent. Brindle said increasing the salary thresholds and removing ILR status could leave businesses struggling to fill vacancies in the agriculture, construction and care sectors. These jobs are not attractive to domestic workers because they are difficult jobs, with poor pay and conditions. You might eventually be able to fill these jobs but you will not to do it overnight and many of these sectors could struggle for some time. Reform said it would introduce a new acute skills shortage visa with a strict cap on numbers. Any employers that sponsor the visas would have to pay a levy that in turn would be spent on training equivalent British workers. Reform UK has said it could deport hundreds of thousands of legal migrants from the UK and severely tighten the rules for people looking to migrate to the country under new plans unveiled by Nigel Farage. Sharing disputed figures that claim the policy would save more than 200bn, the party said that, if it comes to power, it would scrap indefinite leave to remain (ILR), the main route by which migrants are able to settle in the UK and which is open to people who have worked and lived in the UK legally for five years. Reform claimed the plans would undo the Boris wave of migrants ushered in by the former Conservative prime minister. This refers to around 800,000 migrants who came to the UK under relaxed post-Brexit migration rules introduced by Boris Johnsons government, and who will soon begin to qualify for permanent residence. Mr Farage claimed this group were going to be a huge burden on the state. It is unclear where the alleged savings of more than 200bn will come from and how they have been calculated (PA) The Reform UK leader also claimed the policy would save 234bn, a figure drawn from a Centre for Policy Studies report that has been withdrawn due to a dispute over the numbers. The think tank says the cost estimate should no longer be used. Speaking to journalists at a press conference on Monday, Mr Farage said while theres been heavy political focus on illegal immigration, there has been too little debate about legal immigration. But the plans have been widely criticised by politicians, campaigners and experts, who have said the proposals are morally wrong and will tear families apart. Heres what you need to know about the plans: Reform UK head of policy, Zia Yusuf did not share how Reform would enforce the policy regarding people with existing ILR (PA) How does indefinite leave to remain currently work? Indefinite leave to remain is how most migrants settle in the UK, wherever they come from. It gives them the right to live, work and study in the country permanently, as well as access benefits where eligible. It also enables their family to migrate to the UK under certain conditions. In most cases, ILR can be applied for after five years of living and working in the UK. Depending on visa type, the applicant may also need to meet certain salary or financial requirements. For most workers, this will be at least 41,700 per year, or the standard going rate for the type of work youll be doing, which could be higher. After securing ILR, a person can generally apply for British citizenship after 12 months. In May, Labour pledged to introduce tough new restrictions on ILR, meaning most applicants will need to be in the UK for 10 years before they can apply, as well as shortening the list of eligible jobs. What would change under the plans? Under Reforms plans, this settled status would be scrapped even for those currently residing in the UK on it. Instead, a new visa with far stricter requirements would need to be successfully applied for and renewed every five years. The policy would reportedly also see the salary threshold to apply increased to around 60,000, nearly double the median UK salary (31,602). The plans would throw the lives of the estimated 430,000 people holding ILR into uncertainty, despite many having lived in the UK for decades. They would be forced to reapply and would face deportation if they do not qualify under the new rules. It would also see the rights and freedoms they enjoy restricted, as access to NHS services or benefits would be rescinded. The new visas would require advanced English, with strict new limits on partners and family members being able to join. Farages plans have been widely criticised by politicians, campaigners and experts (PA) Mr Yusuf did not share how Reform would enforce the policy regarding people with existing ILR. In August, he said the party would create a UK Deportation Command, modelled on Americas controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This will be like Trump mark two, he told The Times. The party has also previously pledged to leave the European Convention on Human Rights and replace the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights. This would enable its government to carry out its pledged mass deportations of asylum seekers plans which have also had their claimed economic benefit called into question. Do the plans and numbers add up? The alleged 234bn in savings would be over the lifetime of the average migrant. There is no further breakdown, but the average lifespan in the UK is currently around 80 years old. In this case, then the proposed savings would be less than 3bn a year (2.9bn) on average a far more modest number than what Reform is brandishing. Even over a 50-year lifespan in the UK, the alleged savings could be 4.7bn a year on average and thats without considering the economic benefits of the migrant workforce. It is also unclear where these savings will come from and how they have been calculated. Mr Yusuf said that almost 9bn a year in universal credit is claimed by foreign nationals. But getting rid of ILR would not stop most foreign universal credit claimants from being eligible, since the majority are from the EU Settlement Scheme, agreed under Brexit, and would still be entitled to benefits. As of July 2025, there were 213,666 people with indefinite leave to remain claiming universal credit. This makes up just 2.8 per cent of all claimants. This small fraction would mean that the government spend around 1.7bn this year on universal credit for people with indefinite leave to remain far off from the 234bn savings, even if extended over a 50 or 80 year timeline. And even if 800,000 more people will be granted ILR from the Boris wave as Reform claims there is nothing to suggest that these people will go on to claim universal credit. There is also no clear figure on how many foreign nationals in the UK have indefinite leave to remain. So, as it stands, the evidence behind Reforms 234bn savings is murky at best. Asked about Reforms claim that they could save 234bn over several decades, chancellor Rachel Reeves said: The numbers that Reform have come out with overnight have already begun to disassemble. She added: It is a difficult challenge, I think everybody can see that, but simple gimmicks like those put forward by Reform that have no basis in reality and where the numbers just fall apart thats not the way to tackle a very serious issue, and this Labour government are getting on and doing that. Irish presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said it is not for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to decide Hamas role in a Palestinian state. The left-wing independent from Galway was asked about comments by Starmer who said on Sunday that Hamas should have no role in government. Starmer made the comments as he announced the UKs recognition of a Palestinian state ahead of the UN General Assembly this week and alongside other nations including Australia and Canada. Ms Connolly, who has been vocal on the issue of Palestine and has criticised the Irish government for not taking more action against Israel, said that it was up to Palestinians to decide who governs them. I dont think its up to Keir Starmer to make that statement at all, Ms Connolly told BBC Radio Ulster on Monday. I come from Ireland, a history of colonisation, and I would be very wary of telling a sovereign people how to run their country. The Palestinians must decide, in a democratic way, who they want to lead their country. She added: What happened on October 7, Im on record for condemning, but history did not start on October 7. Its important to point that out and to look back on the history and the many, many atrocities committed by the Israeli government through their army. Catherine Connolly is running for the Irish presidency (PA) So, I dont think Keir Starmer should have any say about Hamas. Its up to the Palestinian people. What Keir Starmer and other countries should be doing is stopping the genocide, absolutely calling out what it is genocide and using our voices to stop it. Ms Connolly was also asked if she would describe the attack on people in southern Israel on October 7 2023 as a genocide. I absolutely condemned what happened on October 7 and Ive never, ever had any doubts about that, she said. I would not use the word genocide. Genocide has a very, very specific meaning under international law. She added: What happened on October 7 was wrong, absolutely wrong. I have no hesitation in saying that, but theyre not comparable at all. Ms Connolly who has secured the support of Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, the Greens and People Before Profit will formally launch her campaign in Dublin on Monday evening. Elsewhere in the presidential race, Gareth Sheridan announced the end of his bid to become a candidate after concluding it was mathematically not possible for him to secure sufficient nominations from local authorities. He failed to get the backing from Meath County Council and Offaly County Council on Monday. Mr Sheridan already had two of the four required nominations through local authorities to formally enter the contest, having previously secured nods from Kerry and Tipperary county councils. Speaking to reporters, Mr Sheridan said: It unfortunately didnt work out this time but no regrets. Gareth Sheridan announced the end of his bid to become a candidate (PA) The 36-year-old millionaire entrepreneur was among several hopefuls who pitched to Meath County Council on Monday morning. Fourteen Meath councillors voted against a proposal to nominate Mr Sheridan, with 13 backing the proposal, five abstaining and eight absentees. The deadline for presidential nominations is midday on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin and Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys formally lodged their papers on Friday. Attention has also been brought on independent candidate Maria Steen, who is claiming the support of 13 members of the Oireachtas behind her nomination campaign. She is due to meet the Independent Ireland party, who had indicated it would be willing to support a like-minded candidate with four votes to get them over the line of the 20 required nominations from TDs and senators. Meanwhile, Mr Gavin announced that he had written to social media giants X, Meta and TikTok as well as media regulator Coimisiun na Mean about several invented and utterly false stories published about him online. In a statement, his campaign said the vicious smears were attempts to damage his presidential bid. It said Meta has confirmed that several posts have been taken down while responses are still awaited from X, TikTok and Coimisiun na Mean. Mr Gavin said: Every person in our country knows the real and growing threat posed by online hate and disinformation. It is one of the forces driving the growing division and conflict in many societies. It is the cause of mental health issues amongst our young people due to online bullying and harassment. He added: I refuse to accept that the price of participating in public life should involve having to put your family and friends through waves of online abuse and malicious smears. This is not the cost of service it is a failure of our digital culture. I will continue to take whatever action is necessary to confront this appalling feature of social media. Prince Harry will not be able to have a half-in, half-out role within the royal family should he wish to return to the UK more often, according to reports. During his visit to the UK to perform charity work earlier this month, the Duke of Sussex met with his father King Charles for the first time in 19 months. He spent around 55 minutes at Clarence House having a private tea with the monarch, whose relationship with his younger son has been strained since Harrys departure as a working royal in 2020. However, any suggestion that the prince could return in a more formal capacity has been rejected by palace sources. The King has been absolutely clear in upholding his late mothers decision that there can be no half-in, half-out public role for members of the family, a royal source told The Times. Prince Harry arrives at Clarence House to meet his father (AFP/Getty) It is understood that Harry is not seeking such an arrangement, and is happy with his life in California with his wife Meghan and their two children Archie and Lilibet. A spokesperson for Harry told The Times: The duke has made it clear that the focus has to be on his dad. Beyond that, and on any other issues as it relates to his family, we wont be commenting. During an interview with the BBC in May, after he lost his High Court appeal to have his security reinstated, the prince said he would love to reconcile with his family. The Duke of Sussex pictured during a visit to a community recording studio in Nottingham earlier this month (Getty) He said: I dont know how much longer my father has. He wont speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile. He last saw the King during a brief visit in February 2024, after the 76-year-old announced his cancer diagnosis. The Mail on Sunday has now reported that Buckingham Palace and the Sussex staff are tentatively discussing a thawing of relations between the pair, which could see them appearing jointly at a public event. This could include the King potentially appearing at the Invictus Games in Birmingham in 2027. Harry also travelled to Ukraine to boost the morale of injured service personnel (Reuters) During his recent four-day trip to the UK, Harry attended the WellChild Awards, of which he is a patron, and made a 1.1m personal donation to Children in Need during an event in Nottingham. He then flew to Ukraine where his Invictus Games Foundation is helping the recovery and rehabilitation of thousands of veterans who have suffered life-changing injuries during the war. In an interview with The Guardian, whose journalists accompanied him on the trip, he was unrepentant when asked about his previous criticism of the monarchy. He said: I dont believe that I aired my dirty laundry in public. It was a difficult message, but I did it in the best way possible. My conscience is clear. After announcing that he and his wife were stepping down as working royals, the couple went on to give an interview to Oprah Winfrey and release a Netflix documentary, and he also published a tell-all memoir, Spare, which contained a number of damaging allegations about the royal family. Reality TV star Georgia Toffolo has opened up about battling severe acne and said that her skin has been her biggest struggle. Toffolo, also known as Toff, is best known for starring on the hit Channel 4 series, Made In Chelsea and for winning the 17th series of ITVs Im A CelebrityGet Me Out Of Here! The 30-year old shared a series of videos and photographs documenting her acne and the relentless ups and downs she has had over the years. In a post shared on Instagram, Toffolo said: I never thought Id still be battling severe acne at 30. My skin has been my biggest struggle for as long as I can remember. The ups and downs, the flare ups, the way it can dictate how I feel about myself in an instant. Its relentless. But documenting my skin from May through to September has taught me something important: healing isnt about reaching perfect (because there isnt such a thing!!). Its about noticing the shifts, being kinder to myself on the hard days, and remembering that happiness can exist alongside struggle. Heres what Ive learnt along the way: Progress isnt linear: and thats completely OK. Kindness to yourself is everything: speak gently, especially on bad skin days. Life goes on: living fully isnt cancelled because of breakouts. If your skin feels like your biggest enemy right now, please know this: Youre not alone, and you are so much more than what you see in the mirror. Georgia Toffolo has been a reality TV star for years (Yui Mok/PA) Toffolo won Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! in 2017, and during the series formed a close friendship with Stanley Johnson, father of former prime minister Boris Johnson. She returned to the jungle in 2023 for the ITV all-star spin-off series, Im A Celebrity South Africa, in which former contestants battled it out to become the first Im A Celebrity legend. In March, Toffolo married BrewDog co-founder, James Watt, in Scotland. Over The Last Decade, The Paramedics of Property Damage Have More Than Doubled Their Franchise Location Count, Cementing Their Status as a Restoration Powerhouse TAMARAC, Fla., Sept. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PuroClean, one of the country's leading property restoration and remediation franchises, proudly announces a historic milestone: the signing of the brand's 500th franchise location. This achievement was made possible through the vision and leadership of PuroClean's owners, Chairman & CEO, Mark W. Davis, and Vice Chairman, Frank Torre. Their investments and commitment to elevated systems have paved the way for PuroClean's Leadership and Home Office Support Team to help build a World-Class Brand alongside its Franchise Owners. In just 10 years, the brand has grown from 222 to 500 locations across North America, stretching from Hawaii to Puerto Rico, San Diego to Vancouver, Miami to St. John's, Newfoundland. This exponential growth reflects more than just expansion; it signals real impact: families supported, communities restored, and a higher bar for the PuroClean network and restoration industry. PuroCleans owners, Vice Chairman, Frank Torre and Chairman & CEO, Mark W. Davis, with the 500 location map. (PRNewsfoto/PuroClean) Founded in 2001, the brand has seen incredible growth over the past decade. In 2015, Davis and Torre purchased the company. Under their leadership, the average franchise unit sales has grown by five times, and PuroClean has evolved into one of the fastest-growing restoration franchise companies in North America, a sign of the strength and legacy of the brand. Davis and Torre have invested heavily in infrastructure, training, and above all, people, laying the foundation for a culture of Relentless Customer Service that sets PuroClean apart in the restoration industry. "In 2015, Frank Torre and I didn't just purchase a restoration company; we invested in a movement in the restoration industry where we believe we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of our PuroClean Franchise Owners, their families, the communities that we serve, and all the people in the PuroClean ecosystem," said Davis. Speaking on the brand's recent 500-unit achievement, he added,"we view it more as a milestone on PuroClean's journey towards delivering Relentless Customer Service to more communities across the United States and Canada." With 500 locations, PuroClean joins a small, distinguished circle of franchise brands. Fewer than 4% of franchise systems nationwide ever achieve this milestone, and PuroClean is proud to stand among them. Each locally owned and operated, community-forward franchise is backed by the strength and support of a national brand, giving customers confidence that when disaster strikes, they can rely on a network proven more than 500 times, and counting. "At 500 units, what stands out most isn't just our size, it's our culture. We've built a community where people genuinely care about helping each other succeed," said Tim Courney, Vice President of Franchise Development at PuroClean. "A culture like ours is built with intention, and it starts with finding the right fit. We're focused on a franchise growth strategy that matches the right people to the right opportunity." In 2013, Steve White joined PuroClean as President and COO, and since then, he has helped shape the company's culture into the strong brand it is today. Eight years ago, multi-unit Franchise Owners Keegan Trudgen and Tim Lohse presented a proposal to White that led to the development of the structure for multi-unit ownership. This June, they signed PuroClean's 500th franchise agreement live on stage at the PuroClean Annual International Convention in Grapevine, TX, becoming co-owners of PuroClean of North Knoxville, TN. With 14 locations across the U.S., they are the largest multi-unit ownership group in the PuroClean network. Their achievement reflects what drives PuroClean's success: a dynamic network of hundreds of Franchise Owners who, like Trudgen and Lohse, have helped shape the brand into what it is today. PuroClean's strength lies in its people, its unwavering commitment to local communities, and its ability to empower its Franchise Owners to answer every call with excellence, compassion, and Relentless Customer Service. "Keegan and Tim represent everything this brand stands for: commitment to service, belief in the system, and leadership through action," White said. "Having them sign the 500th franchise at Convention, surrounded by their peers, was one of the most meaningful moments of the event." For more information about PuroClean, call 800-775-7876 or visit www.PuroClean.com. For more information about franchising opportunities, call 800-351-2282 or visit www.PuroCleanFranchise.com. ### About PuroClean PuroClean is a leading, world-class service brand for property water damage remediation, fire and smoke damage mitigation, mold removal, and biohazard clean-up services, working with both residential and commercial customers across the U.S. and Canada. Founded in 2001, PuroClean is a diverse, fast-growing network of over 500 North American franchise locations across the United States and Canada, each independently owned and operated. With a commitment to respond within two hours, the professionals at PuroClean are thoroughly screened, insured, and trained in utilizing the latest cutting-edge mitigation technology to complete the remediation task at hand. SOURCE PuroClean The Resolution Foundation said the 2p switch plan would help to spread the tax take across a wider group in society. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA Rachel Reeves has been urged to take 2p off the rate of employee national insurance and add it to income tax in her autumn budget, to raise billions of pounds while protecting workers pay packets. Putting forward plans to raise up to 30bn, the influential Resolution Foundation thinktank called on the chancellor to level the playing field on how different forms of income are taxed. The organisation, which has close connections with Labour ministers spearheading the budget preparations, urged Reeves to consider a sweeping package of measures to reshape the tax system. In a report that will be closely scrutinised in the Treasury, it said an additional 6bn a year could be raised through a policy to cut employee national insurance by 2p, with a corresponding increase for all income tax bands. This is because income tax applies to a wider group of taxpayers than employee national insurance including pensioners, landlords and self-employed people. Income tax is devolved in Scotland and Wales but the thinktank said it would expect them to follow the approach taken in England and Northern Ireland. While the Resolution Foundation said the 2p switch plan would help to iron out unfairness in the tax system by spreading the tax take across a wider group in society, the policy could put Reeves in danger of breaking Labours manifesto promise not to raise income tax. However, such a policy would leave employee tax rates unchanged, protecting the pay packets of working-age employees. It would also build on national insurance cuts made by the former Conservative chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who argued the system represented an unfair double tax on work. The previous governments 4p cut in national insurance, costing the exchequer 20bn a year, was not matched by an increase in income tax. The intervention comes as Reeves faces intense scrutiny over Labours economic management amid widespread speculation about tax increases in her autumn budget, which is due on 26 November. Economists warn that Labours high-stakes welfare U-turns, elevated borrowing costs and an anticipated productivity downgrade from the Office for Budget Responsibility could leave her with a shortfall against her self-imposed fiscal rules of up to 40bn. Reeves has so far been tight-lipped over the potential for tax increases, preferring to focus on the governments mission to drive up economic growth to help swell the Treasury coffers. Earlier this month she said decisions in her budget would aim to ensure the government had enough money to fund public services, while also seeking to safeguard workers and business investment. Reevess budget planning is being overseen by Torsten Bell, the former Resolution Foundation chief executive who is now the pensions minister. Dan Tomlinson, a former researcher at the thinktank, was promoted in this months reshuffle to become a junior Treasury minister, with responsibility over tax measures at the budget. Calling on the chancellor to use the budget as an opportunity to reshape the UKs 1tn-a-year tax system, the Resolution Foundation said Reeves could set out changes to reduce a bias against employees while raising more from wealthier individuals. Putting forward a 30bn package of proposals, options alongside the switch in income tax included extending the scope of employer national insurance to cover limited liability partnerships, such as big law firms, and taking action to tackle unpaid small-business corporation tax. Other measures included the adoption of a broader sugar and salt tax, a carbon charge for long-haul flights and shipping, and changing vehicle excise duty to account for the road damage, noise and air pollution caused by heavier vehicles. Adam Corlett, a principal economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: These sensible reforms would raise revenue while doing the least possible harm to workers and the wider economy. And by acting decisively, the chancellor can turn her full attention back on to securing stronger economic growth. A Treasury spokesperson said: The chancellor makes tax policy decisions at fiscal events. We do not comment on speculation around future changes to tax policy. Nigel Farage and Zia Yusuf posing with their new policy paper after Mondays press conference - Jordan Pettitt Nigel Farages Reform UK faces a showdown with the EU over massive cuts he has planned to welfare spending. The Reform leader revealed plans on Monday to change the law so that only UK citizens will be eligible for welfare, not foreign nationals, which he claimed could save the taxpayer 230bn. He pledged to abolish indefinite leave to remain (ILR) which entitles migrants to benefits including for those who already have been granted the status. Some 430,000 non-EU citizens currently have ILR, according to Oxford Universitys Migration Observatory. Zia Yusuf, Reforms head of policy, clarified on Monday that the party was not scrapping European settled status, which grants the same rights as ILR for EU citizens to claim benefits. Some 4.12 million EU citizens have successfully applied for settled status in the UK, of which 770,000 are currently claiming universal benefits, according to figures from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). It means migrants with EU settled status account for 9.7 per cent of Universal Credit claimants compared with just 2.7 per cent for non-EU migrants. However, any legislation barring EU migrants from claiming benefits could breach the Brexit withdrawal agreement, which provided for reciprocal welfare payments for EU and British nationals living abroad. If Reform could not renegotiate the deal, it could mean fines and potential trade sanctions. Asked whether the proposals included EU citizens with settled status, Mr Yusuf said: The answer is no in terms of EU settled status but there is a caveat, there are a lot of EU nationals in this country who are drawing on Universal Credit. So you can expect Nigels government to open negotiations with the European Union specifically about the welfare aspect. But as Nigel has said the big issue were talking about here is the non-EU numbers. And by the way even if that 400,000 figure is correct, and we certainly dont recognise that number... Most of the people were talking about here dont yet have ILR. That is the point. Mr Farage argued that the biggest cuts would be delivered by barring an anticipated 800,000 migrants gaining ILR in the next 15 years. They had been granted visas under Boris Johnsons liberal immigration policy which saw net migration peak at 903,000 in the year to June 2023, largely fuelled by a surge in non-EU citizens. The Boris wave betrayal The Reform leader said: In particular what were focusing on this morning is the Boris wave. The Boris wave, after his huge victory in 2019. And I think the millions that came in the years of his premiership, represents the greatest betrayal of democratic wishes certainly in anyones living memory. This is not what Brexit voters wanted, and its certainly not what any Conservative voter wanted from 2010 onwards. He added: Far too many that have come dont work, have never worked and never will work. The ability to bring dependants of all kinds, and when you realise that most that come are very low skilled, and on very low wages, you start to get a very very different picture. In fact, you start to get a massive benefits bill. The 230bn saving was originally calculated by the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), based on its estimates of 800,000 migrants being granted ILR by 2040. It has, however, since said the figure should no longer be used because of changes in the official data underpinning it. Mr Farage stood by his decision to quote the figure, saying he believed the savings would actually be considerably larger. It underestimates things, I suspect many more than 800,000 actually will apply for indefinite leave to remain, plus its quite tough to get all the figures, he said. Reform has proposed replacing ILR with a renewable five-year visa for those who meet certain criteria, designed to bring Britain in line with other countries such as the United Arab Emirates. Those who currently have settled status would be forced to reapply for the new visa. Under the plans, there would be far higher salary thresholds and more stringent limits on bringing spouses and children to the UK. The current skilled worker visa requires people to earn 41,700 per year or the going rate for a particular job, whichever is higher. Under Reforms plans, this is expected to rise to about 60,000, although the precise threshold will be set closer to the general election. The visas will be contingent on not having accessed benefits or other public funds, and there will be stricter rules around requiring migrants to demonstrate good character. This will include ruling out people who commit financial misconduct, tax evasion and other criminal convictions. Mr Farage said Reforms proposals would help wages go up and mean more Britons ended up in skilled jobs. I do repeat the point that mass, unskilled migration has driven in many, many cases, the minimum wage to become the maximum wage, he said. Under our proposals, would pay go up? Yes, it would go up a bit, and I think thats a good thing, not a bad thing. Would our proposals help train British people for jobs? It would. The party proposes an Acute Skills Shortage Visa, which would allow firms facing severe shortages, such as social care, to recruit abroad but they would have to train up a British worker for every one brought in from overseas. Reeves calls plans gimmicks Responding to Reforms announcement, Labour said it was not credible if EU citizens were excluded and was meaningless unless the EU was prepared to renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: The numbers that Reform have come out with overnight have already begun to disassembleSimple gimmicks like those put forward by Reform that have no basis in reality and where the numbers just fall apart thats not the way to tackle a very serious issue, and this Labour Government are getting on and doing that. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused Reform of copying Conservative ideas and called the policy half-baked and unworkable. He said: They lift our policies but strip away the detail that makes them enforceable. Mass low-skill migration carries real fiscal costs in housing, welfare, and public services which is why Britain needs a system that rewards contribution and stops abuse. Thanks for joining Thank you for joining The Telegraphs live coverage of Nigel Farages major announcement on welfare and migration. The Reform UK leader revealed plans on Monday morning to change the law so only UK citizens will be eligible for welfare, not foreign nationals, which he claimed could save the taxpayer 230 billion. He pledged to abolish indefinite leave to remain (ILR) - which entitles migrants to benefits - including for those who already have been granted the status. Mr Farage and Zia Yusuf, Reforms head of policy, doubled down on the 230 billion figure despite the Centre for Policy Studies, which first cited it earlier this year, saying it should no longer be used and a new, more accurate figure was on its way. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: The numbers that Reform have come out with overnight have already begun to disassemble Simple gimmicks like those put forward by Reform that have no basis in reality and where the numbers just fall apart - thats not the way to tackle a very serious issue, and this Labour Government are getting on and doing that. Farage all anger, no answers, says minister A Home Office minister accused Nigel Farage of offering all anger, no answers. Mike Tapp, who was promoted to Sir Keir Starmers frontbench team this month, said: Reforms big plan is nothing but a cut-and-paste of Labours detailed immigration White Paper, except without the costings, answers or credibility. Farage cant say how it works, the numbers are disowned, and the policy unravels in real time. All anger, no answers. Starmer must be bold and cut runaway welfare spending Last week, both the good and bad sides of Britains economic situation were on display. Our future hinges on which of these comes to dominate, writes Roger Bootle. The good was undoubtedly the agreement between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump on a US-UK tech alliance, which secured $150bn (111bn) of American investment in AI and advanced technology. This seems to be in direct response to the UKs accommodating regulatory regime for AI, in contrast to the EUs restrictive approach. This represents a clear benefit from Brexit. Naturally, there are quibbles about whether the deal is quite what it seems. Nevertheless, the confidence of major American corporate leaders in the UK was striking. Jensen Huang, head of the chip company Nvidia, said: The UK is going to be an AI superpower. Mind you, we need to put massive sums into perspective. The 150bn promise, which will presumably be spread over a number of years, amounts to about five per cent of our annual GDP. This happens to be just about the size of last years Budget deficit, and is about half of what we spend on welfare every year. Roger Bootle: Labour must take bold measures to secure re-election Khan hits out at Farages plan to scrap indefinite leave to remain Sadiq Khan has hit out at Nigel Farages latest plans to scrap indefinite leave to remain (ILR), writes our Political Correspondent Genevieve Holl-Allen. The Labour Mayor of London said that it was unacceptable for Reform UK to threaten to deport people living and working here legally. Thousands of Londoners have indefinite leave to remain. They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city. Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.https://t.co/9eg7zATaH5 Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) September 22, 2025 Mr Farage replied: What about the ones that arent working? What about the ones that have never worked and never will work? What about having an honest debate about those weve let into this country, many of whom are great people? Fine, we understand that, but too many of whom are not. Weve totally misunderstood what a work permit, what a work visa is. Its been a back door to full-time settlement. And look, we will do battle with Mayor Khan in the 32 London boroughs that are up for election next May. Farage: No benefits for non-British citizens Welfare will be for British citizens only. pic.twitter.com/5KT0lFVk8t Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) September 22, 2025 Farages plan falling apart in real time, claims Labour The Labour Party chairman has called Nigel Farages welfare plan unfunded, unworkable and falling apart in real time. Anna Turley said: Their policy was in pieces before their press conference even started when they relied on discredited numbers. And now Reform have been forced to admit that their policy does not apply to people from the EU, destroying Farages claims that it covers all foreign-born nationals. Farage is unable to say how many families his policy would break up, what the cost to businesses would be, what would happen to pensioners and how long it would take to implement basic questions that any serious political party would know the answers to before making an announcement like this. Theyre just not serious. Yet again theyre chasing headlines with no plan. Its just more of the dont know answers the British public has come to expect from Farage and Reform. Pro-EU campaigners: Reforms plans are unconscionably cruel Pro-European campaigners have claimed Reform UKs planned changes to the welfare system are unconscionably cruel. Naomi Smith, the chief executive of Best for Britain, said:You only have to look to the US to see how this kind of policy can play out where masked gangs are abducting people in the street and tearing families apart. Reforms Trump-style plan to deport thousands of people from the UK who have the legal right to be here, and who even may have been here for decades, would not only be economically devastating but unconscionably cruel. Tories: Reforms ideas are an unworkable version of our own The Conservatives have accused Reform UK of copying their ideas in a half-baked and unworkable way. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: Reform UK are once again copying Conservative ideas, but in a way that is half-baked and unworkable. They lift our policies but strip away the detail that makes them enforceable. Mass low-skill migration carries real fiscal costs in housing, welfare, and public services which is why Britain needs a system that rewards contribution and stops abuse. Reform dont do the hard work. They are a one-man band with no experience of government, and their reckless, Left-wing economics mean more debt, more spending, more tax. Mr Philp said the Tories had tabled detailed amendments in Parliament to amend indefinite leave to remain, adding: We will double the residency requirement for Indefinite Leave to Remain to ten years, make ILR conditional on genuine economic contribution, block ILR for anyone with a criminal record, ensure there is no access to benefits pre-ILR. And we will go further, we will end automatic citizenship routes, impose a hard, legally binding cap on annual legal migration set by Parliament, and ensure temporary work visas are not renewed if people are unemployed or in low-paid work. Tough, fair, enforceable, and deliverable. No 10: Farage and Reform are trying to foster division Sir Keir Starmers political spokeswoman said Reform UK had no interest in tackling the issues facing the country but just sought to foster division, writes Daniel Martin. The Prime Ministers press secretary said: Every week Nigel Farage sets out unrealistic, unworkable and unfunded plans. Youve heard the Prime Minister talk about the politics of grievance that Reform thrives on. Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire They dont want to tackle the issues facing the country, they want to foster division. She said Sir Keir believes the country is at a crossroads between national renewal and the path of division and decline which Reform wants to put the country on. Lee Anderson: Britain is a food bank for the world Lee Anderson said Britain has become a food bank for the world under successive Labour and Conservative governments. Reform UKs welfare spokesman warned the benefit system was a complete con and promised to slash the costs facing taxpayers. In an article for the Express, Mr Anderson said: The Tories and Labour have turned Britain into a food bank for the world at the expense of our own people. Instead of supporting Brits, successive governments have instead spent billions supporting migrants. There are no better examples than the most recent Boriswave, where former prime minister Boris Johnson, despite his tough rhetoric on immigration, betrayed the electorate and welcomed record numbers of migrants into this country. Mr Anderson added: This complete con of our system must end. Only Reform will address this head-on by slashing the welfare bill. The plan we have announced, which will save British taxpayers 230bn, is just the beginning. Labour MP claims that Farages policy is racist A Labour MP has shared a claim that Nigel Farages plan to scrap welfare for foreign nationals is racist. Natasha Irons, the MP for Croydon East, shared a post by the columnist Andrew Fisher on X that said: Understand what this means. I work alongside a foreign national. We do the same job side by side for five years. We pay the same income tax and National Insurance. We get made redundant. I can claim unemployment benefit. My former colleague cannot. This is racist. Analysis: Farage seeks to pin the blame on Johnson The current political moment is a world away from Nigel Farage standing down hundreds of Brexit Party candidates at the 2019 general election to enable Boris Johnsons Conservatives to win an 80-seat majority. Mr Johnson may have got Brexit done as promised during that years campaign but Mr Farage considers the former prime ministers track record on legal migration the ultimate betrayal. Net migration hit a record high of more than 900,000 on Mr Johnsons watch and the Reform leader used his press conference to repeatedly refer to the Boriswave of 3.8 million people who moved to the UK after Brexit under more relaxed rules. The focus on the Conservative record on migration is likely to further toxify the partys brand and raises questions about how Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, will respond. Mrs Badenoch has already distanced herself from her partys past failings. Immigration remains top of the publics concerns and this was another forthright press conference from Mr Farage and Zia Yusuf, his head of policy. The challenge for any Reform government would, of course, be not disappointing their voters in the same way. No exceptions for Ukrainians or Hong Kongers, says Farage Nigel Farage was asked about how many businesses could close under his plans. He said there had been a productivity disaster for this country in the age of mass migration, adding: It has led to a change of culture that has been ruinous. Challenged on whether indefinite leave to remain would be revoked from Hong Kongers or Ukrainians, Mr Farage replied: Eight hundred thousand people are due to qualify for indefinite leave to remain over the course of the next few years. This press conference is to say none of them will get it. Thank you. Farage defends claim most migrants rely on benefits Asked by a Financial Times journalist about his claim that most migrants rely on benefits, Nigel Farage replied: We are firmly of the belief, with research backing it up, that just over 50 per cent of those who are coming up as part of the Boriswave as part of indefinite leave to remain are not working, have not worked and in all probability will never, ever work. And by the way if you want to challenge what Ive just said, ask the British Government for the numbers because weve trying for quite a long time and failed. Maybe with the might and power of the Financial Times you can get a straight answer. Yusuf: Farages plan wont apply to EU settled status citizens Nigel Farage was asked by The Telegraphs Charles Hymas whether the proposals included EU settled status citizens, or whether it was only for 400,000 non-EU citizens, and the implications for renegotiating the EU withdrawal agreement. Mr Farage was also asked whether he would deal with opposition from the House of Lords by abolishing it. He replied: Its a good question, but youre looking for the right answer, arent you? But no, we might if we faced that problem just have to appoint a few more peers. But well leave Danny Kruger to work out all of those issues. Zia Yusuf said: We think the numbers materially higher than that so that would be a guesstimate. The answer is no in terms of EU settled status but there is a caveat, there are a lot of EU nationals in this country who are drawing on Universal Credit. So you can expect Nigels government to open negotiations with the European Union specifically about the welfare aspect. But as Nigel has said the big issue were talking about here is the non-EU numbers. And by the way even if that 400,000 figure is correct, and we certainly dont recognise that number... Most of the people were talking about here dont yet have ILR. That is the point. Welfare system in a ridiculous state, declares Reform leader Nigel Farage told Mondays press conference: Its ridiculous that another 1,000 people a week are going onto long-term sickness disability benefits and frankly being written off and told theyre a victim. Its not good for them either. Mr Farage said one million people in work would be better off financially if they were out of work, calling it proof of a terrible poverty trap. This is why, and this is an aspiration we cant do in our first year, this will take time, but this our ultimate aspiration would be to raise the 20,000 threshold at which people currently start paying tax. Mr Farage decried the myth that everyone who came to the UK works hard. Nigel Farage insists he will not let voters down on migration Nigel Farage was asked if he was bound to disappoint voters because of the scale of his ambition. He replied: I understand were aiming to high, I understand were ambitious. We need to be. The countrys in dire trouble, dire trouble economically, dire trouble socially. Lets put it to you like this. Theres nothing were proposing that we dont think is doable. And the primary purpose of todays press conference is to make sure that the Boriswave do not qualify for ILR, are not able to bring dependants, do not qualify for benefits. Otherwise the cost to the welfare system in the next five to 10 years will send us under economically. We are a fair-minded country and want skilled migrants, says Farage Nigel Farage said Reforms proposals would help wages go up and mean more Britons ended up in skilled jobs. He said the systems were reflective of a fair-minded country but more than half of those arriving in the country were a drain on taxpayers. Mr Farage continued: We are not against skilled immigration into Britain. Of course we want this, we want bright people coming in, we want people contributing into our society... Net financially if you look at productivity, and many other measures and de-skilling the British workforce, its been a net loss. Zia Yusuf added: If were serious about saying were going to cut net immigration to zero, were going to embark on deporting people who are here illegally. We are going to stop the abuse of our welfare system. Yes, there will be some businesses who do have to pay more for that labour. Farage downplays danger of legal challenges Nigel Farage downplayed the idea of legal challenges to Reform UKs plans to block foreign nationals claiming benefits. Of course having cut out the Human Rights Act, the European Court in Strasbourg, British courts will be free to make judgments which are the right judgments, which theyre not at the moment. We are not for a minute pretending that going back through the backlog is going to be an easy thing to do. It will be complex, itll come in many forms, but we do intend to address it. Zia Yusuf added that there would be legal challenges to Nigels agenda but insisted Reform would act quickly to change the law, saying: To the extent there are legal challenges, Nigels government will win them. Yusuf: Tories are firefighters turning up to their own arson Zia Yusuf accused the Tories of turning up as firefighters to their own arson, saying the Boriswave of legal migration under the Tories will not happen under a Reform government. He added: There are people who go back to this country and contribute [...] My mother has worked in care homes for years, still works in care homes to this day and shes over 70. And I will tell you this, inside care homes no-one is more aware of the widespread atrocious abuse of the care home visa system that has happened over the past few years. Farage: There has been no proper debate about legal migration Nigel Farage said the Channel crisis was visible and there for all to see, adding: The issues become a very big national issue and people are worried as we saw with the Bell hotel in Epping. Theyre worried about crime, theyre worried about national security. There has not been a proper debate on legal immigration because all the so-called main political parties have agreed. Both Labour and Conservative governments have been happy to have open-door migration [...] That is why weve not had a proper, full national debate about this. What we are attempting to do today is to make people realise that large-scale migration into Britain where 50 per cent of those who come at least will never work and live off the state is actually making this country substantially poorer. Weve got to have that debate. Quite how Labour and the Conservatives will defend themselves against this, I dont know. Mr Farage then appeared to apologise to Zia Yusuf after he called the next question before Mr Yusuf could say anything. Yusuf: 234bn figure likely to be way too low Zia Yusuf said the 234 billion figure was in fact likely to be way too low. He explained: That makes assumptions about the take-up of ILR that are based on historic data. That historic data was when EU nationals were the majority of the incoming net legal migration cohorts. This has flipped completely on its head. So even that would suggest that the assumption of 234 billion is way too low [...] I want to emphasise again the magnitude of this looming fiscal disaster is huge. Reform will solve the problem. Nigel Farage and Mr Yusuf were asked to withdraw the 234 billion figure after the statement by the Centre for Policy Studies. Mr Farage said: The 230 billion figure as Zia has just said without doubt is too low. I suspect that many more than 800,000 actually will apply for leave for remain, plus its quite tough to get all the figures. And if you go back to those who have already been granted indefinite leave to remain, without doubt the number is definitely bigger. Zia Yusuf: We will introduce new acute skills shortage visa Reform would introduce a new acute skills shortage visa with a strict cap on numbers, Zia Yusuf has said. He added: Any employer that is sponsoring via this visa will have to pay a levy that is in turn spent on training the equivalent British worker for that role. Mr Yusuf said national critical functions would be filled in the near term but it would build native British capacity in the long term. [Our policies] can be summed up by the statement that a Reform government under Nigel expects migrants to more than pay their way, not commit crime and ultimately to speak English and contribute to this country. Reform to replace indefinite leave to remain with five-year work visa Zia Yusuf, Reform UKs head of policy, said the Boriswave of net migration under the Tories was the biggest betrayal of previous governments but had not yet exploded. He added: For decades now in this country, business has had access to dirt-cheap foreign labour at the expense of British workers. Mr Yusuf said indefinite leave to remain would be replaced with a five-year qualifying work visa, with a far higher salary threshold to be determined nearer the time of the next general election. The Reform policy tsar added that new arrivals would not be allowed to have criminal convictions, while there would be new legislation to ensure foreign nationals could not claim welfare as well as a new English standards test. We have to make these changes, Mr Yusuf said. Its the only way to prevent Britain frankly going bankrupt many times over as a result of these issues. Britain is not the worlds food bank, insists Farage Nigel Farage said: You come on a work visa. You cant bring a dependant with you, you cant claim benefits and of course therell be a route to citizenship but a much tougher route to citizenship than we currently have. Like I say, we will become like normal countries all over the world. And its vital that we do this and its vital that we get it right. This is grossly unfair on taxpayers. They are being absolutely hammered to pay for people who are not British citizens. He added: We are not the worlds food bank. It is not for us to provide welfare for people coming in from all over the world. The 800,000 people that will get indefinite leave to remain unless this policy is revoked tend to be young, they tend to be low-skilled. They are going to be a huge burden on the state. Well laugh and carry on Mr Farage said: We will not only say that these people do not qualify for indefinite leave to remain, we will abolish indefinite leave to remain as a category in this country. As he went to continue his speech, the Reform UK banner on his lectern fell onto the ground, catching him off guard. He said: Oh dear, thats not very good, is it? Well, things go wrong, hey. Well laugh and carry on. Nigel Farage Farage stands by 230bn figure Nigel Farage said the anticipated cost of the 800,000-plus people who will qualify for leave to remain in the next three years was 230 billion, an absolutely eye-watering sum of money. The Reform leader is standing by the figure despite the Centre for Policy Studies, the initial source of the claim, saying it should not be used. Farage hits out at Johnson on record legal migration Nigel Farage has hit out at Boris Johnsons record on legal migration. Under a Reform government welfare will be for UK citizens only, it will not be for foreign-born nationals. Indeed well become like most normal countries in the world. And in particular what were focusing on is the Boriswave. The Boriswave after his huge victory in 2019, and I think the millions that came in the years of his premiership represents the greatest betrayal of democratic wishes certainly in anyones living memory. This is not what Brexit voters wanted and it is certainly not what any Conservative voter from 2010 onwards wanted. Farage: Were here to make massive future cuts to welfare spending Nigel Farage has opened todays Reform press conference, saying: We have spoken a lot about illegal immigration, we have spoken a lot about whats happening in the Channel. And the public are very, very focused on illegal immigration because of the scale of it, the unfairness of it and of course the repeated promises that successive governments make that theyll do anything worthwhile to deal with it. Three have been returned by the Government, a great victory, three have been returned to France and that was announced on the day that 1,050 came in. But theres been too little debate about legal immigration, too little debate about the consequences of what happened [...] For 20 years, Ive been asking questions about the sheer number of people coming into this country, the impact that its had on housing, on health, on roads. Nigel Farage But Ive been told for 20 years to shut up and go away, because its good for the economy and that is all that matters. Well, quite how you measure quality of life against the economy I dont know. But now were beginning to learn the truth, that simply what weve been told on this wasnt true. Far too many who come dont work, have never worked, and never will work, the ability to bring dependants of all kinds. And when you start to realise that most of those who come are very low-skilled and on very low wages, you start to get a very, very different picture. In fact, you start to get a massive benefits bill [...] We are here to make massive future cuts to welfare spending. Esther McVey: Im not defecting to Reform Esther McVey has denied rumours that she will become the next high-profile Tory to defect to Reform. Asked whether she had joined Nigel Farages party, Mrs McVey told The Telegraph: No I havent. The former work and pensions secretary was said to have planned to follow Danny Kruger in leaving the Tories for the insurgent party. Reform continues to enjoy comfortable poll lead Reform UKs focus on immigration and criticism of both Labour and the Conservatives have contributed to its consistent poll lead over the traditional two major parties. Nigel Farages party is now polling at 31 per cent, with Labour on 20.5 per cent, down by more than 13 percentage points on the general election, and the Conservatives on 17.6 per cent. Zia Yusuf: Britain is going broke, and may soon face catastrophe Britain stands at a crossroads. Our nation is proud, resourceful, and resilient, but we have been suffocated by a political class that continues to betray the British people, writes Reform UKs head of policy Zia Yusuf. For too long, the Tories and Labour have rolled out the red carpet for mass unskilled immigration, turning Britain into a food bank for the world Britain is going broke. Last year, the British taxpayer spent 266 billion on welfare. 52 billion of that went on Universal Credit. Of that, almost 9 billion went to foreign nationals. One in six people on Universal Credit is a foreign national. The Tories and Labour have turned Britain into a food bank for the world, at the expense of our own people. This is about to become catastrophic. Between 2026 and 2030, thanks to the Boriswave, 800,000 new migrants are estimated to get ILR. About half of all of them will never work, ever. And yet, every single one of them will have full access to our bloated welfare state for life. The Boriswave is not made up of scientists, entrepreneurs, and doctors. Sixty per cent of the Boriswave are low-skilled immigrants who, once theyve gained ILR, will bring further family members and dependants along with them. You can read Zia Yusufs full op-ed here Row erupts over Yusufs 234bn figure Zia Yusuf, Reforms head of policy, claimed last night that stopping foreign nationals from accessing the British welfare system would save 234 billion over the lifetime of the average migrant. In an article for The Telegraph, Mr Yusuf said: The Boriswave the millions of unskilled, non-EU migrants they imported will cost the taxpayer at least 234 billion, according to the Centre for Policy Studies. But in a statement this morning, the Centre for Policy Studies said: After the CPS report was published, the Office for Budget Responsibility revised their definitions of some of the fiscal data contained within our report, meaning that the overall cost estimates should no longer be used. The CPS has been in communication with the OBR and other experts for clarity and will be publishing an updated estimate in due course. A Labour source said: Farages not even half-baked announcement has already fallen apart. Yet again, Reform have no credible plan and their only answer is dont know. Farage to hold major press conference on migration Nigel Farage will pledge to eject hundreds of thousands of legal migrants in an unprecedented reversal of Britains relaxed border rules. In a press conference at 11am, the Reform UK leader will unveil plans to force all migrants with permanent residency to reapply for visas under stricter criteria including a higher salary requirement and a better standard of English. The party would also change the law to prevent foreign nationals from accessing the British welfare system. The party claims this would save 234 billion over the lifetime of the average migrant, although a row is already brewing over this figure. Mr Farage will be joined by Zia Yusuf, Reforms head of policy, who will set out more details of the changes. Russias incursion into Estonian airspace was condemned as reckless and provocative by senior world leaders on Monday as the UN Security Council gathered in New York for an emergency meeting. The urgent session was called after multiple incursions by Moscow into European airspace, including the entry of Russian fighter jets over Estonia for 12 minutes on Friday. Representatives slammed Russia for choosing escalation and provocation in what they deemed a threat to global peace and security. Moscow strongly refuted the allegations, claiming they had been portrayed as an enemy with no facts or evidence and that Europe was letting its imagination run wild in relation to the threat from Russia. But foreign secretary Yvette Cooper warned Russia that its incursions into Nato territory risked a direct armed conflict and that the alliance would be ready to confront warplanes entering Nato airspace. A Russian MiG-31 fighter jet that allegedly took part in the violation of Estonian airspace (Swedish Armed forces) Your reckless actions risk direct armed confrontation between Nato and Russia, she told the meeting. Our alliance is defensive but be under no illusion we stand ready to defend Natos skies and Natos territory. Her comments were backed by US representative Michael Waltz, who said the country would defend every inch of Nato territory. But Russias representative to the UN Security Council, Dmitry Polyanskiy, used his statement to accuse European leaders of Russophobia and of levying baseless accusations. We wont be partaking in this theatre of the absurd, he said. When you decide that you want to engage in a serious discussion about European security, about the fate of our common continent, about how to make this continent prosperous and secure for everybody, well be ready. Just hours before the meeting, Putin offered US president Donald Trump an extension to a nuclear deal limiting the arsenals of both countries. Their current agreement, which caps the number of deployed warheads at 1,550 on each side, is due to expire on 5 February. The proposed extension of one year would give Washington and Moscow more time to negotiate next steps, and comes as Mr Trump told reporters he would defend Poland if Russia attacks. The United Nations Security Council gathered on Monday afternoon (AP) In a televised statement, the Russian president said the termination of the 2010 New START nuclear pact would be destabilising and could fuel the proliferation of nuclear weapons. To avoid provoking a further strategic arms race and to ensure an acceptable level of predictability and restraint, we believe it is justified to try to maintain the status quo established by the New START Treaty during the current, rather turbulent period, he said. Therefore, Russia is prepared to keep adhering to the central quantitative limitations of the New START Treaty for one year after 5 February 2026." He urged the US to follow suit, adding the measure would only be viable if the US agreed to act in a similar manner. Washington has not yet commented on the proposal, but when asked in July about the looming expiration of the New START, Mr Trump noted that is a big problem for the world, when you take off nuclear restrictions. Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of his Security Council on Monday (Sputnik) Mondays meeting marks the second gathering of the UN Security Council in as many weeks after a similar meeting was called following the incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace. Speaking at the session, EU chief Kaja Kallas said the multiple violations of European airspaces could not be considered an accident: Instead, we see a pattern. Russia is testing European borders, probing our resolve, and undermining the security of the whole of Europe. It comes as world leaders gather in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The war in Ukraine, among conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, is expected to be a major topic of discussion at the summit. Sadiq Khan has slammed Reform UK proposals to end the rights of migrants to apply for permanent British residency after five years and restrict their access to benefits. The Mayor of London described the move as "unacceptable" and said it would impact "thousands" of people living in the capital who are "contributing hugely to our city". Nigel Farage today announced that his party would abolish indefinite leave to remain (ILR), for which migrants can currently apply after five years, and force them to renew their visas instead. Immigrants would also not have access to the welfare state under a Reform government, the party leader said on Monday. Sir Sadiq said: Thousands of Londoners have indefinite leave to remain. They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city. Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable. During a press conference in London on Monday morning, Mr Farage said Reform UK will make "massive cuts" to welfare spending, under its new plans to ban access to benefits to migrants and get rid of indefinite leave to remain. He responded to the Mayor of Londons comments by saying his party would do battle with Sir Sadiq at the local elections in the city next May. What about the [immigrants] that have never worked, and never will work, Mr Farage added. What about having an honest debate about those weve let into this country, many ofwhom are great people, fine, we understand that, but too many of whom are not. We have totally misunderstood what a work permit, what a work visa is, it's been a back door to full time settlement. He referred to the numbers of migrants who came when Boris Johnson was prime minister, saying the figures represented the "greatest betrayal of democratic wishes certainly in anyone's living memory". "Far too many that have come don't work, have never worked and never will work," Mr Farage said. "The ability to bring dependents of all kinds, and when you realise that most that come are very low skilled, and on very low wages, you start to get a very very different picture. In fact, you start to get a massive benefits bill." He added: "In particular what we're focusing on this morning is the 'Boris wave'. The Boris wave, after his huge victory in 2019. "And I think the millions that came in the years of his premiership, represents the greatest betrayal of democratic wishes certainly in anyone's living memory. "This is not what Brexit voters wanted, and it's certainly not what any Conservative voter wanted from 2010 onwards. "Where at an election, after an election, after an election, they were promised that net migration would come down to tens of thousands a year, and we learn it was up to - in the worst year - a million." Six-month-old Rory Fletcher is on the urgent heart transplant waiting list (PA Media) The parents of six-month-old Rory Fletcher have issued a desperate plea for a heart donation. The baby girl suffers from dilated cardiomyopathy, which means her heart does not pump blood properly, and remains on the urgent transplant waiting list after spending every day of her life in intensive care. Currently in intensive care at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, she is sustained by a mechanical heart pump while her parents, Becks and Toby, await a donor. This comes as the UK transplant waiting list hits record levels, with 8,000 people awaiting life-saving procedures. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) figures also show deceased organ donors fell by two per cent last year. But the family, from Knutsford in Cheshire, have not given up hope. Baby Rory, aged six months, is on the urgent heart transplant waiting list (NHSBT/PA) We know Rory is one of the smallest children on the transplant waiting list, which means she is not competing against others but on the other hand not many organs are donated from babies, so there are less hearts available in her size, said her 31-year-old mother. We would just be so grateful to the donor family if she had a transplant. Its a horrible situation for anyone that loses a child, and not one you ever want to think about. But I try to think of it that, if you can come away and turn something negative into something positive for another family, why wouldnt you? It would mean everything to us. Ms Fletcher, a public relations director, said she had the smoothest of pregnancies before giving birth by C-section, adding: As soon as she was born it was clear something was wrong. We didnt know if we were expecting a girl or a boy, and by the time theyd announced she was a girl, shed turned blue and was whisked away by the nurses. Now, I am in ICU with her pretty much all day, every day. Toby has had to go back to work, but he visits as much as he can around that. It has just totally blown our world apart. More than 12,000 people in the UK have died or been removed from the transplant waiting list over the past 10 years before receiving the lifesaving organs they needed, NHSBT said on Monday. But over the same period of time, more than 44,000 lives have also been saved or improved through deceased and living donor organ transplants. Organ Donation Week starts soon. Follow @NHSOrganDonor to learn more about why you should become an organ donor and save up to 9 lives. Share this post and let's spark that conversation about how organ donation changes lives. #OrganDonation #OrganDonationWeek2025 #ODW25 pic.twitter.com/n5gSQEND7k NHS Blood+Transplant (@NHSBT) September 15, 2025 For baby Rory, it would mean being able to start living a normal life, her mother said. To get a heart and take Rory home would just be incredible, her mother said. At this point, wed love to just have any glimpse of a normal life taking her on a walk out of the hospital, picking her up without worrying about machines and wires, even just hearing her laugh or cry. There are so many milestones and normal things weve never experienced. On average, more than three people a day died or became too ill for a transplant in the UK over the past decade, NHSBT figures have also shown. For Lauren Cullinanes mother Helen, the call sadly never came in time as she died in 2018 after spending three years on the waiting list for a double lung transplant. Helen had been diagnosed with sarcoidosis a rare autoimmune condition that causes small patches of inflamed tissue to develop in the bodys organs. Her daughter Lauren, 39, from Sutton in Surrey, said the wait for a donation was like being always in limbo. Helen Cullinane, who died in 2018 after spending three years on the heart transplant list (PA) Mum never complained though, she added. She had good days and bad days, often struggling to breathe and was on oxygen 24/7. Eventually walking became hard for her and she often had to use a mobility scooter to get around, but she didnt let it bother her. She was always so full of life and was the glue that held our little family together. Ms Cullinane had been diagnosed with sarcoidosis - a rare autoimmune condition that causes small patches of inflamed tissue to develop in the bodys organs (PA) Helen had to be taken off the transplant waiting list after she developed a chest infection and was deemed too unwell to receive a transplant. Lauren said: Luckily, we were with her when she died and her last words to us were Im so sorry about all this. That was my mum selfless and brave, right to the end. I miss her every day, and I so wish she could have had the chance to get the transplant she so desperately needed and deserved but it wasnt meant to be. She added: Our emotions struggled knowing that for mum to receive her gift of life, someone else would need to go through the heartbreak of losing someone they love, but I often wonder if mum would still be with us today if more people had had that difficult discussion with their loved ones, and signed the organ donation register. To mark Organ Donation Week starting on Monday, NHSBT has urged people to confirm their decision to be an organ donor on the NHS Organ Donor Register. Someone will die today waiting for an organ transplant, said Anthony Clarkson, director of organ donation and transplantation at NHSBT. Its really concerning to see the numbers of people waiting for a transplant slowly rising and people are dying needlessly every day because of the shortage of organs for transplant. You are more likely to need a transplant than you ever are to be a donor and most of us would accept an organ if we needed one but far fewer of us have made the decision to donate. We really need people who want to be a donor after they die to make it clear to their families and encourage them to support that decision. People are far more likely to support donation when they know its what their relative wanted. We thought we'd answer some of your most commonly asked questions ahead of #OrganDonationWeek next week. Confirming your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register is the best thing you'll do today.#ODW25 #OrganDonation pic.twitter.com/935d8PZprc NHS Organ Donation (@NHSOrganDonor) September 19, 2025 I would urge everyone who supports organ donation to register their decision and make it clear that its what you want should the worst happen. It only takes two minutes to register but it could save the lives of people who so desperately need a transplant. Its the best thing youll do today. Last year, 173 families overruled their relatives registered or expressed decision to donate, NHSBT said on Monday. In a further 520 cases, families did not support donation where the law presumes consent meaning their loved one had not registered to opt out but also had not expressed any decision. A child waves a Palestinian flag as he walks on the rubble - Eyad Baba/Getty Images Sir Keir Starmer will tell Palestinian officials they must stop paying the families of terrorists before Britain can open full diplomatic relations. The Prime Minister is facing a backlash over his decision to formally recognise Palestine, a move that threatens ties with Israel and the US. Sir Keir will now insist that the Palestinian Authority ends its pay to slay policy of handing out stipends to the families of martyrs killed or detained for attacks on Israelis. The demand was part of a series of required reforms before any two-state solution is finalised, sources said. The plan includes an overhaul of school textbooks deemed anti-Semitic and fresh elections before Britain opens a Palestinian embassy in east Jerusalem or signs international treaties. Credit: @Keir_Starmer / X On Monday Israel was considering closing French consulates in Jerusalem in retaliation for Emmanuel Macron recognising Palestine as a state at the United Nations. Sources said Israel was focusing its retribution on France for now, which has been leading the international effort. Pro-Palestine protests spread to Italy on Monday, after Giorgia Meloni refused to follow France, Britain and others in recognising the occupied territories. Sir Keirs move, Britains biggest foreign policy shift in decades, was condemned by the United States and the families of Israeli hostages. Donald Trump is expected to air his concerns at his UN speech on Tuesday. Israel, meanwhile, said British Jews would never forgive the Labour Party for the Prime Ministers decision. The Telegraph understands that British officials are working with their French counterparts to present a series of financial and political demands to the Palestinian Authority as part of the wider work on a two-state solution. Top of the list is the abolishment of the so-called pay for slay scheme, which handed stipends to prisoners in Israeli jails and welfare payments to the families of Palestinians killed by Israel during political violence. Critics claim it provided an incentive for Palestinians to take up arms against Israel. Protesters burn an Israeli flag during a demonstration in Milan - Mourad Balti/Shutterstock Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, has told Mr Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that the scheme will be ended by decree. Sources said Mr Abbas would also be put under pressure to drive through reforms to the Palestinian school curriculum in an effort to placate Israeli concerns over anti-Semitism. The Jewish state has long voiced fears that textbooks are used to promote incitement through anti-Semitic content and imagery The third demand placed on the Western-empowered Palestinian Authority is for it to see through promised political reforms, including holding elections. This includes ensuring that Hamas, the terrorist group behind the October 7 atrocities, has no future role in Palestines leadership. A Western official described the demands as tangible, verifiable, measurable commitments to test whether the Palestinian Authority could oversee genuine statehood. Britain and France are working alongside Australia, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Portugal and Malta to push through the plans. Multiple sources said the countries were in agreement that before further discussions over statehood, there had to be an immediate ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages by Hamas. Sir Keir opted not to travel to New York for the meeting to mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. At the meeting, Mr Macron is expected to deliver a speech setting out Frances plan to recognise Palestine. Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, said he would explore de-recognising Palestine if elected prime minister at the next general election. I think Starmer was completely wrong to do that, you cant reward terrorists like Hamas, he said. The Conservatives have accused Sir Keir Starmer of rewarding terrorism by recognising Palestinian statehood. Husam Zomlot, the ambassador of the state of Palestine to the United Kingdom, lifts the new plaque of his embassy - Leon Neal/Getty Matt Vickers, the deputy Tory chairman, told BBC Breakfast: At this point in time we should be working with the US, we should be doing what we can to get those hostages home, those hostages who have been held in captivity for almost two years in the most awful of circumstances. Meanwhile, the US dismissed the recognition of Palestine by its allies as performative. A US state department spokesman said: Our focus remains on serious diplomacy, not performative gestures. Our priorities are clear: the release of the hostages, the security of Israel, and peace and prosperity for the entire region that is only possible free from Hamas. Hamas fighters stand guard during a handover of Israeli hostages in Gaza - Mohamed Saber/Shutterstock Some members of the Labour Government poured cold water on the decision, arguing it would have little immediate impact on the war in Gaza. Hamish Falconer, the Middle East minister, warned: We need a better way Israelis including a hostage family need a better way. The better way is to have a ceasefire, to have a framework for peace, to get from where we are to a moderate Palestinian state which is demilitarised, which is no threat to Israel. Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, warned Israel on Monday not to retaliate against the recognition of Palestine by annexing more of the West Bank, as a full-blown diplomatic row threatened to break out. The Foreign Secretary told the UN the decision to recognise Palestine reflects a grave reality. It was born of urgency and principle, she said, and the pathway being set out is the opposite of Hamass hateful vision. Ms Cooper also stressed that there can be no role for the terrorist group in the future governance of Palestine, and that recognition would come alongside unwavering support for Israels security. Meanwhile Israel indicated it could expel diplomats and close embassies and consulates belonging to countries opting for recognition. Two Israeli sources said the Jewish state was considering closing Frances consulate general in Jerusalem, as they identified Mr Macron as the international ringleader for the effort. In an interview from New York, Ms Cooper said Britain would not seek to open an embassy to Palestine but invited the Palestinian Authority to nominate an ambassador to London. And in a warning to Israel not to encroach further into the West Bank, the Foreign Secretary said: We have been clear, and I have been clear to the Israeli foreign minister: we have been clear to the Israeli government that they must not do that. She added: Its about protecting peace and justice and, crucially, security for the Middle East. Steve Bannon, Donald Trumps former chief strategist, has rekindled his vendetta against Elon Musk, saying he should be deported, after the president was seen shaking hands with the tech entrepreneur at Charlie Kirks memorial. Bannon, 71, said he wants to toss out Musk and send him back to South Africa the country of his birth adding that Musk's living in the U.S. was totally illegal. Bannons incendiary statements, made on his War Room podcast, came shortly after Trump signed a new executive order requiring all U.S. companies to pay a $100,000 annual fee for every foreign employee hired through an H-1B visa. The visas are designed to bring highly skilled foreign workers to the U.S. for jobs that are deemed difficult to fill, particularly in the tech sector. Musk and Bannon have repeatedly clashed over U.S. visa policy, with Musk defending the H-1B program and once declaring he was ready to go to war on this issue. Musk himself has benefited from the system: he first entered the U.S. on a J-1 academic visa, which he says later transitioned to an H-1B. His companies remain reliant on the program Tesla alone hired 724 workers on H-1B visas in 2023, though SpaceX has used markedly less. Steve Bannon renewed his calls for Elon Musk to be deported to South Africa (Getty Images) Bannon has compared using the visas to slavery, calling them indentured servitude, and also said they prevent Americans from accessing jobs. Screw you, dude! he said on the podcast. You're a foreigner that is taking advantage of foreign labor at the detriment of American citizens. At the Kirk funeral, Trump was seen reuniting with Musk, just months after a public falling out following Musks departure from his White House role running the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE. The men were seen on camera shaking hands on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale during speeches remembering the Turning Point USA founder. During the memorial, the official White House Rapid Response 47 account shared footage of the men chatting as Musk joined the president in the stadium. The account appeared to celebrate their reunion, captioning the post with a love-heart and handshake emoji. Donald Trump and Elon Musk are pictured in the White House at an event in 2017 along with Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist (AFP via Getty Images) After leaving the White House, the pairs relationship had rapidly deteriorated, with Musk describing Trumps budget bill, known as the Big Beautiful Bill as a disgusting abomination, which he said would increase the budget deficit by $2.5 trillion. Musk and Trump continued to trade blows until the Tesla CEO claimed the president appeared in the Epstein files. Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files, Musk wrote. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT! Tensions seemed to cool shortly after. On 11 June, Musk expressed regret over his posts about the president, while Trump responded by saying he held no hard feelings toward the tech billionaire. In June this year, Bannon urged the Trump administration to launch a special counsel investigation into Musk including looking at Musks immigration history and alleged drug use and said Musk should be deported. Musk responded by calling Bannon a fat, drunken slob who should be in prison for committing crimes. Steve Coogan on the unusual Partridge viewer letter he keeps in his downstairs loo Steve Coogan has revealed he keeps a framed letter of complaint that was written about his alter-ego Alan Partridge in his downstairs loo. The 59-year-old first took on the persona of the hubristic Norwich broadcaster in the BBC Radio 4 comedy series On The Hour in 1991, with listeners occasionally mistaking him for a sincere presenter. Coogan said Radio 4 listeners sent furious complaints addressed to the BBCs then-director general, Michael Checkland, after he launched the spoof Partridge chat show Knowing Me, Knowing You in 1992. Some retired colonel in Tunbridge Wells [was] saying, Radio 4 was my first love. I was appalled to hear this man was given his own radio show. Why was this allowed to happen, he said. The letter referenced a Knowing Me, Knowing You sketch in which Coogan, as Partridge, asked a young boy whether he had any pubic hair. No, because Im nine, the boy replied, to which Partridge said: Well, Im 38 and Ive got plenty. The listeners complaint questioned why Partridge had been allowed to ask such a question to the gifted boy interviewed, with the colonel adding hed sent copies of the letter to BBCs senior staff. Knowing Me, Knowing You was cancelled in 1995 after a disastrous Christmas special where Partridge shot a spoof guest dead on air and then whacked the BBCs commissioning editor in the face with a turkey. Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge (BBC) He then worked a graveyard shift on Norwich radio while desperately pitching new TV ideas, as documented by Coogan in the 1997 sitcom Im Alan Partridge. Following a second Im Alan Partridge series in 2002, the character then went on hiatus before returning with the YouTube series Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge in 2010. The feature film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa followed in 2013. Partridge made his return to the BBC with the magazine show This Time with Alan Partridge in 2019. He was removed from the programme after dubbing his audience idiots on air and could subsequently only book work in the Middle East. Coogan as Alan Partridge in This Time with Alan Partridge (BBC/Baby Cow) The forthcoming Partridge series will see the presenter return to his home county of Norfolk after years working in Saudi Arabia to film a documentary about mental health. Rob and Neil Gibbons, who wrote the six-part series, said mental health seemed like a plausible hot topic for Partridge to try to use to relaunch his career after his BBC firing. They said that the presenter would have thought to himself: If I can convince people to let me on the telly and talk about my vulnerabilities, then [that] could be a nice little earner. Get me on the mental health gravy train. How Are You? It's Alan (Partridge) airs on BBC One on Friday 3 October at 9.30pm. The family of a student who died from an asthma attack in a nightclub have urged university-goers to take the condition seriously. Zoe Nunn, 20, a politics student at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, suffered a cardiac arrest following an asthma attack in May 2022. As a child, she had been admitted to hospital with asthma, but had not had an attack for a long time and was not carrying her blue reliever inhaler. Her mother, Louise Nunn, 49, father Mark, 52, and sister Lily, 27, have joined Asthma + Lung UK to warn students with asthma heading off to university to always carry inhalers. Mrs Nunn said: Zoe was in a nightclub with friends ... shed gone into the toilet, and she was found collapsed in the toilet in cardiac arrest. We were woken up in the middle of the night by the police, and we were blue-lighted to the hospital in a police car, which was traumatic. We were told right at that very first point that things didnt look good because she had been in cardiac arrest for so long. Although they got her heartbeat back, she obviously had suffered brain damage by that point. We were told to bring family in to say goodbye. Zoe Nunn (centre), 20, with her parents, Mark Nunn, 52 and Louise Nunn, 49 (Family handout/PA) A post-mortem examination revealed Zoe had suffered a cardiac arrest caused by an asthma attack. According to NHS data, there are typically 70 per cent more emergency asthma admissions in young people aged 15 to 24 during autumn than there are during the summer. In 2024 in England, cases almost tripled from 235 emergency admissions in August to 640 in October. Mrs Nunn said the family now had to cope with the loss of Zoes future as well as our future with her. She wanted to go and study for her MA in journalism in Edinburgh, that was her plan, and obviously that wasnt ever realised. Shed had her first relationship, but she hadnt really had a proper relationship, hadnt been in love necessarily. There are lots of things that she wanted to do and that shed got mapped out that she hasnt been able to do. Her sister Lily has now had a baby a baby Zoe never got to meet. Symptoms of asthma NHS The main symptoms of asthma are problems with breathing, such as: wheezing coughing shortness of breath your chest feeling tight An asthma attack is when you have severe symptoms and it's difficult to breathe, which can be life-threatening. The family chose to donate Zoes organs, including her kidneys, heart, liver, corneas and blood vessels. We want to raise awareness, because if we can even change one persons view and make them carry an inhaler, we can prevent another family having to go through what weve gone through, Mrs Nunn said. I think for us as a family, its just about making young people aware that just carrying your inhaler can actually save your life. Zoe also hadnt registered with a doctor at uni; she didnt have her asthma plan with her. I think if we can just encourage young people to do these things, hopefully other families wont be in the situation were in. Zoes family are encouraging asthma sufferers to carry an inhaler (Alamy/PA) Its impossible to describe the incredible sorrow that Zoes death has left us with. She was such a strong personality political, passionate about inequality, compassionate and articulate. She was desperate to play her part in fighting injustice and was so full of promise. Her dream was to become prime minister. Asthma + Lung UK is also calling on new and returning students with asthma to register with a university GP, carry inhalers and make sure friends and flatmates know they have asthma. Dr Andy Whittamore, clinical lead at the charity, said: Going to university is an exciting time, but it is essential that young people with asthma know how to access the right care when they move away from home and are scrupulous about taking their inhalers and other medication as prescribed. Its important for students to be open about having asthma, and to have print-offs or screenshots of their asthma action plans. Its vital too that they know what to do if they have an asthma attack, and that theyve scoped out in advance how to get to the nearest hospital. During freshers week, many students are dealing with a perfect storm of asthma triggers, such as cigarette smoke, vapour, excess alcohol, new food, stress, excitement, increased exposure to viral infections, mould, damp, and even different types of pollen and air pollution which can make those first few weeks at university tough on their lungs. A Maryland man on the run for months has been put behind bars after he used fireworks to kill a dog in the woods in Tennessee, police say. On March 4, Chattanooga police responded to a call about a fire in the woods that was caused by a man who threw a dog out of his car and tossed fireworks at it, Local 3 News reported. Cornell Mersiers Jr. was arrested last week and charged with animal cruelty, arson, criminal impersonation, disorderly conduct and reckless endangerment. At the time of the incident, authorities found a small black and white pitbull mix lying on the ground with its torso torn open and obviously deceased, police said. The dog also appeared to have burn marks on its wound. Cornell Mersiers Jr. was arrested Thursday after he allegedly used fireworks to kill a dog in March. (Hamilton County Jail) Police responded to the scene with fire extinguishers before the fire department arrived to help put out the fire, according to the report. Meanwhile, two witnesses told police they saw the crime take place, including one who saw a man they identified as Mersiers throw something out of his black Jeep Wrangler. Its unclear why the suspect allegedly targeted the dog. Once the object hit the ground, there was a loud bang and sparks erupted, causing a fire to start, the witness said. When the witness asked what the suspect was doing, he ignored her questioning and fled in his car, authorities said. Another witness had a similar story, but was able to provide police a photo of the suspects Jeep. When police called Mersiers, he answered but said his name was Jason Smith, and told authorities they had the wrong number. Police then asked him to come pick up the dog, without providing any additional information about the incident, and he said he would be there in 10 minutes. However, he never returned to the scene and declined to answer any more phone calls. It was not immediately clear where Mersiers has been since March or what caused his arrest to be delayed for several months. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 3.